Recently I returned to a game I played a lot of over the past few years: Burnout 3.
Hooooboy, has there ever been a game that has, for me, inspired both loving and loathing in equal amounts. I know a lot of people love this game (and the Burnout series for that matter) but for me it is that catch 22 game: You know it's fun and enjoyable but that enjoyment is tainted with some issues - issues of the 'throw controller through the screen' variety.
I'm not saying Burnout 3 is a bad game: Indeed it's fun to ram one's opponents into the wall and it's kinda cool to partake in the kind of dangerous driving that would be unattainable in real life. Now normally I'm not one for racing games but I have to admit that, much to my surprise, the races often turn into intense affairs. And I particularly enjoyed the Road Rage events.
But get past that and you realise just how maddening the difficulty can get - particularly late in the game. Now I understand the crashes are an integral part of the game but in the later stages I crashed so much that it wasn't even funny. I swear there was one point where I'd come to a particular turn and I'll crash automatically! Sometimes crashes would happen right out of nowhere and leave me scratching my head in disbelief.
Indeed, I find this emphasis on crashing kind of puzzling when ultimately, the only way to succeed is to drive as carefully as possible. Thus I get points of particular crashes but I gte points for doing a perfect lap? What sense does that make?
And then there's the AI: Never before have I come across an AI that could only be described as brutal! Forget what I said last week about Rock Band 3 resenting the player - no the hatred Burnout 3 has for the player knows no bounds.
Firstly the burnout feature is a good idea but soon it becomes clear that it is necessity: Using it is the only only hope in hell the player has to keep up with the AI. And, going back to the crashing, why do the AI cars seem to escape the crashes? I've lost count how many times I've crashed only the have the opposing cars make the narrowest of escapes.
And don't get me started on my crashing: They happen out of nowhere and make it impossible to recover from. You know what I mean: You'll be driving along with a good lead and suddenly you'll crash for some reason only to fall back down to the last position. And you opponents would rush on ahead with speeds you can only dream of. And it's funny how my crashes, through the gloating cinematic, seem to last far longer than that of my opponents.
Granted a game should provide a challenge to the gamer but this is just ridiculous. Challenging is okay but brutal/gloating/impossible challenging isn't.
Indeed, no other game has made me scream "BULLSHIT!" and other curses as loudly as possible (much to the horror of my partner)
For this reason, many of the courses in Burnout 3 remain unfinished. But they ever will be finished. True it's fun to cause some destruction on the road but to face against an unforgivably evil AI is another.
Oh well...
Showing posts with label love is a wonderful thing. Show all posts
Showing posts with label love is a wonderful thing. Show all posts
Wednesday, September 14, 2011
Monday, September 12, 2011
Romantic Link
Last year I posted a love letter to Tidus and Yuna of Final Fantasy X. Surprisingly, this has become the most visited post to this blog (or at least that's what my stats say). I'm not sure why though - perhaps I'm not the only hopeless romantic gamer in this world....
...But I'd be a fool to believe such bollocks. Seeing as games these days seem to rely on escapism, the kind involving killing dudes and doing the type of thing that would unattainable in real life mind you, it seems that actual romance seems rather quaint, reserved for the likes of Bioware RPGs and the games of a previous era (Final Fantasy 8 anyone?).
Are there any hopeless romantics in the gaming community? Has the idea of rescuing a princess been cast aside? Has gaming grown up up to the point where fairy-tale idealism has been ditched completely? Did strong independent women like Lara Croft, Samus Aran and Jill Valentine make the damsel in distress obsolete? Or have many gamers realised that real women are in fact, more fun than pretend ones?
No matter, I'm a hopeless romantic and I feel no shame in saying so. And if there other people who share the same mindset then so much the better. So, in the hope that such people exists and are reading this I want to talk about another of the great gaming couples. It’s one of the longest running romances in the history of gaming and hands down one of the most recognisable. The faces may change but all in all, it still has the power to entice the interest of gamers everywhere.
That’s right, I’m talking about Link and Zelda
This is a strange couple to say the least: They see little of each other as the game(s) progresses and the worlds & persona they inhabit keep changing with each new addition to the series. Yet, in spite of it all, this is one relationship that keeps standing strong no matter the changing perceptions of the two involved.
When I look at the Zelda series, the more it becomes clear that it is a throwback to the fairy tales we are read to when we're kids: Those which involve a princess in some sort of danger and a prince/heroic figure stepping in to save the day. Also, like a fairy tale, Link, abides to the tried and tested formula of undertaking an adventure that begins at a humble level before achieving extraordinary success and recognition at the end of it. The only difference is that this isn’t a fairy tale that one is being read to – this is one where one is actually an active participant! They say people find comfort in familiarity and it’s the tried and tested formula that hooked a lot of young people in with the very first Legend of Zelda and still maintain their attention many years later (also, the exploration element and excellent gameplay didn’t hurt either).
So in a way it’s not hearing about rescuing a princess – no it’s actually actively doing things that result in the rescue of the princess. And a princess who, unlike Princess Peach, doesn’t send the player on a seemingly never-ending wild goose chase into the wrong castle.
Indeed, it is that notion of fairy tales that makes Link and Zelda compelling. Much like fellow Nintendo stable-mate Mario, Link is an everyman, coming from a humble background only to, as the game progresses, grow stronger with experience and the acquisition of a range of helpful items and power-ups. Indeed, it is that everyman quality that endears him to the player and builds a connection that makes the quests one that demands to be seen through to completion.
Zelda, meanwhile is shrouded in mystique. As stated before, we may not know much about her but it is that tantalizing sense of mystery that holds the attention and urges the player onward to, if anything, find more about this enigmatic princess. The sense of mystery that surrounds Zelda may have come across in different manifestations but ultimately, her beauty and her status make the quest of rescuing her from Ganon/dorf truly a battle worth fighting for. And, unlike her Nintendo stable mate Princess Peach, Zelda is shown to be a wise and capable ruler who is shown to be able to make major decisions and being deeply concerned with the welfare of her subjects.
Ultimately, I think the appeal of Link and Zelda lies in the fact they are both blank slates. Link may not utter a word but through his actions and his body language, he shows admirable virtues such as determination, intelligence and courage. As for Princess Zelda she, as stated before, maintains a degree of allure due to her long-standing sense of mystique: She may not be the player character but it is consistently her name in the title. In addition, Zelda may be a damsel in distress but she assists in Link in many, mostly subtle, ways.
And, in a strange way, that’s enough. Because of such little information been provided to the player, it is enough to propel the appeal of this relationship forward. True much of it is left up to player speculation but through the subtlest of indications, in the form of facial expressions and body language, we can see something come to the forefront. Thus, Link rescues Zelda, Link protects Zelda, Link blushes upon hearing Zelda’s name, Zelda protects Link in her many disguises, Zelda shows concern for Link’s safety and assists him in the final confrontation with Ganon/dorf.
And that for me is the appeal of Link and Zelda: The romance is presented within a real subtle manner. Indeed, its little moments like those I’ve described above that ultimately count for so much. It may not be obvious but the fact that it can capture the mind of the player, without them realising it, is a feat indeed. Sure the Zelda games may put forward some complications like Midna or Marin but honestly, the Hero of Time being without the Princess will just be unthinkable.
So that’s why I like the pairing of Link and Princess Zelda: It is practically a gaming take on the tried and tested fairy tale concept and it is furthered by subtle moments that really count for so much.
And, it would seem, my partner agrees with me.
...But I'd be a fool to believe such bollocks. Seeing as games these days seem to rely on escapism, the kind involving killing dudes and doing the type of thing that would unattainable in real life mind you, it seems that actual romance seems rather quaint, reserved for the likes of Bioware RPGs and the games of a previous era (Final Fantasy 8 anyone?).
Are there any hopeless romantics in the gaming community? Has the idea of rescuing a princess been cast aside? Has gaming grown up up to the point where fairy-tale idealism has been ditched completely? Did strong independent women like Lara Croft, Samus Aran and Jill Valentine make the damsel in distress obsolete? Or have many gamers realised that real women are in fact, more fun than pretend ones?
No matter, I'm a hopeless romantic and I feel no shame in saying so. And if there other people who share the same mindset then so much the better. So, in the hope that such people exists and are reading this I want to talk about another of the great gaming couples. It’s one of the longest running romances in the history of gaming and hands down one of the most recognisable. The faces may change but all in all, it still has the power to entice the interest of gamers everywhere.
That’s right, I’m talking about Link and Zelda
This is a strange couple to say the least: They see little of each other as the game(s) progresses and the worlds & persona they inhabit keep changing with each new addition to the series. Yet, in spite of it all, this is one relationship that keeps standing strong no matter the changing perceptions of the two involved.
When I look at the Zelda series, the more it becomes clear that it is a throwback to the fairy tales we are read to when we're kids: Those which involve a princess in some sort of danger and a prince/heroic figure stepping in to save the day. Also, like a fairy tale, Link, abides to the tried and tested formula of undertaking an adventure that begins at a humble level before achieving extraordinary success and recognition at the end of it. The only difference is that this isn’t a fairy tale that one is being read to – this is one where one is actually an active participant! They say people find comfort in familiarity and it’s the tried and tested formula that hooked a lot of young people in with the very first Legend of Zelda and still maintain their attention many years later (also, the exploration element and excellent gameplay didn’t hurt either).
So in a way it’s not hearing about rescuing a princess – no it’s actually actively doing things that result in the rescue of the princess. And a princess who, unlike Princess Peach, doesn’t send the player on a seemingly never-ending wild goose chase into the wrong castle.
Indeed, it is that notion of fairy tales that makes Link and Zelda compelling. Much like fellow Nintendo stable-mate Mario, Link is an everyman, coming from a humble background only to, as the game progresses, grow stronger with experience and the acquisition of a range of helpful items and power-ups. Indeed, it is that everyman quality that endears him to the player and builds a connection that makes the quests one that demands to be seen through to completion.
