Hi everyone. Recently, I had some family come up from South Carolina, and for most of the time while they're up here (today to next Tuesday), I really won't be able to get in a normal review, unless I sneak some time in. Fear not, cause at least I have a goodie for you today, in the form of perhaps the strangest AMV I've ever seen. Enjoy:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QbpZ1GwKdrc
See you all next week. Until then, stay Otaku!
Friday, June 29, 2012
Wednesday, June 27, 2012
XXXHolic Review
I’m starting to get irritated at myself. Once again, I missed the normal release date for a review. Also again, I don’t really have any excuse, other than I waited until it was too late for me to type one up. It’s really starting to grate on my mind, as I pride myself on putting things out on time. I’m almost considering putting out just 1 review a week like I used to...almost. With that said, it’s time to stop this little rant, and go into my review for today. So, here’s an analysis of the CLAMP classic, XXXHolic.
Airing from April 6, 2006, to September 28, 2006, XXXHolic tells the story of Kimihiro Watanuki, a young man with the unfortunately ability to attract spirits (he can see them as well). This spirits hound him all of the time, and he’s pretty much sick of it. On one fateful day, he happens to stop right in front of a strange house, and is mystically compelled into the building. Within, he meets Yuko, a witch with the power to grant wishes, Maru and Moro, who are Yuko’s servants, and Mokona, the “mascot” of the shop. After some talking, Watanuki asks for Yuko to have the spirits stop following him. This she does, but asks for payment in return for her service, namely becoming an employee at the shop. As he works at Yuko’s place, Watanuki has numerous encounters with the supernatural, as well as some troubled individuals that populate the city he lives in. It’s all one big, mystical adventure for him, and one that he doesn’t necessarily enjoy.
Starting off the positives, XXXHolic’s first is the fact that it was created by CLAMP. Since their birth, the all-female group has produced some of the anime & manga world’s most iconic series, including Tsubasa, Chobits, and Cardcaptor Sakura. Every single one of the titles they’ve created, even their more unknown titles, have been met with nothing but praise. With such a pedigree, there’s very little way for a series from them to fail.
The next positive of XXXHolic is the way the show is animated. Let me say, in simplistic terms, that this is a very artsy looking show. In particular, they way that the spirits are animated is done very vividly, almost beautiful even. The people that also populate the world of XXXHolic are also very nice to look at. In a strange way to focus on a single character, or a small group of characters, any people in the background are portrayed as solid white figures so the attention payed towards the focused characters isn’t directed towards anyone else. Another strange thing about the people within XXXHolic is that they have very long arms and legs, and this portrayal gives them a marionette/spider-like feeling.
The third positive of XXXHolic is the mix of genres. We have the standard anime genres of comedy, drama, suspense, and horror (to a limited extent) but XXXHolic also has the more unique genres of metaphysics and supernatural. So, when all of these are put together, we have show that’s very original, and one in which the genres are all relatively balanced, save for the moments in which a particular genre is required (a supernatural scene requiring the supernatural genre, for example).
The show’s fourth & fifth positives are the voice acting and characters. Although the secondary characters (the majority of them, to be more specific) are forgettable in terms of voice & character, the meat of the show focuses on the primary characters. We have Todd Haberkorn given his all as the akward yet kind Watanuki, while Colleen Clinkenbeard gives Yuko the sultry, sexy voice that she deserves. The other primary voice actors (J. Michael Tatum, Cherami Leigh) also do a great job with their assigned characters (Domeki/Himawari), giving some great performances.
Like I said in the above paragraph, the primary characters are XXXHolic’s bread & butter. Each of them have a distinct personality that meshes with the others, as well as contrasts with one another. Watanuki and Domeki, for example, are complete contrasts. Watanuki is very outgoing and goofy, while Domeki is very reserved and normal. Whenever the two cross paths, something happens. Yet, there are times when the two work quite well together, even though Watanuki often complains about it.
XXXHolic’s sixth positive is how long the show is. Coming in at 24 episodes, XXXHolic is a very hefty show. It took me close to a week to watch this series, as I wanted to pace myself when I watched this, but if you’re a hardcore Otaku (and that’s most of you) you can probably press them into four or five days. The episodes run at about 22 minutes each, so they’re not short by any stretch. Simply put, XXXHolic is a nice long show that really shouldn’t be rush.
XXXHolic’s seventh & final positive is it’s availability. Coming out in 2010, the complete first season is fairly availability in both the new & used sections (more so in the new section). Problem is, the pricing is a bit on the steep side. New copies of the complete collection on the site start out at 52 dollars, which is a somewhat big blow to the wallet. The few used copies that exist start out at 37 to 38 dollars, which is a more reasonable amount to pay for.
I actually had a hard time finding anything bad about XXXHolic. I watched through all of the episodes, and I didn’t see anything wrong...save for one thing (apart from the pricing), and that’s the horror. Despite my mood sometimes, I’m not necessarily a big horror fan. Hell, I can’t watch the original Alien movie without experiencing some wicked chest pains. The horror within this series is particularly potent, so much show that anyone who gets scared easily may not want to watch this.
XXXHolic gets a 9.5 out of 10. CLAMP created the source material, the animation style is unique, the mix of genres is interesting, the voice acting and characters are top quality, the show is lengthy, and it’s readily available, but the horror within the show could be very strong at times.
See you all later this week, when I’ll review a game that had a lot of potential going for it. Until then, stay Otaku!
Airing from April 6, 2006, to September 28, 2006, XXXHolic tells the story of Kimihiro Watanuki, a young man with the unfortunately ability to attract spirits (he can see them as well). This spirits hound him all of the time, and he’s pretty much sick of it. On one fateful day, he happens to stop right in front of a strange house, and is mystically compelled into the building. Within, he meets Yuko, a witch with the power to grant wishes, Maru and Moro, who are Yuko’s servants, and Mokona, the “mascot” of the shop. After some talking, Watanuki asks for Yuko to have the spirits stop following him. This she does, but asks for payment in return for her service, namely becoming an employee at the shop. As he works at Yuko’s place, Watanuki has numerous encounters with the supernatural, as well as some troubled individuals that populate the city he lives in. It’s all one big, mystical adventure for him, and one that he doesn’t necessarily enjoy.
Starting off the positives, XXXHolic’s first is the fact that it was created by CLAMP. Since their birth, the all-female group has produced some of the anime & manga world’s most iconic series, including Tsubasa, Chobits, and Cardcaptor Sakura. Every single one of the titles they’ve created, even their more unknown titles, have been met with nothing but praise. With such a pedigree, there’s very little way for a series from them to fail.
The next positive of XXXHolic is the way the show is animated. Let me say, in simplistic terms, that this is a very artsy looking show. In particular, they way that the spirits are animated is done very vividly, almost beautiful even. The people that also populate the world of XXXHolic are also very nice to look at. In a strange way to focus on a single character, or a small group of characters, any people in the background are portrayed as solid white figures so the attention payed towards the focused characters isn’t directed towards anyone else. Another strange thing about the people within XXXHolic is that they have very long arms and legs, and this portrayal gives them a marionette/spider-like feeling.
The third positive of XXXHolic is the mix of genres. We have the standard anime genres of comedy, drama, suspense, and horror (to a limited extent) but XXXHolic also has the more unique genres of metaphysics and supernatural. So, when all of these are put together, we have show that’s very original, and one in which the genres are all relatively balanced, save for the moments in which a particular genre is required (a supernatural scene requiring the supernatural genre, for example).
The show’s fourth & fifth positives are the voice acting and characters. Although the secondary characters (the majority of them, to be more specific) are forgettable in terms of voice & character, the meat of the show focuses on the primary characters. We have Todd Haberkorn given his all as the akward yet kind Watanuki, while Colleen Clinkenbeard gives Yuko the sultry, sexy voice that she deserves. The other primary voice actors (J. Michael Tatum, Cherami Leigh) also do a great job with their assigned characters (Domeki/Himawari), giving some great performances.
