Messages

1

General / Re: Your Top 5 of all time

« on: October 09, 2012, 04:58:15 pm »

5. Persona 3 FES (PS2)

Incredibly interesting to analyze how it heavily incorporates the theme of Death as well as the fear of Death into it's storylines and characters.  Also helps that it's an incredibly solid RPG with great visuals, music, memorable characters and an awesome pantheon of Personae.  I personally prefer it over 4.

4. The Legend of Zelda:  Link to the Past (SNES)

One of the very first games I got seriously into, and the best Zelda game in my opinion (barely edging out OoT).  Gorgeous SNES goodness in terms of music and visuals, incredible dungeon design, epic bosses, smooth controls and an incredibly satisfying ending combine to make an experience that was often imitated, but never surpassed.

3.  Valkyrie Profile (PSX)

A hidden gem of a game from the PSX era, this game combines elements of platforming, dungeon crawling and turn based battles.  The game is divided into Phases, and actions like dungeon delving or recruiting party members take a certain amount of time, so there's a certain amount of pressure in that regard (though you have way more than enough time to get all the essential stuff done).  Seeing that the main character is a Valkyrie, your party members have to die before they can be recruited, and indeed the "recruitment" scenes tell the story of their (often tragic) deaths.  It also has an incredibly awesome Golden Ending, as well as the events that lead to said ending (about the last fifth of the game or so is different) but the requirements to get it are so obscure that I have no idea how anyone is supposed to figure it out without a guide.  Was recently ported to the PSP, so those who haven't experienced this classic in its original form can easily obtain it.

2.  Final Fantasy 6/3 (SNES)

The BEST Final Fantasy (again in my opinion) and the game that got me seriously into RPG's.  Awesome characters, great balance (glitches aside), incredible storytelling, Nobuo Uematsu's best musical score, and filled to the brim with unforgettable moments.  Of course, this is all headed by one of the best villains in RPG history - Kefka.  I think Gametrailers put it best in their retrospective of FF6 - "Kefka was not a supernatural being, or the collected sum of all evil, or a mind warping God from another planet, he was a man, albeit a twisted soul, who sought supreme power above all else.  He wasn't a puppet to a higher power, or a victim seeking revenge, he was just an awful human being, and a wonderful bad guy."

1. Suikoden II (PSX)

My all time favorite RPG, and game in general.  To me everything in this game is just about perfect - the battle mechanics, the characters, the music, the visuals...  The only thing that isn't consistently excellent is the translation, which is easily forgiven.  An incredible tale about war and how it divides people, benefits the opportunistic at the cost of their morality, and how so many are massacred simply for the sake of bloodlust and how the "lucky" survivors have to live with their trauma. The story includes themes of political intrigue, blind nationalism, duality between life and death, holding grudges, and the gray morality that comes with war.  However, when it all comes down to it, the story is about three children and the war that tore them apart.  I love this game and I cannot recommend it enough.

2

Modern Video Games / Re: Vita

« on: September 21, 2012, 01:08:31 pm »

Disgaea 3 - if you haven't played the PS3 version, or if you just haven't played it in a while it's an extremely deep and quirky (read: Japanese) grid based RPG.

Gravity Rush - It's controls take some getting used to, but it's a good experience once you do, and it was recently named Game of the Year at TGS somehow...  It also wins points for being a Vita unique experience, as so far the Vita kinda has the same problem the PSP did for most of its life - almost all of the games are ports or spin offs of console games.

Lumines - Solid puzzle experience, with really good music

Ragnarok Odyssey (upcoming) - Seems like a solid, PSO/Monster Hunterish experience.  Comes out next month.

Persona 4:  The Golden (upcoming) - Obviously, the same situation applies to this as Disgaea 3, but there are a ton more goodies in this version.

PSX Classics - Yeah, I would recommend these too, just cause it can be nice to have them in a portable form, and the Vita recently gained the ability to play them (but not all of them).  Notable ones available off the top of my head are the FFs, Alundra, Grandia, and Vanguard Bandits (I like RPGs )

So yeah, that's what I can think of at the moment.

