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Ah! My Goddess PS2 game report (part 1)
Okay, so I started playing the game. Here's a synopsis, up through the end of the first stage of the first chapter. I can't play the game any longer because... Well, because I just bought my used PS2 from an amazon.co.jp Z-shop this week, and it arrived yesterday. The seller told me that there would be a memory card included with my purchase, but - surprise, surprise! - there isn't. So I have no memory card, and the nearest place that I can get a memory card is a city that's a forty-minute drive away. Well, I'll go and pick up one tomorrow after work. My playstation is telling me that I can save a small amount of memory without a memory card, so let's see if I can do that...
Even if I have to replay the game from the beginning, it's not that big a deal, as there is an option that lets you skip all of the event scenes.
AH MY GODDESS! PS2 GAME PART ONE
Standard disclaimer: Dialogue translation is going to be extremely rough. I'm going by memory and trying to get it down as fast as I can. There are going to be mistakes and mistranslations. You've been warned.
The game starts on a tropical island. You see a pocketwatch left on a picnic table. Then the clock spirit appears and sighs.
The camera zooms out and we realize that Hild is floating behind her.
HILD: Is there something troubling you?
CLOCK SPIRIT: Nothing in particular. Would you like some tea? It's been forever since I've had a guest.
HILD: Nothing in particular, huh... I wonder if that's true.
The camera zooms in on the pocketwatch.
HILD: Isn't it a little late for afternoon tea?
CLOCK SPIRIT: ...It appears as if you know that I am the spirit of this clock.
HILD: And I know that you are broken.
CS: Yes...
HILD: Then I've got something very interesting to say to you! Why don't you just listen for a minute? That's all. Just listen.
CS: Something interesting...?
Fade to black. The camera zooms around the island a little bit more. Obviously indicating the passage of time.
HILD: ...And there you have it.
CS: I see. They might be able to repair me. I'm certain that they can.
HILD: Then it's a deal. MAAA-CHAN!
MARLLER: Yes! First Class Unlimited Demon Marller, right here!
HILD: Bring them to this island. I'll leave the method up to you.
MARLLER: Roger.
CS: Your help... Does not come free, does it? What shall I do for you?
HILD: That's simple. Just show them a good time. You should take pride in this beautiful island. (*evil laugh*)
(Okay, I don't know if the above dialouge conveys this very well, but the CS is totally innocent and is being somehow duped by Hild. The voice acting makes that very clear.)
Another fade to black. Now we cut to Urd/Skuld/Belldandy/Keiichi on a ship approaching the island. I won't transcribe all of the dialouge, but they're all excited about going to the island. Skuld reveals that they won vacation tickets to a deserted island from a lottery drawing that Keiichi entered.
And Keiichi is like, "Yeah, great." But something is bothering him. Belldandy asks what's wrong. Keiichi says, "The lady who was doing the lottery drawing... I feel as if I've met her somewhere before... Maybe it's just me, but she reminded me of Marller."
Belldandy says, "Maybe she just looked similar..." Urd also laughs off his concern. "There's no way that Marller would be able to be all bouncy and happy like that lady, shouting 'CONGRATULATIONS!' and stuff." Skuld adds that Keiichi is thinking too much, and Urd tells him to have fun.
Skuld points out that there's no water, gas, or electricity on the island. "How are we going to eat?" Keiichi tells her that there's unlimited fruit on the island, and their camping dome will also have various equipment. "Even without a rice cooker, we can still have a great meal!"
Another cut scene. They arrive on the island and exclaim over its beauty. Keiichi says that even though the island is deserted now, a long time ago people used to live there. Aha, says nenena, this would explain why in the opening scene we say an abandoned beach house, a picnic table, and the broken silver watch - which otherwise would not belong on a "deserted" island.
Keiichi asks what he can do to help. Urd makes Keiichi carry all of the luggage, and Belldandy makes this great pissy face at her.
The luggage is too heavy, and Keiichi starts to collapse under it. "Why is this SO HEAVY?!" Skuld opens a container and... Dun dun dun! It's Banpei-kun! Keiichi asks if Skuld packed Banpei-kun without telling them. Skuld is like, "No, actually, I never intended to bring him..." Belldandy smiles and says, "It looks like Banpei-kun wanted to experience life on a deserted island, too."
So Our Heroes decide to explore the island and set up their base camp.
Cut scene again - Now we're on a different part of the island, where Hild and the CS are together. Marller is bowing before Hild. Hild asks if Marller did her job without any complications. (Totally loaded question.) Marller is like, OMG yes I did you big meanie you had NO IDEA HOW HARD IT WAS to act all happy and say "CONGRATULATIONS" and stuff!!!!
