My Favorite Moments of E3 2015

I apologize for the delay in posting my E3 reactions.

You would think that the first few weeks of summer for a teacher would be purely serene downtime during which plenty of blog posts can be constructed, but it just plain isn't. Yes, it has been a much needed time for relaxation, but it has also been filled with the busy task of catching up on all the responsibilities that have been outright neglected during the school year.

Anyway, I had the fantastic privilege of watching all the exciting E3 conferences alongside my husband and some close friends this year. We made a big event out of it and enjoyed getting collectively hyped over the very big reveals. This year's conference, in my opinion, completely overshadowed last year's and was about on par with 2013's. Below are some of my favorite announcements (in no particular order) from the gaming community's most exciting week.

The Last Guardian gameplay was irresistibly enticing

This beautiful experience certainly came to life at the opening of Sony's conference. The interaction between the boy and his colossal feathery friend was heartwarming in all the right ways and certainly left me wanting more. Like a Pixar short film, this gameplay trailer got me to laugh out loud, cringe with fear, and "aww" with welled up emotion all in a few short minutes. It certainly left me impatiently wanting more.

Kingdom Hearts III showcased previously unseen footage

Anything at all that gives me a fresh glimpse into the long awaited 9th installment of this franchise deserves to be listed here. While many consider Kingdom Hearts III to be the third "real" game in the series (because it will be launched on a home console instead of a handheld or mobile device), it will actually be the culmination of the entire first arc labeled "The Xehanort Saga". As such, it will theoretically bring together all the epic foreshadowing of the eight games that come before it, particularly bringing closure to the events of "Birth by Sleep" and "Dream Drop Distance". As a longtime thirteen year fan who has incidentally waited nearly ten years for this game, I can honestly say I am more than a little excited.

Kingdom Hearts Unchained X is officially coming west

Among the many Kingdom Hearts games mistakenly labeled as spin-offs, this game will bring fans the mysterious background of the Keyblade War. It was originally announced as a Japan only release, but E3 made it clear that it would eventually release elsewhere allowing fans in the west to play as well.

Final Fantasy VII remake is no longer a rumor

When the announcement was made back in December 2014 that the PC version of FF VII would be ported to PS4 sometime in 2015, millions of hearts sank. This was not the long awaited remake that so many die hard Final Fantasy fans wanted. I can only conclude that Square Enix must have noticed the tangible collective disappointment and secretly adjusted their plans. While I am quite certain that we will not see this large scale Final Fantasy VII remake for quite a long time, I believe Tetsuya Nomura and his team will do it justice. And I've always been okay with a longer wait if it means we get a better product.

Unravel's  reveal was touching

This game looks cute. I like the 2D puzzle platformer genre, and the yarn concept definitely looks intriguing. But what really got me here was how the adorably nervous (understandably so) Martin Sahlin described his humble story regarding his little red yarn doll in front of a massive audience. Here is a person who has seen his imagination come to life, and it is absolutely moving.

Horizon: Zero Dawn helps us imagine what it would be like to hunt robot dinosaurs (but they apparently aren't dinosaurs)

I think this is one of the games my husband was most excited about during the many E3 conferences we watched, and I really can't disagree. This game looks a bit like a mixture of Assassin's Creed, Far Cry, and Enslaved: Odyssey to the West. Maybe sprinkle some Tomb Raider in there, but there are also elements that--to me--look brand new. There is something very fresh about this trailer. (Incidentally, that's something I look for at every E3, live stream, and expo. It is essential that new franchises show off a certain uniqueness; otherwise, it is far too easy for me to say "I've seen this before" and forget about it entirely.)

Firewatch teases a mysterious character-focused narrative

There's nothing like a couple of quietly charismatic characters and a scenario I've never seen to get me wondering about what kind of story might be told. Firewatch makes me tilt my head with intrigue as I consider the ramifications of being alone in the woods with nothing but a friendly voice over a dinky radio to help you while some unknown creep is roaming through your territory.

Fallout 4 demonstrates its breadth and depth of gameplay

I don't know about you guys, but I was thoroughly impressed with Bethesda's first ever E3 conference. To me, they came off as being far more professional than Ubisoft or EA, and they had quite a bit to show off despite being newcomers. Fallout 4 was absolutely the highlight of their event, and it showcased a lot of cool features. In particular, I enjoyed their character creation, settlement building, and interaction with the MC's companion.

Uncharted 4 gameplay and writing made me smile from ear to ear

The original announcement that Uncharted 4 was coming brought forth a kind of somber tone for the series. There feels like something rather final to it. Maybe it was the deep blue color scheme of their second teaser (the one where Drake first appears, not the one where Sully does a voice over while the camera pans over a bunch of adventure gear). Maybe it was the fact that Nathan Drake has aged. Maybe it's the downright funereal title, "A Thief's End" that does it. Either way, I both highly anticipate and slightly fear playing Uncharted 4. As much as I am 100% confident that they know what they are doing, I don't want Naughty Dog to do anything too drastic with my beloved Uncharted characters.

