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Sunday, April 12th, 2009
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3:44 am - Public Service Announcement
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If you haven't seen "Repo! the Genetic Opera" yet, DO IT. Seriously. But only if you're kinda twisted and don't have an issue with some really dark themes and some gore, I guess.
By the director of Saw, a rock opera with some kickass music, it has Sarah Brightman in it, and actually makes me have a small modicum of respect for Paris Hilton as an actress.
*Also, I almost forgot. Most of the wardrobe seems to either be from Hot Topic or fetish stores (and considering the film's budget, that's entirely possible), and at one point, a man sticks his hand into someone's chest cavity to use the corpse as a hand puppet. I cannot describe how awesome that is.
Really, though. What's not to love about a rock opera about a man who repossesses organs?
Convenient link to the trailer.
If that doesn't work, just search Youtube for "repo the genetic opera", it's all over the place.
current music: Legal Assassin
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(1 comment | comment on this)
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| Saturday, March 7th, 2009
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2:33 am - ... *head/desk*
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So I've been reading the news recently, mostly for lack of anything better to do on my breaks at work. It's fucking depressing. Doom and gloom and the economy and health care and...
Ugh.
I've been told I'm strangely conservative, for someone of my age and generation. I don't see it. I don't really consider myself conservative, or liberal, or moderate, or whatever.
What I am is thoroughly annoyed.
I don't think anyone in ANY position in ANY level of government is qualified to wipe their own asses, much less tell everyone else what to do. It doesn't matter if you vote Republican, Democrat, Green Party, independent, or Mickey Mouse. The ONLY thing everyone agrees is that SOMEONE has been regularly fucking up. Naturally, no one can agree on *who's* been fucking up. Personally, I think they're all right.
I don't know if you've noticed, but our government? It's kinda turned into the internet.
Everyone's screaming the other party's wrong, and most legislation turns into the Republicans going against everything the Democrats say because the Democrats said it and the Democrats going against everything the Republicans say because the Republicans said it. It doesn't even matter what it is any more, the party lines matter more than the actual issue. It's one giant flamewar.
The government can't fix the economy. (And the bailout is a terribly bad idea, but that's a different rant entirely.) The government has no business trying to run healthcare. The government has incomplete knowledge at best about green technology and climate issues, and no real interest in fixing anything. The government not only has absolutely no qualifications to dictate reproductive rights or differently-oriented marriages, but they don't actually GIVE A SHIT about either side of the debate. And people need to fucking stop expecting the government to take care of everything like... like... an overgrown mutated baby sitter.
The only way to get elected is to tell people what they want to hear, and the only way to *stay* elected is to maintain the status quo. Anything that can be fixed by government action CANNOT be fixed by popular action, which is why it's a problem to begin with. Therefore, NO ONE is going to take any action to actually fix anything.
So the government can live in its rhetorical fantasy world, but politicians need to GTFO and let people take care of their own damn selves.
We're not incapable of it, you know.
current mood:  annoyed
current music: The Memoirs of Sherlock Holmes
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(3 comments | comment on this)
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| Saturday, February 28th, 2009
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9:11 pm - What? I have this? Madness!
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O HAI LIVEJOURNAL!
I still have this. Awesome.
Stuff has happened, things have changed, there are rants in progress, and Coraline was full of awesome.
More in depth post later.
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(comment on this)
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| Tuesday, June 17th, 2008
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1:02 am - And ten thousand service workers rose up and demanded "What is this FUCKERY?!"
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So, long time no post, mostly because I've got another lj account and I keep forgetting to log onto this one. But this demanded that I spread my rage.
I don't know how many people read Good Housekeeping; I certainly don't. But I recommend people look into the June issue, because they are actively encouraging fucktards. They ran an article called "Don't Get Hooked By Hidden Fees". They actually suggest that people "cause a scene" to get what they want.
Yes, you read that correctly.
A respectable periodical is actually suggesting that their readership should act like irate children. Thus making service industry people's jobs much, much harder.
