Polo

Hm, that sounds intriguing. Sure. Details are welcome.

Zidane Tribal "You don't need a reason to help people." Article by: Polo Pictured from: Final Fantasy IX Created by: Square First appearance: 2000 Bio Zidane Tribal is a consummate thief and the hero of Final Fantasy IX. Since infancy, he was raised by the Tantalus Theater Troupe, a traveling group of thieves who perform for audiences while surreptitiously swiping their goods. Zidane's repertoire is detailed further in battles: he can steal up to four items from the same target, detect what goods they have on them, and up his chances of acquiring rarities. When fighting, dual daggers and thief swords are his weapons of choice. He also has a distraction aptly named "What's That!?" that makes enemies turn around in confusion, allowing for back attacks. Outside of battles and thievery missions, Zidane is as relaxed and easygoing as any confident individual. Being brought up in a cohesive family unit has its long-reaching advantages: aside from his streetwise skills, his heart has been forged by a sense of belonging, meaning new allies that feel out of place or unsure of themselves get support from their "big brother." Although normally flirtatious when it comes to women, Zidane grows to respect runaway Princess Garnet, whose athletic skills, self-appointed nickname after Zidane's trusty blade (Dagger), and basic obligation to the throne prove she's not just another skirt to chase. One of Zidane's in-battle skills, Protect Girls, can be seen as a reflection of his chivalry in the form of parrying blows meant for female party members. Taken as a whole, Zidane fits perfectly into his social network. Or does he? As the story of Final Fantasy IX unfolds, clues about Zidane's own origin come to the fore. Why does he see a blue light in his dreams? Why does it symbolize home? And how is this man named Kuja, the end boss of the game, related to our monkey-tailed hero? Zidane may be carefree, but his congenital desire to know where he came from — and the answers — may be the greatest challenge he faces yet. Selected game appearances === PlayStation === Final Fantasy IX (2000) References Wikipedia - "Zidane Tribal" Final Fantasy Insider - "Final Fantasy IX Characters" Final Fantasy Wiki - "Zidane Tribal" Forget Me Not

If a mascot appears in a newly ReMixed game, then yes, we link to the game in the appropriate appearance list(s). Bomberman was one of the first attempted bios written with an emphasis on a nearly full list. While that's a noble endeavor, it's not trim or practical enough for the casual reader. We introduce the mascots rather than give a complete history, so key titles/linked games would suffice in this manner. It's why we say Selected game appearances.

Yo, just a heads-up: on the episode listing page, Episode 7 Part 1 links to a second Episode 6. Funny podcast, btw.

What the heck is that rapid-fire synth at 0:55 (popping up every 5 seconds)? It's thick, it's chocolatey, and it gives a sharp contrast to the other sounds at play. And I like it. I'm not too fond of how the segues at 1:58-2:09 and 2:32-2:51 oscillate in volume, but thankfully it's tamer on headphones. Similarly, at 3:29-3:31, every other half note buzzes a little high, even within the already busy sound field. I can overlook the flaws when I consider how the mix is constructed. Tempo and genre shifts, attention to detail in the machinery starting up and breaking down, Cid speaking, and other admirable quirks tell a story that gives equal emphasis to chaos and order, which of course are dual qualities of the Magitek Factory (machines do their thing, but navigating the lab is the devil). Plus the image of Kefka blowing a trumpet is priceless humor.

Ha ha ha, what a surprise. This is totally recognizable as Magnet Man's stage, and yet the tone is given such a wild spin that it's turned inside out. I can't decide whether I walked into a cheeky LOLapalooza concert or if I'm listening to what could pass for one of the freshest Saturday morning cartoon theme songs ever concocted. My favorite arrangement touches have gotta be the sun-bright high-key-to-low-key rendition of the tail end of the source (0:52-1:00 and 3:19-3:27) and the organ-led activity run at 1:58+. My only gripe is that Missiles should have a second I in it. But never mind that; my spirit soars with this.

