I've been without an internet connection lately, so please forgive me if this has been covered lately. I'm here today, to stand before you in an attempt to open your eyes about the horrible horrible merger that sired Square-Enix.

In my opinion, it is the worst thing to happen to RPG fans, EVER.

ANDREW Oh, this is promising.

Now, before any of you jump up to smite me for my blasphemey, hear me out. Since the merger, what have we seen? FFX-2, FFXI, FF: Crystal Cronicles... three games that created quite a buzz among the fanbase while they were in development.

I've been an avid FF fan since the first time I put FFVII into my PSX and hit the power button. Granted, that means I'm a youngin compared to many, but I have gone back to play many of the games that came before in the name of Square, including but not limited to: Chrono Trigger, Chrono Cross, FFV, FFVI, FF: Mystic Quest, FF (the original), and FF Tactics. So I consider myself to be well versed in the works of Squaresoft.

ANDREW So wait... You're listing FF: MQ and FFV as positive reasons why newer Square-Enix titles suck? How very odd.

The reason I list my experiences with Square is to establish something. I've played most of what they've offered, and I've always, ALWAYS finished what I've started in terms of the games I've started. (Except for Mystic Quest, but most of you will agree, it shouldn't be listed with the others, so we'll just pretend it doesn't exist)

ANDREW And yet, you listed it.

For the first time since the dawning of the PS age, I've started a FF game and have no intention of finishing it. FFX-2 is one of the most utterly rediculous piles of steaming monkey poo I've ever laid my eyes on. I still, trembling with fury, cannot comprehend how such a horrible mistake could have been made. Despite my love of FFX and my eagerness in the past years to find out what exactly did happen to Tidus at the end of that story, I cannot put another moment of my life into the atrocity that is its sequel.

ANDREW You know what? People said the same thing about FF's VII through X, and oddly enough, there were still a lot of people who played and enjoyed those games.

That brings me to FFXI. We were promised a groundbreaking game that would be like no other. We were promised a game that would break the mold of MMORPG's forever and that would take us into the new age of gaming! What did we get? Everquest with some new bells and whistles. It was nothing more than a pretty looking, cookie cutter, level grind. Aside from the nifty opening movie and the fact that your mission quests were opened with a small cinematic opening, it was Everquest.

So, that's 0 for 2... tons of buildup, little to no follow through.

ANDREW Says you.

What's next? FF: Crystal Chronicles... it's less than a month away... Am I going to buy it? No... Am I going to rent it... no... For the first time since I started reading Gaming Publications, a Final Fantasy game recieved a mark below 8.5. In the latest issue of Game Informer magazing, Crystal Chronicles recieved a score of 7. To give you a frame of refernce in case you don't read Game Informer, a 7 means: if you're an avid fan, it might be worth a rental or two, but don't get your dander up for it.

ANDREW Because magazines know best!

My how the mighty have fallen.

Since the merger we've had three major releases (counting Crystal Chornicles which comes out in like 2 weeks) and each seems to be a bit worse than the one before it. I look at all the pretty images from FFXII and my skin tingles... then I remember what I've gotten from Square-Enix so far and I get depressed. Squaresoft used to be synonimous with greatness, unparalleled attention to detail, amazing story telling abilities, fantastic visuals and music and a near unfaltering ability to put out games as close to perfect as was possible. Now that they've merged with Enix, they seem to be getting held back, dragged down to the murky depths of mediocrity.

I truly hope that it's only a temporary thing, that the two companies have yet to find a common ground and work out all the kinks. Perhaps in time they'll start functioning in a fluid and graceful manner... but for now, they're moving ahead with all the grace of a heard of elephants. Somebody please save Square!