A direct quote from the article in question:
Another effective in-person tactic is to hold your ground and hold up the line. This approach can be effective when a business (say, a hotel) is trying to move customers through a queue and maintain a cordial atmosphere. Hotels are imposing plenty of fees these days; their revenue from such charges tripled from 2003 to 2006, according to consulting firm PriceWaterhouseCoopers. That's why you may find youself billed a $10-to $15-per-night "resort fee" even if you never use a pool towel; as a result, travelers who scored a great $69-per-night rate online may discover fees are raising their rate to $85 or $100.
Priceline.com fan Bruce Wagner of New York City has repeatedly acted out public displays of emotion to beat back such charges. In the past year, he stood at three hotel check-in desks and argued his way out of resort fees. A reasonable argument repeated frequently is often persuasive, particularly if there's a crowd, says Wagner. "Just gradually raise your voice until you get what you want," he says.
There have already been angry emails sent. The service industry is not pleased with this fuckery. But you know, more angry emails means we might actually make our point. So please feel free to join in the flaming.
Original links-
The post I stole the quote from.
The post that brought the matter to my attention.
Scans of the original article.
current mood: SMASH!
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| Tuesday, April 15th, 2008
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3:00 am - I LIVE!
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So, yeah, I guess I sort of dropped off of everyone's radar, didn't I? I think the last time I posted, I was working at Smoky Shadows. Things have changed.
I got fired from there about two weeks before Rod Runs, because I have problems dealing with high-pressure situations. Fair enough, that's true, so I don't have a problem with that like I did with getting fired from Snark Vista.
However. Getting fired from two jobs in a row isn't exactly conducive to self-esteem or very attractive on resumes. It didn't help that we were starting to head into the dead season. Fast forward seven months, and I finally got a job. I'm a cashier at Food City now. I don't like it, it kills my feet and my back, but hell, it's a paycheck.
I ran into Rex the other day, and things have apparently changed on his end too since I talked to him last (it'll probably take me a while to get caught up, dude). You miss a lot when you hide in your room for over half a year.
Anyway. I have a job now, so I feel like talking to people again. I'll try to keep up with this, but, as always, I make no promises. I guess this is just sort of a general heads up about why I vanished, and saying I'm back again.
current mood:  apathetic
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| Tuesday, September 25th, 2007
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1:30 pm - Now that's interesting
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Via Domain69 and frustratedpilot.
Your Score: Neutral-Good 80% Good, 54% Chaotic 
Plane of Existence: Elysium, "Blessed Fields". Description: The plane of peace. Notable Inhabitants: Guardinals - noble immortal humanoids with bestial features.
Examples of Neutral-Goods (Ethically Neutral, Morally Good)
Cloud Strife (FFVII)
Boogenhagen (FFVII)
Mother Theresa
Ghandi
Sidhartha Gautama (the Buddha)
Gandalf
Bilbo & Frodo Baggins
Samwise Gamgee
Indiana Jones
The Dali Lama
Ben (O-Bi-Wan) Kenobi
Luke Skywalker
Harry Potter
Hermionie
Dumbledore
Often goes along with the laws and desires of the group as being the easiest course of action, but ethical considerations clearly have top priority. May pursue quite abstract goals. Often aloof and difficult to understand.
Will keep their word to others of good alignment
Would not attack an unarmed foe
Will not use poison
Will help those in need
May work with others
Indifferent to higher authority
Indifferent to organizations
Neutral Good "Pure Good"
"Benefactor"
A neutral good [person] will obey the law, or break it when he or she sees it will serve a greater good. He or she is not bound strongly to a social system or order. His or her need to help others and reduce their suffering may take precedence over all else. Neutral good [people] do good for goodness' sake, not because they are directed to by law or by whim.
This alignment desires good without bias for or against order.
