Summary:
Exploring Gagazet fruitlessly for the Besaid key-holder. Post-Sin
Zanarkand. Yuna and Rikku try to cope with seeing the pilgrimage road
in such a different light. Kinderguardians.
Mt. Gagazet
-Kimahri is the Ronso elder.
-Some of the Ronso children left to search for “elder’s horn.” Heh. Makes sense I guess that something from Kimahri’s past would be considered a relic.
-hahaha these dialogue options from Yuna to this Ronso, Garik.
-Talking to the other Ronso in this main area and I get multiple dialogue options for a bunch of them. Many of the Ronso harbor hatred and rage at Seymour and the Guado. I can’t blame them, and feel super uncomfortable with the “hatred never solved anything!” dialogue options.
Don’t get me wrong – I do NOT want to see the Ronso take revenge. But telling them to forgive seems incredibly dismissive of real and legitimate anger.
-I’m almost ready to continue on the mountain, but there are two things I want to mentally play with beforehand. First, the new garment grid, and second, how to continue with my dresspheres.
-I thought the Protection Halo (my new Garment Grid) would just be a new configuration, but it’s not. It gives defense bonuses. I’ll go to this. I don’t really see a reason to stick with First Steps. Sure, it has one extra dressphere slot, but that hardly seems worth it right now.
-The Protection Halo also provides bonuses for swapping dresspheres, which brings me to my next question. Do I focus each party member on one dressphere like I’ve been doing, or give them a variety? I think I’ll try a variety.
---
Exploring Gagazet
-Lots of upgrade Ahrimans here, Fly Eyes. Found an Oversoul early.
-Rikku as white mage is pretty awesome. “Time for some Rikku-brand white magic goodness!” No attack ability. Instead, her main ability is Pray, a light group heal.
-Fought two Takubas, and they were WAY tougher than anything I fought before them. Thank goodness for white mage.
-Definitely weird revisiting this area. Like, I just reached the Prominence and half expected to see Seymour appear.
-Reached the Cave, just past an area called the Fayth Scar.
-A ronso is here in the cave. Says that the Ronso will change now that the fayth are gone, and we get another dialogue option. I wonder if this impacts story here at all.
-All the trails that were so full of secrets and treasure and story before now feel empty. Paths leading nowhere.
Three things about this:
1)It could just be because I’m not on a mission right now.
2)If not, it feels like a lot of wasted space.
3)Perhaps it’s a bit poignant – like, all this area that was made vibrant and magical by the fayth is now desolate. (But still mostly feels like wasted space.)
-Whelp. We’re almost at Zanarkand, and I still haven’t found the person with the Besaid key I was hoping to find. Ah well. Hopefully I’ll find them later in the game – maybe when Mt. Gagazet is a hotspot.
Mt. Gagazet
-Kimahri is the Ronso elder.
-Some of the Ronso children left to search for “elder’s horn.” Heh. Makes sense I guess that something from Kimahri’s past would be considered a relic.
-hahaha these dialogue options from Yuna to this Ronso, Garik.
-Talking to the other Ronso in this main area and I get multiple dialogue options for a bunch of them. Many of the Ronso harbor hatred and rage at Seymour and the Guado. I can’t blame them, and feel super uncomfortable with the “hatred never solved anything!” dialogue options.
Don’t get me wrong – I do NOT want to see the Ronso take revenge. But telling them to forgive seems incredibly dismissive of real and legitimate anger.
-I’m almost ready to continue on the mountain, but there are two things I want to mentally play with beforehand. First, the new garment grid, and second, how to continue with my dresspheres.
-I thought the Protection Halo (my new Garment Grid) would just be a new configuration, but it’s not. It gives defense bonuses. I’ll go to this. I don’t really see a reason to stick with First Steps. Sure, it has one extra dressphere slot, but that hardly seems worth it right now.
-The Protection Halo also provides bonuses for swapping dresspheres, which brings me to my next question. Do I focus each party member on one dressphere like I’ve been doing, or give them a variety? I think I’ll try a variety.
---
Exploring Gagazet
-Lots of upgrade Ahrimans here, Fly Eyes. Found an Oversoul early.
