#Like the song 'supporting me' from Sonic Adventure 2
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sonic adventure 2 is often hyped up as one of the best sonic soundtracks ever and for good reason but it feels like people are always reducing it to live and learn and escape from the city and a ghosts pumpkin soup and ignoring everything else. like yes those are good songs but they're not the only ones ??? where's the love for supporting me. or e.g.g.m.a.n. or im a spy. or fly in the freedom. or unknown from m.e v2. or throw it all away. or rythmn and balance. or deeper. or for true story. or probably other songs im forgetting
#I LOVE YOU SONIC MUSIC !!!!!!#notice how half of these are shadow songs. well his music slaps#its always ''YESSSSS PUMPKIN HILLLLLL'' enough about pumpkin hill. lets talk about dry lagoon now.
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Favourite video game composers?
Where do I begin.
Fumie Kumatani is a legend among legends, responsible for some of the finest, most emotional works in the Sonic games, especially in Adventure 1 and Unleashed. At Dawn? Tricky Maze? Tikal’s theme? Gamma's theme? For True Story? Supporting Me? The Last Scene? High and Broken? Gaia Gate? Cool Edge Night? Skyscraper Scamper Day? All hers.
Jun Senoue? Hello? The perpetual banger machine? Giving us quality content since 1994? Even excluding the facemelting masterpieces that are the Crush 40 songs, I cannot possibly link all of my favorite works, my man can go from the hardest buttrock to the most somber piece. If you love an Adventure rock track, it was composed by him. Hell I even like some of his Sonic 4 work!
Tomoya Ohtani sort of replaced Senoue in the 10s, and he evolved an "anime" style, but before that his versatility had no peers and he’s also extremely prolific. The Knuckles raps, The ARK, His World, Wave Ocean (both with the help of Mariko Nanba) Crisis City (+ Classic and Modern remixes), Flame Core, End of the World, Endless Possibility, Windmill Isle Day, Rooftop Run Day (+ Classic and Modern remixes), Aquarium Park’s themes, Sea Bottom Segue, Infinite’s theme, Egg Gate, Mortar Canyon...
Kenichi Tokoi has been with us since Sonic Jam and I can't get enough of his jazzy, energetic style. You have no idea how many bangers he composed, and few people appreciate him! He gave us The Dreamy Stage, Egg Carrier’s theme (with some help from Kumatani), Mechanical Resonance, Unknown from M.E. (the good version), Battle Highway, all of Cyber Track themes, Sand Ruins, The Palace that Was Found, Unawakening Float, It Has Come To This, the Werehog Battle theme, Dragon Road Night, Jungle Joyride Night, Crimson Carnival, Planet Wisp’s themes, Terminal Velocity, Battle with Death Queen... I could go on forever. (and not Sonic related but Spaceship Strut has been living in my head rent free for years)
Hideaki Kobayashi! The one who can put an entire orchestra and choirs in a GBA soundchip! The one who gave us the delightful intro and history themes of Mega Collection! The one who made my favorite non-orchestral final boss theme (and horribly underrated) in the series! The one who gave us Solaris’s themes, the Egg Dragoon theme, Perfect Dark Gaia’s theme and Nega Wisp Armor’s themes! And easily the best staff roll theme in the series!
Yutaka Minobe is hella underrated, and his tracks often stand out in the soundtracks. He did The Doom, Ice Mountain, Music Plant, Lost Jungle, Deep Woods and the third Infinite boss theme.
Same for Mariko Nanba, who gave us Circus Park, Dusty Desert Quicksand, Tropical Jungle, White Acropolis, Kingdom Valley, Aquatic Base, Coral Cave, Haunted Ship and many of Colors’ area themes. (basically she’s half the reason ‘06′s ost is the greatest)
Tatsuyuki Maeda is not a name that you read often, but he also made some of my favorite tracks, from Volcano Valley to Gene Gadget, from Egg Rocket to Ocean Base.
Hideki Naganuma needs no introduction. Rush’s OST is iconic.
Naofumi Hataya and Masafumi Ogata, the geniuses behind CD's original soundtrack (and Sonic 2 8-bit, a personal favorite of mine), are a mandatory mention. Hataya also did a number of tracks outside of CD, like Ocean Palace, Mystic Mansion, Gems Collection’s OST, Terminal Velocity’s area theme and Ghost Town. (Ogata also did Ristar’s Crying World, one of my favorites from that game)
And finally, Tee Lopes, who earned his rightful place among the greatest after one game, and then proceeded to bless us more in Team Sonic Racing and even outside - that cover of Underground Zone he did with Senoue? Bliss <3
... And these are all just Sonic composers :p
Kenji Yamamoto is the most consistent composer for the Metroid games, and responsible for the masterpieces that are Super Metroid's and Metroid Prime's OSTs. Of course, special shoutout to Minako Hamano for giving us Maridia Rocky Underwater Area and Ridley’s theme, among other tracks she was not specificially credited for :) I know she was hugely responsible for Fusion’s OST, at least.
Yasumasa Kitagawa and Hiromitsu Maeba are by far my favorite composers for Ace Attorney, although they only did The Great Ace Attorney (and the crossover with Layton). Objection 2015, The Great Pursuit, Herlock Sholmes' theme, Barok van Zieks's theme, Kazuma Asougi’s second theme, The Game is Afoot, The Great Secret Trial... Aside from them, Noriyuki Iwadare is by far the most famous AA composer, and I like him a lot too, but he’s basically the Jun Senoue of AA, I don’t know where to begin with him lol. Maybe with Trials and Tribulations’ Objection theme, now the de facto Phoenix’s theme.
Hidenori Shoji, the man who has been carrying the Yakuza franchise since its inception! I’m only familiar with his work on Yakuza 0 but holy shit what a work - I am so weak for this kind of eclectic style. I mean, this guy gave us Receive You and its many different remixes!
Megaman had a ton of composers, too many to list, so special shout out to Yasuaki Fujita (main composer of MM3′s OST) Toshihiko Horiyama (main composer of X1′s OST, plus Apollo Justice’s), Naoto Tanaka (main composer of X5′s and X6′s OSTs, plus Justice for All’s), Ippo Yamada (general composer of the Zero series - a few examples of his work: Enemy Hall, Departure, Cannon Ball, Straight Ahead), Masaki Suzuki (many of Zero 2′s best tracks are his) and Shinichi Itakura (the one who graced us with Falling Down among other tracks :P).
Jeremy Soule is mostly famous for his Skyrim work. I know him for composing the OSTs of the first three Harry Potter games :P at this point tracks like Hogwarts’ theme, Diagon Alley and the title screen of Prisoner of Azkaban are part of my genetic makeup.
And of course, the one and only Michiru Yamane. Symphony of the Night is just her flexing as hard as she could - she could go from Marble Garden to Lost Painting to Festival of Servants in one game with no struggle. And before that, Bloodlines’s OST is an underrated gem in the Genesis library.
(also, as a bit of a footnote: NicolAmarfi and Blue123. I love Katawa Shoujo and its music so much, even if it’s a small indie visual novel)
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Rating All IDW Sonic Call Backs (issues 1-12)
The first arc of the comic, where the story is more lighthearted before the Metal Virus starts. Here are the list of call backs, and I need to remind you this is only about textual references, so don’t expect anything visual.
Issue 2
Reference: It Doesn’t Matter (Sonic Adventure) – “Don't ask me why, I don't need a reason. I got my way, my own way.”
Context: Despite Amy’s insistence, Sonic refuses to join the Resistance, citing that he has his own way in life, independently. Amy blushes, and concedes that she doesn’t want to change Sonic’s mindset.
Review: A fairly inoffensive reference to Sonic’s theme song, which describe the character’s mindset. A hedgehog that doesn’t compromise and stays true to his self, or principles if you will. Eggman will attempt to break Sonic’s spirit during the Metal Virus, and characters will question his mindset, but he doesn’t compromise. Sounds like a source for conflict, don’t you think?
Rating: 7/10, passable.
Issue 3
Reference: Sonic Generations (console version) – “Thanks for the help. Not that I needed it… but is good to have my sanctuary back.”
Context: Sonic helped Knuckles against Rough and Tumble, and he thanks Sonic before saying he didn’t need help.
Review: This is one of the “it may or not count” references, as the wording is very similar to one from the source material, but is inoffensive enough that may as well not count. It is certainly better than in Generations and Lost World, where Knuckles was a supporting character.
Rating: 6/10, unnoticeable.
Issue 7
Reference: Sonic Heroes – “Long time no see, Sonic. My loathsome copy.”
Context: Metal Sonic pretends to be Eggman, but Sonic isn’t fooled after his encounter with Mr. Tinker. This leads to Metal Sonic to reveal himself.
Review: During Heroes, Metal Sonic says this line after meeting Sonic for the first in a long while, and it reflects Metal’s inferiority complex by thinking he’s the real Sonic, or at least, the better Sonic. Neo Metal Sonic returns by calling Sonic by the same lines, and it’s a good way for the reader to immediately recognize who this imposter is. While Heroes’s could be interpreted that Metal went insane by his delusion, a later issue will repeat this line more on the context that he is arrogant. Anyway, this one is good for what it is.
Rating: 8/10, good.
Reference: His World – (Sonic The Hedgehog 06) – “In this world... (His world!)/ Never fear the fall.”
Context: Metal Sonic has Sonic on the ropes, as the hedgehog’s only way to escape is to jump. He then utters the game’s theme song lyrics as he jumps to the abyss, where Tails saves him.
Review: One of Flynn’s characteristic lyric quoting. While considered cute, this is one of the occasions I’m not exactly excited by it, as Sonic breaks the momentum of the story in order to quote a song. It helps that I don’t like His World at all due to overexposure. One of the bad call backs.
Review: 4/10, forced.
Issue 8
Reference: Super Smash Bros Brawl – Sonic taunts. “You’re too slow!” “C’mon, step it up!”
Context: Sonic mocking the security of an Eggman base.
Review: Another bad one. This is one of the “member’ this?” references, that feel like they were written to pad out the issue. Or just Flynn being a huge nerd. Not a fan.
Review: 3/10, basic pandering.
Issue 9
Reference: What I’m made of (Sonic Heroes) – “In the face of reason, I can take no more / One by one they've all become / A black mark on the floor”
Context: Metal Sonic taunting Sonic and Knuckles, as they approach to fight him.
Review: One of the lyrical references, this time referencing Metal Overlord battle music. There’s nothing much to say, it is a song associated with Metal, and in context it makes sense as he is talking of how he will kill everyone.
Review: 6/10, passable.
Reference: What I’m made of (Sonic Heroes) –“Is it me/ You say, you're looking for /Let me show you who I am and what I'm here for... (here for)”
Context: Despite their approach, Metal was prepared and used the power of the Master Emerald to transform in a super state, and taunts the heroes to come at him.
Review: I believe this is one of the better call backs. The original context of What I’m made of stroke me as a song from Sonic’s point of view, telling Metal he didn’t care what his motivations were, but he was going to deliver the fight. In this occasion, not only is Metal coming back for a second round, but this time he mocks Sonic by using the original song. It’s effective, in my opinion.
Rating: 8/10, good.
Issue 10
Reference: E.G.G.M.A.N. (Sonic Adventure 2) –“I'm plotting my schemes wherever I go/ They're perfect in every way / I'd love to destroy the blue one you know / He's an obstacle that always gets in my way”
Context: Tinker singing a song to the children. He ends before Rough interrupts with “Eggman”.
Review: The most creative of the song references so far, as a little parody of Eggman’s theme song. It does feel like padding, but I’ll let it slide because it is clearly a parody done by Eggman’s split personality.
Rating: 6/10, passable.
Reference: Sonic Heroes – “Long time no see, Sonic. My loathsome copy.”
Context: Metal Sonic copies Shadow’s bio-data, and thanks to it and the Master Emerald’s power, he becomes Metal Overlord.
Review: While I spoke positively of the usage of the line the first time, by this I feel Flynn started to become repetitive. Once is good, twice is abuse. Metal didn’t even need to say the line, him just saying “Now, Sonic, it’s time to bow to your master overlord” is enough.
It did lead to a taunt by Sonic, which I liked, but I don’t think it was necessary.
Rating: 4/10, derivative.
Issue 12
Reference: Never Turn Back (Shadow The Hedgehog)
Context: Just Rouge telling Sonic Shadow has already left the island, and he won’t come back unless needed.
Review: Just a quick mention, possibly even a coincidence to the true ending theme of Shadow’s game.
Rating: 5/10, unnoticeable
Reference: Sonic Generations (console version) – “Time for a change of pace!”
Context: Eggman saying he doesn’t need to repeat an old plan, and changing his mind.
Review: One of Eggman’s many game lines that became memes. This is one of those things that are cute at first, but on countless repeats it does become annoying, and turns what was a boss line into a catchphrase. Lego Dimension and Flynn’s previous work did involve Eggman repeating some of these lines.
As of now, it’s harmless. But the fun is when Eggman repeats a new line every new boss, so I better see you come up with something new for the eventual boss fight in Frontiers, Flynn. Lord knows Lost World and Forces didn’t deliver on that.
Rating: 5/10, meme line.
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Formed back in 2020, Austin-based shoegazers DAIISTAR (pronounced Day-Star) — Alex Capistran (vocals, guitar), Nick Cornetti (drums), Misti Hamrick (bass) and Derek Strahan (keys) — have established a narcotic blend of noise and melody that draws from the neo-psychedelic era of the 80s and 90s, but modernizes it with modulating synths, heavy guitars, bouncing bass lines and spiraling hooks.
The Austin shoegeazer outfit’s Alex Maas-produced full-length debut, last year’s GoodTime featured the fuzzy The Jesus and Mary Chain-meets- Crocodiles-like “Parallel” and revealed a band that paid a remarkable amount of attention to craft with a penchant for catchy hooks. The band supported the album touring across North America with The Black Angels, The Brian Jonestown Massacre and The Dandy Warhols, and included festival circuit stops at Levitation, Desert Daze, SXSW, Freak Out, Treefort, as well as a KEXP session.
The Austin shoegazers are currently on a European tour. Those tour dates are below. But they’ll be releasing the “Clear”/”Velvet Reality (Sonic Boom ” Remix 7 inch through Fuzz Club. Slated for a May 10, 2024 release, the 7 inch will feature “Clear,” a previously unreleased song recored during the GoodTime sessions. “Clear” is a reverb-drenched bliss bomb featuring shimmering synths, Capistran’s dreamily delivered falsetto paired with a slow-burning groove. The song, to me at least, brings road trips on glorious, sunny afternoons — full of hope, possibility, life-altering adventures and laughs.
DAIISTAR’s Alex Capistran (guitar/vocals) explained that “the idea behind ‘Clear’ was to write the perfect song for a perfect day. A song that comes to mind on a warm and sunny afternoon; inspiring thoughts of attainable bliss and encouraging you to dream up something nice for your future self.”
Album track “Velvet Reality,” closes out GoodTime with a dreamy, washed-out haze. Spacemen 3 co-founder Pete Kember, a.k.a. Sonic Boom gives “Velvet Reality” the remix treatment, further deconstructing the song by making it even more ethereal and hazier than its original while also giving the oscillating and fluttering synths more of an emphasis. The result is an ethereal and narcoleptic bit of shoegaze seemingly informed by doo wop.
TOUR DATES
4/19 ES BARCELONA – BARCELONA PSYCH FEST
4/20 ES ZARAGOZA – LATA DE BOMBILLAS
4/21 ES SAN SEBASTIAN – DABADABA
4/23 CH BERN – CAFE KAIRO
4/24 IT BOLOGNA – COVO CLUB
4/25 IT ROMA – GLITCH
4/26 IT FIRENZE – THE CAVE
4/27 IT LENO – PRIMO MAGGIO ROCK!
