Phoenixus's Blog

Protein Shakes are better with Water. Who'da thought it?

Evening/Morning C3 community. At this moment your friendly neighbourhood crazy person has exhausted his range of nighttime day-off activities that he hasn't gotten completely bored with, so after a hiatus that wasn't at all planned, here's another blog!

Usually its a bullet point list with myself as the dull subject header , but I'll try and be a bit neater with proper paragraphs and all that fancy punctuation stuff.



First up, how is everyone enjoying N64 month? Top credit to the C3 staff here, they've done a fantastic job of providing content and getting stuff done behind the scenes. Considering my unfortunate lack of proper input, all kudos goes to the rest of the staff roster for this month, and maybe I'll win some back next time one of my features of reviews is put up. ^^

Distant Worlds Concert in November baby! Can't wait. Glad to see a couple others on here snagged some tickets too, looking forward to meeting up with you guys! Thankfully there's plenty of time to discuss locations and everything, so no probs.



Sold my XBox! Why, is a good question. Well, to be honest, there were very few exclusives for that machine that I could justify keeping it around for, especially considering I now have a PS3 hooked up to take care of my HD gaming needs. The Gears of War series was fun to play with my brother, but I'm guessing the nextbox will be backwards compatible to a degree for any future games in the series on 360, and I can wait.
Dunno really, I guess gaming is kinda weakening its hold over me. Lately I've been putting far more time and effort into the Gym (and boy is it showing!), and less time planted in front of the TV. Before I'd snap up any cheap game that I was even remotely interested in, and now its only the ones I feel I absolutely have to play (case in point, haven't gotten a single thing from those GAME and Gamestation sales yet), just don't feel its worth the time investment anymore. Will say though, have been playing the hell out of Persona 3 Portable, though since that is close to ending on the second run-through I'm not sure what to expect next. Really need a new outdoor hobby, but for that I need a Daytime job. Balls.



Still nerding out over Persona 4 Golden, the fighting game is coming so that is pretty much a given, and the Animation is nearly done but has been handled so well that I absolutely need to get it on Bluray/DVD when it goes overseas, and on a limited budget as well! Might be the first time I get a game without the host hardware to play it (really wasn't keen on the Vita build with the one I tried in GAME).

Avengers! Can't wait to see it! Next month or the month after I think. Just imagine what'll happen if it does well. Justice League film anyone?



Can't wait for the Summer! Do prefer Winter quite honestly, but I really want a tan this year, haven't relaxed on the beach in ages. And of course, that beloved favourite of maths equations; Added Heat + Hot Females = Less Clothes.

Never quite know how to finish these, so a video series I've been watching lately should be a good way of doing it;

Oh, heh, about the title. My gym has started making those Protein Milkshakes so I thought I might try a couple, the one with Water was actually better than the one with Milk, which surprised me. Really don't think they'll be a regular beverage though, nothing can beat those Frijj ones. ^^

Phoenixus Blogs: The Pre-Christmas Edition

Hi all, you miss me? Sorry I haven't been around much lately, I'll get into why in just a moment. First on the agenda is the day that is just over a week away now. Can't wait. Ah aim to drink as much Magners Pear Cider as possible and get completely rat-assed.
Still, you clicked for a reason, and I don't like to stall or disappoint, so here comes some huge walls of text for you to enjoy. Or just look at the gifs, if I can raise a smile with this it'll all be worth typing. ^^



- Lots going on lately. Matalan has been getting busy, so I'm on every weekday night for the forseeable future. Mostly because I'm great at the job (really) and they need a good slave, and yeah the extra money is handy too. Plus now that we're getting appropriately-sized deliveries I don't actually mind doing them that much. Still hate that old bastard I have to work with, if I have to hear him yakking about his Saxophone one more time I'll shove one of the boxes up his ass. >

- I'm back on the anti-depressants folks! Thankfully I didn't get to the full-on depression stage before I started taking them; but I felt it coming and really didn't want to cope with the moping and wrist slashing again.
But I have to say, these ones kick ass. I took Citalopram last time, and whilst that gave me an energy kick and a temporary boost, they didn't last long or help in the long term. But these have completely rewired my perception of things in view; I instantly look for the good in everything now, and feel so much happier about myself that I can be myself more often. It's a night and day difference quite honestly. Can't say I appreciate the extra toilet visits side-effect of the pills, but that's a con I'm quite happy to accept knowing the benefits.



