Month: September 2007

Kekkaishi, ultimate box making technique!

7 Comments

So apparently, no one watches this show in the U.S. This makes me sad. Because this is by two huge, huge guys in the industry. Kodomo and Suwa, who we talked about in our Otakon report, these guys make the grand-slams of anime for Japanese television. They are responsible for City Hunter and Detective Conan, which just recently passed episode 480 I believe. And Suwa was also the producer of Inu-freakin-Yasha.

Silly. No one in the U.S. likes City Hunter or Detective Conan. They are both definitely shows that have a huge Japanese fan base but most modern American anime fans could care less about. As far as I can tell City Hunter never really caught on here and Detective Conan basically flopped. So they seem really good at making shows that the Japanese love but the U.S. won’t even send the time to download off bittorrent.

I also heard only odd sci-fi watching moms likes Inu-Yasha. :) OK maybe Inu-Yasha sells OK in the U.S. and it might have some kind U.S. fan base.

Kekkaishi seems to be following in these footsteps well, gaining momentum after only 35 episodes. It airs directly after Conan, or was it vise-versa, in the prime-time slot of the evening. And in the same footsteps, with the exception of Inu-Yasha, of no one caring about it in the U.S. At Otakon, they showed us part of an episode and gave a little handout about the show. I was immediately struck by the opening animation and song so I decided that we had to get some of this show.

A lot of people really seem to like the opening song to Kekkaishi. I was drawn in by Kodomo and Suwa’s sales pitch of a strong female character who is a capable partner to the main male character. I also thought it was slightly odd I had never heard of what seemed to be a decently big deal show in Japan.

This too surprised me, I thought I would have at least heard something about it. But there has been zero internet buzz about this show. Hell, I didn’t even know the manga was licensed in the U.S. and already up to like book 9!

Karasumori is a cursed land. Ayakashi (demons to you and me) who come to Karasumori slowly gain power as they stay in its magical domain. Although a school has been built on this ancient place of power, it still radiates its powerful aura that ayakashi lust after. Tokine and Yoshimori are the teen-aged protectors of the land of Karasumori. They use the mystical arts of the Kekkaishi (Barrier Master by rough translation) to trap ayakashi in magical boxes and destroy them before the ayakashi can grow too powerful. Tokine and Yoshimori are from rival families who, due to a long standing grudge between the bloodlines, compete to prove themselves as the legitimate protectors of the land. Yoshimori harbors a long time but unspoken crush on Tokine that complicates their relationship. But romance has to be but on the back burner because a shadowy organization of ayakashi is targeting Karasumori and its power.

I was pretty surprised, and said so after the first episode, that love was a major part of the plot. Yoshi’s main reason for becoming better is his feelings for Tokine and his desire to never let her get hurt again. The moment she got those scars would haunt him for the rest of his days. But I don’t feel that it is constantly in the forefront of the story, but as the viewer you know what Yoshi is feeling. And I really like this aspect.

Most shonen actions shows tend only to pay lip service to love. Characters tend to fall in love because it’s convenient for the plot. Otherwise, love is just used as a point for comedy or a reason for a power-up. In Kekkaishi, love seems a more organic part of the plot. They never beat you over the head with Yoshi’s love for Tokine but it’s always effecting the characters actions.

Also to my roommate’s joy, so far Yoshimori has yet to win any battles using the power of love. Tokine and Yoshimori mostly seems to win through creatively applying their powers.

Yoshi(mori), I really like as a main character, he endeared himself to me coming right out of the gate. His ability to create boxes to capture ayakashi, is different, but his control is somewhat typical of shonen characters, he has a lot of power, more than anyone can imagine, but hasn’t learned to harness and properly use it yet. He also loves to bake cakes and sleeps through school mostly. He is funny and kind, but also brave and powerful. His expressions often mirror my own, maybe that is why I feel a kinship. Yoshi is not terribly arrogant, in fact, he seems to recognize the powers of others and not his own.

I think Yoshimori can be a somewhat generic shonen protagonist, but he has more flavor than a lot of shonen heroes. I like Bleach but Ichigo is kind of bland. In fact, most shonen fighting characters are horribly generic quite possibly to be as easy as can be to have the reader imagine themselves in the place of the hero. Yoshimori seems more realized as a character. I can’t imagine a large part of the male viewers being baking otaku. But the series give Yoshimori enough quirks and characteristics that he seems a little more real than most shonen heroes.

