It’s been a while, I know. Frankly, I haven’t had anything to say. First, my copy of Assassin’s Creed II came in the mail. After that…well I was busy, and then I wasn’t, and now I don’t even know why I’m posting anything.

I played ACII every day for 15-ish days, and then I was done. Story complete, all feathers found, all Achievements won. Now I’m just waiting for the DLC to come out (one in January, the other in February) and then I’ll go back to it. I’m thinking about writing a guide for it, as it’s such an amazing game, but that’s a lot of work (especially with feathers) and now that I have a life outside of gaming it’s really hard to be able to put enough time into a good guide.

It was different when I was writing the guide for Dragonball Z Budokai 2 on the GameCube. I was a teenager, it was summer, and I had plenty of time. Not only that, but my computer was only a few feet away from the TV, so I could sit in my chair and play, then swivel to the computer to write down whatever I needed to.

That guide is still getting hits, and it’s been several years since I posted it to GameFAQs.

I’ve been drifting along since I finished ACII. I’ve played a lot of games for one or two nights, with the most notable being Grand Theft Auto IV in which I got two more Achievements. I’m still waiting for the DLC disc, as I didn’t want to buy it in case someone got me a gift card for Christmas. TLAD and TBoGT look amazing, and I can’t wait to try them out. Until then, I’ll be hunting pigeons, delivering cars, and praying that the next phone call I get in game is from Dwayne so that I can increase his friendship rating to 90% so that I can get the Liberty City (5) Achievement. Damn, but that’s a ridiculous thing to do. Not only that, but I need it for 100% completion (Key to the City) and if it doesn’t work than I’ll have to start all over again on a THIRD file and find all those damn pigeons/stunt jumps/cars again. And believe me, I do NOT want to have to go through the story a third time. It’s a great game, but it’s still way too soon. Maybe in a year or so.

I went back to handheld gaming a lot, and I’ve been playing Final Fantasy Tactics: The War of the Lions on PSP and Final Fantasy IV on DS. I’ve been doing pretty good on each, though I’ve been using a walkthrough for IV. Tactics has been a lot better, as I’m playing how I want to, not how a guide would want me too, which messed up my previous file a lot. I had no idea what I was doing at any given time, so I restarted. That and I wanted to make sure that I remembered all the plot devices and whatnot so that I could play the rest of the game and know what had happened before.

I don’t know that I mentioned this way back when but I lost my copy of the original Rock Band. That meant 1) I couldn’t play it and 2) I couldn’t transfer the track list over the Rock Band 2, which I got for my birthday. Well, my wife found it (just like she found my PSP and fixed my iPod) so I’ll be playing that some more soon. I want to get more of the Achievements, and at least get 50%. I only need 100G more, which I can get pretty easily if only I could find my microphone. That, or have someone play Band World Tour with me enough that I complete another ten cities and get the ten Achievements worth 10G each for doing so. Of course, I could always find some people who want to go through the Endless Setlist on Expert with me, but that’s just ridiculous.

Other than that…I played some MP Gears of War with my wife and got Inconceivable! and Purdy Mouth, so that was a good half hour. My GamerScore amounts for Gears 1 and 2 are now at an even 45%, and I’m kind of excited to see how long I can keep them at similar GS amounts as I get more Achievements in them. Either way, they’re both under 50% and I’m looking at an incredibly annoying grind in order to get either of them up in the GS department at all, so I shouldn’t worry about keeping them “the same”, as that’s just going to put undue pressure on me. But, I’ll probably do it anyways, because I’m a glutton for punishment. Or something, I don’t really think that’s the right phrase, now that I look at it.

I am a gamer. I am proud of that fact. But recently I’ve found it really hard to enjoy gaming. I loved playing Assassin’s Creed II. That game blew my mind. But now that it’s gone I feel…I don’t know, hollow, almost. And I don’t like that my wife automatically assumes that I’ll game every night after supper. The scary thing is that for the past few months, I have been gaming every day after supper, and it’s starting to feel oppressing. I know that, realistically, I should take a break, but I don’t have anything else to do. Couple that with the fact that my job ends with the year and I still don’t have anything lined up for afterwards, in the new year, and the stress keeps on piling up. Gaming helps, because I can spend time in a fake world and not have to worry about anything. Except now gaming hasn’t been giving me the satisfaction that it used to.

Maybe it’s Achievements. Maybe I need to turn the Xbox off for a while and go back to the older systems. Maybe I should play Mario, or Tales of Symphonia, or Zelda. I still have to beat my Virtual Console version of Majora’s Mask, preferably without a walkthrough (although, knowing me, I’ll use one for the masks at some point). I also have yet to beat Super Mario RPG: Legend of the Seven Stars, so that’s something I should be doing.

I’m overwhelmed again. This is what happens every day when I sit down to game. I just don’t know what to play, and I’ve suddenly gone back to playing Hexic HD. You know something is wrong with you when you have literally four dozen games to pick from and you choose Hexic HD. It’s understandable when you first get your Xbox and don’t have any other games, or you’re tired with the two that you have that came with your console, but after two years with the system (holy shit I can’t believe I’ve been playing myXbox for two years now) it’s just not acceptable. It’s those damn Achievements. I want to get a score of 150,000 in Marathon Mode. I want to get the Achievement for making a cluster of three black pearls, and the Achievement for surrounding one piece with six black pearls. The last two I’ll probably never get, but I want to at least try, and I want to at least get close.

I’m hoping that the New Year will be better. Mass Effect 2 comes out in January, and if I plan it all right I’ll be nice and busy until May when Pokemon HeartGold and SoulSilver come out. I do get the feeling that something is released in March-ish that I’m looking forward to, but I can’t put my finger on it just yet.

FINAL FANTASY XIII!

Damn, how could I have forgotten that? Mass Effect will last me to March (no doubt in my mind about that) and then my life will be consumed with the magnificence that is the newest Final Fantasy game. The PS3 trophies have been released, so theoretically the 360 Achievements should be released soon as well. In reality they’ll be the same as those for the PS3, but I’m hoping for something a little different. On the one hand, I want to buy a PS3 and play FFXIII on it, but that’s probably not going to happen. That also means I’ll probably never get a chance to play God of War III, but I can deal.

I don’t know what else to rant about. I’ve only got 20 or so minutes left until the end of the work day, so I’ll browse the net until then. Maybe play something on the PSP/DS that I bring with me every day now. You might see a new post on Monday, I don’t really know.

กองทัพเรือเหาะของเซซิล มุ่งหน้าไปยังเมืองมิชิเดีย เพื่อนำชิงเอาคริสตัลน้ำมา ตามคำสั่งของพระราชาเมืองบารอน ในระหว่างทางต้องเจอกับมอนสเตอร์ทางอากาศ เมื่อไปถึงมิชิเดีย เซซิลใช้กำลังทหารเข้าแย่งคริสตัลน้ำมาได้ แต่เซซิลไม่อยากทำเช่นนี้เลย

เมื่อกลับมาถึงบารอน เบย์กันก็ออกมาต้อนรับและพาไปเข้าเฝ้าพระราชา หลังจากมอบคริสตัลให้พระราชาแล้ว กลับไม่ได้รับเหตุผลใด ๆ ให้เราไปหอคอยทางซ้ายของปราสาทจะพบซิด และโรซ่า จากนั้นขึ้นไปบนสุดของหอคอยซึ่งเป็นห้องของโรซ่าให้ไปที่เตียง เซซิลจะพักผ่อน ตกดึกโรซ่าจะมาคุยด้วย พอเช้ามากลับไปด้านในปราสาทจะพบ ไคน์ ผู้นำกองทหารม้า เพื่อนสนิทเซซิล แล้วจะได้เป็นพวก จากนั้นออกจากเมืองบารอน ไปทางทิศเหนือเข้าไปในถ้ำ ก่อนพบทางออกจะพบ มิสดราก้อน ให้กำจัดซะ เมื่อเข้าไปที่หมู่บ้านมิสท์ แหวนที่เซซิลได้รับจากรพระราชาจะเรียกปีศาจไฟออกมาทำลายหมู่บ้าน ไปบริเวณด้านบนหมู่บ้านจะพบริเดีย พอเซซิลเข้าไปเธอจะตกใจเรียก ไททัน ออกมาป้องกันตัว เมื่อไฟสงบ เซซิลตื่นขึ้นมา จะไม่พบไคน์ พบแต่ริเดียนอนสลบอยู่ ให้ออกจากหมู่บ้านซะ