4/30 DE BERLIN – LOOPHOLE
5/1 DE VIECHTACH – ALTES SPITAL
5/2 DE STUTTGART – DIE WAGENHALLEN
5/3 DE FRANKFURT – THE UP CLUB
5/4 NL EINDHOVEN – FUZZ CLUB FEST
5/5 DE GIESSEN – PITS PINTE
5/6 NL AMSTERDAM – OCCII
5/7 NL WAGENINGEN – LOBURG LIVE
5/8 NL THE HAGUE – MUSICON
5/9 FR ROUEN – LE 3 PIECES
5/10 UK LONDON – STRONGROOM
5/11 UK HULL – ALOFT AT THE HAWORTH
5/12 UK GLASGOW – THE OLD HAIRDRESSERS
5/14 UK SOUTHAMPTON – HEARTBREAKER
5/15 UK BRISTOL – CROFTERS RIGHTS
5/16 UK FOLKESTONE – THE CHAMBERS
5/17 FR PARIS LE TRUSKEL – CLUB
5/18 FR LE HAVRE – FOUL WEATHER FESTIVAL
5/21 FR LYON – LE SONIC
5/22 FR BORDEAUX – I-BOAT
5/24 FR PORTSALL – O’DONNEIL IRISH PUB
5/25 FR ANGERS – LEVITATION FESTIVAL
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#Alex Maas#Austin TX#DAIISTAR#DAIISTAR Clear#DAIISTAR Clear/Velvet Reality (Sonic Boom Remix)#DAIISTAR Velvet Reality (Sonic Boom Remix)#Fuzz Club#New Audio#New Single#Pete Kember/Sonic Boom#remix#shoegaze#Single Review#Single Review: DAIISTAR Velvet Reality (Sonic Boom Remix)#Single Review: Velvet Reality (Sonic Boom Remix)
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1) Last game you finished
6) A series you haven’t played but are interested in trying
13) Quick, name the first song from a game that comes to mind
18) A game location you really like
22) A game ending that’s really stuck with you
25) A game’s art style that had to grow on you
26) Realism or stylized?
one) i honestly cant remember huh. (i am bad at finishing games) i am probably going to finish replaying celeste here shortly. so pretend i am writing this in the future.
six)
idk. sonic adventure on the brain. its a fun song and you hear it all the time no matter what character you are playing as. so it gets stuck in your head whether you like it or not
thirteen) lake harami from okami. as a kid i absolutely loved the music that played there. i would open up okami and go to lake harami just to listen to the music. and i always found it so interesting that such a peaceful song would play so close to the den of a terrifying beast (orochi). its so imposing and mysterious. i loved just hanging out in this area.. even when there was nothing to do.
twenty two) katamari damacy. sorry i dont think anything beats it. its so full of care and happiness and. ough. its great and so satisfying. because katamari damacy is not an easy game really! its very finicky to control, but its jam packed with so much unabashed love for the universe. at the end you roll up all of the countries in the world into a katamari and it just means everything to me. because at the end of the day we are all just people.. and we each deserve respect and appreciation no matter how broken or different we are or how high our walls have been built up. its great. its so great. the music is great too. ugh. i love it. its worth everything.
twenty five) i dont know how to answer this question. ever since i was young i always had an eye for the unique and stylistic games on the shelves. i play whatever. but if it means anything, i do have a harder time playing games whose graphics are extremely grounded in reality, which i suppose leads me to the final question..
twenty six) stylized. dont get me wrong, realistic games absolutely have their place and they are great. look at red dead redemption 2 and yakuza 0. i utterly love those games, but i think it is because they are supported by great gameplay and writing. stylistic games i generally have more tolerance for. all of cosmo d's games, despite their "cobbled together" look of 3d assets, are extremely meaningful and have a lot to say about all of us, and about music. the shelter games have geometric and textured "flatness" but it just looks great paired with the themes. and it translates well into their "storybooks" softwares. generally, both are great. i dont really like comparing graphics too much, because really, a game's meaning should be appreciated in spite of how it appears.
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The Face Shrine Theme: An Analysis of Link's Awakening
Link’s Awakening is a pretty damn good game. I’ve finished the Switch remake twice now. When I play a video game, especially when it’s Zelda, I like to absorb as much media and conversation surrounding it as possible. When I do that, sometimes I piece together one person’s ideas with another’s, and now we have some new analysis. I've got some things to say about the Face Shrine's theme.
Part 1: The Music
To start, I’m going to paraphrase parts of JalopesTL’s YouTube video “The Strangest Song in Link’s Awakening.” This is by no means a complete summary of the video and you should definitely check it out. The Gameboy’s sound chip only had four channels: three that could carry a tune, and one that created “noise” for percussion or sound effects.
The composers for Link’s Awakening used three techniques to create a dreamlike sonic landscape that took advantage of the limited technology: 1) using one or two channels to add a delay/reverb/echo to the primary melody, 2) Using sparse arrangements that freed up those extra channels, and 3) manipulating the volume of certain elements of the music. The track that Jalopes uses to demonstrate all three techniques being used effectively is none other than the theme of Level 6: The Face Shrine.
The Face Shrine theme is one melody carried on one channel and delayed on the other two. What’s more, the volume of the song is constantly changing. It might gradually get louder, and louder, then drop down to the quietest possible in the very next measure. When the song is at its loudest, the delay is barely perceptible. When the song is at its quietest, the delay is very apparent.
The effect of these three techniques makes the song feel unnerving and contemplative. You’re constantly on edge. It refuses to let you find a comfortable pattern to settle into. And I am so glad that I found this video because it really explains why this track is, as Jalopes describes it, “one of the most powerful chiptunes I’ve ever heard.” The composers of the Switch remake understood this, which we can see by the fact that the new Face Shrine theme includes the original chiptune.
Part 2: The Response
This one track is only made more impactful by its placement in the story of Link's Awakening. I can only say so much that hasn’t already been said, so I’m going to let some YouTube commenters speak for me. I found all of these on videos of the Face Shrine theme, original and remake. I have made a few minor edits for clarity, but they are mostly intact. When you read these insightful and emotional comments, keep in the back of your mind the things that the composers did to make this song elicit those emotions.
Love the complete tone shift this game takes. You get a feeling something is off once you beat the Catfish Maw boss then you go to the southern shrine and learn the truth and the haunting feeling lingers over you throughout the next dungeon and the rest of the game. The last dungeons and part of this adventure are very unique. Only almost matched by the feeling of Majora's mask that feeling of inevitability. Nothing matters.
This song perfectly encapsulates it.
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“I like how the volume of the song alternates between being quiet and distant, and loud and inescapable. Really completes the disorientating, sad atmosphere of the whole shrine.”
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I love how it goes louder and deafening when breaking the solemn notes as if putting you it that “please shut up!/go away!” The mindset Link is probably in due to the intrusive thoughts of the reality he’s facing.
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This theme really puts the feeling behind the realization that by waking the Wind Fish, you are sentencing the world of Koholint Island to vanish without a trace. And the world knows, and is trying its hardest to stop you.
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You feel gloomy. Scared. Lost. You’ve just learned that you are in a fake world. A dream. Is it really? Was the stone lying? You feel the same baffled, gloomy feeling, as you enter the next dungeon, not even realizing how long it took to get here. The game even throws you with an almost useless item to keep the excitement and happiness away. And you get hit with this masterpiece of a song. The same sad feeling you felt before, and wonder if all of your journeys, friends, kids, and creatures you have met along the way were all for nothing.
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Reading most people's interpretations in this song, I heard it a bit differently... I heard it as Link finally learning that it's all a dream, but this world, the people who live in it and keep their schedules, the shop keeper, the crane game owner, the rapids attendant, the family of 6, the animals, Madam MeowMeow, the fisherman, the mermaid, the shy grandfather, the sweeping grandmother, Tarin, Dampe, Marin, everyone... Link has to destroy it all. Despite everyone liking Link, he has to be their destroyer. And for the hero who defeated Ganon and brought back all who were trapped in the Dark World... This is something tragic he has to come to terms with.
The hero must betray those he wanted to protect, those that care about him, and their entire world.
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Forget what you know about the game after beating it. Think of what Link must have felt at this moment.
Enemies have started telling you that your efforts will ruin everything.
Your guiding owl is growing less emotionally supportive and more direct about leading you on to complete your quest.
You just got done having a heart-to-heart with a pure maiden who wants nothing more than to go around the world singing her songs for anyone and everyone.
She just barely got done braving the island's newfound, monstrous dangers just to help you out.
You've freshly learned that, if you complete this quest, you will remove her and her whole island from existence.
And now you're taking your first step into the next dungeon on the way to make it happen.
Yeah, this theme is fitting.
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Incredibly powerful. Especially knowing that this dungeon in particular has the moment of desperation in conversation with the boss. It just feels so sad and haunting and beautiful. Was holding back tears the entire time I played it.
I’ll leave you with one more comment. This one was on a video for the remade song. I saved this for last because every comment before was a reflection by someone who is clearly emotionally mature enough to understand the story of Link's Awakening. They had the ability to connect the music and the feelings they got from it with the story in a way that deepened their understanding of the text. Here's something a bit different.
So I'm going through this with my son. He’s five. Normally he’s engaged. "Dad, go left. Dad, get that treasure. Dad, let me see the map." But after a couple minutes, he’s quiet. Not a peep. I think maybe he’s tired or just not paying attention. After about ten minutes I ask, "You okay bud?" His response:
"Yeah, I just want to hear the pretty song."
#my own#zelda analysis#the face shrine#link's awakening#the legend of zelda#music#zelda music#JelopesTL#link's awakening switch
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Tag Fact #3 - I’ve come to realize I’ve always been a fan artist more than I thought. so here is a timeline of influences that shaped my childhood to now. from nostalgic times, to sad changes, to great loss, to strange rises to fame and phases, to stepping stones and finally a laughing place. all the things that make up your favorite fan artist Tag.
1. Rayman (bumped into this in the year of 1999) was actually the first fandom (with crossovers) I bumped into when I was 9. although the internet wasn’t available at the time it was still fun to dwell in home amusements. I remember the storylines and the OC’s I made but they’re kind of embarrassing and it’s probably a good thing there was no internet. I’ve done fanart and comic crossovers of Rayman with Calvin and Hobbs and Nights Into Dreams, spinoffs of Sonic the Hedgehog OC’s, Yoshi with Pikachu, and the Pokemon/Digimon craze with OC’s and other Nintendo comic shorts. but the drawings and comics are long gone and disappeared in the garage in a backpack due to suspecting my sister’s dad accidentally throwing them away. years later towards the year 2018 (now 28), we decided to move to North Carolina and it was my chance to find them again. unfortunately the backpack was gone just like I suspected (my main stuff), but for some reason I found my Pokemon/Digimon fanart, a good batch of Super Mario drawings (vaguely remember doing these), my sister’s drawings and some other neighborhood kids’ drawings in a dirty box. I was partially happy I found something at least but it was the backpack I wanted the most. sometimes I regret not looking for the backpack (’cause I was too busy being a kid) but it’s alright, noone needs to see that shit anyway, ha ha. anyways, I recall being a fan of Rayman from 1999 ‘til 2002.
2. Sonic Adventure 2 Battle (bumped into this in the year of 2003) my second fandom I bumped into when I was 12 going on 13. at the time, my sister and I both liked the Sonic The Hedgehog Franchise based on the Battle remake and ended up making our own secret fanart club that consisted of only us two members. she liked Sonic (and that was her boyfriend, ha ha) and I liked Knuckles (and he was my boyfriend, ha ha) and we were crazy in love about Shadow’s backstory. we listened to the game’s soundtracks as we drew fanart and comics after school and man, those were good times. however, as we grew older towards the year of 2005, we ended up having separate rooms and I believe it played a part in disconnecting on the same interest. then one day, I asked her why she wasn’t into Sonic anymore and she replied, “Because I grew up.” I was sad after that and slowly observed that she was influenced by the emo culture and the new friends she’s made. I was the only member of our little club for a little longer...but eventually I moved on too. I still have some surviving fanart we did together but it doesn’t mean shit anymore since she turned out to be an abusive mother from the last I’ve heard of her.
3. Gorillaz (bumped into this in the year of 2006). as the Sonic years were at its end, I first heard the song “Feel Good Inc” on Music Choice and seeing the first image of them as displayed on this post (except the fan-made background doesn’t count since I can’t find the original artwork). this was my third fandom and later had proper access to the internet to the website I still currently use called DeviantArt. at first I liked 2D but eventually fell for Murdoc and developed a spiritual connection towards the character as obviously seen in my old fanart and rare photos of my devotion shrines on Valentine’s Day and his birthday every year. for the longest time since being a permanent fan from 2006-2017 (11 1/2 years) I had no knowledge that it was a political propaganda band and other realizations I don’t want to talk about. I only followed them because it was a cartoon and not the bullshit behind the musical project. the world I’ve built and support for them for all those 11 1/2 years shattered the fuck out of me and I just wanted to be left alone to find myself again, somehow. activity stopped on all my profiles, the flow of fanart stopped since I now cringe from the fan service and felt I was used for my talent. I didn’t want to be reminded of it all so I took down all my Gorillaz fanart and archived them for old followers’ nostalgia but also in the hopes they’ll be forgotten in my timeline. I ceased to exist in the fandom for huge personal reasons but it’s best to not say why. I know for sure that the fandom wonders what happened but it’s none of their business. THE END.
4. Waluigi (although I knew he’s been around since 2000 during childhood, I took deep interest once I revisited the character again in the year of December 2013). as silly as this sounds, when I revisited him again, the character was so bizarre that I ended up staying up 3 nights and 3 days in a row just looking all over the internet on everything about him and the questionable “hush-hush” absence of a backstory. despite there being no backstory he slowly gained a cult following and in many ways it’s a good thing. however, since the early 2010′s tension has been building up between Nintendo and its fans about him starring in a main game but everyone hasn’t fully gotten it in their heads that it’s not gonna happen. as long as Nintendo is in control of that, the fandom will not win, I’m sorry to say. on the other hand, if it’s going to be this way, then that’s what fanart and comic projects are for. as for me, I am doing my very best to get my comic project “Waluigi Land” going. again, I apologize if it’s taking very long to get Chapter 2 going if you’ve been keeping track but aha moments need to develop before I start permanent drawing (since concepts, character design and storyline needed improvement badly). as of right now I am still a Waluigi fan and I will not quit on him.
5. Turbo from Wreck-It-Ralph (although it debuted in 2012, I watched the movie two years later into the year 2014). for some bizarro reason, I had an unhealthy obsession with this character to the point where I dressed up as him for Halloween 2014. only 2 fanarts of him and the Turbo Twins exist on my profiles, mainly because my mind was more focused on just ‘thinking about him’ or ‘being him’ rather than drawing physical drawings. luckily, this supposed alleged fandom didn’t last long a little after Halloween so I chalk it up as a very short phase. to this day I don’t know what has gotten over me about him. the only thing I can think of now is that I think it’s because the character had yellow eyes and teeth but I don’t know. now that I think of it, that little fucker was ugly as hell and I STILL don’t know what had gotten over me. one day, my brother mentioned what that was about, and I said to him, “I don’t wanna talk about it.”
6. Undertale (although it debuted in 2015, I later took interest in it in 2016). It was all about Sans and Papyrus. I couldn’t get enough of the skeleton bros. eventually Toriel and Mettaton EX became my favorites but it took a long time to draw more of all 4 of them because I had other important things to do in my life plus I was still waiting for the next Gorillaz album to revive my imaginative juices (or so I thought). I really want to have this as one of my frequent fandoms but I just don’t have time for it anymore. it’s still in the back of my head to want to draw them but at this point I still have other better interests to be in. and besides, I’m lazy just like Sans.
7. Cuphead (June 28th, 2017 was the official day I called quits on the British-based band Gorillaz due to the bullshit behind it. since that date I was lost, had no inspiration to look forward to and no cartoon guy to make me smile...but lo and behold of the same year, I took an interest in playing the game Cuphead and man...that shit was a frightening exaggerated metaphor for being on that one drug (forgot the name though) and having sex at the same time but man that was the best fun I’ve had in years. I mean, it’s like, enemies are just so happy to murder you and that scared the shit outta me. and the facial exaggeration?....I think I should stop, ha ha. anyways, the Moldenhauers saved my ass from spiraling down, they have no clue. anyways, eventually I became a permanent fan of their work so to ease the hurt and erase my past from the G-fandom I had to re-wire my brain into a different cartoon category that’s a rather more American, so anything Toon related like Roger Rabbit, Felix the Cat or another favorite that’s a western-based cartoon makes me feel better, especially my new man .......King Dice <3 <3<3<3. however, there was something about this new fandom category I still didn’t quite understand until the date March 14th, 2020. I finally understood what it was but I feel I shouldn’t bring it up. anyways, Cuphead and anything western or rubber hose is my last stop in inspiration for the remaining years of my life. many say never say never but I believe I’ve found my laughing place and that’s all that matters.
#tag facts#influences from cartoons#likes and dislikes#thoughts i have about characters#toons#rayman#sonic the hedgehog#gorillaz#waluigi#turbo#wreck it ralph#undertale#cuphead
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An interview with music journalist Paul Zollo. I believe this is from 2000. I’m a sucker for Billie Joe talking about his songwriting process.
By PAUL ZOLLO
SEVEN STORIES ABOVE THE SUNSET STRIP in Hollywood is the Chateau Marmont, an old hotel rife with the ghosts and scandals of Hollywood’s recent and not-so-recent past. Famous for the elegant, old-world discretion it affords all its guests, for decades it’s been a safe harbor for stars seeking to circumvent the squall of media surveillance. It’s where John Belushi died, sadly, back in bungalow three, and where Jim Morrison wrecked his back by swinging Tarzan-like from the roof, using a drain pipe as a vine. Every star, it seems, from Chaplin and Bogart to Dylan and Lennon have hidden out here while in Hollywood. “If you must get in trouble, do it at the Chateau Marmont,” Harry Cohn, the first boss of Columbia Studios, once told William Holden.
