Click here to view the embedded video.

   I don’t know about anyone else, but I’ve always had a special place in my heart for Nintendo. Most of us grew up with their games right? Well Nintendo is still around, but aren’t seen in the same light, mostly because their games are not as “hardcore” as other systems. However, before did it really matter how hardcore the game was? Or was it about if you had fun or not? Hopefully the latter, cause that’s why we all like playing games; because they’re fun!

Recently, Nintendo uploaded a new Nintendo Direct. It featured some of the newest games coming to Wii U and 3DS. If you’re interested in all the juicy details, you can take the time to watch the video, but I would like to point out a few things that seemed pretty interesting.

 Animal Crossing New Leaf

Click here to view the embedded video.

   I spent many hours playing Animal Crossing as a child. The game was the perfect fantasy life, but I was pretty disappointed when the second and third titles were released. Each one seemed less appealing than the first as features continued to disappear. We lost holidays and events, the island, and other additions beloved by gamers. Well, this Animal Crossing has brought everything back…and more!

   We didn’t get to hear much about New Leaf in the most recent Nintendo Direct, but no worries. If you’re interested in the additions, videos are easily found on YouTube. Many westerners picked up the game early, disregarding the complete Japanese text. Others have been waiting for the English release, coming June 9. As a bonus, owners with the Western copies will have the chance to download Nintendo designed houses.

                For curious ones, here’s a few of the newer features.

• Nook’s Homes: A real estate agency. It is managed by Tom Nook and run by Lyle.
• Re-Tail: A recycling store which buys items at 20% higher than Nook’s old stores in previous games. Reese and Cyrus run it.
• Kicks: A footwear store owned and run by Kicks. It sells shoes, socks and other footwear. It is an improvement on Kicks’ old trade of shining shoes in the City in City Folk.
• Gardening Store: A gardening store run by Leif. It sells flowers, saplings, axes and watering cans.
• Club LOL: An entertainment venue. It is run by Dr. Shrunk, who is now retired. K.K. Slider performs here by playing his songs or as a DJ. The player can also learn emotions from Dr. Shrunk.
• The island is back!
• Houses can now be customized to a further extent than before.
• Players now have the  power to customize their village’s landscape.
• Villagers are more diverse.

Legend of Zelda Oracle of Ages/Seasons

   As another signature title, the older Legend of Zelda games are back in action. Players will be able to enjoy Legend of Zelda Oracles of Ages and Oracle of Seasons on the go. These two games hit the Nintendo Eshop for 4.99 on May 30. Sounds like a reasonable price right?  They even have new features, such as connectivity between the two games and a new final boss.

                Even if  you’re not a Zelda fan, these two are a great way to get into the series.

Click here to view the embedded video.

Sonic: Lost World

Would be great for wallpaper.

   Sonic was given a brief mention during Nintendo Direct, along with an ominous image. From the picture, it looks like Sega is sticking with Sonic and Tails for this one, just like the recent game, Sonic Colors.

   Sadly for owners of PS3 or Xbox 360, this game is looking at a 3DS and Wii U release only. We can look forward to hearing more about the game during E3.

   What do you think? Are you excited for the new announcements, or disappointed? What do you expect to see at E3? 

    I noticed there was a lack of Massively Multiplayer Online Role-Playing Games (MMORPGs or MMOS) on the site, so I thought a post would be ideal. I’ve been playing a new MMO, and it’s quite good. It’s called Rusty Hearts, labeled as the fastest free action MMORPG.‎

Click here to view the embedded video.

So what’s this game about?

    The game takes place in Europe, after the devastation of black plague. The characters are in a special force known as the Hermetic Association of the Golden Seal, a unification of small rebel groups to fight against Lord Vlad’s vampire army. To sum it up, there’s this evil guy who is a vampire. He ended up declaring war on the humans and half-breeds. You’re fighting a war against him.

The story seems somewhat generic, but as you progress in the game it begins to develop more depth. The long cut scenes scattered throughout the game are quite interesting, but if you’re in a hurry you can always turn them off in the settings. Oddly the characters stand out; each NPC has a unique personality. Unlike normal NPCs they aren’t your normal robots, the dialogue is filled with humor and comedy.

Typical story cutscene.

The characters include four main playable characters with more as skins. They all can wield different types of weapons: swords, axes, twin swords, etc. Each starts off with a basic look, but can be customized with skins bought from the fashion shop. Luckily the fashion shop requires only in-game currency.

