iiinova — where your digital self keeps evolving

Ajogamer.bsky.social @ajogamer.bsky.social · 07/10/2026

I'm a bit late to the conversation, but I compared the Steam screenshots to those 2 translations, and can confirm it's using the actual translation by WINE (since all lines match), and it's not using the Retronomicon one (which as you noted, was a mix of Machine TL and completely making stuff up).

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Ajogamer.bsky.social @ajogamer.bsky.social · 16/08/2026

RIP Freddy, he looks and sounds like he was a good and cute frog. Hope your kids aren't taking it too hard since it can be tough losing a pet, especially the first time it happens.

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Ajogamer.bsky.social @ajogamer.bsky.social · 13/08/2026

The main 8 arcs are the 8 chapters of "Higurashi When They Cry Hou" on Steam. The ones on Steam named "Hou - Rei" and "Hou+" are side arcs, so don't worry about those, and you're fine never reading them; they're mainly for the superfans who are dying for more.

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Ajogamer.bsky.social @ajogamer.bsky.social · 13/08/2026

Also Higurashi has a lot of side arcs for various reasons (such as almost every console port adding a bonus arc), but those arcs are extremely optional and often superfluous; they're only worth worrying about if you really want more Higurashi later. The main story is 100% complete and satisfying.

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Ajogamer.bsky.social @ajogamer.bsky.social · 13/08/2026

Both Higurashi and Umineko have 8 arcs, and where each arc can take a good 8-20 hours depending on the chapter and your reading speed (I'd expect around 10-15 hours per chapter typically). So they're both fairly long, yeah.

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Ajogamer.bsky.social @ajogamer.bsky.social · 12/08/2026

but it's still a good anime that succeeds at adapting the main story and capturing a lot of what makes Higurashi good and appealing; its issues are more when you compare it to the VN, or if you want to try and solve all its mysteries on your own since many important details get skimmed or cut out.

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Ajogamer.bsky.social @ajogamer.bsky.social · 12/08/2026

Higurashi is also one where watching the anime is actually an option if you want a more condensed version. The VN is definitely the recommended option since the anime cuts out a lot and changes some things (some plot details are different/missing and it often emphasizes the horror over the mystery),

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Ajogamer.bsky.social @ajogamer.bsky.social · 12/08/2026

Since you're considering Umineko, Higurashi When They Cry is another you could possibly consider. It's once again a very long VN and where that's definitely the best way to experience it, and it has many aspects in common with Umineko; both focus a lot on their characters, mystery and drama.

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Ajogamer.bsky.social @ajogamer.bsky.social · 12/08/2026

Also if you do check out Umineko, it NEEDS to be the visual novel; the anime is an awful mess that bungles a lot and was also cancelled Season 1, so it's only a small fraction of the story, where you'd be forced to read the VN anyway if you wanted to actually see the rest and understand things.

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Ajogamer.bsky.social @ajogamer.bsky.social · 12/08/2026

I think there's plenty you might enjoy with Umineko, but I'm unsure if the length might turn you off, since as others mentioned it's really long. A lot of that length is earned since it's a dense and ambitious story with lots of great moments, but there are still parts where pacing can feel slow.

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Ajogamer.bsky.social @ajogamer.bsky.social · 08/08/2026

So I guess what I'm saying is I really share the distaste for those more extreme opinions who almost optimize the fun and discovery out of games, and wish they could reassess, but also wish more could enjoy what achievements can bring to an experience in highlighting neat challenges and secrets.

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Ajogamer.bsky.social @ajogamer.bsky.social · 08/08/2026

Stuff like that's what got me to really appreciate RA, but at the same time, I still love playing games without achievements too. Yume Nikki is a favorite of mine, and I love diving into games head-first and exploring and experimenting purely for the sake of it, no extrinsic motivation needed.

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Ajogamer.bsky.social @ajogamer.bsky.social · 08/08/2026

and loved it, but there was one challenge set on RA I'd never have thought to try for an old favorite RPG, and that ended up being an amazingly satisfying experience, that me appreciate the game even more since it highlighted how well-crafted its game design was, and got me to utilize all my tools.

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Ajogamer.bsky.social @ajogamer.bsky.social · 08/08/2026

I can add that in many ways, RA was just an extension of stuff I was already doing, just with added community and tracking, and achievements that helped encourage me to try to do and see stuff I may not have thought to otherwise. For example I did hitless boss challenges in Order of Ecclesia pre-RA

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Ajogamer.bsky.social @ajogamer.bsky.social · 08/08/2026

That was also why I was surprised when I got into RA and started to understand the fun in it. It may also help that I'm in some RA-adjacent communities that have more balanced opinions like my own; I think many of us are just less vocal since we're busy enjoying games with or without achievements.