Other Alignments and Tendencies (Tendenices are what you would more often sway towards; esp. for Neutrals):
0-39% Good, 0-39% Chaotic: Lawful-Evil
0-39% Good, 40-60% Chaotic: Neutral-Evil
0-39% Good, 61-100% Chaotic: Chaotic-Evil
40-60% Good, 0-39% Chaotic: Lawful-Neutral
40-60% Good, 40-60% Chaotic: True Neutral
40-60% Good, 61-100% Chaotic: Chaotic-Neutral
61-100% Good, 0-39% Chaotic: Lawful-Good
61-100% Good, 61-100% Chaotic: Chaotic-Good
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(comment on this)
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| Friday, September 21st, 2007
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9:29 pm - THE MASTER IS BACK!
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5:45 pm - Meme Time
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Via Domain69.
Because I'm bored, and have nothing to do.
1.Your Middle Name:
2. Age:
3. Single or Taken:
4. Favorite Movie:
5. Favorite Song:
6. Favorite Band/Artist:
7. Dirty or Clean:
8. Tattoos and/or Piercings:
1. Do we know each other outside of Live Journal?
2. Whats your philosophy on life?
3. Would you have my back in a fight?
4. Would you keep a secret from me if you thought it was in my best interest?
5. What is your favorite memory of us?
6. Would you give me a kidney?
7. Tell me one odd/ interesting fact about you:
8. Would you take care of me when I'm sick?
9. Can we get together and make a cake?
10. Have you heard any rumors of me lately?
11. Do you/have you talk(ed) crap about me?
12. Do you think I'm a good person?
13. Would you drive across country with me?
14. Do you think I'm attractive?
15. If you could change anything about me, would you?
16. What do you wear to sleep?
17. Would you come over for no reason just to hang out?
18. Would you go on a date with me if i asked you?
19. If I only had one day to live, what would we do together?
20. Will you post this so I can fill it out for you?
current mood:  meh
current music: New Cancer
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| Sunday, September 16th, 2007
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3:51 pm - Random Thoughts on Final Fantasy IX
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Mostly because I've just been playing it for several hours. Yes, I'm aware that very few of the already few people who pay attention to this will get it. Yes, I'm also aware that I can't really *say* much, since I'm still only on the second disc. Do I care? Of course not.
Kuja is too damn pretty to really be a man. And apparently he has a young female friend or relative he shares clothes with.
Queen Brahne is an evil, evil bitch, and I wish for her to die a nasty, painful death. The fact that she is the *ugliest* damn woman in the world merely compounds her offenses.
Quina, and to a larger extent, all of the Qu's are either the product of someone's acid trip, or the result of "AGH! We have ten minutes to the deadline and we still need another playable character! Quick! Someone draw anything!" I can think of no other explanation.
I think FFIX is the game that has, so far, had the biggest amount of psychological trauma per head ever. I mean, when eighty percent of your party is visibly in shock, and the only reason the other twenty percent aren't is because they don't yet know how bad it really is, you start wondering, how much more can these people take? Not, of course, to say I don't like where this is going.
Zorn and Thorn must DIE. End of discussion.
Black Waltz #3 is a surprisingly persistent lil bugger.
Overleveling is my friend.
I wish, I wish, I wish I could keep Beatrix as a party member. She kicks all and major ass.
The Ragtime Mouse disturbs the hell out of me.
And, on an unrelated note, if you don't care about FFIX, check out Baccano!. You should watch it.
current mood:  whee!
current music: FFIX Background Music
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| Monday, August 27th, 2007
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3:54 am - I'll oblige, partially.
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Tagged by frustratedpilot.
A. List seven habits/quirks/facts about yourself.
B. Tag seven people to do the same.
C. Do not tag the person who tagged you or say that you tag "whoever wants to do it."
(I'm not tagging anyone. I don't have seven people to tag. Two of the ones I do have have already been tagged, and the other three aren't hardly on lj anymore, and at least one would kill me if I did tag her.)
