How Strange but Interesting: A Review of Shin Megami Tensei: Strange Journey Redux

(SMT: Strange Journey Redux Box Art)

I've never played the original SMT: SJ because it was too late to get it by the time this game came out, though I have searched for it. And to be honest, there are some commentaries in this game I'm not fond of. But I will be professional in telling why I don't like some commentaries but primarily be focused on telling the aspects of the game.

Story: In the not too distant future of 2020, Eastern Europe has been invaded again. Tokyo has had an increase in sex and drug-related crimes with overdoses and murders. The Latin American Economies have crashed and violence and turmoil have been seen. China and South Asian countries have contributed more to toxic pollution. And the United Nations seems tense and heavy with resentment towards each other. But the only thing that has united them, is a mysterious opening called "The Schwarzwelt." (Literally The Black World in German) It's open in Antartica and the only hint of what's inside are mysterious pictures of Burning Cities, Palaces of Pleasure, An Extremely Huge Department Store, and a City that doubles as a Junkyard and Landfill.

The United Nations has sent a secret army force to investigate and, if possible, stop the Schwarzwelt from expanding or all of humanity will be eradicated by being engulfed in this void. You play one of these soldiers and you are backed by American Marine Jimenez, Your Commander Gore, and a Russian Scientist Zelenin. Step into the world of Schwarzwelt to understand the mystery of why it appears while also meeting Bugaboo, a demon who persuades Jimenez to Chaos, and Mastema, the angel of Punishment who hearkens Zelenin to Law. But with a new character named Alex in the mix, who wants to kill you, and a new Dungeon led by the mysterious Goddess Demeter, gives you six possible endings to go through. It's a lot of Playthroughs but you'll have to trust yourself as you go through this STRANGE JOURNEY: REDUX.

Backstory: Inspired by films like John Carpenter's The Thing and the post-apocalyptic Damnation Alley, the Atlus team wanted to develop the new SMT: IV game. However, many elements just feel off making the reason why the game is called Strange Journey more appropriate. For example, The main setting is in a realm of alternate dimensions in Antartica instead of the usual Urban settings of Tokyo. The main cast is all adults and it's usually young teenagers who are on the path to becoming adults who take this plunge into the demon realm. And most odd is the fact that this game was originally made for the Nintendo DS instead of a home console which would've gotten a better demographic as well as how the DS is usually seen as a family-friendly console thanks to Nintendo. But Kazuma Kaneko said that this console was the perfect way to end the game off when necessary, and had to do with another Atlus series, Etrian Odyssey (I've never played it but I'd like to.) But for any Persona fan who's played Persona Q, you'll understand the whole playstyle quite easily. Just add SMT elements and there you go, SMT: SJR.

Characters:

(The Protagonist/Hero)

The Hero: An American (Japanese in the Japanese version) Marine tasked to stop the growth of the Schwartzwelt. Tugged at all sides, he must choose allies and enemies as he comes to decide the fate of the world and mankind.

(Zelenin)

Zelenin: The Law Hero of this game. She's the first female of an SMT mainline game to align with Law. A Russian Scientist searching for clues to stop the Schwarzwelt, she comes face to face with Mastema, Angel of Punishment, who guides her out of a prison in Sector Bootes and leads her on the path to be a Messiah for God.

(Jimenez)

Jimenez: A Mexican-American (At least I think he's Mexican) Marine and a brazen black sheep to the Red Sprite Team, he is looking to stop the Schwartzwelt. However, he becomes the Hero of Chaos and wishes to help the demons in conquering Earth and making a new dog eat dog world.

(Commander Gore)

Commander Gore: The leader of the forces of the Red Sprite in the Schwartzwelt. He is the Neutral Hero of this story. He is one of the most powerful and focused members of the team and promotes harmony and
Gameplay: The gameplay is a dungeon crawler so those who like fast paced RPG's might not get the thrills they would expect but the battles feel fierce and fast because you are in serious danger. The Environment is a grid that focuses on exploration and discovery. Looking up in the environment can help with predicting other places to go to and making travel faster.

(Demeter)

Demeter: The Goddess of Agriculture and the Harvest. She is the main guide of the new Womb of Grief. And now she leads us to a new place where fruit is lost and must be returned to her. However, what these fruits are for, are a mystery to us.

(Alex)

Alex: A mysterious woman who is responsible for killing the Protagonist early in the game. She would've succeeded if it weren't for Demeter's rebirthing of him. She wants to kill Zelenin, Jimenez and the Protagonist but her motivations are unclear.

(Louisa Ferre)

Louisa Ferre: A mysterious woman with a very familiar name. She looks on the protagonists one in a while when traveling to deeper sectors of the Schwartzwelt. She seems to be a part of having her own agenda but what she wants remains unclear.

(The Three Wise Men. Behind them are the pictures of the future alignment choices)

The Three Wise Men: These men are mysteriously looking at the Protagonists' choices. Not much is known but what can be analyzed is what 3 fates they see of the world.

(Mastema)

Mastema: The Angel of Punishment in Judeo-Christian Lore. He is responsible for Influencing Zelenin to law. And he is trying to destroy Schwartzwelt for the Millenium kingdom to arise.

(Bugaboo)

Bugaboo: The Bogeyman, or a variant of him. This Bugaboo is a 3/4 demon but 1/4 leaves any possibility for him to be whatever, angel or demon. After being persecuted by a rogue demon, Jimenez befriends him and also gives more sympathy to the Chaos side.

Gameplay:

The RPG battles take place in a turn-based strategy in predicting what enemies strengths and weaknesses are. In many SMT Games, Weaknesses, Resistances, Repels, and Nulls aren't mutually inherited in each game. For example, a Fairy is Resistant to Electricity but weak to Wind in SMT: IV; In SMT: SJR, she's Resistant to Fire with no noticeable weaknesses. So the main elements to use are Physical, Gun, Fire, Ice, Electricity, Wind, Light, And Darkness. And unlike the Press Turn system, (where attacking enemy weaknesses gets you an extra turn on attacking) its the who has the higher attack speed RPG (like Final Fantasy) but the new system does add a bit of help. If you attack the enemies' weakness, the entire party based on your alignment (Law, Chaos, and Neutrality) will attack. Only those who share your alignment will attack an enemy/enemies. So the game pushes you to have a solid alignment sharing party vs. the strongest demons. But there are many demons so they will be pretty strong.

