#post-station

[pangeen]

" Japan's longest post station town for about 1km

📍Nagano Prefecture【Narai-juku】.

The tranquil landscape, where historic buildings and four seasons of nature, gives visitors an impression that makes them travel back in time.

Naraijuku is the longest inn town in Japan, with a 1-kilometer stretch of townscape that retains the atmosphere of the Edo period.The tranquil landscape of historical buildings and seasonal nature will take visitors back in time. "

// © 𝗥𝗲𝗼

[distinctlydom]

Post Station: Astro Bot

Previously Completed Game: Fire Emblem: Engage

I cannot gush enough about this game.

I cannot properly express into words what it is I love about this game.

It is truly a paradox.

It is a classic platformer in the style of Super Mario 64, Spyro, Crash, Gex, Banjo Kazooie, Conker's Bad Fur Day, you name it, it will be here. In some of those cases, literally, as it also is a collect-a-thon. Featuring chibi robot versions of any Playstation mascot, exclusive, or big money draw of the past 30+ years.

I could call it a nostalgia pop like I have in MOST of these Post Stations and run away into the night. But then my love of this game wouldn't be properly expressed. I'll finish talking about in a way that satisfies me, and still not have my love fully expressed.

It was a fun, challenging way to spend a few hours of time for a few days for a couple of months. There was not a thing I would have rather of done every time I picked up the game. And that is not something I can say for many games or many hobbies.

Another reason this is slow to come out, I have no idea what I am playing next. We'll list off the options and surprise everyone in a couple of months.

Next game: The ones we own: Star Wars: Fallen Order, It Takes Two or Trinity Trigger (If I can get the missus on there.), Dragonball: Sparking Zero, New Pokemon Snap, Megaman Battle Network Collection; A Lifetime of Switch JRPGs; Dragon Age: Veilguard The ones we don't: Yugioh Early Days Collection; Super Mario Wonder; Super Mario RPG; Unicorn Overlord; Diofield Chronicle

[distinctlydom]

Post Station: Fire Emblem Engage

I am writing this a full week before I actually beat the game. Because the end of this game isn't going to change my opinion of the game.

Fire Emblem Engage is a fun JRPG strategy game by Nintendo with great new and returning mechanics and the same or similar generic story that most JRPGs have.

That statement can be made about (almost) every Fire Emblem game I have ever played. And whatever last minute twist Engage has isn't going to change that.

I love Sacred Stones. I love Awakening. Both are some of my all-time favorite game experiences. The cast of Awakening definitely had me shipping, even if it wasn't publicly on Tumblr.

But none of the games since have had me in my head like FE13 or event to the lesser extent of FE8. And I have played: Every. Single. One. Since FE7 was shown to me by an elementary school friend.

I haven't finished most of them which includes both Gamecube games, Fates (Got the 3-in-1 cartridge editon), Valencia: Echoes and Three Houses. (Technically finished one run of the Shadow Dragon remake.) And I can draw that to two things.

The more boring thing is technical. The Gamecube's slow and unintuitive U.I. and Three Houses Persona-esqe, takes forever, involved school introduction.

But more frequently, it's the characters. I didn't care a lick about anyone in any of those unfinished games. (Exception is FE9 and 10. U.I. kicked the shit out of me there.) Something about Corrin's torn between two families Shakespearean drama didn't pull me, probably why I tried playing Revelations first and suffered for it.

Engage definitely falls into the rest of the pile away from FE8 and FE13 for me.

Supports conversations are boring.

Story is...well...basic JRPG, as most FE's are but exceedingly so this time around.

And, to top it all off, I feel like the art and character design went way down hill. Admittedly, nothing will top FE6 to FE8 for me in that regard, but starting with Three Houses, models are generic and samey and there is no beautiful-painted portraiture to distract me from that. Or, anymore killer pixel are.

All that said, I can't say I DISLIKED Engage. Hell, I enjoyed playing almost every map and found new exciting challenges in each. And the Somiel was the perfect amount of micromanaging that will probably be a mainstay of the series with Three House's success.

I just didn't find my nostalgic love for the series in it. Even with the core mechanic BASED around nostalgic love for the series. And I don't think I will ever again.

Previous game: Mortal Kombat 1: Chaos Reigns Next game: Astro Bot

[distinctlydom]

Post Station: Baldur's Gate 3

Previously Completed Game: Spider-Man 2

Guys, I don't care how spoiled plot-wise I was, this was so fucking cathartic. I didn't realize how cathartic it would be to make the choices for the character and party I had built and was enjoying, even the characters I wasn't using

Even the epilogue tied me up with a bow. I have my own little head canon of my Dragonborn Monk Crhiv, his mate Shart, their pet Owlbear exploring the world and visiting their friends, occasionally paying a visit to Halsin and Gale. Happily awaiting Karlach and Wyll to complete their mission to remove themselves from Avernus. Wishing Lae'zel the best as she frees the Githyanki with the help of the Githzerai. Happy that I told Orpheus to fuck off because I didn't want to die or be a mind flayer even if it doesn't totes line up with how selfless I saw my Crhiv being. Astarion being BG3 Batman. The other companions that were more fan service for BG 1 and 2 then original.

It was all so much fun.

As you can tell, the story was a big part of this game for me. Being able to build my story for my character. So much fun.

How about gameplay? AKA the biggest point of interaction in this game?

