RPG Grind Time – The Constant Desire To Level Up

I guess you could say RPGs just match my personality. I have this constant desire to continually improve myself and master systems. Not many genres capture this thrill of progression like RPGs. I revel in watching my characters level up and learn new abilities. I love getting to know my party members and see them grow in interesting ways. The long trek we go on in RPGs allows for this special connection with a world and its inhabitants. Ever since I was little, I was drawn to the genre for this reason. These days I often find myself getting so invested in these games that I have a hard time letting go of them once they're done. That's why I wanted to do this column and discuss my favorite genre on a regular basis. I love getting lost in RPGs, but the trek through them is often a very solitary experience. This is a place where I feel we can come together and discuss our journeys and excitement over the latest reveals.

Some of you may remember Grind Time as a live stream  where we focused on specific franchises. We did episodes on Persona, Kingdom Hearts, and Dark Souls just to name a few. I will still at times have a stream instead of text for a column, but I realized with our small video team it was hard to keep the show on a consistent basis and I missed having a place to interact and discuss RPGs with you regularly. This allows for more opportunities for us to chat about the latest developments, and I feel like we're at such an exciting point in the genre. RPGs like Witcher 3: Wild Hunt have raised the bar for what choices in a vast world can be, Final Fantasy XV is the first time in a while that Square Enix is taking some risks with the series (and they look great at that), and let's not forget that some great games are on the horizon, such as Persona 5, Kingdom Hearts, and Mass Effect Andromeda. RPGs are also releasing on such a consistent basis that there always seems to be one to load up. That's a great feeling compared to years ago when I found myself just waiting for more and having to look elsewhere for my gaming cravings. 

A lot of cool RPGs are coming up shortly that I can't wait to dive into. I just put up my review for The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt – Blood and Wine, and it's fantastic! I recently played Star Ocean: Integrity and Faithlessness for a few hours, and it's already looking promising for its fun systems, especially how you can set and level up roles for your party members. I am Setsuna isn't just full of nostalgia with its Chrono Trigger-inspired active-time battle system, it also has such a tragic tale. When I saw Tokyo Mirage Sessions #FE in action, it only got me more excited for the game. Seriously, I love when games are set in Japan and make use of its cool locations. Needless to say, I'm going to have a lot to talk about over the coming months. Honestly, I love that I've been writing about RPGs for so long and I still get so excited for them. I feel like a kid in a candy store every time I get a new one and very fortunate that I get to make this awesome genre a big part of my job. 

For now, I'll leave you with a picture of my desk. Again, Game Informer has treated me to some great opportunities, such as giving me a chance to visit Japan on a few occasions. Every time I go, I buy a figure or two or three.  Here's what I surround myself with every day at work.

Next column, we'll get to the bigger topics. I want these write-ups to cover things we like about the genre, but also discuss the disappointments and where things need to be improved. So expect plenty of analysis along with my unbridled enthusiasm for the subject matter.