tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-84306120622411250442024-03-07T23:00:13.886-08:00Helldestroyer77 Video Game / Anime / BlogAnonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14622695634262858747noreply@blogger.comBlogger6125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8430612062241125044.post-88603282715477536512014-11-06T11:22:00.002-08:002014-11-06T11:23:21.719-08:00Spice And Wolf (Anime Review)<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<b><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Disclaimer</span></b><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">: I
am not a fan of romance anime. I realize that it's only fair to call this one
~50% romance, but it is a main focus none-the-less. My reasoning for why is
discussed and explored in this review. Don't worry, though, as even with my
bias against its genre, I still heartily enjoyed it and give it my
recommendation. Read on to see why!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Spice and wolf is a series about a
traveling merchant, a human persona of a pagan wolf deity, and economics. Does
that very odd combination intrigue you? Well, it should because Spice and Wolf
certainly comes out as a unique gestalt that cannot be explained away by its
seemingly unrelated individual pieces. The anime is based on an original series
of light novels. There is also a manga adaptation that is still ongoing, but I
believe they are separate adaptations. The light novel series is now completed
in Japan, and the anime covers four of the first five volumes. The manga has
not even finished going through the material covered in the anime, and I am
unsure if they are planning on doing the entire story, or if they will stop at
the same point as the anime. This is not the type of show that I would normally
watch--mainly because I tend to avoid anime romances, and that does end up
being one of the driving themes of Spice and Wolf. With that in mind, I hope
that my perspective as a fan of anime, but not of anime romances can give a
fresh take on this series. And don't worry, even I had to ultimately admit that
it's very good. How about we continue on to explore why?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Animation / Visuals:<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Spice and Wolf was brought to us by
studio Imagin. The only series I have seen from their portfolio have them credited
for the 'in-between animation'. I'm not entirely sure what that distinction
means, but it did leave me with no pre-conceived notions going in. I was very
happy with the animation quality. There are no jarring scenes where detail forsaken
in an attempt to save money, and the picture quality on the blu-ray release is of
a very high calipur. The series was released in '08, though, so its impressive
visual fidelity is to be expected.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">The real star of the visual
department is definitely the designs. The style of the characters and the world
at large are an absolute delight. The series takes place during the medieval
time period in a country very similar to Europe, so there are fortress towns,
ornate churches, and little country villages all being expertly brought to
life. The characters and their clothing also do justice to the setting. I
realize that I am in no way an expert on this period of history, but it all
looks close enough and has enough synergy to feel genuine, which I think is
very important. I can say that the visual design is objectively very good, but
I also need to point out that I really liked it on a personal, subjective
level; it simply worked for me.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Audio:<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Let's just plop it right out in the
open; the soundtrack for Spice and Wolf is absolutely fantastic. It is, in
fact, my favorite aspect of the series. The openings are sufficiently
emotive--with the first being the clear winner--the first ending is a
ridiculous slice of Engrish--but is just too cute to not like--and the
in-episode soundtrack is phenomenal. The soundtrack is very heavy on what we
would nowadays view as folk music. There are several flute type instruments,
violins, etc. It ends up being epic and exciting when it needs to be, and it
can also be incredibly playful and quirky during less intense moments. I would
gladly listen to many of these songs outside of the show, and I am planning on acquiring
the soundtrack. The playful tone fits so incredibly well with many of the
quaint towns and situations that we end up seeing throughout the series. This
is definitely a case of the soundtrack not only complementing the series, but
almost outshining it. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Plot:<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Spice and Wolf has an odd, yet
surprisingly simple premise. A travelling merchant--Kraft Lawrence, the main
character--stops off in a little town that he visits from time to time to do
business. While he is there, he ends up meeting their wise wolf deity, Holo, in
her human personification. She explains that he is her ticket out of there
because she is bound to wheat, and he happens to have some in his cart. She
asks him to help her get back to her home in the north, and she promises to
pull her weight on the trip there. That's honestly the entire premise. It's
really quite shocking that something so innocuous--yet still rather fantastical--can
turn into what Spice and Wolf turns into.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">As they travel ever northward,
Lawrence gets himself involved in many a scheme to make money. In some cases he
comes out on top, other times he is taken complete advantage of, and things
even deteriorate to the point of their lives being in danger multiple times.
Given that the main driving point for all of the plot points are simply
business deals, it's really quite impressive that they manage to be as
interesting and diverse as they are. The one downside to this business focus is
that it is very, very easy to lose track of what's going on and get lost in the
jargon. They do a good enough job of explaining things, but many episodes
require very astute viewing in order to not get lost. The anime covers four of
the light novels, with each one representing one arc. Each of these arcs covers
one specific business situation.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">One of my favorite things about Spice
and Wolf is actually the setting. It is set during medieval times--in what
appears to be some fictional Europe. Due to this, the technology, ways of
travel, food, etc are all completely steeped in the time period. On top of this,
there is a certain degree of 'fantasy' that is just an accepted part of the
world. Holo isn't the only human personification of a pagan deity that they
meet, and there are also giant, intelligent creatures just roaming around the
world. This all makes for a very interesting world to explore and learn more
about with each episode. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">The other aspect of the time period
that I really enjoyed was the presence and influence of the church. Now, they
make several remarks to the one true 'God', there is discussion of cardinals,
bishops, and nuns, and we all know that the Christian church was spreading--and
becoming rather oppressive--in Europe during this time period. It is absolutely
no secret that the church is actually the Christian church, but it is never named
as such--which could be seen as a lack of boldness, but I view it more as a
degree of finesse. They have several run-ins with the church that really
hammers home how corrupt they have become with their increasing influence.
There is even the worry of them discovering Holo because they would likely kill
her for being possessed by the devil. It's realistic elements and factors like these
that help to make the world of Spice and Wolf so dynamic and engaging.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Now, the business might be the
backbone of what is going on, but it really does take a back seat to the
romance--especially for the latter half of the series. Holo and Lawrence
quickly start being flirty and goofy with each other, and it becomes apparent
within very little time that this series is going to have a strong romance
focus. I take slight issue with this because I really do not like how anime
tends to portray romance. The situation is always a perfect setup that both
characters will fall into. At least one of them will be hesitant and very flippant
in response to the overt flirting and signs of affection coming from the other
one. Every little touch or moment is a big deal and leads to blushing and
acting silly. And the couple to be will also always exhibit child-like levels
of innocence when it comes to dealing with the opposite sex--or at least one
them has to. I mean, I could go on and on, and Spice and Wolf has every bloody
trope that I just listed. It always comes off feeling heavy handed,
unrealistic, and non-genuine. I feel like the story teller--author, writer,
etc--is just beating me over the head with what they are trying to show me and
make me feel.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">These tropes are not realistic.
