Ok, I'd like to talk about two games, diverse in gameplay but both equally close to my heart. One is notorious (FF7) and the other is still undefeated in my collection as the Daddy of All Racing Games (DARG) : the incredible Speed Freaks. Oh my word, I know its already been mentioned but: Final Fantasy VII When this game came out, my Playstation was barely off during the two weeks I spent completing it. I bunked off school for a week and played it solidly 7 hours a day because I was so addicted. I think by far the superior game over any of its more modern cousins, primarily because it excels in a couple of key areas - Storyline FF7 is the only game that has had me in tears because of the emotional attachment I held to the characters within the game. The dialogue is lucid, not convoluted as it is in FF8, which for me created a barrier that was invisible in FF7. Due to my uniniatation to Manga at the time, the function and mode of the story appealed hugely, as it was something totally unexplored in western computer gaming. No one single character felt placed as a random plot device, and it inroduced themes more complex and interesting than the typical Christian inspired good/evil dichotomy. Obviously it was fairly unoriginal in the context of other Manga material, but the sheer love poured into the creation of character and plot was delightful. Music FF7 mastered the dangerous art of creating a consistent score of background music, that never become overly repetitive or intrusive. I think it is vital in an absorbing RPG that the background ambience/music feels natural enough that it creates a sense of continuity within the game, and the melodies therein are inoffensive enough to stand up to a few thousand repeats. FF7 achieved this and more - it was geniunely good musical score, that was perfectly listenable in itself and guided the emotional resonance of the game in almost any context. Beautiful stuff. Speed Freaks (Playstation) Speed Freaks is a fantastic game that seems to of floated by almost everybody I know who should of picked up on it, that is - Playstaion owners. Mario Kart lovers. It [the incredible game in question] is simply the most joyfully playable racing game I've ever had the pleasure of using a PS controller with. At first the controls seem mucky and difficult to grip, the karts flying off the tracks into barriers, and the wily computer opponents taking you apart with bizarre swirly mega-bombs. Persist for a few days. Everything klicks into place. The sheer adrenaline generated by flying around Grand Rapids with chosen Freak is not an experience to be missed, particularly once you get your mates addicted and invest in a multitap. There is depth to the gameplay, fair more so than the limited cornering a weapon possibilities in Mario Kart, allowing for devious tricks that will have you smacking the floor in uncontrollable fits of laughter. Another important jewel in Freaks crown as the Daddy of All Racing Games (DARG) is the personality injected into teh characters. I've often spun of a corner to catch the impossibly funny sight of Cosworth (A dog of indeterminable origin, presumably a mix of every dog in existance) zooming past, his magnificent ears flapping in the wind, and turning to acknowledge the unfortuante victim about to recieve a bomb in the face. Awesome. Ok, despite the fact that I'd love to impart several pages of the great experiences I've been blessed with from the gaming industry, I'm procrastinating from my considerably more urgent dissertation. Such is life. :construction: Ember.
