Comments on: Editorial Miscellany: Level Up!

By: Ethos

Ethos — Wed, 13 May 2015 15:44:57 +0000

@Lusi – This was good advice that I took immediately and then never said so, so I’m saying so now!

@Bek – That’s how I used to feel about it, and I’m not sure I can say the same anymore.

@Mel – THIS IS HOW LONG IT’S BEEN SINCE I’VE PLAYED, I’M TRYING MEL I’M TRYING BUT BETWEEN MY COPIES DISAPPEARING AND THE $70 COPIES I BUY BEING BUSTED I JUST CAN’T, MEL, I JUST CAN’T.

By: Mel

Mel — Fri, 08 May 2015 11:25:35 +0000

Ugh, ETHOS! EVERYONE knows you should use Lambda Burst instead of Alpha Storm because it doesn’t have a line of sight limitation. What kind of SoA fanboy are you, anyway?!

By: Bek

Bek — Fri, 08 May 2015 00:30:29 +0000

I find grinding to be a necessary evil at times. As with most things, moderation is key and it is exciting to play a title in which the developer understands and embraces this notion. All RPGs inherently have the option of grinding, but it is the good games that do not make it a necessity. Obviously there are exceptions, but I find a happy balance is struck when the gameplay is challenging enough on its own. Grinding simply gives the gamer the option to demolish opponents by reaching insanely high levels or strengthen themselves for a particularly challenging area of the game.

By: Lusipurr

Lusipurr — Thu, 07 May 2015 01:28:27 +0000

“but I am not as fooled by the game patting me on the back for something I feel like I did not earn.”
Exactly. This is why I have not been able to get into Xenoblade. Twice now. Twice.

My rule with JRPGs since the SNES era has been simple and direct: I do not run from any battles, but I do not wander around fighting random battles in order to ‘level up’, either. As a result, I found Final Fantasy Tactics impossible on my first several playthroughs until I made an exception for it (a necessary reality for most SRPGs).

This policy renders most games very easy (in my estimation, at least) without needing to go further by grinding. I recommend it. Maybe you can try enforcing it upon yourself for the next while you spend playing FFV. Think of it as a challenge (and, simultaneously, as a better way to spend your time with the game).

By: Java

Java — Wed, 06 May 2015 23:13:42 +0000

I do the same thing, except simply call it grinding. I refuse to let the discotheques take our word from us. I tend to do more of it in the beginning, when the experience gaps are smaller, and there seems to be less of a chance of party death. In a few games, this helps optimize gear right way, and all that jazz, but you know this.

I find myself NOT doing this in the FFV play-through. I can loosely say this is due to two reasons, the first being that I’m on a schedule. The second, I might have to save for the actual discussion thread, because it is something I want to bring up about the game that I severely dislike, but I fear I may be unfair in disliking it.