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valenhell · 4 years ago

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From the studio that brought you “I can’t find good Byler fics in the ao3 tag”, comes:

"The Definitive Byler fic rec list"

Literally no one asked for this but because I spent the majority of last year (...and 2019, and 2018...) reading byler fics and coping with life, I thought I’d make a list of some of my absolute favorites.

The other day I was basically starving for some byler fics and the angel @magicalfairy provided me with some of her faves so I thought I’d do the same, because I love reading, and I love all of these fics and I appreciate their writers💗 And fic writers in general, come on!

- This is a mix of long works and one-shots/short stories. - Everything is mostly fluff with a tad of angst and a lot of internalized homophobia conflict. - Every fic is completed, except for the ones I mention that they are not. - I try my best to lay out the stories in a way that I won’t spoil you the plot but also warning you of some stuff you might don’t like. Either way, all of these fics are correctly tagged by their respective authors/owners, so read at your own risk. For better understanding, in between brackets I denote Rating, Words and quantity of Chapters. - I feel like I should clarify, none of these are narrated in the singular first person. None of that “And I told him...”, no.

Long fics

a dream always the same (T, 99k, 35 chapters) What happened in those few weeks between the Battle of Starcourt and the Byers leaving Hawkins. Literally a satisfying and very needed fill in of season three, with a good dose of Mike’s thoughts and conflict. Mike’s characterization is specially amazing in this one. The writing style is amazing and I know the author put everything into making it historically accurate, and it was really sweet. You probably read it, it’s by the amazing sevensided here on Tumblr🧡

Spring Break (T, 120k, 14/15 chapters) The slowburn of my dreams. Lots of internalized conflict and conflict with each other. Conflict within the Party (uhh kind of), conflict with Mike and Will. Byers family has moved and the kids are visiting! Chaos. Characterization is on point. Yeah, I know it’s unfinished, but the fourteenth chapter actually serves as a pretty nice ending.

This is where it starts (M, 148.8k, 24 chapters) Aged up characters. The Party is in college and Will disappears again, but now it’s different. Mike knows he didn’t vanish from thin air, and the discovery he and the Party end up making is pretty insane. Mystery solving/fantasy/third dimension, throw in a bit of D&D and Mike realizing some shit, and you get this marvelous fic. It’s a breath of fresh air. The world building is definitely one of the elements that stands out the most, because it’s very nicely described, it sounds like a dream and it’s completely immersive. Absolute gem of a fic.

there’s a Starman waiting in the sky (M, 30.6k, 8 chapters) Do I need to say anything? Will is out there living his best life and Mike realizes that wow, umm, maybe his best friend looks a bit too nice with that costume... and wait, is he getting horny? It’s actually really fun and sexy.

The Evening Speaks (T, 23k, 7 chapters) In where Mike is a late-night college radio host and Will is the art student that stays up till late to catch up with Wheeler on the Mic. They flirt through songs y’all, this one is really sweet.

heads or tails? (E, 24k, 3 chapters) Aged up characters. I know most people don’t enjoy sex in fics and with specific characters but this one is insanely well written. It’s a slowburn that commits to the tension and with every word you are grasping and anticipating their next move. I think you can find the author here on Tumblr as yousaidyes🧡

The Man of Average (M, 56.7k, 5/? chapters) Aged up characters. No but you don’t understand, the writing here is absolute gourmet. The story is exciting as well, it’s super interesting. Weirdly enough, for being very aged up characters, they are well characterized but they don’t feel like teenagers. They are naturally Mike and Will. The author really captured Mike and Will’s essence. I know, it’s unfinished and it’s updated very rarely, but this is the typical fic you can’t believe someone just posted on the internet for free. I will say though, I think it’s definitely not for everyone. Read at your own risk.

Heartstrings (E, 82.8k, 24/? chapters) Aged up characters. By the same author of The Man of Average. A collection of memories, the road to Mike and Will’s happy ever after. And fucking hell!!!!! You’ll cry and get angry, you’ll cheer for them, then you’ll want to crash their faces together because god dammit you love each other!!! But yeah, same thing here. The writing and the way the story is laid out as a nonlinear narrative is brilliant. And I also think this is one of the best Will versions I’ve read. The author might as well be the og creator of this two characters tbh. You can find the author here as mylesimeblr🧡

Sinners behind the walls (T, 1.5k, 1/1) And because I can’t stop recommending this author, a little thing of Mike tormenting himself but also being too deeply committed to Will.

The Red Envelope series (T/E, 167K, two completed works) Something happens that Will thought was impossible and from there, pure drama and romance. Anything by this author has the potential to become your absolute favorite fic, but this series in particular is amazing. I doubt that any of you haven’t read this, but it doesn’t hurt to put it in this list. I’m pretty sure the author is serendipitous-magic on Tumblr🧡

A New Fight series (T, 91k, two completed works, one WIP) And finally the Star Wars AU that we all needed. But this isn’t your typical “Mike is Han”, “Will is Leia” and “El is Luke”, it’s way more interesting than that, and the author has appropriated the Star Wars world like no other. I’ll admit I’m not a 100% fluent in SW lore but this is amazing to me either way. This author is also on Tumblr, tea-for-one-please🧡

- Yes, most of these are (if not all), in a way, canon compliant/canonverse/canon continuation into fanon. (In a way)

One-shots and short stories

Sundae for Two, Please (G, 4.8k) Steve being the supportive friend and older brother these kids collectively need. (not Jonathan erasure, we love him). Steve is very sweet himself, and this little cute thing through his POV is gorgeous. Yes, it’s byler.

Backstage (T, 10k, 2/2) Jonathan, you forgot to mention to Will how hot your new band’s guitarist is, dude. Now he’s hyperventilating and weirdly flirting with him in the corner. Background Stonathan because why not.

102 Peach Street (G, 3.8k) Established relationship, but not only that, they are married :’’))) PURE fluff. Extreme fluffiness. Diabetes.

sweatshirts and bottled up feelings (T, 3.2k) Or, Mike thinks that the sweatshirt Will wears looks insanely good on him. And kitchens are for lovers.

kiss it better (T, 16.3k) Basically one of the best character studies of a few precise moments of Mike and Will’s relationship and feelings.

will wonders ever cease (T, 11.3k) #i ship will and happiness. Omfg what a beautiful piece of fanfic. Will centric, this kid really deserves all the good in the world.

The Calm After the Storm (T, 1.6k) Tooth rotting fluff, boyfriends in love. Boyfriends being lazy, cuddling, love words, kisses. Boys loving each other’s company... Basically, Mike and Will in their element. What more can you ask for?

neither of us ready to let go (T, 4.8k) That scene from season three, but a bit of a fix it.

Still in love (G, 1k) Domestic, married life au fluff. Y’all, I’m a sucker for established Byler, even if I can’t find many fics with it. But this is very sweet. It takes place in 2020, but I don’t think there are any mentions of the COVID-19 crisis that I remember.

I Nver Find Out ‘Til I’m Head Over Heels (G, 12.5K) Classic 5+1 fic. If you haven’t read it, where have you been? This is your moment. In where Mike keeps inviting Will to the school dances and Will thinks it’s just a joke until he realizes it’s not.

Before You’re Gone (T, 5.9k) Will is leaving Hawkins and Mike thinks this is a great moment for a confession. This one I discovered last friday, thank you friend @magicalfairy 💗

You’re weird Wheeler (M, 4.5k) Mike unintentionally starts a tradition of going to each other to talk about their sexual encounters just after they finish. Will keeps getting more explicit with the details he shares, and he makes his best friend interested. This one is really fun y’all.

Out-Of-Town Friends (N/R, 4.6K) It’s not rated. I haven’t re- read it but I’d say it would probably fall in a T rating. So cute!! Will has new friends and sneaks off every friday and the Party doesn’t know where he is going, so Mike decides to follow him and is surprised.

Snowed Under (G, 1.3k) By the same author of The New Fight series. Mike is spending christmas by himself in college because a snowstorm hits Chicago and Nancy can’t drive to see him, but then he has a surprise visitor. Ahhh just a lil sweet holiday fic. Super cute.

you love me anyway series (T, 7.1k, three completed works) Literally just the cutest thing ever. Established Byler. Will loves to take pictures and he loves taking pictures of Mike. It’s adorable.

you wanna be friends forever (i can think of something better) (T, 9k) This one is so amazing. So. Amazing. From Will’s POV, my kid deserves the world and he gets it.

okay not to be okay (T, 4.9k) Mike is a bit sad but then everything is okay.

can’t hold out forever (G, 18.4k) Y’all!!!!! 5+1 sweetness. Mike has been falling in love since kindergarten. And it’s long af, you’ll enjoy it.

even if it takes forever (G, 1.3k) College short AU, they miss each other, they love each other, they promise all to each other. It is sappy y’all.

clear as day (N/R, 18.4K, 4 chapters) It’s not rated, but I’d say it falls in the T category. Strangers to friends to lovers. And also, everyone is pretty gay; we have our dynamic trio Mike, Max and El as disaster lesbians (and gay). Will works at the library and he is also gay. Lucas and Dustin and Will are the best friends we needed. It’s very sweet and the Party is kind of formed here!

I went overboard with the one-shots, so you must have realized how much I love long one-shots and I favor them over long works lmao but they are all amazing!!! If it’s on this list, I probably read it at 2 am, sobbing in my bed. So. Hope you enjoy it☺️🧡

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valkyrieelysia18 · 5 years ago

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RWBY Rewrite: The Academies

Hey there! Sorry, it’s been awhile but between job searching and my own hang ups I don’t write as much as I used to. But I still do get that itch so let’s get down to business. And as stated before, anything from Volume 7 and beyond will be disregarded.

I think it’s very clear that RWBY’s worldbuilding is far from decent. If you have to release supplemental videos to explain things that essential to understand for world, you have some serious writing problems. Originally, I actually liked the idea of World of Remnant videos. They were visually pleasing to watch and it’s good way to get exposition dumps out of the way that wouldn’t really make sense in the time and place we’re at.

And then it hit me like a pile of bricks. WE’RE AT A SCHOOL! It’s the perfect place for boring exposition dumps!

Seriously, they really underutilized the schools with just making it a gathering place for people and events. Granted many who write magical high school stories in manga and anime are often guilty of the same thing, but considering that RWBY was influenced by the anime it’s not a surprise they also inherited some of it’s weak points.

So, let’s see if we can improve the Academies. Note that I’m mostly focusing on Beacon because after the Vale Arc we’ll only see the schools in passing.

Admissions

The first thing that needs to be made clear is that getting into the one of the four academies is not easy. Not everyone can become a huntsman and just because you were enrolled in a combat school is not a guarantee.

Firstly, those who wish to apply to an academy must submit their application which will be submitted to various background checks as well as the scrutiny of the admissions team. About half of the applicants are the cut down and the other half will then proceed to the entrance exam. The place to take the exam for a specific academy is the capital city of their kingdom. For those who wish to transfer kingdoms, they have to go to a separate location as well as have an essay on why they want to as part of their written exam.

