What makes a RPG good/great?

I've been hearing for so long, debates on what makes a game good or great? Most of the people nowadays say it's the graphics, there are minorities says it's the game play that counts, if it's a RPG, many people are saying it's all about the characters and their attitudes in the game. But, we cannot just choose one side of the coin right? But, with that being said, let's break it down into pieces, and it's up to you and I'll give my own side regarding the matter:

Graphics:

I just want to cite Final Fantasy XIII as an example on how graphics really improved into the 21st century, we went from single lines, to 8-bit, 16-bit etc, you know where I am heading. But graphics alone doesn't make the game, if that's the case, like other people are assuming and nagging, it's like you're reading a manga or a novel, without the gameplay, and you could not comprehend on what are you suppose to do without the story, or how a character in the game respond if he/she doesn't have any persona at all. 

Game Play

True, Final Fantasy XIII supposedly to be on this list, but I don't want to be tagged as a fanboy, and I am not a fanboy, so I picked up Suikoden 2 instead. The gameplay is like where the concept of the auto combat system of FFXIII got its root, well at least in this game, you still need to put command into Auto so they can attack freely, unlike in Final Fantasy XIII where you can set the skills to be used, etc, when going auto combat. Suikoden's gameplay is like a leap forward into the RPG realm, and it's graphics where appealing to many audiences at the time. But without the graphics, and the characters' persona and the story, it would be like playing a board game without the board, and you're just represented by a piece.

Storyline

The beginning of the new leap in RPGs, Xenogears started it. With graphics that are outstanding, great gameplay, almost realistic characters, and what really stands out in this game is the story within the game. You'll never see a story this compelling and complex, unless you haven't played it. But does the story is the barometer of a good RPG? Well thinking about that fact, have you considered reading a novel? Not light novel, just a novel. 

Characters

Sorry if I have to portray Rydia from Final Fantasy IV here, but just for the sake of proving my view on this matter. Characters, are an integral part of a game, especially in RPGs. Well, if we're going to think for a minute and let that sink that in, have you ever admired a celebrity, only based on what he/she is portraying in a movie or a show? It's seems to be a stretch to compare it together, but look at it that perspective.

Personal Thoughts:

True, we gamers chose a certain factor when playing a RPG time and again, and we prefer one thing to another. But, no matter what, they're all important variables that makes a role playing game great. As for me, what really important, aside from the 4 things I've mentioned are the replay value, the enjoyment and the wonderful memories that the game gave to me, not to mention, there are also lessons to be learned if you will look at it deeply.

That is all for now... I hope I shed a light into the matter and brought out anything that I could lay on the table. Always have fun!

Animes that I've been waiting for this coming Fall 2011.

I haven't seen a good or decent anime in a long time, so I really wanted to wait for Fall because I usually feel that the autumn feeling is better, and animes that was released on spring and summer, for me at least didn't deliver the goods. Of course with that being said, I'm really happy that a new set of animes are lined up to be aired really soon in Japan, and will be translated a week or so after they were in the airwaves. Pretty cool!

Anyway, among the list, the one caught my eye first is Fate/Zero. Honestly, as a Fate series fan, I've been looking forward for this installment in the series, where it was taken place before Emiya Shirou grew up to be a master himself, and where Emiya Kiritsugu was one of the participants in the Holy Grail War, and Saber is his guardian on this upcoming duel to destruction to get the Holy Grail(touche).

Also, Persona 4: The Animation, I'm quite a fan of the Shin Megami Tensei series too, and have been wanting to play the online game Shin Megami Tensei: Imagine, so refreshing my memory by watching this anime would really a great welcome for me. Of course, with that being said, I already foresaw a high-octane action as present to the Persona games I've played, and of course deep story line as well too.

Shakugan no Shana III, this would be the final installment? Ok, that is somehow disappointment because I'm somewhat hooked on the story of the anime, but I guess good things must come to an end. To heck with it, sometimes good things are better when it's finished, like Full Metal Alchemist Brotherhood and Moshidora.

Sad to say, there are no ecchi/romance/high school animes that I really crave on. I miss those, like Ichigo 100%, or I"s type of anime, it's not that I'm a pervert, well, sort of, but I really love that slight pervy feeling when watching beautiful girls. Goodness I'm such a weaboo, lol!


