NonoAdomo's recent activity
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Comment on What have you been watching / reading this week? (Anime/Manga) in ~anime
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Comment on Recommend me a sappy TV drama with preferably >100 episodes in ~tv
NonoAdomo LinkIf you don't mind an animated story, March Comes in Like a Lion fits this bill incredibly well. It's about Rei, a young competitive Shogi player, trying to find his place in the world despite the...If you don't mind an animated story, March Comes in Like a Lion fits this bill incredibly well. It's about Rei, a young competitive Shogi player, trying to find his place in the world despite the fact that he lives an incredibly unique life that nobody can relate to. The story is the most accurate depiction of depression I have seen yet. Early on in the first episode, Rei's facial expression as he prepares for the day struck an absolute chord as I've had this expression on my face during my worst times. As the show continues, he learns to combat his depression and grows immensely as a person as well as the people around him. Everything in this show is grounded in reality and, at least for me, was incredibly relatable.
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Comment on What are your top two strategy games you play competitively? in ~games
NonoAdomo LinkI used to play Magic: the Gathering a lot, I actually managed to play it against all levels of players, had a great time (Never could quite make it to a Pro Tour) and I miss having a community...I used to play Magic: the Gathering a lot, I actually managed to play it against all levels of players, had a great time (Never could quite make it to a Pro Tour) and I miss having a community where I could test my skills at various levels, and keep trying to beat the pro tour caliber players that frequented the stores. Arena doesn't cut it for me anymore, because I miss the interpersonal experience.
I want to play more board game strategy games, but it's hard to find people who want to commit to it while also being okay with the possibility of losing. Root seems to go over okay, I haven't played Scythe in ages, but if I someone told me they wanted to play Twilight Imperium, I wouldn't think twice.
On the video game front, I'm playing most of my strategy against AI. I've pretty much "solved" the XCOM series, but I struggle with Phoenix Point. I used to play Civ (3 and 4 back in the day) but I try to avoid it because the "one more turn" problem really is a a thing. I replaced it with incredibly restrained Stellaris play. I love playing that Co-op with my wife, we create some great narrative races and try to dominate the galaxy.
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Comment on What games have you been playing, and what's your opinion on them? in ~games
NonoAdomo LinkMonster Hunter Wilds has taken up most of my bandwidth since launch. Much like other posters have said, it's a great game. 10/10, would recommend. I think the only thing I would have done...Monster Hunter Wilds has taken up most of my bandwidth since launch. Much like other posters have said, it's a great game. 10/10, would recommend.
I think the only thing I would have done differently is lessen the impact of status effects and wounds. As it is now, I feel it's easy to cheese the game. I've had to put away my paralysis dual blades because I didn't have fun beating up on a monster that was doing nothing half the time. Pulled out a switch axe to be more of a bruiser and god damn is the game even better. Also, I find the hit boxes more forgiving than past titles. There are plenty of times where I just seem to dance through the bullshit, and in the past I know I would have been yeeted across the arena.
Anyways, I'm still having fun. The monsters are an absolute joy to fight, the new ones are incredibly creative and unique. The returning ones are always fun (I love fighting Odogarons) and I look forward to the insanity that the next couple TUs will bring to the table.
It does make me a bit frustrated for the community though...
Hidden counter-rant for courtesy
Look, I get it. This game didn't turn out to be Elden Ring + Monsters. You all hyped yourself up for it, and nothing form the press materials (that I remember) mislead on what this game was. Yeah, the game is "Easier" but every god damn MonHun game is easy on launch except your first one. I remember my first one was World, and I got the shit beat out of me by a Kulu-Ya-Ku before hitting an Anjanath wall. You know what happens now when I play that game again from scratch? I destroy them. I beat the ever loving pulp out of them because I know how to play the game. The game is easier mostly because you got better at it.Honestly this rant mostly is a complaint about gaming communities in general, I see the same shit over with other games I play: Helldivers and FFXIV. Players play and optimize a game to death and then complain that they are bored and everything is too easy. Then, the devs will often make the mistake of releasing a piece of hard content and everyone loses their mind at the difficulty. Rinse and repeat. You can't please everyone, but god damn is it tiring watching the yin and yang of gaming communities go through the same shit. Now the Mon Hun community is doing this. Optimizing the shit out of status effects and wounds and then complaining that the monster doesn't fight back. How about trying to do something off meta for once in your gaming life, would you?
