Andrew Moore's Blog, page 95
February 24, 2023
The Forthcoming Industry Standard
Soon every audiobook will include a guy who says "Yeah" and "Come on!" every so often. Prices will go up. Get ready for it.
February 23, 2023
Addendum
The lesson is that fantasy is better than science fiction. I don't like it either, but we have to face it.
February 22, 2023
A Star Ocean Summary
You're on a fantasy world. You have a pretty good time. Then you leave the fantasy world and don't have such a good time, but the game's almost over anyway.
February 21, 2023
A Holiday Special
That last story was in honor of Presidents' Day. Unfortunately, only the first two American presidents governed in that fashion, but maybe we can get back to that with the proper reforms.
February 19, 2023
Staid Was Also in There
The representatives met in the capital, bringing with them the dreams and troubles of their constituents. Each, as custom demanded, wrote a single word on the provided paper and dropped it in the jar. The president was then to extract one of the slips. The word chosen would set the tone for governmental policy over the coming year.
Silence was demanded except for the scratches of sixty-two very important pens. The writing was finished, the papers deposited, and the president reached in after shaking the jar with authority.
"The agenda for the next year is . . . 'Dramatic.' Um." The representatives chuckled. "A fine word no doubt, but how do we design a policy around it?"
"Sounds like your problem, boss!" The representatives guffawed and pounded the table. The president grimaced and resolved he would shut them up by his immaculate execution of the task they had imposed by their irreverence. That was the day the world conquest began.
Finis
Silence was demanded except for the scratches of sixty-two very important pens. The writing was finished, the papers deposited, and the president reached in after shaking the jar with authority.
"The agenda for the next year is . . . 'Dramatic.' Um." The representatives chuckled. "A fine word no doubt, but how do we design a policy around it?"
"Sounds like your problem, boss!" The representatives guffawed and pounded the table. The president grimaced and resolved he would shut them up by his immaculate execution of the task they had imposed by their irreverence. That was the day the world conquest began.
Finis
Some Smark Fantasy Titles to Get You Started
"Legit Heat in the Back: A Smark Fantasy Adventure"
"Butts in the Seats!!"
"I Was Transported to Another World to Do the J O B?!?!"
"What Players These"
Yes, you do have to pay me if you use any of these. No, you don't have to make sure it's good. That's between you and your readers.
"Butts in the Seats!!"
"I Was Transported to Another World to Do the J O B?!?!"
"What Players These"
Yes, you do have to pay me if you use any of these. No, you don't have to make sure it's good. That's between you and your readers.
February 17, 2023
The Future of Fantasy
We've had enough dark fantasy. It's time for smark fantasy. That's right, secondary world professional wrestling. Think of the gimmicks! The giant guy could be an actual giant. That's all. That's the only extra gimmick. Except for . . . Mummies! I was lying before, because there are many options.
February 16, 2023
Addendum
Now if they ever make a new Shining Force, mummies are all but guaranteed. It's all about style, you know. That goes for everything on this planet. Now on Mars, people only care how many customization options there are. Weirdos.
February 15, 2023
Speculation on the Next Fire Emblem
Will it be cyberpunk? Cybernonpunk? Those are the only two options. Mummycore is right out.
Some Reflections on Fire Emblem: Engage
Hard isn't kidding around early on, though it is kidding around later. It's a satisfying tactical experience without being crazy hard. There is however some cheapness in some stages regarding boss movement and when they trigger.
The combat styles are a good attempt to reduce mounted dominance. Fliers feel like one option rather than the best one. Cavalry, however, seems too weak now. Perhaps it should have built-in Momentum, because as it is, increased movement alone is a poor bonus with how small the difference is and the additional terrain-ignoring fliers get.
It's a great idea to divide skills between the characters (personal and class skills) and the emblems (crazy nonsense). The game can be more complex while still being easy to understand because of the compartmentalization. That said, I would have preferred if the balance hadn't been tilted so far toward the emblem side. Even inherited skills come from emblems only and not from classes or something else.
SP gain is slow. Any kind of experimentation is pretty much locked to Normal, where skirmishes ought to be safe to do.
The story itself is decent, but the presentation of it is terrible. The cutscene direction is a big problem. I'm sure the writers imagined most of the lines between the good guys and the bad guys being delivered across a battlefield, not for everyone to walk up and stand in a cirle together and walk away when it's time for war and tactics. The blocking is boring even in good-guy-only conversations. There's no cinematic flair whatsoever. Another problem is that they use the lord's dumbfounded expression far too often.
The translators should be ashamed of themselves, but they most certainly are not.
The voice director should get some of that shame too.
The cast is decent. Pretty normal Fire Emblem stuff, which doesn't seem exceptional but is still better than most games.
The music is standard for Fire Emblem as well, which is to say completely forgettable. It isn't essential to have super-special special weapons, but it can be fun. Unfortunately, most of the special effects go into emblem weapons. Outside of that theere's the lord's sword then nothing till the very late stages when you can get legendary weapons. The legend of a silver weapon but slightly better.
The biggest disapppointment of the game is Wyvern Ride. Only the little mascot could have fun with that one. Maybe I'm just mad he's better at it than I am.
Colors! How I missed them. Most importantly, the enemy range and threat colors and terrain distinctions, which in Three Houses were often hard to make out.
Rating: Good/Game.
The combat styles are a good attempt to reduce mounted dominance. Fliers feel like one option rather than the best one. Cavalry, however, seems too weak now. Perhaps it should have built-in Momentum, because as it is, increased movement alone is a poor bonus with how small the difference is and the additional terrain-ignoring fliers get.
It's a great idea to divide skills between the characters (personal and class skills) and the emblems (crazy nonsense). The game can be more complex while still being easy to understand because of the compartmentalization. That said, I would have preferred if the balance hadn't been tilted so far toward the emblem side. Even inherited skills come from emblems only and not from classes or something else.
SP gain is slow. Any kind of experimentation is pretty much locked to Normal, where skirmishes ought to be safe to do.
The story itself is decent, but the presentation of it is terrible. The cutscene direction is a big problem. I'm sure the writers imagined most of the lines between the good guys and the bad guys being delivered across a battlefield, not for everyone to walk up and stand in a cirle together and walk away when it's time for war and tactics. The blocking is boring even in good-guy-only conversations. There's no cinematic flair whatsoever. Another problem is that they use the lord's dumbfounded expression far too often.
The translators should be ashamed of themselves, but they most certainly are not.
The voice director should get some of that shame too.
The cast is decent. Pretty normal Fire Emblem stuff, which doesn't seem exceptional but is still better than most games.
The music is standard for Fire Emblem as well, which is to say completely forgettable. It isn't essential to have super-special special weapons, but it can be fun. Unfortunately, most of the special effects go into emblem weapons. Outside of that theere's the lord's sword then nothing till the very late stages when you can get legendary weapons. The legend of a silver weapon but slightly better.
The biggest disapppointment of the game is Wyvern Ride. Only the little mascot could have fun with that one. Maybe I'm just mad he's better at it than I am.
Colors! How I missed them. Most importantly, the enemy range and threat colors and terrain distinctions, which in Three Houses were often hard to make out.
Rating: Good/Game.
