Savaaq's recent activity
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Comment on What are some of your favorite PlayStation 1 games? Any odd or unique ones worth playing? in ~games
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Comment on What games have you been playing, and what's your opinion on them? in ~games
Savaaq LinkIn my PlayStation platinum challenge, I’ve come to Odin Sphere Leifthrasir. I was curious about it because I tried 13 Sentinels: Aegis Rim a while back and was pleasantly surprised by how much I...In my PlayStation platinum challenge, I’ve come to Odin Sphere Leifthrasir. I was curious about it because I tried 13 Sentinels: Aegis Rim a while back and was pleasantly surprised by how much I enjoyed it and found it more than the sum of its parts, and I thought I’d see what else Vanillaware had in its back catalog.
OSL is a very pretty game, it’s like playing a beautiful picture book, but one filled with some… Interesting character designs, angst-ridden protagonists, and a combat system that I’m kinda exhausted by. I rarely find myself wanting to play for more than 20-30 minutes at a time before I need to do something else.
Plus, to my understanding there are 5 protagonists to play as. I finished the first one’s story and have started the second, and already I see that I’m basically doing the same thing, just in a different order and with a different weapon. I’m hoping I’ve got more to look forward to than three more playthroughs of “Okay, NOW this character has a reason to visit the forest” or else I think I might be in for a bit of a slog
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Comment on What games have you been playing, and what's your opinion on them? in ~games
Savaaq LinkI’ve been doing a challenge where I’ve been working through the alphabet starting with Z and getting the platinum trophy in a game whose name starts with each letter. This week, I got to P and...I’ve been doing a challenge where I’ve been working through the alphabet starting with Z and getting the platinum trophy in a game whose name starts with each letter. This week, I got to P and found almost nothing in my backlog I was interested in, so I bit the bullet and bought Persona 5 Tactica.
I loved P5/Royale and really enjoyed my time with P5 Strikers and the switch to a frantic Dynasty Warriors-style game, so I was open to meeting up with some old friends for another adventure in strategy format and it’s just… Not hitting me right. Everything feels rushed and downgraded, the visual novel style just isn’t interesting to look at beyond the initial ‘Scott Pilgrim Vs The Metaverse’ vibes, the combat has been dumbed down to the point where things like elemental weaknesses or immunities are all but gone, and the story centers around a brand new character with the Phantom Thieves serving more as guidance counselors than as central figures who have strong personal thematic ties with the new kingdoms and their rulers.
I’m not hating it and it’s far from the worst game I’ve tackled during my challenge, but goodness am I ready to say goodbye to my friends in the Phantom Thieves and move on to new ground
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Comment on What games have you been playing, and what's your opinion on them? in ~games
Savaaq LinkI started up Sable the other day. I’d seen it previewed a few years back and thought it looked really interesting, and then it came out as a free monthly game on PS+ back in December, so now I’m...I started up Sable the other day. I’d seen it previewed a few years back and thought it looked really interesting, and then it came out as a free monthly game on PS+ back in December, so now I’m finally getting around to it as part of an alphabet platinum trophy challenge I’m doing this year.
The art is simple but gorgeous, and I love the type of game that plops you into an unfamiliar world and just lets you explore and figure out what led you here. I would call it relaxing, except for the fact that its performance is so bad that at times I’ve been concerned that my PS5 was breaking down. There have been times when I’ve been climbing gigantic skeletons and the only thing onscreen was my character, a few lines to illustrate topography of the bones, and then nothing but white, and the frame rate still sputtered trying to keep up.
