Shinkan Crossing

C.Jin's All-Time Favorite Games: Part II

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Sun, 26 Jul 2015 15:00:00 +0000

I'm about to dig into ancient history here, but back in the day (a Tuesday), I made a post about my all-time favorite games. I was supposed to follow it up immediately with a part II, but I was like meh so I didn't. So, here we are, 5 years later. Here is part two of the list of my all-time favorite games.

I covered some of the more common and mainstream games in my first list, so I actually have a couple of less popular gems prepared for this one. What most of these games have in common is that I spent hundreds, and I mean hundreds of hours playing them. The gameplay absorbed me so deeply in the experience that at times, I found myself just standing around in the game's world so it wouldn't have to end. And that's what gaming is all about, right? Having fun? ...Right guys?

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Dragon's Dogma: Dark Arisen

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Metal Gear Solid 4 is an amazing game, right? And what about The Last of Us? A clear Game of the Year winner right there. So, what's my favorite PS3 game? Fucking Dragon's Dogma: Dark Arisen. It's hard to describe just how much I love this game, but let me tell you this. I spent over 200 hours completing the game, maxing out my character, and getting the Platinum trophy. Then a year later, I went back to the game because I was unhappy with how I built my character, so I started a new game and spent another 200 hours making the perfect Assassin.

And it wasn't just a grind, because Dark Arisen's main strength is in its gameplay. It probably has the most epic and exhilarating boss battles in the genre. As many have said, it's like a combination of Shadow of the Colossus and Dark Souls. Even if you think Skyrim and Dark Souls are better games overall, it's hard to deny that they're a few steps behind Dragon's Dogma in the giant dragon battle department.

Honestly though, I think this game is criminally underrated. I really believe Capcom had something here. They created an expansive world with intimidating monsters and a rich lore, and there's the potential for something even greater if the developers can polish some of the obvious faults the original game had. My only wish is that this IP gets enough fan support to warrant a sequel. So here's me doing my part: go buy this game if you haven't. It can be very challenging in the beginning, but if you have the patience (and the balls) to get over that initial hump, you'll be in for one of the most rewarding experiences you can find on the PS3/360.

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SNK vs. Capcom: Card Fighters Clash

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Caaard Fighterrrrs. This game is an absolute treat for me because of my long-time fandom of Capcom and SNK fighting games. It's basically a card-battling RPG, but with enough fighting game references to make you explode into blue and yellow confetti. If you're a fighting game fan as well, you'll probably love this game anyway, but it's the addictive card collecting element that will keep you playing for hours.

There are 300 unique cards to collect, with an equal division of Capcom and SNK character cards. You'll find familiar faces from games like Street Fighter, King of Fighters, Dark Stalkers, Fatal Fury, Mega Man, Resident Evil, Samurai Shodown, Last Blade, Metal Slug, and even Star Gladiator. Yeah that's right, STAR GLADIATOR.

It's plenty of fun bringing all of your favorite characters together, but that won't be the main focus in your collecting. You see, each card has specific stats and unique abilities, so your goal will be to build the most formidable and strategically balanced deck possible. Once you have the right combination of Akuma and Krauser cards, oh man. The satisfaction of mowing down opponents will be absolutely scrumptious. The card battles themselves are fast-paced and surprisingly fun, and they're layered with enough strategic depth to be appreciable by casuals and gamers alike.

Card Fighters Clash is a relatively unknown and under-rated game as well, but that's mostly due to the short lifespan of the Neo Geo Pocket. It's such a shame too, because this is probably the best game on that system. If you're not a big fighting game or SNK fan like me, you probably won't be able to justify buying a Neo Geo Pocket, but this game is such a charming work of art that I would recommend you play it through any means possible. And you know what I mean by "any means" >_>.

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Mega Man X
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You know, come to think of it, I'd have to say that Capcom is my favorite game developer overall. I hate what they've been doing lately, but back before the PS3 generation they were pumping out gold on a near constant basis. Resident Evil, Street Fighter, Onimusha, and Mega Man are some of my favorite franchises, and they all happen to be from Capcom. This next entry in particular is probably one of the best games that ever bore the Capcom logo.

Mega Man X is one of the only games I can play repeatedly, day after day, from start to finish in one sitting. It's near flawless in design, and that allows one to fly through it like a master at the keys of a piano. It never gets stale either, given that it's almost impossible not to fall in love with the fast-paced platforming and incredible soundtrack. It's...it's just gosh darn fun. It's what every video game is supposed to be!

This game is like the others on the list in that I've invested hundreds of hours in it, though not in the same fashion. Hundreds of hours have gone into repeated playthroughs, and that number is bound to go up as I continue to mash that Mega Man X cartridge into my SNES.

By the way, this game is one of my top 10 best SNES games of all time, so why don't you go check out some of the other games that share Mega Man X's throne?

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Animal Crossing: New Leaf
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New Leaf doesn't hold the record for the longest overall playtime (that belongs to Dark Arisen), but it does hold the record for the longest continued playthrough. I started playing when it came out in June of 2013, and I still check on my town occasionally, so that means I've been playing for over 2 years now.

Animal Crossing is just the kind of game I like to pour all my time into. I'm a bit obsessive compulsive, so everything about New Leaf appeals to me. I collected every piece of furniture, expanded my house completely, created a stylish wardrobe, and arranged an awesome house. I seriously spent so much time and effort getting the right items to create my ideal home; it's actually exactly how I want it, and I'm the kind of person that's never satisfied with anything.

A little preview of my living room

There's just so much to spend your time on in Animal Crossing, and New Leaf is probably the best in terms of content. It has more items, more buildings, more events, more features, and a new island area with its own unique set of flora and fauna. If you're not looking to spruce up your home, you can dig for fossils, interact with townsfolk, collect bugs, and participate in town events like the fishing competition.

New Years in Animal Crossing town~

This series has never been for everyone. But for those of you who love to find enjoyment in the little things, this game is basically relaxation incarnate. It's great to just fire it up in the morning and check how everything's going. You might want to tend to the weeds, or see what's for sale at Nook's. Speaking of which, I need to go check on my town...

Top 5 Shields in Gundam

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Tue, 21 Apr 2015 05:11:00 +0000

I've done the top 5 "big guns", and I've done melee weapons, so naturally it's time we moved on to shields. This one was a little harder to compile a list for because there are just so many shields; pretty much every mobile suit is equipped with one. Thus, I won't be looking as much into aesthetics or "significance" as I normally would. Instead, I'll be focusing on the shield's unique capabilities. "What sets it apart from other shields, and how effective are its unique features?" Also, I won't be counting barriers that are created via other armaments, like the Nu Gundam's fin funnels. This is a list specifically for handheld or wrist-mounted shields.

There were a ton of choices and I had to do a lot of leaving out, so I've even added an honorable mentions section for the shields that just barely missed the cut. If there's still something missing, give it a shout out in the comments section below! Anyhow, onward to the list~

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5. Gatling Shield (Gouf Custom)
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One could argue that the Gatling Shield is just a shield with a gatling gun attached to it, but technically every shield is just a shield with something extra on it. This intimidating piece of armament turns the Gouf Custom, which is specialized for close-range combat, into an absolute monster on the battlefield as it grants the mobile suit an incredible amount of firepower. It allows the Gouf to dominate the enemy no matter where it stands, and it can be detached at any point to increase the Gouf's mobility. Also, it's an enormous gatling gun attached to a shield. If you don't think this thing is immediately badass, well, I don't know what to tell you.

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4. Beam Shields (Victory Gundam and Seed Destiny)
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I've always been fond of beam shields; they're one of the more tangible instances in Gundam where you can clearly see an advance in technology. In Victory Gundam, beam shields are developed thanks to the smaller, more energy-efficient mobile suits of that era. They prove especially effective because, unlike I-Fields, they can defend against beam and conventional weaponry. They rely on energy-output rather than physical integrity to stay functional, and they can be activated in specific sections depending on where they need to be deployed. They're also a lot more powerful than regular shields, as evidenced by the Destiny Gundam's ability to block multiple exceptionally powerful beam shots at once.

Technical specs are enough to place the beam shield on this list, but it's the concept and elegance in design that push it over the top for me. The idea of a shield made entirely of beam energy, and the way it can phase in and out during battle, is just darn cool.

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3. NR-Sh-02-RX/S-00013 Shield (Gundam Physalis)
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So you're firing a nuclear warhead at close range, and you need to protect yourself from an instant fiery death? Well there's a shield for just that occasion. The NR-Sh-02-RX/S-00013 shield comes with a ridiculous amount of armor and a liquid nitrogen cooling system that's specifically designed to protect the Gundam Physalis from its own Atomic Bazooka. It's an absolute defensive juggernaut, and anything less than a superweapon would require careful planning to get through this thing. It loses a few points for being slightly cumbersome and for lacking any offensive capabilities, but it earns its place here with its pure, unmitigated stopping power.

