Rant
Star Ocean 2: The Second Choice
By Lashaar
The hottest RPG out right this minute? Star Ocean 2: the Second Story. What I find cheerful, but at the same time, some what funny about this, is that it's not yet another Final Fantasy game. Oh, we all know that when FF8 comes out this fall it'll be the biggest event of the year for RPGamers, but right now, fans of the genre are satisfied by the seminal Star Ocean 2. Now I don't think SO 2 is a great game. Good, but not great. The story and the characters need major work, but the RPG elements are well in place. It's got a good challenge factor, a great item creation feature and other gimmicks, and well, it's an RPG! And that's all we RPGamers really need. Like most of you already know, RPGs are coming out in North America at a brisk pace. The month of July features yet another seminal RPG by the name of Jade Coocoon. Without playing it, I think, right now, that it will be a good game. Not a great game, but good. Just before the release of Star Ocean 2 was the seminal (but oft delayed) Lunar, the Silver Star Story Complete. It was better than good, but not great. Starting to get my drift? RPGs are starting to diversify, but more importantly, they are following the trend of the Playstation system itself: a lot of titles, but only a few great ones. Still another trend is emerging. There is a clear difference between the above three games I mentioned. Lunar is a traditional RPG, pure bred with lots of old school following. SO2 is a step beyond. It's got more gimmicks, fancier graphics, and CG. Then there's Jade Coocoon. Huge gimmick (in the form of monster taming/blending, and completely polygonal/CG graphics. There is starting to be a game of each of us, aimed at each of our tastes. The genre of RPGs is intensifying and diversifying. Soon, even the most die hard RPGamers will find an RPG that they just can't play. Probably because it's got Beatmania battle sequences.
Oh, and by the way, if you disagree with anything on this page or other subsequent pages of my homepage and you have an intelligent reason *why*, don't hesitate to write. However, if you have a stupid complaint about the layout, or how long my rants are...then don't bother coming here! Oro...
1st Rant--re:RPGs, by Lashaar
2nd Rant--re: stuff...by Elly
