As far as sophomore outings go, this second installment in the Spice and Wolf series is an absolute delight. Weighing in at nearly three hundred pages, Isuna Hasekura’s newest light novel is a breezy read free of many of the problems that plagued the first volume.  After the controversy surrounding the release of the first book, I’m very glad that the publisher, Yen Press, took the time and effort to get everything right the second time around. 

As the second book opens, Holo and Lawrence are in the process of slowly making their way to Holo’s ancient homeland in the north when a bad purchase inadvertently lands Lawrence deeply in hock to a local merchant guild with only few days to make good on his debt.  With few options open to him and with a potential lifetime of forced servitude in a debtor’s prison facing him, Lawrence’s only hope for salvation arrives in the form of a dangerous scheme concocted Holo, Unfortunately, in order to pull off this daring scheme, they must first procure the aid of beautiful young shepherdess in a plan that could cost them both their lives.

Overall, the story flows well with Holo’s position as a deity-like Wisewolf featuring much more heavily into the plot than the first novel.  Additionally, Isuna does a much better job of defining the personalities of the two main characters, Holo and Lawrence, then in the first book.  This may be because, as he admits in the afterword of volume 2, that he had completely forgotten their personalities during the gap between the two books.  This effort on his part to rediscover and refine his characters leads to a subtle, but much more satisfying, change in Holo and Lawrence’s personalities.

Speaking of changes, I want to congratulate Yen Press for using the original Japanese cover art for volume 2. Jyuu Ayakura’s art is a delight and I far prefer it to the hideous Photoshop cover art that Yen Press used on volume 1. Speaking of which, I should probably mention that volume 2 does includes another piece of hideously photoshopped cover art, but this time it’s in the form of a removable dust jacket that you can promptly toss in the trash so the other books in your collection don’t catch “the ugly” off of it.

Bottom Line:

Spice and Wolf vol. 2 is a delight from start to finish. Once I picked it up, I couldn’t put it down. Thankfully, the book is a quick and easy read that won’t keep you up into the wee hours of the night. If you liked the first book, I highly recommend the second one!

Final Score: 5 out 5 stars

Reviewed By: Laughncat 1

Description: Spice and Wolf volume 2 by Isanu Hasekura – a light novel published by Yen Press

Purchase:

There’s not a lot to your average shmup (shoot ‘em ups), but that’s never been the point. A good shmup, especially one of the “bullet-hell” variety, is all about testing your skill against insane odds in effort to get the highest score possible. Deathsmiles, the newest shmup release from Aksys games, meets this goal in admirable fashion despite sporting a design style that is sure to make some folks extremely uncomfortable.

Billed as a side-scrolling bullet-hell shooter with gothic lolita sensibilities from the reveried developer, Cave, Deathsmiles is really just a thinly veiled excuse for pedobears to blow shit up while dodging enemies and oggling the underage character of their choice. Don’t get me wrong, I’m not here to judge. All I’m saying is that the characters range in age and body type from a flat chested eleven year old to a rather buxom nightie-wearing seventeen year old. If the previous sentence disturbs you in anyway, you should probably think carefully before you pick this title up on Amazon. On the other hand, if it sounds like the greatest thing you’ve heard since someone told you that “To Catch a Predator” got cancelled, feel free to buy as many copies as you want.

Anyway, now that we’ve gotten the important loli stuff out the way, let’s talk about the real meat of the game. My average run through Deathsmiles usually didn’t last more than thirty minutes from start to finish. Even with a couple of optional levels thrown in, there’s just not a lot meat to this game. Replay value for Deathsmiles is based solely on how much you enjoy testing yourself against nearly impossible odds over and over again until you get that perfect run or unseat that jackass online who always seems to be a 1000 points ahead of you the leaderboards.

Despite the limited material they had to work with, Aksys has really tried to make this the best version of Deathsmiles you can find. Optional modes include an arcade perfect port of the original game (sooo grainy!), a 360 version that upgrades the graphics of the original arcade version but doesn’t change the gameplay, a 1.1 version that allows players to control their familiar using the right stick for added depth, and several variations of the hard-to-find (in Japan) Mega Black Label edition that includes a new playable character, remixed graphics and various other additions.

Bottom Line:

Since I only received a review copy of the game and not the full retail package, I won’t comment on whether I think the extra items included with the full retail package balance out the $50 asking price for such a short game.  What I will say is that Deathsmiles is a fun little game that does an excellent job of targeting the all important lolicon shmup market.  Although the game is quite a bit of fun, I’ve also beaten the crap out of this game over ten times in less than two days.  Even with the addition of two player co-op action on Xbox Live, multiple difficulties (ranging from easy to are you insane?!) and numerous gameplay variations, I just don’t see this game having a lot of long-term replay value for anyone but the hardest of the hardcore shmup players.   

