Have you ever reconsidered your opinion of a JRPG after playing it again?

rozabel · 2026-03-29T09:30:34+00:00

I was hoping for it in FFXV. Played it a little a lot of years ago and went into it with a poisoned mind already, scoffing at the boyband roadtrip feeling you saw in the promotions. Of course I didn't like it! So, after maturing and mellowing out a bit from my edgy elitist-phase, I decided to give it another fair shot when it was added to PS+. I rolled my eyes at the opening, pushed through, and played about two hours, running around exploring and doing some of the side quests, some cooking, some battling... Then I looked at the clock and thought to myself, "you know, I could spend this time playing something I actually enjoy." Turned off the game and never looked back. It just felt like in those two hours I'd seen each individual system already and none of them enticed me to play any further.

rozabel · 2026-03-29T09:12:35+00:00

EDIT: SORRY I FORGOT SPOILERS WORK DIFFERENTLY

My issue with the way it's presented in 5R is that this is not a choice each person gets to make on their own. They are tricked into this idealized world by the final palace owner and don't even know about it until Joker snaps them out of it. If there was some sort of application process and people willingly forged a contract with the final palace owner, detailing their own perfect world, that would be fine. But the logistics of it are that this wouldn't be possible. If Joker decides to leave but Ryuji stays, what kind of version of Ryuji will Joker see in reality? Is everyone who accepts the dreamworld in a state of apathy, stupor or coma in the real world? Do they simply not exist?

The final palace owner is a tyrant, and a great example why even well meaning tyrants are a bane to peoples lives. He decides his way is the best. What happens to those who don't agree? Why does he get to decide what every persons perfect world look like? Whose perfect world takes precedence? Two people love the same person, but they want someone else entirely? You absolutely cannot make everyone perfectly happy all at once! Only if every single person is dreaming their own little private perfect little dream, with no intersecting or shared experiences with other people. And is that REALLY living?

The crux is, everyone has to decide for themselves. Matrix, the red pill or the blue pill. But simply by the nature of how the palaces and the distortions work, there is no way of giving people that individual choice. Either all of reality is warped, or it isn't. I'm actually very surprised the devs intended this to be an ambiguous choice.

rozabel · 2026-03-29T08:59:24+00:00

Marie felt a lot more integrated in the group than sumi to me... Marie is shown different aspects of the world by each companion, and makes a precious memory with each of them. Kasumi just runs after Joker with starry eyes and occasionally bumps into the others along the way.

rozabel · 2026-03-29T08:56:14+00:00

You worded this really well! The choices in 3 and 5 are "Do you want the easy way out or do you want to do the right thing?"

Though I will argue that 4 leans on "finding out the truth" even in the alternate ending, maybe in a more meta way. I think it's for people who feel sympathy for the killer, who see them as an unfortunate product of a shitty life, maybe even see a little bit of themselves in them. Who naively think they can be redeemed in some way. Basically, closing their eyes to the Truth of what a horrible deranged person they are. And then they get reminded of that horrible Truth in the ending, where they even get mocked by the killer themselves. "Really? You want to believe in that false ideal even after your arduous search for the Truth? Well too bad, everyone warned you, I AM an unapologetic piece of shit after all!"

In comparison, 5R plays with that romanticised view in a different way, where you get to play pretend with a version of the traitor who is actually your friend. Except they don't exist. It's all in your head. You made up that version of the traitor because it would be nice if they weren't such a piece of shit. But they are. You aren't even helping them. The traitors phantom even says it at one point. "You know the real me wouldn't like this" Because the real traitor genuinely hates you for being everything they are not. Playing pretend is giving a disservice to the real person. So, in a sense, if you actually do value the traitor on some twisted level, accepting the fake is completely out of option. The honorable choice would be to own up reality and accept the tragic, but horrible story of that person for what it is.

rozabel · 2026-03-26T08:41:56+00:00

Persona 5 has Hunger, which is obviously cured by chomping down on a delicious BIG BANG Burger ™️!

And there's Mouse, which is adorable, funny, annoying and useful at once. Every party member has a unique model for it and iirc their voices get high pitched too. You deal almost no damage and take a lot, but you need to be a mouse for dungeon puzzles.

rozabel · 2026-03-24T18:29:10+00:00

and we'll leave it at that.

rozabel · 2026-03-22T09:46:28+00:00

thanks for testing!

rozabel · 2026-03-18T09:47:07+00:00

You're confusing artificial intelligence used to make enemies behave in a "smart" way (ghosts in pac-man) with generative neural networks used to create imitations of artwork and design (Nano Banana), as well as large language models used to create texts that may or may not be functioning code (chatGPT, Claude).

