Game Over.

So I have reached what I liked to call the 'point of cbf' in terms of gaming. I hadn't picked up a single game for the longest time before the start of this year. A year, maybe two wouldn't suprise me.

Final Fantasy XII had me appreciate previous installments of the franchise a hell of a lot more. So after I had clocked up 75 hours on that beast I dusted off Final Fantasy VIII. VII was a hard act to follow, and it didn't do wonders for how it was reviewed. It generally was not as well received as the others, thrown into the larger pool of games comparatively speaking it was though. The fans and critics placed it between 8 and 10.


So the 'point of cbf' came on disc 3 of FF VIII almost right after the Laguna flashbacks had rapped. I think that its always about in this place I really don't feel the need to continue with the game. The flashbacks always hold my interest. I was a young teen when I first played the games and the Laguna flashbacks are still the most memorable parts of the game. Aside from Squalls transformation from self proclaimed outsider to leader of the garden. The whole orphanage twist certainly threw me as well. You also have to love the gf's.

Now that I am older, wiser and hairier I can put my finger on what I love so much about the Laguna flashbacks. The message it conveys is that nothing lasts forever and nobody waits forever for you. You must go after the opportunities you have before they are gone. They are very powerful messages and are done very well. Laguna missing out on Julia and Raine makes the conclusion with Ellone all the more powerful. The one single thing that did last through Lagunas life was the friendship of his comrades. Friends were always there for him.

I felt like the game was over for me at that point. I have played it through before. I hadn't even got Ragnarok yet this time. There are other things I need to do before committing more time to gaming. Not that I have much on, I still need to work on avoiding a real job. Gotta hate those.