theria

This is the translation of the 50 Questions ("interview") asked to Daisuke Ishiwatari that is included at the end of the new Guilty Gear 2 Material Collection book. And as I didn't see it mentioned before, game-play voices for all characters (Master and Servant) are listed inside the book. And behind the cover wrap on the back are four rough sketches that Ishiwatari had to accompany the short stories (for Valentine, Sin, Sol, and Izuna) but in the end were not used (obviously different from the color ones in the content). Quick Descriptions for the Short Stories: Sol - knocking some sense into Ky and getting a foster kid to raise. Best Line is at the end: "No complaints about how he's going to be raised right." Sin - six months after Sol got him, apparently sensitive about the eyepatch, preludes at the end about how Sin got his weapon Izuna - kind of his origin story but rather on the metaphysical side. Most of you will probably care less. Dr. Paradigm - his discovery of the Cube. Valentine - her "birth" Ky - getting together with his wife, increasing guilt about Gear wife and son, UN offered him the election for Illyuria as their puppet ruler (didn't bother to hide it even) Raven - His first "death" (sounds like the Dark Ages perhaps) That Man - an old memory that resurfaces during his... degeneration and memory dump process, about his theory of the "Apocalypse" previously discussed with Aria and Frederick.

From what I've heard in that trailer, I will enjoy Sin's and That Man's VA. I can live with everyone else... except Ky. The jury is still out since I get the feeling the VA is trying too hard, or too obviously, for some kind of aristocracy accent/angle. Well, it's only a trailer and poor Ky doesn't get as much vocal time like everyone else. Now just waiting for the Xbox price to go down...

I did get it. And I think someone already posted up previously that though it does have some of the drafting art, they're pretty much what was put out in that pamphlet thingy at Comike, scans of which were briefly linked awhile back. The only really significant "new" art was the cover. Oh, and no quote listing as far as I saw, Blade.

I'd like a copy of the Japanese script for Night of Knives regardless. It's so much easier to have something to read along with the audio. PM me for my e-mail or I'm frequently on Windows Messenger IM (not as often Yahoo).

Not only a ton of posts, a ton of replies. XD I hope I hit all of them. To rallamajoop: There is no mention of how/why/when/etc Illyuria formed. One Japanese blog mentioned that there was a reference that there are THREE kings for Illyuria and that Ky is only one of them, responsible for the capitol. She said that came up in some sort of character description or something, perhaps that same "camp talk" I've seen floating around for Raven and The Man that may be unlocked after Campaign Mode. You'd need to ask someone whose actually beaten Campaign Mode to find out if that blogger is correct. In the game manual, it does describe the capitol of Illyuria as being the most prosperous city in the world. There was an ingame reference that Belcanto Valley is in southern Illyuria. Game Manual description of Stages: TORIORA Towns and villages of islands floating in the sky. Because the residents possess peculiar powers they are called witches, and said to have been driven away from ordinary living. YOMOTSU HIRASAKA A foreign world enclosed by beautiful nature. Though scenery reminescent(?) of the now lost Japan, it is a land of uncertain position that does not exist in this world. ILLYURIA The castle town centered on the castle Ky governs. It is the capital of Ilyuria RenOuKoku as well as the most prosperous city in the world. GANYMEDE The ocean glittering like an emerald. The island that floats there alone is the paradise of GEARs who possess their own mind. Belcanto Valley A large-scale battle-scarred land of the times of the Crusades. It has priceless land value for the GEAR corpses and characteristic minerals that can be excavated there but people fear it as Canyon of Death (shi no keikoku). It's alright to post the translation drafts for Overture elsewhere, disclaimer included. To Zazz: In case you haven't found it already, I actually did Mission #20/Epilogue/Credits before I did #14-#19. It's back on page.... 33 of this thread. To BioLogIn: You can host the translation drafts on .ru if you want. And as to regards to Solaria's origin, I'm fairly sure she was human. Having re-read LtA about a month ago, I'm fairly sure I didn't come across any mention of her being "artificial" or anything else done to her other than the GEAR conversion. Oh yeah, and if one must be complete, Marina deserves mention as a human as well. She and Solaria are physically very similar, enough to pass as siblings. Whether they were once siblings, twins, or perhaps clones of one or the other, is not mentioned in the novel. However, Marina was also a candidate to be converted (until a lab worker stole her away and died of the injuries in that escape, whether the injury that cripples Marina was from that escape or something else [in which case she may have been lined up for extermination] is also not clear if I remember correctly, oh and she was found wrapped in a blanket that has the GEAR symbol on it, only Ky and the priest Melbeth recognized it). To Hatred Edge: Well, there actually IS a good reason why someone would volunteer for the GEAR conversion. The original aim was simply to devise a means to accelerate human evolution, though it was still a highly secret project not known to the public. Frederick may have volunteered and you could take his bitterness toward the entire incident now as the result not being entirely what was expected (and probably figured out really soon back then that something else was up). According to the timeline, it was when the project was re-started almost half a century later when the focus was entirely on living weapons. I think that was everything. And no, Blade I haven't started listening to Night of Knives yet.

