Popful Mail (Or) Gaming Companies Need to Lighten Up!

by Cheryl

As I sit and I read the various editorials on RPGamer, many thoughts go through my head. For example, I've snorted - very unlady-like, to my mother's dismay, and said, "Are they STILL talking about FF7's ending?" And I've laughed, saying, "FF8? Bah... That's why I know someone who claims Beyond the Beyond to be better. It's all a matter of taste!" Even reading my own editorials, and the thought, "What in the name of Hades was I on when I wrote that?" runs through my mind. But I've realized something earth shattering.

It's been a long time since I've actually laughed through a game.

I remember the days of reclining with my husband, playing Working Design's "Popful Mail" title. Okay, maybe it doesn't quite fit the bill for an RPG, but that's the whole point. I know of NO roleplaying games currently on the market that are challenging, engrossing, and yet humorously stupid. Popful Mail's a perfect example of "humorously stupid." Muttonhead? What kind of name is that? Yet it distinctly adds to the silly flavor of the game, and the conflict is rather believable, in my opinion. A sorcerer turns bad- and the people who bring him down are a familiar, his astranged apprentice, and a previously-failed mercenary. The gameplay was nicely done, as well; the controls were good, for the time, the graphics were excellent, and the voice-acting was exquisite. It smacks of a very well-done game, something Working Designs is known for. Now if only they could work a little on their schedualing skills...

But the gameplay wasn't what entwined me; the humor was. I couldn't watch a single dialogue without laughing. And that's what I feel games today are lacking.

Everyone loves a good, desperate plot. I'm sure my love of Suikoden 2 has shown through, and I found FF7 to be quite fun the first time around. I'm VERY fond of the Breath of Fire series, and all of Square's SNES games hit the spot with me. Lunar is also deeply loved, and I was entralled with Legend of Zelda for quite a while, as well.

Yet none of those games are silly for the sake of silliness. Sure, they all have their cute little quips, and they all have their laughable moments. No one is denying that. But all of them have extremely serious overtones; one friend has given up on Xenogears, for example, as he complains loudly, "Cheryl, how can you stand this stuff? It's so damn depressing!"

Now, after thought, I'm tempted to agree with him.

In the wake of various tragedies involving teenagers, a lot of finger-pointing is being done, as everyone knows. A lot of the fingers are pointed at the video game industry because of the infamous Doom fiasco. Not a single one of those adults have taken into account how many people have played Doom and have been perfectly fine in society, but instead have pushed all the blame for the incident off of themselves and onto an innocent party- after all, no one wants to accept responsibility for such a tragedy as Columbine. However, while the video game industry is busy defending themselves agains these ludicrous accusations, they're doing nothing to PROVE their point.

I personally feel that they'd do themselves some serious good by creating some games a bit on the lighter side. Angst is good, sap is good, and emotion is good - in moderation. Give the parents something to laugh at! Let them see that the idustry isn't all blood, gore, and depression! After all, didn't our parent's parents say that laughter is the best medicine?

Give the fans some cheer, you RPG giants. We could use it.
Thank you for your time. ^_^

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