Quantcast

ADV announces CLANNAD license...from South Dakota con?

1 comments

CLANNAD

According to firsthand sources, Matt Greenfield (ADV Films' Vice President of Marketing and Communications) and Greg Ayres (voice actor) both confirmed ADV Films' license of the anime CLANNAD while at Sogen Con 2008 in South Dakota. While there are no details on if this is the TV anime, film, or second TV anime, the most likely case is the first series, since the others are offshoots of the original.

This begs quite a few questions. First off, did nobody want CLANNAD? ADV has been losing licenses to other companies left and right, so it seems that everybody else backed off on CLANNAD, perhaps because of the idea that "moe doesn't sell." Not to mention, does the license of CLANNAD signal ADV Films really making a comeback? I doubt it, since the show will not be a big moneymaker, but we can all hope that Matt and company will be back in action as soon as possible.

The strangest thing of all is that instead of having a presence at this past weekend's huge industry event, the New York Anime Festival, where they might have received more press for their CLANNAD license, ADV chose instead to announce it at Sogen Con in South Dakota, meaning that this license will almost surely go under most people's radars.

[via Anime News Network]

Continue reading... | Write a comment

Review: The Skull Man (Sub)

1 comments

The Skull Man Medium: TV Anime
Genres: Drama, Horror, Mystery, Supernatural
Director: Takeshi Mori
Studio: BONES
Licensed? No

Editor's Note: This is an anime adapted from manga legend Shotaro Ishinomori's original "Skull Man."

Nothing hits the spot like a solid mystery, a gripping horror story, or an action-packed descent into darkness. The Skull Man sets the bar for modern gothic suspense without relying on the convoluted, philosophical and psychological dribble barrage of such series as Boogiepop Phantom and Serial Experiments Lain. While both are great series in their place, The Skull Man combines a killer storyline with solid action and gripping, linear human pathos.

Our plot is as follows: Ootomo City has more skeletons in its closet than the house in Spielberg’s Poltergeist; one of those skeletons is ready to slaughter your ass.

The main story is told through the eyes of Hayato Mikogami, an ambitious, young and fearless newspaper reporter from Tokyo. He comes to Ootomo to investigate the serial murders of a mysterious “skeleton costumed” man who only appears after midnight. Once he arrives, his bad luck accidentally partners him up with Kiriko Mamiya, a teenage photographer with tomboyish charm to spare. Together, they uncover the links between the Skull Man, pharmaceutical companies, the resident cult, and the murderous mutants that prowl the streets during the night.

Sound like a lot to handle for a thirteen-episode series? It is, but only by keeping the mystery and the intrigue alive does The Skull Man handle itself so skillfully. As any well laid-out mystery goes, every scene, every moment, and every murder only opens the door to the next clue. When Ootomo City approaches midnight, citizens are locked in their houses and police cars patrol the streets, turning the city into a prison. For all its details, The Skull Man never loses the central mystery: the skull man’s true identity, and the reasons he terrorizes the city.

By episode two, Hayato meets Detective Shinjou, who tails him endlessly, convinced that Hayato is connected personally to the mysterious murders. Without his adopted uncle, a high-level bureaucrat watching his back, Hayato would be behind bars most of the series. With each new character they encounter, Hayato and Kiriko discover that the number of people they can trust is dwindling. Even at the halfway mark, when Kiriko’s true mission (not to mention martial arts skills) is revealed during a battle with her brother, is it clear that our characters are in desperately over their heads.

Hayato has a small network of people he continuously pumps for leads (though unsuccessfully). One lead is an old childhood friend who became the town priest, who guides Hayato in his quest to seek the higher power and truth behind the Skull Man. Another is an older P.I., whose wisdom and nearly Goku-level of perfect timing seems to have stepped from the pages of noire pulp comics.

Some of the lighter moments, especially those between Kiriko and Hayato (who share great moments in their struggle for dominance in their partnership) soften the mood just before the next murder or devilish plot twist occurs. Hayato’s constant confrontations with the Skull Man drive him to obsession to discover the face beneath the mask, even facing the dangerous specter down at gunpoint. By the halfway mark, it is clear that The Skull Man frames Hayato’s embrace of his inner darkness to battle the greater darkness of Ootomo City’s hubris and political corruption.

Sounds pretty epic, don’t you think? Just imagine all that and some werewolves and a small battalion of mechanized maniacal army clowns with flame-throwers and rocket-launchers. Now we talking badass.

Religious imagery, especially those dealing with light, darkness and resurrection, recur faithfully in Skull Man. For example, the secretive Byakureikai cult (literally meaning white bell association) is grooming a key character to be their new Eve in the world they aim to create. While Ootomo City prides itself in its ever-present military-police force, the city does hold a striking Babylon parallel complete with the tower. In the end, the Skull Man’s true purpose is to keep the executives of the pharmaceutical company’s power in check and dish out divine punishment to keep the citizens grounded. The Skull Man himself quotes Nietsche and Macbeth just to add to his creepy persona. Forget Tuxedo Mask from Sailor Moon or Buffy: the Vampire Slayer’s Angel, the title character of this anime is relentless, haunting, and holds more “badass” in his belt buckle than Blood +’s Haji has in his whole cello case. The black leather, spring-loaded sais, German Luger and glowing red eyes are enough to haunt even the most desensitized viewer’s dreams.

Besides being a mystery, The Skull Man is also easily categorized as super-natural with elements of horror. Studio BONES (who put out Fullmetal Alchemist and Darker Than Black and, by extension, have a direct link to my heart and wallet) assembled a patchwork team of directors and writers to compose this piece. With a lot of violence and intense moments, this series would find difficulty in a younger fan base. Its maturity and complexity limit its target audience and, thus, its interest from American dubbing companies.

While The Skull Man’s pacing mirrors The DaVinci Code and results in a stereotypical all-flash-and-zero-explanation ending that is inconclusive at best, it is still a very good mystery. Even the way its scenes are shot reveal something essential: characters over the phone, characters emerging from behind slightly ajar doors: Ootomo City can make any viewer feel like they are trapped in The Matrix. But I do offer fair warning that this is not a series with conclusive results. In fact, just to stay true to its own tragic nature, The Skull Man ends on a darkly lit here-we-go-again tone that shadows an even greater evil that will soon come to pass.

For all its red herrings, dead ends and McGuffins, The Skull Man still cranks out a great story with more layers than an onion and a great balance of horror, tragic desire and hair-raising action. How it handled itself so well is the real mystery.

