|
Pretty sure wolves are the only palette swap enemy we'll see for the most part because I remember most enemy designs being screwed up.
|
#
?
Jul 2, 2018 22:58
|
|
|
|
| # ? Apr 27, 2024 23:14 |
|
|
The Dark Id posted:
I don't think that's supposed to be a picture of Yuri's line.
|
|
#
?
Jul 3, 2018 00:29
|
|
.jpg)
|
Speedball posted:Pretty sure wolves are the only palette swap enemy we'll see for the most part because I remember most enemy designs being screwed up. There are a few more palette swaps, but SH on the whole is pretty good about adding slightly different textures or shapes - not so much this game, but definitely in the sequels. Although this one still has a nice variety of enemies. And probably some of the more interestingly hosed up ones too.
|
|
#
?
Jul 3, 2018 06:45
|
|
|
I like that Yuri's reaction to learning there's more guys behind all this out there is basically "hell yeah let's gently caress 'em up!"
|
|
#
?
Jul 3, 2018 16:07
|
|
|
Nohman posted:I like that Yuri's reaction to learning there's more guys behind all this out there is basically "hell yeah let's gently caress 'em up!" Yuri's like 90% sure he's the protagonist in a video game and acts accordingly.
|
|
#
?
Jul 3, 2018 19:06
|
|
|
I really need to know Roger Bacon's skincare routine because hot drat....jpg) .jpg) Is it like a lotion I can buy or something? It seems legit.
|
|
#
?
Jul 3, 2018 21:06
|
|
|
Knowing Shadow Hearts the lotion is made from the tears of orphans mixed with the blood of a priest killed on the first full moon of a leap year.
|
|
#
?
Jul 3, 2018 21:27
|
|
|
EagerSleeper posted:I really need to know Roger Bacon's skincare routine because hot drat... Clothes maketh the man.
|
|
#
?
Jul 3, 2018 21:54
|
|
|
Crowetron posted:Yuri's like 90% sure he's the protagonist in a video game and acts accordingly. Is there a chance any of the writers for this game went on to work on NIS? Cause the Disgaea and Neptunia series sure love saying "Boy we sure know we're in a JRPG!"
|
|
#
?
Jul 3, 2018 21:59
|
|
|
I hope not, that'd be quite the fall from grace (Neptunia especially).
|
|
#
?
Jul 3, 2018 22:00
|
|
|
Yuri is more genre savvy without being an insufferable four wall breaking rear end about it.
|
|
#
?
Jul 3, 2018 22:03
|
|
|
The Dark Id posted:Yuri is more genre savvy without being an insufferable four wall breaking rear end about it. that's pretty much it, he's not 'we're in a video game', more 'Chances are if we see some demons, there'll be more, bigger demons to punch'
|
|
#
?
Jul 3, 2018 22:12
|
|
|
HR12345 posted:Is there a chance any of the writers for this game went on to work on NIS? Cause the Disgaea and Neptunia series sure love saying "Boy we sure know we're in a JRPG!" Those series were designed and written to be self-aware parodies from the start, of course they do that. Comparing them to Shadow Hearts is a real apples and oranges deal.
|
|
#
?
Jul 3, 2018 22:13
|
|
|
I read strong implications that this game is not Yuri's first adventure, so I'd expect even somebody not particularly bright like our protagonist to pick up some experience on how this kind of rodeo goes and how to recognize the warning signs. Although on the latter point his Mysterious VoiceTM is a bit of a cheat. I don't know if expanded material expanded on this, but from his chat with the masks I can see a previous adventure, roughly with the same scope as Koudelka, where the masks are the main villains and he defeats them but without managing to fully exorcise them so the four assholes set up shop in his soul in revenge. E: and while I like Disgaea it's way too different to be compared to Shadow Hearths and someone please bring an exorcist in the thread for the other comparison thanks. Omobono fucked around with this message at 22:32 on Jul 3, 2018 |
|
#
?
