Final Fantasy: 20th Anniversary Edition
Platform: PlayStation Portable
Genre: RPG
Developer: Square Enix
Publisher: Square Enix
Release: 26 June 2007
Rating: Everyone 10+
Price: $10
Final Fantasy is undoubtedly the most classic of all classic console RPGs. Along with Dragon Warrior, it practically defined the genre for the next three decades. Surprisingly, it still holds up pretty well today, which is probably why it's been remade so many times. But the PSP version--releaed to commemorate the games' 20th anniversary--is by far the most definitive. Visuals that are more impressive than in any previous version of the game, some new animated cutscenes, a remixed soundtrack, and five bonus dungeons, one of which is exclusive to the PSP.
One thing that bewilders me, though, was the decision to release the 20th Anniversary editions of Final Fantasy I and II as separate games, when they could easily have fit on one disc. I guess Square just likes to milk us for our money. Though both of them are now ten dollars each, so it's not really a big deal.
If you own a PSP, then go out and get Final Fantasy now. For those that have never played the game before--though most people probably have--you really should. And if you're in the other camp, those who remember the original NES version from their childhood, you should still pick this up. It's a great nostalgia piece, and seeing an old 8-bit game come to life with modern graphics... That never gets old.
Play, save, and enjoy. See you next week.
--Kotaro
Showing posts with label square enix. Show all posts
Showing posts with label square enix. Show all posts
Friday, April 8, 2011
Friday, March 4, 2011
Kingdom Hearts II
Platform: PlayStation 2
Genre: Action/RPG
Developer: Square Enix
Publisher: Square Enix/Buena Vista Games
Release: 28 March 2006
Rating: Everyone 10+
Price: $18
One wouldn't think that a game about Disney characters could be in any way dark. The Kingdom Hearts games prove that not only can it be dark, but epic in scale. The first Kingdom Hearts was a mediocre action-platformer. Its follow-up, Chain of Memories (essentially Kingdom Hearts 1.5), was not very good either, relying on a rather annoying card-based system. Two less-than-stellar games, and it was easy to write Kingdom Hearts off as a failed experiment.
Then came Kingdom Hearts II.
With a renewed emphasis on the action rather than platforming, KH2 gave the series the kick it needed to become actually good. And it was great! All of the Kingdom Hearts games since have been very much worthwhile, though none more-so than II itself.
As for how it plays, you use your ship to travel from world to world, exploring different Disney settings (re-visiting the ones from the first game, and adding several new ones), killing both Heartless, and the new villains, the Nobodies.The controls are solid, though the action can decline into button-mashing at times. However, there is a good amount of tactical variety, as you not only have your main weapon, the Keyblade, but elemental magic, summon spells, combination attacks with your party, and super-forms.
The plot is also well-made. We start off with a new protagonist, with events seemingly unrelated to the previous games. Then plot twists take place and we see where we are in the grand scheme of the overarching plot. One year after the events of the first game, the evil Heartless from the first game are still around, but a new enemy--Organization XIII--has surfaced as well. We return to our original hero, Sora, and take on both of these threats. I will not spoil anything further, but trust me when I say that I fully enjoyed watching the story unfold.
As a whole, if you like action/RPG hybrids, or have enjoyed any of the other games in the series, then give Kingdom Hearts II a shot. $18 well-spent
.
Play, save, and enjoy. See you next week.
--Kotaro
Genre: Action/RPG
Developer: Square Enix
Publisher: Square Enix/Buena Vista Games
Release: 28 March 2006
Rating: Everyone 10+
Price: $18
One wouldn't think that a game about Disney characters could be in any way dark. The Kingdom Hearts games prove that not only can it be dark, but epic in scale. The first Kingdom Hearts was a mediocre action-platformer. Its follow-up, Chain of Memories (essentially Kingdom Hearts 1.5), was not very good either, relying on a rather annoying card-based system. Two less-than-stellar games, and it was easy to write Kingdom Hearts off as a failed experiment.
Then came Kingdom Hearts II.