เดินไปทางทิศตะวันออกจะพบทะเลทราย และเมือง ไคโพ ให้เข้าไปใน INN พาริเดียไปพักผ่อน แต่ทางบารอนส่งทหารมากำจัดริเดีย ให้จัดการซะ แล้วจะได้ริเดียเป็นเพื่อน ..ที่บ้านทางขวาของหมู่บ้านไคโพ จะพบโรซ่านอนป่วยอยู่ที่นี่ จากนั้นออกจากหมู่บ้านไปทางทิศเหนือจะพบถ้ำ บุกเข้าไปด้านในจะพบกับ จอมเวทมนตร์ เทร่า ที่กำลังตามหาลูกสาวที่ถูกนักกวีจากเมืองดัมเชี่ยนลวงไป และได้ เทร่า เป็นเพื่อนร่วมทาง บุกเข้าไปจนสุดจะพบกับบอส ปลาหมึกยักษ์ ออสโตะแมมมอส เมื่อกำจัดได้จะพบทางออกสู่ เมืองดัมเชี่ยน ก่อนเข้าสู่ปราสาทดัมเชี่ยน กองทัพเรือเหาะของบารอนจะเข้าโจมตี ทำให้เมืองเสียหายอย่างมาก ให้เราเข้าไปข้างในจนบนสุดปราสาท เทร่าจะพบแอนนา ลูกสาวตนเองในสภาพใกล้ตาย ทำให้เทร่าแค้นนักกวีเป็นอย่างมาก จึงได้เกิดการต่อสู้กัน แต่สักพักแอนนาจะเล่าความจริงให้ฟังว่า นักกวีคือ เจ้าชายประเทศดัมเชี่ยน นามว่า กิลเบิร์ต ซึ่งแอนนายินดีตามมาด้วยเอง ส่วนกิลเบิร์ตได้เล่าว่า ดัมเชี่ยนถูกโจมตีเพราะ กอลเบซ่า ที่ควบคุมบารอนเอาไว้อยู่เมื่อความจริงเปิดเผยออกมา ทำให้เทร่าโกรธมาก และเดินทางไปแก้แค้นกอลเบซ่า คนเดียว กิลเบิร์ตที่หมดกำลังใจ จึงไม่อยากทำอะไรต่อไป เซซิลกับริเดียจึงเข้าไปปลอบ และชวนร่วมเดินทางกัน

เมื่อออกจากดัมเชี่ยน กิลเบิร์ตจะนำ ยานโฮเวอร์ ที่ซ่อนไว้ออกมาใช้ ให้เรานั่งยานโฮเวอร์ ที่สามารถวิ่งบนหินเกาะเล็ก ๆ ได้ กลับมาไคโพ ไปหา โรซ่า ที่นอนป่วยอยู่ กิลเบิร์ตได้บอกว่า การรักษาโรซ่านั้น ใช้นานเวลานานมาก แต่ถ้าใช้ แสงแห่งทะเลทราย จะรักษาโรคทุกชนิดได้ ซึ่งอยู่ที่ถ้ำ อันโทริอ้อน ที่อยู่ทางตะวันออกเฉียงใต้ของ ดัมเชี่ยน ต้องใช้ยานโฮเวอร์ผ่านหินเล็กไป ข้างในต้องปราบเจ้าอันโทริอ้อนด้วย แล้วจะได้ ไอเทมแสงแห่งทะเลทราย เมื่อกลับมารักษาโรซ่า จะได้โรซ่าเป็นเพื่อนร่วมทาง ให้ไปที่ INN แล้วทุกคนจะพักผ่อนกัน …. ในคืนนั้น กิลเบิร์ตจะออกมาเล่นพิณที่ทะเลสาปในหมู่บ้าน สักพักจะมี มอนสเตอร์มาจู่โจม กิลเบิร์ตที่หมดกำลังใจ จึงไม่คิดต่อสู้ แต่แล้ววิญญาณของแอนนาได้ปรากฏขึ้นมาให้กำลังใจ ทำให้กิลเบิร์ตได้สติ และจัดการมอนสเตอร์ลงได้

เมื่อเช้ามา ให้ออกจากไคโพ มุ่งหน้าไปยัง ภูเขา โฮบุส ทางตะวันออกของดัมเชี่ยน ที่ทางขึ้น ริเดีย จะใช้เวทมนตร์จำมนตร์และเปิดทางไปได้ ด้านบนจะพบกับ หยาง นักกังฟู เข้าไปช่วยเค้าสู้ แล้วเราจะแจ้งข่าวว่า เมืองฟาบูล นั้นเป็นเป้าหมายโจมตีด้วย ให้รีบมุ่งหน้าไปเมือง ฟาบูล ทันที เมื่อถึงเมืองฟาบูลแล้ว พวกเราจะแจ้งให้พระราชาทราบ พระราชาจะวางแผนรับมือ เมื่อพวกมอนสเตอร์มาโจมตี แต่จะไม่สามารถบุกเข้ามาได้ พวกเซซิลก็ช่วยป้องกันอยู่ด้วย สักพัก ไคน์ จะปรากฏตัว และชิง คริสตัลแห่งลมไปได้ และโรซ่าก็ถูกลักพาตัวไป เมื่อฟื้นขึ้นมาทั้งหมดเข้าพบพระราชาที่บาดเจ็บอยู่บนเตียง และได้มอบดาบ เดธบริงเกอร์ให้กับเซซิล และจัดเรือให้กับพวกเซซิลไปยังบารอน เมื่อแล่นเรือออกสู่ทะเล ระหว่างทางจะพบ ริไวอาซันปรากฏทำให้เรืออับปาง..

เซซิลจะฟื้นขึ้นมาบนเกาะแห่งหนึ่ง ซึ่งอยู่ใกล้เมือง มิชิเดีย ให้เข้าไปข้างใน คุยกับหัวหน้าหมู่บ้านเล่าเรื่องทุกสิ่งให้ฟัง หัวหน้าหมู่บ้านได้แนะนำให้เซซิลไปที่ ภูเขาชิเร็น ทางตะวันออก พร้อมส่ง ลูกศิษย์ พารอม กับ โพรอม ติดตามเซซิลไปด้วย ให้บุกไปที่ภูเขาชิเร็น ระหว่างจะพบเทร่า อีกครั้งแล้วจะได้เป็นพวก เมื่อขึ้นสู่ยอดเขา จะพบ สคัลมิเรียวเน่ บอสธาตุดิน ให้เรากำจัดให้ได้ เดินไปต่อ จะพบป้ายสุสานทางเข้าไปในห้องกระจก ด้านในเซซิลต้องสู้ชนะตัวเองให้ได้ ( เอาชนะโดยวิธีการป้องกันอย่างเดียว ) แล้วจะเปลี่ยนตัวเองเป็น พาราดีน ส่วนเทร่าจะจดจำคาถาได้หมด รวมทั้ง เมเทโอ สุดยอดคาถาด้วย

กลับมาที่มิชิเดีย ไปพบหัวหน้าหมู่บ้าน แล้วไปยัง ถนนสายปีศาจ ที่อยู่ทางซ้ายในหมู่บ้าน เมื่อเข้าไปจะพบว่าตัวเองมาอยู่ที่เมืองบารอน ให้เข้าไปใน PUB จะพบกับ หยาง แล้วจะเกิดการต่อสู้ขึ้น สักพักเค้าจะจำเราได้ ซึ่งหยางได้เข้าเป็นทหารของบารอนเพื่อสืบข่าวของกอลเบซ่า และเขาก็มีกุญแจทางลับเข้าปราสาทบารอน เมื่อเข้าไปจะพบ เบย์กันที่อาสานำทางเราไปพบพระราชา แต่ที่แท้จริงมันคือมอนสเตอร์ ให้เรากำจัดมันซะ เมื่อพบพระราชา ตัวจริงคือ บอสธาตุน้ำ ไกนัส เมื่อออกจากห้องพระราชา จะพบกับดัก กำแพงจะบีบเข้าหาเรา แต่ด้วยความเสียสละของ พารอมและโพรอม ที่เสกตัวเองเป็นหิน ต้านกำแพงไว้ พวกเราที่เหลือจะรอดมาได้ ให้ไปขึ้นเรือเหาะ … ทันทีที่ขึ้นสู่บนฟ้า ไคน์จะปรากฏตัวขึ้น บอกว่า ให้นำคริสตัลดิน มาแลกกับตัวโรซ่า

