9 Hilarious Judgment Memes Only True Fans Understand

These judgment memes compare some of the game’s hilarious moments to fantastic pop culture references with great effect.

Judgment and the Yakuza series as a whole, has a strange dichotomy to it. On one hand, these games are filled with dramatic acting, pulse-pounding action, and mysteries that would make even Sherlock Holmes blush. They also have a very weird side to them.

This is true for many Japanese games as that is seemingly their distinct flavor: wackiness. From underwear jokes, to peeping Toms, to chicken mascots turned CEOs, this series has it all. There is also a lot of humor one can add to this already stacked series of hilarity through memes. That said, let’s explore what the fans have come up with to both honor Judgment in particular and poke fun at it.

9. It Was Sephiroth All Along

One of the earliest things that happens in the game is Okubo getting freed from his court hearing only to have him commit a crime later on. He kills his girlfriend and tries to burn down the apartment.

At least, that’s what seems like what happened that night throughout most of the game but there is more to it than that. Sephiroth was not the killer but it would have been crazy if he suddenly made an appearance in this or in fact any Yakuza game.

8. Two Yagamis

If you have either read or watched Death Note, then the name Yagami will be more familiar to you than just through this game. For those unaware, Death Note is about Light Yagami, who also wants to be a detective although he is more like the villain instead; since he has a literal book of death with which he murders.

It seems too coincidental to have the team at Sega not realize what they were doing with the naming convention. That’s why this meme works.

7. What Is A Man?

This line is taken directly from Castlevania: Symphony of the Night. It’s a pretty famous line in video games so most gamers probably know it.

As for how it relates to this game, there is a side mission called Interview With A Detective. In it, an actor needs Yagami to dress up like his character Bram Sylvania III in order to distract the press. It gets pretty whacky as one can imagine from a Yakuza game.

6. Breakdance Fighting

It’s kind of weird how good Yagami is at beating thugs up. Not only that but he can breakdance like a pro. He floats like a butterfly and stings like a bee as the saying goes.

So adding in this line from Zoolander into this meme works well. There’s no secret plot assassination against a prime minister, but there are some ties one could relate between these two properties.

5. You Died

Early on in the game Yagami is forced to chase a masked man who steals his phone. He keeps up with him pretty well, but after trying to jump across a rooftop he almost dies.

If not for some help from that thief, he would have been splattered across the pavement. That’s why this added-in death screen from Dark Souls is so funny for this meme.

4. My Bike!

Almost anything lying around can be used as a weapon in Judgment. Two things that are plentiful across Yakuza games, and Kamurocho in general, are street cones and bikes.

How Yagami is able to shatter a bike over someone and that someone not die is hard to believe but that’s not the point. What is for this post is about how people must feel in town over this destruction of property.

Remember how mad Misty was at Ash for ruining her bike in the anime? It’s time to pay up Yagami.

3. Tony Hawk’s Kamurocho Underground

If there is one thing that can be said about this game and all of the proper Yakuza titles, it’s that the choreography in action cutscenes is second to none.

Take this scene wherein Yagami learns how to skateboard while trying to get away from the Yakuza. That remastered collection of the Tony Hawk games was great last year but just imagine what a new game crossed over with Yakuza could be like. It may not be what fans want or expect, but it’s what they deserve.

2. Bleached

One of the bigger early mysteries pertains to the aforementioned phone thief’s identity. It turns out he wants to join Yagami in his fight for justice. He reveals his identity as Fumiya Sugiura, but what if he was someone else like Ichigo from the Bleach manga and anime series?

Why that reference works in this meme is because they both have orange like blonde hair on top of wearing white masks. It’s a perfect meme joke.

1. Before And After

Yagami is like a one-man wrecking crew just like most characters in the Yakuza series. No matter if he picks up an object or simply runs into it, chances are that thing is going to explode.

This scene in the meme is just one example of how ridiculous his power is. This room was filled with furniture before the fight ends only to have it be a room full of nothing but a hostage. He’s like a tornado of Justice or something.

10 things I wish I knew before playing Nier Replicant

There are many links between Nier games and here we take a look at some of the similarities in the franchise.

With Nier Replicant only recently coming out, we’re in a bit of an odd spot. Because the original release of Nier was a bit of a cult classic, it didn’t pull in anywhere close to the amount of people Automata did. Because of that, there are a lot of people who are now experiencing Nier Replicant and noticing a lot of stuff that feels like it was pulled from Automata. But, it’s actually the other way around.

As such, there’s a lot in the game you might only notice as a “pattern” or “connection” if you were familiar with Nier Automata or any of the Drakengard games. So, let’s go over a few of those now.

Disclaimer: It’s impossible to talk about this stuff without spoilers, so consider yourself warned!

10. Multiple Endings

Let’s start at the end, and by that we mean let’s talk about endings. In Nier Replicant 1.22, there are five endings, with Ending E being brand new content not found in the original Nier release. And, there’s more fun to be had and content to experience with every single subsequent playthrough.

Now, to compare, the original Drakengard has five endings, Drakengard 2 only has three, Drakengard 3 goes back up to four, and Nier Automata has a whopping twenty-six (one for every letter of the alphabet).

By pointing this out, we’re of course alluding to the fact that every Yoko Taro game has at least three different possible endings. But, more than that, there’s also the fact that there are no “good” endings either. Every single ending is bittersweet in some way with at least a touch or a whole handful of nihilism.

9. Weapon Stories And Their Contribution To The Endings

Another constant found in every single game in the Nier/Drakengard franchise is the Weapon Stories. Basically, for every new weapon you acquire in these games, there’s a neat little story tied to the weapon that will slowly reveal itself as you upgrade or level it up.

Sometimes these stories tie into specific character backstories within the game, and other times they just serve as a bit of a way to reinforce the tone. And, they almost always require you to acquire every single weapon in order to unlock one specific ending.

It happened with Ending Y in Nier Automata, the original Drakengard required players to get all 65 weapons for Ending E, and you’ll need every weapon in Nier Replicant v.122 to see Endings C through E.

8. The Absurd Amount Of Blood

Yoko Taro games are violent, that’s just a fact. All three Drakengard games have you bombarding soldiers with dragon fire, slashing them to bits, or disintegrating them with magic. Even Nier Automata, a game about androids and cyborgs, has a lot of “blood” in it too.

