Durinthal's recent activity
-
Comment on Announcing the Backlog Burner event for November 2025: Shrink your unplayed games list this coming month! in ~games
-
Comment on What games have you been playing, and what's your opinion on them? in ~games
Durinthal Link ParentI just got the last few achievements I was missing at slightly over 31 hours total, doing a few low difficulty runs to get the evolutions I hadn't bothered to aim for before. Don't think I'll...I just got the last few achievements I was missing at slightly over 31 hours total, doing a few low difficulty runs to get the evolutions I hadn't bothered to aim for before. Don't think I'll bother with the New Game+ mode at this point, got what I wanted out of it.
-
Comment on Do you have a favorite setting shared amongst multiple authors? in ~books
Durinthal LinkI loved the Dragonlance setting up through the early 2000s and think at one point I had read almost all of them; I have a vague memory of having over a hundred volumes on my shelves in total....I loved the Dragonlance setting up through the early 2000s and think at one point I had read almost all of them; I have a vague memory of having over a hundred volumes on my shelves in total. Overall there's a wide variety in quality and tone but as a voracious young reader that carried a paperback everywhere I went I can't remember anything I actually disliked to the point of wanting to drop it or never wanting to read anything else from a specific author.
I'm considering checking out the new novels released in the past few years (which I only learned about today) though I don't know if I'd enjoy them as much these days. It's been roughly 20 years and I'd like to imagine my taste has gotten a little more refined, but now I've taken to binging translated Japanese light novels which definitely aren't high quality writing for the most part so maybe not.
More recently I did enjoy the setting created by Andrew Rowe (Arcane Ascension among other progression fantasy series) and it barely qualifies for the topic as there was a shared trilogy titled Shattered Legacy in the works with Kayleigh Nicol, but it was canceled after the second volume's release due to disagreements between them. It's been interesting seeing the mixed responses to that announcement though personally I'm disappointed since I enjoyed the first two novels and I'm planning on checking out Nicol's other works in the future.
-
Comment on What games have you been playing, and what's your opinion on them? in ~games
Durinthal LinkBall x Pit has consumed a lot of my free time this past week since its release. The simplest comparison possible is Breakout style gameplay with Vampire Survivors laid on top of it with a variety...Ball x Pit has consumed a lot of my free time this past week since its release. The simplest comparison possible is Breakout style gameplay with Vampire Survivors laid on top of it with a variety of weapons, characters, and levels. It's the kind of thing that I'll put 30 hours into in a week or two and then never touch again, and I'm okay with that.
Some of the weird unlockable character abilities are fun:
One of them converts it into a turn-based game that alternates between you firing a burst of shots and the enemies moving up the field one space once all your balls have finished.
Another plays the game without any input, making it into more of an idle game where you only need to handle the meta progression between rounds if you want.
My current favorite character adds gravity (at the top by default) that affects ball trajectories, so instead of coming back to you at the bottom they'll continuously bounce across a row of enemies until there's a path off the top of the screen.
-
Comment on Thieves steal crown jewels in four minutes from Louvre Museum in Paris in ~arts
Durinthal Link ParentSeems more action focused at a glance but I'm gonna try Relooted once it's out.Seems more action focused at a glance but I'm gonna try Relooted once it's out.
-
Comment on What is your 'Subway Take'? in ~talk
Durinthal Link ParentI've been saying for a while that December 25th should be the beginning of the festive season of Christmas rather than most people taking down their decorations by the start of January. We need...I've been saying for a while that December 25th should be the beginning of the festive season of Christmas rather than most people taking down their decorations by the start of January. We need more holiday cheer through the bleak months in the north.
-
Comment on What is your 'Subway Take'? in ~talk
Durinthal Link ParentI feel like I saw that happen in some rural areas a couple of decades back, during a period at night they'd switch to either blink red in all directions if they're about equal traffic or yellow...I feel like I saw that happen in some rural areas a couple of decades back, during a period at night they'd switch to either blink red in all directions if they're about equal traffic or yellow just for the busier road as a caution but not stop.
-
Comment on What ridiculous thing would you spend billions on? in ~talk
Durinthal LinkI mentioned something I've already considered under someone else's comment (my own anime studio) but here are two other ideas I've thought of since: Hire a marching band to be on standby and...I mentioned something I've already considered under someone else's comment (my own anime studio) but here are two other ideas I've thought of since:
-
Hire a marching band to be on standby and provide a soundtrack to my daily life. If I pass by someone wearing clothing for a specific college team the band will play either that school's fight song or their rival's at my discretion.
