So I’ve been playing Pangya lately. Neat little game. It’s golf, with a bit of a fantasy twist to it. Attempting to give the game a point and story to it, I suppose. The story isn’t overly great, but enough to keep the player interested. Just as the characters are a bit over the top, but I think they’re supposed to be. The only characters who seem natural, and not just single minded, are the ones actually involved in the story.

Even though there are eighteen playable characters in the game. You start out with two, being the sort of two main characters. Scout is more focused upon then Hana. Since you have to play well into Kaz’s story to even be told in the game that Hana is also a descendant of the hero that previously saved the land of the time fairies.

Pretty much the first chapter of the game, the portable game that I picked up is separated into two chapters (each with small arcs following the 8-9 main characters), is spent introducing everyone. Their goals, and their personalities. As well as their caddies. Again, through this there is the clear line between the characters that matter, and the characters that have one thing on their mind.

Bob is all about food and arresting people. Cecilia is all about her job. Kooh is about finding her dad, who is likely dead but she’s too young to get that. Arin is all about getting Max to like her. And while Max is all about getting enough money to go back to earth.

Even though the characters are all fun in their own right. More comedic, and you love them for that, but hardly developed.

Perhaps the only one in the game that I have seen actual development for, is Kaz. Perhaps it’s only from his first arc is at the end of chapter one, and his second at the beginning of chapter two. Perhaps its the fact he’s had more time, but it seems even from their first arcs, that he was one of the only ones that had anything to do with the story.

Kaz is a bit different right away, for he has no memories. And he hears a voice calling him, and figures that it will lead him to his memories. He also doesn’t have a caddie, like every other character has, or has gotten, so far. All he has is his dead fiance following him about. Though he can’t hear Karen, he can see her. While the player, gets to see what she is saying. It gives a bit of insight towards what Kaz, and you, are doing. Technically, everything you help Kaz do, is wrong.

At the end of his second chapter, there is the above image. He begins to regain his memories, by unleashing demons upon the world. Though he doesn’t really realize what he’s doing, since everyone is really sneaky and avoid actually answering any of his questions. Neither the less, he remembers Karen’s name, and claims, “Don’t worry. I know I can’t touch you, but I can wipe away my own tears.”

For a game about golf, I found it a touching scene.

Anyhow, the thing that makes Pangya a bit different from other golf games; is even though you get the basic characters. The strong one, the accurate one, so on and so forth. You get items and equipment that can improve and alter your character’s stats. So, you can make the already powerful Bob into a major powerhouse. Make Cecilia even more accurate.

Improving your characters, makes getting better scores far easier. Once you have enough power, getting eagles on the lower courses is easy. And it makes the tougher areas, easier to get through as well. Building up your equipment seems part of the advancement curve. I’ve quite enjoyed messing around with different combinations so far.

It’s also fun dressing up your characters. But I’m always a nut when it comes to that stuff.

In a slight continuation of the last post. I can laugh at the fact that today I went around and actually talked to people about the birth of Van. Well, more importantly I actually talked to mommy and daddy.

While Anissa was saying Jin was adorable since he was timid around the child since he wasn’t really sure what to do with the baby; Jin was in exchange saying that he was happy that Anissa was too busy with Van to nag him anymore. Which made me die slightly of laughter. Is this seriously what Jin says all the time about Anissa? Since it’s really hilarious. The guy really wants nothing to do with her it seems.

I also managed to see the last rival event for Phoebe and Calvin at the end of this third week. So they were scheduled to be wed Summer 1st.

Spring 23rd- Chase’s birthday! I remembered of course. Since it’s one day before my own character’s birthday and all. So it’s really easy to remember it.

Just ran outside and collected some milk and eggs. Ran back inside and made him an Orange Cake. Which he loves, so it was a great gift to give for his birthday. He was really happy that I remembered his birthday and said that I gave him a perfect present.

I was a bit disappointed to see that there was no party. Or the husband quizzing on what day it is.

Spring 24th- One thing I’d like to note, is that the game really scared me when it picked this date out. Since I always pick ‘Spring 24th’ since my birthday is ‘March 24th’. It seems rather fitting to me anyways. For the game to automatically pick it was surprising and makes me smile.

Chase said something different first thing in the morning. Teasing me that of course he remembered my birthday. I thought it was sweet.

