TV Tropes Headscratchers: Delving into Nowhere
Okay, I found this in the TV Tropes Headscratchers page for Tales of the Abyss, and it was so stumping, I had to spork it. Since it concerns the ending to Tales of the Abyss, spoiler alert.
On the TV Tropes Headscratchers for Tales of the Abyss, someone asked this question about something Jade said in the ending. This was the original point:
This is literally the stupidest gripe ever, but why, in the ending, does Jade say "we should leave soon. The valley is dangerous at night?" Uh, if he means Tataroo Valley, no it isn't. Luke and Tear got through it on level one no problem...yeah, yeah, Gameplay and Story Segregation, but Jade. Seriously. You could literally - literally - look at the enemies here and they would explode and die instantly. I think he probably just couldn't handle feelings and wanted to run away but he should have come up with a slightly better excuse.
I always figured that was because the characters didn't have their weapons on hand. If you look in the scene, Anise doesn't have Tokunaga, Guy doesn't have his sword, and Natalia doesn't have her bow, for a few examples. The following that I'm sporking is the response, and well.. I felt it needed a spork.
With the change in the environment by the land dropping,
Since the land was lowered safely, I don't think the environment would've changed that much.
it's plausible that more difficult-to-deal-with monsters moved into the Valley over time. It's also been a good passage of time since moss has grown on Eldrant's remains (despite nobody looking any older). In fact, Natalia alludes to Luke's coming-of-age ceremony, which might be a clue to how long it's been.
Word of God states that the course of the game took place over a year, and the ending happens two years after that.
If she means Luke, and not Asch, then it's been about 11 whole years, since you come of age at 18 on Eldrant.
Luke might have been seven-years-old, but he still had the physical look of a seventeen-year-old.
11 years for monsters to grow and move into and around Tataroo Valley, since the other side of the creek sported harder monsters to deal with.
If 11 years passed for the monsters to get stronger, wouldn't the characters have gotten stronger too?
It's likely at least part of it was the emotional impact.
Whoa! Sudden topic change!
After all, they last saw Luke when the sun was setting, ie heading into night time.
I don't think people need to be told that sunset means it's going to be nighttime soon.
Feelings themselves are dangerous.
And again with the sudden topic change!
He probably means Tear's feelings on that front, and might feel genuine concern that in the past who-knows-how-much time since Tear lost both of the people she loved most in the world
First, it's been two years, and second, if you're referring to Van and Luke, I think you're forgetting someone.
that she'd give up and just let the monsters destroy her, no matter how low-levelled leveled they are.
You're forgetting that Luke promised Tear that he'd come back. How did you come to the conclusion that she'd be suicidal after losing Van, Luke, and Legretta? Also, most players would be at a high enough level to kick ass.
If you look at her in that scene, she's not acting like her usual tough self,
The "tough self" you're referring to is a soldier's facade. Her true self is the soft side.
and the camera doesn't show her eyes much.
That's only when you're seeing Tear and Mr. Ending across the valley.
She's very sad and vacant,
Sad, maybe, but vacant?
and her movements are rather lethargic until the very end,
Lethargic? I think you have that confused with cautious.
when she starts to run towards Mr Ending over there.
Mr. Ending could've been Asch for all we know. Granted, one source from Namco said Mr Ending was supposed to be Luke before it was changed to be more ambiguous, but who cares? Namco seems to prefer having their fanbases bicker amongst themselves for kicks.
And that was it. Non-sensical stuff that was not the case in canon. I'd like to know where that troper got those ideas, because that's not what I remembered from playing the game.
On the TV Tropes Headscratchers for Tales of the Abyss, someone asked this question about something Jade said in the ending. This was the original point:
This is literally the stupidest gripe ever, but why, in the ending, does Jade say "we should leave soon. The valley is dangerous at night?" Uh, if he means Tataroo Valley, no it isn't. Luke and Tear got through it on level one no problem...yeah, yeah, Gameplay and Story Segregation, but Jade. Seriously. You could literally - literally - look at the enemies here and they would explode and die instantly. I think he probably just couldn't handle feelings and wanted to run away but he should have come up with a slightly better excuse.
I always figured that was because the characters didn't have their weapons on hand. If you look in the scene, Anise doesn't have Tokunaga, Guy doesn't have his sword, and Natalia doesn't have her bow, for a few examples. The following that I'm sporking is the response, and well.. I felt it needed a spork.
With the change in the environment by the land dropping,
Since the land was lowered safely, I don't think the environment would've changed that much.
it's plausible that more difficult-to-deal-with monsters moved into the Valley over time. It's also been a good passage of time since moss has grown on Eldrant's remains (despite nobody looking any older). In fact, Natalia alludes to Luke's coming-of-age ceremony, which might be a clue to how long it's been.
Word of God states that the course of the game took place over a year, and the ending happens two years after that.
If she means Luke, and not Asch, then it's been about 11 whole years, since you come of age at 18 on Eldrant.
Luke might have been seven-years-old, but he still had the physical look of a seventeen-year-old.
11 years for monsters to grow and move into and around Tataroo Valley, since the other side of the creek sported harder monsters to deal with.
If 11 years passed for the monsters to get stronger, wouldn't the characters have gotten stronger too?
It's likely at least part of it was the emotional impact.
Whoa! Sudden topic change!
After all, they last saw Luke when the sun was setting, ie heading into night time.
I don't think people need to be told that sunset means it's going to be nighttime soon.
Feelings themselves are dangerous.
And again with the sudden topic change!
He probably means Tear's feelings on that front, and might feel genuine concern that in the past who-knows-how-much time since Tear lost both of the people she loved most in the world
First, it's been two years, and second, if you're referring to Van and Luke, I think you're forgetting someone.
that she'd give up and just let the monsters destroy her, no matter how low-levelled leveled they are.
You're forgetting that Luke promised Tear that he'd come back. How did you come to the conclusion that she'd be suicidal after losing Van, Luke, and Legretta? Also, most players would be at a high enough level to kick ass.
If you look at her in that scene, she's not acting like her usual tough self,
The "tough self" you're referring to is a soldier's facade. Her true self is the soft side.
and the camera doesn't show her eyes much.
That's only when you're seeing Tear and Mr. Ending across the valley.
She's very sad and vacant,
Sad, maybe, but vacant?
and her movements are rather lethargic until the very end,
Lethargic? I think you have that confused with cautious.
when she starts to run towards Mr Ending over there.
Mr. Ending could've been Asch for all we know. Granted, one source from Namco said Mr Ending was supposed to be Luke before it was changed to be more ambiguous, but who cares? Namco seems to prefer having their fanbases bicker amongst themselves for kicks.
And that was it. Non-sensical stuff that was not the case in canon. I'd like to know where that troper got those ideas, because that's not what I remembered from playing the game.