Then Hild turns to the Clock Spirit and says, "Now it's time to finalize our contract." Using formal language, Hild and the CS agree to their contract (the terms of which are not stated in front of the viewer). Okay, so maybe the CS isn't as innocent as I first thought. I mean, she does know that she's making a contract with a demon. I can't rememember if Hild identified herself as the Daimakaichou or not, but she did call herself a mazoku (demon).
The CS's voice actress conveys a sense of sadness and desperation in this scene. But at the same time, she definitely knows that she's contracting with a demon.
Then the CS and Hild face each other. Hild casts a magical circle on the ground between them. The pocketwatch starts spinning between them, and both the CS and Hild cast a powerful spell. The island starts to rumble.
Cut to the Goddesses. Belldandy says that she feels a powerful magic has just engulfed the island. Urd adds that it's without a doubt demon magic. Belldandy adds that she feels a little bit of a different power as well, but Urd clarifies, "Regardless, the main power is definitely demon magic. No mistaking it."
(Note - What is referred to hereafter as "the barrier" is the magical power that Belldandy and her sisters felt swallow up the island.)
K1: All right, so, what do we do about this barrier?
SKULD: No worries. It's not a problem.
URD: If we seriously use our powers, there's nothing to worry about.
K1: You mean like... Thunder or lightning or blowing up the entire freakin' island?!
BELLDANDY: No... We mean singing.
K1: Oh... The Goddess Song.
BELLDANDY: If we sing, we should be able to clear up this barrier.
K1: Aha. So I'm going to get to hear your song again!
BELLDANDY: Are you two ready?
So the three goddesses get to together and form a circle. Big dramatic build up - sparkly lights, goddesses posing, etc, and then...
BELLDANDY: ..............
URD: .............
SKULD: ..............
Keiichi asks what's wrong, and...
They can't remember the song!
Keiichi asks what the hell that's supposed to mean.
URD: Just like we said...
SKULD: How did we sing before?
K1: Don't ask me, I couldn't explain it.
BELLDANDY: Is this the result of this barrier, that we've lost our ability to sing?
Keiichi and company deduct that somewhere on the island must be a powerful magic user. Belldandy says that she can feel a great power from the interior of the island. So, naturally, they decide to check it out. Belldandy worries that something bad will happen, but Keiichi assures her that they'll be all right. "Besides... I don't want to see any worries on Belldandy's face."
Cue the long-overdue "Keiichi-san..."
So they walk farther into the island. They come upon an open plain where there are all sorts of giant spinning golden clock gears! Freaky.
Cue title screen: This is the first chapter of the story! The title is "Guiding Path." Okay, this is obviously the part of the game where you learn to master all of the basic controls.
Keiichi observes that there are robots running around. Belldandy says that the robots are fueled by a magical power.
Urd wants to go check out the robots. Keiichi tells her to be careful, but she blows him off. "Who do you think I am, anyway?" So Urd runs off. The Skuld starts fretting, "We've got a big problem." Belldandy explains, "Inside of this barrier, our powers are restricted." Skuld elaborates, "We can only use the most basic magic. Anything else is impossible."
Belldandy worries that they won't be able to make it to the center of the island safely.
Cute Urd floating around screaming "Ouch! That hurts!"
She's being followed by a big-ass robot with pincher claws. Keiichi is like, OMG whut?
URD: Don't just stand there watching, save me!!!
So Keiichi approaches the robot and starts fiddling with it. "This robot is made in a really interesting way... Aha, I get it... So just connect this and..."
Yay! The robot is standing still and smiling at them, as opposed to trying to claw Urd to death. Urd is very impressed.
And Belldandy and Skuld are like, Eureka!!! Good idea time - they can combine their three energies with the power of Keiichi! And Keiichi is like, "Um, do I have 'power'?" Belldandy and Skuld point out that Keiichi has the power to understand, fix, and change machines. And Urd adds, "In these conditions, that's all that we can do..."
K1: Wait a minute, wait a minute! I don't understand this conversation at all.
(Me too, to be honest. - nenena)
BELLDANDY: In other words, we will combine our powers to give Keiichi the ability to use magic.
K1: No way! There's no way I can do that!
BELL: Don't worry. Keiichi-san, you can definitely do this.
K1: All right. What should I do?
BELL: It's too difficult to explain in words, so...
They decide to, er, "just do it" when the time is right.
END OF SCENES! Okay, all of a sudden we're on a map of the island. You have to move your party around and choose a place to go. (If you leave the map alone for too long, Skuld gets bored and throws a bomb.) From the map you can access the main menu (save, configure, etc.) or whatever. Or you can enter a spot on the map, which is a "stage."
