Category: Video Games

Ongoing Investigations: Case #003

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Gurren Lagaan is a tongue-in-cheek love letter to manly giant robot shows. It’s always about being a MAN! The whole world and its evil, beast-men robots may be against you but you fight on with manly pride and manly courage! You shout your attacks at the top of your lungs and fight for what you need to protect with guts and grit! Kamina is your standard balls to the wall, fiery robot pilot. He is mostly there to be cool, gain a huge fan following, and motivate the spineless but spark of potential Simon. Simon is easily compared to Shinji especially since they are both from Gainax shows, but I think it is way too easy to ignore Simon as his own character that way. Simon has potential to grow whereas Shinji was always meant to break down. Yoko is pretty kick-ass or at least as kick-ass as your going to get being a woman in a manly giant robot show. So far they have not given her a useless Aphrodite A style robot. Episode 4 definitely earned it’s infamous reputation. If this is the cleaned up version I would hate/love to see the original episode.

On a side note: Bravo Bandai. I really approve of Bandai’s plan of releasing nine episode sets sub only with minimum extras and then releasing deluxe sets with dub and additional extras later on.  I love getting nine episodes for 20 dollars at Best Buy. If you release Hayate or Gundam 00 like this Bandai you have my money. I will slap you with the twenty like I was Mask the Money.

Gurren Lagaan is one of those shows that I knew would probably be good, but just never got around to seeing. Now I have and now I know what the fuss is all about, finished the first five episodes. This show is so good and hilarious! GAINAX you shock me! It has been much too long since I enjoyed one of their new shows. Everything about it is over the top, from the way the robots look to Kamina’s hilarious names for the different attacks (Combustion of Manly Souls Cannonball Attack!). And Kamina’s dealings with Yoko are a laugh a minute! But on a more serious note I really enjoy the sibling closeness and protectiveness between Simon and Kamina, it feels right. Looking forward to watching more!

I normally don’t like slice of life, but I am always looking for the next Azumanga Daioh. So I tried out Hidamari Sketch. I thought the premise had potential, it is about four girls who are going to art school. Upon viewing, can’t say I found anything special about this show. It was rather boring, not very funny, and the animation is really weird. These types of shows live and die on whether or not you connect with one or more of the characters because there is no plot to speak of. I didn’t and so I found nothing to warrant continuing on.

Liar Game just pissed me off. Nao finally has the chance to grow as a character and do something without Kazuo and she utterly fails as life so Kazuo has to come bail her out. I thought since the revival round was all losers from other rounds she would finally have opponents that were weak enough that she could handle them on her own. She could finally stand on her own two feet and win a round without her guardian angel. But as far as I can tell her purpose is to be useless and a liability. I know sometimes it is asking too much Japan but could we turn the misogyny down to a manageable 6 or 7 as opposed to the 11 where you normally have it.

Picked up Dragon Eye volume 5 as soon as I could. This book is mostly transitional, we just came off an intense battle and a lot of plot from the last couple of books. We are moving toward a tournament, but the end of the book boasts an awesome confrontation in the coming chapters. My only qualm about it is Issa is currently injured so I’m not sure how the fight will play out or if even if it will get a good momentum before it is over. In any case, I am certainly looking forward to it.

Banana Fish is like baby’s first BL. It has all the homosexual tension of your favorite BL work but none of the graphic nature of anything but the tamest works. I can definitely see why this did so well in Japan. It has a good mixture of action, political intrigue, and melodrama. It’s BL romance mixed with a seinen thriller. I do have two criticisms though. The first is that the author certainly researched New York City but never lived here. I am sure the average Japanese person did not notice anything but I know people like to complain about it here in the States. It was amusing but nothing that made me not want to read anymore. Also Ash Lynx is a huge Mary Sue at times. He is super beautiful, genius IQ smart, and good at EVERYTHING that counts. Ash got a score of 171 when I put him into the Universal Mary Sue Litmus test.

