In the world of Final Fantasy, it is more than common to encounter everyone’s favorite plant-like fiend (other than Cactuar, of course), the Marlboro.  But when I encountered this green bugger while playing FF6 the other day, I loudly cracked-up when I saw his name: Mad Oscar.  What?!  Mad.  Oscar.  It was a blessing the battle didn’t last too long and that Oscar had better breath than his poison-spewing friends.                                                                           

           "Grrr!!"  Mad Oscar in all his glory!!

The funny, the heart-warming, and the epic.  A few of my favorite quotes from the Final Fantasy series.

"I want my journey to be full of laughter." - Summoner Yuna (FFX)

"How can there be any meaning in the memory of such a being? What I have shown you is reality. What you remember, that is the illusion." - Sephiroth (FFVII)

"I am The Basch Von Rosenburg Of Dalmasca...Dont Listen To Ondore Lies!" - Vaan (FFXII)

"When I couldn't see a future and I was afraid. When the future was clear and it hurt to see, I just close my eyes and lose myself in happier days." - Vanille (FFXIII)

""There old saying in my tribe....'Leftovers good!'" - Quina (FFIX)

"As soon as Lady Yuna fixes her hair, we leave." - Sir Auron (FFX)

When I want stunning graphics, I play on the PS3.  When I want unforgettable characters and epic stories, I resort to the games of the mid to late 1990s and early 2000s.  We all know the titles; The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time, Final Fantasy VII, and even Kingdom Hearts.  I think back and remember the days when I played a game in and out, wandering aimlessly for hours enjoying the music and collecting treasure with no concern of rushing to obtain achievements and trophies.  There was a lack of constant competition and a sense of enjoyment and inner peace through escaping reality and living through the lead characters of platformers and a plumber with a little red hat. This was truly the Golden Age of Gaming.


Now, don't get me wrong.  I appreciate beautiful graphics immensely as well as putting to use new technology, but there is nothing like a simple turn based RPG battle system with a designated black mage and fighter, roles that are kept sacred and separate; the mage will have a weak attack, while the fighter will deliver powerful blows with ease.   We knew what we were getting, and we loved it: characters with specific roles, all doing their part to contribute to an epic story.  And this leads me to my next point.


The stories of such games were unforgettable, from characters to unfolding events.  And there was always a figure and a darkness to defeat, something so ominous and huge that the player could hardly fathom its significance: the princess in immediate danger, the end of the world as we know it, Sephiroth.  These threats changed the dynamic of each story throughout the game and created a build-up that became so high by the end that the only release was to put it all on the line and take the enemy down.  And, oh, what victory it was.  The endings that touched our hearts and left us longing for more.


Will such a time of epicness ever return?  Due to the exact time, place, circumstances, world state, and other such factors needing to be aligned for such nostalgia potential and wonder to occur, I would have to say no.  This is not to say there will not be amazing games to come.  But I am truly happy to have lived and played through a time when all games were so much more than pixels upon a screen; they were the stories and lessons that shaped our lives.

Just as these two elements of weather are different from each other, so are the two characters: Cloud Strife and Claire “Lightning” Farron. 

First of all, there are the obvious differences, such as gender.  But does gender really matter in the case of these two personalities?  Both share a quality of keeping emotional distance from others, and both come off as stereotypically tough.  Cloud has spiky blonde hair, while Light, affectionately termed, sports a pinkish-blonde do.   The femininity factor is about equal in both of these cases, and I may even go so far as to say that Lightning herself possess more masculine qualities than Mr. Strife.  

Another significant factor is the idea of family.  Lightning has always had her younger sister to keep her going and as a friend, but before his FFVII pals and Soldier, what about Cloud?  He is the epitome of the loner, while she comes off as a spoiled rebel.  I mean, don’t get me wrong, Lightning is awesome, but when it comes to winning over the love of your friends…

Let’s just say I don’t see them making a Final Fantasy 13: L’Cie Children any time soon.

Just the other day I received word of a site where lonely males, most likely of the mom’s basement-dwelling variety, can pay a female “gamer” (note the quotes) to play with them. This is an insult to females who love video games everywhere.  Sure, ANY of us on here could be one of these girls.  But...we are REAL gamers, who take passion in an epic story and unforgettable characters.  We are not X-Box-itutes.

