#Master Hand Playable?

[franticmelody]

Smash Bros. But with 26 Characters

Got inspired by a recent Duke of Dorks video to try my own hand at reducing/rebooting the Smash Bros. Character & Stage roster, so here is my take on a reduced smash bros roster!

Every new/returning character has their reason here. Hopefully it’s a good amount of character diversity! Got some new classic rep, new weeird rep in ring fit trainee, added a new Pokemon- Oh, and the Pokemon Trainer would have Mudkip, Servine, and Charizard, just for multi-gen rep. I think it turned out cool! And I did stages too!

Aimed to strike a good balance of stages returning from each game, with a majority of new stages and a home stage for each character. Plus some stages we’ve been wanting for aaaaaaaaaages (Bowser Castle, a Metroid stage that isnt fire or acid) - the only thing here Im sad I didnt get to include was weird stages with no character rep like pictochat or hanenbow. but oh well! Think this is still a solid mix! 

[rockingbytheseaside]

Hiii I really love the one with the harbingers where reader calls them words of endearment from their homeland, can you do one where reader cooks for them food from their homeland? pantalone's part was so cute <33

��� You cook them their favorite home meal, based on their homeland

(Or trying to guess what food the not-yet-playable characters might like based on their region, culture, or language. ) 

Pierro, Capitano, Dottore, Scaramouche, Pantalone, Childe 

✧ It is to no one’s surprise that Pierro, the Director of the Fatui, would easily drop everything to grant your needs. Just blink and the world’s spoils are at your feet, bestowed by your beloved. Expensive clothing, jewelry, art pieces, weaponry, or lavish dishes. With his money and status, plus being a connoisseur of the ancient lores of Teyvat, The Jester can easily acquire anything you require on a silver platter. 

But this time, it was you who tried to gift him something on a silver platter.

On an unsuspecting day, Pierro returned home only to be greeted with a strong scent of baked goods. The smell wafted all around the living quarters, warm and sugary. Glancing curiously, the Jester marched to the kitchen, where he found you grumbling to yourself. You stood with your oven mittens, a tray of voluptuous Kanelbullar presented in front of him; some were cut as you tried to take an analytical bite of the cinnamon rolls.

“Trying your hands at familiar recipes, my cherished?” - The man asked with a welcoming glance while you mulled and judged the taste of your cooked goods.

“Ah, Pierro, you’re right on time. Here, try this one for me. Does it resemble traditional cinnamon rolls?”

When the Jester took a bite, even his icy eye widened for a moment. A wave of nostalgia and warmth lanced his memories, ones he thought were long forgotten. The cinnamon rolls you baked were not the average confectionaries one could easily purchase, as the taste resembled traditional Khaenri’ahn Kanelbullar. A simple treat that all children and adults used to enjoy in their free time.  

“Well…? Oh no, don’t tell me it’s that bad?” - you awaited his response, but Pierro quickly shook his head.

“It’s rich and potent in taste, but not too sugary. Just like the ones in our Homeland… I didn’t think replicating such intricacies was possible. What did you add this time?”

Your eyes light up. Finally, some progress. “Really? I’ve been mulling over it for hours, I thought my taste pallet was going numb. I tried to find any local ingredients that might add the flavor of saffron and cardamon.”

“Like the golden Saffron…? They were a local specialty back in Khaenri’ah. Although some variants exist in Teyvat’s soil, they are not used as cooking ingredients here.” - Pierro pondered, amazed at your ability to combine other local spices to imitate the taste of the past.

As both of you mulled over how to achieve the most accurate results for these traditional Cinnamon Rolls, half of the tray was already gone.

“Although now that I think about it, my divine, I don’t think it would be an issue to send an expedition to obtain that rare spice for you. Especially if the result is such exquisite home pastry.”

✧ In this house, Il Capitano is the master chef. The man is proficient in the art of survival, thus, his skills in outdoor cooking are especially shown. From simple meat and vegetables, the Captain can come up with the best meat skewers you ever ate. Not to mention the topic of sustenance and growth is intertwined with a good diet. A man his size and capabilities puts immense care into outdoor survival and health.

But even a strong Captain deserves some spoiling for his hard work. 

After a wearying day spent honing the skills of his Fatui troops, a group of soldiers that will prepare for an upcoming expedition, Il Capitano was greeted with a surprise visit from you. You arrived right on time for their break, and as always, the Fatui soldiers couldn't help but eavesdrop on the Harbinger’s exchange with his beloved…

“I brought you your meal for today, Bife de chorizo. You need lots of protein.”

“Thank you.” - The Captain stood obediently, holding the lunchbox you brought.

“With Pico de Gallo and avocados. I also put some almonds and walnuts as a snack.”

“I understand.” 

“You are preparing for another important expedition. You must take care of your body after such intensive training, Cappy.”

“You are right, you are right.”

“And I don’t want to see anything left from the lunch boxes. Make sure to eat all of it, okay?”

“Understood!”

It sure was a sight. One would think the Harbinger was the student as he stood nodding vehemently while you scolded him. With one hand on your hip, you gave him an earful as you checked up on him, generously providing him a full-course meal neatly packed in a mealbox.

The Fatui soldiers were slightly jealous. Even they could easily tell that behind that pitch-black helmet, Il Capitano was absolutely joyous to have his beloved visit him and provide such mouthwatering nourishment. 

✧ Today, you were ready to tackle and kill Il Dottore. Why? Because that man barged into your kitchen and confidently announced himself as the culinarian for today’s dinner. A simple and kind gesture, right? You would rather starve than have The Doctor implode your kitchen again.

“Stop exaggerating as if I let your Serenitea Pot house crumble. It was just a little fire.” - Dottore defended himself, watching closely as you made him stand back from the stove. 

“I had to replace the whole walls, Zandik!”

The two of you stood in the kitchen, with the Harbinger peeking from behind your shoulders as you claimed dominion over the frying pan. The whole day, he was made watching you prepare Sumeru Kibbeh meatballs, since the last time he decided to dabble in the art of cooking, your house was put at stake.

He was a scholar, not a chef, unfortunately. But The Doctor is not ashamed to admit his impatience and lack of skill in the kitchen. Hence, he helped you as much as he could while you diligently taught him how Kibbeh is properly made. He remained silent but pleasantly subservient. The sight of your sleeves raised, hands tactfully molding the Kibbeh was oddly amiable. Especially when your face was so focused on the task, he couldn’t help but stare. 

Yet every time you fried the meatballs and set them aside on a pan lined with paper towels to drain, a sneaky hand would try to steal some. You’d slap his hand away.

“Nope. Hands off! Wait till dinner”

“They’ll end up being consumed anyway. I’ll just have a small tas-”

Slap!

And it continued for a long while, all the way to the end once you finished cooking. When the two of you finally sat down and began eating, Dottore would often remain silent. You were too busy relishing the dish, unaware of the Harbinger’s appreciation for your home-cooked meal. Sustenance is just a waste of time that the human body must go through to gain its energy. But it’s not the same when he is sitting with you casually, the warm afternoon sunlight wrapping the dining table, and the warm food steaming with an appetizing aroma.

For him, eating with you was different. It was simple, but it was home. 

✧ Scaramouche may huff and scoff all he wants, but when it comes to appraising your Unagi Chazuke, no master can compete with you. Perhaps because he is a puppet, but Scaramouche has a delicate pallet. He despises strong flavors and always preferred simpler dishes, to appreciate the unique flavor of a singular ingredient. He would never admit it vocally, but he would often crave your chazukes, and it was easily written on his grumbling face.

“Come on, just say it.”

The Balladeer lamented.

“Say it. My home cooking is the best, and you just want me to cook for you today.”

“...I won’t. I don’t have use in consuming any human meals.” - he mumbled in response, arms crossed. You sighed and with a wide smile, you turned away.

“Oh well. Guess you don’t want any, huh…? And here I thought I could prepare your favorite Unagi Chazuke today. But I guess it’s foolish-”

“No, Wait-!” - The Harbinger wished to bite his tongue but it was too late. He already called out to you in a moment of weakness, and your goofy grin only widened with his desperation. 

He gave up. With reluctant embarrassment, the Balladeer admitted your victory - “If you may… Can you prepare another one of your signature Chazuke? Please.”

And that’s how you two ended up by the dinner table. You couldn’t just deny him after such a heartfelt request. You prepared the unagi meat and rice diligently, showing him how to prepare green tea to add mild bitterness to the salted rice. Topping off with some dried Nori leaves, and sesame - two bows of Unagi Chazuke were ready and looking artistically grandiose.

Light and sublime, that’s what Scaramouche thought. A true definition of soul food, as he held his bowl and chopsticks close. A rare but sincere smile would always grace his features whenever he ate your cooking, but he of course would conceal it by clearing his throat.

“Hm, okay fine. Maybe your cooking is adequate after all. Especially when you don’t make it too sweet.”

You’d laugh at his reaction. At the end of the day, it was you who taught him how to cook what later would become his signature dish, even if his identity as a Harbinger was wiped away. 

✧ Being the richest man in Teyvat like Pantalone means dealing with lots of bureaucracies and business. Sometimes, after a prolonged day in the office, the sight of stacked papers becomes dreadful and negotiations with the Snezhnayan elites may go fruitless. Thus, The Regrator would often slum by his desk, removing his glasses to rub the bridge of his nose and sigh in exhaustion.

Now what would the richest man in Teyvat do to relax after a bad day at work? Go to the most expensive five-star restaurant? Perhaps purchase a fancy drink that costs more than his subordinates' monthly salary? No. He would head straight back home, where he knows you are awaiting him with open arms.

A single look at him and you would know he is fatigued. Leaning up to embrace him, you plant a tender kiss on his cheek - “How about I make us a quick snack, hm? You can go and take a shower in the meantime.”

Pantalone would try to conjure up a faint smile and nod. As he winds down for the day, subconsciously he knows your home cooking is like a balm to his soul. No matter how many exquisite restaurants he tried, he’d easily sacrifice all of them for a bite-full of your culinary.

And here you are, merrily handing him his childhood favorite - Mora Meat Roujiamo. A simple meat sandwich, but a staple street food in Liyue’s culture. That’s all the Harbinger desires after a tough day at work, as he gobbles the sandwich wrapped with a paper towel.

“Made your favorites. I added some extra meat since I know you like it juicy.” - you gave Pantalone soothing pats on the back as he ate up.

“You’re a lifesaver, honey. You would not believe how frustrating work has been today,”

Pantalone would rant and confide in you about his work. He would rather do that than delve into the nostalgic feeling that Mora Meat sandwiches gave him. It was indeed his childhood favorite. Yet it also reminded him how in the distant past, when food or money was scarce, starvation and desperation were his only companions as a lowly child. Thus, on better days when he acquired some change just to purchase simple Mora Meat - these sandwiches felt like a king’s feast.

