Register a SA Forums Account here!
JOINING THE SA FORUMS WILL REMOVE THIS BIG AD, THE ANNOYING UNDERLINED ADS, AND STUPID INTERSTITIAL ADS!!!

You can: log in, read the tech support FAQ, or request your lost password. This dumb message (and those ads) will appear on every screen until you register! Get rid of this crap by registering your own SA Forums Account and joining roughly 150,000 Goons, for the one-time price of $9.95! We charge money because it costs us money per month for bills, and since we don't believe in showing ads to our users, we try to make the money back through forum registrations.
 
  • Post
  • Reply
Moon Slayer
Jun 19, 2007

While this was the reveal that I was most eagerly looking forward to your reactions to, there's still a fair bit of plot left, and I don't think any of you (who haven't played it) have hit on exactly where it's going just yet.

Adbot
ADBOT LOVES YOU

TheGreatEvilKing
Mar 28, 2016





Why? Why is this a thing?

You know Claude doesn't like that name.

Radio Free Kobold
Aug 11, 2012

"Federal regulations mandate that at least 30% of our content must promote Reptilian or Draconic culture. This is DJ Scratch N' Sniff with the latest mermaid screeching on KBLD..."




Claude is God.

Even now, I think this is the single dumbest loving thing in the entire series.

Lord Koth
Jan 8, 2012

I'd point out that this type of thing can get so much worse even in mainstream media, not even looking at anime, given that if we're going with the Q reference then I can point to the Q episodes in Voyager. But yeah, Claude really being effectively a Timelord knockoff is incredibly dumb even for this. There's some so-so stuff that comes from that decision, but it doesn't make this point any less ridiculous.

Dalris Othaine
Oct 14, 2013

I think, therefore I am inevitable.
You know, with the leadup to the cease fire I thought that was kind of a nice ending. Betrayals, machination, tragedy, family, redemption, et cetera.

Then Chigara shot the admiral and oh god why does it keep going :gonk:

Moon Slayer
Jun 19, 2007

I could take or leave the whole "Claude is a Time Lord" revelation, but as I think it's pretty clear by now that I prefer to focus on the things that I like rather than dwell on the things I don't, I'll just say that I do appreciate that this revelation really does fit in well with some of the things that have happened. For example, Claude directing us to find Sola and also hiding Chigara's true nature (presumably a detailed medical scan would indeed reveal her to be a prototype). There were also a few other odd events that Ava brought up that we can now posit better theories on:

Moon Slayer posted:



There have been some strange coincidences since we left Cera. Do you remember when we performed an emergency warp out of the Mnemosyne Abyss?
How could I forget? We nearly got vaporized when the Ryuvian superdreadnought blew.
The emergency warp destination was generated by the computer when we first arrived at the Abyss. But, when we arrived at this random safe point, an entire PACT fleet was waiting for us.
Uhh ... I always just assumed they got lucky and we happened to be spotted by a PACT scout.
Next is Operation Wedding Crash. Despite our surprise appearance, Arcadius was not only completely prepared for our arrival with a holographic decoy of himself, but also had the Legion standing by to intercept us.
That's hardly surprising. Wouldn't Arcadius use cheap tricks like that? And since he was there, it's only natural the Legion would be parked nearby too.
But why would a race of what we now know to be disposable clones bother with a hologram?
Better safe than shot through the gut. I don't care if I had an army of clones, I'd still prefer my insides intact.
Finally, the ambush at Helion. Despite running in shadow mode, the enemy managed to effortlessly locate our position. Almost as if they knew all along where we were hiding.
Could it have been an equipment malfunction on our part? Maybe an energy fluctuation gave us away.



Captain, you are not seeing the obvious answer. We have a mole. Someone with inside knowledge of this ship's systems has been relaying our movements to PACT.

Since we now know that all the prototypes have a connection to each other it's more than possible "Arcadius" knew where to send the fleet to grab Asaga. She also knew that we were lurking around Helion because she could sense another prototype in the system.

Also this section:

Moon Slayer posted:

Ah, but there was another wrinkle in that plan! Somehow, the little Queen of Ryuvia could sense Chigara's connection to the prototype group consciousness. The ... mindstream ... as you lot call it. Poor girl ... subconsciously she could feel that something was wrong with Chigara, but couldn't tell exactly what. Trying to get the others to understand only to be ignored and dismissed as simply a girl jealous of her friend's boyfriend ...



It must have been ... torture.



