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Y'know sometimes you wait for ages for a great game to come along that's going to take up all your time and stop you doing anything else for a very long time indeed?
In my 22 years of console gaming (if you include the ZX81) I can name just a handful that have affected me this way:
Rings of Power on the Sega Megadrive, my first ever RPG, it took me about a month to finish it which for a console game back in those days was quite amazing, you could usually complete a game for the Megadrive in a couple of days.
Buck Rogers, again for the Megadrive. This was my first ever SSL (Strategic Simulations Limited) title, and even today I can remember how deep the gameplay was. Loads of missions, gripping storyline, every battle was a new challenge and you never knew what the reward from each one was going to be because it was randomised.
Suikoden for the PlayStation was a very Japanese orientated RPG that had me gripped for about 6 months. The graphics were nothing to write home about, but the sheer depth and wealth of options available to players was what grabbed my interest and wouldn't let go.
Final Fantasy 7 for the PlayStation was my first SquareSoft RPG and my first introduction to the FF series, I've been hooked ever since. My addiction to FF became so serious that I've either left a job or turned down job offers just so that I could concentrate on finishing the games to see how the stories ended.
Legend of Mir is my current life sucking game, I've been playing it for 15 months online. Although it's probably one of the worst managed games on the internet today, it's the gameplay that has me hooked. Probably something to do with the fact that I enjoy levelling characters in games, I blame Rings of Power for that, maybe I can sue Sega.
Skies of Arcadia for the Dreamcast chewed up about 8 months of my life a couple of years back, essentially it's the most original RPG a gamer could ever wish for; novel graphics, imaginative landscapes (to put it mildly, you spend most of your time in a flying galleon travelling to floating islands in the sky) and the most lovable bunch of characters ever seen.
During the 'Skies' phase (I blame Grix for that one), Unreal Tournament played online against forum regulars was beginning to bite into my normal gaming routine, I think the 'UT' phase lasted around 2 months.
Most recently, Final Fantasy X has been eating up what little social life I have remaining. Having completed it 3 times, I'm now exploring the finer points of its customisation options, I figure another 3 months and I'll have it cracked to the point of exhaustion.
But guess what? I found another one. Timesplitters 2. Incredibly for me, a self-confessed RPG addict, this FPS game has now got me in its grip due to the huge variety it offers, particularly with it's map making mode. I'm not used to the FPS genre so I'm no expert, and switching from Active Time Battles where you take your time thinking about what move you're going to make next to having to be fast and furious on the trigger (or R2 button in this instance) whilst being dexterous with the analogue sticks for movement and aiming is quite a refreshing change.
So that's the latest life-sucking game. Trouble is, I know Final Fantasy X-2 is on it's way, MGS: Substance is out next year along with Tomb Raider: AOD, and I'm itching to play Skies of Arcadia again (I can see the game box from where I'm sitting, it's calling to me...). Having written all this I'm now considering getting the Megadrive down from the loft and being Buck Rogers again for a bit.
3 score years and 10 just ain't enough. They should make an exception for gamers.
In my 22 years of console gaming (if you include the ZX81) I can name just a handful that have affected me this way:
Rings of Power on the Sega Megadrive, my first ever RPG, it took me about a month to finish it which for a console game back in those days was quite amazing, you could usually complete a game for the Megadrive in a couple of days.
Buck Rogers, again for the Megadrive. This was my first ever SSL (Strategic Simulations Limited) title, and even today I can remember how deep the gameplay was. Loads of missions, gripping storyline, every battle was a new challenge and you never knew what the reward from each one was going to be because it was randomised.
Suikoden for the PlayStation was a very Japanese orientated RPG that had me gripped for about 6 months. The graphics were nothing to write home about, but the sheer depth and wealth of options available to players was what grabbed my interest and wouldn't let go.
Final Fantasy 7 for the PlayStation was my first SquareSoft RPG and my first introduction to the FF series, I've been hooked ever since. My addiction to FF became so serious that I've either left a job or turned down job offers just so that I could concentrate on finishing the games to see how the stories ended.
Legend of Mir is my current life sucking game, I've been playing it for 15 months online. Although it's probably one of the worst managed games on the internet today, it's the gameplay that has me hooked. Probably something to do with the fact that I enjoy levelling characters in games, I blame Rings of Power for that, maybe I can sue Sega.