1. I'm addicted to horror movies; I'll watch them over and over again, sometimes two or three times in a row. But when I was a kid, the most harmless things would give me nightmares.
2. I like sushi, but I categorically refuse to eat fish of any sort.
3. I'm a music freak. I have over 2500 songs on my comp right now, in a variety of styles. With my player set on random, there's no telling which language will come out of the speakers next. English, French, Spanish, German, Japanese, Norweigan...
4. I saw a plushie Cthulhu and a plushie Necronomicon at the geek store in West Town. I came damn close to blowing a good third of my paycheck on them. I still want them, actually.
5. I'm allergic to almost every antibiotic known to man, and the active ingredient in *every* over the counter decongestant on the market. Allergy season sucks.
6. I own a small arsenal of Nerf weaponry, including a sniper rifle and a bazooka. Most of it has been lovingly modified to look truly awesome.
7. I'm almost a compulsive collector of RPG books, resources, and dice. Especially dice. Even if I'll never actually *use* it.
current mood:  awake
current music: Tim Curry's maniacl laughter
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(1 comment | comment on this)
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| Monday, August 20th, 2007
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9:42 pm - I've been Blogalysed!
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| Saturday, August 18th, 2007
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2:39 am - *Congeals*
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So I've discovered there is a specific pace of work that will drive me utterly bat-shit insane. (But Megan, you say, aren't you already crazy? The answer is, well, yes, of course, but I mean in the bad way.) It's not when we're dead, I like that. It's not being slammed, although I'm sure that would send me up the wall as well, just not quite so bad. It's sort of midway between. People would come in two, three at a time, and I'd get their paperwork filled out and handle the payments and get their keys. All well and good. But we don't put the paperwork into the computer right then, we wait. It's faster that way, and more convenient for the guest. The problem was, I'd take care of everyone in the lobby, and start putting stuff in the computer. But people were coming in just fast enough that every time I started trying to do something, someone else would come in. So my paperwork got backed up, so the few lulls I had were spent playing catch up. Did I mention I was by myself today? I didn't get out of there until almost an hour after I was *supposed* to get off, because I was trying to catch up on people who'd decided to come in within ten minutes either side of midnight.
Bah, I'm just blowing off steam and frumping.
current mood: bitchy
current music: Angel of Darkness
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| Saturday, August 4th, 2007
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12:59 am - Like I needed proof...
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Just got home from the Wierd Al concert. The man is great and insane in all ways possible. He *and his band* changed costumes every set or so, so that they looked like the band they were parodying. There were clips he'd made where he took interviews done by other music artists (in which they made fools of themselves) that he recut and added himself to as if he was doing the interview, and they were priceless. Then there was just the sheer awesome of the concert; he did a lot of my favorites (including White and Nerdy, Amish Paradise, The Saga Begins...). At one point, he broke into Hawaiian for five minutes. And few things are as cool in a weird way as seeing a man rock out with an accordian.
I didn't get to see him very close, but what I *did* see, he still looks the same as he did in everything I've seen him in. I don't even know how long the man has been performing, but it has to be at least twenty years. I see this as proof of my theory that doing what you love is good for you; in every case I can think of, as long as the performer liked, even loved what they were doing, every single performance was awesome. On like an epic scale. And Wierd Al clearly loves what he does.
The concert also seems to support my theory that large events can generate huge amounts of positive energy that are almost visible. You may laugh, but I've never had an experience like the one I had during the last set, when a hundred and fifty people were screaming the lyrics of Albuqurque along with Wierd Al, and laughing at the same time. I don't know if I ever will again, but there was something there. For ten minutes, everything was right. I suppose it sounds corny, but there it is.
current mood: bouncybouncybouncy
current music: Various polka medleys...
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| Wednesday, August 1st, 2007
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2:15 am - Taco Bell rocks.
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Really, it does. I can think of no other place (especially not here) where I can buy $3.50 worth of food, and have it be a full meal, almost too much for one sitting, and have it taste good too. A blessing when I'm in such a hurry to get to work on time that I forget my lunch.
