Metamorphic Force (Arcade)

Some people believe that he/she has animal spirit within him/herself. Is that mean they can transform into said animal and beat the evil back to darkness where it belongs. That's probably what happen in Konami's Metamorphic Force (1993).  

 Metamorphic Force sounds like another sentai movie. There's Power Ranger with animal theme, right? Judging by the title and that animal engraving, we can tell that the game features animal morphing. Is it better than Sega's Altered Beast? We shall see later but first story time.

 

An once-sealed evil king rises one again to conquer the world. Isn't that cliché in video games? But instead of a castle, he has whole island with dread looking mountain on it. He's definitely on whole new level of evil king/demon lord department.

 

But as natural flow of Yin and Yang, there's force that oppose the evil king. In this case, this goddess (who looks like Athena from Saint Seiya) and the 4 metamorphic guardians. 

 

And they possess reside inside those blokes. At the goddess's behest, they're off to battle the Evil King and his cohorts.

 

They conveniently goes to the island with "flying wisp-y thing" method just like Power Ranger. Metamorphic Force is fighting action or you always call it side-scrolling beat em up. So you know the basic, right? Joystick to move, one button to attack, and another button to jump. You can perform jumping attack by pressing attack while jump, pressing jump button and attack button simultaneously will make your character do special attack that knocking enemies nearby at the cost some of his health, and pressing attack button consecutively will make your character do combo. But there's few extra than that like: you can attack downed enemies and back attack by pressing away + attack button. You don't think Evil king's soldier consist of usual human aren't you? Because the first enemy you got here is lizardman/iguanaman with bright color and yellow swimming trunk. 

 

The game called Metamorphic Force for nothing, you see. Ban (that's the bloke with orange karate-gi) will transform into human-sized Minotaur once he pick the goddess's statue. The animal transformation will allow your character deal more damage, can do diving jump attack and have ability to grab enemy.

 

After beating more lizardman and passing statues that roll sphere at Ban, he encounter the 1st boss: Goatman with scythe. He come out from that sigil with that colorful pastel effect, which gives you idea how frightening he is. [That's mild sarcasm if you don't get it]

 

Luckily there's chest that contain health-replenishing item and the goddess statue. Picking one while your character is already transformed will makes him do screen-clearing attack and being invincible while at it. In Ban's case, he furiously horn any enemy in the screen. We all know bull's horn is more dangerous than goat's. So beating the boss isn't so difficult, even though he can conjures projectile along the line of a plane once in a while. There's no health refill once you finish stage, instead you got some chests (with various contents) after beating the boss.

 

Next stage takes place in volcanic cave where Ban encounters evil friend of Sonic The Hedgehog and beat the hell out of them. Right now he executes his back attack: graceful back kick. The man (or the bull) is truly an artist, martial artist for sure.

Next thing: Ban fights 2 Bebop's copies and he got "Dead Soon!!!" on his head. It's quite similar to Vendetta which is also Konami's side-scrolling beat em up. But unlike Vendetta, character's health in Metamorphic Force is measured by number instead of lines. Also he has animal morph bar like Hudson's Bloody Roar. When it goes down (by enemy's attack), your character will return to human form.

 

But Ban is still kicking (the enemies) on rock plate that traverse this beautiful raging magma river. Konami know that the game isn't difficult, so they make your character's health goes down within period. In other word, the health number also acts as timer which in my opinion is really cruel decision. Although, it goes down by 1 for approximately every 5 secs or so.

 

It's Claude turn's. He's blonde guy who fights using rapier. I suspect he has same lineage with Charlotte from Samurai Shodown series. So most likely he's French.   

 

And he turn into wolf. I don't think French can be associated with the wild canine. Maybe Gallic rooster will be perfect fit as it's France national football team's symbol. I'm not accusing French to be coward or anything. What makes you think so? Anyway, pickup can be obtained by breaking destructible objects. Also that critter with sack sometime throw some and you can "persuade" him to give you more or more frequent by hitting him good. Though he's swift and slick.  

The boss stage is appropriately enough: flaming birdman. Here you can witness how to deal with the boss: stomp him furiously when the opportunity come. It works on stubborn firecamp, so does to this boss. Do note there's small chance when he's on his feet, he will becomes fire tornado and charges at you. So makes him down and stomp him like crazy is my advice.

