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Is it fall/winter 2010 yet? I only ask because with the deluge (okay, maybe more like slight trickle here and there and not even at a consistent rate) of information coming out for Final Fantasy 14, I'm looking to find a way to hibernate until it releases.
Thanks mostly to the fact that the game is in alpha, information on some of the very basic aspects of Square Enix's new MMO have been brought to light. We already knew that levels that characters earn in the traditional sense have been taken out in favor of earning ranks for specific disciplines based on the weapon you equip. However, you still earn points to customize your character's permanent stats that carry over to whatever discipline you decide to play as at any given time. Since it's in the alpha stages, who knows if these points you distribute are permanent or if there will be an option to redistribute for a fee or something similar (my bet is on the latter given the random information that has been leaked). The possibilities of this extra level of customization are amazing. I could be a Conjurer with an insane amount of HP - probably to the point where my magic abilities would suffer greatly, but I could take tons of hits and survive. Impractical? Yup. But it's my character and this system allows me to play however (messed up) I want to.
It also seems that they've come up with a way to incorporate a form of Final Fantasy 11's subjob system into the game. Reports state that some of the abilities you learn under one discipline become available to you as another discipline once you hit certain ranks. An example I've read is learning a taunt from the Pugilist class called "Whistle" and equipping it to a more tank-suitable discipline. I've also heard of learning "Fire" as a Conjurer and using it on one of the Disciples of War disciplines.
Being that, again, the game is only in the alpha stages, all of this could change. I don't want it to, though. These gameplay aspects make Final Fantasy 14 quite different than anything on the market. Gamers seem to constantly be clamoring for something new and exciting that can change up the MMO formula, and this game looks like that's what it's trying to do. If this changes are just what they've got going in the alpha, I can't wait to see what they can do for the beta and beyond. Here's hoping they pick me to help with the beta so I won't have to play vicariously until it releases. And if they don't pick me, it's back to finding a way to hibernate.
Original SotN version: CV Judgement version: (For legal reasons I can't make this song available for download directly.)
Castlevania: Symphony of the Night is perhaps one of the awesomest games in the long-running Castlevania series. It was released in 1997 back on the original Sony Playstation, and later in a special Japan-only release for the Sega Saturn. SotN, aka Akumajo Dracula X: Nocturne in the Moonlight in Japan (Which is what I used for the banner's artwork) was a huge hit when it was released for consoles... with its epic soundtrack, great hand-drawn 2D visuals, and a massive world to explore.
After a brief opening sequence (The game starts off at the closing curtain to the previous title, Dracula X: Rondo of Blood), the game puts you in control of Alucard, the Dark Prince and son of the legendary evil Lord Dracula. You arrive at the castle, the lights come on and as you're slaying giant bear-like creatures, this song starts playing. It's really one of my favorites, which makes me sad that the opening area of the castle is the only place you hear this track (It's different in the respective same area in the 'inverted castle' which unlocks later on in the game.)
Additionally this song was remixed for the Wii exclusive, Castlevania Judgement. While I'd heard the game itself wasn't that great, the remixed soundtrack is pretty awesome, I really liked it. (I featured it above directly underneath the original remix.)
News of a new Silent Hill game, Rush N Attack and a new entry in the Saw franchise all come out of a Konami press event. All of these announcements strike us as surprising in their own unique way, but do the chatters agree with us? Also announced is Gears of War 3, and some Doctor Who games for sci-fi fans. Warhammer Online makes a huge faux-paux in billing, what could the long term effects of this mean, and who will pay all those overdraft fees? In Part B of the show, we talk about an expansion of Games for Windows LIVE into some very familiar games, and we also talk about a brand new gaming network for the iPhone. A classic game gets translated into a classic language, and we have some updates on FEAR 3, Red Dead Redemption & Splinter Cell Conviction. Of course, it wouldn't be OLR without the live chatters, phone calls, e-mails, twitter topics and all the ways we give gamers a voice every week. It also wouldn't be OLR without some food discussion... you wouldn't believe what Loki brought with him to the show this week. Tune in to find out!
Ok, enough with the memes, Ridge Racer is actually a pretty awesome arcade-type racing game. And probably has one of my favorite soundtracks ever (especially Ridge Racer V), Rare Hero is my favorite song of the whole list though. It feels like a car, it starts slow and steady and then it starts building up turning out to be a very happy and energetic song. It really helps you keep focus on the track and what you're doing, and I really like that in a racing game soundtrack. It has a lot of remixes through out the series and it was also featured on Taiko No Tatsujin (Taiko Drum Master in America) and it shows, it's a really awesome song.
If you enjoyed this song and have any comments or suggestions for future "I love that song" segments, please click the "Add new comment" link or contact us via Twitter: @olr, @Darktetsuya or me, @act_deft!