Magnum Apex

[i]I only play a couple of games a week at most, so I'm playing these over the course of several months.[/i] [size=5][b]Stacking[/b] on Xbox 360[/size] I just started playing this, and so far I'm quite impressed. The design is extremely cohesive, with everything revolving around stacking different dolls for different abilities, and all of it is infused with great humor and an unusual but pleasant artistic direction. Experimentation is encouraged, and therefore puzzles are interesting to solve. Essentially, it's a great adventure game so far. [size=5][b]Xenoblade: Chronicles[/b] on Nintendo Wii[/size] A seemingly lengthy JRPG. I've played over two dozen hours of it, and I'm fairly certain I'm still pretty early in the game. I enjoy some of the design decisions the developers made, many of which look to be borrowed from Western RPGs, to address traditional issues of the subgenre: Encounters transition seamlessly from exploration to combat; most abilities cool down before they can be reused again, as opposed to using a mana meter; the player doesn't lose progress if he dies in battle (this may or may not be a benefit, but for now I'm ok with it). The story is interesting, the English voice acting is thankfully free of cheese, and the environments are gorgeous. I haven't been this invested in a fantasy JPRG since FFX. [size=5][b]2010 FIFA World Cup South Africa[/b] on Xbox 360[/size] I'm playing this because I don't have the latest FIFA, and the next FIFA is two months away, and I'm going through a UEFA 2012 hangover. I'm not sure if I'll still want to play a football videogame when [i]FIFA 13[/i] comes out. [size=5][b]Max Payne[/b] on Xbox with Xbox 360 software emulation[/size] My goal is to play all Max Payne games in a row. The first MP holds up surprisingly well.

I play a great variety of videogames, though most of them are from the all-encompassing action genre. This means I can enjoy games like[i] Mass Effect[/i], [i]Ninja Gaiden[/i], [i]Mushihime-sama Futari[/i] and [i]Super Street Fighter IV[/i] without reservation. I've also enjoy action-less games (i.e. games requiring little to no reflexive skills), like JRPGs and adventure games, the latter of which I'm a big fan of. It's probably easier to highlight the games I don't play. I'm completely uninterested in MMORPGs, so I'm perfectly fine living my entire life without playing one. I don't play deep strategy games, but not for lack of interest. I just rarely find myself playing PC games, so even though I've wanted to dig my teeth into some of these games, it's just not as appealing to me if I have to do so in a PC, which is a state that reminds me of work.

[quote name='persocomblues']I must be missing something... I would think ordinary would be a system that works perfectly fine, does its job well, plays its games and turns off at the end of the night. Being brand new doesn't give it the right to have problems, does it? I?m not quite sure how acceptable such errors are... after all this is a little too soon for this sort of thing. It should be considered that perhaps the system was released too soon. If I spent that kind of money on a brand new system and it overheated, I?d probably return the thing and wait a few more months to try X360 again, if I ever tried it again. *Is checking online, looks like some X360 owners are quite pissed*[/quote] [font=trebuchet ms][color=darkblue]Yep, if you want to play it safe, you shouldn't bother in getting a system at launch time. What you said about expecting the system to be perfect and such is the way things should be, but sadly that isn't the case. My first-gen Xbox and GameCube broke down shortly after their warranties expired, and I take extremely good care of them. One had the crappy Thompson drive that does not do well with dual-layered DVDs, and the GCN could not read my games thanks to faulty lens. However, I had several factors going for me that made me get the system early. My parents agreed that this would be their Christmas present to me, so no money off [i]my[/i] pocket. Secondly, I like the excitement of getting a brand new system and am also studying Game Design & Development, so getting a console early and trying it out helps me keep in touch with the next generation of gaming. I intend to do the same when the PS3 and Revolution come out too, if financially possible. [/color][/font]

[font=trebuchet ms][color=darkblue]GameSpot confirmed that some people are having issues with the console (discs getting scratched, games freezing, overheating, etc), but Microsoft said the number of reports is quite low. Then again, that was more than expected. It's launch time, so there's bound to be bad consoles released, which is not at all out of the ordinary.[/color][/font]

[font=trebuchet ms][color=darkblue]I got the 360 at launch. I did little work to get mine. I walked into Walmart two hours before launch and took my #2 spot in the long line. It's good to have friends. So far, I really like it. I've only been playing [i]Perfect Dark Zero[/i], and I feel it's a worthwhile purchase. The game takes elements from the N64 classic and implements them for the new generation. Sure, there are some issues with stealth (like the original), a pointless dive move and the lack of jumping, but the gameplay itself more than makes up for it. It's also weird that Joanna mysteriously lacks an English accent. Hopefully people will be reminded why [i]Halo[/i] was already behind the times when it came out in 2001. However, I'm more impressed with the online capabilities of the 360 itself. I love the sense of community the 360 gives me with the gamertag, the marketplace, Xbox Live Arcade and friends. I like it so much that I'm already disappointed that the PS3 and Revolution won't have this level of quality with their online plans. It truly is a joy to just browse the 360 menus.[/color][/font]

