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Post by Tross on May 24, 2023 0:46:23 GMT -5
I've been playing some Valis lately. I started with the Genesis port on my Evercade, which is an exceptionally easy game, but I don't mind, as it's still enjoyable in its own right and the still frame cutscenes must have been a technical marvel in late 1991. The game is actually apparently a remake of a game from 1986, which technically means that Yuko the Valis Warrior is a magical girl who predates Sailor Moon by over half a decade. Of course, after that, YouTube started recommending me vids of the various Sailor Moon games (largely beat-em-ups and fighting games), none of which made it out of Japan sadly, and thanks to that bout of curiosity, my YouTube feed keeps recommending various Sailor Moon related vids, which is a rabbit hole I'm going to try and avoid for the time being. Then again, with G5 MLP being subpar, maybe I have an opening again for a good girl's show, so who knows? Then again, I'm a lot more busy than I used to be, so I don't know how I would find the time anyways.
Anyways, Valis for the Genesis is the only version of the first game that was ever localized until the recent Switch collection, so I guess it ended up on Evercade. The translation is a bit Engrishy at times, but I can follow it.
After finishing the Genesis version, I bought the Switch collection of the PC Engine versions of the first three mainline games, and have since played through the first Valis on that. It's from 1992, and the cutscenes actually have motion. Of course, it's low-res, but for the most part it mimics the look of an early 90s anime, complete with Japanese voice acting, and an optional addition of subtitles that are of a modern translation, and are therefore, likely more accurate. Gone is the Engrish, and there are minor differences in the dialogue in some scenes, and actually, there are plenty more scenes that have dialogue. Valia is less of a bitch to Yuko, and instead of rambling about Yin and Yang, it's just light and darkness. Another supporting character though is a bit of a colder individual than portrayed in the old English translation of the Genesis version.
As for the game, well...the graphics are better, and so is the animation. However, it is a much more difficult game, and not necessarily in a way that feels fair at all times. I did manage to get through while only using save states at the start of levels, but gave that up when I got to the final boss. There are infinite continues, though it goes without saying that game overs mean going back to the start of a given stage, which can be split into a couple of parts. I think both versions of the game are probably otherwise very average run n guns with an excellent presentation, but that presentation certainly kept me hooked. The controls are responsive for the most part, though I had much more difficulty with the PC Engine game.
Anyways, I'll likely move onto the second game shortly. These do seem to be roms of the PC Engine game from Japan, as not only do the dubs seem to be absent for the second and third games (which I believe did get localized for the Turbografx 16 with dubs), but the subtitles don't appear to be native to the games, as they are an option that can be turned on and off, and seem to be featured in an overlay fashion that doesn't look like in-game text. If I feel inclined I may play through the Switch version, then decide if I want to watch a YouTube playthrough of the classic dub version, but that's something I'll consider upon finishing the sequel. As there is no Evercade port of the second game, I just have the one version to play this time.
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Post by Tross on May 26, 2023 0:33:02 GMT -5
I've completed Valis II now. It introduces some story beats that advance the plot forward, some of which come out of left field, but it's all presented in the same anime-style cutscenes. The ones in the first game look better, and I looked up why, and found out that the remake of the first Valis for the PC Engine actually came out after the fourth game, and three years after the second, which came out in 1989 (and consequently, is the only game that didn't get a NA Turbografx-16 release, meaning Valis II is the first point in the story that's dubbed). Valis II is definitely an unmodified rom of the original Japanese game as the original text is still in the game, with the subtitles being an overlay. That does mean the names of some of the characters when they're introduced are in Kanji, and there was one voice clip at the end of the credits in the game that wasn't subtitled, which doesn't seem to be in the dub version that I looked up on YouTube (which is interesting in its own right TBH).
Gameplay-wise, the sequel feels a bit more primitive too, with many more cheap deaths, as bottomless pits are a thing, and there is also ample opportunity to fall into a lengthy spike pit with the only way out on the far side (taking damage all the while). Also, there is more than one type of running enemy that will rush the player from offscreen, often in waves, and sometimes from behind. Power-ups work similarly as in the first game, but upgrading them requires an upgrade power-up, which I'm mixed on, as although collecting multiple of the same power-up does nothing, it does mean one can switch power-ups without fear of missing out on the next opportunity to upgrade.
