RPG Insanity

There is an extremely disturbing dialogue at the beginning of Asdivine Hearts. Everything I'm discussing takes place before fighting the first boss, so I'm not marking or hiding very-early-game spoilers.

Asdivine Hearts begins when two orphans, Zack and Stella, set out to release the wild cat they befriended and raised. It's expressly stated that the cat belongs to a species that can't be raised as a pet, and Stella is only an aspiring monster tamer; she doesn't have enough skill to take care of a wild beast yet. Zack and Stella expect that the cat will be able to survive and prosper on its own.

A few steps into the nearby forest, the trio encounter a spirit that tries to possess Zack. The cat leaps in front of Zack and becomes possessed in Zack's place. The spirit talks through the cat, and the two orphans decide to name the spirit-possessed cat "Felix" and bring him back to their orphanage.

Felix is extremely proud and arrogant, and makes a disparaging comment about how orphanages are for children who have been "discarded" by their parents. Zack loses his temper.

The EXTREMELY DISTURBING part is the threat Zack makes to Felix - "If you ever say anything like that around the other orphans, I'll skin you alive, I don't care whose body you're in!"

Stella tries to explain to Felix why what he said was hurtful, but doesn't contradict Zack or imply that she'd stop him from carrying out his threat.

Zack's threat is a horrifying thing for an RPG hero to say. Particularly since Zack expressly knows that not only is the possessed cat innocent (it was the possessing spirit that insulted the orphans), but the cat became possessed saving Zack.

Zack calms down after this, and then there's an optional event where Zack can potentially build a little trust with Felix, but right now I don't trust Zack. Perhaps Zack was bluffing/exaggerating and never had any intention of carrying out his threat (knowing that the cat who saved him would suffer agonizing pain and death).

It seems like the story is going to sweep Zack's threat under the rug and forget it. Maybe that's for the best, and maybe I should mentally do the same thing.

I intend to finish Asdivine Hearts, but... while it's far, far too early to make a final judgement of Zack, he sure seems to be gunning for Most Unlikeable Kemco RPG Protagonist Ever. And I've played Infinite Dunamis and Unlucky Mage (both of which are very good games; they just have protagonists with more shades of grey than usual, especially for a Kemco RPG).

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There is an extremely disturbing dialogue at the beginning of Asdivine Hearts. Everything I’m discussing takes place before fighting the first boss, so I’m not marking or hiding very-early-game spoilers.

Asdivine Hearts begins when two orphans, Zack and Stella, set out to release the wild cat they befriended and raised. It’s expressly stated that the cat belongs to a species that can’t be raised as a pet, and Stella is only an aspiring monster tamer; she doesn’t have enough skill to take care of a wild beast yet. Zack and Stella expect that the cat will be able to survive and prosper on its own.

A few steps into the nearby forest, the trio encounter a spirit that tries to possess Zack. The cat leaps in front of Zack and becomes possessed in Zack’s place. The spirit talks through the cat, and the two orphans decide to name the spirit-possessed cat “Felix” and bring him back to their orphanage.

Felix is extremely proud and arrogant, and makes a disparaging comment about how orphanages are for children who have been “discarded” by their parents. Zack loses his temper.

The EXTREMELY DISTURBING part is the threat Zack makes to Felix – “If you ever say anything like that around the other orphans, I’ll skin you alive, I don’t care whose body you’re in!”

Stella tries to explain to Felix why what he said was hurtful, but doesn’t contradict Zack or imply that she’d stop him from carrying out his threat.

Zack’s threat is a horrifying thing for an RPG hero to say. Particularly since Zack expressly knows that not only is the possessed cat innocent (it was the possessing spirit that insulted the orphans), but the cat became possessed saving Zack.

Zack calms down after this, and then there’s an optional event where Zack can potentially build a little trust with Felix, but right now I don’t trust Zack. Perhaps Zack was bluffing/exaggerating and never had any intention of carrying out his threat (knowing that the cat who saved him would suffer agonizing pain and death).

It seems like the story is going to sweep Zack’s threat under the rug and forget it. Maybe that’s for the best, and maybe I should mentally do the same thing.

I intend to finish Asdivine Hearts, but… while it’s far, far too early to make a final judgement of Zack, he sure seems to be gunning for Most Unlikeable Kemco RPG Protagonist Ever. And I’ve played Infinite Dunamis and Unlucky Mage (both of which are very good games; they just have protagonists with more shades of grey than usual, especially for a Kemco RPG).

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Hmm... is there a dialogue like this in the very early game when Lumiere try to possessed Zack?

I don't remember the game has this dialogue when i play the game again earlier.

 

hmm.. i'm going to check if this true.

(iirc, you post another thread here too right? A review about wii version.

Brb

I also don't remember this dialog. I do remember Zack and the cat not getting along, though.

Update: Yeah, there's a same dialogue but.. they just not getting along tho.

Maybe just Zack joke? He doesn't seem a type of person taking a joke that much. Until Hearts 2.

Also, lemme correct a small bit

[quote]

(knowing that the cat who saved him would suffer agonizing pain and death)

[/quote]

This is untrue, the cat itself won't (or shouldn't) feel anything.
The threat may sound a bit more funny (in the "you can't do that, dummy" sense) once you learn who Felix is ─ if you already haven't guessed it already.

You're welcome.

DISCLAIMER: Skinning a cat, alive or not, is a criminal offense IRL. Do not try it at home.

As long as I'm calling out Zack, I'd be remiss if I didn't also call out Stella for her violent behavior; she occasionally lashes out at people with her whip, in response to some very minor verbal provocation.

I realize this is all being played for comedy. I'm enjoying Asdivine Hearts' gameplay and I'm curious to see where the story is going. But good grief, these heroes are not safe to be around.

In Stella's case, she does get called out for her whip issues numerous times.  Zack I think is more of a knee-jerk reaction to Felix's comment but, still not okay.