It was fine. It was fun. I get to play D*D by myself.

But GOD was I cheesing it. Save scumming. Finding the shortcut. Looking up answers, especially later on. Using my party for their very clearly stat pumped skills. (As my partner and I have short-changed them: Wyll = "Charisma Bitch" and Astarion = "Lock Bitch")

The fun was still had, though. Even if we aren't using are complete ability to do so.

I'm absolutely going to go back at some point to finish the Alternate Universe BG3 story for my current PC Rogue Cul. Already planning the shades of grey. (Astarion has a strong likelihood of ascending.)

Definite Next Game, possible Game after: Fire Emblem: Engage. I need to complete a Fire Emblem game after BG3 and Three Houses has too much of the school element for me to get into it. After that...well....getting nostalgic:

[distinctlydom]

I've been meaning to make a pinned post.

Doing it during the boopening just makes it age like milk.

Hi, I'm Dom.

I don't post a lot here. Because this is where I keep original thoughts. (I don't share a lot of those like I used to.)

I do have a reblog tumblr. See: distinctlynotdom

[distinctlydom]

Post-Station: Spider-Man 2

Previous Completed Game: Mortal Kombat 1

Well, I don't feel bad.

There was a level of guilt I had about doing this before Fallen Order or Baldur's Gate. But with the quality of games like this, as well as the nature of games like Spider-Man 2, compartmentalizing and planning on ways and methods to beat the game is SO easy: I'll do this mission and come back later. I'll do this whole sub story and come back later. I'll finish this main mission and be back this weekend.

Definitely can't do that in Baldur's. You can theoretically do that Star Wars: Fallen Order, but the minutia is much less smooth. Spider-Man 2 is built for that style of play. Frankly, my style of play.

Add on top of that: fantastic story, the same great gameplay as the first two, (we can't always be evolutionary), and well...those two things. I could talk about "great graphics" or "tease of sequels" but those things seem redundant for any game at this point.

Biggest issues are either, unfortunately expected, (slow-downs and crashes) or incredibly personal (Mary Jane Watson in The Last of Us: Part Spider-Man 2).

A successful game played, and a time well had by me.

So...what to do next?

We could go for the bigger mountains of Baldur's Gate 3, Star Wars: Fallen Order or the silly purchase of Live A Live because it was on sale and impossible to find on Amazon. Or something similar to Live A Live like Dragon Quest XI or multiple other JRPGs that I have sitting around.

OR: An idea that may or may not work out. My sister saw me look at a game while Christmas shopping and not-so-stealthily picked it up for me. I figured another JRPG to the pile until I read its hook. Each of its three party members can be played by someone else separately. Called Trinity Trigger.

Feels like a fun thing to play with my partner. If I ever do that Post-Station it maybe a while, but I like it as an idea.

Possible Next Games: Star Wars: Fallen Order; Baldur's Gate (Cul Playthrough); Any JRPG; Trinity Trigger with Partner. Maybe a third friend if I can find them.

[distinctlydom]

Post Station: Mortal Kombat 1

Previous Completed Game: Octopath Traveler 2

That was a quick one...

Well, that is because it is a fighting game. My partner and I had the story mode completed last weekend in 3 hours. After playing it for like...5 hours another before that.

Which is why I made sure to beat the Invasions mode before that. I could ALSO do the Arcade mode but...that is infinitely more repetitive. Invasions modes was...also repetitive. But at least there were mildly increasing stat buffs to make it easier to do.

Mortal Kombat is a fighting game. Reps are "part & parcel". I enjoyed the story, I have a bunch of the gear and costumes from Invasions, I can finish getting the rest easily.

And now my partner and I can play it and enjoy at our leisure.

It honestly feels cheap buying Spider-man 2 with this as a win. I probably will end up doing that. But...I'll feel bad.

Optimistic Next Game: Star Wars: Fallen Order or Baldur's Gate 3 Pessimistic Next Game: Spider-man 2

[distinctlydom]

Post-Station: Octopath Traveler 2

Previous completed Game: Marvels Midnight Suns

Yes, it took me (checks open tab) almost 5 months to complete ONE more game. Do you see why I made this a feature? Might shame myself into doing this more. Which will also means...more games...

I really don't have the budget for that.

Anyway, Octopath Traveler 2. I can't really say it was much different from the first Traveler. It has the Day/Night feature and a few other new bits and bobs. They also clearly want you to finish all 8 character stories.

Ain't nobody got time for that.

So, I did what I did with Octopath Traveler. I finished the main four that I used for the entire game and called it finished. Unlike the first game, I didn't get the end credits when I beat the game with the character I started with...so I feel a little cheated. But you know what? Everyone I cared about? I know their stories.

Were they original? No.

But I got to experience them. And, more importantly, I got to enjoy the lovely mechanics of this game again. Which is really the reason I bought this in the first place. I should probably finish Bravely Default to because it has the exact same system.

But...that would be another 40 hours squeezed into lunch breaks and weekdays that...honestly could get a little chore-like.

So how about, an RPG with a little bit of...balls?

Next game: BALDUR'S GATE THR/BWAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!

No...there is no way I will be finishing that game anytime soon.

So...we have two choices...

Next game: Star Wars: Fallen Order or Mortal Kombat 1.

Hopefully back in a month or less. I have to finish at least one of those for Spider-man 2.