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| Monday, July 23rd, 2007
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12:53 am - You know...
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I can forgive this two bit pathetic tourist pit a lot when Pigeon Forge does something as awesome as host a Wierd Al concert.
August 3rd, at that Dick Clark's American Bandstand Theater, in Pigeon Forge.
current mood:  happy
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| Friday, July 20th, 2007
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6:00 am - Blar
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Yah, I just felt like changing out my icon set. No reason, really. I may go back to the old set, I dunno.
current mood: meh
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| Thursday, July 19th, 2007
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1:19 am - *demented gibbering*
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Well, today has been a very, very strange day, but a rewarding one. Partially as penance for slacking off on the job hunt, and partially so I could actually get something useful done, I stayed up for twenty-four hours straight to reset my sleep cycle. I headed into town around nine AM, running on no sleep since the previous day. I fully expected to spend a few hours plodding from one place to another putting applications I did not think would be considered.
Instead, the fourth place I hit went something like this: "I'm checking to see if you have any jobs available..." "Okay, here's an application." *paperwork* "Okay, can you start today?" "Uh... kay?"
So I have a job now, working as a desk clerk at a hotel out in Pigeon Forge. I applied this morning, and spent the afternoon working a full 4-midnight shift. I started getting sort of vague the last few hours, but it was okay. Then I had to drive 45 minutes to get home. After being away for closing on 40 hours.
I should have mentioned before that prior to leaving for the job huntings, I had spent nine hours obsessively leveling my characters in a video game I'm playing. (Shin Megami Tensei: Demon Summoner; the most coherent comparison I can make right now is a sort of demented hybrid between Shadow Hearts and Pokemon.) That made the drive home goddamn surreal. It was neat, but I don't want to do it again.
And just to add to the *total* weirdness of today, let me point out that my last job was Park Vista, where my boss was Autumn. My first day on my *new* job, I discover that our night auditor is Scott, Autumn's husband. ... Yah, I'm scared too.
current mood:  weird
current music: huh?
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(7 comments | comment on this)
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| Saturday, July 7th, 2007
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1:40 am - HellNo Kitty
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| Sunday, June 17th, 2007
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5:24 pm - The End
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Well, I suppose this is it. I was going to quit Park Vista at some point, but they made the decision for me. I got fired. For using internet and email for personal use (something I know all of the front desk staff, most of management, and probably reservations does) and for faking the nightly DND list (something I had been doing for a year, and that I know at least three other people did). I suppose it's just as well; at least now I *have* to go look for another job.
But it pisses me off. I didn't want to leave this job until I had another lined up; a bad job is better than no job at all. I had never been fired from a job, and I never meant to be.
It's also a little terrifying, to realize how much this upsets me. It was a lousy job with lousier management, and I complained a lot, and I've been crying ever since I left. I did manage to keep from crying until I got in my car, so I guess that's something.
Fuck Park Vista. Fuck Davidson, fuck Jackelyn, fuck Lori, fuck reservations, fuck sales, fuck everyone up there except Rex, Allen, Jacob, and Virginia. To hell with the lot of them.
current mood: angry
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| Thursday, May 24th, 2007
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11:30 pm - Psuedo-Review: Shadow Hearts
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I feel like talking about video games. I don't have any sort of, you know, qualifications to review games, I'ma just talk about what I like. I'll probably ultimately do this for the games I've beaten (all three of them...). If you think about it, assigning numbers to something like this is pretty meaningless, so I don't.
Shadow Hearts is up tonight, a turn-based RPG for PS2 by Saconoth and Aruze. It's a little hard to find, but worth it, in my opinion; it does not get nearly enough love. It's a quasi-sequal to the PlayStation game Koudelka (set in the same world, some of the same characters make appearances, but it's a totally different plot; I'll get to it when I beat it). There are two sequals to it, called Shadow Hearts: Covenant and Shadow Hearts: From the New World. I haven't played either, but I'm given to understand they're both inferior.
