CS4: Between Campanella and Mariabell's post-battle chat and the part with McBurn you just finished my mind started melting trying to process the implications lol. My thoughts went down a similar track as Mac's.
LeonhartFour posted...
This is where the concept of Divergent Laws comes from. Sometimes things from beyond this world make it into Zemuria, which screws up the natural order. I guess this would be stuff like Artifacts and the Sept-Terrions. Maybe that's why Ouroboros wants to observe what happens when humans take control of them.
I took it to mean stuff more like the Salt Pale (as Sara notes), whatever McBurn is, the weapons the Grandmaster hands out, etc. I assumed that the Sept-Terrions don't count because they're from Aidios and thus part of the natural order... but you might be on to something here given that the default mode of thinking is just "don't know? attribute to aidios"
LeonhartFour posted...
Gotta say, it's kind of annoying that every boss seems to hit the halfway point right before they break, and then it completely restores their meter.
lmao yes. Though IIRC, even if they're broken the automatic dialogue heals them from break too so it doesn't actually helps as much as you'd think!
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AoT S4E... 8, or what is it 9? Whatever just came out watched. More flashbacks, but this time about what the gang had been up to in the timeskip. You know, that eyecatch about the Marley Scout Ships basically makes it sounds like they just kept sending ships one after another to Paradis with them all disappearing and that feels more like they're run by Zapp Brannigan. like there's gotta be some pattern recognition eventually that it's not working, right?
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xp1337: Don't you wish there was a spell-checker that told you when you a word out?
When we reach the Sanctum of the Empyreal Fortress, it looks like I came up 5 treasure chests short unless there's one more area beyond this, but I doubt it. Oh well, I'd rather miss that many than only be 1 short like with the sidequests, augh. Anyway, before we proceed, Sara gives a speech about how proud she is of Class VII and how it's the best there is, not that there was any doubt. Then Machias pointed out that Rean said the exact same thing before the final trial at the Old Schoolhouse. Sara is distraught because she thought she was being original.
Crow's all like "even I was there for that one," but then it gets him wondering how Sara became a secondary contractor if she wasn't actually there when Rean formed his bond with Valimar. Altina believes it depends on how the Awakener thinks of you, and Rean says Sara's always been one of them, so it makes sense. Before I open the door, the game warns me that there's no going back from here. Also, every party member will take part in the battle and will be split up into three teams, which has me curious as to how this is going to work. We get to make up the three teams, and they'll attack in A, B, C order. Rean is locked into the final party, but everyone else can move around. There's no random option this time, which is disappointing, so I pull up random.org and let it make the final groupings.
Team A: Crow, Sara, Fie, Kurt, Musse Team B: Laura, Ash, Altina, Alisa, Emma Team C: Rean, Gaius, Elliot, Juna, Jusis, Machias
Somehow it's fitting that Jusis and Machias came up last and got paired together one final time. With that decided, Crow puts on a serious tone and thanks Rean for everything. There's so much yaoi bait going on here that Laura's alarm goes off and she turns back to look at them, clearly worried about her future with Rean.
When we enter the room, the chancellor is introduced as Osborne the Ironblooded, the Ebon Awakener. We get to hear the ridiculous phrase THE ALMIGHTY CONFLAGRATION one last time. He says all the conditions for the end have been met, and then he calls for Valimar to bring the Sword of the End to him. I guess he was technically Valimar's previous Awakener if he's Dreichels reborn. Valimar is clearly confused by this development, but Rean tells him to come. Osborne thanks him for looking after Rean.
Then he calls out every member of Class VII by name, although only Sara warrants the formality of being called "Ms. Valestine." He singles out Altina, Juna, and Ash as people he needs to apologize to, but Crow most of all. Crow doesn't really appreciate the sentiment since all he wanted to do was avenge his grandfather. Everyone is kind of surprised at how calm and casual Osborne is being. Rean says even though he became one with the Ebon Knight, his iron will allowed him to retain his personality, so he won't overlook the choices he made that led him to become the enemy of the Empire and the world itself.
