The Writing Corner @kyndaris - Tumblr Blog

Veil Between (Part 6)

As a story comes to an end, I often feel a little bereft. I like to think it's because I've been in the heads of a dozen or so different characters, mapping out their lives, but the truth is I'm worried out of my mind wondering how to bring every thread I've introduced to an end. After all, I'm not someone who sits down to outline and plan how the story will go. Rather, I'm a 'make-shit-up-as-I-go' kind of writer.

While sometimes I may have an idea of where I want to go with an ending, it's usually the starting scene I have the most clarity of. And the middle is usually muddled through to the best of my abilities.

Maybe I shouldn't be so willing to reveal all my secrets but after blogging for so long, it would seem disingenuous of me to say I'm an excellent writer and these things just naturally flow from my brain.

The truth, as we all know, is far different. Every weekend, I'll sit in front of my computer and a blank Word document, thinking of what to craft next. Sometimes, by rereading the last few sentences, I can see where the story will go next. Other times, I rack my brain during my daily walks (to keep a semblance of health) to see where I might go. Then, of course, there's the occasional spark of inspiration during a shower, or when I'm lying in bed hoping for sleep to take me.

Whether or not I'll actually fulfil my dreams of becoming a published author is still very much up in the air. Though I like to think I'm writing for myself, there's a part of me who desperately wishes my work might be recognised and acknowledged by thousands.

In any case, life plods on.

People live, people die. Meanwhile, I just keep doing what I can to keep the horrors of our current age from crushing me into oblivion.

Shouldn't be too hard. Right?

#writing #short story #eldritch horror #cosmic horror #occult horror #veil between #love conquers all?

The Devil You Know

As I scan the current political landscape, I find myself asking: what does it mean to be a leader among men? In the workplace, leadership does not merely encompass the managers and directors and the managing directors. Rather, it's a quality anyone can possess. Or so tehy would like you to think. But the ability to inspire and empower those around you is not something so easily gained. And when it comes to nation building, much more is needed. From resilience to the courage needed to enact unfavourable change. For those who lead democracies, it means listening to various voices of their constituents and findign a way to thread the needle to a better tomorrow, while also working with outdated systems and ways of thinking.

Released in October 2024, Metaphor: ReFantazio is a game that perfectly encapsulates the anxiety of our current times. It begins with the death of a king. Slain in his bed by the leader of a militia army, Louis Guiabern, once the commanding officer of the state army. Following the king's death, a grand competition is declared where the next monarch will be determined by the people due to the king not having an heir (the crown prince had been assassinated years ealier. Or so it was believed).

Yes. You read that right, dear reader. In a fantastical world apeing European sensibilities (what kind of name, really, are we to make of the United Kingdom of Euchronia), the late king opted for the next in line to be decided by election. But without ballot papers. Rather, votes are predicated on a magical spell that is able to see into the hearts of the citizens to determine the victor.

Enter our protagonist. A blue-haired boy accompanied by the fairy, Gallica. His objective? To meet with a Resistance contact in the army and work together in surreptitiously bringing down Louis Guiabern by any means necessary.

While the opening moments of Metaphor felt slow and dragged out, I do feel they were imperative in establishing the world. However, those first few hours were also marred by the limited interactions and ability to explore and level up the characters due to the trademark calendar system Atlus usually employs to great effect in the Persona titles. In Metaphor, it felt like an unncessary constraint. And instead of being able to freely explore and undertake side quests, I was forced to rely on an online guide for the sake of efficiency.

From a narrative standpoint, Metaphor follows several tropes. The main character has little knowledge of the world around them, serving as our stand-in as we are bombarded with tidbits of new information. Like almost every role-playing game, he gathers to himself various allies from different walks of life, and he goes from simple errand boy to the saviour of a divided world.

Metaphor, though, does keep it fresh with the themes it wishes to explore. From poverty to racism. However, our protagonists aren't truly disciples of democracy. In fact, I took great umbrage at how they described themselves as a resistance considering they were trying to prop up the long-thought-dead crown prince of Euchronia. It would have been better to have called their group Royalists or Loyalists. And while they do try to fight against institutional injustices, their main aim is to kill Louis - who for all intents and purposes is also seeking to bring down the establishment. Albeit in a 'might makes right' kind of way and anyone who is too weak will be discarded to the wolves.

As with many role-playing games, our protagonist crosses the entire kingdom, solving the many troubles the people face. All the while, they are locked in a race for the throne with the Sanctists (the game's metaphor for religion - though, if we're being honest, it's clearly Christianity) and supporters for Count Louis.

Throughout the game, the protagonist unveils the hidden corruption beneath Sanctism, contend with other candidates for the throne (who are mostly there for their own benefit and chance to wield absolute power) and trying to stop whatever nefarious plans they believe Louis to have. It is social commentary at its finest with Sanctifex Forden seen as the stable forerunner who will maintain the status quo (by the way, it was never made clear if there were any ministers and/ or lords who helped run the country. Did the king have no advisors besides the fictional religion leader and the ousted monarchs of Oceana and Montario?) and Count Louis the firebrand seeking to destroy the establishment.

Admittedly, Louis is far more intelligent and capable than a certain individual causing chaos in our current climes. Yet, despite the potential of change he could have brought to the United Kingdom of Euchronia, Louis cares little for his common man. Misanthropic to the core, he wishes only to concentrate power and burn down the power that turned its back on him. Despite this, by the end of the game, he remains popular. Either garnering support by instilling fear in the citizens or appealing to his fellow malcontents who echo his beliefs.

Rather, it is the protagonist who represents those who yearn for a better future. It is he who is able to address the problems residents of Matira and Eht Ria suffer through. Along the way, he is empowered by the connections he makes and the bonds he forges with other similarly-minded individuals. And it is here I think Metaphor shines.

Across the world, we look to singular individual for salvation. Yet in every instance, a prime minister or a presidential candidate will always be found wanting. None of them are 'good' enough. But if I'm being honest, how can we expect change to happen overnight? Peace and the best possible outcomes for all the people in the world is not something that can be wrought instantaneously.

Change takes time. A message Metaphor also spruiks.

But more than that, change takes many hands. People need to come together. And while improvements cannot rest solely on the public, it's a concerted effort to ensure legislation and policy can be implemented to the betterment of all.

Will there still be detractors? Of course.

Will we always be able to bear witness to the future we seek? Not always.

Yet that does not mean we can give up. The world as we know it can improve but it needs fellow like-minded inviduals to come together and work together, shouldering the burdens of our collective hopes and dreams in order to bring it to fruition.

When it comes to gameplay, Metaphor: ReFantazio keeps it simple. For those familiar with the Persona or Shin Megami Tensei franchise, many of the spells will be familiar. And for those who play other turn-based role-playing games, there are still more similarities than differences: from elemental spells to buffs. Then there are the archetypes each of the playable characters can embody. Essentially a job system by another name, the flexibility for characters to jump between (and inherit skills) ensures your party is able to deal with any and all foes.

I suppose my only gripe is that enemies often lack diversity. Most of the things your party fights in the dungeons often feel like reskins with perhaps a new element or two to contend with as a means of shaking it up. Unfortunately, after trying to max out my archetypes in the Dragon Temple, I found I was almost always overlevelled for many of the foes I faced and ended up taking them out in the overworld (a quality of life improvment of being able to defeat enemies without having to enter a Squad Battle).

Dungeons, too, aren't particularly exciting though I did find the Dragon Temple somewhat tedious to venture through considering the many floors to it and the various areas nooks and crannies open for exploration. I also felt the Royal Palace and even the initial dungeon under Matira unnecssary lengthy (though this may have been due to the fact I was at-level and was often forced into a wide range of battles).

Unlike other games, there's a distinct lack of meaningful minigames in Metaphor. That said, the game does play a lot of emphasis on levelling up 'Royal Virtues (essential Social Stats from the Persona series)' through side activities and increasing social bonds with important members of the main protagonist's party.

I very much enjoyed these chats with the various different characters as they often led to tangible benefits like unlocking new abilities or the ability to upgrade the 14 basic archetypes. More importantly, they also shed light on the characters and even the wider world in the game. Were some events a little hamfisted? Sure. But this is an anime-style game. Who am I to question the logic of the world?

While Metaphor did not immediately win me over, it slowly managed to earn my trust. In my personal opinion, I feel like Atlus could have changed some of the mechanics to better fit the setting. But perhaps the reason they chose not to was to ensure it still felt like an Atlus game. Certainly, without the time management quantity, Metaphor: ReFantazio might have felt too similar to other role-playing games from recent times. It does not help when many of their characters fall into specific 'archetypes' of their own (get it, because archetypes are the jobs...you know what, forget it). From how Maria reminded me of Marlene Wallace of Final Fantasy VII fame, to how Junah's determination to be a sacrifice echoed Yuna from Final Fantasy X.

That said, Metaphor also had the paripus. And how could I not love a game that have characters with animal ears and tails?

(I swear I'm not a furry but can I say Basilio and Catherina were looking FINE!)

I also liked the design for the Eugief and the Nidia tribe also had some interesting lore attached to it. Then, of course, there's the Ishkia (though their wings are decorative rather than practical. A sore point to me and them both).