I want to like it far more than I actually do, but when I can’t even open the simple fishing minigame for fear that it will lock up my game again, I just can’t see it as anything better than ‘alright’
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Comment on Game recommendations, specifically in ~games
Savaaq Link ParentI played Telling Lies earlier this year, and while I don’t regret my time with it, I definitely won’t be replaying it. It was kinda interesting though, and definitely a break from the kinds of...I played Telling Lies earlier this year, and while I don’t regret my time with it, I definitely won’t be replaying it. It was kinda interesting though, and definitely a break from the kinds of games I usually play. Now I gotta see about playing Immortality
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Comment on Do you have a favorite YouTube video? I want to know! in ~talk
Savaaq Link ParentThis video was my second Jon Bois experience. The first JB video I ever saw is my recommendation, because it’s also very good, and it’s much shorter than the History of the Seattle Mariners...This video was my second Jon Bois experience. The first JB video I ever saw is my recommendation, because it’s also very good, and it’s much shorter than the History of the Seattle Mariners megacut: https://youtu.be/doZzrsDJo-4?si=5dMiCcuhjBhKbf1H
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Comment on How many songs does a band need to have that you like for you to say you really like them? in ~music
Savaaq LinkFor me, I’d say that if I can hit about five songs that I actively like from a band, then they’re about halfway towards me saying I really like them. However, I also need to have at least one full...For me, I’d say that if I can hit about five songs that I actively like from a band, then they’re about halfway towards me saying I really like them. However, I also need to have at least one full album from them that I really like, as well.
For instance, I’d say that Ladytron and Metric are both pretty good bands. They each have multiple songs which have shown up in multiple playlists of mine that I’ll sing along with when they come on. The difference is, Metric has Fantasies, and I really like that album. Ladytron doesn’t have a single album that I ever find myself reaching for. All of my favorite bands have multiple albums that I really like; up until that point, I could like twenty of a band’s individual songs but they’d still just be alright on my book
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Comment on What have you been listening to this week? in ~music
Savaaq LinkI just recently finished playing Paradise Killer and enjoyed the soundtrack to it so much that I’ve been listening to it ever since. Something about that nostalgic, jazzy, sun-drenched album meets...I just recently finished playing Paradise Killer and enjoyed the soundtrack to it so much that I’ve been listening to it ever since. Something about that nostalgic, jazzy, sun-drenched album meets a need I didn’t realize I had
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Comment on Black Mirror: Favorite episodes in ~tv
Savaaq Link ParentIt’s definitely an episode that hits a little differently after leaving Reddit. Yeah, it was a weird adjustment at first and I still find my muscle memory trying to go back to where my Apollo app...It’s definitely an episode that hits a little differently after leaving Reddit. Yeah, it was a weird adjustment at first and I still find my muscle memory trying to go back to where my Apollo app used to live, but now I’m feeling better without it. I haven’t even thought to check my (karma equivalent) for any comments I’ve posted on Tildes since joining. Similar to those star ratings Lacie used to chase, those little numbers on the internet awarded by strangers just don’t hold sway over me any longer.
It’s one of my favorite episodes for that reason, and one I’ve found different people get different things out of
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Comment on Black Mirror: Favorite episodes in ~tv
Savaaq Link ParentI think you may want to go back and rewatch Nosedive if you think it ended grimly. I found it to be one of the most hopeful episodes of the entire series, possibly even more so than Hang the DJ....I think you may want to go back and rewatch Nosedive if you think it ended grimly. I found it to be one of the most hopeful episodes of the entire series, possibly even more so than Hang the DJ.
Watch how Lacie is living for the early part of the episode l, faking conversations and ordering food she doesn’t like and desperately sucking up to people she sees as better than her, all so the number attached to her name goes up by 0.03 for a bit. When her ostracized coworker catches her off guard and offers her a smoothie, she’s penalized by an anonymous onlooker for daring to show even the faintest glimmer of decency to someone the group has decided not to like. Not to mention the bulk of the episode where everything goes catastrophically wrong for her because she’s so focused on nothing but chasing a bigger number so she can get a new apartment with a handsome hologram boyfriend that will finally make her life complete.
Now look at who’s happy in this episode, and I mean actually happy: Her ‘loser’ brother with his 3 star rating, who has already secured a new place to live with one of the friends he hangs out with playing video games; the 1 star truck driver who’s given up on chasing ratings and freed herself from that cycle; and the man in the cell next to her at the end who seems to genuinely enjoy sharing a conversation with her where they are finally free to scream everything they’ve been bottling up all their lives.
