#waiting to actually play and not just spoiler DS now

[katyspersonal]

Oof....

[etrosgate]

everyone go play 999 for the nintendo ds. NOT THE PORT. the ds.

im serious about this.

9 hours 9 persons 9 doors for the nintendo ds is a masterpiece of a game, with wonderfully snappy dialogue and a quickly paced narrative that avoids many traps of visual novel writing (such as being overly obvious and repetitive) with a ludonarrative cohesion that makes SO many of its aspects initially perceived as flaws into an active strength of the experience. the endgame twist is very possibly the best in gaming history.

i think i've made it pretty clear that i really fucking love this game, and recommend it to everyone.

so

i used to say "the ds version is better, but it's fine if you play the port for its various quality of life features" but im no longer able to have that stance, now that i know the extent of how it kinda butchers its narrative. it's not super obvious, but that subtley honestly makes it worse to me.

it's the difference between a good game that had cool concepts but kinda shaky execution, and a masterpiece.

this boils down to the "novel mode" versus "adventure mode" format that they decided to build the port on.

if you choose to play in adventure mode, it removes almost all of the narration and rewrites that aforementioned incredible dialogue to awkwardly shove in some (not all) of that information, resulting in overly obvious and clunky writing that seriously drags some scenes out. the descriptive text in general is actually incredibly important in a way i can't describe, and though it will forcibly shift to novel mode to show it to you very occasionally, it's not Nearly enough and you will miss out on some of the most memorable striking moments because of it. i cannot overstate how much the impact of the ending is affected by this.

if you choose novel mode, you do get all the narration (very important). HOWEVER. the writing is still the adjusted one done to facilitate only playing adv mode, so now the dialogue is overly obvious and clunky and slow AND repetitive (all the things i said 999 very cleverly avoided 🤔?) and then, for some ungodly reason, it is actively difficult to play the game in novel mode. the game will Constantly shift you back to adv mode so you have to spend the entire game checking to make sure to switch back (something even i found difficult to do as someone who'd played the ds version).

so neither way to play the port is good. in addition to the aforementioned changing the final puzzle to be worse. and a LOT of ludonarrative things i cannot actually get into due to spoilers.

"how much of an impact could these small changes actually have?"

well this is anecdotal, but me (and many other people i know) who originally played 999 on the ds and thought it was a masterpiece, years later went on to play the port version and thought "huh. it was still good, but it's like the magic was gone. i guess it's just not as good as i remembered, one of those things that doesn't hold up to your memories of it."

and then we replayed the ds game. and found out that the game we remembered DOES still exist! it's just as fantastic, the magic IS THERE. the port just made the game worse!!

anyways, so what were those quality of life changes i mentioned earlier?

in the original ds version of 999, every time you reach an ending you have to start from the beginning of the game again, fast forwarding through the text and replaying the puzzles. (the port changed this to having a flowchart where you can just jump to decision points)

HOWEVER

as someone who Very recently replayed the ds version, i truly don't think this is as much of a pain as you might expect.

skipping text isn't a big deal. yeah it takes a bit, but it's easy to watch a youtube video or something while you're waiting the 5 minutes it takes. using an emulator, you can even speed up the text skipping to an even greater degree. if you can't physically hold down the button, you can probably find something to hold it down for you, and on an emulator you can rebind the key to be something easier to do that with (like the space bar)

redoing puzzles isn't a big deal either. not only do you still have to redo some puzzle rooms in the port version anyway, it can be pretty fun to figure out how to essentially speedrun rooms you've done before, and you don't redo them that many times (i would recommend a walkthrough anyway for deciding which endings to get, so making that redo time even shorter is a bonus).

if you really need the accessibility of voice acting, i would genuinely recommend watching an LP of the ds version instead. yes, i really do think some guy from 10 years ago reading out the text will give you a better experience than a genuinely good cast of voice actors reading the port's.

btw, if you're scared off at the prospect of reading a little more now without being able to choose adventure mode... if you've played danganronpa (and most of you did!) 999 is shorter, faster-paced, and has LESS READING.

okay im done.

i'd recommend THIS WALKTHROUGH, even if you don't want to use it for the puzzles, it'll give you good info for how to get each ending (especially recommended for true ending), and a general order to do them in. i'd recommend doing getting all the endings (except coffin, which is just the true end cut short) EDIT: thank you to tlblitz for recommending this walkthrough, which gives additional hints for the puzzles instead of just telling you solutions outright

if you've already played 999 (or are just curious about specifics), this video details all the changes mentioned here and more, and it gets all the way into spoiler territory (it can be nitpicky at points, particularly at the beginning, but maaaan did it open my eyes to everything i had subconsciously picked up on in playing the port)

EDIT

i forgot to mention. if you emulate the game, there's a visual glitch that messes up the sprites a little, but you can fix it really easily! in DeSmuME, go to Config>3D Settings and set the renderer to OpenGL

also, here's a mod that increases the text speed, if you find that bothers you.

and i figure i should put my reasons for not just tolerating, but loving the hassles that come from the ds version onto the base post (reposted from another reblog)

major major 999 spoilers below (and some vlr spoilers too)

-----------

to me, one of the coolest aspects of 999 (and zero escape in general) is how much the experience of playing it reflects the narrative

the final twist isn’t just that the text on the bottom screen has been akane, but that you’ve been playing as HER the entire game, not junpei (and with turning the ds upside down for the sudoku, you finally do so for the first time)

in the narrative, you spend basically the entire runtime getting to know her as June, but in the ludonarrative, (the actual Playing the game) you get to know her as Zero. and those annoying bits are a big part of that.

every time akane reaches her death in a timeline, she has to go back to the beginning and start over, because that’s how her powers work. she has to redo all the puzzles, has to wait through all the dialogue until she gets to a point where she can nudge junpei to another route. (in vlr, sigma+phi have a flowchart not just because it’s more convenient, but because that’s how Their powers work).

so subtly, without noticing, you start to reach her point of view. the first time you see the ninth man die it’s shocking and horrific, but even just on your second playthrough the horror doesn’t affect you much. for junpei and everyone else, these sequences are just as terrifying in every route but not for you, cause you’ve seen them before. you can’t be affected by them in the same way, what matters now is the futures you haven’t seen yet.

speedrunning puzzles by skipping the clues and zoning out while you wait for the dialogue to finish aren’t just game things, but diagetic events, of akane going through the motions of something she’s done over and over.

when i replayed the ds version recently (something i hadn’t done in a LONG time), i felt so close to akane in a way i never did in the port, because i’d been through the same experience as her. i understood how she could be such a kind and sensitive person who rationalizes away putting all these people she loves through all those the moment to moment horrors in pursuit of a timeline where she and everyone she care about lives, because i’d become detached to them through repetition too.

i completely understand why people wouldn’t enjoy that, but i’m a pretentious gamer who LOVES when mechanics are technically “worse” in a way that is characterful or thematic. so the frustrating bits of 999 add to that experience much more than they detract from it for me haha

[drizzileiscool]

BIG GIANT POST ABOUT MY EXPERIENCE PLAYING TWEWY!!!!!!

CONTAINS SPOILERS!!!

NO I HAVE NOT PLAYED NEO YET!!!! I AM POOR!!!!! PLEASE DON'T SPOIL ME ON IT!!!!!! I've played some of the demo though!!!!!

I first decided to get into twewy last month. I saw that there was a switch version available, but I was unable to play that version. I did, however, have a ds emulator, but after talking to some people I realized I probably would've gotten arthritis playing it on emulator.

When I was just about ready to give up, I decided to watch the first episode of the anime. I enjoyed it a bit.

I was then told to not watch the anime.

So you may be wondering.. "How did you play twewy?"

I played the mobile version. Solo mix. Yeah that one. The one not available for current gen phones.

I found a link to a modded version on an old reddit thread that was updated for current gen android phones, and one of my friends helped me get it set up, and I was finally ready to play.

During my first few hours, I didn't actually like neku all that much. Honestly, he was a dick. i remember what you said about plushies, neku. i will not forgive this as a plushie enthusiast.

While playing the game, I was under the assumption that I would get to change partners whenever once I unlocked it. Rhyme seemed cool, so I was hoping to get to partner with her.

And then the game killed her off.

Despite not knowing anything about rhyme, she was still my favorite character. Besides beat of course, but that's later during week 3.

I remember that I was crying when I first saw her death. I was all like "why did they make such a cool character design, just to kill her off?? that doesn't make sense."

earlier today I saw a tweet on twitter that said "cute cosplay idea for couples!" and it was a rhyme cosplay and a shark costume and I nearly lost my shit laughing, so I guess I'm over it.

When week 1 was ending, I remember feeling like "wait, that's it?" of course, I was wrong.

anyways week 2 now uhh uhhhhhh-

when I first met joshua and learned that I could scan him I was all like "huh???". also excellent foreshadowing there, square enix!

also JOSHUA IS A FRUIT YOU CANNOT TELL ME THIS PERSON ISN'T GAY JUST LOOK AT HIM

at this point, I didn't really know what to expect anymore. the game broke one of its already established rules, "players can't scan other players" so I had no idea what was coming next anymore.

SHO MINAMIMOTO IS HOT!!!!

uhhg. don't got anything else to say about this week except I genuinely thought hanekoma was the composer.

I was extremely shocked to learn that joshua killed neku during this week, and was even more shocked to learn that it was a misfire (and then I learned it wasn't a misfire but that's in week 3 and we haven't gotten to that yet!)

WEEK THREE!!! BEAT TIME!!!

alright, before I started week 3, I actually didn't like beat all that much. that changed a LOT during week 3. he is now one of my favorite characters.

later that week, I had finally learned joshua was the composer and was actually extremely shocked lol.

oh uh I also got spoiled on how beat and rhyme got hit by a car from ign so uhhhh oops

SHO SOMEHOW GOT HOTTER!!!!

I beat the game. I loved the credits theme (and will rewatch the credits later) and really liked how neku threw off his headphones to symbolize how he won't shut himself off from the world anymore.

10/10 game, really enjoyed playing it!

also there was a scene early on where neku went up to a reaper and said I know what you are and I didn't get to screenshot it :(

so.. yeah! my experience with twewy! good game! one of my favorites now! getting neo soon!

[remimibanana]

AVCon Day 1 2023 Report

I had the opportunity to go to AVCon this year, a convention in Adelaide that made its return this year! It was my first ever anime convention, and it was a whole load of fun!

I went with Pie @piedivide, a good friend of mine! He cosplayed 9S, you’ll see him throughout the report hehe ^^

The report is under the cut!

Since I was going to a convention, I thought I should cosplay! When else would I have the chance to after all?

There were so many characters I wanted to cosplay, but at the end I chose…..

Bocchi-Chan from Bocchi The Rock!

Here is my beautiful pose I did because I couldn’t think of any other pose lol

Her wig was an absolute nightmare though, it was always so tangled even when I brushed it out, I’m definitely going for a character with shorter hair next time.

Exhibit A:

See that mess lol

But regardless, let’s actually get into it!

Pre-Con

I got my butt up at 6am in order to get ready, since I wanted to get to the convention around 10am (spoiler alert I did not manage to get there by 10am).

I tied my hair back here because I was worried about sitting on the wig and pulling it off, but honestly I probably didn’t need to lol

Since the convention is in the city, I had to catch the train.

In full cosplay.

It didn’t help I forgot the timetables change on the weekends so I had to wait like 30 minutes at the station for the train to come with my mum lol

People were staring which was understandable, I was Bocchi after all with her bright pink hair and colourful costume lol

Lucky for me, there was a Yuyuka cosplayer and a few others also in cosplay so I felt less embarrassed.

The Yuyuka cosplayer actually sat behind me on the train!

Once I got to the station, I went straight to the bathroom to brush out my wig because it was a hot mess.

Still was a hot mess here actually lol

Con Time!

I met with Pie after my attempts of fixing the wig and we headed to the convention! So we got there like after 11am!

There was a okay line and we waited, and of course me being me, instantly started freaking out about all the cosplayers and pointing out who was who lol

Like right when we got to the line, I saw a Kagamine Rin cosplayer and I freaked out lol

There was a very pretty Mona too and I freaked out again lol

I did a lot of freaking out okay. That’s just how I am. You can’t expect me to stay calm at an anime convention! That’s like…impossible.

We were holding our phones with the QR code for our tickets and it was hard to believe we were here.

Pie and I sort of spontaneously decided to go like 8 months ago and I never thought the day would finally come. As we got closer and closer, it became more and more real.

Once we got in, we got our passes and we headed straight into the food hall (only because we had no idea where was what and we couldn’t be bothered getting out the map so it was a fun adventure lol).

I'm so glad we got passes! I thought we would get the paper tag but no! Real passes! Felt so cool!

