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 [Thanks to my good friend Square for the banner image!] Vampire Hunter D is a Japanese novel series written by Hideyuki Kikuchi, with illustrations by Yoshitaka Amano, best known for being the primary artist on the first six Final Fantasy titles. The stories focus on a quiet yet powerful dhampir named D who works as a mercenary vampire hunter in the year 12090 AD, and the chatty magical symbiote who lives in his left hand. Its unique setting and style has inspired a number of adaptations, including audio dramas, a manga, and an upcoming American comic series and animated series. Although the books only began releasing in English in 2005, the animated movies gained cult popularity in the West in the 90’s/00’s due to TV and film festival rotation, as well as being marketed as animation for adults in a time before that was popular. Vampire Hunter D is a survival horror game released in 1999 for the original PlayStation. While much of the game’s systems, progression and overall feel can be compared to the early Resident Evil games, Vampire Hunter D has a greater focus on action, replacing RE’s guns with swords and magic spells and adding new movement options such as jumping and strafing to the mix. These changes don’t all benefit the feel and occasionally make playing the game harder, but I appreciate what this game does to set itself apart. The story of Vampire Hunter D (PS1) is loosely based on the events of the then-upcoming movie Vampire Hunter D: Bloodlust, which itself was based on the third novel in the series, Demon Deathchase. It even includes some animation and art assets from the movie, though the voice cast does not return. Within the story, D has been hired to save a young woman who was kidnapped by a vampire named Meier Link, or give her a peaceful end if she’s already been turned. He enters Chaythe Castle where Meier Link has locked himself away, and now it’s time for him to fight through demons and avoid rival bounty hunters on his way to complete his job.  I’m the mercenary ChorpSaway and I will be in the driver’s seat for this mission. I’m a fairly new fan of the series, but I really liked watching Bloodlust and wanted to explore this alternate take on it. Joining me are TheJayOfSpade, FutureFriend and Taoc from the Barbarois, who know nothing of the series and who I have hired to help me out by making jokes. Together we’re going to save a young woman and continue to push the eventual extinction of all vampires. I will be completing the game with the best ending, but also showing the alternate scenes and endings in order to cover the entire contents of the game.  You’re free to talk about the content of Bloodlust or Demon Deathchase, since they’re largely different versions of the same general story, though I ask that you put spoiler tags on ending details until we get there. That said, I’d like to keep the discussion more focused on the game than the movie or book. It’s cool to talk about the differences but I don’t want the entire thread to just be about other media.            
ChorpSaway fucked around with this message at 18:45 on Sep 15, 2019 |
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Jul 21, 2019 18:01
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  D A  Left Hand A symbiote living inside of D’s left hand. A wise-cracking counterpart to his quiet host, he possesses a number of powerful abilities including harnessing and sensing magical energy, healing, and psychometry. Left Hand also provides a lot of knowledge and insight that D otherwise wouldn’t due to his reserved nature.  Countess Carmilla Elizabeth Bathory The now-deceased owner of the Castle of Chaythe and one of the highest-ranking members of the vampire nobility. During her life she was known as the Bloody Countess due to her cruel treatment of humans. Eventually, Carmilla’s insatiable bloodlust and vanity forced the King of the Vampires to kill her in her sleep and seal her soul away.  Baron Meier Link A vampire noble, known as Mayerling in the novel. He is known as a skilled warrior, and one of the few vampires who refuses to terrorize humans. However, he is now being hunted for kidnapping a young human woman from her village.  Leila Marcus A vampire hunter and member of the Marcus Brothers. The youngest of the famous group of vampire hunters, she’s no less capable than any of her brothers. Leila is a skilled mechanic and marksman, but tends to act on impulse and put herself at the forefront of danger.  Nolt Marcus A vampire hunter and member of the Marcus Brothers. A giant of a man, he uses a large hexagonal staff to fight. He may not be the brightest in his family, but Nolt has plenty of heart.  Borgoff Marcus A vampire hunter and member of the Marcus Brothers. The oldest of his siblings and the leader of the group, Borgoff is a jovial man who takes his work very seriously. He wields a crossbow and has an incredible ability to always hit his mark.  