Gust has recently released two new gameplay videos for the new Atelier series game Atelier Escha & Logy. Naturally, they’re titled after our two main characters Escha & Logy.  The first video shows off what looks to be a giant Dragon enemy, which could also possibly be a boss in the game. The first video also showcases some of the two characters’ abilities. The footage ends with a demonstration of one of the unison abilities used by the duo. On the other hand, the second video showcases a few snippets of different battles and a peek at the new battle system. It also showcases more of Escha and Logy’s various skills. Check out both of these videos below.

As said before, while the titles of these two videos would seem to mean they’re specifically focused on  are the main characters, they’re not mutually exclusive. In fact, these two videos show off  the game’s other playable party members and their various capabilities as well.

Atelier Escha & Logy: Alchemists of Dusk Sky is a PlayStation 3 exclusive and is due out in Japan on June 27 of this year. No localization announcement for the West has been made yet, but hopefully we will hear something at E3 or sometime close to the game’s Japanese release, which is nearing pretty fast.

[SOURCE: http://operationrainfall.com]

Ir seems that Europe can’t get enough Project X Zone. Or at least that’s what Namco Bandai thinks. They already released one demo today, titled “A Lethal Surprise,” in Europe’s Nintendo eShop. A second demo called “Dark Hours” is scheduled for release on June 27th, also a European exclusive.

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“A Lethal Surprise” plays out in the Sakura Wars universe. Namely, it takes place on the Imperial Theater stage. Some of the characters you’ll meet include Ulala from Space Channel 5, Devilotte from Cyberbots, Zephyl and Leanne from Resonance of Fate (if their trailer is to be believed), and a couple of characters from Valkyria Chronicles III.

“Dark Hours” will move the setting over to the Ghosts ‘n Goblins universe.

Project X Zone mashes the IPs of three companies – Sega, Capcom, and Namco Bandai – into one tactical role playing game. The game takes you across the various worlds where you meet its inhabitants and even use them in battle. In one world you might meet X and Zero from the Mega Man X series, while in another, you’ll meet KOS-MOS from the Xenosaga series. Each one will have unique attacks that harken back to the series they came from.

Project X Zone will be released on July 5th in Europe. The Americas will get it on June 25th, a little over a week earlier.

SOURCE

[SOURCE: http://operationrainfall.com]

Published back in late April, a Spanish magazine called Hobby Consolas had an interview with some of the developers behind Fire Emblem: Awakening. Pretty interesting interview, but what was striking about it was when they talked about the game’s performance in Japan and in the West.  Because of the series’ overall sales taking a nose dive for some time, the thirthteenth installment could well have been the last entry in the series.

Question: Fire Emblem has had a long lifetime. Do you get the feeling it gets harder to release a new episode every time?

Yamagami: No doubt. Truth be told, sales are dropping. The sales manager of Nintendo, Mr. Hatano, told us that this could be the last Fire Emblem. Due to this progressive descend on sales, they told us that if the sales of this episode stayed below 250,000 copies, we’d stop working on the saga. I remember when I came back from the meeting and told the team “My God, what are we gonna do?! The end has come!”. Our reaction was clear: if this was going to be the last Fire Emblem, we had to put everything we always wanted to include. That’s how this new project was born!

Just not long after, a similar statement was made by another one of the developers when asked a similar question in an interview with the magazine Nintendo Dream. Because of the attributing sales slump, they knew knew very well that this could really well be the last game, and at times, this realization seemed like a reality.

Maeda: Yes, we can say that now, but I have to admit there was a time during development when we thought “This might be the end of the FE series if Awakening doesn’t sell well”.

Thankfully, this will most likely not be the case, with the great news from Nintendo that the game sold well over 250,000 units world wide. In fact, it has sold over 500,000 units to date. This is the highest selling Fire Emblem entry in the West since Blazing Sword came out ten years ago, with the sales number being over 240,000 when counting both physical and digital sales. The words do ring a lot of truth though. We missed Fire Emblem 12, the remake of Monsho no Nazo, for probably the same reason. Nintendo was probably thinking the same thing and were ready to kill the series off.

