I started this post last night. I wanted to convey just how frustrating FF RPGs are now that I have played MMOs, but it did not sound right. Add to that another 20-30 minutes writing and rewriting, I still could not find a suitable way to describe it...but I think the cat just showed me how.
It is all about interruption. Once you are inside an MMO the only interruptions are things you can technically ignore. People nagging you, /ignore; people taking your kills, you go somewhere else or maybe log on a different character; wife bugs you about food, you passively ignore. All this can be done while still playing. There are no shifts in levels of graphics while a movie that you can't ignore loads up. The only interruptions to play are fights, and things you initiate.
Standard RPGs are not like that, and especially FFX. Half of the time I played yesterday, I had absolutely zero control over. It was just interruption after interruption...like my cat. But you don't know what is being interrupted. Am I watching a movie that is being interrupted by periodic gameplay, or am I playing a game that is interrupted by periodic cut scenes.
The stadium the first time you get to play Blitzball is a good example. Five minute cinema when you arrive off the boat, 30 second walk to another pier, 3 minute cinema about a couple of religeous figures, 30 second walk, 1 minute cinema about bliztball and finding someone, 30 second walk, 4 minute cinema about the person not being there combined with a little ronso rage that distracted the party so a teammate could be captured and running after her, about 5 minutes of walking and preprogrammed encounters, 30 second cinema, boss fight, 5 minute cinema.
That is the first half, but I am tired with typing this, and you know what, I was tired of playing/not playing at that point as well. I understand that they have to infuse a story into the game and that cut scenes are the best way to tell a large chunk of the story but I think it could have been done better.
Now I am going to grab a drink and watch/play some more FFX.
