#and how perfect he is as a foil to mk

[thevelominati]

[space-c4det]

Learning how to use Clip Studio and Tumblr all at once slay </3 Okay I have to ramble about their characters though like omggg forgive the block of text

Anyway more progress on the Macaque and SWK sketches, I love their designs in the show and I've been thinking a lot about the way they're styled. Especially since one of the biggest challenges I can think of when it comes to a show about literal legos is that the character models are very samey, of course.

Also, SWK and Macaque have a particularly interesting challenge, with both being demon monkey guys. Aside from the obvious color palette change (they share similar yellow, red, and black just inverted though which I delusionally associate with their soul mate-level connection to one another) some of my favorite character differences is their eyes??? Like, from Macaques down turned lashes to Sun Wukongs upturned lashes? There's also sharper shapes used in Macaques design versus the roundish lines used in SWK's design which is a popular way of distinguishing "bad" from "good" or in this case, to just make Macaque look edgy and disheveled compared to the more put together SWK.

Like from his brows, his makeup, his frayed cloak, he just has such trademark bad-boy qualities. It's really simple but it's really effective in distinguishing their designs aside from just a color swap.

I think it's also a cool way to establish their personalities. Ironically Macaque, despite coming across as deceptive, is often a lot more honest to Mk and his friends than Sun Wukong is. Which subverts the initial impression of his design. Speaking of which, Sun Wukong's design is just so cute? The rounded lines that make up his design feed the impression that he's trustworthy. A confident, good-natured mentor who's gotten past all his wild youthful exploits (he's literally committed several war crimes) and is just trying to pave a good path for MK. And while he definitely cares for MK and really does want him to succeed, gah damn, he is a hot mess. My favorite part is that Macaque at least acknowledges he's got issues, but Sun Wukong is just in complete denial but that's a whole different post.

Anyways I love the details that their character designs are subversive to their real personalities. Like even MK states it outright to Macaque that he's really not the bad boy loner he makes himself out to be, its all a facade and most likely a response to the several times he's been just screwed over by Sun Wukong

Interestingly enough, Sun Wukong has a whole arc about how he's a really bad mentor, an untrustworthy dude, and kind of downright manipulative when it comes to using his persona to put himself in positions of leadership. Though I don't think he does it out of malice, more just recklessness. The chill mentor vibe (giving Gojo energy tbh) even gets challenged in season one by Macaque after he mentions that the Real Sun Wukong would have destroyed a whole mountain range just to win a fight. And like, if you know anything about what Sun Wukong is like in JTTW, bro has zero chill.

Also, they're like perfect foils and it's my favorite thing. Macaque showcasing himself as violet and SWK as golden in his shadow play was a great use of complimentary colors. Anyway, rant over, I love it when character designs are made to be cohesive with each other </333

brb gonna watch the entire series again

[loki-hargreeves]

Put your fictional foil hats on because I have a moon knight theory. I don't necessarily believe in it, but I do think it's interesting to look into. (I'm sorry if this is all over the place, I'm over-caffeinated and it's 3 AM)

What if Jake was Khonshu's avatar before Marc?

I started thinking about this because of the cave scene in episode 5. What if Steven saw this [bird skeleton] because it's a sign that Khonshu was there that day?

Let's say for the matter of this theory that Khonshu was there. Why?

I think that Khonshu may have the ability to see if someone will be a good avatar for him in the future, in the same way that Ammit can judge a soul and tell if a person will do something evil (or not) in the future. Maybe Khonshu knew that one day he would need Marc and therefore he kept him under his wing. Perhaps Marc was also meant to die in that cave but he lived because of Khonshu?

Either way, I think Khonshu has seen Marc as a candidate for a very long time. And we know Khonshu has candidates because he kept telling Marc about his next potential avatar and implied it's Layla (sure he said it to manipulate Marc, but Khonshu did end up actually asking Layla to be his avatar too)

But if Khonshu was in Marc's life already, why can't Marc remember him? It wouldn't surprise me that from that day forward, Khonshu started to follow Marc around, lurking in the shadows. Maybe Khonshu reached out to Jake first.

Khonshu reached out to Marc when it was absolutely necessary. Is it a coincidence that Khonshu happened to be there when Marc was so close to the end, or had Khonshu already been in the picture for a while? (sure it was in a temple by his statue but oh well) If he had been waiting for the moment to get Marc to be his fist of vengeance too, it was a perfect moment because he was so vulnerable.

Maybe Steven was more right here than he knows?

Also, let's imagine for the fun of the theory that Khonshu tells Marc "Rise and live AGAIN" because he has already said these things to Jake.

and here Khonshu implies that Marc was dead once before or a mere "corpse". Sure he was about to die but Marc never did actually die. This makes me think that perhaps that day in the cave as a child he was dead/almost dead by Khonshu saved him. Once again it's interesting how when Khonshu "first" saved Marc, he used the word again. (could be symbolic and sure Marc was shot, but the word 'again' also opens doors to silly little theories)

Marc tells Steven "Turns out going AWOL in a fugue state gets you discharged from the military." Steven can't remember that, so it's only natural to assume Jake was fronting. But why? I know this is a reach but is it possible Jake was doing missions for Khonshu? So that's why Khonshu happened to be lingering around when Marc was nearly killed.

