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Jun 20, 2014
I can only assume that the creators of Btooom! took one long, hard look at the Hunger Games trilogy and said to each other: 'Cool story bro. Needs more bombs.'
And so was born Btooom!
Story - Take a bunch of seemingly average people, give them some bombs and let them loose on each other and see what happens. The anecdotes into the human psyche asides, the story of Btooom falls into the pitfall of this sort of show. It can't have much of a story because the story itself cannot be flexible otherwise the premise of survival game doesn't really work. I mean how
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can a survival game be played if the players aren't 100% focused on survival? Thankfully I like this sort of story so it wasn't unbearable.
Art - I don't take a huge amount of notice of artwork but Btooom! seems especially poor, considering it's a relatively recent anime.
Sound - Again, not an area I take a massive amount of interest in. I liked the opening song but beyond that the soundtrack didn't stick out at all. Neither good nor bad.
Character - The shows saving grace, if you like. The characters are not at all who they seem to be at first. It becomes almost difficult to sympathise with some of them. Whilst each character has their own shady past in one way or another there's really obvious character growth issues here and that which hold this section back. These flaws are perhaps less obvious that some others.
Enjoyment - Watchable. In the end I finished it out of obligation more than anything. I wouldn't go back and rewatch though.
Overall - I came close to dropping it. But I didn't. By finishing it I can call it good enough. However I have to give Btooom! the distinction of being one of the worse anime I've finished watching
Reviewer’s Rating: 7
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Jun 10, 2013
I'm going to review this because it's become my favorite thing to read since Harry Potter. (It also chases away the memories of when I sat and read Twilight from start to finish. Alas those were dark days.)
Anyways...
I'm going to sum up the whole plot, in my own way, in just a few sentences, starting now:
Just how much insanity can you summon forth with a nipple, a dragon and a never-say-die attitude? Your answer would be 15 volumes and counting.
There's a lot of characters to introduce and so it gets off to a pretty slow start but when it hits full tilt
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you'll forget all about it being a Light Novel.
The art, I thought was actually really good, until we started getting less flaming demons and more loli upskirt pictures and other assorted hentai-borderline pictures but hey......
The characters of DxD come in huge quantity. Even so they don't feel underdeveloped, which I consider to be a pretty impressive feat. I speak as a author when I say it's extremely hard to juggle plot and character development at the same time. DxD features the sort of characters who would feature on polls as the greatest love pairing, the ultimate good guy or the biggest badass had they been written into Western novels.
Serious but silly, funny but sometimes dark, engrossing and entertaining.
Needless to say, I think you ought to read this....
Reviewer’s Rating: 10
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Jun 5, 2013
I don't really follow the hype much but this kept cropping on MAL up so I thought I'd give it a go.
I've seen 9 episodes now and this seems like some strange cross between Jack the Giant Slayer and Assassins Creed.
Not to say it's not completely riveting. The first episode will hit you like a train, I can promise you that much.
Story - 8
Well, can't say much for the whole story if I've only seen nine episodes now can I? What I have seen raises more questions than it answers. Mysterious dreams? Flashbacks? Abnormal Titans (Gigantic humanoids fond of manflesh)? Hmm it's all
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very interesting. Remains to be seen if this anime can provide satisfactory answers.
Art - 10
Wow, just wow. This is the first anime I've sat here and been really impressed by the visuals. The animation itself, particularly for the Titans, seems a bit jerky but the actual art is top-notch. Kinda reminds me of a similar style to an anime I've seen before, but I can't remember which one. Meh oh well. Just want to point out several specific aspects though. One: The crests for the different army divisions, I liked those. And the facial expressions on the Titans. I will not be forgetting that crazy grin on the Titan toward the end of Ep 1 in a hurry.
Sound - 10
Another area I was impressed with. I enjoyed listening to both the intro and the end tunes and the soundtrack throughout ratcheted up the mood nicely as well.
Character - 7
Yeeeaaah here is where I have the biggest beef. The three leads are the three types of people I dislike the most. Impulsive angry guy, quietly dedicated prodigy and wimpy nerd. There's also a plethora of background characters who teeter on the edge of decent character development but never seem to fall either way. It's possible they will have some decent development in the later episodes so I remain cautiously optimistic.
And the fact they all swing round like some crazy Tarzan-Ezio lovechild doesn't do them any harm either.
Also I don't know if 'Titans' count as characters per se when they don't do an awful lot except stand around and look ugly but they definitely have something strange about them. Plenty of questions left unanswered.
