God Given Right

On By kyndarisLeave a comment

Since the beginning of time, there have been people that have shown a particular charisma that have often thrust them into leadership roles. Whether that be for a small village or tribe to vast empires that span almost the entire globe. People are drawn to them, leaning on them for strength, support and direction. In many cultures, the leaders of their societies are chosen not by the people but by God – marked in some special way because of their birth or by their accomplishments on the battlefield. Sometimes, however, there are those that thirst for that kind of role. Their ambitions leading them to do whatever it might be for a taste of that kind power.

In The DioField Chronicle, the game of thrones is alive and kicking. And in order to ascend to the top, the multiple factions that make up the world will strive to do all that they can to grasp what they think is theirs.

The opening cutscene of The DioField Chronicle is a blink and you’ll miss it introduction to our two main characters: Andrias Rhondarson and Fredret Lester. Friends to the fourth born prince, Levantia Shaytham, they were there on the fateful day when the boy was slain by assassins, barely escaping with their lives.

As the game opens up on the first mission, years have passed. Now young men, the two, along with their friend, Izelair Wigan, save a government official and soon join a mercenary group called the Blue Foxes and run by Duke Hende, a member of the Lords Council. From such humble beginnings, the game spirals out into a 20 hour long politicking romp that explores what it means to be a good ruler, the dichotomy between democracy and monarchies as well as war.

But while the game is focused solely on the story it tells about the rise of the Blue Foxes, with the revelation that it was all a plot for revenge against one imperial general, Zevatian Schugel, there is also a lot of world lore that gets dropped. Lore that would be very interesting to explore in possible future entries. After all, you can’t just drop a character that had the power of necromancy at her fingertips, not even show her body after being stabbed and expect someone such as myself not to pull that thread.

Then, of course, there’s there’s the whole political structure of the Trovelt-Schoevian Empire (we get information about how a bandit took hold of the technology of the nation of Trovelt and became the leader of a sprawling empire. How was this not further explored?), the old giants of the past that many believe to be the source of Jade, and the secrets of the magical system contained within that precious mineral. All that and, well, the somewhat cliffhanger ending that left the fate of the Kingdom of Alletain up in the air. 

But honestly, the more I think on it, the more the game mechanics hinted at Andrias’s true identity. I mean, why was he the only character that got to wield daggers and act like an assassin on the battlefield with special abilities like Shadowstep?

No other character had access to those abilities!

Still, even though the story was quite contained, I couldn’t help but wish to dig deeper into the psyches of numerous characters. Though they were touched upon, the side characters were mostly there to support our main cast. From Iscarion and his noble ideas of the people ruling themselves. Waltaquin and her desire to see the world burn. I mean, where did allt hat come from? Then, of course, there are the secrets of the Gravell Church that were lightly touched upon before the game shifts focus back to other threats – namely the Alliance and the Empire.

So many tantalising threads that could have been explored deeper but were only given a cursory glance!

My frustration, I hope, is palpable to you through the screen, dear readers.

From a graphics perspective, I liked what the studio did with what felt like handcrafted dioramas for the battlefields. Quite a bit of thought were given to the maps and so it was no burden to revisit them for side missions. The cahracter models themselves, while looking like carefully crafted clay or plasticine models were emotive enough for cutscenes although the hair looked somewhat fake. True, it limited customisation in the game but there wasn’t much need to change much of the base character models or their equipment sans different coloured weapons. And given that the game was for multiple consoles, including the Switch, it made a sort of sense not to use overly complex rendering mechanics for the game.

That aside, what I loved most was the fact that they looked like tabletop miniatures when the game zoomed out on the battlefield. Moonbreaker what? There’s a new tabletop-esque game to enjoy and its game is The DioField Chronicle.

As for the gameplay and combat mechanics, the most apt description I’ve seen floating around is that it’s basically Baldur’s Gate. Though it touts itself as a strategy role-playing game, the mechanics feel ripped from the likes of BioWare’s old games. Especially with the fact that the game pauses when you select skills or direct your characters movement from one side of the map to the other.

Fire Emblem, this is not.

And while I did initially struggle on higher levels with meeting the time limits to unlock bonus goodies for my mercenary group, I soon realised that a levelled up Ignition – granting rapidity and might – was far superior to any other strategy in stomping thorugh the battles with grunts and bosses alike. After all, in this game, it’s all about the damage output in any given second. The ‘DPS’ if you would.

Who needs a tank if everything dies in a second or two? And who needs a healer when you’ve basically killed everything before they can hurt you?

The DioField Chronicle is not a perfect game. But it’s a solid one. Especially for those that like political intrigue mixed with their high fantasy and want a mix of strategy on the side. The characters can be a mix bag but there were several that I found both relatable and likable. While Andrias initially confused me as the choice of a main protagonist – what with his playing the role of a spy and assassin and acting like a side character rather than the main (that role going decidedly to Fredret) – I slowly warmed to him. That he was the kind of the mastermind behind everything was a nice twist.

And that too is important to consider. Because while The DioField Chronicle does tell an intriguing tale of politics, it doesn’t reveal its hand too early. Instead, it provides small breadcrumbs that feeds one’s suspicions. Especially when Fredret revealed his ‘true identity’ two-thirds into the game.

The Lost Ticket Pickle

On By kyndarisLeave a comment

Down in the bottom of the shopping centre, having enjoyed a day where I had demonstrated how terrible I was at bowling, I patted myself down again and again. The parking ticket. Where was it? I remembered putting it in the back pocket of my jeans. Where it ought to have been safely nestled until I needed it to exit the shopping complex. But the ticket, to my chagrin, stubbornly refused to appear.

We were trapped – Pickles and I. Unless, of course, I paid the penalty for a lost ticket.

Where, oh where, was the parking ticket?

I patted myself down again, hoping it would miraculously appear.

How had it come to this? Where had it all gone wrong?

The only way to solve this mystery, dear reader, is for me to take you back in time. To the beginning of this not-quite third date with Pickles.

Despite relegating our relationship to the friend zone, Pickles arranged for a ‘catch-up’ where he would cook a meal. Apparently, it was a thing he did with his friends. And now that it was clear a long term romance would not eventuate, perhaps he thought it best to tempt me over with a fresh home cooked meal. After a few back and forth exchanges, however, the home cooked meal was shelved as a tenuous ‘maybe’ because pulling friends last minute for a board game day became nigh impossible. Instead, like the grown-ups we are, we settled on going to the nearby shopping centre as it had a Time Zone and access to some bowling action.

The day dawned early for me. Though we had arranged to meet around 11, I needed to give my car a good wash. So, rather than head immediately to our rendezvous, I went to the local carwash in my suburb and paid through the nose for a nice clean car. It took longer than I anticipated to get the car clean because it was utterly filthy. Thankfully, Pickles was struggling to get out of bed and my tardiness was a boon in disguise.

After getting my car properly washed and cared for (after having parked it beneath trees for an entire year, and not because I wanted to impress a boy), I made my way over to a park outside his apartment. Pickles emerged soon after I’d arrived. He hopped into my red Honda (a very typical model and colour for most Asians) and we headed to the shopping centre.