-
Buy an entire neighborhood in a major city, like Beacon Hill in Boston, and turn it into my personal playground for a multitude of smaller projects and things I want easy access to. One building would be a vault archiving every anime ever released. Another would be a classic greasy spoon diner where I could get breakfast at any hour, next door to a bakery that makes things from all around the world.
-
-
Comment on What have you been watching / reading this week? (Anime/Manga) in ~anime
Durinthal (edited )LinkInitial impressions of everything I started this season (mostly copied from quick thoughts I dropped elsewhere over the past couple of weeks), often just the first episode: My Awkward Senpai —...Initial impressions of everything I started this season (mostly copied from quick thoughts I dropped elsewhere over the past couple of weeks), often just the first episode:
-
My Awkward Senpai — Hair vents in this day and age? I guess this one's all about the gap moe difference between her outward behavior and inner monologue but I don't know if it's working for me.
-
A Star Brighter than the Sun — Gimme that shoujo childhood friend romance.
-
This Monster Wants to Eat Me — I'd let her eat me too. Some of the early establishing scenes reminded me of Aku no Hana in a good way, looking forward to more of this one.
-
Pass the Monster Meat, Milady — These two dorks were made for each other, I love it. Hope it doesn't waffle on the romance front for too long, I already have another series with a nerdy red-haired girl and beast slayer with golden eyes that love to eat monsters together that's dragging on.
-
May I Ask for One Final Thing? — Already mentioned in this thread, Scarlet's a fun lead.
-
My Friend's Little Sister Has It In for Me! — Half Can a Boy-Girl Friendship Survive?, half Saekano: How to Raise a Boring Girlfriend, all facepalm.
-
Inexpressive Kashiwada and Expressive Oota — I'd rather have another season of Aharen Is Indecipherable or Takagi-san, but we'll see how this goes.
-
SI-VIS — Oh hey mixed-gender Symphogear. That's all I got so far.
-
Alma-chan Wants to Be a Family — First scene made me think Mahoromatic to start but really it's robot/scientist Spy x Family.
-
Towa no Yuugure — Not a great start for an original series, the antagonists are mustache twirling levels of evil so far.
-
Mechanical Marie — Instead of an android being treated like a human here's a human acting like a robot for reasons. Not deep but it's fun.
-
Yano-kun's Ordinary Days — I think I saw some Shikimori's Not Just a Cutie comparisons earlier and I get it for the guy being unlucky and constantly getting injured, but seems fundamentally different in its character relationships and what it's going for.
-
Ginpachi-sensei — Gintama spinoff, opening scene was fantastic but the rest of it didn't quite grab me. Haven't gotten to the second episode yet, will have to see how it does past the introductions.
-
Chitose Is in the Ramune Bottle — This immediately fell into the same group with Oregairu/Tomozaki/Alya kinds of light novel adaptations for me with characters that I find to be grating, not a good sign.
-
With You, Our Love Will Make It Through — Average shoujo school romance leaning on the spicy side but the male lead is midway down the furry scale, curious to see how it follows the end of the first episode.
-
Plus-sized Misadventures in Love — More interesting than I expected but maybe a bit too quick of a resolution for the coworker, could have been interesting to see her gradually come around rather than flipping to Yumeko's side right away.
-
Forget That Night, Your Majesty — Another Broken Saintess kind of production that looks like Live2D animation from a decade ago, unfortunately. I do find it funny that they're invoking Greek myth by having a woman from House Persephone marry a Lord Hades while they seem to be in a generic medieval Europe nobility setting.
-
The Dark History of the Reincarnated Villainess — A woman's pulled into her cringe-worthy teen fantasy story as the antagonist, pretty fun but I'm biased toward villainess series.
-
Let's Play — Questionable dialogue but also maybe fun in a popcorn sense. Gonna roll with the dub for this I think since it's quite American.
-
Wandance — Wanda's design feels off at times in context with the other characters. I only made it through a couple of episodes of the other dancing anime (Dance Dance Danseur and Welcome to the Ballroom) and don't necessarily expect to keep up with this one either, but Scatman playing in the first episode has my interest.
-
A Mangaka's Weirdly Wonderful Workplace — I also dropped New Game and that's what I had in mind heading into the start of this one. After the second episode it's... okay? I can recognize that it's good at what it's doing, it's just not something I'm all that interested in yet.
That's about double what I normally finish in a season, so I have no idea how many of these I'll actually keep up with.
-
-
Comment on What ridiculous thing would you spend billions on? in ~talk
Durinthal Link ParentI've thought about the same kind of thing, except I'd buy an anime studio or three and have them work solely on my pet projects.I've thought about the same kind of thing, except I'd buy an anime studio or three and have them work solely on my pet projects.