Enjoyment - 9
T'is indeed a rather enjoyable show. Once you get used to the emotional bombardment you receive.
Overall - 9
I guess you could say this would be a survival-horror, or some sort of action-thriller depending on how you view things. I have to admit it's a good portrayal of the siege mentality state of mind amongst defenders. Whilst not exactly horrific it could possibly be disturbing for some. It's definitely bloody, powerfully emotional and sometimes downright disturbing (note the Titan's expressions of glee when they find someone to munch on). I can only really compare it to zombie apocalypse flicks and say that, whilst zombie apocalypses made me look away and not care if I looked back again, Attack on Titan made me look away and want to look back.
Reviewer’s Rating: 9
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Jun 3, 2013
This is easily one of the most frustrating anime's you'll end up watching. For the whole two seasons you'll be groaning in frustration at how obstinate these people are. For the sake of my finger muscles, please take this as review of season 1 as well as they are extremely similar in nature.
Story - 7
Don't expect anything in the way of deep insights and profound statements in this. It is brutally honest, in that it does exactly what it says on the tin. It is simply a show about a bunch of misfits who want to make friends. Of course there is the
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odd twist and turn here and there but nothing that deflects the story too dramatically.
Art - 9
I enjoyed the visuals of this anime. It produced a nice blend of color and clarity. The only problem I had was it made everyone's head look rather fat.
Sound - 9
Not sure whether this ought to come under sound or character but I particularly enjoyed the vocal performances of this anime. Especially Rika and Kobato. I can't comment on the intro and end theme's as I've only recently got into the habit of listening to them and I watched this before then.
Characters - 9
The characters of Haganai (short for the full title, if you're wondering), are..... interesting to say the least. They all seem to have some sort of fetish or another. And psychologically they're all a bunch of oddballs as well. Except for the main, who has the misfortune of being ostracized through a combination of really bad luck and a tendency to be misunderstood. It's a strange ensemble but nevertheless they make for an entertaining bunch to watch. One mans pain is another mans pleasure, so they say. Though, thankfully, its not too serious in this.
Enjoyment - 9
The enjoyment of this anime is the fact that, being humans, we all probably have some parts of us we are ashamed of. Maybe we are (unintentional) bullies or maybe we have a bit of a superiority complex. Watching this is a nice way to find out which one you are because you'll probably end up relating to the character who is similar to you. Me? Well I ended up relating the one with a fetish for doujinshi featuring robots..... Yeah... oh, wait..... excuse me a sec, my therapist is calling.
Overall - 9
Like I said, this anime is uber uber frustrating. A lets-make-friends club. Well lock up a bunch of teenagers and a couple of pre-pubescent's, force them into doing activities together..... you can guess the outcome. Asides from the cast simply refusing to state the obvious, the sheer comedic value more than makes up for this animes shortcomings.
Reviewer’s Rating: 9
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Jun 3, 2013
Valkyria Chronicles went down in the Guinness Book of World Records as the best strategy-rpg on the PS3 and, having played it, I can't disagree. So when I found this anime (finally) I was pretty revved up.
I looked for this anime a while ago but I could never find it, either because it hadn't been released or I simply didn't look hard enough. The fact that it has been adapted from a game shouldn't bother the ones who have played the game because it's a pretty faithful adaptation. The emphasis has simply shifted slightly, from the more war-oriented action game to a more character-driven story.
Story
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- 9
Yeah like I said the story and its basics are carried over from the game. If you know the game, you'll know how this ends up. If you haven't played the game, think of WWII, with the Imperials representing Germany (Does anybody else notice how disturbingly Aryan they all are? Gregor and Maximillian in particular), the Federation representing the Allies and France, the poor country representing Gallia, caught between the two. Unlike Hitler who seemed to start World War 2 just because he could, the Imperials decide to start a war over the mineral Ragnite, the lifeblood of that world. The story follows the exploits of Lieutenant Welkin Gunther and his Merry Men, Women and a Winged Pig, as they fight to protect the homeland from the Imperials. Expect plenty of action and drama, comedy and the the odd love triangle.
Art - 10
Definitely can't decide if it's a step up or a step down from the game. However it's still quite beautiful to watch, because it almost literally is art. You can see where the pencil strokes have fallen. It won't be to everyone's tastes but I like it.