 

There's bonus stage like Final Fight. But instead destroying thug's sweet car, Claude must destroy head statue of  the evil king. And instead of lead pipe, you can use Goddess statue to initiate full screen attack. Well. If you're the powerful were-animal, you don't need mundane weapon, right? 

 

Following the volcanic cave stage is ice cave stage. It's like retro game tradition of fire and ice stage in sequence! Forget about the falling icicles and those Dumbo's evil clone! It's rare thing in video game that you got reflection in ice stage. Very good, Konami!

Claude fell before a crystal giant that spews bugs. So Max continue the crusade against these pink elephants. You think pink elephants only exist in dream? They will in the seconds. Max's transformation: panther. In fact, i keep imagine him as T'challa (a.k.a Black Panther) all the time. I know that he more resemble a character in Golden Axe 3. Maybe because i very often played Marvel Avenger Alliance in Facebook, back when it's still exist.   

 

But Max fell quite shortly after fighting the mini version of said giant who serves as this stage's boss. So it's up to Ivan (in bear form) to finish the job. Again, my strategy is to put the boss down and repeatedly attack him mercilessly while he's down. No matter how durable a giant crystal is, it can be broken by weight of brown bear which is approximately 600 Kg. Next stage!    

 

Oh look, forest stage! Hope you don't feel annoyed about it. At least, it's not 1st stage. Look there's living tree try to cheer you up! Of course not. He tries to violently poke Ivan in the back. The sneaky git.

 

In this stage, there's sub-boss: 2 goblin cyclops. And i made i good shot of a werebear about to flying DDT one of them. Cheers! They're pretty tough but soon they escape to fight another time. Coward!

After few traveling and beating all the goons, Ban catches up the goblin cyclops. But soon they emerge into ettin cyclop. He can throw you (but you can break free from it by pressing attack+jump button) and interruptible punch you. You know the tip about beating the boss so far: attack him while he's down ? In this case you get extra opportunity to do so, by evading his easily avoidable elbow drop and immediately stomp/punch/claw him before he can get up.

Before the next stage, there's another bonus stage that makes you rush anything on screen: pillars, hedgehogmen, boarmen, etc.    

 

At the start of 5th stage, the evil king via his personal hologram magic, taunts at you. That's on 101 villain things will do. So cliché.  

 

5th stage only pits the player against this she-devil. No evil king's (animal)men here. None at all. The stage got nice faux-3D circular effect on stadium. About the she-devil, she's quite swift and able to repeatedly frankensteiner your character. But again my strategy is still quite same: knock her and attack her while she's doze a bit. 

 

At her dying breath, she calls the evil king. So dramatic. Boo hoo.

 

It's the final stage: the evil king's castle where he keeps many of his minions and has those shooting-laser statues installed. Those head statue's attacks are easily avoidable... 

 

...however flying tiles are his deadliest trap ever. Not even Max's panther reflexes can help him dodge this atrocity. Maybe he's supposed to punch them away?

 

Then the pillars are tumbling down. I don't think you want to sacrifice the integrity of your own castle to do this because they didn't work as you expecting.

 

There's mini-boss: skeleton knight. When your half-animal soldier and demon didn't work well against your foe. You might as well as resort to necromancy. The skel-y can use his shield to block your attack (with small frequency) or spew explosive orb (more frequent when he's about to die). I can't offer you better strategy other than "knock him down and keep attack him while downed" method that -i believe- you're getting tired to read it. There's no display of enemy's health bar, instead dying enemy will flash bright color like what happen to this skeletal foe. As you can expect from Konami that developed many Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtle games.

If you're longing for elevator scene that's staple in every beat-em-up game. You're in luck! The rock plate where i beat the skeleton, turns out to be an elevator. You can expect lizardman will drop to fight our wereanimal heroes. Also werespiders climb the background wall and soon confront them.

 

This time the head statues are shaped of the evil king's face himself. Little did he know that the laser can harm his lackeys. Can you still feel smug knowing this, huh bastard?

 

Of course, you can't. Now you want to deal with me yourself. Bring it on!

Hey is that milky way? What? You expect me to get hit by that green-energy barrage of yours? Blame yourself to change the setting of our decisive battle into this beautiful outer space! Also to have attack that can be avoided by stepping away.    

 

Through the usual method, he's down but not totally. He has 2nd form. You don't expect the legendary evil king not able to transform, do you?  

