What games are you currently playing?

[Bradandez]

Currently finishing Rayman Legends on PS3. I also want to play Overwatch. Haven't touched it since I bought it.

[Rayfist]

After 100 hours I've completed Persona 3 FES and had a lot of fun with it. I think it's story and characters are superior to Persona 4, though it's gameplay isn't as great imo.

[Fifo]

I was playing Final Fantasy XII.

[Dart]

After 100 hours I've completed Persona 3 FES and had a lot of fun with it. I think it's story and characters are superior to Persona 4, though it's gameplay isn't as great imo.

Oh Sweet you finished it! I totally agree with you that Persona 3 has the better cast and story, except for Yukari anyways, I find her sooo annoying. But I got to ask who your favorite character's are, I personally love Naoto and Shinjiro!

[Rayfist]

After 100 hours I've completed Persona 3 FES and had a lot of fun with it. I think it's story and characters are superior to Persona 4, though it's gameplay isn't as great imo.

Oh Sweet you finished it! I totally agree with you that Persona 3 has the better cast and story, except for Yukari anyways, I find her sooo annoying. But I got to ask who your favorite character's are, I personally love Naoto and Shinjiro!

From Persona 4: Kanji. Kanji was just a lovable dude all around for me, I love how he tries to act tough to mask the fact he has super feminine interests which of course there's nothing wrong with, I think that can relate to a lot of people these days and I like how P4 tackled that. He was always the most humorous yet also one my favorite S links to progress through, because it really shows you at heart how he enjoys helping others, which at the beginning of the game, seemed so unlike him. Naoto is a close second, just her mature, serious attitude towards a situation (and she helped a lot in getting us on the right track to finding the culprit), not to mention her excellent deduction skills, and her dedication to carry on the Shirogane detective name.

From Persona 3: Mitsuru, for a lot of the reason I liked Naoto. She's smart and incredibly mature, and has a dedication towards fighting shadows since she was very young. Junpei is second. At first, I can't say I was huge on Junpei, he came across as "another Yosuke" to me. But I gained HUGE respect for his character towards later events of the game (Chidori scene for example), I think Junpei while a real jokester, truly is dedicated at fighting shadows to protect those and isn't doing it for his own selfish interest because of one's death and to get fame (Yosuke).

[Bzzit]

Been playing a couple of early access games on Steam : GRIP and Ghost of a Tale. The former is a combat racer, whilst the latter is a stealth game. Honestly, I'm really enjoying them, better than a lot of triple A games out there at a quarter of the price, with a lot polish considering how early in the development cycle they are.

[Fifo]

I’m playing Final Fantasy XII.

[Bzzit]

Playing WOW, leveling my Goblin Warlock for Leigon

[Fifo]

As I said in the You Game, I was playing FFⅫ once again – I’m near the end of it!

[Droolie]

I'm playing nothing at the moment, but I can't wait to get back to Suikoden (the first one) after my thesis is done.

As I said in the You Game, I was playing FFⅫ once again – I’m near the end of it!

I'm really looking forward to the HD version of this and I was wondering, how does it hold up to Hiroyuki Ito's previous games, FFIX and FFVI? If it's half as good then I'll love it for sure (FFIX is my favourite game ever!)

[Fifo]

As I said in the You Game, I was playing FFⅫ once again – I’m near the end of it!

I'm really looking forward to the HD version of this and I was wondering, how does it hold up to Hiroyuki Ito's previous games, FFIX and FFVI? If it's half as good then I'll love it for sure (FFIX is my favourite game ever!)

I’ve not played FFVI and FFIX yet, but I can say that the game’s quite great. The graphics are awesome.

[Pirez]

I’ve not played FFVI and FFIX yet

I would be mad at you if you weren't clearly saving the best for last

Anyway, I'll soon be starting Morrowind, ten years overdue.

[Droolie]

I’ve not played FFVI and FFIX yet, but I can say that the game’s quite great. The graphics are awesome.

Well then you really should, they are both fantastic. Glad to hear FFXII is great too, I tried playing it 5 years ago but was put off by the MMO-style combat. Once I look past that though, I think I'll enjoy it as well.