Sadly, many girls out there use gaming, or even simply the title "gamer," to get attention, a pathetic phenomenon which has not only swept the internet but is slowly giving hardcore female gamers a poor reputation.  Whether you play Final Fantasy or random FPS’s, it is your time to say “enough is enough!”  Or at least laugh in the face of such idiocy. 

Again, it would be easy for someone like me or any of you girls reading this right now to shed a few layers, take a saucy photo, and charge 5 bucks for 10 minutes on the old system, but…we don’t.  And we won’t.  Why?  Well, that answer lies not only in your heart but in your love for the game.

Huzzah,
-Ammy

I, for one, love Aeris Gainsborough as both a helpful healer and an all-around epic character.  On my girly side, I love her feminine pink attire and adorable hair-do.  On my deeper side, I love her pure heart and loving persona.  It's funny how someone so sweet and caring can still be hated.  I, for one, cried when she was killed and was so happy to see her make a pleasant return in the Kingdom Hearts series.  The gaming world needs more characters like Aeris.  But if they are a thing of the past, then the past is where my heart shall remain.  ^_^ 

If you truly love gaming, despite the game, you have my respect and admiration.

It seems that a few individuals mistook my previous entry of this title and tried to single me out.  They wrote a reply with a number of attacking lines, which not only shocked me, it offended me as well.  I do not know these people nor do they know me, but I think all of you who have taken the time to get to know me can be the judge as to what my intentions are.   

The group that I was really describing are those who do not love gaming and call themselves gamers.  Not someone who only plays certain games.  I wrote a blog supporting my fellow game enthusiasts, and I would like to thank each person I have gotten to know on here, especially those of you who love the same games as I do.

I am sorry that a person's need to attack made my entry out to be what it was not intended to be. 

I am here to discuss games and my love for the lifestyle. 

So please, feel free to bring your comments on your love for gaming as a response to this blog.  I am glad to have cleared things up.

Thank you all for being awesome,  =)

-Ammy

In night's dark serenity, the glow of FFX lights the room just enough for me to visuaslize the tiny letters on my keyboard.  I realize how grateful I am to be living my life, to experience such beautiful virtual worlds, to be introduced to characters that I can relate to and who inspire me.  I cannot help but smile with a warm sense of ageless nostalgia stemming from my passion that has followed me for the majority of two decades.  I put the game on pause to listen to the classical scores as I type and reflect upon another day's effort of traveling to Zanarkand.  If I were on such a journey, I suppose I would be the healer.  Or maybe the black mage, casting water in a light-hearted manner each time my thirst became apparent.  I can never decide who I would be...but I guess that would be up to my party to decide: throw me a sword or fill me with casting abilities? 

Would I become the martyr and set the tone for the rest of the game, or would I contiue to fight until the strife of those fighting beside me was avenged?  Or would I be summoned as a final resort in the battle?  Oh how my mind wanders in this hour so deep into the night...when a story occupies my cognition and peace fills my heart...

Hm...I guess I just felt like sharing the moment.

Warmest regards and happy travels,

Ammy

Whether you are male or female, it is quite easy to get annoyed with individuals who can be called nothing but “posers.”  Stereotypically, the main, and oftentimes the ONLY, games they play are those like MW2/WoW/Halo etc.  These individuals are often female, having learned to play from a boyfriend or big brother.  They come to sites geared towards gaming and usually discuss nothing that remotely relates to virtual reality, only seeming to want attention.  

Someone who has played more games than they can count does not plaster their page with such “look at me” propaganda as “GAMER” or the ever so distinguishable “GAMER GIRL.”  Consider this, how many folks who have loved games before the term “gamer” became popular jargon feel the need to flaunt such a title?  How many males display bold graphics of “GUY GAMER?” 

Someone who loves video games has a passion for playing alone as well as with others.  And sometimes just alone.  Gaming does not need to be a social-head-mic experience to a devout “gamer.”  To us, the company of complex characters like Cloud Strife and Link is just as fulfilling as a gathering with close friends.  

Ask yourself these questions.  How many games have YOU actually played?  How many cut scenes have reduced you to tears?  How many times have you saved before your favorite part just so you can return to the moment again and again?  These questions are infinite…like the supply of posers is becoming.

Please, enjoy your boyfriend’s video games, but stop calling yourself a gamer.

