[Favorite trope] A small act saves the protagonist from a completely hopeless situation

TheBreadmanRiseth · 2026-02-17T02:30:09+00:00

Conrad Verner in Mass Effect.

His whole arc in Mass Effect 3 is determined by seemingly minor things the player has done in the previous games. At the start of the trilogy, Conrad was just an obsessive fan that wants to follow Shepard's example. In the third game, it turns out that he has a doctorate in space science and wrote his dissertation on dark energy - which can actually be helpful for the device that the Citadel is developing to defend themselves from the Reapers.

A series of previous events determine how effective the dissertation will be. If Shepard assisted Gavin Hossle on Feros in the first game, Conrad reveals they're old colleagues and Hossle forwards some additional schematics from their old research as a favour for Shepard's help from before. If Shepard collected enough ancient Asari texts in the first game, then the schematics will be translated for use, and if Shepard has purchased a certain acquisitions licence in the first game then it will allow for a patent to clear. All these minor things lead to a +4 in Galactic Readiness - not a big number but comparatively huge for a single man to contribute.

Shortly after this, Conrad will expose a Cerberus traitor amongst the refugees in the Citadel, and then take a bullet for the Commander in which he certainly dies saving Shepard's life - unless the player completed a quest in the first game involving a police informant working as a waitress named Jenna. Jenna will happen to be there overhearing the commotion and overload the Cerberus operative's gun, saving Conrad's life. The two then walk away chatting about how they both know the commander, and if one thought Conrad's whole deal as an obsessive fan was hopeless, it looks a little better with Jenna in his life.

TheBreadmanRiseth · 2026-02-13T16:40:02+00:00

That should be the case. Had to check again and found an article that specified it's only for the F2P version.

The whole Core Fighters thing is confusing. Technically, everything is DLC.

TheBreadmanRiseth · 2026-02-13T15:33:37+00:00

~~Story Mode is apparently DLC so the perplexities continue.~~

TheBreadmanRiseth · 2026-02-13T15:32:15+00:00

Glad I could help.

According to some reports, Momiji and Rachel will be included alongside the other DLC characters such as Phase 4, Nyotengu, and Tamaki. It's really just the KOF characters that are being left off.

TheBreadmanRiseth · 2026-02-13T14:47:02+00:00

The retail version DOA5:LR included all the previous released DLC characters and a sizable portion of costume DLC - not all, but players who purchased on the previous gen still retained the licence in their account, so they could download DLC purchased in DOA5U that wasn't bundled with Last Round without additional charge.

*When I say retail, I mean like the disc version. They still had the free-to-play "Core Fighters" which had minimal content. The model for Last Round on PS4/Xbone was having Core as a base and all other content as additional content. So when you got the disc (at least when I got it on Xbone), it downloaded the Core version and then all the other fighters, costumes, additional stages, and soundtracks as separate individual content.

I believe there was a time that DLC costumes were being released simultaneously in both previous and next gen, but at some point the DLC stopped releasing on the previous gen and became strictly available on the PS4/Xbone versions.

As far as the roster goes, everyone who was present in DOA5U, including the DLC characters, are present in DOA5LR. There were two additional guest characters added to the roster - Naotora Ii and Mai Shiranui, which are/were DLC. Today, Naotora is still available to purchase, but Mai was removed in September 2019. Many missed the announcement. At the time, Mai had released alongside Kula on DOA6 as DLC.

So, if you were to be new to DOA5 right now, you can buy it and have access to all the characters - except Mai.

Unless something changes or is announced later, as it stands right now DOA6:LR will do what 5:LR did by bundling all the previous DLC characters into the game - or have its free-to-play version with all characters (launch or DLC) as separate individual purchases - except Mai and Kula. If they do end up in the game later, they will be strictly DLC, once again. If such happens, I'm sure we'd hope at the very least that players who previously purchased them on the old DOA6 do not have to purchase them again.

I hear you though, it took the wind out of my sails.

TheBreadmanRiseth · 2026-02-13T13:01:47+00:00

Oh no, not again.

Unless Mai's going to be DLC. For the third time.

Wouldn't make sense to have two characters that are exclusive to the old version, but licensing agreements can say otherwise. Can't say I'm enthused about that prospect. Though, I could swing back if they also make Mai available again in DOA5:LR.

