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Kurtofan
Feb 16, 2011

hon hon hon
oh Lenny.

edit: argh, update on the previous page!!!

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Night10194
Feb 13, 2012

We'll start,
like many good things,
with a bear.

Getting tricked by Yuri of all people is a very specific, very deep low.

achtungnight
Oct 5, 2014
I get my fun here. Enjoy!
Poor Lenny. Then again, that scene did cement him in my list of favorite JRPG mid-level bad guys. :)

Tuxedo Ted
Apr 24, 2007

Do yourself a favor and watch the video, the SH1 recap (illustrated by Yuri) is even better in motion.

ultrafilter
Aug 23, 2007

It's okay if you have any questions.


Somehow I remember the voice acting being a lot better. I guess I had low expectations back then.

Leraika
Jun 14, 2015

Luckily, I *did* save your old avatar. Fucked around and found out indeed.

ultrafilter posted:

Somehow I remember the voice acting being a lot better. I guess I had low expectations back then.

I think this scene is just kind of a low point/Yuri trying to sound extremely COOL and DRAMATIC.

CmdrKing
Oct 14, 2012

Maybe if I called it 'Interpretive Stabbing'...
To be sure, we have come a good long way from the dark days of the Bush administration in the art of RPG voice acting, but yeah, that scene is not the best voice work in the game and you're not wrong to remember better scenes from later on.

Junpei
Oct 4, 2015
Probation
Can't post for 11 years!

Night10194 posted:

Getting tricked by Yuri of all people is a very specific, very deep low.

I'd say Covenant Yuri is a little smarter than SH1 Yuri. He makes a lot more sarcastic jabs and snide comments.

Accordion Man
Nov 7, 2012


Buglord
Yeah, Covenant Yuri is more experienced and world-weary so he loves trolling his opponents. He is similar to younger Koudelka now, though less caustic.

DukeofCA
Aug 18, 2011

I am shocked and appalled.
I want to read an entire storybook illustrated by Yuri.

Space Cadet Omoly
Jan 15, 2014

~Groovy~


Poor Lenny, he's trying so hard.

Does he end up joining the party? Because a Joachim and Lenny tag team combination would be amazing :3:

Accordion Man
Nov 7, 2012


Buglord

Space Cadet Omoly posted:

Poor Lenny, he's trying so hard.

Does he end up joining the party? Because a Joachim and Lenny tag team combination would be amazing :3:
Not this party, but maybe technically in another...

Kanfy
Jan 9, 2012

Just gotta keep walking down that road.

ultrafilter posted:

Somehow I remember the voice acting being a lot better. I guess I had low expectations back then.

Fun fact for any FFXIV players by the way, Japanese Yuri's (sorry, Urmnaf's) VA Hiroki Takahashi also voices Emet-Selch in Shadowbringers and does an excellent job at it. He's also Ryu in the recent Street Fighter games.

Marmaduke!
May 19, 2009

Why would it do that!?
It's nice to have some fun after the last slog dungeon! Though 17 random battles doesn't sound that bad...

Neddy Seagoon
Oct 12, 2012

"Hi Everybody!"
I love both of these cutscenes. Yuri's childish drawings are a fantastic take on SH1's illustrations, and tricking Lenny into giving up the location is just great for how little effort Yuri clearly knows he has to put into making it happen :allears:.

Accordion Man
Nov 7, 2012


Buglord
Yuri's drawings are also the file icons on the PS2 memory card and they shuffle through depending on how far you are in the game if I remember right.

...!
Oct 5, 2003

I SHOULD KEEP MY DUMB MOUTH SHUT INSTEAD OF SPEWING HORSESHIT ABOUT THE ORBITAL MECHANICS OF THE JAMES WEBB SPACE TELESCOPE.

CAN SOMEONE PLEASE TELL ME WHAT A LAGRANGE POINT IS?

Night10194 posted:

Getting tricked by Yuri of all people is a very specific, very deep low.

Rude.

Commander Keene
Dec 21, 2016

Faster than the others



Neddy Seagoon posted:

I love both of these cutscenes. Yuri's childish drawings are a fantastic take on SH1's illustrations, and tricking Lenny into giving up the location is just great for how little effort Yuri clearly knows he has to put into making it happen :allears:.
The whole scene is right out of Looney Tunes. All Yuri needed was to be eating a carrot.

