#it was my first ff game and holds the most nostalgia for me

[doberbutts]

This has probably been asked before BUT it's my favorite question to ask gamer types: list your Top 5 games/series in no particular order!

Pbbbbbt man okay hold on.

So Kingdom Hearts used to be up there but I was actually kind of... underwhelmed by KH3. Like I liked it and all and it makes me interested in KH4 but idk if I've just grown out of the demographic or if it was really an underwhelming game (its sales tell me that enough people liked it that it probably is just a me problem) but it was enough to make me rethink KH.

Final Fantasy however remains strong. My favorite [mainline] FF game is actually FF4, and my first played is FF10, but I've enjoyed pretty much all of the [mainline] FF games released in the US and more than a few of the side games like Tactics and Crystal Chronicles.

The Tales series also remains one of my favorite series even though, similar to KH, I've been sort of underwhelmed by a few of the recent entries. Arise was probably on level with KH3 for me, Zesteria was... fun, but not really a "Tales game". Xillia and Vesperia were great rides in comparison. I own Berseria but haven't played it yet so I'm still not sure on my feelings on that one. Symphonia will always be my #1 so it's hard to match that quality.

Assassin's Creed, of course, and though I'd argue that again the most recent entries haven't really been "Assassin's Creed" games, they have been incredibly fun and a good return to the series after my Ubisoft divorce.

Pokemon, obviously, I've played every single mainline entry (though tbf I haven't progressed past the first town in Black/White because, uh, reasons) and nearly every side game lmao I was obsessed as a child and I'm only less obsessed now because I have no money to spend on frivolous things like every single Pokemon entry known to man.

Harvest Moon/Story of Seasons- I've loved these games since A Wonderful Life and Magical Melody, but again, recent entries have been more than a little underwhelming and I'm not interested in the nostalgia-bait of the remakes. I've already played these games to death and I'm not really interested in doing it again.

Ys- honestly this is a weird one for me because I've played almost every single Ys game that's hit the US but at the same time I'm not like. Obsessed with it? I like the games a lot and I find them very fun but I also don't really care about the story or the characters. Like I got into them because of the pretty art during the PSP era and it's not that I dislike really anything about it but I think I'm mostly just in it because I like following my pretty red-haired swordsman around on adventures. Must appeal to the Kenshin fan in me. If you asked me what the story was about in most of these games I'd stare at you blankly because I very don't remember so it's definitely not the story drawing me in, and a lot of time the combat is pretty simplistic so it can't be the gameplay either. I think it's honestly just because it's a fun game with a passable enough story to let me enjoy it while I play, but not strong enough really to stand on its own among all the other fantasy jrpgs I play.

And, lastly, Fire Emblem. I started with the GBA Fire Emblem (Blazing Blade, tho it was just "Fire Emblem" on the box) and loooooooooved Sacred Stones and just stayed from there. Again, despite having played pretty much every Fire Emblem game that's been released here, I can't really tell you that the story was particularly strong except for the two GBA games which had such a great story that I played them over and over and over because I loved them (and also I loved Erika and Lyndis). Good enough for me to enjoy them, not really good enough for me to say the story was the strongest part. I will say the gameplay was probably the main draw, these were my first tactics games and what I always judge every other tactics game off of at this point. The idea that it was all a game of chess, except the chess pieces talked and would die if you weren't careful (back in the days of permadeath at that!!!) and you could get them to marry each other etc was very appealing to me.

That was more than five, but there you go.

[andrakesffxivdump]

hmmmmMMMMMmmmmMmm

so.... amaurot in ff14 makes me feel,,,,some kinda way

its based off a city of the same name in a book called utopia (also apparently where hythlodaeus comes from i think) which uh. has a lot of implications as to what amarout was like/its society and what regard it was held in to other societies at the time

but the two dungeons after the main 5.0 story - akadaemia anyder and anamnesis anyder - are what im ranting about rn.

so i finally got around to searching up what these words actually mean and

now anyder doesnt really have a specific definition bc its not really a word. it is another word taken from utopia as it is the main river that runs through amaurot in the book. its taken from the word anhydrous which means waterless (which is kinda ironically funny, but im pretty sure utopia is meant to be satire anyways as its a book on a utopia that doesnt really exist)(side note: amarout is apparently taken from the greek word amaurotous which means disappearing so theres kinda a theme going on that really sets the tone for this so called utopia) also hey, amaurot is kinda underwater rn on the first so the whole water theme kinda has various meanings depending on what youre analyzing

akadaemia is simple: it kinda obviously comes from akademia, so smth like a school or university. considering the dungeon is a place where amaurotines researched and experimented on stuff like you might at a university or smth, its pretty accurate.

now anamnesis on the other hand gives me a lot of stuff to work with. the word means to reminisce about the past. so the first meaning for that is obviously: amaurot was an ancient civilization whos sundered souls were passed onto us (ie. azem and wol) and our souls can still somewhat remember the whole planet dying bc of whatever shit storm happened (but thats another post).

then we've got the explanation that is in context for the dungeon specifically. if you dont remember, or didnt pay attention, we end up fighting the concepts that amaurotines had created and preserved for ages (hmm memory motif), but more importantly, we get to see a recording of venat. now idk much about venat bc i havent done much research into their lore (someone can add that onto this post if they want) but we learn that venat is the one in charge of the whole hydalyn thing to oppose zodiark.

(im pretty sure that venat was also planning on become hydalyn's heart just as elidibus became zodiark's but id have to rewatch the cutscene)

ANYWAYS this is a pretty important memory as we piece together the major events that happened in amaurot. and when we tie it in with the memories theme that is somewhat explicitly stated in the very name of the dungeon, yeah it makes a lot of sense.

this information makes me feel a lot of ways esp considering that amaurot is one of my favourite areas in game (part of the reason to this is bc on first sight it reminded me of zanarkand with ffx, then all the dream zanarkand parallel with amaurot and....well you get the idea) (it only makes me more excited for the other ffx stuff in endwalker - ANIMA MY FAVOURITE AEON FOR ITS LORE, GAMEPLAY, AND DESIGN - so yeah)

ill prolly make a post about how i think how anima might play into the lore we have so far. so yknow.

#final fantasy xiv #ffxiv #ff14 #amaurot #lore #analysis #wow im for sure gonna make that anima post bc god i freakin love ffx #it was my first ff game and holds the most nostalgia for me #yuna my beloved....im was so gay for u.... #and riku and lulu but like...yuna was def my main haha

[mz-elysium]

Wow. That was a lot longer than I planned. Do we even do comic sans wip posts anymore? It it cool? Am I cool? 

Photo ID below the cut because this is already way too fucking long of a post. And this ID, bc of it, is so so long.

Photo ID: a 13 slide Comic Sans font powerpoint about an original WIP. All slides but the first are white, black text, all font being Comic Sans to follow the meme.

Slide 1: black background, white text. Titled with red shadow: The City of Fallen Angels: (2) Hitaeth. Definition below: hiraeth: homesickness or nostalgia, an earnest longing for an idealised past, or a sense of regret. Around this title are a bunch of floating descriptors about the WIP: vampires, gothic-punk, regrets vs forgiveness, dark urban fantasy, historical 2003, 4 POVs, secrets, political intrigue, slice of life, compassion vs selfishness, vampires playing Game of Thrones, grimdark and also hopepunk. A Vampire the Masquerade canon divergent original novel.

Slide 2: Worldbuilding, about the Vampire the Masquerade world. Titled: The canon sects but like a little more nuanced. Three columns of bullet points follow. 

The first is the Camarilla. 

neo-feudal lords and princes

rule most of the world

want to rule the rest of it

scheming, old elders who don’t give a shit about anyone else

will kill your family to make a point

BUT ALSO.

stable domains; due process

clan culture, history, tradition

connected to wider vampire society

play their game and you can live as a peaceful peasant (mostly)

The second column is the Anarchs.

rebellious neonates/ancillae

in their Free States, there’s opportunity for power and to live your own life

neonates can actually own land??

ALSO

literal anarchy

no real oversight or leadership

can and will be killed by another gang

“if you can hold it, you can have it”

Third column is the Sabbat

worship Caine as the First Murderer (first vampire)

take “vampire” too literally

inhuman monsters

war cult readying for Armageddon

ALSO

profoundly religious

strict code of honour

accept their inhumanity (no angst)

tight-knit family-like packs

heroes/crusaders for their ppl

Slide 3: Titled: Have a shitty map. A Google map screenshot of Central Los Angeles, with highlighted sections in different colours, clearly done in Paint by a child. Seven sections are highlighted, explained on the next slide.

Slide 4: The lands are divided by the sect who control it.

Anarchs:

Angels Wasteland: remains of the #peaceful Barony of Angels. With Salvador Garcia’s death, it’s a shitshow chaotic warzone. 

Tinseltown: Isaac Abrams, movie baron, just wants to be left alone.

East LA: ruled by loyalists of the Old Guard Anarchs, who are all dead/gone. Sabbat from further east are smelling weakness.

Downtown: technically “no baron” but also nines is baron. Typical Anarchs, shooting each other, living rough, living free. OR ARE THEY???

Camarilla:

The Valley: a praxis backed by legendary elders, who are propelled by faceless masters, using unwilling Prince Barty Vaughn as a pawn

Westside: greedy and ambitious LaCroix goes “hmm. la looks like shit. probably wanna get in on that” and calls up his contact, Therese Voerman and says “yo. u got a barony, huh? wanna be my seneschal?”

“Independent”

Silver Lake: a desperate grab by Monroe and co to build their own “utopia” … sorta like the Anarchs 60yrs ago… and look how THAT went. Monroe ate the last Old Guard Anarch.

Slide 5: Titled: Monroe’s POV, with a subtitle of The Captain. On the left, a photo of half of a man’s face in shadow. He has dark hair, pale skin, blue eyes, and a hard expression. Bullet points describe him as Matthew Monroe, Clan Ventrue, Embraced 1873, Humanity 5, age 28. On the right, a series of bullets describe his POV’s story.

this is a dude drowning in an ocean of Problems and his catchphrase is “I’ll figure it out”

he owes a life debt to the enigmatic powerful archon in the Valley (Jan Pieterzoon), who seems to respect/honour him more than most of LA.

he used to be besties with the Valley Prince (Barty Vaughn), who he can’t trust but seems? the same?

he turned his ghoul and secret love into a vampire (Hawthorne), against her wishes, and now she hates him. monroe: u kno what? that’s fair.

Silver Lake is held together with duct tape. monroe’s right hand (Ashley Swan) is a nightmare and untrustworthy. his people try to kill each other.

he’s got a lot of unresolved trauma/grief/abuse/anger and vampires sort of have “The Beast”, a spirit that haunts them with evil

and oh yeah, LA is about to explode

Slide 6: Titled: Monroe’s supporting characters. Four characters, each of them have a photo, a title, and brief run-on description.

First, a photo of a very pale man with purple eyes and a lock of ice blonde hair. Ashley Swan, the Thorn, Clan Toreador. Monstrously cruel, sarcastic, hedonistic, aggressive, sadistic, can’t be trusted, doesn’t wear shirts. Bisexual transman.

Second, a photo of a dour woman with dark hair. Audrey Hawthorne, the Lovechilde, Clan Ventrue. Blinded by the Embrace, furious, frustrated, grieving, snarky, over accomplished, creative, passionate.

Third, a man in a black suit looking over a ballroom with a crystal chandelier. Jan Pieterzoon, the Kingmaker, Clan Ventrue. 300 year old, archon, elder, sire is Camarilla big-shot, dignified, mysterious, chessmaster, honourable, elite.

Fourth, a man in a dress shirt, sleeve rolled up, hand extended with a cigarette and bloody palm. Barty Vaughn, the Valley Prince, Clan Ventrue. Former Anarch, Prince of San Francisco, now reluctant Prince of LA. Smokes like a chimney, lives to fuck Tremere and have fun.

Slide 7: Titled: Zari’s POV, with a subtitle of The Black Rose. On the left, a photo of a beaming dark-skinned Black woman with bouncy coily black hair. Bullet points describe her as Zari Adeyemi-Swan, Clan Toreador, Embraced 1973, Humanity 6, age 27. On the right, a series of bullets describe her POV’s story.

life sucks, it’s cruel, and there’s no point thinking on the past, even when the past comes to haunt you

she fled her foster sire and once-lover (Ashley Swan) for his cruelty to others, but now he offers maybe?genuine? amends.

thirty years ago, she left her human children. her daughter (Aisha Adeyemi) has been Embraced and brings bad news

her main way of #coping is working and distracting herself. she throws herself to infiltrate the Westside Camarilla court (Sebastian LaCroix), against all good advice.

soon after she arrives, she finds herself having a secret admirer (Mercurio), who reminds her how precious it is to be loved, held, and cared for — but they need to overcome their own instincts to accept what they could have

The Voerman sisters are in the thick of it all, making perfect cautionary allies and, if she can overcome her preconceptions, friends.

and oh yeah, LA is about to explode

Slide 8: Titled: Zari’s supporting characters. Four characters, each of them have a photo, a title, and brief run-on description.

