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aestivalis) wrote2021-05-16 06:44 pm
aestivalis) wrote2021-05-16 06:44 pm
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Opera Omnia 1: Looks like it's me and you again!
As mentioned in my last journal entry, I'm gonna start recording some notes from Dissida Final Fantasy: Opera Omnia! I'll probably try to cover one main story chapter per relevant post, and a few Lost Chapter recruitments as well.
Which means we're starting at the start today, Chapter 1: Primus Island! Which, straight up, is a pretty boring and uneventful introduction to the conceit of the game, so there isn't much to say. I should mention that I'm mostly just recording little character moments, dialogue I like, ideas I enjoy, that sort of thing. This isn't meant to be a summary of the overall story of Opera Omnia, though I'll provide context when it's necessary.
Anyway, Primus Island! There legitimately isn't too much to say about this chapter, even though it's the beginning of everything. The story is kept really simple and basic at this point, without much implication of where things might be headed aside from 'torsions are bad, we must close them'.
The initial party consists of the FF1 Warrior of Light, Vivi, Sazh and Rem, but it doesn't take very long for other characters to get enlisted, so you don't really get any particular details of what it was like for those four alone together.
- Tifa and Cloud are the first additional recruits. The timeline for them is kinda vague at this stage, in terms of where they are in relation to their original game. Cloud says he has a score to settle with someone (hour long fart noise), which would imply at the absolute minimum that Midgar has happened. He's aware that Sephiroth is out there and wants to face him. There's also a bit where Tifa says 'Looks like it's me and you again!', which could... honestly be refering to just about anything, timeline wise. SHRUG. The story is just not that exciting at this point, there isn't too much to pull from anything.
Sazh does implicitly compare Cloud to Lightning though, which is fun. 'Strongheaded soldiers who take on way too much alone'.
- Hope and Y'shtola are the other two heroes recruited in this chapter, without too much fanfare on either front. I'm so glad Sazh is one of the first characters in this game, though. He's such a wonderful person, and I love the energy he brings to any scenario he's in. And he gets all excited about the airship, too! Later on a bunch of other pilot characters have shown up and usurped his role as flight captain, but he'll always be the Team Pilot to me, hahaha.
- One thing I had forgotten is that Kuja is the first antagonist we're shown! I've always felt like Opera Omnia does really well by Kuja, which is probably part of what drew me in to it so much in the first place. I am extremely fond of that man. But I didn't recall him being the first of the villains to appear. He doesn't do much here except monologue sinisterly to himself (very IC), but I'm sure he'll start making a nuisance of himself soon enough. im love him.
CHARACTERS INTRODUCED: Goddess Materia, Mog (DFFOO), Warrior of Light, Vivi, Rem, Sazh, Kuja, Tifa, Cloud, Hope, Y'shtola.
*italicised characters not recruited/playable
That's really all there is to say for Chapter 1! But let's go look at the first few Lost Chapters as well. These are additional story events that allow you to recruit more characters into your roster. And the very first character event DFFOO offered was... Squall Leonhart!
- Squall is found wandering around in a cave, and interestingly he immediately evokes 'my client'. Even in a mysterious unknown world Squall is doing his mercenary thing apparently, god bless.
I'm pretty sure the client in question turns out to be Edgar from Final Fantasy VI. Edgar is positioned quite interestingly in the first Act of Opera Omnia, running his own set of investigations parallel to the player party. Squall isn't the only character we meet who is already assisting The Returners, and it's still quite a long time before these two factions finally come together.
Anyway, Squall says he's a mercenary and he's been tasked to investigate the cave and eliminate threats. And then he says he can take care of himself and walks off, because of course he does.
- So the party follow after him, and warn him that it's dangerous by himself. He just warns them right back. 'This isn't a place for amateurs'. Sazh tells him to lighten up, but I like this bit of typical Squall writing. Of course he can't just come right out and be open about his concerns, but that's exactly what's going on here—he doesn't want this group, a group including children, to be placed in unnecessary danger. He's a good boy really :(
Cloud tells him he's showing off, which Squall doesn't appreciate very much, hahaha. He also refuses to reveal any information about the client, and then drops the very first hint that Mog might not be wholly trustworthy. I'm surprised that shows up this early, honestly!