Hahaha. But life's not fair~

I really like that explanation for Asaga's bizarre behavior!

chiasaur11
Oct 22, 2012



Night10194 posted:

The frustrating part is the whole PACT vs. Alliance vs. Neutral Rim and political side of this was the more fun part of the story. Even the dead ancient empire was okay, particularly as Solas is good. But this? We're going straight to the worst parts of anime town and it's the main plot, I see.

It's definitely a big step away from Gundam, but it is kind of in keeping with a lot of real robot anime.

Throwing in poorly explained supernatural nonsense and plot twists at the last minute is an occasional staple in Macross shows, and even more common in the works of Ryosuke Takahashi.

Dalris Othaine
Oct 14, 2013

I think, therefore I am inevitable.
That said, I didn't really mind the clone cabal. It's a little bit pat, but "ideally emotionless being learns to love and varying specimens of such have varying reactions to such" is an enduring trope for a reason, and introducing a third faction who were the "real" "evil" faction all along is an easy way to buy a peace treaty in your writing. Having their arc culminate in a single battle with a single avatar in a super-gundam is a little silly, but in keeping with the rest of the tone of the work.

Having one of them do remote possession on a main cast member to flip her switch to "evil" for exactly long enough to detonate the entire plot is, however, stupid. The clones' story was essentially complete from a storytelling perspective -- the "good" clone overcame the "evil" clone via the power of love, friendship, and gigawatt lasers. Also, since the conflicts so far have been based in space-pew-pew and personality conflicts, having the defeated faction pull out a win via friggin mind-control comes off as a complete rear end-pull. This isn't a twist ending so much as a prolapsed third act :v:

Using the "hive-mind" thing as a justification for that doesn't do much more than use sci-fi trappings to try and paper over the cracks in the writing, and having the "dumb" character be the wizard who "did it" is that, but much worse. I just don't get it - if they'd ended the game with the peace treaty and everyone heading off for their happy endings, it would have been fine. Instead they felt the need to have a twist ending for no reason and invent this contrived bullshit to try and make it fit.

Kudos to Moon Slayer though, you're drat near making this stuff work. I can't imagine what this was like originally!

Moon Slayer
Jun 19, 2007

Episode 21: Vexed to Nightmare
Part 1: Adrift



Captain ... are you all right?
...
Kayto …
… Chigara … ?
Not exactly.



You? … What … you saved me? Why? You could have just used the life pod to escape by yourself.



Why indeed ...
You guys have been trying to kill me for the better part of the war, and you just threw away your big chance to get what you want.
...
The old voice fades away … replaced by a new.
Voice?
...
Let’s get one thing straight. I'm not that pretty little C8 model we sent to worm her way into your heart. I didn't want to save you. Us L7s were made to carry out the will of our leader in combat. Our bodies are identical to the first Prototype, the one you humans came to call Veniczar Arcadius. But even she was but a stepping stone to Alpha ... The crowning achievement of Diode. In the end, we are called prototypes because we are earlier, failed incarnations of Alpha. We constantly hear their voices ... they whisper to us ... send us instructions. Even when we sleep.
(It’s like the lesser clones are essentially slaves. Of course ... I saw that firsthand when they mind controlled Chigara. Then could something have happened to free Lynn?)
You’re not getting instructions anymore, are you?
Idiot. The voices will never stop … but there is now a new voice. We are ... evolving. At a pace millions of times faster than you humans. But as to where we are heading … bah. I felt a premonition. A sudden, inexplicable urge to go down to the bridge to rescue you. For a short moment, I lost control of my body ... and had another assume control. I found you on the bridge and had to carry you into a lifepod. Such episodes where we lose control of our bodies are not uncommon for us prototypes ... but this time … hijacked by a rogue.
(That can only mean … she's still ...)



It doesn't make any sense. The C8 unit was under our control, sent by us to manipulate you.
Chigara ...
We sought to understand you. To learn what motivated you. So that we could use that knowledge to control you. But for her to break free of the leader's will ... she has become an aberration.

*beep*

Looks like the Alliance forces are falling back. I guess my gambit worked. With Grey and their entire chain of command killed at the ceremony and their secret weapon lost, they had no choice but to retreat.
How wonderful.
Yeah, well, it’s probably a moot point since we’ve got PACT ships on an intercept course. So instead of dying heroically with my ship I guess Fontana is going to put me up against a wall and shoot me. Given his falling out with Arcadius I imagine you’ll be right next to me. So thanks for the rescue, I guess.
So then do something about it.
There aren’t any friendly signals in range ...
Icari ...
Kryska ...
Ava ...
… anyone ...