Like I said in the above paragraph, the primary characters are XXXHolic’s bread & butter. Each of them have a distinct personality that meshes with the others, as well as contrasts with one another. Watanuki and Domeki, for example, are complete contrasts. Watanuki is very outgoing and goofy, while Domeki is very reserved and normal. Whenever the two cross paths, something happens. Yet, there are times when the two work quite well together, even though Watanuki often complains about it.
XXXHolic’s sixth positive is how long the show is. Coming in at 24 episodes, XXXHolic is a very hefty show. It took me close to a week to watch this series, as I wanted to pace myself when I watched this, but if you’re a hardcore Otaku (and that’s most of you) you can probably press them into four or five days. The episodes run at about 22 minutes each, so they’re not short by any stretch. Simply put, XXXHolic is a nice long show that really shouldn’t be rush.
XXXHolic’s seventh & final positive is it’s availability. Coming out in 2010, the complete first season is fairly availability in both the new & used sections (more so in the new section). Problem is, the pricing is a bit on the steep side. New copies of the complete collection on the site start out at 52 dollars, which is a somewhat big blow to the wallet. The few used copies that exist start out at 37 to 38 dollars, which is a more reasonable amount to pay for.
I actually had a hard time finding anything bad about XXXHolic. I watched through all of the episodes, and I didn’t see anything wrong...save for one thing (apart from the pricing), and that’s the horror. Despite my mood sometimes, I’m not necessarily a big horror fan. Hell, I can’t watch the original Alien movie without experiencing some wicked chest pains. The horror within this series is particularly potent, so much show that anyone who gets scared easily may not want to watch this.
XXXHolic gets a 9.5 out of 10. CLAMP created the source material, the animation style is unique, the mix of genres is interesting, the voice acting and characters are top quality, the show is lengthy, and it’s readily available, but the horror within the show could be very strong at times.
See you all later this week, when I’ll review a game that had a lot of potential going for it. Until then, stay Otaku!
Sunday, June 24, 2012
Devil Hunter Yohko (Episodes 4-6) Review
Hi everyone! As I promised, I’m finally giving you a review for this weekend. Granted, it’s a little late, but I’m putting it up regardless. So, without any other delays, here’s the second half of my review for Devil Hunter Yohko. Pardon the repeat information (hence the quotations).
“Created by Studio Madhouse with directing from Akiyuki Shimbo, and produced by Toho, Devil Hunter Yohko was eventually released in the US (with subtitles) by ADV Films in 1992, a dubbing in 1995, and a DVD release in 2002 to celebrate 10 years of operation. The story of this show couldn't be cheesier, and counts as the show's first positive. For many centuries, the Mano family has been keeping the world safe from demons. Yohko Mano, the 108th devil hunter of the family. Her mother, Sayoko, was originally going to be the 108th devil hunter, but as Yohko's grandmother Madoka put it: "She couldn't control her hormones, and she gave birth to you!". You see, in order to be a devil hunter, one must be pure and virginal in order for her mind to remain clear. This is a bit of a problem, as Yohko is a 16-year old in high school, is crazy for a number of guys, and her mother is constantly trying to push her into having sex, and thus losing her virginity.”
“As you can see, this story sets up a lot of comedic moments, and they all hit the mark. We got fanservice jokes, sex jokes, age jokes, and all other sorts of jokes. There was nothing I didn't watch that wasn't funny, and even the rare moment that wasn't funny, I was at least chuckling for a second or two.”
By the time we reach episodes 4, 5, and 6, Yohko has reluctantly embraced her role as the 108th devil hunter, and is surprisingly quite good at killing the baddies. She’ll need her skills however, as the prime enemy of the Mano family, Tokima, is attempting to return to Earth to take it over. Not only that, but a look-alike appears to not only wanting to destroy her, but to also become the true 108th devil hunter. Naturally, Yohko overcomes both odds, and remains triumphant in her devil killing role.
“However, comedy isn't the only thing that Devil Hunter Yohko has going for it. The show's second positive is it's other genres, and how they mix with the comedic moments. In addition to comedy (and to an extension, the ecchi and fanservice moments), we also have a show that contains horror and magical girl moments. An anime fan in this age wouldn't believe that this combination of genres would work, yet it somehow does. Hell, the first few moments has ecchi, comedy, and horror all working together at once to create a hilarious opening. Not a lot of modern shows in this day can claim this feat.”
“Up next for positives is the voice acting...for the primary characters. Although they all do a great job, the two voice actors that stand out the most are Amanda Winn Lee and Tiffany Grant. Amanda does an incredible job of bringing out Yohko's youthfulness, her craziness for boys, and just connecting with his strange form of naive nature. Tiffany Grant, who was a relatively established actor at the time of Devil Hunter Yohko's dubbing, performs well as Yohko's best friend Chi, who's both caring yet tricky at the same time.”
“Unfortunately, Devil Hunter Yohko has some blemishes on it's otherwise nice face. For starters, we have one story element that irks me. Throughout the first episode, the viewer is told that there can only be one devil hunter at a time, and Yohko is the current devil hunter. However, when episode 2 rolls around, we're given a new main character by the name of Azusa (who's voiced by Kimberly Yates, and actually does a good job. Should have put that in the good voice acting section.), who's come to Yohko to train as a devil hunter. Wait, what!? If she's supposed to be a new devil hunter, then was all that was explained in the first episode just nonsense!? Don't get me wrong, the character is likable, but with her coming in as a devil hunter in training, it just throws off the rest of the story.”
This all leads into the second negative of the show. Just like the first 3 episodes, the animation style changes between episodes 5 & 6. Ironically, despite the changes between the episodes, they look great, pushing their early 90s look into perhaps the mid 90s as far as animation. Like I said in the first half of this review, this is more of a minor annoyance than a actual full-blown negative.
“However, the next negative for Devil Hunter Yohko is a little more damning. As I said above, there's some great voice work for the primary characters, but there isn't quite so hard work put into the secondary characters. They do an okay job, but they really don't feel like they're putting their all into their respective role. To make matters worse, none of the side characters are really memorable, regardless of voice or because of themselves.”
This next negative is perhaps the strangest I’ve ever come across so far in any of my reviews. The fourth episode isn’t actually an episode, but instead is a half hour music video. Titled “4-Ever”, this episode is nothing more than music from the show put to scenes and artwork from the production and final edition of, you guessed it, the show. It’s nice and all, but I found that it actually broke up the pace that the episodes had setup. I wanted to see more Yohko, not a music video!
“The final negative of Devil Hunter Yohko is perhaps the hardest to cope with: there aren't many copies of the show left around. Amazon has a few copies, both on tape and on the DVD release, but they're a bit on the pricey side. You're best bet is to simply buy them used, as the used prices are far more easier on the wallet. If you're hardcore however, then dive on in! Either way, you're making a smart purchase.”
Devil Hunter Yohko: Episodes 4 to 6 get a 6.2 out of 10. The show has a great story, the comedy is fantastic, the other genres mix in well with the funny stuff, and the voice acting for the primary characters is nice, but that once story element makes me scratch my head, the looks slightly change between the episodes, the voice acting for the secondary characters are forgettable, the 4th episode isn’t really an episode, and the show is hard as hell to find, as well as a decent pricing.
See you all next week. Until then, stay Otaku!