In the end Squall tells them they can stay close to him if they're that worried. But he's NOT joining them. 'But I'll help you out while you're here'.
Bless this repressed lad.
- When he's challenged about working for a client he apparently doesn't trust, Squall opens up to Rem a bit. He admits he was lost without a purpose, and then 'he came along. Told me he needed my help. Didn't even ask who I was or where I came from'. So I'm just saying, if you want to ship Edgar/Squall, maybe this is the place to do it.
Tifa compares Squall to ~someone else she knows~, and then calls Squall awkward. I MEAN, SHE AIN'T WRONG.
- Y'shtola interrupts Squall at one point. Internally, he thinks, 'Don't finish my sentences. You'll remind me of her'. To which I say ;_;
- 'I'm just trying to survive to see my friends again. That's all.' SQUALL WHY ARE YOU BEING SO CUTE. That being said, the Lost Chapter weirdly ends there? There's no sense of resolution to Squall's mission or anything like that. He's just... hanging around to deal with torsions now, because that's what his client cares about. WHICH IS FINE I GUESS, it just feels a bit abrupt after all that lead in! But whatever. At least Squall has another blond boyfriend to add to the list. And one who doesn't even need babysitting for a change! (sorry FFVIII blond boys, I love you but you're fucking hopeless)
Squall isn't too surprising of a first choice for one of these character events. Next up, though, was Vanille from Final Fantasy XIII! I'm not really too sure how popular Vanille is, but that does make three FFXIII characters already in the roster at this early point. I'm not actually sure how many main story chapters were already available on release, mind you...
WHATEVER, onwards!
- The Vanille Lost Chapter isn't all that exciting, to be honest. It starts with her needing a rescue from some monsters. Get used to this, a LOT of characters are introduced this way. The only noteworthy thing is that the forest they're in when this happens doesn't seem to want them to leave, and this affect lessens once they find and unite with Vanille.
Vanille says it feels like something in the forest is calling to her, and so they all agree to go with her to investigate. And so, onwards!
- ALRIGHT, SO, the next part features Dark Knight Cecil and Yuna! So this Lost Chapter must take place after the story chapter where those two characters are introduced, oops. Probably chapter two. Anyway, Vanille points out that it's weird for all-powerful gods to need their help... but privately laments that she totally knows the feeling of things not working out the way they're supposed to. :( she's a good girl. they're all good kids damn it.
- Yda, Yuffie and Edge are all in this next part! I probably should have planned this better, oops. BUT ANYWAY, hijinks and such occur, but eventually the team find a nefarious pendant with a dark aura? That Vanille just grabs and puts on, and then the dark aura goes away. Mog says that there are items in this world that choose their owners, and this must be one of those items.
Sazh and Vanille banter a little bit, which is wonderful because they have the best relationship in FFXIII and I will fight anyone who doesn't agree.
Sazh: You can't afford to take any chances at my age.
Vanille: You take chances all the time though. Especially when it involves your family.
Sazh: Guess we're not that different then, huh?
This somehow manages to be super wholesome and an oof at the same time.
Anyway, you would think that this pendant thing is important or in reference to something, but it doesn't seem to be. I don't remember anything else like this happening at any other point, and I don't think it's referencing any canon event either (though correct me if I'm wrong!). I guess the concept is quick and easy enough though. If you ever feel the need to write OpeOmni fanfiction, mysterious reality-warping items are now canonical.
Not much more to say, though! I gotta try not to let my biases get too much in the way, but there are definitely some characters/games I care about more than others. There's even a few Lost Chapter characters I actively dislike, but I will try to behave myself and do them some sort of justice when we get that far.
For now, though, that's enough! We'll make sure to do more story chapter next time, since a bunch of folks are showing up in the Lost Chapters. And hopefully we'll find out just what that naughty boy Kuja is up to. Whatever it is? I Support Him.
Which means we're starting at the start today, Chapter 1: Primus Island! Which, straight up, is a pretty boring and uneventful introduction to the conceit of the game, so there isn't much to say. I should mention that I'm mostly just recording little character moments, dialogue I like, ideas I enjoy, that sort of thing. This isn't meant to be a summary of the overall story of Opera Omnia, though I'll provide context when it's necessary.
