Friendship is Magicite? Let's Play Pony Fantasy 6!

No one commented about the Zelda reference? I am so disappointed in you.

...of course, I didn't comment about it earlier either.

There's a difference between being familiar with the plot, characters, etc. and being familiar with the glitches and inner workings. I can attest from personal experience that it's possible to play through the game multiple times without noticing that Blind has no effect whatsoever.

But it's one of those things that would at least come up in the process of hacking the thing.

I don't know how much you know about programming (I'm an expert), but... no, not really. This hack changes content. So far, it doesn't have anything new mechanically. (I think Summon was a dummied command that did exist in the original ROM.) We could be in for some surprises later, but we haven't seen anything like that so far.

A far simpler argument would be to say that anyone with any interest in FF6 hacking would have heard of the bugfix hacks.

That's what I meant.

Anyway, looking at the screenshots, the ponies' sprites seem really out of place. I wish they had made the tileset more pony-ish, both to make the sprites seem not out-of-place and to make Canterlot look like Canterlot.

Actually it will be terribly easy, but who's counting? We pick up with the last leg of the river trip.



And I finally bother to attempt Summon with an esper attached. Sure enough, it summons Unicorn! It still eats up MP like mad and Unicorn is pretty useless as far as esper summons go, just removing all status ailments. In a game about pony people, I'd probably change unicorn to be the most badass esper ever. Getting it from the start would be even less balanced but so what? Unicorn should Odin's power but with regular spell selection.



Spell get! The battle rewards don't include Magic Points yet, which is pretty annoying. I'm sure all these battles just give 1 each but actually seeing it listed is encouraging.



Just before entering Neighshe, I save and notice this weirdness. The mayor has turned black! She must be a changeling!!



Same old, same old. Laaaazzzzyyyy...



Celestia: They've been known to ward off evil spirits. We should watch the path it takes and follow it, or something bad might happen.

Hooray, minor change! Why does no one seem to remember will 'o wisps lure people to their doom? Often horrible swampy drowny doom?



So... is all the Moogle/Scootaloo dialog stored in one line, assigned to all of them? Because I'd love to see this area be interesting, just once.



MAGIC HOORAY! I even remember to unequip Unicorn! Also the weird auto-regen accessory Celestia's been running around with. That seems like it would be really handy during Luna and Apple Bloom's solo sections at the least.



That is not a pony name!! Dammit there's a million of blank slate background ponies you could rename him after. Current gen and past.

Arvis Meadow Song: The town's neutral. I've tried to get the people to side with the Republic, but... Anyway, why on earth have you come here?

Other than some mild rephrasing (which may be from different versions of the original script) nothing has changed. Sigh. I know this is the boring scenario but this is just pathetic.

Oh well, things can only go up from here! Right?

I don't know, wouldn't the human equivalent be having a summon called Mailman or something? Doesn't sound too impressive to me.

Hahah, yeah, half your party are unicorns, and in the show don't most of them kind of suck, anyhow? Though it might have been funny to replace the sprite with just a normal background Unicorn.

I interpret the esper as being the most badass unicorn ever, much like Odin is the most badass old dude ever. Sure he's a god but not in this world's mythology so what's it matter?

Once they're trained up enough, maybe we can have Celestia and Luna turn themselves into espers. They're sun and moon goddesses so they should be pretty awesome.

Woona next!

I wonder if other Espers will show up early.

Depending on who Cyan and Gau are, this could be useful earlier.

I say do Luna's chain next, because it's the more interesting. Yes, people want to know who Celes is, but I want to see some Fluttershy!

Already working on the next update, which is indeed on the Luna path. Most interest was for making the most of our esper, and Luna certainly has the time to get all the spells for sure. Probably will be ready to post sometime tomorrow morning.

Calling it now: Umaro is Derpy Hooves.

Technically it was a tie between Luna and Apple Bloom to go next, but most of the interest was for making the most of our super early esper and I KNOW Luna has enough time to learn everything.



Luna gears up and we're ready to go. Auto-Regen is so broken this early in the game.



Ugh. "F-Shy". Sounds really wrong.

Luna: LOUD?!
Fluttershy: Yes, um...... loud......
Luna: SHALL WE MIMIC THINE VOICE?
Fluttershy: okay...
Luna: HOW IS THIS?!
Fluttershy: okay...
Luna: And how about now?!
Fluttershy: okay.....
Luna: Please, wilst thou show us the way?!

This scene is right out of Luna Eclipsed, except in that episode Fluttershy was trying to flee in terror the entire time and Twilight Sparkle was forcing her to stay and coach Luna. I guess we're free from the terror of capslock again.



Okay, NOW we're free from capslock. Except that "now" I just typed. Yeah.



For some reason shuriken can now be equipped, more than doubling Fluttershy's attack power - from the back row, no less! Let's check her other varieties of brokenness.

