Lia's BK tweets archive - 2020-10-14: Opening, Cebalrai, Moonguile Forest

Lia @liareplaysbk · 07:39 PM · Oct 14, 2020 Permalink

Let’s get rolling!
First off, if you’ve never seen it, here’s the opening movie. It’s the sole pre-rendered cutscene in this game, and it’s... actually stuffed with spoilers, but you won’t understand them until you finish the game.
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=ugPoy8nkKak

Lia @liareplaysbk · 07:40 PM · Oct 14, 2020 Permalink

My goal for today is to go through the intro and maybe complete Moonguile Forest? Gonna snap some screenshots here and there and report back here occasionally.
Threading will be per-session.

Lia @liareplaysbk · 07:42 PM · Oct 14, 2020 Permalink

I love this cutscene, warts and all. It sets the tone, it makes the bizarro art direction PRETTY OBVIOUS.
(And it also makes the Evil Emperor’s queercoding really obvious but we’ll keep that topic for when I reach the fortress, ‘cause it’s actually even worse)

Lia @liareplaysbk · 07:50 PM · Oct 14, 2020 Permalink

The intro is infuriating in retrospect, because it puts the crux of the mid-game plot twist RIGHT THERE.
Just out of focus enough that you’ll miss her.
With a voice being Cartoon Villain, that you’ll probably fail to recognize when you meet her.

Sepia scene, with the protagonist in the foreground and a barely visible young woman at the back.

White text over five floating stones: “For the world, death and destruction” followed by ominous laughter.

Lia @liareplaysbk · 07:52 PM · Oct 14, 2020 Permalink

To be fair, when you do meet her:
1) You’re probably 20+ hours in and thoroughly distracted;
2) The plot has two CONVENIENT SUSPECTS right in front of your nose;
3) You’re literally in a cake village and not exactly in a state to recognize a voice.

Lia @liareplaysbk · 07:55 PM · Oct 14, 2020 Permalink

Aaaaanyway after that flashback clearly establishing our protagonist as Having A Tragic Backstory, and the setting as Ominous, we get the classic Waking Up In A Small Village Where The Local Wildlife Has Been Weird Lately, With Possible Amnesia.
Did I mention this has tropes?

Lia @liareplaysbk · 07:58 PM · Oct 14, 2020 Permalink

Except it’s all bullshit, which again you won’t find out for hours.
Your protagonist - this is where we learn his name, Kalas - is lying through his teeth when claiming he was attacked.
We’ll get back to thaaaaaat

Lia @liareplaysbk · 08:02 PM · Oct 14, 2020 Permalink

Something else in that first convo is now catching my eye. It looks like lore dumping: the doctor mentions Kalas’ artificial wing being unusual, different from the ones in the Empire. Kalas says it’s by his grandfather.
Doctor asks how grandpa’s doing.

Doctor Larikush asking Kalas “And how is [your grandfather] doing?”.

Lia @liareplaysbk · 08:03 PM · Oct 14, 2020 Permalink

First playthrough? Oh okay, it’s just small talk, whatever.
Replaying? Doc Larikush is bloody HIDING in that village, because he worked with said grandpa. He recognized Kalas’ name and he’s checking on his old pal (who is mega-dead).
AAAAAAAAAAA

Lia @liareplaysbk · 08:04 PM · Oct 14, 2020 Permalink

Obligatory side-note that while the animations were bad even then and the character portraits occasionally lean... weird, this game is bloody gorgeous and holds up beautifully.

Lia @liareplaysbk · 08:07 PM · Oct 14, 2020 Permalink

This is also the point where random NPCs are Helpful Lore And Mechanics Dispensers.
If you ever play this thing: read it all or you’ll be very confused, the settings and mechanics are both A Lot.

Lia @liareplaysbk · 08:09 PM · Oct 14, 2020 Permalink

Also, I’ll be referencing this to make sure I grab all the things.
With some luck it’s not going to result in several runs through the goddamn trail of souls but we’ll see.
https://gamefaqs.gamespot.com/gamecube/917921-baten-kaitos-eternal-wings-and-the-lost-ocean/faqs/71527

Lia @liareplaysbk · 08:15 PM · Oct 14, 2020 Permalink

Another voiced convo with a random NPC and more yelling.
“[The good doctor who’s definitely not an Empire runaway no sir] never struck me as the type that enjoys fiddling with machinery”, ARE YOU KIDDING ME
(Also, yes, quacking in the background the entire time. Good ducks)

Dialogue (see tweet) in a lovely village packed with ducks.

Lia @liareplaysbk · 08:17 PM · Oct 14, 2020 Permalink

That convo also has Kalas mention that he only has one wing, while the lore drip-feed makes it clear that Wings Are A Big Deal And Reflect People’s Hearts.
Pretty standard establishing of the lead character as Exceptional in some way, but more negative than anything.

