VG Soundtrack of the Day 003: FINAL FANTASY TACTICS

I'll bet you thought the first time a game from the FINAL FANTASY series made it into the first, it would be from the mainline series. In truth, one would have, but I decided to subvert expectations. FINAL FANTASY TACTICS may not be a mainline game but some would argue that it eclipses some games in the core series. I wish I could tell you more about TACTICS but the sad fact is, I've only ever clocked about 3 hours into the game. What I can tell you is that the soundtrack for TACTICS rivals music from the prime series. Every time I listen to this soundtrack I'm blown away at just how great it is. I love the militaristic battle themes and the more quiet themes such as Hall of Worship. I don't think there is a single track on this album that I dislike. You've got well over an hours worth of outstanding music with this one.

FINAL FANTASY TACTICS Original Soundtrack (Spotify)

FINAL FANTASY TACTICS Original Soundtrack (YouTube)

VG Soundtrack of the Day Database

VG Soundtrack of the Day 002: Street Fighter II The Definitive Soundtrack

1991 was a big year for video games. Sonic the Hedgehog made his debut, the SNES launched in America along with Super Mario World and the declining arcade scene saw some revitalization thanks to Capcom's Street Fighter II The World Warrior. It was a fighting revolution, backed by superb sprites, animation and a stellar soundtrack. With fighters hailing from all parts of the world, this gives each fighter's theme a distinct feel. Street Fighter II is like the Super Mario Bros. of fighting games: just about everyone has heard of this game but the aforementioned games with the plumbers is without a about more famous. Street Fighter II saw several updates after the initial release, such as four bosses being playable in Champion Edition and four new fighters in The New Challengers. The soundtrack for Street Fighter II came in two flavors, CPS-1 and CPS-2. The compositions for both of these remains the same but the difference in sound is like night and day. Bewteen the CPS-1 and CPS-2 verions, you can't go wrong with either, though I'm sure there will be some tracks you prefer in CPS-1 style over CPS-2 and vice versa. Street Fighter II The Definitive Soundtrack is the best way to listen to this iconic soundtrack with high quality sound leading off with the CPS-1 versions and then going into CPS-2. Choose your listening method below.

Street Fighter II The Definitive Soundtrack (Spotify)

Street Fighter II The Definitive Soundtrack (YouTube)

VG Soundtrack of the Day Database

VG Soundtrack of the Day 001: F-ZERO

The F-ZERO franchise has lain dormant for nearly two decades despite fan demand for it to return. Back in the day, it was perfectly normal for games that released in Japan to have a soundtrack release that usually contained the original audio and some arrangements along with them. Super Mario World and the Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past, also early SNES games, received this treatment but F-ZERO did not, or at least not in the same way the two more established Nintendo IPs did. Instead, the futuristic racer got an album consisting of solely arrangements of the game's music simply titled F-ZERO. The original SNES audio is fantastic stuff but this F-ZERO album is certainly nothing to scoff at. This arrangement album is a heavily jazz themed, which may seem strange to those more familair with the series big emphasis on rock and metal, two genres the F-ZERO games fully embraced with the release of F-ZERO X on the N64. I firmly believe that this is one of those albums that you can enjoy even if you aren't familiar with the original tracks.

F-ZERO (YouTube)

VG Soundtrack of the Day Database

VG Soundtrack of the Day: Introduction

You ever have ideas rolling around in your head but you don't go ahead with them because you don't feel the time is right or you think it only sounds good on paper? Well for me, this is one of those many ideas.

Thanks to that stupid COVID-19, many of us are in lockdown and as a result, we have a lot of time on our hands. In an effort to post more frequently on this blog and in some way help ease some of those troubled minds, or just give them something to do, I present to you, VG Soundtrack of the Day. It is precisely what it says on the tin, an entire video game soundtrack posted once a day, regardless of whether I've posted something else in the same day. Mind you, if I have an editorial planned for one day out in the week, I'll be giving that post some breathing room before the soundtrack of that day gets posted.

These will be video game scores but not every soundtrack will be in game audio. By that I mean, some soundtracks posted will be game music but that music won't be in the game it is based off of. For example, the truckload of FINAL FANTASY albums that feature strictly arranged music. Since albums like those are still game music in some form, I see those as being fair game. Plus it will help spice up the variety and boy, will there be plenty of that. From the chiptunes of the NES and SEGA Master System all the way to the sweeping orchestral music that some games use for modern gaming, there will be a huge dose of music to hear. I also plan to archive these soundtracks so you don't have to worry about going back to find previous posts. I'm not sure how long this will go but I like to think we can get it into the triple digits.

