This makes my other Golden Sun posts look short.
Taking a break from not studying for my final tomorrow so I can finally scream over Golden Sun: Dark Dawn. I beat it last night. Ummm... I may become incoherent? XD
...Not only am I cutting for spoilers, I'm going to put them into sections. DOES THAT TELL YOU HOW MUCH I RAMBLED HERE?!
As much as I riffed on the characters (YOU DIDN'T REALIZE THAT WAS ALEX RIGHT AWAY, KRADEN?!) I totally loved the game. It really had the feel of the first two while still being different and utilizing the DS well for the most part. As the title said, this game certainly was dark, gahhh. Like I'd been saying, though, they're totally setting up for more. There are more loose ends in this one than the other two combined, I swear.
Hmm, where to start on the ending...? Alex is still Alexing very much and I love it. Seriously, I don't know if they'll ever fully explain his character but I really don't want them to. I love the constant doubt and it's kind of impressive they could bring it back after the end of the second game. He is by far the most complex character in the series and I'm starting to think he might be my favorite now just for that fact. Pretty much the impression I get is that Alex is, as usual, looking out for his own interests and goals and aiding/manipulating whomever he can to help him get there. Something about that Sol release or whatever was probably important. Plus I kinda thought from the start that he had something to do with those vortexes but maybe he doesn't. I just hope they don't have him like... join a side, especially the good guys. I have been wanting to fight him for yeeeeeeears! But I don't want him to die, either. Though there is that, erm, little issue... *koff* I'll get there sooner or later ^^;
I really love how Rief let him have it, that was amazing. And of course Alex answered questions by not telling us anything at all, but that's just his character. And I know we didn't see it, but Alex actually lent a hand in a battle situation? That makes what, two times? XD Not really sure what the Tua-whatever is up to with their giant Koopa Kid battle ship but I guess it's like Saturos and Menardi and what was only the "Fire Clan of the North" in the first game. I was hoping Alex would be the Big Bad in this new generation, though. Maybe he still will be, I dunno. Honestly the Dark Adept thing didn't feel like a shocker since they practically said it during the Luna Tower scene =/. I'm waiting for Light Adepts now, right?
Totally knew it was Volechek (I am too lazy to look up spellings tonight) the second he jumped onto the screen, that was another moment of "HOW CAN ALL OF YOU BE SO DENSE?!" Final boss was pretty cool, though. Not a dragon like the other games and it was a bitch and a half to fight (and I had them at same level I was whenever I fought the Doom Dragon) but it was a good challenge and you don't get that much in video games these days. And the music, as usual, was awesome.
And... WTF was going on with Matthew stupidly having to climb that ladder even when Alex's disembodied voice (WTF was up with that too, by the way? XD) told him to stop. Correct me if I'm wrong, but I don't recall Alex ever lying to anyone. Still, I was like "Okay, I'll stop. ...Can't go anywhere, guess I don't stop -_-" And then the whole Sveta taking his soul or... what? What?! So confusing... It was fun mind reading everyone, though~ Mwah ha ha ha... It was pretty refreshing to have an ending where not everything ended up all sparkly and happy everywhere, too. A lot more "real".
Last part in my storyline section of this thorough review of an hour or so of gameplay (pffffft...) would, of course, be the very last scene. Toward the end of the quest part I was thinking "Wait, whatever happened with that whole vortex thing?" Yeah, don't "The End...?" me, that was more of a cliffhanger than the end of the first game!
Characters! I'll try to keep this as short as I can.
Matthew: He "spoke" a lot and they actually gave him some personality despite his silent hero status. Totally see why they claim he's like Jenna. I loved it when he "swore" XDD.
Tyrell: was called Garet in my head more often than not. Not that I don't like Garet but... the clone!children are bugging me.
Karis: Umm... She was pretty cool I guess. Had attitude, for the most part was smart, and had the best battle Psynergy.
Rief: ...Why are you so adorable?! I dunno, I just liked him. He reminded me more of Ivan than Karis did.
Amiti: As soon as we met him I thought "He's either going to drive me insane or I'm going to love him." And, as it turned out, it was the latter. Seriously, he was just... funny and interesting and I'm fairly certain he was my favorite new character. I realized this before truly realizing his loose end too (cover that later >_>;), ironically enough. Also I think I'm going to end up RPing him sooner or later, sob.
