1998
This is a work from the time when Square was the strongest game company in Japan, both in name and reality.
If there is a point or an ultimate in storytelling in a game scenario, this work is the closest to it.
For me, this is one of the standards of "game scenario". When I play a game that deals with robots, especially a later one, I always think of this one first.
In this sense, "13 sentinels" was a failure. (I'll write more about it in my review of The 13 sentinels).
As a child at the time of its release, I was simply overwhelmed by the worldview, which was based on mythology and religion, with parodies and homages to multiple science fiction and anime.
To digress a little, let me explain the historical/cultural context in which this game was made.
Christianity is not generally understood in Japan (although some people are very passionate about it), so the heretical Gnosticism is not understood, nor is Nietzsche, who criticised Christianity itself, except for a few crazies. Freud, Jung and Adler have also gained acceptance in recent years, but only subtly.
I have no idea how this tendency to disregard religion has evolved in other countries.
In the case of Japan, the Aum Shinrikyo affair has led to a view of religion that can be seen as fearful, contemptuous or allergic.
In this context, with the exception of a series of works by Atlus (Megami Tensei and its offshoot, Persona), the culture of understanding and incorporating mythology and religion into games has died out.
Nowadays, myths and religions are treated as ornaments that look good and "seem to have a deeper meaning that we don't know what it is".
Again, For me, the standard of game scenario is this work. It's like a trauma.
It is both happy and unhappy.
When it was released,
“Wait, wait. I don't understand all that theological and philosophical!"
"Do you usually put in stories/parodies of minor works like this?”
"It's crazy! Whoever made this is crazy!"
I was like.
As of 2021, I played it again.
"It's crazy…”
The conclusion of the game is quite simple, however, despite all the mythological and philosophical themes and episodes.
Human weakness and strength, cruelty and kindness, ugliness and beauty. Above all, men and women. Fei and Elly are two people who make you feel all kinds of emotions.
It's easy to get caught up in the huge number of settings and deep themes, but the heart of the xenogears is the story. The later Xeno series forgot about this.
Xenoblade 2 has been released, but it's probably a strategic defeat. (I don't feel like playing.)
Not that it matters, but the Xeno series is like Woody Allen. (Repeating the cycle of masterpieces and bad movies)
I hate believers. A masterpiece is a masterpiece, and if it doesn't live up to that, it's a defeat, and if it doesn't, you're just a bad.
There's a lot more to say, but it's probably over 10,000 words, so I'll leave it to someone else.
Is it a something sign that this year (2021) there are some many good commentary videos on this game?
Explanations and videos of Xenogears that I thought were good. (Memo for myself.)
I think it's great what they're trying to do.
https://www.youtube.com/user/WarialaskyPlays
A clear explanatory video that goes beyond the Perfect Works. (Japanese)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KnCo3HQnRF0
A very challenging Xenogears video that goes beyond the strategy guide. (Japanese. He's crazy.)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mdvNteIg9dw
If there is a point or an ultimate in storytelling in a game scenario, this work is the closest to it.
For me, this is one of the standards of "game scenario". When I play a game that deals with robots, especially a later one, I always think of this one first.
In this sense, "13 sentinels" was a failure. (I'll write more about it in my review of The 13 sentinels).
As a child at the time of its release, I was simply overwhelmed by the worldview, which was based on mythology and religion, with parodies and homages to multiple science fiction and anime.
To digress a little, let me explain the historical/cultural context in which this game was made.
Christianity is not generally understood in Japan (although some people are very passionate about it), so the heretical Gnosticism is not understood, nor is Nietzsche, who criticised Christianity itself, except for a few crazies. Freud, Jung and Adler have also gained acceptance in recent years, but only subtly.
I have no idea how this tendency to disregard religion has evolved in other countries.
In the case of Japan, the Aum Shinrikyo affair has led to a view of religion that can be seen as fearful, contemptuous or allergic.
In this context, with the exception of a series of works by Atlus (Megami Tensei and its offshoot, Persona), the culture of understanding and incorporating mythology and religion into games has died out.
Nowadays, myths and religions are treated as ornaments that look good and "seem to have a deeper meaning that we don't know what it is".
Again, For me, the standard of game scenario is this work. It's like a trauma.
It is both happy and unhappy.
When it was released,
“Wait, wait. I don't understand all that theological and philosophical!"
"Do you usually put in stories/parodies of minor works like this?”
"It's crazy! Whoever made this is crazy!"
I was like.
As of 2021, I played it again.
"It's crazy…”
The conclusion of the game is quite simple, however, despite all the mythological and philosophical themes and episodes.