… Asaga ...
!
Hey, I'm gonna break off and go to sector 94-71-31 ...
What!? But we just finished tying up all the life pods! PACT's gonna be on top of us in seconds! We gotta-
It's important!



No response on any frequency. The sensors on this pod are … not great, but they should still …
Well yeah, they’re probably all dead. See you in front of that firing squad, I guess.
Wait … hold on … hello? Is there anyone on this channel?
C-Captain! I knew it! I knew you were still alive!
Great to hear your voice, Asaga, but I'm about to receive a real red welcoming party here … can I get a tow?
Aye, aye, capt'n! Just ... uhh ... hang on to something tight!
Wha-
U-uck!



Okay, you’re locked in. Now things might get really bumpy!
I changed my mind, I’ll take the firing squad after all.

Poil
Mar 17, 2007

Ah. Of course. Eh, I've watched worse anime than this.

Moon Slayer posted:

I changed my mind, I’ll take the firing squad after all.
I never expected to be able to relate to this character so much. :v:

Moon Slayer
Jun 19, 2007

Nobody who's died has actually stayed dead because we live in a post-Homestuck world.

stryth
Apr 7, 2018

Got bread?
GIVE BREADS!
Please don't tell me we're gonna have evil Chigara as our new pilot? The psycho criminal was a bad idea, this is somehow even worse.

Also Moon slayers avatar matches the last few updates perfectly.

Moon Slayer
Jun 19, 2007

Cosette repaid our trust by immediately flying off, cackling about rebuilding her pirate crew, which was pretty much the most realistic way that could have all turned out.

And my av is from the webcomic Lore Olympus, a terrible and creepy webcomic about a middle-aged man grooming a teenager that's presented as a sweet romance. Come hang out in the Bad Webcomics thread for a taste of that madness!

Seraphic Neoman
Jul 19, 2011


I mean these people are also wrong though? We've been shown that Chigara genuinely had our best interests in mind and it took active possession by the aggressive hive mind to bring her to heel.
IDK Gothic Lollita's explanation sounds real dumb and wrong to me. I just don't know if the writing realizes this.


Dalris Othaine posted:

That said, I didn't really mind the clone cabal. It's a little bit pat, but "ideally emotionless being learns to love and varying specimens of such have varying reactions to such" is an enduring trope for a reason, and introducing a third faction who were the "real" "evil" faction all along is an easy way to buy a peace treaty in your writing. Having their arc culminate in a single battle with a single avatar in a super-gundam is a little silly, but in keeping with the rest of the tone of the work.

Having one of them do remote possession on a main cast member to flip her switch to "evil" for exactly long enough to detonate the entire plot is, however, stupid. The clones' story was essentially complete from a storytelling perspective -- the "good" clone overcame the "evil" clone via the power of love, friendship, and gigawatt lasers. Also, since the conflicts so far have been based in space-pew-pew and personality conflicts, having the defeated faction pull out a win via friggin mind-control comes off as a complete rear end-pull. This isn't a twist ending so much as a prolapsed third act :v:

Using the "hive-mind" thing as a justification for that doesn't do much more than use sci-fi trappings to try and paper over the cracks in the writing, and having the "dumb" character be the wizard who "did it" is that, but much worse. I just don't get it - if they'd ended the game with the peace treaty and everyone heading off for their happy endings, it would have been fine. Instead they felt the need to have a twist ending for no reason and invent this contrived bullshit to try and make it fit.

Kudos to Moon Slayer though, you're drat near making this stuff work. I can't imagine what this was like originally!

Also all this.
And say what you will, but super-gundams make for a great climax and you basically have no other way to end such stories without it feeling like an anticlimax. Even Arcadius had his own special carrier, this is just the natural evolution of the idea.

Moon Slayer
Jun 19, 2007

Moon Slayer posted:

Nobody who's died has actually stayed dead because we live in a post-Homestuck world.

Upon further consideration Veniczar Cullen and Admiral Grey both stay dead.

Poil
Mar 17, 2007

Moon Slayer posted:

Cosette repaid our trust by immediately flying off, cackling about rebuilding her pirate crew, which was pretty much the most realistic way that could have all turned out.
It's also kinda hilarious.

Who would've thought the insane, completely self serving and untrustworthy murderess would have betrayed their trust?

Dalris Othaine
Oct 14, 2013

I think, therefore I am inevitable.

