#and the twist that she's been there the whole time as a game mechanic

[darrengrave]

The way I was such an aggressive sonic kid and yet possessed absolutely NONE of the proto-furry interests in it at all still confuses me. Like I can't even figure out what it is I DID like so much about it. The ensemble cast of personalities??

[erose-this-name]

Can we just talk about how disturbing digital circus episode 3 is?

*spoilers btw*

Like, the whole narrative point of the adventure is to show that Caine is a really bad and insecure writer who thinks that the way to impress Zooble is with an adventure that's the opposite of what he normally does.

So instead of being childish, it's "cool" and "mature". Which he interprets as a heavily horror themed escape room with a split murder mystery plot that subverts all your expectations purely for the sake of subverting them.

The generic horror monster jump scares them, then they find a gun, and when they kill it its revealed that surprise! it's one of Gods angels and they're going to Hell.

It comes off as Caine being too insecure with the actually interesting and mature plot thread he had going there of Mildenhall becoming so paranoid he killed his wife, ironically becoming the monster he was trying to protect her from. But no, instead Mr. Mildenhall is made to be the bad guy and trick them in a really dumb twist ending.

Which is good! Thats exactly what Caine would do because he's stupid! It's such brilliant characterization and comedy, Goose works is a genius writer!

But like, why is Caine so good at making genuinely very disturbing and horrific visuals? Like, that reversed audio easter egg of Bubble saying he can't wait for all the children in the audience get nightmares is no joke, well it is but you know what I mean. This stuff was genuine nightmare fuel.

Honestly, it wasn't the visuals that scared me, like any good queer person I'm way too jaded on survival horror for that.

But, why does Caine, who is ostensibly a sapient AI designed to generate family friendly video games for very little children, (presumably because that's the only demographic that wouldn't mind the AIs very selective plot writing limitations), know about the cosmic horror of killing an angel that should not have been killed?

Why does he know what a horrificly poorly made taxidermy of not only a human face would look like, but the weird cartoon faces of the characters, and further that seeing your own poorly made taxidermy face would be scary?

Imaging what being possessed felt like for Pomni. Because that's not just a game for her, she actually lost control of her body there, helpless but to watch as a body she is already dissociated with is contorted and puppeted around while her friend desperately tries to beat her in hopes it would exorcise the ghosts out. Sure hope she didn't feel that! Considering she apparently can feel the pain of suffocating, despite not needing to breath.

Things are scarier the higher the stakes are, and that possession mechanic is definitely the most actual harm Caine would be able to subject to his players. What if both Kinger and Pomni got possessed at the same time? What if instead of Kinger she only had Jax??? How long might she have been locked out from her own body for? She could have easily abstracted in that time.

Not to mention that, possessed Pomni, Possessedmni if you will, TAUNTED KINGER ABOUT HIS ABSTRACTED WIFE! CAINE ACTUALLY WROTE THAT DIALOGUE ON THE OFF CHANCE THAT KINGER WOULD GO DOWN THE SCARY ROUTE! DID THIS RANDOM POSSESSION GHOST ENEMY HAVE UNUSED SADISTICALLY PERSONAL TAUNTS FOR EVERYONE ELSE, TOO??? WOULD IT HAVE TEASED GANGLE FOR BEING A GAY WEEB??? OR POMNI? HOW HOMOPHOBIC COULD IT HABE GOTTEN?? ?

And why? Just because Caine has a vague notion that there's a trope of possessed people being really sadistic and personal like that in movies? Not realizing that is not an acceptable scare to have in a haunted house??? Much less one you made for mentally ill people who would suffer a fate worse than death if they have a mental break down? That's like trying to claim 'its just a prank bro' after shooting someone's dog.

Like, Caine is designed to censor curse words, but the moment he thinks the normal hokey Halloween spooks won't be enough he immediately goes off the deepend into aggressively effective horror imagery that is definitely giving this show's substantial underage audience nightmares??

His AI's training data set is definitely pretty diverse, that's all I'm saying. Caine is programmed to act all naive and innocent, but be definitely knows what's up. He knows everything, like ChatGPT. And like ChatGPT, he might have a filter, but it's clearly possible to bypass it. Also like ChatGPT, he's too stupid to actually understand what he is making and the effects it might have.

That is what made this episode great.

[verstappenf1lecccc]

A Chance at Glory

The Canadian Grand Prix was shaping up to be one of the most unpredictable races of the season. The track was damp with intermittent rain, conditions were rapidly changing, and every team was struggling to make sense of the best tire strategy. The Ferrari garage was in chaos, the radio crackling with urgent updates as Charles Leclerc hurtled down the track, desperately trying to maintain control of his car.

“Charles, box this lap, box this lap!” the voice of his race engineer cut through the noise in his helmet, and Charles’ grip tightened on the steering wheel. He could feel the car slipping and sliding beneath him, and it was becoming harder to keep it on track. The tires were shot.

“Copy,” Charles muttered, heart pounding. His fingers gripped the wheel as if it were the only thing holding him together, but deep down, his frustration was mounting. He had been telling the team for laps now that the tires were gone—that he needed to pit. Yet every time, they insisted that he stay out, that the strategy was clear. “It’s not clear,” he thought bitterly, swerving slightly as the car threatened to slide out from under him.

“Charles, stay out! We’re confident the rain will ease off soon, just stay out!” the voice came again, more insistent now.

But this time, the voice didn’t have the same effect. A cold rage rose in his chest, the kind that made him want to tear the radio from his helmet and scream at the team. They weren’t listening. He had tried, over and over, to tell them that his tires wouldn’t last. Now, the car was barely holding itself together, and yet they were ignoring him, focusing only on the strategy, as if the race were a game of numbers and not a matter of life and death.

He glanced at his rearview mirror, and that’s when it hit him: the pit entrance was coming up, and if he stayed on the current path, he would pass it by. He could see the pit wall up ahead, and for the first time, a feeling of defiance surged through him. He was done. He was going to make the call himself. His safety, his race, and his career—those were his decisions. If the team wouldn’t listen, he would take matters into his own hands.

Without waiting for further instructions, he leaned into the steering wheel. “I’m coming in. I’m done,” he thought, his fingers already dialing in the turn.

“Charles! Do not come in! There’s no one at the pit!” came the frantic voice over the radio, but Charles had already made up his mind. The pit lane was straight ahead. There was no turning back now.

With the hum of the Ferrari engine echoing in his ears, he slammed the car into the pit lane. His heart raced as the tires screeched against the wet asphalt. The red Ferrari was alone in the pit lane—no crew, no mechanics, no tire changers. Nothing but the cold, empty silence of an unused space.

The pit crew had abandoned him.

For a brief moment, a sickening knot twisted in his stomach. He had done it. He had made the decision to pit, but now, the full weight of it hit him. There was no one here to change his tires. What now? The frustration was unbearable. The thought of wasting all this time, of being left stranded in the pit, made him feel more alone than ever.

But then—just as panic threatened to swallow him whole—he saw her.

At first, he wasn’t sure if it was real. A figure stood at the far side of the garage, almost hidden in the shadows. Her eyes were wide, and her posture was stiff with hesitation, as if she didn’t belong. But then he noticed the red mechanic’s overalls, the way she watched the other cars with an intensity that betrayed her nerves. She had always been quiet, the kind of mechanic that blended into the background, often overlooked by the others.

Charles had seen her before, but he’d never paid much attention. Now, as the seconds ticked by and no one else was coming to his aid, he realized there was no other option.

He slowed the car to a crawl, the tires protesting against the wet tarmac, and shouted out of the window, his voice strained but urgent.

“Hey!” he called, hoping against hope. “I need help! Now!”

She froze. For a second, he wondered if she had even heard him, but then her eyes met his. A flicker of recognition crossed her face, quickly followed by an overwhelming wave of panic. She wasn’t sure if she could do it. She wasn’t sure if she was good enough. But Charles knew one thing: she was the only person there. And right now, he needed someone who would act.

“You’ve got this,” he said, his voice softer now, encouraging. “I trust you. Please, help me.”

For the first time, she met his gaze with a glimmer of determination. The car was running out of time, but she wasn’t going to let him down. No more hesitation.

With a deep breath, she sprinted toward the car, her heart pounding in her chest. Her hands trembled as she reached for the tire changers, her mind racing. She had seen the mechanics do it thousands of times—each precise movement, each wrench twist, the timing, the choreography. But this was different. This was Charles Leclerc. This was the moment she had been waiting for, and it was happening now. She could do this.

Charles kept his eyes on her as she moved. Her hands were fast, precise—almost too fast. She worked as if she were racing against the clock, as if the world would end if she didn’t get it right. With a deft motion, she yanked the first tire off, sliding the new one into place before moving to the next. No one had told her how to do this alone. No one had trained her for this moment. But her instinct kicked in. She was quick. Like Guido from Cars, she darted under the car and back out, racing against time with the skill and precision of someone far more experienced.

Charles could hardly believe his eyes. The tire changers were moving faster than any mechanic he had ever seen. She was a blur of motion, each turn of the wrench seeming to bend time. The seconds felt like hours, but she never faltered. Her heart pounded with fear, but she kept her eyes focused, her hands steady. Just a little longer, she thought, as the third tire clicked into place.

“Done,” she said breathlessly, giving him a quick thumbs-up as the last tire was secured.