Usually, I have a Favorite Tunes that I would post weekly every Saturday, but even before COVID-19 insanity kicked in, I decided to place Favorite Tunes on hiatus. It is also much easier to do daily soundtrack posts than it is to post six songs separately.

Due to the nature of certain game soundtracks some will be short listens, and some will be quite lengthy, spanning over two hours. I find that game soundtracks that are or the brief side can make for some pretty good repeat listens while those expansive scores are great for killing some time or letting them play in the background while you read a book or do some housework. Anyone familiar with game music ought to know that some of those GOAT game soundtracks? Yeah, you know the ones. Those will pop up here as well as some of the lesser known, more obscure VG soundtracks. I do play to space things out. Say, one day, I post a FINAL FANTASY soundtrack. The next day will be something else entirely. Gotta keep that variety going.

Call me strange but I do think that like books and movies, there is a video game soundtrack out there for everyone. I also firmly believe that game music can be enjoyed outside of gameplay. Maybe you'll rediscover an old favorite and maybe you'll find a new favorite.

Real Talk: COVID-19

World War II. 9/11. The Great Recession. These periods were so huge that they had a global impact on the world with lasting affects. You may be a spring chicken or an old dog but life doesn't care which of those you are and will sometimes toss you into a battle you wanted no part of. We are currently at war. The enemy isn't from another country. Planes aren't dropping bombs. The foe we face is one we're still unearthing information on. Sure, we know what the enemy is but when the enemy is one that you can't see, that gives the opposition a serious leg up on you. The enemy has hit us hard in two very vital areas: health and financial security. I'm of course talking about what everyone and I do mean everyone, is talking about COVID-19, also known as the coronavirus.

I'm not going to go into the details of what the coronavirus is as pretty much everyone on the planet already knows at this point. The virus is spreading rapidly across the world with China and Italy having some of the highest death counts and just recently, Italy's death toll surpassed China's. To put it bluntly, the situation is really freaking bad and it will get worse.

The importance of keeping social distance going cannot be overstated. I know how much it can suck to be confined to your home. This is coming a dude whose life is at home. I've never been big on nights out. A nice night at home gaming, reading or binge watching has always been more preferable than just about any activity that requires me have to leave the house. However, when it was strongly recommended that we not go anywhere due to the coronavirus being so viral, even I began to feel trapped. No matter how much you love a place, there's only so much of it you can stand before cabin fever sets in. Sure, we can still go for walks, runs, jogs or whichever you prefer. But those that go clubbing, to raves and all that stuff that involves large crowds of people in close proximity? That is donso until further notice, or a good chunk of it is anyway.

Some businesses have given closure dates til sometime in April perhaps because they honestly believe that this will have blown over by then or they wish to relieve public outcry. Others have said that by July or August this will all die down. Maybe it is because we've never seen a pandemic like this in our lifetime, but if people actually think we'll be better in a few weeks or when the summer rolls around this will all blow over, then clearly they are not grasping the severity of the situation we're in.

This isn't the first time the world has dealt with something of this magnitude. Yes, there have been pandemics in the past, many in fact. But none of them, not even the 2009 Swine Flu Pandemic, come close to the global crisis from 100 years ago; the 1918 Flu Pandemic, also known as the Spanish Flu.

If you've read more than one article on the coronavirus, you may have heard this outbreak mentioned. The abridged version of it goes like this. The 1918 Pandemic was responsible for killing more WWI soldiers than the actual war that spanned four years. Estimates of 500 million people (a third of the world's population at the time) were infected. Deaths were estimated to be 50 million globally and in the United States alone, more than half a million people died. That high death toll was largely due to the public being lied to to keep moral high during war time, thus believing the virus was gone, celebrating prematurely via parades, which lead to a second and third wave of the virus, more deadly than the first. When it was all said and done, the 1918 Flu Pandemic killed more Americans than WWI, WWII, Korea, Vietnam, Iraq and Afghanistan combined.

I know people want this to be over. They desperately want to resume their old lives. But if we don't learn from the 1918 Pandemic, we will make the very same mistakes people did 100 years back. Schools and businesses were closed to keep the virus from spreading back then and it is the same now. Leaders have made these tough calls to keep more people from dying, a decision that has hurt many of us financially.