First, a photo of a white man wearing mirrored sunglasses in front of orange-pink neon. It casts his face and smile eerily. Ashley Swan, the Foster Sire, Clan Toreador, monstrously cruel, charismatic, loyal, thorough, too clever, pleasurable. Bi transman.

Second, a photo of a white man in a suit, adjusting his cuffs. Sebastian LaCroix, the Westside Prince, Clan Ventrue, opportunistic benefactor, greedy, ambitious, petulant, ruthless, degrading.

Third, a white man in a paisley shirt, gold necklaces, putting a hand to a tattooed and exposed chest. Mercurio, the Admirer, LaCroix’s Ghoul, resourceful, sweet, empathetic, capable, romantic, salt of the earth, former Mafia hitman.

Fourth, a white woman in a black suit with delicate gold jewelry. The Voermans, the Mirrored Sisters, Clan Malkavian; one is brutal, calculating, patient, reckless, the other is seductive, fun-loving, innovative, insightful.

Slide 9: Titled: Charlie’s POV, with a subtitle of The Moonchilde. In small text, a line says “a.k.a. Me processing grief over my mother #coping. On the left, a photo of a sad-faced white woman with freckles, black eyeliner, and frizzy brown curls. Bullet points describe her as Charlie Bradley, Clan Malkavian, Embraced 2003, Humanity 8, age 20, lesbian. On the right, a series of bullets describe her POV’s story.

life is getting back to normal? well, “new normal”

as a new adult, she has a good ol’ fashioned “start of life” crisis: who am I? where do I fit in? complicated by her mother’s death a year ago. what sort of woman am I? how does this figure into my attraction to women?

maybe. maybe. maybe monroe is cold and distant and ruling a vampire kingdom, but he wants to look after me. maybe i should let him.

also, hey, you (Jesse Harper) get it. and you’re hurting. let me help, let me be your soft place to land. wow, okay, this is kissing.

she didn’t mean to ruin her sire’s (Rhys Wilson) life. but, she did. she killed his mentor. SHHH! secret! she feel bad. maybe friends? uh, okay, weirdo. maybe D&D.

she’s learning to deal with feeding on scumbags and giving what people got coming to them. and the Cobweb, supernatural psychosis

WHY ARE VAMPIRES LIKE THIS? WHY CAN’T WE ALL JUST GET ALONG? FFS

and oh yeah, LA is about to explode

Slide 10: Titled: Charlie’s supporting characters. Three characters, each of them have a photo, a title, and brief run-on description.

First, a white man in the middle of screaming, his head swaying back and forth so it looks like he has three heads. Rhys Wilson, the Sire, Clan Malkavian, weirdo, prime D&D fanatic and DM, just wants friends, and vengeance, pulls pranks to teach lessons. Gay.

Second, a very strong white woman with her arms crossed, a tattoo on one, and a t-shirt that is obscured but clearly says “The future is female”. Jesse Harper, the Darkness, Clan Lasombra, former vampire hunter, reluctant vampire, brooding, mysterious, sullen, black trench coat, buff as fuck, brave. Lesbian.

Third, a pair of clasped hands, male over female. Monroe, the Stepsire, Clan Ventrue, fucking old, inhuman, kills too easily, sincere, honourable, intense, gives good advice but really should shut his mouth hole.

Slide 11: Titled: Jack’s POV, with a subtitle of The Lone Wolf. On the left, a photo of a sad-faced strong Chinese man with a shaggy and tufted mullet. Bullet points describe him as Jack Shen, Clan Gangrel, Embraced 1955, Humanity 7, age 25, gay. On the right, a series of bullets describe his POV’s story.

why does he always end up alone? people leave, people die, people drift and change, but the good times were worth it

he’s always had a rocky relationship with his lover (Ryuko Saito), but now the dumbass has found a cult promising power.

he hasn’t lost him. he hasn’t. him and ryu just take time apart sometimes. but it’s been a long fucking while. and jack isn’t sure who he is alone anymore. a new human friend (Dustin Cohen), working at his animal hospital gives new life.

his former best friend (Damsel) has dove deep into Downtown and managing as Nines’ lieutenant, bringing him more and more dirty work to clean up

monroe relies on him to reign in the chaos of vampires trying to live without killing each other.

and oh yeah, LA is about to explode

Slide 12: Titled: Jack’s supporting characters. Three characters, each of them have a photo, a title, and brief run-on description.

First, a young white woman with dyed fire-engine red hair and an Iron Maiden t-shirt. Damsel, the Lieutenant, Clan Brujah, naive, brash, physical, loyal, loud-mouthed, smart.

Second, a skinny man in an ill-fitting Hawaiian shirt and jeans. Ryuko Saito, the Orphan, Mage, power-hungry, desperate, proud, ruthless, loving, isolated, crushingly lonely, gremlin, old and chronic pain, hides and “treats” it with magic.

Third, a white hand extending a hummingbird to fly free. Dustin Cohen, the Receptionist, Human, understanding, the best of Good Dudes, empathetic, kinda lame outsider

Slide 13: Titled: also. A moodboard on the right side includes two weeping stone angels, one at sunset, one in darkness between a tarnished and broken silver crown; a gas station in LA as seen through a rainy car window; grim-looking downtown city buildings; and a sidewalk curb with neon lights reflecting off a puddle and a plastic bag of takeout garbage strewn across.

On the left, bullet points follow.

about 100 million other characters. I legit have a spreadsheet

Everyone is capable of evil

Sins of the sire (father)

Never too late to start being a good person

Takes place  about 6 months before Vampire the Masquerade Bloodlines

At least one more novel in the works

Subheading, 22/55 chapters written. Gonna start posting September 28.

End ID.

#wip intro #writers of tumblr #writeblr #vtmb #vtm #wip: city of fallen angels #vampires #urban fantasy #original writing #fanfiction #when does fanfiction stop and original writing start?

[jaybug-jabbers]

Top Bug Pokes By Gen

So I thought I would next discuss my favorite pokes in each type. The problem is, it’s tricky narrowing down to just ONE in your favorite type. ;____;

As such, I’m going to cheat for this first type (bug) and pick a favorite out of EACH generation of games.

Gen 1 - Parasect

It has to be Parasect. This is not a popular choice, and I know it. Parasect’s typing (Bug/Grass) makes it a very difficult poke to use. I’m not going to deny that. I’m also not going to try and deny its rather lackluster set of stats.

Paras and Parasect are really special to me, though. I still remember when I was a kid, playing Pokemon for the first time, and running into a Paras in Mount Moon. That awesome little sprite and its etheral cry (incidentally, a cry deemed cool enough to also be used on Mew) filled me with such a sense of fascination and wonder, as did its relative rarity. I’d been wandering around the cave for ages and didn’t expect to run into anything new, and especially nothing so alien and cool-looking. I immediately added it to my team and brought him all the way to the Elite Four, where he joined the Hall of Fame. Lackluster stats didn’t hold him back from being a useful and valuble member of the team.

I named him Sopea. I’m not sure why. I just made up a word, and it sounded like it suited him.

Paras and Parasect remain possibly my favorite bug type to this day. It is a bug with a parasitic fungus that gradually consumes it, and that is fascinating as heck. A zombiebug, basically. That’s why its eyes are white. There are real species that are preyed upon by parasitic fungi, which ‘control’ their insect hosts, and it’s a truly fascinating thing I strongly suggest looking up sometime. :)

Anyway, my second-favorite of gen 1 is probably Venomoth or Scyther. I love them both a lot. I don’t care for Scizor’s design too much, despite its popularity in the meta game.

Gen 2 - Heracross

I mentioned before how I’m not super-attached to Gen 2. I never played it as a kid (after gen 1 I didn’t play pokemon for many years), so there’s no nostalgia factor for me. I honestly often forget which pokemon originated in gen 2, in fact. Regardless, Heracross is definitely the coolest bug type from that era. Other than Sun/Moon’s funky Ultra Beasts, his typing is entirely unique. A Fighting bug type is truly awesome, and his design is really beautiful. Simple but elegant, with an adorable little smirk, and a really cool species in real life.

Gen 3 - Shedinja

Yes, I think most can agree, Shedinja is a novelty poke. Yes, he’s not actually useful in battle except in extremely circumstantial situations. I know. I don’t flippin’ care. He’s adorable, and the idea behind him is amazing. Spooky ghost pokemon that’s the discarded shell of a cicada? Something that literally will swallow your SOUL if you look into the empty hole in its back? Sign me the fuck up, ayyy. Again, a totally unique typing, and I can’t help but adore him. Cicadas in general are awesome, and if I can’t pick Shedinja as my favorite from this gen, I would choose its bouncier, livelier partner, Ninjask.

Gen 4 - Kricketune

I know you givin’ me an ugly look for this choice. And I’m not gonna bother trying to convince you he’s useful in battle.

But he’s got swag. Dele-dele-whoop, bitch.

(Look, gen 4 was pretty bad for new bug types, so gimme a break)

Gen 5 - Galvantula

Gen 5 had some fantastic bug types, but the prize probably has to go to this crazy electric tick-and-then-spider. Joltik is adorable AS FCK and its evo is awesome AS FCK. I had one on my team during my run of White, and I loved the thing to absolute bits. Once again, before SuMo its typing was totally unique, and I was beside myself with excitement for getting a badass electric tarantula. This speedy spider will run laps around the unfortunately clunky Vikavolt, and I’m happy to see him sometimes used competitively as well (though usually just as a sticky web lead, but compound eyes + thunder is still a tasty combo that’ll pack a punch).

My second-best for gen 5 is reeeeeally hard to say. That gen was definitely the best in terms of getting awesome new bug types (FFS, we even got a Mythical Bug type, and Volcarona), and probably the best for bug lovers of ALL the gens.

Gen 6 - Vivil– oh uhh this is awkward

Yeah, that’s the only new bug type that gen. Needless to say, not the best gen for bug catchers, BUT not the worst either maybe?? Because we DID get a bug type with a TON of forms to collect, and I have to admit, I had a good time collecting them. I still don’t have those special event forms though. ;___; Oh Pokeball Vivillon, someday you will be mine. Also, Scatterbug/Spewpa are the cutest caterpillar/chrysalis forms. (Sewaddle comes close, admittedly)

Gen 7 - HELP I CAN’T CHOOSE

I mean come on, we have an insanely badass isopod thing (with an adorable AF first evo) or a super-adorable fairy-bug thing (with an adorable AF first evo). I gotta tell you, it was pure agony during my run of Moon, because I wanted both on my team so badly. I didn’t put both, because I wanted a more diverse team than that, but it really, really hurt leaving little Wimpod behind. They are both so fantastic.

This is a repost on a new blog. The original post was on Feb 19, 2017.

#pokemon #mycontent #top3 #bug pokemon #pokemon favorites

[scripting-life]

FFVII: returning to my first love

 *peeks out of the corner of my lurking spot*

Hello? Anybody out there? It’s only been, oh you know, four-ish years since the last time I’ve posted anything here. I apologize in advance for anybody who’s still following me from my Castle days. If you couldn’t tell from my extended absence, I’ve mostly moved on. Castle and Beckett were fantastic characters that let me to play with some deep-dive analyses, and Castle will always hold a special place in my heart as my comfort show and my first real and extended experience with online fandom. I’ll always be grateful to the community I’ve had the joy of interacting with (or, the community with which I’ve had the joy of interacting, as Castle would correct me my dangling preposition).

I honestly didn’t think I would ever have reason to come back to Tumblr after Castle ended. But the FF7 Remake has returned me to my very first love--when I was young and innocent and before I knew anything about OTPs or ship wars. I’ve been back lurking for several months now and seeing all the fanart/fanfics and fun theories and analyses has reignited my enthusiasm for the FF7 franchise. It’s also fun coming back to this franchise with a more mature understanding of the themes/concepts that completely flew over my head as a young preteen.

(This ended up being super long, so the rest is below the cut to spare everyone the pain of scrolling. Apparently, my rambling tendencies have not changed at all. lol.)

When FF7R was officially announced (five freaking years ago!), I was filled with apprehension. FF7 was my first taste of a “grown-up” game. I was 11 and played my brother’s copy of the OG on PC in 1-2 hours spurts on the weekends when I visited his apartment. It took me months, if not years, to finish the game (I ended up stealing his copy to play on our computer at home...lol), and I was so blown away by it. I remember the exact moment I finished it and how I was literally shaking as I watched the ending FMV.

