Anime Sunday: Juni Taisen Episode 01 Impressions

This week for Anime Sunday I’m covering another series from the Fall 2017 season. It’s my Juni Taisen Episode 01 Impressions!

Plot Synopsis: In a city of half a million people who have all been removed, 12 of the deadliest mercenary warriors with the names and attributes of the 12 Chinese zodiac animals are pitted against each other in the 12th Zodiac Tournament which takes place every 12 years. Each warrior must swallow a poisonous gem, which will begin to kill them after 12 hours. To be granted any one wish of their choosing, the winner must retrieve all the gems from the other competitors before the deadline…

Plot: This is an incredibly violent series, I’ve seen plenty of violent series before, and read and listened to even worse, but this was easily one of the darkest ones I’ve watched yet. The story isn’t for those faint of heart. I won’t spoil the story, but I felt that those warnings were necessary. Personally I’ll probably just find a copy of the original Light Novel that this was adapted from to read instead of watching the entire Anime.

Characters: Our main PoV for this episode is Ino (Boar) who isn’t a simple character. Frankly I don’t particularly like her, but I understand her which I think was the point of this episode. The rest of the cast is fairly interesting, although Usagi (Rabbit) is a very disturbing person…

Art: The art is okay, but like Dies Irae not really even close to ufotable quality.

Music: This part is at least interesting as the main composer is Go Shiina, who used to work for Bandai Namco on the Tales of series including one of my personal favorite entries Zestiria.

Overall: A great series for those who want to watch something incredibly violent, others will probably just want to read the original Light Novel (it is released in English).

For those who like: Action, Drama, Death Games, Ultra Violent Stories, Interesting Cast of Characters, Good Art, Great Musical Score.

Not for those who don’t like: Any of the above.

Retro Game Friday: Turok

This week for Retro Game Friday I’m covering an oldie but a goodie! It’s Turok: Dinosaur Hunter!

Plot Synopsis: The player assumes control of Tal’Set (Turok), a Native American time-traveling warrior. The mantle of Turok is passed down every generation to the eldest male. Each Turok is charged with protecting the barrier between Earth and the Lost Land, a primitive world where time has no meaning. The Lost Land is inhabited by a variety of creatures, from dinosaurs to aliens.

Plot: So I don’t remember much of the plot, but that plot synopsis actually caught my attention, if I had an Xbox One I might see about getting the remastered version of this game.

Gameplay: This was the first game developed for the N64 by a third party, which is pretty interesting. It also meant that they were one of the first developers to make a console FPS game. I remember it being pretty fun, but it’s been over 15 years since I last played it, so other than being fun I don’t remember much.

Art: The original N64 version has aged very poorly, but that isn’t surprising given that it’s one of the first full 3D games.

Music: Don’t remember a thing, sorry.

Overall: If you have an Xbox One I’d try out the remastered version, it might be amazing.

For those who like: FPS, FPS games with a Plot, Lots of Bad Guys, Dinosaurs, Aliens, Action.

Not for those who don’t like: Any of the above.

Manga Monday: Zetman by Masakazu Katsura

This week on Manga Monday I’m covering a series that I recently read and enjoyed. It’s Zetman by Masakazu Katsura!

Plot Synopsis:  The story starts off with a face-off between two rival heroes, ZET and Alfaaz, and then traces their origins.

Plot: The plot is incredibly dark and gritty, and if you are expecting anything happy in this series you’ll be disappointed. I thought Gantz was a screwed up series prior to reading this and then realized that it pales in comparison to Zetman. There are very violent scenes in this series, including scenes of Rape, Murder, Lots of Gore etc. This is not a kid’s series.

Characters: I enjoy most of the cast, because nearly all of them are believable, except for the monsters who are just plain terrifying and will probably give you nightmares. Jin and Kouga are two sides of a coin and it’s interesting to see them interact with their differing ideals.