I am one of the many people affected by the closing of restaurants. True, take out and door dash is still open but the staff for doing just that is extremely low. As a result, I have not been to work in four days straight as of this writing and I suspect it will be much longer.

Like I said earlier, we are at war and war often requires sacrifice. You may not be in a trench, clutching a rifle, but you're still involved and you've got a part to play. For many of us, that is being on lockdown, not leaving our homes and unless it is absolutely necessary. I think that is much more preferable to those that are on the front lines. Doctors, nurses, those that work in grocery stores and have essential jobs are constantly placing themselves at risk. Anyone working in the medical field has it particularly rough with hospitals across the globe being overrun with usual patients and those that have the coronavirus. I'm willing to bet more than a few of them wish they could be stuck at home like a lot of us are, but you gotta commend them for working in some insanely chaotic environments.

Through all of this madness, you've still got a life to live even if you're trapped in your home. Those books you've let pile up? Start reading them. That backlog of games? Start tearing into it. That messy office you've always meant to tidy but you "never had he time"? Dot it. DOOM Eternal and Animal Crossing: New Horizons came out yesterday. If you're planning to buy those games or you already pre-ordered them, play them, enjoy them and don't let COVID-19 ruin it for you. The countless memes that have popped up since this pandemic kicked off? Keep looking and laughing at them. We could all use some good laughs right now and last I checked, laughter was some really good medicine.

Before coronavirus mass lockdowns kicked in, I was thinking about how I had been neglecting this blog. I worked a lot of hours at my job and when I was wished for some more free time, I got it, just not the way I wanted to get that free time. Now that I have so much time on my hands, I intend to use it. I've had some ideas for content that I've been thinking about putting into post. People that work from home via YouTube and such are probably working double time to pump out content since a lot of folks aren't going anywhere. If I can make people laugh, or take their minds off COVID-19 for even a little bit, then I'll take that as a win.

So if you feel like it, stick around. Even in the midst of a crisis, we're gonna have fun here.

Source 1: History of 1918 Flu Pandemic
Source 2: Spanish Flu Historical Documentary

20 Games I'm Excited About in 2020

2020 looks to be another awesome year for video games. Quite possibly one of the best, really. I'm so pumped about game releases this year that I've compiled a list of 20 games I'm anticipating. I worked on this off and on for a few months so some of the games listed are already out and even then, I haven't played many of them that are already available.

Animal Crossing: New Horizons (NS), Release 3-20-2020

Fans were understandably disappointed when Animal Crossing for the Switch was pushed back from 2019 to 2020. Sure, it sucks but delayed games do (usually) get released. After an excruciatingly long wait, New Horizons is almost here. The upcoming installment in the loved series takes place on what Tom Nook calls the Deserted Island Getaway Package. If you're wondering what happened to the usual town setting, fear not. The island will serve the same function as a town. You'll still own a house and furnish it to your liking and befriend a colorful cast of animals. New to the series is the ability to make furniture and tools using the Nookphone. This will be my 2020 game of the year for sure if it lets me craft a sturdy wooden bat to knock Tom Nook out, toss his furry keister into the ocean and watch the sharks eat him.

Cyberpunk 2077 (PS4, XBO, PC), Release 9-17-2020

I've never played the tabletop game Cyberpunk 2077 is based off of but this game still has my interest all the same. Announced back 2013, in development since 2015, Cyberpunk 2077 will at long last release in mid April of 2020, much to the excitement of the many gamers that have been salivating to get their hands on it. Or, it would have if the game wasn't pushed back to September. I can already hear the anguished cries of thousands across the planet. Ahem, when the game does come out, you'll explore Night City in this first person action RPG, experience a nonlinear story and customize your character out the whazoo. That sounds great and all, but they had me hooked with the word "cyberpunk." As a big fan of the first two Terminator films, Battle Angel Alita and Blade Runner, I love me some cyberpunk. With the futuristic setting of 2077, we should be in for plenty of neon lights and hopefully a hefty dose of synthwave music.