Final Score: 3 out of 5 stars

Reviewed By: Laughncat 1

Description:  Deathsmiles Limited Edition for the Xbox 360 (includes an exclusive Deathsmiles Xbox 360 faceplate, a CD soundtrack and special boxart

Purchasing:

UPDATE – 07/22/10:
NIS America has announced they will be remastering volume 1 of both Toradora and Persona to address transfer issues with both sets. For details, go here.

Persona -Trinity Soul- TV series is supposed to take place ten years after the events detailed in the Persona 3 videogame.  I say “supposed to” because after watching the first thirteen episodes of the Trinity Soul series, I’ve concluded that there’s very little connective tissue between the two stories.  Folks who played the game will notice nods to the source material in the first episode of the TV series, such as when Shin meets the ever-mysterious Igor in a dream.  Other than a few nods here and there though, the TV series is nothing like the game, which I guess is good for newcomers to the series, but can be off putting for fans attempting to mentally align the events of the game with those in the TV series.

It doesn’t help that Trinity Souls plot moves at a snail’s pace and only grudgingly doles out information when absolutely necessary.  Despite its dark atmosphere, the best parts of the show so far have been the filler episodes. These episodes due little to advance the story, but provide some much needed levity from the show’s dreary, overly drawn out story while simultaneously fleshing out characters that would have little depth otherwise.  I’m sure there is a good story buried somewhere inside the tangled plot the writers have woven so far, but too often the show is just pointlessly opaque rather than mysterious.  I will admit, though, that I’ve become steadily more engrossed in the show as it has progressed, I just cannot stop wishing aloud that the plot for the series would follow a more linear path rather then that constantly stumbling off on weird tangents all the time.

All grumblings about the plot aside, I will admit that I am VERY pleased with NISA’s packaging of the show. Similar to the Toradora set I reviewed last week, this premium edition of Persona -Trinity Soul- is absolutely beautiful.  In fact, I will go so far to say that the packaging and the art book included with it are superior to the packaging used for the Toradora release.  Especially so when it comes to the hardback book that comes packaged with the series.  Not only is it laid out in a much more visually pleasing and coherent manner, but it also includes the complete version of the children’s book A Whale’s Feather that is featured throughout series.  I loved the book’s layout and I really wish that more of the book had been dedicated to showing larger scale images of the characters and their personas.  The intricate nature of the various persona designs really doesn’t come through with the small thumbnail images used in conjunction with each character’s bio.

On the AV side of things, I had many of the same issues I had with my Toradora review.  The video transfer seems especially soft and I was constantly fiddling with my settings trying to sharpen up the image.  The biggest problem I had though related to interlacing issue through both disc.  I’ve included an example of what I’m talking about below, but I want to stress that this is just a sample and is not representative of a whole.  In terms of normal viewing, most folks won’t notice the interlacing issue at all while other’s may see it just seem like a skipped frame when characters are in motion.  The only time I really noticed it was during scenes with a lot of action and to be honest, this could quite possibly be a problem with the original masters from Japan and not an encoding issue on NISA’s part.  Still, as with my Toradora review, I would be remiss if I didn’t mention it during this review.

Bottom Line:

As a fan of the Persona videogame series, I was really looking forward to the Trinity Soul TV series.  Unfortunately, the show is needlessly slow (even for a drama or a mystery) and only clues the viewer in on what’s going on only when it’s absolutely necessary.  I enjoy a good drama sometimes, but the point of the Persona series has always been about summoning powerful spirits to beat the crap out of other supernatural baddies (like possessed toilets).  I’m not saying I want to see Shin and the gang fight a demonic toilet, but I would like to feel like the show is going to get somewhere in the near future instead of constantly just hinting stuff is going to happen at some point. 

Ultimately, I recommend giving volume one of Persona -Trinity Soul- a try, but don’t expect it to knock your socks off.  It’s an average series that’s aiming for greatness, and if we’re lucky, all of that effort will pay off when the series concludes in August.

Final Score: 3 out 5 stars

Reviewed By: Laughncat 1

Description: Persona -Trinity Soul- Volume 1 Premium Edition of DVD ( 13 TV episodes on two DVDs. Japanese language only with English subtitles.)

Purchasing:

• Persona – Trinity Soul- Volume 1 Premium Edition
• Shin Megami Tensei: Persona 3 FES (PS2)

As the first film in Gainax’s “Rebuild of Evangelion” project, Evangelion 1.11 does an excellent job of recreating and updating the original Evangelion TV series for the big screen. Not only the new movie do an admirable job of laying out the shows complex mythology in a fairly coherent manner, but it also manages to make everything feel fresh and new again. This is quite an amazing feat when you think about it, since roughly two thirds of the new movie is a shot for shot recreation of the most iconic scenes from the first six episodes of the original TV series.

Even after fifteen years, the story and, most importantly, the characters of Evangelion still enthrall me in a way no other show ever has. As epic as the action can be a times, the show has always been about far more than simply humanities struggle to overcame a supernatural threat using giant robots. Instead, the show is really a deep and multi-layered exploration of the human condition that uses combat and warfare as way to underline the struggles the deeply flawed and emotionally damaged characters that populate the show.

