Like I said before, I played ... nevermind

You must of not played The Legend Of Dragoon that long cause the game is not even close about love. Like all fantasy games the story gets twisted around. On about beginning of disc three you can't even use Shana no more cause she sucks. They have to save her at the end. She is the one to make the god of destruction come to life, but it ends up the final boss just wants to waken the god of destruction so he can be the god so you really don't have to save her at the end. It ends up Dart's dad never died and was possessed from some guy, and the dad was part of The Legend Of Dragoon group 11,000 years ago.

Dart's dad and Rose where both together 11,000 years ago, and they were going to get married. There is lot of other things that get twisted around in the story, so you shouldn't judge a game until you beat it cause I thought the game was stupid at first, but it turned out to be one of my best games. And the final movie is the best ending movie I've ever seen.

Bastard swords
For those of you who don't know, in The Legend Of Dragoon, the lead character, Dart, gets a sword called a Bastard Sword. Without it ever occurring to me that the weapon might exist in real life, I made fun of it in my review—simply because the idea of a Bastard Sword seemed ridiculous to me, and also because Dart acquires the sword in the level in which the bad guys continuously shout, "Bastard!" at him, which was also funny to me.

Of course there was an entire legion of Dragoon Nazis primed to inform me that a Bastard Sword is an actual weapon, and that if I had paid attention in history class I would have known that. My reaction was that the idea of the existence of the Bastard Sword being common knowledge to anyone but medieval historians was unreasonable. In all my years of schooling, not once did I hear mention of a sword that was even remotely bastard-like. But it didn't matter. That little oversight left me wide open to further filleting from the hardcore RPG fan boys, and it gave them an excuse to discredit my review of the game. In hindsight, I probably should have checked on the Bastard Sword thing before I submitted my review, but I would have just made fun of it anyway, so the point is moot as far as I'm concerned.

And now, everything you needed to know about Bastard Swords but were afraid to ask:

First of all did you even play the game all the way through? you DO find out that Shana loves dart she says so several times throughout the game.Whats with comparing it to FF7? FF7's limit breaks and Dragoons additions are toatally differant.Limit break-pick what limit break you want and the char does it. Addition-when chars turn comes up you press the X button at the certain times not just-as in FF7-click on omnislash and he does it. Did you even get all the additions for everyone or did you just look at thier beggining ones like doubleslash and guess they would all be the same?! The only similarities i see in FF7 and Dragoon is that the playtime graphics look similar. You say in your review if you want your kids to learn bad language get dragoon for them. They use the word bastard 3 maybe 4 times in the whole game, and if you knew anything about the word bastard you would know that a Bastard Sword is a A long sword that is usable with only one hand. I have played at least 8 or nine games where there is a bastard sword. its not a new thing like you think. Bastard swords originated in midevil times. they were real! the game shares hardly any similarities to FF7. you could say all the same things if you compared FF7 to a lot of RPG's. Next time you just go off and criticize something at least study it.

you did the legend of dragoon review:

Your main mess up: the game wasn't the best I think so to but you bashed the hell out of it and still gave it a 5.0.........THAT WAS REALLY DUMD..... ...another thing you say that the bastard is fake or something it is real and why not have it in the game it is a real SWORD not like the buster sword which is cool in the game but would not be cool in real life

Your good stuff: some of your point were really good

*  *  *

Listen...I have played the game and it's not all that much like FF7...you may find this hard to believe but most games revolve around the Final Fantasy story lines. The word Bastard...a fatherless boy is it's dictionary definition and kids learn it on there own! I'm 13! I would know! You have no right to judge a game by the language used in it. FF7 alone has plenty of swears, and the word bastard is not a swear. Bastard Sword has been used in several games and, unless I'm incorrect, you have not critized those games for it. I see you may be a die-hard Final Fantasy fan, but do not imply that in any further game reviews. Forgive me if I sound rude, but I'm just an RPG fan(no paticular RPGs, though the Final Fantasy is so far my favorite) who feels your review is just a bit insulting to all RPG fans.

Hi there,

In your review of The Legend Of Dragoon you write:

'The characters use the word 'bastard' a lot, and there's even a Bastard Sword! I guess the idea of an illegitimate sword is a new one, or does it mean that only bastards can use the sword? That would make Dart the first bastard hero in video games wouldn't it? Either way,it's the extent to which Dragoon breaks new ground.'

Hmmm... I think this comment is completely out of place... If you really were into rpg's you would know that a bastard sword is a large, wide bladed, double edged sword up to 48" long often used with one or two hands for slashing and thrusting attacks. Also known as the hand and a half sword.

1) http://www.swordforum.com/swords/historical/gbs.html
2) http://www.knifecenter.com/knifecenter/swords/015pp.html
3) http://www.armory.net/item.cfm?RecordId=015-PP
4) http://www.pathocrom.com/weapons/bastard.htm
5) Any TSR computer game: Baldur's Gate I & II, Icewind Dale etc...

