A look back at: Shining Force

Oddly enough, someone actually did recommend me Shining Force as a Genesis classic a long time ago, and it took me a long time to actually get to playing it. But then again, this is a game that I really don't want to look back on.

But thou must, okay, it's a strategy game, basically Final Fantasy Tactics for the Genesis, but without any of the fun. Promoting characters once they hit level 10? Sure, except they go back to level 1 which isn't as good as it seems, especially for mage or healer characters who learn spells at higher levels. Enemy defenses and evasiveness is also a concern, with many taking either one point of damage all the time, even after upgrading equipment for characters in a town before the battle. I like Balbaroy and Amon, they are swordfighters with perfect mobility due to being flying, but even when I give them a Doom Blade sword (honestly the best they can equip, although they can equip the Sword of Darkness you lose that weapon soon anyways, and the only Katana comes from another decent attacker in Musashi and should stay with him anyways) they still do like 1 point against most enemies. The whole Knight class is generally bad at everything except mobility and offense, and mobility-wise they suck when it comes to forests and mountains. Guntz is a bit different from the six knight characters (Ken, Mae, Arthur, Pelle, Vankar, Earnest) and has better defense. Kokichi is essentially a flying knight and far more useful, and Lyle is basically a combination of Knight and Archer, in the best parts overall. The mages are generally decent, Alef having the best spells and Domingo the best mobility. Zylo for some reason got worse when I promoted him. Some characters like Adam and of course Jogurt are completely useless.

But again, the big issue with this game is that if your character cannot offensively or can otherwise kill an enemy (usually one that is at 1 HP) they can barely ever profit. One thing I liked about Langrisser II was that upon winning an entire battle, everyone gets experience from it, something that Shining Force should've done so that weaker characters don't lose out. Sadly, it's difficult to get most characters to be as good as Max, Kokichi, Domingo, Amon, Balbaroy, Anri, Tao, Lyle, Alef, Guntz, or Musashi in terms of damage output*. And that really puts a damper on my fun in this game, along with the measly 1 experience from just doing 1 point of damage, or none at all if someone evades. How am I supposed to get the best spells in such cases? Yep, I was disappointed with this game overall, and the plot is basically "get recruits, hometown gets invaded, keep going, find prophecy, defeat enemies, find brainwashed dude who helps sometimes, finally defeat evil guy and the abomination he summoned, the end" so even it's not good. When the character with the most development is Kain, a villain who was just mind-controlled and helps out a few times before he dies, you know they should've added more to it. Would've helped if Max was a more talkative protagonist, I mean even Garrett from Warsong has him beat in terms of personality, and by the end of that game Garrett was the only person with personality in the party.

*Regarding Amon and Balbaroy, I like them again because of their mobility, and with Doom Blades they can take on weaker foes, but others will likely just get pinpricked instead, and that's bad. Luke and Gort become Gladiators and can reasonably do damage, as well as every knight if equipped with the one Valkyrie

A look back at: Pokemon Prism

Everyone plays a game on-and-off. And Prism is definitely such a game that pretty much needs to be played that way. For a Gen-2 hack it does a good job separating day and night, giving a whopping 20 badges to get along with not one but two different leagues, plus new legendaries, trainer looks, and trainer skills. Also Mystery Dungeon-style gameplay and loads of familiar locations and places. In my opinion? This game's a keeper folks.

But of course it's still in development and unfinished business is unfinished business. Zapdos is currently unavailable to catch, and Lance has a mission for you in the Power Plant that so far hasn't been reached. I was unable to get Raiwato, because I can't fill out the second Bingo Card for the grappling hook item, which I need to beat a Battle Tower Tycoon and it appears that the Battle Tower system is bugged because I've been fighting and one hasn't shown up yet. Some things crash the game entirely, including trying to pick up prizes at the Battle Tower, as well as journeying to Kanto or Johto without a Magnet Pass (you'd think the operator would just not let you pass but instead you still board the train and the game crashes).

The Pallet Patrollers are definitely quirky villains for this game, not just for their Power Ranger knockoff suits but just their overall motives and behaviors. Red clearly bosses everyone around, while others talk about themselves and what they've got going these days. Still though, their motives get them arrested, and the officers in this Pokemon game are actually competent for once. A bit crazy though since they are eager to arrest people, even the player upon reaching a sacred island. Naljo is a screwed up place, due to some crazy greed in industrialization and modernization, and the Pallet Patrollers are basically the conservatives of sorts, for all the wrong reasons. It melds into a somewhat silly plot that does manage to intertwine itself with the whole cliche Pokemon mantra. They are significantly goofier than Team Rocket often, but they are pretty badass for characters to fight.

Of course that don't compare to defeating the gym leaders, the league, or the Mystery League*.