 

Thus he become a demonic dragon that can (unsurprisingly) breath jet of flame from his mouth. The usual method feel less effective, now that he has very short recovery time while on the floor. This is going to take longer time.  

 

At a glance, this screenshot looks perfect to portray glorious victory over evil dragon. But in term of gameplay, this is bit embarrassing. Once your hero in transformation state, he will let out damaging surge nearby and the final boss get hit by it then immediately perishes. In my opinion, that's pitiful finishing blow. I was expecting more spectacular way to finish the final boss like jumping kick or combo finish, you know.

 

But you have to fight the evil spirit that once resides within the evil king. It won't mind to share its malevolent flame with your body. It can't get downed so you can't pummel it further in the ground. But you don't need to as it doesn't take lot of punishment to defeat. Soon the game is really over with good guys win.   

 

With the evil king dies, his castle fall apart (as Konami's tradition). The heroes freefall away from it as sun sets in horizon.

 

But the evil king bound to resurrect again in future and the heroes will lie dormant in the mean time etc etc etc. Quite cliché. But again, the good win and i'm done with the game for now. Cm_heavy_gamewon_05.mp3

That's Metamorphic Force (1993). The main question of assessment: Is it better Sega's  turn-into-animal-then-beat-everything-up Altered Beast? I can answer it with "Yes". Even though they're not in same genre of dimension. Also in Altered Beast, player can transform into animal that can fly or shoot energy wave. Then again Metamorphic Force feature much easier yet more satisfying gameplay. Especially it's one of very good side-scrolling beat em up games and i can't turn down that kind of game. The musics are quite good though not memorable. The visual graphic of the sprites are akin to Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtle  games which are with bright colorful pastel. While the decoration/scenery is absolutely great. That's quite what you expect from Konami. But in term of gameplay MF feels more superior than TMNT especially in boss fights. Yes there's not much gimmick on most of them but at least better than less-to-be interrupted-or-can't-be-outmaneuvered bosses in TMNT. Also the characters have more distinct difference in combat. Further info about that will be told in character's analysis. The difference between human form and wereanimal is neat enough in both visual aspect and gameplay aspect. The bonus stages are quite interesting. The difficulty design is quite shallow, you can finish the game with reasonable amount of credit within an hour or less. My biggest problem: health that's ticking down, the desperation moves that can be hard to execute, and no weapon pickup. The second problem is not so troubling as enemies seldom to surround you because most enemies aren't big-damage soaker. As for the first problem is quite solved by the presence of the pickup-dispenser guy. And he's guaranteed to appear soon after you use a continue to make sure you can transform immediately. Certainly better than waiting to kick/punch blinking cerberus.

In summary, i can heartily recommend you to Metamorphic Force (1993), especially if you're fans of fighting action/side-scrolling beat em up. Or you really like any game that makes you able to pummel hapless enemy on ground. This game's perfect treat for you. As my usual habit, i will analysis the hero's stats. Also to give you more information about their gameplay.

 

Ban's background is red, so that means he's assumed to be player #1. Judging by wearing karate-gi, he's supposed to be legit martial artist but i see his moves are quite rough. So his secondary stats: Dexterity (at 2.5/5). Because of his moves that are lack in finesse and deal decent damage, So his primary stats: Strength (at 3.5/5). Ban transform into a werebull which is the only herbivore among the heroes. So i assume he's vegan. Hey, don't underestimate the prowess of a vegan! Haven't you Shaolin kung-fu movie? While grabbing, Ban can squeeze enemy, toss him overhead (by pressing away + attack button) or flying ram him (by pressing jump button then pressing attack button).  

 

Judging by that cross accessory and that calm expression of him, Claude is upstanding Christian. He is a character with primary stats: Agility (at 3.5/5) because he's the fastest among the heroes but his speed is controllable. While in human form, he gracefully wield rapier that can reaches enemies at ease. So his secondary stats: Dexterity (at 3/5). Strangely enough, due to his long reach of his rapier, he's very good in human form than in werewolf form. Even though, transforming him to be werewolf still grant him extra damage on his attacks. If you want fight enemies the safest way in human form, Claude is perfect choice. Plus while in werewolf form, he has most stylish jump kick and dive kick.