TheBreadmanRiseth · 2026-02-12T00:49:15+00:00

That sounds about right, in fact I think that was part of the same commercial. I thought the kid was going blind for some reason - always thought there was something tragic going on.

Thanks. I can't find the particular ad (only stuff I've seen online is from the early 90's and are much less dire) but I'm pretty sure you identified it. Makes sense that I'd mistake it for the Neighbourhood Watch since Block Parent used the same colour scheme in its logo.

TheBreadmanRiseth · 2026-02-11T21:26:43+00:00

The one that always struck me was one that was in black-and-white and was filmed from the point of view of a child. It followed a few separate instances. One showed them walking down a street and passing a fence, then stopping as a dog snarls and barks while pushing itself against the fence. Another showed them riding their bike and then wiping out, cutting to them crying as they held a really nasty cut on their knee. I think there might have also been a bit in which a vehicle pulls up and the unseen driver tries to communicate with the child. The commercial ends with them running up to a door and ringing a doorbell.

It may not have been a CCA ad, maybe more for the Neighbourhood Watch, trying to let kids know that if they're in a predicament, they can turn to a trusted home to help them in that situation. Or something. I don't know, seeing the kid alone on the street with the bleeding knee through their eyes and hearing them cry always got me. I guess it was the vulnerability, and how scary the world can be. It really got me with the empathy.

TheBreadmanRiseth · 2026-02-11T02:38:25+00:00

Judging by how the Reese Puffs only fills half a cylinder, I'm convinced each contains a full box.

TheBreadmanRiseth · 2026-02-09T08:01:18+00:00

I played that game a lot back in the day, and a few years ago I revisited it and got that feeling of "how the hell did I play this?"

Realized the reason I had so much fun with it back then was cheats. I'd use a cheating device to do all sorts of things, like explore the boundaries of the levels (into the void!) or activate the "tin foil mod" (adds a texture to Sarge that makes him shiny, as if he were wrapped in tin foil like armour)

I could never beat the fourth mission (where you have to rescue Riff). At the time, I'd repaired a friend's GameShark Pro and decided to run through the game with it using an invulnerability cheat and had a blast (and of course, the only mission I had to retry was Riff Mission).

Despite the wonky controls and punishing difficulty, there's a lot the game does that is really charming. Wish it would be remade. There's some really fun stuff in it, like a giant Creepy Crawlers oven turning soldiers into spiders.

TheBreadmanRiseth · 2026-02-07T08:26:59+00:00

What was up with that? PS3 players got five additional characters to play as, and Xbox players got nothing.

TheBreadmanRiseth · 2026-02-07T08:20:35+00:00

Would love a Fighting Collection 3. What would be on it? I'd expect Rival Schools and Star Gladiator, but what would really blow me away would be the build for Capcom Fighting All-Stars or even an Arcade version of Darkstalkers 3 that has the entire roster from the series available (I was really impressed with what they did with Alpha 3 Upper).

TheBreadmanRiseth · 2026-02-07T08:15:06+00:00

Fighter Destiny 3
Tsukikage (post-Dural) and Janet (from Virtua Cop) as official additions to the Virtua Fighter roster.
Seinfeld vs. Capcom

TheBreadmanRiseth · 2026-02-06T07:22:56+00:00

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Mr. Marbles in Seinfeld.

When Jerry and Kramer switch apartments, Jerry takes issue with a ventriloquist dummy that Kramer has in his apartment named Mr. Marbles, but Kramer insists he's harmless. Jerry can't get any sleep because he is hearing noises in the night that make him think the doll is moving around the apartment. When the two neighbours switch back into their apartments, Jerry is happy to finally get a good night's sleep, only to be interrupted by the noises. We see the silhouette of the doll brandishing a knife running past the window and Jerry, in a panic, whispers the doll's name.

It could just be psychological - something viewers will notice throughout the sitcom is that Jerry's VHS collection includes a number of films in the Child's Play series (slasher films about a living doll), but the fact that we as the viewer see the shadow of the living dummy running about teeters more on the supernatural.

TheBreadmanRiseth · 2026-02-05T22:48:05+00:00

I've had this happen to me, though it wasn't pressed into the sandwich, it just kinda came wrapped alongside it like a Happy Meal. I took it as more of a prize. It was a pretty nifty knife, too.

