#god this game is so good

[neat-nat]

I've been really enjoying Outer Wilds so far

[raindropbouquet]

small ramble about a game ive been playing/beat recently ,, oh my GOD i love bug fables SOOOOOOOOOO much dude. like the characters are developed SO fucking well, even side characters you see like. one time ever. have like full fledged backgrounds, they all very clearly have their own personalities built into them too. it feels so much less like an NPC and more like, just a genuine person with their own life outside of your mission. the way the game progresses too, everything just ties together so well. i have been absolutely ENTHRALLED into the story since i bought the game (after a friend rec'd it to me i Had to indulge). and. ohhh my GOD it did NOT disappoint. the foreshadowing is A tier and just. GODDDDDDD everything about this game is SOOOO GOOOOOOD RAAHHHHHHHHHHHH i love the soundtrack as well, everything fits and has so much care put into it and it's the type of ost that doesn't get annoying; the kind i'd go out of my way to listen to. the backgrounds are so fun, i love the gamecube esque to it and it's so well optimized that my shitass laptop can run it full graphics. AND THE PAPER MARIO STYLE!! it was so worth putting my time into my GODDDDDD RAAAAAAAAAAUGH the protagonists all develop in their own beautiful ways, i swear i cried to like most lore drops LMFAO. and theres a ton of tiny ways to get more story snipbits as well, from little books to kabbu just speaking in the different areas you go to. watching the story unfold is just ,, this game has got to be one of my all time favorites by now. i love the fighting mechanics i love the logbook i love how every detail is worth looking into i just love this game so fucking much it is. so. GOOD.

i would gladly rant more but it appears ive already text walled LMFAO but. anywho. go play bug fables you will not regret.

[randomsufff]

Aha ha- guess what Series I got into now….

*Cries in shipping Johnlock in our year and lord 2022*

[leodapinch]

i did this for the bit but its somehow the optimal healing spell??

[funky-vg-beats]

training theme luigi’s mansion ost

[gris-bear]

I’m fine I’m normal *accidentally remembers everything’s all right from to the moon* never mind

[colourful-void]

Seething really losing my mind because you can say that Ace was being puppeted and surely there was an element of that, but the number one thing the easiest thing that would’ve prevented this was if Acw was not someone who’d default to murder. If he had confessed then he’d go free all he had to do was SAY IT but he CHOSE to kill those people he CHOSE to do it I don’t care if it was set up so it was easy for him to do it it’s his goddamn chose to kill them. There was always the second option.

[the-fourth-knower]

Tears of the Kingdom, a theme theory: Sheikah, Hyrule, Ganondorf, and You

So for anyone who's played Breath of the Wild, we all know about the SHeikah. The ancient Sheikah specifically. Their shrines, their towers, equipment, hell we eve start the game inside a Shiekah shrine of sorts - the Shrine of Resurrection.

Fast forward to Tears of the Kingdom, and the Ancient sheikah tech is Gone. Kaput. The towers, shrines, all of it. And it's a noticable absence as well, as you trek out to places where those used to be and they are no longer there.

But why is that? Where did they go, what happened?

I'm not going to attempt to answer that.

Instead, I'm going to discuss what thematically it might mean instead. And that is one thing.

Moving On.

The technology of the Ancient Sheikah had one goal in mind, ultimately: Stop Calamity Ganon. Which it ultimately did. Which means it is time to move on.

Hyrule was devastated, ruined from top to bottom in the Calamity. But not eradicated - the people survived. And under Zelda, they move forwards to a new, brighter future. The past fading into the background, or being retooled into new creations under Purah's leadership. Things are bright, hopeful.

And then there's Link. AKA the player as well, though Link is decidedly his own character and not an insert. Link, who went through the shrines. Who found the towers. Who saved the Divine Beasts. Who (potentially) went through two elaborate Sheikah trials. Who remembers the Champions personally.

What does he think of all this? Does he miss the Sheikah stuff that decorated Hyrule, making for useful landmarks. Does he shrug it off and adapt to the new reality, one that he presumably experienced as it happened. Does he recall his time with the Champions in the past, even as most of them continue to fade into history?

If he has any real issues with it, he does not say them. Because he is as dedicated to helping Hyrule rebuild and move on from the tragedy of the past.

Enter Ganondorf.

Here we have the opposite side - Ganondorf is a man stuck in the past. He yearns for the Hyrule and world he knew, the one where courage was blazing wherever you looked, where people did not call their 'spinelessness' as a 'desire for peace' (these are actually in some of the dubs, it's pretty hardcore).

From the start, he is disgusted with Rauru's and Sonia's new land - one where people live in peace harmony, not battling to establish their superiority and crushing their opposition.