“Created by Studio Madhouse with directing from Akiyuki Shimbo, and produced by Toho, Devil Hunter Yohko was eventually released in the US (with subtitles) by ADV Films in 1992, a dubbing in 1995, and a DVD release in 2002 to celebrate 10 years of operation. The story of this show couldn't be cheesier, and counts as the show's first positive. For many centuries, the Mano family has been keeping the world safe from demons. Yohko Mano, the 108th devil hunter of the family. Her mother, Sayoko, was originally going to be the 108th devil hunter, but as Yohko's grandmother Madoka put it: "She couldn't control her hormones, and she gave birth to you!". You see, in order to be a devil hunter, one must be pure and virginal in order for her mind to remain clear. This is a bit of a problem, as Yohko is a 16-year old in high school, is crazy for a number of guys, and her mother is constantly trying to push her into having sex, and thus losing her virginity.”
“As you can see, this story sets up a lot of comedic moments, and they all hit the mark. We got fanservice jokes, sex jokes, age jokes, and all other sorts of jokes. There was nothing I didn't watch that wasn't funny, and even the rare moment that wasn't funny, I was at least chuckling for a second or two.”
By the time we reach episodes 4, 5, and 6, Yohko has reluctantly embraced her role as the 108th devil hunter, and is surprisingly quite good at killing the baddies. She’ll need her skills however, as the prime enemy of the Mano family, Tokima, is attempting to return to Earth to take it over. Not only that, but a look-alike appears to not only wanting to destroy her, but to also become the true 108th devil hunter. Naturally, Yohko overcomes both odds, and remains triumphant in her devil killing role.
“However, comedy isn't the only thing that Devil Hunter Yohko has going for it. The show's second positive is it's other genres, and how they mix with the comedic moments. In addition to comedy (and to an extension, the ecchi and fanservice moments), we also have a show that contains horror and magical girl moments. An anime fan in this age wouldn't believe that this combination of genres would work, yet it somehow does. Hell, the first few moments has ecchi, comedy, and horror all working together at once to create a hilarious opening. Not a lot of modern shows in this day can claim this feat.”
“Up next for positives is the voice acting...for the primary characters. Although they all do a great job, the two voice actors that stand out the most are Amanda Winn Lee and Tiffany Grant. Amanda does an incredible job of bringing out Yohko's youthfulness, her craziness for boys, and just connecting with his strange form of naive nature. Tiffany Grant, who was a relatively established actor at the time of Devil Hunter Yohko's dubbing, performs well as Yohko's best friend Chi, who's both caring yet tricky at the same time.”
“Unfortunately, Devil Hunter Yohko has some blemishes on it's otherwise nice face. For starters, we have one story element that irks me. Throughout the first episode, the viewer is told that there can only be one devil hunter at a time, and Yohko is the current devil hunter. However, when episode 2 rolls around, we're given a new main character by the name of Azusa (who's voiced by Kimberly Yates, and actually does a good job. Should have put that in the good voice acting section.), who's come to Yohko to train as a devil hunter. Wait, what!? If she's supposed to be a new devil hunter, then was all that was explained in the first episode just nonsense!? Don't get me wrong, the character is likable, but with her coming in as a devil hunter in training, it just throws off the rest of the story.”
This all leads into the second negative of the show. Just like the first 3 episodes, the animation style changes between episodes 5 & 6. Ironically, despite the changes between the episodes, they look great, pushing their early 90s look into perhaps the mid 90s as far as animation. Like I said in the first half of this review, this is more of a minor annoyance than a actual full-blown negative.
“However, the next negative for Devil Hunter Yohko is a little more damning. As I said above, there's some great voice work for the primary characters, but there isn't quite so hard work put into the secondary characters. They do an okay job, but they really don't feel like they're putting their all into their respective role. To make matters worse, none of the side characters are really memorable, regardless of voice or because of themselves.”
This next negative is perhaps the strangest I’ve ever come across so far in any of my reviews. The fourth episode isn’t actually an episode, but instead is a half hour music video. Titled “4-Ever”, this episode is nothing more than music from the show put to scenes and artwork from the production and final edition of, you guessed it, the show. It’s nice and all, but I found that it actually broke up the pace that the episodes had setup. I wanted to see more Yohko, not a music video!
“The final negative of Devil Hunter Yohko is perhaps the hardest to cope with: there aren't many copies of the show left around. Amazon has a few copies, both on tape and on the DVD release, but they're a bit on the pricey side. You're best bet is to simply buy them used, as the used prices are far more easier on the wallet. If you're hardcore however, then dive on in! Either way, you're making a smart purchase.”
Devil Hunter Yohko: Episodes 4 to 6 get a 6.2 out of 10. The show has a great story, the comedy is fantastic, the other genres mix in well with the funny stuff, and the voice acting for the primary characters is nice, but that once story element makes me scratch my head, the looks slightly change between the episodes, the voice acting for the secondary characters are forgettable, the 4th episode isn’t really an episode, and the show is hard as hell to find, as well as a decent pricing.
See you all next week. Until then, stay Otaku!
Thursday, June 21, 2012
Something Weird From Japan
I know I promised all of you a review, but this is just too funny to pass up!
If you haven't seen these before, they're old commercials for an energy drink called Alinamin. Sounds basic, right? However, what makes the commercials so...unique, is the fact that, in typical Japanese fashion, there's all sorts of weird imagery flashing on the screen, not to mention the fact that Arnold Schwarzenegger, the brawny man himself, is in them. If you thought he was crazy before, take a look at the link below, and you'll see a side of him you may never want to see again:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hg8rSLfwK_g
These commercials are definitely old, as they look to be from the late 80s to early 90s. In addition to the age, it's looks as though Arnold is speaking Japanese (duh!), and doing a good job of it. However, him speaking Japanese just makes the commercials that much more creepy. Even so, they're a blast to watch at least a few times, so give the link a go if you're the adventurous type.
See you again this weekend sometime. Until then, stay Otaku!
If you haven't seen these before, they're old commercials for an energy drink called Alinamin. Sounds basic, right? However, what makes the commercials so...unique, is the fact that, in typical Japanese fashion, there's all sorts of weird imagery flashing on the screen, not to mention the fact that Arnold Schwarzenegger, the brawny man himself, is in them. If you thought he was crazy before, take a look at the link below, and you'll see a side of him you may never want to see again:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hg8rSLfwK_g
These commercials are definitely old, as they look to be from the late 80s to early 90s. In addition to the age, it's looks as though Arnold is speaking Japanese (duh!), and doing a good job of it. However, him speaking Japanese just makes the commercials that much more creepy. Even so, they're a blast to watch at least a few times, so give the link a go if you're the adventurous type.
See you again this weekend sometime. Until then, stay Otaku!
Thursday, June 14, 2012
Deadliest Warrior: Season 1 Review
Hi everyone! I think we can all agree that, with maybe a few exceptions, Spike TV sucks. The past 3 to 4 years has seen an increase of shluck come from them. Most of it isn’t all that good, and the few good shows that do show up either get canceled after just a few seasons, or they get bogged down by whiney viewers, producers that can’t do they job properly, and a bunch of other things too mind-boggling to put down here. Such was the fate of perhaps their greatest show to date. A show so unique, that it actually brought some intelligence back to the channel...for a while. So, let’s take a look at Deadliest Warrior: Season 1 on DVD.
First airing back in the spring of 2009, Deadliest Warrior was a science fiction/history show that answers the most important question: who would win in a duel to the death. Could a Apache take down a Gladiator? Would the Sicilian Mafia survive a shootout with the Japanese Yakuza? The show attempted to answer these questions through scientific tests of a selection of the weapons that the combatants used in their lifetime, and put the data they gathered into a computer program, which would then process the data and determine who would win the battle. The show even comes with some acted scenes, including the final fight between the two warriors. The DVD of season 1 came out in the late spring/early summer of 2010, about 1 month after season 2 started airing.
