I think I managed to play most of the console games that were really a big deal, usually by playing them at friends' houses. I don't really regret missing out on Metal Gear and Final Fantasy stuff; it just doesn't do it for me. Indeed, I more regret missing Phantasie, which I know is one of Bill's favorites, than Final Fantasy.
The funny thing is is for most who even played the original Metal Gear on the NES, missed out on Metal Gear, because the MSX version was the standard bearer. The NES version was butt in comparison. I also don't feel like I missed out on Final Fantasy because I was playing "real" CRPGs, not stylized and generally cut-down variants on console. I tried to play it after purchasing the GBA remix and had a heck of a time getting into it.
Part of the reason why I never did get into the Ultimas or Wizardry is because the Phantasie series had offered that pen and paper D&D experience on computer that I wanted. I lucked out on that. If I wasn't seduced by the incredible artwork in the advertisements, my path might have been quite different.
I think I managed to play most of the console games that were really a big deal, usually by playing them at friends' houses. I don't really regret missing out on Metal Gear and Final Fantasy stuff; it just doesn't do it for me. Indeed, I more regret missing Phantasie, which I know is one of Bill's favorites, than Final Fantasy.
The funny thing is is for most who even played the original Metal Gear on the NES, missed out on Metal Gear, because the MSX version was the standard bearer. The NES version was butt in comparison. I also don't feel like I missed out on Final Fantasy because I was playing "real" CRPGs, not stylized and generally cut-down variants on console. I tried to play it after purchasing the GBA remix and had a heck of a time getting into it.
Part of the reason why I never did get into the Ultimas or Wizardry is because the Phantasie series had offered that pen and paper D&D experience on computer that I wanted. I lucked out on that. If I wasn't seduced by the incredible artwork in the advertisements, my path might have been quite different.