Summary:
We meet Shinryu, nee Nova Dragon. The Rift gets more woodsy. Mind
Flayers. We fight Necrophobe, and are saved by the sacrifice of
Gilgamesh, of all people.
The Rift – Last Floor
-More monsters, but nothing too bad so far. No more King Behemoths. Just some gargoyle reskins, “Belphegors.”
-Worst. Treasure. Ever. I opened a chest, and instead of an elixir or magic armor, out popped the horror that rent the skies a thousand years ago with Omega. Shinryu.
Shinryu says hello with tidal waves.
-Shinryu was in FFIV: The After Years, but under a different name. There, he was called Nova Dragon. He destroys me just as fast here with 8k damage off the bat. No thanks, Broseph.
-Have I mentioned that I hate Mindflayers? Ever since they first made their appearance in the Marsh Cave of FFI, they’ve been a thorn in my side. Here they cast Mind Blast to drain and sap and paralyze my party over and over.
Welcome to Nightmareville. Population: four Mind Flayers.
I survive, but it’s annoying as hell.
-Starting to see weird brown growths in the crystalline environment.
-I think they’re roots. Please, PLEASE say we’re going to see Exdeath in full tree mode.
-We see a green light. Necrophobe: “This light… I will never give it to you!” Huh?
-BOSS TIME! The boss is Necrophobe, surrounded by four floating “barrier” monsters. He’s invincible until the barriers die.
-Really tough fight. The barriers all have Reflect and cast hard-hitting spells.
-Finally killed the barriers.
-NECROPHOBE: “Have a taste of my true power! It’s all you can eat!” LOLOL of COURSE Exdeath’s minions must be skilled in the art of trashtalk.
-We’re doing okay, bu then puppies everywhere burst into happy yips and spontaneous playtime. Why?
-BECAUSE BIG BRIDGE MUSIC RIPS IN.
Gilgamesh shows up!
-GIL: “Made it! Well, hello there! Surprised to see me? If I’d just left you in the lurch, I’d look like a jerk for all of history! Thought I’d let that happen?” [Yes. I really did think we’d seen the last of him.] “As if!”
-Necrophobe starts taunting him, but Gil will not be outsassed. “Just try it, Baldy! You cannot even hold a birthday candle to the blazing flame of my winning spirit!”
DFJKLSFHDFHLK THIS IS THE BEST THING EVER DSHKFDSJLHJ
GIL: “Krile! Your grandfather… he was a pretty strong guy!” You’re damn right.
KRILE: “Grandpa…”
GIL: “And you, Faris! You must fall in love or something and try acting a little like a woman, if you still know how!”
FARIS: “Hey…” I’ll admit. I kind of lol’d at how Gilgamesh can still clearly be a jackass.
GIL: “Lenna! Always so selfless towards animals… never lose that pure heart!”
LENNA: “…”
GIL: “And Bartz. I wanted to fight you one more time, mano-a-mano. You have admirable companions. I envy you.”
BARTZ: “Gil…”
-I’m so happy we get to see this, worried about what this speech implies.
-Gilgamesh SELF-DESTRUCTS, killing himself and taking the Necrophobe with him.
-Great. Right after how Gilgamesh on par with Galuf for being my favorite character, he gets offed. Hey, game: I have no more favorite characters. Faris is still my second favorite character, with nobody replacing Galuf and Gilgamesh. Please don’t kill her.
-I want to revise my thoughts from last time. I still don’t believe Gilgamesh is altruistic, but I no longer believe he’s as selfish as I thought. But his ethical core isn’t intrinsic; he doesn’t do what’s right just because it’s right, and still doesn’t seem to care about saving the world. He wants to help his friends.
Part of what I like about FFV over FFIV is how relatable these motivations are. In our intro the game, Bartz didn’t immediately help Lenna and Galuf. Boko had to convince him. Bartz isn’t a noble hero. Neither is Faris, who was/is a literal pirate. Krile wants her grandpa. Galuf and Lenna… well, they’re nobler, but even so I believe they care about their loved ones – Krile and Hiryu and King Tycoon and Faris – far more than “saving the world.”
-Go well into that starry night, Gilgamesh. Even in death, nobody holds a birthday candle to the blazing flame of your winning spirit.
