It was the early 90s. I was around nine, maybe ten years old. Our family had taken a trip to Blockbuster, and I picked up a copy of Final Fantasy II on the SNES. Honestly, I don’t remember why I chose it — I just know I loved video games from an early age. The only other memory I have from that time is playing Super Mario Bros. on the SNES, so I wasn’t always an RPG guy.
But Final Fantasy II — or IV, as it’s truly known — blew my young mind.
⚠️ Spoiler warning: Skip the next paragraph if you haven’t played this nearly 35-year-old classic.
The game had so many emotional moments: Kain’s betrayal, Palom and Porom’s sacrifice, Cecil becoming a Paladin. I’ll always remember when Edward climbed out of bed and played his harp to save us from the Dark Elf in the magnetic cave. Looking back, I’m shocked I beat Final Fantasy IV at that age.
Although, confession time — I made it to the final boss, but my party was too weak to defeat the mighty Zeromus. Luckily, whoever rented the game before me had a save file right before the final encounter. I loaded it and laid the smackdown on Zemus.
🎮 Gaming Then vs. Now
Sometimes I wonder how many ten-year-olds today could beat the games we grew up on. Sure, they’d destroy me in Fortnite, but how many would have the patience (or reading comprehension) to navigate 90s RPGs?
This isn’t a “kids these days” rant. Every generation has its strengths. Gaming was just different back then — no glowing quest markers, no auto-map paths. You had to read, explore, talk to villagers, and pay attention.
Even today, when I revisit vintage games, I catch myself speed-clicking through dialogue and realizing I’ve missed something important. It’s a great reminder to slow down, pay attention, and enjoy the art in front of me.
“Do not dwell in the past, do not dream of the future, concentrate the mind on the present moment.”– Buddha
💾 A Lifelong Player
I was born in 1983, so I was around fourteen when Final Fantasy VII came out. It was mind-blowing — I vividly remember flipping through screenshots in gaming magazines and marveling at how far technology had come since FFVI.
That game left a mark on me. Even now, I’m still immersed in its world. I just finished Rebirth for the first time and Remake for the third. Completing those, along with Expedition 33 (which might have the most emotional opening of any game I’ve ever played), reignited my love for RPGs.
🏋️♂️ The Fitness Quest
After finishing Rebirth, I started thinking: how could I fill the time until Final Fantasy VII Part 3 releases? That’s when the idea hit — a personal challenge.
I decided to go back and complete every Final Fantasy I’ve never finished. My DNF list is embarrassingly long: I, II, III, V, IX, and XII. The only sequel I’ve ever completed is X-2. I’ve only beaten VIII and X once each. So yeah, plenty of content to keep me busy.
But more than that, I wanted to document the journey. I’ve always had a deep love for these games, but no one in my life really shares that passion (my wife’s eyes glaze over after about five minutes). So why not share it here — and maybe find others who get it?
Then came the next idea: what if I combined my two favorite things — fitness and fantasy?
Gamers, especially RPG fans, have long been stereotyped as lazy or out of shape. Honestly, I fit that mold for a long time. I’ve always struggled with my weight — but in the opposite direction. I was skinny for years, hovering around 125 lbs at 5’8″.
A few years ago, I decided to put my health first. I’m not a bodybuilder or an Ironman, but I’m healthier and fitter than I’ve ever been.
⚔️ Leveling Up in Real Life
It’s not about achieving a perfect physique — it’s about becoming the best version of ourselves. That’s what this blog is about: gamifying your life through games.
Instead of the usual “10k steps a day” challenge, I’ll do things like “one step per combined HP of my main party until I beat the game.” Or I’ll “punish” myself with workouts for every game on my DNF list.
Along the way, I’ll share my progress, reviews, and fitness advice that anyone — gamer or not — can use.
This is my quest to level up my life. I hope you’ll join me and level up yours.
🔚 Closing Thoughts
If you’ve ever found yourself grinding XP late into the night or pushing for one more rep in the gym, this blog is for you. Let’s take the discipline we learned from gaming and apply it to real life — one quest at a time.