Shrunken Shrine
@shrunkenshrine.com
Cantering about the house with a candle.
Current project: Roguelike Deck-building Games - A Chronological Exploration. https://shrunkenshrine.com
Avatar by @amlogamer.bsky.social. Banner by @cynicalruins.bsky.social.
Current project: Roguelike Deck-building Games - A Chronological Exploration. https://shrunkenshrine.com
Avatar by @amlogamer.bsky.social. Banner by @cynicalruins.bsky.social.
But this is an MMO, so how *about* those party members? Well, if you're not adventuring in real-time with anyone, you can temporarily hire AI-piloted versions of real players in whatever state they last saved the game in. When they log back in, they get some money and experience for helping you out!
January 2, 2026 at 4:09 AM
But this is an MMO, so how *about* those party members? Well, if you're not adventuring in real-time with anyone, you can temporarily hire AI-piloted versions of real players in whatever state they last saved the game in. When they log back in, they get some money and experience for helping you out!
Another example. Many DQs have a system where you can have AI handle your party's battle actions. No-one in human history has used this. Here, taking care of *yourself* in combat keeps your hands full enough, so having the game autopilot your comrades (very well, actually) is necessary for once.
January 2, 2026 at 4:04 AM
Another example. Many DQs have a system where you can have AI handle your party's battle actions. No-one in human history has used this. Here, taking care of *yourself* in combat keeps your hands full enough, so having the game autopilot your comrades (very well, actually) is necessary for once.
Indeed, Dragon Quest X is standard DQ until it VERY SUDDENLY ISN'T in some unique ways. I stumbled into a four-hour murder mystery sidequest. Not a single battle. Culminates in a Detective Conan-type criminal reveal by way of submitting evidence Phoenix Wright-style. Came out of nowhere.
January 2, 2026 at 3:55 AM
Indeed, Dragon Quest X is standard DQ until it VERY SUDDENLY ISN'T in some unique ways. I stumbled into a four-hour murder mystery sidequest. Not a single battle. Culminates in a Detective Conan-type criminal reveal by way of submitting evidence Phoenix Wright-style. Came out of nowhere.
An incredible tutorial moment where the sky goes black and thunderous and the music totally drops out while you have to make a desperate run back to your village while it's getting destroyed. It's a surprisingly evocative, threatening moment for a series that primarily deals in laughs and tears.
January 2, 2026 at 2:57 AM
An incredible tutorial moment where the sky goes black and thunderous and the music totally drops out while you have to make a desperate run back to your village while it's getting destroyed. It's a surprisingly evocative, threatening moment for a series that primarily deals in laughs and tears.
Fights are, incredibly, still turn-based, with the familiar DQ fight/magic/skill/item menu setup. In a series first, there's an action-time-battle element. Turns come quicker if you take a while to input a command, which reduces the rush to find what you want to do.
January 2, 2026 at 2:54 AM
Fights are, incredibly, still turn-based, with the familiar DQ fight/magic/skill/item menu setup. In a series first, there's an action-time-battle element. Turns come quicker if you take a while to input a command, which reduces the rush to find what you want to do.
You don't actually have a full party of four until you complete the first quest for whatever race you picked, so this seems to be an introduction less for DQ players who are new to MMOs, but perhaps MMO players who are new to DQ.
January 2, 2026 at 2:48 AM
You don't actually have a full party of four until you complete the first quest for whatever race you picked, so this seems to be an introduction less for DQ players who are new to MMOs, but perhaps MMO players who are new to DQ.
You can choose one of your six DQ9 classes starting out: warrior, mage, priest, thief, martial artist, or minstrel. Virgil here's a thief: a bitta stabbing, a bitta healing, and a whole lot of being able to detect treasure and enemy info.
January 2, 2026 at 2:24 AM
You can choose one of your six DQ9 classes starting out: warrior, mage, priest, thief, martial artist, or minstrel. Virgil here's a thief: a bitta stabbing, a bitta healing, and a whole lot of being able to detect treasure and enemy info.
I started off as a human for a brief tutorial, and was then promptly killed and reborn into a race of my choosing. I went with a 'weddie', these charming Toriyama fishfolk. The funny thing is I inhabit the body of a swordwoman who had also just died... surely I'm just possessing her?