Jul 3, 2018 22:30
|
|
|
Let me contribute some translation trivia. Actually, at this point, I understand the pain of the translators. Some terminology is used from mythology, Buddism, history, that is quite hard for someone who haven't studied it. You may recognize some Indian and Chinese terms in English localization based on the common knowledge, but in Japanese these sound different. So to translate these one needs to study these terms from scratch in Japanese, and learn what characters are used to represent them. Also, as a common subject in Japanese schools, there are "Chinese literature" (I understand that Japanese teens need to read classical Chinese short texts" and "old Japanese" (Japanese language before reforms, very unlike it is now). If you know these, and Shinto mythology, understanding the Japanese version of the Shadow Hearts would be easier. You would also know when the word is made up, and when it isn't. Even for native Japanese, since this knowledge is not used too much in everyday life (except for videogames), it is easily forgotten after graduation. And a common Japanese person would struggle reading Shadow Hearts too, I believe. The Dark Id posted:A Yama (the raja part is an honorific denoting a king/lord) is a deity from Buddhist mythology that judges the dead. His Japanese title is Enma-O: Sui Gaku which is the Japanese take on the original Hindu concept for a creature we're fighting in China... Sui Gaku part means “harvest” not “earth” that’s just a straight up translation gently caress-up as you’ll see shortly. The Dark Id posted:Much like it is not an Earth elemental despite the name, it also doesn’t have a kick attack of any sort... I have no idea what that description is talking about. Perhaps Yamaraja can cast some low-key anti-localization spell. Harvest, really? Well, no online dictionary had told me so. Google search for this word in Japanese leads only to Shadow Hearts pages. Maybe it means something in other languages that also use Japanese. But then, in the Japanese description of the enemy, it says: "Sui Gaku" is a "Nou Eki" that governs harvest. "Nou Eki" is a term I can't decipher yet. Then it says its 'legs-hips' are strong, using a very uncommon "legs-hips" combination word. The Dark Id posted:I didn’t say that second part, but OK... Here Zhuzhen used scholarly terms for "Ancient Japan", "God-people", "Fusion", and his speech bubble used Chinese characters for these. Yuri repeats only terms, using the transcriptions for these. It probably means he didn't even know the official term for "Fusion" yet, and skipped classes in middle school. Concerning his name, "Yuri" is a common name in Russia, used a lot even now. "Urmanov" is a surname. It is probably made up, based on a famous "Romanov" surname.
|
|
#
?
Jul 3, 2018 22:38
|
|
|
Omobono posted:I read strong implications that this game is not Yuri's first adventure, so I'd expect even somebody not particularly bright like our protagonist to pick up some experience on how this kind of rodeo goes and how to recognize the warning signs. Although on the latter point his Mysterious VoiceTM is a bit of a cheat.
|
|
#
?
Jul 4, 2018 00:40
|
|
|
"Looks like destiny was bringing us together... well, bye!" I suppose that if you really believe you're destined for something, you run from it, and if it finds you again it really was destiny.
|
|
#
?
Jul 4, 2018 01:32
|
|
|
Omobono posted:I don't know if expanded material expanded on this, but from his chat with the masks I can see a previous adventure, roughly with the same scope as Koudelka, where the masks are the main villains and he defeats them but without managing to fully exorcise them so the four assholes set up shop in his soul in revenge. It certainly sounds like part of his whole job class technique is letting demon spirits inside himself to use their power, so if those 4 masks are the remnants of his first 4 kills, then I could see that being significant enough to do something special in this sort of world. I imagine if Yuri were on the magic priest side or just some punchy normal dude like Edward was, then it wouldn't be an issue. Crowetron posted:Clothes maketh the man. The Tuxedo of Dapperdom: made from silk threads harvested from holy silk worms by monks at a sacred Buddhist temple, spun into thread by a hundred virgin nuns at the Vatican, and finally knitted together by a Jewish tailor who was surrounded by an actively singing choir. The tophat and shoes have equally fancy pedigrees. Or that level of thing but evil if you're figuring it's more of a demonic deal. Maybe a mix of the two. The Dark Id posted:we are reward with a Star Brooch for defeating the Yamaraja
|
|
#
?
Jul 4, 2018 02:21
|
|
|
Glazius posted:"Looks like destiny was bringing us together... well, bye!"
|
|
#
?
Jul 4, 2018 03:10
|
|
|
Glazius posted:"Looks like destiny was bringing us together... well, bye!" Zhuzhen's been at this long enough to know that destiny's a real motherfucker and it's best to run away if you think it's involved.
|
|
#
?
