The Queue: Surprise Gallica!

Cory asked me to tackle the queue today so here I am! Since I wanted to spend my last Queue championing Ila I didn’t have a chance to discuss Metaphor: ReFantazio like I originally wanted to. So now I am!

In short, I really enjoyed the game. While “fantasy Persona” could’ve been a simple skin job of the popular franchise they really made an effort to build Metaphor as a new IP and it shows. The hybrid combat system is fluid, the Archetype system was involved and clever (but not overwhelming) and the story while odd on the surface was still compelling and ended in a satisfying manner. It wasn’t a perfect game, mind you — a couple sections felt cut or rushed — but I still feel like Atlus knocked it out of the park and hopefully we’ll get future titles set in the same timeframe.

Plus Gallica was super adorbs.

So while I figure out what game to play next, let’s answer some questions Cory-style!

I would expect us to get Season 1 currency since the items are — barring bugs — from Season 1. I would also expect you to want to spend it immediately as they’ll likely become worthless the following week.

I have not found them anywhere yet, and looking through the NPCs on Wowhead doesn’t show anyone with similar names. Oddly I’m surprised there isn’t a Top Gear allusion at all with the D.R.I.V.E. system — not even the Stig!

Anything can be a light fixture if it glows. Even a Meteor Carrot!

There is not, unfortunately. Honestly I’m not sure why the Assembly has a representative in Dornogal. It could be a mistaken remnant from the beta, when all the quartermasters were present in the main hall. Or it could just be a tie-in to the end of the Ringing Deeps quest chain which got all the Khaz Algar Earthen working together again.

The music, easily. I’m a big fan of jazz (have y’all seen Whiplash — stellar film) so getting it into the WoW franchise is sweet. Works perfect for the atmosphere too.

The individual cartel rewards are pretty even, but Steamwheedle definitely wins due to the Everlasting Noggenfogger Elixir. Blackwater is probably second because its mount is not a flying one but is otherwise pretty cool (if you don’t have the Angler’s Raft the Blackwater have their own version).

I think we’re going to the Worldcore at the bottom of the Coreway. The end of the Archives weekly quests seems to strongly indicate that Azeroth was imprisoned in the Worldcore “for her protection” but it is not a desirable state for her — hence the Thraegar who tried to break her out. I suspect Xal’atath wants to use the Dark Heart to voidify Azeroth so we’ll be heading down there to stop her while also freeing Azeroth.

Then again, this could be saved for the end of The Last Titan since we’re in a trilogy saga. It would just seem weird to me if we returned to the Coreway after we’ve departed Khaz Algar. We’ll find out Soon!™

March of the Sinister Ducks!

I’m against them. It’s really about immersion: if the Paragons of the Klaxxi are stronger than Garrosh why haven’t they defeated him themselves and taken Y’shaarj’s heart back? Would Nefarian be a worthy opponent if he would’ve been outmatched by Chromaggus or Maloriak? And while you could argue gameplay power != story power it would still feel odd for the final fight to be simply performative.

That’s why I like the new Story Mode fight — the final boss can be a cinematic fight for the quest chain but as they’re not fought as part of an escalating series of encounters it’s easy to imagine that the other bosses along the way would’ve been easier; they’re just not important to the story.

As I wrote in this morning’s Discussion topic, I’m really digging the vibe of the place. I could do without all the junk, and it would be nice if city planners had done a better job with the roadways, but I’m pleasantly surprised by how much I’m enjoying it. Although …

Oddly enough with my history, I’m not. However, I attribute that to the fact that I crash so often that I’m not D.R.I.V.E.ing long enough for the motion sickness to set in.

Roxxii pointed out that Wowhead has an article on mitigating motion sickness in Undermine, and I highly recommend giving it a try. Hopefully the dev team will put in additional fixes soon.

Yes!

That’s all the time and space available for your Monday queue. Be sure to ask Anna plenty of questions for tomorrow; I bet she added a bunch of new games to her wishlist after Next Fest so you can ask about that! Have a great day y’all!