Hokay, where to start... Visuals. I thought the game was pretty, but graphics aren't a major issue for me. Pretty backgrounds, pretty sketches, but the game *is* sprite based, and there's only so much you can do with that. Now that I've made that point, I'm going to rant about the sprites, because I at least found it impressive.
The sprites are all well-animated, including the enemies. Every single creature and each of the party members has a specific and fairly unique attack animation (and they actually attack, as opposed to many of the Final Fantasy games where they attack the air). Any special skills/spells have separate animations. There are some palatte swapped monsters which use the same animation sets, but I'm perfectly okay with this. They've gone so far as to give the sprites breathing animations.
Cutscene-wise, it has some sprite based scenes, where the visual doesn't really change, you just lose control of the chars for a bit, and a couple CGI scenes that are pretty. It also has some slideshow type things, where it just scrolls though some sketches/stills with a voice-over.
The music is pretty nice too. It's nothing earth-shattering, but it sets the tone and the mood, and fits the area. I can't really ask more than that. Also, all of the party characters and a few important npcs have individual voices, although they're not used all that much.
Gameplay. As I said, Shadow Hearts is a turn based game (battle turns are affected by the speed stat), and works pretty much like other turn based games, with one exception. Every single action taken in battle, be it attacking, casting, or using an item (and some things out of battle) are dependent on the Judgement Ring. This is a dial that spins around, and you have to stop the indicator thingy so that it hits specific portions of the dial. This determines how many times you hit, how hard you hit, how effective the spell or item was, or whatever. The more of whatever a particular thing does, the harder the strike zone is to hit successfuly. Makes sense to me. I really like this element, as it adds more skill to the game. Not only do you have to choose the right thing to do, but you have to make sure it works.
Another nice thing is that with a very few exceptions, every single character and monster is associated with an element (light, dark, fire, water, earth, or air). Elements that are opposed cause (and take) more damage than normal, and the same elements don't have as much effect. The party eventually consists of one of each type (although the dark-class character can change; I'll get to that), and all but one character have an "edge" spell that will put the given element on any active character's physical attack and lasts until the end of battle. This can make battles a lot easier, if you have the right element types available.
The one exception is Yuri, the dark-class main character. He's the party summoner, sort of. Instead of summoning a monster, he *turns into* the monster (it's called fusion). When he does, he changes class to the element of his fusion. He can get three different levels of elemental fusions, and two non-classed (which are both pretty awesome). You can get levels one and two through the story, but you have to get some special items for level threes and one of the non-classed; you have to do a side-quest for the last (and best) one. You have to fight each fusion monster to get access to it, but most are pretty easy at the levels they become available.
The monsters also behave in a realistic way. They react when they take a hit, and they start swaying or stumbling when they're close to death (similar to the way party characters will drop when they're low on hit points). They will also focus on individual characters if they have a reason to (grudge, personal history, etc.) It adds realism, and I don't mind, but it gets annoying when the dark-class monster is *only* attacking the light-class healer who has both the lowest defense and hp.
Something else that's nice, but not unique (I don't think...) is that when party members are dropped, they're truly unconscious, not dead. After the battle, they'll wake up with one hit point, so if you can wait out the current battle, you won't have to waste a life-restore item. (Of course, at higher levels, at least two characters get a revive spell, so...)
That reminds me, every character (party-wise) has a unique list of spells/special abilities. Usually, they'll have a damage spell, a stat-booster, and their edge spell; some have healing/status heals, and other variations. Alice, the light-class, has most of the healing abilities. (She actually manages to be a healer chick I don't find annoying, both for character reasons and the fact she's not useless in combat. She can do a decent amount of damage, call it a third or so of the combat machines (more if fighting a dark-type), has more or less reasonable defense, and is actually pretty fast. She is also, naturally, the most efficient healer.)
