#IT'S NOT EVEN LIKE. THE REMASTER THIS VERSION IS ANCIENT

[voxmilia]

you ever just get the urge to play a game 8 years later-

[doyoulikethissong-poll]

Commonly asked questions

How do I submit songs? Submissions are currently closed. When it opens up again, I'll post a message here stating rules and which specific info I require. If you don't supply that info along with the song, your message will be deleted.

I submitted a song when we were allowed. When will it appear? :) There's waaay over two thousand songs in my askbox. 😅 And I'm very slow at posting submitted songs because it takes an oddly more amount of time and energy than you'd think, that's why it's easier for me to go with the songs I already have. Please have a bit more patience, hopefully it'll be posted soon enough! 💖

I don't like the genres posted recently. 🤷‍♀️ I mean, you can tell me what genres there's a lack of and I'll try put more effort into adding more of them.

I don't like the poll options. 🤷‍♀️

Will there be an "Indifferent" option? No. People bitched and very rudely demanded it when the blog was new and it left a very sour taste. Also we're 250+ songs in, it's kinda meh to add it now, but I definitely understand why you want it because some songs are really hard to define if you feel anything at all about them. (also you know people would just click indifferent to see the results instead of listening to the song lol) If I were to ever add more options, it would be love/hate.

How do I vote on a song if I feel indifferent about it? Indifferent = don't like it ig. 🤷‍♀️ Remember, I'm not asking you if you LOVE!!!!!! the song, or if you want to buy it. Liking can be as good as only a "meh, it's ok / decent enough to run in the background". Disliking can be being indifferent instead of outright hating it, when it's so neutral to you that it doesn't give you any positive feelings. It is only a minute long clip that I'm asking you to form an opinion about after all; you can change your mind either way when you hear the full version. Sometimes songs have to grow on you!

How do you pick the songs used in the polls? Mostly like this:

I have a huge mp3 hoarding archive so the submitted songs are easier for me to pick if they're already in my possession. 😅 Songs that aren't in my collection (tagged as #new to admin :D lol. sometimes i search out songs specifically for the poll that are tagged this as well) requires a bit more effort to download/listen to/edit but i have discovered a couple of great new gems so don't think i don't appreciate them!

How do I search for a specific artist/song that you've posted? All artists are tagged a day or so after the song reveal. Don't forget to use the hashtag symbol when searching or tumblr will give you all sorts of odd results!!!! (or none at all, lol) Please also remember that tumblr finds simple easy tasks extremely difficult, so only search for an artist with the easiest type of spelling, like #beyonce instead of #beyoncé. All artists and songs are added to the Complete Song List once their showdown poll is finished, for a quick search of what's been posted.

The audio quality is too poor for my taste!! 😡 sad </3

This is just for you. 💖

Why are all the songs of such vast variating quality? ....i mean, you didn't think I've bought all the tens of thousands of songs in my music library, did you...? Pirating songs gives you variations of quality, hell even my own cd rips have variations. It's easier to get better quality files now than it was back in the days, kiddos, so yeah some songs in the archives needs to be updated with new files. I have some very ancient mp3's that are in really low sound, that i've instead downloaded newer versions of in better quality for the polls but y'all still give me shit about it because the artist have remastered the track to unrecognition or whatever so there's just no pleasing some people i guess lmao. 😂

Do you like all the songs you've posted? No, lol. All the songs that are in my archive are songs I've at least liked enough once upon a time to save them, even if I'm not actively listening to them much anymore. Everything tagged as #new to admin :D are new songs to me that I may or may not like, regardless if they're submitted or if I've scouted them out myself only for the polls. :) Songs that I hate so much that I can't stand them are very few, and I won't waste time on adding them!

Did you change the song in the poll?? No. Maybe you clicked on the wrong one if I posted them too close together or maybe (most likely) tumblr has screwed something up for you. Some songs don't even show at times because it's tumblr being tumblr, just wait it out for a few minutes and tumblr will eventually remember to play the audio. So far there's only one song that I had to re-upload because tumblr killed the file. I can change the clip to better audio or to another part of the same song, but I never replace it to a different one once it's out there for you to vote on, I don't see the point of doing that.

Why are some polls audio files and other video files? Again: tumblr being tumblr. They won't allow some songs to be uploaded as audio, but using them in videos is ok. I hate the audio-as-video format and it requires even more effort from me so I'm not doing it on purpose. :)

I don't remember if I've heard this song before or not. If you know you've heard it, like if you're a fan or a hater or the song has been constantly played on the radio, you know it. (this is why the phrasing has been changed again in the latest polls) If you don't remember it, or just vaguely, or just a specific tiny part used in a meme/tiktok video, choose first time. The only thing that matters is the yes or no, knowing it or not is just an added fun but don't take it too seriously. :) Look at it sort of like "old fan/casual listener/hater vs new listener".

The part of the song that you posted SUCKS!!!! You should have just posted this one specific famous part for people to vote yes! "don't post the actual song in this song poll" ...................................like, no. not gonna post just the meme-bits or the drops or the whatever. Yeah i saw all the comments how you all clicked dislike on "Out of Touch" because you voted before you got to the chorus 😂 That's an honest opinion about the song lol, because a song is more than just a catchy chorus or a big drop. But yeah, sometimes one verse of a song would've maybe been better to post instead of that other verse, I'm with you on that.

I queued this song to see what it is but it's still stated as being Anonymous for me! Reblogs, drafts and queues will only show you what's there at the time, like a screenshot. It won't update automatically. All your reblogs, drafts and queued posts from when the poll is active will only show up as Anonymous songs. Always go back to the original post to see the song reveal. If the info isn't there, then give me a day or two to update the post because most likely things are too busy irl. 💖

I voted wrong/voted before I recognized the song! Will you change my vote? No, I'm not recounting anything wth. 😅

I'm embarrassed. I like the song but I don't want others to know that I do. I promise you that nobody but you can see how you've voted. Not me or your mutuals. Only you see what you've voted on. It's ok to like bad songs, and it's ok to like good songs by bad people. Don't let others shame you for that.

How do I vote on this cover/remix that was posted instead of the original? If you feel like this version is close to the original that you like, vote yes. If you don't feel like this version does the original song justice, vote no, even if it hurts.

This song that I don't know samples another song that I do know. How do I vote? I don't consider samples being used as being the same song, so pick first time. Unlike covers/remixes, the original song that has been sampled might show up at a later time, if it hasn't already been on here before.

How does so many people not know this song!!? Everyone is not your age/not from your country and your experience is not universal. 🤷‍♀️ That being said, I too get wtf-moments sometimes because some songs really do get wacky results, so, yeah 😂

Have you ever thought about-- Yes.

