#3d function plot

[moeblob]

It's my birthday tomorrow so I'm indulging with more OCs as a treat to me personally.

Halibut the wonderful mute (by choice) siren thinking about how in another universe, she can marry Tolliver. The other universe is Tomodachi Life. She married Tolliver in Tomodachi Life and I'm so normal about them being married and happy since they do not in fact get married and happy in canon. (thank you 3ds crack fodder game i love you and think about you often)

[padawan-snack-packer]

[You Give Them a Hug — Bad Batch (+ Omega!) Edition]

(aka: You broke them. And now they’re in love with you forever.)

So you peeps seemed to love the Clones Edition over here, so here is the Bad Batch version of it!!!

⚠️ TW: Not Canon. Just Vibes. ⚠️

This post contains: – Excessive hugging. – Deeply non-canon affection. – Clones feeling emotions they were not properly equipped to process. – A concerning lack of military professionalism. – Irreversible softness.

If you're looking for canon compliance, emotional restraint, or literally any kind of plot... you're in the wrong galaxy, sweetheart.

This is just me projecting unhinged love onto traumatized war orphans with muscles.

Proceed at your own risk. Hug responsibly. 💥🤗💥

Hunter

You hug Hunter and he just… stops functioning.

Like you initiated it mid-mission and this man has full-on emotion-induced lag.

“...Why’d you do that?”

“Because I wanted to.”

Loading Hunter.exe

He gives you this soft, stunned look like he didn’t know he needed physical affection until just now.

His return hug is slow, careful, warm. His arms wrap around your back and he doesn’t squeeze—he holds.

Stays silent for a moment. Then a low murmur: “...thanks. I needed that.”

From that point on, it’s Hunter Hug Radar Mode™.

You’re sad? He’s already moving.

You’re happy? Hug.

You yawned vaguely near him? “You look tired. C’mere.”

Somehow always smells like leather, dirt, and safety. It's like hugging your childhood treehouse and a protective panther.

Wrecker

OH.

OH YOU’RE IN FOR IT NOW.

You hug Wrecker and he goes FULL GOLDEN RETRIEVER MELTDOWN.

“AWwwwWWWWWWW!!! C’mere!!!”

Picks you up. Swings you. Spins you around until you’re dizzy and giggling and possibly concussed.

His hugs are LIFE-THREATENINGLY STRONG. Like being hit with a loving freight train.

“You’re the best! I’m gonna hug you every day forever now!!”

Immediately makes you a “You Hugged Wrecker” award out of scrap metal. It has glitter glue.

He initiates hugs constantly now. If you don’t hug him back fast enough, he starts whining like a sad bantha.

Tells Crosshair about the hug with tears in his eyes. Crosshair pretends not to care.

“They hugged me, man. Me!! WRECKER!!”

“Yeah, yeah. Don’t start crying again.”

Tech

You hug Tech and it’s like hugging a 3D-printed anxiety machine.

Freezes.

“Wh—what are you doing? Is this…physical bonding? Are you malfunctioning? Am I??”

Absolutely stiff as a board. One arm hovers near your back like he's trying to remember what humans do.

You explain it’s just a hug. Tech mutters: “Hmmm. Fascinating. Increases oxytocin. Improves cardiovascular health. Reduces cortisol. Hm.”

But then you do it again.

And he goes quiet.

Softer.

Then his hands gently rest on your back and he melts like butter under a Tatooine sun.

You pull away and he clears his throat 14 times and then gives you a 12-slide presentation on “the measurable benefits of repeat physical affection among squadmates (with graphs).”

Secretly loves it. Won’t say it, but builds you a hug simulator in case he’s unavailable.

Crosshair

Oh.

OH YOU BRAVE, BRAVE FOOL.

You hug Crosshair and it’s like hugging a sniper rifle possessed by the ghost of unresolved trauma.

“...What the kriff are you doing?”

Arms at his sides. Staring down at you like you're a wild animal. Clearly thinking “kill or cuddle?”

You say “just hugging you.” And he just…blinks. Once. Twice.

Then you feel it: the tiniest shift. He leans in. One hand—just one—lands gently at your waist.

It’s not a full hug. It’s not even half a hug.

It’s 0.5 seconds of fragile vulnerability.

Then he pulls back and growls “Don’t make a big deal out of it.” …But his ears are pink. And he doesn’t move away from you for the rest of the day.

Later that week, you find a ration bar left on your bunk. It’s the good flavor.

Written in Sharpie on the wrapper: "Since you like touching people. Here's something to touch your mouth." (he tried)

Echo

Echo is a man held together by trauma, stubbornness, and like...two screws and a charging port.

You hug Echo and it’s like hugging a haunted vending machine with trust issues.

He doesn’t react at first. Just stiffens. Hard. Like his brain didn’t even register this as an available interaction option.

“...Why?” he asks, very quietly. Not suspicious. Not annoyed. Just… genuinely confused. Like he doesn’t think people do that to him anymore.

You say, “Because you deserve it.” And he. Short circuits.

It’s all in the eyes. That distant, shell-shocked clone stare goes soft. And sad. You get half a breath of “I don’t—” before his voice goes hoarse and he just leans in.

One arm—cold metal, whirring servos—wraps around you. The other presses tight, his hand fisting in the back of your shirt like he’s scared you’ll vanish.

His forehead rests on your shoulder. You feel him exhale. And it’s the sound of a man finally letting go of a weight he’s carried since the Citadel.

When he pulls back, his face is unreadable. But he says “...Thanks,” with such quiet, aching sincerity it wrecks you for 48 hours.

The next time you get hurt, Echo’s at your side before the medic droid.

He doesn’t hug you again right away. But he touches your shoulder now. Bumps your arm. Stays close.

Then one day—randomly, silently—he hugs you first. No words. Just that same warm, quiet grip. Like saying: I’m still here. And so are you.

Omega

YOU HUG OMEGA??

SHE SHRIEKS WITH GLEE AND TACKLES YOU LIKE A TINY STAR-WARS THEMED KOALA.

“HUG TIME!!!”

Wraps every limb around you like she’s a baby monkey and you’re a tree.

Refuses to let go for 10 minutes. It’s warm. It’s pure. It’s the most healing hug in galactic history.

Immediately declares you her “hug buddy.”

Makes you a friendship bracelet with “❤️ HUGS THUGS 4 LIFE ❤️” on it.

Tries to get the rest of the squad to join in. “Group hug! Come on! HUNTAH YOU’RE NOT TA COOL FOR LOVE.”

Eventually becomes hug ambassador. Sneak attacks everyone until the whole squad is touch-positive.