January 2, 2026 at 2:15 AM
I started off as a human for a brief tutorial, and was then promptly killed and reborn into a race of my choosing. I went with a 'weddie', these charming Toriyama fishfolk. The funny thing is I inhabit the body of a swordwoman who had also just died... surely I'm just possessing her?
I have never played an MMO. Perhaps a fan/machine-translated game I need a Japanese address, payment plan, and VPN to play isn't the easiest one to start with. But I come into this to finally play the only mainline DQ I haven't, so I'm going to be grateful for the substantial tools that we have.
January 1, 2026 at 5:07 AM
I have never played an MMO. Perhaps a fan/machine-translated game I need a Japanese address, payment plan, and VPN to play isn't the easiest one to start with. But I come into this to finally play the only mainline DQ I haven't, so I'm going to be grateful for the substantial tools that we have.
Foobar, assuming it's still about.
December 6, 2025 at 2:50 AM
Foobar, assuming it's still about.
I think I watched Master and Commander no fewer than 15 times with my mother on DVD over the course of several years
September 1, 2025 at 5:11 AM
I think I watched Master and Commander no fewer than 15 times with my mother on DVD over the course of several years
This art style for the gang rules, whoah
May 19, 2025 at 2:05 PM
This art style for the gang rules, whoah
Frank, if only for its services in getting more people into Mr Sidebottom's ouevre.
May 6, 2025 at 11:05 AM
Frank, if only for its services in getting more people into Mr Sidebottom's ouevre.
Crow Country was one of my favourite games this year. Worked really well on Steam Deck and had a nice balance between having controls that reflected your character not being a crack shot and actually hitting what you aim at.
December 27, 2024 at 4:21 AM
Crow Country was one of my favourite games this year. Worked really well on Steam Deck and had a nice balance between having controls that reflected your character not being a crack shot and actually hitting what you aim at.
Ch. 3
This chapter could straight up be a DQ quest. Take a turtle back to sea and fight a bear warrior. I wonder if Gon's jajanken attack in HxH has some inspiration from this part, but then again janken is everywhere. Love the sea turtle himself having an elderly British note in his dialogue.
This chapter could straight up be a DQ quest. Take a turtle back to sea and fight a bear warrior. I wonder if Gon's jajanken attack in HxH has some inspiration from this part, but then again janken is everywhere. Love the sea turtle himself having an elderly British note in his dialogue.
December 26, 2024 at 4:06 AM
Ch. 3
This chapter could straight up be a DQ quest. Take a turtle back to sea and fight a bear warrior. I wonder if Gon's jajanken attack in HxH has some inspiration from this part, but then again janken is everywhere. Love the sea turtle himself having an elderly British note in his dialogue.
This chapter could straight up be a DQ quest. Take a turtle back to sea and fight a bear warrior. I wonder if Gon's jajanken attack in HxH has some inspiration from this part, but then again janken is everywhere. Love the sea turtle himself having an elderly British note in his dialogue.
Ch. 2
I actually owned volume 1 when I was 10. Bought it from Ottakar's bookstore (feel old now?) with pocket money. The sex comedy stuff I can take or leave, but the early Goku/Bulma dynamic has lines that have stuck with forever. "An' a centipede for flavor!" has been in my mind for 20+ years.
I actually owned volume 1 when I was 10. Bought it from Ottakar's bookstore (feel old now?) with pocket money. The sex comedy stuff I can take or leave, but the early Goku/Bulma dynamic has lines that have stuck with forever. "An' a centipede for flavor!" has been in my mind for 20+ years.
December 26, 2024 at 3:56 AM
Ch. 2
I actually owned volume 1 when I was 10. Bought it from Ottakar's bookstore (feel old now?) with pocket money. The sex comedy stuff I can take or leave, but the early Goku/Bulma dynamic has lines that have stuck with forever. "An' a centipede for flavor!" has been in my mind for 20+ years.
I actually owned volume 1 when I was 10. Bought it from Ottakar's bookstore (feel old now?) with pocket money. The sex comedy stuff I can take or leave, but the early Goku/Bulma dynamic has lines that have stuck with forever. "An' a centipede for flavor!" has been in my mind for 20+ years.
