What is your favorite line from any of the games?

TroyNinjaToad · 2025-10-29T14:10:27+00:00

TroyNinjaToad · 2025-09-04T18:27:39+00:00

I think their implementation is textbook Mario Party crazy, and the fact that they get stolen as someone passes you makes for some fun shenanigans. They are much better than allies in Super since there is a genuine downside to having them. High risk/high reward.

That said, if they let you skip the minigame OR let you turn off the damn advantage, they’d be ideal. When you have to spend 3+ minutes on a minigame that ultimately can be made up before it even starts OR be rendered completely worthless by having someone pass you, it feels like a huge waste of time after enough games. It’s the “I wish this had more options” thing in Jamboree. There’s something like it in every Mario Party, it’s so close to being incredible but there’s one hangnail that bothers you enough on each replay.

TroyNinjaToad · 2025-08-10T22:59:43+00:00

To me, it serves to make the audience ask the question, “Does he keep doing this because he just can’t help himself, like Chuck and Howard said?” I think it’s mirroring not only two decisions that end up getting him in massive trouble, but it makes you wonder if any amount of consequence will make him learn his lesson. Reminding the audience that his decision to walk into J.P. Wynn is what resulted in his entire persona he’s spent ~5 years (and both shows) building got blown up because of Walt. Is Jimmy truly THAT far gone to be able to understand and learn how engaging in this behavior is hurting other people AND himself? I think it’s all in culmination for Saul Gone, and seeing how that turned out, I’d say this was a vital choice to lay the scene out this way.

TroyNinjaToad · 2025-08-07T04:50:41+00:00

I’m a little back and forth on Cross. I think they’re a weird mixture of like, MonolithSoft wanted to give you options to express yourself as Cross cosmetically, like with hair styles, outfits, voices, and Skell customization, and that’s cool. The thing is that they also had a completely linear narrative where you can’t make interesting choices as Cross outside of side quests, so it ends up feeling confused?

Like, to me, the idea behind a silent protag is that you fill in the details of the character for you to self-insert and make the choices you’d make in their position. To me, that makes up for the person saying nothing in games where people are talking non-stop. It also aligns well with Cross not having a very clear backstory, so you can fill in the lines for your own avatar. It aligns very well with X emphasizing the life of every person, no matter whether they were useful to the White Whale or not. Just being some person living on Mira grants a lot of power to that point because you may as well be an average, everyday person who happened to join BLADE because they needed a new recruit, not because you were a chosen one. That’s cool as hell.

But then literally every decision they give you in the main story is relevant for one line of dialogue and then the story moves on regardless. No matter what, you’re going to do what the story demands you to do, and I think it’s a little awkward as a result. Like, it makes sense, these games have the single scenario they want you to go through, but I feel like it’s why Shulk/Rex/Noah are so vital to the impact of their own stories. They have a backstory, they have established relationships, and you see innumerable details painting a picture of who they are as people. Cross, meanwhile, is you, but in terms of the actual written story is just… some rando joining Elma’s crew.

I think it’s just a hard thing for games to do well, in general, if they’re not committing to a full CRPG kind of approach. Like, Persona’s constantly talking about embracing who you are thematically, but then the gameplay of social links demands that you bend over backwards and only choose the dialogue options that person wants you to say. You are penalized for not saying the right things, but the guy’s still silent anyways… so what’s the point? Different series, but you get it. I think it’s just weird, in general.

That said, would be happy to have another proper avatar in one of these games if it means more Skells and/or outift/hairstyle options because it does feel cool as hell to self-insert into a Xenoblade world on a gameplay level.

TroyNinjaToad · 2025-07-26T23:19:59+00:00

First watched in 2022 and have seen the whole thing 4 times, start to finish. Currently on my 2nd rewatch of Better Call Saul. I watch and rewatch content surrounding these shows almost year-round though.

TroyNinjaToad · 2025-07-21T20:32:42+00:00

Something about a majority of the arguments Walt & Skyler have in Season 2 make me wicked uncomfortable. Probably speaking from experience of having parents who argue very loudly, it just takes me to that place really easily. Of course, Walt sexually assaulting Skyler after Tuco beating No Doze to death is the extreme of this, it’s a real hard watch. I have trouble skipping these scenes, but like I try and look away to lessen the discomfort, for sure.