[quote name='Morpheus']Eternal Darkness and animal crossing. But do they really need more franchises? With Super Mario, mario golf, mario baseball, mario kart, f-zero, star fox, zelda, metroid, super smash bros., and Donkey kong, do they really need any more?[/quote] [font=trebuchet ms][color=darkblue]Eternal Darkness was created independently by Silicon Knights. The project would originally appear as a third-party game for the N64. After Silicon Knights signed with Nintendo to become a new second-party developer for the Japanese giant, the project was simply moved and upgraded for the GameCube. Nintendo did not create the series. Animal Crossing is only the second game of a series, the first title being Animal Forest for the N64, not released in America. Like I've stated before, I meant brand new franchises. By that I mean, new series with new characters. All the Mario titles are about existing characters taking part in a different genre, like Mario Kart, Mario Baseball, Mario Golf and Super Smash Bros. (And Mario Party, Mario Pinball?) I mentioned Capcom as an example because they've created brand new characters and placed them in a universe of their own in this generation alone. One way to explain myself would be by imagining this: If Capcom had done things the "Nintendo" way, instead of creating a brand new world and characters for Devil May Cry to fit with the gameplay style they had in mind (3D hack & slash action), the company would've instead made the game with Zero from Mega Man X as the main star, and the game by default would be in the same universe as Mega Man. The reality of it is, we now have two different franchises, two completely different sets of characters to like from Capcom. Or, I could just mention what actually happened. Devil May Cry started of as a Resident Evil game, but as they came up with new ideas for the project, they ended up with something quite different than their survival horror series, so they decided to go ahead and make a brand new game out of the once RE title. By contrast, Rareware was working on a brand new set of characters and universe for the GCN, Dinosaur Planet, but Nintendo decided that the game should be a Star Fox game instead (hey! In with the old!) and Star Fox: Adventures was born. Playing once through the game will reveal that the title wasn't meant to be a Star Fox game, and not at all what Rare was actually working with. See, that's what I mean by Nintendo lacking the creativity to create brand new characters in their own worlds. They choose to slap every single project with their overexposed characters, and I strongly feel that takes away from the experience, and especially of what could've been.[/color][/font]

[img]http://www.mrbillsadventureland.com/reviews/m-n/monkeyR/wallyguybrush3.jpg[/img] [font=trebuchet ms][color=darkblue]"HEY, could you please point that thing away from my crotch!? I have no more items to shake!"[/color][/font]

[font=trebuchet ms][color=darkblue]Well, so much for spoiler tags...[/color][/font] [QUOTE=Xyandar]One bad ending to a game was dracula or "D" for computer. you go through the whole game and when you get to Dracula u put a bullet in his heart and the game just ends... that really annoyed me.. Another bad ending to a game was all of Fight Clubs endings for PS2. First of all...the game was a waste of 70 bucks because it took me 10 minutes to beat the game and 1 hour to beat with all the guys. the endings have nothing to do with the characters...[/QUOTE] [font=trebuchet ms][color=darkblue]Wait... you not only paid 70 bucks for Fight Club, but you actually spent time beating the game with every single character? Man, stop torturing yourself. Whatever you've done wrong in your life isn't worth the punishment. My least favorite ending would have to be from Super Double Dragon for the SNES. You fight through several levels and some nearly tough bosses, and the end is nothing more than scrolling white text in a black background. Not even a lousy little image to make it more interesting.[/color][/font]

[color=darkblue][font=trebuchet ms]I'm currently playing two games. Right now I'm on my fourth playthrough of MGS3, trying to find every Kerotan, and interrogate and hold up every guard in normal difficulty. I'm also trying to get The End's camo, and search for a hard-to-find Snake. I'm also playing Katamari Damacy. I just beat it yesterday, so I'm now focusing on finding every present, and make some constellations and stars bigger. I recommend this game to anyone, and I mean [i]anyone[/i]. The Dual Shock 2 analog sticks could not be used better.[/font][/color]

[quote name='Morpheus']Nintendo puts franchises on the front because it makes the product recognizable and easy to get into. Do you know why there is a Sony emblem on everything Sony makes? If you have had good experiences with a product, then you are more likely to buy another from them.[/quote] [font=trebuchet ms][color=darkblue]I understand that perfectly, but companies like Capcom can still make games were age-old, recognizable characters like Mega Man show up, and at the same time create new franchises like Devil May Cry, Viewtiful Joe, Onimusha and Shadow of Rome. Why can't Nintendo do the same? Other than Pikmin, can you name any significant, brand new franchise created by Nintendo in this generation? It would certainly be refreshing if they took the risk.[/color][/font]