Lia @liareplaysbk · 08:21 PM · Oct 14, 2020 Permalink

Another “O PWETTY” sidenote: this is a game that puts PATTERNS on things and has textiles in many places, which I always appreciate.

Lia @liareplaysbk · 08:29 PM · Oct 14, 2020 Permalink

Meeting your rescuer Meemai - that’s the colorful blob right in front of Kalas - or “you know what, this might not be 100% serious maybe”.
(Meemai is, like the rest of their species, actually very important)

Kalas expressing surprise in front of a large, adorable blobby creature.

Meemai going Squeak. Meemai is very cute.

Lia @liareplaysbk · 08:33 PM · Oct 14, 2020 Permalink

The plot tells you to go talk to the mayor, which is actually entirely optional. If you do, he tells you the forest is bad news, that people LIKE A CERTAIN SOMEONE get hurt there, and some city people are messing with it and that’s bad and-
Yes of course we’re going there next.

Lia @liareplaysbk · 08:37 PM · Oct 14, 2020 Permalink

Heh, one more random convo is an old lady spewing Your Soul Mate Is Out There nonsense, complete with “Neither of you know yet”.
Joke’s on you lady because that person is, indeed, out there, but she has actually known all along, as we find out AT THE VERY END.

Lia @liareplaysbk · 08:38 PM · Oct 14, 2020 Permalink

(It is the weakest part of Xelha’s characterization that while she knew how everything was going to go, it’s because of a divination crush more than anything. Forgivable, all things considered)

Lia @liareplaysbk · 08:39 PM · Oct 14, 2020 Permalink

Fuck’s sake the foreshadowing is hilarious when you do dive into it.

Lia @liareplaysbk · 08:45 PM · Oct 14, 2020 Permalink

That’s Xelha, soon-to-be second character, who’s not /technically/ lying except by pretending she hasn’t seen Kalas before.
This entire first village, I swear.

Xelha, a pretty blond, saying she’s here to visit the ancient ruins nearby.

Lia @liareplaysbk · 08:49 PM · Oct 14, 2020 Permalink

Oh, you might notice I’m not writing “you” but “Kalas”. Because “you” aren’t him (mercifully). You’re a spirit of some sorts, bonded to him - the intro makes that clear.
Meaning you get lines where Kalas is literally talking to you-the-spirit, a thin wrapper for you-the-player.

Kalas asking the spirit / player whether to go look at the ruins in the forest.

Lia @liareplaysbk · 08:50 PM · Oct 14, 2020 Permalink

Yeah, you step out of the village and he stares straight into the camera to tell you the villagers are being silly about this whole “curse”.
As mentioned: this game ends up doing fun things with the fourth wall.

Lia @liareplaysbk · 08:52 PM · Oct 14, 2020 Permalink

The forest is, you will be surprised to hear, very definitely cursed, and we are of course going to wake up the big evil thing because this is a JRPG.

Lia @liareplaysbk · 08:55 PM · Oct 14, 2020 Permalink

You can (AND SHOULD, if it’s your first go) avoid all the encounters until you get the combat tutorial in the second area of the forest.
Combat looks like this. Cards, plus result screen. I’ll... go into this system later because IT’S REALLY GOOD.

Combat screen, showing monsters on the left, Kalas on the right, and a bunch of cards at the bottom.

Result screen, showing the cards used and the damage math.

Lia @liareplaysbk · 08:56 PM · Oct 14, 2020 Permalink

And so you can tag along to the MANY MANY TIMES this will be playing, that’s the main battle music and it’s a banger. https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=O4FdfaRX8EM

Lia @liareplaysbk · 09:00 PM · Oct 14, 2020 Permalink

Combat Tutorial NPC: “Careful, if you use opposite elements in a combo they’ll cancel out!”
Me, in 15 hours, forgetting that yet again while focused on chaining number and slamming a dark finisher after a super light combo: FUCK

Lia @liareplaysbk · 09:01 PM · Oct 14, 2020 Permalink

This thread kept free of the numerous “SHUT UP, KALAS” that come to mind every time a combat opens and closes with bragging.

Lia @liareplaysbk · 09:06 PM · Oct 14, 2020 Permalink

A couple fun rendering things shown here:
- Photos develop over time, so their appearance will change (and their price increase!) if you wait a bit.
- The menu and dialog background dynamically updates to your last combat’s final blow.

Card inventory, showing the things described above.

Lia @liareplaysbk · 09:06 PM · Oct 14, 2020 Permalink

“Wait, photos?”
Yes. You have camera cards that you use to take photos. That’s the only way you earn money. Exposure is affected by light and dark attacks.
I TOLD YOU THIS GAME WAS WEIRD

Lia @liareplaysbk · 09:15 PM · Oct 14, 2020 Permalink

Noooo save the damsel in distress (who it turns out is a wizard and has her first finisher already, making her considerably more competent than Kalas at this point)

Lia @liareplaysbk · 09:18 PM · Oct 14, 2020 Permalink

Instance one out of MANY of Kalas being a complete and absolute asshat. “Well yeah they’re your friends but they’re dead so I might as well take their stuff”.
I REALLY like that portrait for him. Nails the expression.