Skies of Arcadia for the Dreamcast chewed up about 8 months of my life a couple of years back, essentially it's the most original RPG a gamer could ever wish for; novel graphics, imaginative landscapes (to put it mildly, you spend most of your time in a flying galleon travelling to floating islands in the sky) and the most lovable bunch of characters ever seen.
During the 'Skies' phase (I blame Grix for that one), Unreal Tournament played online against forum regulars was beginning to bite into my normal gaming routine, I think the 'UT' phase lasted around 2 months.
Most recently, Final Fantasy X has been eating up what little social life I have remaining. Having completed it 3 times, I'm now exploring the finer points of its customisation options, I figure another 3 months and I'll have it cracked to the point of exhaustion.
But guess what? I found another one. Timesplitters 2. Incredibly for me, a self-confessed RPG addict, this FPS game has now got me in its grip due to the huge variety it offers, particularly with it's map making mode. I'm not used to the FPS genre so I'm no expert, and switching from Active Time Battles where you take your time thinking about what move you're going to make next to having to be fast and furious on the trigger (or R2 button in this instance) whilst being dexterous with the analogue sticks for movement and aiming is quite a refreshing change.
So that's the latest life-sucking game. Trouble is, I know Final Fantasy X-2 is on it's way, MGS: Substance is out next year along with Tomb Raider: AOD, and I'm itching to play Skies of Arcadia again (I can see the game box from where I'm sitting, it's calling to me...). Having written all this I'm now considering getting the Megadrive down from the loft and being Buck Rogers again for a bit.
3 score years and 10 just ain't enough. They should make an exception for gamers.
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Just a quick question FM.
Since you are an RPG fanatic, much like myself, are you not going to get Kingdom Hearts? It's supposed to great despite the Disney(ugh) content.
I will porbably get it for Christmas, as the last RPG I got form Santy was FFVII back in '97. Oh the memories..............
Since you are an RPG fanatic, much like myself, are you not going to get Kingdom Hearts? It's supposed to great despite the Disney(ugh) content.
I will porbably get it for Christmas, as the last RPG I got form Santy was FFVII back in '97. Oh the memories..............
and coming out on GC..
Shenmue (1&2) - those damn games have lost me a fair few grades on my degree.
Still after skies of arcadia but its selling for nearly £30 on ebay these days!
Still after skies of arcadia but its selling for nearly £30 on ebay these days!
Y'know sometimes you wait for ages for a great game to come along that's going to take up all your time and stop you doing anything else for a very long time indeed?
In my 22 years of console gaming (if you include the ZX81) I can name just a handful that have affected me this way:
Rings of Power on the Sega Megadrive, my first ever RPG, it took me about a month to finish it which for a console game back in those days was quite amazing, you could usually complete a game for the Megadrive in a couple of days.
Buck Rogers, again for the Megadrive. This was my first ever SSL (Strategic Simulations Limited) title, and even today I can remember how deep the gameplay was. Loads of missions, gripping storyline, every battle was a new challenge and you never knew what the reward from each one was going to be because it was randomised.
Suikoden for the PlayStation was a very Japanese orientated RPG that had me gripped for about 6 months. The graphics were nothing to write home about, but the sheer depth and wealth of options available to players was what grabbed my interest and wouldn't let go.
Final Fantasy 7 for the PlayStation was my first SquareSoft RPG and my first introduction to the FF series, I've been hooked ever since. My addiction to FF became so serious that I've either left a job or turned down job offers just so that I could concentrate on finishing the games to see how the stories ended.
Legend of Mir is my current life sucking game, I've been playing it for 15 months online. Although it's probably one of the worst managed games on the internet today, it's the gameplay that has me hooked. Probably something to do with the fact that I enjoy levelling characters in games, I blame Rings of Power for that, maybe I can sue Sega.
Skies of Arcadia for the Dreamcast chewed up about 8 months of my life a couple of years back, essentially it's the most original RPG a gamer could ever wish for; novel graphics, imaginative landscapes (to put it mildly, you spend most of your time in a flying galleon travelling to floating islands in the sky) and the most lovable bunch of characters ever seen.
