#tobbycat

i follow so many arknights blogs at this point i didnt even realize it was you

the greatest tragedy of arknights is how good it is. it's been my go-to "keep me entertained while i exercise" game for months now. [standard warning still applies: it is a gacha game, so if gambling gives you trouble, i wouldn't recommend it. it's easy for me to avoid the slot mechanic for months at a time and only pull when there's a character i really want. know yourself.]

why?

the worldbuilding. arknights takes everything but the kitchen sink, throws it in hideo kojima's blender, and adds magical tech. i mean, i compare it to death stranding and metal gear solid as a joke, but i see a clear influence on both its writing and visuals. you've got reluctant soldiers fighting for the cure for a nano-disease. you've got a world marred by natural disasters, unethical science, and old wars. you also have dragons, eldritch stuff going on in the ocean, masquerade balls, and knight tournaments as a corporate-tainted sport. every corner of every country has something to dig into. half the fun of the story is seeing what they'll chuck in next.

despite what i said earlier about it being a gacha game, it's easy to stay free-to-play. i've never spent a cent on it. you earn the slot machine currency through ingame activities, and i'm told the odds are more generous than most others of its kind. [in fact, the game allows you to buy high-end characters outright with another free currency, which removes the gambling element.] if you're willing to save and be patient, you can still rack up a very comfortable roster of very powerful teammates.

but you don't have to. most of the game's stages are beatable with common, low-end squaddies, and if they're not, you're allowed to borrow a unit from the community. game articles tend to cite this as one of its biggest strengths. it feels like it wants you to win. the most punishing content is optional.

and, since it's me, the clothes. you can tell the artists are fashion nerds, because while most characters' clothes are fanciful, they look wearable. cosplayers say they're more comfortable than other costumes from that genre, and they'll mash up several aesthetics at once with interesting results. [seriously, if you've ever wondered what "knight sportswear" looks like, check it out.] there's even a teammate who used to edit a fashion magazine, which is a funny, meta nod to the game's cosmetic skins.

tobbycat replied to your post: Hey! So I think I'm now halfway through Muv Luv...

is it a series or are the VNs independent of each other?

tobbycat replied to your post “this is probably not an easy question to answer but like. you're my...”

so i remember a scene where shirou's classmates talk about seeing him and illya, do you remember which route or where thats from? or did i imagine it

I LOVE YOU AND I’M SO GLAD YOU’RE AT WHERE YOU ARE, ARTISTICALLY

thanks, buddy! i’m doing well! hope you are too! my mother says hello! dangerous crowns cover/synopsis reveal on tuesday feb. 12th!!

im sorry, the lock and key reveal at the end was handled terribly

KOSAKI-CHAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAN