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thoughtful Instead, I decided to get The List updated, since there's not much more to say. I updated last night, after all. :p
One thing to get to first: I have agreed to take Andrew to a Pacers game next month. Considering it's on a Wednesday night, there's no chance of me being out of town, and there's virtually no chance of me being otherwise occupied. It will be the first top-level professional sporting event I have ever attended. (I did go to a AAA baseball game once, but I've never attended an MLB, NBA, NFL, or NHL event.)
There's something else I have to post about, but it deserves its own post, I think, so I'll do that separately.
But enough talk. Have at you!
As usual, I would be happy to try to explain the positioning of any of the games on the list.
As before, the notations are as follows:
Any game in bold is new to the list since the last time I posted it.
Any game that's been underlined has been moved down a ranking.
Any game that's been italicized has been moved up a ranking.
An asterisk * indicates that I own the game.
Each category is in alphabetical order.
The only game on this list that I haven't finished is the original Dragon Warrior. I got to the final sequence before the battery on Jay's copy reset the save slots on me, so meh. Didn't feel like replaying it, and I feel like I got the gist of it. :p This is also why Dark Cloud 2 isn't on the list, despite me already putting over 20 hours into it. I get the idea, and I have a pretty good idea of where it's going, but I'm only about halfway through the plot. So.
On to the list.
5
*Arc the Lad II
*Betrayal at Krondor
*Chrono Trigger
*Final Fantasy Tactics
*Lufia II: Rise of the Sinistrals
*Lunar 2: Eternal Blue
*Phantasy Star IV
*Shadow Hearts: Covenant (A couple of really good characters, solid gameplay, and a story that ties up basically every loose end left after SH1. As if that weren't enough, the game completely fails to take itself seriously and is frequently laugh-out-loud hilarious. This game wins, and is easily my favorite PS2 RPG.)
*Suikoden II
*Valkyrie Profile
4
*Baldur's Gate
*Castlevania: Dawn of Sorrow
*Castlevania: Symphony of the Night
*Diablo II
*Disgaea: Hour of Darkness
Final Fantasy III
Final Fantasy VI
*Final Fantasy VII
Front Mission 3
*Grandia II
Koudelka
*Legend of Mana
*Lunar: The Silver Star
*Might and Magic VII: For Blood and Honor
*Quest for Glory II: Trial by Fire
Seiken Densetsu 3
*Skies of Arcadia
Star Ocean
*Star Ocean: Till the End of Time
*Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic
*Suikoden III
*Tactics Ogre: Let Us Cling Together
*Tales of Eternia
*Wild ARMs
*Wild ARMs 3
*Xenogears
*Xenosaga
*Ys: The Vanished Omens
*Ys II: Vanished Omens the Final Chapter
*Ys: The Ark of Napishtim
3
*Breath of Fire: Dragon Quarter
*Castlevania: Aria of Sorrow
*Castlevania: Circle of the Moon
*CIMA: The Enemy
*Crystalis NES
*Final Fantasy
*Final Fantasy IX
Final Fantasy V
*Final Fantasy VIII
*Final Fantasy X
*Final Fantasy X-2
*Fire Emblem 7
*Grandia
*Grandia Xtreme
Kingdom Hearts
*La Pucelle
*Legaia 2: Duel Saga
*Might and Magic II: Gates to Another World!
*Might and Magic III: Isles of Terra
*Phantasy Star
*Phantasy Star II
*Phantasy Star Online
*Quest for Glory: So You Want to Be a Hero
*Quest for Glory IV: Shadows of Darkness
*Seiken Densetsu
*Shadow Hearts
*Suikoden
*Tales of Destiny
*Tales of Symphonia
*Vagrant Story
*Vandal Hearts
2
*Arc the Lad
Arc the Lad: Twilight of the Spirits
Azure Dreams (It's not awful, but it's pretty repetitive and isn't much more than a time-killer)
*Betrayal in Antara
Breath of Fire
*Castlevania: Harmony of Dissonance
*Chrono Cross
*Crystalis GBC
*Diablo
Dragon Warrior
Earthbound
*Eternal Ring
Evergrace
*Final Fantasy II
Final Fantasy IV
*Final Fantasy Tactics Advance
*Fire Emblem: The Sacred Stones
*Hoshigami: Ruining Blue Earth (I really wrangled with this one. The level difference modifier is still ridiculous, but I have a little more respect for some of the core gameplay mechanics otherwise, and the plot's half-decent. However, it shouldn't take this much delving into the mechanics to even get a basic understanding. It's not a good game... but it doesn't deserve to be under a lot of the ones in this category.)
*King's Quest VIII: Mask of Eternity
*Legend of Legaia
*Lufia: The Legend Returns
*Lunar: Dragon Song (;_;)
*Mega Man X Command Mission (Juxtapose this with Lunar DS: I am far more content with this being not a good game because A) I don't expect much out of Mega Man-based RPGs and B) I paid 75% less for this than I did for LDS.)
