Scaramouche, Scaramouche

Even though it's a pain in the nuts to run around if you're used to riding. XD

Even though I've done it a few times.

Even though Dar'Khan has a stupid name. XD

Even though it makes me even more irritable with some of the more egregious Wrath and Cataclysm writing and the lack of effort involved in a bunch of it, Cata especially (there are exceptions, but for the most part--jesus you fucking slackoffs).

Even though some of it ties into the totally idiotic Kael Derail.

Even though the class-quest NPCs make me sad now because they have no purpose.

Even though they put a pointless fucking character into it now (Veresa does fuck-nothing; I want IT's version of her in the game, not this suddenly xenophobic little dry-drunk one-dimensional gary stu's prize douchesse who sounds like the sobbing brat neck beards snuffling and fapping about eewwwhhhnnn blood elves).

Even though the scenery and some of the bits and bobs and incidental objects make me wish there was MORE OF IT.

I love Ghostlands. It's gorgeous as hell, GOTHTASTIC, is full of solid lore (look at the names of the Forsaken--THEY WERE ELVES), has the pendant quest in it, has Forsaken-brand ridiculous humour ("ew, guys; fresh air *deadpan fase*"), has amazing NPC conversations, has enemies that are ACTUALLY SCARY AT-LEVEL (GODDAMMIT DAR'KHAN KEEP YOUR ABOMS ON A LEASH THEY KEEP STEPPING ON ME), has a nifty, somewhat tricky end-boss, and - you know what I'm glad it wasn't touched. While the plot timewarping is amusing, I don't want Blizzard's current quest team to fuck with it, because they'll fuck it up. They're stupid XD

ANYWAY

Yeah. I love Ghostlands to bits. It has my favourite antags ever in it (the Scourge scares the hell out of me and I fully plan to ramble about WHY soon), it has Blood Elves and Forsaken being snarky, it's lore-licious, and it's pretty.

There need to be more zones like it. Northrend is full of the same kind of squee to me. XD

(Yeah I have a thing for Arthas leave me alone. XD He breaks the fourth wall all the time and that kicks butt.)

I know it's bad to not be forward-looking--parts of MoP look gorgeous. But the dev team's rosy-spec nostalgia-boner for WC1 is offputting as hell, so as ever I'll shrug and do what I want to do and make up my own story as I go.

I was an X-Phile, I am a champ at that. XD

But here's more fangirlin' instead.

FF7 rocks in the domain of the little details. Things like characters' eyes widening a bit in cinematics, e.g. Cloud en route to the Ultimate Showdown of Etc. Etc. in mental space - it's very clear when he sees his opponent, his eyes widen a bit and he opens his mouth slightly - we see this almost mirrored in Advent Children at THAT ONE PART. Also, the slight widening of Sephiroth's eyes when he yanks the metal angel thing off the front of Jenova's fishtank.

Speaking of Sephiroth again (yes, I like him - I'm not going to get into penis fencing wars in re: which FF villain is better so slapfight with someone who cares, hypothetical penis fencers XD) - it intrigued the hell out of me to learn that during the flashback-to-Nibelheim-goes-foomph scenes, when everyone is in the truck?

Sephiroth's watching Cloud.

No, not !Cloud who is actually that other guy. CLOUD-Cloud, carsick-lowbie Cloud. The actual Cloud.

That intrigues me. And that's another neat bit of characterization - Sephiroth has enough compassion in him to be concerned about a carsick lowbie.