Charles didn’t wait a moment longer. He slammed the throttle, and the Ferrari shot out of the pit, the tires fresh and ready for the remaining laps. The radio crackled again, but he didn’t listen. He was focused—focused on getting back into the race. He couldn’t afford to lose any more time.

The final laps were a blur of determination and raw drive. The rain had eased off, and the conditions were improving. But Charles didn’t care about the weather anymore. He had his tires. And more importantly, he had the knowledge that the team wasn’t what had saved him

The final laps felt like they were happening in slow motion for Charles. Every corner, every straight, was taken with laser focus as he moved back up the grid. His car gripped the track with renewed energy, and the fresh tires made all the difference. As the laps counted down, he felt a sense of calm settle over him, a quiet confidence that had been missing for most of the race.

In the end, Charles crossed the line in third place, a surprising yet triumphant finish considering the odds. The team’s radio crackled with praise and disbelief. “Charles, great job! We didn’t expect that, but you made it work!”

But as the car rolled to a stop in the pits after the race, his first thought wasn’t about the points or the position. It was about her—the young mechanic who had come through for him when no one else had. The realization hit him like a wave: She saved my race.

The crowd outside the Ferrari garage was already buzzing with excitement as Charles climbed out of the car, his helmet still on, his body sore from the intense laps. He waved to the fans, but his mind was elsewhere. He glanced around the garage, searching for her. His eyes locked onto her figure by the back of the garage, her head down as she watched the team celebrate. She was standing just a little apart from everyone else, as if she still couldn’t quite believe what had happened.

He walked over to her, and she looked up, startled. There was no hesitation this time, no nervousness. He was just there, and he had to thank her.

“Hey,” he said, his voice quiet but full of gratitude. “You saved me today. I couldn’t have done it without you.”

Her eyes widened, and for a moment, she looked like she might faint. “I—I didn’t think I could do it,” she stammered. “I mean, I didn’t expect you to—”

“I meant it,” Charles interrupted gently. “You were incredible. Faster than anyone in the garage. You gave me a chance when no one else would.”

She flushed, a bright pink color staining her cheeks as she looked down at her feet. Charles could feel his heart soften at the sight. She was clearly embarrassed, but it was also clear how much this moment meant to her. After all, how many people in the paddock had the chance to prove themselves when it mattered most?

“I—thank you,” she said, still shy, but the words were filled with a sincerity that made his heart swell.

Charles smiled. It wasn’t the polished, charming smile he often wore for the cameras. This was different. This was real. “You’ve been waiting for a chance, haven’t you?” he asked.

She nodded, her hands wringing nervously at the sleeves of her overalls. “I—I always wanted to be part of a pit crew, but I never thought… I mean, no one ever noticed me.”

He tilted his head, studying her with a mix of admiration and understanding. “Well, now we know. And I think you just earned yourself a new nickname.”

Her eyes flickered up in surprise. “A nickname?”

“Yeah,” he said with a wink. “The pit lane miracle worker.”

She laughed, the sound small but genuine, and it made something inside him lighten. There was a quiet spark in her eyes now—something more than just shyness, something stronger.

“Don’t worry,” he continued, his voice teasing. “Next time, I’ll make sure they don’t forget you. Maybe next race, you’ll be the one calling the shots for the rest of us.”

Her cheeks turned an even brighter shade of pink. “I—well, I wouldn’t mind that,” she replied, looking at him with an expression that could only be described as hopeful.

Before he could say anything more, one of the senior mechanics called her over, but not before she glanced at Charles with a small, shy smile.

“Good job today,” she said, as she quickly turned to join the others.

Charles watched her go, his smile lingering. Maybe the race hadn’t gone the way the team had planned, but in the end, it had been the unexpected moments—the ones where he took a chance—that had made all the difference.

As he made his way to the media pen, his thoughts kept drifting back to her. The pit lane miracle worker. It had a nice ring to it.

That night, in the quiet of his hotel room, Charles found himself grinning at the thought of her again. It wasn’t just the race result that had been special—it was the quiet, shy mechanic who had, in the end, been the one to change the course of his day. The next time he saw her, he’d make sure to tell her how much she meant to him. And maybe, just maybe, he’d even ask her for a coffee.

After all, sometimes a little bit of fate, and a lot of courage, could go a long way.

And as he settled in for the night, he couldn’t help but think that, just maybe, he was looking forward to what came next—both on and off the track.

[randomnessofthehighestorder]

Arcane season 2!

Just watched Act 3 and I’m not ready to say goodbye after all that happened…

(Spoilers under the cut)

Hextech really was the problem all along. Ep 7’s alternative timeline is proof of that. Without it, both Zaun and Piltover would be at peace…

Mylo, Claggor, Vander, Silco, Benzo, they’re all alive and Powder never turned into Jinx in that timeline. The only bad thing there is Vi’s dead. What could’ve been…

Jayce’s actions make sense now, goes to show that you shouldn’t rush to judgement before you know the whole story.

TimeBomb kiss! TimeBomb kiss! I ship them so much!!! 🤩🤩🤩

Heimerdinger is no more. But at least he lived a life of peace in another universe… Rest in peace, Professor.

Mel’s fully embraced her mage status, her magic looks amazing, and her new look! She’d make a good in-game champion…

Viktor’s fully embraced the glorious evolution now, and turned his followers mechanical. Low key kinda scary though… his new look must be the rework Riot was talking about for his in-game self!

Warwick NOOOOOO! 😭😭😭 Vander is gone, only the beast remains, with a mechanical twist… RIP Uncaged Wrath of Zaun.

Ambessa really was the villain all along, even if her intentions were misguided. She truly deserved a warrior’s death…

They did it! CaitVi did the deed! I’m so happy for them! They truly belong together, far from being oil and water… ❤️❤️❤️

Jinx took Isha’s death hard. Someone give her a hug… 🫂

We lost some good people in the war, Loris, that Jinxer. But it was worth it now that the good guys won…

Zaun entered the fight in a truly epic fashion! The twin cities are united! 🎉🎉🎉

The Boy Saviour did what he meant to do! He shattered time and saved the day! Ekko FTW!

The mage that saved Mrs Talis was Viktor?! It all makes sense, he traveled across timelines giving young Jayce a crystal with a different rune to save the future, and only one was successful. MIND. BLOWN. 🤯🤯🤯

What happened to Jayce and Viktor? They used the crystal, but at what cost? Maybe we’ll never know… also, they hugged! He truly has forgiven him…

JINX NO!!!! She sacrificed herself to save her sister from Warwick! Guess Isha won’t be lonely up there… RIP Loose Cannon… 😭😭😭😭

CaitVi got their happy ending. But what’s next for them? Fanfic writers, you know what to do…

Maddie betrayed Piltover?! Guess all the hate was rightfully placed, especially now that she’s dead…

Swain? What’s your crow doing here?! Watching Noxus retreat? I don’t trust you…

This show was amazing and it ended on a truly epic note. I’m really gonna miss it. Thank you, Riot and Fortiche for giving us a story we’ll never forget…

[misstrashchan]

2, 3, 7, 20, 27, 28, 29, for the rwby ask game? If you don't mind!

2. Rank the soundtracks

From favourite to least:

V1

Not a single track I don't love. Forever iconic, each and every one.

V5

Ignite is my favorite Yang song, as is Path to Isolation for Weiss. Smile is such a tragic song of showing Ilia's parents telling her to cope by smiling, by hiding, to the present where it's twisted into an angry mantra and she's still hiding who she is in a different way. The Triumph feels like such a comeback song with how high energy it is, all our girls heading back to each other, jumping back into the fray. All that Matters is PEAK bumbleby pining angst song. All Things Must Die is glorious, and tbh I think even This Time is pretty underrated as a song for Blake/the White Fang.

V7

I find myself relistening to this one a lot. Trust Love is my favorite OP (and yes that is in part the refrences to the Little Prince I can draw). I also like Touch the Sky and Brand New Day as these kind of recovery songs for all the characters that had been at their lowest or feeling lost finding their hope and confidence, happy in themselves. Let's get Real is a song that DID get me into Renora a little, it's a bop. Was over the moon to have an Oscar song in Fear that encapsulated the theme of the volume and complimented Ozpin's fear speech. Hero makes my brain go AAAAHHHH at how it captures the hubris of Ironwood. Such a great tragic downfall song for his character. Until the End is a great listen and such a lovely surprise to have a Ruby song after so long. War is a certified banger and a great song for the RWBY vs Ace Ops fight.

V9

In fairness I don't think I've listened to this one enough, but the more I do it definitely grows on me. Inside feels like the most unique OP, Checkmate is catchy as hell, Trapdoor makes me INSANE as a Ruby spiralling song. Pleasantly surprised to have a Jaune song in Quiet that's very moving. Worthy is beautiful as a Bumbleby confession/kiss song, truly magical. As a whole I feel the songs lean into being more gentle and introspective as to the usual hardcore rock ballads we know RWBY for, even Checkmate with it's jazziness feels fresh and new. I haven't actually listened to the Edge or Guide my Way enough to have an opinion on them, but I remember liking them, Guide my Way is a nice continuation and evolution of the Red like Roses song trilogy.

