Top 5 Games of 2017

Here we go, it's a little late, but it's time to follow up my best anime of 2017, with my best games of 2017. Remember, this is based on my own personal opinion, and how much I was entertained by the games in question; so you're list could be completely different, and that's fine.

So let's get to it.

Top 5 Anime of 2017

It's finally the end of the year, which means it time for the obligatory lists of my favourite things of 2017. I'll be starting with anime, and letting you know what my favourite shows of the year were.

Remember, this is all just my opinion, so feel free to disagree; just don't eviscerate me over it.

Soul Calibur VI and Shadows Die Twice - Franchises Revived?

You know, the best part of the Videogame Awards isn't the actual awards part (although I like that Samus Returns won something), it's the various announcements that take place there. This year saw two announcements that are of particular interest to me; Soul Calibur VI from Bandai-Namco, and Shadows Die Twice by From Software. Which is why I'm about some time writing about them.

So, without further ado, let's get to it.

Why Net Neutrality Might be Important, Even if You're Not American

When I started this blog I wanted to avoid getting political as much as possible, but politics are a fact of life it seems.  So, here we go...

Warning, opinions within.

The Villainess - One Woman's Messed-Up Life

So, here's a film that came out earlier this year, and it actually seems like it might be worth a look.

The Villianess is a Korean action film directed by Jung Byung-gil, and staring Kim Ok-bin; two names that I guess don't mean much of anything to anyone outside of South Korea. However, The Villainess has drawn some comparisons to other action films such as The Raid, which had some of the most impactful action scenes in recent years. So it might actually have something going for it.

Shall we take a look, and see if it lives up to expectations?

There may by minor spoilers beyond this point.

Valkyria Chronicles - An Old War, a Little Bit Different

Copyright © SEGA

Sega announced a new Valkyria Chronicles game recently, so to celebrate I thought I'd do a review of the original game. The version I'm playing is the remastered re-release version that game out for the Playstation 4, and PC, with all the DLC included. Although, I don't expect there is any real difference to the original.

Since Valkyria Chronicles 4 is the first home console game since the original (with the others having been released on PSP), this will hopefully give me a little insight on what to expect from the upcoming game. Not to mention re-introducing me to a series that I haven't played for a good while. Does this game still hold up after almost ten years?

So without further ado, let's get started.

As always, this is just a small warning of possible spoilers before you proceed.

Justice League (2017) - The DCEU Needs a Hero

Here it is, Warner Brothers big DC Comics team-up, featuring some of the biggest name heroes in comic books; Justice League, which is a name that any fan of superhero comics should recognise.

The DC Cinematic Universe started poorly with the controversial Man of Steel and Dawn of Justice, but audiences received some in the shape of the recent Wonder Woman film. So the question is, can Justice League turn this into an upward trend, or is DC's leading lady still the only bright spot in this attempt at a shared universe?

As always, there may be some spoilers within. Although, I'll try to save them until the end this time.

Ghost in the Shell: Stand Alone Complex - Cyberpunk Security

This week I thought I'd do another retro review, and take a look at something that is often considered one of the hallmarks of anime; at least in the western sphere. So, today we'll be taking a look at Ghost in the Shell: Stand Alone Complex, a series almost anyone who is into anime has probably heard of.

As usual, there may be some small spoilers beyond this point.

Ghost of Tsushima - A Little Light Speculation

During Paris Games Week, Sony announced a new IP from developers Sucker Punch, the game studio behind the inFamous, and Sly Cooper games. The game in question is called Ghosts of Tsushima, and I thought I would attempt a little light analysis of it.

Parasite Eve II - Beneath the Skin

For our final entry into this Halloween horror show is another throwback to the yesteryear of video games. Not quite as famous as the Resident Evil or Silent Hill games, and not solely a horror game. However, it definitely has themes and trappings that fit the genre, and enough gore to satiate the thirst of most horror fans; albeit, in the low resolution graphics of the original Playstation.

I am speaking about Parasite Eve.

More specifically, I am speaking about the second one, Parasite Eve 2.

So come, and let us wake this ancient creature from its slumber.

Warning! Possible spoilers for both the Parasite Eve 1 and Parasite Eve 2.

The Visit (2015) - A Spooky House in the Country

The Visit is found-footage horror film by one M. Night Shyamalan, yet another in the long line stretching back to The Blair Witch Project. Once upon a time, those two things, when mentioned in the same sentence, would have sent a shiver down my spine.

You may recall that I previously did a review of The Last Airbender, the film that is widely considered the nadir of Shyamalan's filmography. However, in certain sections The Visit is considered a return to form for the once acclaimed director, and a pretty good film in it's own right. So let's take a look at it shall we?

Reader beware: There may be some minor spoilers within...

South Park: The Fractured but Whole - Insert Innuendo Here

The boys are back, and ready to jump on the hottest bandwagon of the last ten years; superheroes! Of course, with this being South Park, it's sure to be a very tongue-in-cheek look at the genre, that revels in the ridiculous.