Animation: 4.0 Overall:

(4.0 stars)
Plot: 4.0
Voice Acting: NR
Sound: 4.0

Continue reading... | Write a comment

NYAF08 recap: let there be swag!

0 comments

Vampt Vo's phenominal pile of swag

Holy crap man, d'you see that pile of swag? That's what I picked up at the New York Anime Festival 2008. Some of it was free, some of it was purchased, and not all of it is awesome. In case you're interested, I did in fact forget to include They Were Eleven in there. (Thanks to Sci-Fi Continuum, with their awesome $10 retro DVDs) Check out all of the posts from the Festival below.

Bandai/FUNimation panel reports

Vertical, Inc. panel report

Media Blasters/Del Rey/ANN panel reports [EDIT 2]

Yen Press panel report

Continue reading... | Write a comment

NYAF08: Yen Press panel report

0 comments

Yen Press's Tania and Rich

Yen Press, creators of the popular startup manga magazine Yen+, provided a panel much in the same vein as Del Rey's panel a day before. The beginning of the panel consisted of Rich Johnson bantering with Japanator reader Chris (a.k.a. KuronoK), a pastime which would become central to the panel. As is the case with Del Rey, bloggers like me LOVE Yen Press. Their informal, exciting, and funny panel started with a quick recap of the status of the Haruhi Suzumiya manga, which releases in three weeks. The light novels will release in April, and a sneak preview of them is in the back of the manga. Of course, there were a few (some might call it a giant box of) copies of the manga that Rich had happened to bring with him, so we would be winning them as prizes for answering questions.

Soon after that, Rich and his cohorts Kurt, Juon, Tania, and Abby went right into Yen's list of new titles. I've listed them below:

  • Hero Tales, written by Huang Jin Zhou and drawn by Hiromu Arakawa (FMA) - October 2009
  • Spice and Wolf light novels by Isuna Hasekura - December 2009
  • 13th Boy by SangUen Lee - June 2009
  • Welcome to Wakaba-Soh by Chako Abeno (Sola) - June 2009
  • Sugarholic by GooGoo Gong - June 2009

After that, the entire panel was composed of Rich asking questions, and giving copies of the Haruhi manga to those who got them right (or to random people who made a comment he liked). Chris had to wait more than half the panel for a copy from Rich, who took a sick (and hilarious) pleasure in depriving the boy. Eventually nearly everyone in the room who wanted one - including Chris - was given a copy, and Brad Rice even got the box that held them! Overall, the panel was a lot of fun, and the news was given in a refreshingly concise style, making it easy on bloggers like me.

Continue reading... | Write a comment

This Week in Ani-Gamers ~ 09.21.08-09.28.08

0 comments

Well, I missed a couple weeks back there, but no matter! Even during the hectic, crazy New York Anime Festival, I've finally found the time to get back on the horse and write This Week once again. I'm about to leave for my third and final day at the convention, but let me just say that this was an awesome week here at the site. Up for Download made its glorious return, I published my popular Big Apple Anime Explosion article, and we got three NYAF08 posts up. Enjoy, and I hope you find much more to love in the future.

Check out this week's posts after the break.




News:
LittleBigPlanet to hit shelves October 21, free DLC with preorder
Studio Ghibli working with Level-5 on Japanese DS game
NYAF08: Bandai/FUNimation panel reports
NYAF08: Vertical, Inc. panel report
NYAF08: Media Blasters/Del Rey/ANN panel reports


Features:
Big Apple Anime Explosion: Anime Comes Back to NYC


Columns:
Up for Download: 09.22.08 Edition


Notices:
Notice: This Week column and Gurren Lagann interview


On Deck:
[Review] Civilization Revolution (360) - Pigeonflu
[Review] Dominion Tank Police (Hyb) - Uncle Yo
[Review] Mnemosyne (Sub) - Uncle Yo
[Review] Paranoia Agent (Hyb) - Uncle Yo
[Feature] See You Space Cowboy: The Legacy of Toonami - Vampt Vo
[Review] The Skull Man (Sub) - Uncle Yo
[Review] Tower of Druaga: The Aegis of Uruk (Sub) - Uncle Yo



Thanks for reading. See you next week!

To subscribe to these posts by email, click here.

Continue reading... | Write a comment

NYAF08: Media Blasters/Del Rey/ANN panel reports [EDIT 2]

0 comments

Meredith and Joe from Media Blasters

Surprisingly, Saturday at the New York Anime Festival was not as hectic as Friday was. With more panel time during the day and hence more time between panels, it was much easier for my bloggers-in-crime (Brad, Gia, Scott) and I to get from panel to panel and still have time for, you know, food and actually enjoying ourselves.

Media Blasters

Joe Chagan and Merideth Mulroney from Media Blasters began their panel with two points; points which would become the center of their entire message:

  • We're still in business!
  • We have an announcement, but our boss won't let us tell you.

Other than that, the two friendly representatives opened themselves up for questions, giving surprisingly candid and telling answers that you can only get from Media Blasters and their unique marketing style. First off, on Media Blasters' solvency in the dangerous climate of today's anime market, Merideth reminded us that the company is "holding our own because we're feisty." The "big announcement" was hinted at being something involving a new title (i.e. NOT retro) that will make you go "holy crap, THAT ONE?"

When asked about a Blu-ray release for MB's remaster of Berserk, Merideth reminded us that regardless of high-def quality, "16mm is 16mm." She also clarified that the main reason for Seirei no Moribito's DVD release delay is that she still doesn't have all of the original artwork for the show after six months of waiting. Finally, the reps also plugged MB's new online card game Alteil (preview coming soon), and let us know that the company is/was interested in picking up Cream Lemon, Turn A Gundam, and Black Lagoon.

Media Blasters denies any plans for a unified anime channel with other companies due to the immense costs of running a television channel. They also say that a burn-on-demand plan will not work for a small company like Media Blasters until someone else makes a system that they can adapt for their own needs.

Del Rey

Ali on the left of the Del Rey panel

Unlike AnimeNEXT, at this Del Rey panel the company was up a proverbial creek without a not-so-proverbial Dallas Middaugh. Del Rey's charismatic Associate Publisher was unable to come to the convention due to previous engagements (i.e. his honeymoon), so standing in for him was the equally (if not more) charismatic Ali T. Kokmen. Del Rey, friend of the press, gave us the new announcements rapid-fire at the beginning of the panel, without all of that annoying suspense of other industry panels.

