Lurker > StartTheMachine

Update time !!

So I spent a good long while circling around the floating continent, gaining all kinds of experience, switching around Espers to gain spells for all the crew I had with me (Terra, Edgar, Strago, and yes, Shadow), and just generally being lost. For some dumb reason, they put your airship right before the Atma Weapon boss and Kefa and Gestahl. I climbed back on the airship because...I thought that was what I was supposed to do. I flew around the overworld for a little while being lost before heading back to the continent, when I got a dialogue prompt saying the Emperor was somewhere on the floating island still. Sooo I did the whole thing again just continuing to gain experience and spells. My party was all 35+ level-wise by the end of that. And yeah, really cool touch knowing now that you can easily kill the baddies there by draining their MP.

Eventually, I made it to the Atma Weapon and decimated him, mainly with Terra's Lv. 2 Bolt which was doing 5k damage a pop. First boss fight I didn't even have to use a single cure spell -- epic! And now here I am all ready to fight off against Kefka and Gestahl and...well, that was not what the game had in mind.

Kefka first paralyzes the party and Celes appears. He tries to convince her to kill them and join his ascent to power, but that ain't happening -- stab! Useless.

Kefka starts activating these statues (which, by the way, can someone explain me their significance if I'm already supposed to know it? I must have missed that part). He moves around the statues and everything starts going haywire. Emperor Gestahl pleas for him to stop but....this is Kefka, mother fucker. The statues start shooting lightning bolts with Gestahl frantically running about until...boom, it's all over for the once-emperor. As a final "fuck you," he kicks Gestahl off the island to his doom (or not we'll see!). Wouldn't surprise me if Gestahl becomes a party member out for revenge later, who knows!

The floating island starts crumbling apart and Shadow comes to the rescue; cue an escape sequence -- the best yet in the game. I was pretty damn tense here. But we make it to the end only for our beloved Blackjack to be split in half. The airship goes flying down and it appears everyone has been separated across the newly devastated world.

The game begins again with Celes asleep and good ol' Cid watching over her. They bond and Celes decides to sentimentally give Cid the title of grandpappy. Cid asks me to get him some fish, but I go upward and explore the World of Ruin and only encounter low level enemies and no fish. I basically tried running along the coastlines and still nothing. Eventually, I return to Cid's home and realize that all I had to do was go a screen down where there's a beach. I feed fish to the sick Cid over and over and over before he too meets his end. He leaves Celes a letter about a passageway beyond the stove I can use to escape. There, I find a raft that leads me to the larger World of Ruin.

Man, what a moment. The dialogue during all of this was so good I was doing aloud voice overs for the characters, testing out my acting chops and feeling their pain as much as I could. This kind of made me yearn for a full next-gen remake of this game at this point.

I briefly explore the WoR and the decimated town of Albrook, where some fellow hints that I may find Locke at Tzen. And my adventure, once again, continues or really just begins.
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So this...this is the World of Ruin.

If I can sum up the energy in me I can do an actual write-up later. But that whole thing was pretty goddamn incredible.

Grand Kirby posted...

Also, I'd advise you to make a backup save right now since there's an important missable coming soon.

I have a save state still on the floating continent and one right during THE MOMENT if it's on that little beach island afterward. Let me know what it is.
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Yeah, a lot of them seem to be not that great in the first place and they're MP whores. But there are some good ones.

This floating continent is great. First time I've felt the need to grind 'cause goddamn some of these baddies were wrecking me. Plus it's just such a maze I got grinding in anyway. Went back to the save point after expelling almost all my MP, tented up, and I'm back at it again.
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One of my biggest nitpicks with this game: mid-battle, it doesn't tell me what the fuck the espers do and I absolutely do not have them memorized at all. I tend to just use them and see what happens. Just used Unicorn in the last battle and it turns out it cures all statuses in my party and, oh hey, that was useless!
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Been playing a bit again finally. On the floating continent thing. It's cool, taking my mind off my problems a little.

