Free Will and Robots - A Cave Story Analysis

Okay, this piece requires a bit of explanation.

I just finished my AP English Literature class, and my teacher's idea for a final project was to have us write anything we wanted, demonstrating how we have grown as a writer over our school career. Now, AP English Lit is all about analyzing book after book after short story after poem, and basically the entire year I thought it would be really cool if we could, instead, analyze a different type of media that wasn't written on paper.

And so, for my final I decided to write an analysis on the awesome video game Cave Story.

Fair warning: now only will this analysis have substantial spoilers but it will also probably be a little bit different from my, er, typical diction. I was going for a more "professional" tone while writing it, so it may be a little dry in that sense. It will also have way less jokes, so there's that.

So without further ado, I present my analysis of Cave Story!

MLP:FiM Season 2 Review #25/26 - A Canterlot Wedding

Here we are, the final stretch! Anticipation builds as the long-awaited season finale of Friendship is Magic season two is finally here! Hasbro has been hyping this one up like there's no tomorrow, but will it stand up to the advertisements and celebrity spotlights Hasbro has granted to it?

Let me just start this up with a bit of a disclaimer: when going into this episode, I had no real idea of what to expect. I knew of the two ponies to be wed, and I knew that Cadance was an alicorn, and I knew that this annoyed me greatly. I knew that it was a two-parter, of course, but besides that I had no real idea of what the 40 minutes of plot had in store for us!

As will become plainly evident in my review, I was very pleasantly surprised. As per usual, spoilers lie within! In fact, they will be particularly prominent due to the nature of this episode. So definitely don't try to read this before watching the episode!

MLP:FiM Season 2 Review #24 - MMMystery on the Friendship Express

We're approaching the end, you guys! As this season of Friendship is Magic draws to a close, we continue the tradition of having the final non=finale episode focus on Pinkie Pie! But yes, this is the last "normal" episode of the series until season three, since the finale is a two-parter.

Wow, hasn't it gone fast? But anyway, I suppose it's not quite time to reminisce yet - we've got a Pinkie episode to review!

~Spoilers to follow~

MLP:FiM Season 2 Review #23 - Ponyville Confidential

Well I'm running awfully late tonight with the review and I feel pretty bad about it and at the same time I want to make sure I get this done is a prompt manner due to having obligations int he morning so let's get this show on the road! MLP:FiM season two episode review for the latest CMC episode, LET'S GO!

*spoilers follow*

MLP:FiM Season 2 Review #22 - Hurricane Fluttershy

Oh hey, a Fluttershy episode! Those don't come out all that often.

Wait, sorry, what did you say? We just had a Fluttershy episode a few weeks ago? Well, you know what, that's fine, because Fluttershy is second-best pony and she deserves plenty of episodes.

Ah, and the lateness of this review can be blames solely on that silly flightless angel named after a hole in the ground.

Spoilers after the break! Probably a lot this time.

MLP:FiM Season 2 Review #21 - Dragon Quest

Since I've been playing a lot of RPGs lately, it only made sense when I decided to pick up one of the entries in the Dragon Quest series. After all, Square Enix has some skills at making RPGs and the DQ series is a long standing one known for its quality! Plus, slimes!

...wait, wait, no, this is about the MLP episode that's called Dragon Quest. Never mind.

Spoilers lie within, so be wary traveler.

MLP:FiM Season 2 Review #20 - It's About Time

Wow, episode twenty already? We're swiftly approaching the end of the season, but it feels like its just begun... I don't want to be stuck with no new episodes for months on end again! DX

But... ah well. This weekend's episode is Twilight Sparkle-centric as well as time-centric, so it can't possibly not be awesome, right?

Spoilers after the break!

MLP:FiM Season 2 Review #19 - Putting Your Hoof Down

A Fluttershy episode? In season two?! When's the last time that has happened?? That would be never, by the way, as poor Fluttershy has been kind of neglected for the majority of the season.