Kyle Marcus A vampire hunter and member of the Marcus Brothers. Swift and nimble, Kyle is generally more cautious than the rest of his family. He uses dual crescent blades to slice through his enemies.  Groveck Marcus A vampire hunter and member of the Marcus Brothers. A frail and gentle man, Grove assists his family using psychic projection, which allows him the ability to fly and attack using magical energy. Although he is impervious to damage via his projected form, this power is activated by inducing a seizure, which takes a heavy toll on his weak body.  Benge One of Meier Link's bodyguards and a mutant from the town of Barbarois. A wily character, Benge can create illusory traps and travel through shadows in order to sneak up on his enemies. His goofy personality is unappreciated by his allies, but his skills in assassination are unmatched amongst the Barbarois.  Charlotte Elbourne The daughter of the village elder who was kidnapped by Meier Link. Despite her predicament, Charlotte seems unwilling to leave the castle with D or the Marcus brothers. Although weak in comparison to the rest of the castle's inhabitants, she's steadfast and strong in regards to herself and her feelings.  Machira One of Meier Link's bodyguards and a mutant from the town of Barbarois. A loud and boisterous werewolf, Machira relies on his brute strength in order to get things done. Once he finds his mark, he will not stop until he's eviscerated them. ChorpSaway fucked around with this message at 18:02 on Aug 25, 2019 |
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Jul 21, 2019 18:01
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Until now my only experience with this franchise was seeing an AMV set to the Muppet Show version of Mah Na Mah Na (my mom's been an anime fan since the 80s and she got my brother hooked when he was young so they both watched a ton of AMVs during the 00s)
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Jul 21, 2019 18:39
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I'm sorry, I can't help but laugh every time the symbiote says something. Oh my god.
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Jul 21, 2019 19:17
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So the main character is Killer Bee's brother right?
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Jul 21, 2019 20:15
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Bloodlust holds up pretty well even today, so I'm in for this. The 80's movie... less so 
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Jul 21, 2019 20:29
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Imagine symbiote being voiced by the hypnotist from Office Space.
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Jul 22, 2019 01:46
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Oh man, this story. Had some cool moments in the book, but the Marcus brothers are seriously hosed up. Stories were pretty varied, but this is one I remember in particular due to some of the encounters at the end of the story. The writer was really, really picky about licensing out his stories, from what I remember, which is part of why there hasn't been a lot more games, shows, or movies based on the series made.
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Jul 22, 2019 02:50
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Oh man, I can't wait to see where Vampire May Bite will go from here.
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Jul 22, 2019 09:12
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GrandmaParty posted:I'm sorry, I can't help but laugh every time the symbiote says something. Oh my god. Left Hand is such a great companion to D. He has some pretty good moments throughout the game and the movie, adding a good sense of levity to a very overdramatic story. Chronische posted:Oh man, this story. Had some cool moments in the book, but the Marcus brothers are seriously hosed up. Stories were pretty varied, but this is one I remember in particular due to some of the encounters at the end of the story. The writer was really, really picky about licensing out his stories, from what I remember, which is part of why there hasn't been a lot more games, shows, or movies based on the series made. Yeah I was surprised at how nihilistic the book seemed to be in comparison to the movie. I definitely like that cast as a whole is more sympathetic in the adaptations. Also that's a shame because I know there are several Western comic adaptations, but it also seems like prime video game material given its very weird setting and general sense of adventure.
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Jul 22, 2019 18:40
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I'm in. I had this game. I was terrible at it but appreciate what it was trying to do. While I'm not a huge fan of the movies I own the first 10 or so novel. They are a guilty pleasure and want the rest. Every time strangling a bear is mentioned I lose my poo poo.
