Oh God, Not an Essay on Linearity

With February being the prime month for gaming on the PS3, the releases of Heavy Rain and Final Fantasy XIII in particular, is it any wounder why I haven't made a post for a month? I thought not. But lets kid ourselves here and say since the last post I've been in the mountains of Tibet training intensely on some secret martial art? OK, maybe that ain't true but it's not far from the truth and besides sounds much cooler than saying I've played nothing but FFXIII isn't it? OK now that we've explained the inexplicable absence of posts (cough), let me get straight to an enigma that has been bugging me for sometime now: Why does Final Fantasy XIII feel so linear?

Why So Linear?

Now I know what your thinking, it's because the game is! But calm down. I'm not going to make some hopeless attempt to prove otherwise, with all the relentless cries of disappointment from many fans for the past six months, only a fool would try take up such a rebuttal. And while it is blatantly obvious that the linearity is owed to many reasons, from the rpg-on-rail level layout and leveling system to the many cut scenes butting in on your game time, I'm still confused. Haven't these elements always been part of a Final Fantasy game? So why do I still have this strong feeling that I've been cheated out of "true" and "instant hit" FF when I'm controlling sexy ass Lightening, or annoying Vanille? (Sorry I couldn't resist).

Was I wrong back in 2001 to fully enjoy FFX with it's linear level design? Why was it more enjoyable being forced along a linear path to Zanarkand back then? Granted there were more open areas in X, but when you think about it, is it all that different from XIII? I mean it wasn't until the end of the game, like XIII, that we got to then choose to re-vist previous destinations. Though I guess it didn't help that we were always forced to two or three characters in XIII and weren't given the choice of who to select in our party. Yet why was it enjoyable or at least tolerable in VIII? OK maybe we didn't have to wait to the end of the game like in XIII. And yeah, we did have a lot more stats for our characters (why did they take all of those useless stats, I missed those). I also missed the linear, yet great, leveling system that was seen in FFX or in all pre-FFX games where there was only XP.

OK so I am being cynical here. The matter of fact is FFXIII is or at least seems too scripted, with actually leveling removed and new levels of growth only being made available when the game allows. With everything from the leveling to where you walk being either scripted or directed by events, FFXIII is indeed too linear for a third generation RPG.

Why is Linear so Linear?

FFXIII is not a JRPG or a RPG for that matter. Since FFVII, or FFXII, the definition of an RPG has revolutionized so much by giant sandbox games like World of Warcraft, EVE and Fallout III. So much so that we now expect an RPG to be synonymous to sandbox game play and endless customization. Now I'm not saying that many of these elements weren't around back in 2002 or prior, far from so. My point being is that where it was OK for scripted events to dictate the story for a second or first gen RPG, nowadays were expecting more when it comes to game play or evens story telling (winks at Heavy Rain). Though linear isn't bad. When wielded correctly it can create an immersive and interactive story line. But when it comes to game play these days you have to use linearity ingeniously, or face a march or angry boy and girl fans.

But its here that we end up a small positive about FFXIII, the Storyline. I know many out there despise the story that is FFXIII and I fail to see why. With the odd exceptions like Vanille, the voice actors to the narrative of FFXIII has been enthralling. FFXIII is a more of a mature story than previous FF and in that sense is more to my liking. Appealing to older audiences the latest installment touches upon issues in the real world today, going as far as being a satire on terrorism and government propaganda. It cant be helped but be noticed the slight correlation of the universal fear of pulse l'cie to something in todays world. Some how a nation that rules its people by the words of a supreme being doesn't seem that different to some religious states today? Maybe I'm seeing something that isn't there, but to the point, FFXIII's story is told superbly and isn't afraid drift into gritty realism (I mean for starters theres finally more black people in the whole universe of FF).

A Sacrifice to the God of Linearity

While supposedly FFXIII's has sacrificed its RPG element to a story driven gaming, one wonders if there had to be a sacrifice at all with gleaming examples out there that counter that argument. Things get especially infuriating with statements from Square Enix stating that it would be an impossible work load to create a fully HD RPG game that is not linear. It does then beg the question why they bother focusing on three FFXIII related titles instead of one if they are finding under staffed or without time to make a fully HD game. With statements such as that it makes later statements less believable that FFXIII will be the last of its kind. Especially when Square Enix's credibility is burnt by insisting that the inferior Xbox360 version is the same as the PS3's.

Indeed Square Enix needs to up its game if it wishes to compete, as while western games such as Uncharted 2 and God of War III begin to break technical and story telling grounds, FF is still left struggling on what retro elements to keep and what news ones to make.