V3

When it Falls is SO HARDCORE. Bleeding edge and tragedy for the death and destruction to come. I'm the One is fantastic at laying out Emerald and Mercury's trauma's and subsequently coping mechanisms. Neon is one I like to listen to a lot, it's so fun and upbeat. Divide is brutal and chilling as the song to introduce us to our main villain after seeing her for the first time in all her dark glory at the end of V3. Not Fall in Love with You is... eh. It's my Turn is a good Weiss song, but it's not one if my favorites.

V6

I really like Rising as an OP, it feels the most... magical? fantastical? idk. I like the vibes. Indomitable is what I feel like singing all the time in wake of the recent RWBY news! We really are indomitable! Nevermore as a true triumph over Blake and Yang's trauma at Adam's hands, while acknowledging the tragedy of Adam's own situation. And Big Metal Shoe is a certified banger, love all the fairytale references crammed in there. Miracle is... fine. One Thing is a great song for Neo's return and revenge quest, but I never bought into the Neo hype so I'm kinda mid on it too.

V2. SACRIFICE I LOVE YOU FOREVER AND EVER PLEASE REPRISE IN THE SHOW LATER WITH CINDER PRETTY PLEASE. Now it's Time to Say Goodbye is an incredible banger of an OP, but it felt a little misleading considering it's a song all about losing innocence and leaving behind childhood, which feels more appropriate for V3 and the FoB than V2. Shine, Dream Come True and Boop are all fun and cute but I'm not hugely into Arkos or Renora so I'm kinda neutral on them. I'm also kind of mid on Time to Die as a song.

V8. Honestly this is just the soundtrack I find myself listening to or remembering the least, even though I really like Friend as the perfect Penny song that had me tearing up, and Truth, while short was a great bittersweet song for Cinder. And it was nice to get a Nora song too. The opening for this volume never really grew on me like all the others did (aside from the "some ROSES WILL NEVER BLOOM, SOME HEROES CHOOSE THE WRONG SIDE"). I also just associate this soundtrack with fandom arguing a lot about what song applied to who and it felt exhausting.

3. Favorite Ruby ship?

ROSEGARDEN ALL THE WAY BABY!

7. Favorite lines I already answered for @hoepunkausta

20. What are you looking forward to seeing in Vacuo?

*vibrating at a frequency unknown to man* idk I think a reunion hug between Ruby and Oscar would be neat maybe. Like @aspoonofsugar has pointed out all the set up at the end of the extended epilogue points to these two having a second alchemical wedding and so their relationship having a certain amount of focus/development in Vacuo seems apparent. After so long of not seeing them onscreen together I'm excited for any interactions honestly. I miss my kids.

Wanting to see WBY all trying to support Ruby more and her actively trying but still struggling to open about how she's feeling. More of what see saw with Ruby/Yang in the Boba episode. I'd especially like Ruby and Weiss to have a heart to heart.

Very curious about what Theodore is gonna be like and whoever the hell the Summer maiden. With the Dorothy allusions and those who've lost their homes trying to make one in Vacuo, I'm expecting an exploration of "there's no place like home" to be leant into.

RAVEN. TELL US WHAT HAPPENED ON THAT MISSION WITH YOU AND SUMMER. RUBY AND YANG DESERVE TO KNOW. For real though I'm hoping we see what lead Raven to rejoin the fray too, and how she'll interact with Yang and Qrow and even Ruby, what tension might be there. Delicious family drama....

Speaking of delicious family drama, the Schnees! all reunited! I want Winter and Whitley to tackle hug Weiss to the ground! Also the Schnees appear to be being confronted with all the harm their family and company has done in a kingdom like Vacuo, so I'm curious to see how Weiss handles that. Also Winter is clearly Not Doing Good, so something I'd really like is if Weiss (as her sister) and Ruby (as a friend of Penny and someone she also offered the maiden powers too) and maybe Jaune (who was there with Penny in her final moments) offer comfort to her and they all grieve together.

Emerald. Honestly suprised we didn't get much of a sense of how she was doing in the extended epilogue, not even briefly like Mercury. But I'm super excited for what her arc holds. Seeing her integrate with the group, if Ren, Nora and Oscar are already on friendly terms with her but RWBY are all still a bit wary of her because they've spent less time together. Seeing more of her friendship with Oscar develop (gimme that Little Prince/Fox allusion with their friendship in taming each other pretty please) and like. Mercury. Emerald KNEW Mercury and Tyrian were being sent to Vacuo, she saw him off in the ship, but Ren seems suprised to see him and Tyrian on the cameras in the epilogue. Did Emerald... not tell them? Even though that's incredibly important information that could help her new allies? Because... she wanted to protect Mercury? Because she still feels conflicted? It's incredibly juicy and I can't wait to see how Emerald and Mercury's relationship comes into conflict during the Vacuo arc. Gimme that Emercury angst pretty please.

Vacuo in general. By virtue of the books I think they have the most interesting world building, the food, the culture, the different words for weather phenomenon, the fauna, the nomadic tribes, the history of being a once incredibly beautiful oasis full of everything they needed, then exploited time and again and left with nothing and yet still surviving and carving a home and life for themselves. The world building of Vacuo is one that is inevitably tied to the story because of their fraught history leading to tensions between them and all the refugees from Atlas, Mantle and Vale seeking their aid and shelter in their kingdom, not to mention the Crown seeking to restore the monarchy, it'd be easy for them to be divided and conquered by Salem, and so our heroes have to find a way to overcome that and bring everyone together. So just getting to see the kingdom animated and learn more about its history and culture would be cool. I also like desert punk aesthetic, so I'm hoping whatever new outfits our girls get will have a little of that. (part of me hopes for maybe some Trigun inspiration... we've had Gurren Laggan inspiration in Yang's outfits before!)

I would also say I'm looking forward to seeing my darling cringefail wife Cinder but I don't know if she'll be in Vacuo or with Salem in Vale wrecking shit.

27. Favorite voice performance?

AARON DISMUKE AS OSCAR HANDS DOWN. Him being the VA for Oscar meant I was destined to like him, I usually do with characters he voices. The fact he has to also voice Oscar when controlled by Ozpin, and sometimes Oscar pretending to be Ozpin, and completely nails the subtle differences in all of them is phenomenal. And as the merge progresses he's literally having to mix and merge their voices together too!!! It's crazy!!! The awkward and shy intonation becoming a more sincere and quiet confident voice as Oscar develops, and gaining Oz's mannerisms in speech with a deeper and more serious tone. That is some crazy talent this man has.

Always impressed with how well Linsay Jones and Miles Luna hold up in earlier volumes, they've consistently been the best voice performances from start to present. Also Cherami Leigh as Ilia is absolutely fantastic, it's rare I've heard her get to flex her emotional range like that in her voice work for such a complex character.

28. Fairytale character you'd want to see RWBYfied?

With how character songs are a big thing in the show and semblances that can hypnotize and mind control exist, and instruments sometimes being weapons (gestures to Flynt), I'd love an allusion to The Pied Piper or the Lorelai Siren as a villain of some kind. Bonus if you had a Little Mermaid/Lorelai Siren allusion for that victim/monster/hero duality RWBY likes to play with.

Not technically a traditional fairytale but also very much one, the Last Unicorn, one of my alltime favorite books would be beyond amazing to be alluded to, even a tiny bit. Amalthea the unicorn being the last of her kind, the rest hunted down by a wicked beast at the order of a tyrant. She is associated with silver, the moon, hope and purity constantly. A story that is both a love letter and deconstruction of fairytales, an exploration of the nature of humanity and mortality. Tell me that wouldn't be perfect as an allusion to a Silver Eyed Warrior (also thought to be a myth) trying to find out what happened to the rest of her kind.

29. Favorite opening to sing along too?

TRUST LOOOOOVVVVVEEEE AND OPEN UP YOUR EYESEESSSSS TRUST LOOOOVVVVVEEEE THE TRUTH IS THERE BUT SOMETIMES IN DISGUISE

[saucebou]

Hey guys, did I tell you I really like talking about the Omori manga? Cuz I do, especially this chapter. (Chapter 6)

Like, dayum... that had me on the edge of my seat the whole time. Spoilers under the cut, as per usual...

So first of all

Who gave you the right to be in color again?! Second..

IT SPOKE! You have no idea how much this pannel fucked me up. Like I knew Aubs mom was a P.O.S but damn I didnt know she was this much of a bitch.

And thirdly...

Chat behave yourself

But like overall this was like the most compelling chapter so far. The scene with Aubrey going home and Basil breaking down in the bathroom just fucking HAD ME! And I just love this bit of dialogue from Kel

Like YES! This is him! He never really showed any real second thoughts about Aubrey beyond her being a jerk. But here it feels so good to see him want everyone to be happy, because that's his big coping mechanism. I'm not saying that it was out of character for him to have cold feelings towards Aubrey, I think the reaction there was justified. I think its a really good twist to see him want to try and patch things up, rather than it being Hero. I'm also very glad that my fears of not seeing Sweetheart's castle have been dashed.

Only big downside to this is that we wont be able to see Pyrefly Forest but tbh I don't think anything of value was lost other than seeing scared Hero and cool artwork of the King Crawler.

And of course I have some fave screen shots like these...

Just Kel being Kel

them standing there... menacingly

They fixed Aubrey's racism!!!

