wDec 23, 2008


8,000,000 things make a post

There are things I need to do, and am not doing! Apparently I'm going to be in the next Wiscon Chronicles book! The write-up I wrote about the YA Fantasy panel is going to be its own article, and Oyceter mentions me in her write-up of Bodies in Shoujo Manga (BEST PANEL EVAR). I'm pretty excited about this! But I need a bio. What do I put in a bio?! "Mystickeeper reads books and squees about them online." Has anybody read these Chronicles books? What do the bios look like?

Additionally, I haven't watched a single DVD, haven't read anything except manga, and basically do nothing but play Final Fantasy XII. At least I'll be busy on Christmas Eve and Day, being with my family and stuff. Still, I feel like I should be a little more active, or a little more balanced. Curse addictive personalities! This is why I refuse to ever look at World of Warcraft, or even try drugs. I would be gone to the world.


I am still frustrated in Final Fantasy XII! I spent most of the day being not frustrated, so I guess that's good. At a friend's suggestion, I went and did some hunts, going back to a Save I had with Larsa still in my party (an extra party member who uses his own potions?! WIN.). This was okay for about 4 hunts, but now I am too weak to do any more hunts! Grrrr.....I'm in some underground cave in the middle of the Dalmasca Westersand and it's kind of hilarious because I'm trying to get to the Mark I'm supposed to kill, but instead have to turn off my characters' Gambits and run like none other. GRRRRR. I want my characters to interact! Also, are there any nice guides to side quests online? I was using a walkthrough at GameFAQs, but I only refer to it if I encounter a particularly difficult enemy or complicated dungeon. But now I want to go get cool stuff to equip on my party (like that Gold Armlet that gets me double LP!). Oh yeah! I summoned Belias one time in battle and he got KO'ed. Is there a way to bring him back?


The first season of Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles is on sale at both Best Buy and Amazon.com for $12.99. I think this will be the first thing I buy for myself with the money I receive for Christmas.


I picked up a few volumes of the Lovely Complex manga at the library. I have watched the complete anime series, and wanted to see how the manga compared. While the anime sometimes took a bit of a dive in terms of budget and animation quality, that obviously never happens in the manga. Still, I think the series certainly benefits from having its Osakan dialect spoken aloud. This feature is completely lost in the English translation of the manga. I love the series for representing an "unconventional" love, and for always striving to keep things interesting. I love seeing Risa's outfits! Anyone looking for a quality shoujo series should check this one out.

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scribbled mystickeeper at 8:58 PM
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w


Progress


So I love the humor in this game. This is my first Final Fantasy with voice-acting, and all of the actors do a fantastic job. My favorite voice-acting moments thus far:

Balthier: ....I always knew she didn't like to be tied up....

BWAHAHAHA.



Vaan: So, that Viera said something about 50 years ago.....How old did you say you were again?
And everyone stops moving, and glares at him. Even Basch and Ashe make disgusted noises! Too funny!



Old wrinkly dude with eyes clothes, on the throne. Everyone is silent, waiting.
Vaan: ....Is he sleeping?




I'm a bit frustrated at the moment. I had to due a lot of leveling up to be able to get through the Henne Mines, but even now I'm at the Stilshine of Miriam, and it is fucking brutal. I hope I saved somewhere where I can still run outside and level up. Otherwise I'm effed.
This game is one of the more frustrating in terms of getting through lots of stuff and then dying before being able to get to a save point. I can't remember having to replay stuff so many times since Final Fantasy Tactics.


I loved the cutscene with Vayne framing the Senate for killing his own father. OMG there must be Gabranth/Drace fanfiction!! And yes, poor Larsa.

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scribbled mystickeeper at 1:59 AM
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wDec 19, 2008


Final Fantasy XII thus far

I love the Final Fantasy games. VII will probably always remain my favorite, and I'd like to replay it some time soon, perhaps. With each installment, it's nice to explore a new and interesting world, while also seeing familiar elements.

I have yet to see a Biggs, Wedge, or Cid! The chocobos are totally badass in this game, though, and they look real and believable and are the caliber of what I expected in Final Fantasy Tactics, if the game could have had cooler graphics.