Zelda, meanwhile is shrouded in mystique. As stated before, we may not know much about her but it is that tantalizing sense of mystery that holds the attention and urges the player onward to, if anything, find more about this enigmatic princess. The sense of mystery that surrounds Zelda may have come across in different manifestations but ultimately, her beauty and her status make the quest of rescuing her from Ganon/dorf truly a battle worth fighting for. And, unlike her Nintendo stable mate Princess Peach, Zelda is shown to be a wise and capable ruler who is shown to be able to make major decisions and being deeply concerned with the welfare of her subjects.
Ultimately, I think the appeal of Link and Zelda lies in the fact they are both blank slates. Link may not utter a word but through his actions and his body language, he shows admirable virtues such as determination, intelligence and courage. As for Princess Zelda she, as stated before, maintains a degree of allure due to her long-standing sense of mystique: She may not be the player character but it is consistently her name in the title. In addition, Zelda may be a damsel in distress but she assists in Link in many, mostly subtle, ways.
And, in a strange way, that’s enough. Because of such little information been provided to the player, it is enough to propel the appeal of this relationship forward. True much of it is left up to player speculation but through the subtlest of indications, in the form of facial expressions and body language, we can see something come to the forefront. Thus, Link rescues Zelda, Link protects Zelda, Link blushes upon hearing Zelda’s name, Zelda protects Link in her many disguises, Zelda shows concern for Link’s safety and assists him in the final confrontation with Ganon/dorf.
And that for me is the appeal of Link and Zelda: The romance is presented within a real subtle manner. Indeed, its little moments like those I’ve described above that ultimately count for so much. It may not be obvious but the fact that it can capture the mind of the player, without them realising it, is a feat indeed. Sure the Zelda games may put forward some complications like Midna or Marin but honestly, the Hero of Time being without the Princess will just be unthinkable.
So that’s why I like the pairing of Link and Princess Zelda: It is practically a gaming take on the tried and tested fairy tale concept and it is furthered by subtle moments that really count for so much.
And, it would seem, my partner agrees with me.
Friday, August 12, 2011
Degeneration (no.6)
And this serial continues.
As stated at the end of the previous installment, my interest in video gaming was waning – but it was not out of spite or anything. No: It was a natural progression of life. Other things were demanding attention, not least of which the real world, and I wasn’t in a position to ignore any of them.
But that’s not to say that I was completely ignorant of developments in the gaming world. I knew about the Dreamcast being the last hurrah for Sega. I knew the PS2 got off to a rocky start and I knew about Microsoft bringing a console of their own, the Xbox, to the table. I even had an Atari Lynx during this stage: Hey, it was cheap and, as befit this blog, I wanted to see if the grass was indeed greener on the other side.
But ultimately, the period of 2000-2005 was one where I parted ways with gaming. But little did I know that gaming wasn’t prepared to let me go. The connection was there and there was some potential for us to continue. All it needed was a catalyst.
And one such came: In late 2005, I stumbled across a list made by IGN on the Best 100 Games Ever Made. Through reading it, I saw a mixture of the recognised and the unfamiliar. I saw some titles I played and some that escaped my notice previously. And most of all, I was impressed that someone had sat down and fashioned such an official-looking list, providing substantial reasoning of each games’ selection and saluting the efforts of various pioneers.
Needless to say I was blown away – so much so, I actually made it my goal to track down every last one of them and play them. And thus, dreams were dusted off and raised from their slumber, opportunities that had passed me by the first time were now possible, and a world of brand new discoveries waiting to be found beckoned. A trigger had been set off and I plunged headlong into the sixth generation.
True it may have been at the tail end, when the seventh generation dawned but who the hell cares? I had returned to gaming and was prepared to savor every last moment. And what better why to kick it off was to return my gaze to a voice that called once before….
Playstation 2
As mentioned before, I knew the PS2 got off to a rocky start and wasn’t really that big of a hit. Funny how this baby is now recognised as the highest selling console ever.
As mentioned above, I finally made a goal in mind. This now presented the new problem of deciding which console, out of Playstation, Xbox and Gamecube, to get. With it’s extensive library, certain exclusives and it’s access to the PS1 catalogue, the winner was the PS2.
I recall the first game I placed into the system: Final Fantasy X. This was pretty much a return to console gaming after nearly a decade of absence. To be honest I had been away for so long I really had no idea what to expect – I had no idea what the graphics would be like (seriously!) or what advances had been made since the days of the fifth generation. Needless to say, what I saw was more akin to waking up from a coma. I was astonished that graphics had grown so spectacular. I was surprised that 3D gaming was actually playable and fun. Okay so maybe Final Fantasy X isn’t quite the best in the series but in any case, it was what got me back to gaming and, eventually encouraged me to seek out other entrants in the series (one has to start somewhere I guess).
I may have been a latecomer to the Playstation but I have many fond memories of playing my PS2: Appreciating the creativity that went into Resident Evil 4, being impressed with the inventiveness and brutality that went into God of War, the satisfaction of coming back to a boss in Final Fantasy X having levelled up extensively and knocking him flat, and, of course, completing Ico for the first time and, much to my surprise, having an emotional response.
I even hunted down some old PS1 games, granting me the chance to dust off some old favourites (Loaded, Darkstalkers, Raiden Project, Return Fire) and the opportunity to hunt some games that escaped me the first time around (Castlevania Symphony of the Night, Metal Gear Solid and Final Fantasy 7).
Interestingly enough, I also discovered how the PS2 could work as a social device. True going round to a friends place to play games is nothing new but when you’re the one who owns the console, you really see how it the social aspect works. Indeed, I remember when I went to a small LAN with my PS2: It was with a small group of people who had far better computers than my POS computer so I brought along the PS2 so I could be part of the fun. And indeed it worked a treat to have the other people queue up to fight each other on Soul Calibur 3. And was indeed gratifying to hear someone else see my playing through the inverted library in Castlevania Symphony of the Night and thinking the music was pretty cool. And finally, there has indeed great fun to have a bunch of friends around for an evening to have a bash at Singstar.
In a way, PS2 represented the destination of a journey: After leeching off other people, I finally had a console to call my own. I had discovered new wonders in a field I’d been away from for so long. And I discovered the power of the social element that can lie with owning a console. After years of having an interest in video gaming, a breakthrough had come like no other. Perhaps it was fitting that I should get my first console when I was well and truly into my adult years – and that console should be a Playstation.
So yes, the sixth generation was more or less the second coming with my gaming career. And as one journey ended another began….
Dreamcast
Remember in the introduction how I made mention of having an Atari Lynx? Maybe it’s the Australian in me, but I’ve always had a fascination for the underdog. You know, the guy who has a go. That, coupled with my previously-established love for Sega, may have counted for me owning a Sega Dreamcast.
I’m still not entirely sure why I got a Dreamcast. Maybe it was indeed favouring the underdog. Or maybe it was a last gesture for years of loyalty to Sega. Maybe it was case of going out and exploring in the hope of finding some hidden treasure. Or maybe it was, at that point in time, case of having far too much money and not enough common sense.
Say what you like about the Sega Dreamcast but there’s no denying that there was a time when Soul Calibur looked mind-blowing (even now) and Sega looked likely to recover from the disasters from the past. But, as we all know, it was not to be and Sega’s reign as a console developer had come to an end.
In retrospect, we can all whinge about the faults of the system (no third party games, too many arcade conversions, no DVD capabilities, online features being overlooked, poor marketing and the impending arrival of PS2) but in the end, there was no denying the Dreamcast was a potent game machine and the potential to be great. Sure that potential wasn't truly realised but at least Sega were trying new things. Sure there was no third party support but at least Sega were trying to build up new IP and doing things that messed with the formula. Sure the Dreamcast wasn’t the hit it should’ve been but nowadays people treat it a reverence not seen for other failed consoles (maybe having no one to blame for the console’s shortcomings helps considerably). True the Dreamcast may have been the death-knell for the once glorious console giant but I still have mine and it still gets used.
But let’s drop the pretences: At the end of the day was buying a Dreamcast worth it just to play Skies of Arcadia?
Damn right it was.
Xbox
As with the other entrants in the sixth generation, I came to the Xbox at a rather late point in the console’s life. For a long time I got a lot of mileage out of my PS2 (and Dreamcast) but I didn’t care much for the seventh generation as it happened around me.
Then, in 2009 I moved into a flat with my girlfriend, Kathleen, and she brought along her Xbox. Curious, I decided to buy some games to use on it.
Of course at the time, I was still giving my PS2 a lot of attention so time on the Xbox was limited. But that’s not to say it was enjoyable: I have many fond memories playing Star Wars Knights of the Old Republic and Sid Meier’s Pirates. It was also fun to have someone watch me play my games – sure gaming has long been a solitary experience so to have a second person paying undivided attention to my progression through a game is indeed a welcome change (of course I had no idea how Kathleen really felt about my constant swearing through Burnout 3 but still….)
And I think that what I got the most out of the Xbox: After years of playing games in my room by myself, I finally felt that gaming had finally become a social event. Previously, I’d played games against other people on consoles but the game, so to speak, had now changed. The PS2 may have made me aware of the fun involved with playing games in the presence of other people but the Xbox expanded upon it. Indeed, it is fun to see someone else show an interest in the game you're playing and suddenly you don't feel like you're the only person in the universe who's enjoying it.
When I jumped on the PS2 bandwagon, it was after years of absence – and coming back from that time away I’d grown astonished by what games were accomplishing from the days of the 2nd and 3rd Generations. Games were now being marketed as experiences, offering social commentary, challenges of the relationship between the game & the gamer and triggering emotional effects one never would’ve thought possible.
And I got all that and surprised that gaming could do that. But that was all by my own in my bedroom – so to have someone else along for the ride playing just as much attention as you (the gamer) is particularly sweet.
And to have gaming be a contributing factor to a romance is also kinda cool too.