I always found it so interesting how quick Khonshu was to agree to leave both Steven and Marc alone. Yes, we already know it's because Khonshu already knew about Jake. But he seemed so confident like he already knew Jake would agree to work with him solo. As if they had been doing that for a while now.

If Jake was the original avatar, before Marc and Steven, it would make sense that Khonshu was so quick to agree to go back to just Jake. He was already used to that.

Khonshu and Jake certainly must've worked together for a very long time for Khonshu to consider him a friend. Even if it's just to manipulate them all further, I don't see Khonshu using the term friend lightly.

Something that could poke a hole in this is Harrow. I can't figure out when exactly Harrow was Khonshu's avatar or the exact rules of being an avatar. Like can there be multiple? Did Harrow know about Jake? Maybe not by name, but still. He definitely knew about Marc and I'd love to know if it was really Marc or perhaps Jake that Harrow really knew about. (Another season of mk would really help enlighten us)

So even if I don't think this is the case, I think there's enough stuff in canon to make this a fun theory that could apply in fanfics etc. It's interesting to think about. There's definitely more shady business going on between Jake and Khonshu.

If Khonshu was so adamant about making sure Marc kept Steven out of the picture, then would it be too far reached to think that Khonshu had a similar deal with Jake regarding Marc and Steven? Perhaps even before Marc became Moon Knight.

[mksbigg3stfan]

Redson (LMK) Analysis !! (It's mostly just me stating stuff we already know, probably, so sorry if I waste your time (¯ . ¯٥)) This is kind of long, so under the cut for convenience !! (*≧д≦)

Demons can't exactly be dictated by the same standards humans are, since either through nurture or nature, they seek power and chaos. Chinese demons specifically eat humans to take a human form, gain power, or increase their lifespan. So, the demon hierarchy is simply: the strong are both revered and feared enough that lesser demons do not attack them. When there is a skirmish, it's likely that the roles can switch, or the greater demon becomes just that much more infamous. As a whole, their society is based on the exploitation of those they deem weaker than themselves. It is all about the fight to be the most powerful and feared.

From the beginning, Redson was taught to see others as 'below' him, especially since he is the son of a greater demon. To him, cruelness and viciousness are simply his nature: demons are the embodiment of chaos, and he is no exception.

His parents taught him firsthand the true importance of strength. They bore upon him the knowledge of ruthlessness, how it was a means to an end. As a demon, there is nothing more important than slaying your enemies and those beneath you, forcing them to respect you out of awe and fear.

That included intellect as well. (PIF was definitely more keen on that than DBK.) Being able to stay composed and proper shows control. And control shows power. Exploiting resources, allies, is just as important as the reverence gained with that power. Intelligence allows strength to be used wisely. Because Redson may be a demon, but, he is a prince second.

Even though they are family, control and power still reign supreme. It's clear that Redson fears his father, especially fearing failing him. DBK doesn't seem against disciplining his son harshly. In fact, both parents degrade him often.

There is also the pressure of continuing his Father's legacy. To be as powerful as him, to not bring shame upon the family by being weak. No matter how hard he tries, Redson still feels inadequate. His parents are never satisfied with anything he does, and they often treat him in a patronizing way.

It's clear that deep down, he is insecure and feels like he is not enough and will never be good enough to live up to his father's legacy. Almost like a sort of feeling of worthlessness. His anger issues are both inherited by his parents and a result of his stressful environment.

He hides those insecurities through his regal persona through saying things like, "I, the GREAT Redson," and "You PEASANTS." Redson also refuses to use anyone's name, instead referring to them by things like Peasants and Cowards. It's a way of devaluing those around him, so that he can feel greater than them. Another barrier between a Greater Demon Prince and those who are lesser.

Even though he's much closer with Mei and MK by season 3, I don't remember a time when he called them anything besides Peasant, Noodle Boy, and Dragon Horse Girl.

Being around the two has helped him mature more emotionally. Instead of being angry that Mei stole his gimmick by gaining the Samdhi Fire, he handled the situation quite maturely. Instead of throwing a fit or raging, he tried to help her master its power, since he's the only one who knew how.

I could also yap about how i see redson and mei as foils and how perfect their dynamic is, also missed opportunities with the two, but that's for later if anyone cares lol

Before then, he only saw her as MK's stupid lackey. He didn't really respect her because she didn't seem to take anything seriously. Only when she showed how serious she took the training, how much effort she was willing to put in, the extent she was willing to go, that's when Redson started to respect her. It ties into his value for strength and hard work.

He learns to respect MK for similar reasons, in seeing that he is able to take thinsg seriously when he needs to. (Most of the time.) Mei and MK also help Redson learn to lighten up and simmer down through their more carefree attitudes.

Sighh i love you traffic light trio please come back to me 💔💔💔

Traffic light trio u know where home is 😿😿😿

[imminent-danger-came]

i loved ur lmk fandomification rant, now i'm curious- who's your favorite (non-monkey!) lmk character (and any insights you want to share with the class? :eyes:)

Mei, Lady Bone Demon, and probably Azure!

