I'm really bad at math, but there's something about numbers that I like working with. I've used spreadsheets several times for a job and this blog. The Lord Google Bot does all the hard work while I reap the rewards, so maybe that's why I like it.
Elsewhere, playing Castlevania a few weeks ago had me grading the games like an IGN/GameInformer writer would. I had fun doing that, and now I want to do it more often. It's not going to alter my usual end reviews, but I just want to add more numbers to, hopefully, make my sentiments more concrete. I already have a bunch of my point ideas written down! It turns out that I've been preparing for this for over a year! I'll be using my "Best Playable Character" sheets as the basis for all these numbers. I'll be adjusting some of my categories by removing some gameplay aspects and personal ideas to bring them down to six points. More details below.
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Plot is divided into three categories: Characters, villains, and story. Characters and villains can max out at three points, and the story can max at four. I'm doing this because even a good story can save bland characters. Great characters, though, won't rescue a floundering plot. For the record, all points are rounded to the nearest whole, up or down.
For the playable characters, scoring is based on the following rules from my sheets. I'll remove "unique Battle Mechanics, Main Character, Should You Be, and Can You Fight BBG" to get to six points. I'll take that result and cut it in half; 3 points is max. This is more about characters as a whole, and I'm not trying to make a caste system based on if you're a main character, love interest, or random dude. I just want to know if the cast is good or not compared to other games.
The villains are judged not by "Final Boss, Should You Be, Primary, and Relevant." Cut that in half as well; 3 is max. Similar to the characters, I just want to know if the villains are a worthy experience in a quasi vacuum.
The story is out of four. I start the judgement at max points, deducting for plot holes and not being fun. I'll give them points back for cool twists and meaningful expansions. Being too deep can go either way. In theory, this can result in six points, but I'll cap it at four anyway. I need to hammer out a few details for this, obviously, but I don't know to do that. How do I compare character driven stories with interlocking villains or an adventure game with a basic plot around its gameplay mechanic? I feel like I should consider using the side characters sheet here, but I haven't really been maintaining that. We'll see...
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Gameplay, though, returns to a cavalcade of points.
Is it fun (2)? Rewarding(2)? Are/do things need to be explained still that aren't? Growth is inordinately a plus. I will heavily penalize the game if it's a tedious slog. Tedium is not a gameplay mechanic! While not the be-all-end-all, I'll give out bonus points for being innovative. I also think it's pretty cool if stuff is involved in the story and explained as a part of the world. Anything that connects is great! How should I consider linearity?
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Art Direction does not mean graphics.
How many assets are there? If a game has too many pallet swaps, it's a bit bland. Can you tell what is what? We've all played games where ladders and stuff get lost in the background. How many areas are there? It's also vital to have a variety of areas to explore. As much as the generic "volcano," or "mountain" dungeon annoys people, I'd rather see different areas than just "industrial city." Did they Quest 64 spell animations? By that, I mean, how diverse are spell graphics? How high quality are the visuals? Final Fantasy VII is a great game, but those blocky models are not. Each of those questions gathers two points apiece.
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Music may be the most important thing to a memorable game.
Does it fit the setting? What about the mood or scene? A variety is a must have because I don't want to hear Corridors of Time for twenty hours. Ten hours, sure, but not twenty. As much as I prefer melody, I promise not to dock points for artist expertise. Assuming those orchestrated songs are of high quality. To be a perfect OST, every soundtrack needs memorable standouts. I crave getting new songs stuck in my head or (possibly) added to my Spotify playlist. Once again, everything gets two points. I want to make it hard to have a bad OST.
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Charm is a category because it's the little things that draw players in.
How cool and fleshed out is the world? Are there interesting NPCs and side characters? I really like insignificant cute stuff in my experiences. Replayability can do wonders for enjoyment. I get bored if a game goes too long and overstays its welcome, though. From a technical side, why is this bug in your game? Every question/statement has two points associated with it. However, creepy pedophiles get a -10.
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So this means everything is based on a score of fifty. I've never liked Famitsu's forty, so I'm glad I got to a bit more of an "even" number. And, if I want, I can double it to get to 100. It seems excessive, though. Alternatively, I can divide it by five and do it from ten, which is common enough to make me consider it. But, for now, I'm sticking to fifty points. But none of this means anything without actual "examples."
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Final Fantasy X:
Plot: Perfect. Characters get all three points for feeling like real people. As do the villains because there's a lot of depth to them. The story of Yuna's journey is intertwined with strange things in Spira, and I always wanted to keep playing. It's filled with stuff that many people deal with in the world daily and just keeps growing. 10/10
Gameplay: Loaded. The Sphere Grid is a surprisingly welcome change that makes every battle feel vital and is filled with many optional ways to play the game if you figure it out. There are a ton of mini-games, even if they're rather notorious... 10/10
Art Direction: Belies the truth. There are so many places to visit in Spira, and they're all so unique and interesting. All I want is another sequel that explores the ruins. Is that so much to ask for? However, there sure are a lot of mob palette swaps. 8/10
Music: From the sages. Uematsu's opus is Final Fantasy X. All the tracks fit with the theme or the location, even hinting at foreshadowing later one. Half of the album has been in my head for twenty years. 10/10
Charm: As good as it got in 2001. If a game has fans clamoring for a prequel based on three dudes, even if we know how it ends, how can it not be amazing?
