Starman2112's recent activity
-
Comment on What have you been watching / reading this week? (Anime/Manga) in ~anime
-
Comment on What games have you been playing, and what's your opinion on them? in ~games
Starman2112 (edited )LinkI got into Sekiro a couple weeks ago. It's the only Fromsoft game that I've really enjoyed playing, which makes sense with it being the odd one out. It solves everything I don't like about...I got into Sekiro a couple weeks ago. It's the only Fromsoft game that I've really enjoyed playing, which makes sense with it being the odd one out. It solves everything I don't like about soulslikes. Posture is my favorite mechanic—instead of just poking at my opponent for half an hour and praying that I don't run out of stamina while evading attacks, this game rewards staying right in my opponent's face and actively engaging in combat. Both attacking and deflecting build up your opponent's posture bar, so fights are much more energetic than other Fromsoft games.
Also, you don't pick attributes to upgrade when you level up. Some people don't like the lower level of customization, but I love it. Fights are about mutable equipment loadouts instead of immutable stat increases, and you'll never find yourself stuck because you levelled up Endurance too much.
Genichiro is one of my favorite bosses I've ever fought. There's no gimmick, there's no cheese strat, it's pure combat. Get in his face, attack, and deflect. Almost a nonstop clanging of swords. It's beautiful. His long combos are extremely satisfying to perfectly parry. Plus, when he kills you (and he will kill you, a lot), you respawn just down the hall. There's no enemies between you and him, you just attack, die, revive, repeat. It probably took me three dozen attempts, and I never got upset about dying at all.
Right now I'm working on Guardian Ape. He's... A little bit frustrating. Update: I killed the stupid monkey!
Spoilers for Guardian Ape
Much like Lady Butterfly, it's a unique sense of "oh God please no" when you get the deathblow, and find out that there's a secret second health bar. His second phase is so weird. This is not how an ape should be moving!
-
Comment on How to pass the time when you have nothing to do at work and just your phone? in ~talk
Starman2112 LinkI've been spending a lot of time playing Merriam-Webster's daily crosswords. I usually hate crossword puzzles, but these are small and easy enough that I can usually almost finish them before...I've been spending a lot of time playing Merriam-Webster's daily crosswords. I usually hate crossword puzzles, but these are small and easy enough that I can usually almost finish them before looking anything up
-
Comment on Oatly loses right to call its drinks ‘milk’ in landmark UK ruling – lexical dispute with trade body Dairy UK argued slogan ‘Post Milk Generation’ was misleading to consumers in ~food
Starman2112 Link ParentI'm not trying to argue, but I don't like my words being misunderstood. What I said is that these are always clearly labeled, which NextMilk is. I can't account for someone not reading the label....However, you claimed that every single dairy alternative was not something you could confuse with dairy milk, and that's just not right.
I'm not trying to argue, but I don't like my words being misunderstood. What I said is that these are always clearly labeled, which NextMilk is. I can't account for someone not reading the label. The only brand I can understand there being any confusion about is Bored Cow, but I would hope that consumers spending $20 on a gallon of milk know that it isn't ordinary cow's milk.
-
Comment on Oatly loses right to call its drinks ‘milk’ in landmark UK ruling – lexical dispute with trade body Dairy UK argued slogan ‘Post Milk Generation’ was misleading to consumers in ~food
Starman2112 Link ParentWithout a brand name or a picture, or even a sure memory of what plant the milk was made of, or when this happened, how can you expect people to simply believe your comment? I'm not saying you're...Without a brand name or a picture, or even a sure memory of what plant the milk was made of, or when this happened, how can you expect people to simply believe your comment? I'm not saying you're lying, but I have no reason to believe that this isn't more on your father than it is on the marketing.
-
Comment on Oatly loses right to call its drinks ‘milk’ in landmark UK ruling – lexical dispute with trade body Dairy UK argued slogan ‘Post Milk Generation’ was misleading to consumers in ~food
Starman2112 Link ParentWhat confusion? Dairy alternatives are always plainly labeled, usually containing pictures of the actual plants they use. I've been more confused about skim vs 1% vs 2% vs whole milk than I've...Objecting to that basically means you're in favor of wanting confusion.