Got home later and was worried at first that I missed the opening for the event. Was glad to see that I hadn’t. But then again, I was once again a bit disappointed to see the scene that played out. It seemed rather bland. And there was nothing cute or special that your husband says really. Just Happy Birthday! Really.

Too bad. Maybe it’s different with your kid.

Spring 28th- I had my baby girl! I watched the scene twice it was just so adorable. Chase being all blushy and cute was just so… AW! It really made me smile for no damn reason. Him cuddling the baby and being all happy was really sweet. Especially since he’s usually sarcastic or nonchalant. Seeing him seriously all giddy about it was just great.

And the fact I gave birth with my hat on was hilarious too.

The baby sleeps way too much. I still haven’t figured out when I can actually talk to it. I’ve just found in between taking care of my animals and running over to my other plot with my crops, I can usually catch it awake. So I play and cuddle with it then.

Oh, and my baby girl is named Wisp. <3 She’s so adorable. My mom suggested I name her Wisp over Cecylin.

Summer 1st- Not much to say really. Saw the wedding. And for once the bride’s dress looked way different. I liked it. For it was short and sundress like. Seeming really casual for a wedding dress. So I liked that style a lot.

I worked from 12 to 12 trying to do everything and plant my new seasonal crops. Didn’t manage to play with Wisp today though. Which made me sad.

And that’s all I’ve really played.

Waiting for Toby and Renee to have their baby at the end of the week. And Van will be big in the middle of the month. There is also festivals this month. I dunno if I want to go to them with Chase. I think you can still get asked by other people, right?

Since it’s kind of disappointing hearing that your husbands says the exact same thing as when he was a friend/boyfriend.

I worry for the Summer to Winter stretch of watching my child grow.

Just a few events I’ve been looking forward to, and have witnessed.

Winter 15th- Jin and Anissa were married. I didn’t manage to speak to many people that day. It’s slightly annoying when you have to waste half the day there. Why are all the rival weddings until noon but your own is only till ten? It makes little sense.

But sadly, we’re left with half the day gone to run back to the farm and do everything we need to. It’s not that bad, I suppose. I don’t mind working until odd hours of the night. Chase doesn’t come home until 2:30 am most nights anyway. So it isn’t like I’m not going to beat him home in the least. And with 4/5 power berries it isn’t like I’m going to get tired.

The funniest thing is that I did manage to talk to them in the next couple of days. And they both seemed… annoyed with the other one? Jin just admitted she was a nag. I laughed at that. Maybe I shouldn’t have let them get married after all…

The annoying thing is that it leaves a lot less time to talk to the people who you want to raise heart levels with. I suppose that’s my only beef with it. Most people are locked in a house (store rather) by 5-6 pm. So it’s a rush trying to find them and get that small increase of friendship.

Starry Night Festival- I’m not really sure what day this is. I think it’s the 24th of Winter. But the only thing I can really say is that I found that lovely glitch that you promise to meet the guy but for whatever reason they don’t show up. And then they decide to act like you ditched them. Thus dropping a heart level.

I wouldn’t be so upset about this, if it weren’t for one simply thing. My pregnancy scene was supposed to occur in three days after Starry Night. If it didn’t because of this decrease, I was planning on throwing the HM disc into the furnace.

Winter 28th / New Year’s Eve- So thankfully, it still happened. I was so upset sitting there rushing through the next few days and trying to make Chase have ten hearts again. I didn’t want to wait another season for this!

I was happy to see though after your morning stretch, that the game went back to loading. I sat there feeling so relieved. Knowing that it was going to be the pregnancy scene. Or my game was just screwing with me.

Though I did have to laugh at Chase. When he basically ignored me and was all, ‘We’re going to the hospital, NOW!’

Irene checking me up may seem odd at first. But then again this may be completely different if you’re the guy. I’m guessing it’s the same either way. Remember that Jin is a guy. He may or may not be married. He may or may not like the woman he has to examine.

In my case, I was giggling at the thought of Chase having to punch out Jin since he was staring at bit too much. Since well, Jin loved me before Chase.

New Years was fun. I was told by Irene to get lots of rest. So I try to do so and Chase is in my face two seconds later yelling at me to wake up. Bad husband, were you not paying attention to the doctor at all?