So when they tossed some new gameplay onto the big E3 screen, I didn't really know what kind of sequence we would be seeing. Would it be another sneaky combat sequence like the cave/forest mashup we saw last time? Or would it be something dark like the Nathan Drake teaser? I was rather relieved to see some typical Uncharted banter, including some beautifully crafted humor between Sully and Drake. I thought I would get an ominous or even teary cutscene. What we got instead had me laughing and cheering and getting excited about seeing the old gang take on another big Indiana Jones-esque adventure.

Recore allows you to save your puppy... by turning it into a gorilla

Here's another game that doesn't look like any other game I've played. The characters were instantly endearing, and the concept paves the way for new and interesting gameplay. I hope Recore lives up to the many possibilities it represents. Not to mention I love how strong female characters are becoming more of a matter of fact thing instead of a big deal due to their rarity.

Honorable Mentions:

• New Star Ocean: Integrity and Faithlessness was announced.

• Just Cause looks like a whole lot of mindless, destructive fun

• Rise of the Tomb Raider will include more tombs than the 2013 reboot

• Trackmania looks full of fun and laughter

• World of Final Fantasy looks sweet and probably includes some fan service for long time fans

• No Man's Sky still boasts amazing possibilities of exploration

• HoloLens has unexpected potential if they can overcome stumbling blocks

• Fire Emblem: Fates still looks good, and will arrive in 2016

• For Honor's trifecta of knights, vikings, and samurai certainly impressed

• Anno 2205 allows players to build futuristic moon cities

• Super Smash Bros. lineup is joined by Roy and Ryu (albeit a bit before the official start of E3) 

My 2015 E3 Wish List

With last night’s successful Bethesda conference on my mind and the many possibilities on the horizon as the rest of E3 approaches, I have managed to motivate my lazy summer self to write about how excited I am this year.

Let me clarify my intentions for this wish list. There are many things I hope to see over the next few days, so I am going to maintain a focus on things that would truly make my day. These can fall anywhere on the realistic spectrum from “that could totally happen” to “that’s never going to happen, but it would indeed be awesome.”

Let’s cut to the chase before conferences actually begin!

1. Some Kingdom Hearts details are revealed

I would love to hear a little more about the franchise that defined my childhood. There are so many things I can imagine for Kingdom Hearts 3, but I’ll stick to some nifty ideas I have had and steer clear of spoilers.

I would like to see the following worlds appear in Kingdom Hearts 3:

• Shibuya (from The World Ends With You)
• Tangled
• Frozen
• Pixar worlds
• Big Hero 6
• Another Final Fantasy world apart from Radiant Garden
• Chrono Trigger world (long shot, but hey… this is a wish list!)
• Marvel Cinematic Universe

It would also make my day to hear about these characters either (A) debuting for the first time or (B) returning after a long absence:

• Noctis from Final Fantasy XV
• Tidus (reappearing and older than he was in KH1)
• Zack Fair (reappearing and older than he was in Birth by Sleep)
• Kefka from FFXI
• Zidane Tribal from FFIX
• The World Ends With You characters
• The Avengers
• Rocket and Groot

Before anyone asks why I didn’t include Star Wars on here, let me just say that I am not opposed to the idea. I just don’t particularly wish for it either.

2. Rise of the Tomb Raider receives a PS4 release date

And let’s say it is released a mere three months after the Xbox One release. I can wait that long.

Side note: I own an Xbox One, but do not want to encourage Crystal Dynamic’s choice to alienate their long term fans in favor of a quick buck. So we will hopefully be purchasing this game for a Sony console. Because business.

3. Theatrhythm: Kingdom Hearts is announced for 3DS

So this could totally happen at the Square Enix conference, and that would be fantastic. I’ve already detailed how this game could work in my very first blog post, and I welcome the surreal feeling of seeing something I wrote about months ago coming to life at E3.

4. An HD remake of Final Fantasy VII bundled with FFVII: Crisis Core released for PS4

So I am convinced this one is not going to happen. My brother pointed out this morning that there are rumors abounding yet again, but I just can’t seem to get over the disappointment of last year’s PlayStation Experience announcement. They made it pretty clear there that they were only porting the PC version onto PS4. No touchups. No enhanced musical scores. It would be a dream come true of this were all some creepy ruse and they really were listening intently to what fans want. I just can’t let myself be vulnerable to this one again after the huge let down last year.

Jokingly, I came up with a wistfully enticing collector’s edition pre-order bundle. It could include the blu-ray for Advent Children, the reimagined soundtrack to both games and the movie, a hard-covered art book, a hand painted knights of the round figurine, and a set of glass materia complete with display case. Oh, and a $20 credit toward Final Fantasy XV. Because why not? This is a wish list after all.

5. Limited Persona 5 details announced

So I don’t want to know too much about Persona 5, since this is a franchise that just needs to be experienced. But I am curious about a couple things that would not ruin the surprises that are surely embedded inside this definite masterpiece.

First of all, I want to know the official release date. It is immensely satisfying knowing that Persona 5 should be released in the East and West simultaneously, but I still need to know when.