To start the positives off, we have the actual matches themselves. Each of them are all quite interesting, as you have a mix of low-tech, mid-tech, and high-tech encounters. The weapons that they bring to the table are taken from the diverse arsenals that they had during their lives are also interesting, with some being well known, and others that many may have never heard of before. Although there were only 9 matchups, they formed the basis for what the 2nd and 3rd seasons would build upon. As for the matchups themselves, just take a look below:
1) Apache vs Gladiator
2) Samurai vs Viking
3) Spartan vs Ninja
4) Pirate vs Knight
5) Mafia vs Yakuza
6) Green Beret vs Spetznas
7) Shaolin Monk vs Maori Warrior
8) William Wallice vs Shaka Zulu
9) I.R.A. vs Taliban
No, you’re not reading that last one wrong. They actually went ahead, and aired it (except in England). It was the most politically incorrect episode of season 1...and I liked it!
Secondly, the cast of Deadliest Warrior was another plus. For starters, you had a professional doctor that described the damage done by the weapons, a biomedical engineer that also described some of the damage and setup the tests for each weapon, and a computer expert that would put all the data into the program that ran the fights. In addition to the main three, would also had two (sometimes three) experts come in to support their respective side. Although some of the experts weren’t who they say they were, or they didn’t completely know the subject matter (more on this later), they did attempt to at least appear legitimate. The banter between them was often hilarious, but there were occasions where they would buckle down and get serious.
Unfortunately, season 1 of Deadliest Warrior (as well as seasons 2 & 3, but they’re for later) had bigger things going against it than for it. For starters, some of the warriors in the matchups were from very different sections of the timeline. Pirate vs Knight, as an example, pitted a blackpoweder wielding warrior against a warrior that had no blackpowder weapons. Although the knight was wearing armor, it really didn’t help him in the end. I understand putting two warriors together from different eras, but at times the distance between the two would sometimes determine the outcome before the actual testing did.
Next negative of the show was the experts. Although many of them were quite legitimate (Barry Jacobson rules!), there were also some experts that were either total crocks of shit, or legit experts that didn’t completely know what they were talking about. The experts that somewhat knew their warrior’s past I’ll crossover, but the fact that the show brought on people who not only didn’t know what they were talking, but disguising them to appear as real experts is a example of pure laziness.
This also extends to the editing within the show. There’s a scene within Pirate vs Knight, in which the pirate’s hat is knocked off his head, then it reappears, then it disappears again. That’s just sloppy filming, plain and simple.
The final negative of Deadliest Warrior: Season 1 is a big one, and it involves the history and weapons. There are certain cases in which the weapons they say, aren’t the weapons used in the quick showings. Case in point, when they show off the “Walther P38” used by the Yakuza, they’re actually showing off a Luger PO8 pistol, which is a completely different weapon. In Pirate vs Knight, the “Morningstar” they show off for the knight is actually a flail. That’s just completely mixing up weapons, when a show like this should be perfectly accurate with it’s information.
The occasions when the screw up a piece of history are even worse. Thought some episodes don’t have as many historical hiccups, some of the others have more bumps in the road than others. This is even more unforgivable than screwing up the weapons, and it shows the lack of effort that can be seen not just in this season, but in the others as well.
Deadliest Warrior: Season 1 gets a 5 out of 10. It has a interesting array of matches, and it has a fair cast, but the time distance between certain warriors was massive, some of the experts weren’t who they say they were, and they sometimes screwed up the weapons and history.
See you all next week. Until then, stay Otaku!
First airing back in the spring of 2009, Deadliest Warrior was a science fiction/history show that answers the most important question: who would win in a duel to the death. Could a Apache take down a Gladiator? Would the Sicilian Mafia survive a shootout with the Japanese Yakuza? The show attempted to answer these questions through scientific tests of a selection of the weapons that the combatants used in their lifetime, and put the data they gathered into a computer program, which would then process the data and determine who would win the battle. The show even comes with some acted scenes, including the final fight between the two warriors. The DVD of season 1 came out in the late spring/early summer of 2010, about 1 month after season 2 started airing.
To start the positives off, we have the actual matches themselves. Each of them are all quite interesting, as you have a mix of low-tech, mid-tech, and high-tech encounters. The weapons that they bring to the table are taken from the diverse arsenals that they had during their lives are also interesting, with some being well known, and others that many may have never heard of before. Although there were only 9 matchups, they formed the basis for what the 2nd and 3rd seasons would build upon. As for the matchups themselves, just take a look below:
1) Apache vs Gladiator
2) Samurai vs Viking
3) Spartan vs Ninja
4) Pirate vs Knight
5) Mafia vs Yakuza
6) Green Beret vs Spetznas
7) Shaolin Monk vs Maori Warrior
8) William Wallice vs Shaka Zulu
9) I.R.A. vs Taliban
No, you’re not reading that last one wrong. They actually went ahead, and aired it (except in England). It was the most politically incorrect episode of season 1...and I liked it!
Secondly, the cast of Deadliest Warrior was another plus. For starters, you had a professional doctor that described the damage done by the weapons, a biomedical engineer that also described some of the damage and setup the tests for each weapon, and a computer expert that would put all the data into the program that ran the fights. In addition to the main three, would also had two (sometimes three) experts come in to support their respective side. Although some of the experts weren’t who they say they were, or they didn’t completely know the subject matter (more on this later), they did attempt to at least appear legitimate. The banter between them was often hilarious, but there were occasions where they would buckle down and get serious.
Unfortunately, season 1 of Deadliest Warrior (as well as seasons 2 & 3, but they’re for later) had bigger things going against it than for it. For starters, some of the warriors in the matchups were from very different sections of the timeline. Pirate vs Knight, as an example, pitted a blackpoweder wielding warrior against a warrior that had no blackpowder weapons. Although the knight was wearing armor, it really didn’t help him in the end. I understand putting two warriors together from different eras, but at times the distance between the two would sometimes determine the outcome before the actual testing did.
Next negative of the show was the experts. Although many of them were quite legitimate (Barry Jacobson rules!), there were also some experts that were either total crocks of shit, or legit experts that didn’t completely know what they were talking about. The experts that somewhat knew their warrior’s past I’ll crossover, but the fact that the show brought on people who not only didn’t know what they were talking, but disguising them to appear as real experts is a example of pure laziness.
This also extends to the editing within the show. There’s a scene within Pirate vs Knight, in which the pirate’s hat is knocked off his head, then it reappears, then it disappears again. That’s just sloppy filming, plain and simple.
The final negative of Deadliest Warrior: Season 1 is a big one, and it involves the history and weapons. There are certain cases in which the weapons they say, aren’t the weapons used in the quick showings. Case in point, when they show off the “Walther P38” used by the Yakuza, they’re actually showing off a Luger PO8 pistol, which is a completely different weapon. In Pirate vs Knight, the “Morningstar” they show off for the knight is actually a flail. That’s just completely mixing up weapons, when a show like this should be perfectly accurate with it’s information.
The occasions when the screw up a piece of history are even worse. Thought some episodes don’t have as many historical hiccups, some of the others have more bumps in the road than others. This is even more unforgivable than screwing up the weapons, and it shows the lack of effort that can be seen not just in this season, but in the others as well.
Deadliest Warrior: Season 1 gets a 5 out of 10. It has a interesting array of matches, and it has a fair cast, but the time distance between certain warriors was massive, some of the experts weren’t who they say they were, and they sometimes screwed up the weapons and history.
See you all next week. Until then, stay Otaku!
Tuesday, June 12, 2012
Diablo 3 Review Update
Wow, I'm on time!
I'm terribly sorry about not having a review put up tonight. In all honesty, I didn't think of a single thing to watch, play or listen to. However, I'm getting incredibly close to my review of Diablo 3. In about a few more weeks, I'll finally post it. In the meantime, here's a few of the things that I'll be going over:
- Classes
- Story
- Graphics
- Gameplay
- Sound
- Auction House
- Hacks
- (insert other topic here)
Because of the amount of things I'll be discussing within the review, I'll be changing the format a little bit. I hope that doesn't throw any of you off.