I demand you give me a rickroll!!!!!! Ask things nicely instead of demanding things from me. (This is the most common demand I've gotten, sigh. Thanks to those of you who have at least asked nicely and/or with a sense of humour!)

Please do a rickroll? It's already been posted in a bonus poll. It might show up in a "real" poll in years from now if this poll blog is still active but as of now it was added to a tumblr meme post where it was better suited.

I'm gonna ignore that submissions are closed and send you song suggestions anyway!!!! They will be deleted because they're not asked for atm. Unless you're the artist. Exceptions can be made in that case. :)

This poll blog doesn't respect my requirement to know who the artists are before I listen to their songs because of my need - that is very important that everyone else needs to acknowledge and follow - to know if a person is of a good moral standing according to my own views!! 😡 There's other poll blogs better suited for you. Not everything online has to be adjusted to fit *your* particular needs. 🤷‍♀️ (YES i've actually gotten this demand way too often. Sigh.)

Why was my reblog hidden from the notes where I spew hatred over an artist?! You are censoring me!!!! Did you mention the artist by name, or other obvious spoilers? Don't post spoilers. 🤷‍♀️

You hid this other comment I made with no spoilers!!!!! Sometimes comments show in dashboard mode but not in app mode and vice versa, or not even in the notifications. Haven't we already established that tumblr finds easy stuff extremely difficult? Also, sometimes you and I don't share an opinion of what a spoiler means. To all of you who have claimed an artist's name isn't a spoiler, yeah it's kind of a big one. As for the artist mentioning their own name or the song title in the song, you only hear that once you listen to the clip. Knowing it before even clicking to play the music is a spoiler.

Why have you turned off replies? I want to say things without reblogging!! I mean 🤷‍♀️ I'm sure you know why. Replies and anons have been turned off from the very beginning. The few times replies actually have been turned on, it's been stated as such and been very temporarily, like when we've discussed music in some post.

Turn on anon!!! I'm to shy to say thing off-anon! I mostly reply to things privately, or this blog would be nothing but q&a. Anons are off for a reason. Abuse and death threats are to be associated with the sender's account for all to see. I'm always nice to nice people so there's no need to worry about sending me questions or tagging me in things. :) 💖

I demand you to-- Pay me. :)

Shut up and take the abuse thrown at you personally because you're just a poll blog! You are aware that the poll blogs on tumblr aren't actually run by bots, right? Don't be an obnoxious twat. (and ughh yes, this too has been said to me several times. Sigh.)

I want you to add this song I want RIGHT NOW and/or i WANT these other options added now! Rich people can always break all the rules, just like irl. Just give me the $$$$ 😘

I don't like this song because I don't understand the language. Please only post English songs. Ok well, I mean, you can always learn other languages. 🤷‍♀️ Just like how I learned English.

If anyone feels targeted by these last questions without me meaning to, I'm sorry. These actually are the most common questions and comments and demands I've gotten in my askbox. Especially when the blog was new and people Demanded Their Rights to have me adjust everything to suit them. Don't feel like you can't state your thoughts in reblogs or in messages because as long as you're not being rude to me, my attitude on some answers isn't targeted at you, only at them. 💖 Remember to just have fun with the polls and hopefully you and/or your mutuals discover new music!

[doyoulikethis-videogame-song]

Introduction, Rules, and any FAQ

Another song poll blog inspired by @doyoulikethisanimesong-poll and @doyoulikethissong-poll, but specifically for video game music. If you're not familiar with this type of gimmick blog, a song is posted without any of the identifying information attached to a poll intended to gauge a blind reaction from the audience/following. The song is then revealed after the conclusion of the poll. For everyone's sake, please try not to reveal the identity of the song in the reblogs/comments if you know what it is.

Can I send asks/song requests?

Submissions are currently CLOSED and will reopen on 10/1/2024.

-> YES. SUBMIT ALL SONG REQUESTS HERE, BUT PLEASE READ THE FOLLOWING RULES FIRST! THANK YOU!

-> Non-poll related asks and posts will be tagged with #not a vg music poll if you want to avoid seeing them. -> Submissions/Song requests are always allowed provided the form is open and will be posted at some point. You are allowed to send as many song requests as you would like at a time, from as many or as few different games as you would like at a time, from any service you listen to music on. I only ask that you ensure the title and source of the song are present in your submission. You may include a link or identify the artists, but that is not necessary, even though I very much appreciate it.

If you would like your song to be posted quickly, please only send one submission per game at a time. I don't want to post multiple songs from the same game in a row. If I receive multiple songs from the same game at once, they will be put in a pool of submitted songs and selected at random in between other submissions. I will pull a random song (with a random number generator) from the pool of large submissions every few days or so. That means if three different people request ten different undertale, ten different metal gear, and ten different subnautica songs, all thirty requests will be put in a pool and randomly selected in between the single-submission requests. But they will all be posted at some point.

-> If the source of your request has a remake/remaster, I will assume your request is from the original version unless otherwise specified. (For example, specify if you're submitting Snow in Summer from NieR (2010) or NieR:Replicant (2021)).

-> If the source of your request has multiple 'versions' from the same game, please indicate what version you're submitting or do your best to describe the version you're submitting if the titles do not differ for whatever reason. (For example, if you're submitting Song of the Ancients from NieR (2010), specify if it is the Popola, Devola, Hollow Dreams, or Fate version).

What counts as a video game song? -> Any song from a video game. Any console, any release year. Visual novels, flash games, gacha games, itch.io games, and self-hosted games are all included as well. If there is a mobile app game that contains music meeting the remaining requirements, feel free to request it. I will NOT post songs from multimedia series that are primarily NOT video games but include very small minigames. I am specifically thinking about the interactable minigames throughout the Homestuck webcomic, as an example.

I am also not very keen on posting music from idol or vocaloid games, not because I dislike them (they're some of my favorites) but because they don't primarily exist to be music FOR the game. Songs such as the background music for Love Live! School Idol Festival or BanG Dream Girls Band Party is acceptable provided they meet the remaining requirements. Rhythm game songs where the song was created solely for the rhythm game are acceptable.

-> The song MUST have a credited artist/composer/arranger. The song should PREFERABLY have an official title, but if it doesn't, it must be able to be described distinctly enough that a modern google search could find it.

-> The song must not be shorter than twenty seconds.

-> The game must be released in some form in a way that is accessible to the general public. That means it is officially downloadable/playable for all with the blessing of the creators. I will not post leaked music or music from games that are currently only available to critics/closed beta/whatever. Early access games that are available to the general public are acceptable.

