#ninja gaiden imagines

[edai-crplpnk]

Temari was pregnant on her wedding day: A Naruto Timeline analysis

[usual disclaimer: I love studying canon timeline but no one's headcanons have to be bound to it just do what you like bye]

Note: for simplicity, I gave years numbers, the Kyuubi attack/Naruto's birth are in 2000 and the other dates are based on that

Fact 1: Gaara is at least 20

In Gaara Hidden, one of the councilmen tells Gaara "You've steadily grown, and reached the age of twenty" and Temari and Shikamaru are in the process of choosing their wedding date in this novel as well, so the Wedding has to happen later than that.

We know from the data book that Gaara is from the same school year as Naruto, and born in January, so he is born in January 2001. (In Japan, the school year is from April to March of the next year and the children in the same class are the ones born during the same school year, not civil year. If you want to know why I say that data books are based on school years, not civil years, flick me a request and I will happily do so! Just not here because it'd be too long.)

We can conclude that the wedding is in February 2021 or later.

Fact 2: Shikadai graduates 15 years after the 4th war

There is no indication that I've found in canon material about when the Boruto events happen, but we can read in this interview that Naruto Gaiden happens 15 years after the last chapter of Naruto. (We will have to assume that "last chapter" here means chapter 699, not 700, or else all the new gen has spent 15 years being teenagers at the academy.) Naruto Gaiden opens with Shino telling the class (Shikadai is there) that the graduation exam will be in a week.

The issue here is that chapter 699 happens in October (Minato says happy birthday to Naruto in chapter 691 the same day, and we know from the data books he was born in October) and the graduation is presumably in March (again, that's one the school year ends, and Itachi is also said to graduate "in the springtime" in Itachi Shinden). So it could mean either 15,5 years later, or 14,5 years later.

The 4th War happens in October 2017 (Naruto turns 17 during it, that's the age the data book gives us).

We can conclude that Shikadai graduates either in March 2032 or 2033.

Fact 3: Shikadai graduates at 11

It is the minimum age as per the law (it is said in Itachi Shinden, this law is made shortly before the Rookie 9 graduate: “now that it was a time of peace [...] it was no longer possible to graduate in a short time [...] no matter how talented Sasuke was, he couldn't become a ninja until he was eleven years old”).

It is the age at which all the Rookie 9 graduate (they are said to turn 12 during the first year of naruto and 13 during the second, again, I can give more details about data book ages in another post if needed).

The naruto wiki tells me that the Naruto data book says he is 12 for the Chuunin Exam, but the scan I have of the data book do not seem to indicate any age that I can find?

So this is not 100% a fact that I have found a canon material number about, but it's the most logical possibility (he's not allowed to graduate younger, there's no reason he would graduate older, this is what happened to the previous gen, and this is what the whole fandom seems to believe, so, yeah).

Similarly, everyone seems to agree that his birthday is September 23, I have not found where that comes from yet, but I have to assume it does come from somewhere. If you know please tell me!

[Edit: apparently it comes from a bonus calendar in the Shounen Jump issue 6-7 of 2019 but I haven't found a scan yet.]

We can conclude that Shikadai was born in either September 2020 or 2021, depending on the graduation date.

Conclusion

If Gaara Hiden and the wedding were in 2021, Shikadai cannot have been born in 2020, so he has to be born in September 2021. If we imagine that Gaara Hiden takes place right after Gaara's birthday (the earliest date) and then Temari and Shikamaru got married on the month that followed, Temari would have been 2 months pregnant, and this is the minimum she could have been.

Your honour, they have sinned.

#shikatema #shikamaru nara #temari #shikadai nara #naruto timeline #naruto worldbuilding

[watermelonsloth]

How would your infinite tsukuyomi dream end? when did it started and how to end it? let's not consider boruto as canon but go with the end of gaiden and do you have links for other analysis which talks about this possibility

I’ll be honest, it took me longer than I care to admit to realize what you were asking. I’m hoping I can still read and you’re asking how I’d ideally write the infinite tsukuyomi working off of Gaiden and ignoring the Boruto anime/manga.

Assuming that’s what you’re asking, I have a couple of ideas:

First the Rules

Everyone was put under the genjutsu by Madara at the same time. (It doesn’t make any sense that the susanoo would block it out.)

The reason we saw team 7 fight Madara and Kaguya afterword, is because the genjutsu is designed to basically gaslight you into thinking that it’s reality. It tells you everything was just a bad dream or quickly brings whatever was bothering you to a conclusion.

The infinite tsukuyomi works on two principles: It can only reflect back whatever is in the victim’s mind, so it can’t create someone/something the victim can’t conceive of (ex. can’t create “true peace” in the mind of someone used to conflict, can’t create a world with dead people alive in the mind of someone who can no longer imagine the world with them in it). The dream continues on a linear path unless distress or suspicion is detected, in which case it will only change to relieve those feelings.

The dreams aren’t perfect. They’re based on what the person wanted at the time of it being cast and will make as few changes as possible (think of it like a computer made to find the most efficient way to keep everyone happy. it’s the ai art of dreams, except with less art theft). On top of that, it can’t recognize complicated emotions. So bittersweetness, reluctant contentment, dissatisfaction, anxiety, disappointment, etc. aren’t considered “distress” and won’t cause the dream to change.

Dreams aren’t identical with each other and dreams aren’t mixed like in Road to Ninja, but some people are able to affect the dreams to some degree.

Different people have different levels of awareness when it comes to whether or not they know they’re dreaming. Generally, the better someone is at genjutsu/spotting discrepancies in their chakra, the more likely they are to notice.

Now, What I’d Do With This

The status of everyone at the beginning:

At least a year has passed since everyone went under the genjutsu, but the Rookie 9 aren’t in their thirties like they are in Gaiden. I’m thinking they’re in their early-mind twenties.

Kurama didn’t break Naruto out because Kurama is under a dream of his own (they do have separate consciousnesses after all). Naruto is in blissful ignorance in a dream about being Hokage, Sasuke being in the village, the world having rebuilt itself and being a peace, him having kept his promises, etc. It would probably look very similar to the Boruto world. Kurama would probably be trapped in a dream about Naruto being happy and him and the other tailed beasts being free.

Sasuke took a while but he figured out he was under the genjutsu, probably because he isn’t used to things coming so easily to him. His dream, given when the genjutsu was cast, would have him acting as Hokage fighting for world peace and security. Despite this, he’s neglecting his “duties” to instead search the world for a way out.

Sakura was aware pretty much from the start and is in denial (Denial is a river in Egypt, Sakura! This is a dream!). Regardless of what her dream is, everything would be tinged with guilt. With the nagging question of whether she’s doing the right thing. She’s meant to be a realistic character and I think it’s very realistic to prefer fantasy over reality. Just think of all the people who use escapism (via books, movies, tv shows, video games, sleeping, etc) as a coping mechanism.

The rest of team 7 is blissfully ignorant all throughout because it either wouldn’t make sense for them to be aware or their role would be redundant. Same goes for every other character except its because their character is passable as they are or the ship has sailed and them suddenly becoming relevant at the end would be more confusing than satisfying.

One the outside, the four Hokage are still trying to break everyone out of the genjutsu while Madara is bored, watching them try and fail repeatedly. At first I can imagine them fighting each other (verbally and physically), but at this point they’ve all realized there’s no point. The Hokage are the only thing keeping Madara even marginally entertained/sane and fighting Madara only wasted the Hokage’s time. At most, they throw jabs at each other.

The Plot:

This would be very Naruto-Sasuke-Sakura centric with cut aways to the few people on the outside.

Naruto and Kurama would find out about the dream because their chakra networks are still linked so whenever they try to tap into the other’s chakra, they see glimpses of the other one’s dream.

Black Zetsu would either be an obstacle within the dreams or be reabsorbed into Madara because he isn’t really needed.

Naruto would have an arc choosing reality and choosing real people. Since he had spent much longer than Sasuke or Sakura fully believing that the dream was real, he got much more connected to the fakes inside of it (both real people that he didn’t get to interact with much in the real world and fake people his imagination/dream conjured). I think he would know very early into becoming aware that he wanted reality, so most of his arc would be him teaching/forcing himself to say goodbye. (Demon Slayer spoilers: picture the scene of Tanjiro leaving his family from the Mugen Train arc)

Sasuke would have an arc about what you want not necessarily being what you need. I think instead of him continuing with his revolution/world peace goals, he would return to his roots and instead focus on finding peace. Maybe some spreading awareness stuff, but most of his arc would have him choosing to instead focus on what he still has, maintaining what he has, and restoring whatever he can of his clan (its honor, its culture, its place in the village, etc).

Sakura would have an arc about self-acceptance. I interpret her as carrying around a lot of shame and self-blame, so I imagine her keeping herself in the genjutsu because she’s ashamed of who she is in the real world. This would have her moving forward with the newfound awareness that there’s no shame in being who you are and it’s never too late to do better.

Because I’m biased and I think it’s fitting for a story about understanding others to end with the day being saved because of understanding, I’m giving Madara a redemption arc. So, Madara would be going through team 7’s character arcs all at once. He learns to choose the real world with all its flaws over a fake utopia, he learns that finally grieving and coming to peace with all that he’s lost is what he really needs over the world peace he was chasing, and he learns to stop blaming himself for the deaths of his brother/s. His story would be full of the Hokage and him talking about why they wanted peace, their dreams to become Hokage or bring change, their experiences in war, what they’ve lost, etc. and him slowly deciding to help them free everyone.