(Fighting demons in Bootes: Featured demons are Lilim and Jack Frost)

Also returning are many old demons seen in many SMT DS games, but we do have some newcomers as well or rather, redesigns. Demeter is the main guide in the Womb of Grief dungeon and has Zeus as a boss. Zeus has a new design as well with a half light, half dark motif. Mada, who hasn't been seen in modern mainline SMT games, also appears too as well as Zaou Gongen, Hypnos, and the SMT design of Thanatos. Two new appearances in a long time are the demons Amon based on the Goetic demon and Anahita, a Zoroastrian goddess of Water and Rivers. But the biggest revelation to this game (pun intended) is Maria, The MOTHER MARY of Catholicism and Christianity is a summonable demon in this game. She hasn't been seen since SMT: Nine, an XBOX exclusive only available in Japan. (It wasn't that good due to being a project that had too many ideas and delivered so little. It was the basis for the Online MMO SMT: Imagine though.)

The Demon Fusion app is also here but demons only have 6 instead of 8 skills from SMT IV and Apocalypse. And inheritance of skills come from demon cores. But be very wise in using them. I haven't figured out how to get them back yet. But the sources opens up the ability of certain demons to get new abilities than just plain innate ones and a skill that is available from fusion inheritance (only sometimes).

(Alice with her stats, ready for fusion.)

And back at base, you can pay for new apps to make dungeon crawling easier, Demonicas (body armor), guns, swords, and accessories, get some missions, and save.

So primarily expect to dungeon crawl everything, go back to base for either refreshing and buying items and such. Demon fusion and a new field save are available everywhere.


Themes and Motifs: In this game, there is a different style of a theme than in previous SMT Games. For example, the major theme in this game is the human destruction of the environment. At first I thought it was going to be another environmentalist warning (I'm not an environmentalist and am personally sick of all that pandering about it when people definitely don't act like they do. Sorry for the rant but it kinda does annoy me.), but how the Atlus team tells the story is a lot darker and impactful on all kinds of environments.

(Tyrant Morax: The Leader of the forces of Sector Antlia. Behind him is the burning sector.)

The first dungeon, Antlia, is a representation of war environments happening all over the world. Specifically, in Eastern Europe, there are invasions happening all over again.

(Picture of a Youtuber's caption pic of Sector Bootes: The Second dungeon of SJR)
(Sorry I couldn't find one with a better resolution.)

(Sector Carina)

Sector Carina is seen as the Ultimate Store. (Amazon eat your heart out.) A representation of human consumption and economic gluttony. Originally characterized by the economic chaos in the South and Latin American countries (very fitting given Venezuela and to think that back in Sept. 2013 when the economy started to collapse, SMT predicted a similar, though without any political bias, situation 5 years ago back in October of 2009.) But this store has everything and more in it with Animals, toys, planes, etc.

(Sector Delphinius)

Sector Delphinius is a Junkyard. This place of both human and item waste is serving all kinds of junk and human and animal skeletons rotting and decomposing away in a grim and desolate junkyard where demons lurk and radioactive and toxic pollution reign.

(The Womb of Grief: The only new dungeon introduced in SMT: SJR)

The Womb of Grief is the newest dungeon but it has no symbolic references to it other than being a womb, but who is being born? Well, your guide for this dungeon is a very friendly and cute Demeter: The Greek Goddess of the Harvest and Seasons. She wants you to explore the dungeon and take out the bosses who guard the special fruit. But what does she truly want? That is the mystery of this dungeon. With this dungeon, if you make it far enough, you can have one of the 3 new endings of the game.

There are 4 other dungeons but I'd rather not spoil them due to their plot relevance though you already have an idea. I want it to be a surprise and I want you to personally decide your fate in this game. That's the best and only way to enjoy the game. Follow the alignment your convictions lead you to.

Positives:

The Storyline: If you're already familiar with the common tropes of SMT, then you'll come through just fine. If not, prepare for a philosophical parable of choice, free will, and ideology.

The Characters: The characters have a fascinating dynamic. I know this will sound very SJW of me but I like the diversity of the cast. The fact that everyone is from different countries since the UN is making them all travel to the Schwartzwelt makes it feel like it is a world team mission. Also, I like the contrast of the collaboration of the Red Sprite Team in contrast to the United Nations members who seem like they are ready for waring with one another and putting on facades of togetherness while the Red Sprite Team actually does get along (with the exception of Black Sheep Jimenez.)

The New Demons: Seeing the 4 newly designed demons is such a treat and shows the hard work that new series artist, Masayuki Doi is doing with creating new demon designs for the series. He's continuing the Kaneko legacy while also being innovative. I know some of us kind of flacked on him in SMT IV but he's growing quite well into demon designs.

The Graphics: They are the one up from the original game it comes off as smoother and clearer while traveling through the sectors. And it brings out the colors and life of each sector as it haunts you while traveling.

Negatives:

The Preachiness: I admit, this is the first SMT game where I wasn't as fully enveloped in the storyline due to the themes and preachiness at times where Morax wanted to destroy humans for their destructive behaviors, and other leader demons who wanted the same destruction for various reasons. The game can pretty much be a reminder of watching one's self and the environment around him but luckily it's not to where the environmentalism (The only green environmentalism mentioned is Sector Delphinius which is true that us humans need to beware of making Earth uninhabitable for anyone with toxic and radioactive pollution.) is offputting.

The Character Sprites: The New Character Sprites by Doi have garnered Criticism but the only criticism I'll give is that sometimes, they feel a bit lifeless. I don't know if it's because its a Japanese only dub or that the faces aren't fully expressive but it's a fluke but it doesn't fully distract from the experience.

No 3D: I think the game could've used the 3D aspects of the 3DS quite well and it could make the dimensions deeper just like the SMT IV and IV Apocalypse games. Both had 3D elements that made them quite enjoyable.

No Dub: It's all subbed. Not that's bad but I would've loved to hear some of my favorite actors from America voicing characters in this game. It doesn't detract from the game but I would've liked it as an "icing on the cake" scenario.

Overall: This game is a wonderful part of the SMT Lore. A couple of small flubs but noting too overdramatic to destroy the experience and the added decisions of following the new endings give a bunch of replayability to the game. And if you are a fan of Persona or Dungeon Crawlers or SMT in general, this game should be in your 3DS library.

4/5

Passwords: This game has a password system to gain new allies and you can share them with people. So here are 5 passwords for some cool demons. Enter the codes exactly as I put or else you will get no demon. This is your warning.


Nue with healing abilities: 
Top: BufuBoyz4Life

Hathor with wind and healing spells: 
Top: IuS?pmYjpV&R3?j6 
Bottom: zFlnoKHC7qVFoC?0

Rangda with All Null and Repel every element (And starts at Level 1)
Top: t9pQpzT5poMVZr9b
Bottom: 97lF2cEYrAV74y?t

Thor with Support and Strong Physical Abilities (And Starts at Level 1)
Top: kGEqAL5PZwK3rWG7
Bottom: 0uFLHhBxMKCL40Dj

Black Frost with All Elemental Skills and one Healing and one Almighty Spell (And starts at Level 1) 

Top: 1vEWnEQmV9ZkjhQZ
Bottom: 9xQsZlOIjAMmlRPA

Reading is a Virtue: Or How My Intellectual Friends and I came with the Conclusion of Reading Truly Between the Lines

(The Baudelaire Family Library before being burned down)

The Interest of Deciding to Write this Article (and the reason why I also
capitalized those letters) is due to one of my intellectual peers and an article he (R.C. is how I'll refer to him) wrote.

