The Gang of Five
Well, that was an interesting twelve hours.  :bestsharptooth The forum should now be back up and running. Please don't hesitate to let us admins know if you run into any issues.

Show Posts

This section allows you to view all posts made by this member. Note that you can only see posts made in areas you currently have access to.


Messages - HotelValleyfornia

Pages: 1 2 3 ... 48
1
Gamers Zone / Re: Favorite Video Game Characters
« on: July 16, 2025, 03:15:06 PM »
Old thread? Perhaps. But I want to talk about Keira from Jak and Daxter - a character I've been thinking about a LOT lately. She was the first comfort character I ever had, and I'm beginning to realize that she really is my all-time favorite character. It wasn't until recently where I realized this, but being able to pour my heart out on the internet has helped a LOT.

My emotional attachment with her has been around for decades and has grown stronger with time, ever since I first played The Precursor Legacy. Other early games for me like Spyro 3, Ratchet 1 and Sonic Heroes were just games I played for...well, game, but my first time through The Precursor Legacy was the first time I felt like a character truly resonated with me. I was a little, little girl when I played it. I was awful at the game; I found myself eaten by lurkers with stunning frequency and I could never beat the fishing minigame in Forbidden Jungle to save my life, but I enjoyed my time with the game nonetheless and my favorite memories with the game were always attached to Keira. I loved the little conversations she could have with you and I loved her little jabs at Daxter ("Rule number one: I don't date animals"). When my mom helped me reach Misty Island I loved the little zoomer mission you had there and that was thanks to Keira. Lost Precursor City is my favorite level in the game and yup, Keira was the one who suggested you go there. It also helped she had a really likable design and adorable voice. And really, she was honestly more important to the game than Daxter was - she was the one responsible for helping Jak get through Fire Canyon and beyond, and thus was the reason he got anywhere in the game in the first place. She was always in Jak's corner, and like the Red Sage himself said, the world would've been screwed if not for her ingenuity. Seeing her get her flowers for being just as heroic as Jak was really inspirational to me. It taught me that our contributions to the world truly do matter. And I've lived by that ever since.

TPL is the game in the series I've played most but I have an equal amount of appreciation for Jak II and X. Jak II showed her struggling to adapt in the new world she found herself in, especially with Jak acting decidedly different than the easy-going kid he used to be. She acts out of order and says some outta-line stuff, but I could never hold that against her because HELLO, apocalyptic town governed by a brutal baron and her crush is working for a freaky crime lord who would use Daxter as toilet paper if he could. And she's an aspiring racer so it's only natural a highly-skilled racer like Errol would get her attention, especially with Jak being so different to what she's used to. But in the end she comes back around and learns to understand the new Jak better, coming to understand that despite the anger issues, he's still Jak, like he's always been. As I play Jak II I always find myself thinking about her and how she adjusts to the world she's in - and how, despite all the obstacles, she finds her footing at the end of the day. Adaptability. That's something I've always been wanting to learn from her, and I hope in the future I grow to be like her. And by Jak X, she's grown enough to become almost as skilled as Jak in the racing department, and despite her father's grumpy restrictiveness, she stands up to him and joins Jak's side in the race to help save her friends. Learning I was able to finally play as Keira was one of my happiest gaming memories, even if I'm still kinda bad at the game lol.

And look, I know The Lost Frontier has a bad reputation but gosh darn it, that game's story still resonates with me so much solely because of how it shows Keira at her best. In Jak 1 and X she showed her skills and abilities could change the world and save lives, in Jak II she showed her ability to adapt and come to accept change, and in this game...she shows her undying compassion for others. Now admittedly some of this is good old Offscreen Magic but it doesn't change the fact that Keira is able to make friends with Phoenix, and she's the most willing to understand his motives. Without spoiling the big twist, she's the one who convinces Jak to let Phoenix explain everything about the situation he was put in, without being hard on ANYONE, and when Phoenix showed his own distrust in Jak, Keira jumped in and stuck up for him, showing she believes in Jak with everything in her heart and soul, and that she adores him more than anything in the world. Even despite her initial difficulties with understanding Jak's personality change in Jak II...Keira still adores him wholeheartedly, and she'll stick with him until the end of time. *sniffle* I'm not crying! YOU'RE crying! :cry :cry :cry

I'd forgotten it for a while. But as I look back upon my life and the experiences I've had with Jak and Daxter...Keira really has been the character I've aspired to be like for the longest time. I wanna be able to make the world a better place like she did. I wanna be able to adapt to everything like she does. And I've learned to try and be as compassionate, caring and willing to see the world from every angle...just like her. I feel silly for ever forgetting just how much she's inspired me to be better, and from here on out...I'll make sure to treasure that more than anything. While I've found comfort in characters like Zeena, Gabby, Tina, Caitlin, Corrin, really countless amounts of characters...not only was Keira the first character I ever found comfort in, but she's also...become my hero. My role model. My idol. My #1 gal.