Kalas crouching in front of two bodies to loot them, being an ass about how logical he’s being.

Lia @liareplaysbk · 09:21 PM · Oct 14, 2020 Permalink

A real charmer, our protagonist.

Xelha: “You want me to give these items to their families, to help them remember... is that it?”

Kalas: “That’s your share of the loot. Enough to shut you up, I hope.”

Lia @liareplaysbk · 09:24 PM · Oct 14, 2020 Permalink

The voice acting gets bashed a lot - it sure has... moments - but it’s real competent at times like this. Kalas SOUNDS like a jerk. Not one speaking naturally, by a long stretch, but the effort is legit.

Lia @liareplaysbk · 09:26 PM · Oct 14, 2020 Permalink

Oh right, Xelha does the Guardian Spirit lore dump and explains to us, well, who we are playing as.
And proceeds to say she thought it was just a legend, which is rich coming from her WE’LL GET BACK TO THAT

Lia @liareplaysbk · 09:28 PM · Oct 14, 2020 Permalink

First instance of establishing that all of the main cast will be able to hear you, unlike all the other NPCs.
Which is interesting.

Xelha asking whether the voice she heard was the guardian spirit.

Lia @liareplaysbk · 09:32 PM · Oct 14, 2020 Permalink

Oh my god I did not remember this bit.
“Don’t tell me the thing /I/ did actually worked according to plan!”

Kalas worried the guardian spirit lost their memory.

Kalas freaking out some more about the spirit’s amnesia.

Lia @liareplaysbk · 09:34 PM · Oct 14, 2020 Permalink

Teen me found Xelha a bit annoying. Coming back to it, I appreciate her considerably more. She’s sweet and genuinely good, with some frankly decent writing building that up.

Lia @liareplaysbk · 09:48 PM · Oct 14, 2020 Permalink

Well That Escalated Quickly. Unsealing giant creatures who call you “woe-laden child” and bring up the name of the evil god from the opening cutscene can’t be bad, right?

Xelha gasping as her pendant glows and shoots a beam of light into a spring.

A weird snake-thing called Lord of the Spring, saying “You come at last, woe-laden child, to the depths of Malpercio’s realm.”

Lia @liareplaysbk · 09:52 PM · Oct 14, 2020 Permalink

That boss isn’t especially hard but you’d better have learned healing at that point.

Lia @liareplaysbk · 09:55 PM · Oct 14, 2020 Permalink

And in Typical Baten Kaitos RNG fashion, it’s targeting Xelha all the time, meaning she chews through her deck way faster, meaning I have to stall to have a shot at getting the camera out on Kalas.

Lia @liareplaysbk · 09:57 PM · Oct 14, 2020 Permalink

THERE WE GO.
Boss photos: extremely missable completion stuff, and an excellent source of cash, which is quite important early on.

Lia @liareplaysbk · 10:04 PM · Oct 14, 2020 Permalink

I’m sure it’s fine

A giant glowing golden card float in front of Kalas, who wonders aloud what it is.

Ominous white text in front of four floating objects. “The gate to Ar has been opened. Stars, be prepared... for the song of destruction!”

The sprint again, with a stream of magical golden bird silhouettes rushing up from it.

Lia @liareplaysbk · 10:06 PM · Oct 14, 2020 Permalink

GOOD QUESTIONS ALL AROUND.
(That’s a nice thing with this game, characters are overall actually using their brains, even when they’re bullshitting like Kalas here)

Xelha: “Who or what are you? Malpercio is the name of a cursed evil god from ancient times.”

Kalas: “How was I supposed to know? And why do you know all this?”

Lia @liareplaysbk · 10:10 PM · Oct 14, 2020 Permalink

I AM GIACOMO AND I AM QUITE EVIL HAHAHA.

A bunch of soldiers around their questionably dressed commander. Kalas is knocked out on the ground and Xelha is being taken prisoner by a soldier.

Lia @liareplaysbk · 10:15 PM · Oct 14, 2020 Permalink

Tiny bit of tonal whiplash as we’re saved again by Meemai’s adorable squeaks before Kalas reveals his main motivation of Avenging His Dead Family.

Kalas complaining about his head hurting, next to a very happy Meemai.

Kalas: “Giacomo! The man who killed my grandfather, and Fee!”

Kalas: “Yeah, that’s what I wanted to hear! I’ll make him pay... for everything he’s done.”

Lia @liareplaysbk · 10:17 PM · Oct 14, 2020 Permalink

And that’s gonna be it for today! Tomorrow we go back to Cebalrai, learn more game mechanics and use some dynamite. I’m sure this jerk can be trusted with high explosives.