- I've gotten right back into Gymming it up again. Had a slump for a while with batches of illness and low motivation, but the insanely good feeling of an effective workout lured me back, and now I pop down there for a stretch or two every chance I get. Would go swimming too but the water is old people-infested. Bleugh.

- Started a learner course on touch-typing too! Kinda iffy on it right now as I've used two fingers to type for as long as I remember, but now I can type without looking at least, and I'll only get better with practice. I'm a lot faster at it now too. In fact, you guys are the first I've told about this, no-one else knows about it. It isn't some dirty little secret or anything, just one of those things I like to keep to myself like the emo brat I used to be.



- Got some interesting news last month. I mentioned an appointment I had and asked you guys to wish me luck with it, remember? Well, it was with a specialist disability charity, and the smart-looking guy I saw finally helped me clarify why I've had so much trouble with emotions and basic understanding over the years, when I thought something was wrong but couldn't pinpoint it.
Turns out there is a very high chance I have Aspergers Syndrome. As per my own understanding this isn't a true disability in the sense of restriction, but of difference in the way of thinking. Whereas most people would operate on impulse to a situation, those with Aspergers over-analyse and critique the situation before acting, subconsciously avoiding any course of action that would result in embarrassment or negative emotions, a sort of enhanced self-defence trait. This extra time of reasoning would lead looker-ons to believe the person in question is slow or mentally handicapped, when it's anything but. Thinking numerically instead of grammatically, if you will.
I'm on a waiting list to see a trained Psychologist to help bring this line of thinking out into the open, and I bought a self-help book on how to control the emotions connected to love and attraction in the meantime, but otherwise I'm not too bothered about it. It's fantastic that I finally know what is different about me, but giving it priority over any aspect of my life would be making it a stronger issue, and I just want to get on with things, so this'll be the last time I mention it probably.

- So many games this month. Bloody ridiculous! Aside from the review game I'm currently beavering away at, I've got the 10 awesome GBA Ambassador games (and subsequently my first Fire Emblem game) to go through, there's Tales of the Abyss that just won't bloody end (I want new game plus goddamnit!), Mario Kart 7, Valkyria Chronicles, Gears of War 3, Ghost Trick, the Persona games, the rest of Sonic Generations, the two review games I'm expecting in the post any day now...GAH! Why oh why does the really good stuff get released now of all times!?



- How are you guys enjoying the Persona 4 Animation vids I post links to every week? I like how they've differed in key points of the storyline so far, and the events in the Camp Trip episode has me nearly pissing myself.

- Spent a lot on presents this year? Kinda went overboard a little, but am really hoping my Dad likes the huge gift I got him. I'll mention what it is in the Christmas spoils thread (when someone makes one) just in case he's secretly cyber-stalking me. Though knowing his technological mastery he'd try feeding the mouse with cheese or something.

- Got a lot of resolutions lined up for next year. I'd check off the ones I accomplished this year but can't seem to find where that thread went to. Got my Teeth fixed (), didn't get a girlfriend () or go abroad (), but hey there's always next year. ^^

Okay that's enough, I've been up nearly a whole day now and need a swing of Mountain Dew (f***in amazin' stuff). Ciao!

Strawberry Cheesecake

Yup, another of those random thoughts threads again, with a No-More-Heroes-inspired touch of trickery involved to guide ya in. There's a fair bit for me to talk about this time, with luck it'll be interesting and provoke thought and interest amongst the C3 populace. Or it'll make you point and laugh, it's all good.

- Someone needs to get The Doctor on the line, 'cos time is seriously messed up. We're in November already, the Christmas lights and decorations are going up, and my week off went far too quick for me not to suspect some voodoo involved.

