Here's a bit of trivia for you. Yuri has beaten up every relative he has.
In the first Shadow Hearts game, he faces Ben/Jinpachiro multiple times, though, in fairness, this is a manifestation of his own issues and not literally his father's soul.
In Shadow Heatrts: Covenant, Yuri greets both his cousin and his aunt by attacking their fused forms. He also defeats his own mother's reflection in the Glass Castle you enter when you first reach Goreme Valley.
Edit: I tell a lie. Yuri does not physically attack his great-grandmother in St Marguerite. But, his mother attacks his reflection in the Glass Castle, and his aunt and cousin beat the crap out of one another.
Showing posts with label Trivia. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Trivia. Show all posts
Tuesday, 27 May 2014
Sunday, 23 March 2014
Shadow Hearts Covenant: Veronica
A quick list of who's thinking what in the dungeon of St Marguerite Island.
"Ulp, she's looking this way...!" - Yuri
"Fine. Let me at her!" - Karin
"I just might like the kinky stuff..." - Geppeto
"Sometimes, a man's got to stand!" - Joachim
".........(I won't look at her...)" - Lucia
If you pick the first option three times - and so, avoid being tortured - you'll get a weapon. Otherwise, a third key. That's a callback to the first game, when you could unlock an extra area in Asia by having Alice avoid being electrocuted.
There's more info on this here (which I found only after I personally tested the list above!).
"Ulp, she's looking this way...!" - Yuri
"Fine. Let me at her!" - Karin
"I just might like the kinky stuff..." - Geppeto
"Sometimes, a man's got to stand!" - Joachim
".........(I won't look at her...)" - Lucia
If you pick the first option three times - and so, avoid being tortured - you'll get a weapon. Otherwise, a third key. That's a callback to the first game, when you could unlock an extra area in Asia by having Alice avoid being electrocuted.
There's more info on this here (which I found only after I personally tested the list above!).
Sunday, 16 March 2014
Pillow-Fighting Queen
This game is kind of like an upgrading/rpg/street fighter game. With pillows.
You're playing a little girl. She has pig-tails and a flouncy dress, and you can customise the colours of both. Her one goal in life is to become the ultimate pillow-fighting queen, and you can help her do this through winning matches, gaining cash for upgrades, and levelling up by gaining experience.
The main upgrade screen is her bedroom. You can see a world map, a door, a window, a shelf, and a bed.
This little girl - Amelia, for the sake of argument - can only work on her pillow-fighting skills between the hours of 6pm and 10pm. You can click on the door to go out and do jobs, click on the window to check on and upgrade your vehicle, click on the shelf to train, and click on the bed to upgrade your weapons/armour (teddy bears and pillows).
You earn money to buy those things either by winning matches, or by doing odd-jobs. At first, you only have time to do odd jobs within your own house, for pocket money. Then, as you get a little richer, you can buy a bicycle, and go further away. As you increase your vehicles - from your own two feet, to a bike, to a motorbike, to cars, to planes, to helicopters, to the ultimate nuclear-powered warping machine - you increase the distance you can travel and the range of jobs you can do. Jobs further away are more lucrative, and you can do them more as you decrease the travel time.
Upgrading your vehicle also allows you to reach matches that are further away. The first match you can take part in is against your own sister. It's a training match, so unlike the others, you can't repeat it. As you upgrade your vehicle, you can travel further away, first to the neighbours, then to London, where you fight Beefeaters outside Buckingham Palace, to India where you fight atop moving trains, to New York where you fight alongside cops and criminals, to Boston, where you fight racers in the Boston Marathon, to Australia where one of your opponents is a kangaroo, and so on. Battles are fought battle royale style against multiple opponents, who won't automatically come after you. Your fame metre rises as you win more matches, increasing your opponents desire to take you out over everyone else. If you lose matches your fame goes back down, making matches a little bit easier.
Your weapons/armour upgrade from a small teddy and a basic pillow through to the BFBear and the BFPillow. You can also win rare items in random drops, for example, the hostel pillow and the mascot bear. You are also given nightdresses by triggering random events - for example, if you beat the Beefeaters a certain amount of time, the queen sends you a Union Jack nightdress and a note, which is delivered by your puzzled parents in a cut scene the next day. Speaking of parents, every so often you'll see cut scenes of them looking puzzled at seeing a brand new car hidden in the garage or a helicopter on the roof.
As you meet certain criteria, which includes winning a certain amount of matches, perhaps by a specific margin, you are crowned Queen of each area, which builds up a shelf of tiaras, which are displayed in your room. As mentioned above, you can click on this shelf to train, which is one of the only ways to gain experience (the other way is by fighting matches). This means giving up a chance to earn money or to shop, as all of these things take up the time you have before matches.
Once your entire map is gold, ie, you have been crowned queen of each area, you will receive an invitation to a special battle...in your own home. In a plot twist, it's against your pissed-off sister (remember, you beat her right back at the beginning?) and your mother, the former champion.
I dreamt this whole thing last night. So far, it doesn't exist outside my head.
You're playing a little girl. She has pig-tails and a flouncy dress, and you can customise the colours of both. Her one goal in life is to become the ultimate pillow-fighting queen, and you can help her do this through winning matches, gaining cash for upgrades, and levelling up by gaining experience.
The main upgrade screen is her bedroom. You can see a world map, a door, a window, a shelf, and a bed.
