Kofi “Kofina” Art

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15 hours in and I don't think I'll finish it. Don't expect Dragon Age Origins. The game's story is so light-hearted, sometimes you forget that it's even Dragon Age, if the game didn't have Dragon Age in the name, it would be more successful. It's disappointing to see a character I loved (Morrigan) reduced to nothing more than a side prop and changed so much that she doesn't even resemble what she was in past titles. Don't expect the lore to use anything prior to Inquisition, Bioware is ignoring anything from DA:0 - 2. The Qinari have been butchered the most, as there is a character who's quest-line is so politically laced, that it beats you over the head over her "gender" issues. Don't expect any kind of "open world", the world feels like it was made in fortnite. The gameplay gets pretty dull after a while and it certainly isn't a "return to form" for the series. If you want a game that doesn't shove it's message in your face, get Metaphor or even FFVII Rebirth. The Bioware you knew for Mass Effect 1 and 2, KotOR and Dragon Age Origins, are long gone.

Don't let the prologue fool you, it's basically the first 4 hours of the game that will pull you in, and then afterwards it will drop that momentum pretty darn hard in the way of storytelling, characters and progression. Don't expect any of the side characters to have any real development, they're all there to support Clive's development. This game is carried by it's boss fights with thanks to platinum games and the KH3 Osaka team, this is where the game shines the most, but it's sad that you have to go through a lot of linearity and FF14 style questing to get to it. Character progression is non-existent. Enjoy getting materials for a sword with +2 strength and that's it. Sure you have another rip-off of FFX's sphere grid, (and I get why SE has used it in every single new FF title since) but there's no real customization. For those that have played the DMC series, the combat is as deep as a puddle, don't expect some uber combos, juggling and stylish rankings in this game, this is DMC for people that haven't touched a DMC title. Remember the stagger system? Yeah, it's back, enjoy having NO ELEMENTAL WEAKNESSES. YOULL BE HITTING THE ATTACK BUTTONS AND THE SAME ABILITIES FOR A GOOD CHUNK OF THE GAME. And the cutscenes, there's 40+ hours of cutscenes in this game, and anyone that tells you "It's a final fantasy game, it's story-telling"!! Has probably only played FFXIV (and that probably has more cutscene than game ratio than the entire series combined) FFX doesn't even have as many cutscenes as XVI does and X lets you play it more than watch it. I've played and finished the PS5 version, and just because it's going to be on PC, doesn't mean the experience suddenly changes Take your money elsewhere, FFVII REBIRTH is more of an old school feeling, give persona 3 reload a try for a good turn based RPG, or even Black Myth Wukong if you want a challenge.

I can't give this movie more than 3 stars. After Mirai got an Oscar nomination, and got beat out by Disney (again) Hosoda decides (If I can't beat Disney, I'll try my own hand at BEING Disney) And it shows in this film, we have the beautiful visuals, the ear worm of a soundtrack, and yet the story flops. You have a 17 year old girl named Suzu (played by Kaho Nakamura) who lost her mother at a young age because she tried to play hero and save a young girl trapped between a raging river, she used to sing with her mother, but now she can't and even the attempt makes her physically sick. Suzu's father tries.to connect with her, but Suzu is very unlikable as a character (The man lost his wife too you spoiled brat!) A school friend sends her a link to a VR App called "U", which uses something called "Body-Sharing technology" via haptic feedback, Biometric data (A thumb print) and photos from your gallery on your phone, and in this app, she becomes Belle, a now popular diva overnight thanks to the help of her geeky friend Hiro, who is basically her producer, choreographer, arranger, etc. During one of her performances, she's interrupted by a character "The Dragon" also called Beast (Now don't expect some actual Beauty and the Beast stuff in this movie, they're simply homages and have nothing to do with the movie overall) the players in the world of U try to figure out the beast's identity, Belle included. She decides to find his Castle, led by a player named angel, once in the castle, she finds the beast, who promptly kicks her out. Once more they try to find him, only to figure out that the Beast is a child, with a younger brother (Angel), this turns things on their head when more is revealed bordering on child abuse, but this is where the movie falters hard. This all happens within the last 40 minutes of the movie, and there is no actual resolution for these abused boys just a single "Thanks to you, I can stand up for myself." Kind of deal, there is no closure for the Beast nor his Brother, and the sudden CSI zoom in memery that happens, when all they needed was an IP address, is ridiculous, yet everything is treated like it's been resolved, this movie feels like it's 2 different movies mashed into one, and it's sad because the music and visuals are gorgeous. The Good: -Visuals and music are outstanding. -The 3 main sequences that blew me away were The Opening "U", "Lend me your Voice" (Beauty and the Beast Segment) and the climax "A Million Miles Away" (Absolutely beautiful, and the reason this movie got a 14 minute standing ovation. The Bad: -Pacing and overall story: The Movie is all over the place and doesn't know what it wants to do, where to go in terms of the plot. Various things happen without rhyme nor reason, aspects of the movie could be cut, and nothing would really change the story. -Poor character development: Side characters are introduced, only to show up towards the climax of the movie, and are only there to simply give the main character some form of personality, these character could also be cut, and nothing would change the narrative because they didn't push it forward to begin with. BELLE really could have been something great had Hosoda had a partner to co-write and reign some of his ideas back, he's a great director, but certainly not good with penning narratives.