Human weakness and strength, cruelty and kindness, ugliness and beauty. Above all, men and women. Fei and Elly are two people who make you feel all kinds of emotions.
It's easy to get caught up in the huge number of settings and deep themes, but the heart of the xenogears is the story. The later Xeno series forgot about this.
Xenoblade 2 has been released, but it's probably a strategic defeat. (I don't feel like playing.)
Not that it matters, but the Xeno series is like Woody Allen. (Repeating the cycle of masterpieces and bad movies)
I hate believers. A masterpiece is a masterpiece, and if it doesn't live up to that, it's a defeat, and if it doesn't, you're just a bad.
There's a lot more to say, but it's probably over 10,000 words, so I'll leave it to someone else.
Is it a something sign that this year (2021) there are some many good commentary videos on this game?
Explanations and videos of Xenogears that I thought were good. (Memo for myself.)
I think it's great what they're trying to do.
https://www.youtube.com/user/WarialaskyPlays
A clear explanatory video that goes beyond the Perfect Works. (Japanese)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KnCo3HQnRF0
A very challenging Xenogears video that goes beyond the strategy guide. (Japanese. He's crazy.)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mdvNteIg9dw
1990
The storyline of the previous *3* games was explored in more depth in this one, and the AI system was unique and impressive.
There are many great songs in DraQue, but the songs in this game may be my favorite.
There are many great songs in DraQue, but the songs in this game may be my favorite.
If you ask people what is the most memorable part of DraQue, many people will say this *5.
It's the one with the strongest message of farewell, encounter and children. It's been 30 years since it was released. This is a game where there is still debate(war?) over the events of the game. (By the way, I'm a Bianca fan.)
As an aside, 5* was the last DQ that Chunsoft had worked on together for a long time, and perhaps the reason why "something has gone missing from DQ" since 6 is because Chunsoft is no longer involved.
It's the one with the strongest message of farewell, encounter and children. It's been 30 years since it was released. This is a game where there is still debate(war?) over the events of the game. (By the way, I'm a Bianca fan.)
As an aside, 5* was the last DQ that Chunsoft had worked on together for a long time, and perhaps the reason why "something has gone missing from DQ" since 6 is because Chunsoft is no longer involved.
I don't hate it, but it's still not very good. The biggest complaint I have about the game is the job change system itself. It averages out and dilutes the differences in character personality/performance.
Hassan is a very strong and good character who is still relevant today.
Hassan is a very strong and good character who is still relevant today.
2000
I threw it away halfway through.
Maybe I'll change my opinion if I play the 3DS version.
Maybe I'll change my opinion if I play the 3DS version.
EDIT: This is about the Japanese version, not the NA/EU version of DQ8.
I threw it away in the middle, just like *7*.
There might have been a discrepancy between DVD, which is a large capacity disc media, and DraQue, which is sold for its lightness of operation, and the DraQue I wanted. As well as 7, Maybe I'll change my opinion if I play the 3DS version.
But, I'll never touch 9 and 10.
I threw it away in the middle, just like *7*.
There might have been a discrepancy between DVD, which is a large capacity disc media, and DraQue, which is sold for its lightness of operation, and the DraQue I wanted. As well as 7, Maybe I'll change my opinion if I play the 3DS version.
But, I'll never touch 9 and 10.
Dragon Quest is the rice.
For the Japanese, eating rice is just a part of everyday life, nothing special about it.
It's not the rice itself that people complain about, it's the way it's cooked, the amount of water used.
It is not a complaint about the rice itself. I think that's what playing DraQue is all about.
You can make one comment about the quality of Koshihikari or Akita Komachi every year - "it's good", "it's very good", "it's not so good this year" - but no Japanese person will go into detail about the quality of the rice.
(Do Americans mention the taste of pizza or Coke in detail every year? The same applies to vodka for Russians. A Frenchman might give a lengthy evaluation of a cheese or a wine. I don't know about the English. Oh, I forgot. There was tea.)
In other words, it has become such a traditional and standard game series that it is difficult to critique and observe.
So it's very difficult, but I wanted to think a little bit deeper about this "11".
I don't like meaningless sentimentality. I don't like to spend a lot of time in nostalgia, I think I should be doing something else.
This 11 is littered with symbols from previous games.
The characters reminded me most of 4.
The events are too many to observe: I was surprised to find a fighting tournament from 3, and a quote from the Gaiden manga (Emblem of Roto, it's a classic manga).
The choice of background music had so many winks to the players of yesteryear that it was even annoying.
But I didn't feel the "sentimentality" that I hate. Strangely enough.
Maybe it's because I felt that Yuji Horii, the creator of this game, wanted to say goodbye and thank you to all the people who have played DraQue so far.