Continuing to play Final Fantasy Tactics Advanced 2 and atleast a real plot has now appeared. We moved on from the “The book wants you to fill it up and then you can go home” plot. Still not bonded with my main character though. But I’m willing to still keep going besides more characters will be appearing as well. The game play continues to be awesome and I can’t stop playing! I get very obsessive about mastering new abilities and getting new jobs! I do have to complain that it is endlessly annoying to have people want to join your clan but they have not learned any abilities or skills. They are level 27 but know nothing? Interesting.

That’s it for this week’s investigations! Look for a new case file every Friday!

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Ongoing Investigations: Case #001

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I have been eating up Daughter of Twenty Faces every week. I anxiously await the next episode and I love that feeling. I was really happy to hear DoTF was given a 26 episode run after initially having only 13. Being a lover of detective fiction, it is not hard to imagine me glomming onto this show. However, the show is also really good! Albeit over the top but I think that is what is so exciting, it wraps all things detective into it but still manages to surprise you. Episodes nine and ten start to establish some of the stuff we see in the opening and ending. I have a bit of theory and am curious if it is true. Detective stories constantly have red herrings so it’ll be interesting to see this play out.

Finally watched the last episode of Tower of Druaga. I have to say, this series turned out to be pretty good. Finally some decent fantasy anime. I was glad we didn’t get some huge information dump in this last episode, just the end of an arc. I am definitely looking forward to the next season. And it was a good experiment by Gonzo, the whole coming out at the same time as the Japanese. I was really happy with the results.

Watched the finale of Zettai Kareshi (Absolute Boyfriend). This live action comedy/drama is loosely based on the Yuu Watase work of the same name. With all the changes that were made to the story I was surprised, pleasantly, how close the ending came to the original as far as feelings. I was unhappy with a few of the middle episodes, but I liked the approach they took of showing Night becoming human (and Riko realizing it) slowly where in the manga I never really thought of him as anything but. Overall, it’s a cute series for women.

I watched the American live action Fist of the North Star movie. It is mostly a retelling of the first part of Hokuto no Ken, Kenshiro’s fight with Shin. It is definitely a silly movie but it really seems that it wants to reproduce what makes Hokuto no Ken such a popular franchise world wide. Lots of the story details are correct but it seems to miss the spirit overall. It does not help that when ever Kenshiro does his signature moves they come off more silly than fearsome. It’s oddly enough a fun movie if you just want a cheesy martial arts film but a blasphemy if you want the definitive live action Hokuto no Ken.

Also watched the last four episodes of Sexy Voice and Robo another live action comedy/drama. It is also loosely based on an unfinished seinen manga. I originally picked this up because Kenichi Matsuyama plays Robo, you may know him as L. Sexy Voice and Robo investigate weird occurrences but they always end up helping people. It was a lot of fun but also always had a little moral or something in it. It has a hopeful vibe and Niko (Sexy Voice) our 14-year-old protagonist can sometimes be profound.

I watched all of Karin recently. I was in the mood for a light romantic comedy and Karin fit the bill. It’s definitely a shonen romance series, but I can see why it has found a fan following among girls in the U.S. If you add in vampires to anything you have to go out of your way to turn off girls. It can be done but you have to try pretty hard. I am looking at you Rosario + Vampire. I liked Karin and Kenta and the rest of the side cast was amusing. Karin being a blood making vampire is certainly inventive as well. I like how vampires work in the Karin universe. The fact that vampires in Karin drain emotions along with blood is a novel approach to the vampire mythos while still being conducive for comedy. The only thing I have to bringing up is that the vampire hunter’s costumes in this series have to be the goofiest thing on Gackt Camui’s green earth. I know this is a comedy but seriously.