But I could go on a long rant about any character in the show tbh, they're all my favorite character with the 3 I listed and MK being my "favorite favorites" (except maybe Jin and Yin, sorry guys. I do like their place as a sense of normalcy for MK, acting as the "monster of the week" antagonists in 4x01).

Little miss "I would watch my sword break 1000 times so long as I used it to protect the ones I care about" is my girly. Watched her best friend die in the A Hero is Born (AHIB) special and held onto that as a grudge all the way until 3x10. She just wants to see everyone make it out alive, but I doubt she's ready to pay the price required for that. No one in this show is. Mei watched Peng run away in 4x14 and wanted to kill that bird with her bear hands. She took everything Subodhi said to her in 4x09 so personally, like Subodhi probably knew she would, which allowed her to build off of MK's plan so they had a chance at succeeding. She's at her god damn limit. Her episodes (1x03, 3x02, & 4x05) are some of my favorites. She drives a motor cycle, she wears lipstick, she's a gamer, she wields a kick-ass sword, she's a dragon. In 3x12 she's willing to sacrifice Wukong for the sake of the world and more specifically MK. "Don't you realize you're hurting the people who care about you the most?" She's "fakin' it until she's makin' it". Literally what more could you ask for in a character.

Then you have LBD, who fights for a perfect world supposedly for mortal souls yet discards people the moment they no longer have a use to her. Ultimately I think she uses destiny as a crutch, as her way to cope with all of the suffering in the world. "I won't let you take my Destiny from me". You wonder how much it was about perfection and how much it was about her ability to change anything in the world she watched play the same tragedy over and over again. For the first 3 seasons she seems to be acting on destiny itself, she's the narrative our protagonists are running from. Then Embrace Your Destiny comes around, and you realize she was just as doomed by the narrative as anyone else. Doomed to a world of pain, unable to fix anything. The "to pain" scene is one of my favorite scenes, just in general. "Do you really still think the universe wants anything, from any of us?" "Don't you?" LBD and MK's foil is so fucking good. A delightful antagonist who they justify but don't victimize. Killed Spider Queen on screen. What more can I say.

Now Azure. Sweet Sweet Azure. The tragedy of Unckie Lion. Sincerely wanted to make the world a better place and was willing to sacrifice anything for it, just like LBD. I think about his scene with the Jade Emperor at least once a week. "How is it you come to stand before me today Azure, was there a point where you questioned it, or where you too oblivious in your own delusion to realize you were a mere piece in somebody else's game." Fucking insane. His abandonment issues are off the charts. He was gay for Wukong. He thought he could fix the world, and instead barely left it unbroken. He died with the power he couldn't use to change anything. He let himself become a pawn (continuing LMK's habit of manipulating royalty) thinking he could somehow avoid his fate. But the only way to win was to stop playing, and at every opportunity he had to stop he kept pushing. Moving forward. Just like LBD he was coping with the suffering of the world in his own way. It didn't work. Does it ever? Maybe MK will figure it out, maybe he'll leave the world better than he found it, but it's looking bleak. The 3 way foil between LBD, MK, and Azure haunts me.

And then maybe you realize every character in this show is just trying to cope with the world in their own way, and you stare at a wall for 3 hours about it.

Overall I think this image encapsulates it best:

[kai-keda]

tbh i feel like one of the reasons sandy hasnt had a big arc is because he as a character already kinda has it together y'know?

another reason i think is we haven't had a villain who specifically challenges his viewpoint (except huntsman i guess?), like lbd is cruel (in a psychological way) but not excessively violent.

i hope next season they introduce a villain who really opposes sandys viewpoints (in a similar vain to how lbd opposes mks viewpoints) and he gets more screentime.

(sorry if this doesnt make like any sense i have trouble articulating myself)

(sandy vash arc 2022)

You were already making sense to me and the “Sandy Vash Arc 2022” REALLY sold your point to me!

Yeah, I mostly agree with what you’re saying, especially all the stuff about how Sandy needs an antagonist to push him through some kind of arc.

The main part I disagree with is the idea of him already having everything together. I can tell you from recent experience that it can be very hard to grow out of trauma/neurodivergent-related reactions and even if you do somehow, it’s not that those feelings go away but rather you learn to work with them. (Cough-cough, me relying too heavily on my medication holding back my impulsivity and anger to the point of not actually working on developing the necessary skills to combat that so when my medicine situation needed a change, I suddenly went back to having those issues and had no way to cope. And I am 27.)

“To Catch a Leaf” showed us that Sandy STILL has those moments of almost going back to that mindset and to the kind of person he was BEFORE his big transformation. The kind of person he is ASHAMED of being. (Which, actually, holy damn I am suddenly resonating super hard with him ngl)

The issue I have is that we were introduced to that being a conflict for him and then it was completely dropped and left unresolved. And not only was it dropped and left unresolved, but nothing in that episode other than Huntsman getting a Thing™️ for LBD’s soup affected anything in the current story arc.