Art: It’s dark, gritty and totally suits the series. It’s also really freaking detailed, which is probably part of why it’s such a good series.

Overall: If you can get over the hyper violent nature of the series, it’s got an amazing plot that will twist your hearstrings and make you more empathetic for humanity, at least for those of us that aren’t idiots or asshats to the rest of the world.

For those who like: Action, Superheroes, Dark Plots, Super Violent Series, Incredibly Fantastically Detailed Characters and Artwork.

Not for those who don’t like: Any of the above, especially the violence part.

Manga Monday: Gantz by Hiroya Oku

I can’t believe I haven’t covered this series yet, but then again it’s not surprising considering how much I don’t tend to like really bloody series. It’s Gantz by Hiroya Oku!

Plot Synopsis: A pair of high school students, Kei Kurono and Masaru Kato, are hit by a subway train in an attempt to save the life of a drunk homeless man who had fallen onto the tracks. Following their deaths, Kurono and Kato find themselves transported to the interior of an unfurnished Tokyo apartment. The pair soon realize others are present and find that they are not able to leave the apartment. At one end of the room there is a large black sphere known as “Gantz”.

Plot: First, There is a crap ton of nudity in this series! Second, There is even more Violence and Gore. I can’t even begin to describe how bloody this series is, if you are at all squeamish you probably shouldn’t read this one. The plot is also really freaking dark, and expect lots of deaths. Also there are sex scenes.

Characters: I honestly didn’t like 90% of the characters in this series, the only ones are Kurono’s team from about the third arc. Particularly Reika and Muscle Rider (I honestly don’t care to remember the guys name except that he is a certifiable badass.)

Artwork: Like I said expect lots of Gore, Violence and Nudity. I’m really honestly surprised that it was allowed to run in Japan, as they have very strong Censorship laws.

Overall: If you like super violent series that are more bloody, gory and nude than Game of Thrones this is for you.

For those who like: Super Violence, Gore, Lots and lots of Action and Horror.

Not for those who don’t like: Any of the above, or nudity and sex scenes.

Manga Monday: Hellsing by Kouta Hirano

 

This week for Manga Monday I’m covering an amazing series that I really love, despite my dislike for really violent series usually. I’m talking about Hellsing by Kouta Hirano of course!

Plot Synopsis: Hellsing is named after and centered around the Royal Order of Protestant Knights, originally led by Abraham Van Helsing. The mission of Hellsing is to search and destroy those that threaten Queen and Country from the undead and other supernatural forces of evil. This organization is currently led by Sir Integra Fairbrook Wingates Hellsing, who inherited the leadership of Hellsing as a child after the death of her father. She witnessed his death which turned her from a once innocent and shy little girl to a tough and deadly force. She is protected by the faithful Hellsing family butler and former Hellsing “trashman” Walter C. Dornez, a deadly foe in his own right, and Alucard, the original and most powerful vampire that swore loyalty to the Hellsing family after being defeated by Van Helsing one hundred years before the story takes place.

Pl0t: The plot for this series is really all about action, and those who deal out badassery in spades. The plot isn’t deep, at least I don’t remember it being very deep, but the action that occurs is enough for me to forgive that. Expect an insane amount of gore and violence.

Characters: Alucard is a jerk, but in a way that makes him somewhat likable. If you can get over the fact that he’s probably one of the scariest main characters I’ve ever seen, and that is saying something. Seras is pretty cool as well, although she’s everyone’s butt monkey for the first couple of arcs. The rest of the cast is amazing, with Walter being my favorite side character, but expect plenty of crazy people to show up in this already insane series.

Art: The art is good, considering that the series started in 1997, the same year as One Piece began. It does get better, as the series ended in 2008.

Overall: If you want plenty of action and don’t mind insane amounts of violence or profanity, you’ll love Hellsing.

For those who like: Vampires, Bad ass main characters, Bad ass side characters, Plenty of action scenes.

Not for those who don’t like: Any of the above, or lots and lots of violence and gore.