(Actually, after playing through it again last year, I didn't think Symphonia's story was all that amazing. Some of the messages were pretty cool, yes. But what won me over about ToS was the characters. I greatly enjoyed the characters you control; my respect for Kratos increased as I saw his "trying to be the father he never was" angle, and though I've realized Lloyd's somewhat emo, at least he's confident and even a little badass, unlike the pathetic Luke fon Fabre of Abyss. I only wish Presea and Regal had been given a little more time in the group, because you don't get as much time to know them as the rest of the cast. Otherwise, they're all awesome.
A lot of the rest of the cast was pretty cool too; the only ones I didn't like were the stupid Chocolat (why'd the Desians let her live?
gonk ) and the Desian Grand Cardinals (except Forcystus, who is one of those characters that says little but stays awesome).
Otherwise... yeah, Mithos was trying to end discrimination, but his method of doing so demanded too high a price--making everyone the same would basically ruin all meaning in life. Lloyd at least believes that if he can't stop all discrimination, he can at least stop enough of it so that everyone can get along.
But you guys probably don't want to hear me ramble forever on ToS versus FE7, huh?
razz If I can say one more thing, it's that the only game I've seen that's ToS' equal in terms of characters and character development, it's Fire Emblem: Path of Radiance.
Anyway.
Brian Dawkins: *Appears in a puff of green smoke.* Greetings, Greil's Mercenaries, and congratulations over your victory over Nergal.
Ike: Whoa! Brian Dawkins, right? Er... how'd you get here all of a sudden?
Dawkins: Eh, I graduated from Hogwarts a few years ago. Of course, to avoid copyright issues, J.K. Rowling called me "Harry Potter". None of her stuff about Harry is true about me, either. 'Cept that he can use magic.
Ike: ...Dubious, but in any case, you're here to tell us how to defeat Greil, right?
Dawkins: Indeed. As you know, Greil is from an alternate universe. What you may not have realized is that it's actually very difficult to transfer to another universe. Other than the Philadelphia Eagles, there are very few organizations known to us that have the power to bring people into this universe. How Vader managed to bring Greil over, we do not know.
Soren: Is there any way to defeat Greil?
Dawkins: Actually... no and yes. According to the Law of Universal Death, each and every person dies in his or her own universe. Failure to do so would be catastrophic--a person who dies in another universe creates a logical paradox, because although the person was born, he never died in his universe of origin. This poses no problem for the universe of origin, because its logic matrix doesn't necessarily have to document the person's death--it's only done so for record-keeping purposes. However, for the universe the person transferred to, it's a recorded death for a person who logically should never have existed.
Soren: Which means that the universal logic matrix would have a paradox on its hands... I take it, then, that killing Greil is out because...
Dawkins: Because the paradox would consume the universal logic matrix. The only way to save it would be a temporary shutdown, but during that time, there would be no logic to govern the universe.
Soren: And when all hell breaks loose, the universe becomes as nothing until the logic matrix comes back on. But by then, it'll be too late. Then we must somehow remove Greil from this universe. But how?
Dawkins: It's a strange method. Only Adam West himself understands it. ...You must get Greil to say his name backwards.
Soren: Well, this universe is screwed!
Gatrie: And not in the giant orgy kind of way!
Dawkins: Exactly. I won't say it's easy, but it's our only chance.
Shinon: Hey, wait a second. You just said that the universe is basically in peril, right? So wouldn't this now fall under your jurisdiction?
Dawkins: Believe you me, Shinon. We are always on guard against threats to the universe. But if we were the only ones defending everything against everything, that doesn't show that others are so willing to step up to defend what is theirs, now, does it? It's like a penalty on the other team: It's okay to receive help from them, but sooner or later you have to learn to stand on your own feet.
Shinon: Now I get it! Hmm... alright, fine! But when we go to the Death Star and beat the (beep) out of Vader, everyone, my name goes in the headlines on the front page!
Ike: Okay then, our path is clear and our subquests are done! Greil's Mercenaries... TAKE A BREAK! And then when the time comes...
MOOOOOOOOVE OOOOOOOOOUUUUUUUUUT!!!