The End:

Team 7 gets into contact with the outside somehow. Maybe one half of Kurama communicates with the other half. Maybe Madara can tweak the genjutsu but can’t break it (because that would be too easy). Maybe Tobirama makes a jutsu. Maybe Hashirama, Minato, or Naruto use sage mode to interact with the tree holding everyone. Maybe Sakura finally uses that talent for genjutsu that’s been being hyped up for the entire manga. Whichever you think makes the most sense.

So team 7 and the Hokage + Madara come up with a plan to draw a huge amplification seal around the god tree’s trunk and using that seal plus a bunch of chakra to pretty much perform the biggest genjutsu release ever. It’s not enough to break everyone out at once but it is enough to get Naruto, Sasuke, and Sakura out and send a shockwave through the rest of the tree. Everyone notices that shockwave and gets suspicious. So the infinite tsukuyomi starts stretching its chakra thin trying to cover it all up. Because it’s stretched so thin (it is covering everyone on the planet), the genjutsu is weak enough to break. Some ninja, especially those good at genjutsu, start breaking themselves out. For everyone else, team 7 + Hokage + Madara is doing a race against the clock to release everyone they possible can before the infinite tsukuyomi stabilizes itself.

From here, the Hokage + Madara would either leave after everyone’s been released or after the world has gotten back on its feet after the war. I’m leaning towards the latter for two reasons: 1. Along with the symbolism of the old generations passing the torch, there would be the symbolism of generations working together for a better future. 2. Madara could pass what he knows of the Uchiha clan onto Sasuke since Sasuke would’ve been too young to remember most of his culture.

I don’t think Madara should stick around any longer than the Hokage (y’know, leaving the world in the next gen’s hands), so he’d have to die somehow even if it would be a pretty dark end. I’m thinking seppuku style.

Did I just answer an ask by basically plotting a fanfiction? Yes. This wasn’t supposed to happen, but I apparently had a lot more than “a couple of ideas”.

#infinite tsukuyomi #alternative naruto ending #anti naruto ending #naruto #naruto shippuden #naruto uzumaki #sasuke uchiha #sakura haruno #madara uchiha #hashirama senju #tobirama senju #hiruzen sarutobi #minato namikaze #naruto au #my stooff #thanks for the ask

[adelalovesmadara]

Marriages don't need 'love'

This screenshot is from wikipedia of "Marriage in Japan".

Two types of marriages "arranged marriages" and "love-match marriages".

Love is thought to to be inessential to marriage.

According to the traditional moral ideas, it's deemed a sign of mental and moral weakness to 'fall in love'.

🤡👁️👄👁️

So nh and ss marriages? Loveless💕. Why? Because it's not necessary for the couple to love each other in a marriage ― in a ninja marriage. It's all about future generation, to continue the line and leave behind a legacy.

No wonder Naruto and Sasuke don't seem to be that... affectionate with their wives and kids (in Boruto, chapter 700, and gaiden) even though people say they want a family (no, they don't, at least not blood related ones just read the manga please). They looked constipated/uncomfortable/shifty whenever they tried to show their parental love😓. They don't even try to fake their love for their spouses in canon. They were forcing themselves for the kids even though they know love can't be forced nor created artificially.

It's kinda sad (for the men) and funny (for the 'poor women'). Had Sasuke and Naruto ever declare their love for their wives through words or actions in canon? No? Then yes their marriages are absolutely loveless. Not that it's bad because obviously they didn't marry for love, they were married for the kids.

Imagine, really imagine if Boruto, Himawari, Sarada suddenly died. What would happen? Sasuke wouldn't comfort nor stay with Sakura, perhaps he'd spare her a few platitudes then he'd go away never to come back. Sakura? She'd perhaps try to chase Sasuke again but this time Sasuke knew she didn't respect personal space and choices so he'd be highly alerted. Naruto wouldn't suddenly decide he liked to stay at home more for Hinata, he'd live more in that Hokage office or maybe... abandon Konoha to go journeying with Sasuke. Hinata... she's so bland and boring, she'd just go back to the slave Hyuuga Compound and be the 'Hyuuga Princess' that everyone wants her to be.

Solution to the pain and disaster that is Boruto: kill the kids

#naruto #just a thought #anti naruhina #anti sasusaku #anti nh #anti ss #anti boruto #anti sakura #anti hinata #sasuke #personal

[omegaremix]

High Score Pinball + Game On; Spring 2021 & Spring 2022.

If you were an Eighties child, the video game was the pinnacle of your childhood. On Saturdays, my dad took me to the toy store where I sprinted to the game wall, have me choose any stamped ticket and hand it over the counter to customer service where they stocked all the solid state cartridges in the back. They’d hand me the game of choice and I was golden until next week. If I was lucky, he’d take us to Nunley’s Carousel in Baldwin where it was the final time in my life I’d play old electromagnetic machines and driving games that ran on paper sheets - and even film reels and plastic parts (Atari’s F1). We’d also go to Nathan’s in Oceanside. It, too, had an arcade there. Once we came back from his dietician or from my half-sister in Bensonhurst, he ended up taking the whole family for sit-in Chinese and to the Nellie Bly Amusement Park where for one time only I played Atari’s Superman and Hercules pinball tables.

Sunday was an even bigger event. My pop would drive from (also) Bensonhurst all the way out to Long Island where my family and I lived. He’d arrive anywhere between noon to 1PM and stay for an hour before taking me to the South Shore Mall. I’d have the luxury of two hours and $5.00 worth of quarters to play as many games as I could. Roadblasters, Space Harrier, Chase HQ, Marble Madness, skee ball - you name it, they had it, I played it. Pop would break it up and take me to The Emporium (later becoming Nathan’s and after that a sushi house that closed down in 2010) where they also had an arcade itself. Same time limit, same amount of pocket change. The neighborhood delis and convenience stores also had arcade and pinball machines where I clearly remember playing Seicross, Legion, Double Dragon, Ninja Gaiden, Shinobi, and other games too many to mention. I had the best of both worlds at home and beyond. By the time my grade-school years ended, I replenished the game collection my dad once sold for $50.00 and more thanks to my Dallas aunt and uncle. 

The Brentwood era just started for me and Pop had a heart attack while watching the game. He woke up out of it but later relapsed and that was the end for him. I had to take it upon myself to ride my bike to the mall or the pizzeria in the local shopping center behind the middle school to get my Neo-Geo, Super Monaco GP, or Mortal Kombat fix. With reward came risk: Brentwood wasn’t a safe neighborhood compared to the others. Every day I worried about random newjacks and youngbucks coming up to me for handouts just for being seen. Seven or eight kids waiting their turn surrounded the Street Fighter machines at any one of three stores out of fifteen who had them; some even got jumped and assaulted over them because they were caught cheating. Chain-snatchers got the unsuspecting kids when their backs were turned, and even the resting bitch-faces came up to entice me to fight their boyfriends who tried stealing my bike.

As time went by, I moved on from the scummy parts. Visits to the arcades became less frequented no matter at the mall or the amusement park. The carousels and hot dog places went out of business. Console gaming, however, kept going with the Genesis, SNES, Dreamcast, and Playstation throughout my community college and Stony Brook era. I discovered MAME and VPinball so I could stay in touch with myself. I kept it all going until I was sick of dozing off and throwing my time away while my friends, co-workers, and associates made the best of theirs. I finally moved on from gaming, and all the best for it.

It was more than ten years since I played a game of pinball. The Sopranos to be exact. Almost no place on the island where one was to be found. But that all changed last spring when the Video Game Trading Post opened up Long Island’s very first pinball arcade in the South Shore Mall / Westfield. I was stunned and paralyzed. We never asked for it, let alone couldn’t even imagine happening, but we got it. We lost Manhattan’s Modern Pinball and Greenpoint’s Sunshine Laundromat was never the same after the pandemic, so having the arcade return (to the very place where it all started for me and not having to travel to the city for it) was the pale-skinned redheaded Godiva riding on the fucking horse.

It was amazement at first sight. I enter the mall and the sounds emanating from the dark space tells me I’m close. I finally found it. My soul pushed back because I couldn’t believe it. I walk in and the darkness swallowed me in as all the flashing lights, LEDS, and the brightly-lit back-panels fight to be noticed. For $25.00, sometimes $35.00, it was all-you-can-play. I walk around in the dark vortex and the place was huge of its concrete flooring and aromatic wood smell. All three Black Knight tables, all three Pinbots, both Firepowers, Bank Shot, Evel Knievel, Harlem Globetrotters, Tron Legacy, even Police Force when it was at Vinardo’s. I spotted Big Guns, a game I remember from my Nintendo childhood. To my amusement, it was real having to find that Slugfest returned to the exact same mall I played at during the Brentwood era. The best part? Learning that both High Speed and Nine Ball would make their stay. It would make that next return trip all the more urgent. High Speed was the very first machine I ever scored a million on, let alone three. And Nine Ball? The overall design and sound effects of it was a personal must-play for me.