Having just woken up, Pickles had not managed to enjoy a proper breakfast. So, rather than show off how terrible we both were at throwing heavy balls at ten pins at the end of a very narrow straight, we decided to get something to eat first. After much hewing and hawing, Pickles finally picked a schnitzel place.

Note to self: every single person that is ‘fine’ with eating anything generally translates to a person who is incredibly indecisive about food. And it also doesn’t always mean they’re fine with anything. For, as mentioned in a previous post, Pickles didn’t really eat pork – having been raised Jewish. Nor did he eat much in terms of seafood. And he didn’t much like avocado either.

Following the light brunch we enjoyed, we began the not-quite date in earnest. I needed to show off spectacularly bad bowling skills after all!

At the time, though, I thought all the hours I had poured into the Yakuza games would reward me with an excellent result on the board. After all, it was all about picking a direction, adjusting the spin and power of the throw, and bam! Strike! That could all be easily translated to real life…right?

Wrong!

The first two frames had every bowling ball tumbling down into the gutter. All ten pins remained standing – mocking me with their upright defiance.

I finally put a number on the board during my third frame. No strike, of course, but I was glad that I wouldn’t be guttering EVERY ball that I tossed down. And if I rubbed that a little in Pickles’s face, who’s to say?

Of course, I immediately paid for my hubris by missing the pins again in the next frame.

So went our single game.

Should I have capitulated and asked for rails? Or maybe used the child ramp for the ball?

Looking back, I do regret not taking advantage of what I could to show how completely awesome I am. After all, a victory is a victory, right? No matter how I got there.

Suffice it to say, after ten frames, Pickles had won the game by a mile. As for me, I suppose I was satisfied that I managed to put something on the scoreboard. Nothing to write home about, sure, but at least I didn’t gutter every single attempt. Hurrah for small victories!

With bowling in the rear view mirror, we turned our attention to exploring Timezone. Although it felt like arcades had seemingly vanished during the late 200s and early 2010s, recent years had seen a sudden resurgence. Impressively, there were also quite a few machines brought over from Japan with a strong focus on music and rhythm skill-based gameplay. Watching some of the people taking them on was enthralling. The way they would move around, hands dancing across the interface…

Finally, after dragging ourselves away from the mesmerising displays of skill, we tried our hand at a game of pool. Where I thoroughly thrashed Pickles despite playing at a handicap. I say ‘thoroughly’ but I’m also abysmal at pool due to my inability to calculate the perfect angles that is needed for trick shots and direct the cue ball where I want it to go.

Still, after flailing for a while, I managed to wrangle the upper hand ands cored a comfortable victory.

Then it was back to roaming Timezone for another distraction. Thankfully, there was Taiko no Tatsujin – arcade version – available for us to pour in the last remaining dollars we had put into the Timezone card. For $3, the two of us got one go each at a song. Pickles, of course, did Megalovania while I jammed out to the opening of Demon Slayer (which is a little known anime that no-one talks much about). 

After our ungodly display of talent at the taiko drums, we headed up to the Good Game situated at the top of the shopping centre. There, Pickles and I debated the very controversial topic of which one was better: Pathfinder 1st edition or Dungeons and Dragons 5e.

Clearly, I won that argument.

Once we had our fill of wandering through the board game store, we picked up some ice cream and soon found ourselves trapped in the carpark without a way out. The ticket, of course, had been lost somewhere between us having lunch and us returning to my car.

Where, oh where, had it gone?

Being the chivalrous lad that he was, Pickles offered to grab a ticket from the entrance, but I knew that the lost ticket was my cross to bear. After all, it had been my responsibility to look after it. That it had fallen from my pocket – well, you could see why I felt guilty.

Perhaps the lost ticket was a reflection of where our non-existent relationship would end. Certainly, during this third date/ catch-up, it felt better that we remain as friends rather than delve into anything further. The vibe I got during this encounter was that our personalities kind of clashed. Or maybe was just a bit too similar for it to lead anywhere good. 

Probably the high level of neuroticism all around.

When I stopped by his apartment for some Beat Saber and to test out the game he had made for a uni assignment, it only cemented that anything further between us would be…awkward. He liked to throw in innuendos and I would attempt to blithely ignore them…

Innuendos, by the way, dear reader, are not the way to my heart. And throwing out the odd endearment won’t move me much either.

Still, if there was one thing that could be said of the catch-up with Pickles, it was that it helped me figure out where he and I stood.

Five feet apart. At least.

The Ugly Duckling

On By kyndarisLeave a comment

I met bachelor number 4 at Broadway shopping centre at a small cafe. After getting dropped off by my mother at the train station later than I’d hoped, I was a few minutes late rocking up to the venue. That didn’t stop Prep Boy from sitting down and ordering a coffee and some banana bread for a late breakfast as he waited. A man who knew what he wanted and wasn’t going to allow propriety to get in his way. At least, that’s the assumption I got as he tried to hug me as if we were old friends when I finally arrived.

I quickly disabused him of that notion. The old friends bit. As I’ve mentioned before, I”m not a hugger. Physical touch is basically anathema to my very being. Keeping people at arm’s length means they are less likely to hurt me.

On that note, maybe I really ought to pick up Aikido or other forms of martial arts as a form of self-defence. I mean, yes, I did learn a bit of karate when I was younger but I’d dropped it when I was studying for the selective high school exams.

So, like the awkward Asians that we were (well, more me than him), I settled for a handshake. The best of both worlds, and something that was lacking during the heyday of COVID-19. Although, now that I think on it, I kind of miss doing friendly elbow bumps. So, if you want to boop funny bones, let me know!

After I’d ordered my own drink, hot chocolate (always!), we got to talking.

I learned he had a sister and a number of brothers, that he attended a fancy private school in his youth and that he had just enjoyed a work Halloween event where he went dressed as one of the faceless guards of Squid Game. Except, he didn’t have the proper PlayStation mask so, instead, he opted for one fashioned in the like of a kitsune.

And just like that, he dominated most of the conversation. Not that I minded, dear reader. It allowed me to sit back and listen and learn (and possibly judge). On the downside, he did try to explain where Waverley was (to which I replied most sarcastically) and seemed unsure if I knew the Overwatch characters. Mate, I might not have played the game because it’s an online team shooter but I’d have to be living under a rock not to who who Mercy, D.Va and the rest of all your mains were. 

After all, I live and breathe video game popular culture.

To my detriment.

But as they say: Heroes never die!

Besides, if I didn’t know something, I’d probably ask for clarification or just Google. I mean, I had a friend that never provided context to their wild ramblings. And if I could deduce what they were talking about from scraps of information, I’m sure I wouldn’t be struggling to understand your nostalgia for the ‘good ol’ uni days of 2016.’

That, perhaps more than anything else was an indication that a relationship between the two of us wouldn’t work.

Maybe I’m too cynical and jaded, but the sense I got was that Prep Boy wasn’t all that mature and that it would be an ongoing issue with regards to compatibility. In his desire to impress, he only proved to be somewhat belittling and condescending with his assumptions. In the words of Shania Twain: that don’t impress me much.