มุ่งหน้าสู่ เมืองทรอยอา ทางตะวันตกเฉียงเหนือของบารอน เมืองที่ล้อมรอบไปด้วยป่า เข้าไปพบ ราชินีแห่งเมืองนี้ ซึ่งคริสตัลแห่งดิน ถูกดาร์คเอลฟ์แย่งชิงไปแล้ว ภายในหอคอยด้านซ้ายในปราสาท จะพบกิลเบิร์ตรักษาตัวอยู่ที่นี่ จุดหมายต่อไปคือ ถ้ำแม่เหล็กทางเหนือ ซึ่งต้องอาศัย นกโจโกโปะม่วง ที่บินได้ที่ป่า ทางเหนือ เมื่อเข้าถ้ำแม่เหล็กแล้ว ถ้าเราใส่อาวุธหรือชุดเกราะที่เป็นโลหะจะไม่สามารถต่อสู้ เมื่อเข้าไปถึงตัว ดาร์คเอลฟ์ เราจะไม่สามารถสู้มันได้ แต่กิลเบิร์ตจะฝืนดีดพิณ เพื่อช่วยคลายคำสาปให้กับพวกเรา ให้เราเอาชนะให้ได้ จะได้คริสตัลแห่งดินมา แล้วกลับทรอยอา

เมื่อถึงทรอยอาแล้ว ไปที่ห้องเก็บคริสตัล จะพบไคน์ ซึ่งจะนำทางพวกเราไปพบกับที่อยู่ของกอลเบซ่า ต้องบุกเข้าไป จนในสุดพบกับ กอลเบซ่า ซึ่งเทร่าจะเข้าไปสู้กับ กอลเบซ่าตัวต่อตัว แต่คาถาใดก็ไม่สามารถทำอะไรกอลเบซ่าได้ เทร่าจึงใช้พลังชีวิตทั้งหมด เพื่อใช้ เมเทโอ ทำให้เทร่าต้องจบชีวิตลง ผลออกมา ที่เทร่าสู้นั้นเป็นเพียงเงาของกอลเบซ่าเท่านั้น ซึ่งไคน์เป็นผู้รับไปแทน ทำให้มนต์สะกดที่กอลเบซ่าควบคุมไคน์ไว้สลายไป เมื่อไคน์ฟื้นขึ้นมา จึงร่วมเดินทางไปกับพวกเรา พาไปยังห้องขังโรซ่า จะพบกับ บอสธาตุลม บัลบาริเซีย ให้กำจัดซะแล้วที่นี่จะระเบิด โรซ่าจะใช้คาถา เทเลโพ วาร์ปหนีออกมาที่บารอน แล้วจะปรึกษากันเพื่อยับยั้งกอลเบซ่า โดยไคน์ได้พก แมกม่าสโตน มาด้วย จุดหมายต่อไปคือ หมู่บ้าน อาคัลโตะ ให้นำ แมกม่าสโตนทิ้งในบ่อน้ำในหมู่บ้าน จะเกิดระเบิดขึ้น เป็นทางเชื่อมลงสู่ โลกใต้พิภพ ให้ลงสู่โลกใต้พิภพด้วยเรือเหาะ

เมื่อลงสู่โลกใต้พิภพ เรือเหาะเราจะถูกโจมตีจนตก แล้วจะมาจอดใกล้ ๆ ปราสาทดาร์ฟ เข้าไปคุยกับพระราชาด้านใน แล้วจะพบสิ่งผิดปกติด้านหลังกำแพง ให้เข้าไปที่ทางลับหลังกำแพง จะพบห้องคริสตัลและต้องสู้กับ ตุ๊กตา เมื่อชนะแล้ว กอลเบซ่า จะโผล่มาทำร้ายพวกเรา แต่ริเดีย ที่เติบโตเร็วขึ้นเพราะพลัดไปอยู่ดินแดนแห่งสัตว์อสูร จะเข้ามาช่วยเหลือเรากำจัด กอลเบซ่า เมื่อกอลเบซ่าเสียท่าแล้ว จะเหลือแค่มือข้างเดียว แต่ยังสามารถขโมยคริสตัลไปได้ กลับไปคุยกับพระราชา แล้วหาทางออกไปทางซ้ายของปราสาท เพื่อไปยังหอคอย ปาปิล

เมื่อเดินทางมาถึงหอคอย ปาปิล จะพบกองทัพของดาร์ฟโจมตีหอคอยอยู่ ให้เราเข้าไปในหอคอยปาปิล บุกขึ้นไปที่ชั้น 7 จะพบ ดร.ลูเกีย จัดการซะแล้วจะได้ กุญแจไขประตูชั้นที่ 5 เป็นห้องควบคุมกำจัดมอนสเตอร์ในนั้นแล้ว จะเกิดการระเบิดขึ้น หยาง จะสละชีวิตช่วยพวกเราไว้ จากนั้นให้หนีออกยังชั้น 1 จะพบ ซิด ที่นำเรือเหาะมารับพวกเรา แต่จะมีศัตรูขับเรือเหาะไล่ล่าพวกเรา ซิด จะแนะนำให้พวกเราไปที่บารอน ไปหาลูกศิษย์เขาเพื่อปรับปรุงเรือเหาะ แล้วจะยอมสละชีวิตเพื่อขัดขวางศัตรู…. เมื่อซิดจากไปแล้ว ให้ไปที่บารอน เพื่อให้ลูกศิษย์ซิด ดัดแปลงทำให้เรือเหาะของเรา มีคีมขนาดใหญ่ หนีบยานโฮเวอร์ได้

ขับเรือเหาะมายัง ปราสาทร้าง เอบราน่า ที่อยู่ทางตะวันตกเฉียงใต้ของบารอน ให้เข้าถ้ำทางทิศใต้ของปราสาท เข้าไปด้านในจะพบ เอ็จ สู้กับ จ้าวแห่งไฟอยู่ แต่จะสู้ไม่ได้ และจะได้ เอ็จ เป็นเพื่อนร่วมทาง เดินทางต่อไปในถ้ำ ทางออกจะมาโผล่ที่หอคอยปาปิล ให้ขึ้นไปชั้นบนสุด สู้กับ ลูปิกันเต้ จ้าวแห่งไฟ แล้วเข้าไปในห้องคริสตัล จะพบทางไปสู่ยานฟอลคอน และทุกคนจะหนีออกมา… จากนั้นให้ไปยังปราสาทดาร์ฟ ไปคุยกับพระราชา จะได้สร้อยคอของลูก้ามา เดินสำรวจในปราสาท ที่พักทหาร จะพบซิดมาพักผ่อนอยู่ที่นี่ คุยกับเขา แล้วจะดัดแปลงยานฟอลคอนให้บินข้ามลาวาได้

ไปยังถ้าเก็นจู ที่อยู่บนเกาะกลางลาวา ด้านในจะพบ ดินแดนแห่งสัตว์อสูร ซึ่งเป็นที่ที่ลิเดีย อาศัยอยู่ในตอนพลัดกับเซซิล เค้าไปสู้กับ อาจารย์ของลิเดียทั้ง 2 จะได้ มนต์อสูร ลิไวอาซัน กับอาชูร่า มา จุดหมายต่อไปให้ไปที่ถ้ำคริสตัล ที่ทางเข้าเราจะปลดผนึกได้ด้วย สร้อยคอลูก้า ในสุดจะได้คริสตัลมา ช่วงกำลังจะออกจากถ้ำ จะพบบอส วอลเดวิล ให้กำจัดซะ แล้วไคน์จะแย่งชิงคริสตัลหนีไป ให้กลับไปคุยกับพระราชาดาร์ฟ แล้วไปคุยกับซิด เขาจะติดสว่านให้กับยานฟอลคอน เพื่อเจาะทะลุขึ้นไปยังโลกด้านบนได้ ( ทางขึ้นอยู่ทางตะวันออกเฉียงเหนือ )

เมื่อขึ้นสู่โลกบนแล้ว ให้ไปที่ มิชิเดีย คุยกับหัวหน้าหมู่บ้าน แล้วชาวมิชิเดียจะทำพิธีสวด เพื่อเรียกเรือเหาะในตำนาน มาโดเซ็น ขึ้นมา จากนั้นให้ไปยังเกาะ มิสทริล นำหางหนู ไปแลกกับโลหะ อาดามันไทต์ แล้วไปที่หมู่บ้านในโลกใต้พิภพ มอบให้กับช่างตีดาบคุคูโร่ จากนั้นกลับโลกบน ขึ้นเรือเหาะมาโดเซ็น เข้าไปในเรือเหาะ แล้วสำรวจที่คริสตัล จะเป็นการเดินทางไปยัง ดวงจันทร์