Right off the bat, those heavenly strings speak to my sorrow, my longing, my pain, and every other tender feeling that could use comfort. It's one of the most profoundly emotional hooks I've ever heard in a song, quite honestly. Once that's established, the mix's upbeat action, vast choice of leads, and source evolution stages illustrate those feelings in a tale with many ups and downs. My ears and my soul are guided gently but firmly as the mix explores my inner turmoil and helps me sort it all out. Even the ending does not disappoint - pads and choir bring me in for a landing that says, "all is well. Now you take it from here." The mix's title could not be more fitting.

Every FF4 ReMix page is missing the company with its link in the Game line, i.e. it appears as: Game: Final Fantasy IV (, 1991, SNES) instead of: Game: Final Fantasy IV (Square, 1991, SNES) This might have to do with the fact that FF4's info page doesn't say "Published 1991 by Square for Super Nintendo Entertainment System"

I came across this when I was writing Guybrush Threepwood's bio, and wow, talk about buried treasure. My ears pick up at least 6 distinct sources as illustrated in the following breakdown: 0:18 = Jojo the Monkey/part of Main Theme - I like how the harp seems to say "Once upon a time in the Caribbean..." A lot of instruments introduce themselves here while they sort out their roles. I'm quite fond of the arresting organ chords at 0:45 and the foreboding A-B-A pattern at 1:02-1:06. 1:11 = Phatt Island Jail - A light and cheery piano adds a subtle tone of "here's a good situation to think your way out of." Then an 8-bit lead and its grimy companion take over before giving way to a more minty-flavored section (1:40). 2:10 = Stan's Previously Used Coffins - At first I felt the quiet organ could've better explored and wrapped up its Halloween vibe instead of bursting into something bright and outlandish, but then I listened to the source and realized that's how the melody normally plays out. No matter - 2:17 does make me smile as I imagine the hyper salesman pitching his price to this boisterous, sugar-coated rendition. 2:53 = Captain Kate's Boat: Booty Island - This starts all blippity-bloopity, and along with staccato and tenuto synth organ notes, it truly gives a feeling of depth as Guybrush swims down below the ocean surface. 3:17-3:36 puts me in mind of some old DOS games like Gobliins 2 due to the old-school synth set at play. 3:54 = Final ending theme/"Deep in the Caribbean: Scabb Island" part of Introduction - DnB rockage gives the source(s) a party-hardy backdrop and an upbeat cause to celebrate. And you can't fault 4:12 for turning it up a notch. 4:50 = LeChuck's theme (heard in several sources) - After a subdued lead-in section, a gentle harp enters as if to say the ghost/zombie pirate has a soft side and isn't as threatening as you might imagine. The real star of this final chunk is the hypnotic arpeggio at 5:07 (heard in the Closing Themes), which grows in popularity and momentum... ...and then the mix just sorta finishes. The ending could stand to be more constructive/elaborate, but when you explore so many locales and moods in a mix like this, it's not a dealbreaker. What's important is that Monkey Brain Soup for the Soul delivers, and hard.

Aaaaaand Rayman's been added to the Wiki, sans limbs. All that remains is Tensei-San's Zephyr bio and Arek's Zidane bio (if indeed he claimed him). Could you adjust the thread title, Daf?

I'm hinting at what Rayman does in the games from a present tense, like if the reader is following an instruction manual that lays out the current situation at the start (or in the middle) of whatever game is being talked about. I know a cursory reading would tell them "oh, he first defeated so-and-so and then did such-and-such in the end," but it would feel awkward if I suddenly ditched an otherwise consistent tense for another in the last line. "Villains come. Good guys help him time and again. He attacks like this. His powers include the following. Whatever he must do, at least it isn't too much." Make sense? As for "helps" instead of "help," you're right that if I focused on just one aspect (Rayman's anatomy), it would be "helps." My intent was to note that the three aspects I bring up all contribute to his presence as a company mascot. I changed the wording in an effort to reflect this. I do appreciate the feedback, guys. Thanks.