Sound - 9
Both Intro and End themes are charming enough and the recycling of the game's soundtrack will be a pleasant addition for the gamers who watch this and even if you haven't played the game, you'll learn soon enough what each piece of music foretells.
Characters - 8
The characters are plain awesome, from the romanticist Faldio, to Marina the Lone Wolf, to Selvaria the busty general of the Imps. Not all of them are prominent but they all feel unique, unlike your generic run-of-the-mill anime crowds.
Why do I only give them an 8? I miss their English voicings. I know, I know but Welkin's "SQUAD 7! MOVE OUT!" and Largo's battle cry of "ARGH VEGETABLES!" became almost iconic to me and my friends, so it's disappointing I don't get to hear them in the anime.
Enjoyment - 10
Oh yes! To see the epic war for Gallia's survival without having to suffer through annoyances such as ridiculously agile enemy soldiers and my Edelweiss exploding for no apparent reason satisfied me to no end.
Overall - 10
This is the first 10 I've given to an anime. Maybe I'm slightly biased, I don't know (I probably am), but I genuinely can't ever remember enjoying a cross-media adaptation of something more. If you're a fan of the game WATCH THIS! It gives more insight into Squad 7 and it may or may not enhance your gaming experience. If you haven't played the game WATCH THIS! It's an enjoyable romp with a band of weirdo's and a tank that could probably do the donut.
Reviewer’s Rating: 10
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May 31, 2013
I watched this because someone recommended it, with the bold statement 'It's better than Highschool DxD!' I am a massive DxD fan, of both the anime and the LN series. Challenge Accepted.
Upon completion of this I realized that that recommendation was done by someone who was either A) High or B) Hadn't actually seen DxD.
This anime doesn't hold a candle to it.
Not to say, if you like your usual action/fanservice fapfest, that isn't watchable.
Story - 6
I got the feeling, from watching this, that there was a decent story in there somewhere but it was garbled and disjointed. Unfortunately I think it fell prey
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to that age old enemy of Good Plots.... Fanservice. Maybe if I watch it again and ignore all the bouncing boobies it might make a little more sense. Easier said than done though.
Art - 8
Can't complain about the art. It's very easy on the eyes.
Sound - 5
Got to give the sound an ambiguous 5. I can't actually remember any of it.
Characters - 8
The main and the heroine are the reason for an 8 here. I had to give them credit for not pussyfooting around. If I say anymore, it'll probably be considered spoilers so I'm going to hush up.
I usually have a pretty good memory for interesting/unique anime characters and none of the rest of them stick out particularly vividly, which pretty much says it all in my book.
Enjoyment - 7
Yeah, OK I enjoyed it. But then again I'm too easily amused by boob-power. I'm still a 14 year old at heart.
Overall - 7
It definitely feels like it could have been the successor to DxD in my opinion. It's disappointing it doesn't really live up to it though and it falls into the pitfalls that many anime of this category do. .
Pleasing visuals and two characters that fit my personal preferences make up for a so-so storyline and forgettable secondary characters.
This anime is definitely more for someone who is between series or who wants to just kill a bit of time with something generic from the ecchi/harem genre. It's not selling the genre to newcomers that for sure.
Reviewer’s Rating: 7
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May 31, 2013
Shuffle wasn't an anime I was ever keen on watching to be honest. Partly because of Nerine's ears and partly because it just didn't appeal to me. I ended up watching it because a friend gave it raving reviews and I just couldn't believe I'd ever been stupid enough to pass it over.
Before I get on with the review, I'm going to have to give out two warnings:
1) This anime will repeatedly threaten to compromise your manliness, if you're a guy.
2) This anime also contains one of my favorite characters and she was the one who awakened my inner lolicon. She could do the
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same to you.
Now for the review.
Story - 9
Unusually for a harem this anime had an abundance of story. Whilst it lacked a plot that stretched throughout the whole 24 episodes, each heroine had a few episodes that was dedicated to her with minimum interference from the other female leads. This makes a nice change from the usual constant squabble-fest of other harems which, whilst entertaining enough, do get a little old. Even the filler episodes served to let the background characters take center stage for a little and to see how they are going about their business. The ending is also one of the most satisfying in the harem genre. Shuffle covers just about every genre going, so don't be put off by the word 'harem' because it is so much more than that.
Art - 9
I'm giving the art a 9, even though it is the area of Shuffle I have the most beef with. Particularly with the character art. Some characters are visually superb, such as Reena and Sia. Then you have a character like Asa who walks around with hair that looks like a huge chunk of green and Kaede who has hair so glaringly orange it would make oranges cry. These are minor faults and are just the result of me having high standards so I'm not going to be petty and lower the score for it.
