This week's thrilling episode of Speak-Up on Kotaku is brought to you by the letters Ursus-Veritas, The Drunken Moogle, John-Hamptonshire, and Guru Smooth, who'd like to discuss helmets, Muramasa's story, Persona 4's greatness, and getting hammered with you.
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About Speak-Up on Kotaku: Our readers have a lot to say, and sometimes what they have to say has nothing to do with the stories we run. That's why we have that little box on the front page of Kotaku. You know, the one with "Got something to say?" written in it? That's the place to post anecdotes, photos, game tips and hints, and anything you want to share with Kotaku at large. Just make sure to include #speakup in your comment so we can find it. Every Wednesday we'll pull the best #speakup posts we can find and highlight them here.
Hooray for Helmets!
Ursus-Veritas has a lengthy answer to the Helmet Question Totillo's posted on Sunday.
Aside from the minor stat bonuses Helmets grant in Mass Effect 2, the helmet can add to the Persona of your character. Giving your Shepard a helmet does not immediately cut off any emotional bond you have with your character, just because their face is obscured. For all intents and purposes, Mass Effect 2 is meant to be a Role Playing Game - you as a Player are playing the role of Commander Shepard, be they male, female, black, white, thin, fat, paragon, renegade, the character is meant to be your own, and just like many other mediums, costume can play its own part in saying something about the character who wears it. For example, Miranda Lawson's outfits tell us she's a strong, confident woman not afraid to show off her sexuality, The Eleventh Doctor's Bowtie and Tweed Jacket show us his 'Geeky professor' side, Boba Fett's battered mandalorian Armour tells us that he's an experienced and dangerous bounty hunter... why can't a helmet on your Commander Shepard be used to say something that you want to say about your Character?
Help Wanted
John-Hamptonshire needs someone to explain the plot of Muramas: The Demon Blade to him.
Alright. That's it. Someone please, PLEASE, explain to me the bloody story of Muramasa: The Demon Blade for the Wii. I've been playing it for 10 hours now as both the chick and the dude and I love it for what it is, but just when I think I get the story, another thing happens and I lose it all.
I don't care about spoilers, just explain to me what the hell I'm watching.
Feel The Persona 4 Love
Guru Smooth thinks he'll be flamed for declaring Persona 4 the greatest RPG released since the current generation of consoles started. I'd say it's a definite contender.
I'll probably be flamed for this, but I personally think that Persona 4 is the best console JRPG released since the 360 kicked off the current generation.
It was charming, knew when to kick into dread mode, pulled a genuine tear jerker moment(twice depending on who you are), and the final villain was somewhat obvious if you paid attention to the subtext...like the game tells you to. Plus the protagonist does pull off the most simplistic yet badass crowning moment of awesome I've seen since 2005 without needless sparkles, melodrama, and huge ass cut scenes(I'm sorry FFXIII finale but awakening The World in P4 after The Genesis build up finishing on the orchestral battle theme arrangement is so much more satisfying than the entirety of your finale.)
Shadow Shoots Better When Drunk
The Drunken Moogle comes through with another delicious video game-themed drink concoction. Remember kids, hedgehogs, firearms, and alcohol don't mix.
Shadow the Hedgehog shot
1 oz. grenadine
2 oz. Captain Morgan's Tattoo rum
Top with a splash of vanilla vodka