This exam is two part: a written exam testing their general knowledge and a combat portion which they will display the mastery of their fighting style and weapons. Acceptance is then decided upon their combined score and will notify the applicants either electronically or through the mail. From there, only a quarter of the original applicants end up enrolled in a huntsman academy. And that is not taking into account those who do and don’t make it to graduation.

The only way to not have to go through the background checks and exams is if the person had the headmaster/headmistress’ personal recommendation which grants them immediate acceptance (what Ruby and Jaune have). This will actually become a plot point in the Mistral Arc as that’s how Cinder and her group were accepted and that bit of knowledge will make sure our heroes not walk into the ambush blind.

Teachers

I can’t believe I have to say this, but there needs to more than four visible teachers on a campus. And considering that Peach has never made an appearance, that does not count. There’s also the matter of maintenance, library, cafeteria staff, office work, and whole bunch of other stuff that I can’t think of off the top of my head.

Referencing My Hero Academia again (something I will probably do quite a bit in this Rewrite series and I recommend to anyone burned off of RWBY), UA had a vast colorful staff and while we don’t personally meet all of them, at least we know that there is enough of them that would be able to run a fictional school.

Classes

We really got a look at three classes at Beacon and while Grimm Studies, Combat Class, and History are what I would imagine are necessary classes for the students, there needs to be more. Things such as First Aid, Survival, Dust Application, Weapons Forging, Tactics and Strategy, and much more.

The thing about these classes is that there is so much they could do in expanding the lore and building up the characters. Like for example, in Dust Applications Weiss could showcase her mastery and understanding of using dust only to have a student in the background make a comment mentioning something of Schnee family history. This could set up the late Nicholas Schnee as well as give Jacques more of a bad reputation outside of the Faunus characters/the White Fang.

Another example would be to have Cardin answering a hypothetical scenario in Strategy and Tactics only for Jaune to point some flaws in his answer and offer a better solution. This would not only show and not tell that what Jaune lacks on the battlefield in physical strength, he makes up for it with his mind; it would also set up Cardin’s enmity toward him in a way that makes sense.

Monthly Team Tasks

This came not from an anime, but a video game. Trails of Cold Steel sets up one of the better fictional special academies I’ve seen (even if the story did go somewhat off the rails). In particular, the idea of monthly group tasks is one that I think that would work for the huntsman academies. These tasks are in a way training them for actual missions. The completion of these tasks, along with grades and combat scores, would help determine a team’s ranking. Certain things at school can only be done if you have a high enough rank such as access to more difficult training simulations or entrance into the Vytal Festival Tournament.

At the beginning of each month, each team will get a list of tasks that need to be completed before the end of the month. Each team’s tasks is different, as fighting styles and what that team needs to work on is taken into account. That isn’t to say two teams can’t have the same objective. One task could be to clear out a certain number of Grimm from the Emerald Forrest, another could be to listen in on a specific lecture or assist a teacher with their work. That’s actually how I’d set up the Forever Falls trip during the Jaundice Arc (Trust me, I will get to that Rewrite post eventually.).

This would be another to expand the world and it’s lore as the group tasks would be a great excuse to have the characters explore the city of Vale in much more detail. One I would have definitely done is having RWBY and JNPR head to a museum for an exhibit about the Great War and the Last King of Vale. It would have a lot more details on the events of the war as well certain bits of information that would definitely come up later on in the series. But those two subjects are their own Rewrite posts for another day.

Okay, that took longer to get this out than I think people would have hoped and isn’t as long as some of my other posts. I’m going back to a character post next and I think I will tackle a very specific character whose choices involving her are rather.....questionable.

Hope you guys enjoyed and I’ll get on it soon!

#rwde #rwby rewrite #beacon academy #we need more teachers #and things to do at school #as the daughter of a teacher this drives me nuts #professor ozpin

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stuck-in-jelly · 5 years ago

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The telepathy club and body improvement club? I would also ask about Tsubomi but I already know her town is the most adorable and flawless town there is.

Oh definitely, Tsubomi’s town is the cutest and the best and im still gonna write about her and some honorable mentions as well so HERE WE GO

The Telepathy Club

Inukawa: buys everything online; his clothes, his villagers, the rare items, the best materials, the coolest wallpapers, the bells, etc. and pretends like he did it all himself. Means well but some people bash on him. Though if he has enough he’ll gift them to friends.

Saruta: The way he plays is basically that John Mulany quote “I just want to sit here and feed my birds” he really just wants to walk around and look at the stars and shot the balloons out of the air, he often forgets he even has rent to pay in the game

Kijibayashi: He time travels the most out of everyone he’s not too patient and just wants the things to get there already so it can go by faster and he can play in peace without worrying about actually taking care of the town as Mayor

Takenaka: Tried to be cool and say he doesn't play it but when he found out Tsubomi plays it he got the game and a key-chain of Isabelle to be honest though now he’s actually invested, he reloads and works hard to make sure he has peaches cause if his town doesn't have peaches whats the god damn point. He also unlocks any furniture or items that are peach related his prize possession of the peach chair

Body Improvement

Musashi: In it for the lore, he loves talking to villagers and hearing their backstories and connecting the dots, in City Folk when he found out the lost Able sister he cried (he was like 9 give him some slack). Even now he goes deep into the lore of Animal Crossing making it a point to know all of them even if they end up not living on his island

Yamamura: In secret he writes and sings covers for the Animal Crossing songs because he music and atmosphere of the game is 10/10 perfect vibes, one time though in the club room someone played on of his covers not knowing it was his and he had a panic attack happy that none of his friends has heard him sing

Kumagawa: He designs the clothes and patterns for the rest of the club, not because they ask but because he likes to and is good at art the club is very supportive and hype him up when he does design stuff. He also really loves fishing and he often picks his favorite fish and puts them in tanks inside his home

Sagawa: His village is very simple but he likes to have a variety of different villagers because he loves animals, he also loves Blather’s museum since he can see all the creatures he caught and just admire it for himself.

Shimura: Not that into the game but likes playing with everyone else in the club and he really likes exploring other towns and looking around to see what other people have.

Onigawara: An og player but was afraid if he ever told anything it would break his tough record but after being in the body improvement club he decides fuck yeah I love these little shits and their little town and just goes apeshit with it his town is going to be the cutest out of everyone's fuck off

Awakening Lab Kids

The Shiratori Brothers: Everything is color coordinated in their town, they just like the way it looks and the structure, even the villagers are matching. Of course sometimes villagers will move in and mess up their structure and they’ll have to suffer through it

Asahi: If you could somehow be bad at Animal Crossing he is bad at Animal Crossing, he doesn't actually read any of the dialogue so he forgets task like setting up tents for other villagers or collecting wood for Tom Nook and he wonders why he hasn't progressed in the game

Rei: Guilt of using her clairvoyance to find the best stones and fish and even though it isn't 100% accurate all the time it certainly helps a lot when hunting for items to sell

Hoshino: Also pretty bad he and Asahi debate constantly about whose better but they are both very bad all you have to do is read a little bit guys PLEASE

Tsubomi

She’s played ever since she was a little kid so she is the master Animal Crossing player, a true veteran. Whenever she is introducing friends she quickly rushes to their side scolding them for almost hitting the stone before digging holes behind them, what are they???6???

She’s even more of a hardcore player than Ritsu. They actually have a long going feud, cause when Tsubomi was younger she took one of Ritsu’s trees without asking, he has never forgiven or forgotten, Tsubomi however has sompletely forgotten.

This one was long but fun to make!!! If you like my headcanons and stuff consider supporting me! Or ask for more stuff I enjoy writing!!!

#jelly answers

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baphomet-media · 5 years ago

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Top 10 Games I Played in 2019

Another year has gone by just like that, and here we are with another year’s worth of games played! There were some good releases this year, and I’m excited to talk about them all. Before that, though, let’s touch briefly on the criteria for these lists:

Any game that I played for the first time in 2019 is eligible, regardless of initial release year. Games that I started late in the previous year but spent most of the time playing in the year in question also count.

Ports, remasters, remakes, etc. of games that I have played before do not count.

I have to spend a certain amount of time with a game or the game has to make some kind of significant impact on me to be considered.

Lastly, these are just my opinion out of a very limited pool of games that I was personally able to get to this year, so if a game you played this year doesn’t show up, chances are either I didn’t have a chance to play it, or it just wasn’t personally as impactful to me as some of the others on the list. Now, on to the list!

10. Fire Emblem: Three Houses (Switch)

Developer: Intelligent Systems / Koei Tecmo

Publisher: Nintendo

Genre: Strategy RPG

Release Date: July 26th 2019

Before Three Houses, the only Fire Emblem game I played was Awakening on the 3DS. I mostly enjoyed it, but I couldn’t get into the marriage aspect of the game, and I felt that many of the battles a bit too lacking in any sort of story context other than “There are bad guys here, let’s take them out!”

However, Three Houses really succeeded for me where Awakening failed. The academy was a really great home base and actually gave some meaningful context to most of the battles in the game. I really enjoyed micromanaging the different lessons in the game and tweaking each of my students into exactly the build I wanted for them, however I felt the drawback of this was that there weren’t really a whole lot of different classes to really explore. Most of the game’s character classes are just stronger variations of lower-level classes, and it definitely felt like some skill categories became woefully underutilized as the game went on, so there was no point in training people for them. I also liked recruiting other students to my house, but I felt like the other houses students didn’t really offer anything that my current house already had, so some students ended up feeling mechanically similar to others.

The battles were exactly what you’d expect from Fire Emblem, and gave me a bit of a tabletop RPG vibe, which I enjoyed, particularly when there were large monsters to fight that took up more grid space than standard units.

That being said, the story was really interesting, and I really liked watching everything unfold. I picked the Black Eagles house (because Edelgard is great), but I felt like that story didn’t really do a great job of explaining everything, and expected you to just side with Edelgard on some of her more bold decisions with no explanation as to why what she was doing was right, which felt kind of unfair. The game really wanted you to go through and play each one of the houses stories, but with around 80 hours poured into a single house, I didn’t really feel like there was much point at the end.

Overall, I think Three Houses is a great fit for the Switch and I’m excited to see what the future of Fire Emblem on Switch will look like.

9. Luigi’s Mansion 3 (Switch)

Developer: Next Level Games

Publisher: Nintendo

Genre: Adventure

Release Date: October 31st 2019

When it comes to Luigi’s Mansion, I enjoyed Dark Moon on 3DS back in 2013 while waiting for Animal Crossing: New Leaf to drop, but I never really had much of a reason to come back to it. Still, I really enjoyed the exploration aspect of the game and the attention to detail really impressed me with how nearly everything could be interacted with.