This little girl - Amelia, for the sake of argument - can only work on her pillow-fighting skills between the hours of 6pm and 10pm. You can click on the door to go out and do jobs, click on the window to check on and upgrade your vehicle, click on the shelf to train, and click on the bed to upgrade your weapons/armour (teddy bears and pillows).
You earn money to buy those things either by winning matches, or by doing odd-jobs. At first, you only have time to do odd jobs within your own house, for pocket money. Then, as you get a little richer, you can buy a bicycle, and go further away. As you increase your vehicles - from your own two feet, to a bike, to a motorbike, to cars, to planes, to helicopters, to the ultimate nuclear-powered warping machine - you increase the distance you can travel and the range of jobs you can do. Jobs further away are more lucrative, and you can do them more as you decrease the travel time.
Upgrading your vehicle also allows you to reach matches that are further away. The first match you can take part in is against your own sister. It's a training match, so unlike the others, you can't repeat it. As you upgrade your vehicle, you can travel further away, first to the neighbours, then to London, where you fight Beefeaters outside Buckingham Palace, to India where you fight atop moving trains, to New York where you fight alongside cops and criminals, to Boston, where you fight racers in the Boston Marathon, to Australia where one of your opponents is a kangaroo, and so on. Battles are fought battle royale style against multiple opponents, who won't automatically come after you. Your fame metre rises as you win more matches, increasing your opponents desire to take you out over everyone else. If you lose matches your fame goes back down, making matches a little bit easier.
Your weapons/armour upgrade from a small teddy and a basic pillow through to the BFBear and the BFPillow. You can also win rare items in random drops, for example, the hostel pillow and the mascot bear. You are also given nightdresses by triggering random events - for example, if you beat the Beefeaters a certain amount of time, the queen sends you a Union Jack nightdress and a note, which is delivered by your puzzled parents in a cut scene the next day. Speaking of parents, every so often you'll see cut scenes of them looking puzzled at seeing a brand new car hidden in the garage or a helicopter on the roof.
As you meet certain criteria, which includes winning a certain amount of matches, perhaps by a specific margin, you are crowned Queen of each area, which builds up a shelf of tiaras, which are displayed in your room. As mentioned above, you can click on this shelf to train, which is one of the only ways to gain experience (the other way is by fighting matches). This means giving up a chance to earn money or to shop, as all of these things take up the time you have before matches.
Once your entire map is gold, ie, you have been crowned queen of each area, you will receive an invitation to a special battle...in your own home. In a plot twist, it's against your pissed-off sister (remember, you beat her right back at the beginning?) and your mother, the former champion.
I dreamt this whole thing last night. So far, it doesn't exist outside my head.
Friday, 14 March 2014
Shadow Hearts Covenant: Blood Types
In Shadow Hearts: Covenant there's a door that will only open for people with a specific blood-type (or, rather, if you open it with someone else, the treasure will disappear). There's a little puzzle you can do to find out their blood types, and the results are as follows.
Karin - type A.
Lucia - type B.
Yuri - type O.
Joachim - type A.
Gepetto - type AB.
In Japan, blood types are used as personality markers, kind of like how horoscopes are in the West. So it makes sense that this door is in an area with a zodiac puzzle! The wiki article, here, has a chart listing the traits individuals of each blood type are supposed to have.
Like Karin and Joachim, I'm type A. I know this because I donate blood, and my twelfth donation is coming up soon. Save a life - if you're in the UK, you can make an appointment here.
Anyway, type A individuals are supposedly earnest, creative, sensible, reserved, patient, and responsible. Our worst traits are being fastidious, overearnest, stubborn, and tense. I'm also a Leo (creative, noble, loyal) born in the year of the earth dragon (1988), which makes me magnanimous, stately, vigorous, strong, self-assured, proud, noble, direct, dignified, and passionate but also tactless, arrogant, imperious, tyrannical, demanding, rebellious, intolerant, dogmatic, violent, and impetuous. I never realised how many traits Leos and Dragons supposedly shared until I went and looked that up here.
Horoscopes are worked out based on which constellation the sun appeared to be when you were born. Apparently, where the other planets - including the moon - where at the time also have an effect on your personality. For instance, in my case, the moon was also in Leo, so I get a double whammy. The moon supposedly affects how you deal with things internally, while, for instance, Mars indicates your temper and Venus is how you love. The constellation that appeared on the horizon at the time of your birth indicates how you initially come across. That changes every two and half hours or so. Your midheaven is the sign directly above you when you were born, and that indicates how you go after your goals.
I should make it clear at this point that I don't think any of this is literally true. There's no evidence for any of it. That said, it is really fun to think about it, and if you enjoy writing, it can be a fun way to make up characters. For instance, say you have someone who has all their planets in Taurus, so they have all the traits of that sign - patient, sensual, etc. But then they have just one planet - maybe Mars - in Scorpio. You end up with a loving, down-to-earth person with a cold and spiteful temper.
You can cast your own birth chart here if you want to have a look.
I don't know nearly as much about Chinese New Year signs. I know there's also an elemental aspect, which changes every twelve years. In other words, everyone born in my twelve-year 'cycle' is Earth. Dragons born in 2000 are Metal, while those born in 2012 are water.
Incidentally, this means Yuri was born in the year of the Earth Ox, while Alice Elliot was born in the year of the Water Snake. Karin is also an Earth Ox. You can look up your sign and element here.
Going back to blood. AB or O basically indicate extra 'bits' that can be in blood. 'O' blood has no bits in it. A blood has A bits, and B blood has B bits. AB has both A and B bits.
