Day 65: Character - One of the Three Key Game Needs

For this entry, I want to write about what makes a great video game in my opinion.  For me, there are three things that make a great video game: Story, Characters, and Music.  Characters drive the story.  Music is the emotion of the characters.  Story connects you to the music.  If one of these things is lacking or missing altogether, then the game is one I will not ever have the desire to play.

Today's entry will focus on my favorite characters.  These can be characters I identify with, characters I love, characters I hate.  Yes, I hate some of my favorite characters.  I have been playing video games for more than twenty years, and in that time I have come to know hundreds, maybe even thousands, of characters.  They are what fills my dreams each night, and their lessons are what I hope to practice each day.  Gosh, that sounds so cheesy.  But video game characters have struggles and obstacles to face, and people can in fact learn from their triumphs and failures.  And with that, let's begin.

First up is Vivi Orunitia from Final Fantasy IX.  This game is the first of the series that I played, and Vivi is the one that I feel went through the most during the game.  He learns that his existence is one of a tool of war, nothing more than a puppet to be played with when his owner feels like it.  He fought to end that situation, despite having knowledge that it would also lead to his eventual demise.  For someone so young and to have the wisdom of an elder, is something that no one I know can truly have.

Up next is Sonic the Hedgehog.  Sonic is from a multitude of games, being one of the longest living game characters ever.  Now, I grew up a Nintendo kid, so I knew nothing of Sonic until much later.  My neighbor back when I was 10 had a Sega Genesis, and we go to each other's houses to play.  I would play Sonic at her house, and she would Mario at my house.  In most games that he is in, he's charged with saving the world.  Rather than using brute force to knock heads, he uses fast footwork to confuse the enemies and make them bow down to him (metaphorically, of course).  In later games, he was given more of a story and more powers.  One of my favorite Sonic games is Sonic Unleashed.  It showed another side to Sonic that you don't see in many games.

One of my favorite characters to hate is Seymour Guado from Final Fantasy X.  Since the very first time I played the game, I have always hated him.  Seeing him come off the boat in Luca, I knew right then that this guy was not a good person.  I was new to RPGs at the time, but there was just something in me that said that I could not trust him.  He is the type of person who used his past struggles to become stronger.  However, he didn't rise up and move on from the struggles.  He let them sour him.  Instead of using his new strength to be a truly good example for the Spiran people, he manipulated them and twisted the rules to fit his agenda.  On top of that, his hair is horrible.  He needs to comb that mess.

After getting those images for this entry, I seem to have extreme feelings toward characters in blue.  It's not intentional.  I could go on and on about every character, but then it would be a mile-long entry, and no one would want to read that.  I wouldn't want to write it, although I'm sure I could.  I may talk about some more at some point, but these three are good enough as a jumping off point.

Well, I don't know when I will write about the other two keys.  I could do it tomorrow, or next week, or whenever.  I don't have a schedule of topics I'd like to talk about.  It would be really organized of me if I did.  No, I didn't think of even writing about this until fifteen minutes before starting it.  Anyway, that's all for now.  So, for the coming day, enjoy the games you play!

Michael, aka me3lingual, aka 情郎

Day 4: One done, and on to the Next!

Because today was Independence Day, I got the day off from work.  So instead of seeing fireworks, I played Sonic Unleashed all day.  Fireworks wouldn't have really been fun anyway, because it has rained all day!

Anyway, with all this time today of having nothing other than gaming to do, I managed to finished Sonic Unleashed!  I was getting frustrated by the end of it, because I was so close to completing it, and I kept being denied the win.  Dark Gaia was like "You shall not move on to the next game!  You must fight me...FOREVER!!!  Muahahaha!"

In the end, I won, the world was saved, and I said goodbye to my furry friend Chip.

So, one game done.  Only 304 more to go.

I have also chosen which game I will be playing next.  The winner is...

That's right, The Legend of Zelda II: The Adventure of Link.  This game is one of four featured on The Legend of Zelda: Collector's Edition.  I have never really played much of this game before, because I have no idea how to play it.  The only Zelda game I have ever finished is Spirit Tracks, and that took me forever to do.  I am thinking of employing massive help during my time playing this game.  I feel a little bad for my Zelda game friends, because they are about to be bombarded with questions.

Luckily for them, I will begin playing this game tomorrow.  So they have until after my work is done tomorrow to leave the planet.  Otherwise, I will use all means of communication necessary to bother them with my endless flood of "Can you help me get past this part?"'s.