Nier has always been the worst offender, simply because of how much of the crimson stuff the Shades in this game seem to splurt out. And now, in the “remaster” of Nier Replicant v1.22, that blood is much nicer looking! Just think back to when Kaine gets skewered after managing to beat Gretel, and how absurd that geyser of blood coming out of her was. Looks like there’s a lot we still don’t know about Kaine, including the gallons and gallons of blood she apparently has.

7. The Angelic Language Used For Magic

You may not know this, but Nier has a couple of languages completely unique to it. For one, there’s the gibberish language Emi Evans sings in the OST (yet it’s still somehow so powerful). Then, there’s the language the characters in Facade use, which is just garbled Japanese. And finally, there’s the Angelic (named after the dragon Angelus, not the agents of Heaven) written in the spell circles. These same symbols can be found in the magic circles of Nier Automata and the Drakengard games as well, though four specific letters are used primarily in Nier Replicant.

Fans have translated the letters, and it turns out they’re A, G, C, and T. They quickly pointed out that these are likely alluding to the four building blocks of DNA, Adenine, Cytosine, Guanine, and Thymine. It makes sense that the Black Scrawl, in particular, would be made up of these letters, considering it was a sign of the Replicant starting to break down structurally.

6. The Intertwined Relationship Between Violence & Romance

There are a lot of different ways to explore romance in a piece of media. But, for Yoko Taro, romance and violence must always go hand-in-hand. In each and every one of his games, if two characters are going to be romantic, then they’re either going to kill each other right after, or possibly during their coupling.

There are plenty of examples, from Decadus in Drakengard 3, to 2B/9S in Automata. And of course, this pops up in Nier Replicant too, specifically the scene with Kaine beating Nier to bits right after a certain someone sacrifices themselves. Yoko Taro later expressed in an interview that this is by far the most romantic scene in the game, and we agree.

5. Flowers & Lunar Tears

Boy, there sure are a lot of flowers in the Nier/Drakengard universe, huh? Of course, there’s the Flower “parasite” in Zero’s eye in Drakengard 3 that basically makes her immortal, the field of Lunar Tears in Automata, and of course the original Lunar Tier found in the beautiful Lost Shrine of Nier Replicant.

But, there are so many more flower connections than that. For example, Anemone, the leader of the Resistance Camp in Automata, was originally part of a group of Resistance fighters (seen in one of the stage plays) that includes Lily, Rose, Dahlia, Daisy, Asta, Clematis, Calmea, Sonya, Erica, and Margaret, all of which are names of flowers. And that’s maybe only half of the botanical references spread throughout these games. It’s almost laughable how many oddly vague connections to flowers these two franchises have.

4. Identical Twins That Know The Secrets Of The Universe

What’s the deal with twins in Yoko Taro games? There’s Manah & Seere in Drakengard, One and Brother One in Drakengard 3, the Sleeping Beauty twins in Nier Replicant, Adam and Eve from Automata, Terminal Alpha and Beta from Automata, and even Devola and Popola from both Nier Replicant and Automata. That’s a ton of twins!

Some fans have pointed out that characters dressed in red have connections to The Watchers and the Red-Eyes from Drakengard, but then what about Devola and Popola? It’s still unclear why there are so many twins of different varieties in this franchise, but it could be something as simple as Yoko Taro just likes the concept of using twins as a narrative device.

3. The Nonchalant Representation Of All Kinds Of People

This next one has to be one of the greatest aspects of the Taro games. Essentially, we want to talk about how many of Yoko Taro’s titles include characters of different genders, sexualities, or preferences without drawing an abundance of attention to them. This varies a bit, as the original Drakengard had some really awful “unique” characters, like a cannibal and a pedophile. But, as the games went on, better inclusivity was shown, especially in the original release of Nier.

To be more specific to Replicant, in particular, we’re talking about Emil’s homosexuality and how Kaine identifies as intersex. Both of these facts are 100% confirmed in-game and by Yoko Taro himself, but it’s never “suddenly brought up” in the narrative in some obvious way. Yoko Taro, for all the odd things he does, seems to be pretty on top of it when it comes to inclusivity.

2. In-Game Distance Does Not Equal Canonical Distance

This is something that happens in games from time to time. Usually, it’s when a developer wants to make a giant expansive world, but the budget simply won’t allow for it. So, they put all the locations close together, and just say that the distance between them is canonically much greater in-universe. This happened in Dark Souls, it’s almost a given in any game that involves space travel, and it’s part of Nier Replicant as well.

In many of the short stories found in Grimoire Nier, characters talk about how far Seafront is from Nier’s Village. But, in-game, it only takes maybe a minute or two to get there.

1. The “Daredevil” Trophy & Its Similarity To The “What Are You Doing” Trophy

And lastly, let’s talk about a gross pattern between Yoko Taro games. We’re of course talking about the “What Are You Doing?” Achievement/Trophy in Nier Automata as well as the new “Daredevil” trophy in Nier Replicant v1.22. Both of these require you to try and use the camera in-game to ogle at the main female lead’s body.

We just finished talking about how well Yoko Taro does with respectful representation in his games, and then he does this. What’s the point of intentionally being subtle and respectful about Kaine’s identity if an in-game achievement is going to ruin it all?

The Beauty Of Abby’s Found Family In The Last Of Us Part 2

Abby and Lev’s relationship in The Last of Us Part 2 is a sign of comfort at the end of the world.

*TLOU 2 Spoilers Ahead*

Abby loses everything in The Last of Us Part 2. The most heartbreaking part is that, before we even step into her shoes, we know almost all that she’s about to go through. Ellie has left a path of bloodshed in her wake as we take control of Abby, realising within moments that we must relive these harrowing events through the eyes of whom they mattered to most.

It’s a masterclass in humanisation, painting the original antagonist as a heroine of greater measure than Ellie ever was, surpassing her as the she succumbs to her own vices in a bitter and bloody tale of revenge. The violence isn’t what stands out the most to me though, it’s the more human happenings that bleed through onto the parchment. Abby finds a new family after losing everything, and becomes a better person for it.

When Abby first encounters Lev and Yara, she eyes them with obvious suspicion. These are members of a cult who have tried to kill her for years, so why would she ever trust a couple of stragglers who might just be using her as a means of escape. We share in her trepidation, but also in her insistence to help when Yara is left beaten within an inch of her life with no means of survival.

Abby offers to help, throwing herself into harm’s way to save a stranger’s life. She’s silent regarding her reasoning, offering Lev little more than a series of blunt remarks and ignorant huffs as they navigate their way towards the hospital. It’s only when Abby is forced to confront one of her greatest fears – heights – that she slowly emerges from her confrontational shell.

