I’d like to direct your attention to the photo at right. In the photograph you’ll see most of the RPG’s I have in my collection. Some of them are very recent, like Blue Dragon and Lost Odyssey, while others are in the usual R@RE and “buy it now” sections of eBay on a regular basis and will no doubt pay for my pension when I retire. All in all, there are about 40 Japanese style role playing games, including the few I missed in the shot, but they all have a place in my heart, as well as the same thoughts from many players of the genre.

But what is it that makes these games so special and makes a fair few of us want to keep hold of them? You don’t see everyone wanting to ensure they keep a copy of Kameo, Genji or Perfect Dark Zero very often, but Final Fantasy VII? I’ll bet there are a few Playstation discs with more dust than your grandfather’s LP collection if you look at an RPG man’s wares.

I’m the same. 9AM on a frosty September morning back in the late 90’s and there was a young(ish) boy queuing up in front of the games store (Electronic Boutique UK for those that can remember that far back) and waiting patiently for my copy of FF8 before I had to scream off to college and do my day release. There’s something, or things, within these games that keep us coming back for more of the same. Sure, we moan about the random battles and the sometimes frustrating combat system, but we know it’s all a part of the routine needed to give you a chance with the final boss.