FINAL FANTASY VII REMAKE (PS4), Release 4-10-2020

Though pushed back from the original March 3rd, release date (probably for the best as March has way too many good games coming out), FINAL FANTASY VII REMAKE remains a highly anticipated title. The blow of the delay was softened when Square Enix released a demo on the PSN store and spoilers, it is glorious! Thanks to 20+ years of hardware improvements, FFVII now looks better than ever and even the combat, while no longer turned based, is freaking awesome. Even if you've played the original, you'll still be in for loads of surprises with FFVIIR. The script has been reworked (the PS original was shoddy in many places) and not every story scene will unfold exactly as you remember. As of right now, the only major down side to FFVIIR is that it will be released episodically.

Dragon Ball Z: Kakarot (PS4, XBO, PC), 1-17-2020

The entirety of the Z portion of the Drgaon Ball storyline can be experienced and played through in this massive open world RPG. Sure, DBZ's story has been done to death but not quite like this. Besides, taking in the entirety of DBZ, even in Kai format is quite the binge so for those wanting to experience an abridged format of it in game form, this isn't a bad way to go.

DOOM Eternal (PS4, XBO, NS, PC) 3-20-2020 on PS4, XBO, PC/ NS TBA

If you needed more demon slaying action with Doom Guy, the sequel to the 2016 hit DOOM isn't far off. At least for those that intend to rip and tear on PS4, XBO and PC. Switch owners will have to wait longer for DOOM Eternal to hit the hybrid system. Considering the game that drops when DOOM Eternal hits, however, I doubt Switch owners are gonna be bored.

Samurai Shodown (NS), 2-25-2020

It already released on PS4 and XBO in 2019, but now Switch owners will get a taste of latest installment in the long running Samurai Shodown series. If you've never played a SamSho game, you might be thinking that this is Street Fighter with blades. And you'd be wrong. Both may be 2.5D brawlers but they could not be any more different. In SamShow, striking at just the right moment with a powerful attack can end a match, even if your opponent has a good chunk of life bar left. Visuals take a hit when you aren't playing docked but the game still runs smoothly regardless of the format you choose to play.

The Yakuza Remastered Collection (PS4), 2-11-2020

SEGA has made playing the earlier entries of the Yakuza games much easier thanks to HD remasters of Yakuza 1 and  2. Yakuza Remastered Collection contains Yakuza 3, 4 and 5 and the scripts have been revised for all three titles. Going the extra mile, this remastered collection also includes the cut content from the original western releases of each game. How about that? Looks like I don't even need to bother with my PS3 versions of Yakuza 3 and 4.

Persona 5: The Royal (PS4), Release 3-31-2020

I should probably play Persona 5 before even picking this one up as I feel I'll be missing out on some important characters and story beats from that game. Nonetheless, this game has been on my radar for some time now so I feel like forgetting about it just because I've yet to play the previous game ins't cool. The Royal sounds like it will build even further upon the world of Persona 5 with more characters and more locals. If the Royal is anything what I hear Persona 5 was like, this game will probably eat up 100 or more hours of your time easily.

Xenoblade Chronicles: Definitive Edition (NS), Release 2020

I bought the original on Wii but never got around to playing it. Considered buying the New 3DS version but never did. Now I'll be able to play what should be the ultimate version of Xenoblade Chronicles on the Switch. Not sure if this game will make me like Shulk but open world RPGs have been becoming a favorite of mine so I'm down to adventure with blondie and that big honking red sword he is carrying around.

Code Shifter (PS4, XBO, NS, PC) 1-30-2020

You're just about ready to release your big game but said game receives constant infestations of bugs and glitches. That is any game developer's nightmare. Fortunately the game designers working at Awesome Rainbow Corp have Stella on their team. Stella's avatar, Sera can transform into a ton of Arc System Works characters to clean up the bugs before launch day. If you'ever wanted to play a beat 'em up/platformer where you can swap from Sol Badguy to Kunio, Code Shifter might be up your alley. I'm not expecting this game to set the world on fire or anything but it looks cute and fun so I'm game.

Cyber Shadow (NS), Release Fall 2020

Developed by Mechanical Head and published by Yacht Clube games, Cyber Shadow had me foaming at the mouth from the first trailer. No doubt some will get vibes from The Messenger, NES Ninja Gaiden Trilogy and other action games from that era but Cyber Shadow still looks like it will stand on it's own as a very solid 2D action plaftormer with an incredible soundtrack that I need right now along witht he dang game.

