owlmoose: (Default)
KJ ([personal profile] owlmoose) wrote2008-08-17 02:00 pm
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FFIV: random thoughts

Just got back into the Tower of Babil.


Is there any other Final Fantasy game that kills off this many player characters during the course of gameplay? Palom and Porom, Tellah, Yang, Cid... it's a bloodbath, by FF standards. Now I'm fully expecting Edward to bite it sooner or later, or perhaps Edge.

Speaking of whom, is he supposed to come off as a punk kid? (Also, when exploring the caves that get you back into the Tower, can he pull off some ninja move to get the chests that I can see, but that aren't on the main path? Because if so, I have no idea how to make that work.) He also seems to have a bit of Tellah's revenge motive driving him, which is a little irritating since the game has already made the "revenge = bad" point with Tellah's story arc. Still, the fact that individual characters even have story arcs is something that pleases me. I like being able to go into the save menu and see everyone's thoughts; sometimes that's very telling.

So far, so good, as far as gameplay goes; the boss battle in the Tower gave me a little trouble, mostly because I kept fighting the Reverse status rather than rolling with it, but once I decided to play along it started going much better. Then I spent way too much time trying to find a way to continue forward in the Tower. Fortunate that there are a couple of save/tent points in there. I guess we get the rest of it now. Have I already mentioned that I like how the game rewards you for completing area maps? It's nice to get a bonus for seeking out every nook and cranny, especially in dungeons that don't have many treasure chests.

[identity profile] first-seventhe.livejournal.com 2008-08-19 11:58 am (UTC)(link)
I really hope they've fixed that. (*makes mental note to go home and check manual*) In the original he didn't have an age listed, but a Japanese guide (maybe what compares to an "FFIV Ultimania" or something) gave his age as like 30 or 35. I remember finding this online a few years ago and basically mind-boggling.

Although it does look like they've changed his age to better match the rest of the characters; there have been enough "His Young Highness" comments to convince me. I don't expect he's any older than Cecil in this version!

Edge is one of those characters who has grown with the new version / translation. Much like Edward. Edge and Edward were both characters I liked but kind of ignored; now, however, I really like both of them.
lassarina: (Cecil Kain Ass)

[personal profile] lassarina 2008-08-19 02:23 pm (UTC)(link)
His canon age is 25, still. Which I believe it has been since the Chronicles days, at least US-wise.

I have a whole huge mass of meta about why Cecil and Kain are so much more serious at 21 than Edge at 25; mostly it has to do with Baron being a very militaristic society and they probably joined up when they were 16, whereas Edge is clearly an only child and doted upon by his parents so was probably allowed to let slide a bit because they figured they and the Chancellor would be around forever and...and. Hi. Oops. Meta.

[identity profile] first-seventhe.livejournal.com 2008-08-19 03:09 pm (UTC)(link)
Yeah, the "30-35" came from a translation of a Japanese guide. So I guess it depends on how you interpret the guides themselves, especially overseas ones, but it appeared to be pretty official in Japan at least. I'll take the 25, especially since it's nice to have a 'hero' who isn't 16-18!

I like the concept of Baron royal life being a lot more formal than Eblanian royal life -- it explains a lot about Cecil, Kain, and Rosa as well as Edge. Even Rosa, who isn't entirely nobility, grew up with formal training and everything. Edge is kind of like a Yuffie -- went through the training, but probably isn't as stuffy about all the rules of being royalty.

HAHA KJ WE ARE GETTING OUR META ALL OVER YOUR JOURNAL.
lassarina: (KainxRosa: Hello Darkness)

[personal profile] lassarina 2008-08-19 03:13 pm (UTC)(link)
She is nobility, actually. It says so in the instruction manual now! IT'S NOT JUST MY HEADCANON ANYMORE!

Er. Um. No, I am not gleeful at being validated, where on earth would anyone get that notion?

Sorry for the meta-bath, KJ!

[identity profile] owlmoose.livejournal.com 2008-08-19 03:43 pm (UTC)(link)
Hee! I don't mind, as long as you don't spoil me for anything. ;) I had wondered that, about Rosa -- I'd been assuming she was royalty, because she was hanging out in the castle, so the first time I went into Baron and found "Rosa's house" I was surprised.

I'm still not sure that I buy 25. I've known 25-year-olds that immature in the real world, but not in a FF game! I'd be much happier if the ages were swapped -- Cecil/Kain/Rosa around 25, Edge 20-21. But I will roll with it for now.