Amusingly, this has had an interesting and unexpected effect: Everyone is going back to Mon Hun: Rise and reevaluating it with a fresh set of eyes. Apparently now? They love it. Back when it launched? Everyone absolutely ragged on it over and over (Wirebugs make the game too easy! The spirit of the game is gone! What actually even is the endgame at launch, it's so boring) and now that they're going back because they're bored, apparently they love it for what it is. I'm just ready for the inevitable "Wilds is actually better than I remember" chats in ~6 years when they launch the next mainline title.
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Comment on Looking for very specific mouse recommendations in ~tech
NonoAdomo LinkIt may help to clarify some aspects you liked about this mouse. What is it about the size and weight you liked?It may help to clarify some aspects you liked about this mouse. What is it about the size and weight you liked?
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Comment on Nyaight of the Living Cat | Official trailer in ~anime
NonoAdomo LinkThis popped up in my feed yesterday. It looks properly insane and I'm here for it. I'm a sucker for stories that flip the script in weird ways like this. I hope that this holds up beyond the...This popped up in my feed yesterday. It looks properly insane and I'm here for it. I'm a sucker for stories that flip the script in weird ways like this. I hope that this holds up beyond the initial novelty value.
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Comment on What have you been watching / reading this week? (Anime/Manga) in ~anime
NonoAdomo LinkEver since recent current events started happening, I needed to find ways to take my mind away from doomscrolling the news and I dove back into manga. This has been quite wonderful, as I've found...Ever since recent current events started happening, I needed to find ways to take my mind away from doomscrolling the news and I dove back into manga. This has been quite wonderful, as I've found a few titles that I've been enjoying reading:
Magilumiere is probably my favorite of the bunch. It's a rather "Grown up" story of a world where being a Magical Girl is a career choice and basically an exterminator of sorts. The story is geared for a very adult audience, mostly because it spends a good amount of time talking about work, professional ethics and the conflict of standards between idealists and the bottom line. It has a season adapted of the anime as well, and it's ridiculously faithful! I would definitely recommend either pathway to experiencing this story.
Dogsred is a hockey manga by the guy who wrote Golden Kamuy. He actually started this one as his first solo-venture, but dropped it after it didn't take off to create Golden Kamuy instead. Now that that story has completed, he's gone back to his desire to tell this hockey story by renaming it Dogsred and applying some of the lessons he learned from Golden Kamuy. The simple synopsis is that Rou, a figure skating prodigy quits competing despite posting the highest score ever in his category and storms off to Hokkaido to live with his grandfather. There, he gets dragged into playing hockey with the locals where he meets a eclectic cast of characters all looking to prove themselves. If you liked Golden Kamuy, it's basically that but instead of a historical period piece, it's a sports story. Highly recommend.
There are a few others I'm reading, but I'll save those for later weeks to discuss.
As for anime?
Demon Lord 2099 was a pleasant surprise. It's about a demon lord who was incredibly powerful and talented with magic in a fantasy setting getting killed by the big hero and being resurrected 500 years later in a cyberpunk city. He quickly finds out that he's not as powerful relative to everyone else now, and needs to figure out how to improve himself so he can ultimately reclaim his throne as ruler of the world. This anime was really surprisingly good, way better than I expected it to be. I thought it was going to be something silly as filler while we fished for something better to watch but my wife and I ended up really enjoying this.