As I wrapped up my 100-hour playthrough of Metaphor: ReFantazio, I cannot shake the importance of its messaging and the salient points it makes to the human condition. Given how dire our current political climate is, the optimist in me hopes we can return to a time where the people can have frank discourse over important matters and not be dismissed or ignored simply for offering a differing point of view. Yet the pessimist in me is certain people will continue to ignore the truths and evidence before their eyes for the lies predicated on soothing their fears of the great unknown.

On a side note, the designs for the HUMANS were absolutely terrifying.

#video games #metaphor refantazio #i love hulkenberg's obsession with trying to eat everything #she and laios would be great friends #chilchuk and strohl would be besties #heismay is my favourite #there's an argument to ship either Junah or Eupha with MC #why did Louis have to do a Sephiroth?#this could have been a much longer impression because the characters were great #and I would have liked to discuss them more

Lob Shack, Baby, Lob Shack

When travelling, I've always felt hard done by transit days when I move from one city to the next. It always feels like I don't get to as much exploring as I move from one quaint hotel to another in a teeming city of people. Not so this time in my February trip through Tasmania wherein we stopped by many a place to take in the sights and sounds of the small island state as we made our way from Launceston to Hobart.

The day started early. After breakfast, my family set about cleaning up the executive apartment we were staying in. We were not going to end up on the subreddit for horror hotel guests. No sirree. And if I'm being honest, I don't know how people can allow themselves to live in such squalor. Mess is just not something I can handle.

Admittedly, we did cut it a little close to the check-out time as Popo took her time going through her daily ablutions. An unfortunate fact of life when you're 87 going on 88, I suppose. The fact she was able to still tag along with us, albeit being pushed along in a wheelchair, was a testament to her hearty constitution.

Once we had stowed our luggage in our rental car, we hopped in for the drive down the coast. Our first stop was the Bicheno Blowhole. This is located at the Waubs Esplanade and is known for evening vists by fairy penguins. As we were here in the morning, we had to contend only with water erupting from the hole of a sea cave.

Could we have stopped by later in the day? Perhaps. But the drive down to Hobart was a gruelling journey and coming back up to Bicheno for a possible penguin sighting was not on our itinerary.

Admittedly, navigating the rock pools around the blowhole was a danger in and of itself. As my mother and stepfather ventured out to take photos, I brought Popo to a picnic table close to the carpark. There was no way she would be able to get any closer without risking a slip or a fall. While she was never too mobile, she had lost a lot of muscle during her long convalescence from her trip to Egypt and Turkey back in 2023.

Yet the blowhole at Bicheno was not our only stop. My mother, having completed some research online on places to visit in Tasmania, wanted us to enjoy lunch at the Lobster Shack. Though it is considered a casual wal-in cafe, the Lobster Shack is also known for serving the freshest premium Tasmanian seafood this side of the southern hemisphere. With a boat ramp just before it, we headed on in to try two whole lobsters (sold at market price, which was roughly AUD $80 each), some oysters along with a helping of chips and salad.

Though it was not quite lunch time, our early arrival meant we were able to get a table before a veritable horde descended to the lobster shack. And while not a connoisseur of seafood, I had to admit the people at Lobster Shack knew what they were doing. Especially with the amount of merchandise they also had on sale.

From Bechino, we headed further south towards Freycinet National Park. Occupying most of the Freycinet Peninsula on Tasmania's east coast, the national park is known for its secluded bays and white sandy bays. As we drove in, we stopped by Honeymoon Bay (backtracking a litle to pick up a National Park pass) before heading to the main carpark leading up to the Wineglass Bay lookout.

Honeymoon Bay, in and of itself, was a small closed off area with a camp site. The parking situation, though, was fairly atrocious with big SUVs fighting for space. Thankfully, our stay wasn't long before we were back on the road to the actual reason why we had opted to stop by Freycinet National Park in the first place.

With no visitor centre in sight, we settled Popo in the shade not too far from the carpark. As there was a significant climb ahead of us that was not wheelchair friendly, it was our only option. Letting her know we would be back within an hour or so, my mother, stepfather and I headed up to the lookout. And what a climb it was!

While sunny, there was a cool breeze as we clambered our way up. Still, I was a little overdressed and was forced to take off my jacket the further up we climbed. On the way, we passed by other intrepid adventurers including a family of four from Germany. Or so they sounded. In fact, there were quite a number of tourists. All who endured the gruelling climb just to see the wineglass shape of the bay (which, if we wanted to visit the beach was another two hour walk). At the very top, we took in the scene, snapped several photos before heading back down (which, if I'm being honest, is much easier for me than climbing up).

How best to describe the view? Though the people coming down as I was going up told me it was very much the forty minute or so slog, I do feel like I was sold on a lie. Still, the day was beautiful with its clear blue skies and the bay itself, with its white sand and blue water was a delight to take in as I caught my breath (and drank the last of my water). That said, I could not get down fast enough.

In record time, I was back at the carpark - though I did stop to snap photos of a wallaby a Japanese couple was trying to coax out from the underbrush and in clear defiance of the signs that said not to pet wild animals. From Wineglass Bay lookout, we stopped by Cape Tourville, which was a short easier walk around a lighthouse. The route was about twenty or so minutes and with its flat even surface, meant we could easily push Popo along in her wheelchair as we gawked and marvelled at nature's majesty.

There was also another wallaby in the Cape Tourville carpark!

Once we had seen our fill, it was a two and a half hour drive to Hobart. We arrived there late in the afternoon, having stopped for some fuel before crossing the bridge into the city proper. By then, the reception had closed but we were still able to pick up our keycard from the Out-of-Hours machine. Once we had unpacked, my mother and I headed to the local Woolworths (a two minute walk from our hotel) to purchase a quick dinner and some ingredients for breakfast.

Sometimes, there is no substitute for the familiar. And given Tasmania is STILL Australia, some things simply do not change when you travel to a different state for a few days.

It was not long before I hit the sack. The next day had a lot of promise. And I was eager to see what it would bring.

Our next stop? Port Arthur...

#travel blog #personal blog #visit Tasmania #Freycinent National Park #Wineglass bay #Bechino Blowhole #Cape Tourville #Honeymoon Bay #all the wallabies #Lobster Shack

Veil Between (Part 5)

Although times feel dire, the world, as we know it, keeps spinning. Meanwhile, at time of writing up this post, I am nearing the end of my latest horror short story even as I work on editing my main work: Sarenhart - a Snow White retelling.

But I know the hard part is what comes next. Whether or not I find an agent and/ or a publisher so I can have it in actual print. The idea of actually showing one of my pet projects to strangers and having it judged for how worthy it is to be an actual book, though, is completely terrifying. And yet, if I want to BE an author, it's a step I'll need to take. Unless I self-publish and then do my own marketing and whatever else that goes into actual becoming a household name.

Meanwhile, the new game I've been plugging hours away has been Metaphor: ReFantazio. While I would like to have a post on it as soon as possible, it IS a Japanese role-playing game. And given my track record with such games, it's going to take a good long while before I can finish. Still, I doubt it's going to take me 150 hours. From what I can see, it might be in the ballpark of 80 to 90 hours. Still a lengthy chunk of time but not quite as long as other titles.

But back to my latest horror short story! I'm not sure if I want to publish it for free on the internet. I've really liked how it's panning out and a part of me wants to see if I could submit it for possible competitions or have it serve as the main piece to an anthology series.

That said, the same issues apply. How best to be 'discovered' by a traditional publishing house? As I ponder these existential questions, please enjoy the next part of Veil Between!

#short story #writing #veil between #cosmic horror #occult horror #eldritch horror #horror #Patrice is the no filter bff we all need in our lives

Lavender Haze

Single's Awareness Day is often a day of mourning for this blogger. I am, after all, single. And, as the years have gone by, I have resigned myself to the fact I might never find my second half. This is, in spite of the fact, I am constantly reading a horrendous amount of smut on AO3 (please NEVER look at my tabs. Those are sacred!) and kicking my feet when a couple acts incredibly sweet in an actual published novel (though the genre cannot ever actually be romance. What romance that does exist must solely be a subplot in the grander scheme of saving the world).

Still! Valentine's Day 2026 was not without its own surprises as my family and I enjoyed our last full day in Launceston. But while I was not able to attend a pre-release event for Disney Lorcana, we did nip down to the Harvest Market, which is located in the carpark of 71 Cimitier Street.

While my stepfather remained in the hire car, me, my mother and Popo disembarked to take a gander at what was on offer. Though not as large or as impressive as the The Rocks Markets that can be found in Sydney, the Harvest Festival did have its own share of interesting produce and food options. As our family had enjoyed a hearty breakfast before venturing out, I settled on grabbing a snack for the drive ahead. This included picking up a bubble waffle drizzled in Tasmanian honey and a small hot chocolate to keep me going.

Bound to her wheelchair, Popo simply enjoyed taking in the sights and sounds of a bustling marketplace. But while I did have her try some of my bubble waffle, she was more enthralled by people-watching as we waited for my mother to return with a batch of specialised eye drops from a nearby chemist.

From the Harvest Market in the city centre of Launceston, we headed to the Bridestowe Estate - one of the world's finest lavender farms. Of course, given the fact it was February, the lavender was not quite as vibrantly spectacular as they would have been in December and January. Rather, most of it had dried out. Admittedly, there was still a dull haze in the air.

Both my stepfather and mother headed down the rows to take in the view and snap whatever quality photos they could given the season. Meanwhile, I kept my grandmother company before taking the time to peruse the items on sale - purchasing for myself a set of lavender scented soap. Once my mother returned, we bought some lavender infused ice cream to try out.

