chasil20 hours ago
'While game’s title is a reference to “For Whom the Bell Tolls” by Ernest Hemingway...'
This is actually much, much older than Hemingway.
No man is an island,
Entire of itself.
Each is a piece of the continent,
A part of the main.
If a clod be washed away by the sea,
Europe is the less.
As well as if a promontory were.
As well as if a manor of thine own
Or of thine friend's were.
Each man's death diminishes me,
For I am involved in mankind.
Therefore, send not to know
For whom the bell tolls,
It tolls for thee.
--John Donne
gjm1118 hours ago
Donne was a poet (a very good poet, at that) but this particular passage is from a bit of devotional prose, not a poem, and I think it's misleading to format it as if it were poetry. Especially as it's quite unlike the style of Donne's poetry.
chasil17 hours ago
I pulled it from this source. Perhaps they are amenable to your insights?
graemepa day ago
Thea article says the title is a reference to Hemingway, but Hemingway's use of it was a reference to John Donne. The latter is far more familiar to me. Its no more relevant to the game though.
jaccolaa day ago
Indeed, the same meditation that originated the phrase ‘no man is an island’.
Though, of course, the better version is “Ask not for whom the timer ticks. It ticks for thee”
barrowclift20 hours ago
What serendipity, I've just begun my own play through a few days ago after having learned of the game (as most of those in North America have) through the Link's Awakening cameo. It's thoroughly charming, makes me sad it never enjoyed a proper release outside of Japan.
If any readers here have an interest in retro gaming or (like me) loved Link's Awakening back in the day, I highly recommend giving it a look.
SethMLarson19 hours ago
Woah, that's awesome!! Enjoy :)
Oarcha day ago
From the title I'd assumed this was a mixed metaphor between boiling the frog and facing impending doom.
Maybe I need to stop AI doomscrolling for a bit.
nitefooda day ago
What amazes me is I thought the exact same thing, verbatim. And I hadn't thought about that boiling frog in years. I guess it scarred you and me both when we saw it.
bryanrasmussena day ago
I just thought it was going to be a funny mashup of For Whom The Bell Tolls (Hemingway) with Michigan T. Frog (Looney Tunes)
jezzamon20 hours ago
For me personally this is one of my all time favourite games. It has a lot of charm and humour.
It looks like it's a zelda-like game, but because combat is deterministic rather than skill-based, it's really more of a puzzle game
CM30a day ago
Oh hey, it's the game I remember from the cameos in Link's Awakening and the Wario Land series. Honestly, I don't think anyone associates Mad Scienstein with this game anymore, given his appearances in Wario Land 3, 4 and Dr Mario 64.
ginkoa day ago
It's a really fun little game with lots of character. I played the translation and picked up an original copy on my last trip to Japan.
ralfd20 hours ago
> despite a few twists at the end: the Princess does not escape her fate
Which is? What fate?
SethMLarson19 hours ago
You'll have to play to find out ;) haha!