Since FFIX fan-stuff has come up, I thought it'd be appropriate to post this video which has someone singing FFIX's theme (which is new to me since I never knew the game had a vocal) with various fan-art shown during the song. If it's been posted before, I apologize.
At any rate, I'm dropping it in a spoiler box just in case anyone who's actually new to the game won't be spoiled by any of the pictures depicting characters not yet seen.
Don't care for a lot of the art, but the song was very well done.
Edit: You know, the other ones that person did where she made up her own lyrics to go with the songs feels like it should bother me, but they're generally well done.
IX is also distinct in that it, unlike 95% of the other Final Fantasy games, sans IV, actually has a satisfying ending.
(Which I'm sure we'll discuss when we get there, but not until then.)
Apart from Vivi. I mean WTF.
Real FF9
Well, I think that's pretty satisfying as an ending for him. It's very sad, but everything else about the ending is positive. Freya finds Sir Fratley and he gets his memory back, Steiner & Beatrix finally acknowledge their love, Zidane & Dagger are together, Eiko finds some parents and Regent Cid & Hilda get the child they always wanted. Amarant leans the value of friendship and quits his assassin ways... Quina gets a job cooking for Queen Garnet, etc etc.
The great thing about FF9 is that despite all these happy endings, it's balanced out by the fact that shedloads of people died along the way there, which makes it very, very bittersweet. That feeling - the decimated Burmecia, Cleyra and newly rebuilt Alexandria, the still-being-rebuilt Lindblum - and all the people who died in the process - are very present in the ending.
Vivi's sad ending is a very personal one to the player, though. But even that is bitter-sweet. He spends the enitre game saddened by the fact he doesn't understand why he's there and worse still that his people (Black Mages) are hated. The bitter is of course that he dies and the fact he has a short lifespan like the other Black Mages is revealed. The sweet is that he works out how to create more like him, and they are accepted into the community as much as anyone else.
IX is also distinct in that it, unlike 95% of the other Final Fantasy games, sans IV, actually has a satisfying ending.
(Which I'm sure we'll discuss when we get there, but not until then.)
Apart from Vivi. I mean WTF.
Real FF9
Well, I think that's pretty satisfying as an ending for him. It's very sad, but everything else about the ending is positive. Freya finds Sir Fratley and he gets his memory back, Steiner & Beatrix finally acknowledge their love, Zidane & Dagger are together, Eiko finds some parents and Regent Cid & Hilda get the child they always wanted. Amarant leans the value of friendship and quits his assassin ways... Quina gets a job cooking for Queen Garnet, etc etc.
The great thing about FF9 is that despite all these happy endings, it's balanced out by the fact that shedloads of people died along the way there, which makes it very, very bittersweet. That feeling - the decimated Burmecia, Cleyra and newly rebuilt Alexandria, the still-being-rebuilt Lindblum - and all the people who died in the process - are very present in the ending.
Vivi's sad ending is a very personal one to the player, though. But even that is bitter-sweet. He spends the enitre game saddened by the fact he doesn't understand why he's there and worse still that his people (Black Mages) are hated. The bitter is of course that he dies and the fact he has a short lifespan like the other Black Mages is revealed. The sweet is that he works out how to create more like him, and they are accepted into the community as much as anyone else.
Vivi, god my whole family loves him. He's adorable and he develops really well. Also, I think that Zidane needs more credit for development, I know he's all up in Dagger's buttocks, but he shows how much he cares about Vivi and relates to him. He cares about all the characters, not just the one with titties.
IX is also distinct in that it, unlike 95% of the other Final Fantasy games, sans IV, actually has a satisfying ending.
(Which I'm sure we'll discuss when we get there, but not until then.)
Apart from Vivi. I mean WTF.
Real FF9
Well, I think that's pretty satisfying as an ending for him. It's very sad, but everything else about the ending is positive. Freya finds Sir Fratley and he gets his memory back, Steiner & Beatrix finally acknowledge their love, Zidane & Dagger are together, Eiko finds some parents and Regent Cid & Hilda get the child they always wanted. Amarant leans the value of friendship and quits his assassin ways... Quina gets a job cooking for Queen Garnet, etc etc.
The great thing about FF9 is that despite all these happy endings, it's balanced out by the fact that shedloads of people died along the way there, which makes it very, very bittersweet. That feeling - the decimated Burmecia, Cleyra and newly rebuilt Alexandria, the still-being-rebuilt Lindblum - and all the people who died in the process - are very present in the ending.
Vivi's sad ending is a very personal one to the player, though. But even that is bitter-sweet. He spends the enitre game saddened by the fact he doesn't understand why he's there and worse still that his people (Black Mages) are hated. The bitter is of course that he dies and the fact he has a short lifespan like the other Black Mages is revealed. The sweet is that he works out how to create more like him, and they are accepted into the community as much as anyone else.
I'm pretty sure Fratley doesn't regain his memory (at least not all of it), he just learns to love Freya again.
Vivi, god my whole family loves him. He's adorable and he develops really well. Also, I think that Zidane needs more credit for development, I know he's all up in Dagger's buttocks, but he shows how much he cares about Vivi and relates to him. He cares about all the characters, not just the one with titties.
His animations really sell it. Vivi's, I mean. They're all wonderful, especially that little worrying thing he does when he fiddles with his hat. You'd have to be a soulless monster not to like Vivi.
Plus he's got a great theme. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wytuLbHYpwU
Zen, worry not, POASTS shall be MAEK'd as soon as these pictures upload. It'd be a lot faster of my method of taking screenshots wasn't so counter-intuitive.
Vivi, god my whole family loves him. He's adorable and he develops really well. Also, I think that Zidane needs more credit for development, I know he's all up in Dagger's buttocks, but he shows how much he cares about Vivi and relates to him. He cares about all the characters, not just the one with titties.