[quote name='Beorhun']Yes, it looked good, but if good graphics made great games, then Ninja Gaiden would be the greatest game ever made.[/quote] [font=trebuchet ms][color=darkblue]Well, that's not the best example you could use, as it wouldn't be an exaggeration to say that Ninja Gaiden may very well be the greatest game ever made. Anyway, if I had a penny for every game that's disappointed me, then, um... I might have enough money to buy a used copy of Pokémon Channel. The first game that comes to mind would be the PlayStation port of the heavily underrated [i]Street Fighter: The Movie[/i]. Sure, the concept is stupid. It's a game based on a bad movie based on a good game, but at least the arcade original was fun. It played just like any other Street Fighter, with cool super moves and nicely animated, realistic characters and backdrops. The special effects used, like the flaming hurricane kick from Akuma, mixed well with the rest of the game. The soundtrack was also top-notch. When I read the game would be coming to Sony's 32-bit console, I got excited, but as soon as I played it I realized the many flaws it had. The characters looked like cardboard cutouts of the original with limited animation. The game also played significantly slower, and the special effects looked more like kid-colored fireballs than computer animation. The soundtrack was still kept intact, which means I now use the disc as a music CD from time to time. No, I'm not kidding. Another disappointment would be [i]Super Mario Sunshine[/i], for the GameCube. The game wasn't bad, but it certainly was a far cry from the revolutionary Mario games we're used to every generation. Super Mario Bros., Super Mario Bros. 3, Super Mario World and Super Mario 64... all these games continually redefined the 2D platform genre. Not the case with Sunshine. First of all, the game plays too much like its N64 predecessor, which might still be great if it weren't for the fact that 6-year-old camera issues still weren't solved, and that the game's levels weren't as varied or gameplay-friendly as SM64. The whole thing felt more like Majora's Mask to Ocarina of Time... a decent sidequest, and nothing more.[/color][/font]

[font=trebuchet ms][color=darkblue][b]Konami[/b] holds the title of my favorite video game company simply because of creating the Metal Gear series. When I first played Metal Gear Solid, I was already playing video games for 11 years, so I didn't think any new title would grab me the same way Super Mario World, Street Fighter II or Mike Tyson's Punch-Out!! did in my infancy. Boy, was I wrong. I was taken for a ride like I had never experienced before. I loved every single element of the game: its intricate story, its interesting characters, its cutting-edge graphics, its varied soundtrack, its friendly gameplay, its spot-on control, its wealth of Easter eggs... you name it. The series has only gotten better with each release, MGS3 being the culmination of what every game should aspire to be, a testament to the hard work and love some developers can still put on a gaming project. If that weren't enough, I must also thank Konami for the now-classic Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles games for the Arcades, NES and SNES, for Contra, for Castlevania and for Zone of the Enders, among others. My [i]very close[/i] second would be [b]Capcom[/b]. If you had all the games Capcom has made in a chronologically ordered list, you can easily spot the evolution of gaming since the company's existence. From Mega Man to Street Fighter to Resident Evil to Devil May Cry, Capcom goes against the norm and doesn't rely solely on franchises it created generations ago (Like Nintendo), it continues to create new characters and new franchises that will live on next to their more classic mascots, that are even reinvented themselves and never forgotten. My third pick would be [b]Square[/b]. The company that gave me Chrono Cross, Bushido Blade 2, and the best RPGs ever made in the Final Fantasy series is worthy of all the praise and hype it continually gets. As of late, however, the company hasn't created an excellent new game from a brand new franchise, but as long as they keep exceeding expectations with the next Final Fantasy, they'll still have a place at the top of my list.[/color][/font]

[font=trebuchet ms][color=darkblue]In 2004, we saw a bold pricing move from ESPN and Sega, when they released their summer/fall sports titles for only $19.99. Originally, EA brushed it off by publicly dismissing the competition, but ESPN NFL 2K5 sales closed in on Madden NFL 2005 enough for EA to respond. Quietly, Electronic Arts dropped the price of their sports games to $29.95. Two excellent football games were then bargain-priced. But Sega continued to sell their sports games at an admirable pace, and it was a sign of great things that could've come, as the success of this little war would've enticed other publishers to make price cuts in order to increase sales and face competition. Sadly, EA was not satisfied with having a close second in the charts, so they acquired a 5-year exclusivity deal with the NFL, a blow Sega won't recover for a long time. It seemed EA simply responded to the NFL's desire to have a single publisher releasing their games, but the deal is still one that goes against the growth of the industry. ESPN though, lost love for the first company that made good traditional sports titles with their brand, so they packed their bags, and...[/color][/font] [quote][font=trebuchet ms][url]http://www.gamespot.com/news/2005/01/17/news_6116473.html[/url][/font] [size=3][b]Electronic Arts, ESPN hook up in exclusive 15-year deal[/size] ESPN brand and programming to surface in EA sports titles on all platforms; deal is second blow to Sega Sports and Visual Concepts.[/b] Electronic Arts broke the calm of a national holiday today by announcing a licensing deal of epic proportions. For the next fifteen years, EA will be the sole licensee of the ESPN brand in the area of sports games, which will include console, handheld, PC, and wireless games. Games with leverage the ESPN brand will make their way to retail sometime during calendar year 2006, "upon the conclusion of ESPN?s existing video game licensing commitments." The news is the second blow to current license-holder Sega (and its Visual Concepts development studio). It recently lost the right to publish sports games using the NFL license when EA scooped that license up. Now, it loses the right to the ESPN brand as well. In a statement released just minutes ago, the world's largest game publisher said, "The relationship will include established EA SPORTS franchises--which will be enhanced by ESPN telecast, print and online content--as well as new sports games to be published by EA based on ESPN media properties." The agreement is for fifteen years "with an option to terminate after ten years under certain conditions," the statement said. The agreement gives the publisher "exclusive first rights" to all ESPN content for simulation sports games. [size=1]By Curt Feldman ? [I][url="http://www.gamespot.com/"]GameSpot[/url][/I] POSTED: 01/17/05 12:05 PM PST [/size][/quote] [font=trebuchet ms][color=darkblue]"Ouch!" That was my first thought. Sega is like the guy that got cheated on by his wife, whom upon divorce got the house, the car, and left [i]him[/i] with the kids. Marketing people probably saw this coming, however. It'd be very unlikely for ESPN to [i]not[/i] publish a licensed NFL game. The first news blow. I didn't like the fact that now only one publisher has the rights to the NFL. I'm not an American football fan, but the principle goes against competition in the industry. On the other hand, I do believe the second is good news... for [i]me[/i]. I only care about the baseball games, and EA did it better than Sega, so EA + ESPN = Best baseball experience around. Still... poor Sega... I can't help but feel bad for them.[/color][/font] [color=#4B0082]*merges with previous thread* - [i]Desbreko[/i][/color]

