i think the reason why im so drawn to spirit tracks and pkmn scarvi is that having the legendary/princess as a companion rather than a goal that marks the games completion makes me feel satisfied the way i would after helping a friend
my brother always teases me about how I still havent finished botw after almost 7 years bc "id rather be out picking flowers" which i wont say is untrue. and yes i know Zeldas been holding off ganon for 100 years, yes i can get some sort of idea what her relationship with link was like by recalling memories and going through her diary. ive always loved botw for its unique storytelling and setting which makes it stand out, because it lets you get to know who you're saving.
but because theyre memories, it only works if theres something for the player to investigate that already happened. its retroactive (but effective nonetheless)
on the other hand, spirit tracks does something similar but instead of having the player try to piece together memories and interpret them as a spectator, you actually have an opportunity to get to know zelda yourself by talking to her and working together. besides making it a gameplay mechanic, giving the player control over how they interact with zelda makes it so much more personable.
and I find that making the goal feel personal instead of an obligation gives me more of a reason to work towards it. I know what kind of person botw zelda was but as the player, shes still very much a stranger to me. but spirit tracks zelda? thats my friend!!!! she invited me to go to the beach after we get her body back!!! i dont want to whip her to make her move faster thats mean :(
you know how hostage negotiators are trained to introduce themselves and get to know the person theyre negotiating with because its harder to hurt someone when you know what their favorite food is? its kinda like that, because it feels like im helping a friend than being told or led to do smth
and although i havent played scarvi myself, i feel an attachment to koraidon and miraidon even just watching playthrough clips because its like!! thats my weird scaly dog!! it loves sandwiches and we're friends!!! you know!!!!!!
37 notes
·
View notes
doomed valentines 🥀
aka what if kel and aubrey took over sweetheart’s castle ?
this is an au where if you interact with the keeper of sweethearts castle as anyone but omori, it unlocks a whole new optional level. you wake up in the picnic area with hero but no kel or aubrey. sweethearts castle is different and basil joins you for this level
the castle's main towers seem to have split into two, but the main building remains one, and smaller from the outside. but it turns out to be unnaturally spacious at times, as if the building was a psychological maze trying to separate... certain people apart
you find aubrey. she looks different, but happier. “it's like a princess' dream come true. it’s everything i could ever want and more.” she says, smiling at you. “now... all i need left is my lovely prince charming—”
“hey, guys !!”
enter kel.
“ugh.”
kel also looks different, if not for the fact hes wearing an obnoxious shade of pink, head to toe. he is happy to see you all. “everyone here LOVES me ! they respect me and trust me and all that kinda stuff. man, i feel so powerful ! im never leaving this place !”
that didnt seem to sit right, so hero intervened. “but.. if you stayed here, wouldn’t you miss everyone else ? omori, basil, me... mari ?”
“well, duh ! that’s why you guys will be staying with me too !”
that broke a new fight between kel and aubrey, but for the wrong reasons
it ends with aubrey dragging basil along with her, hero with kel, and you alone on the bridge connecting the two towers. you have a choice to follow one of them first. lets say, kel.
you head for kels tower and find hero talking with kel, trying to convince his brother.
“didja know ?? the sprout moles here love me so much they made me offerings, like, im a god or something ! pretty cool huh ?”
“..offerings ?”
“yeah ! oh man.. hero, youre not jealous, right ?”
“wh— no. its just.. a bit ridiculous.”
“...ridiculous ?” kels confused expression contorts into a smile, that of understanding. “i see whats going on. its okay, hero, i know its gotta be tough to be put to the side. and overlooked. bet its weird not being in the spotlight for once.”
you caught a quick flash of horror written on heros face. “kel.. are you saying this because—”
“but its ok ! as long as were here, neither of us will ever have to feel that way !”
remaining determined, hero put his foot down. “thats enough, kel. you cant stay here.”
“yea, thats a good one, bro.”
“im... serious. were leaving, kel.”
the younger boy stops laughing. ”...oh. youre— why ?”
“i dont think this place is anything like it seems. i think its a sham.”
kel barks with laughter.
“oh so when it benefits ME is it a sham. man, how selfish can you be ?”
“...what ?”
“you really cant stand it when its not all about you, huh ? but what about me ? what about kel ?”
“i-i think this place is affecting you. please, kel, listen to me.”
“no. if you wanna leave so bad, fine ! the sprout moles can send you out. but im not leaving. im happy here anyway, and you wont get it.”
with that, kel leaves you two in his tower. hero seems distracted, before suggesting you both go find basil
you head for aubreys tower, only to find a scared basil locked in a cell. upon freeing him, he stares over your shoulder.
“o-omori.” he whispers. “...behind you.”
