Of Writing and Ruin

     This week is not about distractions, although, I am conceding defeat in this Nanowrimo. Yes, for the first November since I started taking part in 2007. Why? Well, I've mentioned that book 5 was just not coming together and while I've gotten nearly 20k on it, I hit a point where I need to have that plot figured out prior to writing it. Normally, if I was having this problem, I would just write through it and fix all of those issues later. Here though, I noticed a particular theme. All of my decisions to make kept returning to prior ones made in books 3 and 4. That was when I realized that I really need Fox's Facade and Noble's Choice solid before I continue writing book 5. 

     This doesn't mean that I won't be working on it... it means that I'll probably finish the next draft for it next year, when I'm more prepared to write it and have those issues worked out and a great plot to keep you guys interested. 

     Fortunately, it isn't as if I have nothing else to work on right now and I'm not just talking about Sakuna: Of Rice and Ruin on the Switch. For right now, I am back to editing Fox's Facade and planning out what changes here will lead to in Noble's Choice. Also, while it's still a little hush-hush, I'm currently making a few plans for the new year. If all goes to plan, I should have more information on those big plans a little further into December. 

     All that said, I do want to talk about Sakuna. I've been playing for six or seven hours now and feel that I can make an educated review on it. 

     Firstly, know that my review is good. This game is fun as hell. Sakuna is a bit of an unsympathetic bitch when you start, but even just six hours in, I can tell that she's improving. Its part of her growth as a character; something that I can really appreciate. She starts off as a Goddess that has always had the world held out to her on a silver plate. She's never had to work for it. And while her parents have gone missing, its clear that she doesn't let it bother her. The game starts when a group of humans find the bridge to the celestial realm and sneak into Sakuna's donation of rice and sake to the head Goddess looking for food. Upon catching them, she attacks and accidentally lights the sake and rice on fire. In punishment, she and the humans are sent to the Isle of Demons and charged with clearing it of evil. 

     The gameplay is really fun, a mix of rice farming sim and sidescrolling combat. I will say that the first year of growing rice, you feel out of your element and wish they would just tell you how to be a master like they do in other games. This, like Sakura's maturity and growth, is deliberate. When you first arrive on the isle, Sakuna has never had to grow rice before, she's just always had it done for her. Learning how to grow rice in minute detail isn't easy and I applaud the game for not making it feel like it is. The combat is very cool and despite being side-scrolling is difficult without being impossible. I'm playing on average, because I don't generally do combat in games, but I am enjoying this one. I just met my first real boss fight and am losing horribly. But with every failed attempt, I learn more about the bad guys and plot how to destroy him and thus, I get farther each time. Because there are multiple levels, you don't need to be forever fighting the same battle. If this one is too tough right now, choose other levels and improve your gear before going back. 

     I will say that if the idea of growing rice, day by day, doesn't interest you, then this may not be the game for you. A lot of this game is growing rice. You need to pick weeds daily, check on how much water is in your paddy each day, fertilize your stalks, and even chaff and hull your rice yourself. I am finding it impossible to put down, even with its difficulty though. It's a different type of game and I for one am here for it.

     The game is entirely voice-acted and I have to say, they didn't skimp here either. The cast really comes through, making you feel like you're personally getting to know all of the characters. Also, the art is incredibly gorgeous and the character design is beautiful. If you're looking for a game to pick up this holiday season, I can heartily suggest this game. 

5 out of 5 stars 

     Offhand, the Divine edition is amazing. It comes with an omomori charm showing Sakuna, a three-disc soundtrack, and a 128-page artbook in addition to the game. Totally worth the additional $20 or bucks.

CD Case Front Cover

Inner CD's contain different pictures on each album

Artbook; and the art is amazing

Omomori charm with a picture of Sakuna

Back of the omomori charm

Holmes Alone

First off, my basic review. This movie was a treat to watch and I sincerely hope we get more. A very decent 4 out of 5 stars and definitely worth your time. 

That said, here is your warning. Everything below this has spoilers, so if you don't want to be spoiled, go watch it and then come back. 

We're all good now? Good. 

First off, Holmes Alone is a joke on the character's name. Enola written backward is alone, which is her shtick. She does alone, has all her life (aside from her mother), and prefers it that way. Even Hot Guy(TM) doesn't break through that unbreakable wall until she realizes that he really does need her help. Which works for the character, since she's supposed to essentially be a Holmes character. As far as acting goes, everyone did a great job, especially the main actress, Millie Bobby Brown. I'm not certain that I can accept Henry Cavill as Sherlock though, even if he did a great job. He's a bit too... broad of shoulder for the role of Sherlock, in my opinion. Other than that physical bit, he played the role well and I wouldn't mind seeing him in the role again. 

The plot deals with important issues of the time period, in particular, women's rights, a subject near and dear to my feminist heart, which makes me love it more. Enola's mother has gone missing, leaving her in the care of her brothers, who haven't even returned for Christmas since Enola was very young. Now, they find that Mom has been taking the money that Sherlock and Mycroft have been sending back home and using it for nefarious things. Also, knowing that her daughter would never survive Mycroft's version of TLC, she left her quite a bit of money. Money which Enola uses to try to find her mother who doesn't want to be found. During her daring escape, she saves the life of a young lord on the run from his life. She finds out that Mom was involved with the militant arm of the suffragette movement, but has to put finding her on hold to save the young lord again. She succeeds but is captured and delivered in Mycroft's hands as a result. Her lord saves her from the "finishing school" Mycroft has her sent to, but she convinces him that they must confront the killer so he can take his place in the House of Lords for the upcoming vote on the rights of women. 

As far as the plot goes, this is actually a great little plot. It was intelligently carried out for the most part and kept me entertained, even if it was a little obvious as to where the plot was going. In this case, it wasn't a detriment to enjoying the show, which I really appreciated. 

However, there is always something that brings it down and in this movie, it was the fight scenes. In particular, if you are a small woman who has been taught to fight and you choose to fight someone, I can understand trying to punch and kick at first. Fighting well takes skill, and so long as there isn't a 100 lbs or more difference between fighters, I'll put my money on the skilled one all the time. However, if their opponent is also a fighter, with at least 50 lbs on that girl and the reach to match, you don't keep trying to fight with your fists. It was established in the opening that Enola was taught to use weapons from her mother. True, the bow and arrow were clearly favored, but I'm pretty sure they were fencing in at least one of those scenes. And yet, Enola never once even goes for a weapon, when she's fighting against an assassin trying to kill the lord. She continues to try to use a throw that she's never succeeded at using before. While I can understand that it was to give her a "stand up and cheer moment", this came off as scripted and irritating, especially when she ignores weapons around her like polearms and forged iron fence poles in favor of her fists. For me, it detracted from the intelligence of her character, which, when it's a Holmes-type character, is necessary to sympathize with them. 

That said, this movie is still 100% worth your time to watch. 

Have you seen Enola Holmes yet? Do you agree with my assessment here? Let me know in the comments. Also, would you like me to do a few more of these? I don't normally do movie reviews, but if this is something that would interest you guys, let me know.