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2. Divider (Gundam X Divider)
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The "Divider" is the Gundam X Divider's namesake, and probably the most versatile shield on this list. Initially, it's just a shield without any special defensive properties, but when it opens up...whooa! It's a "Beam Harmonica!" The Beam Harmonica is a series of 18 beam cannons hidden underneath the exterior shield. It replaces the Gundam X's Satellite Cannon, and while it's not nearly as powerful, it's still plenty capable of taking down an army of mobile suits on its own. It's also equipped with thrusters on either end that give the GX an impressive boost in speed and mobility. They allow the GX to hover when attached to its backpack, and they can even be used to thrust the GX forward when hand-held.

One might consider it a bit unorthodox, but I think it's one of the most unique designs in the entire metaseries. It's deserving of a spot near the top for being an impressive combination of offense, defense, and mobility, and for being the only shield on this list that's absolutely vital to its mobile suit's superiority on the battlefield.

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1. Shield w. I-Field Generator (Unicorn Gundam)
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The Unicorn's sleek, white shield looks rather ordinary at first glance, but this unassuming piece of U.C. technology is actually equipped with an advanced I-Field Generator that has the ability to deflect and nullify beam weaponry. It's also constructed with parts of the Unicorn's psycoframe, so a skilled Newtype pilot can move and manipulate it like an over-sized funnel. This allows for some savvy 360° defense, and it also turns the shield into a potent offensive weapon when equipped with the Full Armor Unicorn's gatling guns.

The shield's versatility is put on full display when Banagher uses a pair of them at once while piloting the FA Unicorn. He deflects particle beam shots at will without even moving an arm, and he sends both shields out to destroy distant targets in an instant. It does have a flaw in that it's somewhat vulnerable to conventional weaponry, but considering its myriad of capabilities (and the fact that the FA Unicorn has three of them), I don't think that would turn out to be too much of a problem.

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Honorable Mentions
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Trikeros (Blitz Gundam) - Unique combination of abilities, like darts and a beam rifle.
Buster Shield (Gundam Deathscythe) - Versatile. A melee weapon, a shield, and a projectile.
Crash Shield (Mercurius) - A shield with a beam saber inside. Very cool.

Check out my other Gundam Top 5 lists~

Wii U; Super Mario 3D World

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Sun, 19 Apr 2015 01:34:00 +0000

I'll admit; I haven't had a Nintendo home console in my possession since the Super Nintendo. I mostly grew up a Sony guy, and I still rely on the Playstation brand to bring me my gaming. That's why whenever people my age reminisce about how great the N64 and Gamecube were, I feel completely out of touch. It's not that I didn't like Nintendo; I just didn't grow up with it.

So I figured, "there's gotta be a reason why people love Nintendo so much." I mean, I do have a DS and 3DS, and the games on those handhelds are fantastic. So with the help of a little influence from a friend, I went out on a limb and bought a Wii U. I was aware of the limited game library at the moment, but I couldn't help but get drawn in by the quality of Nintendo's polish in 1080p.

Now, it's only been a week or so, but I'm completely in love. I love the console, I love the games, and I love the gamepad. I finally understand why people are always fawning over Nintendo's first party titles. I used to dismiss Mario games as being simplistic and childish, but I recently finished Super Mario 3D World and it was one of the most fulfilling and challenging experiences I've had with a video game in years.

Seriously, 3D World is absolutely amazing. It looks great, it plays great, it has a super-catchy soundtrack, and it's chock-full of content. It's incredible how they keep the Mario formula fresh despite the dozens of titles that have come out throughout the years. There were times when I was pulling my hair out in frustration and crying out in agony, but that's the sort of investment in a game that I haven't felt since I was a child. I'm not exaggerating when I say, this game brought back my childhood wonder for games.

Got all 380 stars, 80 stamps, and beat the Crown World.

It was ridiculously difficult, but was it worth it? Hell to the yes.

I also have the latest Super Smash Bros. (which is great as usual), and I'm looking to get games like Wind Waker HD and Bayonetta 2. There are even a few games I'm excited for in the future, like Yoshi's Wooly World and Fatal Frame 5. The Wii U's had a rocky start, but I sincerely hope that it picks up steam in the years to come. It has the potential for a whole lot of wonderful things, and it would be a massive shame for the gaming community if we let that go unrealized.

Fatal Frame III: The Tormented [Now Playing]

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Thu, 19 Mar 2015 05:01:00 +0000

I have a weird relationship with horror games. I really like horror theming and scary stories in general, but I'm also a candy-ass when it comes to actually playing horror games. Every playthrough is like a battle between my appreciation of the expertly crafted atmosphere and the shriveling that's occurring in my balls. In the end though, I do love playing them.

A particular favorite of mine is Fatal Frame III: The Tormented. This is a game I played a very long time ago, when I was in high school. At the time, I was merely trying to be done with it (because I was terrified) so I figured I'd give it a serious playthrough now that I've grown a few more chest hairs.

Much like when I first played this game, I was absolutely terrified. Every minute I spent in the "manor of sleep" was accompanied by tense muscles and irregular heartbeats, and every time the controller shook to signal the presence of a spirit, I hit the pause button and took a breath. It really does its job as a horror game, and it's quite honestly a solid video game in general.

The thing I appreciated most about this game was its graphical design. The manor of sleep, which is where you spend most of your time in the game, looks incredibly eerie, with its old Japanese styling, damp floors, tight hallways, and too-dark-to-see lighting. Even when there aren't any ghosts nearby, the environment manages to make you feel uneasy about just standing there.

The story and lore are also some of the most intriguing in the survival horror genre. I actually took the time to stop and read all of the diaries and texts that I collected throughout my playthrough because I felt like I was reading a horror story (and like I said, I love those).

Fans generally agree that the second Fatal Frame game is better, but I personally think the third game is just as good. If anything, it stands out as one of the better games in the genre. I'd really recommend giving it a play if you still have a PS2. Just make sure you're up for this kind of thing. I don't want to be responsible for any heart attacks.

Top 10 Final Fantasy Girls

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Tue, 26 Aug 2014 22:08:00 +0000

There's really no end to the amount of Final Fantasy top ten lists I can make, is there? This time, I'll be honoring the women of Final Fantasy and counting down the best female characters of all time. Now, before we start, I've got to make one thing clear: this is not a list based on appearances. I'm not making a ridiculous "sexiest girls in gaming" list.

Character design does factor into the placements, but the main thing I'll be looking into is their actual character. Are they well-written female personas? Are they appealing and likable in terms of personality? These are the questions I'll be asking as we run down the list. And of course, this is a list of my top 10 Final Fantasy girls, so if you have a different opinion, just share it in the comments below!

Now then, number ten...

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10. Agrias Oaks
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I seem to have a thing for strong female characters, so you're going to see a lot of them on this list. Agrias is the first in that series of strong women. She takes a strict no-nonsense attitude when on the job, and she's powerful to boot. I can't tell you how much I loved hitting multiple enemies with Stasis Sword. I don't know if it was her awesome design or her Holy Sword skills, but I couldn't help but stick with Agrias throughout my Tactics adventure.

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9. Aerith Gainsborough
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Aerith is one of the most popular FF girls, but to me she doesn't get anything higher than the 9 spot. Her main draw is definitely her positive attitude. She's gentle, bright, and reckless all at once. She's just the kind of fun person you'd want to spend your day with. But me? I couldn't help but get annoyed at times. I think the biggest thing that did it for me was the fact that you couldn't use her for very long. My favorite characters tend to grow on me as I play as them, but Aerith leaves the party rather early in the game. Perhaps if she stayed a permanent character, I would have a better impression of her. Still, she deserves a nod for her iconic role in gaming culture.

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8. Beatrix
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Strong girl number twooo. Beatrix isn't quite like the others, however, considering she's a powerful villain throughout most of FFIX. Her qualities include a great deal of elegance, poise, and a considerable amount of badassery that most of the other girls on this list don't have. Seriously, you fight her numerous times in the game and she just waits a little bit before unleashing a Climhazzard hell-storm that wipes out your entire party. I liked that her character developed as the story went on, and her romantic encounters with Steiner definitely showed a more human (and feminine) side of her. For me, that alone made her character so much more appealing.

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7. Lightning
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We immediately move on to strong girl number three. Let me just start by saying that I like Lightning primarily for her design. I love the way her scarf/cape flows in-game, her gunblade weapon is cool, and I'm a sucker for pink hair (strangely). Her overall look just flows very well and is very appealing. That being said, I'll admit that her personality can seem a bit flat at times. I immediately liked her tomboyish, stoic attitude, but her lack of character development really hurt her potential as XIII's main character. I did like her interactions with Hope; it showed a softer side to her, and she would have been infinitely more appealing if they continued with that. Too bad they chose to focus on Vanille's shrieking face instead.

