FF4 The After Years and my after years...
PostPosted:Wed Jun 08, 2011 12:32 pm
I downloaded this last week and started with the FF4 remake, i have put in about 10 hours. I will eventually play all the parts, there seems to be an Epilogue of things to do and then The After Years itself, but going through the main game again is a little slow for a few reasons.
I'm not exactly sure how to describe it, maybe it is how new games are nowadays, and their ways are rubbing off on me. FF6 was my favorite as a kid, but i spent almost as much time playing FF4. I know the game well and i remember being so engrossed, emotionally tied, and enamored with it in general. The nostalgia factor might be the only thing that is keeping me playing, because frankly, this game sort of sucks now. I know for its time it was a marvel of story telling and sprite graphic goodness, but it hasnt aged well.
As recently mentioned, i get annoyed with random battles and, like Don mentioned, i do forget which direction i was walking when the battle is done. There are a lot of random battles in this game and it isnt uncommon to go one step and another fight pops up. The remake, thank god, makes battles faster than i remember, but some battles are so completely pointless. One set of monsters i faced early, Edward would always miss, Rydia would always miss, and it took Cecil 3 shots to kill one of them. Meanwhile, the monsters are only doing 1 damage per hit to any member of the party. Why do i have to sit there for 15 minutes while Cecil kills all 4 and i am in no danger of dying?
The dialogue is awful. The story back in 1991 seemed so detailed and awesome, but now it is laughable. There is no emotion when Rydia's mom and village gets destroyed and the pacing seems off because 10 minutes later we get another emotional death with Anna (Edwards girlfriend). Back to back deaths where the characters have one line of "Noooo" and then move on with their lives? Who wrote this crap. Edward does have a nice little night scene with a ghost Anna that added some layer to their arc, so that was a nice attempt.
Games nowadays are just too good. The music, story (emotion), and graphics are all above and beyond. I do find myself losing interest, ADD style, if something isnt happening or there are too many pointless long battles and i admit, i do need better graphics for something sad or happy to really hit me. Games have changed me and my attitude toward them in this way. This was a great game to an 11 year old where most other games had zero story and no polish, but now stuff like that doesnt see the light of day.
Anyways, im just rambling my thoughts. I was surprised at myself how little fun this game was giving me and started to ponder the reason. Maybe the main story is too familiar to me and the new content will blow me away. I remember that your characters get so beast by the end of the game that new dungeons should be fun if they are a challenge.
I'm not exactly sure how to describe it, maybe it is how new games are nowadays, and their ways are rubbing off on me. FF6 was my favorite as a kid, but i spent almost as much time playing FF4. I know the game well and i remember being so engrossed, emotionally tied, and enamored with it in general. The nostalgia factor might be the only thing that is keeping me playing, because frankly, this game sort of sucks now. I know for its time it was a marvel of story telling and sprite graphic goodness, but it hasnt aged well.
As recently mentioned, i get annoyed with random battles and, like Don mentioned, i do forget which direction i was walking when the battle is done. There are a lot of random battles in this game and it isnt uncommon to go one step and another fight pops up. The remake, thank god, makes battles faster than i remember, but some battles are so completely pointless. One set of monsters i faced early, Edward would always miss, Rydia would always miss, and it took Cecil 3 shots to kill one of them. Meanwhile, the monsters are only doing 1 damage per hit to any member of the party. Why do i have to sit there for 15 minutes while Cecil kills all 4 and i am in no danger of dying?
The dialogue is awful. The story back in 1991 seemed so detailed and awesome, but now it is laughable. There is no emotion when Rydia's mom and village gets destroyed and the pacing seems off because 10 minutes later we get another emotional death with Anna (Edwards girlfriend). Back to back deaths where the characters have one line of "Noooo" and then move on with their lives? Who wrote this crap. Edward does have a nice little night scene with a ghost Anna that added some layer to their arc, so that was a nice attempt.
Games nowadays are just too good. The music, story (emotion), and graphics are all above and beyond. I do find myself losing interest, ADD style, if something isnt happening or there are too many pointless long battles and i admit, i do need better graphics for something sad or happy to really hit me. Games have changed me and my attitude toward them in this way. This was a great game to an 11 year old where most other games had zero story and no polish, but now stuff like that doesnt see the light of day.
Anyways, im just rambling my thoughts. I was surprised at myself how little fun this game was giving me and started to ponder the reason. Maybe the main story is too familiar to me and the new content will blow me away. I remember that your characters get so beast by the end of the game that new dungeons should be fun if they are a challenge.