So it’s an appropriate setting for Billie Joe Armstrong, the lead singer, songwriter and guitarist of Green Day, to be holding court. Armstrong and the band are no strangers to scandal – they’re the ones who started a mudfight that bordered on insurrection at Woodstock II; they’ve been outspoken about their fondness for drugs and alcohol; they’ve been especially harsh in their expressions of scorn for many other bands; and they’ve frequently “redecorated” hotel suites, bars and Tower Records stores alike with a flair for creative demolition that brings to mind the heady decadence of the Doors and others.
In fact, parallels between Armstrong and Jim Morrison abound. Like the leader of the Doors, Billie Joe is the creative catalyst of his group, but only writes within the fold of his fellow musicians. Like Morrison, Armstrong has been known to walk on the razor’s edge of life, bringing an authentic, expansive passion to every song he sings. He’s also been known to match his inclination to strip his soul bare in song by taking off his clothes in concert. The difference is that when Jim Morrison did it, all hell broke loose, the country was shocked and the singer was arrested. But when Billie Joe does it, he gets acknowledged on the MTV news, Kurt Loder smirks, and that’s about that. Being shocking these days is just not like it used to be.
‘It’s something unpredictable,
But in the end is right
I hope you had the time of your life.”
From “Good Riddance (Time Of Your Life)”
By GREEN DAY
Few things seemed more unpredictable than the thought that Green Day would have a Number One hit with a pretty ballad of all things. Even more unlikely would be that the song, officially entitled “Good Riddance” but better known as “Time Of Your Life,” would become as ubiquitous in the American consciousness as the Star Wars theme. Used on “Seinfeld,” two episodes of “E.R.,” and extraneous sporting events (as when Mark MacGuire became the king of baseball’s home-run derby), Green Day’s ballad quickly became more famous than Green Day itself.
“Good Riddance” now stands alongside Springsteen’s “Born In The USA”, Randy Newman’s “I Love L.A.” and Sting’s “Every Breath You Take,” as one of the nation’s most misappropriated hit singles. Like all of those songs, which are much darker if you examine their core than the mainstream ever seemed to recognize, “Good Riddance” actually comes closer to condemnation than the kind of nostalgic celebration for which it’s been used:
“Tattoos of memories and dead skin on trial
For what it’s worth, it was worth all the while
I hope you had the time of your life. “
From “Good Riddance (Time Of Your Life)”
By GREEN DAY
Though Green Day’s presence on the world stage shifted from popular to astronomical because of this song, many of their old fans felt alienated by their secret heroes’ injection into the mainstream. “[`Time of Your Life’] was a drastic change for us to record,” Billie Joe said. “We knew that there were going to be some people that weren’t going to like it because it’s not a 1-2-3-4-Let’s-go-punk-rock tune. Mike [Dirnt] said, `This is a real beautiful song, who cares what people think?’ So we just went for it. Long term thinking, you know. Punk is not just the sound, the music. Punk is a life-style. We’re just as much punk as we used to be.”
Of course, definitions flow fast and fluid, as purveyors of punk, such as Armstrong, play along the borders of pop. “A lot of punk rock bands are always trying to be so hard all of the time,” he said. “Macho brutality doesn’t necessarily mean you’re a good songwriter. I think that some of the Beatles’ songs are way more punk rock than most punk songs written today. Like the song `Yesterday.’ It’s such a bittersweet song. “
Billie Joe was born in 1972 and grew up in Rodeo, a little Californian town just outside of Berkeley. His father and uncle were both jazz drummers. “I was a guitarist in a house of drummers,” he said. His father died when he was ten, the same year he met a neighbor named Mike Pritchard who shared his passion for making music. Together they decided to drop out of high school to start a band, which they called Sweet Children. It was a decision Billie’s mother encouraged. “My mom sort of let me do whatever I wanted,” he said. “When I quit school, she thought that was a good idea because I was really ambitious to play. So I started touring when I was seventeen.”
Pritchard changed his name to Mike Dirnt, Tre Cool replaced Al Sobrante as official drummer, and they called themselves Green Day, a Bay-area euphemism for a day spent smoking pot. Their first release was an indie EP called 1000 Hours, after which they signed with Lookout Records to make 39/Smooth and Kerplunk. In 1994 they ascended to the major leagues, signing with Reprise, and released Dookie. They soon became an MTV mainstay, and their mudstorm performance that year at Woodstock cemented their reputation as a band on the edge. Three more singles followed, as did sales of more than eight million albums worldwide, and a Grammy Award for Best Alternative Music Performance.
Insomniac was released in the fall of ’95, but instead of going on a European tour as planned to launch it, they elected instead to stay home and write and record more songs. The result was the most popular, and most critically acclaimed album of their career, Nimrod, which included “Time Of Your Life.”
Warning was the new album at the time of this interview, and the impetus for Billie to talk. Inspired by the rich lyricism of Springsteen’s The River and Dylan’s Bringing It All Back Home, Green Day went away for a while to write and play the songs before recording them. It’s their first self-produced and most sonically adventurous album to date, blending layers of acoustic guitars in with the electrics, and with some unexpected detours, such as the German beer-hall stomp of “Misery,” and the Clash-meets-Kinks pop-punk of the title song.
“Caution police sign you’d better not cross
Is the cop or am I the one that’s really dangerous?
Sanitation expiration date question everything
Or shut up and be a victim of authority
Warning, live without warning…”
From “Warning”
By GREEN DAY
Today Billie Joe is ensconced within an overstuffed burgundy couch in his hotel suite. Although he’s drinking coffee from china cups, and eating fresh fruit and croissants from a silver tray, he’s remained loyal to the punk lifestyle, and is wearing a black t-shirt and baggy jeans. Prior to our talk, rather than linger in the luxury of his suite, he ducked down into the hotel’s bleak back stairway for a cigarette. Though he’s undeniably a star of the first degree, he’s uncomfortable with such designations, and shuns all the trappings of stardom. As opposed to the Ferraris and Lamborghinis driven by his peers, an old Ford Fairlane remains his vehicle of choice. He did admit to one extravagance, however, which he revealed somewhat sheepishly. “As soon as I could afford it,” he confessed, “I went out and had it primered.”
BLUERAILROAD: You write all the songs together in the band. Do you start songs on your own and bring them in?
BILLIE JOE ARMSTRONG: Yeah, sometimes. I’ll come up with the song with the chord changes and the lyrics, and then I bring them into practice, and then we sort of restructure them together. I like to come in with a tune. I’ll just play guitar and sing it for them, and then we start to learn it. And as soon as we start to learn it, we can make changes and come up with a different structure. Move the chorus around, make the verse a little longer. That kind of thing. I definitely like to think of it as a collaboration between the three of us.
Do you always change the songs?
Well, we have a lot of songs. There have been some that I have brought in and nothing really needs to be done. Sometimes I’ll suggest a part that needs to be worked with, and we’ll try some different things. And then they’ll write their bass-lines and drum parts around it.
Do you ever have a problem sharing credit on songs you wrote alone?
Well, we’re a band. We’ve been able to stick through a lot of years because the three of us support each other. The songs come from Green Day, and I like to stick by that. We like to just keep things equal in the band, and I think it’s what has made our band healthy over the years. We give each other respect. There is no one who stands out more than the other one in this group. Especially since we’ve known each other for so long.
These days do you write on electric guitar?
No, on acoustic. I have a Silverine Harmony. But it sounds good. I just have it around the house, so I’ve written most of the songs on it.
Do those songs then shift a lot when you bring them to the band, and play them on electric?
No, because I always have it in the back of my head about the dynamics of electric guitar and drums and bass. Between me and Mike and Tre, I always have that dynamic in my head – what am I going to bring to the table that they’re going to be able to play, and which will have our certain energy. I always keep our energy and our music in mind, sort of subconsciously. But I think that’s the beauty of this. That not only can I play these songs with a band at full volume, but also that I can play them on a cheap, acoustic guitar. And it can have the same kind of impact.
“Warning” would work that way.
Yeah, it does. That kind of came all together at the same time. I think lyrics on this record were really important to me, and to have a well-rounded record as far as what kind of topics I wanted to write about, and sing about. That was one of those songs that seemed to just write itself. It just came really naturally.
Is that unusual for you, the feeling that a song writes itself?
Well, I try to go for inspired moments. But if I want to write a song that sounds like it has a pop kind of edge to it, I really want to be able to say something. I have to say something – it’s vital for me. I can’t just write something that would be sugar-coated, and have a pop song with nice lyrics that go along with what everyone is doing on the radio these days. It’s very important for me to have a message that goes along with the writing. So, you know, what comes to mind for me is a song like “The Ballad of John & Yoko,” where [Lennon] had this really nice sounding song. But the lyrics penetrate like a knife. “They’re gonna crucify me…” That’s kind of nice way — nice, I mean, in an oxymoronic sense – to put forward something you want to attack.
You’ve done that in many songs.
Yeah, I think it adds a sort of demented side a little bit, sort of like a clown in a circus. But it also makes the lyrics a lot stronger. If you take a band like Rage Against The Machine, the music is aggressive, and the lyrics are aggressive at the same time. And I love Rage Against The Machine, but sometimes it feels like you getting bombarded by someone’s else’s point of view. The person is not telling you to think, but what to think. And that’s one thing that I really wanted to come across in the music and the lyrics. To think about the world around you, and not what to think, so to speak. And at the same time, to have my opinions coming through at the same time.
Are you always clear about the meaning of a song while writing?
No. That’s hard. I mean, sometimes I’ll have things in the back of my head that I want to write about. But I never want to come across as pretentious or preachy. So I just wait for my thoughts to settle. To a certain extent, you have to be a little self-righteous and I think it’s healthy. Especially when, nowadays, there’s so much stuff that is about decadence. And when it comes to rebellion, a guy who has a Rolex watch and is driving around in a Porsche, talking about that he really wants something to break, I don’t really think of that as rebellion, I think of that just as a decadent rock star.
Do you have any kind of routine for songwriting?
Last record I was just sort of pounding songs. Anytime I had any inkling of an idea of anything at all, I would just grab my guitar and play it and work on it no matter what the song was like. Whether it was inspired or I just got drunk and started playing. But this time I waited for inspired moments. And I think it took me a long time just because of that. I wanted everything to sound refreshing, and something that would make you want to turn it up a little more.
Did you have times when you tried to work and nothing would come?
Oh yeah. You get frustrated. You feel, “Man, I just want to write a fucking song.”
And sometimes it’s just not there. And you can’t dwell on that when that happens. You have to just let it go.
I don’t ever want to try to outdo myself. I feel like if you try to outdo yourself from the last thing, instead of just working on your inspiration, I think the music kind of suffers a little bit, sometimes. Sometimes I’ll just get a very general idea about the kind of song I want to write. And I’ll just sort of store it in the back of my mind and see what comes out. It can come out in five minutes, it can come out in five days, five years, five decades.
Are there songs you worked on for years?
Yeah. “Longview” was one that we worked on for years. We knew what we wanted to write about. I told Mike to write a bass line and one day I came home. This is when we lived in the same house. He had just dropped some acid (laughs) and he said, “Listen to this.” And I said, “Okay, I guess it sounds good.” He came up with this bass line that really worked well, so we ended up practicing and came up with the song.
Are there many songs you start that you don’t finish?
Yes. And I’ll just wait for the right time and the right place for it. There are some songs I finish but then I think it’s not right for the record we’re working on. There’s a couple of songs like that off of Nimrod. “Time of My Life” had been written a couple of years before.
That song resounded in enormously with the public. Was it just a fluke, or did you sit down with the intention of writing that kind of song?
Both. I think that anyone can sit down and write a song. Whether or not it’s any good is another thing altogether. You know, there’s no school you can go to that will help you learn how to become a songwriter. But you can sit down and do it. Especially with rock & roll. But to put something down that is actually really great, it does go beyond you a little bit, and sometimes it takes patience.
Do you write all the time?
Yeah. Whether it’s good or bad, I don’t know. Or if it’s appropriate for what kind of idea or sound that we want to get across on the record.
Where do you think the great songs come from?
I don’t know. I really don’t. It comes from somewhere deep down inside of you that you didn’t even know existed. It’s kind of like seeing a shrink or something. (Laughs) There can be a lot of anger, or sadness, or joy, that you had but you didn’t even know you really had – but it can all come out. You feel a connection with it, and so other people can, too. You strike a nerve.
Does songwriting get easier the more you do it?
I think so. I think you definitely learn more as you go. I think you find new ways to motivate yourself. You test yourself a little bit more and see what comes about. And you challenge yourself in new ways to see what comes out. You learn new ways to get the engines going. But whether or not it does get easier, it’s what I do. And I love doing it.
#'I don’t ever want to try to outdo myself'#HE'S SUCH A FUCKING LIAR#at least he knows the music suffers from it#BUT HE'S A GODDAMN LIAR#article#articles#interview#billie joe armstrong
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tracks that i think are underrated off of video game soundtracks i like (note: i dont have a specific standard of underrated, it kinda depends. basically its just if i don’t feel like people talk about / use a song too often. sometimes its loosely based off of spotify plays if the albums on there. idk it’s whatever im going to talk about songs i like) (spoilers for sonic 2 / adventure 2 / mania, cave story, undertale, a hat in time, celeste, and phoenix wright: ace attorney. its song titles and a little bit sometimes i talk about what happens with the songs but just in case anyone doesnt want to see it)
White - Cave Story
to hear this in game you had to speedrun the sanctuary and get a certain time, so for a long time i never heard this song but goddamn its good and i wish it were more easily accessible
It’s Raining Somewhere Else - Undertale
it’s undertale so of course it’s still fairly well known and it’s also a fairly important story moment but i feel like as someone who doesnt engage much with fandoms at all really its a pretty underrated bit as far as wider recognition goes. really most songs in undertale could be labelled underrated compared to megalo or hopes and dreams or whatever but i like this one
Supporting Me - Sonic Adventure 2
its the theme for when shadow fights the biolizard. it’s so moody and the vocals are distorted so nicely i love it. plus storywise, its the song for shadows first step taken to help the rest of the cast stop the space colony from crashing on earth, so it’s a significant moment of character development for shadow in the game!
Picture Perfect [Remix] - A Hat in Time
this one is unlockable, so you might not have heard it ingame, but they got Carlos Eiene (insaneintherainmusic) on sax for this, and its a jazz arrangement of the song. its a bit lower energy than the original but i think its great
Death Egg Zone - Sonic the Hedgehog 2
the song that gets cut off immediately because there’s no level before the silver sonic fight. a shame! because it’s a damn good tune! it’s hectic, it’s sorrowful, honestly I think they should have just made it so you fight silver sonic to this song.
Golden Ridge (Golden Feather Mix) - Celeste
in love with a ghost did an amazing job on this track. the echoey chiptune sounds and the reverb vocals are incredible. great to listen to during the b or c sides of this level
End (Credits) - Phoenix Wright: Ace Attorney
a beautiful somber reprise of the motif from Trial Begins, I had never heard the end credits music from Phoenix Wright: Ace Attorney until I played the game for myself, and it was really good. musically speaking it’s not too different from Trial Begins, a different key and tempo as well as a few melodic differences, but it still hits excellently for the ending of AA1.
Blossom Haze (Press Garden Act 2) - Sonic Mania
one of the best songs on Sonic Mania’s ost. the best part of sonic mania was the original content and this track is no exception. the chorus with the piano and xylophone (i think?) is fucking exquisite, and so is the synth melody leading up to it.
#vgm#sometimes songs are just really good and i need to talk about them#i ought to also make a post about just underrated soundtracks in general i think
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Sonic Ring Bond: The Journey - Scene 52
Hopefully as everyone is reading this things have improved for me. My mental state has been a bit of mess at the time of writing this. I’ve had fears for the future of the AU and my ability to write it at all. While I have big plans and changes in store, it’s surprisingly difficult to stay enthusiastic. Strangely, only my primary villain seems to keep me motivated. But they won’t appear here, too an extent I suppose, but there is another villain who returns in this scene. I’ll let you see who now in...
“Oh~! I see more flowers,” Blister began as she stepped through the Ring Gate and watched Zooey embrace Tails. She grew distracted a moment however as she took in the sight of the Ring Gate Beacon room. The ceiling of shifting blocks covered in glowing geometric patterns was almost mesmerizing. “Wow~. I have to get one of these on my ship.”
“Maybe later,” Tails stated as he put his hands on Zooey’s shoulders and pushed her back, although as gently as he could. “Right now, we have to support Sonic. Zooey, can we map out the catacombs from the bridge.”