His animations really sell it. Vivi's, I mean. They're all wonderful, especially that little worrying thing he does when he fiddles with his hat. You'd have to be a soulless monster not to like Vivi.
Plus he's got a great theme.
<snip>
Zen, worry not, POASTS shall be MAEK'd as soon as these pictures upload. It'd be a lot faster of my method of taking screenshots wasn't so counter-intuitive.
Man, that sounds so much like Strago's theme in FF6. I like this one better though.
I don't think the Queen could backstab anyone. Her gut would hit you before the knife did, you'd have plenty of time to get away.
Tall? That's the description you give? Why not 'fruity fop' or 'tall woman'
Shiny reflects on how everything changed when Kuja came. Tot Nosenheimer left around the same time too.
Come on Shiny, you're a mage, do something.
Oh, right, white mage. Well...cast Panacea! Maybe that'll help.
"I was so worried I almost didn't finish that whole roast chocobo and four chocolate creme pies."
We're given the choice on whether to believe her or not. I like to think Shiny is smart enough to know when she's been lied to so I go with 'not'.
Kuja: "Yes, an act from a beautiful play... There is a knight on a
white horse.. ...and a beautiful princess. It is a tale of tragic
love. Overcome by grief, the princess must sleep for a hundred
years..."
Shiny: "You... I've seen you before..."
Kuja: "It appears we were destined to meet again. My sweet angel, come
to me. I will take you to a world of dreams."
[Kuja waves his hand and magic puts Shiny to sleep.]
If this was a video you'd be able to see them cartwheeling like maniacs.
Meanwhile, in Cleyra...
"I mean, a sandstorm in the desert? What the fuck is up with that?"
What guy! There was Brahne, the chick with the eyepatch, the chick with the thong...
The group decides to head back down to find out why the sandstorm disappears. We gain control of Ratchel and meet them at the exit.
I'm sure Cleyra will be prefectly fine.
Down through the Trunk a bit, we find...
"Two women want to grapple with me! And they're wearing hot uniforms! Thank you, Lord! Wait, why do they have swords? "
We fight through like 4 separate battles of Alexandrian soldiers. They suck. Seriously. If you get them low on health, they run away, robbing you of precious AP points and experience.
The pacifistic Cleyrans don't offer up much resistance, having sworn off war long ago. I guess they sort of forgot how to fight. Remember kids: This is why we can never stop fighting. GO AMERICA FUCK YEA
More soldiers. STOP RUNNING AWAY YOU WHOREBAGELS
Black mages, too!
Hell yeah.
From here we have options on where to go. Choosing one way lets you save people, but the otherway ends up with the people being slaughtered.
Oh hey more people to save! The dancers were here because they liked the place (I figure they wanted to die in a place they like.) Bowie says he likes this place too, the whole town, and the people in it, and he'll protect them all.
(that's everyone by the way)
How about a thank you?
Guess we're fucked! Well, they're fucked. We'll be fine.
The 'stranger' proceeds to fuck up all the black mages in seconds.
Ratchel: "I began my search for you immediately after you left Burmecia. Where have
you been all these years...? To what corners of the world have
you traveled? My dear Fratley... I climbed the highest mountains
only to hear rumors of your victories... I searched the deepest
valleys only to find your footsteps. But I never found you. And
in the end, I heard something... Something unbearable!"
Fratley: "Ratchel, you say? I believe this is the first time we have met..."
Ratchel: "What...did you just say?"
Fratley: "I'm sorry, but I cannot remember you for the life of me..."
Ratchel: "Y-You jest! You cannot have forgotten me! It's me, Ratchel!
Ratchel of Burmecia!!"
Fratley: "I am sorry..."
Ratchel: "No..."
Bowie: "Wait a minute! You can't be serious! It's Ratchel, your lost
love! How could you forget her!? Well, say something!!!"
Freya: "That is enough, Bowie..."
Bowie: "What!!!? You've been searching for this guy for years, and
now he's right here!"
King of Burmecia: "Fratley! Do you remember me, the King of Burmecia?"
Fratley: "Not at all, I'm afraid."
King of Burmecia: "Impossible! Have you forgotten everything that has
passed!? Then let me ask you this: What brought you
back to Burmecia? Is it not because you learned of
the crisis in Cleyra, whose people are our brothers?"
Fratley vaguely remembers being a dragon knight, and that's why he came. And then he jumps away, off to do battle elsewhere, or something. Ratchel is obviously sad about this turn of events, but she's happy to know that Fratley isn't dead.
Hey, weren't we under siege by an invading force of soldiers backed up by black mages?
Oh. Fuck.
She runs off and Bowie and friends run after her. Happily there's a place to save in the form of a Moogle (and more mail, hooray) and I didn't get a screenshot, but all the townspeople that we saved are there and give us items when we talk to them. Being nice is it's own reward, but I won't turn down elixirs.
"Alright guys, let's just say goodbye to the lady who kicked our ass without even trying last time."
WAIT WHY ARE WE EGGING HER ON
Yep, another one of these fights. Survive before she reduces us to 1 hp and runs off. She's tougher than before, but the same tricks. Shock, which pretty much kills someone instantly; Lightning Slash, which doesn't really hurt thanks to all the 50% Lightning damage gear I have on, and...that's it, I think. This is the first boss battle in which I didn't steal every item from the boss. I couldn't get the goddamn Ice Brand, and I tried three times. :x
I suck at getting screenshots of this, but the black mage turns into a sort of glowing orb, which Beatrix jumps into, and then it zooms off.
Vivi follows suit when another black mages does the portything, as does Ratchel. No says he/she doesn't like heights and runs off.
