#yasunori is a god

[megaclubdiolis]

[maxwell-grant]

Me, yesterday: Yeah you know, I like M.Bison but I'm really not a fan of him coming back, he's had his time already, he undermines a lot of current characters and storylines by coming back, we really don't need him again, it was always inevitable but I don't know man maybe oh my GOD is that the RAUL JULIA HORSE? 10/10 100/10 bring him back forever

Okay but more seriously: As one of the dead last characters I wanted to come back, the trailer had me totally flip on that stance. I mean yes it helps I'm a mark for the guy, it helps SF6 is infuriatingly good at character presentation even for characters I don't care for, but I actually think they found a very neat way to reintroduce Bison to the series this time around basically by doing to him what they did with Seth: Destroying and rebuilding him as a shell of his former self, with a whole new design, and thus a new personality and angle to approach him from, and in no position to be the Final Boss from the get-go (since it's not like they have much of a story to insert him in). But where as with Seth they leaned into the tragedy of it, Bison is now a ticking time bomb, a looming disaster waiting to happen, which fits him looking like a Horseman of Death.

It was pretty blatant even back in V that Bison was always going to come back, with Phantom Bison existing and Rose's prophecy and characters hallucinating him left and right and all the Shadaloo plot points in 6 spelling it outright. His iconic status aside, his return was telegraphed since forever, so I'm glad that they did it in a way that doesn't actually bring him back all the way to his usual self. Even putting him at the start of a new DLC Year, rather than building a big endgame show out of him like they did with Akuma, also goes a long way towards undercutting the idea that he's coming back to be the Final Boss again.

I'm really impressed with his new design because it is the perfected version of an idea they've been kicking around ever since the drafts for SFIV, that was Bison coming back all battered and torn and fucked-up. Much like older/bearded Ryu, it's an idea they saved into alternate costumes but now are finally willing to go through with as the direction for the character moving onwards. "From riches to rags" is the idea described, and they achieved it by flipping around the kind of old-school overlord he represents. Instead of General Washizaki/Yasunori Kato, he is now Raoh/Violence Jack, the ruler of the wastelands, galloping mightily onwards. (And given Ryu is based on Kenshiro, the biggest villain of this world being Raoh feels like a decision that was waiting to happen)

They've made it so they get to have it both ways: You can have M.Bison in the game looking like his old self with the classic costume, and he's here playable doing all the good Bison stuff and a bunch of new sick shit for you to love, but in the story/lore, he couldn't be further away from being like his old self, and now there is a big mystery box on what is gonna be his deal moving forward. Bison is so well-established to the playerbase that every little thing they do differently can mean something, not just in the design but also in smaller details like his light-blue flames that potentially indicate Soul Power (and that he uses to tame himself in his victory animation), or even the fact that he has visible pupils now.

I think a large part of the pushback against Bison has to do with him being so big in V's storyline and A Shadow Falls dissappointing, and the fear that they'll do it again now that he's back, but there isn't really a storyline for him. The World Tour story is set, the DLC characters add extra stuff to it but are mostly self-contained, I don't think Bison is set to bring another boring world domination plot with him this time around. It's unclear if he even wants it. I could be very wrong here, because I don't want another Bison Doomsday Plot either, I don't want another A Shadow Falls, but my interest is piqued because of how far he seems to be from doing that.

He doesn't know who or what he is, he is a homeless wanderer in Metro City, he is having a hard time keeping his power under control, and Shadaloo is currently warring between factions that want to bring him back and factions trying to ensure he stays dead, nevermind the fact that most if not all of the characters have moved past him (and Ryu still has the power to destroy him, and if Ryu isn't that much fessed up anymore about Akuma, he's definitely not gonna be that concerned about Bison), and the first thing he did when he came back was revive a horse from the dead.

I'm not gonna say this Bison is poised to turn a new leaf, but they did say he is "searching for an identity to make him smile".

Maybe the real world domination was the horses we befriended along the way.

[octopath-traveler-ost]

Octopath Traveler - Final Boss Compilation

[pokemonruby]

octopath being snubbed for best score is especially surreal like even if it isn't one of those big-time mainline game series that are typically showcased at the awards you absolutely cannot deny the unparalleled genius of yasunori nishiki's compositions. especially with the smooth transitions between the day and night osts in the second game and the individual character themes, the soundtrack perfectly encapsulates the scenic, immersive, and stunning atmospheres the game's world has to offer, as well as the intense emotional beats during each of the travelers' stories, and not to mention the godly boss themes, and it absolutely never fails to deliver. octopath is not just a game but a bona fide work of art in genuinely every aspect and it pains me to see it being overlooked like this. team asano features some of the most gifted developers in the industry and god forbid they deserve more recognition.