Such an unadorned dish, but one that brought warmth and sustenance to a starved child, telling him that everything would be okay. Today, this starved child is the richest man in Snezhnayan. Nevertheless, he still relished these sandwiches from your hands like divine wealth, telling himself once more that everything would be okay. 

✧ Tartaglia was bedbound for some while, bandaged heavily after a massive battle he faced during one of his missions. The young Harbinger would never tell his family where his scars hail from, except for you and his father maybe. But after an earful of scolding, you took care of your reckless boyfriend and sighed.

“You made me worried, you know. I don’t want to see you move a muscle around the house these days, are we clear? You must recover first.”

“Y-yes, captain.” - Childe chuckled humorously, suppressing the soreness his cuts provided around his body. “It’s just… there is only one remedy that could save a fallen soldier like me.”

“Hm? What is it? Do you need something, Ajax?” 

“Please, dear… come closer.” - he said with a pained expression. 

You did so he could whisper to you what he wanted. Your concern was only heightened, oblivious that his dramatic words were playing you - “The secret to my healing… is…”

“Yes?” - you leaned even closer.

“... Some yummy food.”

You blinked at him, and Tartaglia immediately gained a comically “passed out” expression on his face, as if your cooking were his last death wish. You let him plop to the pillow and gritted your teeth - “Why you little-...! Ugh, you’re lucky I am worried about you. You just want me to pamper you.”

“Oh, come on, is that such an unrealistic request? You told me not to move a muscle and I would receive your scolding no matter what. Please, sweetheart, just anything you would like - cook it and I would happily gobble it up!”

You crossed your arms. You hate to admit it, but his puppy eyes were working effectively and if his appetite was returning, that means he is on a good path of recovery anyway.

“Fine… I’ll make something nutritious and easy for your stomach.”

Tartaglia's eyes lightened up in an instant. He was a simple man - if you cooked him something, he would drop on his knees for you instantly. That day, you pondered whether you’d make him some Piroshki or Borscht, but he needed something light. His health was your priority, after all. Even though Childe fancied himself a master at concealing his painful whinces, you are no fool. You always notice them.

Thus, your beloved was presented with Ukha fish soup. A warm bowl with fresh herbs, imported calla lily, and nutritious fish.

“Easy now, I know you like Calla Lily Seafood Soup, since you often had it in Liyue… So I decided to go with the local version of it. Now make sure to eat all of it, or you won’t feel better.”

Like an obedient child, Ajax felt pampered and delighted. Lunch by the bed? His sweetheart feeding him? The injuries were worth it as he happily ate the Ukha fish soup.

“If getting injured makes me taste food more worthy than the gods themselves, maybe I should get wounded more often, haha- Ow!”

Your response was another fistful nudge to his shoulder.  

Kanelbullar - in Swedish, Cinnamon Rolls Bife de chorizo - in Spanish, Argentinian beef cut Pico de Gallo - in Spanish, Mexican salsa/dip Kibbeh - in Arabic, bulgur parcel stuffed with minced meat filling (in Genshin, they just called it meatballs lol) Chazuke - in Japanese, green tea poured over a rice meal (Scara's signature dish)  Mora Meat - had to look this one up, apparently Genshin is referencing RouJiaMo (肉夹馍) meaning “meat in a bun". Ukha fish soup - in Russian, also known as fisherman’s soup. Childe’s signature Calla Lily Seafood Soup is probably a variation made with Gēng found in Chinese cuisine. But there is a Slavic variation that reminded me of his signature dish. 

[goldensunset]

trying to think of how best to word it but i like how in twewy you meet the whole cardinal directions higher reaper quartet in those ominous behind-the-scenes meetings in the dead god’s pad and it might seem like they’re all kind of equal and similar and somewhat close. like ok here are the villains! but higashizawa as the first game master barely gets stage presence and nobody cares one way or another after he dies. so when he gets replaced with minamimoto the next week you might be inclined to feel unimpressed like ok last week it was food guy now it’s math guy. whatever i’ll kick your butt too. or at least that’s how i felt like i thought higgy would be representative of the quality of villains here (i still like what they did with him it just wasn’t explored enough)

but then minamimoto is so loud and unruly he makes you pay attention and actually feel afraid of him as a game master esp bc you think he killed you by the end. but then he dies too and it’s like whew ok i’m just glad that’s over that was weird. when konishi comes in you’re like aw yeah kitaniji’s right hand woman now we’re in for a real threat and she’s also very intimidating! but once she dies she’s just unceremoniously gone too. but like before she’s even gone minamimoto COMES BACK. he couldn’t even let her have all the glory of her own week. and then he dies again lol. AND COMES BACK AGAIN. AND MAKES IT INTO THE SEQUEL ON THE BOX ART AS A PLAYABLE CHARACTER

the game masters were set up to be equal in presence only for minamimoto to completely steal the entire show and refuse to leave the stage. he just needs to make it all about himself. he’s literally so much more than any other antagonist across both games is worth, even the main ones, barring joshua. he has fought his way tooth and nail into the limelight time and time again. this is why we need twewy 3 protagonist minamimoto

[generalsmemories]

Ginkgo leaves

✧ jing yuan x gn!reader

✧ based on the ask: Since reqs are open, you think you could write jing yuans reaction to his lover being Mara-struck? Thank you! - requested by anonymous

✧ contents: established relationship, angst, hurt/almost no comfort lmfao, implied character death, mentions of other characters, pov mostly written in jing yuan's pov, still usage of 2nd pov (referring the reader as you), mayhaps ooc because jing yuan is an emotional wreck.

✧ a/n: when i tell ya'll i legit struggled to be able to write this entire thing. there's been like 3-4 scrapped drafts because halfway through writing i would just NOT be satisfied with the result. to the anon who requested this, i'm so sorry it took this long - but i hope the upcoming trainwreck makes up for it! a trainwreck im still not actually satisfied with LMFAO. but it's better than the other 5 scrapped works. also not beta-read so fellas if u see a spelling error - no you didn't.

p.s: some mara-struck information i give here are totally fanmade for the purpose of this fic alone, as such don't take whatever i write about mara here as what actually happens canonically to characters (then again most of the playable characters have different symptoms of mara themselves).

"Benefactor, am I correct to believe you're asking me if the general has any specific interests?" Tingyun asks with a snicker, the trailblazer looking away from her prying eyes while mumbling a quiet yes.

"Some of the younger... Can I call them younger? Anyway, some of the younger Xianzhou citizens are very infatuated with the general. Seeing as I've been announced as his honory guest, they do often come and ask me various things to try and gain his favor. So yeah, anything at this point will work - so please!" the trailblazer hurriedly explained, clasping their hands together in a desperate attempt to get anything from the foxian amicassador leaning back with a quirked eyebrow.

"Ahh, love truly makes someone go blind doesn't it," she muses out loud, the trailblazers' eyebrow furrowing together in confusion over the foxian's lady choice of words, "... You're not entirerely wrong with that statement..."

"Do you want to know what his favorite flower is?" Tingyun asks, ignoring the confused question that had been uttered to her, snapping her fan open to hide the cheeky smile that spread across her lips - but anyone could still tell that her eyes were gleaming with mischief as the trailblazer nodded their head.

"He doesn't have one."

"Then why did you even-"

"But he likes ginkgo leaves."

The trailblazers' eyes widened in shock, and rightfully so because the very thing ginkgo leaves are associated with are after all...

"He had a lover once, and as far as I'm aware, his last moment with them while they still had their consciousness intact was surrounded by ginkgo leaves."

Jing Yuan whilst having forgotten almost every single moment with you, does unfortunately remember the exact details of the day that your descent into madness started. Because what he witnessed wasn't a futile struggle you had with yourself to not to destroy everything within your vicinity. Instead, he witnessed the slow process of your bright self becoming an empty shell, only capable of uttering a few words.

It's comical really, even when faced with a curse that struck everyone mad - he found out that it oddly fit your character to not go mad, but instead become the complete opposite of your gentle self. A hollow shell of the person he fell in love with all centuries ago.

Jing Yuan knew he had to end your suffering right then and there when you first started to show signs.

But he couldn't - This wasn't something that had to be immediately dealt with, his hand wasn't forced like it was back when he had to slay his own master down before she took more lives.

No, this was a normal afternoon on what would've been another normal, mundane day in both of your lives. But everything went wrong the moment Jing Yuan heard the breaking of glass, and how there was a lone gingko leaf inside the palm of your hand - a ginkgo leaf that you were staring wide-eyed at with a trembling hand.

You were too far from the veranda to have a ginkgo leaf in your hand.

General Jing Yuan would've ended your suffering the moment you turned around to lock eyes with him, your own face twisted into one of utter fear.

General Jing Yuan would've reported you the to Ten-Lords Commissions as the law had stated. But Jing Yuan couldn't - because Jing Yuan knew that the moment he did, he would never see you again.

So he decided for once he would be selfish. Jing Yuan rarely made choices lately that was based off of his own feelings, but his time with you was cut too harshly, so once again he chooses to be selfish. Even if that meant that it would prolong your suffering just a tiny bit more. "... We can figure something out," was the only thing he could muster up the courage to say with a shaking voice. You didn't say anything, your mouth wobbling a tiny bit and your breathing getting harsher by the second.

But still you indulged him - you always did. So with an equally wobbly smile, you only nodded your head slightly, "... Sure."

That wobbly smile and expression of utter fear was the last genuine expression that truly came from yourself.

The descent to becoming fully mara-struck is usually a fast process, the curse able to completely overtake someone's mind within the same day the symptoms appears - rendering the person completely vulnerable with the only alternative to either hand themselves in to the Ten-Lords or wait for the Ten-Lords to come to them personally.

Your usual easy-going smile was gone, in its stead was eyes that kept going in and out of focus. Almost as if you were desperately trying to keep yourself grounded - a battle you both knew would end with your defeat.

Jing Yuan didn't dare to venture outside of the house. One step out and every Cloud Knight would've been on you within seconds to subdue you. He had first initially resorted to just holding you within his arms for as long as he could, to be able to remember how you felt like after your death.

But with the minimal strength you had left, you had wobbled to the garden, every step taken only making you pant heavily. But even with heavy breaths of air leaving your lips, you had refused to take Jing Yuans hand or offer to even carry you out to the garden. When you had managed to reach the ginkgo tree standing tall at the center of the garden, Jing Yuan was sure you were going to collapse in front of it, taking a quick step to catch you.

But instead you had merely reached your hands up, the falling leaves fluttering gently down onto your palms. And while you were in indescriable pain for the last couple of hours - Jing Yuan could only see a serene expression when you looked up at the ginkgo leaves that were continously falling down.

