Final Fantasy IX

Final Fantasy IX原來已面世8年了, 但到今天我還未把它從包裝裡取出來! 作為FF的fan, 當知道FF IX初回版會連黑魔導士ビビ的娃娃, 當然二話不說預定回來. 當年還是最沉迷電視遊戲的時光, 每月最少也買3-4款新遊戲. 買這麼多回來, 又怎有時間完成呢? 很多時候買了新遊戲也落得長埋抽屜的下場, FF IX也不例外.

為什麼今天又把它找出來呢? 話說數天前在巴士上見到鄰座的人用PSP在玩FF IX, 才想起Sony在PSP裡加入了PS1的模擬器! 正想可讓我享受一下這封印多時的遊戲, 但弄了很久, 上網找了很多資料, 才發現必須把PSP的firmware改為Custom firmware才可玩到PS1遊戲! Sony太可惡了吧? 我這樣支持正版, 得到的卻比不上玩盜版的人, 太可恨了! 但既然燃起了這股衝動, 我用PC上面的模擬器也要玩到FF IX! (接駁PS2太麻煩了...)

在玩FF IX前, 我順便把Xenogears也拿了出來. 當年叫看了Xenogears的Opening movie就把它封印掉了. Xenogears比FF IX早二年面世, 當年也算是頗轟動的一款遊戲, 是用來對抗Saturn的超大作Grandia的作品. 但我玩了1個多小時, 故事還沒多推進, 畫面一直昏昏暗暗, 很難令我繼續下去. 當年因為有人物和Gears兩款戰鬥, 加上據說很精彩的故事, 也很受好評. 但以現在的眼光來看, 已有點落伍了. 換了Sqaure的鎮店之寶Final Fantasy便完全不一樣了. FF IX不愧為Square在PS1上面最後一款大作, 畫面以2000年的技術, PS1的機能來說已好得沒話說. 風格又回到FF VI的歐陸風情, 以Polygon表現亦令人看得很舒服. 而且玩了1小時左右, 雖然還推進到主故事, 但完全不會令人放棄. 相信我一定可以完成FF IX吧? 一定比FF VIII好很多, 當時辛苦了很久也完成不了disk 1, 悶得可怕! FF VIII應該是最差的一款Final Fantasy吧?

遊戲開始, ジタン要燃起桌上的蠟燭才可點亮整個房間呢!


ビビ在童話般的城裡, 很可愛!

Hound and Jaguar

Yet another great figure is out, Henkei Hound! It had been a long time for me to take a toy out from its package in the same day I got it. I have to be honest that I like Hound because it is the my first Transformers figure when I was a kid, but Henkei Hound by itself is a really really nice figure that anyone shouldn't miss! Hound has a nice vehicle mode, agreat robot mode with very poseable articulations, and as a bonus, he comes with Jaguar the cassettron! The only complaint is that Hound lacks a waist joint. Still, Henkei version already beats the BinalTech one! Lets enjoy this little gallery, also featuring Universe Legends Hound.
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In package images,


...and the BIO card.






Jeep mode.




...with the HUGH caseette!


The size of the cassette mode is about the same as G1!




Much much better than the original G1 Jaguar toy!




Legends Hound in action ^_^


Hound is so poseable!


I wanted to get also G1 and BT Hound in the same picture, but it is just too difficult to dig G1 Hound out...




I forgot the G1 story. Did Ravage always fight with Hound?

聖誕禮物 2008

昨天晚上到siu家開了小型聖誕party. 吃了元氣的壽司和siu自製的沙律, 很滿足! 之後大家交換禮物, 我抽到siu的老鼠speaker, 很可愛呢! 已經多少年沒有交換聖誕禮物了呢?

20th Anniversary Belldandy Figure

2008 is the 20th anniversary of "Oh My Goddess!" running on the Afternoon Magazine. I was still a high school student when I started reading this comic (around 1993 when the translated version available in Hong Kong). I am now over 30 years old, but Keiichi is still having his college life! I know the series may not come to an end but I am quite disappointed that there isn't any progress in a 20-year romance! The story also becomes so dull that I just keep reading the series for the graphics. I miss "You're under Arrested!"! Anyway, the characters are really charming. The magnet Belldandy figure included in the January issue of Afternoon is really nice. I am looking forward to the Urd and Skuld figures in the following issues.

