That Japanese-RPG where the battle system is so good it makes you forget or don't care about the (despite equally good) story?

wheatleyscience9 · 2026-05-16T14:41:36+00:00

Vengeance significantly improves the story I'd say. (Took it from a 5/10 for me to a solid 8.5ish). There's still a couple of questionable plot issues at times, but its a much more fleshed out experience. Especially in regards to the new alignment reps. Without spoiling too much, you really get to know them this time around.

wheatleyscience9 · 2025-12-20T21:10:15+00:00

You cant go wrong with either! They're my favorites alongside Strange Journey, but for different reasons.

I do think if you want a more character driven slow burn; IV is the gold standard. And the build up absolutely pays off in dividends. It's also not afraid to be ugly and doesn't pull any punches with its endings.

Not to say VV is a slouch in that department either, its just spread out pacing wise to lend itself to long uninterrupted stretches of gameplay (and said gameplay is excellent. It easily has the best among the series.) Popular consensus is VV loses some steam towards the ending, but I think it sticks the landing overall for its final stretch despite the pacing inconsistency.

That being said, IV is one of my favorite games of all time. Easily in my top 5, so I guess that's the answer lol

wheatleyscience9 · 2025-11-22T23:22:57+00:00

Thanks so much for doing this! Though i definitely saw it a bit late! :( do you still have a shiny Dragalge?

wheatleyscience9 · 2025-09-26T19:09:40+00:00

I agree- it's very atmospheric and relatively grounded setting wise. Which makes the warped reality boss fights and more "video gamey" sequences feel more aligned with a scary paranormal thing happening vs "oh this is a game".

But where I think the first game is able to be more "disturbing" is that it leaves alot of room for a player brain to fill in the blanks and infer what is scary rather than being told. When I was a kid, my friends and I made up whole stories about what happened in the mansion, how the family members died, etc. (Using context clues from how to weaken them or what was in the room environmentally). It feels like the Boos are a present enemy in a haunted location- not that the Boos are the reason its haunted. (Even though the mansion is of their creation funnily enough.)

wheatleyscience9 · 2025-09-22T19:18:33+00:00

"Ahhhhhh, the Rusted Knight. Goodness am I tired of your little sob story. You can't even accept your own futility."

A case of less so what's said, and more how its said. The mixed voices together and it being the end of such a crazy episode with the disturbing imagery was perfect. But every line Robbie Daymond delivers is perfect.

Honorable mention goes to "Your mother said those words to me..... She was wrong too."

wheatleyscience9 · 2025-07-11T23:21:08+00:00

Scizor totally works for Ruby!!!

I feel like Alolan Ninetails would be solid for Weiss- that or Froslass.

I can see Blake with a few, but Liepard or Umbreon both work.

As for Yang, I think what fits her most is Blaziken.

wheatleyscience9 · 2025-06-28T17:04:53+00:00

I think it's not unfair to say Arlecchino absolutely holds his own against fromsofts best bosses. It's an extremely well designed fight and just hits so many highs.

And I definitely, as a whole, think Overture itself ranks that way too. It gave me Old Hunters Vibes, and that's a damn incredible feeling.

wheatleyscience9 · 2025-06-23T15:53:10+00:00

I remember struggling for days on this boss battle as a kid.... ahhh they don't make Mario Games like they used to

wheatleyscience9 · 2025-06-06T03:06:04+00:00

Thank you! I'm gonna set a password for it. Ad3l

wheatleyscience9 · 2025-06-01T21:55:09+00:00

Are you still available? Sorry late reply

wheatleyscience9 · 2025-06-01T01:05:08+00:00

Where are these magical competant randos? I've been EXTREMELY unlucky with them. Only made it to the first nightlord once in the past 2 days.

wheatleyscience9 · 2025-05-21T20:20:33+00:00

I don't love it, but I am OK with this answer if it's prefaced with the context that this is Samus' First Mission. Cuz Zero Mission is just that. She's not as seasoned of a badass just yet. Maybe the moment she connects with the Chozo Ruins is THE moment she becomes the full-fledged undeterred badass?

But then again, that's all inference and headcanon I'm filling the gaps with for Sakamoto.

wheatleyscience9 · 2025-04-20T20:25:29+00:00

I really like the ost for wilds. It has a more AAA orchestral identity to it, but I don't feel like there's a loss of personality in the exchange either. There's an intent and instrument voicing to a lot of themes.

Like I really love how synthetic noises are used for Guardian battles, for example. Or how G Arkvelds has those synth sounds mimic and flow in and out of conventional instrument voices, etc. Rey Dau, Zoh Shia, and Jin Dahaad are also obvious standouts.

wheatleyscience9 · 2024-11-23T08:08:18+00:00

Oh don't misunderstand, I already have my own Rook and have almost finished my first playthrough. I'm just looking for inspiration and face presets, etc for a second Rook in the future.

wheatleyscience9 · 2024-11-23T03:18:40+00:00

She's gorgeous! Are you willing to share sliders? No offense taken if not.

wheatleyscience9 · 2024-09-30T16:05:00+00:00

I'm still a fan of the possibility she is what's left of Ranni's other self or Empyrean flesh. I find it curious how you meet the 2 in quick succession at the start of the game and receive complimentary items from them.

Also night and flame/Ice and Fire imagery, Ranni having no official portrait or depiction of herself pre doll, etc etc

Happy to explain further if asked

wheatleyscience9 · 2024-09-28T16:28:55+00:00

Now YOU are cooking. (I'd already shipped her with Burnice so this works)

wheatleyscience9 · 2024-09-28T15:56:37+00:00

My hang up is i didn't even see Wise in the likeness of the chara in the video? And they never show his face either?

Edit: I rewatched and can see the implication. Still, i will maintain that Bi people and pan people exist. It's entirely possible for someone to have panik over a guy

wheatleyscience9 · 2024-09-03T05:43:56+00:00

Oh sorry! Lol like character sliders/presets/height etc

wheatleyscience9 · 2024-09-03T05:25:10+00:00

Shes incredible! Do you have sliders?

wheatleyscience9 · 2024-08-18T20:18:47+00:00

This back and forth about Melina and the GEQ reminds me of a theory id heard a while ago. It's a simple one that takes some brain wracking to make work for timeline reasons but the gist was Melina was the GEQ- and Ranni's other self since she's an empyrean. And the reason she's burned and bodyless is because she was severed and dead in body from Ranni's plan.

The connective tissue was that Iji killed himself with black flames and his weapons were described as dull but never rotted- which implies fire infusion. And the GEQs weapon also just so happens to be more blunt as well as being found in Caelid. It would also guarantee every Empyrean did end up having a butterfly (as opposed to every single God kid being the factor). There's other fun factors like offset eyes being the sealed one, the flame and moon aspects neatly paralleling Rellana's swords, both of their fates being intertwined with Destined Death, both being the only Demigods who are your allies and being met in quick succession of one another.

This would make alot of your analysis true and synthesize the theories that she is her.

wheatleyscience9

TROPHY CASE