What confusion? Dairy alternatives are always plainly labeled, usually containing pictures of the actual plants they use. I've been more confused about skim vs 1% vs 2% vs whole milk than I've ever been about what plant my drink came from.
-
Comment on Oatly loses right to call its drinks ‘milk’ in landmark UK ruling – lexical dispute with trade body Dairy UK argued slogan ‘Post Milk Generation’ was misleading to consumers in ~food
Starman2112 Link ParentI would be willing to give up calling plant-based milks "milk," but only if we simultaneously end subsidies for beef and dairy. Let's see how the market handles $4 gallons of Almond-based Dairy...I would be willing to give up calling plant-based milks "milk," but only if we simultaneously end subsidies for beef and dairy. Let's see how the market handles $4 gallons of Almond-based Dairy Alternative vs $12 gallons of Genuine Cow's Milk
-
Comment on What have you been watching / reading this week? (Anime/Manga) in ~anime
Starman2112 (edited )LinkFinished Elfen Lied yesterday. I feel better about it than I did last week. I can see why some people love it as much as they do, but I still didn't really like it. I liked the characters a lot....Finished Elfen Lied yesterday. I feel better about it than I did last week. I can see why some people love it as much as they do, but I still didn't really like it. I liked the characters a lot. Lucy especially is interesting, sort of a Paarthurnax or a The Dark Urge—I'm into a story about redeeming the irredeemable. The overall story is interesting, but there was just too much child nudity and torture, often mixed in a really uncomfortable way, for me to give it more than a 4/10.
I throw no shade at anyone who likes this show. I'm in no position to judge. This just wasn't my cup of tea
For the next show, I threw some dice, they landed on Slayers, but I don't feel like devoting two entire months to a show I don't really know anything about. So instead I'm watching Revolutionary Girl Utena. If you've seen Slayers, what did you think? Is it worth watching the entire series?
-
Comment on What have you been watching / reading this week? (Anime/Manga) in ~anime
Starman2112 (edited )LinkI tend to rate every show I watch very highly. I like English dubs and I usually overlook flaws that others see, so for a little while I was worried that I simply don't have taste. I started Elfen...I tend to rate every show I watch very highly. I like English dubs and I usually overlook flaws that others see, so for a little while I was worried that I simply don't have taste.
I started Elfen Lied the other day, and I'm happy to say that I do have taste, and this tastes bad. I'm only a few episodes in, so I can't make any real judgements yet, but so far this show just feels gross to watch. This is the first time I've seriously considered breaking my streak and leaving a show unfinished
If the dog dies on-screen, this show gets a 3 at most
Edit: I don't want to just complain, so I'm going to talk about another show me and my friends have been watching: Castlevania. Some would say it isn't anime, and I would ignore them. The first season is the weakest, but it still does a good job setting up the characters and the stakes in a way that later seasons are able to build on perfectly. Everyone in the show has a distinct personality that makes their character growth (or lack thereof) believable and meaningful. As I write this, it occurs to me that the vampires don't really grow or change at all throughout the series, which I'm choosing to interpret as a deliberate commentary on their species—long-lived, but stagnant, unable to adapt to the ever-evolving human race.
You could write a whole essay about the differences between Hector and Isaac, how one betrays his principles and the other remains loyal, how the narrative punishes one and rewards the other, and how their experiences cause both of them to grow. I'm not an essayist, so the most I can do is gesture broadly at it and say "look at that! Isn't that neat?"