บนดวงจันทร์ จะมีถ้ำเก็นจูชิน ( ถ้ำที่มีพื้นรอบล้อมเป็นลักษณะวงกลม ) ด้านใน ต้องทดสอบฝีมือ เพื่อจะได้ มนต์อสูร บาฮามุต มา

ไปที่ ตำหนักดวงจันทร์ ซึ่งต้องจอดเรือเหาะ แล้วเดินทะลุหลายถ้ำ ซับซ้อนเล็กน้อย เมื่อถึงตำหนัก จะพบ ฟูซูยะ แล้วจะทราบความจริงว่า กอลเบซ่า คือพี่ชายของเซซิล จากนั้นให้กลับไปยังเรือเหาะ มุ่งหน้ากลับโลก บริเวณหอคอยปาปิลบนโลก จะพบ หุ่นยนตร์ยักษ์ออกมา แต่กองทัพของเพื่อน ๆ เราจะเข้ามาช่วยสกัดไว้ แล้วเราจะบุกเข้าไปในตัวหุ่นยนตร์ ด้านใน จะพบกับ บอสธาตุต่าง ๆ ที่เคยเจอมาทั้งหมด ดิน , น้ำ , ลม , ไฟ และสุดท้ายที่ห้องควบคุม จะต้องสู้กับเครื่องควบคุม เมื่อกำจัดได้ หุ่นจะพังพินาศไป แล้วจะพบกับกอลเบซ่า ซึ่ง ฟูซูยะจะแยกทางไปกับกอลเบซ่า แล้วจะได้ไคน์กลับมาเป็นพวกอีกครั้ง… กลับไปเมืองใต้พิภพ เพื่อไปเอาดาบ เอ็กคาริเบอร์ จากคุคูโร่

มุ่งสู่ ดวงจันทร์ ไปที่ตำหนักดวงจันทร์ ที่ห้องคริสตัลจะมีทางไปสู่ที่อยู่บอสใหญ่ ระหว่างจะพบ กับอาวุธในตำนานต่าง ๆ เมื่อเข้าสู่แกนกลางของดวงจันทร์ จะพบกับ เซมุส กอลเบซ่าและฟูซูยะจะเข้าไปต่อสู้กับมัน เมื่อชนะเซมุสได้ มันจะเปลี่ยนร่างเป็น เซโรมุส ทำให้ทั้ง 2 สู้ไม่ได้ พวกเซซิลจึงเข้าต่อสู้กับ เซโรมุส หัวหน้าใหญ่ ซึ่งจะได้พลังจากเพื่อน ๆ ของพวกเราทั้งหมดในการต่อกร ในการสู้ให้กดใช้ไอเทม คริสตัล แล้วจะทำให้ สามารถต่อสู้กับมัน เมื่อกำจัดเซโรมุสได้ ความสงบสุขจะกลับมาอีกครั้ง…

by …Zande

Okay, I actually wrote this on Monday, so I wouldn’t have to remember the topic that popped into my mind at the beginning of the week. Here we go…

When do people die? (Oooo, morbid!) No, really, when do they die? How do you define it? Is it that last breath? Is it fifteen minutes afterward? Is it when the Doctors tried to bring a person back after they were already clinically dead and failed? It is when their tissue starts rotting? Maybe they’re only really dead when the last memories of them fade? (If that’s the case, Youtube is the new Cryogenics World Leader!) How do you define it?

I would propose that for some people it happens a lot sooner than that. Of course I’m being just a tad facetious here, but bear with me.

What was the last year that music was any good? Everybody knows someone who laments the good ol’ days of music, when “real” musicians played. What about movies? When was the last “real movie” made? Who was the last great philosopher? Which President was the last good one we’ll ever have? When did the youth become spoiled?

T3h int3rn3tz h4v3 don3 spoil3d dis h3r3 child.

What marker solidifies the end of the Good Old Days?

These people don’t even have to be crotchety old men sitting on the front porch in a rocking chair waving a cane at the young hoodlums. I know one particular person, near enough my own age, who seems to think that nothing good will ever come again. Anything of worth is already in the past.

To him, the classic RPG dungeon crawlers, such as Plainscape: Torment and Baldur’s Gate, are all there ever really need be. (No, I’m not talking about who you think I am. You’re so vain, you think this blog is about you, don’t you?)

Let’s talk for a moment about a particular field that I know of personally. Videogames. What’s that? There are people like what I’ve described above in Videogames? The Videogames Industry is so young! Believe me, they’re everywhere. Like the person I talked about above.

2D Zelda is classic. No doubt.

I recently played through The Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past. It’s a great game. It truly is fantastic. I see why people love it so much. In many ways it set the precedent for adventure games to follow, and is arguably the game which is most consistently used as a template for game ideas, especially within its own franchise. Some people claim that nothing new has ever really been done with LoZ:LttP’s formula in that series since.

There is a Fairy in the bottom left bush.

They may have a point, in a way. Not a Zelda adventure goes by where a green-clad nearly mute prophesied heroic warrior goes off to save the princess against the evil sorcerer. He collects rupees, shoots arrows, throws bombs, slings his boomerang and above all, finds the mythical Master Sword. He crawls dungeons, slays massiv evil creatures and doges bats or skeletons in EVERY FREAKING ROOM! *Huff*huff* okay, got out of control there a bit with personal experiences. But you get my point.

There have been numerous fantastic Zelda adventures since Link to the Past. Ocarina of Time, Majora’s Mask, Windwaker, Twilight Princess, Phantom Hourglass, and the brand new Spirit Tracks. Fantastic games, all. The formula is familiar, but each one has something new that sets it apart from the rest to make it special (YES even Twilight Princess which borrows liberally from Ocarina of Time. I don’t have time to explain myself here, but all you haters are WRONG!)

Oooo, I'm getting all nostalgic just looking at that screenshot!

*Ahem* As I was saying, there have been many worthy adventures since, and yet there are some people who draw the line in the sand at Link to the Past and say: “That’s it. No other Zelda game will ever match the glory that is Link to the Past.” They box themselves off, and bam, their journey through videogames is essentially dead. Nothing living and fresh will ever come again. The Legend of Zelda is dead.
I strongly disagree. Not only was Ocarina of Time, the first 3d Zelda experience, fresh and exciting, it is a videogame classic for the ages. And then, guess what, Twilight Princess comes along and utterly surpasses it in cinematic and gameplay glory (Yes, I said it. Ocarina of Time is brilliant, genius even, but only Nostalgia calls me to say it was a better experience.) And even in that above-head almost 2-d viewpoint, I believe Phantom Hourglass to be just as good an experience as Link to the Past, despite a repetitive final dungeon.

Twilight Princess was a fantastic game.

For those of you not plugged in to the videogame world like I am, I’m making some serious enemies here. If I disappear over the next couple of days, look for my body in the dumpster behind the Gamestop.

Take another franchise that I, admittedly, don’t have as much experience with. Final Fantasy.
The easy example is to talk about the people who draw the line after Final Fantasy 6 (3 in America) and say there are no more good Final Fantasies, but that is too similar to my Legend of Zelda example above, as it was the line between 2d and 3d Zelda. Final Fantasy 6 was the last main-line 2d FF in the series.

I fell into a burning ring of fire.

Instead, I’m going to put my head under the guillotine by talking about the Holy Cow that is Final Fantasy 7 (I suppose one could say this is also an easy target.) No, I haven’t played the game yet. I want to. But I can still look at the ridiculous reverence paid this entry in the franchise and say, objectively, that drawing the line of the “Last Good Final Fantasy” at that game is stupid.

FFXIII Looks Pretty Good

Now, let me digress from Videogames. Is it really a digression if I’m, getting back to point? Eh, whatever.
What I want to get across is that this happens with everything, not just videogames, music and politics. This happens in life. “Nothing beats the good old educational system. Back in the day parents knew how to raise their kids. When I grew up, we really knew who God was. There’s never going to be someone else I can ever care for like that.”

You’ve met them. The dead walking amongst the living. I’m not even talking about people who are extraordinarily stupid or incompetent, the dead can be that too. What I’m talking about are people who refuse to grow beyond the bounds they set for themselves. They are no longer a part of the world. They’ve passed on.

My Grandfather and Grandmother on my Dad’s side are true examples of this. They sit around their house, listening to the same old music, watching the same old television programs, reading the same old books, daydreaming about days gone by. Grandpa wanders the house eating too much of the same food he always eats, complaining about everything and anything, driving my Grandmother into depression wondering where the fun-loving husband she had is gone, so that she often as not doesn’t care to think past her memories and what household chore she’s working on at the moment.
I love them both, truly. They are dear to me and I will feel sorry to see them go, but in many ways I feel as if they’re already gone. The only time you see life in their eyes is when they’re re-living the past by telling it to others.