All throughout last Spring and Summer I’d make the effort to be the first one there and the last one to leave. Noon to 8PM. I made one final trip to High Score- before the year was over, leaving it behind in its former incarnation forever. It’s now half of what it used to be. The other half is now home gaming and memorabilia. I knew it would never be as good after when I first found it and won’t expect it to be better. But I’ll never, ever forget it - just like I’ll never forget the ride to Williamsburg’s Rough Trade, the post-punk / d.i.y. and jazz-fusion finds, the Jewish girl from Queens with the straight shoulder-length hair and green eyes who asked me if I had a copy of KIDS, or the two pale gingers with brown eyes I spent forever with at my store. Another day, another payout.

The alignments had another card up its sleeve. The King of Diamonds would be super-ceded by the Ace. The Boy Harsher show was less than two weeks away and I had to visit the Smithhaven Mall to find me a leather jacket and black hat. I walked out with the hat but no jac-. And, as I was walking out, something caught my eye: a shiny colorful array of neon lights. I stop to look at my right and there it was: a new video arcade I never knew existed. I was shut. I step in and to my immediate right was Baby Pac-Man: a cabinet shaped like an upright with a CRT monitor and small pinball playfield below it. It was a machine I only read about but was curious to seek out. Now, here it is. But, I couldn’t go any further as entry was roped off. But I see the sign at the front desk: $20.00 free play all day. It’s 3PM, I wouldn’t get my money’s worth. But I owed it to myself to come back and visit, and visit I did.

The following Wednesday I came back at noon and paid the frail emo casualty up front my $20.00. Does he have any idea what he’s doing here or what this is all about? He wouldn’t care, really. He’s only here to collect and will elicit a fake half-enthusiastic “oh, uh…that’s cool!” when asked. I’m here to revisit my Atari / Nintendo childhood. Eight hours and no time to waste. Let’s have it.

I walk in and there’s three Pac-Man machines grouped together: the 1980 original that became the first-ever character franchise, Baby Pac-Man and Super Pac-Man. Across from it is Ms. Pac-Man. How shameful they couldn’t include her in the boys’ club. There were vector games in Tempest, Lunar Lander, Asteroids, and Star Wars: The Empire Strikes Back in super-sharp and blindingly bright on original CRT monitors. There was Gorf, arguably my very first arcade memory living in Brooklyn. Classics such as Centipede, Marble Madness and Spy Hunter which I haven’t played in its true form since forever. Defender, Robotron 2084, and Berzerk rounded out three of four parts of the Williams epic (Blaster was the fourth). Moon Patrol, Galaxian, Zaxxon, Gyruss, Phoenix, Dig Dug, Vanguard, and Missile Command - games I played endlessly on the home system - were there. Crystal Castles, one I always played on the Atari 2600, felt super-frantic and ultra-responsive on my first time ever playing it. Pengo and Mr. Do! - two games I remember my sis- B-Bomb telling me about - were finally crossed off the must-play list.

I found two extremely rare Nintendo Vs. red tents and with that came Donkey Kong, Donkey Kong Jr., Donkey Kong 3, Punch Out, Popeye, and the original Super Mario Bros. which I always used to play at the neighborhood deli (thanks ma’). Even more impressive was the fact that they had Playchoice machines when the South Shore Mall had them. I walk further and there’s Bad Dudes and the first Double Dragon: agonizingly slow and sluggish as fuck like I remembered it.

There’s driving games such as Super Sprint, Crazy Taxi, Chase HQ, and The Cruisin’ series. But, none more important than Sega’s Hang-On and Outrun, one which my younger bro- and I fought over to play first when our parents took us to the ice cream parlor. Next to those were Virtua Cop and Point Blank which I had zero interest playing because it wasn’t Cheyenne.

Konami, known for some of the best multi-player titles ever, made their presence felt with Super Contra, The Simpsons, Sunset Riders, X-Men, and Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles; the final being the gateway and the token example of nostalgia. There was the fighters’ row: Mortal Kombat II, Virtua Fighter, Tekken 4, Killer Instinct, Marvel Vs. Capcom 2, and Street Fighter II; that final one the basis of my early Brentwood years hanging out in dangerous neighborhoods and being harassed by the youngbucks in pizzerias for quarters. How about not one, not - fuck it - four Neo-Geo MVS’s with such games as Metal Slug 4, Ninja Warriors, Fatal Fury 2, and Samurai Shodown all plugged in and more. Three of those four aforementioned Neo-Geo games all happened during various points of my Brentwood era, coincidentally at the same shopping center as the pizzeria and that down-low mom-and-pop video store in Central Islip.

There were pinball tables such as Spider-Man, Stranger Things, and Star Wars: Episode 1, but couldn’t ever compare to what High Score used to have. Foosball, (a rare) Super Chexx, a Ms. Pac-Man & Galaga cocktail machine, and even Alley Cats: a shuffleboard-slash-bowling hybrid were found. Never played anything like it. Sports-themed uprights in NBA Jam, NHL Ice, and Blades Of Steel which I played all of three minutes before walking away from it and headed for Arkanoid: Revenge Of Doh. I was even taken back by seeing games I never knew existed: Warp Warp and Lady Bug. And finally…Smash TV. I wasted an hour of my valuable life on cheap deaths and repetitious gameplay. I’ll never ever recommend it.

I look above and there was a scoreboard with all the high scores and initials written in chalk. Twin Galaxies this wasn’t and thankfully there were no Billy Mitchell sightings. Another thing up above us was a mural of Blaze, Axel, and Adam of Sega’s Streets Of Rage, deemed one of the best and most successful side-scrolling beat ‘em-ups ever. Further back of the arcade I found a bar set-up and a big projector screen behind it for anyone wanting to play Mario Kart on the big-screen. I looked hard enough to find authentic original operator’s manuals of Jungle Hunt, Centipede, Xevious, Asteroids, and Missile Command framed and hung on the wall. I also laserdiscs also framed and hung on the wall near the arcades storefront. Flashdance, License To Drive, Vision Quest, and - I kid you not - Dirty Dancing. Which reminded me…where the hell were Dragon’s Lair and Space Ace? And no Eighties’ fantasy world wouldn’t be complete without at least two small CRT TV’s set up to play Super Mario Bros. 3 and E.T. It was the perfect set-up found in millions of kid’s rooms everywhere. And they still weren’t done.

The one thing Game On had that High Score Pinball didn’t, and this is the major validator here, was the Eighties soundtrack streamed on the overhead. High Score- only had the natural sound of licensed one-liners, PCBs, electromagnetics, and solid states emanating all the bells and hard solenoid knocks of free games. Only once had they brought out a portable speaker blasting Ozzy’s Nineties hits and alternative. Not Game On. Every song was an unforgettable Eighties throwback. It had to be to fit within the nostalgic theme of gaming’s wonder years of the very-late Seventies to the mid-Nineties.

The Seventies will always be something I’ll explore because it’s a decade I mostly missed out on. Exploring and discovering obscure jazz / fusion, soul, groove, and the hits are all a product of my fascination with hip-hop and rap’s sampling culture, console gaming, money shows, chyrons, station i.d.’s, production logos, opening and closing credits, and promos-. The Eighties were different because I lived through them 100% and still remember it clear as day. I can appreciate new wave, synthpop, the new romantics, Billboard hits, freestyle, radio plays, hair metal, and anything else I listened to as part of my Atari / Nintendo childhood. The arcade’s streaming playlist (could they not afford a cassette player?) was paired with the many original arcade cabinets of their time and served its nostalgic purpose, as intended, to its full unbeatable meaning. 

With almost every song played on the overhead there were more childhood memories that followed them. J. Geils Band’s “Centerfold” was my first-ever music memory when my other half-sister played it constantly on our turntable in our family’s second-floor Borough Park apartment. The night my dad threw the Christmas tree out on the porch and my ma’ taking both my younger brother and I to stay at gramma’s for a few days. Riding in the passenger’s seat of our white rusted ‘78 Cadillac Coupe Deville and the bubbled rainbow that formed at the top of its windshield. Being stuck on the side of the Southern State Parkway heading home as my younger bro- and I rode in the backseat with toy dashboards. The trips in my parents rusty beige Chevy van where its crusty steel interior and the smell of petrichor created a viciously sickening mess. The two ‘79 yellow and blue AMC VAM Pacer X’s my parents had. Hurricane Gloria and the week-long power outage. Friday night’s Miami Vice. Saturday afternoons spent in the basement playing Atari and watching WWF and NWA. Saturday night’s Golden Girls where the whole family died laughing. Sunday’s Long Island pop station WBLI’s Top Ten countdown on public access television. Our babysitter’s daughter who was the cutest thing of curly black hair, dark eyes, and tall stature who smelled like sparkle and white plush. My bro- and I taking apart our ma’s floral-print couches and making pillow forts out of them. Dad’s in-wall Akai eight-track player and the overhead speakers. Easter’s various assortment of sweet-smelling wax crayons and activity books. Nights spent watching New York Yankee games on PIX, New York Rangers on MSG, Night Flight and Dance Party USA. Family dinner night at Enzo’s in Bay Shore for minestrone, calzones, and newspaper clippings of Italy’s World Cup victories. Assholes in Chams tank-tops smoking in their garages while working on their prized ‘77 Trans Ams. Playing NES all night before getting ready to ride to Staten Island at three in the morning to pick up my dad’s side of the family.