Anyway, I'll soon be starting Morrowind, ten years overdue.

Enjoy! It's up there as one of my favourite games after FFIX. The world building, atmosphere and crazy stuff (there's a hidden talking mudcrab merchant somewhere that is the richest merchant in the whole province) is miles better than the later Elder Scrolls games (though they are great as well). Don't be put off by your character's extremely low stats at the beginning of the game -- you'll progress from not being able to hit rats to one-hit killing the most powerful monsters and flying across the province.

[Fifo]

I’ve not played FFVI and FFIX yet, but I can say that the game’s quite great. The graphics are awesome.

Well then you really should, they are both fantastic.

I’m actually looking for a black label PAL copy of FFIX for PSone, complete with box, manual and all four discs

Glad to hear FFXII is great too, I tried playing it 5 years ago but was put off by the MMO-style combat. Once I look past that though, I think I'll enjoy it as well.

Yeah, you’ll need to master the battle and gambit systems for good results.

I’ve not played FFVI and FFIX yet

I would be mad at you if you weren't clearly saving the best for last

You shouldn’t worry about that

[Rayfist]

I’ve not played FFVI and FFIX yet

Yep, same. The only FF games I've beat were the original (GBA remake), VII, and X. I do own both IV and VI (Snes versions which here in America is known as Final Fantasy II and III), though I haven't got around to playing them, I also own Final fantasy VIII and IX but haven't touched those yet either. I'd like to experience all the mainline FF games (with the exception of the MMO's), but I've been pretty busy with the Persona games and soon to start the SMT series.

On the note of FFX though is there any reason for me to play FFX-2 I'm just a little uninterested based on what I heard. I REALLY enjoyed FFX but FFX-2 seems pretty mediocre.

[Droolie]

On the note of FFX though is there any reason for me to play FFX-2

No. I personally played about an hour of it and gave up. I know the story though and it's pretty bad, especially in that it completely ruins the first game's ending. For the HD version they also made an audio drama sequel "FFX-2.5", which ends with Sin somehow coming back and the relationship between the main characters going sour. I honestly don't know what is left for them to break with a possible FFX-3.

Anyway, you probably heard how bad FFXIII is too. Well, it's directed by the same guy as FFX-2. It's a little better than that game, but you have been warned.
Play FFIX, FFVI and FFVIII instead (FFIV is alright too but not as great as the other three), maybe FFXII (I haven't played it yet) and then move on to Lost Odyssey and The Last Story, which are both really amazing games made by the same creators as FF1-10.

[Dart]

I'm currently playing Ratchet and Clank 2, and to be quite frank, I think people put this franchise on too high of a pedestal. As a platformer I can agree that the worlds are colorful and imaginative, but I really don't get why the tools need to be equipped to the wheel; it makes more sense for things like the grappling hook to have their own button so that you don't consistently have to pull yourself out of the action, and for the puzzle solving items to have a context sensitive button. Things like that just make your game a lot smoother.

The storyline in the first game is fairly predictable and comedy unfunny in opinion, Captain Quark in particular being the most unbearable pile of dreck I've seen in awhile. The second so far is a little bit better at comedy at least, I got a good chuckle from the biker gang world.

After 100 hours I've completed Persona 3 FES and had a lot of fun with it. I think it's story and characters are superior to Persona 4, though it's gameplay isn't as great imo.

Oh Sweet you finished it! I totally agree with you that Persona 3 has the better cast and story, except for Yukari anyways, I find her sooo annoying. But I got to ask who your favorite character's are, I personally love Naoto and Shinjiro!

From Persona 4: Kanji. Kanji was just a lovable dude all around for me, I love how he tries to act tough to mask the fact he has super feminine interests which of course there's nothing wrong with, I think that can relate to a lot of people these days and I like how P4 tackled that. He was always the most humorous yet also one my favorite S links to progress through, because it really shows you at heart how he enjoys helping others, which at the beginning of the game, seemed so unlike him. Naoto is a close second, just her mature, serious attitude towards a situation (and she helped a lot in getting us on the right track to finding the culprit), not to mention her excellent deduction skills, and her dedication to carry on the Shirogane detective name.