As a comparison: MK’s introduction to LBD affected the story arc by being a driving force in his frustrations, anxieties, imposter syndrome and other issues of self-worth which led to him jumping in and spamming his Monkey King Powers while not noticing/caring that they were only hurting him in the long run. (I think it’s comparable to when you’re playing a video game and you get stuck in this one spot so you get frustrated to the point of just mashing buttons for a bit even if that wastes your time and hurts you in the long run)

VS.

Sandy’s flashback and moment of weakness nearly causing him to break his pacifistic vow to himself has lead to… what exactly? Everything with him after that is just… cute, funny, silly, wholesome and general helpful friend stuff.

Because Sandy’s fight with Huntsman didn’t actually GO anywhere in the LBD plot-line, it should have been left for the next story arc. Or at the very least, that moment of weakness that we got to see should have been held onto for later.

I don’t care how awesome and cool and otherwise amazing it was (which, yes, the execution of the moment itself was all of those things and more) - it still should have waited.

Having an antagonist that specifically holds the “I’ve had to use violence to survive my whole life and that has made me strong” mindset I think would be a PERFECT foil to Sandy specifically (I think it would also work as a philosophy MK would have to work against which would be important as we can’t make a main series villain that doesn’t challenge the actual main character of the show and it would be more powerful if an antagonist that draws out Sandy’s flaws was a main villain).

For Sandy, I would really like to see him struggling with standing his ground with being a pacifist (like Vash). How even if he understands why and doesn’t condemn others who fight (unlike Vash), he knows himself well enough to not like the person he becomes when he gets any level of violent and wants to avoid it. And yet there will be times where he will be pushed by the nuances of the world to find violence necessary. If that happens, I want him to struggle with and yet learn to ignore those arguments by sticking to “Even if violence is the only solution for others, I can not let myself go down that path again and I never will!”

As a final note, as fun as it would be to make more comparison art between Sandy and Vash if this were to happen, I think having an antagonist like Knives whose philosophy is “People suck; Blow them up” would be too similar to LBD.

I like this ask a lot! Really got me thinking more about Sandy in ways I’ve never put much thought into before.

[valheri-a]

@adateur​  :   comes unannounced to her apartment, knocks until the door slides open and before she can punch him in the face for being a nuisance, a shopping bag is thrusted forward. shoebox, pink suede with some italian name written on the front lid. "got'cha a lil' something."

              THERE IS NO SUCH THING AS SHOWING UP to 𝐕’s loft completely unannounced.   complex security systems are triggered once an entity comes within seven feet of her apartment. additionally, intent to duck into her doorway signals an alert of motion a tiny overhead & side camera will flicker to life to identify who or whatever seeks out the front door giving its PROPRIETOR ample time to react to the occasion. 

𝐕 is alone for the time being, her daemons out completing THEIR ORDERS from a server room she’d designated after gutting a small fraction of armory. ( a perfected, ticking time bomb with intent to kill a cpu of a particular scale requires a slow & steady upload ! ) she waits & calculates her time to STRIKE.  

no later, optics pick up the live feed of a HUNCHING FIGURE with sandy-colored hair & a worn, tan trench coat draped over a pricey three-piece suit toting a bag.  ( kiroshi mk ii’s dissect them down its compounds: paper, rubber, polyethene, syn-leather, aluminum )  it is he who disturbs the peace & quiet, her calm before the storm.  after vision returns to an empty shot glass sitting between spider-thin fingers, she slides it along the table, flicking it over the edge & walks to a door that slides with a pneumatic hiss.

watches him, strange, enlarged irises gaze at him in a CRITICAL FASHION disguised with coated indifference.

❛ what you wan—— ❜ comes her voice, an arctic chill that gets clipped by dimitri’s abrupt motion, the pendulum swing of cardboard bag in her direction.  SERRATED at the top & frosted with gold foil & some foreign cursive of the brand front & back. lavazza.

her survival instincts ( irrational or not ) creep from the narrows of psyche. in this dystopian purgatory disguised as a neon-lit fever dream, falling for a con can cost you your life or your rep.  & a street-smart denizen of her caliber is hyperaware of these MICROCOSMIC intricacies.  for example, how much would a pair of beautifully crafted italian boots cost her in the long run.  at face value, of course, the gesture is very surprising.  even...warming for a fraction of a moment.

❛ ——don’t play with me, ❜  she SNEERS,  ❛ ain’t nothin’ free, & you’re an asshole, so what’s your angle?  you’re workin’ up for the long game, huh? ❜

she stands aside, allowing him to step inside the apartment.

❛ ——tell me what you want & i’ll decide if i won’t throw you into oncomin’ traffic. ❜

[beevean]

How about a top 5 (or 10 if you prefer) best and worst bosses in video games? :D

I’m not very well versed in videogames, but anyway...

WORST

10) Chaos 4 (Sonic Adventure): Not a big fan of bosses who waste so much time - ooh, look at that, trying to hit me with very slow, very telegraphed attacks, and taking more and more time to becomes vulnerable the more the fight progresses. Also not a big fan of Tactical Suicide Bosses (excuse me Chaos, why is your strategy “stay in the water for increasingly amounts of time and then decide to raise my head to breathe”? In this form you’re a fish!). Even less of a fan of bosses that you have to fight three times to complete the game.