Princess Nine is our newest watch, pulling from the vintage closet of 1998. My wife and I are both older, so it's been a delightful blast from the past to watch what a show that was close to what we would remember as "normal" for that era. It's a delightful story of the forming of a girl's baseball team, and a general "f*ck sexisim, we're playin' some baseball with the boys" theme to it. It's dated in other areas though, where there are items that are problematic, like the coach trying to recruit a delinquent girl to play on the team by hitting on her like a drunkard. I look forward to where this goes though, it's quite the product of it's time and it's amusing looking back on a show that we both missed because of availability in the era.
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Comment on What have you been watching / reading this week? (Anime/Manga) in ~anime
NonoAdomo Link ParentBen-to is really a product of its era. Low budget nonsensical fun that felt it really, REALLY needed to lean on the fan-service to draw in viewers. My wife and I watch lots of anime, and when this...Ben-to is really a product of its era. Low budget nonsensical fun that felt it really, REALLY needed to lean on the fan-service to draw in viewers. My wife and I watch lots of anime, and when this popped back up on Crunchyroll after the Funimation merger, I remembered the absurd comedy of discount bento battles, I totally forgot however that it filled basically every other second of airtime with fanservice or an immediate pathway to the next fanservice. I got lots of judging looks about my younger self then!
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Comment on Monster Hunter: Wilds reviews – Top Critic Average: 90 in ~games
NonoAdomo Link ParentI agree, it's the one thing that feels missing at this point to make it feel like a complete monhun gameI agree, it's the one thing that feels missing at this point to make it feel like a complete monhun game
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Comment on Monster Hunter: Wilds reviews – Top Critic Average: 90 in ~games
NonoAdomo (edited )LinkMy review after playing it over the weekend: BLUF: It's real damn good. Might become my favorite monhun game if I like the late game play and challenge. I have not had any major optimization...My review after playing it over the weekend:
BLUF: It's real damn good. Might become my favorite monhun game if I like the late game play and challenge.
I have not had any major optimization issues. I feel for those who have them but if it works, then it's works really well. I've only seen maybe a tiny bit of framerate stuttering and graphical glitches. I think most of this comes back to Denuvo, which is frustrating that they use. There likely will be "workarounds" for it in the future.
The story is great. In particular, the main characters from the guild all feel like they were hand chosen experts in the field specifically for this expedition. Notably your hunter as well. I felt this might have been the case and made an older, more experienced hunter and glad I did. Narratively this works great for the scenes where shit hits the fan and the PC hunter immediately takes control of the situation, but (usually) not without consulting Alma for authorization to hunt first. It really helps sell the "Badass" feel better than World and Rise.
Segue from there in to the gameplay and God damn does this gameplay make you feel badass. The combat is smooth. The hit boxes are finely tuned to player comfort but still retaining the challenge. For once I haven't heard nary a peep about janky hit boxes and it's paying dividends in the fun department.
The second weapons are great too, it allows for me to shore up weaknesses in my play style. I chose Dual Blades as my primary for status effects and elemental attacks this time, but sometimes being that close to a monster really is not ideal. So instead I have a Switch Axe secondary, just generically strong, so I can dodge and strike from a range that won't have a monster constantly kicking me over.
The game isn't perfect though, the default settings are a mess and I do miss the Cat Canteen. The multiplayer system also isn't intuitively understandable to everyone. And could have been done better. (I would have loved a small, permanent environment link lobby that also can post quests, for example.) After playing for a while I think I understand the reasons for their choices, but i do wonder if they could have been done better.
These gripes are small though, and I think that with a bit of polishing this will be easily the best Mon Hun game.
EDIT: Cleaning up some language
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Comment on An extended look at Pokémon Legends: Z-A! in ~games
NonoAdomo Link ParentWhen a pokemon game releases, it usually is a top 10 game of the year, sometimes top 5, they dont have much incentive to tap into this "hidden market" of gamers. They are selling as much as...I can't fathom the amount of money they could make if they captured people like me - people who are nostalgic for Pokemon but aren't buying the games because they suck.
