GREETINGS FRIENDS AND WELCOME BACK TO LET’S PLAY NAMCO HIGH! It’s time to start our first route, and we’re going to open with GALAGA!
Finally, some tunes.
(This place is crazy… and the people are even crazier…)
(But maybe some of them are nice?)
So I figured it would be good to follow the routes of the free-to-play characters first, which is GALAGA, Anti-Bravoman, Meowkie, Lolo, Valkyrie and Albatross. I’m going with GALAGA first because I’ve always been really excited about that route. For whoever you’d like to do next feel free to leave suggestions in the comments! Or on my tumblr or whatever.
So let’s go chat with GALAGA.
(Who is that beautiful creature…?)
(Wait. Is that the right word?)
(Beautiful?)
(More like captivating!)
(Tsk. It’s surrounded by so many admirers.)
(It’ll never notice little ol’ me.)
Just went zero to sixty into the romantic bit huh.
Also I immediately went like “I think the word you want to correct is ‘creature’, cousin” but I think that’s probably the joke.
HAHA, DON’T BE RIDICULOUS!
(IT CAN READ MY THOUGHTS???)
IF ANYONE’S GONNA BE JULIET, IT’LL BE DONKO.
(Wait, it’s not talking to me…)
Uh, helloooo, Galaga Ship? You literally live in a Tuscan Villa!
IT’S NOT A WHOLE VILLA!
Face it. You couldn’t be more Juliet if they built you that way. And I think they did!
“TO BE OR NOT TO BE, THAT IS THE QUESTION.”
THAT’S THE WRONG PLAY.
Donko’s face here was so cute I had to show you.
…
See? That’s the most Juliet thing I ever heard!
It’s from Hamlet.
Thank you, Cousin.
HAMLET…?
(AHHH, DID I SAY THAT OUT LOUD?!)
Whatever, new kid. It just shows how much of a total Juliet Galaga Ship really is!
…
I’m so glad Galaga Ship is the hot sempai of the school.
…HM. WELL, IF YOU KNOW SO MUCH ABOUT SHAKESPEARE AND STUFF…
…WHY DON’T YOU AUDITION FOR THE PLAY?
(Augh, does Galaga Ship hate me already?!)
(Should’ve kept my trap shut!)
(Uh, everyone’s waiting for an answer.)
Uh…
(Play it cool, Cousin.)
Uh, yeah!
I mean, I don’t know much, but…
But it might be cool.
(If Galaga Ship is Juliet, maybe I could audition for Romeo!)
(Wonder if I can act…?)
(Like. At all…)
This screen comes up after and we get to see the same scene again if we try to talk to Galaga. I’m just gonna wait for detention to end and hope that doesn’t botch this route. Playing blind is scary.
(…Or they’re probably all bananas after all.)
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(Joining a club and showing my school spirit will reduce my detention sentence…)
(I wonder if there’s any other students from detention that are taking up the offer?)
Wow the simple structure of this game sure makes my life a lot easier.
(Gosh, there’s Galaga Ship at the Drama Club booth.)
(Wonder if it meant what it said about me auditioning for the play!)
(Heck. Wonder if I could even remember my lines?)
Um.
H-hey, Galaga Ship.
I was just, you know. For detention.
Heh. We gotta. Y’know. Join a club or something or whatever.
Real smooth Cousin.
…
Um. Yeah.
Heh.
And I thought. Maybe, y’know?
With the Shakespeare.
Like you said.
(Cousin, you’re not even talking in complete sentences anymore!)
Um. And stuff.
Ahem.
…
(Oh, MAN. I am bombing big time.)
(I should just walk away while Galaga Ship still has no idea what my name is and just thinks of me as that little weirdo it hates forever.)
OH. NEW KID?
(?!)
SORRY, I’M SUPPOSED TO BE MANNING THE BOOTH OR WHATEVER.
BUT I WAS LISTENING TO SPACE RADIO ON MY INTERNAL SPEAKERS.
SHIT, LET’S ME ROMEO and bang this hot ship.
I THOUGHT MAYBE DRAMA THE CLUB TO JOIN IT.
(What did I just say?!?!)
Um. Y’know. I gotta join a club and all, so…
Cousin reminds me of… me.
HM? OH, RIGHT. DETENTION.
YEAH.
WELL, WE HOLD AUDITIONS IN THE AUDITORIUM. GOOD LUCK.
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Wow, look at all these people!
Do I really have to audition in front of them?!
I was kind of hoping for a more one on one thing.
What if I embarrass myself?
What if Galaga Ship sees me!
What if Galaga Ship doesn’t notice me…
If I can have everyone’s attention please!
I’ve eliminated the need for auditions via scientific process.