From Persona 3: Mitsuru, for a lot of the reason I liked Naoto. She's smart and incredibly mature, and has a dedication towards fighting shadows since she was very young. Junpei is second. At first, I can't say I was huge on Junpei, he came across as "another Yosuke" to me. But I gained HUGE respect for his character towards later events of the game (Chidori scene for example), I think Junpei while a real jokester, truly is dedicated at fighting shadows to protect those and isn't doing it for his own selfish interest because of one's death and to get fame (Yosuke).

Kanji is a close 2nd too for those same reasons. Although his story is also very dear to me because I wish I was a girl and could explore my feminine side as freely as I like to, but am having to live with everyone's expectations of me as a guy instead. In the sequels they show how he slowly opens up to the world and isn't embarrassed anymore, it's quite a touching ending to his character arc.

Admittedly I didn't find any of the main characters to be that great in the first third of the game, and I think it's pretty remarkable how much growth these characters get by the end of game. I think the p3 cast shine best when they're pushed to their breaking point, and that's when you realize you really do care for them. Instances like Mitsuru's father murder and the weight of the whole company falling onto her, and how she isn't able to be happy until Yukari comforts her, or how Junpei goes berserk after Chidori willingly sacrifices herself so that he can live, or Akihiko mourning Shinjiro's death and his resolution to continue fighting. These characters go from being your average stupid kids to war-torn soldiers that have to go through the most insane of shit! In a way that's why I like Shinjiro most. He really gets the worst of it all, due to his struggle to keep his persona in check and the weight of having killed Ken's mother, and dies to protect Ken even though Ken is consumed with revenge.

[Ambidextroid]

Playing Pokemon Fire Red, and aiming to catch them all (100 caught out of 150 so far)

[Rayfist]

In the sequels they show how he slowly opens up to the world and isn't embarrassed anymore, it's quite a touching ending to his character arc.

Yeah, I don't know which version of P4 you played, but I remember towards the end of Golden when you get a max S. Link with him he talks about opening up a knitting class. It's funny cause Naoto is the exact opposite of Kanji in the case because she has more male interests than female. I haven't played the spinoff sequels (Arena, Ultimax, and DAN) if that's what you're referring to.

In a way that's why I like Shinjiro most. He really gets the worst of it all, due to his struggle to keep his persona in check and the weight of having killed Ken's mother, and dies to protect

Yes. Though Shinjiro, despite his short moments in the game, I feel he definitely had the strongest issue on his shoulders of all the characters. What he accidentally did is definitely a tough thing to live with. And his death (especially the part with Akihiko visiting him) was fucking heartbreaking. That and the part with Chidori were two absolutely heartbreaking moments for me.

Instances like Mitsuru's father murder and the weight of the whole company falling onto her

Another reason why I love Mitsuru, she had one of the most interesting S. Links where you can see that the Kirijo company depending on her was difficult for her since she nearly had to marry that asshole. Best person to romance for sure. And I think that part with Yukari smacking some sense into her was as good as she ever got as a character... I dunno I really can't say I liked Yukari (especially in The Answer), especially when she asked the protag why Mitsuru's dad should've died instead of hers.

Admittedly I didn't find any of the main characters to be that great in the first third of the game

I totally see what you mean and I think that's my one problem with P3 is that things don't really get interesting until the full moons and major events. These major events really showed a true side of these characters that we didn't see initially.

Despite the hate Ken gets, I really liked him, and I think he had a similar resolution to Akihiko since he didn't know what he was even fighting for after the death of Shinjiro. He's a pretty tough kid, and you can really see the drastic change in character when he realizes that getting revenge on Shinjiro (despite the fact he's already gonna die anyway from the 'surpressors' he's taking) is pointless. I have to say though of all the characters that I felt were kind of pointless... Kuromaru. Yeah he's cute, but I can't say there were any relevant parts in the story with him. Yeah we know about how he sat and waited for his master after his death and that WHOA, it's a dog with Persona abilities!!!! But I do wish he got more parts in the story.