Langrisser I & II (NS, PS4), Release 3-10-2020

Originally released under the name Warsong outside of Jaapan, the Langrisser titles (at least the first two) are returning to consoles under their original names. These retro strategy RPGs come with some modern touches and even let you choose between the old anime art style or the newer models. If you want to hear those original soundtracks, just set the audio back and enjoy that Genesis synth. The only thing missing  is a Genesis controller to play the games with.

Mega Man Zero/ZX Legacy Collection (PS4, XBO, NS, PC) , Release 2-25-2020

I own every single physical copy of these games individually. I also own the Mega Man Zero Collection on the DS. Having said that, I'm still stoked to play through these games again. I ran through Mega Man ZX in 2007 and recall greatly enjoying that game, so I'm looking forward to revisiting it. The Zero games tell an intriguing story that wraps up nicely by the fourth entry, have some killer beats and are on par with the difficulty you'd expect from the Mega Man series. Multiple difficulty settings will make these games less intimidating for new players or for those that want to experience these games again without getting punched in the face over and over. Along with different screen settings are the options to play the Japanese or American versions of each of these titles. I just love that different region versions of games are becoming far more common.

Tokyo Mirage Sessions #FE Encore (NS), Release 1-17-2020

The original Wii U version of this game was one of the very last games I purchased for the system. I never did get around to playing it. I think I was probably far too busy with Breath of the Wild. The original game didn't do too well so I'm happy it is being given another shot on the Switch, a system that has been killing it since the day it launched. There isn't a wealth of new content but the load times have been drastically improved from the Wii U version. I'm looking forward to saving the world as pop idol and getting to know my party members as the worlds of Fire Emblem and Shin Megami Tensei collide.

Double Dragon & Kunio-kun Retro Brawler Bundle (NS, PS4, XBO, PC), Release 2-20-2020

What was originally a Japan exclusive release has made its way outside of the Land of the Rising Sun. In digital forma, anyway. You get the NES Double Dragon trilogy along with every single NES Kunio-kun title, yes, even the ones that originally never left Japan, have been translated to English. That's a lot of beat 'em up and sports titles in one package. See the differences between River City Ransom and Downtown Nekketsu Story, play some Super Dodge Ball, see how much Renegade sucks and then play one of the infinitely superior beat 'em ups in epic bundle.

Dreams (PS4), Release 2-14-2020

The developers behind Little Big Planet are back with Dreams, a game that gives you a ton of stuff to work with to make the things of well, your dreams. The game isn't even two months old and people have already crafted some impressive Sonic stages, Super Mario 64 castle re-creations, race tracks and so much more. Even if you aren't the creative type, Dreams is thew sort of thing you'd want just to check out all the cool and silly projects people have come up with.

Pokemon Mystery Dungeon: Rescue Team DX (NS) 3-6-2020

I never played the original Pokemon Mystery Dungeon so I have no nostalgia for this one. Even so, the story book-like art style and random dungeon layouts mixed with the grid turned based combat I experienced in the demo did wet  my appetite so I think I will be checking out the full game. I like that all the Pokemon in your rescue team are rocking scarves and the music I've heard thus far really slaps.

KUNAI (NS, PC), Release 2-6-2020

Despite me feeling burned out on the over abundance of metroidvania games, KUNAI still managed to attract my attention. You play as a tablet, aptly named Tabby, with the soul of an old as dirt ninja warrior running through his wires. KUNAI looks to be more of a faster paced take on the genre. Tabby can quickly climb walls, swing around and deflect bullets. Robots with ninja action. Sounds like a good time to me. Oh and I am a fan of any game that lets you run around doing ninja business while rocking a top had with a monocle.

Bayonetta & Vanquish 10th Anniversary Bundle (PS4, XBO), Release 2-18-2020

I've already got Bayonetta 1 physical on my Wii U but I won't object to getting another physical copy on a different platform as I've yet to play the first game. Having said that, the real draw in this bundle for me is Vanquish. I missed out on this game when it originally released. With elements of sci-fi, shooting and high octane mech action, Vanquish looks like another PlatinumGames hit.

Prinny 1-2: Exploaded and Reloaded (NS), Release 10-31-2020

I have never played the original releases of either of these games but the trailer for this collection looked so off the wall crazy. Apparently this is an action adventure romp from the team that brought us Disgea, a series I have never played but heard great things about.  When one of your listed moves is called Hip Pound the sequel to the first game has the subtitle Dawn of Operation Panties, Dood!, I feel compelled, nay, obligated to see just how strange these games are.