She was always pretty helpless. I mean, she cast healing spells and could only bonk an enemy for like 10 damage. We fought sparrows in the beginning of the game that hit way harder than her. Yes, Shiny is weaker than a sparrow.
The 'No' here is him saying 'No' as in 'Quina', not 'No' as in 'No'.
"She is feeling fat and sassy, ma'am."
I kind of find her comments refreshing. You'd think someone in her position would say, "That was wrong. Our Queen didn't have to kill all those innocent people." Beatrix, however, says, "That was wrong. Our Queen should let me kill all those innocent people!"
"Pick up that can!"
"Yeah, someone finally thinks Awesome was right!"
It's nice to know that even world-famous swords(wo)men get shit on by their bosses. It's comforting.
Yeah, what? Wow.
Well, we could go and kill Brahne. I mean, she couldn't be that hard to kill. And we fought the guards and mages, they're easy as hell.
They turn into the black mage-like twinkleballs and fly away. I can't get screenshots of those for whatever reason. It's like taking a picture and always getting someone who is blinking.
It's been 2 days. Chill! Man, people weren't this excited for my thread.
Yeah but FF7 was dumb. And it's been done. Now if you'll excuse me I'll be hiding from the vitriol that's about to spew forth like lava from Vesuvius on August 24, 79 AD to coat the Herculaneum that is this thread.
This part annoys me because every time I've played through it I forgot you can/need to press left and right more than once every swing.
Also, way to break the fourth wall, Marcus.
Once we crash into the wall and fall onto the walkway, we make our way to a giant ladder going up as waves of those female knights assault us. They're not hard but goddammit they still run when low on hit points.
A fun fact: If I had a controller that auto-pressed buttons, you could use this place to autolevel, because with the Blood Sword it's impossible for Steiner to die. That's boring though, so I wouldn't even if I had one.
Saving people that Awesome doesn't want saved = heartless
Pretend you saw three flashes of light spiral onto the ground first.
They run off of course. Oh, those kids! Always running.
You just made that up. You could have said eight hours and then the clock would be at eight hours. Way to go, Bowie.
OKAY YES LETS GO TIME IS A'WASTING
I didn't get too many shots of me running around, as I was, well, just running around through the castle, dodging guards (with four people they're easy but TIME OMG TIME)
What? Fuck you, book. You're going down.
Maybe this wasn't a great idea.
Yeah. Probably not.
Allow me to explain. This is an optional boss named Tantarion. You can only challenge him twice in the game: Right now, and later in Disc 3. I don't think I ever got around to killing him in my last playthroughs so I wanted to give him a go this time. He's pretty tough, at least at first. The fight starts out as him in book form, where uses a few moves: Paper Storm, which damages everyone a lot (it kills Vivi in one hit), Edge, a physical attack that hits for a lot, and Doom, which casts Doom (10 slow seconds and then you die). He doesn't take damage as normal, rather, you hit him for a bit of damage (Awesome normally hits for 500, and was hitting for like 40) and he'll flip to a page equal to the damage you've dealt to him. If you manage to go from 149 to say 201, he won't pop out, but rather start over at page one. Fun. If you get him to 150-200, he'll pop up into his true form, that cuddly Pokemon motherfucker up there. Once here, he's pretty easy. He'll stay this way until you hit him with a physical attack, so Vivi's Fira and Awesome's Fira Sword are invaluable and do a lot of damage. The only move he does in this form is cast Poison, and everyone is immune to Poison. WORDS WORDS WORDS. Sorry!
In the end I kill him after stealing 3 of his 4 items (No Demon Mail, but my relief that I killed him overwhelmed my desire for stealing everything), and he levels my dudes up a few levels, gives 30 AP AND drops Running Shoes. What do they do?
Fuck. Yes.
HMMMM A SWITCH! WHY DON'T I PRESS IT AND SEEEEEEEEE </sotn_imp>
Oh god, these stairs go on forever...
:whistle:I'm stiiiiiill in a dreeeeeeam, Snaaaake Eeeeeeaterrrrr~:whistle:
"Does anyone else hear that music?"
We FINALLY get a chance to beat these guys up. They're really not that hard. One will give the other the power to cast a big spell (Meteor or Flare) and if you don't hit the one who got the power, he'll cast it. If you do hit him, it's interrupted. That's it. They're easy as hell. Even Vivi bonking them with his staff is enough to interrupt their casting. What losers.
You can't tell from the screenshot, but their animation is hilarious. They're bouncing on their butt. Like Gummi Bears. Bouncing here and there and everywhere.
"So...does that mean I can have her now?" :winky:
Awesome lives up to his name. Oh, you!
Oh, hey, the Princess isn't dead. That's good.
:winky::winky::winky::winky::winky:
They had food, she wanted food, it's pretty simple really.
Terri Schiavo, White Mage
Aww, he misses it.
Well at least we're safe here, so rest up and
Oh fuck you guys.
ICE BURN
Alright, this is interesting. The last two times we fought Beatrix, her theme (Sword of Doubt) was playing. This time though, it's the actual boss theme. Maybe we can win this, guys! Let's get her!
Or not.
Yeah, wait a minute. This is the third time you could have killed them, but instead you get everyone down to one hit point and then leave!
Not what I was getting at, but okay, let's roll with it.
Denial is a river and Awesome is the helmsmen of the S. S. Refutation.
Does he hate to admit that every woman is right or just this one?
"The whole genocide thing...we cool, right?"
Through processes unknown, Beatrix manages to break the sleep spell on Shiny, probably by siphoning off a bit of her magical Plot Armor that keeps me from killing her even though really she isn't all that tough. I mean, we just beat a giant book that killed us with PAPER.