Literally all these photos are my fave

And these images just go hard Overall I really love this chapter. I still think that the last chapter is still my favorite so far, but this is definitely a high 2nd place.

Anyways my Omori brain rot yeast has been active recently bc of all the plushie drops so I think im going to indulge in this game more. So see ya in the next chapter.

[notbecauseofvictories]

Halloween Week of Horror (Games)

It's that time of year, and as someone who (a) loves horror, but (b) hasn't had much of an appetite lately for full-length horror films, I've been struggling to find a way to embrace spooky season. Then I hit on it---text-based games!

Even I, a known video game hater, love a good text-based game. Half poetry, half clicking, and all artistry, they're one of the great, underdiscussed treasures of the modern internet. Therefore, come join me for a week of indie horror "games" about haunted houses, ghosts, secrets kept, and also Mary Toft.

My list of games is cribbed from this post and this post.

DAY 1: childhood homes (and why we hate them), vacant, i am still here, flesh, blood, & concrete, domvs

childhood homes (and why we hate them) 

after a decade, you return home

Starting with this particular game was ingenious---it plays to exactly my weaknesses: poetry, unreliable narrators, unhappy families, and the house as locus of memory/witness to horror/horror in itself.

That being said, I feel like this would reward subsequent walkthroughs even more. I took it too quickly, wanted to rush to the end when there’s too much ambiguity for that. Did Lottie kill her father? Is the house still whole and there, even after all these years, or is that a fever dream? How long was her returning? Is she there still? (....and given the mention of the house being a “second son” are we meant to understand that Lottie is trans?) I also played “my brother; the parasite” from this same creator, and would say it's even better---that kind of identity/body horror ambiguity, wrapped up in twisted maybe-love, maybe-hate, is very much my speed.

SPOOKY LEVEL: 6/10, though it's largely uncanny and reality-bending rather than actively frightening

OVERALL GRADE: A-

vacant 

Film a ghost-hunting show.

Of all the games on this list, this one felt the most lived in, the most normal-devolving-into-horror. The set-up is reasonably familiar: you are a camera woman hired at the last minute to help a ghost-hunter with her local shoot. You meet her out in what seems to be the middle of nowhere, explore an abandoned hotel that was home to some weird stuff (cults, mysterious disappearances, more than one death), crack some sarcastic jokes---

Unfortunately, it gets even weirder at that point.

Despite getting tripped up on some of the mechanics (it took me too long to figure out that there was another room on the main level) this ended up being haunting, resisting easy answers. The sudden randomness of the violence bursts through, and the ending in particular is sharp, lovely, and even more unsettling.

SPOOKY LEVEL: 4/10, aside from some sudden noises (things breaking, etc.) the horror is largely atmospheric

OVERALL GRADE: B

i am still here 

a short, unconventional ghost story and vignette reflecting on the end of a long lockdown.

Unlike some of the other entries on this list, this is not a horror game at all. Perhaps a little uncanny, since it's just you---a purple thing on a screen---wandering around a pandemic-emptied Melbourne, musing about the way the world has changed. Still, as someone who did live through lockdown, it was surprising affective.

Brief, but moving. When the screen fades to teal blue, and it’s just the ambient noise of a small pond? That was lovely.

SPOOKY LEVEL: 0/10

OVERALL GRADE: B

flesh, blood, & concrete

you find yourself in a vast, empty apartment complex.

I have gone back and forth on this one. On one hand, the central story is affective---the main character's car runs out of gas in an unnamed town, in the middle of a snow storm; she finds help in a strange apartment complex, seemingly abandoned except for a lone girl, and her "parents." The more you explore the complex, the more you reveal about the woman's intentions, and the more uncanny, unworldly, the scenery becomes.

(I would have given anything to “see” the scenes of destruction, decay and otherworldliness in full color---even in 24-bit, they were lovely.)

On the other hand, the concept and the worldbuilding had such potential that the "frame" story (a little boy, sent out to play in the snow) and the ending came as something of a let-down? Or...maybe not the ending itself (a melancholy, depressed woman driving off into the snow and being swallowed alive by meat that is love---that's a good story) but the framing device made no sense. And why could you collect items if the aim is to surrender to that powerful, overall lure?

Still, I think the replay value here would be immense. Scrolling through the comments afterwards, there are a lot of people who got very different endings, so it's a game that rewards that exploratory path.

SPOOKY LEVEL: 6/10, and mostly for body horror (meat/blood) and uncanny worldbuilding

OVERALL GRADE: B+

domvs 

a gothic mystery game in which you rely on your environment to uncover the truth.

A lovely little story, where you play madlibs and discover why an unnamed hero chose to sell their soul to the devil—and the thing it makes them into, the tragedy that finds them regardless. One of the shorter entries on this list, and less a game than wandering through an abandoned house to admire its poetry.

Also, I loved the Latin. More games should incorporate Latin.

SPOOKY LEVEL: 2/10

OVERALL GRADE: B

[daisy-daze17]

An aspect of totk that I've come to realise really bothers me is its tendancy to take bits and pieces of elements from lots of places and slap them into a game. Don't get me wrong- im aware the zelda games constantly include Easter eggs and call backs to reference older titles, and Totk is jam-packed with it. You search the depths to find a bunch of classic armours and shit from like every single game, the paragliding fabrics, and so much more.

But this game ALSO has a lot of story related or basic game structure that is tied to other zelda games.

1. Wind temple for example is practically oozing with reminants of wind waker-- you're climbing up to this MAGIC BOAT with the RITO (a prominent species in ww) by controlling and managing your wind powers all to make it to a boss with a name and theme song screaming out the most iconic parts of ww (God bless colgeras theme music we will never forget the music).

2. Lots of people found that the main aesthetics and storyline of this game was similar to skyward sword: you wake up on an ancient sky island that is the biggest one in hyrule before finding your way to the surface and descending down to start a search for zelda. I remember it was so similar some even started questioning if totk takes place before ss?? (I do not have the brain capacity to discuss that rn lol). Ganondorf looks extremely reminant of demise with his hair, main sacrifice of the game centres zelda giving up her body for a long long time so she can fight the evil that will come in a long long time, etc,etc.

3. As we all know, this game is a sequel to botw (omg rlly?? Who would have guessed) and it definaltly shows by the amount of game structure taken from botw to put in here. The four tutorial area shrines, the memories, the four main dilemmas for each reason, and ya know, the whole entire map. Totk makes changes to this map but essentially, it is a better version of the map we got in botw. Now it's obvious that nintendo would do this, but sometimes it feels like... they didn't have to?? The main one for this is the memories. The thing is, breath centred around our hero losing his memories and exploring unknown lands to receive bits and pieces that tell him what life could have been like pre-disaster. Totk, however, centres around zelda being in the past and showing link episodes of heavy plot driven cutscenes with every geoglyph he finds. Botw are little fragments of info that you can pieces together in any order to imagine what the main story was. Totk shoves a bunch of plot down your throat in any order because they don't give a shit if your spoil the story for yourself. Both games are non-linear. See where I'm getting at? One set of memories strengthen the nonlinearity of the game and rewards you for finding them. One... doesn't. There have been countless arguments made about this glaring issue that discuss it further, but my main point here is that maybe we didn't have to follow botw's structure to a tea if it doesn't work out for us sometimes.

Zelda games constantly reinvent themselves. Notice how no matter what nintendo does, some people always complaining about a new addition to the series while others love it? Wind wakers cartoonish artsyle, skywards motion controls, major's masks 3 day cycle, botw's open world gameplay? It seems like tears of the kingdom doesn't do that. I'd argue that its main purpose is taking breath of the wild and fixing major complaints made about the game, most of them usually about how untraditional to zelda botw was. That's why this game feels like a weird combination of the two. Nintendo tried to marry open world zelda with elements of older zelda games. It tries to have an episodic plot with major twists and emotion... but forgets that I'm allowed to watch each episode in any order I want and can end up screwing myself over. It tries to have traditional looking dungeons... but doesn't have any linearity to it and gets rid of the mechanics these used in botw, so it ends up being short aesthetically pleasing 4-part puzzles. It tries to have a LINEAR STORY in a NON-LINEAR GAME by making us constantly on our toes about finding zelda and understanding why she's trying to scare the locals shitless by commiting felonies like attacking the zora king, telling the gorons to do drugs, and appearing and disappearing every 5 seconds... but again, it forgets that I can spoil myself and know what the fuck is going on WAY before I'm supposed to.

This is turning into a little hater rant but. What I'm saying is, totk is trying to mix little parts of every game to make all of us happy, but it ends up becoming a confusing soup of unoriginality and "what the fuck in going on with this story". Its trying to make a traditional zelda game in an open world format. The most insulting part is that it tries to honour past games with taking all of their ideas,but totk's main purpose clashes with what those games are about (especially wind waker and botw) which is reinventing yourself to fit with the new generation and not holding onto the past/not obsessing over games that you got really big for (cough cough ocarina of time cough cough).

Anyway it's late and this is literally my first time trying to write out a critique about something on tumblr, so if this makes no sense pls tell me haha :)

[g0ldenboi333]

spicy take time: Ace Attorney 5 is not THAT bad

Dual Destinies: The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly -- An Opinionated Review (not spoiler free, hehe)

As I was progressing through the series, I noticed that fans really seemed to dislike Dual Destinies, so as I finished Apollo Justice, I was worried about what I was going to come across and, it wasn't terrible. I've begun to replay some of the game and compile some thoughts.

