Tuesday, October 19, 2010

10 video games that made my life gayer (#2): Final Fantasy

Final Fantasy wasn't the first RPG I ever played, but it was the first RPG I enjoyed.

Although I played through Dragon Warrior shortly after it was released in the States--all the way back in 1989--I didn't fall head over heels in love with the RPG genre until I worked my way through the formidable Final Fantasy about a year later.

I can't remember exactly what it was about the latter game that prompted that change of heart, but I have a feeling its visible party members--not to mention visible spells and weapons--had something to do with it. (I've always been a sucker for such superficialities.) The title's deeper, more engaging story--compared to Dragon Quest and other RPGs of the time, at least--and eternally memorable tunes (such as this nasty little earworm) likely played a role, too.

All of those features and then some bring me back to the original NES version of Final Fantasy--I'm not a big fan of the GBA, PSone or PSP remakes--on an annual basis, despite the fact that the game is, as many critics and gamers proclaim (and complain), archaically clunky.

Even if I didn't regularly respond to Final Fantasy's siren call, though, it would have earned a place on this list--and in my heart--simply because it's the game that turned me into a lifelong RPG fan(atic).

See also: '10 video games that made my life gayer (#1): Bubble Bobble'

11 comments:

  1. Fair enough! I played through some of it, but I think I entered the FF1 world a little too late, and it just seemed out of date to me, then. The aimless wandering and WAY HARD difficulty kind of turned me off.

    ReplyDelete
  2. Oh, I completely understand why gamers lacking nostalgia-tinged sunglasses may not like this game, Justin!

    ReplyDelete
  3. Starfighter2:31 PM

    I didn't really pick up on how this game made your life gayer (other than it is a RPG... ;))?

    ReplyDelete
  4. Hey there, starfighter! Just remember that I'm using "gayer" in the old-fashioned sense, i.e., I'm writing about games that made me happier :) So, Final Fantasy was included on the list because it was the first RPG that I really enjoyed -- and it prompted me to fall in love with the RPG genre as a whole. Does that make sense?

    ReplyDelete
  5. Starfighter3:33 PM

    Yes it does. I'm a little disappointed it didn't mean gayer as in "todays" gayer but clever use of words though. :) I agree with what's been said above in the comments - the game isn't really something to write home about if you don't have some nostalgic bond to it.

    ReplyDelete
  6. Yeah, I've probably thrown a few people off with my odd/old use of the word. I'd totally be up for using it in the more modern sense, but I'm not sure what that would mean! I mean, I'm not sure any game I've ever played has literally made me gayer (in the modern sense)...

    ReplyDelete
  7. I don't think anything could MAKE me gayer! :-P I'm pretty gay as it is.

    ReplyDelete
  8. My thoughts exactly, Justin! I'm already as queer as a two-dollar bill :)

    ReplyDelete
  9. Starfighter12:31 PM

    But that's the funny part, blaming games is really common these days (GTA make us killers), so it would be kind of funny to.. I don't know.. Make homophobics be afraid of Bubble Bobble.. Haha, maybe I shouldn't go online when I'm tired? :)

    ReplyDelete
  10. Starfighter12:33 PM

    Make homophobics be, you see! I really shouldn't even be allowed to be out of bed at this point.

    ReplyDelete
  11. Ha ha! I understand what you're saying/suggesting, Starfighter. Maybe I'll write up something along the lines of "10 games that *literally* made my life gayer" as soon as this other series is done. I may just make it a single post, though -- you know, with all 10 games included in one post. Anyway, thanks for the idea :)

    ReplyDelete