Gameplay

Running a dungeon with Frantz.

   Rusty Hearts is a hack and slasher. Players have one attack button, a guard button, and a grab. You can mash the heck out of the attack key, and still live. In the later levels, it gets a bit harder and if you aren’t careful you’ll die.

Skills are also present in the game and they differ for each character. Players run dungeons like any other MMO, some which are beautifully tied into the story. The game is even controller compatible, so you can hook up your PS3 or Xbox controller.

After reaching level 20 in game you can focus change. What is a focus change? It’s known as job advancement. To start, each character is able to use three weapons.  Until reaching level 20 you are able to switch weapons at will. When you focus change you lose this privilege, and you’re stuck with a single weapon. Each one has its own pros and cons, but you’re it’s companion for life. After focus change the gameplay increases in difficulty and the action is increased. Your character even gets a boost, gaining new skills and combos. Even old skills are redone and usable with new effects.

Angela with her focus change weapon.

The skins or clones are equivalent to those present in the game Smash Bros. Melee.  The clones act like Fox and Falco, Marth and Roy, Link and Young Link, etc. They share movesets/skillsets, but possess small differences. Each character clone has their own personality.

Even though the game starts at a slow pace, the combat is still fluid and action packed. The slow start can be a turn off to some gamers, but for others it’s just the calm before the storm.  The first dungeons were painfully easy depending on the character, and for others I faced greater difficulty. (For example, when using the character Natasha, I had a harder time fighting. She has little hitsun and performs poorly against the mobs. The constant need to reload ammunition was a slightly realistic touch, but somewhat annoying.) Just pick your fancy, as with Angie I had an easy time at the start, clearing dungeons without taking a hit.

Be prepared to do quite a bit of walking in the game, as there’s no such thing as a mount or faster way of transportation. It’s somewhat annoying, but it’s not that big of a deal. Another unique feature is item weight. The more items you have in your bag, the more you weigh, simple as that. Only problem is, the more you weigh the slower your character moves. Surprisingly it’s not that big of a deal; the movement speed reduction isn’t very noticeable, but if you’re a pack rat like me you might feel pressured by the system.

The four main characters.

Pros

Fast, fluid gameplay

Interactive dungeons

Interesting characters, some generic with a twist

Intriguing story

Low learning curve

Small community

Multiple servers

Unique fighting system

Wide selection of weapons

Free, with premium features

Fashion shop clothes can be purchased with game currency

Anime Styled Graphics

Game runs fast

Humor

Cons

Launcher problems

Walking everywhere

Hard to find parties

Character bugs

Frequent spelling and grammar errors

Voice acting could be better

Lack of servers outside U.S. and Europe

Artwork changes

Slow loading at times

Overall

   Disregarding minor bugs and loading problems, the game is great. It’s extremely addicting and the characters are quite interesting. The dark scenery of the game provides an ominous feeling, and the killer soundtrack is one of the best I’ve heard in a while. Try it out, you might enjoy yourself.

Gaming is more than the simple mashing of buttons. It is an art form; the same as novels, movies, and other forms of media. It tells a story with the player right in the action. Other forms of media have the viewer as the audience. You do not have control of what happens in the story; you are simply watching it unfold. Gaming is one of the few ways to actually become part of that fantasy, to make it your own reality.

Yet still the uneducated will continue to think that we are wasting our time. The ignorant will believe that gaming is a sin, something that makes you less of a person. Sadly, these types of people will always exist. There’s not much you can do about them, except move on.

With today’s technology, players can connect with others throughout the world. It’s not your usual basement dwelling; gamers are actually more social than studies show. These online interactions have provoked changes in gamers. The art is more emotional than ever before, as other players are now involved in your experience.

Can you spot the references?

So what does this mean? Well, let me start with a single game style; the fighting genre. I’m sure not everyone has experience with this type, but I’ll try to summarize. With fighting games, you’re own your own. You’re locked up in a 2D or 3D plain, with an opponent in front of you. You then fight until one side’s health reaches zero or until another condition is met. That’s all there is to it, pretty simple right?

BlazBlue Chrono Phantasma

Well, it’s not really that effortless. There’s a lot of factors in a fighting game; what character to chose, the stage you’re playing on, the music, the combos you dish out on your opponent… the list could go on. All these have a certain effect on the player; they feel something when they play. Have you ever felt something like that?