His Article dealt with the reasons behind why the Free Speech movement was heading in the wrong direction by citing examples like how Tommy Robinson wasn't a martyr for the Free Speech Movement and how his actions are more of a call to monetary arms for him and the recent NLF scandal in dealing with dissenting football policies on dealing with those who kneel but instead, tampering with the NLF teams chances at victory.

But when he posted these opinions on the forum we are a part of, He was met with sharp calls for the main administrator of the forum to censor and ban his article. (Luckily he's acquainted with both of us and he had refused to delete the blog post) But the irony was laid bare. Even though Freedom of Speech is eternally a human right, It's ok to censor in private settings.

But prior to this, RC and I had discussed one of my favorite authors (his too), Lemony Snicket. You Might know him for A Series of Unfortunate Events, a Book series focused on the Baudelaire Orphans as they travel guardian to guardian to escape the clutches of their "probably not 3rd cousin 4 times removed or 4th cousin 3 times removed" Count Olaf. But Snicket has a very clever motif and its application in the series as well as its importance to us in everyday life: reading and libraries.


(Justice Strauss' Library in the TV Series)

Reading is a considered virtue in each book and a library is a constant motif with all kinds of libraries being featured to solve some kind of problem in the series. In The Reptile Room, Klaus reads books on Snakes and one, in particular, helps deal with (Spoiler Alert though it's often alluded to at the beginning of the book.) the Murder of Uncle Monty Montgomery. And each library has its own theme behind it like Justice Strauss' Judicial Library in The Bad Begining, The Grammar Library of Aunt Josephine's in The Wide Window, The Library of Records at Heimlich Hospital seen in The Hostile Hospital, and (the most elaborate of them all) The Arboretum Library on the mysterious island in The End.

Snicket emphasizes how only evil people don't read and Count Olaf sure does not read. He doesn't pick up a book and has had little interest in a book. In the TV series, his library is bare and it looks like all he does is drink.










(The Daily Punctilio Headline in the first 2 episodes of ASoUE)

But even this means naught for Snicket adds a little more depth to the mix than just claiming that we should read. The primary example is due to the mistakes and lack of journalistic integrity in The Daily Punctilio. The Daily Punctilio is a newspaper styled like The New York Times (their motto: All the News in Fits of Print is a parody of the NYT's motto: All the News that Fits to Print) and The Washington Post and other such newspapers, but the Punctilio has no editors to fix any mistakes and choses sensationalist articles over truth and honesty in the papers. Yet in both the Books and the TV series, everyone takes the words for facts. The main instigator of such articles is Geraldine Julienne, a woman who I hate so much but yet hasn't appeared in the TV series yet. (It seems Elanora Poe is taking her place. But Elanora in the books is Mr. Athur Poe's [Banker and in charge of the affairs of the Baudelaires] sister. Instead, she's a combination of Elanora (Head of Staff at The Daily Punctilio) and Polly Poe (Mr. Poe's wife in the Books) Also it should be noted that Punctilio is a word which here means a petty point of conduct or procedure, which fits perfectly with how the newspaper is done. Now, this would be perfect to avoid and would have no trouble ... if everyone didn't get their news and only read this newspaper as their only reliable source of information. Everyone reads this newspaper and no one seems to question what they have read even when the Baudelaries are later made out to be murderers by the paper and let Count Olaf and his crimes go free.


(Aunt Josephine's Libary in the TV series)

But it's a very important lesson for others and myself with reading all types of stories as well as opinions as much as we can. We all know we live in a politically divided time (then again, aren't most time's politically divided so the phrase is just pretty useless) and as you know this even goes with making it hard for ourselves to talk about reading and hearing what the enemy has to say.

As you all know, my political opinions are among 3 philosophical/economic schools in general: Objectivism, Libertarianism, and Classical Liberalism. All 3 have similar bases but their fundamentals are quite different with what is promoted. Objectivism is primarily focused as a full philosophy to give guidance and examine the world in. Libertarianism is more politically motivated rather than a moral/ethical philosophy. Because people from different philosophical and religious backgrounds can still support Libertarianism. Then with Classical Liberalism, it's similar to Libertarianism but there is more of an ethical background in the various philosophers and thinkers of the Enlightenment. 


But I can't just rely purely on all Objectivist sources. If I did, it'd make me no more dogmatic than the people I claim to be arguing against. One of my other friends from the same intellectual forum (Boris) had also this to say about the difficulties of being Libertarian.

To Paraphrase: "Unlike the Republican or the Democrat who only have to read theirs and then their opponents' works, (that is the rational ones) The Libertarian must-read not only their own sources, but both Democrat and Republican sources to even more critically understand the politi-sphere."

We all need to step back a little and read things we don't like and try to give an open ear. It may not be at least fruitful to us but it does help us grow into better people. That's what we need today. And if we just reason it out, then what have we to lose but our argument.

So even though the original intent of Snicket's quote would be to read books of any genre, I can also say this is very sound advice for even us in a politicking world.

A Memorial Day Anecdote

I just want to say a very Happy and Reflective Memorial Day for us all here in America.

I want to do a little anecdote on this with my relationship with my step-father in providing part of my respect towards our military and veterans and one involving my personal story in visiting the Vietnam memorial.



My story begins with a visit to Washington D.C.

I witnessed all sorts of places in D.C. like the Smithsonian, the Arlington Cemetary, And Mount Vernon. But we also visited the memorials. (There's only one monument (Washington Monument)) But what was experienced was a very important notice.

We visited many of the war memorials as well as FDR, Lincoln, and Jefferson. But the most important for war for me would be Vietnam. My grandfather was involved in the Vietnam war and is a veteran from there so you can see the important link it has for me.




Seeing the names mentioned for me, reflected in the granite and having us be both reflective literally and metaphorically, is quite important. Sadly seeing the Crosses (MIA) The Circle in the Cross (There is none but it symbolizes their survival and returns to America) and lastly those Diamonds (confirmed deaths)

Personally, I don't think we had anything to gain in Vietnam but we shouldn't have pussied out to the Anti-Industrial Revolution a.k.a. The Hippies. (There are books about how Vietnam was close to not being taken over by Communism but that our lack of obligation and last moments of non-interference (thanks to the protests of Hippies and others) in the Vietnam wars final moments of being taken over by the Communist Vietnamese and the Chinese (the Communist Vietnamese had major support of them due to China's interest in being a global power if rival with the Americans and the Soviets.)