"... They're beautiful... aren't they... Jing Yuan? It's almost a pity... that these beautiful... leaves are associated with our doom," you said softly. Jing Yuan could feel his breath hitch in his throat when you uttered his name.

You're obviously struggling to convey whatever thoughts you still had to him properly, taking a moment in between words to catch your breath, eyebrows furrowed slightly as you fought against the searing pain that was spreading through every nerve in your body.

There's a sudden gust of wind which causes the pile of leaves in your hands to flutter away from your grasp. Your hand stretches out slightly, almost in an attempt to reach out for them - stumbling a bit in your step. The limp causes Jing Yuan to take a quick step forward with his arms outstretched. Perhaps seeing him in your peripheral vision causes you to stop the futile attempt to catch the escaping leaves, arms going limp against your side as you turn to face him - your once blank expression turning into a somber smile instead.

Jing Yuan thinks that it's unfair how normal you look in front of him - almost as if you haven't been becme mara-struck. Like nothing has happened to you aside from the ginkgo leaves fluttering from your lips whenever you cough. The same cough that causes the general of Luofu to flinch every time - without fail.

And perhaps you can see his inner turmoil, the way he tries to make eye contact with you, but is unable to after a few seconds. The way his hands clench too hard into fist to the point droplets of blood fall down to the grass and stains it a deep red while he bites his own lips to not say a word - lest he says something that he will regret.

And you truly wish that you could tell him everything is okay like you usually do.

But for the first time since the day he lost his friends, you can't.

"... I'm sorry," you finally say, the apology making him whip his head up to you again. Mouth opening to say something to comfort you, to tell you that it's not your fault. But the words are unable to leave his mouth when he sees your arms slightly outstretched towards him with a small smile.

And he can't hold it in anymore.

It only takes him a few wide steps to reach you from his position before he cradles you within his arms. The grip is tight, unbearably tight to the point it hurts, but you don't complain. You're limp in his hold, and if this was any day he wouldn't comment, but the fact that you're not moving a single muscle terrifies Jing Yuan to the core. "... Please," he finally manages to whisper, the rustling of ginkgo leaves around you almost drowning out his quiet plea.

"Please don't make me do this again."

He doesn't ask if the tensing of your body is caused by the pain that's rapidly increasing or if it's caused by his silent confession. He can however feel the gentle hand that rests against the lower part of his back and your head resting against the side of his own. The reassurance you try to give him does nothing to help because he's aware that it probably brought you unmeasurable pain to try to move those limbs - instead the general buries his face closer to your neck and squeezes you tighter.

"... You won't." you whisper quietly.

It takes a moment for Jing Yuan to process the meaning behind those two words.

But it's a moment too late, because before he can get his phone out to usher a command, a few resounding knocks can be heard throughout the quiet mansion.

"General Jing Yuan. This is Xueyi of the Ten-Lords commission. I've gotten information that there's currently a mara-struck within these premises."

Jing Yuan feels his blood run cold, he pulls himself away from you to stare at you properly in disbelief.

You're still staring at him with the same somber expression, however he can tell there's a small pitiful smile grazing your lips, "I'm sorry," you whisper once again.

"I asked her... personally," you start, finally letting yourself rest now that the end is near, slumping down onto Jing Yuan's chest, your ear settling itself against his heart to hear his rapid heartbeats.

Jing Yuan loathes the fact that it's at this moment, with the Ten-Lords commission outside of your door and with him completely broken do you actually look at peace - like your battle against time has finally come to its conclusion.

And naturally, the one who lost is you.

"Half a day... with you. Then she would come and bring me there. You won't have to... do this again."

You're not able to see Jing Yuan's face - and Jing Yuan wouldn't want you to see how he looked like right now. The arms around you is trembling, his mind is racing - trying to come up with anything to give him a bit more time with you.

But for once, the general that had a plan for every situation had nothing in mind.

He's lost. And the prize of the loss this time is losing you forever.

"General, I apologize for the rudeness of what I'm about to do, but this is for both of your safety," Jing Yuan hear Xueyi mutter from outside of the door, before he hears the rattling of the door frame start to slide open.

"Wait- no," it's a quiet request that gets ignored as Xueyi strides in alone, the lack of company making Jing Yuan's eyebrows furrow in confusion.

"... Their last request along with the request for my late arrival here was for the Cloud Knights to not see you like this. Naturally I won't tell anyone of what I've seen today."

Jing Yuan doesn't care about that, he could care less about his image right now, pulling you closer to him while his eyes are downcast - he makes no move to hand you over to the judge.

The puppet judge before him does not say anything - nor does she make a move. What she does however is wait, wait for the general before her that has been utterly crushed and broken by the person in his arms start to accept the harsh truth once again.

If he doesn't handle the mara-struck himself, someone else would - but the end result only serves to punish him in the end, the one left behind.

Xueyi hears a silent breath be let out by the general, her once closed eyes opening up to see the general pull slightly away from you, one hand reaching up to cradle your cheek. Your eyes have long since closed, and you're most likely not even conscious to hear what he's about to say.

"My dear... I'm sorry I couldn't do more for you. But I'm afraid you'll have to wait a bit longer before we can meet again," he whispers, bumping his forehead against your own gently, "I hope you won't fault me for that."

A long ginkgo leaf flutters right between the two of you, eventually settling down on your chest.

Jing Yuan sucks in one last deep breath, "I'm sorry I kept you here for so long - I'm sorry you had to be in pain for so long because of me," he leans in to slot his lips one last time over your own, whispering something that Xueyi can't hear before he rises up, your body limp in his arms.

"Thank you for your service Miss Xueyi, please see them off appropiately." Jing Yuan says, voice sounding eerily calm - almost like his usual self.

When he turns around to finally face her, the puppet's lifeless eyes seem to grow a bit in surprise. Before her is the general of Luofu, his usual easy-going smile present on his lips.

Like he wasn't carrying his mara-struck lover in his arms.

"As much as I would want to accompany you to see them off, I'm afraid I have some urgent matters to attend to," he informs, handing your body over to Xueyi - she doesn't comment on how his hands are still slightly trembling or how he immediately turned a bit to the side to ignore staring at her head-on.

Even though Xueyi doesn't want to ask, she still asks either way, "What are your plans from here on, general?"

Jing Yuan only gives her a close eyed smile, turning his gaze towards the large ginkgo tree with his hands behind his back. He gnaws a tiny bit at his lips, finally breathing out.

A couple of seconds passes by before he opens his mouth.

"I think I'll meditate a bit under this tree before heading back to the Seat. I can't leave Luofu without me for too long after all."

5 SCRAPPED WORKS AND I'M STILL NOT ACTUALLY THAT SATISFIED BUT IF I KEEP THIS PIECE LONGER IN THE WORKS THE MORE I'LL BUTCHER IT SO HAHA - THIS IS THE BEST WE CAN DO AFTER 3 MONTHS OF CONSTANT BACK AND FORTH FELLAS. I HOPE IT SQUEEZED YOUR HEART A TINY BIT NONETHELESS.

[b1adie]

looking into it i think yingxing would have been fire hunt. he’s hunt for sure considering his main thing was hatred of abominations of abundance anyway but he was trained by huaiyan who is known as ‘the flaming heart’ on the zhuming. people and heliobi hang out together there. flint emperor is there. they use the flint emperor’s flame to forge weapons. the forge is called flamedisk forge. lots of fire stuff. so if he learned there he should be fire element. also makes sense with blade’s trailer showing that he is the single candle still lit despite the rest having gone out. would be cool if he had bluish/teal fire bc heliobi and whatnot.

i was gonna say something about how his skill could be him like heating up his sword as one would to forge it (but not THAT hot obviously) and now im thinking about how with blade’s skill he turns his sword from black to red? he is forging that thing. also crazy that that sword weighs like 4000lbs and he launched it through the air like a frisbee and dan heng got impaled with it and hardly even stumbled. how strong are these guys. OOOH or yingxing could have a FLAMETHROWERRR thing. he made awesome shit and everyone loved him ok? i know he’s never going to be playable as old man furnace master yingxing but i am just imagining if he was… hehe. arrogant craftsman. god they need to let me see/hear more of him like that. I WANT TO SEE OTHER WEAPONS HE MADE I WANT TO SEE HIM SMILE AND BE PROUD AND ANNOYING!!!!!! OLD MAN NOW!!!!!!

anyways fire/hunt yingxing. imaginary/hunt would be cute and fire/destruction makes sense too and obviously most characters playable paths dont line up with their actual beliefs but idc he seems very hunt to me. i miss him. you guys remember when he said “be careful, high elder, lest you hurt yourself with it.” that was some crazy shit. show me geriatric bladie again pleeeease. blade companion mission better be 6 hours long and at least 100k words and 2 cinematics. i’ll wait. give me his life story all 800 years of it. well i guess that’d be like

age 0-7: love my family. sure hope the beasts don’t arrive!

age 8-15: beasts ate my planet. went somewhere else they are teaching me shit here

age 16-30: i am the best at the shit i was taught. idc that everyone is rude to me about it cuz they can be rude but they can’t beat meeeee 😋

age 31-70: im still the best and now i’m hanging out with my immortal friends yay :) they’re all going to outlive me but that’s for the best i think. Right guys?

age 71-800: Ow ow ow ouch ow. Where the fuck am i btw & who the fuck am i as well. Oh well guess ill stick a branch in my hair

age 801+: kidnapped by robot and woman but it’s fine. girl keeps asking me to play games with her even though i tell her i’m busy cutting my hand off each and every day. beast upon my shoulder saying ‘Meow’ frequently. unsure of the implications of this. robot here sometimes. i like it. woman tells me to stop foaming at the mouth so i do because i respect women. except ONE OF THEM. (can’t remember which one right now). branch growing from my stomach again. not my problem. i will be taking a week long nap now.

but i want 6 hours and 100k words of it with pictures and voice acting as proof.

[furiarossa]

23th lineart for this year's @green-with-envy-phandom-event!

Looking yourself in the eye, admitting that you haven't done your best, that your enormous potential is untapped... it takes courage, to admit that you can be stronger, to hold your own hands and do a dance turn. The strange thing, though, is when this isn't a metaphor, but you find yourself in the room with an alternate version of yourself that is much stronger than you.

A little crossover between the one who was originally created as "Monarch Vlad" (and who is now an alternate multiversal version of Vlad Masters, named Vladislav Korolkrovi) and the original Vlad. One of the two has put on the crown and the ring, and this, trust me, can make all the difference in the world.

This is a collaboration: Lines by @trinoxtrinox, sketch (but only of the characters! The room was drawn by Trinox) and color by Furia again (because this year the artist duo Furiarossa&Mimma is split in half! We'll be competing against each other, in two different teams... but still, all the stuff will be posted on the same Tumblr account, or Patreon, or wherever you follow us)

And here's a new feature! Since we're working on a card game, and we want to give all the other participants (and spectators of this event) a fun "demo", we've decided that each of the completed illustrations will be used to make a "Let's Play! Overlord" (more details in the future) card.

