Is there an issue? Send a MessageReason:
Changed line(s) 6 (click to see context) from:
*** [[spoiler:''Ann Brown and the Fountainhead'' is another example, with the message having the subtlety and nuance of a freight train. The level starts off by immediately presenting a quote talking about how "destroying other people's lives is good as long as you aren't doing it illegally", and many of the level's NPCs are typical Eagleland-esque strawmen for pro-private property and anti-Communism, the player being intended to dislike them. The level's climax takes place inside a bank, the walls containing pictures of Ronald Reagan and Ayn Rand[[note]]a Russian-American author known for her strong support of Objectivism and Laissez-faire Capitalism[[/note]], with the boss inside being the Senior Financial Manager (who, unsurprisingly, is depicted as corrupt and greedy). An NPC asks the player to blow the building up, if only because "the dang Socialists built it all wrong". The blunt nature of the message, along with it clearly taking a side, makes it difficult to see as a gag, unlike the aforementioned ''Johnson [=McCain=] and the Communists''. It's very telling that when raocow played this level, most of the comments (regardless of leaning) brought up how oddly blunt it was.]]
to:
*** [[spoiler:''Ann Brown and the Fountainhead'' is another example, with the message having the subtlety and nuance of a freight train. The level starts off by immediately presenting a quote talking about how "destroying other people's lives is good as long as you aren't doing it illegally", and many of the level's NPCs [=NPCs=] are typical Eagleland-esque strawmen for pro-private property and anti-Communism, the player being intended to dislike them. The level's climax takes place inside a bank, the walls containing pictures of Ronald Reagan and Ayn Rand[[note]]a Russian-American author known for her strong support of Objectivism and Laissez-faire Capitalism[[/note]], with the boss inside being the Senior Financial Manager (who, unsurprisingly, is depicted as corrupt and greedy). An NPC asks the player to blow the building up, if only because "the dang Socialists built it all wrong". The blunt nature of the message, along with it clearly taking a side, makes it difficult to see as a gag, unlike the aforementioned ''Johnson [=McCain=] and the Communists''. It's very telling that when raocow played this level, most of the comments (regardless of leaning) brought up how oddly blunt it was.]]
Is there an issue? Send a MessageReason:
None
Deleted line(s) 32 (click to see context) :
** A more minor example, but Nevada's carnivory had its UnfortunateImplications removed/retconned. One of the Advent Calendar games depicts Nevada as ordering and consuming [[IAmAHumanitarian "Ethically-harvested HUMAN meat"]]. Now he's shown to simply like typical animal meats, such as pepperoni, sausage, and beef, especially on pizzas.
Is there an issue? Send a MessageReason:
None
Added DiffLines:
* AlternativeCharacterInterpretation: Is Uncle Rewind simply bigoted towards artificial [=ABCDs=], viewing natural ones as superior just on principle? Or does he view them as a mockery of the [=ABCD=] race and have more emotional reasons for his disdain towards them? [[spoiler:One of ''[=A2MBXT's=]'' major plot points is about the genocide and enslavement of the [=ABCD=] race by the Space Masters of Space, and both Rewind and Uncle Broadsword are brought into Uncle Pumpernickle's plan with the promise of bringing the extinct race back. Not only are many of the siblings structurally unstable (and a couple downright psychotic), but The Artist also made them susceptible to mind control (and thus slavery). Combine that with Demo and Iris' willing servitude of a Space Master of Space (something a log from Uncle Rewind recalls in sheer terror)]] and its easy to see why Rewind dislikes them: to him they represent a mockery of everything his people suffered through. Regardless, after defeating him in battle, he comes to regard them on more equal terms to natural [=ABCDs=].
* {{Anvilicious}}:
** Originally averted - references to political talking points such as Capitalism and John [=McCain=] were originally implemented as references to raocow's non-sequitur silliness and not meant to be taken seriously. Even in ''[=A2MBXT's=]'' first episode, Garish's antics, along with the entire concept of the level ''Johnson [=McCain=] and the Communists'', were intended to be a fun over-the-top joke more than anything that doesn't really take a side (even with Pily's description of him as a "slimy Objectivist jerk").
** Played Straight in ''Episode 2'', for the most part, given the political leanings of the talkhaus community at large. While Garish is still an Eagleland stereotype, he's depicted as (mostly) harmless, and his military tendencies and willingness to boost troop morale are seen as silly and endearing more than anything. The same isn't to be said about much of the [[spoiler:Holocene Epoch, the game's 7th world and a city-themed one at that. Multiple levels take [[CapitalismIsBad not-so-subtle jabs]] at Capitalism as an ideology.]]
