Valerie's Writings

[Warning: This post WILL contain major spoilers. Please do not read if you do not want to be spoiled!]

I’ve just gotten to the point where you find out “what” Cid Raines is and are forced to fight against him (didn’t beat him, though). Honestly, I was expecting him to be a shifty character from the get-go, but I didn’t predict this! I mean, Cid can’t be a bad guy?!

It was an interesting (well, at least surprising) plot twist, but it was too cliche and not properly foreshadowed by earlier events to have the right effect. The problem is, we never really trusted Cid in the first place. We aren’t told exactly who he is, where he came from, why he’s helping us, what his goals are, etc. He isn’t given any opportunities to even prove that his heart is sincerely set on helping the heroes of the story. So when he turns around and betrays us, our reaction is “meh” instead of “omg, traitor!!!” Betrayal only works when the player actually trusted the character in the first place.

(see any Tales game, particularly Tales of Symphonia or Tales of the Abyss for reference ^o^)

Also, what’s with all the sudden reduction of characters to moving plot explanations? Seriously, it’s getting really old. If my favourite character’s gonna open his mouth, can you make it character development instead of plot repetition? I mean, it’s a sure sign that the plot is far too complex and hard to grasp when you’ve got every damn character on the cast trying to make sense of it for the audience.

Goddamn You and Your “Saving the World”…

I preferred it manifold when the story (as in the first disc and a half) was about survival and not getting caught instead of all this “saving the world” nonsense that’s suddenly being tacked on to the game. Before, I felt like the characters were actually in constant danger and had their lives at stake with every choice and decision they made; I felt it might be possible for them to really fail or lose their lives. But now, I’m not feeling that urgency and sense of “survival instinct” that I was earlier. The game has lost its urgency.

Look, you creators, in order for people to care about something that might be lost or is being lost, you have to show us what that thing is really like, what’s so good about it, why it matters if it’s gone. At this point, I don’t care whether the whole freaking world disappears or not, because you haven’t shown me more than 2 or 3 places worth caring about. I don’t care about Cid, that evil “Pope” guy, or any of the other so-called villains. I even care more about Serah (who has had practically no development at this point) because at least they showed us exactly what she was like and how nice she was to everybody. When Serah turned to crystal, we actually cared about her fate and felt it was a tragedy (well, a little bit anyway).

More is Not Merrier!

I really, really liked it better back when the group was all split up. Not only was it way more challenging and exciting (battle-wise), but it just made so much more sense. The characters actually had character development. The best part was how much the other person in the team would chatter on the field and especially in battles. God how I miss those “Thanks, Hope!” “Follow my lead, kiddo!” “Would this work better, Light?” I really liked those times. I felt like the characters in the party really cared about each other.

Right now they just seem plainly focused on defeating the enemy (whoever the hell that is). How boring. I just feel sad when Lightning no longer personally thanks Hope for healing her, just mutters a stiff, “Thanks.” Ugh. Why? I mean, they’ve already recorded the voices, might as well make use of them for the entire game.

God, I hope they split up again at some point. That would be wonderful.

—

I atually don’t think I’m unnaturally biased towards Hope as a character (well, not that much anyway).  I actually think he’s just a decently developed character – at least compared to the other stiffs in the group. Not only has he changed a lot and gone through vastly different experiences since the beginning of the game, he’s also formed some pretty deep bonds with highly unlikely people. None of the other characters have really done this – I don’t buy Vanille and Sazh’s “connection”… just doesn’t seem right (maybe it’s the humongous age difference?). And Vanille and Fang kind of creep me out….

I have a feeling the game’s going down, down hill from here – actually, I had it last night too and I wasn’t wrong. Too much “saving the world” nonsense, not enough character development… and to be 25 hours in the game and still not understand the plot!!