Fabricant451

Underrated and Overrated Video Games

@Gentlemanvaultboy@Fabricant451 I take it neither one of you have actually played this game?

Im no God Of War fan, but Id like to hear some actual solid reasons why this critically acclaimed game is bad beyond the fact you dont like his beard.

@Dynamo Frokane

It meanders and has a problem with pacing to the point where when it seems like you're reaching a climax it's not even the halfway point. That's a badly paced game. The combat is deliberate but since progression and thus ability unlocks are gated your options combo wise feel more limited in scope unless you stop going off the beaten path to rush ability unlocks; but the game wants you to explore even while it is harping on you for doing so since exploring most times will just get you met with a fat "YOU CAN'T DO THAT YET FUCKO GO BACK ON THE MAIN PATH IDIOT" which is a bad way to incentevize exploration especially in a game world that is a lot smaller than it pretends it is. It makes the game feel like a Metroidvania without the actual gradual unlocks and sense of progress those games do well. The puzzles, by nature of the tools available to the player, are genuinely awful since they consist of "throw your axe in a specific way" or "stand around and wait while the square button drops a chain". Atreus' comments in battle are also superfluous if you have the HUD/UI on which is probably why so many articles express how people should play with no HUD even though the game is clearly designed around having one. It's too much, having the strawberry jam of low health, the increased beats of the sound, the animation expressing near-death status, and then a kid screaming "HEY YOU'RE HURT". The standard 'elite' enemies are not interesting to fight for as many of them as there are. Trolls especially where the only difference is 'this one has fire legs but the same exact animations'.

A game being critically acclaimed doesn't make it immune from issues or criticisms.

Underrated and Overrated Video Games

@Dynamo Frokane
"dark souls" combat

@Gentlemanvaultboy

It doesn't have that at all unless 'pressing R1 to swing weapon, press R2 to swing weapon harder' counts as Dark Souls combat now.

Underrated and Overrated Video Games

<Snipped quote by Fabricant451>

Based on what?

@Dynamo Frokane

Based on gameplay footage of people playing the game.

Underrated and Overrated Video Games

<Snipped quote by Fabricant451>

You were convinced the game was going to be bad and it wasnt.

Im sure you owe someone (not me) 10 bucks.

@Dynamo Frokane

I'm not convinced it isn't bad.

Underrated and Overrated Video Games

The new God of War doesn't have QTE kills so it's better than the others by default.

For Queen and Country

KEI

_{There’s a future we still have yet to see on the other side of the clouds
We could spread our wings and fly there}

_{I wish tirelessly
For tomorrow to be a great day
For it to be a great day}

Today, like the day before it and the day after it, was going to be a great day. Kei believed this with every fiber of her being; she couldn't remember the last time she had had a bad day which had to have been some kind of record. She'd always overheard discussions about how bad a day has been but Kei counted herself lucky that she was able to greet each day with a smile and say good night to every day with an even wider one. The day itself was still young but she could sense it in the air. The warmth of sun. The breeze of air. The wild breath that was life was all around. If people were unable to feel that, to bask in the wonder that was life then it was Kei who felt sorry for them, and it was Kei who took it upon herself to help them understand what they were blind to.

Before that, however, Kei was not above a small amount of vanity. The hospital had put up the nameplates of new investors, board members, and trustees right next to the listing of the chiefs of the various medical departments. While Kei was not one to do things expecting a reward, even she would admit that what she was seeing was amazing in its own way. The short-haired woman was looking into a mirror, though it wasn't her reflection that looked back at her. Brown eyes, wide in wonder and glee, stared intently at a little plate displaying the name 'KEI' surrounded by plates with names of other vital members of the hospital staff and board.

While she wasn't on the board or even employed, Kei did regularly donate to the hospital which seemed reason enough to give her a little recognition. It wasn't just money she had donated - though she had donated to the hospital on a fairly regular basis - but her time as well. It was the latter that had her in the hospital so early on this particular morning.