But why am I mentioning this? It's because of those 4 words we constantly say, the ones that were mentioned in the Korean War Memorial and should be for all memorials and such reminders for anyone (war or peacetime)

FREEDOM IS NOT FREE

It's so true. We sometimes take for granted our freedom and can be entitled to it but we can't fight for our freedoms when either foreign or domestic We must be thankful every day. Thank a vet, thank god if you believe, be thankful that we have this moment. It can be gone in an instant, but it can be won and still here.

So as we celebrate Memorial Day (I'll be doing that by working today May 28th, 2018.) I want you all to remember to be reflective again and if possible, be reflective on all days about the joy and goodness of freedom in this country.

Living Aristotleanly ... (Part 2) Main Points of Virtues for the cultivated life.

So as I recently finished Nichomachean Ethics, this part two was due too long. But I will have to come back to it multiple times during my life to explain more and more of the ideas. I admit I rushed into it but sometimes It was better for me to read certain paragraphs of the books inside.

For a recap of an introduction to Aristotle's ideas, go to this link. (http://mrmacavastel.blogspot.com/2017/03/living-aristotelian-life-in-postmodern.html)

 But let's look into what Aristotle wanted to teach us.


(https://www.pbslearningmedia.org/resource/98953036-famous-mathematicians/marble-and-alabaster-bust-of-aristotle-famous-mathematicians/)

1) Find the Golden Mean

When Aristotle talks about finding the Golden Mean, he wants to find a scientific/logical balance of two extremes. But what's interesting is that he make an effort to find it in a very rational way. He explains, through reason, how finding the golden mean is a virtuous task. So since he explains how by using two specific virtues, we'll talk about them the most because he goes greatly into details with them: Courage and Generosity.

Courage is the virtue of bravely going into scenarios even when feeling fear. But when Aristotle looks at courage, he also looks at the extremes of Courage. In his eyes, there is an excess of a virtue and regress. For example, Courage is in-between Recklessness (The excess of Courage) and Cowardice (Regress).

Recklessness, in Aristotle's eyes, is blind courage without examining anything at all with the situation in mind. So when one needs to feel fear, there is none and there is no caution for even personal safety and reckless behaviors lead closely to death. Cowardice is the lack of any courage whatsoever. Refusing to stand up for one's self (or/and others) and living in fear is a true regress of Courage. Seeing these two extremes made Aristotle focus on finding the golden mean of the virtues.

Generosity is freely giving without it hurting oneself and in the spirit of helping those who deserve it. Aristotle focuses on the importance of righteousness when it comes to generosity because there is an amount that will be too much, we might give money when we shouldn't (I know someone terribly like this), and we might give it to the wrong people.

But let's focus on how he gets this by noticing the excess and regress of Generosity (called Liberality in many translations but we'll use Generosity due to many knowing the word more familiarly). The Regress, in this case, is Stinginess (a greediness focused on hoarding all goods and money, i.e. Ebineezer Scrooge the Miser). And for the Excess, ... well, Aristotle is unsure about the right word in this case. He refers to this as Wastefulness (as well as some Aristotle academics) but some use the word Profligacy. (I'll be using this when the talk of Generosity come up again in the later parts.)

By finding the extremes of the virtues he wishes to find this mean as a reminder of logical conclusion in pursuing a virtuous life.

2) Practice does make perfect.

The proposition being made in this statement is the fact that Aristotle says that in order to cultivate virtue it must be practiced in repetition. In other words, virtue is a habit rather than just conscious choice. Though of course, Aristotle makes it noted that virtuous habit is a good choice, it's the conscious repetition of good choices that promote moral flourishing.

The virtue is habit principle is a common motif when Aristotle talks about when people make good choices to better their lives in the long run but he also talks about the consequences of making habits of bad choices. Lack of virtue can be improved on and can still be promoted when some people are good in some virtues and lack in others. Since virtue is habitual, it can be taught and practiced. And continued practice leads to a better life.

3) The Importance of Friendship

Aristotle noted that there are 3 kinds of friendship we all face. But let me explain what he constitutes as a friendship. This is crucial.

Aristotle notes that a "friendship" of one good person and one bad person can't be considered one due to the nature of the bad person and his motivations for being friends with him (the good person). It's an obscure example but let's look at Peter Keating and Howard Roark from The Fountainhead. Peter can only befriend people for his self-esteem and pride. He has none as an architect because he was put in that position by his mother and his friendship with Roark is only a means to help him ensure himself as a good person. He may not be as bad as other characters like Darth Vader, Hannibal Lecter, or Shou Tucker,(URGHHH! I HATE THIS BASTARD SO MUCH! Anyone who isn't a fan of anime or has never seen Full-Metal Alchemist might want to watch the show to see why we anime fans get worked up about dogs and wigs.) but his weakness in virtues does make him a bad (though somewhat pitiable) guy,

Even if both parties are bad in the relationship, they could never work out a means to goodness and virtuosity in friendship. Look at Hitler and Stalin for a good example. Both are notorious dictators and yet formed a friendly alliance where. in the end, one (Hitler) betrayed the other (Stalin).

And now, let's look at the 3 main examples of friendships,

I) Friends for Pleasure: These friends are the types of friends you come together with to enjoy your lives with. Like going to the movies, amusement parks, having drinks, etc. When good and compatible friends go out, their entertainment is doubled due to good company.

II) Friends en stratagem: I have personally coined this phrase but I can't say confidently that it's original for these kinds of relationships have happened in the past so many times. These are similar to business and political ends primarily, though not always in association with it. It's a strategic friendship to make allies in a certain circle and usually ends with a "you scratch my back and I'll scratch yours" issue. However, the two in this situation must be friends and have been in good standing and virtue to achieve a healthy relationship. (Evil on one or both sides can't apply.)

III) True friends: These are the friends Aristotle Praised the most. They share your feelings with you, can be able to open up about things you might be too sensitive to talk with others on, and such. They are just like you yet not so. Two good people who see the benefit of each others company, not just for Pleasure or gain, can find the end in itself in this situation.

4) 11 Virtues are Necessary for a Flourishing Life

There are 11 Virtues Aristotle mentions in his book. All are varied in length of discussion but he does mention they are between two radical extremes.

I. Courage: The be brave when the moment is needed. In excess, it's recklessness that does lead to abandoning and in regress, it's cowardice which enables fear and lack of standing to anyone when needed.

II. Generosity: To be charitable, to the right people, at the right time, and in the right mindset. Excess is profligacy (giving out too much money rashly and showboating it) with the regress being Stinginess or Miserliness (withholding all money and goods.)

III. Temperance: The rational control in pursuing earthly desires. Debauchery is the excess of the loss of self-control. Scarcity is the regress of temperance in refusing all earthly desires. (A monks life one could say.) Noting this, Aristotle promotes being able to enjoy yourself within the means rather than this ascetic lifestyle.

