Getting my thoughts down while they're still fresh in my mind. I'll go back and read the thread afterwards:
MSQ:
I had a strong suspicion that a cure for Tempering was coming, and in spite of it being a side-trip from all the Garlean drama (or maybe because of it), I rather enjoyed it. The bit with the supercomputers was kind of dumb, though. "Oh, no, the computers are overheating! Shut them down!" "No, wait just a bit longer!" *Computers provide the answer and then melt down into scrap.* Rather than this... Why not, you know, just shut them down, build some better cooling (even it it just amounts to MOAR CRYSTALS), and then try again? Why did this have to be their one and only attempt?
Anyway, looks like they now have anti-tempering porxies a-plenty, but given the Aether required to cure just one Kobold (albiet one with an especially serious case of Tempering), I wonder how practical it will be. I felt that the deep sorrow of the un-Tempered High Priest was a bit much, to be honest. Our interactions with the Beast Tribe, including the decidedly un-Tempered 789th Order, really seem to paint a picture of their culture as being one where life is pretty cheap. Even without Titan's followers being their leaders, I'd still imagine the Orders would be pioneering dangerous experiments with Bombards and maintaining a cutthroat race for rank and prestige. While slaying Ga Bu's parents might not have been something he'd have done if not Tempered, unless they were his personal friends I doubt he'd be suffering the soul-wrenching sorrow exhibited here.
The bit with the Bloody Executioners was pretty good, as well, and in spite of his being a smug bastard I rather enjoyed the acting captain. He made some reasonable arguments for their case, I thought, even if those of the Admiral were better.
And then... *Sigh* Xenos and Fandaniel. Xenos is as Xenos as ever, with no apparent motivation beyond his rematch. Fandaniel's professed motivations were disappointing, to say the least, that he wants to destroy the world and himself. The fact that he's clownish, as well (and his interactions with Xenos, where he pushes the boundaries of Xenos's tolerance felt VERY similar to what I imagine actual court jesters were like), paints a very Kefka-esque picture. But he's not Kefka. Kefka spent the first half of his game as a lackey, and his ascendance to near-godhood was an amazing and horrifying twist. Fandaniel's already at that godhood stage, and we frankly haven't gotten to get to know him like we did Kefka. Anyway, his motivations seem cheap and overly simplistic, and I'm hoping beyond hope that he voiced them simply to spur the good guys into action, and that he's hiding deeper motivations beneath. Of course, I had hoped that Varis's crazed speech about uniting the races to stand as equals against the Ascians was such a ploy, but if it was that fact was never revealed before the character's death. On the other hand, Emet-Selch, too, entered the scene with hateful capering, but his story turned out to be amazing.
Basically, while I hold out hope that Fandaniel is more than just a villianous prop, I'm not gonna hold my breath. Xenos, I gave up on ages ago.
Eden:
I'll admit, I did not in any way predict the path this storyline was going to take. I'd been convinced that Gaia really was the Oracle of Darkness counterpart to Ryne's Oracle of Light, that she most likely had a strong connection to the Thirteenth Shard (possibly even an origin there), and that the "fairy" really was a powerful Voidsent manipulating her for some unknown purpose.
What we got instead was an Ascian love story. I'm actually not entirely displeased, even if I felt that the writing was weak at times (as it has been throughout the storyline - seriously Ryne, that was a BAD IDEA!).
The reveal that Gaia was a reincarnated Ascian was cool, and I was actually pretty moved by the tragedy of Mitron and Loghrif's tragic parting, unable to be reunited even in future reincarnations given Mitron's inability to even die.
The reveal that Mitron was Eden WOULD have been cool, if not for the fact that upon transforming into the largest and most powerful Sin Eater he somehow grew a control deck, computer system, and monitors inside of himself. What? Why? I don't even... It jus stressed my suspension of disbelief a bit too far. I guess he might have constructed it within himself, once he regained some of his power? Was his goal to convince them that he was a tool or a machine, just as we the audience came to expect? Seems like kind of a cheap misdirect, if that was the case.
And we now know that Ardbert REALLY DID cause the Flood of Light. BIG OOF. Good thing his consciousness is subsumed into ours; I think this would have been a bit too much to take.
