Tales of the Abyss character update

I still dislike Jade intensely, but thanks to the drabble challenge, I've discovered that I don't loathe him while in Peony's mindset. I like Peony a lot, so it's kind of shiny. I suspect I could even roleplay as Peony and remain IC enough to be fond of Jade, until I remember that probably anyone roleplaying Jade is going to manage to make him more annoying than I find him in canon. That's a little sad. For about .02 seconds I thought about joining a game. Because what I really need right now is more RPGs.

I think this is the first game I've ever encountered where the Optional Uber-Boss is actually relevant to the story in some way, shape, or form. I approve of that. (Star Ocean doesn't count, although if you remove Gabriel Indalecio's Limiter, he might well be tougher than Iseria Queen.)

And while I despise Dist and want him to die in a fire, there is one skit scene in Keterburg (in case anyone wants to dodge spoilers at this late date) that makes me wibble a little.

In the skit, Jade tells us that Dist always use to sit alone, by himself, at the cafeteria during lunch, and one day Anise felt sorry for him, because god that's pitiful for a 'genius' villain. So at lunch for a few days Anise went over to sit with him and talk to him, and Dist was so... grateful and happy that he made her Tokunaga as a gift.

I think that that is... sincerely the most touching and moving thing I've ever encountered in a video game. That's. It almost makes me wish I didn't hate him because it's such a beautiful idea. It's like Frankenstein's monster and the little girl, only the monster is a "beautiful" psychotic genius and the little girl is normally a money-grubbing if lovable bitch.

Anyway. I like everything about Asch and I like everything about Guy. I do not like Tear, at all. She's right up there with Jade now. Possibly worse, because I doubt I have a Peony's mindset for her.