So the franchise dodged a bullet. Can you believe it? The developers put their all into the product, Nintendo properly marketing the game (besides the botched launch in North America), and then, of course, we the fans keeping our word and supporting it. Not every story has a good ending, and even with all the above, sometimes this just isn’t enough. Congratulations to Intelligent Systems and the team behind the game, because Fire Emblem: Awakening was truly something else. I hope to see new entries sometime in the near future, and by the looks of it, it seems like a strong possibility.

Source

[SOURCE: http://operationrainfall.com]

Once more, Atlus USA has released a trailer showcasing their localization efforts for the newest Shin Megami Tensei title, Shin Megami Tensei IV.

The trailer showcases the game’s dungeon exploration, battle mechanics, demon negotiations and demon fusion. We also get to learn about some of the new cast of characters, and their English voice-overs as well. Borroughs, the main character’s navigational A.I., takes center stage as we listen to her describe the important aspects of demon hunting, all while in English. Though not confirmed, the trailer may have also introduced the English voices of Samurai leader Hope and the main heroine Isabeau.

You can watch the new trailer here.

Shin Megami Tensei IV will be released on July 16th in North America. Europe will receive the game as well at a future date. You can go to Atlus’ official website to watch more videos, get more information, and to pre-order the game itself.

[SOURCE: http://operationrainfall.com]

So many elves, so little time

Some more information and screenshots for VanillaWare’s new 2D fantasy beat’em up, Dragon’s Crown, has just been revealed. In this new update, we get info on new NPCs, equipment, quests, and most importantly, the multitude of customization options. The list of these character customization choices is going to be quite staggering and will let any player with an imagination (and a calculator) build the small adventure group to their liking.

Here is what VanillaWare, and its publisher Atlus, will showcase in Dragon’s Crown.

• There is a “Game Master,” voiced by Takashi Taniguchi in the Japanese version, who will be your guide in your Dragon’s Crown adventure.
• The game will begin at the Dragon’s Paradise bar, where all six selectable characters are gathered at a round-table. When you make your selection, you’ll be able to customize their color, voice, greeting message, character selection message, revival message, and their dying message.
• There will be two AI partners supporting you as you progress through the game: A Rogue named Rannie, who opens treasure chests, locked doors, and carries your loot; and a Fairy named Tiki, who will serve as your navigator.
• When you enter a town, you’ll be able to visit various facilities that will help you on your journey, including party organization and shopping for items.
• Dungeons will be a big part of the Dragon’s Crown experience, since that is where you’ll gather new weapons and armor, earn experience points and money, and complete quests.  Sometimes an event scene will also occur while you are exploring, like meeting new characters like the barbarian warrior Roland.
• More customization options will come with Skill Points, which will be earned as you gain experience through fighting monsters and completing quests. These points can be used at the Adventurer’s Guild to learn new skills.
• There is going to be a rather large cast of characters to meet as you progress through the game. Some characters will be important to the story, like Princess Vivian, Prime Minister Gustav, and the Royal Prince Dean of the Hydeland Castle. While others will play supporting roles that will help improve your chance in surviving your adventure; like Morgan Risley who runs the magic shop, Samuel who is the head of the Adventure Guild, and Lucian, a wizard who lives in the Old Tower laboratory.

Dragon’s Crown is due out for the PS3 and PS Vita on August 6th for North America.