Tokine, for once, is not a throw away female character in a shonen series! She is better at the job of Kekkaishi than Yoshi, but in a different manner. Her power relies on control more than strength. So they are opposites of the same coin. Tokine also grows in strength and skill as the series goes along. Yoshi doesn’t just become better than her and that’s the end of Tokine. Also, just because Yoshi wants to protect Tokine, doesn’t mean she needs it. She is powerful on her own and saves his butt as much as he does hers.

Tokine is about a strong a female character as your going to get in a shonen fighting series. She actually grows along side the main male character. It’s very clear to everyone, except Yoshimori, that she will never be as strong as him. However, she grows and gains news skills in her area of proficiency. Yoshimori gains powers and abilities based on his raw strength and high stamina. Tokine gains powers and abilities on her speed and accuracy. Their powers often complement each other and work together to be greater as a team than the sum of their power individually.

As for supporting cast, they are all strong and add either drama or comedy. Madarao and Hakubi, the dog spirit partners of Yoshi and Tokine, are both quite funny while also helping them with difficult spirits. Both grandparents are also a source of comedy, each goading and fighting with the other, much to the amusement of the audience. There is also a lot of mystery since there are many characters that we only see briefly or merely hear about.

Gen Shishio is also later introduced as a partner to Tokine and Yoshimori. He adds another element to the team’s working dynamic. I don’t think he supposed to be a romantic rival to Yoshi but he definitely changes Tokine and Yoshimori’s overall sitiuation by having to work with a person who does not have the powers of a Kekkaishi. Plus, Shishio is a character who plays his cards very close to his chest so it’s often a little hard to see where he is coming from.

I like everything about the teaming up aspect. Their working together on Karasumori can be thrilling and fun to watch as they take on bigger and more difficult foes. But also the friendships that pop-up, especially between Gen and Yoshi are pleasing to see. It definitely has the feel of growing-up and finding your place.

Masamori is also an interesting character. He is Yoshimori’s older brother, that for some reason was not picked as the legitimate successor. He is a very ambiguous character. We are never really sure if he’s working for the good of the family, for his own good, or if he is working for someone or something else we have not been privy to. All we know is he is powerful, he clearly has some kind of agenda, and he is willing to play dirty pool to get what ever it is he is working for.

I like Kekkaishi because the characters are actually smart. Yoshimori and Tokine actually figure things out on their own. They don’t have to be spoon fed information by outside characters because the writer does not want them to be too clever and get ahead of the plot pacing. They don’t make improbable leaps of logic to advance the plot but they don’t ignore information or act stupid to aid the plot either. It’s a refreshing change of pace.

You’re right, it is great to see them using their wits at times! Although Yoshi tends to try to barrel through at first, when it doesn’t work he then uses his thinking cap. They often come up with a strategy using both their strengths. Proving that, while they aren’t the best yet and everyone tells them so, they can make it through using a little mental ingenuity.

This is a kid’s show, I always try to keep this in mind when watching something like this. There are certain things that I expect will happen and there are certain things I don’t expect to get from it. However, I don’t think this show is dumbed down, this show doesn’t think its audience is stupid. Even though this show is playing towards kids, I think there is a lot of be enjoyed by anyone. There is a good blend of action, drama, comedy, and mystery where one doesn’t seem to dominate the other. I am definitely a fan of Kekkaishi and intend to continue watching.

I think that if someone took a chance on Kekkaishi and got it on Cartoon Network, it might do well in the U.S., but I don’t think it will get that chance. It’s a good kids show that does not talk down to its audience and has strong characters. It could also spawn some great toy lines which would make American companies drool with delight.

Oh, I know! Sponsored by Mickey D’s is all over this show. Can we say Happy Meal toys!? I would be delighted. Hoping to find some on Rinkya if and when they appear in Japan.

I have a nasty feeling that it seems to much like a kids show for the American otaku to get into it. I think a lot of people watch shonen shows like Naruto and Bleach because they think they are “oh so much more sophisticated than American cartoons.” The problem is, they don’t realize that while they might be more sophisticated than some American cartoon, these shonen shows are still for kids. These shows are not the edgy mature shows they think they are. But as long as a show comes off as more kiddie than Naruto, even if it’s a better show, then they won’t watch it because it’s beneath them.

That thinking is so silly! Why can’t ya just watch a show because it’s fun? I like a great masterpiece work that causes me to think but I also like to have a good time! Kekkaishi is a good time and we are caught up to the fan-subs so I sit waiting for the next episode!