Luigi’s Mansion 3 on Switch is more of what you’d expect from the Luigi’s Mansion series. The game centers around Luigi exploring a haunted hotel to stop King Boo and rescue Mario and his friends. While Dark Moon focused more on a few isolated mansions with different themes, LM3 brings things back to a single gigantic building. This time, each floor of the mansion has a different spooky theme, from ancient Egypt, to classical music, to a floor overgrown with plants. Luigi has to defeat the boss of each floor to reclaim the elevator button for the next floor as he gradually works his way to the top.

Like with previous games in the series, you can expect loads of environmental interaction, such as all the items you can suck up and mess with using the Poltergust, but LM3 brings some new mechanics to the series, including a launchable plunger than you can then pull on to yank certain objects around, as well as the remote-control Gooigi, who is as fun to use as his name is cursed. Gooigi is basically a slime doppelganger for Luigi who can be deployed at any point to assist Luigi with different tasks, or split up for local co-op play. He also has the ability to squeeze through grates and pipes, allowing all sorts of hidden areas that only Gooigi can explore.

LM3 is a game that oozes with charm (no pun intended), though the combat does get a tad repetitive. Also, I was a bit disappointed that there was not more interplay between different floors of the hotel. They’re almost exclusively completely isolated levels, which definitely takes away from the feeling of having a huge building to explore.

8. Blasphemous (PC)

Developer: The Game Kitchen

Publisher: Team17

Genre: Adventure Platformer

Release Date: September 10th 2019

Blasphemous is a game I remember seeing teasers for earlier in 2019, but saw little to no hype for otherwise. However, the concept and the stunning hi-bit pixel art immediately drew me in. The game is a 2D adventure platformer set in a gothic fantasy world reminiscent of Dark Souls. In fact, quite a lot of this game is reminiscent of Dark Souls, with a lore thicker than gravy that’s brimming with little tidbits of information in every NPC dialogue, every item flavor text, and in the bosses you encounter. The world takes inspiration from Christianity, though not actually being about Christianity itself, instead a fictional religion with many similar aspects (an approach I wish more developers would take).

In Blasphemous, you play as The Penitent One as you explore a rotting gothic world and learn more about a strange quasi-religious curse called The Miracle and other fascinating bits of the world. You explore such locations as rotting cathedrals, a frozen mountain, the interior of a colossal bell set upside down into the ground, and more. Along the way, your eyes will feast on some of the most gorgeous pixel art in games this year.

The Penitent One is able to battle with their sword and certain special abilities picked up along the way. While the combat is fairly simple at first, it gets much more deep and nuanced as you go along, dodging enemy attacks, parrying and countering, using spells to buff yourself or shoot projectiles, and much more. Personally, the game feels a lot like Dark Souls meets Castlevania, particularly Symphony of the Night. It’s definitely a lot of fun, though it may not be everyone’s cup of tea due to tone and difficulty.

7. Mario Maker 2 (Switch)

Developer: Nintendo Entertainment Planning & Development

Publisher: Nintendo

Genre: Action Platformer and Level Editor

Release Date: June 28th 2019

I was a big fan of the idea of the original Mario Maker on WiiU, so I was really excited when Mario Maker 2 was announced for Switch with a plethora of new parts, themes, mechanics, and features. I have a pretty big soft spot for classic Mario games, and level editors really get my gamedev side going, so this game pretty much checked all the boxes for me.

I was glad this time around to see an extensive singleplayer mode, where Mario has to play through Nintendo’s own pre-made levels to gain coins to rebuild Peach’s castle after the Undodog resets it all to nothing. It was a great introduction to the game, particularly showcasing what all you can do with the new parts. It was the perfect thing to get any creator’s brain tingling with ideas for their first level.

The editor itself is largely improved from the WiiU, though you’ll almost certainly need a capacitive stylus in order to really take advantage of the Switch’s touch screen, though it’s nice to finally have a Switch game with proper touch screen support, since it seemed like Nintendo had all but forgotten about this part of the device. There are tons of new improvements here, too, such as all modifiers for objects can be accessed by long-pressing on an object. One thing I wasn’t fond of though was the way the Select and Copy modes are accessed, needing to toggle through them and normal edit mode instead of just having a single button for each.

Unfortunately, the Amiibo costumes have not returned, which would have been a great use for Amiibo on Switch (anyone remember that the Switch is Amiibo compatible?), though with the recent release of the Link costume, it seems that Nintendo has plans in mind for these alternate forms.

Fortunately, if you’re not much of a creator, there’s still plenty to do in MM2, as there are tons of ways to play levels online, including an endless challenge mode with different difficulties, browsing top level lists, and a new speedrun mode where levels are available for a limited time and you can grind them to get your best time, playing against the ghosts of other players’ best times.

All in all, I’ve had fun with MM2, and I’m excited to see what Nintendo will bring to the game in future updates (please implement level playlists).

6. Baba Is You (PC)

Developer: Hempuli

Publisher: Hempuli

Genre: Puzzle

Release Date: March 13th 2019

Out of nowhere back in March came a little indie game known as Baba Is You. In this programming puzzle game, each level contains the rules of the level as physical objects that you can push around and recombine to manipulate how the game plays. Each rule statement can (usually) be broken down into three components: an object (such as Water), a verb (such as Is) and a property (such as Stop). Each one of these components can be pushed around at will, and if you line all three of them up you get the statement “Water Is Stop”, meaning that all water tiles in the level do not allow other objects to move over them. If you break this statement, the water loses this blocking property and you can walk over it. It doesn’t stop there, though, and there are tons of combinations and complicated scenarios that will leave your brain hurting after too long. While some of the puzzles are unfortunately rather obtuse in their intended solutions, and the game doesn’t always do a great job of teaching you the skills you’ll need to face harder puzzles, you at least have the option of completing multiple different levels, so it’s rare that you’ll be stuck on just one.

It also helps that the art for the game is a cute but simplistic hand-drawn style that makes it easy to distinguish all the various elements of each level. The only reason this game didn’t rank higher on my list is that I got stuck and I found most of the levels to be a bit too hard for me (shocking, I know).

5. Gato Roboto (PC)

Developer: doinksoft

Publisher: Devolver Digital

Genre: Adventure Platformer

Release Date: May 30th 2019

Gato Roboto is a cute Metroid-like adventure platformer that sees you taking the role of Kiki, a cat who has to explore an alien planet to rescue her master’s crashed ship. Fortunately, while Kiki is defenseless on her own, she is able to pilot a robotic mech suit to run, gun, and jump across different zones of the planet. While a Metroid-esque platformer is nothing new, it’s the charming 1bit graphics and the interesting interplay between power suit mechanics and suitless cat mechanics. Sometimes there are gaps that the suit can’t fit into or walls that you need cat claws to climb, so you’ll have to abandon your robot suit and proceed on foot for a bit. In true Metroid fashion, you’ll acquire many upgrades for your suit as you go along, including movement abilities and health upgrades.

The game is short, but very sweet, and the mechanics are super satisfying. You could maybe finish the game in a few hours, but the controls and speedrun potential will likely keep you coming back for more.

The only downside I have to the game is that there is at least one section where you have to explore extensively on foot, and since you die in a single hit while on foot, it makes for some frustrating moments when you just barely mistime a jump and graze an enemy. Also, at one point I managed to softlock the game by accidentally bypassing a barrier that the player isn’t meant to and getting stuck in a boss area when a required button doesn’t work after you defeat the boss. Fortunately, the developers managed to patch this, so I was able to continue playing after a while.

4. Hollow Knight (PC/Switch)

Developer: Team Cherry

Publisher: Team Cherry

Genre: Adventure Platformer

Release Date: February 24th 2017

I’ll admit, I was a bit late to the party on this one. Hollow Knight released back in 2017 on PC, and while I played it for a bit on there, I didn’t get far and just never had time to come back to it. However, when it was released on Switch in mid 2018, I ended up picking it up again some time later and gradually worked my way through it into 2019. Hollow Knight is a Metroid-esque adventure platformer with light Dark Souls elements set in a dark and dismal world of a fallen insect kingdom. You play as a lone knight who seeks to explore the Hallownest and learn its secrets. Armed only with your Nail, a rusted sword, you explore the caverns and abandoned civilization beneath the town of Dirtmouth.

The game has tons of exploration, and allows the player to explore Hallownest at their own pace with minimal signposting towards destinations. Additionally, the game has an interesting map mechanic where you start off completely without a map and have to rely on memory to navigate the tunnels, however very quickly you’ll be able to purchase a blank map where you can record rooms you’ve been to at each save point. However this map only works for the current area, so for each area you discover, you’ll have to start this process all over, finding a map so you can chart out the area. While this sounds like a pain at first (and definitely can take some adjusting), it’s actually really interesting as you feel like you’re really discovering a forgotten realm and charting out your own personal course through the world. There are also plenty of points for nonlinear progression, as many areas are often open to the player at once, so it’s up to them to choose where to go (or just stumble across new areas at random like me). Each area offers vastly different visuals, from a mushroom-filled series of tunnels, to an elegant garden, to dank sewers, to a city drenched with perpetual underground rain. In each area you’ll explore every nook and cranny to find upgrades and new abilities.

Along the way, you’ll find many badges that you can equip, a la Paper Mario, that give you various passive bonuses and abilities, however you are limited in the number you can have equipped at a time, so strategic planning of which badges to use is crucial.

One of the game’s main features is challenging boss battles. The further you get in the game, the more the balance shifts from exploration to combat, with the late game mostly revolving around hunting down multiple different bosses. Many bosses are optional, however, and some are even hidden, so many players might miss them entirely. Personally, while I found many bosses to be fun challenges, it got kind of tedious to constantly be fighting bosses at every turn, which led to me not completely finishing the game.

3. Dragon Quest XI S: Echoes of an Elusive Age - Definitive Edition (Switch)

Developer: Square Enix

Publisher: Square Enix

Genre: RPG

Release Date: September 27th 2019

I’ll admit I slept on Dragon Quest XI when it released for PC and PS4 back in 2017. It was constantly on my “maybe someday” list, but it wasn’t until the Definitive Edition released on Switch back in September that I decided to give it a go, and boy am I glad I did.

DQXI tells the story of a young man who finds out one day that he is the reincarnation of a legendary hero called The Luminary, who is said to defeat an evil known as The Dark One and bring peace to the world. However, he soon finds himself hunted by a corrupt kingdom that has branded him as The Darkspawn, claiming he is responsible for bringing The Dark One to the world and causing disaster. Thus, our hero travels the world, meeting friends along the way, and finding out what it means to be The Luminary.