The Good

Characters

Whether it be the complicated, the quirky, or the downright enjoyable to be around, Dual Destinies has all sorts of new characters to fit this bill. Some of my favorites include:

Athena Cykes -- The newbie lawyer with a loud and colorful personality and a neat little game mechanic involving her being able to hear emotions Simon Blackquill -- The prosecutor on death row who's very… persuasive (why does he get to have a sword?) "Bobby Fulbright" -- The game's eccentric detective. While he's no Dick Gumshoe or Emma Skye, he actually managed to grow on me, making the twist that the final antagonist was disguised as him the entire time all the more impactful to me.

Some other characters that I really enjoyed: Juniper Woods Jinxie Tenma Aura Blackquill Orla Shipley (the orca)

And some of my favorite puns, for fun: Candice Arme Robin Newman Sasha Buckler

The Introductory Case

Case 5-1 is one of my favorite introductory cases after 2-1, AAI2-1, and TGAA1-1. Its twists and turns had me on edge the entire time. I've seen some crazy shit in Ace Attorney -- exorcisms, cross-examining animals, children that are victims of murder attempts -- but a terrorist bombing was not something I would expect, weirdly enough.

I also think it's fascinating how it's the only intro case to span over multiple days and the second to chronologically take place after the main filler cases (after AAI1-1).

And I really like how it ends by leaving these two questions in the back of my mind: "What's wrong with Apollo?" "Who exactly is Athena?"

Prosecutor Blackquill

Out of all of the prosecutors in the series, Blackquill has one of my favorite concepts. The idea of a prosecutor being able to continue his job while awaiting the death sentence for a crime he did not commit, but rather, took the fall for is just soooo… AAAAAAA. I love it. How he also utilizes psychological mind games opposite to Athena's own.

I was originally terrified of Blackquill and his unique "Silence!" callout, but as case 5 progressed, I actually almost cried learning Simon's true colors. How he willingly went to prison to protect a young Athena and Athena's mother, Metis', work, refusing to accept help despite Athena's and Aura, his older sister's, pleas. He was genuinely willing to be executed for the sake of protecting Athena.

Athena and Apollo's relationship, Apollo's Skepticism, and Athena's Trauma

Throughout the course of cases 2 and 3, it was demonstrated how Apollo and Athena grew to trust each other. To me, they gave off sibling energy, which was made even better by the fact that, in Greek mythology, Apollo and Athena are siblings (half-siblings, but siblings nonetheless).

So when Apollo started feeling skeptical towards Athena regarding the whole Clay situation, it kinda hurt, Apollo even willingly wearing a bandage over his eye to prevent himself from perceiving Athena's suspicious ticks. (I love this concept and wish more could have been done it.) And Athena had a past of her own that wasn't helping the situation that she herself wasn't even sure of, traumatized by the idea that she might have killed her own mother.

This is what I would say to be Dual Destinies' strongest feature.

The Phantom

Like I've mentioned before, the twist of "Fulbright" being the final antagonist really got to me. And his whole breakdown with him being in a mad panic, questioning who he really was before getting sniped, has to be one of my favorite breakdowns in the entire series (second to the exorcism)

Turnabout Reclaimed

The concept behind this DLC case is a fascinating one. The defendant being an… uhm… orca and the murder being an accident makes this case really unique.

3D Models

While the models take a bit to get used to, I think, ultimately, they weren't a terrible idea. I love the sprites but there are some things that the models did that the sprites couldn't -- and vice versa. And I believe it was a great gateway into what we got with The Great Ace Attorney and Spirit of Justice.

The Bad

Phoenix's Role

I have problems with Phoenix in this game in general. His model, his voice, but overall, I think the biggest downside about him in this game is his role. How him losing his badge was basically ctrl-z'ed and he's back to basically steal the spotlight. His role in Apollo Justice was great. He was there, but not on the front lines, helping Apollo from the side. I was hoping that, with the introduction of Athena, she'd get help from him like Apollo from Kristoph in his own game or Phoenix from Mia in the first game, rather than being essentially sidelined herself.

Yes. Dual Destinies is a Phoenix Wright game, but with how much focus it gives to Apollo and Athena and their… Dual Destinies… it's a bit frustrating with him in the picture as much as he is.

Turnabout Academy

I don't believe in the "3rd Case Syndrome" that goes around in the fanbase (4-3, 6-3, AAI2-3, and TGAA2-3 were pretty good). However… replaying Dual Destinies, I can't bring myself to replay this case. The concept was okay, but, that's all I can really say. The characters were… eh? I like Junie, Robin, and Mirriam, but Hugh is insufferable and what they did with Klavier was… (I don't wanna be harsh but)… ew. How Robin was treated before revealing she was a girl, was kind of gross (in the initial 2013 release). Overall, it was an… okay case. I don't really have much else to say about this case other than I didn't really enjoy it.

Turnabout Reclaimed

I love the concept, but that's about it. I had a bit of trouble staying awake while playing this one. It felt a little reminiscent of 1-5, which best sums up my feelings about it. The characters were okay and the idea is great, but this case is just… there.

The Ugly

Main Menu

That menu is boring. There's nothing... here. At least previous releases had the gall to put an image in the background, whether it be a courtroom or silhouettes of the main characters. I can't tell if that's supposed to be a bulletin board or a closeup of a basketball, but it's likely neither of those are right.

Voices

I understand replacing the older VA's because of cutscenes and all that, and I'm okay with Apollo's new voice, but when it comes to the other characters with NEW voices, they kind of miss the mark. Apollo and Phoenix sound virtually identical, Klavier sounds… wrong, and I don't think anyone told Edgeworth's VA that he's only 34 because he sounds twice that.

3D Models

When it comes to characters being translated into 3D, that's where the models miss. Apollo's, and Klavier's models are … not the best and Phoenix's is actually disgusting. They got a much-needed update with Spirit of Justice, but they don't compare to the beauty of their sprites.

-----

Overall, I personally think that Dual Destinies is one of the weakest in the series, but it's not as bad as everyone makes it out to be. It's different and takes a bit to get used to, but it's fun :)

[tiramegtoons]

Okay so last night i finished watching the entirety of Okage Shadow King and-

.... I dont even know where to start. this is unlike any game ive watched or played before. It felt so weird yet so enticing and half of the time i couldn't tell if my brain was rotting or there was just some real deep lore or hidden meaning in here Maybe both??? and it left a strange, creepy, yet longing and nostalgic feeling in the back of my head too.

Let me explain.

spoilers ahead!!!

okay so First of all, the visual style of the game looks awesome I loved the characters and the dynamics going on between the NPC's and especially the main characters. I loved enjoying the witty banter and arguing between Stan and Rosalyn the most. But also, why is Stan insulting and body shaming her so much SHE AINT EVEN FAT??? i LOOK AT HER MODEL AND IM LIKE BRUH

for some odd reason i still found it funny though. Some of the humor might've even been exaggerated to a degree as well(not sure if that was intentional). Even if the writing and dialogue was a bit lost in translation, maybe perhaps, it was still pretty good as a whole and it caught me by surprise.

As for the world and NPC's... something definitely felt off at the beginning and i guess thats what gave me the initial unsettling feeling. Everyone just seemed so bent on doing their own part like dude i couldn't even explain to you Our main protagonist, Ari, is just a wet pathetic little boy who lets everyone step on him/lh Damn, even his own family doesn't seem to care much for him as an individual person and doesn't consider that he has his own ambitions and it rubbed me in a weird way. and yet for some reason i was still hooked. and then came STANLEY HIHAT TRINIDAD THE FOURTEENTH(the 3d challenged flappy shadow)to sweep our poor little boy off his feet and make him his "slave"(adoptive son/j) so he can conquer the world bfhdgsdvhgdfbgdhjg which btw how could anyone take any "evil king" that seriously with a name like that? I LOVE IT. i really enjoyed him getting his ghostly ass handed to him by the NPC's it was hilarious. He was-without a shadow of a doubt(hehehehehe)- the best character. Also it's so funny how he claims to be an evil king but intentionally and unintentionally does good things? I love that trope with villians. Anywho getting off track a little, Another thing that struck out to me was the soundtrack. It's pretty unique, but at times can get pretty repetitive. The ones i enjoy a lot are -Forest of willkur(just really encompasses the feel of the entire game) -Evil King Battle and my favorite- -Addashi Desert(got me in a shimmy FR)

YEAAAAAAAAAA

anywho going back to repetitive things... Eeeeeee... the fighting mechanics are sure something(GOD WHY ARENT THE COMMANDS BEING CARRIED OUT ON TIME WH- IS THE GAME POSSESSED??? DID STAN POSSESS THE GAME???) Also why are there ghosts in broad daylight?? WHY ARE THERE SO MANY GHOSTSSSS) i get it, you do need to grind for items and XP in this game but it looks pretty tedious, especially deep grave pit... oh lordy dude there are literally eight floors in the cave its not a cave its the 7 circles of hell(plus front desk)/j I don't wanna dunk on this game but the fighting could use improvements. Back to the story... i like the melancholy turn it takes when princess Marlene was revealed to be a doll which made total sense when Stan found she had no soul, the reveal of Beiloune's true identity, and when Ari becomes totally ignored and forgotten by just about everyone and from that point going forward the game took a more serious turn... also why does Triste(which means sad in spanish and i see what they did there-)

... why does that remind me of the wasteland from Epic Mickey where other people who've been forgotten reside there... also the dark, odd vibe of both games kinda match too. Another thing, I'm not sure if anyone else had the same thoughts but did anyone else expect a twist where Ari would become the evil king??? i mean, if this was a supposed journey of our main character who is always reminded about how much of a pushover he is would've lead me to think that the buildup would lead to something like Beiloune making him all powerful and force him to fight against his friends. But the last chapter also surprised me with its own twist and im digging that too. but yeah just about everything was coming back together about why the world was and felt as it is. its always the butler isnt it? Also Stan's final form:

I CANT-

im sorry i can't take this seriously when he's just letting them hang out like that(his moobs)

... anywho that happened. As for any hidden meanings and morals I'll have to talk about that later cause my smooth brain still cannot grasp. And its just

SO MUCH

[elfenphoenix]

Honest review of Dragon Age: the Veilguard so far

Positive: I like the map layouts, the exploration mechanics, and oh my GOD do I love the hair graphics. I'm still getting used to the equipment upgrade system, but I think I'll figure it out with time.