But I'm a hypocrite, a biased one at that, as I still love the game that is FFXIII. As after all, it is Final Fantasy.

Juggernauts and Verbal Diarrhea

Never Blow One's Own Trumpet.

Ok ok I know I should never have announced it, guess the podcast and joint post were really doomed as soon as I mentioned them. Yeah Major Sheppard and I were kind of busy during Christmas, no really we were, we spent most of our time trying to get all the stars in Modern Warfare 2's cooperative mode. Pitifully we only managed to get 3, brought me to tears at least. Can someone give me an actual scientific basis for how a Juggernaut can survive 5 mines? Seriously, its like facing Arnold Schwarzenegger on crack or something. That said the juggernaut has defiantly moved up my list of "people who you do not want to piss off". I think its the music when they appear that does it.

I'm Sorry, say what?

So not a lot has been happening here and to be frank I want to move away from talking about my life. Though before I do that I've just got to link you to my latest favorite song. That sentence doesn't do any justice to the amount of shame I'm feeling about it though. More interesting however is the little bit of anime news about a new season of Code Geass, especially considering the ending of the second which rapped up the story to a closed ending. It leaves many to speculate on whether an alternative storyline is in the works or an expansion of the main storyline as a continuation. Either way fans may expect to find out more as early as this year. On the same note, I think many of us are looking forward to the next few months, well at least those who have money, for the explosion of the most anticipated games. Personally I have high hopes for Heavy Rain and with its success I hope we find many more games putting empathises on story driven gaming.

Video Killed the Video Game

Though it has to be said that there certainly has to be a balance between the actual game play and cinematography, glares at Final Fantasy XIII. Seems like another game that has fallen into the fiery pits with a bad case of verbal diarrhea, now glares at Metal Gear Solid 4. Is it just me or is there a pattern forming here? Now don't get me wrong, I don't want to start a war, I am all up for the integration of movie scenes and scripts into gaming. Far gone are the days when the stereotypical programming did everything in the gaming production, thank god. We all know this, however gone too are the days when the video game creators or story writers direct the script. I think its now important to start hiring the pros and experts from the film industry to direct those complex scenes. This is defiantly where the Japanese Gaming Industry is failing, in the western world at least. But that said I still believe it was Metal Gear Solid 2 that revolutionized this movement with its balance of game play and movie-like-scenes. Never the less, do Square Enix really need to consider producing the Final Fantasy series abroad? Maybe I'm a hypocrite but surely they realize that Final Fantasy is as quintessentially Japanese as Cherry Blossoms (ok, I seriously couldn't think of anything else, it 5 in the morning, its the best I can do!).

Crap from the Internet.

Anyway I shall hopefully be posting again soon, but until then I leave you with the crap from the internet section. Oh, just in case the petrol I lay down eariler didn't catch fire maybe this will help; I saw Avatar and I loved it, so much so I saw it for a second time. See ya!

To commemorate Major Sheppard's and I's completion of RE5 after 1 year of playing (I asuure you people were not bad gamers).

When Country's Don't have British Health and Safety.

Summers end...

... But a great time for gaming

Time again, but don’t worry, this one won’t be as long as my previous one. But then again maybe it will, depends on what’s on the agenda for this post. I know have the new Batman game, Arkham Asylum. So you can look forward to my review on that in the next week or so, as well as some photographs of the opening of the collectors edition (with the model Baterang). I will also be reading Dan Browns next book ‘The Lost Symbol’ which sees the return of the brilliant character Robert Langdon, I’m very much looking forward to that. I will also be re-reading the Negima manga by Ken Akamatsu, I haven’t yet caught up on it, and so I’m going to refresh my memory on the story and then continue to purchase them.

I’ve been listening to the Iron Man music recently (and you thought my co-writer had bad taste?), I just love the song that used on the first part of the closing credits. If you’re curious it’s probably on youtube, and definitely on iTunes. If you’re really interested I love the one called Gulmira, it has a more heavy metal quality (it’s just music, no singing).

I have recently cleaned out the insides of my computer, using a can of compressed air and very soft brushed to help me. The amount of dust has amazing, even more amazing was how much quieter and cooler my room has been since, so I’ll be doing that more often.