I watched all the cutscenes for The Answer (since I've heard it isn't worth going through) and I was glad to see some backstory for the characters a bit that showed the reason why they all fought but... I don't know, it felt a little unnecessary. All the events that happened in The Answer could have been avoided had everyone just accepted the death of the protag and moved on (especially since that's probably what he wanted since he became a seal to prevent humanities desire for death to make it through to reach Nyx)

which ends with Sin somehow coming back and the relationship between the main characters going sour. I honestly don't know what is left for them to break with a possible FFX-3.

Spoilers man... but yeah that sounds REALLY shitty. All that work to defeat Sin and that bullshit happens? You can tell it was really made as a cash cow. I do feel like FFX while it had excellent characters, the story sort of kept hitting a brick road, "oh well now we know THIS about Sin so NOW how do we tackle him??" it just kept going in a loop. Though still managed to be really interesting all through out.

[Dart]

In the sequels they show how he slowly opens up to the world and isn't embarrassed anymore, it's quite a touching ending to his character arc.

Yeah, I don't know which version of P4 you played, but I remember towards the end of Golden when you get a max S. Link with him he talks about opening up a knitting class. It's funny cause Naoto is the exact opposite of Kanji in the case because she has more male interests than female. I haven't played the spinoff sequels (Arena, Ultimax, and DAN) if that's what you're referring to.

I played Golden too, but I was more specifically referring too the spin-off sequels. In them it's shown that Rise, Noato and Yu (the protagonist) move back to "the big city," with Rise and Noato confidently going back to their jobs, while Chie decides to become an officer and Kanji expands Tatsumi Textiles to add in his various sewing skills. I can't remember what Yukiko does but Yusuke procrastinates and Teddie stays a pervy store mascot. The P3 cast do various things too, Mitsuru and Aigis lead a police division specializing in shadows, Akihiko and Fuuka help them but are also college students, Junpei's a little league coach, Yukari an actor/model, and Ken is a middle schooler, and Koromaru lives with Ken. I find it cool that even though they are unnecessary spin-offs they still continue the lore of these characters quite well.

Despite the hate Ken gets, I really liked him, and I think he had a similar resolution to Akihiko since he didn't know what he was even fighting for after the death of Shinjiro. He's a pretty tough kid, and you can really see the drastic change in character when he realizes that getting revenge on Shinjiro (despite the fact he's already gonna die anyway from the 'surpressors' he's taking) is pointless. I have to say though of all the characters that I felt were kind of pointless... Kuromaru. Yeah he's cute, but I can't say there were any relevant parts in the story with him. Yeah we know about how he sat and waited for his master after his death and that WHOA, it's a dog with Persona abilities!!!! But I do wish he got more parts in the story.

Honestly Koromaru is really only there to fill up the roster neatly, if they wanted to the could have just made ken wield both light and dark like Naoto eventually would and it wouldn't have changed much. On the subject of change, I would have really toned down Yukari's bitch levels by endgame and especially the Answer because she becomes such an intolerable character by that point. I'd also play up Aegis's quirkyness with how she interacts with her environment. To compare, Thor's greatest moments (in the MCU) come from the cultural dissonance between Earth and Asgard, which result in memorable moments like these:

In the case of Aegis however, it feels like they only went halfway on the idea resulting in her coming off as creepy more than anything else until she starts developing her consciousness.

I watched all the cutscenes for The Answer (since I've heard it isn't worth going through) and I was glad to see some backstory for the characters a bit that showed the reason why they all fought but... I don't know, it felt a little unnecessary. All the events that happened in The Answer could have been avoided had everyone just accepted the death of the protag and moved on (especially since that's probably what he wanted since he became a seal to prevent humanities desire for death to make it through to reach Nyx)

The Answer is in no way worth playing unless you really want the experience of playing it, and it is some of the most unforgiving bullshit I have ever played. If there was a "side" I most agree with it would probably be Junpei's, as he's the only one that seems to see the full picture without denying anything and just wants to go home. All in all this is basically an excuse plot to make the player hate Yukari and the Ai mechanics even more than you did before