The other issue that I could not get past, and which I regaled to all my friends when pestered about my love life, were his teeth. Yellow and covered with plaque, the top row so crooked that it would scare even the hardiest criminals to get back on the straight and narrow.

Can you imagine kissing a mouth like that? No, thank you! 

Worse, he was a former Prep Boy. Private school born and bred, mingling with the rich elites of east coast Sydney. You would think someone with those means would have taken more care of his appearance. Or, at the very least, his dental health.

Maybe I was too quick to judge. But my overall experience conversing with Prep Boy was unfavourable at best. It was the first time after downloading Hinge that I knew in my bones that this person was not for me. There would be no humouring them with a second date.

Almost immediately after we had left the small cafe, as he was catching up with his family afterwards at 12 in Burwood, I hid our chat and there’s been no contact since!

Certainly, our text exchanges hadn’t been the most scintillating of conversations.

So, progress? Or have I gone two steps back?

I don’t know. Relationships are hard! And yes, I know it’s my fault for not trying to seek a partner in my younger years but I wasn’t interested.

Heck, even now, I don’t know how interested I am in finding a life companion beyond a body pillow.

But at least I’m trying?

For years, I’ve lived inured in my own fantasy worlds, never much venturing past my front door because I saw little need to. However, I’m learning, as I did back in 2016, that putting oneself out of one’s comfort zone can be truly eye-opening in learning who I am and what I want from life.

It’s easy to live a life without change but you don’t grow from those experiences. And perhaps, after spending a year somewhat working on myself, I can spread my wings and reveal to the world the swan that I actually am.

Still, is it weird that during this trek out to the city, I was more excited about learning that Fortress was coming to Sydney rather than the meet-up itself?

Anyways, Happy New Year! Let’s hope 2023 will be as interesting as year as 2022 – at least on  a personal scale. I don’t think I like all the shit that’s been happening around the world and I honestly fear where it might be heading to next.

And yet, despite all the misery and the bleakness of an unknown future, here I am just trying to find some love.

The Sin of Pride

On By kyndarisLeave a comment

Looking back over the year that was, so many things have happened. Honestly, it’s hard to believe that all of this was crammed into just 365 days. And yet it did. Life in 2022 has been hard. Especially as people have stepped out from their caves and have attempted to return to a life of normalcy. True, COVID-19 has still rampaged and caused chaos but as the year has gone on, it’s become something that’s accepted by most able-bodied people in the community. And what of those individuals that are immunocompromised or have disabilities? Well, they’re simply part of the price that most people pay as we transition back to the ‘new normal.’ 

For many, if it’s out of sight, it’s out of mind.

But I’m getting ahead of myself.

The start of 2022 was a fraught time for many of us in Australia. Soaring cases of Omicron and a lack of rapid antigen tests (RAT) meant that many holidays were cut short because of testing requirements to visit family in other states. On a personal scale, it had me panicked for attending a friend’s wedding reception early on in the year. For, if I did not have a RAT, how would I be able to test and make sure I would be hale and hearty?

But it wasn’t all fun and games. During the Australian Open, Novak Djokovic endured a trial by fire in trying to come to compete. His visa was cancelled, then reinstated after a challenge with the Federal Circuit Court, and then cancelled again by the then immigration minister.

Prince Andrew was stripped of his military titles and royal patronage because of all his shitty behaviour. And in more recent news, he’s been formally banned from Buckingham Palace.

Not long afterwards, there was a huge eruption in Tonga that led to the underwater communication cables being destroyed. This meant that people could receive no news about their loved ones as the islands were battered by tsunamis as a result of the volcano saying that enough was enough. The Philippines also saw a volcanic eruption.

In the world of gaming, Microsoft bought out Activision Blizzard. However, even now, that sale has yet to go through with the FTC suing Microsoft to block its acquisition. How it will all shake out is anyone’s guess but for for this loyal fan of the PlayStation, I certainly hope it doesn’t come to fruition. Even if it does, Activision Blizzard has so tarnished their reputation, it might be a good long while yet before peace can be restored in what was once a much celebrated company.

Back out in the world, Burkina Faso’s military took over the country. And then, of course, before spring had hit the northern hemisphere (and autumn down here in the south), Russia invaded Ukraine. Why? Well, supposedly to save it from fascists. But as anyone who is keeping up with the news cycle knows, the narrative continues to change because the resistance that Ukraine has put up has stemmed, and occasionally reversed, the red tide. 

In Australia, many were shocked by the sudden death of famous cricketer: Shane Warne. Easter brought with it severe flooding in NSW and QLD, with fears of Japanese encephalitis spreading in the southern states. The rains, of course, returned in the spring of 2022 and even now there are parts of Northern NSW that are still recovering. 

Beyond that, there was Ash Barty’s retirement from tennis! After reaching World Number 1, the Australian tennis player stepped down and back from the eyes of the world. 

Elsewhere, Sri Lanka was undergoing a severe economic crisis. Many a protest was held, with many finding their way into the presidential abode and enjoying a dip in the President’s pool. In Pakistan, Imran Khan narrowly avoided a no-confidence vote to be ousted as Prime Minister for Pakistan. A week later, however, he is tossed out. As for the Philippines, Marcos, son of the previous dictator, was voted in as President of the Philippines – with many of those that had voted for him buying into the narrative he and his mother weaved when once they were pariahs to the Filipino people. 

Honestly, it is astounding how quickly people can forget the crimes of a previous regime.

In May, Labor won the Australian Federal Election. Thankfully, unlike many of their counterparts in other places of the world, the conservative party didn’t attempt to claim election fraud. Rather, they bowed out with some grace. But instead of providing bipartisan support for ways to better the country, it could be said that they’ve returned to sniping off snide remarks from their very much diminished position as the opposition. And even though Labor won, much of it could be attributed to the introduction of Teal Independents and other smaller parties taking the fore.

Beyond politics, there was flooding in South Africa, Ukraine won Eurovision, and shooting returned to America after a brief stopper with the COVID-19 pandemic. While some of the shootings were motivated by race, others occurred in schools, which led right back to the debate of American gun control. Something that has still yet to see resolution as pro-gun lobbyists continue to advocate for dangerous guns out in the public.

With COVID-19 somewhat in the background but with the world still struggling with certain supply lines, many countries were struggling with high inflation. Many countries such as Tunisia, Ethiopia, Ghana, El Salvador, Turkey and Pakistan found themselves in an economic crisis. It certainly hadn’t helped when COVID-19 had disrupted trade across the world. But with low interest rates to combat the lack of spending when the virus was running rampant, the sudden war in Ukraine (the breadbasket of the world), essentials also became harder to acquire. Coupled with the effects of climate change…well…is it any wonder?

Back in politics, the landmark Roe vs Wade case was overturned. To combat this, Biden signed an executive order to protect several key human rights. Across the pond, Boris Johnson was forced to resign. He was followed by Liz Truss (who lasted about 40 or so days – not even as long as a head of lettuce) before being replaced by Rishi Sunak, the first Prime Minister of Indian ethnicity.

Shinzo Abe was shot while giving a speech, before later dying.

And in Australia, scandal of scandals, our previous Prime Minister: Scott Morrison, was discovered to have secretly appointed himself the head of five Ministry Departments. His excuse? To better manage the COVID-19 emergency.