9) Sonic and Diablon (Shadow the Hedgehog): They couldn’t have come up with a more boring boss if they tried. Shoot the shield, shoot the cannon, avoid the hand, run away when you hear the word “anti-matter”, kick Sonic in the head, slowly chip at the large energy bar, rinse and repeat. The G.U.N. Fortress version is particularly painful, too, as the arena only offers those piss poor pistols with 10 bullets and minimal damage. And much like Chaos 4, you have to fight this lovely boss three times to get to the Last Story, except you don’t even get a different character with different abilities. Also, poor Sonic, from protagonist of the series reduced to nothing more than a footstep.

8) Collision Chaos boss (Sonic CD): Try to play a boss that relies on wonky pinball physics, that shoots projectiles with the only purpose of changing your already precarious trajectory, in the Bad Future that adds slightly more bumpers to destroy, with the American music (I linked the extended version to properly depict the experience). Pain is real.

7) Egg Pinball (Sonic Advance 3): Surprise! I find this boss worse than the more famous Egg Chaser. Yes, the Egg Chaser is very anxiety-inducing with its bottomless pit and the ball chain sending you into it, but once you learn the pattern of the platforms and that Amy as a partner makes it a joke it’s not that bad. This one, though? Even with Amy/Sonic, which is the only team where your partner is useless but you aren’t, this boss relies too much on luck, expecially by the end when way too many balls are flying across the screen. It’s almost funny, in a “screw you” way, that this is one of the two bosses in the game that can’t be hit by Cheese, in the stage where you finally unlock Cream. Pinball and Sonic don’t mix as well as Sonic Team thinks, apparently.

6) Boost Guardian (Metroid Prime 2, Gamecube): This boss’ strategy isn’t even that bad, it’s just that it hits you like a truck in an environment that is already sipping you of health. If being hit was less punishing, guessing the correct timing to jump over it would be fun. Too overkill for its placement in the game.

5) Mother Brain (Metroid Zero Mission): MB in the original Metroid 1 was... there, with the difficulty of the final boss coming from those stupid Rinkas pushing you into the lava below. In the remake, which otherwise is much easier than the original game, you have to think about the Rinkas, the lava, and MB who shots you fireballs! And if you fall into the lava (and you will spend half of the time in the lava)? She closes her eye and protects her only weak spot, forcing you to wait at the mercy of the Rinkas hitting you all over again. Asshole.

4) Dark Gaia (Sonic Unleashed): Dark Gaia, as a whole, is a stain on an otherwise beautiful game. Setting aside his “character” for a while: this boss is way, WAY too long (the first time I clocked at 11 minutes, like hell I’m trying again), the Gaia Colossus phase is frustrating for how slow it is and for having a nigh-unavoidable attack, the running phase requires pitch-perfect timing otherwise say bye bye to your life, and the Super Sonic phase is essentially “slipping down the shield to run over a bunch of snakes, then QTE up your ass”. Riveting. At least it has some banging music...

3) Egg Saucer (Sonic Advance 2): The bosses in SAd2 are already questionable with their “wind pushing you backwards” physics, but this one flings you enough bullshit to make you ragequit. Whoisthisgit made an excellent video explaining everything that makes this boss such a miserable experience. I am so sorry, Knuckles, that you had to be associated with this tragedy.

2) Antlion Mecha (Sonic 2, Game Gear): So let me get this straight devs, you take a boss that is already a little too had as the first boss in the game, you put it in a console with a much smaller screen, you screw up the slope physics making it just a little too easy to slide into the antlion’s jaws (and of course you don’t have any Rings), and on top of that you make the trajectory of the projectiles random when in the Master System they were consistent? Great game design there, guys :V

1) Spider Guardian (Metroid Prime 2, Gamecube): I was never as close as bestemmiare ogni santo e pure il padre eterno as I was when I was trying to beat this abomination. I love the Ing theme, but FUCK if I wasn’t hating every single sound of it while playing, OH MY GOD I envy the people who played it on the Wii so damn much

BEST

10) Robot Carnival/Storm (Sonic Heroes): Yes! Yes, I do like this boss! I’m probably the only one, I don’t care, I find these fights cathartic, especially with Team Chaotix <3

9) Jet Drill (Sonic 3 & Knuckles): The strategy may be simple, but I love the setup of Eggman destroying an ancient garden just to kill Sonic and I love how it emphasizes how much of a reliable bro Tails is. (let’s just ignore the fact that with Tails alone this boss is a pain...)

8) Doomsday Zone (Sonic 3 & Knuckles): The series had its fair share of Super Sonic bosses, but so far no one has beaten the original. It has excellent music, you can feel the tension as you smartly redirect Eggman’s missiles to him and as you chase him down through space, and Eggman in this game is really ready to do anything to win, I love it

7) Beta mk. II (Sonic Adventure): This is probably the best part of Gamma’s campaign. 90% of it is kindergarten-easy, and then Hot Shelter and the final boss are a sudden, but welcome spike in difficulty. Beta mk. II is a far cry from any other E-series robot you’ve faced, being almost completely invulnerable, hitting you with straight up nukes, and the time is still ticking in the corner. Then you add the context of having to kill your brother, and the deceptively upbeat theme, and it becomes a memorable experience.