At least I was able to follow the story, which introduces some characters that Yuko apparently knows, but weren't featured in the first game at all. I'm sure people were good and confused regardless, as the first Valis game wasn't remade for the PC Engine until a few years later, and I doubt everyone had it on the various Japanese PCs of the time, and the ones who did would have to have beaten the game. I suppose there was a Famicom game, mind you, even if the story presentation seems different. It's probably just as well too, as the game on the Japanese computers is near unplayable no matter what version one plays:
Fun fact: the version that of the original game the publishers decided to port to the Switch collection is the MSX version which has zero story other than what's included in the manual (and is the worst in other ways too). Considering the cutscenes are probably the main reason to play the game...yeah, just stick to the Genesis or PC Engine version of the first game. By the way, the Genesis version is included in the second collection, and although it's still the PC Engine rom with a subtitle overlay, the overlay is the original NA Genesis translation, which is really odd, as they may as well have just ported over the NA version then. Heck, if it was a matter of laziness, some of the dialogue from the translation for the PC Engine game could have been copy and pasted. I'm starting to think the MSX version of the original game was chosen as the one to port over, just so there would be no story to translate.
Oh well, I decided to spring for the second collection mostly because not only is the fourth game included, but there actually is a Genesis version of the second game, albeit a chibi demake, so that's what I'll play before I move onto the third game.
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Post by OttselHero on May 30, 2023 19:30:55 GMT -5
So as it turns out, it's taking much longer to platinum Going Commando than I thought it would. So I've decided to shelve TOTK for now and focus on that. I just farmed for bolts for an hour and will have to do so for another hour before I can unlock all of the game's remaining weapons and armor. After that, I have a few skill points left, which includes winning the "Impossible Challenge" in the Megacorp arena (I was thiiiiis close to doing it on my first try the other day), which consists of 60 rounds with a boss at the end (most challenges don't go past 10 rounds). Then there are 3 more platinum bolts to collect, all of which involve flying through dozens of rings in the spaceship (and I can't miss a single ring). If there's anything to prevent me from getting the platinum trophy, it'll be that, but I also haven't put that much time into them yet (I've also read a few tips online that I think will help). Other than that, I just need to max out my nanotech and upgrade all weapons. However, I may be too busy to play anything until later this weekend.
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Post by Tross on Jun 1, 2023 2:19:18 GMT -5
I may be too busy to play anything until later this weekend. That's how it is for me as well quite often these days. Well, at least you're making progress. I have completed Valis III and IV. I started with the Genesis port of III on my Evercade, then switched over to my Switch for the PC Engine version (as that's the only version on the Switch). Both versions are essentially the same game with some differences in enemies and stage design, though the Genesis version lacks voice acting, and is missing certain story sequences, which includes why this Cham girl wants to tag along, other than being from the demon world I suppose. Also, due to what is likely an incompetent translation, it's not clear why a certain character ascends in a pillar of light at the end of the game and leaves the other two to take care of the survivors of the dark world. Otherwise though, the story can be followed, I suppose, and both games are technical marvels for their time in terms of cutscenes, much like their predecessors. There is some replayability in that the dialogue in boss battles differs depending on which character approaches the boss, and there is even a stage where the player chooses which character goes on alone, though I resolved that with rewinds, and in the latter instance, a save state. Certain characters have slightly different names depending on the translation for each version, and the dub that can be viewed on YouTube changes up quite a few more. Valis III introduces a mechanic where there are three playable characters (Yuko, Cham and Valna) who can be switched between at any given time, each of whom has her own attacks and specials. The result is that Yuko herself is dumbed down a bit, and powerups simply determine which of three different specials a character will use. All three characters share a life and special meter, so it really doesn't matter who picks up the power-ups. The pro to this design choice is that the player does have three permanent choices in weapon variety. Sadly, much like the second game, this game does include a lot of frustrating platforming, which can include bottomless pits. The ice stage is especially frustrating in the Genesis version. I admit to using save states quite a bit in the platforming sequences in the Genesis version (Evercade doesn't have a rewind function) and the rewind feature in the PC Engine version. Valis IV is a lot like Valis III, though it