Sorry guys — had a long day and I need to play some video games, so rather than writing something here, I’m off to play Final Fantasy XIII.

I’m about three hours in — I like it so far, but it is kind of a bummer how much they streamlined it. I haven’t gotten all of the different strategy parts (like paradigms) “unlocked” yet, so I’m not really feeling the whole depth of the game. Still, I like it — all of the naysayers are right about some of the things they’re saying, but they forget one thing: it’s Final Fantasy. I haven’t played a Final Fantasy game since X, so it’s been years since I saw that gloved hand in the menus and heard and seen a JRPG like this one.

In fact, the J may be the most important part of how this game is being received — it’s a very, very Japanese game, and it’s always been a pretty Japanese series. Back when Final Fantasy VII ruled the world, Japan was the center of video games — they were turning out the brightest and the best, Sony sold the most popular console around, and the most popular American developers were still making games for the PC. Nowadays, though — well, Nintendo actually sells the most popular console. But the most popular games are created and sold by American developers, and Japan is sort of playing catch-up behind some really interesting game ideas from American design schools and European game designers.

It’s weird to think of Final Fantasy as an underdog, but it kind of is — the JRPG is almost an extinct animal at this point, and clearly Square Enix feels they have to streamline to reach a mass audience. The irony, of course, is that they probably don’t. Video gaming might need to progress, with motion controllers and 3D and so on, to make more money, but JRPGs really don’t. People are more than happy to play the same old 100-hour ATB games that they’ve always played, given that they’re created with love and care. Sooner or later, I hope some upstart developer comes along and realizes that. I think the next big Final Fantasy-style game won’t even be called Final Fantasy.

And look, you got me to write something anyway. I’m off to play.

PS. Lightning is a badass. I wonder if she’s a mom, because, y’know, “moms are tough.” Also, this is great.