How often will you post? -> There will be two new polls at 16:00 UTC and two (applicable) poll reveals at 19:00 UTC each day. There should always be 14 available polls, and you can check them with the tag #active vote. This is subject to change. (7/7/2024)

Can we see all the songs that have been posted so far? -> I am working on a spreadsheet for this right now-- to be updated. (6/27/2024)

[digitalmagus]

Why we consider future Lumios instead of past Lumios

-the trailer is posed as a high-tech simulation, enough that the pokemon aren't even colored in except for their type markers.

-nothing is obviously old enough to fit it's expected dates of at earliest 1853 such as older car models or buggys.

-it would thematically fit both it's title of Z-A but also against it's predecessor game Arceus being very past-focused. The Last to the First which would make room for a future setting.

-This would then help promote any coming Gen 5 remake/remaster/sequel since past/future was one of the things highlighted in Opelucid and BC/WTH between versions.

-As a redevelopment of Lumios it shows nothing of whatever is previously before, which could point to a past setting but also a future one following the first Lumios' blueprints.

-If Legends regards the pokemon as the center over the time period than Z of course stands for Zygarde as it's prominent one, like LA was Arceus. Assuming than that the cause for it's awakening might be the second firing of the ancient weapon and awakening of X/Y form the XY games.

-They showed no regional forms as of this point that could go either direction.

-At this time, we know nothing about the rest of Kalos, only Lumios is highlighted for it's Redevelopment.

REASONS AGAINST

-if Legends regards a state of time than the past is the only setting available and they have not chosen during the Kalos War. Legends almost entirely refers to something already over, a legend-in-the-making is for things that have yet to be.

-Redevelopment looks like modern Lumios, pointing to whatever is before it as a past form of Lumios which fits it's time period as the estimated Rebuilding of Paris.

-it's 2024 and of course they're gonna upgarde the graphics yet again from the 3ds to the Switch hence the simulation style

-They showed no regional forms that could hint at past or future.

-It's Z-A moniker could be a rebalancing of forces between people and pokemon as Zygarde's title of Order mentions over anything relating to Time.

-Kalos has no time manipulation pokemon for redoing space-time bubbles but it does have Hoopa for transport, either of us to somewhere else or other pokemon to Kalos.

-At this time we have no clue about the rest of the region, if it will be involved.

[satoshi-mochida]

Tomba! Special Edition launches August 1 for PS5, Switch, and PC, later for PS4

From Gematsu

*There's a few short videos on the site I can't copy/paste on here

Tomba! Special Edition will launch for PlayStation 5, Switch, and PC via Steam on August 1, followed by PlayStation 4 at a later date, developer Limited Run Games announced.

Here is an overview of the game, via Limited Run Games:

About

Tomba! returns in Tomba! Special Edition, the ultimate version of the legendary platforming masterpiece. As the titular Tomba, you leap, bite, and throw your way across stunning 2.5D landscapes on a quest to overcome a deplorable cadre of nefarious pigs. Along the way, you’ll explore ancient relics, discover fascinating characters, unlock thrilling quests, and unearth hidden treasures. It’s a platforming adventure that perfectly fuses linear and nonlinear gameplay styles. Tomba! was first published in 1997, and is back today in a vastly-expanded special edition packed with quality of life improvements.

Key Features

Save Anywhere! No more worrying about heading back to a checkpoint.

Rewind! Stuck on a difficult challenge? Try again!

Toggle for analog control

A museum crammed with classic print advertisements, original packaging and manuals, never- before-seen dev documents, and high-res original artwork.

A new remastered soundtrack.

Interview with the creator, Tokuro Fujiwara.

And here is a new interview with Tomba! creator Tokuro Fujiwara published on PlayStation Blog:

In 1997, when you made Tomba!, most developers focused on making 3D games like Tomb Raider or Crash Bandicoot. You instead decided to mix 2D sprites with perspective-shifting 3D environments. Why? Tokuro Fujiwara: “Tomba! runs on 3D technology, with gameplay designed around 2D principles. This is why it’s described as a 2.5D game. I think 2D games have a certain kind of charm that 3D doesn’t. I also wanted to push the limits of what could be done. To bring my vision to life, I needed to use 2D principles along with 3D CG visuals. This allowed me to create something that felt new on the PlayStation. “There were times when I wondered if I should go 3D instead, 3D games have a very clear sense of space. In 2D, all the action takes place on a flat plane, and multiple layers provide a sense of depth. This means you have to design the game in creative ways so that the different layers don’t conflict. This results in something interesting that can only be achieved with 2D.” What do you hope new players will take away from Tomba! Special Edition? Fujiwara: “Tomba! has many side quests. These come in different varieties and are hidden throughout the game. I encourage players to seek them out. Various items allow players to learn new moves, expanding how levels can be beaten. I hope players search and seal away the Evil Pigs scattered throughout the world, which will unlock even more to see! There are many discoveries to be made. I hope players can relax and enjoy the world of Tomba!” Speaking of genre-bending gameplay. Tomba! feels like an open world despite being described as a side-scrolling platformer. This was largely due to how nonlinearly the levels could be played. Was this done intentionally, or was it something that just happened through development? Fujiwara: “I had envisioned this open-feel game from the very beginning. It was all a blur when things started, but as development progressed, it began taking shape. “You could consider Tomba! an open-world title, a term that was rarely used back then. There’s a wide area with a lot of different content in it. You encounter, discover, and collect various things as you move around. For example, you have to complete certain tasks in Tomba!, but you can wander around freely and complete them however you like. Some tasks and main objectives can even be skipped entirely. Many of the ideas I envisioned for Tomba! back in the day were ideas we see in open-world game design today. “I initially wanted to include 100 quests, but the final game exceeded that. It was hard work for the team to fit it all together on a timeline. What started out as vague ideas in my head ballooned into an amount of content so large it blew my mind!” The original PlayStation was a massive leap in gaming technology. What was it like to experience it back then? Fujiwara: “Game development is an ongoing battle against technology growth. This was the case back then and is still true today. I felt that the PlayStation was such a remarkable improvement in terms of hardware, allowing for greater possibilities. Games went from being rendered in pixels to CG. Game developers had to learn many new skills. Expectations ballooned along with the scope of game ideas. Development environments evolved, which made things challenging but exciting for developers. The introduction of the PlayStation and the advancements from that era still impact games today.” Finally, why do you think it’s important to bring Tomba! back now? Fujiwara: “Tomba! has been around for a long time, but continues to be loved by many. I’ve long wished that the game could be accessible to more people on modern systems. Now that the opportunity is here, I think PlayStation fans today will get a ton of enjoyment out of Tomba!“

[dailycharacteroption]

Class Feature Friday: Enchantment School (Pathfinder Second Edition Wizard School)

(art by Julia Kovalyova on Artstation)

We’re back with another wizard school in second edition, only now that the remastered edition of 2E is out, they’ve thoroughly changed how wizard schooling is done now that the traditional magic schools have been dropped in favor of schools of thought in the setting rather than “what type of effect does this magic have”.