Osborne pulls out that big sword we saw at the Black Workshop, and he says it's another Sword of the End that belongs to the Ebon Knight. It wasn't able to slay the Holy Beast though due to "reasons" he doesn't explain. Now it's time to fight him, and Team A is up first. Due to the sheer speed of everyone, Osborne gets one turn before Team B steps up. I learn he's actually vulnerable to Sleep because Ash's first attack inflicts it, what the heck. Then Laura's first attack freezes him, lawl. I thought I was about to run through this phase without him getting a turn, too, but then he hulked up. Oh well, Emma's S-Craft negates his own, and then it's Team C's turn. They have to go the long haul with this one, but it's still not too bad, although I did nearly screw up one time by pulling Rean from the party for Elliot's S-Craft and then everyone got hit by status effects.
After Osborne goes down, it's time for the final Rivalry. Or so it seems, but then Alberich warps in. He says the plan was for the last battle to take place once the war had peaked, so he urges Osborne to wait another day at least. Otherwise, there won't be enough energy for a complete reformation of the Great One. Osborne insists there's enough strife in the world to meet their needs because some wars are waged long before they are fought, which sounds deep.
Osborne switches back and forth between calling himself Giliath Osborne and Emperor Dreichels, lawl. Huh, we have literally the entire party of Panzer Soldats available this time. It's actually kind of a bummer because Musse's EX Art is super useful, oh well! Before the battle, we're given an explanation of the Primordial Flame. It cures all status abnormalities, restores all HP and EP, and it grants 200 CP and 7 BP. Sounds like a last minute desperation move!
The first half of the fight isn't too bad, although I do break him and then he hulks up and undoes it right away. The Ebon Knight's S-Craft is basically the equivalent of Safer Sephiroth's Supernova. I wind up not needing the Primordial Flame, but it was a tough fight. I did have to revive a few times. A wormhole opens up above them, and Rean and Osborne disappear into it. Rean says he's aware that his role as the Sacrifice was just a backup plan, but he doesn't intend to hold anything back. Osborne says he regrets he never got to train Rean himself, and Rean says maybe they'll be reincarnated together sometime somewhere maybe. Then there's a slow motion charge as they prepare for one final clash and then it cuts away to everyone appearing outside the Empyreal Fortress as Valimar emerges carrying Ishmelga.
However, Crow senses something is amiss. Black Alberich also appears and trolls Alisa that she'll never see her father again because he'll disappear along with the Ebon Knight. So, uh, is Osborne dead? There's no sign of him even after Ishmelga vanishes. Valimar says he should be able to break through the atmosphere now that all the powers have converged in him. Ohhhh, he's going to go beyond the bounds of Zemuria, isn't he? Crow and Millium both realize that the malice of the Ebon Knight is out of control. Even with Osborne gone, the curse remains, now inside Rean and Valimar.
Rean says that now that the curse has been torn from its physical form and brought to their plane, this is the only chance to destroy it for good. Everyone gets mad at Rean for having to make literally the only possible choice and beg him not to do it. Essentially they'd rather doom the world, but I mean, emotions run hot in the moment and logic goes out the window, I guess! Crow and Millium choose to come with him. After all, their time is up, too.
It cuts to everyone else outside the fortress as translucent feathers fall from the sky. New Class VII chooses to trust Rean that he'll keep his promise and come back with Crow and Millium. Cut to credits as a bangin' song plays in the background. It's not as good as CS2's (the one ending theme that plays 10 hours before the game actually ends, what an achievement), but I like it.
But wait, there's more! Because I completed the Holy Beast of Earth sidequest, the Path to the Unknown has opened up. Thankfully, I can just restart after the final battle instead of having to do it all again. Since this is a post-final save option, I'm assuming this isn't going to take 10 hours, but let's see! Everything plays out as normal until...Franz Reinford shows up? Ishmelga's hold on him has weakened enough for him to regain his true form. He tells Rean that Osborne never gave up until the very end and said the only way to be rid of the Great One was to isolate its essence in their plane. Because of the blessing of the Holy Beast, he can finish what Osborne started. This is the purpose of the Earthen Prison, apparently.
Valimar says the Great One is nearly complete, so if they're going to seal away Ishmelga, it has to be now. First, they have to remove the stuff that's been entangled in his soul. Everyone has to connect their hearts to Rean, and suddenly, we're in a Persona ending. Rutger and Arianrhod's spirits show up, too. Valimar absorbed their souls when he absorbed their Divine Knights, it seems. Oh hey, Osborne's also here, so yeah, I guess he's dead.