There’s that nail-biting sensation that pops up when you’re on the verge of a lost. Your mind is clouded with numerous practiced strategies and combos you’ve rehearsed in training mode. You feel apprehensive as your opponent’s health falls. There’s one that everyone knows; the crushing emotion that hits you after you suffer a devastating loss, and the feeling of pride and confidence after securing the win. That’s right, emotion; we’re not just mashing buttons aimlessly.

It even get’s more technical than that, combos are just the building blocks. What good are building blocks if you can’t lay down the foundation? There are a few names we use to describe these actions and mannerisms one picks up as they play. Instead of creating a list I’ll just direct you here if you’re curious.

3D Fighter, Soul Calibur V

You’re probably thinking, “What about people who don’t play fighting games.” Don’t worry, you aren’t alone.  The concepts above can easily apply to any genre, as gamers feel emotion no matter what they’re playing. A FPS enthusiast could probably go on a monologue dealing with knifing and sniping techniques and how it depends on your mindset against your opponents.

It’s pretty clear that gaming is an emotional hobby, but why isn’t it being seen as so? Video games always take the heat when there is some form of murder or crime. However, there’s rarely any positive news on the subject. Why are games seen as negative, when they are technically more involving and emotional than other forms of art? Is the community to blame? What is the answer?

References

Grady, D. (2013, February 6). What the “zone” is -and how to stay in it!. Retrieved from http://formingfunc.com/blog/2013/2/6/what-the-zone-is-and-how-to-stay-in-it

James Madigan. (n.d.). Retrieved from http://www.psychologyofgames.com/

Hello everyone! I’m Rekari, but feel free to call me Reka for short. I’m currently an 18 year old student, entering college soon. I will be writing for Wan Abrar for the time being, posting editorials, anime reviews, game reviews, and maybe even some music. I’m what you call a jack of all trades, yet a master of none. Coming from my own blog, I’m what can be considered a Freelance Writer. Someday, I hope to make a career from my writing.

Aside from writing, I’m interested in Japanese culture. When I was in the sixth grade, I discovered anime for the first time. (not including things such as Pokémon, Yugioh, etc) Naruto was my first, like many others. I still love Naruto to this day! Vampire Knight came after, and with Verizon’s Funimation Channel, I began to watch anime every day.

Recently, I’ve taken a big interest in Vocaloid. If you’ve never heard any Vocaloid songs, I recommend heading over to YouTube right now. Miku is by far my favorite, with Luka following close behind. I can give a good list of songs to listen to, since most people get bad first impressions.

I like taking anime and manga to another level; looking at the symbolism and emotional themes behind the characters and plot. Some anime is all fun and games, but when you peel off the outer layer, you delve into beautiful writing. I believe some miss this part of anime, and it would be great to share this with them. In my opinion, every anime has some sort of story, contrary to people saying Ecchi and Harem genres don’t have much a plot. (They do you just have to put away your grains of salt!)

I can’t really think of anything else to include in this introduction, so I’ll just add a few fun facts for you guys to read.

• I like both English Dubs and Subs.
• I’m a violinist, played for 7 years or so.
• Novelist, currently working on two books.
• I like looking into Philosophy, wondering how the world works.
• Love almost all types of music, as long as it doesn’t have a bad meaning.
• Major fan of Yamada from B Gata H Kei (Why is there so little fan art of her?)

If you guys haven’t seen B Gata H Kei check it out now!

Woo hoo.

Busy finishing up the last of my exams. We’ll be back with more first impressions and episode thoughts soon! And hopefully with some anime reviews as well!

Buuut I’m getting a little too ahead of myself. I’ll see you guys again in a week! ^_^

Railgun is awesome. Railgun is ALWAYS awesome!
And my waifu.

I HAVE THE WEIRDEST BONER RIGHT NOW.

WOW, just like my first date :3

Brilliant deduction – 10 out of 10!

Time for some more Spring 2013 first impressions… IN GLORIOUS HD QUALITY!

These are fun to do by the way. ^_^

Click here to view the embedded video.

“Squid-Girl” anime except with 20% more fanservice-hyper-competent-Iron-Man-Merm­aid… IRON-MAID! OUR FANFIC ANIME CHARACTER SUGOI MOE SUPERHERO!!

Do not steal.

Click here to view the embedded video.