However, that does leave us with a small problem since a major part of the central region of Pathfinder’s core setting revolves around the traditional schools of magic: Thassilon, what with it’s ancient history of being ruled over by multiple runelords, each focused on a different school of magic.

Which is why I say that even if they strip the words “abjuration” and “evocation” from the game, there still is a place for these older versions of the magic, though you should probably update them to be in line with the power of their newer counterparts: In this case, In addition to the free 1st-level spell of your school you get at first level, you should also be getting free spells of that school at higher levels as you level up.

In any case, Enchantment!

When last we covered this school, we talked about how enchantment is the magic of the mind, how it can be used to elicit certain emotions, make others erroneously believe that you are a friend, directly control their actions, and even invoke words of power so potent that the minds and bodies of foes are forced to succumb to their hostile command. (It is important to remember these specifics now that future products will no longer list the schools of the spells they print, in case you want to use classic or “Thassilonian-Style” wizardry alongside the remastered rules, which I believe you should.)

While certainly not as violent or blatantly cruel as the destructive aspects of evocation or the reanimating power of necromancy, enchantment in the wrong hands can be just as much a tool of the wicked, violating the mind just as surely as the other two violate the body and soul.

However, in the right hands it can be a tool of benevolence and mercy. Plenty of enchantment spells bolster the vigor and positive emotions of allies, or can prevent bloodshed that would otherwise be inevitable, such as charming a guard to let you pass instead of slaying them.

Of course, much like evocation and necromancy, all bets are off in combat, where sapping the will to fight in foes or turning them against their allies is just another tool in the box when it comes to keeping yourself alive.

So yes, while the stereotype of the domineering enchanter that turns others into their slaves has plenty of truth to it, enchantment itself is not inherently evil, just like every school of magic.

Also, it’s worth noting that this school shares a lot of bones with the new “School of Mentalism”, but that also throws in illusion to the mix as well, so while you can use that instead, if you really wanna adhere to enchantment or make use of the greater school spell of this school, the choice is up to you.

As-written, enchanters get a enchantment spell at first level and extra spell slots for each spell level to cast the spells of that school. However, as I said before, you’re free to improve that to gaining spells for free at every spell level/rank. Exactly how you decide what spells they get is up to you, though. You might say they can pick from any appropriate rank spell of the right school or with the right vibes, or your GM might compile a specific list to match the modern schools.

The basic focus spell allows these wizards to subtly deflect the ire of their foes with enchanted words, potentially causing them to hesitate or be stopped in their tracks against them for a few seconds, which is a slightly more thematic parallel to First Edition’s dazing touch.

The greater focus spell differs slightly from it’s 1e equivalent, projecting fear rather than despair, but otherwise still hampering their enemies.

Additionally, the following feats prove especially useful to enchanters: Silent Spell, Irresistable Magic, Second Thoughts, and Spell Mastery, though others might go well with the other spells in your arsenal.

Being an enchanter means being a master of buffing, battlefield control, debuffing, and various utility effects outside of combat. While this does mean you’re probably not a direct damage dealer except when you need to be, it does make the rest of the party’s jobs that much easier. Naturally build with enchantment in mind, but don’t forget to diversify!

Though earlier we did mention that enchantment spells can easily be used for evil and the subversion of will is definitely a violent act, in a world of complex moralities, there may be entire disciplines in the setting that think differently. That fact alone means that this school of magic and it’s practitioners invite a lot of debate on both sides of the issue, which could be grounds for some fun worldbuilding and character moments.

Lambent Ollianara is not only beautiful, but literally incandescent as a brightsoul ifrit in addition to being an elf. Many have sought out her hand, but none have ever held her interest for long. Indeed, those that persist beyond reason find themselves compelled to leave her be thanks to her magic.

In a lonely tower in the middle of the valley, a hermit wizard dwells. Long ago he swore off people as too complicated, instead surrounding himself with the powerful and fierce primeval beasts of the region, particularly his twin pet Megalania lizards. After all, animals don’t complain when you secure their friendship with magic, after all.

A young noble has developed a clique of followers and sycophants among her young peers, who fawn over her constantly and go along with whatever she asks. It’s one thing to have the charisma to attract friends and assume a leadership role, but the speed at which this happened is alarming, so the party is asked to investigate for a magical or supernatural cause to this.

[superthatguy62]

Overthinking Final Fantasy III Royalty Part 1: Symbols

Between the original, the Pixel Remaster and the remake, Final Fantasy III has undergone various aesthetical changes. Some of the more intriguing ones relate to the three kingdoms across the game.

Here's some thoughts about them! Starting with the emblems all around:

When it comes to royal iconography, there is a sort of science behind it known as heraldry. There is a surprising amount of thought that goes into the various symbols and creatures depicted on, say, a coat of arms. It's not specific to royalty: Stuff like governments, academies, religions etc all use it. It's something to keep in mind also keep in mind that I'm not at all an expert in this stuff, I just think it's neat.

Famicom FF3

Final Fantasy III was the first game in the series to give the nations emblems with charges on them. It would be far from the last, as later games would toy around with the concept, such as Final Fantasy 4 giving each of the regions their own emblem (with the 3D remake redesigning them).

As that last sentence implies, the nations of Final Fantasy III all shared the same emblem: That of a bird (possibly an eagle, one of the two most common charges) in the Displayed attitude (although it lacks legs).

The practical answer would be something such as time constraints, or simplicity for the sprite artists.

But what if we overthink it?

That brings us to two possibilities:

There is a mythological creature that all three kingdoms based their sigils on. This is possible, although we don't have much to go off of in III itself

The Ancients, between their airships and the Floating Continent, seemed to be interested in living in the sky. Thus, the emblems are remnants of the Ancients' era.

But, those are just theories.

GAME THEO-

Remake FF3

In the 3D remake of Final Fantasy III, a lot of elements were retooled or reinterpreted. When it came to the kingdoms' sigils, an interesting thing happened: Sasune and Argus kept the original "bird" charge (now with gold for Sasune and bronze for Argus)

But Saronia got a new lion charge.