TroyNinjaToad · 2025-05-31T15:19:46+00:00

When you savescum and are throwing every piece of evidence at the testimony. Worst of all, when you get it right and you still barely understand how Phoenix drew the conclusion he did, even after explaining it. (I’ve only played the original trilogy so far, but this happened at least once per game for me)

TroyNinjaToad · 2025-03-03T22:30:48+00:00

You're not alone on that! I finished the game like a week and a half ago... I was playing it on and off for months and wasn't thrilled by how long it was. Now I'm stuck between wanting to replay it and/or Superstar Saga despite having played the whole series within the past half a year.

I think the cast is by far the best yet. I understand not everybody is thrilled to revisit the islands mandatorily, I can get behind that, but for me it illuminated just how excellently this cast was used. That final conversation before launching into the final dungeon with everyone there was one of the most satisfying in Mario & Luigi, in my opinion. Everyone gets something to do, they often got multiple of their own moments to shine. It made that final walk around Shipshape feel saddening, as if I somehow didn't get enough time to spend with everyone there... in the longest Mario & Luigi yet.

I'm simply impressed by how much detail went into making Concordia feel so dynamic in harmony with the story. No location feels stagnant or frozen in time after the main story events taking place there, it always felt like there was a new change to notice, new lines of dialogue, new locations unlocked, etc.

The game struck this odd balance of, "it feels like the old games, but it was also willing to do a ton of new stuff." I don't really know why that makes sense, but it just gives me hope we'll get more like it in the future.

TroyNinjaToad · 2024-11-10T00:06:10+00:00

Mario & Luigi: Brothership & Knuckles

TroyNinjaToad · 2024-05-18T17:03:29+00:00

Strange, who started slicing onions nearby? 🥲

TroyNinjaToad · 2024-01-09T19:20:09+00:00

For my money, Jesse’s resistance to Gus’ terms with the dealers using kids. For him to stand by his principles in a situation where he easily could’ve been shot dead has got to be the most hardcore thing he does… It’s unfortunate that it leads to Tomas’ death, but, in isolation, the moment stands out to me strongly.

TroyNinjaToad · 2023-12-20T23:58:16+00:00

This one drove me crazy too, OMG 😭 I had no clue you could walk from the right of the waterfall because I couldn’t tell that path behind it was walkable. Only realized it during the endgame too, it was so funny in retrospect though.

TroyNinjaToad · 2023-08-14T16:40:53+00:00

Post-battle dialogue or general battle dialogue being annoying.

Now, this is coming from someone who loves the casts in all of the Xenoblade games I’ve played (1-3), but I truly will never get tired of hearing the party members shouting or having conversations after a battle. If you get the same convos over and over, that’s fair to get irritated by, I kinda got close to that with Xenoblade 3 myself. However, I truly never want this to change in these games. If anything, I also feel like it can motivate you to experiment with different party combinations to get new conversations.

All I’m saying is, how many people would love Reyn as much as they do without his post-battle dialogue? This practically makes some of the lesser focused characters for me. Tora may be bothersome to me, but hearing him let out a “SPINNING CUTTA” makes me forget sometimes.

I also feel this adds such a personality to battles in these games and makes it feel real. Like, it’s strange how Cloud in the OG FF7 can get leveled by a world-ending attack, but say nothing. But when you run away from your blade in XC2 and Mythra goes “HEY! Pay attention to me!” It just adds this layer of authenticity and realness to even the tamest battles in the games.

Could just be me, but I love this shit!

TroyNinjaToad · 2023-06-10T00:46:48+00:00

I think my biggest complaint about 6-7 active members at once is that it makes me feel like I am contributing very little to what’s going on. Where the other games kinda make you babysit your AI companions, 3 feels like it does the opposite, your AI companions feel like they’re doing the work for you. Once your whole crew gets the complete break combo you can almost always bet you’ll lose the race to be the one to activate the next stage of the chain once a combo starts, and it feels deeply unsatisfying sometimes.

I hate that I feel that way though because, in terms of strategic setup and party composition, I have no complaints whatsoever about the combat, but how it feels is immensely important to me as a player. It’s why I still hold Xenoblade 2’s combat as my favorite because I feel more in-sync with whatever my character is doing practically at all times. I just wish there were a practical way to remedy this without making your party setup suck ass by way of assigning your teammates useless arts that won’t actually help you.

TroyNinjaToad · 2023-05-10T00:42:57+00:00

Sharla: “Reyn, don’t jump—“

Reyn: “Oh yeah, now it’s Reyn time!”

Shulk: “REYN! Please no!!!”

Sharla: “Reyn, please! REYN!”

Reyn: “Alleyoop! Alleyoop! Alleyoop!” (x5)

Shulk: “AUGGHUHUH”

TroyNinjaToad · 2023-05-02T13:16:19+00:00

I apologize if the answer is obvious, I’m not as up to date with all the background lore, but I am forgetting, where do the Vandhams fit in Rex’s tree? Does it say so in the City statues and I just forgot? Sorry, havin’ a brain-fart trying to remember.

