Sangome

[font=trebuchet ms,helvetica,sans-serif][color=#9900ff]Okay so I had made a post in here about the game when I was close to finishing it, and then literally a day later the site went BEWM and ate my post, so I'm going to make another one now that I've actually beaten it.[/color][/font] [font=trebuchet ms,helvetica,sans-serif][color=#9900FF]This game. I wanted to love this game to pieces. I really, really did. It's chronologically the first game in the series, you can fly around, the game looked downright beautiful -- and I'm someone who barely ever puts stock into graphics -- and I just wanted to eat it all up. The entire internet seemed enamored with it, and I wanted to be one of those people.[/color][/font] [font=trebuchet ms,helvetica,sans-serif][color=#9900FF]I, unfortunately, am not one of those people. I mean, don't get me wrong -- it's still a good game. Great, even, when it really hits its stride. It starts off with a ton of energy and makes you so excited to jump right into the story.[/color][/font] [font=trebuchet ms,helvetica,sans-serif][color=#9900FF]And then, for me, around Lanayru, it just slowly started to fall flat. The desert was a pain to navigate, and I was not fond of the mining facility at all. And then things after that just...got really shaky.[/color][/font] [font=trebuchet ms,helvetica,sans-serif][color=#9900FF]I can sum up my main two problems as thus:[/color][/font] [font=trebuchet ms,helvetica,sans-serif][color=#9900FF][b]One:[/b] The sheer lack of places to go. I get that they were trying to cram everything onto a single-layer disc, but even then I don't really like that excuse. You're sent to the same three places each time you go down, and while they do do things to shake it up, it just gets really frustrating. I wanted to be able to explore interesting new locations, and it just kinda failed. The sky REALLY dropped the ball in this regard -- it's so limited and cramped. It didn't feel like the vast sky at all. I was hoping the thunderhead would explore more of that, but it didn't have a whole lot, either.[/color][/font] [font=trebuchet ms,helvetica,sans-serif][color=#9900FF]That said, the third visit to each area I actually really liked...except for Faron [which I'll touch on later]. The stealth mission in Eldin was shockingly fun, and Lanayru was not that bad, probably because it was mercifully short. And I loved Skyloft itself -- it's probably my favorite hometown in any of the games.[/color][/font] [font=trebuchet ms,helvetica,sans-serif][color=#9900FF][b]Two: [/b]FETCH. QUESTS. I don't mind them in small doses, doubly so if they're just sidequests, but the middle of the game just POUNDS you with so many of these stupid things that the game became more of a chore than anything else. I wanted story and exploration, not pointless padding in the form of "HEY GET ME THIS THING AND I'LL TELL YOU WHERE TO GO...JUST SO YOU CAN GET MORE THINGS FOR PEOPLE LOL!!!!1!111111!!!11!!1". The third and final visit to Faron with the Tadtones was the worst, which sucks because I probably actually would have liked it if there hadn't already been so freaking many beforehand. [Although the rage was doubly compounded by Fi tossing the dowsing at me when I was already 75% done, and then you can't even use the dowsing when you swim anyway, so what's the point?! GAH!][/color][/font] [font=trebuchet ms,helvetica,sans-serif][color=#9900FF]NOW. With that all said, there were still good things to make it worthwhile.[/color][/font] [font=trebuchet ms,helvetica,sans-serif][color=#9900FF][b]The story: [/b]The story managed to keep me interested all throughout, and was my main motivator throughout the whole ordeal. Catching on to all of the mythology gags was fun, too [even if I had to look a lot of them up later because I'm that dense >_>;].[/color][/font] [font=trebuchet ms,helvetica,sans-serif][color=#9900FF][b]The characters: [/b]This is my main selling point right here. I love, love, [i]love[/i] the cast in this game. They rank up there with Majora's Mask and Wind Waker's cast for me. The denizens of Skyloft are all unique and likeable [generally, anyway; I kind of wanted to pour more dust on Pipit's mom after her little side story when you get her gratitude crystals], the races on the surface are all interesting and fun, and then Link and Zelda themselves are probably my favorite to date. Ghirahim is a delightfully disturbing villain and a fresh change from the "GRR I'M GANON AND I'M ANGRY >:C" that we're usually used to. [spoiler]Demise is a surprisingly affably evil guy, even when you kick his face in. He's a better sport than his sword[/color][/font][font=trebuchet ms,helvetica,sans-serif][color=#9900FF] at any rate.[/color][/font][font=trebuchet ms,helvetica,sans-serif][color=#9900FF][/spoiler] And then there's Groose, who is basically Mido if he had better writing/character development and played an active role in the story. His development pleasantly surprised me, and he ended up being my favorite character out of the whole thing.[/color][/font] [font=trebuchet ms,helvetica,sans-serif][color=#9900FF]But yeah, great ragtag bunch of misfits. I really hope to see their ancestors in future games. [Especially Groose. I refuse to believe his physical similarities to the Gerudo is just a happy coincidence.][/color][/font] [font=trebuchet ms,helvetica,sans-serif][color=#9900FF][b]Gameplay: [/b]I'm...actually kind of torn on the motion controls. Generally, they work pretty good. But there's just some times when it feels tacked on -- the key things to the boss doors are a prime offender. Whoever thought that'd be a good idea needs to be slapped with a lobster.[/color][/font][font=trebuchet ms,helvetica,sans-serif][color=#9900FF] But I'm kind of miffed because Nintendo themselves admitted that the long development time is because of the fine-tuning of the motion controls, which means everything else just kinda took a backseat, and it shows. I actually had a similar complaint towards Pokemon Black and White, but it had the inverse problem of the story, while good for a Pokemon game, took up nearly everything, while all the other stuff got pushed off to the side, especially in the postgame.[/color][/font] [font=trebuchet ms,helvetica,sans-serif][color=#9900FF]I digress, though. I've rambled long enough. It's a good game. It's just deeply, deeply flawed. I'd recommend it to fellow Zelda vets, but I couldn't in good conscience recommend it to someone as their first Zelda game.[/color][/font]