That's not how people actually act. Now, I realize that not every series and
medium needs to be focused on absolute realism--that would be awful, really.
But when it comes to something like romance--such a genuinely real human feeling
and experience--it can be a bit jarring when it's so far removed from reality.
It leads to two things. On the one hand, it leads to a sweet, innocent, and
incredibly fun little love story that really couldn't exist in any other
medium. On the other hand, though, it also romanticizes incredibly unrealistic
relationships as some kind of ideal situation--one that just doesn't exist.
With films and live action TV shows--for lack of a better term--the idealized
romances are usually unrealistic, but they are still bordering on the outskirts
of reality. There will be some overly convenient things that happen, and the
guy might get the girl even when he really shouldn't, but the human reactions,
the interpersonal communication between the 'couple' is still fully believable.
With anime, and certainly with this series, it just simply isn't--for the most
part.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">And all of this leaves me feeling odd
now that I've experienced Spice and Wolf. I am someone that enjoys stories by
fully immersing myself in them. If they were an ocean, I'd be drowning in the
deepest depths. I think that's why I have always been so incredibly enamored
with fictional stories. It's not just a drawing on a screen, a 3d model on a
monitor, or a name on a page. Every story that I get involved in I treat as if
it was its own absolute reality. So when all is said and done, I need to
resolve the experience in my mind--which is to say within that 'real' fictional
world. That becomes incredibly difficult for me to do with something like this
because of the subject matter. When romance takes the side seat in some kind of
action or drama, and is a supplemental plot point, its short comings are easy
to overlook because of the circumstances. There is something else going on that
is the focus, we accept that the romance is progressing in an unnatural manner,
and the extenuating circumstances allow for a lot of lee-way. The romance is
front and center here, though, so no such excuse can be made. In fact, for the
third and fourth arcs, it is almost the business that has become the
supplemental plot. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">It is what it is, and it must simply
be taken with a grain of salt and put into the appropriate mental box. I want
to be clear that I am not trying to be down on the show; this is an issue I
have with the medium's representation of this topic as a whole. It managed to
tell a very cute love story that I found myself grinning like an idiot while
watching on several occasions. I am merely pointing out that it is so far
removed from reality, that it cannot be resolved with our real life
understanding of these themes and ideas. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Characters:<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">The bread and butter of Spice and
Wolf really are the characters. The show is carried by the main two: Lawrence
and Holo. Lawrence is portrayed as incredibly intelligent, very innocent and
pure hearted, and also very well spoken. It is shown time and again that he is
not only a very talented merchant, but that he has a surprising amount of
grace, and a dangerous amount of kindness. I like Lawrence, and I enjoyed
watching him interact with Holo and the other characters that they come across
in their travels. I really feel that he only works as well as he does, though,
because he is a proper partner for Holo, who really ends up stealing the show.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">And then we have Holo, the star of
the show. Holo is, if I'm not mistaken, about seven hundred years old. With that
in mind, she is actually extremely wise--she even calls herself Holo the wise
wolf. She is, however, also out of touch with many aspects of human culture and
relationships. This puts her in an interesting position of being far, far more
knowledgeable than Lawrence, but also being incredibly naive in other ways. She
is devious, haughty, jealous, melodramatic, and conniving. Her rather stuffy
way of talking--proper English and such--does a very good job of reinforcing
her antiquity, while also making her seem 'different', which is exactly how she
needed to be portrayed. It's not all light hearted jests and jabs, though. As
the series continues--and as her relationship with Lawrence builds--we come to
find out that she still has fears and that she has been grappling with terrible
loneliness. I will say this, for as hard as I was on Spice and Wolf's portrayal
of romance, there are definitely some moments when Holo opens up that are
incredibly genuine and emotive. Her desire to no longer be alone, her fear of
getting close to Lawrence because of his mortality, her fear of hindering his
chances of opening his own shop, etc. The overall romance may be heavy handed
and rather ham fisted, but Holo's development is usually a genuine high point.
She manages to be wise and snide, yet vulnerable and sweet at the same time.
She is a very complex character, and easily one of the best female leads to
ever appear in anime--based on what I have seen thus far.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Other than the main two, there aren't
many characters that get a lot of screen time. The normal way of doing things
is to introduce a small cast for each new arc. They get some development, serve
their purpose, and then it's on to the next arc. Given these character's
relatively short screen time--only up to about five or six episodes at the
most--many of them actually get a very admirable amount of development. While
the supporting cast may be a rotating door, each new set of them are given
sufficient attention to be worthwhile. I really appreciated this about Spice
and Wolf.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Conclusion:<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Well, how do I conclude such a seemingly-contradictory
review? I spent near equal amounts of time praising the story as I did tearing
it down on the basis of being an anime love story. So for my final word, let's
ignore that it's one of those--as well as the inherent short comings that are
attached. Spice and Wolf is an audio and visual treat. It has an interesting
story with enjoyable and memorable characters. There are several funny moments,
tense and dramatic scenes, and cute parts that will make you smile like a goon.
