Gold Light

I've come to the conclusion that I don't like them.

I can understand why some people would, and I respect the vision of trying to make them look more like the puppets on the old-school box art. To me, though, a number of characters just look and feel too uncanny.

Like, it feels as though everyone is doing actions their anatomy just straight-up isn't built for, and as much as I want to be able to suspend my disbelief and ignore it, my brain can't help but notice how unnatural it seems in the footage we have.

I think Falco is probably the worst offender. I hate his feather fingers. I'm no expert on avian anatomy, but I'm pretty sure feathers do not have the muscles or joints to move and bend in the ways required of the character. It feels like Falco's fingers she snap if he tries to press a button, steer a ship or hold a blaster. His talons also just make it look like sitting down in a cockpit should be uncomfortable.

Xenoblade Chronicles: One guy pressed a button and broke the universe, so now everyone else has to deal with the aftermath.

Octopath Traveler: A bunch of total strangers unite to fight against nihilism, both metaphorically and literally.

Fire Emblem: No matter the world, no matter the setting, the problem is almost always dragons.

Final Fantasy: No matter the world, no matter the setting, the solution is almost always crystals.

Persona: Save the world with the power of friendship and some help from a w bald man with a big nose.

In no particular order:

Danica and Chetana (Hotel Inhumans)

These two are the crux of the anime's entire finale, getting a two-partner unto themselves. I won't spoil any major details, but to say that they've saved each other is putting it mildly. Even though the world has tried to break them both down and split them apart many times, these assassins struggle on together, seeking their own happiness through the darkness.

Hori and Miyamuri (Horimiya)

Do I even need to elaborate? This is one of the most iconic romance anime for a reason. It's a genuinely realistic romance, not bogged down by your typical "will they, won't they?" melodrama so many writers seem to be fond of. Genuinely cannot recommend this one enough.

Nasa and Tsukasa (Tonikawa: Over the Moon for You)

If a diabetes-inducingly sweet dynamic is what you're after, then yeah, these two will probably do it for you. It's cute, it's wholesome, and it's hard not to smile whenever these two interact. Not much else to say, really. They're just fun to watch when you need something to lift your spirits.

Suletta and Miorine (Gundam: The Witch From Mercury)

Definitely the most turbulent one on this list. These two go through a LOT over the course of the show, but what do you expect from two teenage girls having to deal with the fallout of space politics? Even though their relationship began as nothing more than a formality and they had plenty of rough patches, well, then final scene speaks for itself. Now these two can move forward, together.

Fine and Izetta (Izetta: The Last Witch)

Earlier this year, I finally got around to playing a game that had been on my backlog for quite a while. FUGA: Melodies of Steel is a title that I first heard about through YouTube reviews; a strategy RPG in which you play as a bunch of kids controlling a giant tank in a world inhabited by furries.

I wasn't entirely sure what to expect going into it, to be honest. I knew it was part of a broader franchise called Little Tail, which I had no prior experience with (and still haven't touched outside of FUGA at the time of this writing), but I was not prepared for the rabbithole I was diving into.

The story begins when the Berman Empire (subtle) attacks the nation of Gasco with the intent to conquer it. A bunch of kids from the village of Petit Mona stumble into a cave as their town is assaulted by tanks and flying war machines, only to discover a massive tank (though I personally think "mobile fortress" is a more apt description) that conveniently comes to life when they enter.

Guided by a mysterious voice over the radio, the children will be forced to fight in defense of their home and loved ones, all while steadily uncovering the many incredible and horrible secrets hidden aboard their tank: The Taranis.

Honestly, the game's writing was hit or miss for me at first. Most of the characters in Melodies of Steel tend to be little more than their basic archetypes. However, as the story progressed and more mysteries began to unravel, I became increasingly invested in the story, and it helped that the gameplay was genuinely really engaging. By the end, I was hooked, only to realize that there was additional lore that could ONLY be unlocked in New Game Plus.

That's a common feature with the entire FUGA trilogy, by the way. You're sort of expected to beat each game twice at LEAST, which means it's literally impossible to fully upgrade your tank or get every single link event on a first playthrough. For some that might be a little off-putting, but the third game that just came out earlier this year does mitigate that issue a bit.

Yeah, it's honestly a happy coincidence that I would start this trilogy the same year it actually concludes. I guess putting it off for so long paid off, huh? Melodies of Steel 3 happened to release while I was in the middle of my second playthrough of 2, so the timing worked out perfectly for me to marathon the whole series. I thought I would get burned out, but surprisingly I was able to stick with it until the end.

A lot of great games came out this year: Expedition 33, Silksong, DK Bananza, and many more. However, while the rest of the internet was focused on those big releases, I was focused almost entirely on FUGA. And like, honestly speaking, I'm not even sure I'd rank this trilogy among my top five all-time favorites; MAYBE top ten if they're allowed to share a slot. However, it's undeniable that this series left an impact on me. Hell, I'm planning to do another marathon of the whole trilogy again sometime next year.

E-123 Omega vs HK-51