Bodies will attack the bits they don't recognise. So, if you give a transfusion of AB blood to an O person, their body would reject the blood because it would think the AB bits were a virus. That's why O blood is the universal donor - you can give O blood to anyone with any blood type, because there are no bits that look like viruses in there. People with AB blood are the universal recipient - they can have any kind of blood given to them.
Unfortunately, this means that people with O blood can only take donations of O blood. That's why other types of donors can still be useful. My A blood can go to anyone with A or AB blood, freeing up the O blood for someone who really needs it.
To complicate things further, positive or negative refers to the presence of rhesus particles, another bit that can be mistaken for a virus. Positive means you have them, negative means you don't. I'm A positive, so if I ever need a donation, my body won't attack blood with rhesus particles in it. It will attack blood with B bits.
This is where people with O negative blood get the short end of the stick again. They can't accept O positive blood, because, again, their body will think the rhesus bits are viruses and try to destroy them.
The more you know!
Karin - type A.
Lucia - type B.
Yuri - type O.
Joachim - type A.
Gepetto - type AB.
In Japan, blood types are used as personality markers, kind of like how horoscopes are in the West. So it makes sense that this door is in an area with a zodiac puzzle! The wiki article, here, has a chart listing the traits individuals of each blood type are supposed to have.
Like Karin and Joachim, I'm type A. I know this because I donate blood, and my twelfth donation is coming up soon. Save a life - if you're in the UK, you can make an appointment here.
Anyway, type A individuals are supposedly earnest, creative, sensible, reserved, patient, and responsible. Our worst traits are being fastidious, overearnest, stubborn, and tense. I'm also a Leo (creative, noble, loyal) born in the year of the earth dragon (1988), which makes me magnanimous, stately, vigorous, strong, self-assured, proud, noble, direct, dignified, and passionate but also tactless, arrogant, imperious, tyrannical, demanding, rebellious, intolerant, dogmatic, violent, and impetuous. I never realised how many traits Leos and Dragons supposedly shared until I went and looked that up here.
Horoscopes are worked out based on which constellation the sun appeared to be when you were born. Apparently, where the other planets - including the moon - where at the time also have an effect on your personality. For instance, in my case, the moon was also in Leo, so I get a double whammy. The moon supposedly affects how you deal with things internally, while, for instance, Mars indicates your temper and Venus is how you love. The constellation that appeared on the horizon at the time of your birth indicates how you initially come across. That changes every two and half hours or so. Your midheaven is the sign directly above you when you were born, and that indicates how you go after your goals.
I should make it clear at this point that I don't think any of this is literally true. There's no evidence for any of it. That said, it is really fun to think about it, and if you enjoy writing, it can be a fun way to make up characters. For instance, say you have someone who has all their planets in Taurus, so they have all the traits of that sign - patient, sensual, etc. But then they have just one planet - maybe Mars - in Scorpio. You end up with a loving, down-to-earth person with a cold and spiteful temper.
You can cast your own birth chart here if you want to have a look.
I don't know nearly as much about Chinese New Year signs. I know there's also an elemental aspect, which changes every twelve years. In other words, everyone born in my twelve-year 'cycle' is Earth. Dragons born in 2000 are Metal, while those born in 2012 are water.
Incidentally, this means Yuri was born in the year of the Earth Ox, while Alice Elliot was born in the year of the Water Snake. Karin is also an Earth Ox. You can look up your sign and element here.
Going back to blood. AB or O basically indicate extra 'bits' that can be in blood. 'O' blood has no bits in it. A blood has A bits, and B blood has B bits. AB has both A and B bits.
Bodies will attack the bits they don't recognise. So, if you give a transfusion of AB blood to an O person, their body would reject the blood because it would think the AB bits were a virus. That's why O blood is the universal donor - you can give O blood to anyone with any blood type, because there are no bits that look like viruses in there. People with AB blood are the universal recipient - they can have any kind of blood given to them.
Unfortunately, this means that people with O blood can only take donations of O blood. That's why other types of donors can still be useful. My A blood can go to anyone with A or AB blood, freeing up the O blood for someone who really needs it.
To complicate things further, positive or negative refers to the presence of rhesus particles, another bit that can be mistaken for a virus. Positive means you have them, negative means you don't. I'm A positive, so if I ever need a donation, my body won't attack blood with rhesus particles in it. It will attack blood with B bits.
This is where people with O negative blood get the short end of the stick again. They can't accept O positive blood, because, again, their body will think the rhesus bits are viruses and try to destroy them.
The more you know!
Sunday, 9 February 2014
Friday, 31 January 2014
Foreshadowing....
Yuri, after Alice comes to the graveyard to save him.
"I'd much rather die than go on living with a dead soul."
Tuesday, 16 April 2013
Breath of Fire IV - Save Images
There are twelve spots to save in for Breath of Fire IV. Each spot shows a different portrait, as listed below;
- Ryu
- Nina
- Cray
- Scias
- Ursula
- Ershin
- Fou-Lu
- Faerie
- Imperial Commander
- Mamie
- Lord Yuna
- Yohm
- Bunyan
- Kahn
- Marlok
Thursday, 28 October 2010
UpaRupa
At one point in Breath of Fire II, your party is sent to catch an UpaRupa.
See?
'UpaRupa' or 'Wooper Looper' is the Japanese name for the Mexican creature, Axotlotl. They are adorably weird, and look oddly like how I imagine the link between humans and our last time as aquatic creatures.
Axolotl also appear in Final Fantasy IX, in Qu's Marsh.
See?