I’m sure that some of the more hardcore otaku will argue that Evangelion 1.11 is dumbing down the series so that even rubes and hicks will be able to understand it, but based on my viewing session, this is not the case. While I admit that the movie makes many of the more obscure concepts more understandable while simultaneously working to straighten out the tangled web of conspiracies and secrets that woven throughout its story, I don’t feel that the central themes of the series have been diminished any sort of measurable way. EVA is remembered because of its deep mix of self examination and richly detailed characters brought life to what would have otherwise been another stereotypical anime series about giant robots, not because if you didn’t pay attention you might miss a passing comment about the origins of the lillium or the truth behind the creation of the EVA units themselves. Granted, plot points like that are important, but just because these elements are now easier to understand, does not make the lesson the impact of the story and its themes.

With that said, I do have concerns that the Evangelion 1.11 comes very close to being overly dense. In the space of less than two hours, viewers are introduced to the majority of main characters from the series, treated to three separate battle royales between the EVA units and the Angels, fed a steady diet of social, emotional, and psychological theories AND watch the groundwork being laid for next movies mass influx of new characters and conspiracies. With so much going on with so many plot details that need to be absorbed, the whole film can be a bit overwhelming for viewers who haven’t seen the original TV series or done any research in the myriad of theology and theories behind it.

Bottom Line:

Evangelion 1.11 is the exact same EVA long-time fans know and love, except now it’s been all gussied up with fancy high end graphics that are look so razor sharp on Blu-ray that you’ll come away surprised your eyes aren’t bleeding. Combine the extremely nice graphics with the movie’s more coherent plotline and the whole affair becomes fairly newbie friendly. I highly recommend everyone take the time to enjoy this excellent remake of one of the most beloved franchises of the past two decades.

Final Score: 5 out of 5 stars

Reviewed By: Laughncat 1

Desciption: Evangelion 1.11 on Blu-ray (also available on DVD)

UPDATE – 07/22/10:
NIS America has announced they will be remastering volume 1 of both Toradora and Persona to address transfer issues with both sets. For details, go here. 

I wasn’t quite sure what to expect when I sat down to watch Toradora!  I’d heard a lot of positive buzz around the internet when the show was originally on the air in Japan last year, but I’ve learned over the years that fan hype should never be taken at face value as a sign of quality.  Thankfully, from the very first episode, any fears I had about the series were quickly put to rest as I became completely engrossed in this engaging and delightfully rambunctious anime series.

The plot for Toradora! is fairly simple and doesn’t break any new ground as far as romantic comedy series, but what it lacks in originality is makes up for in sheer energy and savviness.   Every episode was an unadulterated delight filled with heartfelt laughter and surprisingly moving moments of tenderness.  Main characters, Taiga and Ryuji, play off each other perfectly throughout the first thirteen episodes as the diabolical duo of romance.  Watching the two of them scheme and plot to win the hearts of their fellow classmates, Minori and Kitamura, never gets old.   As the series progresses and the two move closer to actually forming real relationships with the objects of their affection, it also becomes increasingly clear that Ryuji and Taiga have yet to recognize how deeply they have come to care for each other along the way.   By the end of the first thirteen episodes, it’s obvious that the something is going to have to give soon.  In fact, almost all of the characters make comments to that effect at some point during the series, but despite the promise of heartache and tears, the release of the second half of the series in August just can’t come soon enough for me. 

In addition to being a wonderful anime series in its own right, I would be remiss if I didn’t take a moment to talk about the fantastic packaging that NIS America has put together for the series.  Yes, they did ask me to make sure to comment on it when they sent me my review copy, but I would have had to do so anyway.  This premium edition box set absolutely floored me when I saw it in person for the first time.   The box for the two slimcase DVDs and hardcover art book is HUGE!  The heavy-duty materials used in the construction of this DVD box along with the all the goodies inside make the whole package surprisingly heavy.  Measuring in at a whopping 11 x 8 inches, this premium edition DVD set looks like it would be more at home on a bookshelf next to some classy anime art books then on your average DVD shelf.  Everything about it is bright and bubbly, from the cover art used on the two DVD cases to the 30-page hardcover series guide / art book that it comes packaged with it.  To say I’m extremely pleased with NISA’s efforts to put the premium back in “premium edition” would be a huge understatement.

With all of that said, no DVD release is without fault and although my complaints are minor when compared to my overall satisfaction with the release, I still feel I should mention them.  In this era of high definition TVs and video players, just doing an average encoding job on a DVD just doesn’t cut it anymore.  Even with upscaling turned on and several other setting tweaked on my PS3, the animation for Toradora! felt a bit washed out with some of the colors becoming almost indistinct during some sequences.  Granted, this might be a problem with the original animation, but it becomes a lot more noticeable when you take a DVD encoded at 480p and display it on TV designed to display video in 1080p. 

