Lia's BK tweets archive - 2021-04-19: Emperor's Residence, WHAT IS GOING ON

Lia @liareplaysbk · 10:46 PM · Apr 18, 2021 Permalink

Let’s go *checks notes* murder the Emperor, okay, that’s one way to start.
I have concerns about Guillo maybe being a murderbot

Guillo, with ominous red-pink eyes glowing from inside the hood: “Whoever said the weakest fools curse loudest was right.”

Lia @liareplaysbk · 10:47 PM · Apr 18, 2021 Permalink

There’s an obligatory Bullshit Sidequest in the base - “Go light all the torches” - and fascinatingly it’s framed as the annoying job you give to the newbie. We’re doing the trope mocking thing again, heh?

Lia @liareplaysbk · 10:50 PM · Apr 18, 2021 Permalink

Then we’re at the Emperor’s residence making plans 15 meters from the entrance but the VO is hushed so it’s fine.
Sagi’s put in charge and... that immediately gets pointed out as weird by the rude woman, who’s called Valara.
Yeah I think we’re going for trope dunks again

Captain of the Dark Service: “I’ll leave the timing up to you. Everyone else, Sagi is in command.”

Valara: “You sure it’s a good idea to entrust the main force to this novice? If he screws up, we take the heat.”

Lia @liareplaysbk · 11:13 PM · Apr 18, 2021 Permalink

What kind of JRPG protagonist is this, refusing to steal random private property

Inspection text: “These unlabeled liquor bottles make a sloshing noise when shook. Someone’s savings must be inside.”

Sagi: “They must’ve worked hard to save all this up. Let’s not touch.”

Lia @liareplaysbk · 11:17 PM · Apr 18, 2021 Permalink

Anyway after Minor Puzzle Solving we get to the Emperor’s door and:
1) Yes Guillo I can absolutely believe that you hear voices;
2) Amazing, the plan is going wrong;
3) Calling the Emperor “Lord of All Nations” has yet again Lore Implications uh oh

Olgan, offscreen: “Hmph. I might have known the snake’s bloated ambitions would one day turn to treachery!”

Man, offscreen: “And treachery? Surely the Lord of All Nations need not jump to such rash conclusions.”

Lia @liareplaysbk · 11:19 PM · Apr 18, 2021 Permalink

That escalated quickly, part 1.

Man: “Emperor Olgan, if you’ll excuse me, I’ll be taking this list of Malpercio’s afterlings.”

Sagi, staring at the Emperor: “...He’s already dead. That guy who just left must’ve done it.”

Lia @liareplaysbk · 11:21 PM · Apr 18, 2021 Permalink

That escalated VERY quickly, part 2.
Guillo acts as a shield for sustained gunfire SOMEHOW, we run off into side paths...

Captain of the Dark Service: “Serviceman Sagi! I hereby sentence you and your men to death for the murder of the Emperor.”

Dark Serviceman: “You gave us these orders! I thought you said this mission was for Lord Baelheit!”

Lia @liareplaysbk · 11:22 PM · Apr 18, 2021 Permalink

That... escalated... what?

Sagi, facing a giant monster blocking the corridor that has stomped the two soldiers: “Wh... what... is THAT?!”

Lia @liareplaysbk · 11:24 PM · Apr 18, 2021 Permalink

We win the fight except we don’t, the rude woman threatens us some more, Guillo does some kind of power-up that makes Sagi scream in pain and I AM VERY CONFUSED

Valara, off-screen: “Awww. Looks like it’s the end of the line, ghost boy.”

Guillo on the head of the large monster, glowing blue.

Lia @liareplaysbk · 11:26 PM · Apr 18, 2021 Permalink

Legit neat trick with this line. The VO repeats three times, but the subtitles build up to the full thing as Sagi comes too.
(Bad best practice for captions, neat trick)

A white screen, with a dialog box labeled Man: “Hey!! Are you all right?!”

Lia @liareplaysbk · 11:27 PM · Apr 18, 2021 Permalink

This wasn’t confusing enough so now we’re god knows where with people who know Sagi but call him Malno or something, and Guillo’s missing. Also something about disappearing villages? What?
I am very, very confused.

Thoran: “I know, I know. If we don’t hurry, another village’ll disappear.”

Lia @liareplaysbk · 11:30 PM · Apr 18, 2021 Permalink

And on this absolutely grotesque Spirit choice I’m going to wrap it up for today ‘cause I started too late.
Next time we... hopefully get some context?

Thoran: “Hey, can you walk? Or should I carry you on my back like I used to?”. And Spirit dialog choice: “Piggyback, piggyback!” versus “Don’t take rides from strangers”.

Lia @liareplaysbk · 11:32 PM · Apr 18, 2021 Permalink

I’ll also try and grab a good combat screenshot and break down why it’s a UX nightmare, but the short version is that there’s vital info in three different corners of the screen that need to be watched at once. With no turn-based pauses. Ouch my brain.

Lia @liareplaysbk · 11:33 PM · Apr 18, 2021 Permalink

Also don’t ask me to TAKE DECISIONS while PRETTY ANIMATIONS are playing and I’m trying to follow what other characters are doing or how much damage I’m taking. My poor, poor brain.