Lacie’s life isn’t over, it’s only just beginning. Now she doesn’t need to take the perfect bite out of cookies she finds disgusting so others will validate her morning performance. Maybe some places won’t serve her, but she’ll get by, and she’s free to stand up for herself along the way. What are people gonna do about it, give her one star?
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Comment on Black Mirror: Favorite episodes in ~tv
Savaaq Link ParentI liked Beyond the Sea and thought it was well done for what it was, but I couldn’t help but feel like they focused on the less interesting part of the story. The entire episode is building up...I liked Beyond the Sea and thought it was well done for what it was, but I couldn’t help but feel like they focused on the less interesting part of the story. The entire episode is building up this weird relationship between Kate Mara and Josh Hartnett and you know it’s going to go sour at some point, the only question is “How badly?”
I personally thought it would have been better to bring us in a few years after the fact, maybe when they’ve only got 3 or 4 months until they’re back on earth, but the first bit of the episode is just these two astronauts and the extremely tense atmosphere between them. Maybe foreshadow something like linger on a shot of Aaron Paul staring at his tag, but let the audience think “Yeah, they’ve spent almost 6 years in space with no one but each other, I’d hate my roommate after that too. Did they break up or something?” As the episode progresses, that’s when they delve into the backstory through maybe 2 or 3 flashbacks to get the point across. This way, we’re not spending most of the entire movie-length episode watching some dude crushing on his coworker’s wife, but rather exploring the question “How could you coexist with the man who did this to your family?”
I feel like that’s the really interesting question this scenario brings up, and the episode literally ends right when they’ve asked it
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Comment on Max heat in Hades finally beaten in ~games
Savaaq Link ParentI think I just saw that same video, as well. Like a weird little video essay version of the Baader-Meinhof phenomenon, I guess. I suppose this shows that no matter the insane challenge, there’s...I think I just saw that same video, as well. Like a weird little video essay version of the Baader-Meinhof phenomenon, I guess. I suppose this shows that no matter the insane challenge, there’s someone out there who loves a game enough to beat it
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Comment on The history of the Minnesota Vikings | Part one: 1960s in ~sports.american_football
Savaaq LinkDorktown is fantastic. I’m not even really a sports fan and would never choose to spend my free time watching it, but Dorktown/Chart Party/Pretty Good/anything Jon Bois touches goes so far beyond...Dorktown is fantastic. I’m not even really a sports fan and would never choose to spend my free time watching it, but Dorktown/Chart Party/Pretty Good/anything Jon Bois touches goes so far beyond just talking sports to provide mini profiles of the figures he’s discussing, cultural context for the events, and a dry sense of humor that just hits right for me.
I’d encourage anyone to check out this video or anything under one of the banners I mentioned above. Even if you’re not interested in sports in the slightest, it’s still an interesting series that uses sports to tell human stories about people who are athletic anomalies, absolute weirdos, and usually both. You don’t need to care about Ken Griffey Jr’s home run pace during a strike-shortened 1994 season in order to get into the drama of the Mariners battling the New York Yankees in the playoffs. Sports are merely the framework for grand narratives that any writer would dream of crafting for a movie
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Comment on What games have you been playing, and what's your opinion on them? in ~games
Savaaq LinkI’m actually in a bit of a funk right now. In the first half of the year, I beat (Got the platinum for) Disco Elysium, Dark Souls 1-3, and finally conquered Cities: Skylines. Ever since, nothing...I’m actually in a bit of a funk right now. In the first half of the year, I beat (Got the platinum for) Disco Elysium, Dark Souls 1-3, and finally conquered Cities: Skylines. Ever since, nothing has really been a must-play game.
I was really looking forward to finally trying Persona 4 Golden as Persona 5 was my favorite game of the last generation, and I was psyched to pick up Inscryption as well, but I just can’t get into either of them. I was playing through Rogue Legacy 2 as well for a bit, but that’s just feeling like a slog now too.
