I was just rethinking something that SG and I talked about when he came up. We were listening to a remix of the Flamenco song from FF9 that’s played during the play’s swordfight scene… and he pointed out that he really liked that part of the game because there are so few references to the performing arts in RPGs. The few that do exist are pretty well-known, like the aforementioned play, the opera scene of FF6 of course, and the opera in Parasite Eve.
What is it that makes these types of sidequests so cool? I think they combine the best of two cool features common to almost all RPGs nowadays: cutscenes and mini-games. Plays and operas have the captivating power of a cutscene, bringing you closer to the story. But at the same time, they have the interaction that makes mini-games fun to play. Almost like an RPG within an RPG.
Discuss. Also… am I ignoring/forgetting any other famous performing arts references?
The play in Tales of Eternia was good, despite being extremly costly to watch the entire thing. But ToE was like a huge play to me when I played it. God I love that game.
The puppet show in Secret of Evermore has an interesting philosophical look on life. It’s interesting and worth the time it takes to watch the whole thing, but it doesn’t really have much in the way of interaction. Unless, that is, you consider killing the puppets later in the game interaction. =P
I’m fairly sure that the puppet show is based off of a real play, but it’s been too long since I’ve played the game to remember it clearly enough to connect it to any work. Of couse, if it’s unique to the game, that would be really awesome.
I think it really helps to define the “world” of the RPGs. An RPG’s story feels more fleshed out and believeable if the people behind the story add stories within the story, showing the dramas, comedies, concerts or even fairy tales that the people believe. A lot of Final Fantasy 9 referred to the great playwright Ipsen, which gave the world a lot more culture and believability.
Also, even though it wasn’t shown in-game, the play “Loveless” in Final Fantasy 7 was a nice touch to the story. Talk to Cid on the Highwind during the 3rd disc and he’ll tell you all about it.
Hmm there was a concert scene in Chrono Cross that I really liked. The “performing” part was kinda of boring, but the music was excellent to me. It was cool that the music was necessary (well I guess it depends on the path you took…) to progress the storyline.
What, no one’s mentioned the Opera scenes in FF6 yet!? (besides Kero, I mean.) I thought they would be the first to come up!
For the record, I LIKE opera, but then again, I like all forms of music, even rap (depends on my mood.) But, the Opera in FF6 was actually integrated INTO the story- it helped Celes, the heroine, to fit into a role she had never been into before (remember, until that point, she’d been a warrior all her life, with no romantic moments) and I believe it helped her to start to loosen up.
Hey, don’t forget about FF7 where Cloud and his date can be in a play at the Golden Saucer… lol.
There’s also the “concert” in FF8 where Squall and Rinoa can have some sort of scene, even though sometimes it can be a total bust.
I agree with Dalton… having artsy things in these games helps to further define the culture of the world in which the game exists, and that’s always a plus in trying to get into the game.
Originally posted by VickiMints
[b]Hey, don’t forget about FF7 where Cloud and his date can be in a play at the Golden Saucer… lol.
There’s also the “concert” in FF8 where Squall and Rinoa can have some sort of scene, even though sometimes it can be a total bust.
I agree with Dalton… having artsy things in these games helps to further define the culture of the world in which the game exists, and that’s always a plus in trying to get into the game. [/b]
That’s why I loved FF9 so much.
And yeah the FF8 thing where you choose the instruments, that can sound either horrid or great. And I found it hillarious that Irvine left a porn magazine and squall and rinoa were looking at it.
“[McDohl], can’t you figure anything out for yourself? You–all of you youngins–are the future. You work it out. I’m gonna get some tea. You bet I am. Oh yeah.”
In the lower level of The Five Flagons Inn there is a stage. If you are a bard and complete the quest given by the actors, you may become the stage’s owner. And then you will have to perform some plays to keep the stage as yours. You make some money that way too.
I think it really makes a world seem realistic. Just about every RPG where a world is explored seems to lack performance arts of any kind in its culture, while other aspects are blatantly present. To me, it makes the world seem a little unrealistic; I think that it’s overlooked as an important aspect of life (in RPGs :P). When it’s present, even when it’s not so well-known and famous (LIke the one in ToD2), it really is just appealing, due to the fact that it’s there.
i liked the ending song in final fantasy 8
i think the song is called EYES ON YOU
they play it like twice in the game. we need more songs like that in a game…as long as its not a horror game. then a love song just dosent work
:moogle:
Yeah, The Runaway 5 kicked ass! (Thank god, you can depend on the RPGC Quotes section for all the good stuff)
“We know how to sing but we don’t know how to handle money or women. Do-wap. do do wop.”
“Money, that’s what I want.
Money, that’s what is hot.
Money, that’s what I want.
Money, it’s what we ain’t got,
'cept freedom, freedom, freedom is what we’ve really sought!”
And, who could forget when they had the debt in Fourside…
“If they break their contract, they’ll be in deep doodoo with the police. The police would probably say, ‘Hey you guys!’ or something like that…” – Theatre Receptionist
Well, they didn’t say that one, but that line is in the game concerning them which makes it worthy of quoting here
The play in Tales of Eternia was good, despite being extremly costly to watch the entire thing. But ToE was like a huge play to me when I played it. God I love that game.