Hunter now does “the forehead touch.” Wrecker hugs everyone at breakfast. Tech nods politely and lets her sit in his lap. Crosshair lets her hug him while muttering “don’t tell anyone.”

🧸 BONUS: Bad Batch Group Hug™

You say “GROUP HUG” and Wrecker YEETS HIMSELF AT YOU FIRST.

Omega screams “YESSSS!!” and jumps on like a koala.

Tech mutters “Oh no it’s happening again” and gets absorbed into the chaos.

Crosshair stands two meters away looking like a feral cat. But you hold out your hand and he sighs, grumbles, and slinks in like he’s being drafted into a cult.

It’s warm. It’s slightly sweaty. Someone’s armor is digging into your hip. But everyone’s breathing slows down. There’s peace.

You say “I love you guys” and Hunter goes silent. Then softly replies: “Yeah. You too.”

[fallloverfic]

Thoughts on To Be Hero X Episode 3: The Ever-Standing Hero

Another great episode!

The animation's still so lovely. I do like what they're doing with the 3D, but I'm just imagining how much more fun a full 2D animated series in the style they use would be. It looks so nice and I love whenever they use it, though this episode they kind of cranked up the horror, at least for the downsides of Firm Man's powers.

I like they still focus on Lin Ling's regret. They could have easily moved on, and many shows do, but obviously he feels doubts, and maybe that ties into his increased anxiety he mentions as part of his perfect powers. I also appreciate they incorporate it a bit into his movements (e.g., with the soda cans, and even how he moves around spaces). OCD can be really debilitating. They haven't really shown the full breadth of it (though the at least vague implication it's maybe what led Nice to jump is there, I suppose), so it'll be interesting to see how it's explored in future.

Apparently Nice's Hero Tower floor number is actually a 12, not a 10, but also not a 15. So did Lin Ling drop in the rankings to 15 from Nice's 12 at some point? Wouldn't really make sense because he seemingly didn't move rooms, unless they just did it without showing us...

It's a really weird way to draw a two, though.

Also did that one guy get smashed to bits against Firm Man adlkjal I know the show opened with an apparent suicide, but wow lol

This is me.

I also just want to compliment how nice (no pun intended) it is watch Lin Ling fly around. It's so smooth and pretty. His movement in general is really pleasant to watch.

I don't feel super big brain for guessing Wolf Girl was the little girl. That seemed really heavily foreshadowed lol I think the angle of "this fan noticed something no one else did and tried to help in their own way" is an interesting premise for a narrative, especially when, despite Lin Ling's insistence that she wasn't going to kill the other little girl and didn't care about destroying the statue, she likely hurt and maybe even killed a lot of people. The piping is seemingly for water, and we have no idea how much damage her stunt caused to the local infrastructure. How many people might be without running water or have contaminated water for some length of time, or no access to functional bathrooms, or any sewage backlogs that might cause issues even with the functional stuff, let alone how screwed up the roads are going to be for deliveries, travel, and work. How many people were trapped in collapses or injured by debris, especially disabled folks, or will suffer while waiting for rescue as most of the other heroes are busy or disabled themselves.

There's just the disconnect of "people force a lot of expectations on celebrity" and "some people notice how bad that is for them and just want them to be free", which can be a good thing, with, "okay, but she definitely killed and/or injured people, possibly permanently, just to save one guy, who would have potentially been haunted with letting the world down or letting a kid die." And maybe that's part of the point: obsessing over a celebrity and trying to control them because you think you know what's best for them isn't a good thing, either. It was Lin Ling's interference that saved the day, to a degree, after all, not Wolf Girl's. And Firm Man's decision to let go of his power.

Also liked the "bullying is shitty" plot. Some folks mock the bullying in these animated series like, "Oh it can't be that bad, that's cartoonishly over the top." Nah, it's generally worse :/

Generally, though, I appreciate the story exploring the downsides of certain powersets. Poor Firm Man. He really went through a lot. I hope he gets to sleep and go to the bathroom normally and just breathe. I also love Lin Ling's aside that lifting the world's biggest boulder really isn't hero work or generally necessary lol I mean why is a giant statue made of diamond(???) necessary (also why couldn't they have, I don't know, moved it over a few feet, set it down, and then gotten to safety?).

Also I'm happy the little girl got up and ran to safety instead of waiting for Firm Man to do it. Another show might have made her wait. She didn't. She was proactive. Good.

Considering Enlighter's whole thing is about revealing frauds, I wonder if that's even Moon, or just a decoy, maybe someone he dressed up, or even a hologram or something, considering what we've seen of the technology. But generally, it sucks if she got captured when she thought she was free! Since she left her gun behind, and potentially her power with it, she probably is more vulnerable.

I'm curious if Wreck (if he survived) will come back next episode? To help "Nice" maybe? It'll be interesting, anyway. Looking forward to Episode 4!

More thoughts:

Episode 1, Episode 2, Episode 3 (You are here), Episode 4, Episode 5, Episode 6, Episode 7, Episode 8, Episode 9, Episode 10, Episode 11, Episode 12

[kkachis]

devlog 2.2: yeah there's not just moss at this point there's like worms and dirt and stuff

(last post) (my project tag)

III. storyboarding

total animation might be out of reach for the whole project... but i think i can do the first few seconds. the #1 scene i wanted to animate was the first one

working on the background for that! devlog 2.1's work shows, i'm so excited to actually complete the background you have no idea.

i arranged all the storyboards out on a spreadsheet timeline, reformatted it, then printed it out and started plotting with sticky notes

IV. miscellaneous doodles

was contemplating simplifying his design further but i think i'm not gonna do that

trying to get his "inhumanly long" fingers down!

drew the rhythm of his branchlers from memory a few times so i could memorize their shape better. they're unfortunately very complicated lol

drew his deer form inspired by what the disney animators did with bambi! also discovered that the concept art for bambi is incredible and fed that to my brain moss colony. then of course i had to do the black eel form

V. baby steps towards animation

not very impressive yet but i'm working on Literally Rotating the blorbo! really helping with my solid drawing skills (and it also makes my brain hurt a little)

i've begun learning blender so i can model his branchlers. see, the thing is, the idea of trying to figure out how to actually move those extremely complicated curling shapes in 3D space? fuck that noise. CSP v4.0 EX has a function where it can extract lines from a 3D model. if i can just model them and import that model, i can simply position the model appropriately and then i'll never have to hand-draw a single frame of those things

anyways i'm going to flesh out that side view first so that i can import to blender and start figuring that out

also, i tried posting this with the post twice now but tumblr hates video and deleted the draft of this post. good thing i copied all the text this time. my first ball bounce exercise!

(last post) (my project tag)

[lunoval]

Overwatch... oh Overwatch.