From Bridestowe, we returned to Launceston to pay a visit to a nature preserve set in the middle of a lagoon. Tamar Islands Wetlands Centre lies on the outskirts of Launceston and is abundant with plant and animal life. Though it was roughly lunch time, our family enjoyed a short traipse along the accessible boardwalk taking in the views of the tall native Tasmanian grasses. Along the way, we gawked at the gulls and swans in the distance. We even spotted a copperhead snake lying in wait though it was gone by the time we returned to the visitor centre.

The visitor centre itself was fairly small with a tiny exhibit on the wildlife of Tasmania. Though there were a number of pamphlets, it seemed like the Tamar Islands Wetlands were visited primarily by citizen scientists or birdwatchers. Tourists such as my family never stayed for long before losing interest.

By the time we returned to our car, it was mid-afternoon. Hungry, we stopped by Saigon Kitchen, a Vietnamese restaurant located on Brisbane Street. As the rest of my family enjoyed some hearty pho, I grabbed a banh mi instead. Mostly because it had been a good long while since I had one as my favourite local one closed several months back.

With our stomachs full, my mother and I traipsed over to the local pedestrain shopping mall. There, I checked out the local EB Games and debated the logistics of purchasing more Disney Lorcana cards or whether or not I ought to refrain (spoiler alert, I did not buy the Brave Little Prince Mickey playmet though I was tempted). As my mother ducked into the nearby Myers, I also stopped to have a look at a local bookstore: Quixotic Books. Though no one tilted against windmills while there, I took a gander at some of the secondhand books on display and their small section of fantasy novels.

Once I had satiated my curiosity (even though I did leave empty-handed), my mother and I returned to the restaurant to rejoin the rest of the family and head back to our accommodations.

After an arduous day out at Cradle Mountain the day before, all of us were agreed a quieter day of rest was needed to recover our spirits and prepare us for when we would be heading to Hobart the next day.

Could I have gone back to the city centre to partake in more Disney Lorcana? Perhaps. But the thought of heading back out after a big morning out felt like anathema to my state of mind. Besides, it was easier to watch the Winter Olympics on the TV and enjoy a sedate Saturday afternoon as I played more of Pokemon Legends: Z-A.

Yet as my mother and I lounged on the couch, we snuck in a movie - letting it take us on a journey to the fantastical imaginings of what it would be like to live in a world where dinosaurs had been let loose on the world in Jurassic World Rebirth (which, if I'm being honest, simply does not hold a candle to the very first Jurassic Park and fails to inject the sense of awe we all felt during that brachiosaurus scene even as it tries to emulate it to the best of its ability).

So ended our last day in Launceston. Next stop: Hobart!

#personal blog #travel blog #launceston #tasmania #visit tassie #harvest market #bridestowe estate #tamar island wetlands #brisbane street shopping mall

Veil Between (Part 4)

"The more things change, the more they stay the same." This quote seems more apt as ever with the world in turmoil. At time of posting, it has been just shy of two weeks when the United States of America and Israel launched an attack on Iran. While I hope this will be in the rearview mirror when this post goes live, the current situation feels dire. Even as I go about my daily life, there is a cognitive dissonance to the fact thousands of people are dying and in my perfect corner of the world, we're all shaking out fists at the outrageous prices of petrol.

Yet while this feels like small potatoes for someone in the city, I'm sure months down the line, we'll all feel the bite when there's less produce because farmers did not have the necessary resources to sow crops or prepare their fields.

Though we might shrug at a pebble thrown into a pond, the ripple effects it can have from a global perspective can be devastating. But of course, these things are all outside the control of the average citizen going about their day. How can it be that the Strait of Hormuz be closed but I, a mere blogger, can still go attend an anime convention? It boggles the mind.

Anyways, enjoy another part of Veil Between!

#writing #short story #veil between #occult horror #cosmic horror #eldritch horror #numbing myself before the inevitable nuclear fallout

Bottom to Top: A Switch's Pokemon Journey

Pokemon is a series close to my heart. From my first playthrough of Pokemon Blue on my Gameboy Color back in the late 90s to the present day. While many fans have diversified their interest inot other fields (apparently robbing stores for trading cards is now the norm?), I have steadfastly kept my interest for the series focused only on video game releases. And while the Switch 2 had not truly piqued for interest (because, let's be honest, only Donkey Kong Bonanza felt like amust-play title at time of release. Here's hoping the new Fire Emblem will be the next big draw to upgrading), I was terrified Pokemon Legends: Z-A might suffer many of the performance issues that had plagued Pokemon Scarlet and Pokemon Violet. In my mind, an upgraded console was jsut the ticket.

So, it was in mid-October when I picked up my pre-ordered bundle at the local EB Games store. But while having a new console in hand did excite me, I still had many titles I needed to finish on the original Switch. It did not help that I had also recently purchased Final Fantasy Tactics: The Ivalice Chronicles. But, despite all the barriers, I had to still set up my new Switch 2. Once that was done, I, of course, had to install the game as well. It was, after all, on a download code, and I could not risk it expiring.

But even though I was ready to play Pokemon Legends: Z-A from the start of its release, I only ever picked it up on-and-off during Christmas and the first month of th year as I was preoccupied with getting other titles out of my backlog to clear some space for new games in 2026. That said, I did peck at it - getting through the early missions with as much gusto as any bright-eyed tourist who gets wrangled into becoming a Pokemon trainer and forced to join the Z-A Royale. During the quiet moments between other games, I tried to catch as many unique Pokemon as I could in the Wild Zones while ensuring my team was sufficiently overlevelled to tackle any problem the game might throw my way.

It was not until my trip to Tasmania that I decided to give Pokemon Legends: Z-A my full attention. Even if it included committing to terrible French accents in the room I shared with my grandma.

Thankfully, I had the foresight not to voice ALL characters with a French accent. In fact, most either had my default Australian accent or a posh Received Pronunciation. Occasionally, I'd throw in my interpretation of a generic American accent.

From a narrative standpoint, Pokemon Legends: Z-A does not truly pick up until Main Mission 9 where you, as the player character, encounter your first Rogue Mega Evolved Pokemon on the streets of Lumoise. It is here that you become an invaluable member of Team MZ as you balance rising up the ranks of the Z-A Royale and calming the poor Pokemon affected by Rogue Mega Evolution (always three). Unfortunately, the formula becomes quite rote as you embroil yourself with the various factors calling Lumiose home (Rust Syndicate, Society of Battle Connoisseurs, Canatics and the Justice League), attend strategy meetings once Vinnie from Quasartico calls with a list of Pokemon at risk of undergoing Rogue Mega Evolution, and going out to stave off any possible danger to the citizens of the city. Along the way, there are a number of side missions to also distract and lend itself to the lore of Pokemon.

While the main story does tackle darker themes of legacy and how the sins of the past can lead to repercussions in the present, most of these are glossed over by the player character's happy-go-lucky attitude. Even when we confront members of Team Flare Nouveau, they soon join our side after unsuccessfully trying to convince us AZ is a terrible villain. That said, I'm surprised we never got the option to refute the 'evidence' they presented. After all, none of it could be proven and there was only one supposed source of information. How do I, as the player character, verify their claims? For all I know they could have RotomGPT their supposed findings on the Ultimate Weapon and Ange.

Still, if there was one thing I enjoyed about the story, it was how everyone came together to try and make Lumiose a better place. Even with the threat of Prism Tower going berserk and wreaking havoc near the end (along with the epic team-up with metamorphing Zygarde).

But playing a Pokemon game has never really been about the story. It's about enjoying oneself in a make-believe world with a range of kooky characters and battling our hearts out.

In this, Pokemon Legends: Z-A did not disappoint. I enjoyed participating in Jacinthe's tournament (and how she managed to infiltrate Team MZ's strategy meetings through hologram. Then there was her own peronalised Jacinthe Zone. Alors, she should have been the ghost type trainer instead of fairy), Corbeau actually being a great big softie even as he ran a yakuza-lite organisation of do-gooders, and the revelation that it is Canari's grandfather who actually has control of the holo live version of the gaming streamer.

There were even a number of Side Missions I enjoyed, including one about a missing child and her Litwick. Nintendo, being as family friendly as they are, surprised me with the jump scares. Then, of course, there was the Side Mission with the workaholic police officer and Shuppet, the empath and her Sylveon...and the movie director who wanted to shoot documentaries about terrifying Pokemon only to find they were actually sweet and adorable instead.

Gameplay-wise, Pokemon Legends: Z-A changes up the usual tried and true formula. While there had been hints of it in earlier titles like Pokemon Legends: Arceus and Pokemon Scarlet and Violet, Pokemon Legends: Z-A is the first time where battles are in real time. What this means is that both you, the player, and Pokemon can move around during the battle and reposition as needed. Theoretically, this allows your Pokemon partners to dodge attacks but I found it was much easier to take a hit or two as I launched a supereffective attack. Given the limitation area for battles and how more often than not your Pokemon partner merely lags behind you as you dash around, means getting out of the hit boxes for certain moves just isn't feasible. Especially when you only start running when they're winding up.

The only times I found it truly useful was for Future Sight, Substitute, Rock Tomb and when other trainers might try to lay a trap (for example, Stealth Rock or Toxic Spikes). Otherwise, in Rogue Mega Evolution battles, it was easier to return my Pokemon to its Pokeball as I tried to evade special moves taking up a majority of the battlefield.