I feel without that American otaku support we are not going to see a U.S. release of the anime so I’m hoping that people will give this show a chance. It’s a good show that just needs to find it’s audience.

Update: Viz has licensed the anime since we last posted this and you can even watch in streaming on Hulu. Go out and buy the DVDs.

Or else.

– Hisui

Now this is what it's like when worlds collide

Leave a comment

By now we have all heard the news, I’m sure. Assuming you read any sort of anime news source. Its the buzz of the net. ADV is taking over Geneon’s sales, marketing, and distribution but not its acquisitions and production. So what does this mean for fans? Does it mean anything for us?

I don’t think it means anything for fans on the surface. In the short term, ADV will continue to license ADV type shows and Geneon will generally continue to license Geneon type shows. ADV and Geneon DVDs will probably still feel like ADV and Geneon DVDs. I don’t think Geneon DVDs will start feeling like ADV DVDs with the Geneon label slapped on them. Geneon might be a little more hesitant to license risky titles but the whole market seems to be doing that as it is.

The long term ramifications and the deeper ramifications for the industry are completely different. The problem is since I’m not even close to being an insider in the anime industry so I can only speculate at what they might even be.

We know for Geneon it is means downsizing. Tightening of the purse strings. A lot of employees will be losing their jobs. ADV will probably need a little more staff but nothing compared to how many will be leaving their current positions. Geneon will have a more powerful advertiser. ADV is gaining a huge catalogue of titles. But I’m not sure I understand the real benefit for ADV.

It has the potential to open doors for ADV to sell their product in chains they might not have been able to been able to sell at before. Lets start with an analogy. Where would you rather shop? A huge supermarket where you get everything from one store or go to 5 different stores to get your shopping done. The idea is a big chain like Best Buy or Wal-mart would rather buy 60 titles from one distributor to make an anime section on their store shelves than five titles from 12 different distributors. They will also just ignore people who only solicit one or two titles because it’s just not worth their time to deal with yet another company just to get once niche title. Plus they can usually get a discount if they order more titles from one distributor. Be combining their catalogs they can offer more of a catalog of titles to retailers. Plus if I remember correctly ADV gets a percent of the profits on any DVDs Geneon sells through them.

If you have ever looked at ADV’s total catalog you will notice that ADV also sells a bunch of DVDs that are not anime DVDs. They do this because small syndicated shows like Farscape and Andromeda don’t have their own distribution channels set up to sell their products in retail stores. They can go to big companies like Paramount and Columbia and use their distribution channels but the big boys take a big chuck of your profits to distribute through them.

*WARNING BASELESS SPECULATION* I also wonder if it’s to keep up with Funimation. From what Funimation never fails to mention at every convention they attend they have the largest market share of any company in the business. They might be partnering up to make sure they don’t get passed over by retailers who might decide to deal only with Funimation or at least give Funimation preferential treatment.

I don’t think that is completely off the mark. With this new collection, ADV will have a catalog that will definitely rival the big three. It has a ring of truth to it, isn’t that the kind of things big business are supposed to be thinking about? It probably wasn’t their only motivation but I’m sure it came up in the meetings.

I like Geneon, a lot. I think they do a quality job on their titles. Luckily, that will be something that will go unchanged. But even though ADV is staying out of that aspect, I think their influence will be felt…after all they are in charge of making the titles viable and creating market interest in them. From personal experience, I can tell you marketing controls a good bit of what goes on. So to say they won’t have a hand in licensing and the way it is localized is an attempt to spin it. I suspect we may see price changes as well. I don’t think there is a real need for a price change though except on some of the boxsets. ADV loves the thinpack so I’m sure those will start being used.

I’m not a active member of the Anime on DVD community so I don’t notice minor video error and packaging details (plus I have a small apartment and a roommate so I put all my DVDs is binders and throw away most of the packaging). So unless they change the last disk of Fate Stay/Night from it’s current image to a picture of Saber making out with Rin I don’t think I will really notice a change even if there is one.

I think it would be a good idea, if either of us can remember to do it, to ask someone who works at Geneon how much pressure they feel from ADV’s marketing department at next years Otakon.

If there is much of Geneon left to speak to. I hate saying that, but I have a feeling Geneon won’t even be a presence at events like that anymore. Otakon is all marketing so I suspect there will only be an ADV panel when they also talk about Geneon titles.

