Beyond the Beyond – Finale
In the last post, I outlined how the story of Beyond the Beyond has really started picking up. Now that I have access to a ship, it feels like the world is about to open up. This is one of my favorite moments in any JRPG, when you finally gain access to the entire world map. Usually, the first thing I do when I get a ship is set off to explore every corner of the map, hunting for secrets or hidden treasures. This time was different. I made it about three feet before finding out that you still have random battles on the ocean. That instantly killed the dream of carefree exploration.…
Beyond the Beyond – Part 2
The second half of Beyond the Beyond goes quick. At this point in the game, your options for what to do next start narrowing, and the narrative picks up, making it easier to find your path forward. In the last part, I had just unlocked a path across the ocean that led to the next dungeon. I have to reiterate how exciting this moment was for me. This is where my childhood playthrough stalled out, and I was now breaking new ground and moving into the unknown. The Gaea Shrine was my next destination. This was another dungeon that was designed to be another brutal slog with eight floors of increasingly tough battles.…