Games We Play

Games We Play One

By Chash

            Role playing games are relatively simple.  The main character, the main character's two love interests (generally two these days, more interesting), or, lacking a second love interest, a wide variety of characters who could be portrayed as love interests in fan fiction.  Then there are the wacky characters who make you laugh, the serious ones who are so serious you can't do anything but laugh at them, and those quiet, withdrawn characters (generally one of whom is the hero and the other some supporting cast) who walk around with grunts or dot dot dots over their heads for most of the game.  The caring healer, generally female, and a hyper active female, often a playboy; some assortment of these basic types.

            So I bet you're wondering why I even play role playing games anymore.  It's the plot, not the characters that makes the game.  The system as well.  Magic, how well does it work, the fighting, the graphics… all sorts of reasons to play.  In general, there's a romantic plot, or something that could lead to romance, something with the heritage and family of the main character, so very basic.

            None the less, I continue to buy them, play them, review them, and love every minute of them.  Really, it's what they do with the formula they're given. 

            I beat Final Fantasy IX yesterday, a quality game.  The hero was not a withdrawn person with dot dot dots over his head the whole game, strong supporting cast, but I don't feel like playing it again.  So I stare down at my newest Playstation CD, four disks labeled "Wing" in shiny writing.  The first disk has a boy, glaring out at me; the second a boy or a girl, I can't tell which, grinning, winking, and giving a thumbs up; the third a cold stare, one eye and a fall of hair over a boy's face; and the fourth a boy with a tight pony tail, a harsh expression and a Chinese look to him.

            I've been on the internet, read about this one.  The first boy is Heero Yuy, a mobile suit pilot.  The three other boys (I know the second one is a boy from my reading, even if his looks could be either) are three other pilots.  The main character is not pictured, he is the fifth suit pilot, default name Yo.  He's actually the fourth pilot, but they decided he got enough screen time without being pictured. 

            I don't know much about the plot, I avoid that kind of spoiler.  With a shrug, I put in the game. 

            Heero Yuy scanned the horizon, wind sweeping across his eyes, and sparkles of snow dancing in front of his face.  An explosion boomed to the side of him, his eyes flickered to it but then returned to the front, staring out.  Something ran up, slinging an arm across his shoulders.  Sparkling violet eyes laughed, telling Heero something.  Nothing more than a nod in response.  The violet eyed boy looked ahead with Heero, and both nodded.  From behind them, a base can be seen, and two huge suits are fighting, destroying row after row of enemies.  Another brilliant explosion and nothing can be seen.  The title flashed up, "Wing: Mobile Suit Gundam". 

            "Not bad."

            "Not bad?  What are you talking about?  That was great!  You must be crazy…" A screen appears to enter a name for my main character.  Heero will do.

Heero: Hn.

            "You're just mad because you didn't get sent on the mission!  I swear it, or else my name isn't…"

            Duo will do as well.  They aren't the main characters, and aren't my type anyway.

Duo: Don't listen to Mr. Negative over there…

            Honestly, tons of names to enter.  Trowa, I like Trowa.  Wufei is fine as well, whatever.

Wufei: Silence, Maxwell.

            Ah, assigned last names… good call.

Duo: Whatever, Wufei.  We have to find the fourth pilot.  Doc said he'd be somewhere around here… Anyone having any luck?

Trowa: …

Duo: Oh, you're helpful.

            "No kidding," I mutter.  "Two dot dot dot boys, why do they always do that?"

Trowa: I think I see him.

Duo: Really?  Where?

            Duo leaps agilely over a few boxes and looks out the window past Trowa.  A blond haired boy is jumping out of a mobile suit.

Trowa: …

Trowa: He'll freeze out there, he's not wearing enough clothing for the snow.  It's gotten worse now.

Duo: Wow!  It speaks!

            Heero roots around in a box and finds a jacket.  He tosses it to Trowa.

Heero: You want to go get him?

Trowa: …

            Trowa runs out the door, and everything is obscured by the snow.  I can barely see the fourth boy Trowa's running towards, just a shine of blond hair every once in a while.  He looks like me, a good deal like me.

Trowa: Nice weather, isn't it?

???: Lovely, just like back home.  You must be one of the pilots.

Trowa: Aa.  Here, I brought a jacket for you.

???: Thanks.  I'd expected slightly better weather, truth be told.

Trowa: …

???: Not a big talker?

Trowa: Not really.  Let's go back to base.  It's this way.

???: I don't know how you can see anything with this storm.

Trowa: I can't.  I remember.

            Inside, the boy is revealed through a sequence.  Sea blue eyes, golden blonde hair, khakis, pink shirt, gray purple vest.  Looks just like me, except for the outfit.  I'll take my Dr. Seuss Hat, alien head shirt and jeans any day over that look.

Duo: Hey!  I'm Duo Maxwell!  I may run and hide, but I never tell a lie!  That's Heero Yuy, Wufei Chang and you already met Trowa.

???: Thank you.  My name is…

            I'll name him after me.  Only fitting, he looks so much like me.  And acts like me, how I would act, if I ever met anyone.  I never moved, so I've known everyone forever.  It gets boring after a while.

???: Quatre Raberba Winner.  It's a pleasure to meet you all.

            Well.  Quatre Raberba Winner certainly sounds better than Yo Raberba Winner.  And better that Quatre Thomas, too.  Never liked my last name much.

Duo: Well welcome aboard, Quatre.  Do you use magic?

Quatre: White mage.  You?

Duo: Black mage, all the way.  Heero's pure fighter, Wufei summons and Trowa uses illusions.