  • Del Rey is teaming up with Cartoon Network, bringing Ben10 and Bakugan film comics and light novels to stores. Cue Bakugan trailer with terrrrrible theme music. "Fight for what's right before it's gone! This is Bakugan!"
  • The first Bakugan film comic is in December 2008, and the second is in March 2009. An original manga is coming in Summer 2009.
  • Ben10 is getting the first film comic release in April 2009, with the original manga in November of 2009.
  • Moyasimon: Tales of Agriculture in Fall 2009 - It's about cute bacteria. And it's apparently educational. AWO complained that it wasn't licensed. TAKE THAT!
  • Tsubasa Character Guide 2 in Summer 2009 - Yeah, it's another one. It covers volumes 8-14.
  • Amefurashi in July 2009 - From the creator of Haridama: Magic Cram School and Venus vs. Virus, it looks alright.
  • Maid War Chronicles in May 2009 - The illustrator is from Mao-chan. It's about fighting maids. You know you want it.

Most of the rest of the panel was spent answering questions and throwing squishy gavels at the audience to promote Del Rey's new Phoenix Wright manga license. Trust me, you had to be there for some of Ali's lines. Why is Del Rey so gosh darn awesome asks Japanator reader KuronoK? "Diet and exercise." We love you Del Rey.

Anime News Network

Justin Sevakis helping with question-answer stuff

[EDIT: Gia let me know during Podtoid-san today that this was previously announced. Oops!] Quite ironically, there was also some news out of the center of anime news themselves, Anime News Network, during their (self-)celebratory 10th Anniversary panel. Namely, the web site, which has already pursued some mode of video presence on the web, will now be working to license new series from Japan and provide them online. There will be free, low-quality videos streaming on the web site, and $3 high-quality (presumably DRM-free) episodes, in a pricing scheme suspiciously similar to that of asian media site CrunchyRoll.

The only shows that will be on the service as of right now are three Media Blasters titles: Girls High, Kite Liberator, and Ramen Fighter Miki. While I'll admit my personal skepticism on their ability to pull this off, New Media Director and Founder Justin Sevakis says, regarding release dates, "simultaneous is our goal." Subbing before the show comes out? I think that requires a bit more leverage than ANN has over Japanese companies. Maybe I'm wrong.

Continue reading... | Write a comment

NYAF08: Vertical, Inc. panel report

0 comments

Ioannis (left) and Stephen (right)

When I tell you about a manga company that starts with the letter V, I'm sure your mind will jump to a certain Naruto-carrying, Shonen Jump-ing publisher by the name of Viz. It seems like that mindset was in full force at the New York Anime Festival, where the showing for a panel run by Vertical, Inc. was dwarfed by every single other industry panel of the day.

The panel, run by Marketing Manager Stephen Vrattos and Editorial Director/Executive Vice President Ioannis Mentzas of Vertical, consisted nearly exclusively of old information. Even so, the guys didn't miss a chance to promote Black Jack, their newest manga from the gilded archives of Osamu Tezuka.

At the very beginning of the panel they announced a mini-contest, wherein everyone in the room gave their name for a chance to win a copy of volume one of Vertical's new special edition "Diamond Hardcover Edition" of Black Jack. On that note, the only new announcement made at the panel was that the second volume of this limited-print three volume series will be the Japanese story "The One That Remains."

The rest of the panel mostly involved Stephen and Ioannis going over Vertical's new manga, fiction, and non-fiction titles, including the cutesy series The Complete Aranzi Hour, some dark horror stuff (Biogenesis, The Summer of the Ubume), historical fiction (The Blade of the Courtesans), and a range of non-fiction (Sayonara, Mr. Fatty! A Geek's Diet Memoir, North Korea Kidnapped My Daughter).

Continue reading... | Write a comment

NYAF08: Bandai/FUNimation panel reports

0 comments

Today, on the first day of the New York Anime Festival, two of the American anime industry's biggest heavyweights, Bandai Entertainment and FUNimation, controlled a single panel room for a whopping three hours. Uncle Yo and I tag-teamed on the panels to get all of the big announcements.

Bandai Entertainment

The representatives from Bandai Entertainment and their Honneamise line (formerly Bandai Visual) started their panel with what they called an "un-announcement": Sola and True Tears, originally slated to be released by Honneamise, have, in fact, been cancelled. Then they spent around forty-five minutes discussing their new titles, including Code Geass R2 (on Adult Swim in October), Gurren Lagann, Gundam 00, Ghost Slayers (Ayashi), and Ghost in the Shell 2: Innocence.

Bandai manga will be releasing the Gurren Lagann manga series as a companion to the very popular anime title. Honneamise also announced (arguably) their biggest license yet: Akira. It will be rereleased under the Honneamise line for 49.98 on Blu-ray with 24bit Japanese audio and the English dub included in the Geneon release.

The final announcement came from Bandai Entertainment, who let us know that THEY would be releasing Sola and True Tears under their Anime Legends label. No price or release date was given.

Honneamise plans to release anime simultaneously in the US and Japan with lower US prices. When I asked Honneamise’s rep, Loy Fruel about the possibility this creates for "reverse importation" of American DVDs to Japan, he seemed unconcerned. "If it happens, it happens. We just want Americans not to import from Japan."

FUNimation

(Karl "Uncle Yo" Custer compiled the information for this panel)

While FUNimation has a lot to discuss thanks to their sweeping acquisition of former ADV and Geneon titles, there was very little new information to be had. The representative Adam Sheehan obviously talked about Hellsing Ultimate, Negima, Claymore, Ouran High School Host Club, and even some Dragonball Z (I know, right?). Darker than Black opened up the panel, with an energetic trailer featuring Yoko Kanno's prominent musical talents in center stage.

The biggest announcement of the panel was FUNimation's license of the Japanese Mushi-shi live action movie. On another note, Adam also hinted that Ouran might be available at AnimeUSA before it’s street date. After opening up the floor to questions, Sheehan finally moved on to a whole separate panel regarding the FUNimation Channel.

FUNimation Channel

Continuing with his very candid style, Sheehan went into details of the channel's growing penetration into American television. His main point was that anime fans should be bothering their local cable companies to add the FUNimation Channel, even going to such lengths as requesting that people make threats like, "If you don't add the FUNimation Channel, I'll drown your dog." He also briefly discussed that Video-On-Demand services, currently only on Verizon FiOs, will soon be coming to other providers, like Comcast.