I’m hoping Spider-Man 2, Cities: Skylines 2, and possibly Armored Core 6 can suck me back in, but I’m just feeling a bit blah in the meantime
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Comment on What's a good thriller that makes you care about the characters more about getting answers for "the big questions"? in ~movies
Savaaq Link ParentThey are, and according to Wikipedia filming picked back up in May with some pretty intriguing names signed on to appear in season 2. I’m looking forward to it, and I’m sure my innie would be as...They are, and according to Wikipedia filming picked back up in May with some pretty intriguing names signed on to appear in season 2. I’m looking forward to it, and I’m sure my innie would be as well if he had any time to watch TV
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Comment on TV Tuesdays Free Talk in ~tv
Savaaq Link ParentHey now, Baby Billy’s Bible Bonkers is gold, I tell you! Just you watch, it’ll be the highest-rated show on the Gemstone Network! Now who wants to give an old man some tail? I’m not totally in...Hey now, Baby Billy’s Bible Bonkers is gold, I tell you! Just you watch, it’ll be the highest-rated show on the Gemstone Network! Now who wants to give an old man some tail?
I’m not totally in love with this season of the Righteous Gemstones, but Walton Goggins is consistently a highlight of whatever I see him in and I’ve enjoyed his storyline so far this season
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Comment on What would you like to see in your dream food blog? in ~food
Savaaq Link ParentSome people can’t stomach it when you try to spice things upSome people can’t stomach it when you try to spice things up
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Comment on Why did you select your username for Tildes? in ~tildes
Savaaq LinkI was playing a lot of Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom when I signed up, specifically the Gerudo section, and their word for “Good day” was stuck in my headI was playing a lot of Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom when I signed up, specifically the Gerudo section, and their word for “Good day” was stuck in my head
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Comment on TV Tuesdays Free Talk in ~tv
Savaaq LinkLast week, I was visiting family. At my parents’ after dinner one night, my mom said she’d found some episodes of The Office coming on. She’s never seen the show but knows I like it and wanted to...Last week, I was visiting family. At my parents’ after dinner one night, my mom said she’d found some episodes of The Office coming on. She’s never seen the show but knows I like it and wanted to watch it with me to see what the fuss was about.
The episode was from season 4, where Michael has to take a night job selling diet pills and Jim & Pam spend a night at Dwight’s beet farm B&B. It’s a great episode, one I always enjoy on streaming rewatches, but something felt off. I couldn’t put my finger on what until the episode was over and I realized that they’d cut out a bunch of scenes from it, including the scene where Jim & Pam leave a kind review of Dwight’s farm on TripAdvisor. Comedy Central had cut out the entire emotional payoff to one of the episode’s main stories just to squeeze in more ads.
As someone who cut the cord a decade ago, I was shocked at how much more emphasis was placed on laundry detergent and tone deaf karaoke about Burger King than the actual content itself. Is Comedy Centeal just particularly egregious about this, or are other cable networks just as bad?
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Comment on How to read House of Leaves in ~books
Savaaq Link ParentEnjoy! You’re in for one heck of an experience. It’s like nothing else I’ve read before or since, owing in big part to the bizarre layouts and printing. It’s not just there to be weird either, as...Enjoy! You’re in for one heck of an experience. It’s like nothing else I’ve read before or since, owing in big part to the bizarre layouts and printing. It’s not just there to be weird either, as you’ll realize that much of the weird formatting actually reflects events happening in the book.
If you really want to go down a rabbit hole, the writer’s sister, Poe, released an album called Haunted which also references characters and events in the book and just so happens to be a fantastic record in its own right
There’s a guy on YouTube that I like to watch sometimes who has an entire video series covering weird and obscure PS1 games, what makes them interesting or fun or things that don’t work about them, and his recommendations if they’re worth trying or not. There are some games in there which I remember thinking looked interesting, and since your question reminded me of it, I figured his channel might be up your alley: Sean Seanson