This column is even read in Missouri - June 11, 2000 -
Andrew Kaufmann
Disclaimer: The opinions expressed within this column are those of
the participants and the moderator, and do not necessarily reflect those of the GIA. There
is coarse language and potentially offensive material afoot. I threw out trash today. Mayhaps I should invest in a trash can. Don't say we didn't warn you.
On a completely random note, am I the only one that's glad the Playstation 2 won't be a top
loading system? I remember the good old days of the NES, when I could put my gaming system on
a rather narrow shelf, and even put things on top of it when I was feeling crazy. Today, my
Dreamcast and Playstation sit either on the floor or just on my desk, because putting them on
a shelf would make access to game changing very difficult.
| Anti-aliasing, and what it is |
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I'm from Missouri, what's Anti-aliasing.
Even if this doesn't get into the column, I'd like a response please
Joey cape
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The old adage of "no such thing as a dumb question" comes to mind here. I went to people with
more graphics knowledge than myself, Andrea Hartmann and Andrew Vestal for answers, and their
combined answer looks something like this: it's reducing "jaggies" from graphics. For example,
in pure black and white, a diagonal line would look jagged and pixelated. If the same thing is
anti-aliased, there are shades of grey along the edge, making it all happy and smooth.
A good question. I'm sure there are a lot of people out there just a bit more knowledgable now.
| Different thoughts on Legend of Mana |
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Kandrin on ice was whining about the NUMBERS NOT BEING DISPLAYED DURING
BATTLE?? It was also saying how much better the previous games were,
INCLUDING Seiken Densetsu 1 (Final Fantasy Adventure). Here's a little
wake-up call, the "numbers" were not displayed in Seiken Densetsu 1,
either. If you want numbers, play a game with ASCII graphics.
Regarding the combat system, every single Seiken Densetsu game has had a
different combat system. In fact, Kandrin was whining that the combat
was not "seamless." The combat wasn't exactly seamless in Seiken
Densetsu 3, either (If you don't know what I mean, go play it
illegally).
Graphics... the only time you have to worry about graphics is if they
are screwing up the gameplay. People who let graphics influence their
main opinion of a game are weak. Gameplay makes a game.
Legend of Mana is a great game. It has great graphics, sure the
animation may not be as good as other games, but it fits, and is
cohesive with the other things in the game. The combat system is more
than just button mashing, if you can get the skills and techniques
down. The music is spectacular. It is innovative.
Legend of Mana did NOT "detroy" a legacy.
-Zane Merritt
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I'm not going to dispute any of your specific arguments, just say that for the most part,
I agree. Regarding the graphics, however, I will disagree. One complaint
about Legend of Mana is that the graphics do screw up
gameplay. The slowdown can really get in the way during some battles. Also, while
I don't think that a game should be based solely on graphics, I do think that it's an
important aspect of the quality of a game.
Videogames ask us, the gamer, to enter their realm and become the character we're playing
(especially RPGs, hence where the name comes from). In most cases, this is easier with good
graphics. I don't know of many people that still sit around their living rooms listening to
stories being told over the radio, but people go to the movies regularly. Visuals are a large
part of any experience. Humans like to have their five senses stimulated. To me, Legend of Mana
is fun, has good music, and has good graphics (it doesn't smell or feel that great, even with force
feedback). Take away any of those three aspects, and I think you'll have a weaker game.
| It's really nifty looking, though! |
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In regard to the Legend of Mana Story, you said:
>I have to admit I'm a bit disappointed that, according to this letter,
>there isn't one. That's not going to stop me from playing on, because the
>game truly is fun. I don't know that I'll feel "whole" if I don't get a
>plot, though. Don't be too turned off by this letter, though, everyone:
>the game is still fun. I'd give it a try, assuming it's in the budget. The
>graphics are truly breathtaking.
You missed the important word, 'overriding,' in the sentence.
"So through playing the game, you make your own story and as such
an overriding story would just get in the way."
There is a story in Legend of Mana, that the Mana Tree burned down due to
wars between the faeries, humans, and each other. That's all covered in
the introduction. In addition, you can check the 'World History'
encyclopedia to get a more detailed account of the history. It'll add
entries as you progress through the game.
So don't be disappointed, there's a story, it's just not shoved in your
face. Think of it more as an underly theme and not the *only* objective to
the game. It makes a whole lot more sense the way it's set up because
there wouldn't be much of a point to all the subquests if all you were
supposed to do was one singular objective.
Don't hurry to get to the ending either, unless you just want to replay
the game with your current, beefy character. ;)
>The other issues you bring up are very irritating, though. The fact you
>can only attack west-east and not north-south is very annoying, as is the
>fact you have to hit an enemy in exactly the right spot lest you miss and
>waste your attack.
Some of the weapons, like the Spear and Staff, get spun around in the
middle of the weak hit combo and it feels like it hits enemies above and
below me. I can't prove it, but give it a shot.
--
I find the bosses to not be that challenging either, but I think that's due
to an overly developed character. I can generally just go toe-to-toe and
beat on them with weak hits until they drop. There was one fight that got
me twice though, I won't say where. I kept wondering why my NPC and Pet
were dying in one hit every few seconds, until I noticed the monster was
exploding for 300 HP of damage. I had over 700 HP at the time though, so I
could take two hits and still stand. The day (upper right corner of the
world map screen) makes a huge difference on the strength of the enemies
though, check the Monster encyclopedia.