Read the first book of Goong, a very popular manhwa. A prince has to marry a commoner who his grandfather made a promise to. Neither of them are too happy with the idea. Can’t say I’m all that impressed as of yet but it has left me curious enough to pick up atleast the next volume. It has potential. Though no one really captured my attention. The art is only great on occasion, though I know it is long running so that can change. I have been on a shojo romance hiatus for a while so maybe I just wasn’t ready for another foray yet.

I just read book ten of Eden: It’s an Endless World! and Hiroki Endo is more than willing to kill off characters. Every time I think that a character can’t be killed, Hiroki Endo proves me wrong and murders them in epic fashion. Hiroki Endo is also a genius because he will often put a character in several near fatal situations and have them pull though before ultimately killing them. This means you never know if a character is just in a tight situation or they going to meet their maker. All too often you are not worried about characters because you have a good idea of who is going to live and who is going to die. Eden makes sure every book is tense because you have no guarantees anyone lives. I highly recommend everyone try this series because it’s not doing that well but it should be. It’s a gritty cyberpunk series with a good mix of action, sex, and gnostic symbolisms. It should be flying off the shelves.

Picked up Final Fantasy Tactics Advanced 2 and have barely put it down. I loved the original so I am glad to have more with a bit of an updated system, new races, and some new jobs. The laws don’t have the crazy consequences of the first and also as long as you play within the law your clan gets different bonuses. Oh and for anyone that thought the first game was too easy, this one has a difficulty setting. Haven’t gotten into the plot much yet, got sucked into the Ivalice world and am now looking for a mage to help me figure out how to get home. Not sure if I love the main character yet ( I love you Marche!) but I don’t by any means dislike him. And Adelle is nowhere near as cool as Ritz. I am hoping these characters grow on me.

That’s it for this week’s investigation. Look for new ongoing investigations every Friday!

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Diamonds in the Sea of Porn

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Japan is full of video games. Okay…it’s full of hentai games. Whole stores devoted to the genre of dating games. They pour forth from game studios like liquid money. This just has not caught on in America yet. I wonder why?

Well in Japan’s defense it’s the computer game market that is 90% hentai games. The console game market has all types of games to play. As for why hentai games have not caught on in the US that is a topic for another day.

There are also a plethora of video games based on popular anime series. They aren’t always good and they aren’t even always fun but you have to admit to be at least a little curious.

I think games based on anime are subject to Sturgeon’s Law just like anything else. They also suffer from the fact that like video games based on movies they tend to spit some of them out the door just based on the fact that no matter how bad the game is some people will buy it because you slapped a popular character’s skin over your mediocre game. Then again I’m slightly guilty. I think I would buy anything with Galaxy Angels or One Piece slapped on the cover.

Speaking of Galaxy Angel … I want the Galaxy Angel games. I need the Galaxy Angel games like a Fujoshi needs Yaoi doujinshi. The Galaxy Angel games are a mixture of Dating Sim and Flight Sim that make an Awesome Sim. The first trilogy of games revolves the Moon Angel Troupe and their attempts to protect the Transbaal Empire from a series of threats. During the flight sim part of the game you command the Galaxy Angel’s Emblem Frames (spacecraft) in real time strategy fashion. In-between the fights you can make decisions to decide which of the Galaxy Angel’s you court during the game. The characters are sort of dating game stereotypes but they are all pretty fun. There is also Galaxy Angel II in which you are in charge of the Rune Angel Troupe. There is one game in the Galaxy Angel II series and a second game should be out at the end of the year.

I truly believe that Hisui would kill for the Galaxy Angel games, as long as Hisui could still play them in prison.

Sakura Wars is a similarly type of game. Instead of spacecraft you fight in Steam Punkmecha in the Taisho period. The are 5 games in the main series and a bunch of spin off games. The games are set in an alternate time line where demons threaten the earth and only spiritually powered mecha can effectually fight the demons. The series starts in Japan but moves to Paris and America. The game also has the dating game in between the tactical battles just like in Galaxy Angel. I’m a little less knowledgeable about the Sakura War games than the Galaxy Angel games but they both seem a decent bridge between traditional straight up dating games and action games.