In place of auditions, each of you will simply fill out a short form.
I can’t wait to date this dude too, what a cute.
(Whew, dodged a bullet there!)
Cousin if you don’t want to perform in front of people maybe trying out to be the lead in a Drama club production wasn’t a great idea.
The form has six hundred and ninety-two questions.
(WHAT?!)
I’ll also need to scan your brains.
It might not even hurt.
(Wait, why would it hurt…?)
And I’ll need to take a blood sample.
(MY BLOOD?!)
Oh, and that will definitely hurt. A LOT.
Tomari, do you have to be such a weird egghead about everything?
Suddenly I’m a weird egghead just because I want to direct the most scientifically precise reproduction of Romeo and Juliet ever conceived?!?!
YES, TOMARI.
Oh.
Fine, whatever.
We’ll do auditions instead.
Like cavemen.
Whew. I guess?
Okay, everyone auditioning for Juliet, please line up on stage.
Yes, good.
Now, if you are not Galaga Ship, then you did not get the part.
Better luck next time.
Whatever. I’m gone.
Told you!
THAT’S NOT FAIR! NONE OF US READ A SINGLE LINE!
I don’t need to rigorously apply the scientific method to realize the most beautiful spaceship in school has to play Juliet.
BUT SHOULDN’T THE ROLE GO TO THE BEST ACTOR FOR THE PART?
Okay, where are our Romeos!
Gulp!
(Here goes nothing!)
Uh, I-I’d, uh.
Anyone?
Ah, I, uh um.
We need a Romeo, people.
I, uh, um.
Seriously. Anyone. Anyone at all.
I’LL ROMEO THE PART!
…
…
(Oh, man. Guess I’m kinda nervous.)
(Everyone’s looking!)
(Ahhh, what do I say!)
Uh. If that’s okay.
(Bravo, Cousin.)
(Bravo.)
Okay, new kid. Give us your Romeo.
We’ll start with his first sililoquy.
Yeah, that’s what we’ll do.
Page five in your script.
Sounds good, sure.
Whenever you’re ready.
Ready?
To read. Your lines.
OUT LOUD?!
THAT’S USUALLY HOW WE READ SCRIPTS.
Y-yeah. Of course. Yeah.
(Here goes nothing…)
A-ahem.
“ALAS!”
“THAT LOVE!”
“WHOSE VIEW?” Uh…
(Oh man, lost my place!)
YAWN.
!!!
(Where was I?)
(Ah! This part’s close enough I bet!)
“WHERE SHALL WE!”
uh
“DINE?!?!?!”
I think you skipped a line and-
“OH ME!”
“WHAT FRAY!!! WAS HERE???”
It looks like Donko is calling the cops.
Okay, that’s enou-
“YET TELL ME!!! NOT?”
OKAY, COUSIN! YOU’RE DONE.
(Wow, so soon?)
(I MUST’VE NAILED IT!)
We’ve got our Romeo.
And it’s Aki!
Even though she didn’t make it to the auditions and is a girl.
!!!
(I lost the part to empty air?!)
(After my rousing performance?!)
Okay, people. That’s enough for now.
Hey! What about me!
Oh, yes.
You’re still here.
And want to be in the play.
That’s…
That’s great.
(He thinks I’m great! Maybe I’ll get a nice meaty part after all!)
Cousin, you can be Aki’s understudy.
!!!
Un… understudy?
You’ll be a heartbeat away from the action!
Aki is the most accomplished and dependable student at Namco High based on fourteen metrics ranging from school spirit to grade point average.
Therefore, making Cousin her understudy is the best shot I’ve got to make sure Cousin NEVER GETS ON STAGE.
I didn’t catch what you said there. It sounded like conspiratorial whispering.
Oh, uh. I didn’t say anything.
I, um, coughed.
(Hm, that was some cough then!)
Well, understudy’s… pretty okay. I guess?
Tomari exits stage left rather quickly.
Great. Well, see ya.
I guess they just wanted a different take on the character.
HA! THAT’S ONE WAY TO PUT IT, SURE.
I… I… uh…
(AAAAAAAAAAAAAA)
I DON’T THINK I’VE EVER SEEN AN AUDITION QUITE LIKE YOURS.
(HHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!)
BUT AT LEAST THEY LET YOU DO AN AUDITION…
I-I-uh-yuh. Audition.
(Hang on!)
(Galaga Ship’s upset about something.)
Ahem. Yeah! Audition!
But you didn’t even have to audition, right? You must be really good!
WHO KNOWS? EVERYONE ELSE GETS TO EARN OR LOSE PARTS ON THEIR OWN MERITS.
OR THEIR LACK OF THEM. AHEM.
(Or just wanting a different take!!!)