Overwatch lore was good. Overwatch lore is bad. These are unfortunate truths, but what caused this change?

In the OW1 era, the lore was part of the reason the game gained its popularity. Putting aside the gooner aspects that (massively) boosted the game's numbers, most fans interacted with the lore via YT cinematics. I don't have to beat the drum on this point, it has been said many, many times before. They were good. Same with; we don't get cinematics anymore, and what we do get, never moves the story /forward./

But, I think it would be too easy to blame the lack of lore on the downfall of the company, or perhaps even whatever is left of the development team.

It's because they kept adding Heroes. Even before OW1 fully fell off, the issue began when Wrecking Ball was added to the game, with a completely missed opportunity for a compelling narrative. (Wrecking Ball’s DISLIKE for humans, opposed to Winston’s fondness for them.)

The lore of Overwatch has stagnated with our growing roster. The number of characters is now bloated to the point that telling a compelling narrative, providing entertaining content, having good storytelling, becomes highly difficult, if not impossible. 

Set aside the understandable economic reasons that the company running the game needed to keep releasing characters, to keep players numbers up while they still can. Those reasons are valid, and not what I want to focus on.

Overwatch lore can't move forward until the developers either A, Split up the group, scatter them across the globe into teams (so scenes have fewer characters present)  or B, Decide who the main character, or at least main cast, of the franchise is.

A - Splitting Everyone Up - The Overwatch 2 Announcement Cinematic was fun as heck to witness. The other 3D cinematics suck. Where half of the time, half of the characters visible on screen just stand awkwardly like extras, occasionally piping up with voice lines that resemble all previous dialogue. Splitting people up, sending characters on missions, would give opportunity for NEW interactions between these characters. It feels like each one of them only exists in a ‘cluster’ of adjacent Heroes, without meeting any new ones. Has D.VA met Junkrat? What does Bastion think of Genji? What does Zenyatta think about Zarya? What does Lucio think about working with Symmetra? Seeing these characters stand in a room, with confirmed issues with each other, without getting to witness any of their personality is boring, and the porn had better writing.

B - So many characters. So, so many plot threads. I'm not going to try and list them all, I'm just going to tell you the questions I have. Off the dome.

Are we going to get any in-universe explanation for the more magic-ky stuff, or are we just taking the actual magic ghost dragons at face value?

Will DVa choose to prioritize protecting her country, or dedicating herself to Overwatch?

Will Reaper and Soldier ever kis-

What did Moira do to Widowmaker exactly/any hope for saving her?

How are Sigma’s powers and the Iris connected?

Anymore information on that mystery group Sombra is after? 

Why/How is Bastion sentient/thinking?

Will the rest of the world ever clean up the radioactive Australia?

This is all just to name a FEW of the potential directions this story could go.. It's a dense world, with a lot I enjoy. That's the sad part for me. Overwatch is, honestly, an IP truly possible for many shades of quality production, that blends a lot of genre’s… decently enough. The robot sci-fi gritty narrative with the Omnics and the humans. Hints of fantasy, or incomprehensible science, with the more powerful/harder to believe abilities or powers. The existence of ‘old gods’ being functionally confirmed with the release of Illari. All of Australia; the entire continent was left radioactive, and could easily fit Mad Max-style escapades. A good old fashioned shootout. Actual ninjas. Rescue missions. The changing of the guard, old Overwatch handing the reins over to the new, younger members.

Good things, cool things, we will likely never see from any company that ever gets their hands on the IP. The personal narratives for each Hero are either completely stagnant(Sorry, but Winston) or barely existed (Baptiste,Sojourn,Junker Queen, Life Weaver), or are only relevant because of ties to another character that’s more relevant. (Wrecking Ball-Winston, Ashe-Cassidy, Echo, Kiriko-Hanzo/Gengi, Illari, Mauga). Venture, Juno, and Freyja are newer characters that I don’t want to hold to the same standard, but I doubt it’s going to change.

I understand that because it’s an FPS, how can they ‘move the plot forward’(with any real stakes of death)  if they don’t want to change the main game, but then they never should’ve brought up any sort of story mode. OW was always building up a compelling narrative, if you try to tell me they bailed on what could’ve been an absolute beast of interwoven modern story telling because they felt scared to bend the rules, I call chicken shit. Kill Reinhardt off in the lore, and keep him in the game. 

But, such is the way this stuff goes. Anyways, imma go search up sojourn thighs on twitter. If this gets even 5 notes, I’ll put out all my thoughts on potential plot threads for all the characters we have, all the fun ways this plot COULD move forward. Hell, maybe I’ll write the story I want to see myself.

[suncraftedsoul]

There is no process to shifting

You don't go anywhere when you shift

You don't leave this reality

You don't leave any reality

You simply just always exist

You might be caught up in the idea of this place being your original reality

Maybe u look at ur alternative realities like those reincarnation webcomics.

Like ur going to said universe at a "later date" or being dropped in the middle of a plot line.

that you haven't experienced a whole life there in the way you have here

No.

You are you no matter what reality. There is no difference between yourself across realities

You are always the one who is experiencing in every reality

Your perspective only widens

And that's all reality shifting is.

Shifting to a wider perspective.

When we tell u that u already exist across realities

We literally mean you are there existing now

Not a "different version" of u

that u take over

So Like

Imagine ur phone camera;

U have different widths/ Zoom options

Shifting is like going in a panoramic view

Same camera, wider shots

You have never not been there.

On top of this thought

Your use of methods might be distracting you

Methods are a grounding tool. A way to affirm and be present in your reality of choice

However, a lot of you guys use methods as a tool to get you somewhere

This i ask: Why are you getting in ur way😔

The point to shifting is being present in a specific reality

Not 2 try to get 2 one

Shifting shouldn't feel like ur trying 2 desperately push through a cracked brick wall

You also shouldn't feel like ur desperately trying to escape the "bubble" of this reality.

You exist in both. All.

They're not going anywhere.

Think abt it

You don't try to exist in this reality because you just exist here.

There's absolutely no reason to it

Every reality functions this way. You just exist bc u just do.

No need 2 try to conceptualize it.

You visualize ur chosen reality, but instead of it being a tool to ground you, it makes u overly aware of this reality.

Grounding u here instead

Shifting isn't the act of you going somewhere.

it's you widening your perspective to what already exists

So obviously, ur not leaving anywhere either

U just have a narrowed lens

So when ur actively trying to push this reality away, it continues to affirm ur trying to get somewhere

Keeping u narrowed in here

Embrace the fact that you exist in all realities.

This reality nor any of the inconceivable amounts of realities out there are going anywhere

There's no need to push this place away just like there's need to desperately chase a location you've been since the beginning.

