Video games are a medium filled with lousy stories, absurd scenarios and otherwise ridiculous plot points. That said, there are also some real gems out there. The sort that rise above the stupidity of their bretheren and prove that yes, gaming can be a real, honest-to-goodness medium for storytelling. Sadly, few can do this perfectly. Even in the best games there are those moments where you just have to sit back and wonder what they were thinking.

This week: Final Fantasy IV

Palom and Porom for instance, turn themselves to stone in order to stop a pair of walls from pressing together and smushing your party. The assumption is that they’re screwed. The game even makes a point of saying that the spell is irreversible because they cast the spell on each other willingly. Then later in the game who comes to the rescue at the head of an airship fleet? Palom and Porom! It seems the spell wasn’t as serious as suggested.

The obvious question is, why was such a big deal made out of it earlier? It’s as if the developers wanted to make it dramatic and serious, but then lost their nerve as time went on.

stewie32887 via newenggamer.com »