Sveta: Again, pretty cool. Like how stats-wise she was different than all the other Jupiter Adepts we've had. Kinda neutral on her character leaning into the liking range.
Eoleo: ...Needed to be in more cutscenes, he was interesting me and was amusing at times, dammit! Where was his mom, by the way? Did I totally miss something?
Himi: Again, hardly in the game and most of her dialogue was what I eventually dubbed being "Himi ex Machina". But like Sveta it was cool to have a Venus Adept that was more Psynergy based.
Not a real loose end so I won't put it there, but how old are Amiti, Sveta, and Himi?! These things bug me, I'm sorry. I will totally be replaying once my finals are over on Thursday (the reasoning will be in my last section of this novel) and try to see if I can harbor any guesses there amongst other departments.
But, loose ends I can think of! Not going to include ones that were left in TLA and not really touched upon in this game and I'm sure I'll still forget some.
- Psynergy vortexes, obviously. Not too worried about getting the answer to that later, though.
- Lack of characters returning. Like why wasn't Jenna around?! ...Though I did notice that it just seemed to be Isaac and Garet and their sons living in the middle of nowhere and Isaac said Matthew and Tyrell were "practically brothers." ...Ummm... ...UMMMMM...
- Where is Felix and why did they portray him so poorly?! I really hope Takeru is the player character next time and that Felix doesn't have a clone!son too, but I know I won't be that lucky. Finding him could be part of the plot! I already think Piers is gonna have the Kraden role. "...DID WE MENTION PIERS, CAUSE HE DOES STUFF!"
- Actually, on the Piers note, what happened to Lemuria? Is it on that lower level of Weyard or whatever the hell is going on?
- I guess technically what Alex is up to has become a loose end again since we found out what he was doing in the GBA games.
- So the Tua-whatever. Yeah, I'm sure in the next game the antagonists will be... I don't know my tarot cards or whatever they were using in English well, they'll be Club and Diamond in Japanese. And then there's this Empyror who insists on spelling his name strangely. Someone we know? Someone new? Probably the latter, they've been living on their ship during the time Alchemy was sealed, right?
- On that note, the Insight Glass. The... whatever voice thing that gave it to Amiti made him promise he wouldn't help restore Alchemy. I dunno, I can't help but think that'll be important.
- What exactly did the Apollo Lens do? It was totally more than just stopping the Eclipse and I wonder if it has to do with the eventual Light Adepts and/or whatever Alex is up to.
- ...Okay, this isn't a real loose end, I know they had a contrived reason for Kraden but HOW IS OBABA STILL ALIVE?!
- I do have to wonder how many of these characters we'll see again when/if there's a fourth game. They'll obviously want new Adepts and more than eight party members would be really confusing. I think they'll have roles at least, but I can only harbor various guesses that I'll spare you from.
- Okay, can't think of anything else so the biggie for me. Amiti's father. Ummm... Normally I hate admitting when I'm wrong but I WILL FULLY ACCEPT IT THIS TIME BECAUSE HOLY SHIT, WTF THIS IS MESSED UP AND I LOVE IT SO MUCH MORE. Like I said before, for some reason I forget they don't really try to throw us off with hints in this series and looking at Classes was what really made me realize who it was. ALEX. YOU DOG. XDDD They did kinda make it seem like the ladies like him, though, like in Tonfon. And by that point you pretty much knew unless you hadn't played the first two. I didn't take what Tret said verbatim, that's why it took me so long.
[This one gets paragraphs x_x] I just.... AHHHHHH! *flails forever* There is SO MUCH to speculate about and considering I happen to love both of their characters... yeah, fic is inevitable orz. Seriously, once I'm responsible and/or have free time I fully intended to analyze this, though playing up to the scene where Amiti learns the facts of life will be a goal in that. I am desperately trying to figure out Veriti's character now, too. Wondering what she looked like, too, I wish I could draw... But I totally already ship Alex/Veriti, why self?! I managed to have one ship before that I still won't admit to despite the fact that I see it a lot XD. So yeah, like I said, expect writings both of serious and crack nature from me now.