I may take issue with this portrayal of a love story from the ground up, but I
cannot ignore how well this one was done within those limitations--especially
given that everything but the 'romance' part is outright fantastic. If you get
invested in the story, be ready for a 'read the novels' ending. I went ahead
and looked up how they end--there are still a few that are yet to be
translated, so all I could do was skim forums. I was quite satisfied with the
ending, and I think I'm going to leave it at that. I'm not sure that I need to
read the rest of the journey. I really enjoyed what I watched, I got the
closure of the true ending, and I think I'm ready to close the book on this
experience. And let me be absolutely clear, this is an experience that I'm glad
I had, and I would fully recommend to anyone who enjoys anime. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14622695634262858747noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8430612062241125044.post-28140183593016252014-10-23T17:30:00.000-07:002014-10-23T17:32:52.347-07:00Assassin's Creed IV: Black Flag Review<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">After having been severely burned by Assassin's Creed III, I
was very skeptical going into Black Flag. I took issue with so many things in
III that I fear beginning to list them would rabbit trail into an entire review
for that game, rather than its sequel. Suffice it to say, Black Flag had some
proving to do. The game is generally well regarded by critics and the gaming
community, but it just simply doesn't change what the previous game was, so
cautious optimism was the very most I could muster for this entry in the now
annual franchise. Well, let me just dispel the mystery and let you know that I
am not one of this game's few detractors; I quite like it in fact. However, as
with nearly any game that I 'like', there are still several less than stellar
aspects to talk about and dissect. With that in mind, let's get on to the
review proper, yeah?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">Visuals:<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">Assassin's Creed games are among the AAA games that go for
absolute realism. They have advanced and very detailed 3d models, take place in
'mostly' historically accurate locations, and are now employing some damn fine
facial mapping. This game is no different. It is easily the best looking
Assassin's Creed game to date. Now, I don't mean raw number of pixels and how
'HD' the textures are--we'll be discussing that later; I merely mean that this
game's realistic 3d visual style is very well realized. Everything looks as one
would expect it to, and it is a joy to swim through clear waters, explore
tropical islands, and traverse the various shanty towns. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">Another high point comes from the character designs. Ubisoft
have done a very good job of making everyone look quite 'pirate-y'--which isn't
a word, but we're going to go with it anyway. Beards are scruffy, faces are
dotted with scars, and wardrobes are out of a Pirates of the Caribbean fan's
wet dreams. This game, like every other in the series, feels very much like a
period piece. Now, I realize that the pirate setting and period has been
pandered oo far more than some of the previous settings for the series, but I
don't think that makes Black Flag any less genuine. I must admit, though, that
I am not actually an expert in all things pirates, so if there is some
historical inaccuracy for the sake of Jack Sparrow pandering, I simply did not
see it.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">Audio:<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">Black Flag is really quite impressive from an audio
standpoint. Whether you're listening to the rain pummel you during an
especially nasty storm at sea or listening to the water splash underneath your
feet as you run across a beach, the sound is rather dynamic and engrossing. The
music also does a fine job of matching the mood of what is going on.
Unfortunately, I am unable to recall any pieces in particular, but I was always
pleased with what was playing at the time. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">One more note for the music--it was high time for a good
pun--that just cannot be ignored is the sea shanty system. One of the
collectibles this time around are sea shanty song notes--say that three times
fast. When you collect one, the crew of your ship learns a new song. This means
that as you are out sailing, plundering, and being an overall mangy pirate,
your crew will start randomly singing one of the songs that they know. Now, I
am not ashamed to admit that I have attended a pirate festival, and I actually
recognized some of these songs--Bully in the Alley is one that comes to mind.
This is an incredibly fun extra layer that was added on, and it's minutiae like
this that I often end up enjoying the most. You can also hear an assortment of
other sea shantys sung by a female at some of the bars scattered around the world
map. I have actually left the game on while sitting in front of the bars a
couple of times--while doing other things around the house or on the
phone--just to enjoy these in the background; they really are quite good.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">The final aspect of the audio is of course the voice acting.
Well, in typical Assassin's Creed form, it is very high quality. The characters
all have very distinctive voices and personalities. They also do a very good
job of managing all of the different accents that they are trying to deal with.
I am so happy that we have come to a place with voice acting--especially in AAA
games--where it is no longer cringe worthy, and we no longer need to be
embarrassed when someone else enters the room when a scene with dialog is
taking place. I also want to specifically point out two characters whose
performance I was very fond of. Edward Kenway, the main character, has a very
likeable voice actor. There is a lot of personality and sass in the
performance, but there is a full range of other emotional responses to fit the
situation. I was a very harsh critic of Connor's voice from the previous
game--regardless of how accurate a portrayal of that type of character it
was--so I was very happy to actually enjoy listening to the main character
again. Blackbeard is the other one that I want to point out. Yes, he is quite cliché,
but his performance is a perfect celebration of this game's subject matter, and
it was a delight to listen to.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">Gameplay:<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<b><span style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"><br /></span></b></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">A nice visual design and great voice acting are obvious high
points, but this is an interactive medium, so one might be wondering just how
does it actually play? Well, this is an Assassin's Creed game! Honestly, the
gameplay really hasn't changed all that much, and this is unfortunate. The
combat is still rather boring, and there is still way too much of it. I wonder
why the devs think that every encounter needs to end up turning into a twelve
man murder simulator? There have been little tweaks here and there--like the
ability to have four guns now--but these things are all quite minute in the
scheme of things. The classic Assassin's Creed 'jank' is also here in full
force. Why did you run up that wall three times in a row? Why are you stuck on
that railing? Why can't you climb that rock? Who knows! Because: Assassin's
Creed! Honestly, I am a huge fan of the free-form climbing mechanics in these
games, but after this many entries in the series, the jank and irritation that
comes along with it is really just unwelcome and unacceptable at this point.
They can't just keep phoning it in. The engine and the very act of simple
climbing, jumping, locomotion in general really needs an overhaul at this
point. I was really quite frustrated by the end of the game with all of the
nonsense.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">The other main aspect of this game aside from the on foot
gameplay is, of course, the ship combat. Well, I am glad to say that it is just
as good as it was in Assassin's Creed III. It is a bit more in depth, of
course, but it is certainly no worse for the ware. After the success of this
game, Ubisoft sent out a questionnaire asking people if they would be
interested in a non-Assassin's Creed pirate game. If it has the same level of
detail and solid ship combat Black Flag has, then I would be all over that. The
ship aspect of the gameplay is easily the most positive addition Assassin's
Creed has made in years.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">Like any game in the series, you'll be running around getting
stuck on walls and brutally killing hundreds of enemies throughout a rather
impressive amount of content. The main story is fairly lengthy; there are tons
of islands and shanty towns to explore, and there are a lot of things to
collect and upgrade. It's an open world game, and completionists will be kept
busy for quite a while--my final play time was around fifty hours.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">The other aspect of the main story that I have not mentioned
yet is the present day segments. These are not a very prominent part of the
story, and they honestly feel completely unnecessary. You walk around in the first
person while the ham-fisted present day story is fed to you in piece-meal.
There are also some rather boring hacking mini-games that you do here and there.