6) Cykka (Metroid Prime 2): The first phase is fairly boring, but Adult Cykka is really fun to fight for some reason. Not only it has a cool design, but it’s a fast-paced battle (due to having to use the Grapple Beam to swing from platform to platform) where you have to go ham on the boss at certain points (when it becomes Dark Cykka), my two favorite styles for a boss.

5) Nightmare (Metroid Fusion): A name, a certainty. This boss looks, sounds and attacks in a way that makes you feel confused and powerless. Even at it becomes a game of “climb the stairs, shoot at its ungodly face, jump around to avoid it”, it’s still tense.

4) Ridley (Super Metroid): SM isn’t famous for having great bosses, but they put all of their effort into Ridley and it shows. There’s no strategy here, it’s simply “kill him before he kills you”. At this point you’re pretty much at the peak of your strength, you went through literal Hell to get The Baby back, you’re not going to be stopped by the asshole who killed your parents.

3) Shibusawa Keiji (Yakuza 0): What a beast of a final boss. The first Dragon of Dojima is the perfect foil to Kiryu, having all of his strength and style but none of his compassion, and beating him up to a bloody pulp, especially as you see him become sloppier and sloppier, is so, so cathartic. Also, Two Dragons, what more can I say?

2) Egg Dragoon (Sonic Unleashed): Best boss in the series? I don’t know but it’s surely in the top 10, and it’s ironic that you play as the hated Werehog. Not only it has some delicious music (that generations ruined), but it’s such a fun climax after the hell and a half that is Eggmanland! On one hand, Eggman sounds seriously angry and he is ready to kill Sonic (and if you take too much time, which admittedly is hard if you’re not doing it on purpose, he is positively gleeful while he sends you into a fiery death); on the other, Sonic just rips this giant robot apart like tissue paper, and even if it’s done through QTEs, it looks awesome.

1) Kuze Daisaku (Yakuza 0): I’ll let this say it all. If I had to pick a favorite version, the fifth one was my favorite to fight (by that point you have likely upgraded Kiryu’s abilities to the point of making him a juggernaut), but the second one is iconic for a reason... multiple, in fact. “DIE, YOU LITTLE SHIT!”

Special mention to Majima in Y1, YK and YK2 because he looks really fun, but I have never faced him myself so yeah.

[tipsoctopus]

Expert verdicts on developing Norwich ace who can "turn a game on its head"

This article is part of Football FanCast’s Expert Roundup feature, which provides three quotes from those in the know in order to illuminate fundamental strengths, weaknesses, quirks, stylistic comparisons and general observations of players, transfer targets and confirmed signings.

Few saw this coming. Even factoring in a very successful loan stint in the Dutch second tier with Fortuna Sittard at the start of 2018 and even after making 24 starts for Norwich City last term as the Canaries resided on the highest perch of the Championship, nobody outside of East Anglia anticipated one of this season’s breakout stars to be Todd Cantwell.

The 21-year-old attacking midfielder certainly had the potential to become a permanent fixture in Norwich’s first team but that aside, where is his array of England youth caps? Where was the usual buzz and transfer gossip that typically surrounds a highly promising young English talent?

Regardless, in the Canaries’ first three games back in the top flight the local lad – born and raised in nearby Dereham – has greatly impressed, proving himself a useful foil to the free-scoring Teemu Pukki and in doing so now comes overdue international recognition in the form of a first call-up to the England under 21s last week.

Perhaps it’s time we got properly acquainted with Cantwell, a player who is presently out-performing some very well established names in the Premier League.

To do this where better for Football Fancast to start than assessing the views of those who know him best…

Daniel Farke – Norwich coach

The German coach is not one to talk up his emerging young players – that includes too defender Ben Godfrey and highly-rated right back Max Aarons – and that comes across here as Farke discusses his prodigy following Norwich’s 2-1 win over Rotherham last term.

Indeed the short passage below acts as a perfect example of a coach offering encouragement with one hand while signalling a warning with the other. As per the Eastern Daily Press:

“I am totally happy with how Todd develops and how he influences our game. But he has not won the Champions League or the World Cup, he has not worn the Three Lions on his shirt, and when I think how many goals and assists we have so far then we can add something.”

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Richard Phillis – Cantwell’s PE teacher

If Farke’s warning suggests that further work and dedication is required from his young charge to make it to the top then that shouldn’t be a problem. According to Phillis – who taught the player as a schoolboy at Northgate High school – Cantwell has always been prepared to roll up his sleeves for the cause. As per the Eastern Daily Press:

“He worked so hard for the team and contributed above and beyond. He was confident and committed and could turn a game on its head with his unbelievable skill and talent.”

The video below remind exactly why we’ve missed Norwich fans in the top-flight…

Neil Adams – Norwich loan manager

In hindsight it was Cantwell’s loan switch to Holland in January 2018 that was the making of him. The man responsible for the move – himself a former Canaries favourite and one-time manager at Carrow Road – is convinced that from here on the only way is up. As per the Eastern Daily Press:

“Todd is a great one! I’ve known him since he was 10-years-old and he’s a great kid.”