A humble 5th birthday to a tl;dr thread full of articles, edits, and rules about the English language. You're half OCR's age, and although djp hasn't posted in you once (as of this post), eh still thinks you're meritorious and doesn't afraid of anything. Cheers. Rayman "Yahoo! Alright ladies and gents, let's roll!" Article by: Polo Pictured from: Rayman 2: The Great Escape Created by: Ubisoft First appearance: 1995 Bio How does one born without arms, legs, or even a neck keep his head and extremities close together? The world may never know, but this enigma doesn't seem the least bit odd to Rayman, who stars in a series of platformers where physics-defying phenomena are commonplace. His distinct anatomy, heroic antics, and personality all help him shine as Ubisoft's official mascot. A typical Rayman adventure involves the limbless one rescuing his friends and reclaiming his world from whatever swarm of invaders descends upon it. Villains like the cloaked Mr. Dark, the pirate Admiral Razorbeard, and the Rabbids all have their own methods of stirring up trouble, from stealing a world-balancing essence to imprisoning the natives. Among the good guys, there's Lums (magical bugs), Teensies (stout advisors), and Fairies like Betilla and Ly, who grant Rayman some of his powers to fight their would-be conquerors. Punching is Rayman's primary mode of attack — he winds up and throws his fists not only to pummel enemies, but also to move obstacles from his path. His range increases in the second game when he can shoot energy spheres from his mitts. There's a power-up in the third game called Laser Washing Powder which, when picked up, dresses Rayman in one of several combat fatigues that come equipped with unique abilities, such as lowering platforms, shooting guided missiles, and electrocuting enemies. Even his quaffs of hair have a use: they can spin like a helicopter propeller and allow him to fly or glide through the air. Whatever the price Rayman must pay for his own freedom and others', at least it doesn't cost an arm and a leg. Selected game appearances === Jaguar === Rayman (1995) === Nintendo 64 === Rayman 2: The Great Escape (1999) === GameCube === Rayman 3: Hoodlum Havoc (2003) === Wii === Rayman Raving Rabbids (2006) References Wikipedia - "Rayman (character)" Rayman instruction manual Rayman 2: The Great Escape instruction manual Rayman 3: Hoodlum Havoc instruction manual Rayman Wiki - "Rayman"

Man, Fossil's Oasis is a journey every time I listen to it. Even as background music, I can still feel its primal energy. The bridges between relaxing segments and turbulent ones are deliciously crafty and give enough warning for the listener to prepare for and appreciate what comes next. I especially like how the original section exudes different colors and emotions. Is it contemplating its existence? On its way home? Or just leading its own favorite dance number? Whatever it's feeling, it's all good in my book. This mix is an ecosystem unto itself.

As expected of a detail-oriented TF2 admin+player. The K.G.B. bit has been corrected and the bio now resides among the other Hs in the Hallowed List of Articles. And I'll take care of the last uncalled mascot, Rayman.

Done.™ Heavy "Some people think they can outsmart me. Maybe. *sniff* Maybe. I've yet to meet one that can outsmart bullet." Article by: Polo Pictured from: Team Fortress 2 Created by: Valve First appearance: 2007 Bio In Team Fortress 2, two holding companies secretly control both halves of the world's governments through spy fortresses from behind false fronts. Reliable Excavation & Demolition (RED) and Builders League United (BLU) constantly fight for each other's share of authority, solving their disputes with open bloodshed. This is carried out by opposing teams of specially trained character classes who plunge their all into manpower, firepower, and intelligence gathering. Of the nine classes, the Heavy Weapons Guy is the central figure of the game, having starred in the first Meet the Team video. Hailing from Russia, the Heavy is a bear of a man that loves guns, killing, and calling men who are no match for him cowards and babies. His primary weapon is the Minigun, which he affectionately calls Sasha, and it fires a continuous barrage of bullets after a second of spin-up time. The Natascha operates in a similar fashion but has the capability of slowing its targets with each bullet hit. Due to his own slow speed but high stamina, the Heavy makes full use of these guns in ambushes and when defending wide areas, plowing through defenses and making escape difficult. Other times, if the Heavy can't afford the delay in revving up, he'll shoot quicker shots via Shotgun. In close range, he may even resort to using his fists, with or without Killing Gloves of Boxing on. And should his health fail, he can call a time-out for a few seconds to munch on a Sandvich or a Dalokohs bar. Combining measured movements, deep-voiced declarations, and a passion for pegging off pests, the Heavy honors his moniker to the hilt. Selected game appearances === Windows === Team Fortress 2 (2007) References Wikipedia - "Team Fortress 2" Team Fortress Wiki - "Heavy" Team Fortress Wiki - "Meet the Heavy"

