PinTO!

Today we pick up Mint’s story and get deep into the fray. Some scenes are switched up, and I’m thrown for a loop. But I’m more into it now than before, so loops are fun.

So, while we’re still in the basement, I just want to point out my second favorite scene in the game. Rue asks to help find and use the [relic]. Mint doesn’t want to share it but says she will as long as she gets a 9:1 share. Rue agrees with this because he only wants one thing. He's not here for riches, power, or fame; just Clare. Klaus says how terrible she is for suggesting that, and Mint says she didn’t expect Rue to agree with that. I think she feels a tinge of guilt. Is this the beginning of her redemption arc?

We start today by splitting the party up. Rue goes to the haunted house, and Mint goes to the Tree House called Gamul Forest. Klaus informs us that the Gamul are peaceful creatures who won’t attack unless it’s in defense. Let’s see if I remember this tidbit by the time I get there. As Mint steps to the town’s front gate, she’s stopped by Mira, who informs her that the village is a week away by foot. She then suggests we talk to Rod.

This scene plays out exactly as it does with Rue when goes to the Lake Ruins. We fight Rod, he gives us a ride. The enroute conversation is different, though. Mira gives us lunch, and Mint called the boat PinTO. It’s short for Pulsar Inferno Typhoon Omega. Rue and Prima bite their tongues trying to say it, but Mint gives it a slightly rude nickname, which is in character for her.

As they reach the village, Mint gives Rod the lunch she didn’t eat and tracks to where the Magicians Atelier was. I say "was" because it's destroyed, with only the foundation remaining. She finds a book stating the earrings are stored in the guardian, who demolished the house and ran away. Suddenly, Belle shows up with the Hexagon! The trick here to avoid damage, obviously, and wait until the Hexagon raises stones from the ground. Jump onto the stones and then jump kick Belle. It's a fairly simple boss with manageable mechanics.

After Belle is dispatched and knocked-out, Mint loots her fallen foe and walks to a nearby wooden elevator. Here we come to my favorite dungeon in the game. Maybe not favorite, but it’s the most unique in the game. For starters, the majority of enemies won’t attack you on sight. You have to actually hit them first, which, of course, I did because I am one with Mint. Once attacked, they respawn immediately and forever. It might be the best place to grind due to frequency. It also has the most magic needed puzzles. Defeating Belle unlocked green/wind magic for us to use. We need to use the new wind magic to spin windmills, which move several platforms throughout the level. What keeps it from being my favorite is the puzzle. It’s a rail puzzle where you need to toggle other switches in the dungeon to properly trigger the correct path. Every time you try the puzzle, you have to start several scenes back, and you need to do the puzzle at least three times. It’s more tedious than it needs to be, and I hate it. I also feel bad beating up the Gamul to restore my MP, so I am not at one with Mint. Eventually, Belle catches up to Mint, and they’re chased off the treehouse paths by the Gamul. They fall off a platform and land hard on the ground near a lake. Mint sprained her leg, and Belle heals it back to health. Why didn’t Mint find healing magic when she searched Belle earlier?

...and then Belle gets eaten by a whale. This guy is another reason I don’t like the dungeon. The whole schtick is to avoid the waves the Cloud Whale summons and don’t get sucked into it like Belle did. After what feels like forever, the gem on its head starts to glow, signaling we’re to attack that. You can only get one hit in, and it takes so much time for it be attackable again. Not only that, but every time I smacked it, I fell into the lake. And I when I ran away from its suck. And when I fought its minions. And when I randomly got hit by a waterspout. I hate monotony. It’s not a difficulty level or a game mechanic, just a way to make your game not fun.

Regardless, the guardian Whale is felled, Belle is spat out, Mint finds the earrings, and everyone returns to Carona. The same scene happens with Prima getting his new clothes. This time, Mint goes to Mel, and Rue is seen talking to Belle and Duke. Once again, he wins them over with his backstory and promises to give them the [relic] after he revives Clare. Mint gets lightning magic and then goes to the Raging Volcano. She doesn’t want to, but non-PC Rue doesn’t offer, so off she goes.

The dungeon is the same, but Mint finds explosion magic here to destroy the rocks. The same boss fight with Duke, Belle, and Hexagon happens. The same Wylaf boss happens, where we only need to deplete his HP to half. He fought us this time because he thinks Mint’s spunkiness can handle the power of the [relic].

We return to Carona, and we’ll make Prima Doll whole tomorrow!

Mint’s story is a lot funnier than Rues, and I kinda wish I had done her’s first. While her story is shallow thus far, what we see of Rue’s is mysterious and vague. It would definitely make me interested in playing him if I hadn't already. Maya is about to show up, so Mint’s story is really about to begin, and I wonder how the two stories are gonna diverge. How much with Mint change? The seeds were planted tonight, so will they sprout or wither away?