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Jul 23, 2019 01:54
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 UPDATE TIME!    It's time to continue exploring Castle Chaythe! Now that Meier Link has left us to our own devices, D has free reign to search for Charlotte, but monsters aren't the only thing that will get in his way. The security system is down, making it impossible to reach the second floor, so it's time to look for how to get the power back up!
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Jul 28, 2019 18:11
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There are some really weird mutants, monsters, and super-science in the series. Are there any other robots than the guard-dog things and the laser-eyes? There were such bizarre robots and machines in the series, which is a good part of why vampires dominated everything for so long, but also mutant or bioengineered monsters and cyborgs, such bizarre poo poo that he had to deal with that was wildly unfair against him despite his powers. I should really find my old books and give them another read!
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Jul 29, 2019 13:48
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Chronische posted:There are some really weird mutants, monsters, and super-science in the series. Are there any other robots than the guard-dog things and the laser-eyes? There were such bizarre robots and machines in the series, which is a good part of why vampires dominated everything for so long, but also mutant or bioengineered monsters and cyborgs, such bizarre poo poo that he had to deal with that was wildly unfair against him despite his powers. I should really find my old books and give them another read! There is some weird technology still to be seen but the game definitely leans closer to like, weird monsters and mutants in the vein of other contemporary survival horror titles. I mean the source material definitely stuck closer to "monsters" as well, but there's nothing like the Caroline fight from the book.
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Jul 30, 2019 19:20
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This is an interesting game. I read a couple of the VHD books, and I saw the movie forever ago, so this should be a trip down memory lane. Looks pretty bad to actually play, though.
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Aug 3, 2019 22:25
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UPDATE TIME!  Today, it's time for D to check out the second floor of the castle! Thanks to his expert computer skills, he can now reach the second floor of Castle Chaythe through the security doors, but what lies beyond is far more dangerous than anything he's seen of the first floor. There are traps around every corner, ready to capture D if he makes even a single misstep. Will he be able to find his mark unharmed, or will he find himself caught in Meier Link's machinations? New Characters Introduced This Episode Nolt Marcus A vampire hunter and member of the Marcus Brothers. A giant of a man, he uses a large hexagonal staff to fight. He may not be the brightest in his family, but Nolt has plenty of heart. Borgoff Marcus A vampire hunter and member of the Marcus Brothers. The oldest of his siblings and the leader of the group, Borgoff is a jovial man who takes his work very seriously. He wields a crossbow and has an incredible ability to always hit his mark. Kyle Marcus A vampire hunter and member of the Marcus Brothers. Swift and nimble, Kyle is generally more cautious than the rest of his family. He uses dual crescent blades to slice through his enemies. ChorpSaway fucked around with this message at 18:08 on Aug 4, 2019 |
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Aug 4, 2019 18:05
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ChorpSaway posted:
I'm pretty sure you used the wrong image; don't worry, I'll fix it ChorpSaway posted:
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Aug 4, 2019 20:26
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UPDATE TIME!  With the basement conquered, D now finds himself in an unexplored portion of the castle, one full of high technology and new dangerous opponents. However, in his exploration he finds himself blocked once again by faulty equipment. Can D put on his electrician hat once again in order to continue on his way, or will he give up his lead due to the unpaid extra work involved? New Characters Introduced This Episode Groveck Marcus A vampire hunter and member of the Marcus Brothers. A frail and gentle man, Grove assists his family using psychic projection, which allows him the ability to fly and attack using magical energy. Although he is impervious to damage via his projected form, this power is activated by inducing a seizure, which takes a heavy toll on his weak body.
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Aug 11, 2019 18:05
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Man, the Marcus brothers are dropping like flies! How long is this game? Doesn't feel like they should be dying so fast, even considering they cut the entire leadup to the castle.