Later, when I found out my brother had a copy of FF8 (my poor brother was so accommodating to his annoying little sister...haha), I was so excited to play, in large part because I thought it would continue the story of FF7. Young, naive me didn’t understand the numbering conventions of Final Fantasy titles. I was madly theorizing and breaking my brain trying to find connections between the two games’ plots and had literally played through more than half the game before I finally realized the storyline of FF8 had absolutely nothing to do with FF7. I was sorely disappointed, and I think that has somewhat tainted my appreciation of future titles. Not to say I haven’t enjoyed the subsequent FF titles, but I think a little part of me is always comparing them to that first experience of wonder and awe that I had with FF7.

I discovered fanfiction in my teens and starting writing FF7/Cloti fics in college. Aside from interacting with a few fic writers at the time, I was not involved in any online communities, so I kept myself pretty free of any ship war drama and the like. When I did research for my fics, I’d sometimes see shipping sites and theories where I didn’t always understand the logic of how certain conclusions were reached, but frankly, I didn’t much care and didn’t realize that Clerith vs. Cloti was such a touchy subject. I was peripherally aware that some sort great LTD war was waging, of course, but it didn’t really touch me. I stayed in my Cloti shipping/fic-writing lane and was probably a lot happier for it. And, to be honest, based on FFN’s listings for FF7, I felt like I always saw a bunch of Sephiroth/Cloud fics and thought that was just as popular as the more conventional ships.

Graduating college and entering “real life” pretty much ended my FF7 fanfic-writing journey. In the intervening years between college and the release of FF7R, I haven’t gone back to the OG too much. I’ve played almost all the Final Fantasy games since then, and I always enjoy getting my FF7 crew fix when I play the non-canon mobile games or the Kingdom Hearts franchise. But FF7 was a happy part of my teenage years, and I was content to think on it with sweet nostalgia.

Remakes, in recent experience (*cough cough* Disney, why?), have been hit or miss, with a lot of misses. It’s hard to strike a good balance between catering to nostalgia and delivering a fresh product, never mind the change in social mores through the decades. I was so afraid FF7R would screw up my memories, especially since I wasn’t the biggest fan of Advent Children. The graphics were great and the action scenes were fun, but the story felt like a let-down. Cloud, in particular, felt so different (and yes, moody) from where we left him after the OG. I understand now that a lot of his character motivation was better explained in the On The Way to a Smile novels, but back then, I just felt like AC came out of nowhere. 

Btw, because I see this question a lot on other blogs when I’m lurking, I’ve ALWAYS thought that it was very clear in AC--even without reading anything else--that the reason for Cloud’s depression was due to guilt and not because he was pining for Aerith. The only reason I didn’t like his characterization in AC was because it felt like it came out of nowhere since AC is set 2 years after OG and by the end of the OG, he seemed to be in a pretty decent place mentally and emotionally. That being said, I can absolutely understand why some traumas resurface years after the originating incident and how times of peace might actually be worse because he is no longer solely focused on saving the world, but I was just surprised and a little bummed that this was the direction the devs chose to take AC at the time. Now that I’m older, I do better appreciate the complexities of Cloud’s mental state and the fact that they depicted a hero with lingering mental health issues is actually pretty awesome. I’m drawn to characters that have flaws--sometimes serious ones--but try their best anyway. Hence, why why Tifa Lockhart and Kate Beckett are some of my all-time favorites.

Anyhow, that didn’t stop me from pre-ordering FF7R, of course. I avoided reading any reviews as I didn’t want my first impressions to be swayed, and boy, was I happy that I went in mostly blind. That sense of awe really almost felt like playing the OG for the first time again, but somehow more. The combat system is incredibly fun and the world-building is nothing short of incredible. The variety and abundance of NPCs gives the game so much flavor and the locations have been rendered so well. As I’m going through areas like the Sector 7 train station and Wall Market and Aerith’s house, I can almost superimpose the layout from the OG in my head, but now it’s in 3D and so rich and full. It’s obvious that a lot of attention was paid to details, and I love all the head-nods and homages to the OG.

And oh, the characters!

This is the Cloud I’ve been wanting to see in glorious HD and the Cloud I remember from the original game: all awkward, dorky trying to be cool, socially inept, mentally unstable, abrasive-at-times, reluctant to act depending on who’s asking, wannabe hard-ass who’s actually a big softie inside Cloud. I remember reading an article a few years back about how the devs basically redid Cloud for the Remake because they wanted him to go back to his dorky roots--which ends up making him closest to his personality in the OG than his appearances in other franchises--and I was SOOOO incredibly happy to hear that. I was so sick of the way Cloud was constantly depicted as this cool, broody McBrood in his cameos when he was a pretty big dork in the OG. (Anybody remember him doing squats in the Highwind when Tifa says it’ll be lonely with just the two of them and Cloud responds that he’ll make enough noise to make up for it? Like I said: cute, but a dork.)

I WAS surprised by how comfortable and sweet and touchy (so very very touchy) the devs made him with Tifa from the beginning. That initial scene of Cloud being such a smooth operator giving Tifa the flower had my jaw-dropping and every single flirty interaction after that (and there are many) had my Cloti heart overflowing in shock and bliss. Throughout most of my years as a Cloti shipper, even though I believed Cloti was supported by canon and pretty clearly together, I was also under the impression--mistakenly or not--that Cloti was the minority ship. So for Square Enix to make it so blatantly obvious that Cloud is really into Tifa at such an early stage has been an unexpected gift.

Also, they’re just really hot together. (Clotiscrew tunnel--be still my heart!)

As for Tifa...oh, what wonderful character development we’ve already gotten for Tifa. Tifa has always been one of my all-time favorite characters ever since reading her character blurb in the OG game manual. Initially, as a child, it was because I saw so much of myself in her. She was outwardly bright and optimistic, but tended to hide all of her stronger feelings inside. She fought with her fists, and for someone who was a tomboy growing up who liked playing contact sports with the boys, I connected with her in a way that I had never been able to connect with other female protagonists who were primarily back-row specialists. (I also aspired to grow to her listed height of 5′4″, which alas, did not happen...lol).

I love how the Remake delves into more of Tifa’s moral conflict between the destruction that she causes as part of Avalanche and needing to do something to stop Shinra, and yes, even seeking revenge. They touched on this in the OG lightly, but the Remake really hammers it home. She’s perhaps the most conflicted character in terms of motivation in Part 1. That scene with the Shinra manager on the train is actually one of my favorite scenes of her because it highlights that tension. The elevator scene, if you opted for it instead of the stairs (or if you did one, saved, and reloaded to do the other one, like me), is also underrated in terms of how much it reveals about Tifa’s inner struggle.

On this point, I also appreciate that the Remake has the characters reflecting on the damage they’ve both indirectly and directly inflicted--the Avalanche team all do this to a certain degree. In particular, Jessie’s constant inability to figure out what she’d done wrong with the bomb to cause such a massive explosion and her remaining feelings of guilt during her death scene (”they were my victims” ouch!) were heart-breaking.

Aerith’s depiction was another pleasant surprise. I’ll be honest; I didn’t much like her in the OG. She was too pushy and willfully oblivious to the point of being mean at times. In the Remake, much of her sometimes too in-your-face playfulness was kept--perhaps still a little too much--but I appreciate the nuance that they gave her. The train graveyard scene tells the player that she didn’t have friends growing up, and I think that partially contributes to her lack of social tact at times. The other factor that gives her personality more nuance is the hint of special knowledge that affects how she interacts with the rest of the group. It gives her additional hidden motivation and adds to her mystery for new players while simultaneously pulling at the heartstrings for old players who get the impression that Aerith is somehow aware--to a certain, unknown extent--of her own fate. 

I also appreciate that Aerith is more grounded as a real person than as some sort of revered being. I do blame AC for some of that. When you have the power to cure a fatal disease from the afterlife and send the dead back to life, it gets into some godlike territory. Maybe it’s a fair depiction of her powers as a Cetra, but I just get the feeling that Aerith herself wouldn’t really appreciate being made into this goddess-like figure. Remember that her character blurb in the original game manual implied that she was more interested in earthly things (i.e. the love triangle) than in exploring her own powers. I personally think that Aerith used the “love triangle” in the OG as a form of escapism from the weight of her burdens rather than genuine interest, and I just think she’d want to be thought of as a person rather than as a god. One of my favorite scenes for Aerith is when she and Cloud are traversing the rooftops and she slips on the ladder, letting out a simple, “Shit.” It humanizes her in a way that combats some of the ways she’s sort of been deified in the last 23 years. Also, Aerith wielding a folding chair like it’s WWE never fails to make me laugh. Overall, she just comes off as a more reasonably flawed and--as a result, to me--a more likeable character in the Remake, and I do very much like her now.

Barret is pretty much the exact larger than life character I imagined in my head, only somehow even better, and I really love how expressive and emotional his eyes and facial expressions are. His scenes with Marlene are truly the cutest thing ever. Red XIII is a big, furry ball of sass, and I need so much more of him in the coming parts (Cosmo Canyon still wrecks me to this day). The interactions between the Wedge, Biggs, and Jessie are incredible, and they really feel like people who’ve been friends and basically each other’s family for years. The Turks and Rufus are pretty much as cool as I imagined them in the OG.

There’s still so much more I haven’t even started touching on about the Remake, and I think that’s why I’m finally posting this now. I just can’t contain my love for this game any more, and I really really need a place to express myself. I don’t know if anybody is still reading, but I appreciate having the opportunity to finally gush about this game and franchise that I’ve loved so much for pretty much two-thirds of my life.

#ff7r #final fantasy 7: remake #cloti #cloud x tifa #cloud strife #tifa lockhart #final fantasy vii #final fantasy 7 #ff7 #aerith gainsborough #jessie rasberry #barret wallace #red xiii #for the love of the game #personal experience #not sure i'm ready to wade back into fandom life #but i really needed to gush #oh man i forgot to mention the cats #how could i forget the cats?!?!?

[dumb-american]

The Rebuild of Final Fantasy VII: Your Expectations Will (Not) Be Met

I apologize for the stupid title and I promise I’m going to talk about the Final Fantasy VII Remake, but I have to get this out of the way first. Sometime in the mid 2000s, acclaimed artist and director Hideaki Anno announced that he was going to remake his beloved anime series Neon Genesis Evangelion the way it should have been the first time, free from technical and budgetary restraints. Evangelion had a notoriously strange ending when the original anime aired, consisting of character talking over still images, abstract art, and simple animations. It was highly polarizing and controversial. Anno, for his part, received death threats and the headquarters of the studio that produced the anime was vandalized. Soon after the initial uproar Anno would direct The End of Evangelion, a retelling of the final two episodes of the anime, and that seemed to mostly satisfy the fanbase. Looking back now, The End of Evangelion wasn’t “fixing” something that was “broken,” no, it was a premonition: a vision of things to come. Why remake the ending when you can just remake the whole damn thing?

The mid 2000s also saw the birth of the Compilation of Final Fantasy VII: a sub-series of projects expanding the universe and world of the video game that had “quite possibly the greatest game ever made” proudly printed on the back of its CD case. The Compilation consisted of three games, all on different platforms, and a film. First was Advent Children, a sequel to Final Fantasy VII, where three dudes that look like discarded Sephiroth concept art all have anime fights with our beloved protagonists, culminating in a ridiculous gravity defying sword fight between Cloud and Sephiroth. Before Crisis and Crisis Core are prequels that expand the story of the Turks and Zack Fair, respectively. Then there’s Dirge of Cerberus, an action shooter staring secret party member and former Turk Vincent. Were these projects good? I’d say they were largely forgettable. Crisis Core stood out as the obvious best of the bunch and I think may be worth revisiting.

As a business model, the practice pioneered by the Compilation would continue on and eventually brings us FFXIII (and sequels), FF Versus XIII (which would later become FFXV), and FF Agito XIII (which would later become FF Type-0). If that’s all incredibly confusing to you, I’m sorry, I promise I will begin talking about the Final Fantasy VII Remake soon. Suffice it to say, both Final Fantasy VII and Neon Genesis Evangelion have a certain gravity. They punch above their weight. They are both regarded as absolute classics, flaws and all. And yet, in both cases, the people responsible for their creation decided that their first at bat wasn’t good enough and it was time to recreate them as they were meant to be all along. I think this way of thinking about art is flawed, limitations are as much a part of the creative process as vision and intent. Yet, we find ourselves in a world with a remake of Final Fantasy VII, so I guess we should talk about it.

From this point forward, there’s going to be major spoilers for every Final Fantasy VII related media. So, be warned.