George Greer
FFT Addict
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While there's an underlying story, yes, I've yet to really see a compelling story that
keeps you playing from subquest to subquest. The gameplay is fun, and each individual
subquest is fun, but I still long for something clearer and more pronounced. I'm not
through the game, so maybe it'll all come together in my mind, but at this point it's not
enough to totally satisfy.
Overall, the game is quite easy. Enemies and bosses provide little to no challenge, even when I
was fighting alone because I had managed to overlook all the NPCs and the monster training
subquest. I stress that I still find the game fun, but I think Square turned a masterpeice into
an average peice of work.
| More Legend of Mana plot, or lackthereof |
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After beating Legend of Mana (after 18 hours roughly),
I find myself thinking "where's the evil Sorcerer?" or
"Where's the Empire?"
The fact that Square sends us on our own way to help
multitudes of people left something to be desired. In
contrast, Secret of Mana was a story from the get-go.
LoM never created an overwhelming urgency for saving
the Mana Tree. It never solidified any real villian
or baddie. Sure, you have your bad guys in the
quests, but no real overpowering villian or ultimate
goal.
I accidentally beat the game too. And am I alone, or
were ALL the bosses too easy? The final boss was a
simple get it in the corner and hack away.
This game was a cakewalk. There are no subplots,
because you need a main plot first.
EdgarFigaro
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Again, I'm not through the game, but I tend to agree with you. And as the last letter indicates,
you're certainly not alone in thinking the bosses were too easy.
| PS One correction |
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Just wanted to add a bit about PS One letter that was up yesterday - the PS
One is going to be the same exact price as the regular Playstation, at least
here in Japan. The normal PSX runs 15,000 yen new, just like the PS One
will. Seems to me that Sony is simply planning on replacing the current PSX
with the PS One instead of pushing it as a separate portable unit (at least,
for now - when the screen comes out that will change)...
It _is_ really nifty looking, though...
jt.kauffman, tempted to make the PS One the third Japanese Playstation that
he owns...
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Ooops. That's my bad. I had missed that detail. I apologize to the masses. Thanks for
pointing that out, JT. But, even if it is the same price, I don't think it's a good buy given
the PS2's backwards compatability. Even if it's small, it's another unit to make room for. And
it's top loading. See beginning of column.
| The Stars are out at night |
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The Stars lost because of your laziness in putting up a new column. Feel sad.
P.S. If its 4:30 AM, then technically that's the 11th, not the 10th.
P.P.S. I still say NO GOAL.
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Ouch, that hurts. I think the reason is more because Jason Arnott got a good shot off against
Ed Belfour, but what do I know about hockey? Anyway, I'm perfectly aware that it's the 11th, but
I live in a weird world with my own rules, and by golly I'll backwards date the columns in my little
world. I apologize to those that upsets.
And as for the goal, the referees on the ice and the commissioner of hockey said it was a goal,
and they know more about hockey than you and me. And their opinions are the only ones that count.
So, I still say GOAL. I wonder for how many more years I'll be having this debate with people...
| Who is less popular: the Stars or the Cowboys? |
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AK,
Your Stars can once again shove that loss up their collective crackpipes and
smoke it. The Avs will own them next year damn it! Did you know that a good
chunk of people here in Colorado actually hate the Stars more than the Wings
now? Its true, and I even hate that damn Modano more than Yzerman. Go
figure.
Justin Freeman
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Haha, someone's just a little bitter about losing in the semifinals. It's okay though, I feel
your pain. The Avs are a good team, I'd have liked to have seen a Stanley Cup Final between them
and Stars. Impossible, of course, because of the divisional alignment, but a nice thought anyway.
It's only natural that you hate Mike Modano. The handsome, brilliant, skilled, and very speedy
center is such a graceful masterpeice on ice that those who are not followers of his mighty hockey
self and the team he represents have no choice but to transform their feelings of awe into feelings
of hate to avoid crumbling into a sniveling pile of confusion.
Either that or it's your standard inter-city rivalry. Good stuff that rivalry is. But I'm surprised
you chose to single out Modano for you hatred, and not a Darien Hatcher. Modano is an excellent
defensive forward, but plays a very clean and skilled game. Hatcher is more of the typical bruiser
(a bruiser that does things other than bruise, unlike certain hockey players) that attracts the ire
of rival teams. Hatcher spends more time in the penalty box in a game than Modano will in a month.
| Calculator wars |
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I am happy to say I own a TI-83..plus! Yet I would still not buy that ridiculous PS One.
-Lord Nick of CSN
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TI-83s, even the TI-83 plus, can't touch the TI-92. The TI-92 can handle all of your advanced
needs, including 3D graphs, while also balancing the budget of the U.S., downloading porn to
keep it entertained while doing your mundane mathematical tasks, and communicating via telepathy
with other TI-92s.
That having been said, I probably won't buy a PS One either.
Closing Comments:
Have a great week, everyone!
-Andrew Kaufmann |
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