This is called staring into the Black Abyss

When people sit around in their homes with dead looks in their eyes, slumped shoulders and drooping mouths, drooling over what used to be, they’ve forgotten that they can still live. There are people they can help, things they can do, experiences to have, knowledge to pass on. Instead of that, they let themselves die.

People die younger and younger, too. While medicine pushes our lifespans out, our minds pull it right back in, tighter. Some people die before they’re even born! They look back at their parents’ lives and say: “It’s never going to be as good as it was then.” And so they’ve killed themselves before they were born.

For one, I plan on living so that I never draw that line. There is always another excellent videogame, song, movie, book to read. There was never a Golden Day of Education and Politics, so there’s always reason to strive to make it better. There are always more people to help, to teach, to love.

Last week I talked about how people put God into a box. Well, people put themselves in boxes too. They’ve dove headfirst into the packing peanuts and taped it shut from the inside.

To close, then, I have just one question for everybody: “Who’s got the box knife?”

- Edward L. Cheever II

A.K.A. Final Fantasy II circa 1991.

MOST.  AWESOME.  GAME.  Ever ….

Anyone who has ever played this game…. SNES, perhaps?… will know what I’m saying. Better than Myst. Better than Nethack (I just keep dying). Better than Sims. Arguments can commence now, but in my experience… FFIV is the most enjoyable game I’ve ever played.

So much so that I’m searching a working SNES console and the original cartridge for FFII. on eBay of course. A few years ago, you could find a SNES for $20. Now, I think it’s going for over $50. A hefty sum for an outdated system.

Anyway, Final Fantasy II or IV (as released on the Nintendo DS with updated graphics) has an amazing storyline with the most memorable characters ever. Remember when Cecil becomes a Paladin? Remember Palom and Parom? Kain? Tellah? Rosa? Rydia? I wanted to name my future child Rydia when I was 7 years old. And of course… the Chocobos.

Oh, yeah… and the music is absolutely phenomenal.

I can’t get into the story because there is too much and to talk about it wouldn’t do it justice. Playing the game, however, would. Just watch this video:

SNES Final Fantasy IV Introduction

On Halloween night, people have gathered in mass at Salle Pollack to ruin thousands of children’s Halloween night in favor of watching a concert in tribute to Final Fantasy. Yes, instead of staying home and waiting for the good old door bell and kids going ‘Trick-or-Treat’ before handing them candy, people went to watch an amazing performance done by l’Orchestre de Jeux Videos…

I, unfortunately, did not bring my camera so I do not have any pictures to put up here. However, someone kindly took some videos of the concert and have posted them up on Youtube. And of course, as last time’s concert, the encore was once again the Final Fantasy VI medley!!

And of course, they have also told us that of their next upcoming concert being held at Cegep Marie-Victorin. Tickets are 10$ for students and 12$ regular and can be reserved by calling 514 325-1050 (extension: 2668). Another concert by the OJV on the 18th of November 2009, a must watch!!!

Original hat tip to Pokey almost half a year ago. Anyway, here’s an awesome Final Fantasy IV song that Hyadain added lyrics too.

Gosh, I love these = ).

The first one is Caramelldansen with the cast of Final Fantasy IV – mostly Cecil, Rosa, and Kain.

Caramelldansen with adult Rydia and kid Rydia. Kid Rydia’s seashell outfit sure is cute.

Caipirinha with Rydia

Back in the early 90’s Nintendo Power was the ultimate gamer magazine. It would detail secrets, give you walkthroughs, and even have a cheat codes. However it would also do terrible Americanized drawings of game characters. One of their worst was the Final Fantasy IV (II to original American gamers). Here are those drawing:

Antes de mais nada, é um jogo para fãs. Você não é fã mas gosta de jogos de estratégia? E de jogos de luta? Então vai curtir Dissidia: Final Fantasy. O jogo trás todos os 12 personagens principais e seus respectivos inimigos em um mega crossover para aqueles que acompanham a franquia (porque diferente do que muitos ainda pensam, os 12 Final Fantasy lançados até hoje não tem ligação. Cada edição do jogo é uma história fechada). A lista de personagens é a seguinte:

Final Fantasy I: Warrior of Light / Garland
Final Fantasy II: Firion / The Emperor
Final Fantasy III: Onion Knight / Cloud of Darkness
Final Fantasy IV: Cecil Harvey / Golbez
Final Fantasy V: Bartz Klauzer / Exdeath
Final Fantasy VI: Terra Branford / Kefka Palazzo
Final Fantasy VII: Cloud Strife / Sephiroth
Final Fantasy VIII: Squall Leonheart / Ultimecia
Final Fantasy IX: Zidane Tribal / Kuja
Final Fantasy X: Tidus / Jecht
Final Fantasy XI: Shantoto
Final Fantasy XII:  Garbranth
Dissidia: Final Fantasy: Cosmos
Dissidia: Final Fantasy: Chaos

A lista é grande e você pode jogar com quase todos eles. Para quem acompanha a franquia é no mínimo interessante controlar o Tidus numa luta contra Sephiroth, ou controlar Golbez em uma luta contra Squall. Curto muito crossovers (e mashups) e alguns fanfics  que pipocam pela internet com diversos personagens de jogos e histórias diferentes se encontrando. Então sim, Dissidia: Final Fantasy agrada e muito esse público. Porém com uma história muito fraca. A princípio você fica empolgado para finalizar com cada um dos doze heróis porque as histórias de cada um completam a grande história do jogo, o porque de eles terem sido retirados de suas dimensões pela deusa Cosmos que está em uma luta há eras contra Chaos, que quer lançar os mundos no caos (RÁ!). Depois que você termina o primeiro arco da história tudo fica igual, sem muita emoção, infelizmente. É também lamentável que tenham usado o mais básico dos traços de personalidade de cada personagem, o que dá a impressão de terem escrito o plot do jogo de qualquer jeito e os motivos deles para lutar e ajudar a deusa. Exemplos? A dúvida de Cloud sobre viver e ser a sombra de Sephiroth, Squall e sua solidão, Tidus e sua alegria irritante, e por aí vai. Uma pena pois quando ouvimos o nome Final Fantasy imaginamos aventuras épicas, profundas e envolventes. Infelizmente não é a realidade de Dissidia. Mas ok, né, é um jogo de luta, e nisso Dissidia se dá super bem.

Ao iniciar a aventura com um dos personagens você será jogado em um tabuleiro com vários inimigos e itens. Ao se movimentar no tabuleiro você perde Destiny Points, que podem ser recuperados cumprindo certos requisitos, como ganhar do inimigo em 10 segundos. Para ganhar a luta você deve atacar os Brave Points de seu oponente, que vão pra você. A qualquer momento você pode fazer um ataque direto no HP do oponente, que irá causar dano equivalente ao seu número de Brave Points. Complicado? Nem um pouco. No jogo o entendimento é automático e combina bastante com a proposta da luta ser decidida antes de entrar no campo de batalha, com a estratégia. Se você nunca se deu bem com “bolão pra trás+soco forte” fique tranquilo, Todos os movimentos são programados para serem efetuados com um simples “esquerda+bolinha”, “cima+bolinha+quadrado”. Nada muito complexo, até porque executar movimentos complicados no PSP é horrível. Estratégia é a palavra chave desse jogo. O que ninguém pode reclamar é dos itens disponíveis para se montar uma estratégia infalível. Existe uma infinidade de armas e escudos com outra infinidade de acessórios com diversas propriedades para você se dar bem contra seus inimigos, além de uma lista enorme de summons que te oferecem vantagens e alguns que brincam com a sua sorte na batalha. E você vai precisar disso para se dar bem nos outros modos de jogo que Dissidia: Final Fantasy te oferece.