Anyway, Primus Island! There legitimately isn't too much to say about this chapter, even though it's the beginning of everything. The story is kept really simple and basic at this point, without much implication of where things might be headed aside from 'torsions are bad, we must close them'.
The initial party consists of the FF1 Warrior of Light, Vivi, Sazh and Rem, but it doesn't take very long for other characters to get enlisted, so you don't really get any particular details of what it was like for those four alone together.
- Tifa and Cloud are the first additional recruits. The timeline for them is kinda vague at this stage, in terms of where they are in relation to their original game. Cloud says he has a score to settle with someone (hour long fart noise), which would imply at the absolute minimum that Midgar has happened. He's aware that Sephiroth is out there and wants to face him. There's also a bit where Tifa says 'Looks like it's me and you again!', which could... honestly be refering to just about anything, timeline wise. SHRUG. The story is just not that exciting at this point, there isn't too much to pull from anything.
Sazh does implicitly compare Cloud to Lightning though, which is fun. 'Strongheaded soldiers who take on way too much alone'.
- Hope and Y'shtola are the other two heroes recruited in this chapter, without too much fanfare on either front. I'm so glad Sazh is one of the first characters in this game, though. He's such a wonderful person, and I love the energy he brings to any scenario he's in. And he gets all excited about the airship, too! Later on a bunch of other pilot characters have shown up and usurped his role as flight captain, but he'll always be the Team Pilot to me, hahaha.
- One thing I had forgotten is that Kuja is the first antagonist we're shown! I've always felt like Opera Omnia does really well by Kuja, which is probably part of what drew me in to it so much in the first place. I am extremely fond of that man. But I didn't recall him being the first of the villains to appear. He doesn't do much here except monologue sinisterly to himself (very IC), but I'm sure he'll start making a nuisance of himself soon enough. im love him.
CHARACTERS INTRODUCED: Goddess Materia, Mog (DFFOO), Warrior of Light, Vivi, Rem, Sazh, Kuja, Tifa, Cloud, Hope, Y'shtola.
*italicised characters not recruited/playable
That's really all there is to say for Chapter 1! But let's go look at the first few Lost Chapters as well. These are additional story events that allow you to recruit more characters into your roster. And the very first character event DFFOO offered was... Squall Leonhart!
- Squall is found wandering around in a cave, and interestingly he immediately evokes 'my client'. Even in a mysterious unknown world Squall is doing his mercenary thing apparently, god bless.
I'm pretty sure the client in question turns out to be Edgar from Final Fantasy VI. Edgar is positioned quite interestingly in the first Act of Opera Omnia, running his own set of investigations parallel to the player party. Squall isn't the only character we meet who is already assisting The Returners, and it's still quite a long time before these two factions finally come together.
Anyway, Squall says he's a mercenary and he's been tasked to investigate the cave and eliminate threats. And then he says he can take care of himself and walks off, because of course he does.
- So the party follow after him, and warn him that it's dangerous by himself. He just warns them right back. 'This isn't a place for amateurs'. Sazh tells him to lighten up, but I like this bit of typical Squall writing. Of course he can't just come right out and be open about his concerns, but that's exactly what's going on here—he doesn't want this group, a group including children, to be placed in unnecessary danger. He's a good boy really :(
Cloud tells him he's showing off, which Squall doesn't appreciate very much, hahaha. He also refuses to reveal any information about the client, and then drops the very first hint that Mog might not be wholly trustworthy. I'm surprised that shows up this early, honestly!
In the end Squall tells them they can stay close to him if they're that worried. But he's NOT joining them. 'But I'll help you out while you're here'.
Bless this repressed lad.
- When he's challenged about working for a client he apparently doesn't trust, Squall opens up to Rem a bit. He admits he was lost without a purpose, and then 'he came along. Told me he needed my help. Didn't even ask who I was or where I came from'. So I'm just saying, if you want to ship Edgar/Squall, maybe this is the place to do it.
Tifa compares Squall to ~someone else she knows~, and then calls Squall awkward. I MEAN, SHE AIN'T WRONG.