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Aug 11, 2019 19:18
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Chronische posted:Man, the Marcus brothers are dropping like flies! How long is this game? Doesn't feel like they should be dying so fast, even considering they cut the entire leadup to the castle. We're maybe halfway through the game now? Though if you didn't know where to go and actually had to explore the castle I could imagine you could go hours between these cutscenes and there'd be way more tension when the second and third person you never met died.
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Aug 12, 2019 19:29
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Is... is Meier Link here to commit suicide? "I am tired", "I came here to end my journey" I think we've got a depressed vampire here.
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Aug 13, 2019 02:43
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TwoPair posted:Is... is Meier Link here to commit suicide? "I am tired", "I came here to end my journey" I think we've got a depressed vampire here. I mean, the computer screen showed a pretty clear plan. Assuming that the shape of the thing was real, maybe he wants to blast off to the moon? I bet the vampires have moon-palaces.
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Aug 13, 2019 03:44
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man, that is one god awful knockoff of the Marx brothers hangin around in this swank vampire pad. not a one of the fuckers has raised so much as a chuckle out of me so far. Smh e: the Marxes would 100% be better in this setting at both comedy and vampire hunting 
SatansOnion fucked around with this message at 04:14 on Aug 13, 2019 |
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Aug 13, 2019 04:12
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It seems like splitting up is the number one plan for vampire hunters. I’m surprised Lefty hasn’t popped off D’s wrist and skittered away only to fall victim to a mousetrap.
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Aug 13, 2019 05:32
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Bar Crow posted:It seems like splitting up is the number one plan for vampire hunters. I’m surprised Lefty hasn’t popped off D’s wrist and skittered away only to fall victim to a mousetrap. That is something he can do, and has done on occasion before. Weird little creature, it is.
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Aug 13, 2019 06:00
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SatansOnion posted:man, that is one god awful knockoff of the Marx brothers hangin around in this swank vampire pad. not a one of the fuckers has raised so much as a chuckle out of me so far. Smh "I don't mind being killed, but I resent hearing it from a character whose teeth come to a point!" "I am the same Sam Grunion who solved the international blood-thinning swindle. The Sacred Ancestor was baffled; Left Hand was baffled. They sent for me and the case was solved immediately: I confessed."
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Aug 13, 2019 06:16
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UPDATE TIME!  With another of D's handyman jobs completed, he now has access to the third floor of the castle again! With the Sun Tower key card in hand, he goes to explore this new area, but a crafty enemy is waiting for him in secret, ready to strike D when he least suspects it. Will D be able to survive the encounter with this shadowy figure, or will he find himself at the mercy of this new assailant? Perhaps if he had some help... Characters Introduced This Episode Benge One of Meier Link's bodyguards and a mutant from the town of Barbarois. A wily character, Benge can create illusory traps and travel through shadows in order to sneak up on his enemies. His goofy personality is unappreciated by his allies, but his skills in assassination are unmatched amongst the Barbarois. Charlotte Elbourne The daughter of the village elder who was kidnapped by Meier Link. Despite her predicament, Charlotte seems unwilling to leave the castle with D or the Marcus brothers. Although weak in comparison to the rest of the castle's inhabitants, she's steadfast and strong in regards to herself and her feelings. Bar Crow posted:It seems like splitting up is the number one plan for vampire hunters. I'm surprised Lefty hasn't popped off D's wrist and skittered away only to fall victim to a mousetrap. Well boy howdy do I have a treat for you in this episode!
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Aug 18, 2019 18:30
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SatansOnion posted:man, that is one god awful knockoff of the Marx brothers hangin around in this swank vampire pad. not a one of the fuckers has raised so much as a chuckle out of me so far. Smh 
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Aug 18, 2019 19:46
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Very disappointed there wasn't a Left Hand stealth section Also Charlotte looks like Belle from Beauty and the Beast to me (in her game model at least) and I have to wonder if that was intentional or if I'm seeing things and yellow is just a good color
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Aug 19, 2019 06:27
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TwoPair posted:Very disappointed there wasn't a Left Hand stealth section I noticed the same thing. It seems intentional, since the story shares some of the beats. You know, with more horrible murders.