[QUOTE=Sephiroth][COLOR=DarkRed][FONT=Times New Roman]If you ask me the MGS series could be ended right now seeing how MGS3 pretty much covered everything up, MGS4 is in the work's but Kojima isn't the one running it, though he will have a part in it Also if you ask me the MGS series is meant to be played without a radar! More stealth I say![/FONT][/COLOR][/QUOTE] [color=darkblue][font=trebuchet ms]I wonder how MGS4 will be in terms of gameplay, since more than likely it'll take place in Solid Snake's time, considering he has unfinished business. With the use of camos, face paint and old-school sensors, I don't think going back to the "easy" technology would be pleasurable. Then again, they could hold off MGS4 and remake the MSX titles. I'm all for it.[/font][/color]

[font=trebuchet ms][color=darkblue]I'm nearing the end of my third playthrough, this time avoiding killing anyone. When I first started playing MGS3, I didn't think it'd live up to even MGS2. However, the more I let go of the soliton radar and started enjoying the new gameplay mechanics, the more I began to love this game. I didn't think it was possible, but MGS3 has shoved the original MGS as my favorite game of all time. I could go on and on about what an excellent game this is, and even defend what some might call "camera problems," but that will take away time from continuing to play this great title, so... ciao.[/color][/font]

[color=darkblue][font=trebuchet ms]Well, I flew to Venezuela when Frances came, and I'll be doing that again at 5 PM tomorrow. I live in Boca Raton, so I'm right in the East Coast. Boca has been lucky over the past several years when it came to hurricanes. They either went to Orlando or to Miami. There was one time we had a hurricane threatening Boca, so my family and I took the road to Orlando. On the way there, we heard through the radio that the hurricane had shifted and was coming to Orlando. Luckily, my dad at the time managed to get us a room at an expensive Marriott for one night, with hurricane-proof windows. In fact, the most I remember about that night was playing MK3 in the hotel's arcade room, a game that was hot at the time.[/font][/color]