SOURCE

[SOURCE: http://operationrainfall.com]

Here is the list below, with information from the press release (Note: Images are not from the PR):

• Killer is Dead (PS3, 360 / Summer 2013) –Created by Goichi “Suda 51″ Suda, this highly anticipated original game is set in a not-so-distant alternate future similar to the world we know now. Players control an executioner named Mondo Zappa who wields a Japanese sword in his right hand while utilizing interchangeable weapons in his left artificial arm. His ultimate goal is to execute various heinous criminals scattered around the world and beyond. Completely unique visuals and outstanding stylish action come together to deliver an unprecedented gaming experience in Killer is Dead. The action title is being jointly developed by Kadokawa Games and Grasshopper Manufacture, with Suda 51 lending his trademark sense of style at the helm. [Note: Deep Silver is publishing this game for Europe]

• Ragnarok Odyssey Ace (PS3, PSV / Winter) – This new title in the popular Ragnarok Odyssey action RPG franchise brings players cross-platform play between PS3 and Vita as well as rich new content to explore. Developed by Game Arts, Ragnarok Odyssey Ace brings a new Tower of Yggdrasil dungeon that creates random dungeons with different rooms and enemy placement, a new battle system, and a plethora of new items and features. [Note: GungHo Online Entertainment America will publish the game in Europe]

• Rune Factory 4 (3DS / Summer 2013) – The first game in the Rune Factory simulation/role-playing series to be released on the Nintendo 3DS, Rune Factory 4 adds new romance options, the ability to select a male or female character at the game’s start, and endless crafting, farming and cooking opportunities. As Selphia’s prince or princess, players manage the village, explore the countryside with townsfolk, or tame monsters in the wild to become helpers in battle or in the fields.

• Valhalla Knights 3 (PSV / Fall 2013) – The fourth title published by XSEED Games in the popular Valhalla Knights action RPG series, Valhalla Knights 3 features a robust character creation system and brings multiplayer party-based combat to the PS Vita, with a Wi-Fi online option being added to the local ad-hoc option specifically for the North American version. Players can select from one of seven races and one of twenty job classes such as Fighter, Mage, Thief, Priest, Akatoki, or Archer, while also equipping two sub-jobs. Adventure with a custom party or brave the wilds alone while seamlessly engaging in real-time combat and earning skill points for upgrading and unlocking abilities unique to each job class.

• Ys: Memories of Celceta (PSV / Fall 2013) – An extensive reimagining of Ys IV, one of the only Ys games never before released in the West, this title puts more enemies on screen than ever before. Ys: Memories of Celceta features the largest, most non-linear overworld in Ys history, boasting superlative graphics and a triumphant evolution of the fast-paced gameplay that has made this series a timeless action RPG mainstay.

XSEED is also showing a group of mobile and PC games from the Marvelous Online branch. You can check the list below:

• Ninja Warrior (iOS, Android) – based on the popular television acrobatics show of the same name.
• Cross Horizon (iOS, Android) – an expansive action RPG that sends players into various dungeons to eliminate deadly monsters.
• Shin Megami Tensei: Imagine (Windows)
• Battle Space (Browser)
• Knights of the Sky (Browser)
• Pandora Saga (Windows)

From violent stylized action games like Killer Is Dead, to expansive RPGs like Ys: Memories of Celceta or Valhalla Knights 3, a charming action/farm-simulator like Rune Factory 4, and a group of mobile and browser-based games, XSEED’s selection of games looks very diverse.

SOURCE

[SOURCE: http://operationrainfall.com]

Oh, hell no.

I have a nephew who is about 2 and a half. Now, I’m pretty sure he’s not ready for video games (at least nothing outside of being Tails in Sonic 2) but I know that he will get into playing games at some point.

After listening to Episode 15 of the Downpour Podcast and hearing the backstories for Jonathan, Jared and Randy, I started thinking back to when my brother and I were little and we would play video games. We were basically raised on Wolfenstein and Doom – you know, normal kid-friendly games of the 90s. While my brother and I turned out fine, I get the feeling he and his wife don’t want their son to play that when he’s 5.

So, with that in mind, I got to thinking about what games would be perfect for him to get into. It would have to be something that is not only fun but easy to get into and fairly kid-friendly. And with that in mind, I was able to come up with 10 games that I feel would be great for his first foray into gaming.

But before I get into the list, here were some of the games that, for one reason or another, were cut from the final list:

Handheld and Xbox games – This list will be made up of games that are on consoles that my brother and sister-in-law have right now. Ergo, no Pokemon, Zelda: Oracle games, or whatever Xbox has that would be kid-friendly.

