Japanese role playing games aren’t what they used to be. Often times, they don’t represent the “golden era” of the genre that players hold to standard. But every once in a while, a game will rear its head above the clouds of mediocrity. By achieving this status, that game will be remembered through the ages. I am Sesuna is the standing example of this.
I am Setsuna is a love letter to old school JRPGs. The creators at Tokyo RPG Factory embodies what it was to be a turn based adventure that feels copy pasted from the 90s age of gaming. Experiences like I am Setsuna remind us all that bouts of nostalgia are not only welcomed, but the doorway into a long lost gaming category that still has much life kicking around within it.
X-Cross move from in game battle system
Bringing back the fan favorite active time battle system, games like Chrono Trigger, earlier Final Fantasy titles, and Dragon Quest are direct inspirations for I am Setsuna. The combat utilizes a time bar that fills up and initiates your turn. With moves like “X-Cross,” a team up move that requires two of the characters can do, is lifted straight out of Chrono Trigger.
While developer Tokyo RPG Factory may be the new kids on the block, they teamed up with producers and genre veterans, Square Enix. I am Setsuna is powered by the Unity engine which displays some very simple yet beautiful graphics. Sure, they are not top of the line visuals, but the art style is awe inspiring and fitting of the overall resonance.
Through my 20 plus hours of I am Setsuna, I experienced a myriad of feelings and emotions. A solemn tone permeates through its entire run-time, and while there is little humor or cheerful moments, the sad story creates a worthwhile narrative that has you invested in the journey as well as the great cast of characters.
The world seems to be trapped in a constant winter. Don’t expect to go through the trope filled locations of volcano, forests, deserts, and other go to biomes. While it may bother some, the constant snow and lack of other environments never bothered me. The persistence of the weather adds to the themes and tones of sadness.
The characters embody a mixture of classic archetype homages as well as fresh new characterizations. The main character, Endir is used as a vessel for the player to experience the story. The player can choose dialog options that don’t seem to have any bearing on how the story unfolds. Endir is a mercenary that is hired to find Setsuna, a young maiden chosen to ritually sacrifice herself to keep the monsters of the land at bay. This story set up is what begins the heart tugging narrative as Ednir struggles with his mission to kill the girl or allow her to fulfill the ritual.
The 6 Characters from left to right: Aeterna, Julienne, Endir, Setsuna, Nidr, and Kir.
Nidr is another standout character among the cast of six. He is a veteran soldier who is familiar with the pilgrimage that young girls like Setsuna have to embark on. Nidr is a larger seasoned combatant who carries a enormous sword and his inside knowledge of the journey. Sound like a particular fan favorite from Final Fantasy X? Nidir acts as a source of information as he gives many of world building speeches that rounds out the world and solidifies himself as an unforgettable character. Nidr easily has one of the best character arcs in the game.
The most memorable aspect about this game is certainly the music. The tunes are all piano based and composed by Tomoki Miyoshi. He got his break from working on the music Soul Caliber V at the tender age of sixteen. Tomoki Miyoshi is also known for movie and anime soundtracks as well. However, this is his best work. The music is beautiful, sometimes even hauntingly so. I find myself often leaving the game running just so I can do chores around the house and has become easily one of my favorite video game soundtracks of all time.
This is a must play for any JRPG fan, especially those who long for that golden era of the genre. We don’t get console experiences like this anymore. Sure, there are a plethora of great turn based experiences on handheld systems like Sony’s Vita and Nintendo’s 3DS. However, we just don’t get games that feel as good as this game does. From the great mechanics, to the amazing music, to the memorable characters, and the strong story. This is a perfectly packaged JRPG experience. If you long for the days of Chrono Trigger and Secret of Mana, look no further than I am Setsuna.
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It is not often that I am stricken with an overwhelming feeling of nostalgia. I love new things, new content, and new ideas; so while nostalgia does not elude me completely, it is hardly ever the feeling I am aiming for when digesting media. When something like Stranger Things comes out, it not only reminds me that the reminiscing on the past is great, but it is also a gateway into why we love the things we love.