- Still, I made the week interesting. Went to the train station yesterday and just hopped on one going to Cambridge. Wasn't planned, just did it for the hell of it. And boy, what a place! Bikes everywhere! Sat down on a bench to nosh on some cookies I bought for a snack, and threw some crumbs down to a nearby pigeon because I was in a chariatble mood; little bugger jumped onto my knee! Twice! Really should have gotten a pic, but the flash might've made him crap himself so I didn't risk it.



- Hands up, who else got their Tax Return details this week? I did, and turns out I owe the gits a hundred quid. Thieving buggers.

- 6 days until Skyward Sword guys! I'm still on blackout and haven't spoiled anything for myself, so this'll be the most unknown Zelda game I've played yet. Can't wait!



- Started a computer course with a local training agency lately; I'm learning to touch-type! As in, rythmic hand movement over the keyboard instead of the one-finger approach I'm using right now. It's going okay, but very difficult to adjust to.

- Got an appointment next week to see an specialist regarding some personal health suspicions I have. Wish me luck.



- Quick note to Azuardo; I'm keeping an eye out for a copy of TWEWY for ya; even looked when I went to Cambridge yesterday, but no joy thus far. Is £15 your limit? (just so I know what price to look out for)

- Guess which day New Years Eve falls on this year? He he, party time!

Phoenixus' Blog Reviews: Persona 4

Although localization efforts from major games publishers has improved considerably in the past couple of console generations, European gamers still tend to miss out on titles that see release only in Japan and North America; and in the case of Xenoblade and The Last Story, this happens to US citizens more often than not too. One particular branch of games that most westerners weren't too familiar with until a short while ago was the Atlus-created Role-Playing Megami Tensei metaseries: covering the three spinoff brands Devil Summoner, Digital Devil Saga, and Persona. Starting off on the Famicom, the Megami Tensei series didn't leap out of Japan until the PlayStation release of Revelations: Persona in the US, and only graced Europe with Shin Megami Tensei: Nocturne on PlayStation 2. Thankfully those games helped established a fanbase, and thus Atlus saw fit to localize more future games under the Megami Tensei banner.

Persona 4 in particular was met with slight confusion upon its Famitsu reveal in March of 08, as it was cited for release on the Playstation 2; a platform that was all but dead in major new releases support at that time thanks to the market moving onto HD Gaming and Motion Controls. Despite this, Atlus' development team pushed ahead for release in Japan towards the end of the year, and managed to gain both high sales and critical acclaim for the end product, shifting nearly 200k in one week for their homeland, and topping Amazon's charts when the game was sent over to the US. Lucky westerners also received a Soundtrack with all copies of the game; a highly fortunate inclusion for reasons we'll elaborate on quite soon.



Persona 4 takes place in the Japanese countryside town of Inaba, where you are introduced to the silent main protagonist who you can name as you wish. Your character is established as a city boy sent to live with his Uncle Dojima and Cousin Nanako in Inaba for a year, and attend School there. Soon after he arrives, a death occurs in the sleepy town with a famous Television announcer being mysteriously killed and left hanging from a Telephone wire pole. As you guide your character though School and social events, you'll discover the cause of this strange phenomena and seek to uncover the mysteries behind the 'Midnight Channel' that foresees future potential killings, and the world behind it.

Like previous games in the sub-series, the game centres around the use of Personas; powerful entities that reside in each character that has faced and accepted their other personalities, called into action through the use of Tarot Cards. These creatures grow and evolve in tandem with the main character’s interactions in the world outside of the TV where they are primarily utilized, and also gain Experience and Strength through each battle allowing for new abilities. Your named protagonist is the only one able to switch active Personas, and this is where the Velvet Room comes into play: seen over by a creepy guy called Igor and his assistant Margaret, this is where you can create and merge new Persona entities with those you have won as Battle Spoils in the TV world. As you have to level up your character through battle, you won’t be able to leap straight in towards building an almighty Persona, thus helping keep the game balanced for the area you are at, and providing incentive for later level grinding should you need it later on. The range of Persona choices, together with the huge range of moves they can learn depending on how you combine them, makes for a highly varied experience, though even the most basic combinations should see you safely through the game; investing time for greater combos in this way is purely your own choice.



