For what it’s worth – I started Phantasy Star IV this year, before the news came out about Reiko’s untimely passing – and have quietly been thoroughly engrossed. I haven’t mentioned it in the “what we’re currently playing” post, or even in “show me anything sega”, because I’ve felt like I don’t have much to say that hasn’t been said so many times before.
However, here and now, in the context of offering tributes and memories to her work – I was immediately engrossed. PS4 has been there, like a somewhat comforting blanket, while I’ve navigated the releases and games of this year. I play something new, then come back and put an hour or three into Phantasy Star IV. I get distracted and play the next new thing, I come back again and put another few hours in.
It may take me a year to finish this game, and I’m not sure I’ll ever have much worth of note to say about it beyond: this is fun, this is good, I am enjoying my time hanging out with this game.