Archive for the “Games” Category

Over the last two weeks I caught up with watching Ookami Kakushi. The last time I had watched it was when I spent my 21st birthday immersing myself in everything 07th Expansion. I watched the first two episodes and after only that I was pretty much able to formulate a solid theory which later proved to be correct with each subsequent episode. The ease at which I solved the “mystery” was the main reason I fell behind it in the first place. Yet I find that very fact the reason I believe Ookami Kakushi is a better anime than Umineko. When put next to the Higurashi anime it definitely doesn’t compare but still I would place it above the likes of the Umineko anime. To put things into perspective I place the Umineko sound novels on equal terms as the Higurashi anime.

As a mystery series Ookami Kakushi pales in comparison to the Higurashi anime and the Umineko novels. As previously mentioned it is a lot easier to predict than would be expected. In fact I wouldn’t even classify Ookami Kakushi as a mystery series at all but rather as supernatural suspense. The show does not really have to rely on the mystery elements at all and can focus on character interaction and the moment-to-moment events that befall Hiroshi. At times the show can seem shallower than Higurashi or the Umineko sound novels but it also doesn’t place the same expectations that made the Umineko anime a letdown in many respects. In a way this allows the series to sidestep several of the many big faults with the Umineko anime–the terrible transition of the mystery to animated form. Get ready for possibly massive spoilers as is always the case when I discuss stuff about 07th Expansion.
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I’ve been meaning to do this since it came out but I haven’t been able to get around to it until today due to school-related issues. I think I was a little less strict in my interpretation into English than usual but hopefully it turned out well. I keep rereading it just to make sure but I think it feels right. Judging by the lyrics it’s from Fate’s perspective so hopefully I conveyed that well. I hope you enjoy.
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So today I finally got the limited edition shirt I won from Penny Arcade’s Bayonetta Contest. Basically on the release date, January 7th, Penny Arcade ran an old school ’submit-a-photo’ style contest to award the first 500 entrants to beat the game on hard difficulty an exclusive T-shirt. For extra validation contestants also had to have the ‘Umbra Elder’ achievement/trophy. After getting the game the same day a friend told me about the contest which gave me even more of a reason to play. Long story short I beat Hard on the 11th and have pretty much been waiting to see if I had won until this afternoon when I saw a Penny Arcade envelope on my porch. Now I feel like I achieved something tangible for being so obsessive about a game and all I had to do was be in the top 500 fastest lol.

Honya’s been on a translation tear lately, but when she mentioned that her next project was going to be Kuribayashi Minami’s tune Muv-Luv (because no one else has translated it yet, apparently), I begged her to let me do it instead. “Muv-Luv” is one of my favorite songs, and Muv-Luv Unlimited/Alternative  would be on my short list of visnovels to play except that it’ll never be translated. Ah, well. Here’s hoping you enjoy my latest humble translation effort!
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Exactly two years ago I posted “my ideal family” if it were to consist of anime, manga and game characters. Basically the idea came to me when I stumbled on an amazing thread randomly in which people would post a list of characters to form a family. Think of Kyouran Kazoku Nikki and that’s pretty much the basic premise. I found the idea so amusing that I started seriously thinking about it and after some major contemplation I posted my list a few days later. Suddenly two years have passed and I’ve finally gotten around to updating my family roster. I’ve been planning to redo it for a while since I have an even bigger “gene pool” from which to select family members from. The list is divided into the family I grew up with and the family I raise as an adult. Continue on for some strange shenanigans.
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Yesterday I came back to school and waiting for me at the house was a package containing a copy of Dengeki G’s Festival! DELUXE Vol.5, the Key special issue, and my Cospa Hirasawa Yui shirt. Since I can only talk so much about a t-shirt I’ll focus on the magazine only. The reason I decided to get it other than the obvious fact that I’m a Key maniac was the pack-ins. In hindsight I think I felt a little shafted having missed a similar promotion last time so I didn’t want to miss it this time. Aside from the magazine the box set also comes with a Kud Dakimakura Cover, Key Playing Cards and a Kanbe Kotori Key chain. I’ll definitely use the key chain and cards but I honestly don’t know what to do with the dakimakura cover so I’ll probably just keep it in the plastic and store it somewhere.
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For some reason I spent yesterday in 07th Expansion Mode and ended up watching the first two episodes of Ookami Kakushi. From the very start I couldn’t help but get my tablet ready to take down notes as per usual for mystery-solving purposes and before I knew I had enough to make a post. In my theory-induced mood I also finally got around to watching the second half of the Umineko anime. If you haven’t watched/read Higurashi no Naku Koro ni/Kai/Rei, Umineko/Chiru or Ookami Kakushi be prepared for tons of spoilers.
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I’m not particularly a fan of BoA at all but I do like Tales games so I decided to do this song. Unlike past songs I’ve done Mamoritai has an official English version so I posted that AND my translation of the original Japanese version. The two versions are quite different so be sure to look at both. Namco Bandai where is my North American release of Tales of Graces!? The Wii is the only current generation system I have that can’t actually play Japanese-region games. I hope they decide to release the game stateside or else I’ll be disappointed. Anyway here are the lyrics:
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Wednesday Citrus and I received the most dangerous thing for us to get during University finals time. What I mean is Phantasy Star Zero. As big fans of Phantasy Star Online we knew that getting its successor in every way possible would result in our “Game Over.” I had planned to refrain from playing until I finished all my exams but it was less than 24 hours before I broke down and plunged in. Soon Citrus discovered and he started playing. Our housemate bought a copy as well and we got others interested further reinforcing our addiction. This is the best worst thing ever.
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