Post by Robert Frazer on Aug 19, 2004 19:57:45 GMT
Huzzah! Let the coronation service of Shining Force II and enraptured jubilant public celebrations commence!
My sincerest congratulations to you upon finally attaining the apogee and pinnacle of your gaming history, Ed. Scrutinising and regaling your acccounts has been a true and genuine education into the variety and intricacy of the astonishingly diverse realm of gaming. The considerable detail that you have invested into describing the manner of affection for each title in quite an extensive assortment of games, and your determination to not permit the more venerable and aged consoles to be smothered by the more impressing and insistent immediacy of the new seventh- and eighth-generation devices highlights the character of a man who is genuinely devoted to and passionate about his hobbies! My compliments to you again, Ed, it has been a thoroughly remarkable and enjoyable ten days witnessing you prosecute this leaderboard.
As some brief, incidental remarks upon your ultimate selections, I must declaim that I can wholly and absolutely empathise with your tragic mourning of the dessicated version of Shining Force III that we unfortunate Britons were obliged to be satisfied with - it was a truly grievous, horrendous, and appalling blow, and I fumed with the frustrated impotence of the dire straits glorious Sega was being battered and abused by in the twilight era of the Saturn (both it and the Dreamcast are the most unfairly-treated consoles in Creation. ) to necessitate such unpalatable decisions, and physically smarted at the injustice of being denied to witness the true lustre of a gem of one of the world's most spectacular RPGs. I did write a strongly-worded letter to "Ask Sega!" at the Official Dreamcast Magazine demanding to know why Sega Europe saw fit to release the diabolical Courier Crisis instead of retrenching that precious currency into translating Shining Force III fully. Strangely enough, it wasn't published.
However, Ed, I'd advise you not to fret - as Sega has commenced a revival of the Shining series, (Huzzah! ) it's quite possible that a new Sega Ages pack might just be incepted one day...
I was also very fond of the Official Sega Saturn Magazine myself, and cherish my back-issues... it's only a pity that its final issue had to feature a Dead or Alive character in certain garb in a certain posture on the cover... having the woman at the checkout giving me an extremely dirty look as I flushed with embarrasment didn't precisely leave the best aftertaste...
As a background note, though, I'd hardly describe the Republic of Aspinia as "communist" - especially not when she was ruled by a King and the main character was the heir to a Lordship! I'd rather describe it as a confederation of fiefdoms whose mutual loyalty is bound by cultural identity. I think the term 'Republic' derives from the fact that they had reorganised themselves from Destonia. Think of the Centauri in Babylon 5. (Apologies for this unnecessary paragraph... I can just be flipping-minded like that ).
There is quite a substantial conflict within myself over the vexed question of the favourite R.P.G. - there is always perpetual turmoil in my mind between Shining Force III and Panzer Dragoon Saga. However, I would say that Camelot/Sonic! Software Planning is pipped at the post by a whisker by Team Andromeda's swansong - Panzer Dragoon Saga introduced a broad variety of secrets, an emotional bond with your steed and weapon (for instance subtle effects like the fighting skills of little Zeba (as I christened my bio-engineered monster of apocalyptic destruction) improved if you permitted him to have a good night's sleep were great enhancements.) distinctive setting magnificently realised, a haunting score, one of the most delightfully infuriating open-ended epilogues in gaming, my most fondly-remembered F.M.V. sequence (The escape from the subterranean Uru laboratory) and a truly innovative battle system (not to criticise the strategy of Shining Force III, but it was to an extent replicating what had gone before).
Despite that contention with your list, congratulations again, Ed! This is a memorable thread which deserves to be saved permanently!
My sincerest congratulations to you upon finally attaining the apogee and pinnacle of your gaming history, Ed. Scrutinising and regaling your acccounts has been a true and genuine education into the variety and intricacy of the astonishingly diverse realm of gaming. The considerable detail that you have invested into describing the manner of affection for each title in quite an extensive assortment of games, and your determination to not permit the more venerable and aged consoles to be smothered by the more impressing and insistent immediacy of the new seventh- and eighth-generation devices highlights the character of a man who is genuinely devoted to and passionate about his hobbies! My compliments to you again, Ed, it has been a thoroughly remarkable and enjoyable ten days witnessing you prosecute this leaderboard.
As some brief, incidental remarks upon your ultimate selections, I must declaim that I can wholly and absolutely empathise with your tragic mourning of the dessicated version of Shining Force III that we unfortunate Britons were obliged to be satisfied with - it was a truly grievous, horrendous, and appalling blow, and I fumed with the frustrated impotence of the dire straits glorious Sega was being battered and abused by in the twilight era of the Saturn (both it and the Dreamcast are the most unfairly-treated consoles in Creation. ) to necessitate such unpalatable decisions, and physically smarted at the injustice of being denied to witness the true lustre of a gem of one of the world's most spectacular RPGs. I did write a strongly-worded letter to "Ask Sega!" at the Official Dreamcast Magazine demanding to know why Sega Europe saw fit to release the diabolical Courier Crisis instead of retrenching that precious currency into translating Shining Force III fully. Strangely enough, it wasn't published.
However, Ed, I'd advise you not to fret - as Sega has commenced a revival of the Shining series, (Huzzah! ) it's quite possible that a new Sega Ages pack might just be incepted one day...
I was also very fond of the Official Sega Saturn Magazine myself, and cherish my back-issues... it's only a pity that its final issue had to feature a Dead or Alive character in certain garb in a certain posture on the cover... having the woman at the checkout giving me an extremely dirty look as I flushed with embarrasment didn't precisely leave the best aftertaste...
As a background note, though, I'd hardly describe the Republic of Aspinia as "communist" - especially not when she was ruled by a King and the main character was the heir to a Lordship! I'd rather describe it as a confederation of fiefdoms whose mutual loyalty is bound by cultural identity. I think the term 'Republic' derives from the fact that they had reorganised themselves from Destonia. Think of the Centauri in Babylon 5. (Apologies for this unnecessary paragraph... I can just be flipping-minded like that ).
There is quite a substantial conflict within myself over the vexed question of the favourite R.P.G. - there is always perpetual turmoil in my mind between Shining Force III and Panzer Dragoon Saga. However, I would say that Camelot/Sonic! Software Planning is pipped at the post by a whisker by Team Andromeda's swansong - Panzer Dragoon Saga introduced a broad variety of secrets, an emotional bond with your steed and weapon (for instance subtle effects like the fighting skills of little Zeba (as I christened my bio-engineered monster of apocalyptic destruction) improved if you permitted him to have a good night's sleep were great enhancements.) distinctive setting magnificently realised, a haunting score, one of the most delightfully infuriating open-ended epilogues in gaming, my most fondly-remembered F.M.V. sequence (The escape from the subterranean Uru laboratory) and a truly innovative battle system (not to criticise the strategy of Shining Force III, but it was to an extent replicating what had gone before).
Despite that contention with your list, congratulations again, Ed! This is a memorable thread which deserves to be saved permanently!