When a pokemon game releases, it usually is a top 10 game of the year, sometimes top 5, they dont have much incentive to tap into this "hidden market" of gamers. They are selling as much as Madden.
I'm someone who loves Arceus for its innovation, but I don't see them going out of their way to make a "perfect game" for the long time fans if the usual direction prints stupid amounts of money. From a business perspective, there isn't much value. These games are just a funnel for merch which makes them already "unfathomable" amounts of money.
I can't even say the new "Pokemon Champions" app/game is a step to cater to fans because I know in reality it's likely just their way of moving in to finally shut down Pokemon Showdown.
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Comment on What are your favourite time-loop based books, movies and video games? in ~talk
NonoAdomo Link ParentIt was also a visual novel, so it fits the Video Game and/or book bill as well, depending on your definitions. I love Steins;Gate. It was my first intro to Mages Inc and I've generally enjoyed...It was also a visual novel, so it fits the Video Game and/or book bill as well, depending on your definitions.
I love Steins;Gate. It was my first intro to Mages Inc and I've generally enjoyed their works since, though Steins;Gate is still the best IMO
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Comment on Super Bowl LIX Megathread in ~sports.american_football
NonoAdomo Link ParentUpdate: Chiefs are still spinning their wheels. Eagles aren't messing around. They just got the ball back from a failed 4th down conversion and immediately went deep to score again. They are...Update: Chiefs are still spinning their wheels. Eagles aren't messing around. They just got the ball back from a failed 4th down conversion and immediately went deep to score again. They are keeping their foot on the gas to make sure that KC can't come back.
KC is now finally moving the ball, but I think it's because Philly is transitioning to prevent to burn as much clock as possible. I don't think we will maintain the shutout, but this game feels over. [EDIT: They just scored as I typed this]
In other news, the Cheifs subreddit has been taken private. The haterade is strong and I don't blame the mods. It's going to be a long off-season for the Chiefs if this holds.
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Comment on Super Bowl LIX Megathread in ~sports.american_football
NonoAdomo LinkSecond half has started, I think the Chiefs D is now officially gassed. They can't get any leverage and stop the Eagles. I think we are really close to calling this game over. The big question...Second half has started, I think the Chiefs D is now officially gassed. They can't get any leverage and stop the Eagles. I think we are really close to calling this game over.
The big question now: Who gets MVP for the Eagles? Everyone has shown up incredibly well. No one player has really shown out, which means it's probably now a popularity contest and likely going to Hurts even though he's just been good enough not to screw up. I want it to go to the defense, probably Cooper but I'll settle for Barkley, if not only because I want to see the reactions of Giants fans.
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Comment on Super Bowl LIX Megathread in ~sports.american_football
NonoAdomo LinkComing up at the end of the first half: Philly defense has been absurd. They figured something out coming into this game and are exploiting it to the max. The offense is alright, they're doing...Coming up at the end of the first half:
Philly defense has been absurd. They figured something out coming into this game and are exploiting it to the max. The offense is alright, they're doing their job and holding onto the ball and not making mistakes. The Philly D is the star of the show so far.
We will see if KC can get over themselves and adjust to whatever is happening, but if nothing changes this is going to be an absolute blowout by the end of Q3.
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Comment on If your games library disappeared, which games would you repurchase? in ~games
NonoAdomo LinkFactorio Monster Hunter: World (Probably replace with Wilds after that comes out) Kerbal Space Program Stellaris Helldivers 2 Not much, just games that I feel comfort playing. Now if we add on to...- Factorio
- Monster Hunter: World (Probably replace with Wilds after that comes out)
- Kerbal Space Program
- Stellaris
- Helldivers 2
Not much, just games that I feel comfort playing. Now if we add on to my Switch, then we have:
- Balatro
- Slay the Spire
- Pokemon (Pearl, Sword, Violet, in whatever order I feel like playing them again)
PS5?