Finally, the Pokemon Mudkip is also loosely based on the axolotl.
See?
See?
'UpaRupa' or 'Wooper Looper' is the Japanese name for the Mexican creature, Axotlotl. They are adorably weird, and look oddly like how I imagine the link between humans and our last time as aquatic creatures.
 |
| Axolotl! |
Axolotl also appear in Final Fantasy IX, in Qu's Marsh.
See?
Finally, the Pokemon Mudkip is also loosely based on the axolotl.
Tuesday, 19 October 2010
Breath of Fire III, Part 10
I got Momo and Peco back, and spoke to the four kids in Wyndia. Then I apprenticed Rei to Meryleep, went back to Dauna Mine to get Bais and the Coupons. I want to apprentice Peco to Bais, since his levels are lowest, his stats are good, and I want the Chain Formation. It's very handy to have with Rei around - everyone can get extra turns, no matter how much you weigh down the other two. Unfortunately, I need to find Lee and Wynn first, and for that, I need the damn passport. I'll just have to try to keep Peco from levelling until then.
Incidentally, I love camping in Breath of Fire III and IV. I like being able to check in with my characters. I love the whole 'battle areas' aspect of the world map, too.
I bought some new weapons/armour from Syn City, and then headed to the Plant.
I got a ton of Scale Mail here, which will be sold to fund new weapons. I also learned Flame Strike, and found the Force Gene. Then I had to leave for my (real life) exam.
After the exam, I came home and finished out the factory. This bit reminds me quite a lot of Mamon in the first Shadow Hearts game, crossed with Koudelka (with Repsol playing the part of Patrick).
Interestingly, up until Nina and Momo talk at camp, when Rei is shoved out to spend time with the other males of the party, Rei is always alone in the tent. After that point, Momo's in there with him, and he seems to be more of a part of the group. That's sweet.
Momo managed to master Fahl's spells (the only one I needed was Counter), so I put Garr with Bunyan (remind me to head back when he's level thirty). I found all the triplets, and I intend to put Peco and Momo with two of them, put the game still isn't letting me into Wyndia. I want that Chain Formation!
...gosh, doesn't Gaist look like DeathEvn?
I finally managed to get Peco apprenticed to Bais, and Momo to Wynn. Remind me to check back when he's at seventeen, and she's at twenty-seven.
I also got the Faerie Village's culture level to 7, and started up a few shops - Weapons, with speed and ability, and Handyman, with Ability. I spent some time in Mt. Zublo, levelling Peco up, and advancing the faeries a little more. Finished with Bais, apprenticed Peco to Lee.
Damn, Peco is powerful.
Incidentally, I love camping in Breath of Fire III and IV. I like being able to check in with my characters. I love the whole 'battle areas' aspect of the world map, too.
I bought some new weapons/armour from Syn City, and then headed to the Plant.
I got a ton of Scale Mail here, which will be sold to fund new weapons. I also learned Flame Strike, and found the Force Gene. Then I had to leave for my (real life) exam.
After the exam, I came home and finished out the factory. This bit reminds me quite a lot of Mamon in the first Shadow Hearts game, crossed with Koudelka (with Repsol playing the part of Patrick).
Interestingly, up until Nina and Momo talk at camp, when Rei is shoved out to spend time with the other males of the party, Rei is always alone in the tent. After that point, Momo's in there with him, and he seems to be more of a part of the group. That's sweet.
Momo managed to master Fahl's spells (the only one I needed was Counter), so I put Garr with Bunyan (remind me to head back when he's level thirty). I found all the triplets, and I intend to put Peco and Momo with two of them, put the game still isn't letting me into Wyndia. I want that Chain Formation!
...gosh, doesn't Gaist look like DeathEvn?
I finally managed to get Peco apprenticed to Bais, and Momo to Wynn. Remind me to check back when he's at seventeen, and she's at twenty-seven.
I also got the Faerie Village's culture level to 7, and started up a few shops - Weapons, with speed and ability, and Handyman, with Ability. I spent some time in Mt. Zublo, levelling Peco up, and advancing the faeries a little more. Finished with Bais, apprenticed Peco to Lee.
Damn, Peco is powerful.
Friday, 15 October 2010
Breath of Fire III, Part 9
First thing I did today was head to the faerie village, to start building it. I may or may not write a guide post on this - there's a huge number of guides out there already.
I started off with three faeries. One who was great at hunting (and not much else), one who was hugely intelligent (but bad at hunting), and one who was mostly strong, but not really.
I love how the appropriate bars flash when you assign them to a job.
I assigned one to hunting, one to clearing, and one to studying culture.
Did some fishing, caught two red catfish and a barandy. Bought a Katzbaiger from the manillo.
It took bloody ages to learn Mind Flay. And Timed Blow.
I love Rei. Poor Rei.
When they were separated, all he tried to do was get justice. Ryu searched for Rei and Teepo, but he also found friends, while Rei was alone.
Rei kept on searching for Balio and Sunder long after Ryu defeated them at Maekyss Gorge.
Imagine Rei's life before Ryu and Teepo. Ryu and Teepo always had someone. Rei had to be alone.
I got Nina. Work now!
I started off with three faeries. One who was great at hunting (and not much else), one who was hugely intelligent (but bad at hunting), and one who was mostly strong, but not really.
I love how the appropriate bars flash when you assign them to a job.
I assigned one to hunting, one to clearing, and one to studying culture.
Did some fishing, caught two red catfish and a barandy. Bought a Katzbaiger from the manillo.
It took bloody ages to learn Mind Flay. And Timed Blow.