With her little moment of self-congratulations handled, Kei skipped her way towards the elevator, stepping to the side as the doors opened and a nurse pushing a wheelchair bound man came out. Kei waved to the man and, while twisting her hand, produced a flower - seemingly from nowhere - and offered it to the man, who was equal parts skeptical and impressed at the sleight of hand. He offered a word of thanks and even a smile, which Kei appreciated and reciprocated as she stepped into the elevator, waving at their backs until the door closed.

With a familiar 'ding' Kei stepped out of the elevator and left the drab white walls behind as she stepped into the light blue pastels of the pediatrics ward. She went into the elevator holding nothing but as she stepped out she was holding balloons by their strings, the helium filled containers trailing along the ceiling. When Kei first showed up with balloons to the pediatrics ward she was met with many a strange look, hospitals were typically serious place and balloons were more celebratory in nature, but years of experience with this sort of thing carried Kei forward. People, kids especially, didn't tend to enjoy people speaking in hushed, adult words. Doing so tended to drive home the more unfortunate realities of the more terminal patients and the like. Just because someone was in the hospital didn't mean they didn't need some humor and joy in their lives.

Some of the ones who needed humor and joy were the ones at the nursing station. Kei made that her first stop, waving to the familiar nurses who were on call. Kei knew them all by name at this point and they, for the most part, were happy to see her if only because Kei's intentions and presence were pure. This morning, though, some of the nurses seemed on edge and as Kei approached she only picked up on a few scattered words. 'Radio' 'Broadcast' 'Others' 'Fear' were chief among them. The conversation came to a stop when Kei waved and offered a balloon which was promptly denied.

Kei nodded and began her rounds, popping into a room and dropping off a balloon. She stuck around until the room occupant gave a smile or a laugh which in turn widened Kei's own before she left to repeat the act in other rooms. Her supply of balloons didn't seem to dwindle until her visit to the final room of the ward and she left the smiling child having no more balloons in hand. Back into the main lobby of the ward, the nurses were back to discussing some sort of radio broadcast from earlier; Kei could see apprehension and worry from the nursing station. If the adults were upset, that could only lead to spreading that bit of uncertainty around. These patients had enough on their plate, they didn't need worried nurses as well.

Kei skipped her way towards the nurse's station only to say one thing. "It's going to be okay." The way she said it, there was almost an assurance to it, a calming sort of soothing voice. If it meant that whatever was said in the radio broadcast was stricken from their minds, then it would have been worth it. Kei had no idea what was said, but she honestly believed that everything would be okay come what may. It was a great day, after all.

Back she skipped to the elevator, waving her goodbyes as the door closed. Kei bounded her way out of the hospital, back out onto the streets of Edgetoun. Another great day greeted her as she skipped merrily along the sidewalk with the only destination being wherever her feet took her.

For Queen and Country

I'm gonna try and have a post up soon. Don't wanna be slippin' behind.

Kōkyo High

Yeah, I'll have a post by the week's end

The Sands of Time

LOCATION — Breakfast at Tiffany's
INTERACTING WITH — We both kinda liked it
_{I arch my back cause I'm very close now. It's very cold here By the window}

---

There were few thing that set the mood of the day quite like that first cigarette; it used to be that Kat had one upon waking up, the pack resting next to her alarm clock but more often than not that cigarette went unfinished and put out in the ash tray after only a few minutes which was really a waste of funds above anything else. She had to stop doing it first thing, not just because of the waste, but because she could hardly think of something so depressing as someone so dependent on nicotine that they had to have one before their feet even hit the ground in the morning. It was part of the reason why Kat told herself she was going to quit smoking altogether - a promise that lasted about as long as a morning cigarette; she didn't out and out quit but she'd been a bit less dependent on them for getting through the day. A good cigarette still largely set the tone, but Kat was willing to at least wait until after a meal before burning the paper and taking a drag, like a normal person.

The exception being this morning, of all mornings.