So, is the Final Fantasy VII Remake any good? To me, that’s the least interesting question, but we can get into it. FFVIIR is audacious, that’s for sure. Where Anno condenses and remixes a 26 episode anime series into four feature length films, the FFVIIR team expands an around 5 hour prologue chapter into a 30+ hour entire game. Naturally, there will be some growing pains. The worst example of this is the sewers. The game forces you to slog through an awful sewer level twice, fighting the same boss each time. This expanded sewer level is based on a part of the original game that was only two screens and was never revisited.

Besides the walk from point A to point B, watch a cutscene, fight a boss, repeat that you’d expect from a JRPG, there’s also three chapters where the player can explore and do sidequests. The sidequests are mostly filler, but a select few do accomplish the goal of fleshing out some of the minor characters. You spend way more time with the Avalanche crew, for example. Out of them, only Jesse has something approaching a complete personality or character arc that matters. The main playable cast is practically unchanged which was a bit surprising to me. I figured Square-Enix would tone down Barret’s characterization as Mr. T with a gun for an arm, but they decided, maybe correctly, that Barret is an immutable part of the Final Fantasy VII experience. Also, it’s practically unforgivable that Red XIII was not playable in the remake considering how much time you spend with him. I don’t understand that decision in the slightest.

The game’s general systems and mechanics, materia, combat, weapon upgrades, etc. are all engaging and fun and not much else really needs to be said about it. I found it to be great blend of action/strategy. Materia really was the peak of JPRG creativity in the original FFVII and its recreation here is just as good. The novelty of seeing weird monsters like the Hell House and the “Swordipede” (called the Corvette in the original) make appearances as full on boss fights with mechanics is just weaponized nostalgia. In general, the remake has far more hits than misses, but those misses, like the sewers and some of the tedious sidequests, are big misses. It is a flawed game, but a good one. If I were to pick a favorite part of the game, I’d have to pick updated Train Graveyard section which takes lore from the original game and creates a mini-storyline out of it.

If that was all, however, then honestly writing about Final Fantasy VII Remake wouldn’t be worth my time or yours. The game’s ambition goes way further than just reimagining Midgar as a living, real city. There’s a joke in the JRPG community about the genre that goes something like this: at the start of the game, you kill rats in the sewer and by the end you’re killing God. Well, when all is said and done, the Final Fantasy VII Remake essentially does just that. Narratively, the entire final act of the game is a gigantic mess, but if you know anything about me then you know I’d much rather a work of fiction blast off into orbit and get a little wild than be safe and boring.

In the original games, the Lifestream is a physical substance that contains spirits and memories of every living being. Hence, when a person dies, they “return to the planet”. It flows beneath the surface of the planet like blood flows in a living person’s veins and can gather to heal “wounds” in the planet. In the original game, the antagonist, Sephiroth, seeks to deeply wound the planet with Meteor and then collect all the “spirit energy” the planet musters to heal the wound. The remake builds on this concept by introducing shadowy, hooded beings called Whispers. The Whispers are a physical manifestation of the concept of destiny and they can be found when someone seeks to change their fate, correcting course to the pre-destined outcome. Whispers appear at multiple points throughout the game’s storyline both impeding and aiding the party. The ending focuses heavily on them and the idea that fate and destiny can be changed. We receive visions throughout the game which some will recognize as major story beats and images from the original game. After dealing with Shinra and rescuing Aerith, the game immediately switches over to this battle against destiny and fate that you’re either going to love or hate. The transition is abrupt and jarring. While Cloud has shown flashes of supernatural physical abilities throughout the game, suddenly he has gone full Advent Children mode and is flying around cleaving 15 ton sections of steel in half with his sword. The party previously took on giant mutated monsters, elite soldiers, and horrific science experiments, but now the gloves are off and they’re squaring up against an impossibly huge manifestation of the Planet’s will. Keep in mind, in the narrative of the original FFVII, the Midgar section was rougly 10%, if that, of the game’s full storyline. This is, frankly, insane, but I’d be lying if I didn’t love it.

The Final Fantasy VII Remake, with its goofy JRPG concluding chapter, is forcing the player to participate in the original game’s un-making. We see premonitions of an orb of materia falling to the ground, we see an older Red XIII gallop across the plains, we see a SOLDIER with black hair and Cloud’s Buster Sword make his final stand, we see Cloud waist deep in water holding something or someone. We all know what these images represent, they’ve been part of imaginations for decades. But the Final Fantasy VII Remake allows us (or forces us, depending on perspective, I guess) to kill fate, kill God, and set aside all we thought we knew about how the game would play out post-Midgar. The most obvious effect of our actions is the reveal that Zack survived his final stand against Shinra and instead of leaving Cloud his sword and legacy, helped him get to Midgar safely. I have my doubts and my worries about the future of this series. I’m not sure when the next part of the game will be released or what form it will come in, but I can’t believe I’m as excited as I am to see it.

Of course, part of me wishes they’d just left well enough alone. Remakes are generally complete wastes of time and effort. Not all, but most. Maybe I’m, to borrow a term from pro wrestling lingo, a complete mark here and I just love JRPGs and Final Fantasy VII so much that I’ll countenance close to anything bearing its name. I’ve tried my best to be as critical and fair as possible to the game and I hope that if you’re on the fence and reading this I’ve maybe helped you decide if it’s for you or not. I think the Final Fantasy VII Remake is worth your time if you’re looking for a good, meaty JRPG. It’s not perfect and it’s final act is insane, but that just makes me love it more.

Have you ever wondered what it would be like for Zack, Cloud, and Aerith to face Sephiroth in the Planet’s core? I know 15 year old me did. And he may get his wish.

#final fantasy #ffvii #ffvii remake #review #jrpg

[kendrixtermina]

Fic Writer Game

I was tagged by @glorfindel-the-golden <3.

AO3 name: Kendrix

Fandoms: among others, Silmarillion, Doctor Who, Steven Universe, Fire Emblem three houses, Neon Genesis Evangelion

Number of fics: 24 on Ao3 but there’s probably older stuff on older websites. I kind of regret deleting my early teenage products woud’ve been cute to have them for Nostalgia’s sake, like an embarassing baby picture

Fic I spent the most time on: Children of the Prophecy (english) (german) I’ve been at it since before I could have done it in English to begin with. Still want to finish it... eventually. At this rate im gonna do it as an old crone. Still I enjoyed it a lot. 

Fic I spent the least time on: Of the ones currently up? This one was a 20 minute feelsvent after finishing the first part of Starcraft II 

Longest fic: Children of the Prophecy again. It’s prolly fatter than two Harry Potter books by now

Shortest fic: It would be this attempt at a drabble-like thing

Most hits: Matriarch ( 9780 ), followed by the English Children of the Prophecy ( 2930 )

Most kudos: Matriarch (254), followed by Lady of Hresvelg (88)

Most comment threads: Matriarch again sigh. (255) I sort of ragequit that fandom but I still feel the obligation to finish it. Though on FF net  its the english CotP. with 64

Favourite fic I’ve written: I’m fond of Antedilluvium (Doctor who) because I really enjoyed the premise, and this collection of experimental whouffle (doctor x clara) oneshots. 

Fic you want to rewrite/expand on: One my first plotfic attempts was an objectively lacking Inuyasha fic called “Naraku’s Angel I and II”. It’s also how I met the girl that would become my best friend through a difficult time of my life, who was also the first person I was properly in love with. (no, really! not that much happened we were early teens. Eventually we grew appart but if I met someone with that level of compatibility with my current life experience I would start saving up for wedding rings asap. ) It wasn’t so good but I think there were enough good unique fantasy ideas in there that it would be worth throwing out the derivative bits and recycling all the original stuff as a fantasy novel. 

Share a bit of a WIP or a story idea you’re planning on:

Here’s a preview of the epilogue to MFF, which is currently about 50% done:

“What would bring you to this turbid gloom with the glow of live still clinging to you? Whom would you seek here? Crown-prince Nelyafinwe? Russandol, older brother of six? My mother’s son Maitimo, whom she once counted among her proudest works?

Whichever it is, you will not find him here, here is only Dispossessed and Marred and Crimson-Stained…, Lord of Nowhere, and King of Nothing.  The survivors of Doriath have given me the name of half-orc, though even the orcs themselves have begged to differ. I believe that in their speech, I have long been called ‘Hewer’ - that alone still holds true.”

“Actually, I was expecting Makalaure.”

“And I was expecting the void, and darkness everlasting!” croaked the wretched, mournful memory of a once familiar, bleary voice: “Illuvatar himself hath denied it to me!

And before you leave here, you might well think that it is rightly deserved.

You can’t speak to Makalaure. Makalaure is lost. I can’t tell you where he is. No one can.

They say the Silmaril that he bore was cast into the sea, but if that’s where he ended, they have found naught that remains of him yet. Neither of his body, nor of his innermost...

I’m sorry, sister, I can’t tell you where he is...”

One word alone rang in her mind, and stung at the tips of her lips until he was done speaking, and then, in this illusion of swirling murky blackness, did she think that she had at last understood what had befallen, and her wrath was sharp as the desperate harpoon that draws its master back down with it to the deep in the tangles of its rope:

“The Silmaril. Of course. That’s all you cared about wasn’t it?!”

Silent as the bottoms of the sea, she still somehow pelted the walls with cutting accusations, carelessly hurled, as if she had come only to display herself like the fool-fire of an anglerfish’s lure.

“He wanted to go back!” he countered, all white-hot-glaring necessity like a blinding magnesium flame, though it wasn’t his voice and it wasn’t his eyes, or his wild desperation brought on all fours,    hair spilling to the ground like molten stone, an urgent star about to blow with a need for her to understand, but not in the least for his own sake, liquid diamonds begging on the ground:

“Makalaure said we should turn back. Turn ourselves in. Surrender to the might of the Valar… but I talked him out of it. If only because I no longer believed that this much was even possible… So we descended on the camp of the Valar, and slew the guards- and then...”

“And then what?” she cried, and her voice bore down like the pressure of the ocean.

“Then we knew our own wretchedness.”

He unfolded the long, sturdy fingers of his hand, like fate unfolded, or the shadows on a sundial, as as the blossom concealed within such martial petals, he showed to her a scar, as a charred fresh burn on the inside of his palm and the lower ends of his fingers.

He didn’t have a palm, or fingers,  yet the scar was there, as material as the ancient walls themselves who were built here even before the Two Trees first bloomed, a monolithic, natural monument more than they seemed a feat of craft, and more so than anything else here.

His long-lost right hand was hanging over his knees, though he still favored his left out of sheer habit, all the marks, mars and irregularities that once dotted his arms, face and chest were gone without a trace alongside the flesh he was born with; Nonetheless, this one blemish had somehow remained, like some deeper evil continuously reasserting itself from within.

I hereby chose to desist from poking anyone. 

#fanfic #baby tries to art #fanfic meme #fin writer game

[beneaththetangles]

Josh’s Top Ten Video Games OF ALL TIME

These days I don’t have much time for video games, and I wonder at times if I’ll hold on to the hobby in the years to come. So I thought that now would be a good time to throw together a top ten list reminding myself of why I loved this medium in the first place.

My only rule was a simple, but painful one: to have only one entry per franchise. This was necessary in order to prevent it from getting gummed down by Final Fantasies. I also tried to put an emphasis on replayability: there are a lot of mindblowing games that I have no desire to return to, and that’s just a tad too ephemeral for this kind of list.

Anyway, throwing together this list has driven home how I’m increasingly a man of narrow tastes these days: I like my RPGs and my platformers.

-----

10. Sonic Mania (PagodaWest Games/Headcannon, 2017)

2017 may have been my favourite year in gaming yet. I don’t think there’s ever been a year where so many games that could easily make my top-ten list were just popping off the shelves.

A case in point: Sonic Mania is, as far as I am concerned the definitive 2D Sonic experience, the one that so eloquently sums up everything which made the little blue guy great in his Sega Genesis heyday while pushing ahead to even greater heights.

Which means that it’s a completely ludicrous, overstuffed and borderline incoherent platformer. But when I play Sonic, I’m not looking for eloquent perfection, I’m looking for a wild ride and a killer soundtrack. And Sonic Mania delivers just that; it is, as the kids these days say “extra.”

9. Hollow Knight (Team Cherry, 2017)

Another case in point: Hollow Knight is the best Metroidvania I have played since Super Metroid. It’s also a Dark Souls homage that I like more than Dark Souls. It distilled everything I loved about those two titles and added cute, grotesque bugs on top. A real winner.

8. Star Fox 64 (Nintendo, 1997)

Not that this one needs much introduction, but I remember how revolutionary the idea of a rumbling controller seemed at the time to a kid like me – such verisimilitude!  Of course, there are many other games that more accurately simulate the experience of flying a plane, and there are shoot-em-ups which are a great deal more challenging and strategic, but are there any which are just this much……fun (I actually don’t know, given that I never played too many of these games)? And if we were to judge solely by replayability, Star Fox 64 would have to take the top slot: you can clear it in under an hour, but so much effort on Nintendo’s part went towards making it an increased pleasure to return to again and again.