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6. Ashe Dalmasca
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Here's strong girl number four. I've talked about how I didn't much care for the cast of FFXII, but looking back, I think I was mostly discontent with the game's "sort-of" protagonist Vaan. Balthier was obviously great, and Baasch had a really interesting character arc. But my favorite character out of the bunch was definitely Ashe, who seemed to fit the label of "main character" a lot better. She's incredibly young and the entire world seems to want her dead, but she pushes through with a sword-swinging resolution that would put most grown men to shame. I loved that confidence and strength, and I'm fond of her design as well, so putting Ashe on this list was a no-brainer.

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5. Garnet Til Alexandros XVII
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Garnet's development from a naive princess to the stouthearted warrior we see her as near the end of the game was undoubtedly a large part of the charm that made FFIX's story so endearing. She pulled me in from the very beginning, when it turned out that we didn't need to kidnap her, as she was already trying to get kidnapped by us. She was pretty much the anti-damsel in this regard, and I loved that about her. Obviously, it takes awhile for her to shake her naivete, but it was the steady progress that made playing through her story so worthwhile. That, and getting to tear ass with Bahamut...

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4. Tifa Lockhart
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Tifa definitely gets points for her design and for being the first Final Fantasy girl I ever played as, but she's so much more than just a nice pair of...eyes. She's cheerful, optimistic, and constantly looking out for others. She practically makes it her job to make sure everybody in Avalanche is in high spirits. That's gotta be demanding work when Cloud is moping around all the time and Barret is slamming tables and swearing for no reason. You'll never find her complaining about it, either, as she's plenty capable of running on walls and bashing in heads with her bare hands. She's a perfect mix of kickass and motherly, which is why I'd have to go ahead and call her the top 'strong girl' on this list.

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3. Yuna
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Yuna seems like she would be very good wife material. She's incredibly sincere, caring, loyal to all of her companions, and selfless to a level that most people couldn't even compare to. Her qualities give her a sort of magnetism that leads crowds of people to admire her like a queen. I guess that comes with being a summoner, which (spoiler alert) is basically a job that ends in self-sacrifice. When I found out about this plot-twist near the end of FFX, I quickly saw Yuna in a new light. Any person that has the strength and will to take on such a huge responsibility before turning 18 is definitely worth admiring. FFX-2 may have messed up her character a bit, but let's remember Yuna as she was in the original game. You know, before she became a boy-obsessed pop idol.

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2. Rydia
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The entire cast of FFIV faces tragedy at some point during the story, but none of the characters pull through with quite as much style and indomitability as Rydia. She's a mere 7 year old girl when she loses her mother and her entire village to a fire bomb attack. This obviously devastates her at first, but she's able to gather herself quickly enough to scold a grown man for weeping over his deceased lover just moments later (the balls on this girl). Then, during a later portion of the game, she is thrown off a boat and swallowed by Leviathan. We assume that she's been lost forever, but this merely sets her up for a moment of badassery where she comes back as a fully grown woman to save our asses from certain death. I won't be explaining how that happens; the allure of Rydia's resilience is best experienced through your own playthrough of FFIV after all.

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1. Terra Branford
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To me, Terra has always been the best female character in the Final Fantasy series. She's powerful, fun to play as, and her story is incredibly endearing as she essentially takes the lead role in FFVI. Her story is one of alienation and loneliness. She's the only one of her kind (half human, half Esper) and she's torn between two worlds that fear and despise each other. A badly written female character would have laid back and let a hero come to her rescue, but FFVI's amazing story is all about Terra's struggle towards finding purpose in a world that would either have her exploited or dead.

She falters towards the end of story when the world is torn asunder by Kefka's wrath, but she drags her own defeated body through the mud and finds purpose in the love she has for a group of orphaned children. See? No cliche romance here. Just an incredibly enthralling battle that has Terra defeat Kefka, save all her allies, and finally gain freedom. She represents the pinnacle of female characterization in Final Fantasy and she's my absolute favorite character to play as on this list, so there's really no doubt in my mind that Terra earns her spot here as Final Fantasy's number one heroine.

The End of Mobile Suit Gundam Unicorn

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Thu, 12 Jun 2014 00:15:00 +0000

**Spoilers Ahead**

I finally got around to concluding the Unicorn OVA with a viewing of Vol. 7 - "Over the Rainbow". It was almost surreal to me that the years went by so fast, considering how long we had to wait between 7 different episodes. The final episode wasn't exactly how I pictured it, but I believe it was a fitting end to one of the best animated Gundam productions ever.

I was getting intense flashes of nostalgia throughout the episode because of its numerous references to the history of UC Gundam. The most notable moment, in particular, was the appearance of Lala and Char (and Amuro as well?). It was honestly gut-wrenching, seeing the heroes of decades past in spirit form. It was like seeing old friends again, but it came with a touch of sadness since it confirmed to me that Amuro and Char had indeed passed on to another existence.

Long time, no see

The entire episode felt like a wrapping up of the decades worth of Universal Century lore. It had the look of an anniversary or a celebration, with the franchise culminating in one of the most impressive and well-produced animations in recent memory. Seriously, those flashbacks of Chars Counterattack and the One Year War? And Banagher's epic conclusion with Full Frontal's Zeong-esque mobile weapon? Gundam gold, my friends.

I don't know what the general fan consensus is, but I sincerely do not care. I had a blast watching this OVA, and I think it will go down as one of the best in the series. Now, if we could just get a full length series like it...

Sony Trinitron KV-27FV310

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Sun, 25 May 2014 06:32:00 +0000

A Link to the Past, muthafackas

When I first started my gaming collection a few months back, I had to hook up my SNES to an HDTV. Needless to say, I had a bad time. It looked plain awful. So I went on the web and did some searching, and found out that the best way to play retro games is through a CRT TV. But not just any CRT will cut it. Apparently, the best CRT's were made by Sony and Mitsubishi, with Sony's "Trinitron" product line being much more common. Thus, I made it my mission to find the perfect Sony Trinitron TV.

The KV-27FS100 and KV-27FV16

What followed was a series of awkward, back-breaking journeys to random people's houses. I had to scour Craigslist, which is basically the place to look for old furniture, and call up strangers to set up risky appointments. I also had to find a friend willing to carry 100 lbs up some stairs with me each time I got a new TV (I have 3 in total). It was brutal, but it was well worth it.

My first TV, and the TV I used for the longest time, was the KV-27FS100. It's one of the most common Trinitron's out there, and it actually gets the job done quite well. The FS100, and the slightly newer FS120, are the models to get if you can't find the rarer (and better) models. I also grabbed the KV-27FV16 on my second journey. This was mostly the result of me not knowing what I was looking for, since the FV16 is a much older model.

My crown jewel, the KV-27FV310

I was going to stick with the FS100, but there was a convergence issue at the bottom of the screen that just wouldn't leave my OCD alone, so I found myself scouring Craigslist once again. That's when I found it; the TV many gamers consider the best CRT ever made: the FV310. The FV310 is one of the last Trinitron models that Sony made before switching over to HD TV's, so naturally it's a combination of the best features. It has more s-video and component ports than the FS100, and it has ridiculously good speakers. The bloody thing has subwoofers!

I grew to love this thing, and consider it the most important part of my gaming collection. A classic gaming console is useless without a proper TV to display its graphics, after all. My Trinitron journey ended here, as I've been using it ever since, so here's to hoping that my TV lasts me a long time. God knows I can't fit any more CRT's in my storage closet.

Yoshiyuki Tomino Directing New Anime 'Gundam: G no Reconguista'

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Wed, 07 May 2014 21:26:00 +0000

Boom! Big announcement! Yoshiyuki Tomino, the man who created the Gundam franchise, is directing a new Gundam series! It's called Gundam: G no Reconguista, and it's set to air in the fall of 2014. Man, I'm always in for a surprise when I visit Gundam Guy every couple of months. Speaking of which, go to GG for the original article.

Now, here's the kicker though. At the 'Mobile Suit Gundam 35th Anniversary' event where Tomino announced this, he apparently stated that this new anime won't be the nectar that UC fans have been thirsty for. In fact, it'll be aimed towards children. I'm feelin' that deja vu...

I've made a fuss of this before because the last two Gundam series were also aimed at children. Looks like we'll be getting more of the same. I guess I'm kind of tired of caring anymore. Gundam Unicorn has been more than enough for me, and I'm honestly kind of excited for this since Tomino is directing it. I'm predicting that it'll be one of his light-hearted shows as opposed to his "kill em all" shows (I'd much prefer the latter).