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General / Re: September 2012 - Recently Added To Collection/Recently Purchased

« on: September 20, 2012, 08:43:47 pm »

Its funny you mention that Journey game. Ive never heard of that line of games til 2 days ago. I went to Best Buy and the sales guy there was pushing the hell out of that game. He could not stop talking about it ... one of the ones on there you are a flower petal just flying around ... odd for sure.

On the subject of those 3, they are really more "experiences" than they are games - the goals are usually pretty simplistic and there's very little danger at all.  Of course, that's not to say they're not worth playing.  I would urge everyone on this board to at least play Journey, as the final stretch of it is absolutely breathtaking; a perfect fusion of imagery, music and a sense of freedom.

Anyway, taking off my artiste glasses now.  Picked up R-types and R-type Delta both CIB

4

General / Re: Game Room Pics

« on: September 13, 2012, 08:00:15 pm »

Okay, here's my TV and general view from my couch



And a close up on my systems (forgive the mess of chords).  My PS3 is hiding in the nook on the far right.



The bulk of my collection



My guides and various other stuffs.

Sadly, I live in an apartment, so there's only so much I can do in terms of making it look really nice.

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Classic Video Games / Re: Craziest Stories Hunting Classic Games

« on: September 13, 2012, 03:50:47 pm »

I have a couple I can think of off the top of my head...  Most of them deal with the same place, a local store in town that has come to really like me (as I am probably paying a majority of the costs keeping their business open).

First, an inverse story.  I walk into the store and take a look at their N64 games.  Inside, I see a Clayfighter 63 1/3 with a price tag of $55.  I pondered about this for a second when I realized that it must have been taken in as the rare Sculptor's Cut version that was only sold at Blockbuster.  I informed the manager on duty and he had it changed, though was a bit upset that whomever took it in lost a lot of money on the deal.  A week or so later, I'm at my parent's house and checking the used game carriers in the area when, lo and behold, I see a copy of the Sculptor's Cut for $5.  Whee, karma.

The next story happened a couple months ago.  I walked into the store and looked at their "waiting to be put in the right section" section, and I saw a copy of Suikoden with the double jewel case.  I already had the game, but it was only $20 and had the case, so I figured "why not?"  I got it while making my typical small talk with the workers, then went home.  After changing out of work clothes, I went to check the discs.  The Suikoden disc was in the first part where the demo disc usually is, but I didn't really pay that much mind.  They seldom take the care to put the discs in order.  So I open up the second part of the case, and there I find Suikoden 2.  I rushed back to the store and tell them their mistake, but they said that there was really nothing they could do, since they already sold it to me.  So now I have an extra caseless Suikoden 2, but I told them if the seller comes looking for it to let me know.

The Last Story takes place on Lazulis Island and is a great RPG, but my last story takes place yesterday.  I'm sitting at my desk at work, and my phone starts ringing.  I answer, and get
"Hey this is <name> from <store>, there's a guy here wanting to sell a game that's going for really high prices online..." (I'd given them my number and a list of games I'm looking for before, I've built up quite a rapport with some of the workers)
-"Really, what's the title?"
"Pan...zer... Dragoon Saga it looks like..."
-"Are you serious"
"Yeah...  Looks like if he takes the offer we'll be selling it for $140...  I'll call you back if he decides to take it..."
A couple minutes later I get a text with a picture with the case and the price tag, and he says I can pick it up, but he has to leave at 5.  I take a look at the clock, it's 4:40 and I work about 40 minutes away.  I tell him I can probably swing 5:15, and he says he'll try.  I rush to my supervisor, and I must have looked like I was in a panic, because he immediately told me I could go.  I drove as quickly as possible (well over the speed limit ) back to my town to the store, and marvel in the glory that was my new rare game.

So yeah, those are my stories today.

6

Off Topic / Re: Nerds Who Also Make Music!