See you later this week, where I'll review season 1 of a show that could have been. Until then, stay Otaku!
I'm terribly sorry about not having a review put up tonight. In all honesty, I didn't think of a single thing to watch, play or listen to. However, I'm getting incredibly close to my review of Diablo 3. In about a few more weeks, I'll finally post it. In the meantime, here's a few of the things that I'll be going over:
- Classes
- Story
- Graphics
- Gameplay
- Sound
- Auction House
- Hacks
- (insert other topic here)
Because of the amount of things I'll be discussing within the review, I'll be changing the format a little bit. I hope that doesn't throw any of you off.
See you later this week, where I'll review season 1 of a show that could have been. Until then, stay Otaku!
Friday, June 8, 2012
Devil Hunter Yohko (Episodes 1-3) Review
Hi guys! Just recently, I watched an anime. An anime that awed me, moved me, and may have even opened my third eye. It was so...screw it, here's my review for Devil Hunter Yohko.
Before I go on, I have to state two things. First, as you can tell, this review will only count the first three episodes. I did order all 6 episodes, but the second volume turned out to contain a DVD Catalog instead. I hope to have episodes 4, 5, and 6 soon. Also, if you're an old-school ADV Films (R.I.P.) fan, you'll no doubt recognize this show as the first title they ever released. Granted it had subtitles at the time, but a historic first release it was. Now, onto the review!
Created by Studio Madhouse with directing from Akiyuki Shimbo, and produced by Toho, Devil Hunter Yohko was eventually released in the US (with subtitles) by ADV Films in 1992, a dubbing in 1995, and a DVD release in 2002 to celebrate 10 years of operation. The story of this show couldn't be cheesier, and counts as the show's first positive. For many centuries, the Mano family has been keeping the world safe from demons. Yohko Mano, the 108th devil hunter of the family. Her mother, Sayoko, was originally going to be the 108th devil hunter, but as Yohko's grandmother Madoka put it: "She couldn't control her hormones, and she gave birth to you!". You see, in order to be a devil hunter, one must be pure and virginal in order for her mind to remain clear. This is a bit of a problem, as Yohko is a 16-year old in high school, is crazy for a number of guys, and her mother is constantly trying to push her into having sex, and thus losing her virginity.
As you can see, this story sets up a lot of comedic moments, and they all hit the mark. We got fanservice jokes, sex jokes, age jokes, and all other sorts of jokes. There was nothing I didn't watch that wasn't funny, and even the rare moment that wasn't funny, I was at least chuckling for a second or two.
However, comedy isn't the only thing that Devil Hunter Yohko has going for it. The show's second positive is it's other genres, and how they mix with the comedic moments. In addition to comedy (and to an extension, the ecchi and fanservice moments), we also have a show that contains horror and magical girl moments. An anime fan in this age wouldn't believe that this combination of genres would work, yet it somehow does. Hell, the first few moments has ecchi, comedy, and horror all working together at once to create a hilarious opening. Not a lot of modern shows in this day can claim this feat.
Up next for positives is the voice acting...for the primary characters. Although they all do a great job, the two voice actors that stand out the most are Amanda Winn Lee and Tiffany Grant. Amanda does an incredible job of bringing out Yohko's youthfulness, her craziness for boys, and just connecting with his strange form of naive nature. Tiffany Grant, who was a relatively established actor at the time of Devil Hunter Yohko's dubbing, performs well as Yohko's best friend Chi, who's both caring yet tricky at the same time.
Unfortunately, Devil Hunter Yohko has some blemishes on it's otherwise nice face. For starters, we have one story element that irks me. Throughout the first episode, the viewer is told that there can only be one devil hunter at a time, and Yohko is the current devil hunter. However, when episode 2 rolls around, we're given a new main character by the name of Azusa (who's voiced by Kimberly Yates, and actually does a good job. Should have put that in the good voice acting section.), who's come to Yohko to train as a devil hunter. Wait, what!? If she's supposed to be a new devil hunter, then was all that was explained in the first episode just nonsense!? Don't get me wrong, the character is likable, but with her coming in as a devil hunter in training, it just throws off the rest of the story.
This all leads into the second negative of the show. This one is actually more of an annoyance than a actual negative, but I believe it needs to be addressed. In the first episode, we're treated to a nice looking show, complete with some surprisingly good visuals. When we reach the 2nd & 3rd episode, the visuals change slightly. They're not bad or anything, but it's slightly annoying to see a small shift in how things look. Like I said, not a real negative, just a minor annoyance.
However, the next negative for Devil Hunter Yohko is a little more damning. As I said above, there's some great voice work for the primary characters, but there isn't quite so hard work put into the secondary characters. They do an okay job, but they really don't feel like they're putting their all into their respective role. To make matters worse, none of the side characters are really memorable, regardless of voice or because of themselves.
The final negative of Devil Hunter Yohko is perhaps the hardest to cope with: there aren't many copies of the show left around. Amazon has a few copies, both on tape and on the DVD release, but they're a bit on the pricey side. You're best bet is to simply buy them used, as the used prices are far more easier on the wallet. If you're hardcore however, then dive on in! Either way, you're making a smart purchase.
Devil Hunter Yohko gets a 6.5 out of 10. The show has a great story, the comedy is fantastic, the other genres mix in well with the funny stuff, and the voice acting for the primary characters is nice, but that once story element makes me scratch my head, the looks slightly change between the episodes, the voice acting for the secondary characters are forgettable, and the show is hard as hell to find, as well as a decent pricing.
See you all next week. Until then, stay Otaku!
*
Don't worry. I'll eventually review episodes 4, 5, and 6...when I get them.
Before I go on, I have to state two things. First, as you can tell, this review will only count the first three episodes. I did order all 6 episodes, but the second volume turned out to contain a DVD Catalog instead. I hope to have episodes 4, 5, and 6 soon. Also, if you're an old-school ADV Films (R.I.P.) fan, you'll no doubt recognize this show as the first title they ever released. Granted it had subtitles at the time, but a historic first release it was. Now, onto the review!
Created by Studio Madhouse with directing from Akiyuki Shimbo, and produced by Toho, Devil Hunter Yohko was eventually released in the US (with subtitles) by ADV Films in 1992, a dubbing in 1995, and a DVD release in 2002 to celebrate 10 years of operation. The story of this show couldn't be cheesier, and counts as the show's first positive. For many centuries, the Mano family has been keeping the world safe from demons. Yohko Mano, the 108th devil hunter of the family. Her mother, Sayoko, was originally going to be the 108th devil hunter, but as Yohko's grandmother Madoka put it: "She couldn't control her hormones, and she gave birth to you!". You see, in order to be a devil hunter, one must be pure and virginal in order for her mind to remain clear. This is a bit of a problem, as Yohko is a 16-year old in high school, is crazy for a number of guys, and her mother is constantly trying to push her into having sex, and thus losing her virginity.
As you can see, this story sets up a lot of comedic moments, and they all hit the mark. We got fanservice jokes, sex jokes, age jokes, and all other sorts of jokes. There was nothing I didn't watch that wasn't funny, and even the rare moment that wasn't funny, I was at least chuckling for a second or two.
However, comedy isn't the only thing that Devil Hunter Yohko has going for it. The show's second positive is it's other genres, and how they mix with the comedic moments. In addition to comedy (and to an extension, the ecchi and fanservice moments), we also have a show that contains horror and magical girl moments. An anime fan in this age wouldn't believe that this combination of genres would work, yet it somehow does. Hell, the first few moments has ecchi, comedy, and horror all working together at once to create a hilarious opening. Not a lot of modern shows in this day can claim this feat.