At last… the season I’ve been waiting for… Ore no Imouto ga Konnani Kawaii Wake ga Nai. WITH A PERIOD. The return of the best sister Kirino, and my waifu Kuroneko!!

I am soo hyped for this.

Man, can’t wait for finals to end. >_<

Guess who’s back? Bigger than ever! As University comes to a close, a new season of anime rises to meet the darkness once again!

“Kenta’s Commentaries” will be a new feature here on Wanabrar, joined by my siblings:

The Megaman of Numbers – my sarcastic, hilarious, and intellectually superior younger brother, who has a knack for commentaries. His walfas is the one with the helmet, Megabuster, and cape. He has a deeper voice than me, and sounds like a douche. XD

Mi – my lazy little sister who lives like a hermit crab (aka, a NEET). An overachiever who spends most of her days eating and sleeping. She hardly speaks; when she does, it’s usually a riot. Her walfas is the one with red overalls and a tanuki tail. ^_^

Now then, shall we begin? (Edit: I recommend full screen in HD so that you can read the subtitles better. Or go to Youtube to watch them.)

Click here to view the embedded video.

RED! BLUE! YELLOW! PINK! PURPLE!
POWER RANGERS GO!!

“Ginga Kikoutai Majestic Prince”, a mecha anime that’s friggin’ awesome!

Click here to view the embedded video.

HAAAAAAAAAAIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIR!! IT’S SO KINKY!! XD

An anime NOT MADE BY SHAFT that gave birth to a new fetish. That’s quite an achievement. ^_^

Click here to view the embedded video.

IT’S DIGIMON!! THE D-REAPER HAS RETURNED!! DX

Ladies and gentlemen; Anime of the year! At least I hope it’ll be.

Btw, I’ll be doing my thoughts on Devil Survivor 2 from here on out. Until next time! ^_^

I am back from oblivion and ready to start writing again for this site.  Where have I been?  Since January I have been living in rural Costa Rica going to school.  The internet sucks here, making it a little difficult to download/watch anime… So what is my plan?  I plan on doing some first impressions for this new anime season.  Not sure if I will do episodic posts about any series, depends if any impress me.  Problem is my Skype won’t work so I have no way to get in contact with Kenta.  So Kenta, I pose a question for you, what series if any do you plan on taking this season, I don’t want to steal anything you planned on reviewing!!! Anyway expect some posts soon from me!

I have returned like I promised! As this video shows, I’ll be starting video reviews and other interesting things from now – WITH WALFAS! Only here on Wanabrar (and Youtube :p)!

(Of course, I had to sacrifice some sleep just so I can finish this. T^T)

Expect another video sometime down the line this week.

Goodnight. Until next time…

Among University, midterms, the lack of studying due to my entire family getting ill with the flu (except my brother, that lucky bastard =_=), and more midterms, I’ve been either lazy or out of commission for the last 2 months. And it’s even worse with Rei’s busy life and Xana out of range, so the site’s been kinda dead lately. But never fear! I’m recovering, and I won’t let this season end without a bang! So, expect a comeback around the beginning of March! But for now, here’s a bit of entertainment to keep you all, uh… entertained.

*cough*

AMV: If Happy Ever After Did Exist

Click here to view the embedded video.

Not much I can say… other than it’s f**king brilliant. Not only is it well-crafted, but the song of choice encompasses the original film so well.

Draw With Me: I Love You

Click here to view the embedded video.

Okay, I know this isn’t exactly unpopular, and I swear this fandub had fewer views a week ago. But since I never heard of it until then, chances are that most of you haven’t, either. It’s cute, funny, and the animation is simply gorgeous to look at. The voices are also the best out of any I found on Youtube (it’s true!). Oh, and if you haven’t already, watch this video first; things will make alot more sense if you do.

Touhou PV – Snow Sound

Click here to view the embedded video.

And for all you Touhou fans out there, here’s something that’s surprisingly off the radar. Featuring the song Snow Sound by famous doujin circle FELT, this PV is a wonderful – if peaceful – story of the What Winter Left Behind. (see what I did there?)

Little Reimu

More Touhou!

From my personal opinion, Mazui is one of the best fansubbers out there. But not many agree, unfortunately. This is a movie made from a series of 8 manga-style Touhou videos that tell the (unofficial) backstory of Reimu when she was little. I’ll let you guys read Mazui’s post, since everything I could say has been said already.

That’s all for now, folks! Naptime…