So that’s my thoughts on the sixth generation. In the terms of my gaming career it was more or less a Second Coming – the return after years of wandering in the desert. And when I came back, I’d seen how gaming had evolved beyond entertainment value. I had seen how gaming had now grown as a social event and more importantly, I see gaming from the perspective of an adult: Indeed, it’s great spending your own money on consoles and games without having to badger/explain to one’s parents. It is fascinating how something you liked as a kid can evolve to a point where you can enjoy it as an adult and not look silly (and having a partner who thinks the same is also pretty cool too). And I’m always amazed just how many people have played the same games I have – even when I thought I was the only on Earth who’d heard of the game in question. I even loved striking up conversations over games and sharing both opinions and solutions.
If anything, sixth generation got me wrapped up in the gaming culture like never before. Gaming had finally become the norm and was now taken seriously.
So where do we go from here?
Towards the next generation one would think….
As stated at the end of the previous installment, my interest in video gaming was waning – but it was not out of spite or anything. No: It was a natural progression of life. Other things were demanding attention, not least of which the real world, and I wasn’t in a position to ignore any of them.
But that’s not to say that I was completely ignorant of developments in the gaming world. I knew about the Dreamcast being the last hurrah for Sega. I knew the PS2 got off to a rocky start and I knew about Microsoft bringing a console of their own, the Xbox, to the table. I even had an Atari Lynx during this stage: Hey, it was cheap and, as befit this blog, I wanted to see if the grass was indeed greener on the other side.
But ultimately, the period of 2000-2005 was one where I parted ways with gaming. But little did I know that gaming wasn’t prepared to let me go. The connection was there and there was some potential for us to continue. All it needed was a catalyst.
And one such came: In late 2005, I stumbled across a list made by IGN on the Best 100 Games Ever Made. Through reading it, I saw a mixture of the recognised and the unfamiliar. I saw some titles I played and some that escaped my notice previously. And most of all, I was impressed that someone had sat down and fashioned such an official-looking list, providing substantial reasoning of each games’ selection and saluting the efforts of various pioneers.
Needless to say I was blown away – so much so, I actually made it my goal to track down every last one of them and play them. And thus, dreams were dusted off and raised from their slumber, opportunities that had passed me by the first time were now possible, and a world of brand new discoveries waiting to be found beckoned. A trigger had been set off and I plunged headlong into the sixth generation.
True it may have been at the tail end, when the seventh generation dawned but who the hell cares? I had returned to gaming and was prepared to savor every last moment. And what better why to kick it off was to return my gaze to a voice that called once before….
Playstation 2
As mentioned before, I knew the PS2 got off to a rocky start and wasn’t really that big of a hit. Funny how this baby is now recognised as the highest selling console ever.
As mentioned above, I finally made a goal in mind. This now presented the new problem of deciding which console, out of Playstation, Xbox and Gamecube, to get. With it’s extensive library, certain exclusives and it’s access to the PS1 catalogue, the winner was the PS2.
I recall the first game I placed into the system: Final Fantasy X. This was pretty much a return to console gaming after nearly a decade of absence. To be honest I had been away for so long I really had no idea what to expect – I had no idea what the graphics would be like (seriously!) or what advances had been made since the days of the fifth generation. Needless to say, what I saw was more akin to waking up from a coma. I was astonished that graphics had grown so spectacular. I was surprised that 3D gaming was actually playable and fun. Okay so maybe Final Fantasy X isn’t quite the best in the series but in any case, it was what got me back to gaming and, eventually encouraged me to seek out other entrants in the series (one has to start somewhere I guess).
I may have been a latecomer to the Playstation but I have many fond memories of playing my PS2: Appreciating the creativity that went into Resident Evil 4, being impressed with the inventiveness and brutality that went into God of War, the satisfaction of coming back to a boss in Final Fantasy X having levelled up extensively and knocking him flat, and, of course, completing Ico for the first time and, much to my surprise, having an emotional response.
I even hunted down some old PS1 games, granting me the chance to dust off some old favourites (Loaded, Darkstalkers, Raiden Project, Return Fire) and the opportunity to hunt some games that escaped me the first time around (Castlevania Symphony of the Night, Metal Gear Solid and Final Fantasy 7).
Interestingly enough, I also discovered how the PS2 could work as a social device. True going round to a friends place to play games is nothing new but when you’re the one who owns the console, you really see how it the social aspect works. Indeed, I remember when I went to a small LAN with my PS2: It was with a small group of people who had far better computers than my POS computer so I brought along the PS2 so I could be part of the fun. And indeed it worked a treat to have the other people queue up to fight each other on Soul Calibur 3. And was indeed gratifying to hear someone else see my playing through the inverted library in Castlevania Symphony of the Night and thinking the music was pretty cool. And finally, there has indeed great fun to have a bunch of friends around for an evening to have a bash at Singstar.
In a way, PS2 represented the destination of a journey: After leeching off other people, I finally had a console to call my own. I had discovered new wonders in a field I’d been away from for so long. And I discovered the power of the social element that can lie with owning a console. After years of having an interest in video gaming, a breakthrough had come like no other. Perhaps it was fitting that I should get my first console when I was well and truly into my adult years – and that console should be a Playstation.
So yes, the sixth generation was more or less the second coming with my gaming career. And as one journey ended another began….
Dreamcast
Remember in the introduction how I made mention of having an Atari Lynx? Maybe it’s the Australian in me, but I’ve always had a fascination for the underdog. You know, the guy who has a go. That, coupled with my previously-established love for Sega, may have counted for me owning a Sega Dreamcast.
I’m still not entirely sure why I got a Dreamcast. Maybe it was indeed favouring the underdog. Or maybe it was a last gesture for years of loyalty to Sega. Maybe it was case of going out and exploring in the hope of finding some hidden treasure. Or maybe it was, at that point in time, case of having far too much money and not enough common sense.
Say what you like about the Sega Dreamcast but there’s no denying that there was a time when Soul Calibur looked mind-blowing (even now) and Sega looked likely to recover from the disasters from the past. But, as we all know, it was not to be and Sega’s reign as a console developer had come to an end.
In retrospect, we can all whinge about the faults of the system (no third party games, too many arcade conversions, no DVD capabilities, online features being overlooked, poor marketing and the impending arrival of PS2) but in the end, there was no denying the Dreamcast was a potent game machine and the potential to be great. Sure that potential wasn't truly realised but at least Sega were trying new things. Sure there was no third party support but at least Sega were trying to build up new IP and doing things that messed with the formula. Sure the Dreamcast wasn’t the hit it should’ve been but nowadays people treat it a reverence not seen for other failed consoles (maybe having no one to blame for the console’s shortcomings helps considerably). True the Dreamcast may have been the death-knell for the once glorious console giant but I still have mine and it still gets used.
But let’s drop the pretences: At the end of the day was buying a Dreamcast worth it just to play Skies of Arcadia?
Damn right it was.
Xbox
As with the other entrants in the sixth generation, I came to the Xbox at a rather late point in the console’s life. For a long time I got a lot of mileage out of my PS2 (and Dreamcast) but I didn’t care much for the seventh generation as it happened around me.
Then, in 2009 I moved into a flat with my girlfriend, Kathleen, and she brought along her Xbox. Curious, I decided to buy some games to use on it.
Of course at the time, I was still giving my PS2 a lot of attention so time on the Xbox was limited. But that’s not to say it was enjoyable: I have many fond memories playing Star Wars Knights of the Old Republic and Sid Meier’s Pirates. It was also fun to have someone watch me play my games – sure gaming has long been a solitary experience so to have a second person paying undivided attention to my progression through a game is indeed a welcome change (of course I had no idea how Kathleen really felt about my constant swearing through Burnout 3 but still….)
And I think that what I got the most out of the Xbox: After years of playing games in my room by myself, I finally felt that gaming had finally become a social event. Previously, I’d played games against other people on consoles but the game, so to speak, had now changed. The PS2 may have made me aware of the fun involved with playing games in the presence of other people but the Xbox expanded upon it. Indeed, it is fun to see someone else show an interest in the game you're playing and suddenly you don't feel like you're the only person in the universe who's enjoying it.
When I jumped on the PS2 bandwagon, it was after years of absence – and coming back from that time away I’d grown astonished by what games were accomplishing from the days of the 2nd and 3rd Generations. Games were now being marketed as experiences, offering social commentary, challenges of the relationship between the game & the gamer and triggering emotional effects one never would’ve thought possible.
And I got all that and surprised that gaming could do that. But that was all by my own in my bedroom – so to have someone else along for the ride playing just as much attention as you (the gamer) is particularly sweet.
And to have gaming be a contributing factor to a romance is also kinda cool too.
So that’s my thoughts on the sixth generation. In the terms of my gaming career it was more or less a Second Coming – the return after years of wandering in the desert. And when I came back, I’d seen how gaming had evolved beyond entertainment value. I had seen how gaming had now grown as a social event and more importantly, I see gaming from the perspective of an adult: Indeed, it’s great spending your own money on consoles and games without having to badger/explain to one’s parents. It is fascinating how something you liked as a kid can evolve to a point where you can enjoy it as an adult and not look silly (and having a partner who thinks the same is also pretty cool too). And I’m always amazed just how many people have played the same games I have – even when I thought I was the only on Earth who’d heard of the game in question. I even loved striking up conversations over games and sharing both opinions and solutions.
If anything, sixth generation got me wrapped up in the gaming culture like never before. Gaming had finally become the norm and was now taken seriously.
So where do we go from here?
Towards the next generation one would think….
Monday, November 29, 2010
Adventures in cosplay (no.5)
And here we are with the final installment of this series. As the month of November ends so does this series on cosplaying video game characters. This has been a fun serial to bash out and a slight change of pace from the nonsense I've bashed out so far.
So, what more do I have to say about cosplay? Well we started with a Final Fantasy cosplay so we may as well end with a Final Fantasy cosplay. And which character? One Zidane Tribal.