Second, I’m curious about the voice cast for Persona 5. I doubt this will be announced anytime soon, but if it was, I would like to hear about participation from the likes of Travis Willingham, Nolan North, Colleen Clinkenbeard, Monica Rial, and (of course) Yuri Lowenthal. It just wouldn’t be right to have a Persona game without Yuri Lowenthal.

6. Mass Effect 4’s main character and other details revealed

We know so little about this one. I mainly want to discover more about the character that will define the next arc of this series. Additionally, it wouldn’t hurt to hear where they plan on taking this universe next, and whether or not it takes any steps forward in terms of a divergent ending based on your actions throughout the series.

7. Shin Megami Tensei x Fire Emblem

Nintendo. Please, please tell me why I want to play this. It looks bizarre. I very much want to like it. I just need to know why. I trust that putting these two great things together will make a brand new game that can’t NOT impress me. But I want some encouragement here, and maybe something spectacular to convince me that I am not crazy for wanting this one.

8. Any fantastic new IP

I am sure there is someone out there that had an as of yet unknown stroke of brilliance that they will announce either today or tomorrow. I look forward to that and hope it is every bit as wonderful as the rest of these things that have made my list.

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So I’m sure I am leaving something out, but my husband is telling me it is time to publish. No time for proof reading or tweaking my words or phrasing. The Microsoft conference is about to start after all! I will do my best to document the most exciting announcements throughout the next few days. I look forward to all the exciting news and hope this is an E3 akin to 2013’s (not last year’s… that one was kind of a letdown).

11 Games I Am Looking Forward To

There is something bittersweet about anticipating a new game.

First, the sweet.

There is the enveloping excitement that emerges immediately when a project is officially announced. Then follows the unbridled hunger for that first teaser trailer. Theories begin to fly regarding mechanics, design, story, and characters. Gameplay footage is showcased as development progresses. Clues are excavated from every screenshot, video, and announcement made public.

Then, the bitter.

Uncertainty plagues fans. Release dates are either announced ridiculously far in advance (causing an unbearably long wait), surprisingly late (leaving fans in the dark for longer), or are delayed completely (when the industry can’t keep up with the timeline they set without sacrificing quality). Some projects are brought to the public’s attention only to go silent for years (e.g. The Last Guardian).

It seems like my own personal list of games I am eagerly expecting ebbs and flows like waves on the sand. There are dry spells usually around summer and Christmas when release dates are more common and new projects are in their early stages around the world. Then there are times (like now) where there are a plethora of expected masterpieces that I impatiently await.

In honor of this spring’s greater than average quantity/quality of upcoming games, below are 11 games I am incredibly excited about.

11. No Man’s Sky

I hesitantly trust that No Man’s Sky lives up to all the hype. I know how excited people are (I am too), but I have this fear that it’s going to end up like Fable: lots of raised hopes only to lead to unnecessary let downs. Because, like Fable, I can totally see No Man’s Sky being an excellent game. But I can also see it not quite living up to all the lofty expectations. If No Man’s Sky ends up being a solid A- game, I really hope that people refrain from criticizing it for not being an A+.

I mainly want to play No Man’s Sky to make good on the promise that I can be the first to discover my own planet.

10. The Legend of Zelda: Wii U

Riding Epona as she naturally doesn’t run into trees? Leaping off her back while firing arrows at my enemies? Playing in a vast open Hyrule akin to Skyrim? Yes please!

Enough said.

9. Quantum Break

I was saddened by the news that Quantum Break would be delayed but hopeful that the extended development time would ensure a quality product. I feel like this gem has been flying under the radar for months, so if you haven’t seen anything about it, please watch the embedded video below. It gets really interesting around the 5 minute mark.

Quantum Break’s physics/time based gameplay looks like a blast. Its visuals are gorgeous and eerie. I hope it lives up to my expectations, and the delay ends up benefiting the project as a whole. I can honestly say that this is my most anticipated Xbox One exclusive as of yet.

8. Danganronpa 3

I think most people would agree that the high school experience was pretty awful. Sure, there might be some popular kids who enjoyed it pretty thoroughly, but even they might say that high school did a disservice to them by not preparing them for a world that doesn’t care how attractive or athletic they are. Well our high school days were nothing compared to the horrible, upside-down world of Danganronpa.

This series has a pretty fantastic formula. Take a group of “ultimate” high school students who all excel in one oddly specific area of life. Trap them somewhere. Force them to murder a classmate and get away with it if they ever want to escape.

What ensues is a murder mystery teen social mashup that delivers better than I would have ever guessed. These games are full of crazy twists, humorous dialogue, and creative storytelling.

I played the first game in the series when it was ported to Vita, and I loved it. But I was dubious regarding the success of Danganronpa 2: Goodbye Despair because I couldn’t foresee how it could even work. How could there be more crazy twists when the underlying secrets of the first game were, for the most part, exposed? But sure enough, I was wrong. The second game was every bit as wonderful and shocking as I could have hoped. I have no idea how writer Kodaka (friends with Kotaro Uchikoshi) will make a third game that still surprises his fans, but I now have confidence he can do it.

