Stealth Moose
Umbrella Elite
Originally posted by R.Crytea
Rico has a detailed backstory (with a single scene that has far greater dramatic value than perhaps any scene in, for example, a Bioware/Black Isle/Obsidian RPG) and a presence in a significant part of the story, and while his role dies down in a story that becomes more focused around the few core characters of the game (Fei Fong Wong looks down and laughs at Commander Shepard), his character is still used in later areas of the game in a capacity that has major political ramifications on the setting.In a storyline very heavily focused on a small handful of principle characters, Rico still probably had a more significant presence in the storyline then, as an example, any playable supporting character in Mass Effect.
Aside from that, you are both nitpicking at elements that are of little significance and that you haven't even assessed any objective measure of mockery over, and are quite frankly being mean.
I'm entitled to be mean to FFVII and its ill-begotten sequels, mainly because it branched away from what I term as "classic" FF themes and styles into Ja-pop aesthetics and that significantly impacts how I perceive the games. Seeing a bunch of Ja-pop infused kids running around with oversized swords, IMO, is another series altogether. Part of what made the originals magical is how it borrowed from fairy tales and real world mythology to brew this hybrid world where classic styled heroes fought Big Bads and for the most part they looked the part.
Seeing heroes like this...
... really puts off the curious gamer who has grown up on a more myth appropriate early to late medieval era fantasy realm. Steam punk itself isn't even the problem; it's this horrible style which throws me off.
Give them oversized swords and you're set.
Story >>>>> Gameplay.But Mask of the Betrayer had both. If you like NWN2, you should get MOB as the expansion pack. It are great.
Right, but the ending was pretty much a let-down from a player perspective because I'm sure you got attached to all those insignificant characters but the immersion was pretty much ruined for me once you hit Neverwinter. At that point it's binary; either evil or good. I can't be some swamp farmer or an elf ranger; I'm shoe-horned into being the Chosen One (Gee, Bioware, didn't see that coming) and having to be a big hero no matter what I do because the Big Bad who I have ties to Must Be Stopped!
But all that aside, the story was tolerably good in most parts and the voice acting was pretty good. And the gameplay, which is more to the point, is superb for an RPG. ME surpasses that, but that's because it's a sci-fi tactical shooter.
Kefka's overrated and Sephiroth is the embodiment of style and badassery, for whatever Cloud lacked in personality (he was designed to be an introverted and disengaging character for the most part) he more than made up for in his awesome backstory, and what's not to like about lego ([SPOILER - highlight to read]: however much the graphics haven't aged too well over the years they were amazing for the time and featured amazing art direction.)?The best are VI, VII, VII, X and XII imo.
LMAO.
If by "embodiment of style and badassery" you mean "Alucard clone with an impossibly big sword" you succeed. Kefka's main appeal was Joker-style crazy and unpredictability and while I won't be the one to claim an SNES game had novel-like quality in story, he was pretty much one of best villains I can think of, barring Andrew Ryan or Albert Wesker (In his case, for the entire RE series). The best part about Kefka is he's taken for a lackey and an unhinged madman and late in the game manipulates himself into a position of unrivaled power. Overcoming him is symbolic and heroic as he is madness and power incarnate.
Meanwhile, Sephiroth is a test tube baby with mommy issues and the kind of insanity which leads to padded basements and window-less panel vans instead of compelling character analysis. The majority of his "coolness" was his bishonen looks and big sword.
And CecilCloud, the near-mute child-soldier with a "dark past"? Right, so is Crono. I mean, Crono Trigger is a phenominal game. Arguably better than any FF game. But Crono had all the personality of a muppet. So does Cloud. Admitting this doesn't lessen the game. I mean, Gau, Gogo, and Umaru positively suck. I'd be happy if they vanished forever. But FFVI is still a good game besides it.
EDIT: I meant to state that Crono is a "silent protagonist". Failed that, apparently.