I’M THE ONLY ONE WHO DIDN’T HAVE TO EARN A PART. I ONLY GOT JULIET BECAUSE OF…
YOU KNOW.
BECAUSE I’M HOT.
WHO I AM.
(Gosh. That must be some villa!)
I DON’T KNOW. MAYBE I SHOULD JUST BE THANKFUL? OTHER PEOPLE HAVE HARD LIVES AND HERE I AM COMPLAINING THAT EVERYTHING IN MINE IS TOO EASY.
Well, no, I don’t think so.
I mean, sure, it sounds super selfish…
!
…but no one likes to feel like they cheated their way through stuff.
Except for cheaters, I guess.
But when they do it, it’s on purpose!
It’s not your fault you live in that villa!
HAHA! OH, COUSIN. YOU KNOW THAT’S NOT WHAT I MEANT.
BUT, THANKS.
(I know the what now?)
Hey. Yeah.
I sure did know that thing.
That you said and meant.
Hey, if it’d make you feel any better, you could do your audition now.
YEAH? YOU DON’T THINK THAT’S STUPID, DO YOU?
No way. It’s what you’re here for!
REALLY?
WELL. OKAY.
I KNOW IT’S CLICHE, BUT I LOVE THE PART AT THE BALCONY JUST AFTER JULIET DOES THE “WHEREFOR ART THOU.”
AND SHE’S TELLING ROMEO THAT SHE DOESN’T CARE ABOUT- OH, I’LL JUST DO IT.
AHEM.
‘TIS BUT THY NAME THAT IS MY ENEMY;
THOU ART THYSELF, THOUGH NOT A MONTAGUE.
WHAT’S MONTAGUE? IT IS NOR HAND, NOR FOOT
NOR ARM, NOR FACE, NOR ANY OTHER PART
BELONGING TO A MAN. O, BE SOME OTHER NAME.
WHAT’S IN A NAME? THAT WHICH WE CALL A ROSE
BY ANY OTHER NAME WOULD SMELL AS SWEET;
SO ROMEO WOULD, WERE HE NOT ROMEO CALL’D,
RETAIN THAT DEAR PERFECTION WHICH HE OWES
WITHOUT THAT TITLE. ROMEO, DOFF THY NAME,
AND FOR THAT NAME, WHICH IS NO PART OF THEE
TAKE ALL MYSELF.
WAS THAT, Y’KNOW, OKAY?
(Hm? What happened? I was totally captivated!!!)
Y-yeah. That was…
That was great!
YOU’RE JUST SAYING THAT.
No way. If you stunk, you’d be stinking up the play I’m almost in! No way I’d put up with that, lemme tell ya.
YEAH?
HM, YEAH.
THANKS, COUSIN.
Y’KNOW. FOR A SECOND THERE? I FELT LIKE I REALLY EARNED THE PART.
OH, GOSH. LOOK AT THE TIME! HEY, I’LL SEE YOU AROUND, OKAY?
Y-yeah, sure.
(I never suspected Galaga Ship might feel like an imposter.)
(That’s a pretty sad way to go through life!)
(Maybe I can do something to help out…?)
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Another day, everyone is here… Remarkable!
King agrees, keep up this excellent behavior!
See you at the bell.
(I wonder if anyone joined a club yesterday?)
The game prompts me to talk to ANYONE again but we’re just sticking to Galaga.
Hey, uh, Galaga Ship.
HM? OH, HEY, COUSIN.
Something about the writing in this game tells me there’s a very diligent grammar-neurotic person on the Namco High staff. Look at those meticulously placed commas.
(It’s so aloof!)
I was just wondering if you’d seen Aki around.
HM? NOT SURE. DON’T THINK SO.
(Barely paying attention to me!)
Cousin spurts another long monologue that scrolls automatically through the text box so I can’t catch it. Obviously they’re talking about rehearsing with Aki as Romeo.
(Oops, lost track of what was coming outta my mouth, but I feel like it was pretty charming!)
…UM?
(Uh-oh, must’ve dazzled Galaga Ship with all that charm!)
YEAH, UM, REHEARSAL IS AFTER SCHOOL TOMORROW.
I THINK THAT’S WHAT YOU’RE ASKING ME ABOUT?
IT WAS KIND OF HARD TO UNDERSTAND.
Hahahahahahaaahaaaha…. haaaaaaaaa
Okay, yeah. Rehearsing is cool.
(Be cool, Cousin.)
Maybe I can help out tomorrow! Maybe…
(Yeah, just be super casual. Maybe lean against this wall. Yeah, real cool, Cousin.)
We’re prompted to talk to other students but that’s a mission for another day.
(This punishment can’t end soon enough.)
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