-
Comment on DebunkBot in ~science
Starman2112 Link ParentHonestly, I think this had the opposite effect than was intended for me. Being made to restate and refine my position on the topic I picked only served to strengthen my (admittedly lightly held)...Honestly, I think this had the opposite effect than was intended for me. Being made to restate and refine my position on the topic I picked only served to strengthen my (admittedly lightly held) belief in it
-
Comment on DebunkBot in ~science
Starman2112 (edited )LinkI tried discussing a relatively serious conspiracy theory with this bot, and it quickly became rather unfun when I realized it seems to be programmed to offer any alternative explanation for the...I tried discussing a relatively serious conspiracy theory with this bot, and it quickly became rather unfun when I realized it seems to be programmed to offer any alternative explanation for the theory you explained at the beginning. I wish I could go back and discuss something more fun with it. I'm going to try again with something less serious. Next time I try this, I'm going to discuss the secret life of the Thane of Whiterun with this bot. I'm pretty sure that guy works for the Dark Brotherhood and the Riften Thieves Guild...
To assume that all these incidents point to the Thane being a member of the Dark Brotherhood or the Riften Thieves Guild requires a certain degree of speculation that goes beyond the evidence at hand.
Talking to this machine about my suspicions of the Thane has really illuminated how it's programmed to cast doubt on literally anything you talk about with it. I'm going to have to think of something with harder evidence than "this guy walks around in Dark Brotherhood attire talking to the guards about Sithis all the time"
Another neat interaction
In one of my replies, I said that I get an uncanny feeling from the Thane—sometimes, when he looks at me, I see murder in his eyes. It's like in another life, he decided to kill me.
The bot responded with
And intriguingly, your reference to another life suggests an awareness of multiple potential realities or paths one could take. In the context of Skyrim, it's fitting—you might be aware of the 'Dragonborn's' ability to make different choices leading to vastly different outcomes. We could even think of it as a metaphor for how we perceive others: the momentary 'murderous look' could be an errant thought, a trick of the light, or a reflection of how we imagine they could be, as opposed to their true nature.
This is an interesting bot. As obvious as its programming is, it really feels like a human is trying to gaslight me.
-
Comment on What have you been watching / reading this week? (Anime/Manga) in ~anime
Starman2112 (edited )LinkR.O.D: Read Or Die was pretty fun. It made its way onto my list when I saw this fight somewhere a couple years ago, and only just got around to actually finding and watching it. It follows Yomiko...R.O.D: Read Or Die was pretty fun. It made its way onto my list when I saw this fight somewhere a couple years ago, and only just got around to actually finding and watching it. It follows Yomiko Readman, a substitute teacher who also works for the British government fighting supervillains. They have some evil plan or another, but more importantly, they stole her book.
I love everything about this OVA. I love everything about almost every OVA, but this is my favorite one I've seen so far. 9/10, highly recommend if you're as into turn-of-the-century anime as I am.
Also started R.O.D: The TV last week. It takes place a while after the OVA, with Yomiko Readman having been missing for four years. Explaining what the show is about would be hard, so I'm just gonna say it's a ton of fun to watch. Unless the last four episodes turn out awful, this one's getting a 9/10 as well.
Edit: the last four episodes did not turn out awful! 10/10. I feel a unique adoration for this series. I have a hard time putting words to feelings, but it's an affection I haven't felt for a cast of characters to this degree before. I'm sad that this show is over.
I feel like my ratings are too high. I enjoy what I watch too much. Can someone recommend an absolutely awful single season anime? I don't want anything offensive, I just want to remind myself that there are bad shows out there. The last time I saw an anime that I don't think fondly of was Banana Fish, over a year ago.
-
Comment on What have you been watching / reading this week? (Anime/Manga) in ~anime
Starman2112 Link ParentIs it safe to assume you've seen the most popular examples of good dubs? Cowboy Bebop, Baccano, Steins;Gate, Stand Alone Complex?Is it safe to assume you've seen the most popular examples of good dubs? Cowboy Bebop, Baccano, Steins;Gate, Stand Alone Complex?
-
Comment on What have you been watching / reading this week? (Anime/Manga) in ~anime
Starman2112 Link ParentI've only seen around 60 shows, but I'm gonna try and think of what I consider "the good stuff." No spoilers, just compressing text to save space: Mushishi For Ghibli vibes, I'm gonna recommend...I've only seen around 60 shows, but I'm gonna try and think of what I consider "the good stuff." No spoilers, just compressing text to save space:
Mushishi
For Ghibli vibes, I'm gonna recommend Mushishi. One of a few shows I'll call a masterpiece. The pacing is slow and deliberate, and unlike a lot of slower shows, not a single frame is wasted. There isn't a single action sequence in it, so if you're looking for something exciting, it might not be the best fit.