Ch. 1
The recent DQ3 remake was what finally got me reading. Toriyama is the master of instantly recognisable gross/scary villains and cute/unusual monsters. From the get-go, DB is populated by creatures like this squat pterodactyl. Great panelling, you can really feel that FWAK. This dude is DONEZO
The recent DQ3 remake was what finally got me reading. Toriyama is the master of instantly recognisable gross/scary villains and cute/unusual monsters. From the get-go, DB is populated by creatures like this squat pterodactyl. Great panelling, you can really feel that FWAK. This dude is DONEZO
December 26, 2024 at 3:28 AM
Ch. 1
The recent DQ3 remake was what finally got me reading. Toriyama is the master of instantly recognisable gross/scary villains and cute/unusual monsters. From the get-go, DB is populated by creatures like this squat pterodactyl. Great panelling, you can really feel that FWAK. This dude is DONEZO
The recent DQ3 remake was what finally got me reading. Toriyama is the master of instantly recognisable gross/scary villains and cute/unusual monsters. From the get-go, DB is populated by creatures like this squat pterodactyl. Great panelling, you can really feel that FWAK. This dude is DONEZO
This is one of the best reissues of all time
December 26, 2024 at 2:50 AM
This is one of the best reissues of all time
Exhuma (2024)
Not exactly orthodox Xmas viewing, but this slow and thoughtful Korean horror has some interesting things to suggest about generational guilt and unresolved familial hatred. Great cast and acting that makes an old-fashioned concept seem modern and believable.
Not exactly orthodox Xmas viewing, but this slow and thoughtful Korean horror has some interesting things to suggest about generational guilt and unresolved familial hatred. Great cast and acting that makes an old-fashioned concept seem modern and believable.
a woman in a kimono is running through a forest with a sword .
ALT: a woman in a kimono is running through a forest with a sword .
media.tenor.com
December 26, 2024 at 2:43 AM
Exhuma (2024)
Not exactly orthodox Xmas viewing, but this slow and thoughtful Korean horror has some interesting things to suggest about generational guilt and unresolved familial hatred. Great cast and acting that makes an old-fashioned concept seem modern and believable.
Not exactly orthodox Xmas viewing, but this slow and thoughtful Korean horror has some interesting things to suggest about generational guilt and unresolved familial hatred. Great cast and acting that makes an old-fashioned concept seem modern and believable.
Mother 3 (2006)
Actually managed to satisfy me, even with all the years of wondering about it. A very tight, linear RPG that really lets you get attached to a village having its way of life uprooted by forces so gradual they don't even notice the manipulation. Beautiful art and sound.
Actually managed to satisfy me, even with all the years of wondering about it. A very tight, linear RPG that really lets you get attached to a village having its way of life uprooted by forces so gradual they don't even notice the manipulation. Beautiful art and sound.
a pixel art illustration of a family sitting in a car
ALT: a pixel art illustration of a family sitting in a car
media.tenor.com
December 26, 2024 at 2:34 AM
Mother 3 (2006)
Actually managed to satisfy me, even with all the years of wondering about it. A very tight, linear RPG that really lets you get attached to a village having its way of life uprooted by forces so gradual they don't even notice the manipulation. Beautiful art and sound.
Actually managed to satisfy me, even with all the years of wondering about it. A very tight, linear RPG that really lets you get attached to a village having its way of life uprooted by forces so gradual they don't even notice the manipulation. Beautiful art and sound.
The Substance (2024)
Practical effect body horror is back!! Plus it's really nice to see Demi Moore again. Very stylishly made. Seems to be in a race to top itself by the ending, as if to say 'don't worry, things can always get worse'!
Practical effect body horror is back!! Plus it's really nice to see Demi Moore again. Very stylishly made. Seems to be in a race to top itself by the ending, as if to say 'don't worry, things can always get worse'!
a woman wearing a blue top is clapping her hands together
ALT: a woman wearing a blue top is clapping her hands together
media.tenor.com
December 26, 2024 at 2:30 AM
The Substance (2024)
Practical effect body horror is back!! Plus it's really nice to see Demi Moore again. Very stylishly made. Seems to be in a race to top itself by the ending, as if to say 'don't worry, things can always get worse'!
Practical effect body horror is back!! Plus it's really nice to see Demi Moore again. Very stylishly made. Seems to be in a race to top itself by the ending, as if to say 'don't worry, things can always get worse'!