Quick disjointed thoughts about things. Too unorganized for proper posts, but ones that I want to put down in writing anyway.
2026-02-06: Cairn
I didn’t expect to enjoy the mechanics as much as I did. I played the demo, and I liked it, but I didn’t think I’d love the full game as much as I ended up doing. Bought on a whim, since I had just finished Trails in the Sky: The 3rd, and had a 10 day gap before Mewgenics releases. Finished in 14 hours over 3 days.
More thoughts on the story below. Spoiler warning!
I liked that the protagonist was deeply flawed. She’s quick to temper and abrasive and irresponsible and irrational and yet, and yet, that just makes her human. Throughout the game we also see hints of compassion; from the way she interacts with Marco, to her reactions as she learns about the now-gone civilization that lived on the mountain.
I’m so so so sad about Climbot! I knew there would be some tragedy at the end involving him (yes, I’m using he/him pronouns for Climbot). If there’s a cute lil' faithful companion who’s been around since the beginning, both of the game and of Aava’s life, then surely, surely that lil' creature would meet some tragic end at the end. It’s a trope so obvious and so overdone and yet still works on me, everytime. Of course I hauled him up the mountain. I hope the little guy finds peace. Which leads me to the last bit…
I’m still processing the ending. My interpretation is that Aava died at the summit. She gave it her all to make it there. She pushed herself to the absolute limit and burned herself out. At the beginning of the game she said, “all I ever wanted to do was to touch eternity, even for an instant.” And she did, in a way. I think she succumbed to hypothermia and hypoxia. I think she collapsed, exhausted. I like to believe that she held Climbot as she did so. In the ending sequence we see the death throes of her mind as she imagines, or hallucinates, herself burning bright and finally touching eternity.
Kami’s summit was Aava’s greatest desire in life. Not a desire in the sense of wanting it, but a desire in the sense of needing it. She needed to try to reach Kami’s summit. Whether or not she does so… That’s secondary to the act of devoting every fiber of herself into trying. She needed to try, with all her being, and she did try, and she did summit, and she did become whole.
2026-02-05: Terry Pratchett - The Fifth Elephant
This is one of Pratchett’s books that demonstrate how progressive he was during a time where people were largely unaware of trans people and trans issues. Not only that, but there are a few passages in the book that show how Pratchett had a level of understanding of the trans experience, beyond what a cis person would normally express. I wonder how much of this is due to research, and how much is simply his humanism shining through; his razor sharp observation of the world around him. I like how he wrote about gender identity with grace.
2026-02-03: Metal concerts in sit down venues
Just back from a Dream Theater concert. The band almost exclusively holds their concerts in sit-down venues these days. Wasn’t sure initially what to expect; the idea of a sit-down metal concert seemed kind of strange to me. But I actually really enjoyed it! I think it works especially well for DT’s music, with long technical instrumental sections. It gives space to appreciate the technicality on display. In general I’d still prefer standing in the pit, at least for most other bands.
2026-02-01: Trails in the Sky FC/SC/3rd
I finished FC in 2024, SC a week ago, and 3rd just. A wonderful wrap up to this trio of games. In terms of ranking I’d say SC > FC > 3rd. I just adored Estelle’s journey and growth. I tend to be a sucker for the coming of age and found family tropes. I think SC might very well have broken into my top 10 games, or top 15 at least. Excited to start on the Crossbell arc next, but I’ll need to take a long break lest I get burnt out. I find that I can’t binge more than a couple JRPGs without burning out.