This came about last year: I played my way through Final Fantasy 9 and Kathleen watched me do so every step of the way. Prior to doing so, my understanding of FF9 is that it was underrated and never reached the levels of popularity achieved by 7, 8 and 10. Well being a champion of the underdog, I played it, loved it and was impressed enough with the lead character. Kathleen too loved Zidane that she needed little persuasion into cosplaying as Garnet (although her liking Garnet as already good enough reason).
In a way, perhaps this represents the accumulation of things I've mentioned before: I cosplayed as a character who came from a little known game because I loved the game and the character and wanted to express it. I've seen some cosplays of the character done before and thought "I can do that too". And yes, it was another excuse to create an impression as a couple in both life and cosplay.
Now this was a variation of the Zidane design: This was actually for Amaranth, an anime ball run in conjunction with Manifest. Whilst Kathleen looked all set to go with the Garnet princess dress, we decided to go with a slight alteration with Zidane so he'd look the part. Thus whereas Zidane in the game had bare arms, I wore a white shirt.
As for the rest of the cosplay, the pants were purchased, the vest was made (through a friend of ours), the gloves were purchased before being attached to the cuffs, the caveat was rescued from a previous cosplay and the wig was salvaged from my Link cosplay. I wasn't able to get a tail due to money and time limitations.
All in all this was heaps of fun to do and the 'formal' variation worked a treat. It was great to go around Amaranth dressed as such and it made an excellent counterpart to Kathleen's (already ballroom) cosplay.
Looking back on it I think this cosplay would have to rank as one my favorites. For me it's one to be proud of and for good reason: I look at it now and there's not one damn thing I'd change about it. Ask any cosplayer: If such a feeling ever arises about a cosplay then something must've worked.
And it is the greatest feeling.
And this concludes this series on Adventures in cosplay. Note that this series has just been on characters from video games and thus a representation of a much greater whole. If I were to include the anime characters I've cosplayed as this series would've gone on for much longer. Mind you for the curious, go check out the link to my (joint) cosplay.com account in the side bar to the right of this page.
Anyway, I hope you've enjoyed reading this series and from here? Well I enjoy cosplay and get a lot of fun out of it so who knows? I may just sit down and bash out another Adventure in cosplay sometime in the future. Until then....
So, what more do I have to say about cosplay? Well we started with a Final Fantasy cosplay so we may as well end with a Final Fantasy cosplay. And which character? One Zidane Tribal.
This came about last year: I played my way through Final Fantasy 9 and Kathleen watched me do so every step of the way. Prior to doing so, my understanding of FF9 is that it was underrated and never reached the levels of popularity achieved by 7, 8 and 10. Well being a champion of the underdog, I played it, loved it and was impressed enough with the lead character. Kathleen too loved Zidane that she needed little persuasion into cosplaying as Garnet (although her liking Garnet as already good enough reason).
In a way, perhaps this represents the accumulation of things I've mentioned before: I cosplayed as a character who came from a little known game because I loved the game and the character and wanted to express it. I've seen some cosplays of the character done before and thought "I can do that too". And yes, it was another excuse to create an impression as a couple in both life and cosplay.
Now this was a variation of the Zidane design: This was actually for Amaranth, an anime ball run in conjunction with Manifest. Whilst Kathleen looked all set to go with the Garnet princess dress, we decided to go with a slight alteration with Zidane so he'd look the part. Thus whereas Zidane in the game had bare arms, I wore a white shirt.
As for the rest of the cosplay, the pants were purchased, the vest was made (through a friend of ours), the gloves were purchased before being attached to the cuffs, the caveat was rescued from a previous cosplay and the wig was salvaged from my Link cosplay. I wasn't able to get a tail due to money and time limitations.
All in all this was heaps of fun to do and the 'formal' variation worked a treat. It was great to go around Amaranth dressed as such and it made an excellent counterpart to Kathleen's (already ballroom) cosplay.
Looking back on it I think this cosplay would have to rank as one my favorites. For me it's one to be proud of and for good reason: I look at it now and there's not one damn thing I'd change about it. Ask any cosplayer: If such a feeling ever arises about a cosplay then something must've worked.
And it is the greatest feeling.
And this concludes this series on Adventures in cosplay. Note that this series has just been on characters from video games and thus a representation of a much greater whole. If I were to include the anime characters I've cosplayed as this series would've gone on for much longer. Mind you for the curious, go check out the link to my (joint) cosplay.com account in the side bar to the right of this page.
Anyway, I hope you've enjoyed reading this series and from here? Well I enjoy cosplay and get a lot of fun out of it so who knows? I may just sit down and bash out another Adventure in cosplay sometime in the future. Until then....
Monday, November 22, 2010
Adventures in cosplay (no.4)
And here we go again with another Adventure in cosplay. Hope you're enjoying this series so far!
Now when it comes to cosplay, Kathleen and myself are inspired by our favorite games and anime. Most often than not, it's a case of one putting forth the suggestion and then trying to convince the other into doing so. And the convincing usually involves showing an anime, a game or even a picture (as was the case with the Link and Zelda). Which now brings me to Skies of Arcadia. I played this, on my Dreamcast, and loved it before we met and I was interested in cosplaying as Vyse - cos he rules and I liked the game a lot.
I then did a second playthrough, this time with Kathleen watching, and she seemed interested enough to cosplay as Fina to match.
Now seeing as we've done recognizable characters in the past, to suddenly do characters from a Dreamcast game would seem an odd move. But it mattered little: We liked this game and we both took great pride in cosplaying as lesser known characters - after all, if pulled off well, any cosplay can make the unfamiliar curious to know more.
Much like previous efforts, this cosplay was a combination of the manufactured and the assembled: The boots were from the Link cosplay (which subsequently fell apart on the day), the turtleneck was from an anime cosplay and the jeans were my own. The jacket was crafted by Kathleen (as was her Fina) and the eyepiece was crafted from swimming goggles!
Also pleasing is for once I was now able to actually do a cosplay using my real hair! As much fun as it is to wear wacky wigs, they eventually do create a strain on my head and it does get irritating at times. So whilst chances to use my real hair are slim, when they do come about, I seize upon them :D
If any of these photos seem a bit difficult to see, I'm afraid that these are the only photos that were taken of us at the con (that being AI-Con) itself. Remember what I said earlier about cosplaying as lesser-known characters? Well as it turns out, we were not recognized at all. Of course we have only ourselves to blame as this was in AI-Con, a much smaller scale con then, say, Manifest. As such, many people were left puzzled as to who were cosplaying as. This was particularly telling when I participated in a roleplay event and ended up winning. Also telling is whereas we had grown accustomed to be continually recognized and stopped for photos, this time it didn't happen at all. Indeed, it is hard to say whether it would've different had this been done at a larger scale con.
So is the Vyse a failure? I don't think so. I thought the end result was great and I don't feel ashamed to have worn it at all. Okay so yes being unrecognizable may have prompted a rethink in doing lesser known characters but I'm not too bothered (and after all, you can't win them all). We liked the game the characters are from, Skies of Arcadia, and we wanted to tell the world we did so - which is pretty much the entire point of cosplay.
Now when it comes to cosplay, Kathleen and myself are inspired by our favorite games and anime. Most often than not, it's a case of one putting forth the suggestion and then trying to convince the other into doing so. And the convincing usually involves showing an anime, a game or even a picture (as was the case with the Link and Zelda). Which now brings me to Skies of Arcadia. I played this, on my Dreamcast, and loved it before we met and I was interested in cosplaying as Vyse - cos he rules and I liked the game a lot.
I then did a second playthrough, this time with Kathleen watching, and she seemed interested enough to cosplay as Fina to match.
Now seeing as we've done recognizable characters in the past, to suddenly do characters from a Dreamcast game would seem an odd move. But it mattered little: We liked this game and we both took great pride in cosplaying as lesser known characters - after all, if pulled off well, any cosplay can make the unfamiliar curious to know more.
Much like previous efforts, this cosplay was a combination of the manufactured and the assembled: The boots were from the Link cosplay (which subsequently fell apart on the day), the turtleneck was from an anime cosplay and the jeans were my own. The jacket was crafted by Kathleen (as was her Fina) and the eyepiece was crafted from swimming goggles!
Also pleasing is for once I was now able to actually do a cosplay using my real hair! As much fun as it is to wear wacky wigs, they eventually do create a strain on my head and it does get irritating at times. So whilst chances to use my real hair are slim, when they do come about, I seize upon them :D
If any of these photos seem a bit difficult to see, I'm afraid that these are the only photos that were taken of us at the con (that being AI-Con) itself. Remember what I said earlier about cosplaying as lesser-known characters? Well as it turns out, we were not recognized at all. Of course we have only ourselves to blame as this was in AI-Con, a much smaller scale con then, say, Manifest. As such, many people were left puzzled as to who were cosplaying as. This was particularly telling when I participated in a roleplay event and ended up winning. Also telling is whereas we had grown accustomed to be continually recognized and stopped for photos, this time it didn't happen at all. Indeed, it is hard to say whether it would've different had this been done at a larger scale con.
So is the Vyse a failure? I don't think so. I thought the end result was great and I don't feel ashamed to have worn it at all. Okay so yes being unrecognizable may have prompted a rethink in doing lesser known characters but I'm not too bothered (and after all, you can't win them all). We liked the game the characters are from, Skies of Arcadia, and we wanted to tell the world we did so - which is pretty much the entire point of cosplay.
Monday, November 15, 2010
Adventures in cosplay (no.3)
And welcome back to this ongoing series. So let's not dither about, let's talk cosplay!
Today I want to talk about another Final Fantasy cosplay. The Final Fantasy series truly is popular among cosplayers - and, through my experience, this popularity can be attributed to two factors: a) due to the major success of the Final Fantasy series many of the characters are immediately recognizable and b) the sheer crazy designs that go into some of the characters may strike some cosplayers as a challenge worth rising up to.
As a result, it's not unusual to go to a con and see numerous people cosplaying as one of the many Final Fantasy characters. Even some of the lesser known FF's still get a look in: I've seen one guy cosplaying as the Red Mage from FF1 and even he showed an incredible amount of detail that went above and beyond the original 8-bit sprite.