- Y'shtola interrupts Squall at one point. Internally, he thinks, 'Don't finish my sentences. You'll remind me of her'. To which I say ;_;
- 'I'm just trying to survive to see my friends again. That's all.' SQUALL WHY ARE YOU BEING SO CUTE. That being said, the Lost Chapter weirdly ends there? There's no sense of resolution to Squall's mission or anything like that. He's just... hanging around to deal with torsions now, because that's what his client cares about. WHICH IS FINE I GUESS, it just feels a bit abrupt after all that lead in! But whatever. At least Squall has another blond boyfriend to add to the list. And one who doesn't even need babysitting for a change! (sorry FFVIII blond boys, I love you but you're fucking hopeless)
Squall isn't too surprising of a first choice for one of these character events. Next up, though, was Vanille from Final Fantasy XIII! I'm not really too sure how popular Vanille is, but that does make three FFXIII characters already in the roster at this early point. I'm not actually sure how many main story chapters were already available on release, mind you...
WHATEVER, onwards!
- The Vanille Lost Chapter isn't all that exciting, to be honest. It starts with her needing a rescue from some monsters. Get used to this, a LOT of characters are introduced this way. The only noteworthy thing is that the forest they're in when this happens doesn't seem to want them to leave, and this affect lessens once they find and unite with Vanille.
Vanille says it feels like something in the forest is calling to her, and so they all agree to go with her to investigate. And so, onwards!
- ALRIGHT, SO, the next part features Dark Knight Cecil and Yuna! So this Lost Chapter must take place after the story chapter where those two characters are introduced, oops. Probably chapter two. Anyway, Vanille points out that it's weird for all-powerful gods to need their help... but privately laments that she totally knows the feeling of things not working out the way they're supposed to. :( she's a good girl. they're all good kids damn it.
- Yda, Yuffie and Edge are all in this next part! I probably should have planned this better, oops. BUT ANYWAY, hijinks and such occur, but eventually the team find a nefarious pendant with a dark aura? That Vanille just grabs and puts on, and then the dark aura goes away. Mog says that there are items in this world that choose their owners, and this must be one of those items.
Sazh and Vanille banter a little bit, which is wonderful because they have the best relationship in FFXIII and I will fight anyone who doesn't agree.
Sazh: You can't afford to take any chances at my age.
Vanille: You take chances all the time though. Especially when it involves your family.
Sazh: Guess we're not that different then, huh?
This somehow manages to be super wholesome and an oof at the same time.
Anyway, you would think that this pendant thing is important or in reference to something, but it doesn't seem to be. I don't remember anything else like this happening at any other point, and I don't think it's referencing any canon event either (though correct me if I'm wrong!). I guess the concept is quick and easy enough though. If you ever feel the need to write OpeOmni fanfiction, mysterious reality-warping items are now canonical.
Not much more to say, though! I gotta try not to let my biases get too much in the way, but there are definitely some characters/games I care about more than others. There's even a few Lost Chapter characters I actively dislike, but I will try to behave myself and do them some sort of justice when we get that far.
For now, though, that's enough! We'll make sure to do more story chapter next time, since a bunch of folks are showing up in the Lost Chapters. And hopefully we'll find out just what that naughty boy Kuja is up to. Whatever it is? I Support Him.
no subject
Sazh was such a good choice for the early team. He's one of my favourite Final Fantasy characters, grounded and realistic and compassionate and responsible while still being fun, and he interacts well with just about anyone you introduce him to. I also kept thinking of him as our pilot no matter how many pilots were introduced.
I really enjoyed this entry! It's great to be reminded of these little details and character interactions. And I'm glad to hear I helped introduce you to the game! It's a surprisingly solid mobile title, and I really appreciate that (up to where I've reached, at least) it's absolutely possible to enjoy the story without spending any money.
no subject
I'm not sure I can argue very strongly in favour of Edgar/Squall, but I am absolutely fond enough of Edgar to want to make a case for pretty much any pairing option conceivable. And Squall brings something so closed off but so vulnerable to any dynamic, which is always fun to play with!
Looking again at these early chapters has actually made me revisit Final Fantasy XIII! I remembered that I had played back up to Palumpolum 'a while back', and was astonished to discover it was actually back in 2016. Oops. But I've been playing away at it again since, and have just reached Gran Pulse for the first time. Sazh is every bit as wonderful as I remembered and then some. I'm having so much fun playing it again!