Persona 4 acts as a sort of go-between of genres; on one hand you have the life sim feel of attending class, hanging out with friends, playing sports, and a numerous amount of other time-consuming activities to balance your game day out with. The Social Links aspect comes into play for this, determining how your friends will act in battle should their affection level with your protagonist be high enough, or how strong new Personas will be when created. Depending on your dialog choices in interactions and the activities you choose to do, your own personal stats will be raised too: these statistics have nothing to do with battles, but merely allow for advancement in the Social Link system.
On the other hand, you have the dungeon-crawling RPG aspect of the world inside the TV; randomly generated floors for each dungeon, turn-based fighting, and using equipment and powers wisely. Owing to the unique weather system the game employs to decide how long you have to conquer each dungeon and rescue whoever is trapped within it, the player has to balance out their character’s livelihood; spending time with friends to raise your stats and gain more power for your Persona, or explore more floors of the newest Dungeon before the days run out. In hindsight, this time-juggling sounds like a virtual nightmare, but one of the most impressive things about Persona 4 is how well everything comes together. Aside from mandatory School days and scripted events sounding the dungeons, the player has almost complete control over what they wish to do. Joining the Drama or Music club and only being able to attend on certain days sounds forced, but you are completely free to choose which of those days you want to go along on; there is no consequence for skipping them. Likewise, when going through new floors in the TV world, you can pace yourself so you don’t run out of energy, and (provided you have the right item handy) can leave anytime and start from there again after you’ve rested back at home. There is a deadline for rescuing each captive, but the game lets you balance things out with whatever you wish to keep things from getting too samey.



Atlus have done a fantastic job of providing players a world that almost feels alive at times. All areas of Inaba are well connected and easy to access with a press of the Square Button, environment change happens with the passing of the seasons, and even the NPCs littering the streets always have something interesting to say. The story itself mainly takes shape as a Murder Mystery and Investigational tale, and has been written superbly with many twists and turns before an ending you won’t see coming.
Like most games with a similar premise, the main character being basically mute and without a defined personality allows the player to essentially bestow their own traits and qualities through him. This, together with the Social Link aspects that define each character you interact with in such a way, and the balancing of activities, brings together a world that could be considered like a second life. It helps too that your primary party members are so well defined in personality that using your game day to hang around with them actually becomes the highlight instead of just doing it to raise your stats. In essence, despite them just being lines of code in a videogame, you really do begin to care about these characters. Even Teddie, the mascot character of the game becomes endearing despite starting off as annoying. Thanks to an excellent translation and top-notch voicework, their individualities shine through even more, and Atlus have even worked in a romance subplot you can make use of.
This option does fall short in some ways; you can choose which female character you have a Social Link with to date towards the last few levels of their link threshold, but after that there isn’t really any benefit to it other than a couple of extra scenes in the year. You can even act as a super stud and date more than one girl, but there are no consequences or effects from doing that either. It’s easy to see why Atlus chose not to go too in-depth with this feature as to leave the player with more options and not restrict their game days with preset dates and events as such, but it is a shame to see this potential decision become almost pointless.

Just wanted to add a writers note here and promote something I found, namely this. Yes, its fanfiction, but a damned good one and entirely representative of what I'd love to have seen in the game itself.

As far as Visual fidelity goes, Persona 4 keeps a basic but stylized look throughout, easily making the most of its hardware, and providing the occasional Animated Cutscene that matches the best regular Anime has to offer. Each Dungeon in the TV world adheres to the other personality of the captive inside it, so with the range of characters in the game this provides a vast amount of level differentiation; one minute you’ll be trudging through a Medieval Castle, next you’ll be in a Strip Club (Oi Oi!), and even a game-themed 8-Bit level complete with blocky visuals and a throwback chip tune. Inaba itself isn’t quite as varied, but provides enough content and places to visit as not to make the player feel like they’re constantly retreading old ground. Enemy variation is another plus point; like most RPGs you’ll see the occasional enemy re-colouring in a future dungeon, but for the most part they are imaginatively and distinctively designed, often handily fitting in with the theme of the area they are in. It can be dificult to figure out the elemental weaknesses of the creatures you're fighting though; unlike games like Pokemon where the monsters practically wear their type on their sleeves, here you'll need to do some trial and error to figure things out.