“If we could put in front of you a Todd Cantwell from before he went to Sittard, and the one now, you’d think it’s a different person – physically, maturity, experience, confidence. They love him there, the fans want him back and his stock is now so high and he did himself so much credit. He’s a bigger, stronger lad with the way he matured over there too.”

Verdict

Should Cantwell heed his gaffer’s implied words and keep his feet grounded then there is every reason to believe that Norwich may have unearthed a James Maddison MK II.

The buzz starts here.

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[ergohacks]

When you start thinking about meal replacements and simplifying what you eat it doesn’t occur to most people that there’s one meal that most of us don’t have a great deal of variety in already and which we might eat the same thing most days. Breakfast.  We might have cereal, toast, fruit or some sort of combination but chances are that most routine mornings we have the same routine sort of thing.

This strikes me as the perfect opportunity to replace what you have with something a bit more rounded. There are healthy cereals on the market but while they’re somewhat healthy and fortified they’re not usually designed to be part of a complete diet. Enter Huel Granola. It’s two flavours of oat and pea protein-based cereal that has added vitamins and minerals and is designed to provide a sixth of most of your daily recommended allowances of a whole range of things.

A 60g bowl looks surprisingly small and this is emphasised by the small sizes of the pieces of individual cereal. We’re a lactose-free house so I had mine with my normal Almond milk and like a lot of cereals the milk took on the flavour of the cereal.

So how does it taste? Surprisingly good. It’s sweeter than I expected but far less sweet than your typical cereal. The individual pieces had a decent crunch to them even after they’d been in the milk for a few minutes and there was very little of the dusty powder that some cereals suffer from. The two flavours are original (really vanilla) and berry and I surprised myself preferring the original most days. Each pack contains seven average servings and if you subscribe it works out at about 50p a meal which is a reasonable cost with each box lasting a week.

That small bowl was enough to keep me going until lunchtime on a normal day although I did find myself getting hungry by late morning on days where I was particularly physically active.  For most of us, the 60-gram serving is perfect. Huel Granola isn’t the most innovative part of Huel’s range but it’s got a decent chance of being the product that most people find sticky in their daily routines. It’s a decent tasting and simple meal that works great first thing in the morning and keeps you going until lunch. There might be more economic breakfasts but it’s reasonably priced and fits into my routine well. Recommended.

Buy it from Huel

Price: ± £4.75 a box which contains 7 meals, hence £.68 per meal Subscribing also saves 10% Delivery is free over £15 in the UK and a sliding scale below it

Specification

Ingredients Huel Original Granola

Rolled Oats(35%), Pea Protein (35%), Seeds (11%) (Sunflower Seeds, Flaxseeds, Pumpkin Seeds), Chicory Root Fibre, Brown Rice Syrup, Raw Cane Sugar, Coconut Oil, Micronutrient Blend*, Natural Flavouring.

*Calcium Citrate, Magnesium Chloride, Choline L-Bitartrate, Vitamin C, Vitamin K1, Thiamin Mononitrate, Riboflavin, Niacin (as Nicotinamide), Vitamin B6 (as Pyridoxine Hydrochloride), Biotin, Potassium Iodide, Sodium Selenite, Vitamin B12 (as Cyanocobalamin), Vitamin A (as Retinol Acetate), Pantothenic Acid (as Calcium-D-Pantothenate), Vitamin K2 (as MK-7), Chromium Chloride, L-Methylfolate Calcium, Vitamin D2, Vitamin E (as D-Alpha Tocopherol Acetate).

Ingredients Huel Berry Granola

Rolled Oats (35%), Pea Protein (35%), Seeds (11%) (Sunflower Seeds, Flaxseeds, Pumpkin Seeds), Chicory Root Fibre, Brown Rice Syrup, Raw Cane Sugar, Coconut Oil, Micronutrient Blend*, Natural Flavourings, Freeze-Dried Fruit Pieces (0.8%) (Raspberries, Cherries, Strawberries, Blueberries).

*Calcium Citrate, Magnesium Chloride, Choline L-Bitartrate, Vitamin C, Vitamin K1, Thiamin Mononitrate, Riboflavin, Niacin (as Nicotinamide), Vitamin B6 (as Pyridoxine Hydrochloride), Biotin, Potassium Iodide, Sodium Selenite, Vitamin B12 (as Cyanocobalamin), Vitamin A (as Retinol Acetate), Pantothenic Acid (as Calcium-D-Pantothenate), Vitamin K2 (as MK-7), Chromium Chloride, L-Methylfolate Calcium, Vitamin D2, Vitamin E (as D-Alpha Tocopherol Acetate).

