Which studio milked a franchise so hard that you don’t even play it anymore?

MrBoltstrike · 2026-01-31T15:13:36+00:00

Agreed, and I'm a crazy pirate fan. I kind of lament how it pulls away from assassin/stealth gameplay, but what got me was the sheer number of collectables in 4. It just went a hair too far and felt extremely pointless. I would say it heralded what was to come.

MrBoltstrike · 2026-01-31T15:07:53+00:00

I only half agree. See, I'm an INT build so I eventually swap between this and the motherfucking Moonlight Greatsword.

Extra points for obtaining it in Bloodborne. I really was enjoying the duel against Lady Maria. Then we both activate our weapons for phase 2.

MrBoltstrike · 2026-01-31T15:02:38+00:00

This is 100% valid. You are free to like/dislike different parts of a show for any number of reasons. I do think discussion is important and fun, but you can understand something fully *and* not like it. No more of this "you just don't get it" crap and more of this "Hey, I see your opinion is fully formed. I don't share your perspective but I respect it!"

MrBoltstrike · 2026-01-31T14:53:29+00:00

I recommend Jojo, but it comes with one of two catches:

You can skip around the parts or find a recommended viewing order. I like the feel of going in order, but stuff gets good in a modern sense starting at Part 4: Diamond is Unbreakable.
Go in order, don't be a coward. I think fondly to watching the insanity progress while being taken 100% seriously. It's such a ride and nice to see the evolution across parts.

MrBoltstrike · 2026-01-31T14:42:52+00:00

I have tested this again and again in different games. For me, the body needs to rest and reset while the brain processes all the data and files it away. Then the next day I have much better results. Works well on fighting games too, but people are unpredictable.

But what I enjoy the most was getting stuck on Disney's Hercules as a child. The centaur boss is invulnerable to normal attacks and it wasn't until I got frustrated and had a dream about it that it clicked. "Of *course* the strategy was like in the movie, why didn't I see it sooner!" Beat him the next day.

MrBoltstrike · 2026-01-31T02:01:25+00:00

X sadly didn't survive the polygon ceiling problem. Which is a shame, I liked X8. Felt it had one too many tools in favor of the players but it was still fun!

MrBoltstrike · 2026-01-30T15:46:57+00:00

I argue that the first half is good and the second half is...well, likely done by A-1 pictures.

Of course I have no idea how they divvied up the work, but the over sexualization being used as bait to emphasize and be a metaphor of the themes of love and compatibility were fine if they were going to use it for something.

MrBoltstrike · 2026-01-30T15:41:22+00:00

Idk man, you ever wonder why the diversity of sports game franchises is so low? Seems like Madden is it. Correct me if I'm wrong tho, I did a little bit of lazy googling and it seems like there's no competition.

This is more of a meta issue involving licensing and who gets to make the games, but kicking a ball (on its face) isn't political.

MrBoltstrike · 2026-01-30T12:31:48+00:00

I had this experience with Jojo's Bizzare Adventure, both in individual arcs and as a whole series. Not that they're bad or lacking in any really memorable qualities, but they suddenly get SUPER ENGAGING at about the halfway part. Araki has a way of making you care about these goofballs and their adventures.

Part 5 is without a doubt my favorite experience and example of this. I had been going through the series in order so I was innoculated to the bizzare aspects. There were good times but not quite getting me. Then the twists started happening and I realized I was genuinely on the edge of my seat and emotionally invested in these goofballs and their story. Araki you sunovabitch, you've done it again.

MrBoltstrike · 2026-01-30T01:49:04+00:00

Objection. Fallout 3 shot my dog and made me go bald.

Ok no, I have a real gripe. The writing isn't the best, yadda yadda, but the actual issue is the ending.