If you enjoy Zero Escape’s suspenseful story, Phoenix Wright’s courtroom battles, or Persona’s social links, you will probably enjoy Danganronpa. Start with the first entry, Trigger Happy Havoc. Meanwhile, I will be eagerly awaiting Danganronpa 3.

7. Rise of the Tomb Raider

When a close friend recommended the 2013 reboot to the Tomb Raider franchise, I was cautiously optimistic. Here was a franchise I had always liked that seemed to be falling behind the times in terms of mechanics, innovation, graphics, and character development. Well. I guess you could say the old Lara Croft is “developed” (overly so!), but not in a relatable way…

 

Comparison composite via howmanly.com, left image via GameInformer.com, right image via laracroft.wikia.com

You can imagine my pleasant surprise at the new character model for Lara. Her redesign leaves her looking real, healthy, and strong. Her personality was also given a complete overhaul, and it did wonders for the series.

The Tomb Raider reboot takes Lara back to her origin story, in which she is mentally naïve, physically inexperienced, and emotionally desperate. I thoroughly enjoyed the fresh take on a classic character and hungrily anticipate Rise of the Tomb Raider, the next entry in the beautifully resurrected franchise.

Unfortunately, Rise of the Tomb Raider appears to be a timed exclusive for Xbox One (which makes no sense, considering Tomb Raider has always been for the most part a PlayStation thing). Out of an effort to support Sony, we will try to wait it out and purchase the game on PlayStation 4 whenever it is released for the system. I'm sure we won't be the only ones either. Hopefully that will help send a collective message to Crystal Dynamics that their loyal fans are more important than a quick cash grab.

6. Fire Emblem: If

Finally, a Fire Emblem in which you are the (customizable) main character. Since Awakening balanced perfectly the old school elements of Fire Emblem with many new and welcome features, I believe Fire Emblem: If will be free to improve further on the series thanks to Awakening’s success. And the character models will finally have feet!

5. Final Fantasy XV

I had the immense pleasure of playing the Final Fantasy XV demo when it was released, and I must say I was thoroughly impressed. Many old school FF fans are dissatisfied with the current state of things, particularly that Final Fantasy XIII has taken such a massive chunk of development time and effort when they could have moved on to other things. But I think Final Fantasy XV is really going to get everything back on track.

Its design brings me back to what Final Fantasy VII felt like in terms of atmosphere. The universe seems like a strange amalgam of modern and fantasy. One minute you are in a lush landscape filled with bizarre fantasy creatures. The next you find yourself in a convenience store parking lot next to your rockin’ black convertible. Familiar Final Fantasy feelings come rushing back.  Remember what it felt like when you first discovered Final Fantasy VII was an open world? Remember seeing the grand expanse that was Final Fantasy X’s Calm Lands for the first time? Remember learning the draw system and milking it to maximize every spell in Final Fantasy VIII? Remember managing your gear in Final Fantasy IX to make the most of each battle? And while the essence of the game certainly has that nostalgia factor, Final Fantasy XV feels revitalized, refreshing, and novel. Plus the soundtrack is going to be amazing.

4. Uncharted 4

I know this is going to be a fantastic game. Naughty Dog has proven to their fans time after time that they will do what it takes to build top notch products. If you don’t believe me, watch Grounded: The Making of The Last of Us. It’s clear how hard these guys (and ladies) work. If they do anything short of our expectations, it is because the hardware, gameplay, or other such circumstances demand it. But in the end, they are going to ensure that the experience they provide to fans is the best one they can create.

That being said, there have been criticisms regarding Uncharted 4’s gameplay showcased at the 2014 E3. I have a hard time believing the final product will suffer from these same criticisms. Naughty Dog isn’t done. Games frequently do not end up matching with their early gameplay trailers. So graphical limitations that seem to be there now may not be there by the time the game is released. Case in point, check this out.

In other words, they are still learning. The game is still evolving. And I trust Naughty Dog to do it right. That being said, the gameplay here looks super fun.

3. Persona 5

Every Persona fan salivated in unison over the Persona 5 trailer released earlier this year; so much so that if they had all been gathered in Cowboys Stadium to watch the trailer on the massive jumbotron, their drool would have filled the place like a fish bowl. That’s because the video Atlus released was slick. It was filled with style, intrigue, and a completely fresh atmosphere.

I want Persona 5. In fact, my husband and I have been brainstorming for months trying to decide how both of us can play it immediately after it comes out without spoiling the story for each other. Do we take turns playing in a room closed off from the world? Do we track our calendar days so that whoever is ahead in the game can watch the other person? Do we get two copies and play simultaneously in separate rooms like a couple who've let their love die out? We are still debating the best solution.

2. Kingdom Hearts III

There is almost no game I long for more than Kingdom Hearts III. The first installment came out in 2002 just before I turned fourteen. I remember soaking in its imaginative story as a kid. I loved every piece of it, including the Disney influence that so many feared would never work. Kingdom Hearts II came out in late 2005, meaning I had to wait over three years for the full blown sequel. I remember the horribly long wait between KH1 and KH2.