TL;DR I like Keira from Jak and Daxter a lot

2
Gamers Zone / Re: What's your personal favorite "Game Over" screen?
« on: July 16, 2025, 03:06:52 PM »
In Jak and Daxter 1 and 3, occasionally when you die, Daxter will drop some witty quote at your expense.

"Heimlich! Stretcher!...Yuck. Breath mint."
"While you're down there, can you rub my feet?"
"Say goodnight, Jak!"

3
Starday Wishes / Re: Happy Starday Serris!
« on: July 09, 2025, 08:09:51 AM »
Apologies if I'm a bit out of time, I've been sporadically active here lately, but Happy Starday! :celebrate

4
Starday Wishes / Re: Happy Starday, Little Anonymous Hacker!
« on: July 03, 2025, 01:34:55 PM »
Sorry if I'm late, but Happy Starday! :celebrate

5
Fanart Caption this / Re: Cera wants a belly rub
« on: July 02, 2025, 05:02:44 PM »
Cera, watching the clouds: Hee. That sky puffy looks like a treestar!

6
This is so freaking rad! The animation is spectacular and I love the dinosaur designs. I can't wait to learn more about the dino-lore as well. :DD

7
The Fridge / Re: Your Avatar
« on: July 01, 2025, 09:55:52 AM »
Much as I hate saying farewell to Pride Month, my new PFP is my current major comfort character. It's Ami from Crash Team Racing: Nitro-Fueled! I just think she's the most adorable tomboy fuzzball ever. :petrieLOL

8
The Welcome Center / Re: Hello Everyone!
« on: June 28, 2025, 06:09:24 AM »
G'day mate! Welcome to our forum! :rainbowwave

9
Fanart Caption this / Re: Somone drew a face on Cera's tummy tum
« on: June 27, 2025, 01:46:47 PM »
Cera: Hee. Now my stomach really IS talking!
Stomach: *growl*
Cera: Yes, I agree. Snack time!

10
Fanart Caption this / Re: Cera's bedtime
« on: June 26, 2025, 11:44:57 AM »
Cera: Okay, Dad! I'm ready for bed!
Topsy: Cera...it's 4am.

Cera really shouldn't take lessons from me in sleep times. :bestsharptooth

11
The Welcome Center / Re: A Message to the Gang of Five from Nick22
« on: June 25, 2025, 05:54:49 AM »
All the best! Here's hoping the treatment helps you heal the best that it can. Our thoughts are with you!

12
Fanart Caption this / Re: Cera's rumbly in her tumbly
« on: June 25, 2025, 05:53:23 AM »
Cera: Now there was something I was supposed to be doing today...
*her stomach talks*
Cera: Oh yeah! Time for my stoutness exercise! *gets onto all fours and starts doing push-ups* Up! Down! Up! 🎵When I up, down, touch the ground...🎵

13
Saurus Rock: Member Hall of Fame / Re: Joining Awards 2022
« on: June 23, 2025, 10:57:59 PM »
Oh my goodness! I'm deeply humbled that you'd bestow such an honor upon me. I'm sorry I've been gone for such a long time, but when I came back, it felt so wonderful to be welcomed back with open arms. This community is a lovely place and I'm glad I came around here.

Thank you all for this honor, truly. And thank you all for making me feel so welcome here! :DD

14
Starday Wishes / Re: Happy Starday, SammyTheSpiketail!
« on: June 21, 2025, 07:30:58 AM »
Happy belated birthday! :celebrate Sorry I'm late, this forum seemed really quiet apart from the Hangman thread so I kinda forgot about this place. :oops But, I'm glad we got to meet. :DD

15
Land Before Time Captions / Re: Petrie's cheeky grin
« on: June 08, 2025, 04:04:36 PM »
Littlefoot: I can't tell if I should be disturbed that a pteranodon has visible dentures, or impressed at the cleanliness of your teeth.
Petrie: Me usually get both.

(This would make an amazing emote, by the way. :thudLOL )

16
It's Party Time! / Re: Count To 50 Before a Mod or Admin Posts
« on: May 30, 2025, 05:50:12 PM »
5

Had another Taco Bell today. God they're so good. :angel

17
Silver Screen / Re: What are you watching?
« on: May 28, 2025, 10:08:46 PM »
Clearly I'm in a Dan Povenmire mood, cuz now I'm watching Milo Murphy's Law.

I'm STILL hurting over its cancellation. :cry

18
The Welcome Center / Re: Welcome waluigifan
« on: May 28, 2025, 02:04:18 PM »
Welcome back to the GOF! :wave :DD

19
Starday Wishes / Re: Happy Starday. rhombus!
« on: May 28, 2025, 11:28:17 AM »
Have a very happy Starday! :DD :birthday :celebrate

20
Silver Screen / Re: What are you watching?
« on: May 27, 2025, 11:07:21 PM »
I've been watching some of Hamster and Gretel. Or at least, the episodes with Hiromi in them. She's too precious. :petrieLOL

Pages: 1 2 3 ... 48