-
Comment on Tildes Minecraft: What do you want to see in the next season? in ~games
Durinthal Link ParentI've always wanted to do some kind of funnel from farms to a central storage, would love to help with that if there's a plan down the road.I've always wanted to do some kind of funnel from farms to a central storage, would love to help with that if there's a plan down the road.
-
Comment on Tildes Minecraft: What do you want to see in the next season? in ~games
Durinthal LinkCount me in with the folks who would like an option for faster minecarts and I'll happily show up in January. Beyond that I don't have much in the way of preferences as I generally like how things...Count me in with the folks who would like an option for faster minecarts and I'll happily show up in January. Beyond that I don't have much in the way of preferences as I generally like how things had been, I just tend to lose interest after the initial wave of activity if I don't have specific project in mind (which I might try to aim for next time).
A broader thought that's not specific to anything I was planning and beyond my experience: how many automated farms could be permanently active with a chunk loader even if no player's around? I was thinking it could be nice to have an industrial district that's always going without needing someone to be AFK there as long as it doesn't affect server performance too much.
-
Comment on What games have you been playing, and what's your opinion on them? in ~games
Durinthal Link ParentVictory screen, having a weapon that can block attacks helped. It's funny that I didn't even get an attack boon but sometimes it's not necessary. I was very close on the previous attempt with the...Victory screen, having a weapon that can block attacks helped. It's funny that I didn't even get an attack boon but sometimes it's not necessary. I was very close on the previous attempt with the blades but literally ran out of time a couple seconds before I got the final blow.
Fear loadout/some boss discussion
I used this set of oaths, Frenzy 2 is one of the first I enable once it's an option and helps me get used to faster enemies before adding on other things. As mentioned earlier Denial can actually be helpful by eliminating boons I'm less interested in.
If I was going up I would have gone with Rivals 2 since the first two bosses don't give me much trouble in those versions now (and I love seeing Eris with the other aspect, one of my favorites in the first game), but Unrivaled Hecate is a pain and I haven't practiced that version of fight enough yet.
Also the "Allies" in my victory screenshot is from the hex that lets you summon a defeated enemy, they can often shred bosses pretty well and one of the upgrades keeps them there through the entire fight.
-
Comment on What games have you been playing, and what's your opinion on them? in ~games
Durinthal Link ParentI've also been enjoying it, slowed down a bit after hitting the credits a week ago but there's still a lot to do with relationships and weapons along with half the achievements remaining. I just...I've also been enjoying it, slowed down a bit after hitting the credits a week ago but there's still a lot to do with relationships and weapons along with half the achievements remaining. I just handily beat a 32 Fear run earlier tonight, which is nice after I never quite got there with 32 Heat in the first game.
-
Comment on CGA-2025-10 🕹️⏰ 🗺️ 🐸 INSERT CARTRIDGE 🟢 Chrono Trigger in ~games
Durinthal Link ParentSo many good tracks including that one, I don't know if I can pick a favorite because I like a lot of them for different reasons. I knew exactly what remix that was and could hear it in my mind...So many good tracks including that one, I don't know if I can pick a favorite because I like a lot of them for different reasons.
I knew exactly what remix that was and could hear it in my mind before I opened the link after listening to it regularly over the years, the MM2 one is great as well. I also like one of the goofier ones (by other folks), Team Gato.
-
Comment on CGA-2025-10 🕹️⏰ 🗺️ 🐸 INSERT CARTRIDGE 🟢 Chrono Trigger in ~games
Durinthal Link ParentAlready started it and put three hours in, I've been through the intro more times than I can count so I tried poking around more and doing some things differently this time. Chapter title I just...Already started it and put three hours in, I've been through the intro more times than I can count so I tried poking around more and doing some things differently this time.
Chapter title I just got to:
The End of Time
A few arbitrary thoughts up to that point:
-
I like how the stress of the soldiers in 600 AD is conveyed in the dining hall with the captain and chef sniping at each other, it's unnecessary but a nice added scene.
-
I tried to go as guilty as possible in the trial but eating the old man's food was the only thing called in for evidence along with the initial run-in with Marle, guess I answered the other questions in the trial inappropriately for getting other events cited (trying to run away while waiting for her to get a snack and trying to sell the pendant to Melchior). Still 6 to 1 guilty, but I can't remember if it's even possible to get a unanimous vote one way or the other. Side note: I have no idea if the music for the trial was inspired by the trial in Pink Floyd's The Wall, but I have that mental association because they hit my life around the same time.
