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Video Game Love Part 3
For this segment of Video Game Love, we need to travel back in time, before I can talk about the next set of games. In order to understand the significance of the following games to me. So we travel back to the very beginning of my relationship with video games...


Years ago, more years than I care to remember, the first original Nintendo made its way into my household. This was before the florida room was converted into the family room. Before the sliding glass door that separated the room from the rest of the house was removed, along with the large glass window, and the four sliding doors that separated the florida room from the yard were filled in. This was when the old tile in that room was still in place, we still had carpet, the current dining room was the family room, my parents had two doors to their bedroom, the current living room was half dining room, half living room, there was no office and no library. The current library was actually Alain's room. This was before the kitchen was remodeled.

We had the basic games and Alain had the most. Magni owned a couple. I owned Super Mario Bros. 2 and that was about it. My brothers were far more interested in the games than I. I would last about fifteen minutes and then either get bored or get frustrated. My hand-eye coordination was not the very best.

Some more years rolled by and we acquired a hand-me-down Super NES from my half brother. Super Mario World came with it, along with a few other games. Including Super Mario RPG.

That game surprised me. It took me a bit before I realized what RPG stood for (role-playing game). At the time it was just...different. The characters had dialogue. Like in a movie or book. Mario didn't say anything, but he bounced and had movements--enough to convey what he said along with how the other characters responded to him. You could play more than one character at once. And...there were new characters. A cloud person named Mallow (who, yes, looked like a marshmallow) who thought he was a frog, and Geno, a possessed puppet. Even better than new characters were the characters we DID know and love that were accessible to play. You could have Peach in your group. Princess Peach, and this was still before we here in America found out her name was Peach. I believe she was still called Toadstool in those days. But she'd slap the hell out of baddies, beat them with a parasol, or eventually... A FRYING PAN. It was a beautiful thing. I actually was able to play an obvious female character. Super Mario Bros. 2 was the one SMB game I owned and wanted because you COULD play Peach in that one as well. She floated. In the SMB RPG, you could also have Bowser, the Koopa King, in your party. That was also PARTICULARLY awesome. And...the game was funny. "Drink punch... Eat cake... Sounds complicated." For a kid barely in her teens and living off books and films, this game was a miracle. I would actually sit there and play for about half an hour to forty-five minutes without getting bored. Normally, once level building got tedious, that was when I stopped. It was still Mario Bros. too. But that was a record for me. A long time to be sitting playing a game.

But that was it. No other game at the time could occupy that much of my time. My brothers had other games, action ones, platform ones--Legend of Zelda, TMNT, Rygar, Earthworm Jim and the like--and other systems, like a Sega Genesis with Magni's favorite, Sonic the Hedgehog...but I couldn't play them. I died too often, got upset and frustrated, or just bored, and then give it up. I'd just watch them play. And even then got bored, because well, it was not like they had a story or anything. Like Super Mario Bros. RPG, which most definitely did.

Then one day, I don't remember all the details, but I know that Magni borrowed a game from a friend. I don't recall if he and Alain had already started playing it, but I remember these facts.

1) The Super NES had already been moved from the crappy, 60s TV in the florida room to the big Sony we had in the family room.
2) The game had a unique quirk for the time, called a "New Game Plus." That meant that whatever level you were at when you beat the game, it stayed with you when you started it again. So instead of starting at level one, you would start at level 50-something where you were at when you beat it the first time. It also meant you kept whatever equipment you had at the end of the game. The best of the best stuff.
3) The owner of the game, Carlos, had played it enough times that he had gotten the "New Game Plus" up to level 99. Which meant if you chose "New Game Plus" rather than "New Game" in the start screen, you would start the game at level 99 and not be able to gain a level again. And you started with the very best equipment and a lot of money.
4) Alain and Magni, I believe, were punished and therefore not allowed to play any video games at the time. Not even the one Magni had borrowed.
5) It was either summer or a weekend. I know because I had nothing to do all day but play a game.