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Aug 19, 2019 15:12
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TwoPair posted:Very disappointed there wasn't a Left Hand stealth section
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Aug 19, 2019 16:54
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UPDATE TIME!  Today, after defeating Benge and conquering the Sun Tower, it's time for D to head across the castle to the Moon Tower in search of Charlotte! Luckily this time he finds her without much interruption, but of course no job is ever that easy! D will have to face off against another of Meier Link's bodyguards, as well as other hidden enemies who have been keeping their eyes on D... Characters Introduced This Episode Machira One of Meier Link's bodyguards and a mutant from the town of Barbarois. A loud and boisterous werewolf, Machira relies on his brute strength in order to get things done. Once he finds his mark, he will not stop until he's eviscerated them.
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Aug 25, 2019 18:01
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I didn't think about it last episode, but when you think about it, VHD was (and perhaps still is) ahead of the times - usually it's the moon that gets blown up/destroyed in some way, not the sun. Also Lefty eating a sun puts him way above lesser celestial object eaters such as Galactus and Unicron. e: I kinda want a game that parodies old timey games where you're a guy and in the intro some flying demon steals your girl, but instead you're some demon and suddenly an rear end in a top hat knight captures your (not necessarily female) love interest and you gotta chase him down Zanzibar Ham fucked around with this message at 18:21 on Aug 25, 2019 |
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Aug 25, 2019 18:16
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Zanzibar Ham posted:I didn't think about it last episode, but when you think about it, VHD was (and perhaps still is) ahead of the times - usually it's the moon that gets blown up/destroyed in some way, not the sun. That seems like basically Meier Link's story. Just wants to run away to space with his girl and a bunch of prick bounty hunters won't leave him the hell alone.
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Aug 27, 2019 05:08
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TwoPair posted:That seems like basically Meier Link's story. Just wants to run away to space with his girl and a bunch of prick bounty hunters won't leave him the hell alone. That's pretty much the story, yes. The bounty hunters are WAY bigger assholes in the novel. WAY bigger. Still, this is totally a situation where D, at least, could be persuaded to just go the hell away by explaining what's going on instead of being coy and just telling him to go away. Or even to help drive off pursuit himself!
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Aug 27, 2019 05:37
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TwoPair posted:That seems like basically Meier Link's story. Just wants to run away to space with his girl and a bunch of prick bounty hunters won't leave him the hell alone. Yes, that's why I thought of it, but I'm thinking a more 2D, Ghouls & Ghosts'ish look (though hopefully not similar jump mechanics).
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Aug 27, 2019 09:34
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UPDATE TIME!  We've killed all the bodyguards. We've dodged the owner of the castle's dark magic. We've found all of the security key cards. There's nothing left that can stop D from reach Meier Link and completing his mission... minus a final locked door hidden behind the large portrait in the foyer. It's time to clean up the castle, hunt for clues, and finally solve the last puzzle needed to get us to the end of this journey! However, it's never that easy, and it looks like someone's coming back for us...
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Sep 1, 2019 18:50
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Chronische posted:That's pretty much the story, yes. The bounty hunters are WAY bigger assholes in the novel. WAY bigger. D will even get paid if he doesn't bring Charlotte back. He could just lie and say he was forced to destroy her after she became a vampire.
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Sep 2, 2019 01:12
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Oh hey I recognize that awful light ball... thing room as a puzzle in Sonic 06. Truly D was a trailblazer for video games
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Sep 2, 2019 04:21
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I was going to ask why D wasn't wearing his all red outfit, but then I realized I was mixing this up with Hellsing. Vampire animes I last watched in highschool all tend to blend together. It's interesting to see a more action oriented attempt at a Resident Evil game, even though this one obviously falls a bit short.
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Sep 2, 2019 05:36
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