In celebrity deaths, none could have competed against the passing of Queen Elizabeth II this year. For Australians, though the death of Olivia Newton-John hit close to home. While I mourned the loss of the much beloved Angela Lansbury. There were also a slew of deaths among the old communist regimes with Mikael Gorbachev and Jiang Zemin.

As the latter months of 2022 continued, there was the launch of the James Webb telescope. Since then, my Tumblr dash has been filled with magnificent photos taken from space. Other big events included record heat waves in Europe with many countries across the globe also suffering an energy crisis, hastening the need to transition to renewable energy.

Russia, still trying to subdue the Ukrainians after a disastrous foray that should have ended in mere days, was forced to partially mobilise their reserve troops. To punish the other countries in Europe for stymieing their attempts at bringing Ukraine to heal, they also closed off gas supplies to Europe. 

As October approached, protests began in Iran following the death of a woman held in custody by the moral police. In Australia, however, many of the populace were rocked by revelations of personal data being compromised by companies such as Optus and Medibank. And in Seoul, after reopening to tourists following the COVID-19 pandemic, several people were crushed to death in a panic stampede in the narrow streets in the Itaewon neighbourhood. 

The rest of 2022 was a cavalcade of chaos. Trump, defying the advice of his closest advisors, made a tilt for a 2024 presidential run. Even as the January 6 committee recommended that criminal charges be brought against him. An explosion in rural village in Poland spooked many before it was determined to be a result of Ukrainian anti-air defence. Elon Musk, showing how geniuses can still be terribly stupid, bought Twitter and is intent on running it into the ground. Even Tesla stocks have tanked. And following form his acquisition of Twitter, many people have seen what a terrible boss he would be to have.

On Tumblr, with many Twitter users fleeing one social media site for another Hell site, the good people decided to bring back a long lost classic. That of Goncharov. The best mafia film ever made. Or, at least, that’s what they would have liked people to believe.

As Christmas started ramping up, the FIFA World Cup was underway. In the end, after a hard fought battle, Argentina emerged as the victors.

But though 2022 could have ended on a high note, civil unrest in Peru, a shooting in Paris and blizzards bombarding the United States and Canada, have left many without power. In China, after lifting all COVID-19 restrictions following protests, COVID numbers are rising, with many individuals hospitalised. 

Looking back on the year that has been, 2022 has not been the bounce back from the pandemic many have hoped. The economy of many countries is a shambles, rocked by high inflation due to the prices for basic goods. Climate change has also shown it is not going away with natural disasters occurring more frequently. If humans hope to survive as a species, and enjoy our current luxuries (especially in first world countries), there are several things that need to change. 

Although starting at an individual level, this also needs to come from governments and those with the authority/ power to make more meaningful changes. I’m looking at you big oil/ energy companies.

You would think that such companies, knowing how capitalism works, would be smart enough to PIVOT. Don’t keep relying on the same old finite resources that will lead to humans being wiped out. If you want to be clever and capitalise, PIVOT! It’s a common thing for all successful businesses.That way, you won’t be behind the ball. 

By predicting where the market goes, you could make such a killing!

But do you?

No! Because you’re stupid. Holding onto old glories.

If I was your shareholder, I’d sell your stocks fast because clearly you haven’t gotten the memo. Honestly, what happened to being flexible? 

On a personal level, this year has been very heavy on change for me. I’ve grown out my fringe (a small thing), nabbed a promotion, refinanced my investment property and have started trying to date. Will it be successful? Who knows. But maybe in this way, I’ll be able to learn a little bit more about myself and what I want out of life.

Will the world learn in 2023? Or will we only hasten our own demise?

I, for one, would not prefer civilisation taking such a huge hit that it vanishes entirely, but with disease, war and possible other issues in the past, has the golden age of our modern age finally come to an end due to our hubris? 

Only time will tell. 

Protect One, Protect All

On By kyndarisLeave a comment

A Plague Tale: Innocence was one of the most harrowing games I’d played in a long time. It was a little known title from a AA studio that might have sailed beneath most people’s noses except for those in the business. I, for one, had been intrigued by the trailers and you can read my impressions on it if you search far enough down on my Tumblr blog. 

Though it took players on a journey across war ravaged France when pestilence and disease reigned in the early half of the 14th century, at its heart, the game was about a brother and a sister and the bond between them. Forged from familial ties and strengthened by the challenges they faced – whether that be deadly rats ready to tear the flesh off your bones or the Inquisition, Along the way, they were aided by strangers and friends. And though they suffered loss, the ending to A Plague Tale: Innocence was an uplifting message.

A Plague Tale: Requiem is not so kind.

Following on six months from the end of the first game, A Plague Tale: Requiem starts off peaceful enough. Hugo, Amicia, their mother Beatrice and Lucas are headed towards a city where a known Order member resides. There, they hope to find a cure for Hugo’s ailment: the Macula.

Along the way, they enjoy the fresh air and countryside, with Amicia and Hugo taking the opportunity to play at a local creek and explore what initially appears to be an abandoned tower. But after they climb inside to look around, disaster strikes. They two siblings are mistaken for thieves and Amicia must once again do the unthinkable to protect her brother and herself. The skirmish triggers the disease in Hugo’s blood and when they make it to Provence, they find that the rats have followed them.

Over the course of those opening hours, however, Hugo talks about an island that he has seen in his dreams. One he hopes that will provide the cure he so desperately needs. When Provence is overrun and they attempt to flee, so begins Amicia and Hugo’s journey to unlock the secrets of the Macula.

Watching a few of the trailers, I initially feared that something terrible would beset Amicia. I was convinced that she would have to sacrifice her life in a desperate bid to keep Hugo safe. But as the game went on, it became clear that my fears were unwarranted. True, Amicia does suffer a terrible head wound and is shot and stabbed, but as the main character, she managed to pull through – her love for her brother and the bond that they share allowing her to stand back up after every setback.

Along the way, she and Hugo discover what happened to the first known carrier of the Carrier and the origins of the Justinian plague that was hinted at in the first game. Just like Hugo and Amicia, it is implied that Basilius and his protector Aelia were family.

What I loved about A Plague Tale: Requiem was the impact that the first game had on our protagonists. During those first few hours, it was clear that Amicia was still struggling with a lot of trauma. And in the sequel, some of that trauma manifests as anger. Scared and terrified, she no longer wants to be the victim – instead turning the tables on the guards that she faces as she goes on a murderous rampage. One that culminates when their mother, Beatrice, is killed in a ritual sacrifice.

Hugo, too, has seen his own share of death across both titles. Despite Amicia’s attempts to shield him from reality, Hugo is wiser beyond his years. And yet in those early moments of the game, he still retains a lot of his childlike wonder. Being out on the sea, enjoying the games and festivals in Provence…

These moments are short and precious and give players something worth fighting for. It’s easy to understand why Amicia wants the best for her brother. He didn’t ask to be the Carrier of the Macula. He’s just a young boy that is curious about the world around him. And just like Amicia, I couldn’t help but want the best for him – even though I didn’t always agree with Amicia’s methods – especially when she became deadset to find out what happened to Basilius and Aelia. Like, couldn’t they have waited a day or two to explore the shrine atop the mountain? It wasn’t as if going into the fort with slavers a week or two after more preparations had been made would have made too much of a difference. And perhaps then, as well, Emilie and Victor wouldn’t have realised that Hugo was special.