What happened is that I popped in this borrowed game called Chrono Trigger, not really knowing anything about it, but too bored to do anything else but give it a try--especially since I wouldn't have my brothers hounding me to get OFF the thing if I did enjoy it--and with my track record figured it was safer to just do the New Game Plus and start at the most powerful level I could be so I didn't have to worry about dying and then getting upset at the game and stopping.

I quickly realized that this...this was very different. This was like no other game I had ever played in my life. It was like SMB RPG, only even more story. Lots more dialogue, interesting new characters, no one I was familiar with. Not just a plot, but mini-games and talking to cats and picking them up and a mom and a house and a best friend, who was utter nerd. It was playful and fun and different and interesting... and then we traveled through time.

I'm a science fiction geek. This. Was gold.

I laughed, I loved the characters. I didn't have to worry about all the little things, like having enough gold to buy stuff, not having the right equipment or the right items, changing stuff up, level building--ugh. The simplification of the New Game Plus allowed me to play the game straight through without anything to hinder the progression of the story. And that gave me the chance to become involved in the story. I laughed a lot. And then, about halfway through, for the first time in my life, I cried at a video game. I cried my little heart out.

I played Chrono Trigger for several hours. I couldn't stop. It was like a movie or a book. Instead of turning a page, I pushed buttons.

As I played, at some point, Magni and Alain told me there were multiple endings. So I had to figure out a way to get the very best ending. I did, eventually, and goodness, the boys were surprised that I had played a game--any game--for such a long period of time before I finally stopped. And, if I recall correctly, I only stopped because I was falling asleep.

Chrono Trigger changed how I played video games. Changed my perspective and my whole world when it came to video games. Eventually, the first Christmas present I bought for anyone was for my little brothers. I bought them Final Fantasy VII. We got pretty involved in that. Magni got a hold of Xenogears, epic in every aspect.

In the year 1999, before Christmas break, I tried to finish Xenogears as quickly as possible, so for Christmas when I got Final Fantasy VIII, I didn't have another game to play besides it. That was the Christmas break where Alain already had a TV in his room, and we all--Alain, Magni, Nick, occasionally Anthony, and I--would have to take turns playing whatever game we wanted. There were so many for our Playstation by then.

I remember still as clear as day, Nick wanting to play Tonyhawk and trying to get me of the PS, while I played FF8. I told him, "I'll get off once I get to a save point, Nick."

He said, "When are you going to get to a save point? What's it look like?"

My reply? "You'll know it when you see it."

When Squall ran through the sewers and came across this shiny glowing orb with spinning rings, Nick immediately chirped, "Is THAT a save point?"

I smiled and said, "Yup. That's a save point. Told you you'd know it when you saw it."

Christmas break came and went, and so did Nicholas. I believe, in a way, that my affection for video games after the turn of the century--of the millennium--now correlates with my love for my cousin. Playing video games now--even at almost thirty--I think, on some subconscious level, reminds me of Nick.

Every time I play there is a little bit more of Nick with me.

But I never did finish FF8.

With graduation from high school I got The Legend of Dragoon and Magni got Chrono Cross the sequel to Chrono Trigger--if it can really be called that. After that it was Final Fantasy IX, which became the first game I ever replayed. The characters and story and plot and HOW the story unfolded was the best I'd ever seen to date. I replayed other ones afterward, usually years later, like Xenogears and Legend of Dragoon and Chrono Trigger. But FF9 was my favorite of the Final Fantasy series, and I think by that point, it was my favorite game period. I even enjoyed the card game.

By that time, Anthony had an N64, and I'd seen my brothers play Ocarina of Time and Majora's Mask from the Legend of Zelda series. I didn't even bother trying to play them. They were too tedious and complicated, and there wasn't enough story to keep me going. I'd watched lots of action games by then, because a good chunk of them had gotten stories. Metal Gear Solid and Soul Reaver among them--and then later the rest of both series. But there was no way I could ever play them. I think I might've tried once or twice and gave it up real quick.

