Playing Final Fantasy VI

Today, on playing Final Fantasy VI...

Totally not my screenshot, I just cropped it.

I'm torn between Kefka's battle graphic. He's so cute as a sprite but he makes for one colourful and confusing monster that is three times their size. I also found out that his sprite had to be switched for the full graphic because the game could only handle 3 sprites on the screen. Interesting. 

Look at the emotion here. Riveting.

I like how certain scenes go into the horizontal battle view. This perspective gives more depth than the standard view IMO. One thing I do have a problem with regarding this game is that the characters have a difficult job expressing emotions and developing character. Some are standing out more than others, like Locke, Gau, Cyan, and Sabin (to a degree). Terra and Celese are bland and thus far, I couldn't really give you character points for either one.  

Spooky blackness is spooky.

Shadow's dream sequences are neat, and I do recall looking forward to them. Spooky music played and then...

WTF get back here!

...Shadow, the biggest tool ever, left. I paid $3300 for that dream you had, asshole!

I don't know why every RPG playing boy in my high school was obsessed with him. Yeah, he has a cool outfit. Thus far, he's real busy being a douche.

In the future I will steal that Elixir you hid in the clock...
Shhh...you don't need it anyway.

Locke's story with Rachel is interesting enough that I want to wake her up. However, a story really can't have everyone losing their memories. This overused plot device is like a serial on-line dater...overused and unwanted.

And here is where I left off, right before the opera house. So, this is the part where everyone catches on fire, right? 

Btw, this is the iOS version of FFVI. I don't own this version, but damn, it looks good! I can't justifying forking over more money for a game I already own, and I am morally opposed to companies milking their fan base. But Kefka does look cute! 

Final Fantasy VI

I know I haven't been posting here since last November. There just isn't a lot of time anymore, especially for video games.

I managed to start playing Final Fantasy VI yesterday, though. About 11 years ago, I tried to play it. I got about half way and lost interest. It's going better this time, but with all the characters, I am having a difficult time becoming attached to anyone in the large cast. Kefka was always interesting to me, so I'm glad I'm revisiting the title.

Other notes include:

What is that?! It's green, looks kinda like a duck, and it has something on its head. BUT WHAT IS IT?

I would live here, with the Moogles. Screw everyone else and their politics and wars. I'm still puzzled as to why the Moogles decided to help Locke and Terra. They were just doing their Moogle business down here and...heard the commotion and decided to investigate, and they decided to help...because...Moogle?

This is where I left off, just before the battle at Narshe. Banon is like, are you ready? I'm like, What am I doing switching characters I have no idea...!

On another note, I re-watched Nausicaä of the Valley of the Wind today. I think I bought that film about three years after I tried to play FFVI, and I probably never watched the whole thing again. I was packing up my belongings (because what else do I do?) and watched it at the same time. I appreciated it much more this time around. The environmentalist themes used to be preachy to me, and the whole "giant warrior" stuff made me roll my eyes.

I didn't know that Nausicaä of the Valley of the Wind inspired Final Fantasy creator Hironobu Sakaguchi and it influenced Chocobos. I thought about it, as a teen and now, that the horseclaws do look like Chocobos, but I never thought that it really did inspire him.

I totally didn't make this GIF, btw. I packed my DVD before I figured I'd write about horseclaws.

This movie is pretty awesome, btw. If you like fantasy stories, especially one that has inspired Final Fantasy on many levels, you should check it out.

And...anyone want to address the sucky state of RPGs? Final Fantasy XIII-2 and Lightning Returns? No. Just no. Who thought these stories through and thought they were good ideas? I'm looking forward to FFXV, though the Fabula Nova Crystallis story doesn't interest me much. I hope FFXV can breathe life into RPG stories again.

In a nutshell, other recent RPGs have the same clone characteristics. Variants of the same story, the same tropes, the same cliches, the same predictable plot twists. Can we get something that doesn't suck, pretty please? Or, anyone who reads this, comment or email me with some new (or newish) RPG titles for me to check out. Which console doesn't matter, though I'd rather stay away from PC only titles.

New Persona Games!

Atlus has revealed 4 new Persona games, and none of them are on the next-gen consoles. Keeping them on established consoles is awesome, since I'm not buying either new console until I see a decent variety of games I want to play released on them.

What we got so far is:

Persona 5

There isn't anything in this trailer regarding characters, only hints of a vague story idea. Still, I can't wait! It will be released on the PS3 in Japan in the winter of 2014.

Persona Q Shadow of the Labyrinth

It's a crossover between Persona 3 and 4, and it's being released for the Nintendo 3DS. I don't have one, but I'll pick one up for cheap when this is eventually released over here. This actually looks pretty cute, so I'm looking forward to this one. In Japan, the release date is set for June, 2014.

Persona 4 Dancing All Night

A rhythm dancing game starring the P4 characters. This is for the PsVita and honestly I have zero interest in it. It will be released in Japan in the autumn of 2014.