That's all there is to it, really. I wasn't a fan of it, and it's certainly not
why anyone should be playing this game. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">The final thing I want to mention is the multiplayer. Now, I
don't want to mention it because it's so great or because you should play it,
but more-so because it is a thing that is there. I am not a fan of the
multiplayer, and I haven't been since Revelations. I think the idea of the
multiplayer is really unique and very interesting. I even really, really liked
it in Brotherhood. You see, though, it is also rife with problems. People that
decide to run around like idiots and not obey the unspoken 'rules' of how the
games should be played can completely ruin entire matches. Now throw on certain
annoying mechanics and the age old sin of higher level people having a FAR more
impressive arsenal than lower level opponents and you have a multi-player
component that I am obviously going to take issue with. I love how unique it
is, but the execution is just severely flawed.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">Plot:<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<b><span style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"><br /></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">The plot sees you following Edward Kenway--a pirate who is
still starting out and is certainly not established yet. You get to see him go
from humble beginnings to a fair amount of prominence as a pirate by later in
the story. The most interesting detail, though, is that he's not actually an Assassin.
It is now that I should point out that spoilers are going to be fair game. The
game begins with Kenway shipwrecked on an island with an Assassin. The Assassin
and Kenway come to blows, and he ends up killing him and taking his outfit. The
Assassin was actually deserting to the Templars, and Kenway decides to take his
name and his cargo and go meet the Templars as the fallen Assassin. From here
the story twists and turns with Kenway having run ins with the Templars and
with the Assassins. Kenway is not hostile towards the assassins like he is
towards the Templars, but he is also not one of them. He is a pirate that
happens to be having some dealings with them due to some of the situations that
he has gotten himself into. This makes for a very interesting story because it's
not simply from the Assassins vs. Templars point of view. I mean, that is still
going on, but Edward only partially has a horse in that race, and that makes
the interactions more interesting and fresh.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">Once we get past the initial setup, the story goes through
periods of seemingly random meandering, which is then followed by a clear
direction, and then it's back to a vague goal or meandering. I enjoyed the
story throughout, but there is no doubt that it completely loses its way at
certain points. Thankfully the characters are enjoyable enough that even when
you aren't following the tenuous narrative threads, you will still simply enjoy
watching them interact with Kenway. The story does ultimately build to have a
couple of actual antagonists, and it does manage to contain several sub plots.
I suppose that is part of why it becomes unfocussed. Each situation or 'arc'
has some floaty and unfocussed time within it and between it and the next one.
This allows the game to cover a few different larger situations over a period
of time, which is a good thing, but it leads to the lack of focus that the game
suffers from sometimes. I suppose it's a trade off, and the direction they took
it certainly worked out alright in the end--caveats and all.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">The other aspect of the story is the present day stuff. I
will be honest with my view point on this. I absolutely hate what they ended up
doing with the present day story. Throughout all of the games before III--and
even during the majority of III--they had set Desmond up to be an actual
Assassin. Hell, I wouldn't have been surprised if we had a game just set in
present time playing only as Desmond. They had also been building the story to
a crescendo with III; it was clear that was going to be the end. The problem
is, they gave it a completely half assed ending--just enough so that this big
building narrative was no longer sitting in their way--and they set themselves
up to make an infinite amount of sequels. The present say segments see you as
an employee working for Abstergo and going through Desmond's DNA memories.
There are cameos of Shaun and Rebecca, so we know the assassins are still
fighting back to some capacity. There are a couple of scenes dealing with the
yet unresolved 'ones who came before' that do little to nothing to resolve or
expand their story--which is how they need it to keep cranking out sequels--and
there is a fairly cool cameo with the present day incarnation of the sage that
you meet in Kenway's memories. Honestly, the present day segments did little
more than remind me of the mess they have turned the overarching story into. I
am still completely on board with the 'in-animus' stories that Assassin's Creed
can tell, but the present day over arching story does nothing for me anymore,
and I wish it was no longer a part of it.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">Characters:<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">Black Flag has its fair share of interesting characters. The
best really has to be Captain Kenway himself, though. I really like how he
progresses through the game. I am a huge proponent of character development.
That means that no matter how unlikeable, archetypical, or shallow a character
may seem at first, if they can experience substantial growth by the end of the
story, then I will be happy and will be singing the praises of that story.
Well, Edward fits this bill. He starts off as a fairly gruff and cocksure character.
This attitude carries him through a good chunk of the game, but not without its
consequences. As the story progresses--and time along with it--Edward starts
seeing the repercussions of his actions. Friends either die or turn to enemies,
plans fall apart, and he slowly starts understanding that his attitude and lack
of finesse are having a substantial impact on his life. By the end of the
game--when he finally pseudo-joins the assassins--he is much wiser and much
more dynamic than who he was at the beginning of the game. He legitimately
progresses and changes, and that is a wonderful thing to see. It also doesn't
hurt that he is a very likeable character, so you are willing to put up with
him when he is making rash and foolish decisions.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">I was also very impressed with Edward Thatch--or Blackbeard,
as he's more widely known. He also undergoes some very enjoyable development.