That said, I'll never get tired of being able to peg Pokeballs at unsuspecting Pokeball from the tall grass and watch as they get added to my box.

One of the key changes implemented by Pokemon Legends: Z-A is the removal of PP (Power Points). And this, perhaps, is the strongest argument for the shift to real-time battles. Replaced with cooldowns, you, as the Trainer, are no longer limited to only being able to fire off five Fire Blasts before having to use a restorative item to renew the number of uses. Instead, you can readily have your Pokemon use the same overpowered move again and again without worrying about wasting it.

Pokemon Legends: Z-A also kept a number of key quality-of-life improvements, including accessing boxes from the menu. It also introduced a number of its own, including the ability to freely change moves around when not in battle. This freed me up to experiment with a number of moves. And, given how the Z-A Royale has a number of Bonus Card objectives that limit you to particular status conditions or move types, being able to change my Pokemon's moves allows me to quite easily complete these to earn additional coin and points.

Of course, like every Pokemon game, though, the repetitive gameplay loop did become a little stale by the end. Of note were Mable's Research Tasks to unlock the Shiny Charm, the Side Missions requiring you to use a particular Pokemon (especially as these were only unlocked late to end-game), and the Infinite Z-A Royale (where you had to go through 15 challenges just to wrap up Taunie/ Urbain's story arc and be given the chance to actually catch Zygarde).

While I would have liked to dismiss these as minor quibbles, Pokemon Legends: Z-A doesn't do much to change up the Pokemon formula. Given how rote everything plays out, not to mention the limited nature of Lumiose City, Pokemon Legends: Z-A doesn't quite reach the heights that the best Pokemon games have. In fact, there were many parts that dragged or felt like a chore as I played through, and I would have much preferred if I wasn't forced into running around on minor fetch quests just to progress.

But hey, at least I got to look fabulous while doing so!

On a side note, PLEASE INCLUDE VOICE ACTING FOR POKEMON WIND AND WAVES, GAMEFREAK! Why have cinematic cutscenes that fail to land because you forgot to hire VOICE ACTORS?

Also, if Beast of Reincarnation releases with VOICES ACTING, that's ALL the MORE reason why you need to include it in your POKEMON games.

#video games #pokemon #pokemon legends: z-a #lumiose city #jacinthe x lebanne #corbeau is short king #I feel you canari #only ivor is ivor #still sticking to my usual team #all the double entendres

How Far I'll Go

An oft overlooked gem, Tasmania is often jokingly considered irrelevant to mainland Australians in favour of us taking over New Zealand. Yet with Valentine's Day creeping up on the horizon (as well as the Lunar New Year), my family thought now was an excellent time to pay a visit to the southernmost state for some recreational family bonding.

Travelling with my grandmother (also known an Popo) can be difficult. With limited mobility, it is hard for her to walk. As such, we often bring a foldable wheelchair with us when we go anywhere local. On our trip to Tasmania? We brought it along, wheeling her to the door of the plane. Virgin Australian and Qantas were quite accommodating with our accessibility requests. Popo never had to wait long for our wheelchair to be brought over so she could be slowly wheeled out afterwards. The weight and relatively compact size of the wheelchair also meant we were able to easily pack it into the hired care along with all of our luggage.

It was mid-afternoon when we landed in Launceston. After we briefly stopped at our accommodation in Youngtown, my family set out for Cataract Gorge, which sits just to the west of the city centre.

According to the brochure, Cataract Gorge was created during an earthquake that occurred when Australia broke away from the continent of Gondwana. It is believed volcanic activity dammed the Tamar Valley, leading to the formation of a freshwater lake. This later eroded over the course of 10 million years with the river system carving out a new landscape. Cataract Gorge, itself, only emerged in the last 20,000 years when ice in Tasmania's mountains finally melted.

Though there was still time for us to take the chairlift to the original Cliff Grounds Reserve, my family decided simply to take a simple walk around the Basin and over towards the great Alexandra Suspension Bridge. With Popo in a wheelchair, we weren't entirely certain how it would be brought along with us.

As we slowly made our way around the track, I spotted a peacock craning its head past some rocks. As is my want, I quickly snapped a shot. Further up, a small gathering of people were crowded around an echidna digging for insects to eat. So, of course, I snapped a photo of that as well.

The other fauna I saw included a number of guinea fowl. While I would have liked to have caught one for dinner, my family decided it would be best to try something a little different. After our walk around the basin, we headed to Pachinko located in the city centre - a quaint Japanese restaurant with a slightly limited dinner menu that was, nevertheless, enjoyable.

Friday dawned bright and early for us as we were intent on heading up Cradle Mountain. Initially declared a scenic reserve in 1922, it was later designated a national park in 1947 - a vision borne from Austrian-born Gustav Weindorfer and his wife, Kate. Given that it is also an alpine region, the weather on the mountain can change rapidly and frequently. It is due to this very reason that some people have died while hiking the mountain or have gone missing (as in the case of Belgian woman, Celine Cremer).

From Launceston, we had to first stop by the small town of Sheffield. Yet, while Cradle Mountain was the main draw, Sheffield was also its own marvel with its variety of murals on display near the visitor centre and all across the main street. These were all vibrant, with many exploring intricate themes while others were a tad silly. The ones I liked best seemed to evoke a sense of adventure.

After grabbing a hot chocolate, we hopped back into the car for our way up to Cradle Mountain. At the visitor centre, we purchased a park pass and a shuttle ticket to get up to Dove Lake. Despite the inclimate weather, there were many visitors in attendance. As we waited in line, I heard snippets of Chinese, German and even Spanish!

Once at Dove Lake, we paid a visit to the Boat Shed, which lay on the shore. Given the chill wind, my family then retreated to the shelter of the shuttle stop to have a spot of lunch (and mostly to keep an eye on Popo as the walks around Dove Lake weren't as conducive to wheelchairs as we had hoped) though I decided to take a gander at Glacier Rock.

It was not long before a shuttle came trundling up to the stop and our family hopped on to head back down to the carpark. After much hewing and hawing (my stepfather had wanted to visit Lake Saint Clair - unfortunately, it was another three hour drive around the mountain), we decided to return to Launceston via Devonport (a coastal city where the Spirt of Tasmania calls home).

Whilst I would have preferred staying a little longer at Cradle Mountain (mostly to pay a visit to Waldheim - the chalet built by the Austrians who would declare the mountain a national park), it was not to be.

Along the way to Devonport, we stopped by Waratah - snapping a shot of the waterfall located in the very heart of the town itself. Though the trek down was a little steep, the return journey was even worse. Thankfully, I had on my trust hiking boots.

Devonport, itself, is the third-largest city of Tasmania. Focused more on key sites, we headed to the Mersey Bluff Lighthouse to take photos of the coastline before stopping by the local harbour where a Spirit of Tasmania (along with a Seaport ship) was docked.

While we initially flirted with the idea of grabbing dinner in Devonport, we decided to head back to Launceston instead. There, we tried out Luz Restaurant, which was located in what felt like a refurbished waiting room of an old manor or hotel (with the entrance serving as a fire door). While I was a little puzzled by its presentation, the food was delicious (if a little light in serving size for my stepfather's tastes). Full, my family returned to the car while I vanished down a side street - paying a visit to Scenic Isle Gaming to purchase a pre-release box of Disney Lorcana Cards (Winterspell for those in the know). Which, of course, they did have. And for $30 cheaper than the usual local gaming store I do go to!

There was even a promo card attached to it (which they put in a plastic sleeve which had a picture of Raine from the Owl House. And now I'm wondering if Lorcana will ever adapt the characters FROM the Owl House into actual cards. They've already done the animated Lilo and Stitch and Ducktales. Why not Kim Possible and a slew of other iconic IP from my childhood?

Is my attachment a symptom of my Disney Adult-itis? Possibly. And yet the nostalgia is strong!

AND the next few sets will star PIXAR characters as well! Be still, my beating heart!

Thus ended my family's first two days in the island state just across the Bass Strait. There would, of course, be more adventures ahead for us. After all, we had much more to see and do. And while we would miss a few iconic sights (like the town of GRINDLEWALD), I like to think we got to enjoy a balance of history and nature.

So, while we mainland Australians may joke about Tasmania never being one of us, there's a lot more to it that meets the eye.

#personal blog #travel blog #visit Tasmania #Launceston #Devonport #Sheffield #Cradle Mountain #Cataract Gorge

Veil Between (Part 3)

Another week, another drip of short story. At time of writing up this post, I've just come back from a short family trip to Tasmania. This does mean, of course, I'll be writing up blogs posts about it. That said, they, much like the ones I did for Melbourne last year, won't be uploaded on a daily basis. Rather, they'll be spread out - interspersed with the occasional story or video game post. As is my wont. Since, you know, this is my blog.

But have no fear, dear reader, for this humble blogger will be exciting everyone's feeds with daily posts for roughly four weeks (possibly five) regarding a planned future trip!

Where I might be travelling to, I'll leave to your imagination though I'm sure the mutuals I have, and the real life friends who read my blog, will know exactly where I'll be jetting off to.

On a side note, I've become truly addicted to Disney Lorcana. Not say, in an unhealthy way, but more in a 'want-to-complete-each-playset' kind of way. And if I stumble upon an Enchanted or Iconic along the way, who could deny me?

