Board 8 > Jeff Zero & Leonhart in Different Houses: Trails of Arcadia Edition [JZLF]

(+) Yeah! (+)

Anyway, we've got a new Star Wars Episode VIII trailer, and it looks pretty good! I'm discussing it with Jeff Zero as we speak, and we're both pretty hype about it. Although he warns me about the teaser at the end where it looks like Rey is reaching out to Kylo Ren for help, and there will be a large faction of the fandom who will be upset if Rey doesn't turn to the Dark Side for some reason, even though there's literally no way that happens. Do people want a "The Dark Side wins" story or what?

In Skies of Arcadia news, I made it to Valua! Won my first ship battle against Baltor, and I initiated the Moonfish sidequest with Doc and Maria. I really like that sidequest with all the backstory that goes with it. I suppose I should put a Now Playing Skies of Arcadia tune in here, too. I almost put the Imperial Armada theme, because it's excellent and has an Imperial March vibe to it. However, I'll go with the Valua City theme, since it's one of the best songs in the game:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RSCpVnK_3jw

In light novel news (since it was recently discussed), I'm working my way through the third SNAFU novel, and it's been pretty good. The chemistry between the main three is excellent as always, and there's a story in here that didn't get put into the anime. Also, Zaimokuza is way more annoying in the books than he is in the anime. Maybe it's because his voice actor helps cancel out how annoying he is by being ridiculously over the top with his delivery.
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LeonhartFour posted...

Zaimokuza is way more annoying in the books than he is in the anime

Man how is this even possible?
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I've been burned many times by trying to clarify minor things on wikis
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Oh hey, speaking of VGM, there's a top ten list on the front page today that asks what the ten best FF songs are according to the FFVII board. Unsurprisingly, it's got three FFVII songs in it (and a couple more in the honorable mentions).

https://www.gamefaqs.com/top10/2618-the-top-10-final-fantasy-compositions-according-to-the-final

What does surprise me is Terra (from FFIX, that is) being on that list. I didn't realize that was a well regarded song. There are actually quite a few retired VGMC tracks on the list, although #1 is one of the most infamous "Always gets in but will never retire" FF tracks in VGMC.

And looking at the front page, there's a Portal poll. Huh, Portal's ten years old now? I'm not sure if I'm surprised it's that old or if I thought it was older than that. It's got a timeless quality to it, I guess. This is one of the few PC games I've actually played (along with Portal 2). The original is the more popular of the two, I imagine, but I actually liked Portal 2 a decent bit better. I think that was mostly because I enjoyed Cave Johnson a lot and I think GlaDOS in the original is kinda overrated.
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pyresword posted...

LeonhartFour posted...

Zaimokuza is way more annoying in the books than he is in the anime

Man how is this even possible?

Like I said, it's probably the lack of voice acting because his VA was really good. The books really play up his pretentiously archaic style of speaking, too, which I think adds to the annoyance. The story in here that didn't make it into the anime heavily features Zaimokuza, too, so if you're not a fan, you might be glad it missed the cut! I haven't finished it yet, so I don't know if the payoff is worth the annoyance.

oh right I think there's another thing in the books here that annoyed me about Zaimokuza that isn't in the anime

There's a part in the story where they're discussing video games, and it's revealed that Yui is a casual video game player (She likes Mario Kart, Puyo Puyo, Animal Crossing, and even Final Fantasy). Zaimokuza is terrified of the girls the rest of the time, but he actually makes a comment on how disgusting casual video game players are. Zaimokuza's archetype of video game/anime fan is annoying enough as it is, but don't diss Yui, man!
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I played them both a few months ago and thought 2 was quite a bit better than 1
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Zaimokuza has *way* more screentime in the LNs than in the anime. I think at least 80% of his screentime is cut. Saika and Saki similarly suffer. Also the books where they adapt the whole book in one episode... I mean, it's not always a bad idea (book 5 wasn't the best), but there's a lot of good stuff that didn't make it to the anime.
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Oh, and with the Star Wars stuff, one of the fan theories is that (guess I'll spoiler this...?) Rey will turn to the dark side and Kylo will be redeemed and become the champion of the light. Dunno if it'll come true, but it'd be interesting.
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Yeah, Saki gets some good stuff in the second book that got cut out of the anime. I still liked her a good bit even before I started reading the books because the little screentime she did get was always excellent, but yeah, she gets shortchanged a bit.