GimmickMan
Dec 27, 2011



The face of villainy, right there.

ultrafilter
Aug 23, 2007

It's okay if you have any questions.


Just think of how they would've had to convey that on the original Playstation and you'll see why the PS2 was such a big step forward even in RPGs.

Hwurmp
May 20, 2005

ultrafilter posted:

Just think of how they would've had to convey that on the original Playstation and you'll see why the PS2 was such a big step forward even in RPGs.

so many jiggly triangles...

HR12345
Nov 19, 2012
Remember how Id had his son draw up scenes from his Let's Plays in crayon, especially with 9S getting clowned on? That's what I imagine was going on here. They got one of the producer's kids to just draw the scenes.

Cooked Auto
Aug 4, 2007

I honestly thought those were Id's doing again until someone mention they were actual ingame ones.

Sgt Thud
Oct 14, 2012

ultrafilter posted:

Just think of how they would've had to convey that on the original Playstation and you'll see why the PS2 was such a big step forward even in RPGs.

Hell, just compare it to the faces in SH1 even, and that *was* on the PS2. Even if it was using assets originally meant for PS1 to some degree.

habituallyred
Feb 6, 2015
So nobody is going to mention that the newest fusion is a big old Battle Angel Alita reference?

Nohman
Sep 19, 2007
Never been worse.

habituallyred posted:

So nobody is going to mention that the newest fusion is a big old Battle Angel Alita reference?

Not super familiar with that? Care to explain?

Also boy, the tone shift in this game is... I'm not sure how to feel about yet.

habituallyred
Feb 6, 2015
I swear that Battle Angel Alita movie came out just last year. Having a sword strapped to the forearm is a big character moment in the movie. But it looks like there are swords strapped to both arms of the fusion, so I guess I was reading too much into it.

Mokinokaro
Sep 11, 2001

At the end of everything, hold onto anything



Fun Shoe

Nohman posted:

Also boy, the tone shift in this game is... I'm not sure how to feel about yet.

It's a lot crazier than the first for sure but it still does the drama really well when it's called for.

Unfortunately the same can't be said for the third (fourth?) game. The goofy bits work well there but it falls flat when it tries to add pathos to most of it.

Covenant has some extremely strong dramatic beats that we're still a ways from if I remember right.

ultrafilter
Aug 23, 2007

It's okay if you have any questions.


Nohman posted:

Not super familiar with that? Care to explain?

Also boy, the tone shift in this game is... I'm not sure how to feel about yet.

Don't worry, you'll get used to it after the next ten shifts.

The Dark Id
Aug 13, 2005

Why
you
know
I
LOVE
THIS SHIT !!!!
[citation needed]
Episode XXVII: The Explorer




Music: Glint of Light ~ Mid Boss in Europe




Time to take on Lenny Curtis (I don't think the game ever actually says his surname) and his pair of goons the Clawed Commanders. This may as well be a slightly more annoying than usual random battle rather than a real boss fight. Lenny has a respectable enough 570 HP. But well...



He only has one single attack string that does around 55-60 HP of damage and can potentially cause Paralysis but... that's it. No magic. No special abilities. Just slashing at folks with a weird curved sword with spikes jutting out of one end. The game classifies it as a khanjar but that thing is really stretching the definition. Plus, you'd think a big guy like that would be a brawler, not a sword wielder.





To be honest, Lenny isn't even the threat here. The priority for this fight is taking out his two minions. The Clawed Commanders' primary tactic is performing combo attacks with each other (or Lenny if one of them gets defeated.) Their Combo attack strings together do upward of 70+ HP of damage. If they set-up a combo with Lenny, it'll do upward of 100+ HP of damage and that's problematic. The Clawed Commanders can also potentially inflict Ring Abnormalities. They're just a nuisance all around.



Which makes them the priority target during the fight. Luckily, they've only got around 59 HP and can be knocked out of the fight within the first round of the party's turns.