As for my next video game post, I'm unsure if I should leap right into Metaphor: ReFantazio or keep up my Pokemon Legends: Z-A playthrough. Most likely, it'll be the latter. After all, I'm already thirty hours in.

Anyways, I hope you the next part to my Veil Between story!

#writing #short story #comedy in horror #cosmic horror #occult horror #creatures beyond the veil #veil between

#tumblr snek

Star-Crossed Amanti

Two households, both alike in dignity. In fair Sicily, where we lay our scene. Yet though Isabella was a Torrisi born, fair Enzo was naught but a corusu working in the mines for the Spadaro family syndicate. Mafia: The Old Country is a game that has you in the shoes of a young man struggling to make his mark on the world. Sold into slavery, all Enzo has known is the mines until one day, when his friend is killed, he stands up against the oppressive Il Merlo before escaping.

Releasing in August 2025, Mafia: The Old Country is a game from developer Hanger 13 and works as a prequel to the Mafia franchise, which were predominantly set in the ficional city of Empire Bay. Mafia: The Old Country scales it all back by placing the players in the Sicilian countryside. And while the scenery is pretty, I found the game lacking - especially by the way it tried to force a lacklustre open-world.

In fact, I would have preferred it if the game had not sought to tack on an open-world aspect to the game and kept it as linear as possible. While a free update brought in 'Free Ride' option to the game, the Valle Dorata never truly came alive due to the lack of any meaningful sidequests or activities. Rather, the open-world portion of the game felt like a huge empty collectathon for pictures, newspapers and saint cards that added little to the overall experience beyond fulfilling the requirements for a trophy. Hardly riveting gameplay though it was enough to sustain my interest as long as I had a video essay going on in the background.

Much like Star Wars Outlaws before it, Mafia: The Old Country is a third-person action game where Enzo hides behind waist-high cover and occasionally pops out to shoot at his enemies with a variety of weapons he can cycle through. The only reason why I might have used a few different guns instead of sticking to my favourites? To unlock a few trophies along the way. Otherwise, most times, I was usually creeping around a map and choking out enemies to ensure I managed to stealthily reach the unskippable cutscene and pop whichever hidden trophy I'd scoped out beforehand.

The only thing Mafia: The Old Country added were intense knife fights. Yet each time these events came about, I was surprised why Enzo or one of his enemies didn't just reach for a handgun they should have been armed with earlier and just shooting.

Were they a fun dance? Most assuredly. Did it make sense in the grand scheme of the plot? Only about half the time.

My other gripes with the game came from the floaty vehicles Enzo drove around. I found, during my playthrough, that I much preferred riding a horse around the rural countryside rather than deal with the finicky cars I was given. The thought of having to stop and refuel also rubbed me the wrong way given the opportunities of earning extra dinari felt limited to replaying chapters and looting them off corpses.

Admittedly, the Free Ride add-on did provide multiple challenges across the map wherein Enzo might earn his keep as a soldato of the Torrisi family, none actually felt fun or contributed much to the narrative being told.

Gameplay woes aside, I did enjoy the story presented in Mafia: The Old Country. From the very start, Enzo engaged me far more than Kay Vess. While the story does lean on particular stereotypes, I did not mind seeing our poor suffering protagonist go from working in a sulfur mine to slowly becoming embroiled in the world of the mafioso. His easy banter with a young Leone Galante, the budding friendship with Cesare Massaro and his romance with Isabella Torissi kept me going.

Then, of course, there was Enzo's relationship with Gianluca Trapani. Underboss of the Torrisi Crime Family, Luca served as a firm but fair mentor to Enzo. It was he who took Enzo under his wing and vouching for him when Enzo finally joins the family. It is his death near the end of the game, after the Torrisi family are ambushed by Don Spadaro and Baron Fontanella at the Galante tuna factory that sets Enzo on his path to break away from the violent world of feuding families.

Unfortunately for our protagonist, there is no happy ending. When Tino, and then Don Torrisi, hears of the affair between Enzo and Isabella, he is apoplectic with rage. In spite of the loyalty Enzo had displayed (as well as the danger he put himself in), he would forever remain a mine boy and unworthy of Isabella's hand. Don Torrisi even rails at the fact he gave Enzo everything. The 'everything' in question being the very same sulfur mine Enzo had escaped from - but not his daughter.

While a part of me felt like this could have been resolved if Enzo had come clean earlier (he had, after all, told Isabella that once he had gained the Don's trust, he would ask for his blessing), the final confrontation between the two also proved that no matter what heights Enzo might have aspired to, he would forever be tarnished by his origins. This was also evident in Enzo's final confrontation with Cesare, who, after being overlooked for a higher position in the family, seemed jealous of Enzo's success (it was, in my opinion, giving Nishiki and Kiryu vibes).

Perhaps, given time, Enzo's supposed betrayal might have stung less. But, come on, the guy was barely surviving everything the plot was trying to do to keep him down. And then you bring him in for a hug and stab him?

Cesare, I thought better of you! Especially when he let you live when he could have so easily killed you earlier!

Which, I suppose, was the point. Mafia: The Old Country is a tragedy much like Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet.

That said, I'm surprised no one ever wondered why Enzo chose never to sleep with the courtesans. While I think it might have been funny if some of them might have thought Enzo was gay, the fact none of Enzo's friends cottoned on to him and Isabella just goes to show just how blind the rest of the Torrisi family were when it came to corusu from the Spadaro mines.

At least Isabella got to avenge Enzo by killing Tino. Which, in my humble opinion, was well-deserved. Even if the game resolutely tries to show just how weak and powerless a woman in early 1900s Sicily was. Tino was an old man! Why was Isabella struggling to even bring a knife down on him?

After nine years, Mafia: The Old Country released with little fanfare and proved to be a divisive entry to the franchise. While I enjoyed the tragic tale, with its glimmer of hope at the end, I struggled with the general gameplay and the tacked on open-world which had little to no exciting features except an endless list of collectibles. Worst of all, it failed to include quality-of-life aspects - such as the ability to drop a waypoint or highlight the location of a collectible. Then, of course, there was no way to unlock the locations FOR each and every collectible except to either comb the map from one end to the other OR look up an online guide.

Should there ever be a follow-up to Mafia: The Old Country - whether we see what the future entails for Isabella Torrisi and her unborn child or if the developers decide to go in a completely different direction - I'd like to see them address the core issues tied to their limited gameplay. Especially when the open-world aspect for Mafia: The Old Country felt half-baked at best and completely unnecessary at worst.

On the plus side, I think I've learned several choice Italian/ Sicilian swear words that I might try to employ. 'Figgh'i buttana' anyone?

#video games #mafia: the old country #mafia #enzo x isabella #why couldn't enzo get a happy ending?#learning italian swear words #open world: use it or lose it #classism #forbidden love

Nobody Gets Left Behind or Forgotten

When it comes to the Star Wars universe, most stories revolve around the conflict between the Jedi and the Sith. Occasionally, tehy will you instead into the boots of an Imperial stormtrooper or an agent of the Rebel Alliance. It is rare indeed when the protagonist of a Star Wars IP is one of the countless milliions just looking to survive, instead of being an active member in the galactic fight between good and evil. Star Wars Outlaws is an attempt to buck this trend by casting you, the player, in the role of a down-on-her-luck would-be thief.

The controversies of Ubisoft aside, Star Wars Outlaws is a strong foray into something a little different. While many online warriors decried the game as 'woke' for having an 'unattractive female protagonist,' I found there was much to love: from the relationship between Kay Vess and ND-5 (Nix too) to how story beats melded into gameplay. My one major nitpick of it all? Kay Vess's initial motivation for her journey out into the wider galaxy beyond Canto Bight and the lack of a juicy narrative hook to get me invested into the story.

In musical theatre, there is usually a song at the start that lays out the goals of the protagonist and sets up the general theme for the ensuing two hours and a half. In the case of Kay Vess, the only thing she wants is survival. Unfortunately, when it comes to the typical Hero's Journey, this isn't what many would deem a worthy objective. In fact, the first few hours into Star Wars Outlaws would have been more narratively satisfying if Kay Vess had actually sworn off doing anything criminal. She is, after all, just looking to keep a roof over her head. Why not go legitimate (it makes more sense her starting point be anywhere else but a two-bit thief especially given her strained relationship with her mother) before being brought back into the world of underworld syndicates? In my humble opinion, it would have made more sense from a character standpoint AND explain why she was seemingly so naive about machinations of the criminal underbelly.

Or, perhaps, the writers should have gone the route of Final Fantasy XII - the most Star Wars-esque of the Final Fantasy games. True, Vaan is often derided as the main protagonist but hey, at least he knew what he wanted: a sky pirate. Perhaps if Kay Vess had said that she wanted to leave Canto Bight because of a grand dream, it would have made more narrative sense why she was risking life and limb for dangerous but rewarding jobs. Elsewise, I believe Star Wars Outlaws would have been better served setting up Kay as a veteran scoundrel whose carefully planned out heist of Sliro's mansion goes horribly wrong (look no further to the Jet Kordo recordings of how it might have played out), where Kay painstakingly picks up the pieces and assembles a new crew.

Instead, Kay is just your solo operator, struggling to make ends meet in the Worker's District of Canto Bight. Rather than finding gainful employment, she is adamant about somehow striking onto the next big score so she and Nix can potentially live in comfort for the rest of their lives (and away from the brewing conflict between the Empire and the Rebels). Foreplanning and luck, however, are not her strong suits and she is chased down by the Sixth Kin members who rough up her benefactor: Bram Shano. Knowing she needs to find a way offworld, a reluctant Bram offers Kay the job he had not wanted to give her at first.