Stare: Confuses enemy. I've never messed with confusion in this game, but it seems quite abusable. Final Fantasy games seem to reward those who work with status ailments.
Relic - Pony Feather: Half damage from wind and bolt damage + Auto-Float. I'm totally taking this before she leaves the party. I don't have FF6 memorized but I can think of a couple places this could be handy. I assume Rainbow Dash will come with a second Pony Feather whenever she appears.
Relic - Momento Band: Only Relm started with this before, right?
Counterattack: Without a Black Belt, Fluttershy counterattacks pretty often. I haven't seen Interceptor counter or block yet.

Over the course of travel, I notice Luna has started learning Fire. Turns out it's attached to the Healing Band Celestia started with. I'll have to steal that off her before this scenario wraps up in case our Celes didn't get Fire added to her spellbook.



Soldier A: If he gets his way, General Zecora is going to be reassigned!
Soldier B: Are you crazy? I wouldn't trust him to pour me a glass of chocolate milk, let alone lead us into battle!
Soldier A: Shhhhh! What if he hears you? You'll be jailed!
Soldier B: Alright, alright!



Zecora is Leo, huh? I'm guessing the Empire is made up of non-ponies, seeking to wrest world power away from the ponies. Looking at some parts of Friendship Is Magic from a cynical perspective, this is pretty believable. Cattle are treated like second class citizens. Buffalo get no respect. Zecora herself, as a zebra, is treated with suspicion at first. Spike is the only dragon living among ponies and ponies want nothing to do with adult dragons.

Zecora is known for her sweet mohawk and her propensity to speak in rhyme. I'm sure we'll get the mohawk but we'll see how things go as far as rhyming go.

Dialog amongst the soldiers (and Discord) sticks to script, until...



Oh good lord. Sweet Apple Castle. The Apple family sure has done well for themselves in this world!



???: If the empire can take this bull by the horns, they better be ready for a ride!



Applejack is Cyan. So hard to wrap my head around this. They both have the loyalty thing down (but Applejack represents the element of honesty for some reason) but an old samurai turning into a country farmgirl is pretty drastic.

Applejack is Apple Bloom's big sister, which leaves me struggling to remember if Cyan and Locke ever interact. Hopefully a line or two are added when the groups meet back up to acknowledge this relationship. Applejack's nickname is rare in that she's actually called that in the show sometimes!

Applejack: All we have'ta do is take out that there commander of theirs and they'll go a'runnin! Yeeeeehaw!



Applejack has a much stronger accent than Apple Bloom, in part because she uses all the cliche cowgirl lines.



Applejack has SwordTech and Blitz. This may render her the most annoying to use character in the game. Don't expect to see a whole lot of her once I get to choose.



So. Freaking. Cute.



Soldier: General. We're ready to take the castle. Just give the order...
Zecora: Patience my friend, we are already at their border!
Soldier: But General! I'm ready to lay my life down at any time for the Empire!
Zecora: Are you truly so anxious to expire?
Soldier: N... no Sir. Why?
Zecora: Think about your friends in your hometown. If you died, think of how many would frown! Do not be so quick to rush into a fight. Sometimes strategy is better than might.
Soldier: Yes, Sir!

Zecora rhymes!! Oh beautiful day. I like how her responses rhyme with whatever the soldier just said before she goes into her little rhyming speech. It's a good thing she isn't leading a force against Applejack's aunt and uncle, the Oranges.



Soldier: I understand, Sir.
Zecora: Right. Be sure to follow my plans.
Soldier: Yes, Sir.
Zecora: I don't want to see your blood on these sands!
Soldier: Sir! Leave it to us, Sir!

Luna: Hm, she is certainly wise and cautious, too bad she's on the wrong side...

Unexpected news disrupts the rhyming for a second but Zecora recovers nicely.



Discord: Zecora, you have no idea how LITTLE trouble this will be!
Zecora: Do not test my patience! I expect you to behave in my absence!
Discord: Have fun, Zecora, I'll just play a little game while you're gone! [Zecora leaves] Arrivaderci!

Well you were just talking about the Apples playing a waiting game, so I'm sure that's what Discord means. Dialog proceeds as normal...



Tragically so, even. Kefka's dialog was okay but generally not so awesome to make changing it a sin.



Grape juice in the water!!



Death! Pony death everywhere!!

Disappointment. The king could so easily have been replaced with Granny Smith, the matriarch of the Apple clan. Way more emotional kick than some generic king. I can't think of anyplace else to put Granny Smith, either.



Apple Brown Betty is mentioned but not seen in one episode. Apple Fritter appears in several episodes, but is female and an adult. The Apple family is huge so it's easy to fill in names for these two roles.

Alternate version: Big Macintosh and Apple Bloom die here. Okay, we have to recast Locke and you piss off fans of both, but that is a real emotional kick in the gut.



I don't like referring to Applejack as a samurai.