Up next for positives is the voice acting...for the primary characters. Although they all do a great job, the two voice actors that stand out the most are Amanda Winn Lee and Tiffany Grant. Amanda does an incredible job of bringing out Yohko's youthfulness, her craziness for boys, and just connecting with his strange form of naive nature. Tiffany Grant, who was a relatively established actor at the time of Devil Hunter Yohko's dubbing, performs well as Yohko's best friend Chi, who's both caring yet tricky at the same time.
Unfortunately, Devil Hunter Yohko has some blemishes on it's otherwise nice face. For starters, we have one story element that irks me. Throughout the first episode, the viewer is told that there can only be one devil hunter at a time, and Yohko is the current devil hunter. However, when episode 2 rolls around, we're given a new main character by the name of Azusa (who's voiced by Kimberly Yates, and actually does a good job. Should have put that in the good voice acting section.), who's come to Yohko to train as a devil hunter. Wait, what!? If she's supposed to be a new devil hunter, then was all that was explained in the first episode just nonsense!? Don't get me wrong, the character is likable, but with her coming in as a devil hunter in training, it just throws off the rest of the story.
This all leads into the second negative of the show. This one is actually more of an annoyance than a actual negative, but I believe it needs to be addressed. In the first episode, we're treated to a nice looking show, complete with some surprisingly good visuals. When we reach the 2nd & 3rd episode, the visuals change slightly. They're not bad or anything, but it's slightly annoying to see a small shift in how things look. Like I said, not a real negative, just a minor annoyance.
However, the next negative for Devil Hunter Yohko is a little more damning. As I said above, there's some great voice work for the primary characters, but there isn't quite so hard work put into the secondary characters. They do an okay job, but they really don't feel like they're putting their all into their respective role. To make matters worse, none of the side characters are really memorable, regardless of voice or because of themselves.
The final negative of Devil Hunter Yohko is perhaps the hardest to cope with: there aren't many copies of the show left around. Amazon has a few copies, both on tape and on the DVD release, but they're a bit on the pricey side. You're best bet is to simply buy them used, as the used prices are far more easier on the wallet. If you're hardcore however, then dive on in! Either way, you're making a smart purchase.
Devil Hunter Yohko gets a 6.5 out of 10. The show has a great story, the comedy is fantastic, the other genres mix in well with the funny stuff, and the voice acting for the primary characters is nice, but that once story element makes me scratch my head, the looks slightly change between the episodes, the voice acting for the secondary characters are forgettable, and the show is hard as hell to find, as well as a decent pricing.
See you all next week. Until then, stay Otaku!
*
Don't worry. I'll eventually review episodes 4, 5, and 6...when I get them.
Wednesday, June 6, 2012
Type-O Negative: The Origin of the Feces Review
I have no excuse this time around for why I'm late, other than the fact that I was lazy, and even when I did remember, I was way too tired to actually post anything up. I keep trying to have a consistent schedule, but I'm just not having any luck. I'm hoping that I can buckle down soon and actually release things on time.
Enough trying to suck up and stuff, cause I got my 3rd music review today! Without any more delays, here's a look at Type-O Negative's second album, The Origin of the Feces.
Background
Type-O Negative has always released great albums, but none quite as interesting as The Origin of the Feces. Supposedly recorded on Halloween Night at Brighton Beach, the album actually was released on May 12, 1992. Origin of the Feces was interesting in the fact that the band had put in noises to sound like an actual live album. All of the crowd noises, banter with the fake audience, and even a bomb threat during the end of one of the songs (this was due to controversy during the European leg of their Slow, Deep, and Hard tour). Just as interesting to not is the fact that the majority of the songs on the album were taken from Slow, Deep, and Hard (with the exception of three songs), the songs names were miswritten on purpose, and the band themselves even played the songs poorly on purpose to make the whole album sound as if it was live.
The Origin of the Feces is also notable in the fact that it started off their tradition of covering songs of famous singers with their distinct gothic metal style. Hey Pete is a adaptation of Jimi Hendrix's song Hey Joe, and they also covered Black Sabbath's infamous song Paranoid, which also contains the main riff to Iron Man at the half way point.
Songs
I Know Your Fucking Someone Else: Originally named "Unsuccessfully Coping With the Natural Beauty of Infidelity", there really are no differences between the lyrics within this and the original, but it's with the sound effects placed in that make it different. At the beginning, you hear the pretend crowd shouting "you suck!" at the band. In response, Pete Steel in response belittles the crowd, then starts the song. He even stops right about at the halfway point, and sings that part of the song without instrumentation, all the while heckling the crowd that is heckling him. Typical Type-O Negative dry humor, and I like it.
Are You Afraid: This is only one of three original songs on the album, and it's a quick one at that. At just 2 minutes and 15 seconds, Are You Afraid starts out slow, but picks up speed and becomes a bit more fast paced. As for the lyrics, well, take a look below:
Gravity: Originally named "Gravitational Constant: G = 6.67 x 10-8 cm-3 gm-1 sec-2", this song has no real difference in terms of lyrics, nor does it have an real difference as far as instrumentation is concerned. What separates this from the original song is the the added sound effects at the end. Just after the song ends, Pete says that there may be a bomb in the building, and he's urging people to leave the building instead of just standing in place, and looking at him. This mirrored their own concert experiences, as bomb threats came in during their tour of Slow, Deep, and Hard. To take such a dark moment in one's career, and twist it into dry humor is something no other band can ever do as good as Type-O Negative can do.
Pain: Originally named "Prelude to Agony", Pain sounds absolutely no different from it predecessor, apart from some sound effects at the beginning, and Pete Steele at the end saying "Hey, I got some good news for you morons. This is gonna be out last song!". Of all the altered songs on this album, I found this one to be the weakest of the bunch, and despite it sounding good, I haven't listened to this one that much.
Kill You Tonight: Originally named "Xero Tolerance", this is the strongest of the repeated & altered songs on this album. Before the songs starts, Pete asks for security to take a kid off the stage because he's, and I quote the mighty Pete, peeing all over the place. The lyrics sound almost the same as than in the original song, and even the instrumentation sounds close. The song concludes with glass breaking on stage, and the crowd cheering. In the words of Pete, "Listen, if you want to throw shit, at least have the balls to come to the front of the stage and do it."
Hey Pete: I got a good laugh or two when I listened to this, and out of all the songs on this album, this is one of the two songs I like the most. Basically, Hey Pete is a more morbid and violent edition of Jimi Hendrix's Hey Joe, even though the base song is pretty morbid already. Instead of a gun, Pete uses an axe to "Kill his baby", but the premise of the song stays the same. This is definitely a good song to listen to when you have a glass of scotch on the rocks in your hand.
Kill You Tonight (Reprieve): Essentially the other half of Xero Tolerance, KYT (R) still carries the humor and fast-paced instrumentation of the second half of Xero Tolerance, along with the slowness after everything is complete. I didn't like Xero Tolerance being split in half, but somehow this has some charm to it.
Paranoid: This song was not on the original release, but instead was on the re-release two years later in 1994. Perhaps out of all the songs on The Origin of the Feces, this one is the strongest in terms of sound and feel. Essentially a slowed down version of Black Sabbath's Paranoid, Type-O Negative's take on the song sounds much more sinister than Black Sabbath's, and for some reason fits the song's name more so that the way Black Sabbath did it. There's actually a second Black Sabbath song within this one, in the form of Iron Man's main line of "Can you feel love?". Overall, this is the best song on the album.
Overall Impression & Rating
This is definitely the black sheep of Type-O Negative albums. It's clearly fun to listen you, as the sounds put into it make the whole thing sound like a real concert, but I simply can't ignore the fact that they basically recycled their first album. Even with the three original songs, this sounds just like Slow, Deep, and Hard, and while that album was good, I wished that there was something more to this one than just the same songs pretending to be live.