Either way. It was a cute scene. Of course Chase was nonchalant like always. But he also said some really cute things. Like how he was really happy to spend the beginning and the end of the year with me. I’m not sure if all the husbands say stuff like that. But I’m pretty sure that they weren’t all, I don’t care about New Years like Chase was.

I picked that I wanted to ‘Protect my family’ since I had just got pregnant. Seemed to fit.

Spring 7th- I saw Toby and Renee’s wedding. I’m really happy for them. They looked so cute together. And I like how everyone has different outfits. The guys are more obvious then the girls though. Maybe I just don’t like dresses. But they all look relatively the same to me.

While Jin was in a trench and was just so nummy <3 Toby was also in a Japanese style kimono. It was really interesting to see. It’s funny that I remember their outfits but not my own husbands… I think he was in a suit. And that’s boring.

Spring 8th- I went to pray for the baby. Chase was adorable. He said he’d like to have a cute girl. Of course I told him I wanted a girl first. But still, I think he’ll be a good daddy. Probably make my kid fat with desserts.

Spring 15th- Saw the birth of Van! I’m not sure if it’s random if the rivals have a girl or a boy. But man did I have to laugh at this. In Japanese, Jin was Won. Who was the traveling salesmen in the Friends of Mineral Town/Back to Nature game. While Van is the traveling salesmen in A Wonderful Life.

That seemed so planned out.

But I found it comical. I still wonder if it’s random. Since the excitement of having the rival kids won’t be as fun in the next game if not. I’d like to see a son that’s just like Julius from him and Candace.

So it’s fun playing it. I’ve already got to the point where my decisions effect if I get to keep certain party members.

It’s surprising that this game let’s your have so many different characters when the future ones isn’t as open ended. Especially TTeoT. That one sucked for secondary characters. You on got to pick two of four? When in the first game you get to pick four of nine. That doesn’t seem to make sense. Shouldn’t the PS2 game in the series have more options and replay value then the first game did?

I’ve saved before where your party starts to be defined (Cyrus). So I don’t have to listen to the two hour opening again (Pretty much).

Right now. I’m sitting there going, I WANT A HEALER! D=

I also got Jin and his love engaged. They’re to be wed tomorrow in Harvest Moon time. I wonder who’s side of the chapel I’ll be sitting on.

I’m kindred spirits with Jin. So if it made any sense, I’d be on his side. Oh, and Jin was the only one of the four guys with 8+ Hearts whom I didn’t marry that actually said something completely adorable. That he had to be brave and love again. T-T

When I read that, I knew that I just had to let Jin go and get married to the other woman. Even though I wanted him to stay single. For I was planning on marrying him with my New Game +

But we must remember that I’m already bored with the game. So it’s doubtful that will happen.

Usual I’m just horrible when it comes to find all the little extra stuff.

Oh, yes, speaking of extras. I looked up the special treat as well. So I can’t say I figured that one out on my own. And in a sense, how are you supposed to? It seemed completely random that you need to jump in mid air off the trolley, climb the cliff, have full health, and kill yourself three times over. Then the special treat will be there?? o.O

What’s up with Doctor Light. Seriously. Does he get off at watching his robots die? Is that why X and Megaman explode into flashing lights and whatever. Because Doctor Light is stoned or something and thinks it’s totally sweet?

Either way, putting that retardedness behind. Um… how do I use this stupid thing anyways? I know it one hits bosses so uh… I want it to work? Right now? That’d be nice. Seriously Doctor Light, I just killed myself three times for you. Let me use this bloody thing!

Well I did figure out how to use that bloody ‘Special Treat’ in Megaman X. So no worries.

Yes I know that sounds really retarded. Especially to anyone who has played Street Fighter and knows the button combo. But hey, when I played Street Fighter I think I was two years old. It wasn’t ours even. And I think I played the Sumo guy anyways.

So I texted Sean, how do I use this bloody thing! And he was like, Sharon you have to roll over the D-pad like Sabin’s Blitz (And have full health). Then everything made sense. XD;

Anyways. I managed to get to the last stage! Not really amazing. But for someone who sucks at side scrollers, it was great.

I only actually managed to hit three bosses with the stupid thing though. I just don’t know the timing. So when I’m trying to use it I just get damaged, thus I can’t use it anymore.

Ah, but I managed to figure out that stupid kitty out. It kept getting a nice mouth full of haduken to it’s face. Tee hee. But I couldn’t beat Sigma/Darth Vader (As dubbed by my mother and I because she started watching me for whatever reason o.O;;).

