Eluvianii

Read the first volume of Tearmoon Empire on a whim and got hooked. I haven't read any other stories in the genre of MC going back in time after dying to fix everything, but I suspect this is not the way they usually go. I swear, this story knows how to do exactly one thing and one thing only, but I don't get tired of that thing. The protagonist will come up with a plan to change a certain aspect of the future she comes from, she'll fail miserably, but her failure will actually accomplish what she was trying to do, a lot better than she was trying, a critical success. And she won't even realize it. It's so dumb and kind of adorable and actually pretty cozy, this is something I could end up binging. We'll see.

So I got Final Fantasy XV recently and while I don't plan on starting it yet (playing 3 long jrpgs simultaneously seems like a bad idea), I did start the, uh, preparations. According to this one guide I found, there's a number of things I may want to do before starting the game, so I figured I could at least do that. Should be a good source of hype. All that to say, I just finished A King's Tale. For a short tie-in it was really good. Looks like a beat em up, but plays like a hack n slash. Not enough 2d hack n slashes out there. Combat is fun, though maybe a little excessive? There's a lot of it. But considering it takes like an hour to beat as it is, it's no big deal. It's a cute little story and it already started to set expectations for the game. I like it. I don't think I'll be doing the dream fights, but I like that even those are worked into the story. Guess the next step is an unavailable demo, a short story, and a trailer.

Reverie is the hardest Vantage Masters gets. I kinda gave up on the last few opponents in favor of actually finishing the game. May try a bit harder on a second run. Pom was cake tho.

Unless it's an anime original which, tend to be pretty great actually. We need more of those.

Counter take: It is and that's why we like it.

Love that thing. It's much more fleshed out than I expected.

Watched a few October appropriate movies because October. A few I had already watched like Shaun of the Dead and Haunted Mansion (good movies both of them), but others were entirely new to me. The Black Cauldron: Not horror or even horror-adjacent, but the aesthetic seemed close enough. Fun movie, likable party. I'll probably change my mind once I read the books this is based on, but as it stands it's a good watch. The Ritual: Oh boy, had someone told me that Nordic horror was a thing I would have watched this a lot sooner. Small but very well done cast, they do the group discord thing but without making me hate life, which is an achievement. Villain is really cool, themes can be heavy but don't make the movie any less enjoyable. All around a great horror movie. When Evil Lurks: I didn't even know this existed until a friend suggested it. And, well, as a resident of Latin America, my expectations of cinema from over here are... low. Well I'll think twice before I judge a movie that way next time, this is easily one of the best horror movies I've ever seen. Or hey, honeymoon period right? Let's say in the last few years to be safe, but I do mean it. The movie can be uncomfortably human at times. And I don't mean "Oh, human nature can be messed up." kind of way. This movie doesn't depict hypothetical bottom of the barrel human beings, doing the absolute worst humanity is capable of. It shows things that are bad, but tame. Enough to be normal. Enough that I can see my family acting like that, and I absolutely hate it. The movie also has some pretty intricate lore that it barely explains and it's very fun to put together. It's a possession movie, but I had never seen one like this. Like, this is no Exorcist, I don't even fully understand what's going on in this movie, but it's cool as hell. Uh, if anyone does read this and is interested, I should probably warn about a less than sensible depiction of autism in the movie, in a major character no less. But aside from that, yeah, masterpiece. Dawn of the Dead: I watched Night of the Living Dead last year, so it was natural to watch this next. It was absolutely not what I expected coming from the first one. Because that movie can be kinda dark, you know, especially towards the end. But here? Well sure, there are dark moments, those are inevitable, but the tone is light enough for a popcorn watch. And it's just so well done. The premise is simple enough, and the 2004 version proves that it's not bullet proof. You want to make this premise into a good movie you'll need good characters. And that's exactly what this movie has. I adore the cast of this movie. The relationships they have with each other, their best and worst moments, the way they act when having fun and the way they act when their lives are in danger. It's amazing. Roger and Peter have to be one of the best duos ever, I'd watch a whole series just about those two. Is this the kind of variety I can expect from Romero's movies? If so I'm so here for it, can't wait to see what comes next.