Other video related problems I noticed include some minor line noise around character’s eyes in several scenes throughout the series and the timing on the subtitles for the opening theme being a bit off at the beginning of the song. I also had trouble reading the episode titles sometimes if the background was particularly bright due to the hard subtitles used during these scenes been too light with very little shadowing to provide contrast and legibility.  Lastly, I was a bit annoyed that some of the dialogue translations have been heavily localized to the point of being far too slangy at times.  Whether it was someone talking about Taiga “rocking” a particular hairstyle or someone in the crowd shouting “Daaayum” during a beauty pageant, some of the more slang-ridden subtitles really rubbed my nerd fur the wrong way at times. 

Now, with all of that said, I want to stress again, that all of these complaints are minor in nature and that none of them really affected my overall enjoyment of the series one bit.  This first effort from NIS America is surprisingly good and, despite a few minor quirks here and there, is well worth the investment. 

Bottom Line:

I went into this series a bit dubious of the hype, but came out thirteen episodes later as a true believer in the power of the Palm-Top Tiger.  Filled with heart and charm, the Toradora! Volume 1 Premium Edition box set is an uproarious delight that will make an excellent addition to every anime fan’s collection.  (The release of the second box set in August cannot come soon enough! =^_^;;=)

Final Score: 5 out of 5 stars

Reviewed By: Laughncat 1

Description:  Toradora! Volume 1 Premium Edition box set (includes 13 TV episodes over two DVDS and comes with a hardback series guidebook.)

Available At:  The Right Stuf

My time with Alan Wake began with so much promise. Tight controls, an engaging premise, and wonderful lead in via the Bright Falls webisodes. Unfortunately, despite a strong start, it doesn’t take long for Alan Wake to squander its potential with a slew of bad design choices.

There’s simply no better way to describe Alan Wake’s bi-polar gameplay design than to paraphrase the old poem, “The Little Girl”:

“When Alan Wake was good,
It was very, very good,
And when it was bad it was horrid.”

Alan Wake’s greatest sin is that it goes from being dark and creepy to ridicules. As tired as I got of fighting the same four types of human enemies on every level, at least they managed to scare me occasionally. Sure, they fought the exact same way every level, but at least their clothes changed to fit the environment and, after a while, I even knew exactly how many shots it would take to kill each type. I cannot say the same about having to duke it out possessed lampshades, chairs, pipes and enraged farm equipment. Having my way blocked by a pair of pissed of fence gates or being chased by a large chandler just doesn’t have what it takes to make me wet my pants in fear.

Oh, and while I talking about ridicules design decisions, losing all my collected guns and ammo at the beginning of every single chapter (and at least once mid-chapter) got really old, really fast. If I count the dream sequence at the beginning of the game, Alan loses all his weapons and flashlight at least eight different times throughout the course of the game. I seriously hope that when the sequel comes out, it comes with a free roll of duct tape or a bottle of superglue for Alan so he can stop losing shit all the time.

In the end, the only reason I kept playing Alan Wake was for the story. I had a good idea of how it was going to end long before the credits rolled, but I still wanted to see it for myself. Alan’s love for his wife and his overwhelming need to save her from the dark force that had settled over the city of Bright Falls was compelling. The friends and townsfolk who aid him in his journey are engaging, if not always very well developed, but at least they faired better than the various villains in the game did.

Throughout the game, major villains are introduced and discarded almost a quickly as they appear. Most of them serve as nothing more than monster-of-the-week type fodder to get Alan from point A to point B without any real development of their character or motivations. For someone who’s supposedly a New York Times bestselling author on a mission to save his wife by writing himself into one of his own stories, Alan storytelling skills appear to be on the same level as your average fan fiction writer.

Sadly, by the time I finally did reach the end, I was so disillusioned with the whole experience that I couldn’t get rid of the game fast enough. In fact, my rental copy from Blockbuster accidentally included a free DLC code card with my copy, but I didn’t even bother with it because I no longer cared. The game has zero replayability, so unless you’re planning on mining it for some of the more retarded achievements like “knock over fourteen different can pyramids” or “collect a hundred coffee thermoses,” you’re not going to spending much time with it after the credits roll.

Bottom Line:
Alan Wake is a game that begins strong and has some genuinely great moments to offer, but the humdrum combat and pathetic enemy line up keeps it from ever reaching its full potential. Perhaps the sequel will address these problems, but until then, you’re better off just renting this title for the weekend or waiting until it hits your local bargain bin.

Final Score: 2 out of 5 stars
Reviewed By: Laughncat 1
Description: Alan Wake for the Xbox 360

Okay, I have a confession to make: I’ve never purchased a figma figure before this review. Oh sure, I have a Yuki Nagato figure up on my shelf, but I’ve never taken her out of the package. Up until this point, my entire experience with Max Factory’s figma line has been limited to a brief play session with my friend’s Konata figure at a convention a several years ago. When I saw this cute looking Marisa Kirisame figma come up for preorder several months back, I just knew that it was the right time for me to take the plunge in the world of figmas.

Marisa’s packaging is pretty nice, if not very distinctive. Before I even took her out of the package though, I did notice a couple of problems with this figure right off the bat.