Continuing straight, we arrived into the Video Games Hall, which had a giant stage and a lot of laptops! And right on the side was….handhelds?!

Whole bunch of games and consoles for sale, ranging from the N64 to the Wii! PlayStation 1! 3DS! DS! I was surprised, I didn’t think that I’d see any Wii games at the convention.

My hard drive I use with my Wii actually stopped working so I’ve been buying physicals of the games I really like ;;

And lo and behold, they had Mario Kart Wii. The one game I’ve been looking for since like….2021? Now I can play CTGP and mods!!

Instantly bought it along with Wii Sports Resort because I love Wii Sports Resort. Been wanting to play it.

And it was right there and I couldn’t resist okay

Already managed to spend money and I just got there lmao

It is what it is.

Anyway, we continued through the hall, admiring all the games. It was just all so cool! I saw Street Fighter 6 and went :O

There was also a giant Game and Watch System!

I was mostly in awe the whole time. I also continued my freaking out lol

Then we exited to the Artist Alley. The holy grail of art. There were over 90 artists there.

Hoo boy I dropped money here lmao

We beelined to Kamaniki’s booth (I freaked when I saw their name on the map lol), but also taking the time to walk and see all the art! Everyone is so talented, it’s incredible!

We found Kamaniki’s booth and we each bought two prints. I got Pyra and a Bocchi the Rock one!

Pie and I decided that we had to buy a print with our respective characters on it, and we did! Pie got a Nier Automata one that had 9S on it.

We then continued our trek, and then I bought more prints because I couldn't resist lol

We then went to the Exhibition Hall which was full of anime merch! There were stalls everywhere.

We saw Callie and Marie plushies and guess what we did….

We bought them instantly lol

I got Callie and Pie got Marie!

Then we walked around some more and oh my god they had Hololive gacha. Volume 4 and 5. I made this screech and Pie laughed his head off lmao

I love Hololive okay

I thought we needed coins for it (which I did not have) but we had to buy tokens (which I could with the power of my card). I bought two rolls and did each Hololive gacha!

I tried to predict who I would get but I was very wrong haha, but I didn’t mind who I got. I like everyone in Hololive!

I got Lui and Marine! Love them so much.

Pie did a Spy X Family one and a Hololive one too. He actually nearly did the wrong gacha until I yelled at him not to lol (you’re welcome Pie lol).

I saw a stall that was operated by my Uni (they’re a sponsor) and it made me think about the fact I had Uni the next week ;;

Then we walked around some more! It was so cool seeing so much merch in one place! Had to resist buying stuff, I already spent quite a bit at this point aha

After we decided to go get some food because we were hungry.

We wanted to try Takoyaki but they ran out, all they had left was Karaage Chicken. It was really good!

We had to wait for like…20 minutes for it which was fun. I was 47th and they only announced like...30…..

Us waiting lol

Someone actually came up to me asking for a photo during that time and I was really happy!

Never thought I’d get asked for any photos honestly. It made me so happy! Pie got asked for photos too, it was so cool!

Actually someone came up to Pie and said “Hey I really like your 2B costume!” which was really hilarious lmao

Of course Pie was kind and stuff and said thank you but still lol

And Pie also asked for photos as well!

Love the poses here hehe

I had the bright idea to torture myself by using chopsticks. I know how to use them, but I’m absolutely crap at using them.

I also had a fork so I could give up at any time. Like halfway through, I decided to just use my fork. I reached out to grab it, thinking I would be saving myself all the struggle.

But tragedy struck.

I DROPPED THE FORK ON THE GROUND 😭

I was forced to use the chopsticks the whole time and Pie just watched me suffer

I’m a chopsticks failure……

After I finally finished, we went to get some photos together! For this occasion, I bought a tripod! It came in handy!

We took a lot of photos!

Some of the ones I like (I would put them all but no space sadly, Tumblr limit ;;)

My eyes also decided to kill themselves half way through and I had to retreat to the bathroom. I looked like I was crying when I wasn’t ;;

My eyes like to do this thing where if something irritates it, it starts tearing up immediately. It’s very fun (T_T)

I think it was after this, I saw a Mizuki from Arknights cosplayer. Didn’t expect to see Mizuki here but I freaked out of course lol

I love Mizuki.

And I really wanted a photo. But I was too shy to ask.

So Pie did for me (thank you Pieeeee)

ME AND MIZUKI AAAAAAAAAAaaaaaaaaaaa

Namie-mama I did it!! They were so kind!

Then we just walked around for the rest of the con pretty much, though all the halls. Bought some more prints and simply enjoyed our time!

When it was nearly the end of the con, we decided to buy each other one print that the other would like. We split off, and I went bounding down the left side of the Artist Alley.

I didn't even go that far when I saw the perfect print. It was a beautiful BOTW print with Link riding a horse. It screamed Pie so I bought it immediately.

The artist even offered another print for another $10 but I declined because we were only meant to get one print for each other.

So I sat and waited at the area we agreed to meet at since I already found the perfect print quicker than I anticipated.

Picture I took while waiting.

More people asked me for photos actually to my surprise, there was this little kid who wanted a photo with me and it was so adorable. Made my heart warm hehe ( ◠‿◠ )

Like so! I heard "Bocchi" from behind me and I'm like "Huh??" “That’s me!”

I honestly wished I got more pictures with cosplayers, I was too shy to ask like anyone lol, next time I really want to ask people! Got to be more confident!

But I did admire them from afar! Staring a bit creepily but that’s definitely what Bocchi would do lol

There were these Genshin cosplayers that looked amazing, especially this Yaoyao and this Arlecchino and Columbina!!

And I saw Mew Ichigo too!! Apparently they made their cosplay themselves which is sick.

I didn’t take that many pictures of the convention itself, since I was mostly just experiencing everything, taking it all in. Next time I want to take more!

And make a vlog too!

Definitely want to go to another convention again! And spend way too much money (I refuse to look at my bank account, I don't want to know how much I spent lol).

Thanks for reading my report! ^^

Bocchi is having a crisis

[girakia]

Mario movie thoughts! Full of spoilers!

I want everyone to line up and lick my foresighting pussy. I was right about everything except for toad during training and dance party(thank god)

But okay, I'll analyze it in two ways, one as a mario fan the other as an average movie goer

As a mario fan:

10/10 WHAT A FILM! Seriously if you like Mario and his history enough this movie will be amazing. It's reference after reference + new stuff and it respects it's source material for like 90% of the time.

Mario and Luigi are actually brothers that care SO MUCH about each other, it's so cute. Their baby forms show up in a flashback and it shows how Mario always stood up to his bro. It's so adorable and "Mario is evil and doesn't like Luigi" has just been killed in the garbage, buried and had it's grave spit on.

Speaking of the bros, we see the Mario Family WHAT? AND THEY GAVE MARIO DADDY ISSUES? WACK. Like it's a stereotypical brooklyn-italian family, but nice to at least see their face. And it's so cool to me how Mario and Luigi are probably on their 20's, just beginning their careers and failing and be filled with self-doubt, it's nice...

Oh and Mario has a personality now, yeah he's very head strong, daring and brave, only being taken aback when he's in a real tight spot. And despite his chubby physique he's quite the athlete(wait we have seen this type of Mario in Luigi's mansion 3) it's really cool that it took 40 years for him to, for a large audience, develop a life of his own.

Next point: Peach

Yeah, girlboss, uh huh, an actual queen, yes... I actually really liked her in this movie, she is a capable leader that loves and appreciate her people. Her backstory, we see baby Peach, so cute and it actually reflects why she loves the Toads. Also yeah she's pretty strong and agile, but now thinking back I want to see some of her flaws in the (and it definetely IS going to happen) sequel.

Also her and Mario, so cute together, I want more of them...

Speaking of love... Bowser. Yeah he is menacing and a threat, if this wasn't a kids movie I think we would see more messed up things, there is only cartoonish violence which is okay I guess. However, despite being shown to be cruel and sorta of a mad king, he also shows a dorky side. Like "Why does Bowser want to kidnap and marry Princess Peach" It's because he likes her... What are you gonna do about it? He's charmed by her and I can't blame him..

And bowuigi... It didn't happen, yeah. Kinda mad because the fanart that would have been made if it had more than the scenes shown in the trailer would be insane. But also, I don't like it when corporations use gays ships for pink money(it's what would have happened). They did use bisexual light in his speedwagon-esque music number. And what a cool addition to Bowser lore, that he plays the piano.

Speaking of Luigi, he doesn't show up too much actually, he really gets imprisioned and stays imprisioned 2/3 of his screentime, waste of a character ngl, but next time we gotta see more of him. Maybe his lack of appearance makes sense to his shy demeanor.

KONGS. They were great! I really like how the movie made part their culture around kart racing, because as we all know, diddy kong racing for the nintendo ds is the greatest video game of all time. Donkey is actually a pretty cool character and he's really funny too. THEY MADE CRANKY HIS DAD BTW. AND HE ALSO HAS DADDY ISSUES, IT'S WHAT MAKES DONKEY AND MARIO BOND. When Mario Peach and Toad go to Kong Kingdom, they get greeted by a kong that (maybe it's because of the artstyle) looks a lot like DK jr... idk. ALSO DIDDY APPEARS THIS IS GREATES MOVIE OF ALL BECAUSE IT'S THE ONLY ONE WITH DIDDY KONG.

Toad is also there, like it's a chef toad, but he doesn't have an interesting name like those chef toads from the first paper mario games. He's the comic relief, but everyone is funny in this movie so he's just here to be next to Peach. Speaking of Toads, Toadsworth is dead... yeah there is a group of advisors and they are just normal toads with different colors and a few clothing details. Which interesting because I could blame Illumination for this lack of creativity in character design, but I know by a fact that this was Nintendo's doing.

Kamek is cute also, the koopas and goombas and enemies designs were great. The art style of this movie was fantastic to me.

And with that I can conclude my view as a fan. Now to act slightly more mature.

If you're not a fan of Mario, this movie will be a 5/10.

It's pretty good™, and that could be seen as a positive but we all know a "good" movie isn't enough, specially in animation, specially in a blockbuster animation. Don't get me wrong, you can see that I fucking adored this movie. However, if you're going to watch it completely devoid of any facts about Mario and gang, it's another movie about believing in yourself, protecting those you love and standing up for what's right.

And I know Mario isn't known for it's complex stories and carefully thought out world building and lore, but you can find another movie just like this one. What I'm trying to say is there is potential in this galaxy they created for the movie, though it's not explored.

I watched it with a couple of friends and one them said that this movie is more for mario nerds that grew up with playing the games back when nintendo was accesible rather than current day kids that watch a lot of youtube and have other interests and understandably can't afford nintendo crap. And agree to disagree, I'm definetely proving her point with this extensive review about a property I played with when I was 8 y/o. However, there were plenty of kids in our session, and like I said this feels like a genereic kids movie, so this is a movie for children, no denial, but it also relies on older fans to really profit.

In matters of animation, it's pretty good, expected from two big names like Nintendo and Illumination. As I sais the art style is reely cool, I like how it adapted the Kotabe/Nakaue art style mixing it with the smooth illumination style, take that as you will.

And okay, Illumination kids movie, you know what that means, copyrighted 80's music, seriously, Mr. Blue Sky, Holding out for a Hero, Take on Me. My honest reaction to that:

At least they put the dk rap when dk is introduced.

Also there were a few problems in the story. This is REALLY FAST. Like they don't even have time to make a misunderstanding when Peach and Mario first meet. They're already telling the toads they'll try to convince Cranky to join their fight. Like slow down jeez...

And hey, How does peach know what a human is? She came to the mushroom kingdom when she was a baby. And how is New York after Bowser gets defeated? They just show the bros moved to Mushroom kingdom. Is there even a pipe anymore? And the pipes just take you to other worlds ig? We're working with little explanation, I see.

Also no Daisy explicitely, nor Rosalina, there was A Pauline second.

But yes, it's generic, but I couldn't ask for anything else. But they better step up their game if they really want to make any impact on Mario's history.

[dishsaop]

Hello!! I want to say hi because I see you interact with Rads a lot, and he also told me you love Pokemon \ PMD :)

From your interactions that I noticed on Rads' page, you sound like a nice person to talk to in general, but also... as of late I've been slowly getting into Pokemon ^^"

I played Black last year (loved it, especially N lol), and now I'm finally getting into Mystery Dungeon too (I'm playing the DS version of EoS via homebrew). I wanted to try PMD for years, but it did not click for me until just a few days ago, so... When Rads told me you're talking to him a lot about it, I was like 'omg I could use some advice and just have fun hearing about the game!!'

so yeah, that's why I'm writing this. Have a nice day!!

hi, omg this is so sweet! i LOVE pmd2 eos and im always way too excited to talk about it. my sister and i played it together growing up - we'd do individual missions and grinding and stuff on our own but as soon as plot came we'd close the ds and wait till the other was around so we could both watch what happened. i've played it a billion times since then, i just think it's fun! it has a genuinely good story and smooth and fun, if routine, gameplay.