« on: September 13, 2012, 02:52:00 pm »

I make music as well, but our styles are kind of opposites...  I'm a classically trained operatic tenor

Sadly, I don't have any recordings online to my knowledge, and I haven't taken the plunge to make a "Fullnamewithmiddleinitial.com" site for myself.  Most of the gigs I'm currently are churches and weddings, since there isn't a lot of demand for opera/oratorio in central Illinois and circumstances are grounding me here at the moment.  As compensation, here's a picture of me from college wearing my costume for Trial by Jury by Gilbert and Sullivan doing an objection, or, alternatively a "Oh No, Godzilla is attacking the city" pose.



But yes, I have respect for all the other music makers in the world, regardless of style, so hats off to you sir.  _{Being a fellow game collector is an additional boost of respect}

We are the music makers,
We are the dreamers of dreams.

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Classic Video Games / Re: what got you into collecting video games

« on: September 13, 2012, 01:06:03 pm »

Like many of the other people in this topic, I was started on gaming in general by my grandparents.  My grandma had an NES and every day after elementary school I would walk to their house down the block from the school and we would see how far we could get in SMB3.  Meanwhile, my uncle who still lived there would play the more  "advanced" games like Punch Out and Zelda 2.  As I grew older, I stayed largely a Nintendo kid, and I would play awesome games like the Megaman X's and Earthbound.  I enjoyed being able to play the "advanced" games I admired watching my uncle play.  Eventually I got a PSX for my birthday, and that's when I really started to get into RPG's.  I used to own games like Tales of Destiny 1 and 2, Valkyrie Profile, Dragon Warrior 7, etc., but I was young and stupid, so most of these games weren't cared for or lost.  To add to that, my mother, who is a Filipino immigrant, donated all of my old cartridges to the Philippines.  I was devastated at the time, but now I can appreciate the action, and I hope that some Filipino children got the same enjoyment playing them as I did.  So, I guess one reason I started collecting was to recapture those moments from my childhood.

Once I went to college I got a part time job a local Gamestop (please don't strike me!), and while the company is evil, it proved an excellent way to start collecting current games.  Additionally, I prided myself on being a wealth of information, whether it was a recommendation, a plotline, gameplay tips or just the state of gaming in general.  Sure, usually a guy would just come in and bluntly ask for Madden, but sometimes I could actually have a great conversation with somebody about a particular game or game mechanics.  I started to write mini articles about games I enjoy, and funny things we expect as normal within the confines of video games.  Of course, I feel like I can't really fully speak on a game with any sort of authority unless I've played it myself.  So, I guess the other reason I collect games is the pursuit of knowledge.     

As a final note, my sister recently had a boy, so I hope that in the future I'll be the cool video game playing uncle :-P

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General / Re: New Trailer for Wreck-It Ralph

« on: September 13, 2012, 12:22:22 pm »

I share the sentiment, it looks like its going to be amazing.  People are already calling it the Toy Story of video games.

I can't imagine how much Disney is paying to use all of those characters....

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General / Re: September 2012 - Recently Added To Collection/Recently Purchased

« on: September 13, 2012, 12:19:18 pm »

Hey all, I'm new here so I thought I'd say "hello" first, and now on to my recent purchases :-)



I got this beauty yesterday from a local store. $140 dollars, but for CIB and how great of condition it's in it was a steal.  The discs have no visible scratches and the only cosmetic issue is that the case and disc are a little dusty.  Methinks it was sitting in a storage room forgotten for a while.  The store actually called me to tell me a guy was there trying to sell it, and held it for me until after work.  I find that there is great value in building rapport with local businesses :-P.



This is the other major purchase I've made this month, from the same place.  Dracula X was $70, but is CIB and has a beautiful looking box and manual.

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General / Re: Intro thread

« on: September 13, 2012, 12:08:16 pm »

Hello Everyone!  My name is Justin, and I live in central Illinois.  I started collecting semi seriously a couple years ago while in College, and with the advent of a full time job and a new local store specializing in used electronics, my collection has really started to take off.  Said store also has some really affable employees (though some of them are certainly duds) and, as I've built up a rapport with them, will call me when they receive games they think I might be interested in, or a large amount of CIB stuff.  Got an awesome looking Panzer Dragoon Saga yesterday that way.  Last count I had 660 (I haven't finished adding all of them on the site yet) not including guides.