-Rikku as white mage is pretty awesome. “Time for some Rikku-brand white magic goodness!” No attack ability. Instead, her main ability is Pray, a light group heal.
-Fought two Takubas, and they were WAY tougher than anything I fought before them. Thank goodness for white mage.
-Definitely weird revisiting this area. Like, I just reached the Prominence and half expected to see Seymour appear.
-Reached the Cave, just past an area called the Fayth Scar.
-A ronso is here in the cave. Says that the Ronso will change now that the fayth are gone, and we get another dialogue option. I wonder if this impacts story here at all.
-All the trails that were so full of secrets and treasure and story before now feel empty. Paths leading nowhere.
Three things about this:
1)It could just be because I’m not on a mission right now.
2)If not, it feels like a lot of wasted space.
3)Perhaps it’s a bit poignant – like, all this area that was made vibrant and magical by the fayth is now desolate. (But still mostly feels like wasted space.)
-Whelp. We’re almost at Zanarkand, and I still haven’t found the person with the Besaid key I was hoping to find. Ah well. Hopefully I’ll find them later in the game – maybe when Mt. Gagazet is a hotspot.
---
Zanarkand
-We arrive at where FFX opened. It’s empty.
-OH SHIT THAT WAS JUST IN HER MEMORIES THAT IT WAS EMPTY!! It’s a tourist attraction now. Weeeeeird.
-Mission time. “Claim the Treasure Sphere!”
-This is fucking surreal. People are talking about the magical adventure that starts in Zanarkand, and I get it, but god it’s weird weird WEIRD.
-The Hunchback Hellions are another sphere hunting group.
-IT’S THAT GUY!! I can’t remember his name, but he’s the other summoner with the brothers who was pretty nice. Issarru?
-He’s been helping Cid. He’s a guide through Zanarkand.
-We move in towards the dome.
-As we walked in, I thought I saw two figures appear out of nowhere in the foreground. Backtracked to check it out, but didn’t see them. Huh.
-By the way, I’ve kind of reneged on my intention to diversify the dressphere pool. I like building up a few dresspheres for the moment. Going to try building Warrior and Festivalist on Paine, Gunner and White Mage on Yuna, and Thief and White Mage on Rikku.
-I SAW IT AGAIN!! Yeah. Definitely some up-to-no-good-niks lurking around here.
-A group of kids run inside. Taro, Hana, and some unnamed due. I think the unnamed dude is Isaaru’s brother.
-Goons inside.
-Pacce!! That’s the kid’s name. He’s leading a group of “sphere hunters” in here. I can’t tell if this is a tourist thing or if they’re legit hunters. My guess is that it’s just for fun.
-HAHAHAHAH THEY CALL THEMSELVES THE “KINDERGUARDIANS” FHDJKLSFHDFLDKLS
-“Key” is a clue to finding the treasure. Huh. Maybe the dude who took the Besaid key actually came up here.
-Another of those goons is lurking in the background.
-heee!! This “goon” is absolutely not scary at all up close and hearing him talk. He sounds a bit Californian.
-He thinks the clue is “mon,” not “key.” Guessing that one of those shifty-eyed monkeys/lemurs is the secret.
-Something I’m really loving about this game so far: the stakes are pretty low. We’re hunting spheres. The villains (competing treasure hunters, Leblanc’s group I assume here) just now said they don’t want to pick on kids, and so they let them continue on.
It’s a nice change of pace. I’m always a fan of fantasy and action that focus on a narrower scope than saving the world.
(This isn’t to say the game won’t or shouldn’t go there, but I like it now.)
Zanarkand
-We arrive at where FFX opened. It’s empty.
-OH SHIT THAT WAS JUST IN HER MEMORIES THAT IT WAS EMPTY!! It’s a tourist attraction now. Weeeeeird.
-Mission time. “Claim the Treasure Sphere!”
-This is fucking surreal. People are talking about the magical adventure that starts in Zanarkand, and I get it, but god it’s weird weird WEIRD.
-The Hunchback Hellions are another sphere hunting group.
-IT’S THAT GUY!! I can’t remember his name, but he’s the other summoner with the brothers who was pretty nice. Issarru?
-He’s been helping Cid. He’s a guide through Zanarkand.