The NANA games. That is right, games…plural! Three to be exact. One for PS2, one for PSP, and the newest one is for Nintendo DS. The PS2 one you are the neighbor of 707 and you have to make friends with the gang. Really nice visuals and what not. This was also the first one to come out. Then there’s the PSP one which I would never be able to get but would be fun! It is all cell-shaded and cute. You can play as any of the characters or make your own. You just go through a game of chance with your life really using a board-game system. Never knowing what will happen day to day. I couldn’t find anything about the DS game but I’m thinking it’s a music game! Part of the title is Live Staff. I would be most interested in that one if that is indeed what it is. It’s a perfect match for the series to keep the band goingand get gigs and do well. Of course all of these games really depend on you knowing the characters and caring about them already. But even if the anime does do well here in the states, I still don’t see these games coming out.

There was a super cool Utena game for the Sega Saturn. It was made with the director of the Utena TV series, Kunihiko Ikuhara. You play as the original character who gets involved with the student council between the Student Council arc and the Black Rose arc (in fact one of the endings causes the main character to start the Black Rose arc). It’s a visual novel so it mostly plays like an animated choose your own adventure (basically a non-romantic dating game). It looks really cool because the animation seems to be on par with the TV show, there are some interesting new characters, and there are even new duel songs. I think the opening sums this game up pretty well.

I actually have this game, but I don’t however have a working Sega Saturn…

Cowoby Bebop: Tsuioku no Yakyoku which was supposedly going to be released in the U.S. but since has disappeared from the radar. Looked great and it was Bebop. Bebop sort of lends itself to having all kinds of adventures written in between. Always bounties to be had that we never saw. This game seems like an actual adventure as opposed to the flight-sim that was released for PS1.

If I remember correctly although it was a pretty game the game play was rather repetitive side-scrolling beatem up.

Slayers also had a few video games that I think might have done well if the came out in the US when Slayers was popular in the US. Slayers Royal 1&2 seem to be visual novels like Utena. They seem like a treat for Slayers fans if for nothing else they have Gourry and Naga finally meet up. These are sort of the lost episodes.

Was always curious about the Record of Lodoss War PC games released in the early 90’s. Obviously, like with most older PC games the graphics and playability aren’t going to stand up to the test of time. However, it would probably still hold the magic of the series with it and I love the nostalgia value of things.

I remember the Record of Lodoss War for the Dreamcast being full of awesome and win for a Diablo clone.

Kekkaishi, can I just say I love this show, for DS and Wii. I might actually import the DS game since I think I could get through it alright. Obviously, you play as a Kekkaishi, Yoshi or Tokine, and you draw boxes and capture ayakashi! As you go on you learn other skills, like the rope, to help you capture more spirit beings. It seems to be a simple game but since its a show I like , I think it could be lots of fun especially the Wii version since you really get to do the movements.

There are rumblings about a Trigun video gamebeing developed. It’s probably playing poker in the back room with the Trigun movie rumblings.

Sounds like Vaporware to me. Prove me wrong Japan. Prove me wrong.

D.Gray Man action/adventure game for the Nintendo DS. You play as Allen and go on missions. You gather information, talk to people, and do a bit of fighting as well. As far I can tell, you don’t get to play as other characters, like Kanda or Krory, but they do show up to help out on missions. This actually has a possibility of getting released, I think, if the anime gets licensed. It is a Shonen Jump title after all.

And speaking of Shonen Jump I would love to play more of the One Piece games. The One Piece game for the Wii seem like a fun little action RPG where you get to switch between Strawhats on the fly during fights. There is talk that this game might come to the US but I have seen nothing definite. One Piece: Gear Spirit seems like a fun little fighting game for the DS. In fact I think I’m going to import this one as I’m writing this. There were also two RPGs for One Piece released for the Gameboy Advanced. These could be fun if they were translated.