The game’s plot may seem a bit generic, but that’s the thing. The whole conceit of DQXI is that it’s a classic JRPG at heart, but with a lot of modern touches to make it feel accessible today. So while there are plenty of turn-based battles, MP gauges, and a story that’s simplistic at the surface, there are loads of surprises throughout and lots of mechanical tweaks that drastically improve the quality of life of the game. For instance, as characters level up, they gain skill points that they can spend on a grid of skills to improve their abilities in different disciplines. Usually, each character has a sector of the grid for each weapon type they can use, as well as one section full of character-specific buffs and special abilities. By the end of the game, you’ll be able to unlock nearly every ability, so it becomes more of a matter of deciding which abilities to prioritize based on how you want to customize each character.

Speaking of characters, there’s a pretty full cast of characters to enjoy, and I found myself loving all of them, such as the spunky Veronica, the flamboyant Sylvando, or the warrior princess Jade. Each character has their own battle style, too, including casting spells, using strong weapons, buffing the party, and more.

The game will easily get you over 100 hours of playtime, with myself clocking in at around 120 hours so far. I’m not quite done yet, but I’m almost there. See, there’s a ton to do in DQXI aside from the main story, including crafting and improving items in a quick minigame at your Fun-Size Forge, gambling in the casino, horse racing, side questing, and exploring various parts of the world.

As for quality of life features, there are such things as the Horse Hailer, which allows you to immediately summon a horse on the overworld for quick travel, early access to the Zoom spell, which lets you teleport back to any town, important location, or campsite you’ve visited throughout the world for free, campsites being free healing, a speed-up option in combat, multiple auto-battle options, the ability to quick-heal in the menu, and more. It’s hard to really list everything, but there are tons of instances where you’ll think “Oh, that’s really handy”.

The visuals of the game are fantastic, with lots of that Akira Toriyama style that’s become synonymous with the Dragon Quest series. The characters are all really well designed and memorable, though some of the NPCs have a bit of a case of same-face, which is especially jarring considering that the game’s world is inspired by many diverse real-world cultures, making it odd that people from a Japanese-inspired area look exactly the same as people from an area based on northeast Europe. Still, I think the game otherwise does an excellent job at respecting world cultures, and even incorporates real-world languages into different regions. For example, the in-game city of Gondolia is based heavily on Venice, Italy, and the people of that city sprinkle bits of Italian into their dialogue. It’s a charming touch.

The music for the game sounds really great if you enable the orchestral version. Unfortunately, the game originally released with only a synthesized version of the soundtrack, which sounds terrible by comparison. Unfortunately, I felt that although each of the compositions were very memorable and pleasing, there sometimes didn’t feel like enough of them. The overworld, city, battle, boss battle, and dungeon themes are exactly the same wherever you go in the world, and I felt like that was a missed opportunity to really spice up the soundtrack with more unique themes to each area.

Overall, If you like JRPG’s, you’ll definitely like DQXI. My only complaints are that it can be a tad on the easy side, and that there are a few points of no return in the story that cause certain quests to be locked out without warning.

2. Super Smash Bros. Ultimate (Switch)

Developer: Bandai Namco Studios / Sora Ltd.

Publisher: Nintendo

Genre: Fighting

Release Date: December 7th 2018

Was this really a surprise? A new Smash Bros. game releases the day before my birthday? Of course I’m gonna love it! I had been hyped up for Smash Ultimate for months preceding its release, going as far as watching any gameplay videos on YouTube I could find from various demo events and tournaments around the world. Even after the game’s release, there have been tons of content updates, new fighter DLC, and just so many reasons to come back to the game. It doesn’t hurt that one of the most accessible fighting games of all time is available on a handheld system (literally the only reason I played Smash 3DS). Smash Ultimate stands out in more than just its portability factor, though. While it largely recycles content from previous games, it can be seen as the “Ultimate” Smash Bros game, bringing back every single fighter from the series history, nearly every playable stage, and tons of familiar modes. Not only that, but new content is also present in terms of fighters, stages, and more. Long awaited characters include the Inklings from Splatoon, Ridley from the Metroid series, King K. Rool from Donkey Kong, and surprise guests, including Simon and Richter Belmont from Castlevania. On top of that, a plethora of DLC fighters and stages have been added, with the 5th DLC fighter still upcoming and shrouded in mystery.

Most prominent of the new additions is the game’s approach to a story mode. Unfortunately not as robust as the Subspace Emissary from Super Smash Bros. Brawl, The World of Light is still a welcome addition. In this mode, a strange angelic being called Galeem has turned all of the Smash fighters into evil controlled puppets, except, of course, for Kirby, who sets out to free each of the game’s 70+ fighters from Galeem’s control across a large board of levels, each connected by pathways. Each level features a battle against a copy of one of the game’s fighters possessed by a Spirit, essentially the essence of a video game character, and you have to free the Spirit and claim it by defeating the possessed fighter in a themed battle. This was a really nice way of including references to characters across not only Nintendo’s history, but the whole history of gaming as well, including some characters who do not otherwise appear in Smash, such as Shantae and Rayman. These Spirits, once collected, can be equipped to your character to not only improve your power level, but also offer different buffs, such as resistance to certain attacks, powering up your Smash attacks, starting you off each battle with an item, etc. I definitely enjoyed the World of Light mode, though I felt like it was a tad on the shallow side, and battles could get fairly repetitive after a while.

Fortunately, Smash really shines on its core mechanics, and the most fun I’ve had from the game is exploring all the different characters and finding which ones I like best. My current main is Ganondorf, though I still love playing as Ness and Lucas. Really, this is Smash at its best, and a number of much-needed mechanical tweaks, such as dodge fatigue, directional midair dodging, holding smash move charges, and an overall faster pace make this my favorite Smash game yet.

1. Persona 5 (PS4)

Developer: P-Studio

Publisher: Atlus

Genre: RPG

Release Date: April 4th 2017

Okay, wow. What a game. I’ve never played a Persona or Shin Megami Tensei game before, but buzz for Persona 5 was everywhere, and with the inclusion of P5’s Joker in Smash, I had to check it out. Even though I got to the game nearly two years late, I’m so glad I did.

Persona 5 is an RPG where you take on the role of a high school boy (he doesn’t really have a default name, but the most common name for him is Ren, so that’s what we’ll use) who has gotten tangled up in some legal trouble after intervening in a drunken assault on a woman he witnessed on the street. Turns out, this guy was something of a bigshot, and Ren soon finds himself placed under a form of rehabilitation where he is forced to transfer to the illustrious Shujin Academy in Tokyo. While at Shujin, Ren must live under the guardianship of a man named Shojiro who runs a coffee shop. Ren must stay out of trouble at school and live honestly.

However, trouble almost immediately finds Ren again as he discovers a lecherous teacher is mistreating many of the school’s students, and while investigating, accidentally slips into a strange dimension called the Metaverse, where the twisted perceptions of corrupted people are manifested into reality, and a sprawling Palace exists for the evil teacher. There, Ren meets a strange talking cat named Morgana who offers to help Ren if he will help Morgana find the Treasure at the heart of the Palace. Turns out, the Treasure is the manifestation of what caused the person’s desires to become corrupted, and stealing it causes them to lose their distorted emotions and confess.

Thus, Ren becomes a Phantom Thief, infiltrating Palaces and stealing Treasures by night and masquerading as a humble high school student by day. The Palaces are effectively the game’s dungeons, and this is where combat and exploration take place. Along the way, he’ll discover the power of his Persona, effectively an avatar of the user’s personality that enable them to unleash their true power inside the Metaverse, as well as use special abilities. And of course, you’ll recruit many friends to the Phantom Thieves, all of whom have their own motives and Personae. However, Ren has a special power. Instead of just being limited to one Persona, he has the ability to capture many Persona from the Metaverse by recruiting the game’s enemies or fusing Personae he already has to make more powerful ones. Thus the game has a light monster-collecting aspect to it, as each Persona can be leveled up to unlock new abilities, fused with others, and much more. What’s cool is that each Persona must be persuaded to join you by knocking it down in battle and then speaking to it in whatever way you think it wants to hear.

Outside of Palaces, you’ll investigate your targets, infiltrate a mega-palace called Mementos, as well as managing your free time. You see, Persona 5 allows you a limited amount of time to do everything you want to do, and it’s crucial that you manage your student life as well. This means spending time studying for exams, reading books to improve stats, working part-time jobs for money, playing minigames, and most importantly, hanging out with different NPCs, your teammates and supporters, to boost their friendship levels. As you get higher in friendship with each NPC, you’ll unlock new abilities, some of which are truly game-changing. I really enjoyed this aspect, as it felt like a puzzle trying to figure out how best to use my time. Almost nothing felt wasted, but I knew I wouldn’t have enough time to do everything, so I was always thinking about how best to optimize my time. Unfortunately, you can’t do everything in a single playthrough, but fortunately you can carry a lot of your progress over into New Game+. Some features are actually restricted to NG+, so it makes it feel like that second playthrough is really necessary if you want to see everything.

While the dungeons and the battles are mechanically fairly straightforward JRPG faire, the battles are interesting in that each enemy species has its own strengths and weaknesses, and exploiting weaknesses can knock down the enemy and allow you to take an extra turn, which can lead into strong combos. Furthermore, once all enemies are knocked down, you can perform a powerful All-Out Attack for massive damage. It honestly doesn’t get too much more complicated than that, but there is enough depth to the system to keep you engaged until the end of the game.

Each of the game’s characters are extremely well-designed, and I loved pretty much all of my party members, though Yusuke didn’t click with me as well as some of the others, despite being voiced by the amazing Matt Mercer. My favorite, of course, was the imperious Makoto, who appears little more than a bossy student council president in reality, but explodes into flurries of righteous blows in the Metaverse, alongside her robot motorcycle Persona.

Of course it’s impossible to talk about Persona 5 without mentioning the absolute masterpiece that is this game’s presentation. If you know anything about the game, you’ve likely seen the striking art style used in all of this game’s art and UI. It’s honestly every bit as eye-catching and jaw-dropping as it seems. The music is an utter masterpiece as well, with all manner of swingy jazz tunes, somber piano pieces, heart-pounding rock tracks, all of which come together with the visual style to give you something unlike anything you’ve ever played before and to truly make you feel like a suave Phantom Thief.

I managed to not only get through the main game, but get all the way through a NG+ playthrough back-to-back to get that platinum trophy and not once did I feel bored doing so. I clocked in at around 200 hours in total and it was one of the best gaming experiences of my life. If you like RPGs, time management games, good anime-style stories, or just good games, do NOT pass this one up, especially the upcoming Royal version that’s releasing in March.

#gaming #top 10 #top 10 games of 2019 #article

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wolfricivarrwitchythings · 6 years ago

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13 Goals of a Witch: Goals #10 and #11

Goal #10: Breathe and Eat Correctly

If there is one goal that many MANY of us struggle with, it would be this one. On nearly a constant basis, we’re fed loads of information about what is good for you, bad for you, and there is an endless supply of different diets and such that promise to help you lose weight and....

It’s exhausting.