As usual, we'll see how it goes. I skipped AGE and Build Fighters, but that's mainly because I hardly ever watch anime these days. Maybe this one will different. I dunno, what do you think?

Top 10 SNES Games of All Time

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Tue, 06 May 2014 06:49:00 +0000

The Super Nintendo, or SNES, is my favorite video game console of all time. It's home to such an expansive library of incredible, timeless games that I wouldn't even hesitate to call it the greatest video game console. I think part of what makes it so great is its place in time. It was the pinnacle of sprite-based, 2D gaming. While the following generation had sprite-based games as well, they were too busy experimenting with primitive 3D graphics to give the kind of sophisticated polish the SNES gave to all its games.

This is going to be difficult, as there are so many great games, but I'm going to try my best to list the top ten SNES games of all time. The games I chose were at the top of their genres when they came out, and are still worthy of picking up and playing to this very day. As usual, note that these are just my opinions, so if you want to share your own top ten list, go ahead and let me know in the comments!

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10. Star Fox
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Star Fox is one of a small handful of games I had for my SNES when I was a kid. I absolutely loved it at the time, and found myself playing it every single day (though that was mainly due to a lack of other games). I figured my love for the game was mostly nostalgia-based, but after over a decade of gaming, I can confidently say that this is in fact one of the best games for the SNES.

It was a 3D flight simulator before 3D flight simulators were even a thing. The state-of-the-art polygonal graphics are owed to the Super FX chip, which allowed the SNES to display next-generation visuals near the end of its run. The frame-rate and flight controls may feel a bit slow now, but I think they still hold up amazingly well considering the time at which they came out. The soundtrack is, of course, fantastic (Nintendo polish at its best) and the bosses are brilliant and original. Star Fox gets a ticket to the top ten list for being a one-of-a-kind game on a timeless console, and for being the best of its kind at the same time.

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9. Turtles in Time
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Some may think this entry is unconventional, but one simply cannot leave out the most joyous experience you can have with a friend on the SNES. I think I may even go ahead and call this the greatest side-scrolling beat-em-up of all time. In terms of its genre, it does everything right. The moves are ridiculous, the music is catchy, the theming is wacky, and the various stages present all sorts of crazy gameplay mix-ups.

The turtles will find themselves surfing in the sewers, gliding across a futuristic highway, fighting dinosaurs, and throwing foot ninjas at Shredder in a space station. My point is...dang there's so much color! While some of the other games on this list may have better gameplay, better graphics, or a better story, nothing beats out Turtles in Time in terms of pure, unabashed fun.

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8. Mega Man X
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There are a whole lot of Mega Man games on the SNES so it took awhile for me to choose, but I had to give the nod to the first game in the Mega Man X series. Simply put: it had the best level designs out of all the games, and that's really all in comes down to when you're comparing such similar games.

Mega Man X is an explosive breath of fresh air. Its fast-paced gameplay and stellar stage designs fuse together to form such a smooth and invigorating experience; it's like racing down a highway. Dashing and wall-jumping with X is pixel-perfect, and you can find power-ups and armor pieces by re-visiting levels with certain abilities to make your ride even smoother.

The boss battles are difficult yet elegant in their designs. They used to infuriate as a kid, but now I just revel at how quickly I can dispose of them with my ninja skills. Did I mention the soundtrack kicks ass too? I absolutely love Mega Man, and I can think of no better game to represent the series in the 16-bit era.

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7. Super Mario World
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Here's an absolute classic. There's a short list of games that fans consider the "best" Mario game (Mario 64, Mario Galaxy, Super Mario 3, etc) and this is my choice from that list. In terms of 2D Mario platforming, this was definitely the peak. Every level (including its soundtrack) was memorable enough that I was able to recognize the level designs after 11 years of not playing it. The controls are perfect, and the power-ups, which include Yoshi, give this game the most charm and flair of any classic Mario.

My favorite aspect of this game is definitely how full of content it is. There are dozens of secret exits and levels scattered throughout this game that will likely take players ages to find if they don't look carefully. I mean, the first time I stumbled upon the Special World? My jaw just dropped. There were secrets inside of secrets. And then when I found every secret door and the world changed completely? I had to ask my friends to make sure my game wasn't broken. There will likely never be a 2D Mario game of this caliber ever again, though that's mainly a testament to just how great this game is.

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6. Super Mario World 2: Yoshi's Island
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Oh boy, this game is good. Yoshi's Island is definitely the most colorful, vibrant, and crisp looking game from the 16-bit era. Part of that is owed to the aforementioned Super FX chip, which allows enemies to stretch into gigantic bosses. Everything in this game has charm, from the completely original art, to the overly happy smiley-face flowers in the background.

I could go on and on about the graphics, but the game is near-perfect in every other department as well. Controlling Yoshi is a joy, as you do more than just run and jump. You can air-walk for a short duration, swallow enemies with your tongue, and shoot precisely-aimed eggs. All of these gameplay elements play into the unique game design, which is laden with carefully placed bonuses. The game itself is very lengthy, and there's even a completionist aspect to it as you have a list of things (coins, flowers, stars) to collect in every level.

Note that I'm not considering this a traditional Mario game as it's much too unique in its own right. Instead of calling this the best Mario game, I'd have to call it one of the greatest 16-bit platformers in gaming history. There's only one platformer I consider to be better, but we'll get to that in a minute.

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5. Super Metroid
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I lament all the time I wasted not playing Super Metroid. I didn't really pay attention to Metroid as a child, so it took me until my adulthood to realize how amazing this game is. To describe it in a few short words, Super Metroid is a titantic sprawling labyrinth with expertly crafted design, fine-tuned gameplay, and endless hidden content. This was an unfathomable standard of game for its time, and it holds up even compared to today's triple-a titles.

As any fan would know, Metroid's main strength is in its exploration. It's basically one gigantic level separated into sections that you unlock every time Samus gains a new ability. There's this amazing feeling of awe and accomplishment every time you enter a room with a new ability. A curious alien statue holds your new toy in its hands, and eerie music plays to set the mysterious atmosphere. It's just...god I love it.

The overall design is absolutely genius. The game basically plops you on a foreign planet without any narrative or direction, but it manages to place just the right signs near specific abilities in order to aid you in progressing without having to use words. I was flabbergasted when I realized that my first blind run of the game was unknowingly following the exact steps the game intended me to take. All this, in a completely open world.

Nothing really beats that feeling of finding a secret passageway while rolling around bombing random rocks. Every time you think you're just following the standard route, Super Metroid hits you with an "oh, there's more." This game takes patience to fully appreciate, but if you're a serious gamer in search of something deeply rewarding and of the utmost quality for the SNES, you would have to look no further than this old gem.

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4. Final Fantasy III (VI)
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I previously named Final Fantasy VI (III in the U.S.) the best Final Fantasy in the series, and I still stand by that decision. It's another example of how the Super Nintendo was the pinnacle of sprite-based games. There are so many more advanced games in the Final Fantasy series, and yet, this 16-bit gem manages to stand out as the best of them all.

I don't want to repeat myself (click the link above for the article) so I'll keep it simple. FFVI oozes charm in every area of its design. The cast is lovable, the villains are memorable, the story is engaging, the music is spectacular, and the graphics are sprite-art at its finest. I'll always remember being impressed with the wealth of end-game side-quests and the variety of character combinations you could make. Oh, and that final boss? Don't get the RPG nerd in me started.

FFVI's deep and addictive RPG elements really put the icing on the cake. I wish I could just go ahead and end the list here, but there are a few more games that really capture the true essence of the SNES. Just note that the top four aren't that far off from each other. A list just needs an order.

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3. Donkey Kong Country 2: Diddy's Kong Quest
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Remember when I said there's only one platformer better than Yoshi's Island? Like 2 minutes ago? Yeah, this is that game. Diddy's Kong Quest is the best 2D platformer ever. Running, cartwheeling, and jumping with the monkeys is like wiping your ass with silk. It's so smooth. I've sincerely never felt more precise platforming in any other game. I really feel like I'm in control and that the game is going at my pace. I think part of that feeling is owed to the incredible pseudo-3D graphics, which lends to the pixel-perfect jumping.

The visuals are absolutely gorgeous. There was definitely no better example of aesthetic immersion on the SNES. Looking beyond the level and into the backgrounds of the ship, beehive, and bramble stages gave somewhat of a surreal feeling. And the soundtrack? I'd put it up there as one of the greatest video game soundtracks, and I'm not just saying that. Just listen to "Stickerbush Symphony":

DKC 2 isn't just about its presentation, however. I mentioned the flawless controls before, but that can only be realized by playing through the incredibly memorable stages and worlds. You'll be jumping through swamps on crocodiles, flying over lava on hot-air balloons, racing crocs on roller coasters, and running from giant bees in beehives. You'll even get to transform into your animal buddies at various points. All the while, you'll be collecting hidden coins and beating bonus levels in order to complete the game fully.