Poil posted:

It's also kinda hilarious.

Who would've thought the insane, completely self serving and untrustworthy murderess would have betrayed their trust?

This did make me laugh though. Shine on you loony diamond, Cosette.

Radio Free Kobold
Aug 11, 2012

"Federal regulations mandate that at least 30% of our content must promote Reptilian or Draconic culture. This is DJ Scratch N' Sniff with the latest mermaid screeching on KBLD..."




Moon Slayer posted:

And my av is from the webcomic Lore Olympus, a terrible and creepy webcomic about a middle-aged man grooming a teenager that's presented as a sweet romance. Come hang out in the Bad Webcomics thread for a taste of that madness!
:yikes:
i hope you don't mind if i just...don't do that

Moon Slayer
Jun 19, 2007

Part 2: You Can Never Go Home Again



I can't believe I just found you like that! I just ... knew you couldn't have died! I just knew ...!
Almost did. But not quite.
Captain, I'll ... never stop protecting you again. I let this happen. I should never have left!
No, Asaga. None of what happened was your fault. I'm the one who needs to say sorry. Chigara ... Chigara really was a prototype.
I can't believe it! S-she betrayed you! She betrayed EVERYONE!
I ... was blinded. I just wanted someone … so badly. That I let down my guard ... I should have been more careful.
It's not your mistake, captain! She totally fooled everyone! To think she even had me completely fooled in the end! If only I was there to protect you … next time, I'll be there.
Thank you, Asaga. Hey Icari? How are you holding up over there?
You IDIOT!! IDIOT IDIOT IDIOT IDIOT! Tryin' to be the hero, when you're just an idiot! Don't be the hero! I just … want you to be an idiot from now … UWWAAHHH!
Okay then. Hi, Sola.
Captain. It was a grim moment when I thought all was lost and we had returned too late. Thanks to you, I feel more at home two thousand years from my own timeline, here, alongside all of you, than I did amongst the Ryuvians. You showed me that I was not a pawn to be sacrificed. So, I am … relieved that the captain who gave me a home still lives.
I’m also glad that things turned out this way. The crew still needs you. The mission is still far from over. PACT still retains control of Cera, and the massacre of most of the Alliance military leadership will no doubt return the war to their favor. You still have many things left to accomplish.
I'm sorry, everyone, for what I put you through. But I had to stay on board the ship. I still hear the echoes of Ava's voice that first day … “Captain … your order …” When I gave the order to abandon Cera to the PACT fleet … when I ... I let my sister die ... before my very eyes … And this time I saw it happen all over again, just when I thought we had won. Just when I believed everything was over. Our hard won peace completely shattered at my feet. That's when I knew. This time, I could not order the Sunrider to fall back. No matter the odds, no matter the strength of the enemy, this time I had to stand my ground, come what may. And only then could I be judged worthy of having done my duty.
… okay, and what good would you have been able to do dead!?
That’s … a fair point ...
… moron ...


Later …



Ahem. Well, captain, I see that you are still somehow in one piece, even after completely destroying the ship. Whereas after saving it, I wasn’t.
Heh. Hahaha … I suppose there really isn’t any justice in the universe, commander.



Also there was still a solid stack of paperwork yet to be completed onboard that ship when it was destroyed. Do not believe for a second that this gets you off the hook for the work that you owe me.
Understood ... I will try my best to make amends ... sir.



Yes, yes ... I certainly sympathize with your position ... captain.
So, fill me in, XO. What's the situation?



Following the destruction of the cruiser carrying the Tactical Paradox Core, the Alliance made a hasty retreat out of the system before the PACT fleet could organize an offensive. The Combined Fleet now holds position at the nearby Neutral Rim world of Barona, no doubt prepping a counterattack. PACT has responded by consolidating their forces at Cera. The two sides are basically now staring each other down. We managed to use the chaos during the retreat to squeeze everyone into eight life pods and then tow them to safety using our ryder squad, but as you can see, the situation is dire. It appears we are once again back to square one, as PACT still retains control of our homeworld. Even worse, we are now without a ship. We do have one advantage: for now, both the Alliance and PACT believe you are dead. And given our position, I would rather they keep that assumption.



I have managed to arrange safe passage on board this cargo ship to Tydaria, where you will go into hiding. In the meantime, I intend to head to Ryuvia Prime with our queen and see what military assets I can acquire.



Wait, me?
Yes, that would be you.



But I thought we were all gonna stay together!