*** [[spoiler:The world's second town, which takes place in a factory, depicts dangerous working conditions for the workers there, along with several breaches of labor laws (with one of the workers mentioning that he hasn't had a day off in three weeks). The owner, meanwhile, has a luxurious office, and is described as extremely corrupt and greedy. While some of this was TruthInTelevision during the Industrial Revolution, it makes little sense in a modern setting.]]
*** [[spoiler:''Ann Brown and the Fountainhead'' is another example, with the message having the subtlety and nuance of a freight train. The level starts off by immediately presenting a quote talking about how "destroying other people's lives is good as long as you aren't doing it illegally", and many of the level's NPCs are typical Eagleland-esque strawmen for pro-private property and anti-Communism, the player being intended to dislike them. The level's climax takes place inside a bank, the walls containing pictures of Ronald Reagan and Ayn Rand[[note]]a Russian-American author known for her strong support of Objectivism and Laissez-faire Capitalism[[/note]], with the boss inside being the Senior Financial Manager (who, unsurprisingly, is depicted as corrupt and greedy). An NPC asks the player to blow the building up, if only because "the dang Socialists built it all wrong". The blunt nature of the message, along with it clearly taking a side, makes it difficult to see as a gag, unlike the aforementioned ''Johnson [=McCain=] and the Communists''. It's very telling that when raocow played this level, most of the comments (regardless of leaning) brought up how oddly blunt it was.]]
*** [[spoiler:To a more minor degree, Uncle Rewind's leek cannery is this, as he's presented as a Laissez-faire businessman in the way he runs his factory, and also checks a second StrawmanPolitical box by having him show bigotry towards artificial [=ABCDs=] (though this is also subject to AlternativeCharacterInterpretation). Its telling that the achievement for defeating him is simply titled "Good Riddance", unlike the more fun and/or silly names the defeat achievements for the other uncles receive [[JerksAreWorseThanVillains including big-bad Uncle Pumpernickle]]]]
* {{Anvilicious}}:
** Originally averted - references to political talking points such as Capitalism and John [=McCain=] were originally implemented as references to raocow's non-sequitur silliness and not meant to be taken seriously. Even in ''[=A2MBXT's=]'' first episode, Garish's antics, along with the entire concept of the level ''Johnson [=McCain=] and the Communists'', were intended to be a fun over-the-top joke more than anything that doesn't really take a side (even with Pily's description of him as a "slimy Objectivist jerk").
** Played Straight in ''Episode 2'', for the most part, given the political leanings of the talkhaus community at large. While Garish is still an Eagleland stereotype, he's depicted as (mostly) harmless, and his military tendencies and willingness to boost troop morale are seen as silly and endearing more than anything. The same isn't to be said about much of the [[spoiler:Holocene Epoch, the game's 7th world and a city-themed one at that. Multiple levels take [[CapitalismIsBad not-so-subtle jabs]] at Capitalism as an ideology.]]
*** [[spoiler:The world's second town, which takes place in a factory, depicts dangerous working conditions for the workers there, along with several breaches of labor laws (with one of the workers mentioning that he hasn't had a day off in three weeks). The owner, meanwhile, has a luxurious office, and is described as extremely corrupt and greedy. While some of this was TruthInTelevision during the Industrial Revolution, it makes little sense in a modern setting.]]
*** [[spoiler:''Ann Brown and the Fountainhead'' is another example, with the message having the subtlety and nuance of a freight train. The level starts off by immediately presenting a quote talking about how "destroying other people's lives is good as long as you aren't doing it illegally", and many of the level's NPCs are typical Eagleland-esque strawmen for pro-private property and anti-Communism, the player being intended to dislike them. The level's climax takes place inside a bank, the walls containing pictures of Ronald Reagan and Ayn Rand[[note]]a Russian-American author known for her strong support of Objectivism and Laissez-faire Capitalism[[/note]], with the boss inside being the Senior Financial Manager (who, unsurprisingly, is depicted as corrupt and greedy). An NPC asks the player to blow the building up, if only because "the dang Socialists built it all wrong". The blunt nature of the message, along with it clearly taking a side, makes it difficult to see as a gag, unlike the aforementioned ''Johnson [=McCain=] and the Communists''. It's very telling that when raocow played this level, most of the comments (regardless of leaning) brought up how oddly blunt it was.]]
