Off Topic Discussion Megathread

[ReynTime]

So it's not a Waifu collector this time? That's good news.

"Waifu collecting" was a gimmick specific to 2. It doesn't and never did define the series.

From what I heard from a friend, it's far closer to XC1 in terms of vibes.

I'm finding the plot to be better paced and darker than 1. And it suffers a lot less from the problem in 1 and 2 where they focus on 2 or 3 characters too much and everyone else is just kinda there, with more evenly distributed screen time and development.
It honestly might be the best of the four Xenoblade Chronicles games. While 2 is the black sheep at this point.

[ZedxKayn]

I decided to check out pkmn again after dropping the series at sun and moon and ohhhh my God it's still so bad. I mean it's giving me mixed feelings, I've cared about it so much and I still do but I can't stand being constantly interrupted by annoying NPCs. And gen 8 is imo by far the ugliest gen so far, too. If it weren't at just the right level of Japanese for me to practice I don't know if I'd keep playing sword. At least I know for sure how to say "My big bro is the coolest and he's got a Charizard!! And also I'm gonna be the strongest champion" or whatever.

Brilliant Diamond is so much more pleasant so far but for sure that's in virtue of basically being a game from almost 5 generations ago.

[Cincierta]

To the InstaCart guy who came in at 7:30 am this morning and was extremely rude to us bakery ladies to the point he was using sexist remarks about us all because the bread he needed was too hot to slice: stay out of my store and I hope you never come back.

[dapperfaffer]

LoL Haru.
shoulda been a perma

[Midareyukki]

Didn't play Sun and Moon, but I did play Ultra Sun. From what I hear, it's largely the same until the latter portions. Rather than chasing the World's Greatest Mother down a portal and watch her child disown her on the spot, we're instead treated to lovecraftian horror when our cute lion pal is possessed by an evil prism. Said prism then yeets itself into a wormhole, we chase after it, and it becomes a giant overpowered lamp or something. Then the wormholes open up again and out come every antagonist to try and commandeer Aether Foundation, only to be kicked out by a 10 year old.

Ultra Beasts only really get explored in texts you find scattered while searching for Big Lamp Guy. But even then it's clearly just passing mentions and doesn't go into too much detail.

I wish TPC would realize that they've added in so much to the franchise and would just consolidate them or focus on them. We went from Mega Stones to Z Moves to Gigantamax, as well as Alolan and Galarian formes. It's clear that they don't have a guiding thread and don't know how to handle all the stuff they've added in. And being dismissive of the previous games' mechanics to put the new gen on the spotlight doesn't help.

[Theodric]

Pokemon is one of those games that I sort of wish grew up alongside its audience but I understand why it didn't. I guess I pretty much outgrew it - haven't touched a Pokemon game in years and what I've seen of some of the weird character designs and localisation choices hasn't done much to sell me on them.

They're also not the most nuanced or story driven games around in the first place which typically kills my interest in a setting. With that said, I'm looking forward to Tactics Ogre Reborn and Diofield Chronicle. They seem set to have what I want in spades.

[RobynDaBank]

I loved X and Y. It made me tear up. Sun and Moon weren't enjoyable for me because Lusamine was... very kooky. Almost bordered on fan service. Also seeing our character's dumb smiling face in every damn cutscene... I didn't finish Ultra Moon but I got to the last Gym. 99% the same aside from new characters butting their way in ever so often, battles with them, and a slight change to the initial Team Aether ending.

[Midareyukki]

Lusamine was... very kooky.

[Thaciscokidd]

I absolutely adored Omega Ruby/Alpha Saphire. The addition of Zinna (especially in the manga), the relationship with your rival/other characters, and the evolution of Wally was a masterstroke.

One thing I do have to say about Sun and moon. Besides Wally's new theme in ORAS, both of Guzma's themes were straight bangers and fit him to a T.

[Midareyukki]

I absolutely adored Omega Ruby/Alpha Saphire. The addition of Zinna (especially in the manga), the relationship with your rival/other characters, and the evolution of Wally was a masterstroke.

...
*cough* I only got AS because I love Archie...

Hey, at least he did not disappoint in being the loveable dumb*** I hoped he'd be, and the game is amazing!