-
This time I actually sat in the jail cell and waited until the day of the execution rather than knocking out the guard and escaping myself; it was fun to see Lucca burst in at the last second after being lead to the guillotine.
-
But you're still hungry. It's an oppressive mood as you go through the ruins of the future before meeting Robo (then you get rolled), and soon after he's repaired and has a positive outlook his sibling units claim he's malfunctioning. Johnny's race is a moment of levity to break it up overall, but I love the rallying call and the main theme playing on your way out after you first learn about Lavos.
-
Combat strength feels lacking up until Robo joins, but I don't know if that's just my perception because of low numbers in the early game.
-
-
Comment on CGA-2025-10 🕹️⏰ 🗺️ 🐸 INSERT CARTRIDGE 🟢 Chrono Trigger in ~games
Durinthal LinkOther people have already talked about the broader context of the game so I'll turn to a more personal angle as Chrono Trigger was one of my formative games in a few ways. I wasn't able to get the...Other people have already talked about the broader context of the game so I'll turn to a more personal angle as Chrono Trigger was one of my formative games in a few ways. I wasn't able to get the SNES cartridge, but was one of the first games I emulated around the turn of the millennium. I remember having fun toggling the different graphics layers in ZSNES with that giving me an idea of how it worked as a piece of software.
This game is the first piece of media I can remember that drew me into loving its characters and music so much that I wanted more and turned to fan works as a result; Lucca was one of my first fictional crushes and remains a favorite to this day, typifying a few of my favorite character tropes. Amazingly Icy Brian's RPG Page still exists and I was able to recall a specific fanfic that I loved reading nearly 25 years ago, Chrono Continuum. Stumbling upon a cover of Corridors of Time was what got me into OC ReMix and broadened my horizons for music as a whole while spending a few years hanging out in the forum there. I also burned the soundtrack to a CD and have a distinct memory of dozing in a car while it was playing during a family road trip.
At one point I downloaded a fan translation patch for Radical Dreamers since it was supposed to connect Chrono Trigger to Chrono Cross (a fun era of not having exhaustive authoritative information on games) but didn't get very far into that one and I never got to Chrono Cross as I stuck to Nintendo consoles.
If I had played the game more recently I might have turned to the Jets of Time Randomizer but for now I want to just go through it for the story again. I happened to have my DS Lite case nearby so I went looking through the games to see if it's there... nope, apparently I left it somewhere else. I do own the Steam version but I think I might emulate the SNES original for the nostalgia.
-
Comment on Chris Houlihan is real in ~games
Durinthal Link ParentI watch people stream A Link to the Past randomizer races and occasionally someone will intentionally trigger a glitch to get into the room because it's a quick source of money, fun to see more of...I watch people stream A Link to the Past randomizer races and occasionally someone will intentionally trigger a glitch to get into the room because it's a quick source of money, fun to see more of the story behind it.
-
Comment on CGA-2025-09 🕹️🚂 INSERT CARTRIDGE 🟢 The Last Express in ~games
Durinthal Link ParentAbsolutely, then it's flat and fields as far as the eye can see for another day. If given the opportunity I'd like to take the Coast Starlight between Portland and Seattle again, also has great...Absolutely, then it's flat and fields as far as the eye can see for another day.
If given the opportunity I'd like to take the Coast Starlight between Portland and Seattle again, also has great scenery from what I can remember.
-
Comment on CGA-2025-09 🕹️🚂 INSERT CARTRIDGE 🟢 The Last Express in ~games
Durinthal LinkI only noticed the meta challenge last night, but this was already something I was planning on doing for a laugh as soon as I realized it lined up with my vacation schedule: playing The Last...I only noticed the meta challenge last night, but this was already something I was planning on doing for a laugh as soon as I realized it lined up with my vacation schedule: playing The Last Express while on a train, in this case while taking the Amtrak Northeast Regional from Boston to New York City so it's just a few hours.
Almost exactly a decade ago I took a cross-country rail trip from Portland, Oregon to Chicago, Illinois via Sacramento, California (Coast Starlight to a roomette on the California Zephyr) as I'm fond of trains. Didn't have any murders that I'm aware of, fortunately.
As for the game itself, I love the concept but don't have much patience to keep playing long enough to get deep into it, at least while I'm on vacation. I'm not terribly fond of how it controls on the Steam Deck and I won't be home to play it more this month. Might change my mind later and chime in again after picking it back up, will have to see.
I like the Form list as an option making me target different genres, got my card generated (and backed up) along with some ideas of which games to go for. It was fun to drop a convention bingo out of nowhere in May but this month I'm back to starting with my regular backlog and playing games at home.