I love Rei. Poor Rei.
When they were separated, all he tried to do was get justice. Ryu searched for Rei and Teepo, but he also found friends, while Rei was alone.
Rei kept on searching for Balio and Sunder long after Ryu defeated them at Maekyss Gorge.
Imagine Rei's life before Ryu and Teepo. Ryu and Teepo always had someone. Rei had to be alone.
I got Nina. Work now!
Monday, 11 October 2010
Breath of Fire III, Part 6
Played through Momo's tower, and got her apprenticed to D'Lonzo. I had sixteen weapons in my inventory, once I'd swapped out Ryu and Nina's for the spare bent sword and pointed stick. Also found the reverse and thorn genes.
I'm tempted to test out every single gene combination, one day, and write down all the skills and so on that each one has, but that would be a huge task. Not as bad as playing every level of .hack//, but still a pain.
I explored the dump, got all the items, and got Momo up two levels, to learn Monopolize from D'Lonzo. I then levelled just Momo up another two levels, in order to get Intimidate and Steal. Mostly Steal.
Poor mutant.
Mutant onion!
I love Peco.
Apprenticed Nina to Yggdrasil, and headed back to the Plant. In the Arena, I bought everyone knew equipment, left Peco with Balio and Sunder, and used Momo, since she has steal.
Played all the way back to Wyndia, and did a bit more fishing.
I'm tempted to test out every single gene combination, one day, and write down all the skills and so on that each one has, but that would be a huge task. Not as bad as playing every level of .hack//, but still a pain.
I explored the dump, got all the items, and got Momo up two levels, to learn Monopolize from D'Lonzo. I then levelled just Momo up another two levels, in order to get Intimidate and Steal. Mostly Steal.
Poor mutant.
Mutant onion!
I love Peco.
Apprenticed Nina to Yggdrasil, and headed back to the Plant. In the Arena, I bought everyone knew equipment, left Peco with Balio and Sunder, and used Momo, since she has steal.
Played all the way back to Wyndia, and did a bit more fishing.
Sunday, 10 October 2010
Breath of Fire III, Part 5
Yep, done. Levelled Ryu up to 15 (eight levels under Mygas, one under Bunyan) and beat them. I didn't get any item drops though. Just, y'know, pride.
I learned all the same enemy spells and got the same items as before, although now I'm still missing a few points on jellyfish while my puffer fish is perfect. Currently, Ryu is basically carrying Nina through the Wyndian catacombs. He managed to learn Bone Dart from the Ghouls, too.
I've got something like 4000 zenny, without breaking into my stash of silver knives. I've also got sixty-something healing herbs, which Nina is using up.
After buying a bunch of weapons and armour and a midas stone in Wyndia, I had Nina unlock all of Durandal's spells before moving on.
In the Arena, I bought all of the weapons available, even the ones I didn't really need (again, for D'Lonzo).
Breath of Fire III really is a frightening game. Ryu spends his entire life being hunted. Balio and Sunder are nightmarish, when you think of how relentless they chase this little kid. Nevermind the Guardians, and the people who were burnt to death at the mine, and all the people who betray him, and his only friends being presumed dead...
I'm not surprised he disappeared for ten years. I'm more surprised that he came back.
I learned all the same enemy spells and got the same items as before, although now I'm still missing a few points on jellyfish while my puffer fish is perfect. Currently, Ryu is basically carrying Nina through the Wyndian catacombs. He managed to learn Bone Dart from the Ghouls, too.
I've got something like 4000 zenny, without breaking into my stash of silver knives. I've also got sixty-something healing herbs, which Nina is using up.
After buying a bunch of weapons and armour and a midas stone in Wyndia, I had Nina unlock all of Durandal's spells before moving on.
In the Arena, I bought all of the weapons available, even the ones I didn't really need (again, for D'Lonzo).
Breath of Fire III really is a frightening game. Ryu spends his entire life being hunted. Balio and Sunder are nightmarish, when you think of how relentless they chase this little kid. Nevermind the Guardians, and the people who were burnt to death at the mine, and all the people who betray him, and his only friends being presumed dead...
I'm not surprised he disappeared for ten years. I'm more surprised that he came back.
Friday, 8 October 2010
Breath of Fire III, Part 4
I had Ryu learn Frost from Mygas, then headed to Mt Myrneg. After picking up the items and learning Double Blow, I headed back to talk to Bunyan, to get him as a master. I'm currently pondering the idea of levelling Ryu up a few more levels, to get all of Mygas' spells, and then apprenticing him under Bunyan for the next bit of the game. Can't be arsed, really.
Got Meditate from Mygas, then headed up Mt. Myrneg. Incidentally, Tar Babies freeze and die easy when hit by frost.
Edit; Okay, I'm pissed at myself. I'd forgotten that Balio and Sunder was the reason I normally took the time to learn all of Mygas' skills before heading onwards. I am incredibly tempted to start the whole game over. It's about seven hours worth of play time, with nothing too taxing. And I am a pefectionist. Plus, this way, I can be sure to steal those items from Balio and Sunder, too.
Yup, I'm hitting reset. Sorry Ryu.
I'll probably pick up on these updates once I reach that battle again.
Got Meditate from Mygas, then headed up Mt. Myrneg. Incidentally, Tar Babies freeze and die easy when hit by frost.