And over two decades later, it still is.

7. Mega Man X (Capcom, 1993)

There are other Mega Man titles that could be here, but this is the one I’ve been playing since my childhood; this is the one which made me a connoisseur of angsty anime robots. And, honestly, I think it nails the classic Mega Man formula better than the original series did, though the X sequels failed to maintain the same consistency in quality that the original has always had.

6. Chrono Cross (Squaresoft, 1999)

This will probably be my most controversial decision. I picked Chrono Cross over its beloved predecessor, Chrono Trigger.

Now, I don’t deny that Trigger is the better game – it more or less brought the old-school JRPG approach to near perfection, whereas Cross has janky gameplay and a story which never really gels into a coherent narrative. But Cross is a game which is more interested in being experimental and ambitious than it is in being perfect, and what it achieves in that regard is something which is unlike any other RPG I’ve come across. It is a weird, mind-bending, atmospheric game where you have playable characters like an undead clown, a luchador priest and a space alien (to name a few), and something about that just speaks to me, y’know?

5. Bangai-O Spirits (Treasure, 2008)

Speaking of weird games, Bangai-O Spirits lets you play its levels in any order you like; the entirety of its story is contained within the tutorial; you pilot a giant robot, but wind up fighting things like ants and baseball players; framerate slowdown is a key gameplay mechanic; it has a level editor, and you can share your homebrewed levels with other players via soundwaves (no, really); there’s an ample amount of collectible fruit. 10/10.

4. Super Metroid (Nintendo, 1994)

There’s no accounting for nostalgia: Super Metroid was one of my earliest gaming experiences, and certainly the first complex one which I needed to sink my teeth into over a long period of time. It was the first game which gave me a sense of discovery and awe in playing it. The dang thing’s so well-known that I don’t know what else I could add.

3. The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild (Nintendo, 2017)

Truly, Breath of the Wild is an overhyped game. And like other overhyped games, I suspect its future will go something like this: as more and more people become aware of its flaws and become bored with its oversaturation in gaming culture, a backlash will form, declaring it to be “actually terrible” and some other entry to be the “best” Zelda game. Then, some time after that, people will come around and be like, “hey, it’ may not be perfect, but it’s still really great, guys.”

So let’s get the bad stuff out of the way: if you’ve done one Divine Beast dungeon, you’ve kinda done them all, a lot of those combat shrines are copy-paste design, and some of the sidequests are just busywork.

But still, but still: Breath of the Wild is a great summation of the entire 3D action-adventure thing that Zelda kicked off way back with Ocarina of Time. It may or may not be the best Zelda, but it’s my personal favourite.

(It does have the best soundtrack, though)

2. Cave Story (Studio Pixel, 2004)

Cave Story isn’t the best indie Metroidvania out these days – I mean, Hollow Knight is sitting right over there – but it has a certain…je ne sais quois which no other 2D platformer has for me. There’s something about its goofy, childlike world which touches my heart. A something which makes me want to rank it even higher than Super Metroid itself. I can’t quite put my finger on it.

Is it the jet-pack?

1. Final Fantasy VI (Squaresoft, 1994)

This probably isn’t a surprise. Final Fantasy is my favourite video game franchise. The difficulty, though, is that a lot of the entries could easily vie for the number 1 slot. So I had to think hard about which one could truly be the most representative and special for me. I-IV were a little before my time, while X-XV are all a little too different and flawed to be definitive. V-IX all fall in that nostalgic, Goldilocks zone.

From then on, I whittled it further. IX is lovely, but the combat is just a tad too creaky. VIII is deeply innovative, but never succeeds in selling the epic love story at its core. V may be the most consistent FF of them all, but I’ve played it the least out of the V-IX crew.

That leaves us with VI and VII, which I’ve always thought of as siblings: they do share a lot of ideas in common, and have a similar feel to the rhythms of their gameplay. What it then boils down to is this: Terra, Locke, Celes & co. have, over the years, been a more fun cast of characters to return to than Cloud, Tifa and whathaveyou.

But from the opening sting on its soundtrack to its spectacular final boss fight, Final Fantasy VI is just such a complete adventure. Its individual ingredients have all been done better elsewhere, but never have they been cooked together just so.

So if I can only have one Final Fantasy here, then I’m sorry, VII but I have some Espers to collect.

#Video Games #Sonic Mania #Bangai O Spirits #Breath of the Wild #Cave Story #Chrono Cross #Final Fantasy VI #Hollow Knight #Mega Man X #Star Fox 64 #Super Metroid #The Legend of Zelda #Zelda no Densetsu #Dokutsu no Monogatari #Final Fantasy #Mega Man #Rockman #Articles #Author: Josh W

[derekscorner]

Between KH2 and KH3, which game did you like more, both story and gameplay-wise?

Ah is this that KH2 vs 3 debate I hear is ongoing? Well if you’re in for a sit I can answer that.

Gameplay:

From this angle I quite bluntly find KH2 Final Mix more fun. I’m not going to argue what was arguably better or worse, gameplay preference is a matter of…well preference no matter how many wish to deny this fact.

Not that you do but I”m sure some lover or hater of one will see this and try to retort. o3ob

Anyway; I felt Kh2 final mix was more technical and “harder” if I had to describe the feeling. Like 3 KH2 is normally overly easy but when put on critical mode it’s technicalities shine.I had to learn tactics, I couldn’t spam X or △, and I learned uses for summons. Which I found ironic since the 2 summons are far more useful when you dont initiate their moves.

Like if I let Stitch wander the screen he’ll deflect projectiles and keep my MP full. Chicken Little is a great early Magnet substitute and Peter Pan+Tinker Bell gives you a Phoenix Down.This was an improvement to KH1 in which only Tinker Bell was a spell with decent combat use. 1′s other summons had more supplemental uses imo.

KH3′s summons were nearly win buttons I felt. Simba in particular, while damn spectacle, felt broken. I never bothered to learn them as I didn’t need them. Which I’m sure they have their own uses but I’m not really fond of many control schemes for them so I opt out of it.

In terms of the magic system I felt 2 and 3 were opposites. In KH3 magic is far too powerful, something many have noted. And while you dont ‘have’ to use it that’s not an excuse for a problem. You should choose not to use it not force yourself to ignore it for challenge.

KH2 on the opposite spectrum made magic nearly useless I felt. Many enemies didn’t stun nor have elemental damage. Fire’s AOE animation was good for early Critical game and Blizzard helps that first Hollow Bastion visit but many enemies shrug the base spells off later.In contrast, KH2′s Magnet and Thunder spells can be OP. Reflect in of itself is practically the only spell you’d ever need to use due to it’s nature.

So while many have long rants on either’s magic system I dont really think one trumps the other. each one is equally flawed with issues I dont see ever being addressed.

In terms of keyblade combat I preferred KH2′s because I felt like Sora was automated in 3. I spam X cause I’m a scrub at timing presses (DMC5 is helping me overcome that) and due to this I noticed real quick that Sora’s combos just felt really automated.

Like I’d press X for one hit and get three. In contrast, KH2′s combat is harder. Sora animates combos as fast as my lazy ass can spam X and I’m not floating around like a final fantasy god.

I’m not really sure how to put this feeling into words but I do feel Kh2 keyblades are funner or snappier to combo whereas in KH3 I’m playing a watered down FFXV with it’s hold/press X for combo string.

Both games are so similar outside this issue that I dont see no reason to list likes or dislikes. If anything, from here, KH3 had great quality of life changes. The menu system was easier on the eyes and I’d be a damned soul if I didn’t admit I like switching keyblades mid-combat.

I also really appreciate KH3 finally using Re:Coded’s keyblade ideas. It’s been there since that DS game yet no one every expanded on making keyblades unique since. It was a very foolish step backward to me.

I love that keyblades level up, I love that each one has a preference and the only way that could’ve been better is if they adapted Coded’s system entirely and gave each keyblade (or most) it’s own unique combo.

KH2 quite frankly just falls short in a hindsight perspective since keyblades were “stat sticks” and you only ever chose weaker ones for an ability. Which, back then, was a huge step up from KH1.

So KH3 wins in this area I also dont really hate on Kh2 for it since KH2 is a product of the era. This idea of keyblades growing with you didn’t happen till Re:Coded.

As for Shotlocks…I dont like them. I hated them in BBS and I hate them here. It’s not even a comparison to KH2 type of opinion. I hate Shotlocks, I never use shotlocks so I’m going to skip those.

I mean sure, KH2 had limits but the only limits I use are Knocksmash so I can’t exactly praise KH2′s half of that either.

And when it comes to Forms vs Transformations I think both have pros and cons the other lacks. For example, some Transformations are really cool, I love the hammer weapons or the dual pistols.

I also believe the staff transformation is what KH2′s wisdom form should’ve been in terms of how it does magic or basic attacks.

That said, I also really dislike many second forms keyblades have. I never evolve the pistols into the bazooka, I never turn the hammer into the drill, I have those second forms. It’s to the extent I prefer keyblades that have one form such as the staff.

I’m also not fond of the Kingdom Key’s 2nd form change. It’s a neat throwback and I love the outfit recolor but I dont find it fun to use.

Between the two games my favorite forms are Valor Form, Anti-Form, and the Staff Transformation. Odds are I wont use anything else unless I feel particularly bored.

I might use others more often if KH3 forced me to rely on them for tactics but as of right now it does not. This may change with 3 gets it’s Critical Mode DLC. Similar to how KH2FM forced me to rely on forms I hate like Wisdom or Final.

As a concept I will admit that I dislike transformations. I dont like the idea of keyblades becoming magical swiss army knives. KH3 pulled the idea off better than I expected but I dont like it all the same.

The only, and I mean only, thing I felt KH2 did better was tie forms to a meter. In KH3 the commands appear randomly (and often) and I dont gain consequences for using them.

In KH2 this was tied to your Drive Gauge. You had to plan what you used and this is an issue I felt KH3 had as a whole. Rather than shotlocks, I’d have preferred that Focus Gauge to be reserved for my summons and forms so that I could have better control of what I picked and to reduce how broken they are in-game.

The rest is miscellaneous opinions so I’ll rapid fire:

Gummi Ships: always hated them, BBS did Gummi Ships best. Point goes to KH3 here since I can at least skip most of it.

Minigames: I’ve never found a KH minigame fun. No one wins here

Worlds: KH3 wins this aspect too. World towns have actual people in them and when it uses original plots the worlds are quite good. I also appreciate the power to explore and soft platform again. It gives me a more immersive feeling than later titles ever have. (although I feel KH1 was still better than both here)(entirely because of how many small details/cameos/secrets a KH1 world had compared to sequels)

I dont really have a more technical opinion than that. I do however think Arendelle was a horrendous world and I hate to even be there. For a myriad of reasons….reasons that would be a rant post of it’s own.

Lil Chef: I never use the food. I dont care if it’s a good spot for ingredients. If I want to cook stuff I’ll do some irl or play FFXV.

Enemies: KH3 used nobodies more than KH2 did and I find that a damn crying shame. I also felt Unversed were underutilized. KH2 still takes the point here due to the combat points I mentioned above.

KH3 fodder is prettier and can be more elaborate but KH2 is funner to play and destroy them in so KH2.

The Disney Rides: I don’t use them, they break the game. I do like the choo choo though since it’s situational to specific battles. KH2 has nothing akin to these so there’s no comparison, I just wish the rides could be disabled or that they worked more like the train. (set to key fights)

KH2 vs KH3 Commands: Eh both aren’t that good. KH3 spams you commands to shift through and KH2 has so many for spectacles sake that the games get easy. There is no winner here, if anything KH2 should’ve restricted these like KH3 restricts the Train ride summon.

Final Fantasy: I dont like FF games but I consider the ones of Kh1 part of the main cast. Their alternate KH selves are important to me. The lack and fading of FF over the years is quite honestly something I dislike and 3′s total lack of them is inexcusable to me. KH2 takes this point since I got to at least meet Leon and crew again.

Then there’s the story.

Anyone that’s followed the blog or met me knows I strongly dislike the direction of KH’s story. It’s not a matter of things others debate, I do not like it. I hate it and I’m still teetering on quitting.

I wont even go into the points cause I’ve made a whole series of posts about my story gripes. I wont link them since this isn’t a shameless plug, I just want to iterate that my issues with the story has driven me to make 20+ tangents plus the older more angry rants.

Others liking it is fine I think, I get easily annoyed if someone tries to excuse something out of nostalgia or adoration, but generally anyone that likes it while admitting faults or agreeing to disagree is fine. (you do you folks)

If I had to rank them I feel KH2 is where a lot of issues started and I feel a lot of issues got worse after since the sequels tried to “fix” that mess. If left alone KH2 would’ve been a poorly written entry and a good stopping point for any disillusioned fan.