Finished Resident Evil 2 Remake. Proud Assisted run. Leon A in 8:44 and Claire B in 6:46. That was a really good game. Good B-movie fun, in certain aspects it's a downgrade from the original but in others it's an upgrade. The extra story they gave the side characters was great. By far the worst part of the game was roaming Mr X, sounded good in concept, but found out fast I didn't like it. Scripted was better. Unlocking the station door by door is still a dopamine rush, and cheating some things in second run with the knowledge from the first one feels good, must be intended. Anette best character. I still love the Leon/Claire duo. Both here and in every game and movie after they're a strange pair that is nothing alike, they sit on opposite sides of the personality scale, their priorities are different, and their routes reflect that. The game doesn't even go for the unlikely couple trope. They're just two friends living their separate lives apart from the other, but on the rare occasion they do meet, they're extremely in tune. Especially if there's some emergency to solve (the only times they seem to meet). Love that. Route b ending is cathartic, even if Sherry's behavior seems out of place, but I'll chalk that up to coping, and the ending theme is amazing. Great game.

I've had Maria's voice in my head saying "Ha-ppy Haroween!" the whole day. So uh yeah, happy Halloween.

I discovered a spell called Implosion today. With a live demonstration. It sure is a thing.

Finished the first main dungeon in Metaphor: ReFantazio after that excellent demo. So far it's been really fun and honestly kinda challenging. At least if you try to finish the dungeon in a single day. It uses the same structure as Persona so I'm not particularly thrilled to come back to that "two activities each day" kind of schedule, but other than that it looks like a great experience. The music and the art are so good that it makes me think Meguro and Soejima are being held back by having to stick to the expectations with Persona's style. If this is what it looks like when they let loose, they should do it more often. Looking forward to the rest of the game.

That line can get dangerously close. I got INFP because of 51% feeling vs 49% thinking.

I'm curious too honestly. On the Shard specifically.

Honestly, the superhero comparison is on point, but I don't think it's a bad thing. More like the intended development. This was always going to be a story about hundreds of very powerful characters fighting hundreds of other very powerful characters, almost like a Marvel thing. But of course the heroes' powers were long gone, the teachings lost, and the HQ abandoned. And the process of recovering the powers, regaining some knowledge, and taking back HQ took a whole four books. Now we're just finally seeing the intended tone of the series after such a long preparation period. As for the character moments feeling fanservicey, good. We've been waiting a long time for this, why shouldn't we be rewarded with those moments? I saw Kal fall back down over and over for four books, why shouldn't I get to see him genuinely ok, if only for a little while (as for Syladin, wouldn't have guessed it in a million years but I'm down if he can pull it off)? I saw Shallan hide herself from everyone out of fear of rejection for four books, why shouldn't I get to see her bask in the love of the people around her once she finally opens up and removes the knife she had to her own throat? These moments didn't come out of nowhere, there's been buildup. Thousands of pages of buildup. And after this we're skipping 15 years, maybe losing some characters too. These moments have been a long time coming and this may well be the last chance we get to see them, so I'm just grateful we're actually seeing them. As for the general tone, faster pace, less seriousness, I may be sinning here but this is the tone I've been hoping for since WoR. Don't get me wrong, I've loved every book, but they were just so dark. Probably necessary given the focus on mental health, but this back and forth between a character feeling worthless, then feeling slightly less worthless, then feeling even worse than before has been very exhausting. A rollercoaster up and down might be a lot easier to take if the highs were actually high, and, finally, that's what I'm getting here. Kal looks very contented, almost happy. Shallan has found a place to belong to, and isn't just pretending. Szeth is travelling with the world's first therapist. Navani has found her self worth. Etc. I can take another fall after this, because I finally feel like the suffering in previous books was worth it. There's finally something to come back to instead of just vaguely hoping that things aren't as brutal next book. So just in that regard, WaT is setting off to become my favorite.

Technically it's allowed if you contribute something new. That link however has nothing to do with what he said so this is probably spam...