Sheehan also announced some brand new titles to the channel, including Burst Angel, Jyu-oh-sei, Black Blood Brothers, Solty Rei, and Negima!? (season 2). Of course, an entire series of Powerpoint slides was dedicated to the announcement of Ouran High School Host Club on the FUNimation Channel. There is "no date yet" for the show's premiere, but Sheehan estimates it to be sometime this fall.

Continue reading... | Write a comment

Studio Ghibli working with Level-5 on Japanese DS game

0 comments

Ninokuni

Japanese game developer Level-5 is celebrating its tenth birthday like you wish you could. It will be working with the acclaimed Studio Ghibli (Princess Mononoke, Spirited Away) on a new DS game entitled Ninokuni. The game, apparently some sort of fantasy or RPG title, will use a "Magic Master" book (akin to D&D) containing information on all of the spells and powers the game has to offer.

Studio Ghibli will be exclusively in charge of character designs, so expect a strong yet innocent girl, a boy who wants to protect her, some sort of homely old lady, and lots of animals. Everywhere. Level-5 also wants to release the game on home consoles, preferably with different content from the DS version. There are currently no plans for a North American release, but let's hope that we get one soon after Ninokuni releases next year in Japan.

[via Japanator]

Continue reading... | Write a comment

Notice: This Week column and Gurren Lagann interview

0 comments

Hey Ani-Gamers readers. It's Vampt Vo here to make a quick notice. (I don't do these very often) First off, I just want to let everybody know that our "This Week in Ani-Gamers" column will be back in action momentarily. There have just been some mixups (and a lot of forgetfulness) that have caused it to be out of action for a couple weeks.

Second is regarding the New York Anime Festival. I recently received confirmation from Bang Zoom Entertainment that I will be meeting with Tony Oliver (Voice Director), Kyle Hebert (Kamina), and Steve Blum (Leeron) from Gurren Lagann for an interview during the con. Anybody have any questions they want answered? I'll be sure to do my best to fit them in. Tony Oliver has worked on Mighty Morphin' Power Rangers, Robotech, and Eureka Seven. Kyle Herbert was Kiba in Naruto, Aizen in Bleach, and teenage Gohan in Dragonball Z. Steve Blum has played Toonami's TOM, Spike Spiegel in Cowboy Bebop, and Orochimaru in Naruto. Look these guys up, and give us question suggestions right here in the comments!

Continue reading... | Write a comment

Up for Download: 09.22.08 Edition

0 comments

I’ve got to say, it’s an epic week for downloadable titles, a week worthy to follow in the wake of the truly epic Cho Aniki release a few weeks prior. While Mega Man 9 certainly steals the show on PSN and WiiWare – don’t worry XBLA yours is coming next week – there are still a plethora of interesting titles to behold from all the consoles. So lets just jump right in, we’ve got a lot to cover.

Duke Nukem 3D (XBLA, 800 Points): I remember playing this game as a kid on my Macintosh Performa 550 and it ran like an interactive slide show, clocking in at what seemed like 2 frames per second. Well now I’ve been given a second chance to chew ass and kick bubblegum – and I’m all outta’ ass – thanks to 3D Realms.

With all the great alien slaughtering of the original, 8 player co-op, and the ability to record in-game video, Duke Nukem 3D should help wet our appetites for both Duke Nukem Forever and the unfortunate Duke Nukem movie.

Vectorman (VC, 800 Points): Released back in 1995 by BlueSky Software for the Sega Genesis, Vectorman was sort of Sega’s answer to Nintendo’s Donkey Kong Country as they were both games that looked phenomenal at the time.

However, history has shown that it was Donkey Kong Country’s masterful level design that bumped this sleek, green robot from the spotlight. Vectorman would later make his return in Vectorman 2 a year later, but would then go dark soon after. For you long-time Genesis fans out there, this one’s for you.

Burnout Paradise (PSN, $29.99): As we reported back in August, the team at Criterion Games is bringing their open-world racing title, Burnout Paradise, to the digital distribution market via PSN. This announcement has cased a bit of a stir within the gaming press centered around that fact that if digital distribution such as this really begins to take hold then where does that leave outlets like GameStop who thrive on selling used games?

The release will also include, for free, all of the additional content that has been added to the game so far, including the motorcycles update that hit last week. Burnout Paradise is a title that has received a lot of mixed reactions for its non-linear take on racing, but no matter where you fall, for 30 bucks, you just can't pass this on up.

Mega Man 9 (WiiWare/PSN, 1,000 Points/$9.99): Time to step into the Way-Back Machine and revisit the late 1980s, when Mega Man 2 was on top – before it slid from grace into its cookie-cutter formula. Recapturing the 8-bit visuals, 8-bit music, and 8-bit grab you by the cohunes difficulty it what Capcom has been aspiring to with their latest true Mega Man release since Mega Man 8 on the PS1.

To those who step up to the challenge of Mega Man 9, you can expect a hardy portion of bottomless pits, spike traps, and Game Over screens to be sent your way. And with some planned DLC on the way, the pain just keeps on coming!

[via Game|Life, Joystiq, 1UP]

Continue reading... | Write a comment

Big Apple Anime Explosion: Anime Comes Back to NYC

1 comments

The Big Apple Anime Explosion

Years ago, New York City, touted for its multiculturalism, was as much an anime wasteland as any other city, with anime-related activities few and far between. Recently, though, the city has seen an explosion of anime events unlike any other, driven by movie theaters, comic shops, bookstores, and conventions. Last weekend, I tried to get my own perspective on this "Big Apple Anime Explosion."

To begin my mini-tour of the "new" New York City anime fandom, I stopped by the IFC Theater on the Avenue of the Americas (6th Ave.). Here, my friends and I sat down for a packed showing of The Girl Who Leapt Through Time. Playing alongside independent films from all around the world, TGWLTT drew crowds of all different ages and genders. Not only that, but it also drew in viewers who were most surely not otaku. (For the unintiated, otaku means anime fan) One little girl, a casual fan of Hayao Miyazaki's films, said the movie was "awesome," while her mother lavished similar praise.

Next, we took a trip down 6th Avenue to the new Kinokuniya. This huge Japanese bookstore is hidden across from Bryant Park. Unfortunately, it has very little window space compared to its previously glamorous position in the center of Rockefeller Center. Reed Expositions, organizers of the New York Anime Festival later this month, were holding a special release event for the Death Note live-action movie at the store, a part of their ongoing series of events at Kinokuniya.