The job, of course, goes horrendously wrong but Kay is able to escape on the Trailblazer and winds up crashing on Toshara. There, she enlists the aid of the first scavenger to chance upon her ship: a Rodian named Waka. Her first order of business? Finding the credits and/ or parts needed to repair the Trailblazer.

It is this first act which serves as a introduction for the wider Star Wars Outlaws. On Toshara, Kay learns the ropes of managing her reputation between rival syndicates as well as how to take on contracts to pad out her somewhat thin resume. She is alos able to find experts to assist her along the way, including a speeder mechanic (who she exchanges a few flirtatious looks with) and a veteran slicer (who comments how similar Kay is to her absent mother).

Of course, just as Kay manages to find the parts she needs to repair the ship, Waka betrays her (as is scoundrel fashion). However, before the bounty hunter Vail can claim the Death Mark placed on her, Kay is saved by ND-5, a droid in the employ of one Jaylen Vrax. This act of kindess, though, is not without its price. Jaylen, a fellow outlaw like Kay, is looking to set up a thieving crew to break into Sliro's Vault.

So begins the much meatier second act of the game where Kay journeys to multiple systems in the Outer Rim to fit out the crew she needs to pull off the heist. Before too long, Kay is joined by Ank and Gedeek. And while Kay does try to recruit Hoss, he is killed in Jabba's palace and the fledling crew pivot. Enter the rebel Asara and Kay's missing mother Riko.

Despite selling itself as a heist story, Star Wars Outlaws is truly a story about family. Those you might be related to by blood, but also the family you find. This is exemplified by the bonds Kay makes with her fellow crew members even though she was taught at an early age not to expect assistance from anyone (including her own mother). Her insistence on rescuing Nix, and then ND-5, in spite of the danger it puts herself in, shows what she truly values in life. And while it is also true Kay does not care for causes, she is still a woman of principles that will drop everything for the people she loves.

The one important thing about playing Star Wars Outlaws is realising Kay is no Jedi. She does not have access to any Force powers. Nor does she wield a lightsaber. Instead, she relies heavily on her shooting prowess. Think every single over-the-shoulder third-person shooter with waist-high cover and red explosive barrels every five feet or so.

While the gameplay isn't exactly inspired, it is serviceable - with a few changes to the tried-and-true formula as Kay mixes up the modules to her blaster as needed. While most enemies will fall to her usual blaster fare, Kay also has access to an ion module, as well as a power one (which sends out an explosive bolt that can even damage walls). Her other core talent is knocking people out with a good ol' punch to the head. And though one might think it would simply knock your enemies out, the default dialogue would indicate Kay is so powerful she is able to kill nearly everyone with a single blow. Who knew she was secretly One Punch Woman?

The other gameplay elements of the game fit around this core system - including scavenging parts in remote chests across four vast open-world maps, speeder chases and dogfights in space. That said, I did feel like the speeder was a little too floaty and janky for my tastes (despite the fact I palyed the game a year and a half after its release) and the Trailblazer felt almost cumbersome in comparison as it engaged in dogfights in space.

Would the game have been better served as a linear experience a la the Uncharted series? Most likely, but I suppose there is something to be said about the the gameplay cycle of accepting contracts and playing each criminal syndicate against each other to scrape every single possible credit one might need for gear and ship upgrades.

The one saving grace in what could be best described as fairly mediocre gameplay? Playing Kessel Sabaac. It's like playing two-card poker that gives you three rounds to make the best combination you can to beat the other players. Mixing it up, too, are a number of cheats (which I found I didn't really need) and a number of tokens to ensure a game might end in your favour (Cook the Books, anyone?).

Set between The Empire Strikes Back and Return of the Jedi, I did also appreciate the number of cameos Star Wars Outlaws managed to cram in. That said, I did feel the presence of Darth Vader cheapened the experience a little given its focus on the outlaws of the wider Star Wars galaxy. Which is why, of course, I appreciated the appearance of one Lando Calrissian and Han Solo (still trapped in carbonite).

Overall, I would say the pros outweighed the cons when it came to Star Wars Outlaws. While I am certain a sequel would have better served the characters, I also know it has been cancelled in lieu of restructures and a preference for other IPs at Ubisoft. Still, Star Wars Outlaws was unafraid to test something new. Was it life-changing? No. But it didn't need to be. I just wish I got to see more banter between Kay and Vail after the two reached an understanding. I'm sure if Star Wars wasn't a Disney property, we might have seen more sapphic representation. And honestly, that's the only thing I really care about in this day and age.

#video games #star wars outlaws #star wars #space heists #scoundrel #kay x vail #found family #mummy issues

Veil Between (Part 2)

Though 2026 has just started, so much seems to have happened in a short span of time. At time of writing up this post, it's unsure what will happen to Iran, or even the United States of America. Meanwhile, Ukraine and Russia are still duking it out with no victor yet in sight (though most people have their money on Russia eking out the win. And with the manpower they're able to throw at the problem, it does seem likely they'll be able to overwhelm what is left of the Ukraine forces).

As for my personal life, well, I've almost finished Star Wars Outlaws. While I would have preferred writing up a post for it instead, I am also very proud of my occult horror short stories. Especially because they're all connected in some way (and they may end up becoming an anthology of sorts. If anyone knows an agent or publisher, please let me know!).

Meanwhile, the start of the year saw me finish off The Little Prince and Ready Player One. And, well, let's just say I have many thoughts about the writing. Especially in how it tells more than it should and seems to coast along on 80s nostalgia. The world-building of the OASIS also felt a little underbaked and while I can applaud Ernest Cline for including commentary on the state of the world, I wish there had been more focus on these aspects instead of keeping it mostly relegated as background information that did little to serve the plot except to emphasise how poor protagonist Wade Owen Watt was during the first third of the book.

In any case, here is part two of my short story. Please enjoy!

Admittedly, it's always a joy to write Patrice in any shape or form. Even in the perspective of another, she is truly a delight.

#short story #writing #veil between #occult horror #cosmic horror #patrice being an unhinged Scottish grandma

Humanity's Legacy

If humans were to be wiped from the Earth tomorrow, what would be its legacy? Would we be judged for the senseless violence mete out against foreign nations due to the perceived need for land and resources? Or will our virtuous charitable deeds paint the story of a heroic race of do-gooders willing to set aside self-interest for the greater good? Looking across history, it's hard for me to believe the latter is how we will be remembered. Yet Stellar Blade seems to argue that humanity is still worth saving in spite of this.

As a self-described misanthrope, I have always struggled to see what much of our media calls 'humanity' in the actions of others. Where is the kindness and benevolence that we ascribe as the quintessential element of humans in what is currently happening in the world?

No. We are fast approaching a dystopian nightmare where authoritarian regimes reign supreme. And it is for this very reason I could not continue with Papers, Please - a bureacratic roguelike that highlights the bleak nature of living in such a world.

But back to Stellar Blade.

Releasing in April 2024, Stellar Blade was the first console game for Korean game devloper: Shift Up. Published by Sony Interactive, the game garnered much attention. Especially among the action-adventure audience who liked their games with a tinge of Soulslike combat with a focus on parrying attacks and ruthlessly respawning enemies as soon as you hit a rest area. There was, as well, the EVE factor with the main protagonist looking VERY conventionally attractive with some very impressive assets (and the option to change her outfit to flaunt off her enviable physique).

Then, of course, there was the 'controversy.' Something which I avoided because it felt like it was making a mountain out of a mole hill. Besides, I had too many video games to get to. And even now I'm still desperately playing catch-up (although I believe the developers are now embroiled in some new hot water relating to AI).

After all, for every Stellar Blade there is a Star Wars Outlaws. And I also need to make my way through Dragon Age: Veilguard. Don't even get me STARTED on Metaphor Re: Fantazio! Despite all these titles still in my backlog, at time of writing, I'm still wondering if Legends of Heroes: Trails Beyond the Horizon will ever grace the Nintendo or PlayStation store in Australia. So, you know, priorities.

The only thing that truly drew my ire when it came to the game? How Stellar Blade fumbled its narrative in the end. But we'll get to that in time.

The narrative casts you in the strapping high heels of EVE - a member of the 7th Airborne Squad, which is an elite unit hoping to liberate the Earth from the grip of the alien-like Naytibas. Unlike most video game protagonists, she does not sport an American accent. Rather, EVE is deliciously British. And while she does not have the natural charisma of Bayonetta, I do feel like the Umbra Witch very much influenced EVE's design.

Following their disastrous initial assault, where all her squad members are killed, including Tachy, her commanding officer (and who, in my headcanon was in a relationship with our slightly less than competent and naive protagonist). Before she can succumb to her own wounds, EVE is rescued by Adam - a human scavenger left behind on Earth after the 'Final War.' The two decide to work together, with EVE assisting Adam retrieve a Hyper Cell from the ruins of Eidos 7.

After retrieving the pwer source, and uncovering another fellow Airborne member in the form of Lily (would it have been more on the nose if she had been named Lilith instead?), Adam takes the two to Xion (which I kept pronouncing the Kingdom Hearts way. But which the game would have me believe is pronounced 'Zion' like the last human city in the Matrix trilogy), a bastion for the surviving humans on Earth.