Edit; Okay, I'm pissed at myself. I'd forgotten that Balio and Sunder was the reason I normally took the time to learn all of Mygas' skills before heading onwards. I am incredibly tempted to start the whole game over. It's about seven hours worth of play time, with nothing too taxing. And I am a pefectionist. Plus, this way, I can be sure to steal those items from Balio and Sunder, too.
Yup, I'm hitting reset. Sorry Ryu.
I'll probably pick up on these updates once I reach that battle again.
Thursday, 7 October 2010
Breath of Fire III, Part 3
Did some more fishing tonight. I got an iron helm for Ryu, but didn't bother with Teepo and Rei. I also googled a bit to find out what the maximum length was for each fish. I found this guide, which has some interesting info.
According to those lists, I'm fifteen points short on piranhas, twenty on puffers, twenty five on trout, and thirty on rainbow trout. I'm also fifty points short on manillo, but my jellyfish are fine. Generally speaking, I find that the later fishing spots have bigger fish, and all of these can be found elsewhere.
While hunting for Trout and Rainbow Trout, I generally aim to get two or three at a time, exit, save, then return. I'm going for ten of each. That's five silver knives, at 700 zenny each, which will be lots of cash in Wyndia.
Okay done. I did get the iron helms for Rei and Teepo in the end.
By the way, I'm writing these posts as I play, as you may have guessed. I've just played through the sneaking-past-the-guards section, and saved in McNeil's mansion. Kali sleepy.
Edit: Okay, when I woke up, I played through all of McNeil's mansion and fighting Balio and Sunder. Now work!
According to those lists, I'm fifteen points short on piranhas, twenty on puffers, twenty five on trout, and thirty on rainbow trout. I'm also fifty points short on manillo, but my jellyfish are fine. Generally speaking, I find that the later fishing spots have bigger fish, and all of these can be found elsewhere.
While hunting for Trout and Rainbow Trout, I generally aim to get two or three at a time, exit, save, then return. I'm going for ten of each. That's five silver knives, at 700 zenny each, which will be lots of cash in Wyndia.
Okay done. I did get the iron helms for Rei and Teepo in the end.
By the way, I'm writing these posts as I play, as you may have guessed. I've just played through the sneaking-past-the-guards section, and saved in McNeil's mansion. Kali sleepy.
Edit: Okay, when I woke up, I played through all of McNeil's mansion and fighting Balio and Sunder. Now work!
Breath of Fire III, Part 2
A few notes - firstly, Mantraps are weak against fire, and Eye Goos give out more exp when blinded.
Oh hey, I won a pointed stick in that battle. That's all the equipment I wanted to steal (3 bent swords, 3 waistclothes, 2 pointed sticks).
Incidentally, on those random battlefields, you'll always find an item. I generally head to a corner, and, if I haven't found it by then, run around in a circle, keeping the edge of the field at the edge of the screen. They're perfectly square, and there's only a few places where the item can be, so you shouldn't have any trouble at all.
Incidentally, fishing will be unlocked in the spring.
Rei and Teepo find Rei in an old cabin in the mountain.
I wonder if this is what remains of the original township once McClean/McNeil took over? Kidding. But maybe. There's a Dragon Statue right outside, the only one left in the game. It doesn't talk.
At this point of the game, I just abuse pilfer. Around here, you can pick up healing herbs and antidotes, which is much better than buying them. Extra equipment and things can be sold. Except weapons, and the stuff I mentioned earlier. Y'see, later in the game, Rei and Teepo will be leaving your party, and you don't want them taking the good stuff. Give them the bent swords, since you can't totally remove a character's weapon.
At another point later on, you'll run into D'Lonzo, a master, who demands that you have 15 different weapons in your inventory. You'll really appreciate having two bent swords (so I need four, not three, silly me) and two pointed sticks, so you can have one in your inventory and one each on Ryu and Nina.
Baby Ryu has the cutest voice in the world. Just saying.
The Nue decides protecting her cubs in the cave behind her. She'd been bringing them food.
She hadn't realised they were dead. They looked like they'd been dead for a long time.
I apprenticed Ryu to Mygas, and did some fishing. Bought a Silver Knife from the manillo. It's worth getting a few of these. One, because Teepo can use them in the next bit of the game, and two, because you can sell them for a fair amount, and get good equipment in Wyndia for the price. I also got a few lures that I didn't have before, and I intend to come back for more silver knives and an iron helm. At this point, you can't get the Bell Collar or Holy Mantle. So, I basically just need trouts and rainbow trouts, but they can wait till after work.
Oh hey, I won a pointed stick in that battle. That's all the equipment I wanted to steal (3 bent swords, 3 waistclothes, 2 pointed sticks).
Incidentally, on those random battlefields, you'll always find an item. I generally head to a corner, and, if I haven't found it by then, run around in a circle, keeping the edge of the field at the edge of the screen. They're perfectly square, and there's only a few places where the item can be, so you shouldn't have any trouble at all.
Incidentally, fishing will be unlocked in the spring.
Rei and Teepo find Rei in an old cabin in the mountain.
I wonder if this is what remains of the original township once McClean/McNeil took over? Kidding. But maybe. There's a Dragon Statue right outside, the only one left in the game. It doesn't talk.
At this point of the game, I just abuse pilfer. Around here, you can pick up healing herbs and antidotes, which is much better than buying them. Extra equipment and things can be sold. Except weapons, and the stuff I mentioned earlier. Y'see, later in the game, Rei and Teepo will be leaving your party, and you don't want them taking the good stuff. Give them the bent swords, since you can't totally remove a character's weapon.
