On Nov 20, 12:06 pm, sephigirl yahoo.com> wrote:

If suddenly you find a zaftig, genki geek girl knocking at your door
with teddy bear in hand, you have only yourself to blame. ^^

Maybe you need to get out of the Final Fantasy series. They have
fantastic stories, don't get me wrong, but they're not the easiest nor
the most user friendly. Most of them *require* a guide to win because
there is inevitably something in them that is either impossible to
know without a guide (see: http://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/Main/GuideDangIt)
or other requires more patience and observational skills than an
average person who has to work and take care of themselves has to do.

Of course, this is true of other JRPGs I've played, including my
beloved Suikoden series (which you need a walkthrough if you want to
collect all your potential recruits). I've managed to stick with that
because of something in the balance of story and gameplay I can't
quite put my finger on exactly what it is, only that I've not wanted
to throw my controller at the screen because of a difficult optional
fight. (And despite what E says about it being frustrating to learn
because of "three types of combat" the other two "combats"--one-on-one
duel and a tactical battle--basically operate on "Rock-Paper-Scissors"
mechanics. Seriously.)

A game with well designed game play means a person with only somewhat
above average intelligence should be able to get through successfully
without consulting a guide 90%% of the time at least.

Though I found FFIX much easier than FFVII (I actually finished that
one), though maybe that was because there was no materia to keep track
of (though mind you, I think materia are an interesting concept). The
Limit Break system was also much easier, as was the initiative (ATS)
system, which seemed easier to track. I also recall combats generally
being more balanced.

I usually just check GameFAQs, as E suggests.... they have very good
stuff.

I will have to keep those in mind if I try to play the game again.

I am assuming this refers to some other FF game where you have to
level up your summons? That *is* ridiculous.

I distinctly recall a mandatory chocobo race, and a mandatory scene
where I had to "sneak" into somewhere using specially timed button
presses, which amounts to a mini game (and a really horribly designed
one at that). Personally, I would have MUCH preferred a card game...

I don't mind minigames, but I totally agree with you about the
mandatoryness of them being irritating.

I think I was trying to get Vincent and that was where I was getting
frustrated.... I supposed I could skip him, but I imagine if I ever do
try to finish the game, it is only going to be the once.

Huh. Never had that problem. Only game I played with a relative dearth
of healing potions was a PC game I played recently, and it was meant
to be a challenging game, and you are playing an extremely powerful
hero to start with (so you don't need to heal as often anyway). (That
is the game with the Crispin Freeman voiced silver-haired broody
spirit shaman I was talking about earlier. I failed to romance him...
it wasn't in my character's personality to admit tender feelings, I
decided... but I did earn enough loyalty from him at the end of the
game that he stayed by my side for the rest of my days as a faithful
companion... just simply the two of us having (or perhaps refusing to
admit) attraction to the other...

Touga: Does that sound familiar to you, by any chance?
DQ: I have no idea what you're talking about.
Touga: Of course not.

The other options are that he marries someone else, or runs away to
become an actor, IIRC. Or if you played as an evil bastard, he betrays
you and you devour his soul. So I figured I did good by him)). *end of
ridiculously long parenthetical statement*

Also, as to save points, I'm completely spoiled by PC games, where you
usually can save the game any time, anywhere... even in the middle of
combat. I'd play console RPGs more frequently if they had that
feature. I hate turning on a game thinking "I only have 20 minutes to
play, I hope I can find a save point within that time."

If the typical Final Fantasy game requires these, you really need to
branch out. This is not necessary for most games I've played. And
those that have them are usually amusing sidequests, not necessary to
be successful. (Most games that have special item creation options I
largely ignore.)

One or two of the Suikoden games (IV maybe?) allows you to collect
materials to make special armor (your weapon you never find, you just
pay to upgrade the one you have as you go along), but the best armors
are usually found anyway.

Shadow Hearts has sidequests for powerful weapons (nothing requiring
assembly), but they're optional (and fights totally winnable with the
weapons you can buy), and a number of them I stumbled upon without
trying.

Shadow Hearts is actually a series I'd probably recommend to you....
there is a skill equip system but it's kind of like materia. Leveling
up otherwise is automatic. The only "hard" part is part of the combat
mechanic that requires timed button presses... but they do a number of
things to make it easy on you (including easily findable purchases
that slow the timing down). I am *horrible* at "trigger" type combat
mechanics and still got used to this quickly and ably. I found a guide
was helpful in resolving optional sidequests and the like (of which
there are many), but the core plot was playable without needing to go
through any rigamarole.

You... get punished for talking to people? What the hell? In what
game? Most RPGs encourage you to talk to everyone you meet.... What
are you playing? Who is bringing these ridiculous games to you? Did
they tell you the world is square? Did they deprive you of chocolate?
I demand this unjustice be undone! /silly

As for complex leveling, it depends on how well the leveling system is
designed, and how well explained it is. I like to customize my
characters as I level up, but it shouldn't be a chore.

No one could. What I hate about it is the core plot and important even
if optional sidequests have fake difficulty attached to them.

Actually sounds like your and my levels are fairly similar. The stuff
you don't have much tolerance for, I don't either. You just have this
ONE GAME you love to death... I think you're really afraid to abandon
it, in case it thinks your cheating on it. *grin, joking*

(Hey, I have games I love forever and ever too... one is a PC game
called "Planescape: Torment"... where the fist-blade fighting girl
love interest has a tail and a Scottish accent, and the gentle healer
is a reformed succubus..... ).

DQ: Oh, is that what they call it these days?

*huggles back* Hope those of you in the states had a good
Thanksgiving! And those of you not in the States, a lovely weekend
that didn't involve stuffing yourself silly. ^^

DQ