When you’ve played Persona 4 for a few hours, it won’t be difficult to see why Atlus included a Soundtrack CD, and it wasn’t for purchase credibility as the game was already at a budget price. To put it simply and bluntly, the OST for this game is absolutely incredible. Though there are only a few dozen tracks altogether, each and every one has a purpose for where it is used, and each and every one sticks in your mind long after you finish hearing it, whether it is a dramatic tune, or one riveted with tension and suspense. The Battle themes themselves, like in other majorly critically acclaimed RPGs, can be seen as the true audio highlights: the mark of a truly effective main fight track is for it not to get annoying or obtrusive even after countless fights, and ‘Reach Out to the Truth’ passes with flying colours;
The other fight themes that play with sub-bosses and the big bads themselves are equally memorable; debatably even more so considering you won’t hear them as often. Shōji Meguro, who has worked on a number of other Megami Tensai soundtracks, really outdid himself with this one.

Persona 4’s year long timeline of events doesn’t quite stretch out to that in real time, but depending on the player you’ll have at the very least between 40-60 hours of quality play in store. None of it feels padded out owing to the game allowing you to tailor-make your experience as you go, and beating each boss to save each captive and move one step closer to solving the mystery, as well as interacting with your Social Link friends and seeing the sometimes-hilarious events that unfold, ensure not a second of those hours feels wasted. And even when you’re done, New Game Plus brings in new events and abilities for a second playthrough.

Criminally unknown in relation to its immense quality, Persona 4 should be regarded as the true swansong for what was a machine with a highly diverse and appreciated library of games. The game isn’t without its shortcomings, primarily within the underutilized Romance options and slightly repetitive nature of the dungeon-crawling (depending on how you play), but the excellent story and characters, brilliant music,fast-paced battles, and hugely satisfying world interaction easily make the fourth Persona game one of the greatest Role-Playing games ever. From one games enthusiast to another, you need to play this, and for this price, how can you say no?

Random Thoughts 3:16 - Because SirLink Said So!

At the bequest of a certain C3 member that will remain nameless until you read the title, I'm doing another one of these bloggy things. Same drill as the previous two, a mishmash of whatever comes to mind adapted for a more pleasant and funnier reading experience. Because trust me, the unfiltered stuff would scar you for life.
Right, am gonna be quick on this before that wrestler catches up with me for mutilating his catchphrase.


- Wasn't much of a Summer was it? Granted, I didn't want it to be warm enough to cook an egg on your chest or anything (specially because I'd have had to sleep through it ), but there was barely enough heat to melt an icecube most days. Proper tan next year then.

- Do people honestly think that hoodies and caps are fashionable? When you see 40-something blokes wearing them you just know society is in trouble. The ones walking like clothed Chimpanzees are worth a good laugh at though.



-Bleach is really heating up lately on the manga side of things, lots of awesome fights ahead. Can't wait to see old man Zangetsu again!

- Bit of feedback request; what do you guys think of my two monthly features? The last one wasn't as gut-wrenching as I wanted but there's only so much laughter you can place on a boxart and uneventful screens. The next TakeN one is good though, trust me.

- Gone skintflint lately, as last month was a bit of a drain on the old wallet! £300 laptop, £100 tattoo and £150 PS3, ouch! All worth it though.

- Got this through the post this morning;

and no, I'm not off to challenge the Ordon Village fatboy Mayor with it, it's a self-help book to aid with low motivation. I'm skeptical to be quite honest, but its worth a punt.

- Personal shoutout here to Azuardo for all his awesome work for the site in recent months. I'd say this applies.

- So, show of hands, who's interested in the next iPhone that should be shown off this month? The rumours are tantalising to say the least; I'll probably end up with one.



- Need some more PSN buddies! Add Darkspine_S if you haven't already!

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