This is My Writing Journey

I WAS INSPIRED BY A LOT of things. What first inspired you to create your story, song, or piece of artwork? Your life’s work. The thing that you feel would be your greatest achievement? For me, it all started with Final Fantasy II on the Super Nintendo.

Final Fantasy II

THIS WAS BACK WHEN Final Fantasy IV was rebranded to Final Fantasy II when it was first ported to the USA on November 23, 1991. I have never played the game. But I remember that I would visit my cousins a lot then, and they owned an SNES. They would be playing Final Fantasy II when me and my brother would stop by.

I WOULD SIT and watch them play the game for hours. I followed most of the story, intrigued by Cecil, Dragoon Kain, Rydia, Tellah, Rosa, Edge, Edward, Cid, and the rest of the cast. I thought the creatures like Bahamut, Leviathan, Ifrit, and all were so cool! And I was blown away as I watched them confront Zeromus for the last time! The music! The graphics. The story. It amazed me in a way that I had never seen before.

FINAL FANTASY II WAS THE FIRST JRPG I had ever played. Er, watched. Up until then, it was Super Mario Bros. 1-2-3, The Legend of Zelda, Metroid, Bubble Bobble, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles II: The Arcade Game, Karnov, Russian Attack, and the like. So it was different. It was new!

I HAVE NEVER PLAYED OR BEATEN Final Fantasy II to this day, I want to make that much clear. It was a huge inspiration, and I have gone on to play and beat Final Fantasy VII, Final Fantasy VIII, Final Fantasy IX (the greatest FF game of all time), Final Fantasy X, and almost beat Final Fantasy Tactics, got to the end of Final Fantasy 13 Lightning Returns.

I also became a huge fan of Squaresoft. I miss the original Square. I played and love Brave Fencer Musashi, Threads of Fate, Chrono Cross, Xenogears, Chrono Trigger, Parasite Eve, Super Mario RPG, Ehrgiez, Legend of Mana, The Bouncer, to name a few. And eventually Kingdom Hearts!

This also began my obsession and craze with JRPGs.

I STARTED WRITING A STORY about Final Fantasy II that followed Cecil, Caine, Edge, and Rydia. Fanfiction. I also chose friends and family members who could dress up and act as the characters. Larping I guess? Although no one wanted to play pretend with me. Well, except for my younger brother and cousins.