(i'm a fake pokemon fan though, i havent played a main pokemon game since x/y and i havent FINISHED a game since platinum. i obsess over the side games tho lol. the pmd games, the ranger games, and colosseum my beloveds)

advice-wise, i can give you a few tips without spoilers i think? if anyone wants to add more feel free though!

reviver seeds are your best friends. they are more important than any other item. hoard them. spend all your money on them. my sister always told me i was missing the 'spirit' of the game by going into dungeons with 12 reviver seeds, but when one of your missions is escorting a low-level pokemon through a dungeon and another is fighting a high-level bad guy, you will appreciate the reviver seeds then.

you will eventually encounter monster houses. always carry a petrify orb, foe-stun orb, or some other item that will affect an area of pokemon. you shouldn't get monster houses too early in the game but it doesn't hurt to be prepared.

pmd2 is a kids game, and as such you won't need to heavily grind. still, depending on your comfort level, it can be really nice to have a few extra levels. pmd2 also is a game where plot events are scheduled - meaning if you go on a certain number of missions/otherwise use up a certain amount of in-game days, plot points will automatically occur. if you want more time to complete missions and otherwise level up/goof off, you often don't actually have to go on the plot mission, even if an npc says you do. just do your own thing anyway, it's fine. they'll keep reminding you but whatever, lol

to that last point, sometimes you'll be on longer missions and will be offered two paths to take from area to area. it will be obvious which is the correct one, as the incorrect one will always be labelled as 'foggy path' 'dark path' 'rocky path', etc, ending in 'path'. that one will just send you in a loop. you can take it as many times as you want to level grind. or you can skip them entirely if you want to get on with the game!

save, idk, 3-5 blue gummis in storage if you plan on finishing the game and doing post-game stuff. it isn't game-changing, it really isn't important, but it'll save you some minor time and annoyance.

there's no shame in looking up a guide for the personality test at the very beginning that determines which pokemon you play as. if you enjoy the surprise and/or actually want to align your personality/pokemon type, hell yeah! but there's a fun list of possible pokemon and it can be fun to pick which pokemon/type you like playing best as. personally, i love being riolu, learning focus punch, beefing it up with ginsengs, and destroying all in my path. i'm also weak to eevee, skitty, and shinx, because these four were the two my sister and i played most.

don't be afraid to use your normal (non-pp) attack, but also don't be afraid to use pp attacks. max elixirs aren't hard to come by, but not endless. however, you Will Not make it if you never use pp attacks. you'll find a balance!

you can control the moves your partner uses by switching them on/off in their move menu. if they have no moves selected, theyll default to the normal attack. im pretty sure they dont use normal attack if any pp moves are selected, though? you can also edit their "battle tactics" - eg, whether they follow u, seek out battles, run away, etc. this can be really useful as the only character you yourself fully control is the main character. make sure ur partner saves their low-pp high-attack moves for important situations, etc.

this isn't a NECESSITY but it helps if you and your partner are well-balanced or at least not exactly the same type-wise. it'll be just you two a lot, and you'll save yourself a lot of trouble if you picked a partner pokemon whose type balances out yours so you're not struggling through certain dungeons.

if you're using an emulator, save states are lovely, especially since dunegons are all randomly generated, but i know some people consider it cheating and don't like it. up to you!

there will be randomly encountered shopkeeper kecleons in dungeons. unless you can get to the stairs IMMEDIATELY, do not steal from them. jesus christ do not. or at least prepare to reload the game or give up on the dungeon.

if you can, take a bunch of missions at once in the same dungeon and just blast through them all in one trip.

play with the music up if you can! it has a deceptively incredible soundtrack.

i think that's enough to be dangerous with! there's more i could add, but honestly this game is pretty straightforward. if you have any specific questions, feel free to ask! this game means a lot to me, nostalgia-wise, and i genuinely love the story and the characters. just let yourself feel out what your favorite play style is. some people like bigger exploration teams and some don't, some people use every amenity in treasure town and some don't, everyone prefers different items and moves. but in the end, it's a kids game, and i know you'll do just fine!

[sullustangin]

The Obi-Wan recap

Spoilers ahoy for the Obi-Wan mini-series.

After I watched the first two episodes, I expressed the concern that the show writers were potentially making Reva the crappy fan fic version of Mace Windu: angry black character that’s unnecessary cruel.  I worried that the Sith were doing a DS 5: Stupid Evil run, when Reva fragged the Grand Inquisitor.

Sometimes, you just need to shut up and watch.

So I did.

Moses Ingram gives Reva Sevander a beautifully tragic turn.  She has played Lady MacDuff, character who feels that her husband has abandoned his family for the sake of power and thus has left them vulnerable.  Indeed, Macbeth orders the death of Macduff’s family, and thus the Lady meets her fate just off-stage.   

As Reva, Ingram plays someone who has lost everything and everyone, yet she manifests the main message of the Star Wars series: hope.  It’s always been hope.  Therefore, the character of Reva undermines the tropes of tragic women such as the Greek Hecuba and Medea, who upon losing their beloved, they kill to serve that same pain to their male oppressors (in the case of Hecuba, she kills the children of her son’s murderer; Medea kills her own children after her husband Jason betrays and abandons both her and the children on several levels).  Lady MacDuff is killed in the act of trying to save her children.

But Reva doesn’t die.  She does not kill. 

Because that would be unsatisfying.  It is unclear as to whether Reva realizes Vader is the father of the boy on Tatooine or if he’s just another Force Sensitive Obi-Wan is protecting.  If she has figured it out, then killing Luke is pointless because Obi-Wan is hiding the boy from his father; Vader won’t hurt if she kills the boy.  If Luke is just some Force-Sensitive kid that Obi-Wan is watching over, then the person being hurt is Obi-Wan. 

Reva’s feelings toward Obi-Wan are complicated and, I think, ambivalent.  She plans to use him to lure Vader and kill him.  I do not know if she ever thought what she wanted to do with him after Vader was dead. Yes, she has anger toward him as Anakin’s master, which is only magnified by his continued affection for him -- or at least the memory of him.  But is it enough to make her want to kill him?  Vader’s death was probably Reva’s event horizon: she could see no further than that point.  She would have had her revenge.  And then what?  She has a Jedi hostage.  Does she kill him?  Rise through the ranks of the Inquisition with this prize?  Does it attract Palpatine’s attention, now that Vader is dead?  All of this is unknown and hypothetical.

When we leave Reva at the end of the series, there is the question : And now what?  She has not become the thing she hates.  At the same time, she doesn’t have a clear path forward in a post-Jedi galaxy -- especially not after being left for dead by the Empire.  She is, as Obi-Wan says, free.  She confronted Vader and lost; she confronted herself and won when she showed the mercy he did not. 

I can’t wait to see Moses Ingram in Star Wars again.  In her last moments on screen, she really did convey herself as someone in her late teens and early 20s; remember that Reva was a youngling 10 years prior, so she cannot be much older than 20 now.  Throughout the series, when she is the Third Sister, she projects almost an indeterminate age, a combination of energy and calculation... but in her final scenes, we see just how young and lost this character actually is, and it is beautiful. 

~~

I sat on my feels for Tala Durith for a little bit, because I wanted to see how “we originally conceived this as a romance, but we decided not to pursue it” panned out.  Indira Varma has said she played Tala as if she was in love with Obi-Wan.  In her performance, she doesn’t play with infatuation -- she does play love, and that love is of a grown woman.  It’s not necessarily a romantic ‘in love’ that’s played here, which I liked.  She knows and sees everything that this man represents.  At the same time, she sees how haunted he is and how painfully mortal he is.  He is unavailable to her.  She loves the man, not the legend.  Tala knows herself and the limits of this fragile galaxy.  It’s a very good, mature take, and how I wish something more like this (not exactly like this, it’s a different dynamic, but that depth and dimension) had manifested in the Anakin/Padme romantic tragedy.  I’d probably enjoy for more than “Across the Stars,” if that was the case. 

I enjoyed so thoroughly how Tala programmed her droid ‘to help.’  And he did, from the moment he didn’t give away her location to picking up Obi-Wan to his final moments with Tala.  Women and droids are lovely things -- just ask Leia Organa and Hera Syndulla.

~~

Good to see Haja again, but... I almost feel as if he was there just as “See!  He’s alive!!”  I didn’t find what he said or did particularly critical in the last two episodes; the role could have been filled by others.  That said, this might be a springboard for the character to appear later.  We’ll see. 

~~

Ewan McGregor has really taken seriously the transition from Episode III Obi Wan to Episode IV Ben Kenobi.  The character is constantly dynamic and in motion, physically and emotionally.  I do think the writing choices for this character were excellently done; he is a traumatized mess, so much to the point he cannot be the person he was trained to be from the age of 3 to the age of 38.  Now in his late 40s, he’s having to ‘grow beyond’ the events ten years prior in a span of about a week.  Obi-Wan does rise to the occasion -- as one should expect.

~~

Hayden Christensen.  I was impressed.  I understand the creative choice not to de-age him back down to 19 in the flashbacks.   I think it’s also a POV choice as to how Vader thinks of himself now, even as the external reality does not match.  Many other people have analyzed the obsession Vader has for Obi-Wan, that mad love. I’ll leave much of the discourse to them; I feel like I would be beating a dead horse over the words “All he’ll see is me” that are so excruciatingly accurate. 

And it is love.  It is the most intense love, so much that it can only be eclipsed by the hate it generates.  I have a more nuanced view of the Obi-Wan and Anakin dynamic that is grounded in how medieval apprenticeships/giving children unto churches worked, so I wouldn’t call it Obikin or a sex/romantic ship... but make no mistake, that love could light a thousand binary suns.

~~

I don’t know if I want season 2.  It’s one of those things where I feel it’s done.  I rather someone leave me wanting more and let my brain go to work in fan fic, rather than let something run a few seasons too long and destroy my interest. 

[medicallymercury]

Cry for Help (03/10/87)

Today has very much been a waiting for DS spoilers kind of day for me. Then they gave me very little of what I wanted to know, so now I wait for Tuesday.

Lately, these review posts have become me complaining about how Casualty has been, and I don’t wanna do that right now. So, instead, here’s a review of the most recent 80s Casualty episode I’ve watched! Because I think it will be funny to post that instead of nothing. For context, I’ve been watching an episode of old Casualty before bed if I have to go to uni in the morning, as a treat.

In this post, I will prove that I can write three paragraphs about series 2 paramedics just as well I can write three paragraphs about series 38 paramedics.

Sandra Mute is like my girlfriend who “goes to a different school”, you guys don’t know her but she’s the love of my life. Clearly, it’s something about paramedics. She’s so lovely and funny and good at her job and argumentative and great and amazing and her friendship with Susie and Duffy is sweet and and and… and she’s perfect. I consider it deeply tragic that she can’t time travel or be a ghost paramedic and join the current team. (Considering Mute’s history with Welsh paramedics who are too old for her, Ghost Mute would be to Jan what Thomas was to Alison in Ghosts.)

Cringe as it is, I quite genuinely ship her with Andy. Even though he’s played by Robert Pugh (so I keep thinking of Gethin), is a good bit older than her, it’s an affair, she could do better, and they’re hardly the most romantic about it. I love them together - honestly all the reasons they’re a mess are things I enjoy about them. Yeah, paramedic infidelity that I enjoy, in the current climate of the show. Anyway, this is their episode to me. “You, this ambulance, and that’s it. That’s my life.” should be the universal paramedic failromance line brought to us by the original paramedic failromance. When Andy keeps trying to start a conversation about their actual feelings/the fact that he loves her but she keeps steering him away from it and laughing it off because she knows she has to stop things with him if it goes that far </3 And I’m sorry but Casualty hasn’t had an banger line like “There have been times when you’ve been asleep in my bed and I’ve looked at you and I’ve hated myself.” for one of their explicitly canon romantic relationship in a while. Please Casualty, reintroduce the guilt and self-hatred element to your cheating storylines, it makes them a lot more interesting. Or any romance storyline, ‘I hate myself for loving you’ dynamics will always be beloved to me.

Which is all to say, I’m DEVASTATED that the most significant thing I can say about Sandra in retrospect is that she was the first main character to be killed off, and in a way I feel like she set a precedent with it. She was stabbed, by a patient, in the moving ambulance, on Andy’s birthday. I am very much heartbroken even though I knew it was coming. To be honest, I don’t entirely believe that she could pull the knife out as easily as she did but modern Casualty is unsettlingly realistically gory so I’ll take a secondary school play level stabbing. The part where Andy is with her in the ambulance? Miserable. The part where everyone in resus realises that she’s dead and the only sound is her flatlining? Miserable. Now I’m actually sad that Charlie is leaving purely because he’s the last existing character who would remember Mute and for reasons unknown there hasn’t been a shrine set up for her in the ambulance station. Her legacy lives on anytime a character dies on the job, traumatising their colleagues.

