after months of being stuck on the battle with Taros,

dying, reviving the dead team members, retrying, leveling up Bowie (and the others, but mainly Bowie) cause he's underleveled and the only one who can use the Achilles Sword and that's the only way to kill Taros...

never listen to your siblings by the way. my brother told me when I started the game to keep Bowie protected, hidden and never fight, that resulted in him never getting to level up, that resulted in me being stuck in. THAT situation. for a long time.

...my brother hasn't even played Shining Force I in like, what, 2 years? 3 years?

I doubt he even remembers half of what the story was at his current point in that game. I...eventually, plan to start my own save file in SFI. probably after I finish SFII... but before SFI, I think I'm gonna try to somehow maybe play or watch a playthrough of Shining Force: Final Conflict, since that game takes place before SFII but after SFI.

anyway, yesterday, I finally beat Taros, and I felt like I could finally breathe again after the anticipation as Bowie swung his sword then seeing Taros' hp fall to 0. I literally involuntarily set the controller down, stood up and walked a few steps away and said with my hands over my mouth "oh my god. I did it."

then I VOLUNTARILY walked back over, sat down again, picked up the controller and internally yelled at the screen.

fun fact! another part of my strategy, was ironically enough something completely opposite to what Shining Force Central says about the boss... "only Bowie can damage him, keep your other party members away.."

but what did I do? I USED MY BRAIN FOR ONCE, THAT'S WHAT! I strategically sent in 2 of my other members – birdmen Luke and Peter – to basically be a distraction to Taros. their attacks don't do damage, but they make Taros switch his attack focus more often. in the case that a distraction would die, i had all of my other party members at the ready, but some of them, like my dear Chester, I had specifically equipped with healing items so they were on standby to keep Bowie alive.

it worked! and I've already fought so many battles and covered a lot of area since then. I've recruited a lot of party members too... unfortunately, it seems I didn't do something right a while ago for the game to trigger the third birdman (Skreech) to join the party? but I could've sworn i did it right. I even checked (skimmed over) Shining Force Central for the requirements and. I can literally remember like, a scene with a little bird (that would be him) falling into the bushes? I. like. we were standing there? I did get him out from there as far as I can remember? was that not saving him? I guess I'll pay more attention to the requirements on SFC later, if I can't recruit him it doesn't matter much but it would be nice

anyway, Dr. Rohde, Karna, Higins, and Taya are great additions to the team, Rick is a goober but could definitely use some work, Elric and Janet... well, they're great archers, but maybe they should stay behind. and continue to be lovebirds or something I dunno. is Bowie still too young to see that? /j

speaking of Bo again, he's also one level away from being level 20 now – the level in which he can be promoted from Swordsman to Hero! with his promotion comes a change in his sprite too, his hair gets longer, he looks older, different clothes etc.

also, I love how we went so long in the game and just a little bit ago from where I'm currently at now Bo got to talk. It's been how long? oh and the game's narrative giving 3rd person dialogue of him nodding. yes, already I know what his nodding and head shake sprites look like, game, but thank you anyway.... I think Bowie should get more dialogue regularly.

and another one that can be promoted now is best boy Kazin! he can be promoted to a sorcerer, but the bad part is he would lose all of his currently learned magic spells. and after promotion, gaining experience to level up becomes harder, so everyone's gonna stay as is for now. Chester, Jaha, May, Gerhalt and Peter have already been promoted for a little while, but for now they're gaining exp and leveling up pretty smoothly so it's fine.

after meeting Goddess Mitula, she wasn't very helpful, nor seemingly grateful, especially after we saved her from being trapped by a greater devil... maybe later on she'll prove to be better than that first impression. we'll see.

but now, we're making fast progress in the game once again... and boy how I've missed it. the Force is heading to Moun next, with the vicar Frayja tagging along. off to the next battle they go!