I'm not a huge Totsuka fan though. Hachiman's weird obsession with him is a little offputting for me, so I guess it's not really his fault.
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Mac Arrowny posted...

Oh, and with the Star Wars stuff, one of the fan theories is that (guess I'll spoiler this...?) Rey will turn to the dark side and Kylo will be redeemed and become the champion of the light. Dunno if it'll come true, but it'd be interesting.

Ehhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh, I can't see that happening. Well, I guess it's not impossible, but I'd be surprised if that's what did end up happening. I think the story would be worse off for that happening, too, but I guess it would depend on the execution.
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LeonhartFour posted...

https://www.gamefaqs.com/top10/2618-the-top-10-final-fantasy-compositions-according-to-the-final

Needs more cheesy FF vocal songs.

Eyes on Me, Melodies of Life, and Answers all so good.
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Eh, the cheesy vocal songs will never make a favorite FF songs list.

1000 Words might actually be my favorite one. It's close between that and Melodies of Life.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ggjIDjAQtrw
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Suteki da ne is the only FF vocal song I really like. Well, FFXIII-2 had some good ones too. Crazy Chocobo and Limit Break! are great.
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Mac Arrowny posted...

Well, FFXIII-2 had some good ones too. Crazy Chocobo and Limit Break! are great.

I don't understand you people.
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Anyway, after a couple more episodes of Working!! I've discovered that the secret most adorable character in the show is actually Yachiyo.
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Oh wait, Sunleth Waterscape is a vocal song.

Yeah, that's the best FF vocal song.

(also shouldn't it be Sunless Waterscape?)
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Suteki da ne is pretty good also yeah, but that's a case where the orchestral arrangement (From FF Distant Worlds) is so vastly superior that I find it harder than I should to enjoy the original version.
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The ending version of Suteki da Ne is much better than the one that plays during the Tidus/Yuna scene in the game.
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if you didn't burst out laughing the first time you heard Crazy Chocobo in FFXIII-2 you have no joy
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Mac Arrowny posted...

if you didn't burst out laughing the first time you heard Crazy Chocobo in FFXIII-2 you have no joy

I didn't laugh because the song is good though

like if that was the criteria Snake Eater should have won a VGMC a long time ago

(although Snake Eater is actually decent; it's just the campy lyrics that put it over the top)
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I don't like listening to Crazy Chocobo on its own, but it always made me smile when it played in-game.
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Aw yeah, escape from Valua complete! I love this section of the game, with the design and atmosphere of the city, breaking into the Coliseum and freeing everyone, running for your life from Galcian, using the Harpoon Cannon for the first time, and narrowly escaping from the Grand Fortress just in the nick of time. Plus, this is where Vyse starts to come into his own as a character with his famous, "Impossible is a word to let people feel good about themselves when they quit" line. Now Vyse/Aika/Fina is an inseparable trio (mostly), and the hunt for the Moon Crystals can begin.

Today's Now Playing is Skies of Arcadia's regular ship battle theme, Bombardment 1:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kZZqmdc-mXM
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FFXIII-2 soundtrack is sublime.
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FFXIII-2's soundtrack is actually pretty good.

However, those two songs are not.
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Yeah, I mean Crazy Chocobo is whatever.

But a good portion of the soundtrack (probably like 50%) is vocal songs and I think the vast majority are great.
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I really like the New Bodhum theme. If I ever feel like listening to a song from that game, that's usually my go-to.
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That one is maybe my favorite from the game.

RIP Origa
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I'm debating whether I should make this account my main now that it has no posting restrictions.
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Speaking of VGM, last time I played Skies I remember intentionally getting caught by Galcian once just to see if you got Armada Battle for the fight

Turns out you do

Well worth the beatdown imo
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I don't think I ever finished Skies

I always thought Galcian's design was way better than Ramirez's
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Galcian is a very good villain, I think. I like Ramirez, too. They've both got excellent sound bytes for their moves, too.

Actually, the Valuan Armada is one of my favorite villain ensembles in any game. They're all pretty great, except for Alfonso, but he's a joke on purpose.
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Oh hey, the Vols finally decided to bench our mediocre QB and start the freshman this Saturday for the game against South Carolina. I dunno how much it'll matter, but at least Jones has stopped being stubborn about this.
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Almost done with Berseria for real this time. Finished the Bonus Dungeon. Collected all the different equipment types.