KH3 as a contrast tied up everything after 2 up til 3 itself. I do not consider the story good, the pacing is very jarring because it lacks a mid point, it’s weighed down by all the BS prior to it.

I do not feel attachment for the “trios” of the series, I find the repetition of them annoying. I find it a shame most have more dev time than the originals they’re cloned based on.

And I frankly dislike Xehanort as a villain. He’s not interesting, his motives seem to switch with several report entries and I dont eve get the satisfaction of ending him like I did Xemnas or Ansem.

I was entirely indifferent to the entirety of this game’s narrative as I played it. Something that worried my friend @blackosprey because I was so tired I could not even care enough to hate it.

I did fine the trios reunions well done. I dislike them for a list of reasons but they were coming back anyway, their fates sucked prior, so those were well done. I finally felt hype when the LW appeared (only to vanish, fuck you nomura) and in the final battle.

The ending was confusing to me. So many got a happy ending so I fail to see the logic of Sora vanishing. The Luxu reveal, which I found fucking hilarious, was the only sequel bait needed.To have Sora just up and die felt like a stupid decision and I’m sure many more found it insulting.

And when mentioning Luxu I dont mean it in a sarcastic fashion. I genuinely find him funnier in retrospect due to this retroactive change. Nearly every line or scene he’s said is now funny as hell because he’s this ancient troll. I consider it the first legitimately earned twist Nomura has made in ages.

Still, KH2′s writing and story isn’t great either. I could rant why, I have ranted why, but despite it’s flaws it was an “ending” to me.So if asked 2 or 3 I will pick 2. The writing in Kh2 is bad for lots of reasons but if I ignore the Ansem reports it’s no a story about Xehanort.

Ignoring one KH2 report let’s me live this simpler story of Sora and a scientist gone mad and the journey to stop him. It had a lot of stupid things or one of the worst “twists for twists sake” moments ever in the ‘two ansems’ reveal.

But still, I can play Kh2 and be in a KHverse where Xehanorts, Keyblade Wars, Ceremonies, timelines, sleeping worlds, data world abuse, and clones upon clones dont exist.

It’s not nostalgia so much as everything I came to dislike was post KH2. KH3 was all about these things I dont like. My favorite for key and nostalgic reasons is KH1, my pick of the question is Kh2.

KH3′s best assets that can’t be contested was it’s graphical evolution. I played KH3 three times back to back due to this, I came away from KH3 wishing KH1 or 2 looked like this. No game prior contests the look.

So all in all, as I reread this, it’s largely a mixed bag. Neither game is grand but I prefer KH2 because combat is more fun to me and it’s not tied down by a narrative and mythology I’ve come to hate.

I can play KH1, CoM, and KH2 and never be annoyed about something I loved going in a direction I hated.

#kingdom hearts #kh3

[montypla]

Because I am bored here are my top 7 games of last year. Yes. 7. Because limiting it to 5 would mean I have to not talk about games I want to talk about which are really good.

7. Horizon Zero Dawn- Originally, at the end of last year I figured this was the best game last year and should have won GotY. But then I thought about it a bit and changed my mind. Don’t get me wrong- out of the nominees for the GotY, Horizon absolutely should have won, not BotW. BotW is great but it has some really asinine systems that are honestly just mean to the player. Anyways, Horizon is incredible. It looks great, plays well, has a wonderful story, the central idea is really solid, etc. Except... It just didn’t really leave a huge mark on me? I loved all of it and highly recommend the game, but I have no desire to go back to it. Not to replay it, and not even for the new DLC. I finished it, and I feel like I’m done with it. Plenty of people I know have replayed it multiple times, but I just don’t have that desire.

6. Nioh- It’s Dark Souls, but faster. I like that a lot since even as much as I loved DS 3 and Bloodborne, coming from a background of character action games, I want faster combat. But more than that, It’s faster Dark Souls in early Edo Japan with historical figures who, despite being placed in fantasy situations, have personalities that are surprisingly accurate to the real people (As far as we know of them). I fucking love that. Everything else is really solid, and I like that you can fucking do coop without being invaded because I still hate that to avoid PVP and invaders fucking with you in Souls you have to not take advantage of one of the best features of the game. The first level of the second DLC is bullshit though. But don’t hold that against the rest of this incredible game.

5. Resident Evil VII- While I will still defend RE 6 (And to a lesser extent, RE 5 as long as you play it coop), Capcom really, finally, lived up to the RE’s past with VII. It really feels like they just took classic Resident Evil and updated it with a new perspective. I just FEELS like Resident Evil. When I got to the first safe room, and found an item box and save point while creepy but calming music began to play, I was hit with a wave of nostalgia. But it also has all the modern advancements you would want. Plus, the sort of low key plot is a nice return to form as well, after the incredibly high stakes the franchise had gotten to. But it ties itself into the RE world as a whole (Especially in the Not a Hero DLC) in a way that has be excited for future entries and how they will build off of this. RE VII is not only wonderful on it’s own, but it’s really revitalized the entire series.

4. Tekken 7- I’ll be honest, I’m not great at Tekken. At least, my skill is nowhere near the level of the other fighting games I’m into. I’m still better than average, but not competition level, basically. But y’know what? I don’t fucking care because it’s so much fun. When Tekken is good, it just feels nice to play, even if you’re getting destroyed. And Tekken 7 is good. Tekken 7 is VERY good. Again, there’s just something about how it feels to play that is incredibly nice. The vaunted story mode is really dumb, but I found it endearing and besides who care the game is just fun in all the right ways.

3. Guilty Gear Xrd Rev 2- Yes, this is the third version of GG Xrd. Yeah. It’s still that good. Take everything I sais about Tekken just feeling right, and apply that to a game that I’m good enough to play in tournaments in. Xrd Sign was fantastic, Xrd Revelator was even better, and Xrd Rev 2 just improves on that. And it finally brings back Baiken. Look, there’s not a lot I have to say about Xrd that I haven’t said before. Just know that this is the best version of it yet. That’s al you need, really.

2. Final Fantasy XIV Stormblood- Definitely the game I have spent the most time on this year, thanks to it being an MMO. FF XIV was honestly already far and away the best MMO still running. Which is why it’s able to compete in the market with WoW. Because it does things so much better. Of particular note is the writing and world building. It really feels like the world of XIV is alive and changing. And what you do in the story feels important and world altering. Because you are THE main character. You are THE Warrior of Light. All because Square Enix didn’t shoot themselves in the foot like Blizzard did. WoW’s Horde vs Alliance concept just means that you can’t be the main character and the main plot can never be resolved because they can’t just say half the player base loses. So the world is ultimately stale and static. Also being able to freely switch classes on a single character is a fucking godsend. Anyways, as far as the Stormblood expansion goes, it really takes all the advantages XIV already had and turns them up even more. The story is incredible (Especially the Azim Steppe, which is really special to me as someone who plays an Au Ra) and it features some of the games most interesting dungeons and primals. The new classes are both really fun to play, with one becoming my new main. And the future is promising with the next patch coming soon.

1. Yakuza Kiwami- Kiwami is everything all other HD remakes should strive for. It has everything I loved about the original game. But it both improves on what was there and adds great things. So it doesn’t feel too different, nor is it so similar to be unnecessary. It strikes the balance so perfectly that it really can just replace the original. Few remakes come even close to that. If I were to list everything I love about Kiwami, I would just be going over everything I love about the entire series (For like the millionth time) because it hits all those notes perfectly. So I’ll just say this. Yakuza Kiwami was my top game of 2017 because I simply have nothing at all bad to say about it. There was nothing that made me feel frustrated or annoyed. Now, yes, as a Yakuza game it can be a bit obtuse, weird, and require a lot of work and time to get through, which may not be fore everyone. But for me, all of that just makes the game better, and incredible.

[thebestplltheories]

PLL 7x17 Driving Miss Crazy - Thoughts

- LOVED the episode. Entertaining from start to finish! Look, we all knew that “answers every week” is bullshit. I say this every week, but we’ve waited so many years, so we can wait 3 more weeks. So let’s just set aside the fact that we get no answers and just appreciate the fast pace and lack of fillers. I’m glad that the build up to the almighty answers-episode is fun. Season 7 really is the best season to date in my opinion.

- This episode should've been called Mona Mania, instead of that season 3 episode! She owned this episode. I won't even list everything she did that justifies her walking around town with a crown on her head. You know all the reasons. Just every Mona scene was so damn entertaining.

- NO ALI!!! Instant success!!! It felt like a good old season 4 episode. I say this a lot but Ali still feels like the outsider to the group. The dynamics just work better with Spencer, Hanna, Aria and Emily. I love those 4 together. Ali still doesn't fit in the group, in my eyes. I might feel like that because we had 4 whole seasons with just the 4 of them so I’m too used to it and I never adapted to the change properly when she came back in 5A. No hate on Sasha, but I’m just not a fan of Ali’s character, I’ve always thought they ruined her once she came back from the dead. This episode just had great vibes without her, just like 713.

- Hastings drama was on point. Nolan is doing an amazing job playing Peter.

- We did it! Another thing this Tumblr community guessed right: Aria was filing a police report against Ezra during the time she found out he was writing a book. It’s a shame they’re not going further and doing the abortion story, but I still like this.

- MARY!! Welcome back. I actually feel sorry for her. I think she’s the most misunderstood character ever in PLL history.

- I did really enjoy the plot twist that Peter and Jessica were planning to kill Mary but she intercepted and killed Jessica. Self defence. I never saw that coming. It doesn't change the final outcome that Mary killed Jessica, but it’s a nice additional layer to the overall story to show just how complex this mystery is. I appreciated and enjoyed that unnecessary layer. 

- Ezra pisses me off SO MUCH. He’s so blind. He’s so stupid. Just like last week, he thinks everything is about him. “You still don't trust me because I wrote a book?” UMMMM NO???? Two weeks ago (PLL timeline) Hanna was abducted and EVERYONE, including Ezra, got a message from someone named AD, and the twin of a dead woman rocked up in town. Why has Ezra forgotten all of this??? Does he think AD just packed up and went home?? Does he think Hanna’s abduction was just a prank gone wrong and that all the messages about ‘find Hanna before it’s too late’ was just for fun? He saw ‘Hanna’ hanging from ropes in the bell tower, and he thinks the thing bothering Aria is trust issues from 6 years ago? Open your eyes Ezra. Someone is messing with your fiancé again. Not everything is about you.

- On a positive note I did appreciate his comments about regret with the book situation. I know that was very sincere. But get a hold of reality. Aria’s change of mood is not about you, ffs. 

- Did that shirt from Radley belong to Spencer’s twin? Idk, just something to think about.

- The fact that AD is trying to break apart the Hastings house feels like AD has a vendetta against the Hastings. Perhaps, Twincer is angry they adopted Spencer but not herself? Revenge?

- Spencer’s numberplate was CHD. I know we shouldn't be looking into this stuff because not once have these had meaning, but, I couldn't help but think back to Charles DiLaurentis.

- Thank god the musical number was short. I mean, I enjoyed it, and Janel can sing, but it did feel a bit random and out of nowhere. Perhaps that’s because I was so immersed in the episode and enjoying it so much, that when that came on, the pace was ruined out of nowhere. But judging it for what it is, standalone, it was cool! I don't understand Lucy’s comments that all the girls were in it? Were they, and I just didn’t see them? haha

- I’m surprised Spencer hasn't pieced together that Aria is doing this. The earring... bringing dinner then leaving? I don't know about you guys but not once in my entire life have I driven to my friends house to drop off dinner for them and then leave? That’s just weird. Some might say it’s a polite gesture... and it is, but it’s weirdly polite. No one does that?? “Hey I brought you dinner! Ok I’m going now!” wtf?

- Can Marco just arrest them already!? They’re dwindling on this story for too long. Too much talking, not enough action.

- The episode felt incomplete. I don't like how they’re dragging on a few storylines into the next episode, such as Aria’s reward (we know it was her files... but I wanted to actually read them in detail) and the doctor’s ID. Those storylines were the stories of THIS episode. Episode 17 was about THOSE things - they should’ve got total resolution, to define the episode and say “episode 17 revolved around these things”. I was just waiting for them to say Wren’s name (in regards to the doctor who did the procedure). And it never came. This episode should’ve had just one more reveal of sorts. And I don’t like that they didn’t just reveal things then and there. Oh and also the puzzle pieces... I thought with 2 more pieces, we’d get a better idea of what the pieces are forming. But no. So that was a tiny bit disappointing, that Aria did all that work and she/we still didn’t really get much out of it.