Listen: Here is the absolute truth. It is 100% ok to have a little pudge on you. In early times (middle ages mostly, if I recall my history correctly) rich people often had a little bit more weight to them because they showed the world that they were eating well.

That being said, let me share a few things that have helped me to feel better about what I have been eating:

1) More fruits and veggies! The more natural your diet is, the better you will feel and the closer to the divine you will be. For me, I have a strictly vegetarian diet because I feel that is how I can better allow the energy in my body to flow, and how I can best honor the divine. Some people don’t need that, and that’s ok! Best recommended health tip I can offer to none vegetarians/vegans- make about 80% of your diet fruits and veggies. Also remember: Raw is better than cooked in most cases.

2) Make it colorful! Along with consuming more fruits and veggies, having a lot of color on your plate can help you feel healthier and more in tune with nature/the divine/your magick. Different colors in different fruits and veggies provide different nutritional values. Like this:

Red - lycopene found in tomatoes, watermelon, & pink grapefruit Orange - beta carotene found in carrots, mangoes, & cantaloupe Yellow - beta cryptothanxin found in pineapple, oranges, & peaches Green - indoles found in broccoli, cabbage, & kale Purple - anthocyanins found in blueberries, grapes, eggplant & cherries White – allicin found in garlic, onions, & chives

Consuming a variety of colorful fruits and veggies is also a great source of antioxidants!

3) Drink LOTS of water! But obviously not too much. Most people actually have a certain amount of water that they need specific to your body. Why? Because different body types have different amounts of blood running through their veins! Drinking water is like the body’s lube. Car can’t run without engine oil, right? Well, your body can’t run and, more specifically, carry all of those nutrients throughout your body if it doesn’t have water! Pro-tip: If you’re not a fan of the flavor of water, which can be kind of bland, use water-flavoring drops like Mio or Dasani Drops or Crystal Light Liquid. They’re all 0 calorie so feel free to be liberal with the amount of “drops” you put in. Lol

Honestly, I could go on and on about this subject. Really, eating healthier is a matter of doing your research and trying different things. Eventually you’ll find what works for you! Eating that is calibrated to your body will help you feel better, help the energy your body uses on a daily basis flow better, and will put you more in touch with your magick.

For your convenience, I created a Dropbox folder with my diet plan in it. The diet comes from the University of Michigan, who did a wonderful job with their information! I can’t seem to find the info on their page anymore though...

Goal #11: Exercise the Body!

Everyone knows how important it is to exercise. Being active is an important factor in our health! The healthier the body, the better our energies flow and the more access we have to our magick.

But, if you’re like me, you struggle to feel motivated to exercise on a daily basis. Here is one thing that is important to remember: You don’t have to have an entire exercise regime and go to the gym to be active. Here are a few tips:

1) Download Pokemon Go! I know this sounds cheesy as hell, but seriously... when you’re concentrating on catching Pokemon, it is so much easier to go for a walk! It’ll feel more like a pastime than exercise. Brilliant on their part, I think. Plus, you have to walk to hatch your eggs! Haha

2) Take your fur babies on walks! When I was younger, I would walk literally everywhere for hours. Walking for me is one of the most therapeutic forms of exercise. So, grab that leash, plug in some headphones, and go walk for a little while.

3) Subscribe to podcasts! There are literally thousands of podcasts out there on virtually any subject you can think of. It is excellent for entertainment while engaging in any physical activity and, it’s free. Here are some good ones I think my peeps will enjoy.

True Crime Garage: Although not really witchy, I love a good mystery. True Crime garage offers a weekly show that is sometimes multiple parts long and offers amazing amounts of detail and conversation to the show. Highly recommend for any of you true crime lovers!

Lore: I love this podcast so much! Lore talks about myths and legends from around the world and delves into those stories. The author and host Aaron Mahnke does an excellent job telling the stories and, with help from his research assistants, creates compelling and fact-based stories that are just absolutely riveting!

The Jenna & Julien Podcast: If you’re like me, who is a huge fan or Jenna Mourey (aka Jenna Marbles) and her funny YouTube videos, then you’ll love the podcast. It’s basically her and her long time boyfriend Julien Solomita just shooting the shit. Sometimes they play entertaining games, talk about sports, TV shows, or (little known fact) conspiracy theories! I’m a sucker for a good conspiracy theory.

Those three are like the staples of my podcast listening experience. But, like I said, there are THOUSANDS of podcasts out there! Also, in the future (hopefully soonish future) I will also be releasing a Podcast!

If you’re not sure where to get access to Podcasts, here is a short list of apps:

Stitcher

Spreaker

The native Podcasts App on iPhone

Google Podcasts on Android

SIDENOTE: Maybe I’ll try and do a little research to find Witchy Podcasts for you folks and do a post about that soon.

Of course, there are lots of ways to keep yourself motivated to get out and be active! Go for a nature walk! Go swimming, play night games, pick up yoga- whatever! Just try your best to do something active everyday for at least 30 minutes a day. And please PLEASE remember that you do not have to run or lift weights or do anything that is normally considered “exercise” to be active. And, as witches, it’d best to do your activity outside in the fresh air!

Trust me, being active will literally invigorate you! Your goal doesn’t have to be “lose weight” or “gain muscle” is that’s not your thing. The purpose of the exercise in this instance is for better health, better flow of energy in the body, and better connection to your magick and therefore the divine. Another benefit of eating right and being active is that it will help to ground and center you as well as help to relieve anxiety and depression!

Sorry this one was long! Hopefully it was informative and motivating! Now, find your center and eat your fruits and veggies Mi Maripositas!

And remember, go check out my online store to show support for the blog!

#witchblr #witchcraft #podcasts #exercise #eating healthy #13 goals of a witch

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greatdrams · 7 years ago

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A review of the Laphroaig Range

What a treat; the opportunity to try the full range of Laphroaig whiskies from the gm8 to the Laphroaig 25 Year old and Laphroaig 27 Year Old bottlings. Great times.

I love Laphroaig. There I’ve said it. The distillery is one of two spiritual homes of mine (Anfield being the other) and I simply love all their product releases so to get to try some pretty incredible stuff that is rarely part of other tastings made this an epic tasting at GreatDrams HQ.

Laphroaig 10 Year Old

Now, I’ve often described Laphroaig as my ‘spiritual home’ in whisky, which has a lot to do with the iconic Laphroaig 10 being the whisky that convinced me that drinking and exploring whisky was a good idea and that it should be enjoyed and savoured – although I’m not ashamed to admit that it took a few efforts to get on board with a whisky that, at the time, was the peatiest I had ever tried.

Laphroaig is a malt that epitomises a good whisky. It is well renowned and respected in the whisky world and the Laphroaig 10 Year Old is one of the distilleries finest malts. From the very beginning of tasting the 10 Year Old, you are hit with an explosion of smoke. It is full bodied and packs a delicious punch. It harkens towards its coastal home with hints of seaweed piquing the taste buds, a saltiness that is soon followed by a delightful vanilla sweetness. This is a brilliant Scotch with a beautiful palate that invites the drinker to analyse it and love it!

Laphroaig Select

You can tell it is a younger than the 10 Year Old, not yet defined whisky but it already has some character to it with a vinegary nose that evokes sawdust and maybe a hint of dried fruits.

The palate is very sweet and sour, iodine notes as expected but with white pepper and smoky finish.

Definitely a good recreational whisky that you should have in the house, unlikely to be one for special occasions but for those of us that like a wee dram of an evening you cannot go too far wrong with Laphroaig Select.

Laphroaig Lore

Six whiskies make up Laphroaig Lore; aged between seven and twenty-one, including a nine-year-old double matured in first fill European oak, a twenty-one-year-old matured in a first fill bourbon cask, a nine-year-old matured in a refill bourbon cask and another sherry-matured whisky too.

With Laphroaig Lore being bottled at 48%, this thick, chewing dram packs a bit of a punch, whilst living up to what makes up his criteria for a good Laphroaig.

Laphroaig Lore’s nose gave away floral, dry notes, sweet cold-like sensation the more you take in whereas the palate was all about dry salt that lingered long in the throat with hints of cayenne peppers and liquorice, coating the mouth in an oily texture.

Laphroaig 25 Year Old

This was one of the first super premium whiskies I ever owned, and ended up losing that specific for a year actually when I hid it from myself in a Laphroaig 10 tube so stop me getting through it too quickly... how great did I feel when I found it again when we moved house!

The nose of this whisky is soft, giving off rubbery smoke, burnt pineapple, grassy, kiwi, subtle orange notes, cinnamon, cloves, ground nutmeg, signature TCP notes, and the palate is also quite soft, with smoky wisps and thick, treacle notes. Oh so delicate fruity notes that linger along with the smoke and grows into a softly spiced long finish.

Laphroaig 27 Year Old

I have never tried this Laphroaig before, and am pretty sure I did not know it existed until the sample arrived - what have I been missing?! Well... the nose was a lot deeper than the 25 Year Old with a sharper note of peat reek, dried coconut chunks, soft grassy notes and the odd highlight of peaches and pears but mostly it’s got quite a strong peat influence for its age.

The palate was sweet, so much softer than the nose, the smoke and peat play second fiddle to the vanilla sweetness and burnt sugar, nay creek brûlée note I’m enjoying. A smoky brûlée, yes please. Minimal spices save for a slight peppery note on the shorter than expected finish. What a whisky.

All in all a fantastic range displaying the variety and richness that can be achieved from peated whiskies, the Laphroaig 10 Year Old will always have a place in my heart, but the 25 and 27 Year Olds were absolutely superb, and Lore is a very welcome permanent addition to the range. What to you think of Laphroaig? Let me know in the comments below.

The post A review of the Laphroaig Range appeared first on GreatDrams.

from GreatDrams http://ift.tt/2CgQv8x Greg

#whisky #GreatDrams

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gengarnips-fr · 7 years ago

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Drunk Lair Review: Kael

definitely almost spelled that kale, so thanks for participating! :D Let’s hop right into this, I know I kept my fans waiting ;) @fr20866 its your time to shine!!!

Okay, I want you to know, that I was sincerely stumped by your lair. I was seriously wondering if my internet was shitting out on me. But no, a SIGNIFICANT PORTION of your lair is dressed in the goddamn invisible cloaks and it fucked me up. Jeeeeeezuzzuuz. and based on my understanding (please correct me if im wrong) everyone labeled Rock is kind of a filler space. Like you like the V shape pattern you’ve got going on so you have these dragons called Rock to fill in your lair space. That is so creative and I’m very into that!!! That said, I’m gonna grade your Non-Rocks :D and also is everyone a gen one? Because that’s POWERFUL.

