Zen

Update to a bunch of my interests/favorite influences. My name is Shin, im a writer, ✝️, deep analyst, love retrospectives, themes, art, sci-fi pretty much all below. Im small, tryna expand, meet oomfs, be apart of a genuine community. Pls follow/🔁/❤ makes my life brighter🥺

@RetroToshi @Vohris I dont ever feel that unless its something like Fallout where plot is primarily driven by your direct choices and actions. I dont see how I could ever relate to a character to say Link or the Hero from Dragon Quest XI, especially if their blank slated or a chosen one trope.

@ZenImpulshin @Vohris You’re supposed to insert yourself into the role of the protagonist. Imagine it’s YOU on that quest. That’s the whole point of those types of characters. I love it.

Do we think silent protagonists should still be a thing in games nowadays? Im always on the fence about whether I like them or not and I typically aim more towards the latter. I feel silent protagonists detriment themselves and don't offer any interesting dynamics most times.

@WallyWLTN For Fallout and Elder Scrolls is fine because their heavily interactive and you technically are speaking and making active narrative choices in the games plot or scenarios. Where for most jrpgs the silent character is stagnant or reliant on the world/characters to carry them.

@ZenImpulshin I like them for games like Fallout and Elder Scrolls, games that are complete freedom and I envision their voice in my mind. JRPGs I really don't like it, I have no attachment to Joker from Persona 5 or the Hero pictured here from Dragon Quest at all.

@Ex_Soldier23 Think its hard for a game to pull that off without a gut punching feeling. Its usually this or the mc loses someone significantly close to them at the end. Always hurts alot.

Genuinely don’t think there’s a more depressing thing that a game can do than killing off the MC at the end, especially when it's the "they did everything right and still didn’t get to live" kind of way

@CaliCosmicGal I like seeing characters reacting an showing some level of concern or emotion towards a situation, especially when its something important. I like understanding the mc or feel what they do but its most often hard when having to rely on supporting characters or the world for that.

@ZenImpulshin They can annoy me slightly sometimes when their silence gets in the way unitentionally. But most of the time I feel like I like them well enough I do prefer talking protaganist but I dont hate silent ones. And sometimes a scene of them breaking the silence can get very emotional

@faintlament I totally feel that but raking leaves feels like a much more manageable and fun workout then trying to shovel layers of ice and snow. But I feel that pain for sure.

@ZenImpulshin Fall is peak, I love the weather and the scenery out is really beautiful. The problem for fall for me is that I hate picking up the leaves 😭, it's a lot of work

All this snow and cold is making me miss summer, but I know that I'll complain about the heat 😭

@Vohris Well tbf with Link even though he is completely silent, he occasionally gives meaningful reactions to important enough situations. Plus Link in his games is more a reactive character so he is actively challenging the plot, whereas most silent characters remain sort of stagnant.

@ZenImpulshin Two of the greatest video game protagonists are silent Link and Hero

@faintlament Same, altho silent ones are fine too. Just wish they often had more weight to them in the stories they're apart of, at least ones ive experienced so far.

@ZenImpulshin I don't mind them, but I just prefer a regular protagonist way more

@kykyan123 I can see that, I dont mind that but it can be off putting in certain scenarios that could possibly be circumvented or add more weight to it by showcasing the mc's input or reaction. Instead its mostly relying on the supporting cast to pick up that front. Just can feel odd to me.

@ZenImpulshin I think dragon quest and chrono trigger pull them off pretty well. In those games the main character is just the lens in which you view the world, rather than a character in the story like with final fantasy

@AspirinJuice425 I can vibe with that but in that sense then the player character could be opted out for those other characters to be the main lead. Cause in most cases I feel the silent character is just a literal plot device and Idk id still like some aspect of character to them or reaction.

@ZenImpulshin Silent protagonists work best to me when the player character isn't the main focus of the game, like if they're not meant to be a character anyway there's no point giving them dialogue Other times the silence is worked into the way the story's written very well like in Mother 3

@Ex_Soldier23 Im doing ok, mostly doing what i can to keep my mind off the thoughts and problems currently. I appreciate it, greatly.

@ZenImpulshin off topic from me but hope you been doing well

I love recused type characters, they're always super interesting and love seeing them try to live in a world thats so oppressively against them. Leads to the most interesting dynamics and valuable themes that resonate with me. They're my personal favorites within fiction.

@GoldenDia_7 It is yeah, i recommend. Bioshock is so fun!

@ZenImpulshin Is the last one bioshock? Never played

Games I've played with the best horror vibes:

@_runescimitar Thank you, so much. Your picks are really awesome too!

@ZenImpulshin Nice picks!!

What movies shaped your taste in film growing up?

@BrightsouSoul For sure. Torna does alot for Mythra and really makes the whole story hurt much more realizing the depth of pain she is truly experiencing. Makes me glad Torna exists cause it elevates the story so much, knowing the full picture. Seeing Mythra smile by the end really hits harder.

@ZenImpulshin There's such a deep level of understanding you gain from having the whole picture. The pain and struggle Mythra endured almost broke her, but she was able to overcome it, realizing that she can be herself and be loved for who she is. Someone reached out to her and took her hand.

I'll never get over how amazingly developed Mythra's journey is showcased throughout XC2. She's a troubled character who feels easy to resonate with. Going from a cold, childish and troubled personality with no real sense of purpose, to finding acceptance means so much to me.

@supertman1228 Really is, same for me. Torna absolutely makes the game feel so different. Learning about everyone and seeing how they are in the base game, hits different. Especially for Mythra's arc and character. Her being more smug and bright really brought her out. She's my favorite in 2.

@ZenImpulshin Torna is inseparable to the main game for me for this reason Like Mythra's arc in the main game make so much more sense once I played Torna and I love her character all the more for it

@IshmaelsWife_ Absolutely i agree, wish they shined abit more but i liked the moments shared.

@ZenImpulshin Their love is generational

I sincerely would love a story that solely focused on these two. Morag and Brighid are such an iconic duo in Xenoblade 2. Their dynamic and moments together even if sprinkled throughout were always so fun. Both featuring some of my fav designs in characters and h2h's.