The Origin of the Feces gets a 3 to 4 out of 10. The pretend sound effects make the whole "live" concert sound quite believable, but it sounds too much like Slow, Deep, and Hard.
See you later this week. Until then, stay Otaku!
Enough trying to suck up and stuff, cause I got my 3rd music review today! Without any more delays, here's a look at Type-O Negative's second album, The Origin of the Feces.
Background
(Original Cover)
(2nd Edition Cover)
Type-O Negative has always released great albums, but none quite as interesting as The Origin of the Feces. Supposedly recorded on Halloween Night at Brighton Beach, the album actually was released on May 12, 1992. Origin of the Feces was interesting in the fact that the band had put in noises to sound like an actual live album. All of the crowd noises, banter with the fake audience, and even a bomb threat during the end of one of the songs (this was due to controversy during the European leg of their Slow, Deep, and Hard tour). Just as interesting to not is the fact that the majority of the songs on the album were taken from Slow, Deep, and Hard (with the exception of three songs), the songs names were miswritten on purpose, and the band themselves even played the songs poorly on purpose to make the whole album sound as if it was live.
The Origin of the Feces is also notable in the fact that it started off their tradition of covering songs of famous singers with their distinct gothic metal style. Hey Pete is a adaptation of Jimi Hendrix's song Hey Joe, and they also covered Black Sabbath's infamous song Paranoid, which also contains the main riff to Iron Man at the half way point.
Songs
I Know Your Fucking Someone Else: Originally named "Unsuccessfully Coping With the Natural Beauty of Infidelity", there really are no differences between the lyrics within this and the original, but it's with the sound effects placed in that make it different. At the beginning, you hear the pretend crowd shouting "you suck!" at the band. In response, Pete Steel in response belittles the crowd, then starts the song. He even stops right about at the halfway point, and sings that part of the song without instrumentation, all the while heckling the crowd that is heckling him. Typical Type-O Negative dry humor, and I like it.
Are You Afraid: This is only one of three original songs on the album, and it's a quick one at that. At just 2 minutes and 15 seconds, Are You Afraid starts out slow, but picks up speed and becomes a bit more fast paced. As for the lyrics, well, take a look below:
"Are you afraid
afraid to die?
Don't be afraid
afraid to try"
"Are you afraid
afraid to die?
Don't be afraid
of suicide"
"Just take that razor blade
and cut your wrist
down to the bone
and die laughing"
"Are you afraid
afraid to die?
Don't be afraid
afraid to try
suicide"
afraid to die?
Don't be afraid
afraid to try"
"Are you afraid
afraid to die?
Don't be afraid
of suicide"
"Just take that razor blade
and cut your wrist
down to the bone
and die laughing"
"Are you afraid
afraid to die?
Don't be afraid
afraid to try
suicide"
Whether this was meant to be an insult towards the crowd, or a way to taunt people who think about suicide, is never really determined. What is determined is that this is a morbidly dark song, and it adds more to Type-O Negative's macabre nature.
Gravity: Originally named "Gravitational Constant: G = 6.67 x 10-8 cm-3 gm-1 sec-2", this song has no real difference in terms of lyrics, nor does it have an real difference as far as instrumentation is concerned. What separates this from the original song is the the added sound effects at the end. Just after the song ends, Pete says that there may be a bomb in the building, and he's urging people to leave the building instead of just standing in place, and looking at him. This mirrored their own concert experiences, as bomb threats came in during their tour of Slow, Deep, and Hard. To take such a dark moment in one's career, and twist it into dry humor is something no other band can ever do as good as Type-O Negative can do.
Pain: Originally named "Prelude to Agony", Pain sounds absolutely no different from it predecessor, apart from some sound effects at the beginning, and Pete Steele at the end saying "Hey, I got some good news for you morons. This is gonna be out last song!". Of all the altered songs on this album, I found this one to be the weakest of the bunch, and despite it sounding good, I haven't listened to this one that much.
Kill You Tonight: Originally named "Xero Tolerance", this is the strongest of the repeated & altered songs on this album. Before the songs starts, Pete asks for security to take a kid off the stage because he's, and I quote the mighty Pete, peeing all over the place. The lyrics sound almost the same as than in the original song, and even the instrumentation sounds close. The song concludes with glass breaking on stage, and the crowd cheering. In the words of Pete, "Listen, if you want to throw shit, at least have the balls to come to the front of the stage and do it."
Hey Pete: I got a good laugh or two when I listened to this, and out of all the songs on this album, this is one of the two songs I like the most. Basically, Hey Pete is a more morbid and violent edition of Jimi Hendrix's Hey Joe, even though the base song is pretty morbid already. Instead of a gun, Pete uses an axe to "Kill his baby", but the premise of the song stays the same. This is definitely a good song to listen to when you have a glass of scotch on the rocks in your hand.
Kill You Tonight (Reprieve): Essentially the other half of Xero Tolerance, KYT (R) still carries the humor and fast-paced instrumentation of the second half of Xero Tolerance, along with the slowness after everything is complete. I didn't like Xero Tolerance being split in half, but somehow this has some charm to it.
Paranoid: This song was not on the original release, but instead was on the re-release two years later in 1994. Perhaps out of all the songs on The Origin of the Feces, this one is the strongest in terms of sound and feel. Essentially a slowed down version of Black Sabbath's Paranoid, Type-O Negative's take on the song sounds much more sinister than Black Sabbath's, and for some reason fits the song's name more so that the way Black Sabbath did it. There's actually a second Black Sabbath song within this one, in the form of Iron Man's main line of "Can you feel love?". Overall, this is the best song on the album.
Overall Impression & Rating
This is definitely the black sheep of Type-O Negative albums. It's clearly fun to listen you, as the sounds put into it make the whole thing sound like a real concert, but I simply can't ignore the fact that they basically recycled their first album. Even with the three original songs, this sounds just like Slow, Deep, and Hard, and while that album was good, I wished that there was something more to this one than just the same songs pretending to be live.
The Origin of the Feces gets a 3 to 4 out of 10. The pretend sound effects make the whole "live" concert sound quite believable, but it sounds too much like Slow, Deep, and Hard.
See you later this week. Until then, stay Otaku!
Saturday, June 2, 2012
Duke Nukem 3d Review
Hi everyone! It's been quite a while since I've skipped two days before I've put up a review, so my sincere apologies. I was busy on Thursday, and I had a bad day Friday. So much so, that writing a review for some reason would have ticked me off. Luckily, I'm past that, and I'm typing now. As I promised in my Strike Witches review, I said that I was going to do something old school, and I am. So, here's a review for the mid-90s classic, Duke Nukem 3d.
Story
Just like Duke Nukem Forever, the story for Duke Nukem 3d is quite simplistic: A race of genetically modified aliens invades the earth while Duke was fighting the Rigelatins some time during Duke Nukem 2. When he returns, he craft is shot down, but luckily he survives by jumping out of the burning vessel. He then realizes (after cracking his knuckles) that he's in a nearly abandoned Los Angeles, where women are being used for the alien's amusement, and pornography has become the only entertainment source left. He later goes into space during the second episode, then comes back down to LA to finish the job. With the installment of the Plutonium Pak, Duke continues his mission to fight off the alien bastards on Earth, and rescue the lovely ladies that want Duke oh so badly.
Like Duke Nukem Forever, this game as a basic story, and I can get behind that.
Setting
Whereas DNF took place in Las Vegas and some surrounding territories, Duke Nukem 3d mainly stayed within the confines of Los Angeles, and a brief outing into space during episode 2. The fourth episode within the Plutonium Pak introduced a variety of locations, including a grocery store, a theme park, and just before the final boss, a massive oil tanker. For obvious reasons, none of the levels in episode 2 are believable, but many of the levels in episodes 1, 3, and 4 are quite believable as far as locations are concerned. The section of Hollywood Boulevard and the adjoining theater appear believable, as well as the hotel in episode 3, and the grocery store in episode 4.
