lete lyre@『働く喜び』
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letelyre.bsky.social
lete lyre@『働く喜び』
@letelyre.bsky.social
230 followers 110 following 2.5K posts
J→E・E→J translator & interpreter, occasional writing+design for indie projects.
Hobby blog @ https://betterletethannever.blogspot.com/
Games, anime, & a love for the obscure/obsolete.
Current obsession: prep for Comiket 107
FF外リプ歓迎
sfw but 🔞
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letelyre.bsky.social
Important #arcade news update from straight out of Tokyo:
As of 6 days ago, the legendary Club Sega Akihabara reopened its doors after its latest change in ownership.

Now managed by Matahari Entertainment, the game center goes by a new name: SILK HAT TOKYO.

Tonight I visited it in person.

🧵
(1/4)
Exterior photo of the newly-opened SILK HAT TOKYO in Akihabara, the siding now mostly silver with red and blue accents, vaguely reminiscent of the arcade's branding from its past lives. The grand opening display, with a floral tribute to Sega and a sign that says: "We (heart) Akihabara. since 1992. to be continued." Another sign celebrates the grand opening date of November 22, 2025: just six days ago at the time of writing.
November 28, 2025 at 1:51 PM
letelyre.bsky.social
🈹おっと、『FA●ZA同人ゲームエキスポ』もうすぐ終わってしまうみたい（12月1日まで）

溜まったポイントをシャキッと一気に利用するチャンスだぞ

私のイチオシは――もちろん “100円キャンペーン”。
私、ケチだから
とあるサイトのキャンペーン広告
November 25, 2025 at 12:23 PM
letelyre.bsky.social
Bonus: in PSO2, this shop is run by the Naula/Naura sisters, another reference to the original.

The shop inventory and the sisters' outfits vary according to one of several seasonal variations e.g. Tropical Frappe and swimsuits for summer.

❗ I've only seen the shop myself ONCE across ~2,000 hours.
The shop screen for PSO2's Naura Cake Shop. A system message about Specialty Shops shows up, a sign that this is the first time the playable character has encountered it. In the background, you can see the shop has a variety of cakes for sale, and the Middle Naura Sister wears a blue swimsuit. The summer seasonal item Tropical Frappe. Flavor text reads: "A regional treat handmade by the Naura sisters. A special frappe to beat the heat. Drinking this will energize you from head to toe." It is also an edible item, with an Effect Duration of 10 minutes.
November 24, 2025 at 1:37 PM
letelyre.bsky.social
In the original Phantasy Star, there is, bizarrely, a cake shop located in the middle of the Naula Cave dungeon.

This cake shop is referenced in Phantasy Star Online 2, but is so ridiculously rare that it can take hundreds of hours for its event to ever occur.

As in PS1, the shop sells Shortcake.
The futuristic food truck labeled NAURA CAKE SHOP in PSO2's sci-fi fantasy script. The NPC tags show the three Naura Sisters: Youngest, Middle, and Eldest. In this screenshot, the shop is stopped on the tropical beach planet Wopal and features art of refreshing ice cream and shaved ice. The Naura Cake Shop Shortcake. Flavor text reads: "An old favorite handmade by the Naura sisters. This deluxe shortcake has a strawberry on top. Eating this will energize you from head to toe." The item is indeed edible, as indicated by an Effect Duration of 30 minutes.
November 24, 2025 at 1:37 PM
letelyre.bsky.social
When I moved to Japan, I had to leave a lot of my things behind: including my trusty RAP 4 Kai.

It was my first full size arcade stick, and my companion through countless hours across fighters and shmups alike.