IV. Magnanimity: Generally, translations of this have included greatness of soul but I'll also use pride to explain this. This virtue is the feeling of accomplishment and the right way to showcase and promote it. The excess discovered is Vanity (pride with no real accomplishment or such) and the regress is described as the smallness of soul. (To be honest, this could be due to literal translations of the Ethics. Some use Pusillanimous (Latin for the small soul so it does fit in a way))

V. Magnificence: How to carry one's self. A form of pride in how one is presented with their affluence and wealth. Vulgarity is the excess and the regrees is Pettiness.

VI. Indignation: A form of envy where people attack the misrepresentation of justice in society. (Aristotle uses the words Righteous Indignation to further emphasize the mean as well as how people can carry indignation into the excess and regresses of Envy (which Aristotle believed was an evil in itself but that's another story.) and Spitefulness(sometimes called Malicious enjoyment, and some like to also call it Schadenfreude (Thank you Avenue Q)).

VII. Patience: To be calm and focused in situations and with other people. The excess of Patience is Irrascability (impatientness) and the regress is described as Lack of spirit. (It's hard for me to say what this is but I guess it could be also described unambitious though I don't think this is the right word either.)

VIII. Truthfulness: The truthfulness Aristotle is dealing with is Truth of oneself and one's accomplishments. Beware of Boasting (the excess of promoting one's self in exaggeration) and of self-depreciation (the regress which can also be called understatement).

IX. Wittiness: The virtue of being clever with words as well being serious and joking at the right times. The excess is buffoonery (the man who takes everything as a joke and nothing serious) and the regress being boorishness (the man who takes everything too seriously and can't stand a joke).

X. Friendliness: The ability to get along with the right people. The excess being a flatter with no substance whatsoever to critique and the regress being curmudgeonly when one is unfriendly and constantly avoids others and society.

XI. Modesty: The virtue to accept and understand shame. (Aristotle didn't necessarily make this a virtue but that it was a good character trait to have. I would argue it makes a good virtue if understood.) The shameless are in excess due to never feeling shame and the shy (not the same way as we see shy people but how they react to their actions) as regress due to feeling shame for all actions even when (most of the time) their actions have nothing to be ashamed of.

5) "Reason" is absolute to a good life

Ayn Rand said she had an enormous debt to the Philosopher Aristotle for his foundation of Metaphysics and Epistemology had led her to formulate the Objectivist Philosophy. And why shouldn't it?

"Reason" is the primary driving force in making good decisions in life and thus Aristotle talks back to reason as it is "reason" that makes good choices and instinct that, often much more than not, leads us to bad choices due to not reasoning out and thus making an effort into understanding our choices before us.

Thes 5 points are crucial in understanding one of the most important ethicists in our entire human existence and I hope I got some of you interested in reading his Ethics, though a bit of a warning, it is a heavy read so also prepare for a little light reading. (Just like the next book I'll be reviewing: The Claiming of Sleeping Beauty by Anne Rice.)

Stay Tuned Darlings!

The Most Beautiful Game I've Played so Far: A Review of Okami

In 2017, we've received many games where the aesthetic theme is integral to the storytelling. Cuphead and Bendy and the Ink Machine are two of the giants that focus on a 1930's cartoon aesthetic to tell their stories. The former, a love letter to the Fleischer Brothers surreal cartoons and very early shooter games like Kontra, and the later is a horror game which also has the Fleischer Brothers to thank for the style and themes.

But at the end of 2017, there was a rereleased game that was on the down low. And yet this game has been acclaimed from when it was first released through its sales were moderate at best. This game was one I heard about but never played until I got it back in 2015. But as I play the PS3 download version, I was immersed in a world of color, fantasy, myth, and art. This game is Okami!

Backstory: The game was originally supposed to be all 3-D and 3-d environments made to give the game a realistic look but instead they decided for a look with more of a meaning and went with Watercolors and Sumi-e (the art of Japanese ink painting. Look at this)


(https://www.istockphoto.com/vector/japan-traditional-japanese-painting-sumi-e-art-temple-sun-lake-gm688478754-126801097)

Thus this was one of the important aspects of Sumi-e painting focuses on nature and harmony with it. And it takes an entire lifetime to master. But another aspect (the plot) is centered on many of the Shinto Myths found in the books The Kojiki and the Nihon Shoki. Not just major myths but even hidden references like the tale Okuni-Nushi and the Hare of Inaba, Princess Kaguya, The Bamboo Cutter and the Sparrow Clan, and Otohime and Urashima Taro. But the main storyline has a reimagined style of the creation myth of Japan and the myth of the creation of demons and monsters in Japan.

Just to add one more important thing, Okami is the japanese word for wolf but it features the kanji for god (Kami) so it's a picture pun on the fact you're playing a wolf god.

Plot: The Plot is heavily taken from Mythology and reinterprets classic Shinto Myths and Folklore into this game. But it's divided into 3 parts, each focused on its own mythos. But the most popularly known to us is the tale of Orochi and Susano-o. In the game, Orochi has been foolishly revived and the darkness has penetrated most of Eastern Japan with little hope in the world where all the gods have been reduced to being little to nothing. In a desperate hope, Sakuya summons the last of her power to get Amaterasu to save the world. Assisting her is the sprite Issun, a wandering artist who assists as our Navi to Amaterasu's Link (it's a spot on comparison with Navi talking a lot and Link being silent, Issun is at least funny and expressive and Amaterasu just barks.) And now you play as the two of them searching to destroy the dark fogs over Japan and restore order and the belief in the gods again.


Amaterasu (wolf) and Issun (sprite)
(http://makingthecrossover.wikia.com/wiki/Touhou_vs._Capcom/Amaterasu)

Characters: There are so many characters to enjoy and love but the main characters are quite a treat and I kinda don't want to spoil the other two plotlines so I'm gonna keep them on the down low.

Amaterasu: Based on the Goddess Amaterasu, Ammy is the Sun Goddess of the world and works with 12 other lunar zodiac inspired gods to make up the 13 Celestial Brush Gods. She is the playable protagonist and has the power to make the sun beam down on the world.



(http://okami.wikia.com/wiki/Amaterasu)

Issun: The Wandering artist. He is searching for all of the heavenly brush techniques to be a master artist. Can be a bit of a perv since he notices all the beautiful women in this game.


(http://okami.wikia.com/wiki/Issun)

Sakuya: Based on Konohaka Sakuya, she's the goddess of flowers and trees. She called for Amaterasu to fight against the darkness. She's a very sympathetic goddess in similar standing to a wood nymph of Greek lore with being the protector of the Konohana tree in Kamiki Village and being their protector. Has ... um... nice peaches??..?


(http://okami.wikia.com/wiki/Sakuya)

Susano: Based on the God Susano-O, Susano is a lazy swordsman and descendant of the great hero Nagi. The polar opposite of what Nagi is thought to have been (heroic, amazing and bold while Susano is Lazy, boasting, cowardly) and he himself carries himself with way too much hubris.