The beast is in a tradition "rampant" attitude, with the front legs up and the tail pointed upwards.

Lions are not new to charges in Final Fantasy. Most notably, Final Fantasy Tactics had the War of the Lions, with both the Northern and Southern sky Orders having lions of their own (it's implied via Gafgarion's description that each of the cardinal directions have their own order, as a Western Sky order is mentioned). As Wikipedia explains:

It traditionally symbolises courage, nobility, royalty, strength, stateliness and valour, because historically the lion has been regarded as the "king of beasts".

The 3D remake alludes to Saronia's history as a military power a bit more than the Famicom version via quotes.

(This was back when SE broke the text of the Steam version, my apologies)

So it's not too surprising that they went that route for the 3D remake.

Another change of interest are the carpets around the kingdoms. In the original FFIII, Castle Argus has a table with a unique sun-like pattern on it.

In the remake (as you're probably already noticed) the patterns can be seen on the carpets on each castle as well.

The remake places heightened emphasis on the sun compared to the original: Xande's flood of darkness is said to have severed the link between the earth and the sun, Desch says that the continent would be flung away from the sun if the reactor fails, in unused text Doga states that the sun used to revolve around the earth but now the earth revolves around the sun...

(Does this mean that castles in the World of Darkness would have either the Moon or the Earth for their logos)?

Pixel Remaster FF3

While the Pixel Remaster borrows from the remake in some places, it sticks to the original in others.

However, sometimes, it diverges even against the original. In the castle of the three kingdoms, the big change is to their charges: All of them now use the bird charge, but they are now differentiated in different ways:

Sasune keeps the traditional Displayed attitude, in both the original colors and white thanks to the new red banners all about (matching the colors of the Red Mage)

However Argus now has the Bird in the Volant attitude, as it is now flying sideways. There are also banners that seemingly depict a crown and a moon.

Meanwhile, Saronia has a variant similar to the Sasune one, but with some differences. You can just make out the bird's feet underneath the body and the wings, rather than being spread out to the sides, are now pointed upward. This appears to be more of an Issuant attitude. I don't remember think Saronia has banners like Sasune and Argus do.

And that's all for this segment. Next time, I think I'll discuss the legendary arms of each kingdom: The Wightslayer, the Royal Sword and... Gungir? The other lances Saronia has?

[kittykittyhunter]

The Archive

Introduction On 14 June 2020, I accidentally deleted my tumblr, wiping out a blog that I had been maintaining since January 2011.  I was distraught due to losing a lot of fond memories – and crushed at the thought of so much of my writing disappearing.  I hadn’t been very disciplined about keeping offline back-ups of my work, so when my blog disappeared, so did a large collection of poems, short stories, vignettes and fanfics.

Over the last few years, I’ve steadily recovered a decent chunk of my writing (about 300 pieces) thanks to my friends reblogging my posts and being diligent with their tagging systems.  I’ve now been able to archive and remaster my poems and prose pieces – though my fanfiction remains in the ether (which, to be honest, I’m okay with). On that note, I would like to express immense gratitude to the people whose blogs I recovered my works from:

alistersangelsong

@brattyhalfpint

caitsylph

@houkou-nrl

jirohoushi

kara-kitsu-x

kasukasumoe

@kidasbrainspace

@kunimitsuchin

lassinajumper

@lenandbonten

@mono-frog

@mon-qi

seethebattlefield

@s-ephiroth

@tacotits

@ten-thousands-hobbits

thunderdownongreenside-archive

I know a lot of these bloggers either are no longer on tumblr or use these accounts (and tumblr wouldn't allow me to tag everyone?); even so, I want to share my thanks. And thank you to everyone else who read, shared or otherwise enjoyed my writing over the years.  I hope that it inspired deep feelings and I hope that it bought you comfort.  I want you to know that I wouldn’t still be pursuing writing if it wasn’t for all the support you sent my way.  I read and savoured your comments and tags and, I promise you, I am grateful for all the love I received. Methodology While it would have been simpler to reblog the old posts, save for those that were trapped under a Read More (and a fair few pieces fell into this category), for this archiving project, I opted to take the opportunity to edit my works (also, I didn’t particularly want to bombard my friends’ notes by reblogging ancient posts).  This gave me a chance to appropriately re-format some works which had, unfortunately, originally looked quite ugly! The editing process was incredibly interesting – I ended up making changes to almost all my posts, so it’s good to know that I’ve definitely grown as a reader and writer over the last decade.  A very small number of the posts were brand new for the blog, but at this stage, I’m happy to count them as part of my archive.  For me, it’s important to compartmentalise and draw a divide between the writing I shared then and the writing that I will, hopefully, go on to pen in the future. I’m still in the process of proofreading: some of my tags have typos and there are certainly some errant dashes, among other issues, here and there.  Nevertheless, I’m satisfied with the state of things for now. Some posts are titled [‘Circa …’].  If I had been savvier about using tumblr mobile in conjunction with the web version, I could have recovered all of the exact dates of my original posts.  However, what’s done is done and I am satisfied with what I was able to accomplish. Statistics I love numbers – here are some interesting graphs regarding my posts:

Posts by Form - Prose – 37 - Poems – 271 Total – 308

No. of Posts by Year - 2012 – 1 - 2013 – 4 - 2014 – 21 - 2015 – 61 - 2016 – 114 - 2017 – 44 - 2018 – 22 - 2019 – 16 - 2020 – 20 - 2022 – 4 - 2024 – 1 Total – 308 There’s definitely a lot of writing that I wasn’t able to track down: in 2016, for example, I believe that I posted 366 poems.  Still, I’m pleased with the works that I did find – it was great to rediscover works that I’d completely forgotten about. I think that draws this post to a close.  Thanks for reading!

[cboffshore]

Power nap, power trip, whatever - you've got a reputation to uphold. This is "Fury of the Storm."

Wojira was a LOT of fun, and even though she was destructive as hell... I kind of miss her, you know?

In my first version of the Wojira design, even with my limited fashion skills, I actually produced something semi-decent that I'm willing to share for comparison's sake:

Look at that! A whole three different brushes! All in all, I actually really liked this rendition; my first attempt at a remaster was just going to be this, but Better (TM).

And then I sat down at my drawing tablet (which is just a touchscreen Chromebook that can do a deep backbend) and... I couldn't. I resketched the outline on my croquis and my heart simply wasn't in it. So I put her to sleep for about twenty seconds and then reawakened her by slotting in the Amulet of Panic (which doesn't have a dragon head on it - it's got a carving of me frantically scribbling). Luckily, it didn't take a few hundred trials, and I landed on something that kept some of what I originally set out to do and introduced neat new twists.