I've missed it a lot!
So, say hello to my new RAP V Hayabusa (the V stands for Vewlix!)
Photo of the HORI Real Arcade Pro (RAP) V Hayabusa box, front and back. It's a neat black and blue color. The button layout is Vewlix, meaning the leftmost pair of buttons is slightly lower postioned, and the rest are in a straight grid to the right.
November 23, 2025 at 11:45 PM
letelyre.bsky.social
Check out this enemy design. It's a blue, glowing sci-fi rocket ship piloted by a cartoony duck-chicken wearing a bowtie, suspended in green goop in a tube

I can mentally draw a thematic dotted line to classic Sonic the Hedgehog robot designs...
One of Super Bullet Break's enemy encounters, in the Phoenix Gunner stage. The aforementioned duck-chicken aerial combat mech stands menacingly as it guards the path forward towards the inner sanctum holding the next boss. I have a rotund Pinguin (like a penguin but with a pin atop its head) currently selected.
November 23, 2025 at 10:13 AM
letelyre.bsky.social
[Eat the hose attack] is such a silly in-game choice, made all the better because you have no alternative

In general, I'm doing a lot of eating attacks this session, huh

Now that I've moved on to cleaning up the completionist achievements on Super Bullet Break, I can fool around much more.
Bird-girl Naru, armed with dual water pistols, announces: "Captain! Eat my hose attack!" The one and only response given to the player is: "[Eat the hose attack] Lose 15HP." Another character, Ruffe, dressed in military attire, stands in front of a massive cannon. "Eat my superdreadnought shells!" is the cue that she is initiating a mid-stage boss fight.
November 23, 2025 at 10:09 AM
letelyre.bsky.social
ぅっし、期間限定グッズ、購入完了だー！

だいぶ前から『つかれた犬アニメ』のつかれた犬と、あるうらら先生の両方のファンだったんだから、このタイミングはちょうどいい

作者さんにこれくらい支援できるのも嬉しい
つかれた犬アニメの、【あるうらら先生描きおろし！カツアゲJKコスプレ子持ちママの「よこせよ」アクスタ】の限定商品ページと、購入確認。 アニメの設定では、JKコスでも実はちゃんとしたけもママという説あり。
November 23, 2025 at 5:14 AM
letelyre.bsky.social
It being the original GitS film's 30th, I'll take the opportunity to praise its controversial sequel—Ghost in the Shell 2: Innocence.

Innocence is uncomfortable, experimental. At times it feels like it's intentionally obfuscating itself.
And in my personal view: it easily stacks up to the original.
Cover visual for Ghost in the Shell 2: Innocence, simply titled "Innocence" for its Japanese release. A fragmented gynoid lies on the ground, components splayed out, next to a basset hound named Gabriel.
November 19, 2025 at 11:25 AM
letelyre.bsky.social
November 18 marks 30 years since the theatrical release of the sci-fi classic, GHOST IN THE SHELL / 攻殻機動隊, in 1995.

I'm loving the 30th Anniversary logo art for Ghost in the Shell, by artist YOSHIROTTEN.

English language page:
theghostintheshell.jp/en/news/ghos...

#GitS
Excerpt from the Ghost in the Shell website's page on its 30th anniversary, featuring glowing blue and eletronics-green variations of YOSHIROTTEN's logo art to commemorate the occasion.
November 19, 2025 at 3:58 AM
letelyre.bsky.social
📝In preparation for my 2025 write-up, I have chosen this year's personal Top 5 games.

In addition, I have plenty of other fun honors to recognize, such as "Biggest Surprise" and "game that made me lose the most sleep".

I'll be chugging away at this next blog article over the next few weeks!
Work-in-progress outline for an upcoming article about my 2025 in gaming. The tentative headers read: "the awards Burning the Midnight Oil - the game that made me lose the most sleep Best with Friends - favorite game to play with others Biggest Surprise - game that most strongly exceeded my expectation Onions Have Layers - game with the most unexpected depth Sapling - game I want to return to most The Golden Credit Card - game I spent the most money on I Cried Playing This One - game that made me cry The Dark Souls of (blank) - most challenging experience Shout From the Rooftops - game I want to promote the most My Top 5 of 2025"
November 18, 2025 at 8:57 AM
letelyre.bsky.social
Returning for side activities in A Short Hike.
(No main story spoilers in pics)