[color=darkblue][font=trebuchet ms]My take on Summerslam (originally posted on the RajahWWF.com Fan Forums): SummerSlam was gr... wait, what the hell was wrong with that crowd? Aside from the Angle/Guerrero and Orton/Benoit match, I had a hard time paying attention to the matches. [b]Six Man Tag[/b] - I'm happy to say that I liked a match involving the Dudleyz that didn't suck, and that isn't a TLC. On the other hand, my liking the match was 99% thanks to the trifecta of Rey Mysterio, Billy Kidman and Paul London. They did a magnificent job with keeping the match fast paced, which is a hard thing to do against guys like Buh-Buh and D-Von. This is yet another example of why the WWE should incorporate more cruiserweight matches on SmackDown! tapings. Too bad that "the bad guys" won, but it's of little concern when the match was that fun to watch. [b]Matt Hardy vs. Kane[/b] - It was a thankfully quick match, with some nice spots here and there. The top-of-the-rope Chokeslam was a nice way to end the match, but I'm disappointed that neither Lita turned heel nor HBK interfered. [b]Booker T. vs. John Cena[/b] - Nothing special about this match, really. I liked Cena at one point, but night after night I wonder what all the fuss was about. His promos aren't funny, although that's more of the writers' fault. His wrestling is... um... like The Rock, but without the fun-to-watch overreaction and, dare I say it, [I]electricity[/I]. Booker was solid, but he can put better matches against better wrestlers. I really could care less where this feud is headed. [b]Edge vs. Y2J vs. Batista[/b] - Here's where we start noticing the crowd's dopey reactions. Hometown hero Edge gets booed, even though it was Y2J that showed the more heel approach towards SummerSlam. On occasion the fans turned towards Edge, but then started going after him even worse. They made no sense. As for the match, I liked it whenever Batista was out of the picture. I found myself rooting for Jericho. Either the fans got to me, or there was something more than lettuce and mayo in my chicken sandwich. [b]Guerrero vs. Angle[/b] - The match of the night, [i]again[/i]. I was surprised that Eddie tried to cheat his way out of a loss, considering the WWE implied they'd both be looking to win the match fairly. Never mind Luther's kick early on... it happens so often, it has virtually no effect on the outcome of the match. I'm glad Angle won cleanly, although I expected him to cheat for irony sakes. Either way, excellent match. I didn't like Angle's performance on his return match, but his work tonight showed he's back in business. [b]Triple H vs. Eugene[/b] - Watch out! The crowd takes another hit! They start chanting Eugene, then boo him... then chant him again, the boo him some more... it was crazy! I could only think of how ridiculous Nick Dinsmore (Eugene) must've felt playing his character that was supposed to incite cheers and support against a crowd that was disapproving everything he did. It was almost hard to watch, and very distracting. This may have caused my dislike for the match, because I came out of it thinking, "Boy, was that terrible!" This begs the question, where does Eugene go from here? Sure, he could become a tag team with William Regal, but that will eventually get old fast. His gimmick only works for angles like the one he had with Triple H, and I doubt people would like to see [i]that[/i] again. [b]Diva Dodgeball[/b] - The only part worth watching was the intro to the match, where we got to see some of the hot Diva-wannabes in bikinis. However, I was surprised at the absence of Carmella. As far as I know, the Diva vote-off takes place on every RAW, so where was she? The whole thing was boring, and completely pointless. I think a gay guy thought up that dodgeball idea, because no guy's getting a hard-on out of that alone (And isn't that what Divas are for, really?), unless you're "Jim" from American Pie. In other words, "bathroom break." The Canadian crowd seemed to express their displeasure, though it certainly came out gay to boo at half-naked chicks. [b]The Undertaker vs. John Bradshaw Layfield[/b] - The outcome was expected, and while the match wasn't particularly good, it had a good ending. 'Taker needs to throw out the window a few biker habits, though: The shirt, the ridiculous boxing stance, and the "I'm done with you" gesture he made when he left bloody JBL on top of the car. Get with the gimmick, Deadman. Oh, and that missed punch by 'Taker after the match was over? What was [i]that[/i]? As a huge Taker mark, I looked in embarrassment. The crowd started chanting for "tables... tables...," as if the match featured D-Von and co. What the **** were they all on? And what's with the wave? Hm? Dopeheads. [b]Chris Benoit vs. Randy Orton[/b] - Like Orton vs. Edge, this match started getting good about halfway through. The beginning was somewhat boring, which I'm not used to feeling from a Benoit bout. Still, Orton held his own against the better wrestler, at least to a point. Too bad Orton won cleanly. CLEAN. Benoit couldn't beat HHH once clean during his title reign, after 18 years of busting his ***, and here comes this [u]relative[/u] nobody and beats him cleanly? I like Randy Orton, but the overwhelming magnitude of his push is outrageous, and I wouldn't be surprised if he quickly got disinterested with proving the world time and again that he's that good. Then we have Benoit, whose road to become a champion was heavily hyped through the different RAW shows and a DVD, only to have him losing the title in such a short time. Reminds me of The Undertaker back in '97, where he held the title for the same amount of time. Good luck Randy, you'll need it... or should I say, good luck WWE?[/color][/font]

[color=darkblue][font=trebuchet ms]Unlike the great number of gameplay trailers we've seen up to this point, this new footage focuses on the other side of the MGS3 coin, the cinematic side. Expect the unexpected, and like we have all learned from previous MGS installments, don't even bother trying to figure out the story. You won't. To watch the trailer, click GameSpot's news article [url="http://www.gamespot.com/news/2004/08/20/news_6105295.html"]here[/url]. The trailer's right there for instant viewing. [img]http://forums.rajah.com/images/smilies/drool.gif[/img][/font][/color]