A rock? I recently returned fully to GG with the announcement of GG2 b/c the characters they started releasing in XX and whatnot (well, really from X) didn't appeal as much to me, there was nil plot development IMO, and I have never been that good of a player in fighting games to stick with the versions that didn't have a Story Mode. And even THEN I can't complete it without *cough*cheats*choke*. (I bought the X-Plus right when it came out for the animation DVD but didn't get a Japanese PS2 until KH2 came out ). But anyway, I'm not particularly fond of Chipp though I do appreciate the 2nd novel since it gave me quite a bit of insight into the world and society of the day. It is supposed to be set in 2182 AD (not specifically stated I don't think, I'd have to check my notes again but I'm fairly sure there was a notation of "two years ago" in relation to the tournament from the first game) which made it the "furthest" story I'm aware of in the GG universe before GG2. And I'm FINALLY done watching the YouTube videos. Missions #14-#19 in the file below. Unless better videos show up earlier, I won't be reviewing them again until I can actually play myself.

Actually, maybe it is "PRINT" (pu instead of bu)? That would make sense for when the comment is pointing at the "LIVE" portions on front swallowtails. Ack, I'm going blind looking at these zoom-ups.

The "habit" of some of the members in the Seikishidan to scratch a word on their belt buckle was both a type of individualism as well as a symbol of belief. Or something like that. Basically, there were quite a few who would etch a personal belief as a confirmation to themself(lve?). KY/HOPE - to symbolize his desire to bring the hope and possibility of life to all that he can. Stems strongly from a past incident reflected in Lightning the Argent [Early in Ky's career when he had only recently received a command position (it is not indicated as to whether this mean Shugotenshi, Shugoshin, or Dancho) Ky pursued a GEAR too far in and was then trapped against a very big GEAR with six other Knights of his command who had followed him. He ordered them to retreat and was prepared to sacrifice his life to cover them. But they did not, instead buying Ky's life with their own. According to Ky, this was the first and last time he has ever been disobeyed by those under his command. This was a very traumatizing incident to him, as in the novel when he was recounting it, his expression was described as a dead person.]. SOL/FREE - this was to reflect Sol's complete lack of binding/restriction to any form of cooperative or group organization. While in the Order, he primarily operated alone as a solitary raider/striker, his utter lack of teamwork greatly irritating Ky. The restrictive (probably rule-bound) life there is listed in his profile as being another reason he eventually took the FuuEnKen and vamoosed. MELBETH/SACRIFICE - the name of the former Seikishidan member and missing priest in Lightning the Argent. Relatively close translation from the novel: "Houshien is in charge of healing and defense. While possessing no offensive power, they enter the frontlines to help their comrades, and hold the line during the retreat/serve as the rear guard, thereby greatly entrusted." And some lines from the Seikishidan Oath: wareware ga mi wa kami ni sasageraretaru mono naraba (if we are those that sacrifice/dedicate our selves to God) kichi ni oite osoreru koto nashi (left in peril/dangerous grounds there is nothing to fear) shichi ni oite mayou koto nashi (left in the battlefield/jaws of death there is no hesitation) My two cents on the whole Daisuke-X series-gaiden thing, the only thing I remember was from WAY long ago, definitely before XX, maybe around X, was that Daisuke said what goes on is considered a Gaiden to the actual plot (that he wants to pursue). Though I do wish there were more characters in Overture (really, online play and only five choices?) I do not think it is necessary to really bring back most of the characters in the earlier fighting versions of the game as their plotlines are incidental to the GEAR-The Man conspiracy. Give me more world development! <-- The only reason I suffered to re-read Chipp's novel. 俺/己の豊かテラだなをいってみろ <-- perhaps this is Japanese text version? Left "tera" in Katakana since I think that is supposed to be a word. Try and say that my abundant (temple? Terra?)