You forget to add sprinkles to a five-gallon banana split and this is how you get treated.
Baby don't hurt her, don't hurt her, no more
I'm not really sure what's amusing about it.
Oh, one of them belongs to the race that the other lead an invading army and killed a lot of. Okay, I guess that's a little funny.
Vivi, Bowie, Awesome, and Shiny run off through the secret passage we just went through while Ratchel and Beatrix stay behind to fight.
"After that, fight Jubjub birds and Jabberwocks, you will!"
Oh fuck yes we get to control Beatrix this is going to rock yesyesyesyes
what
Beatrix has a bad case of Magus Syndrome.
Running BACK downstairs (fighting off black mages and also some Bandersnatches. Bandersnatchii?)
This better not be leading where I think it's leading.
Yes, why.
YES WORRY he does a ton of damage and I never have to heal him thanks to his sword!
Shiny: "Awesome... Everybody is fighting for me..."
Bowie: "That's right. They're all fighting for you...and for
Alexandria... They're moving forward, giving everything they
got! So we have to move on, just like they are. We can't
stop now! Come on!"
Shiny: "But..."
And then another dog attacks us.
....
No! You're not going to win me over by using your full name. You leaving the party leaves us with a huge damage gap.
Dammit. I can't stay mad at him.
...
Hmm this place looks kind of familiar...
Oh, fuck you both.
"I hope two dudes come out of nowhere and punch you in the head!"
"...I hope Shiny's clothes suddenly vanish."
No kickass Gargan Roo music this time.
Bowie: Shiny? Are you alright?"
Shiny: "......"
Bowie: "Forget I asked. I'm sure you have a lot on your mind..."
Vivi: "There's something coming!"
Bowie: "Is this a gargant!? It's huge!"
Vivi: "...We're riding this thing?"
Bowie: "Yeah, let's get going. We have no time to waste. Shiny!"
Shiny: "I...I don't know what to do anymore..."
Bowie: "Oh, come on! Why do you think everyone stayed behind!? Yeah,
they're fighting for you, but also, they know, deep down
inside, that they have to fight! Beatrix, Ratchel, Marcus,
Blank, even Awesome... Sometimes, you can't think everything
out. You have to listen to your heart."
Alright, time to go!
Hey, why is the gargant scared? Again...
This boss is utterly underwhelming in every way possible. I don't even remember his name, but that's mostly because it had a long weird name like the last time. Rahvalahvavhauria II. There.
Oh for the love of
It's going decently fast, but not THAT fast.
And then we crash.
...
The Queen is quite unhappy they got punched in the head by two rogues, and the jesters are afraid they've fallen out of her good graces.
It's true, I read it in the Guinness Book once.
Wanting Shiny dead is one thing, but wanting to kill Vivi? Lady, you've gone too far.
Ominous!
I thought they were airships...
AHHHH GIANT TITLE
SUDDENLY, OLD MEN OUT OF NOWHERE
Bowie: Shiny, I found that sniper you were talking about.
Shiny: That's The End. He's a legend, known as the "Father of Sniping."
Ramuh: "...Do you know that your summon magic destroyed Cleyra? An
eidolon follows its summoner's orders... It responded to the
orders of a woman filled with greed this time..."
Shiny: "No... Mother...! I can't believe it... I was confined while
Cleyra was destroyed..."
Bowie: "It wasn't your fault, Shiny. They knew. That's why they
stayed behind."
Shiny: "Everyone..."
Ramuh: "True, you were not the one who caused the destruction. But I
must ask you... What will you do now?"
Shiny: "If I were more powerful... If I could use summon magic... I
beg of you, please help me!"
Ramuh: "And cause more destruction?"
Shiny: "No... I was afraid of my summon magic, but not anymore!"
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HuDvVSxUDjg
Basically, we do what he says. Run around, find the five guys, and hear the story fragments. There are random encounters, but very few. I only saw two enemies, and they were both that big orange boar boss from the Hunt in Lindblum.
Ramuh: "That's 'Human'. Four to go."
Ramuh: "That's 'Cooperation'. You have three to go."
Ramuh: "That's 'Silence'. You have 2 to go."
Ramuh: "That's 'Beginning'. One to go."
Gosh, I wonder if that one is the first.
Ramuh: "That's 'Hero', the last piece."
The first three are easy, but the story has two endings, either Hero or Human. I chose Hero.
Ramuh: "Let me ask you one thing... How come you chose 'Hero' for
the conclusion?"
Shiny: "People follow a person who keeps on track. That's why I think
a hero who acts in a straightforward manner is remembered for
generations."
Ramuh: "...I want to know what you think, in your own words."
Shiny: "Me...? I am away from my country, but I haven't forgotten
about my people..."
Ramuh: "...Your soul is very tense right now. Maybe you'll begin to
relax once I become your eidolon..."
And so he vanishes, after leaving Shiny with a Peridot, good for one casting of Symbol of Pinzarn or whatever that Necromancer shield spell was.
I only just started reading and this is pretty great. it's the one FF game I stopped playing half way through and never went back to, so it'll be good to see where this goes.
I hear you. He actually wouldn't be too hard if Shiny was with the team, but both times you fight him you are without any healer. I imagine he'd be easier on Disc 3, unless he gets tougher there. Took me three tries.
Good job with the LP. I love IX. Although I can't play for long periods of time because of its start-stop nature. I'd prefer if it was more fluid. The battles I'm talking about. However I find the story, world, and characters enjoyable enough to play every now and again regardless.
What sidequests are you going to try? The chocobo one might be too long.
You know, there never was any remotely hard battle in FF IX for me, except Ozma and the last boss. The real enemy was always me. Why?