But I digress. Whilst I've done numerous Final fantasy cosplays in the past this was the very first one: Tidus from Final Fantasy X.
I mentioned in the last post in this series that the best cosplays are those which have a story attached to it - and this is certainly the case here. Around early 2008, I met a woman called Kathleen. We were heading to the same anime convention, AI-Con, and she wanted to cosplay. This was to be her first but it there was the problem of what to do, having two options. One such option was Yuna from FFX and, recognizing the character, I convinced her to do so. Then, somehow, I ended up doing Tidus to match. And thus the wheels were sent into motion - this was the foundation stones of something that eventually blossomed into a relationship.
So yes, cosplay got us together.
Still, I suppose relationships have started in weirder places....
But no matter - I'm not the biggest fan of Tidus so cosplaying as him was a bit of a stretch on my part. But I like Yuna a lot so, believe you me, it was worth it to have someone cosplay as Yuna hanging around me :D
Mind you, this is one cosplay that has gone through numerous incarnations: The first one, as displayed in the above photo, was the first but it faced problems with the shorts being wrong, the arm armor being hopeless and some other minor details were somewhat lacking. A second Tidus cosplay has since been acquired which was better but recently has been facing problems in the form of a disintegrating arm armor.
Yes I seem to have some trouble with the arm armor - could it be some sort of karmic justice for my contempt for this character? Maybe...
But one interesting point is the hair: The first photo in this post is my natural hair - at the time, it was in dire need of a trim but somehow it ended up working in my favor for the cosplay. The second photo is again my natural hair - this time it was in a much more reasonable haircut but in cosplay terms it doesn't seem to work. And since then I finally got a wig going:
The hair's still wrong but at least the colour's right. Sort of. Oh well....
Well there's not really much else I can say about this. Whilst not the first cosplay I did, it was however a step in the right direction. It has been dusted off and worn again numerous times and I've never once gotten tired of it. And, most important of all, it was the foundation of something special. Indeed, it's been great to wander around cons and to be recognized both as a character and a couple.
So whatever contempt I may for Tidus, at least in this time, he did inspire a cosplay that turned out one of my widely-used. Indeed it's strange to think that character I don't like made for a cosplay that turned out right - so whatever it was that worked I'm grateful for.
And to have someone willing to match it is ever the more sweeter.
Today I want to talk about another Final Fantasy cosplay. The Final Fantasy series truly is popular among cosplayers - and, through my experience, this popularity can be attributed to two factors: a) due to the major success of the Final Fantasy series many of the characters are immediately recognizable and b) the sheer crazy designs that go into some of the characters may strike some cosplayers as a challenge worth rising up to.
As a result, it's not unusual to go to a con and see numerous people cosplaying as one of the many Final Fantasy characters. Even some of the lesser known FF's still get a look in: I've seen one guy cosplaying as the Red Mage from FF1 and even he showed an incredible amount of detail that went above and beyond the original 8-bit sprite.
But I digress. Whilst I've done numerous Final fantasy cosplays in the past this was the very first one: Tidus from Final Fantasy X.
I mentioned in the last post in this series that the best cosplays are those which have a story attached to it - and this is certainly the case here. Around early 2008, I met a woman called Kathleen. We were heading to the same anime convention, AI-Con, and she wanted to cosplay. This was to be her first but it there was the problem of what to do, having two options. One such option was Yuna from FFX and, recognizing the character, I convinced her to do so. Then, somehow, I ended up doing Tidus to match. And thus the wheels were sent into motion - this was the foundation stones of something that eventually blossomed into a relationship.
So yes, cosplay got us together.
Still, I suppose relationships have started in weirder places....
But no matter - I'm not the biggest fan of Tidus so cosplaying as him was a bit of a stretch on my part. But I like Yuna a lot so, believe you me, it was worth it to have someone cosplay as Yuna hanging around me :D
Mind you, this is one cosplay that has gone through numerous incarnations: The first one, as displayed in the above photo, was the first but it faced problems with the shorts being wrong, the arm armor being hopeless and some other minor details were somewhat lacking. A second Tidus cosplay has since been acquired which was better but recently has been facing problems in the form of a disintegrating arm armor.
Yes I seem to have some trouble with the arm armor - could it be some sort of karmic justice for my contempt for this character? Maybe...
But one interesting point is the hair: The first photo in this post is my natural hair - at the time, it was in dire need of a trim but somehow it ended up working in my favor for the cosplay. The second photo is again my natural hair - this time it was in a much more reasonable haircut but in cosplay terms it doesn't seem to work. And since then I finally got a wig going:
The hair's still wrong but at least the colour's right. Sort of. Oh well....
Well there's not really much else I can say about this. Whilst not the first cosplay I did, it was however a step in the right direction. It has been dusted off and worn again numerous times and I've never once gotten tired of it. And, most important of all, it was the foundation of something special. Indeed, it's been great to wander around cons and to be recognized both as a character and a couple.
So whatever contempt I may for Tidus, at least in this time, he did inspire a cosplay that turned out one of my widely-used. Indeed it's strange to think that character I don't like made for a cosplay that turned out right - so whatever it was that worked I'm grateful for.
And to have someone willing to match it is ever the more sweeter.
Monday, November 8, 2010
Adventures in cosplay (no.2)
And welcome to part two of this series in Adventures in cosplay. So what I can I say for today's installment?
Well for starters, it is, for me, near impossible to discuss cosplay without mentioning my partner in crime Kathleen. It's something we love doing, it's a great couple activity and it was, believe it or not, a great foundation to build a relationship upon. And being genuine couple in life, it indeed shows and is quite popular at cons. Before we met I did wonder how cool it would be to see a genuine couple cosplay as fictitious couple and now that I've been a part of one, it's pretty damn cool :D
Of the many couples we've done, perhaps our best known one is Link and Princess Zelda from the Legend of Zelda games. This has been done many times and is the one people tend to remember us the best for.
This may seem like an odd choice for a cosplay couple seeing that, in the games, Link is the star and Zelda's screen time is, conversely, minimal. Yet still people seem strangely accepting of a connection between the two.
This came about however through personal experience: At the time, 2008, I was coming into the Zelda games for the very first time through playing Link to the Past. I played it, liked it a lot and was inspired enough to consider cosplaying as Link. Around the same time, my partner, Kathleen, and I had just come off the back of cosplaying as Tidus and Yuna and she was keen to do another cosplay couple. As serendipitous as it sounds, I asked if she was familiar with the Legend of Zelda games. Kathleen said yes she was familiar having played them as a kid. I then suggested we do a cosplay of Link and Zelda - At first she was reluctant saying she didn't want to wear a tea towel on her head but when I showed her a pic of the Twilight Princess Zelda, she quickly agreed.
How the Link came about is an interesting case: It was something that was gradually built up over time and trial and error. I purchased the tunic and cap off ebay but they were found wanting. The tights were ladies (!) leggings purchased at clothing store Supre and the white shirt was an old long-sleeved t-shirt. The collar, gauntlets and leather straps were made through trial and error by Kathleen and the master sword was purchased at a con. The boots - oh boy: At first it was boot covers, but they were awful. Then it was riding caps before actual boots - which subsequently feel apart.
Although this cosplay isn't the easiest of things to wear, I do have a soft spot for it. Like other great cosplays this one has a story attached to it - of how it came about - and one I'll never tire of telling. And having done this cosplay numerous times since, it's has evolved through numerous improvements and built up it's own sense of history.
Indeed one such story that this cosplay inspired is when Kathleen and myself were sitting around when a young girl dressed as Link walked past. We called her over, had a long conversation and eventually, all three of us into a photo.
Now that I think of it, Link is an odd choice for someone like me: You see a lot of women cosplay as Link but they have the angular facial features and slim figure to make it work. Thus it does seem odd for a twenty something guy to cosplay such a youthful character - but what do I care? I love the character of Link and it's fun to be recognized for it.
And to have someone else willing to cosplay as Princess Zelda to match is even better :D
So much so in fact that I see both my Link and Kathleen's Princess Zelda, permanently connected. It may sound nuts but these two have been worn together and have been improved/evolved together that I honestly can't imagine them being separate entities. By way of example, Kathleen has cosplayed as Midna and I did Link to match but for me, it wasn't the same. Nope, the Link cosplay and the princess Zelda cosplay have had a shared history together to go elsewhere is unthinkable - and again, for a cosplay to have such stories and history attached to it is indeed something special.
And that's it for today. But there's more to come so stay tuned!
Well for starters, it is, for me, near impossible to discuss cosplay without mentioning my partner in crime Kathleen. It's something we love doing, it's a great couple activity and it was, believe it or not, a great foundation to build a relationship upon. And being genuine couple in life, it indeed shows and is quite popular at cons. Before we met I did wonder how cool it would be to see a genuine couple cosplay as fictitious couple and now that I've been a part of one, it's pretty damn cool :D
Of the many couples we've done, perhaps our best known one is Link and Princess Zelda from the Legend of Zelda games. This has been done many times and is the one people tend to remember us the best for.
This may seem like an odd choice for a cosplay couple seeing that, in the games, Link is the star and Zelda's screen time is, conversely, minimal. Yet still people seem strangely accepting of a connection between the two.
This came about however through personal experience: At the time, 2008, I was coming into the Zelda games for the very first time through playing Link to the Past. I played it, liked it a lot and was inspired enough to consider cosplaying as Link. Around the same time, my partner, Kathleen, and I had just come off the back of cosplaying as Tidus and Yuna and she was keen to do another cosplay couple. As serendipitous as it sounds, I asked if she was familiar with the Legend of Zelda games. Kathleen said yes she was familiar having played them as a kid. I then suggested we do a cosplay of Link and Zelda - At first she was reluctant saying she didn't want to wear a tea towel on her head but when I showed her a pic of the Twilight Princess Zelda, she quickly agreed.
2009: Man, it hurts to look at it now....