[font=trebuchet ms,helvetica,sans-serif][color=#9900ff]Now I get to dig for my previous sig image because I'm a dummy and don't have it saved...which sucks because it was my favorite one to date.[/color][/font] [font=trebuchet ms,helvetica,sans-serif][color=#9900FF]But yeah. Welcome back, guys. I myself am digging the new look. It's all shiny and updated and fancy.[/color][/font]

[font=trebuchet ms,helvetica,sans-serif][color=#9900ff]I don't think this is as much of a bug as it is the way the layout is coded, but the 150 x 80 avatars are cropped down to what I'm guessing is 100 x 100 or lower now. I'll live if it can't be messed with, but I thought I'd just point it out[/color][/font]. [font=trebuchet ms,helvetica,sans-serif][color=#9900FF]Oh, and Microsoft Sans Serif is no longer a font option. I miss it 'cause it's my main font type. :( But Trebuchet MS isn't bad, either.[/color][/font] [font=trebuchet ms,helvetica,sans-serif][color=#9900FF]Also, for layout colors, purple. We need more purple.[/color][/font]

[color="#9932CC"][font="Microsoft Sans Serif"]So I now officially have this game, and have clocked a few hours in...I'm not very far at all; I just got to the surface last night. It's so freakin' beautiful, auuuughhh I can't get over how pretty this game is. As for the controls, I'm pretty neutral on them, except for one thing -- flying. I absolutely hate flying. I don't know why I suck at it so bad, but flying around to get that statuette was a freakin' pain in the rear. Ugh. One nice little touch I did like though was how you pulled the Goddess Sword out of its pedestal by actually turning the Wiimote upside down and pulling it. I thought that was pretty neat.[/font][/color]

[quote name='Shiro' timestamp='1324479811' post='710690']PS2 (yes. I still have it. I don't know anyone else who still does, tbh). My second run in FINAL FANTASY X, The SIMS, and Rouge Galaxy.[/quote] [color="#9932CC"][font="Microsoft Sans Serif"]Seconded Petie, I still use mine all the time. Been playing tons of Persona 4 on it, in fact. Need to beat it before Christmas.[/font][/color]

[color="#9932CC"][font="Microsoft Sans Serif"]I think you have something caught in your teeth there.[/font][/color]

[quote name='chibi-master' timestamp='1324172600' post='710637'] You, sir, are a monster. ;^; [/quote] [color="#9932CC"][font="Microsoft Sans Serif"]Yes, but he's [i]my[/i] monster. [/font][/color]