Jul 4, 2018 04:47
|
|
|
Night10194 posted:Knowing Shadow Hearts the lotion is made from the tears of orphans mixed with the blood of a priest killed on the first full moon of a leap year. Also it's available in every shop, market stall, and anachronistic vending machine from here to Wales for like 20 bucks.
|
|
#
?
Jul 4, 2018 04:55
|
|
|
At least this means we won't have to go to Wales to get this stuff.
|
|
#
?
Jul 4, 2018 05:14
|
|
|
Nimsant posted:Let me contribute some translation trivia. Good write-up. Out of curiosity, do you have a Japanese script for the game and the descriptions somewhere?
|
|
#
?
Jul 4, 2018 08:21
|
|
|
Kanfy posted:Out of curiosity, do you have a Japanese script for the game and the descriptions somewhere? No, I played along using a Japanese version
|
|
#
?
Jul 4, 2018 10:50
|
|
|
Nimsant posted:Here Zhuzhen used scholarly terms for "Ancient Japan", "God-people", "Fusion", and his speech bubble used Chinese characters for these. Lmao at Zhuzhen saying "fusion," while Yuri responds in turn, "Fyoo...zen? What the gently caress?".
|
|
#
?
Jul 5, 2018 00:27
|
|
|
Yuri is just a really fun character. He has a scene with one of the villains in one of these games and it is one or my favourite exchanges in a JRPG ever.
|
|
#
?
Jul 5, 2018 20:52
|
|
|
Shadow Hearts II is a master class in how to write protagonist snark. The exchange in Idar Flamme is something I can quote from memory.
|
|
#
?
Jul 5, 2018 23:15
|
|
|
One thing I love especially about 2 is that it has a bit of the spirit of Koudelka in regards to party makeup (though it does only last until the 3rd or 4th party member joins) in that the initial group really don't get along well.
|
|
#
?
Jul 6, 2018 00:14
|
|
|
 Episode X: Get Alice Elliot!  Music: Blow Up .jpg) Our adventures in the Plains and Zhaoyang Village have come to a close. Fengtian is our next destination. But if you’ll recall we have some business back in the Graveyard. So let’s hop over there for a spell before we properly depart. Music: Graveyard Moon .jpg) Yep... Still a creepy graveyard. You may notice one of the gravestones is now glowing. Let’s take a closer look at that. .jpg) Since we leveled up the Wind Element’s Soul Power Level fighting jobbers back in Zhaoyang Village, we now have the option to go fight a Fusion monster and have Yuri claim a new transformation. These should always be a priority to go fight and claim as soon as they’re available. .jpg) Music: Brain Hopper .jpg) For the most part, Fusion monster battles are just stomp matches, especially early on in the game. This one is no exception. This Harpy looking critter is Tornado. All the Fusion boss battles have stats that scale with Yuri’s current level, which is why they’re mostly jokes early in the game. You can only scale that so high when linked with a guy who is barely breaking the triple digits in hit points. .jpg) .jpg) Since Tornado is an Wind elemental, our old method of flinging rocks at foes will be all the more effective here. Indeed, only three casts and its days are numbered. But at least that’s enough turns that it actually gets to attack back more than once. .jpg) It decides to burn one of these available turns casting Falcon, which ups its Agility +15. You’re gonna have to spend those extra turns on doing some offensive attack, bub. Your time is quickly running dry, even with the boost... .jpg) .jpg) Wind Shear is the only other attack Tornado managed to fire off. We’ve seen this a couple times already. But this version manages to at least do around 35-40 HP of damage. If it had done that twice in a row maybe that would be something to get worried about. Alas... .jpg) .jpg) This fight did not end in Tornado’s favor. We’ll just be relieving you of your soul now, pal. Stealing souls is always a heroic effort. Music: Graveyard Moon .jpg) You’ve received Soul of Tornado! .jpg) .jpg) I’m glad they felt the need to have two different notifications we’ve ripped out that monster’s soul and claimed it for our own. In any case, we now have our Wind element Fusion. This one ups:
.jpg) While we’re in the neighborhood, defeating bosses does yield a sizable amount of Malice. We’ve made it to Green Level following Yamaraja’s defeat. So let’s sort that out while we’re here and maybe test out our new Fusion. Music: Brain Hopper .jpg) Evil 3 is our opponent for today. It’s a gross little snake demon gremlin thing. Much like the Fusion bosses, the Malice meter foes are also based on Yuri’s current stats and scale with ‘em. So they’re not too troubling, other than Fox Face. .jpg) .jpg) No better time to give Tornado a spin. I didn’t intend that pun but I’m noticing it now and am deeply disturbed to see it has manifested.  