When you first meet him, he is obviously already a fairly established pirate,
but he doesn't yet possess the persona that he comes into by the end of the
game. As the story progresses, he turns into Blackbeard, the fear of the sea
and scourge of the earth. But, since Edward is a close friend throughout this,
we also get to see who he really is during this transformation. He continues to
be a high point of the game right up until his final appearance at his
retirement party--yes, he realizes that he is old and the pirate life isn't for
him anymore. I find it quite ironic that he would turn out to be such a high
point. He is the most stereotypical 'pirate' character in the game. And yet, he
is handled in such a way that he never feels anything but genuine and real. I
applaud Ubisoft for making that very difficult combination work as well as they
did.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">There are several other more minor characters that end up
being interesting for one reason or another, but none of the rest of the cast
reach the level of Kenway and Blackbeard. Certain Templars--such as Laureano de
Torres y Ayala--end up being engaging villains, and the sage Roberts is
memorable for his craziness alone. I found that the rest of your 'friends' were
very interchangeable--even though they play distinct roles in the story--with
the exception of James Kidd. James is one of the few 'friends' that actually
remains by your side without betrayal, or some other unfortunate circumstance,
throughout most of the story. James is an interesting character because he is
actually a she. I'm not sure if this was done for the sake of historical
accuracy or if Ubisoft just wanted to be risqué, but it certainly adds an
interesting layer to her character.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">As interesting and unique as James/Mary--her real nam</span><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">e--is, I
don't feel that she actually gets enough attention paid to her. Why does she
cross dress--aside from some obvious reasons that I could come up with? What
about her past? Why is she a member of the assassins, and what is she doing for
them? I could keep going, but you get the point. They had a very intriguing
character with her, and I don't feel they fully made good on it. Perhaps they
will use some other medium to explore her more, which would be great for the
overall story, but it won't change the fact that she is somewhat underdeveloped
in this game. This syndrome affects another of the main side cast, Adéwalé. He
is your quartermaster throughout the entirety of the game. He is a slave that
escapes captivity along with Edward very early on in the game, and Edward and
he form a bond of respect--which would have been unusual between a white and
black man during that time. They give his character a very strong foundation
when he is first introduced, and he is then just left to flounder. His role in
the game is reduced to the person that bitches at you for sixty seconds or so
while you're sailing the ship at the start of certain missions. I know that he
ends up with the spotlight in the Freedom Cry expand-alone, but that still
doesn't change what is present in the main game. He is yet another character
that Ubisoft wasted. I honestly wonder why they go to all the trouble of making
such interesting characters that they could do so much with, to then proceed to
not do any of those things with them. It's just a bloody waste.</span></div>
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<b><span style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">Performance:<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<b><span style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"><br /></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">As with all games I'll be reviewing, I've saved the
performance discussion for last. Since this was a multiplatform game, I played
it on PC. My rig as it was when this was played will be detailed after the wrap
up. Assassin's Creed games have had a fairly storied past when it comes to PC
versions, but I can honestly say that this is a large step in the right
direction. The game has a rather robust options menu, supports resolutions at
least up to 1440p--what I played it at--and even supports PhysX. Now, all of
this comes at a bit of a price. Even at 1080p--what I played the first half of
the game at--I needed to have PhysX at low and 2x MSAA or no AA at all to
maintain 60fps--with everything else maxed, mind you. Once you look at my rig
you will realize that is a little bit ridiculous. The game is absolutely gorgeous
with strong texture work, fluent animations, and very nice lighting. It just
all comes at a price. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">I honestly can't say if the game needed more optimization, or
if it's just legitimately that demanding, but the performance demands
definitely need to be kept in mind. The game also has no triple buffering, so
turning on V sync can make your frame rate plummet to thirty when it drops just
a bit below sixty, which is obviously insufferable. The PhysX effects were
integrated in post launch, and are nothing more than smoke effects--guns,
cannons, and fires. These have a large FPS hit when in view, and I didn't find
it to be worth it at all. The game also has a very odd sixty three cap for the
frame rate, so no high refresh rate to be had here. As you can see, it is a bit
of a mixed bag. It is a gorgeous game with fairly robust graphics options, but
there are still some serious issues with their implementation and some of the
basic expected functionality of a PC game. I hope that Ubisoft can take the
foundation they have here and release a truly great PC experience with
Unity--though after how they handled Watch_Dogs I am very skeptical. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">As a quick aside for the other platforms, all of the console
versions are locked to thirty frames per second. The PS4 outputs the game at
1080p, the Xbox One at 900p, and the 360, PS3, and WiiU at 720p (I will not be
discussing any upscaling nonsense). Based on my research it seems that the WiiU
version falls below the thirty FPS cap more often than the other seventh gen
consoles. The PS4 version seems to be visually superior to the Xbox One
version, although the performance seems very similar. I actually played a few
hours of the game on PS4, and I was very impressed with the visual fidelity. It
actually wasn't <i>too</i> far off how the
game looked on my PC--while I was still playing at 1080p, at least. The idea
that we're still playing AAA games on new hardware at thirty FPS is a different
story all together, and one that I won't be diving into here. My research for
differences in parity between the versions was largely done with information
from Digital Foundry, who are extremely helpful for this sort of thing.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">Wrap Up:<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<b><span style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"><br /></span></b></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">I find myself stalled and conflicted when it comes to
wrapping up my thoughts on this game. On the one hand, I thoroughly enjoyed my
time with it. I liked many of the characters, it was gorgeous to look at, and
it is surely the best pirate game there has ever been. That said, though, I
also strongly disliked how they are handling the current day segments--they
seem so unnecessary to the core game at this point. I was unhappy with the lack
of development for certain characters, the story loses its way several times,
and the game still has way too much Assassin's Creed jank in it. Even with all
that said, though, I can't help but feel that the good simply outweighed the
bad. While I think it would have actually been a far better game if it was just
a pirate game and wasn't an Assassin's Creed game, it is still a very enjoyable
package as it is. If you are not someone who thoroughly analyzes and critiques the
games you play, then I'm sure that many of my complaints will not even be apparent
to you, and they will certainly not hinder your enjoyment of the game. This is
a game that has a chance of pleasing non-Assassin's Creed fans and of appeasing
those of us that were thoroughly disappointed with III. With that large of a
potential audience, I can't help but recommend the game to anyone that has even
a passing interest in it. Here is hoping that this year's Unity can right some
of the wrongs that the series is currently grappling with, and give the
franchise the advancement that it desperately needs.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="line-height: 115%;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">My Rig:</span></b></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="line-height: 115%;"><b><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></b></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">EVGA 780ti Classified</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">Intel i5 3570k OCd @ 4.5ghz</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="line-height: 18.3999996185303px;">8GB Ram</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="line-height: 18.3999996185303px;">512 GB SSD</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="line-height: 18.3999996185303px;">Windows 8.1</span></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14622695634262858747noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8430612062241125044.post-27980296734823036652014-10-19T23:44:00.003-07:002014-10-23T17:30:23.491-07:00Shiki Review (Anime Review)<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Do you ever
get done watching a show, sit back, and just think to yourself: "Ah, this
is why I enjoy this medium." Well, I do--on rare and wonderful
occasions--and Shiki just so happens to be one of the series that made me do
this. Shiki is an adaptation of a manga, which is in turn an adaptation of a
novel. It is a show about vampires moving into a small, isolated town in Japan
and all of the 'wonderful' effects of their presence. I am going to start this
review off talking about the overall qualities of the show--music, animation,
design, etc--and I will then move into spoiler heavy details about the plot and
characters. I don't want to ruin the plot for anyone that hasn't watched it, so
I encourage you to not read the plot discussion if you have not yet seen Shiki.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<b><span style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Animation / Visuals:</span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<b><span style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"><br /></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Shiki is a
rather new series--its original run was back in '10--so the animation quality
is, as you may expect, quite high. It was produced by studio Daume, whom I am
not at all familiar with, but they seem to do very high quality work. I watched
this series on Blu-ray--as I do for all series that have a release in that
format--and I was immediately impressed with the sharpness of the picture and
the vibrancy of the colors. If you are someone that enjoys crisp, vibrant,
'new' looking anime, then the visual fidelity will immediately delight you. I
can also say that the animation quality was very consistent. I have seen
several series where the quality can have large fluctuations from scene to
scene. That is really not the case with Shiki; it is consistent and of very
high quality throughout. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">A sharp and
vibrant picture is always a good thing, but the character designs need to be
worth seeing in all that beautiful glory. Thankfully, Shiki has a great visual
style for all of the characters. They all have a rather 'lanky' look to them,
and there are many completely quirky and unique characters to grow fond of.