“The Engineers and I already have a map in place,” Zooey confided in Tails, though still peeked around him curiously at Draw and Blister. Tails’ urgency pulled her back however as she felt his grip tighten on her shoulders. “We can use the same sonar method we used to map the city to keep track of Sonic and give him a heads up if anything goes sideways.”
“That’s great,” Tails sighed relieved and started to hurry for the bridge, stopping only long enough to look back and ask Zooey another question. “Is it sensitive enough to pick out people?”
“I don’t believe it is, but the catacombs should be large enough for the Tornado to fly through.”
~|~
“Ho! An aeroplane of all things to best Claymore the Purple,” Claymore scoffed as he strode through brick halls that were open on one side to a cavernous hall beyond. “How the mage caused so much trouble with so small a force. No less he bought the time to take to the skies again. Ho! It is like that I would do well to remember the name Sonic the Hedgehog, unless I should stop him and my other guest all at once.”
Weighing the thought of confronting two Ring Mage’s, Claymore chuckled nervously to himself. “Ho! My first real battle since waking and I must face two Ring Mages. Would that I could be joined in battle by my fellow knights.”
~|~
“I don’t like it,” Rosy puffed up her cheeks, her problems multifold.
“Well, you’ll just have to bear with it,” Sonic encouraged Rosy to not let the situation get to her. As he was sitting on top of her pressing her deeper into the cockpit of the Tornado, his words seemed uncaring. Though they were no meant to bet, he had his own problems controlling the biplane as he had one hand occupied holding onto Rosy’s tarot card case. “Just consider it for your own protection.”
“I don’t need protected,” Rosy puffed her cheeks up even more. “Besides, if what Tails said is true, we won’t have time for me to be kept safe. We have to go stop Ix.”
“You know who you’re talking to, right kid?” Sonic feigned being hurt. But Rosy was not feeling playful.
Beyond the cockpit, even squished uncomfortably behind Sonic as she was, Rosy could see Yoluku in the sky, the upside-down sunset becoming a tighter and more sinister smile with each passing moment. A chill ran through Rosy looking at it, and she could swear even without her cards that she heard those same whispers.
It’s fine. This is fun isn’t it? Enjoying a desperate adventure to save the world with your true love. How entertaining!
“Hrm~!” Rosy emitted a low growl and puffed up her cheeks more. Not liking the voice in her head, she contorted herself as best she could behind Sonic and managed to get access to her wrist device.
“Tai~ls!” Rosy whined into it. “Please tell me you have somewhere for us to go!”
-I do!- Tails’ voice came back across the radio.
~I want to feel relieved while Tails guides Sonic through how he needs to fly the Tornado into the catacombs. It’s actually a lot of fun too, the way Sonic pilots his plane around the towers of the city and down into a chasm I didn’t know was in the city. Ooh~! It’s so exciting, but the situation isn’t good. Yolk is… I don’t know what Yolk is any more, but I have a really bad feeling.
~It’s not like me to have bad feelings, especially when Sonic is here. I know he’ll save the day, but something isn’t right. I just have a hard time believing Ix was seen so easily. He had me and everyone else fooled when I first met him, so to think he would be seen going into these oversized catacombs. It just doesn’t feel right. I wonder if this is supposed to be a trap. But for who? Did he even know I was going to be here? Ooh~! I don’t like this!~
“We’re going on foot from here,” Sonic stated as he landed the Tornado on a small ledge, bringing the short flight to an end. As he left the plane, he worked he wrist device under his ow glove cuff. “I’ll relay back to you what I see Tails, but you’re going to have to be on your game to get us to where you think our uninvited party crasher is going.”
-No problem, Sonic!- Tails’ voice chirped confidently across the wrist device’s radio. -Just watch out for traps.-
“No worries there,” Sonic laughed. “In case you haven’t forgotten, I have a world class rascal here to take care of them for me.”
“Soni~c!”
~Sonic’s ability to stay cheerful, even in the face of danger is always so inspiring and always helps me forget that people call me strange for doing the same. I can’t help but smile running with him through these ancient stone tunnels. Though it would be nice if there were less traps. But, well, a lot of traps that needed to be tripped were already tripped as Sonic and I ran past them. It’s hard to say running so fast, but they look more like they were disarmed rather than tripped. I shouldn’t be surprised, but… I kind of feel like it looks too familiar how they’ve been disarmed.~
~|~
“Alright, how much further do you want to drag me into this place! It’s been nothing but trap after trap and no rewards worth the risk!"
“Silence, treasure hunter! I must endure this humility and so will you.”
“Yikes! Don’t lose your feathers old man!”
“An old man who will outlive you, treasure hunter!”
“Alright, alright! Just put my gun down. I’ll stop asking questions.”
“Perhaps it would be best if you both focused.”
“Yeah, well if I could I’d leave you both under a pile of rubble if I thought it’d do anything you talkative pile of rocks.”
“Keep talking, treasure hunter. It fascinates me how your mouth is able to dig a grave.”
“Yikes!”
Watching the antics of Doctor Fukurokov, former leader of the now all but defunct Battle Kukku Armada, and Fang the Sniper, the troublesome treasure hunter who introduced Rosy to the world of adventure for his own gains, Ix would have sighed if his stone form possessed lungs. The two were anything but dignified. Though at least Fang put on no airs of false dignity like Doctor Fukurokov.
Still, Ix’s plans required both, lest he had been rid of them ages ago having learned all he needed from them via a forced Ring Bond.
“There will be time for you to torment the Child of Chaos yet, Child of the Heavens,” Ix at last interceded by walking between the owl and jerboa-wolf hybrid. His actions were meant to do more than break line of sight between them however, as he continued forward causing Fang to panic.
“Watch where you’re walking you blasted statue! You’re going to get us all killed!”
Fang’s excited shouting carried through the catacombs, straight into the twitching ear of a certain pink hedgehog girl. “Fang!”
“Him again, huh?” Sonic sighed in response to Rosy’s exclamation.
“Ooh~! Don’t be like that Sonic!” Rosy chided Sonic before suddenly picking her own route deeper into the catacombs.
“Hey! Amy! That’s not the way Tails is–”
“It sounds like Fang is with Ix!” Rosy interrupted Sonic and dashed off, following the sounds of the voices and her intuition.
“This isn’t a great time Amy! AMY!”
Left with little choice, Sonic took off after Rosy. It was going to be far from a difficult task to catch her either. For as much as she did her best to run at Sonic’s speed, her stumbling and general clumsiness was not the practiced and instinctual scrambling that Sonic performed that allowed him to run freely nigh anywhere. As large as the catacombs were, however, Fang did not possess Sonic’s speed. As he was the one searching for traps, he was the one controlling the pace at which Ix’s party progressed.
“Yeesh, the weasel, the surprisingly resilient birdbrain, and the statue who really would have been better served staying in bed,” Sonic remarked as he skidded to a halt and saw the odd group. Or at least odd to Rosy who did not see the panic on Fang’s face as anything but a desperate plea for help. Naturally, Sonic saw it differently. “So how are you going to lie your way out of this one, weasel?”
“Ho! Funny, Ring Mage,” the voice of Claymore boomed from beyond Ix. “I was aiming to ask you and the medium the same.”
“And now, all of the players are present,” Ix remarked, his blue glowing eyes taking in the autogolem knight, the treasure hunter and pirate, and the two hedgehog’s who he silently deemed the most troublesome of all his obstacles.
Scene 52 · CLEARED
Party Crashing, to be continued
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And there we go. Two scenes left to finish up Season 1. There’s a lot of ground to cover, and hopefully I’ll be able to have Sonic meet my main villain. It’s just there is so much to cover, and it’ll likely inflate the scenes. The smart thing to do would be to stretch it out, but I really want to end the season inline with the anime season. So, if everything went well after I wrote this, in one week Season 1 will be finished and Season 2 will be quite different in it’s handling. Please look forward to it!
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Special Thanks to Cutegirlmayra
Story by @JoshTarwater/SonicFanJ
Inspiring Song – Insatiable (From “Final Fantasy XIV”) - Vocaloid Version – Azina, Masayoshi Soken – Insatiable (From “Final Fantasy XIV”)
#sonic the hedgehog#sonic fan fiction#sonic au#sonic au series#sonic ring bond#the journey#classic amy#amy rose#rosy the rascal#au amy#amy redesign#miles tails prower#fang the sniper#doctor fukurokov#pir'oth ix#sonic oc#claymore the purple
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Sonic Ring Bond - THE EYES OF THE WORLD - Chapter 1
I’ve finally finished writing chapter 1 for the first story I’m writing for the Sonic Ring Bond AU and I have it here for everyone to read! Hooray \”(^o^)”/ Now this is my first real time though trying to write Sonic fan fiction so I would really appreciate all of the feedback everyone is willing to offer ^^ I'd really appreciate it to be honest! For now though, enjoy, and please share your thoughts here, on DeviantArt, or share them on my Sonic Ring Bond Discord Server - https://discord.gg/aVjNUyG . Thank you everyone \"(^o^)"/
Now before we get started though a big shout out to @cutegirlmayra for writing the first story in the Sonic Ring Bond AU (Read it here) and being a huge inspiration for this one with her wonderful Sonic stories. I know you don't read others' fan fiction, but I would still love your feedback regardless. Thank again though for all of the help getting the AU off the ground \"(^o^)"/
And now please join me everyone and enjoy...
Current Status: Done – Open Draft
Draft No.: 2
Story Idea: SonicFanJ – Inspired by Cutegirlmayra
Main Author: SonicFanJ
Secondary Author(s): None Currently
Story Expanding Author(s): None Currently
Editor(s): None Currently – Open for feedback
Chapter Number: 1
Chapter Title: Anxiety of a Rose
Primary Chapter Author: SonicFanJ
Secondary Chapter Author(s): None Currently
Chapter Idea: SonicFanJ
Chapter Synopsis: Amy “Rosy the Rascal” Rose, wakes from a nightmare about Metal Sonic and finds a sudden global shift setting her off on the start of an adventure. But a continuous chill from her tarot cards leave her feeling uneasy and she finds herself investigating the growing dread and prophetic nature of her dream.
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At the heart of the world, binding an ever-changing surface together and allowing civilization to hold any form at all are none other than the Golden Rings. Appearing spontaneously like some landmasses appear and disappear, the loops of golden hue spin in perpetual motion wherever they do appear, just like the masses of land of the world also constantly shift and give rise to new adventures. In this untamed world what few cities exists are joined more often than not by ancient ill understood technology that turns Rings into a gateway between two set locations rather than the whim of the Rings. Such whimsey was fine to the adventurers of Checkpoint, the most successful and famous adventuring supporting company, as they had access to a beacon that would always turn their Ring Gates home. As such, the joining of the world brought about by the Rings made them things of unmatched value, and though not all could see them, all felt their effects. Many even made their living gathering them for the government and adventuring companies who used them. One such adventurer, a hedgehog girl of pink hue even dreamed of them much as she would rather dream of running with the speed she was gifted through a bond forged by the Rings, the Ring Bond.
The dreaming pink hedgehog girl was known far and wide as Rosy the Rascal, for both her perpetual good cheer and optimism as well these days her tendency to find trouble. As it was, Rosy was finding trouble even in her dreams. It was not lush meadows she ran through with Rings dangling in the air in various rows and patterns spinning freely on their axes waiting for her to collect them but rather a field of endless darkness devoid of any Rings. All save one. A ring of pitch-black hue which spun on its axis ominously, seeming to slow the longer she rested her eyes upon its malevolent form. But her blue eyes which matched the hedgehog of her dreams in hue were not the only eyes within her dream, as soon two very familiar “eyes” of red light glared out at her from within the Black Ring. The intensity of the glare upon her made her desire to retreat overwhelming, to flee as far her legs would take her, reaching for speeds nearing that of sound itself. But her body was like gelatin and the pull of the Black Ring left her both without life and strength. She could only stare into it and the eyes that hid within its twirling form as she lay helplessly in the dark. But she refused to give in, to give up. If she could just take her eyes off of the Black Ring, she could wake from this nightmare. Alas, even the darkness above offered her no refuge for seven emerald eyes opened from within the dark and looked down upon her, almost pleading her to save them as they threatened to consume her and her world before even the Black Ring did. But neither the owner of those seven eyes or the Black Ring would consume the world for her blue hedgehog hero would save the day. Now if only it was Sonic the Hedgehog himself and not his robotic doppelganger, Metal Sonic, who crushed the Black Ring in his claw like hand and scattered the eyes with a swipe of the other. All save one which he took firmly in hand before glaring back over his shoulder at where Rosy lay helpless. There was strangely an emotion in the machine’s eyes, but she could not make it out as the one remaining emerald eye looked at her with a desperation for release that made her shudder with its terror.
–|–
Rosy’s shuddering shook loose the black soil from her quills and it dusted down her eyes, her eyelashes trying to playfully resist the waterfall before her eyes snapped open and tossed the soil away. Rosy was wide awake now but blinked a few times before trying to move as she felt horribly pinned as she lay on her belly and chin. It was not an uncomfortable pinning however and if she were not so shaken from her dream she would have fought to curl up and return to her slumber. As it was, her cheeks puffed up as she pouted before complaining with a high-pitched voice that was pleasantly soft and cheerful.
“Hmm! Why did I dream about Metal Sonic! If I was going to dream about Sonic, why couldn’t it have been something romantic with the real Sonic! We could have been running together along the beach and holding hands and – Eee!” Squealing with delight Rosy held her balled hands to her reddening face as she rolled over and kicked her legs playfully.
Just as her dreams of Metal Sonic ruined her sleep, Rosy’s daydreaming about Sonic ruined any last chance she had of returning comfortably to sleep. Her sudden twisting had dislodged the sides of the bed of soil she had been lying in and she found herself with more weight on her body than she preferred as only her head and feet stuck out of the soil pile she lay at the bottom of. A cute frown turned her expression into an inverted smile, and she remembered where it was she had settled in for the night. Again, her thoughts drifted from a Sonic to a complaint.
“Ooo! Soil beds are so comfy with the right soil, but they’re such a mess!” Straining her head back Rosy took in the burrow she had fallen asleep in for the night and couldn’t help but laugh at the dissonance of the soil she lay in contrasting the brick and mortar wall which hid a shower and wardrobe beyond ornate yet cute wooden doors of circular shape. ‘But how lucky am I to find a hotel that caters to so many different peoples at once! Hehehe! Normally I’d have to stay longer to clean up the mess I make in a regular room to save the wait staff some trouble, but I can’t help it if I find a loose nest more comfortable than a bed. Though I guess pillows and bedding are less trouble than a soil nest. But it feels so nice!’
With a happy sigh that was almost a contented snort through her nose Rosy finally extracted herself from the nest she had made in the loose soil of the unusual hotel room. Standing up she stretched her arms well above her head and stiffened and relaxed her quills a few times to try and shake as much of the soil out of her quills as she could. It was a valiant effort, but she soon enough emerged from the hidden shower with a hotel bathrobe wrapped around her and joined her happy humming with the bird song filtering in with the morning light from well-hidden sun lights. A big smile on her face she let the filtered in light guide her eyes to the wardrobe and playfully tossed the circular double door aside to reveal a leotard of pretty white color hanging within. Her smile grew ever greater accompanied by her wanderlust as she looked at the garment that she always wore as she went adventuring like her hero.
“Hehehe,” she laughed to herself nearly as much as swooned at the prospect of putting it on and setting out in search of the day’s adventure. She managed to control herself though and simply reached for one of the shoulder puffs that served as the garment’s sleeves. Reaching inside she carefully extracted a small waterproof container that seemed like it might be uncomfortable to store withing while wearing. “Can’t give in to my desires though until I see what you have to say about the day first.”
Talking to a deck of tarot cards might have seemed unusually to most, but to Rosy they were her oldest friends and deserved as much care as all of her sapient friends. They had even led her to her first encounter with Sonic the Hedgehog and had proven their loyalty and being deserving of hers. Not that she had not been on many an adventure before then with them helping her make Fang the Sniper’s treasure hunts most lucrative.
“I wonder where he went after our last meeting. We didn’t even get to talk after not seeing each other for so long.” The pleasant memories her tarot card case was bringing her were pushed aside as she pondered aloud about the wellbeing of the jerboa-wolf hybrid who had taken her from her tiny little adventures into her first real ones. He was so kind to her, and she could not understand why people distrusted him so much. As far as she could remember he was as under attack by Metal Sonic as she and Sonic had been in their last meeting, so he obviously was not bad. “I wonder what he was doing on Angel Island though. I hope he didn’t hear that there was treasure there. Poor Fang, Knuckles would have punched him in the nose without a second thought. I guess it was almost a good thing Metal Sonic – Kyaa⁈”
A sudden jolt brought Rosy’s musings to an end with a cry as her hand grew freezing cold and numb all at once, her tarot card case falling to the ground. “Ah!”