Anyway, I'm loving the Ivalice setting of the game, just like I love it in Final Fantasy Tactics and Vagrant Story. I love the medieval European feel, the knights and castles and armor and honor.

My favorite character is Balthier, hands-down. His English accent and snarky comments make him feel like Spike (of Buffy/Angel) reincarnate. But Balthier has better style than Spike. I love his fresh white shirts, and the fact that he gets upset if they're dirty. I love the way he holds his gun, and the gold trim on his clothing. MOST OF ALL, I LOVE EVERYTHING ABOUT HIM. If Balthier dies, I'm going to be upset.

I find Vaan pretty useless and uninteresting, as far as heroes go. I even like FF8's Squall more than this guy. Luckily, I love everyone around him. I was wary of Penelo, expecting to find her irritating, but I really do like her. Also, surprisingly, I expected to fall head over heels for Ashe and love her like I love FF9's Princess Garnet, but I'm not really feeling the love yet.

I read somewhere online that originally, Basch was going to be the main character, but they decided, as they always do, to go with a younger, impressionable hero. I think it'd be really cool of Square would make the jump and have an older protagonist, or (God forbid!) a female protagonist!

Oh yeah! Usually, I don't like "complicated" menu set-ups, but I kind of dig the licensing system. I love the battle set-up, and how the perspective doesn't change from wandering around to the world map to battles. I like being able to change characters mid-battle, and....yeah, I love everything, except that I seem to constantly be short of money in this game, and it seems hard to find good weapons for everyone (especially guns!).

Still, I'm thoroughly enjoying it so far, and hope that the storyline gets even better.

Where I am right now, and my favorite plot point thus far.

Anyway, I'm about to go into the tomb of Ashe's family, and see what's going on in there.

So far, the best writing definitely goes to the prologue. What balls! Killing the character from whose perspective the gamer is playing? Genius! I didn't see it coming at all.

Also! While doing a Google image search for Balthier (*cough*), I found this website to be vastly interesting! It explores the copious similarities between the Star Wars trilogies and Final Fantasy XII. This thought actually occurred to me when Miguelo was introduced, and I expect will become even stronger as I continue to play.

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scribbled mystickeeper at 10:05 AM
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wNov 22, 2008


Video Games I'd Like to Play

This is mostly a note to myself, for whenever I reach a point in my life that I decide it's time to buy a new game console, and have enough leisure time for games.


Vagrant Story - PS It's hard to find this game! But it looks pretty bad-ass. I already have a regular PlayStation, so I just have to find the game.

Okami - PS2, Wii Pretty! That's pretty much my only reason.

Silent Hill - PS, 2 and 3 on PS2 or PC. I think I already purchased the first one used. I should probably play it before spending money on the sequels!

Crisis Core - PSP. It looks gorgeous, Final Fantasy VII is my favorite game of all time, and unlike Dirge of Cerberus, it looks well-written enough.

That said...Dirge of Cerberus. It doesn't look like that great of a game, but I am a Vincent fangirl and it seems necessary that I run around in his blood-red cape, shooting things.

Final Fantasy Tactics Advance - Gameboy Advance. I loved Final Fantasy Tactics, and I'd be interested in playing another Ivalice game.

Tactics Advance 2: Grimoire of the Rift is there too, but for Nintendo DS (I could steal my niece's or nephew's!)

God of War, PS2

Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic II - I never finished this! I should do it.

Final Fantasy XII - PS2 A Final Fantasy set in Ivalice! I like this aesthetic a lot more than FFX's.

Legacy of Kain - PS, PS2, all available for Windows

Devil May Cry - PS2

Castlevania: Symphony of the Night - PS



I guess my next platform should be PS2.

Before you leave 8,000,000 comments! My criteria for video games: Well-written story. I play games for their stories, which is why I read books (although writing style has also become a high priority for me), watch anime, read manga, whatever. I also appreciate a lived-in, or at least highly interesting, aesthetic. I don't always like shiny new futuristic things, which is a big reason why I like FFVII a lot more than VIII, and don't have much interest in X.

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scribbled mystickeeper at 10:27 AM
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