Não pense que matou-chefão-cabô-jogo. Quando você der cabo de qualquer chefe, você receberá PPs, que são os pontos para você gastar na comprando de itens que foram liberados na PP Store, que vão desde roupas secundárias para seus heróis, liberar os inimigos como personagens jogáveis, comprar roupas secundárias para os inimigos, novos campos de batalha, novos modos de jogo e mais um monte de coisa. Sobre os modos de jogo um ponto negativo não haver um modo on line. Mesmo havendo a possibilidade de lutar contra seus amigos usando o ad hoc, e mesmo depois da luta você pode lutar contra os “fantasmas” dos personagens utilizados por eles, eu queria um modo de jogo on line. Tudo bem que ainda existem o modo Hard, o Arcade, o Duel Colosseum com mais quatro modos de jogo, os desafios para criar itens no campo de batalha além do desafio de conseguir os itens no próprio “tabuleiro” do jogo através dos Destiny Points. É, pode parecer que estou reclamando de barriga cheia, mas não, eu queria um modo on line =(

E o que falar dos gráficos desse jogo? Nunca estive tão feliz com a capacidade gráfica do meu PSP! Os campos de batalha são enormes e poucas (mas elas existem) vezes a câmera se perde na frenética atuação de golpes. E como os personagens se movimentam belamente nesse jogo! Não é de estranhar que exista a possibilidade de salvar o vídeo da batalha e editá-lo ao seu gosto para assistir depois ou no PSP ou no PC.

Dissidia: Final Fantasy é um jogo para fãs? Sim, mas você que gosta de jogos de estratégia também vai se divertir por meses com ele. Veja o trailer do jogo e divirta-se!

Clique na imagem para melhor visualização.

Este post esta inspirado en un tema que hice en ciertos foros de videojuegos, claro que voy a ampliar mucho mas mi opinión en esta ocasión. La música de la saga Final Fantasy es uno de los aspectos mas destacables, es admirable el trabajo que hizo el Señor Nobuo Uematsu con todas las entregas de la serie. Aunque Yasunori Mitsuda sea mi compositor favorito, Uematsu probablemente este en un muy cercano segundo lugar. Logro hacer cosas excelentes y ambientar increíblemente todos los juegos en los que trabajo. Al igual que en otras entradas, son sin orden en particular, todas me gustan aunque unas mas que otras XD

Main Theme de FFIV

Me encanta la influencia de la musica celta en este titulo, acentúa el aire medieval del contexto del juego, realmente me parece adecuada y sumamente emotiva considerando el juego del que viene. Y nooo no es de enya, Celtic Moon es un disco de arreglos hecho por Máire Breatnach, en esa version es mucho mas notoria la influencia celta.

You are not Alone de FFIX

Este tema en especial me gusta porque, a pesar de salirse un poco de los estándares de Uematsu y de la música de FFIX en general, logra tener una enorme carga emotiva y es sumamente conmovedor durante el contexto en el que se presenta. La mezcla de sonidos me pareció sumamente original, una de mis piezas favoritas de toda la serie

A fleeting Dream de FFX

Esta canción se me hace muy inspiradora y triste al mismo tiempo, me gusta particularmente la progresión de ritmo e intensidad que maneja. También, de nueva cuenta, el contexto ayuda bastante a ser memorable, pero no le quita nada de merito a esta pieza.

Dancing Mad de FFVI


La primer vez que tuve pelea contra kefka realmente estaba tan emocionada en el combate que no le puse la atencion debida a esta pieza, muchos dicen que el mejor tema de combate final lo tiene Sephiroth, pero ooohh que equivocados están, Dancing mad es una combinación de piezas con muchos altibajos y variantes, pero sin perder el hilo del tema original. La version de The black Mages es buenisima Parte 1 y Parte 2

What de FFV

No tengo idea porque me gusta tanto esta pieza, me parece particularmente cómica y ese sonido retro la hace completamente única. No creo que una versión con instrumentos reales pudiese tener el mismo efecto XD. Faris RLZ!!!

Aria Di Mezzo Carattere de FFVI

FFVI creo que es el mejor trabajo de Uematsu a la fecha, la escena de la opera no seria lo mismo sin esta cancion y la interaccion del jugador con la escena, es definitivamente uno de los mejores momentos en toda la serie, si no es que de los RPG’s en general. Ese video no es la versión original, pero tenia que ponerlo porque es buenisimo, viene en un Cd de arreglos que se llama Grand Finale.

Judgment Day de FFVII

Este tema creo que reune los enormes sentimientos de ansiedad y angustia (AKA emonesss )que rodean el juego, pero aun asi tiene un aire de determinacion. El sonido de FFVII me parecio excelente, casi todos los temas son dificiles de encasillar en algun genero o algo parecido.

Fithos Lusec Wecos Vinosec de FFVIII

Me recordó bastante a Dancing Mad, aunque un poco mas sencilla, creo que le va perfectamente a la apariencia de Edea. Los coros me parecen una muy buena adicion, la hacen sonar mucho mas escalofriante. Esta version es tambien de un disco de Arreglos

Four Hearts de FFV

Esta canción después del FFtheme es la que mas me recuerda la serie, es la que creo que transmite ese sentimiento de un viaje fantastico ( ) que evoca la aventura y cosas así. FFV para mi es una de las joyas menospreciadas de la serie.

Tina/Terra’s theme

Mi protagonista preferida de toda la serie, este tema debe de estar entre los mejores de el genero, es uno de los mejores “world map theme”, el sentimiento que provoca este tema, casi casi raya en lo sublime ^__^

BONUS TRACKS:

Final Fantasy Main Theme

Esta en todos los juegos y casi por ahi del final, casi casi te sabe a final de alguna pelicula epica XD

Prelude

Tambien esta en la gran mayoría de los juegos, una pieza bastante buena y que refleja mucho de lo que la serie representa.

Menciones especiales:
Eternal Wind de FFIII
Looking at the ocean de Final Fantasy Crystal Chronicles
Only a Plank Between One and Perdition de FFVIII
Final Fantasy Tactics Intro

Final Fantasy IV

DS Nintendo game reviews

“The epic story of love, betrayal, and redemption is reborn”

Pros : Glorious 3D, New augment system
Cons : A bit difficult.

Product Link

More than 15 years ago, SquareSoft shocked the world with its masterpiece Final Fantasy II (which was actually the fourth game in the series but only the second released in North America). For the first time, console role-players weren’t given a few generic heroes and charged with stopping the evil wizard and saving the world; instead, they were introduced to a wide assortment of realistic characters who struggled with complex adult issues such as love, hate, honor, duty, betrayal, and redemption. Now, this epic saga has been entirely remade in 3D on the Nintendo DS, and whether Cecil, Kain, and Rosa are new faces or old friends, this is one adventure that you shouldn’t miss.

Cecil is a man with a dilemma. Though bound by his duty as the lord captain of the Red Wings of Baron to serve his king and country, his conscience is heavy with the sins that he is committing in their name. The formerly loving and caring king who took Cecil in as a child and taught him the ways of the dark sword has become a sinister and greedy tyrant who covets the sacred crystals of the world for reasons unknown. Upon returning from a mission to Baron’s friendly neighbor Mysidia, in which Cecil and his men were forced to steal one of the crystals like common thugs, he finally dares to question his king’s motives. For his insubordination, Cecil is stripped of his rank and sent on an errand north to the village of Mist, where his destiny is revealed to him and his journey of atonement begins.

Throughout his quest, Cecil is joined by a number of intriguing characters: Kain, his best friend and a dragoon of considerable skill; Rosa, his lady love, who became a white mage to support him on the frontlines; Rydia, a summoner capable of calling the legendary Eidolons (referred to as summon monsters in other games) to her aid; Tellah, a revenge-driven sage who’s forgotten more than most have learned; and many more. Together, they represent some of the most diverse and thoroughly fleshed-out characters in the long history of the Final Fantasy series. Standing on the other end of the spectrum across a sea of monsters is the sinister Golbez, a larger-than-life mastermind of evil clad in full body armor as black as night. His lieutenants, the four elemental archfiends, are equally memorable, particularly the urbane Rubicante, who insists on healing your wounds before doing battle with you.

n this DS remake you now have the power to customize your characters by giving them additional abilities called augments. Augments can be found throughout the world, given to you by leaving party members, or even stolen from certain enemies, and they can do everything from passively increasing stats such as HP and MP to granting class-specific abilities like darkness or recall to normally nonqualifying characters. If you look hard enough, you may even be able to learn the abilities of the elemental archfiends, such as Cagnazzo’s tsunami attack.

The difficulty in this iteration of Final Fantasy IV has been increased tremendously. Even if you’re a seasoned veteran who knows all of the tricks, don’t expect things to be simple; some bosses have changed just enough to throw you off of your game, and all of them are a lot tougher than you remember. By the end of the game, even the normal monsters found in random battles are tough enough to wipe the floor with a superpowered party of heroes if they’re unprepared.

Final Fantasy IV is easily among the best-looking 3D games on the Nintendo DS. Although it has been rereleased several times throughout the years, this full remake of one of the most celebrated stories in video game history is in many ways more poignant and impressive than it was all those years ago, a more accurate and authentic translation, a new skill-customization system, and a few important new story elements that help to better explain key plot points, this is the definitive version of Final Fantasy IV that everyone should experience.

