Like any gamer, I look back on my gaming history with fondness. Tinted with rose-colored lenses, these moments always bring a smile to my face. One in particular, while sounding terrible, is just as fondly remembered, and that is the first time I played an action RPG. I’m turning back the clock to 2002, the yearKingdom Heartswas unleashed upon my innocent gaming soul, marking the genesis of my tumultuous relationship with action RPGs.
Yup, I suck at action RPGs.
ButGranblue Fantasy Relinkchanged that.
A History Of Suckage
Imagine a determined gamer (that’s me) stranded on the Destiny Islands as the young Sora, attempting to navigate the colorful platforms with all the grace of a drunken ballet dancer. Spoiler alert: I kept plummeting into digital waters, and my composure was evaporating faster than health potions in a boss battle.
However, the real crucible lay in the combat arena. Picture my spatial awareness as a GPS fumbling through a labyrinth blindfolded, and the incessant low health alarm transformed into a virtual nemesis, its echoes foretelling impending doom. The tipping point arrived near the climax of the Destiny Islands, where Shadows inundated the beach, overwhelming me with an avalanche of darkness (pun intended).
Why I Keep Replaying Kingdom Hearts 2 Every Single Year
I guess you could say this game has become My Sanctuary.
Struggling to keep pace with the frenzy, this moment marked the inception of a two-decade-long realization – while my admiration for action RPGs persisted, the sentiment wasn’t reciprocated in equal measure.
Navigating My Suckage
Dragon’s Dogmathrew me a lifeline, and in 2012, it was considered by many to be a “Dark Souls”-like game, boasting janky yet exhilarating combat. Despite routinely having my virtual posterior handed to me, the allure of the game’s combat mechanics kept me coming back for more. However, navigating my gaming mediocrity required some strategic maneuvers.
In the midst of battles that often felt like a relentless onslaught, I discovered a method to conceal my gaming shortcomings. One saving grace was the presence of an overpowered Pawn belonging to a friend. This formidable companion lent me a crucial advantage. Additionally, this same friend proved instrumental in transforming Saylem, my trusty Pawn, into an absolute powerhouse.
Saylem, designed with a robust physique to carry an extensive arsenal, became an invaluable asset on the virtual battlefield. Armed with a sword and shield, he not only absorbed blows like a digital sponge but also drew enemy attention through aggressive tactics.
The pièce de résistance was Saylem’s inventory, generously stocked with numerous spring water bottles, a potent elixir that bestowed healing upon the entire party. Whenever he or I took significant damage, he’d use one and we were safe. As I safely nestled in the background, slinging spells, Saylem did most of the work.
In Defense Of The Most Hated World In Kingdom Hearts
Sebastian was right, the land is overrated.
Fast forward through the years, and every new action RPG release became an annual reminder of my virtual inadequacy. Take Final Fantasy 16, for instance. I clung to auto-dodge and auto-abilities like a virtual security blanket. Clyde zigzagged around the screen in a digital parade of confetti from his different elemental spells, looking like a digital superhero, while I lurked in the proverbial shadows, desperately avoiding the anxiety of playing on Normal.
And then, in 2024 Granblue Fantasy Relink happened.
My Savior, Granblue
Initially, I sought refuge in the comforting embrace of the game’s auto-attack accessibility option, tiptoeing into the game’s mechanics like a reluctant hero. But then,Ferry entered the scene– a character with a tale so captivating that it became my intrinsic motivation to master the game.
From the initial reliance on auto-attacks, I progressed to the semi-auto assist, feeling the rush of control seeping back into my thumbs.
Embracing the digital camaraderie, my friends and I formed a formidable squad. Vane (another character I played) had his moments, but Ferry emerged as the undeniable star of my digital saga. Together, we tackled escalating difficulties – Novice Skyfarer, Veteran Skyfarer, and the mighty Zegagrande Legend. The game’s gradual introduction of mechanics turned confusion into comprehension, and chaos into a well-coordinated dance.
Proud mode, initially a distant dream, became our shared conquest. Dodging attacks evolved from a clumsy scramble into a finely tuned art, and deciphering enemy attack routines felt like unraveling a well-guarded secret. Then, Bahamut entered the scene – a more formidable version of the game’s initial encounter.
Failures became our digital companions, and frustration reached its zenith. In a moment of intense battle, a lapse of gamer sanity led to my controller’s demise. An expensive lesson, indeed, but at least it left me with a funky pink replacement, a symbol of my gaming journey.
In the end, the odyssey was a rollercoaster of doubt and triumph. Granblue Fantasy Relink, with its gradual introduction to challenging mechanics and the camaraderie of my digital squad, transformed me from a flailing novice to a triumphant hero. Now, not only can I farm ultimate weapons for Ferry, Vane, and the gang, but I can also look back and chuckle at the absurdity of my gaming evolution.
Final Fantasy Could Learn From Granblue Fantasy Relink’s Squad-Based Combat
Relink gave me the camaderie both combat and story that I craved from Final Fantasy 16.