- Armored Core 6
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Comment on Looking for some advice on a cat food dispenser in ~life.pets
NonoAdomo Link ParentMy guess is that they are looking to avoid the requirement of getting up and manually filing the bowl whenever it is empty. Our cats get a refill of dry food every morning by us and by god if we...My guess is that they are looking to avoid the requirement of getting up and manually filing the bowl whenever it is empty. Our cats get a refill of dry food every morning by us and by god if we forget or (as was the case this morning) they eat it a bit faster than normal, then they will make sure we know and rectify it immediately.
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Comment on Canada Post strike update: Postal employees back to work in ~life
NonoAdomo Link ParentI don't like it. To your point, this is he only peaceful protest tool they have. If they can just be forced back to work, then what's the point of doing it? I think this is a backwards way of...I don't like it. To your point, this is he only peaceful protest tool they have. If they can just be forced back to work, then what's the point of doing it? I think this is a backwards way of handling it and incredibly anti union.
I know why they did it. If they got nothing now, they sure as hell aren't getting anything once the conservatives come in. But now they are just screwed and not getting anything good for a long time.
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Comment on The history of slipping on banana peels | Pretty Good, episode 14 in ~humanities.history
NonoAdomo LinkI watched this early on the Secret Base Patreon page, it's really good and, like any Jon Bois video, I was thoroughly entertained. He's ridiculously good at storytelling and can take the weirdest...I watched this early on the Secret Base Patreon page, it's really good and, like any Jon Bois video, I was thoroughly entertained. He's ridiculously good at storytelling and can take the weirdest topics and turn them into compelling (or at least interesting) stories.
I just didn't realize so many people were brutally maimed or murdered through such comical means. It's so rare these days that nobody even thinks that it's a thing that could happen. Turns out, banana peels were a menace.
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Comment on Favorite "A Christmas Carol" adaptation? in ~movies
NonoAdomo LinkIt's gotta be the Muppets one for me, no contest. There's just something special to me when the story is told incredibly well, has a bit of levity with some the Muppets behaviors and in the middle...It's gotta be the Muppets one for me, no contest. There's just something special to me when the story is told incredibly well, has a bit of levity with some the Muppets behaviors and in the middle of all of this, you have Michael Caine playing Scrooge incredibly straight laced as if he isn't in a film surrounded by muppets.
I don't normally do the annual Christmas movie thing most people do, but if I did this one would probably be it.
My wife and I are continuing our vintage binge and we decided to go and experience Gundam 0079 in all of it's 1979 glory. My wife and I wanted to watch something that we always knew was a pivotal change in the anime landscape but never got around to watching it ourselves... well, I kinda did, back when it was on Cartoon Network, but it was disjointed because if you missed a couple days for some reason then you were really out of the loop and nothing made sense. My wife only had experience with the recent, but great, Witch from Mercury series which is what spurred this decision. I had partial 0079, 08th MS and Wing under my belt as well so I was relatively primed for this.
Watching it coherently was great, because I got to really piece together why this show was so special. For it's time, it had great animation and top tier story telling. The characters themselves are deep and never static. They falter, they change and they grow. You really do get the feeling of "War is hell" and neither side is that great, but god damn do you want to root for the crew of White Base and everyone on it. The story holds up incredibly well, even nearly 50 years later as well, with some plot points being a relic of the period of which this was made but also many more just being a great representation of humanity and the challenges of war.
The other major point that I noticed is all of the references that later anime pulled from this show. Of course other subsequent Gundam shows continually referenced this, but seeing where Macross, Code Geass, Eureka Seven, Evangelion and countless others got inspiration from was well worth the price of the admission.
Amusingly, Geoff over at Mothers Basement provided a better summary than I just did literally 2 days after we finished the series. Go and give that a watch, he goes into more detail into why this was such a big hit.
As for us, we're taking a dose of slice of life for a bit before we dive back into the "war is hell" of exploring the rest of the Gundam franchise. I'm thinking we'll finish up the side stories around the one year war and then move on to Zeta to progress the main plot. It'll be interesting to see the interpretations of the characters throughout the era as we shift between animation styles.