Originally released in 2006, Final Fantasy XII quickly became one of my favorite games once I got around to playing it. It was beautiful, fun, and had plenty to dig in to. This year, the Zodiac Age remaster presented a spiffed-up version of the game, combining the best of the Japan-only “International Zodiac Job System” (IZJS) version with plenty of new improvements.
This is going to include my thoughts on the fourth and final movie in the series, and the series as a whole. There will be spoilers.
Nier is an interesting game, and going into it I only had an inkling of an idea of what to expect. It’s a spin-off of the Drakengard series (specifically of the first game), of which I have only played Drakengard 3. If you read my review, you’d know that I have a very mixed opinion on that one. While Nier has substantial differences, particularly in where it succeeds or pales in comparison, there is one main detail that makes this a better game – it’s fun. And it doesn’t conclude with a mechanically broken rhythm game. Okay, so that’s two things.
The first movie was okay as an adaptation, but not that great as a film. The second movie was better as a film, but took more creative liberty as an adaptation. The third movie is just a mess. They should have called it “Ryoji is here guys, so let’s make this movie about him now! Except where we need to jam in fights because I guess there was a plot we need to adapt.”
Just like my post on the second movie, there will be some spoilers. So play Persona 3 FES first if you’re looking to avoid them.
For a game that seemed to already be pushing the limits of spin-offs and adaptations, Persona 4’s latest addition takes the cake as the most baffling spawn. If only more turn-based JRPGs had rhythm game spin-offs. Focused on dancing.
Just kidding.
Have you ever yearned for a game that entices your need to “catch ’em all” in the same manner as Pokemon, but with pretty young anime girls in place of animals, keychains, and ice cream? Something to kindle your masochist desires, packaged with a mediocre rhythm game? Well, do I have the solution for you!
Do you ever play a video game and think, “I wish real life was like this?” I sometimes have that feeling.
But not with any of these games.