I really liked a lot of these levels. It's ironic to note that when PC Gamer reviewed Duke Nukem 3d back in 96, the only bad thing about the game, and I quote, was "Some levels may be confusing for some gamers".
Characters
Unlike DNF, Duke is pretty much the only character to speak of in this game. There are absolutely no other characters for Duke to interact with, and that's okay, cause Duke Nukem 3d is a one-man show. Just like with Duke Nukem Forever, Jon St. John provides the bravado and machoness for his signature character, and gives a great performance like he always does.
Gameplay
This is where Duke Nukem 3d falters in the modern age, and where Duke Nukem Forever faltered...to an extent. Just like DNF, DN3d consists of killing aliens, look for keycards (keycards don't exist in DNF), completing some puzzles, and finding the exit. Unlike DNF however, DN3d has a more traditional health system that you can find in other FPS games of the time. When you get hurt, to have to find things to regenerate health (health packs, toilets, and water fountains), and you carry around 10 weapons instead of 4. Your inventory in DN3d is also larger, and holds the following:
Portable Medkit
Steroids (the DN3d version increases your speed for a few seconds instead of your strength)
Night Vision Goggles
Holoduke (this version stays in one place, doesn't fire back, and doesn't cloak you)
Protective Boots
Scuba Gear
Jetpack (DNF only has this in multiplayer)
As you can see, this inventory is much more varied, and the pipe bombs and trip mines in DNF are weapons instead of items.
I don't necessarily mind this system, as it's easy to grasp, and doesn't require much in the way of brain power. With modern gamers however, they can easily see this as archaic and basic. Speaking of which...
Graphics & Sound
These are really the only parts of Duke Nukem 3d that haven't aged well. Contrary to the name, this games is actually a 2.5d game instead of a 3d game. Basically, a 2.5d game is when numerous 2d layers are put on top of each other, giving the illusion of being a 3d game. The illusion works quite well, even to this day.
The sprites that inhabit the game, unfortunately, are still 2d. Their designs still look a little cool, but they literally fall flat against the environment. When using the mouse, it distorts the graphics because of a lack of perspective correction. Your best bet when playing is to not use the mouse, and just simply point your gun in the directions of where the aliens come, then blast them right in the face.
The sounds also haven't aged well, as the aliens and weapons don't sound as fierce as they used to be. with only two exceptions. The first is Duke's voice, as it still sounds...well, kickass! The second exception is a little more surprising. Despite sounding incredibly basic, the music in the game still sounds great, as in conjures up images of a more nostalgic time, where games weren't as complex as many of them are now.
Overall & Rating
Despite it's age, Duke Nukem 3d is still a great game to play. It's a bit more fast paced than DNF, but the style of gameplay, not to mention the central voice actor, remain the same. It's really the graphics and sound systems that haven't done well over the years. And before you tell me, I do know about the high resolution pack for the game. Although it doesn't update the sounds, to me it actually makes the game look hideous. I really enjoy the old look, and for nostalgic reasons, I want to keep that archaic look.
Duke Nukem 3d gets a 7 to 8 out of 10.
See you all next week. Until then, stay Otaku!
Story
Just like Duke Nukem Forever, the story for Duke Nukem 3d is quite simplistic: A race of genetically modified aliens invades the earth while Duke was fighting the Rigelatins some time during Duke Nukem 2. When he returns, he craft is shot down, but luckily he survives by jumping out of the burning vessel. He then realizes (after cracking his knuckles) that he's in a nearly abandoned Los Angeles, where women are being used for the alien's amusement, and pornography has become the only entertainment source left. He later goes into space during the second episode, then comes back down to LA to finish the job. With the installment of the Plutonium Pak, Duke continues his mission to fight off the alien bastards on Earth, and rescue the lovely ladies that want Duke oh so badly.
Like Duke Nukem Forever, this game as a basic story, and I can get behind that.
Setting
Whereas DNF took place in Las Vegas and some surrounding territories, Duke Nukem 3d mainly stayed within the confines of Los Angeles, and a brief outing into space during episode 2. The fourth episode within the Plutonium Pak introduced a variety of locations, including a grocery store, a theme park, and just before the final boss, a massive oil tanker. For obvious reasons, none of the levels in episode 2 are believable, but many of the levels in episodes 1, 3, and 4 are quite believable as far as locations are concerned. The section of Hollywood Boulevard and the adjoining theater appear believable, as well as the hotel in episode 3, and the grocery store in episode 4.
I really liked a lot of these levels. It's ironic to note that when PC Gamer reviewed Duke Nukem 3d back in 96, the only bad thing about the game, and I quote, was "Some levels may be confusing for some gamers".
Characters
Unlike DNF, Duke is pretty much the only character to speak of in this game. There are absolutely no other characters for Duke to interact with, and that's okay, cause Duke Nukem 3d is a one-man show. Just like with Duke Nukem Forever, Jon St. John provides the bravado and machoness for his signature character, and gives a great performance like he always does.
Gameplay
This is where Duke Nukem 3d falters in the modern age, and where Duke Nukem Forever faltered...to an extent. Just like DNF, DN3d consists of killing aliens, look for keycards (keycards don't exist in DNF), completing some puzzles, and finding the exit. Unlike DNF however, DN3d has a more traditional health system that you can find in other FPS games of the time. When you get hurt, to have to find things to regenerate health (health packs, toilets, and water fountains), and you carry around 10 weapons instead of 4. Your inventory in DN3d is also larger, and holds the following:
Portable Medkit
Steroids (the DN3d version increases your speed for a few seconds instead of your strength)
Night Vision Goggles
Holoduke (this version stays in one place, doesn't fire back, and doesn't cloak you)
Protective Boots
Scuba Gear
Jetpack (DNF only has this in multiplayer)
As you can see, this inventory is much more varied, and the pipe bombs and trip mines in DNF are weapons instead of items.
I don't necessarily mind this system, as it's easy to grasp, and doesn't require much in the way of brain power. With modern gamers however, they can easily see this as archaic and basic. Speaking of which...
Graphics & Sound
These are really the only parts of Duke Nukem 3d that haven't aged well. Contrary to the name, this games is actually a 2.5d game instead of a 3d game. Basically, a 2.5d game is when numerous 2d layers are put on top of each other, giving the illusion of being a 3d game. The illusion works quite well, even to this day.
The sprites that inhabit the game, unfortunately, are still 2d. Their designs still look a little cool, but they literally fall flat against the environment. When using the mouse, it distorts the graphics because of a lack of perspective correction. Your best bet when playing is to not use the mouse, and just simply point your gun in the directions of where the aliens come, then blast them right in the face.
The sounds also haven't aged well, as the aliens and weapons don't sound as fierce as they used to be. with only two exceptions. The first is Duke's voice, as it still sounds...well, kickass! The second exception is a little more surprising. Despite sounding incredibly basic, the music in the game still sounds great, as in conjures up images of a more nostalgic time, where games weren't as complex as many of them are now.
Overall & Rating
Despite it's age, Duke Nukem 3d is still a great game to play. It's a bit more fast paced than DNF, but the style of gameplay, not to mention the central voice actor, remain the same. It's really the graphics and sound systems that haven't done well over the years. And before you tell me, I do know about the high resolution pack for the game. Although it doesn't update the sounds, to me it actually makes the game look hideous. I really enjoy the old look, and for nostalgic reasons, I want to keep that archaic look.
Duke Nukem 3d gets a 7 to 8 out of 10.
See you all next week. Until then, stay Otaku!
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