Then the Playstation 2 made its grand entrance into the gaming world. The boys got a few games and then, again Christmas time, I needed to get myself a pair of PS2 games. One--Final Fantasy X--was a given. I was a fan of the series, the ninth installment being my favorite, and there was no way I wasn't going to get FF10. The boys accepted it; it allowed them to get other stuff. But I didn't want one game to their five and six already. I wanted at least two. In those days, Alain subscribed to PSM--Playstation Magazine. They had articles and reviews on the newest games. So I looked to see what else would come out around the same time.

There was one review, by one of the only women on staff at PSM, that caught my eye. FF10 was given a 10 out of 10 by the magazine. This game--called Shadow Hearts--was given a 9 out of 10. It was a role-playing game. Different than the usual. Francesca--the reviewer--had wonderful things to say about it. So, with no other RPGs that caught my interest or had such a glowing recommendation, I decided that my Number Two game would be Shadow Hearts.

We went to Best Buy after Christmas with our gift cards in tow, and I got two RPGs. When it was my turn to play for my hour (as the system we created worked in those days) my brothers watching me play my games, like I watched them play theirs, I decided to try out this Shadow Heart game, because, well, we all knew that once we started playing FF10, it was going to be hard to stop and we'd never get around to seeing this other one.

It amazes me how one can perceive something so confidently, and then be so stunned later when it turns out as no one could have predicted.

Forget FF10. I couldn't stop playing Shadow Hearts. We--and I mean we, Alain, Magni and I, because they stopped playing THEIR games to play THIS ONE--had to force ourselves to stop and play FF10 out of a misplaced sense of loyalty. Ultimately, though the graphics and cinematics of FF10 far outshone SH, there was no comparison and no contest when it came to plot, dialogue and characters. Shadow Hearts kicked the shit out of Final Fantasy X. And I let PSM know. My little letter of "thank you" to the reviewer, Francesca, got printed. Under HARDCORE.

To this day, I have played Shadow Hearts so many times, I've lost count, and every time is just as enjoyable as I remember, sometimes even more enjoyable. And I have never, ever replayed FF10 after I beat it the first time. Once, in the end, was too much.

And so part of my gaming life shifted again. The Final Fantasies weren't a priority anymore. When FF11 came out--which was only available as an MMORPG--I didn't bother. When 12 came out, I didn't care. FF13 I thought about, but in the end, decided against. After Shadow Hearts, my video game playing slowed down almost to halt. I got SH2: Covenant when it came out and ended up being a little disappointed and not that impressed. Wasn't as good as the first one. I got Koudelka, still haven't gotten around to playing it. I was in Japan when SH:3 came out. Got it when I came back to the States. Never finished it.

The lull turned into a full out stop. Nothing new. Nothing interesting. Nothing different. Just watched some more actions games, like the Devil May Cry series. If I played, I just replayed the Greats and tried to play the stuff I missed. Like the earlier Final Fantasies.

Then the Wii was going to come out. The final Legend of Zelda game for the Gamecube was being released, and it would also be converted to the Wii. I'd seen most of the LoZ games by now. I knew the characters, but I was more interested in this new Zelda than I'd ever been in any of the previous ones. I'd heard a vague rumor that this game was based of a manga that was based off of the movie Ladyhawke, which I adore. And I found out...Link turns into a wolf. And the graphics were beautiful. Link actually had PANTS now! Real pants! And you could fight on Epona!

And the gaming world shifted for me ever so slightly again. Because, for the first time, I wanted to play an action game. Because LoZ: Twilight Princess was DIFFERENT. I loved Midna. There was more dialogue and story, and to me, Link was more of a person, had a real life aside from this Hero of Hyrule stuff, and Zelda, who I always liked the least, was barely in the game. I wanted to play Link turning into a WOLF. So I did. I had Alain and Magni to help me out a LOT. Every time I got stuck, I handed them the control, and they beat the boss or got through this one part for me. Like the bloody sledding. And I beat my first action game. My first Zelda game. With a great deal of help. But I still did.

But that was the extent of my bravery when it came to action games.

Then I came to Spokane, WA, and brought with me my favorites. What did I do out there in between writing, reading, partying, visiting friends, walking, working, watching movies, and going to events? I replayed my favorites.