GameSpot Score : 9.0
IGN Rating : 8.7

Available at Amazon.com

Okay, so I didn’t end up writing any game reviews. I haven’t actually written anything at all. Why is that?

I haven’t really cared all that much, tbh.

But now I’m back, and doing what exactly? Coming back from a gaming break is what.

I’m going to try and start blogging again, hopefully every day. Or every week day, at least. It will start today, skip out on Monday (Canadian Thanksgiving) and resume on Tuesday, theoretically. It was my birthday on the 2nd of October (last Friday) so I grabbed a copy of ODST. It’s pretty fun, and I’ll be trying for some of the level-specific achievements over the next few days, maybe a Vidmaster here or there. The H3 MP disc is amazing, and after spending half an hour finding Mythic maps skulls, I haven’t really touched it. I’ll be trying for some of those achievements at some point, I think. Maybe not. I haven’t really decided yet.

I’ve been thinking about finising off Spidey: Web of Shadows this weekend. Realistically I won’t even touch it, but at least if I do put it in my X360, I’ll look for some of those Spider-token thingys, and try for that 75GS Achievement for getting 2000. I’m at, I think, 1100+ or thereabouts. It’s a damn good thing they show up on the map after getting the first K.

Aside from that, I’ll be playing some Mass Effect (still trying for those Ally Achievements, as well as Tech ability usage), so that will pop up on my recent games list eventually. I doubt any Achievements will pop for that game in the next few weeks, but it’s always good to put in some time and effort, so the results come just a little bit faster.

And of course, my adventures in the world of Pokemon continue. I’m playing both Diamond and Platinum versions at the moment, grabbing those unique legendaries and filling up my Diamond Pokedex to full before HeartGold and SoulSilver come out. I’ve also been thinking about digging up my copy of Final Fantasy IV and finally finishing it. Once I do, I’ll be able to do a second playthrough and start making the perfect characters, as well as leveling up the Whitkin dude. Damn, that thing’s creepy.

That’s all for now, but maybe I’ll post something later today. At the very least, something will pop up on Tuesday. Have a good weekend, or whatever.

Colete muitos Gils, compre muitas Potions e Phoenix Downs, eleve o nível de seu personagem ao limite, pois é chegada a hora de retomar a série de matérias sobre a série Final Fantasy. É claro que eu estou falando da série “O Inicio da Fantasia”. É necessário dizer que esta matéria está cheia de SPOILERS?!

"SPOILER, RÁÁÁÁÁÁÁÁÁ!!!"

A Era 8 bits havia acabado e novos consoles estavam chegando com a geração 16 bits, trazendo melhorias gráficas, sonoras e trazendo aspectos novos quanto à jogabilidade. A Nintendo estava ganhando certa fama graças ao seu Super Nintendo, principalmente aqui no Brasil, já que empresas trouxeram o console para terras tupiniquins. Quem não se lembra daquele manual que vinha junto com o SNES ensinando os comandos do Super Mario World? E claro que era uma perfeita ocasião para a Square mostrar o que era capaz de fazer em um console 16 bits, e o primeiro jogo da série a se aventurar foi Final Fantasy IV, que foi trazido para a América como Final Fantasy II.

Mesmo continuando com o esquema tradicional de batalhas por turno, uma adição importantíssima para a série, que faz a sua estréia neste jogo é o Active Time Battle (ATB). Não está ligando o nome á pessoa? Sabe aquele momento em que você vai escolher algum comando e o seu inimigo te ataca antes? Pois é, a culpa é do ATB, agora você pode culpar alguém caso perca para algum inimigo. Agora a velocidade do personagem influencia em quem atacará primeiro. O ATB também introduziu o conceito de Preemptive Strike, onde você tem a chance de atacar primeiro, e Back Attack, em que você literalmente é pego com as calças na mão (Rá!). Outra mudança significativa é que cada personagem tem a sua própria classe, deixando de lado o esquema de escolha de classes do FF1 e FF3 e isso influencia nas características, habilidades e também na personalidade de cada personagem. No quesito habilidades, as mágicas não podem ser compradas como nos jogos passados, mas você vai adquirindo elas à medida que o personagem evolui ou de acordo com o decorrer da história, porem isso está restrito apenas aos personagens que podem usar magia.

"Sua Majestade, o senhor é um fanfarrão!"

A história gira em torno de Cecil Harvey, um Dark Knight e comandante dos Red Wings, uma poderosa força militar aérea a serviço do Reino de Baron. Ao seguir com a campanha por nações pacificas para obter os cristais referentes aos 4 elementos, Cecil questiona se é certo continuarem com isso, o que acaba sendo destituído de seu posto e mandado em outra missão juntamente com seu amigo Kain Highwind. A partir daí, vários personagens são introduzidos no jogo:

Cecil Harvey: Um Dark Knight a serviço do reino. Depois de ser deposto de seu cargo, se torna um Paladino, podendo usar algumas magias brancas e a habilidade Cover, que permite receber dano no lugar de outro companheiro.

Kain Highwind: Um poderoso Dragoon a serviço do Reino. Após desaparecer depois do incidente no vilarejo de Mist, reaparece sob o comando de Golbez. A habilidade Jump dele é muito útil, que faz você saltar fora da tela e em seguida você “pousa” na cabeça do inimigo.

Rosa Joanna Farrel: Uma habilidosa arqueira e White Mage a serviço do reino, é amiga de Kain e Cecil, tendo uma relação próxima com Cecil (entenda: namoro). O lado bom é que ela não morre no primeiro CD.

Rydia: Uma das moradoras do Vilarejo de Mist, que foi atacada pela “encomenda” levada por Cecil e Kain, que acaba se unindo a Cecil. Inicialmente ela é capaz de usar White e Black Magics, alem de Summons, porem no desenrolar da história, ela volta mais velha e podendo usar Summons mais poderosos. Ou seja, Leviathan e Bahamut é só com ela, meu querido.

"Leviathan apareceu! Rydia, jogue a pokebola!"

Cid Pollendina: É o construtor e mecânicos das Airships de Baron. Muito amigo de Cecil, o ajuda quando descobre que o Rei era na verdade um monstro. Ele usa uma chave inglesa como arma (!), portanto espere uma força ignorante vindo dele. Mentira!

Edward Cris von Muir : Bardo que nasceu em Damcyan, apaixonado por Anna. Após ver os Red Wings bombardear Damcyan e ver Anna morrer, Edward decide se juntar a Cecil. Em algumas traduções, é usado o nome Glbert ao invés de Edward. Quem usa uma Lira como arma não deve ser alguém forte, concorda?!

Tellah: Um poderoso mago que esqueceu as suas magias ao ter sua filha Anna raptada por um bardo (Edward). Ao ver que sua filha estava morta, protagoniza junto com Edward a cena com a tradução mais lembrada pelos fãs da série. Após Cecil se tornar um Paladino, ele relembra de todas as magias, inclusive a lendária magia Meteor. Porem como esse velho não passa dos 90 MP, ele não pode usá-la.

"Seu bardo meloso!"

Yang Fang Leiden: Um monge do Reino de Fabul, que é ajudado por Cecil ao ser atacado no Mt. Hobs por monstros de Golbez. Após ter o cristal de seu reino roubado pro Kain, Yang decide se unir a Cecil para obter de volta os cristais. Ele usa as mãos vazias para lutar, mas pode usar garras para causar algum dano Elemental ou status, sem contar que pode concentrar o seu golpe, causando o dobro de dano.

Palom e Porom: Uma dupla de magos aprendizes da cidade de Mysidia, e apesar de serem irmãos, suas habilidades e personalidades são bem diferentes. Palom é usuária de White Mage,e é muito educada e formal, enquanto Porom usa Black Mage e é um fanfarrão, convencido e se acha o gostosão daqui. Quando os dois usam a habilidade Twincast, podem conjurar magias poderosas que causam dano massivo em todos os inimigos.

Edward Geraldine (EDGE): Principe de Eblan e um habilidoso ninja alem de mulherengo e fanfarrão. Após ser derrotado por um dos monstros de Golbez e ser ajudado por Cecil, decide se unir a ele, após dar uma cantada sem vergonha em Rydia. EDGE pode usar duas armas, alem de ter a habilidade Throw, que permite jogar qualquer coisa que tiver, o que torna um personagem extremamente útil.