Sound - 9
The opening theme, You (song name, not you you), is one of my favorite theme songs in anime to date. The music seems to fit the events and emotions of the anime no matter what is happening, which, considering how diverse Shuffle is, is pretty impressive. I won't give it a perfect score because nothing about the rest of the sound is really memorable to me.
Characters - 10
Just to be clear, I do not like all of Shuffle's characters. The daydreamer Kareha being the main culprit and the main Rin, not far behind. This isn't because they are bad characters though. I don't like them purely because of one or two minor things they do/did that irked me.
The rest of the characters are just..... amazing. They all have a past that, thanks to the dedication of episodes specifically for them, are explained in enough detail so we feel we know the character without their pasts becoming the dominating theme. I think the creators did very well juggling character development from the past and character development in the present. They are hardly 'generic' either. You do have the normal generic types of girls found in harems but each come with their own twist in Shuffle that really brings a breath of fresh air to the genre.
And Rimu. I have to give Rimu her own paragraph. I defy you to watch this and then to not like Rimu. She fills the 'emotionless loli' role but still somehow manages to convey emotion. Her background story is heart wrenching to watch. I was genuinely concerned about her, a fictional character. She is just such a lovable character. Cherami Leigh's performance as Rimu is nothing short of spectacular.
Enjoyment - 9
I enjoyed Shuffle immensely. It's a new type of harem anime, it's diverse and interesting, the fanservice is kept to an absolute minimum (maybe once or twice in 24 episodes.) You cannot help loving at least one character. It's a horrible analogy but it was similar to betting on the horse races. I had my favorite girl and wanted her to be chosen over the other by Rin (or win the race, in other words.) It was definitely enjoyable rooting for my favorite.
Overall - 9
All the reasons why this is just a great anime to watch are ^^^^^ up there.
I might've given it a perfect 10 but for one or two itty bitty issues here and there which some people would ignore but I can't. This is purely personal preference though. Also the fact I have so much to say about an anime I last watched in March gives testament to how... memorable this is.
Definitely one to watch.
Reviewer’s Rating: 9
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May 30, 2013
'WARNING'
There is a lot of blood but it isn't overly graphic and this is a theme throughout, with the exception of one or two stills, so, unless you really hate blood, don't let it put you off.
I'm writing this review 15 episodes in because I genuinely couldn't watch beyond that point in one go. I'm definitely planning to go back to this because I just have to know the reason why these little kiddies are butchering each other.
It's definitely a headscratcher.
Story - 8
From what I can gather the series is done in an way similar to the omnibus style of animes
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like Amagami SS and Yosuga No Sora except for a minor change. Instead of the main and the girl skipping off into the sunset hand in hand, and then the whole thing repeats with a different girl, Higurashi's mini-arcs ends with the main and/or one or more of his female friends dying pretty gruesomely. The first two mini-arcs were particularly horrifying. At first glance there doesn't seem to be much of a connection between the arcs but don't let it fool you. They are all little pieces of a bigger puzzle and that's where the true strength of Higurashi's story lies. I won't say more about the actual story because 1) I don't know it all myself and 2) I don't want to spoil it for anybody reading this.
Art - 6
This area, I feel is Higurashi's big drawback. The art of the characters is weak and looks to have been done, either in a hurry, or with a small budget. There are definitely some positives though, with the stills of some of the environments taking the fore here.
Sound - 7
I'm being generous. My recommendation is to watch this subbed because I watched it in dub format and there will never be a more annoying bunch of voice actors ever assembled to work on one anime. The opening theme is truly haunting. Beyond that, I didn't really notice the soundtrack much.
Characters - 9
Another massive strength of Higurashi is it's characters. You cannot relax for a second with any of them. In one episode they can be sweet, innocent and charming and in the next they're hammering nails through your joints and dismembering you alive. All of them seem to have some ulterior motive that isn't entirely their own and all of them act like they are under some outside influence, leading to some genuinely creepy moments. If it wasn't for those facts you'd have your stereotypical harem, more-or-less.