The Supercar Brothers

Lets welcome the supercar twin brothers Sunstreaker and Sideswipe! This is the first time I open a Heikei version though I own almost every one of them... I am not a freak for chrome parts but I really prefer the Japanese versions over then US ones as they always get better paint job. The chrome parts for Sunstreaker and Sideswipe also look nice. As what's more is that to me, the package of Japanese version is way better!
What makes the Classics series success is the fact that it brings the G1 characters back. Though it is hardly to have Lamborghini Transformers, Hasbro/Takara-Tomy still give us a nice sports car mode for Sunstreaker and Sideswipe. I really love the idea that Sunstreaker and Sideswipe have very "different" robot modes by just turning the upper torso around. This really resemble the G1 counterparts. This is one of the best repaint/remold TFs. Lets have a look of my favorite pairs in the Classics/Heikei series!
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In package image. The boxart of Heikei series is different from the Classics'.


Back of the package.




Another nice thing of Japanese version is the bio card.


Sunstreaker with his trademark engine on the roof.


Sideswipe car mode. The screen of both Sunstreaker and Sideswipe are actually clear parts, but painted so dark that it is hardly look through it.


Sideswipe has a license plate with "LAMBOR" (Japanese name of Sideswipe). Sunstreaker has one with "WER 84". What does it mean?


Sunstreaker robot mode.


Nice head sculpt.


Sideswipe robot mode.


Sideswipe with his trademark shoulder cannon.




The twin brothers in action!

City Commander

Got the FansProject City Commander at the HK-TF gathering. Thanks our chairman Heero! Being a customized trailer for Ultra Magnus of the Classics series, it really makes many fans' dream come true. It makes Ultra Magnus no longer a repaint of Optimus Prime. When I saw this Ultra Magnus Armor the first time on the web, I just thought that both the trailer mode and the robot mode look cool. However, when I got this armor and transformed it once, I was amazed the design of this armor fits so well with the original Classics Magnus mold. It makes use of most of the details on the original figure such as the hole for the screw on the shoulder, the plate on the leg, etc., so that the armor can fit onto the core figure precisely. Of course I am not saying that City Commander is perfect, but it is really a nice piece that worth to own. The only complain is that the price is too high, especially when you look at the price for the original Classics Magnus. Anyway, lets have a look of this nice piece.
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A simple but nice package




The trailer mode does not really look alike the G1 counterpart. So what? The Classics series gives you the G1 in a new design, right? A complain to the trailer mode is the the truck and the trailer are fixed in that position. The truck cannot actually turn.


The rear of the trailer looks quite good.


Another complain is that the trailer cannot really carry a car.


G1 can carry two cars on the roof!


The robot mode looks too close to the G1.


A nice head sculpt, but does not match very well with other Classics figures.


An over-exaggerated gun. Actually I prefer a normal gun so that it can transform to a less bulky trailer.


The gun has so-called two modes, just a flip-around.


Ultra Magnus and Hotrod. Who can know the small guy becomes the leader?

メジャーカレー

八月底學校附近有一家咖哩屋ゴーゴーカレー新開張, siu和我一直想試一下, 因為見到店內每天都擠滿客人. 而且menu內的相片也很吸引. 可是到siu回港後也沒有到過. 今天趁最後一晚留在日本, 自己一個人跑到秋葉原的分店, 挑戰一下那份メジャーカレー. 看相片也知道這咖哩的份量有多厲害, 幾乎擠不進畫面! 這份メジャーカレー有豬扒, 雞扒, 炸蝦, 2條維也納腸, 雞蛋和椰菜絲, 更要命的是飯量有一般咖哩飯的1.5倍! 未吃之前我肚子是非常餓的, 但吃到一半已經飽得很, 結果不繼的吃也花了30分鐘才吃完! 現在肚子撐得我有點辛苦 ~_~
味道不過不失, 但1000yen有如此份量真的物超所值(以日本物價來算). 環顧店內的客人, 9成也點了這メジャーカレー, 會否都是第一次光顧的呢? 就我來說, 這樣的挑戰一次便夠了!