Little Big Planet – It’s more of an issue of having quite a few platformers already on the list. And while it can be fun, I feel that the controls will make LBP difficult for him to get too far into the game before quitting.

Bonk’s Adventure – While I feel that it is a fun platformer, it suffers from the same problem of “too many platformers” on the list.

Sonic the Hedgehog 2 – This was ultimately cut because I don’t want him to become a Sonic kid just yet. Sure, the last two games were pretty good (Colors and Generations), but it’s not worth diving into right now.

MAYBE IN A FEW YEARS:

Super Castlevania IV – The lack of stiff controls makes this the recommended Castlevania to start with. However, since he’s still afraid when I try to show him Avatar: The Last Airbender, it may be until he’s in third grade before trying this game out.

Battalion Wars – Yes, I see that it has a T rating. But think back to when you were kids and played with Nerf guns and Super Soakers. There’s pretty much no difference. And compared to Doom and Wolfenstein, this is tame.

LAST CUTS:

The force is usually strong with this game… but not today.

Super Star Wars – Loved and beat this as a kid; so I know that he’ll have a good time with this game. Besides, he’s going to get into Star Wars at some point (and perhaps Sci-fi in general, just to irk his dad).

Mega Man X series – Just a matter of numbers. I’m sure that he would do fine with these games. And if you’re wondering why not the original series, it’s because I like the X series better.

Here we go with the list. Remember, these are solely my choices.

10. Super Mario RPG: Legend of the Seven Stars

Really, Princess? I thought making the list would be an honor.

The love for RPGs has to start somewhere and this is the perfect beginners RPG to start with (you know, instead of this one). It’s a colorful game with recognizable and lovable characters for all ages. Nothing gets too dark and it introduces basic RPG elements that he will find in other games in the genre.

This spot initially came down to this and Ys: Book I & II. While it’s not as lighthearted as Super Mario RPG, I think the story is something he can handle. Plus, the controls and gameplay are fairly simple to pick up. However, the reason Ys does not make the list is for grinding. I don’t think my nephew will want to grind as much as you need to in that game.

9. Gran Turismo 4

He lives in Michigan. He’s in a family of car guys – whether it’s people that like cars or have actually had a hand in designing and creating cars. He’s going to be a car guy. It might as well start here.

He could pretty much go with any of the Gran Turismo games. But I chose GT4 because that is my personal favorite. The game features hundreds of cars from different years, brands, and models. And if he gets tired of racing the cars, he can put it on auto-pilot and watch the cars go by.

8. Kirby Super Star

You probably could’ve guessed that a Kirby game would be on this list. But I’m not sure that you would’ve guessed this one. Well, to be fair, most Kirby games would be good.

So, why Super Star? Because it’s more than just one simple game; it’s a series of games all rolled into one. You want stages from the first game? You got it. An eating competition with King Dedede? No problem. A fight with Meta Knight? Grab your sword. Look for treasure? Happy hunting.

This is quite literally a virtual carnival. My nephew would definitely enjoy it.

7. DoReMi Fantasy: Milon’s DokiDoki Adventure

Wait a minute! Isn’t this a Japanese game? Yes, it is, and it wasn’t translated when the game came to North American via the Virtual Console.

Frankly, I don’t know the details of the story myself. But that doesn’t stop me from enjoying the game. And it doesn’t stop me from realizing what the game is about: this is a game about bringing music back to the land. And that’s something a son of music teachers (like my nephew) can get behind.

And even without the story, the game is fun to play. The platforming is arguably some of the best on its system, the music is fun to listen to, and the graphics are colorful.

6. Harvest Moon: Magical Melody

You could pretty much put any Harvest Moon game on here and it could work. However, I think my nephew would probably feel rushed with the SNES game, would be confused with the N64 game (Lord knows his dad had trouble playing it), and would find A Wonderful Life to be a bit too slow paced. And unfortunately, I don’t have much of a handle on what the other console games are like.