It is here they meet Orcal, the city's leader and supposed prophet. Unlike most of the other humans in Xion, he is more machine than human. In exchange of the Hyper Cell, Orcal informs EVE that in order for her to complete her mission to kill the Elder Naytiba, she must collect four cores from Alpha Naytibas. This would create a key granting her entry to the Naytiba nest where the Elder Naytiba resides.

Cue the structured narrative where EVE is forced to go on numerous fetch quests to complete her task.

While the main narrative was primarily focused on collecting Hyper Cells and Alpha Cores, the side quests were where the citizens of Xion were humanised even though it became increasingly obvious they weren't exactly organic. From the masks worn by the guards to Enya's admittedly robotic frame and body. Then, there was EVE's discussion with Digg2r where he opines on what it means to have a soul and the nature of sentience when it comes to artificial beings.

Themes which, of course, were tackled earlier in works of NieR: Automata. Admittedly, I have not played the title but I've seen enough video breakdowns and read enough internet dissertations to understand Stellar Blade doesn't quite reach the same heights in terms of its world-building and atmosphere of a post-apocalyptic world.

This was especially prevalent during EVE's confrontation with Raven and Adam's 'villain' monologue at the end. Let's start with Raven, shall we?

Throughout EVE's quest to collect Alpha Cores, she stumbles upon Legacies left behind by the 2nd Airborne Squad. In it, Raven reveals the truth of the humans: they are androids who sought to replace the existing humans. In order to ensure their survival, humans dabbled with methods to enhance speed up their evolution and find a means to fight back, resulting in the creation of Naytibas.

Raven, having been driven insane by this knowledge, defects to the Elder Naytiba's side. Unfortunately, he does not see her as a worthy specimen to join up with and instead intends to fuse witih EVE to create a new human race (how this actually works isn't exactly explained well. Nor does the game really make Adam truly empathetic during this moment as he talks about past regrets but doesn't provide enough context or time for EVE, or the player character to make their decision). Her final fight reads like a jealousy-filled rage. If Bechdel tests could be applied to actual characters, Raven would have failed miserably.

Honestly, if they had made the penultimate boss a fight with a corrupted Tachy (especially with her personal connections to EVE), it would have felt more bittersweet. While they DO bring Tachy back for the second Alpha Naytiba fight, it would have been better from a narrative plotbeat if her and EVE fought over ideological differences. Plus, you know, my own personal headcanon where they might have been romantically entangled.

Then, of course, there was Adam, revealed as the Elder Naytiba in disguise. And though allusions are made to his actual identity, it would have been better in the final confrontation if Adam had provided more of a exposition lore dump and admitted he was actually Raphael Marks (rather than it be explained through his database entry).

Then his whole plan was to fuse with EVE because the Andro-Eidos and Naytibas could not coexist? What does that even actually achieve? Where did Adam even go? Is he a disembodied voice in EVE's head? Can Andro-Eidos even procreate? If not, how does it even further the human race?

Honestly, the decision to refuse his offer and return to the Colony made more sense from a narrative and character standpoint as it showed EVE was sceptical of the 'truth' she had been fed and was searching for answers. A sequel could have seen EVE fight against Mother Sphere or finding a means to preserve humanity's legacy.

That said, one can clearly see Mother Sphere was DEFINITELY created by a man. For, if the Andro-Eidos can't procreate and Mother Sphere just creates all the 'humans,' there is absolutely no need to design any of the Airborne Squads in the way they look in the game. But also, Mother Sphere's preferred form is a lolita-esque girl? Please. Raphael Marks, your terrible tastes are showing.

Gameplay-wise, Stellar Blade is flashy and polished. But though some of its mechanics could be described as Soulslike, the game also included numerous difficulty options and had accessibility options that made certain activities funner. What threw me, though, was the fact EVE's ponytail could only be changed in the Options menu rather than be a choice when she gets it styled at the hair salon in Xion.

While the combat did have its moments, I found the introductions of ultimate attacks by the last few bosses the most egregious to avoid (mostly because I always seemed to be low on ammo for the drone-gun and the fact auto-aim usually kept it aimed at the main body of the boss rather than on the orbs I needed to shoot at to interrupt their attack within the time limit). Still, the provision of Water Pumps to instantly revive was a life-saver to keep EVE pushing through until the end.

I also enjoyed the fishing, once I'd set up the accessibility options to make it easier, and found it relaxing. My main gripe with the gameplay was how floaty the platforming could be as even though EVE was at a height where she could grab the lip of a platform, she would not do so until I found the double-jump. This, obviously, meant I had to return to maps to ensure I managed to grab all the collectibles (in the end, though, I still missed ONE camp - presumably in the Desert), which was somewhat irritating.

Despite the terrible endings to Stellar Blade, I still enjoyed my time with the game. I suppose what made the ending to Stellar Blade worse was that I could see where they were going but they didn't quite nail the execution. In fact, I would have preferred if there was a little more game where EVE could have come to her own decision instead of having Adam present her an ultimatum because the developers ran out of time to have it reach a more natural conclusion.

On a side note, I would have also liked it if Raven and Lily had changed names as the game was clearly trying to stress its biblical creation metaphor.

While I'm not sure the direction a sequel might go, the developers might have suffered a blow to its reputation by trying to push generative AI usage. But we shall see! At the very least, I hope they're able to provide a more satisfying conclusion to whatever future game they develop.

#video games #stellar blade #eve x tachy #humans are their own worst enemies #organic vs synthetic #naytibas #andro-eidos #knowledge is the fruit of evil?

Veil Between (Part 1)

It is with great sadness I interrupt my five week streak of posts related to video games by providing a segment of the short story I completed just before the end of 2025. While I have finished another video game (Stellar Blade), I have not the capacity to write up a scathing impression of it as yet (given I've fallen ill and I did not want to inundate you, my dear reader, with yet more chatter of video games). Still, there is much to be said of it - much of it relevant to our current climes.

Speaking of which, at time of writing, it is but the middle of January and yet so much has already happened in 2026. Not much of it good. Yet the world turns and every day fades into the next.

There are times where I feel so powerless. I have neither wealth nor a huge platform to decry the heinous acts being committed. Worst of all, I have no private military do I command to cleanse the world anew. Or, perhaps, a little black notebook to insert names I find egregious in their abuse of power.

So I sit and contemplate the legacy of humanity and whether it has all been for naught.

But my blog, of course, is not meant to be a philosophical dissection of the human condition. Rather, it's a place I like to think I've carved out in the internet to showcase the things I enjoy (and perhaps bring a modicum of joy to the lucky person who stumbles upon it - be it on Tumblr or on Wordpress). So, without further ado, a snippet of my recent short story (which has already been published on Fictionpress and Wattpad) to keep you amused during these troubling times:

#personal blog #short story #veil between #occult horror #cosmic horror #why do I keep writing horror?#there's something oddly satisfying about it #it never feels like horror when I actually write it #maintaining a vibe is hard when you're the writer #writing

Stepping into the Spotlight

Everyone knows the main protagnoist of the Legend of Zelda franchise is the hero Link. Wearing his iconic green outfit and wielding the Master Sword, he often embarks on a quest to rescue the titular Priness Zelda from the clutches of Ganon (or whichever rendition he might be depending on the game in question). Occasionally, Zelda will fight alongside Link, providing him assistance with light magic. Yet while this premise still plays out during the initial opening moments of The Legend of Zelda: Echoes of Wisdom, Nintendo dares to flip the scrip for the first time in a long while. After freeing Zelda, it is Link who falls into the Still World and it is up to our favourite princess to save both him and the world from falling into disrepair.

There is a lot to love in Echoes of Wisdom, from the distinct visual style to the changes in combat. More importantly, by placing the emphasis on Princess Zelda as the main character, the game is able to put a unique spin on the tried and true formula that comes with Legend of Zelda titles.

Narratively, Echoes of Wisdom maintains a traditional three-arc story structure. Despite Ganon being banished by Link, rifts continue to spread around Hyrule. After returning to the castle where her father, the King, waits, a rift swallows both the monarch and his two loyal advisors before spitting out evil doppelgangers. Princess Zelda is then imprisoned in her own castle, awaiting execution. Powerless, it is not until a fairy by the name of Tri arrives, that Zelda is able to escape, now armed with the Tri Rod to summon up echoes of objects and monsters.

With these new powers at her command, Zelda embarks on a journey to close the rifts and rescue those trapped in the Still World - such as her father and Link. This involves travelling to the Gerudo Desert and Jabul Waters (where we see both River and Sea Zora) to assist them with their recent troubles. Along the way, Zelda faces off against dastardly foes as well as a fake impostor Link that does battle with one of his iconic weapons: sword, bow and bombs.

It is not until she returns to Hyrule Castle where she manages to rescue her father and defeat an echo of Ganon that the true antagonist reveals their identity as Null. Despite peace being restored to her home, the rest of the world is still in danger. Stepping into her role as Priestess, Zelda then journeys to Elden Mountain, the Faron Wetlands and Hebra Mountain to repair the rifts at the shrines dedicated to the Goddesses: Din, Nayru and Farore.

With their blessing, Zelda then ventures to the Eternal Forest where the Prime Energy dwells (shorthand, I suppose, for the Triforce). Unfortunately, Null is one step ahead. Having created an echo of Zelda herself, Null descends into the depths of the world and obtains the Triforce of Power. Though strengthened by a portion of the Prime Energy, Null realises they need all three to return the world into the void from which it originated from. Null targets Link first. Armed, however, with Courage and Wisdom, Link and Zelda fight back - ultimately destroying Null and granting the various Tris the ability to restore the world.