The more I played the more I immersed myself back into familiar territory that I haven’t visited in decades. It’s an absolute rarity when all the right authentic elements that used to be come together as one and re-create a near-perfect rendition of what the Eighties felt like. It’s not just the soundtrack, the manuals and laserdiscs that supplanted the setting, but the actual aesthetic itself. See the decals on the side of the cabinets and the built-in one-of-a-kind joysticks and steering wheels. The amazing control panel artwork. Plenty of CRT monitors and their rasterized graphics, scanlines, ripples, burn-in, and scrambled graphical glitches. Buttons, plenty of buttons of all types. And no more having to bang on the steel coin doors when those quarters got jammed. Not a burn mark in sight and the smell of old wood cabinets filled the room - exactly how I remembered it all.

It was nearing 9PM. The trip back in time was about to end and the mall was finally winding down. I had to have one last game in before having to walk off memory lane and say goodbye. That idiot kid wasn’t there but was replaced by some cute skinny hipster girl punk with pink hair and ladened with piercings, eager to talk to any cliched grown-up punk dad or fading former Gen-X’er wanting to share a story or two about how they missed those simpler days. I’ll never get the spirit and being of the Eighties back, but I no longer miss them now that I have a monthly pilgrimage to Game On. I retire for the night and head out. She unhooks the velvet rope and clears the way for me to leave with a smile.

“Have a good night!” she says. You know I will.

Heart: “Magic Man”

Eddie Money & Ronnie Spector: “Take Me Home Tonight”

Run DMC: “It’s Tricky”

Cutting Crew: “I Just Died In Your Arms Tonight”

Toto: “Africa”

A-Ha: “Take On Me”

Foreigner: “Waiting For A Girl Like You”

Bananarama: “I Heard A Rumor”

Wham: “Wake Me Up Befoe You Go-Go”

Mike & The Mechanics: “Silent Running”

Michael Jackson: “Billie Jean”

Rick Springfield: “Jessie’s Girl”

Bruce Springsteen: “Dancer In The Dark”

Pat Benetar: “Love Is A Battlefield”

J. Geils Band: “Centerfold”

Simple Minds: “Don’t You Forget About Me”

Tommy Tutone: “867-5309 / Jenny”

Cyndi Lauper: “Girls Just Wanna’ Have Fun”

Pointer Sisters: “I’m So Excited”

Starship: “We Built This City”

Steve Winwood: “Higher Love”

Whitney Houston: “I Wanna’ Dance With Somebody”

Survivor: “The Search Is Over”

The Outfields: “I Don’t Wanna’ Lose Your Love Tonight”

Flashdance original motion picture soundtrack

The Romantics: “What I Like About You”

Scorpions: Rock You Like A Hurricane”

Quiet Riot: “Come On (Feel The Noise)”

Pointer Sisters: “I’m So Excited”

Fabulous Thunderbirds: “Tough Enough”

Steve Perry: “Oh Sherrie”

Madonna: “Borderline”

Tiffany: “I Think We’re Alone Now”

Belinda Carlisle: “Mad About You”

Debbie Gibson: “Out Of The Blue”

Phil Collins: “Sssudio”

Lionel Richie: “All Night Long”

RUM DMC & Aerosmith: “Walk This Way”

Rick Astley: “Never Gonna’ Give You Up”

Bananarama: “Cruel Summer”

Cyndi Lauper: “Time After Time”

Kim Carnes: “Bette Davis Eyes”

Sting: “Every Breath You Take”

Heart: “What About Love”

Foreigner: “I Wanna’ Know What Love Is”

Bruce Springsteen: “Jack & Diane”

Mr. Mister: “Take These Broken Wings”

Bangles: “Hazy Shade Of Winter”

Don Henley: “Boys Of Summer”

Dire Straits: “Money For Nothing”

The Cars: “Shake It Up”

Peter Gabriel: “Big Time”

Bon Jovi: “Livin’ On A Prayer”

Allanah Myles: “Black Velvet”

Culture Club: “Karma Chamelion”

Mike & The Mechanics: “All I Need Is A Miracle”

Starship: “Sarah”

Wham: “Wake Me Up (Before You Go Go)”

Billy Ocean: “Caribbean Queen”

#omega #music #mixtapes #playlists #personal #Long Island #Eighties #gaming #arcades #pinball

[rainbow-filmnerd]

TMNT 2012 characters in Halloween costumes

Happy Halloween everyone! To celebrate, I decided to share my vision of what costumes some of the TMNT 2012 characters would wear for Halloween. This would also be set after Trick or Treat Tussle, the Halloween themed video game that had Leo as Captain Ryan, Donnie as what I believe is a troubadour (Mickey Mouse Three Musketeers reference anyone), Mikey as SpongeBob, April as a ninja turtle, and Raph as the famous fairy princess.

So, this is what I got!

Leonardo as a masked warrior/swordsman (inspired by our lovely blue dragon warrior here)

This was one costume idea I struggled with the most, but I ultimately decided on this remembering Shin-Ah from Yona of the Dawn. I just think it'd be cool to see Leo dress up in something related to his combat skills while still looking like a badass/dork. Complete with a bathrobe, some of his usual gear, and a paper mache mask, Leo is ready for Halloween.

Donatello as a scientist

This was one of the first ideas I had for Donnie, and I feel as though it's perfect. The overall inspiration is from Donnie's design in tigerfog's 2003 fan comic, NMT Gaiden. I just really liked the eyepiece Don wore, complete with a lab coat. Add in some protect gloves and liquid filled bombs (filled with dyed water and soda!) to the equation, and you get Donnie's costume.

Raphael as a body builder (inspired by Doug from 50 First Dates)

What's funnier than Raph deciding to dress as a strongman? Raph dressing up like Sean Astin from 50 First Dates. The outfit itself is RIDICULOUS, but I do see Raph wearing that mesh shirt. 🤣 Add shorts, gloves, the red baseball cap, and yes, even sunglasses, and you get Raph as Doug Whitmore. Oh, and make sure he gets some Reese's in his treat or treat bag.

Michaelangelo as Ice Cream Kitty

For quite a while, I've been stuck on what costume Mikey would wear. Like... there are SO MANY GOOD IDEAS. I turned to Instagram and asked peeps for suggestions. I chose his favorite ice cream cat, because he'd go all out with face/body paint, the classic cat ears, and even make a bowl to wear. I just think that's overall, a very Mikey costume that isn't a character from another existing franchise.

April as a simulacrum news reporter

The overall inspiration comes from BOTH a judge's costume I saw in Halloween Baking Championship (a ghostly news reporter) and that April in the 1987 series is a news reporter! I didn't want to go with the jumpsuit, so April would be wearing something a bit dressier like what female news reporters typically wear. I then thought she'd be a different creature as opposed to being a human news reporter. I settled with a simulacrum, or "frankenmonster", because the thought of April having the same mint green skin with scars like Sally from Nightmare Before Christmas is a good Halloween look (especially with her naturally gorgeous red hair),

Casey as a serial killer

Like in the Halloween arc, this is just an excuse for Casey to dress up in his usual vigilante gear. However, it's Halloween, so he has to be a bit more creative. So, Jones would whip out some older, dirtier, and wrecked gear like a broken mask, a baseball bat (taking a bit of inspo from Negan from Walking Dead), and red paint. Lots and LOTS of red paint.

Karai as a masked vampiress

I remembered a long time ago, someone compared Karai with her snake eyes/fangs to a vampire when her mutation first happened, and honestly, I can see it! That brought me to come up with this idea for Karai's costume. Imagine it being an old European/gothic look on her with a black dress with frills, a beautifully decorated black mask, and gloves. Safe to say that Shini has likely helped Karai pick out the right clothes for the look, and even do her hair and makeup.

Shinigami as a cat witch (inspired by Blair from Soul Eater)

This is one I just thought of as a fun idea. In Soul Eater, Blair is a recurring character who appears to be a witch girl with cat ears, but she's actually a real cat! Because Shini is a witch and cats are basically her spirit animal, it just makes sense for our underrated Foot Clan witch to go that costume route. Shini might as well be capable of casting a spell to give herself cat ears underneath a witch hat.

Slash as Raphael

This was just a cute idea that came to me. Slash wouldn't do much, but since he was Raph's owner before his mutation, I just thought it'd be sweet if Slash went as him for Halloween. All he really needs is a red mask and a giant pair of Sai.

Leatherhead as Frankenstein's monster

This one was from a suggestion by @fabuloustrash05 (out of a few options), but I think this one was the best fit for Leatherhead, because of the similarities between the two. He probably wouldn't be able to dress in costume, but that's why doing makeup is an option. I can see Mikey giving his gator friend some fake stitches/scars and neck bolts to make him the coolest franken-gator ever!

Mondo Gecko as an 80s rock star

The amount of times our skater gecko has this rocker guy personality, from using his skateboard as an air guitar and even his speech pattern, I just think this would be a fun costume idea for Mondo. Also would mentioning that his voice actor Robbie Rist is a musician.