With that said, I feel that Magical Melody would be the perfect game to start out with in this series. The interface is simple to navigate, farming and raising livestock is easy to pick up, doing everyday activities is simple… You can see where I’m going with this, right? There’s just a simplicity to this game that I don’t get from other games in the series.

On top of that, there are the holidays that break up any of the monotony that comes from games like this. And then there are the notes that need to be collected to revive the Harvest Goddess. Those can help direct my nephew in how he should go about playing the game.

More on the next page.

[SOURCE: http://operationrainfall.com]

Gamers seem to have a wide variety of opinions about Nintendo these days, ranging from extremely negative to very positive. The naysayers have said the Big N is behind the times, with archaic graphics and outmoded concepts, while the loyal fans say Nintendo is better than ever and constantly improving. Regardless of your personal stance, there is one thing that Nintendo has been doing right and continues to do well to this day : They make great, simple yet complex games that are easy to learn but difficult to master. Such is the case in one of their latest eShop offerings, Mario and Donkey Kong : Minis on the Move, a great little game that exemplifies Nintendo’s strengths.

Minis on the Move, available now in the eShop for $9.99, is first and foremost a trend breaker in the Mario vs. Donkey Kong series. This is significant, since if I had known earlier how different this game was, I would have purchased it much sooner. Honestly, I was not a huge fan of the previous Mario vs. Donkey Kong series of games. While previous entries focused on simplistic Lemmings inspired 2D platforming, Minis on the Move literally breaks out into a new 3D-oriented style. This isn’t a mere artistic change either, as it brings a lot to the table and changes the gameplay for the better.

While the goal of the game is still to herd Mini Mario safely to the exit, the number of ways to do so in Minis on the Move is vastly improved. Now players have access to various pipe tiles which they can lay on the grid to guide Mario to the exit. If that were all you could do, I would not have been a fan, but luckily they expand upon this theme tremendously and deviously. First of all, there are a total of 4 main game modes available after you’ve gotten far enough in the first mode, Mario’s Main Event. The other 3 modes are Puzzle Palace, Many Mini Mayhem and the dreaded Giant Jungle (more on that last mode later). All 4 modes play slightly differently, while still incorporating the same essential gameplay mechanics of laying and manipulating tiles to progress.

Mario’s Main Event, represented by Mini Mario, has two key features that you need to grasp immediately. First is the Tile Pipe (not to be confused with pipe tiles). This is the reservoir from which you pluck various randomly generated tiles with your stylus to place them on the grid. The tricky thing about the Tile Pipe is that it can only hold a limited number of tiles, maxing out at 5, before it overflows and gives you a Game Over. So it’s important that you don’t just bide your time while playing. You really need to get the hang of thinking on your feet, since within about 20 seconds or so the Tile Pipe will be overflowing if you don’t move fast. The second key feature is the Exit Star that your Mini needs to reach to complete the level. Though this starts out simple enough, it quickly gets much more complicated to get from point A to point B.

It all looks so simple, but don’t be fooled…

Keep in mind that the elite player isn’t only concerning themselves with getting from point A to point B. The complicating factor in each level is the placement of 3 random “M” tokens in each stage. To get a perfect rank on a level, you not only need to reach the exit, you have to do so AFTER collecting all 3 tokens. This forces you to take circuitous routes through otherwise linear stages, all while being timed. Each stage ranges between 30 seconds to a minute and a half long, so you need to choose your path wisely and quickly. This feature hooked me rather quickly, and I found myself restarting levels if I got to the exit before collecting all the “M” tokens. Another simple thing that adds spice to the mix is the fact that, if a Mini reaches the end of an unconnected tile, you’ll have about 3 seconds to connect it before they fall to their deaths.