The skybridges that linger amidst the skyline are far more than passages into the corpses of skyscrapers – they are a metaphoric glimpse into the psyche of our central characters. Lev navigates the vertiginous path with ease, darting across precarious obstacles without a care in the world. He’s come to terms with his demons, ready to face them head-on without the slightest hint of hesitation. Abby is a different story, clinging desperately onto decaying metal as it grows more and more insecure beneath her feet. She could sink into the foggy oblivion at any moment, a fate we aren’t willing to resign her to.

With a mindset like this, it’s no wonder she falls, plummeting into the rotting waters of a swimming pool below and bringing Lev down with her. She hasn’t accepted her own situation yet despite her good intentions, willing to help a couple of strangers but still keeping them at arm’s length in fear of betrayal. Once all of her friends are killed at the hands of Ellie, Abby learns to accept Lev as one of her own, and her character changes forever.

Family isn’t really a thing once the world has met its end. Relationships become harder to maintain, and familial ties are immediately split apart as the realities of survival result in separation or even death. Both games in this series focus on slowly warming to people we’d otherwise distrust. Joel warms to Ellie much like Abby warms to Lev, learning to believe in those you’d otherwise never even associate with.

Once they have reached Colorado, Abby and Lev feel like a cohesive unit. They joke, converse, and operate like a pair of siblings, and it’s genuinely heartwarming to see. When Lev is pulled away from her at the hands of degenerate bandits, her violent side speaks out, threatening to tear them to pieces if they dare touch a hair on his head. It shows how far these two characters have come, even if the circumstances are anything but jovial.

It’s doubly ironic that once Abby and Lev are left to die on the beach during the game’s climax, Ellie waltzes along to do all the saving. Her found family is lost, torn apart by Abby’s initial act of revenge. She fails to understand the reasoning behind Abby’s actions, or is fully aware of them and just blatantly ignorant of the truth. The final confrontation is abhorrent, an exercise in brutality I didn’t want a part in. I even stopped fighting once, letting myself be killed just so it would all end.

Yet I had to keep fighting to pursue any semblance of survival when all seemed lost. In the end, it is Lev who causes Ellie to see the error of her ways. She sees herself in the young boy, and she can see Joel in Abby. A guardian watching over a young soul who would be powerless without her, and her without him. The cycle refuses to be broken as Ellie throws her knife away, letting the found family find salvation as she wallows in the destruction of her own.

The eventual fate of Abby and Lev is left ambiguous, and rightfully so. If Naughty Dog ever decides to pick up the mantle again and make a third game, I want it to focus on this duo. I want it to be a story of growth, hope, and finding purpose in a world that has put us through hell for two entire games. This is a found family that deserves happiness, even if it means fighting through another battle to find it.

As Joel once said, “no matter what, you keep finding something to fight for.” Ellie took that lesson the wrong way, while Abby carved it into something she will hold dear forever.

The Last Of Us: 15 Most Memorable Quotes

The Last of Us might be one of the best-written video games ever made, and these memorable quotes prove it.

The Last Of Us was one of those rare gems that showed just how powerful good storytelling and character development could be in a video game. The entire plot is full of emotional moments, inspiring growth, bravery, tragedy, and darkness.

It’s also known for having some great lines and quotes from the characters. Seemingly every character has something deep or meaningful to say that make for truly memorable quotes. Long after the credits rolled and players moved on to other games all those years ago, these quotes have stuck around. We’ve added a few more to this list for a total of 15!

15. “I Will Not Turn Into One Of Those Things. Come On, Make This Easy For Me.”

This poignant scene features Tess revealing a bite mark on her neck to Joel and Ellie, which has effectively sealed her doom. Knowing the end is nigh, she pushes both of them to leave her so that she can do the deed herself.

Tess also succeeds in comparing the bite on Ellie’s arm to her own neck wound, to help Joel understand that there’s something truly special about Ellie’s biology. This would have serious ramifications for the remainder of humanity, in the final act of the game.

14. “Let’s See, Scorpions Are Pretty Creepy. Ummm, Being By Myself. I’m Scared Of Ending Up Alone. What About You?”

Well into the game, Ellie meets a new friend named Sam, and the two get to talking about the state of the world, and what it’s like to survive. Eventually, the conversation shifts to greatest fears and Ellie reveals hers.

At first, it’s typically benign, but Ellie soon spills the beans and reveals what really frightens her in a world gone mad, full of lunatics, deadly zombies, and cruel humans.

13. “I Lost Most Of My Crew Trying To Get Here, I Pretty Much Lost Everything. And Then You Show Up And Somehow We Find You Just In Time To Save Her. Maybe It Was Meant To Be.”

After waking up in a hospital bed, Joel comes face to face with Marlene, just as she’s prepping Ellie for surgery to find a possible cure for the cordyceps epidemic. At first, Joel remarks that Ellie “fought like hell” to reach the Fireflies.

Marlene quips that she herself had endured the same kind of torment, only to see Joel stand by Ellie’s side as she fought to reach them. While both believe that fate might have played a factor, neither of them see eye-to-eye on the reasons why, or what came next.

12. “Once Upon A Time, I Had Somebody That I Cared About. It Was A Partner. Somebody I Had To Look After. And In This World, That Sort Of S**T’s Good For One Thing: Gettin’ Ya Killed.”

Bill exposes his own nihilism when he utters this quote about caring for people in the aftermath of a destroyed world. It’s an important message about the dangers of losing one’s own humanity when things become dire.

In truth, many humans would probably fall victim to the same viewpoint as they continued to lose hope. Soon, caring for others would become a liability, which begs the question – what’s the point of living, at all? It’s a cautionary message for everyone to remember the importance of helping others, especially when things are at their worst.

11. “What Did The Green Grape Say To The Purple Grape? Breathe, You Idiot!”

One of the more lighthearted portions of The Last Of Us includes a series of truly awful puns, courtesy of a book in Ellie’s possession called No Pun Intended.

Among most of the eye-rolling, groan-inducing puns is a standout – this particular joke about a green grape talking to a purple grape. It’s one for the ages.

10. “There Are A Million Ways We Should’ve Died Before Today, And A Million Ways We Can Die Before Tomorrow.”