How the Link came about is an interesting case: It was something that was gradually built up over time and trial and error. I purchased the tunic and cap off ebay but they were found wanting. The tights were ladies (!) leggings purchased at clothing store Supre and the white shirt was an old long-sleeved t-shirt. The collar, gauntlets and leather straps were made through trial and error by Kathleen and the master sword was purchased at a con. The boots - oh boy: At first it was boot covers, but they were awful. Then it was riding caps before actual boots - which subsequently feel apart.
Although this cosplay isn't the easiest of things to wear, I do have a soft spot for it. Like other great cosplays this one has a story attached to it - of how it came about - and one I'll never tire of telling. And having done this cosplay numerous times since, it's has evolved through numerous improvements and built up it's own sense of history.
Indeed one such story that this cosplay inspired is when Kathleen and myself were sitting around when a young girl dressed as Link walked past. We called her over, had a long conversation and eventually, all three of us into a photo.
2010: Aaaaahhhhhh, Much better!
Now that I think of it, Link is an odd choice for someone like me: You see a lot of women cosplay as Link but they have the angular facial features and slim figure to make it work. Thus it does seem odd for a twenty something guy to cosplay such a youthful character - but what do I care? I love the character of Link and it's fun to be recognized for it.
And to have someone else willing to cosplay as Princess Zelda to match is even better :D
So much so in fact that I see both my Link and Kathleen's Princess Zelda, permanently connected. It may sound nuts but these two have been worn together and have been improved/evolved together that I honestly can't imagine them being separate entities. By way of example, Kathleen has cosplayed as Midna and I did Link to match but for me, it wasn't the same. Nope, the Link cosplay and the princess Zelda cosplay have had a shared history together to go elsewhere is unthinkable - and again, for a cosplay to have such stories and history attached to it is indeed something special.
And that's it for today. But there's more to come so stay tuned!
Monday, November 1, 2010
Adventures in cosplay (no.1)
I haven't talked much about cosplay in this blog. So why not? I like gaming and I like cosplay so there's no reason why I shouldn't talk about it. After all, this is my blog and I can do what I damn well like with it, dragging all my readers along for the ride whether they like it or not.
So for this month of November I'm going to make a series: Every Monday I'm going to pick out a particular cosplay I've done and wax lyrical about it.
I've enjoyed cosplay - it's fun to dress up and take on the persona of your favourite character. What's particularly sweet is that I have a cosplay partner in crime - and not just any partner. Yes, as I found out, cosplay is actually a really good way to develop a romance. My partner and I have cosplayed romantic couples in the past and it works because we're a real couple - it shows at cons and so forth and it's become a really big hit with the attendees who constantly collar us for photos. :)
So to kick off this series, I present one cosplay I did back in 2008: Cloud Strife from Final Fantasy 7.
I can't say I'm part of the fervent fanbase that keeps Final Fantasy VII alive much longer than the average video game but I've played it and found some enjoyment out of it. But what's even more surprising is whilst Cloud isn't my favorite character this came about because I liked Aerith and wanted my partner Kathleen to cosplay as her - and she only agreed to it provided I cosplay as Cloud. So Cloud it was then.
Much of this was purchased: The outfit was purchased, the ribbon and even the Buster sword. The boots were provided by me from a previous cosplay as was the wig. Unfortunately, on the day that these photos were taken, time restraints meant that the wig was unable to be styled.
This was worn on a day out in Melbourne with some other cosplayers. This proved to be quite a hit and some of the cosplayers were impressed with the Buster sword. In addition the inclusion of the glasses went over well too.
Unlike a lot of my other cosplays, this was easy to move around in and didn't disintegrate as the day wore on. It particularly amusing to enter a video store, with Aerith in tow, and having one of the staff there recognize us immediately.
So at the end of the day, this was fun to do and it was great to have a cosplay remain in one piece all throughout the day. I got some sweet recognition for it and an Aerith too :D
Who's the boss eh?
Anyway, that's enough for today. Come back next Monday where more Adventures in cosplay await...
So for this month of November I'm going to make a series: Every Monday I'm going to pick out a particular cosplay I've done and wax lyrical about it.
I've enjoyed cosplay - it's fun to dress up and take on the persona of your favourite character. What's particularly sweet is that I have a cosplay partner in crime - and not just any partner. Yes, as I found out, cosplay is actually a really good way to develop a romance. My partner and I have cosplayed romantic couples in the past and it works because we're a real couple - it shows at cons and so forth and it's become a really big hit with the attendees who constantly collar us for photos. :)
So to kick off this series, I present one cosplay I did back in 2008: Cloud Strife from Final Fantasy 7.
I can't say I'm part of the fervent fanbase that keeps Final Fantasy VII alive much longer than the average video game but I've played it and found some enjoyment out of it. But what's even more surprising is whilst Cloud isn't my favorite character this came about because I liked Aerith and wanted my partner Kathleen to cosplay as her - and she only agreed to it provided I cosplay as Cloud. So Cloud it was then.
Much of this was purchased: The outfit was purchased, the ribbon and even the Buster sword. The boots were provided by me from a previous cosplay as was the wig. Unfortunately, on the day that these photos were taken, time restraints meant that the wig was unable to be styled.
This was worn on a day out in Melbourne with some other cosplayers. This proved to be quite a hit and some of the cosplayers were impressed with the Buster sword. In addition the inclusion of the glasses went over well too.
Unlike a lot of my other cosplays, this was easy to move around in and didn't disintegrate as the day wore on. It particularly amusing to enter a video store, with Aerith in tow, and having one of the staff there recognize us immediately.
So at the end of the day, this was fun to do and it was great to have a cosplay remain in one piece all throughout the day. I got some sweet recognition for it and an Aerith too :D
Who's the boss eh?
Anyway, that's enough for today. Come back next Monday where more Adventures in cosplay await...
Monday, October 18, 2010
It Takes Two
As some of you may know, I do have a significant other in my life: Like many other relationships, we bonded over similar interests, namely anime and video games. Thanks to my partner I have an interest in the Xbox (a console I had previously little to do with) and I've had an attentive audience watching me play games.
Strangely, we've never really played a game together. This may seem strange as we both love gaming and playing a game together is something couples do (or at least should do). Thing is, the games we like aren't really of a two player variety. Indeed, the games we've really played together are few in number: Rock Band, Singstar and Super Mario World (note how all bar one are music games)
We both enjoy the Bioware RPG's. I loved Baldur's Gate and was determined to play Dragon Age Origins as soon as I saw it. My partner meanwhile was won over through playing Mass Effect and completed Dragon Age Origins well before me. The thing is, RPG's are really a one player game: there is no room for a second player to come in. Fable may present a second player option true but the role of the second player is reduced to that of an underling.
I would like to see an RPG where a second player can come in. It may seem a tall order seeing as RPG's are all about making decisions and fashioning character development in a way that stays with the player throughout the entire game but why not? True RPG's are usually a one player game but consider Final Fantasy X: The main character is Tidus but he isn't the driving force of the man quest - Yuna is. I would like to see conversations between two player characters where two people are individually selecting responses. I would like to see one player character doing something that will ultimately effect the other player character. I would like to see two people going off an doing separate sidequests at the same time. I would like to see two people playing the same RPG and making choices via connected consoles. We have the processing power so why not?
Strangely, we've never really played a game together. This may seem strange as we both love gaming and playing a game together is something couples do (or at least should do). Thing is, the games we like aren't really of a two player variety. Indeed, the games we've really played together are few in number: Rock Band, Singstar and Super Mario World (note how all bar one are music games)
We both enjoy the Bioware RPG's. I loved Baldur's Gate and was determined to play Dragon Age Origins as soon as I saw it. My partner meanwhile was won over through playing Mass Effect and completed Dragon Age Origins well before me. The thing is, RPG's are really a one player game: there is no room for a second player to come in. Fable may present a second player option true but the role of the second player is reduced to that of an underling.
I would like to see an RPG where a second player can come in. It may seem a tall order seeing as RPG's are all about making decisions and fashioning character development in a way that stays with the player throughout the entire game but why not? True RPG's are usually a one player game but consider Final Fantasy X: The main character is Tidus but he isn't the driving force of the man quest - Yuna is. I would like to see conversations between two player characters where two people are individually selecting responses. I would like to see one player character doing something that will ultimately effect the other player character. I would like to see two people going off an doing separate sidequests at the same time. I would like to see two people playing the same RPG and making choices via connected consoles. We have the processing power so why not?
Monday, August 23, 2010
Lets talk about you and me
Just came back from a week away in Melbourne, attending the prestigious anime convention Manifest! Had a great time and the events I ran proved to be quite popular.
Also, I was staying at a friend's place where myself and my partner bore witness to her playing Mass Effect 2. Being familiar with Bioware's other RPGs, namely Baldur's Gate and Star Wars KOTOR, I was intrigued. My partner, who'd played Dragon Age Origins, was also keen. Indeed, now I have even more motivation to go out and get a 360.
Interestingly, the Bioware RPG tradition of having romantic sub-plot continues. However this, time something seems a tad different: Now the male characters face themselves with slim pickings.
Allow me to explain: In Baldur's Gate 2, the male player characters had a choice of three candidates for a romance sub-quest: Aerie, a waifish elf of good alignment and gentle characteristic; Jahiera, a half....elf being of a neutral nature and a crabby disposition; and Viconia, a drow....elf who was evil and favoured strength. Conversely, the female player characters had to settle for Anomen, an whingeing, whining, arrogant sod who doesn't have issues - no, he has lifetime subscriptions. It makes you wonder what the female player characters did to have such little choice.
Then came Star Wars KOTOR. There the party was smaller but there was till room for romantic sub-quests even if the choices were slim: the male player characters had the courageous Jedi Bastilla Shan whilst female player characters had to settle for the insufferable Carth! It makes you wonder, if Bioware were heeding the female gamer demograph at all.