-After Necrophobe dies, the light he was protecting turns into a save point. Rest time.
---
Next time: further into the Rift.
The Rift – Last Floor
-More monsters, but nothing too bad so far. No more King Behemoths. Just some gargoyle reskins, “Belphegors.”
-Worst. Treasure. Ever. I opened a chest, and instead of an elixir or magic armor, out popped the horror that rent the skies a thousand years ago with Omega. Shinryu.
Shinryu says hello with tidal waves.
-Shinryu was in FFIV: The After Years, but under a different name. There, he was called Nova Dragon. He destroys me just as fast here with 8k damage off the bat. No thanks, Broseph.
-Have I mentioned that I hate Mindflayers? Ever since they first made their appearance in the Marsh Cave of FFI, they’ve been a thorn in my side. Here they cast Mind Blast to drain and sap and paralyze my party over and over.
Welcome to Nightmareville. Population: four Mind Flayers.
I survive, but it’s annoying as hell.
-Starting to see weird brown growths in the crystalline environment.
-I think they’re roots. Please, PLEASE say we’re going to see Exdeath in full tree mode.
-We see a green light. Necrophobe: “This light… I will never give it to you!” Huh?
-BOSS TIME! The boss is Necrophobe, surrounded by four floating “barrier” monsters. He’s invincible until the barriers die.
-Really tough fight. The barriers all have Reflect and cast hard-hitting spells.
-Finally killed the barriers.
-NECROPHOBE: “Have a taste of my true power! It’s all you can eat!” LOLOL of COURSE Exdeath’s minions must be skilled in the art of trashtalk.
-We’re doing okay, bu then puppies everywhere burst into happy yips and spontaneous playtime. Why?
-BECAUSE BIG BRIDGE MUSIC RIPS IN.
Gilgamesh shows up!
-GIL: “Made it! Well, hello there! Surprised to see me? If I’d just left you in the lurch, I’d look like a jerk for all of history! Thought I’d let that happen?” [Yes. I really did think we’d seen the last of him.] “As if!”
-Necrophobe starts taunting him, but Gil will not be outsassed. “Just try it, Baldy! You cannot even hold a birthday candle to the blazing flame of my winning spirit!”
DFJKLSFHDFHLK THIS IS THE BEST THING EVER DSHKFDSJLHJ
GIL: “Krile! Your grandfather… he was a pretty strong guy!” You’re damn right.
KRILE: “Grandpa…”
GIL: “And you, Faris! You must fall in love or something and try acting a little like a woman, if you still know how!”
FARIS: “Hey…” I’ll admit. I kind of lol’d at how Gilgamesh can still clearly be a jackass.
GIL: “Lenna! Always so selfless towards animals… never lose that pure heart!”
LENNA: “…”
GIL: “And Bartz. I wanted to fight you one more time, mano-a-mano. You have admirable companions. I envy you.”
BARTZ: “Gil…”
-I’m so happy we get to see this, worried about what this speech implies.
-Gilgamesh SELF-DESTRUCTS, killing himself and taking the Necrophobe with him.
-Great. Right after how Gilgamesh on par with Galuf for being my favorite character, he gets offed. Hey, game: I have no more favorite characters. Faris is still my second favorite character, with nobody replacing Galuf and Gilgamesh. Please don’t kill her.
-I want to revise my thoughts from last time. I still don’t believe Gilgamesh is altruistic, but I no longer believe he’s as selfish as I thought. But his ethical core isn’t intrinsic; he doesn’t do what’s right just because it’s right, and still doesn’t seem to care about saving the world. He wants to help his friends.
Part of what I like about FFV over FFIV is how relatable these motivations are. In our intro the game, Bartz didn’t immediately help Lenna and Galuf. Boko had to convince him. Bartz isn’t a noble hero. Neither is Faris, who was/is a literal pirate. Krile wants her grandpa. Galuf and Lenna… well, they’re nobler, but even so I believe they care about their loved ones – Krile and Hiryu and King Tycoon and Faris – far more than “saving the world.”
-Go well into that starry night, Gilgamesh. Even in death, nobody holds a birthday candle to the blazing flame of your winning spirit.
-After Necrophobe dies, the light he was protecting turns into a save point. Rest time.
---
Next time: further into the Rift.