The first problem I noticed was that Marisa appeared to have a large gap between her neck and her chin. Not only was it rather ugly looking, but it also gives her a hunched appearance. Considering the figma line’s reputation for quality, I find this flaw in her design to be rather disconcerting.

Secondly, if you look closely at the packaging (I know the pics are bad, I’m sorry =T_T=), the slot holding her broom has a noticeable curve to it. Anyone who has been collecting PVC figures for a while knows that this does not bode well for the item enclosed inside.

Just a quick back shot of the packaging. Not much to see here other than the fact that it shows Marisa with a broom that looks a lot different from the one included in the packaging.

I believe this some sort of papercraft extra that you can use in conjunction with the figure. The instructions didn’t have much to say on the matter, but I wasn’t going to rip apart the packaging to find out if my hunch was right.

Complete list of parts:

• 3 x Faceplates: 1 x standard, 1 x shouting, 1 x grinning
• 11 x different hands, including:
  • 1 x hand with teacup,
  • 1 x hand with saucer,
  • 1 x hand with open book
  • 1 x hand with magic box
• 1 x broom
• 1 x witch hat
• 2 x pairs of shoes:
  • 1 x pair with clips
  • 1 x pair without clips
• 1 x Figma stand

Straight out of the package, I was immediately impressed with my Marisa figma. She’s surprisingly heavy considering her small size and most her parts have a smooth, almost fragile, feel to them. Her clothing and accessories are nicely detailed as well.

Most pleasing of all were her numerous body joints, all of which moved easily and with a greater range of movement than many of the Revoltech figures I have played with in the past.

Here’s a back shot of the figure. Love the adorable ribbon tied around her waist. I did notice that the hole in her back for the figma stand was a bit raggedy around the edges.

Changing faceplates is a pretty simple affair. Her front bangs remove easily and the faceplate pops right out.

Ta-da! See what I mean? Wait, why is does she look so angry about it?

Since I didn’t have much experience with figma joints, I thought it would be worth taking a few pics of them to show folks what they look like. Flatter and rounder than Revoltech joints, figma joints seem to work exactly the same way. I did notice that they seem to bend a bit farther than standard Revoltech joints though, which allowed me to create some poses that I’ve never been able to accomplish with any of my Revoltech figures (with the exception of maybe the Queen’s Blade ones).

Another look at the figma joint, except from the opposite side. The way her forearm is molded around the joint probably helps add to flexibility.

Up until recently, if you had asked me what the best type of hand joint was for figures like these, I would have immediately replied that stick joint that Max Factory uses on all its figmas were the best. Alas, times have changed.

The Queen’s Blade figures from Revoltech have proven that have an actual joint like the ones used in the figures elbows are a much better choice.

Still, the stick joints get the job done, but they don’t provide nearly as many posing options as I would like. All the hand joints had bits of plastic flash on them. It would have been nice if a bit more effort had gone into removing some of these raggedy bits.

A closer look at the hand joint. As you can see, the joint is rather noticeable and can only move ninety degrees up or down.

Along with the plastic baggy (not pictured), I thought it was pretty cool of Max Factory to include a holder piece for all the different hands. Very nice.

Okay, here’s where we start to get into the stuff I didn’t like about the figure. First up is this ugly neck joint. Look at how huge that gap is between the end of her chin and her neck joint. Most of the time, the gap is not noticeable, but it is a real eye sore when it is visible.

In addition to the gap, her hair causes her head to shift forward a bit which gives her a bit of a hunch. It’s not “The Hunchback of Notre Dame” bad, but it’s pretty annoying.

Another look at that gap from a different angle. Out of curiosity, I tried comparing the Marisa figure to the unopened Yuki I have on my shelf. The Yuki figure’s faceplate does a much better job of filling in the gap. In my not-so-humble opinion, this is just plain shoddy craftsmanship on Max Factory’s part.

View of Marisa’s hunched neck from the back. Sadly, the inflexibility of her long hair really limits her ability to turn her head without causing her head to be cocked at awkward angles.

When not wearing her witch hat, Marisa has a hair plug for this hole.

Close up of Marisa’s witching hat.

If you flip the hat over, you can see the little plug that you use to attach it to her head. Thank god, hats don’t work like this in real life =^_^;;=

There we go. She’s all witchified up now with her big black hat and magical broom. Don’t be fooled by the apparent straightness of her broom though. Thanks to the magic of 2D, I can make it look a lot straighter than it really is.

See what I mean? Since it was packed into a curved slot for some unknown reason, it has a permanent droop to it. Unfortunately, I don’t think they sell Viagra for brooms…

Holy Crap! It’s a super upskirt shot of Marisa’s bloomers. Hurray! Somewhere, some old people are totally scandalized.

This is where we come to my second biggest complaint with the figure. ( Yes, yes, I know she’s missing her feet at the moment, but ignore that for now.) If you look at Marisa’s dress length versus her leg joints, it quickly becomes obvious that poor Marisa can never sit down…ever. She can’t sit on her broom, she can’t sit on a chair while drinking from her teacup and she can’t sit down on a toilet. Ever.