Mona Lisa as Morticia Addams

This is something I borrowed from FabTrash, but for those who don't know, Sean Astin's father was Gomez in the live action Addams Family show from the mid 1960s. Since I didn't think to have Raph dress as Gomez, I'm making up for it by having his girlfriend Mona dress as the beautiful hag Morticia! Well, with just the iconic black dress and a bit of dark makeup. But just because Raph isn't Gomez in this list of characters in Halloween costumes doesn't mean he won't wear a Gomez costume for Mona.

Renet Tilley as Michelangelo

I always saw Renet as a big Ninja Turtles fanatic, and because her close bond with Mikey, it's beyond safe to say she likes him the most. I just think it's cute that Renet would wear a ninja turtle costume like April did in the Trick or Treat Tussle game, and she'd choose Mikey of course.

BONUS: Alex as a Dragon

I didn't want to leave out my Ally-boy on this. The idea was suggested by @xartisticmdx, so a dragon is the best one for Alex. He'd wear one of those pull-over masks with the mouth open that looks like a dragon's head and a tail to match. I would also think Mikey uses darker green body paint to give Alex scales, and even tape the wings and spine spikes onto his shell.

#tmnt 2012 #teenage mutant ninja turtles #halloween 2022

[synergysilhouette]

Naruto (Comic AU)

My DBZ/DBS comic AU got a couple of likes, so I wanted to see what you guys thought of a Naruto AU where it's an American comic that began in 1974, created by Masashi Kishimoto. Unlike DB, which I couldn't figure out if I wanted it to be set in America or westernized Japan (to coincide with it's 1950s creation), I imagine "Naruto" taking place in a fictional country colonized by Japan and then westernized (but the Japanese culture is much more apparent from the get-go):

1970s--Even though people say the Prologue-Land of Waves Arc is iconic, I feel like it was super underrated. I heard Haku was originally planned to be a beautiful boy, but the androgyny hit the censors and they made him a young woman (though this was retconned later). Honestly this period was really good for getting the franchise on it's feet. It's generally believed that it's darker subject matter allowed it to sell only because it was the Bronze Age of comic books, and had it occured earlier, it may not have happened.

1980s--I swear, this is where everyone remembers "Naruto" beginning. The series received critical acclaim for expanding the cast of characters and the mythology of the series, especially in the Chunin Exam arc and Naruto using the alter ego "Kurama." Though according to my research, the Konoha Crush arc received a LOT of pushback due to the death of the Third Hokage, and there was this really weird thing in the Search for Tsunade where Tsunade was receiving sexist feedback from fans as well as frequent fetishization. I think they were trying to imply she was bi and in a relationship with Shizune, but again, time period prevented full exploration of that--though they were perfectly fine with the villain being androgynous…Then there was an implication Kabuto had feelings for Orochimaru. There was a LOT of baiting going on.

1990s--This era wasn't bad by any means, but it was mainly focused on ninja missions, and while it may have felt slower-paced than the larger arcs, it allowed for more development on Team 7 and their contemporaries; my own favorite part was the transition of making Sakura less rude to Naruto (and I will admit the writing for a romance between her and Lee was interesting) and having a more mature bond with Sasuke, who often put his positive feelings on the back burner for his revenge against Itachi. This made the final major arc of the decade--and the century--the Sasuke Recovery Mission, all the more emotional and powerful. Though I call BS that Sakura and Naruto weren't strong enough to defeat Sasuke together (but I'm not going to Comic-Con saying that). Honestly Sakura was a trouper; she battled Sasuke, got defeated, joined Naruto's retrieval squad, and went full ham on Sasuke. The sound 4 are SO underrated, though!

2000s--The turn of the century brought about big changes to the series, similar to the Ultimate Marvel universe and DC's New 52 relaunch--only "Naruto" didn't end up being maligned. Certain relationships were jostled around slightly and the characters were aged up to young adults in order to appeal to a larger crowd, as well as more suggestive situations. Though the boost in sales was unprecedented; the Kazekage Rescue Mission attracted a lot of attention due to the involvement of Gaara and the Akatsuki, though some people attribute this to the Kakashi Gaiden miniseries getting significant attention. I remember Sai and Yamato's introduction was a RADICAL change that was intended to be permanent because writer Hayden Watson found Kakashi boring and didn't see Sasuke as redeemable, but fan backlash and demand for Kakashi's return eventually made this change temporary. She also tried to put Sakura and Naruto together, but this was eventually unravelled as well, as later authors were big Hinata fans. The subsequent arcs seemed to only cause sales to increase, though the death of Jiraya gained a LOT of ire. Honestly I was also hooked when Sasuke formed Hebe, though I wasn't a fan of how this period was super fanservice-y with Sasuke and Hinata in particular.

2010s-This era was WILD. No one could really top "Naruto" in this period's prime. Itachi's past was hard to swallow for some fans, though some sympathy for Sasuke was showered down for it's political undertones, and the Pain arc was SO satisfactory for Hinata's confession to Naruto; if I recall correctly, it inspired fans to make a petition for the publisher to make an AU where she was a part of Team 7. I heard rumors that this comic was actually gonna be made, but I have yet to see it (and if it existed, I kinda wanted Sasuke and Hinata to be together, but that's ANOTHER story). There were rumors she was going to die, but I'm grateful she didn't. I remember the Fourth Shinobi World War arc was selling like CRAZY. The titles that focused on this went hard, and it had me on the edge of my seat. I won't lie, though; the last two arcs were pretty confusing to me, concerning Kaguya and Madara and Obito. Honestly I'm just glad they gave Sakura a bigger role; even though she didn't have the lineage Naruto and Sasuke had, she wasn't discounted like I expected her to be.

#naruto #naruto shippuden #Ninja #team 7 #sakura haruno #sasuke uchiha #kakashi #naruto uzumaki

[killscreencinema]

Ninja Gaiden II: The Dark Sword of Chaos (NES)

When I was a kid, Ninja Gaiden was a revelation of storytelling in gaming. Ninja Gaiden II, developed and published by Tecmo in 1990, took it to another level while also improving upon the gameplay of the original.

A year after the events in the first game, Ryu Hayabusa is attacked by thugs before he learns from a new ally named Robert that the minions that attacked him are commanded by a warlord named Ashtar, and that they have kidnapped Ryu's girlfriend(?) Irene.

I remember playing this game at my best friend's house and being amazed at how vastly the improvements seemed over the first game. The most noticeable change right off the bat is that Ryu can now climb walls, as opposed to the more cumbersome flip-climb. He also has some new ninja tricks up his sleeve such as a fireball that he can shoot at enemies below him (more useful than you'd imagine) and the ability to accumulate ninja clones that follow you and mirror your attacks. While the game is still difficult as fuck (as advertised on the box, though... not in those words), these new abilities definitely help to give you a much needed edge. However, it's a shame that they took away Ryu's most formidable skill from the first game - the jump slash, a move so powerful that it could 1-2 shot most of the bosses.

Ninja Gaiden II holds a special place in my heart as well because it was the first game I ever played where a character gets killed... or so I believed. At one point in the story, right as Ryu is about to save Irene, Ashtar stabs her in the back with the Dark Sword. She falls to the floor, horribly wounded, but as you find out later, she manages to survive. As a kid, this moment was SHOCKING, and I never got far enough to find that out she was okay. As far as I knew, Irene got murked and that was that.

The game holds up really well, even better than the first one. I definitely feel like they really hit a perfect sweet spot with the difficulty where it's hard but manageable (that's what she said). Now Ninja Gaiden III on the other hand...

#nintendo #nes #ninja gaiden #tecmo

[woman-child91]

There’s a difference between being “Stoic Sasuke” and “Stoic Lan Wangji”. Sasuke isn’t 100% stoic. He does show emotions. He feels anger, jealousy, craziness, sadness, happiness (with Naruto and his UCHIHA family. Because Naruto Gaiden and Boruto don’t exist to me.), shock, confusion, relief, cockiness, arrogance, stubbornness, etc. Lan Wangji showed zero emotion.

Before any of you start defending him and give me some lame bs about his eyes. “Look at his eyes. His eyes showed the emotions.”

Honestly? I don’t give a crap about what his eyes showed. I need to see emotions through somebody’s face, voice, actions, words, etc.

And yeah, I was actually looking forward to seeing more of Lantis from Magic Knight Rayearth. But, I was honestly quite disappointed and dissatisfied with his character. He was like in the middle of “Stoic Sasuke” and “Stoic Lan Wangji”. But, definitely leaning more towards “Stoic Lan Wangji”.

And do you wanna know a little secret about me? I hate Lan Wangji. I hate the whole Lan Wangji/Wei Wuxian ship. Yup. So I don’t find Lantis as interesting as I thought I would.

I was far more intrigued with his brother, Zagato. Yup. I actually find Zagato way hotter and more interesting than Lantis. What a letdown.

I mean, when Hikaru confessed to him. His reaction was so bland and he never brought it up or confessed right back to her. Sheesh! Look, let me just make a point by writing how I imagine each Sasuke from each time period would have actually reacted… IF Naruto had confessed to him.

———

Sasuke • In Team 7 (BEFORE he was bitten by Orochimaru)

Naruto: *blushing* Sasuke, I love you.

Sasuke: *blushes* I love you too, Naruto.

Sasuke • When he’s leaving for Orochimaru

Naruto: I love you. Please, stay with me.