Bucky O'Hare Clash at Demonhead - Billy "Big Bang" Blitz Gargoyle's Quest II - Firebrand The Krion Conquest - Francesca Linus Spacehead Magical Pop'n - Princess Shadow of the Ninja - Hayate and Kaede Secret of Evermore - Boy Whomp 'Em - Soaring Eagle LT: All but Bucky. Feel free to find a nicer-looking option for Bucky.

I agree that going into the game's mechanics would deviate from the bio's focus. And I don't have an equally concise term for "gold farming" for those who don't know much about these kinds of games. That leaves two options: 1) Make the sentence clear enough for the layperson. Example: "His cyclones give him the power to heal himself, and in addition, they help him gather gold quicker and earlier in battles than others." (In this example, you might have to cut the fact that his wind shield gives him resilience. The wind shield is brought up earlier in the paragraph, after all.) 2) Leave it out of the bio. Since the MMO interface isn't deeply explored, there would be no harm in leaving out a detail dependent on it. I think the bio has more than enough strong points to offset its absence. P.S. You have a solid grasp of English for a non-native speaker. Not trying to rush you, but you're practically saying "dibs." We're almost done with these latest mascots, and the sooner you get down to it, the less of a chance that someone might steal Zidane from you. If you have just a WIP, we can help you the same way we helped you with your Juri Han bio.

More notes for Zephyr: - "Defense of the Ancients", and borrows many ideas --> Personal preference, but the sentence would flow a little smoother without the comma here. - "or to use a wind shield" --> Cut the word "to" here. The wording follows the form of "his powers allow him to (do one thing) or (do another)" so a second "to" is unnecessary. That could work. Alternatively, the word "it" can be added after "any enemies caught within" for clarity/completion. - "Zephyr is a popular and strong pick, and isn't hard to learn even for newer players." --> This sentence breaks up the flow when it's in the middle of the paragraph detailing his skill set. I suggest moving it to the end of the paragraph and rewording it (skip four notes down for details). - "His cyclones give him both the ability to heal himself, as well as a way of getting..." --> This clause would work better if you worded it as "His cyclones give him both the ability to heal himself and a way of getting..." or if you cut the word "both" from it. - "an early gold-advantage" --> I take it this is a rewording of the "farms quickly" bit I was confused about before? It's still kind of unclear; do you mean he earns extra gold in a fight? (That sounds like the essence of it.) - "great resilience" --> Replace "great" with something less subjective, like "considerable" or "above average" or something. - "making him a hero that's quite balanced on both offense and defense." --> I think this clause, plus the one I noted four steps above, should be one closing sentence, reading something like "Because his offense and defense are quite balanced, Zephyr isn't hard to learn even for new players." You don't have to say he's popular because that's already said in the next paragraph, and "strong pick" is already implied in his balanced skills/stats without being subjective. (Also, you should obviously put a period after "resilience.") Basically, there's some odd grammatical wordings here and there, not to mention chances for improvement in the flow. I'm glad you were able to follow my notes last time, and I hope these aren't too hard to understand either.

I got it. It was just more clever than funny. Following Phoenix, Guybrush has now been added to the ranks. Next, I'll take a stab at Heavy from Team Fortress 2.

