Trails in the Sky SC:
So I got through chapter 5 and chapter 6 since I last posted. Chapter 5 was the last hurrah for the formula the game had settled into after the prologue, which was kind of a strange formula: the maps were largely the same as those in FC and the side quests, and associated npc stories, were often extensions of quests from FC. There was also new content, both maps and character/narrative and what was there was quite powerful, but it wasn't the preponderance of the content. The other oddity to me was that the circuit of liberal was repeated but without an explicit road-trip premise. Basically, there's a lot of good stuff--both redux and especially not redux--but the first 5 chapters feel quite padded and the pace of the narrative sluggish.
Admittedly, I'm doing all the side quests so, to a large extent, I bring this on myself :P. (I'm now Bracer Rank B!)
Chapter 6 was quite explosive; very lean and well-paced too. It leaned into where SC has been particularly strong thus far--Estelle's personal story--to great effect.
Right now I am getting a feeling like late-game FC where it is all coming together, getting to the meat of the matter, heating up, etc.
I had an interesting time with a certain Chapter 6 boss. Had to recreate my Estelle into a tanky variant and through cookies, meatballs, and titanic roar, she was able to crush her enemies completely (with a bit of luck). I had to use some proxy puppets even! It wasn't that bad in the end. I did kind of wish I wasn't playing on hard for while though lol.
So I got through chapter 5 and chapter 6 since I last posted. Chapter 5 was the last hurrah for the formula the game had settled into after the prologue, which was kind of a strange formula: the maps were largely the same as those in FC and the side quests, and associated npc stories, were often extensions of quests from FC. There was also new content, both maps and character/narrative and what was there was quite powerful, but it wasn't the preponderance of the content. The other oddity to me was that the circuit of liberal was repeated but without an explicit road-trip premise. Basically, there's a lot of good stuff--both redux and especially not redux--but the first 5 chapters feel quite padded and the pace of the narrative sluggish.
Admittedly, I'm doing all the side quests so, to a large extent, I bring this on myself :P. (I'm now Bracer Rank B!)
Chapter 6 was quite explosive; very lean and well-paced too. It leaned into where SC has been particularly strong thus far--Estelle's personal story--to great effect.
Right now I am getting a feeling like late-game FC where it is all coming together, getting to the meat of the matter, heating up, etc.
I had an interesting time with a certain Chapter 6 boss. Had to recreate my Estelle into a tanky variant and through cookies, meatballs, and titanic roar, she was able to crush her enemies completely (with a bit of luck). I had to use some proxy puppets even! It wasn't that bad in the end. I did kind of wish I wasn't playing on hard for while though lol.
Joshua has returned to me. I keep talking about how well they are doing Estelle/Joshua in this game and that beach scene...so good. Their mutual feeling, their bonds, and the barriers they put up or otherwise feel yet overcome are really well written.
Really cast the "Joshua is broken angle" in the best light. The dream earlier was good, namely where she saw him as exactly what he says he is and could not reach him--a puppet that she could not get to before it exploded. It is interesting that she had that nightmare and then had the clarity of thought to rise to the occasion and cut through the shroud of self-sustaining narratives Joshua had cooked up. It really highlights that she was working through it and it is this sort of subtlety with the approach to Estelle and her longing throughout the entire game so far that has been really impressive to me.
Olivier is gone though :(. This is very sad. He was my go-to healer/support/mage and a charming customer.
Really cast the "Joshua is broken angle" in the best light. The dream earlier was good, namely where she saw him as exactly what he says he is and could not reach him--a puppet that she could not get to before it exploded. It is interesting that she had that nightmare and then had the clarity of thought to rise to the occasion and cut through the shroud of self-sustaining narratives Joshua had cooked up. It really highlights that she was working through it and it is this sort of subtlety with the approach to Estelle and her longing throughout the entire game so far that has been really impressive to me.
Olivier is gone though :(. This is very sad. He was my go-to healer/support/mage and a charming customer.