ADV has pretty aggressive marketing, so I guess we will be seeing more ad’s and such for Geneon titles between Newtype magazine and the Anime Network. Speaking of the Anime Network, which admittedly I know little about, do they already offer Geneon shows?

Newtype does have other trailers from companies that are not ADV but they are usually much less than the number of ADV shows on the trailers and previews disk. They also have shows from Illumitoon Entertainment and Right Stuf Entertainment shows on the Anime Network. I did not seen any Geneon show on their line up but it does not mean they are not there. I would bet solid money we will be seeing a lot of the more of Geneon’s popular catalog on the Anime Network and on Newtype preview disks soon enough.

As expected, the official press release about this is completely worthless. A lot of “this is great for everyone” and “we are really happy” blah blah. We have nothing to do but wait to see if we actually see any change. I don’t expect it to happen in a flash, I think we will start seeing the effects maybe as short as a year from now but really in the next three years.

Well press releases are all very carefully worded misrepresentation factories. There is a skill at reading in between the lines and a decent amount of insight into the behind the scenes politics to actually glean information from a press release. I think it’s three dots in the Corporate Lore Skill to decipher that press release (two if you took your specialty in Anime Corporations).

Possibly I’m being overly optimistic in my hope that Geneon and ADV are just teaming up. Zac Bertschy seems to think that Geneon is pretty much dead in all but name. He seems to imply that the changes will be quick and brutal. I think other than the first wave of firings they will be slow and subtle. I think Geneon will slowly just become a different flavor of ADV but not right away. I think marketing will slowly but surely bring Geneon in line with the ADV corporate culture and style. Maybe I’m wrong.

My overall view is somewhere in between. I don’t think the changes will happen in a matter of months, however I do believe there will be be big changes. As I mentioned, marketing is everything. They are the big guys and they control all the little parts of the company. If marketing doesn’t like something, more than likely it won’t happen or it will change the way they see fit. Because unfortunantly we know that selling big numbers is what it is all about. And it has to be otherwise these companies can’t stay in business. But ifthe market was buying more these factors would be slightly less significant. At this point, everyone is just trying to stay afloat.

I wonder how much Sojitz is going to have an effect on the whole deal as well. When Soijitz bailed out ADV back in the day, it supposedly changed the way ADV runs its business. I have heard jokes that they cannot take out the trash at ADV without written permission from Sojitz but I have not seen that big a difference in how ADV has been operating. It could be that I’m not privy to the back room dealings so I don’t see it. Or maybe I’m just not oberervant enough and I’m missing the big chnages in ADV releases.

No matter what happens, this is a very bad sign for the anime industry. This says that Geneon is not closing up it’s presence in the US and just going home but it does show a general sign that says Geneon thinks the market place is sickly and is scaling back as much as possible to survive. I’m pretty sure that means that their smaller companies are their going to have to change their business models or go out of business entirely. As long as fans don’t start buying more this will only continue.

Anyone who thought that adjustment in the anime industry was over will be sorely disappointed.

It certainly does not bode well. And we are powerless to stop it!

Narutaki Currently!
Watching El-Hazard The Magnificent World
Reading Sugar Sugar Rune
Listening to Uura Saeka


Brainwasher Detective (Hisui) Currently:
Watching School Rumble

Reading Yakitate!! Japan

Listening to Shonen Heart – Home Made Kazoku

Diamonds in the Sea of Porn

3 Comments

Japan is full of video games. Okay…it’s full of hentai games. Whole stores devoted to the genre of dating games. They pour forth from game studios like liquid money. This just has not caught on in America yet. I wonder why?

Well in Japan’s defense it’s the computer game market that is 90% hentai games. The console game market has all types of games to play. As for why hentai games have not caught on in the US that is a topic for another day.

There are also a plethora of video games based on popular anime series. They aren’t always good and they aren’t even always fun but you have to admit to be at least a little curious.

I think games based on anime are subject to Sturgeon’s Law just like anything else. They also suffer from the fact that like video games based on movies they tend to spit some of them out the door just based on the fact that no matter how bad the game is some people will buy it because you slapped a popular character’s skin over your mediocre game. Then again I’m slightly guilty. I think I would buy anything with Galaxy Angels or One Piece slapped on the cover.

