Monday, April 26, 2010

Weekend Watch: Super Streetfighter 4

Super Street Fighter 4 is the latest edition of the successful Street Fighter franchise due out this Tuesday for the PS3 and Xbox 360. It is an update to Street Fighter 4, which was previously released on the PS3, Xbox 360, and PC. It features a cast of returning characters, fan favorites, and brand new characters. I missed out on Street Fighter 4, but this looks like a very promising purchase for me. Or I might wait for the probably inevitable Super Street Fighter 4 Turbo...

Thursday, April 15, 2010

Shakugan No Shana Season 1 Anime Review



There is a secret battle going on as the balance of the world is constantly in danger. Entities know as the Denizens of the Crimson Realm freeze time in what is called a fuzetsu and steal the power of existence from unsuspecting humans. However the Lords from the Crimson Realm possesses humans giving them powers to stay unfrozen and great strength and abilities to fight off the Denizens. But when a person's power of existence is stolen they vanish from the world and a Flame Haze places a Torch in their place so they will gradually fade away and the people who knew them won't be thrown off balance from their sudden disappearance.

Shakugan No Shana follows the story of Yuji Sakai who finds himself captured in a fuzetsu caused by a couple Rinne who work for a Denizen, but Yuji is still able to move around. Here he meets a young flame haze he names Shana and discovers that he is no longer alive, but a torch himself.

This is a heartwarming story rich with fantasy elements and the love that grows between Shana and Yuji as they save the world. However sad the circumstances of their lives are you will be drawn into this story in spite of the main character being already dead from episode one. That's one thing I like about anime, not everything has to be all sunshine and rainbows all the time, but if you are someone who doesn't like misery or one who is easily depressed don't let the premise of this show deter you as the first season at least still has enough of that happy ending cliche to keep your own emotions at a good balance.

As for the characters themselves, most of them are relatable. Shana is a bit hot headed repeating "shut up, shut up, shut up!" when Yugi get's on her nerves, which becomes her catchphrase. It can be a bit much at time, but that is just part of her charm. Shana doesn't understand the human condition much, as she only sees herself as a flame haze and in the beginning mainly focuses on her duties as one. Though after staying with Yugi for a while she begins to soften up. Yuji is curious yet honorable. He of course is affected by the news that he is dead and struggles with his new existence, but that doesn't hold him back. He has a strong will and is kind hearted. As you meet more characters in this series you will find that they all have their own weaknesses and strengths. No one seems that they are perfect or impenetrable giving the circumstances of their mystical powers. The character interactions also consist of relatable themes such as duty, jealousy and love along with teen mischief.

Though there is some fan service here in the form of some large breasted characters in tiny bathing suits, which at times which can be good or bad  depending on how you look at it. Though I find a little too much emphasis on that part of the female body as another flame haze dresses up in a kimono having their boobs ready to burst out. Also be prepared for a bit of brotherly/sisterly love and lots of wet kisses. However a bit of fan service does not deter me from the story or saying that I really loved this anime.

Since this is a story about keeping the balance of the world in tact you can expect a lot of battles and a lot of enemies. New Denizens come to town and pose a new threat to Shana and Yuji with them lasting only a few eposides so there is no one main antagonist. With so many enemies we get the feeling that the world is constantly in danger all over the world and not just in their city. Multiple main baddies also give us different types of battles, fighting styles and weapons to keep them fresh.

The art style and animation used in Shakugan No Shana is common in many animes keeping with the most noticeable feature of large eyed characters and the likes. The backgrounds are beautiful and the character art is stunning as flecks of fire encompass Shana as she transforms.

Seeing how this is just season one, the ending is left open having you crave for more story. The last few episodes are also epic and life changing that also lead for a good wrap up for the first season. If you are looking for a good, new anime series I would definitely say to pick this one up.

Videos fresh off the harddrive

So these are the first two videos I made as a test for my new capture card. I think they turned out well, except for that little twitchy thing at the bottom. I'll figure that out some day. But without further ado, here they are!