“But we fight, for every second we get to spend with each other. Whether it’s two minutes or two days, we don’t give that up. I don’t want to give that up.” – Riley in Left Behind DLC

Having just been bitten and their fates seemingly sealed, both Riley and Ellie were struggling with what to do now that their days were numbered. Although the thought of ending it all came up, Riley delivered this powerful line that shows why it’s important to keep fighting even though it all seems pointless.

9. “You Know, As Bad As Those Things Are, At Least They’re Predictable. It’s The Normal People That Scare Me.”

The Last Of Us does a good job at making zombies terrifying, but it does an even better job of making regular people out to be the worst monsters. Zombies kill a person because they’re driven by biological urges to spread the infection, humans do it because they can.

Ultimately Bill points out that free will and human greed make people much scarier. A zombie you know what you’re dealing with, but that kind man who helped you bag a deer and save your life could also very well be a cannibal.

8. “After Years Of Wandering In Circles, We’re About To Come Home, Make A Difference, And Bring The Human Race Back Into Control Of Its Own Destiny.”

“All of our sacrifices and the hundreds of men and women who’ve bled for this cause, or worse… will not be in vain.” – Anonymous Surgeon

This recording gives an insight into how desperate the medical professionals with the Fireflies were to find a cure and give mankind hope for rebuilding. After years of watching everyone around them die and no hope in sight, they’re finally on the brink of a cure that could change everything.

7. “I Struggled For A Long Time With Surviving. And No Matter What, You Keep Finding Something To Fight For.”

Joel is a man who knows about loss, after losing his wife, his daughter, his brother (he assumed he was dead), and Tess, he had to find a reason to keep going and keep surviving.

Recognizing that Ellie was going through a similar crisis of faith after failing to deliver the cure to the fireflies he wanted to ensure she found her own reason for surviving.

6. “After All We’ve Been Through. Everything That I’ve Done. It Can’t Be For Nothing.”

After Joel proposes going back to Tommy’s settlement and living a normal life Ellie quickly shuts it down saying all the hardship, heartbreak, and what she considers vile acts on her part (killing David) can’t be in vain.

All of those things are okay if they manage to get a cure out of this, which makes Joel’s statement that she needs to find another reason to survive so important in the previous entry.

5. “Hello? Anyone? Cure For Mankind Here!”

This amusing line perfectly conveys the frustration and hope Ellie has at trying to find the Fireflies. After being told for so long they were at the university they arrive to find the Fireflies are gone, having moved on even further across the country.

Despite knowing the importance of her immunity, Ellie can’t help but be a kid and feel frustrated that things just keep going wrong. Turns out being the savior of mankind can be a little frustrating if the story doesn’t play out like the fairy tale it should be.

4. “Just One Peaceful Night; A Clean Conscience…All Gone…”

“Lyin’ on the couch watchin’ Sunday football. That… greasy smell of a downtown hot dog. 4^th of July, family barbecues. The sound of a plane flying overhead. Just one peaceful night; a clean conscience…all gone…” – Joel

In the midst of the apocalypse, Joel has become aware of how much he took for granted from the early days. The food, the company, the boring activities, and just the simple peace of not watching over your shoulder every minute of every day or worried what might happen in your sleep. But perhaps what he misses most of all is a life where he never made bad decisions or did horrible things to survive.

3. “Tell Them Ellie’s The Name Of The Little Girl… That BROKE YOUR F***ING FINGER!”

Being a child of the apocalypse it’s understandable she’d have a mouth on her and her rebellious and feisty personality makes her a bit of a quandary for the cannibal David. While he tries to manipulate what he thinks is a strong, but innocent little girl, Ellie keeps proving she’s sharper around the edges than he anticipates.

She becomes such a threat that David himself goes toe to toe with her in the bar and loses, proving that although she’s a little girl and filled with raw emotion at times, she also has a fire in her.

2. “Everyone I Have Cared For Has Either Died Or Left Me. Everyone… F***Ing Except For You.”

“So don’t tell me that I would be safer with someone else because the truth is I would just be more scared.” – Ellie

This is a particularly vulnerable moment for Ellie as she has developed feelings for Joel and is presented with the fact that he might not share those same feelings back.

Despite his gruff demeanor and repeated attempts to shut her out, Ellie is aware that he’s willing to do anything to protect her and Joel is scared of getting too attached as a result.

1. “You’d Just Come After Her.”

This short and brutal line is one of the most haunting moments in the game. The story descended from a black and white story of redemption for Joel by finding a cure to the gray abyss of a tortured man making a choice no one should ever have to make. Joel must decide whether to willingly lose the last person he cares about to save humanity or protect her and doom everyone else.

After making this horrible choice he’s put to a final test to spare the life of the Fireflies’ leader, but after realizing that Marlene is willing to go to any lengths to obtain a cure Joel determines she’d pose a continual threat to Ellie and ends her life and any hope for a cure.

The Last Of Us 2: 10 Saddest QuoteS Ranked

The Last of Us 2 is a heart-wrenching game and these are its saddest quotes. Get your tissues ready.

Since the release of The Last of Us 2, it’s been extremely hard to forget about. Surpassing The Witcher 3 to become the most awarded game in history, this PlayStation Exclusive has been the hot topic of conversation.

The series is known to deliver some heart-wrenchingly raw moments as characters get candid in the post-apocalyptic world. With spoilers laying ahead, be prepared to be moved and grab some tissues, as these saddest quotes are sure to get you itching to play the game all over again.

10. “I Didn’t Want To Be A Burden-“ – “Well, You’re A Burden Now, Aren’t You?”

After Dina reveals to Ellie that she’s pregnant, Ellie didn’t hold back on how she truly felt. Although was this completely her fault?

This part of the game is particularly stinging and it’s a small sign of the start of Ellie’s deterioration as her mind is overwhelming her, which leads to her inevitable decline. Her personality is changing without her even realizing, due to grief and anger. Ultimately, Ellie is saying things that she wouldn’t normally say to the ones that she loves.

9. “If I Were To Lose You, I’d Surely Lose Myself.”

Despite Joel’s lack of dialogue, this early scene is an extremely memorable moment in the game. Singing to Ellie a cover of “Future Days“ by Pearl Jam, it is nothing but completely truthful for their relationship that initially blossomed from something so unexpectedly small.

Later on into the game and sadly after Joel’s death, Ellie sings this song alone in the cinema, repeating the line, “If I were to lose you, I’d truly lose myself,” as she reminisces about Joel.

8. “I Don’t Want To Lose You.”