KUBA. I LOVE YOU. He’s usually very much comedic relief but he was a part of a very serious storyline in this one and he was great!!

I miss Baz too much to completely take to Mary yet but she does seem to be a very early prototype for the later Holbyverse ice queens, so that’s fun. I really, really do miss Baz though, I know she comes back eventually but she was my girl and I loved her little white coat outfits.

Mute may be Andy’s controversially younger girlfriend in a silly, she’s at least mid-20s it’s fine, way but Karen is Charlie’s controversially younger girlfriend in a canonically very bad, is she even 18 yet, way. Karen sweetie get behind me and away from that man.

On that note, Megan is the main person calling him out on it and I LOVE MEGAN. She’s like a mum to the nurses and I adore her. Telling Duffy she shouldn’t be going around with a lot of money in her purse… Love. Her. <3

Think Ewart is heading towards a romance with this morally questionable girlboss lady. Good for him. Love some old people romance, why else would I watch medical dramas?

Don’t have the heart to watch the next episode yet because I can’t accept that Mute, who I knew was going, is gone.

[rangerslayer-97]

Old Republic Era SWTOR OCs Play UNO

I don't own the following SWTOR OCs in the list below. My own SWTOR OC on Darth Malgus server is Violcrik - Jedi Knight Guardian (DS Tier V), the companion joining her is Lana Beniko.

@sirloozelite (Darth Malgus server):

Sixteenth Brother (Darth Imperius) - Sith Inquisitor Sorceror (LS Tier V)

Accompanying Companion: Ashara Zavros

@swgoji2001 (Star Forge):

Ellimara - Jedi Knight Sentinel (LS Tier V)