A couple rounds of physical attacks are all we need to slay this jobber, even if Tornado isn’t the beefiest owl boy in town. I do like that it seems like Yuri has no idea how to control a big, cumbersome man-bird and is just flailing wildly and hoping for the best. .jpg) Evil 3’s only method of attack seems to be sliding over and attempting to bite Yuri. However his owl boy agility is more than a match for the wee snake lad’s poor accuracy. .jpg) It goes poorly for him. Thus our Malice is once more wiped away. .jpg) Our Malice reset reward this time around is a Seal of Speed. The description makes it sound as though it’s just an Agility buff or something but no. This is actually a rare, single use item that permanently raises a character’s Agility by one point. So we’re actually quite lucky getting this. There are only like three guaranteed drops of this particular seal in the game. We’ll probably give this one to Yuri since more punching soon is always good. Also Alice still has very low Sanity Points. So her gaining more turns a battle is a bit detrimental early in the game. Music: Blow Up (Map) .jpg) All that aside, we can now exit the Graveyard and select our next location on the world map -- Fengtian. Keep in mind the distances between locations are... rather interpretive and not meant to be exacting. Otherwise it seems Alice and Yuri walked a couple hundred kilometers across the Plains to get to Zhaoyang Village before walking the same distance back to make it to Fengtian. I don’t think that was the case... New Music: Army Tunes .jpg) We’re actually going to see very little of Fengtian during this update. Instead, we’ll mostly be checking on a couple of new characters who may or may not be future antagonists. Our first scene brings us back to the aftermath of the scene on the Trans-Siberian Express. .jpg)  You there. What were they escorting, anyway? A man-eating tiger? No, ma’am. Alice Elliot. Caucasian female. Approximately twenty years old. <nods> Yes. That’s how I recall her as well. However, I don’t see a body here of that description. Am I to assume the girl killed all these men? I… I never imagined a human being could… kill like this… It’s horrible… That one soldier’s head was twisted around 180 degrees. That’s going to keep me up at night, ma’am... <steps forward and inspects body> Major Tsuji… After your exploits in Changchun, did you ever suspect you’d captured a monster? Hmph. If soldiers of the Imperial Army can’t bring in one little girl, they don’t deserve to live. Sigh. I was so looking forward to bringing a worthy souvenir back to Tokyo for father. What a waste. <look at feet> And now I need a new pair of shoes. What a mess... <running in> Lt. Colonel! Lt. Colonel Kawashima! We have a witness!  .jpg) What kind of man? Someone from the Anti-Japanese Movement, perhaps? No, ma’am… It seems he was a Western gentleman. He was described as, and I quote, “extraordinarily dapper.” … And there was another man, as well. Another one, you say? Yes, ma’am. A wiry youth. Again quoting, ma’am, he had the look of a “Rude Hero” of sorts. He seemed to be following the first man… Apparently, they both headed off in the direction of the salon car..jpg) Does this mean he had help? A foreign gentleman and a youth… Hmm. A strange combination. There were also reports of footsteps on the roof. But scuffles of that nature are a common occurrence on these train lines and it could be unrelated. <looks up> There IS a hole in the ceiling here... What are your orders, ma’am? Take care of the bodies. Have them sent to the Capital. I recall the Major saying his six-year-old granddaughter couldn’t wait for Grandpa to come home… The girl will surely shed tears of joy when she finds out he’s returning earlier than expected. <stands at attention> Yes, ma’am! <stands at attention> That is really dark, ma’am. I don’t believe asked your opinion on my tact, private... M-ma’am! Place troops in Fengtian and surrounding cities! Heh. We must use this chance to crush all the vile little termites that have infested our Utopia. <stands at attention> Yes, ma’am!The two soldiers march off. .jpg) Now I see why that wizened old demon in Shanghai was so hell-bent. Heh! Beware, old man… As the hawk in flight snatches its prey away from the wolf on the ground, I mean to have that girl! <laughs>New Music: Misfortune - Psycho Temple (Hey it’s the villain boys theme! Listen to it!) b.jpg) Speaking of a wizened old demon in Shanghai, we now shift focus to Villainy Pagoda, Shanghai where a Chinese sorcerer is clearly doing some dirt. He is interrupted by our old pal Roger Bacon warping onto the scene. Roger Bacon can teleport, by the way. It’s actually one of the more common powers he uses. .jpg)  Heh heh, perhaps I’m getting rusty. Have I somehow summoned you here by mistake? <turns to Bacon> …It’s been fifteen years, Roger Bacon!.jpg)  Master Dehuai, Fallen Ruler of the Nine Heavens, Earth Sage. <waves a dismissal> I see you are still wearing that pasted-on smile. You have too much time on your hands, you infectious plague. What brings you to Shanghai? Surely not simply to pay me a visit? I’m