Allergy Information

100 Vegan. Contains gluten but no other UK listed allergens. Prepared in a factory that also handles nuts.

Nutrients

The most up to date nutritional information can be found at Huels website and as they do tweak the formula I’d urge you go and check it out if you’re looking for a specific piece of information. With that said based on the recommended 60g service each bowl contains: Energy 897kJ 11%, Fat 6.3g 9%, Carbohydrate 22.2g 8%, Fibre 6.3g 21%, Protein 14.1g 28%, salt .2g 3%. Vitamins are generally between 15 and 45% with most being around 15%. Percentages are of the RDA – Recommended Daily Allowance from the EU Nutrient Reference Values NRV Outer box cardboard and recyclable. Inner foil wrap not recyclable. The use by on our boxes was six months in the future from our purchase date.

Requirements

Like most cereals, the Huel Granola is designed to be eaten with milk. This does not necessarily need to be cow milk and I found that my normal roasted Almond unsweetened milk worked perfectly. Do be aware that you must also take notice of the nutrition in the milk if you’re very closely watching your calory intake.

About Huel

Huel was founded by Julian Hearn (an Entrepreneur with a background in online marketing) in 2014 in Aylesbury. He worked with registered nutritionist James Collier who formulated the first powdered form with the intention of providing 100% of the recommended daily amounts (RDAs) of nutrients as stipulated by the European Food Safety Authority, whilst being 100% vegan and environmentally friendly. They started shipping in June 2015, launched a gluten-free version in 2016 and started to ship to Europe and then the USA in 2017. They produce a range of foods including the original powder, flavourings, cereals and bars.

We based our Ergohacks Verdict on two weeks of use. It was provided by Huel in March 2018.  This article was first published on 22 March 2018.

Huel Granola in Original and Berry flavours. Nutritionally complete cereals that taste good. When you start thinking about meal replacements and simplifying what you eat it doesn't occur to most people that there's one meal that most of us don't have a great deal of variety in already and which we might eat the same thing most days.

[myamend-blog]

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New Post has been published on https://myamend.com/india-ranks-133rd-in-world-press-freedom-index-2016/

India ranks 133rd in World Press Freedom Index 2016

India ranks 133rd out of a hundred and eighty international locations listed within the World Press Freedom Index 2016, launched by using NGO Reporters Without boundary lines. India jumped three locations in comparison with last 12 months’ ranking. Posted annually, the rankings are based on freedom allowed to reporters in international locations around the arena.

Noting that it’s miles tough for journalists in India to cover areas consisting of Kashmir that are regarded as sensitive by the authorities, Journalists Without borders criticised Top Minister Narendra Modi for being indifferent to the “threats and issues” confronted by media personnel and bloggers in the united states, who’re are “attacked and anathematised by way of diverse spiritual companies that are quick to take offence”.

“As an alternative, in a desire to increase control of media coverage, Modi envisages opening a journalism university run through former propaganda ministry officers,” the NGO introduced.

The list becomes headed via three north European nations – Finland, Netherlands, and Norway. Africa as a region overtook the Americas in relation to press freedom, the NGO stated. Pakistan turned into ranked 147th and China 176th. The three lowest-ranked international locations were Syria, North Korea, and Eritrea. We welcome your remarks at letters@scroll.In.

The Daily Restore: The JAL ikat TU ban is developing more outrage in Tamil Nadu than the extreme drought How AB Vajpayee changed into foiled in his bid to have Narendra Modi removed as Gujarat chief minister Narendra Modi replaces Mahatma Gandhi on khadi 2017 calendar, disillusioned workers demand to reprint Film assessment: ‘Haraamkhor’ is more sloppy than stunning Professional who allowed disclosure of Narendra Modi’s BA stages loses his HRD portfolio

Animal Rights Jallikattu ban: DMK holds protests across Tamil Nadu in search of ordinance by using Centre to allow the game Many organizers have said that they would defy the Superb Court ban and had been geared up to stand crook expenses for upholding ‘lifestyle and heritage’. Jallikattu ban: DMK holds protests throughout Tamil Nadu looking for ordinance with the aid of Centre to permit the game Photograph credit: AFP

The Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam held protests across Tamil Nadu on Friday looking for ordinance by means of the Centre to permit the banned bull-taming game of JAL ikat TU this Pongal. DMK leaders MK Stalin and Kanimozhi led protests outside the collector’s workplace and criticized the nation’s All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam management and the Centre for failing to lift the ban. companies across the nation held or tried to conduct the banned sport, risking police action.

Many organizer has stated that they would have the sport as a part of their Pongal celebrations this 12 months, defying the Splendid Courtroom ban. “If we’re arrested permit it to be us that suffer, but permit our background and lifestyle triumph,’’ Ilamathy, a Madurai college student, told The Times of India.

On Thursday the apex Court had rejected a plea in search of an early verdict inside the case triggering protests across the kingdom. Bharatiya Janata Party MP Subramanian Swamy said a central authority ordinance at this factor would quantity to contempt of the Perfect Court docket, “You can not count on the authorities to skip an ordinance now. It will likely be contempt of the Supreme Courtroom. Jallikattu ought to be held, however legally,” he informed News18.

Human beings for Moral Treatment of Animals issued a statement that said the competition turned into celebrated to thank nature, which couldn’t be executed by way of torturing or injuring bulls, PTI suggested. The NGO stated that many bulls and people had died and sustained in …