Squeenix To Stop Being A Douche About Downloadable Games?
Everyone was tres excited when they first heard about downloadable games for the Virtual Console, Xbox Live Arcade and the Playstation Network. Now that the idea’s in full swing, the roar of approval has turned into more of a purr of half-contentment. We like the idea behind downloadable games and there are indeed some good ones to be had, but overall the pickings haven’t been all the awesome they can be.
The good news is, downloadable content will be receiving a vitamin shot thanks to Square-Enix’s contribution of PSOne classics to the Playstation Network. The bad news is, it’s only happening in Japan.
As for the chosen games, well, you might have a lot of adjectives for Xenogears, but chances are good that “classic” is not one of them.
Square-Enix’s reluctance to participate in the online love-in has been cited by bloggers and game sites as the main reason for the slow start and recent stagnation of Arcade Live, Virtual Console and Playstation Network. The Twin-Headed King of the RPG genre is very fond of remakes and has populated the Gameboy Advance and Nintendo DS with remakes of classic titles like Final Fantasy III, Final Fantasy IV and a lot of DragonQuest.
And lo, Square-Enix told the groveling peasants, “Yon Virtual Console may haveth the shit we care not for. Behold, Actraiser!”
I can understand why Square-Enix might want to hold onto Final Fantasy and DragonQuest remakes for the DS, but I’m also of the opinion that DragonQuest is a license to print money anytime, anywhere. Being the one remaining franchise that Japan is still crazy over, I don’t think releasing a Famicom-era DragonQuest on the Virtual Console is going to hurt the prospects of the upcoming DS remakes.
Even so, what about SoulBlazer? Illusion of Gaia? Terranigma? What about the original Secret of Mana? How about…dast I say it (oh, she dast) Chrono Trigger? Going back to Final Fantasy, give us a downloadable copy of Final Fantasy VII for Christ’s sweet sake. Like the fangirls aren’t going to trample each other in a mad rush to see Sephi-poo once more in his native habitat.
Rant, rant, snort, seethe, stamp. Here’s what’s being made available today on PSN, courtesy of Silicon Era:
-Xenogears (Square)
-Einhander (Square)
-Astronoka (Enix)
-Rakugaki Showtime (Enix)
-Raystorm (Taito)
-Fighters Impact (Taito)
You know, I’ve never played Xenogears?
I’ve just…never played Xenogears.
On Xenogears, you would do well to keep it that way.
The only one of those I’d be interested in downloading right now would be Einhander but that would probably change if I knew what they actually were.
I hear Xenogears is all about sitting through a story and pressing a button when prompted. Oh boy. I think I’ll go play Dragon’s Lair. At least Dirk has awesome death animations.
You probably won’t read this but I have to get this off my chest. When you are playing disc 2 and a character is sitting there in a rocking chair floating in space telling you what happens between unconnected battles, then you will know what happens when game design fails on a grand level.
I love disc one of Xenogears. how could a game about winy androgynous boys piloting mechs not be cool.
@Nadia:
Not true. Sometimes, you might even have to press two, if the challenge ramps up. :)
God, I can’t believe I was silly enough to stomach through the entire drivel of Disc 2. I (and a bunch of other gamers too) should get a gold medal for that.