Basically it just comes down to more Nami = good.

I also hear that Narutaki maybe likes possibly seeing more Zoro.

Or more Nami and Zoro together!

Speaking of Viz, they have this little ole series called Death Note. No one really likes this series but a few of us. It has two games for the DS. I really am only interested in the first one, Death Note: Kira Gemu. Since the first one is about the first part of the manga and the second is the later half. In it you can either be L or Kira and you are trying to investigate to prove who is L or Kira. As long as I get to be L, the hell with everything else, sounds good to me!

The Ultimate team up of Viz titles would be importing the Jump Super Stars and Jump Ultimate Stars games. They are basically Super Smash Brothersgames with Shonen Jump Characters instead of Nintendo Characters but Super Smash Brothers. But Super Smash Brothers is just super fun no matter what the characters are. Plus you can use Allen Walker and L from Death Note to take down Naruto.

Enix made a Violinist of Hameln game for the SNES. Of course, if I really had my choice this anime would be licensed! Anyway, the game is very strange but sounds fun. You are Hamel who can jump and shoot musical notes but you also have Flute to break through walls, as a stepping stone, or dress her up so she can have special abilities! The graphics are very cute, in the lovely 2D SNES way.

Super Robot Wars is one of those game series that people may really want but will never come over due to licensing issues. Atlas brought over the Original Generation series which was fun but they did not get the main series of SRW. The SRW are turn based strategy games like Final Fantasy Tactics but all the troops are robots from every mecha show from Japan you could ever think of. Want to see Evangelions fighting next to Gundams against the GaoGaiGar and SDF-1 Macross? Well that’s par the course in Super Robot Wars. Plus the games are filled in in-jokes, subtle references, and fan service in a way that would make most mecha otaku weep with joy.

Oh, and in Lovely Complex, Risa plays a dating game which she gets very attached to. I’d totally play that, if for nothing else because her moments in the show are so hilarious. CAIN-SAMA! But there is actually a Love*Com adventure game for PS2 which came out last year. I can’t, however, find out anything about it so it shall remain a mystery. I would so play it though.

No Japanese game list would be complete without at least one henati game. But why stop at one. Type-Moon makes both Tsukihime and Fate Stay/Night. Both games have H content but they are mainly plot heavy so there is an actual story to tell. It’s just a story that has sex in it. There are also a bunch of side story and sequel games to both games.

It’s always intersting to see the range of hentai games. From one button click that literally says “DO IT!” to the barely present sex in Type-Moon games.

Tsukihime is the story of Shiki Tohno a boy who can see the “lines of death” of all things. By tracing these lines he can destroy anything by breaking it on it’s weakest points. He wind up killing a vampire who hunts other vampires named Arcueid Brunestud due to some strange impulse he cannot control. But it turns out that Arcueid is not dead and makes Shiki help her in her in her hunt for vampires. Tsukihime also has a rather cool fighting game based on it called Melty Blood.

Fate/Stay Night is the story of the 5th Holy Grail War. Whoever obtains the grail is granted their hearts desire. Wizards some heroes of the past to fight along side them to determine who shall win the Holy Grail. Shiro Emiya has almost no talent for sorcery but is pulled into the war due to his unknowing involvement as a child in the last Holy Grail War.

In all reality, most of these games won’t ever see the state side. As can be illustrated with certain anime, many Japanese businesses don’t understand that niche games, as a lot of these are, would probably sell under 1000 copies. That totally sucks because I think a lot of these games would hold a place in the hearts of a few and do modestly well.

Narutaki Currently!
Watching Kekkaishi
Reading Ruroni Kensin: Voyage to the Moon World novel
Listening to FREENOTE

Brainwasher Detective (Hisui) Currently:
Watching Gao Gai Gar

Reading One Piece 10th ANNIVERSARY~ DON! 10th Treasure Book

Listening to To The Center Of the Sun by Bivattchee