But they must've becuase in Dragon Age Origins, female player characters finally had decent character to latch onto for a romantic sub-quest in the form of Alistair (and in some cases Zevran and Leliana). And Alistair is a very a good choice - or at least my partner thinks so. It makes for an interesting counter-balance as the male player characters may find themselves hitting on Morrigan - and with a sexy voice like that, how can one refuse? (even if she does put a bra on to have sex)
But noticing Mass Effect 2, there doesn't seem to much choice for a romantic partner for male player characters. Miranda? Didn't work for me with her disagreeable personality and for sounding like someone from Home and Away (or at least that's what my friend thinks). Tali? She has a weird voice from an equally weird headgear. Jack? Mmmmmmm.............Naaaaaahhhhh.
But interestingly enough, the characters I like in the Mass Effect party are those available for a romantic sub-quest for the female player characters. Namely Thane, Jacob and, of course, Garrus.
So it strikes me that the tables have been turned: Now the female player characters are spoiled for choice whilst the male player characters find themselves caught short.
Still, this assessment is based on impressions built from watching someone play Mass Effect. Thus, this is subject to change - I mean who knows? Maybe over the course of playing the game, my mind could change.
Also, I was staying at a friend's place where myself and my partner bore witness to her playing Mass Effect 2. Being familiar with Bioware's other RPGs, namely Baldur's Gate and Star Wars KOTOR, I was intrigued. My partner, who'd played Dragon Age Origins, was also keen. Indeed, now I have even more motivation to go out and get a 360.
Interestingly, the Bioware RPG tradition of having romantic sub-plot continues. However this, time something seems a tad different: Now the male characters face themselves with slim pickings.
Allow me to explain: In Baldur's Gate 2, the male player characters had a choice of three candidates for a romance sub-quest: Aerie, a waifish elf of good alignment and gentle characteristic; Jahiera, a half....elf being of a neutral nature and a crabby disposition; and Viconia, a drow....elf who was evil and favoured strength. Conversely, the female player characters had to settle for Anomen, an whingeing, whining, arrogant sod who doesn't have issues - no, he has lifetime subscriptions. It makes you wonder what the female player characters did to have such little choice.
Then came Star Wars KOTOR. There the party was smaller but there was till room for romantic sub-quests even if the choices were slim: the male player characters had the courageous Jedi Bastilla Shan whilst female player characters had to settle for the insufferable Carth! It makes you wonder, if Bioware were heeding the female gamer demograph at all.
But they must've becuase in Dragon Age Origins, female player characters finally had decent character to latch onto for a romantic sub-quest in the form of Alistair (and in some cases Zevran and Leliana). And Alistair is a very a good choice - or at least my partner thinks so. It makes for an interesting counter-balance as the male player characters may find themselves hitting on Morrigan - and with a sexy voice like that, how can one refuse? (even if she does put a bra on to have sex)
But noticing Mass Effect 2, there doesn't seem to much choice for a romantic partner for male player characters. Miranda? Didn't work for me with her disagreeable personality and for sounding like someone from Home and Away (or at least that's what my friend thinks). Tali? She has a weird voice from an equally weird headgear. Jack? Mmmmmmm.............Naaaaaahhhhh.
But interestingly enough, the characters I like in the Mass Effect party are those available for a romantic sub-quest for the female player characters. Namely Thane, Jacob and, of course, Garrus.
So it strikes me that the tables have been turned: Now the female player characters are spoiled for choice whilst the male player characters find themselves caught short.
Still, this assessment is based on impressions built from watching someone play Mass Effect. Thus, this is subject to change - I mean who knows? Maybe over the course of playing the game, my mind could change.
Friday, July 2, 2010
The end of Shadow of the Colossus...
*Watching the ending cinematic of Shadow of the Colossus with my partner:*
Partner: What is that horse made of?!?!?
Me: It is made of awesome!
Partner: What is that horse made of?!?!?
Me: It is made of awesome!
Friday, June 11, 2010
For the love of Yuna and Tidus
Hello again and welcome to another blog post, where I harp on and on about various things from the angle of a gamer. So what to talk about today? Well, I am a gamer yes and, at heart, a romantic. So how about combining the two?
Having grown up with gaming developments since the late eighties, romance has always played something of an important role in gaming development. In the beginning, rescuing one's significant other from some monstrous baddie has been a motivational aspect for the player to get playing. Thus Mario sets out to rescue Princess Peach (and does so for many games afterwards) and Link does so much and invests so much effort to rescue Princess Zelda. After all, what guy can say no to a Princess?
Later developments add a degree of interactivity so the player can choose one partner and, through choosing the right options, be treated to some fascinating outcomes. Thus, Cloud can end up having a date with either Tifa or Aerith. Likewise my Baldurs Gate 2 character can either have Aerie, Jahiera or Viconia every time I play through. Indeed, having this degree of interactivity certainly adds a variety of depth to the character as you lead them through thick and thin.
Granted maybe watching a romance develop in game may not be as satisfying or enjoyable as the real thing but in a way it is fun to watch two characters develop, see them watch out for each other, stay with each other through the various ups and downs and hoping they'll eventually come out on top. Indeed, when your guiding your BG2 Half-Elf Ranger/Cleric to a relationship with Aerie whilst saying "You two belong together!!!" then something must've clicked. And in a way it can even provide something of an insight into what to do and what not to do.
So which is my favourite couple in gaming? Well in my mind some work, some don't. I always felt Mario could do better than Peach as a) he's an Italian so you'd think he'd have better taste and b) she's ineffectual as a princess as she doesn't really do much beyond making cakes and getting kidnapped. Link and Zelda aren't really given much chance to develop as someone keeps hitting the reset button in-between games. I enjoy Cloud and Aerith both as a couple and the tragic element therein but whereas I don't see the appeal in Tifa, a whole lot of other people do. And whilst the romances of Baldur's Gate 2 are fun, they are really all running on the same script, thus leaving no room for something special.
That being said, what is my favourite gaming couple?
Well, it comes from a game called Final Fantasy X and concerns a lad named Tidus and a summoner called Yuna.
Of course by now I can imagine many of my readers throwing up their hands in disgust but for me these two work on a number of levels - many of them distinguishing it from many other romances in the Final Fantasy series and gaming in general. Okay I will concede that yes Tidus may have been irritating but I have my reasons and they are as follows:
Firstly, whereas many games use the concept of romance as a leading hook to get the gamer involved with the plot (as described above). Not so here: In the world of FFX, we see a lad lost out of time as he is transported to a completely alien world and subsequently falls in with a band of unusual characters. It isn't established from the beginning that Yuna and Tidus will eventually become romantically involved (well there is that opening cinematic but that technically doesn't count as it's set in the middle of the story). Instead the romance itself is something that's developed over time and, in a way, in a rather unexpected manner. There is no masterplan or anything of that nature, it's just something that simply happens and is handled in a distinctly mature manner - much like a real relationship itself. To establish such human emotions is indeed an impressive feat in a game of all things.
Secondly, the romance from FFX plays out differently then those established in it's predecessors. Previous Final Fantasy games have had a romance yes but they seem to follow the same formula of having the male being a grumpy, angsty jerk who has little time for people and the female who is a more 'pure' character whose presence brings the male out of his emotional shell. A very escapist perspective indeed but that's what it is. It may not represent fact but it works on an escapist level.
So what makes Yuna and Tidus special? Well, for one thing the tried-and-tested formula is ditched for something different and more mature. Thus Yuna and Tidus come across as being the mirror images of the same character: They are orphans, each bearing the legacy left by an absent father. And as they deal with said father's absence, they come to terms with the responsibilities left for them.
What's also a welcome difference from the previous Final Fantasy's is the nature of the quest. Tidus may be the character controlled by the player but, unlike his predecessors, the quest he goes on isn't his. Instead, the driving force behind the game is Yuna. In a welcome case of role reversal, she is the one heading out on the quest, thus reducing Tidus to the role of tagalong.
In any case, I credit the makers of this game ditch formula and try something new. Anyone can do something with a formula but it takes a brave person to try and do something different with it.
Thirdly, I like the progression of the relationship. It isn't an instant attraction, it isn't a bond forged out of an intense situation (of sorts). What it is though is another notch for the maturity aspect that keeps the relationship afloat: Like any other relationship, it takes a lengthy progression time for the two people involved to develop something special and eventually admit to it. In the case of Tidus and Yuna, it take many an hour of gameplay to arrive at that point, of admission, in the game. Again, it is a feat in itself that the makers took the time-honored approach to such development - not to mention a refusal to sugar-coat anything that may have ruined anything genuine. And again, I like games that can convey a range of emotions - it is an achievement to make something of an emotional resonance in a medium not known for doing so but to do so without any degree of falseness or saccharine elements is an impressive feat indeed.
Finally, what seals the deal is that tragic undercurrent. The entire relationship is built on taking things in a mature manner and running the full gauntlet of emotions. And all of this comes to it's zenith with it's conclusion. Yuna's quest is to cast the final summon to defeat the antagonist Sin so the people of Spira can enjoy ten years of peace. Yet as the game progresses it is eventually revealed that at the end of her journey Yuna has to fulfil the role of a sacrifice. Hardly the best choice of a romantic partner true but that knowledge implies a sense that the time spent together is limited and every minute should be cherished - and thus the relationship is all the better of for it.
And indeed, at the end of the game comes the most bittersweet of endings: An alternate solution is put to work, Sin is defeated forever and Yuna's life is spared. However it also means an end to the relationship as Yuna and Tidus face a seemingly lasting separation. Now I'm not one to readily admit this but the ending to FFX did leave an impression on my cold jaded heart. The moment that got me was when Yuna runs after the departing Tidus and what she says afterward. I mentioned in my assessment of Ico that I did get somewhat teary eyed at the end of it and well, the same thing can be said here. Indeed, it is a sign of a great game when one can trigger such emotion. and it is a brave move from the Square that they went with a bittersweet ending and refuse to compromise with a happy ending (which also leaves me wondering why FFX2 needs to exist).