You aren't stuck here.

You aren't going there.

This reality is real & you are hyper aware of this 3D. That's not a bad thing, and it can't stop you from shifting because

That reality is just as real

U exist & experience everything everywhere all at once !;) (this is actually solid rep)

Shifting isn't to get rid one one reality for another. It's to embody your already established existence amongst the universe

You can be immersed here & there.

You already are.

I'm some1 who believes that the universe is a conscious being, & we are the universe experiencing itself

The "no matter what, it's still you" quote rings true 4 me in absolutely every sense of the universe

So, when i put this perspective into shifting, it reminds me that

it doesn't matter "who, " "what," or "where"

Absolutely everything, everyone & every

place IS ME

There is literally no limit to anything because existence as a whole is you

This whole post is me just reiterating the same point over and over again

I spent some time thinking abt my journey

& the questions i see tons of shifters having

I quickly realized that some of us don't exactly process the shifting advice we've been given

All my journey has looked like is my brain organizing pieces of advice & then at a random moment, some of those pieces click 2gether

Then i get that

"OMG, HOLY SHIT THATS WHAT THAT MEANS" moment

I truly hope I can help give some of you that moment aswell

Im still working the articulation to really get my point across, but I'm REALLY TRYING

One day. One day, I'll get it there

Anyways, u also haven't seen me in like a month. Which is funny bc this is my most active app xP

Okay, I hope this was a useful read

Me. You

Sunny out <3

[ckret2]

I was wondering, do you plan on including Bill's phobias from the website in the fic?

Additianlly, since it was confirmed that his parents are triangles, would that change how Bill reacts to his hair since it's a pretty often mentioned plot point?

Ruminating on it.

TV static is easy, I can slide that in no problem, we get an explanation for why it makes him uncomfortable in the book and I can easily think of a way to expand that, I already had an entire plotline based on Bill seeing weird stuff in TV static so I can just meld that in.

3D glasses make no sense aside from "well his parents were red and blue." And? Lots of things are red and blue. The explanation can't even be the 3D of 3D glasses because 3D glasses don't make things more 3D, they give you the illusion of depth perception. I'm going to call them "fake depth perception" glasses for the rest of this post to emphasize their actual function. If you look at a flat image (as in, on a piece of paper or a TV) that's set up to work with fake depth perception glasses, then it tricks your eyes into thinking that flat image is popping out because of how your binocular vision works...

... which means, one, anybody with two eyes wearing fake depth perception glasses in the second dimension COULD ALSO HAVE THE SAME DEPTH PERCEPTION ILLUSION if they were looking at a "flat" image (on their piece of paper or TV), it wouldn't make things look "3D" to them, it'd just give the image depth...

... and, two, fake depth perception glasses WOULDN'T WORK ON BILL IN THE FIRST PLACE because HE ONLY HAS ONE EYE. Without two eyes, all you see when you look through those glasses is a lotta red, or a lotta blue.

So unless I've totally forgotten something from the book where he brought up fake depth perception glasses there's two possibilities. One: either he has a phobia of fake depth perception glasses for poorly-conceptualized dumb lore reasons; or two: he has a phobia of fake depth perception glasses for reasons we're incapable of guessing because we haven't been told anything about it.

I can't think of any explanation for Venetian blinds that's based on info we've received as opposed to random speculation, and I haven't seen one from other fans yet either.

So, yeah, TV static is no problem, I can do that easily. The other two? Until/unless someone finds decent explanations for them, I'll probably just not mention 3D glasses or Venetian blinds in the fic so I don't have to worry about it. Which is fine, because I wasn't making any plans to mention them anyway.

I've got at least three week to figure out what the fuck I'm gonna do about the fact that his parents are triangles now. The hair thing isn't coming out. Only 50% of it had to do with the fact it looked like his mom and the other 50% was the fact that it looks like an actively rotting corpse. I've just gotta figure out a way to re-present it that doesn't make it feel like 50% of the symbolic weight has been ripped out.

[its-a-hatty-family]

Hats

For the sake of this blog I'm going to assume that people know about gameplay mechanics, such as hats and weapons, from A Hat in Time. But in case they don't, I will restate them as they function the same in this au.

Hats are a gameplay mechanic that allows Hat Kid to interact with her environments in unique and fashionable ways. In AHF specificly, Hats are made by collecting yarn and finding blueprints. Once a blueprint for a new Hat is acquired, Hat Kid can use yarn she is able to find around the different chapter locations to make said hat.

Hats are activated by pressing a button or key on the player's choice of controller. Some hats may have a cooldown effect after being used, which can vary in length. This was present in A Hat in Time.

Types of hats

Kid's Hat: This hat is the only hat not earned from a blueprint, but is instead acquired during the tutorial phase. This hat is able to locate goal-related objects, such as timepieces, plot related items, or boss locations.

Sprint Hat: This hat allows the player to run faster, which is useful in boss fights or time-based challenges like those in Death Wish missions. When paired with some badges, the Hat will gain a cosmetic change where instead of running, Hat Kid will instead ride on a scooter.

Brewing Hat: This hat allows Hat Kid to throw an explosive ranged attack. This is good for bossfights or enemies you don't want to get close to.

Ice Hat: This hat turns Hat Kid into an ice sculpture, how cool! If activated over a spring or launch pad, hat Kid will be able to bounce incredibly high. If activated near enemies, an icy shockwave will slip them up and make them tumble to the floor.

Dweller Mask: This mask allows Hat Kid to manipulate solid blue and transparent green platforms so that she may cross them.

Timestop Hat: This hat allows Hat Kid to freeze time for a few seconds. This can give her a leg up in speed-centered platforming areas, races, or can help her bypass fast moving objects.

Hover Hat(New to AHF): Based on the cut concept from A Hat in Time, this hat allows Hat Kid to glide for a few seconds after activation. Once the hat activates, Hat Kid will slowly drift downwards, and can move in any direction. The length of this glide can help her reach far-away platforms. This hat functions like a tanuki leaf power up in the Mario 3D land/world games.

Gravity Hat(New to AHF): This hat allows Hat Kid to reach high vertical platforms when activated. In this brief state, Hat Kid's movement is slowed, and she will be unable to attack.

Yarn and Blueprints

Unlike in the original Hat in Time game, Hats are not obtained by collecting certain types if yarn and having a certain amount of yarn required to stitch the hat.

In the au, Hat Kid can obtain blueprints, which are instructions on how to make new hats. These can be obtained in treasure chests, secret rooms, or are given to hat Kid as a means of plot progression.