Because I had to delay EVERY. SINGLE. BATTLE until Zidane could finally snatch that goddamn weapon. All the stealing abilities in the world, and the game didn't seem to give a fuck. If it takes you 80% of any given boss battle to snatch a flute, somewhere the balancing seems to have missed out...
Seriously, I almost fell to the floor and cried in joy when I found out how stealing was handled in FF X.
You know, there never was any remotely hard battle in FF IX for me, except Ozma and the last boss. The real enemy was always me. Why?
Because I had to delay EVERY. SINGLE. BATTLE until Zidane could finally snatch that goddamn weapon. All the stealing abilities in the world, and the game didn't seem to give a fuck. If it takes you 80% of any given boss battle to snatch a flute, somewhere the balancing seems to have missed out...
Seriously, I almost fell to the floor and cried in joy when I found out how stealing was handled in FF X.
You have no idea how many times I restarted the Beatrix battles because I missed a weapon before she ended a fight (I'll give you an idea: Eight.)
Good job with the LP. I love IX. Although I can't play for long periods of time because of its start-stop nature. I'd prefer if it was more fluid. The battles I'm talking about. However I find the story, world, and characters enjoyable enough to play every now and again regardless.
What sidequests are you going to try? The chocobo one might be too long.
I totally forgot what most of them were, so I'll need to check what they are. I'll certainly do the chocobo stuff at least once (I forget if it's mandatory).
You know, there never was any remotely hard battle in FF IX for me, except Ozma and the last boss. The real enemy was always me. Why?
Because I had to delay EVERY. SINGLE. BATTLE until Zidane could finally snatch that goddamn weapon. All the stealing abilities in the world, and the game didn't seem to give a fuck. If it takes you 80% of any given boss battle to snatch a flute, somewhere the balancing seems to have missed out...
Seriously, I almost fell to the floor and cried in joy when I found out how stealing was handled in FF X.
Yeah, the fights were never particularly challenging. I accidentally stumbled onto Hades without knowing anything about him before-hand and trounced him with a few trances, for instance.
I've always enjoyed the music, story, and exploration of the game world more than the combat in RPGs, any ways.
kedinik on
I made a game! Hotline Maui. Requires mouse and keyboard.
This plus the VII let's play is almost making me want to do one. I'd love to do VI but XoB has that one under wraps when he gets unjailed. That leaves 1-5 and 8.
Posts
Apart from Vivi. I mean WTF.
Easily one of the most epic scenes.
The Pipe Vault|Twitter|Steam|Backloggery|3DS:1332-7703-1083
Don't care for a lot of the art, but the song was very well done.
Edit: You know, the other ones that person did where she made up her own lyrics to go with the songs feels like it should bother me, but they're generally well done.
Real FF9
The great thing about FF9 is that despite all these happy endings, it's balanced out by the fact that shedloads of people died along the way there, which makes it very, very bittersweet. That feeling - the decimated Burmecia, Cleyra and newly rebuilt Alexandria, the still-being-rebuilt Lindblum - and all the people who died in the process - are very present in the ending.
Vivi's sad ending is a very personal one to the player, though. But even that is bitter-sweet. He spends the enitre game saddened by the fact he doesn't understand why he's there and worse still that his people (Black Mages) are hated. The bitter is of course that he dies and the fact he has a short lifespan like the other Black Mages is revealed. The sweet is that he works out how to create more like him, and they are accepted into the community as much as anyone else.
XBL/PSN/Steam: APZonerunner
MAEK MOAR POAST
Vivi, god my whole family loves him. He's adorable and he develops really well. Also, I think that Zidane needs more credit for development, I know he's all up in Dagger's buttocks, but he shows how much he cares about Vivi and relates to him. He cares about all the characters, not just the one with titties.
His animations really sell it. Vivi's, I mean. They're all wonderful, especially that little worrying thing he does when he fiddles with his hat. You'd have to be a soulless monster not to like Vivi.
Plus he's got a great theme.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wytuLbHYpwU
Zen, worry not, POASTS shall be MAEK'd as soon as these pictures upload. It'd be a lot faster of my method of taking screenshots wasn't so counter-intuitive.
Man, that sounds so much like Strago's theme in FF6. I like this one better though.
Let 'em eat fucking pineapples!
This is why I rarely trust midgets.
I don't think the Queen could backstab anyone. Her gut would hit you before the knife did, you'd have plenty of time to get away.
Tall? That's the description you give? Why not 'fruity fop' or 'tall woman'
Shiny reflects on how everything changed when Kuja came. Tot Nosenheimer left around the same time too.
Come on Shiny, you're a mage, do something.
Oh, right, white mage. Well...cast Panacea! Maybe that'll help.
"I was so worried I almost didn't finish that whole roast chocobo and four chocolate creme pies."
We're given the choice on whether to believe her or not. I like to think Shiny is smart enough to know when she's been lied to so I go with 'not'.
Kuja: "Yes, an act from a beautiful play... There is a knight on a
white horse.. ...and a beautiful princess. It is a tale of tragic
love. Overcome by grief, the princess must sleep for a hundred
years..."
Shiny: "You... I've seen you before..."
Kuja: "It appears we were destined to meet again. My sweet angel, come
to me. I will take you to a world of dreams."
[Kuja waves his hand and magic puts Shiny to sleep.]
Kuja: "She is beautiful, even in sleep."
Brahne: "Hmph, impudent little girl. Zorn, Thorn!
Goddamn, Kuja is weird.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iwjp6Sf661k
And Zorn said, "Let there be light." And it was good.
If this was a video you'd be able to see them cartwheeling like maniacs.
Meanwhile, in Cleyra...
"I mean, a sandstorm in the desert? What the fuck is up with that?"
What guy! There was Brahne, the chick with the eyepatch, the chick with the thong...
