Post by Greenfire32 on Feb 25, 2013 23:35:09 GMT -5
Before I start, let me warn you: It's long. Really long. If you want to skip to the review, hit ctrl+f and type, "AAAA"
I want to be honest with you all in a way I've never been. Partly because I've matured to the point where it is no longer acceptable to think the way I do, but mostly because I'm scared to death of telling anyone.
And before we get any further, no. I'm not gay.
I..how do I put it? Get attached to things very easily. It's a trait that I've picked up over the years do to my disappointing childhood. When I was young (pre-kindergarden) I played a lot of games. Mostly NES titles like Mario and Zelda II. As such I established a somewhat reclusive behavior by the time I was ready for school.
My first years of school were pretty terrible. I was shy, extremely skinny (still am) and not strong at all, physically and emotionally. I was picked on, beat, bullied, called names, and harrased. As a result, an intense hatred for people grew. I would avoid crowds because the bruises hadn't healed yet. I packed my own lunch because it didn't have spit in it. I sat in the front of the bus, because that was the only safe place.
I was damaged and I was broken. My heart literally pained for a someone, anyone, to be nice to me. If I was lucky, I'd merely go un-noticed.
Very rarely was I lucky.
Everyday after torture, my parents would ask, "How was your day?" and I'd tell them it went ok. I'd lie because the truth hurt more. Eventually, I just stopped answering them. They'd ask, "How was school?" and I'd just grunt. To this day, I keep my daily events to myself.
But while the daytime was hell, the afternoon was my paradise. I'd come home and play the NES. I'd submerse myself in worlds where I wasn't hated. I was loved, revered even.
And so I began to show affection for these games. In ways that no one else were, games were my friends.
I remember when I was in the 1st grade, my father's job required him to be gone 6 months out of the year and when he returned, he brought home the second most influential game in my life: The Legend of Zelda:Ocarina of time.
I remember when I was in the 1st grade, my father's job required him to be gone 6 months out of the year and when he returned, he brought home the second most influential game in my life: The Legend of Zelda:Ocarina of time.
I was far too young for that game. Side scrollers were fine, but this new 3D stuff? Too hard. So dad played, and I watched. I was with him every step of the way. We conquered the Deku Tree, discovered the Goron's Ruby, and saved Jabu Jabu. And one night I fell asleep while he played.
My mother carried me to my bed the night before, and I asked her how far dad had gotten. She told me he was now an adult in the game.
I never felt more ashamed in my life.
For the first time, I felt as though I betrayed Link (who I still called Zelda at the time). I had a responsibilty to be there for him because he had been there for me. I felt as though he was lost. Scared without me, and wondering why I had abandoned him. I felt myself in him.
Fast forward to my teen years. My mental state was...unhealthy. On a whim, I picked up Final Fantasy 8. It was my first one. It literally saved my life.
Let me tell you right now, that I was Squall Leonhart. I had the very same problems he did, the very same attitude, and the very. same. behavior. A deeper connection to another character has not been made in my entire life since.
My bond to FF8 was so strong that I started sharing feelings with Squall. By the end of the game, I also loved Rinoa Heartily.
I still do.
This trait has helped me enjoy games, movies, and TV shows more than anyone could imagine. I can get extremely defensive when someone talks down a game I happen to like. And it's because I don't just play the game, I make it my reality.
AAAA
"To The Moon" is not a game. Not one in the traditional sense anyway. There is no "real" gameplay (it's essentially a point and click adventure, though you can use the arrow keys and enter buttons), and I'll admit I did some flipping back and forth when it came time to categorize it. It's not really an Action Adventure game, nor is it really an RPG, but for the sake the argument that's what I'm calling it.
Upon starting the game, we find ourselves controlling two characters: Dr. Eva and Dr. Watts. Their job is simple: Grant the last wish of the dying.
The process by which that happens is a little more complicated.
In order to grant any wish imaginable, they use a machine that manipulates the patient's memories. New ones are created, old ones are altered and in the end, the patient's brain can no longer determine fantasy from reality.
And they die.
Rightfully so, this operation is only performed on those who are already lying in their deathbed.
"To The Moon" does an absolute amazing job of plucking your heart strings. It takes you on journey through one man's life as he remembers it from the very beginning, all the way up to the very end.
We learn that Johnny (the patient in "To The Moon") has fought, loved, and lost. What is truly spectacular is that the player can feel all these things as well. Like I said earlier, "To The Moon" is not a game. It's a story. One way or another it will affect you in ways you may not care to admit.
And the reason it moved me so much is because of who I am. Johnny was like a brother to me. And he will be remembered.
Sometimes, I think of my life as chapters divided by the most influential games of my age.
Chapter 1 was Zelda II.
Chapter 1 was Zelda II.
Chapter 2 was Ocarina of Time.
Chapter 3 was Final Fantasy
And Chapter 4 was To The Moon.
I hope that wasn't too personal...
I hope that wasn't too personal...