Hat Kid can't just make a new hat by collecting a blueprints though, as the instructions on the blueprints require yarn. Yarn is a collectable item and consumable resource placed around the different chapters of the game. Once Hat Kid collects enough yarn, she can use said yarn to make the hats blueprints allow her to make.

[fixaidea]

Awww this was cute!

Really lovely visuals despite the 3D and both emotional and very funny.

Also the people in the tags calling Asterix a tiny human stress-ball: you are very correct. The overaching plot of the entire series* is that he and Panoramix are the only people in the whole damn village with a functioning braincell. How the rest survives when he travels is a mystery.

(Also I'm a little proud of myself. Sure I needed the subtitles here and there but I understood more than I thought I would.)

*as in the comics in general, not just this series

[annahollinrake]

Hi, how are you doing today?

Are you the creator behind this project?

I am! I started drawing motorbrooms obsessively back in 2017-2018 and knew I had to go indie to make a game in this world or I would LOSE MY MIND. I’ve also been selling my witch-tech art work at cons, too, which solidified my very stubborn belief that there’s an audience out there that would love Crescent County. Legit like, this is the piece that gave me the brainworms and I posted it EIGHT YEARS AGO.

Full caveat though, it’s absolutely not just me making this thing! There’s a small team of us working on the game, without whom none of this would function or look the way that it does! I’m a many-hat-wearer that does concept art/illustration/3D environment and character art/engine implementation/bad VFX/bizdev/social media posting/merch creation/design/a bit of plotting, but I cannot program for the life of me and technical art is wizardry I could never hope to achieve. We’ve also had 3D artists help out with motorbroom models (Bo and Aster’s brooms specifically) and environment props like the houses (it’s a modular system)!

Anyway all to say YES, hello, I am the creator. And it’s so wild that people are actually playing the game I dreamed of making. Please enjoy a photo of me at a convention hawking my motorbroom wares seven years ago.

[gacha-incels]

Unpopular opinion: Love and Deepspace is still a scummy game. I don't care if it's beating Genshin. Also, the lack of diversity is also a huge mark against it.

is it an unpopular opinion? tbh I don’t follow this one super closely because the models freak me out for some reason. anyway it's a gacha and they'll all have the same pitfalls and similar controversies as I've written about before here due to how they are monetized. individually focusing on them thinking "and I'm better for playing this one!" is losing the plot. if anything on this blog I usually look for how the company reacts to things like incels attacking the artists/employees, how they treat their employees, etc. irl stuff more than in-game.

they are all gacha, it's video game gambling. the western version is lootbox or whatever and they've also been doing it for decades. you just need to admit to yourself what you're playing FIRST and have this knowledge going in. personally I have fun fucking around detached and stopping, but a lot of people cannot do this and it very easily becomes a life-altering addiction. I think it's extremely dangerous when the addictive gacha mechanics are downplayed by players and reviewers, imo in reviews for these games this should all be said upfront in plain language with none of this "oh you don't actually need to use the gacha you can do this f2p! it's totally unobtrusive!" trust me please all of these games are designed around you spending money, whether you're the type to drop a bunch at once or slowly in dribs and drabs. if they did not want these mechanics in game they wouldn't have made a store option with a $99.99 bundle. They wouldn't have spent so much time making the gacha animation for people to get addicted to seeing, they wouldn't have incentives for you to log in every day for their DAU. the people who pay for these games aren't dupes they're playing the game as it's literally designed. I see people saying this type of thing about the new 3D open world Nikki UP2U game (same dev as LaDS I think) and I feel insane lol. go into the store in that game and there's like 4 different currencies and 7 different spending tabs. there’s a battle pass, top up bonuses, etc like all these other games. you go into the store to claim free bundles. Just be upfront about this so people know, do not be coy about it, I don't think anyone needs to be catastrophically cynical about these every single time, you just need to understand what you're playing.

imo again to me the most interesting thing to monitor how these games function within society, especially with regards to issues like misogyny which get amplified like crazy, I posted about this game specifically earlier in August when it made mad cash

[tackyink]

This was supposed to be for @asususasa but in the middle of writing I thought this could be useful for someone else, so here's Tacky's general list of otome recs. It took me over an hour to write so I'm not proofreading it.

DS

Not much to say here because back in those days otome games didn't get localized. The stand outs are Tokimeki Memorial Girl's Side 1st Love Plus and Tokimeki Memorial Girl's Side 2nd Season, who have English fan translations. Slice of life games where you play as the protagonist through her three years of high school. And if you feel like a student-teacher romance that would make Sakura Kinomoto's mom proud, these are your games.

PSP

Still well into the no localizations era with one exception: Hakuouki Demon of the Fleeting Blossom. Not recommending it on PSP because there are better versions. Tokimeki Memorial Girl's Side 3rd Story Premium also has a fan translation and should be played over its DS counterpart because it has added functionalities. Sadly this time around the teacher is a secret character and a shota.

3DS

There's Hakuoki Memories of the Shinsengumi. Still not recommended because we can do better.

PS3

Hakuouki Stories of the Shinsengumi includes the original game and the fandisk with some neat animations added. This is the version to play if you want the original experience. If you want even more routes, go for another version.

Vita

Hakuoki Kyoto Winds and Edo Blossoms, Collar x Malice and Amnesia are the best games you can get for the Vita imo. Some people dig a lot the Psychedelica of the Ashen Hawk and Psychedelica of the Black Butterfly (I've only played BB, it was good but wasn't the best; wouldn't rate it as high as the others). There's Code Realize and its two fandisks (Future Blessings and Wintertide Miracles) and many people swear by them, but while I liked the common route in the first game, the rest didn't do it for me. You can find all of these except CxM and the CRs on Steam, and the Hakuoki games get dirst cheap on sale. Best bang for your buck of the saga. The CR games have PS4 ports and CxM has a Switch one, which you already know.

Switch

*rolls up sleeves* LET'S GO.

To get it out of the way: Hakuouki KW and EB are getting a Switch rerelease and a new translation and will be released as a single game, Hakuoki Chonicles of Wind and Blossom, on August 1st.

Collar x Malice fucking nails the mystery and lowkey horror vibes with and excellent plot that's interconnected in every route. CxM Unlimited is its fandisk and only recommended if you really have the CxM itch, because it's mostly fluff and the little plot there is is at most functional. It has a route where Ichika joins Adonis and you get to see its inner workings though. That was very interesting.