Accompanying Companion: Kira Carsen

Enjoy the chaos, I guess? XD

~~~~~

*Private Both, Alliance Cantina, Odessen, Wild Space*

Ellimara: I can't believe I'm playing against HER!

Violcrik: Wow, you can't even acknowledge me by name 😑

16th Bro: Can we please try to remain civil?

Lana: I have to agree with Imperius.

Ashara: I second that. Thank the Force, we have a Ysalamir in a cute little hanging basket! :D

Violcrik: Courtesy of my smuggler twin, Alexest. Found the creature on a planet called Myrkr.

Kira: At least precautions are made *places 4 Green* Your turn, Ashara.

Ashara: *places Block Green*

16th Bro: Really!? 😑

Anahra, Violcrik, Lana, Elli & Kira: 🤣

Violcrik: Sorry, Lana *places +2 Green*

Lana: Lucky for me, Commander, I got my own.

Violcrik, 16th Bro & Elli: Which Commander?

Lana: ... ... ... You're all impossible! Back to you Comman- *sighs* Ellimara 😑

Ellimara: Just call me, Elli 🙂 *looks at cards in hand* Wait... shit! I have to pick up 4!? 😢

Violcrik: Pick up 4, Ellimara 🤭

Ellimara: And who's the Jedi Master? 😝

Violcrik: *tries to Force Choke Elli* Karking Ysalamir! 😑

Elli: *picks up 4* 😂

Three rounds and some beers later

Violcrik: My Alliance is better!

16th Bro: I digress, Commander Violcrik and Sith in all but name, but mine is better. Besides, none of us chose to be Emperor or Empress. I'm a peacekeeper!

Ellimara: Woah! Spoiler alert! I ain't that far yet! Just survived the Battle of Odessen!

16th Bro: Why not?

Ellimara: I took some time out to Hoth to get a Tauntaun... ... ...

16th Bro: Your outside controller is very easily distracted with other things. Mine at least was focused. Switching odd time with a Togruta smuggler. *Looks to Violcrik* Meanwhile YOUR controller let you become a psycho and backstabbed your home faction! Everyone calls you Psychocrik!

Violcrik: OK, rude! Not my fault my controller steam rolled to Onslaught and now I have to kill Malgus. Again! That bastard who's more machine than man, can't stay dead!

16th Bro & Elli: SPOILERS!!!

Ashara: Anyways, 4th wall break aside, a Tauntaun? They are cute.

Kira: They are, unlike Darth Tauntaun Murderer! 😡

Violcrik: KIRA!!! 😢

Lana: Here, Elli. Take 4. Red 😂

Ellimara: Actually, here Kira *places +4* Let's make it blue.

Kira: *places another +4* Green

Ashara: *puts down a Draw 4* Yellow!

16th Bro: I find it improbable for this many Plus 4s in hand, but I can't complain 😏

Violcrik: Imperius... I swear to the Force, if you have another Draw 4, you won't walk out of this cantina alive! 🤬

16th Bro: *Takes out +4 card* 😆

Violcrik: Don't. You. Dare!

Lana, Elli, Kira & Ashara: DO IT!!! 😀

16th Bro: ... ... ...

Violcrik: ... ... ...

16th Bro: *places +4* Red. Pick up 20, Commander 🤣

Lana, Elli, Kira & Ashara: 🤣

Violcrik: *flips table in a rage & startles the sleeping Ysalamir* 🤬

Everyone else: 😶

Violcrik: I'm going hunting with Torian out of spite! 🤬

A sniper shot misses Violcrik's head by 2 centimetres. Violcrik flinches.

Violcrik: 😶

Ellimara's comlink blinks. The Jedi Master turns it on.

???? (comlink): That was a warning shot! Don't even think about it! I was crying in my Taunlet's fur for hours last time you did it!

Ellimara: Kasi!? Sis!? Where the kriff are you!?

Kasirax (comlink): In the vent. It's very easy to infiltrate this base. Now, do you want the next shot to be true, Outlander?

Violcrik, 16th Bro & Elli: Which Outlander?

Lana: Force help me *facepalm*

Ashara & Kira: 🤣

Kasirax (comlink): What the kriff!? 😶

[chaoticspacefam]

The Lana Shipping Meme!

This is a meme made by @swtor-legacy-sitcom​ who very kindly tagged me to fill it in, thank you! :D This was super fun, I’ve been in a bit of a writing rutt lately so this was a nice way to sort-of dip my toe back into it :P I TOTALLY forgot this was in my drafts and forgot to schedule it to post, I’m soooo sorry it took so long lmao 😳😬

I’m not sure if we’re supposed to tag other people with this one so I’ll just leave a general, open tag here: if you have a Lana ship and want to fill this one out, feel free to yoink the meme and say I tagged you! Yes, I promise I mean you <3

Spoilers for KOTFE/KOTET, and slight spoilers for the Subterfugeverse “version” of said events, will be discussed below, so be aware of that before proceeding! There’s also some midlly nsfw questions so you might wanna skip those if they’re not your thing! :D Under a cut because it’s long, but no trigger warnings need apply.

Is Lana Beniko absolutely done with their shit?

Oh yes, absolutely. Nearly always. At any given time, BUT Lana wouldn’t have it any other way. Saarai may be a reckless, overly-heroic idiot with seemingly no self-preservation, but she’s Lana’s reckless, overly-heroic idiot, ya know :’D

Do they make jokes together?

Fairly often, yes! Theirs is very much a flirty/fond banter type of relationship. Lana tells her she’s insufferable, Saarai rolls her eyes and snarks back, so on. See:

Saarai: Well this was a stupid idea Lana: Considering it was one of yours, I’m not surprised Saarai: Why didn’t you say something? Lana: I did and you did it anyway. And what have we learnt from this? Saarai, quietly: I’m a dumbass and I should listen to you more.... Lana: Good. I still love you, though. Saarai: :’D

Lana, two minutes later: You’re going to do it again, aren’t you? Saarai: Yeah, probably.

as well as that little cutscene “You’d better come back blah blah blah” “Well I have you to rescue me, that’s all I need~” is their default pre-dangerous battle banter :P

Who’s hornier? (who initiates)

Saarai is definitely hornier, and while she’s not always the one to initiate, she’s definitely the one to ask more often. (if I had to give it a number, prolly something like 65/45 lol) One of these days, Lana’s going to buy a spray bottle /jk

Kinkiest they’ve been?

Not awfully. Saarai’s a biter (Lana likes it, don’t worry 😏) and she loves it when Lana pulls her hair, but other than that, and making use of connections within the Force to heighten the sensations during such activities ;) they’re pretty vanilla

There was a post going around a while back about an alternative to a praise kink that was like, a “reassurance” kink, instead. I can’t find the actual post to link to it and I haven’t pinned down any specifics for them yet but I definitely think that’s a Saarai thing to look into later 😏

Has Lana ever covered up something your OC did as Minister of Intelligence?

In a roundabout way, yes. Technically, Saarai’s entire existence on Rishii. Since, teeechhnically, as far as the Empire’s concerned at that point, Rai’s supposed to be dead. Lana doesn’t know the technicalities of why that is (and Saarai isn’t comfortable telling her, even now), but she knows it’s important, so she does it for her even if she doesn’t know why.

Favorite non sexual downtime activity?

Cuddles! Saarai is a cuddlebug, and while Lana enjoys them she’s definitely not the “if I don’t get cuddled x times a day I can’t go on” type (in my headcanon, ofc, I’m not saying she can never be that way!) but, Saarai’s also very warm and cuddling her is cozy, so it’s something they both enjoy, whether Rai’s the big spoon, or - and this is Rai’s favourite thing ever - Saarai putting her head in Lana’s lap so Lana can play with her hair, it’s something they always do at the end of the day when they’re both done with work.

Mushiest thing Your OC has ever done for Lana?

So, I’m too impatient & lazy to do the actual HK missions in-game, but I know you can technically get another HK unit, so because ✨it’s my fanfic and I get to make the rules✨ Saarai sent Aria (my DS! Jedi Shadow, very good at stealth) back to Zakuul and though it was a bit battered up, she managed to retrieve HK’s processor. They had to get him a new chassis, but Koth and Ty managed to salvage the rest of his “important” bits and they rebuilt HK for her after they settled on Odessen :’3

Most Embarrassed Lana has ever been because of your OC?

In the middle of an important meeting, in front of everyone on the Alliance High Council, including Theron, Senya, Ni’kasi, Vano, etc.

Lana, sarcastically, after they’ve been disagreeing on how to handle a particular matter for ~1 hr: hahaha bite me.

Saarai, dead serious: Okay, where? 😏

Lana was mortified, to say the least XD

That thing that happened that they vow to NEVER speak of?

Saarai’s reaction when they went to Nathema. Rai’s psychometric, and in hindsight she realises putting her hand on that wall as she ducked into the building was a mistake. She was bombarded with flashback after flashback of what had happened on Nathema when it was still Medriaas, the planet where she was born and where most of her family died, it was not a pleasant experience for her and Rai actually collapsed at one stage because it was all too much for her ;w;

Lana had to bring her back around and herd her back on the ship, where Rai had to wait because she just couldn’t go any further, and Lana and Vano had to go on alone. Lana agreed not to tell anyone else about what had happened, because Saarai didn’t want any of them to worry about her, or think she was “weak” because of it.

The Angriest they’ve ever been at each other?

There’s actually two instances that come to mind for this one

1) Koth’s betrayal/stealing of the Gravestone, Lana was pissed at Koth and wanted to take it out on him, Saarai was pissed at the situation and got between them and chewed Lana out for taking it out on him. (Subterfugeverse is kinda complicated, there’s two Commanders calling the shots for different parts of the Alliance, Koth took issue with something Vano did and made the reckless, kinda stupid decision to still steal the Gravestone even tho Saarai didn’t do anything. (also for anyone new to the blog, all three of them are dating, they’re polyam ;)) Lana took it personally, Saarai was more upset that he was upset and didn’t say anything before he did something stupid. Rai and Lana butted heads about how to deal with it, Lana got salty cause she got yelled at, but they ofc fix it later :3)

2) Torian’s death. Saarai had tried to warn Lana what would happen if they split Vette & Torian up during that fight, Lana brushed it off and told Rai to “stop overreacting, it will be fine”. Obviously, it was not fine. Rai was very angry at the result because, I quote, “I WARNED YOU! And you wouldn’t listen to me!” Saarai refused to speak to Lana for a few days after that, it was kinda a rough time for Lana, she’s only seen Rai get that angry a few times, and only once at her so it shook her a bit. 😢

How does both Lana, and your OC initiate the ‘fade to black’ ;)

For Saarai, the “indicator” is usually when her kisses start to become 50/50 between kissing and biting/nibbling. That’s the universal “ok I want to” signal for Rai. Usually very quickly followed by a soft “yes?” or “are you sure?”, either against her skin or into her ear, depending on where she’s kissing at the time; because she’ll always check first, and if Lana says “no”, it’s off, because Lana’s consent is more important than any of her feelings.

For Lana, it’s when she’ll let Rai pick her up and/or usually to pin her to a wall. There’s a decent height difference, Saarai’s 6 ft 3, and I headcanon that while Lana’s not necessarily “short” at around 5 ft 8, she’s considerably smaller than Rai, as well as being more “reserved” with PDA, she’ll hold hands, or kiss her on the cheek etc. in front of other people, but otherwise Lana tries to keep somewhat “professional” while they’re at work. So when she starts climbing her like a tree, Rai knows she’s about to get some. XD

Do they have kids?

Kiiiinddd of? It’s complicated. Saarai has a son, Ty, from a previous relationship. Lana & Koth both sort of step up to help co-parent, but since Sith Purebloods age differently (i.e. they’re adults at ~20ish the same as humans, but after that they’re more like elves and their physical aging slows down, so they’re more long-lived), even though Ty’s very young by Pureblood standards, he’s still 60 years old, so he’s technically older than Lana and it’s kind of awkward for him to actually call her mom even if she kind of acts like one. He accidentally called her “mom” once, it was very awkward for both of them XD

What has been the most protective Lana has ever had of said kid?

I sat and scratched my head for ages trying to think of something to answer this question with, but I’m very sad to say that right now at the time of answering this meme, I don’t have any specific scenes planned out to tell you about! :( But rest assured that Lana absolutely would rush to help Ty if it was ever necessary :D

House pets? Is your Lana a dog person, or Cat person?

Funnily enough, they don’t actually have any pets! I’d like to think of Lana as more of a cat person than a dog person, in my personal opinion. But they have yet to get any pets of their own, maybeee later on, I dunno. Haven’t hit on any solid ideas for them yet, but I feel like if they happened upon a cute kitty they definitely could adopt one at some stage :’3

Do they get freaky on the Alliance Base or in the Shuttles?

They’ve done both, to be honest lol. Thankfully, Saarai’s sneaky enough that they haven’t gotten caught doing it, yet. Thank the Force.

Are their Sparring Matches Flirtatious? Hardcore?

They could go either way, it depends on what kind of mood they’re both in. If Lana’s particularly annoyed (usually not at Rai, but sometimes) then it’s more likely to be a hardcore spar, Rai’s a pretty tough cookie so she’ll often offer to be Lana’s punching bag in order to spare them some repair bills so she doesn’t rip apart the training dummies irrepairably, it’s okay, Rai can take it ;)

But if they’re both in an otherwise good mood and are just sparring for practise sakes, then yes, they often very quickly devolve into flirtacious banter and some of the classics, you know, “okay you win, you can let me go now” “mmm, nah” “I thought we were sparring” “do you want me to stop” “...don’t you dare.” etc. :’D

Class Specific things that play into their relationship?

Saarai’s a Juggernaut, and I headcanon Lana’s probably some sort of Sorcerer, so they tend to fight as such. They cover each other in more ways than one, if you want to get to Lana you have to go through Saarai first (and good luck to you, that woman can take and give a fucking beating lmao). Lana picks off whatever Saarai’s saber misses, usually with Force attacks but sometimes with her saber, too. Saarai takes bullets for Lana so Lana doesn’t have to get hurt. Lana yells at Rai for doing that and then fixes her up with Force healing afterwards, rinse and repeat. :’D

When they do argue, Lana tends to spontaneously manifest Force lightning, Saarai’s used to it and doesn’t bat an eyelid, she knows Lana’s not actually going to throw it at her and she’s more than prepared to dodge any stray bolts that do come her way.

Lana’s the tactician and the ground support, Saarai’s the battering ram/the bigass hammer used to clear space when Lana needs a bit of extra “oomph” (and trust me, they’re usually never far apart. The other one will be there and then you’ll be in trouble lmao)

Describe a time your OC went ‘Full beast mode’ to protect Lana, instead of the other way around?

"Kriff. Koth, what happened?” Three words was all it took, and everything made sense: “They hurt Lana.”

That scene in the Endless Swamps on Zakuul, just before they pull the Gravestone out of it and Lana and the Commander get ambushed. Saarai went with Lana & Koth to break Vano out of carbonite (since Saarai was still on Rishii at the time, she doesn’t get frozen, only Vano) so when they split up, Saarai goes with Koth to look for ship parts while Vano goes with Lana to look for water.

Lana and Vano get ambushed by the Knights/Skytroopers, and Lana’s hand gets busted. It takes Saarai and Koth a little while to rush over there to help them, but when they do

Saarai. Goes. Fucking. Feral. It’s the scariest she’s ever been in front of Lana and Lana will never forget it, they almost didn’t really need Senya’s help for that part, Saarai basically had it covered. I imagine Lana later described it as “kind of hot, but also kind of terrifying, actually”

Saarai’s considered Chaotic Good, so generally speaking if there’s a peaceful, non-violent solution to a problem, she’ll opt for that, but she has a few buttons that you just do not want to push, ever. And hurting her partners is one of those buttons. She will go apeshit and that’s exactly what happened in the swamp lmao

Little things couples do to annoy each other. What does Lana do? What does your OC do?

Saarai likes to wake up early and hide Lana’s kaf mug in increasingly ridiculous places. Once, she even got Koth to help her stick it to the top of the Gravestone’s hull. It took Lana half the morning to find it, Lana was not amused. XD

Saarai and Koth also have an ongoing “terrible puns” contest where they basically see who can annoy Lana with the most ridiculous puns possible, see this post for an example :P Lana wonders where/how they keep coming up with these puns, she really does.

Does Lana get jealous in your headcanon?

Not really! In Subterfugeverse, both Rai and Lana are polyam, so generally speaking, jealousy isn’t a problem for them, and when it is it’s more of a case of “hey. Hey. Hey, I’m not getting enough attention, pay attention to me.” and then it’s usually dealt with and all is well ;)

When Lana meets Anri, the only thing Saarai does is tease her about “when she’s going to make the move”. 😜

Story that is prominent in their relationship?

I was gonna draw a little doodle for this but the poses kept not coming out right so I gave up, sorryyy qAq