Another key facet of this mode is the use of Trash Cans and Magic Tiles. The Trash Can is a crazy useful item that lets you place extraneous or unusable tiles in it to dispose of them. What’s cool about this is that after you’ve disposed of 3 tiles this way, the game will gift you with a blue Magic Tile, which will automatically make a tile that changes its shape to connect two or more tiles. These aren’t quite as useful as they sound, since sometimes you need a Magic Tile to only connect in a certain way, and it will connect ANY way it deems necessary. This problem becomes more apparent when you are trying to make loops or a figure eight.

Now, you’re probably wondering why the hell you would spend your precious time, using randomly generated tiles, to make a figure eight. The reason is simple – Not only does this provide you with small timers that give you a +5 second boost to the clock per tile, giving you more time to complete the level, but it also creates an alternate exit tile. Put simply, some levels cannot be beaten without using this method. By forming either a closed circuit or a figure eight, you also get access to the all powerful Purple Tiles, which can be placed on top of existing tiles to form new paths.

Besides these, Mario’s Main Event also introduces you to the majority of tools you use in this and other modes, and there are tons. Besides what I’ve already mentioned, there are also Spring Tiles, Warp Pipes, Conveyor belts, Hammers, Road Blocks, Spike pits and Locked Exits. A few enemies will both hinder and help you as you progress through the game as well. There are Shy Guys, who you must Hammer to defeat, as well as Catapult Kongs, which fling you 2 tiles away from them in a certain direction, and Capture Kongs, the bane of Many Mini Mayhem mode. Speaking of which, let me discuss the other modes real quick.

The second mode you unlock is Puzzle Palace mode, represented by Mini Peach. While Mario’s Main Event is all about using randomly generated tiles to get to the Exit Star, Puzzle Palace mode is about using specific tiles in a particular order to get to the exit. I rather appreciated this mode, since I knew there was always a way to beat each level using the tiles provided, no matter how unfeasible it appeared. Personally, I felt this mode should have been the first to be available, instead of Mario’s Main Event, since that mode quickly got stressful and uncompromising. It was also nice not to have to worry about the Tile Pipe overflowing in Puzzle Palace mode, since it is all about strategy and using the right tiles in the right manner.

Puzzle Palace mode offers a welcome respite from Mario’s Main event. Plus, Mini Peach is adorable!

The third mode you unlock is Many Mini Mayhem, represented by Mini Toad. What is unique about this mode is that you have to manage multiple Minis at once, safely guiding all of them to the exit. Another feature unique to this mode is the ability to grab tiles on the grid and swap them around to form new paths on certain levels. You also don’t have to worry about placing tiles from the Tile Pipe onto the map in Many Mini Mayhem. Instead, you utilize Pivot Tiles, whose direction you can switch by tapping them, to primarily get about. What you do need to worry about in this mode is the notorious Capture Kong. This white-haired awful ape roams about the map, instantly kidnapping any hapless Toad that crosses his path, forcing you to find a hammer and pound him with a free Toad to succeed. This sounds much easier than it is, since you have to manipulate both your Mini’s path as well as that of the Kong, making sure he doesn’t catch up with all of your Minis, otherwise it’s Game Over.

Multiple Toads spells Mayhem.

The fourth and final mode is Giant Jungle, represented by Mini Donkey Kong. Whereas in all the previous modes the largest a stage could get is a 7×7 grid, Giant Jungle contains stages that are so large that you have to pan the camera around the stage just to see everything. Also complicating this mode is that, instead of the 3 “M” Tokens you need to get in previous modes to attain a perfect score, here you need to collect 10 Star Pieces arrayed all over each stage. This wouldn’t be so bad if the Tile Pipe didn’t also make a reappearance in this mode, a much more stressful feature here since the whole grid is so damned big, and it takes very little time for the Pipe to overflow while you’re looking around the stage to try and mark a trail. Further complicating this formula is the mind-boggling decision not to have Trash Cans in this mode. I often ended up being forced to place random tiles all over the map just to avoid being defeated by the Tile Pipe on more than one occasion. This struck me as a poorly designed expert mode overall, since Giant Jungle essentially has all the tricks and traps from the previous 3 modes, but on a much larger, more oppressive scale.