definitely feels like a sequel that didn't need to happen story-wise. The previous game once again upped the ante through storytelling that was not at all foreshadowed in its predecessor, sure, but this one doesn't even star Yuko due to her arc having ended. I suppose Lena isn't a bad character, though she and her sister essentially replace the cast of the previous game, as the previous trio has been relegated to supporting roles. The sisters are joined by the first playable male character as well, who is the father of the latest villain...who let's just say, much like the other villains of this series, would be quite difficult to pick out in a lineup of all four of them. The fourth game foregoes different power-ups in favour of just one meter that can be upgraded, with three different tiers of a special for each character. Using a tier-3 attack will set the meter back to level 2, so that's best reserved for when it's needed. The meter automatically fills up though, without a need to pick up magic meter drops. Taking damage will reset the meter though, and if one wants to avoid needing to take damage to reset the meter, switching characters will also accomplish that end. All three characters still share a health meter though. Also, effort has been made to make switching characters more necessary, as only Lena retains the ability to slide under low obstacles, while Amu has a double jump that can be finnicky to learn how to pull off (there's a certain timing to it), and Afar can walk over or through certain things that would damage the other two (which is explained in the included manual, but not in the game itself), so there's more merit to switching between characters than just choosing a favourite attack and special combo. In practice I default to Amu for platforming even when she's not needed for specialized high or far jumps (the game will do that at time), because I always choose the character who is easier to use for platforming in these types of games. At least I only had to play one version of the fourth game, but suffice to say, it has some frustrating platforming too, and both games have characters who will spawn on the edge of platforms or rush/shoot the player upon landing. So, I used the heck out of the rewind feature in this one. At least the remake of the first game foregoes the bottomless pits, but it's the only game that does. There is a SNES game that's a bit different called Super Valis IV that likely follows the same story beats, but I'll probably have to hold out for an Evercade port to play it as the Switch collection doesn't have it. As the SNES game is the only version of the last game that got an official localization until the Switch collection, there's no Valis IV dub to check out either for comparison. All in all, I'd best describe this series as alright action platformers, with high marks for presentation. I will likely be returning to my PS4 to finish Freedom Planet next.
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Post by OttselHero on Jun 9, 2023 19:33:39 GMT -5
There is a small light at the end of the tunnel toward platting Going Commando. I obtained 1 of the platinum bolts that required winning a race without missing any rings, so I know it's doable. I plan to go after the other two this weekend since I'll be less fatigued from work and thus will be more focused. I'm slowly making progress in leveling up my weapons, which has been really tedious but at least I only have 4 left. It's hard to say whether I'll finish that or max out my nanotech first, since gaining EXP contributes to both at the same time. I also went back and reattempted the "Impossible Challenge," which was a cakewalk having returned with the carbonox armor and more nanotech than last time. I'd say I'll maybe have the platinum by the end of next week.
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Post by Tross on Jun 11, 2023 0:44:41 GMT -5
The Evercade Game of the Month is a puzzle game called Big 2 Small starring an elephant, a goat and a mouse who will move in one direction until they hit something. On the surface, it's a fun and interesting concept. In practice, challenging doesn't even begin to describe this game. I feel a sense of achievement for just completing a stage, and there's this "par" system where I'm supposed to try and do it within a certain number of moves. Yeah, no thanks. To make matters worse, there is no hint system like with Slayaway Camp or even the ability to undo moves (only a reset level feature), and there aren't even any guides online.
I think I'll hop back into my PS4 backlog soon.
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Post by OttselHero on Jun 19, 2023 17:50:41 GMT -5
I platted Going Commando and returned my full attention to TOTK. At first I approached the game with the intent of visiting the four main areas in the same order as I did in BOTW, but I just reached Rito Village aaaaand the bridge is out. I'll either need warm clothing or more stamina to reach it since I can't stack food buffs, so it appears I'll have to come back later. I'm thinking I'll start heading east since apparently the region holds the key to bringing back the Great Fairies. I have four hearts but I have nearly enough blessings for three more; it's just a question of when I'll come across a Hylia statue next. Since I'm headed east, I'll pass through Kakariko Village since I recall there being one in BOTW. Maybe then the game will feel less brutal, lol.