Shiki also pulls no punches when it comes to odd anime hair. You will see many
a crazy hair style and colors ranging from purple, pink, green, and so on. I
really quite liked that many of the characters looked so radically different
from each other, as it helped give them personality, and it also made them
easier to remember.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<b><span style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Audio:</span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<b><span style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"><br /></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">On the audio
side of things, Shiki still comes out strong. The show has two different
openings and two different endings--changing half way through. I was not overly
fond of either ending, but it's very common for me to skip those, anyway. The openings,
on the other hand, were very striking. I became particularly enamored with the
first opening. The show doesn't actually start out with the opening--which I
quite like. Instead, you get a small clip to start the episode off, and it will
then freeze frame--often after something dramatic has happened or been
said--and the opening will start with the last scene still frozen in the
background. The first opening is not only catchy, but it just 'fits' the show
very well. I especially like the vocal performance in it. I am a person that listens
to metal and classical and usually critiques music based on technicality, so
for anime I have to really force myself to stop that and look more at how
catchy it is, and how well it fits the mood of the show. With these criteria in
mind, Shiki's first opening is great. The second opening is by no means bad,
but it was a marked downgrade from the first, so I could have done without it.
As far as the music goes, it was rather forgettable. I literally cannot
remember a single piece from any episode, and I only watched it less than a
week ago. That said, though, I do remember it fitting the mood of what was
going on, and it certainly didn't detract from any situations. With this in
mind, I would call it serviceable, yet forgettable. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">The other
main aspect of the audio is of course the voice acting. Now, I need to be up
front with my preferences: I prefer dubs. I speak English, and I would prefer
to listen to a show in a language that I understand. I am also not someone who
will talk about how much 'better' the Japanese voice acting is--even for a bad
dub--because I don't speak Japanese, so I am really in no position to make that
judgment. That said, dubs have improved so much over the past decade that they
are now a very viable option for anyone, and this one is no different.
Funimation did the dubbing, so expect to play the 'where have I heard them
before game'. While this can be somewhat distracting, the quality of the
performances definitely over-rides any weirdness caused by the remembered
vestiges of the actors' previous roles. I really only have complaints with two
characters. For one, Megumi is incredibly annoying. To be fair, though, her
voice is very much in line with her archetype, so I can't really expect her to
sound any differently. I also wasn't hugely fond of the performance that
Natsuno's VA gave. It was by no means bad, but some of the delivery just felt
slightly awkward or 'off'. This is very subjective, though, and much of his
performance was very good; I just wanted to mention it.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="font-size: 20.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">BEGIN
SPOILERS</span></b><b><span style="font-size: 28.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<b><span style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Plot:</span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<b><span style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"><br /></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Alright, it
is now time to dive into the plot and characters. This is where the spoilers
are going to start. I repeat: spoilers are now fair game, please turn back if
you've yet to complete this series. Well then, you've been properly warned, so
off we go! Shiki is a vampire anime. A strange family moves into a big
castle/mansion up on a hill in a very rural community. This is a community full
of farmers and everyone knows each other and is in the middle of their
business. Just after these new--and very eccentric people--move in, people
start dying. It starts very slowly, and it then progresses to a ridiculous
amount of deaths. Most scenes in Shiki start with a date, so you can see how
the situation is progressing over time. That is the general over-view of the
story.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">The first
half or so of the series has a very mysterious feel to it. You are trying to
figure out what is going on right along with the characters. The causes of
death for the rising body count are mostly similar--being largely based around
anemia, due to lack of blood--and the town doctor and his staff are convinced
that it is some kind of epidemic. This thinking persists until about 75%
through the show, when the towns folk finally open their eyes to what has been
really going on. During this first half of the show, they do a good job of
building suspense and not fully letting you in on what is going on. It is
therefore very exciting when you start fully seeing the Shiki--or vampires--and
start learning about what they really are and how they're doing what they're
doing.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Now, as I
said, the death count steadily increases as the situation progresses. This
results in the majority of the named characters that you get to know being
killed by Shiki by the end of the series. This is just something that you have
to deal with if you're going to watch Shiki; it is not a happy or fun series,
and it pulls no punches. This is immediately apparent, as in just the first two
episodes Megumi, who you initially think is going to be the main character,
dies. As things progress, you quickly learn that absolutely no one is safe.
This leads to a very high amount of tension as no character really has the
'plot armor' that we have come to expect main cast members to have.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">The
immediate worry, then, is that all of the interesting characters will go away
too soon, right? Well, that's not a problem. You see, when you are killed by a
Shiki, you have a chance of coming back to life as one of them. This means that
when they kill off a named character, they will just be able to bring them back
as Shiki and keep them in the story in this new capacity. This is a huge perk
to the kind of story that they are telling. It gives them the ability to kill
any character that they wish, but still have them in the story.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">After about
the halfway mark, Shiki makes a marked shift from trying to figure out the
mystery of what is going on to just learning more about the situation and
watching it progress. The death count increases, more characters die, and you
see that everything is falling apart in this little town. It is at this point
that the levity becomes very scarce, and the tone begins to darken. This is
when the morose and somber atmosphere starts setting in more and more because
the damage that is being done simply cannot be undone. The entire town starts
feeling like a lost cause. interestingly, this is equally true for before and
after the villagers start fighting back. Why is that you might ask? Well, I
think it's time to start talking about character development!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<b><span style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Characters:</span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<b><span style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"><br /></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">The character
development in Shiki is where it really shines. The general story is really
interesting, but let's be honest: it has been done before. In fact, the overall
story--and even some of the vampire 'rules', like not entering a building
unless invited--is almost completely aped from Salems Lot. This isn't such a
bad thing, necessarily, but it does mean that this series would not be as good
as it is without something else going for it. Shiki shows a descent into our baser
animal instinct and into insanity in many ways. For example, The doctor grows
progressively more and more unstable as the 'disease' spreads--and even worse
once he realizes what is going on and has no way to stop it or convince people.