All the cards will then be collected at the end in a pdf file and will be freely available to everyone, becoming a print-to-play game that we hope will be fun, and that will include easter eggs and other little treats, but will also be perfectly playable within the main game. 

So here is the 23th card of this special promo set: A dance with your ego.

[Oh, and a lot more of our Danny Phantom fanarts: Here’s our tag]

★ Instagram|Facebook|FurAffinity|Deviantart|Commission prices★

[glytchedmuffins]

I dunno how likely this is but I think Amphoreus has a great opportunity to introduce a new 4 star version of Dan Heng.

Most of this is my own wishful thinking, as I want both more 4 stars characters and because I want Dan Heng to match with the Trailblazer and March.

So how does Amphoreus fit into this? Well, remember how we got March's new 4 star form?

Girl got involved directly with the Hunt via both her two new masters, who both follow the Hunt, and because she was right in the front lines in the Hunt against Hooley, literally, girl was trading blows with that wolf.

Kinda the same goes for the Trailblazer, only they get to be extra by having the literal Aeons themselves give us their blessings.

So, in essence, if Dan Heng got involved with a path as well, he could potentially get a new form. And what do you know, Amphoreus has three of those.

Now, I doubt Dan Heng will also get involved with the Remembrance, we already have March and now the Trailblazer too for that, and we dunno the 3rd path yet for certain, but I highly doubt it will be one of the playable ones, so that leaves only one;

The Erudition.

We know Dan Heng is a rather Erudite person, there is the whole Data Bank, how he seeks and stores (and hordes like the dragon that he is) more and more knowledge, any type he can get his hands on, we also know he has published actual scientific papers online.

So him being himself, I can see him wanting to know and seek more information about Amphoreus and how the paths are involved, causing him to be involved with the Erudition that's on Amphoreus and BAM! New 4 star form!

Look, I know I am grasping at straws here, but I REALLLLLLY want Dan Heng to get a new 4 star version okay?!?!?!

(Another option I thought of was Preservation because a. We need more of those and b. It will make him and March match)

[phoenixcatch7]

Things tloz has not been consistent about that you'd think it would be:

Everything. Buckle up.

The hero being called Link. He's Link in the same way Frisk is the character. The player chooses the name in every SINGLE game up until botw, and that only happened because of the voice acting. It's just shorthand for the link between the player and the game.

The princess being called zelda. Wind waker, she was called Tetra.

The princess being in the game at all (links awakening)

There only being one princess (the hero of either hyrule or legend had two)

There only being one hero (hyrule warriors had three and also linkle)

The princess not being a playable character (hw, aoc, and upcoming EoW. There's also non canon games like cadence and smash bros).

The master sword being in the game (four swords, minish cap, triforce heroes (?), ooa/oos only have it as a linked game post story unlockable, zelda 1,2 and la it was the magical sword).

Ganon being in the game (basically the exact same as the last point minus the 1st 3 games)

Ganon being a bad guy (hyrule warriors and generously, GENEROUSLY aoc, where he's playable as an ally post game).

The master sword being needed to defeat ganon (in botw aoc and totk the master sword is entirely optional, and totally inverts the traditional 'zelda weakens and link deals the final blow').

Link being the main character (upcoming eow which I'm cackling about)

The existence of humanity

Link being in green (abotk made him blue :( and took his hat >:((().

Zelda being in pink (abotk)

Zelda being blonde (she's anything from blonde to brown to ginger)

Link being blonde (tp and lttp (why is he pink?! Zelda is blonde! There's brown haired people! Why neon pink??)

Gerudo having rounded ears (up until abotk)

Nintendo making the games (hw and aoc, cadence lol)

Teen/kid link (totk is the only Link over the age of 19)

Link having a companion (it's pretty evenly split)

Zelda having the companion (aoc and eow)

Link having two companions (hw with basically all of them)

The nature of humanity vs hylians

The story taking place in hyrule (literally so many... La, mm, ooa, oos, technically ww, technically ss, half points for lttp and lbw, tfh)

Just the one triforce (lbw)

Just three separate pieces of the triforce (ww)

Any triforce at all (okay this one is complicated bcz depiction/hand marks/Actual Wish Granting Triforce but hylia alone knows where the triforce was in abotk. I'm counting ooa/oos because opening cutscene. La has zilch and I'm pretty sure mc too.)

Literally any religion has come and gone INCLUDING IRL CHRISTIANITY

Knowledge of the triforce

Knowledge of hylia (it's literally just ss abotk and maaaybe lbw)

The existence of hylia (^^^

The general populace being useless (totk) (that's it)

Link being left handed (in ss and abotk he's right handed. Tp is 50% right handed because they flipped the controls (and world) for the wii).

Link being able to swim at the start of the game (only in the 3d games minus lbw and la remake)

Link succeeding in his quest (botw) (I'm not counting failed hero oot because it's a meta attempt at a working timeline)

At least a tiny bit of time travel (loz 1/2, la, fs, lbw, lttp, botw...)

The hylian shield (only appears in the 3d games! (-la remake and ww and mm))

Link using a bow! (surprisingly 50/50)

Epona!! (literally just oot mm and tp. Botk she's noncanon amiibo and she's in mc but doesn't belong to Link T-T.)

A tutorial (varying subtlety, yes, but there's a difference between the great plateau and a 'press x to open menu :D' prompt five minutes into the game while a knight is trying to kill you (lttp)).

Link having the hero's spirit (ww. I personally disagree but hey)

The hero being a hylian! (totk hero's aspect)

Sleepy boy link (botk he has power naps On Lock)

Link being masc presenting (linkle, hw)

The symbolic elements (3/5/7 combos, lightning/ice/water/fire/wind triforce, boar/owl/dragon/whatever tf)

Things tloz has been consistent about in every game:

Link being a gnc short king (tp is the beefiest he ever got and that was 4'9 male gymnast build at BEST).

Him not telling anyone anything important ever.

[gracefulgabbing]

Ocarina of Time: A Picture's Worth a Thousand Years

When I am asked why I love games, I have a fairly default answer: I enjoy the process of being invested within a story as a result of my direct action, and love the ability to affect meaningful change within a virtual world. I’ll often flip the words around and add in some stutters, but the ethos is generally intact. Video games allow me to do something, to mean something, and as such, allow meaningful things to be done to me, in ways that bring about a lot more emotion than they would if I were simply watching somebody else play. 

But I recently played The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time for the first time, and as the game came to a close, I felt oddly helpless. I watched as a 17-year-old Link placed the Master Sword, his Master Sword, onto the Pedestal of Time, and I watched him return Hyrule to the way it was seven years prior, himself included. He became a child again, and went to meet Zelda, just as he had at the game’s outset, a meeting that had already set the core plot into motion. Of course, my actions throughout the game had led to this; I was strung along by the game’s arbiter of progression, Navi, but I picked up the controller and moved Link around. But what was happening on the screen was utterly and entirely out of my control now. Ganondorf had been defeated, peace had been restored, but for a brief moment, I was helpless, and I was unhappy. Why was Link moving backwards? Why would a game so concerned with the power of time play with it so loosely? But, a few confused minutes later, I came to a realization. Link was not playing with time. Link was following the rules.

***

On Earth, there are a wide variety of unspoken truths that humans, no matter how hard they may try, cannot overcome. We cannot touch fire without being burned. We fall when we enter the air. We cannot travel through time. Of course, we can make approximations. We can develop lighters and harness fire’s elusive heat, build planes and helicopters to soar above the Earth, create art that harkens back to a bygone era. But ultimately, if you pit a human being against Mother Nature, the human isn’t winning. 

Video games, however, allow us to bend or even snap these rules in two entirely. Mario throws fire from his hand as if it were a baseball. Madeline dashes throughout the air in whichever way we wish. Tracer can dip back to moments prior, cleansing all traces of the present she’s leaving behind. The characters within the games we play are beholden to a different set of rules, typically alien from our own, defined by code and data. It’s why games are such an effective method of escapism. Our playable avatars do not struggle with the unstoppable forces we come up against, our problems are trifles to them, and the inevitabilities of their lives are not the same as ours. 

Within Ocarina of Time, though, you play as a character who is, generally speaking, nailed to the same ground as us. Despite living in a world of living rocks, fish people, and fairies, he is utterly human in his vulnerabilities. The rapids of Hyrule’s rivers sweep him away. His lungs are small, forcing his underwater excursions to remain brief. The heat of a volcano beats down upon him, until he is forced to either leave or succumb to its pressure. Despite all his strengths, Link is weak. He cannot defeat the ground he steps upon, or the wind that beats down upon him, or the time that withers his body. In the idealistic world of Hyrule, these are still obstacles to be overcome.

And it is due in large part to this humanity that Link serves as such a strong surrogate for the player. We can see our burdens placed upon him, and watch as he fails to fully bear them. We know this struggle, and we empathize. After all, our inherent flaws are a unifying force; none are born without them, and none grow to surpass them. Link’s similar inability to overcome nature is almost comforting as a result, a reassurance that not all heroes are superhuman. Though his silence is an asset, it is when Link cries out in pain that we see ourselves most in him, and see our world in his. This deep, thorny attachment to Hyrule that Link finds himself developing parallels humanity’s own relationship with our Earth, a constant cycle of trial and error in a hopeless effort to conquer an impenetrable land. This ouroboros of earthly callousness is implicitly understood and well-documented throughout human history, and Link’s submission to the elements around him is steeped in this history, bringing us deeper into his world by acting in lockstep with our own.

***

Of course, Ocarina of Time is a family-friendly game, made in the infancy of 3D technology. In no way could it convey the societal upheaval presented by the earthquakes of Japan, or the fires of Pompeii. But, in the game’s persistent presentation of nature as an insurmountable obstacle, one that only bends and never breaks, the ethos of subservience to a higher natural power is embedded within it. Like all art, Ocarina of Time is a mirror of the world that produced it, and this world is cruel. All one can do is support their own microcosm of it, and protect what lies ahead of them. In line with this, Link exists not as the focal point of Hyrule, but as a small piece of it, beholden to its whims just as everybody else is.

And just as we have been forced to adapt, so too were the citizens of Hyrule. They’ve devised ways to play with the rules of nature, tug at life’s invisible strings. Throughout the game, you can purchase or find tunics. A red tunic protects Link from overbearing heat, allowing him to exist within volcanoes and other high-heat areas without a time limit. A blue one lets him breathe underwater indefinitely. Elsewhere, a pair of Hover Boots can be found, allowing for a brief release from the shackles of gravity. And of course, the game’s central axis, the Ocarina of Time, is another attempt to break free from natural cages. It lets Link warp around the kingdom, summon objects from nowhere, alter the weather, and most importantly, play with time itself. He can change the time of day, but more notably, he himself can skip through time with the Ocarina and the Master Sword. Link gets the unprecedented opportunity to skip past, and return to, his childhood. It’s by far the largest rule-bending in the game, the closest Link gets to cheating nature.

