The Great Gaymathon Review #3: Final Fantasy: The 4 Heroes of Light (DS)

Game: Final Fantasy: The 4 Heroes of Light

Genre: RPG

System: Nintendo DS

Developer: Matrix Software

Publisher: Square Enix

Release date: 2010

Are you one of those curmudgeons who constantly pines for the "good ol' days" of the Final Fantasy franchise? (Which would be back when Final Fantasy IV, V and VI were released, by the way.) If so, this is the game for you. In many ways, it recalls Final Fantasy V--although this game's characters aren't as developed and its class/job system isn't as deep. The 4 Heroes of Light is quite a bit more difficult than that title, though--for instance, the appropriately named Chaos may be the most difficult last boss I've ever encountered in a Final Fantasy game--which counts for a lot in my opinion. Also, it includes four, 100-floor bonus towers that open up near the finale and greatly extend the life--and enjoyment--of this charming throwback of an RPG.

See also: Previous 'Great Gaymathon' posts

What in the hell does 'Engacho!' mean, anyway?

I posed that question on Twitter recently, and received just one response. Apparently, "engacho" means "hitches" or "pegs" in Spanish. That doesn't make much sense given the game's content and (what little I know of its) story, so I'm guessing something was lost in translation when the folks at publisher NAC Geographic Products Inc. chose Engacho! as a title.

Another possibility: They weren't thinking of Spanish when they decided to call their game Engacho! or they simply made up the word.

Regarding the former, the always reliable (ha!) Google suggested this word--えんがちょ--when I asked it to translate "engacho" from Japanese to English. It certainly sounds like the Google lady is saying "engacho," doesn't it? (Click on the link above and then "listen.") Also, Google's translation of えんがちょ is "for example I is wicked," which, while hilariously stilted, fits the game's theme fairly well.

Why am I running off at the mouth in regards to this rather disgusting--but still loads of fun--little puzzler? Well, I bought it recently, that's why. I can only play it on my computer (using an emulator) at the moment, as I don't yet own a Japanese PS1 or PS2, so I can't tell you too much about it--I hate playing games on my computer--but I can share a few photos of it.

For starters, here's the game's colorfully gross cover:



And here's the actual game disc, which I consider to be both cute and creative (the face is of the game's protagonist):



Oh, and remove the disc from its transparent tray and this is what you see:



(In case you're wondering: Yes, I'm completely incapable of taking a straight-on photo of a game.)

I'll share scans of the game's front and back covers when I review Engacho! as part of "The Great Gaymathon." In the meantime, check out this post for (a bit) more information.

8-bit Fiction is back

And funnier than ever, it seems. Need proof? Check out yesterday's addition:

This one gave me a good chuckle, too.

Anyway, this hilarious tumblog seems to be getting regular updates again, so go ahead and bookmark it if you like incongruous, game-related humor.

'No matter what happens to you ...'

While we're on the topic of Final Fantasy's white mage, this androgynous character is the subject of a cute Valentine's Day card that's being sold by etsy seller kiracards.

The front of the card features the white mage's "perished" sprite and the following words: "No matter what happens to you..."

Flip it open and here's what you find:



My favorite aspect of this particular card is that it's appropriate for anyone. If you're a gay man and you want to give it to your same-sex sweetie, for instance, you imagine that the white mage is a guy. If you're a lesbian, on the other hand, you imagine that both the black and white mages are ladies. And if you're straight? Why, you imagine the white mage is a guy and the black mage is a gal (or the opposite, if you want), of course.

Who's to stop you?

(Via gonintendo.com)

So, is the white mage in the first Final Fantasy a he or a she?

How's this for a pointless question: Is the white mage in the original Final Fantasy a he or a she?

I've always assumed the white mage is a she, mainly because I consider the character's pre-class change sprite (below left) to be on the feminine side. I recently came across a few comments on line, though, that suggested the white mage must be a he due to the more masculine appearance of the white wizard sprite (below right).

Those broad shoulders don't necessarily mean the white wizard/mage is a he, though, do they? I mean, we're talking about one member of a four-person party that's been tasked with saving the world--you'd think such a person, whether male or female, would have to buff up a bit beforehand, wouldn't you?

As such, I'm sticking with my initial opinion that the white mage in Final Fantasy is a she. That's just my opinion, though; what's yours?