First off, I rather enjoy Meleo! The Abyss Skink color gene combo just gets me right. you know what i mean? that shit gets me RIGHT. I LIVE FOR THAT SHIT. I love his bio art! How neat is that! and he’s even got stats, which as a DND player, I can always appreciate! And the little bit of lore you have in his bio hints at an ability to change color at will! Can I just SAY HOW AMAZING THAT IS JEEEEEZ I want more of him. Make him important!!! All of your dragons are soo cool and im so into whatever aesthetic you’re cultivating! I want more!!! Tell me about how he uses and abuses his color change abilities. Tell me about how he hides in the darkness or blends in with the earth rocks. I WANT IT ALLLLLL.

Next I’ve chosen Sethen, who can I just say is one of the brightest, cutest boys ive ever seen. Like what a fucking peach. I feel like hes the dude that takes you out on a museum date and buys you ice cream. Never done anything wrong in his life. Look at his bio art!!! A GOOD AND PURE BOY and I will take nothing less! I also really adore his minimal apparel. I can definitely appreciate when apparel doesn’t cover the whole dragon but rather accentuates its features. I mean I cant relate but you pulled it off so well (I love apparel so much I just want dragons head to toe covered, help me)! Also this bitch is fucking stacked like hes a colosseum lvl 25 get #rekt. You don’t have lore for him yet, but I really just envision him as a cute little man (maybe some sort of historian? Lore keeper? I cant shake the nerd from my mind) who serves his clan somehow. Don’t let me influence your decisions tho ;P

Omg next is Ark, who is by far one of my faves. I look at him and I just feel the Paladin mojo emanate from his form. I feel POWERFUL when I look at him. He could definitely hold his own in a fight and honestly? Id let him save me from a fire. And I don’t say that about a lot of dragons ;) He’s also super old (love itttttt) at a hot and spicy 4 years and I love that. I’m trying to spoil some of my older dragons too. I want them to feel all the love. Stern, conscientious, loyal. YESSSSSS I feel it!!! And im sorry, but im such a lore slut for complicated backstories involving secret trysts with hidden eggs. A lot of my dragons have weird complicated headcannons like this because I LOVE IT. Also his colors are awesome but that’s a given. And I love his bio header. Okay I need to move on before I drool

Wow, I love Numedha. Like, love love. I love her. She’s so badass. I can tell on ONE glimpse that she knows what she’s about and I adore it. I LOVE HER CHARACTER ART IN HER BIO OK THAT’S GOALS and im definitely not biased towards red dragons, no way, shape or FORM I swear. And her stats are so fitting omfg. I just love a rebel without (maybe with) a cause and I want her to have a bad attitude, just middle fingers out, fuck the cops, fuck the rules, cause same. God. Any character that can make me feel like this deserves all the love and attention I have. ESPECIALLY LADIES. We don’t see enough ladies that can hold their own in combat or story telling. But I guess that’s a rant for a later date lmao. Anyway, her aesthetic is my aesthetic and I love her to bits!

Last but certainly NOT LEAST is Tyrane. I, personally, would love if Tyrane just came in a ran my clan for a while. This girl is hella organized, just based on first impression. Her little bio says shes sarcastic and shit, and I adore it. LOVE IT. Gooooood character. Also AMAZING GENES can we just discuss the power of skink/alloy. It’s underrated. Two of my fave genes for sure. Like, not to be weird, but I’m pretty sure Tyrane owns my ass in some way shape or form. She found it at an auction and bought it for cheap. SHE KNOWS WHAT SHE IS DOING MY DUDE. Everyone, please go look at her. She is absolutely gorgeous and if you want to see an excellent execution of purple/pink go LOOK AT HER BODY.

Also at the end of the day please make an RPG with these dragons as the main characters. Or something. Give me a story because I love all of your dragons so far and I would die to see them all in action. And maybe an explanation for the Rock trend???? It’s amazing, and leaves me in confusion, so you know its modern art. That’s iconic. Thank you so much for your time and I hope this was at least a little entertaining. I loved looking at your lair!

-DeadValkyrie

#flight rising #drunk lair reviews #hope you enjoy #im still drunk oh my

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luzrof-rulay · 8 years ago

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Tales of Zestiria - Post Game Thoughts

(Or, I Ramble For Far Too Long About My Feelings And Theories Concerning This Beautiful Game)

Topics:

Introduction

Gameplay (graphics, systems, all that technical jazz)

Plot

Sidequests

Characters

Character Relationships

Music

Other Media (Anime, Manga, Novel)

In Conclusion

Introduction

Last night, I finally sat down and defeated the final boss in Tales of Zestiria. Needless to say, I had a lot of thoughts after witnessing the ending. Even after having written this monster of a post, I still have thoughts which have gone unwritten. This is just a few of the things I have to say about this game.

For a quick general review, though: 4.5/5 stars. A great story (albeit slightly rushed) with amazing characters and a beautiful gameplay and soundtrack. Even if you’re new to the Tales Of series, I’d recommend you to play this game.

Now, onto the meat of this post. I’ve tried to avoid spoilers as much as possible, and I’ve marked where I talk explicitly about spoilerific subjects. Still, be on your guard a bit.

Gameplay

Right off the bat, this game is beautiful. Having come from playing Tales of Vesperia (a 2007 game with good graphics which are nothing in comparison to TOZ) and Tales of the Abyss (which I’m still in progress with and switching between TOZ and TOA is always pretty jarring), I could not help but marvel at the graphics at every point during the game. The 3DCG animation is fluid and natural – in conversation, the characters have quirks which make them seem more realistic, something which I felt the aforementioned games lacked (not for lack of trying). The 2D anime cutscenes were also stunning, though I felt some were not particularly memorable.

The overall aesthetic of the game is also gorgeous – something I feel the Tales of series does particularly well in general. The character designs are gorgeous, especially for the main cast (though I feel this is a given). The towns are beautiful. Some of the scenery is downright stunning. I’m not an artist or designer, so unfortunately I’m not to grips with technical terminology or criticism, but that doesn’t stop me from drawing breath every time something caught my eye.

The system itself I found mostly easy to understand. The menu is akin to the other Tales games I’ve played, and I found map actions easy enough to understand. (My immediate reaction was that it was similar to the Sorcerer’s Ring in TOV, for a while.) I sometimes found having a secondary character running after me a bit annoying (Rose, this corridor is tiny and you’re blocking the door, please move- oh, fuck, a hellion). For the most part though, being able to speak to the secondary character and get hints about both the main story and sidequests was a godsend.

The battle system, though different from those in TOV and TOA, was in my opinion improved on in this game. I enjoyed having different kinds of artes to play around with, though telling the difference between the three was sometimes tedious. I also liked how easy it was to switch between melee attacks and hidden artes. Also backstepping and sidestepping became so useful in boss battles, particularly towards the end once I got to grips with it.

What I found more tedious was the skills system – I’m sure it will be less so once I get to grips with it, but having a skill tree with different combination options is something that might take me a while to wrap my head around. I also still haven’t ventured near the ‘forge arms’ option in stores, because I’ve heard that’s to do with skills and honestly I still don’t understand them enough to want to do that yet.

Though I do appreciate the ways in which the game gives you tutorials – not through a tedious tutorial battle, like in TOV, but through monoliths (which were fun to find and read, even if I wouldn’t normally have bothered reading the contents of them) and skits (which at least tried to make them sound interesting).

I also appreciated the game’s switching between battles and puzzles for dungeons. It really instilled a sense of, the answer to everything isn’t just beating it up, even when I used Edna’s map action (which seemed like beating up walls and rocks). And though some of the puzzles might have been a little tedious (*cough* water shrine *cough*), once I figured out how to get around the puzzles, it became really interesting to me. Yes, even for the water shrine.

(On that note, is it just me or was the wind shrine really easy? Like, easier than the others, I mean.)

Plot

The plot of Zestiria, in my opinion, was mostly well done. It follows the journey of Sorey and his friends as he becomes the Shepherd and fights in order to free the world from malevolence, with a focus on defeating Heldalf, the Lord of Calamity.

*** The following paragraph contains massive spoilers. ***

To be completely honest, the plot did feel a little rushed, at times. Even when I got to the final dungeon, I had to check it was definitely the final battle, because it felt like there should have been more. After all, we didn’t get so much resolution on Maotelus’ history or future (though I suppose much of it was up to interpretation). I also kept thinking that there had to be another way of ending it all, especially since in the beginning, Sorey resolved within the main plot to help Edna to purify her brother, but that isn’t addressed in the main plot at all after that point.

In the end, though I had wanted a different ending, I understand that this might be reflection of what the story is trying to tell us. Not all endings are peaches and cream happy fun times. Something has to be sacrificed in order to gain a good outcome, and not all people – humans or seraphim – necessarily believe that what the Shepherd is doing is for the best. (For that reason, Symmone’s story was really interesting for me, though she had more potential than what was utilised.)

So after some consideration, I feel that they ended the game in the best way they could have done for the story that it’s trying to tell. Even if it wasn’t the most positive and happy-ending kind of story, there still is a positive in the future.

(Again, I feel that’s something the Tales games do well – illustrating the multiple facets of a situation, how any solution has consequences, both good and bad. Not everyone will agree, and not everything will be solved, but when the root of the problem has been fixed, that is where the story ends for us, even if it goes on for them.)

*** Spoilers end here. ***

Some points of the plot also felt rather tedious – purify the malevolence here, find the iris gems there, go to and from Glaivend Basin about ten different times. Still, the story behind the plot is strong enough to make an interesting game. It has certainly made me interested in the lore behind the Shepherd and the history of that world as well as the future of it.

(On that note, is Glenwood the only continent mentioned in the game, or is it just me? How do you save the world by travelling over one continent? Are you just saving that continent from malevolence?)

Sidequests

Despite the fact that I’m glad so much of the story was told through the main plot, I feel that sidequests were somewhat lacking. I think it’s because I’m so used to Tales of Vesperia, which has a gazillion sidequests (which I’m almost finished completely! The fact that it’s taken me five years to get close to 100% completion is definitely saying something). Since this was only my first playthrough, I haven’t thought much about the sidequests. I’ll come back to this when I’ve done more of them.

(Sidenote: The turtlez sidequest made my entire life.)

Characters

Sorey

Sorey, my boy. My sunshine child. Can I just wrap him up and protect him from the world?

I love Sorey so much (if you couldn’t already tell). He’s an innocent, sheltered boy, having lived in the remote Elysia alongside seraphim for all his life. And yet he is filled with a passion and charisma and general optimism, especially when it comes to things like ruins (I love his history nerd side so much, but maybe that’s because I’m interested in history too). He has a definite hero complex (and perhaps a martyr complex?) which feels like a main part of the plot – the fact that he wants to save everyone, to see everyone living in peace and harmony together, and the fact that in this world filled with malevolence, it seems unlikely to ever happen.

Some people might feel that Sorey is too vanilla for them, considering his hero complex and naivety, but in my opinion there is a lot more depth to his character when you consider the hardships he has to go through, particularly towards the end of the game.

