Reverse Vampire|Shut Up Darling

One step away from being a misanthrope.

[mscruzworld]

[chizolliano]

僕の血は、鉄の味がする……［My blood tastes like iron.］

僕、先に行くよ、ペコ。［I’m going on ahead, Peco.］

[fuuuuton]

Loving the new op. This show just gets better and better.

[seventhdoctor]

Nearly seven years after I first picked up Under the Knife, Trauma Center still occupies a very dear section of my heart. I honestly think this series is a great one, so I made one of those funny Powerpoint things in hopes it’ll get other people to pick up the game too.

If you’re interested in the games (which I very much hope you are!) I see copies of the older games I recommended as starters pretty often in game stores’ used section (Under the Knife usually runs for <$10, Second Opinion around $15). If you can’t find a copy to buy/can’t afford it, here’s a list of Let’s Plays of most of the games:

Trauma Center: Under the Knife (HIGHLY recommended, informative even if you’ve played the game before!)

Trauma Center: Second Opinion

Trauma Center: New Blood

Trauma Team

It’s the gameplay that really makes this series, though, so I definitely suggest getting the games if you can!

Also I’m linking the Trauma Team timeline I made again because the game’s format makes it a little confusing and because INFORMATION.

[truereversevampire]

Yeah! It's good to see a dedicated fan of this series putting everything together! :D:D:D:D:D I'm currently playing Trauma Team on the Wii. Have to buy the game online since I can't find any copy of the game at game stores. 

[truereversevampire]

First Impressions: Knights of Sidonia (MILD SPOILERS AHEAD)

Better get used to the CGI. It's not as bad as you think.

Knights of Sidonia...let's say there's still a long way to go, in terms of the human characters before it reaches Transformers Prime level (heh, KoS is produced by the same studio that did Transformers Prime as well) and I'm still getting used to the animation style. But in all seriousness, for a rare case like this it works. With cloning, third gender and all short of sci-fi goodness possible in this setting the CGI works to make things look creepy and make it look as if someone (or something) is hiding a dark secret about things happening in Sidonia. For example, this shot here:

It looks fine in a still like this, but looks a lot more unnatural once you've seen this scene animated. I mean, urgg, the captain of the ship don't look experienced to have actually hug a person. I would have call it stiff animation at first glance, but judging by the overall color palette, atmosphere and an earlier scene regarding the ship being ruled by the undead, this could be all in all intentional from the get go. 

The story is set in the far future and the last of humanity are living in Sidonia, a massive spaceship with an asteroid stuck for some reason and are under the constant threat from the Gauna (sensing some SnK vibes from here). I can't remember all the names at this moment (too many characters introduced for the first episode) but I'm a person who's more into soft sci-fi (less intimidating as well for people like me). But it does capture the mood right, as if this show could turn into a horror show at any time.

Anyways, like I said before this isn't my type of show, but it still interest me to keep watching. That said, it's most likely I won't be blogging this show regularly but you can be sure I'll be posting a post-airing review of Knights of Sidonia once I'm done with it.

First Impression Ratings: 3/5 Blogging Possibility: Unlikely. But will still keep watching if I have free time. 

[truereversevampire]

First Impressions: Ping Pong

Took a damn long time just to get this cap. The OP's moving too fast.

(」゜ロ゜)」(」゜ロ゜)」(」゜ロ゜)」(」゜ロ゜)」(」゜ロ゜)」(」゜ロ゜)」

(Basically my reactions for the OP. I...have no words. But this link might help explain my feelings. It's not a bad OP, but just...wow.)

Anyways, back to the actual review. One of my most anticipated shows this season (and one of the only sports that I knew and grew up throughout my childhood), Ping Pong really delivers, but only in its second half with the appearance of the Chinese transfer student. Thankfully this show actually took the effort to employ an actual Chinese person to voice this guy, or else I would have dropped the show at that very second.

'kay, this show's about a superhero...wait wait wait. Am I watching the wrong show? I mean, the title's so obvious, unless that superhero's name is Ping Pong, lol!

It's a very different and unexpected show that I've come to pick up. Usually I tend to pick up shows with a decent story and great character design. I wasn't actually interested with the show until I took some time to watch all the PVs. Color me intrigued, but Masaaki Yuasa, you pulled me in with your surreal animation and art. 

Jokes aside, our two main characters, Peco and Smile (who hardly smiles at all) are the best players in table tennis in their school. Too bad neither of them had the right attitude towards the sport; Peco being an arrogant prick but was rightfully put into his place by Wenge, the aforementioned Chinese guy and Smile, a stoic boy with a few words and has the tendency to make people mad to those who don't know him personally. And to be honest, none of the characters we've seen in this episode are instantly likable (either being a jerk, a prick or antisocial) but despite that, I'm awaiting to see how these characters grow as we go along with the ride. 