Overall vibes: The original was supposed to be very supervillainy, which is obvious in terms of structure: sleek train, athletic boots, dark colors, oversized armor. In theory, this was solid, but I realized I'd approached it all wrong. Wojira is (was?) a literal origin story. Why did I try to assign this ancient mythological sea goddess a modern supervillain look? She's a classic! This time, I decided to lean into that with a Greco-Roman war goddess vibe: draped fabric and gladiator-esque boots. Hack off the layered train and it's practically battlefield-ready.

Speaking of layered fabric: Wojira is, honestly, slightly funny (remember the puppy head tilt when Jay sidetracks her?); there's something ironically very human about her. With that in mind, I gave a little thought to her circumstances when wrinkling the dress. Imagine that you're a goddess who, after being defeated in battle, is sent to a millennia-long sleep. After a bunch of scientific poking and prodding, you're forcibly woken up, tased repeatedly, and driven around like an oversized golf cart. Of course you're not going to look 100%! You're going to be rumpled by default.

While we're on the topic of looking messy: I don't generally go for wear-and-tear in my designs unless I think it enhances the work (looking at you, Nelson and Antonia). "Fury of the Storm" is a rare exception, and the damage appears in the cloak in the form of a scorched neon texture along the edges. This is a very literal interpretation of her wings, which I think are incredibly cool.

Headdress, clasps, and torso: not much to this beyond that I like Wojira's horns so much that I wanted to put extra ones on. The headdress is pretty straightforward - amulets, lightning circlet, chain veil to symbolize Kalmaar's control. The torso armor just exists to repeat that motif and lend extra mythological vibes to the whole look. While we're talking about Kalmaar, the clasps holding up the dress and pinning the cloak in place are directly traced from the arrow elements I used in the KPS and act as further representation of his hold over her. Once removed, the entire dress falls apart - just like his plans once his trident snapped.

Only one more to go in the series! For the few of you who have followed along, my deepest thanks - I hope the finale piece lives up to whatever expectations you have. I hope they're good ones! In the meantime, your promised bonus wallpaper. I really like this one, actually - I don't do a lot of very dark backdrops, so this was a fun challenge.

Unfortunately, it also looks like one of those paper cups from the nineties. But, like, an evil version. Put your Sprite in one of these and it'll just leak onto the floor.

[bzedan]

April! Continuing my little bonus challenge of meaningful numbers, this playlist is 4 hours and 0 minutes long (my 40th birthday was this month).

Being my birthday month, this playlist was all about indulging myself with some oft-played faves mixed with ancient nostalgia, while also threading through a little bit of self-discovery vibes? Existing at this age wasn't something I could really conceptualize when listening to 'Barracuda' for the first time, I was just getting by day-to-day.

Anyway! A lot of songs from my most beloved records and tapes growing up, but with all the things I've fallen in love with since (did you know I was finally able to learn who Dio was thanks to hearing it on a radio station in Grand Theft Auto: Vice City Stories.

That's not to say there are a bunch of new favourites in here; 'Damocles' by Medusa is sparkling new and absolutely slaps in a way that I wish I could send to young me who hadn't even heard rock as hard as 'Time of the Season' yet, but who would play harpsichord records loudly, paving the mental pathways for listening to Wendy Carlos' The Well-Tempered Synthesizer (deeply unavailable online). I will note that I'd heard rock before The Zombies, but I don't think the piano music to 'White Rabbit' is quite the same thing, really.

Related media to some of the songs:

If you like Stromae's 'Alors On Danse' then there's a Tiny Desk Concert for you with another mix of the song (it's at 8:03).  

'ボクにインビテーション' (Boku ni Inbitēshon, "Invitation to Me") by JP is from Shirokuma Cafe, an anime worth hunting up (it's animals who work and visit a cafe! there are puns that can't be localised but they translate them well!).

'Violin Concerto in G Major, Op. 8, No. 2: I. Allegro' is from Chevalier, which is in theatres now and I look forward to seeing when I can watch it at home, here's a trailer. And here's the Tumblr post that hipped me to the movie coming out.

Anyway here's a link to April's playlist on Spotify, with the track list below.

Also embedded, if you like that sort of thing:

'Meet Me In The Middle (Ky Vöss Mix)' - Boy Jr.  

'Sometimes I Think I Hate Myself' - Dead On A Sunday

'Damocles' - Medusa

'Sister Christian' - Night Ranger

'It Can't Come Quickly Enough' - Scissor Sisters  

Alors On Danse - 90's Remix' - Stromae  

'Talkin' Bout' - Thumpasaurus  

'Barracuda' - Heart  

'Crimson and Clover' - Joan Jett & the Blackhearts  

'Time of the Season' - The Zombies  

'From The Morning' - Let's Eat Grandma  

'Magic Carpet Ride' - Steppenwolf  

'The Pusher' - Steppenwolf  

'Holy Diver' - Dio  

'(I'm Not Your) Steppin' Stone - 2006 Remaster' - The Monkees  

'Magic Man' - Heart  

'The Last in Line' - Dio  

'I Am a Rock' - Simon & Garfunkel  

'The Weight' - Smith  

'This Diamond Ring' - Gary Lewis & The Playboys  

'Grease - From “Grease”' - Frankie Valli  

'To Love Somebody' - Bee Gees  

'It's My Party' - Lesley Gore  

'My Kink is Karma' - Chappell Roan  

'Good Tonight' - Izzy Perri  

'Blue Monday' - Orgy  

'Five O'clock World' - The Vogues  

'Leader Of The Pack' - The Shangri-Las  

'Earth Angel' - The Penguins  

'Son of a Preacher Man' - Dusty Springfield  

'Devil Came Down the Dance Floor (feat. Amber Martin)' - Jake Shears  

'If U Seek Amy' - Britney Spears  

'Central City Freestyle' - Big Freedia  

'Dark Night' - The Blasters  

'I Think We're Alone Now - Single Version' - Tommy James & The Shondells  

'Chaeri' - Magdalena Bay  

'On A Roll' - Ashley O  

'Career Boy' - Dorian Electra  

'Better To Find Out For Yourself' - Buffy Sainte-Marie  

'Mamma Mia' - String Tribute Players  

'Chemical' - Post Malone  

'The Shoop Shoop Song (It's In His Kiss)' - Betty Everett  

'ボクにインビテーション' (Boku ni Inbitēshon, "Invitation to Me") - SUPER OMOTENASHI BEATS vol.1 ver' - JP  

