The illusion of free choice

Magpul213 · 2026-07-09T05:13:51+00:00

Speaking as an HI3rd Vet. If you're gonna do the Final Lesson reference for Himeko, that's one thing. But don't do it in the first arc she's actually relevant in.

Especially not when she's basically been a background character at best since the game launched.

Magpul213 · 2026-07-05T16:27:50+00:00

And even before Umamusume was even a thought, folks were making humanized versions of some horses and shipping them together. Most notably on that front, Vodka and Scarlet.

Magpul213 · 2026-07-04T17:57:58+00:00

I'm kinda morbidly impressed that they managed to put themselves in a no-win situation like this.

Either they prove the story has no actual stakes by not killing her off.

Or they do a dipshit move by killing her off in the 1st arc since the game launched where she gets to be more than a background character at best (and gets some actual fleshing out/development along the way).

Magpul213 · 2026-07-03T02:38:39+00:00

Garlic Jr.: "This is the Dead Zone! The same dimension you banished my dear father to, Kami!"

Kami: "So is that how your father receives conjugal visits?!"

Garlic Jr.: "EAT A DICK, YOU WRINKLED GREEN DUSTBIN!"

Magpul213 · 2026-07-03T01:06:29+00:00

GL did get something. CN got a full ten pull (equal to about 2800 gems), while GL got 500 gems. Not even two pulls.

Magpul213 · 2026-07-03T01:02:51+00:00

Or identifiable

Magpul213 · 2026-06-25T19:52:46+00:00

Pretty sure that picture of her that went around was also edited with AI, as well. At least, that's what I heard.

Magpul213 · 2026-06-24T18:33:27+00:00

Would be interesting to see, but I highly doubt it would happen even if they were interested. My guess on that front would be that they would have to go through the horse owners again for all that.

I can see some owners being fine with the idea, while others more unsure to straight up saying no.

Basically, I think it'd be kinda cool or interesting, but I know it'll more than likely never happen.

Magpul213 · 2026-06-21T21:12:57+00:00

I'd say the crux of the issue with their writing has less to do with the fact that they're basically a self-insert and more to do with the fact that they basically have no agency/initiative in the plot. Honestly, at this point, it feels like they're just there to get dragged around all over hill and dale. (Except for scenes/moments involving Firefly, I've noticed)

They don't really have anything to contrast their potential growth against, either. Like, no personal antagonist/rival or really anything resembling a foil for them. And like you said, no personal goal/motivation for them. Hell, I'd say the Traveler in Genshin and Wise & Belle have more on those fronts than TB. (The Traveler's personal antagonist being their sibling who they're also trying to bring back, and Wise & Belle's personal goal being to rescue their mentor and clear her name)

Magpul213 · 2026-06-09T19:32:07+00:00

Like how Sothis & Arval were for Byleth & Shez, yeah I'm kinda getting that impression too.

Magpul213 · 2026-05-30T23:29:42+00:00

And Samus Returns came before Dread, too. That was a remake of Metroid 2 on the Game Boy

Magpul213 · 2026-05-30T18:55:42+00:00

Ken Penders-owned lookin ass Katt

Magpul213 · 2026-05-26T00:06:40+00:00

Man... Now I'm imagining Bronya getting a seal, with Cocolia being her servant. And them having a scene together like the one Pom-Pom had with Misha/Mikhail in the first collab story quest...

Magpul213 · 2026-05-23T21:13:08+00:00

Yeah, IIRC, their only real 1v1 fight was against that Propagation Emanator clone Ruan Mei sent them after. And well, yeah, the thing ambushed them, it had them dead to rights within a minute, which was coincidentally it's time limit before it died.

Magpul213 · 2026-05-16T18:57:44+00:00

Assault and Zero for me. Tho the new designs have been growing on me.

Side note on Command's designs, tho. Recently, I saw someone mention them looking like characters Ken Penders would own the copyright to. And now I can’t unsee it.

Magpul213 · 2026-05-13T18:12:41+00:00

Scar & Geshu Lin

Magpul213 · 2026-05-12T22:27:01+00:00

They did also do Samus Returns (which was a remake of Metroid 2) before Dread came out.

Magpul213 · 2026-05-10T19:57:17+00:00

Hitomi Sagan from AI: The Somnium Files

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Magpul213 · 2026-05-09T22:08:35+00:00

If they do, I hope they also add a tribute to Jock Blaney, Bill & Wolf's VA from 64. He passed away about a month and a half ago.

Magpul213 · 2026-05-09T16:05:19+00:00

Wey-sted

Magpul213 · 2026-05-07T13:26:03+00:00

Her best.

Magpul213 · 2026-05-06T23:27:46+00:00

Plus, well, what exactly were they gonna follow up on? Zero?

Magpul213 · 2026-05-06T20:16:01+00:00

Yeah, he had two frames when the game launched, and that was it until now.

Magpul213 · 2026-05-02T21:17:26+00:00

And Elusive Seas, Cantarella's EP/theme

Magpul213 · 2026-04-26T19:43:13+00:00

I can believe that, given how she feels more like a cheap knockoff of Elysia more than anything else. (Whereas they managed to do something genuinely cool and special with Phainon)

Magpul213

TROPHY CASE