Stranger Things is the orgy love child of old movies like ET, Goonies, and Monster Squad, with genetic hints of great directors like Spielberg and John Carpenter. While Stranger Things dances on the line of homage and Netflix original, it does so with extreme grace. And though it is going to be difficult to navigate around spoilers, as the premise of the show revolves around one giant mystery, I will not spoil this increasingly interesting series. The less you know about Stranger Things going in, the better for this fresh take on the thriller genre. If you were an 80s kid, strap on your denim jacket, your mop top, and your Duran Duran T-Shirt and prepare to get weird because as the title suggests, Stranger Things is a delightfully bizarre experience.
The show is elevated by an amazing cast of both familiar faces and new young performances. Winona Ryder and David Harbour carry the torch for the adult arcs while newcomers Finn Wolfhard (as Mike Wheeler), Millie Bobby Brown (as Eleven), Gaten Matarazzo (Dustin Henderson), and Caleb McLaughlin (Lucas Sinclair) all carry the very intriguing kid’s arc. Though the adult and child arcs are different in terms of characters on screen, everyone is working towards the same solution – finding the answers to the overarching mystery.
While the adults do great with their conflict, the real heart of the show comes from the child actors who feel handpicked by Spielberg himself. Finn Wolfhand really takes the role as the star of the show and plays well off of Millie, who is sure to have oodles of work here in the future. This dynamic duo has a bright career ahead of them as working actors.
Though shorter than most series at only eight episodes long, the viewer gets a satisfying ending – despite the elements of cliffhangers and eventual continuations. The creators of this show, the Duffer Brothers, have the elements of being the next Russo Brothers (Captain America: Winter Soldier, Civil War), and I have a feeling we will be hearing plenty more from this team.
I can’t help but have a rant about how this show tugs on the strings of nostalgia throughout its entire run time. The first episode opens up with the kids playing a session of Dungeons & Dragons and manages to recapture what it was for me to be a kid at that time. Drinking soda, riffing each other, and calling each other names while trying to figure out exactly what the Dungeon Master wants us to do. That opening scene has a flood of childhood memories flow into me that have a very homey feeling, just like movies like Super 8 did that tackle a similar story/era.
The music is fully synthed and harkens back to classic 80s horror and slasher flicks, and the way the sounds hits the ears is pleasing in every sense of the word. Hats completely off to “Survive,” a band from Austin Texas, who did the opening theme for this show, which is perfect in setting up the tone. The style of music chosen coupled with the aesthetic of the sets brings to life a lived in 1980’s style world that feels as real now as it did back then. The billboards, the store fronts, the wall posters, the clothing, and the lingo all work in tandem together to bring this era back to us in ways that will have our childhood racing to the forefront of our frontal lobes.
Background aspects can only add more realness to the story, and this is where Stranger Things really shines. In terms of plot, the mystery is solid, and has you guessing from start to finish. By the show’s finale, the viewer ends up in completely new spaces where the laws of our universe no longer apply to the ones previously created in this show. The journey is as amazing as the destination itself.
Stranger Things is a hard recommend for the consumers who love weird and outlandish mysteries. This Netflix Original is the embodiment of the 80s, and a reminder that this generation was the thriller genre’s golden era. Netflix has been on a roll over the last two years and Stranger Things continues that trend. We don’t get shows this special as often as I would like, so it’s an obligation to check them out whenever they manifest themselves into our dimension of consumerism.
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With the holidays arriving, that means it’s getting time for another year to come to a close, and if you’re human you’re probably doing a little reflecting this week. You might also be reflecting if you’re a robot, and that’s part of your programming for some reason. Either way, you might be feeling a little twinge of nostalgia, and for that, you have us, and our list of Twenty Nostalgic Holiday films.
Sub-Cultured’s First Annual Official Nostalgic Holiday Films List (For Nostalgia)
Holiday Film Favorites we can (Mostly) Agree On
What’s Christmas without a little horrifying imagery?
Babes in Toyland
We tried watching the Drew Barrymore/Keanu Reeves version of this film and the internet rebelled by shutting down our Twitch account temporarily. We will take that as a sign to stick with the real classics.
Rudolph the Red-nosed Reindeer
Doesn’t the abominable snowman get kicked in the *ahem* snowballs in this movie? Maybe don’t kick an abominable snowman in the snowballs. I feel like that’s the moral of the story here.