I realize Max Factory was probably trying to keep costs down, but the fact that my witch figma cannot sit on her broom and ride it in the traditionally witchy way, really bugs the crap out of me. Grr.

Anyway, now that I have that off my chest, back to her missing feet. The answer is actually pretty simple. Marisa comes with two pairs of shoes. One for normal poses and one with clips on the bottom so she can stand on her broom since it’s impossible for her to sit on it.

Foot clips. Just like I said.

Just slide the broom through the clips and there you have it, a broom surfing witch.

Here’s a shot of the figma stand I used to support her while she riding her broom. It took a bit of fiddling to get the balance right so she wouldn’t immediately tip over, but it the stand gets the job done. With its limited joint movement though, the figma stand is decidedly inferior to the ones employed on more recent Revoltech figures.

Rargh! I will blast you with my awesome magic box!

Is it me or does she look like she’s throwing a hadouken in this shot?

Close up of Marisa’s severed hand with magic box still attached.

Another severed hand plus a book.

Don’t make her cast as spell on you!

Close up of her teacup and saucer set.

Now we come to the real reason I bought this figure. I just love her grin!

After a long day sweating under hot LED lights while some internet critic guy points out all your faults, there’s nothing better than a relaxing cup of tea with a weird looking British dude.

Marisa really seemed to hit off with the Professor and it wasn’t long before they decided to start a book of the month club.

I pretty much got bored with them around this point and left to them boring talks about Charles Dickens and Jane Austin. I mean seriosuly, they’re all like BFF’s and stuff. It’s kinda of annoying. I mean, it’s not like I’ve got better things to do after all, like maybe finishing this review or something.

Bottom Line:

The Marisa Kirisame figma is a decent figure with some annoying design problems, though I admit that some of the problems I mentioned (like her inability to sit) will bother some people more than they will bother others. Despite my complaints, I must admit that Marisa is a fairly well made figure with a lot of nice detailing. I am quite pleased with the quality of the materials used in her construction and her flexibility from the waste up is some of the best I’ve seen on a female figure. If you enjoy collecting rare figures or you’re a serious fan of all things Touhou Project related, I think you will be extremely pleased with this figure. On the other hand, if you a picky jackass like me, you may want to rethink your purchase once you take into account her rarity and higher than average price point.

Final Score: 4 out of 5 stars

Reviewed By: Laughncat 1

Description: No. 69 Marisa Kirisame figma from Touhou Project

After spending over eighty hours wandering the land of Ferelden, I can honestly say that the time I spent with Dragon Age: Origins was the best RPG experience I’ve had in a long time. BioWare’s newest game aptly captures the essence of the Dungeons & Dragons pen and paper experience without all the fuss that usually accompanies such a venture. Rather than sticking me with all the stodgy predictability and clichéd plot retreads of most modern Japanese RPGs, Dragon Age: Origins gave me with a world where every new companion was potential friend (or lover), every battle was a test of my skill, and every decision a reflection of my own morality with long term consequences.

Having never spent much time playing MMOs or strategy games on the PC, I must admit that I was initially put off by the game’s point and click style. At first, the sense of detachment I felt from just blandly pointing my character in a direction and waiting patiently until they finished killing an enemy was quite uninspiring. As time went, new gameplay elements such as additional party members to manage, a wider array of skills, and new weapon options soon added depth to my battles as the difficulty ratcheted up and the ability to strategize during battles quickly became the only route to success.

Solidly built and wonderfully open ended, Dragon Age’s gameplay is far more than simply getting from point A to point B to kill creature C. For every encounter involving blood drenched swords and bone shattering magic, there is an equally important diplomatic encounter that requires finesse and understanding to navigate successful. Talking with people is a key component of gameplay and serves to breathe life into your party and the world around you. Successfully rally the crowd during an important meeting and avoid unnecessary bloodshed; act like an ass and threaten a priestess, and members of your own party may turn against you.

As unabashed as I am in my love for Dragon Age, the game is not without its flaws. The console version suffers from subpar graphics with the frequent use of low-resolution textures for armor and weapons overlaid on top of higher resolution character models. Dungeon exploration is often hindered by a draw in rate so poor that it was common for plants and other less important texture items to pop into existence within just a few feet of my character.

In addition to the less than stellar graphics engine, serious players will quickly find themselves forced to purchase the Warden’s Keep DLC pack if they want to be able to store items. Once you account for all the gifts, alchemic components, weapons and armor pieces available in the game, managing pack space quickly becomes a major headache. As a player, I greatly resent having to buy additional content to fix a problem that should have been fixed before the game ever went out the door.

Bottom Line:
Despite its flaws, Dragon Age: Origins is such a compelling experience that I soon forgot all of my complaints as I swept away by the epic plot and lovingly crafted world. Fantastically voiced and beautifully told, the consequences of your decisions throughout the game will haunt you long after credits roll. Add in the multiple origin stories and numerous endings and I believe that Dragon Age offers a level of replayability far beyond that of any other RPG on the market today.