*I like how Brown is the only member who speaks. Of course, he spoke at times in Pokemon Brown but still, the ellipses that Gold and Red have make the whole thing seem hilarious.

A look back at: Final Fantasy Adventure

Finally another Mana game oh wait no hahahaha. Well, it's definitely the first in the series, odd how the more famous Secret of Mana came after this one, and technically after Sword of Mana since this game is the original version of that one. With Zelda-like navigation it was like playing Link's Awakening except I wasn't playing Link's Awakening. I sure wasn't going on a dungeon-fused fetch quest, just playing the story of Sword of Mana more primitively. No need to worry about allies, since they just sort of wander around without any harm to them. The Chocobo in particular was quite helpful.

Needless to say, loads of grinding in one particular spot got me to level 60 long before I fought even Medusa, which tells me quite a lot. I could've gone further, but then I noticed where the gold caps out at, not that it really matters. I made this game really easy. And to be honest, as primitive as it is, I kinda needed to because of how clunky it played. Having to find which particular weapon or spell that defeats some enemies is certainly a hassle and a complaint I have about this game, having to continuously switch weapons, since the morning star is better than the flail for instance on some enemies, or having to switch between items and magic often. Oh, and some of these dungeons don't have a lot of clues where to go, and keys and mattocks are often needed to get around, and those are expendables necessary. In some cases, it's possible to make the game unwinnable. Plenty of bosses, predictable in most cases but I found those dragons a lot tougher than Julius for example due to their head being the only weakpoint and them constantly moving it. The statuses aren't all that debilitating, you can get Stone but that only prevents movement, you can still attack and cast spells, while Dark doesn't really hinder anything at all. Moogle however is pretty nasty.

A look back at: Dragon Quest V

Plot of Dragon Quest I: Save a princess from a dragon and kill a dragonlord
Plot of Dragon Quest II: Find your cousins and fight off a demonic wizard
Plot of Dragon Quest III: Explore the real world until you find and defeat another demonic wizard
Plot of Dragon Quest IV: Join several protagonists on multiple journeys until your "chosen one/legendary hero" comes to the light, then make everyone unite against a demon king.

So far these plots have been cliche and likely the series is just gonna be this the whole way, with medieval settings and mountains and forests and monsters. DQ5 decides to improve on the plot, but not necessarily the gameplay since it's sort of the same deal, apart from taming monsters and joining them. I mean, that's the only really new aspect. Why did they shrink the party size down from 4 to 3? And I'll tell you, slow walking speed really does bother me. Not to forget all the grinding I have to do, especially for the main hero who tends to gain levels the slowest.

The plot rollercoasters quite a lot with hope spots, and it's so far the best plot in the series, but it leaves a load of speculation. How does the hero, during his time as a slave, manage to learn how to read? Did Henry help him with that? Also no matter who the hero marries, it still means that his son will always be the legendary hero? Not to mention the son always looks the same. And when he and the wife are turned to stone, years have passed, the son and daughter rescue the hero at their age of 8, this makes me wonder exactly when the hero and the wife marry (I mean what age and all), because they pretty much keep whatever age they were when restored. Moreso for the little kid that gets kidnapped during that sequence, since he's shown as a mindless slave later and looks no different from the other male slaves. Considering when he was kidnapped, and it takes about two years for the hero to reach that great temple destination, there's certainly something to ponder. And what on earth is the Master Dragon doing not only in human form, but apparently stuck in a mine cart that goes in circles and just HOW LONG was he in that thing for? The plot certainly has its memorable moments, and then it has the weird stuff that is all plot-holey and needs addressing.

Villain or Dick?

Time for a new series:
It should be obvious to everyone. Villains are always in games, just so we can have heroes. Many RPG villains have this mantra of being a villain. But if you ask me, a villain has to do more than just kill a bunch of dudes. A villain has to be cunning, cruel, but also have proper ambitions and hopes so that they can seem legitimate. In other words, villains who are all about taking over are certainly villains, but those who are more leaning towards destruction and mindless slaughtering are really just dicks. So what this will be is a collection of villains and classifying them as either a villain, or a dick.

Villain: Ten Wise Men - Star Ocean 2
Known for: Being ten rebellious Nedians who use Advanced Heraldry against their enemies.
Verdict: Dicks
Explanation: This should be quite obvious. The Ten Wise Men, yes, all of them, are all about destroying the universe, obviously being the ones responsible for Expel's destruction. If their dickery doesn't explain that, then try the destruction of Ronixis' ship, where they toy with the power of their weaponry right in front of the heroes. You may think that any of these guys, particularly Indalecio, would have some motives to speak of, but no.

