My Legacy: A Continuation Of Greatness

Behold!

Ladies and mostly gentlemen, it is I, your champion!

The time has come yet again my adoring fans. Time to ready your applause wearied hands to congratulate me on my fifth straight Final Fantasy Race victory. Only one week to go.

For those of you who have not heard of my prowess, or perhaps not of Final Fantsy Race at all, I will enlighten you.

Final Fantsy Race is a gladitorial event held once a year to celebrate the friendship of myself (your champion!) and Sandy (participant). It is just as its title implies. A race, also, Final Fantasy. First to finish the game in a single sittting takes home the prize. This year, the year of our lord 2007, is the fifth glorious race in a series of glorious races. My previous performances can be summed up nicely by this photo:




Race 1 (Summer 2003): Final Fantasy VI
Our first meeting was over Squaresoft's finest creation Final Fantasy VI (or Final Fantasy III for those who subscribe to the North American counting method). Played over 25 hours in the basement of the Taronno Family residence this was the most heavily attended FF Race to date. Some estimates have put the number of spectators at over 7, while more conservative estimates put the number at 7. Both competitors had previously played this particular FF extensively, and as such it was less a test of raw FF ability, and more a battle of strategy. In the end it was hard to say what exactly was the deciding factor but it could very well have been Sandy's neglect of the Atma Weapon, or my crucial descision to allow Strago to languish in thralldom. In the end the victor was of course myself, your champion!

Race 2 (April 2004): Final Fantasy VII
Sandy's second opportunity for participation was a far sorrier affair. Held at a fledgling Casa Ultimo, Sandy's inability to cope with the wonders of 3 dimensional environments, and the far longer game length (37 hours) proved to be the sweetest lullaby. He gave into temptation and attempted a cat nap of 40 minutes, which turned into a slumber of an hour and a half. He will tell you that he never slept that long, but he of course was not awake, so how would he know? In any case, a strategic nap of any length can only hinder when one's opponent most noble considers insomnia not disorder, but an option. Not surprisingly, Sandy slept through the ending, and to this day has never seen it.

Race 3 (December 2005): Final Fantasy IV
A race that barely bears mention. Again held in the Taronno basement, this FF Race was poorly attended by both Final Fantasy Fans, and the will of appoximately half of the participants. Particularly those participants who were (perhaps still are?) not championship material. This time, 22 hours proved too much for sleepyhead, who again missed the ending. At best, a hollow victory.

Race 4 (July 2006): Final Fantasy IX
A return to glory in 2006. This re-invigoration proved just the breath of fresh air for the ailing event. Held in the semi-outdoors and well attended, particularly by the current Final Fantasy Fan record holder Jason Vonkar Pankratz, as well as some new faces, this race proved to be nearly as long as 2004's offering. This time the improvement in graphics, as well the use of stimulants kept our second-favorite racer in the battle. However, in the end, Sandy's use of caffeine pills only payoff was to actually see the ending for once, to wallow in his sub-standard FFing.

Race 5 (August 2007): Final Fantsy XII
Which brings us to the present. What will surely be the greatest FF Race of all, is being held this time deep in the bowels of The Pammy, residence of Alex (your champion!) and some other guy. A new FF Race brings new questions. Will we finally see a 40 hour race? How victoriously victorious will I prove to be this year? How early will Sandy call his mommy to tuck him in? The answers to these questions forthcoming in this very blog!

Alex

P.S. For a more desperate and harried account of events, tune in here