Death Note live-action movie

Filling the hallways of this rather spacious store were what must have been at least 200 teenage and adult Death Note fans, decked out in cosplay and anime paraphernalia. Standing in that sea of people, it was hard not to notice that the landscape of anime in New York City was beginning to change. The "greatest city in the world" just might be coming into its own within this Japanese world of ours.

To get a better idea of how this Big Apple Anime Explosion is panning out, I spoke with John Fuller, Store Manager at Kinokuniya, and Peter Tatara, Conference Manager for the New York Anime Festival and organizer of the Death Note event.

Kinokuniya has been around since the 1970's, and yet Mr. Fuller feels that they have not exactly been driving the explosion. Instead they were "dragged into it kicking and screaming" by overwhelming consumer demand. The store also seemed to pick just the right spot in New York City's little anime world, not altogether intentionally. "This is where a lot of things were already beginning to happen," explains Fuller, regarding nearby comicbook stores and Asian cafes. Not only that, but Kinokuniya is "on 6th Avenue...across from Bryant Park...right here in the middle of everything!" That's a helpful thing for a store leading the revolution of a medium.

NYAF Conference Manager Peter Tatara

Even more pivotal to the Big Apple Anime Explosion is New York Anime Festival's Conference Manager, Peter Tatara (pictured at right). This longtime anime fan cut his otaku teeth on Vampire Hunter D, and since has dedicated himself to bringing anime to as many fans as possible. When the Big Apple Anime Fest sputtered out three years ago and New York Comic Con started up two years later, Peter and his associates knew they had to bring a new convention to anime fans in the area - the New York Anime Festival (NYAF).

"All of these events at Kinokuniya are part of [NYAF]," explains Peter. "The Anime Festival is three days a year, but I don't want to say 'see you next year.' I want to make an event every month or two months for fans to get together." While the New York Anime Festival has been the most prominent leader in the Anime Explosion, Peter says that this newfound interest "just sort of happened because of groups like New York Anime Festival, ImaginAsian, and Kinokuniya having anime on our minds and feeding off of each other."

Mr. Tatara has never heard of any other conventions trying a revolutionary system like this, but he feels that "now is a time when everyone is realizing that anime is a gateway to Japanese culture. I'd love to see other cons do this." When asked about anime's growing mainstream penetration, Mr. Tatara noted "stuff like Death Note, Bleach, Naruto, and Pokemon that have entered the mainstream mind. It's great to see 200 people showing up for a Death Note day!"

The New York Anime Festival isn't the only convention working to expand anime's popularity in the New York City area. AnimeNEXT recently spun off MangaNEXT, so that now the New Jersey convention maintains a year-round presence. Coupled with NYAF's plans, Kinokuniya's courting of American otaku, and anime/manga expansion at theaters and comicbook shops like IFC and Midtown Comics, New York anime fans have a lot of activities open to them on any given weekend.

To help speed along the growing explosion, Tatara and Reed Exhibitions are in the process of launching NewYorkAnimeFans.com, a comprehensive year-round calendar documenting all of those anime events in New York City. Nevertheless, according to Peter this explosion isn't just about large groups bringing anime into the limelight. "What's most important for anime right now is having a passion. That's what links Kinokuniya to the New York Anime Festival to the fans. It's something we're all passionate about."

Continue reading... | Write a comment

LittleBigPlanet to hit shelves October 21, free DLC with preorder

0 comments

LittleBigPlanet spacesuit costume

Media Molecule has just announced via the Playstation.Blog that their flagship IP, the PS3-exclusive LittleBigPlanet, will release in North and Latin America on October 21st, with Europe, Australia, and New Zealand getting it on the 22nd and U.K. and Ireland on the 24th. LittleBigPlanet, developed by former members of Lionhead Studios (Fable), releases day and date with Fable II, prompting a bit of a competition between Media Molecule and Lionhead...

For those who preordered LittleBigPlanet, Media Molecule will be providing TWO pieces of free DLC: a spacesuit costume ("launch" pun is intentional) and a limited edition "I was there Week One" t-shirt.

[via Playstation.Blog]

Continue reading... | Write a comment

MangaBullet interviews AnimeSuki creator

0 comments

AnimeSuki

It's rare that we see someone bring together the worlds of illegitimate fansubs and legitimate anime industry punditry. However, anime/manga community site MangaBullet did just that when they got a hold of the Dutch otaku and founder of BitTorrent site AnimeSuki, who goes by the name GHDPro, to talk to him about the state of the American anime industry. The interview is pretty interesting for those who are paying attention to the uneasy situation between American distributors and fansubbers at the moment.

Of course, GHDPro was quick to (accurately) blame American companies for the slump, claiming that "a lot of companies were licensing franchises left and right without taking into account that anime still is a niche market of sorts and not every series will break even, let alone make a profit." Surprisingly, though, he goes on to point out that fansubbers and their viewers have also played a significant part in the current industry problems. "I realise that as a fansub watcher and anime DVD buyer, I'm in a minority. I'm afraid there are tons of people that have the 'why pay when you can get it for free' mentality."

[Link: AnimeSuki interview: Fansubs and the industry]

Continue reading... | Write a comment

Wii Music dated for October 20th

0 comments

Wii Music

Nintendo's highly anticipated and oft-criticized new rhythm game (or maybe just music game) Wii Music, originally placed somewhere within the nebulous Q4 region of 2008, has been officially dated for October 20, 2008 according to a Nintendo press release. Unlike Guitar Hero and Rock Band, the game contains no competitive aspect.

Like Wii Sports and Wii Fit, Wii Music is all about the fun of the experience, so it allows players to ease along by simply controlling the tempo and style of their music rather than the notes. Naturally, this style of play has met with a harsh reaction from the gamer demographic. Also naturally, this game will sell like gangbusters. Sorry kiddos!

Continue reading... | Write a comment

Former Metroid devs form Armature Studio, EA partnership

0 comments

Armature Studio

When Mark Pacini, Todd Keller, and Jack Matthews - three of the top guys at Retro Studios (Metroid Prime 1, 2, and 3) - left the second-party Nintendo developer last April, no one really knew what they would be doing. Now we have confirmation from a press release that Pacini, Keller, and Matthews have founded a new independent development group called "Armature Studio." Their new strategy "leverages a small core creative team and partners them with strategic external developers." What that means in tl;dr is that Armature needs a larger publisher or developer to bring their wonderful little ideas to life.