Sasuke: Naruto… I… I love you too. But, I can’t stay. Why don’t you come with me instead?

Sasuke • When he has his reunion with new Team 7

Naruto: I love you.

Sasuke: You know I do too. But, wait for me. I’ll return to you once I’ve killed Itachi.

Sasuke • After he found out the truth about Itachi and supposedly wanted to kill Naruto

Naruto: I love you.

Sasuke: … I… Damnit, Naruto! I’m trying to hate you here! Are you kidding me? You can’t just say something like that!

Sasuke • During the 4th Great Ninja War

Naruto: I love you.

Sasuke: I love you too. So, let me protect you. If anyone tries to lay a hand on you I’ll kill them!

#magic knight rayearth #sasuke uchiha #sasunaru #sasuke x naruto

[primnroses]

Hi. I was wondering, seeing as TS approaches in Boruto (not following it much, tbh) and people talking about characters' future powers, if I'm the only one who doesn't want Sarada to have Byakugō seal? Give her MS, other power ups, etc., but the seal sounds forced to me. Even Shizune couldn't achieve it, and Sarada has/d problems with chakra control but then again, she copied (?) it from Sakura. I know she'll surpass her, like Sakura did with Tsunade, but I hope it's without the seal :/

Chakra control or strength can't be copied, just elemental ninjutsu and movements.

I don't want Sarada to form the Byakugō either, especially because it's heavily and conceptually tied to the ability to summon Katsuyu, and so far there are no indications of a new Three-Way Deadlock in the making. Especially when the current Sannin are very pathetic and lacking.

There's one big issue with Sarada and her chakra control that is contradictory from the manga and anime perspectives that could influence any seal. Let's start with the basics.

Sarada can use chakra enhanced strength. This super-human power is a form of medical ninjutsu. It's a more delicate way to control chakra and release it all at once in any part of the body, normally the hands, that is derived from very advanced medical ninjutsu skills. So, if the user can perform really advanced healing procedures, they can use chakra enhanced strength.

Directing a desired amount of chakra to one part of the body and then release it all at once is the key to chakra enhanced strength, and the key to complete the Strength of a Hundred Seal too. The chakra is continuously being redirected to one single part of the body for a very long time. The Byakugō is the pinnacle of chakra control because of its difficulty.

It's why only Sakura and Tsunade can use this type of chakra control, and not Shizune, who trained under the Fifth Hokage too.

Now there's a big however, and this is a big contradiction.

First, Sarada's chakra enhanced strength seems to be entirely inherited from her mother.

Imagine it like Sasuke passing down his Sharingan, Sakura passed down her strength to her daughter. Because the 11 year old Sarada unleashed her fist completely by surprise in Gaiden without training, without knowlegde and still in the Academy. It's why Sarada finally understands that she's Sakura's daughter, because her mother passed down something to her. A call back to Sakura destroying the house in anger, Sarada unleashed her power in anger too.

Second, the anime spent a while trying to tell us that Sarada isn't proficient in medical ninjutsu. Then how is this possible if she can use CSE, a very superior form of chakra control that is linked to medical ninjutsu? There's that episode where Sarada can't use medical ninjutsu at all when, in fact, she should be the best of her generation because she can use CES. And then there's her attempt to heal Kagura from a stab in the heart but her medical ninjutsu was lacking so he died. Sakura saved Karin in the same situation alone and with limited chakra because she was forming the seal.

So there's a big catch. The anime then proceeds to tell you that Sarada doesn't have to use medical ninjutsu just because she's Sakura Haruno's daughter. And more episodes of Sakura telling Sarada that her chakra control is bad and that she'll train her in that.

Plus, in the manga, the medical ninja of Team 7 is Mitsuki with an above average proficiency and also superior to Inojin's, but the anime is always trying to force it on Sarada.

So her strength is just inherited and she shouldn't be able to get the Byakugō. And I say "shouldn't" because then the anime can pull whatever situation and just change everything in a few episodes.

Personally, I don't want Sarada to get Mangekyō either. Find something original for her that doesn't depend always in her parents' arsenal. Besides, the Mangekyō Sharingan isn't for Sarada, a child that unlocked her Sharingan because of positive emotions, so why are they trying to make her miserable now? That form of eye technique is full of bad experiences and Kishimoto closed his vision of Boruto with happy endings.

#sarada uchiha #sakura haruno #sasuke uchiha #tsunade #inbox

[brazenautomaton]

I am extremely curious how you think a modern Sailor Moon AAA game would work. There've been a number of 16 bit era Sailor Moon fighting games (which always seemed kind of weird), and there's Sailor Moon Another Story, which is a JRPG which is good IMO but the gameplay isn't so great due to balance issues and overpowered / underpowered mechanics.

I know right, it's a good thing Another Story was so charming because that thing was a grind and a half, especially when the Inners all split up and you played each of them solo

you point out the Sailor Moon fighting games, and you're right that they're weird, because there aren't any villains and/or monsters in them. (though the Sailor Moon S fighting game was developed by Arc System Works and has been played at EVO.) probably because, you had to have all nine (at the time) Senshi playable, and the budget didn't let you make any more characters after that. but like come on put the Death Busters in. In theory ASW could make another one -- fuck they put RWBY in Cross Tag Battle -- but odds aren't good

but in addition to the fighting games, Another Story, puzzle games, and apparently in 2011 there was an Italy-exclusive DS platformer, there were beat 'em up sidescrollers

you know what the modern version of that genre is?

you're god damn right it's the Devil May Cry / Bayonetta / Ninja Gaiden / God of War character action game

I would say to take a little inspiration from Honkai Impact and make it so that characters don't swap weapons, each character only has the one moveset and you swap between them mid-combo and you have a "team" of three characters instead of a loadout of three weapons. due to the nature of how the characters attack, there would be more of a focus on ranged combat, but I don't mean "DMC2" I mean " a bunch of magic attacks that can be comboed but only go like ten feet out." I would imagine it would have "light attack - heavy attack" combos like Bayo or GoW but you'd have "light magic attack," "heavy magic attack," and then "melee combos" are just one other button. probably with exceptions for Saturn, Venus, and Uranus.

because the characters are different weapons and to get across the feeling of teamwork there would be like a debuff system or something like the biotic combos in Mass Effect, where one Senshi sets up another Senshi to do something even cooler. Sailor Mercury's attacks don't damage a wide area, but they stack up frost on the target and everything nearby, which slows them down and gives them longer hitstun. Sailor Jupiter puts out lightning storms that persist for a while, allowing you to swap to someone else and layer another attack on it. like DMC you have bosses go into a vulnerable state after taking too much damage, but there's more of a focus on "okay if I do this and this I can stagger them faster"

also to represent the show and the way Sailor Moon always got the kill-shot, her heavy magic attack is basically Nero's Buster: a very long, very flashy, very interruptible attack animation that only works on enemies who are in a vulnerable state and does ungodly amounts of damage

even if it wasn't a triple A game and it was more like Transformers Devastation and you only had the Inners this would be cool as hell

#sailor moon

[fictionkinfessions]

was reading a fanfiction, as per usual, and this author had ignis think that me playing ninja gaiden or something checked out because i, qoute, "have plebian taste when it comes to entertainment"

ever since i read that ive been in hysterics over the thought of ignis calling me a fucking pleb.

part of the hilarity is that i just. CANNOT imagine ignis actually, honest to god using that word?? even in his thoughts?? so that line hit me out of left field when i read it. i cant get over it.

fucking scathing lol - noctis

#fictionkinfessions #fictionkin #noctiskin #ffxvkin #finalfantasyxvkin #fanfic issue #mod party cat!

[thirtyn1ne]

Random thought

Imagine Ryu Hayabusa and Genji Shimada meeting up ok? Like this could be very interesting !! At first they either fight or just stare each and be like “is..is he another ninja?” And then this will lead to maybe them working together and just learn about each other. Genji is thoroughly impressed by Ryu fighting plus his character , the same thing could be said to Ryu. After sometime say they got like trapped or like a situation where it’s uncertain if they will servive or not , so they start to talking (initiated by Genji)which leads to deep conversations. Ryu saying that he is amazed by Genji. How he just forgave his brother and kept on living . Genji is surprised and y’know Ryu in return tell him about his life coz why not? And this goes on and eventually they get help . After that their respect for each other has increased which will lead into them becoming friends!! ( and even better if it was brotherly like especially since Ryu is like younger than Genji by like 10 *yea that’s a huge age difference huh?* anyWay). Here are some headcanons about them:

at first Genji thought to be the same as his age only to be later revealed wrong when Ryu that he is actually 25 (he got to the overwatch universe two years after the events of ninja gaiden 3 imagine my shock when I learned he is 23 😭😭) Genji was baffled to say the least.  Ryu got surprised as well when he learned that Genji is actually 35.

whenever Ryu sees Hanzo being a pain or arguing with Genji he just has the sudden urge to just smash cut his head , but he won’t show it so later when he and Hanzo get alone he will throw subtle hints to not cross the line for ex. They are training and Ryu gets the upper hand. Saying something among the lines that like lowkey insulting and taunting subtly and the rest is up to ur imagination ( I have no brain juice to create dialogue it’s 5 am in here and I haven’t slept yet😭😭)

same goes to Genji. Basically they protect each other backs but maybe Genji is less intimidating? Spoilers: no he isn’t . Actually he can be more scary than Ryu.

they train together. They share tips with each other and help each other improve.  Imagine Genji getting overjoyed when Ryu agreed to meet his master coz y’know. After meeting Ryu understand why Genji holds so much respect for him and they meditate together. 

