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sathari asked for my thoughts on the Final Fantasy series, including a few specific titles.I came to the Final Fantasy series, through my husband, T. He had started playing with FFVII, before I met him. Not long after we got together, he bought FFVIII, and he would sometimes play it when I was around, and I was interested to realize that there were video games in which story and character had so much importance (before that most of my experiences were with arcade and arcade-type games, and Civilization/Sim City/other world-building type games). FFIX came out after we moved in together, and I watched the entire time he played, like watching an 80 hour movie, and I got pretty invested in it. Finally, with FFX, for the first time he handed me the controller, and I was hooked: on FFX (which to this day remains my favorite game, not just in the series but of all time), on the Final Fantasy series, and on RPGs in general.
I love the same things about the series that most of its fans love: the characters, the settings, the stories they tell. As a newbie gamer, I appreciated being able to ease into combat via turn-based systems, and that my hand-eye coordination was not often tested (I'm better at that now, though still not great). I've played most of the numbered installments, although I'm still missing some earlier games and haven't ventured into the MMOs -- my biggest gap is FFVI, which I've started several times but never finished. Someday.
( Thoughts on specific games behind the cut. )
FFIV/FFX -"Once a Guardian"
Dec. 19th, 2010 11:13 pmTitle: Once a Guardian
Fandom: Crossover, FFIV and FFX
Rating: PG
Wordcount: 3625
Characters: Auron, Rydia, Leviathan
Spoilers: Yes, for both games
Notes: Written for the Alphabet Fic Meme, to![[livejournal.com profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/external/lj-userinfo.gif)
first_seventhe's prompt "Children/Childhood - FFIV cast". In her original request, Sev gave me an option: I could write about any FFIV character(s), or I could write about Auron. One day, as I was turning ideas over in my head (while taking a shower; I tend to get my best/wackiest inspirations in the shower), it occurred to me: what if, instead, I wrote about an FFIV character and Auron? Thus was the concept of this story born. Thanks to justira for beta help! This is my first time ever writing in FFIV canon, so feedback on that aspect is especially welcome.
( Auron had never seen this part of the Farplane before. )
Fandom: Crossover, FFIV and FFX
Rating: PG
Wordcount: 3625
Characters: Auron, Rydia, Leviathan
Spoilers: Yes, for both games
Notes: Written for the Alphabet Fic Meme, to
first_seventhe's prompt "Children/Childhood - FFIV cast". In her original request, Sev gave me an option: I could write about any FFIV character(s), or I could write about Auron. One day, as I was turning ideas over in my head (while taking a shower; I tend to get my best/wackiest inspirations in the shower), it occurred to me: what if, instead, I wrote about an FFIV character and Auron? Thus was the concept of this story born. Thanks to justira for beta help! This is my first time ever writing in FFIV canon, so feedback on that aspect is especially welcome.( Auron had never seen this part of the Farplane before. )
30 Days: What a character
Nov. 22nd, 2010 10:18 pmjustira asked me about the Final Fantasy characters and 'ships that I love, compared and contrasted with Final Fantasy characters and 'ships I do not love.Let's start by listing the characters and pairings I love and do not love, and then I can start pulling out commonalities. Some of these canons could have much longer "love" lists; in those cases, I've limited myself to four of each.
( List is behind the cut )
Looking over this list, some themes in the non-loved 'ships emerge right away. Incest is a big one, as are pairings that feature a distinct age difference and/or power differential. If by this, you came to the conclusion that Larsa/Vayne is my squickiest pairing in the history of ever, you would be correct! This extends to relationships between characters who seem, to me, to have more of a familial dynamic (Lighting/Hope, Snow/Hope, Wakka/Lulu) or friends/partners (Baralai/Paine, Balthier/Fran) than a romantic connection. I'm also not usually a fan of rival ships, particularly between the protagonist and their enemy.
The ships I do like? The first thing I usually need is some text. Interaction in canon. (With one obvious glaring exception -- Raines/Rosch -- which breaks a lot of other patterns, too. I'm really not sure where that one came from) Subtext alone almost never does it for me, although sometimes just a smidgeon of text is enough for me to open up to seeing subtextual cues as well. Because of this, and also because many of my favorite characters are female, I tend to gravitate towards het rather than slash.
