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2002-2004 was a JRPG golden era for the PS2. Dark Cloud 2, Unlimited Saga, Final Fantasy XI (online), .hack vol. 1-4, and Xenosaga Episode 1 all released in that timeline. All these games have fantastic art style, Star Ocean: Till the End of Time is no different.
Gameplay is dated by having to explore maps without a waypoint, and having to mash the X button through dialogue scenes can be annoying, but the characters are well-written and designed. The battle system also holds up as something unique.. but dying from losing all your MP is frustrating (yet all JRPGs kind of are). Looks great upscaled on PCSX2. One day I’m hoping some of those games listed above are remade/remastered bc they started a wave.
Feb 15, 2024
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The whole PS1 era of JRPGs with pre-rendered backgrounds and chunky polygons was great.
Also:
Star Ocean: The Second Story
Xenogears
Chrono Cross
Breath of Fire IV
Legend of Legaia
Mar 18, 2024
Jan 29, 2024
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Honestly, I attribute at least 45% of the Xbox's early success to the popularity of this 2003 JRPG. One of the few series to jump ship from PlayStation, it paved the way for both the genre, and more importantly- LORE, to come to the best console of a generation.
Though many games have emulated or tried to copy it since (Final Fantasy 12, Sea of Thieves, Assassin's Creed IV: Black Flag) - none have been able to come close in terms of the immaculately fashioned experience of TideWater.
The Pirate class was a strong step forward in not just the design of JRPGs, or even RPGs- but gaming as a whole. You can see the impact that it had on the scene with the release of "Sid Meier's Pirates!" the very next year- western developers were eager to try to ride on the coattails of this massive success, but forgot the most important aspect that tied all of Pacts together - the LORE.
It's much more than just a game - it's a revelation.
Feb 15, 2024
Top Recs from @doublemintvariety
Energetic, kooky bildungsroman featuring a cast of many P.I.-featured performers. Absurd enough to be on Adult Swim, prestigious enough to be highlighted at major film festivals!
Likely playing in a theater near you! Also on Apple TV 2/27. Saw it a couple times and would like to watch again!
Feb 15, 2024
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Matt & Kim as openers, “The Honda Civic Tour” 2011
Feb 15, 2024
Saw this at Quad Cinema in 2021, and has become a favorite ever since. Anne is a 27-year old daycare worker who is socially disconnected, and unsure of her role in adulthood. Her life radically changes when she tries skydiving, though as an audience, we’re unsure of the kind of release she finds from it.
Excellent Canadian indie about coming-of-age in your mid/late 20s. Deragh Campbell is great as Anne, who’s undiagnosed anxiety disorder keeps her a step behind from relating to her peers or finding a sense of happiness. It’s a brisk 75 minutes that’ll have you thinking far after the movie is over.
Bought the beautiful poster from Posteritati in the East Village and it remains one of my favorites in my poster collection.
Feb 17, 2024