Genji sometimes wear silly shirts with lines “best ninja buddies” (I couldn’t make a better one sorry😬) and you bet he tries forces Ryu to wear it and Ryu is firmly refusing coz that’s embarrassing. Eventually he wears coz Genji is a little shit and won’t stop until he get what he wants.

Aaaannd that’s it!!

#You know what’s funny? #Both of them are from fandoms which are almost? Dead like???😭😭😅😅 #I had this crossover in my head for a while and I just wanted to get it out of my head #I just love these two sm and I just couldn’t stop thinking about ( especially Ryu😭😭) #my original posts #overwatch #ninja gaiden #genji shimada #ryu hayabusa #crossover

[retrogamingreplay]

The Top 20 NES Games of All Time: A Nostalgic Journey The Nintendo Entertainment System (NES) revolutionized the gaming industry and left an indelible mark on the hearts of gamers worldwide. With its vast library of groundbreaking titles, the NES introduced us to iconic characters and franchises that continue to captivate players to this day. Join us on a nostalgic journey as we count down the top 20 NES games of all time, exploring what made each one a true classic. The Top 20 NES Games of All Time 20. Bubble Bobble (1986) Bubble Bobble is a classic platformer featuring adorable dinosaurs Bub and Bob, who must navigate 100 levels while trapping enemies in bubbles and popping them to progress. The game's cute graphics, catchy music, and cooperative gameplay make it a beloved NES title. Learn more about Bubble Bobble. 19. Ninja Gaiden (1988) Ninja Gaiden is a challenging action-platformer that follows the ninja Ryu Hayabusa on his quest to avenge his father's death. The game is known for its intense gameplay, cinematic cutscenes, and memorable soundtrack. Its difficulty level is notorious, but mastering Ryu's ninja skills is immensely rewarding. Discover the world of Ninja Gaiden. 18. Castlevania III: Dracula's Curse (1990) The third installment in the Castlevania series, Dracula's Curse, is a prequel to the original game. Players control Trevor Belmont and his allies as they battle through Dracula's castle to defeat the vampire lord. The game features branching paths, multiple playable characters, and improved graphics and sound compared to its predecessors. Explore Castlevania III: Dracula's Curse. 17. Contra (1988) Contra is a run-and-gun action game that tasks players with battling an alien invasion. The game is known for its challenging gameplay, two-player cooperative mode, and the famous Konami Code, which grants players 30 extra lives. With its tight controls, varied levels, and memorable boss battles, Contra is a quintessential NES classic. Experience the action of Contra. 16. Kirby's Adventure (1993) Kirby's Adventure is a charming platformer that introduced the iconic pink puffball's copy ability, allowing him to absorb enemies' powers. The game features vibrant graphics, imaginative levels, and a memorable soundtrack. As one of the last NES games released, Kirby's Adventure showcases the console's capabilities. Embark on Kirby's Adventure. 15. Punch-Out!! (1987) Punch-Out!! is a boxing game that combines rhythm-based gameplay with pattern recognition. Players control Little Mac as he fights his way through a series of colorful, stereotypical opponents. The game's unique mechanics, memorable characters, and challenging gameplay make it a beloved sports title on the NES. Step into the ring with Punch-Out!!. 14. Mega Man 2 (1988) Mega Man 2 is a classic action-platformer that improves upon its predecessor in every way. Players control the Blue Bomber as he battles eight Robot Masters and acquires their weapons to use against them. The game features tight controls, challenging levels, and an iconic soundtrack. Many consider Mega Man 2 the best in the series. Discover the world of Mega Man 2. 13. Castlevania (1986) The first entry in the legendary Castlevania series, this action-platformer follows Simon Belmont as he battles through Dracula's castle armed with his trusty whip. The game's gothic atmosphere, challenging gameplay, and memorable music set the stage for one of gaming's most iconic franchises. Explore the origins of Castlevania. 12. Final Fantasy (1987) Final Fantasy is the game that started the iconic JRPG series. Players control a party of four heroes as they embark on a quest to defeat the evil forces threatening their world. The game's turn-based combat, character customization, and epic story laid the foundation for future RPGs. Begin your Final Fantasy adventure. 11. Metroid (1986) Metroid is a groundbreaking action-adventure game that introduced the world to bounty hunter Samus Aran.

Players explore the alien planet Zebes, acquiring power-ups and battling space pirates. The game's non-linear exploration, atmospheric music, and surprise ending make it a classic. Discover the secrets of Metroid. 10. Ninja Gaiden II: The Dark Sword of Chaos (1990) Ninja Gaiden II: The Dark Sword of Chaos is a sequel that surpasses the original in every way. With improved graphics, new ninja abilities, and even more challenging gameplay, this action-platformer is a testament to the series' excellence. The game's cinematic story and memorable boss battles cement its place as a classic. Continue Ryu Hayabusa's adventure in Ninja Gaiden II. 9. Mega Man 3 (1990) Mega Man 3 builds upon the success of its predecessor, introducing new mechanics like the slide and Rush, Mega Man's robotic canine companion. The game features eight new Robot Masters, challenging levels, and an engaging story. While some argue that Mega Man 2 is superior, Mega Man 3 remains a classic in its own right. Take on Dr. Wily in Mega Man 3. 8. Castlevania II: Simon's Quest (1987) Castlevania II: Simon's Quest is a departure from the linear gameplay of the first game, introducing RPG elements and a day-night cycle. Players control Simon Belmont as he searches for Dracula's body parts to resurrect and defeat the vampire once more. While the game's cryptic clues and unforgiving difficulty can be frustrating, its ambition and atmosphere make it a memorable entry in the series. Embark on Simon's Quest. 7. Super Mario Bros. 2 (1988) Super Mario Bros. 2 is a unique entry in the Mario series, based on the Japanese game Yume Kōjō: Doki Doki Panic. Players can control Mario, Luigi, Toad, or Princess Toadstool, each with their own abilities, as they navigate surreal dreamscapes. The game's vibrant graphics, catchy music, and imaginative levels make it a fan favorite. Discover the dream world of Super Mario Bros. 2. 6. The Legend of Zelda (1986) The Legend of Zelda is a groundbreaking action-adventure game that introduced players to the magical land of Hyrule. Players control Link as he searches for the eight fragments of the Triforce to rescue Princess Zelda from the evil Ganon. The game's open-world exploration, puzzle-solving, and memorable characters launched one of gaming's most beloved franchises. Begin your legend in The Legend of Zelda. 5. Mega Man (1987) Mega Man is the first entry in Capcom's iconic action-platformer series. Players control the Blue Bomber as he battles six Robot Masters and acquires their weapons to use against them. The game's challenging gameplay, memorable boss battles, and catchy music set the stage for a legendary franchise. Start your Mega Man journey. 4. Castlevania III: Dracula's Curse (1989) Castlevania III: Dracula's Curse is a prequel to the original game, introducing multiple playable characters and branching paths. Players control Trevor Belmont and his allies as they battle through Dracula's castle to defeat the vampire lord once and for all. The game's non-linear level design, improved graphics, and memorable soundtrack make it a standout entry in the series. With challenging gameplay, multiple endings, and the introduction of fan-favorite characters like Alucard, Castlevania III: Dracula's Curse is a must-play for any NES fan. Embark on a dark adventure in Castlevania III: Dracula's Curse. 3. Super Mario Bros. 3 (1988) Super Mario Bros. 3 is a masterpiece of platforming excellence. Building upon the success of its predecessors, the game introduces new power-ups like the Tanooki Suit and Frog Suit, a world map with branching paths, and a variety of imaginative levels. The game's tight controls, beautifully designed stages, and memorable boss battles make it a timeless classic. Many consider Super Mario Bros. 3 the best Mario game ever made. Experience the magic of Super Mario Bros. 3. 2. Dragon Warrior IV (1990) Dragon Warrior IV, also known as Dragon Quest IV, is a remarkable role-playing game that innovated the genre with its unique chapter-based structure.

Players experience the story through the eyes of multiple characters, each with their own distinct storylines and abilities, before ultimately uniting to face the final challenge. The game's engaging narrative, memorable characters, and strategic turn-based combat system make it a standout title in the Dragon Quest series and a must-play for any RPG enthusiast. 1. Super Mario Bros. (1985) Super Mario Bros. is the game that defined the platforming genre and launched Nintendo's most iconic franchise. Players control Mario or Luigi as they run, jump, and stomp their way through the Mushroom Kingdom to rescue Princess Toadstool from the evil Bowser. The game's perfect controls, imaginative levels, and catchy music make it a timeless classic. Super Mario Bros. set the standard for all future platformers and remains a beloved masterpiece. Play the game that started it all: Super Mario Bros.. These 20 NES games represent the best of what the console had to offer, showcasing a wide variety of genres and groundbreaking titles that continue to influence game design to this day. From the platforming perfection of Super Mario Bros. to the epic adventures of The Legend of Zelda, these games define the NES's legacy as one of the most important consoles in gaming history.