But you’ll notice I never said ‘breaking,’ and this ties back to that initial confusion and sorrow I felt when Link, after saving Hyrule, returned to his childhood. I couldn’t discern a reason for Ocarina of Time to undo all the growing he did, to rip away the time he spent becoming accustomed to the adult body he’d inhabited. Of course, though, this was my misunderstanding. Link hadn’t done any growing. All he had done was contort time to fit his goals, and once those goals were achieved, nature had to take its course. He had to live his childhood. And this says something grander about the nature of these exceptions to the rules of Hyrule. The tunics, the boots, and the ocarina are all powerful tools, but they have caveats. They’re conditional. Temporary. There is no procedure that can heal the wounds that Hyrule doles out, only bandages to cover them up. Even in the final dungeon, Link needs a red tunic to withstand the heat. The hover boots only give him the smallest of windows to be liberated from gravity within until he’s saying hello to Wile E. Coyote on the way down. Link never defeats his obstacles. He merely sidesteps them. And the effects of the Ocarina and the Master Sword, the powerful, mature form Link is given to slay Ganondorf with? Well, they’re on a timer. One less rigid than the tunics, or the boots, but an omnipresent one nonetheless. It’s an hourglass set by the player, with infinite available sand, but only one true conclusion. You can choose to live forever in Ocarina of Time, but the longer you stay there, the more Hyrule suffers under Ganondorf’s iron fist. To play with time as one is given the ability to is unnatural. One could even argue cruel. Not only does it prolong the devastation of a once-idyllic kingdom, but it robs Link of the experience Ocarina of Time embodies so well: Growing up. To dodge nature for so long is unsustainable, and the game knows it.

***

Throughout my exploration of Hyrule, and my coming to terms with Link’s decision, I came to a realization. Despite all that had changed within the kingdom, and all the damage that littered its cities and villages, there was a consistent undercurrent that lay beneath it, carrying its inhabitants through the dark ages that the game chronicles. A persistent culture and artistic language that, through all its hardship, makes Hyrule a place of hope. Whether unconscious or realized, Hyrule is bound to life by its citizens, and the reverence they place upon their home and its history.

For example, the longstanding culture of the Sheikah, one blending traditional defense with more spiritual customs, is one that has protected the royal lineage for decades. When the kingdom is left empty and barren, all that stands between Ganondorf and ultimate power is Sheikah art, their music and the Ocarina standing as a powerful reminder of peace and what stands to be gained by combating Ganondorf. Their legends and creations help spur not only Link, but Zelda, to action, inspiring action within paralyzing moments of fear. In fact, the ultimate impetus for Link’s journey is a story, art passed down verbally until reaching the ears of one who needed it most. As much as Zelda could tell Link that Ganondorf is bad news, when laid against the backdrop of ancient legend and history, that moment means more. Ganondorf is not only bad news, but he is bad news of long-imparted legend, and this is where Ocarina of Time’s dichotomy between environmental domination and individual subservience becomes so important, where the lines become blurred. 

I bring all this up not to dive into the lore of Hyrule, interesting as I’m sure it is. No, I bring it up because the game’s most fundamental motif, its exploration of music as a driving and essential force within Link’s adventure, speaks to that relationship between humanity and Earth, the divide we can’t seem to shift. By the end of Hyrule’s life, there will be little left, but what will remain is song, poetry, and art. This is Ocarina of Time’s gambit. It shows us this natural trauma, forces us to grapple with our shaky foundations, in order to demonstrate the one way human ideas can live on, long past the death of their progenitors: Creation. Ocarina of Time is filled with creations, both small and large, objects and ideas that lend Hyrule a sense of permanence that is otherwise so thoroughly called into question by Ganondorf’s devastation. After seven long years of turmoil, Skull Kids still perform their music. Goron City's walls are still plastered with paintings. Epona still recognizes the songs of her youth. The Ocarina’s tunes live on, if not in Link’s memory, then in the world he played them into. Despite all the hardship of a life in seemingly constant competition with a harsh world, there is a cold comfort in knowing that somehow, you may live on, the memories and culture you steeped yourself within leaving a mark on the world in your own art, just as the art of Hyrule will persist long after Link has gone. It is the one victory that Hyrulians, and we as humans, have over the passage of the days. 

What left me truly charmed by this revelation, this understanding that Ocarina of Time’s Hyrule is one not of dominant conquest but of subtler creation, was that life had once again imitated art as it is often wont to. It’s been over 25 years since Ocarina of Time was released. Many more Zelda games have been released since then, and many more have built upon its ideas. But despite this, the rivers of time have not washed Ocarina of Time away, nor have they even eroded it. It stands just as strongly today as it did back in 1998, and throughout my time with it, I could hardly believe that it was as old as it was, with hardly an edge dulled. It gives me a strange sense of comfort, of peace. I could go my whole life without touching Ocarina of Time, and its legacy would go unharmed. Within the game exists this microcosm of the minds that birthed it, the fear of the unknown, the unquenchable thirst for adventure, the appreciation for worlds long gone with little but their creations to be remembered by. It’s playable history. 

***

Ocarina of Time reminds me that very little is forever. Most tangible things have shelf lives, expiration dates, destructible foundations. It’s the nature of life in a callous world. But in this lesson, this imparted wisdom, Ocarina of Time became, in some sense, immortal. All the cartridges may be lost to time, all the artists behind it will pass, but the art will live on. And through it, the shoulders it rests upon, and the works that rest upon its own shoulders, our mark has been left on a world that will one day leave us behind. Time will take us, just as it will take Link. But it can’t take our art. 

[shuuru]

On Ventus and Missing Ache

a.k.a On Ventus and Darkness™

Welp, this might as well happen.

Spoilers for Ux and Dark Road ahead.

edit: I just realised how to do one of these cuts, haha.

Ventus. Sweet baby Ventus. When he is introduced in Ux, he is probably like 11-12, kind, weaker than most Wielders, lonely and friendless before he joins the Union Leaders.

Baby boy. Baby.

And I swear I'm not exaggerating. These are some of the first sentences he says to the gang when they meet.

Where are your parents!?

When they're discussing Leader things, Ven is quiet until Skuld asks him about it and Ven tells them he will go along with whatever they decide. Ephemer tells him he can speak up but Ven clarifies the misunderstanding saying that he just isn't confident yet in guiding a Union. Brain tells him to grow a backgone. Lauriam calls him kind.

I bet Lauriam is thinking of Strel when he's saying this and this gives me a x2.0 psychic damage multiplier.

One day, Data-Daybreak Town starts glitching out all out the sudden and when Ephemer goes to investigate he finds Ventus fighting some Flappy Bugs but when we see his Keyblade is... not Wayward Wind.

Live reaction of me when I saw this: WHAT?! WHAT THE FUCK?!?

Let's have a look at the boys' Keyblades for a second.

Wayward Wind is called Fresh Breeze in Japanese and it's so cute. Next to it is the monstruosity that is Vanitas's Keyblade.

At first glance Wayward Wind and not-Void Gear (it's not called Void Gear, people. We have to deal with that) are not very similar but they're supposed to complement each other since both have "missing pieces" or are "incomplete".

And none of them look remotely similar to Missing Ache.

You will take Void Gear out of my cold, dead hands.

Now, to the star of the show.

[Cheering and clapping in the distance]

Ventus is not only using Missing Ache but an upgraded version of it that looks very cool. I've been told his Keyblade needs 4 out of 5 Reverse Medals that are considered dark medals so that's interesing I guess. (I never played Ux so I lack context)

[Image Source]

This is originally a Keychain that Roxas can wield in 358/2 Days, it's design obviously meant to be the Nobody symbol. It's very minimalistic compared to others we've seen, which makes it extra insane it has made me lose so much sleep. This Keyblade also has a recolor.

Missing Ache and Pain of Solitude

These two I'm pretty sure are meant to represent Roxas and Xion and they both talk about pain. Is it Missing because you lost it or Missing because you long for it? We don't know. Japanese won't help us here because their names are also in English.

I wanted to do a stretch and say Missing Ache actually looks more like Lost Memory but... no... I don't want to go there.

(I will clarify that this could be a "reusing assets" kind of situation because Missing Ache is a playable Keyblade. Still, I'm here to have fun and going insane is fun to me.)

Why am I insane about Ventus having this Keyblade? Because if you have the time to make a sprite of a Keyblade for one of your main characters, why not take the time to make it the Keyblade that we already associate with him?

In a meta sense, we have expectations for Ventus. We know him, we know OF him, so we expect to see Wayward Wind on his hands. This betrays our expectations, and it's on purpose. So why?

I think the real question is, even if Missing Ache is a placeholder, why isn't it Starlight? Ephemer and Skuld use the same Starlight and no one bats an eye. Brain uses Master's Defender (which was another what the fuck moment for me) and Laurian uses Divine Rose because of course he does.

Missing Ache has meaning because it's different, but maybe Missing Ache itself is not important.

My personal theory for the change in Keyblades is that Xehanort himself took amnesiac Ventus from the past and bequeated him a new Keyblade when he began training him (maybe because Ventus forgot he was a Keyblade Wielder when he time traveled) and that new Keyblade became Wayward Wind. We see him with it in the BBS flashback, reverse grip and everything.

"I want this twink obliterated." - Xehanort giving instructions to the neoshadows

Continuing with Ux, Brain figures out Ventus's name is not on the list Ava gave him and proceeds to tell him as such. Brain uses that maxxed INT stat of his to also conclude what happened with Strel and theorizes that darkness is involved in some way or another.

Ventus remembers a different version of his encounter with Master Ava but regains his memories after a beauty sleep. Enjoy.

Ventus Kingdomhearts, accomplice in murder.

Welp, that was intense.

It's interesting to me how Ventus doesn't look very possessed but he's very mindlessly following orders and just walks right next to Strel's body like she doesn't even exist. This makes me wonder if Darkness™ can manipulate memories.

We don't know exactly when or where Darkness™ hid inside of Ventus but if you allow me to theorize, I think it was a while ago, maybe even since The Book of Prophecies was written and Darkness™ got a chance to read it (more on this later). I also think Ventus had a similar situation as Baldr.

In Dark Road, Baldr loses his sister and is put (for some fucking reason) in solitary where his negative emotions make him spiral until his darkness gains form (THIS IS VERY IMPORTANT). This is to me the most unnerving moment of the entire franchise.

Fucking spooky.

And now, the reveal. From Ventus's body, comes forth...