As for characters, it's pretty clear here that I gravitate toward heroic characters rather than villains, but at least in the context of the Final Fantasy games, rarely is the protagonist my favorite character. My very favorites are usually just a step below the main hero: the support staff. Another type of character I like is one with a mystery. A character who has something hidden, just below the surface, but close enough that I can see that something is there, something worth discovering. One-note villains and "good" characters who don't show enough emotion for me to connect with them are typically the ones I don't care for.
The one exception in the character realm is the least-favorite FFX-2 characters, and that's all about the character development. I really liked the way Yuna's character developed and grew, showing more independence and while staing the same caring person beneath the perkier exterior. It felt very natural to me, the specific ways in which she changed and did not change. On the other hand, I didn't like the development on Rikku and Brother at all; it didn't feel true, or natural, and especially in the case of Rikku it was too bad, because I rather liked her in FFX.
30 Days of... Project! Complete list of questions / Ask a question on LJ or on DW.
Media weekend
Jul. 19th, 2009 11:58 pmJust got back from seeing Harry Potter. It was quite good, possibly the best of series so far, overall. Have to process before I'll have anything more to say, I think.
I also finished the final battle in FFIV, then watched the ending movie, then started with the new game plus (or whatever it's called in this version). Are you not supposed to get the opening CGI movie with the new game plus, or did I make a mistake, or does it come later? Mysterious. Anyway, this I will also need to process, but I liked it too, overall.
Finally, I made good progress in the FFXII replay. Just now starting out for the Garif. This replay has been both more fun and more compelling than I expected. I'm having to resist running downstairs to play right now, in fact.
I'll probably end up writing full posts for all three of these things eventually, since anything useful I could say about any of them would be filled with spoilers. Watch this space.
I also finished the final battle in FFIV, then watched the ending movie, then started with the new game plus (or whatever it's called in this version). Are you not supposed to get the opening CGI movie with the new game plus, or did I make a mistake, or does it come later? Mysterious. Anyway, this I will also need to process, but I liked it too, overall.
Finally, I made good progress in the FFXII replay. Just now starting out for the Garif. This replay has been both more fun and more compelling than I expected. I'm having to resist running downstairs to play right now, in fact.
I'll probably end up writing full posts for all three of these things eventually, since anything useful I could say about any of them would be filled with spoilers. Watch this space.
Following the herd...
Mar. 17th, 2009 01:34 pmI've probably done this before, but not in awhile, and I'm feeling like a distraction. So...
Post one of my fandoms and the number of any of these questions (as many or few as you like) and I'll tell you the answer!
Note #1: "All" is absolutely an option.
Note #2: Fandom choice is wide open. If you pick something I really don't know well enough, I'll let you know and you can pick a fall-back.
1. The first character I fell in love with:
2. The character I never expected to love as much as I do now:
3. The character everyone else loves that I don’t:
4. The character I love that everyone else hates:
5. The character I would shag anytime:
6. The character I'd want to be like:
7. The character I'd slap:
8. A pairing that I love:
9. A pairing that I despise:
10. Favorite character:
11. What are my five favorite things about the fandom.
12. What are my five least favorite things about the fandom.
13. Who are my five favorite characters.
14. Who are my five least favorite characters.
15. What are my five favorite pairings.
16. What are my five least favorite pairings.
17. Which character are you most like.
18. What is my deep, dark fandom secret.
Post one of my fandoms and the number of any of these questions (as many or few as you like) and I'll tell you the answer!
Note #1: "All" is absolutely an option.
Note #2: Fandom choice is wide open. If you pick something I really don't know well enough, I'll let you know and you can pick a fall-back.
1. The first character I fell in love with:
2. The character I never expected to love as much as I do now:
3. The character everyone else loves that I don’t:
4. The character I love that everyone else hates:
5. The character I would shag anytime:
6. The character I'd want to be like:
7. The character I'd slap:
8. A pairing that I love:
9. A pairing that I despise:
10. Favorite character:
11. What are my five favorite things about the fandom.
12. What are my five least favorite things about the fandom.
13. Who are my five favorite characters.
14. Who are my five least favorite characters.
15. What are my five favorite pairings.
16. What are my five least favorite pairings.
17. Which character are you most like.
18. What is my deep, dark fandom secret.
Gamer geek ahoy!