Speaking of Galaxy Angel … I want the Galaxy Angel games. I need the Galaxy Angel games like a Fujoshi needs Yaoi doujinshi. The Galaxy Angel games are a mixture of Dating Sim and Flight Sim that make an Awesome Sim. The first trilogy of games revolves the Moon Angel Troupe and their attempts to protect the Transbaal Empire from a series of threats. During the flight sim part of the game you command the Galaxy Angel’s Emblem Frames (spacecraft) in real time strategy fashion. In-between the fights you can make decisions to decide which of the Galaxy Angel’s you court during the game. The characters are sort of dating game stereotypes but they are all pretty fun. There is also Galaxy Angel II in which you are in charge of the Rune Angel Troupe. There is one game in the Galaxy Angel II series and a second game should be out at the end of the year.

I truly believe that Hisui would kill for the Galaxy Angel games, as long as Hisui could still play them in prison.

Sakura Wars is a similarly type of game. Instead of spacecraft you fight in Steam Punkmecha in the Taisho period. The are 5 games in the main series and a bunch of spin off games. The games are set in an alternate time line where demons threaten the earth and only spiritually powered mecha can effectually fight the demons. The series starts in Japan but moves to Paris and America. The game also has the dating game in between the tactical battles just like in Galaxy Angel. I’m a little less knowledgeable about the Sakura War games than the Galaxy Angel games but they both seem a decent bridge between traditional straight up dating games and action games.

The NANA games. That is right, games…plural! Three to be exact. One for PS2, one for PSP, and the newest one is for Nintendo DS. The PS2 one you are the neighbor of 707 and you have to make friends with the gang. Really nice visuals and what not. This was also the first one to come out. Then there’s the PSP one which I would never be able to get but would be fun! It is all cell-shaded and cute. You can play as any of the characters or make your own. You just go through a game of chance with your life really using a board-game system. Never knowing what will happen day to day. I couldn’t find anything about the DS game but I’m thinking it’s a music game! Part of the title is Live Staff. I would be most interested in that one if that is indeed what it is. It’s a perfect match for the series to keep the band goingand get gigs and do well. Of course all of these games really depend on you knowing the characters and caring about them already. But even if the anime does do well here in the states, I still don’t see these games coming out.

There was a super cool Utena game for the Sega Saturn. It was made with the director of the Utena TV series, Kunihiko Ikuhara. You play as the original character who gets involved with the student council between the Student Council arc and the Black Rose arc (in fact one of the endings causes the main character to start the Black Rose arc). It’s a visual novel so it mostly plays like an animated choose your own adventure (basically a non-romantic dating game). It looks really cool because the animation seems to be on par with the TV show, there are some interesting new characters, and there are even new duel songs. I think the opening sums this game up pretty well.

I actually have this game, but I don’t however have a working Sega Saturn…

Cowoby Bebop: Tsuioku no Yakyoku which was supposedly going to be released in the U.S. but since has disappeared from the radar. Looked great and it was Bebop. Bebop sort of lends itself to having all kinds of adventures written in between. Always bounties to be had that we never saw. This game seems like an actual adventure as opposed to the flight-sim that was released for PS1.

If I remember correctly although it was a pretty game the game play was rather repetitive side-scrolling beatem up.

Slayers also had a few video games that I think might have done well if the came out in the US when Slayers was popular in the US. Slayers Royal 1&2 seem to be visual novels like Utena. They seem like a treat for Slayers fans if for nothing else they have Gourry and Naga finally meet up. These are sort of the lost episodes.

Was always curious about the Record of Lodoss War PC games released in the early 90’s. Obviously, like with most older PC games the graphics and playability aren’t going to stand up to the test of time. However, it would probably still hold the magic of the series with it and I love the nostalgia value of things.

I remember the Record of Lodoss War for the Dreamcast being full of awesome and win for a Diablo clone.

Kekkaishi, can I just say I love this show, for DS and Wii. I might actually import the DS game since I think I could get through it alright. Obviously, you play as a Kekkaishi, Yoshi or Tokine, and you draw boxes and capture ayakashi! As you go on you learn other skills, like the rope, to help you capture more spirit beings. It seems to be a simple game but since its a show I like , I think it could be lots of fun especially the Wii version since you really get to do the movements.

There are rumblings about a Trigun video gamebeing developed. It’s probably playing poker in the back room with the Trigun movie rumblings.

Sounds like Vaporware to me. Prove me wrong Japan. Prove me wrong.

D.Gray Man action/adventure game for the Nintendo DS. You play as Allen and go on missions. You gather information, talk to people, and do a bit of fighting as well. As far I can tell, you don’t get to play as other characters, like Kanda or Krory, but they do show up to help out on missions. This actually has a possibility of getting released, I think, if the anime gets licensed. It is a Shonen Jump title after all.