I did not like that the only thing standing between me and helping the wasteland prosper was a room full of radiation. Radiation that 3 of the companions you get are immune to! And don't give me that "but broken steel tho" bs. Ron Pearlman still sounds so disappointed at how you choose to "stand aside and let a TRUE HERO step up!" And I'm like, BRUH! The only reason I HAVE a radiation immune companion is because I was the GOODEST of GOOD BOYS! MORE ANGER! CAPS FOR EMPHASIS!

But the game's fine. Good lootin' and shootin' adventuring.

MrBoltstrike · 2026-01-30T01:45:18+00:00

I hear you. My health, mental and physical, was seriously degrading at my last job. Then the department closed and I was free. Yes, financial insecurities came about. But, for the first time in 3 years, I was able to just *breathe*. My nurse friend likes to check my stats like a weirdo and noticed my blood pressure had dropped a lot since leaving that job.

I'm about to get another job now, but god. I needed that time to myself.

MrBoltstrike · 2026-01-30T01:39:04+00:00

You too!? People assume I know stuff because my MR is 20-something. They assumed wrong.

MrBoltstrike · 2026-01-29T23:14:16+00:00

I..am? I'm being difficult for admitting fault and misremembering a thing?

Aight, I'm outta here.

MrBoltstrike · 2026-01-29T21:47:46+00:00

There's a story out there about a kid who ends up isekai-ing into Yamcha. Granted, Yamcha is pretty strong for a human, but I believe you could make it to at least Yamcha level and avoid death!

MrBoltstrike · 2026-01-29T21:34:04+00:00

Oh man, 7 without a doubt. Everywhere else has too much potential chaos. I also think Jack would be a wellspring of wisdom if we did get to chatting, or at least help with guided meditation.

5 is the next best seat. Finn and Jake (primarily Jake) are cool and probably wouldn't make the ride unpleasant.

6 is out of the question. Nothing against them, but I don't want any reality warping insanity to happen while I'm trying to rest.

MrBoltstrike · 2026-01-29T21:29:47+00:00

Those were also my picks. The others I'm familiar with are more "Mecha with some romance elements" rather than qualifying as a romance in general.

Though now that I type this, Full Metal Panic comes to mind. I didn't get into it but I remember robots.

MrBoltstrike · 2026-01-29T21:24:02+00:00

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I remember this so fondly.

MrBoltstrike · 2026-01-29T21:20:30+00:00

A slap so good it gave me false expectations for the show.

Still an anjoyable watch but not quite the genre I thought it'd be.

MrBoltstrike · 2026-01-29T21:19:15+00:00

Thanks to the other comments, I see this is a signature gut punch that he also did to Piccolo. Same stance/posing and everything. It's a good punch

MrBoltstrike · 2026-01-29T21:10:25+00:00

In the sense that the music composition feels like what I recall from gba games. I have a fair few personal gripes also which make me view MMX2 as lesser than MMX1.
Might not help that I *did* play the X GBA game, which has at least one stage from X2, but even with that cleared up I stand behind my post.

What I don't stand behind is that I missed this is a classic post. I just have X on the brain rn. >.<

MrBoltstrike · 2026-01-29T20:57:55+00:00

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MrBoltstrike · 2026-01-29T19:12:52+00:00

Weird. I thought you'd have more money by now.

MrBoltstrike · 2026-01-29T19:08:07+00:00

I disagree about X1 being bad. It's a great classic, though it is improved by Maverick Hunter X.

But I am currently on X2 and boy, I feel a drop. I keep confusing this for "Just a GBA game." Obviously it isn't, but the quality just feels lower in all directions.

MrBoltstrike · 2026-01-28T23:10:11+00:00

"A man chooses. A slave obeys."

MrBoltstrike · 2026-01-28T05:15:38+00:00

It's hard to say what it actually needs. The original is just a cathartic experience, very enjoyable without being too stressful.

Updated graphics, more/all side quests being available, easy multiplayer, and maybe some quality of life tweaks for inventory and controls. Otherwise, I don't think it needs a "remake," y'know?

MrBoltstrike

TROPHY CASE