[color=darkblue][font=trebuchet ms][b]ADV[/b] This is probably the company I have most respect for regarding anime releases in America. My introduction to them was with their Neon Genesis Evangelion DVDs. I had watched EVA in Locomotion in Venezuela prior to moving back to America. I was worried that the superb Spanish voiceovers would not be found on their DVDs. I was glad my worries were put to rest, as ADV did deliver in that regard. In fact, ADV delivered with more than just EVA. Anime I had previously watched in Spanish were available as alternate versions in DVDs from Bubblegum Crisis Tokyo-2040, Blue Seed, to Burn Up W. On the downside, ADV seems to have stopped this lovable practice. Anime I've seen in Spanish, like Sailor Moon, Saint Seiya and Soul Hunter, were not available with the DVD releases. I assume it's costly to get the Spanish/Mexican versions, since not many people are interested in them, but it's still a shame, as I took advantage of them proudly. Despite this decent drawback, ADV delivers where it counts. Their subtitles, unlike FUNimation's (more on them later), are very clear to read without interfering with the showing onscreen. As far as I know, they're very accurate to their Japanese counterparts. More often than not, they tend to stuff a bunch of goodies with their DVDs, like the crazy Excel Saga cards and Azumanga supplements. ADV has also gotten very giving in terms of extras, with "fun" features like the trademarked jiggle counter, extensive interviews, and information on cultural references found in the particular anime show or movie. Their covert arts are, for the most part, spectacular and fitting (including box sets), as well as the overall layout of their menus. If ADV has one flaw, however, it's their English dubbing. While some great work has been done in this department with anime like the Samurai X OAV and Excel Saga (kudos for that one), most of what I've seen falls on the common mediocre side we're used to seeing from English dubbing. Zone of the Enders: IDOLO and DOLORES, Neon Genesis Evangelion, Samurai X: The Movie, Blubblegun Crisis Tokyo-2040, Azumanga Daioh, Blue Seed, Cutey Honey, Soul Hunter, the original Sakura Diaries release, Golden Boy and Saint Seiya are just [i]some[/i] of the examples of voice work that ranges from barely acceptable to plain intolerable. Still, considering I prefer my anime with Mexican dubbing and/or original Japanese language, I don't care much for the English dub. Lastly, ADV seems to be pretty open about being more than just anime distributors. With their support of NewType Magazine, the introduction of Anime Network, and their recent entry to the world of manga, one can only assume these guys are more than just employees... they're otaku. [b]FUNimation[/b] I have as much respect for ADV as I lack for FUNimation. While some companies try to work a middle ground with the FCC and Cartoon Network in order to not botch the product completely on network television, FUNimation was surely accepting and willing to make all the unnecessary, horrible changes that crippled the once mighty franchise of Dragon Ball. I won't go into the details of all that was changed, but believe that it was a lot. Things were not only cut off, they were changed for the most ridiculous replacements, showing nothing but rudimentary ways of editing content, certainly not to the standards of an anime publishing entity. By heavily changing the soundtrack, dialogue and voice acting, they slapped in the face of the talented writers, actors and composers that put a lot of effort into one of the most successful anime ever released in Japan. Their lack of care for the anime licenses they own shows from every aspect imaginable. Their subtitles are small and sometimes hard to read, sticking out like a sore thumb rather than blending in with the show. Their costumer service is terrible, as they normally choose to answer dumb questions with terrible spelling than well-written e-mails with point-blank enquiries. Whenever a fan brings a point that heavily, but intelligently criticizes their product, they choose to ignore him or her. On the other hand, if someone complains rather casually without backing up their points, they choose to reply to these comments, as they're easily refutable. If you want detailed info on what FUNi has done so far with the franchise, go to [url=?http://www.dbzoa.net/?]DBZOA[/url]. The site originally started off as a DBZ exclusive, but from the looks of it they have grown beyond DB alone, pointing out changes made to other shows. Then there's the issue of having three episodes per DVD from a series of over 200. While companies like Bandai and ADV release 5-episode discs of a 50-episode show, FUNimation releases 3-episodes discs of a 200-episode anime. Find it ridiculous? So do I. There's also the messy release of the original Dragon Ball, which, to my knowledge, the first 13 episodes are edited, regardless of which version you watch. They also don't include the Spanish version, which was wildly popular all over Latin America, and is even available in Cartoon Network Mexico. FUNi getting the rights for this version would've been relatively easy compared to other Spanish versions of other shows, but we only got the first Cooler movie with Spanish dub. Sad, sad, really. I asked them why they chose not to go after the version, but like usual, I got no reply. Lastly, there's the issue of FUNimation's disinterest with what happens with the license in other media. FUNi was quick to sign a deal with Atari to make DB games in America. Considering the growing popularity of the anime, I doubt Atari were the only ones willing to purchase the license. FUNi chose Atari however, probably because they offered the most money. Never mind their mostly unimpressive gaming work up to that point (As Infogrames), especially concerning existing franchises. If Atari has the cash, FUNi has the contract and pen in hand. The results: DBZ Taiketsu, a $20 port of the crappy Ultimate Battle 22, and Legacy of Goku, among others. Sure, this last paragraph is highly speculative and opinionated, but that's the way I see it. If you can come up with a more reasonable answer, please let me know. [size=1]As a side note, some of the DBZ games have been good, and for that I thank the developers. Seeing as how Atari could care less to watch over companies like Webfoot Tech., it took them the disappointing reaction from the media and fans to make a much better game in Legacy of Goku II. If only Dimps would follow suit.[/size] Now, you might be thinking, "Well, their work with DBZ is relatively old, and they've gotten much better with other anime." I honestly wouldn't know, and I really could care less. I've seen the horrible dubbing from Yu Yu Hakusho, and from what I've seen, they continue to suck. I don't see them making DBZ more conveniently available up to this point, and when they released DBGT not too long ago, they started with episode 16, rather than episode 1. They also botched up DBGT's English version as well, just like they did with DBZ, and the anime is fairly recent in America. I always hope that FUNimation doesn?t purchase some of the anime I want from Japan. I really don't like them in the least, and I would rather have them gone from the industry. They butchered my favorite anime show, one that I've held dear since my teen years, so I have absolutely no reason to be supporting of them in any way, shape or form. [b]Bandai[/b] I'll always cherish Bandai for their mostly excellent dub work. With a few exceptions (Gundam Wing, Love Hina), their dubs are excellent, and make watching anime in English language a pleasure. Cowboy Bebop, G. Gundam, Outlaw Star and .hack are just some examples of their quality work. They also make buying DVDs very convenient. From having 12 episodes on 3 discs in one package for less than $50 (G.Gundam), to 9 episodes per DVD (Outlaw Star), they're all about making things easier for the fans. Their work with .hack, with all the soundtracks and extras, impressed me to no end. I wish the quality of the anime itself were better, because everything from the package to the extras is simply impressive. Any anime should get the same treatment. [b]Pioneer/Geneon[/b] If ADV is the friendly, in-touch-with-fans anime company, then Pioneer is royalty. The quality of their anime releases is nothing short of jaw dropping. One needs to look no further than their A-grade dubbing, attractive packaging, stylish menu designs and soundtrack releases to know that Geneon means business... [i]quality[/i] business. By the same token, since they mean business, there's usually a heavy price to pay for their new DVDs. Anime like X only offer 3 episodes per disc, and they cost just as much as a 5-episode disc from another anime. The Hellsing collection, only 13 episodes, is priced at over a 100 bucks. Also, they usually lack in the extras department, offering nothing more than artwork and trailers. Still, I must thank them for their re-release of some of their classic anime, like Trigun and Serial Experiments Lain, as they've made these financially purchasable, for the first time.[/font][/color]