Of course, Ishmelga ain't happy about our attempts to purge him from Rean. who uses the Void to achieve Enlightened Spirit Unification. He manages to cast him out, and I guess we aren't going to get to see what lies beyond Zemuria just yet! Instead we have to fight Ishmelga's astral form, which means we can actually destroy it now. He is Ishmelga Loge, the Great One. Franz says this is only a fraction of the true power the Great One would have if it were fully reformed. Unfortunately, Valimar and Ordine are of no use since the reforming of the Great One drained them of their energy.
Thankfully, all our other allies are able to force their way in just in time to help. Now we have to split everyone into three groups again. Oh hey, randomizing is an option again, but holy crap, there are like 39 different characters to choose from for 24 slots! I'll just do this myself because I don't want to get stuck with the Stahlritter or Xeno and Leo...! Even so, it's hard to fit everyone I'd like to have into here, but them's the breaks. I appreciate how the game just KNOWS you want Aurelia in the main team.
We can swap between the teams at will, which is nice. With the two heads casting reflect on the main part, it feels like I should take them out first. Of course, my only fear is that they can be revived, but we'll give it a try! Oh yeah, they do regenerate, but it seems like you have to do it this way. I'm just glad this dude doesn't hulk up at the halfway point because I actually get to enjoy the benefit of breaking him! Thankfully, I only have to rekill the weird head things once, and eventually Ishmelga goes down. He's kinda pitiful in defeat, too, almost like a child throwing a temper tantrum. He tries to run away, but Rean chases him down with Millium's help.
Ishmelga's all like "isn't strife what drives you guys to innovations and determination and stuff" and Rean's like "yeah maybe, it's kinda our fault you exist, but we don't need you anymore" and uses his Sword of the End to break the other one. Then Osborne's like "mah boi" and Rean's like "yo dad I'm starting to see the family resemblance." And then they laugh together over the fact that they're always willing to sacrifice themselves for what they believe is the greater good (although Osborne goes well beyond just self-sacrifice, but I guess we're ignoring that to enjoy this heartwarming moment...!).
With that, Rean returns to the real world (I guess I'm not sure I can even call it that anymore! Darn you, Trails) as Ouroboros is beating a hasty retreat, and the Great Twilight is gone. However, this doesn't mean the war is over, but in brighter news, Rean's hair returns to its original color, a sign he's free from the curse. Back to bad news, Crow is beginning to fade away, but he doesn't want them to be sad because they knew this was coming. This also means Millium's time is up since the Sword of the End was created for fulfilling the Rivalries. Rean gives the sword to Jusis as a keepsake.
But then Valimar says this isn't a fate they need to accept, and he calls for all the other Divine Knights to gather together one final time. Now that the Great One has been defeated, they've all been separated again, and they're no longer under the influence of the Ebon Knight's curse. Oh, and in other news, Franz Reinford is beginning to fade away as well. He became an immortal when Black Alberich took over his body. He has one final gift for Alisa, and he tells the Divine Knights to run the Sacrament Program of the Sept-Terrion of Earth. Then Roselia appears and tells the Divine Knights to run the Sacrament Program of the Sept-Terrion of Fire. I guess the Sept-Terrions are now usable again since the Great One is gone.
Lloyd recognizes this power, as does KeA. She says it's a super magnified version of the power she used to heal Shizuku. The Divine Knights are able to "undo" Crow being an immortal and put him back into a normal body. Apparently, this was the final miracle of the Sept-Terrions, so Millium goes to sleep, and the Divine Knights begin fading away. So I guess this means two more Sept-Terrions have disappeared? The Divine Knights have fulfilled their purpose, which was to contain the power of the Great One, so they have no place in this world. Franz tells us to visit the biological wing of the Black Workshop and bring the Sword of the End with us, and with that, they're all gone.
Claire, Lechter, and Rufus discuss the logistical problems of halting Operation Jormungandr so suddenly. I feel like this game is treating Osborne like he's Lelouch, becoming the world's enemy in order to save it or some crap. Elsewhere, Cedric has decided to join Ouroboros, believing it would be best for him to simply disappear from Erebonia, not to mention he's looking forward to the freedom afforded to Enforcers. What are the odds he shows up in the Calvard arc?
