Some Thoughts

A couple of quick updates. I've applied for a new job! It's still at the University but it's a grade higher and I would get closer to actual students. I'm not entirely convinced I want to do the job but it's given me a confidence boost just to realise that it was possible for me to apply for it. And it would fulfil my ambition of having a job where you would see the actual difference you're making to someone's life. Actually, I think I do want it!

The other thing is that my artist made a blog post acknowledging that they over-promised with my pic. As well as their anxiety/depression issues, they've also been doing a lot of travelling for work, which has reduced energy levels. I accept all that - I'd like to have been told personally and not just in a blog post but, hey... I asked if, realistically, we were going to get the pic done and they said yes - setting a new deadline for end of March. So, we carry on waiting. I want to stick with them because a) their a friend and they've gone through some shit recently and b) they're free! But if it isn't going to happen, I'd rather acknowledge that and find an alternative. Somewhere... Anyway, end of March - watch this space...

And now my review of Dragon Quest XI. There may be spoilers, so read at your own risk.

I expected to love this game because JRPG! *excited fan girl squealing* I didn't and there are a few reasons why. Firstly, the voice acting for some of the characters was quite a lot less than perfect. Serena in particular made my teeth itch, especially with her 'Did I do alright?' post-battle comments - not only does it undervalue her contribution to the battle, but it was delivered in a tone of 'please like me even if I didn't'. Some of her in-battle delivery - 'take thiii-iii-iiis' - wasn't much better. Jade's sassiness - 'well THAT was easy' rofl - was much better, even if some of her abilities were questionable.

So, three female characters out of eight was a poor ratio to begin with, and only Veronica left me unirritated. The lack of good female characters in a game from 2018 is disappointing. And some of their outfits... Don't get me started on the outfits.

Another thing was that the MC didn't speak. At all. Except for a few grunts when casting spells. I just... Why?!

Sylvando's over-the-top campness worked, however. But the game lacked ethnic diversity to a painful degree.

However, I play RPG's (whether J or W) for the story and I have to say I enjoyed this aspect of the game a lot. Being a JRPG, there are no real story choices, you don't 'create your own game', and there was absolutely no 'relationship system'. You begin the game at the beginning and everyone will arrive at the same place at the end. There's some optional stuff in terms of sidequests and trophy hunting, of course but the story is the story.

There is the inevitable 'twist' in the middle but this actually made me feel I was playing a whole new game, with new enemies and new objectives.

I found the final boss challenging but not ridiculously hard, which is another plus. I don't like final bosses that can be killed in one hit - *looks at FFXII* (although, to be fair, that was because I was over levelled in order to deal with the hunts) - and I don't like ones that just don't know when to die - *looks at KH1 & 2*. And the post-game stuff means that you effectively get a THIRD game out of it.

Overall, I'm very glad I played it and I will get round to finishing it properly - but first Dragon Age Inquisition!