Agreed, pretty much every character whose pov we've seen so far has had something to make me believe they'll die. I'm just making my peace at this point but it may also be a way to keep us guessing. And honestly, all the death flags are just a representation of what Hoid said to Kal, that this is so uncertain that literally everyone may die, but there's nothing sure. I'm gonna be mad if they kill any of the kids tho. I'm getting a Lift book and she better be alive for it.

Woah, just caught up for the last 6 weeks or so. Sneaky Brandon. If he gives literally everyone a death flag, we won't know who'll actually die. Or they all might, idk. Guys, you all seem to be contextualizing Szeth calling Kal a coward as an insult, and that would be out of character. But I don't think it was an insult. Szeth perceives that, he believes it to be true, and he can't see the truth as an insult. He's even confused about why Kal was bothered by it. Fascinating perspective really, he's probably conditioned to it too. Years ago he was told a "truth" and was forced to let it ruin his life for years. Long enough that he just had to accept it as fact and separate his emotions from it. Now he expects everyone to be just as disconnected as he is, which obviously leads to conflict without him even noticing. He's probably a lot more confident in what he perceives as fact now that he isn't Truthless too. After these last few chapters I think I'm on board with the Champion Gavinor theory. Oh yeah, saw a discussion a few threads back about the drawing of Urithiru, and some of the spren being gray. Well, I just read that chapter yesterday, and the current picture of Urithiru shows all the spren as white. Not sure why the change happened but, just mentioning it. Love the tactical discussion, need more military intrigue in the series.

It's Ace Attorney. I have liked mysteries in video games before, but I went in expecting those to be interactive. Books on the other hand were a bit of a surprise so it's those I'd really like to know more about. I see. Well, if he does announce a cancellation I guess I'll just read it regardless. Hope it doesn't happen though. Just knowing there are still plans for the series even after that is a relief in itself. Ah nice, thanks. This'll really bloat the folder, might have to start using two different ones (it's clogged with Trails already).

Oh. God, they've done it. I was, you know, contented. I expected Battler to come back but I thought it'd be left as something for the player to believe in you know. When he actually appeared it was like the last weight the story had left was finally lifted. And it all clicked together, of course, Battler was also 18 years old, this way the statement that he died remains true, and this way it makes sense that he would write about the Ushiromiya tragedy. He didn't feel it was his family after all, it's perfect. I was content. But that final scene. I just couldn't keep it together, 200 hours of emotions just came out with a crash. That was perfect. Come this point I couldn't possibly ask for anything else from this story. The circle was closed, these characters can finally rest. And I will miss them so much. I'm also confused as to how Lion left the board but I won't question it. The ship is true in my heart. Well, this story accomplished something that I think even Higurashi didn't quite do. It interested me in mysteries. Tbh I always dismissed mystery as a genre. I may have thought it synonimous with cop thriller and little else. It never crossed my mind that they were an interactive thing, a series of well placed clues for the reader to find and solve. Well, I'm, interested now. I want to find more of these and try to solve them. This story just pulls you into the genre whether you want it or not. Guess I'm not exactly done with the series but I believe the thread fulfilled its purpose. I might come back to post my thoughts on something or other from time to time, but it won't be this post per session thing anymore. Looking forward to the Higurashi console arcs, which I heard were just recently fully translated, and I don't think I'll start Ciconia until there are news of the second episode. Heard Ryukishi is pretty tied up with Konami atm. Thank you for keeping me company through this journey. It's like Beato said, mysteries are more fun with two people. I'll have to do my part if I manage to convince someone to play. I expect it will be fun to see their theories. Hell, I'm not out of there myself, at some point I have to solve the individual crimes. That should be fun. Now, I have to hunt down the CGs to fill my wallpaper folder.