With his buddies gone, it's just a matter of exchanging blows with Lenny and the occasional healing if the big oaf decides to target the same character in two consecutive turns.





Not exactly a great showing, Lenny. You probably should have let everyone leave and took that L, buddy.


Music: Result ~ Victory




<pants and yawns>



Despite barely qualifying as a boss fight, Lenny and his cronies still serve up rewards on par with a big end of dungeon enemy. I'm not going to complain about easy earnings. At least he didn't decide to initiate this ambush at the end of 90 minutes of brown corridors.


Music: Spiritualization ~ Holy Land of God




I was this close to beating them!
If I had brought just one more guy along I would have had them. It's hardly fair three vs. four, ya know.
*pant, pant* You wanna go some more?
drat! Would you look at the time? Gotta get going. Lucky thing for you too! I'll make you pay next time!



And with that, Lenny and his goons retreat to go job another day. Lenny must be getting quite a tab on the Sapientes Gladio travel expenses. Coming all the way back to Wales just to gloat that you kidnapped a guy there a couple of weeks ago doesn't seem like the best use of one's time.

Music: ENDS



<slow golf clap>
Huh?
Eh?



<continues clapping and walks toward the party> What an astonishing performance. Quite impressive. Yes, indeed.
I especially enjoyed the wolf summoned ghosts. That is not something one sees everything day.



You, there! Who are you?!





It's an honor. My name is Thomas. I'm what you might call an explorer.
An explorer?! You're not with the secret society?!
With the what? Oh! Ho ho! Heavens, no!
Yeah, I didn't think you were dressed up nearly goofy enough for that.
Ah, But I do know a little something about what's going on between you and them.

Thomas pulls a device out of his satchel.



Have a look at this.



......
I don't get it. Is it some kinda book? How do you open it?
Try peering into the hole at the top, lad.
Oh... Yeah. Of course, I knew that.


Yuri puts the box up to his eye and is treated with a grainy camcorder version of Roger's kidnapping from the beginning of the game.



That's... Lenny?! And he's got Roger!!
So we're too late?
By several weeks, I'm afraid.
...I can't believe we went through that boring mine for hours for nothing. This has not been my month.




Now do you believe that I'm not working with them?
I dunno if some kinda moving picture of a guy getting kidnapped gets you off the hook, exactly. But...
Why did you show me this?
Well, my boy. I've also got a grudge to settle with Sapientes Gladio.


Music: Spiritualization ~ Holy Land of God




I'm the hired hand of a certain organization. I can't tell you exactly who I am, but I'm no enemy, trust me. Poor Sir Bacon, taken away like that! I've met him several times, actually.
I have lost many a Lottery Ticket to him in my time.
Sounds like you might know more about what happened...
Well, I don't have a whole lot of information. But I suppose what I do know is better than nothing, right?
All we know is that a bunch of morons with bad fashion sense keep showing up to fight.
Hmm... Quite. Although such a description could describe several parties out there.



Music: Veronica Vera ~ Her Majesty, The Queen




I remember when I first heard the rumors of Sapientes Gladio... Yes, it was just before the war began.



At the same time, a series of bizarre murders happened all over Europe.



All were performed in the style of a medieval execution.



The victims were high-level government dignitaries from each European country.



Rumors of a secret society spread through the land and various intelligence agencies sprang into motion. The only clue, a sword and owl crest.



As to who was behind these grisly murders? No one had any idea...


Music: Spiritualization ~ Holy Land of God




These Sapientes Gladio fellows are planning something big. But what could they want?
I have no idea.
World domination? Sewing chaos thought the land for a dark ritual? Hazing rituals gotten out of hand? All options remain on the table.
And you're just some mysterious person from out of nowhere that wants to find out, huh, just like us?
<nods> That's right. I only want to be helpful to you. After all, you're closer than anyone to finding out who the society's leader is...
A band of colorful adventurers being frequently attacked by lower-level minions of the secret society. Why it's just a matter of time before you'll inevitably confront the true mastermind. That's just how these sort of things work themselves out.
...Fair point.

You mean you don't know who the leader is yet either?
<folds arms> I have a few guesses, but no real solid leads.
I had suspicions it was the Pope but then that Nicolai fellow defected from the church after stealing a holy object so that theory is out.
We don't have any real leads at all.