Bustafellows is 100% found family vibes with a very assertive protagonist. It's a mystery/action story and the team dynamics are sort of Ocean's 11-ish. Hilarious, heartbreaking at times, I've never felt more dread in a game than heading towards the basement in a certain's guy's route. There are two unlockable stories after you finish the routes of the guys, one of which I thought was glorious, another which sets up a sequel and is a big downer but I also really liked. It gets heavy at times with murder, suicide, sexual assault, human trafficking, among other kinds of violence, but despite it, it's generally a very funny and upbeat game. We're getting the sequel next year. Also available on PC.

Café Enchanté baits you with the premise of being a girl who manages a coffee shop patronized by handsome supernatural beings, so it's a real surprise when the cannibalism shows up. Anyway. Great game, but I'm afraid saying more would kind of defeat the point. Reminds me of Megami Tensei games, so if coffee shop AUs with supernatural world-ending threats are your thing, go for it. Just be warned that the fandom has kind of collectively agreed that poster boy's route never happened.

Birushana is a hidden gem that goes on sale super cheap and is also probably a hit or miss thing. You play as the legendary Yoshitsune, who in this game is a girl disguising her gender, but she's an amazing warrior as in history. It has the best otome couple I've ever seen, bar none, with Yoshitsune and Noritsune. The game is worth the price just to see them fall in love on the battlefield and watch Noritsune chug down Respect Women Juice all the way through it. The thing is... the rest of routes aren't great. Don't get me wrong, I enjoyed how utterly unhinged they got at times, but the plot got worse as it deepened. Still. Noritsune. And I loved that most of the guys respected her as a warrior and were aware she was as capable or a better warrior than them and she didn't need a man to protect her. Very refreshing. One of my faves got done dirty by the translation because they started pulling lines out of thin air to make him creepier. Just him. Why. It's not like he needed the help.

Virche Evermore Error Salvation is also a good one if you can handle continuous drama and see egregiously bad science and say, "You know what? It's magic. Humans in this world are just built different." The worldbuilding is really interesting and the characters very enjoyable, though they don't feature a lot in each other's routes or aren't that friendly with each other. The continuous tragedy may tire you out, or maybe it'll work and emotionally destroy you. It didn't get any emotional reaction out of me until a certain point near the end, but I enjoyed the game a lot, nevertheless. We're getting the sequel this November and I'm really looking forward to it.

Variable Barricade: a fun romp where a young heiress has to chose a fiancé among the four disaster bachelors her grandpa has selected. It's not really similar to Ouran, but it reminded me a little of it at times. It's a pretty light game. The BFF is a gothic lolita otaku who has the time of her life shipping you with the guys, and the butler... oh boy the butler.

Amnesia, as I mentioned earlier, has a PC port as well as the Vita version, as well as two localized fandisks for the Switch (Amnesia x Crowd) that I can't speak of because I haven't played them yet. The protagonist has supernatural amnesia and must piece together her life while avoiding that other people realize she's lost her memory. It's a super intriguing game the first time you play, really nailed the being completely and utterly lost in the protagonist's shoes. A required play to get in on the cage jokes. It's sort of a rite of passage for otome gamers.

Jack Jeanne has probably the best group dynamics of any otome I've seen. I think some people have issues with the protagonist because they find her passive, but to me she felt the complete opposite. Everybody is adorable. A sentimental story of hard work, being young and and fighting for your dreams, 10/10, no notes. I lied, there's a note: Tanakamigi deserved a route! Where is our Tanakamigi route! щ(゜ロ゜щ)

Last but not least at all, the two Piofiores. Mafia games where all trigger warnings you can think of apply. Well, maybe not the cannibalism, that's still Café Enchanté's crowning glory. Fated Memories, the first one, has its ups and downs, but has very enjoyable characters, rock-solid worldbuilding, an amazing atmosphere set in 1920s Italy with a jazzy soundtrack that ends up living rent free in your brain. The last routes of the first game, Gil's and Finale, are worth the full price of the game alone. Piofiore Episodio 1926 is a masterpiece of the otome genre. It doesn't have a single boring route, and the final stretch (Advent Calendar-Alternativa-Secret Character route) has the best writing I've seen in an otome. Lots of points of view and situations interconnecting, an excellent final couple, top notch interactions between the main characters. Just the best.

[satoshi-mochida]

DOKAPON! Sword of Fury coming to PC in English - Gematsu

Sting will release DOKAPON! Sword of Fury for PC via Steam in English and Japanese “soon,” the developer announced. A specific release date was not announced.

The game, a remastered version of the 1998-released PlayStation title of the same name, first launched for Switch on August 1, 2024 in Japan. It is currently unclear whether the English PC release means Sting plans to release the Switch version outside of Japan.

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

About

Engage in good-natured fighting with soon-to-be ex-friends! The ultimate relationship-ruining board game x RPG is back, where the best way to succeed is to play dirty! Spin the wheel and set off on an exciting adventure with your friends! Defeat monsters, purchase weapons, and level up, just like in an RPG. Once you’ve gathered enough strength, face off against powerful bosses in epic fashion! Your journey will take you across a wide, diverse world… Just don’t forget that your true goal is to get filthy rich! Money is everything! Anything goes, as long as it lines your pockets…and as long as you’re cool with it! Will you walk the path of thievery and plunder, or will you hold firm to your morals? Will you join hands with your friends, or plot to betray them? It’s dealer’s choice around these parts! Play even with faraway friends in Online Mode, and feel free to pause your adventure anytime with the Autosave function; it’ll be ready and waiting for you whenever you’re available again! There’s also a full range of display settings on offer, including HD and widescreen support, allowing full immersion like never before! Game too slow for you? No problem! Speed options up to 5x ensure you can always keep things moving along at your own pace. A virtually endless array of options allows you to play the game your way: you can substitute in battle background music from earlier titles, set the number of weeks to play, adjust game balance, and more! You can even give yourself an advantage if you’re new to the Dokapon experience; come one, come all, as this game’s for everybody! The Iron Sword of Rage returns to cut through all the nonsense of the 2020s in style. Come grab its hilt and give it a swing for yourself!

Key Features

-Stick it to your friends and aim to become the richest of the rich!

Whosoever winds up wealthiest in the end (meaning, the bearer of the most assets) shall be deemed the winner!

How do you achieve that? Well, by fighting monsters, plundering, pillaging, and betraying your best buds; that’s how! All the rules are made to be broken in this board game!

Need to fast-track your earnings? No problem! Try engaging with the alliance system, entering the Tenkaichi Tournament, or participating in other unique events to ka-ching like a king!

And hey, if you just want an RPG adventure in an expansive (expensive?) overworld, that’s perfectly within your reach here too!

-Possibly the most heinous Dokapon game of them all?!

Can this even fly in the 2020s?! I guess we’ll find out, since this remastered version retains all the same irreverence the original was known for!