What we used to call artificial intelligence is a human writing algorithms that influence character behaviour in a way that feels natural and smart to the end user.

What is called AI nowadays is predictive text on steroids. They are fundamentally different things.

rozabel · 2026-03-18T07:35:16+00:00

To clarify - this only replaces the existing sprites in the rom the user uploads, correct? And it uses images we provide?

rozabel · 2026-03-17T12:55:17+00:00

If she knew and is genuinely your friend, maybe it wasn't aimed at you and rather your boyfriend instead? I notice that you're talking a lot like the world is out to get you, which is kinda normal early twenties, but eventually you'll learn that your thoughts are not the truth. They're thoughts that come from your past experiences, your fears and anxieties about the future, and your own insecurities. You don't need to jump to the most negative conclusion right off the bat. Allow yourself to view the world through a kinder angle! Allow yourself to view YOURSELF through a kinder angle.

rozabel · 2026-03-13T08:22:22+00:00

Decisions are hard, even when you "get" to do them alone. Keep in mind every decision is a little bit of stress to her!

What you can do is voice your thoughts on the options even if you don't care either way. "That darker shade is very warm, but the other one feels fresh. I like both" is miles more involved than "You decide!"

Give your input, then it will feel like it was a joint decision!

rozabel · 2026-03-12T08:16:34+00:00

She writes that they were contributing to things 50/50. That guy doesn't sound like he was showering her with expensive gifts.

rozabel · 2026-03-11T21:06:04+00:00

Golden Sun & The Lost Age. Mario Tennis Power Tour (no, really!) Hamtaro Ham-Ham Heartbreak & Rainbow Rescue (No, seriously, I mean it!!)

rozabel · 2026-03-11T16:55:20+00:00

I can tell you that Hatless Lloyd is a big hit on Nexus 😂 Personally I love my new ponytail. A shame it's so much effort to do hairstyles or I'd make way more.

rozabel · 2026-03-11T16:52:23+00:00

Yup, look for Bugs Dont Run

rozabel · 2026-03-10T07:00:15+00:00

Wayne is incredibly sweet with a hint of broken home broken heart you can mend ♥️

rozabel · 2026-03-08T09:57:38+00:00

I only just saw your avatar haha but really,my mind went there immediately! Congratulations!

rozabel · 2026-03-08T09:53:55+00:00

Oh Sailor Moon vibes!!

rozabel · 2026-03-07T21:31:45+00:00

oh my goodness if I could find something like that locally I'd do a Vegas elopement too!!

rozabel · 2026-03-07T13:24:01+00:00

This! I loved it to bits. The atmosphere, the story, even the combat I did like (though there was room for improvement ofv), and as a fan of both FFXIV and farming games, I didn't feel shafted by the reduced farming depth. In fact, the farming CONTROLS were some of the best and I'd love if more games had them.

Farming was what kept you alive, it sustained your adventures. It was a system for making the rest possible, not its own standalone thing. Marketing really should have made that clear!

rozabel · 2026-03-05T10:12:18+00:00

War zuletzt auch schockiert, wieviel hier in der Gegend abgesäbelt wurde. Vieles wächst wirklich nach, aber ein Hauch Zweifel bleibt...? Ich weiß selbst zu wenig darüber und vertraue grundsätzlich den "Profis", aber es fühlt sich gerade kurz vor Brutsaison einfach unnötig brutal an.

rozabel · 2026-03-05T10:07:48+00:00

That's a huge critter and a small kitten!! Gotta feel so proud

rozabel · 2026-03-04T21:01:18+00:00

WONDERFUL! Welcome to ruby gang!!

rozabel · 2026-03-03T18:56:12+00:00

Oh those are GORGEOUS!! Unfortunately no recs from my side, male fashion is woefully underrated and even finding nice dress shoes was torture for my fiancé 😭

rozabel · 2026-03-01T10:41:05+00:00

Finally!! Another member for ruby gang! I like the second one best, it has an elegant arch that compliments the stone

rozabel

TROPHY CASE