So to summarise, why does Yuna and Tidus work for me? Well, what sets their romance apart for me is that it's handled in a mature and realistic manner - in a field not known for it's subtlety. It ditches formula from established conventions to say something of it's own. It runs though a whole lot of emotions that really establish a substantial connection with the player, without any sense of sappiness whatsoever. It is compelling enough to see these characters go through so much and hoping they'll come out on top. And it has the balls to not fall into the cop-out trap of having a happy ending.
Indeed, I have found Yuna and Tidus and their romance so compelling that I found them an interesting starting point for a blossoming romance. In early 2008, I was interested in cosplay to a point that I wanted to, some day, get together with someone and do a cosplay couple. I heard from my friend Kath that she was interested in doing Yuna for AI-Con. Seeing a chance for my goal to be realized, I suggested that I cosplay as Tidus to match. She agreed and we did - and subsequently became something of a hit at AI-Con.
This in turn was the first time we did cosplay couple but certainly not the last time.
The first, and defining, image of the entire relationship
Genuine couples aren't something that's seen a lot in cosplay but when it does happen, it really becomes something special and it shows a lot to everyone else. Indeed, at Manifest this year I had the pleasure of meeting two teenagers who were cosplaying as Tidus and Yuna. Through talking to them, I found out that they were a couple and they were doing the cosplay for the couple element. I too said I was part of a cosplay couple and I'd previously done a Tidus+Yuna. I said they looked great, got them to pose for a photo and, to cap it off, I joined the Yuna in singing Still Alive from Portal. It wasn't just seeing two people cosplaying as some of my favorite characters, it wasn't just seeing what everyone sees when they see a cosplay couple and it wasn't just picking up the genuine feelings between them. No, it was seeing that someone else thought the same thing I did. And it is great feeling that you're not alone in something you saw.
So that's my thoughts, not to mention my experiences, on Tidus and Yuna. Two video game characters who, along with their connection, left a lasting impression indeed. And now, having taken the time to type this all out and share this with all of you, I do believe it safe to say that I have pretty much cemented my status as an absolute nerd.
Yeah I thought so too
So here's two masses of pixels!
Having grown up with gaming developments since the late eighties, romance has always played something of an important role in gaming development. In the beginning, rescuing one's significant other from some monstrous baddie has been a motivational aspect for the player to get playing. Thus Mario sets out to rescue Princess Peach (and does so for many games afterwards) and Link does so much and invests so much effort to rescue Princess Zelda. After all, what guy can say no to a Princess?
Later developments add a degree of interactivity so the player can choose one partner and, through choosing the right options, be treated to some fascinating outcomes. Thus, Cloud can end up having a date with either Tifa or Aerith. Likewise my Baldurs Gate 2 character can either have Aerie, Jahiera or Viconia every time I play through. Indeed, having this degree of interactivity certainly adds a variety of depth to the character as you lead them through thick and thin.
Granted maybe watching a romance develop in game may not be as satisfying or enjoyable as the real thing but in a way it is fun to watch two characters develop, see them watch out for each other, stay with each other through the various ups and downs and hoping they'll eventually come out on top. Indeed, when your guiding your BG2 Half-Elf Ranger/Cleric to a relationship with Aerie whilst saying "You two belong together!!!" then something must've clicked. And in a way it can even provide something of an insight into what to do and what not to do.
So which is my favourite couple in gaming? Well in my mind some work, some don't. I always felt Mario could do better than Peach as a) he's an Italian so you'd think he'd have better taste and b) she's ineffectual as a princess as she doesn't really do much beyond making cakes and getting kidnapped. Link and Zelda aren't really given much chance to develop as someone keeps hitting the reset button in-between games. I enjoy Cloud and Aerith both as a couple and the tragic element therein but whereas I don't see the appeal in Tifa, a whole lot of other people do. And whilst the romances of Baldur's Gate 2 are fun, they are really all running on the same script, thus leaving no room for something special.
That being said, what is my favourite gaming couple?
Well, it comes from a game called Final Fantasy X and concerns a lad named Tidus and a summoner called Yuna.
Of course by now I can imagine many of my readers throwing up their hands in disgust but for me these two work on a number of levels - many of them distinguishing it from many other romances in the Final Fantasy series and gaming in general. Okay I will concede that yes Tidus may have been irritating but I have my reasons and they are as follows:
Firstly, whereas many games use the concept of romance as a leading hook to get the gamer involved with the plot (as described above). Not so here: In the world of FFX, we see a lad lost out of time as he is transported to a completely alien world and subsequently falls in with a band of unusual characters. It isn't established from the beginning that Yuna and Tidus will eventually become romantically involved (well there is that opening cinematic but that technically doesn't count as it's set in the middle of the story). Instead the romance itself is something that's developed over time and, in a way, in a rather unexpected manner. There is no masterplan or anything of that nature, it's just something that simply happens and is handled in a distinctly mature manner - much like a real relationship itself. To establish such human emotions is indeed an impressive feat in a game of all things.
Secondly, the romance from FFX plays out differently then those established in it's predecessors. Previous Final Fantasy games have had a romance yes but they seem to follow the same formula of having the male being a grumpy, angsty jerk who has little time for people and the female who is a more 'pure' character whose presence brings the male out of his emotional shell. A very escapist perspective indeed but that's what it is. It may not represent fact but it works on an escapist level.
So what makes Yuna and Tidus special? Well, for one thing the tried-and-tested formula is ditched for something different and more mature. Thus Yuna and Tidus come across as being the mirror images of the same character: They are orphans, each bearing the legacy left by an absent father. And as they deal with said father's absence, they come to terms with the responsibilities left for them.
What's also a welcome difference from the previous Final Fantasy's is the nature of the quest. Tidus may be the character controlled by the player but, unlike his predecessors, the quest he goes on isn't his. Instead, the driving force behind the game is Yuna. In a welcome case of role reversal, she is the one heading out on the quest, thus reducing Tidus to the role of tagalong.
In any case, I credit the makers of this game ditch formula and try something new. Anyone can do something with a formula but it takes a brave person to try and do something different with it.
Thirdly, I like the progression of the relationship. It isn't an instant attraction, it isn't a bond forged out of an intense situation (of sorts). What it is though is another notch for the maturity aspect that keeps the relationship afloat: Like any other relationship, it takes a lengthy progression time for the two people involved to develop something special and eventually admit to it. In the case of Tidus and Yuna, it take many an hour of gameplay to arrive at that point, of admission, in the game. Again, it is a feat in itself that the makers took the time-honored approach to such development - not to mention a refusal to sugar-coat anything that may have ruined anything genuine. And again, I like games that can convey a range of emotions - it is an achievement to make something of an emotional resonance in a medium not known for doing so but to do so without any degree of falseness or saccharine elements is an impressive feat indeed.
Finally, what seals the deal is that tragic undercurrent. The entire relationship is built on taking things in a mature manner and running the full gauntlet of emotions. And all of this comes to it's zenith with it's conclusion. Yuna's quest is to cast the final summon to defeat the antagonist Sin so the people of Spira can enjoy ten years of peace. Yet as the game progresses it is eventually revealed that at the end of her journey Yuna has to fulfil the role of a sacrifice. Hardly the best choice of a romantic partner true but that knowledge implies a sense that the time spent together is limited and every minute should be cherished - and thus the relationship is all the better of for it.
And indeed, at the end of the game comes the most bittersweet of endings: An alternate solution is put to work, Sin is defeated forever and Yuna's life is spared. However it also means an end to the relationship as Yuna and Tidus face a seemingly lasting separation. Now I'm not one to readily admit this but the ending to FFX did leave an impression on my cold jaded heart. The moment that got me was when Yuna runs after the departing Tidus and what she says afterward. I mentioned in my assessment of Ico that I did get somewhat teary eyed at the end of it and well, the same thing can be said here. Indeed, it is a sign of a great game when one can trigger such emotion. and it is a brave move from the Square that they went with a bittersweet ending and refuse to compromise with a happy ending (which also leaves me wondering why FFX2 needs to exist).
So to summarise, why does Yuna and Tidus work for me? Well, what sets their romance apart for me is that it's handled in a mature and realistic manner - in a field not known for it's subtlety. It ditches formula from established conventions to say something of it's own. It runs though a whole lot of emotions that really establish a substantial connection with the player, without any sense of sappiness whatsoever. It is compelling enough to see these characters go through so much and hoping they'll come out on top. And it has the balls to not fall into the cop-out trap of having a happy ending.
Indeed, I have found Yuna and Tidus and their romance so compelling that I found them an interesting starting point for a blossoming romance. In early 2008, I was interested in cosplay to a point that I wanted to, some day, get together with someone and do a cosplay couple. I heard from my friend Kath that she was interested in doing Yuna for AI-Con. Seeing a chance for my goal to be realized, I suggested that I cosplay as Tidus to match. She agreed and we did - and subsequently became something of a hit at AI-Con.
This in turn was the first time we did cosplay couple but certainly not the last time.
The first, and defining, image of the entire relationship
Genuine couples aren't something that's seen a lot in cosplay but when it does happen, it really becomes something special and it shows a lot to everyone else. Indeed, at Manifest this year I had the pleasure of meeting two teenagers who were cosplaying as Tidus and Yuna. Through talking to them, I found out that they were a couple and they were doing the cosplay for the couple element. I too said I was part of a cosplay couple and I'd previously done a Tidus+Yuna. I said they looked great, got them to pose for a photo and, to cap it off, I joined the Yuna in singing Still Alive from Portal. It wasn't just seeing two people cosplaying as some of my favorite characters, it wasn't just seeing what everyone sees when they see a cosplay couple and it wasn't just picking up the genuine feelings between them. No, it was seeing that someone else thought the same thing I did. And it is great feeling that you're not alone in something you saw.
So that's my thoughts, not to mention my experiences, on Tidus and Yuna. Two video game characters who, along with their connection, left a lasting impression indeed. And now, having taken the time to type this all out and share this with all of you, I do believe it safe to say that I have pretty much cemented my status as an absolute nerd.
Yeah I thought so too
So here's two masses of pixels!
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