*Might and Magic V: Darkside of Xeen
*Ogre Battle: March of the Black Queen
*Phantasy Star III
*Phantom Brave
*Pokemon Red/Blue
*Quest for Glory III: Wages of War
Secret of Mana
*Star Ocean 2
*Tactics Ogre: The Knight of Lodis
*Tsugunai: Atonement
*Ys III: Wanderers from Ys
Ys IV: Mask of the Sun
1
*Arc the Lad III
*Eternal Eyes
Final Fantasy Mystic Quest
*Lufia and the Fortress of Doom
*Lufia: The Ruins of Lore
*Might and Magic IV: Clouds of Xeen
SaGa Frontier
Sword of Mana
*Wild ARMs 2
Would have expected more from the past few months, but I guess playing all the MGS games (sometimes repeatedly!), as well as my shooter binge (Einhander, Bangai-O, Guardian Legend) and Mega Man Zero kick kept 'em down. Which is cool. Can't play the same thing all the time. ^_^
OK. Another post upcoming, then out of here for a while.
February 20 2006, 18:28:14 UTC 6 years ago
In the mail today! There was... nothing. :( I've checked twice now, once at 11:30, once at 1:30; I'm worrying now that maybe it was sent to the wrong address or something. :\
*keeps on playing Ys IV SNES*
February 20 2006, 18:38:44 UTC 6 years ago
February 20 2006, 21:05:48 UTC 6 years ago
Admittedly, the plot made me feel like I was playing Ys II again.
February 20 2006, 21:41:07 UTC 6 years ago
Booooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo
Just finished Ys IV [Mask of the Sun]. imo, it belongs as a 3
Hrm. None of the music grabbed me, and the plot didn't do anything for me either. :\ The Ys I&II nostalgia is pretty much all it had.
It's a step above III
I'd be inclined to agree with you. You may recall that earlier on in The List, I had Ys III as a 1. I ended up promoting it to 2 basically on its music alone. It's not a poorly put-together, poorly-playing game, it's just egregiously short.
I dunno. Mask of the Sun just didn't do much for me in any respect. There's a reason I put it away for about 3-4 years before I finally went back to finish it - mind, it's a really short game. ^_^;
February 20 2006, 18:37:48 UTC 6 years ago
Tigers baseball game, at real Tiger Stadium, not the crappy Comerica Park remake, summer of... '96 or '97. It was before I met you, and the first year I went to camp, so I'm thinking '96... yeah, '96, because it was the same summer I started having my period. I went with Dad, Uncle Neil, Lauren, and Vaughn. We ate hot dogs. I think I wore one of my left-hander shirts, and I think I have a couple pictures from the event. We were near the front of the upper deck, along the third baseline (think where Owen Meany hits HIS baseball to :P ) so we could see pretty well. The Tigers beat their opponent 8-2. Afterwards, they shot a fireworks display from the center of the field.
And yeah, we've both been to a semi-pro game, back in Summer Honors; I still have the autographed bear plushie.
I have been to the Palace of Auburn Hills twice, but not for sporting events - in fact, for one of the events (Barry Manilow) they relabeled a bunch of the men's restrooms as women's restrooms to accomodate the demographic. You can - or, at least, you used to be able to - buy a 20-ounce draft beer at the Palace for $7.50.
What's today's MP3 post?
February 20 2006, 18:52:37 UTC 6 years ago
Son of Spam
Saw a little more of the MGS1 speed run - in fact, I have only the last segment left. Okay, so he's not using rations - not yet, anyway. You get at least a partial health refill after the torture sequence, and... someplace else, I think, maybe the disc switch?He took some damage going up the comm tower, with only a tiny sliver of life bar left... then beat the Hind D without taking damage. He did equip his ration for the elevator-of-invisible-people, but didn't need it. Then beat Wolf 2 without taking damage (and has a great way to find her easily - the Stinger will lock on so you know which way to face!). Then took the elevator down to Raven and PUFFED ON A CIGARETTE on the way down to show that he had EXACTLY one notch of life left (you can't actually die from them, I guess).
Then he killed Raven in less than two minutes, maybe less than one, taking no damage, using nothing but claymores, laying them down in the EXACT PATH Raven took. That had to have taken hours of trial and error and observation. It's really something to see.
So there he is in the maintenance base, one notch of life left, having just finished the PAL key sequence. (That reminds me - the layout in there is a bit different from Twin Snakes - all ladders instead of staircases. And he shot the rat with a STINGER hee hee.) I am so looking forward to seeing what happens. I hope I can be that awesome when I grow up.
February 20 2006, 21:46:13 UTC 6 years ago
Re: Son of Spam
What's today's mp3 post?Boss music. I need to get home for some of the songs I need to write about. I will endeavor to finish it up tonight.
I have been to the Palace twice
Mm, and I went to Market Square for a concert once before it was demolished. Haven't been to Conseco Fieldhouse yet, but that'll be rectified soon. I might attempt to go to a Colts game before the RCA Dome gets decommissioned, but I dunno. Even cheap football seats are kinda ridiculous.
the Stinger will lock on so you know which way to face!
*facepalm* And I was stuck in the mode of 'stinger might help to spook her, but what other use could it have?' Wow, that would have helped me in boss rush. I'll have to try that sometime.
laying them down in the EXACT PATH Raven took
There's a boss FAQ that has Raven's potential paths all marked out. I don't think it works for Twin Snakes though.
