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This series is still alive? Tot it ended in BoF 4.

I actually think Rudra is better than Agni/Infinity because you can easily do more than 999 damage in a turn with a party of 4. You get them at the same time, but I only use Agni for the Goddess, because it's required there to face her true form. Also, I didn't even know how to use Agni the first time I played because it requires that Karn isn't transformed and I pretty much always had Karn transformed, so I got plenty of uss out of that "second best" dragon. Definitely agree that BoF3 has the best dragon system though.

Originally Posted by Lord Golbez

Hmm. I always liked the first one better than the second. I guess I can see the point of view that the writing improved significantly for the second one. Still I enjoyed the Dragon Questlike side stories of each town. Cerl and Alan probably beats the emotional impact of anything in the sequel for me. At least give it this though: the dragon transformations in the first game are better and more original than in BoFII. In BoFII, they're effectively the same as FF summons that use up all your MP.

I honestly like the Dragon Transformations better in the sequel, despite not being my ideal one which is BoFIII. Largely because they felt better balanced to the game. Sure they were a one shot hot mess, but in addition to Ryu not really needing his AP, it was nice they were fairly powerful. In BoF1 you're often obligated to use them until the form becomes too weak since they all did fixed damage. Not helped that you basically get his last two forms right on top of each other, leaving one of them completely useless since Agni/Infinity is so overpowered. I honestly just had more fun with Ryu's setup in the sequel than the first game, but I attribute this to really Capcom's inexperience.

Hmm. I always liked the first one better than the second. I guess I can see the point of view that the writing improved significantly for the second one. Still I enjoyed the Dragon Questlike side stories of each town. Cerl and Alan probably beats the emotional impact of anything in the sequel for me. At least give it this though: the dragon transformations in the first game are better and more original than in BoFII. In BoFII, they're effectively the same as FF summons that use up all your MP.

Sadly, the GBA ports did seem like kind of a lazy cash grab on Capcom’s part. Sure, they redrew the portraits (an improvement in I, but debatable in II) and redid the menus, and that was it. They didn’t polish the gameplay or add any extra features, so I’m not really surprised they didn’t bother with a retranslation. While I still like those ports for being so colorful (IMO that’s how BOF is supposed to look like), they still kinda pale in comparison to SE’s effort to port the SNES FF titles to GBA, as well as Dawn of Souls.

Originally Posted by Fynn

The English script in this game is still at the very least comprehensible. The same can’t really be said for II’s localization, which was a nightmare (though I’m pretty sure you’ve mentioned that on your list?)

That's true, it's still a shame that Capcom didn't do much to really upgrade the scripts when they had a chance though.

The English script in this game is still at the very least comprehensible. The same can’t really be said for II’s localization, which was a nightmare (though I’m pretty sure you’ve mentioned that on your list?)

I loved DQVII (3DS) but yes, exhausting is definitely a good word to describe it. But it’s also not like it’s the longest game I ever played - I’ve played open world JRPGs and stuff like Persona that took me longer but felt like less. I think that may be because there’s pnly so much you can do with this particular format to extend gameplay in a meaningful fashion

Well thank you, I wasn't really sure what to say about this game outside of the article I wrote a few years back, so I figured I would simply lay down my issues with the remake and why the original version made me fall in love with the entry. It's easily my favoirte of the NES/Famicom entries.

In a way, Wolf, I secretly hate you, because you somehow managed to say just about everything I have to say about this title, so all I have left is . . .

I absolutely adore this game. Perhaps as much as the original actually, which is fairly impressive considering FF1 was my first RPG and basically defined the genre for me. There was a sense of awe FF3 instilled in me that no title I've played in the decade plus since has managed to match; the sheer amount of content the developers managed to include in this title, on the Famicom, is staggering -- hidden bosses and classes, three(ish) world maps, unique airships, bosses with unique strategies. Simply finding new things provided an unparalleled drive for me to complete the game.

It was also one of the two entries in the series that effectively solidified my tastes in the genre, standing opposite FFX and changing my opinion that story and characters are the most important elements -- the true gold standards -- of every RPG. Instead, the enjoyment I got from exploring FF3's world and discovering things for myself made me realize my tastes in the genre stand fairly opposite most other people and my favorite RPGs aren't the ones with the best stories or characters, but rather the ones where interesting customization options and my own personal curiosity are my primary driving factors.

Yeah, I have a weird relationship with III

Princess Mononoke is definitely one of the finest films I've seen. It's pretty much a Pocahontas-like narrative done right, with all sides of the conflict presented in a comprehensive, complete manner. No sugar-coating and no demonizing - everyone is complex and has their own valid reasons for doing what they do.

And I'd be lying if I said this movie didn't creatively influence me too, though probably not to such a personal extent as you. But I definitely relate to your desire to create and inspire. Here's hoping that we both get there one day.

That's a shame, though I can't really fault anyone for being turned off by the crust, if you would.

Yes, I just compared Sailor Moon to a sandwich.

Originally Posted by Fynn

Idk about PGSM. To be honest, I don't think I can get over the cringe of these Japanese live action dramas. Heck, even Devil Summoner had one and it looked pretty down to earth, and STILL way too cringey for me.

Greenwood wasn't so bad...

Idk about PGSM. To be honest, I don't think I can get over the cringe of these Japanese live action dramas. Heck, even Devil Summoner had one and it looked pretty down to earth, and STILL way too cringey for me.

Oh Japan. I think the monsters were also designed by the same people who worked on Super Sentai. Though I don't remember as much tentacles on those shows.

Dear god, that video. I only ever saw that once and once was enough.

Then there's the Sailor Moon musicals, which is another aspect of the fandom I didn't think I'd enjoy, and yet, I enjoyed quite a few of them. It's somewhat spoiling being a Moonie because you have four (now five, though still technically four since SMC stays close to the manga storyline despite some minor differences) different retellings of the same overall story.

I'm still holding out for a Sailor V OVA.

PGSM was trippy. Also was it me, or did it seem like many of the monster-of-the-week design featured more tentacles than usual...

Course nothing is trippier than the Toon Maker Sailor Moon show, which thankfully was cancelled when someone came to their damn senses.

Eh, PGSM is the better version, anyway. In no small part due to Naoko Takeuchi's being more involved than she ever was with the anime. Usagi and Mamoru's relationship in that is actually on par with Haruka and Michiru, and everyone is awesome if you can get past the Power Rangers like effects and puppet cats. They follow the manga characterizations more closely too and deconstruct a lot of the Magical Girl tropes. It's worth checking out for any SM fan who hasn't already.

Sailor Luna is weird, though.

I love the DiC dub too because like you I watched that first. Back before I knew about translations and localization and whatever. Some of it was around the time I was learning English too!

It was the same for me and The Simpsons when little fourteen year old Midgar Mist and all....., when I was 16, i started recording episodes on my own VCR. Some are broken now but in all, I recorded 9 full tapes of Simpsons episodes. The amount of lines I can quote at random :-)

Sailor Moon is new to me, I'm interested but....it will never be a romantic teen thing for me, that horse has bolted.

And Kanno, you're such an old romantic at heart. Its nice to have a true love, in fact my own true love was the first to comment on your blog :-)