We get to see the characters grow more and more desperate to survive and
protect those that they love.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">There are only
a few 'human' characters that get very deep development on their own. The two
that are the most important to the plot are definitely the doctor and his
friend, the town monk. Watching how they both change so much--and start down
very contradictory paths due to the situation with the Shiki--is incredibly
engaging. Although they both 'survive' through the ending, there is absolutely
no happy resolution for either of them, and this is pretty much standard for
Shiki. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Aside from
the monk and the doctor it is largely the Shiki that end up being the stars of the
show. When they rise up from the grave, they are still the same person. But
they are now that person with new abilities, a deathly aversion to sunlight,
and the physical need to drink human blood to survive. You get to watch them
struggle with the reality of their new existence. You also get to watch these
people--who were mostly good people before--become accustomed and desensitized
to killing their former friends, family and neighbors. Now, sure, there is
always a chance that anyone they kill may rise back up and join them, but that
is an enormous gamble. It's not as simple as them merely becoming complacent
murderers, though. Shiki really hammers it home that they are still people, and
they are simply trying to survive. This becomes incredibly relevant at the end
of the series when what's left of the town starts hunting down the enormous
amount of Shiki that now reside there. You begin to genuinely feel sorry for
them as they are brutally executed. What makes it worse, is that this is done
by their former family and friends.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Right about
the time you start feeling sorry for 'most' of the Shiki, is about the time
that you start wondering who are actually the monsters. Shiki is very
deliberate in showing just how far over the edge the remaining villagers have
gone. Most of them have no problem at all brutally killing the Shiki. They even
start killing each other when they get bit during the fighting as a
'precaution'--even though the doctor explains that this is not necessary. They
run around covered in blood like absolute lunatics. There are several very deliberate
scenes to show how complacent the humans have become with killing, too. One in
particular is of the women folk covered in blood and taking a break from
stacking and moving the mutilated Shiki corpses. They sit down, drink some tea,
and start chatting and laughing like nothing is happening at all. The message
here is really that regardless of 'what' you are, the right situation can turn
anyone into a complacent killer. Another way of looking at it is to say that when
the chips are down and the situation is dire, the id is ultimately the core of
who we are, not the super ego.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="font-size: 20.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">END
SPOILERS<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<b><span style="font-size: 20.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"><br /></span></b></div>
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<br /></div>
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<b><span style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Conclusion:</span></b></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">There are
many more characters and situations that deserve mention, but this review is
certainly long enough as it is, so I think it's time to wrap it up. Let me just
sum it up very simply for you: Shiki is absolutely fantastic. It is an engaging
and deep story that you will walk away from thinking about the deeper implications
of what you have just viewed. It is a show that can be analyzed on a character
by character basis and is perfect fodder for discussion. It is, however, also a
very sad and mature series. The series progresses by bad things happening to
one side or the other--Shiki or humans--and is full of death. There are also
several scenes that are intentionally set up to be incredibly sad. And they
don't feel cheap or forced, so the effect is fully realized--you will
experience many feels. You will not walk away from this in a happy mood. Some
of the best stories aren't afraid to leave the viewer feeling less than happy,
though, and I think the complete disregard for pandering to the stereotypical
'happy' tropes in narratives that we are all so familiar with gives these kinds
of stories an enormous amount of integrity and merit. Shiki has thoroughly
reminded me why it is that I enjoy anime in the first place and just how deep
of a story this medium can tell. I whole-heartedly recommend it.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14622695634262858747noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8430612062241125044.post-58388341620987522942013-03-07T22:40:00.001-08:002013-03-07T22:40:53.030-08:00Comfortable Guilt<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
Do you, my reader, ever feel any degree of guilt for living
a comfortable lifestyle? Anyone that knows anything about me knows that I am a
video game collector--especially steelbooks. I spend quite a fair bit of money
on maintaining my large collection. There are, after all, an almost alarmingly
huge amount of steelbooks being released for many games these days. It's
nothing for me to drop at least $30 per steelbook; that's not even including
the cost of the game, and heaven forbid if there is a collector's edition, as
well. This spending clearly goes well above and beyond a need for
entertainment. I find myself quite preoccupied with, but also quite pleased
with the collection I have managed to amass. This is all well and good, but it
also brings me to the point of this entry: guilt.<br />
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I was driving to school a couple of days ago, and it was
really quite rainy outside. There are four or five different homeless people
that I pass nearly every day on the way to school. They stand at the exits from
the freeway, and they hope for pity from the morning commuters stuck waiting at
red lights--who are probably too busy wallowing in pity for themselves to spare
any for the vagabonds. I frequently talk to a couple of them; they're actually
quite nice, just messed up. I saw them differently this day, though, then I had
previously. I was sitting in my nice, warm car. I had my heated seats on, my
music was going, I was all bundled up in my warm cloths, and they were standing
out there in the rain, begging for money to eat. This is, of course, the
standard situation when comparing homeless people to the drivers around them,
but I really looked at it differently that morning.<br />
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I had spent a good portion of the drive bidding on some ebay
items. I was extremely pleased to add them to my collection, but they served
absolutely no functional purpose at all. I was spending money simply so I could
have something else on my shelf and another line in my spreadsheets--yes, I'm
one of those people. Meanwhile, in the world right outside my car window, there
was this poor old woman standing there in the rain. She smiles and waves to
everyone that goes by, and she hopes she'll get enough money to properly eat
and warm up at some point that day. I couldn't help but feel bad once I lined
this comparison up.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I am not a bleeding heart, so do not take me for one. She is
not entitled to my money, and there is nothing wrong with hard work and
success. This realization did not make me want to go sell my collection and
sponsor a homeless person. The situation really just made me feel embarrassed
at my obsession with material things. I could be in her shoes, after all. I was
sitting there, in my warm car, that morning pleased with all the money I had
just wasted on 'cool things'. She was standing outside, freezing her old bones
off, hoping to eat and warm up. It just made me think.<br />
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I have worked with numerous charities over the years, and I
have even coached Special Olympics twice; I would say I am a fairly charitable
person. I don't think this was a wakeup call to my more charitable side; it's
already awake and doing just fine, thank you. It was merely eye opening. In
fact, I don't even have a point in mind with this. With my previous blogs, I
have set out to illustrate a point. This one is more just contained rambling,
however. <br />
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Do any of you ever feel any degree of guilt for you
comfortable lifestyle? If so, what did you with it? </div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14622695634262858747noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8430612062241125044.post-24531676679744685362013-02-20T22:35:00.001-08:002013-03-07T22:41:26.343-08:00The paradox of modern game design (Spotlight: Crysis 3)<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
I am currently playing through Crysis 3 on the Xbox 360.