Pulling her suddenly very cold and very numb hand to her chest Rosy reached for her cards with her other hand as the case hit the ground and bounced, the cards within sprung free from the impact and scattering about the room as the case spun. “Noooo~… I’m so sorry I didn’t mean–”
Involuntarily stopping mid-apology, a chill ran down Rosy’s spine and her quills quivered as she looked at the spilt cards upon the ground. She swallowed very slowly as she looked at the natural pattern they fell in. It was not a spread she was familiar with and she consciously felt she should not consider it a spread, but something told her that it was. But where would she even begin with such a painful looking expression looking back at her. It was so ominous that not one card had landed face up so as to give her even one clue on where to start, but the message of pain was obvious even without turning over a single card. Her cards allowed her to so accurately find treasure and know what the day ahead would hold, or maybe even give her a directive to follow, and it was unquestionable that the powers that influenced them were in untold pain. It reminded her almost of the eye from her dream, the pleading emerald eye.
“Gah!”
No sooner did she remember the eye Metal Sonic held mercilessly in her dream did the entire earth shift violently collapsing the entire hotel room burrow into the darkness below. The collapse of the room was as inward as it was downward and Rosy was soon buried along with her scattered cards. Fortunately, she was a hedgehog, though a sapient hedgehog, a hedgehog all the same and digging herself out was not outside of her ability. She was not as swift as would have been expected however as she took the time gather up her tarot cards and even change into her leotard and slipper like red shoes. There was suddenly an adventure to be had and it was necessary to dress the part.
“Ooh~! What a way to start the day!” The complaint was her announcement to the world that she had survived and was none the worse for wear, but the city she had been staying in could not say the same. Where she had been in a burrow off of a hotel, she now was in a widening gorge adorned with broken mine cart tracks and water and steam pipes that would have benefited the town above. Or at least partially still above as several brick and mortar buildings along with the wrought iron fence lined streets they rested on were also shifting down into the growing fissure. The entire land mass was transforming, which was not unusual at all for the world, but Rosy still puffed her cheeks up unamused while resting the backs of her hands on her hips. “I wasn’t ready to start an adventure yet! I was supposed to check today’s fortune first!”
As she chastised the fissure Rosy subconsciously reached up and rubbed her shoulder under the shoulder puff her cards had been returned to. In their presence her shoulder was growing cold and numb just like her fingertips after handling the cards. Though she was rubbing more to return warmth to her shoulder, it made it appear to any passing by that she might have been nursing an injury. “Miss, are you alright! We have enough room to lower a rescue team if you need help!”
“Hm?” Her voice lost to the sound of rushing wind, Rosy looked up to satiate her curiosity and saw the best airship that could be made with early industrial age technology hovering in the air, several propellers and wings helping keep it afloat as steam gushed out of several release vents. ‘How long was I gathering up my cards if there are already rescue ships flying around?’
The speaker who called out to Rosy from the deck of the airship was not capable of reading minds and Rosy cheerfully waved at the ship as she provided an audible response. “I’m fine! I don’t even need rescued!”
Running forward to the lip of the ledge she found herself on below the hotel, Rosy looked out at the fissure with greater focus. She smiled brightly and with anticipation as she saw Rings blink into being and saw the effect they had on the architecture within the fissure. Most notably she watched chunks of land simply start floating freely, revealing that there were Rings likely buried within sharing with the landmasses their penchant for floating. The sight brought a pleasant smile to her lips and she giggled aloud. “It’s just like a Ring Bond. Sharing a power with someone else and making them better. Just like Sonic did with me!
“Ooo~ I wonder how he does it. Maybe if I collect more Rings I’ll get a feel for it too!” With a nod Rosy clenched her fists up determinably beside her face before turning towards the much closer airship. “Really! I’m fine! I’m a Ring Hunter with Checkpoint so I’m going to go collect as many as I can right now! Everyone is going to need them to run the Ring Gate to bring in more supplies, right?”
“That’s true miss, but how? Do you see this gorge!”
“Just leave that to me! You go rescue people who aren’t as fortunate as I am!”
Turning away from the edge and the airship, Rosy made sure to spy one last look into the growing gorge from which giant mushrooms were starting to sprout. There was no guarantee that the landmass she settled on would still be there, but she just smiled as she walked away and pulled on the cuff of her glove so she could get a quick look at her palm within. Happy with what she saw she started running at a light pace with the non-essential crew of the airship piling up against the ship’s deck railing to see what was going on. The sight of a pink hedgehog girl though made the voice of one crew member rise up in surprise. “Wait! Is that Rosy the Rascal?”
“Who?”
“With Checkpoint! That hedgehog girl known for getting in trouble.”
“What type of trouble?”
“Forget that! She’s doing something weird!” Interrupting their crewmates one member of the airship’s crew squeezed forward beyond the deck railing to point at Rosy. Her running speed had increased tremendously, and she had gained quite a bit of ground on the airship before she leaned down hard and planted a hand against the ground bringing herself to a hard stop. Her arm strained to absorb her momentum and she leaned into a onehanded handstand in which she almost toppled over as her feet started moving fast enough to be indistinguishable from twirling ribbons of red straining to hold a figure eight shape. Twisting her wrist, Rosy forced herself to turn around and lowered her body back towards the ground and partially scrambled as she launched herself forward with restored traction. Her recovery was not seen by the crew at all though as she was gone in nearly a blink, but still not quite fast enough to generate a sonic boom. She had little concern though as she careened through the air with her arms out behind her.
“Wheee~~~~~!”
The joyous shout seemed completely inappropriate under the circumstances, but Rosy was known as a rascal and always sought out the best in any situation. The opening of the gorge was unexpected and completely destroyed the infrastructure of the mines that had been below the city but served Rosy well. Her leap needed a spot to land and she had chosen a stretch of mine cart railing that twisted through a loop-de-loop shape before a ramp that launched her even higher. She was so glad that Rings would burst into motes of light and be absorbed into her body at the slightest touch as otherwise there was no way she would be able to gather the Rings she passed at the speed she was traveling. A massive mushroom cap suddenly growing out in front of her ascent threatened to bring her to halt and she curled into a tight ball and spun at tremendous speeds allowing her to cut straight through the mushroom. It was not a flawless cut though and she flopped out and onto the top of the blue cap of the mushroom just as it absorbed the last of her momentum. “Achoo!”
“Yuck!” The disgust at her sneeze was laughed off as Rosy sat up and kept rolling forward onto her knees and hands. Before bracing to set off again though she rubbed at her itching nose and promptly sneezed even fiercer. “Eugh!”
Looking down at her hand Rosy recoiled from the sight of it covered in spores and ended up jumping to her feet in the process. As she moved back she got a clear look at herself, or would have if she hadn’t gained a full coat of fuzzy mushroom spores all over.” Ack! No~! I don’t want to be a mushroom girl!”
Trying her best to shake them off Rosy had no luck and turned to-and-fro looking around desperately! “Aha!”
The sight of gushing water from a likely broken water main rushing out of an exposed mine tunnel provided Rosy with her next destination and she wasted no time heading for it. As she skipped across springy mushroom caps and floating chunks of rock her lack of control over her speed started to become apparent, exacerbated by the mushroom spores that had no intention of releasing her even at the speeds she was traveling. The force of the waterfall as she finally reached it well below where she planed proved enough to finally wash them free and she took a moment under the water to make sure not one spore stuck to her. It was also a prime opportunity to wash the soil stains out of her leotard and restore its white color back to its normal vibrancy. When she finally stepped out of the waterfall though, she could not stop yet another sneeze from stopping her in her tracks.
“Aah~~~! If I keep sneezing my nose is going to get all sore and my face will get all puffy! I need to dry off! Except…,” trailing off Rosy looked about as she rubbed her arms and saw that the top of the gorge had grown quite a way above her. It would take her considerable effort to climb up and she was too clumsy with her speed to risk just running straight up the sheer cliff. Her best bet to get back into the morning sunlight appeared to be a cobblestone street in the distance that seemed to have tilted into the gulch turning the houses upon it quite lopsided. “I hope everyone is okay.”
Looking up Rosy could see plenty of rescue airships maneuvering through the growing mushroom forest and smiled believing they would get the job done. Holding her balled hands to her shoulders she nodded fiercely to herself and smiled brightly. “Right, I need to do my part too so everyone can fix everything when this shift finishes!”
Hyped up, Rosy used her speed to scramble as fast as she could while still being somewhat competent to make her way to the tilted street. Much as her footing was unsure though she forced herself to tap into more and more of the speed she possessed as the road started to fracture compromising her chance to get back into the sunlight. When one smaller mushroom cap slipped out from under her when she dried to dig in with a step she tumbled over and bounced off another mushroom cap and landed in a heap as she finally reached the road and tumbled a little ways further. Pouting heavily at her crash landing Rosy took no pleasure on reaching her destination though. ‘I can’t keep being clumsy like this. Sonic said I have to make his speed look cool if I’m going to use it. I’ll get all dirty again too. I’ve already taken two showers this morning and I don’t want to have to take another one already.’
“Um, are you okay?”
“Huh?”
Realizing she had tumbled right up against a house and had planted her butt on its wall as though she was seated on the ground, Rosy found herself looking up at a mother holding her child staring at her from an open window. A huge grin spread across Rosy’s face and she waved at the child before rolling over backwards and springing up to her feet. The mother and child stared amazed at Rosy’s acrobatic display and she laughed modestly.
“I just had a little spill is all, tee-hee! I’m fine though. But what about you two? And are your neighbors stuck here too? I don’t think it’s safe to stay here much longer.” Rosy’s good cheer quickly turned to concern as she walked back towards the window and looked around at all of the other houses on the street. The mother drew her attention back to the house before her though as she spoke up.
“I’ve heard rescue ships are coming but the mushrooms are growing so fast…”
“Don’t worry!” Surprising the mother and child both Rosy stepped forward and grabbed both of their hands as she shouted encouragingly. “I’ve seen the rescue ships making their way down and I have a flare on me too!”
Rosy pulled her hands back, running her fingers along the palms of the mother and child as she did, and reached up into her quills where sapient hedgehogs had a tendency to store things. After a moment of rummaging she pulled out the small fireworklike flare in her possession and smiled confidently as she showed it off. “See? I’ll go launch this so they know there are people here, but then I’ve got to go and collect more Rings. But just so you feel a little better…
“Here, have some Rings for yourself! They’ll keep you safe until the rescue ships get here!” With a drifting of motes of golden light, a few Rings appeared in Rosy’s hand and she offered them to the mother and child. As they tentatively took a hold of them Rosy smiled brightly. “Okay, I have to go now but don’t worry, I know you’ll be fine! I gave your palms a quick read and they say you’ll be just fine! Bye-bye now!”
Turning away with as much energy and good cheer as she arrived, Rosy hurried out to the road and launched the flare, a trail of pink smoke trailing the launched beckon. Not wanting to mess with the smoke trail and risk the lives of the people who were peeking out there windows at the flare, Rosy made sure to give herself some distance before following the road up the cliffside and into the sunlight. Even having to make some impressive leaps the road proved quite reliable and Rosy soon found herself on a separated bit of the cliff wall that had become an independent spire. It was the perfect place to dry off and warm up. Unfortunately, she could not enjoy the sunlight as something was very wrong.
“OW~!” Clutching at her shoulder where her tarot cards were stored within her sleeve, Rosy fell to her knees with a wide-eyed grimace. “It’s so COLD!”
‘What is going on?’
Even through her sleeve and glove the box of tarot cards were so cold that it felt like it was burning her flesh. She did not want to imagine what it was doing to her arm which she had already lost all feeling in the shoulder of.
“Ow, ow, ow! You weren’t cold like this just a moment ago. Why are you so cold now when you weren’t after I fell into the gorge? Oh!” Forcing herself to stand against the pain, Rosy made her way to the edge of the road and looked down into the mushroom filled gorge. It was quite the sight filled with countless giant mushrooms and chunks of city, some of the mushrooms even glowing along with the spores that filled the air. Rosy would have marveled at the sight more than she did but an updraft of wind from within tickled her nose and she sneezed and took an involuntary step away from the edge. More importantly though…
‘Hey, my cards aren’t as cold now. Then it really is isn’t it?’
Stepping back to the edge again Rosy looked down and tightened her grip on her shoulder. ‘Is there someone down there asking me for help through my cards?’ The thought pulled Rosy’s memories back to the pained spread her cards had landed in earlier and the dream of the seven eyes. A determined frown creased her features and Rosy balled her free hand up. “In that case, I’m so sorry for leaving you waiting. But you’re going to have to show me how to get to you!”
To the surprise of the crew of an approaching rescue ship, Rosy suddenly jumped over the edge. Her jump was not without plan however and she planted her feet on the cliff side to control where she went with her descent. As her cards grew less painfully cold, she kicked off the cliff and leapt out to a mushroom cap. She allowed herself to fall over and rolled around in ball for a moment before uncurling and leaping off in the direction from which her cards grew less cold. Imprecise a method as it was, Rosy eventually found herself standing on a ledge under a giant mushroom cap with a large cave opening in a cliff. A chill wind blew from it, but as it blew over Rosy it took the rest of the cold from her cards away. It also carried ominous sounds that were all too familiar and Rosy let out a nervous laugh.
“Don’t tell me…,” before Rosy could even finish her thought an obnoxious laugh echoed out from the cavern.
“OH~HOHOHOHO!”
“Eggman!” Rosy’s feet were already moving before she was even thinking and before she knew it she had to actively stop herself and hide as she easily caught up with the rotund, egg-shaped scientist and archenemy of Sonic the Hedgehog. Peeking out from behind the stalagmite that served as her impromptu hiding space, Rosy counted numerous bee robots buzzing around in the air around Eggman in his Egg Mobile as well as several rhinoceros shaped unicycle ones scooting about below him. The air of good cheer surrounding him was unmistakable and it was obvious that he was in the midst of a new sinister scheme. ‘Maybe… I can stop him?’
The thought of stopping Eggman mid-scheme seemed like the perfect way to prove herself to Sonic and convince him to let her travel with him. But she had no luck with Eggman, especially when Metal Sonic was around. Worse, she was on her own this time with none of her friends around and had already used her flare and could not call for help. Unless…
“No!”
“Hmm?” Eggman stopped and turned his Egg Mobile around to check his flank in response to Rosy’s sudden shout of disappointment. She had already ducked back down behind the stalagmite and had clamped her hands tightly over her mouth. But it was too late, and she knew it. Worse, the wrist device she wore to keep in contact with Checkpoint was broken and considering how rare such advanced technology was, and that it was actually functional meant she would be in trouble for it breaking too. That would be the least of her troubles though if Eggman found her, and he was already on his way with his contingent of robots.
“Ho~! Already gone are you?” Eggman mused aloud as he reached Rosy’s former hiding spot which she had swiftly abandoned. Naturally though he smiled a huge toothy grin and with a boisterous laugh mocked Rosy. “Hohoho! Disappearing so quickly yet not confronting me could only mean it’s one of Sonic’s troublesome little friends! But which one I wonder… Not that it matters when you have pitted yourself against the super genius scientist Dr. Eggman! You’ll lose in no time and then I’ll use you to bait Sonic to his doom. OH~HOHOHOHOHO! Erk–! What are you imbeciles doing! I needed the data from there!”
The cave was a lot larger than what Rosy had realized when she had charged in blindly, and from a natural catwalk above she spied down at Eggman. He was more than animated as he yelled at the rhinoceros bots that scooted about where Rosy had been annihilating any source of her trail and making a fool of Eggman. ‘I guess I can run away safely now and find what Eggman’s here for and ruin his plans.’
Trying to stay low, Rosy pressed her hands into the ground and started to enter a handstand as she kicked her feet about to get to speed before leaning back down and launching forward. Pebbles and dust flew up in her wake and Eggman snapped his gaze in the direction of the noise, adjusting his glasses with a finger.
“If you’re already running and making so much noise, than it must be that pesky pink sow of a girlfriend of that blasted Sonic trying to interfere. Too bad girl, I, super genius scientist Dr. Eggman will not be stopped this time!”
Eggman’s declaration and subsequent order to his bots meant little to Rosy. She was too busy swooning as she ran deeper into the cavern. “Ahh~! ♥ He thinks I’m Sonic’s girlfriend! I can’t believe it! I wonder what Sonic would think! Does he think of me that way too? I really want him too! Eee~!” Cupping her face with her hands as she gushed Rosy stopped focusing on her running as much as she needed to and slipped into pigeon-toed scrambling. By the time she realized it was too late and she mis-stepped, tripping herself up and rolling wildly before bouncing off a wall.
By hedgehog instinct alone Rosy had curled into a tight ball to protect herself and took a moment to uncurl. “Huh?” Un-squeezing her eyes she looked up at the sight of a giant mushroom, the first of many she looked at as she got back to her feet shakily. “Did I go back outside by accident?”