A Christmas Story
TBS feels that we should all marathon this movie for twenty four hours at least once a year. TBS is probably on to something.
Disney Fantasy on Ice
Disney used to put together skating specials every year and this one had a story line and an actual red-headed Ariel and it’s basically ’90s perfection so if you can find it in full, let me know.
The Santa Clause
Even though Tim Allen is mostly garbage now, this movie still holds up well enough to be presented without comment and without justification. It’s that good.
Beauty and the Beast, The Enchanted Christmas
Disney sequels are Much like Fern Gully, this movie comes equipped with a villain voiced by Tim Curry, and an important lesson about the environment. Or about your family at holiday time. Either way, it’s underrated.
Go
Harken back to college when I first watched it, and reminds me of other old-school holiday gatherings where it was viewed as a less-than-wholesome Christmas film. And
Home Alone makes me cry when his groceries break his bags or or when he looks at his family photos.
Sam’s (Semi-specific) Classics
1. It’s a Wonderful Life
2. Love Actually
3. Miracle on 42nd St. (1947) This version is important mostly because I still have a huge crush on Maureen O’Hara.
4. Christmas Carol with John Barrymore, and it’s important that it’s the one with John Barrymore, so that it’s not this Jim Carrey bullshit.
5. Die Hard, the one with Bruce Willis. You know the one.
This image approved by Sam
Colby’s Begrudging Holiday Spirit Which Conflicts with Sam’s Negativity.
Jim Carrey’s The Grinch Who Stole Christmas. My neice watched that everyday for months, then we had to have it on 24/7 while she was here for the holidays.
Max’s Almost Classics
Auntie Mame, and my usual: the Peanuts special. But not the one everyone always thinks of. The other one– It’s Christmastime Again, Charlie Brown.
Mia’s Easy to Find but Hard to Obtain Choice
Mia picked Mickey’s Once Upon a Christmas, pointing out that it’s pretty easy to find online for purchase but kind of hard to find if you want to watch it. Also you have to know exactly what you’re looking for otherwise you’ll end up with a bunch of Disney movies that aren’t this one. Those ones are lame and we’re ignoring them.
Quality Classics
Let us know what movies transport you back through time during the holidays–the weirder the better!
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Colorado Anime Fest Wrap Up
Viz Media Announces Free Streaming Anime!
Sub Cultured is Headed to Colorado Anime Fest!
New Star Wars Trilogy in the Works
A Halloween or two ago we gave some ideas on how to throw together the perfect Buffy costume, which now feels a bit lonely. Now you can dress to match the chosen slayer with your best pal as Dark Willow with clothes you may have in your closet.
Ok first things first, you’re going to need a lot of black clothing. There’s several ways of going about getting that evil witch-bitch look.
In some scenes it looks like she’s wearing a dark grey jacket with a plain black tank like this for $65.00
Or this for $47.69
However this look can also be accomplished for less cash
Like this textured blouse for $ 36.00
Or this high collared blouse for $22.00
Now the pants that Willow sported…well they’re just black unspecials so go ahead and wear any pair that you have or buy a pair that you feel comfortable in.
For the shoes, it looks as if she’s wearing the devil’s personal best clunky shoes. Here are a few ideas:
Some world-ending kickass boots like these for $35.00
Or if heels are more your thing, check out these towering terrors for $25.00
Now for the makeup. To get that dead gal look, use a matte foundation or powder a shade or two darker than your natural color and then pick yourself up some dark blue liquid eyeliner for those…I’m not sure. Dark spooky magic veins?
I like this one from sephora for $5.00 because it’s waterproof
Finally complete the powerful look with this electric nail polish and a black wig
Planning to release your inner witch and slayer this Halloween? Doing some other DIY awesome? Want to check out the rest of our BOO-It-Yourself Halloween Costumes and Decor? Show me all your spook-tacular creations on Twitter @SubCultured or come party like its 1599 in our Discord server! When you’re done, wind down with Ten Family Friendly Halloween Movies to help lull the kiddos into a candy coma! Afterward, you can set the mood with Five Albums to Flesh Out Your Halloween Playlist and huddle under the covers with Netflix and Chilling – Halloween Movie Edition.
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