Quick thoughts on the major points: Amiti has apparently noticed something about him (which I kind of find weird, but whatever game, I am enjoying this XD) but he still hasn't clued in on what. And given Alex's behavior around him (totally ignoring him) I don't think he knows it either. Also I really can't see it as being part of some really messed up scheme that involves a child or something, especially since he barely paid any attention to him and if Alex wanted to use him he would have confronted him by now. This would also make some sense of that one time you can Mind Read him in Jupiter Lighthouse and why they brought that aspect to light. Oh, and that thing he said early in TLA about being able to let go of people or something, which was proven wrong by the Mind Read but I think he actually believes it since (I know this is a shocker) he's a bit on the messed up side. Do not disappoint me on this one, guys! =D ...Still keep him Alex-brand evil, though.
And side note since it wasn't official in the game, apparently it was confirmed on Nintendo's Twitter or something? I dunno, I'd rather hear it from the creators even though THEY BEAT US OVER THE HEAD WITH IT BY THE END.
As for my Golden Sun Radioplays, I was going to start auditions for a new Isaac today anyway but for the moment I'd like to add some of the scenes from Dark Dawn so it was a good time to announce that too! I'll probably hold auditions when the time comes despite the fact that I know who I'd scout for most of them, eh heh. Leaving main characters open will hopefully attract more people that will throw in auditions for the inevitable minor characters that are involved.
So part of my replay is actually to transcribe the cutscenes, but then I thought if I was doing some of it why not do all of it? I dunno. I'm debating finally joining one of the Golden Sun forums (I'm scared and I don't know which one!!! DX) and asking around to see if anyone else is working on a game script. Cause if they are I'll just stick to my own thing/wait for theirs. Plus I'm not exactly the most thorough gamer ever the first three or four play-throughs and always find out I missed something. We'll see. Matthew's four choices will definitely be a pain if I do it, lol.
Odds are that once I'm done with school for the week I'm going to be hunting down icons and/or making them and loading them because I NEED THEM to barely use this LJ lately >_>;;. I'm on such a Golden Sun kick right now and have so few outlets @_@. And yeah, watch out for fics.
Uhh... I think that's it? I'll stop regardless since this is insanely long and my hands are starting to get numb and I need to study for that final. You wish I was kidding.
...WHEN IS THE NEXT ONE COMING OUT?!!
...Not only am I cutting for spoilers, I'm going to put them into sections. DOES THAT TELL YOU HOW MUCH I RAMBLED HERE?!
As much as I riffed on the characters (YOU DIDN'T REALIZE THAT WAS ALEX RIGHT AWAY, KRADEN?!) I totally loved the game. It really had the feel of the first two while still being different and utilizing the DS well for the most part. As the title said, this game certainly was dark, gahhh. Like I'd been saying, though, they're totally setting up for more. There are more loose ends in this one than the other two combined, I swear.
Hmm, where to start on the ending...? Alex is still Alexing very much and I love it. Seriously, I don't know if they'll ever fully explain his character but I really don't want them to. I love the constant doubt and it's kind of impressive they could bring it back after the end of the second game. He is by far the most complex character in the series and I'm starting to think he might be my favorite now just for that fact. Pretty much the impression I get is that Alex is, as usual, looking out for his own interests and goals and aiding/manipulating whomever he can to help him get there. Something about that Sol release or whatever was probably important. Plus I kinda thought from the start that he had something to do with those vortexes but maybe he doesn't. I just hope they don't have him like... join a side, especially the good guys. I have been wanting to fight him for yeeeeeeears! But I don't want him to die, either. Though there is that, erm, little issue... *koff* I'll get there sooner or later ^^;
I really love how Rief let him have it, that was amazing. And of course Alex answered questions by not telling us anything at all, but that's just his character. And I know we didn't see it, but Alex actually lent a hand in a battle situation? That makes what, two times? XD Not really sure what the Tua-whatever is up to with their giant Koopa Kid battle ship but I guess it's like Saturos and Menardi and what was only the "Fire Clan of the North" in the first game. I was hoping Alex would be the Big Bad in this new generation, though. Maybe he still will be, I dunno. Honestly the Dark Adept thing didn't feel like a shocker since they practically said it during the Luna Tower scene =/. I'm waiting for Light Adepts now, right?