Final Score: 5 out 5 stars
Reviewed By: Laughncat 1
Description: Dragon Age: Origins on Xbox 360 (also available on PS3 and PC)

Based on a Russian novel by the same name, Metro 2033 is a great game that easily distinguishes itself from its FPS brethren by means of its engaging gameplay and story. Created by Ukraine based developer, 4A games, and published by THQ, this first-person adaptation provides a solid single player campaign, forgoes any attempt to include multiplayer combat. Despite being hindered by inconsistent gunplay and a dubiously integrated morality system that affects the game’s outcome, Metro 2033 provides a uniquely compelling vision of the Soviet Union post-apocalypse.

The plot for Metro 2033 unfolds through the eyes of Artyom, a young man who’s grown up in the aftermath of a nuclear apocalypse and fights alongside his fellow Rangers to protect what’s left humanity as it huddles beneath the earth in subway tunnels and transit stations. As the story kicks off, Artyom and his fellow Rangers are on a mission to save the Metro from a new mutant threat that has arisen. Known only as “the Dark Ones,” this new strain of mutant appears to be a deadly and intelligent foe intent on systematically wiping out the tattered remains of human civilization.

Of course, not everything is always at it seems and this is where one of my biggest gripes comes in. Apparently, the game has a somewhat dubiously implemented morality system that changes the out of the game’s ending depending on what kind of decisions you make along the way. For example, whether you give money to an orphan or choose to shoot your way through an entire level rather than sneak through it can all affect the outcome of the game. Even more frustratingly, the normal ending (the bad one) is ridiculously out of tune with the rest of the story leading up to it. As the credits began to roll, I was left with a WTF feeling of disappointment. It wasn’t until I was doing some research online for this article that I found out the game has a second “good ending” that’s more in line with where the plot had been leading me throughout the game.

Another niggling problem I consistently had during my time in the Metro is the somewhat shoddy gunplay. Yes, I understand that Metro ammo (i.e. “dirty rounds”) are supposed to be inferior to the military grade rounds that the game uses as both a form of currency and ammo, but that’s not what I’m complaining about. I’m annoyed that I consistently had problem where I could pump five shotgun rounds into a human enemy’s head at point blank range and not only would it not phase them, but they would often just whirl around and kill me with one shot. Sometimes I could take an enemy down with one shot to the body, while other times I could unload an entire clip in their head at close range and still not take ‘em down. It’s not a consistent problem, but when it crops up it can really spoil your day.

Speaking of day spoilers, I must mention the stealth aspects of the game. Lighting plays a big part in the game with night vision goggles and a flashlight playing significant roles throughout the game. When it worked well, I loved sneaking into a room, blowing out all the lights and picking enemies with throwing knives or crossbow (which are often times a guaranteed one hit kill as long as the enemy is unaware of you.) Considering how much control the game gave me over controlling the amount of light available in the game, I was surprised and a bit disappointed that the AI often seemed to have amazing skills of deduction when it came to figuring out my location. This is especially troublesome when the game is trying to force you to be stealthy because it’s often just another way of saying, “Prepare to die A LOT until you get it just right.”

Despite all my grumblings, I still had an excellent time with Metro 2033 and I hope to add it to my collection at some point for another run through. In addition to my interest in seeing what the “good” ending is like, 4A Games is supposed to release a new DLC pack soon that supposedly makes the game even harder. =^_^;;=

Bottom Line:

Metro 2033 is a great game that suffers from several frustrating flaws. I hope that 4A Games will take the time to polish the gunplay a little more if they ever make a sequel. (Which I hope they do because I still have some axes to grind those damn, dirty mutants!)

Final Score: 4 out 5 stars

Reviewed by Laughncat 1

Description: Metro 2033 for the Xbox 360 (Also available on the PC)

I didn’t really know what to expect when I decided to purchase my first Queen’s Blade figure. I’ve never played the game that the series is based on, but I have seen enough screenshots of the anime adaptation to know that the show has a well-deserved reputation as a trashy smutfest filled with more boobs and vaginas than a gynecologist’s waiting room. Despite my misgivings, when I saw Alleyne for the first time on the Otacute website, I just knew I had to have her. She was just so cute looking that I thought that she surely couldn’t possibly be as naughty a girl as her compatriots. Boy, was I wrong on that one… =^_^;;=

To see this figure in all her glory and read the full review, just hit the jump. I warn you though; this review is extremely NOT SAFE FOR WORK. You have been warned!