But then, of course, we might not have had the game that we had. Sometimes events need be contrived. Like how Hugo befriended Arnaud.

In all honesty, that moment caught me off guard. For the first several chapters, Arnaud served as an antagonist to our erstwhile heroes. But then suddenly, his helm was off and he had become a reluctant ally. At first, I didn’t know who he was – as he’d been dressed in plate armour and his face hidden. The sudden 180 degree turn was jarring and probably could have been tackled slightly better.

Still, story-wise, I was utterly devastated by the ending. Even when I felt that the bond between Amicia and Hugo had become somewhat twisted and was a little too co-dependent, having to kill the young brother that had grown from an annoying liability to something precious and dear to my heart was almost too much. But kill him, I did.

And the way those last few moments played out – with the slowing of the animation as Amicia took out her sling…it was the perfect demonstration of how difficult the entire situation was.

From a gameplay standpoint, A Plague Tale: Requiem builds on what came before. Amicia now has plenty more tools in her belt when it comes to enemies although I did find it best to play it stealthy as much as possible. Or, at the very least, be a little more creative. For, just like the first game, Amicia isn’t built for combat. She doesn’t die immediately with one hit but she’s still no stalwart warrior.

There was one part in Chapter 10 that was so thoroughly infuriating because no matter what I did, I would always be detected. The guards, too, were far too alert for the slightest noise and it was a struggle to use my crossbow, pull open the door and dash through the opening without wasting too many resources.

So, while much of the gameplay had improved, there were still frustrations because of the limitations presented by the game itself.

Beyond that, the puzzles were much more enjoyable this time round. As was trying to find and locate every collectible. I didn’t quite manage to get them all, but most of them were placed just far enough down path not followed that they weren’t too hard to find.

As for the graphics, they were mighty impressive. The rat swarms, especially. I can’t really attest to the 300,000 rats that were in the advertisements, but the waves of rats that I encountered near the end of the game were terrifying. The way that they would pop up from the ground, the wave of them rushing towards Amicia and Lucas…

I cannot say if A Plague Tale: Requiem will have a sequel. While it did bring closure, I didn’t want my time with Amicia to end. Truth be told, a part of me wanted her to find happiness. Whether that be with Sophia or in the pursuit of a noble goal in aiding the future Carrier. The stinger at the end did imply a Carrier in modern times and I would be curious to see how that might play out given the years of COVID that had us all locked up in our homes.

Just like its predecessor, A Plague Tale: Requiem isn’t quite the perfect polished game that AAA game studios will pump out. But perhaps because of that, it was able to reach my cold dead heart. The story is rich and the characters were a joy even if the ending brought with it a difficult decision to make. Amicia and Hugo have left a profound mark on me and their story is something I would like others to experience.

Its nomination for Game of the Year at the Game Awards 2022 is a recognition that it’s most definitely a game worth playing. Will it win? Probably not. I’m sure Elden Ring or God of War Ragnarok will take that lofty title, but I’m satisfied that it, along with Xenoblade Chronicles 3 might finally enter the popular zeitgeist. For too long, big titles like Halo and Call of Duty have dominated the charts. It’s time for more introspective games to take the helm and show off, once and for all, that games can be art and great vehicles for narrative.

Two Veterans and a Nurse…

On By kyndarisLeave a comment

Not knowing if one date was enough to get the proper feel of a person, I organised a second date with Pickles. At that particular moment, all the way back in October, I wasn’t sure who to pick between him and Shrek. After all, our first meet-ups were similar but also quite different. I’d learned a lot more about Pickles’s life and was enjoying our chats on Messenger (after I’d successfully stalked him on the socials after receiving a business card for his podcast. It does beggar the question that maybe being a private detective would be the perfect job for me?), whereas Shrek was easier to talk to because of the fact that we both grew up in ethnic families that had specific views on our marital status.

That, and the fact that I wanted to watch a movie and had some time off work. The film I wanted to see, however, didn’t have any sessions after 5PM. And honestly, See How They Run would have probably been much more humorous than what Amsterdam turned out to be (despite all the big names in it).

But perhaps I ought to have taken the night to watch See How They Run. Alas, the universal perception that watching a film by your lonesome in a cinema is cringe won through. On the other hand, Saoirse Ronan was in it.

Dilemmas, dilemmas.

Still, those are regrets that I ought to unpack another time. For now, I shall eagerly look forward to Glass Onion. From a few comments I’ve seen online, it’s apparently even better than Knives Out. And that was a film that caught me by surprise. Besides, who doesn’t love Daniel Craig’s over the top southern accent?

Back to the date at hand!

A bit like the first time I met Pickles, we convened outside his place of work in the city. From there, and emboldened at my initial excellent choice for food, I directed us towards some delicious sushi – with a brief stopover at a local JB Hi-Fi to pick up A Plague Tale: Requiem! Nigiri, hand rolls, gunkan and even side dishes! All for the low, low price of $4.20.

Except, to my dismay, he didn’t much like avocado! Raised Jewish, he also wasn’t much into shellfish like prawns. Nor did he like scallops!

He didn’t even touch the nigiri! And the tuna he had was always cooked. No raw fish! The very essence of sushi to some!

I had failed.

At the very least, that was how I felt as we headed towards the cinema, the tickets for Amsterdam nestled in my leather Mickey Mouse wallet after I’d purchased it beforehand. Once there, PIckles bought a medium-sized popcorn. An ample snack for a growing man.

I, on the other hand, was never much of a snacker. And rightly told him so before we found our seats and prepared ourselves for the wilm.

What to say about Amsterdam?

For one, there were a lot of big-name celebrities. From Anya Taylor-Joy to Christian Bale to Margo Robbie to Rami Malek to Robert de Niro. Taylor Swift even made a cameo!

So, you would think with such a diverse cast of actors, it would be much more entertaining than it was. After all, the trailers sold it as a comedy whoddunnit mystery. But, in all honesty, the comedic stylings were too far and few between. Or just a bit too much on the subtle side. There were a few chuckles here and there but nothing that had me guffawing. Except maybe how dramatic Taylor Swift’s death was when she got pushed in front of a car.

Rather, Amsterdam was a fictional interpretation of real events. And honestly, it was interesting to see how the Western world had to grapple with the growing threat of fascism back in the early 1930s.

In many ways, I also felt like I had failed in choosing the event as well. The movie wasn’t as funny as I had hoped.

In any case, after the movie was over, there was hardly any time to debrief – a most definite thing that ought to have happened – as my train was in five minutes and if I didn’t catch it, I would have also had to wait another thirty minutes. So, with a hasty goodbye, my time with Pickles came to a close.

On the ride home, though, we managed to exchange a flurry of messages. Alas, it was not to be.

Our brief acquaintanceship would remain as it was, never to blossom in to a full-fledged romance. Why, you ask, dear reader?