I haven’t gotten very far into planning the SoR onwards+ segments of Subterfugeverse, just bits and bobs like this, but I’d say for now the most prominent is probably their first meeting on Rishii. Basically, meet-cute but with a lightsaber involved too hahaha. There was a lot of posturing and flirty subtext right from the get-go with these two, even if Saarai was particularly suspicious at first (see the earlier question about her being technically dead to the Empire). At first, when she noticed Lana tailing Ty (because Lana was extremely confused about why a Pureblood was so far from Sith space ;)), Saarai assumed that something had happened to her twin and the Empire had A) found out she and Ty were still alive and B) Sent Lana to track them down and kill them for good. Several tension-loaded hours later and Lana managed to convince Rai that actually, Ni’kasi was fine and speaking of, she was trying to avoid being killed too so maybe, actually, they could help each other. And that was all she wrote <3

[johannesviii]

So I guess I’m hyperfixating on Death Stranding at the moment

And since I’ve finally finished the story after playing it for like 100 hours over the course of seven months or so I guess I have Opinions(tm) about things I didn’t like in the game

They’re eating at my brain so I’m gonna put them all in a single post to get them out of my system once and for all so I can enjoy the rest in peace

Spoilers, obviously

Hi welcome back to ‘Johannes is obsessing over yet another video game with horror elements in it’! I guess!!

Our latest entry in that category was Until Dawn but since UD can be played in like 6/7 hours and I spent 100 hours of my life on DS, as you can guess we’re talking about a full-blown hyperfixation, the kind that physically hurts because I can’t focus on anything else even after having finished the storyline

But it was super gradual. Again, seven months. I barely made any progress from December to May because I was only doing side-deliveries at the beginning of Chapter 3 instead of... you know... advancing the plot. It became an honest-to-god special interest about two months ago, then 6 days ago while playing chapter 10 it reached hyperfixation levels and now I am in PAIN

I hate my brain

Anyhow

At first I wanted to list the good and the bad hings in it but there’s too many good things to list them all in full, excruciatingly long details, so

Very Quick And Very Incomplete List Of Good Things That I Love

It’s a post-apo game based on travel, logistics, and good will, and it straight up goes AGAINST the whole ‘survival of the fittest’ trope that SO MANY post-apo things try to push!! YES

I insist but it’s built on helping each other and keeping everyone alive, seriously that is my shit right there!

The online community is wholesome?? People leave stuff everywhere, you never see anyone but people put little helpful signs and send you likes, and in my game we almost managed to repair all the roads together

There’s so many new & strange allergies and disabilities and phobias in this post-apo world and? nobody is trying to ““fix”“ anyone?? Like Heartman with his padded floor and his little box that brings him back to life constantly. He’s just... living like that. Nobody’s going “hey maybe you should get another heart operation buddy”

The hero and his phobia of being touched. I. Loved. That. The quiet scenes when he was just talking with Fragile, sitting next to her. In any other context this would just be two people sitting next to each other and talking but it always feels so soft and intimate everytime he allows another human being to just. be next to him. I love it. I love them

Everyone crying constantly because of chiral allergy!!

I loved all the important characters bar one (Bridget/Amelie)!

Why is this walking simulator so enjoyable why am I enjoying the fact that holding L2 + R2 while walking feels like holding your backpack and that you have to relax at times just like you’d have to if you were actually holding a backpack

Seriously. Why

The atmosphere was so great, the music was fantastic and the visuals were on point. A E S T H E T I C

The ghosts!! The giant Beached Things!!! Chiral crystals look! like! creepy hands reaching for the SKY!!

THE RAIN DESTROYS THINGS AND KILLS PEOPLE BY ACCELERATING TIME THIS IS SO COOL SHUT UP

Everytime the game got surreal it was electrifying

THE SURREAL WAR SCENES ON CLIFF’S BEACH

Everyone is using emojis

There’s guys addicted to delivering packages in that game and they’re trying to steal our stuff and we’re like “haha they’re dumb” but we’re basically addicted to delivering packages as the player. So yeah that was pretty fun

Terrorists thinking humanity isn’t going extinct fast enough and wanting to just rip the bandaid and speed things up. Simple but effective concept

People ask for SUPER VITAL ITEMS right next to completely trivial stuff and I’m LIVING for it. “Please fetch my toy dinosaur”. I feel you dude

The most isolated characters are like "LET ME TELL YOU ABOUT THIS THING I LIKE" in your emails because they haven't had contact with other humans in years, it's super relatable

There’s a farm where people use the fact that Timefall rain accelerates time to grow food super quickly in one (1) Timefall and harvest everything just before it starts to die and I LOVE that detail of worldbuilding so much

YOU’RE FIGHTING BEACHED THINGS WITH YOUR OWN BODILY FLUIDS IT’S SO STUPID BUT ALSO SO COOL?? I love yeet-ing my own blood at eldritch entities

THE T W I S T S

All the fanservice (bar one detail that I’m gonna complain about later) is on dudes. This game reeeeeeally likes to show dudes naked or somewhat naked. Mostly the main character but this mocap also L O V E S Mads Mikkelsen and there’s a shit ton of homoerotic shots in there

I love Sam the antisocial papa wolf delivery man and if someone touches him or his baby again, I will cry

LOU. LOU LOU LOU PRECIOUS BABY I’D DIE FOR YOU. Wait I did

I love Fragile and how brave she is and how she keeps helping people even if most of them wrongly think she’s a terrorist and yes I will eat this cryptobiote thank you

I love soft science boi Heartman who keeps dying again and again and is a bit too much interested in bodily fluids

I love garbage man Higgs and how complex, funny and still somewhat tragic this memelord actually turned out to be in the end

Seriously I want to stop fixating on this character but you can’t give me YET ANOTHER character who wants to die but at the hands of someone else, that is unfair to do that right after my fixation on the new Doctor Who Master

So yeah Higgs is yet another character who makes me want to grab him by the lapels and shake him and yell WHY! ARE! YOU! LIKE! THIS! STOP! BEING! LIKE! THIS!!

Cliff broke all three of my feelings beautifully and in excruciatingly well-acted scenes that transcended the sometimes lackluster dialogue

John made me cry during That Scene

Mama your background was tragic and terrifying and you didn’t deserve any of this shit and I love you

Deadman was more funny than anything, really, but I still liked him even if he had no sense of personal space whatsoever and it clashed horribly with Sam’s phobias

The ending had some sad parts but was mostly positive, thank goodness

Now I’m gonna explain things I dislike and this looks long but it’s actually only 5 main things so I bolded them to avoid confusion

Things I really disliked (and could have been handled wayyyy better)

We all know it but Kojima isn’t a master of subtlety and some parts of the dialogue kept repeating the same informations again and again AND AGAIN and I was like “ok ok I get it”

The dialogue can be so bad at times seriously

Kojima is a bad writer there I said it

It was particularly annoying with Amelie/Bridget and the fact she’s a horrible person trying (and failing) to justify her actions wasn’t helping

Bridges protocols are incredibly intrusive. All of them. I know it’s framed as bad and Sam hates being spied on all the time and in the end he destroys the device that does that, but I wish someone else would openly criticise it in-game

I guess Deadman sort of did but still

Also I know the whole BB technology was Bridget’s idea, and since she’s the actual villain it’s framed as a twisted, evil thing during the ending, but I wish that had been framed like that much earlier ; a lot of Bridges employees just... seem to accept the idea that their employer is using premature babies and their dead mothers as useful, if disturbing, devices. They seem to justify it by “uh we stole that technology from terrorists” to try to cope with the idea but... yeah.

I mean, one of the points being made very early on is that Sam sees his BB as his child who must be protected at all costs instead of a detection device, but I really wish he wasn’t the only one to object to that thing

Again, the game DOES frame "using babies and their dead mothers as tools” as evil and twisted, I just wish it was given a lot more weight and way sooner

Now let’s talk about the Token Straight(tm) in this game

In any other kind of context it would be a joke! But Death Stranding literally has a Token Straight Guy!

I mean, there IS a few hetero couples among the Preppers. Not a lot, mind you. Like, there’s the Montaineer and his wife for instance. But they’re just there and it’s not what their side plot is about

No I’m talking about this piece of shit right there

This f█cking Junk Dealer guy complains the girl he loves is dead because of Bridges and emotionally blackmails us by sending us old holograms of her before her supposed death (somewhat disturbing holograms too because she looks... pretty young in them), then he sends us on what’s essentially a suicide mission in a BT infested zone, THEN when we give him proof she’s still alive and living in another bunker nearby, he won’t go there himself to check??

But SHE’s like “ok, bring me to him, then!”

He doesn’t deserve you, girl

I’ve already seen several people pointing out that carrying a woman as cargo on your back is... debatable at best and sexist at worst, but that part didn’t really bother me to be honest? She asked to be carried to him and it’s her choice. She was talking to us the entire way too, so that made things a lot less awkward. Also Sam has this phobia of being touched by other people so I bet carrying another human being on his back isn’t fun for him. It was also super stressful to do, to be honest.

And then there’s this EXTREMELY AWKWARD scene when they’re reunited and decide to get married, and thankfully Sam finds it just as awkward as we do because he’s standing super far away from the bunker in a “can’t they talk about this later - I’m right there” way. And I’m under the impression it was intended as cringy, in a “yeppp young people in love are Like That” sort of way, so I can accept that, to be honest. If you don’t take that scene seriously, it’s pretty fun in, again, a cringy sort of way

BUT

Then you receive more emails later and this piece of shit guy complains about her and he’s like “ugh WOMEN” or “marriage is the worst” and they end up divorced in record time and she goes back to her bunker

Which isn’t my problem with this subplot either, I promise I’m gonna explain myself eventually but this context is important. It’s okay to have characters who are pieces of shit like this guy who reeks of incel cologne. It’s alright. Not every character has to be a role-model. It’s good to have characters you can hate.

BUT THEN they get back together later to try to patch things up and you learn he was part of a gang who murdered her parents even though he protected her against the rest of the gang and that’s what I hated about that storyline. I guess if you squint it can be read as “this woman is making REALLY BAD life choices” but I read it as “he saved her so she owes him something, he can’t be entirely bad” and y i k e s this left such a bad taste in my mouth, good lord.

But yeah miss Chiral Artist you’re making really bad life choices please get away from this dude as soon as you can, thank you

Also don’t do this ‘sending Likes’ pose ever again, it was hilarious but also you made me use the word “cringy” several times in this paragraph even though I absolutely hate cringe culture, look what you made me do

Now I have to talk about a scene that was intentionally disturbing as hell but ONE (1) detail in it was disturbing for the wrong reasons

To be honest, I really don’t like the Metal Gear Solid games and one of the reasons is the rampant sexism in them so I... was kind of bracing myself for Death Stranding and expecting it to have at least SOME really bad fanservice with a woman at one point or another but to my surprise?? There was none? All the fanservice is on dudes??? Hello? I really liked that (well at some point Fragile takes a shower in our room but we see literally nothing except her shoulder and then Sam looks away)?? What a refreshing change

THAT BEING SAID

And if you played the game you know exactly what I’m about to talk about

Yep this is the part where Johannes complains about how the bomb flashback was shot

Ok so I guess I should also give some context in case someone is reading this but hasn’t played the game, but the deal with this scene is that our friend Fragile was betrayed by her colleague Higgs who used to be a porter but became a terrorist after meeting the “main“ villain of the game. First he secretly put a thermonuclear bomb in one of her deliveries so she’d nuke an entire city without even knowing it, and everyone after that thought she was a terrorist. And then he tried to do that shit A SECOND TIME, but she noticed and decided to toss the second nuke into a bottomless lake of tar. But he caught her just before she reached the lake and he decided to give her a sadistic choice, which was “teleport away and the bomb stays there and nukes the city, or carry it to the lake but only in your underwear under this rain that speeds up time and it will do enormous damage to your health and your body”

And of course being the hero she is, she decides to take the second option

And it’s an incredibly disturbing scene and it’s genuinely hard to watch

But it’s also the ONLY time a woman is in her underwear in this entire game and there’s A COUPLE of shots that were male-gaze-y at the beginning before she started to run and the really horrific part started.

So in a way I guess it could have been worse? way worse, even

But it still tarnishes an otherwise disturbing (and harrowing at times ; seriously I know I’m oversensitive but it was physically painful to watch) scene with unnecessary shots

We know Fragile had a young body before this happened, this isn’t the point of this scene, guys

Whoever decided to keep these shots (probably Kojima let’s face it), that is bad and you should feel bad

Idk how to do a visual transition for that next one because I do not want to screen that memo

So here’s a screenshot with a nice landscape instead

tw: acephobia

Now I have to talk about something I like the GENERAL IDEA of, but not how the IN-GAME MATERIAL ABOUT IT was written

Because I have to talk about that “asexual world” memo

First I have to say that I absolutely love the fact that a mainstream game openly says in-game “this future is full of asexual people" and?? it’s just that, it’s a part of this world. That’s just how things are. It’s normalised. I love it. For crying out loud this memo has the word demisexual in it. I can’t think of any other mainstream game that had this word in it so far.

It should have stopped there and let me enjoy that in peace but it didn’t

THE MEMO ITSELF WAS CLEARLY WRITTEN BY SOMEONE WHO DOESN’T KNOW HOW TO HANDLE THESE CONCEPTS and there’s some really bad stuff there. I’d say it’s accidental acephobia but it’s still there. I’m not the best person to talk about this because I’m bi, but it still rubbed me the wrong way

The words this memo uses near the beginning are “"sexless lifestyle” among young people” and yikes, my dude. “Lifestyle”, uh? Really?

And then it goes on about how these new labels were already more and more common “among young people before the Death Stranding” and it also rubs me the wrong way, in a “wow young people and their weird labels lol” sort of queerphobic way?

However I’ve seen a post pointing out that the line “One theory posits that the Stranding accelerated the proliferation of these sexualities” was maybe a way of saying ‘yo asexuals are causing the end of the world’ but... I don’t see it, tbh? In the context of the game, society is extremely divided and a lot of people live in complete isolation and social norms have heavily shifted and it’s kind of normal that there’s queer people visible everywhere now, aces included obviously, because nobody’s bothering to hide it anymore. It’s a post-apocalyptic world! People are just being themselves! A lot of characters also seem to be bi/pan! They’re just vibing ok

At least that’s how I read that part, I can understand if someone had a problem with that bit but I didn’t

BUT! THAT’S NOT ALL because the memo concludes (I’m paraphrasing) “the birth rate has dropped, which might be a problem, but harassment and assault have also dropped, which is good, so idk it’s 50/50″ and. like. I get the intention. But it’s clumsy as hell and very bad. Please don’t confuse abuse of power and attraction. They don’t go hand in hand. Don’t do that. Please. And you know that aces can have kids if they want to, right. Come on. It’s 2020 my dude. This shit is harmful

Also. Like. It’s the end of the world in this game. People don’t want kids. It... has nothing to do with aces. Reality itself is crashing down. People are reluctant to have kids because reality.exe might f█cking crash down at any given moment!