Once Kingdom Hearts II came out, I think a lot of people realized the beauty of this universe. Suddenly, it wasn’t just a Disney/Square Enix crossover. It was an epic clash of light and darkness. It was a coming-of-age tale revolving around themes everyone on the planet can relate to (including love, friendship, loyalty, burdens, tenacity, and sacrifice). But along with Kingdom Hearts II came something else: the extensive wait for the next big game. Sure, there were smaller games in between (that—believe it or not—are instrumental to the overarching story), but every fan of the series knows that there are big, unresolved issues that only Kingdom Hearts III can address.

This franchise has matured with me. I feel like I have grown up with Sora and the gang. As I have become a more complex person, the characters have developed more multifaceted personalities right there with me. The themes of the games have matured as well. Just try playing Birth By Sleep (included in Kingdom Hearts 2.5 Remix) and not feel the emotional weight of its story.

I cannot wait to see what 10-ish years in the making will do for Kingdom Hearts III. I hope its theme of maturation continues and we see a truly developed, dynamic world with the same spectacular cast of characters. I hope the game maintains Sora as his same old good hearted self while simultaneously addressing the heavy burdens he carries. I hope to see some more intense Square Enix characters thrown into the mix, including a fully grown Tidus (he was a kid in Kingdom Hearts I, so why not let him grow up with Sora too?), a villainously insane Kefka, and a mischievous Zidane Tribal. I hope the game has Shibuya (from The World Ends With You) as a playable world, and I hope the gameplay feels both balanced and powerful. But no matter what they do with it, I know Tetsuya Nomura has a crazy intricate plan that I will love.

1. Zero Escape 3

Okay, so I cheated a little. I put Zero Escape 3 on this list despite the fact that it has not been announced yet. But as I stated in my previous post, “The Dangerous Nature of Hype,” I have succumbed to the excitement. My hopes are up.

The Zero Escape series is the smartest game I have ever played. Its writing is quite frankly genius, and I have never experienced anything as exciting before or since. Maybe it’s because of my love for math, psychology, video games, and a good story. All of these elements come together beautifully in 999 and Virtue’s Last Reward.

I have written quite a bit regarding the Zero Escape franchise. I was also extremely fortunate to have many excited readers view my articles after Uchikoshi generously retweeted my husband’s link to this blog. So you guys already know how I feel. In fact, many of you probably guessed that this would be number 1. Now all I can do is look forward to the other ten games on this list and hope this will be released among them soon enough.

How Expanding The Last of Us Could Work

I've put a lot of thought into Naughty Dog's celebrated exclusive since I first witnessed its ending in 2013. As soon as its credits started to roll, I wondered specifically about whether or not a sequel was in the works. A huge part of me (perhaps 95%) was certain that a sequel would ruin the beautifully subtle ambiguity of the ending, but part of me optimistically considered the possibility of another dive into the cordyceps-infested universe (though at the time I was still unsure as to how that would work).

But now I think I have it figured out.

You see, if the story continues from where it left off, it really does ruin the ending of The Last of Us; Naughty Dog intentionally left it up to the player to infer the details of the story's closure. If a sequel picks up directly after the ending, the uncertainty of the ending is lost, and the player no longer has the freedom to draw their own conclusions. Similarly, if the game follows the main characters after the events found in the game--even with a significant leap forward in time--either the same loss of open-endedness occurs, or there remains a large unanswered question regarding what truly happened directly following the first game's end.

On the other hand, a true prequel is obviously out, seeing as the apocalyptic/survival nature of the game would not exist at all prior to the cordyceps infection. However, something rather close to a prequel is not only possible, but in fact quite intriguing when considered in depth.



**SPOILER ALERT**
The remainder of the post goes into detail regarding crucial plot points from The Last of Us. If you have not played the entirety of the game, do not continue reading until you have booted up your PS3 (or 4) and done so.

Recall the game's opening.

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A small Texan family is thrown into the turmoil of the cordyceps outbreak. Protagonist Joel and his brother Tommy come together immediately, driven to protect Joel's instantly lovable daughter, Sarah.

Side note: Naughty Dog brilliantly decided to make the player control Sarah during the first chapter of the game. This is a genius bit of psychology, as it encourages the player to relate to her at a faster rate. You experience both the joy and limitations of being Sarah. If you don't feel attached to Sarah within the first few minutes of gameplay, you are probably plagued with some sort of personality disorder that hinders your empathic capability.

Back to Joel and Tommy. Shortly after the chaos erupts, they hasten to leave town. As they drive, they witness runners attacking the rest of the population. The streets are panicked. A van plows forcefully into their vehicle, turning it on its side and crushing Sarah's leg in the process.

Now that Sarah cannot run, the player takes over as Joel, who carries the helpless Sarah (another beautiful example of gameplay further enhancing the player's attachment toward the characters). Tommy is now the family's primary support, watching out for Joel and Sarah as they run for safety. The player gets a sense of how reliable and selfless Tommy is as he puts himself in danger to protect his family. Thanks to Tommy staying behind, Joel gets Sarah to the outskirts of town. Sarah expresses concern over her uncle, but Joel insists that Tommy will catch up.

