Blue Archive story · Volume 2: Game Development Department, Chapter 2, Episode 3
Vol. 2 Ch. 2 Ep. 3: Aris Goes on an Adventure!
1 scenes, 133 lines
1. Part 1
133 linesAfter that, I started brainstorming with the members of the Game Development Department about ideas for a new game.
As I said before, we are going with an innovative, brand-new idea for our next project.
"A therapeutic dungeon strategy RPG where you accept quests, go fishing, farm, and develop your character."
For this genre, the most important thing is, of course, the dungeons!
Yes. Depending on how the dungeons are structured, the game's content can be changed in so many different ways.
We can make dungeons with specific settings...or maybe mix it up with roguelike elements...
I would prefer roguelike elements.
"What do you enjoy about roguelike games, Aris?"
They are very exciting! I am always anticipating what kind of monsters I will see and what new rare equipment I will get every time the dungeon's structure changes.
In the roguelike game that everyone made together last time, we designed a unique item named after you.
"...You did?"
Yes. It is called Sensei's Praise Sticker.
I was overjoyed whenever I got that item in the game. My character became very strong just by obtaining it!
"...R-Really? It's an honor to be featured in a game!"
Th-Th-That...! We were j-just trying to add a little spice into the game!
W-We wanted to make the game more e-ex...
A little more e-ex...extreme! You know!
Are you nervous? I think you mean "exciting."
I would like to see more Sensei items in the next game!
"What if I were a party member, rather than an item?"
Th-That's a g-good idea! Ahem! Anyway! If we're gonna make roguelike dungeons, what should they look like?
Underground ruins...? That's the most basic form when it comes to dungeons.
What if we did something like climbing a tower?
We could have the difficulty increase with each floor you reach.
Walking up stairs is too boring! There's no innovation!
Hmph. You sure talk big, but I don't hear you giving any ideas!
Underground ruins...and a tower...rather than walking up stairs...
An elevator! How about an elevator?
Like taking an elevator down into some underground ruins?
I played a game like that before!
You are a spy who travels through the floors in an apartment elevator and defeats enemies.
Oh, right. That's a pretty popular retro game.
That doesn't exactly have the "groundbreaking" factor you were talking about.
W-Well, I'm not done! You're right, it's lacking! There's no surprise element!
What do you mean?
In this era, games need flashy visuals and a mind-bending twist!
So instead of going down to some underground ruins, you go up a tower in an elevator!
A tower?
Not only that...you keep going up...
And when you reach the rooftop, there's a huge explosion!
A huge spectacle!
Wait, so how do you clear the dungeon?
Let's just focus on the flashy visuals first...
You say that every time!
Wh-What?! What do you mean, Midori?
I've heard you say this before.
"To express the awesomeness of a dungeon, we need to create a lot of cool art! Monsters, dungeon traps, et cetera!" Because of you, we spent all day drawing the inside of a dark dungeon!
W-Well...! That's...!
I remember that! I drew lots of different things that day too!
Sensei, can I show you what I drew?
Especially my masterpiece... The Sensei Guardian, the strongest guard in the dungeon!
I named it after you, because you always guide us.
"I'm a little scared for some reason!"
See? Everyone did it by choice! It was necessary for the process.
I don't have a problem with making video game art!
But we worked so hard on it, and for what? We didn't actually use any of those assets in-game!
We didn't have a plan, so we wasted so much time! We should be a little more realistic!
Th-That's closed-minded! We're going to redefine the very meaning of video games! We have to overcome those kinds of limitations to do that!
"Um, you guys, please calm down..."
Yes! We need your opinion, Sensei! What do you think we should do?
"Um, that wasn't supposed to be my role here..."
It should be as flashy as possible!
But we have to do what's realistic!
Right? Sensei?!
"(It's gonna be bad no matter what side I choose...)"
Ah!
I-I'm sorry.
A never-ending argument like this won't help anyone!
Yes. I think we should decide using a method that's been passed down for generations in the Game Development Department.
Indeed, Yuzu! That is it!
"A method that's been passed down for generations?"
Yes... W-Well... You see...
More often than not...there are times when we can't come to an agreement.
"I guess this happens pretty frequently."
When we don't agree with each other's opinions, we have a special fight and the loser follows the winner's opinion.
"That's a pretty drastic method!"
F-Fine. If Yuzu says so...
I accept the challenge!
Midori! I'm not gonna take it easy on you!
That's what I was gonna say!
"B-But what are you planning to do?!"
"I understand what you're saying, but you shouldn't fight..."
The only option is Fruitjelly War!
"...Oh, you meant you're going to fight with a game."
Yes, we're the Game Development Department, after all.
All right! Don't be a chicken, Midori!
Hmph! Likewise!
The two began their intense match against each other.
Aris... How about you try to come up with new ideas?
Go on an adventure with Sensei. You might find some inspiration.
"The president of the Game Development Department is so mature..."
O-Oh...! I-I didn't mean to sound like... I just thought...
I understand! It is a quest to help advance my character!
Yes! I will do as you say, Yuzu!
Bum bum bum! Quest accepted!
Sensei! We will go on an adventure to collect ideas!
We began by exploring the Millennium campus.
Bum bum bum! Aris and Sensei are out exploring the town!
From now on, Apprentice Hero Aris and Sensei's adventure begins!
"Huh? You're starting out as an apprentice hero?"
Yes! You and I are both level one apprentice heroes!
When I began the adventure last time, I started as a legendary hero...
But then... Momoi...
"What did Momoi say?"
She said you cannot start an adventure as a legendary hero, because at level one you are only killing snails and slimes.
So I said then we should place legendary dragons around the starting town.
But Midori and Yuzu said that is not how game progression is done.
It is very hard to sell that kind of game, they said.
We have to make sure not to make that mistake, because only a very small number of players would like such a game.
"That's a very mature thing to say!"
I did not understand all of it, but...
I think that since we are beginning a brand new adventure, we should start from level one.
We will defeat monsters one by one and solve quests! Then we can level up and become legendary heroes, Sensei!
"Quest accepted."
Yes! But I would like to voice a concern about this adventure.
What steps do we need to take to clear Yuzu's quest?
"We should begin by moving forward."
What does that mean?
"You said before that a hero's adventure begins by moving forward."
...!
Yes! Battling, leveling up, clearing quests...it all begins by moving forward!
You have excellent knowledge befitting a member of a hero's party, Sensei!
"I learned all of it from you, Aris."
Okay, Sensei! Let us go forward!
And thus, my epic adventure with Aris began.