For most it was an average, ordinary day but when the radio flared to life with the tones of an overpaid radio host mentioning the big Fourth of July celebration tomorrow, Kat couldn't help but to sigh out and reach for the near empty pack on the night stand. She'd had one last night after the night's entertainment had left after burning a three hundred dollar hole in Kat's wallet and heart which was why the bed had the feeling of being in use by two people yet only one occupied it. This morning cigarette wasn't a celebratory one as last night's had been - though how much could one celebrate if it was paid for - but one of apprehension and anticipation. Tomorrow was the Fourth of July. What kind of cruel fate had Katinka Zima's birthday fall on the same day. When they first came to America, Kat liked to pretend the fireworks were for her birthday specifically. Her one wish that morning was that come tomorrow there wasn't some elaborate party or whatever from her family. She was going to be twenty six, that was hardly cause for celebration.

Unlike the old days, Kat allowed herself to enjoy this early morning cigarette fully. She remained in bed, glancing at the formless groove to her right every so often while listening to the radio. The cigarette took ten minutes, but Katinka lingered around for another twenty, eyes going from closed to gazing at the groove where ideally another person would have been. The lingering scent of cherries was wafting towards Kat's nose and with it her breathing was irregular for the twenty minutes it took her to finish. It was a good morning.

The eldest Zima daughter was leaving her apartment shortly after that, getting into the back of a cab and rustling through her purse on the short trip to the town square, specifically a diner on the corner that did a decent omelette and even better potatoes. She'd made a point of going there damn near every day. Corner booth, by the window that overlooked the square proper. The waitress greeted Kat and Kat did the same just before ordering the usual. Egg white omelette with tomatoes, mushrooms, and cheese and a side of grilled potatoes. A meal under ten bucks, it was hard to complain about that. Here would normally have been Kat's first cigarette of the morning, but as she looked out and saw the Fourth of July decorations hung about she reached for the second of the day. The only silver lining was the fact that she didn't have to work tomorrow.

"God damn Fourth of July."

For Queen and Country

KAREN

𝗙𝗨𝗟𝗟 𝗡𝗔𝗠𝗘
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Karen Scaletti

𝗔𝗚𝗘
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35

𝗔𝗣𝗣𝗘𝗔𝗥𝗔𝗡𝗖𝗘
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In a crowd, Karen wouldn't stand out at all unless someone was looking for the most nondescript person at a glance. She'd be the first to list off her perceived physical shortcomings - starting at the top with her messy, moppy, shaggy brown hair that can only ever seem to stay straight when she cuts it shorter than it already is, and her puffy, squirrel-like cheeks which go in hand with her rounded, soft face. The most remarkable thing about her face are her eyes which are quite expressive and wide in that doe-eyed sort of way. Even though she's half way to forty, Karen still has the facial expressions of a woman half her age, which she hopes is effective in reaching towards the troubled students she sees on a regular basis.

Physically she leans to the lanky side of things, standing at roughly 5'6" with a boyish build (naturally she was teased about this through her own educational history) and next to nothing in the way of curves. She's healthily slender thanks to her metabolism which is appropriate given that she makes frequent trips to the school vending machines; prawn cocktail crisps are kryptonite. Her day-to-day attire is a more dress down sort of affair. Sweaters and jeans on most days to really hammer home the 'school mom' sort of vibe. She's not trying to gussy herself up at work, though when she does go out at night with the hopes of maybe finding someone that can actually make her smile, she's been known to wear more formal, flirty attire.

𝗢𝗖𝗖𝗨𝗣𝗔𝗧𝗜𝗢𝗡
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Crowley High's own guidance counselor. It's her job to provide a safe, comforting, atmosphere for students who wish to confide and discuss their issues. Word around the school is she would have liked to be the principal but she's been at her position for almost ten years now. Love her or find her annoying, she does provide a means for the students to vent to someone who will listen. In addition to her being the school guidance counselor she also attends PTA meetings and school-sanctioned events.

𝗙𝗔𝗖𝗧𝗜𝗢𝗡
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N/A

𝗣𝗘𝗥𝗦𝗢𝗡𝗔𝗟𝗜𝗧𝗬
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It comes as little surprise that Karen is a somewhat selfless individual. She always makes time for students that make the effort to see her even if that means having to stay late; if she notices or hears about a student that is troubled she will make the effort to reach out and try to help. Some may find her overly friendly 'call me Karen' type of vibe to be off putting - like when adverts do tone deaf marketing to appeal to 'the kids' - but when she offers to use 'the puppets' or 'the guitar' to help with a session, it's not because she's quirky and weird (not EXCLUSIVELY) but because she's found that when students can't connect to people, they can find it easier to talk to a puppet or the like. Outside of school, Karen is quite the romantic. A fan of romance movies, dramas to romcoms, and of trashy (and classy) literature, Karen still believes that there's someone out there for her. Someone with that 'lipstick lesbian' look who is into quirky 'soft butch' types like herself. Granted as she approaches forty she's coming to terms with the fact that she'll probably be waiting for her Princess Charming forever but it's nice to be optimistic.