Love the ED, by the way. Not exactly linking the show itself, but it does sets the mood of the show so far. So many bird shots, must be related to the superhero thing Peco was talking about at the start of the episode. (The bird wings, birds flying in the sky in many scenes, especially the scene where Wenge and his manager were listening to Peco and Smile playing a match.)

Three of our main characters, ladies and gentlemen. 

All right SHAFT you have your fair share of your head tilts in all your shows. It seems Peco wants in too with that trend. 

Those upperclassmen don't look like a bunch of 16 year olds to me. Unless they retained in high school throughout more than half of their lives. LOL nice hair Oota. 

The Chinese is excellent in this show. Too bad they butchered the Engrish...again. 

First Impression Ratings: 4.5/5 Blogging Possibility: Definitely. Double Confirm.

[truereversevampire]

First Impressions: Mahouka Koukou no Rettousei (The Irregular at Magic High School)

The most contriversial show of the Spring 2014 anime lineup. Oh god, I can hear the bloodshed from where I'm standing. D:

All right. This is it. The show you have been waiting for. And it has caused some bloodshed at a certain anime database that has driven people nuts in regards to racism, shoddy storytelling and incest. 

Truth is I've been procrastinating to watch the show without anyone trying to make me cut my head off. But now that I watched the first episode, let me get this off my head.

When did incest became mainstream? And since when did incest become like the next big thing in anime?

Seriously the incest (and to a lesser extent, moe) has been the main factor causing a fraction of anime fans (me included) to drop the show instantly. Ruined. Shit show. And probably because of SAO it's okay to have Gary Stu main characters, but vilify even the slightest heroine who show signs of being a Mary Sue. Double standards rite? No wonder I tend to drop Light Novel adaptations like slapping ten flies using an electric flyswatter at once. 

What else? Right, the discrimination between the Blooms and Weeds. It's a wish fulfillment thing, and I do not believe that all Weeds are 'victims', there has got to be some bad apples in every group. If there are Weeds that believes that the separation between Blooms and Weeds makes no sense and that both groups should be treated more equally, there has got to be Blooms who feel the same way as well. Why are there no teachers (aside from that big-breasted teacher who only appeared for a second there) taking charge of the situation and think that separating the Blooms and the Weeds is a good idea? Look, Mahouka, we've seen enough shows where the adults are either stupid, inept, evil or useless in shows where our main characters are in high school (which is a LOT of shows). These students are teenagers (I think), please do something!! I would want to see more shows where the adults play a big part in mentoring and guiding the teenage main characters, even if they (both adults and teens) make mistakes because we do make silly mistakes from time to time and then learn from them. 

(Seriously I thought Miyuki was voiced by HanaKana. Turns out it's not, and I think Miyuki's seiyuu is trying too hard to sound mature.)

Aww Miyuki... *roll eyes* Ծ_Ծ

Negatives aside, the animation and the OST are pretty decent for a Madhouse production. The story and terminologies presented are somewhat easy to follow (for now) and not as confusing as how Captain Earth did. Okay, I give them kudos for that in the first episode. My gut is telling me that it gets more complicated in the next episode or so.

Urggg...Ծ_ԾԾ_ԾԾ_Ծ (rage intensify) (The character I hate more is that pervert monk that somehow only appears to show how speshul and protective our main character is. Come to think of it that's not a bad one.)

N-not you too? Ծ_ԾԾ_ԾԾ_ԾԾ_ԾԾ_ԾԾ_Ծ

You know, it's hilarious (or unlucky) for Nakamura to be in two shows that has incest as one of the more standout themes. What did you do to deserve this? TT_TT

Anyways, before my blood boils again let me give my final rating. I'll watch the next episode, but most likely won't be blogging this series until its end. 

First Impression Ratings: 2.75/5

[truereversevampire]

First Impressions: Isshuukan Friends (One Week Friends)

Okay, so this show happens not to be on my list, but I've heard good things about Isshuukan Friends, so here we go, 'kay?

Boy finds girl fascinating, boy become friends with the girl who distances herself with others. Both became good friends, but girl has a secret. She suffers from amnesia where she forgets the friends she's made every week for her entire life and asks boy to have the relationship return the way it is before. Boy gets upset for a while before making another attempted, very determined this time to help her and possibly find love with each other.

All right, it's a simple premise enough, and if you feel like getting away from all the action and grimdark content that a lot of shows are pulling this season, this show might just be for you.