[nebuvoid]

listening to octopath2's battle songs again and god what absolute bangers. genuinely some of the best video game songs ive heard in my 20+ years of gaming. makes me want to take yasunori nishiki's hand and kiss it like a knight vowing loyalty

[hecku-luna]

Day 25: Music that gets you pumped

Carrying the Weight of Life - Xenoblade Chronicles 3

Did you know? Xenoblade Chronicles is a REALLY GOOD TRILOGY and also the music fucks so unbelievably hard! God, Xenoblade Chronicles... Xenoblade Chronicles

[jupiterswasphouse]

WASP REVIEW - VARIOUS (BUBSY)

[Image ID: Two screenshots of the wasp from Bubsy In Fractured Furry Tales /End IDs.]

Yep, you read that right, we're covering this bobcat bastard today, or at least, some of his adversaries. This may be a short one though, just a quick, mostly-visual analysis because, understandably, people aren't exactly out here doing a whole lot to document Bubsy enemies. Regardless, we do still have a few different bugs we can have a look at here!

Starting with what we've already seen here, the first wasp in this franchise, the one from Fractured Furry Tales! And honestly? It has that Bubsy stink on it but it looks mostly alright. Obviously, the head is inaccurate, the cone "nose", the teeth, and mammalian eyes are all absolutely wrong, and I have to say, the mid-gameplay sprite makes the presence of antennae unclear. But otherwise, in the above screenshot on the left, we can clearly see that this is based on some form of black and yellow species within the genus Polistes, possibly Polistes dominula, although the markings are not quite right, especially around the mesosoma. The leg count is right, although, the wing count is unclear (it looks like they only have two). The antennae are clearly present here, and they look alright apart from the color. They seem fairly straight apart from the "elbow" bend around the pedicel, which would be about accurate for a female paper wasp, which, surely this wasp would have to be, given the presence of a stinger.

[Image Source: Wikimedia Commons, Charles J. Sharp | Image ID: A photo of a black and yellow European paper wasp, Polistes dominula, on a grey stone surface /End ID.]

One thing that I can take note of that's not more on the visual side of things is that these enemies seem to attack with extreme prejudice regardless of the presence of a hive as well as doing so without provocation, this is strange, as wasps will only attack when provoked or if alarmed in defense of the hive. Although I suppose one could say that the presence of Bubsy The Bobcat in their vicinity is enough provocation for anyone to get murderous (As evidenced by the behind the scenes stories of Bubsy's development). Speaking of their murderous intent, venom from a single wasp would not be enough to kill a cat, however, given that these wasps appear to be roughly two feet in length, assuming Bubsy is a similar size to a real bobcat, it may be possible that the dose administered by these giant Vespids would be enough to grievously injure the iconically beloathed platforming mascot.

However, these aren't the only Hymenopterans Bubsy has to deal with! Enter, first, the least documented enemy here, the Hornets from the critically just ok 2019 platformer Bubsy: Paws on Fire!

[Image ID: An image of the Hornets from Bubsy: Paws On Fire! /End ID.]

... Yeah this is the only image I can really find of them. Still, we can see these enemies only really have a basic resemblance to real hornets, with an almost reptilian head-shape (Gex, is that you?) with teeth, too-bright solid colors with no real markings to speak of, once again an alright pair of antennae (although not long enough), heads that are too big, red eyes with no ocelli, only two wings as opposed to the four they should have, and only four completely unsegmented legs. Things are not looking good for this depiction, it's almost funny (Providing humor, in a first for the Bubsy franchise).

[Image Source: Wikimedia Commons, Yasunori Koide | Image ID: An image of a black and orange Asian giant hornet on a white background /End ID.]

Well, we do have one more, from Bubsy: The Woolies Strike Back! It's a bee this time. Although this one doesn't seem to have been specifically made for this game, it's allegedly an unused asset from Giana Sisters: Twisted Dreams! Let's just have a look here an-

[Image ID: A render of the bee model from Bubsy: The Woolies Strike Back /End ID.]

OH, GOD... Well, I do believe this one speaks for itself. If this review was just about this affront to nature of then we'd probably be looking at an automatic 0/10, however, the other foes faced by this fearsome feline shown here do a little bit of work to make up for it, although not enough to cleanse my soul of having witnessed it, so, with that said-

-

Overall: 4/10

-

Leave your wasp review suggestion in the replies, tags, or askbox!

[journeyfortreasure]

The Gate of Finis & Daughter of the Dark God - OCTOPATH TRAVELER Break, Boost, and Beyond Live!