The group decides to head back down to find out why the sandstorm disappears. We gain control of Ratchel and meet them at the exit.
I'm sure Cleyra will be prefectly fine.
Down through the Trunk a bit, we find...
"Two women want to grapple with me! And they're wearing hot uniforms! Thank you, Lord! Wait, why do they have swords?
We fight through like 4 separate battles of Alexandrian soldiers. They suck. Seriously. If you get them low on health, they run away, robbing you of precious AP points and experience.
"I thought we were just that awesome."
WELL FUCK LET'S RUN GO GO GO
"Just as planned."
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=35L-8s_N-aY
That was Guardsmen Dan. He hated Vivi, but he also had a family.
The pacifistic Cleyrans don't offer up much resistance, having sworn off war long ago. I guess they sort of forgot how to fight. Remember kids: This is why we can never stop fighting. GO AMERICA FUCK YEA
More soldiers. STOP RUNNING AWAY YOU WHOREBAGELS
Black mages, too!
Hell yeah.
From here we have options on where to go. Choosing one way lets you save people, but the otherway ends up with the people being slaughtered.
Oh hey more people to save! The dancers were here because they liked the place (I figure they wanted to die in a place they like.) Bowie says he likes this place too, the whole town, and the people in it, and he'll protect them all.
(that's everyone by the way)
How about a thank you?
Guess we're fucked! Well, they're fucked. We'll be fine.
The 'stranger' proceeds to fuck up all the black mages in seconds.
Ratchel: "I began my search for you immediately after you left Burmecia. Where have
you been all these years...? To what corners of the world have
you traveled? My dear Fratley... I climbed the highest mountains
only to hear rumors of your victories... I searched the deepest
valleys only to find your footsteps. But I never found you. And
in the end, I heard something... Something unbearable!"
Fratley: "Ratchel, you say? I believe this is the first time we have met..."
Ratchel: "What...did you just say?"
Fratley: "I'm sorry, but I cannot remember you for the life of me..."
Ratchel: "Y-You jest! You cannot have forgotten me! It's me, Ratchel!
Ratchel of Burmecia!!"
Fratley: "I am sorry..."
Ratchel: "No..."
Bowie: "Wait a minute! You can't be serious! It's Ratchel, your lost
love! How could you forget her!? Well, say something!!!"
Freya: "That is enough, Bowie..."
Bowie: "What!!!? You've been searching for this guy for years, and
now he's right here!"
King of Burmecia: "Fratley! Do you remember me, the King of Burmecia?"
Fratley: "Not at all, I'm afraid."
King of Burmecia: "Impossible! Have you forgotten everything that has
passed!? Then let me ask you this: What brought you
back to Burmecia? Is it not because you learned of
the crisis in Cleyra, whose people are our brothers?"
Fratley vaguely remembers being a dragon knight, and that's why he came. And then he jumps away, off to do battle elsewhere, or something. Ratchel is obviously sad about this turn of events, but she's happy to know that Fratley isn't dead.
Hey, weren't we under siege by an invading force of soldiers backed up by black mages?
Oh. Fuck.
She runs off and Bowie and friends run after her. Happily there's a place to save in the form of a Moogle (and more mail, hooray) and I didn't get a screenshot, but all the townspeople that we saved are there and give us items when we talk to them. Being nice is it's own reward, but I won't turn down elixirs.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7EM5ubRDS_c
"Alright guys, let's just say goodbye to the lady who kicked our ass without even trying last time."
WAIT WHY ARE WE EGGING HER ON
Yep, another one of these fights. Survive before she reduces us to 1 hp and runs off. She's tougher than before, but the same tricks. Shock, which pretty much kills someone instantly; Lightning Slash, which doesn't really hurt thanks to all the 50% Lightning damage gear I have on, and...that's it, I think. This is the first boss battle in which I didn't steal every item from the boss. I couldn't get the goddamn Ice Brand, and I tried three times. :x
I suck at getting screenshots of this, but the black mage turns into a sort of glowing orb, which Beatrix jumps into, and then it zooms off.
Vivi follows suit when another black mages does the portything, as does Ratchel. No says he/she doesn't like heights and runs off.
She was always pretty helpless. I mean, she cast healing spells and could only bonk an enemy for like 10 damage. We fought sparrows in the beginning of the game that hit way harder than her. Yes, Shiny is weaker than a sparrow.
In no way can this be a good thing.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lp7xlm1_9f0
HOLY TITTYFUCKING JESUS CHRIST
The 'No' here is him saying 'No' as in 'Quina', not 'No' as in 'No'.
"She is feeling fat and sassy, ma'am."
I kind of find her comments refreshing. You'd think someone in her position would say, "That was wrong. Our Queen didn't have to kill all those innocent people." Beatrix, however, says, "That was wrong. Our Queen should let me kill all those innocent people!"
"Pick up that can!"
"Yeah, someone finally thinks Awesome was right!"
It's nice to know that even world-famous swords(wo)men get shit on by their bosses. It's comforting.
Yeah, what? Wow.
Well, we could go and kill Brahne. I mean, she couldn't be that hard to kill. And we fought the guards and mages, they're easy as hell.
They turn into the black mage-like twinkleballs and fly away. I can't get screenshots of those for whatever reason. It's like taking a picture and always getting someone who is blinking.
I feel bad for my other games (and my time) but I can't hate you because I
EDIT: Zen has pointed out that I am, in fact, typing illiterate. Thank you Zen.
Giant... pitchers? That teleport you?
Well what did you think people used to travel before cars? Horses? That's just silly.
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Wizards live to confuse people like that. That's the only way I can explain owlbears.
And retcons.
Battlenet ID: MildC#11186 - If I'm in the game, send me an invite at anytime and I'll play.
That's because people like me more.