Enjoyment - 8
Much like School Days, I'm not entirely sure you're supposed to enjoy watching this. It's a regular guts and gore fest and if you enjoy the fact that this is being carried out by twelve year olds, it probably means your childhood was tainted by the Happy Tree Friends and you ought to toddle on off to the nearest therapist ASAP. The true enjoyment of Higurashi comes from trying to deduce the reasoning behind the Curse of Oyashiro. I'm over halfway through the anime and I'm still puzzling over whether the spate of killings is the result of some kind of supernatural phenomenon or not. Whether enjoyment is the right word or not, it'll definitely occupy your thoughts.
Overall - 8
Definitely one for the Sherlock Holmes' of anime fans. The mystery is pretty deep and I can only hope that it does a satisfying job of pulling all the seemingly unconnected threads together, either in this season or the next. It's also one if you like to be freaked out repeatedly. It isn't in-your-face scary but the ominous feeling you get from watching this will definitely send shivers down your spine.
Now, I'm going to go and finish watching it and finally find out what is what.
Reviewer’s Rating: 8
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May 28, 2013
Oh boy oh boy.... I watched this on a whim and was utterly unprepared for what it flung at me. Brilliant anime.
Story - 9
The greatest thing about this anime's story was that it surprised me right up until the last second. As soon as I thought I had figured it out, something happened and it blew my ideas out the window. I genuinely couldn't stop watching. If you like easy to follow plots, I'd probably avoid this. I won't deny it's a slog to try to work out what is going on and how it fits together. But that's part of the appeal for
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people like me, who enjoy figuring this stuff out.
Art - 9
I thought the art of this was brilliant. The dolls in the shop gave me genuine goosebumps, Mei's eye was just freaky and was quite obviously not real. I hesitate to give this a ten though because I have seen more realistic blood in anime.
Sound - 8
The 8 is solely for the opening theme which was just....... creepy.
Characters - 9
Whilst there isn't much back story to the majority of the characters, the way they are presented in the present is good enough to compensate. Plus, the events of this anime wouldn't suit expansion of characters' stories. You'll understand if you watch or have seen it.
Enjoyment - 9
I haven't enjoyed an anime as much as this for a long time. I found myself eagerly trying to solve the mystery as I watched and I definitely 'felt' the emotions of the characters, which isn't something I experience too often so that made it that much more enjoyable for me.
Overall - 9
Watch this. This is very similar to the Final Destination film series but it is done so much better and in a way that is a bit more believable, albeit with a bit more of the supernatural edge.
Oh and avoid if you have a weak stomach. This anime doesn't hold back in the blood and guts department.
Reviewer’s Rating: 9
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May 28, 2013
I'm just going to say, off the top of my head, I haven't read many reviews of Freezing which give it the credit I think it deserves. So that's why I'm writing this.
Story - 9
Whilst watching a lot of anime what you have to bear in mind is that there is usually some sort of material that it is being adapted from. Freezing, the anime, has only part of a story. And that part is awesome. The story has many parts to it that will intrigue you, if you're the sort of person who likes to know everything there is to know about what
...
you're watching. Throughout there are undertones that something else is going on behind the scenes and if you pick up on it it makes for a headscratcher. The actual plot is more or less stubborn guy meets strong but fragile girl and his relationship with her in a world where everybody seems to be out to get them for one reason or another. But, like I said, it has a very nice and mysterious undercurrent to it.
Art - 8
Yes, I enjoyed the art of Freezing, sue me for liking bouncing boobs. Two aspects of the art I particularly enjoyed were the NOVA and the 'evil' looks of Satellizer. Both were pretty impressive.
Sound - 9
It's rare I enjoy a soundtrack so much. The intro is one I'll actually sit there and listen to and the battle between East and the NOVA....... wow the soundtrack gave me chills.
Characters - 8
The characters were kind of... meh ranging from a guy with some obvious unresolved issues with his sister, a girl who hates to be touched to the point where people dont even like getting close enough to talk to her and someone rather worryingly nicknamed 'Intoxicating Bondage.' Of the main cast, only Chiffon Fairchild is truly memorable and that, for me, is purely because her eyes are actually shut and not just drawn that way. How she goes through the whole series without opening her eyes is beyond me. For almost solely that reason I'm saying 8.
Enjoyment - 9
I definitely enjoyed this, so much so, it's one anime I actually bought.
Overall - 9
Blood, boobs, a school where older girls are required to 'please' their juniors, intrigue, mystery, some kickass fighting sequences, the occasional comedic moment and some nice character development I didn't mention above. I don't see what's not to like. Freezing definitely has a little something for everyone.
Reviewer’s Rating: 9
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