A quick look around revealed no sign of the sky, but rather a forest of giant mushrooms growing in the cave. A cursory look around also revealed that neither the rhinoceros bots nor bee bots had given up chasing her. “Ooo~! Why do you have to be so persistent!” Dashing off into the new forest Rosy tried to leave the robots behind with her complaint, and while taking to the mushroom caps took her out of reach of the rhinoceros bots, the bee bots were far better equipped to pursue her.
“Kyaa~!” Rosy shouted out as the mushrooms suddenly exploded around her under fire from the artillery mounted in the bee bots’ stingers. “What are you doing! AHCOO~!”
Spores filled the air around Rosy and she could not stop herself from sneezing. She was clumsy as it was trying to use Sonic’s levels of speed but running while sneezing was impossible. But she tried her best to anyway as she could not risk being shot by the bee bots. Unfortunately, she was unaware up to her next step that Eggman had also brought along a third type of robot. Leaping out of the mushroom cap right where Rosy was about to step, the mole like robot with a drill for a nose and drills for hands met her foot with its nose. If not for the Rings she had been gathering all morning the results would have been disastrous, but instead the energy of the Rings absorbed the impact and scattered from Rosy’s person as she was thrown back. Before she could recover and attempt to snag any of her lost Rings though another mushroom cap crashed into her from behind and sent her flying over the burrow bot. Disoriented, Rosy simply curled up as tightly as she could and let gravity and her momentum carry her to where it may, and winced with each collision and bounce from within her protective ball. She did not look out again until Eggman’s telltale laugh assured her that she was not safe in the least.
“OH~HOHOHOHOHO! I had heard you were quite the treasure magnet Ms. Rose, but–”
“It’s Rosy!” Aggravated by the use of her last name instead of her nickname, Rosy popped out of her curled up state and landed on her feet leveling Eggman with an angry pout. Her unleashed temper was quickly quieted though when she realized she was surrounded in an alcove with steep walls that curved up to a stalactite covered ceiling. The only way out was past Eggman and his contingent of robots and he offered her a toothy grin as he saw the realization in her eyes.
“Now now, Ms. Rose, no reason to be so riled up. I’m in a good mood today. You see, rather unexpectedly, Metal Sonic came home recently and with a marvelous treasure. One with the same energy signal as what our little game has led us too. Oh~hohohohoho!”
“What?” Risking a look behind her where numerous burrow bots were rising out of the ground, Rosy saw ‘it’ floating in the air before the back wall of the alcove. It was as wide as a saucer and perfectly spherical, and though it was a sea blue color and seemed to be an orb of polished crystal Rosy knew what it was. It was impossible not too when a vertical pupil filled with flames looked out from the face of it. “…the eye from my dream…”
“Oh~, so you’re already familiar with the Gaia Eyes, Ms. Rose.”
“Gaia Eyes?”
The disappointment on Eggman;s face as his mustache drooped told Rosy admitting her ignorance was probably a bad idea as she turned back around to face the mad doctor and would be world conqueror. That he was after it was enough reason for her to keep him from getting it, but it was a question of how at that point. Her imitation of Sonic’s spin attack would let her best a few Eggman robots in a one-on-one confrontation, but here she was surrounded and had no real room to work with. Yet she could feel the desperation of the Gaia Eye behind her boring into her back. Tightening her hands into balls she looked as defiantly at Eggman as she could.
“I can learn about them later, but I’m pretty positive it doesn’t want to go with you!” With a shout Rosy turned to dash for the Gaia Eye and left Eggman too dumbstruck with her words to give an immediate order.
“Doesn’t want to? Absolutely preposterous! These Gaia Eyes are no different than the Chaos Emeralds; crystalized power waiting for a genius such as myself to unlock their secrets. And when I do, I will finally rule the world! OH~HOHOHOHOHO!” the laugh of Eggman’s that ended his little speech was not just in celebration of his future victory, but also at Rosy’s failing efforts. He may not have given the order, but his robots were designed to fight Sonic and her display of speed set them into motion and kept Rosy from the Gaia Eye.
“Why can’t you just leave the world alone! It’s so much fun as it is now and doesn’t need you ruling over it!”
“How naïve you are Miss Rose,–erk!”
“It’s Rosy!” Her irritation reaching a head, Rosy ran straight for Eggman as she was forced to retreat from the Gaia Eye due to the antics of the robots. She was no Sonic and couldn’t take on so many head on, but the gunfire from the bee bots was making it far worse on her and she knew she had to stop them somehow. As Eggman’s Egg Mobile did not seem equipped for immediate combat charging the doctor seemed like her best chance of getting it to stop, especially since Eggman would be caught in the crossfire.
“Wait! Wait! Wait! Wait! Wait! Wait! Cease your firing!” the order Rosy was hoping for spilt out of Eggman in a panic as she tucked into a ball and rolled under him. She did not linger though not trusting Eggman to not be prepared to attack and leapt up at a bee bot behind him. Spinning into a ball as fast and as tightly as she could Rosy tore into the robot and popped out the other side destroying the machine and freeing a small blue bird known as a flicky in the process. Eggman bore witness to the sight as he spun around angrily to lash out at Rosy. “Why you little! I should have expected no less from one of Sonic’s friends! Ehm?”
Dissipating like morning fog, Eggman’s ire disappeared as he noticed Rosy acting funny as she failed to land properly. She struggled to turn around and look at the Flicky she freed, and the question in her eyes prompted Eggman to ask his own as he held up a hand to stop his robots from assaulting the suddenly vulnerable seeming hedgehog girl. “Is something wrong Ms. Rose? Or are you just surprised that I’m still using wildlife in my machines? You must understand, having a power source and a hostage is extremely helpful when dealing with Sonic. It slows him down you see, knowing he can’t recklessly attack my beautiful creations.”
“Sonic… shouldn’t… slow down… for… anyone… whoa…!” Rosy was not sure what was wrong with her. Her speech was coming out slurred and she could barely stay standing. She was feeling lightheaded and flushed and turned her knees sharply together to keep herself standing. Her hips did not feel like they were going to support her for much longer either and the flicky she freed looked at its rescuer with great worry. She wanted to offer it a reassuring smile but her body was feeling so warm like she was sunbathing and she couldn’t bring herself to move. ‘Do I have a fever? Why am I so…?’
“Oh, what a day of delights!” Eggman was so excited he could not keep himself in his Egg Mobile and leapt from it dancing over to the wreckage of his destroyed bee bot. Rosy struggled to watch him, but just shifting her eyes left her feeling so dizzy she fell to her knees and fought with every drop of strength she could to keep her elbows locked so her arms would support her. She could not fathom what Eggman was looking for as he rummaged through the wreckage of the robot she destroyed, but the massive toothy grin he offered he as he spun around holding up a small broken glass tube sent chills down her spine. “You really have made this day more delightful than it already was Ms. Rose”
“It’s… Rosy…” Rosy could barely manage to correct Eggman as she less so labored to breathe as her hot breath simply seemed to escape any conscious control on her part. That was a problem in general she having was maintaining any conscious control of her body. It was as if it had simply stopped receiving orders from her and she fell onto her side weakly looking up at Eggman as he danced over. ‘I don’t understand, it’s so weird. My vision is fine, but I can’t move… I can… barely think…’
“I can’t believe it’s actually working on a sapient hedgehog! It never worked on Sonic and I tried it on so many test subjects, but it just wouldn’t work! And yet, it’s working on you! Oh, why didn’t I try using wildlife as a power source when I first tried to study you and that blasted Ring Bond of Sonic’s. I would have found out then that it works on you. And better yet, better yet, you’re not experiencing the typical adrenaline shock when exposed to an uncontrolled atmosphere that snaps all of the pests I use back to their senses.”
“Wh… t…” Rosy could not manage to properly utter a word and just looked at Eggman questioningly. Whatever was happening to her it had overrode her internal panic, and though she was terrified she could not act on it all and instead sought answers from the only one who could answer them. Fortunately, Eggman seemed glad to continue prattling on and squatted down next to Rosy and waved the broken glass tube he held in front of her. As it passed her nose her body grew completely limp and Rosy had no control left at all. She could still see Eggman smiling at her, but she could not even look at him anymore as she lost conscious control of her eyes.
“Oh~hohohoho! Look at you Ms. Rose. You can’t even move. You’re completely, absolute, and utterly helpless and it’s so beautiful! But of course, I’m certain you want to know what’s happening to you. Well I’m so overjoyed right now I’ll be glad to tell you. What you are experiencing right now is a form of conscious paralysis. You might compare it to waking up before your body, a phenomenon commonly called sleep paralysis. The flushing and warmth you’re feeling is from your blood vessels widening in response to the compound that was in this vial and that you must have breathed in when you destroyed my beautiful creation. But it was a worthwhile sacrifice for this discovery. In fact, I should get another vial just to make sure you don’t recover after all.”
Bounding to his feet Eggman ran over to his Egg Mobile and tilted it over as he began rummaging about within. As he searched and tossed things over his shoulder he gladly continued explaining. “But you see, the blood vessels need to widen as my lovely little concoction typically carries all of the bodies nutritional needs and even carries components that keep the muscles healthy and strong. An absolute necessity to keep my living batteries functional you see. The paralysis is also necessary to keep my batteries from trying to run off, but the mind must be kept active, that’s why you’re still awake. Even the most primitive of pests have minds that must be occupied. It’s why my robots interact you see, it gives my batteries’ minds something to focus on so that way the mind doesn’t degrade followed by the body. Though you’ll probably doze off before you recover, depending on your recovery speed. Sleep is a necessity for the brain after all. I wonder though, have you dozed off already?”
Turning away from the Egg Mobile, Eggman meant to check on Rosy and found her being checked on by a red armadillo. He looked very displeased and Eggman pulled himself into his Egg Mobile in a desperate hurry before popping up to look back at the sapient armadillo who seemed to be struggling to figure out how carry Amy’s ragdoll-like limp body. Noticing Eggman’s eyes back on him though he gave the doctor a glare. “What exactly did you do her Eggman?”
“Hmph!” Eggman retorted snorting out of his nose as he typed away on the controls of the Egg Mobile to order his robots into action. “Don’t think I’m afraid of you Mighty. I know how much you abhor violence–”
“When my friends are being hurt, I may find myself willing to stop who’s hurting them though,” Mighty the Armadillo countered Eggman before he could finish. There was a conviction in his own words that frightened the normally peaceful armadillo and he hoped Eggman did not pick up on that fear. He still needed to figure out how to carry Rosy safely with her in her current state and his shell was depriving him of options. That and Rosy seemed to move about quite a bit, though it was little more than her body moving on its own as it sought to grow more comfortable for the sleep forced upon it. Eggman watched her carefully trying to glean as much information out of the display as he could, and the sight of Rosy’s eyes told him she was still wide awake inside her sleeping body. His toothy grin grew and Mighty feared it might have been Eggman sensing his fear and spoke up to distract him. “What did you do to her Eggman? And she better recover, or else…”
“Or else what you silly little fool. You may have Sonic’s speed and a strong shell–”
“And my strength as well!” Mighty strained to say as he again interrupted while pulling free a massive boulder from under him and Rosy before hoisting it it above his head with one hand threateningly.
“You wouldn’t,” Eggman gulped and floated back so that his burrow bots were between him and Mighty. They would surely break the boulder if he threw it now. Presuming he did not throw it higher than they could jump with their treads.
“Just tell me if she’ll recover.”
“I can’t say without taking her back to my base to study, but there should only be a limited amount of my genius concoction in her blood stream. She may not be experiencing the adrenaline shock that breathing in an uncontrolled atmosphere normally instills, but even without the surge of adrenaline her body will break it down naturally to absorb the nutrients in it.”
“Is that right?” Mighty sighed heavily and the tension in his body seemed to melt away. That that made his grip on the boulder only seem stronger left Eggman feeling nervous. Mighty however seemed much calmer and relaxed now and even allowed himself to smile. “That is a relief then. I think I’ve heard enough now to know that Rosy will be okay so I think I’ll go ahead and get her somewhere she can sleep this off. But don’t think I won’t tell Sonic about this. Knowing your trapping our friends in you machines again is going to get him riled up.”
“I don’t believe I gave you permission to take her Mighty,” Eggman sneered sinisterly with restored confidence of his own. “She’s become a very valuable test subject of mine now and I can’t afford to have you taking my things. Hehehehehe…”
“Rosy isn’t a thing or yours, Eggman!” Mighty shouted and meant to throw the boulder to buy himself time but a number of burrow bots burst out of the ground and shattered the boulder before he could. His eyes widened in surprise in time with Eggman’s widening grin, but he wasn’t out of options yet. Curling over Rosy protectively he let his shell deflect the shots of the bee bots and absorb the impact of the rhinoceros bots. As he could not fully curl up into a protective ball himself though the first one that hit him threw him back. He held onto Rosy however and pulled a ring out of his shell and threw it behind him in his path.
“No! not a Ring Gate! Blast you Checkpoint and your constant interfering!” For all of Eggman’s bluster there was nothing he could do to stop Mighty and Rosy from falling into the portal the Ring opened up into before disappearing with a flash. Watching the last twinkles of golden light where there had been a Ring Gate and two interlopers in his plan Eggman’s glorious mustache drooped. It did not stay drooped for long however as he was soon laughing delighted as he drummed his fingers together before him. “Ehehehehehe… Oh~hohohohoho! OH~HOHOHOHOHO! –Erk! *cough* *cough* *hack* *wheeze*”
*Ahem*
Having recovered from his coughing fit Eggman leaned back in his seat and sighed as a smile parted his lips and raised his mustache again. “Well, as wonderful as a discovery as Ms. Rose turned out to be, she is just an unexpected contingency plan for now. Besides, there are plenty of other fools I can use to get my hands on her for proper study later. Right now, though, right now… I have to collect you after all my pretty.”
The light of the Gaia Eye lit up Eggman’s glasses as he spun about to face it, no longer challenged to claim the artifact he declared as akin to the Chaos Emeralds. And though he believed it possessed no mind of its own, it surely stared him down with chilling hostility as he took it in hand with his signature toothy grin.
GROWTH GULCH CLEARED
Chapter 1 - Anxiety of a Rose, End
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I so hope everyone enjoyed and am looking forward to your feedback! Hopefully I won't be too long getting Chapter 2 rolling ^^)'
#sonic the hedgehog#doctor eggman#mighty the armadillo#classic amy#amy rose#rosy the rascal#my redesign#metal sonic#my au#sonic au#sonic ring bond#my writing#fanfiction#sonic fanfiction#i'm so excited!#i hope everyone enjoys!#\(^o^)/#ring bond literature
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PLAYLIST SHUFFLE TAG!
Okay, so @viterbofangirl tagged me in this and I need to start learning to post my own shit, so what the hell, why not?
Rules: you can usually tell a lot about a person by the type of music they listen to! put your favorite playlist on shuffle and list the first 10 15 songs, then tag 10 people. no skipping!
(I couldn’t stop at 10 so I added 5 more, sue me)
I have very random music taste and I listen to my music on shuffle alot, so I made a playlist of the ones I like the most (that way I don’t hafta skip 150 songs to get to the one I feel like) so I’m gonna use that one.
1) History of Violence - Theory of a Deadman
Hoo boy starting off light huh?.... Yeah so, I was in the drive thru at Sonic when I first heard this on the radio and was immediately like “holy shit”. Instead of like metaphors and poetic subtlety, it’s just straight up like “here’s a poor abused woman who resorted to murdering her shitty boyfriend/husband cuz she couldn’t take it dum dum dum”. Even though the actual situation is not the same, this song is perfect for getting across the internal issues and turmoil of my character Mikey. Its so perfect I’m even planning to animate something for it...... if I ever get around to learning animation that is.....
2) The Vengeful One - Disturbed
Two songs in and I look kinda emo.... But hey this song is soooooo cathartic! I love me a good heavy rock song, and the drums and electric guitar are perfect for my ears to absorb. This song gives off a feeling of overwhelming power mixed with a coldness and disdain for the bad in the world. Obviously, thats not my usual temperment, but its an interesting one to explore! Especially when I’m trying to get into the head of characters that exude that like my OCs Spark or Ryu. Plus its fun to sing in the car X)
3) Enter Sandman - Metallica
Okay this one is just a classic! Same thing with the drums and guitar they both slap SOOOOO GOOD. I don’t really associate this song with any of my characters or fandom favorites, but it DOES give me a super strong urge to learn the drums. EXXXXXXXXIT LIIIIIIIIIIIIGHT! OFF TO NEVER NEVERLAND!!
4) We Are Giants - Lindsey Stirling ft. Dia Frampton
I don’t really to listen to music by band or artist, but I LOVE Lindsey Stirling!!! She’s probably my favorite musician! This is such a good song, especially for someone like me. Its a positive song that talks about feeling alone in a crowd and unimportant to the world, but how you really do matter and shouldn’t be afraid to dream big and shoot for the stars. It really speaks to me and the vocalization is so good (especially for singing), not to mention the official music video is animated and AMAZING!