Or a Beached Thing could VoidOut their city!

Or someone might send them a nuke, not naming names!!

Anyway!!!

It’s really badly written and whoever wrote it should educate themselves and maybe get an ace to re-read their stuff next time??

Again I’m not the right person to talk about acephobia and I bet an actual ace would have plenty more to say about this

Thankfully it’s a memo written in-game by a random Bridges councellor and NOT by any important character that we actually know

"I must preempt myself by admitting that I do not have any empirical data" yeah so, f█ck off maybe

So I’m just gonna call that guy “another piece of shit character” but it still doesn’t excuse the fact that the memo was written by someone who thought it was a good idea to put it in the game

Just let me enjoy my super queer post-apo world in peace and don’t write shit like that in your game thank you and goodbye

Minor stuff I also disliked but it wasn’t as awful

I get that Sam is upset at the end because Lou is dying but the way he said goodbye to Fragile broke my heart. It was abrupt and you KNOW he’s upset and wants to have nothing to do with Bridges anymore and that’s very understandable but it isn’t her fault

Seriously I want them to be friends again

I’m gonna pretend they’re friends again after Lou is saved and that Sam is a freelance porter again and sometimes their paths cross and they just talk together in the middle of nowhere and share cryptobiotes

The pacing is weird, there’s this deluge of plot in the beginning and the end but not much in the middle?

The BT boss fights could have been these epic Shadow of the Colossus showdowns but no, they were relatively standard boss fights. Wasted opportunity

The running on the Beach scene sdfghjhgfdsdfghjhgf that was... dumb

A lot of preppers are interesting in one way or another but some are just boring. Also I wish the design of their bunkers was more varied

Amelie/Bridget’s motivations are all over the place, both creating Bridges AND the Demens is... a lot? I know she both WANTS and DOESN’T want the actual, final end of the world to happen but that is a lot to take in and it’s all very confusing

Who the hell cares about ‘rebuilding America’ I just want to build a network where people can help each other

The ‘likes’ are fun but don’t make much sense

In conclusion

Death Stranding Good

Some stuff Bad

Some stuff Very Bad (but it’s just one memo out of 100+ memos, thank god)

I’m still hyperfixating

Send help

[aion-rsa]

The Simpsons Season 32 Episode 12 Review: Diary Queen

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This The Simpsons review contains spoilers.

The Simpsons Season 32 Episode 12

The Simpsons Season 32, episode 12, “Diary Queen,” may be the sweetest offering of the series. It’s not only sentimental and self-esteem-positive, it’s downright edumacational. At least for Bart, who certainly learns a lesson. Thankfully, as the episode explains by example, he probably won’t retain it.

“What’s the matter, Bart? I figure you’d be used to failing by now,” Edna Krabappel once consoled the spiky haired kid who seemed so determined to get through school without schooling. Marcia Wallace, who played the Springfield Elementary teacher, died unexpectedly in October 2013. Edna’s death was first acknowledged in “Four Regrettings and a Funeral,” from season 25, when Bart wrote “We’ll really miss you Mrs. K” on the chalkboard. He only wrote it once. Her death was punishment enough. Both the character and the voice actor were instrumental in the chemistry of The Simpsons, and chemistry happens to be one of the few things Bart’s ever excelled at in school, even pranking a talent show in the “Haw-Haw Land” episode. But he gets his beakers crossed in the latest installment.

“Diary Queen” opens with an inspired West Side Story song parody, “Too Nice” replacing “Tonight.”  It’s time for Ned Flanders’s annual yard sale, and he’s on a holy mission to undersell eBay. Comic Book Guy is looking for a broom to play Quidditch on, Waylen Smithers is going to score some kitsch, and Ned will finally toss those fuzzy dice Maude bought him to the bottom of an impulse item box of jokes he did not get. The Flanders family are parting with their humble possession in a public bid for humility, in case no one notices. Ned gives up Rod’s teeth. Todd consigns his toys to the auction block on the grass. “Playing is a sin that we regret,” one of the Flanders kids explains.

Ned’s bizarre outdoor bazaar is the only segment which has any meanness in it. The Springfieldians want to take advantage of Ned, and openly mock him. Carl and Lenny turn the yard sale into a yarn brawl, and Jimbo’s gang buys commemorative plates just to smash them. It’s enough to send Ned looking for the fans he always carries around in case of stress-induced hot flashes. As Patty and Selma are flicking ashes into Rod and Tod’s baby shoes, it seems Nelson, Bart, and Millhouse are the only ones worthy to buy Ned’s treasured mementos. And, of those, only Nelson’s purchase is authentic. He buys all the bad words, like “adultery” and “fornication,” which Ned cut out of his old religious texts. Nelson has a genuine use for them, you can just tell.

Bart and Millhouse buy the books. Even without the offending admonishments, they swear they’ll still find useful ways to better themselves. Their haul winds up being the fiery centerpiece for a supercool skateboarding feat which no one will ever see. It’s an old joke, but we do get to notice how big Millhouse’s nose looks when he’s picking it. One book, which gives the title to the episode, is spared the conflagration of Bart’s daredevil jump: Edna Krabappel’s diary. Bart recognizes the Ds and Fs, and Millhouse recognizes the smell of Parliament Lights 100s. It’s very telling how these are the most recognizable clues. They are each ready-made character punchlines.

The diary is a font of information. Bart and Millhouse learn all the teachers work night jobs during school hours, and the many lonely secrets of Groundskeeper Willie. But their first use of it is inspired gaggery. Bart learns Superintendent Chalmers keeps his car keys behind the visor. The two kids not only steal the car but take advantage of a free yogurt offer at a car wash. The idea that taking the yogurt and ditching the car is a “perfect crime” is great kids’ logic. It is a little odd, however, that Springfield’s Chief Wiggum sees fourth grade car thieves as inspiration for a little personal time with Officer Lou, but it works within Simpsons logic.

The central point of the episode is Bart’s relationship with his dead teacher, and his relationship with himself. He actually believes someone he thought only saw him as troublesome also considered him “smart as a whip.” It leads him to believe he actually has potential, which he translates to: all the time he was showing his butt he was showing promise. This spurs him into thinking about getting seriously educated. Not only does he try but he succeeds on his first dry run, resisting the urge to draw a skeleton head on a multiple-choice test grid, and getting an A. Not only does he finally understand how his sister Lisa doesn’t suck, but he puts himself on the same level.

Lisa goes through all the stages of jealousy, and even realizes she’s on the verge of obsession when even her imaginary comfort pony begins to look like Bart. This makes it worse, because realizing he is the only thing she can think about only makes her dwell on it. Lisa is usually the family genius, and how she reacts to Bart doing well really depends on the circumstance and need for story conflict. For instance, when Bart had to apply geometry to miniature golf in an early episode, Lisa brought a Zenlike understanding of all things which putt. Lisa does Bart a disservice tonight in the guise of doing the right thing. It’s her MO.

Of course, Marge and Lisa don’t trust Bart’s recent good grades, but while he comes up clean to Marge, Lisa digs up the dirt. Bart correlates “cruel” with “lying” because “they’re both great.” He thinks he’s going to win a Spelling Bee just because he has the potential to do it. Would it have been less cruel for Lisa to let him see how far his belief would get him? She’s set him up for worse humiliations just for an edge at science fairs.

Millhouse gets a few good gags tonight. When Lisa starts developing a rash because of the stress of not crushing her brother’s potential, he pulls cream out of his fanny pack labeled “rash stash.” Groundskeeper Willie is a highlight of the episode. His character has one of the most interesting takes on passive aggressive behavior in comedy. It’s not that he gets it backwards, so much as he pays it forward: Terrorizing Bart with the idea of simmering a new pet into rabbit stew when all he’s thinking of is how much bunnies love stewed carrots.

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By Tony Sokol

Subtle social commentary makes its way into the episode. As this is the first episode since the Trump presidency, it opens with a Bald Eagle flying a sign asking “Is it safe yet?” We learn Ned doesn’t find Bill Maher funny. A priest tells Bart and Millhouse reading someone else’s diary in church is not the worst thing you can do within the hallowed walls. Moments later we see the priest handcuffed and escorted past the pews by the police. We can only wonder what offenses are happening at Reverend Lovejoy’s competition.

Fat Tony (Tony Montagna) tells his henchmen his crime family doesn’t kill children, “We wait till they’re 18.” Lisa is kept up at night by the cold dead eyes of Mike Pence. Subtle subversive commentary can be found when Principal Skinner declares the drug-free portion of the school assembly a success because Lisa, the only one in the auditorium, tells him she doesn’t do drugs. But the scene comes shortly after we learn Dr. Hibbert is pushing kiddie-Xanax “sleepies” and “dopies” on her. The best bad side effects are “Portuguese insolence” and the “tendency to see yourself as others see you.”

The episode has quite a few sight gags which work well. The sign outside the Spelling Bee contest reads H-E-A-R, and we see one of the losing contestants ripping up a dictionary on the way to the exit. When Ned starts to preachify in the treehouse, he only stops because Bart is drawing back a trigger finger on his slingshot. Mrs. Krabappel’s beloved cat not only was not harmed during the making of the episode, but was a willing participant, according to the closing disclaimer. One of the stills in the photo montage is of Krabappel watching The Bob Newhart Show, which Marcia Wallace was a regular on.

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For the majority of The Simpsons’ run, Mrs. Krabappel was a sexually independent woman who was often “looking for a substitute to teach me a lesson I sorely need.” She began dating widower Ned in “The Ned-Liest Catch” from season 22. They married in secret and stayed together until her death in “The Man Who Grew Too Much.” The cause of Edna’s death has never been revealed, except in a non-canon, future-set episode. For this installment, Wallace’s two lines are taken from earlier episodes. “Diary Queen” will be her last appearance.

This is a different kind of arc for The Simpsons. “Diary Queen” is on an uplifting trajectory until Lisa knocks it off course, and ends in a sudden life-affirming crash. Bart’s final warning to Marge, “I’ll go over the edge if you try to make me feel better,” is wonderfully skewered, but the final twist is a dose of treacle. The episode was originally slated to premiere on Valentine’s Day, and is a sweet sendoff.

The post The Simpsons Season 32 Episode 12 Review: Diary Queen appeared first on Den of Geek.

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[the-unconquered-queen]

I forgot about Queen B on Friday but Witness ends on September 14 according to what I have read. The Unexpected Heiress is a VIP book, will you be subscribing? Also The Royal Heir Book 3 is supposed to be out soon.

Since Queen B’s just starting out, it’ll go on for a while, keeping the Fridays slot from obsolescence even after DS ends and leaving us with three books just for next week before the loves book brings it back up to four.

I calculated the Witness finale a while back and yep, that’s it, provided it doesn’t go on hiatus or at some point release more than 1 chapter per day like Bloodbound did for its finale. (I’m tagging this as “playchoices spoilers” just in case anyone wants to avoid knowing the chapter count, but a) people are spreading it around anyway and b) I’m pretty sure I’m like the one person who filters that tag.) So we know it’s gonna go on for ages and still be around when OH comes back, assuming it’s still set for August. Guess we’ll learn about the unknown mystery book eventually, but I imagine it’ll be out around autumn, maybe? I dunno, probably by the time some of the upcoming books will still be ongoing and potentially before some of the current ones (by which I suppose I just mean QB) end.

And hell to the no on the vip. I’m not dropping actual cash on this app (I don’t mean it as shade to anyone who does), especially as the Heiress book doesn’t seem that interesting to me, since I’m not a fan of historical books for the most part. The only appealing thing to me about the vip thing would be playing WEH and even if I were someone who spends money on an app, one book wouldn’t justify purchasing the full package. They’re already getting ad revenue from the ads for diamonds system out of me so that’s as much as I’m willing to do.

Omg seriously, up until you mentioned it just now, I completely forgot about TRH 3, wow. Can’t wait for a drawn out plot of MC and her spouse acting like pushovers letting everyone walk all over them while they tour and kiss ass so the nobles couch for their ability to raise their own child! I don’t even remember when it was supposed to come out, but yeah, I think it was soonish? Maybe five books releasing at a single time? Six with OH? Although I think TNA could be over by the time OH is back, so idk…

[gfesgersgersg]

My Thoughts About Spectrobes: Beyond the Portals

I recently revisited a game from my childhood: Spectrobes: Beyond the Portals. I never finished this game when I was younger, because I found it too scary to progress. As strange as it seems, this game’s first hour started my interest in science fiction, and I still enjoy the genre in books and games today, despite never finishing the game.

I played up to what I’d call the start of the end of the first act of the game, getting up to the Corona vortex on the planet Genshi. This is probably a super biased article, as I think about this game a lot. It reviewed poorly with critics and I think this was probably justified. It is also worth mentioning that I did not play the first Spectrobes game.

If you intend on playing this game, spoilers are ahead. The short version is that I enjoy the characters, but the last parts of the game are far weaker than the start. The gameplay is largely uninteresting, and the game isn’t really something I would recommend anyone play.

The Good

The music in this game is fantastic. The game always has some music playing, no matter what’s going on. Among my favourites are the character-specific tracks that play during dialogue, and the track that plays when you solve a puzzle. The music goes a long way toward selling the game’s environments, too. The music on the populated planets in the Nanairo system largely sounds upbeat, and reflects the planet you are on. This contrasts with the music on the planets that are “beyond the portals”, which sound quite alien. The music on Hyoga is calm and slow, fitting with a cold, lifeless planet. The music on Fons is calm but more sombre, and is very foreboding, fitting with the point in the story it is encountered. The music on Darkmos and Nox both fit with the artificial themes of these planets and are opposites somewhat to Fons and Hyoga.

Some good tracks would be: Ready For Action!, Hyoga, Darkmos and Fons.

The environments in this game are pretty impressive for the Nintendo DS. A lot of the backgrounds are 2D, which shows, especially in the city on Nessa, and on Fons. However, they look great in my opinion. Most impressive are the safe areas, such as Kollin and Colony. These environments really sell the Nanairo system as a real place.

The characters in this game are excellently written. By no means is the story a masterpiece, but the game’s characters entirely carry its story. Rallen and Jeena make a great duo, with entertaining banter. They reference each others’ quirks and joke around with each other. The supporting characters are good too. Commander Grant is very serious but clearly likes Rallen and Jeena. Cyrus and Webster are characters Rallen has history with, making for some funny moments and a nice “redemption” for Webster. Hank and Professor Kate are nice, and again, their friendship feels realistic in the sense that they act like they have known each other for a long time. While they’re not particularly deep, the High Krawl are good villains. They’re imposing throughout the story, and the mystery of their campaign against the Towers of Nanairo is intriguing. Maja is the main villain throughout, and she seems equally aloof and desperate in her attempts to get Rallen to side with her. Strictly from a characterisation perspective, she provides a good view into the internal conflicts between the High Krawl. Jado is a (probably intentionally) forgettable character in the early parts of the game.

The Bad