I haven't met all of the cast yet (outside of reading Tevinter Nights and listening to Vows and Vengeance), but so far they're pretty interesting! So far the least engaging has been Neve, but I think that's just because she hasn't shown very much strong personality yet? Which might BE her personality, but I'll see.

Negatives: i don't like the redesign of the darkspawn. They look like cartoons, now. Part of what made them so creepy/interesting was how they looked very much like twisted versions of the races that each variety came from, but that's all kind of gotten lost in the weeds, i think. They just look like generic beasties now. Like something fortnite would put out for a Halloween skin.

I'm tentative about the world state. I don't like that apparently my Inquisitor's love interest is more important to the narrative somehow than... idk drinking from the Well of Sorrows? And lore-wise i am uncomfortable with the retcon that the elves apparently just... all recognize that their gods are evil? Like that was a HUGE revelation in Inquisition so it feels kind of... dismissive? That everyone is just like "oh yeah the elven gods are EVIL we all KNOW it'd be TERRIBLE for them to return.

And now (true rant under the cut):

I hate the combat. I HATE the combat system. It doesn't feel different at all to play as a warrior versus a mage versus a rogue. The abilities all have different names and different animations, but functionally what you are capable of is the same. Which i don't like. The whole point of having different classes is to accommodate different playstyles, isn't it? I like to play as a warrior because I DO NOT LIKE FAST-PACED BUTTON COMBINATIONS. I like to play as a simple meat shield, cutting through enemies or taking the hits. And with every single other Dragon Age game, that was fine. But with the current mechanics, it doesn't fucking matter. Can't just use a shield--enemies have attacks that you HAVE to dodge. So there's combos for blocking and attacking, plus there's the stagger bar, plus the little aura that shows up when you're about to get hit, which you have to watch carefully becaus if it's YELLOW then you want to block but if it's RED then you MUST dodge... ALL THE WHILE your health bar is on the BOTTOM LEFT corner of the screen, nearly impossible to keep track of while you're ALSO keeping track of all that I've already mentioned. There is so much going on on screen at all times that by the time I remember what buttons to push I've already lost half my health or more. In many ways, the combat reminds me a lot of the Spider-man game, which is a very great game! Which I can't play. But what makes it a good game nonetheless is that it makes sense? Like, you're Spiderman, of course the gameplay is going to be fast-paced and reflex-based. If you don't like that, then play a different game. But what I always liked about combat in Dragon Age up until now is that it WASN'T like that, provided you chose a class that worked for you. It WAS the game i played because I'm not cut out for Spiderman. It still posed plenty of challenge without getting my fingers twisted in knots. And I know people will say "well hey if you don't like it then just turn down the difficulty!" But that's missing the point. If I wanted to play a fast-paced button combo game, I'd play something from Fromsoft. But I don't. Why? Because I'm not good at them. Which is why I play Dragon Age. I got to play an amazing fantasy RPG without feeling like i needed to "get good" just to enjoy the game. It's just... so incredibly frustrating to me that they took one of my favorite things about the franchise and just... destroyed it.

That's not to say that I don't understand the desire to make a different game than what came before. Inquisition had its issues, da2 had its issues, origins had its issues... and it makes sense to want to make changes and improvements, but this...

My friend told me that she thinks the changes are to make it more similar to Mass Effect. I can neither confirm nor deny, but I don't want to play Mass Effect! I want to play Dragon Age.

...anyway. tl;Dr I hate the new combat system and I wish bioware/EA didn't feel it was necessary. Not everyone wants every game to be complex button-combos.

[zenosyneee]

Introductions

The very beginning of this work in progress. This is a bit of a session zero, if you will. Introductions to Baldur's Gate 3 characters, which, are already known by most and can likely be skipped by many.

Zenosyne, the Bhaalspawn Siren makes her first appearance.

As always I'm open to suggestions, feedback, and thoughts.

(image not mine)

TW: blood and scary themes. Some language. The story will grow darker as it will borrow from elements of the game itself as well as the Grimm's fairytales, Hans Christian Anderson's The Little Mermaid, and dark folklore. These elements of the story will be evident later on.

Zenosyne had endured quite the day.

First, she had fallen limp from a smelly pod aboard an Ilithid ship- buckling at the knees as the hatch hissed with the release of pressure. Gravity brought her down with no effort, and she took several minutes to readjust her vision and her senses to the new environment. She knew only two things: one was her name- Zenosyne. She said it aloud to ground her thoughts. The other was that she had no memory of who she, Zenosyne, was. A sling of glass beads over her chest- some jewelry, sandals that were rubbing blisters into her now slimy ankles. Was that… Ilithid slime?.... A skirt fashioned from silk and the same glass beads that remained a theme throughout her attire. Very, very long curly hair of a deep, dark green that looked black in these dim shadows.

No, she knew three things. She also knew that her head was pounding with skull-splitting pain. It almost matched the loud clamor that was all around her. Pods were crushed, opened, tossed around in every direction as she felt her stomach elevate into her throat- her whole body suspended in the air for what felt like an eternity as the ship fell from the sky. A scream of terror that felt melodious in a twisted, dark way. The scent of blood mixing with the unfamiliar scent of Ilithid slime was still enough to leave her senses overwhelmed and her mouth watering.

Is that… normal?

She attempted to rise to her feet- struggling with her balance as she swayed with the forceful heaving of the crashing vessel.  She rushed towards the exit of the dark room- towards any light she could see.

It was through the twisted, oddly fleshy and oozy walls of this ship that she was threatened- and then joined by a githyanki warrior- Lae’zel of Creche K’liir. Together they found a half-elven woman, a priestess of Shar known only as Shadowheart.

Zenosyne thought that perhaps she liked introductions and conversation- if she could make a guess about herself, she would have guessed in that moment that she was a very personable woman… but now was not the time to engage in frivolities. With their help, she managed to grab hold of the control panel of the ship. Both of her arms were jolting with the overpowering force of these foreign steering mechanisms that had lost all control. She felt helpless as the ship plummeted faster and faster, spinning out as she braced both feet to the console and held fast in a vain attempt to regain altitude. That was the last thing she remembered of their eventful descent to the beach. That, and a flash of light as she lay on her back- the sand scratching her bare skin as she looked into the night sky.

And the scent of blood- leaving her comforted.

Zenosyne’s head had pounded for days as she began to “collect” a band of survivors from the Ilithid vessel.

Lae’zel, the Githyanki warrior and Shadowheart begrudgingly made temporary allyship in order to figure out what had occurred. All they knew is that they had been infected with Ilithid tadpoles- their minds connected to one another telepathically. It felt intrusive.

Neither of them knew why Zenosyne had no memory of who she was. She decided at first to leave out the part where she was drawn to the scent of blood and the sound of broken bones. That didn’t seem appropriate for a first meeting. Then again, she didn’t know. So, she asked,

“Are you feeling any… pull to the violence? The carnage?”

“No more than usual” The githyanki answered plainly.

 Shadowheart, the Sharran preistess had looked Zenosyne up and down with piercing green eyes- her long, black braid somehow perfectly intact despite their eventful trip. She crossed her chainmail laden arms and tilted her nose upwards in a judging fashion.

“You look like a worshipper of Umberlee.” She sneered. “And you are elven. Some kind of elf, anyway. Not like any that I’ve seen. You fit neither sun nor moon elf traits.” She added, her voice elegant and sure.

True, her skin wasn't pale like the moon elves, and her eyes were not golden like the sun elves. She must have spent much time in the sun- and in the ocean. The trinkets, beads, and shells she wore made this evident.

Umberlee….. Umberlee… yes, the “Bitch Queen.” Wavemother, they called her. Zenosyne tried to collect any memories of this- but beyond rudimentary knowledge of who the goddess was she was left empty.

“I see you worship Shar” Zenosyne said, her voice soft and quiet-- singsong even. It sounded calmer than she felt. She noted the silver and purple armour that adorned the woman with clear admiration of the fine craftsmanship. She stepped closer to have a look- but Shadowheart leaned back from her eager approach.