Even here, we see moving on being a theme. Rauru, with Sonia and Mineru by his side, seeks to build a new future. A new kingdom, where the people of what will be Hyrule are not eternally struggling against each other. Which also makes me wonder just what Hryule was like before then and what was going on - gives more about Rauru, Sonia, Mineru, and the others Nintendo, pls

This is anathema to Ganondorf - seeming to go against everything he believes in. And so he seeks to destroy it, to 'reshape the world as it was meant to be.' Once again, the arrogance and entitlement of Ganondorf drives him - he is entitled to the world and power because he is Ganondorf, Sorcerer King of the Gerudo.

Fast forward to the present, and he still has not given p that goal. No matter how much time has passed, he will return the world to what it was before Rauru and the Zonai - except worse, now, because he will fill the land with monsters and demons, with him at their head as the Demon King.

Is it little surprise then that the main villain is someone who refuses to move on? Someone who rejects both the Hyrule of Rauru and later the Hyrule of Zelda in favor of his own, twisted world view. Who is on the opposite end of the spectrum as Rauru in regards to what it means to be a king and to possess power.

Moving on, progress, Not letting yourself be stuck in the past. These are all part of the themes of Tears. We see it through out the game, notably in Hudson's quest line where he must come to terms with his daughter leaving. And like the chad he is, Hudson allows his daughter her long awaited chance to connect with her mother's people. Rather than trying to keep her in Tarrey Town. He and Rhondson then prepare for a new beginning in their lives.

The Ancient Sheikah have faded into the background as their descendants take up the torch, creating new things. And indeed, if my own thoughts that the Ancient Sheikah tech is based off Zonai tech, it's effectively a full circle going on.

In effect, the game is focusing on moving on, and using the past to help do that rather than working against it. With a main villain who refuses to move on and seeks to return to the past as he viewed it. A collective versus the individual type of deal.

(That said I'm 95% sure there will be a DLC that features Ancient Sheikah in some way. Maz Koshia is still out there, and we have no idea what happened to the Divine Beasts.)

[tearsofthemushroom]

if i think about pentiment too much my soul starts to ache

[lesbianpegbar]

how batshit would i sound if i said i found pathologic genuinely fun and even therapeutic

[hon-hon-baguette-eiffel-tower]

Sonia really said "Wisdom takes time" and she was being literal

[saccharine-azure]

Johnny's outfits across the expansions

I've seen a couple other people do this type of post, and it looked fun! I did use a lot more than just these outfits, but these were the ones I used the most often during each expansion.

A Realm Reborn

I did not find very many caster glam options I liked in ARR, LOL. It's especially ironic considering my paladin outfit is almost entirely ARR stuff. The staff at least is pretty cute; the front side looks like a ladybug. Favored mount was the Magitek Walker.

Heavensward

I switched to Red Mage for this expansion, and the outfit is pretty red as a result.

Stormblood

Tataru making me an outfit that matched everyone else was the first time I really felt like I was a full member of the Scions! Of course I wore it through the whole expansion. This was also when I met Alpha, who I have out almost all the time! Favored mount: Regalia Type G

Shadowbringers

Once I got off the free trial, I immediately spent all my gil on clothes at the market board. A friend also traded me the Moogle staff, which I still treasure.

Endwalker

Easily my favorite expansion. I played the first half with the Omega set, but switched to this when I got it. I think it captures the feel of a max level mage, but in a subtle way that isn't ancient greek robes or something completely shrouded in particle effects. Favored mount: Perenelle, my original chocobo!

Dawntrail

I made an outfit to match Krile, and it turned out to be a really cute idea! It was fun standing next to her in cutscenes. I also had another outfit using the pvp armor that had a nice "Royal Guard" feel for when I was on official business. Favored mount: Skyslipper

[crunchycrystals]

JUST BEAT HADES FOR THE FIRST TIME IM SHAKING SO HARD

[blackjackkent]

Wyll steps forward, crouches down to rest a hand in respect against the dead dragon's massive skull.

As his hand draws close, a sudden flare of white light flickers in the dragon's empty eye socket - then bursts outward like an explosion.

WHAM. The light bursts across Wyll's body, through his head, wrenching him off the ground and onto his back, floating contorted in midair.

Dimly he's aware of Hector screaming his name in alarm, but he can see nothing, feel nothing, he is conscious only of the tremendous presence flooding his mind.

Narrator: The dragon's spirit floods your mind and memory in a great torrent of power. He is with you, he is within you, he *is* you. The next words that spill from your mouth are not yours, but the wyrm's.

"I AM ANSUR. HEART OF THE GATE. BUTCHERED IN FLESH, RISEN IN SPIRIT."

Gods, it hurts... it hurts... He struggles for all the training his father gave him, the soldier's discipline and the leader's awareness and battles for control of his own mind.

Bite back the words that aren't yours.

Narrator: Ansur binds you despite your best efforts - yet thought flows effortlessly between you.