5) Cetus - Lensko NCS
I dunno if anyone knows this song, but damn its good. Its one of those Royalty-Free songs that people look up for their channels, which is how I found it in the first place, but I loved it immediately. Its a peppy 8-bit electronic bop that turns a little Irish jig at the end and honestly I think if I ever start an animation channel I’m totally gonna use it! (Also go support Lensko he make good beats!)
6) Sanctuary - Utada Hikaru
I did not grow up with Kingdom Hearts, and only played KH2 within the past year n’ a half. But good God, the moment that Cinematic Opening came on and this song started playing I swear I astral projected into a daze of feelings without names. I know that “Simple and Clean” is the quintessential Kingdom Heart song that gives everyone feelings, but IMHO Sanctuary blows it out of the water. As beautiful as the animation was, or how curious the occasional backwards lyrics are, or how weird it is having high-res Goofy and Donald in what is essentially an anime opening, I really can’t be distracted from this song when I play.
7) Chemical Plant Zone (Rock Remix) - Zerobadniks
Chemical Plant Song is like, one of the TOP Sonic songs by popular vote (and we know how awesome the Sonic series is musically so thats saying something!), but I could never quite vibe with the normal 8-bit version. I think I first heard this as someone’s ringtone and was immediately like “THATS PERFECT THATS EXACTLY HOW I NEED IT!”. The rock makes the song soooo much better and honestly gives the song the perfect vibe. Unfortunately, it took FOREVER to find cuz none of the Rock Covers of this song were the right one. In fact, tbh, I’m not even sure whether Zerobadniks is the correct artist..... that’s just who everybody was crediting when I found it.
(imma include the link i found since its a little hard to find: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fqJiZEM6aPI )
8) The Wolf - SIAMES
YOU WANNA TALK ABOUT ANIMATED MUSIC VIDEOS???? THIS IS A GOD-TIER ANIMATED MUSIC VIDEO. I found the video first, and seriously, if you haven’t seen it YOU NEED TO!!! The beat works perfectly with the images on screen and the story being portrayed is really intriguing, with the lyrics adding to atmosphere without necessarily describing the visuals shown. Even without the animation, the song itself is a banger. It bring to mind the feeling of intense motion forward, but unable to decide whether its movement TOWARD something or AWAY from something. I love listening to this on a nighttime drive.
9) Burn the House Down - AJR
If you ask me, the best way to make a pop song better is to add either violins or trumpets. For this song, it was definitely the trumpets that first caught my attention, and the rest of the song kept me listening. I don’t really know how to describe the vibe of this song, and I don’t have a specific character or story in mind when I listen to it, so its a little hard for me to talk about it. I think the best way I can describe this song and what draws me to it is a feeling of nonchalant go-with-the-flow attitude to shenaniganry. Almost an undertone of “We’re hooligans in a situation that we probably should get out of, but hey we’ve got life and each other so why worry?” At least that’s the closest I can get to a verbal description heh...
10) Slim Pickens Does the Right Thing and Rides the Bomb to Hell - The Offspring
DANCE, FUCKER, DANCE, LET THE MOTHERFUCKER BURN!!!
So this also has a KICKASS animated music video, but its technically combined with the song “Dividing by Zero”. Now the video works SO well with both, and the shifting artstyles reflect the differing tones of the songs PERFECTLY. However, I have a preference for both the animation and the song on the Slim Pickens half. Its fun to listen to and sing at the top of your lungs and its SO CATHARTIC. Again I cant really describe what my head does when I hear it, but I think you can probably feel a similar vibe if you watch the music video.
11) No Heaven - DJ Champion
The first time I finished the original Borderlands, I had been playing for days on end, had just finished a long battle with the Destroyer, and sitting back relieved to have beaten it and reflecting on how much I had enjoyed the adventure. Then this song started playing. For what I believe was forty minutes this song looped on my TV while the credits rolled. By the time the credits finished I was pulling up the song to listen to again! What an absolutely PERFECT cherry to add to this experience. This song perfectly encapsulated the chaotic, trigger-happy, morally ambiguous craziness that I had enjoyed and absorbed in this game. Every time I hear it now, I imagine myself in the wastelands of Pandora, driving haphazardly across the sandy dunes as my companions and I shoot and blow up everything in sight. You know, living the dream.......
12) Hit & Run (Wolfgang Lohr Remix) - The Electric Swing Circus
I fucking LOVE electro-swing! The electronic beats and rhythm blend so well with the wild and energetic freedom of swing. A lot of electro-swing gives me a vibe of wild movement, reckless abandon, and freedom from constraint. I think this song melds all of these feelings the best! As the last song might have indicated, despite my general nice and sweet temperament, there is a part of me deep down that is an absolute gremlin secretly enamored with chaos, insanity, and a general disdain for law and authority X). But whereas anything Borderlands related has a more “morality is an illusion blowing shit up is real” air about it, this song is far more peppy. More of a “good-hearted but insane” type of chaos, like an 100mph car chase where you end up sailing over the train tracks JUST as the train passes.
.... I may have gotten a bit off track lol
13) Kickstart my Heart - Motley Crue
I love this song, but I have to be VERY careful when and where I listen to this. I love songs that make me feel like I’m going a million miles per hour, like I’m gotdam Sonic the Hedgehog. Unfortunately, I may or may not have had multiple instances of listening to this song in the car and abruptly realizing that I’m going like 15mph above the speed limit...... So yeah, regardless of absolutely perfect it feels to play this song while speeding down a nearly empty highway, please be careful and drive responsibly!!!
14) I’m Born to Run - American Authors
Imma just up and say it. This song is a Sonic song; like not like actually from the series but a song for the character. This song encapsulates Sonic as a character better than some of his ACTUAL THEMES (and remember Sonic music are bangers!). Its a song about freedom, living life as it comes, and not letting anything slow you down. Frankly I’m surprised they didn’t make this song FOR the Sonic series, or even the movie! Speaking of which, ironically I heard this song right after watching the Sonic movie in theaters, so yeah there’s no way I can associate it with anything else.
15) Opa Opa - Antique
Oh, what a PERFECT way to end this list! This may be one of my absolute favorite songs of all time! I don’t remember exactly how I found this song... I think I had just relistened to Dalar Mehndi’s “Tunak Tunak Tun” and was looking for other catchy non-english songs and BOY HOWDY I found one! I know nothing about the band or what the song’s about (its in greek and i dont speak it), but this song is just a masterpiece of retro, pop, and dance sounds. This song feels like the musical and lyrical manifestation of dance and movement. I really REALLY wish I could dance JUST so I can express how happy and free this song makes me feel! This is the BEST song for me to end this list with!
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JESUS, this got long..... Sorry about that XD. It was fun though, and hopefully somebody was vaguely interested in my ramblings.
Guess I need to tag people now? How about @tharkflark1, @rockmilkshake, @neonbuck, @drawingsdrawingseverywhere, @birthgiverofbirds, @puccafangirl, @kalcat, @biblestudybussybopsbabey, @monstrous-milktea, and @memecage! I think there are a couple of people here I haven’t talked to though soooooo..... hi, I hope you don’t mind the tag X)
Anyway hope you enjoyed and/or want to do this too! This took for-fucking-EVER to type, so imma go fuck off and watch youtube or something now...
#music and remixes#viterbo i was gonna add you to the bottom list and then i was like SHIT SHE TAGGED ME XD so oh well#i may or may not have cheated just a bit but shut up these are the songs i had something to say about#moonstar wont shut up
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Nico Attacks: A Campfire Tale, Ch. 2
LL, NicoMaki, KotoUmi, 1.5K, 2/4
And Then There Were Two
Umi examined the ground where the path opened, her keychain flashlight still working, “Definitely more sets of feet than just Eli and Nico, one of them smaller.”
“So one of the children?”
Umi shrugged, “It doesn’t look like anyone got dragged off so Eli must have gone...willingly?”
Maki was only half listening to Umi. The music had been gone for awhile now, but now a more insistent, probably artificial, wind noise started to rise.
“Something’s going to happen.” Maki hissed.
“Sprint across or move along the trees?”
“If that’s a portable lantern, we should grab it. And I’m going to head for the house. I think it’s that way.” Maki pointed to the right.
“So would that be a predictable choice?”
Maki huffed, “Probably.”
Umi unbelted her hatchet.
“This isn’t war.”
Umi’s face, in the LED bright of the keychain flashlight, was Honoka choosing bread serious, “you know Nico better than I do, what do you think is going to happen?”
Maki deflated, “Yeah, you might have to cut us out of netting.”
“Is everything between you two a duel?”
“Maybe.” Unexpectedly, Maki grinned, “Nico never backs down, never stops pushing. It’s always an adventure.”
“She could decide to call it a night and I would be thrilled.”
Maki chuckled, “Won’t happen.”
“Whose side are you on?”
Maki sprinted for the lantern but as she grabbed it, a howl started, one voice joined by another then another. Maki headed for what she thought was the path to the house but before she took more than two steps, the scarecrow started to move. Umi saw it grab her by the throat.
“Maki!”
It seemed like an hour, but it was probably only nine seconds before Umi moved, sprinting to where Maki was struggling and cursing. As Umi was realizing Maki was in no real danger, Maki threw the camping lantern away, and the scarecrow was dragged forward by the wires attaching it, just far enough that Umi’s legs were entangled as she approached. Umi pitched toward Maki, twisting so the hatchet threatened no one. Maki grumped, skipping to the side.
“Keep that away from me. Nico forgot you’re always armed.”
“I am always prepared.” Umi sheathed her hatchet again.
Maki kicked the scarecrow, then decided to stomp on it for more catharsis.
“That’s Eli’s jacket.”
“I don’t care.”
The howls were picking up, and music was back.
“Really, Nico, can’t you come up with anything other than Bach?” Maki shouted into the night.
“It is a classic horror mood.”
Maki rolled her eyes, “She could have at least thrown in Saint-Saëns Danse Macabre. Or something modern.” Another shout into the night. “It’s not like she doesn’t know death metal exists.”
The sounds started changing, a shift from organ to a screech of metal crashing in a guitar riff.
“Thank you!” Maki shouted.
“Let’s not help the people attempting to terrify us.” Umi was taking cautious steps toward the tree line as branches shook menacingly. Suddenly, a spotlight glared directly in their eyes, and after it dimmed, black spots swimming in their vision, howls and guitars speeding up, gritty voices grinding out indecipherable lyrics, at least three songs shoved into a sonic blender, with that cacophony as a backdrop, the shifting shadows ahead turned animal. And started to growl.
###
When Eli saw the light, it triggered a rushing need to get closer. She couldn’t see anything ahead of her, barely felt anything as she pushed between Maki and Umi, her feet speeding her through the cloying darkness, even though part of her mind was screaming “That’s how the flame gets the moth,” it was not screaming loud enough to silence the terror of DARK.
As soon as there were no tree branches for Eli to thrash through, she felt hands pulling her to the side.
“HE…” She yelled but a grimy, sweaty hand clamped over her mouth and two people wrestled her forward. A child stood, shadowed by the camping lantern that was her current obsession, one of the twins.
Eli relaxed slightly when she heard Vik’s bright voice whispering “We’re saving you, Mom.”
Nico and Rin had Eli in a fairly tight grip, Nico hissing, “You say anything or run, I kill the light.”
Vik was smiling up at Eli, in a gray hoodie with adorable wolf ears. Rin and Nico were also wearing them.
“I’m going to sit,” Eli whispered softly, her legs too shaky to do anything.
Nico sighed, but nodded. “Gimme your shirt?”
“Why?”
“Just do it.”
Vik stood next to Eli, blue eyes wide, “Are Auntie Umi and Maki scared? Dia said her Mama was so grumpy about the pumpkin guts. How come we never have fun like this?”
Because Nozomi doesn’t enjoy terrifying me when small children are awake, Eli answered in her head, but she hugged Vik, “Every family has their own traditions.”
“This is so cool.” Vik was literally bouncing, spinning around the tilting pole while Nico was attaching wires to the scarecrow, while Vik was putting their ballet warm up exercises to good use. “Auntie Nico is the best.”
Eli shook her head, amused, happy that a Vik she was getting too used to seeing sullen and withdrawn was giving every sign they were having a great time. For that, she would forgive Nico many things.
Vik handed Eli a gray hoodie, “Help us howl, Mom.”
Eli thought about the DARK and then she looked at the brilliant smile on her child’s face. This was a crossroad and she knew which path to pick.
“Your mother always says I’d look cute with a tail.”
###
Maki and Umi backed up, instinctively.
“You know that’s probably just Nico and Rin, right?” Umi hissed.
“My feet won’t move forward.”
The shadows pushed closer, the forest was moving forward as metal guitar strings shrieked ‘til they shredded and clanks and chalkboard scratches answered growls. It was amazingly effective,
Umi recovered first. Which Maki only realized when she backed into something solid.
“Nico doesn’t scare me.” Umi stated, with zero conviction.
“Liar.”
And then three running, hunched ‘creatures’ rushed toward them, circling them, growling, laughing, unrecognizable, faces smeared with dark makeup. Umi braced herself, Maki went for the treeline, but the middle ‘creature’, rolled in front, so Maki stumbled forward over them, grabbing at them but only pulling off their hoodie.
Someone pulled Maki up and as she turned, she screamed at a looming HUGE inflatable glow in the dark skeleton bobbing behind Umi. Throwing the hoodie in frustration at Umi, Maki leaned over, hands on knees to catch her breath. “Dammit, Nico.”
And then Umi said something unexpected. “I apologize.”
“For what?”
“This is not solely your fault.”
Umi got weirdly formal at the strangest times. Maki raised her head and waited for the full explanation as Umi examined the hoodie.
“Nico is not working alone. Kotori made these. I recognize them.”
“So what did you do?” Maki snapped.
“Nothing.”
Silence. Bordering on angry silence. Maki never liked teasing. Umi sighed.
“Kotori might have remembered that after the Halloween Hell Cruise, I wrote Aizuwakamatsu no Yurei.”
Her award winning play. Maki knew Umi hadn’t been writing. So Kotori was worried. Ha. Everyone has interfering wives. And the Halloween Hell Cruise had been a Nico Nightmare. Maki shuddered at the memory.
“So if my wife is devious and diabolical, what’s yours?"
“Crafty.” Umi said proudly. “And caring.”
Maki stomped into the darkness, muttering something that rhymed with “tripped.”
Umi stood, watching the bobbing, grinning, glowing skeleton. Then she reached into a pocket, pulled out her clasp knife, opened the blade, and punctured Mx. Bones with one swift motion. Air escaped with a whispering scream. Umi nodded her head, satisfied.
“Hey, that looked fun.” Maki grumped.
"Maybe you shouldn’t have stomped off.”
“Show off.”
Umi grinned.
“So how many more of these do you think Nico has planned?”
Maki shrugged, “She still seems to have infinite energy.”
“So not maturing?”
“Ha ha.”
“You’re enjoying this.”
“Aren’t you? It’s” Maki paused, “invigorating.” Maki and the lantern did a circle of the clearing, to check for clues, “Why’d you stop writing?”
“Exhausted. Kaito is a fine, intelligent child, but it’s exhausting.”
“I know.” Maki shot a glare back at Umi, “And Dia’s picked up some very judgy habits from a certain babysitter.”
“Your daughter’s manners are impeccable. She’s nothing like Nico.”
“You’re wrong there.” Maki pulled on a wire but it didn’t seem to connect to anything. “‘S funny, when I was younger I would have imagined me at a fancy black tie Halloween charity event with my supportive spouse who did most of the childcare while I lived at the hospital and then I met Nico and here we are.”
Umi considered that, “What else do you do when you fall in love with a brilliant, hard working career woman who wants a family and for you to keep being yourself? Support them like they support you.”
“Yeah.” Maki got to spend every day with music and people she loved. Because of Muse. And Nico. Other generations of Nishikinos had paintings, portraits stiff in oil to hang on walls, but for her family, it was a quick watercolor sketch Hanayo had made while Maki and Nico were having an impromptu concert with their daughters. It was Maki’s favorite piece of art, quick, lively, bright, made with love.
Maki found another wire and pulled. Netting crashed down around here, leaves scraping her cheeks. Nico wasn’t done yet.
A/N: Hey.
#NicoMaki#KotoUmi#Love Live#Nishikino Maki#Yazawa Nico#Sonoda Umi#Ayase Eli#October#pranks#Nico Attacks#October ficlets
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hey, hiii just wanted to ask about your thoughts/opinions on shadows character
Do you mean like.... Overall or how it’s been handled lately?
It also kinda depends on which version of Shadow. I mean, obviously from my set of 4 Shadows I have on my desk, I love him.
SO I guess we need to break it down.