Totally knew it was Volechek (I am too lazy to look up spellings tonight) the second he jumped onto the screen, that was another moment of "HOW CAN ALL OF YOU BE SO DENSE?!" Final boss was pretty cool, though. Not a dragon like the other games and it was a bitch and a half to fight (and I had them at same level I was whenever I fought the Doom Dragon) but it was a good challenge and you don't get that much in video games these days. And the music, as usual, was awesome.
And... WTF was going on with Matthew stupidly having to climb that ladder even when Alex's disembodied voice (WTF was up with that too, by the way? XD) told him to stop. Correct me if I'm wrong, but I don't recall Alex ever lying to anyone. Still, I was like "Okay, I'll stop. ...Can't go anywhere, guess I don't stop -_-" And then the whole Sveta taking his soul or... what? What?! So confusing... It was fun mind reading everyone, though~ Mwah ha ha ha... It was pretty refreshing to have an ending where not everything ended up all sparkly and happy everywhere, too. A lot more "real".
Last part in my storyline section of this thorough review of an hour or so of gameplay (pffffft...) would, of course, be the very last scene. Toward the end of the quest part I was thinking "Wait, whatever happened with that whole vortex thing?" Yeah, don't "The End...?" me, that was more of a cliffhanger than the end of the first game!
Characters! I'll try to keep this as short as I can.
Matthew: He "spoke" a lot and they actually gave him some personality despite his silent hero status. Totally see why they claim he's like Jenna. I loved it when he "swore" XDD.
Tyrell: was called Garet in my head more often than not. Not that I don't like Garet but... the clone!children are bugging me.
Karis: Umm... She was pretty cool I guess. Had attitude, for the most part was smart, and had the best battle Psynergy.
Rief: ...Why are you so adorable?! I dunno, I just liked him. He reminded me more of Ivan than Karis did.
Amiti: As soon as we met him I thought "He's either going to drive me insane or I'm going to love him." And, as it turned out, it was the latter. Seriously, he was just... funny and interesting and I'm fairly certain he was my favorite new character. I realized this before truly realizing his loose end too (cover that later >_>;), ironically enough. Also I think I'm going to end up RPing him sooner or later, sob.
Sveta: Again, pretty cool. Like how stats-wise she was different than all the other Jupiter Adepts we've had. Kinda neutral on her character leaning into the liking range.
Eoleo: ...Needed to be in more cutscenes, he was interesting me and was amusing at times, dammit! Where was his mom, by the way? Did I totally miss something?
Himi: Again, hardly in the game and most of her dialogue was what I eventually dubbed being "Himi ex Machina". But like Sveta it was cool to have a Venus Adept that was more Psynergy based.
Not a real loose end so I won't put it there, but how old are Amiti, Sveta, and Himi?! These things bug me, I'm sorry. I will totally be replaying once my finals are over on Thursday (the reasoning will be in my last section of this novel) and try to see if I can harbor any guesses there amongst other departments.
But, loose ends I can think of! Not going to include ones that were left in TLA and not really touched upon in this game and I'm sure I'll still forget some.
- Psynergy vortexes, obviously. Not too worried about getting the answer to that later, though.
- Lack of characters returning. Like why wasn't Jenna around?! ...Though I did notice that it just seemed to be Isaac and Garet and their sons living in the middle of nowhere and Isaac said Matthew and Tyrell were "practically brothers." ...Ummm... ...UMMMMM...
- Where is Felix and why did they portray him so poorly?! I really hope Takeru is the player character next time and that Felix doesn't have a clone!son too, but I know I won't be that lucky. Finding him could be part of the plot! I already think Piers is gonna have the Kraden role. "...DID WE MENTION PIERS, CAUSE HE DOES STUFF!"
- Actually, on the Piers note, what happened to Lemuria? Is it on that lower level of Weyard or whatever the hell is going on?
- I guess technically what Alex is up to has become a loose end again since we found out what he was doing in the GBA games.
- So the Tua-whatever. Yeah, I'm sure in the next game the antagonists will be... I don't know my tarot cards or whatever they were using in English well, they'll be Club and Diamond in Japanese. And then there's this Empyror who insists on spelling his name strangely. Someone we know? Someone new? Probably the latter, they've been living on their ship during the time Alchemy was sealed, right?