afraid I’m all out of spare cots for unexpected guests to spend the night. <laughs> …Heh heh. No, say nothing, I already know. <shrugs> Indeed. I’ve found myself at a loss in this strange land, and I’m afraid I’ve made a slight blunder. An unforeseen meddler has entered the game, and my little bird is still outside her cage… Quite the rude boy. I had to go acquire a new pair of gloves after our encounter. Heh heh heh… How unlike you, to make excuses! You need not apologize for going behind my back and abducting the girl; indeed, I suspected you would. <laughs> Come now, there’s no need to be so severe. I was merely indulging myself in a small divertissement. With your grand ceremony drawing near, you needn’t deal with minor trifles. I thought I’d lend a hand. <steps forward> Hah! You jest! Out of the goodness of your heart to aid an... old friend... you decided, on a fanciful whim, to raid a Japanese Army occupied train in the middle of rural Manchuria in the dead of night. When my actions are laid out in such a manner it appears as more trouble than it actually was, I assure you. Are you telling me you would have delivered me the girl upon her capture? Why, of course. The progress of your secret ceremony is of great interest to me, Master Dehuai. If this girl called Alice truly is the key to the ritual, I will do everything within my power to help.  <shakes head> A sly old fox, you are…b.jpg) <begins pacing> I’ve taken the liberty of sealing up the Protector of the North, the Black Tortoise of Zhaoyang Village. It would have stood in the way of the rituals… but that no longer matters. The Spirit Machine of Kuihai Tower is finally operational! I can now focus entirely on finding the girl! Well, well. I look forward to seeing the great sage himself in action. So then, have you discovered the girl’s whereabouts? I’m afraid we parted ways and I lost track of her aboard the train. You teleported into this very chamber. Did that ability slip your mind then? Perhaps it did. So the girl...? <nods> Of course. I have eyes everywhere on the continent. Heh… Very well, I’ll tell you. …She’s in Fengtian. Fengtian… Hasn’t the Japanese army set up operations there? Hmm… I can’t imagine how they caught wind of it, but it seems they lie in wait for the girl as well..jpg) They present little threat, save for a bothersome fly named Kawashima that’s been snooping about. The girl is already mine. Heh heh heh… Splendid. I’ll be off to Fengtian, then.  Are you for real right now? You’re not even going to try to deny your interference. Just blatant dickery? Now, now. Language... <shrugs> Please, don’t concern yourself with me. I haven’t got any intention of getting in your way, good sage. I’d simply like to observe your technique from afar. For future reference, you see. Very well then. <turns and begins walking away> Hmph, do as you please…Roger stops and turns back to Dehuai. .jpg) Even stranger, he’s a Harmonixer, a master of fusion. Perhaps “master” is a stretch of the term. Still... capable enough of fusion... What?! Fusion?! Are you absolutely certain?! <nods> I’m afraid so. You yourself have substantial blood connection to the Harmonixer line, do you not? I’d rather not see a repeat of the events of fifteen years ago. Please, be wary… <turns to leave> You wouldn’t want to lose the half of your body that remains. …Ah, that was uncalled for. Forgive me..jpg) <warps out of the room> Gah... What a DICK!.jpg) <turns to altar> Listen well, minions in Fengtian! That fraud of a warlock is headed for your city! Do not be outwitted! You see a westerner old man that even vaguely could be described as “dapper gentleman” or “rich old dick” you attack immediately! I shall be most disappointed should you fail to capture a single heretic girl! I shan’t allow anyone to stand in the way of the Demon’s Gate Invocation… Our success or failure depends entirely on that girl, Alice Elliot!!Meanwhile... New Music: Coffee With Bullet (That’s just a cool rear end name for a song. Also it’s extremely chill!) b.jpg)  Ugh… Morning already? At least we got a little rest. Zzz… Zzz… <looks at Alice> Even after all that crap that went down, she walked all night. Pretty impressive… for a girl, I mean. …I think I’ll let her sleep a little longer. I really gotta ask her if she’s got that narcolepsy thing or something. I have no idea how anyone can flop over dead asleep immediately on a park bench.A puppy runs over and starts barking at Yuri. .jpg) Hmph. Y’are pretty cute, I guess, you dumb mutt..jpg)  .jpg) .jpg) …OW! What is it, you mutt?! <groggily stands back up> <growl>.jpg) Why indeed? Tune in next time as we begin our time in Fengtian proper, pet a dog or two and potentially meet a new party member as Shadow Hearts continues!    Video: Episode 10 Highlight Reel   Tornado Fusion Render – The Owlboy has become an Owlman. The Dark Id fucked around with this message at 16:39 on Jul 7, 2018 |
|
#
?