Ghost in the Shell
For something more exciting and just as much a masterpiece, Ghost in the Shell. It changed the way I rate shows, because I can't rate something 10/10 if it doesn't stand up to GITS. The watch order might be intimidating because there are movies and TV shows that are unrelated to each other, but I recommend putting Standalone Complex as high on your watch list as possible.
Steins;Gate
Steins;Gate is a bit less heavy on the talking, though the show doesn't really "start" until you're 13 episodes in. Not that the first half of the show is bad, but it feels like it isn't really going anywhere until suddenly it's very clear that it's going somewhere.
Cowboy Bebop
Cowboy Bebop is your dad's favorite anime. Action, hot chicks, sci-fi, jazz. If you're into anything in this show, it's easy to tune out whatever you're not there for.
Fullmetal Alchemist
As far as shounen goes, Fullmetal Alchemist is one of the most famous anime for a reason. The 2003 anime was an attempt at adapting the manga, but when they caught up to the manga, they decided to continue the show in its own direction. I really like where the 2003 anime went with the story, but the 2009 adaptation is much more faithful to the source material. Either way, both shows are good, highly recommend either or both.
Gurren Lagann
By all rights, I should hate Gurren Lagann; I don't often like shounen, I don't like excessive sexualization, I don't like shows where things just happen without explanation, but there's something about this show that brings out the kid in me. The only show where a character can scream the name of the super move they're doing and I'm shouting along with them. I'm a complete sucker for stories about the indomitable human spirit.
From the New World
Last recommendation, a show that merits much discussion: From the New World. It's the show that I've spent the most time thinking and talking about. What is a human? What makes someone human? Is it in their DNA? Their culture? Their appearance? I was still realizing more about the show and revising my opinions months after finishing it.
-
Comment on What have you been watching / reading this week? (Anime/Manga) in ~anime
Starman2112 LinkErgo Proxy has been on my list since before I had a list. Another one whose name has existed in my mind since I was a kid, but I never got around to watching until now. It's a little bit of Ghost...Ergo Proxy has been on my list since before I had a list. Another one whose name has existed in my mind since I was a kid, but I never got around to watching until now. It's a little bit of Ghost in the Shell, mixed with a dash of Witch Hunter Robin, and a heaping helping of Wolf's Rain.
I love a show that makes me think while I'm watching it. I really love a show that makes me think even when I'm not watching it. I like series that question the concept of personhood, and I love ones that assert that machines can have souls.
The antitheist themes are interesting. A portrayal of "gods" that are cruel and vindictive, even more distressed by the things humans fear like mortality or lack of purpose, is fascinating.
The show is very heavy on the discussion of raison d'etre, and the effects of a lack thereof. Humans, machines, and gods alike need a reason to exist, and being forced to exist without reason drives them mad. Only those who can provide a raison d'etre to themselves can survive without some external force bestowing meaning upon them.
The end is confusing, I'm still not sure I understand the timeline of events, but I'm giving it a 9/10. It's no Ghost in the Shell, but it's up there.
-
Comment on What we don't talk about in "Spec Ops The Line" in ~games
Starman2112 Link ParentThe fact that it's forced on the player undercuts the common interpretation that the game is a criticism of players thoughtlessly pulling the trigger in video games, but I think it still supports...The fact that it's forced on the player undercuts the common interpretation that the game is a criticism of players thoughtlessly pulling the trigger in video games, but I think it still supports Geller's interpretation that it isn't so much a critique of war games, or the player, but of the real actions taking place in real life. In his words, the use of white phosphorus specifically (as opposed to regular bombs or nuclear weapons or napalm) in a game about killing civilians is a "very fucking deliberate choice."