Since the evade stat doesn't do anything, does the Bead relic actually work? E: Or the Zephyr cape for that matter? Both of these relics say they help dodge attacks.
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so Devin Nunes, Marsha Blackburn, and Ted Cruz all won again

goddamn I will never understate the massive swaths of stupidity in this country that vote against their own interest
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yes I was very "offended"

lmao goddamn dude you are so bad at this

way to not even care about how corrupt a candidate is or refute any policy substances whatsoever
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Corrik posted...

StartTheMachine posted...

Corrik posted...

StartTheMachine posted...

There was practically no line for me, but I live in a suburban area and I went around 1:30 so perfect timing.

Voting against that piece of shit Marsha Blackburn felt as satisfying as I had hoped.

*Shakes head*

oh please do tell what you're shaking your head at corrik my friend

I am shaking my head at calling someone a "piece of shit" because they do not have the same political opinions as you. I just don't get why people get so vile in regards to politics.

And I'm calling her a piece of shit because that's exactly what she is. We're talking about a woman who didn't report almost $500,000 in campaign donations and steered over half that money her family's way. We're talking about a woman who takes more money from special interest groups and pharmaceutical companies than almost any other person in any branch of government. We're talking about a woman who voted against a bill to protect other women from assault. Not even kidding. We're talking about a woman voted by non-partisan groups as one of the most corrupt members of Congress and I could go on forever.

give me a break with your fake civility nonsense in defense of an actual piece of shit and get real. it amazes me that you are a real person
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Corrik posted...

StartTheMachine posted...

There was practically no line for me, but I live in a suburban area and I went around 1:30 so perfect timing.

Voting against that piece of shit Marsha Blackburn felt as satisfying as I had hoped.

*Shakes head*

oh please do tell what you're shaking your head at corrik my friend
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There was practically no line for me, but I live in a suburban area and I went around 1:30 so perfect timing.

Voting against that piece of shit Marsha Blackburn felt as satisfying as I had hoped.
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redrocket posted...

I would drop that bitch cold turkey.

Can't say that I'm not considering it. Hopefully she can get her car fixed soon, but either way, she's going to have to find a way to me and a way back because I'm absolutely not driving anymore. All of this happened at the exact worse time possible.

Anyway, hopefully I'll be able to get back to this game soon. I just have a lot of important personal stuff to take care of and it's hard. I came close to closing the topic, but for those enjoying the topic, I plan not to anymore.
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So sorry this topic has gotten completely derailed, and err, is about to be moreso now, but let me explain what's going on. I was arrested for driving charges recently and have just been super depressed, but I'm also feeling a bit more optimistic about things after today. Feel free to skip this post but for a quick...

BlogFAQs Update:

I have had a revoked license for a while, and I was just finally eligible to get my license back THIS month and have been ecstatic about that.....but now that might not be happening.

Being on revoked, I normally only drive to places I absolutely need to -- work when I've had a job (because no one else will take me no matter how hard I've tried, and the only way to get my license back in the first place is to work and make the money I need to get it back. It's a catch-22) and donating plasma, which has been another source of income for me in the meantime. And then I also occasionally drive to see my girlfriend who sadly lives about an hour away, but she always gets rides to me and then I drop her back off Sunday mornings when it's relatively safe on the roads.

Well, Saturday evening, still before dark, she wants me to take her back so that when her kids get dropped back off from her ex-husband she can have everything ready for them. I'm very paranoid about driving at night especially, and our original plan was to take her home Sunday morning. I tell her over and over that I am terrified of driving at night and I do not want to do this, but my girlfriend convinced me to take her home that night after many many attempts of telling her it's a terrible idea.

Sure enough, after I drop her off, I get pulled over and arrested for three charges: taillight violation that I had no idea existed, driving without insurance, and driving on revoked. I am royally fucked. Turns out that even though I JUST fixed my passenger side taillight recently, my OTHER taillight went out and I was fully oblivious of this.

You can imagine I'm quite furious with her, but of course she didn't know this was going to happen. I just wish she had listened to my pleas to go tomorrow, especially since there was no emergency or anything (and now this is costing me legal trouble and thousands of dollars). Or I should have just laid down the law and told her I absolutely can't do it that night as I do not want to risk getting arrested. I've never gotten pulled over during the day before and I know cops are out full force in the area she lives at night. Especially a freaking Saturday night. I was so mad at her, and I was only trying to help her out, but now I'm just mad at myself for not saying no in the first place.