At the start of her decline, Ellie gets candid with Dina, confessing how she made Nora talk. The scene where Ellie kills Nora is a pivotal moment in the game that shows how overwhelmed Ellie is with thinking she’s right to pursue Abby and how she seeks revenge for the loss of Joel.

Confessing to Dina her true feelings shows that Ellie is conflicted about her choices; whether this is to pursue killing Abby or to stay with Dina. This conflicting decision ultimately is the reason why Dina leaves Ellie with her choices at the end of The Last of Us 2.

7. “We Have A Family. She Doesn’t Get To Be More Important Than That.”

Dina pleads for Ellie to stay after Joel’s brother, Tommy, convinces her to finally kill Abby once and for all, after a long-awaited sighting of her. Ellie seemed content with living in the farmhouse with Dina and her baby until a saddening moment showed the mental trauma that she still faced from Joel’s death and how it still affects her.

Dina wants Ellie to stay and worries that she might get killed. Ellie’s mind is conflicted on the choice but ultimately ventures with the intention to kill Abby for what she thinks will be the final time. Ellie chooses revenge on Abby over her and Dina’s relationship.

6. “Making A Vaccine… Would Have Killed You. So I Stopped Them.” – “I’ll Go Back. But We’re Done.”

“If you lie to me one more time, I’m gone. You will never see me again. But if you tell me the truth, I’ll go back to Jackson. No matter what it is.” – Ellie

This is one of the longest awaited moments of the series as Joel confesses the truth to Ellie about her immunity. Her reaction is not one of thanks. Yet, you can’t blame Ellie for being angry and you can’t blame Joel for lying.

Despite keeping her promise to go back to Jackson, Ellie has a grudge against Joel as he lied to her. With the fate of Joel’s character, this quote is especially saddening, as it’s an accumulation of sore moments that makes you believe that Ellie and Joel had unresolved problems before he was killed, which wasn’t the case.

5. “You Killed My Friends. We Let You Live And You Wasted It!

Despite what your opinions might be of her, Abby is no stranger to loss. The game centers around Ellie’s goal of getting revenge for the death of Joel by hunting down Abby and killing those around her along the way.

After Joel killed Abby’s dad to save Ellie’s life in The Last Of Us and Ellie killing her friends in The Last Of Us 2, Abby is left completely alone. If this wasn’t enough, Ellie proceeds with the hope to kill Abby in the final parts of the video game. You can feel Abby’s raw emotion of loss in this dramatic scene of the game.

4. “He Had No Right-” – “And You Do? I Don’t Need Your F***Ing Help, Joel.”

With what was originally thought of as one of the last encounters between Ellie and Joel, this quote comes with a heavy burden as players dare to continue thinking that the last conversation between these extremely loveable characters was one of anger.

Joel was instantly at Ellie’s defence as she was labelled a “Dyke” after she and Dina shared a kiss in the public space. Despite Joel having only good intentions, Ellie was quick to respond to Joel’s comment regarding the lack of help that she needs to defend herself. With onlookers watching and knowing the situation escalated quickly and unintentionally, it made this scene extremely difficult to watch. An embarrassed Joel quickly exits the situation and leaves Ellie contemplating her harsh comments.

3. “Joel, Get Up. Joel, F***Ing Get Up. Please Stop!”

In undoubtedly the saddest and most heart-wrenching cutscene of the entire game, Ellie pleads for Joel’s life. Joel lays struggling for his life as Abby stands above him in the most unforgettable scene of the game.

Joel, arguably the best character of the series, is much loved and his loss had a huge impact on The Last of Us series, which ultimately brought up the controversial decisions of people’s thoughts on the game. Having always protected others around him, there finally came a time where he was unable to protect himself.

2. “Go. Just Take Him.”

Here, Ellie is simply left ill in defeat. The long hours of gameplay led up to this moment to which Ellie thought she was doing this for the better of herself and to revenge Joel.

Ellie shows evident signs of PTSD which became overwhelming at some points. She breaks down in this almost final scene in which she breathlessly tells Abby to leave with Lev, after saving them from starvation and dehydration as they were hung and left to die. Despite the fact that Ellie was close to getting what she thought she always wanted, which was to kill Abby, she let her go free as she sat defeated with emotion.

1. “If Somehow The Lord Gave Me A Second Chance At That Moment… I Would Do It All Over Again.”

“I was supposed to die in that hospital. My life would’ve f***ing mattered. But you took that from me.” – Ellie

This heart-wrenching final scene had us crying our eyes out. With heartbreaking moments leading up to this point, players were left thinking that Joel and Ellie’s last conversation was one of the underlying issues and hatred, so this was the perfect final conversation that we could have hoped for.

As Ellie says to Joel that she would like to try and forgive him, it’s obvious to both Joel and Ellie how much their relationship means to each other in this father-daughter-like relationship.

10 Best-Selling PlayStation 4 Games Of All-Time

The PlayStation 4 featured a ton of great games. Here’s a look at some of the best-selling titles.

We have ushered in a new generation with the release of the PlayStation 5. Many people have turned their focus to the new console, looking forward to all the exciting exclusives that are on the horizon. Still, it’s worth remembering how Sony got here.

The Playstation 4 was a massive success, with many believing it’s one of the best consoles ever made, let alone the best console ever made by Sony. The console was a great upgrade hardware-wise, but what made the system so great was its games. The library was deep, filled with exclusives and blockbuster hits that sold well on the PS4.

Despite the PS5 being out for some time now, games from the Playstation 4 continue to sell big. This is especially true for games that were massive hits on the console that have continued to build upon the sales numbers they’ve hit previously. Most of the games on this list also haven’t received PS5 versions yet, which makes seeing the games continue to sell that much more fascinating.

10. Horizon Zero Dawn/The Last Of Us Remastered

Total Sold Each: 10 million+ copies

Two games are tied for tenth on the all-time best-selling list for the PlayStation 4. One is a PS4 exclusive from Guerilla Games, Horizon Zero Dawn. The other is a remaster of the PlayStation 3 hit The Last Of Us by Naughty Dog.

Horizon is an action RPG where you play as Aloy, a hunter who is looking to discover her past in a machine-filled world.

The Last Of Us is an action-adventure and survival horror game that revolves around Joel, who is trying to protect and transport Ellie, a girl who is immune to the apocalyptic pandemic. The game sold around 20 million copies across both consoles.

9. The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt

Total Sold: 10.8 million+ copies

The ninth best-selling game is one made by CD Projekt Red, a company that was beloved before it released Cyberpunk 2077. Their long-standing series, The Witcher has always been a hit and their third game, The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt, sold 10.8 million copies to make the all-time PS4 list.