Of course, she's got the lowest Sanity stat of all six characters. Sanity is something I've never seen in any other game. Basically, it's represented by a counter that goes down every round, and if it hits zero, that character gets a berserk status effect. I'd rather have confusion, because that wears off when they take a hit and they only attack a random target. Berserk in this game is like confusion on acid; they could attack anyone, or use a spell you don't want them to use, or use an item on anyone. And you can't cure it, you have to bring the sanity rating back into positive numbers to get rid of it. There are items that'll restore sanity, of course, but you need to keep an eye on it. Yuri's fusion monsters also cost different numbers of sanity points to turn into (sort of like MP in that regard). I like it because it forces battles to stay fairly short. Sanity *does* comepletely regenerate after every battle.
Stat-wise, you get a fairly nice set of characters- two beaters, two casters, two midrange. The individual stats vary, naturally. Also, just because a characters is particularly good at something doesn't mean they're bad at the other. Everyone gets some fairly nifty spells, although the beaters take a pretty hefty mp cost. If you keep up with the level curve and equip properly, everyone can do some significant straight physical damage, although the casters are of course on the low end. The two midrange are pretty balanced between physical and casting.
Another fun aspect is something called Malice. It's explained in the plot, but basically, you have a guage that gradually changes color as you kill monsters. You have to fight a special monster periodically to reset the guage, because if it turns red and you're too far from a save point, a scary-ass thing will come and EAT you.
Once you beat the game, you can start another game with the clear data, keeping your bestiary and the fusions you've accumulated. That's not that uncommon, but it's nice. It also lets you use high level fusions earlier than you could originally. (It also makes things a lot easier, if you don't have to chase down that last fusion; that damn thing's the hardest thing in the game. Like Emerald WEAPON hard.)
The bestiary is a little odd, it doesn't give you any stats. In fact, the only useful information it gives you is the elemental class of each enemy (which is more helpful than you might think). Otherwise, it displays the enemy sprite, which can be viewed from all angles, its attack animation, and a short description of the creature, most of which are as disturbing as the creature itself.
Plot. This is by far my favorite part of Shadow Hearts. It's unusual in that it's set a year or two before World War I, in a sort of gothic-scary version of our world. So, massive cool points for a non-traditional setting.
Next, the characters are very well developed, and not stereotypical. The hero is a horny jackass, the healer-chick is a very proper English girl of Victorian times (yet another reason I like her, she doesn't whine), and the rest of your party is a vaguely nymphomaniacal explosion-happy spy, a pompous quack oracle (and I quote), an overly rebellious teenage badass, and the only man, ever, who can get away with wearing a purple velvet suit. None of them are quite what you expect, and the NPCs are fun too (this is the first game I've seen with an openly and emphatically gay character). I don't think I should say more for fear of spoilers.
Suffice to say the plot is very good and quite well written. It's also not predictable; I spent most of the game going "What the fuck is going on here?!" Bonus for me, your mileage may vary. At any rate, it's definitely not a retread of a tired plot that's been done before. There's a lot of hidden plot points you have to look for, that are tied to sidequests and optional bits. In any case, it kept me interested, something I've had a problem with for a lot of games.
Something to be aware of, tho, is that this game is definitely not for kids. There are some fairly rough themes that require a pretty mature mindset. Kidnapping, murder, torture, child abuse, human sacrifice, etc, and the game is not gentle about it. There's also some views of religion that're distinctly open to criticism, so if that sort of thing bothers you, you might want to avoid this gane. I didn't find that any of the above lessened my enjoyment of the game, but you have been warned.
I don't know exact numbers, but I'd say the game's about forty to fifty hours long plus another twenty to thirty hours of sidequests. It took me something like 86 hours to beat it, but I overlevel like mad, and I missed a sidequest, so this is just a rough estimate. Additionally, if you're playing from game-clear data, it's not going to take as long.
current mood:  artistic
current music: Won't Get Fooled Again
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ladythief42's journal
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