[color=darkblue][font=trebuchet ms]While there are already a handful of relatively new Dragon Ball games in the market thanks to its somewhat recent popularity in America, most of these games are average at best. Atari may be the main cause of this, but I'd rather not get into [i]that[/i]. Their track record of crappy licensed games speaks for itself, a few exceptions aside. Anyway, my idea for a good DBZ game would be to incorporate combat in the same style as Zone of the Enders. While Konami's robot series has some mindless fun in Vs. mode, development could focus more on this feature to make combat more skill-inclined. And, rather than just keeping the license as a fighting game, we could blend the combat into an action/RPG world, where players could fly around the extensive universe created by Akira Toriyama. A flying program could be created in the same way Spidey's swinging was for Spider-Man 2, referring to how fun and unique this feature was for the movie-to-game release (And probably enough reason to buy the game, or only). The game would allow you to control one character at a time, each with the ability to discover specific areas of the world. At one point you could [i]choose[/i] which character to play as to continue exploring the universe, after beating the main quest. This would be more inventive than Legacy of Goku II, of course. Sadly, the chance of a game like this being made is close no nil, partly because Atari has no incentive to spend lots of money on a licensed game that would sell regardless of its quality. Saint Seiya would be another game that'd make a great video game, and it would use a similar engine to the one explained above, though it would focus [i]a lot[/i] more on fighting. I can only imagine what could be done with Andromeda's chains... Lastly, I'd make a game about Samurai X, focusing on Kenji. This would not only allow for new stories to be created, but it would serve as a way to explore more into the world [spoiler]Kenshin once occupied[/spoiler]. The game would resemble Way of the Samurai in terms of freedom, though the concept would be a lot better implemented, closely resembling the wealth of choices from Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic. As we have see, Kenji was a little bit of a rebel in Reflections, so a turn for "evil" chosen by the player wouldn't be an unrealistic approach.[/font][/color]

[color=darkblue][font=trebuchet ms]Dragon Ball GT [spoiler]I can't believe an anime made me cry as much as the death of someone close to me ever could. After Goku beats the last Dragon Ball, er... Dragon, he leaves with Shen-ron forever. Nobody realizes this, except Vegeta, who tells Pan after everyone goes back home expecting Goku. Goku then says goodbye to all the people he's made friends with over the whole series, like Piccoro (who's dead at the time). We are then treated to shots of Goku's life from the very beginning. Since I watched and followed and loved the series way before America knew what the heck it was, it literally forced showers of tears to come out from my eyes. I had to take a breather and clean my face afterwards. It was incredibly emotional, because the death signified the true ending of such a long running series, which carries a lot of my fondest memories.[/spoiler] Rurouni Kenshin [spoiler]Next to Goku's death, this was probably the saddest death I've ever encountered in anime, partly because I was a follower of the show for a very long time. Before dying, Kenshin went through a lot of sad experiences where he was basically a moribund. It was very hard to watch, especially when you're used to seeing Kenshin overcome incredible odds against the toughest of enemies. His death came at a time where he finally felt happiness, as the X scar on his cheek was finally gone... and so was he. Saying that I cried less than Goku's death would be a lie, and I AM NORMALLY UNFAZED BY SUCH THINGS![/spoiler] X/1999 (TV series) [spoiler]Unlike the movie, which pretty much slaughtered everyone in the sickest of ways without any regard for character development, the fewer deaths in the TV series were done more cohesively. Kamui's death was sure heart-wrenching, and Kotori's fall came at a time where Kamui was just beginning to trust Fuma and revive their friendship. But nothing compares to the death of Sorata, the happy-go-lucky monk who always remained at Kamui's side, and always preached about dying for a beautiful girl, Arashi. Sorata was always the one to brighten the group, and his eventual death came at a time when Arashi had realized her mistake by turning to the side of the Dragons of Earth to save him. Sorata bravely stopped and even managed to blast off Fuma from killing Arashi, causing his eventual death. It was played incredibly well, and the last shot of the episode with Kamui and Sorata together just added to the emotional tragedy. The main theme of X playing in the background sure didn't help hold the tears from flowing, either. [/spoiler] Cowboy Bebop [spoiler]Maybe he was living in a dream. Maybe he was destined to die, or "wake up." Either way, Spike's death is nothing short of sad. An episodic series tends to keep its main characters alive, but Bebop straight out killed the very main one. Julia's death would be a close second, since her and Spike had finally found each other, and were planning on living their lives together. Sadly, they couldn't escape their past, which is kind of a negative message to give us if you think about it.[/spoiler] Trigun [spoiler]You know where I'm going with this, so why elaborate? A character as likeable as Wolfwood shouldn't die, and that's what made it so painful to watch. Unlike the previous deaths I've mentioned, this one had no purpose, or wasn't "the way it had to be." Woldwood was sitting on his knees in the chapel, finally realizing that he cherished the people he was with. Right before dying he said he didn't want to die, that he wanted to stay with them... with [i]her[/i]. His wish wasn't granted, and all that was left was the weight of his death carried on by Vash, Meryl and Milly.[/spoiler] Grave of the Fireflies [spoiler]Setsuko. A casualty of war. The movie is incredibly sad from any point of view, and it never gets better. The death of Setsuko was probably expected, but nonetheless harmful to viewers' hearts.[/spoiler] There are others, but I don't feel like typing them all.[/font][/color]

