Ran into some cosplayers this year attending GDC, was kind of a nice change of pace. Might be a fun meet-up idea for next year - exchanging ideas and experience in the craft of both game dev and cosplay.
Was initially apprehensive to go to a concert instead of continuing to do "professional" stuff at GDC but POW: XIV at the DNA Lounge has been insane. Miles Morkri pulled out something straight out of math rock, Aivi and Surasshu continue to do great work, and ZAKU's sound is goals. Even more up next
Thank you Admire Vega
God, they're so cute. Thank you, Cygames.
At the very least, I have realized I've been sleeping on Juri vocals. Massive props to Mariko Nagai.
Sad times today. I wanted to like the new song "BEAST MODE" from the new Shiny Colors mixed unit Σ Desire. "SUPER DUPER DREAMER", their main track, is a banger (thank you Yu-ki Kokubo and Eunsol(1008), the SHHis power never fails) but the vibes were just off? The music video is lovely though.
"After Run" is genuinely such a refreshing song in the SHHis discography and a beautiful encapsulation of the pair's relationship. Been a major mood lifter and makes me want to go on a run - but maybe when its a little warmer. For now, I'll settle with getting more work done.
Win Variation (VA: Hika Tsukishiro) and her struggle against Orfevre (VA: Yoko Hikasa) is so much funnier with the context of Monster Strike Apocalypse - Hika Tsukishiro's DEBUT role - where Ep 3, Lucifer (Hikasa) just rolls Netzach (Tsukishiro, then Kugisaki) while she's Phoenix Dancing (flailing).
It also stands to mention that Uno Blaqlo era Bellemule does also have its own subdued track with Badbye Goodbye, which served as a nice contrast to their other tracks and a good reason to listen DOK instead of just the singles. Arguably, this might be even closer to the sound of Fading Stars.
Speaking of Bellemule, I've always been partial to the 2023 Uno Blaqlo era as I got into the group from "NDA", but warming up to the new sound. I view "Rainbow Gradation" as the first release and my favorite in the current era, as "Daring" feels like immi was still keeping with the previous style.
If someone said this was a new Bellemule song, I would've believed it. SHHis's "Fading Stars" and Bellemule's "Falling Star" being similar is not too surprising as both groups have k-pop inspired concepts but hearing A-bee and immi era Bellemule melancholy in SHHis from Yuki Honda is cool.
I'm playing Ender Lillies for an Archipelago group I'm in and I have never realized how many areas have pustulant walls or ground. So many areas of blue just taunting me, never mind the areas that have a pathway blocked off. Hopping to get the traversal abilities soon.
Wakana Maruoka giving a brief pause between speaking as Rinze and as herself to let everyone either cover their ears or laugh as they accept their fate is probably one of the funniest things to discover about Shiny Colors lives. Absolute menace that I did not see coming.
Day 1 of MAGFest done, which means doing the most important part of the day - clearing out streetpass
Feels so surreal to see Uma Musume: Cinderella Gray come to an end - its been the series that stuck with me since first getting into the franchise in 2023 - but after reading the final chapter, I couldn't be happier. ALSO OH MY GOD, MY GIRL WIN VARIATION SPOTTED
New SSR pull dropped
Manifesting for Mili
Watching the Project Sekai Movie got me to do an 8-hour-total round trip solo drive the next day, and I don't know if there's anything I can say to match that energy.
I've never watched the series, and I still thoroughly enjoyed it. I LOVE MEMBER INTRO SONGS. Something special about characters each taking turns to show how they'll burrow into your brain.
Pretty Guardian Sailor Moon: The Super Live got me crying at song one. HELP??
Finished this in 2022 but decided to finish the last few achievements I had lying around for the 100% - one of my favorite games of all time.
TogeToge at Anime Expo JPOP Sound Capsule on Thursday but I'm only going Saturday 😭 - Manifesting that this means a North America tour sometime in the future
Quick Recap of Ender Magnolia experience: I hate teleportation. Yes, I did sob a little when I saw her again and heard that song come on. Yes, I hate Vel. Yes, I did expect something bad to happen to an NPC after I got that last piece. And no, I did not get much sleep while playing this game.
Next step: grind scraps and material to 100% the game.
Ender Magnolia feels like a fresh take while still not losing the core appeal of Ender Lillies (Counters, among other things) - trading eldritch nun monsters for machinery and blight for fumes. Outside of some annoying hidden rooms (I cheated on a couple), it was a smooth adventure. Massive props.
Speaking of relationships, Ender Magnolia starts off with one of its biggest changes: the main character talks.
Seriously though, I love that there's more talking in the game. Spirits get more personality, and you even get small skits. Really helps you avoid losing track of who's who.
Without getting into spoiler territory, the relationship between the main character and the bosses you encounter are a lot more direct. Whereas Ender Lillies focused on the decaying of the world, Ender Magnolia's major throughline feels very personal, with a focus on loss and relationships.
Finished Ender Magnolia, and it really is a perfect sequel. I love all of the gameplay and setting differences - I think they all combine into an amazing contrast to Ender Lillies.
While Ender Lillies leaned into horror and systemic tragedy, Magnolia focuses primarily on personal tragedies.
Ender Magnolia is fun but man, has it been a roller coaster of "am I actually good at this game?"
The iconic 1-2 combo: dying when a boss is at 10% and then immediately getting deleted by the boss's first moves during the salty run-back.