It's a good show that distracts you from the other action-packed shows this season, and the cap below raises a good issue in regards to friendship and how are you to work out (with your friends) in creating a long-lasting friendship. As our wise Shogo says, friendship is not something that is instantaneous. It takes constant work and understanding into creating a meaningful friendship that allows you and others to better perceive one another. It may not work out the way you believe it would be, but even if it doesn't work out it doesn't mean it's the end of the world. Who knows, you might learn something out of it and move on with life. In the end you may be alone, but the friendship made was worthwhile.

Hase, listen to his advice. And I like the message being thrown at us in regards to friendship, both in the show and in real life.

Welp. Sorry for ranting away with friendship speeches. Sounds like I'm getting ahead of myself. Well, moving on. 

For once our main leads Fujimiya and Hase are at least behaving like teenagers (with some common sense) instead of the love-struck or lusty teens we happen to see lately. Even the best friend character Shogo has a part to play in giving Hase sensible questions and statements on how he's going to deal with his situation now that Hase knows the truth of his newfound friend he's known for a week. 

The sad reality being friends with an amnesiac. How is Hase going to work this out for Fujimiya and him?

So it seems Hase's going to make his second attempt. Based on the opening Fujimiya is probably going to keep a diary in remembering the times she spent with the friends she's made and refer to them whenever she feels lost. 

So, is this show worth watching? Hell yeah! Can't wait for next week for the next episode of Isshuukan Friends.

First Impression Ratings: 4/5

[truereversevampire]

First Impressions: Soredemo Sekai wa Utsukushii (The World Is Still Beautiful)

Engrish title does not make sense. But the logo is definitely beautiful.

All right, I finally got to watch the first episode of Soredemo (calling this from now on. Tell me if there's a better portmanteau any time) and I got to say this is a good shoujo show I've watch in a very, very long time. Aside from the guilty pleasures which are the otome adaptations (two of them, even!) this is is from a manga.

The events in the first chapter is an anime original (or so I've heard) so Studio Pierrot has done a great job establishing the backstory of Princess Nike (or so I've heard since the events of the first chapter actually starts in the next episode) and the situation she's forced into. The show actually has a budget this time, but throughout the first episode the music and the voices doesn't seem to be balanced. It sounds as if the voices are being overpowered by the music, sometimes the voices having some sort of strange effect which I'm finding this hard to put it in words. How do I put this...it sounds as if the voices were recording their lines with a metal bowl placed nearby?

Before I forgot, who can forget this gem of a line? /sarcasm

This show would have been almost perfect if not for this line. I mean WTF? >:(

I'm going to keep watching, so stay tuned for another impressions next week! 

First Impression Ratings: 3.5/5

[truereversevampire]

First Impressions: Captain Earth

It better be. 

All right, the show that I've been waiting for the most this spring! Yup, as you can see I'm a big fan for Star Driver, the previous show this group of producers have worked on. Usually I find mecha a stale genre nowadays (Gundam AGE and Valvrave come to mind) and I'm no hardcore mecha fan. But this? Bring. It. ON.

As lampshaded in the above screencap you have to watch the episode twice (perhaps more if anything doesn't make any sense for you) in order to grasp what the heck was going on in the first half of the episode. Characters throwing in unfamiliar terms to the viewers, and yep this is my only complain for the show. 

What about the rest? As usual, BONES did a great job in everything, the music, the visuals, the crisp animation (and non-CGI mecha. Non-CGI mecha is a rare species in this day and age) and hold on a minute as I go hide in a corner and catch my breathe. O.O

With the first episode entering with a bang, let's hope that Captain Earth doesn't crush our expectations for the next 24/25 episodes by having the characters do stupid things or go out of character (coughcoughcoughValvravecoughcough) and continue to give us quality writing and animation. 

Bonus caps!

TASTE THE RAINBOW MUTHAFUCKERS! Err, LGBT pride for Captain Earth?

Ahhh...Romance in a mecha anime is all fun and games until someone dies. Which I lost count the number of times it has happened. We hope this won't happen in here where the main female character dies in order to motivate Daichi. Not like the writer's style at all.

I wonder if BONES was smoking weed the moment they were working on the second half of the first episode.

I'm guessing if the numbers of these caps stands for the different organizations seen thus far this episode. 02: Kiltgang (from Uranus, oh god more 'your anus' jokes) 06: Earth. Wonder what's 01, 03, 04 and 05 (perhaps more) has got to do with an unknown conspiracy or a secret war.

First Impression Ratings: 4/5

[truereversevampire]

Spring 2014 Anime: Reverse's Selection

After a period of hiatus I'm finally returning to watch more anime to fill up my void life! I'm still cautiously optimistic (that's what happens when you suffer from an anime burnout for being too optimistic of new shows) but there is still hope.