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ANDREW Whoa there, fella. This entire essay (very nice form, incidentally) is strictly your opinion. There are hundreds of thousands of people who would disagree with you in the case of FFXI, FFX-2 has sold quite nicely, and FF:CC isn't even out yet, but you're judging it strictly on the basis of a magazine article? Tell you what. I know that I probably lack the calibre of such an esteemed publication as Game Informer, but having personally played FF:CC, I can tell you that at the very least, it is worth a rent. No, it's not a grandiose masterpiece, it has limited storyline appeal and indifferently developed characters, but it looks, sounds, and plays just like any of the other Square titles you're yearning after. So I say to you now: rent this game, and if you can, play it with friends. It's way better multiplayer, even if you do have to haul the cursed drop-thingy manually. At amy rate. saying S-E has gone mediocre is kind of silly on the basis of two games that you personally disliked (assuming you've played them both), and I think you should indeed give it time. Of course, that's just my opinion, so if you'd like to keep crying foul, by all means, find yourself a cozy, snow-drenched street corner, and start howling to the crowd. I hear you can get really cheap copies at that 3-cent copy joint, so you can even make flyers!

It would seem that with your departure Friday, the world has come to a complete standstill. Yes, my orange-vanilla flavored friend, the world does revolve around my favorite holder of power and might. It seems "The Batman" is still sneaking around. O.O We shall see if he lasts the fury of my deadly ninja stars of deadly consequences that involve death. As for a kinda-would-be question..who would win in a duel, in your opinion? 3/5 of midterms are done, so that means I have Friday all free. To my suprise, english math and history weren't that bad, so the worst is over...or is it? We'll have to see my friend. Yet again, it is quite frigid outside. Without being able to feel any appendages, the day just seems to fly by. It actually hit 0 C today, an all time record high. You would think that with such a "high" temperature that it would be bearable to go outside to let the dog out. Sadly, the weather would have nothing to do with my thoughts of blue skies and warmer, sunny temperatures. I should wrap this letter up because I must get the dogs ready for some sledding into town...we're out of hot coccoa.

"You're so hot, your melting the creamsicles",

O' Shrouded One

ANDREW Well, if you can't stand your balmy temperatures, the likes of which I haven't seen in over a month, then I'm afraid the Batman may have the edge. Still, if you're on a dogsled you might be able to perform a drive-by scalding.

1) Have you heard the Black Mages' remix of "Battle With Gilgamesh?"
2) Doesn't it rock so hard?

-Jackson Ferrell

ANDREW Well, I've got to disagree on the underrated part; I think that FFV gets exactly the reputation it deserves. As to your questions, however, I have heard the remix, and I will in fact concur as to its general levels of rocking.

Maybe the employees of that particular store have a little something going on the side, or maybe they stickered their discs with the price for a new Gamecube, I don't know, but it's really annoying seeing EB get called out for something that I know they aren't doing. I mean hey, EB is a business and as such they do charge too much for things sometimes, heck, I think even the $24.99 is a bit of a rip, but really, it's absurd to think they'd go as far as charging a hundred bucks for a disc you could get by, oh, buying the system for a hundred bucks.

Anyway, just felt like doing the unfashionable thing and defending EB. I remember the world of buying games being a much more inconvenient place before they and their ilk were around. I wish I could understand why everyone is so quick to slam them.

-Shaun Musgrave

ANDREW As far as EB goes, buying games was never that inconvenient; granted, selection is a lot better now, but there have always been little game shops - I remember going into one in 1985 to buy my dad Pac Man for his birthday. I'm not trying to harsh on EB, since it's a heartless corporation and heartless corporations will do what they need to in order to remain profitable, but they do have pretty lousy deals on a lot of used games, and "new game" doesn't always mean new game, as I can attest to (hi, Mr. resold Unlimited Saga - why were you on the new game rack?). At any rate, I do by and large have no problem with EB, but those are my gripes. I'm sure little stores can be just as guilty of those crimes, so I'm not out to condemn anyone. As to the $99.00 tag, well, I can only assume that somebody mislabelled it; not everyone has a Gamecube, so I'm sure that a game bundled with it could be mistakenly labelled.