(http://okami.wikia.com/wiki/Susano)

Orochi: Based on the 8 headed monster Yamato-no_Orochi, he's a monster who eats maidens every year for a sacrifice. After 100 years of death, he as revived completely ready for a new era of Darkness. (I really love this picture with the blood and emphasis on dark colors and hues.)



(http://okami.wikia.com/wiki/Orochi)

Kushi: Based on the Goddess Kushinada-Hime, Kushi is a simple Sake Maiden. However, she is chosen as the new sacrifice to celebrate Orochi's rebirth. She has a plan up her sleeves to distract Orochi and she has a crush on Susano.


(http://okami.wikia.com/wiki/Kushi)


Gameplay and Battles: The gameplay is similar to The Legend of Zelda series (though I haven't played much Zelda, it's familiar to me so I'm aware.) But the main focus is on art and nature. Art with the Suni-e ink painting environments and Nature for the main subject matter of Suni-e and the themes of nature being a heavy motif in the game.

However, in this game, you can actually be the artist. (There's even a nice detail of Amaterasu using her tail as an ink brush.) And you can use the ink to create new paths and manipulate nature. The game emphasizes the need to explore with many sidequests and new locations opening up every new act. The 1st act gets you to Eastern Japan and the countryside. The 2nd Act takes you to Western Japan and the Capital of Sei-An city and the sea coasts, and the final act takes us to Northern Japan and the Cold Tundra there.

Each environment is rich and beautiful in the gaming details and designs. Also, the philosophy of Sumi-e painting is captured with every game detail. It's not about being a realistic painting in detail; it is to capture the essence of the bounty of nature and usually, Sumi-e artists are all impressionistic in their approach and it flows well from this game. But I also like how even the humans and urban and town environments are also in this style and flow well with the central theme of harmony with nature. Most towns are near water supplies like wells, rivers, and the ocean to add a light touch of realism to the mix too. And featured in some cutscenes are the actual Japanese paintings incorporated with both story elements and the bestiary too.

Spoiler for Act 2 but since you guys have no idea where this comes in, I'll let you experience it.




The Battles are combative and require a balanced use of both ink brush techniques and your weapons divided into 3 categories: Rosary Beads, Glaives, and Reflectors. Each has their own strengths and weaknesses with Rosary Beads giving rapid fast attacks but require distance away and do the lowest amount of damage, Reflectors doing moderate damage but still a balanced choice and Glaives being the strongest and being able to charge the attacks each but attack speed is sacrificed.

In battles, all your brush techniques will be used to by manipulating certain elements enemies give off to attack others. You can send projectiles back to enemies, get them caught in vines, make the winds blow and ice freezes them. It requires a lot of creativity to destroy these monsters. Also, make sure you look out for demon fangs. Those will help in the long haul, trust me.

At the end of the battles, you'll be judged on how fast you kill the enemies and if you avoided being attacked. The highest ranks give a blooming cherry blossom tree, the lowest ranks give a seed waiting to be grown so even the results screen is natural themed too.

The music is a beautiful combination of both western orchestra and eastern instruments. I just love the sorrowful theme at very emotional points of loss and goodbyes.

Positives:

The game is very artistic and seemingly blends the artistic style into the gameplay successfully. The tale is quick but very relaxing and zen making you want to focus on looking everywhere.

And there's a lot of sidequests to do but they feel like they are a part of the game and that if you want to choose to go further you can.

The special Stray Bead mission is long but it's especially important. It's worth doing as it tests all your abilities and searching to the test and knowledge of brush skills too.

Negatives:

Sometimes when you battle, not all your abilities go along with the game. Sometimes, I did a wind spell but it slowed time instead or when I was doing an ability, I got it connected to my weapon of choice. (Some weapons have elemental powers)

Also, the trophies are easy, maybe too easy and have little requirements but the stupid fishing one is a bore and so much to do with that one.

Overall: This game is another you should put in your Library. Only available for PS2 and Wii, this game is remastered for PS3, PS4, XBOX 1, Steam, and soon Nintendo Switch. Also, this game has such a strong aesthetic to it, it goes into the games where we can discuss the possibility of gaming as an artistic and interactive medium. The game is a must-have for Legend of Zelda fans, those who love adventure games, or for more casual gamers because the only battles you really need to fight are all story oriented but the full experience is what makes it a masterpiece.

5/5

And as usual, don't forget to follow and like and comment and critique me. Feedback is especially important to help create even more professional content for you and me.

The Economics and Light Empowerment of Animal Crossing: New Leaf

You know, this idea just randomly popped into my head after playing a little more Animal Crossing. Ever heard of it?

This is an adorable, relaxing, zen kind of game. I would argue it's a precursor of all your app games with town building but I argue that it's more than that. (Well, Animal Crossing's new app game is out but my phone keeps getting little storage more and more. I need an Ipad or something again. Not just an iPhone. In fact, I'm getting pissed off at my phone.) But this game is all about doing everyday things in life but in a more calming way. You pay a mortgage for a house and can make additions while also getting reviewed on the Feng Shui aspects, (unlike in Real Life, Feng Shui actually works in this game), make friends with all the adorable Animal Villagers, and, primarily in New Leaf, make your town prettier.

All that sounds pretty nice right? Now let's focus on the economics. However, I'll be focused on Animal Crossing New Leaf''s economics as I've never played any of the other Animal Crossing games. This is my first one. As I said earlier, you actually get to pay for a mortgage by paying Tom Nook, a Tanuki (yes his name is a joke on the species he is) Raccoon who has a dealing with the Housing Market of Animal Crossing. Considering, there is no real known nation other than what we know about all other towns that are similar to our own and that Tom Nook directly works for each one. He sells all kinds of additions from a basement and second floor to 4 main rooms and a secret storehouse. But he also attracts the player with facades, gates, frames, mailboxes, and doors. All the essentials needed to showcase our home to anyone interested in coming to our towns.

Now there are other stores in town too. We have Timmy and Tommy's (Tom's Twin Nephews) shop Nooklings, which upgrades to an Emporium shop of 3 stories with an upscale shoppers place on the top. So as well as helping Tom's endeavors, we also help with his shop and expand when we buy more and more from his sales. Also, there is a local clothing shop with a small selection of shirts, pants, dresses, and hats/accessories to showcase ourselves. And later on, we can add to the store a QR reader to have any new designs for clothes and make our own designs to advertise as well. Also, I can't forget the opening of other stores and services like Kicks (the owner sells shoes and socks), Shampoodle (makeup and hairstyle changes), Garden Center (plants and trees), The Roost (a coffee shop), a Dream Suite (A Tapir lets us visit dream versions of other towns if we don't have the right friends), Club LOL (a DJ Dance Club), Re-Tail (A Goodwill look-a-like where you can sell old items to other town citizens and the two alpaca owners and also repaint other items) and Katrina's Fortune Shop (the fortunes actually work). So we have a small town economy grown into a suburban-style town. This is important to notice because most of these shops happen only if we invest in the Nooklings shop and the Able Sisters Clothing Store. But Club LOL, The Dream Suite, the Roost and Katrina's shop are all only available by suggestions from the towns members.