Quatre: Good. 

Duo: You're familiar with standard procedure for using magic with your suit, right?

Yes

No

            Long tutorial, I'll grin and bear it.  How bad can it be?

            "Okay, simple enough, put the spells in the slots.  Basic system, like materia.  Great!" I grin.  "White mage is definitely good, I like being the healer.  And they get points for not making the white mage a girl."

            I suppose I should explain.  I review games.  A note pad sits next to me, and I get paid to say the good and bad about all the games I play.

Good…

Main character male white mage

Simple magic system

Impressive sequences (Final Fantasy VIII quality, Chrono Cross anime style)

In game graphics Chrono Cross quality

Bad…

Too many dot dot dot boys

            Heero is bent over his laptop. 

Heero: We got a mission.

            Everyone else crowds around as well, looking to see what it is.

Wufei: Rescue a woman?

Duo: Damsel in distress mission?  No thanks…

Heero: Yeah, I know, but a mission is a mission, right?  Assigned are… Sandrock, Deathscythe and Wing.

Duo: Ugh.

Trowa: I'll take it if you don't want to go.

Duo: Really?  Heero, is that okay?

Heero: According to this, the third is inconsequential.  If Trowa wants it, he can take it.

Trowa: Mine, then.  When do we leave?

Heero: First thing tomorrow.  You guys have the evening free.

            "Translation," I mutter, "wander around, pick up stuff and talk to my fellow men."

            Quatre jerks forward at my touch to the control.  A quick check of the room confirms that there were no treasure chests or other kinds of interesting loot.  Maybe someone will tell me where I'm going if I ask.

Quatre: Excited about the mission tomorrow?

Heero: Excitement isn't an advantage in a soldier.  It's a mission, nothing more.

Duo: Come on, Heero, live a little!
            The braided boy drapes a casual arm around the soldier.  Wufei shakes his head.

Wufei: Yuy has a point, Maxwell, we are soldiers.

Duo: Don't get me started on you, Changipoo.

Wufei: Injustice!

            "That's pretty detailed interaction…" I'm surprised.  Generally a single comment like mine, optional, really, doesn't involve so much speech and movement.  It's impressive, to say the least.  Extra points for that.  "All right, dot dot boy, what have you got to say?"

Quatre: Trowa, what did you volunteer for tomorrow?

            A shrug.

Trowa: Duo didn't want to go.  I don't mind.

            "Man of few words.  Fine, be that way.  There's the door, I'm leaving!"

Duo: Oi, where are you going?

Sleep

Explore

Don't know

Quatre: I wanted to see the rest of the area.

Duo: Don't go that way, then.  That's the door to the outside, and it's damn cold!

Quatre: Oh…

Trowa: I'll take you around, if you want.

Duo: Heheh, someone's got a-

            Heero's elbow impacted with Duo's ribs.

Heero: Baka.

Quatre: Baka?

Duo: Heero here's Japanese… that's just his pet name for me.

Wufei: It means stupid.

Duo: Stop grinning!

Trowa: Come on, before they really get started.

            The hallway is a non descript off white color with two doors on each wall and another at the end.

Trowa: That door at the end of the hall leads outside.  The door on the left is Heero and Duo's room. 

Quatre: Are they together?
            Trowa shrugs.

Trowa: On and off.

            "Wow…" this game is just full of surprises.  "Gay stuff is pretty risky… lots of people don't approve…" I don't happen to be one of them.  I'm gay myself, actually.

Trowa: The room on the right's ours.  Next to Heero and Duo's is Wufei's room.  They don't call him the solitary dragon for nothing, he's not a people person.

            "So I stay with Trowa… I wonder how I can apologize for taking his space…" I laugh.  "Snap out of it, Quat, he's a video game."

Quatre: So I'm taking your room.

Trowa: Aa.

Quatre: Sorry about that.

            Well, it's said now.

Trowa: Don't worry about it.  Next to our room is the kitchen.  Where we came from is the closest thing to living quarters.  All the rooms have connected bathrooms.  Pretty basic.

Quatre: Thanks.

            "When do I get back control?" I try moving the joystick, but it doesn't work.  Trowa lingers a moment.

Trowa: I guess I'll get back.  We'll be in here if you need us.

Quatre: Thanks, Trowa.

            Duo and Heero's room has some stuff in it, random items.  Potions, mobile suit parts.  I smile at my persona as he murmurs "Duo has strange comics…" A circle with a pair of angel wings in it, which reminds me in some basic way of the old save points in Final Fantasy II, allows me to mark my progress.  My own room looks a good deal like Heero and Duo's, strange objects, presumably Trowa's, littering the floor as comic books and mechanical oddities did the other boys.  Some knives, pictures of lions, just little details that made a good game.

            "Quatre?" I can hear the door open and my mother's voice.

            "Hey, mom!"

            "Are you wasting away in front of that Playstation again?"

            "Just for a little while.  Henry said he was gonna call me to do something as soon as his flute lesson ends!" I call.

            "Oh, I suppose it's all right then.  That nice girl from your Spanish class called, Katie, is that her name?"

            "Yeah.  She was sick today."

            "I think she wanted the homework.  You should ask her out some time."

            "I told you mom, I'm gay."

            "Well then find some nice boy!  They just don't call as much.  How about Henry?"

            God, mothers just don't give up.  With a sigh, I turn back to the Playstation.  Trowa has come into the room, but I need to call Katie.  I cross our room to the winged manhole cover and save again, then switch the power off.