-
Comment on What have you been watching / reading this week? (Anime/Manga) in ~anime
Starman2112 LinkNo spoilers, just compressed Eat-Man As I was watching Eat-Man, I didn't enjoy it at all. The animation is middling at best, often hanging on or repeating frames in what appears to be an attempt...No spoilers, just compressed
Eat-Man
As I was watching Eat-Man, I didn't enjoy it at all. The animation is middling at best, often hanging on or repeating frames in what appears to be an attempt at cinematography, but ends up just padding episode time. The story is absolutely opaque, inscrutable in a way that lacks the charm of other shows that don't waste time explaining themselves. It's like someone else is watching something in the same room as you, and you're occasionally glancing at the screen—you never get a full story. The only thing I liked about it was the music.
Eat-Man '98 was much better in most regards. I still didn't think it was very good, it's still a disjointed jumbled mess of sci-fi and fantasy, but at least the plotlines largely made sense.
All that being said, now that I've moved past it, I can't help but be fond of it. It reminds me of the various attempts I've made at D&D campaigns, a haphazard scattering of concepts and storylines that are never fully realized, and are probably better off left half-baked in the forgotten archives of my notepad.
I wouldn't recommend it, and I likely wouldn't watch it again, but I'm not upset that I did. I do adore Bolt Crank. Both series get 5/10.
-
Comment on What small questions do you have that aren’t worth a full topic on their own? in ~talk
Starman2112 Link ParentBasically. I have a microfiber cloth and lens cleaner I use daily, but aside from that I don't regularly do anything for them. If they get covered in something gross I'll wash them in warm water...Or do you just.. Not?
Basically. I have a microfiber cloth and lens cleaner I use daily, but aside from that I don't regularly do anything for them. If they get covered in something gross I'll wash them in warm water with dawn dish soap, but that happens maybe once every couple months
-
Comment on What small questions do you have that aren’t worth a full topic on their own? in ~talk
Starman2112 Link ParentAs with all things, it depends on a lot of factors. I probably wouldn't drive more than a few hours to help this guy out, and if I'm in a big hurry to get where I'm going, or I can't easily afford...As with all things, it depends on a lot of factors. I probably wouldn't drive more than a few hours to help this guy out, and if I'm in a big hurry to get where I'm going, or I can't easily afford to buy him a new air pump, I'll wish him luck and head out. But if going to the store and getting this guy an air pump is a realistic possibility, then not doing that isn't an option. Except...
He hasn’t told you his name, or anything about him self, but you get the feeling he’s here illegally. Your sketch meter is steadily rising.
Is my sketch meter rising specifically in regard to thinking he's here illegally? Because if anything I'm more inclined to help; living in a conservative state, I could be one of the nicest people this guy can talk to. Is my sketch meter rising because I'm worried this is a setup to a robbery? If so, then depending on how freaked out I am, either I ditch him and hope someone else helps, or I hand him the air pump through a barely open window with the doors locked and the engine running
-
Comment on What small questions do you have that aren’t worth a full topic on their own? in ~talk
Starman2112 Link ParentBig fan of any shade that can be called lavender or lilac (#CCCCFF makes my brain produce the good chemicals), but my favorite individual color is #FF5B00. It's so deeply saturated, and it says...
Finished Revolutionary Girl Utena this week. It's the kind of show that I would have to rewatch a few times to really understand. There's the obvious deconstruction of gender roles, the themes of coming of age and overcoming trauma, the childish desire to grow up, but I'm hardly capable of any deeper interpretation. I look forward to seeing a great many video essays and reviews, because there's a lot to chew on in this show.
I really like the architecture in this series, especially in the movie. Buildings are surreal, too big for what they house, with bizarre (if not impossible) geometry. This person wrote an essay about the architecture in the movie fifteen years ago, using fancy words like Constructivism and Deconstructivism.
Before hearing anyone else's interpretations, I'm giving it a 7/10. It's a bit more abstract than I'm comfortable with, it took a while for me to actually get invested in the show, but I can recognize a good story when I see one (even if I'm not fully equipped to understand it).