Jul 7, 2018 01:12
|
|
|
Kawashima is actually our first character based on a historical figure in this game aside from Roger. The series really ramps up the historical characters in Covenant and FTNW, but there will be some more in this game. Accordion Man fucked around with this message at 01:41 on Jul 7, 2018 |
|
#
?
Jul 7, 2018 01:30
|
|
|
So that update was filled with at least 60% assholes.
|
|
#
?
Jul 7, 2018 01:32
|
|
|
Hunt11 posted:So that update was filled with at least 60% assholes. Eh, I'd say 80% myself, god only knows what those soldiers do in their spare time. Probably kick puppies or some poo poo.
|
|
#
?
Jul 7, 2018 01:55
|
|
|
So we now have at least three villains, but they all kinda can't stand each other. I'll be happy if we get some kind of sorcerous Mexican standoff later.
|
|
#
?
Jul 7, 2018 01:56
|
|
|
Whatever messed up Dehuai must be pretty bad, if Bacon can heal a gaping hole in his head in the blink of an eye and Yuri can reattach limbs on a whim. Then again, the old guy for all his dickery in the Yamaraja business, still had his plans foiled by some hobo who hears voices in his head, and apparently had some run-ins with Harmonixers in the past. Maybe he's not as good as he thinks he is. I also seriously wonder how Kawashima plans to catch Alice if she thinks she's capable of slaughtering an entire train of soldiers with MAGIC! powers.The Dark Id posted:Since Tornado is an Earth elemental, our old method of flinging rocks at foes will be all the most effective here. 1. Should be "more." 2. Minor issue, but there should be a "that" between "like" and "it." 3. Should be "actually." 4. Should be wizened.
|
|
#
?
Jul 7, 2018 01:58
|
|
|
Bacon’s dig at Dehuai is one of my favorite bits of dialogue from him; he’s a really well written character overall.
|
|
#
?
Jul 7, 2018 02:01
|
|
|
The Dark Id posted:Since Tornado is an Earth elemental, ... Wind elemental.
|
|
#
?
Jul 7, 2018 02:03
|
|
|
I gotta admit, an old Chinese wizard vs the 1900s Japanese army is pretty unique.
|
|
#
?
Jul 7, 2018 03:01
|
|
|
EagerSleeper posted:I gotta admit, an old Chinese wizard vs the 1900s Japanese army is pretty unique. unfortunately, we know how it ends 
|
|
#
?
Jul 7, 2018 05:11
|
|
|
Is it wrong I expect Roger and Dehuai to riff on each other like an episode of Archer?
|
|
#
?
Jul 7, 2018 06:56
|
|
|
|
| # ? Apr 27, 2024 23:14 |
|
|
Coffee With Bullet was definitely one of the ones I was thinking of when I mentioned this game having good music track names. It's also very good with relaxing town themes, especially later on.StandardVC10 posted:So we now have at least three villains, but they all kinda can't stand each other. I'll be happy if we get some kind of sorcerous Mexican standoff later. I always enjoy these kinds of set-ups a lot more than just "heroes vs. bad guys" for sure.
|
|
#
?
Jul 7, 2018 08:49
|
|