[color="#9932CC"][font="Microsoft Sans Serif"]Still playing a metric buttload of [b]Persona 4[/b] and not much else in my rush to beat it before Christmas. I'm almost starting to regret this decision, as there's a couple of social links I'm going to inevitably miss out on. :/ Right now I'm fumbling around in [spoiler]Magatsu Mandala[/spoiler] which just seems to get more and more creepier as I go down it. I blame the freaky red tint that brightens with each floor. Though now my attention's being a bit diverted with [b]Secret of Mana[/b], gifted to me on the VC by our own Beth. Not gotten very far in it at all, but I will say the battle system's gonna take some getting used to...the graphics are extremely pretty, though.[/font][/color]

[color="#9932CC"][font="Microsoft Sans Serif"]Oddly enough, I liked this week's episode. Felt very season one-ish to me. Better than the last couple of weeks, though I can certainly see why some wouldn't like it. Next week is Hearth's Warming Eve, the obligatory Christmas-esque episode, focusing on the creation of Equestria [we'll actually find out how Equestria was made! [/Pinkie]], and I guess Celestia by consequence. Hope it's better than the Luna episode.[/font][/color]

[color="#9932CC"][font="Microsoft Sans Serif"]Between now and then? I'd like to [list] [*]Get a license and a job. [*]Get the heck out of here. [*]Get married. [/list] Probably in that order. Also, no kids for me, either. I'd be a horrible mom; my patience is thin enough with a hyperactive dog and other people's kids, and I don't think I could handle being responsible for another person's life.[/font][/color]

[color="#9932CC"][font="Microsoft Sans Serif"]We had a live tree...once. And that was the same year we got my first cat. Imagine the lawls to be had there. Anyway, I freakin' love Christmas. All the scrooges for this holiday try to get me down, but I tell them to shove off. I love it and everything about it. <3 I dunno what we're doing in terms of family and visiting, but my Christmas list this year is a pretty small one. I've already gotten a few of the major things I already wanted, but there's still some others. Mainly games. And a DVD. My main thing is Skyward Sword. I want Skyward Sword something fierce. I thought I'd be able to withstand the month between its release and when I'd actually probably get it, but it's been proving pretty false for me so far. Ugh.[/font][/color]

[quote name='James' timestamp='1322607261' post='710405'] [font=palatino linotype][font=palatino linotype]On a totally unrelated note, it's good to have a [i]real[/i] gaming discussion here at the moment... there have been a few good ones lately, but I find myself missing the days when our gaming forums were full of discussions and debates. *sigh*[/font] [/quote] [color="#9932CC"][font="Microsoft Sans Serif"]I'm so sad/jealous that I can't participate in an actual decent discussion yet. ;____; I've been avoiding this thread for the most part because I'm absolutely insisting on going into this game as blind as I can, and I only just now got over myself [just a hair, anyway] to take a look. I just hope there's some decent discussion left here in about a month [i.e. Christmas] when I should actually be getting the game. I'd rent it to try it out, but I have a Wii that was manufactured shortly after release, meaning I don't have Motionplus. :/ Friggin' Nintendo and your gimmicks! *shakes fist*[/font][/color] [quote name='Katie!' timestamp='1322614625' post='710407'] I set up my second Wii at school today, and came to the sad realization that my game data was not saved on the disk. I don't know why I thought this, but now I'm sad and don't know if I should start a second save file on my other Wii. :c [/quote] [color="#9932CC"][font="Microsoft Sans Serif"]What Des said. If you have a digital camera, those should come with an SD card already. That's what I use to back up my data. 'bout the only time you can't is if the data comes from a game with online capabilities, which, as far as I know, Skyward Sword doesn't have [then again there's still a plethora of stuff I don't know, so...]. *goes back to weeping silently at her lack of game*[/font][/color][/font]

[color="#9932CC"][font="Microsoft Sans Serif"][i]Now[/i] everybody notices why I've not been very impressed with season 2 thus far. This past episode rather nicely exemplifies why. And I'll just leave it at that.[/font][/color]