Was disappointed to learn that E9 boss Cloud of Darkness was just another pseudo-primal construct; though this might have been in part because I was so convinced that CoD was behind Gaia's situation in general. The bosses in general were interesting fights. E12 boss seemed familiar to me, but I couldn't quite place him. I don't remember him from FFXIII, and that's where most of the "fanservice" the Eden raids have is coming from.
Some of the story beats seemed repetitive. There seemed to be an awful lot of Mitron proclaiming that he'd cleanse Gaia of her mortal self and return her to her true state. Why didn't he just do it? Was amused by his contemptuous, "uh, no" response to the suggestion that Gaia's, Ryne's, or even pre-Ascian-Mitron's flyspeck lives had some relevance or meaning compared to that of an Ancient.
The ending was all right, but Gaia seemed awfully intact by the end of it considering that Mitron dramatically destroyed so many of her memories during the cutscenes. I guess he missed the most crucial ones.
All in all, my favorite takeaway from this is that Ancients DID have feelings of love and romance, just as mortals do. Emet confirmed that close friendships were a thing, but now we've confirmed romance, as well. I kind of do hope that Mitron and Loghrif are able to find each other again in some future reincarnation!
Werlyt:
Ugh, the story for this is so bad. So, we have our motivations for the Au Ra kids. They want to protect their cute little sister! I guess Melisande wasn't cute or little enough, or something, since she was first on the chopping block. The other part of their amazing plan? Perfect the Weapon project, so they can turn the ultimate Weapon against their Garlean masters! Except, you know, they die every time they pilot one and have known that was the case from the beginning. And if they have any plan that would allow them to, you know, TAKE the ultimate weapon once the Garleans had used them all to perfect it, that plan was vague, at best.
The story has not been kind to Gaius's character, either. He can't possibly have been blind to the atrocities committed by many, possibly most Garleans in positions of authority, and yet he treats this knowledge as some kind of epiphany. Given what we knew of Gaius up until now, he seemed more the sort who believes that might is a necessity to rule, and that those who possess that might will inevitably use it to rule just and fairly. While the Garlean empire might have undesirable elements, once Garlemald had established its rule over the other nations it would have the luxury to bring its undersirable elements under control, as well. Now, he just looks like a fool; like he was so taken with his personal philosophy that he genuinely didn't notice the atrocities being comitted by his peers.
I would have been much happier if Gaius had stuck to his convictions, and stood as a rebel in opposition to his empire because the Ascians were UNDERMINING the values he stood for. His current path would be better as one where he acknowledges that the Ascians played everyone for fools, and is working to rooth them out so that his nation can be restored to the glory it deserves, helmed by the strong in order to shephard the weak. Instead, this man who with what we once took to be his very dying breath pleaded with us not to let the weak lead the people astray, seems to have toss aside every value he had in order to assume a new set that aligns with those considered to be tradiitonally virtuous. He's practically a stranger now.
His relationship with Livia was touched on, as well, one that the main scenario back in the day made out to be ambiguously creepy. I'd always been one to assume that that infamous scene did imply that they had a sexual relationship, but I saw it more as being one-sided; Livia was infatuated with him, and Gaius indulged her even though he did not share her feelings, from motivations both practical (it keeps her happy and motivated) and personal (she's his ward, and he does care about her, albiet in a somewhat detached sort of way). Now, we have dialogue claiming that he recognized her infatuation as dangerous obsession and tried to distance himself; there was precious little evidence of this prior, so it seems rather out of left field.
As for Valens... It seems like every time they introduce a new Garlean villain, they have to one-up the most blatantly evil of the villians who have come prior. While not (apparently) sexually abusive, as some feared given the cutscene at the end of Sapphire (which would have been weird, given that the man put on his armor before leading Allie away), it does seem as though he's a sadist who loves to indulge in physical abuse. He apparently both hates and wants to emulate Gaius, gathering a "family" of orphans of his own to abuse, and to teach the arts of abuse to. The game might as well have paved the Garlean hallways with puppies for him to kick, given the closing scene in which he fatally experiments on a man in front of his wife and daughter with the promise of their safety, and then upon his death declares they'll be the next test subjects. Yes, writers, we have discerned from your subtle hints that Valens is a Bad Man.
At least the fight was enjoyable, and while I didn't have the chance to try the Extreme version yet, I'm looking forward to it!
Originally Posted by Tsiron
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