Let me explain something I forgot to mention. In Animal Crossing New Leaf, we become the mayor of our new town. So we have all the power invested in us. We primarily have to make sure our town is satisfactory to our denizens and also make our town as distinct from others as possible. We have the choice to make all sorts of public works projects and add new places to our town. But there is one important aspect of this. We have to get all funds voluntarily. I. E. No taxation. It's kind of interesting to note that even though this was primarily a way to get us as the player to invest in our towns, it's done by making it sound like we all want to support it if we can rather than use force. Unlike most cities where public works projects would be taxed upon the citizens, we can volunteer donations to support new ideas whether being petitions for a club or support a new hot spring and traffic light or a mini-campsite.

Also, there is one other thing to notice about this major role. We have access to four ordinances. There are a Night Owl and Early Bird Ordinance which both affect what times the residents of your town wake up early and go to sleep. The Beautiful Town Ordinance to focus on keeping your town clean. And finally, and this is important A Bell Boom Ordinance. This one effects you by making the Re-Tail store by back two premium items (if this ordinance isn't activated, they will buy one premium item) for a higher price. Also, all sales go up by 20% but all buybacks are up 20%. An inflation consequence but made for those wanting to make large amounts of money for projects and their house.

So in other words, it seems like Animal Crossing is making an unintentional commentary and support for mostly laissez-faire economics. (The ordinances really count as the only laws and since it's a feel-good simulator and no one commits crimes or even has a notion of sin and crime [though there is a police station but its primary use is to notice any new people coming to town like Redd the Fox, Katrina, and other special animals for a new gameplay showcase each day] so laws are very relaxed) And you have the chance to sell all sorts of items to make the most money and reinvest it into the town. And you can have people visit all over to do barters, trades, and sales on the individual scale too. And the economic world is so relaxed as well to build it up and watch it grow over time. It's privatized predominantly and the government's main feature is just one regulation (the ordinances) and voluntary public works projects (though I sure wish my townspeople actually donated a little money to each project; I'm always stuck donating to finish these works. I know that's the point of the game but come on. A little help goes a long way).


 Of course, this is more Complementary evidence due to the scale of the world we experience in Animal Crossing and that the main themes of the game focusing more on returning to the country, community, friendship, and environmentalism with the focus on keeping the town clean and the natural environment clean and thriving. But it's quite interesting noticing the impact of the game on others. However, the commentary part I want to focus on is the aspect of the consumerism in this game.

You have to invest a lot of heavy consumerism in this game. And thus you can make it seem like you can compete with everyone else by making your town the best: Have all the wallpaper, donate all items to the museum, have all fashions and such, making your town the pretties. It makes it an over-consumption market rather than a balance of consumption and production due to emphasizing the human want of consumption, i.e. buy stuff for stuff's sake rather than buying for survival. But this should be noticed due to how there is a plethora of items to buy from the stores, especially the fully upgraded Nooklings store called T&T Emporium. Also, there is Joan the Boar and her Stock Market Turnip sales. Buy Low, Sell High and use that money to buy more items.

But even doing that isn't the full point of the game to play it fast. It's a very relaxed and welcoming game meant to attract casual gamers and those who want a game to relax with rather than being over competitive. But I think it's funny how this game reflects modern life so well. Making friends, paying the mortgage, and building more into one's income. But it's done in such a relaxing and zen manner it means to make us feel accomplished. I've heard many people who say this and other similar games like Stardew Valley and Harvest Moon which focus on making farms but also developing relationships with people. (Play Stardew Valley, it has some great moments of character development through the scenes are very small.) This is especially important. A game that has made people cope with the world's difficulties in a cathartic and meaningful experience. Casual for everyone to play but positive and empowering to give a reflection on our life. (People with mental health issues and some acquaintances I know love the relaxing atmosphere and calm demeanor to help them in their everyday lives.)

So I want to leave on this positive note of happiness and to give this game a try if you like simulator games with adorable animals.

Authors Note: I couldn't find too many articles or videos dealing with this subject. This is the only one I could find which helped in the influence. (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CeFbdzbvNjM) But I'm sure there is commentary I might've missed. What do you guys think of AC: NL and the possible economic theory. This is primarily complimentary and supplementary evidence so It's interpretive. (It's not that I don't want to believe in my hypothesis but because the economics was a way to add entertainment value over real meaning in the game, that is my main argument for this is primarily interpretive over actual objective value.) I wanted to add this to make people understand this article on the evidence I've seen and so my audience can honestly see that this article is primarily noticing a possible coincidence. But I hope it provides entertainment for you all and maybe gets you interested in this game. As for my argument for the empowerment of AC: NL, check out Jirard the Completionist's Defend It video on AC: NL (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ynC5ST87RB8) to see a much more eloquent argument.

And don't forget to share, like, and comment to help make these articles stronger for you!

Hidden Gems PS2 Part 2

Darlings! Good to be back. Now it's time for the PS2 Gems Part 2.

So for this one, we have a couple of series on here so I'll go into the first games and then just basic plot for the sequels if made.

1) Raidou Kuzunoha vs. The Soulless Army and Raidou Kuzunoha vs. King Abaddon: Another member of the Shin Megami Tensei series, Raidou Kuzunoha is a devil summoning detective of the Raidou Kuzunoha clan of devil summoners chosen by ability rather than decent lineage. He must solve mysteries while fighting in an arena with other demons like Ukobach, Parvati, Kudan, and others whether they are mainstays of the overall SMT series or new demons made only for the Raidou Kuzunoha series. It's a fun RPG but it is seriously difficult. Also, it's fun exploring Tokyo in Pre-WW1 era Japan.

The game is a real-time RPG so you'll be commanding your demons to do their abilities but you can also let them go crazy at your own risk. I personally enjoyed the mystery of Raidou Kuzunoha. Though it can be a little difficult to follow, if you ever pick it up and forget where to go, the detective agency you go to has files of all the things you did up to current events and your friend, Detective Shouhei Narumi will tell you what to do next as well as your talking cat Gotou.

Also the sequels main Saving Grace is the new mechanics. It's pretty much the same Tokyo to explore but with more demons, the ability to summon two at a time, the alignment system of the mainstream SMT series, and the Luck System (which is the main theme and issue of problems [plot and gameplay-wise]) in Raidou Kuzunoha vs. King Abaddon. Good luck gets you bonuses and an easier game, and bad luck makes it a bitch to survive. Both games are for PS2 but you can download them on the PS3 if you own one.