Villain: Loki - Valkyrie Profile
Known for: Asgardian who is the God of Mischief
Verdict: Dick (duh)
Explanation: Should this really need explaining? It's Loki. Whether you think of Tom Hiddleston's portrayal in the MCU, the awful blockbuster bomb in Son of the Mask, or this game's Loki, it's all the same. In Valkyrie Profile, he uses the Dragon Orb to destroy both Asgard and Midgard. That alone is nothing but dickery.

Villain: Luca Blight - Suikoden 2
Known for: Prince of Highland, warring bastard.
Verdict: Dick (but his motives show signs of just villainy)
Explanation: It pains my heart to say he's a dick, but he is. Luca slaughters villages, forces people to beg and act like pigs THEN kills them, and has no problems with slaughtering children. He's so much of a dick that those who have positions in Highland (read: Jowy, next on this list) have to scheme to get rid of him, because all he cares for is pain, blood, and suffering. Still, his backstory, how he couldn't have saved his mother from being raped, is a sign of plain villainy.

Villain: Jowy Atreides - Suikoden 2
Known for: Hero's best friend, turned traitor, wielder of Black Sword Rune
Verdict: Villain (but has dickish actions throughout the game)
Explanation: It's amazing how Jowy stands in full contrast to Luca Blight. He gets through some tough crap but ends up in the Highland ranks, devising a villainous but bloodless strategy to take over Greenhill. He also never wants to fight Riou directly, due to them being friends, always wishing for the surrender. But, he did kill to get to the high ranks, is okay with Muse citizens being sacrificed, and has even indirectly been responsible for several deaths including Luca's.

Villain: Krelian - Xenogears
Known for: Long haired pretty boy who does stuff in Solaris and looks at most humans as weak.
Verdict: Villain
Explanation: As convoluted as Xenogears is, Krelian qualifies as a villain easily. He's not one to be a pawn, but he definitely has some control over things, like the Gazel Ministry and Solaris. The lowest creatures are made into food, which is amazingly dickish, but you never see Krelian bothering with it. Also since Krelian is from the past, we also see his motives, he is in fact stricken hard by the death of Sophia, and aimed to create a God himself. A truly villainous ambition, one that did sacrifice many, but one that is just villainous.

Villain: Id - Xenogears
Known for: Being Fei's alternate persona, Demon of Elru
Verdict: Dick
Explanation: I'm probably not gonna get to every single villain in Xenogears, but Id's nothing but an obvious dick since all he is is someone who destroys things and that's all he ever does. He drops submarines on gears, destroys city foundations, and makes Ramsus cry back home or whatever. Heck, he has no real motives, at least until you reach the part where you last meet Grahf.

Villain: Miang Hawwa - Xenogears
Known for: Ramsus' secretary, but also one of three consistently resurrecting personas in the game
Verdict: Villain
Explanation: Hard to classify really. Near the late game Miang is definitely with Krelian all the way through, but as her previous incarnations have apparently done, they've all been villainous and there's no questioning of it. Whether it involves Zeboim's sinking or experimenting on a young Fei, they are villainous and ambitious. Miang's not one to just kill people though.

Villain: Ghaleon - Lunar Silver Star Story Complete
Known for: Being a magical sorcerer, former friend of Dragonmaster Dyne. Also shows up in Eternal Blue as a fake Dragonmaster.
Verdict: Villain
Explanation: In Ghaleon's case, he's a fallen hero, one that quite obviously didn't like the outcome of his journey and what Dyne has done, so he turned to villainy because of it. He basically stayed safe until he meets Luna, then imprisons each of the four dragons and awakens Althena. Not an ounce of dickery in him. Heck, even in Eternal Blue when he seems to show signs of dickery he never goes full force.

Villain: Delita Hyral - Final Fantasy Tactics
Known for: Former best friend, later fighting for the side of Goltana.
Verdict: Villain
Explanation: Delita is a lot like Jowy, they're both former friends who don't wish to fight who they are closest to, yet they do so many things that are villainous, but with proper motives. Delita does in fact kill quite a few people himself, including the aforementioned Goltana, but is still somehow seen as the hero because he managed to gain publicity for keeping the peace.

Villain: Vormav Tingel - Final Fantasy Tactics
Known for: Being possessed by Hashmalam, major villain.
Verdict: Dick (villainous motives though)
Explanation: Part of me really wants to consider this guy a villain, but the problem is, he's obviously possessed by a demon, who clearly is out for the blood and lust of battle. I also remember Izlude, his son, and how he killed his own son during his rage at Riovanes Castle. It should be obvious he's not as villainous as he is more dickish.

Villain: Ultimecia - Final Fantasy 8
Known for: Ultimate sorceress
Verdict: Villain
Explanation: Not much can really be said about Ultimecia. She wants to compress time and space and become a god. Par for the course for much of Squaresoft's villains usually. And compressing time and space is a tad different than just killing people. Her usage of possessing others also qualifies.