I think it's safe to say that with "11", DraQue has come to an end.
It seems that they are going to make "12", but it will be completely different from the previous games. (I'm predicting that 7 will be the closest).
Koichi Sugiyama san passed away at the end of September. Oh... 11 is truly the last Dragon Quest...
May he rest in peace.
Your music is eternal.
For the Japanese, eating rice is just a part of everyday life, nothing special about it.
It's not the rice itself that people complain about, it's the way it's cooked, the amount of water used.
It is not a complaint about the rice itself. I think that's what playing DraQue is all about.
You can make one comment about the quality of Koshihikari or Akita Komachi every year - "it's good", "it's very good", "it's not so good this year" - but no Japanese person will go into detail about the quality of the rice.
(Do Americans mention the taste of pizza or Coke in detail every year? The same applies to vodka for Russians. A Frenchman might give a lengthy evaluation of a cheese or a wine. I don't know about the English. Oh, I forgot. There was tea.)
In other words, it has become such a traditional and standard game series that it is difficult to critique and observe.
So it's very difficult, but I wanted to think a little bit deeper about this "11".
I don't like meaningless sentimentality. I don't like to spend a lot of time in nostalgia, I think I should be doing something else.
This 11 is littered with symbols from previous games.
The characters reminded me most of 4.
The events are too many to observe: I was surprised to find a fighting tournament from 3, and a quote from the Gaiden manga (Emblem of Roto, it's a classic manga).
The choice of background music had so many winks to the players of yesteryear that it was even annoying.
But I didn't feel the "sentimentality" that I hate. Strangely enough.
Maybe it's because I felt that Yuji Horii, the creator of this game, wanted to say goodbye and thank you to all the people who have played DraQue so far.
I think it's safe to say that with "11", DraQue has come to an end.
It seems that they are going to make "12", but it will be completely different from the previous games. (I'm predicting that 7 will be the closest).
Koichi Sugiyama san passed away at the end of September. Oh... 11 is truly the last Dragon Quest...
May he rest in peace.
Your music is eternal.
1995
This is the Tengai Makyo for me.
I'm not sure if this is the best Tengai Makyoukai for me, but it's the only one I've ever played.
So I'm going to ignore all the history and reviews from the previous games, so please understand that.
It's an RPG with a friendly design even now, and the music and sound effects are so elaborate that it's incomparable to Dragon Quest and Final Fantasy of the same period.
There are battles between giant robots (though they are clay figurines, lol), so it's more flashy than DQ or FF.
The best part is that each village and city has its own famous products and 出合茶屋(deai chaya. A teahouse that existed in the Edo period for men and women to meet in secret.), so it's very well crafted.
Now that I think about it, I wonder how the SNES judging process worked?
It's an old game, but I highly recommend it.
I'm not sure if this is the best Tengai Makyoukai for me, but it's the only one I've ever played.
So I'm going to ignore all the history and reviews from the previous games, so please understand that.
It's an RPG with a friendly design even now, and the music and sound effects are so elaborate that it's incomparable to Dragon Quest and Final Fantasy of the same period.
There are battles between giant robots (though they are clay figurines, lol), so it's more flashy than DQ or FF.
The best part is that each village and city has its own famous products and 出合茶屋(deai chaya. A teahouse that existed in the Edo period for men and women to meet in secret.), so it's very well crafted.
Now that I think about it, I wonder how the SNES judging process worked?
It's an old game, but I highly recommend it.
2001
Mobile Suit Gundam is one of Japan's most famous robot anime. This "Zone of the Enders" a.k.a. ZOE is an update of that Gundam, or an attempt to become a new Gundam, and failed spectacularly. As proof of this, the plot of this movie is almost the same as the first Gundam (fans call it the 1st or 1st Gundam).
The biggest difference between this and Gundam is the involvement of artificial AI.
ADA is a very good character. I don't know of any other character whose voice alone can excite me so much.
The ADA is like the Rei of 'Blue Comet SPT Layzner'. In other words, It was ostensibly intended to be a Gundam, but inside it was a 'Blue Comet SPT Layzner'.
It's a good anime, and I like it, Layzner. But it's a bit plain.
The biggest difference between this and Gundam is the involvement of artificial AI.
ADA is a very good character. I don't know of any other character whose voice alone can excite me so much.
The ADA is like the Rei of 'Blue Comet SPT Layzner'. In other words, It was ostensibly intended to be a Gundam, but inside it was a 'Blue Comet SPT Layzner'.
It's a good anime, and I like it, Layzner. But it's a bit plain.
If I had to describe this work, I would say that it is a "high-speed roller coaster” using robots.