Actually, the word was "SACRIFICE". He was a member of the HouShiEn (Magic Support) division that apparently provided support such as recovery, defense, as well as covering the retreat of other divisions.

Domo, piyo. Sol: The drafting comments indicate that Sol's sword (not directly referred to as FuuEnKen) actually has "levels" and it is in Level 4 when he goes to that particular Dragon Install mode. And yes, that is supposed to be a glimpse of his actual GEAR form. Sin: Never realized but apparently, his clothes (and flag-staff?!?) are RIOT brand. Still no mention as to why he wears the eye-patch. Ky: I was right, I would have died laughing. Thank you the powers that be that they did NOT go with that particular earlier design version of Ky. DP: Dr. Paradigm's early design was also hilarious, still having (necessitating?) the need for a water bowl. Raven: Raven's description does include that he is one of three who closely serve The Man. So most likely, it is still I-NO and pointy-hat-guy-whose-fashion-The-Man-stole.

Neither The Man nor Frederick, or anyone for that matter, have a hand in "creating" the Backyard. The Backyard simply exists, as a higher-dimensional "world" that has a very strong influence (if not flat-out capability) of writing, supporting, re-writing the "laws" of our world (Guilty Gear world). The process of magic (houriki) borrows that malleability. Of course, that is all the theory behind how the unlimited energy works and the name "Backyard" was the one the researchers eventually came up or stuck with. Two questions that (as far as I know) have not been clarified regarding what comes up relating to the Backyard in Overture is (1) what does it mean to be a "resident" of the Backyard and (2) what exactly is the power of Backyard that some people have. For (1), Izuna introduces himself as a resident, both in game and in his character profile, though I don't think Yomotsu Hirasaka (his home/stage) is actually in the Backyard, seems to be a wholly different dimension. Valentine is identified as a resident, by Dr. Paradigm if I recall correctly. But even Paradigm's theories had not yet quantified a means to travel to (and from) the Backyard though obviously, The Man (and Raven) somehow have managed that. Both Valentine and Sol, the latter per Raven, have attained the power of the Backyard. This is obviously not simply the ability to use magic/houriki. It may deal with that Soul Sinker concept Sol kept muttering about back in Mission 2 I think it was, and their abilities to manifest Servants directly from their power. In Campaign Mode, they are the only two capable of doing this. Now how or why Doctor Paradigm knows of this (and supposedly told Izuna) is not entirely clear. And no, just because there was a Sol VS DP Master battle in Campaign Mode I do not think DP was using the same process of "summoning". That was just him calling his GEAR buddies IMO.

Took a stab at Mission #20/Epilogue when trying to answer/respond Blade. Probably won't help things, skipping over all the stuff in the middle. Haven't even watched Mission #17 to figure out how everyone got to the other side. XD I agree with the Japanese player, need a glossary for campaign mode. And now I'm off to bed!!

I just realized this when my brother pointed it out, when I finally described how The Man now looks. The Man's third groupie (seen in that one pic from Ky's novel, also reprinted in both Artworks books) has a similar outfit!!!! Though after showing him the actual videos, he is now convinced The Man is an evil umbrella.

Mission #11 - Sin's stress relief Mission #12 - the BIG scene, which I already translated but I guess for file completion it's getting repeated. Mission #13 - King and Big Bird (Dragon!) stand together After this I only have bits and pieces of #14, #15, and #17 though I watched #16 and Epilogue on YouTube. I can try to answer any questions about what comes up in there but I'm not sure I want to do the translating until I get completely trashed trying to do campaign mode.

Mission #7 - Doctor's Introduction and Lecture Mission #8 - Mission #9 - Playing gopher for the Bird, I mean Dragon Mission #10 - Ky, kaetekita!!!