Unfortunately, the military is already in position on the outskirts of town. They have orders to eliminate anyone who approaches to border in an effort to contain the infection. It makes sense from an impersonal, state-of-emergency, big picture perspective. But through the eyes of Joel, these orders are a death sentence for his family. He tries to reason with the soldier on the hill. Shots are fired anyway. Tommy arrives just in time to rescue Joel, but it is too late for Sarah. She is lost.

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At this point, The Last of Us cuts far ahead (20 years) into the future. A lot is left to be inferred. But 20 years is a long time and would provide a perfect canvas on which to paint another entry of the series. By filling in just some of the details here, nothing established by The Last of Us would be lost; no conclusions drawn by the player would be undermined, Instead, the already complicated relationship between Joel and Tommy would be further explained and enhanced.



So what do we already know about the time that Joel and Tommy spent together?

1. Joel and Tommy spent years together after Sarah's death.
2. Joel and Tommy start their journey in Texas, and eventually end up in Boston.
3. Tommy suffers from nightmares after the time he spent with Joel.
4. Joel and Tommy did what it took to survive, which most likely involved some hunter-like activities, victimizing innocent people.
5. At some point, Tommy turns from Joel's way of survival in favor of the hope promised by the Fireflies.
6. Joel also makes a change, turning to smuggling. He makes connections with people like Tess and Bill.
7. The strained relationship between Joel and Tommy eventually culminates in a heated argument.
8. The two part ways for an extended period of time.
9. Despite their falling out, Tommy communicates to Marlene, leader of the Fireflies, that she could rely on Joel if she ever needed some serious help.
10. Tommy does forgive Joel rather quickly at the dam, despite the fact that he blames his deep emotional scars on the years he spent with Joel.

The 10 established facts surrounding Joel's and Tommy's missing 20 years are enough to provide a rough outline regarding what another The Last of Us experience could be like. But there is also enough vagueness remaining that Naughty Dog could really tell a story within that framework. It doesn't have to be predictable. It doesn't have to be cold and rigid like my list above. It can be messy and gritty and emotional.

For proof, look at The Last of Us: Left Behind. We knew some of the details surrounding Ellie and Riley. We knew what was going to happen. But players found it worthwhile to explore that story anyway, despite knowing the ultimate results.

Clearly, there are 20 years worth of complicated character interactions between chapter 1 and chapter 2 of The Last of Us (particularly involving Joel and Tommy). There is also enough danger present to make gameplay interesting. Cordyceps is rampant. Survivors have to adapt to the new stages of infection (from runners to stalkers to clickers to bloaters) as they arise for the first time. Hunter groups are just forming. The Fireflies are fresh and strong and fighting the system. The government is trying to establish quarantine zones. People are desperate and trying to survive. Crime--from looting to murder--is occurring everywhere. There are still plenty of weak, desperate people... unlike 20 years in the future, when only the most callused veterans of the outbreak are left.

I think it could work. It would be an unseen take on a familiar universe. It would provide some serious insight into Joel's transformation from a grieving father to a distant, hardened, ruthless survivor. And best of all, it wouldn't do anything that might ruin the original perfection of The Last of us.

The Dangerous Nature of Hype

About three and a half years ago in November of 2011, my husband (boyfriend at the time) heard about a game that sounded right up my alley. It was a cult classic visual novel on DS with fairly intricate puzzles and a complex logic-driven story by the name of 9 Hours, 9 Persons, 9 Doors (a.k.a. 999).

When I read the basic premise behind the game, I was already hooked. Yet a brief glimpse of what I was getting into did nothing to prepare me for the twists and turns of 999. It was a masterpiece of storytelling that fit perfectly into the visual novel genre of gaming. No other medium—be it film, novel, comic, or television—could do justice to this fantastically haunting tale. I loved every second of it. Gripped by the game’s intensity, I couldn't put it down and ended up pushing through every wonderful, suspenseful moment within a week.

If you've played 999, you'll see it.

The conclusion of 999 was so imaginative that I had to share with someone. My poor future husband claimed he would never play it and therefore let me spoil the entire thing for him as I retold each incredible scene. I spilled my guts for an hour or two while traveling from city to city. He patiently listened while probably thinking I was an overly excited weirdo. I guess that’s not a new development in our lives, but I do count myself lucky he still proposed a couple years later.

So you can imagine my joy at the news that there was a sequel to 999 inbound and scheduled to release on the 3DS a few short months later (February 2012). Out of the blue I was going to receive a second masterpiece! This one was entitled “Virtue’s Last Reward”. Thankfully, the second entry in the now-labeled “Zero Escape” franchise did not disappoint. Ponderings of quantum physics, psychology, mathematics, and moral dilemmas enhanced an already excellent puzzle game. I felt adequately challenged from the experience and enjoyed the story it shared.

The only problem laid in the incomplete nature of the game. Its finale left me with several unanswered questions and a lack of closure. I knew at once this was a setup for an epic trilogy, and I knew I would have to wait impatiently for the next entry.