This is as complete a game as you can get on the SNES. It perfects gameplay and surrounds it with so much flair that you'll find yourself playing through the game over and over again. It gets beat on the list by games that transcended gameplay with story elements, but DKC 2 represents the very best of what gaming used to be before story-telling brought gaming to a whole new level.

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2. The Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past
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I still remember the feeling of starting A Link to the Past for the first time. I was so enamored by it considering the other games I had in my possession (Super Off Road, Cybernator, Top Gear). The story awoke me on a dark and stormy night, and it was my job to find out why my uncle had disappeared. Then, as I left my house, I realized that I had free rein over where I could go in this expansive game. After I finished my initial quest, I decided to venture off for a bit. I bombed walls to find secret caves, waded in shallow waters to get some flippers, and cut grass for an hour so I could buy a bottle.

It seemed tedious at first, but I slowly realized how absorbed I was in this open fantasy world. Such is the charm of Zelda games. Great level design, great story, and great visual style are all constants in the series, and it's my belief that A Link to the Past did it best (sorry Ocarina of Time fans). It's hard to compare a 16-bit top-down game to fully fleshed-out 3D games like Wind Waker and Ocarina of Time, but A Link to the Past made the most of its hardware to deliver an experience that equals (and surpasses) all of its sequels.

The game's best feature is definitely the ability to switch between two dimensions of the same world. The alternate "dark" world features a completely new portion of the game, and it's connected to the "light" world, so whatever you do in one world affects the other. You could drain a lake in the light world, then switch over to the dark world to find that a path had opened for you. I loved the depth this provided to Zelda's traditional puzzle-solving.

Putting a game of this caliber near the top of this list was simply a no-brainer for me. It's the best Zelda, and just an amazing game in general. Only a game with more charm and more story-telling prowess could top a game like this on a list of greats. Speaking of which...

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1. Chrono Trigger
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Here it is, the best 16-bit RPG and SNES game of all time. Have you noticed how many times I've said "of all time"? It's truly a testament to how great the Super Nintendo's game library is. Chrono Trigger is one of a handful of amazing RPG's on the SNES, but it manages to stand out as the purest, most enjoyable and charming adventure. It's a tale of time travel, and of saving the world from an inevitable fate. Through mysterious acts of fate, the heroes are thrown across different time periods in order to stop the rise of an alien entity called Lavos that is destined to destroy the world in 1999.

Time traveling is Chrono Trigger's theme and main gameplay element. You'll be able to travel from present day (1000 AD) to medieval, and even prehistoric times. You'll eventually end up in the future (2300 AD) as well. I really enjoyed this segment in particular because the game managed to capture the feel of a post-apocalyptic world within the context of the game perfectly, and it made you that much more motivated to complete the task at hand. The theming is excellent in every time period. It never tries to take itself too seriously, and allows the player to appreciate the game's charm without asking too many questions.

The time traveling aspect gets really creative once you're able to do side quests with the Epoch (a time traveling ship). Many quests involve doing one thing in the past, and seeing how it affects the present. You can leave a legendary rock in prehistoric times, then jump thousands of year forward to find that it has changed completely. You can even access a portal that takes you directly to Lavos, which brings us to the numerous endings. There are twelve endings in total, with each being unlocked by defeating Lavos at specific points throughout the game. Every ending is unique and well worth the effort of beating the final boss over and over again. Replay value in an RPG? This is the way to do it.

I've said this several times before (in several different posts) but Chrono Trigger truly is one of the most endearing and memorable games in history. It's not too sophisticated, and yet, you can remember it past all the Zelda's and Final Fantasy's. Maybe it's the simplicity and light-hearted approach to story-telling that makes it so much fun as well. When someone brings up the Super Nintendo, this is the game I remember. This, is the best game on the SNES.

Honorable Mentions: Earthbound, Final Fantasy II, Super Mario All-Stars, Mario Kart, Super Street Fighter II Turbo

Super Nintendo [Game Collection]

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Sun, 04 May 2014 06:28:00 +0000

So, what have I been doing these past few months? Well, my interest in Gundam has been waning for awhile now, but my interest in video game collecting has been growing exponentially. I'm out of college with a disposable income, so I've been dedicating a whole lot of my money to building a respectable collection of games, from retro to new.

You see, I don't just play games for fun. I look at them and appreciate them as one would appreciate novels as literature. I play each and every one of them for the unique experiences they provide. Consequently, I'm not just collecting games because I can or because I'm bored. I want to have and experience every game there is in order to absorb all of gaming history. That way, I can truly say that I'm passionate about this silly little hobby of mine.

I started my collecting journey with the first console I ever owned: the Super Nintendo (or SNES). This is the console that introduced me to video games. I pretty much consider it the best video game console of all time because of its amazing 16-bit game library that holds up amazingly well to this day. The number of classic games that are still considered great; there's just no end to them.

My original console died on me during my childhood, so I've been separated from a physical SNES for over a decade. Imagine my excitement when I finally got a hold of a new one. It's in pretty great condition, and the price wasn't too bad. I immediately bought some of my favorite games as well, including a few new ones I never got to play as a child.

Final Fantasy III (which is actually VI) is the crown jewel of my current collection. I've stated a long time ago that it's the best Final Fantasy in the series, but I'm still in awe at how they managed to produce such a masterpiece with such primitive hardware. It was pretty great getting to replay the game on a real SNES.

I managed to get a few other 16-bit masterpieces, like Diddy's Kong Quest, Yoshi's Island, and Super Mario World. It'll probably take a lot more time (and money) to get the rest of the Super Nintendo library, but the day will definitely come when I'll be forced to clear more space on my bookcase.

It's a tiny collection (for now). I just love how these things feel in my hand

Top 5 Opening Themes in Gundam

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Sat, 23 Nov 2013 05:00:00 +0000

Here's the next in my series of music-related Gundam Top 5 posts. My first list focused on battle themes, so I thought it would be interesting to move on to actual songs. We'll be counting down the catchiest, most memorable opening themes in Gundam animated history.

Naturally, it's hard to be objective about music so think of this list as more of a fun project rather than a serious, thoughtful post. The main decider will be personal preference, but I definitely won't be picking the songs mindlessly. These are the opening themes I see as being timeless and enjoyable no matter what your taste in music is. They flow seamlessly with the shows they're presenting, and they never failed to get me in the proper Gundam mood.

Now, to start with...

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5. "Tobe! Gundam" - Koh Ikeda (Mobile Suit Gundam)
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Moegare~ Moegare ~ Moegare GANDAMUUU~
This is about as old-school as it gets, and I absolutely love it. A lot of older pop music is hard to get into in this day and age, but "Tobe! Gundam" precedes even that. It sounds like a heroic fanfare, and is very reminiscent of the classic super-robot shows that I grew up on. It's fun and easy to appreciate, which is why it gets its honorable spot here.

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4. "Men of Destiny" - MIO (Gundam 0083: Stardust Memory)
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There's something about this song that makes me want to join the Federation forces, go through basic training, and fight battles in space. It's even called "Men of Destiny", so maybe it has some manly effect. Anyway, the song is upbeat and exciting from beginning to end, and it fits the Stardust Memory OVA perfectly. Playing this in the background of the fights between Kou and Anavel Gato would have been the perfect way to send some chills down many spines.

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3. "Daybreak's Bell" - L'Arc~en~Ciel (Gundam 00)
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Here's the start of a pattern. I had to decide between two great songs from each show represented in the top 3. In the case of Gundam 00, I battled between "Ash Like Snow" by the brilliant green and "Daybreak's Bell". I happen to love the brilliant green, but I felt that L'Arc~en~Ciel's song fit the series better. Maybe it's Hyde's deeper vocals, or the overall mellowness of the song; it simply flowed well going into each episode. I've always been a big fan of L'Arc, and I love this style of rock, so naturally this is a favorite of mine.

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2. "Believe" - Nami Tamaki (Gundam Seed)
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As many of you will know, Gundam Seed is notable for its great soundtrack. It was host to such a large number of memorable tracks that I considered adding more than one from Seed. Alas, I have decided on one, and I've gotta say that "Believe" is definitely the best of the bunch. Whereas T.M. Revolution's "Invoke" introduced the show with a more frantic pace, "Believe" starts the second half of Seed with a hint of somberness to it. The opening itself feels more subdued, as if to reflect the battle-weary cast.