Your Ignorance of this shows that you're not familiar at all with TSR's D&D, the mother of all rpg's, and it would seem to me that you are not experienced enough to review rpg's. Your only measure seems to be the FF series, and while this is fine since it is Squaresoft who set the standards for this particular gendre for the ps, you fail to aknowledge any of this game's numerous assets:

1) The graphics are BY FAR the best, far better than both FFVII and FFVIII.
2) The battle graphics are lightyears ahead of anything we've seen in other rpg's
3) Although the system is less omplex than that of FFVII (which in my opinion is the best rpg for the ps) it is far better than that in FFVIII...
4) Loading times, with the exception perhaps of battles, are much better than both FF's
5) The translation is bad, but not more so than that of FFVII (remember how lame Barret's script was?)

On the other hand, what you've mentioned about the similarities with FFVIII in gameplay is true, and the influence is evident, and this in my opinion is not bad. Actually, I wish there were more games reminiscent of FFVII around. I'd give Legends a 85%.

To the so called critic "Ben," the "bastard sword" is a real type of sword. It is not as large as a long sword or as power full, and the constant using of the word "bastard," the word "jack" meant bastard. Not many people knew that. (I don't think you word like some one say "jack" every time a bad guy sees you)

Then again, some people just wanted to call me a 'bastard'

Hello you little bastard,Just read your review about Legend Of Dragoon(the greatest game ever) listen dude I have every Final Fantasy game to come out and none of them have a story like this game. and three years in thae makeing 1997!!! DUH thats when Final Fantasy 7 came out mabey FF7 copied the idea from Dragoon. Legend Of Dragoon may have some of the same idea but so did FF8 that copied after FF7. So you can shut up about how the game is pointless.So I think you owe me an apology.

What a load

I read your review of legend of dragoon and what a load of crap. I'd say every rpg has the boy/girl friendly relationship going, and FF7 definitly wasn't the one that started it.Have you ever played Breath Of Fire 4? well theres a bastard sword in that, it's really not a big deal - not 'ground breaking' stuff really. I just thought i'd let you know that your review was so, so bad!

You just can't appreciate the nuances

I dont think Legend of the Dragoon is that bad at all. You simply pulled all the bad stuff out of it that wasn't even that bad to begin with and didn't note any of the good things. The character theme is a little bit the same as FF7 but isn't that big of a deal and u are obviously a big FF7 fan that wants to point out minor similarity between the two games. Most people don't buy their games by what game reviers like you say, at least I know I don't. I read game critics perceptions of games to see what qualities the game has an if it is a game I like or not. I love RPG's and on my list Legend of Dragoon is right behind FF9 and Xenogears. I think u criticized Dragoon way to much and it deserves more credit than what you gave it. All the other reviews I read gave a 8 out of 10 or higher. Also the bettle system is gonna look a little bit the same. Every RPG I have played(not including RE or Dino Crisis) have the similar battle system. Its always turn based of and randomly annoying when u get in a battle after moving 5cm on you t.v.screen.

In my preception your not a true gamer and don't relize the greatness of games!

Find another occupation

Hey, legend of dragoon rules. why don't you keep your f*^%$ opinions to yourself huh! I'd say that all final fantasy crat is nothing but s--t to me, OK. You don't see me blabing my mouth about how ff sucks. That's all i have to say to you. One more thing, GET A LIFE, LOSER.

And now, for the grand finale—a thread of messages with my replies in bold face:

hey man that review you did on legend of dragoon, i hated it legend of dragoon was one of the best games i've ever played and I played almost all the rpgs out there so, F--K YOU. you are the worst critic that ever wrote a review on a game/on anything so what if it had some what of a ff7 plot who cares! We are the people who say if a games good

Hey moron,

-Ben

Wow - that was powerful. I'd just to clear up my name - I didn't write that email to you. It must have been my son (age 12) using my email instead of his. I will share your reply with him, what I think of his extremely colorful language and just how long it's going to be before he uses my computer again.

Dear parent of the 12-year-old who e-mailed me,

-Ben

I'm so glad you emailed me - my 12 year old just came up to me to ask me how long he's grounded for. Me thinks it'll start with an apology to you from him:

Sorry I said those mean words to you i just hate when people say some things stuiped that i like alot, really sorry will you please for give me (signed)

Don't worry about your language - you should hear what I say when I stub my toe! And you're right about his grammer! And looking back you've hopefully helped him learn a life lesson (sometimes he's got to do it twice before he really gets it). Thank you, and I mean that.

Let's close this chapter, and forget about this game!
Despite the fact that I got a kid grounded with my review of The Legend Of Dragoon, I haven't changed the way I analyze games. If they don't want my advice, hey—it's their money. As far as I was concerned, I was merely stating the facts about The Legend Of Dragoon. I thought it was my job to warn gamers about games like this! However, I'd be lying if I said I didn't learn anything from the whole Dragoon episode. I'm now more careful about responding to hostile emails, though I must admit the temptation to strike back is just awful sometimes. But I've made my peace with the Dragoon Nazis. I figure after everything that's happened, we're even now.

There is one final thing that has been lost in all of this though—The Legend Of Dragoon is still a dumb game.