Karen has suffered from depression and still feels some of the lingering effects. Optimism is all well and good, but when she returns home to an apartment with two cats it's kind of hard to feel anything but cliche. It used to be worse, to the point where she wears long sleeves for a very specific reason, and she believes herself to be better now, but at times its hard to keep on smiling, especially when it feels like her efforts go to waste and some of her students are just humoring her. While expressive, Karen isn't overtly emotional. She doesn't let her emotions take control in public - save for crying at sad movies or turning into a babbling mess when talking to someone she's attracted to. She is a fairly guarded person and for as much as she extols the virtues of opening up, she doesn't tend to let people in herself. She's far from a mess, but only just, and it's evident that the guidance counselor might need some guidance of her own.

𝗛𝗜𝗦𝗧𝗢𝗥𝗬
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Karen Scaletti refused to just be another victim of the foster care system. After her parents died in a rather unfortunate drunk driving accident, Karen bounced around between various foster homes. She never lived with any one family for long, however, as various acts of...well...god or life - take your pick - kept cropping up. Her first foster family could no longer afford to support a daughter after they both were laid of at their office job. Her second foster family were eventually deemed unfit when Karen discovered some...rather unfortunate and highly illegal images on her foster family computer.

Karen Scaletti seemed to have bad luck when it came to foster homes, and after the fourth failure the orphanage just let her stay until she was old enough to be self sufficient. As such, she had to drop out of school and work two minimum wage part time jobs just to get by. She eventually finished her secondary education albeit later than her peers. While not technically meeting all the requirements - namely a degree - Karen landed the guidance counselor gig on an initially provisional basis because she did pass certification and on the condition that she attend night classes to work towards a counseling degree. It was the biggest break of her life and one she is eternally thankful for. Seven years on she got her degree and still kept the job.

It wasn't all sunshine and rainbows for Karen. Given her rough upbringing and lack of true parental figures and stability in her developmental years, that Karen came out relatively unscathed is a small miracle. Of course, her bouts with depression led to physical scars to make up for the seeming lack of emotional ones. Seeking therapy, one suggested a pet which led to her getting two cats who are, to this day, her closest - and damn near only - friends and confidants.

Karen isn't unhappy even though she clearly would like to be happier, but she still has the tendency to wear fake smiles because there's been little to make her genuinely smile in her life. But she's trying. Lord is she ever trying.

𝗙𝗔𝗩𝗢𝗨𝗥𝗜𝗧𝗘 𝗛𝗔𝗨𝗡𝗧𝗦
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Crowley High: A given, given her occupation. She has her own office which has no fewer than four motivational posters (one for every corner/wall!) and maintains an open door policy as well as all-day office hours. If the door is closed it means she's with another student, but if school is in session then she's available.

Yelena: She's started going there less and less often, but Karen had been a frequent patron in her ever-long pursuit of that illusive thing known as a relationship. Nightclubs aren't typically the best places to find romance but at this point in her life she'd have just been fine not having an empty apartment to come home to.

Grandville: As a fan of non fiction as well as classical literature, it's always a trip when it's Grandville. She found a copy of 'The Remains of the Day' there once and being her second favorite book she had no choice but to buy another copy. Her favorite book is The Poisonwood Bible

Kitty Korner: She went there once or twice on a suggestion from a friend but it was a bit intense.

𝗙𝗥𝗜𝗘𝗡𝗗𝗦 & 𝗙𝗔𝗠𝗜𝗟𝗬
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Raggedy Anne & Haggardly Randi: Her children. Well. Her cats. Raggedy Anne is a British Shorthair while Haggardly Randi is Ragdoll.