'Tell Him - Single Version' - The Exciters  

'Visions' - Guilhem Desq  

'I Love You Always Forever' - Donna Lewis  

'I Think You've Got Your Fools Mixed Up' - Brenton Wood  

'Identity Crisis' - Jarina De Marco  

'I Don't Wanna Be Funny Anymore' - Lucy Dacus  

'Psychos' - Jenny Lewis  

'Underwater' - Sun's Signature  

'Violin Concerto in G Major, Op. 8, No. 2: I. Allegro - From "Chevalier"' - Joseph Bologne, Chevalier de Saint-Georges  

'So Good Right Now' - Fall Out Boy  

'Chan Chan' - Buena Vista Social Club  

'White Rabbit' - Jefferson Airplane  

'Mr Blue' - Yazoo  

'Synthesizer' - Electric Six  

'Crazy On You' - Heart  

'Sonido Amazonico' - Los Mirlos  

'Coconut' - Harry Nilsson  

'Oranges and Lemons' - Book Of Love  

'Season of the Witch' - Donovan  

'If I'm Dancing' - Britney Spears  

'All Night Long (All Night) - Single Version' - Lionel Richie  

'Year Of Living Dangerously' - Scissor Sisters

[thejacksmit]

First Take Classics: The Mummy (1999) - let's pretend Tom Cruise never ruined the franchise

SYNOPSIS: At an archaeological dig in the ancient city of Hamunaptra, an American serving in the French Foreign Legion accidentally awakens a mummy who begins to wreak havoc as he searches for the reincarnation of his long-lost love.

25 years ago Stephen Sommers and a group of producers had an idea to take the iconic 1932 Universal Monsters story and modernise it for what was, at the time, a very lucrative blockbuster market. What they ended up doing was starting what would become a goliath of a franchise with associated theme park rides, sequels, and, dare I say it, that failed reboot in 2017. With the reissue playing to surprisingly packed houses, it felt like the right time to get this one online.

Sommers used the 1932 original as a loose inspiration, instead choosing to create a little action/romance rather than hard horror, and it worked - the resulting 2 hour 4 minute film he wrote and directed would save Universal after some pretty rough box office flops. Paced very well, written with intent, and shot incredibly smartly for the time by Adrian Biddle, the technical side of things certainly pleased audiences, and this is before we mention the CGI. It may look pretty rough now but the boffins at Industrial Light and Magic definitely had some fun making this one. Plus, who can argue with a Jerry Goldsmith score? On a more nerdy level - the current UK re-release is from the Blu-ray master, so for the first time the 14 seconds that were cut to allow a 12 rather than a 15 certificate in 1999 are restored for a modern 12a rating.

Now it would be wrong not to mention Brendan Fraser's performance. This was the role which put him on the map, and looking back 25 years on, with his Oscar for The Whale in hand, it is a crying shame it took him this long to get the love from the industry he deserved - holding his own with Rachel Weisz and John Hannah alongside him, he is the glue that held this film together. Supporting a very likeable trio is Kevin J O'Connor, Jonathan Hyde, Oded Fehr, a young Omid Djalili, and of course Arnold Vosloo as the one this film is all about - Imhotep. It's a cast that gets the job done and gets it done well, and importantly a film that has stood the test of time unlike a lot of these early 1990s blockbuster releases. Last night in a ridiculously packed screen 1, there were MANY fans of the film (and the franchise) in-screen, even quoting the comedic lines. It's a beloved Universal IP, and a cracker of a way to finish 12 hours of films.

THE VERDICT

Yes, the CG might not hold up as well on a remastered 4K print that Park Circus have sent out to cinemas - but this is the version of The Mummy that should be remembered within a crowd-pleasing blockbuster context. Sommers of course tried (and failed) to do the same to Van Helsing in 2004, but it cannot be understated how important this film was for the action/horror blockbuster genre going into 2000, especially as follow-up The Mummy Returns introduced a certain Scorpion King to Hollywood...

RATING: 4/5

[linuxgamenews]

Discover the Exciting World of Néro & Sci ∫ Integral Edition

Néro & Sci ∫ Integral Edition a heartfelt puzzle platformer game is coming to Linux, Mac, and Windows PC. All thanks to the brilliant minds at Souris-Lab, creativity truly shines in their work. And its headed to Steam. There’s a new release due to launch soon on Linux, and it's called Néro & Sci ∫ Integral Edition. Developed by the French team Souris-Lab, this title is a treasure trove for anyone who like a good challenge. Since it combines a unique but adventurous journey. Néro & Sci ∫ Integral Edition launches you off into the colorful and mysterious world of Heméide. Here, adventure and logic blend beautifully as you embark on a quest to unravel the secrets of the ancient Synapsian people. Also packed with 36 levels of fun puzzles that challenge you to think about shapes, numbers, and math symbols in new ways. There are even more hidden stages for you to discover, so there’s plenty to keep you entertained.

Néro & Sci ∫ Integral Edition - Announcement trailer

One of the best parts of Néro & Sci ∫ Integral Edition is that you can team up with a friend and play together in local co-op mode. Just grab an extra controller, and you both can jump into this visually stunning world. Due to tackle the challenges together. What’s new in this edition, you ask? Well, "Néro & Sci" is actually a remastered version of the hit title A Tale of Synapse: The Chaos Theories. It also includes loads of great updates:

A Revamped User Interface: The game looks cleaner and is easier to navigate.

Streamlined Checkpoints: No more getting stuck for too long; new checkpoints mean smoother sailing through the puzzles.

Challenging Combat Mode: For those who like a bit of action, Néro & Sci ∫ Integral Edition has a new combat mode that’s sure to test your skills.

Refined Puzzle Mechanics: With improved puzzle setups and helpful hints, getting through complex challenges is more enjoyable.

Expanded Language Support: Play in various languages.

Steam Deck Compatibility: Switch between PC and Steam Deck effortlessly, so you can play just about anywhere.

Whether you're all about a good puzzle platformer, an adventure seeker, or just looking for a new game to dive into, Néro & Sci ∫ Integral Edition promises over 20 hours of engaging gameplay. It’s perfect for players of all ages. Due to make its way onto Steam. The release date is 2026 but still TBD. But it's to Linux, Mac, and Windows PC. I can't wait to get my hands on it and share my experiences with you. Stay tuned for more updates.