I said that the gaming world shifted ever so slightly with Twilight Princess. Baby steps, really. I played it again without my brothers to help and it was harder and I found myself falling into a similar pattern that kept me from playing action games before. But I persevered and kept trying and trying and trying until I beat the sections I was trying to beat. Sometimes I had to stop for a while, hours, days. But when I tried again, I tried again. I really would. And eventually, I did it. It felt good. But really, what kept me going I believe was the fact that I did love the game and I knew the game. So I wanted to play it and I couldn't give up because I wanted to get to the parts I liked.

Baby steps. So when Magni moved out here and I moved across the state and he got himself an Xbox, I told him I wanted a game. It could be cheap and used, it didn't matter. I just wanted one I could play between looking for work. Something new. But, something safe. An RPG. So Magni and I found Lost Odyssey and I played that for a while, with Magni watching me. However, there was this other game that was recommended to me as well, that I was a little unsure about. It was an action game. Fantasy. I wasn't so sure. Part of my problem with action games too, aside from frustration and boredom is that...I'm a bit of a scaredy cat. I jump when monsters pop up out of nowhere. I yell and move and freak out trying to hack and slash at something. My hand-eye coordination STILL sucks. My thumbs hurt because I push to hard thinking pressure makes a difference. I try to see around the screen. I don't need a virtual reality game, I make my own playing a normal action game. And yes, I did this with LoZ:TP as well.

Needless to say, I wasn't confident. But it was recommended enough, and it was on sale with all the extra bits that come with it, and Magni was using up a gift card. I still had Lost Odyssey too, so if worse came to worse I still had my safe RPG.

So we got Fable II.

What had begun as baby steps with LoZ:TP changed the way I played and what I played, forcing me to evolve as a video game player. Fable II was interesting enough and easy enough to keep playing without much struggle. I still jumped, I still moved, I still yelled and hollered, but I loved so much about it that I needed to keep playing. The story was good and messing around to design my character the way I wanted her...was fabulous. I was PETRIFIED of hobbes. The game is kind of scary, but I still played. By the time I was done, I wanted Fable III, which had just come out. In that game, we could play co-op. So Magni and I could play together! By the time I finished that game, Magni caved and got himself a PS3. And with it, Little Big Planet 2. And I played that. A platform action game. I got to dress up my sackperson and it was unbelievably cute. And I could play with Magni AND Alain. And then eventually with Rio. I even played LBP2 with Amaris and she had a blast.

So by the time Magni bought Dragon Age: Origins and I started to play it, I wasn't jumping at shadows in the game anymore. I was confident about hacking and slashing. I didn't die very often and when I did, it was okay. I finished Fable 2 & 3 and DA:O, and I still haven't finished Lost Odyssey.

So like Super Mario Bros. RPG, Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess was the first step in changing the way I perceived video games, the way played I them and what I played. They introduced a new possibility for me. And then, like Chrono Trigger, Fable II transformed everything. What has been closed off to me before is now open, just like years ago when RPGs changed everything for me.

A good story is still what I value above all else in any game. It's the one thing that all my favorites share in common. It's how I choose which I game I own. The story and the characters is what allows me to write even about the games I don't actually play. Those are things that make me replay a game. Not the mechanics or the graphics. It's the story and the characters and my own investment in them. Sometimes they're just fun. Sometimes it's sharing them with people. And sometimes it's the game itself that opens me up to something new.

...And it seems this recount of my past with video games has taken up too much space and too much time for a blog. I wrote this so that way my readers could come into the main section of this post--about Fable 2 & 3--with some context as to their importance and how they influenced the game after: Dragon Age Origins. Instead, this became its own post. I just hope that whoever reads this remembers it when I refer to it later.



TO BE CONTINUED...




COMING SOON:

-Fable II & Fable III
-Dragon Age: Origins/Awakening

~~~

QUOTE OF THE DAY:

"If you don't like something change it; if you can't change it, change the way you think about it." ~Mary Engelbreit