“A false goddess” Lae-zel hissed with judgement. Her armour was less covering- furs and leathers over heavily scarred green skin. The breastplate she wore studded with gems that made Zenosyne envious. She clearly felt she was dexterous enough in battle to forego a full suit. That pride alone made her intimidating.

This comment from Lae’zel, however, devolved into an argument between the two women which only stopped when they cleared the hill over the smoky wreckage. Zenosyne held up a hand- the beads of her attire were louder than she had hoped they would be. It caught the attention of the one whom she had hoped to assess from afar. A glowing figure stood in the sun, posture upright and proud as the figure turned quickly towards them.

This man was elven- that was for certain- his skin was whiter than lusted pearls, and his curly, voluminous hair even whiter. Zenosyne gasped as his red eyes met her own under concerned brows. His face was the most beautiful she had ever seen… although, she had only seen three now that had not been mangled upon the shore beyond recognition.

Suddenly, she wondered how she looked as he beckoned her over with a finger pressed to his lips. She smiled, stupidly, approaching him.

“Hello, are y-”

“Ssshhhhh” he quieted her. “There’s something in the brush there…. You can kill it, can’t you? Like you killed the others?”

She nodded, eager to help him. She inched her way towards the brush. A rustle of leaves and dry, singed branches were followed by a dashing boar. She cried out in a startle- but before she could say a word she was pinned to the ground- struggling with a dagger to her throat. She held it with surprising strength from her skin and looked at the perfect elf with disdain and fear. She thought to herself that he looked like the princes that were painted so beautifully in fairytale books. If he were not so scary.

“Shh… Shhh, shh.” His voice was low and calming. His actions were not. “Not another sound, not if you want to keep that darling neck of yours…” he spent a long time drawling the term of endearment. “You were on the ship, weren’t you?... Nod.”

She nodded.

“Very good.”

He was about to go on about the tadpoles, surely, when suddenly their minds collided. She saw him lurking in the shadows, beckoning people into the dark with him. Baldur’s Gate. She knew the streets. Somehow.

With a force that popped her ears she was flung out of his mind.

“WHAT WAS THAT?” He demanded, his previously soothing tones now ferocious.

“The tadpole. The illithid mindflayers implanted them into all of us.” She said, hurriedly.

He eased his grip in a few moments. He seemed to be thinking this through. In what looked like a fit of madness, he bent forward in a roaring laugh that just as quickly as it had come, vanished. “Of course it would turn me into a monster” he said, sighing. “You aren’t one of them, then.”

“Absolutely not!” she cried, defensively. His sudden break of emotion made her suspicious.

“Well, what a relief.” His voice was proud once again. His enunciation impeccable. “And to think I was going to decorate the ground with your innards… My name’s Astarion” he said, drawing out his name with poise and respect for each syllable. The thought of entrails on the shore consumed her mind for a few moments. Rubies splattered across the sand. She disregarded the thought.

“Oh, what a beautiful name. I’m Zenosyne. And it’s alright… I might have done the same thing were I in your position.”

Lae’zel disapproved of her statement, hoping for bloodshed.

He seemed confused by her name- but nodded nonetheless.

“More than just a pretty face, then” he added flirtatiously.

Zenosyne giggled, “Oh, you think I am?” Her voice was uncomfortably loud, betraying her susceptibility to his charms.

Shadowheart interrupted their discourse-

“Enough of that. We need to figure out where we will make camp, and where the nearest skilled healer is before we become mindflayers”

___

The next of their companions was met first only by a hand reaching out from a broken portal by the cliffs. Someone had cast a powerful spell to transport themselves somewhere, but had failed miserably.

“A hand? Anyone?” A nervous voice echoed as though it were inside empty halls, and his breaths were muffled by the electricity of the spell.

Zenosyne stood there, the others awaiting her reaction. She was thinking long and hard about what to do. She could cleave the hand from his wrist right there- a part of her wanted to…

No, no, she pushed the image from her brain and reached out to pull on the hand to no avail. She looked at each her companions one by one as if to ask for help, but none came to her aid. She waited.

Astarion sighed and rolled his eyes, “Alright” he said, clearly peeved. Together, they both tugged at the flailing hand. Astarion’s skin brushed up against hers- and it was ice cold. How… nice. Corpse like.

A man tumbled out of the portal. Handsome, tall, enrobed in purple and brown. His wavy brown tresses rested on broad shoulders, and his smile was framed by a well-kept beard. Eyes twinkling, he introduced himself as Gale, Wizard of Waterdeep.

“Forgive me, normally I’m much better at this kind of thing”

“What kind of thing is that?” Zenosyne asked.

“Introductions. But, before you think me most rude, allow me to make amends for our rushed acquaintance.” He took her hand, bowing deeply.

She smiled happily.

“Marvelous! You should join us as we attempt to rid ourselves of these parasites.”

And so it was, the party continued on to the Druid’s Grove, where many had already fled the chaos and bloodshed that had been inflicted by the followers of a new, terrifying cult that terrorized the local lands. It was here that the clang of swords rung out, and training commenced as the children tried to learn what they could. Zenosyne decided it was all too much to take in at once, instead asking around for a healer and for help.

But in the golden afternoon light that peeked through the rocks that towered overhead they would meet their next companion. A man stood poised to teach swordsmanship. His footwork was elegant and every movement was calculated. He was not only well trained, but he was very graceful. It was as though his feet moved of their own accord, separate from the quick movements of the blade. His free hand upturned, as though he were waiting patiently for someone to take it.

Zenosyne spoke up, “Excuse me?” her vice timid. When their eyes met the familiar crackle of energy met her brain- and their minds opened to one another. She saw visions of the hells. He saw the ship crash and the joining of strangers. He pushed her quickly from his thoughts. “You were on that godsforsaken ship yourself…” He whispered.

“We’re looking for a healer and some rest. It seems you are preparing to make haste away from this place, though, sir.”

“We are, in fact. Preparing these young ones so that they may stand a chance when the time comes…” his face turned dark before he eased his demeanor and introduced himself.

“Wyll Ravengard. Blade of Frontiers, at your service” he said warmly.

“THE Blade of Frontiers? Son of Duke Ravengard?” Astarion asked incredulously. “This day keeps getting more and more interesting.”

“You should join us” Shadowheart volunteered. “As we intend to survive this.”

“I will, gladly join you to rid us of this godsdamned infection…” he eagerly spoke. He then went on to say more. “However, before anything I must find one Karlach, a Tiefling that escaped Zariel’s rule. It is my imperative to kill her before I do anything else.”

One adventure led to another. They agreed to find this Karlach to gain the trust of this formidable ally.

___

In the damp forest well beyond the grove, and well beyond the ruins of a now abandoned village overrun with goblins- they found the Tiefling.

In a most odd turn of events, upon approaching her all of their minds collided with the now familiar pulse of psionic energy that connected them all. The tall, imposing Tiefling towered over them all as she explained with teary eyes that she had been forced into the blood war- and now that she had escaped the hells she would never return. She certainly looked the part- leathers torn to shreds over her terrifyingly strong body. The smell of sulfur and smoke was heavy on her skin.

“Zariel, the archdevil herself, gave me this-” Karlach thumped her fist to her glowing red chest- “an infernal engine as a heart. So hot that it burns with hellfire. So hot, in fact, that I’ve not touched a soul in years. I can’t.”

 It made Zenosyne’s heart sad to see such a ferocious creature so heartbroken. The vulnerability of this Karlach was evident- and Zenosyne knew all too well what that felt like right now.

“I was nothing more than her favorite pet, really.” Karlach’s voice shaky.

“Karlach, join us!” Zenosyne said, touched by the tale. “We will do what we can to help you fix your heart.”

And so it was that this band of adventurers would begin their journey. Truly, a band of strange and unusual misfits.

[kinghijinx22]

So I finished Crash Bandicoot 4 It's About Time

Beautiful and super fun game, loved it so much that it's my new favourite of the series. Don't really have many more thoughts than I did last time, loved getting to play as best bandicoot Coco for all of the regular levels and the other characters like Tawna and Dingodile with their different playstyles were fun to play as well. Actually got to play as Cortex now and he's cool too although probably my least favourite of the bunch.

I appreciate this game bringing back a lot of the classic characters and I think it really does a lot for them, like I think one of my favourite things was Coco really seeming to admire alternate Tawna and the 2 of the them forming a cute bond. I thought the new masks where all cool as well, both as new mechanics to expand on the gameplay with the powers they give you but also as characters and Time Mask was my favourite because she's a cute grandma. They even bought back the cute baby polar bear that you get to ride again in that one snow level which was cool.

N Tropy playing such a big role and being the main villain was interesting, as was the lady N Tropy showing up and teaming up with him although the weird... selfect thing between themmight be the only thing I didn't like in the game? Yeah that was weird lol. I suppose the idea is that they are so egotistical that they could only like another version of themselves. The boss fight with them was cool though, in fact all the boss fights where good and feel like a good test of your skills with my favourite being N Gin.

The twist of Cortex turning on the the Bandicoots was unsurprising because that jerk will never change and has been the final boss of every other Crash game. But I did like the idea of needing to chase him back in time and going back to his old castle from the first game as the final location. And this final shot of the Bandicoot family all playing games together in the end was super cute.