Well next week I will be away on holiday, just down to the South of the country, then after I get back I will be starting my second year of university shortly after. It looks to be a fun and challenging semester, although the joy of having an iPhone will soon be mine. I’ve been trying to contact my co-writer, but to no avail, so hopefully he will read this. I must remember to take my antibiotics with me on holiday, pesky infection, but seems to be getting much better now. Anyway, I won’t bore you with that. I’ve also been playing Star Wars Force Unleashed again recently, mainly down to the release of trophies for the PS3; I still have yet to purchase the latest downloadable content for it.

Have you seen the latest trailers for the next GTA 4 content (Xbox 360)? It’s looking really good, I’m most looking forward to playing it, I thought the first was pretty good, so hopefully this one will follow suit.

Back again...

Well once again it has been sometime since I was last on here to grace you all with my blogging, lol. But seriously, the plan was to share with you all my review of the ‘Big’ addition to Playstation Home, unfortunately due to some technical problems and some miss-communication, the update wasn’t as big s expected. However the Resident Evil 5 space was released, although Capcom are still working on a number of sections for this space, which all sound to be well worth the wait.
Now the second review was to be for the Titan pack, which was released for Unreal Tournament 3, available on both the PC and Playstation 3 versions. Unfortunately we were told not to install the pack until our university project was complete. So know that it’s all done I will be installing the pack soon and begin my review of the pack.
On to more news, I finally brought an Xbox 360, a very good machine, somewhat annoying that it cost an additional £50 just to make the thing wireless, but oh well. I do personally prefer my Playstation 3; however I will say that both machines come with their good points and bad points. Today also marks the day I got the Wii, with the Wii Fit, very very fun, and certainly makes for a more interesting and engaging workout, but ill write more about it next time.

Part Three: Happy Birthday

A Raving Birthday Party:
Well it was roughly this time last year that Major Sheppard and I were introducing ourselves to no one and writing our first posts. A year later and we're still writing a blog which no one reads. And so in cheer of this happy occasion I thought that it would be great timing if I wrote the final part to the three part special post today (OK, so maybe I didn't time it, but rather procrastinate for such a long time. And yes, I don't even know why these posts are special). But anyway, Happy Birthday Blank Mind!

Storytelling or Derriere :
OK, so the main reason it has taken me so long to write this post is because of the same reason many people around the world have either skipped, missed or delayed writing their essays over the past two weeks; the release of Killzone 2 and Resident Evil 5. I would like to say that I spent so long on RE5, not sleeping and even not shaving, because I was trying to get it done before this post, but then I would be lying. OK, so it wasn't as bad as me not shaving, but damn near. But I'm not going into too much detail about the game, but leave that for our second podcast (no, you haven't missed the first, its still under production, a fancy way of saying I'm lazy). Instead, here I'm going to be focusing on gaming's storytelling, because as I sat there watching the typical sunset ending Resident Evil games give (you know, the one where the helicopter flyies off) I'm not feeling the groove. I'm not feeling that satisfaction of having played a storyline. OK, so I cant really come up with a better word than groove, though I cannot help by compare this feeling to when I completed Metal Gear Solid 4. It suddenly hit me during the credits that both games have bad storytelling. Don't get me wrong, from the start of 21st century, games have finally proven their potential as storytelling on par with movies, not only cinamotography but also in budget. However, come the turn of the PS3, or more specifically those games which have titles with a large number tagged at the end indicating the sequel, storytelling has begun to miss a few key elements. Though those respective directors and writers had perfectly nailed it in MGS2 and RE4, so where the missing key? Where is that metal gear? (OK I'll stop with the metaphors). The trouble with RE5 and MGS4 more so, is the game tries to rap up many of the lose ends too quickly. The fact that they try to answer all unanswered questions left in previous games is bad storytelling in my eyes. Yet, while this is what every fan whats, it isn't at the same time. While a fan would love to get the answer to such mysteries, the best stories are those that flirt with them, allowing the player to imagine and brainstorm possibilities to the universe of the game. In turn it allows fans to create their own fan works or more bluntly, it leaves players wanting to get his of hers hands on the next game. And so when Metal Gear Solid 2 ended, when Resident Evil 4 finished, everyone was anticipating the next game. Though I guess, playing devil advocate, it is our own fault in part. We create anticipation of what the story should be like that when the writers deliver the end product, disappointment is met. The flaws of answers too many questions is that its left me and probably many other players feeling things are too far fetched. An overload of new information can not only take up game play time and thus losing the fact that it is still a game, but also ruined a series. I wont go as far as say the RE5 has ruined the series, because its a damn good game in terms of game play, but it has ruined the mystery of Albert Wesker. The game delivered what we all wanted, and yet it ended too quickly offering no twists, or ones that are not cliche at least. We'll maybe its just me?