Yuri looks up at Roger's house.



There's a fortuneteller named Carla in Florence, Italy. She used to have a connection to the society long ago.



Why don't you go see her? I bet she'll cooperate with you if you mention my name.
Do you have a last name, Mr. Thomas?
Just say Thomas the Explorer. She will know it is me.

<scratches head> .........
Hmph! I don't think I like that guy.
Yuri, you're supposed to say stuff like that when the person isn't standing right there. That's just rude!
I am indeed still standing right here.
Yeah, well...

But we don't have any other ideas for rescuing Mr. Bacon.
Fine! We'll go. We'll go to that Flo... Flora whatever place.
Florence!
Right. That's what I said. "Florence."



I got it! Carla in Florence, Italy. Just gotta figure out where Italy is... Is it far from here? How long is that gonna take to walk to?
...Italy?
Yea.
It's back on the main continent, lad.
Ugh! Why can't I ever get involved in some adventure that just takes place in one city or an open world area that seems impressive but you can actually walk across in like 30 minutes?
Such is the nature of our world, I'm afraid.




That's all we can do in Wales at the moment. We may be returning here a few times in the future. But for now, it's time to close the door on this welsh chapter and make way for an Italian vacation to Florence, Italy. I hear it's lovely this time of year. You know, other than the ongoing world war and all...



That was a brisk chapter but we did get a handful of new entries for the old Library. Let's see what we've got...



Monsters:



Nothing says stealthy movement like be covered in plate armor and dragging three-foot knives around.



It's got to be a bummer when your own character profile calls you a dumbass.

Characters:



Hmm... were there any prominent Brits named Thomas that were active in clandestine dealings during the first World War? Hmm... Nope. Can't think of any.




Video: Episode 27 Highlight Reel
(You should probably watch this.)





Clawed Commander Concept Art - Slightly more intimidating when they're not hunched over like their absurd weapons are too heavy to actually lift.



Thomas the Explorer Art - You cannot be an English explorer in the early 1900s and neglect wearing poofy pants.

Rabbi Raccoon
Mar 31, 2009

I stabbed you dude!
I'd give that guy poo poo for just blurting out he's a member of a "certain organization" but...I probably would too

Speedball
Apr 15, 2008

He really should wear a motorcycle helmet.

ultrafilter
Aug 23, 2007

It's okay if you have any questions.


Everyone seems to have forgotten that Lenny already told them to go to Florence. That's not out of character for Yuri, but it seems a bit odd for the others.

Marmaduke!
May 19, 2009

Why would it do that!?
I totally don't remember that guy at all! Am I just getting old or is just that this game has so many more memorable parts to it? I'm also associating high pitched yips with the clawed looks but I think that's from the similar goons in FFX-2 (At least I hope so or my memory really is terrible!)

Picayune
Feb 26, 2007

cannot be unseen
Taco Defender
I always really liked the owl-with-snake crest. It's neat.

EggsAisle
Dec 17, 2013

I get it! You're, uh...

Marmaduke! posted:

I totally don't remember that guy at all! Am I just getting old or is just that this game has so many more memorable parts to it? I'm also associating high pitched yips with the clawed looks but I think that's from the similar goons in FFX-2 (At least I hope so or my memory really is terrible!)

Hey, he's downright ordinary-looking compared to most of this game's cast. I don't remember much about him either, but it won't be the last time we see him.

Crowetron
Apr 29, 2009

Can't be an explorer without jodhpurs. Dude seems legit to me.

Accordion Man
Nov 7, 2012


Buglord

Speedball posted:

He really should wear a motorcycle helmet.
Better safe than sorry.

Geostomp
Oct 22, 2008

Unite: MASH!!
~They've got the bad guys on the run!~
Sapientes Gladio has a bizarre mixture of horrific evil and comedic incompetence that make them ideal as villains in this story.

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Nohman
Sep 19, 2007
Never been worse.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J1MTBWGmnvg&t=300s

Semi-related. Someone dug through the original Shadow Hearts and recovered a mostly playable Kawashima playable character. RIP.

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