Six months later, Rean recaps the events following the end of the Great Twilight for us. An armistice was declared between Operation Jormungandr and Operation Mille Mirage on the second day of the war. It was announced that Emperor Eugent would retake the throne, as well as declaring that Calvard had nothing to do with the assassination attempt. Naturally, the other countries around them didn't really like all this news. As such, Governor Regnitz filled in the authority gap and ordered all Erebonian troops to immediately return to the Empire. There were fears Calvard would retaliate, but they seemed happy enough knowing they didn't have to fight this war anymore.
However, outgoing President Rocksmith caved to public pressure to demand reparations, so Erebonia was forced to negotiate. One of its terms was that Calvard not invade Crossbell, and Liberl, Remiferia, and Arteria backed them up on this. With that, negotiations between Crossbell and Erebonia began. In an odd twist, Rufus's personal defense force refused to surrender, even as he condemned the actions from prison. I guess it was to provide an opportunity for the SSS (in conjunction with the Guardian Force) to save the day. Then Alfin and Olivert managed to quell another civil war at home in the wake of Osborne's death.
Crossbell's independence stirred up talks of North Ambria and Jurai gaining their own independence as well, but I guess that's TBD. The Bracer Guild was also allowed to reopen in Erebonia. Oh, and they reincarnate Millium, and Rean is wearing his white coat again. During the credits, we see Class VII at a royal wedding between Olivert and Schera.
CS4: Epstein can be some other Anguis. Nielsen or bust for First Anguis. He's so goddamn shady that the sheer level of suspect activity is somehow the only possible out for him to not be an Anguis.
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xp1337: Don't you wish there was a spell-checker that told you when you a word out?
CS4: Epstein can be some other Anguis. Nielsen or bust for First Anguis. He's so goddamn shady that the sheer level of suspect activity is somehow the only possible out for him to not be an Anguis.
it makes sense for Epstein to be first if he set this whole thing in motion. Nielsen can be Fourth or Fifth. I don't think we know their names yet.
CS4/Anguis/Enforcers: Yeah, First, Fourth, and Fifth are still the mystery Anguis. We know the Fourth talks like Lechter in terms of speech pattern, but given the Fourth was also part of Sharon's assassin organization that all but rules out it actually being Lechter. The Fifth Anguis has long been speculated to be someone with knowledge of the Gralsritter's activity and talks in a manner consistent with an older man. Barkhorn was a popular suspect before CS3. I don't know what to make of Epstein yet, but someone (I think Mac?) mentioned that timewise it lines up with McBurn pretty well though.
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xp1337: Don't you wish there was a spell-checker that told you when you a word out?
CS4/Anguis/Enforcers: Nielsen has the same VA as the First Anguis, so he seems likely to be the First Anguis.
Epstein = McBurn is a theory I've seen a few people talk about. Lines up along the time the Orbal Revolution happened, and I like it since you don't usually think of a guy like McBurn when you think scientist.
The Grandmaster looks similar to a certain picture in Azure, but that could be coincidental. She's also on the front cover of Hajimari! ---
absolutely blazed through AoT this weekend. we're now 2 episodes into S3.
at the beginning of the season we kind of jokingly predicted reiner to be either the colossal or armored titan. never thought he'd actually out himself! we were also wrong about predicting levi to be a titan.
information is definitely slow-rolling, and now it looks like we're spending an entire arc with human politics, if the OP is to be mostly trusted.
leaving us with that cliffhanger of the beast titan is also kind of dirty - we saw so little of him later in S2, and we haven't heard more about the titans in the walls at all! ---
yet all azuarc of all sorts are more or less capricious and unreliable - they live in the varying outer weather, and they inhale its fickleness
CS4/Anguis/Enforcers: Nielsen has the same VA as the First Anguis, so he seems likely to be the First Anguis.
Epstein = McBurn is a theory I've seen a few people talk about. Lines up along the time the Orbal Revolution happened, and I like it since you don't usually think of a guy like McBurn when you think scientist.
The Grandmaster looks similar to a certain picture in Azure, but that could be coincidental. She's also on the front cover of Hajimari!