This is what terror looks like…

Besides these, there are also several completely optional Mini Games to be unlocked. These are the Mini Target Smash, Fly Guy Grab, Cube Crash, and Elevation Station. The first 3 all utilize a slingshot mechanic to achieve different goals, while the last one involves using a crank to elevate Mini Mario upward or downward to collect coins and avoid Bullet Bills. I personally found the Cube Crash and Elevation Station to be the most fun and unique of all 4 modes. All are relatively simple and pretty addictive to play, but they can get old after a while. Luckily, none of them are necessary to beating the actual game, but instead serve as welcome diversions when you’re stuck on a level in one of the main modes.

The Elevation Station in action.

Cube Crash was my favorite mini game!

One other mode bears mention, and it is the Create and Share mode. Here, as you would expect, you can create your very own levels using all the tools found in Mario’s Main Event. You can place permanent tiles, “M” tokens, Entrance Pipes and Exit Stars, as well as the various traps and enemies. After doing so, you need to test your level before uploading it online, much like in Pushmo. Then, you can play the uploaded levels of others online and rate them according to how fun or challenging you found the experience.

Though more limited than the Pushmo level creator, this mode does offer the game a lot of replay value. There is also a strange mode called Toy Chest, where you can find unlocked Minis and polish the dirt off of them by using your stylus. Though this mode doesn’t seem to serve any functional gameplay purpose, it was fun to come back to it whenever I unlocked another Mini. Beyond that, you can also unlock Expert Levels by beating the first 60 or so levels in Mario’s main Event and Puzzle Palace. I didn’t find any extra levels for Many Mini Mayhem, however, and since I was unable to even beat the first Giant Jungle level thus far, I’m uncertain whether or not there are more to be unlocked beyond the initial 3 levels.

Sound effects in the game are simple and enjoyable, such as the mechanical key winding sound of a Mini rushing forward or the familiar tune whenever you grab a hammer. They all convey what’s happening and don’t distract from your concentration. I also found the hoots and hollers unique to each Mini as you hurried them on by tapping to be very entertaining. The music in the game is also pretty good, a compilation of new and old songs from various Mario games, such as classics like Super Mario Bros. 2, Super Mario 64 and more. Minis on the Move also incorporates sounds and music from previous entries in the Mario vs. Donkey Kong series, keeping the game tethered to the past while simultaneously expanding beyond it.

In terms of gameplay, everything is controlled by use of the stylus. As I previously noted, you can place tiles and switch Pivot Tiles direction by tapping them. Another nifty feature that starts out superfluous, but quickly becomes vital, is tapping your Mini to hurry them up. A simple tap will get them rushing for a few seconds, after which you must tap them again to keep them hurrying. The stylus can also be used to drop Tiles into the Tile Pipe and to drop bombs from the Tile Pipe onto the grid. Overall, I found the controls to be intuitive and satisfactory. The story is another matter.

Quite simply, Minis on the Move has absolutely no story. Granted, if you read the digital manual you can find out the bare bones explanation for why you’re playing the game, but that’s about it. No dramatic or comical events spur you on as you play, no villain threatens or impedes your progress, and for the most part I found myself fine with that. Previous Mario vs. Donkey Kong games tried too hard to force plot on us, an aspect of puzzle games that I generally find unnecessary. Minis on the Move focuses on gameplay over everything else, and that’s the way it should be.

I said earlier that Minis on the Move showcases Nintendo’s strengths of taking a simple core concept, efficiently getting us hooked and then enhancing that formula with devious twists and turns. All these are definitely accomplished in Minis on the Move, and for the most part I found myself absolutely loving this game. I ended up beating Mario’s Main Event, Puzzle Palace and Many Mini Mayhem’s initial 170 levels in approximately 20 hours. Granted, I was speeding through it so I would be able to review the game, but I doubt I would have bothered to play so fast had I not enjoyed the game in the process.