With a renewed emphasis on the action rather than platforming, KH2 gave the series the kick it needed to become actually good. And it was great! All of the Kingdom Hearts games since have been very much worthwhile, though none more-so than II itself.
As for how it plays, you use your ship to travel from world to world, exploring different Disney settings (re-visiting the ones from the first game, and adding several new ones), killing both Heartless, and the new villains, the Nobodies.The controls are solid, though the action can decline into button-mashing at times. However, there is a good amount of tactical variety, as you not only have your main weapon, the Keyblade, but elemental magic, summon spells, combination attacks with your party, and super-forms.
The plot is also well-made. We start off with a new protagonist, with events seemingly unrelated to the previous games. Then plot twists take place and we see where we are in the grand scheme of the overarching plot. One year after the events of the first game, the evil Heartless from the first game are still around, but a new enemy--Organization XIII--has surfaced as well. We return to our original hero, Sora, and take on both of these threats. I will not spoil anything further, but trust me when I say that I fully enjoyed watching the story unfold.
As a whole, if you like action/RPG hybrids, or have enjoyed any of the other games in the series, then give Kingdom Hearts II a shot. $18 well-spent
.Play, save, and enjoy. See you next week.
--Kotaro
Friday, February 4, 2011
Chrono Trigger DS
Platform: Nintendo DS
Genre: RPG
Developer: Square Enix
Publisher: Square Enix
Release: 25 November 2008
Rating: Everyone 10+
Price: $15
What can I say about Chrono Trigger? It remains one of my favorite RPGs of all time. Lighthearted and clever, it is one of Square's best works, beating out any given Final Fantasy game (aside from VI, but that's another matter entirely). The game sports a smartly-written time travel plot with a cast of well-developed characters. The DS version has everything that made the original Super Nintendo game a classic, as well as the improvements made in the PlayStation remake. But what makes it the best version overall is that it's portable. Admittedly, the additions made to this version (the Hidden Sanctum, Dimensional Vortices, and Monster Arena) are vestigal at best and boring at worst, but they're completely optional and very easy to just pass by without a second thought. At its heart, Chrono Trigger remains at the apex of classic SNES RPGs. Instead of artificially lengthening the game with forced level grinding or pointless fetch-quests, Square used the extra space on the cartridge to give the game excellent graphics for the time (which still stand up well; it looks right at home on the DS), a slew of impressive tag-team attacks you can use, and twelve different endings. It was also the first game to feature a New Game + feature, which many games since have copied.
If you've never played Chrono Trigger, you owe it to yourself to check it out. And even if you have, the DS remake is easily the best version of the game to date, and a fantastic addition to your library.
Best of all, it will only cost you $15
.
Play, save, and enjoy. See you next week.
--Kotaro
Genre: RPG
Developer: Square Enix
Publisher: Square Enix
Release: 25 November 2008
Rating: Everyone 10+
Price: $15
What can I say about Chrono Trigger? It remains one of my favorite RPGs of all time. Lighthearted and clever, it is one of Square's best works, beating out any given Final Fantasy game (aside from VI, but that's another matter entirely). The game sports a smartly-written time travel plot with a cast of well-developed characters. The DS version has everything that made the original Super Nintendo game a classic, as well as the improvements made in the PlayStation remake. But what makes it the best version overall is that it's portable. Admittedly, the additions made to this version (the Hidden Sanctum, Dimensional Vortices, and Monster Arena) are vestigal at best and boring at worst, but they're completely optional and very easy to just pass by without a second thought. At its heart, Chrono Trigger remains at the apex of classic SNES RPGs. Instead of artificially lengthening the game with forced level grinding or pointless fetch-quests, Square used the extra space on the cartridge to give the game excellent graphics for the time (which still stand up well; it looks right at home on the DS), a slew of impressive tag-team attacks you can use, and twelve different endings. It was also the first game to feature a New Game + feature, which many games since have copied.
If you've never played Chrono Trigger, you owe it to yourself to check it out. And even if you have, the DS remake is easily the best version of the game to date, and a fantastic addition to your library.
Best of all, it will only cost you $15
.Play, save, and enjoy. See you next week.
--Kotaro
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