With that, I'm going to wait for winter 2011, and while I'm "hibernating" waiting these animes, I'm going to surf myself some more anime, the animes that I feel fit to my taste. That's all for now, and I hope you guys can have a great time......

What a way to start NCIS Season 9!

I've been waiting for like eternity for the new season of NCIS, the original NCIS that is, so NCIS LA suck it! Haha! Jokes aside, I just watched the first episode of the latest season, actually a continuation of the final episode of their season 8, and it's quite surprising and amazed on what Anthony DiNozzo's secret "assignment" is, and with the patented dramatic flashbacks and all, realized that he's after one of Special Agent EJ Barrett's colleagues, and was tasked of somewhat kill him in sight, I don't know, but he ended up dead eventually.

I thought at first it was Ziva who was on that mission order, but thank goodness I'm so wrong about that. And the new SecNav is sure is scary, and really a person to watch at. And what's with the Watcher's Fleet and the Phantom-8 project by the Navy? And what's the new SecNav is up to? It's also a welcome addition that Kate Todd's sister showed up in this episode, and I hope she guested the future episodes too. Well, I hope I raised a few relevant questions on where is NCIS heading... I'm really, really excited for the upcoming installments of the series, so strap your heads in, or be prepared to be Gibbs' slapped!

My thoughts on Shin Megami Tensei: Imagine and somewhat it's impact to the online gaming world.

Knowing the Shin Megami series quite well, the story and the game play really stands out, from the first game which is only a Japanese exclusive up to where I stopped playing, which is on the Playstation 2. The characters are well fleshed out, and with each new installment in the series presents a new style and a new concept story-wise.

Now thinking about it, this is the type of game that I've been craving for since I started on playing MMORPG, and I'm happy to say that I'm not one of those people think that the Korean MMORPG developers did a great job of defining RPG on what it is, because a lot of the people before the MMOG boom years ago knows what their games are, especially when it comes to RPG. I'm kind of surprised that there would be a game from Japan that would be released for the global gaming community to play and enjoy, and the fact that it came from Japan makes it more appealing. Hey, after all they released classic RPGs like the Final Fantasy series, Suikoden series and many other well-known and classics in the role playing game realm.

True, the Korean MMORPG started this wave of online gaming, but they are sub-par when it comes to the style and form that the Japanese RPGs are made of. Game play is plain given when playing a RPG, but you also have to consider the consistency of the storyline, and how the characters add up to the story, and how the characters are portrayed. You cannot call a game a RPG if a player couldn't submerge himself to the character he/she cannot relate to it. Imagine yourself without a face and without any emotions at all, roaming this world, that would be bland and boring. I'm not against South Koreans at all, but I'm stating how I really feel about the games they've released and will be releasing in the future.

Now that this game(Shin Megami Tensei: Imagine) is now available for the global audience and of course free to play(oh yeah! it is!), I really can see how will the Japanese enter into this business, and little by little, it's evident that they will dominate this department too, and it's going to be a battle of ideals, which is great for the sake of competition and how will the South Korean MMOG developers and the other major online game developers respond, let's find out.

But if you excuse me, I'm going to lurk in the Shin Megami Tensei: Imagine forums to get myself some tasty information about character build and character specialization.... Always have fun, and like what Roo from Clan of the Gray Wolf always says at the end of his 16-bit gem game review series, "There is no reset button.". Take care and keep on playing, enjoy every moment of it!

Bunch of online gamers crack the puzzle of the AIDS enzyme, WOW!

http://games.yahoo.com/blogs/plugged-in/online-gamers-crack-aids-enzyme-puzzle-161920724.html

I'd never thought that I would see a day that there are people in the gaming world that would help humanity. I mean, who would have thought that these so called people like me who have "no life" according to most of the people would help to crack the mystery of the AIDS enzyme. I guess this will change after this discovery, and for those who says that playing games are just a waste of time and will make your brain rot.... Ha-ha! In your faces!

And besides, playing games aren't just games, they serve as stress relievers too, and as for us nerds, a comfortable way to hide our selves from the people who think they are better than us, and the games makes us value more of characters like hard work, perseverance, and patience... Games are more than meets the eye, people, always bear that in mind.

So for those who are behind of this marvelous discovery, I would like to express my deepest gratitude and my overwhelming respect to you! You guys are now one of my newest heroes of today! Keep on playing, dudes and dudettes!