So, can Ubisoft follow up the success of The Stick of Truth with another good licensed adaptation? Let's find out!

As usual, there might be minor spoilers beyond here.

Murder Princess - God Save the ... Princess

Copyright © Funimation

Time for another horror-themed review, in order to celebrate the month of everything macabre!

This month we're going to look at an anime, or more specifically an OVA, that was released ten years ago. The animation in question? A little show called Murder Princess. No, seriously, it it little; it's only six episodes long. So, if that sounds like it might be your kind of thing, then please, read on.

As always, tread carefully, for there may be spoilers beyond this point!

Grave Encounters (2011)

As we move into the second week of October, the spookiest month of the year, we also move on to the second entry in out horror-themed reviews; Grave Encounters. Will this film turn out to be a macabre masterpiece, or will it just be horrifyingly horrendous in all of the wrong ways. Well, there is only one way to find out!

Beware! For there may be (minor) spoilers beyond this point!

Project Zero - A Horror Classic or Terrifyingly Old?

It's October, the month of Halloween! Which means it's time for the obligatory look at things on the spookier end of the spectrum! As such I'll be spending this month looking at films, games, anime, and television shows with more of a horror theme.

I thought I'd start with an old game back on the Playstation 2; it was known as Fatal Frame in the United States, and Project Zero in the rest of the world. I'll be referring to it as the latter for the remainder of this post.

Beware! There may be some minor spoilers up ahead.

Wonder Woman vs Sarah Connor: A Character Analysis

Inspired by James Cameron's recent arguments against Wonder Woman, and in favour of his own creation, Sarah Connor; I have decided to do a little analysis of my own. Here I will be performing something of a comparison between the two, and trying to present my arguments about their merits in their roles as both women, and action heroes.

This post will be a bit more formal, than my usual posts, as I will be attempting to put forward an actual argument, rather than just giving my impression of something. For each of these characters I will be examining their differing goals and motivations, how sympathetically the narrative treats these goals, and the general attitudes of the characters themselves.

Since this is an analysis rather than a review, there will probably be spoilers for both films ahead.

Princess Principal

The name's Ange … just Ange.

So this here is an interesting series that just finished airing in the summer anime season of 2017, Princess Principal. It's a steampunk, espionage thriller set in an alternate version of Victorian London. The Kingdom is anything but united however, as a recent civil war has split the country into East and West. What follows is a story of deception and betrayal, as spies from both sides attempt to root-out each other's secrets.

There may be some very slight spoilers within.

Metroid: Samus Returns

With the last two entries in the Metroid franchise being the controversial Other M, and the lukewarmly received (speaking generously) Federation Force, it seems fair to say that the franchise has been in a bad place for the last few years. So, can the newest entry in the series repair the damage, or is the franchise destined to remain its depression for a little while longer?

Metroid: Samus Returns is a remake of the simlarly named Metroid II: Return of Samus, which was released on the original Gameboy back in the early nineties, and for a time was seen as the worst in the series. Although, that wasn't such a high (or low) bar back then.

However, this reimagined version has had some touch-ups, to set it apart from the original. It does attempt to take advantage of the advances in the technology, to try to create a much superior version. Much as Metroid: Zero Mission did the same for the original Metroid back in 2005.

Warning:  Possibly some very slight spoilers beyond this point.

The Last Airbender (2010)

This week we take a look at another film adaptation of an originally animated property, one that has admittedly been covered before by more experienced critics, and one that is often cited as one of the worst adaptations of all time; The Last Airbender. The film that may well be eternally considered the nadir of M. Night Shyamalan's career, at least, I'd hope so.

Possible spoilers beyond here.

Death Note (2017)

Death Note, a Japanese manga written by Tsugumi Ohba, and illustrated by Takeshi Obata. Another western, live-action adaptation of a previously animated Japanese property, and those do not have a good reputation. So, can Netflix's one buck the trend?

However, first thing's first, a little apology. I'm more than a little late this week, but there is a reason for that this time. I did have a review all written-up last week, but I decided to scrap, as I felt I was being more than a little unfair. I felt I was holding to strictly to how it fairs as an adaptation, and not on its own merits. So, I decided to rewrite the review, and judge the film based on The other reason is because I legitimately struggled to get through this one.

(Edit:  On further review, I may have been harder than necessary on a second pass too.)

As usual, there may possibly be spoilers beyond this point.

Uncharted: The Lost Legacy

A new Uncharted game, only without its possibly iconic main character, Nathan Drake. Does Uncharted: The Lost Legacy live up to the reputation of its predecessors, and can Chloe Frazer adequately fill Drake's shoes? In my opinion, the answer to both of these questions is mostly, yes.

Possible spoilers beyond this point.

Gamescom 2017

So Gamescom came and went over the last week, and I thought I would talk about that a little bit. Now obviously larger sites than this have covered the even, and I can't compete with them. So I thought I would just mention what were some of the highlights for me.

So, let's take a look.

Little Witch Academia (2017)

Now that the full series is (finally) up on Netflix, let's take a little look at this tale of whimsy and magic, shall we?