Mikleo

I loved this boy even before I played the game. I knew nothing of his character, but his general aesthetic pleased me greatly. The game did not disappoint. Mikleo is a stubborn but kind seraph, one who relies heavily on logic and analysis to think through situations. For that reason, he loves ruins just as much as Sorey, particularly trying to analyse them and to see how things work and what the reasons for certain things might be. (I’m not kidding, a skit about matryoshka dolls is what triggered me to find this interesting.)

His character depth and development is beautiful, especially when you consider his fears in the beginning of the game (not wanting to be a burden to Sorey, but not wanting to be left behind, with the knowledge that he will age much more slowly than Sorey and will certainly end up outliving him). Though he is still a bit of a kid (that much is obvious in how he rises up to Edna’s teasing), he is still rather mature and eloquent.

Alisha

I can see where the controversy comes from, surrounding Alisha. The advertising for the game made it seem as though she was the main female character assisting Sorey, but she ends up leaving the party for the majority of the game. Still, I think Alisha was a well-written character and an interesting contrast to her successor, Rose.

Alisha is a strong-hearted, optimistic girl who wants to serve her kingdom in whatever way she can. Like Sorey, she believes in the Shepherd and the seraphim and wants to see the world rid of malevolence. The only trouble is that Alisha’s resonance, whilst stronger than most humans’, is still not quite up to par, making it difficult for her to assist Sorey as his Squire.

In my opinion, I felt this was an interesting character flaw. It gave depth both to her and to Sorey, considering the effects of it on the both of them as time goes on. Even though many might have been disappointed that she could not armatize in-game due to her lack of resonance, I felt it befitting of her character.

I’ve not played her DLC yet, but I still enjoy her character very much and think her development throughout the game was strongly written, even if it was mostly in the background.

Lailah

I love Lailah so much. As the guardian type of character, she has the most knowledge – and yet, she cannot pass on much of it due to an oath restricting her from it. This, I feel, is a huge part of what makes one of the main plot themes, ‘finding the answers’. (I’ll talk about that later, though.)

Lailah is a cheerful but conscientious character. She has experienced being a Prime Lord for a Shepherd before, and knows about the truth behind the Dawn of the Age of Chaos. Her inability to speak about it makes her rather mysterious (though I enjoy her whimsical methods of avoiding the subject). Outside of her role as a Prime Lord, Lailah is a humorous and almost motherly character (though she’d rather you call her ‘big sister’, thanks). She cracks puns and jokes quite often, much to the chagrin of her friends.

I also enjoy the development she goes through and her subtle way of realising that she doesn’t have to carry her burden all on her own, either. (The Lailah and Rose conversation before the final battle makes this all the more poignant, in my opinion.)

Edna

I will fight for Edna. I love Edna. Protect Edna 2K17.

Seriously, though, Edna is wonderful. She is a sassy, sarcastic character with a troubled past and present (particularly familial). She enjoys poking fun at the more gullible characters, particularly Mikleo (or Meebo, as she calls him).

Her development is also beautifully done, particularly in the sidequest concerning the dragon at Rayfalke Spiritcrest. Though she is reluctant at the beginning of the game, we see her opening up to her companions and fighting alongside them for their cause. I might have liked to see more development for her in the main plot, though I feel the sidequests did her justice enough.

Rose

I love Rose.

By day, she’s a cheerful merchant, always shaking the hand of capitalism in search of a deal. By night, she becomes an assassin, gracing weary bones with peaceful rest. And her dual personality is only the top layer of her character – it doesn’t even scrape the surface of her past.

(This is something I feel particularly in regards to the anime, though I’ll speak about that later.)

I love that Rose acts as Sorey’s foil – the dark to his light, in a sense, though they fight for the same cause and are both of pure heart. She is just as selfless and forgiving as he is, though her way of solving problems is different from Sorey’s. (Is anyone else getting flashbacks to Flynn and Yuri? One seeks justice through what is morally right, the other through murder…)

Her reluctance to accept the existence of seraphim also intrigued me and gave her role as Sorey’s second squire an interesting twist. I also love how she develops, eventually accepting and embracing the seraphim, and being grateful for their presence around her.

Dezel

(Brb, currently weeping softly.)

Dezel grated on me a bit at first, mostly because of how he acts when we first meet him. And to be honest, for most of his role in the game, he is the same way, though obviously he does have some development which helps towards his major change of thinking in his final scene. His backstory greatly intrigued me and through it, you can certainly tell that he is only young, and hence gets easily riled up. Any mention/indication of him after That One Scene made me want to cry. His redemption truly was well done. I would have liked to see more of him.

Zaveid

This man needs to be stopped. Stop Zaveid 2K17.

(I’m joking, but still.)

I love Zaveid. He reminds me a lot of TOV’s Raven – kind of a comic relief in his commentaries, particularly concerning ladyfolk, but with a depth of character hidden behind that mask. I did feel that his entrance to the party was a little rushed (they could have given us a little time to grieve, dammit), but other than that I enjoyed playing as him. I feel like his development was a little less obvious because of the façade he keeps up, as well as his status as a semi-antagonist in the beginning, but in general, he was well written and interesting.

Character Relationships

In general, I love the relationships between the characters. I love that the game places no emphasis on romance and tonnes of it on the platonic bonds between our main cast, and how they work together and support each other. By the end of the game, they felt like a real family, which brought back fond memories of TOV for me.

For now, I’m only going to go into depth on one relationship. I might come back to add more, once I’ve had more time to ruminate on them. There are so many different relationships in this game that it would take me forever to go through all of them.

Sorey and Mikleo

Arguably the most important relationship in the game. Whether you see it as romantic or platonic is kind of irrelevant (though I will not deny that I see it as romantic, I still deeply appreciate the bond between them regardless) – Sorey and Mikleo share a deep bond and understanding of each other. They are childhood friends, and having been raised together have experienced everything together – the good, the bad, and the ugly. It’s together that they spent their childhood exploring ruins and having fun.

As the developers have mentioned, they are each other’s ‘one and only’, in that they care more deeply for each other than for anyone else. They both worry for each other when they leave Elysia – with Sorey worrying that Mikleo will get hurt and Mikleo worrying about being a burden on Sorey. Added to that is the fact that Mikleo is a seraph and Sorey a human, and so there is a time limit on how long they can spend by each other’s sides (or so they think).

One of the most beautiful aspects of this relationship, for me, was Mikleo’s resolve to stand by Sorey’s side, no matter what. This kept cropping up at various points, particularly towards the end of the game.

*** Massive spoiler section. ***

In the final battle, Sorey and Mikleo armatize to perform a coup de gras of sorts (then immediately fall down sobbing, causing me to also start sobbing). This happens directly after Sorey makes it clear that this is something he has to do for himself and asks no one else to help him with – it’s almost as though he knows that Mikleo will stand by him regardless.

Then, in the end, as has been confirmed by developers, Mikleo slows his aging so Sorey will recognise him and waits for him to wake up, even finding a way to protect him as he sleeps. And the look on Mikleo’s face when a familiar gloved hand stops him from falling into a pit in the ruins (it has to be Sorey, who else would it be, who else would Mikleo look at like that?). It just kills me every time. The fact that their joint dream is to be together, exploring the world.

*** Spoilers End Here ***

Honestly, there aren’t enough words to describe the relationship between Sorey and Mikleo. All I will say is that it reminds me of Makoto and Haru from the anime Free! – two childhood friends whose dream is to stay by each other’s sides, with a bond transcending words, one which shines through, no matter whether people see it as platonic or romantic.

Music

(Prepare for me to go all music nerd on you here, because the OST is what made this game special, in my opinion.)

(Little secret – this entire thing has been written whilst listening to the full OST. As I write this, I’m 1 hour 32 minutes in.)

The Tales OSTs are generally strong, from what I’ve heard. Vesperia’s will always have a space in my heart, and I use a few songs from it in my writing playlists. But in some ways, I feel like Zestiria’s is on a whole other level. But maybe that’s because, this time, I’ve paid more attention.

My favourite thing about this soundtrack is its leitmotivs and arrangements. For example, one that I only noticed after finishing the game was that a couple of the battle tracks (but particularly ‘Uphold Your Will with a Sword in Hand’) are arrangements of one of the first themes you hear in the game, ‘Unchanging Everyday’. Just a masterful technique in giving us something familiar in a new way, in my opinion.

But the arrangements which stole my breath were the ones for the four shrines: Fire (‘Flaming Bonds are Being Tested’), Water (‘Melody of Water is the Guide in Spiritual Mist’), Earth (‘Competing with the Honour of the Land’) and Wind (‘Fight Between the Wind and the Blinking Sky’).

Oh. My. Word.

When I first heard the fire shrine’s theme, I thought it was badass enough without knowing what was to follow. With a flamenco vibe, it gives an air of fiery passion reminiscent of a bullfight or a pasodoble. The use of the orchestra in tandem with flamenco guitars and synth melodies gave it a modern vibe and made the piece feel much bigger and more alive. Any time I hear it, it makes me want to go out and do something. Punch a wall. Fight a man. You know, that kind of thing.

But boy, did I not know what was to come.

I teared up at the water shrine’s theme. I’m not even going to lie; it still makes me emotional. At first, it was because, hey this is an arrangement of the fire shrine, how awesome! Then the orchestra backed up what was already an amazing piano piece. It flows like water, with an elegant classical vibe in the oboe and harpsichord, giving off a feeling of a grand orchestral concerto. Then it has pumping, staccato sections, mimicking how water can change quickly and without warning. The middle section feels like a rushing current or a waterfall – powerful and intimidating.

I’ll stop waxing poetical about the water shrine theme now. But it’s still my all-time favourite.

Out of the four, the earth shrine theme is my third favourite (with first and second place for water and fire, respectively). I love how it mixes choral music with a tribal vibe by adding panpipes and thundering percussion. I also really appreciate the addition of electronic instruments; it gave the piece a vibe I didn’t expect. The piece uses strong brass to portray the strength of earth, but also makes use of quieter sections to illustrate how earth can also be peaceful. The strong bass beat also fits the theme exceptionally well. Also the change in time signature at the electronic section really gives a beautiful contrast. As for the chorus, I love how they use a staccato technique, making every word stand out. Even if you don’t understand what they’re saying, the impact is clear.

And then we get to wind.

Don’t get me wrong, I love the wind shrine’s music. I prefer the other three, but I still think this piece is masterful. Part of what strikes me with it is the sibilance in the choral part – the repeated use of an ‘s’ sound. It makes it sound like it’s actually the wind which is singing. I also love the use of strings, which create a flowing, legato sound which still manages to sound strong due to the addition of the other orchestral instruments, particularly the brass and percussion. The drum section with the gongs which leads into a section of faster choral singing (with so much sibilance, oh my word) is invigorating. And then, how it slows down and calms afterwards really gives a nice contrast, showing how the winds change, how they can go from brutal to calm in only moments. And then, once again, electronic effects aid to give the music a modern vibe as well as adding an interesting percussive effect.