At another point later on, you'll run into D'Lonzo, a master, who demands that you have 15 different weapons in your inventory. You'll really appreciate having two bent swords (so I need four, not three, silly me) and two pointed sticks, so you can have one in your inventory and one each on Ryu and Nina.
Baby Ryu has the cutest voice in the world. Just saying.
The Nue decides protecting her cubs in the cave behind her. She'd been bringing them food.
She hadn't realised they were dead. They looked like they'd been dead for a long time.
I apprenticed Ryu to Mygas, and did some fishing. Bought a Silver Knife from the manillo. It's worth getting a few of these. One, because Teepo can use them in the next bit of the game, and two, because you can sell them for a fair amount, and get good equipment in Wyndia for the price. I also got a few lures that I didn't have before, and I intend to come back for more silver knives and an iron helm. At this point, you can't get the Bell Collar or Holy Mantle. So, I basically just need trouts and rainbow trouts, but they can wait till after work.
Wednesday, 6 October 2010
Breath of Fire III, Part 1
...I was going to go to sleep, and play this in the morning, but I'm an unapologetic insomniac. So, yeah.
The game opens with a pretty unmistakable frieze of the team from the first game fighting Myria/Maria/Tyr. Two miners - one of them named Mogu - find a baby dragon in a cave, while mining. It kills them. Poor miners.
This bit of the game is really quite gory, considering these are very clearly people, not monster, being killed. And considering you can pick up one of their melted swords from their dead bodies.
I'd forgotten the bit about a voice from the mine calling out to Ryu not to kill people.
Rei reminds me so much of Cray. Or vice versa, I suppose. Cray's more of a jock though - he's very much a leader, and capable of caring for himself. So's Rei, really, but he seems softer, kinder, more brittle, perhaps? I think because he goes from being the strong, protective, elder-brother figure to someone who's basically just tagging along and being super fast.
I suppose Teepo is like a baby Zog. He has more screentime than Zog, at least.
I wonder if Teepo came from the mine as well? The miners said they found those eggs sometimes, and Rei said he found him in the same way. You'd think the miners would have been more prepared, in that case.
The world of Breath of Fire was mostly prosperous, apart from the war. In II, there was more murder and greed, and people enjoyed violence. In III, people are all sad and starving and orphaned. They're essentially scavengers, particularly the mechanics. How sad, if III really is the latest game set within that world.
Plus, the Dragon Statues and St Eva's churches are long gone.
At this point in the game - that is, when you have Rei, Ryu, and Teepo - I generally level up a bit. I'd recommend stealing a couple of bent swords from the Goblins (like three) and some waistclothes from the Boss Goblins. Plus, healing herbs from the Eye Goos. A pointed stick or two wouldn't go amiss either. I used the defence formation, which helped Rei not to kill things before stealing their stuff.
I got Ryu to learn Burn from the Mage Goos, Influence from Boss Goblins, and Blind from Rippers. Teepo got Unmotivate, from the Goblins, just because. Also bought a fishing rod and some worms. Played through past the bit with Bunyan. I want to get to a bit where it will let me fish.
Oh hey, 4am and I have work in the morning. Joy.
The game opens with a pretty unmistakable frieze of the team from the first game fighting Myria/Maria/Tyr. Two miners - one of them named Mogu - find a baby dragon in a cave, while mining. It kills them. Poor miners.
This bit of the game is really quite gory, considering these are very clearly people, not monster, being killed. And considering you can pick up one of their melted swords from their dead bodies.
I'd forgotten the bit about a voice from the mine calling out to Ryu not to kill people.
Rei reminds me so much of Cray. Or vice versa, I suppose. Cray's more of a jock though - he's very much a leader, and capable of caring for himself. So's Rei, really, but he seems softer, kinder, more brittle, perhaps? I think because he goes from being the strong, protective, elder-brother figure to someone who's basically just tagging along and being super fast.
I suppose Teepo is like a baby Zog. He has more screentime than Zog, at least.
I wonder if Teepo came from the mine as well? The miners said they found those eggs sometimes, and Rei said he found him in the same way. You'd think the miners would have been more prepared, in that case.
The world of Breath of Fire was mostly prosperous, apart from the war. In II, there was more murder and greed, and people enjoyed violence. In III, people are all sad and starving and orphaned. They're essentially scavengers, particularly the mechanics. How sad, if III really is the latest game set within that world.
Plus, the Dragon Statues and St Eva's churches are long gone.
At this point in the game - that is, when you have Rei, Ryu, and Teepo - I generally level up a bit. I'd recommend stealing a couple of bent swords from the Goblins (like three) and some waistclothes from the Boss Goblins. Plus, healing herbs from the Eye Goos. A pointed stick or two wouldn't go amiss either. I used the defence formation, which helped Rei not to kill things before stealing their stuff.
I got Ryu to learn Burn from the Mage Goos, Influence from Boss Goblins, and Blind from Rippers. Teepo got Unmotivate, from the Goblins, just because. Also bought a fishing rod and some worms. Played through past the bit with Bunyan. I want to get to a bit where it will let me fish.
Oh hey, 4am and I have work in the morning. Joy.
Saturday, 7 August 2010
Breath of Fire I & IV
Some people believe that Breath of Fire IV is a prequel to the first Breath of Fire game.
Near the beginning of IV, Nina gives Ryu the King's Sword. Soon afterwards, it ends up breaking, and is known as 'Broken Sword' for the rest of the game.
Well, playing the first Breath of Fire, I just found a Broken Sword in Winlan Castle's treasury, with no in-game reference as to what it's doing there.