To achieve their goals of making totally awesome independent games, Armature has signed a "long term, exclusive" publishing agreement with Electronic Arts. Yes, you heard that right. The once-dominant publisher known for quashing small developers under its iron boot of CAPITALISM is embracing small development. If anything is to convince you that EA is turning around their image, this should be it.

Finally, Nintendo fanboys should keep in mind that these guys are not, in fact, Retro Studios, so there's no Nintendo console exclusivity. Mark Pacini points it out nicely: "What really gets me going is that now, no platform is off limits. That is just something we didn't have the ability to do before." Are you ready Xbox 360 and PS3 gamers? You're about to get your socks knocked off by the developers of one of the best console franchises ever.

Keep your browsers locked at Ani-Gamers for Armature's first game title announcement.

[via Joystiq]

Continue reading... | Write a comment

Review: Castle Crashers (XBLA)

1 comments

Castle Crashers Genres: Action, Hack and Slash
Designers: Dan Paladin, Tom Fulp
Developer: The Behemoth
Publisher: Microsoft
Console: Xbox Live Arcade
Rated: T for Teen

It’s impossible to enjoy Castle Crashers without thinking back to the days of yore when red warrior and yellow wizard stood side-by-side in a desperate struggle against legions of undead. I’m speaking, of course, of Atari’s classic dungeon crawler Gauntlet, the four player arcade hit which helped pave the way for the hack and slash genre today. In today’s gaming landscape, where to be retro is to be cool again, the party-centric gameplay of the Gauntlet series is one that certainly deserves revisiting.

Now, that’s not to say that the Behemoth’s latest 2D foray is a direct sequel so much as it is an homage; a game which takes all the aspects that made the Gauntlet series great and updates them with today’s technological advances. The end result is a fast paced, kick-you-in-the-mouth experience that’s easy enough for you and a group of friends to hop into, while also offering some collection and RPG elements for that added replayability factor.

Armed with a sword, shield, and some magic spells, the four castle crashers are each tasked with searching far and wide for an evil wizard and four kidnapped princesses. Along the way an eclectic cast of enemies will attempt to stop them - ranging from the simple thief, to a troop of light saber wielding dark knights, all the way up to a giant cat crossed with a shark. If you haven’t guessed it already, everything you encounter here really sports its own flavor of twisted humor; I mean, in how many games are you able to fight off a giant cat/shark that has a little white bear for a jockey? That’s what I thought.

And as the host of villains you face increases, so to does your personal arsenal. Starting out, you’ll have nothing more than the basic light and heavy attacks, but before you know it you’ll be discovering new combos, advanced spells, and a few useful items to give you that edge: An edge which you’ll desperately need if you’re only going into this title alone or with a friend, as this game gets just downright brutal at times. If you manage to round up two other friends for co-op play, however, it’ll be smooth sailing.

Another way to give your characters an extra boost is to hunt down a few of those collectibles. In particular, new weapons and animal companions will each bring their own little stat tweaks, useful abilities, or sometimes both. Perhaps in your travels you’ll stumble across a giant meat tenderizer that gives you a boost to your strength, or a tiny owl companion who will search out food for your character. And also realize that almost every minion you fight can also be unlocked as a playable character, further driving home that collect-a-thon mentality.

In the Xbox Live Arcade marketplace there once existed a sizable gap in the shape of a fun, group-oriented action title that you and your friends could all hop into and enjoy together. Sure we had our Ninja Turtles and even our Gauntlets, but The Behemoth has succeeded in providing us with a fresh new take on the genre and therefore deserves a hardy “kudos.” Castle Crashers is a fantastic title worth every cent of your 800 space bucks and is a triumphant “bang” to finish off this Summer of Arcade!

Graphics/Sound: 4.0 Overall:

(4.0 stars)
Gameplay: 3.0
Design/Story: 3.5
Lasting Appeal: 4.0

Continue reading... | Write a comment

NYAF launches NewYorkAnimeFans.com

1 comments

New York Anime Fans

At today's Death Note live-action movie release event at Kinokuniya Bookstores in New York City, I sat down for a brief chat with Peter Tatara about the New York Anime Festival and Kinokuniya's presence in the Big Apple. (The writeup for that will be on the site soon) Peter just couldn't resist letting me know about NYAF and Reed Expositions' newest project, a website dedicated to New York City anime events: New York Anime Fans.

The site aims to be a comprehensive calendar listing every anime event in New York City, although it is under construction at the moment. Want to watch an anime at an independent theater? Want to go to a release event at a bookstore? Want to check out a Japanese museum exhibit? Being a resident of the NYC area myself, I must admit my excitement about such a valuable resource for New York anime fans.

Continue reading... | Write a comment

Fall anime season in easy picture form

2 comments

Fall Season Grid

This fall anime season has got a couple of big hits, but I'm sure many an otaku has been on the lookout for some of the smaller series that might go under the radar. For your selection ease, an anonymous fan has compiled a giant visual list of this fall's anime titles (linked at right), with airdate, studio, a summary, and a picture for each one. Don't you worry, OAVs are included as well.

Some notable series include BONES's Xam'd: Lost Memories, a new Hokuto no Ken (Fist of the North Star), Gainax's Shikabane Hime (Corpse Princess), the second season of Mobile Suit Gundam 00, and the anime adaptation of Alive: The Final Evolution. What jumps out at you on the list? Let us know in the comments.

[Thanks, Kevin]

Continue reading... | Write a comment

Sony Pictures picks up The Sky Crawlers

0 comments

The Sky Crawlers

The Sky Crawlers, the newest animated film from acclaimed Ghost in the Shell director Mamoru Oshii, has been licensed by the Sony Pictures Worldwide Acquisitions Group. Presumably, this spells an American release from the major distribution house that brought us Paprika, Steamboy, and Metropolis.

The Sky Crawlers, the story of young children forced to fight high-tech wars as a part of a broadcasted game, was honored at this year's Venice Film Festival alongside Hayao Miyazaki and Studio Ghibli's Gake no ue no Ponyo (Ponyo on the Cliff by the Sea). The last time Oshii showed off his directorial talents (at least in anime) was in 2004's Ghost in the Shell 2: Innocence, so fans should be very excited to witness his long-awaited return to the animated scene.

