Review - Vanguard Bandits

Vanguard Bandits, translated and released by Working Designs in 2000 on the original Playstation, late in its life, is a turn based strategy game with political undertones and giant robots. You play as Bastion, a teenager with green hair and orange skin and a bad attitude. Like most obnoxious teenagers in Japanese games, he's destined to save the world. This game is a dumber, less involved game along the lines of Final Fantasy Tactics and Tactics Ogre, and it has aged poorly. Working Designs' translation doesn't help.

Review - Final Fantasy IX

Final Fantasy IX, released in 2000 towards the end of the original Playstation's lifespan, was billed as a return to form. After the high-technology, sci-fi atmosphere of Final Fantasy VII and VIII, IX was meant to be a throwback to the more whimsical styles of the series' earlier installments. I always found this kind of a silly selling point, especially since Final Fantasy IV features space travel and the world of VI is pretty industrialized. Part of what appeals to me with the Final Fantasy series is the way in which almost every game has a fresh style and tone. IX doesn't feel like a rehash at all, but it doesn't feel exactly fresh.