But hey, that's just over-analysis. It's all about the song. The song is just plain fun to listen to. I guess I'm just a sucker for that electronic rock (or whatever it's called). Out of the 4 opening themes, this is the one I can enjoy even after the end of the episode.

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1. "Resolution" - Romantic Mode (Gundam X)
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I had a hard time deciding between this song and "DREAMS", which is the first opening theme. I honestly thought about adding both, but I wanted the list to be a little more diverse. The point is, I love both Gundam X's opening themes. They have that old school kick that makes them easy to enjoy even after all these years.

As I always say, Gundam X is super underrated. The show got cancelled prematurely, the designs are great but oft ignored, and the opening themes are some of the best in the series. Just...just listen to it. Listen to this song. Makes me wanna dance. Makes me wanna fuckin' dance.

Check out my other Gundam Top 5 lists~

MG Gundam X, MG Proto Zero

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Mon, 14 Oct 2013 04:17:00 +0000

My god; a lot has happened since I've been out of the loop. I rarely keep up with gunpla news, so whenever I decide to check up on it, I find a ridiculous handful of good news. Let's see...

The oddly named "Proto" version of the Wing Zero has already been released as a Master Grade. There goes that spot on my MG wish list. YellowSubmarine blog has an out-of-the-box review of the model, so check it out here.

Looks great. It love that it has a few quirks whilst being true to the TV design. It's not what I was expecting, but it's satisfying nonetheless. Take a look at some of the other pictures in the review. There's a lot to love about the small intricacies in this model kit.

Anyway, the other news (that I'm actually way more excited for) ...
The GX is getting the Master Grade treatment! Here's the link from Gundam Guy. I'm just...so happy. Anyway, I was actually JUST about to get the HG 1/144 model, but it looks like I might wait for this instead. Guess I'm getting that HGUC Unicorn...

And the final release which pretty much completes everything I've ever put on wish list. It's not a MG, but it's plenty for the time being. The Double X is finally getting the treatment it deserves with an HGAW 1/144 release. It hasn't had a proper model kit since the old Gundam X line, so this is great news. Here's a few pictures from a painted build by ZGMFXG.

So much to get, so little time...and money...

Fire Emblem: Awakening [Now Playing]

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Thu, 29 Aug 2013 05:19:00 +0000

It's been a long time coming, but I finally got myself a 3DS. Now, to be honest, I actually thought very poorly of the 3DS when it was struggling during its launch. But as the years went by, the library of games started stacking up and I found that all of the games I was interested in were on the 3DS. As soon as I got money coming in, I confident enough to buy the device and a handful of games immediately.

My first game? Fire Emblem: Awakening. I was intrigued by the enormous amount of praise it was getting, so I bought into the hype and let this be my introduction to the 3DS. I've actually never played a Fire Emblem game before this, but I'm a huge fan of strategy RPG's so I knew I would click with the series immediately. Now, I recently completed the game...

And man, Awakening did not disappoint. This game single-handedly made me a fan of the series, and assured me that I did not make a bad decision by buying a 3DS. Everything, from the presentation, to the gameplay and polish really seemed solid to me. I was most impressed with the dedication to content in this game. There are a huge amount of recruitable characters, and each character is able to form relationships with each other. Every time their level of intimacy goes up, you're treated to a full conversation between the two characters. The fact that they had this much content just amazed me.

Having said that, there is one thing that left me a little hollow. If you have access to certain DLC (which I think is free at this point), you can start grinding very early in the game. This allows you to create an obnoxiously over-powered team that can make the rest of the game a cake-walk. Playing different difficulty modes can make a difference, but only until you get to the aforementioned DLC. The only true way to take in the hardcore strategic action is playing Classic mode. In classic mode, your units are mortal. If they die in battle, they stay dead forever. It seems a bit intense, but this has been a Fire Emblem tradition for its entirety.

So, if your experience is unsatisfactory, know that there are a handful of options to appease your exact desire. There's even an option for Japanese voice acting (which I didn't bother with, since the English voice acting is great). Most of us are probably just late to the Fire Emblem party, since there haven't been many opportunities for us to play the games. We're just finding out that the games have always been great. Still, Awakening is definitely something special, and probably one of the biggest reasons to buy a 3DS.

Top 5 Epic Battle Themes in Gundam

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Tue, 13 Aug 2013 21:34:00 +0000

For the first time, I'm going to be celebrating the music in Gundam. The idea came to me from one of the suggestions in my Suggestions for Gundam Top 5 post. Though it's not the exact suggestion, it'll definitely be the first in a series of similar lists. This time around, we'll be looking at the most epic, exciting, heart-pounding battle themes in the Gundam animated universe. It wasn't easy labeling "battle themes", so basically anything that plays during a battle scene qualifies.

This may be the least objective list I've made thus far, so as usual, feel free to comment on your favorite battle themes. I had to leave plenty of great songs out too, so there's plenty of room for honorable mentions.

Now then...

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5. "The Wings of a Boy Who Killed Adolescence" - Gundam Wing
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Excuse me for being nostalgic for a moment, but this theme is absolutely burned into my memory, and I still get goosebumps whenever I hear it. Now, before you judge me, let it be known that I chose this theme because it's blood-pumping, new-age Gundam awesomeness at its best. It's catchy and memorable, but the main thing that gets me is its unique '90's anime styling.

The quintessential scene that pops into my head whenever I hear this is definitely from the very first episode of Gundam Wing. The action hasn't quite happened yet and we're unsure of what to expect. Then, all of a sudden, the plane transforms into a Gundam and this theme jumps right in. The experience was (and still is) epic, to say the least.

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4. "Rising Operation Stardust" - Mobile Suit Gundam 0083: Stardust Memory
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I actually got my first taste of this theme while playing Gundam: Encounters in Space (PS2). It played during a lot of the cutscenes, and during several missions as well. I loved it so much that I would re-watch those same cutscenes over and over again just to feel the excitement of this theme.

And boy, is it exciting. It fits the whole feel of the Stardust Memory OVA perfectly. There are many events in the story that revolve around urgency and speed; I couldn't think of a better theme to accompany those moments. It's unfortunate that it didn't get to actually play too often. I would've played it every time a Gundam shows up in the damn episode.

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3. "Fight" - Mobile Suit Gundam 00
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（゜Д゜）aah ah aaah~ aah ah aaah~

Never mind how the story turned out; Gundam 00's main appeal was in its flashy presentation. The animation was superb, and the music was exhilarating. With these two qualities, 00 managed to pump out some amazing battle scenes. Now, I know I've said this a few times already, but "Fight" really makes those scenes epic.

（゜Д゜）aah ah aaah~ aah ah aaah~

^ That. That's my favorite part right there.

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2. Burning Finger Theme - G Gundam
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IIIIKUZO! Ore no kono te ga, maakani moeru! Shori o tsukame to todoroki sakebu!
(Here I go! This hand of mine is burning red! Its loud roar tells me to grasp victory!)

Baaaakunetsu! GOD FIINGEEEERRR!!!!!!!
(Erupting Burning Finger!!)

HEAT END!!!

That is all.

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1. "Unicorn" - Mobile Suit Gundam Unicorn
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I'm hesitant to call this a "battle theme" since it's more of a main theme, but it plays during most of the battles so I believe it qualifies. Anyway...

This is probably one of the most epic, hair-raising themes I've ever heard in any Anime. It just has this incomparable ability to make a scene infinitely more powerful. From that slow buildup to the incredible choir section, this theme really screams "Unicorn".

The one scene that does this theme the most justice is definitely the battle between the Unicorn and Sinanju. The way the Unicorn Gundam goes into destroy mode with this theme starting up...it just left me speechless. This theme is one of my favorites, and definitely the most epic battle theme in Gundam history.

Check out my other Gundam Top 5 lists~

Dragon's Dogma: Dark Arisen [Now Playing]

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Sun, 28 Jul 2013 00:15:00 +0000

I've been home doing nothing for the past few weeks, so out of an intense need to keep myself busy, I decided to look for an addictive RPG to play. My choices ranged from Skyrim to Dark Souls, but for whatever reason, I ended up buying Dragon's Dogma. I ignored the original release, so Dark Arisen (the expansion) ended up being my first taste of the game.

I've played through the game once already, and I've got to say, I really like this game. I'm close to platinuming it, and I wasn't even trying to. I was just having fun trying out different things and completing all of the quests. I think the main thing I love about this game is its replay value. You're able to replay the game via New Game Plus an infinite number of times, so you're able to enjoy the game exactly how you want to each time whilst retaining your level and all of your gear.

The boss battles are also amazing. I'd say they're the best in any game of this genre. Like many people have said, it's like a cross between Dark Souls and Shadow of the Colossus. The way you climb up on giant monsters while epic music is playing is just exhilarating, to say the least.