Darkness™

One of the Thirteen and that's the reason it's ™

Personally, I consider Darkness™ an Eldrich horror. This is a creature beyond human understanding and MoM agrees with me.

This is an ancient being, present on the First Kayblade War that happened during MoM's time as a child but, despite everything, Darkness™ is very willing to just... talk. When Brain starts asking them questions, they answer and they seem very truthful. Like it's not on their nature to lie... Mmh.

Here's a transcript of their conversation because the Tumblr Overlords aren't letting me post any more pictures.

Brain: I have to say, I didn't expect you to look like such a cliché. Darkness: So you say. Darkness: But I have no form to speak of. Darkness: We mostly go unnoticed, after all. Darkness: What you see and hear now is for your benefit. Ephemer: What do you want? Darkness: Want? Darkness: I want nothing. Darkness: I simply am. Darkness: It must be hard for you to understand. Darkness: We're very different. Darkness: Unlike you, our actions don't serve a greater purpose or goal. Lauriam: Then why did you take my sister? Lauriam: Why Strelitzia? Darkness: It was his will. Skuld: I don't believe you. Skuld: Ven didn't even know her! Skuld: Besides, he would never wish that on anyone. Darkness: You're right. Darkness: They were strangers. Darkness: But what he wished for was power. Darkness: I simply helped him fulfill that wish by making him a Union leader. Skuld: Ven would never want that! Darkness: Wouldn't he? Ephemer: Even if he did, he wouldn't go so far as to take it from someone, or steal their spot as leader. Darkness: Power is power. How it's adquired is of no consequence.

Still thinking about this conversation to this day. What do you mean Ven wished for power? For what? Is this wishing of power enough to let Darkness™ in? And the way Darkness™ talks about it, like they were doing Ven a favor? Insane.

One of the many questions that plagues me to this day is if Ventus is aware of Darkness™ at all.

(Not relevant but this Darkness™ uses the same "you" (おまえ) pronoun in Japanese as Vanitas, which in the end means nothing because it's very common but fuels my wips like you wouldn't believe.)

Lauriam: Then… It could've been any of us? Lauriam: It didn't have to be Strelitzia? Darkness: Yes. Lauriam: You--

Ouch.

Brain: I have a few questions. Darkness: Go on. Brain: Why Ven? Darkness: Because it was decided. Brain: What was? Darkness: That he would harbor darkness. Brain: Your vessel was chosen? Darkness: Yes. Darkness: It was written in the Book of Prophecies. Brain: You've read the Book? Darkness: In a manner of speaking, yes. At least the parts that matter to us. Brain: How? Darkness: We read the words as they were being written. Brain: In the Book? Darkness: Yes. Brain: What exactly is your relationship with the Master? Darkness: We're old friends. Ephemer: Friends? Ephemer: Then you and the Master are on the same side? Darkness: We have no need to side with people.

It was decided that Ventus would harbor darkness. Has Ventus been destined for this because MoM saw it with his future eye? How far into the future? Was it this point? BBS point? Even further? Is Ventus a Princess of Light? These are the questions that keep me up at night.

Also, we have no need to side with people but MoM and them are old friends....? Mmmm, interesting.

Brain: You claimed you aren't after anything, Brain. but I'm not buying it. Darkness: What? Brain: You seem pretty desperate to get in our way, showing up like this. Brain: I don't know if it's pride or fear, but there's a reason you're still here. Darkness: … Darkness: Infection. Brain: Meaning? Darkness: Data transfer requires a signal. Darkness: The same goes for the hearts and minds of you humans. Darkness: You underestimated how easily the darkness rides on those signals. Darkness: … and spreads through this place. Brain: Is tha why you wormed your way into the data world? Brain: But then why hide inside Ven? Darkness: I told you. Because it was decided. Skuld: That's enough. Skuld: You're saying because it was written in the Book of Prophecies it was meant to be? Skuld: Well, I don't care. You hijacked Ven and attacked Lauriam's sister. Skuld: And now you're gonna pay for it! Brain: That's right Darkness: We are many, and we are one. Darkness: But to be one requires will. Darkness: Through him, we could divide into pure darkness and light… Darkness: …wilfull and distinct. Darkness: It was a sacrifice that needed to be made.

What I'm hearing here is that Darkness™ can gently separate Ventus and themselves between darkness and light and they way Xehanort did it was very sloppy.

Also, interesting how they consider individuality to be a sacrifice.

Darklings appear in the room and it seems Ven is the one they're looking for. Ventus regains consciousness and starts... shining? his light so strong it covers his entire body? and he absolutely destroys the Darklings that were surrounding him.

Insane power up.

Ventus stands up to Darkness™ and delivers the best piece of dialogue since "At least I have some!"

Ventus: If you're pure darkness, then that makes me pure light. Ventus: If you used me to reshape yourself, Ventus: then I can reshape you again. Ventus: I'll give you a new form… Ventus: …that we can defeat!

Ventus attacks Darkness™ with Missing Ache in hand and then fade to white.

And that's it. This is the last we see of this specific Darkness™ and Ventus is sleeping the rest of the game before he time travels to the future. They both now inhabit the same body and, as Lauriam theorizes, Darkness™ has probably become a part of Ventus. Chocolate powder and milk. Forever.

Well... Until.

Thank you for reading, I've been working on this for a week and it was a pain to write, but I had fun crying at the finale of Ux again. I had a lot more things I wanted to talk about, like Ventus regaining some memories of his past after KH3, the fact that we see a character create his own darkness from negative emotions and yet Vanitas is supposed to be one of the 13 Darknesses and how I can compare Darkness™ to Skynet in some way but I think that's for another theory post.

Have a great day, everyone.

[dare-to-dm]

I have such a love/hate relationship with the Assassin's Creed series.

On the one hand, I hate that it feels like Ubisoft is maliciously designing this franchise to eternally suck money out of my wallet without ever giving me narrative closure or quality design. Like, there are so many cynical at best design decisions in this series. For context, I'm currently playing Assassin's Creed Valhalla, and I've already played every mainline title up to this one, except for AC: Unity, because I've decided to die mad about the whole "It's too hard to make a female playable character" thing. And for a long time now, it feels like each new title is shallowly chasing industry trends in order to try to appeal to a more mainstream audience. In AC Valhalla, there are so many mechanics straight up lifted from other popular games, but implemented so poorly and in such a vestigial way that it doesn't feel cohesive. Like, they tried to implement the pawn system from Dragon's Dogma for some reason, or the puzzles from Senua's Sacrifice. And this is a sad look for a series that was at one time so groundbreaking that it was influencing other franchises instead. In addition to just stealing a grab bag of mechanics from other games, Assassin's Creed is sacrificing its own unique identity to emulate other popular genres, with the combat in AC: Valhalla feeling way more soul-sy than it has any rights to. I mean, there are straight up boss battles in this game.

Boss Battles. In an Assassin's Creed game.

And you can't even just straight up assassinate anyone anymore. Like, if the opponent NPC is a higher level than you, than an assassination is basically just a fancy attack that does a little extra damage. Meaning there's hardly a reason to bother with stealth anymore, you might as well open up combat with a big flashy ability that will at least stun other opponents.

To their credit, you can change this in the Settings. In fact, if there's one thing they put a lot of effort into designing, it's the difficulty options. You can make it so assassinations are always an instant kill. You can make it so that opponents are always the same level as you. You can precisely calibrate how much damage you give and receive. There are also difficulty options for the stealth and for the exploration. You can literally remap the controls however you like. Honestly, I laud them for this. Although a cynical side of me feels like it's also indicative of a weak vision for the game. Rather than crafting an experience for a specific audience, it's another attempt to design for broad appeal.

All this is not to mention all the crap they've gotten up to with their monetization strategies. That could be a whole other post.

I've stuck with the series due to my interest in the story, and it feels a little like they're holding that interest hostage. Each new release gives me tantalizing bread crumbs, but little if anything is ever truly resolved or answered. It leaves me wondering if there's any kind of master plan for the whole thing, or if they're literally just stringing me along with whatever bullshit they think will keep me engaged with no end in sight.

But on the other hand, sometimes those bread crumbs are so good.

Like, there's at least one person on the development team (and probably far more) who is putting real time and effort into making a well researched, intricate, interconnecting story. Someone who makes me feel rewarded for my 100% completion tendencies with all these little nuggets of story and character and clues that feels like it all adds up to something special.

A moment for me in AC Valhalla that reminded me of why I like this series so much is when the viking protagonist travels to "Vinland" and meets some First World People there, who in the game are speaking Iroquois. And there is no translation. Like the protagonist, you are stuck guessing what they are saying from their body language and context clues. It's such a cool way of getting you immersed in the story and setting, and it really stuck with me. And then of course I searched online for a translation, and it feels like the writing team integrated the lore and culture here very respectfully. Like with ACIII, it's clear they consulted with real current speakers of the language, and in addition there is an inclusion of a Mohawk creation myth (which also ties into tidbits explored in both ACIII and AC Rogue). And those creation myths might have been shared simply as a nod to the culture being presented here, but it might also tie into the greater mystery surrounding the Isu, which is cool to speculate about.

Basically, there are some really cool storytelling things happening in this series, and it often motivates me to research and learn a bit more about real history. I just can't give it up.

I've heard that AC Mirage was more of a "return to basics", and optimistically I hope that means the game mechanics are returning to more of what gives Assassin's Creed it's own unique identity. But as long as they keep giving me those narrative nuggets of gold, I'm stuck for the ride.

[thisapplepielife]

Written for @corrodedcoffinfest.

Do You Play?

Day #3 - Prompt: Best Friends | Word Count: 1000 | Rating: T | CW: Language | POV: Goodie (Freak) | Pairing: None | Tags: Making New Friends, Playing D&D

"Can I sit?" a voice beside him asks, startling him.

Goodie looks up, annoyed. He's engrossed in his book, and now there's a boy he's never seen before standing over his lunch table. 

"Uh, I guess?" he answers, because nobody's ever asked to sit with him before. Not even the new kids. Everyone learns pretty fast to stay away from the freak. 

"Cool, thanks," the other boy says. Then adds, "I'm Jeff. My first day," he explains, gesturing around. Yeah, Goodie's aware. He wouldn't be approaching Goodie if he knew anything about anything in this shitty middle school.

Goodie nods as he sits, his lunch tray slapping against the table.

"This is the part where you tell me your name," Jeff prompts, and Goodie sighs. 

"Goodie," he says. Waiting for it: Goody-goody. Little goody two-shoes. Sam Goody.

He's heard it all. He doesn't give a shit anymore. It's unoriginal and tired, and he refuses to play along. Not even for the new kid.

"Do you play?" Jeff asks, seeming to bypass the usual foolishness.

"Play?" Goodie asks.