Well, despite my miscalculations on food and possibly the movie, Pickles was also thinking of heading overseas. As an individual that places a lot of weight on physical touch (according to him), he would be desolate by the separation. As for me, physical touch probably sits near the bottom of my love languages. I’ve never been comfortable with people casually touching me in any intimate manner, like my lower back or warmly embracing me. And you can completely forget the air kisses. Eugh!

There were just too many things that weren’t clicking and he was also looking for something short-term.

Alas, it seemed that despite a strong initial showing, our budding relationship was to be relegated to the dreaded friend zone (not that I mind. It just makes these things easier for me. And is probably less scary in the long run. Basically, think of me like Anzu from Romantic Killer. After all, it’s a particularly apt comparison. Just, you know, without the demon Riri conjuring up terrible situations to put me in). 

So, what shall befall poor Kyndaris’s love life next? Will there be another contender that can tug at my heart strings?

Next time on Dating 2.0, looking forward to terrible teeth and an attempt at a ‘friendly catch-up!’

Dainty Crimes

On By kyndarisLeave a comment

After a full-scale invasion, as well as downloadable content (DLC) that had players plumb the depths of Hell, it seemed that there was nowhere else the Third Street Saints could go. So, instead of trying to outdo what was done in the past, Volition instead chose to do a soft reboot of the franchise. They tossed out the old and stacked their main cast with those riding the thin line between Millennial and Gen Z. Throw in a few lines about the difficulty of making ends meet, the power of friendship, sprinkle it with copious amounts of murder and…voila! a brand spanking new game simply titled Saints Row is yours!

The game starts off at the peak of the Saints success. The gang have all gathered at their headquarters and they’re throwing a party to celebrate their growing enterprise in Santo Ileso – the fictional equivalent of what felt to me was Las Vegas. With their enemies defeated, they are finally enjoying what it means to rest on their laurels.

Until, of course, it all goes wrong and the player character: known as Boss, is attacked and is last seen trying to crawl their way out of a shallow grave before the scene shifts. Suddenly, the Boss is just another lowly grunt from Marshall, sent out on a mission to capture the Nahualli on their first day on the job. When things don’t go quite as planned and the Boss exercises some creative initiative to bring the super criminal down, they’re cautioned by their commanding officer.

What follows is a series of initial missions that flesh out the Boss relationships with their flatmates and a build-up to the gang’s sudden pivot into proper crime.

Unemployed and without any further options, the Boss and their motley crew of an art major mechanic, businessman and shirtless pansexual chef begin the their journey of climbing up the criminal ranks, all the while sticking it to the corporate man.

There’s nothing inherently wrong with the set-up. In fact, I felt myself drawn to Kevin, Eli and Neenah. They all had their own unique interests and had some interesting backstories that were explored in their own missions. Even the Boss was flavoured with their love for knives. Picking the British voice (Voice Number 6) also helped give some additional character to the murder machine that I was controlling. 

I can’t say for sure what the other voices might have prompted in reply to Neenah’s dismissal of marmite, but I’m sure there would have a suitable soundbite for others to enjoy. And I mean, can you blame a girl for going with the British option after just coming down from Xenoblade Chronicles 3?

And yet, despite all that, I still felt the story was somewhat underbaked and the stakes low. Just when the game might have been going places, it ended. True, I did enjoy the secret ending of the Boss and the gang singing Love Shack, but the encounter with the Nahualli just ended so quickly (along with the other troubles the Saints might have faced against the other rivals). And you’re telling me that was it? One proper boss battle in the entirety of the game? Why not escalate? Why not pad out some of the interactions with the Nahualli?

Truth be told, the Nahualli’s betrayal didn’t sting as much as it would have. There hadn’t been much build-up and there hadn’t been enough quests for me to get to know them beyond his lone wolf shtick.

Why did he feel the need to steal the Boss’s friends? Why couldn’t they have all been friends together? What was with the weird sitcom-style prison that he kept the others in?

Gameplay wise, there’s not much to write home about when it comes to Saints Row. There’s no real breaking of the mould. It’s the same old open-world third-person shoot-em-up. The missions too became relatively one-note – with the Boss even commenting that they wanted something more than just needless violence. I especially detested those side missions where I had to steal trucks of clothes – only to be harangued non-stop by the police – or the food truck missions where the waves of enemies were endless.

The gunplay, too, while sufficient to do its job didn’t have as much diversity as it could. And the levelling up and unlocking of special abilities were a tedious affair.

It didn’t help that when it came to the cars, there was no guide of how to do a barrel roll. I had to look it up online.

Still, if there was one thing Saints Row got right was the best way to make money. It’s not about the small jobs and side hustles that the Boss can sometimes do: Wanted or Pony Express. The real money is all about investments and increasing capital.

It might not be the most riveting part of the game but I kind of liked the idea of playing through for an hour and then checking the cash app to see the revenue that had come pouring in from my criminal empire. Honestly, if Saints Row had become full empire management sim, I might have enjoyed the game more instead of the empty collectathon that I was presented with.

That’s not to say, of course, that I hated Saints Row, but after playing through it while I was on work leave, I walked away from it feeling mildly disappointed? It wasn’t the worst game I’ve ever played but I did feel like it had lost some of its magical spark. I suppose, from a video game equivalent, it would be the delivery of the Santo Ileso discovery tourist boards. 

Here’s hoping that if Volition continue with the franchise, and with the soft reboot version of it, they’re able to keep the excitement coming with high-octane shenanigans and a more powerful personal story. I, for one, would prefer something with higher stakes and an actual fear that one of the crew might be lost.

That or have more compelling villains where each one one-ups those that came before instead of being 1) killed by the actual villain during a main mission as a somewhat anecdote and 2) are a faceless collective. The only one I kind of enjoyed taking down was Atticus Marshall but he was more of a jerk rather than a villain. The Collective, Sergei and the Nahualli never quite reached the heights they could have because they were so poorly fleshed out.

PAX AUS! PAX AUS! PAX AUS!

On By kyndarisLeave a comment

PAX Australia. For years, I’d dream of attending and mingling with famous guests such as the Outside Xtra and Outside Xbox teams, becoming their friends because of the parasocial relationship I had developed from watching them on the screen. Unfortunately for most of those years, time and money had been against me.

When finally I put my foot down and declared to the world that I would finally head down to Melbourne for the convention, COVID hit and I was left adrift along the seas of broken dreams.

That is, until 2022.

With COVID-19 firmly in the rear-view mirror (at least for most individuals), game developers, nerds and pop-culture fans flocked to the Melbourne Convention Centre located on the southern bank of the Yarra River on the second weekend of October. Eager to celebrate the impact of the gaming industry on their lives and mingle with like-minded individuals in world where such interests still remain relatively niche.

But I’m getting ahead of myself.

Let’s start on Friday.

Although the doors of the Melbourne Convention Centre had opened to fans, my journey began in Sydney as I prepared for the flight down. At the domestic terminal, waiting for my plane, I caught sight of fellow nerds. One group were Dungeons and Dragons enthusiasts, with a member of their party sporting a Swoleregard shirt. A man seated not too far from me, with his partner, wore a Star Wars shirt.