I decided to enter a stage. Here we go.
Off the map now, back into regular gameplay. Our Heroes come across a magical floating thingy that looks like the insides of a clock... But made of magic. Belldandy says that in that space, the flow of time is distorted. However, in order to proceed into the island, they have no choice but to walk right through the magical clock thingy, as there is no other path. So through they go.
Big flash of light.
Belldandy and Keiichi come out on the other side.
K1: Hmmm, nothing happened. Belldandy?
BELL: I'm fine, but...
K1: OMGWTFBBQ?! (*rough translation*)
Skuld and Urd have turned into chibi versions of themselves, and are wearing their goddess standards. They are floating above Keiichi's head. Skuld and Urd are both pissed. Cue the long-overdue "Keiichi no BAKA!" (Yeah, as if this is his fault.) Keiichi asks if they can return to their normal size, but due to the restrictions on their magic, they can't. So for the time being, mini-Skuld and mini-Urd will just have to stay mini, and follow Keiichi around.
So now you enter the real 3D gameplay. There is a section where you basically walk around the island and learn the controls. At one point you meet a robot similar to the one that chased Urd before. Keiichi calls the robot "Marumaru-kun." Urd asks how he can know the robot's name, and Skuld pipes up, "Marumaru-kun is a name that makes perfect sense!" Aaaah, scary. Keiichi and Skuld are apparently thinking on the same wavelength.
Okay, so I cleared the first stage. That was easy. You only have to learn a few basic moves, like how to open gates, recover lost magic, and turn on a robot. Back to the map. Attempting to save game...
Nope, won't save without the memory card. Figures. Well, off to Iida tomorrow to get a memory card.
Now with some photos! (By popular request)
GAME INTRODUCTORY SEQUENCES (all "Event" sequences, no actual gameplay, sorry)
I told you that I would be taking these photos with my camera, as I lack the equipment to make proper screenshots from my TV. I warned you. Don't say that I didn't warn you.
AND NOW FOR VIDEO!
Movie 001 (20 MB). Very very low quality, and you can hardly hear it. I know. But hey, y'all wanted a quick and dirty preview. Anyway, in this video sequence: Marller talks to Hild, Hild and CS finalize their contract, Hild and the CS cast their spell, then Belldandy and her sisters try to sing, but fail miserably. This video gives a good idea of what the non-gameplay (read: "event") sequences look like. As for the actual gameplay itself, that will be coming soon.
ETA 2: New Video! Some kind soul uploaded a high-quality video of the game intro to Youtbue. You can watch it here.
x-posted to![[livejournal.com profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/external/lj-community.gif)
ah_my_goddess
Even if I have to replay the game from the beginning, it's not that big a deal, as there is an option that lets you skip all of the event scenes.
AH MY GODDESS! PS2 GAME PART ONE
Standard disclaimer: Dialogue translation is going to be extremely rough. I'm going by memory and trying to get it down as fast as I can. There are going to be mistakes and mistranslations. You've been warned.
The game starts on a tropical island. You see a pocketwatch left on a picnic table. Then the clock spirit appears and sighs.
The camera zooms out and we realize that Hild is floating behind her.
HILD: Is there something troubling you?
CLOCK SPIRIT: Nothing in particular. Would you like some tea? It's been forever since I've had a guest.
HILD: Nothing in particular, huh... I wonder if that's true.
The camera zooms in on the pocketwatch.
HILD: Isn't it a little late for afternoon tea?
CLOCK SPIRIT: ...It appears as if you know that I am the spirit of this clock.
HILD: And I know that you are broken.
CS: Yes...
HILD: Then I've got something very interesting to say to you! Why don't you just listen for a minute? That's all. Just listen.
CS: Something interesting...?
Fade to black. The camera zooms around the island a little bit more. Obviously indicating the passage of time.
HILD: ...And there you have it.
CS: I see. They might be able to repair me. I'm certain that they can.
HILD: Then it's a deal. MAAA-CHAN!
MARLLER: Yes! First Class Unlimited Demon Marller, right here!
HILD: Bring them to this island. I'll leave the method up to you.
MARLLER: Roger.
CS: Your help... Does not come free, does it? What shall I do for you?
HILD: That's simple. Just show them a good time. You should take pride in this beautiful island. (*evil laugh*)
(Okay, I don't know if the above dialouge conveys this very well, but the CS is totally innocent and is being somehow duped by Hild. The voice acting makes that very clear.)
