Nendoroid Mercy (Or Why I Want These “Toys”)
I’m a guy in his early 30’s who has collected his fair share of figures. I mean, just look at this…
This is is nothing compared to some people…
It had come to my attention that a certain toy company was making a line of Overwatch characters and one of them, Mercy, is among the line-up.
I am not a psychologist, but from what I’ve read (Carl Jung’s “Man And His Symbols”, and “Jung on the Active Imagination”) did I start realizing why I collect these things many people would regard as a waste of money.
The male characters have something I see in myself and utilize them in their own success. For example: Raphael is volatile, and Batman is grumpy and/or stoic. Star-Lord’s active ego/confidence is one that mine can aspire to.
Then there’s the females. These are anima who have characteristics I do not. Lara Croft is adventurous and conquers fear (especially of heights), and Mercy has a benevolence that’s literally painted angelic.
I could go on with all the figures I own, but you get the point.
I believe we collect these things because we’re scribes of these ideals that these characters represent. You can look at a person’s bookshelf or movie collection and get an idea of who they are.
The funny thing is I’ve almost stopped collecting these because I feel like I’ve “made my point” to myself. At first I thought it was because it didn’t make me happy anymore, but it never really did. Perhaps I was on a search of who I am. It’s easier to buy something that’s already made into something you like than it is to create something that represents you.
Now I’m using my strength to create things, and music will do for now, but I’m looking forward to other things that are already taking shape in my mind and on paper…
…but first I need-nay-WANT that Mercy figure.
-G
Thought: Vault-Boy and Real Life
I’m a big fan of the Fallout video-game franchise. I got a section of a shelf at home dedicated to bobble-heads, Pop Figures, collector editions, plushes and what not.
The main image of Fallout is the character Vault-Boy. The mascot of an insane corporation called Vault-Tec. His ominous smile plastered all over the post-nuclear wasteland of Fallout’s fictional universe.
Today I get an email from the Bethesda Store trying to sell me a t-shirt that says “War Never Changes” and with a graphic of an average man-looking Vault Boy seeing a nuclear bomb going off.
With potential war looming against North Korea and the U.S., I find this very fucking ironic. I can’t buy this shit anymore.
Miitopia: One of my favourite RPGs EVER!
I can’t get enough of Miitopia. It’s addicting as hell, adorable, and more in depth than it lets on. It’s probably the most fun RPG I have ever played, and I’ve played a good chunk of them.
A “Mii” is a Nintendo avatar originally made on the Wii, and 3DS systems as a fun mini-game character that you’d fashion as yourself or anyone else. Miitopia takes your Mii characters and casts them as characters of your choosing. The main character, their party members (6 so far that I’ve customized), The Dark Lord, mysterious wizard, a genie, and MORE all get the chance to be modeled to be played by whoever you want them to look like.
I also must mention the townsfolk in this game. It’s been surprise meets hilarity when I see some of these characters and wonder who in the development team chose them. The townsfolk, and other fifth business’ faces look and are blatantly named after such people as Bob Ross, Lamb Chop (from Lamb Chop’s Play-Along, a deep cut in my childhood tv-watching), Bob (the Minion), Batman, Kratos (God Of War), familiar Nintendo characters, and many others! I’m not sure if it’s random or what, but it’s been a delight to see who shows up next.
One of my waifus, Lara (warrior class) on a break.
I cast my Mii as a “Pop Star”, which in traditional pen/paper RPGs is the “Bard” class. My lady, cast as a “Chef”. And my waifus Jack, Lara, Mercy, Piper, and Chun, cast as “Thief”, “Warrior”, “Sorcerer”, “Cat”, and “Imp” respectively. Each job class has a myriad of abilities appropriate to their name-sake, with a total of 12 jobs (and several personality types to choose) available as the story progresses.
The world map is classic Super Mario Bros. 3/Mario World style, and you select a level that brings you to stretch of land your characters traverse on their own and certain fun and cute events happen, a treasure chest appears, or (of course) battles. Battles are sort of brain-dead in the sense that you’re merely just watching the battle happen of its own volition, with no intervention EXCEPT when its your main character’s turn. You can choose to attack or cast a spell/ability (depending on your chosen class). The rest of your party acts automatically. Thankfully your teammates aren’t stupid and know when to heal themselves and/or each other when its appropriate.
The Inn is a mini-game of itself that brings your party’s struggle to life.
Piper and Mercy bond by gossiping about my main character.
My main character, and my Mii modeled after my lady make-up after a personal conflict.
Relationships are developed mildly during battle, but are really grown in The Inn after each stage. This is done by placing party members in rooms together, and these are often met with cute cut-scenes of them chatting or doing other things like cleaning, or exchanging gifts. The Inn also allows you to feed your party members with food you’ve collected from battles to boost stats, and each character will learn what their favourite or hated foods are. You can also purchase new weapons and armor if you see that a party member requests it. There’s also two mini-games that are played using game-tickets (found in treasure chests): Rock/Paper/Scissors, and a spin-the-wheel type. The former is a chance to win more gold, while the latter is a random chance at more XP, armor/weapon, MP candy, or tickets to take two party members to a carnival-type cruise that develops their relationship immensely.
Relationships grow on a level system as well. Each level unlocks an ability used during battle such as teaming up for an attack, damage boosting, and helping your character dodge.
The only problem I’ve had with this game was the obsessive need to go back to each stage to get through each path I didn’t choose initially to complete and get every treasure box.
I have to say that this has been so much fun to play, and will remain in my small 3DS library forever (7 games right now). I highly recommend this to anyone who appreciates a fun Nintendo game, and can deviate from the serious lore-heavy RPG.
Score? Uhh…9/10? Yeah lets do it…
-G
P.S. Want to add ol’ Radutron to your party? (WARNING: He’s uses swear words after defeating enemies. I made that happen by editing my characters settings. The developers did not code that in!) Here’s my QR code:
Thought: Big Video Game Retail
I’ve seen quite a few of former employee videos about their testament to working in big video game retail. All crappy experiences. I can only imagine what its like to play video games (watch movies, read books, etc.) for a significant amount of time, learn what its like to do the right thing through those mediums, and have to put up with things that irk moral fiber at your job surrounded by your favourite stories that teach you otherwise.
Rockin’ to “Lara”
Wanna see me playing guitar? SURE YOU DO!
Rockin’ to my track “Lara” (inspired by Lara Croft from Tomb Raider), with my sweet Kassandra.
Listen to track on Soundcloud, and Bandcamp.
Talking about “Mercy” from WAIFU
I talk about getting some hate online as a Mercy-player in Overwatch. And of course the rhyme and reason why Mercy is in WAIFU. This concludes the last of the WAIFU series edition of the Stuttering and Stammering podcast.
Listen to WAIFU on Soundcloud, and Bandcamp!