Wednesday, April 14, 2010

Capture Device

Your new reviewer has just got his hand on a nifty new capture card. Its a Dazzle DVC 100, so hopefully its quality is acceptable. Look for cool videos I'll post up with my reviews!

Thursday, April 8, 2010

Battlefield Bad Company 2 PS3 Review






Battlefield, a long running FPS franchise with a focus on vehicle and teamwork. The newest entry, Battlefield Bad Company 2 is no exception. Its an intense experience for fans of tactical action. My views on it are as thus follows:


Story: The game picks up after the events of Battlefield Bad Company. It stars the roles of a mercenary group called B Company which include members; Sarge the squad leader,Sweetwater the tech head, Haggard the demo expert, and Marlowe guy you play as. You are sent to recover a special weapons project from some Russians. The plot is not as lighthearted as the first Bad Company, but there are still some cool snickering moments.
7/10


Gameplay: This is where Battlefield Bad Company 2 shines. With a different array of weapons and vehicles, the action feels like its on a grander scale then it is. The controls are smooth and tight, being at the perfect sensitivity for this reviewer. The multiplayer is no slouch either. There is a definite learning curve, but you'll learn all of the tricks in due time while unlocking a multitude of weapon and vehicle upgrades to help you arm and disarm those M-Com stations.
10/10


Graphics: Another nice point to add to the game. No gray and brown here. The environment is full of lush plants and other flora. And the best part of it? Its destructible! Is there a house or hut in the way of your tank? Blow through it with your main cannon. Door blocking your way to the M-Com station? Knocking is the thing of the past when you have a pack of C4 attached to it. The Frostbite engine is truly amazing.
9/10


Sound: Unfortunately, the sound is not as impressive as the rest of the game. The guns firing all sound a little off, and tanks all sound very similiar. I feel as if they worked on this area of Bad Company 2, it would've been as close to a perfect FPS experience as possible.
7/10

All in all, its a very nice entry in the Battlefield series from DICE. Its very enjoyable, and with DLC being free for VIP members, which was included in brand new copies, DICE has a big hit in its hands.

Overall Score 8/10

Informational video by Pixelenemy on how to not suck at Bad Company 2





EA Promotional Video




Tuesday, April 6, 2010

10 Ten Video Game Names That Could Work In Real Life

Time to start doing Top Tens again. I used to help out for a site doing top tens, which was a lot of fun for me and can spark debate as well as letting people know what's out there. Since I no longer help out at the previous mentioned site I thought I should continue them here. Maybe making this a regular thing once a month called Top Ten Tuesdays. Tell me what you think. Anyways I wanted to start out with something fun, as well as something that's been on my mind for who knows why.

This is a Top Ten for Video Game names that aren't everyday names such as Jill or Claire (from Resident Evil and are also very common names), but more unique names that could still be used in real life and wouldn't cause major head turns and name callings. So if you are looking for a unique baby name or a video game baby name then you might want to consider one of the following names.



10. Alucard (boy)

So this one is a bit more out there on the list then the rest, mainly because it's Dracula backwards. Alucard is a character in the video game Castlevania as well as being a character in the Anime Hellsing and Dracula's son in the film Son of Dracula. This name would suit any horror buff or vampire enthusiast as well as a fan of the Castlevania series.



9. Ash (boy)

Pokemon
is one of the largest franchises when it comes to games and animes, so this name would be very well known to a bunch of school kids, which might lead to name calling or envy. However I find it very simplistic and unusual at the same time. It is also a more daring video game/anime name since it's so widely known.



8. Anju (girl)

Anju is a lesser known character in the Zelda series who is sometimes referred to as the Cucco lady, but in Majora's Mask she has lost her boyfriend and asks for link's help on finding him. I think this name would be perfect for a Zelda fan who didn't want to go out and name their child just that. Everyone will know where the name Zelda came from and could lead to teasing, but Anju is lesser known and more unique.