During the 'Skies' phase (I blame Grix for that one), Unreal Tournament played online against forum regulars was beginning to bite into my normal gaming routine, I think the 'UT' phase lasted around 2 months.
Most recently, Final Fantasy X has been eating up what little social life I have remaining. Having completed it 3 times, I'm now exploring the finer points of its customisation options, I figure another 3 months and I'll have it cracked to the point of exhaustion.
But guess what? I found another one. Timesplitters 2. Incredibly for me, a self-confessed RPG addict, this FPS game has now got me in its grip due to the huge variety it offers, particularly with it's map making mode. I'm not used to the FPS genre so I'm no expert, and switching from Active Time Battles where you take your time thinking about what move you're going to make next to having to be fast and furious on the trigger (or R2 button in this instance) whilst being dexterous with the analogue sticks for movement and aiming is quite a refreshing change.
So that's the latest life-sucking game. Trouble is, I know Final Fantasy X-2 is on it's way, MGS: Substance is out next year along with Tomb Raider: AOD, and I'm itching to play Skies of Arcadia again (I can see the game box from where I'm sitting, it's calling to me...). Having written all this I'm now considering getting the Megadrive down from the loft and being Buck Rogers again for a bit.
3 score years and 10 just ain't enough. They should make an exception for gamers.
In my 22 years of console gaming (if you include the ZX81) I can name just a handful that have affected me this way:
Rings of Power on the Sega Megadrive, my first ever RPG, it took me about a month to finish it which for a console game back in those days was quite amazing, you could usually complete a game for the Megadrive in a couple of days.
Buck Rogers, again for the Megadrive. This was my first ever SSL (Strategic Simulations Limited) title, and even today I can remember how deep the gameplay was. Loads of missions, gripping storyline, every battle was a new challenge and you never knew what the reward from each one was going to be because it was randomised.
Suikoden for the PlayStation was a very Japanese orientated RPG that had me gripped for about 6 months. The graphics were nothing to write home about, but the sheer depth and wealth of options available to players was what grabbed my interest and wouldn't let go.
Final Fantasy 7 for the PlayStation was my first SquareSoft RPG and my first introduction to the FF series, I've been hooked ever since. My addiction to FF became so serious that I've either left a job or turned down job offers just so that I could concentrate on finishing the games to see how the stories ended.
Legend of Mir is my current life sucking game, I've been playing it for 15 months online. Although it's probably one of the worst managed games on the internet today, it's the gameplay that has me hooked. Probably something to do with the fact that I enjoy levelling characters in games, I blame Rings of Power for that, maybe I can sue Sega.
Skies of Arcadia for the Dreamcast chewed up about 8 months of my life a couple of years back, essentially it's the most original RPG a gamer could ever wish for; novel graphics, imaginative landscapes (to put it mildly, you spend most of your time in a flying galleon travelling to floating islands in the sky) and the most lovable bunch of characters ever seen.
During the 'Skies' phase (I blame Grix for that one), Unreal Tournament played online against forum regulars was beginning to bite into my normal gaming routine, I think the 'UT' phase lasted around 2 months.
Most recently, Final Fantasy X has been eating up what little social life I have remaining. Having completed it 3 times, I'm now exploring the finer points of its customisation options, I figure another 3 months and I'll have it cracked to the point of exhaustion.
But guess what? I found another one. Timesplitters 2. Incredibly for me, a self-confessed RPG addict, this FPS game has now got me in its grip due to the huge variety it offers, particularly with it's map making mode. I'm not used to the FPS genre so I'm no expert, and switching from Active Time Battles where you take your time thinking about what move you're going to make next to having to be fast and furious on the trigger (or R2 button in this instance) whilst being dexterous with the analogue sticks for movement and aiming is quite a refreshing change.
So that's the latest life-sucking game. Trouble is, I know Final Fantasy X-2 is on it's way, MGS: Substance is out next year along with Tomb Raider: AOD, and I'm itching to play Skies of Arcadia again (I can see the game box from where I'm sitting, it's calling to me...). Having written all this I'm now considering getting the Megadrive down from the loft and being Buck Rogers again for a bit.
3 score years and 10 just ain't enough. They should make an exception for gamers.
Page: