h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

I'm frustrated because Harry Potter left me not quite fulfilled, and slightly nauseated by the final chapter. Also irritated by the sheer quantity of semicolons used by JKR- just finish your damn sentance, woman!

I'm frustrated because Final Fantasy XII feels like a cross between Morrowind and Ago of Empires (because the music is the same style).

I'm frustrated because I spent most of my precious few singing hours yesterday in pain because of a stupid headache, which I believe to be brought on my mayonnaise in a Morrison's pasta salad. Of all the stupid things to cause a headache.

I'm frustrated because I was woken up in the wrong part of my sleep cycle and hence stll groggy.

I'm frustrated because my back is aching, although at least I know why. My ankle still hurts from running nearly a week ago, which just proves that I'm far oo unfit for that sort of lark. Not sure what I'm going to do to make up for it though.

On the plus side, I have to remember that at least I'm not working for the bank any more. Plus Richard is great and bakes me bread and stuff. Keep counting those blessings, chick.

Still doesn't make me less crotchety, though.

Still making my mind up about Harry. I thought the climax was good and yet and yet....no can't quite put my finger on it yet what it was that I was left wondering about. It'll come.

FFXII on the other hand. I am now in the superlative position of only having to fly to the secret airship and confront the final boss with my ultimate weapons and super-powerful magics to win the game, but am currently languishing in sidequest oblivion and I repeatedly fail to take on and defeat the final Esper Zodiark in a distant and secret sub section of the Henne Mines.

I should probably level up my party but these fella has a spell that can kill everyone in your party in one go. If he casts it twice and your reserves are out too - you then have to battle back to him all over again and there's no save crystal. No can't face that again. Not so soon. the pain ...is too raw.

Apparently winning him is more a case of luck than judgement (i.e he doesn't kill you outright in the opening minutes of the fight) so I can look forward to battling in vain there - then I've only got Yiziamat and Omega Weapon to find before my completist streak consumes me completely before I am reincarnated as a 1-up mushroom in some Mario-world nether dungeon in the 9th circle.

I know. It's not like HP was *bad*, it's just... not quite right. And it's not like I'd really thought about the ending too much. If only the Hallows themselves didn't seem so pointless, it would be easier to deal with.

XII isn't grabbing me yet, and I'm a good six hours in. I don't really know why. Perhaps it takes itself too seriously, or maybe there's just too many cut scenes. Then again, I did have a moment sprinting out of the mines with all bar one of my party dead and no time to replenish health. That was fun, although it doesn't look like I can head back in there and do a bit more fighting to make up for the fact that I had to flee the entire way.

Not looking forward to bosses. I still haven't got the hang of making my characters' gambits useful yet.

You know - I was thinking the same things only today, about HP. There are certain things that I assumed would be addressed that haven't been.

e.g. Draco Malfoy. Set up as the anti-harry and then pretty much just forgotten about in the final book.

I know some things will have been red herrings? But yeah.

I'll start a new forum so we can discuss FFXII strategy.

I went out, caved in and bought FF X t'other day kill me now</> haven't got round to playing it yet, too busy on Dragon Quest VIII, FF IV and FF III.

It's not bad. Reminds me of star wars I have to say. There's even a princess.

But I swore I'd never buy an FF game after FF VI...to make it worse I have KHII and FF:CC as I convinced myself that they don't count, what with not being part of the true FF series...same goes for the new Mana games

Oh I got into them after FF7: Cloud, Barret, Sepiroth. War. Betrayal. Can't be beaten.

FF8 wasn't bad either - set inside the school with..er...that fella with the gun-sword and the sorceress, story all about soem time-travelling space-witch projecting mind control magic backwards through time. Pretty neat.

12 I don't think is quite as EPIC-ish as either of those installments, but being more...grounded isn't bad thing. Doesn't mean the spiritual realm doesn't get a look in, but the monsters aren't this time manifestations of dead souls or Mist, but just yer' average basic monsters doing monster things, and the plot is...more political than spiritual/magical.

IX is one of my long term favourites, with X coming close behind. Actually, my favourite usually tends to be either the one that I'm currently playing, or the one that I haven't played for the longest.

I am a graphics whore, however, and I just can't play with sprites. I get a few hours into VI, but after getting lost several times I just gave up. I still sing one of the opera songs randomly though.

IX?

Is that the one where the chap had a tail?

I could never get into that one. Gave it back and resumed play at X

I still love the first three best...I have the original NES, Famicom, SNES and Super Famicom carts somewhere with little booklets translating the Japanese in II, III and V into English...I do have English language versions of them too. I was too used to flashy graphics being an indication of crappy gameplay to be interested when FF VII came out...especially as it was on the PSX and I always prefered the N64, although I got my PSX first.

I confess: my final fantasy tour started at 7.

I tend to agree; why persist in making graphics better when you could, y'know, have a plot instead? Usually FFs have managed to do both.

I do miss not living with anyone that has an N64, or even a Gamecube. I miss Zelda.

I've an old N64 on my shelf. I occasionally indulge on WWF: NO Mercy - possibly the best professional wrestling game until, probably this latest generation.

In the process today of preparing a room for redecoration and wondering what to do with al old Commodore 64 - a box full of games and some old titles for a defunct Amiga.

Don't throw it away!!!!! Put it back in the room after it's been redecorated, along with several TVs and a whole stack of Games machines.

Indeed. Games rooms are fun. Like libraries and music rooms.

Ah but this is the BIG CLEAR OUT - it's be languishing under the bookcase for YEARS. I can't afford to be sentimental, much as I want to be.

There's always Ebay, I suppose.

Found this

http://www.tv-links.co.uk/link.do/4/1767/2483/17263/28026

Try this link instead - that one appears to have stopped working for some reason....

http://www.tv-links.co.uk:80/show.do/4/1767