PUFFED ON A CIGARETTE on the way down (you can't actually die from them, I guess)
Nope. I'm kinda surprised he didn't do that during the Wolf fight; cigarettes can be used as a stabilizer there too. Though I suppose if he had any Diazepam, there really wasn't any point in NOT using it, since the PSG-1 would be completely worthless after that fight anyway. :p
That reminds me - the layout in there is different from Twin Snakes - all ladders instead of staircases
And it takes FOREVER to get up and down. -_-
Love you! ^_^
February 21 2006, 04:36:39 UTC 6 years ago
Celebrating Three Ways to Lure Meryl into the Women's Bathroom
I went to your calendar page 'cause I wanted to find your Valentine's Day entry. I have not done this in ages, and the day I do, omgwtfbbq four entries but only three that I can see aaaaaaaahhh. Should I be concerned?'stinger might help to spook her, but what other use could it have?'
One of the PS1 FAQs suggests Nikitas here as well (to do damage).
a boss FAQ that has Raven's potential paths all marked out
Mm, can't find it, you'll have to tell me which one.
Though I suppose if he had any Diazepam,
Yeah, three max - he used one or two. He must control the shaking really well with just the controller; I never saw it. That, or when the controller's shaking in your hands it accentuates your perception of the jumping onscreen, or maybe he DID use cigarettes in addition to the Diazepam and I didn't notice - but I remember him using the pills at least once, and it's what he had equipped at the start of the fight.
And it takes FOREVER to get up and down.
And you climb right OVER Rex. Where does all that stuff GO during the boss fight? :P
I'm thinking he must have a turbo controller or something, 'cause I can't get through Codec conversations that fast. Oh, another speed run neat thing - there was a moment of free time during Ninja battle where he actually took the time to FPV the PSX on the counter. heh. He also has the annoying habit of repeatedly hitting R1 during the PAL key fetchquest (for something to DO), and it took till he was taking the cold key up for me to realize what that clicking noise was.
Maybe I'll poke at the first few boss rush battles soon, to practice FPV M9 on Ocelot and Mantis. I can peg Ocelot in the head with the SOCOM with ease - three M9 headshots should be child's play.
I love you too, baby.
February 21 2006, 12:26:21 UTC 6 years ago
Re: Celebrating Three Ways to Lure Meryl into the Women's Bathroom
aaaaaahhh. Should I be concerned?Just happened to check it on the one day I make a private post? :p
Yes, it concerns you. It says "hey stupid, don't forget to stop at" [x] "for the sale you saw".
You'll have to tell me which [FAQ has the Raven speed thing]
CHatala's General Speed Guide. ^_^
He also has the annoying habit of repeatedly hitting R1 during the PAL key fetchquest (for something to DO), and it took till he was taking the cold key up for me to realize what that clicking noise was.
Mm, it's more than something to do. It resets Snake's step animation, i.e. you can keep running over noisy floor without making noise by doing that. I've not tried it yet, but that's the theory.
February 21 2006, 12:27:31 UTC 6 years ago
Re: Celebrating Three Ways to Lure Meryl into the Women's Bathroom
er, CHatala's Big Boss / Speed guide.February 21 2006, 14:47:36 UTC 6 years ago
Re: Celebrating Three Ways to Lure Meryl into the Women's Bathroom
Just happened to check it on the one day I make a private post? :pI KNOW it sounds fishy, but yes, really, I've done a fantastic job breaking the paranoia habit in that regard.
Yes, it concerns you. It says "hey stupid, don't forget to stop at" [x] "for the sale you saw".
what is it what is it
you can keep running over noisy floor without making noise by doing that
AHA. I'd not noticed, either because guards are deaf in easy, or because I've taken to laying prone and taking the poor guy with the PSG-1 every time I cross that area. Thanks for the explanation.
Check my journal soon for boss rush update.
February 20 2006, 18:41:52 UTC 6 years ago
February 20 2006, 23:55:07 UTC 6 years ago
I haven't played KOTOR, but I have heard a LOT about it; what made it fall short of the 5 mark?
February 21 2006, 00:04:32 UTC 6 years ago
I love the plot, and the gameplay's solid (if a little clunky-looking due to the D&D-style 'turns' overlaid on a 'real-time' battlefield), but I got really sick of find item A and take it to person B to heal person C, etc.
February 21 2006, 00:13:59 UTC 6 years ago
Also, wait, Quest for Glory was a RPG? I always thought it was an adventure game.
February 21 2006, 00:16:34 UTC 6 years ago
No, I have an Xbox copy, I just haven't gotten around to actually playing it yet.
wait, Quest for Glory is an RPG?
Yeah, it's got plenty of adventure elements, but they all have varying character classes, combat systems, and stat points, so I figure they're enough of an RPG to count.
February 21 2006, 01:09:48 UTC 6 years ago
I wonder how one would go about patching the Xbox version? Via Xbox Live?
enough of an RPG to count
Hmm, do you remember whether the QFG gameplay holds up after all these years?