[via Variety Asia]

Continue reading... | Write a comment

Ubisoft to include subtitles in future titles

0 comments

Ubisoft and handicapped people = friends

A tip of the hat goes to developer Ubisoft for launching a new initiative this week to have subtitles placed in every one of their in-house developed titles from now on. Designed for the hearing-impaired, these subtitles are to be included in several of Ubisoft’s upcoming titles, including Far Cry 2, Prince of Persia, and Shaun White Snowboarding.

The company also announced that it will be partnering with Handicap International to create a new game titled Handigo. The game is designed to educate players about the hardships faced by the handicapped in today’s society and will include mini-games designed around the idea of placing you in their shoes.

[via Gamasutra]

Continue reading... | Write a comment

Review: Paradise Kiss (Hyb)

0 comments

Paradise Kiss Media: TV Anime
Genre(s): Drama, Shojo, Romance
Director: Osamu Kobayashi
Studio(s): Madhouse
Number of Episodes: 12
Licensed? Yes (Geneon)

Disclaimer: This is a shojo. There are no ninjas or explosions; there is only fashion. E! did not get me interested in fashion: Paradise Kiss did.

Yukari Hayasaka is a bit of a stuck-up senior high school student: she studies hard to earn her B-average and is already bored with life. This comes to a crashing halt when she discovers a team of fashion school students who take her to their underground “workshop.” Suddenly Alice has been tripped into a Wonderland of lace, butterflies, polyester, silk, clovers, and the bisexuals who design and wear them.

Paradise Kiss feels like an indy project from underground art school drop-outs. It can be described as a slice-of-life, coming-of-age story with a surplus of style and a forte of fashion. Its opening and closing themes, "Lonely in Gorgeous" and "Do You Want To" respectively, carry the show’s youthful and vibrant energy, blasting you with colors, caricatures and craft. Many scenes morph between super-deformed and real characters in the same shots, giving great flexibility in the series’ tone. The series also developed its own screen-wipe transitions of spinning flowers and mutated stuffed animals, which only adds to the pleasant aesthetic.

The characters are just as unique as their clothing habits. There’s cross-dresser Isabella, the quiet idealist who dresses like the countess from a lost romance novel, Heart-stiched-on-her-sleeve Miwako, who is basically a walking piece of cotton (and eye) candy, and Arashi, the grumpy punk rocker, whose safety pin piercings are enough to make the cast of Hellraiser flinch. Finally there is George, the suave Prince Charming who leads his team the way Griffith led the Hawks from Berserk. The four form Paradise Kiss, their own line of clothing. The best part? George wants Yukari to model their final project.

Though reluctant at first, Yukari decides to test the waters of the world of fashion. After being given a new nickname of Caroline (or Carrie) by Miwako, she is reborn and redressed into a world she originally dismissed. In no time flat, she falls for the enigmatic playboy, George, and her dedication to the group’s project becomes inescapably personal. In an attempt to abandon the mediocrity of her life at home and school, she moves into Arashi’s apartment and seeks work as a fashion model. Through her new friends’ stretch at nepotism, Yukari’s good luck lands her at a modeling agency. But just before things get too out of hand, she moves in with George, and the two lovers become inseparable.

(This is the part where you all say “yikes!”)

The most engaging aspect of Paradise Kiss is Yukari’s challenging and complicated relationship with George, whose feelings are harder to interpret than the plot of Serial Experiments Lain. Does he really care about her decision to abandon her life for his ambitions? How will he use her after the project is done? Despite his debonair standoffish attitude and unreadable expressions, George holds himself with the impeccable charm and the faultless poise of a James Bond or Calvin Klein. He’s so dangerous, you almost have to fall in love with him and hate yourself for it. Nevertheless, it is a story about young love, which is always passionate and fiery at first, but is quick to consume itself and become ash.

While the show concerns itself with fashion shoots, modeling agencies, and hair dressing, it never overwhelms Yukari’s voice and perspective of this new and flamboyant world. Her narrative voice is self-conscious and borderline arrogant: in other words, the perfect high school senior. It is easy to see people disliking Yukari for her stubbornness and naivete, but her blossoming passion for love and George redeems her.

Paradise Kiss’s treatment of sex, virginity and sexual identification plays a major role in its story-telling. It boils with rampant sexuality, though more subtly rather than crudely (think Romeo and Juliet rather than Colorful.) Many of the love-making scenes are treated with the classic Japanese fashion of showing objects in the room rather than actual nudity; this technique doubles the emotional weight of each scene.

While the dialogue can fall into many of the pitfalls of directly-translated manga-into-anime, the visual experience of Paradise Kiss is crisp and deep, each shot as carefully sculpted as an assignment on Project Runway. In the end, the conflict of romanticism and love vs. real world values leans with total bias toward the romantics and idealists (this is a shojo after all.) Though its commercial success in the states makes the final chapters hard to find, even on Ebay, it is a very pleasant show. Girls as well as boys who, like Isabella, think they’re girls will enjoy the romantic treatment of first love.

Animation: 3.0 Overall:

(3.0 stars)
Plot: 3.0
Voice Acting: 2.5
Sound: 3.0

Continue reading... | Write a comment

FUNimation controls 33% of anime industry (and your mind)

0 comments

FUNimation

As if you needed more proof that FUNimation, which gobbled up dropped Geneon and ADV titles a couple months ago, was taking over your anime industry, here are some hard numbers from respected pop culture site ICv2. FUNimation sold approximately 32.7% of all anime sales for the first half of 2008, with the other major companies falling far behind. ICv2 notes that VideoScan's data does not include Wal-Mart sales, but FUNimation's "significant presence" at the retailer would likely increase its percentage.

The new anime industry heirarchy has FUNimation with 32.7%, Viz Media with 15.9%, ADV Films with 10.5%, Bandai Entertainment with 7.7%, and Media Blasters with 5%. Most startling is that ADV, which is generally considered to be going out of business, sold more than Bandai, which has acquired such popular titles as Gurren Lagann, Gundam 00, and Code Geass.

For more reading on FUNimation's new status in the industry, make sure to check out Scott's post over at the Anime Almanac, The FUNizoid - The Industry’s Last Hope.

[via ICv2]

Continue reading... | Write a comment

Up for Download: 09.08.08 Special Edition

0 comments

This special edition of Up for Download is dedicated to one special game this week. This is because all of this week's other releases are simply not nearly BEEFY or MANLY enough to be placed on the same page as our special release. No, the demo of the off-road ATV racer Pure (PSN, free) doesn’t quite cut it; nor do the trio of XBLA titles: Shortest Shogi, Rocket Bowl, and Samurai Shodown II. So now, if you’ll excuse me, I am going to go fill these grand pianos with molten lead and see how many I can chuck through a third story window in under thirty seconds! HURRRAH!