[celestriix]

the fact that octopath 2 didnt even get a nomination for best score is so upsetting

the love i have for yasunori nishiki and his work oh my god

[goodshipskypirate]

YESSSSSSSSSSSS DEVELOPER'S ROOM!

God, more games need to do these. I love finding the secret developer's room!

I'm so glad you acknowledged that, too! Them Solstice Kids are a menace to our sleep schedule!

Oh hey, you share the same name as the Brisk Champion. I'm guessing with the same brunette hair and beard, YOU are the one the rest of the studio based that character on. That must have been fun.

SIR YOU ARE A LEGEND AND I LOVED SO MUCH OF THE MUSIC YOU'VE PUT OUT. CHRONO CROSS' OST HAS BEEN ALTERING MY BRAIN SINCE 2000.

Wow, the Yasunori Mitsuda, nothing can top tha-

Never mind! Everybody shut up! There's a dog! A doggo! A doggie! The best! The text box is 100% true, I suddenly do feel a weight lifted now that I saw dog! What a good doggie! Yes, you are!

[roebeanstalk]

sea of stars is phenomenal, god

giving me all the golden sun & chrono trigger vibes with none of the slog. this game feels buttery and pretty. turn based combat works and is legit exciting and feels live. music is, of course, phenomenal (ty yasunori mitsuda). i love the party, the world mechanics, and the general magic system. like, narratively *and* gameplay wise. ahhhh

[ruinsoftime]

Radical Dreamers ～盗めない宝石～ Radical Dreamers -Le Trésor Interdit-

Chrono Cross Orchestral Arrangement (2019) Arranged by Kosuke Yamashita Music by Yasunori Mitsuda

Tracklist: 01. Chrono Cross -Scars Of Time 02. Arni (Home World) / Shore of Dreams (Another World) 03. Whirlwind / The Brink of Death 04. The Girl who Stole the Stars / Dreams of the Ages 05. Bound by Fate 06. The Frozen Flame / Dragon God 07. The Darkness of Time / Life -A Distant Promise- / Reminisce -Enduring Thoughts- 08. Radical Dreamers -Le Trésor Interdit-

[landgraabbed]

tagged by the amazing @doomcathedral! tagging @leonbastralle @vanoefucks @honeysofte @woohooincoffin @cyazurai @sforzinda / @quietwaters. ofc feel free to not do it either!!

live well - palace always with me - yumi kimura nice to see you - vansire, floor cry don't fear the reaper - blue öyster cult green valley - puscifer rabid bits of time - chad vangaalen atlas hands - benjamin francis leftwich accordion - madvillain bloodflood - alt-j bloodflood, part ii - alt-j estou além - antónio variações daughter of the dark god - yasunori nishiki

[octopath-traveler-ost]

"Daughter of the Dark God" - By Yasunori Nishiki

[uniquegamerecs]

August 2023 Update

Hope you're having a good summer! Here's some games that came out last month that I missed:

The Banished Vault - Very Positive reviews, sci-fi strategy with a great art style!

Garage: Bad Dream Adventure - Very Positive reviews, looks very gnarly and weird (I say this lovingly)

The elephant in the room here is Baldur's Gate 3 on August 3rd, which doesn't need little old me advertising it. 😉

Stray Gods: The Roleplaying Musical comes out August 10th. I played the demo a while back and it was a little slow, but I respect the concept of making a fully voiced-and-sang visual novel. And its got a star-studded cast!

Sea of Stars releases on August 29 - difficult for me to recommend because I hated the studios other game, The Messenger. But it looks just gorgeous, and the soundtrack is by Yasunori Mitsuda, so I'm grudgingly keeping an eye on it.

En Garde! - August 16 (One of my favorite demos in June's Next Fest!)

The Cosmic Wheel of Sisterhood - August 16 (witchy roleplaying tarot-deck maker?)

Fort Solis - August 22 (story-driven FPS space walking sim)

Under the Waves - August 29 (story-driven undersea sad man game)

[vg-music-i-like]

Indol (Day) ~ Our Eternal Land // Xenoblade Chronicles 2

Lyrics:

Our eternal land is keeping us in warm embrace Some must carry on God's will, oh

And some must face the dark, it's in father's wishes we live Let us come together, we must never give up

Let those people see, guide the ones who cannot hear Voices guide us through, words from above, we are the chosen ones

We are softly in those wings safely held up high As we sleep in silence feel no fear, I know he'll stand by (I just know it) Guardian angels, they too will keep us safe

Our path we chose is cold and the dark has no place to dream Must we go on? Will we ever prevail and smile in peace?

Our eternal land is keeping us in warm embrace We're the chosen ones from up above the holy sky