That classic pixel-art world from before is kept intact, but with all illustrations and 3D models updated and given new effects for their debut on the big, high-def screen!

Every 3D model is a full-on ‘toon now, while the illustrated 2D art has been fully smoothed out. But if that’s too much change for you, no problem: the original pixel art can still be tagged in as desired!

-“Rock-Paper-Scissors”-style battles anyone can enjoy!

Encounter an enemy and it’s battle time! But not to worry, because these battles are simple as can be.

First off, a coin toss decides who goes first. When it’s your turn, you choose one of four possible attack types.

Choose wisely, and you’ll be doing some good old-fashioned weak-point hitting for massive damage!

But fail to predict your opponent’s defense type, and that massive damage may be yours to bear instead…

Will you be able to read your opponent like a book? Will your opponent be able to read you? The tides can turn in an instant with a single slip-up, so make your move and cross your fingers!

-Same old multiplayer madness, but now with online matches, too!

Up to four players can rumble locally, with only a single copy of Dokapon among them!

Don’t have any friends nearby? (Lost them all to Dokapon fights?) No problem! Online multiplayer’s got your back. The world’s your oyster now!

Best of all, you can stop playing anytime you’d like (you swear!), then jump right back into the fray later on by loading up your save data!

-Utilize the speed multiplier and up the game’s tempo to your liking!

Yes, you can even speed things up to make the game match your pace.

At 3x or 5x speed, even the busiest players have no excuse not to give Dokapon a try!

The speed multiplier can even be used online, cutting down wait times and making the sparks fly faster than ever!

-Add some sugar and spice to make everything twice as nice!

Call them X-factors or secret ingredients; either way, you can access them in the System menu and rebalance the whole game as you see fit!

Just give it a pinch of this and a dash of that—only as much as you’d like.

Maybe turn down the number of rounds, for example, if you’ve got a busy schedule and can’t quite handle the usual length?

Or fine-tune the gameplay experience by giving yourself infinite magic, or limiting the number of times Wallace appears!

You can even change the background music to some classic battle themes from past Dokapon games, for that little extra kick of nostalgia!

What would a remaster be, after all, without that certain “je ne sais quoi” that gives this series its edge?

Watch a new trailer below. View a new set of screenshots at the gallery.

PC Announce Trailer

[velvees-archive]

TGAA 1-1 Spoilers (Live React)

*with spoilers for AA first and second trilogy

finished the first case for the great ace attorney. verdict? i really enjoyed myself. playing tgaa feels like a reintroduction to the ace attorney games that hooked me in the first place.

musings under the cut!

i wasn’t supposed to start my tgaa playthrough until next year bc i wanted to give myself space to be a functioning human being + write ace attorney fic…but then my brother begged me and i am an older sibling before i’m anything else, i guess, so here we are.

first case’s logic was pretty sound. it’s the tutorial so i wasn’t expecting anything groundbreaking. coming from someone who tackled the aa trilogies + aai duology first, the lack of “scientific” autopsy reports adds tension to the courtroom battles that does wonders for increasing stakes. i’m intrigued and a little overwhelmed at the idea of watching passive witnesses during cross-examinations. in a good way, i think. like taking apollo’s perceive ability and loading it with crack and a bit more realism.

there’s some character bloat bc we technically exposed two criminals. nothing too jarring, though it does make the case stretch. leaving the murderer’s motive unexplored reminds me very much of aa4. this case felt like an amalgamation of the dahlia and kristoph trials. two thumbs up!

i remember reading somewhere that shu takumi had a hard time writing apollo bc he’d already exhausted his creativity writing phoenix. clearly that wasn’t a problem when it came to fleshing out ryunosuke bc his character is very discernible from the former, and written in such a refreshing way that you can’t help but be endeared by him. make no mistake though. the real star of this case is his defense counsel/best friend: kazuma asogi.

oh my god he makes me wanna eat drywall

they put him front and center in this case. a captivating design, a sheathed katana, and a headband that defies the laws of physics makes for an eye catching character. that among uh..

other……….aesthetic-related considerations.

i didn’t mind the 3D models in spirit of justice very much (don’t look, dd phoenix, trucy, and apollo can’t hurt you) but capcom evidently hit their stride with the tgaa models because! because!!!!

bro.

setting aside the fact that the two main characters constantly reaffirm their friendship plus kazuma calls ryunosuke partner no joke 10+ times throughout the trial, i am loving the implication that ryunosuke very well could have been found guilty had he chosen not to defend himself. kazuma’s ‘oh how sad, you didn’t believe i could get you off’ hit a little too close to home. for narrative reasons i hope they turn that into resentment. they probably won’t though.

the central theme here is belief in your client. at some point during the trial, kazuma throws in the towel, but ryunosuke doesn’t. is this not good set up for a best friend-turned-rival/enemy plot point?

kazuma seems like your typical justice-oriented defense attorney but i am sensing something very dark about him that may or may not be proven correct as i continue playing. he says something about proving a client innocent by all means necessary or something close to that effect. im guessing that isn’t a good thing if dd has anything to say abt the phrase.

as of writing this, i’ve just finished up the whole case and kazuma’s got a secret mission + a deep fascination with ryunosuke’s talent for pointing out contradictions…yeah ok this guy has to be an antagonist in the making right? right???

please don’t actually spoil me, i am shooting theories into the dark bc i derive enjoyment from being proven right or wrong

at the very least, kazuma isn’t as honest as he makes himself out to be. i have a sneaking suspicion this guy is going to pull the wool over my eyes one way or another.

theories be damned, though, i’m interested to see how shu takumi will balance having 2 best friends/defense attorneys in this game. i’m mindful of bloat but cautiously optimistic that he can make it work, unlike whatever the hell took place in the apollo justice trilogy.

i’m still doing my ace attorney first trilogy + aai duology replay so my blog posts are going to be an odd mix of everything. sorry abt that…

tl;dr we are sooooo back

[the-one-who-lambs]

Are there any tropes you used to not care for, but now you like?

MISCOMMUNICATION. When done right, it makes mutual pining hit so much harder. If the characters simply talking through the problems can solve them, the plot probably isn't strong enough for my tastes, etc etc BUT when the characters are both communicating according to their own batshit rules of 3D mental chess trying to navigate "how can I make sure the other falls in love with me without fucking this up" and then turns their anxiety into a self-fulfilling prophecy because of their own action/inaction, then it CAN complicate a plot effectively.

(I used to not like miscommunication as a trope because I experience it kinda often in everyday life. Shockingly, having a disability that impairs my social functioning often makes me struggle socially, so when it happens irl I don't often catch it until Something Has Gone Wrong.)

