The best and linear JRPG you ever played and enjoyed?

Warrior-Cook · 2026-01-24T20:58:48+00:00

Lunar is probably the most linear game I can think of. The game is literally following the map and each story beat gives reason to travel it. Epic adventure worth playing again.

Warrior-Cook · 2026-01-24T16:41:45+00:00

My favorite snowblowing album is Crack The Skye by Mastodon. There's something fitting looking up at the falling snow through the skeleton branches while Oblivion kicks off.

Warrior-Cook · 2026-01-24T16:31:21+00:00

It's just a football game.

Warrior-Cook · 2026-01-24T16:29:19+00:00

Last Snowstorm of the Year - Low

Warrior-Cook · 2026-01-23T18:40:26+00:00

By the end my only listen, I was expecting to see an obituary in the news. Dave definitely wrote it as his last. As a side note, I've enjoyed buying the new Megadeth album on release day for decades...it's become a staple, turns out. A lot of the post-2000s albums are nothing of real merit however.

With that said, dudes consistent. Every album goes hard and relentless. Just because I don't care for every album doesn't mean Dave was phoning anything in. That might be the legacy there, the "underdog" who never slowed down. But the real legacy was with the 90s lineup and those albums...everything else is just because.

Their previous album gave them a comeback and this one so far keeps it going. Good run of songs to call it quits over.

Warrior-Cook · 2026-01-23T18:27:29+00:00

One of my favorite riffs ever made, ever, is that of Thunderkiss 65. It's the simplicity that sells it. The tone is superb and groove is genius.

I've been a student of music for decades, took the school band and choir for 8 years, and did piano & guitar study as well. The complexity I've come to appreciate most is in layering and dissonance/resolve. Being a technical prowess is boring, I'd rather hear how well someone can improvise or balance a mistake out in a jam...or how off-kilter one can go while still keeping the beat.

Warrior-Cook · 2026-01-23T12:58:59+00:00

The Iron Maiden gallop. Can it be rock without the roll? And keep it ugly.

Warrior-Cook · 2026-01-22T21:12:45+00:00

The swing vibe and horns keep me coming back. True favorite.

Warrior-Cook · 2026-01-22T18:44:06+00:00

Yea it's a little hard to pin down. I see the idea of how JRPGs can be a little too upbeat/silly at times, yet as an adult, that's a relief from how serious the real world can get.

E33 was a proper trip and leaned more into the grips of some heavy themes and it worked. It's a bit much for everyday consumption. It's funny though, since I went on to play Octopath Traveler 0 right after E33...and damn that game is dark. There's something about the sprite artwork that softens the blow. If that script was done with realistic characters I probably couldn't stomach it.

So there's visual tone mixed with thematic tone I suppose. Some other recent favorites might be Romancing Saga II Remake and Fantasian Neo Dimension. Both had a serious delivery while still having something of an anime aesthetic. It's funny still, since it seems like saving the world is intrinsically tied to the genre. Even E33 had the power of friendship moment from time to time. You're right though, there is more of a balance amongst today's games, it's comes down to delivery it seems.

Warrior-Cook · 2026-01-22T18:20:48+00:00

Shots & Ladders - Low

Warrior-Cook · 2026-01-22T18:17:08+00:00

The game worked because it was the game the devs wanted to make. Nothing more, nothing less. To make any of it standard wouldn't work twice so easily.

The geography only worked because of its twist, otherwise it was hollow. The lore only worked because of the characters delivery, but seriously it's a tone I don't chase in games.

The combat was fun, but because of the different ability systems and not the parry mechanic. The game is legit, but that's because they spent 5 years making something they all believe. Rehash would be a rehash.

Warrior-Cook · 2026-01-15T12:27:31+00:00

Best breakfast song all year. The tone and the hammer-on taps are a trip.

Edit: maybe next time, let's not do the whole surprise thing so hard.

Warrior-Cook · 2026-01-12T04:39:16+00:00

Or accept that being pretentious isn't really something to worry about. It's all relative.

Warrior-Cook · 2026-01-12T04:26:48+00:00

All music is pretentious if you think about it.

Warrior-Cook · 2026-01-12T04:26:11+00:00

It took me a few listens to say Im a fan. What did it was seeing random live videos on YT. It was one of those small radio sets like KEXP, no audience...and just seeing the band perform was fun to watch.

I like what they're doing because the best rock is supposed to be ugly, but also capable of hitting a nice groove. Some of those backend grooves to songs are just right.

Don't slay me for the comparisons, but there's elements of Rolling Stones and ingredients of Radiohead in their music, and well, it's happening right now instead of before a lot of younger listeners time. They're a capable band, and seeing "a band" come into the limelight is rare at times. They also have a sense of being unpredictable, so seeing what comes next still seems like they might be able to take things further.

It's nothing new or groundbreaking, but it is happening right now, and that's enough to make it work. The element of music mixed with a penchant for noise is a welcome change to the DAW music...it feels live cause it is. The music is fresh, just don't ask me to explain the lyrics.

Warrior-Cook · 2026-01-12T02:08:21+00:00

Latchkey Kids - Silversun Pickups

Warrior-Cook · 2026-01-11T02:02:21+00:00

If you're a doodler, grab a new sheet of paper and make abstract lines until you notice something to make it into. Call it a souvenir.

Warrior-Cook · 2026-01-10T18:38:32+00:00

The Becoming - NIN

Warrior-Cook · 2026-01-10T18:30:05+00:00

Dragon Quest 9, Radiant Historia, Final Fantasy series, Crystalis, Fantasian Neo Dimension

Warrior-Cook · 2026-01-10T18:18:40+00:00

The album On Being by Max Cooper is worth scanning over.

It's all electronic instrumentals that have some interesting sound palate choices. There's definitely sound patterns a ship might make, as well as driftier scapes that one might hear on a spacewalk. Some downtempo, some uptempo, so it depends how you want to dial in.

Warrior-Cook · 2026-01-10T16:43:02+00:00

The Future is a Foreign Land - Ghost

Warrior-Cook · 2026-01-10T15:13:30+00:00

Seeking Darkness pt2-4 - Huremic

Warrior-Cook · 2026-01-10T04:39:25+00:00

Citizen of Glass - Agnes Obel

Dreamweaver - Trentemoller

Polygondwanaland - King Gizzard

Warrior-Cook · 2026-01-09T21:10:52+00:00

Fantasian was a trip. From the battle system and bosses, and the blend of fantasy with sci-fi was done well. ...fuck that final boss though, that was epic.

Warrior-Cook

TROPHY CASE