I'm feeling a little better lately, but still depressed and video games have honestly been the last thing on my mind. Sorry this topic got derailed so hard. I will do my best to get back to playing this wonderful game. I was adoring it so much, but I don't want my life problems to color in the rest of my experience with this game.

Thanks for reading.
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Yeah, Final Fantasy is normally way stronger in these contests. GameFAQs has very specific tastes, and FF took a pretty big nerf this year compared to previous contests. Cloud won an entire contest before back in the day. Though of course he is in his own league among the FF characters.
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I voted Halo 2 with the assumption that you'd be playing it on the Master Chief Collection.
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Like a lot of others here, I don't remember if I put the controller down, but I do remember it fooling me!
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I don't quite know all the track names but the main theme -- you know, the one that plays in the overworld and everything -- is probably my favorite. That motif is just so good and I like all the different versions of it. I think my favorite version is from the intro scene with the mechs trekking through the snow. But it's hard to say if that's really my favorite or just the theme that is the most pervasive and defining for the game, because goddamn there are a lot of great tracks. Love love love Shadow's theme and, I think it must be Terra's theme. The one that plays during a few important cutscenes involving Terra and/or Espers. Also dig Kefka's theme quite a bit as it's really fitting for the character. Some of the standout world music are the Phantom Forest and Phantom Train songs and I know there's a few town songs I've liked quite a lot. There's almost no less than stellar tracks in the whole game.

Character wise, Kefka has stolen the show for me. Behind that, Celes, Edgar, and Terra are all probably close to tied. Locke is also a pretty interesting character. Overall, I can't say I'm too crazy about any particular character besides Kefka, right now at least, but yeah. I'm more into the plot and setting as a whole. And again, as with the music, almost every characters is quality... besides Gau who is just kind of a lame one-trick pony.
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I've had company over so may not get the chance to play anymore for another day or two, but when I return, I plan to go all in on this game. Thanks for the bumps though guys :D
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"so that is the Blast-o-Matic from Donkey Kong Country 2 I believe"

Nintendo you should hire some people who actually know your games yo
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ExThaNemesis posted...

StartTheMachine posted...

dude they're not. they're just recommending it because it has the fastest connection/least LAG

every Smash game that's had online did not require a wired LAN cable before

Nono I'm upset that they don't just have an Ethernet Port with the system and you still have to buy an add-on for that.

It is the most frustrating thing about Nintendo.

oh yeah, that is fucking stupid

also my boy K. Rool on the Treehouse Live stream right now looking amazing
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ExThaNemesis posted...

oh my god, how is it 2018 and Nintendo is still making us buy a fucking wired LAN cable.

So frustrated about this.

dude they're not. they're just recommending it because it has the fastest connection/least LAG

every Smash game that's had online did not require a wired LAN cable before
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Okay, I think I'm getting it.

ExThaNemesis posted...

What I really want is to be able to take my spirits online and fight people with them though. Fuck with me and my Legendary Spirit infused Cloud, bitches.

Smash 4 had modes where you could play online with custom moves and stickers on. Played some super fun tourneys with a ridiculously haxxed Roy back in the day. And since spirits are basically just upgraded stickers, there's a chance there's an option to turn these custom characters on or off in certain online modes. At least in the Battle Arena, I'd bet.
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I'm still confused about something. If World of Light is the adventure mode, then what does Spirits go to on the menu screen? Is it just a menu thing where you can apply and unapply Spirits? Are these two separate actual gameplay modes Am I stupid and desperately need to rewatch the whole Direct again? I know that last one is a yes

I've lowkey been confused about this all this time
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is MWC literally arguing that Piranha Plant's final smash is him summoning another Piranha Plant and then that Piranha Plant turns into Petey
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okay so this image that SHINE posted earlier is from an online mode. here's hoping you can play battle arena with randos. assuming you can, this online mode is fire. here's a great post taken from the Smash Ultimate board with some sharp analyses

I just went ahead and looked at the section talking about it again to really understand what I believe they're alluding to.