Cho Aniki (VC, 900 Points): Released for the PC Engine by developer Masaya back in 1992, Cho Aniki is something purely Japanese. The game itself is a mediocre side-scrolling shooter which has spawned multiple sequels and spin-offs for other consoles, ranging from the Super Famicom to the PS2. What earns this title its place in gaming history is its completely surreal and obviously homoerotic art style. Everything about this game is centered on huge men in tiny clothing performing attacks that place them in…um…compromising positions.

The Cho Aniki (or Super Big Brothers) series has since established a bit of a cult following. In much the same sense that you might watch an awful B-movie for its campyness (MST3K anyone?), Cho Aniki provides that same, wonderfully bad, experience in video game form. It's not really a good game, but I'm sure you'll have fun; nor do I recommend you download this game, but I do think that everyone should play it.

[via 1UP]

Continue reading... | Write a comment

Microsoft drops 360 price, Arcade down to $199

0 comments

360 beats the Wii to the $200 finish line

After months of anticipation from analysts, internet pundits (i.e. us), and bargain-searching parents, Microsoft finally announced a price drop for the Xbox 360 which went active as of September 5, according to an official press release. The main focus was of course on the lowest-priced Xbox SKU, the Arcade, which aims to bring casual and family gamers into the Xbox 360 fold (and, naturally, out of the Wii one).

The Xbox 360 Arcade, previously $279.99, moved down to $199.99, undercutting the Wii's price - static since launch - which has so stymied Xbox breakthroughs into the casual demographic. The 60GB Xbox 360 also moved down from $349.99 to $299.99, and the Elite was cut by $50 from $449.99 to $399.99.

Microsoft's Interactive Entertainment Business senior vice president Don Mattrick made it clear in the press release that the Arcade price drop is a direct stab at Nintendo's Wii sales, saying with pride that Microsoft is "thrilled to be the first next-generation console on the market to reach $199[.]"

Continue reading... | Write a comment

Review: The Legend of Zelda - Phantom Hourglass (DS)

0 comments

The Legend of Zelda: Phantom Hourglass Genre(s): Action, Adventure
Designer: Eiji Aonuma (producer), Daiki Iwamoto (director)
Developer: Nintendo
Publisher: Nintendo
Console(s): DS
Rated: E for Everyone

Nintendo's Legend of Zelda franchise has been through many iterations since its 1986 debut. In 1993, Link's Awakening became the first handheld Zelda, and 1998's Ocarina of Time was touted as Zelda's breakthrough into the 3D realm. In 2007, Zelda finally made its way onto the Nintendo DS, in the first ever touch-controlled, online Zelda, Phantom Hourglass. That's a lot of firsts, but it's clear after a playthrough of the game that it's also the first Zelda game in a while to really let me down.

Those who protested the cel-shaded "Celda" style of Windwaker (2002) will be disappointed to know that Phantom Hourglass continues the motifs of that game, right down to its story and visual style. Link is now living a peaceful life again, sailing the seas with Tetra and her pirate gang. Soon, however, they come across the infamous "Ghost Ship," and Tetra is attacked and kidnapped while within it. In order to save her, Link must team up with a fairy named Ciela and an unscrupulous sea captain named Linebeck.

Of course, the game pans out almost exactly like every Zelda you've ever played. There are magic stones, a mystical sword, and nine dungeons to complete. Luckily, this game takes a leaf out of Majora's Mask's book and creates a story that adds to the previous game rather than simply mimicking it. This time, you are riding in a boat with two other companions, and the plot ends up being much more about side characters and their personalities than any Zelda since Majora's Mask.

In terms of truly new additions, Phantom Hourglass relies heavily on touch control, to the point where the face buttons never actually perform any significant functions in the gameplay. Link moves toward wherever you point on the screen (a la Animal Crossing), attacks when you pull the stylus across the screen, and uses an item when you tap it on the top-right. That means an almost excessive amount of tapping, which makes one wonder why the face buttons aren't used more. While it's cluttered and hard to learn, I won't deny that it is a refreshing experience for longtime Zelda fans.

Puzzles, minigames, and even driving Linebeck's ship are all controlled by the touch screen, often to great effect. Phantom Hourglass even mixes up the format a bit with boss fights stretching across both screens, adding a surprising new dimension to the game. The other important addition is the use of the touch screen as an interactive map, where the player can take notes and draw pathways: a truly brilliant use of touch control.

The dungeons can often become too easy, a common complaint about the game. However, I didn't find many problems with the difficulty curve, since there practically is none. Instead, there is a sort of difficulty scatter-plot, without any real feeling of increasing difficulty. Exacerbating these problems is a massive, tiring central dungeon. Players will have to brave this terrifyingly long (and timed) fortress at least six times in the game, and since each run is linear, Link restarts at the entrance for every 10-to-20-minute run.

Phantom Hourglass also serves as a reminder that the DS has indeed reached a plateau when it comes to graphical capabilities. The game (rendered in full 3D) looks competent, but not spectacular, just as we have seen with previous first-party DS endeavors like Animal Crossing, Mario Kart, and Metroid Prime. Oh, and I just couldn't get over how downright UGLY Link's bug eyes look in this game.

Finally, Phantom Hourglass packs some multiplayer punch as well, including the touted online mode, the first of any Zelda title. The battle mode is fun, if it sometimes feels less like a Zelda game and more like a strategy game. Sadly, only two players can play at once, unlike the other prominent multiplayer Zelda, Four Swords. I sadly didn't have a chance to play the online component.

Phantom Hourglass is not the revolutionary move to the DS that Nintendo had hoped it would be. It uses the touch screen for nearly everything, and while sometimes this results in a cluttered interface, there are many, many moments when players will find themselves delighted by the brilliance of a puzzle or the ease of control in a certain area. Some may decry difficulty inconsistencies and dungeon design problems, but a charming storyline and fun puzzles make Phantom Hourglass a highlight of the Nintendo DS library and a worthy, if imperfect, successor to the Zelda legacy.

Graphics/Sound: 3.5 Overall:

(3.0 stars)
Gameplay: 2.5
Design/Story: 3.5
Lasting Appeal: 2.5

Continue reading... | Write a comment

Recent Posts