Max is the only one with open mouth, ignoring the chance that he may swallows bugs. He's wearing equipment for manly rugby but also appropriate enough to battle evil creatures. Here's another extreme rare of character that has 2 main stats on equal quality besides Kohaku. Though, i could mis-analyze Max. He deals decent damage also move and attack fast so his main stats: Strength & Agility (at 3.5/5). Like Claude, he can execute grabbed attack his enemy more than 2 before punting him away and he can only throws the enemy backward. Max is quite fit for average character but possesses quite big potential in damaging department. Besides that, i already mention that when he's in werepanther form, it's enough to remind me of Black Panther. He's quite awesome.

 

Ivan is the only one with moustache and beard. While in human form, he's wielding a log as weapon to fight the evil hordes which requires strength. Thus his main stats: Strength (at 4/5). While in werebear form he attacks downed enemy with butt drop (or known as "cannonball") move. He also does that for diving attack and screen clearing attack which he does it more rabidly. While grabbing: he can move along with his enemy; slam his enemy to either left or right; and doing flying DDT (by pressing jump button then pressing attack button). I usually favor Strength character in side-scrolling beat em up especially who's excel at grappling and Ivan is no exception. Plus he wears ushanka (Russian fur hat), like Giant Skeleton who is my favorite giant troop in Clash Royale. Thus he's my most favorite character in MF. As you know that bear is omnivore, so Ivan is probably the most dangerous among the blokes. Moreover, he could be Zangief's sparring partner. Fascinating!

Kara no Kyoukai Ch 6 (Movie)

Even though, i have showed you Battle Moon War's screenshot of Ryōgi Shiki in last year review. Somehow, i'm still obliged to show her more. Thus i review Kara no Kyoukai Ch 6.  

 

The movie start with beautiful starry sky and follows this girl who looks like Rin Tohsaka, judging by her hair. Then she sits beside that boy. She narrates that she had dream about the past.

 

Then it cuts to catholic school, where there's a student that's followed by this transparent fairy.

 

Then the student who looks like Akiha Tohno, turns around and giving us smile and a wink. Oh, okay. I:

 

And the title comes. According to Type-moon wikia, Kara no Kyōkai means Boundary of Emptiness. There's tag line "Garden of Sinners" perhaps to imply the world that they inhabit is so full of sinners. No matter how small sin that they posses. Why i choose the 6th chapter? Because it's the least violent among the chapter and the most relaxing ones. No need to worry about grotesque bloody violent here. If my memory serves right, there's no such thing here, at all.

 

The lass keep running or walking in this school. She's Azaka Kokuto. She narrates that she's 16 y.o mage, telling us her relation with Kara no Kyōkai's main characters (Mikiya, Ryōgi, and Touko) , she lives with her uncle, and she has crush with Mikiya, which is her own older brother. You may think Akiha - Shiki case is high-ranking incest. But Azaka - Mikiya is on whole new level as they're related by blood, directly. While former case is adoption relation which make bit more sensible. To make the incest goes worse, she feels not troubled with that and later revealed that she goes to this boarding school to make her brother forget that she is his younger sister. Oh, wow! 3:

Luckily for everyone's sake, her plan is hindered by Mikiya's classmate that none other than Ryōgi Shiki. She looks really cheerful especially if you compare her to her usual self who's gloomy. Consider yourself very lucky, Azaka. It's such rare moment to see Ryōgi smile plus waving at you.

 

Recently, Touko Aozaki (Azaka's magic teacher) asked her to investigate a mage that causing anxiety, by using fairy in her school. As she can't see the fairy, Ryōgi Shiki is dispatched to be her partner. You can tell by her expression, Azaka is very unpleasant to this. Hey, is that Lassie?

 

First thing they do: conduct an interview with Kurogiri who's the teacher of class  1-4, about the fairy rumor in which his student presumably has been murdered by one. He says he believes in fairy's existence and fairies tend to be mischievous yet harmless. I'm with him. SunnyMilk and her gang are solid proof of his statement. 

 

During interview, this student named Misaya Ouji comes in. It's rather unusual for ordinary person to have pink hair in Type-Moon-verse. So she's definitely suspicious. Later Kurogiri leaves along with Ouji because there's certain appointment.

 

After they're rejected by students of class  1-4 who are apparently still traumatized to talk about the victim, they rest near this fountain. Suddenly, Ryōgi sees a fairy and chases it. Leaving Azaka alone...