Luna: May we givest thou assistance?!
Applejack: That's right neighborly of ya!
[fight1]
Applejack: Y'all are gettin' on my last nerve!
Luna: Allow us to participate!
Applejack: It's a right bit messy, watch yerself!
[fight2]
Applejack: Couldn't lick us in a fair fight, so y'all had to cheat!
Luna: Don't be so stubborn!
Applejack: Thanks, ah sure could use a hoof right about now!
[fight3]
Applejack: Thank ya, kindly!
Luna: Allow me to thank you! I am Luna, from Canterlot. Now, let us make haste!
Applejack: Shoot, but what about the castle, mah family... mah friends...
Luna: If thou remains here, surely thy family will go unavenged!
Soldier: Got 'em! Over here!
Luna: It is time to press our advantage... Come, this way!



Applejack: How in the heck do ya get these critters ta move around and such?!
Luna: We must make haste! The levers, Applejack, by thy hooves! Move them, and thy vessal shall move thusly!
Applejack: I sure do owe ya'll heap a thanks, Princess Luna!
Luna: Please, call us Luna! Now hurry! We must focus on vacating this facility!



Sabin knowing how to use Magitek always seemed unlikely, but neither of these two have any reason to know. Luna is too old fashioned and Applejack is too... hayseed.



Applejack: Well shoot, ya can't get there from here!
Luna: ......
Applejack: Well, ah mean, it's real close, but ya gotta go ALL the way around the long way...
Luna: We are not going to fail in our royal duties, we shall press on!

I like Applejack's way of describing the trip ahead. I'm not sure what exactly she thinks "the long way" is though... We take a very non-traditional route for the final leg, and I'm not sure the Veldt village was supposed to have boats that were out of commission or what. Of course that's an issue I have with the original as well.

Within hours, I expect someone to point out how wrong I am because some random NPC makes a comment and how the heck do I not remember that.

I have to admit, nothing in the world makes me feel like an old, out of touch person like this obsession with MLP. I can deal with stupid Reddit memes on the Internet and terrible contemporary pop music in real life, but this stuff just baffles me. Except it's mostly people my own age! It's not even damn kids! I don't even know what is going on anymore.

Anyway, baffling as it is, I'm very angry at this ROM hack for not editing enemy sprites as well. It's not just about the player, ROM hackers! Good font choice, though.

Yeah, I think I'm starting to develop a weird stockholm syndrome for that font.

This actually exists. My world is fractured.

THE PONIES HAVE TAKEN OVER AND THE WORLD AS YOU KNEW IT HAS ENDED.

BUT THAT'S OKAY BECAUSE PONIES RULE.

Now line up and get a Cutie Mark and declare a pony waifu.

I have to admit, I totally don't get the obsession either. I think it's a decent show. Comparable to Power Puff Girls in a lot of ways. But that's pretty much as far as I'm going to take it.

I intend to remain faithful to my true Hasbro love, G.I. Joe and Jinx is already my waifu you jerk

Does that make you a ... G.I. Bro?

Granny Smith as Strago.

Calling it now.

For mechanical reasons I like how he just decided to just make shuriken equipable. It's pretty much an admission that, "We all know nobody's nopony's going to do anything else anyway."

Status effects usually aren't a big deal in FFVI, but if there's one that's worthwhile, it's confuse. Depending on the success rate, Stare could be quite useful, though I doubt it's practicality next to massive damage ninja stars to the face. Besides, Apple Bloom can do better with the NoiseBlaster.

I'm also curious how the shurikens being equipment works with you still having a throw command

Hmm

Well I am still reading this. It is not bad for a My little pony hack (The adorableness is what keeps me going).

In FFVI I used to use confusion to stall and set up when I could, but that was before I learned more about the game itself. From that point on I only used the noise blaster early on as at the end of the first half I had already gotten my characters to a level where they are never threatened (save the Intangir in the remake).

BTW: Never mind I went to google, typed in FFVI my little pony, and found a link in the first website (that almost never happens).

Well, I laughed.

So did the "artists" behind this thing do the entire game, or did they burn out somewhere around the Floating Continent and roll a pony-punderful credits sequence?

Seriouspost: Can I ask what the honest-to-God point of this LP is? I mean it looks to be just FF6 with ponies stuck on it for no discernible reason. It's kind of humorous, I guess, but that humor's pretty much worn off after the first 10 minutes. It's just FF6 with a coat of sparkly paint and bad sprites.

I guess I'm not understanding the tone of this, am I supposed to be laughing? Intrigued? Enchanted? I'm not trying to be derisive, just ... we've all seen FF6 before. I've got nothing against the pony games necessarily (that fighting game is at least original content.) Again, no offense to the LPer or whoever is reading and enjoying this, but I just don't understand.

Attack doesn't use up your unequipped shurikens and Throw hits for more damage than Attack.

I think it's adorable and like seeing what solutions (or lack thereof) the writer found in such an un-pony-like game. The secondary appeal, prompting the LP, is potentially traumatizing others with MLP having infected their favorite game. Thirdly? Pass the time until season 3 starts.