- That ending confirmed for me that Mona is not AD. It’s too obvious. I know CeCe was obvious because they literally showed her in a hoodie... but this is different. This is too close to the finale. I don’t believe Mona is AD. Instead, Mona wants to win the liars’ trust back so she’s working to solve the game, rather than administer the game to them. Also she is saving their assess by taking the shovels/potential evidence - it’s good not bad. Unfortunately this all comes back to Mona dying in the finale. She’ll get way too close to AD’s identity, and then AD will kill her. Thankfully, the girls will pickup where Mona left off and end it themselves. Then, they'll realise they couldn't have done it without Mona. So sad, but it’s a great story arc especially for a series finale.

- Caleb’s talk about Hanna to Ashley was adorable. That was a really well done scene. I loved their tent scene with the rings and Hanna bringing the bottle because she anticipated Caleb would say “yes I meant those words”. We all know the writers chose a tent because that’s where they spent their first night - I like that attention to detail. Terrible song choice... oh my gosh. Why not just use the same song as 1x19 (I think that was the episode?) Nostalgia always sells.

- Overall, my second favourite episode this season! 8.5/10. I really did like it. Again, I’ve gotten over the fact that we don't get answers every episode. It was a lie, yes, but I’m not going to sit here and whinge when the answers are just 3 weeks away anyway. I’m just taking the episodes for what they are, disregarding all comments from writers, and I’m loving the ride. Fast paced, good writing, amazing mystery/story. Decent romance too - coming from someone who only watches for mystery, they’re doing well. I honestly would’ve rated this a 10/10 episode if they just went that extra mile and revealed the doctor’s name (Wren), showed us Aria’s reward properly AND give us insight into what the puzzle pieces are forming. The episode felt incomplete that they started stories this episode and never resolved them completely. But nonetheless, it was amazing. No Ali definitely contributed to that ;) 8.5 might seem high for an episode with no answers, but I was entertained from start to finish, no fillers, decent romance, really good mystery... can’t say much bad other than it feeling incomplete. This was an episode of PLL doing what it does best. IF ONLY THEY JUST GAVE A LITTLE BIT MORE IN THE FINAL MINUTES.

EDIT: SORRY I MEAN DONOR - NOT DOCTOR. It’s 2.30am right now, and I just finished watching the episode. I was going to watch it in the morning but I stayed up to get this post out - I always get messages asking when my thoughts post will be up!

#pll #pll 7x17

[bigdamnblog-blog]

I’ve Been Thinking: Where Have The Fantastic Four Gone?

Hello folks, BigDamnMatt here with a little thought I’ve been having...

When I was a kid getting into comics, the Fantastic Four were hardly at the top of my list of awesome characters. It was the ‘90s, and I was mesmerised by the technicolour histrionics of the X-Men. However, as I’ve grown older, and my reading of comics has deepened, I’ve gained a real appreciation for the Fantastic Four. It was Jonathan Hickman’s very well received run on the book from 2009 to 2012 that really got me to understand what made the team great. Going back after that and reading the early Stan Lee/Jack Kirby books, I really began to love these characters. Those early stories are dated, but both their earnestness and sheer mad bonkers creativity still hold true today, The Fantastic Four are truly the First Family of Marvel comics, the four pillars upon which the House of Ideas was built.

So where are they?

Marvel have been gradually pushing the Fantastic Four out of the limelight since the end of Jonathan Hickman’s run. Neither Matt Fraction nor James Robinson managed to capture the same critical or commercial success with their subsequent runs, and when Marvel relaunched their entire line in the wake of 2015’s ‘Secret Wars’, Fantastic Four was conspicuous by it’s absence. Sure, The Thing had joined the Guardians of the Galaxy, and the Human Torch had teamed up with his old friends the Inhumans, but the family Richards was nowhere to be seen. Those who had read ‘Secret Wars’ may not have been initially surprised, as the ending to that event had taken Reed, Sue, Valeria and Franklin off on adventures new and strange, but as more books came and went, and event after event started to come and go, still there was no sign of the Richards’ return. Now, Marvel’s ‘Generations’ event is gearing up, returning books to their original numbering, playing on the legacy of heroes, and liberally playing with nostalgia. And yet the FF remain absent.

So what gives?

Well, the fans have been speculating for years now that Marvel have been placing less and less of their Disney-backed marketing might behind properties that they no longer own movie rights for. The success of the Marvel Cinematic Universe has bleed back into the comics in a big way, as they seem to be more and more a testing ground for movie ideas. The X-Men seemed to be taking a back seat for a while, but their sheer selling power means Marvel hasn’t been able to phase out and quietly replace them with the Inhumans, no matter how much they clearly want to. The Fantastic Four, on the other hand, haven’t been top sellers for years, and this has allowed Marvel to retire them without too much of a fuss. For a long time I didn’t buy into that. Marvel were just giving the characters a rest, they’d be back with a great creative team when the right one comes along. But it’s been too long for me to keep the faith, and when Jonathan Hickman seemed to confirm Marvel’s stance in a recent interview, my worst fears were proven true. The final nail in the FF’s coffin came, for me, when the characters were removed from the Marvel Heroes Omega game. They’re gone now. Marvel seem to want to erase them. You see, they don’t want to publish books about characters they can’t make household names to a new generation with a movie or a TV show and all the associated merchandise. Fox, who do own the Fantastic Four rights, are determined to hold onto them, and keep making movies so those rights don’t lapse. And those movies are bad, and continue to damage the Fantastic Four in the public consciousness. After all, who wants to read comics about those four jerks in that shitty movie, y’know the one with a kid from Whiplash, and Kate Mara in a horrific wig?

Well… I do. Because I love the Fantastic Four.

The FF are a family. A family that goes on weird science adventures. A family that bickers and argues, but loves and supports each other to the very end. Reed Richards is a super scientist with an unbridled joy for discovery and learning. Susan Richards (nee Storm) is a woman with steely resolve and a fierce protective instinct; not simply a mother, wife, and sister, but an explorer, warrior, and diplomat. Johnny Storm is an adventurer, a daredevil, impetuous yet lovable, the smile on the team’s face. And finally, Ben Grimm is the tragic hero, a man trapped in a monster’s body, whose great strength allows him to defend those who mean the most to him. These four characters make up one of the greatest super-teams ever created. The Marvel Universe was born from their success. The Marvel Universe, hell Superhero Comics as a genre, needs their high adventure, their cosmic weirdness, their Strange Tales.

I’d bet my bottom dollar that there are writers at Marvel just busting at the seams to tell the next great Fantastic Four story. I’d spend my bottom dollar to read it, and I know I wouldn’t be alone in that.

So I’ll be spending some time on this blog in the near future talking about what makes the Fantastic Four great. Because I miss them, and I want them to return. And if people keep talking about them, then maybe, just maybe… they’ll return.

#Fantastic Four #FF #Jonathan Hickman #Stan Lee #Jack Kirby #Comics #Marvel

[byronicbi]

it’s 1:30am and i just got back from watching POTC and i have feelings.

spoilers under the cut, my dudes.

FIRST OFF

STOP KILLING THE DADS.

FIRST YONDU, NOW BARBOSSA???? like, i knew she had to be either jack’s kid or fucking poseidon’s kid idfk, so i’m not that surprised by it.

SECONDLY, HOW DARE THEY THROW SUCH BEAUTIFUL ASTRONOMICAL IMAGERY TO THE MYTHOS. that island just ended me. DESTROYED. the trident, altho very aesthetically pleasing, reminded me of a weapon in an FF game, which was weird.

salazar and his crew??? A+. really digging the whole “bearing the wounds of death” ordeal.

BARBOSSA WAS SO BADASS I WANT TO CRY. EXCELLENT. THAT PEG LEG AND FLOWING COAT WAS SUCH A LONG JOHN SILVER THING I WANTED TO DIE. GOOD GOD.

the score was so much better than on stranger tides, even if most of it was the original score revisited.

WILL TURNER. FUCKING WILL TURNER ALL I DID WAS CLUTCH MY HEART AND MAKE DYING WILL NOISES.

AND THEN FUCKING ELIZABETH SWANN. EVEN MORE DYING WHALE NOISES.

THAT CLOSING SCENE AT THE CLIFF!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! THAT REUNION!!!! GENUINE TEARS OF SHEER FUCKING JOY LIKE MOTHERFUCKING OTP.

orlando bloom is still hot and i still want to marry him, thank.

henry/karina are basically 18th century mulder/scully. i propose they go on adventures and find more mythical treasures.

@THE WITCH??? WHY NOT MORE OF HER??? i didn’t catch her name but v good. she was no tia dalma, tho. very sad.

LISTEN, jack sparrow just.... idk. i get it, he’s supposed to head the franchise but like... these last two films (even tho OST was terrible) would have been better without him??? HE NO LONGER FEELS NECESSARY really. for nostalgia’s sake, i like him, but he really feels more like a means to an end?? i feel like POTC was about will and elizabeth, and barring the fourth one, this film felt like an epilogue to their epic story.

that being said, i am severely disappointed that elizabeth didn’t have a bigger part in this. or any part really. she was a motherfucking pirate king???? most badass woman of the seas??? and all we get is a glimpse at the end of her running into will’s arms. which is fine, really, if viewing it from an epilogue point of view, but could have definitely used more of her.

cgi!jack was really odd. idk how i feel about that. i really liked that glimpse of how he became captain and gained his name but also the canon doesn’t really fit with the jack sparrow books??? i do appreciate seeing the pearl back when she was the wicked wench. lots of feelings there.

overall, significantly better than On Stranger Tides, but doesn’t really beat At World’s End. definitely worth the watch, imo, but that may just be the old woman in me speaking. pirates will always hold a very special place in my heart.

and the post-credit scene?????

need me a will turner to snuggle with.

j f c

#personal post. #potc spoilers for ts #i may need fic?? with more elizabeth.

[rinoaheartillyy]

Time Compression goes all screwy (well, screwier) and drops a character from VIII into the XV world of Eos and after they go back to the VIII world, the opposite happens for a brief moment before time fully corrects itself. What is the first things out of the displaced characters' mouths?