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Post by OttselHero on Jun 26, 2023 18:56:00 GMT -5
I've played plenty of TOTK since my last update, but my objective of getting to Kakariko Village remains the same. Such is the nature of playing an open world game.
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Post by Tross on Jun 28, 2023 2:00:01 GMT -5
I've played plenty of TOTK since my last update, but my objective of getting to Kakariko Village remains the same. Such is the nature of playing an open world game. Nice! I recently used $42CAD worth of Nintendo coins to give me somewhat of a discount on TotK, so I have that now. As a result, I've decided to dig BotW out of my backlog, so I've started that now, and am glad I did. I'm not sure if I'm committed to the game just yet, but it's off to a good start. I'm at the part where I need to visit shrines to get spirit orbs for an old man, and have gone to two so far. I'm impressed how quickly the game gets to the action, which is certainly quite different from something like Horizon. However, Horizon has a much better climbing mechanic IMHO, as BotW's is very basic, and I even learned the hard way that Link will not shimmy across a ledge, as doing so will just make him fall to his death. When climbing, I now know I must always go up and over a ledge. Hopefully the crafting system ends up being worthwhile, as I'm currently finding it a bit cumbersome to have to carry around a bunch of weapons that only take up to a few hits. Regardless, I'm enjoying the game so far, and might play more this weekend.
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Post by OttselHero on Jul 7, 2023 18:13:25 GMT -5
I've played plenty of TOTK since my last update, but my objective of getting to Kakariko Village remains the same. Such is the nature of playing an open world game. Nice! I recently used $42CAD worth of Nintendo coins to give me somewhat of a discount on TotK, so I have that now. As a result, I've decided to dig BotW out of my backlog, so I've started that now, and am glad I did. I'm not sure if I'm committed to the game just yet, but it's off to a good start. I'm at the part where I need to visit shrines to get spirit orbs for an old man, and have gone to two so far. I'm impressed how quickly the game gets to the action, which is certainly quite different from something like Horizon. However, Horizon has a much better climbing mechanic IMHO, as BotW's is very basic, and I even learned the hard way that Link will not shimmy across a ledge, as doing so will just make him fall to his death. When climbing, I now know I must always go up and over a ledge. Hopefully the crafting system ends up being worthwhile, as I'm currently finding it a bit cumbersome to have to carry around a bunch of weapons that only take up to a few hits. Regardless, I'm enjoying the game so far, and might play more this weekend. Oh, cool! BOTW is a treat. The world is intentionally designed so that there's always something to grab your eye and capture your interest. What's also interesting is you can attempt the final boss as soon as you leave the Great Plateau...though it's not recommended that you do. I also find these games to be quite cosy; there's nothing urging you to move the plot forward ASAP, and there's enough space between locations to allow for introspection while you travel. The ambient music facilitates this beautifully.
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Post by Tross on Jul 9, 2023 23:19:29 GMT -5
Nice! I recently used $42CAD worth of Nintendo coins to give me somewhat of a discount on TotK, so I have that now. As a result, I've decided to dig BotW out of my backlog, so I've started that now, and am glad I did. I'm not sure if I'm committed to the game just yet, but it's off to a good start. I'm at the part where I need to visit shrines to get spirit orbs for an old man, and have gone to two so far. I'm impressed how quickly the game gets to the action, which is certainly quite different from something like Horizon. However, Horizon has a much better climbing mechanic IMHO, as BotW's is very basic, and I even learned the hard way that Link will not shimmy across a ledge, as doing so will just make him fall to his death. When climbing, I now know I must always go up and over a ledge. Hopefully the crafting system ends up being worthwhile, as I'm currently finding it a bit cumbersome to have to carry around a bunch of weapons that only take up to a few hits. Regardless, I'm enjoying the game so far, and might play more this weekend. Oh, cool! BOTW is a treat. The world is intentionally designed so that there's always something to grab your eye and capture your interest. What's also interesting is you can attempt the final boss as soon as you leave the Great Plateau...though it's not recommended that you do. I also find these games to be quite cosy; there's nothing urging you to move the plot forward ASAP, and there's enough space between locations to allow for introspection while you travel. The ambient music facilitates this beautifully. Yes, I'm seeing a lot of the pros and cons of open world design here, but that's certainly one of the pros. It seems finding shrines is doubly helpful, as they become warp points afterwards. I've encountered my first Zora now, and I should be coming across their village soon. I'm mostly sticking to main missions for now, as there seems to be an overwhelming amount of side missions, and that's not including cataloguing everything...which I may decide not to do, as that is a lot. I'll probably keep chipping away at this game, though it certainly feels like a game I can play at my own pace.