-We move in towards the dome.
-As we walked in, I thought I saw two figures appear out of nowhere in the foreground. Backtracked to check it out, but didn’t see them. Huh.
-By the way, I’ve kind of reneged on my intention to diversify the dressphere pool. I like building up a few dresspheres for the moment. Going to try building Warrior and Festivalist on Paine, Gunner and White Mage on Yuna, and Thief and White Mage on Rikku.
-I SAW IT AGAIN!! Yeah. Definitely some up-to-no-good-niks lurking around here.
-A group of kids run inside. Taro, Hana, and some unnamed due. I think the unnamed dude is Isaaru’s brother.
-Goons inside.
-Pacce!! That’s the kid’s name. He’s leading a group of “sphere hunters” in here. I can’t tell if this is a tourist thing or if they’re legit hunters. My guess is that it’s just for fun.
-HAHAHAHAH THEY CALL THEMSELVES THE “KINDERGUARDIANS” FHDJKLSFHDFLDKLS
-“Key” is a clue to finding the treasure. Huh. Maybe the dude who took the Besaid key actually came up here.
-Another of those goons is lurking in the background.
-heee!! This “goon” is absolutely not scary at all up close and hearing him talk. He sounds a bit Californian.
-He thinks the clue is “mon,” not “key.” Guessing that one of those shifty-eyed monkeys/lemurs is the secret.
-Something I’m really loving about this game so far: the stakes are pretty low. We’re hunting spheres. The villains (competing treasure hunters, Leblanc’s group I assume here) just now said they don’t want to pick on kids, and so they let them continue on.
It’s a nice change of pace. I’m always a fan of fantasy and action that focus on a narrower scope than saving the world.
(This isn’t to say the game won’t or shouldn’t go there, but I like it now.)
-I can’t get over the cognitive dissonance I’m experiencing right now.
We’re in the hall leading to Lady Yunalesca and Dark Bahamut iirc, and
instead we see a bunch of tourists chilling out, snapping photos, paying
gil to “loot chests.”
-There’s a group of old women here. Sphere hunters. The Grannies. “We’re having a meeting, so git!” This is amaaaazing.
-Two dudes here. Looking at people and wondering if they’re “New Yevon” (?) and scouting for the Youth League.
-OMG LEMUR SEEING HEARTS
-Terran and Maxx.
-The Kinderguardians. This is beyond adorable.
-Why do I keep hearing the “cha ching” sound whenever I talk to the lemur?
-MY GIL KEEPS GOING DOWN!! That frigging lemur Terran is stealing my gil.
-Okay. Let’s head down to the tourist trap chamber of the fayth.
Meta as fuck.
-Four monkeys are by the door.
-Hi Cid!
-We talk to Cid about how this touristiness seems to cheapen things. He sees our point.
RANDOM DUDE: “Keep an eye on your gil. The monkeys have sticky fingers.” Thanks. I noticed.
-Each has a description. Valli’s up to no good. Peke drools tentatively. (?) Birch bats his eyelashes timidly. Golde looks ready to rant. Summer looks unfulfilled. Sequoia is fuming.
These descriptions remind me of the cactuar descriptions.
-Into the Great Hall. More monkeys and closed treasure chests.
-Minni drools lecherously. Spring sure looks testy. Rosemary is after your gil! Canis wants something. Sol hates tourists.
-Writing these down because they might be important later.
-There’s a group of old women here. Sphere hunters. The Grannies. “We’re having a meeting, so git!” This is amaaaazing.
-Two dudes here. Looking at people and wondering if they’re “New Yevon” (?) and scouting for the Youth League.
-OMG LEMUR SEEING HEARTS
-Terran and Maxx.
-The Kinderguardians. This is beyond adorable.
-Why do I keep hearing the “cha ching” sound whenever I talk to the lemur?
-MY GIL KEEPS GOING DOWN!! That frigging lemur Terran is stealing my gil.
-Okay. Let’s head down to the tourist trap chamber of the fayth.
Meta as fuck.
-Four monkeys are by the door.
-Hi Cid!
-We talk to Cid about how this touristiness seems to cheapen things. He sees our point.