*** [[spoiler:To a more minor degree, Uncle Rewind's leek cannery is this, as he's presented as a Laissez-faire businessman in the way he runs his factory, and also checks a second StrawmanPolitical box by having him show bigotry towards artificial [=ABCDs=] (though this is also subject to AlternativeCharacterInterpretation). Its telling that the achievement for defeating him is simply titled "Good Riddance", unlike the more fun and/or silly names the defeat achievements for the other uncles receive [[JerksAreWorseThanVillains including big-bad Uncle Pumpernickle]]]]
Is there an issue? Send a MessageReason:
None
Added DiffLines:
* LighterAndSofter: ''Episode 2'' tones down much of the more mean-spirited humor:
** Kood, while still the resident ButtMonkey, has his status as this toned down a few notches, and as of ''Episode 2's'' ending his relationship with Pily is still going strong. The dynamic is also balanced out by Demo and Iris' willingness to poke fun at the other team members' quirks as well, such as Sheath's tendency to muck things up by getting distracted, or Raocow's habit of dying at the end.
** Con, the Yoshi resistance leader in ''[=ASMT=]'', appears in Tempura Anomoly as a patron, clearly still getting over his lost love for Demo, but otherwise in good shape. This is in stark contrast to his fate in ''[=A2MT=]'', where he and the other Yoshis are captured and placed as animals in the Space Master's zoo[[note]]''"You were supposed to save us, we're no better off here!'"[[/note]]
** A more minor example, but Nevada's carnivory had its UnfortunateImplications removed/retconned. One of the Advent Calendar games depicts Nevada as ordering and consuming [[IAmAHumanitarian "Ethically-harvested HUMAN meat"]]. Now he's shown to simply like typical animal meats, such as pepperoni, sausage, and beef, especially on pizzas.
* MoodWhiplash: In '''[=A2XT=]'', death from level to level is often treated as a non-issue or Black comedy - in the same game that has a sad and serious subplot about [[spoiler:the genocide and enslavement of the ABCD race, which provides character motivation for Uncle Broadsword and Uncle Rewind.]]
** Kood, while still the resident ButtMonkey, has his status as this toned down a few notches, and as of ''Episode 2's'' ending his relationship with Pily is still going strong. The dynamic is also balanced out by Demo and Iris' willingness to poke fun at the other team members' quirks as well, such as Sheath's tendency to muck things up by getting distracted, or Raocow's habit of dying at the end.
** Con, the Yoshi resistance leader in ''[=ASMT=]'', appears in Tempura Anomoly as a patron, clearly still getting over his lost love for Demo, but otherwise in good shape. This is in stark contrast to his fate in ''[=A2MT=]'', where he and the other Yoshis are captured and placed as animals in the Space Master's zoo[[note]]''"You were supposed to save us, we're no better off here!'"[[/note]]
** A more minor example, but Nevada's carnivory had its UnfortunateImplications removed/retconned. One of the Advent Calendar games depicts Nevada as ordering and consuming [[IAmAHumanitarian "Ethically-harvested HUMAN meat"]]. Now he's shown to simply like typical animal meats, such as pepperoni, sausage, and beef, especially on pizzas.
* MoodWhiplash: In '''[=A2XT=]'', death from level to level is often treated as a non-issue or Black comedy - in the same game that has a sad and serious subplot about [[spoiler:the genocide and enslavement of the ABCD race, which provides character motivation for Uncle Broadsword and Uncle Rewind.]]
Is there an issue? Send a MessageReason:
None
Changed line(s) 3 (click to see context) from:
** This has more of a direct impact during [[spoiler: Iris' breakdown towards Uncle Broadsword at the end of ''Episode 2'''s World 6, as the side content (especially the Advent Calendar events) provides more build-up and context towards Iris' deep-seated frustrations with Broadsword, and how he tends to unintentionally show way more love and attention towards Demo than Iris despite being the father figure of both sisters. Those unfamiliar with the side content would see a lot of Iris' examples as bizarre and rather random, and that the Luigi-esque unfavoritism towards Iris almost comes out of nowhere.]]
to:
** This has more of a direct impact during [[spoiler: Iris' breakdown towards Uncle Broadsword at the end of ''Episode 2'''s World 6, as the side content (especially the Advent Calendar events) provides more build-up and context towards Iris' deep-seated frustrations with Broadsword, and how he tends to unintentionally show way more love and attention towards Demo than Iris despite being the father figure of both sisters. Those unfamiliar with the side content would see a lot of the examples Iris' examples mentions of this as bizarre and rather random, and that the Luigi-esque unfavoritism towards Iris almost comes out of nowhere.]]