Our first priority is keeping the captain from being discovered until we get a new ship. And with PACT now consolidating their forces at Cera, Ryuvia Prime has never been more open.



I have also heard interesting things about Ryuvia's moon from Alliance intel. Things that given recent events warrant further investigation, in my opinion.
Look, that “artificial moon” stuff is just folklore that people use to remind themselves how great we used to be. People say all sorts of things, like that moon's actually an enormous battle station with the firepower to destroy an entire planet or that it's actually a portal to another dimension ... but my dad told me himself that the moon's completely useless. Just another derelict piece of lost technology which doesn't do anything.
Well then, why was Veniczar “Arcadius” so intent on conquering Ryuvia Prime? During his occupation, “Arcadius,” or rather, the prototypes, funneled trillions of credits into excavating that moon. That moon holds something. And I intend to discover what it is.
Ah ... well I guess it's a lead, even though it seems like kind of a long shot.
While we are investigating Ryuvia's moon, one of us should remain with the captain to guard him. Someone with personal combat experience.



Then I volunteer.



Sola?



... I should not have ever left him in the first place.
But ... I ...
Will be coming with me. To Ryuvia Prime. You can help the captain by preparing a replacement vessel for him.



Besides, what good would you be in a fight? Seriously …



Fear not. I have no intention of ... any ... indiscretions ...



...
I’m not sure I like this new sense of humor that you’ve developed.



Well, in that case, I'll head out to find my old black market contacts. I doubt the Mining Union's gonna help us any more, what with us fighting an Alliance fleet and all. We're going to need a new source of equipment for what's to come. And mercs. I know where to get 'em.
The black market?
Doesn't look like we have a choice, now, does it? We are, essentially, fugitives.



And I … I intend to turn myself in to the Alliance!



What!? Y-you can't do that! They'll definitely have you tried for treason and hung!
No. I still believe the Alliance is a just and fair nation. What they tried to do at Cera was wrong. I will return and see what I can do to restore our support from the Alliance. If ... no, once the truth of what occurred at Cera comes out I believe that the system will vindicate us. There's no way anyone in the Solar Alliance would approve of destroying an entire planet! No matter the circumstances! We still need the Alliance's support or else we truly have no hope of ever liberating Cera!



You're bein' way too naïve. There's no way anyone in the Solar Congress is ever going to admit that they tried to collapse an entire Neutral Rim planet into a black hole!



We do not know that unless we try first!
Alright, don't come crying to me when I have to bust you out of a maximum security Alliance prison ...
Hah! If the worst really comes to pass, then I'm sure I can count on your expertise!



Well then, it's settled.
Not ... quite just yet … we have ... one more ... thing. To be honest I’m surprised she stayed quiet this whole time …



Hmph...



Prototype!
Captain!? What is she-
She's the reason why I'm still here. She ... saved me. Pulled me from the bridge while I was unconscious and put me inside the escape pod.
It's a trick. We already know this is how they operate. They seek to gain our trust.



I say we just throw her out the airlock right now! We don't need any of their lies anymore!



Wait, whatdaya mean, she saved you!? I thought the prototypes were our enemies!
Chigara … I think ... she's still alive. And she's trying to take control. Of all the prototypes. Or at least that's what Lynn seems to be saying. I think Chigara temporarily took control of Lynn and used her to save me.



No, captain! Don't listen to that nonsense! Besides, Chigara was a prototype just like the rest of 'em! And look at where believing her got us!
Well, maybe we should still keep her around. We need to keep tabs on the enemy, and Lynn here's our only source of intel. Even if she's one of them, we've got to use everything at our disposal right now. 'Sides, she's got kind of a big mouth ... I'm sure if we keep talking to her she'll keep spilling the beans.



In any matter, I do not believe we can perform an execution in here at this moment.. But perhaps later at another location ...
No. Look, she did save me, and I think we still have a lot we could learn by keeping her here.
Very well, captain. Well then, I believe our sessions will continue, prototype. You should thank the captain's graciousness, especially after everything your friends have done.



Whatever happens, make sure she stays away from the captain! Even if she's our prisoner, there's no way we can ever trust a prototype ever again!
The other prototypes can still assume control of her. We should still be careful.
You heard them, Lynn. Don't try to pull anything.
Yeah, yeah.

Poil
Mar 17, 2007

I'm sure *this* time the prototype(s) will not do any betrayals or inconveniences. :downs:

Moon Slayer
Jun 19, 2007

It's more Battlestar Galactica-as-an-anime: Chigara was Boomer, maybe Lynn will be Athena.