RANDOM DUDE: “Keep an eye on your gil. The monkeys have sticky fingers.” Thanks. I noticed.
-Each has a description. Valli’s up to no good. Peke drools tentatively. (?) Birch bats his eyelashes timidly. Golde looks ready to rant. Summer looks unfulfilled. Sequoia is fuming.
These descriptions remind me of the cactuar descriptions.
-Into the Great Hall. More monkeys and closed treasure chests.
-Minni drools lecherously. Spring sure looks testy. Rosemary is after your gil! Canis wants something. Sol hates tourists.
-Writing these down because they might be important later.
-We move into the Beyond. Yuna remembers this as the place she cast off her beliefs. Her false hope.
-Two more monkeys here. Birch is in the mood for love. Dawne looks sleepy. A third one I don’t get to talk to yet.
-A voice. “Muwahahahaha!!” Unless this is Exdeath, no way we’re about to encounter a legit villain. Some old friend probably just fucking around.
-oh my god this is beyond ridiculous. Rikku gets the password and the mystery dude continues. He must work for Cid on the attraction.
-THESE “WHAT IS THE MEANING OF LIFE” RESPONSE OPTIONS THOUGH
-It’s Isaaru. He says how much eh always wanted to come here, and now working here is the closest he’ll get.
-I feel gross. And cheap. Not in a bad way – or rather, yes, in a bad way, but in a way that speaks to the high quality of this section.
-lolol Paine: “I guess ex-summoners come in all flavors.”
-The last monkey is Skye. “Skye is gazing into the distance.”
-There’s a huge hole here. It took me a second to remember what it was, but it was where Yunalesca’s true form lay, right?
---
Treasure Chamber
-A new area down the stairs
-and HOLY FUCK IT’S A BEHEMOTH
-Hm. Much like the Iron Giant, it wasn’t that bad.
-The Nashorns here can be nasty in pairs.
-Found the boss at the end, guarding a sphere.
Paine’s reply: “How about ‘kick… its… ass?’”
-Got it!! That was a toughy. It started ramping up near the end with Damocles Photon, a heavy group attack.
-The prize is just half a sphere. The most disappointed mission complete screen ever, and a perfect ending to this session.
---
Next time: probably will revisit Zanarkand in case anything changed post-mission.
-Two more monkeys here. Birch is in the mood for love. Dawne looks sleepy. A third one I don’t get to talk to yet.
-A voice. “Muwahahahaha!!” Unless this is Exdeath, no way we’re about to encounter a legit villain. Some old friend probably just fucking around.
-oh my god this is beyond ridiculous. Rikku gets the password and the mystery dude continues. He must work for Cid on the attraction.
-THESE “WHAT IS THE MEANING OF LIFE” RESPONSE OPTIONS THOUGH
-It’s Isaaru. He says how much eh always wanted to come here, and now working here is the closest he’ll get.
-I feel gross. And cheap. Not in a bad way – or rather, yes, in a bad way, but in a way that speaks to the high quality of this section.
-lolol Paine: “I guess ex-summoners come in all flavors.”
-The last monkey is Skye. “Skye is gazing into the distance.”
-There’s a huge hole here. It took me a second to remember what it was, but it was where Yunalesca’s true form lay, right?
---
Treasure Chamber
-A new area down the stairs
-and HOLY FUCK IT’S A BEHEMOTH
-Hm. Much like the Iron Giant, it wasn’t that bad.
-The Nashorns here can be nasty in pairs.
-Found the boss at the end, guarding a sphere.
Paine’s reply: “How about ‘kick… its… ass?’”
-Got it!! That was a toughy. It started ramping up near the end with Damocles Photon, a heavy group attack.
-The prize is just half a sphere. The most disappointed mission complete screen ever, and a perfect ending to this session.
---
Next time: probably will revisit Zanarkand in case anything changed post-mission.
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bluemagedanny 57p · 271 weeks ago
Getting 100% in this game is a total chore. It's a shame.
On the topic of Zanarkand, you're definitely supposed to think it's gross what's being done. Keep in mind that the ghosts of people who died here are being replayed eternally on Pyreflies. That includes recordings of Cid's son-in-law Braska! Unless those stopped when Yunalesca died or something.