[hitoshisbf]

Hii, a question.. but before that i say why i think the ending might be illusion.. The dream begins in Chapter 677. Sasuke protects himself (Naruto and the other two) with his Susanoo because he doesn't let the moonlight in. Everyone else is already trapped in the Genjutsu. Then Madara is sacrificed by Zetsu and supposedly he is behind everything.

What if all this was Madara's plan from the beginning. His supposed sacrifice by Zetsu causes the Main Cast to turn their attention away from Madara. They fight on in their consciousness but in reality they too are already trapped in the illusion. Everything continues as in the manga because the 4 think they are not trapped in an illusion. They don't dissolve the illusion either, they just think they did. So the Boruto arc begins, which makes even less sense.

In Chapter 681 Naruto says "Of all things… you people of all things… are not the history of ninjas!!!". I'll take Naruto's word for it. The whole world of ninjas was created by Kaguya? That makes no sense at all.

What I'm thinking/suspecting now (just my thoughts): The illusion lasts until Gaiden, then some character dissolves it (I want to keep this very vague, otherwise I'd have to write down my entire idea). Madara is very weakened by this, will soon disintegrate but wants to come back and complete his mission. But he has to prepare himself and store his Juubi somewhere safe. Who better than a human who becomes a vessel for it. Naruto still has Kurama, so that won't work. Madara realizes that someone else still has large reserves of chakra and wants to seal it in Karin.

Since Sasuke is (in my eyes) the best, smartest and strongest of them all, he wakes up first. He now also realizes that it was all a genjutsu and thinks about everything and realizes that the Juubi must be sealed into someone with large chakra reserves. He thinks of Naruto but then he realizes Naruto already has one. And after much thought, Karin comes into his mind. He gets up and goes to find her, seeing Madara in the process. A sphere has formed, he wants to go to her and somehow he finds himself in Karin's past (which he realizes in the process).

How do you think would the story change if Karin becomes in this particular time a bijou, how would it change her relationship to taka/sasuke, especially sasuke knowing now about her brutal past and the story in general

Okay so I'm going to pretend I saw through Naruto to the end for this and didn't get snippets.

I feel like Sasuke loves Karin.

I don't think he could willingly seal the bijou into her and save the world by sacrificing her.

Implying he could, I feel like he would respect her even more as she is saving people and the Entire World.

To Taka in general? I feel like they would all Respect her even More. Including Suigetsu, who might poke jokes at her about having a massive demon inside of her but in all: Respect her ability to save people.

I feel like Sasuke knows of Karin's past. I feel like they have been intimate, it's been taunted by Suigetsu and all but Said.

I feel like Sasuke would end up with Karin as well.

I definitely think it was meant to happen or him staying alone. But imagine how he'd feel knowing one woman saved the entire world?

He'd cry. He'd cry and welcome her into his arms.

I think Karin would become the strongest Kunoichi there, without a doubt. She already has the ability to heal whoever, she could become a stronger healer than Sakura or Tsunade with the chakra reserves from the tailed beast. She would be a straight up GOAT ( but she already is (: )

Here's to hoping the ending is an illusion.

[beasanfi1997]

That's music from Ninja Gaiden 3, Is that i Imagine that when the Mandalorian finished, and After Grand Admiral Thrawn, Barriss Offee, Moff Gideon and Morgan Elsbeth dies, we will see our Heroes Ezra Bridger, Ahsoka Tano, Grogu, Mando, Sabine Wren, Hera Syndulla, Zeb, Chopper, Luke Skywalker, Leia Organa, Lux Bonteri, Omega, Mart Mattin and Qi'ra talks about the future of Ben Solo when he will learn about his grandfather Anakin's dark secret when he Is grown up, they will return to help him even Luke was indecise to train his nephew Ben.

When i wrote that hypothesis, i Imagine that How give me cry and gets me chills since i watched Sequel Trilogy and Star Wars Resistence.

#star wars #the mandalorian spoilers #made resistence season three #made star wars resistence season three #sequel trilogy spoilers #sequel trilogy #star wars resistence #the rangers of new republic #the rangers of new republic is the prequel of star wars resistence #Youtube

[bearpillowmonster]

Metroid: Other M Review (Spoilers)

I'm going to keep the last bit here with a spoiler tag, this is where I won't just talk about spoilers in the game's story itself but a certain thing that I found could be both helpful and harmful to how you approach the game. Read at your own risk.

This game was developed by Team Ninja. The same people who made Ninja Gaiden and Dead or Alive, in fact at that point, that was all they've done, just different iterations of the same two series'. So this was not only their first outing with the Metroid franchise but their first outing to approach a new IP. While all developers start somewhere, some succeed with the property by either reinventing it to the fans liking or making a faithful adaptation as if it were their own. This happens to bit some of the former, the reinventing part. And because of their prior experience, it would make sense to compare this game to Ninja Gaiden in its play-style, the way the map is, the way the action shots are, the way you walk around, even some of the sounds. I haven't even played Ninja Gaiden, just seen footage so for me to feel this, someone who's played the games must really feel it.

Now, is this a question of experience, of choice, or a lack in Metroid's department?

Well, Nintendo reached out to them because of their work on Ninja Gaiden and were impressed with their latest engine for it. They took three designers, veterans of Metroid, as well as Sakamoto as producer (who directed a majority). Hayashi, who was director from Ninja, claimed he was a big fan and wanted to include as many creatures as possible so the thought of "lack of Metroid knowledge" is cancelled. Sakamoto proposed a simplistic control design, similar to the NES, hence the sideways thing (though the classic controller isn't compatible). But what's funny is that someone even asked if the game would be too similar to Ninja Gaiden before released to which Sakamoto responded "-while the new game will feature heavy action-based sequences, there will still be the exploration-based sequences characteristic of other Metroid games." which doesn't say a whole lot as an answer but I guess it's true.

His goal was to introduce this game to new players as well as give old fans something new. I suppose a lot of people already know Super's ending but honestly I don't see as many people picking this game up as a "new fan". I think what it boils down to is that Sakamoto wanted something new yet classic as well as really trying to dive in on Samus as a person. Just read this line (I'm pulling from Wikipedia, don't judge) "Kitaura tried to include more scenes with Samus outside her powered armor, to illustrate "the human, weak side of Samus, her expressions and gesture", but Sakamoto convinced him otherwise with a declaration that the Power Suit acts as a shield for both enemy attacks and the reveal of her emotions"

What emotion? You made Samus kind of dull.

This kind of reminds me of Toshihiro Nagoshi who created the Super Monkey Ball series. He really wanted to dive into Ai-Ai's as a character he created Super Monkey Ball 2…nah, I'm just kidding but for real, he left Monkey Ball because he wanted to tell a more in depth story and really experiment thus Yakuza was born. At this point, Sakamoto hadn't worked on any story-driven games and probably wanted to express himself so I imagine he just tried to take one of his tried and true franchises and combine it. And in the process, the gameplay idea was to make something similar but also different so when people submitted Ninja Gaiden mechanics, he probably accepted. I mean Samus does move a little like a ninja, I would assume that's part of where the hiatus came from. "What do we salvage? What do we get rid of?" mixed with Sakamoto's ambitions. Though Zelda had Wind Waker then did a 180 and released Twilight Princess due to what the fans had to say and that was only the span of a few years.

Conclusion: Probably choice.

Now was it the wrong choice? Personally, I think Metroid should have a 3D environment 3rd person shooter but maybe not as corridor ridden in the sense that you're looking at the side, rather than behind. That's more like a mainline game, I think even best kept to that while spinoffs can go and do what they want (Fed Force) Mostly. There are sections of this game where you do indeed do that but it's more for slow detective work than combat. I also think that the narrative should've been expanded upon, but you saw my thoughts on that in the actual review.

Sakamoto wasn't really involved with the Prime trilogy and it could be easily written out in this story so I imagine this was almost a soft-reboot in his eyes.

I think the Federation being the bad guys is fine and trying to reuse Mother Brain for their own purposes isn't new, we saw it in Prime 3 and this does it a bit differently but taking Metroids and Ridley too? Just what exactly is the point here? How many missions is she commissioned BY the Federation to wipe out the Metroids before hand? And then they threaten to reprimand her for originally trying to bring back a specimen? (She probably wasn't going to go back to the Feds I assume) Even though they wanted to use it to their advantage anyway. And Adam being head of the project only to say he was given that title and only "researched it". What was that? He warned them not to actually do it? Could he create this thing? Yes, he proved that. But should he? No. But he knew that and researched it anyway then submitted that research for review. How dumb can you be? What did you think they were going to do with that research?

It's very specific that a bad batch in the Federation is supposedly bad but we only really get to see a part of it, we have no idea where that leads or how far it goes, it's said almost in passing despite being very important.

Ridley controlling the Metroids is a new take I believe but doesn't Mother Brain do the same? Am I just confused on that?

As far as I know, the Deleter wasn't settled upon and is just theorized to be Pierce which is fine but it just takes away from the ending, especially know thing it doesn't get expanded upon. It would've been cooler if you questioned your teammates and even Ridley only for it to be MB but I guess that wasn't thought up. I think MB has a lot more potential as she has a human form. I think she should return and be the one that's reviving all these projects, an overarching villain.

#metroid #other m #review #spoilers