[color=darkblue][font=trebuchet ms]I used to relate myself to characters that I could [i]partly[/i] identify with. While I was in high school, I used to identify with Shinji Ikari's (Evangelion) lack of self-esteem whenever I felt bad, but unlike him, I wasn't always so negative or devoid of confidence. I could partly relate to Trunks' (DBZ) polite manners and judicious ways in times where I dealt with moral-defining issues. However, after doing a lot of growing up the past four years, and after watching a 6-episode gem called [i]Bastard!![/i], I knew whom I completely identified with: Dark Schneider. I even showed my girlfriend the DVD, and she completely agreed. Even the few people who don't like me insult me with adjectives such as "arrogant, self-centered, self-important, egotistical," and "having a superiority complex." All these characteristics accurately define the greatness that is Dark Schneider. Sure, I'm not a wizard or have white hair, but the latter will be accomplished in thirty years or so, and who knows what my predecessors will bring to this Earth? [img]http://forums.rajah.com/images/smilies/scratchchin.gif[/img][/font][/color]

[color=darkblue][font=trebuchet ms]My favorite anime movie is Vampire Hunter D: Bloodlust. This is one anime movie that gets everything right. It's got a surprisingly good romantic story, engulfed with some of best action sequences presented in quality animation, artwork, and soundtrack. Undoubtedly, the most surprising aspect of the film is that its main language track is English, and even more surprising is the cast's excellent performance. This is one of those anime that's very easy to recommend to pretty much anyone. Macross Plus would be my second choice, if not for the intriguing world it takes place in, then for the clash of personalities and history of the three main characters. I wish I had the second OAV DVD to watch the longer version, as I only have the movie edition and the first OAV DVD. Ninja Scroll would place third, as it's simply an entertaining fightfest with some of the [i]coolest[/i] characters ever created. Too bad the TV series fails to live up to the anime classic... If The End of Evangelion and Samurai X: Trust, Betrayal, and Reflection were real movies, I'd pick them over all of the above, but they originated on TV and/or OAV format. Macross at least got converted into a movie.[/font][/color]

[color=darkblue][font=trebuchet ms]Time to dust off that copy of Ninja Gaiden ([i]again[/i]), as the second Master Ninja Tournament begins August 9th and runs through August 30th. In the new tournament, Ryu will battle new, tougher enemies with a new, controllable camera system and weapons. Time to register is [i]now[/i]. The downloadable content for the second tournament, like the first one, is free. However, downloading the content alone through Xbox Live won't officially register your gamertag in the tourney. You have to register through Xbox.com. Go to the [url="http://www.xbox.com/en-us/ninjagaiden/masterninjatournament.htm?level1=enuslive&level2=eventssbg&level3=masterninjatournament"]main page[/url] of the Second Master Ninja Tournament for more information. Be sure to click on the [url="http://www.xbox.com/en-US/ninjagaiden/roundtwoofficialrules.htm"]official rules[/url] and the [url="http://www.xbox.com/en-US/ninjagaiden/masterninjatournament2-faqs.htm"]FAQ[/url] links located in that page. All gamers under 18 need not apply. [center][color=red][font=impact][size=10]LET THE TOURNAMENT COMMENCE![/size][/font][/color] [img]http://www.xbox.com/media/games/ninjagaidentournament/sim-ninjagaiden-03.jpg[/img][/center][/font][/color]

[color=darkblue][font=trebuchet ms]It all seems very unattractive to me. I saw a 2-episode TMNT cartridge for the GBA Video feature for $20 at Toys R' Us, while a DVD of the same show with four episodes and extras costs around $9.99. Considering there's a very low chance that I'd crave to watch two episodes of a cartoon on my GBA while I'm out of the house, it's virtually worthless to me. With the DS just around the corner, I don't see the technology being exploited in any significant way in the near future.[/font][/color]