So Final Fantasy X gets 48/50. If mob variety is the worst of your sins, I wouldn't worry. I do wonder if I should reconsider that aspect? I wonder what a terrible game in this department is like?
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Chrono Trigger:
Plot: Perfect. Even with a silent protag, CT gets more points than FFX. They both round up to 3, though, so it even outs. But, on the flip side, there sure are a lot of plot holes... 8/10
Gameplay: Can't be topped. Duel techs, multiple characters you can't max out in one go-through, twelve endings, innovation. 10/10
Art Direction: Vast. For a SNES game, I don't recall too many palette swaps besides those floating guys in the Undersea Palace. I know where the main characters are, and there are so many dungeons. 10/10
Music: Legendary. What more can I say that I haven't already said? Or someone else hasn't? 10/10
Charm: More than my supporting mother! Side quests, multiple endings, whatever Norrestien Bekkler is. And let's not forget The Trial! 10/10
Another 48/50. Neither of my favorite games are perfect?! My world is crumbling around me!
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Persona 3
Plot: Too many weak characters. While the game can survive the MC getting two of six, it can't survive Koromaru getting zero. The same can be said for the villains. Plot wise, anything that might get negative points is made up for with all the shocks through the year. 8/10
Gameplay: Fun but repetitive. I enjoyed playing the game, and I let it absorb me in its world. But you're doing the same things over and over and over and over again. 9/10
Art Direction: Still repetitive. Every mob gets a color change six times through the game. Even bosses come back as trash mobs. Otherwise, I know who my characters are at school, and even the social links get more pixels compared to the others. 4/10
Music: Funky jazz? We're high school kids, and I can't imagine what we hear is something a teenager would listen to on the regular. I just don't know if it would fit the setting. Otherwise, though, I love it! 8/10
Charm: A bit lacking. There's nothing to distract you from the plot or gameplay loop. Sadly, the ending sucked. 2/10
31/50 I'm nothing if not consistent. I still feel like it's better than a D-
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Dragon Quest V
Plot: Empty. I liked all the characters, but they're all pretty empty. Technical limitations, I guess? Don't even get me started on the villains. 7/10
Gameplay: A turn based RPG. Take that as you will, but I will warn you there are a lot of random battles. 8/10
Art Direction: Still a turn based RPG. Admittedly, I've never liked Dragon Quest's lack of on screen character representation. But the battle screens look nice. 4/10
Music: One of the best on SNES. I'll admit, only the sailing song got stuck in my head, but I thoroughly enjoyed everything I heard. 10/10
Charm: Mixed bag. It was the first DQ on the SNES, and Enjx was more interested in story and gameplay than the small things. But you can choose who to marry! 6/10
35/50
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Let's start simplifying it now.
Dragon Quest VI:
Plot: 2/10
Gameplay: 10/10
Art: 4/10
Music: 8/10
Charm: 4/10
28/50
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Vagrant Story:
Plot; 10/10
Gameplay: 10/10
Art: 6/10
Music: 8/10
Charm: 8/10
42/50
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Legend of Dragoon:
Plot: 8/10
Gameplay: 8/10
Art: 10/10
Music: 10/10
Charm: 6/10
42/50
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Xenosaga (all three combined):
Plot: 10/10
Gameplay: 8/10
Art: 10/10
Music: 6/10
Charm: 10/10
44/50
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Final Fantasy XII:
Plot: 3/10
Gameplay: 6/10
Art: 10/10
Music: 8/10
Charm: 8/10
35/50
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Dragon Quest IX:
Plot: 7/10
Gameplay: 8/10
Art: 8/10
Music: 4/10
Charm; 10/10
37/50
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Legend of Zelda: Link to the Past:
Plot: 9/10
Gameplay: 10/10
Art: 8/10
Music: 8/10
Charm: 8/10
45/50
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Chrono Cross:
Plot: 7/10
Gameplay: 10/10
Art: 10/10
Music: 10/10
Charm: 10/10
47/50
I hope I've shown off enough of my ideas. I hope harder that I'm consistent. So far, there's been no surprises in my limited review portfolio. They're in line with most Metacritic scores, which I can go either way on. I'm a bit bummed that neither of my favorite games are perfect. I know that nothing else I've played will get all points, though, so it's all the more reason to stop this example page here. I want to play more "perfect" games to see if they really are, but that'll come later. I've got my next playthrough ready, and it's a new franchise. It's also my first GBA review. I really hope I don't drop it.
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