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Post by Tross on Jul 12, 2023 0:55:13 GMT -5
Well, that sucks about the FTC case with the MS Activision deal, and it seems that MS has begun initiating out of court discussion with the CMA to try and assuage their concerns as well. However, for me the sky isn't falling. I've noticed that coincidentally, the Activision and Blizzard games and DLC I've been interested in but have yet to acquire are all on sale right now, so I just spent less than $100CAD to get all of it, and now I don't think I'll feel the need to really support them anymore. Their latest games are not on sale, but I think I'll pass on Diablo IV, and I've heard mixed reviews about the latest Crash spinoff. I could see myself potentially getting the latter down the road, but only if it goes on sale for a significant discount, as I'm not really interested in supporting the company that is fast becoming the Galactus of the industry.
In the short term, I do think Sony being encouraged to produce more exclusive IPs to compete with the games lost is a good thing. However, it does pain me that MS will soon own Crash and Spyro. On the other hand, if Gamepass ever goes third party that's a moot point anyways. I think my big issue is that we will soon likely need a subscription to access future games in those franchises, which is a big reason I've been hoping the growth of Gamepass could be nipped in the bud.
Also, I do not like the precedent that this case sets. Sony will likely end up buying up stuff too, and though they don't have MS's pockets, they can still gobble up some significant IPs too if they so choose. Capcom is a possibility some people have been speculating about. With that said it's still not a good precedent, as it will mean the industry gets consolidated one way or another, and many IPs will soon be exclusive to one system or another with owners of only one soon losing options that were formerly available to them.
So...yeah, I don't think this merger is great news by any stretch. However, the future of gaming is certainly up in the air, and we will see where it goes from here.
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Post by Tross on Jul 18, 2023 22:06:47 GMT -5
After having freed one divine Beast (Vah Ruta), I went to the vicinity of the Goron one, but after finding a village and completing a shrine near it, I decided to go track down this Robbie guy in Akkala in the hopes I can get proper upgrades for my ph*cough*slate.
That Special Delivery sidequest was a real pain, not the least of which because when I blew up the message, I had my work cut out for me to find the Bank of Wishes to talk to Finley again. Oh well, I got it done, and now I'm in Akkala.
I will say that some of my concerns about the changeup to the Zelda formula have been misplaced, as although the shrines are a bit too bite-sized for my liking when compared to the traditional dungeons, that Divine Beast I freed did have at least have a bit more semblance to them. When I am in towns and areas with a lot of NPCs, I do feel like I'm still getting the traditional Zelda experience.
My only real beef other than the debacle of travel time taking up a lot of my playtime, as the case is with the vast majority of open world games, is that the whole system with breakable weapons and shields is way too cumbersome, and to me, detracts more from the experience than it adds. Still, it's not game-breakingly problematic, at least not so far, so it's really just a minor annoyance. Still, it is a reason that keeps me from considering the game a perfect 10, though a 9 seems appropriate.