Alright, for once, my calculations were flawless. Kinda, sorta, almost. I finished right around the time I wanted to. The main story that is. Apparently even Episode 8 has a tea party. Well, bring it on. But it'll have to be tomorrow. Today, I'm happy with my session. Plus, my head is killing me. Whatever may be left can hold the title of the fabled October 6th that finally came. Well, the ending came. And it was the same ending that was announced at the beginning of the episode. However, the episode itself did a pretty amazing job of warming me up to it. I'm not quite ready to feel safe of course, anything could happen in a tea party and a secret tea party. To be perfectly honest. The ending was so final I'm genuinely surprised there is one. Only loose threads that come to mind are Okonogi's plot to kill Ange, but that should have been resolved when she literally left everything to him. It could also be some kind of post-game foreshadowing the way Higurashi had (still completely clueless about what that was all about btw). Or I guess it could be an actual tea party. Easy to forget those are a thing. Well the battle in the Golden Land was good. Kinzo's "sacrifice" was cool as hell. Rudolf and Kyrie having synchronized aim is an interesting couple achievement. Rosa was cool, I liked Rosa, hope that reflects her actual feelings. Krauss punching Erika was good. And seeing Dlanor genuinely angry was chilling. You know, there is something about the way witches and voyagers and creators are described that really makes me feel the scale of it. We see next to nothing about the world these characters live in and it still felt bigger than anything I could imagine for a moment. It's, strange. He convinced me of it with a few paragraphs of narration. Ok, Erika got to stay. I genuinely don't know how. They even announced earlier that she was just a piece in this specific board and she would disappear. Yet here she is. Ah, to be around back in like 2011, and help Lambda reach top 5 in the popularity poll. Hope she made it, she earned it. Oh yeah, did both choices get the same ending? I chose magic. Man, I think Battler has become my favorite protagonist at this point. Gonna miss the dude. Well, he'll always be around. In the fighting spin-off. Oh, right, Auau. First time I see her fighting actively. It was ridiculously cool. Whatever fight scene she may come up with later won't be a fraction as cool as her pulling out a pen and writing "She dies." Her horns got busted in the past too. Did we see that? Higurashi? Or an as of yet unspecified moment in time? Oh, I think it's fun that Lambda calls Featherine a monster. It's like a reflection of that time Miyo called Hanyuu a monster. Dude, that final scene between Beatrice and Battler. It hurts. It's like a more sincere version of what happened with Kinzo. Wherever they are I hope they're happy. What a journey seriously. It's strange but it has made me appreciate stories as a concept even more, somehow. It's so bold, the way it prioritizes its themes over making sense as a story, and even then the way it manages to actually make sense at the very end. The fun the author clearly had while writing this. The way it took abstract concepts and turned them into characters and places and events. At times it feels more like an essay about its own genre than a story itself. And its concept of magic which changed so many times until reaching a final form that seems so simple and obvious by itself, but has such a big significance once you've gone through the story. It has seriously revised, replaced even, my concept of what a story can be. I really don't know what I'm gonna do once I'm done with the tea party. I spent so long on this it became something of a status quo, a place to return to. I didn't have to worry about these characters, I could just boot up the game and see them again. Well, as of tomorrow, not anymore. And after two years that's a scary thought. I'm both looking forward to it, and wishing I could postpone it. But I've postponed it enough.

The book was a series of pictures that led me to believe Beatrice's plan proceeded as scheduled, but there wasn't a whole lot to go by. By the looks of it it was fairly similar to Episode 7's tea party. Whether or not Kyrie and Rudolph are actually the culprits, well, I wouldn't be too surprised. It was implied at some point that their company was the most in trouble, I actually think it's the only one we get to see a meeting of? And Kyrie is the most end justifies the means person around. Bern did say she just made that fragment up and that it was Ange's fault for believing but I fully believe she could be lying there, so.

