Wonderful Free Time Killers (when I have it)
I have seen many a Square-RPG site out on the Net, and I am by no means aiming to duplicate some of them in their quality or vastness. In an attempt to make my page at least somewhat unique I'll offer brief overviews, audio samples, plot summaries for those not familiar with the games and interested in learning about them, graphics samples (on the plot and strategies pages), and my own thoughts and strategies on each for fellow RPGers. Fair warning, the plot summaries contain BIG SPOILERS so don't read them if you ever plan on playing them. Occasionally RPGs get a bad rap, as in if you play them you are a satanist. Well check out my article on religion if you think that. Here I'd like to set the record straight and detail some games that have plots better than most recent movies, breathtaking musical scores, and contrary to most video games require problem-solving skills on the part of the player. For now I am abandoning the plot summaries and thoughts, as I just do not have the time nor the ambition. Perhaps someday I will get around to it.
NEW! RealAudio selections from Final Fantasy 8! Instead of MIDI hear the real thing!
Final Fantasy II (IV in Japan)--The game that started it all for me. Me and a friend (well, especially me) went absolutely nuts over this game. It has a wonderful, very personal plot (it has brought tears to my eyes), set in a quasi-medieval setting that is typical of the Final Fantasy series. It was highly innovative when it debuted so long ago in 1991. Today it seems ancient. It's all about the gameplay though, and FFII has it in scores.
Plot Summary
Audio Samples:
Fiend of the Elements--Music from when the party faces one of the four elemental fiends.
Very dramatic.
Mysidia Theme--Enchanting music played while visiting a town entirely populated by wizards.
Final Fantasy III (VI in Japan)--Considered by many to be the best of the FF series (at least until VIII came out). It featured a cast of dozens, each with their own intricate stories, graphics that stretched the capabilities of the old Super NES, what is widely regarded as the best soundtrack ever in a video game, and many side adventures so that you never play the same game twice.
Plot Summary
Audio Samples:
Celes' Theme--The theme of the character Celes is a lovely ballad that is also the song for
a famous opera scene.
Forever Rachel--No, Rachel, it's not about you. Sorry. This sad song is used when the
character Locke is reminded that he failed to protect his loved one Rachel from being
killed in war.
Johnny C. Bad--Yes, probably a ripoff of Chuck Berry. It's an awesome jazz song that just
makes you want to tap your foot.
Spinach Rag--Nice ditty that is used in the Opera House and a few other locales.
Overture--Played when the credits roll at the beginning and while on the world map.
Atma Weapon--Played while battling the two monsters known as Atma Weapons. Very exciting.
Final Fantasy VII--The reason why I bought a PlayStation. I wasn't disappointed. It doesn't have the best plot of the series but it does have incredible graphics and the usual top-notch gameplay. The computer graphic movies are simply stunning compared to anything besides FFVIII. If you don't like your favorite character to die, stay away from this game. I was 16 when I played this game for the first time and that still made me shed a few tears.
Plot Summary
Audio Samples:
Cid's Theme--Cid is the only character to be featured in every FF game in one way or another. In VII
he is a brash but good natured pilot/would-be astronaut.
Costa Del Sol--Great music of a laid-back resort town.
Bombing Mission--Dramatic music for the opening mission of the game.
Final Fantasy VIII--And I thought VII was impressive. VIII blows away every other RPG to date in terms of graphics and being more than a game--it's an interactive movie. The game engine has been changed so much it's hard for me to call it a FF game. But the commonalities are still there. I just recently finished this monster of a game. It is the most difficult FF out there.
Audio Sample:
Dollet--Music played when the main character, Squall, and two friends embark on their final mission as
mercenaries in training.
Final Fantasy Tactics--Quite different from the rest of the FFs in that the emphasis here is primarily on battling. Battles are waged like a sort of chess match where the player has a vast assortment of character types to choose from, from knights to archers to wizards to ninjas. Highly complex medieval plot and very challenging, I recommend it even over FFVII (unless you're looking for CG movies).
Audio Sample:
Antipyretic--Theme played usually when the characters are forced to fight someone they thought was
their friend (there are many backstabbings in the game).
Chrono Trigger--The last great Square RPG of the Super NES. Incredible graphics for only 16 bits. Also a unique battle system that I fail to understand why Square hasn't adopted in more games. A great plot featuring time travel to prehistory, the middle ages, and a post-Apocalypse world.
Audio Samples:
Magus' Theme--Magus is a wizard that at first is pure evil but then turns out to be not such a bad guy.
I simply love his theme.
Undersea Palace--Played in a pivotal dungeon towards the end of the game.
Xenogears--Square's first venture into anime. The plot of this game is so complicated I could not begin to describe it. A very long game too, perhaps 70 hours. Highly enjoyable nonetheless, with great characters and awesome battle systems that remind you of the Power Rangers.
Audio Samples:
Overture--The overworld theme. Very nice and lyrical.
Treasure that Cannot be Stolen--Probably the best ballad I have ever heard in a video game. What a
tearjerker.
Solaris--Music of the country that rules all from behind an impenetrable barrier. You wouldn't think
so from the music.
For more info about any of these games go to Squaresoft's site or run a search of the Web. All images on these pages are property of Square Software, not me.
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