Of course, not everyone on my flight down to Melbourne were heading down for PAX.

Still, the excitement was palpable.

It helped that I was not the only nerd going down on Friday.

When I arrived in Melbourne, I headed for the hotel I was staying at. After the brief shower that enveloped the Skybus, the sun broke through and I trekked twenty or so minutes to the Oak Premier Hotel next to the Southbank DFO. Never before had I booked such an aptly located set of accommodations for myself. 

And what a view!

Of course, by the time I had settled at the hotel, it was late afternoon.

Still, there was plenty to see and explore in Melbourne and out I set, forgoing a proper lunch as I picked up my badges for the next two days and shopped around for merchandise in and around Melbourne proper – I ended up at Critical Hit again – picking up a Phantom Kid nenderoid!

Thankfully, I was not quite alone on my trip down to PAX Australia, even if my friend, bleachpanda, was occupied with a new full-time 9-5 job back in Sydney.

Bleachpanda, I hope you read this and realise the shenanigans you would have missed (and the food!). Not to mention, of course, how much cheaper the accommodations would have been if we had shared it between the two of us!

Yes, dear readers, I had a dinner date with two fellow high school classmates that I’d not seen in many a year. One had moved to Melbourne during the COVID-19 outbreak. The other had fallen backwards into video game marketing and was helping out at the Sega booth as it tried to tout the amazing Sonic Frontiers.

We ate at Half Acre, catching up on each other’s lives (mostly me with their lives and they with mine) and made plans to enjoy a Saturday at the convention centre hobnobbing with fellow nerds and gamers and pop-culture enthusiasts. I learned about their partying 20s and how they had slowly learned to settle down and enjoy quiet suburban life. One friend in particular had been particular…lascivious during her high school days and it was surprising to see that she had certainly matured over the years.

In fact, she surprised me with a diagnosis of autism that helped explain her behaviour of blunt comments and inability to deal with plans going awry. How did it explain her erratic and seemingly impulsive displays back during high school? Because she had planned it so.

As we caught up, we talked late into the night. They even stopped by my hotel room before we went out again, hunting for a place to enjoy a drink or two. Being a non-drinker, I settled for a sweet mocktail that was right up my alley.

Saturday dawned bright and early. On my elevator down, I encountered a man that recognised the lanyard around my neck. ‘PAX?’ he asked. At my nod, he told me that he had been the one to organise the event and that he was heading back to Sydney for a meeting or some such. His name, I never quite got. Google tells me it might be Paul Curryer but a search on Images doesn’t quite match the visage of the person I met.

Regardless, my first day at PAX had me arrive early until the appointed time that they allowed all those that had gathered in the waiting hall to swarm into the expo proper. As soon as I did, I glanced around at all the indie games on display. A few caught my eye – not always for the best of reasons. One, of course, looked like it was a clone of Age of Empires. Several seemed to be town manager simulators. Even more were visual novels with a sliding scale of quality art.

But the one that had me stop for a second look was Cuisineer.

I didn’t get to play it but it certainly seemed intriguing by my standards.

After a quick gander, I managed to locate the Sega booth and my high school friend. Lining up, I participated in a speed test – performing less than satisfactory in my first and only attempt. Unfortunately, there would be no Sonic sunglasses for me to sport.

Still, there were so many others things on display: Final Fantasy XIV, of course, and a myriad of elite PC set-ups. PAX Australia also had an entire hall devoted to board games. One in which I scoured for games to bring home. Unfortunately, travelling solo and having split from the high school friend that wasn’t serving as exhibitor, meant that I had no-one to compete with in regards to Catan or Ticket to Ride.

Next time, though, it will hopefully be different. After all, I’ll drag bleachpanda with me. One way or another. That or maybe I’ll perhaps have got myself a significant other to humour my wild tastes.

In the end, I wound up partaking of a few panels (with one involving video game writing) and enjoying music from the Invictus Quartet, before being unceremoniously taken out for an early dinner at Munich. 

So ended my first day at PAX.

Sunday also proved to be a sunny day. But after witnessing what had been offered on the expo floor, I actually headed back out to the city of Melbourne. My destination? ACMI.

There, I got to enjoy playing through Cult of the Lamb with no line to fight with because most of the gamers were at PAX.

After roaming through the streets of Melbourne, stopping again at Critical Hit, I enjoyed an especially nice Italian meal before watching the casual attendees play through rounds and rounds of Just Dance. And though I did think of going up and dancing through a song, inhibitions forgotten, I chickened out at the last minute. 

And as the appointed hour neared for the end of PAX, I dragged myself up to the Kookaburra Theatre for a trivia contest featuring the hosts of ABC Gamer and Kotaku’s own Ruby Innes as they battled it out for supremacy. Spoilers: It was a draw because Dan had a very strange way of tallying up the scores.

If anyone asks, Rad and Ruby clearly won.

Am I being held hostage as I say that? Perhaps. But you wouldn’t like Rad when she’s angry. Oh no.

All in all, PAX Australia was a fun diversion for the weekend.

Was it worth the flights, price of admission and the accommodation? Probably not – given that most of the big studios were missing – and yet I can’t say I regret it. Going down to Melbourne is a treat. And it helped reconnect me with a few people that I might not have done so if I had remained in Sydney.

Will there be a PAX Australia 2023?

You betcha! And Bleachpanda…you’re coming with me!

Aurora Fox-realis

On By kyndarisLeave a comment

Heading down to PAX in Melbourne, I could not in good conscience lug down Seto Kaiba in my stowed luggage. Instead, I brought my ever loyal Nintendo Switch for a few quick indie games that were still sitting on my dashboard and clogging up the storage on the SD card. After all, when one goes down to a gaming convention that encourages handheld consoles, it’s always easier to bring a Nintendo console.

To be fair, though, if you asked me years ago, I would have said Sony but alas, the PlayStation Portable and its big brother, the Vita, have since fallen to the wayside.

Though I had games aplenty on my Switch, after fiddling around with Owlbow (which will hopefully be played in the near future), I decided it would be better to keep it simple on this short trip down south.

Enter: Spirit of the North.

In this game, you play as a fox. Why a fox? Who knows. But a quick Google search indicates that Spirit of the North is an exploration into Finnish folklore where the Northern Lights are considered ‘fox fires’ with the actual mythological creature an elusive prize coveted by many a hunter.

But instead of actually explaining this concept, the game thrusts the player into the world with little explanation. Rather than having an objective indicating where to go, my first guide was a streak of red staining the sky above in a wintry wonderland. Just like that, I delved right in. After all, years of playing video games have taught me to just follow the signs dictated by the designers a la Journey or Abzu.

And just like those games, Spirit of the North tells its story through the environment. Murals are scattered around the world. As are a host of shamans and buildings that tell of a grand civilisation that once thrived in the world before a disaster wiped them out. What the disaster was is open to interpretation but remnants of it still remains in the corruption scattered across the land that impacts the poor fox’s health.

Beyond the folklore and the stunning vistas that helped inspire the game, I found that Spirit of the North stumbled in areas where games like Journey and Abzu shone. For me, the world was a bit too vast and not as compact as it could be. There were also several puzzles that proved more frustrating rather than rewarding. Coupled with finicky controls, the adventure across the tundra was more slog than wonder.

