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Eloquent Conversationalist
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 Posted: Sat Jul 29, 2017 12:22 am
The mechanics and character models/sprites are what most go for in fighting games. Me? I adore a good story. For that reason my favorite series is of course Killer Instinct. That is a really awkward series at first glance, but some really interesting plot hooks exist within there. Unlike many fighting games, the characters all have a specific opponent, and some intertwining story lines. That gets my attention. Sure the dynamic nature of so many characters helps as well. For instance, in the latest version of the game, you had a golem. A massive thing made of plants intertwining with stone and a few remnants of metal. It was granted sentience by a master centuries ago- but that master was betrayed by a sorcerer. That sorcerer became somewhat immortal, so the golem chased him for centuries. That sorcerer is the one that releases the main boss of the game, but also raised another boss-style character with the intent of beating the big-bad. That undead monster turned on him as well, so you have boss-level creations running around with intertwining desires to fight certain people.
of course, then you have the rediculous guest characters from Gears of War and Battletoads (yes, seriously]. At last check, there were three seasons/years of development that resulted in a current roster of 29 unique characters with specific move sets, voice acting, and backstories.
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Posted: Sun Jul 30, 2017 10:04 pm
That's surprising, as the story in most western fighting games is barely existent; anime fighting games are usually much better, but they tend to over-complicate things by rationalizing every fighting combinations and arcade/story route win/loss.
Guest characters are always fun, as are the plot gymnastics needed when justifying their appearance in-universe. The Soul Calibur series usually did a good job of that.
Finally got around to playing Lara Croft and the Guardian of Light (http://store.steampowered.com/app/35130/); it's not a typical Tomb Raider game, b/c it's an isometric dungeon puzzler w/ twin stick shooter combat. as it's made by Crystal Dynamics, I had gotten the Raziel & Kain DLC thinking it was just re-skinning the characters. it does that, but they also changed all the cutscene dialogue, using lines from the LoK & SR games and turning it into a comedy routine to some extent: https://youtu.be/Oxiq-pDbmkE?t=160
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Eloquent Conversationalist
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Posted: Mon Jul 31, 2017 8:22 pm
Dont' get me wrong, the emphasis is heavily on the fighting and combos. It is the nature of this particular beast. This is only exacerbated by the fact that the game is designed to use tropes. Cybernetic killing machine, monster, monk, ninja girl, that sort of thing. Each character is basically a caricature of a trope. The story is well developed as well, but not the focus.
Legacy of Kain mixed with Tomb Raider . . . curious.
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Posted: Fri Aug 04, 2017 3:42 pm
Well, this week certainly ate me. Busy weekend, too...
Oh, yes, fighting games leverage tropes perhaps more strongly than any other video games genre.
It was a fun little bit of DLC.
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Eloquent Conversationalist
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Posted: Sat Aug 05, 2017 1:58 am
Each genre has its tropes, but yeah. Fighting games use them as a crutch. That said, I remember something in a gaming magazine where they tried to deconstruct and make a different form of RP party that I still remember a fair amount of. They had the main character not be the "child of destiny" or suddenly have all sorts of skills. They proposed a main character that was in the military- a reasonable explanation as to how they would know how to fight. Also a good story hook as to how they would get involved in a massive battle.
The magic user had tomes in holsters on her hips on chains- quick deploy/access to her spells. Using tools and ingredients to make spells fire off quickly like bullet belts filled with vials of liquids, and a real rough-housing appearance to her. The idea was to take the vulnerable and back-row caster trope and turn it on its ear.
The only other one I recall was a fighter that used magic to augment himself. He was old- hair had gone completely gray, but he was a muscular behemoth. The hook was what happens when you use strength enhancers for too long? Like steroids, they would have side effects, and he would become dependant on them. I really liked that idea to have the experienced fighter that was dependant on magical charms not only to remain strong as ever but also to keep from withering away at an alarming rate.
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Posted: Tue Aug 08, 2017 8:43 pm
Avoiding the most over-used tropes is usually a good idea.
Ah, I do love battle mage interpretations. My favorite is the full-contact mage, who casts spells at point blank range or as part of unarmed/melee attacks.