This is a brand new game that was just released yesterday (2/19). This game was
developed by Crytek and published by EA. This is not a small, niche game. This
is a AAA shooter from a very talented developer and a [I]giant[/I] publisher.
As we all know, AAA games have a very large budget--I was unable to find the
exact number, but it seems Crytek usually have a budget of between 10-30
million--and usually have a large number of people working on them. They're a
'big deal', and they're made as such. Herein lies the paradox, though. Even
with all this money and manpower thrown at them, AAA games are still often
extremely vapid, or they are riddled with annoying bugs and problems. This blog
will be speaking to the latter.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
This game is buggy, dudes; that's all there is to it. Right
from the very first level there are very annoying sound issues. The sound cuts
out frequently. This seems to be worse in cut scenes, but it is certainly
present during gameplay, as well. Nothing can take you out of an experience
more than having the experience break down around you. I am reminded every 30
seconds or so that I am playing a buggy video game. The frame rate on this
level is also inconsistent. The rain in the outside segments is clearly too
much for the game to handle on consoles. It would be much better if they
reduced the visual fidelity a little bit to make it run smoother. Consoles
aren't PCs after all, and there is no way for a person to change the graphics
settings. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
It is also my understanding from those that I have talked
to--I haven't played it enough to form an opinion on this for myself yet--that
the multiplayer is also full of issues. The previous Crysis game, Crysis 2, had
some of the most severe latency problems that I have ever seen in a console
FPS. It sounds like this game continues that legacy. As I said, though, I
cannot fully endorse this view yet; I will need to play it more to make a
proper judgment on the multiplayer.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
My mind is boggled that these issues made it past testers. I
can understand that the frame rate drops were excused. That is a fairly common
problem--especially with those types of effects. And it's honestly not too
egregious to just overlook. The only reason I found that to be so annoying, is
that the sound was already grating on my nerves, and my patience was completely
spent.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I do not know the actual decisions, timelines, or contracts
that led to this game being released in such a state, so take what I am about
to say with a grain of salt; it is merely an educated assumption. I believe
that EA rushed this game. I don't see how anybody that has poured all their
time and energy in to making this game could want to release it in such a
state. It looks bad for the developer and the publisher. The majority of people
just don't care about these things, though. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
The bulk of their audience will go buy the game at full new
price from Gamestop or Walmart. They will barely notice the issues, and trade
it in when they're done. Many video game consumers have barely any knowledge of
what goes on behind the scenes. Many, in fact, barely even know what company
makes what--much less what specific team makes it, not just the publisher.
These companies get away with things like this because we, the consumers, don't
hold them to a higher standard. They can still be rewarded for their laziness. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
It's really a shame that the industry has turned into the
'big business' game that it has. I am hopeful about the changes that have happened
over the past year, though. I'm not naive enough to say that Kickstarter can
change everything, but I think it at least has a chance to make a ripple.
Kickstarter allows for a completely different interaction between creator and
consumer. It also presents an opportunity for the vision and quality of the
game to come before the financial tight ropes that these big publishers tend to
project onto the companies they publish for. I'm excited that there is a
growing alternative to the EAs and Activisions of the gaming world. Hopefully
someday it can grow enough for the bigger companies to take notice and make
some changes. Oh wait, Call of Duty and Madden still come out every year. Never
mind, the big companies won't be changing. :3</div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14622695634262858747noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8430612062241125044.post-63298119595650920192013-02-20T22:30:00.003-08:002013-02-20T22:30:52.527-08:00Games influence on our perception of reality<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
Do games have an influence on how we perceive reality? Can
they change the way we observe and react to a situation? This is something that
I have thought about from time to time for quite a while. It was just last
week, though, when I finally noticed a prime example that has been right in
front of me for quite some time.<br />
<br />
I was taking my nice, and somewhat leisurely, walk from the far parking lot of
my university up the hill towards the science building. I was walking up in
that oft-abhorred ten minute break between classes. As I was making my way
towards my destination, I was surrounded by professors hustling and bustling
off towards their classes--some were moving from one to another, others had
just arrived and were merely starting their day. It was at this point when I
noticed that I had seen everything that was going on around me before. This was
not a sudden bout with severe deja vu, but rather a realization. I watched
these people run this same routine every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday. I,
likewise, watch another group of professors go through their routines every
Tuesday and Thursday.<br />
<br />
I thought it was quite funny how these people do the same thing week after
week. They wear the same jacket; they wear the same hat--certain ones always
carry a briefcase, too. They also all have their own quirky ways of walking and
interacting with those that pass by. The Physical Science professor is always
smiling and shouting out greetings to those that he passes as he skips his way
towards his class. The Religion History professor has his nervous waddle down
the hill as he tries to find the awkward balance of eye contact to ground
staring that he is comfortable with. Their personalities really shine through
in something as simple as walking to their class.<br />
<br />
I'm sure that by this point you're all wondering: "What the hell does any
of this have to do with video games?" Well, I'm to that point now, and
congratulations for sticking it out this long. This whole scene--once I became
aware that it was happening--immediately reminded me of countless hours spent
playing The Legend of Zelda: Majora's Mask. For those that don't know--and
shame on you, by the way--this Zelda game runs on a constant clock throughout
its repeating three day period. The NPCs in the main town actually have daily
routines that they will carry out whether you are there to see it or not. They
will leave the house at the same time, head to the same destination, and walk
in the same goofy--yet personality revealing--way every day.<br />
<br />
The reason this event stuck out to me so much had nothing to do with it being
special--in fact, it was anything but; it was really just a slice of life. It
was made special to me, though, by my association with a video game that I have
spent countless hours on and hold in very high regard. It also really
cemented--in my mind, at least--that video games can and do change our
perception of reality. When you spend a lot of time thoughtfully interacting
with something, it only makes sense that it can have a long lasting effect on who
you are. It may not have an enormous effect, but it does sink in somewhere.
This can certainly be true for other forms of media as well, but due to the
large time investment and interactive nature of video games, I think their
effect is more potent. I look forward to the next time I am meandering through
a boring and uneventful day, only to find myself perceiving my reality in a way
that wouldn't be possible without video games.</div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14622695634262858747noreply@blogger.com0