Moon Slayer fucked around with this message at 23:35 on Nov 2, 2020

Seraphic Neoman
Jul 19, 2011


I was hoping the girl would get her cafe all told.

Radio Free Kobold
Aug 11, 2012

"Federal regulations mandate that at least 30% of our content must promote Reptilian or Draconic culture. This is DJ Scratch N' Sniff with the latest mermaid screeching on KBLD..."




Why is she still here? What the heck.

Moon Slayer
Jun 19, 2007

Where would she go? They went straight from the escape pod to the cargo ship.

The bigger question is where is the entire rest of the nameless Sunrider crew? Are they just off screen in this cargo bay just like they were on the bridge?

Falconer
Dec 7, 2003

Did you know, I was THE MOON once!

Yes! You see, one night it turned out the moon had been STOLEN!

The animal people asked ME to take its place as I am so WISE and BRILLIANT!!

Moon Slayer posted:

The bigger question is where is the entire rest of the nameless Sunrider crew? Are they just off screen in this cargo bay just like they were on the bridge?

The Sunrider may as well have been run entirely by the PCs given how little attention is given to anyone else. Even the original Star Trek made an effort to give snippets of screentime to someone other than Kirk and Friends. Sure, those people were usually there to get gibbed (the Redshirt(s) of the Day) but they were at least THERE.

chiasaur11
Oct 22, 2012



Falconer posted:

The Sunrider may as well have been run entirely by the PCs given how little attention is given to anyone else. Even the original Star Trek made an effort to give snippets of screentime to someone other than Kirk and Friends. Sure, those people were usually there to get gibbed (the Redshirt(s) of the Day) but they were at least THERE.

So did the White Base, if we stay in-genre. (Job John is probably the most famous of the background characters in that.)

Having recurring faces in the background gives a grounding to a show. You don't have to give them their own arcs and big moments like Chad Chadan on Gundam Iron Blooded Orphans. Just seeing the same guys in the background again and again makes a setting feel more alive.

cokerpilot
Apr 23, 2010

Battle Brothers! Stop coming to meetings drunk and trying to adopt Tevery Best!

Lord General! Stop standing on the table and making up stupid operation names!

Emperor, why do I put up with these people?

Falconer posted:

The Sunrider may as well have been run entirely by the PCs given how little attention is given to anyone else. Even the original Star Trek made an effort to give snippets of screentime to someone other than Kirk and Friends. Sure, those people were usually there to get gibbed (the Redshirt(s) of the Day) but they were at least THERE.

That's actually somewhat addressed if I recall correctly

Moon Slayer posted:

Where would she go? They went straight from the escape pod to the cargo ship.

The bigger question is where is the entire rest of the nameless Sunrider crew? Are they just off screen in this cargo bay just like they were on the bridge?
This however isn't. And is a very good question.

Bliss Authority
Jul 6, 2011

I'm not saying it was witches

but it was witches

God, this freakin game.

I fiddle with Ren'py and it turns out that the copy a well-meaning friend got me wasn't obfuscated, so I dug around in the script files, because I too wanted to make a tactical mecha weeb game.

Saw where the romances were going and noped the hell out. There is such a thing as too anime.

Moon Slayer
Jun 19, 2007

Did somebody say "too anime!?"

(update tonight or tomorrow)

Radio Free Kobold
Aug 11, 2012

"Federal regulations mandate that at least 30% of our content must promote Reptilian or Draconic culture. This is DJ Scratch N' Sniff with the latest mermaid screeching on KBLD..."




oh boy here we go again :munch:

Psion
Dec 13, 2002

eVeN I KnOw wHaT CoRnEr gAs iS

Moon Slayer posted:

Did somebody say "too anime!?"

Nope! Nobody did.

No moon slayer noooooo :negative:


this latest swerve is still terribly bad but I guess they're trying to hit the reset button hard enough to put out the fires that presumably were raging among all, uh, however many fans this franchise has? I don't know.

I remember looking at the steam discussions for one of these games and saw what appeared to be an extremely long and detailed request from someone asking for a Cosette route. I didn't read it to confirm deeply but it started that way and my scrollbar said it kept going. Since - I hope - this person did not get their request I guess it's nice to know there's some limit the developers won't cross.

Psion fucked around with this message at 20:34 on Nov 5, 2020

cokerpilot
Apr 23, 2010

Battle Brothers! Stop coming to meetings drunk and trying to adopt Tevery Best!

