#pso2ngs manon

[tekabecca114]

I'm sorry but I have to gush over the new PSO2NGS Dark Falz Aegis fight. Specifically its music but I do have to give credit to the fight itself as well. Full thoughts under the cut. Warning: Very Long

It's super fun throughout the whole thing. The fight opens with the standard enemy gauntlet as you approach the boss itself, which is massive and wholly visible in the distance. As you finally close in, phase 1 begins. The music is a remix of the Dark Falz theme from your first battle with it in NGS. Aegis blends in with the darkened skies in a way that sells how powerful and insurmountable it is. You scramble around to kill more adds and dodge incoming lasers as you summon your own firepower, a portable cannon. The retaliation begins as you fire barrage after barrage at Aegis' barrier of guns.

It's fun as hell, but after enough damage is done, the Central Cannon fires a huge blast, weakening Aegis and beginning phase 2.

And holy shit-

The song opens with vocalist Anya Floris reprising the opening melody to Song of Mourning as the boss reveals its true form. Its attacks are easily called but devastating, prompting you to quickly learn its patterns for efficiency and to prevent a low rank. This somehow creates a battle that feels rewarding to master as you dodge perfectly while also maximizing damage done, which will be important as there are multiple DPS checks throughout the fight.

Anyways, the music.

I haven't found an official title for the song yet but I will add it here via edit when it is released. After the opening, the song Our Life, Our Scars properly begins with some anxious, doubtful lyrics.

Official Lyrics

Thought I knew what I struggled for Thought my future would bring me more The beginning, so enchanting, seemed so right before I've seen death and what goes with it Numbing childish dreams for justice and whatever flows with it I admit, I am lost

Given the themes and context, it's not hard to see who this song is about;

It's Aina, your companion.

Despite what you may or may not think about NGS' story as a whole, Aina has been through a LOT of shit, with her father Garoa and hometown getting nuked by the very thing you are fighting and her being thrust into battle alongside you to try and carry Garoa's legacy despite her lack of experience. You've seen her grow and learn where her skills lie and how she can help and not feel like a burden to her team.

The intensity dies down a bit to allow you to focus on a chance for some big damage. Platforms raise up and you find debris to launch back at Aegis to chip off some more HP.

And then another voice joins the song.

What's your story? Where's your heartache? Hold out your hands to me In the dark times when you feel alone, let's find what we're here for What's the reason? Who's the target? Where is our tomorrow? (What's the reason? Who's the target? Where is our tomorrow?) I will find the answers (You can find the will to fight to follow the sun) The battle is ours, our life, our scars! (The battle is ours, our life, our scars!)

There's a bit of speculation over what character this voice (EN: Aimee Blackschleger) is meant to represent but there's two main theories. It could be the Player Character, although personally, I'm pretty sure they are represented through a male vocalist (ex. PSO2's Dark to Light).

The other, more straightforward answer is that it's Manon, your other companion.

While Manon's story is still very much open, leaving a lot of her past and motives unknown, she certainly fits the bill to be supporting Aina's vocals here. She's very serious and "no-nonsense" when it comes to her job as an ARKS Defender, but she is still somewhat empathetic towards others. You finally see some of her emotional cracks show during the Stia campaign as being unable to save some of the fellow ARKS soldiers weighs on her mind heavily.

The song is more optimistic, but there's still an air of anxiety to it. Lots of questions, but they're slowly replaced by certainty and confidence. Nearing the end of this long encounter, you hear your allies sing with hope as you near the final DPS check.

I am here on a mission. "Purpose," I have gained it from you (There's a mission. There's a purpose. I'm at your side) Taken out of my darkest hour, and leading the way (In the dark times, when you feel afraid, the way will become clearer) There's an answer. Life is with us. There is our beginning (There's an answer. Life is with us. There is our beginning) We have seen the sun (We can find the will to fight to follow the sun) The battle is ours, our life, our scars! (The battle is ours, our life, our scars!)

The final DPS check begins as you have to stop Aegis from absorbing enough energy to wipe you out. Dashing from meteor to meteor, you smash each rock as the music swells to begin finally playing the main theme, A World Beyond The Sky. This is notable because this is the first time this has happened in PSO2NGS, despite it being a staple for Urgent Quest bosses in PSO2 with its main theme.

As Aegis' final attack of desperation backfires, it lies limp, fully allowing you to finish the job. And I'm just gonna let you watch the finale cutscene because... wow.

There is so much to go over here.

Crawford firing multiple volleys from the Central Cannon, making damn sure it does not escape this time

All the comrades you met through the regional campaigns giving you the power of a goddamn Spirit Bomb

GAROA???? pushing you to advance

Your character becoming a fucking METEOR as you focus all that Friendship Energy into a single punch that blows CLEAN THROUGH AEGIS

And then finally dropping you off in a field of flowers, a tradition I hope they keep going with future Final Bosses.

It gives you somewhere calm and beautiful to reflect on everything that happened (while also sorting through your presumably low-tier loot).

This fight proved to me that PSO2NGS is still worth playing despite the lackluster launch and basic story and I hope this at least convinces a couple people to give the game a proper shot.

[pastelfable]

i dont remember where this meme comes from but it kills me every time

[pastelfable]

(manon voice) aina help they turned me into a marketable plushie

I made a manon plush!! she's a little wonky but I still love her

[pastelfable]

[pastelfable]

doodle

[pastelfable]

bald

[pastelfable]

woe manon be upon ye

[pastelfable]

hello again gamers

prev

[pastelfable]

chapter 6 part 2

[pastelfable]

manon doodle !!!!

[pastelfable]

I think it would be really funny if manon wasn’t actually good at computers. she just knows zephetto’s password

[pastelfable]

new genesis text post memes again

part 1

[pastelfable]

hi again

part 1 | part 2

[pastelfable]

I LOVE MANON AND HER NEW DESIGN SO MUCH but rip to whatever was going on with her ears in her old character file

[pastelfable]

YOU