Narrator: The spirit pauses, and you feel the Astral Prism stir. Ansur senses the Emperor's presence within it.

ANSWER ME, FAESSI, the great dragon growls in his mind. WHY HAVE YOU COME?

The pain in his wrenched arms and back is overwhelming but he manages to grip on to the pieces of a response and draw them together into a coherent whole. My father sent me. Duke Ulder Ravengard. We need your help...

Narrator: A deep sigh resonates within you. The torrent stills - only disturbed by the dragon's next words.

VRAK. MY WORDS AREN'T MEANT FOR YOU, the dragon growls. THEY'RE MEANT FOR HIM.

The pain eases, the terrible power gripping him shifting as if to reduce the pressure on his spine. But he is not released, nor does he understand what's going on. At first he thinks the dragon somehow means Hector - but he suspects they may be locked in a moment all their own, and that Hector and the others have no knowledge of what is occurring here at all.

No... the dragon means someone else.

Narrator: The Emperor stirs in the Astral Prism... then in you. Calm, curious, and detached.

Dimly Wyll is aware of the Emperor's presence drifting into being at his side, wreathed in an undulating gold light, a counterpoint to Ansur's blue energy.

The dragon's voice seems to smile coldly. BALDURAN, it says. YOUR PRESENCE HAS STIRRED ME, AS IT EVER DID. I AM AWAKENED.

Ansur, the Emperor answers, its tone unreadable. It's been too long.

(A/N: For those wondering why I am not doing my usual flipping-a-shit about this reveal, I direct you to this post, my greatest victory in the field of deep cut reference spotting, where I worked this out about a month in advance. However, if I had not, I would ABSOLUTELY be losing my mind right now; this is huge.)

Wyll's body writhes with an undirected, desperate squirm; had he control of his face, it would show bewilderment, astonishment.

He called you Balduran? he thinks, and even such a simple thought takes such tremendous effort to formulate under the combined weight of the two personalities clashing in his head.

A name I once answered to, the Emperor answers. Its attention is fully focused on the dragon and very little upon Wyll; it answers almost carelessly. A name I did not expect to hear again, least of all from the mouth of an old friend.

FRIEND, YES, rumbles the dragon. AND MORE. UNTIL YOU KILLED ME. HAVE YOU COME TO DANCE ON MY BONES, BALDURAN? WAS SLAYING ME NOT SATISFACTION ENOUGH?

Wyll can see the Emperor's tentacles twitch out of the corner of his eyes. Satisfaction? the mind flayer answers. No. You left me no choice.

YOU HAD EVERY CHOICE! the dragon thunders. YOU WERE BECOMING ILLITHID. I OFFERED YOU MERCIFUL DEATH. YOU CHOSE TO FIGHT. AND NOW YOU BRING YOUR THRALL BEFORE ME. HOW FAR HAS THE GREAT BALDURAN FALLEN?

It's a good question, and one Wyll would be a lot more interested in the answer to if his brain didn't feel like it was being boiled from the inside out. But he struggles against the pain and the overwhelming forces clashing through his body, and focuses on his own pride, his own person, the will of his father and himself that he means to enact here or die trying.

I am no thrall, Ansur, he cries out mentally, with all the force he can muster. I've come for your aid!

Narrator: Stillness. Ansur's consciousness hovers just above yours, searching, seeing.

Dear Ansur... the Emperor begins, and there's a strange weight to its tone that is puzzling, but there's no time to work it out.

ENOUGH! the dragon roars, with such force that Wyll feels his skull might split apart. I GAVE YOU EVERYTHING, BALDURAN! AND YOU REPAID ME IN SLAUGHTER. IT IS TIME I RETURN THE FAVOR!

Power begins to surge around the great corpse, infusing it with more of that pale blue light.

I AM THE HEART OF THE GATE! Ansur bellows like a thunderclap. I AM THE ONE WHO ROARS! LET MY BONES RISE AND THE STORMS GATHER. WITNESS, BALDURAN - THE FINAL TEMPEST HAS COME! THIS TIME YOU WILL NOT ESCAPE IT!

Wyll's body collapses to the ground. He hears Hector shouting again, feels friendly hands on his shoulders, helping him to his feet. But as he staggers up, his weight slumped into Hector's side, he looks up and sees that the dragon's corpse is moving.

"Oh gods..." Hector whispers. "What happened?"

Wyll pulls his feet under himself desperately, shoving aside the exhaustion and pulling his rapier from its sheath. "Nothing according to plan, that's for sure," he rasps. "And it's that damned illithid's fault."

[elkian]

Update: I have achieved the Intermission and also cried bc BONNIIIIIIEEEEEEEE

[wereh0gz]

Hey. Y'know those lyrics from Vandalize

Fight the pain away my head is in ruins

Yeah