Taking pictures of things is also busywork that I don't feel I necessarily need, but I have been doing my best to keep on top of it. I do hope I can get some kind of upgrade to the zoom of my camera though, as although I achieved the near impossible in snapping an acceptable shot of a type of cricket, I'm having a real hard time with many types of birds and bugs, and find I can only get them if I can snap them as they're taking off in flight or jumping respectively, which is really, really difficult to pull off. I'm assuming I'll have to use a guide later to find out which creatures, monsters, items and equipment I missed, and where to find them. Also, having a limit of 48 snapshots is annoying, and I regularly have to dump a bunch, though there are few impressive or remarkably photographic pics that I definitely want to keep, which makes choosing more difficult.
All in all, I'm having a great time with the game, and will certainly keep playing.
Edit: Apparently Robbie won’t help me upgrade my slate in ways I was hoping for. Oh well, I suppose.
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Post by OttselHero on Jul 25, 2023 9:03:21 GMT -5
After having freed one divine Beast (Vah Ruta), I went to the vicinity of the Goron one, but after finding a village and completing a shrine near it, I decided to go track down this Robbie guy in Akkala in the hopes I can get proper upgrades for my ph*cough*slate. That Special Delivery sidequest was a real pain, not the least of which because when I blew up the message, I had my work cut out for me to find the Bank of Wishes to talk to Finley again. Oh well, I got it done, and now I'm in Akkala. I will say that some of my concerns about the changeup to the Zelda formula have been misplaced, as although the shrines are a bit too bite-sized for my liking when compared to the traditional dungeons, that Divine Beast I freed did have at least have a bit more semblance to them. When I am in towns and areas with a lot of NPCs, I do feel like I'm still getting the traditional Zelda experience. My only real beef other than the debacle of travel time taking up a lot of my playtime, as the case is with the vast majority of open world games, is that the whole system with breakable weapons and shields is way too cumbersome, and to me, detracts more from the experience than it adds. Still, it's not game-breakingly problematic, at least not so far, so it's really just a minor annoyance. Still, it is a reason that keeps me from considering the game a perfect 10, though a 9 seems appropriate. Taking pictures of things is also busywork that I don't feel I necessarily need, but I have been doing my best to keep on top of it. I do hope I can get some kind of upgrade to the zoom of my camera though, as although I achieved the near impossible in snapping an acceptable shot of a type of cricket, I'm having a real hard time with many types of birds and bugs, and find I can only get them if I can snap them as they're taking off in flight or jumping respectively, which is really, really difficult to pull off. I'm assuming I'll have to use a guide later to find out which creatures, monsters, items and equipment I missed, and where to find them. Also, having a limit of 48 snapshots is annoying, and I regularly have to dump a bunch, though there are few impressive or remarkably photographic pics that I definitely want to keep, which makes choosing more difficult. All in all, I'm having a great time with the game, and will certainly keep playing. Edit: Apparently Robbie won’t help me upgrade my slate in ways I was hoping for. Oh well, I suppose. Coincidentally, I'm working my way to the Akkala region in TOTK after picking up a rumor in Kakariko Village about something the lab is working on. Similarly, I am also completing quests/shrines I encounter along the way. I stumbled upon Goron Village in the process and completed the dungeon that was tied to its story line. You'll be happy to know that TOTK's dungeons are more traditional than the Divine Beasts in BOTW; however that's only after having completed one of them, so maybe it's too soon to say just yet. The developers somewhat solve the issue with the destructible weapons in TOTK after many people complained about them in BOTW. First, they came up with an explanation in the game's story for a new reason why weapons break easily (instead of being 100+ years old, weapons are now "decaying" as a result of TOTK's inciting incident). However, you'll gain a new power that allows you to fuse just about any object to the weapon you're equipped with, making them stronger and more durable. They'll still break, but not as quickly. They Hyrule Compendium is a completionist's nightmare. If you don't think to snap photo's of the game's bosses, you'll never get the chance again. I just fought the game's first story boss, and again it slipped my mind to take its picture. At the very least, I wish the bosses could have been left out of the Compendium.