“well, well.. well !”
enter aubrey.
“aubrey! why was basil locked in?” hero asks, perplexed.
“hm? well, he kept trying to leave! i couldnt let that happen, not when i was sharing my happiness with him.” aubrey frowns. “i thought he was my friend.”
basil looks terrified. “aubrey.. i am your friend.”
“hmhm, of course you are. friends dont leave each other behind, right omori?”
hero once again steps in. “aubrey, i think youre taking this too far. of course we want you to be happy, but kidnapping your friends isnt the way. this place is messing with your heads, so we should leave before it gets worse.”
but your path is blocked by kel in the doorway.
“that wont do.” aubrey hums behind you, brandishing her shiny pink bat. “no.. not at all. what do you think, kel ?”
“i think its rude to leave in the middle of a party. right, hero? you taught me that one!”
“kel..”
he then takes a bow as aubrey joins him. “so, friends, may we have this dance?”
“let us sweep the floor !”
boss battle mechanics !
you can not change aubrey or kels emotions even at the start of the battle. the only ones who can change their emotions are each other, so the best strategy is to adapt with your own party’s emotion play
there are 4 phases to this battle. a neutral state, tier one emotion, tier two, and lastly tier three, much like most emotion based bosses. between each phases, aubrey will make kel happier, while kel makes aubrey angrier. they are not made to have the sad emotion, however,
if you end third phase with an attack from hero, kel will start fourth phase with a depressed emotion instead of manic, giving your team good advantage on winning since he relies on speed. aubrey will still be furious, but its still one enemy disadvantaged
once you defeat them they will go snork mimi in your arms and you must carry them out of the castle and back to mari.
“aww, i guess its past their royal nap time !”
43 notes
·
View notes
cw: talks of illness, needle mention/getting a shot
Bakugou loves you in your entirety. Loves your smart mouth and your little grins and fluttering lashes whenever you’re begging him for something. Swears to whoever would listen that he’d do anything for you.
Even when that includes taking care of you when your sickness becomes too great. When your body is too heavy to let you sit up on your own. Dabs a cold rag against your forehead when you break out in sweats from your low, holds a cup of orange juice to your lips (hand squeezed himself when you told him you hated how sour the processed ones tasted), unwraps your candy wrappers when your hands shake too much. He dotes over you the whole time, asks if you’re okay but only reply with a nod when you have a mouthful of candy, let’s you lay all over him when technically you’re in range again but your physicality hasn’t yet caught up.
And when you’re high, he doesn’t berate you. Doesn’t guilt trip you for eating a little more than expected, taking a little less insulin that you had calculated. He only kisses your forehead, brings you water bottle after water bottle when you go through them, doesn’t complain when he has to keep pausing the tv for your bathroom breaks.
Bakugou loves you in your entirety, with every ounce of his being. Never faults you when you’re moody, only asks in the most gentle tone if you’ve checked your numbers lately, and doesn’t hold it against you when you confess that that’s the root of your attitude right now.
He gives you your shots and draws a little pinprick of blood from your fingers, even though it terrifies him to do so. He’d hate to fuck up, but your belly has gotten so sore from the overuse of the area. Stands above you on the side of the bed, bent at the waist, his tongue poking out the side of his mouth, eyebrows downturned in concentration the whole time. He talks the step aloud of giving you a shot in your thigh, over wipes the area with alcohol, holds the fat there tightly until you giggle that he can relax a little. You have to remind him not to hold his breath when the needle slides in smoothly, and that he doesn’t have to kiss the area every time he finishes.
Bakugou rubs the knots out in the puffy areas, the lumps hiding underneath your skin. Gets a warm washcloth and soothes it over your skin when it gets sensitive to the touch. Doesn’t let you hide them when you undress, only kisses and kisses until the ache is somehow gentler on your muscles.
And on the days where you struggle, Bakugou is always there, a pillar for you to lean on. When the insurance is doing stupid shit with life threatening medicine, he’s there handling everything when your frustration takes over. When the media or fans make offensive stereotypes or comments or even ‘jokes’, he doesn’t hesitate to educate them, put them in their place, make them apologize even when he knows it’s hit something vulnerable in you. He fills you up on carbs before you go out drinking, and puffs his chest out when he gives you your shot in front of your friends with a little more confidence.
He annoys you though, with your CGM. He’ll send Kirishima or Mina over to your place when he gets a notification that you’re either high or low. Sends you a text that you’re rapidly dropping and better be stuffing some skittles in your mouth right now.
Bakugou loves you, and never in spite of your illness. He loves you, with your illness, with your lumps, with your mood swings and sensitivity when things just won’t go right today. He loves you, with everything that makes him whole, he loves you.
166 notes
·
View notes