It seems there's three types of online modes. There's the one where you're matched randomly where it, first, tries to match with your preferred rules (if you have them on). This is the one I think many online people are sweating about, including me, because it sounds like you'll sometimes get an opponent that has different preferred rules and there's no way to change. Honestly, I think this will be usually a hit for many as I'm sure when the game launches and for years to come, people WILL be playing this game in different regions that share your preferred rule mindset.

I think what we don't know is how it prioritizes it. Does it prioritize item/no-item first and foremost? Does it prioritize what type of stage you want next? Is the stock + timer options secondary prioritized options? Many question marks for a mode like this, but I think it's going to work by first seeing if it's items/no-items and then stage. It just makes the most sense to prioritize the online like that.

...

The other type of online is called Elite Battles. I wished they showed the preferred rules here, but if the devs themselves are thinking of using this mode as data points to balance the game. I'm just gonna assume items are off by default. No proof, but if that's what they're stating, because there's no way they would buff/nerf a character because of some item getting in the way, right? I feel like they shouldn't anyways, that'd be really shitty. So this is the mode I think most will PROBABLY default to to get guaranteed no-items. They say there's no more For Fun or For Glory, but Elite Battles does sound like For Glory, just with more options (minus items).

...

The last mode I think is the best one. I don't know if there was anyone other there that wanted a server-like thing to browse through, but this mode called "Battle Arena" sure as hell is implying it is.

If what I'm understanding right, in this mode. You can make a room... and then wait for other people to join your room and play with the setting they're probably looking for anyways. It's pretty much taking the matchmaking out and letting you, the player, decide what you want to do, which I think is actually perfect. I can also see a lot of streamers using this mode, no more do you need to add friends just to play with Twitch Streamers, or more importantly, actual Pro Smash Players.

...

So all in all, I think this online is pretty rad I think all things considered. It's got things for everyone. For casual players, they can go about the quick way from the first method. For the people that don't want items, go to Elite Battles for guaranteed no-items. For people that don't want matchmaking at all, Battle Arena for your viewing pleasure.

I think this is the best online for Smash honestly.

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yes you can watch the actual Direct

e:

don't think there are any highlight videos out yet, ExTha
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best reaction video of all time
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the worst part of this Direct, not using my brilliant Ken intro:

Ken masters the competition!
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K. Rool and Ridley were my most wanted characters but honestly there's a good chance I'll never play as them as that much if they're too slow. Fortunately K. Rool is actually looking damn good based on the matches we've seen so far from him. Like even Zero's analysis of him was that he could be one of the first high tier big characters.

But yeah, just play as the characters who are actually fun imho.
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ninkendo posted...

like the character doesn't really matter the moveset has to work for you

I was so happy when Mega Man got put into Smash 4

then I never used him because his playstyle didn't fit me

This exactly.

KamikazePotato posted...

They mismanaged expectations like crazy. There's no reason guys like Isaac and Skull Kid shouldn't have been revealed as Assist Trophies BEFORE today, so people could get over it and accept it instead of having hope for months.

Also this exactly. I'm a little underwhelmed with this Direct at all, but hot damn why they didn't save bigger reveals for this final Direct is beyond me. Given that, I can see why people might be more disappointed.

plus lol fake leaks
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Piranha Plant by itself is fantastic but Smash should absolutely not become a roster of generic ass characters. KP is actually making some good points here.

But also I'm betting all five of those first-wave DLC characters are going to be fan favorites. I wouldn't worry too much. What character(s) were you wanting, KP?
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StartTheMachine posted...

ninkendo posted...

boom there you go

no need to worry about algorithms

seriously this online is looking so fucking superior to Smash 4's barebones one

wait never mind this isn't in the online mode is it

goddammit
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ninkendo posted...

boom there you go

no need to worry about algorithms

seriously this online is looking so fucking superior to Smash 4's barebones one
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Mewtwo59 posted...

Grand Kirby posted...

StartTheMachine posted...

unless their matchmaking algorithms are just absolute garbage.

I wouldn't put it past them.