Jan. 8th, 2009 11:10 pmEarlier today, I was walking down the hallway of my building when I heard some extremely familiar music coming from one of the classrooms. I stuck my head inside -- it was the room where new students are checking into housing -- and looked around, but I didn't see anyone playing any games. So I had to ask. "Is that the Final Fantasy X soundtrack?"
The students seemed very impressed that I recognized it. Either that, or afraid of my utter geekdom. Maybe a little bit of both.
Also, I have a FFIV question! ( 'Ware spoilers, I think I'm at or near the end of the game. )
The students seemed very impressed that I recognized it. Either that, or afraid of my utter geekdom. Maybe a little bit of both.
Also, I have a FFIV question! ( 'Ware spoilers, I think I'm at or near the end of the game. )
Lazy; gaming report
Jul. 27th, 2008 10:46 pmWeekends have been full of plans lately, so I was very happy to have a couple of days this weekend that were made mostly of slothfulness (except for dinner at R&S's new place last night). Especially today, when the fog came back in and rendered the thought of going outside much less appealing.
So I did a lot of reading -- finished Fingersmith by Sarah Waters, of which more in a separate post -- and gaming. I have two main ones going right now: Mario Kart Wii and of course Final Fantasy IV. Mario Kart is much more fun and compelling than I would have ever expected. I've never been much for driving games, mostly because I suck at them, but this one is fun, and I'm surprisingly not terrible. I've been stuck on one particular series of races for a good week now (Special Cup at 150ccs, if anyone knows what that means), but I finally pulled out a good performance today, and won. So as far as I can tell, that's all the medal events; now I just need to get good enough that I don't get completely wiped out in online play.
Then of course there's FFIV, which is good so far. Great characters, which helps make up for some of the predictability of the plot line (although I can't decide whether the story is actually predictable in and of itself or if I've just heard enough hints dropped by fandom people that I can make better guesses than usual). Also, I learned yesterday that, to my chagrin, I've been pronouncing Rydia's name wrong in my head all this time. I'd assumed that the 'y' was a long "i" sound, but it's not, it's short. Like "Lydia" with an R instead of an L. Which, given Japanese, makes a lot more sense than a name that sounds like the word "rider".
( Spoilers through the return to Baron after Mount Ordeals )
Hmm, I suppose I need a FFIV icon... any suggestions?
So I did a lot of reading -- finished Fingersmith by Sarah Waters, of which more in a separate post -- and gaming. I have two main ones going right now: Mario Kart Wii and of course Final Fantasy IV. Mario Kart is much more fun and compelling than I would have ever expected. I've never been much for driving games, mostly because I suck at them, but this one is fun, and I'm surprisingly not terrible. I've been stuck on one particular series of races for a good week now (Special Cup at 150ccs, if anyone knows what that means), but I finally pulled out a good performance today, and won. So as far as I can tell, that's all the medal events; now I just need to get good enough that I don't get completely wiped out in online play.
Then of course there's FFIV, which is good so far. Great characters, which helps make up for some of the predictability of the plot line (although I can't decide whether the story is actually predictable in and of itself or if I've just heard enough hints dropped by fandom people that I can make better guesses than usual). Also, I learned yesterday that, to my chagrin, I've been pronouncing Rydia's name wrong in my head all this time. I'd assumed that the 'y' was a long "i" sound, but it's not, it's short. Like "Lydia" with an R instead of an L. Which, given Japanese, makes a lot more sense than a name that sounds like the word "rider".
( Spoilers through the return to Baron after Mount Ordeals )
Hmm, I suppose I need a FFIV icon... any suggestions?
Slave to Squeenix
Jul. 24th, 2008 09:29 pmSo I really didn't need another game right now, and I told myself I was going to be good and wait, that if nothing else I really ought to finish Phoenix Wright 3 before picking up anything else for the DS, but then one thing led to another and somehow I found myself in a game store on the way home from work today and... well. You know how that goes.
( Very very preliminary thoughts on FFIV )
( Very very preliminary thoughts on FFIV )