That also is enough time to suggest a different game for me to play.  If the rain lets up, then I should be done working at about noon tomorrow.  So, just leave a comment on what game I should play, and I will change over to it.

I am preparing a video with my thoughts of Sonic Unleashed.  But if it falls through, be prepared with a blog post dedicated to my thoughts of the game.  The reason I am not writing about that tonight is because I have to be up at 5am tomorrow morning, and I am starting to get tired.  But make sure to watch out for it.

Well, I am headed to bed.  Actually, I have a personal life blog entry to type.  After that, then I'm going to bed.  So, until tomorrow, have fun playing whatever it is that you play!

Michael, aka me3lingual, aka 情郎

Day 3: I wish I could go Sonic's speed today.

Due to work lasting three-and-a-half hours longer than it should, I didn't get a chance to do as much gaming as I had wanted.  But I did a few stages just a few minutes ago so I wouldn't have nothing to write about.

Well, my progress in Sonic Unleashed is inching closer and closer to completion.  I currently have five lives with forty-six Sun Medals and thirty-three Moon Medals.  I have completed all of the Apotos stages, having received Sonic's final special attack.  I guess I should also say that I have finished all of the stages in Mazuri as well (all one of them).

Anyway, my main gaming news of the day is about a game I don't have yet.  I wish it would hurry up and arrive.  I ordered a copy of Xenosaga III to complete the series, and it hasn't gotten here yet.  I know where it is too.  It is in Kearny, New Jersey.  The odd thing is that the game is coming from Indiana.  To my house, in Ohio.  Why is it in New Jersey then?  I don't know.  The shipping said it should arrive by Friday, so maybe it will get here.  I have been waiting more than a week already.  I just don't understand why it would need to have such a long detour.  New Jersey is NOT on the way to Ohio.

Well, the good news is that I don't have to work tomorrow.  I do have to work on Friday, though.  But still, it looks like I may be able to get a lot more done tomorrow than I had planned.  I am off to bed now.  Until tomorrow, have fun playing whatever it is that you play!

Michael, aka me3lingual, aka 情郎

Day 2: A Chip On Your Shoulder

I didn't get to play as much as I wanted to today.  In total, only two hours of my time at home was spent working on completing Sonic Unleashed.  But it was two hours well spent.  I defeated Dark Moray and have gained access to two new cities, Shamar and Adabat.  I have four continents put back in their rightful places, and there are only three more left.

Today, I figured I should talk about how I don't like Dr. Eggman's name.  In this game, even he calls himself Dr. Eggman.  That is not the name I grew up knowing.  He will forever be Dr. Ivo Robotnik in my eyes.  Just like Tails will always be Miles Prower.  It's just how I know them.  But as time goes on, and game players become accustomed to hearing something one way, that's how the games themselves adapt.  Sonic and the good guys always called him Dr. Eggman, and so later games even gave him that name.

Also, I still love Chip!  If SEGA were to mass produce Chip plushies, I would so buy one and keep him in my room next to Clifford and my Steer plushies.  All I have seen are fan-made toys, and some make Chip look like some drugged-up version of himself.

With my progress in Sonic Unleashed continuing to grow and reach its last scene, it's time to start thinking which game I should play next. I am always up for suggestions, so feel free to leave a comment either in this post or the entry where I list my game collection.  Remember that I have received a couple more games since then, and I still have a few that haven't arrived yet.  There's...

1.  Gran Turismo 4 (PS2) - Not arrived yet.
2.  The Sims 3 (PS3) - Not arrived yet.
3.  Xenosaga III (PS2) - Not arrived yet.
4. The Sims 3: Pets (PS3) - Arrived yesterday.
5. Phantasy Star Universe (PS2) - Arrived yesterday.

So there's now a total of 305 possible games I could play next (this amount includes all of the games featured on compilation games like Atari Anthology and SEGA Genesis Collection and those that feature two games in one.  And also, if there are any tips or suggestions on how to get past certain parts of any games, please let me know.

Finally, I was thinking about taking gaming questions.  For instance, my thoughts on a game, or what character(s) I like from a series and whatnot.  Since some of these entries are bound to be brief due to not having enough time to play in a given day or lack of progress in a game, I want to make each and every entry worth reading.  So once a week, I would like to compile all the questions you may have about games and I will happy to answer them.

Anyway, it is getting late here, and I am having trouble keeping my eyes open; so I am headed for bed.  Until tomorrow, have fun playing whatever it is that you play!

Michael, aka me3lingual, aka 情郎