Villain Sephiroth - Final Fantasy 7
Known for: Flipping his lid over a book
Verdict: Villain, although he does insane dickish things though.
Explanation: To be frank, I really wanted to think of Sephiroth as nothing more than a dick. All he really did when he became a villain is read a god damn book, and that drove him nuts. But even though he ends up killing or slashing people over his whole origin story, he's got a motive, to really just become the destined one to lead the entire world. And of course, wanting to be a god.

Villain: Kefka - Final Fantasy 6
Known for: Clown general of an evil empire
Verdict: Dick
Explanation: While seemingly just a joke to the empire, he does poison the water in Doma, leading to everyone's deaths there. Big dick move. Then he kills Gestahl and disturbs the statues, completely destroying the World of Balance and managing to become a god himself. Powerful, maniacal ambitions, but still obviously dickish.

Villain: Zemus - Final Fantasy 4
Known for: Lunarian
Verdict: Villain
Explanation: Not much to explore here. Zemus really just wanted to awaken the rest of the Lunarians and take over Earth. At least he's not willing to destroy it.

Villain: Pokey - Earthbound
Known for: Ness's next door neighbor, porky man, rich father
Verdict: Dick
Explanation: Everyone already knows it by now, Pokey just becomes a villain for no real reason. What could it be? Jealousy? Just to be better than Ness at everything? To spit in his face all the time? Hell, he even manages to become a gateway for Giygas himself somehow.

Villain: Gades, Amon, Erim, Daos - Lufia games
Known for: Four sinistrals.
Verdict: Except Erim, dicks. Erim is a villain
Explanation: I mean, they are the sinistrals of Destruction, Chaos, Death, and Terror. For Gades, he's got no issues with tearing cities down. Amon does it worse in another town. You may think Daos is a bit less like his peers but not so much, since he can remote-control people and make them do amazingly powerful things, but not in ways you'd like to see. Erim, as seen in the intro of Lufia 2, is interested to know if humanity can guide itself, and is usually in the guise of a friendly character (Iris) or playable character (Lufia, Seena) just to be sure of what is to be done.

Villain: Lloyd - Legend of Dragoon
Known for: Killing Lavitz, arena champion, Wingly
Verdict: Villain
Explanation: He is seen as a villain with "heroic intentions" despite standing against the dragoons. He will do every conceivable mean necessary to reach the goal that his superior sets out to do. But then he realizes his superior's intentions were not what he wanted, and fights back in order to try and right his wrongs.

Villain: Songi - Legend of Legaia
Known for: Being Gala's rival, siccing Juggernaut
Verdict: Dick
Explanation: All of Legaia's villains are honestly dicks. Jette, Cort, Songi. Doesn't really matter which one I put to be honest. Siccing Juggernaut on a village is just a true dick move, with no really decent motivation as to why he would do this. He is such a dick he kills another villain, Zora, just cause some secrets were revealed.

A look back at: Pokemon Brown

Whaddya know, I actually played a Pokemon game, or rather, a ROM hack. These things are quite the rage and Brown isn't much different. The idea is you get a new setting, different gym leaders, new types, but pretty much the regular doses of Pokemon. All your Gen-1s are there, a good chunk of Gen-2s, and even some Gen-4 evolutions like Magnezone and Magmortar along with every Eeveelution (yes, even Sylveon). The whole thing is pretty odd, and the trainers are a lot tougher. There's even a patch of grass for power leveling in the first real city.

It's a crazy trip. You can't name Mura, the rival, but he's basically the same kind of rival as before. I like how the main character can speak too. There's a boatload of inaccessible stuff, notably the entirety of the Johto region excepting Azalea Town (yes, the gym is accessible but it's like the fighting dojo in Saffron) and then the whole tunnel meant to reach Naljo, which is where Pokemon Prism takes place. As par for the course Brown does offer a lot when it comes to battles and Pokemon. I'd say the most interesting piece is the way you evolve the Eevees you might find. Having to read the wiki page on how to evolve each Eevee threw me for quite a loop there, but eventually I had them all. When it comes to catching them all, well, it's not really possible. Mankey for example doesn't show up in the wild in Rijon (although Primeape does, but you can't breed in a Gen-1 game or ROM hack). That and you only get one Gen-1 starter plus there's the matter of which legendary you run into (either Raikou or Zapdos for the Power Plant, e.g.). One thing I like is the use of trade evolutions, either use a Trade Stone (for the Gen-1s) or the item that is to be held (since Gen-1 doesn't have held items) to evolve a trade evolution (so Seadra evolves to Kingdra when you use the Dragon Scale for instance).

There's bound to be some roughness in this ROM hack but it's pretty well made.