88 hours since the 25th. That’s an average of 8.8 hours a day people. And I worked most of those days too. I see King Metal Slimes in my sleep. They taunt me with massive potential experience, but then run away as I get close. Brontes, Steropes and I skip through meadows of medicinal herbs and I hum to the sound of the Satyrical Song. But it’s not all peaches and cream. I’ve hit that point in the game. Dead stop.
I mowed through 88 hours of gaming goodness with DQ8 because it simply didn’t let me stop. The story keeps moving, the plot keeps thickening, and the areas keep opening up for me to explore. I’ve waded through thousands of battles, slaughtering innumerable foes – but all with a story-driven purpose. But now? Now I have to grind. The game is silently demanding I make Yangus whistle his monster call several hundred times in a row, just so I can earn enough experience to beat the boss I’m stuck on. Oogh.
I’ll probably do it at some point (88 hours!), but right now, I take this as a sign that I need a break from the game. I have enough trouble working up the will to grind in games I pay subscriptions for – I think I’ll just have to wait until the spirit moves me before I’m able to continue in DQ8. Don’t get me wrong, it’s a great game – and perhaps if you don’t stay arrow-focused on furthering the storyline you wouldn’t be stuck like me – but grinding sucks. Maybe a little more time chilling out in some areas would have allowed me have a stronger team than I have now – but alas, spilled milk. What’s the worst grinding experience you guys ever had in a single player RPG? I assume it can get pretty scary, since I know you can beat DQ8 at level 40, and I also know you get a new spell at level 65 (shiver).
Published: Jan 3, 2006 04:26 pm