All righty. Phoenix has now joined the great Mascot category in the sky. And yeah, only game titles are italicized (EDIT: and game series, movies, books, and magazines, if they appear in the bio). Bwa ha ha, that's clever. Although I think it might fly over more than a few people's heads the first time if it wasn't directly a compound word. "He crosses... bones? As in dead people? Does he dig up... OH, crossBONES! HAHAHAHAHAetc."

Phoenix Wright's bio looks finished to me. My only note is that counterpointing, again, is one word, not two. You want to upload it, Dafydd, or should I? Fixed. Thanks for double-checking. Looking over Guybrush's bio, I think I crammed too much into my 3rd paragraph, so I had to simplify a few things. Here's v.2: Guybrush Threepwood "I may be a dunce, but at least I'm a mighty pirate dunce!" Article by: Polo Pictured from: Tales of Monkey Island Created by: LucasArts First appearance: 1990 Bio Guybrush Threepwood, self-proclaimed "mighty pirate," is the protagonist of every Monkey Island game. Although his appearance changes along with the art style in each installment, he maintains his cheerful disposition, his wit, and his proud ability to hold his breath for ten minutes. In the first game, The Secret of Monkey Island, Guybrush is a castaway on Mêlée Island with a burning urge to be a swashbuckler. To prove himself worthy, he must complete the three trials of piratehood: swordplay (besting the Sword Master in combat), thievery (stealing a relic from the Governor's mansion), and treasure huntery (finding the Treasure of Mêlée Island). Along the way, he falls in love with the Governor, Elaine Marley, and rescues her from the ghost pirate LeChuck, the main antagonist of the series. In life and death, LeChuck has become the most feared pirate in the Caribbean, at least until Guybrush foils his plans, and in later games, he seeks to master the darkest voodoo arts in an effort to both reclaim control of the seas and rid himself of the lad. Fortunately, Guybrush is backed by his share of crew members and recurring allies on his adventures, including the Voodoo Lady, the mapmaker Wally B. Feed, the hermit Herman Toothrot, and of course his "plunderbunny" Elaine. The gameplay of each Monkey Island title centers around solving puzzles through a point-and-click interface. Guybrush's pockets are deep and plentiful, and everywhere he goes he plunders anything useful — from live animals to human spit — and applies it to other objects, people, and situations in order to advance. Some puzzles depend on choosing the right response — sports like insult swordfighting and insult arm wrestling require the delivery of scathing retorts that match the opponent's in order to gain the upper hand (for example, "you fight like a dairy farmer" can only be countered with "how appropriate. You fight like a cow"). No matter what Guybrush crosses — seas, villains, or swords — those who know of his deeds view him as a buccaneer to be reckoned with. Selected game appearances === DOS === The Secret of Monkey Island (1990) Monkey Island 2: LeChuck's Revenge (1991) === Windows === The Curse of Monkey Island (1997) Escape from Monkey Island (2000) Tales of Monkey Island (2009) References Wikipedia - "Guybrush Threepwood" The Monkey Island SCUMM Bar - "The Secret of Monkey Island" LucasArts.com | The Secret of Monkey Island: Special Edition Wikiquote - "Monkey Island"

Ah, so it was being measured by its more widely preferred competition. That's understandable. We'll see what Dafydd has to say about it, then hopefully Phoenix can be Wiki'ed up. EDIT: It helps it feel more contained. It is kind of a preference thing, but I noticed Liontamer added some commas in these sorts of places in some bios when he did the quote moving and name bolding. If anything, it makes the reader hold their breath as they learn what Guybrush did "along the way." I was referring to the hilarious writing style, especially the dialogue in Monkey Island and Grim Fandango and all. Your suggestion sounds fine, although "characteristics" as a noun can refer to more than just the writing. But I altered it to make it clearer. Not if you choose to lazily throw out items like "this or that or whatever." I also noticed I originally had several comma-separated listings of three (i.e. one, two, and three) and wanted to change it up so the bio wouldn't get stale. Thanks though.