The excavation system is an interesting take on obtaining collectable monsters. This game’s status as a Pokemon clone is a largely inconsequential part of the experience to me. In Spectrobes, I didn’t feel any attachment to my spectrobes by the end of the game, simply using them as tools to get to the end. Partially, this could be because of Rallen not being a blank slate character. They’re more his spectrobes than mine. There is also the issue of the monsters themselves not really being unique. They’re nice designs, and unique to the game for sure, but my spectrobes ended up all looking the same. They’re not that unique from each other mechanically either, with the only differentiations being the typing and the evolution status. The child spectrobes are a good feature, however. Child spectrobes take on the role of searching for fossils, and don’t just sit in your storage waiting to be evolved.

The game’s characters are good, as discussed earlier, but its broader plot isn’t. It revolves around creatures known as Krawl, which feed by eating entire star systems. They’ve done this many times and are now focusing their efforts on the Nanairo system. This is OK, not particularly deep, but I see no issue with this. Beyond the Portals introduces new characters, High Krawl, who are capable of communicating with the humans living in Nanairo. Maja, at least, sees Rallen as an equal by the end of her involvement in the story, but continues to gloat about the inevitable complete genocide of Rallen’s home star system. The others are a bit more aloof, positioning themselves above the humans living in Nanairo. This is all a little far-fetched, but still OK. The High Krawl are seeking to destroy structures on each planet just called Towers. This allows them to open a new portal each time, into another star system. From these portals, Krawl will emerge from their current home on planets they have already consumed.

The first of the High Krawl to appear in the story is Jado, who is shown as being aloof but hapless. When defeated, he simply appears to die. This is a ruse on his part, and he is actually one of the most important characters to the story. Problem is, he barely appears. On Malik, at the very end of the game, he reveals that he has been hiding inside your patrol cruiser for the entire game. This is a bit of a head-scratcher. At this point, you fight him again and he admits defeat. Thus, he appears twice, but seems to warrant more of a presence. Next up is Gelberus, on Nessa. He is pretty inconsequential. He destroys the tower, opens the first portal, and you defeat him on Hyoga. After this is when Maja becomes the antagonist in earnest. She appears after both Jado and Gelberus’ defeats, gloating about how these events make her more powerful. She introduces the concept of Dark Spectrobes, and is first fought in an unbeatable fight on Daichi. After this, you go on a wild goose chase through Fons and Darkmos before beating her on Nox. Maja is more powerful than Rallen, but wants or needs his power for something. Beyond destroying or ruling the universe, this is not specified. Still, it is a good enough reason for her to not just kill Rallen. After Maja is defeated, Rallen and Jeena recover the Dynalium, which is a weapon that can penetrate a planetary shield of some kind. After some fetch quests to make a large Dynalium, an assault is carried out on Malik, where Krux resides. Krux reveals that he is a Spectrobe Master like Rallen, but uses the Krawl for their numbers. The implications of this aren’t discussed in-game. Rallen defeats Krux in hand-to-hand combat and the game ends. None of this plot is particularly interesting at any point. The best part is Maja’s story arc, which seems to build up to a twist that doesn’t happen. The High Krawl are treacherous toward one another in a way that isn’t really used for anything interesting. Internal conflicts within the High Krawl could be a good way to introduce some uneasy alliances between the NPP and certain High Krawl. I don’t expect the plot of this game to be filled with complex intrigue, but its perfectly good characters have wasted potential.

The game has some nasty difficulty spikes around Fons, halfway through the game. It’s mentioned that Rallen should evolve his spectrobes after Fons is cleared, but the Krawl on the planet are much higher level than yours at this point. Up to this point, the game is balanced well, providing good balance with no need to grind. The battling in general leaves a lot to be desired. The type matchups are obvious and shallow, and the systems leave little room for strategising. The real time battling system seems cool at first, but ends up being a matter of running up to an opponent and mashing the A button. The camera in this mode is awful and frequently leaves you facing nothing at all. As such, battling in this game feels like a chore needed to progress, rather than a fun challenge.

The level design isn’t fantastic either. While many environments are visually impressive, they’re often too big, with very little in them. There isn’t anything to find other than randomly dispersed fossils and minerals. Especially later in the game, the constant backtracking through these big, empty areas feels like an attempt to pad for time. This is exemplified by the final planet, Malik. You’re asked to traverse the exact same room around 10, maybe more, times by going through the portal that is spinning to the left in each. This is not fun to play. A lot of the game’s tasks feel like busy work rather than actual gameplay. This should not be an issue. The game has more than enough content to justify itself, without this bad filler. My other issue with the levels is that the Krawl respawn continuously. This creates a feeling that you’re not actually helping these planets. At least, the populated Nanairo planets should be clear of Krawl if you remove them.

Conclusion

To conclude, Spectrobes: Beyond the Portals is not a particularly good game. It is a mediocre Pokemon clone in gameplay terms, and in plot terms has wasted potential. The game has excellent characters and music and a well realised world. It falls short probably due to attempting to ride the Pokemon train, rather than trying to be more unique. The game’s plot doesn’t really fit an RPG formula at all. This game is just one of many obscure Nintendo DS games, and I don’t even really like it, but it will hold a place in my heart forever. I suppose something to draw from this could be that no matter how mediocre a piece of media, it can still have an impact on someone, somewhere.

[artikgato]

2011 in review: Pokemon Black and White

Although these games came out on September 18, 2010 (and I did get a Japanese copy of White and play it on my not region-locked DS lite), they didn’t come out in the US until March 6th, 2011, so I’m counting them as my game of the year for 2011.

My experience with Black and White was very special. Like many people my age, I was obsessed with Pokemon from 1999 to 2001 when Red/Blue and Gold/Silver were coming out here in the west. I was in high school when Gold/Silver came out, and after that the fervor kind of died down. I was aware of Ruby/Sapphire when they came out, but didn’t have the means to buy a GBA at the time, and the same was true for Diamond/Pearl and the DS. A mystery gift-giver and HGSS got me back into Pokemon, but it was Black and White that really got me back into Pokemon. It was the first new generation since Gold/Silver that I got to be on the hype train for. It was the first one I was on the internet during and let me tell you, each new reveal of a Pokemon or character or location was a big hit of dopamine. I was hooked. 

I had been into cosplay for years by then, of course, and I had done a couple of Pokemon cosplays but never anything serious. And then May’s Corocoro leaked and I saw the design for Touko/White/Hilda and went “I can make that in two weeks” and I did, and there’s a reason she was my favorite cosplay of 2010. 

HGSS may have kick-started the decade for me and made the 2010s solidly the Decade of Pokemon, but Black and White really amped it up. I was at Anime Weekend Atlanta the weekend that they came out in Japan and one of the vendors just so happened to have a few copies, and I just so happened to have a non region-locked DS Lite to play it on. I knew enough Japanese to kind of grasp what was going on, and I had played Pokemon enough to be able to play blindfolded, so I played through the game entirely in Japanese and it was one of the most exhilarating experiences of my life. I played until my battery was exhausted and the impatiently waited for it to recharge so I could keep playing. I’m sure I did other things that weekend, but once I got my hands on that Japanese copy of White, that’s all I wanted to think about.

I stumbled across new Pokemon and characters and locations, and I’ve been chasing those highs for years now. Sword and Shield came close, but only because I intentionally stayed off of the internet for three weeks to avoid spoilers.

Playing it in English was of course a lot of fun, too. I made all of the opposite choices in my copy of Black, including playing as the guy, picking Tepig instead of Oshawott, and trying to only use Pokemon I never picked up in my Japanese playthrough. 

Like I said in my HGSS post, I understand why many people consider those games to be the best in the franchise, but Black and White absolutely are my favorites. Black and White have some of the best characters in the entire franchise. The main characters have great designs. Cheren and Bianca are great rivals. This gen gave us our first female professor! Sword and Shield may have been more dramatic about it, but this gen was the first time there were different gym leaders depending on the version with Iris and Drayden! We had iconic, memorable gym leaders and elite 4. And, of course, the VILLAINS. Ghetsis is one of the most iconic villains in the franchise, and EVERYBODY loves N. (And if you don’t like N, you can catch these hands.)

And speaking of N and Ghetsis, Black and White had THE best story in the franchise. What have the villain teams done since Black and White? NOTHING. Team Flare was a joke, Team Skull weren’t even evil, Aether Foundation wishes it had what Team Plasma had, and Team Yell barely did anything at all. 

Unova is one of the most memorable regions in the game, with scenery so diverse it puts even SWSH to shame, and actual SEASONS! Black and White also had some of the best music in the series! I mean, just try to listen to the Team Plasma battle theme without ROCKING THE FUCK OUT. You CAN’T!

This generation also gave me a whole new appreciation for bug types. Before Gen 5, if you had asked me my favorite type it would have been ice (because my favorite Pokemon always and forever is Articuno). And then Gamefreak blessed us with all of these:

No other generation has been this good to bug types. I was never a huge fan of bugs IRL before 2010. At best I thought butterflies and moths were pretty. After this game? I think beetles are CUTE. I love horseshoe crabs. I try not to squash spiders. I rescue crickets that have gotten into places they shouldn’t have. I LOVE butterflies and moths. ...I still hate ants a lot, but I’ve got to draw the line SOMEWHERE. Anyway I’ve been the bug-type gym leader in my local anime convention’s Pokemon League since 2011, and all because Unova brought it’s A-GAME. 

But it’s not just bugs, there are a lot of AMAZING Pokemon in Generation 5. Anyone that doesn’t like Trubbish or Vanilluxe can CATCH THESE HANDS. And there were some real standouts in the Gen 5 dex. All three starters are amazing! The regional Pika-clone is a FLYING SQUIRREL. We got the Litwick line and the Deino line both in this gen. We got the ultimate good boy Stoutland! Whimsicott and Lilligant! KROOKODILE. Maractus! Zoroark! Gothitelle and Reuniclus! Jellicent! Ferrothorn! Golurk! Braviary and Mandibuzz! The Muskedeers! The tao trio! Meloetta! ICONIC. 

To summarize, Black and White are my favorite Pokemon games in the entire series (yes, even more than the Kanto games) and a strong contender for my favorite game(s) of the decade.

[sullustangin]

Pubside SWTOR 7.0, Part 1

Playing this from a max level smuggler, Loyalist , LS5, romanced Theron, rejoined the Republic. 

In general, spoiler-free:

Although the story is very short overall, the Imps really got extra shafted in terms of lore.  Pubside had decent lore going back to KOTOR.  No, there is no pre-existing romance content, so you’re going to have to make up what your spouse is doing, unless it’s Lana. Even then... I have a suspicion that was not the original plan (see below).

Non-spoilery FP help:  Despite the set bonus being red, if your 306 gear has a green arrow compared to the 312 stuff, use it.  Malgus’ Relentless Assault and Force Pull abilities have the chance to yank you through the floor, so the faster you burn him down, the fewer opportunities he has to do that.  Stick to the outer ring where the kolto is; the middle is full of gaps that drop you through the world.

All told, I spent 4 hour on the main questline. I asked Spouse about this, since he was actually playing during KotXX, and he stated that this felt like a large chapter (I’ve only played the game straight through).  I HOPE that when they said they were going to celebrate the 10 year anniversary all year round, that means they’re going to drop monthly ‘chapters’ (just not call them that) or at least more than 3 story updates this year.  If they do this, then I’ll feel better about what’s out there now. 

Until the Powers That Be do what they do, I’ll withhold judgment.  If this is it, then this is profoundly disappointing, and the endgame really has become Space Barbies: The Video Game, where the plot doesn’t matter and they STILL don’t let us schmooze with our romance. 

I’ll be goofing around on a new smug to get the new char experience, so Part 2 to come.  

Putting the rest  behind a cut.

Wait, PSA:  you should visit the anniversary vendor for all the 10th anniversary stuff if you have not already!

Smuggler

This is very, very smuggler specific, but The Shadow does not seem to recognize the DS Smuggler as Voidhound or make any reference to Voidfleet.  If you’ve played the Uprising on Port Nowhere, Hylo even says that you’re the only person to conquer it twice.  This is obviously a pet peeve of mine and of a very narrow segment of the SWTOR population...

But I killed a lot of people to be Voidhound and stole a lot of stuff -- ok, I don’t regret stealing the stuff or the killing, but still, I want my propers on the Smuggler’s Moon.

That said, once I got into the mission, the smug dialogue was actually pretty good. Less of a goofball compared to some of the options in Ossus/Onslaught.

Selkath and Manaan, Pubside

The selkath on Manaan are expressing attitudes one does expect of people whose top export has been warred over by super powers for years.  I really like that they’ve now included this in the game.  I may like it as much as I do because I did play KOTOR recently, which has a lot more selkath culture and history than what little we do see in Shadow of Revan.  The battle fatigue is real.  Being warred over by two superpowers is EXHAUSTING, especially over 300 years.

Manaan felt good on my smuggler.  There’s a demand for kolto -- let’s send the smuggler to go get the supply. I liked Gallo -- I liked meeting selkath that weren’t cult members for once, yay!  Spouse played on a Sith Inq, and he felt no immersion or connection to the content.  However, the Imp side just... had nothing in terms of KOTOR references, and he hated everyone new on Sith side. I was flapping around and pointing at the Progenitor, and he just looked SAD that he didn’t see the ol’ fish (he blew him up as Revan, but still, old friends).

You have no idea how happy I got when the Progenitor ate a bunch of Imps.

I like Arn.  This toon coaxed him to go all LS and nudged him to Tau.  He’s a nice boy.

The Glitches

That said, every time I was supposed to switch automatically to a new zone, I had to log out and in again in order to switch instances.  (like getting on the imp ship for example).  That’s something that shouldn’t have made it to launch -- that’s an easy fix.

Also, I had the issue of the opening battle scene getting stuck behind the goddamn planet.  Not gamebreaking but it jolted me out of watching some Han Solo shenanigans.  

I already talked about the Malgus fight.  What a shitshow.  That should not have been pushed to live servers. 

The flashpoint is well-constructed in the sense that a) I know what’s going on and why; b) the enemies are there, reasonably, for plot purposes. However, the falling through the earth glitches and the like just. UGH.  BAD.  This is the most unacceptable part of the chapter.

Lana and Love Interests

Ok.   The Imp soldiers before the Malgus battle ARE Lana’s voice actor.  I don’t think they planned to have Lana there when they first worked the FP.

I have a feeling that

a) initially, they planned it to be a run with you and Tau only.  You two banter, only.  And then they launched the FP annnnd it ate the player and Tau alive -- so slot Lana in instead of the Combat Droid....

AND/OR b) However, ... The way Lana walks in -- that’s not how Lana walks, typically.  I think they may have thought about using another character or characters (Love Interests?) in this scene.  Also, the dialogue in the flashpoint itself seems -- off. someone of the dialogue seems un-Lana like to me.  Almost as if it were written for use with different characters or interchangeable characters.  I’m wondering if they had planned to slot in everyone’s love interest, but just failed to do so. 

Overall, this fits into the whole feeling of this would-be expansion of being ‘undone.’