Yesterday, I got bored with Xenogears. The game is 20% gameplay, 80% slow, slow, slow . . . . . . moving text. I will return to the game in due time.
However, realizing that I have the power to emulate PS1 games with few (noticeable) glitches, I went ahead and reminded myself, "Hey, I own actual physical copies of Final Fantasy 8 and 9, but I never did play through all of FF7."
In my weakness, I downloaded an ISO of the most obsessed-over stat-based RPG ever. It is all I can play right now.
Yes, I know the graphics suck. Yes, Cloud can kiss my ass. Yes, the dialogue is not as good as the later FF games, but damn it, FF7 has Red XIII! And Vincent! And a great soundtrack!
Is FF7 overrated? Yes, when compared to games like FF4, FF9, FF10, CT, Tales of Phantasia, Tales of the Abyss, and the Knights of the Old Republic games. However, it's not as overrated as, say, the Halo games.
FUCK HALO!!!!!!
But on its own, FF7 is one of the better PS1 RPGs. Certainly faster-paced then XG, and not as broken as FF8, and the beginning in Midgar is more exciting then the first few hours of FF6. And . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . I like Sephiroth.
Please don't hurt me, hardcore 21st century nerds! I implore you, I am only a semi-nerd at best! I am allowed to play games that are popular with 'normal people'! Spare me this once!
But, I gotta admit, the girls of FF7 sure looked a lot better in Advent Children, and Kingdom Hearts II. But still, just what is it that guys see in Tifa, anyways. Besides the mammary glands. Can someone answer that for me?
But still, why now? Why only now am I playing through FF7 'for realz'? Crisis Core did recently come out in America, but I can't play that since I don't have a PSP. So, what? What is compelling me? What is compelling me to play a game with weak graphics and a story that, while good, is not a "classic" of the video game arts? Why?
Because no matter how much FF7 may be overvalued, it is still better than FF1, FF3, FF10-2, the Phantasy Star games for the Sega Master System and Genesis, and especially Earthbound. That's right; I said it. FF7 is more enjoyable then cult "classics" like Phantasy Star 2 and EB.
Now if Only Cloud was more like Zidane . . .