A lot of people disregard this game as being "not quite as good as Skyrim", but I'd rather avoid comparisons like that. Dragon's Dogma has its own list of merits and charms, and I'd recommend it to anyone with a love for fantasy rpg's (and a lot of time).

Suggestions for Gundam Top 5

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Mon, 15 Jul 2013 06:41:00 +0000

I recently realized that my priority should be creating more Gundam Top 5 content, considering its the main source of traffic for my blog. But as I got around to starting a new one, I realized that I was fresh out of ideas. There are plenty of easy lists I can make, but I want something unique. Something that's not entirely objective.

So, if you don't mind me asking, I'd like some suggestions for a new Gundam Top 5 list. I'll seriously consider every suggestion (as long as they're good).

New TV Series: Gundam Build Fighters

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Mon, 08 Jul 2013 21:12:00 +0000

You may have noticed all the reports in the last few days, hinting at a big new Gundam announcement. Well here's the news: a new TV series has been announced. It's called Gundam Build Fighters, and it seems to revolve around gunpla. For more information, go here.

Now, I'm going to be honest: I'm a little disappointed. I skipped AGE precisely because it seemed a bit too kid-friendly. While I do plan on giving it a chance in the future, I didn't expect the next full series to be more of the same. Gundam Build Fighters looks to be a Gundam toy commercial in its absolute purest form. That's as much as I'll say since I don't want to judge too quickly.

Anyway, Gundam Build Fighters seems to be working off of the concept introduced in Beginning G, though it's been noted that the two are unrelated in any other regard. The one thing I do appreciate is the reappearances of several classic designs. Look, the Wing and GX are back (albeit slightly modified)! Other classic mobile suits are going to be making appearances as well, so that should be interesting.

So, as the Gundam franchise continues to look after a young, new audience whilst selling massive amounts of merchandise, I'll be here waiting on the last episode of Unicorn~

Best Gundam Protagonist?

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Sat, 06 Jul 2013 04:27:00 +0000

Just like I did with my Top 5 Gundam Series post, I want to poll people on what they think about the question of who the top Gundam protagonist is. I actually made a Top 5 Gundam Protagonists post in the past, but it was awful and I've since gotten rid of it. Considering how difficult and possibly meaningless this question is, I thought I'd just ask people instead of attempting to create a new list.

As usual, this question is almost impossible to answer objectively. People have their own opinions on what "best" means, and personal bias is going to play a big part in it. Still, there's got to be a general consensus for certain characters.

So, who is it? Amuro Ray? Garrod Ran (who actually seems to get a lot of love)? Kamille? Setsuna? Who is the best Gundam protagonist in the meta-series?

Songs of Final Fantasy: Top 10 Battle Themes

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Mon, 01 Jul 2013 07:25:00 +0000

Here's a shocker: I'm a huge fan of Final Fantasy. I absolutely love the series, and I've been a fan since Clinton was in office. I've played every title in the series several times, and the one thing that always sticks with me is the music. The various themes in each game come to define that particular game. Most of it is owed to the mastery of musical genius Nobuo Uematsu, but other composers have produced some memorable themes as well.

In this top ten list, I'm going to be ranking the best battle themes in the Final Fantasy series. Battle themes are usually the most memorable and definitive songs in the games, along with the overworld themes. Therefore, I think it's only proper to do them some justice. I'll be including all of the main series titles and all related spin-offs. As usual, these are just my opinions so feel free to disagree and share your own thoughts in the comments. Now then...

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10. Otherworld (FFX)
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This theme is incredibly unusual for a Final Fantasy theme given that it's...well...metal. Like really fucking metal. However, if you could just drop your bias for a second, you'll realize just how much this theme rocks. I think it works so well because it fits Jecht's personality (he's a jerk). A nice, orchestral theme would not have been able to achieve the same effect in Final Fantasy X's final (true) boss battle. As Jecht falls off a platform, everything goes silent. Then all of a sudden, a monstrous arm slams down from below and electric guitars start blasting. Those goosebumps you feel? Yeah, that's the music.

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9. Battle Theme (FF Mystic Quest)
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"Mystic Quest? How dare you mention Mystic Quest?" I know the reputation this game has, and I admit that it is pretty bad. However, it had one thing going for it: the music. The music was surprisingly good for a game of such low quality. Just listen to the battle theme. That's honestly one of the best battle themes I've heard from any RPG. It's SNES-hardware rock at its best. Now, if only this theme wasn't wasted on Mystic Quest; it would have gotten the recognition it deserves.

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8. The Decisive Battle (Exdeath's Battle Theme) (FFV)
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The best word to describe Exdeath's battle theme is sinister. It does a better job than any other theme of sounding like absolute evil. In this regard, it fits Exdeath's character perfectly, as Exdeath has no redeeming qualities whatsoever. The song starts with the signature organ sounds that define Exdeath's regular theme, then it begins to pick up. Go to 0:50 of the clip above. That's the part that gives me goosebumps. It goes from being a sinister theme, to being one the most unique and fitting boss battles in Final Fantasy.

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7. The Extreme (FFVIII)
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'The Extreme' starts very slowly. You hear ominous piano playing, and some eerie chanting. Then, rather abruptly, you'll hear the familiar tune that began every Final Fantasy battle theme up until VII. That's where it starts. As it turns out, The Extreme is one of the most exciting and epic final boss themes in the series. I think a lot of its effect is owed to its slow start-up. The fast-paced song that follows afterwards is soul tingling, to say the least. As weird as the final boss was, this theme made it all worthwhile.

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6. Blinded by Light (FFXIII)
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When I first saw the trailer for Final Fantasy XIII, it wasn't the exciting new battle system or pretty graphics that got me pumped up. It was the amazing song playing in the background. Seriously, my ears were floored at how new and beautifully orchestrated this theme was. It's definitely unlike anything Final Fantasy has used before, and that's part of what makes it so exciting. At times, I was intentionally doing nothing during battles just so I could hear the song kick in. So say what you want about the game, Blinded by Light is one of the best regular battle themes in the series.

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5. Boss Battle (FFIV)
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This is a personal favorite of mine, and for good reason too. As far as classic Final Fantasy goes, this theme does an amazing job of making you feel the pressure of fighting a dangerous foe. It mixes that sinister feel with an upbeat tempo that makes it feel like time is against you. The boss is slowly pressing down on you, and the only way to survive is to push back with twice the amount of force. To me, this theme is sort of the ideal boss battle theme. It doesn't break new ground or experiment with unusual sounds. It's just exciting and sinister in a straightforward way...and that's totally okay.

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4. The Decisive Battle (FFVI)
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And here's where things took a giant leap forward. While FFIV's boss theme makes it feel like the boss is looking down at you, FFVI's 'Decisive Battle' makes it feel like you're rushing into battle with the assurance that you'll win no matter what the cost. I imagine myself with swords swinging and fists flying without a care to stop and see if I'm bleeding.

Now, I say "leap forward" because, like I said, this theme has a different feel to it. It's upbeat and, for lack of a better word, rocking. It's an absolute favorite of mine, and I can confidently say that it's probably the best boss battle theme in the main series. It's part of what makes FFVI so great.

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3. Clash on the Big Bride (FFV)
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Clash on the Big Bridge is a classic. It may even be the best thing to come out of FFV. I'm not saying FFV isn't a great game (it is); this theme is just that memorable. Gilgamesh has since made cameo appearances in a number of sequels, and this theme has always been there to accompany him. Sometimes I feel like the song even overshadows the character at times. But I digress.

There's just something so distinct and catchy about this song; it's hard to describe with words. Just play the song and wait for the trumpets to kick in. It's almost impossible not to enjoy that unusual tune. I'll leave you with that, so just play the clip above. You won't regret it.

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2. One Winged Angel (FFVII)
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Ah, the famous 'One Winged Angel'. Even if you're not a fan of Final Fantasy, chances are you're familiar with this song. It's the signature theme of Sephiroth, FFVII's main villain. One Winged Angel is so amazingly befitting of Sephiroth because its main purpose is to glorify Sephiroth like a god. Sephiroth himself is a megalomaniac with a serious god-complex, so you can see how this would relate. The beginning of the theme invokes the feeling of a godlike entity descending from the sky, and indeed, that's how Safer Sephiroth makes his entrance in FFVII's final battle.

The song itself is incredibly well orchestrated and often awe-inspiring. It's not exciting or epic like the other themes on this list. The way it mixes purely orchestral sounds with Gregorian chants is just...enthralling. I can not think of a more fitting final boss theme for the incredible villain that is Sephiroth.