Thematically, Echoes of Wisdom does not stray too far from its tales of good versus evil; of selflessness in the face of danger. While we did get to see an interesting character arc from the leader of the Gorons: Darston as he wrestles with taking on the mantle of chief and indecision, the rest of the conflicts in Hyrule felt watered down and simplistic (now, if only Dradd and Kushara would just kiss, I'm sure all the troubles between their two tribes would be mended).

But what stood out to me the most during my playthrough of Echoes of Wisdom was how different Zelda played in contrast to Link. Like the princess she is, Zelda is not one for the front lines (except when she's able to pick up a rock and yeet it at the nearest monster). Rather, she fights with the echoes of enemies she's already defeated. Like a general directing her forces. Or a princess, in this case, commanding her subjects. After all, she IS wisdom personified. There's no need to risk herself in open warfare.

While Zelda does have access to many an echo, I found I would often rely on some tried and true favourites. Like the shark whenever there was a swimming portion, or the lynel during late-game battles. While I liked the Wizzrobes, I also liked using the Albatrawls as they seemed more willing to attack than Kreese echoes and, after powering up Tri, you could summon six of them at a time.

Traversal also saw a few changes when playing as Zelda. This included summoning Platbooms, Flying Tiles and countless beds to get where I needed to go. While I'm certain there were other tried and true methods I could have used, these were my favourite tools to brute force a method to get where I wanted and explore the entirety of the map.

Not to mention the various accessories! Zelda, girl, you're so stylish! And don't get me started on the various outfits she can also obtain through the game.

I suppose my only gripe with Echoes of Wisdom was that there was no way for Zelda to dash. And, by the time she unlocked her own steed, it was much easier to fast travel to all the unlockable warp points scattered across the map. Even with the slower loading speed that comes from it being a game relegated to the Nintendo Switch.

Overall, I very much enjoyed my time with The Legend of Zelda: Echoes of Wisdom. From its art style to the changes in gameplay, there was a lot to love. While the story hewed close to its roots, I still enjoyed my time exploring Hyrule and putting the world to rights. Now, if only it was as easy to do in real life.

By the time this post goes live, it'll be February 19th and goodness knows what will have happened to the world by then.

In other news, I finished a new horror short story at the end of 2025! And after waiting a day, started on a new one titled: The Box of Dreams that will be told from two perspectives. It's set in the fictional Australian town of Woollanoogatta and there will be monsters that haunt the darkness. In short, it's like Diablo but it's modern day and the creatures are eldritch in nature!

Now there's a thought. Maybe I'll add a character named Deckard Cain who will implore the main character to 'Stay awhile and listen.'

#video games #the legend of zelda #the legend of zelda: echoes of wisdom #zelda saves the day #link is the damsel #but he still slays #dradd x kusara #platbooms are so good

Wiccan Worship

There is something about tall women with a Received Pronunciation accent that tickles my fancy. Is it the Britishness of it all? Or is it something else hidden deep inside? Mayhap it's how smooth and buttery they all sound, or perhaps it's the confidence they seem to exude. All I know is that ever since Arcane wrapped up with its second season, my AO3 tags are still centred around Caitlyn Kiramman and Vi. And, after failling to prove my mettle against a Soulslike title, I retreated to a video game that always danced in my periphery. Given the additional free time I had, I, of course, decided to tackle it head-on. Only to be faced with another tall British lady (who may ignite a new shipping war in my heart).

Enter: Cereza. Or, as she is more commonly known, Bayonetta.

Releasing in 2009, Bayonetta was a tour de force of action gameplay from the mind of Hideki Kamiya. While I'd always been vaguely intrigued by the concept of a witch doing battle with the forces of heaven, I steered clear from the franchise. Mostly because I was a poor uni student but also by the fact most of the battles saw you being graded for your performance.

After enduring a typical Asian childhood, as well as the competitiveness of attending a selective high school, I was in no mood to be judged for how well I performed. And certainly not in a video game (a realm which I considered an escape from my usual twisted sense of perfectionism).

Is it any wonder why Soulslike and Rogue-likes only serve to aggravate me rather than being enjoyable? They just trigger my trauma response. Especially if I just scrape by a boss battle (guess it's the inner critic telling me how I could have done it better - never mind I'd entered the game blind and it's quite a feat to have gotten so far on just my third or fourth attempt).

Bayonetta however sat in my periphery. Always tantalising me from a distance. Like forbidden fruit.

Then, of course, there was the whole scandal during Bayonetta 3's release. Which, honestly, was probably what piqued my interest in the series again.

The story in Bayonetta keeps it simple. Our titular hero, after waking up from a 500 year slumber, knows only two things: her name and that she's a witch. Twenty years go by where she kills angels for sport, and to fulfil her contract with Inferno before she hears tell of an artefact called The Eyes of the World. Curiosity wins out and she sets off for the European town of Vigrid.

As she goes about tracking down the mystical gem, Bayonetta encounters intrepid journalist, Luka (who had been a mere boy when she was first unearthed from a coffin in the depths of a lake. And who also blames Bayonetta for the death of his father), a young girl who stumbles her way into heaven's warpath and another mysterious Umbra witch by the name of Jeanne. Along the way, she receives flashbacks of her past and the events leading to her being imprisoned inside a coffen for nigh on five centuries.

It is only later revealed the young bespectacled girl she encounters is her younger self, brought to the present, by her father (one of the last surviving Lumen Sages) in order to resurrect the Creator: Jubileus.

While the narrative is simple and the story beats predictable, Bayonetta manages everything off with panache. From the settings to the stylistic boss battles. But more importantly, the characters are so engaging they simply pull you along.

There is something to be said about a suave, confident and intelligent leading lady who leans into her sexuality. Bayonetta is cheeky and irreverent. Yet underneath it all, she also has a bleeding heart, especially when she looks after the younger version of herself (though, at the start, she hasn't quite made the connection). This and more makes Bayonetta stand above the rest when it comes to female protagonists. Especially given how unapologetic herself she is - be it when she stands up against the Creator, her father or even when she goes toe-to-toe with her fellow Umbran witch.

The other characters, too, get their time to shine. For me, the standouts were Jeanne with her enigmatic mystique and Luka with his himbo-esque charm.

Even though both start off as minor antagonists, the banter between them all (and Luka's growing respect for Bayonetta over the course of game) felt organic. Could it have done away with Luka ogling Bayonetta's chest while they were flying head-on towards a number of missiles? Probably. But this was also 2009. A time where strong female leads were few and far between. So what if it had a moment of self-indulgence? Bayonetta certainly wouldn't care.

And I suppose that is something I respect the game developers for. Bayonetta is no fragile wallflower. She's a powerhouse witch who uses everything at her disposal to her advantage.

When it comes to gameplay, Bayonetta focuses heavily on combos and dodging attacks. There's no stamina bar whittling down as our protagonist dances across the battlefield. Nor is there a focus on parrying attacks (though if you DO dodge at the last second, you can trigger Witch Time, which ensures your attacks deal higher damage). It's a combat system easy to grasp but hard to master, especially given the number of ways one can juggle the enemies up in the air to keep the combo meter going.

Wicked weaves also provided something a little different from the fairly rote combat. Coupled with 'Torture Attacks,' they gave the game additional flavour, contributing to Bayonetta's characterisation as a talented Umbra witch with a sadistic side. I especially liked being able to summon forth a fist or a booted heel to crush angels underfoot.

While optional, the game also featured challenges in the form of Alfheim portals. Completing these would grant Bayonetta items that could help increase her stats, be it health or magic. The only downside? Having to find them (which, occasionally included running back through a level because it would only spawn after certain events).

Bayonetta also features items to assist in combat. However use of these items lowers one's grades. Something I didn't like much but understood why they incorporated as an incentive for hardcore players to challenge themselves during multiple playthroughs. Still, it would have helped a little if I wasn't so harshly given a stone trophy when I was just trying to figure out my way through the attack patterns of the foes before me.

After enduring a shameful defeat at the hands of Wo Long: Fallen Dynasty, it was refreshing to play a game that I could readily adjust as needed to feed my desire to keep pushing on. It helps, too, that Bayonetta is such a colourful character with a wonderful support cast to help round out her sharper edges. More importantly, it was a fun few hours that didn't feel the need to drag out the plot or gameplay. A skill not many games have these days where they pad out the length with unnecessary content that serves only to aggravate rather than enrich the gaming experience.

That said, I've been following the story of everyone's favourite Umbra witch. While I understand there's some disappointment with her ending up with Luka in the third game (and has no-one mentioned the age gap? She's like...600 years older than him! The scandal!), he doesn't seem all that offensive in this first game. Rather, he seems like an adorable golden retriever who believes them a ladies man.

Still, I can definitely see why people also ship Bayonetta with Jeanne. The two have a chemistry stemming from their friendship. Plus, both are unapologetic in who they are.

My only sticking point? The two of them would totally try to out-top the other. And I still can't say for certain who would win. But, at least, it will be glorious?

#video games #bayonetta #witchy goodness #umbra witch #lumen sages #dark vs light #except light is evil?

Trending Blogs

Recently Viewed Blogs

The Writing Corner