On the other hand, you outdps me by like 2000. So there's that.
Yeah but FF7 was dumb. And it's been done. Now if you'll excuse me I'll be hiding from the vitriol that's about to spew forth like lava from Vesuvius on August 24, 79 AD to coat the Herculaneum that is this thread.
I do not actually think FF7 is dumb.
Surely you haven't forgotten these two.
This part annoys me because every time I've played through it I forgot you can/need to press left and right more than once every swing.
Also, way to break the fourth wall, Marcus.
Once we crash into the wall and fall onto the walkway, we make our way to a giant ladder going up as waves of those female knights assault us. They're not hard but goddammit they still run when low on hit points.
A fun fact: If I had a controller that auto-pressed buttons, you could use this place to autolevel, because with the Blood Sword it's impossible for Steiner to die. That's boring though, so I wouldn't even if I had one.
Saving people that Awesome doesn't want saved = heartless
Pretend you saw three flashes of light spiral onto the ground first.
They run off of course. Oh, those kids! Always running.
You just made that up. You could have said eight hours and then the clock would be at eight hours. Way to go, Bowie.
OKAY YES LETS GO TIME IS A'WASTING
I didn't get too many shots of me running around, as I was, well, just running around through the castle, dodging guards (with four people they're easy but TIME OMG TIME)
What? Fuck you, book. You're going down.
Maybe this wasn't a great idea.
Yeah. Probably not.
Allow me to explain. This is an optional boss named Tantarion. You can only challenge him twice in the game: Right now, and later in Disc 3. I don't think I ever got around to killing him in my last playthroughs so I wanted to give him a go this time. He's pretty tough, at least at first. The fight starts out as him in book form, where uses a few moves: Paper Storm, which damages everyone a lot (it kills Vivi in one hit), Edge, a physical attack that hits for a lot, and Doom, which casts Doom (10 slow seconds and then you die). He doesn't take damage as normal, rather, you hit him for a bit of damage (Awesome normally hits for 500, and was hitting for like 40) and he'll flip to a page equal to the damage you've dealt to him. If you manage to go from 149 to say 201, he won't pop out, but rather start over at page one. Fun. If you get him to 150-200, he'll pop up into his true form, that cuddly Pokemon motherfucker up there. Once here, he's pretty easy. He'll stay this way until you hit him with a physical attack, so Vivi's Fira and Awesome's Fira Sword are invaluable and do a lot of damage. The only move he does in this form is cast Poison, and everyone is immune to Poison. WORDS WORDS WORDS. Sorry!
In the end I kill him after stealing 3 of his 4 items (No Demon Mail, but my relief that I killed him overwhelmed my desire for stealing everything), and he levels my dudes up a few levels, gives 30 AP AND drops Running Shoes. What do they do?
Fuck. Yes.
HMMMM A SWITCH! WHY DON'T I PRESS IT AND SEEEEEEEEE </sotn_imp>
Oh god, these stairs go on forever...
:whistle:I'm stiiiiiill in a dreeeeeeam, Snaaaake Eeeeeeaterrrrr~:whistle:
"Does anyone else hear that music?"
We FINALLY get a chance to beat these guys up. They're really not that hard. One will give the other the power to cast a big spell (Meteor or Flare) and if you don't hit the one who got the power, he'll cast it. If you do hit him, it's interrupted. That's it. They're easy as hell. Even Vivi bonking them with his staff is enough to interrupt their casting. What losers.
You can't tell from the screenshot, but their animation is hilarious. They're bouncing on their butt. Like Gummi Bears. Bouncing here and there and everywhere.
"So...does that mean I can have her now?" :winky:
Awesome lives up to his name. Oh, you!
Oh, hey, the Princess isn't dead. That's good.
:winky::winky::winky::winky::winky:
They had food, she wanted food, it's pretty simple really.
Terri Schiavo, White Mage
Aww, he misses it.
Well at least we're safe here, so rest up and
Oh fuck you guys.
ICE BURN
Alright, this is interesting. The last two times we fought Beatrix, her theme (Sword of Doubt) was playing. This time though, it's the actual boss theme. Maybe we can win this, guys! Let's get her!
Or not.
Yeah, wait a minute. This is the third time you could have killed them, but instead you get everyone down to one hit point and then leave!
Not what I was getting at, but okay, let's roll with it.
Denial is a river and Awesome is the helmsmen of the S. S. Refutation.
Does he hate to admit that every woman is right or just this one?
"The whole genocide thing...we cool, right?"
Through processes unknown, Beatrix manages to break the sleep spell on Shiny, probably by siphoning off a bit of her magical Plot Armor that keeps me from killing her even though really she isn't all that tough. I mean, we just beat a giant book that killed us with PAPER.
You forget to add sprinkles to a five-gallon banana split and this is how you get treated.
Baby don't hurt her, don't hurt her, no more
I'm not really sure what's amusing about it.
Oh, one of them belongs to the race that the other lead an invading army and killed a lot of. Okay, I guess that's a little funny.
Vivi, Bowie, Awesome, and Shiny run off through the secret passage we just went through while Ratchel and Beatrix stay behind to fight.
"After that, fight Jubjub birds and Jabberwocks, you will!"
Oh fuck yes we get to control Beatrix this is going to rock yesyesyesyes
what
Beatrix has a bad case of Magus Syndrome.
Running BACK downstairs (fighting off black mages and also some Bandersnatches. Bandersnatchii?)
This better not be leading where I think it's leading.
Yes, why.
YES WORRY he does a ton of damage and I never have to heal him thanks to his sword!
Shiny: "Awesome... Everybody is fighting for me..."
Bowie: "That's right. They're all fighting for you...and for
Alexandria... They're moving forward, giving everything they
got! So we have to move on, just like they are. We can't
stop now! Come on!"