Normally when I hear something described as “fun for all the family” I just kind of roll my eyes, because what this usually means is that it's a film aimed at kids, with very little to grabbed the attention of older audiences. Really, only Disney consistently puts out content that amuses both the young and the old.

However, I think that Little Witch Academia definitely hits that sweet spot. I possesses that charm and magic usually exclusive to Disney, and will manage to draw your attention, almost regardless of how old you are.

Warning:  There may be spoilers beyond this point!

Why Did Metroid Prime: Federation Force Fail?

So, opinion time!

Metroid Prime: Federation Force is a game that released almost a year ago at time of writing, to an almost overwhelming negative fan response; even though it mostly received ratings of average, from professional reviewers. Now that tempers have been cooled a little by the announcement of two more Metroid games for the Nintendo Switch and 3DS, I just wanted to offer some of my opinions on why this game was so divisive.

Now like I said, this is an opinion piece, not a factual analysis. This is just my opinion, given as a fan of the Metroid franchise.

Fate/Extella: The Umbral Star

Come with me back in time, as I review a game from January of this year. Hey, I wasn't doing this blog back then.

Okay, first things first, this is a game in the mould of Koei-Tecmo's Dynasty Warriors, so if you know those games you will have an idea of what the gameplay is like. It's also based on the “Nasuverse”, a franchise which spans across multiple media including anime, manga, and videogames. Specifically, The Umbral Start is a part of the Fate/Stay Night series, and functions as a direct sequel to Fate/Extra. That said, you do not need to have seen previous entries in the series to follow the story, or the bare basics of it at least.

Murcielago Volume 1

So, do you ever get the feeling that you like something that you usually wouldn't? Because that's the type of feeling I got when I first read Murcielago.

This review is for volume 1, which contains chapters 0 to 5, plus a bonus chapter.

Be warned, this manga has the “explicit content” label for a reason.

Justice League SDCC 2017 Trailer

So the latest Justice League trailer was dropped at San Diego Comicon over the weekend, and I have to admit that I'm pretty excited by it. So here's hoping the film is a good as the trailer made it look.

Now, I'm one of those people who wasn't particularly enamoured by Man of Steel or Dawn of Justice, but this looks like a step in the right direction. They seem to have managed to insert more humour, without copying Marvel Studio's brand of sarcasm and quips, whilst simultaneously keeping their high-intensity action scenes. In short, they've managed to evolve their universe to be a little more light-hearted and heroic, whilst still retaining their own sense of identity separate from Marvel. However, we still have yet to see whether the address the concerns with editing and storytelling that many people had with Dawn of Justice and Suicide Squad; but here's hoping.

Dunkirk

Dunkirk, possibly one of the greatest disasters in British military history, where Britain very nearly lost the war. Creating a film based on such traumatic historical events must be an incredibly daunting task, but Christopher Nolan handles it well.

Beware, there are possibly some spoilers ahead.

Final Fantasy XII - The Zodiac Age

Oh, a shiny, modern remaster of what may be my favourite game in the Final Fantasy series, I'm sure this will be a completely unbiased and objective review!  I may be a little late, but hey, better late than never.

Okay, in all seriousness, I will try to restrain myself as much as possible, and give a decent review of my impressions of the game. Although I must warn you, I wasn't lying when I said it may be my favourite in the series.

A quick warning, there may be some light spoilers, nothing serious though.

A Female Doctor Could be Fine Too

Okay, so I guess that it's opinion time. Please remember that this is just a personal opinion, and I'm not trying to invalidate yours.

So, the BBC recently announced who will be playing the next Doctor, and it's a woman, Jodie Whittaker to be precise; and a lot of people have had some very strong opinions about this. My immediate reaction to this was intrigue, it is after all, taking an old character in a new direction. Albeit, a very controversial direction.

Azumi (2003)

Azumi

For my first review I would like to talk about the film that got me interested in not only Asian live-action cinema, but also non-english speaking cinema as a whole, the 2003 Japanese movie Azumi.

Azumi is based on a manga from the 1990's, and is a Jidai Geki, or Chanbara film, what might be called a samurai drama in western circles. I have never actually read the manga, but that is fine, as I want to talk about whether the film can stand on its own, without having to lean on the source material.

Whilst the story may not be too complex, it does throw some twists at the audience; it gives us conspiracies, betrayals, and raises the question of who can trust who. It also alludes to the question of the price paid for peace, and the costs we incur during war. However, the story is straight-forward and easy to follow.

Greetings!

Hello ladies and Gentlemen, and welcome to a new blog about ... anything that catches my fancy really.  For the most part I'll be focusing on topics around the entertainment industry, films, games, animé, that kind of thing; because I am a font of originality.  As you can probably guess from that, I'll be trying to cast a very broad net, and delving into a variety of media and genres; so hopefully they'll be something for everyone.

Although saying that, a lot of what I look at may be new to you (because not only am I unoriginal, I'm also a hipster), so hopefully I'll surprise you on rare occasions.

So if that sounds okay to you, then come and join me.