Interesting.
Near the beginning of IV, Nina gives Ryu the King's Sword. Soon afterwards, it ends up breaking, and is known as 'Broken Sword' for the rest of the game.
Well, playing the first Breath of Fire, I just found a Broken Sword in Winlan Castle's treasury, with no in-game reference as to what it's doing there.
Interesting.
Thursday, 5 August 2010
Breath of Fire: Bleak
Bleak has an item shop, a weapon shop, a storage facility, and an Inn which offers free lodging. Do not take them up on this offer unless you have the pouch in your inventory - the owner of the Inn will attempt to steal your money in the middle of the night. Should you have the pouch, the party receives 5000g in return for their silence.
Another offer you should not take up is that of the fortune teller just north of the Dragon Temple. She's a con artist, who will take your cash, then leave you alone in a building with a parrot telling you to keep your eyes closed while she makes her escape. However, in the house behind her, you can find a Life2 hidden beneath a barrel, in the south-western room.
In the north-western house behind the shops, you'll find two chests containing Herbs on the second floor. Downstairs is a magician, who will offer to show you a trick for 100g. This is also a scam, but if you answer "yes", twice, then "no" twice, and finally "yes", you'll see a cameo of Chun Li from Street Fighter. You'll find another two chests containing herbs in the house next door.
In the northernmost house, you will be able to trade a G.Bar for an Icicle needed to travel through the desert. You will also find two chests upstairs containing a Life and a W.Ant.
Another offer you should not take up is that of the fortune teller just north of the Dragon Temple. She's a con artist, who will take your cash, then leave you alone in a building with a parrot telling you to keep your eyes closed while she makes her escape. However, in the house behind her, you can find a Life2 hidden beneath a barrel, in the south-western room.
In the north-western house behind the shops, you'll find two chests containing Herbs on the second floor. Downstairs is a magician, who will offer to show you a trick for 100g. This is also a scam, but if you answer "yes", twice, then "no" twice, and finally "yes", you'll see a cameo of Chun Li from Street Fighter. You'll find another two chests containing herbs in the house next door.
In the northernmost house, you will be able to trade a G.Bar for an Icicle needed to travel through the desert. You will also find two chests upstairs containing a Life and a W.Ant.
Monday, 2 August 2010
Breath of Fire: Goddess Keys
Warning: The following may contain spoilers (depending on how you define spoilers).
In the first Breath of Fire game, there are six Goddess Keys, which were used to trap the Goddess Myria/Tyr. At the start of the game, the Dark Dragons are in possession of the six keys, and are attempting to release the Goddess. Throughout the game, Ryu and his team members try to get them back. The bolded headings are the menu names.
E.Key
The Earth Key is liberated from Nanai, where it is being used to power the quake machine. More specifically, it seems that the Quake Control simply amplifies the natural effect of the Earth Key, rather than being powered by it.
The E.Key can be used in battle to create an earthquake attack, which does a standard 30 damage to every enemy on the field. The E.Key can be used as many times as one wishes.
KngKey
The King Key is received in Agua, after defeating the Guardian of the Key. It is used to operate the Stone Robot.
L.Key
The Light Key is first heard of in Auria, where it is rumoured to be locked in the safe. In Bleak, the party learn that the key has been taken from there. However, after claiming the Dark Key, they are able to find the Light Key, safe and sound, at the top of the tower which can be reached through Ross' safe. The key can be used to change the world instantly from night to day.
D.Key
In Bleak, the party learn that the Dark Key is related to the Goddess. After Karn joins the party, they are able to travel to the top of the Light and Dark Tower, and claim the key by defeating Cloud. The key can be used to instantly change the world from day to night.
TmKey
In Tunlan, the party learn that the Time Key is Tunlan's treasure, and that the Dark Dragon's are trying to steal it. They also learn that it can control time.
The Princess of Tunlan is enamoured with Zog, and has decided to give him the Time Key, believing that he will use it to give her eternal youth. After several events involving explosions and hair-pulling, the Time Key is stolen by Jade's minion, Cerl.
Cerl uses the Time Key to trap Carmen in time. Eventually, she sees the error of her ways, and gives the Time Key to the party. However, when she tries to use it, Princess Nina is sent back in time, and can be found in Tunlan with amnesia.
SkyKey
The Sky Key is located at the top of Spyre, near Spring. It's used to stop the eternal winter in Spring.
Monday, 26 July 2010
Braid: Flags
Skimming through a thread, I found the following (credited to Derbonk);
On a different side note: David Hellman (the creator of all the visual art) wrote a great series on his blog about the art of Braid, I hope you have all read it already, it's really interesting. He also hints that there might be something up with the flags in front of the castle. So, I looked at them and they do look like those signal flags you can see on some ships. Looked that up on Wikipedia ( http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/International_maritime_signal_flags ) and here is the result:
World 2 (blue/white small checkered) means "N - Negative"
World 3 (red/white checkered) means "U - You are running into danger"
World 4 (yellow/black checkered) means "L - In harbor: The ship is under Quarantine/At sea: You should stop your vessel instantly/With four numerals, latitude/Inport: Radiological Hazard"
World 5 (blue cross on white) means "X - Stop carrying out your intentions and watch for my signals"
World 6 (yellow and blue thick stripes) means "K - I wish to communicate with you. With one numeral, I wish to communicate with you by; 1) Morse signalling by hand-flags or arms; 2) Loud hailer (megaphone); 3) Morse signalling lamp; 4) Sound signals. Inport: Man Aloft.
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