- On that note, the Insight Glass. The... whatever voice thing that gave it to Amiti made him promise he wouldn't help restore Alchemy. I dunno, I can't help but think that'll be important.
- What exactly did the Apollo Lens do? It was totally more than just stopping the Eclipse and I wonder if it has to do with the eventual Light Adepts and/or whatever Alex is up to.
- ...Okay, this isn't a real loose end, I know they had a contrived reason for Kraden but HOW IS OBABA STILL ALIVE?!
- I do have to wonder how many of these characters we'll see again when/if there's a fourth game. They'll obviously want new Adepts and more than eight party members would be really confusing. I think they'll have roles at least, but I can only harbor various guesses that I'll spare you from.
- Okay, can't think of anything else so the biggie for me. Amiti's father. Ummm... Normally I hate admitting when I'm wrong but I WILL FULLY ACCEPT IT THIS TIME BECAUSE HOLY SHIT, WTF THIS IS MESSED UP AND I LOVE IT SO MUCH MORE. Like I said before, for some reason I forget they don't really try to throw us off with hints in this series and looking at Classes was what really made me realize who it was. ALEX. YOU DOG. XDDD They did kinda make it seem like the ladies like him, though, like in Tonfon. And by that point you pretty much knew unless you hadn't played the first two. I didn't take what Tret said verbatim, that's why it took me so long.
[This one gets paragraphs x_x] I just.... AHHHHHH! *flails forever* There is SO MUCH to speculate about and considering I happen to love both of their characters... yeah, fic is inevitable orz. Seriously, once I'm responsible and/or have free time I fully intended to analyze this, though playing up to the scene where Amiti learns the facts of life will be a goal in that. I am desperately trying to figure out Veriti's character now, too. Wondering what she looked like, too, I wish I could draw... But I totally already ship Alex/Veriti, why self?! I managed to have one ship before that I still won't admit to despite the fact that I see it a lot XD. So yeah, like I said, expect writings both of serious and crack nature from me now.
Quick thoughts on the major points: Amiti has apparently noticed something about him (which I kind of find weird, but whatever game, I am enjoying this XD) but he still hasn't clued in on what. And given Alex's behavior around him (totally ignoring him) I don't think he knows it either. Also I really can't see it as being part of some really messed up scheme that involves a child or something, especially since he barely paid any attention to him and if Alex wanted to use him he would have confronted him by now. This would also make some sense of that one time you can Mind Read him in Jupiter Lighthouse and why they brought that aspect to light. Oh, and that thing he said early in TLA about being able to let go of people or something, which was proven wrong by the Mind Read but I think he actually believes it since (I know this is a shocker) he's a bit on the messed up side. Do not disappoint me on this one, guys! =D ...Still keep him Alex-brand evil, though.
And side note since it wasn't official in the game, apparently it was confirmed on Nintendo's Twitter or something? I dunno, I'd rather hear it from the creators even though THEY BEAT US OVER THE HEAD WITH IT BY THE END.
As for my Golden Sun Radioplays, I was going to start auditions for a new Isaac today anyway but for the moment I'd like to add some of the scenes from Dark Dawn so it was a good time to announce that too! I'll probably hold auditions when the time comes despite the fact that I know who I'd scout for most of them, eh heh. Leaving main characters open will hopefully attract more people that will throw in auditions for the inevitable minor characters that are involved.
So part of my replay is actually to transcribe the cutscenes, but then I thought if I was doing some of it why not do all of it? I dunno. I'm debating finally joining one of the Golden Sun forums (I'm scared and I don't know which one!!! DX) and asking around to see if anyone else is working on a game script. Cause if they are I'll just stick to my own thing/wait for theirs. Plus I'm not exactly the most thorough gamer ever the first three or four play-throughs and always find out I missed something. We'll see. Matthew's four choices will definitely be a pain if I do it, lol.
Odds are that once I'm done with school for the week I'm going to be hunting down icons and/or making them and loading them because I NEED THEM to barely use this LJ lately >_>;;. I'm on such a Golden Sun kick right now and have so few outlets @_@. And yeah, watch out for fics.
Uhh... I think that's it? I'll stop regardless since this is insanely long and my hands are starting to get numb and I need to study for that final. You wish I was kidding.
...WHEN IS THE NEXT ONE COMING OUT?!!