To be mushy for a moment: I'm not ready to say goodbye yet. It goes beyond simply "tying up loose ends" in a cold and clinical way.
More than completionism, I just want to linger in this place for a little while longer.
One of the staff at the pier hits you with a wall of text about the novel he's currently reading. The speech bubble takes up a large amount of the screen, and reads: "and although the fight sequences seem like the focus at first it's really the characters that drive the story and all the battles are sort of metaphorically tied to each wizard's internal conflicts as they struggle to survive in a ruthless and uncaring world". Quoted verbatim, without any punctuation. Fellow bird Avery declares: "that's all the medals i got", marking completion of their activities for the moment. Speaking to a green turtle at a footpath, they announce: "speed's my name and racing is my game!" A continuation of the prior image, the turtle says: "actually my name is Taylor"
November 17, 2025 at 12:27 PM
letelyre.bsky.social
Just played through A Short Hike.
I love this #indiegame and recommend it to everyone.

You have to experience its charms firsthand: little moments add up into an emergent story unique to your playthrough.

Work + life have me a bit burnt out lately. I really needed A Short Hike, and am glad for it.
Title screen for adamgryu's 2019 indie game A Short Hike. A car drives along the road, lit by street lamps and the stars, with a sliver of sun on the horizon. The player character, a dark-blue bird named Claire, sits next to Bill the Walrus beside Meteor Lake as the two spend a moment to fish. They are surrounded by green and orange foliage, and the day seems calm and warm. Claire breaks the silence with a simple "so". Claire is asked a question by a sunbathing frog: "you ever had a pancake before?" Claire replies: "yeah", no capitalization or punctuation. I think Claire's chill, occasionally deadpan responses are pretty humorous.
November 16, 2025 at 1:24 PM
letelyre.bsky.social
Yup, that clinches it. I've gotta hunt down some art books / mooks that show off the town scenes.

All of these establishing shots are from the very first episode, and I just really like how cozy they feel.
One of the bridges similar to the parent post but at a side-on angle, showing off the arches during sunset. Lots of warm orange color and some lens flare. View of some of the colorful buildings of the town, with flowers on the roadside in bloom. Light white vignetting gives the shot a dreamlike quality to it.
November 16, 2025 at 4:10 AM
letelyre.bsky.social
Prescribing myself some iyashi-kei to remind myself what anime is.

These backgrounds look so wonderfully detailed.

My main exposure to White Fox was Katanagatari and its unique stylized visuals, so seeing Gochiusa's "contemporary storybook" look to its BGs is a neat change.
Background shot from the first episode of Gochuumon wa Usagi desu ka?, showing off a fairy-tale-esque European town with brick bridges crossing a river. Soft lighting and soft colors give everything a cozy feeling.
November 16, 2025 at 3:47 AM
letelyre.bsky.social
New PB milestone for Sound Voltex!

I pushed my イエルウタ EXH 13 rank from B to A+, and my reward is GRACE's bright smile. A marked improvement from her dissatisfaction at the B-rank.

Practice, polishing, and PBs. Seeing myself gradually improving is one reason why I love rhythm games, SDVX especially.
Sound Voltex results screen, now with an A+-rank clear on イエルウタ, difficulty 13 (Exhaust). GRACE, one of the game's navigators, wears a happy expression in contrast to the quoted post from before.
November 14, 2025 at 9:19 PM
letelyre.bsky.social
Pulling my hair out at the infamous bear level of Katamari Damacy (REROLL), so this asset loading glitch was exactly the comic relief I needed.

The King sees it as a bear, but we all know what it really is. It's MissingNo.
Results screen of the Ursa Major level in Katamari Damacy REROLL. The King of All Cosmos says in a rather blasé tone: "Oh good... you got a bear." However, what sits atop his palm is a jarringly plain white square. The game must have messed up loading an image.
November 14, 2025 at 1:49 PM
letelyre.bsky.social
The "oh, shit, for real?" meme template 4-panel comic reading: "Oh, Vampire Survivors, I'm just feeling real low" "I have a remix of the Balatro theme that keeps it in 7/4 time signature" (beat) "Oh, shit, for real?" The image has been edited to include the cool Jimbo art from the collab DLC.
November 14, 2025 at 7:14 AM
letelyre.bsky.social
Ryu ga Gotoku marketing: YAKUZA KIWAMI ― KIWAMI (極）MEANS EXTREME

The humble, unassuming 極細 Pocky:
A box of very-thin Pocky, labeled 極細 with the same 極 as Yakuza Kiwami. This is advanced, extreme snacking.
November 13, 2025 at 9:46 AM
letelyre.bsky.social
After clearing an Episode, I like to check my DOOM War Trophies status--a per-weapon kill tracker that helps me get an idea of how much those Episode 1 re-runs add up.