Persona 4: The Ultimax Ultra Suplex Hold

A sequel to the P4 Arena game. It's for the Ps3, which I like. But another Arena installment? I wonder why they don't just release DLC for the Arena game they already have. Arena is a decent game...but as is the way with fighting games, they'll milk it till they just can't any more. I have read that Adachi is making a return, and that's intriguing, at least. Release date for Japan set for summer 2014.

So, I'm basically only interested in Persona 5 and Persona Q. Regardless, this is huge news! I haven't been interested in any new games for a while. I miss this feeling!

What Does The Fox Say? *Spoilers!*

It says *yip*. Now get over it. I'm tired of teenagers asking what does the fox say. IT SAYS *yip*. Teens these days.

Just in case you don't know what I'm taking about, this song is a new passing craze. Strange as all hell, annoying as all hell.

Twin Peaks Heart Break

No, no, no. Hoe, get away from Agent Cooper.

This is Agent Cooper's...mistake. Not to be taken seriously.

Remember this lady? If Cooper can't be with me because he's a fictional character, than at least be with Audrey! She's awesome! And he's losing her to the pilot. 

Can't Windom Earle or any other homicidal resident of the town just murder her? She works at the Double R Diner-go get her! 

Twin Peaks

Now that I'm done watching the second season of Revenge, I had to move on. I was watching Twin Peaks along with Revenge, but TP has more episodes and I was having problems watching some of the episodes, so Revenge was finished first. I'm in the second season of TP, trying to find time to watch episode 12.

I was drawn to TP because of Deadly Premonition, one of my favourite games ever, was heavily inspired by this show. Also, musician Amanda Palmer has an album called "Who Killed Amanda Palmer", referencing TP.

Twin Peaks was made in 1990, and it focuses on the violent death of one local girl named Laura Palmer. Enter Agent Cooper, sent to solve the case. He's an odd man who takes advice from dreams, relies on the "Tibetan method", speaks to a recorder and addresses a woman named Diane, and he gets the job done. And he's totally hot and freakn' awesome.

If you don't find him dangerously hot
then I can't be your friend. Seriously, get
out of my house.

Agent Cooper
I feel like Cooper a lot. My brain has a strange way of processing things. I am drawn to the absurd and damnit, if my dreams are going to be that cryptic and weird, I'm going to let them lead a murder investigation too.

Lucy

Best secretary, ever. I want to work in a
Sheriff's office now. 

I thought I'd hate her at first. I really did. Then she grew on me. Her soft, yet almost squeaky voice is adorable. Listening to her and Andy talk about "sperms" is also the most hilarious interactions I have ever heard. She does her job, noticeably slowly and carefully transferring calls. What I admire and can relate to is how hard she tries. Most of the time I'm in a shadow of self-doubt. Lucy just does her best, and she does do her job. They get a temp at one point who isn't perfect, and it is evident that Lucy manages the office effectively.  

I used this picture in a professional presentation about
taking negativity constructively.
(BTW, she's reading up on Tibet here.)

 She also does the things I wish I could do. How many times have you wanted to just sit there and stick your tongue out at the snarly FBI agent because he's making fun of your hair? I run into this ALL THE TIME.

Audrey

Damnit, why do they both have to
be so good looking.

The girl here is Audrey. I immediately loved her. But then I was like, Stop flirting with my man, hoe. It's ok though, because as the story progresses, she shows herself to be a kind person who goes out of her way for others. She admits that she didn't really know Laura, but she feels like her. Like no one understands what they are on the inside. She puts herself in terrible danger to help solve Laura's murder. Oh, and she's drop dead gorgeous. Good thing these high school kids aren't played by actors who are the characters' ages. Audrey is supposed to be 18, her actress, Sherilyn Fenn, was 25 at the time. (Mild Spoiler!) She is kept for days drugged up, and she just sleeps it off. No withdrawal, no hospitalization, nothing. She sleeps it off like a champ.

The Log Lady (Margaret Lanterman)

Shut up and listen to the log. It's smarter than you.

Sometimes I feel like the log lady. I have useful information to convey, but no one listens. She is regarded as the town crazy, and hell, I can relate, and I don't even talk to a log.  

Donuts

Can't solve murders without donuts, duh.

I love this picture, so I'm going to use it. Donuts solve everything. In fact, expect me to use this picture a lot in life. If I can get this one into a professional presentation too, I will.

Revenge Season 2!

I'm going to try to be spoiler free here...

I finished season 2 of Revenge last night, and so much happened!

So much AWESOME. 

But also so much SAD. 

Really...a little bit too much on the sad feels, because I think it'll come back to bite them in the ass next season.

And I little bit on the LAME side, because they are running out of shocking! revelations to stir up the atmosphere.

See this:

Revenge Face.

This is Emily's Revenge Face. I'm so going to ruin you. 

Or,

I am so going to murder you. 

I like the latter better. I practice it in the bathroom mirror (not really). 

Now I have to wait until next year for Season 3 to come out. I'm not sure if I'll have enough to tide me over with other shows, especially because they cancelled Bunheads! DAMNIT. I actually have a review half written for it. I'll probably watch the whole thing again and try to actually do the things I say I will do here. 

Anyway.

Emily is awesome. Revenge is awesome. More people should watch revenge so we can gush about the awesome.