And Jeff flicks the book in Goodie's hand: Dungeons & Dragons: Rules for Fantastic Medieval Wargames Campaigns Playable with Paper and Pencil and Miniature Figures.

Oh. This is what he's gonna make fun of, then. Great.

"Trying to learn, if I could get this read," Goodie says, pointed. Dismissive. 

"Me too," Jeff says, opening his backpack, holding it out for Goodie to look into, and sure enough, there's a copy of a similar book on top of all Jeff's textbooks.

Goodie admits, "That's cool."

"We'd need a referee. Or, a Dungeon Master as they call them in the later books. Do you want to do it?" Jeff asks.

And Goodie does not. He shakes his head no.

"You know anybody else that plays, then?" Jeff asks. 

Goodie doesn't, and he shakes his head again. 

Jeff nods, accepting his answer, "Well. The two of us can play, but one of us has to be the Dungeon Master," Jeff says, picking up his square piece of pizza and taking a big bite. 

Fine. Goodie will be the referee, the Dungeon Master, but he doesn't want to. Not at all.

They have their stuff spread out on the picnic table in the woods outside of the high school, the only secluded place Goodie knew about. They can't exactly do this in the library. Ms. Waterson would have their asses.

But they're finally playing. It took a couple weeks to read, and learn, but he thinks they finally have a working campaign, as basic as it is.

They are both laughing, having a good time, as Jeff rolls the dice again and Goodie reads from behind his folded out Trapper Keeper he's using as a makeshift screen.

He's about to tell Jeff his fate, when Goodie catches movement out of the corner of his eye, but it's gone in a flash, and he feels a sense of dread. 

"Somebody's here," he hisses, and Jeff turns to look. "Don't look, dummy!"

And Jeff swings his head back around, pretending he wasn't looking. Too late for that.

Goodie tries to ignore the bear, or whatever the fuck it might be lurking in the woods, and goes back to stumbling through the shoddy campaign he's tried to cobble together. It's awful. He wants to play, not host. 

Then he sees it again, the movement behind one of the trees.

"Okay, I know you're there. Come kick our asses or whatever, and then leave us the hell alone!" Goodie hollers, not willing to play peek-a-boo all afternoon.

He thinks nothing is gonna happen, but finally a face pops around from behind the tree.

Eddie Munson.

Great.

The eighth-grader with the buzzcut. The one that's an actual freak. Just what they needed.

From everything he's heard, Eddie Munson is mad at the world, and Goodie isn't about to draw any of that negative attention towards himself. He's no fool. So, he looks away, and hopes Eddie will just leave.

They aren't that lucky. Goodie never is, so he doesn't know why he thought today would be any different.

"What're you boys up to?" Eddie asks, walking over towards the table, and Goodie pro-actively reaches out, trying to protect the set-up. They spent weeks on this, and all of their allowance money. He doesn't want to dig the pieces out of the dead leaves on the ground.

"Just playing a game. Dungeons & Dragons. Ever heard of it?" Jeff asks, like a goddamn fool. 

Goodie glares at his new best friend, trying to relay that this is not the kid to talk to. Abort mission, shut up, Jeff.

But Jeff didn't shut up, and now Eddie nods, sitting down at the table, right next to Goodie, and Goodie resists the urge to scoot away. But he doesn't. Show no weakness. That's what his dad always says. Easier said than done.

Eddie picks up his hand-painted dragon miniature and looks at it closely. Carefully. 

And then Eddie smiles, the barest hint of a grin, "Can I join?"

Can Eddie Munson play with them? Oh, sure, and then later they'll all go to The Hideout for a few beers, Goodie thinks, sarcastically.

"Sure!" Jeff says, excited, "Do you want to be the Dungeon Master? Goodie's terrible at it."

Goodie scoffs.

"Hey, either of you play an instrument? There's a talent show coming up. If we win, that'd be some nice cash to get a new campaign going."

Jeff looks at Goodie, and Goodie shakes his head, adamantly.

"Goodie can play the bass! He's pretty good!" Jeff shouts, and Eddie grins. 

"Excellent," Eddie says, a smile splitting his face, "that's excellent."

Goodie can't help it, he grins back, just a little. Maybe this won't be terrible, after all. For now, he pushes his notes towards Eddie so he can get up to speed on what they do have right now, while they all dream about what they might be able to play together in the future.

If you want to write your own, or see more entries for this challenge, pop on over to @corrodedcoffinfest and follow along with the fun! 🦇

[smashy-headcanons]

Smash 4, Master & Crazy Hand's Shared HP, and Master Core

Smash 4 is unique in that, unlike in any other game, Master Hand & Crazy Hand share an HP pool when they fight together; they even revert to separate HP bars in Ultimate. This means that whether you attack one of the Hands or another, they're both gonna feel it.

The consequences

If you compare their health across games, their total HP is much, much weaker than their combined health in other games (can't confirm this for Ultimate since their HP amounts aren't actually shown, except for in World of Light's playable Master Hand fight in which he has 700 HP). At max difficulty, their combined health would be 720 in Melee & Brawl's Classic Modes (360HP per Hand), but in Smash 4, it's either 410 in the 3DS version or 380 in the Wii U version (580 in Wii U's co-op, but that's likely making up for the lack of the 0.6x co-op damage multiplier present in Brawl). That's only 20-50 more HP than one of them individually in the previous two games (Master Hand had 300HP at max difficulty in Smash 64, which is coincidentally the maximum HP the Hands can collectively have in Crazy Orders).

In Classic Mode difficulties between 3.0 and 5.0, I've found that in Classic Mode, Hand #1 goes down when their shared HP gets below the 25 or 35 mark, meaning that once the first of the Hands is defeated, the second can only take a couple of hits before also being defeated. (In Crazy Orders this is closer to the 90-80 mark.)

At difficulty 5.1 and above, their boss fight instead transitions to the Master Core fight after they collectively lose 1/4th of their total health.

Master Core, and Crazy Hand's disappearance

When the Hands reach the threshold for Master Core to emerge from Master Hand, the dramatic zoom always focuses on Master Hand, and he's the one who lets out his "defeat" cry, regardless of who you actually landed the last attack on. At lower difficulties, who the zoom focuses on depends on which of the Hands you defeat.

The low damage threshold for the transformation and the way Master Hand writhes before his body tears open already makes it seem like he wasn't in control of the transformation, so the sudden zoom on Master Hand and shout coming from him, even in the event of Crazy Hand being attacked, could add more reason to assume that the transformation was sudden and involuntary.

Another peculiarity is that whenever this transformation triggers, Crazy Hand will start to burst into purple flames before disappearing. This same "purple flame" effect comes from the Hands upon their defeat in no-Core variations of the fight.

There is a key difference between their standard defeat animation and Crazy Hand's disappearance preceding Master Core's emergence, though: without Master Core, the "flames" appear at full strength, and persist at the same strength as the Hands fly back into the background, but when Master Core is about to emerge, the flames start out small before quickly growing, Crazy Hand suddenly disappears entirely with no dramatic "falling into the background" present (nor does he scream), and the flames eventually die out leaving nothing behind.

Given that their shared HP pool is what makes it possible to trigger the transformation regardless of which one is attacked, it's possible that it's also responsible for Crazy Hand's disappearance. The transformation looked extremely physically taxing even before Master Hand's glove tore open.

Okay so why would they even do that then

With all the disadvantages that pooling their HP seemed to have (rendering the remaining Hand very weak upon the first Hand's defeat + maybe making Master Hand's transformation also affect Crazy Hand's physicality), that raises the obvious question of why they would even choose to do so in the first place.

It couldn't be an attempt to prolong their ability to perform combo attacks: even if they were to hypothetically get through a 9.0 difficulty battle without Master Core emerging, the damage they'd collectively take before one of them goes down (345-355 in solo Wii U, 375-385 in 3DS) is so marginally different from the HP they'd be taking individually (360 in Melee & Brawl) that the disadvantages would far outweigh any potential benefit. Hell, in the Wii U version they'd have even LESS opportunity for combo attacks!

The only reason I can think of for them to pool their HP in such a way is if it were a necessity to do so--i.e., if one of them was so weak that it had to draw on the other for strength until it fully recovered. I feel like this would also explain why their shared health pool is so small in the first place. Even going by the 3DS's higher max HP, 410 combined isn't all that much greater than their previous individual 360 HP, and it only gets worse when you go by the Wii U's 380 HP.

As for what caused this? ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

My first guess was that it was a result of Subspace Emissary, but if that took place right as Brawl was about to start, then it would've made more sense if the HP pooling happened in Brawl.

My second guess is that it could be the result of an emergence of Master Core before the start of Smash 4. Reiterating from the previous section, the transformation into Master Core looks extremely taxing, and he could've easily been wiped even after regenerating whatever body he lost.

If such an incident happened shortly before the official start of Smash 4, then that would necessitate them linking their HP to make sure Master Hand is able to run things.

TL;DR, headcanon that Master Hand & Crazy Hand can link their own health with each other to provide each other with their own strength in an emergency.

[demifiendrsa]

NINJA GAIDEN 4 Official Announce Trailer | Developer_Direct 2025

NINJA GAIDEN 4 will launch for PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, and PC (Steam, Microsoft Store) in Fall 2025. It will also be available via Game Pass.

Key visual

Screenshots

Overview

About

The definitive ninja hack-and-slash franchise returns with NINJA GAIDEN 4! Embark on a cutting-edge adventure where legacy meets innovation in this high-octane blend of style and no-holds-barred combat.

Key Features

Return of the Legend – Experience a return to the intense, high-speed combat that established NINJA GAIDEN as a premier action game series. Prepare for a legacy reborn with captivating style for a new generation of players.

Epic Hack and Slash Combat, Evolved – NINJA GAIDEN 4 fuses Team NINJA’s tempered combat philosophy with the stylish, dynamic action gameplay of PlatinumGames. Engage in visually stunning combat that rewards precision and strategy. Use Bloodbind Ninjutsu to transform your weapons and unleash devastation upon your enemies, alongside legacy techniques like the Izuna Drop and Flying Swallow. The legendary Ryu Hayabusa also returns with a revamped yet familiar set of tools to master. With a customizable player experience, NINJA GAIDEN 4 will push action game veterans to their limits while allowing newcomers to enjoy a heart-pounding adventure full of twists and turns.

An Ancient Enemy Returns – An endless rain of miasma hangs over a near-future Tokyo in the wake of an ancient enemy’s resurrection. The fate of the city lies in the hands of young ninja prodigy, Yakumo. Fighting his way through cybernetic ninja soldiers and otherworldly creatures, Yakumo must reconcile a destiny he shares with the legendary Ryu Hayabusa himself and free Tokyo from the ancient curse that brought the city to its knees.