The FD+'s TNT weapon loadout is one I want to spend more time with--its dual machine pistols feel straight out of E.Y.E.
My DOOM War-Trophies screen, showing Final Doomer+'s TNTGuy Dual Machine Pistols. It currently tracks just 125 kills, which come from maybe one or two playthroughts of Episode 1 in the past. Rookie numbers. I gotta pump those numbers up.
November 12, 2025 at 2:17 PM
letelyre.bsky.social
Finally back home with some time to relax, and my meditation of choice is: CRT filters on a 16:9 screen, the Final Doomer+ weapon mod, and the classic IDFA cheat for weapons and ammo.

Heresy to some, but a recipe for a good time in my book.

A casual blast through DOOM E1 as an unstoppable force.
Facing a series of massive monster closets after grabbing the red key. Be careful of the exploding barrels as you dodge imp fireballs. The cratered surface of the Mars moon Phobos. The stage map lets you know that you are entering Phobos Anomaly--a map designed by Sandy Petersen and Tom Hall. The TNTGuy's Burst Shotgun takes center stage in a wide open space with a few enemies. Imp fireballs come closer from out of the shadows. The ending screen to Doom's Episode 1. "Play The Shores of Hell and its amazing sequel, Inferno!" is the call for eager players to pick up Doom Episodes 2 and 3 to complete their set. Until Episode 4 came around.
November 12, 2025 at 2:12 PM
letelyre.bsky.social
The latest patch notes for PEAK contain a story in two parts.
The patch notes for the game PEAK by Aggro Crab and Landfall. The fixes read: "Fixed Mandrake scream volume not being affected by the SFX slider," and then "Fixed rare cases where the Mandrake wouldn't stop screaming even when far away."
November 12, 2025 at 12:44 PM
letelyre.bsky.social
If you're wondering what late-run O'Sole looks like: you can prance around the stage dropping damage-dealing flowers in your wake.
The flowers have collision and interact with each other, meaning you can fill the screen with massive flowers that bump and jostle each other around.
Vibrant and joyful.
Vampire Survivors screenshot of an O'Sole Meeo run at the 22-minute mark. The small white dog prances to the left side of the screen, dropping oversized flowers of various appearance about the arena. The same run at 29 minutes. The screen is filled with attack effects and daamge numbers, making it difficult to see exactly what's going on. The small dog O'Sole is still somewhat visible underneath the mess.
November 11, 2025 at 1:57 PM
letelyre.bsky.social
Vampire Survivors lets you play as a little white dog named O'Sole Meeo whose primary ability is growing flowers where they step.
On top of the sun pun name, the unlock spell is also a reference to a song from Okami.
Typing the word "pet" during gameplay lets you heal.

I love everything about this.
The character window for O'Sole Meeo from the Vampire Survivors character select screen. O'Sole is a plain white dog, similar to Okami's Amaterasu when viewed by those who are unaware of her divinity.
November 11, 2025 at 1:38 PM
letelyre.bsky.social
My first PEAK duo night!

Bestie and I are still figuring out the game on Tenderfoot difficulty, having lots of fun in the process. The setbacks and screw-ups tend to be more comedic than frustrating, and I like how the proximity chat is implemented here.

PEAK offers some beautiful vistas as well.
Cooperative climbing game PEAK, showing the purple night sky from a vantage point above the starting Shore biome. Smoke from the campfire rises up to a crescent moon that moves across the sky in real time!
November 9, 2025 at 9:03 AM