Another fade to black. Now we cut to Urd/Skuld/Belldandy/Keiichi on a ship approaching the island. I won't transcribe all of the dialouge, but they're all excited about going to the island. Skuld reveals that they won vacation tickets to a deserted island from a lottery drawing that Keiichi entered.
And Keiichi is like, "Yeah, great." But something is bothering him. Belldandy asks what's wrong. Keiichi says, "The lady who was doing the lottery drawing... I feel as if I've met her somewhere before... Maybe it's just me, but she reminded me of Marller."
Belldandy says, "Maybe she just looked similar..." Urd also laughs off his concern. "There's no way that Marller would be able to be all bouncy and happy like that lady, shouting 'CONGRATULATIONS!' and stuff." Skuld adds that Keiichi is thinking too much, and Urd tells him to have fun.
Skuld points out that there's no water, gas, or electricity on the island. "How are we going to eat?" Keiichi tells her that there's unlimited fruit on the island, and their camping dome will also have various equipment. "Even without a rice cooker, we can still have a great meal!"
Another cut scene. They arrive on the island and exclaim over its beauty. Keiichi says that even though the island is deserted now, a long time ago people used to live there. Aha, says nenena, this would explain why in the opening scene we say an abandoned beach house, a picnic table, and the broken silver watch - which otherwise would not belong on a "deserted" island.
Keiichi asks what he can do to help. Urd makes Keiichi carry all of the luggage, and Belldandy makes this great pissy face at her.
The luggage is too heavy, and Keiichi starts to collapse under it. "Why is this SO HEAVY?!" Skuld opens a container and... Dun dun dun! It's Banpei-kun! Keiichi asks if Skuld packed Banpei-kun without telling them. Skuld is like, "No, actually, I never intended to bring him..." Belldandy smiles and says, "It looks like Banpei-kun wanted to experience life on a deserted island, too."
So Our Heroes decide to explore the island and set up their base camp.
Cut scene again - Now we're on a different part of the island, where Hild and the CS are together. Marller is bowing before Hild. Hild asks if Marller did her job without any complications. (Totally loaded question.) Marller is like, OMG yes I did you big meanie you had NO IDEA HOW HARD IT WAS to act all happy and say "CONGRATULATIONS" and stuff!!!!
Then Hild turns to the Clock Spirit and says, "Now it's time to finalize our contract." Using formal language, Hild and the CS agree to their contract (the terms of which are not stated in front of the viewer). Okay, so maybe the CS isn't as innocent as I first thought. I mean, she does know that she's making a contract with a demon. I can't rememember if Hild identified herself as the Daimakaichou or not, but she did call herself a mazoku (demon).
The CS's voice actress conveys a sense of sadness and desperation in this scene. But at the same time, she definitely knows that she's contracting with a demon.
Then the CS and Hild face each other. Hild casts a magical circle on the ground between them. The pocketwatch starts spinning between them, and both the CS and Hild cast a powerful spell. The island starts to rumble.
Cut to the Goddesses. Belldandy says that she feels a powerful magic has just engulfed the island. Urd adds that it's without a doubt demon magic. Belldandy adds that she feels a little bit of a different power as well, but Urd clarifies, "Regardless, the main power is definitely demon magic. No mistaking it."
(Note - What is referred to hereafter as "the barrier" is the magical power that Belldandy and her sisters felt swallow up the island.)
K1: All right, so, what do we do about this barrier?
SKULD: No worries. It's not a problem.
URD: If we seriously use our powers, there's nothing to worry about.
K1: You mean like... Thunder or lightning or blowing up the entire freakin' island?!
BELLDANDY: No... We mean singing.
K1: Oh... The Goddess Song.
BELLDANDY: If we sing, we should be able to clear up this barrier.
K1: Aha. So I'm going to get to hear your song again!
BELLDANDY: Are you two ready?
So the three goddesses get to together and form a circle. Big dramatic build up - sparkly lights, goddesses posing, etc, and then...
BELLDANDY: ..............
URD: .............
SKULD: ..............
Keiichi asks what's wrong, and...
They can't remember the song!
Keiichi asks what the hell that's supposed to mean.
URD: Just like we said...
SKULD: How did we sing before?
K1: Don't ask me, I couldn't explain it.
BELLDANDY: Is this the result of this barrier, that we've lost our ability to sing?
Keiichi and company deduct that somewhere on the island must be a powerful magic user. Belldandy says that she can feel a great power from the interior of the island. So, naturally, they decide to check it out. Belldandy worries that something bad will happen, but Keiichi assures her that they'll be all right. "Besides... I don't want to see any worries on Belldandy's face."
Cue the long-overdue "Keiichi-san..."