Additional details

A New NINJA GAIDEN World Unveiled

While the series has been beloved for almost four decades, the announcement of NINJA GAIDEN 4 marks the first new mainline entry in 13 years. When asked about the long gap—spanning two Xbox console generations—Yasuda expressed Team NINJA’s long-standing desire to bring the series back. “Fans have long been asking us for a new NINJA GAIDEN game,” he said. “Koei Tecmo‘s President, Hisashi Koinuma, and PlatinumGames’ CEO, Atsushi Inaba, share a close relationship, which led us to explore a collaborative development effort. PlatinumGames had the expertise we felt was ideal for working on NINJA GAIDEN, and with support from Microsoft’s Phil-san [Phil Spencer, CEO of Microsoft Gaming], the three companies were able to take the next step towards creating a brand-new NINJA GAIDEN.”

Appearing for the first time in the Developer_Direct broadcast, and published by Xbox Game Studios, NINJA GAIDEN 4 is positioned as the direct sequel to NINJA GAIDEN 3. While maintaining the dark and gritty world that the series is known for, players will take on the role of a new protagonist, Yakumo. “A significant amount of time has passed since NINJA GAIDEN 3, and players will find themselves arriving in a gruesomely transformed Tokyo. One of the key themes of this story is the return of the Dark Dragon, which has plunged the city into chaos. Within these unsettling conditions, Yakumo will have to face off against his foes, as well as the formidable Master Ninja himself, Ryu Hayabusa,” Nakao explained.

When asked why a new protagonist was introduced, Nakao clarified that “since it’s been a while since the last game, we wanted a new hero to make the series more approachable for new players. Of course, we also wanted long-time fans to enjoy the game, so Ryu Hayabusa plays a significant role in the story, serving as a major challenge and growth milestone for Yakumo. Ryu will appear throughout the game and be playable, ensuring his prowess and presence is deeply felt in NINJA GAIDEN 4.”

Overcoming Adversity in NINJA GAIDEN 4

In the Developer_Direct trailer, the new protagonist, Yakumo, shows off stylish new mechanics which include traversal using wires and rails, something new for a NINJA GAIDEN title. When asked about the addition of these elements, Nakao revealed one of the game’s core themes: “Adversity is a key concept for this game. From the beginning to the end of each stage and even in the transitions between, everything is designed to represent adversity for Yakumo.” First and foremost, that adversity will come in the form of NINJA GAIDEN’s signature combat, but Nakao explains that these new additions outside of the fights keeps that feeling high at all times: “To maintain the tension throughout, we’ve added high-speed elements like rail and wire-based actions to keep up the sense of challenge.”

The announcement footage also depicted a rain-soaked, cyberpunk-like Tokyo, leaving a strong impression to those who watched the trailer. “In NINJA GAIDEN 4, we wanted to blend old and new elements. Tokyo in this game has been drastically transformed by the influence of the underworld., which is why it appears this way,” Nakao explained, elaborating on the Dark Dragon’s miasma rain, as well as the disasters it has caused. “Rain is a major visual theme in this game. For example, we’ve put a lot of effort into how characters look when drenched, how raindrops hit the ground, and various other effects.” These visual motifs stay true to the signature dark, hardcore atmosphere of the series while bringing new flavor to its visual direction.

Nakao also touched on the game’s anticipated difficulty. “We’ve brought together the best aspects of the series and elevated them for the current generation. Personally, I believe [the difficulty level of] NINJA GAIDEN 2 had a lot of standout qualities, and I think fans will feel its influence strongly throughout NINJA GAIDEN 4.”

After such a long break between games, it’s paramount that the team balances what’s great about the series, while adding new ideas. Despite the daunting challenges, the collaboration between Team NINJA and PlatinumGames promises an unparalleled NINJA GAIDEN experience.

“One of the key differences between modern action games and NINJA GAIDEN lies in the sense of fairness when confronting enemies,” Nakao said, explaining the series’ unique game balance philosophy. “Enemies are designed to be masters of defense and experts of unrelenting aggression, but players never feel they’re at an unfair disadvantage. There’s a sense of balance that’s been passed down through the series, transcending current-day trends.”

“The rapid shifts between offense and defense, the almost fighting game-like 1v1 combat—you’ll see these elements evolve in NINJA GAIDEN 4. At the same time, we’ve ensured that returning players will immediately feel at home when they pick up the game,” he concluded.

A True Successor

When asked about the challenges involved in achieving the fairness that defines the NINJA GAIDEN series, Nakao shared his thoughts with a laugh.

“If I were to go into detail about the feel of the action, we’d be here for quite a while (laughs). In all NINJA GAIDEN titles, a delicate balance is carefully crafted to maintain the satisfaction of attacking enemies without losing the speed and exhilaration that define the gameplay. I remember struggling with the fine adjustments required to achieve the right feel when we first started implementing and testing the systems. Additionally, when we brought Ryu Hayabusa into NINJA GAIDEN 4, we wanted long-time fans to experience the exact same enjoyable gameplay feel they’ve come to expect. We had numerous discussions with Team NINJA to fine-tune the mechanics and ensure everything felt just right.”

Yasuda also added that “when it comes to gameplay feel, Team NINJA was deeply involved. Fairness in combat with enemies is only possible when ultimate playability is a given. To achieve that, we pushed for even deeper refinement of controls and other aspects. I know it probably seemed like we were being a bit too demanding at times…(laughs).” This collaboration across company lines was crucial to creating the next ultimate NINJA GAIDEN experience.

One of the standout features of NINJA GAIDEN 4, which embodies the series’ experience while introducing fresh elements, is Yakumo’s “Bloodraven Form.” Nakao described this as “a technique that manipulates the blood of oneself and enemies, transforming it into a massive weapon capable of slicing through multiple foes at once.” He elaborated further on how this addition expands upon the series’ traditional gameplay.

“Yakumo fights using Bloodraven Form, and when certain conditions are met, he can unleash a move called ‘Bloodbath Kill,’ which instantly bisects enemies in one strike.” Nakao explains that, while previous entries have tasked players with working out how to approach encounters with multiple enemies, and NINJA GAIDEN 4 is introducing another exhilarating way to fight against swarming crowds: “This time we’ve added large-scale, high-damage attacks with the Bloodraven Form, enabling players to instantly turn the tide of battle in their favor.”

This system introduces moments of release from overwhelming situations, offering new depth to the gameplay that Nakao hopes both newcomers and returning fans will enjoy.

Both Team NINJA and PlatinumGames are known for their expertise in high-end action games. According to Nakao, the process of creating NINJA GAIDEN 4 revealed the unique strengths and characteristics of each studio.

“Looking at the titles created by PlatinumGames, we noticed clear differences in approach. While we emphasize flashy, impactful strikes and moment-to-moment experiences, the NINJA GAIDEN series focuses on delivering refined and satisfying gameplay feel, culminating in an exceptionally polished overall action experience. This collaboration was a truly unique learning opportunity for us at PlatinumGames.”

When asked about the significance of bringing NINJA GAIDEN 4 to Xbox, Yasuda reflected on Team NINJA’s long history with the platform.

“With titles like the Dead or Alive series and the NINJA GAIDEN series—especially the original NINJA GAIDEN, NINJA GAIDEN Black, and NINJA GAIDEN II—we have a deep history with Xbox. It’s been a long time, but we’re thrilled to bring the latest installment back to Xbox players. Additionally, with the game being added to Game Pass, we’re excited that more people will have the opportunity to experience it.”

Nakao, who became a fan of the series during his days as a student, also shared his excitement. “Personally, I played NINJA GAIDEN II on Xbox 360, so being able to play the latest installment on Xbox again makes me very happy. Even now, I occasionally boot up NINJA GAIDEN II on my Xbox Series X. As a developer and a fan, I’m thrilled to see the NINJA GAIDEN series come together on Xbox, creating a moment in time where all these titles can be enjoyed in one place.”

[midnight---hollow]

Personally kinda feel columbina is gonna be natlans second boss. Idk her or whoever is there to take the gnosis. Like i think its telling that we ended natlan with the gnosis still in mavuikas hand and she herself said a fatui harbinger will come to retrieve it eventually. Like if they end up having some other boss for the reigen cool great but the only time this has happened is like mondstat which had none cus we learned about the fatui last second.

A fatui harbinger is very likely to be the next weekly boss and if we are following the wheel that so far has been accurate (in weekly bosses not when introduced or playable, signora dead capitano and dottore introduced before their spots in the wheel) then columbina is next and i for one am so hyped for that. Literally the only other harbinger i can see there is dottore and to that i say, 1 he is prob gonna be in that one snezhnyan city. 2on the wheel he is like one behind capitanos (unless you count the big one as the tsaritsa which i dont) minimum (i think he is the heresy but to each there own) so if he is there i dont think we are getting a weekly boss from him, he will dip in and dip out like in summeru.

Also you cant convince me capitano isnt coming back, drag me to the cell they hated jesus cus he spoke the truth- we havent gotten his weekly boss and if the wheel is about fates like some theorize then his fate is to be decided after columbinas. Also big note (minus the jesus implications and the fact no one ever said he was dead) DOTTORE IS BURNING IRMINSUL WHICH IS TIED TO THE LEYLINES. MR MASTER OF THE LEY LINES ISNT GONNA LET THAT SLIDE TO TAKE A MASSIVE NAP YKNOW

[sh1-n0bu]

Sometimes I look at Heizou and I'm like

goddamn that mf gay

this is more like a personal hcs, ramble and analysis rather than an actual fic. hope it’s oaky nonnie😔

but truthfully speaking i just can’t see any of the playable genshin characters being straight? ig???

heizou would probably be pansexual or aromantic maybe. he ain’t straight, have u seen that mans design? his hangout quest? not that im judging cuz he was a bit flirty or anything like that!! idk he just gives off that kind of vibe

just character design wise speaking, he canonically wears chokers in his everyday outfit. and he doesn’t tie his hair, he just ties the rope thing-y over the thin part of his hair. also his hairstyle seems to be some sort of a mullet? i think??????

definitely teases you aka his partner by flashing you his pretty pink nipples with his side cut shirt with a knowing smirk :(( a huge tease

i can see him having interrogation kink, bondage, overstimming and master kink? just master kink but i can also see him having mommy/daddy kink too ig?

definitely loves being a power bottom or a bratty sub. he isn’t going down without a fight (only to talk big yet end up overstimmed and crying at the end of the night)

hes a big whimperer. crier too. i can just see him crying (cue flashback to that one heizou bday art)

if hes feeling more frisky than usual, he will definitely try to have a quickie with you in a dark alleyway or in his office. he loves the feeling it gives him, making his whines more higher pitched than usual at the thought of someone walking in on you fucking him stupid

loves the feeling of you fucking away the thoughts in his mind, fucking away his stress and just making him a putty in your hand. will gladly drag you into his office just so he can cockwarm/strapwarm you. he loves feeling full <3