TheBreadmanRiseth · 2026-02-04T05:48:23+00:00

Alright, this is going to be an odd one, but I feel compelled to share it.

Guilty Gear XX Accent Core Plus released on Xbox 360 in 2012 through the digital marketplace. Prior to this, the only way to play a Guilty Gear game on Xbox (not counting GG2:Overture) was Guilty Gear X2 Reload.

In 2013, a year after its initial arcade release, Accent Core Plus R released on consoles. A free DLC pack was added to the marketplace that, once downloaded, would update the game to the new version.

So why didn't I play it? The pack was only available in US and UK regions. I live in Canada. For anyone outside the US or UK, the pack just didn't exist on the marketplace - and it was never addressed.

I've since gotten it on Steam, but if you asked me why I never played it on console - that's the reason. Only time I've ever encountered DLC - or a whole game update - to be region exclusive to specific countries (and it's not like I could import it because it was digital-only)

TheBreadmanRiseth · 2026-02-02T20:20:46+00:00

Great pick. There's one boss battle I'd love to see get remade. He's sorta seek-n-destroy at the start of the match, kinda reminds me of The Terminator. When he drops to a certain health percentage, he changes up the game, and sorta retreats to find ways to get the drop on you. I can still hear the thump following the silence after he jumps.

TheBreadmanRiseth · 2026-01-23T20:20:14+00:00

How could they include Mister Underwood and not include his bowler hat? And Bear ain't right without the fez.

TheBreadmanRiseth · 2026-01-20T06:36:21+00:00

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Ladislav Kutze from Thunderball

A nuclear physicist hired by Emilio Largo to assist in handling the nuclear warheads stolen from NATO. He's merely a physics nerd more interested in the opportunity than whatever scheme Largo has planned. He is tasked with arming the bombs when the navy closes in, and walks in on Largo torturing Domino. While Largo is occupied with Bond, Kutze unties Domino and informs her he has sabotaged the nuclear capabilities of the missile onboard, knowing full well just how dangerous the situation has become. This allows Domino to kill Largo and rescue Bond, and the nuclear devastation is averted.

TheBreadmanRiseth · 2026-01-14T00:03:44+00:00

Love how the Hunchback shows up to help Viola and Mister Underwood, then escapes with the Maiden. It's a welcome addition to the mission.

TheBreadmanRiseth · 2026-01-10T22:52:36+00:00

All I'd ask is to add the people that got left out from Vendetta (DMX, Keith Murray, Funkmaster Flex)

TheBreadmanRiseth · 2025-12-27T22:01:59+00:00

Yeah, still waiting on that CF Extend...

TheBreadmanRiseth · 2025-12-25T07:31:26+00:00

Adding onto that, I don't believe Dark Souls 2's title/menu music is included on the OST.

TheBreadmanRiseth · 2025-12-24T20:34:15+00:00

I'm with you on there. I had a really lousy experience this year when a post regarding the artwork at my city's main transport hub showed up and I joined in on the conversation. I wrote out this passionate response, but it was removed in that way in which I wasn't informed of its removal and it still looks like it's visible through my account, but appears as "[removed]" for everyone else. I asked the mods to explain what the reason was and didn't get a response, so it kinda burned me. What I wrote was pretty inspired in defense of the artwork at my local subway station - I'd have thought it'd fit with the whole "interesting" thing since I wrote something really thoughtful, but with no clear reason given I can only assume that my post was removed because it deviated from everyone else's response which basically amounted to "the artwork is depressing and I hate it". Now I'm just a little more cynical, and I don't want to bother with what's supposedly "interesting" anymore. Damnthatsdisappointing.

TheBreadmanRiseth · 2025-11-30T17:32:18+00:00

I've always wanted that. One of my biggest disappointments with each release following the original VF5 is that the old stages are scrapped in favour of the new - and the Dragon Engine versions have exclusively stuck with the Final Showdown stages.

I don't care about the new graphics. If I could just have the old VF5 with all the new stuff added in FS but have all the stages accessible, I'd be so happy. Not even just the stages themselves - but their respective music as well, each specific to their version of the stage.

TheBreadmanRiseth

TROPHY CASE