The Base Gets Awfully Lonely

In the interest of writing at least one thing- let's say 'a week'- I've decided to write some editorial stuff that I notice or think about while playing some games. This might not be as interesting as retro reviews, but hopefully, some people will see it and think 'oh, me too!' or various other fleeting ideas.

In any case, hopefully it's interesting enough to warrant a read, eh?

Recently, I've been playing through Suikoden IV for the Playstation 2. Now, Suikoden holds a special place in my heart, as it's one of the longest running games with an actual coherent storyline that plays out throughout one world with various characters and locales coming up in more than one entry. Not only that, but it plays into my love of collecting things in games. In this case, there are 108 Stars of Destiny that will come together when the world is in danger and save it with their strength. There is nothing lost in translation here. You collect 108 characters throughout almost every game in the series. Some of them are non-combatants. They run shops, tell fortunes, and do generally neat things. Some just sit around, muttering the same crap over and over again (I'm looking at you, Esmeralda). Many of them, though, join you in fight as the game progresses, and you can form your parties based on these scores of characters that you get. They have their strengths and weaknesses, but in the end, you get to ultimately decide who goes into the fray and who sits at the base and offers to cook the meals. This has led into my conundrum.

I can't stand letting people sit at the base and rot away at low levels.

Some games have fixed this issue for me. In fact, one game I'm currently enamored with, Radiant Historia, actually levels up everyone that is involved in your game as you go. Of course, that roster stands at about six or seven strong. What do you do when there are tens of others waiting in the wings to get their chance to shine? Most normal games pick out the characters that they like, fit them to the nines, and shove them into battle.

Well, not this guy. Even when the sky is grey with the looming evil that will destroy it, I still want to see the Edwards, the Yuffies, and the Hopes of the world get their chance to show that they can actually fight, too, if given the same care as other characters. I find myself switching parties more often than most people would think to, but there's something of a completionist inside of me that wants to see what 'Sally No-Defense' can do when she's leveled up properly. Why shouldn't that be the way? It's pretty rare that a character is placed into a game simply for fun or a place holder. For that, simply look up 'Jogurt' from Shining Force, and you'll see exactly how a joke character should be played.

Why write this? Maybe it's sort of a challenge. Next time you're playing a game with a group of characters, don't be afraid to put that under-leveled character in with the big boys to raise them up a couple of notches. Not just in RPGs, but in other games, too. Fighting games have tons of differently balanced characters. Next time that you play Super Mario Bros. 2, play someone who isn't the Princess. I know, I know. It may be difficult to part with your favorites, but you may find something interesting in a character you didn't know you could utilize. You may also find a character that crumples like a tin foil dress, no matter how you reinforce them.

Isn't that part of the fun?