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Ajogamer.bsky.social @ajogamer.bsky.social · 08/08/2026

Yeah, I agree viewpoints closer to mine are probably under represented; before I got into RA and achievements, I felt like I mostly saw more extreme ones, where I saw many who desperately wanted that extrinsic motivation and seemed to care more about achievement points and trophies than the games.

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Ajogamer.bsky.social @ajogamer.bsky.social · 08/08/2026

Anyway, I agree with a lot of what you said in the blog post too, and think it's also touching upon some issues that aren't only achievement-specific. Just wanted to offer my viewpoint as someone who relates heavily to many your points, but who has also grown to appreciate achievements and RA.

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Ajogamer.bsky.social @ajogamer.bsky.social · 08/08/2026

and as long as I go into it with the mindset that the achievements are just optional and set mastery's not required, the experience still feels like my own, and where I can easily still skip anything I want. It's a bit like a guided tour, but where sticking with the tour guide's not a requirement.

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Ajogamer.bsky.social @ajogamer.bsky.social · 08/08/2026

I'm still reluctant to play every game with achievements (since it can change the experience, as you state), but I like having that choice. Sometimes I'll do a first playthrough with achievements, since it can work well for tracking completionism (a tendency I had even pre-RA), in certain games,

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Ajogamer.bsky.social @ajogamer.bsky.social · 08/08/2026

I can absolutely enjoy replaying a game sans achievements (and I have numerous games I've replayed a ton pre-RA), but I really love how a good achievement set can give additional challenges I may not have otherwise thought to try, or occasionally highlight some small new-to-me secret or Easter egg.

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Ajogamer.bsky.social @ajogamer.bsky.social · 08/08/2026

I can give a simple explanation and defense: My main reason for liking achievements is since they're a fantastic way to breathe additional life into games I'm already familiar with and enhance subsequent playthroughs.

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Ajogamer.bsky.social @ajogamer.bsky.social · 08/08/2026

As someone kind of on the cusp, where for many years I had similar qualms about the way achievements can interrupt and change the experience, and who still hates how some people view achievements as a requirement, but who has also since grown to like them through regularly using Retroachievements,

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Ajogamer.bsky.social @ajogamer.bsky.social · 24/10/2025

Personal Nightmare looks more interesting to me. Probably still gonna be real rough, but I'm curious what a Horrorsoft game without the RPG elements is like. My expectations are lower for the Waxworks remake, since I can imagine it having more combat focus and less interesting/goofy stuff.

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Ajogamer.bsky.social @ajogamer.bsky.social · 17/10/2025

The big thing to note about 7th Saga's US difficulty is that the game has multiple required boss fights that scale up with your level. Them messing with the stats made it so leveling up makes these fights 𝘮𝘰𝘳𝘦 difficult. Depending on your protagonist/level, they can even outscale to be impossible.

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Ajogamer.bsky.social @ajogamer.bsky.social · 07/10/2025

Pretty much all those RPGs are highly-regarded! Lord of the Rings Vol. 1 is a possible exception since it's more niche, but it still seems well-liked from what I've seen (It's a different game from the awful SNES one it shares a name with). Also, think you meant Savage Empire, not Savage Reign.

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Ajogamer.bsky.social @ajogamer.bsky.social · 16/08/2025

Hope the injury's nothing too big.

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Lemnisca LLC @lemniscallc.bsky.social · 12/03/2025

And without further ado, here is the staff that worked on this title: Localization Direction/Translation: @jhoopergace.bsky.social Editing: @qaenyin.bsky.social Quality assurance: @ajogamer.bsky.social, @kittytama.bsky.social, @feebeechanchibi.bsky.social

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John Hooper @jhoopergace.bsky.social · 12/03/2025

Proud to announce I was the localization director and translator on Kamitsubaki City Under Construction. REGENERATE, a sci-fi thriller/urban fantasy/mystery visual novel for Steam/Switch from Souki Tsukishima, the main scenario writer of Root Double! store.steampowered.com/app/2353340/... (thread)

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Save 10% on KAMITSUBAKI CITY REGENERATE on Steam

Answer the summons to the parallel world of "Kamitsubaki City" and meet a cast of colorful characters as you set out on a quest to save this city from the brink of destruction in this dark-f...

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John Hooper @jhoopergace.bsky.social · 22/01/2025

As promised, I've written up a walkthrough for The Shell Part III: Paradiso/Kara no Shoujo 3 and posted it here! docs.google.com/document/d/e... Please keep in mind this guide has heavy spoilers, so I don't recommend looking at it until after you've gotten the Normal Ending on your 1st playthrough.

docs.google.com

The Shell Part III Walkthrough

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John Hooper @jhoopergace.bsky.social · 22/01/2025

The Shell Part III: Paradiso/Kara no Shoujo 3 is now out! The conclusion to the tale that began all the way back in 2008 is now finally available in English, and it was my pleasure to have the honor of directing its localization and translating it! Enjoy! store.steampowered.com/app/3296790/...