Is there an issue? Send a MessageReason:
None
Added DiffLines:
** This has more of a direct impact during [[spoiler: Iris' breakdown towards Uncle Broadsword at the end of ''Episode 2'''s World 6, as the side content (especially the Advent Calendar events) provides more build-up and context towards Iris' deep-seated frustrations with Broadsword, and how he tends to unintentionally show way more love and attention towards Demo than Iris despite being the father figure of both sisters. Those unfamiliar with the side content would see a lot of Iris' examples as bizarre and rather random, and that the Luigi-esque unfavoritism towards Iris almost comes out of nowhere.]]
Is there an issue? Send a MessageReason:
None
Changed line(s) 2 (click to see context) from:
** ''Episode 2'''s long development time is partially to blame in some regard. Demo's uncles were meant to be properly introduced in this game, but the group (''especially'' fan-favorite Uncle Broadsword) were well-utilized in much of the aforementioned side content (including a PromotedToPlayable appearance for Broadsword), thus ''Episode 2'' makes many references to it (though not to the degree of leaving a player lost).
to:
** ''Episode 2'''s long development time is partially to blame in some regard. Demo's uncles were meant to be properly introduced in this game, but the group (''especially'' fan-favorite Uncle Broadsword) were well-utilized in much of the aforementioned side content (including a PromotedToPlayable appearance for Broadsword), Broadsword) long before the game's release, thus ''Episode 2'' makes many references to it (though not to the degree of leaving a player lost).
Is there an issue? Send a MessageReason:
None
Changed line(s) 22 (click to see context) from:
* ResetButtonEnding: More like reset button ''beginning''. ''[=A2XT's=]'' first episode ends with the [[SuddenDownerEnding universe being destroyed]], with most of the cast presumably dead and floating through the void. Sheath is the only one remaining in the remains of the previous universe, and is given an artifact as a means of repairing everything. ''Episode 2'', meanwhile, throws out this premise by presenting a ''new'' universe where the whole cast is alive and well, and Sheath uses her artifact to teleport there, promptly scrambling ''that'' timeline in the process and sending the whole cast to a setting outside of time. These being "new" instances of the characters is HandWaved by having their memories merge with that of the previous timeline's cast, and the ending of ''Episode 1'' is effectively reversed.
to:
* ResetButtonEnding: More like reset button ''beginning''. ''[=A2XT's=]'' first episode ends with the [[SuddenDownerEnding universe being destroyed]], with most of the cast presumably dead and floating through the void. Sheath is the only one remaining left in the remains of the previous universe, and is given an artifact as a means of repairing everything.everything. It seemed like it was all up to Sheath to reverse the damage that had been done, and it would've made for an interesting jumping on point for the next episode. ''Episode 2'', meanwhile, throws out this premise by presenting a ''new'' universe where the whole cast is alive and well, and Sheath uses her artifact to teleport there, promptly scrambling ''that'' timeline in the process and sending the whole cast to a setting outside of time. These being "new" instances of the characters is HandWaved by having their memories merge with that of the previous timeline's cast, and the ending of ''Episode 1'' is effectively reversed.
Is there an issue? Send a MessageReason:
None
Changed line(s) 22 (click to see context) from:
* ResetButtonEnding: More like reset button ''beginning''. ''[=A2XT's=]'' first episode ends with the [[SuddenDownerEnding universe being destroyed]], with most of the case presumably dead and floating through the void. Sheath is the only one remaining in the remains of the previous universe, and is given an artifact as a means of repairing everything. ''Episode 2'', meanwhile, throws out this premise by presenting a ''new'' universe where the whole cast is alive and well, and Sheath uses her artifact to teleport there, promptly scrambling ''that'' timeline in the process and sending the whole cast to a setting outside of time. These being "new" instances of the characters is HandWaved by having their memories merge with that of the previous timeline's cast, and the ending of ''Episode 1'' is effectively reversed.
to:
* ResetButtonEnding: More like reset button ''beginning''. ''[=A2XT's=]'' first episode ends with the [[SuddenDownerEnding universe being destroyed]], with most of the case cast presumably dead and floating through the void. Sheath is the only one remaining in the remains of the previous universe, and is given an artifact as a means of repairing everything. ''Episode 2'', meanwhile, throws out this premise by presenting a ''new'' universe where the whole cast is alive and well, and Sheath uses her artifact to teleport there, promptly scrambling ''that'' timeline in the process and sending the whole cast to a setting outside of time. These being "new" instances of the characters is HandWaved by having their memories merge with that of the previous timeline's cast, and the ending of ''Episode 1'' is effectively reversed.