My OCD just demands I finish mastering all the equipment skills, and I think I just have 4 left. Tried to finish it up before but my spirit was crushed when I saw that I still had a 999 requirement one left which meant it would take at least twice as long as I had previously thought.

but then i can be done

would have been done if collecting the last few equipment pieces wasn't such an ordeal and was entirely dependent on rng chest drops.
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Mastering those skills is worth it to make NG+ a cakewalk. Easisest way to farm Grade is by fighting the dire foe outside of Hellawes. Another way is by farming the first floor boss of the bonus dungeon, using Inoph bottle if the random rooms you get are awful.
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but what about the platinum trophy
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I now have two games I am literally one trophy away from having a Platinum on.

According to TrueTrophies, I've been one trophy away from the ME2 Platinum for over four years now. Still haven't worked up the nerve to try the Insanity run.

I could've had the Platinum in my latest P4G run if I hadn't screwed up getting all the books.
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BK_Sheikah00 posted...

Mastering those skills is worth it to make NG+ a cakewalk. Easisest way to farm Grade is by fighting the dire foe outside of Hellawes. Another way is by farming the first floor boss of the bonus dungeon, using Inoph bottle if the random rooms you get are awful.

Bonus Dungeon 1F is what I've been doing since I noticed it's a fast trip to him when I was trying to get the equipment from the treasure chests there. It's about 50-70 Grade for a 30 second fight. Really getting a cooperative room is the most annoying part.

The Mana Sword posted...

but what about the platinum trophy

no

Level 200 and the all titles Level 2 one would put an end to any thoughts of that. Other than those I think there's the Gald one, Tales coins, Item Collector (pretty sure i can get this if i just buy all the accessories the katz sell for tales coins) which are all plausible (maybe not Gald)
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Gald isnt so bad if you abuse sailing & the PS4 class clock. The titles and level 200 are the most time consuming, though you can kinda cheat on the leveling one if you want to spend $8.
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I only have two platinums (Steins;Gate and Life is Strange)

I've set myself up to plat P5 if I ever do NG+ though.

(Though I also would have gotten platinums for VLR/ZTD if I had played the Vita versions, so I feel a bit ripped off!)
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ZTD is perhaps the easiest Platinum I've gotten of the five. The Steins;Gate 0 Platinum is pretty easy, too, much easier than the original game. I didn't play VLR on Vita either. I keep thinking I should get that Nonary Games port so I can replay those games sometime. FFXV's was the most time-consuming by far, but it wasn't hard either.
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Im at 30.

Nothing compared to some of the people on this board.
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Now playing: Persona 4: Dancing All Night - Calystegia

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FMvlAul2TtU

I really enjoy this song. Came to mind because of that azuarc topic where he wants to rank ending themes or staff rolls. This will probably end up like dead last or something because he and I don't see eye to eye on anything, but this song is great.

Kanami Mashita is a really good and overlooked character, too, because P4D got panned or ignored by lots of Persona fans.
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speaking of games easy to platinum
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That's one of my five!

thank goodness it didn't require anything from the All Night difficulty other than just unlocking it

I'm not a big rhythm game player, but I enjoyed P4DAN and both Theatrhythm games. I should play them again sometime.
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I feel like I'll probably never get a Platinum.
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according to TrueTrophies tomorrow marks the 2nd anniversary of my first Platinum (the aforementioned P4DAN)

and I've been with the PS3 since before the advent of trophies so it took me a while
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Whoa, I just discovered that Square is finally releasing their Ultimanias in English across three volumes. The first one comes out next year, and it covers FF1-6.

https://amazon.com/Final-Fantasy-Ultimania-Archive-1/dp/1506706444

I'm in.
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xp1337 posted...

Level 200 and the all titles Level 2 one would put an end to any thoughts of that. Other than those I think there's the Gald one, Tales coins, Item Collector (pretty sure i can get this if i just buy all the accessories the katz sell for tales coins) which are all plausible (maybe not Gald)

Well this "make all snacks" trophy in Zestiria is proving to be worse than all of those.
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I am so hyped for Star Wars right now.
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BK_Sheikah00 posted...

I am so hyped for Star Wars right now.

heck yeah

gonna be so good
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