Guybrush Threepwood "I may be a dunce, but at least I'm a mighty pirate dunce!" Article by: Polo Pictured from: Tales of Monkey Island Created by: LucasArts First appearance: 1990 Bio Guybrush Threepwood, self-proclaimed "mighty pirate," is the protagonist of every Monkey Island game. Although his appearance changes along with the art style in each installment, he maintains his cheerful disposition, his wit, and his proud ability to hold his breath for ten minutes. In the first game, The Secret of Monkey Island, Guybrush is a castaway on Mêlée Island with a burning urge to be a swashbuckler. To prove himself worthy, he must complete the three trials of piratehood: swordplay (besting the Sword Master in combat), thievery (stealing a relic from the Governor's mansion), and treasure huntery (finding the titular secret of Monkey Island). Along the way, he falls in love with the Governor, Elaine Marley, and rescues her from the ghost pirate LeChuck, the main antagonist of the series. In life and death, LeChuck has become the most feared pirate in the Caribbean, at least until Guybrush foils his plans, and in later games, he seeks to master the darkest voodoo arts in an effort to both reclaim control of the seas and rid himself of the lad. Fortunately, Guybrush is backed by his share of crew members and recurring allies on his adventures, including the Voodoo Lady, the mapmaker Wally B. Feed, the hermit Herman Toothrot, and of course his "plunderbunny" Elaine. Through the combined use of the point-and-click interface and the humorous writing style of many LucasArts titles, Guybrush builds his reputation as a buccaneer to be reckoned with. If he can't afford a ship, he'll sail waters in a fitting substitute, like a coffin or a bumper car or even a child's flotation device. His pockets are deep and plentiful, and he plunders anything useful to solve a puzzle, such as a live monkey, a rubber chicken with a pulley in the middle, and a person's spit. When talking to other characters, the player's response choices can range from direct to colorfully non sequitur — in particular, a sport called insult swordfighting requires the delivery of scathing retorts to match the opponent's in order to win a sword duel. And if all else fails, our hero can resort to selling someone some fine leather jackets, or he can distract them with "look behind you, a three-headed monkey!" Selected game appearances === DOS === The Secret of Monkey Island (1990) Monkey Island 2: LeChuck's Revenge (1991) === Windows === The Curse of Monkey Island (1997) Escape from Monkey Island (2000) Tales of Monkey Island (2009) References Wikipedia - "Guybrush Threepwood" The Monkey Island SCUMM Bar - "The Secret of Monkey Island" LucasArts.com | The Secret of Monkey Island: Special Edition Wikiquote - "Monkey Island"

Yeah, I think a clearer explanation is in order. A genre having only a handful of titles for it doesn't always mean one more addition will suck (if, say, every previous title is awesome). If you mean to say the genre's scope is generally restricting/difficult/tedious - and that the Ace Attorney games take place in the courtroom, one of the most serious places on earth - it might help answer the first sentence's hidden question. - "1990’s and early 2000’s" --> You actually don't need apostrophes when describing decades; "1990s and early 2000s" works. - "Court room" is actually one word (courtroom) - "buy or pay for" --> These sound like the same thing. I think "pay for" would cover all bases re expenses. - trouble-making --> You had it right before; there's no hyphen in troublemaking. - "competitor Prosecutor" --> I think a comma would help here, since you put two descriptive nouns together. You can't be a competitor Prosecutor, but you can be a competitor AND a Prosecutor. So yeah, the first note's a point of contention right now. But the rest of the article's certainly improved.

Points taken. I reinstated his quote and reworded the bio's final sentence for accuracy. Btw, Voldo only emits gags/hacks/breaths of hot air that aren't precisely unique to him or even understandable English. (I mean, his mouth's covered like his eyes.) So his "quote" is not practically serviceable. True, it's ported to both systems. I just put it under Xbox for variety (apart from Dreamcast and GameCube) and because the GameCube version isn't remixed on OCR (if it was, it would be properly listed and linked).