Faith, technology, belief, and strength.  Such themes are present in Final Fantasy X, along with being one of the most beautiful games that I have experienced.  It presented such ideas in a metaphorical and visual manner that the player could not help but become engrossed in the tale of Summoner Yuna and her guardians. 

There are so few games nowadays that truly make us think beyond extremist ideas and back to simple Earthly disputes, which are slowly destroying the planet and its people.  The side that wants to build until the resources are used up and has no tolerance for anything outside of themselves and the side that ignores these individuals and solely bases their values upon vague teachings.  In Final Fantasy X, these two sides are the group that wishes to use machina at all costs and the group who completely objects to using technology.  Issues such as faith (not fayth, hehe),   

Ignorance is avoiding both of these aspects: faith and technology/new ways of thinking.  Each extreme is worse than the other, creating bitter, spiteful individuals with little tolerance for others and blindly following down a path lacking peace.  In this world, I have never heard a group more attacked than the faithful.  And by whom?  Those who have no faith at all. 

Faith is not “a religion,” as some may refer to it as.  Yevon, in the case of FFX, and Catholicism are religions, while faith is a belief that one holds with no uncertainty.  It is what makes us able to love and know that everything will be alright.  Without faith, Yuna never would have had the strength to defeat Sin.  Without faith, every victory would lose its meaning.  Without faith, neither Spira or planet Earth would exist.   

Fallout 3 is the first game I have played of the series. Needless to say, I loved every bit of it, from the main story line to losing and gaining Karma in an attempt to align yourself with good or evil. The leveling system and point distribution (attributes) were clear, simple, and effective. I enjoyed the character customization, and for some reason, it reminded me of the character builder in the Tony Hawk games for PS2…only with more details to change. The seemingly-endless environment made for hours of wandering, equipped with your choice of weapon, in a game that was not conformed to the dynamics of a FPS. Huzzah to switching between third and first in various situations.

I started my first run through as a good character, but realizing that you can easily kill someone merely for their awesome 50s attire made my game as an evil character oh-so-delightful. As my need to be a saint or a ruthless killer increased, so did my enjoyment of this game. Remember kids, you alone hold the future of the Wastelands in your hands!

Whether we consider Zelda or Peach, the Princess archetype is all too apparent: the flowing gown, the damsel in distress, the helpless maiden. Despite that many of the women of more recent games have become warriors, there is still a sweet sense of nostalgia attached to a modest and beautiful female to rescue. She is seen as a symbol of power and, at the same time, a reward. And in this sense, I feel that this gives her a strength that is equal to, if not greater than, the warrior.

Another example is the female healer. I will use two well-known exemplars: Aeris (Final Fantasy 7) and Yuna (Final Fantasy 10). Aeris, while naive and innocent, takes on the role of healing everyone in the party, at least up until her unfortunate death. She is seen as the sweet flower girl whose goals are slightly less worldly than the others, which comes into play in both FFVII and in the movie Final Fantasy: Advent Children. On the other hand, there is Yuna, the summoner destined to defeat Sin and restore the Calm. While her powers go beyond simply healing (she can summon a number of aeons and do some serious damage), Yuna is still a rather delicate character compared to the rest of her party. There is another connection between Aeris and Yuna, and perhaps it is the most complex one of all: the martyr factor.

While Aeris’ death was for the most part unexpected, in terms of storyline, we find out later on in FFX that Yuna will be sacrificing herself as a summoner in order to defeat Sin. The martyr factor is an interesting concept, considering the fact that for the most part it is not a direct suicide, but instead, the character has goals beyond this world (or their world). But that is another concept altogether. What makes Aeris’ and Yuna’s cases intriguing is the fact that someone comes to rescue, or at least attempts to rescue, them each time. Cloud goes after Aeris, only to watch her be brutally shish-kabobed before his very eyes. Tidus is slightly more successful, other than the years of therapy both him and Yuna will have to undergo due to some major separation anxiety. The theme of martyrdom is yet another interesting idea to fall under the Princess category.

There is so much more to consider when thinking about what makes up a Princess type character. From being the nurturing healer to the damsel in distress, the “good girls” and princesses of video games are a dynamic that keep a story traditional and our hero motivated. Without a fragile and lovely creature to fight for, where is the true reward?