Fusoya: Fusoya é um Lunarian, que reside na Red Moon, que após ser acordado de seu sono se une a Cecil e fala sobre os Lunarians e sobre o pai de Cecil. Fusoya usa tanto Black quanto White Magic e sabe todas elas, mesmo tendo o seu MP limitado a apenas 190. Sem contar que ele traiu o movimento, pois é o único que está virado para a direita na tela principal.

Golbez: Quando Cecil sai do comando dos Red Wings, Golbez assume o posto, com a missão de possuir todos os cristais. Golbez comanda os 4 Lordes Elementais (Elemental Lords), que são Scarmiglione, Cagnazzo, Barbariccia e Rubicant. Mais à frente descobre que Golbez era controlado pelo Lunarian Zemus. Não é um personagem jogável.

Algumas imagens do jogo:

A profecia

"Super Gêmeos, ativar!"

CG de FFIV, na versão do DS

Final Fantasy IV foi o primeiro que teve uma grande variedade de personagens jogáveis, cada um com o seu próprio background. Por conta disso, o jogo foi um sucesso no SNES e teve versões para outras plataformas, como o Playstation, Game boy Advance e mais recentemente no Nintendo DS, todos trazendo melhorias como adição de sidequests, CGs, gráficos em 3D (na versão para DS), entre outras. Um jogo que merece ser citado é o Final Fantasy IV: The After Years, que mostra uma outra história envolvendo os personagens 17 anos após os acontecimentos  do primeiro jogo, e incluindo Ceodore Harvey, filho de Cecil e Rosa, e Golbez como personagens jogáveis. Inicialmente este título seria apenas para os celulares japoneses, porem estará (ou está, depende de quando ler isso) disponível na Wiiware.

Cast de FFIV - The After Years

Agora que vem a parte complicada: a escolha das musicas a serem mencionadas neste post. A trilha sonora do FFIV é bem extensa, e há muitas musicas marcantes, como exemplo a “Theme of Love” e “Rydia”, outras mais tradicionais que ganharam um toque mais requintando por conta dos recursos do SNES, como a “The Prelude”, que não poderia faltar. Mas destaque todo especial para “Samba de Chocobo”, que junta o tema tradicional dos Chocobos com um ritmo bem brasileiro que todos conhecem. Abaixo alguns adendos musicais, não foi fácil escolher elas, culpa do Nobuo Uematsu que continua nos dando duvidas:

- “Prologue”

- “Main Theme”

- “Fight 1”

- “Cry in Sorrow – Part2” (Você verá composições muito parecidas com esta daqui para frente)

- “The Dreadful Fight” (Foi rearranjada pela banda The Black Mages)

- “The Final Battle” (Também rearranjada pela banda The Black Mages)

Eu gostaria de escrever mais, mas se eu aumentasse este artigo tornaria este texto enfadonho por demais, logo encerro por aqui. Espero não tardar a fazer a próxima matéria, que nem preciso dizer de que jogo será, certo?!

Será sobre Street Fighter?!

So at the end of July Square popped up with a countdown. And many of you may already know, but the countdown was for Lord of Vermillion 2 and I can’t read a lick of Japanese so I’m not sure what the website says. However, it’s probably going to be a Japan only release. A sequel with characters from FFIV, Romancing SaGa 2, and Magic the Gathering…. interesting. =)

One thing people know about RPG’s is that they tend to take a long time to develop. The story extends for a number of hours and usually doesn’t really start making a lot of sense until the end. Porom’s Tale really began to weave the stories of Final Fantasy IV: The After Years together and Edward’s Tale continues that.

Edward’s Tale begins with an advisor to Edward talking about the kingdom’s financial situation and the fact they cannot keep helping the other kingdoms rebuild. Edward is not concerned as tell him in order for everyone to prosper they must help. Meanwhile a star falls out of the sky, the same as mentioned in Yang’s Tale and Edward’s secretary, Hayley enters to discuss that matter. Edward agrees to send Hayley to investigate with the help of some guards. While she is away an emissary from Baron arrives asking Damcyan to allow Baron to investigate the matter. Edward decides to discuss that matter with Cecil personally, after he goes to look for Hayley, who has been gone longer than he expected.

The story in Edward’s Tale centers around his desire for answers because he feels uneasy about Baron’s request. Edward is accompanied through most of the adventure by three unnamed guards and his secretary Hayley. You’ll explore the area of the meteor crash, as you did in Yang’s Tale as well as the area around Damcyan and Kaipo. There is a lot of combat and you’ll want to have the moon phase appropriate to that. There are no magic users in this chapter so healing items and combat are your main priorities. You will also see a small portion of Yang’s Tale from Edward’s perspective and the interaction between those two great rulers.

There is no real challenges to be had during this chapter of the game. The combat focuses mostly on lower to moderate strength groups of monsters. During one portion later in the game you expect a boss fight and prepare for it, only to have that fight not happen. During that encounter you’ll see the possible beginnings of love take root, which is beginning to become a bit of a theme in these later chapters. Edward shows his character as a compassionate ruler. In the beginning of the game he makes it clear that he will help anyone who needs help in continuing to rebuild their kingdom. He risks his life to save a party member even though it could mean his destruction. Towards the end of the game he shows some ingenuity bringing along items to help him confirm some of his suspicions of the activity occurring in Baron. All told he seems to be the character who has grown the most since the original story. He remembers the past, but not at the cost of the future.

Edward’s Tale will take between an hour and a half to two hours to complete and I would say that this, along with Porom’s Tale have been the two best additional chapters of the game and the two that are needed most to make the story fit together. While there are no real action packed sequences the development of Edward’s character and the interweaving of the stories make this a portion that everyone interested in the story should purchase.

A alguns dias átras anunciamos aqui no Rock Games um site mistérioso da Square-Enix, aqui, e dizemos que teriamos mais informações está semana.

Pois então, acabou o mistério galera, e isso já aconteceu a algum tempo só que esqueci de postar. O jogo mistérioso é Lord of Vermillion 2, a continuação do jogo de arcade japonês que, não será lançado no mercado ocidental.

A novidade neste novo jogo da série será a presença de personagens de três outros games famosos: Final Fantasy IV, Romancing Saga 2 e Magic The Gathering.

O L.V 2 se eles não decidirem adiarem para 2010, tem lançamento previsto ainda para o terceiro trimestre de 2009.

Well folks, things have been pretty slow lately. Our staff has been caught up enjoying the fading days of summer and the blog has slipped by. Hopefully the rest of you have been enjoying your summer too, but anyway I’ll keep my post short for once. I recently read a fascinating interview with Hiroki Kikuta about his times working on Seiken Densetsu 2 (Secret of Mana) and with Square. Enjoy!

http://squarehaven.com/news/2007/06/16/Hiroki-Kikuta-Lost-Files-Regained

~Dan

E o contador da Square-Enix foi para anunciar o lançamento de Lord of Vermilion II, sequência do jogo de card game de fliperama japonês.

O jogo será lançado no outono deste ano (primavera pra gente) e contará com a participação de personagens das séries Final Fantasy IV, Romancing SaGa II e Magic the Gathering.

Discuta esta notícia no nosso fórum.

FFIV Detalles del juego Final Fantasy XIV son revelados

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I posted about a countdown from Square Enix which was labeled “VII Days” at the time. Every day it went down a day until today where it ended and Lord of Vermilion II was announced. Lord of Vermilion is a card based game only available in arcades. The sequel will contain characters from Final Fantasy IV, Romancing SaGA II and Magic the Gathering.

A Square Enix Europe anunciou hoje que os jogos Final Fantasy XIII e XIV marcarão presença este ano durante o evento Gamescom, que ocorre entre os dias 17 e 19 de agosto.

Porém a produtora não informou se teremos somente informações e vídeos, ou versões jogáveis dos games que farão parte desta apresentação.

O vice-presidente da divisão européia da empresa, disse que o evento deste ano promete ser inesquecível.

“O evento deste ano promete ser inesquecível com os nossos exclusivos mundiais e diversidade de títulos que oferecemos. A Gamescom 2009 vai nos dar a grande oportunidade de mostrar diretamente os nossos jogos mais emocionantes aos consumidores”, disse Larry Sparks, vice-presidente da divisão européia da empresa.

Mesmo não tendo informação sobre FFXIII e FFIV, a Square Enix Europe apresentará versões jogáveis de games como Supreme Commander 2, Batman: Arkham Asylum, Kingdom Hearts 358/2 Days, Mini Ninjas e Dissidia: Final Fantasy. Para aqueles que viram alguns games que de fato, não são da Square Enix, é por causa do fato da produtora ter se unido na Europa com a Eidos.