Radiata Stories...

It's a very interesting (and hilarious) game. I love the feature where all the characters have their own daily routines. And the fact that you can recruit 170-something characters (all of whom seem to have more personality than most of the Suikoden IV cast) is awesome. I've recruited mainly human characters, since I really don't like going out of my way to recruit the elves and other creatures.

I'm amused by the little easter eggs that've been thrown into the game...

-- Vareth Magic Institute is named after Lezard Valeth (Valkyrie Profile).

-- ... Genius Weissheit is Lezard. Or some strange cousin of him. All he's missing is the disturbing fascination in necromancy and unhealthy obsession with Valkyrie.

-- The Tria Region is named after the Expellian god Tria from Star Ocean, which was named after tri-Ace. *nods*

-- One of Ganz's outfits is Claude Kenni's Star Ocean 2 outfit, right down to the red bandana.

Those are the only ones I can recall off the top of my head. It's a good game with lots of things to do. Only thing I don't like is the lack of places to save.

In other news, Jiji (the baby cockatiel) flew off this morning when Alyssa was carrying her outside. I was really worried because she still doesn't know how to land well or eat for herself, but she came back an hour later. She was understandably tired and hungry. Carni also got out of the aviary, and she hasn't come back. I'm hoping she's okay and that she'll be back tomorrow; the longer she's out, the more likely it is she'll get killed by an owl or hawk.

Edit: Suikoden IV question for anyone -- is there a name for Ramada's pet serpent-bird? Does its species have any sort of name?