Alright, I'm gonna do the bit. No plans for tomorrow, it should work out. I'm spending October 4th and 5th in Rokkenjima. It's the best possible way to close this I believe. Honestly, there seems to be a lot less left than I imagined. I mean, content-wise I was about right, but length-wise, it's going lightning fast. I only read a little under 3 hours today, but so much happened it could be half an episode. I was prepared to spend the whole afternoon here, but I do want to finish on the 5th, so the plan was to stop right before the climax, which I think I accomplished. Stopped at the beginning of a chapter with Siege in the name. Alright fine, I'll accept it. Everyone's dead dammit. I kept hoping for the happy fragment but no such luck. Not saying I don't like how things are going, but just imagine what could have been. At this point I have to wonder why Erika continues to worship Bern, but I should probably give up on that. Maybe it's the kind of person she aspires to be or something. Dude I swear, Lambda should stop being nice. I'm starting to like her and I don't want to. Heard she really lets loose in Higurashi Gou, I don't need to carry the expectations of her being a decent being into that. Well, don't know what was in that book. My guess is either Ange was right and it was a simple accident, or the culprit was everyone, in a desperate move not to end up in poverty. No one was going to reach the answer if they expect a real life crime to follow the rules of fiction I suppose. And if that was the case, it'd be a problem for Ange to find out not only because it shatters her hope of someone coming back, but because it probably paints every single member of her family in a terrible light. Battler's point being that a single day of desperation doesn't erase all the years that came before. Which I agree with. I feel like I like this cast a lot more now that I know all the worse things they're capable of, than in the beginning when they really wanted you to think it's all a front. Same thing happened in Higurashi, at first all the SoL came off as generic and maybe a bit forced, but once you get to know the worst side of everyone it's hard to imagine a more sincere and tight-knit group of friends. Probably the best part of both stories for me. Which actually makes them hard to recommend because the best part is, thematically at least, a spoiler. Now, it's amazing that this is happening so close to the end but the bit in the future is... confusing. I like it really, Ange makes the wrong choice and jumps off. A miracle happens and she survives. She gets to live happily for a while and medetashi medetashi. Whatever happens when she regains her memories becomes a new choice. Thing is I'd find it a bit baffling if she just chooses to become the most prolific Forger around. Maybe this is a Fate kind scenario where she meets herself from a fragment where she messed up as a cue not to do the same. Ideally in a perfect future she'd be in a similar position but instead of writing unflattering stories about her own family, she does what she just promised to do and spreads the magic. Not the perfect future I wanted but the one I can still get. Now, if we can just continue those dangling threads with Amakusa, Okonogi, and Kyrie's family that'd be cool. Looking forward to tomorrow. I'm prepared to read for as long as necessary. Historically I'm terrible at guessing how long a game has left (finished CS4 in a 15-hour session thanks to that kind of miscalculation, plus a whole lot of stubbornness), but really, I can't see this lasting that much longer. I mean, we do have a final battle in two realities happening, plus presumably a last chance to shine for like 30 characters, but I still think that a full day of reading should be enough.

New Band-Maid album!

No melee but also keep a dagger or 10 on your person at all times just in case. Edit: Also crossbow. One of the most dangerous things a caster can do is think they don't need weapons. A melee one for those times you're next to the enemy against your will, and a ranged one, because spells don't solve everything. And 200 bolts if you have a bag of holding or handy haversack.

I just got a ps4 which has distracted me from other games I was supposed to be playing. But whatever I'll get over it, I'll just enjoy that initial high for now. Meanwhile, I'm two and a half chapters into Shin Sakura Wars atm. Really loving this game and regretting playing it at the same time. There's so much weight put into how amazing the original cast was that I feel bad not having played their games. Then again, only the fifth game was officially localized to my knowledge, and only the first one has been fan translated. Frustrating. Well, I'm in too deep and enjoying it too much to stop now. I'll just finish and then go back to the first game. I did hear that 2 and 3 have ongoing fan projects so hopefully that goes well. While that happens I'll continue to have the opening stuck in my brain because, it's good. It's really good. The kind of song that motivates you to fix your life when it randomly plays while riding the bus. Also playing Control. Love the vibe of this game, it's the entire opposite angle from Alan Wake and I just love discovering more about the world. It's also one of the games I've played that succeeds the most at being cinematic. It doesn't rely on its graphics for it, there's some really cool style going on here and I love it. Combat is fast and fun, health pools are low on all sides. Either you die in 5 seconds or the enemy does, but the combat will be over in 5 seconds regardless. Just wish the loading screens when I'm the one dying weren't quite so long.