Except the third game was nowhere in sight. It was revealed on February 13, 2014 that (unfortunately) the games were financially unsuccessful in Japan and that the western market being in the black had little weight in determining Zero Escape 3’s fate. Uchikoshi, the game's creator, connected to his western audience via Twitter and explained that while he wanted nothing more than to create the game we all wanted, it was not in the cards. Heartwarmingly, he explained, “I believe there is still hope. ZE3 will definitely be released somehow, someday!” and added “I will continue to seek a way out,” referencing the catchphrase associated with his own escape puzzles.

Zero Escape 3 is still in the box.

But as time went on, the eventual creation of the game seemed to become less and less possible until fans (myself included) lost hope completely. It was a long and painful process, but I finally decided to let Zero Escape go and accept the cliffhangers that plagued the second title in the series. I turned to other games with similar tones and stories like Danganronpa and adventure games by Telltale. I tried to forget the painful lack of Zero Escape 3.

You might see me cry. Maybe.

Interestingly, Aksys Games Localization, Inc. began a teaser site (http://4infinity.co) in mid-March this year that changed everything. It began with just a counter set to “0303”. Now I understand it is unheard of for a localization team to announce anything. It’s crazy. I get it. But because of the obvious connection to Zero [Escape] 3, the small community of fans suddenly grew restless and started a conversation everyone had put to bed over a year ago when they originally lost hope. I saw hundreds of posts on forums that verbalized how I felt: a very earnest yet reluctant response, almost dissociative in nature. Excitement, yet distrust. Intense loyalty for Uchikoshi, yet a severe disillusionment regarding the profit-driven video game industry.

A screenshot of the original counter on Aksys's 4infinity.co website

I personally felt so torn seeing the teaser site that I couldn’t contain it. Like a teenage girl that had been hurt too many times, I wasn’t sure I was ready to be vulnerable again. But if this was real... if this was what I desperately hoped it was… If, if, if. For a long time, I adopted the “I’ll believe it when I see it” shield and crouched behind it, terrified of getting my hopes up only to have them come crashing back down yet again. But as time has gone on and clues have been exposed, I have slowly opened up to the hype.

So here I am, a good three-ish months from the teaser countdown being finished (if our calculations are correct), and I have allowed myself to get excited. I hate that I have, because I will be crushed if this isn’t real. It is the game I most want to see right now, even above Kingdom Hearts 3, Uncharted 4, Fire Emblem: If, Persona 5… I even want this more than a prequel to The Last of Us set between the first and second chapters!

Sidebar to Naughty Dog (because I’m sure they totally read this blog): Just contact me. I’ll fill you in on all my great ideas for your fungal apocalypse universe.

So that’s that. There is hype. I am letting myself succumb to it. I am vulnerable and hopeful, and it's scary.

The Beauty of Short Games

I used to have a lot of free time, particularly when I was in high school and college. I could play straight through 60 hour games after my classes and still have plenty of time to go hang out with friends, get all my schoolwork done, and go to work. Ever since graduation, however, I haven’t seen quite so much free time. Sure, I can make it through games in the summers thanks to my career as a teacher. But even with the luxury of summers off, I am swamped with planning the next school year, attending professional development seminars, and doing other school related jobs on my computer. I cannot spend every ounce of my time trying to make it through massively sprawling open world games with hours upon hours of content. I have an apartment to keep up with, laundry to clean, food to cook, papers to grade, lessons to plan, relationships to maintain, and a life to live.

Does this mean I don’t enjoy playing games anymore? Absolutely not! I just need to pick and choose what games I play. It’s amazing that as soon as you start to earn enough money to buy games, the time you have to play them seems to decrease and the stockpile of games you haven’t yet played builds up. Thanks to the inverse relationship of free time and net income, I imagine the correlation looks something like this:

So I have found myself gravitating toward the following types of games in an effort to continue this hobby without allowing it to overwhelm the rest of my life.

1. Short games

If I can play a game, master its gameplay, enjoy the story, and only spend ten hours of my life doing it, I am a very happy camper.

Examples: Flower, Journey, Uncharted series, Portal, Telltale games, Tomb Raider, Fire Emblem Awakening, Ghost Trick

2. Proven-to-be-Excellent Games

If I know a game is worth a huge investment of time because I have played it before and enjoyed it, I will likely play it again.

Examples: Final Fantasy, Kingdom Hearts, Persona, Skyrim

3. Games I can start and stop without having to remember what happened last time

If I don’t have to stay committed to a game, I don’t have a problem starting it up from time to time.

Examples: Theatrhythm, Animal Crossing, Super Smash Bros., Towerfall Ascension, Audiosurf, Rockband, Little Big Planet

Of course, I've recently poured 93 hours into a game I still haven’t finished (Persona Q). So while I say I appreciate short games and games I don’t have to feel committed to, every now and then, I find myself pouring a bunch of time into a monster of an RPG regardless. Oh well. Back to leveling up.

Why I Love Final Fantasy IX

As everyone knows, the Final Fantasy franchise has had its ups and downs, its massive successes and its occasional flops. As such, I got curious and started investigating which games are the most critically acclaimed. I surfed through a few sites, but mainly spent my time digging through metacritic scores. Interestingly, the game that tops Final Fantasy’s list may surprise you.