Including its predecessor, ZOE, the PlayStation2 game hardware was "underutilized" by almost all game makers in Japan and abroad.
However, this game made the most of the PS2's specifications and reached the pinnacle of game expression and playability at the time.
Since then, I believe that action games with robots reached their peak with ANUBIS, and the evolution stopped there.
Including its predecessor, ZOE, the PlayStation2 game hardware was "underutilized" by almost all game makers in Japan and abroad.
However, this game made the most of the PS2's specifications and reached the pinnacle of game expression and playability at the time.
Since then, I believe that action games with robots reached their peak with ANUBIS, and the evolution stopped there.
2010
The now defunct Data East cult RPG series is back.
Ten years ago, I rejoiced. I thought I'd be able to drive a tank through the wilderness and beehive a monster with a bounty on its head again.
There are a few minor criticisms, but I'm very pleased.
Ten years ago, I rejoiced. I thought I'd be able to drive a tank through the wilderness and beehive a monster with a bounty on its head again.
There are a few minor criticisms, but I'm very pleased.
2018
I think it's a very good game.
I've played it for nearly 200 hours now.
The combat is fun, the music is cool and the characters are good. But the story is not so good.
It's a fun game, but it's not deep.
I can't help thinking of "The Glory of Hercules 3 & 4" when I think of games based on Greek mythology.
Games are not all about the story, but you want to play a game with an epic story using the best material (Greek mythology).
I've played it for nearly 200 hours now.
The combat is fun, the music is cool and the characters are good. But the story is not so good.
It's a fun game, but it's not deep.
I can't help thinking of "The Glory of Hercules 3 & 4" when I think of games based on Greek mythology.
Games are not all about the story, but you want to play a game with an epic story using the best material (Greek mythology).
The script is written by Kazushige Nojima, the scenario writer of FF7.
He wrote the script for this classic RPG five years before FF7.
The game itself is rough around the edges, but the story is highly regarded anyway. Most people who have played this game will agree that it surpasses FF7 in terms of scenario.
But I like 4 better.
He wrote the script for this classic RPG five years before FF7.
The game itself is rough around the edges, but the story is highly regarded anyway. Most people who have played this game will agree that it surpasses FF7 in terms of scenario.
But I like 4 better.
1993
This game & Xenogears might be the reason why I don't play FF much.(Incidentally, one of the messages in the Xenogears TV commercial was "Why there will never be a sequel to Seiken Densetsu/Mana Series".)
I think I bought it for 1,000 yen at the time when it was thrown out due to a fatal bug. As a result, I hit the jackpot.
I still listen to the music, especially "Danger". Hiroki Kikuta was a genius at that time. He might have been better than Uematsu.
Oh, and bug or not, I don't think the remake is worth buying.
But I like 3 better.
I think I bought it for 1,000 yen at the time when it was thrown out due to a fatal bug. As a result, I hit the jackpot.
I still listen to the music, especially "Danger". Hiroki Kikuta was a genius at that time. He might have been better than Uematsu.
Oh, and bug or not, I don't think the remake is worth buying.
But I like 3 better.
2004
A great work. It can be described as the template or foundation of the series.
A clear article explaining the history of this game before it was created. (It is in Japanese.)
https://news.denfaminicogamer.jp/column03/game-gatari01
Of course, it's not "particularly" interesting to play now. But it's a great game. (So I hesitate to give it a star/rating.) Without this game, the MOTHER series and the Pocket Monsters series would never have been born.
The majority of NES games at the time of release usually had no consideration for the player.
It was needlessly difficult, mean-spirited and had no intention of entertaining the player. That was the normal game at the time. It was a time when normal was not normal. (The exception was The Legend of Zelda?)
Yuji Horii may not be appreciated outside Japan, but he's probably as great as Shigeru Miyamoto.
When it comes to difficulty, the feeling of playing, and making adjustments that are very difficult to put into words, there is no one like him. One word: genius.
A clear article explaining the history of this game before it was created. (It is in Japanese.)
https://news.denfaminicogamer.jp/column03/game-gatari01
Of course, it's not "particularly" interesting to play now. But it's a great game. (So I hesitate to give it a star/rating.) Without this game, the MOTHER series and the Pocket Monsters series would never have been born.
The majority of NES games at the time of release usually had no consideration for the player.
It was needlessly difficult, mean-spirited and had no intention of entertaining the player. That was the normal game at the time. It was a time when normal was not normal. (The exception was The Legend of Zelda?)
Yuji Horii may not be appreciated outside Japan, but he's probably as great as Shigeru Miyamoto.
When it comes to difficulty, the feeling of playing, and making adjustments that are very difficult to put into words, there is no one like him. One word: genius.