...not for long. I knew that Ouji lass is fishy.  

After a bit of her flashback when Azaka  is in her father mourning ceremony and see Mikiya (and entranced while doing so), she wakes up. Then Ryōgi tells her that her memory back then is stolen by fairy. She become really upset and determined to beat the hell out of the mage investigate this case more seriously.  

 

To the point where Azaka searches school chairman's office so intense that she makes really mess of it. She said that the chairman is in New Year's party and won't go back till tomorrow. But that doesn't mean you can go wild like this.

Here we can witness that Ryōgi can cuts the lock using plastic ruler and of course, her Mystic Eyes of Death Perception. It's another use of the eyes, besides for killing. Inside the locked cabinet: report of Kaori Tachibana's case. That's the name of class 1-4 student who's presumably murdered by fairy.

 

While reading the report, a fairy spies them and later reports to Ouji about it. By the way, the fairy can't speak or at least soundless. Unlike Sunny or Cirno.

 

Later that night, Azaka confiscated knife that Ryōgi sneaks from dining hall. That's reasonable action as we know that she's very lethal when holding sharp tool.

 

Bit later, Azaka confess that she's interested in taboo thing including having crush on sibling. Ryōgi response: "You're pervert". That's 1-1 between the lasses.

 

Next morning, Azaka investigates the old school building by herself as Ryōgi apparently isn't morning person. I always wonder why there's always old school buildings in Japanese game or anime. Is it hard to just demolish them ASAP? Or Japan has very convoluted regulation about demolishing old building? Or perhaps it costs vast amount of money for its administration fee?

 

If this happens in night, this could be scene from horror movie and that lady is a ghost that's full of grudge. Of course, that's not the case. Once again Azaka meets Ouji.

 

Then they do morning service/prayer. That's not what i had in mind. I mean i was hoping for explosive action of violent magic, but no. Yes, the story's pace is relatively sedate.

 

But, wait! Ouji confesses that she obtained magic (of fairy control) to erase Kaori's presence or disgrace for Kaori's sake. Let the battle begin! :D

Or maybe not. Azaka got stinged by one of the fairy from behind. At least she knows Ouji's motive and truth behind Kaori's case. Ouji can makes the 2 fairies perform a drama in which one act as Ouji while the other as teacher named Hideo Hayama. And Ouji accused him to make Kaori suicide. They're struggling/wrestling. "Hayama" actor ends up stumbled on back of his head and perishes. As why the teacher becomes the reason behind Kaori suicide. I guess it's scandal.

 

Then Kurogiri wakes Azaka. Later Ryōgi tells her that whole student of class 1-4 are disappearing. She knows that Ouji tries to erase their memory about Kaori by force now. Azaka tells Ryōgi to split up: one search the old building while the other search the forest. Kurogiri says "there's nothing in there". [This is important part]  

 

Azaka returns to the old school building and find out that a partial of the building is vanished. I reckon that's only 12% part of the whole-building demolition. Seriously, somebody should 'Dragon Slave' this building, already!

Later, Azaka returns to her room and feel asleep. She dream about the past again. This time she asks why Mikiya doesn't cry knowing their father is gone for good.

 

That evening, Ryōgi informs Azaka that she got call from Mikiya. Later he informs her about  Hayama and relays a message from Touko. That phone with spinning dials is so outdated. Why the school doesn't replace it? It's very stifling to see.

 

Later Azaka goes to the old school building (again) and meets Kurogiri on her way. Remember when he said "there's nothing in there" before? He do it again but Azaka half-ignores him and continues her travel. Turns out Kurogiri is a mage nicknamed God's word who can controls one's sense by using his word, according to what Touko's said. This time, Azaka plugged her ears with walkman with majestic classic music on it so his trick doesn't work anymore. If i were Azaka, i would use Painkiller battle soundtracks or Quake II.

 

This time Azaka sees the 1-4 class students. Their gaze look empty and they're ready to burn themselves with lighters and jerry cans full of gasoline. Oh i forgot to tell you that Kaori did the suicide by burning herself up.

 

Meanwhile, Ryōgi confronts Kurogiri. He says that he "helps" Ouji for killing time alias self amusement. Yep, that's definitely iseng.