But still, even if it was like 1 out of 3 battles I have to play a ruleset I don't want to that's really bad. It doesn't help that I mostly only end up playing games at around midnight because of my schedule so I already have to do deal with long wait times and poor matchmaking at those hours, but at least I can deal with it since I'm playing what I want. If I end up having to wait forever just for the system to give up and put me in 1v1s with tourny tryhards all the time I probably never even touch online. That sucks.

It's Nintendo doing something with online. Of course it's going to be garbage.

quit reminding me of this truth goddammit

I have hopes for this online for the time being
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CelesMyUserName posted...

I mean from the sounds of it KP isn't even a smash fan, so pinning smash identity of smash fans on KP is bizarre

Okay if your whole idea of buying the game is for a certain character I guess I can start to understand that. I'm coming at this from the perspective of already being a fan of, you know, Smash's top tier gameplay system that is so much more enjoyable than every other lame ass fighting game.
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KamikazePotato posted...

StartTheMachine posted...

Maybe you should actually try different characters in this massive roster.

No? I don't care about gameplay styles anywhere near as much as the character themselves. I don't buy Smash so I can see if I'll like playing Ridley, because even if he's marginally fun I'm still just going to switch back over to Shulk because I actually like Shulk.

Like this is what I do with every fighting game not just Smash, either you have characters that appeal to me or you don't. I don't give a flying fuck about anyone in Soul Calibur but I'm getting 6 because 2B is in it.

Well I don't know what to tell you if you don't care about gameplay in a video game.
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KamikazePotato posted...

Just because there's more content doesn't mean I have to care about all the content. Ridley being in is cool and all, but I'll never touch him so what does it matter to me?

This is the dumbest thing you've posted so far in this topic. I've never been a fan of Greninja or Bowser Jr or Little Mac but they were my first three mains in Smash 4 because they were fun as fuck to play as. Maybe you should actually try different characters in this massive roster. Yes, I'm super hyped for K. Rool because I'm a huge fan and he was my most wanted newcomer, but there's a very good chance I'll play as someone else who I'm not near as big of a fan because they're more enjoyable to play as.

Smash's gameplay is incredibly fun, every single character has an insane amount of work put into them, and it's always worth it to try out each character. I guarantee you'll find some characters you'll unexpectedly click with.
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TheGoddamnSanta posted...

Bummed about nerfed all-star though

yeah this is is a real thing

the online looks infinitely deeper and superior but nerfed all-star looks super lame
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KamikazePotato posted...

StartTheMachine posted...

the online has actual customization options on deck

how the fuck is this online a step back

Pretty sure you can get matched up with people who don't fit your customization settings, which is...not great

I guess it all depends on how much it prioritizes connections over preferred rules settings. But again, this game will be enormous and it should be the easiest thing in the world to find people near you with your exact settings, unless their matchmaking algorithms are just absolute garbage.

I'm just glad we can basically do three stock For Glory matches now, because that's so much better than two.
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the online has actual customization options on deck

how the fuck is this online a step back
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Mewtwo59 posted...

KommunistKoala posted...

lmao people think the game will have cutscenes besides literally what we just saw

there will obviously be at least an ending cutscene too, but yeah, wouldn't surprise me if those are the only two.
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Piranha Plant was the greatest thing ever

but uh damn, yeah, overall a little disappointing Direct but honestly that online is looking really fucking good to me. again, assuming that you can easily find people with your preferred rules but considering how huge this game will be, I can't imagine that being a problem.

and yeah, online was the most important thing going in for me so I'm pretty hyped.
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This matchmaking is sooooo much better, assuming there will be enough people playing you'll actually get matched with people who have the same or very close preferred rules. It's really close to what I had in mind actually.
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okay I really hope they let you sort the roster by series because otherwise that is unbelievably goddamn stupid
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oh man Ken isn't an echo?

not buying that last new challenger bit though but this must mean there will only be one more at the end
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ahahahahahaha fake leaks ftw
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team 500
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team goku
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my body is not ready
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WATCHING LlVE BOYS
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I don't have a single right-leaning friend on facebook that hasn't called those bomb attacks false flags

I mean it doesn't remotely surprise me, but the Alex Jonesification of the right is still disgusting
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