Definitely Watching:

Captain Earth (Oh man, did you say the Star Driver team are behind this? Sign me up!)

Ping Pong (Watched most of the PVs and I'm intrigued. Chinese character's Chinese is very accurate, so yeah.)

Soul Eater NOT! (Read a couple of chapters and it's more of a slice-of-life bent to it. Unlike Soul Eater there's not going to be lots of action, but BONES? Yes.)

Maybe Watching:

Mekaku City Actors (It would be under Definitely Watching if not for SHAFT being in charge of the animation. Let my worst nightmare begin.)

Soredemo Sekai wa Utsukushii (The anime industry definitely needs more shoujo adaptations.)

Hitsugi no Chaika (Not sure how it'll go, but since it's BONES, bring it on.)

3-Episode Test:

Mahouka Koukou no Rettousei (Character design reminds me of OreImo, very afraid of the incest slant of the main characters but we'll see.)

Knights of Sidonia (I'm starting to see this manga everywhere lately. CGI? Looks awesome but I'm cautious that I get a burnout if it's not up to my standards.)

Here are my picks for this season. Don't be afraid to say which series you're most excited for this season.

[truereversevampire]

FF8 (Steam) Progress

Started playing the game on Saturday (29th March) and here's my progress of how far I've gone:

Got Ifrit and passed the SeeD test. Seifer being a douchebag as always.

Graduation Dance with Riona, then having some time with Quistis (who's no longer a SeeD instructor), met Ellone and got Diablos.

Sidetracked by Triple Triad which I keep restarting the game because I lost a match and said match has a one-of-a-kind card. 

Currently on the way to Timber, got into some crazy sleep and currently playing as Laguna, Ward and Kiros (the fak?). 

...yeah, still a long way to go. (Sigh)

[truereversevampire]

(Second screenshot) Squall and his catchphrase. Even if he's...err...wherever he is. In Laguna's head, or something...

Long story here: Bought FF8 on Steam (on a price cut) and finally got to play this baby people has been complaining about ever since it's cool to hate on FF7 and games that appear after that (except for FF9, because Nomura's not involved in it and all that shit, yadda yadda). One valid complain would be replacing the OST and using the MIDI tracks instead, but aside from that Steam's version has been a faithful one. Watched my brother played FF8 on the PS1 many years ago and finally got my hands on it without my brother being a dick on how I should play the game. (cackles) 

[truereversevampire]

Either Laguna's a total space cadet or he's a prick. Plain and simple. Or maybe he's trolling with rich men (or women) because he and his buddies aren't paid enough in the army.

All right Laguna. Parking your vehicle and disrupting traffic just to see your crush perform the piano. The opposite of sane, in fact.

[how-to-become-a-good-writer]

Why You Should Write Daily by Leo Babauta Zen Habits

Writing helps you reflect on your life and changes you’re making. This is incredibly valuable, as often we do things without realizing why, or what effects these things are having on us.

Writing clarifies your thinking. Thoughts and feelings are nebulous happenings in our mind holes, but writing forces us to crystalize those thoughts and put them in a logical order.

Writing regularly makes you better at writing. And writing is a powerful skill to be good at in our digital age.

Writing for an audience (even if the audience is just one person) helps you to think from the perspective of the audience. That’s when the magic starts, because once you get into the reader’s mindset, you begin to understand readers and customers and colleagues and friends better. You have empathy and a wider understanding of the world.

Writing persuasively — to convince others of your point of view — helps you to get better at persuading people to change their minds. Many people don’t want to change their minds when they feel someone is attacking their position, so they get defensive and dig into their position.

Writing daily forces you to come up with new ideas regularly, and so that forces you to solve the very important problem of where to get ideas. What’s the answer to that problem? Ideas are everywhere! In the people you talk to, in your life experiments, in things you read online, in new ventures and magazines and films and music and novels. But when you write regularly, your eyes are open to these ideas.

Writing regularly online helps you to build an audience who is interested in what you have to share, and how you can help them. This is good for any business, anyone who is building a career, anyone who loves to socialize with others who are interested in similar things as them.

Read more..

[truereversevampire]

Yup, it's a new blog, and it's not going away anytime soon.

No, this is not an April's Fool Day joke. And yes, this is my new Tumblr. 

You might know me as slumberingwaif, so this means slumberingwaif and I are the same person. Except that the content I'm putting out will all be here from now on. 

What you'll see here from now on are constant updates from any topics I can think of as and when I feel like it, from anime to video games to book reviews to original stories to flash fiction and whatever post you can think of. Prepare for a new world, Tumblr. Prepare.