The players are Geralt of Rivia, a monster hunter who is looking for his adopted daughter. Based in a Slavonic fantasy world, the action RPG tasks players with killing monsters and completing tasks to improve on Geralt’s skills.

8. FIFA 18

Total Sold: 11.8 million+ copies

Sports games are always rather popular, so it’s no surprise that one game in the genre made it into the top ten. FIFA 18 is the eighth highest-selling PS4 game. The association football series’ 25th installment included 52 fully licensed stadiums from 12 countries and north of 700 teams to play as.

The game featured a sequel to a story mode first introduced in FIFA 17 called “The Journey.” Since data from the previous game can be carried over, the story’s main protagonist Alex Hunter is the main star once again.

7. God Of War

Total Sold: 12 million+ copies

The year 2018 was a wild one for video games, and while there were plenty of solid exclusives for the Playstation 4, none stood out quite like God of War. Developed by Santa Monica Studios, the revival of the franchise came in a shift in origin as the setting revolves around Norse mythology rather than Greek mythology.

The game once again stars Kratos, but along with him comes his son Atreus. Together, the two characters look to spread Atreus’ mother’s ashes at the highest peak of the nine realms while also fighting off and dealing with monsters and gods.

6. Marvel’s Spider-Man

Total Sold: 13.2 million+ copies

With all the accolades rained upon God of War, there was a console exclusive that outsold it in 2018. Of course, it helps that the protagonist has a worldwide brand beyond video games. Marvel’s Spider-Man comes in at sixth overall, selling 13.2 million copies.

The open-world action-adventure game stars Peter Parker as he fights against the evil Mister Negative, who is trying to release a deadly disease to take control of the criminal underbelly. Meanwhile, Parker’s personal connections beyond Spider-Man are also a key part of the story, making the game both action-packed and personal.

5. Call Of Duty: WWII

Total Sold: 13.4 million+ copies

There’s no doubt that Call of Duty is a massively popular franchise. The classic first-person shooter is featured twice in the top five best-selling PS4 games. The first entry on the list is Call of Duty: WWII, coming in at five.

The series returned to its origins as this game is set in the European theatre of World War II. The game featured a single-player campaign, a hugely popular multiplayer mode, and a cooperative game mode that implemented zombies.

4. Red Dead Redemption 2

Total Sold: 14 million+ copies

Rockstar Games also has two iterations of their games in the top five. The fourth-best selling game from the PS4 era was Red Dead Redemption 2. Based in Western times, the sequel to the highly successful PS3 game has players take on the role of Arthur Morgan, an outlaw who is part of the Van der Linde gang and must deal with many forces during the decline of the wild west.

The game also has a widely popular multiplayer mode that allows players to explore and fight in the open-world environment.

3. Call Of Duty: Black Ops III

Total Sold: 15 million+ copies

The second Call of Duty game on this list, Call of Duty: Black Ops III, is third on the best-selling lists. The successor to 2012 hit Black Ops II, this game takes place about 40 years later in 2065.

The game follows a group of black ops soldiers who are dealing with a world suffering from climate change. This entry was significant because its DLC was a timed exclusive for the PS4, which likely helped contribute to the higher sales on this console, compared to everywhere else.

2. Uncharted 4: A Thief’s End

Total Sold: 16 million+ copies

Naughty Dog had a second appearance on this list, but this time for a game that came out for and exclusively on the Playstation 4. Uncharted 4: A Thief’s End supposedly completed the character arc of Nathan Drake after four games as the central protagonist.

The game focuses on Drake coming out of retirement after his brother Sam, who he assumed was dead, comes back to convince Drake to find the treasure of Henry Avery because otherwise Sam would be killed. It is the highest-selling exclusive on the PS4 and comes in at number two.

1. Grand Theft Auto V

Total Sold: 20 million+ copies

A game that came out before the release of the PlayStation 4, the remastered version of Grand Theft Auto V blew the doors off any other game released for the system. The game featured upgraded graphics as well as a first-person mode.

This was the first game in the series where players could play as three protagonists instead of just one. While the single-player campaign was a big deal, the multiplayer mode titled Grand Theft Auto Online has become the main reason the game is still going today and is being ported to the Playstation 5.

28 Hilarious Examples Of PokEmon Logic That Make No Sense

Pokemon logic is serious business. Why do all your water Pokemon turn into Lapras when they use surf? Why does a tiny bush prevent you from moving forward on a path? When you’ve got a universe replete with trading cards, video games, TV shows, movies, and virtually all other types of media, it can be hard to keep track of things and make sure it all makes sense. Check out these examples of funny Pokemon logic that fans simply roll with when they see them, even though they clearly don’t make any sense. 

1. Armed And Dangerous

2. Bushes Are Roadblocks

3. Zubat Don’t Care

4. Critically Panned

5. From Egg to Eggs

6. Surprise!

7. Bottomless Bag

8. Seems Legit

9. Leaf Onyx Alone

10. Flying Lessons

11. Minimum Age Requirement

12. Don’t Ever Underestimate A 10 Year Old

13. Super Effective

14. 1250 IQ Points Per Move

15. There’s Something In Those Water Bottles

16. More Pokemon Than People

17. It’s About The Journey Not The Destination

18. Like A Puppy

19. Kitchen Confined

20. Passive Agressive Nurse Joy

21. Lemons Are Expensive

22. Poison Control

23. No Effect

24. Evolutions That Make Sense

25. One-Time Use Only

26. Gary Was Pretty Smooth

27. Obey Your Master

28. Pokemon Physics

Naruto Shippuden Quotes

Here is the list of most inspirational, emotional and memorable Naruto Shippuden quotes

“If you don’t like your destiny, don’t accept it. Instead have the courage to change it the way you want it to be.” – Naruto Uzumaki

“The longer you live… The more you realize that reality is just made of pain, suffering and emptiness.” – Madara Uchiha

“Having too many bonds causes one to lose focus, weakening their strongest wish, their greatest desire.” – Sasuke Uchiha

“A place where someone still thinks about you is a place you can call home.” – Jiraiya

“Fear. That is what we live with. And we live it everyday. Only in death are we free of it.” – Neji Gyuga

“Peace under an illusion is not true peace. It’s only meaningful if the real world manages to accomplish it.” – Gaara