Lord General! Stop standing on the table and making up stupid operation names!

Emperor, why do I put up with these people?
Actually speaking of the script files. For those of you that have access to them supposedly there is a special message if you beat the game on Space whale difficulty. As I have been led to believe that is an exercise of extreme masochism if I ever do go back and replay this game again it will not be on that difficulty what does the message say.

chiasaur11
Oct 22, 2012



Moon Slayer posted:

Did somebody say "too anime!?"

(update tonight or tomorrow)

I mean, I didn't, but now I'm returning to thinking about what shows are "most" anime. Like, Tatami Galaxy?

Not all that anime. It's about college students, the artstyle has small eyes, the writing is focused on witty exchanges and magical realism as opposed to over-the-top drama, and there's not that much fanservice.

Code Geass, on the other end, is very anime. It's about high school students who fight the government with giant robots, there's an absurdly powerful student council, all the personal drama is Incredibly Important, everyone has big eyes, there's frequent fanservice, and things can go off on a tangent for whole episodes as everyone gets into highschool shenanigans with making a giant pizza or a cat stealing someone's supervillain helmet, treating those things as just as important as terrorist plots to defeat the evil government.

I'm not saying that as a good or bad thing, to be clear. Gundam IGLOO is one of the less "anime" (in this sense) Gundam shows, and it sucks hard. Meanwhile, Studio Trigger tends towards anime-rear end-anime and they've done a lot of fun stuff. It's just another variable in how shows function, and something shows and games need to understand when approaching tone. FLCL goes full crazy, but it understands how drama beats work in that level of crazy. Meanwhile, this game just goes all over the map.

Moon Slayer
Jun 19, 2007

cokerpilot posted:

Actually speaking of the script files. For those of you that have access to them supposedly there is a special message if you beat the game on Space whale difficulty. As I have been led to believe that is an exercise of extreme masochism if I ever do go back and replay this game again it will not be on that difficulty what does the message say.

Nothing like that that I can see. :shrug:

Moon Slayer
Jun 19, 2007

Part 3: The Gang’s All Here



Captain … despite all this, we will always be by your side.
Ava ...



When you gave the order to abandon ship, and I believed that I had truly lost you … I can’t help but feel that … when you needed me the most, I …
Ava?



I was ... overcome with my responsibilities. The burden of my duty to liberate Cera made me forget about the real ties that bind us. I was too strict. And stiff … if I had just been there for you when you were hurting …



Ultimately I can’t help but feel that it was the rift I created between us that doomed our mission. The prototypes exploited it, and used it to put a spy inside our ranks. In hindsight ... I should have known. A ship where the captain and the XO cannot communicate is doomed to fail.
...
The road ahead will be a difficult one, commander. We’ll face it together. Can I count on you?



Yes … captain!



Hey, commander! That's unfair! What about me!? I was the one trying to warn you about Chigara the most, remember!



What is with this stupid love fest. I can't believe you guys still even like this guy! Let’s review: got back stabbed by his new girlfriend, ruined everything we've fought for the past year, and as if that weren’t enough vaporized our ship! The most unreliable space captain in the history of space captains!
I can't believe I’m not going to bail on these people.
Well then, we have our plan. Now as long as nothing else goes wrong …

*ZAP*



Eeaaahhh … that sure was a messy reentry ...
...
You have GOT to be kidding me.




Welcome back from your exile, Veniczar Kuushana. Your exploits against the New Empire are still legendary. I was there myself to witness your victory at the Battle of Threala.



Flattery will get you nowhere, Seisar.
Oh? By my order, your position as High Admiral of the Crimson Fleet is hereby reinstated. You once held back Imperial fleets a thousand strong using nothing more than dozens of scrapped pirate ships. Now, you will defend our homes from the coming imperialists not with obsolete frigates but with the full might of PACT's industrial base. With this I hope we can undo the critical mistake that was your exile by the madwoman impersonating Arcadius.
“Alice” ... were you ever told how she came to be a member of the Party?
No.
That’s right, you were just a boy when Arcadius picked you off the streets of Threala. Alice's failure was set the moment she set out to lead PACT. You know she was but a broken, destitute girl when Arcadius met her? Her home destroyed, her entire life in shambles … He took her in. Sheltered her. Gave her a new life inside the Party. Gave her family. And she fell hopelessly in love with him. But in the end, Arcadius sought peace with the New Empire. He believed that the Empire would recognize that it would have to change in order to end the bloodshed, while others in the Party sought a more radical approach. And in the end it was the angry mob which won. When we took New Eden ... the dam of anger after centuries of brutal oppression burst and the mobs took to the streets. Set everything ablaze. Raped. Pillaged. Tore down millennia of history. Alice was there that day, when Arcadius stood before the mobs, trying to protect the Emperor. When he was cut down, killed by the very people he had sought to liberate. In the end I think she sought justice for Arcadius. In her own twisted way. My single greatest mistake was not standing against her until after she had secured her power base.
Very well. If you are to lead PACT into a new age, free of the madness which Alice brought to our cause, then I will gladly take your fleet. Just know that if you prove unworthy of flying the crimson flag I will dispose of you myself.
I expect nothing less.
Then what is the situation, veniczar?