Firstly I just wanna apologise for the extremely late reply to this! It’s a really great question that made me think a lot, so thank you ^^ I hope I’ve read it in the correct way, I’m so sorry if I’ve misunderstood it! I couldn’t think of what character from each ff I’d like to write about so instead I’m gonna give you most of the main characters from each game. I’ve thought about different stories and interactions that these characters would have and because I also couldn’t decide on what location to use in both worlds, I’ve switched up time compression a lil’ bit so that when each character travels to their opposing world, they end up in a location in that world that relates to their personality. I hope that makes sense lmao. Okay, so here goes. VIII → XVSquall: naturally ends up in one of the most gloomiest places on Eos, the Vesperpool. It’s dark and damp and after looking around for a minute, he realises what’s happened he’s used to it by now. Squall’s first words is (you guessed it) “…Whatever.” Most likely, he’s shrugging off the feeling of being alone. He sees blue sky in the distance and starts heading in that direction because he knows that’s where he’ll find Rinoa.Rinoa: finds herself in beautiful Galdin Quay on the sand watching the waves. She’d be scared if it wasn’t for the tranquil scenery, it feels just like home. Her gaze wanders and lands on the back of a guy dressed in all black who appears to be fishing. “Squall..?” It’s more of an inaudible question to herself rather than getting ‘Squall’s’ attention.Selphie: Wiz’s chocobo post (where else?) Doesn’t hesitate for a second. Squeals at the sight of so many cute animals and immediately starts customising her very own chocobo. “You’re even cuter than the ones back home! AND YOU COME IN PINK!!!”Zell: is the first one to interact with someone from this world. He’s at a campfire and across from him, Gladio is sat eating some cup noodles. “WHERE ARE THE HOTDOGS?!” Of course hotdogs are the first thing on Zell’s mind no matter where he is in time or space. Gladio invites Zell to sit down and the pair have a pleasant conversation, discussing the worlds they’re from, the different books they like and who their friends are. Zell even compliments Gladio on his tattoos but the chat suddenly turns sour when Zell has a taste of cup noodles and spits them out yelling “UGH, GROSS!” Quistis: feels tiny as she stands before the Rock of Ravatogh. The first words to escape her mouth are “well this puts the Fire Cavern to shame” as she starts heading up the mountain. Nothing like a bit of adventure in a foreign world during time compression when you’re waiting to be sent back home, right?Irvine: ends up in the Weaverwilds (to him it’s the middle of no where). A blonde-haired guy is fighting some sabertusks and Irvine helps out by shooting them down from afar. Prompto runs over and thanks him. Irvine tips his hat, “Nice guns you got there. Hey, uh, any hot women around these parts?” Prompto looks confused but nevertheless shows Irvine photos of Cindy and Aranea before the two start an in-depth conversation about guns and women. Irvine also lets Prompto wear his cowboy hat for a while and Prompto takes many selfies.Laguna: wakes up in a bed at the Leville Hotel in Lestallum. “Raine?! Ellone?!” Confusion overtakes him for a while as the hotel room looks so familiar, almost like Raine’s bedroom. When he walks out of the hotel, he realises he’s trapped in time compression and sighs, holding on to the thought of Raine still being alive. He takes a deep breath and takes pleasure in how similar Lestallum looks to Winhill with its narrow paths and flower shops. With a feeling of nostalgia, Laguna walks to the market to buy some things that he can take back with him to give to Ellone. Seifer: fishing at the Forgotten Pool. It’s peaceful until “TURN THE ROD TOWARDS THE FISH!”Seifer turns around to see Ignis staring at him, arms crossed. He holds his head in his hands and mutters to himself, “I can’t believe I managed to find someone more annoying than chicken-wuss. I actually miss that little shit.” He tries to return to his fishing, it lasts a couple of minutes before Seifer gets so annoyed, he threatens Ignis with his gunblade. A fight is about to ensue when Ravus appears out of no-where. He and Seifer start arguing about whose coat is better whilst Ignis quietly disappears. XV → VIIINoctis: Ultimecia’s Castle. Noct is completely freaked BEFORE he sees Ultimecia so when she appears on the stairs he muffles a scream and hides hoping she didn’t see him. He hears her leave the room but continues to tense up in hiding. He whispers aloud, “If anyone is listening, please dear Six, I don’t know what I’ve done to deserve this but please please PLEASE send me back to Ardyn.”Prompto: finds himself flying on board the Ragnarok with Selphie in the driver’s seat. “Oh my god, THIS IS SO MUCH BETTER THAN THE REGALIA!” Starts taking photos without a second thought. Selphie teaches Prompto how to fly the Ragnarok and they swap every now and then with one flying and the other jumping up and down and yelling “WHOO-HOO!” Gladio: admiring Balamb Garden’s library. Spends ages looking through all of the collections. He finally settles on what looks like a good read when he sees a familiar looking blonde spiky haired kid in the corner of his eye. “HEY! CUP NOODLES ARE THE ULTIMATE FLAVOUR EXPERIENCE!!” Gladio then gives Zell a lecture on why cup noodles are better than hotdogs for the next few hours.Ignis: also ends up in Garden but in the cafeteria. He smells something delicious and the cafeteria lady gives him a plate with two hotdogs on. Ignis takes a bite and- “THAT’S IT! I’VE COME UP WITH A NEW RECIPEH!” Everyone in the room looks at him like he has three heads and Ignis suddenly feels extremely out of place and starts longing for his friends.Luna: Trabia Garden in the aftermath of the missile attack. At first she’s worried about where she is and why she’s ended up here but as soon as she sees there are people hurt and in pain, those thoughts are forgotten as she immediately proceeds to help the injured. Her first words are “I need some cloth to make bandages, STAT!” or some other statement that involves more professional medical terminology lmao.Aranea: appears to be in Galbadia, sitting on Edea/Ultimecia’s throne. “That’s it, I’m staying.” Aranea’s first words are before bossing Seifer around like a servant, getting him to fetch her cocktails and kneel on all fours before her so he can be her footstool. Cindy: in Dollet by the car that was crushed by X-ATM092. She’s almost heartbroken by the sight of it and knocks on the door closest to the car. When a couple answer it, Cindy’s first words escape her. “This might sound weird to y’all but… can I fix y’alls car?” Cindy has the door slammed in her face but doesn’t let it phase her. She proceeds to fix the car anyway and even gives it an upgrade.Bonus → XV chocobros after time compression stops and everyone is back home.At camp, Ignis is cooking dinner. Noctis and Prompto are salivating already. Gladio returns to camp a little later after doing a couple of more hunts and breathes in the aroma. “Mmm, Iggy, whatcha cookin’?” Ignis stares down at his grill and Noctis and Prompto look at each other with worried expressions. “Umm…” Ignis mumbles. Gladio walks over to Ignis and sees eight hot dogs on the grill. He frowns at Ignis and refuses to speak to him for the rest of the night. Safe to say, Gladio is extremely unimpressed. 

#emeraldlatias #ahhh thank you so much for this ask!! #this was sooo fun to write #i'm really sorry again if it's not what you were expecting! #final fantasy #ffviii #ffxv #i'm aware that this seems to revolve around hotdogs lmao

[bluekitsune]

Late NDRV3 Chapter 6 + Epilogue impressions

HOLY SHIT ITS SPY BOY ITS SPY BOY ITS SPY BOY???? DANGAN RONPA 0 IN MY V3/???????????????????.... No It couldn’t be. He’s long dead. Yuto Kamishiro can’t be this “Makoto”.  Is Normal-chan our Spoiler-chan? Hmm. I just have a gut feeling he’s a Despair idk why And if he’s so normal, how was he on Kibougamine? Was it the first or the new school??????? HMMM????????

KIBO NO Don’t........ I don’t want him to die noooo >:C DONT TOUCHY THE ROBOT ....... He might be disconnected from Naegey but he’s still our pinnochio. Kibo wtf plz

Ouma the ultimate fanboy of Movie Vilains. I stg (dem funny glasses omg...... Afro wigs, batcar? He’s a total fanboy) What the fuck is up with the DICE thing?

Oh I knew the Remembering Light was delayed. But what was the point? Hinder them investigating the Mystery of the school? That’s fuckign cheap. Is that the same Makoto from the initial flashback? I’m gonna bet my ass it is.

Is he calling “them” heroes because the Future Foundation members survived a Killing Game, if Tenjou’s game could even be called that? Hmm Did FF fall or not?

OMFG OUMA GRABBED AMAMI’S DOLL........ That’s gay 

That horse mask wtf  He was a closeted clown all along wow...... Is he a Joker fan? Crimes with laughter and no killing? Color me confused. I guess the Panta should’ve been a massive giveaway. Did he fall into despair after his crew was taken prisioner? I.... 

Now he’s gonna pull us by the nose again? Wow. OK

“Ro is Twins”? rantaRO? ShiROgane? Is this pointing to the Mastermind again? Like when he said the first one to die is related to the mastermind? Is that why we werent allowed into Amami’s room?

OH MY GOD THAT throwback. The nostalgia bricked me in the face. FUCK.... So it definitely wasn’t Kibougamine that erased their talents. Then, who was it? Was it the “Remnants of Despair” aka the SDR2 crew? Who enabled them to erase their talent and hide from the SHSL Hunt?

CHARGE THE KIBO POWER

Omg Ro is twins...... The Gemini dial! Uma is HORSE????? Horse head?????? How far into this did Ouma know? This started being written in chapter 2 no?

Oh so the weird background was Amami’s room... And he was talking to his future, memoryless self? That’s nuts;; Uhm.......  I cannot hold all these wtfs. Did he survive a killing game....... Done with these same students? Done with other students? Because if I was right about them actually being revived and Mastermind redoing it over and over, then he could have survived one of the “previous” “same” Killing Game. But maybe I’m getting ahead of myself @_@ Trying to piece all this shit together is always nuts without the final reveal. But if that were the case, wouldn’t he have had another talent, the talent that got him into the SHSL category in the first place?

NO....... How dare you show me everyone being friends? How dare you shove that in my face

Not this twin bullshit again. If you tell me her twin is Monaka i’m gonna murder myself

Catch ALL THE BUGS. It’s kinda cute that Ouma planned something like that, even if he was the cause for Gonta’s death....... I’m guessing there’s some nanomachine that they mistook for bugs 

MONOKUMA PLANNED PARENTHOOD omfg. That tacky as fuck room. Of course it has to be a Junko fan. And HO look at the bullshit murder again. Is it just gonna be “Amami was very conveniently killed by the mastermind instead of by Bakamatsu’s trap and she was executed wrongly everyone cries” thing? It’s funny Amami had the cheat map version, kinda like if you start Castlevania with the hidden places.

ANOTHER hidden passage in the bathroom...... I’m not even surprised. 

I KNEW IT. There WERE lies in the Remembering Light. The question is how to tell between them. Saihara why u not look through all the directories god dingit U friggin detective bitch

Kibo is so cool :C He’s just so damn Megaman cool. Fuse Megaman and Raiden and you have Kiboo

Ok so..... maybe instead of clones, there’s... the one that has some sort of Time travel would be? The mastermind? Kaede’s twin? Time for some 999 SteinsGate bullshit. But then why would they say they can bring back the dead? How would that even work?

Oh no .... I was just thinking Shirogane had very little spotlight moments and even less character development. Now everything points to the Mastermind being a student 

:CCC WELL..... It’d make her switching clothes with Akamatsu even more ironic. Also again it’d be a twin with blonde hair and a twin with blue hair. What IS IT with this combination??? 

SMH..... The passage in the bathroom completely fucks over Shirogane. Because she’s the only one that was in the girl’s bathroom for a long time. I shouldve known better than to let myself like her......... Nooooooooooo

53 generation bullshit? What the dicks is this? Hmm. V3. 53 huh. They screwed us over a lot

Yeah so if the memories were indeed false now we proceed to question everything. Is this false too, is this false too? For all we know the world could still be fucked but not from asteroids. But what would be the point if they weren’t even from Kibougamine? That would just be lame.

Are they in a simulation again?????? Suddenly Hinata?????? What

Now that’s just shitposting. They’re gonna pull the “it’s fiction” card. 

Well. This is extreme shitposting. Are they calling the fanbase sick sadistic fucks? “u guys watching these poor people kill each other” or something? 

I cannot hold this level of meta. All these wall breaks

I CANT BREATHE, LOOK AT THE TITLE SHITPOSTING???? It’s exactly like series that go on too long

So is solving that one case what landed Saihara in this? Or are their talents actually fabricated as well? <_> Are the people dead or alive?????? TEll me gonta is alive plz Nope they’re dead. They’re all dead for the sake of Tsumugi’s OCs........... GHHGJHDSGJH

Yep we were played hardcore. All the first appearances were the real appearances.

I really REALLY missed the DR1/2 voices DAMN. Fujisaki :C Ishimaru..... Even Celeste FUCK. Was Sayaka’s voice always this amazing? I love how harsh Peko’s voice is,,,,,, I love the DR2 crew so much....... cries on hands

So many out of character sayings. I’m sure the characters would loathe seeing themselves say some of those things lmao god

I think they got a real point. How you can suffer and be in pain with a “lie”, a fiction, but also how you can feel joy and hope out of the same lie/fiction.The dillema of fiction, of experimenting with taboo topics, in this example the killing, and questioning how much it plays a part into the reality side.

But in this case, it’s going to another level. Like questioning human existence in SOMA. If you take a real human mind and place it in a robotic body, can it still be called a human existence? Can humans scanned and preserved in a “fiction” still be called human? 

The ideas are very fucking smart. Kodaka trolled us hard while also questioning the entire fanbase and his series base. And dang, all those inside jokes. They really took a good long look at the fandom and how we think; But it’s still hilarious it’s all orchestrated by a greedy company, ran by a delirious cosplayer fangirl and feeding the masses that want both the negative and the positive points of the plot/characters

Kaito was in it for mundane reasons and ended up with the meaningful “protag” role huh. I wonder what bullshit Korekiyo said to earn himself such a shitty background story. I like his character. Just..... I wish his reasons were not bad writing. Tsumugi u done fucked up

Robot Bondage? I strangely approve of that

Shirogane waving goodbye with mascot,. throwback to Chiaki....... CRIES

:C Well I was right in not expecting Kibo to live. But still he’s the best survey processor ever. My favorite quiz boy. I will pretend you’re alive and well flying up the clouds cuz FUCK IT

In a sense, it’s like they’re blowing up a literal hole into ending the series and opening a path to direct the fans back to reality, or per say, the outside. “Go out there, do the thing, hope out there.”

In a world where your identity and truths and lies are uncertain, you have to pave a way for yourself taking the best out of it all? I’m sure someone will reason this game ending and the analogies way more eloquently, but anyway.

I really enjoyed the story. The extra effort they put on CGs really enrichened everything. I’m not sure how I feel about the big big big plot twist yet. I guess it’s something to slowly digest over time. Can’t say this is my favorite.

Was the time travel thing a misunderstanding by the fans or a prank by Kodaka? I kept expecting it and it was nowhere

I’d say in most to least fav, I’m still with SDR2, DR0, DR1, and last? DRAE. I still don’t know how to feel about Another Episode or the animes TBH

So this was me going through this rollercoaster. If you read this so far, then I hope you laughed at my stupid at least once. I’m gonna go and reblog a fuckton of fanart now. Bye

#drv3 #ndrv3 #ndrv3 spoilers #new danganronpa v3 #kitsune adventures #spoilers yadda etc bladibla