[color="#9932CC"][font="Microsoft Sans Serif"]I finished up the [b]Chobits[/b] anime the other night. I had watched the first handful of episodes years ago and finally got around to watching it in its entirety [sans the three recaps, anyway]. I'm a fan of the manga, and I have to say I like the manga a bit more, as it paces things better. But the anime is still worth a watch as well, although it doesn't really get good until about halfway through when the plot really kicks in. The manga was much the same way as well, but it handled its time better; the anime-exclusive filler was boring more often than not. [Although I did kinda like the MMORPG episode, at the very least]. I watched the dub, and since it was an early 00s production, it was alright, though nothing too spectacular. Crispin Freeman was delightfully spazzy as Hideki, however, and Sandy Fox and Kari Wahlgren were great as Sumomo and Kotoko, respectively. The two voices I didn't care for a whole lot were Mrs. Hibiya's [at least initially] and Chii's herself. Bridgett Hoffman's Hibiya kinda sounded robotic and forced early on [and she's not a persocom, mind you], but as the series went on, she got a lot better [as is the norm for many dubs]. But Michelle Ruff as Chii...I just wasn't feeling at all. I dunno what it was, I just didn't care for it a whole lot. [She did a good job as Freya, though.] And of course, the OP is as cute as heck, and the EDs are nice as well, though I have a preference for the second.[/font][/color]

[color="#9932CC"][font="Microsoft Sans Serif"]Well, let's see. [b]And I've posted in many formats, but mainly size 1, black font. Why? Because I can.[/b] Why did I ever think that was a cool and hip idea? [b]Speaking of games, I am a huge fan of RPGs, especially JRPGs.[/b] This still pretty much rings true. [b]I love the Xenosaga series[/b] Which I've still not finished any of the games... [b]and Tales series, and have been playing Vesperia. Gorgeous game.[/b] ...or that, for that matter. [b]I've also been making my little TotA army because of it. We hope to conquer the world by 2013, provided the world doesn't end the year before.[/b] That's been pretty much upstaged by the Ponies for Who movement. [b]well, I started college this year, and the first semester screwed me over, I hate it. Hopefully, next semester will be better[/b] It wasn't. Grades were always alright, just not the students. [b]One last thing. I'm probably the only person that has sworn death onto Des for his putrid pranks. Whether or not this comes into fruition two years from now...we'll just have to see. [/b] Nah. In fact, my violent tendencies have swung completely elsewhere in recent months. tl;dr I'm just as irritating as I was back then, yay![/font][/color]

[color="#9932CC"][font="Microsoft Sans Serif"]...I'm disappointed. I was really hoping for another TV series. :/ It sounds like movies aren't all they plan to do, though, so there is hope yet, but...[/font][/color]

[color="#9932CC"][font="Microsoft Sans Serif"]No idea what we're doing for good ol' Turkey day, though we never seem to know what we're doing 'til like the week beforehand, anyway. I'll probably watch the Macy's parade, eat food, and see if there's any good movies on TV. Though, y'know, I never really eat more on Thanksgiving than I normally do...[/font][/color]

[color="#9932CC"][font="Microsoft Sans Serif"]I'm surprised I've not posted sooner about my recent gaming escapades, as the past couple weeks have been pretty active in that regard... After years of it being sought after by me, I finally got my hands on[b]Persona 4[/b] a couple of weeks ago. I've already gotten about 40 hours on it [although a decent chunk of that was spent paused or idling]. I'm liking it a lot more than its predecessor so far in most aspects, namely the theme/atmosphere, music, and characters. My first real hangup was at the bathhouse and against Shadow Kanji [never again...] and I'm currently gathering medicine and stuff to better take on Rise's dungeon. As for other things, I also got a 3DS! I don't have any physical games yet, but I've downloaded [b]Link's Awakening DX[/b] and [b]Shantae: Risky's Revenge[/b]. Both are alright so far. And since I now have a memory card that's cooperative, I'm re-re-re-re-re-re-re-re-re-re-restarting [b]Okami[/b].[/font][/color]

[color="#9932CC"][font="Microsoft Sans Serif"]I saw that video the other night and I just sort of went numb from the whole thing. I advocate spanking to scold your children, but that very clearly went too far with the way she was being thrown around and swore at. I think the "crime" sort of becomes moot in this case, unless she did something horrible to someone [which, as far as I know, she did not]. Should have just grounded her from the computer for a while and left it at that. As for whether he should be tried differently because he's a judge, I'm not sure, really. I can see both ways. On the one hand this had nothing to do with any cases of his and involves his home life, and should be treated separately. On the other hand, he's in a position of power, and the idea of someone like this being in a position of power is rather sickening [although I know that goes for a lot of people with political power, so]. That all said, it should also be noted that this man was rather controversial as a judge, including that child abuse cases would be thrown out unless there was recorded [video] evidence. Hmmmm.[/font][/color]