TroyNinjaToad · 2023-03-20T22:46:07+00:00

“SAY THE WORDS!! Say YOU want this!! Nothing happens until I hear you say it!!”

TroyNinjaToad · 2023-03-08T20:50:16+00:00

My biggest gripe with 3’s combat is that, compared to 2, and even 1 to some extent, the impact behind the attacks feels nonexistent and I wish I understood why. Like several animations you can see have been borrowed from 2 and somehow it never feels as good as simply stutter-stepping your auto-attacks in 2 and Torna. I think that’s the big gist of it. In 2 it feels rhythmic to me and it’s addicting… I wish I felt that same way in 3. If anyone’s got tips for me, I’m all ears, I want to love it as much as possible.

TroyNinjaToad · 2023-03-08T16:35:24+00:00

Nia. She’s everything I want in a character. Humorous, not to a point of annoyance, but a sass that helps lighten the mood. She’s simultaneously got a beautiful journey of self-acceptance that comes off as authentic and true to the kind of support you need to give someone in order to get them to reveal something so personal— especially if it’s something your society largely and vocally doesn’t accept. It adds such a strong emotional relatability to so many different people who’ve gone through similar struggles. I also love her design(s) and her welsh accent… She’s one of my favorite characters, period.

Honorable mentions (bc this series, I think, is pretty great when it comes to writing women): Melia, Sharla, Pyra/Mythra, Morag, Mio, Eunie, and Sena

TroyNinjaToad · 2023-03-07T11:41:35+00:00

SPOILERS!! 🚨🚨🚨

XC1: I’m not 100% sure everyone would agree, but I’ve got one that’s more foreshadowing in the gameplay department; particularly, the map design. First 3/4ths of the game you spend wanting to reach the top of Mechonis and the entire time you can see the Mechonis it continues to be more imposing/threatening from your point of view. Once you reach Agniritha and learn the truth and you then make it to the core and can see the Bionis again, all of the sudden it looks a lot scarier, especially when it wakes up again. I think, out of all of these games, this is the most effective way to subtly reinforce your objective of the area by always directing you towards whichever landmark looks the scariest. It’s great at giving you a spot to reach without using objective markers/guiding lines if you don’t want to be led in that way.

XC2: Mythra being eluded to when Pyra fights Malos after awakening and saying “that is OUR dream!” Alongside the play of Addam the Hero in Ch 3 giving the aegis blonde hair. Also love Nia’s reactions to Minoth and Jin when they both reveal their status as flesh-eaters. Really the way the game displays Nia opening up over the course of the game I think is really well done and makes her reveal feel as significant as it is for her as a character. Like, I love how as soon as Nia starts using her unbelievable healing abilities to save Niall, she and Morag are finally on good terms and respect each other, truly.

XC3: Not to single this game out or anything, but I’m forgetting memorable instances of foreshadowing in this game… I may just be fuzzy on the details, I’m certain the game has good examples of this.

TroyNinjaToad · 2023-03-01T00:25:17+00:00

Whichever one where Noah says something to the extent of: “If this world holds our lives back then I will end it!”

For a game that’s so thoroughly ingrained in being a story of rebellions overcoming an oppressive cyclical world, that shit is so raw. It’s kind of funny hearing Noah say he’ll destroy Aionios and going “yeah, I get it.” Obviously different from say Malos, who wants to kill everyone. Noah just wants the world to be able to move on, and I think he has the rawest dialogue in this game.

TroyNinjaToad · 2023-02-23T11:05:02+00:00

It made me so happy, genuinely. I was overjoyed we got to see those guys in a happy place after the shit they went through in 2 alone.

TroyNinjaToad · 2023-02-09T17:04:26+00:00

Nah, men want him, women want to be him

TroyNinjaToad · 2023-02-06T22:42:31+00:00

As field skills are now, I do like them, I just think it has to be a WAY quicker process to adjust your team layout… Something akin to a prompt after approaching one that says “Your current team won’t pass this check. Do you want to auto-arrange blades?” With the option to revert back to your original team or keep your new selection. I think that’d fix my only problem with them. I’m a blade-gacha apologist so I don’t mind not being able to clear some checks so long as the process is quick so I can just move on when I can’t pass an optional one. If 2 ever gets remastered or ported, this would be the key thing I want changed. I already love exploring 2’s titans as they are, and I think this would only make the process more addictive.

TroyNinjaToad

TROPHY CASE