I don' get all the huff about the removal of the anime portraits for the CG.
Its not really much different than looking at the in-game models.

Granted the art gave more personality to the characters because they are cartoon pictures, but he 3D models kind of surpassed the art with the addition of texture.  They kinda look funny beside each other in that respect.  Most game do CG portraits I personally find to give a better and more accurate up-close to what the graphic limitations were for the game.

And while I have enjoyed and watched anime for long time (look at my avatar too), the bubble-gum multi-coloured poppy menu was kinda of off the style of the game.  Kinda trying to Persona 3/4 themselves in style but without really hitting the sci-fi aesthetic.

This is such a hit/miss argument...so whatever.  But people seem to needlessly be complaining about something that doesn't even effect the most important aspect (at least in tri-ace games): the gameplay.

I just got Persona 4, but haven't had much time to play it.

However, I did get Vesperia during the end of Summer...and I've clocked over 100 hours into it.  Based on this, I give it my game of the year.  Despite Abyss being better, Vesperia made me happy. =)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xGKBT2y4ST4

This is fucking awesome.  As a former student of Advertising at the school I attended....very clever. =)

Never has collecting all stupid Star of Destiny been so rewarding.

I felt that same about the story, and the way Abyss tops it about a million times over.
I did like, however, the Character *Development* though.  A lot of them go through some hefty personality changes as a result of events in the course of the game.  Abyss dealt more with the past, Vesperia the present.  Furthermore, it makes me so happy that the game deals with the theme of "Justice" (that animes freaking love to gush on) in a non-cheesy way.
I was embarassed playing Kingdom Hearts 1/2 when fucken Sora & Friend's would preach about their "Power and Strength of their Hearts".  Fuck.  I call that Christmas HAM!

I just had to share this...

http://www.dotup.org/uploda/www.dotup.org14326.jpg
SIDE BOOB!!!

Vaguely reminds me of Vesperia's Judith.

Its pretty divided about which one people like the most (I'd say the final toss-up is between III and V).

I kinda took the hint with the Breath of Fire Complete Works, and complete OST collection.

This reaaallllly makes me sad.  Its an excellent series, and its kind of sad to see Capcom go the route of fairly generic games, sequels, and their efforts to appeal and imitate heavily to Western gamers.  It does make sense, economically, I suppose, their efforts haven't been all the best though.  And they kinda lost a lot of their charm in doing so.

I'm a big fan of Capcom (I own the Capcom Design Works artbook and the Breath of Fire one....I can't tell you how many times I've gone through them, they're perfect).  I found their older stuff was a lot of fun, and had a lot of appeal to it.

Huh...  I think kids kinda deduct it for themselves.  Why else to parents and advertisements talk about "Christmas Shopping".

I always found it sad that folks spend their hard-earned money on gifts for their little runts, only for Santa to get the credit. =(

I got the Soundtrack...  what a waste on such a mediocre title.  The music is damn near perfect. =D

Thats an interesting and excellent point.  I agree, completely. =D

I hate this series, so the news does not excite me in the least.

Long load times never stopped me from beating Chrono Cross and Final Fantasy 8.
Shit, and nowadays, I don't think there is anything more annoying than the fact that you had to wait a good thirty seconds (each battle) spent just idling and looking at scenery/battle/victory poses.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iPqjrNakmkU
Chrono Cross SPOILERS, but go in to 1:50.
Yeah, long load, and also an event battle, but whatever, lotsa battles were like this.
Sorry for finding a spoiler vid too... but, the game is like almost 10 years old, so I assume either you've beaten it, or just are not interested.

I might join Parn.  Its got everything, just not enough.  The story is there but falls short, the battle is awesome but needlessly complicated, and the characters are diverse just not interesting.

The thing I like about entertainment (gaming being one of its medium's, or movies to say another) is that it doesn't necessary direct my life and change its outcome in some grand way...Unless I choose to direct movies or make games.

A good game comes out.  A bad games comes.  Who cares.  So long as a gem comes out every so often that I will thoroughly enjoy playing, I'll be happy.

Even with this, sure Squeenie has released a few shit games, but so has every major developer.  And the fact remains that Square has been responsible for a few of "Steph's Top 14 Favourite Games Ever" list.