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The Shell Part III: Paradiso on Steam

The coiling chains of obsession that began with The Shell now threaten to strangle Detective Reiji Tokisaka in the third and final entry in the trilogy. As old friends and foes rise up for one last co...

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Ajogamer.bsky.social @ajogamer.bsky.social · 05/12/2024

Yeah, that may be the main point of confusion, since it fits literally, just not quite with the story term. I definitely think the abstract/surreal stuff is separate and non-deceptive, being more for conveyance of other things, like you said. Some is even reinforcing what's already obvious.

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Ajogamer.bsky.social @ajogamer.bsky.social · 05/12/2024

So it's not a true "unreliable narrator", but I think some may confuse it for that due to the delusions and out of order plot, which can make it "feel" that way at first and get some to doubt what we see through Jimmy's perspective more than they should. That was my main point, hope that's clearer!

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Ajogamer.bsky.social @ajogamer.bsky.social · 05/12/2024

I think you may be right we're talking past each other a bit, since I agree Mouthwashing doesn't have a true unreliable narrator, I was just giving my guess to why others may think that. I think Jimmy's lies with Curly are all that come close, but I know that doesn't quite fit the typical use.

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Ajogamer.bsky.social @ajogamer.bsky.social · 05/12/2024

Yeah, I agree everything Jimmy and the crew says was actually said, with the only exception being some stuff in the delusions, but both those and the false stuff is obvious (like dead people talking). I think the delusions are just to show Jimmy's state, not to trick the player.

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Ajogamer.bsky.social @ajogamer.bsky.social · 05/12/2024

It's only really Jimmy's words that are more unreliable to the player, though even those lies only really hold up early on; most people realize pretty quickly he seems a bit "off", and then his lies get pretty transparent and obvious as the game goes on, even to the crew, in many cases.

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Ajogamer.bsky.social @ajogamer.bsky.social · 05/12/2024

Yeah, I agree with you. I think Jimmy's perspective is pretty reliable aside from his delusions (which are obvious non-reality to the player, not to him). I think anyone who doubts everything the rest of the crew says through Jimmy's eyes (few obvious delusions aside) are probably overthinking it.

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Ajogamer.bsky.social @ajogamer.bsky.social · 05/12/2024

That said, a big part of the deception toward the player working is because the game presents the story out of order. So while Jimmy can be unreliable at times due to his lies, I wonder if some people may conflate the two and over-attribute those narrative deceptions to Jimmy.

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Ajogamer.bsky.social @ajogamer.bsky.social · 05/12/2024

The 2nd is how often talks to the crew. He props himself up as the dependable leader, is manipulative toward them at times, and also lies about Curly. I think the Curly lies are the main argument toward him being an unreliable narrator, since that lie tricks the player too for a while.

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Ajogamer.bsky.social @ajogamer.bsky.social · 05/12/2024

I agree "unreliable narrator" probably isn't the correct term for most of it, though Jimmy and his perspective is definitely an unreliable source of information in multiple ways. 1st is the surreal scenes you mentioned. I wouldn't call these "unreliable narrator" since they're obvious delusions.

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Lemnisca LLC @lemniscallc.bsky.social · 04/12/2024

Here is the localization team for The Shell Part III: Purgatorio! The entire team from both the first two games returned for this one too! Localization Direction/Translation: @jhoopergace.bsky.social Editing: DxS Quality Control: @ajogamer.bsky.social, @carolinelucin.bsky.social, Elizabeth Black

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John Hooper @jhoopergace.bsky.social · 03/12/2024

The Steam page is up as well, so go ahead and wishlist to show your support! store.steampowered.com/app/3296790/... ...Also, my avatar finally matches up to the appropriate game after a whole year and a half at last. This, too, has truly been a long time coming...

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The Shell Part III: Paradiso on Steam

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John Hooper @jhoopergace.bsky.social · 03/12/2024

I'm thrilled to announce I returned as localization director/translator for The Shell Part III: Purgatorio, the third and final game of The Shell/Kara no Shoujo trilogy! It's been a long-awaited title, and I'm thrilled to have helped close the book on this saga of obsessions! x.com/shiravune/st...

x.com

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Ajogamer.bsky.social @ajogamer.bsky.social · 16/11/2024

You said that you were interested in seeing a video of it if anyone managed to solve level 1 of Let Out, so here you go:

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Ajogamer.bsky.social @ajogamer.bsky.social · 18/10/2024

Figured I should say something to make clear my account here's actually in use. So here it is. I probably won't post all that frequently (as was the case with me on the other site most of us migrated from), but feel free to follow me on here if you wanna see the rare times I do!

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