If I had time, I would love to do in-depth analyses of all four arrangements, but for now this will have to do. In any case, these pieces in particular are not the only ones which caught my attention during the game. There is one other piece which made me particularly emotional, and that was the first piece which played in Glaivend Basin – aptly named ‘War at Glaivend Basin’.

From the very first notes, this piece had me enraptured. The strings combined with the synthesisers managed to create a beautiful and heart-wrenching atmosphere. The way I tweeted about it when I first heard it is what I think sums up my feelings from it: “the beautiful, languid string melody; the thudding, heart-wrenching bass; the feeling of hope, despair and the tragedy of war all in a song.”

I’m honestly not kidding, this piece made me have a lot of emotions, particularly when associated with the emotions already in the plot at this point, what with the war going on.

And how could I speak about music within TOZ without giving a mention to the opening theme?

White Light by Superfly is my JAM. Has been for months, but still. It’s the only opening theme I’ve not skipped once (I apologise to Bonnie Pink’s Ring a Bell, I adore it but I do skip it sometimes). I love the thudding bass, the amazing guitar riffs, how during the verses it focuses on the vocals (or solo guitar, in the game’s OP) and the percussion. The singer’s vocals are so strong, and the guitar in the game gives an amazing feeling of badassery with its distortion at times. It does an amazing job of making you feel pumped up, no matter the situation.

(Case in point: I listened to it whilst trying to write this paragraph. I got distracted singing along, but it made me smile and feel motivated.)

(Not to mention the animation for the OP is beautiful. It fits the mood of the song perfectly.)

(THIS JUST IN I FOUND AN ORCHESTRAL ARRANGEMENT DONE FOR THE TALES OF ORCHESTRA PERFORMANCE AND IT’S BEAUTIFUL PLEASE LISTEN TO THIS MASTERPIECE.)

In any case, TOZ’s soundtrack is amazing. It’s a difficult one to rival.

Other Media

The thing with the other media associated with this game is that there is more of it than I’ve had a chance to explore properly. In any case, I have a few points to make.

I’ve read a little bit of the manga, and look forward to seeing more when it comes out – so far I like how it takes a slightly different approach to telling the game’s story. I’ve also yet to read the novelisation, but that’s something which particularly interests me and I’m certainly going to make time to do it.

As for the anime.

Ah.

Tales of Zestiria the X.

Naturally, it makes differences from the game. That much is a given – if they just retold the game, there wouldn’t be much point in making an anime adaption, right? I also understand that they wanted to fix the controversy about Alisha and Rose – of Alisha’s story not being developed enough and Rose being a bad substitute for her.

Still, I think in their quest to right the wrongs of Alisha and Rose, they have neglected both the other characters and even some aspects of those two characters. In recent episodes, I haven’t felt that Rose was in line with her game characteristics at all – she’s much more negative and seeks revenge openly, something which the game’s Rose did not do since she, like Sorey, has a pure heart. I don’t want to spoil too much, so I won’t go into detail, but it irked me.

Another thing which irks me is some of Sorey’s characterisation – as though there’s no in-between of goofy ruin nerd and the moral shepherd. Alongside that is the relationship between Sorey and Mikleo – I understand that the anime’s point is not to retell their story, but I feel like they downplayed a lot of their dynamic.

(Also, what the heck happened to Zaveid? And why is Lunarre suddenly worthy of redemption? He’s always been a Zagi-like villain to me – a nutcase representing malice who keeps coming back and doesn’t learn, right until the end. It doesn’t make sense to suddenly change his role, in my opinion.)

Of course, it’s also important to remember that there are restrictions that the anime has – for instance, it doesn’t have as much time and space to explore character development in the way that the game does, and the studio budget also affects what kind of anime it can produce.

I think the most important thing is to think of the anime and the game as separate entities, each with their own different and distinct way of telling the story. You as the viewer/player are at liberty to decide which you prefer.

In Conclusion

I feel like Tales of Zestiria will be a game which sticks with me, both for its moral storyline and for its beautiful cast of characters. Though it hasn’t quite overtaken Tales of Vesperia as my favourite game of all time, it’s definitely up there on the list.

This is only the beginning of my thoughts about this game – after all, I only finished it yesterday. I have a feeling there will be more posts about it here in the future.

If you’ve made it this far, thank you so much for reading. Please feel free to message me with headcanons or thoughts – I love discussing this kind of thing!

Here’s to the journey ahead, kids.

#tales of zestiria #toz #toz spoilers #(though i mark where all the spoilers are)#analysis #my thoughts #i only finished the game yesterday and yet here i am #5k words later #optional subtitle: the toz post where i reference tov far too much

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swipestream · 7 years ago

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An Excerpt from CITY OF CORPSES

Yumiko Moth has discovered her name, but she still does not know who, or what, she is. What she has learned is that her mother is dead, her master has disowned her, and her beloved has vanished. And she also knows that the Day world is a very dangerous place for a Twilight girl, especially when the dark forces of Night are hunting her.

To discover the truth she seeks, she must infiltrate the enemy’s citadel. In New York City, that is The Cobbler’s Club, home to the world-famous Peach Cobbler Girls. But how can a girl who stalks the shadows hide herself in the bright lights of the stage? CITY OF CORPSES is the fifth book of MOTH & COBWEB, the astonishing series about magical worlds of Day, Night, and Twilight by John C. Wright.

John C. Wright is one of the living grandmasters of science fiction and the author of THE GOLDEN AGE, AWAKE IN THE NIGHT LAND, and IRON CHAMBER OF MEMORY, to name just three of his exceptional books. He has been nominated for both the Nebula and Hugo Awards, and his novel SOMEWHITHER won the 2016 Dragon Award for Best Science Fiction Novel at Dragon*Con.

* * * * *

Wilcolac spoke in a soft voice, but made each word heavy with emphasis. “We have gathered certain scattered fragments of lore from the one place whence elfin lords never sought to remove it. In the Night World, which is their own, they can find and quell all who might know or guess their secret weakness. We of the Twilight World all vow when we come of age unbreakable oaths, intertwined with runes and curses, never to rebel. But among men, aha! In the Daylit World, the King of Shadows would never suspect the humans retain in rituals and rhymes, in old toasts or old place names, the clues of hidden things the men themselves no longer know!”

Gilberec moved restlessly. Matthias yet again raised his hand, but now Wilcolac spoke. “Your friend, my dear young man of the cloth, seems to be bursting to say something you don’t want him to say. Let us hear it.”

Gilberec said, “We come in Arthur’s name. In whose name do you speak?”

Wilcolac said, “There are those among the Cobwebs who are dissatisfied with the sneers and jeers of elfin lords and the sly looks of their ladies. The elfin blood is pure, their lives are long, and their magic is by nature what we half-breeds can only learn by art or by the crafting of bad bargains with dreadful entities. Their overthrow would please us. Do you support their reign?”

Matthias said wearily, “No one is going to give you a straight answer, Gil, not anyone who knows you are a living lie detector. You are wasting time.”

Gilberec said to him, “I would rather know for sure that he will not be straight with us than to suppose he won’t, without giving him a chance.”

Wilcolac raised both eyebrows. “Giving me a chance…? Your cross-examination is allegedly for my benefit…? I am not willing to say who my principals are. They are not sure whom to trust. That is why they come through me: the Cobbler’s Club is a bit like Switzerland. I have to be careful. If I even appeared to take sides, I would be ruined.”

Gilberec said, “There could be a simpler reason why you know how to break an elfish spell than all this talk of scattered books and Eskimo wizards.”

“And what might that reason be?” asked Wilcolac, assuming an innocent stare.

“You are an Anarchist. Do you deny it?”

Wilcolac took a moment to trim his cigar with a silver knife. He lit it with a spark of flame that seemed to come from the thumb of his white kid-leather glove. “A strange accusation. Here in my club, from time to time, I deal with parties on the wrong side of the law. I hear rumors of a Supreme Council of Anarchists. The oath we all swore to the elfs for some reason does not bind them. They use their supernatural powers to ruin all the institutions the elfs have erected among men as reins and chains, as hoods and horseblinkers. The Anarchists are said to have eyes everywhere, fingers in every pie, to control railways, shipyards, banks, communication nodes, and computer networks. They are said to be behind all the dark deeds that prevent the elfs from enjoying in peace their utter victory over men. But I hear rumors saying the opposite, that the Anarchists are mere agitators or died in the Great War. Supposing they were real: why would I serve them? Anarchy is bad for business.”

“That is not a denial,” Gilberec said to Wilcolac. To Matthias he said, “Come on. Let’s go. This is pointless.”

Yumiko had been listening very intently, glad that no one was looking at her.

But just then she shivered and glanced down. The collie dog had finished his caviar snack and laid himself down at the foot of Gilberec’s chair, placing his furry head on the carpet between his paws so that his bright eyes were staring straight at her.

When Gil stood up, the dog growled and coughed and made a slight sniffing noise. Gilberec turned his head, saw her in her scanty, snug costume, but this time, instead of averting his eyes, he looked at her face. A thoughtful frown creased his brow.

Wilcolac said wryly to Matthias, “At this point in the good-cop, bad-cop routine, you, as the boy good-cop, are supposed to restrain your hotheaded friend to sit again, and this will make me eager to show my cards.”

Matthias smiled and scooped up some caviar on a cracker. “I wish we were that organized. The Swan Knight is no hothead. He is slow to anger, but once he is angry, he is slow to forgive. He feels about truth the way I feel about forgiveness. Guilt and fear and hate tie men to their sins with heavy chains and long so that when they die, their tormented spirits remain on earth, haunting the scenes of their crimes. Without forgiveness, how can they be set free to go onward to their reward? So I have no qualms about entering the house of a Necromancer. You have more need of my services than any!”

Wilcolac said sharply, “What does that mean?”

“I saw a Jack-o’-Lantern in an upper window when I entered this house and smelled the spoor of many hounds. You flay the flesh of men for the benefit of wolves and expose the flesh of women for the benefit of men. Do you think I do not know who you are? What you do here?”

Wilcolac squinted at the young novice, and a look of true hatred appeared, if only for a moment, in his eye. “I think an innocent soul like yours cannot imagine the vices I sell, not even in your most sordid nightmares, little boy.”

Matthias smiled, but his eyes were sad. “You forget. Saint Jean Baptiste is only two streets away. Your patrons come to our confessional booth. My master has heard confessed every detail of all the sins you encourage. But they have been washed away, removed entirely from the dreadful scroll no man can read. I am familiar with your works and your ways, and familiar with how to undo them. You are bold indeed to invite me into your house. Unlike my knightly friend, my weapons are spiritual and cannot be bound in their scabbards. No do my weapons know any truce, nor rest.”

Wilcolac’s fingers tightened on his walking stick, but he said nothing.

An Excerpt from CITY OF CORPSES published first on http://ift.tt/2zdiasi

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