[tomreview]

A Mega Bundle of Timeless Stories and Knowledge for a Digital Age

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[owlixx]

CoD Purchase Notes:

I believe it has been since the last notes that I purchased Call of Duties 3, 4: MW, MW2 (OG), Black Ops 1, Ghosts, and Advanced Warfare. This completes my collection at the modest sum of 85 bucks. That’s half because Ghosts and AW only sell the “gold” version bundle with 1 DLC for 20 bucks each. Still, I’m glad to have access to exo zombies at all since it isn’t in the bad game of AW.

Since then, I refunded my copy of CoD 4 because I didn’t realize that my secondhand physical copy of Infinite Warfare included Modern Warfare Remastered! It said “download required” on the box, so I assumed it came with a download code that would surely be redeemed already, but no, it comes with a little 100 megabyte download starter on the disc itself which is amazing. I’m really glad I’ll get to experience that campaign in its best form and get to try the multiplayer with a few more active players.

I still have all my stats and unlocks from back in the day for BO1 and MW2! It’s crazy that I only have 30ish hours in the multiplayer of MW2 and didn’t hit max level when it seemed so big to me at the time. Same with BO1, with only 20 odd hours in the multiplayer (and a .67 KD, yikes) BUT I have 30 odd hours in just the combat training mode and god knows how long I spent in zombies.

Speaking of - I did do one round of Kino and got to round 17 solo after pack a punching the ray gun and m16 and getting all four perks, which I was very proud of accomplishing on my very first try here in the second-to-oldest zombies mode. I remember years ago reflecting on how much easier the classic maps were in BO3 compared to their original versions and now BO3 itself seems like ancient history compared to the modern CoDs and their open-world zombies too.

Also it’s crazy to me that Black Ops 1 has no incentive to use one gun over another! I mean, sure, there’s challenges for each gun to complete but they just award basic xp/points. The camos and attachments are just unlocked by purchase. I appreciate offering the player agency but I don’t have a strong desire to grind this game out that way. also kind of wild to see “equipment” as something you just respawn with instead of being timer based like field upgrades. Face camo is funny. Crazy to see this game have more reticle customization than any other CoD still. The red splash badges for double kills and such are also hilariously dated now but they seemed so cool and modern at the time. I was so excited for Black Ops 1 that I still call the Stakeout pump shotgun “Ithaca” from its trailer name by total accident. I also kind of miss how these older maps sometimes had more of an identity or gimmick than the dull modern maps. I did do 1 match of BO1 as a sneak preview and it was honestly a ton of fun and not nearly as clunky as I was expecting, though definitely a bit sluggish compared to what we expect now.

MW2 came first and I much prefer the idea of revisiting it and getting every gun or at least one gun fully equipped with attachments and camos. I do kind of miss the idea that the attachments are one-and-done “game changers” and that each attachment on a gun counts as basically an entire different weapon since it changes it so much. Pro Perks seem unbalanced though and as always, the effects are simply insane how some perks are devastating (stopping power) and some are nearly pointless. Very funny to see tactical insertion as a grenade, only 3 tactical, and the bizarre “blast mask” as a grenade. Also I had forgotten that shotguns were a secondary in MW2! I’ve already had a lot of fun in the menus alone and I haven’t even started an actual match in it yet. not to mention spec ops!

[itwas50yearsagotoday]

12/7/23: It was 50 years ago today, December 7th, 1973, Emerson, Lake & Palmer would release their fifth album Brain Salad Surgery. Of today's trio of Prog records, this one is by far the best IMO. Kind of EL&P's magnum opus (unless you count Tarkus... questionable) as the multi-part 'Karn Evil 9' stretches across both sides of the record. Honestly, if you really want to educate someone on Progressive Rock this may be one of the most representative records of the entire, sprawling genre. You have two covers right off... first, poem 'And Did Those Feet In Ancient Time' by English poet William Blake in 1806, with music added a hundred years later by Hubert Parry, known better today as 'Jerusalem'; second, you have 'Toccata' which was from piano concerto by Argentine composer Alberto Ginastera (in 1961). Straight up, pretentious-ass covers of non-Rock music... and honestly they're both outstanding songs. I mean, once you hear 'Jerusalem' two or three times (at least the EL&P version) you start wailing along with Lake... it's just beautiful, and a perfect album starter. 'Toccata' is somewhat similar to 'Tank' from the first album... just blasting you with Classical music done by a Rock Trio; then you get to the bizarro pinball noises and proto-DNB sounds about five minutes in by Emerson... it's nuts, just nuts. Phew! Then you get the one Lake ballad on the record (I believe he is the only one of the three playing on it) 'Still... You Turn Me On' which didn't crack the U.S. Top 40, but was (is?) a big Classic Rock song. I don't think it's as good as 'Lucky Man' or 'From the Beginning', also Lake softer tunes on previous albums, but definitely mix-worthy. Even the goofy-ass Pete Sinfeld-penned tune 'Benny the Bouncer' is a ton of fun... again, another pattern across records, fast little ditties... little piano or keyboard ditties... like 'Jeremy Bender' and 'The Sheriff', these tunes are kind of breathers in between all the pomp and circumstance. Then we get to the big boy, the big one--'Karn Evil 9' which is divided like this: end of first side is 'Karn Evil 9 (1st Impression, part one)', then entire second side is 'Karn Evil 9 (1st Impression, part two)', and then 2nd Impression and 3rd Impression (I'm not writing that shit out again). The part that just about every good Classic Rock listener knows is the five minute '1st Impression (part two)'... this is the one that starts out "Welcome Back My Friends, to the Show That Never Ends!!" This song may very well be the most memorable thing for some EL&P casual listeners, as it has the highest Spotify-play from this album and fourth for the band overall. Unlike the songs on the first side, this is a major Prog workout... like 'Starship Trooper' by Yes... you know, long, sudden changes, musical showmanship, great melody. I do love part two, but really part one is better... it is very similar in sound to part two but it's almost twice as long. If you've read this far and you've not heard '1st Impression (part one)' then stop reading and go play the fucking song, beginning to end. I mean you can even connect both 1st impressions if you want to, but it's not necessary. The '2nd Impression' is mostly a spare piano version of the 1st Impression, along with some crazy percussion and Moog parts that, like Toccata, might be mistaken for some '90s DNB (okay, probably not, but it's still wild). '3rd Impression' is probably the worst song on the album, but it's still very good... kind of a re-hash of the first parts, but worth listening to at least once, especially the headphones experience at the very end. Wow, what a great record. I used to like Trilogy best, but maybe this album is superior after all. Overall an excellent experience. This album ain't for everyone, but every good boy that loves Prog should at least know this record, front to back, back to front. Also, a killer album cover that acted as a triptych when opened. Cool!