And speaking of Shonen Jump I would love to play more of the One Piece games. The One Piece game for the Wii seem like a fun little action RPG where you get to switch between Strawhats on the fly during fights. There is talk that this game might come to the US but I have seen nothing definite. One Piece: Gear Spirit seems like a fun little fighting game for the DS. In fact I think I’m going to import this one as I’m writing this. There were also two RPGs for One Piece released for the Gameboy Advanced. These could be fun if they were translated.

Basically it just comes down to more Nami = good.

I also hear that Narutaki maybe likes possibly seeing more Zoro.

Or more Nami and Zoro together!

Speaking of Viz, they have this little ole series called Death Note. No one really likes this series but a few of us. It has two games for the DS. I really am only interested in the first one, Death Note: Kira Gemu. Since the first one is about the first part of the manga and the second is the later half. In it you can either be L or Kira and you are trying to investigate to prove who is L or Kira. As long as I get to be L, the hell with everything else, sounds good to me!

The Ultimate team up of Viz titles would be importing the Jump Super Stars and Jump Ultimate Stars games. They are basically Super Smash Brothersgames with Shonen Jump Characters instead of Nintendo Characters but Super Smash Brothers. But Super Smash Brothers is just super fun no matter what the characters are. Plus you can use Allen Walker and L from Death Note to take down Naruto.

Enix made a Violinist of Hameln game for the SNES. Of course, if I really had my choice this anime would be licensed! Anyway, the game is very strange but sounds fun. You are Hamel who can jump and shoot musical notes but you also have Flute to break through walls, as a stepping stone, or dress her up so she can have special abilities! The graphics are very cute, in the lovely 2D SNES way.

Super Robot Wars is one of those game series that people may really want but will never come over due to licensing issues. Atlas brought over the Original Generation series which was fun but they did not get the main series of SRW. The SRW are turn based strategy games like Final Fantasy Tactics but all the troops are robots from every mecha show from Japan you could ever think of. Want to see Evangelions fighting next to Gundams against the GaoGaiGar and SDF-1 Macross? Well that’s par the course in Super Robot Wars. Plus the games are filled in in-jokes, subtle references, and fan service in a way that would make most mecha otaku weep with joy.

Oh, and in Lovely Complex, Risa plays a dating game which she gets very attached to. I’d totally play that, if for nothing else because her moments in the show are so hilarious. CAIN-SAMA! But there is actually a Love*Com adventure game for PS2 which came out last year. I can’t, however, find out anything about it so it shall remain a mystery. I would so play it though.

No Japanese game list would be complete without at least one henati game. But why stop at one. Type-Moon makes both Tsukihime and Fate Stay/Night. Both games have H content but they are mainly plot heavy so there is an actual story to tell. It’s just a story that has sex in it. There are also a bunch of side story and sequel games to both games.

It’s always intersting to see the range of hentai games. From one button click that literally says “DO IT!” to the barely present sex in Type-Moon games.

Tsukihime is the story of Shiki Tohno a boy who can see the “lines of death” of all things. By tracing these lines he can destroy anything by breaking it on it’s weakest points. He wind up killing a vampire who hunts other vampires named Arcueid Brunestud due to some strange impulse he cannot control. But it turns out that Arcueid is not dead and makes Shiki help her in her in her hunt for vampires. Tsukihime also has a rather cool fighting game based on it called Melty Blood.

Fate/Stay Night is the story of the 5th Holy Grail War. Whoever obtains the grail is granted their hearts desire. Wizards some heroes of the past to fight along side them to determine who shall win the Holy Grail. Shiro Emiya has almost no talent for sorcery but is pulled into the war due to his unknowing involvement as a child in the last Holy Grail War.

In all reality, most of these games won’t ever see the state side. As can be illustrated with certain anime, many Japanese businesses don’t understand that niche games, as a lot of these are, would probably sell under 1000 copies. That totally sucks because I think a lot of these games would hold a place in the hearts of a few and do modestly well.

Narutaki Currently!
Watching Kekkaishi
Reading Ruroni Kensin: Voyage to the Moon World novel
Listening to FREENOTE

Brainwasher Detective (Hisui) Currently:
Watching Gao Gai Gar

Reading One Piece 10th ANNIVERSARY~ DON! 10th Treasure Book

Listening to To The Center Of the Sun by Bivattchee