Shiny: "But..."
And then another dog attacks us.
....
No! You're not going to win me over by using your full name. You leaving the party leaves us with a huge damage gap.
Dammit. I can't stay mad at him.
...
Hmm this place looks kind of familiar...
Oh, fuck you both.
"I hope two dudes come out of nowhere and punch you in the head!"
"...I hope Shiny's clothes suddenly vanish."
No kickass Gargan Roo music this time.
Bowie: Shiny? Are you alright?"
Shiny: "......"
Bowie: "Forget I asked. I'm sure you have a lot on your mind..."
Vivi: "There's something coming!"
Bowie: "Is this a gargant!? It's huge!"
Vivi: "...We're riding this thing?"
Bowie: "Yeah, let's get going. We have no time to waste. Shiny!"
Shiny: "I...I don't know what to do anymore..."
Bowie: "Oh, come on! Why do you think everyone stayed behind!? Yeah,
they're fighting for you, but also, they know, deep down
inside, that they have to fight! Beatrix, Ratchel, Marcus,
Blank, even Awesome... Sometimes, you can't think everything
out. You have to listen to your heart."
Alright, time to go!
Hey, why is the gargant scared? Again...
This boss is utterly underwhelming in every way possible. I don't even remember his name, but that's mostly because it had a long weird name like the last time. Rahvalahvavhauria II. There.
Oh for the love of
It's going decently fast, but not THAT fast.
And then we crash.
...
The Queen is quite unhappy they got punched in the head by two rogues, and the jesters are afraid they've fallen out of her good graces.
It's true, I read it in the Guinness Book once.
Wanting Shiny dead is one thing, but wanting to kill Vivi? Lady, you've gone too far.
Ominous!
I thought they were airships...
AHHHH GIANT TITLE
SUDDENLY, OLD MEN OUT OF NOWHERE
Bowie: Shiny, I found that sniper you were talking about.
Shiny: That's The End. He's a legend, known as the "Father of Sniping."
Ramuh: "...Do you know that your summon magic destroyed Cleyra? An
eidolon follows its summoner's orders... It responded to the
orders of a woman filled with greed this time..."
Shiny: "No... Mother...! I can't believe it... I was confined while
Cleyra was destroyed..."
Bowie: "It wasn't your fault, Shiny. They knew. That's why they
stayed behind."
Shiny: "Everyone..."
Ramuh: "True, you were not the one who caused the destruction. But I
must ask you... What will you do now?"
Shiny: "If I were more powerful... If I could use summon magic... I
beg of you, please help me!"
Ramuh: "And cause more destruction?"
Shiny: "No... I was afraid of my summon magic, but not anymore!"
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HuDvVSxUDjg
Basically, we do what he says. Run around, find the five guys, and hear the story fragments. There are random encounters, but very few. I only saw two enemies, and they were both that big orange boar boss from the Hunt in Lindblum.
Ramuh: "That's 'Human'. Four to go."
Ramuh: "That's 'Cooperation'. You have three to go."
Ramuh: "That's 'Silence'. You have 2 to go."
Ramuh: "That's 'Beginning'. One to go."
Gosh, I wonder if that one is the first.
Ramuh: "That's 'Hero', the last piece."
The first three are easy, but the story has two endings, either Hero or Human. I chose Hero.
Ramuh: "Let me ask you one thing... How come you chose 'Hero' for
the conclusion?"
Shiny: "People follow a person who keeps on track. That's why I think
a hero who acts in a straightforward manner is remembered for
generations."
Ramuh: "...I want to know what you think, in your own words."
Shiny: "Me...? I am away from my country, but I haven't forgotten
about my people..."
Ramuh: "...Your soul is very tense right now. Maybe you'll begin to
relax once I become your eidolon..."
And so he vanishes, after leaving Shiny with a Peridot, good for one casting of Symbol of Pinzarn or whatever that Necromancer shield spell was.
The ghostly voice of Ramuh confirms just that.
Hooray! Things are looking up!
Oh crap.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PxYiv5SyvaA
We pick the worst time to go to places.
The Pipe Vault|Twitter|Steam|Backloggery|3DS:1332-7703-1083
Curse this story for making me doubt whether Awesome will perish or not. If he has an off-screen death I will be *very* displeased.
XBL/PSN/Steam: APZonerunner
And the hits just keep on coming, :^:
I hear you. He actually wouldn't be too hard if Shiny was with the team, but both times you fight him you are without any healer. I imagine he'd be easier on Disc 3, unless he gets tougher there. Took me three tries.
Whoops. Fixed those. Thanks.
I was gonna say that dammit! Though it's just part of the story and not the full thing.:P
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What sidequests are you going to try? The chocobo one might be too long.
Because I had to delay EVERY. SINGLE. BATTLE until Zidane could finally snatch that goddamn weapon. All the stealing abilities in the world, and the game didn't seem to give a fuck. If it takes you 80% of any given boss battle to snatch a flute, somewhere the balancing seems to have missed out...
Seriously, I almost fell to the floor and cried in joy when I found out how stealing was handled in FF X.
You have no idea how many times I restarted the Beatrix battles because I missed a weapon before she ended a fight (I'll give you an idea: Eight.)
I totally forgot what most of them were, so I'll need to check what they are. I'll certainly do the chocobo stuff at least once (I forget if it's mandatory).
Yeah, the fights were never particularly challenging. I accidentally stumbled onto Hades without knowing anything about him before-hand and trounced him with a few trances, for instance.
I've always enjoyed the music, story, and exploration of the game world more than the combat in RPGs, any ways.
The Pipe Vault|Twitter|Steam|Backloggery|3DS:1332-7703-1083