 

Azaka explains to Ouji that Hayama and Kaori see illusion of fairies because they're drug addicts. In addition, other symptom of them being addicted to drug:  they lost their weight significantly, and their emotion become unstable. Kaori can't forgave herself for being drug addict therefore she committed suicide while Hayama had a heart attack (because of drug's effect) when Ouji talk to him. Also she reveals that Ouji's memory has been stolen before anyone else. Thus she makes convenience fantasy by blaming other class 1-4 students. Ouji doesn't accept this obviously. So the battle ensues. For real this time.

In the meantime, Kurogiri totally evades Ryōgi's attack by saying "You can't see me". You're not John Cena, dammit! Finally, he vanishes after he almost got slashed thanks to Ryōgi's sheer velocity. She remains unscathed because Kurogiri doesn't have any mean to attack, not even the good-old fireball magic. You're not mage (or John Cena). You just show-biz hypnotist, you impudent sod.

When Ouji is about to order the fairies for next attack. She's stopped by this "mother of fairies" plant and later it devours her. I think i have seen that thing before.

 

Ah, yes! I have seen one in 'All Around Type-Moon' manga. In this case, the fairies drain on one's enthusiasm/spirit, instead of memory. They drained enthusiasm/spirit of most heroes and heroines, making them lazy like a Latin American or Spanish that isn't given chance to have siesta for 1 month. So it's up to (from left to right in 1st panel): Sakura, Rin, Akiha, and Azaka to destroy the plant. Credit to: scanlator and translator of 'All Around Type-Moon' manga.

Azaka run while avoiding fairy's attacks. Once she near the plant, she blast it with magic from point-blank distance. Demoman_specialcompleted11.wav

Then she axe kick it and it explodes thus case is closed. You notice that Azaka's skirt is ripped. That's because she ripped it herself so she can move more agile. I believe Ciel is very swift and able to kill that thing relatively easy with that kind of attire without ripped it first, not even a bit. Yes, reader. My fanboyism kicks in. Excuse me, please!

 

Ouji unharmed and still breathing for other days. Ryōgi is on her way to her apartment by train. Touko is satisfied with the result of the investigation. While Azaka meets Mikiya by this bus stop so they can go home together. Mikiya tells Azaka that Kaori is drugged by Hayama to shut her up because she saw him using drug. Also, he says that Kaori is awake. So, she survives from her own suicide?! See! This chapter is lighthearted.

 

Later, Azaka pulls Mikiya's arm and intently miss the bus. So she can have a date with her brother in a cafe down the street. I think Ryōgi goes home sooner so they can be together. Good for you, Azaka. :P

Then there's another Azaka's flashback. Mikiya replied her question about why he doesn't cry with "I couldn't cry if I wanted to. Because crying is a special thing". From that reply which show how steadfast he is and how sad he looks, she falls in love with him. Okay, whatever.

The story ends with date when the case is resolved which is 1st January 1999. Then this word which is chapter's title: Oblivion Record. That's quite relatable with case of fairy that steals human's memory. By the way, phone with spinning dial is really obsolete in 1999/1998, right?

Kara no Kyōkai Chapter 6: Oblivion Record is the softest among all of the chapters. Counting out the blooper part beyond credit roll which is a scene where a bloke eat other bloke that he killed recently, which is grotesque and sickening. You don't want to see it, believe me. There's few of light humor to lighten your mood on the story, like Azaka always murmurs "Mikiya" everytime she wakes up, her cynic attitude toward Ryōgi because she's considered as Azaka's love rival, or when the duo discover Touko's graduation photo. In this chapter, the main character is obviously Azaka Kokuto unlike the other chapter which focus on either Ryōgi Shiki or Mikiya Kokuto, but mostly Ryōgi. Also she blatantly admit her incest-y love which may makes you frown. While the case is pretty mild because it involve fairies, you see? The closing music (named "Fairy Tale", if i'm not wrong) is sounds majestic and mysterious at the same time which i think it's brilliant and worth to listen. Its excerpt are on Azaka's flashback which very appropriate to nuance. The starry sky is very beautiful to see. I can recommend you to watch this anime but you may know about Kara no Kyōkai's main characters, first. Moral of the story: don't do drugs, don't overblaming others to the point you want to kill them (especially using fairy), old buildings tend to facilitate bad things (therefore should be demolished immediately), and mage must have offensive magic skill not lowly hypnotic skill.