Despite all that, the revelation once I had reached the top of the mountain was a joy. Becoming a second guardian of the Northern Lights and running across the sky, tail creating sparks as the credits rolled was one of the most magical moments I’ve ever experienced in a video game.

Will I play Spirit of the North again? Probably not.

Am I thankful that I played it on the Switch instead of a console that would have trophies popping every few seconds? Yes. My goodness, trophy hunting in these short experiences would probably ruin my enjoyment of the game and the message it is trying to tell.

While Spirit of the North doesn’t quite hit the heights of Journey, it is an interesting look into a folktale that I would have not known. With its breathtaking views and its decent musical score, I enjoyed my time as playing as a fox exploring the hinterlands. Rather than a deceitful creature, the fox here is a noble creature that brings hope and wonder.

And much like stories from other cultures, it’s an intriguing look into how people of the past attempted to explain the natural phenomena that occurred around them. The world is filled with so many fantastical things and the Spirit of the North taps right into that.

Hey There, You’re an All Star

On By kyndarisLeave a comment

Contestant number three followed a week after number two. His name, or as how he shall be referred to in these blogs will be Shrek. Why? Because during our Hinge chats, he subtly slid in the lyrics of one of the most one hit wonders of all time. And because, afterwards, when I relayed my experience to my friends, I told them that he ‘Smash-Mouthed’ me. And no, dear readers, I know where your garbage brain has gone, but get it out of the gutter!

Our meet-up was a simple affair at a local shopping centre in a suburb of Sydney. More specifically, it was in the north-west corner of the greater Sydney region. No, not Richmond with all the flooding. A bit more north and a little less west.

Still confused? Excellent. I wasn’t going to specify exactly where it was in case there are Sydneysiders that read my blog and somehow manage to track me down.

To be fair, it was probably the most tamest of encounters: out in public and in broad daylight. Though I tried to recruit my friends to spy on us, they all decided to head elsewhere.

The cowards.

Instead, I had a work colleague serving as my eyes and ears during the meet-up. Celebrating his birthday, he was also in the area with his girlfriend to enjoy a subpar lunch at Crinitis.

And even though it’s been a few weeks since (of writing at least), I’m not sure if I’m thankful for his presence or if I’ll regret it for the rest of my life.

The way he winked at me behind Shrek…

The stalker photo of us shopping…

You know what? I’ve changed my mind. Maybe murder truly is the answer.

For, at this rate, my stainless reputation at work will be ruined! How will I continue to be a Goddess among mortals when they have glimpsed behind the curtain and seen the truth of who I am?

It shall not stand!

But back to the date on hand.

Despite the fact that I had received a phone call from a friend’s mother asking if said friend was in my car (they weren’t) and that I was desperately trying to organise a way for their mother to get in touch so that they could pass off the car keys (firing off messages left, right and centre after parking), I arrived earlier than Shrek.

He, like many that frequent this shopping centre, was struggling to find parking. And instead of parking close by, he had parked all the way on the other side of the shopping complex. Initially, reading what he had messaged me, I had assumed he had found a spot in the mall opposite our immediate meeting venue. And so, I stationed myself near the pedestrian crossing, expecting him to appear.

While I did not encounter Shrek (as he had parked not where I had expected and had subsequently approached through the shopping centre and was therefore behind me), I did bump into my work colleague and wished him a ‘happy birthday’ before greeting his girlfriend.

After advising them of what the next hour or so would entail, I returned to my waiting spot, eyes on my phone for any indication from Shrek whether or not they had arrived. After getting an idea of what he was wearing and having a look around the plaza, I spotted him near the entrance and walked on over to greet him. Introductions made and with our stomachs growling, we headed to the closest restaurant: Korean fried chicken. Or, as I like to refer to it, my favourite type of KFC.

Over lunch, we talked about family, our interests and what we else we had planned over the weekend. You know, the riveting type of conversations you usually have when you meet a person in the flesh for the first time. And even though it’s not a job interview, you’re still desperately trying to impress. Just a little. So, maybe it was a little stilted as we were trying to find safe topics to navigate through.

No longer was it as easy to converse as it was through chat.

Although, to be honest, many of my friends do find me much more loquacious via written communication than verbal. But! On the plus side, my interactions in the work place and my desire to know everything about someone else’s life has made me a bit more adept at verbal wordplay! Huzzah!

In the end, I confirmed that Shrek had a sister (there was picture of him and her on his dating profile – one in which he hadn’t scrubbed out her face), that he was lactose intolerant (to a degree) and that much of his extended family were located overseas in the UK and the US of A.

Our chat was nice and it seemed like Shrek was the type of person to listen, if apologise for my life situation a bit too much. Certain parts of it can suck. But sometimes it’s also the attitude you bring to those circumstances – as some might say. I’m not all about the self-pity party, even if I do like to complain about the direction my life has gone on the rare occasion. Certainly, it’s not the perfect life that I wish it to be, but when has life ever gone so swimmingly for the normal person?

That aside, we also had an enjoyable chat after lunch as we did some shopping. We stopped at Good Games, where I picked up another board game.

The meet-up was somewhat ruined by the fact that Shrek feared I was not familiar with where the shop was located and he tried to point me towards its. Despite the fact that I’d frequented this shopping centre for goodness knows how many times in the past several years.

It was kind of cute, even as I recalled the moment one of my previous work colleagues also tried to explain the suburb of Mays Hill because most others hadn’t heard of it. Mate, I used to live around that area throughout most of my childhood. I know where it is.

In fact, I know a lot of things. But let’s not go there.

The spectrum of INTJ, INFJ and ISFJ are showing.

Once we had surveyed all that there was on offer, even stopping by the Lego store, I walked Shrek back towards his car. Well, not his car exactly – but to the carpark before making my trek back through the shopping centre to where I had parked my car to while away the hours at a friend’s place before heading over for a conjoined house-warming and birthday celebration for a close friend.

Did the first meet-up go well? My work colleague seems to think so. After all, if things hadn’t, we probably wouldn’t have gone shopping together.

So, how well does Shrek stack up to the other people I’ve met through the dating app? And who should I present my rose to in this episode of Kyndaris: The Bachelorette?

From what I can see, a second date would be in order. Just to get a better feel of their social circle and of any other shared interests we might have. Certainly, he seems the type to be supportive and understanding, while also having his own things that he loves and cares dearly about – a trait that I find good because I think I’d also prefer my own time to do my own things.

But…well…it’s just so hard to make a call right now.

At this stage, I have to say that Pickles and Shrek are in the lead.

Will I have meet-ups with anyone else? Who knows. It’s just so hard to determine what makes a good fit and what might eventuate into something more.

Am I scared about commitment at this stage?

Hell yes! It’s only been the first time I’ve met them. Love isn’t like how it is in Disney movies (and while I enjoy them, I do not endorse falling in love with the first person you meet). For me, I think it comes with time and familiarity and getting to know a person and wanting the same things out of life.

It’s not about the lust or the love. 

It’s about who I can live a life together with.