7. Dante (boy)

This name isn't that far out there, but I don't hear it every day either. Dante is the main character in the Devil May Cry series who is described as masculine and confident, not bad traits for a person to have. But he is also a half demon which gives him that dangerous side that girls just go for. Sure you might not want to think of your son as an up and coming ladies man, but it's still a cool name that doesn't necessarily have to be just a video game name for those on the fence about naming their son solely after a video game character.



6. Aya (girl)

Aya is the protaganist in playstation game Parasite Eve. It's a lesser known game, but will work for any survival horror/rpg fan. She is a strong, beautiful female character, which is sometimes hard to find in video games. Hence why I think this would be a good video game character to name your kid after.



5. Ryu (boy)

One of the main protagonist in the Street Fighter series whose name means Dragon in Japanese. Maybe I'm a sucker for dragon's with one tattooed on my foot, but I like the idea. Dragons in Asian cultures stands for power, strength and protection, not to mention that Ryu is one kick ass character, literally.



4. Aeris (girl)

Aeris hails from the most popular Final Fantasy game: Final Fantasy VII and is one of the most beloved female character in the series. She may have come to an untimely demise, but that didn't stop her from capturing our hearts.



3. Nariko (girl)

Heavenly Sword might not have been one of the best games in history, but that doesn't stop the main character's name from being a fun, unique name. Since it wasn't a very well known game a lot of people probably won't make the connection and it would be one of those unique names that people won't know where you came up with it if you choose not to confess your geeky love for video games.



2. Raiden (boy)

This name can be found in both the Metal Gear and the Mortal Kombat series, though pronounced slightly different in both: in Metal Gear it's pronounced R-eye-din and in Mortal Kombat it's pronounced RAY-din. Either way you say it, it's a name that is heavy in video game history as well as with the trends of all the Hayden, Jaden, and Caden names out today.



1. Kairi (girl)

She is one of the seven princesses of heart in the Kingdom Heart series and seriously what little girl doesn't want to go from a normal existence to realizing she is a princess. The name can also be interpreted as sea as Kai is the Japanese word for it. She may not be the most influential video game character out there, but it sure has a nice ring to it.


Honorable mention: Arcadia (girl)
Sure not a character from a game, but there is a niche game called Skies of Arcadia as well as being a name that can show your love for arcade games.

Sunday, April 4, 2010

Weekend Watch: Trauma Team


Another Atlus game, oh my! I swear they won't be all Atlus games in the future, but with Atlus announcing that the price for Trauma Team has already dropped to $39.99 and it's not even released yet, I thought it was a good time to announce this upcoming title. Trauma Team is part of the Trauma Center series, but unlike it's predicessors, Trauma Team will have you doing more than surgeries. This time around you will also get to do diagnostics, first response, autopsies and Endoscopies. Trauma Team is out May 18, 2010. To find out more you can watch the trailer below and visit the game's official site: http://www.atlus.com/traumateam/


Resident Evil Afterlife 3D Teaser

The Resident Evil movies have always been in question of good taste towards the video game franchise. With a lead role not in the video games and some other pretty big changes have had fans of the games turn the other way. For being a fan of Resident Evil ever since I got my hands on the Directors Cut of the very first game for the PSX, I was extatic about the first movie. It was one of my favorite films of the time even after being so different. Sure I thought it could have used some more game elements, but I was taken on a ride and never looked back. As the sequels came I felt that it was losing some of it's magic and after the third movie I was less pumped about Resident Evil movies. When I first heard that the forth movie was going to be in 3D, I was a bit disappointed and hoped that it wouldn't just be another gimmick. However being a fan like I am, I knew I was going to see Afterlife no matter what. After seeing this trailer my hopes have brightened for the movie. The visuals are really stunning and seeing more monsters from the games makes me smile. Now I can't wait for September 10th. The teaser trailer is below for your viewing pleasure.

Thursday, April 1, 2010

Resignation

I feel as though I can not contribute as much here at Video Animer Reviews. I'm sorry to say that I will have to resign here as a reviewer for this great site. May it keep having fruitful reviews, and keep the quality of its predecessors.