“When people get hurt, they learn to hate… When people hurt others, they become hated and racked with guilt. But knowing that pain allows people to be kind. Pain allows people to grow… and how you grow is up to you.” – Jiraiya

“I’ve been wondering… There must be a purpose for people being born into this world. Why are we here? What does it mean? I’ve been thinking about it a lot lately. I realized that finding our purpose IS the meaning. That’s why we’re here. And the ones who find it… They’re the only ones who are truly free.” – Kimimaro

“War brings death. And wounds and pain to both sides. There’s nothing harder to accept, than the deaths of those you love. So you believe they could never die. Especially those who haven’t known war.” – Nagato

“The moment people come to know love, they run the risk of carrying hate.” – Obito Uchiha

“Never give up without even trying. Do what you can, no matter how small the effect it may have!” – Onoki

“In the ninja world, those who don’t follow the rules are trash. But, those who abandon their friends are even worse than trash.” – Obito Uchiha

“Maybe, just maybe, there is no purpose in life… but if you linger a while longer in this world, you might discover something of value in it.” – Orochimaru

“A smile is the best way to get oneself out of a tight spot, even if it is a fake one. Surprisingly enough, everyone takes it at face value.” – Sai

“Every one of us must do what’s in their power! If we’re going to die anyway, then it’s better to die fighting than to do nothing!” – Sakura Haruno

No matter how strong-minded a woman is, she will show kindness to the man she loves.” Shikaku Nara

“People become stronger because they have things they cannot forget. That’s what you call growth.” – Tsunade

“It is only through the eyes of others that our lives have any meaning.” – Haku

“People live their lives bound by what they accept as correct and true. That’s how they define “reality”. But what does it mean to be “correct” or “true”? Merely vague concepts… Their “reality” may all be a mirage. Can we consider them to simply be living in their own world, shaped by their beliefs?” – Itachi Uchiha

Physical wounds will definitely bleed and may look painful but over time they heal by themselves and if you apply medicine, they will heal faster. What’s troublesome are wounds of the heart. Nothing is harder to heal. -Yashamaru 

“If you don’t share someone’s pain, you can never understand them.” – Nagato

“The concept of hope is nothing more than giving up. A word that holds no true meaning.” – Madara Uchiha

“When people are protecting something truly precious to them. They truly can become…as strong as they need to be!” – Haku

“If you believe in your dreams, I will prove to you, that you can achieve your dreams just by working hard.” – Rock Lee

“When a man learns to love, he must bear the risk of hatred.” – Madara Uchiha

“Often people have it wrong, mistakenly believing… that showing mercy to an enemy is kindness. They spare the foe whose life is in their hands. But don’t you see? It’s an empty existence, to go on living… alone and unloved… when defeat’s already cost you your dream!” – Haku

“A dropout will beat a genius through hard work.” – Rock Lee

“Power is not will, it is the phenomenon of physically making things happen.” – Madara Uchiha

“Even I can tell that hatred is spreading. I wanted to do something about it…but I don’t know what. I believe… that someday the day will come when people truly understand one another!” – Jiraiya

“Father, is a person’s destiny a thing like a cloud flowing with an inescapable flow? Or can a person choose the flow he wishes… I still don’t know the answer to this. Either way the destination may be the same in the end. However by choosing to live like the latter, a person can live and strive towards a goal. And in this match I have finally understood those who have that are truly strong. Father, I have but one goal, I want to become stronger… Enough not to lose to anyone… That’s how I feel. Father, the birds are flying freely today… They look so happy.” – Neji Hyuga

“In this world, wherever there is light – there are also shadows. As long as the concept of winners exists, there must also be losers. The selfish desire of wanting to maintain peace causes wars, and hatred is born to protect love.” – Madara Uchiha

“You’re wrong, that’s not what makes a shinobi. You never did get it, a real ninja is one who endures no matter what gets thrown at him… Let me explain something to you, there is only one thing that matters if you are a shinobi, and it isn’t the number of jutsu you possess. All you do need, is the guts to never give up.” – Jiraiya

“Man seeks peace, yet at the same time yearning for war… Those are the two realms belonging solely to man. Thinking of peace whilst spilling blood is something that only humans could do. They’re two sides of the same coin… to protect something… another must be sacrificed.” – Madara Uchiha

“A person grows up when he’s able to overcome hardships. Protection is important, but there are some things that a person must learn on his own.” – Jiraiya

“People cannot show each other their true feelings. Fear, suspicion, and resentment never subside.” – Madara Uchiha

“Rejection is a part of any man’s life. If you can’t accept and move past rejection, or at least use it as writing material – you’re not a real man.” – Jiraiya

“A hero is not the one who never falls. He is the one that who gets up, again and again, never losing sight of his dreams.” – Rock Lee

“I could say I’m not sad, but I’d be lying. The problem is the world won’t let me stay a kid forever, so I can’t lie around crying about it either.” – Nara Shikamaru

22 Hilarious Memes About Legendary Pokémon

Legendary Pokémon are easily the coolest Pokémon in the franchise. From their awesome designs to their powerful abilities, it’s no wonder the fandom loves them. And of course, there are plenty of hilarious memes about them. 

Whether it’s poking fun at the Weather Trio’s long-lasting feud or Mewtwo’s words of wisdom, these memes are bound to give you a good laugh. Vote up the funniest ones!

1. Weather Trio Beef

2. Bruh

3. Never Forget

4. Why Is This So True

5. Upgrade

6. Do It For The Aesthetics

7. The Weather Trio In A Nutshell

8. This Is Exactly What Happened

9. Smooth

10. Ice Cream Cone FTW

11. Dialga Doesn’t Like To Wait

12. Every Single Time

13. Meanwhile…

14. Who Did This

15. Party Pooper

16. Cyrus Wasn’t Prepared

17. Think Again

18. It’s Impossible

19. It All Makes Sense

20. Can’t Unsee

21. Please Make This Happen

22. They’re Not Wrong

10 Shonen Anime With The Most Meaningful Lessons

The best shonen series stay with fans because they have something meaningful to offer, be it kernels of wisdom or a new perspective on life.

Fundamentally, shonen is a genre that’s meant to entertain; to keep readers reading and manga selling. But that doesn’t mean the genre is devoid of meaningful moments. It’s dismissive to assume otaku are drawn only to action scenes and excitement when really, more than anything, it’s usually solid coming-of-age themes, rewarding character development, and compelling narratives that cement these series as classics.