So they walk farther into the island. They come upon an open plain where there are all sorts of giant spinning golden clock gears! Freaky.
Cue title screen: This is the first chapter of the story! The title is "Guiding Path." Okay, this is obviously the part of the game where you learn to master all of the basic controls.
Keiichi observes that there are robots running around. Belldandy says that the robots are fueled by a magical power.
Urd wants to go check out the robots. Keiichi tells her to be careful, but she blows him off. "Who do you think I am, anyway?" So Urd runs off. The Skuld starts fretting, "We've got a big problem." Belldandy explains, "Inside of this barrier, our powers are restricted." Skuld elaborates, "We can only use the most basic magic. Anything else is impossible."
Belldandy worries that they won't be able to make it to the center of the island safely.
Cute Urd floating around screaming "Ouch! That hurts!"
She's being followed by a big-ass robot with pincher claws. Keiichi is like, OMG whut?
URD: Don't just stand there watching, save me!!!
So Keiichi approaches the robot and starts fiddling with it. "This robot is made in a really interesting way... Aha, I get it... So just connect this and..."
Yay! The robot is standing still and smiling at them, as opposed to trying to claw Urd to death. Urd is very impressed.
And Belldandy and Skuld are like, Eureka!!! Good idea time - they can combine their three energies with the power of Keiichi! And Keiichi is like, "Um, do I have 'power'?" Belldandy and Skuld point out that Keiichi has the power to understand, fix, and change machines. And Urd adds, "In these conditions, that's all that we can do..."
K1: Wait a minute, wait a minute! I don't understand this conversation at all.
(Me too, to be honest. - nenena)
BELLDANDY: In other words, we will combine our powers to give Keiichi the ability to use magic.
K1: No way! There's no way I can do that!
BELL: Don't worry. Keiichi-san, you can definitely do this.
K1: All right. What should I do?
BELL: It's too difficult to explain in words, so...
They decide to, er, "just do it" when the time is right.
END OF SCENES! Okay, all of a sudden we're on a map of the island. You have to move your party around and choose a place to go. (If you leave the map alone for too long, Skuld gets bored and throws a bomb.) From the map you can access the main menu (save, configure, etc.) or whatever. Or you can enter a spot on the map, which is a "stage."
I decided to enter a stage. Here we go.
Off the map now, back into regular gameplay. Our Heroes come across a magical floating thingy that looks like the insides of a clock... But made of magic. Belldandy says that in that space, the flow of time is distorted. However, in order to proceed into the island, they have no choice but to walk right through the magical clock thingy, as there is no other path. So through they go.
Big flash of light.
Belldandy and Keiichi come out on the other side.
K1: Hmmm, nothing happened. Belldandy?
BELL: I'm fine, but...
K1: OMGWTFBBQ?! (*rough translation*)
Skuld and Urd have turned into chibi versions of themselves, and are wearing their goddess standards. They are floating above Keiichi's head. Skuld and Urd are both pissed. Cue the long-overdue "Keiichi no BAKA!" (Yeah, as if this is his fault.) Keiichi asks if they can return to their normal size, but due to the restrictions on their magic, they can't. So for the time being, mini-Skuld and mini-Urd will just have to stay mini, and follow Keiichi around.
So now you enter the real 3D gameplay. There is a section where you basically walk around the island and learn the controls. At one point you meet a robot similar to the one that chased Urd before. Keiichi calls the robot "Marumaru-kun." Urd asks how he can know the robot's name, and Skuld pipes up, "Marumaru-kun is a name that makes perfect sense!" Aaaah, scary. Keiichi and Skuld are apparently thinking on the same wavelength.
Okay, so I cleared the first stage. That was easy. You only have to learn a few basic moves, like how to open gates, recover lost magic, and turn on a robot. Back to the map. Attempting to save game...
Nope, won't save without the memory card. Figures. Well, off to Iida tomorrow to get a memory card.
Now with some photos! (By popular request)
I told you that I would be taking these photos with my camera, as I lack the equipment to make proper screenshots from my TV. I warned you. Don't say that I didn't warn you.
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Movie 001 (20 MB). Very very low quality, and you can hardly hear it. I know. But hey, y'all wanted a quick and dirty preview. Anyway, in this video sequence: Marller talks to Hild, Hild and CS finalize their contract, Hild and the CS cast their spell, then Belldandy and her sisters try to sing, but fail miserably. This video gives a good idea of what the non-gameplay (read: "event") sequences look like. As for the actual gameplay itself, that will be coming soon.
ETA 2: New Video! Some kind soul uploaded a high-quality video of the game intro to Youtbue. You can watch it here.
x-posted to
ah_my_goddess