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1. Dancing Mad (FFVI)
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And at number one...it's Dancing Mad, the final boss theme from Final Fantasy VI. I can honestly say that Dancing Mad is a masterpiece, not just as a battle theme, but as a piece of music in general. It captures the enormity of the battle in stellar form, and it's separated into four different 'movements' to fit in with the four tiers of the massive final boss. The final phase is Kefka himself, and that's where it picks up even further. The final phase is easily the best part of Dancing Mad; it shifts into a frantic tempo in order to signify the urgency of the battle commencing.

Its sophistication and utter quality easily put it here as the best battle theme, or possibly just the greatest theme in Final Fantasy. The video I've posted above is the Black Mages version of the song, but it's faithful to the original with enhanced quality so no need to worry about the original not being represented.

MG Wing Gundam Proto Zero EW Announced

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Thu, 27 Jun 2013 07:25:00 +0000

This is sort of amazing news. The long awaited Master Grade Wing Zero has finally been announced. Now, to be honest, I was waiting for the TV version to get the MG treatment so this announcement disappointed me for a split second. Still, I think this is about as good as it'll get for now.

Keep in mind that this is the Endless Waltz version of the design. The Tallgeese, Epyon, and Heavyarms had similar releases in this fashion. I'm not exactly sure what "Proto Zero" is supposed to imply, so if anyone has any guesses on that, that would be great. But yeah, the design is sure to look great so I definitely can't wait!

As usual, Gundam Guy is my source. Find the original article here.

Not Impressed With Next-Gen Graphics

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Mon, 24 Jun 2013 19:48:00 +0000

Yeah I said it. I'm completely unimpressed with the "next generation" of gaming graphics. I thought I was the only one who thought this, but comments from the gaming community have assured me otherwise. Perhaps it's too early to say, but the PS4 and Xbox One are getting ready for launch. Here's a trailer of some of the upcoming titles...

Pretty damn impressive, right? But honestly, is this the next-generation? To put it as nicely as I can, it's just a tad bit better than the current gen. Maybe we're just used to the enormous leaps that have occurred in previous generations. I mean, we went from this...

to this...

And then from this...

to this..

Perhaps we've hit a plateau? I think perhaps we're not quite ready to take that enormous leap. It's merely due to the rules of marketing that Sony/Microsoft had to release new hardware to compete with after so many years. It's hard to argue with that, but there's a part of me that thinks maybe we can wait a few more years.

I think the main reason so many of us are unimpressed is that it's hard for us to detect the minute improvements with our lousy human eyes. The difference between 8-bit and 64-bit is obvious, but what about super high polygon HD graphics and super-super high polygon HD graphics with better lighting effects? Yeah, it's getting a little less obvious.

To be fair, the trailer just shows a bunch of development footage and pre-rendered scenes. Just like with the current gen, the graphics will improve once developers get a hang of the new hardware. But for now, all I can say is that I'm underwhelmed. What do you guys think?

MG RX-78-2 Gundam Ver. 3.0 - Thoughts?

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Thu, 23 May 2013 04:25:00 +0000

Here's an interesting bit of news: Bandai has announced that a Master Grade RX-78-2 Gundam Version 3.0 is coming out in August. As usual, you can go to Gundam Guy for a little more detail. As a lot of people have mentioned, it appears to be an upscaled version of the RG 1/144 model. We can expect an extraordinary new standard of detail from this

Normally, I don't like sharing news that's probably on a million other blogs, but I'd like to know what people think about this. Some are intrigued, while others are indifferent. Bandai has rather actively been trying to revamp its MG line, with the new MG Strike Gundam coming to mind. With this 3.0, Bandai is taking its first step into the future.

Personally, I'm a little indifferent. I love the idea of upping the quality, but I'm getting a little tired of the RX-78-2. Mind you, I loved the 2.0 model, so I'm not very excited about a new version. I'd much rather see some forgotten favorites (DX, Heavyarms Custom) get the MG treatment instead.

But what do you say? It is on the buy-list or the ignore-list?

Thoughts on Gundam 00

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Tue, 23 Apr 2013 06:52:00 +0000

This is the one I've been waiting for. What are your thoughts on Gundam 00? I remember being thoroughly entertained through the first season, and though the quality of the show dipped considerably by the second season, I still would not say that 00 is a complete miss. We were treated to high-def animation and explosive battle sequences, which were definitely the highlight of this very recent series.

Of course, the U.C. community looks at 00 like they do every AU series: it's just another abortion of a Gundam series that can't possibly compare to the classics. All-bishounen casts were as prominent as usual, and the power-ups became so over the top and unbelievable that the series bordered on super robot territory. The villains were weak and forgettable, and the plot became less and less appealing with its convoluted Innovator nonsense.

Though, that's just what some people say. There are newer fans who obviously love the series, and see it as an entertaining romp nonetheless. What do you say about Gundam 00? Was it worthy of its place in the Gundam metaseries?

Mobile Suit Gundam: The Origin, Vol.I - Activation

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Sun, 07 Apr 2013 18:40:00 +0000

My copy of Mobile Suit Gundam: The Origin Vol.1 has arrived, so I thought I'd give it a mini-review. In case you're unfamiliar, Gundam: The Origin is a manga adaptation of the original anime series. Viz attempted an American release, but their run ended due to low sales. Thus, publisher Vertical decided to release The Origin in a format similar to the "Aizoban" collector's editions in Japan.

The first thing I'm going to say is, this book is absolutely gorgeous...

The book is hardcover and quite large, as you may have noticed from my comparison to the MG RX-78-2 Ver.2.0. It has 456 pages in total, with a beautifully colored covering. Indeed, it feels like a collector's item more than just a manga, which is partly why I bought it in the first place.

Scattered throughout the manga are dozens of color pages. I think this is the most impressive part of the book; the color pages are a welcome sight and wonderfully done. Though I'm not entirely sure, they appear to be water-colored. These pages are reason enough to own this little product.

It hasn't been too long since I finished re-watching the original anime and the compilation movies, but reading this manga feels like an entirely different experience. If not for the slight differences, I read through this for the amazing artwork. As you can tell from the photos below, there is no shortage of dynamic Gundam action. It definitely beats having to watch the Gundam being drawn in wildly inconsistent blobs (television series).

There are over 400 pages, so Activation takes us from the beginning, through their journeys in space, up to where they are about to enter Earth. In the last few pages, there is an essay written by Hideaki Anno (creator of Neon Genesis Evangelion) about The Origin manga and about the influence of Gundam. It's an interesting read and a great way to cap this item off.

I think it's great to be able to read The Origin manga, but I found that this was more of a collector's item that no Gundam fan can be without. You get so much for its low $16US price mark. So of course, if you want a piece of Mobile Suit Gundam heaven, I advise you to get a copy for yourself and see just how nice this book feels in your hands.

Char's Signature Mobile Suit

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Wed, 27 Mar 2013 22:57:00 +0000

Every time Char Aznable comes up in Gundam-related material, I always have to stop and think: "What exactly is his signature mobile suit?" You would expect this to be simple, but I really don't think it is. Char has piloted dozens of different mobile suits throughout the Gundam universe, and I always want to associate him with a certain mobile suit, but there are a handful of them that one can reasonably associate him with.

Here's a run down of the main candidates...

The most common choice (and my choice as well) seems to be Char's Custom Zaku II. There isn't much of a reason besides the fact that it's the first mobile suit we see Char pilot. It doesn't appear in too many episodes, though it does make an impact, and it manages to land an epic kick on Amuro's Gundam. I've seen it represent Char in plenty of spin-offs and promotional work, so one could consider the red Zaku II to be the forerunner.

Next is the Zeong. The Zeong is remembered for being Char's ultimate mobile suit in Mobile Suit Gundam, and for having a very peculiar design. I honestly never liked the design, and though being the final mobile suit gives it plenty of credibility, I wouldn't bother picking the Zeong over Char's Zaku II. It only makes brief appearances in the final episodes, and though screen-time is obviously not a very good argument right now, it simply falls short of Char's other notable mobile suits.

Then, we come to the Hyaku Shiki. Despite being Char's personal mobile suit for the majority of Zeta Gundam, it is hard to associate Char with the Hyaku Shiki. The obvious reason is that it is not in Char's signature red; instead, it is a rather peculiar shining gold. Also, it does not have a traditional Zeon feel to it. Its design is closer to a Gundam more than anything. It is definitely a great and memorable design, but I would be hesitant to consider this mobile suit Char's signature.

And finally, the Sazabi. If anything, the final decision for me would be between the Zaku II and Sazabi. This is one of my favorite mobile suit designs in The U.C. era, and it definitely left quite an impact. It personifies Char's fiery red will in mobile suit form almost perfectly, and is definitely his ultimate mobile suit.

But these are all just my opinions. What would you say is the Red Comet's signature mobile suit?