McBurn is an interesting choice to be Epstein, but he also doesn't seem like the type of guy to have the patience to be a scientist or have an alter ego! I could see McBurn being Epstein's "source material," so to speak. Or I guess it was possible he WAS Epstein before mixing with the Overlord from the Beyond and thus he'd have forgotten he was Epstein.
finished AOT S3E10 yesterday. finally getting questions answered is pretty great. want to know more about grisha of course - he looks a lot like the beast titan. and the beast titan makes a return appearance!
this show has really impressed a lot after its initial bit. armin and eren still kind of suck, but they've put in so much world-building and really built out the cast.
is this manga still ongoing? ---
yet all azuarc of all sorts are more or less capricious and unreliable - they live in the varying outer weather, and they inhale its fickleness
The anime finishes in a couple weeks. There's a reasonable amount of content it won't adapt - I've heard 6 episodes worth or so? Some suspect it'll get a movie to finish up (probably next year?). ---
I've heard some people think movie and others think we might get another "Part 2" split season.
Also I didn't know VNs were on the menu or would I have made, and gotten shot down, on recommending Chaos;Child again. DRV3 not a terrible choice though. I didn't really have recs because at this point I'm basically all RPGs and VNs and I thought that wasn't what you wanted lol. >_>
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xp1337: Don't you wish there was a spell-checker that told you when you a word out?
In other Falcom news, beat Ys 9 yesterday. Best Falcom game since Ys 8! Ys 8 was better, mostly because it was a bit more of a cohesive experience, but this was still excellent, with some very cool gameplay innovations. Every game with open world/exploring should have advanced movement stuff that makes you go way faster IMO. ---
Speaking of which, finished World 1 in Super Mario 3D World!
Yeah, this game definitely has potential, although I'm having a hard time with precision jumps here, particularly when I'm trying to stomp on enemies. It'll probably come with time. The cat powerup is still weird to me, but being able to climb walls does add to the possibilities when it comes to level design. For something small, I really like how the world map is laid out.
As for the game overall, I really enjoyed it. Act 2 felt like it was never going to end, but other than that, I didn't mind the pacing despite the size of the game as a whole. Gameplay was fun, but it's basically more of the same at this point. I'm looking forward to what the Calvard arc is going to do based on the videos they released the other day. As far as the story is concerned, I was mostly satisfied with how everything played out, and they definitely have me excited about the next arc of the series based on the major plot bomb setups they dropped here.
Game rankings: Sky SC > Cold Steel III > Cold Steel IV > Sky FC > Cold Steel I > Zero > Cold Steel III > Sky the 3rd
I think? The top four are pretty set in stone, but I feel like I could rotate the bottom four at any given moment based on my mood at the time. I like them all though!
Now it's time for the definitive Trails of Cold Steel character rankings. I thought about doing full series rankings, but I'll save that until I finish Azure. I'm also going to omit the Sky and Crossbell crews from these rankings (Except Olivert since he's too important to this arc to leave out) and limit it just to Cold Steel.
Class VII: Rean > Altina > Jusis > Laura > Emma > Juna > Fie > Ash > Sara > Kurt > Crow > Musse > Alisa > Millium > Machias > Gaius > Elliot
Most improved in CS4: Musse for being a real character and not just a constant Rean flirting machine
Branch campus: Freddy > Maya > Pablo > Valerie > Leonora > Stark > Jessica > Wayne > Tatiana > Sandy > Sidney > Gustaf > Kairi > Louise
Thors Network: Towa > Patrick > Beryl > Emily > Edel > Becky > Kenneth > Vivi > Mint > Michael > Ferris > Alan > Vincent > Bridget > Theresia > Munk > Linde > Hugo > Fritz > George > Margarita > Ada > Rex > Dorothee > Angelica
Hmm...The controls honestly feel a bit better in handheld mode. Either way, I'm enjoying myself so far. Good level variety, and they do a good job balancing free roaming and platforming. The cherry powerup was a pretty fun gimmick, too.
Probably a bit less latency in handheld than in docked.
Variety is one of the best things about 3D World. They try a lot of different things and dont overuse the gimmicks. Most youll only see 2-3 times through the entire game.