[flamingtunapictures]

AA Spirit of Justice - Game Review

Tl:dr - A visual and symphonic triumph, this title delivers on striking visuals, a beautiful score, and a wacky, colorful cast innate to the AA DNA. Though there is absence of robust worldbuilding, the story is engaging, ending with an epic finale episode. 

Spirit of Justice is one of the longest titles in mainline Ace Attorney games, clocking in at an average of 25-30 hours of gameplay. It features a cross oceanic adventure that takes up courtroom calls in the familiar “Japanafornia,” but also in the new Asianic/Tibetan-inspired Kingdom of Khura’in. 

Visually and symphonically this game is an absolute triumph. The game falls in line with the latest generation of Ace Attorney games, defined by immaculate employ of 3D graphics and animations. State-side character designs and animations are some of the brightest, wackiest, and most memorable of the entire series. I have found over the years the AA witness designs I reminisce over the most tend to come from this game. The main eastern counterparts are equally visually striking, albeit not as compelling or memorable as they could have been (more on that later). 

The music, per usual, metered and complimented the world and narrative beautifully. From sentimental originals like Reminiscence: Inherited Hopes, to new cultural sounds of Defendant’s Lobby and reorchestrations of classics Allegro, Pursuit, and Troupe Gramarye, there was never a reason to turn the volume down.

Gameplay wise, the game functions virtually the same as all the previous titles with the addition of “Seance Divinations.” This new mechanic allows you to behold the final memories of the deceased…in order to point out contradictions in classic AA fashion. A neat thought, however not entirely memorable or largely contributive to the gameplay as a whole. If anything, it just provides another venue for player frustration at “obscure logic” to manifest (I’m looking at you “man’s voice”).

Most importantly however, as it comes to AA games, how is the story? As I mentioned before, this game is an average of 7 hours longer than your typical AA game. It features 5 episodes instead of the usual 4, bouncing between East and West to give all protagonists equal facetime. 

The first episode acts to establish the new Kingdom of Khura’in and the Divination Seance. It is quick, orientational, and full of excellent characters. My main criticism would be the generally insufferable characterization of Nick as the worst kind of tourist.* 

The second case brings you back “home” and treats fans to classic Apollo/Trucy shenanigans and more Troupe Gramarye lore. 

The (infamous) third episode returns you to the land of Khura’in to solve an unfortunately drawn-out and convoluted tale of death supported by a cast of uninspiring, vanilla characters. Its purpose was to establish plot points for the final episode. However, I’m not totally convinced they were necessary for the final episode to land as well as it did. For that reason, the main purpose of episode three was actually to celebrate the return of Maya Fey in the most Maya way possible: Maya getting accused of murder…again! 

The fourth episode brings you back stateside for a quick one day cross-examination of kooky rakugo school students helmed by Athena and special guest Simon Blackquill. It’s a rather inconsequential episode in terms of overall plot, but I found it delightful nonetheless. 

The game finally wraps up with its piece de resistance final act —Turnabout Revolution. This episode was a diligent convergence of East and West, giving both settings equal presence and relevance to the final arc. Not only did it lean into AA legacy locations/references like Kurain Village, but, much like Luke Atmey’s larceny case from Trials and Tribulations, the courtroom battle deviates from the typical murder-trial cadence. In the first act of Turnabout Revolution, Apollo and Phoenix go head to head in a civil dispute case. Gone are the too-oft’ drawn out rebuttals, ad-hominem attacks, and tangents on incompetency from the prosecution. In its place, a steady, well paced, respectful exchange is had between attorneys. The first case concludes on an ambiguously sinister note that forces the characters to deadhead east to Khura’in. It is in this new setting the final compelling plot twists, hard-hitting sentimentality, and absolutely stunning character designs are revealed.

MAIN CRITICISM

For as compelling and inspiring the final act was, there was much left wanting in this title as a whole. I think this is largely due to the Kingdom of Khura'in’s lamentable lack of depth and cultural development. Visually and musically it is executed beautifully, but nevertheless remains skin-deep. There is little for world-building fans to sink their teeth into. Consequently, characterization and story intrigue are sacrificed. 

While I could comment on the gimmicky religion that is too often treated with the reverence of parody, I would prefer to focus on what I perceive to be the largest under-miner to what could have been a robust Khura’in.

There was a notable lack of consideration taken towards the use of the Khur’ainese language. Sure, there is a word or two, the suggestion of a written language, and Sahdmadhi had that one VA line (that didn’t even sound like a convincing language), but nothing sociologically compelling. The names are some of the laziest puns in the entire series, opting to just drop letters and add apostrophes to existing English words. They are entertaining, but forfeit opportunities for a believable culture in lieu of a quick laugh.

Imagine the intrigue that could be infused if two Khura’inese characters (Dhurke and Datz for example) converse in <Khura’inese> in front of Nick. It would enforce the feeling of Nick being a foreigner in a foreign land and that the Kingdom of Khura’in is its own legitimate ecosystem. *Having characters converse in their native language in front of Nick would also help abate the irritating characterization of him as the “self-righteous,” boisterous, and meddling foreigner. The lack of basic tourist etiquette killed me during this game. I understand Phoenix is the main character, but sometimes taking a third person perspective to a country sorting out their own problems makes for a much stronger narrative.

Now let’s take a look at Apollo as another example of how the use of a <foreign language> could add more character depth. The man grew up in a foreign country and doesn’t talk about it — that is fascinating. Now imagine if the use of foreign language was mixed into how that story was revealed. What if, instead of just his father showing up after 10+ years in the Wright Anything Agency office saying, “Hi Son! Long time no see,” he said, “<Hi Son! Long time no see>,” and then Apollo responds in (rusty) Khura’inese, “<What are you doing here?>”  We would all become Trucy Wright in that moment, and the question wouldn’t just be, “How do you know this man?” It would bloom into, “How did you understand what this man said?”, “Wait, Apollo speaks a foreign language?” Then it would become “How do you know this man?” etc. The intrigue and layers this interaction alone could add to Apollo as a character are there for the taking…if only a second longer was taken to incorporate the use of <Khura'inese>.

Finally, the choice to not employ accents in the voice acting of the Khura'inese characters (Dhurke, Rayfa, Datz, Ahlbi, Guards etc) feels nothing short of lazy. The use of accents would have added a nice touch of texture to the already visually striking characters. If a game like Dragon Quest VIII can cast a variety of generically “foreign” accents to even its minor characters, there’s no legitimate reason the citizens of Khura’in should be depicted with the flattest American accents imaginable.

In conclusion, Phoenix Wright: Ace Attorney – Spirit of Justice is a solid title to the main series. Though it suffers from weak world-building, its story is still largely compelling and enjoyable to play!