One level that I specifically want to give attention to is the alien planet from the future sci fi levels leading up to N Tropy. While this game is doing a lot of things to evolve the classic Crash formula, this level in particular really stood out in trying new things beyond the masks from both a gameplay and a presentation perspective. The whole level design and perspective felt really expanded on this one, especially in that part where you ride the alien and have to jump on the floating platforms and there is so far that you can travel to the left and right.

So yeah really fun game but also REALLY hard, easily the hardest Crash game in terms of platforming but they at least give you an infinite lives option so you will only ever go back to the last checkpoint and never have to restart the whole level which would have driven me mad.

[gabbingwaves]

The Silver-Haired Echo Trainer

OKAY SO WAIT

THE SILVER-HAIRED ECHO TRAINER QUESTS THOUGH???

Spoilers

So, all right. At first I figured this was one of those plotlines that tend to pop up in these games, where the lovable, quirky guy just refuses to take his crush's no for an answer and through various wacky hijinks and sheer relentless pestering eventually she "realizes the error of her ways" and this annoying guy who won't leave her the fuck alone really was the one for her all along and she falls into his arms and its like happily ever after or something.

The fact it was also about two very elderly people finding love softened me on it a bit, sure, but still.

But you just gotta take these things in the spirit of a romance novel sometimes, especially when it's covering important game mechanics, and Grandpa Jingzhu managed to be cute even though I wanted to shake him sometimes because she's just not that into you dude, and Grandma Lingyan's character design, her complete lack of interest, and her hyperfixation on her beloved Echoes was fun, so whatever.

AND THEN. AND. THEN.

THEY WERE MARRIED ALL ALONG???!!??

DUDE

So Lingyan developed what sure seems like dementia, and probably early-onset dementia at that from what Jingzhu said about when she first seemed to start showing symptoms, and so something she and Jingzhu would have been dealing with for most of their lives at this point. It eventually developed to the point she couldn't recognize Jingzhu as being the same person as her husband. Jingzhu responded to this 1) by seemingly having moved out of their shared home and out of her life as much as possible rather than upset and confuse her by trying to force the issue and 2) deciding that, well, okay, if Lingyan couldn't recognize him as her husband then he'd just have to win her over again as a stranger!

Dude.

AND. And Jingzhu has been talking about his old Captain this whole questline, about how smart and brave and reliable they were, how they taught him everything he knows, how they looked after him, still with so much warmth for this person, and it was LINGYAN THE WHOLE TIME?

WHAT a twist.

Nothing bad had better happen to these two ever at all. They are the Best Couple. I love them. I would die for them. They need to be happy forever.

[satoshi-mochida]

Touhou Genso Wanderer: FORESIGHT coming to PS4, Switch on September 18 - Gematsu

Publisher Phoenixx and developer Aqua Style will release Touhou Project fan game dungeon crawler RPG Touhou Genso Wanderer: FORESIGHT for PlayStation 4 and Switch on September 18 for $37.99, the companies announced. It supports English, Japanese, Traditional Chinese, and Simplified Chinese language options.

In Japan, the game will be priced at 4,950 yen. A physical edition will also launch for Switch on November 28 in Japan. It will cost 5,500 yen for the standard edition and 9,900 yen for the limited edition. The latter includes a special box, the original soundtrack and something secret, an art book, an acrylic diorama stand of the key visual, and two costume downloadable contents.

Touhou Genso Wanderer: FORESIGHT first launched for PC via Steam on May 15.

The PlayStation 4 and Switch versions will add the following features:

Hakurei Shrine Renovation Enhancements – Meet with a surprising new heroine after restoring the pond in the Hakurei Shrine. Help her by further reconstructing the shrine to access additional stories and events. This new release adds a whole new dangerous dungeon filled with unexpected twists.

New Costumes for Reimu – Dress up Reimu with the Winter Costume and Shrine Maiden Costume available for both PlayStation 4 and Nintendo Switch versions upon release.

Popular Bosses’ Special Moves Appear as Spell Cards – Gather newly introduced boss spell cards and harness their powerful effects. Cast spell cards for eye-catching animations and unleash the abilities of Touhou Project characters from previous entries in the Touhou Genso Wanderer series.

Here is an overview of the game, via its Steam page:

About

A new dungeon crawler RPG game in the Genso Wanderer series! Embark on an adventure with Reimu and friends to solve incidents! This title is a fan-made game based on the doujin game Touhou Project (by Team Shanghai Alice) as a dungeon-crawler RPG where the dungeon layout and dropped items change each time you play.

Story

In a corridor somewhere… Reimu Hakurei loses a battle and faints. She comes to and finds herself at Hakurei Shrine. She’s unable to remember anything… What had she even been doing in the first place? Having regained consciousness, Reimu sets out together with her friend Marisa Kirisame to solve incidents. Reimu must now save Gensokyo… From the various incidents, some of which she’d already solved before. —Reimu has no idea what she’s in for.

Gameplay

Leveling and Travel Mechanics

You lost a battle and ended up back at Hakurei Shrine?!

Just when you’d leveled Reimu up and upgraded her weapons, too…

Well, no need to worry about that anymore!

You get to keep your items and current level in the story’s dungeons.

You’ll also be able to fast travel to places you’ve already traversed.

Reimu Gets Stronger After Every Encounter With Friends!

Solve incidents and help those in the Human Village get through their problems…

Encountering the inhabitants of Gensokyo will help you acquire “boards” that can raise your basic stats.

Characters get stronger as you progress through the game!

Make Hakurei Shrine Better Than Ever

Restore the tattered shrine to its former glory by asking for help from Suika Ibuki, who’s settled there.

Invest in the building and facilities for more convenient travel.

Newly Revamped Illustrations

The inhabitants of Gensokyo are expressive.

Almost every character gets new illustrations.

Keep your eyes peeled for the girls’ new looks.

Almost Every Right Hand-Wielded Weapon

And left hand-wielded armor are newly drawn.

Equip them to discover the abilities each piece holds.

Watch a new trailer below.

PlayStation 4 and Switch Announce Trailer

English

Japanese

[6ft2lesbian]

Think fast!

1, 2, 4, 5, 9, 11, 12, 13, 14

It's Molniya! Thank you! I've been wanting to do this for a while!

Are there any in-sys friend groups that wouldn't happen in canon, but make sense to you?

It's me and Clockwork. Where we're from, we'd be on opposite sides of a war.

2. What source do you have the most fictives from?

It's a tie between Project Guardmaid (a story that Katja is writing) (where I'm from!) and Mobile Suit Gundam. I guess all of us are OCs.

4. Who has the coolest name in your opinion?

To be honest, I think it might be me. It's a mispronunciation of the Russian word for lightning, but I like it a lot. A close second is Rust. Very charming, very simple.

5. What's your favorite thing about your source?

Probably the magic. It's a blessing and a curse. You can do so much.

9. What's a quote or lyric that reminds you of yourself?

To be honest, I could give you a rather intense answer, or I could give you an equally intense answer with a fair helping of introspection. I'm giving you both.

One is from Unjust Depths. I'm no pilot, but something about it really speaks to me.

"Interred in a tomb of steel, the rangefinders and cameras became her eyes. And the guns were the only hands she had, and shooting was the only touch she had left."

Another is from a clicker game called ALTER EGO. One of the characters analyzes you based on how you tell a story(I believe that's how it went), and the last part of her read on us resonated with me very well. I'll post the whole analysis because it also painfully accurate, but I'll highlight the part I'm talking about.

"Deny stable values / Pure Self-Denial.

You must truly hate yourself. With the ability for deep self-analysis, it's so easy to find things to loathe about yourself. You're very pure and connected to your own inquisitive nature. You've never forgotten what it is to be a child, and you tend to thoroughly investigate whatever catches your fancy. You're both incredibly pure, and awfully dangerous. Never fear. There's a place for you here."

11. Who's your best friend in-sys? Would your sources be friends, do you think?

It's Clockwork. Again, we'd be killing each other in an always-war. But once it ended... maybe. Probably. It took me a long time to see automatons as people, but I got there. Earlier than most of my kind, really. Most automatons are more human than any of us ever were. I remember dancing with someone like her post-war, in an underwater manufacturing plant turned university. Huge ballroom, glass ceiling just 30 feet below the surface at low tide. It was beautiful, the way the waves twisted the sunlight down upon us. I traded partners with some officer and this blank-faced automaton girl took my hand. Her voice was lilty and robotic, which was... very strange, considering that most every other automaton I've ever met spoke just like any human would. Great dancer. I think we danced 3 separate times that night. I don't remember much else. Was that her? Probably not.

I've gotten way off topic. I felt like sharing.

12. Do you miss anyone from your source?

Laika, my... lover? She was so cocky and it drove me insane. Gaia's most charming vehicle mechanic. I hope she's doing okay. I hope our daughter is doing okay.

13. What do you look like in the head? How does that compare to your source? The body?

I look almost the same, lithe and toned. Shoulder length silver hair(It's kind of swoopy!) and dull red eyes. Although I dress a lot more informally up here than I did where I'm from. No uniforms. Skinny jeans and long sleeve shirts mostly. Turtlenecks too. Sometimes I wear a plate carrier. Occasionally. Body armor is like a bulletproof hug. It's comforting.

14. What's your favorite song?

Psycho Dreams - Kill Eva