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Post by Tross on Jul 26, 2023 2:24:05 GMT -5
After having freed one divine Beast (Vah Ruta), I went to the vicinity of the Goron one, but after finding a village and completing a shrine near it, I decided to go track down this Robbie guy in Akkala in the hopes I can get proper upgrades for my ph*cough*slate. That Special Delivery sidequest was a real pain, not the least of which because when I blew up the message, I had my work cut out for me to find the Bank of Wishes to talk to Finley again. Oh well, I got it done, and now I'm in Akkala. I will say that some of my concerns about the changeup to the Zelda formula have been misplaced, as although the shrines are a bit too bite-sized for my liking when compared to the traditional dungeons, that Divine Beast I freed did have at least have a bit more semblance to them. When I am in towns and areas with a lot of NPCs, I do feel like I'm still getting the traditional Zelda experience. My only real beef other than the debacle of travel time taking up a lot of my playtime, as the case is with the vast majority of open world games, is that the whole system with breakable weapons and shields is way too cumbersome, and to me, detracts more from the experience than it adds. Still, it's not game-breakingly problematic, at least not so far, so it's really just a minor annoyance. Still, it is a reason that keeps me from considering the game a perfect 10, though a 9 seems appropriate. Taking pictures of things is also busywork that I don't feel I necessarily need, but I have been doing my best to keep on top of it. I do hope I can get some kind of upgrade to the zoom of my camera though, as although I achieved the near impossible in snapping an acceptable shot of a type of cricket, I'm having a real hard time with many types of birds and bugs, and find I can only get them if I can snap them as they're taking off in flight or jumping respectively, which is really, really difficult to pull off. I'm assuming I'll have to use a guide later to find out which creatures, monsters, items and equipment I missed, and where to find them. Also, having a limit of 48 snapshots is annoying, and I regularly have to dump a bunch, though there are few impressive or remarkably photographic pics that I definitely want to keep, which makes choosing more difficult. All in all, I'm having a great time with the game, and will certainly keep playing. Edit: Apparently Robbie won’t help me upgrade my slate in ways I was hoping for. Oh well, I suppose. Coincidentally, I'm working my way to the Akkala region in TOTK after picking up a rumor in Kakariko Village about something the lab is working on. Similarly, I am also completing quests/shrines I encounter along the way. I stumbled upon Goron Village in the process and completed the dungeon that was tied to its story line. You'll be happy to know that TOTK's dungeons are more traditional than the Divine Beasts in BOTW; however that's only after having completed one of them, so maybe it's too soon to say just yet. The developers somewhat solve the issue with the destructible weapons in TOTK after many people complained about them in BOTW. First, they came up with an explanation in the game's story for a new reason why weapons break easily (instead of being 100+ years old, weapons are now "decaying" as a result of TOTK's inciting incident). However, you'll gain a new power that allows you to fuse just about any object to the weapon you're equipped with, making them stronger and more durable. They'll still break, but not as quickly. They Hyrule Compendium is a completionist's nightmare. If you don't think to snap photo's of the game's bosses, you'll never get the chance again. I just fought the game's first story boss, and again it slipped my mind to take its picture. At the very least, I wish the bosses could have been left out of the Compendium. I figured there would be no way to revisit the bosses, but man that's a serious design flaw. It's easy to forget to snap a pic when you're in the thick of it, or forgetting upon loading. Thank goodness I had the foresight to snap the pic of the only boss I've fought so far. At least the compendium is optional, and I may decide not to bother trying to get all the birds and bugs anyways. Also, Nintendo doesn't do a trophy or achievement type system to further incentivize such completionism. I'll give it some thought. I've switched gears and am now on a mission to find and activate all the towers I can, and hitting up shrines along the way when they're not too far out of the way. Now I've got all towers but the five to the west. Tonight was especially productive, as I've gotten so much done. I've activated only two additional towers, but I've visited multiple shrines, including the Skull Eye one, and the one for defeating Naydra, where the trial is essentially just getting to the shrine. The dual peak shrines were an interesting pair, and I was trying to find the tower, only to find that the reason why I couldn't see it was because it was right up against the peaks. That Akkala Tower was a real pain and a half to climb. I eventually figured out how to do it, but man that was challenging. I've found a bunch of those Korok guys, including the one hidden in ice, which is great as I don't think I ever want to go back to that mountain unless I absolutely have to. I've also finally found two of the memory locations, so it's a start.
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