That last one brings to mind the shonen anime http://www.crunchyroll.com/my-hero-academia
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Eloquent Conversationalist
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Posted: Tue Aug 08, 2017 8:59 pm
I've been meaning to give that show a go . . . isn't that the one with the frog-girl? Perhaps I am wrong.
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Posted: Wed Aug 09, 2017 3:05 pm
Yes, she's a side character.
I wouldn't say the anime breaks new ground, but it is definitely a point on the slow upward climb of the quality & depth of shonen (yu yu hakusho, hunter x hunter, magi, and this - to name a few).
Also has one of the most enjoyable vegeta/kaiba-level rival thanks to him not being as one-note as he first appears.
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Eloquent Conversationalist
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Posted: Sat Aug 12, 2017 11:25 pm
So, I am into about a third of season two at this point, and must say . . . I enjoy this one. It is superpowers (a thing I truly love), but in a way that is unique. In a world where everybody has superpowers, they are no longer super. As just a normal part of society, this proves an interesting point. The fantastical is commonplace, with the main character burdened by a power that significantly hurts him with each use (at least against inanimate objects). Additionally, as you said, there is the rival situation. He has two, with frenemies as well. I love that he has two main rivals, each with significant motivations while he is learning to control One-For-All.
A really good show thus far. I particularly like the character of All Might- he quite nearly embodies that rogue fantasy lineup I mentioned before. Supreme might and power, but when he overuses it, the power hurts him. When he is not using it, he is frail and sickly. Quite nice.
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Posted: Sun Aug 13, 2017 6:53 pm
Very glad to see you're enjoying it. Season 2 is still airing currently, every Saturday until the end of September. The show takes 6-12 months off between seasons so as to not catch up to the manga.
Yes, All Might is my favorite as well among the generally great cast.
I think you'll like Stein once he shows up.
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Eloquent Conversationalist
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Posted: Tue Aug 15, 2017 5:16 pm
Stein? Do you mean the hero killer "Stain?"
I'm most of the way through what crunchyroll has available. The show is adorable and awesome. Once I'm done with that, I am considering watching a new anime that I have been meaning to. Parasyte.
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Posted: Tue Aug 15, 2017 9:04 pm
Yes.
Parasyte is excellent; though a recent anime, it's adapted from a manga from the 80s. I'm not usually up for gore, but the story is gripping enough that I can look past that; it also brings up and does justice to a few points of philosophy. Ryoko/Reiko is probably my favorite character.
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Eloquent Conversationalist
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Posted: Thu Aug 17, 2017 1:47 am
I just watched the battle with Stain tonight . . . that is part and parcel with how this show is so epic. The battles (despite having superpowers) are reasonably made. You can understand how this might be an actual battle with real consequences. I only have one episode left on Crunchyroll, but I will likely watch it quite soon.
I will bear that in mind, having only the most bare-bones of understanding to the plot. Of course, I could also rewatch Arpeggio of Blue Steel again. Been a while for that one, and it was rather good. Time will tell.
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Posted: Thu Aug 17, 2017 11:37 am
Binging to the point of catching up on a weekly show is always such a drag. Ah, that's one of those ship-girl anime, correct? Never tried watching any of them, but I did enjoy http://www.crunchyroll.com/symphogear
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Eloquent Conversationalist
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Posted: Fri Aug 18, 2017 7:04 pm
It is indeed, and part of what drew me to it was the similarities to a storyline I tried to make a guild for long ago. The show deals with a strange navy of ships that appeared out of nowhere. They appear like traditional vessels, perhaps a bit dated, but are capable of firing lasers and other sci-fi weaponry. The ships are sentient but have no crew. Instead, they have a female avatar- one per ship. It is through that avatar they can communicate, socialize, and interact. At one point the humans of the show flat-out asked why they are all female. The response was that historically ships were always referred to as female. That was it. That's the whole reasoning.
I do not recall much fanservice, but it does begin to border on a harem anime. The plot was decent, and the show had some good points. I enjoyed it on Netflix, so crunchyroll might get a go. That service is quickly becoming my go-to for entertainment lately.
I am tempted to binge My Hero Academia again, looking for more foreshadowing and hints with a second run. Either way, I am one episode into Parasyte now, and it is . . . interesting. In a good way, mind you. I'm hooked and want to see more.
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