[color="#9932CC"][font="Microsoft Sans Serif"][b]Chaos;Head[/b] is pretty freakin' awful, at least the anime adaptation is [haven't played the Nitroplus games]. What Shin said is about right - it starts out pretty interesting, then halfway through the series things just start to collapse on itself into a puddle of convoluted nonsense. Looking back, though, I think limiting it to 12/13 episode is what kinda killed it...if it was stretched out a little more, I think it could have been better. And yeah, Takumi's one of the most unlikeable protagonists around, but then again they don't particularly portray him as sympathetic, either. Not from what I can remember anyway [which is admittedly not a lot, since I watched it when it came out in...I think it was 08? Man, that's so long ago now...]. The ED is catchy, though, at least.[/font][/color]

[color="#9932CC"][font="Microsoft Sans Serif"]Hey there, welcome to OB! While your project is ambitious, posting solely for the purpose of advertising is not allowed on OB. You're free to stick around, post, and get to know the members a little better, but joining solely for advertising is discouraged. If you have any questions, feel free to PM me or another mod/admin. [b]Thread closed.[/b][/font][/color]

[color="#9932CC"][font="Microsoft Sans Serif"]@Canz - I loved that TCG game. It was so addicting. I never put much strategy into it, either, but then again I don't put much strategy into Pokemon games, period. I pretty much just muscle my way through. Anyway, I bought [b]Professor Layton and the Last Specter[/b] this past Thursday, and like the past games, it's proven to be an addicting time sucker. I'm a little ways into chapter five, and the story's starting to get a bit more interesting [well, it kept me interested from the start, but still]. Everything else is standard Layton fare, but that's not necessarily a bad thing - the music continues to be lovely, the voice acting is pretty solid [Lani Minella's come a long way from her first job as Luke, I have to say], the characters are generally likeable/interesting, and the puzzles continue to make me feel stupid. As for Emmy, the "lol first apprentice!1", I do like her, but I have to say I kinda wanna smack her sometimes. Though I think that might be part of the point? I dunno. And then we have [b]London Life[/b], the life sim RPG bundled with the card, and oh my gosh this thing is absurdly fun and addicting. The really amusing part is that it's developed by Brownie Brown, the same people who developed Mother 3, and it's [i]really[/i] obvious in terms of graphical style and the dialogue. It's a little awkward for those who really wanted Mother 3 over here, but I digress. Still a fun game and I keep trying not to get distracted by it, since I want to finish the main game first...[/font][/color]

[color="#9932CC"][font="Microsoft Sans Serif"]I don't really know a whole lot of cooking anime, myself. I've heard [i]Yumerio Patissiere[/i] and [i]Ristorante Paradiso[/i] aren't bad, but I've yet to see either of them. And I think the latter is more about the characters than it is the food. What other genres do you like? If we can get a good idea of that, someone might be able to help. I've found it hard to get into a lot of anime these days as well, so I'm kind of drawing a blank, too. xD[/font][/color]

[color="#9932CC"][font="Microsoft Sans Serif"]double post [url="http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/interest/2011-10-16/tiger-and-bunny-tv-anime-to-get-english-dub"]leaving this here[/url] thank you Viz can't wait for the inevitable announcement of season 2 insert obligatory spazzing here since I've already plastered said spazzing everywhere else eeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee yay[/font][/color]

[quote name='chibi-master' timestamp='1318771915' post='709939'] Actually, I'm pretty sure that every time they've made a character go nuts in this series, they have all acted in a very similar way.[/quote] [color="#9932CC"][font="Microsoft Sans Serif"]I guess? I don't quite remember them being this psychotic outside of Pinkie and Fluttershy [which I also thought came off as rather forced, but was able to largely ignore it since it was a subplot, whereas this took up the entire last 10 minutes of the show], but my memory's pretty horrible. Just something about Twi's I didn't like. It felt...forced, I guess? Maybe I should stop overthinking a cartoon for little girls, but since they're obviously going to be pandering for the gigantic periphery demographic this season...[/font][/color]