The best shonen series stay with fans because they have something more to offer, be it kernels of wisdom or a new perspective on life. And while the themes of these shows might be blatant, viewers are allowed to interpret shonen lessons however they like.

10. My Hero Academia: Tenacity Is Underrated

Life is full of failures. This is a fact that Midoriya — ostensibly labeled a failure ever since he was diagnosed as powerless in a society rife with superheroes — has always had to face. But what makes Deku an amazing shonen lead isn’t that he later inherits a Quirk that instantly makes him extremely powerful. No.

What makes Deku remarkable is that even while he was Quirkless, he refused to be helpless. With the support of an amazing parent and in the face of an antagonistic bully, Deku remains devoted to his love for heroism. It’s this refusal to be deterred from his dreams that All Might values, and it’s this facet of Deku that viewers would do well to internalize.

9. One Piece: Found Family Is Still Family

There’s no shortage of ragtag ensemble casts in anime. But part of One Piece‘s everlasting appeal is the idea of nakama: friends who are closer than friends. Any outsider would envy the bonds that form between the Straw Hat pirates during their journey. And Luffy’s greatest strength isn’t that he’s stubborn and made of rubber and endlessly enthused.

His greatest strength is his genuine devotion to his crew. Once you’re a Straw Hat, you’re a Straw Hat for life. For anyone who has failed to find their place among blood relatives or amid chaotic home lives, may the prospect of finding their own crew one day keep them going.

8. Yu Yu Hakusho: Consistency Is Key

Yu Yu Hakusho hasn’t had an anime revival in recent years, but it’s not due to lack of popularity. The shonen series about a delinquent who dies saving a child only to be reincarnated as a demon-hunting martial artist has remained a fan-favorite. More than anything, this has to do with the consistency of the series, a steadiness that pervaded both the manga and the anime.

Though the show did struggle during its final arc, Yu Yu Hakusho tells its story concisely for a coming-of-age series and does its best to wrap everything up in just over 100 episodes. It’s not perfect, but neither is growing up, and everyone would do well to remember that.

7. Bakuman: Reality Can Be Just As Rewarding As Fiction

Most shonen anime have a certain degree of fantasy in common. Often suspense is based on a dangerous otherworldly setting, apocalyptic monsters, magical ninja, and superpowers. But if Bakuman proves anything, it’s that the trials of normal, everyday life can be just as thrilling as any fantasy, especially when characters are pursuing a goal.

While Bakuman is essentially a slice-of-life series about two aspiring mangakas, the suspense in the story is no less tangible for being more realistic. For anyone who wants a little less escapism but just as much heart, Bakuman is waiting.

6. Naruto: Some Friendships Take Work

Naruto is far from a flawless franchise. And yes, perhaps Naruto and Sasuke’s friendship went toxic long before the end of Shippuden. But despite all the harm that Sasuke causes and the genuine disdain with which he approaches the world, Naruto continues to believe Sasuke can be redeemed.

The truth is, not all friendships are worth maintaining in life, and perhaps Naruto would have been better off giving up on Sasuke the first few times he went dark-side. But then again, if he had given up, he wouldn’t be the character that he is: a protagonist millions of kids have looked up to for decades now.

5. Attack On Titan: Beware Of Becoming The Monster You Fear

It’s hard to think of Attack on Titan as shonen, given the sheer darkness of its themes, but perhaps that’s why it’s become such a modern classic. Attack on Titan isn’t afraid to face the worst of humanity or question the morality of its central cast. The line between humanity and monstrosity is so thin as to be nonexistent.

Hajime Isayama certainly knows his history, and these characters are coping with what a culture of embedded violence does to generations of people. It’s important to remember that Eren was a murderer before he even became an adolescent, let alone a Titan. While this might feel like melodrama in other shows, in the Shingeki universe, this makes a brutal kind of sense.

4. Haikyuu!! Among True Friends, You Can Grow Without Losing The Essence Of Who You Are

The makeover trope is frequently a guilty pleasure, but a questionable one: if a character has to become someone new to succeed, what’s the lesson there? With support and understanding, people can grow without losing the essence of themselves, and Haikyuu!! is a universal hit because it knows this better than anyone.

Take Kageyama: stubborn, proud, and possibly neurodivergent, to say Kags struggles to be considerate is an understatement. His junior high team is justified in abandoning him, and when he starts hollering at his Karasuno teammates years later, he expects to be ditched again. But Karasuno is a team that welcomes a variety of odd personalities and thrives on them. A person’s failings can become strengths given the right context, and not one of Kageyama’s teammates would actually want to change who he is.

3. One-Punch Man: Achieving Your Dreams Is (Often) Underwhelming

Being a superhero is, evidently, a real downer. Once Saitama becomes the single most powerful man in the world,  he becomes terribly bored with his life. The wisest moments of One-Punch Man aren’t the action scenes, but the mundane daily minutiae of Saitama’s existence.

Goals are often underwhelming once they’re achieved. The job is never what you hoped it would be, the meal isn’t always as good as it looked on the menu, the sequel is a disappointment, the marriage fails. But if life is going to be full of disappointments, tackling said disappointment with a dose of satire seems like wisdom.

2. Hunter X Hunter: The Best Things In Life Are Worth Waiting For

Hunter x Hunter fans have waited actual decades for a conclusion to this story, and the manga’s hiatuses are so frequent as to have become a punchline within the fandom.

Why is it that Hunter x Hunter remains a favorite, even though it is bound to be unsatisfying? Well, for one thing, the story proves just as fun as it ever was. The characters remain extremely likable. And fans need an eternal thing to wait for, a perpetual dream on the horizon. Once a series is over, the comedown can be devastating. With a series like HxH, fans never have to come down at all.

1. Fullmetal Alchemist: Your Mistakes Don’t Define You, But How You React To Them Does

If there’s one thing every main character in Fullmetal Alchemist has in common, it’s that they have all made seemingly irrevocable mistakes. Losing limbs while trying to reincarnate the dead, taking part in a genocidal war, creating life and failing to control it, pulling a gun on a man who killed loved ones, being directly responsible for the murder of a friend; all of this and more are par for the course.

But what distinguishes the protagonists from the antagonists is what they choose to do in the wake of such terrible mistakes. The heroes choose to redeem themselves and become better people. As Arakawa wrote in her timeless manga, “A lesson without pain is meaningless. That’s because no one can gain without sacrificing something. But by enduring that pain and overcoming it, he shall obtain a powerful, unmatched heart. A fullmetal heart.”