Sonic Adventure 2 Shadow:
I love this silly edgelord. He’s basically a teenager who’s also woken up from a really long nap. Have you ever had nap brain before? Because it sucks, and I like to think that’s part of why he’s so grumpy and also why he had so many memory problems. He might have been out of cryostasis, but his brain was still waking up. He’s moody, he’s probably going through hormone swings because, you know, teenager, and he’s trying to figure out where he stands in the world.
This is the Shadow I was first introduced to when my cousin had the game system and I was watching him play it. I literally made my mom buy me a gamecube and the game because I wanted to play with Shadow. I’m always late to the game with stuff. I mean heck, I only just now started playing Sonic Forces and that’s been out since 2017, but this game REALLY impacted my view on the Sonic franchise.
Shadow in Shadow The Hedgehog:
Okay so I know a lot of other people really hate his depiction in this game. They don’t like the idea of Shadow going THAT edge and liking guns and all of that stuff due to his PTSD with Maria. But honestly... I don’t mind it that much? Because there’s the whole thing about him having amnesia again or whatever. And what’s more interesting to look at from this game’s point of view is that, just like a lot of other things in the Sonic Franchise, it’s an AU.
This is a choose your own adventure where you can literally decide if Shadow is going to freak out and go down the villain’s path, stay neutral and do his own thing, or realize that he needs his friends and go down the hero’s path. So even if you’re not super into him using guns, you could still have him go down that hero path and find his true self.
Plus this thing has one of the most bangin’ theme songs Shadow’s ever had. Like all of his themes from games are pretty awesome, but I personally LOVE this one. Especially the extra m e t a l version by Little V.
Shadow in other games:
He can be kind of hit-or-miss in the personality department here. You’ve got him in Sonic Heroes with amnesia... again. And possibly being an andriod. But honestly I love that “date to die for!” scene because it’s so dramatic! You’ve got him in Free Riders for some reason being willing to help Rouge get money in the race even though he’s never actually been willing to help before. In most games he’s just kinda sorta... there, and it feels like the writers don’t fully know what to do with him if he’s not the main focus of the game. There’s one big exception to that though:
Shadow in Sonic 06:
The game everyone shits on, mostly just because of some of the graphics being shitty here and there in the actual gameplay and also the whole “Sonic hooking up with a human chick” thing. However, this is one of the best characterizations of Shadow. He cares about his friends, he gets given the support he needs, and in turn he also winds up giving that support to Silver. You know, after giving him a boot to the head. As bad as this game might have been, we did actually get relatively good character development for some of these characters, and Shadow was one of them. His willingness to do his part and take Silver “under his quills” as I’ve seen other people say, properly shows off his compassionate side rather than him just.... being dark and brooding. You know?
Boom Shadow:
Eeeeh.... I’m not totally sure how to feel about this one? I love listening to his voice for sure. I like watching his fight scenes. But it feels like they’re making him edgy just for the sake of being edgy. And he’s really easily manipulated? I feel like, while Boom has done some great things with other characters, Shadow has gotten the short end of the stick. He’s kinda bland most of the time when it comes to his actual characterization, and he’s boiled down to a one-note kind of guy.
So like, I don’t hate it but I really think I could do better.
IDK comics Shadow:
They kinda did the same thing here. Shadow started out pretty darn great in that scene with Sonic and deciding what to do with Mr. Tinker. Seeing Sonic get under Shadow’s skin about it and making him back down was a great way of showing how the two have really gotten to understand each other over the years and that Sonic knows Shadow better than he’s willing to admit.
That’s where my praise ends. Shadow then basically disappears until we get him back being stubborn as hell and jumping right into a pit of zombots and BOOM, just like that he’s taken out of the game.
We’ll see how things go once this virus thing is over (because honestly I feel like it’s been lasting waaaay too long.) and if they use this to humanize him a bit more or if they keep him being super stubborn and one-note. But yeah, as of now I’m not super happy with how he’s been handled.
Shadow in the Archie Comics:
HOO BOY I SAVED THE BEST ONE FOR LAST. And by best I mean worst. Where do I even begin with this one? Let me start by saying that I haven’t read all of the Archie comics yet. I’m working on it now, and I’m reading them somewhere online because they’re expensive as hell to get a hold of.
But dear lord, this writing is usually horrible! Some of the writers work well together while others *cough*kenpenders*cough* don’t bother to read each other’s stories or will get pissy about their own plotlines not going anywhere and others having to fix them.
Shadow is... yanked around so heavily in this series. In some stories, he’s great. He shows interesting characteristics and shows that he’s learning and growing. In others he’s just kinda.... there. In others he’s going completely against what he’s learned and is treating people like shit unless he’s manipulated to do otherwise.
One of my absolute biggest complaint about the Archie series is: Tyrant Overlord King Shadow, from the 25/30 years later arch. It’s so bad, you guys. *disgruntled noises*
Ken Penders basically had Shadow do a complete 180 despite everything he’s ever learned. He forcibly married Sally, became a tyrant of a king who ruled with an iron fist, and when Sonic kicked his ass and threw him in another stasis tube and he was brought back later, he unleashed this weird Tikal/Chaos creature out into the world to completely destroy it after feeding her so much chaos energy that he hurt her.
Also the writer completely freaking forgot to actually END that story. Sonic and the New Freedom Fighters defeat and re-seal away “Tichaos,” but there’s no closure as to what happens to Shadow. It’s just Ken Penders going: “LOOK MY SUPER SPECIAL AWESOME OCS JUST SAVED THE DAY.” And it’s like.... okay, but what about Shadow? Did he escape? Is he still in the castle? Is there a second part to this?
And sadly, that’s as far as I’ve read with that line and I don’t know if it got any further before they had to do the reboot.
So yeah, Shadow is kinda shafted in these comics too.
Overall:
I think he’s a really great character with a lot of wasted potential. He tends to shine more when the spotlight is fully on him because in that case, the writers realize they need to work on him more. But when he’s a side character, they boil him down to one-note and that’s really not a good thing to do with any character. (I should also note that I haven’t actually gotten to purchase the DLC yet of Shadow’s story for Sonic Forces, so I’ll need to go and watch the cut scenes before I can properly say anything on that particular game.)
The Sonic Franchise suffers overall from a case of: Too many characters. Now I wouldn’t change that about them, especially this late in the game. However we’ve been introduced to so many characters that none of them ever really get their chance in the spotlight anymore.
Another artist that I can actually compare this to is actually VivziePop. She designs a LOT of characters for her works, and she puts so much effort into them that they all come across as “main character material” and completely overshadow the actual main character of the story. The biggest time that has impacted her work was in her comic Zoophobia. The main character was some human chick thrown into the world, but then she spent so long establishing all of the almost hundred characters she’d made for the world that the story itself felt like it de-railed. She’s gotten a bit better with Hazbin, but Charlie still gets really overshadowed.
Some of the Archie comics got to be the same way. They had introduced so many characters at that point that they needed to do storylines that didn’t involve Sonic, and Ken Penders himself didn’t really like writing for Sonic because it was so restrictive, where as he had a lot of free reign with the other ones he’d made or that weren’t the main character. So he just kept making character after character to throw in there, and that combined with the characters we got from all of the assorted media over the years means a lot more characters to try and focus on.
So the ones that don’t get their prime time in the spotlight just kinda never go anywhere.
Also Shadow not being the main precious blue boy probably explains why his writing can be so wibbly-wobbly depending on the media he’s in. Because Sega isn’t breathing down anyone’s neck anywhere near as heavily as they are for Sonic.
I should probably stop typing now because I’ve written you a novel. XD
TL;DR: I love Shadow but he gets the shaft more often than not by the writers.
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Shantae: 1/2 Genie Hero
From the 16th of this month, March 2020, to the 15th of next month, April 2020, Games with Gold has the excellent platformer – Shantae: ½ Genie Hero. As long as you have an active Xbox Live or Xbox Gamepass Ultimate subscription
It's “FREE” to download during that period but even after April 15th, you can keep playing it, it won't leave your library and if you let your subscription expire it will still remain, you just can't play it.
I have had Gamepass for about a year now, I wanted to kind of document my journey and time with games on Gamepass and one of the first that I played when I got the service last year was Shantae: ½ Genie Hero. Unfortunately, this game is no longer available on the service and I thought back in September of 2019 that I had lost my chance to talk about it in a relevant sense, but lo and behold its back now – kind of, in a zombie-esque way.
The game expiring from Gamepass was actually the launching point for me to a Switch. It was my birthday in September and Shantae was just about to be removed from the service, great present Microsoft. I was kind of depressed that in this moment in my life that I had spent about a quarter of a year playing the game that was just going to up and leave. Now I could have bought it and at a discount but if I did that I would be getting just the base game that I was practically done with. I also had all this extra money from my birthday burning a hole in my pocket and instead doing something smart like putting towards my mortgage – I ended up buying a Switch to cheer me up. And what does the Switch have but the physical version of Shantae: ½ Genie Hero that includes all the DLC.
THAT – and the fact that one of my favorite games of all time was just remade – Link's Awakening.
So I got those two games to cope with the fact that I wouldn't be able to play Shantae on Gamepass anymore in a few days ...but I had also gotten my wife a Switch Lite for our anniversary so I kind of wanted a reason to give it to them early and we had a Switcheversay on September 28th.
NERD!
On a side note of this tangent – I feel like I'm always a little behind with Nintendo, with my earliest exposure to Nintendo being no different. Way back in the dark ages of the early 1990s I was a Genesis Lad. After school I was in a program where I first got to play a Nintendo game, there were NES consoles, games and Ataris as well. While kids at school were telling me, “YA GOTTA PLAY Donkey Kong Country 2 and Mega Man X!” The cutting edge stuff of the time, I would root around and find other games like Donkey Kong Jr. and Mega Man 2 on NES. Now don't get me wrong, those were great games I loved then and still love now but I was behind the times. I just didn't have a Super Nintendo, like most of my peers that I went to school with. I just had the Sega. So when most were playing Super Mario World, Chrono Trigger and A Link to Past – I was playing Sonic... Sonic (Sonic 2)... and Sonic... (Sonic 3 but not & knuckles)
BUT Sonic is great!
When my friends had a Gameboy Advance, I still had a Gameboy Color. When the DS was the hot handheld, I got a Gameboy Advance, I got a 3DS around the time Fire Emblem Fates came out when it seemed like everyone was clamoring for a new portable technology and I got a Wii U when it was all but dead. As previous stated, I only got a Switch last September. Heck, I haven't even played the new Mary-o yet
Pushing forwarding in the way back machine to the time when I was a still a young teen, at the age of 14, I remember a Gameboy Color game came out that I really wanted to get – Shantae. I don't even know why I really wanted it other than it was a new Gameboy Color game when new Gameboy Color games weren't coming out. Like, I remember the Gameboy Advance came out about a year ago but I didn't need one according to my parents-
Me: Mom, can I get a Gameboy Advanced?
Mom: You have Gameboy Advance at Home
::At home::
So the impact of a new Gameboy Color game coming out - blew … me … away.
Of course - I didn't get that game either.
Now don't get me wrong, I still got games as a kid on birthdays and Christmas but I feel like the games I didn't get are the ones I look back at and think – If only...
(^I never had a Neo Geo but I wanted this game)
Love you Mom and Dad
Back to Shantae though
Tangents aside – why do I think I like this game?
Why is it when I played Half Genie Hero in June of 2019 did I really got hooked on it well until the end of summer? I play, play, played it – all the modes, collect the endings, the tedious achievements like Queen of the Seven Cheese where you have to beat Risky Boots by just chomping at her as a mouse doing 1 damage at at a time.... ugh! For achievements I even … gasp (teeth noise) … speed ran it. And successfully, not on my first attempt though! Or … at least successfully enough to get the endings and achievements. I've never speed ran a game before, at least on purpose. I drew bad fan art!
(^Unlike everything else on this post, I actually drew that [sorry])
For the first time in my life I even looked into Fan Fiction.
Which, on a side note, I don't recommend you look at most of the fan fiction that I’ve seen if you are at work.
The game really got its hooks into me and I'm not exactly sure why but I think I might know.
Well, it feels like a SEGA Genesis game – long story short.
Short story long - I think the best way to classify what kind of game this is, is Metroidvania. You have a mini map and you unlock powers that later allow you to explore the rest of the levels you had previous been to and there are collectibles and upgrades you can buy in game. As you play you can upgrade how Shantae attacks by purchasing upgrades for her hair whip attack or armor but the big mechanic is the transformations – you can turn into animals with varied attacks and abilities as well as some other inanimate objects and living things like this tree
- to help you better get across the stages and discover the secrets of Sequin Land.
I've also read its kind of Mega Man– ish which I had never really thought about before but yeah, because I do love some Mega Man. It has a lot of obstacles/the levels are kinds of obstacle courses like the early NES Mega Man games and there are two areas particularly in my mind – The factory in Mermaid Falls and the Hypno Baron's Castle part of the … Hypno Baron's Castle stage. Well most of it is actually like an obstacle course now that I think about it
The score is by Jake Kauffman and man, AND if I ever make a game I want that guy doing my music. I mentioned the factory part of Mermaid Falls before �� the best track in the game and maybe even in any game I've ever heard is Counterfeit Mermaids, its such an earworm,
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KkXd26E_Ynw
I feel like this song and Neo Town Burning are the two best games
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yParHIzy1nA
You are going to be in the camp that one is better than the other (though Counterfeit Mermaids is clearly the superior track, ahem)
Its a great soundtrack, I find myself tuning into it during my commute to work and sometime even turning off my podcast or audio books to listen to this soundtrack (yes Even Neo Town Burning too). The game's lead voice actress according IMDB is Cristina Valenzuela (sometimes credited as Cristina Vee) who sings the games title theme that also appears in the first level, Scuttle Town the first time you play the level and also when you first boot up the game its there too. POW! Give it a listen – sample plays and fades. Its great. This soundtrack is really memorable and still in my rotation almost a year after I played it for the first time.
The characters themselves too are varied in personality and the styles are now toted as being“in high definition”.
Shantae is my least favorite but I think that works well in the sense of self insert. And that's not to say Shantae doesn't have a personality, she is kind of bubbly and she cares a lot about her ties such as to her family - such her uncle Mimic and her late mother - and to her friends. The three main friends that back Shantae during her journey (that also get their own adventure in the DLC)
Sky - a somewhat more responsible friend of your that is out to give you some counsel and a ride to each stage on her cool bird
Bolo – who offers a bit of comic relief
Rotty Tops the zombie that is a true friend that shows up to support you and cheer you on, in one time literally too.
By the way there is also Risky Boots (the best character, IMO) who is the larger than life antagonist to akin to a comic book villain.
But even with the “HD” graphics, and incredible score everything about just feels like … a Sega game. I can't really put it to words to do it justice, like, it has the essence of games I grew up with. I know a lot of people already had that nostalgia rush with Freedom Planet or Sonic Mania but I only just got Freedom Planet on Switch
Which is great so far, by the way
and Sonic Mania is on my to do pile
so for me – Shantae was it.
I felt that joy like I was 5 years old playing Sonic 2 for the first time. I took me something embarrassing like 8 hours to beat the first time. But after I beat it, I immediately wanted to play it again. I almost NEVER want to replay a game after I beat it – Best case is I take a break and play it again in a year. While it took me a laughable amount of hours to beat the game the first time but by the time I was really invested and on the 3rd or 4th time replaying it, I was completing it in under 2 hours. I was looking up speed running strats and Youtube videos of people speed running the game to compare and contrast how I played the game. I never, ever thought that I would speed run a game. Super Metroid still takes me an embarrassing number of hours to play and I've beat that almost as many times as Shantae now.
Having played both the Xbox One and Switch versions they look pretty similar and seem to play about the same. I noticed that the game seems to run a bit better on the Xbox One and the load times aren't as long
So I really recommend you get this game. I'm super jealous if you've never played it, you get to experience it for the first time! If you don't have an Xbox One but have a Switch you can get the physical version for pretty cheap, used I got this copy for about $20 and it has all the game content. And with the DLC you can finally play as Risky Boots!
It goes without saying that the game I am most excited for this year, 2020 is going to be Shantae and the Seven Sirens.
If you don't have an Xbox or a Switch, the game is also on PC too. Steam has sales, last time the Ultimate Edition was on sale it was only about $21 (show pic) and with a plug and play controls great.
And just as I was checking before posting this, it is on sale for $20.99 until March 30th, 2020
Its also on PS4, I guess if you don’t have any other options
#shantae#shantae half genie hero#half genie hero#risky boots#sega#nostaliga#games with gold#xbox one#switch#pc#video games#games#metroidvania#bolo#rottytops#sky#wayforward#xbox#ps4#steam#sonic#super mario#sanic#mario#gunstar heroes#gunstar#freedom planet#super metroid#metroid#castlevania
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