The rich deep green of the packaging and stylish layout make this figure look good even if all you do is just sit her up on a shelf. Since my picture-taking skills were not up to the task of highlighting just how good the packaging for Alleyne is, I guess my word on it will have to suffice. Sorry =^_^;;=

The Alleyne figure comes with the following accessories:

• 2 x Faces – 1 x standard expression (S mode), 1 x sexy face (M mode)
• 1 x torn shirt
• 1 x torn skirt
• 5 x hands -3 x right, 2 x left
• 1 x spear
• 1 x figure stand
• 1 x revolcontainer
• 1x revolchip

Considering just about everything Alleyne is wearing is removable, it could be said that everything she’s wearing is an accessory, but I don’t feel like typing up a list that long :P

Right out of the box, I was completely blown away with just how beautiful this figure is. Her clothing is covered in intricate designs and the paint job is simply fantastic. It’s especially breathtaking when you realize that the majority of her clothing is either poseable or removable. I don’t think I’ve ever seen a figure that offered me this freedom of play.

Alleyne’s boots are the only parts of her costume that aren’t removable. They’re stylish though, so I don’t mind. It’s also worth noting that when she’s fully dressed, you will have to use the included figure stand to keep her upright. Her cloak makes her too top heavy otherwise. Thankfully, the base is as stylish looking as the rest of the figure and can easily be added into photos with it being obtrusive.

I was very surprised when I discovered that Alleyne’s beret is secured to her head using a Revoltech joint. I’m very glad that she doesn’t sport peg horns like my Professor Layton figure does. It’s a small touch, but it makes me happy.

The giant seam on her head is actually a joint that allows her hair to lift up and down for easy face removal. This is another nice touch since it means you don’t have to take her head of completely just to change out expressions. I did take a picture of her with the hair flipped up so you could see what she looks like in between faces, but it was so Cthulu-esque looking that I just couldn’t bring myself to post it. You can check it out here if you really want to see it, but I warn you it’s pretty creepy looking. Brrr! =^_^;;=

Close up of Alleyne’s beret. I didn’t realize how big it actually was until I took it off her. It’s practically a small shield!

Alleyne’s cloak is actually three separate pieces. The piece that wraps around around her neck doesn’t move, but the ends hanging from her back do. Each back piece has two joints that allow for a huge number of potential poses, such as the one above.

I was very pleased with Alleyne’s overall poseability. Alleyne sports an amazing 16 separate Revoltech joints (21 if count her cloak and hat) which makes for her an incredibly flexible young lady. I was also very pleased that tiny Revoltech joints were used for her wrist joints instead of a simple stick joint or peg. Thanks to the numerous Revoltech joints and the careful attention paid to her design, you can pose her in just about any position you want and have it look natural (or at least more natural than most other figures).

Of course, all of that poseability comes at price. When you look at Alleyne from behind, she has an awful lot of extra holes. (Yeah, yeah, laugh it up, I know you’re thinking something dirty about that last comment!) Thankfully, since her hair is poseable too, you hide most of them if you need to.

If you look closely, you’ll notice that in addition to the massive spear she’s now holding, I removed her bracers. I really liked how she looked without her bracers on. Not sure why… =^_^;;=

It was around this time that Alleyne decided to show off her l33t spear wielding skill. I tried to catch some of it on film, but alas, I was too busy try to look up her skirt during some her more energetic movements.

Oh good, I love this pic. She looks so damn cute!

This is one of the first poses I had trouble with. I was trying to place the spear across her shoulders, but this turned out to be one of those poses where the limits of her body’s design finally caught up with her.

She was kind of sad that she had disappointed me, so I gave her a couple of cherries to cheer her up…

Apparently, she REALLY likes her cherries. I mean, like OMG in a sexual way… =^_^;;=

After she finished eating, she was so turned on, she started touching herself in all sorts of interesting ways.

Being the trained professional that I am, I made sure to photograph everything I could. I must admit though that I was bit surprised when she started ripping her own clothes off in a fit of horniness.

She does have some nice boobs though. The paint job is very subtle and delicate. Very nice.

It soon became apparent that the show wasn’t when she started ripping at her skirt and playing with her downtown woman parts. It’s around this time, I began to realize that I my cute little Alleyne might be every bit as dirty a girl as her fellow Queen’s Blade companions.

Once she got her panties off, I was certain that she was indeed a very, very dirty girl…

…and this is when I realized that I’m probably closeted pornographer.

So yeah, I’m a dirty pervert, but she’s just as bad for putting on a show for the whole world to see.

What? Don’t look at me like that. She’s the one showing off her vagina! Seriously. I didn’t make her do all this stuff. It was totally her decision. I swear!

Thankfully, after she finally reached the big O, she settled down a bit. Since all her clothes were shredded by this point, she just stood there looking up at me with those big blue eyes with a sort of “Did I please you, master?” look on her face.

Bottom Line:

Alleyne is a fantastically designed Revoltech figure that really pushes the limits of what a Revoltech figure can be. She’s beautifully sculpted and extremely flexible. Although I wish her leg joints were a bit better looking, they are still significantly better looking than those of the pre-Queen’s Blade era females. Add in the all the accessories (including all her removable clothes) and Alleyne is a real bargain for the price that will provide hours of fun for serious collectors and closeted perverts alike.

Final Score: 5 out 5 stars

Reviewed By: Laughncat 1

Description: Revoltech Queen’s Blade No. 07 – Alleyne