So the question on everypony's mind is "how is her first season two episode?" And I suppose that's what I'm here to establish in some form or another, so without further ado, let's get right into it!

After the break contains some spoilers, so I'd recommend that you watch the episode first.

MLP:FiM Season 2 Review #18 - A Friend In Deed

Having gotten through National Shipping Day relatively unscathed, it's time for another Pinkie episode! Pinkie... has had quite a few episodes this season compared to the last one, huh? This time, though, its Pinkie and donkeys! You may recall that a donkey showed up very briefly as a visual gag in Applebucking Season, but donkeys in Equestria have remained unmentioned and unseen since then.

Until now, of course! So without further ado, lets meet Cranky Doodle and have an episode filled with music inspired by the most obvious source ever!

(Spoilers inside)

MLP:FiM Season 2 Review #17 - Hearts and Hooves Day

Oh, Valentine's Day. What a... polarizing holiday. On one hand you have those who have a fun little day to give gifts to their sweethearts (or those that they wish were their sweethearts), while on the other hand you have those who are loveless or rejected and stuck in aloneness, and on the other other hand you have those that try to enjoy the holiday anyway even if they are all alone. Forever and ever. And ever.

I can't decide whether I'm the second or third hand. I also can't decide what grotesque beast we are talking about that has three hands... didn't Daring-Do's rival from last episode have three hands? Whatever, this tangent is silly.

Ponies. Valentine's Day. Romance, shipping, Cutie Mark Crusaders, GO.

(Spoilers lie within!)

MLP:FiM Season 2 Review #16 - Read It and Weep

Okay guys, what's up? This episode is all about Rainbow Dash learning the joys of reading, and yet I have noticed no significant increase in TwiDash shipping! This is absolutely unacceptable! I'm serious, you guys!

Also, this episode is incredibly silly. Spoilers to follow!

MLP:FiM Season 2 Review #15 - The Super Speedy Cider Squeezy 6000

So last episode was a total bust as an Applejack episode, instead being a Derpy/Pinkie episode, depending on who you ask. But this week looks to be different, as the serious business that is apple cider goes down!

My gosh what I would do for a glass of apple cider right now. That stuff's delicious.

Spoilers after the break!

My Little Pony Episode Review Schedule Change

Okay, no doubt you've noticed that I've been having trouble meeting the Saturday date consistently with the MLP Episode Reviews. So to make things easier on myself, and to make things more predictable for you, I'm going to officially say that, from now on, they should be up on the Sundays after the episode is out instead of on that Saturday. Hopefully this will allow me a bit more time to mull over the review as well as allow for times when my alarm clock doesn't wake me up to see the episode!

In conclusion, this will probably be better for everyone involved. See you tomorrow with the newest review!

~C.O

MLP:FiM Season 2 Review #14 - The Last Roundup

Applejack has always been criminally underrepresented in My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic, having relatively few episodes in comparison to the rest of the Mane 6 and simply not being nearly as interesting. Season two has been working to change this somewhat, with Applejack getting a lot more screen time and some interesting character to her name, and The Last Roundup continues that trend by giving her another episode to her own.

...or... does it?

Spoilers after the break.

MLP:FiM Season 2 Review #13 - Baby Cakes

Previously on MLP Episode Reviews...

"Still, it stands out a bit among pony episodes for its oddities."

Haha, Jameson, haha. You thought Granny Smith's shenanigans were crazy?

You ain't seen nothing yet.

(Spoilers after the break)

MLP:FiM Season 2 Review #12 - Family Appreciation Day

So the winter break is over, and we're all no-doubt back to school or work. Or both, even. But in spite of the daily-life shenanigans that are back in full-force, it's all good because MLP is back too!

And because this season really likes Apple Bloom, Rainbow Dash, and Rarity, here's another episode focusing on Apple Bloom, and costarring Granny Smith! Because everyone loves old people.

The review will contain spoilers, as always!