That FINAL FANTASY VII REMAKE DEMO, Tho!

Are you sick of hearing about this game yet? I hope you're not sick of hearing about this yet because I'm gamer number insert-insanely-high-number here that is going to talk about the FINAL FANTASY VII REMAKE DEMO.

When it was announced FINAL FANTASY VII REMAKE would be releasing on March 3rd, 2020. I was highly skeptical. The game was revealed way back in 2015 at E3 and years passed before we saw anything on the game. Given how long it took Kingdom Hearts III to come out (and some would argue the wait was so no worth it), I had my doubts that FFVIIR would make the March 3rd release date. My initial reaction to finding out FFVIIR got delayed was to burst into laughter. "Ha!, I knew it! I knew Square Enix couldn't get the game out on the date!" Then I found out the release date was only pushed back to April 10th. I'd thought we were in for a 9 month delay or more. Since the delay was so small, I quickly stowed the "I told ya so!" attitude. 

Sure, I wasn't bummed out by the delay. I hadn't even planned on picking up FFVIIR on launch day. However, I am well aware of the impact FFVII had on gaming as well as gamers so that delay, diminutive as it was, had to be a tough pill to swallow for quite a number of fans. Thankfully, Square Enix dropped a demo on the PSN store to tide us over until April 10th. I've played it. Twice.

Yeah, the demo is awesome, the end.

No, really, I could end this post right here, right now. FFVIIR Demo is freaking amazing. If you have a PS4, download the demo, play it and make sure you're wearing a helmet so you don't get the room messy when the demo blows your dang mind. 

Let's get the obvious out of the way first; FFVIIR is GORGEOUS. You know the meme where the dude is passing by with his girl and she catches him looking at some other girl? Well you're the dude, whatever game you think is visually alluring is your girl and FFVIIR is the girl you're passing by eyeing. I remember watching cut scenes from the original FFVII back in 1997 (yes, I'm getting old, get over it it), thinking they were so incredible, wishing the in-game graphics could look that good. Here we are in 2020 and FFVIIR's visuals look light years ahead of anything in the original game. The lighting effects when Cloud and Barret attack enemies and even the way crates and boxes scatter about when you slash them with the Buster Sword is is cool.

Combat was one of my primary concerns in FFVIIR. Even without plying the FF games after FFX, I knew the series had moved away from turn based combat. I get that turned based battles are not everyone's cup on tea for RPGs, but it has always been one of my favorite things about the genre. FFVVR opts for a real time battle system and man, did it wipe away my worries. You can do quick, successive strikes or slow but more powerful slashes with Cloud. You can easily swap between party members with a press of the control pad and when you aren't giving them orders, the AI will put them to work. The ATB gauge is still here and once it fills up, you can either use a Limit Break or use an item or magic. Time freezes while you're issuing these commands but flows while using normal attacks. I've only played the demo twice but I get the feeling this is only but a taste of things to come and I've no doubt hardcore FFVIIR players will show us some amazing stuff.

We have some new voice actors for FFVIIR. This was something else I was worried about, though not as much as the aforementioned battle system. I liked the voice crew from Final Fantasy VII Advent Children and I wasn't sure how we'll I'd take to these new VAs. The voices for Cloud and Barret are spot on. There's one point in the demo where Cloud tells Barret "Get help" and his absolute deadpan delivery of that line, complete with Barret's reaction made me laugh out loud. Even side characters like Biggs, Wedge and Jessie  are cast well and I am so jazzed to hear more from these new VAs.

Speaking of Jessie, boy howdy does this girl ever have the hots for Cloud. In the 1997 original her crush was noticeable, sure, but for FFVIIR, it has been cranked up to eleven. Jessie openly flirts with Cloud at every opportunity. This girl is crushing on Cloud so hard that I doubt she would let the fact that Tifa clearly is also crushing on him, stop her from making a move on the spiked blonde. Somebody toss this girl in the ocean because she is soooooo thirsty. 

The FINAL FANTASY VII REMAKE DEMO convinced me to buy the game at launch. On Thursday evening, I went on Amazon and pre-ordered the deluxe edition of the game. I am still let down that this will only be the first part of the game but with the remake greatly expanding upon the original, I don't feel like waiting until the full game is out. Yes, I realize that could take years but I suppose the demo made me get caught up in FFVII hype all over again.