For someone who couldn’t even get to the final boss of the game, I’m rather content. =3=

Either way, I was playing and I actually managed to get to the Sigma stages. Also copied down my password because really, I didn’t want to go through all of that again.

It wasn’t that it was insanely difficult or anything. But I did have a fair amount of problems with certain portions of the game. Like, Sting Chameleon for one. But I somehow pulled awesome out of no where the last life I had. Managing to kill him. One of those times when you’ve gotten used to the patterns finally and know that hey, there are a ton of times that you can actually hit him.

Another was that damned boss in the middle of the water stage. The stupid thing that sucks and pulls you around when there isn’t anything but spikes of death surrounding you. Which was such a pain! But I finally got past that and managed to get the heart capsule. Which was another problem really. Those damned spikes were just begging me to jump into them or something. Since they took my life, over, and over, and over again.

Oh yes, and the last part was trying to jump back up the shaft to miss the digger robot thing that normally chases you in the Armadillo stage. Since well, I really wanted that Energy tank behind him. I finally gave up and ran all the way through the tunnel to where it dies, and ran back to get it.

I think I only got four of the heart capsules. I saw the other two, that being in Boomer and Armadillo stages. But didn’t even see the ones in the Spark or Chameleon stages. And at that, I still need one more energy tank. As well as the cannon upgrade. Because there is a cannon upgrade, isn’t there? Legs, body, helmet, and cannon… yeah, sounds about right to me. But I can’t really remember. Never really got far as a kid. And all I remember is from watching my brother anyways many years ago.

Just wondering if the cannon upgrade would mean anything now considering the fact that I have Zero’s cannon and all. I’ll have to see some other time.

Again, which is odd really. I had problems finishing the game the first time through. Do to mostly the fact that the during Grune’s Character Quest the monsters become so hard it’s pretty much fighting individual boss fights every minute on the map. It just dragged really, and I got tired of it. The fact they never added voices to that part of the game puzzles me as well. Considering the Japanese version has it apparently. So why did we get a cropped out version in the end? I guess either they ran out of time before their deadline or they didn’t have the money to pay the voice actors more. Who knows. But it’s like having a half complete game in some sense.

But replaying it I’m really surprised. Just how much I actually enjoy this game. Well, the battle system can be downplayed when compared to the Symphonia’s team work. But really I don’t mind the Destiny battle system. Especially since, playing on Hard this time through, some fights are actually hard. Which is great to see. I hate when games just let you breeze by without a care. Like, I dunno, Final Fantasy.

Either way, it’s a good mix really. Hard, but not to the point you’re pulling your hair out and about to smash the controller into the tv frustrating. It’s one of those, well most of my party just got turned to stone and the only one left is Norma who’s about to get herself killed. Hmm… It’s possible to pull yourself out of that. But again, it’s really easy to die. I’ve had many close calls, from just the normal fights! Actually, they sometimes give me more trouble then the boss battles do. When there is a giant monster in your way and a pitiful little castor behind it, man I hate those fights. Since that pitiful castor, doesn’t have pitiful spells. Your character can drop easily between being face munched and spell launched. Then again, it probably doesn’t help that I play as Jay. Because Jay has pathetic castor armour! Yay!

Perhaps the thing that has surprised me most about replaying it is the fact I actually… like the characters? I didn’t really remember that the first time through. All I remembered was, Jay was adorible, Norma was annoying, Moses is dumb, Grune doesn’t wear underwear. But this time through, I’m actually sitting there and just enjoying Senel and Chloe’s cute moments together. Senel having little fits. Will being his geeky self.

Really, the one thing I loved about this game before, it isn’t all serious and stone face. Really, games like that get boring. And they’re everywhere mind you. While this one does have a ‘serious’ overall story, the whole going from point a to point b is rather hilarious.

Hearing Moses screaming about looking for his horny baby doesn’t get much better in that respect.

Even the little fights the characters have with one another. Their funny, and more importantly, tangible. The characters are amazingly fleshed out even before the character quests. None are really of a certain extreme either. The hero isn’t extremly dumb, or heroic. He’s actually rather selfish and narrow minded, whom just wants to save his ‘sister’.

Kind of wanted to talk about the first chapter, but I ended up rambling more about the game overall. I guess I’ll save the actual story and gameplay for another post.