2) Shadow Hearts 1,2, and For the New World: Ok, this one is a triple threat so I'll just go and talk about them in order since they all are chronologically like that.

Shadow Hearts 1 is an RPG from the defunct Sacnoth Gaming Company, meant to be a rival to the Square Enix company, which never worked out since before FTNW the company declared bankruptcy and the weird part is all 3 games were published to the outside market by other gaming companies. (The first two were published by Midway of Original Mortal Kombat fame and the third by XSEED Games known for ... I don't really know. I don't play many XSEED games to know or remember.) But weirdly enough, it's understandable why this RPG didn't do so well due to being truly hidden. But now to the game. Shadow Hearts runs on a graphics engine similar to Final Fantasies VII through IX. It would've worked out if FFX didn't make an appearance in the same year. (Brutal Right?)

So the story is focused upon a rude hero (it actually calls the guy "Rude Hero" before you go and save the "Girl in Danger") named Yuri Hyuga who saves "Girl in Danger" Alice Elliot. The two walk their way through China to find out more about the evil Warlock Roger Bacon and his plans to reincarnate the universe. You travel with 4 other characters and all 6 have some pretty interesting and sometimes funny conversations depending on who you choose to accompany you at times.

Just know that Yuri is your main guy so can't switch him out for the "He's the Protagonist" tropes and rules of RPGs. However, Yuri is a Harmonixer, a man who can absorb demons powers and transform into them. And every character has their own style of attacks with some ranging more with certain magical or physical attacks but Yuri is generally the well-rounded guy thanks to the demons. And the turned based style doesn't get boring with the quick time event Judgement Ring. This device in the game allows you to do your abilities but you have to time it on the colored spaced correctly to advance. Sadly, the coloration is very difficult to see, but luckily the spinner line is colored so you can fill in your work. Oh, and if you fail, you won't be able to use certain abilities or attack only so much.

The main highlight of the game is the atmosphere. It's dark, enemies are grotesque monsters from Cthulu Mythos, in fact, the series is loosely inspired by such stories. (Just remember kiddies, you can't beat Cthulu because he's simply the fear of the unknown and there is no way to beat the unknown. It's indifferent to you.) Also, exploring Europe and China is fun with an overworld map with specific locations to be lead to so you won't feel lost with the flow of this RPG. Oh, and you might want to take your time in China because you can't return back from their in the second half of the game. But this alternate history, RPG is fun.

Shadow Hearts 2 improves on the system and the graphics and voice acting (the first one doesn't have much) is great and enjoyable. The sidequests you do for all the characters makes it awesome for it levels ups your abilities for them from collecting Oils for synthesis potions and Tarot Cards for Luck effects, finding compositions of Wagner's Operas to improve sword fighting, photo shooting enemies to summon their abilities, and fighting wolves in competition for Best Wolf makes the interactions funny in the generic anime style and also the cool bonus dungeons in post-game are pretty cool. The plot focuses on an international secret society's plans for evil and also Yuri is back after the tragic death of Alice from the first game. With new allies Blanca the Wolf, Gepetto the Puppeteer (and Alice's Uncle), Karen the German Lieutenant in WWI escaping as a fugitive of war, and others. All of them team together, traveling through Europe and Japan while also fighting against some of the evilest demons summoned by the secret society, Sapientes Gladio.

Shadow Hearts 3 takes SH2's system and just tweaks it a little to make it somewhat unique. This plot focuses instead on Johnny Garland as he is a detective finding out what happened to one of his clients subject of interest as he is killed by a monster coming from a mysterious portal. Along the way, two Native Americans, one a harmonixer and the other, a specialist in Gun-Fu (I'm not making this up. It's how quirky Shadow Hearts is) ask Detective Garland to help them hunt down Prof. Gilbert, a former client of Johnny's. Along the way, even more, weird characters like a Brazillian Ninja, a Vampire who eats positive and negative calories to change fighting styles, a fat Cat who fights with Drunken Fist, and a Mariachi with a flamethrower in his guitar make up for another cast of weirdos. (But Weirdos in a good way.) There isn't much to say due to gameplay being familiar already and I would say it has the weakest story due to not focusing on the original cast of Shadow Hearts but it doesn't mean it's unenjoyable. I especially like the Cthulean style more with the enemies you fight making the slight horror aspects show from the game.

All 3 games are available for PS2 only sadly.

3) Haunting Ground: I mentioned this one for my Halloween list of video games but I didn't go deep into plot and horror as well as gameplay. Haunting Ground is a survivor horror game with its origins in the parent game Clock Tower. Basically, you are a young girl, Fiona Belli, and she is mysteriously kidnapped to a castle where she meets four residents that have their own mysterious agendas. Each of them stalks the poor girl but she has made a new friend. Hewie the Dog can be made to attack enemies and find items but this game is mostly focused on sneaking. So with that, you can be quite a tricky sneaky player but there are four different endings depending on certain situations. I'll let you guys figure it out. Also, I nearly forgot to mention that there is an alchemy lab for you to make all sorts of items to help in your journey so it'll make it easier. Haunting Ground is sadly only for PS2.

4) Psychonauts: Before Inside-Out Happened, this game got you inside people's heads literally. This cult classic Tim Shafer game lets you play Rasputin, a young psychic wishing to be a psychic agent to put his powers to potential against his anti-psychic father's wishes. You have an arsenal of psychic powers from Pyrokinesis, Telekinesis, Clairvoyance, and others to fight off mental issues and training grounds to power yourself against an unknown threat. Each of the level designs is very clever from expressing certain characters' personality to expressive environments showing some NCP's mental health issues. This is also one of those games that tries to be funny, yet it works and it's a hilarious game. I have to stop sometimes so I can enjoy the jokes that come into the game. And in 2019, we'll be getting a sequel. Psychonauts is available on PS2, PS3, PS4, XBOX, XBOX 360, and PC.

5) Okage: Shadow King: The reason I put this very hidden gem on here was for finding on The PS2 for PS4 games at the PS Store. This game has a very Tim Burtonesque style and aesthetic and also features some pretty funny dialogue. The story focuses that the main character's shadow has been taken over by Evil King Stan but upon learning he's not the only evil King, he has taken revenge on our protagonist to hunt down all the fake evil kings. The game is very funny with dialogue choices the protagonist can make and plays like the standard RPG from early FF games and don't let your MC die or it's game over. If you like Tim Burton, this game will be up your alley. But it plays like a standard RPG with the aesthetics and humor being saving grace. There is no voice acting other than a cheesy narrator. This game is for PS2 and PS4.

So here are 5 games to Enjoy. Sorry I haven't posted much due to working on paying my rent. But hopefully, once I pay it off this month, I can write more articles with some political and some gaming news/suggestions.