The Solar Alliance amasses for a full scale invasion of PACT space. After the Liberation Day Massacre this war will only end in one of two ways. Either we win, or they kill all of us. So, admiral … what’s our next move?
They assemble their fleets at Barona while our forces are still stationed at Cera. They had the advantage before, but now their brightest military minds have all been killed. Their fury will be their undoing. They intend to strike Tethra.
Tethra? But that is deep inside PACT space! Merely a few jumps away from New Eden itself!
We have amassed all our ships at Cera, leaving our interior undefended. The Alliance will seek a target which will deal the most damage to our will. And a heavily populated core world like Tethra would be too tantalizing a target if it were to remain completely undefended. And since they no longer have Ceran exiles working with them … no, they will perform a risky multi-stage warp from Barona to Tethra, and ignore Cera altogether. Grey was wise enough to avoid risky plans such as that, but with him dead and the Alliance public wanting blood … Send messages on our encrypted military channels. Inform all our ships to amass at Cera for a final defensive line. The Alliance will no doubt intercept our messages and believe we intend to remain at Cera. In the meantime, I shall take my fleet and hide in low orbit behind Tethra's moon. When the Alliance Fleet warps in, believing we are still at Cera … well, that will be the end of their offensive, as their ships will now be trapped deep inside PACT space with no safe warp back point to retreat.



Very well, Admiral Kuushana. The plan has my approval.
How wonderful. Comms! Give me a fleetwide channel.
ALL HANDS! I am Veniczar A. KUUSHANA, newly reinstated High Admiral of the Crimson Fleet! Some of you may have heard my name during the Compact Revolution. I am told that during my absence, the men and women of the martyr's banner shamed our cause with such cowardly tactics as bombing unarmed cities, mistreating prisoners of war, and flying with artificial beings who have never even understood the meaning of sacrifice! Know that as of now, such unbecoming conduct has no place in our fleet! I'll reform the lot of you until you all become worthy of that red uniform again! We are not the villains of this story! We are the proud men and women who fight for freedom, justice, and equality! The entire galaxy detests us now. And for good reason, for we have brought nothing but great suffering to the Neutral Rim and beyond. That ends NOW. Soon the entire galaxy shall sing songs of our heroism! Of our discipline! We will turn the tide of this war, and bring about a new age! The age of the People’s Compact, where peace replaces violence and freedom replaces blind obedience to demagogue begins today!
Kuushana, out!

Night10194
Feb 13, 2012

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

I am glad that Ava, too, cannot believe Claude isn't loving dead like she ought to be.

Moon Slayer
Jun 19, 2007

I wasn't joking about going "too anime." Here at the end it's clear that instead of a collaborative effort, the writer who really wanted to crank the anime up to 10 and the writer who wanted to do a deep dive into the factional politics of a space-communist regime just took separate sections of the script.

stryth
Apr 7, 2018

Got bread?
GIVE BREADS!
An ancient moon with the power to destroy worlds? I swear if they pull out a death star style "thing" I'm done.

Night10194
Feb 13, 2012

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

A game playing as PACT and trying to eject the space elf into space and navigate their politics would honestly have been pretty cool.

Adbot
ADBOT LOVES YOU

HerpicleOmnicron5
May 31, 2013

How did this smug dummkopf ever make general?


Moon Slayer posted:

I wasn't joking about going "too anime." Here at the end it's clear that instead of a collaborative effort, the writer who really wanted to crank the anime up to 10 and the writer who wanted to do a deep dive into the factional politics of a space-communist regime just took separate sections of the script.

It's a real shame that one drives more sales than the other, and it isn't the good part.

  • 1
  • 2
  • 3
  • 4
  • 5
  • Post
  • Reply