No, it’s not Final Fantasy VII, despite it being so revolutionary and well-known. No, it’s not Final Fantasy VI regardless of its deeper subject matter and incredible story. No, it’s not Final Fantasy X with its gorgeous graphics, immensely fun battle system, and charming story. In fact, there are quite a few entries that I personally cherish, but the one that has topped both the metacritic charts and my own subjective list is Final Fantasy IX. Yes, the one with the weird art style and the protagonist with a tail.

I don’t claim to know all the components that went into Final Fantasy IX’s stellar metacritic score, but below are some reasons that I personally love the game.

1. The main character isn't moody, brooding, or whiny

There is something immensely refreshing about a character that is downright cheerful; between all the overpowered bad boys, sullen heroes, and otherwise exaggerated protagonists, I believe a witty, optimistic, baselessly confident good guy fills a void that I have been craving lately. Zidane is that guy. He is the Nathan Drake of JRPGs. A little reckless, always funny, certainly flirtatious, and never burdened with an overabundance of gloominess. It also helps that he reminds me so much of my always-cheerful husband.

The beauty of having a character whose default disposition is happy is that when the character has a legitimate crisis, the mood shift is more defined. There are a couple distinct developments in Final Fantasy IX’s story that cause great distress to Zidane, and as such, the contrast between his temporary emotional state and his typical upbeat, mischievous attitude is stark. It is enough to make the player realize that if this character is so upset, clearly something is very, very wrong.

2. The music is fantastic

If you enjoy listening to video game soundtracks, chances are good that at least one entry from the Final Fantasy franchise has made your playlist. Let me assure you that the ninth game in the series can certainly hold its own.

First there is the eloquently simple “A Place to Call Home” (a.k.a. “The Place I’ll Return to Someday”). Then you have the immensely catchy, energetic “Vamo’alla Flamenco” that plays both during the staged sword fight in the first act and during the chocobo mini game later on. There’s also the hauntingly understated “Freya’s Theme” (reiterated in the track “A Face Unforgotten”) and the emotional peaks and valleys of “You Are Not Alone”. I could go on for ages, but I will limit myself to two more mentions: the twin themes of “Rose of May” and “Something to Protect.” All of these will be posted below my list in case a desire to investigate happens to be strong enough for you to listen.

3. The ability mechanics are addictive

Having complete control over what skills my party learns and in what order is incredibly gratifying. Final Fantasy IX gives you that kind of influence over your game. I love equipping all the different weapons, armor, and accessories to immediately gain an ability with which I can destroy my enemies. By the end of the game, your abundant selection of abilities can give you a wide array of battle strategies, making fighting have plenty of depth and multiple paths to victory.

4. The game has something important to say

Many JRPGs these days seem to get caught up in the convoluted nature of the genre and don’t really end up saying much of anything by the end of the experience. It is complex for the sake of complexity. While the Final Fantasy series has never really seemed to suffer from that problem (at least not until after X), I will say that IX has a very different story than the surrounding entries.

This game focuses on the themes of war, power, self-acceptance, sacrifice, loss, a sense of home and belonging, mortality, and captivity. Okay, so every JRPG covers these themes. But Final Fantasy IX does carry them out in a new and fresh way, and it does this well.

5. Love

Final Fantasy IX is a love story. It carries some heavy themes just like VI, VII, and X, but it is also driven mainly by romance. While the characters in every other game have a huge purpose with love almost being a side mission of sorts, Zidane clearly is driven almost wholly by his affection for the female lead. In fact, the player is given the chance in game to select that as his motivating factor for everything he has done up until that point. And honestly, it is the choice that makes the most sense.

Believing that he cannot be with Garnet completely demotivates Zidane, and when he eventually tries to take on the group’s quest on his own, his solo mission results in massively negative effects.
Because Zidane is ineffective without Garnet, which is beautiful really. It harkens back to what we all already know about man needing a helper (רעֵ֫זֶ). It’s not that Zidane isn’t skilled (it’s clear he is) or that he “needs her” or that she “completes him” or anything tacky or misguided like that. But when she is with him, he becomes a better version of himself. He is more selfless, more confident, more driven.

Now I’m sure anyone could argue that Final Fantasy X is a love story on par with IX. But I would also argue that the tones of these two stories are vastly different. I appreciate IX’s lighthearted take on what love can accomplish.

Finally...

I recently found time to replay the PlayStation classic in all its glory. Considering it was released 15 years ago back in 2000, it has aged remarkably well to the point where the game felt simultaneously fresh and nostalgic. I never once felt demotivated by traditional RPG grinding, nor did the graphics hinder the experience in the least. The mechanics remained quite solid, and the story still captivated me. All these pieces of the puzzle come together to form a very complete, satisfying game.

Here’s what I am trying to say (unfortunately veiled behind pretty words and elaborate sentence structure): I really enjoyed it to the point where thinking about it gives me a bittersweet, melancholy feeling because I beat the game and miss playing it.