In the end, I only have 2 complaints about the game. First would be that the Tile Pipe is sometimes too random and churns out Tiles a bit too fast. The other complaint is about the Giant Jungle. Honestly, I just found that mode too difficult to be enjoyable. Granted, it’s not really necessary to beat it, but I found myself wanting to regardless, and was frustrated by my inability to do so. It definitely needed to be retooled slightly before the final game was released.

Overall I rather enjoyed Mario and Donkey Kong : Minis on the Move, and would heartily recommend it to any Nintendo or puzzle aficionado with a 3DS. It provides hours of brain-twisting fun, only slightly hampered by some unforgiving gameplay mechanics. I found it to be fully worth my $9.99, and I hope Nintendo has more quality downloadable games like it in store.

Review Score
Overall

[SOURCE: http://operationrainfall.com]

Arc System Works has released a new trailer for the third installment in the BlazBlue series, BlazBlue: Chronophantasma. The trailer shows two new characters, Kagura Mutsuki and Yuki Terumi, in action, followed by a brief teaser for the anime adaptation series, BlazBlue: Alter Memory, which is set to release in Japan this Fall.

The trailer has some explosive action featuring the two characters. You can watch the video below:

As reported in a previous article, Kagura and Yuki are described as having fighting styles that set them apart from the game’s roster.

In the trailer, Kagura’s abilities to attack via hold commands are shown when he pummels his opponent with frontal and crouching attacks at a rhythmic pace. His ability to perform specials on the ground and mid-air are also revealed.

Yuki is shown to be a close-range fighter when he uses hand-to-hand combat against his foes, but he does materialize a chain-like weapon for ranged-attacks and yanking. He is supposed to perform multiple Distortion Drives, and it is realized when he unleashes a flurry of chain-attacks, and finishes his combo with an accumulative special move. These attacks are supposed to deplete the Heat Gauge.

When the teaser reveals BlazBlue: Alter Memory, it showed brief images for the character designs, which are handled by Tomoyuki Shitaya. The series will be directed by Hideki Tachibana, and BlazBlue producer Toshimichi Mori will be supervising the series. The games’ original actors will reprise their roles. You can learn more about the anime series here.

BlazBlue: Chronophantasma will be releasing in Japan on October 24 for PlayStation 3. There has been no word about localization or a multi-platform release as of yet.

SOURCE

Previous entries in the BlazBlue series are available on Amazon:

[SOURCE: http://operationrainfall.com]

There has been some controversy surrounding Microsoft’s newest next gen console, the Xbox One, and it looks like more is on the way. Microsoft, in a interview with Shacknews, has revealed that independent developers still won’t be able to self-publish their own games for Xbox Live Arcade, and instead must make a publishing deal with Microsoft Game Studios or another third-party partner.

This is a rather unusual move by Microsoft, whose relationships with indie developers have started to crack. Limitations placed by the software juggernaut led to many indie games never being released on the Xbox 360, and with this strict policy returning to the Xbox One, the trend will probably continue. The games published on the Xbox Live Indie Games service will be exempt from this policy, but the level of success that indie games find in that marketplace as been a lot lower.

As mentioned earlier, this treatment of indie developers is not new. Microsoft confirmed earlier this year, that they were not going to release new versions of the XNA development kit any longer, which is required for all indie games on the Microsoft Indie Games service.

Asked by Shacknews if Microsoft will continue it’s publishing restrictions on their newest console, general manager of Redmond Game Studios and Platforms, Matt Booty, answered. “As of right now, yes. We intend to continue to court developers in the ways that we have.”

Continuing, he added, ”I would also expect that for this new generation, that we’re going to continue to explore new business models and new ways of surfacing content. But Microsoft Studios is a publisher that works with a wide range of partners, as do a lot of other people, to bring digital content to the box.”

Microsoft is finding itself being left behind in concerns to growing healthy relations with independent developers. In strict contrast, Sony and Nintendo have allowed indie developers to publish their own games on both the PlayStation Network and the Nintendo Network without such restrictions; especially Sony Entertainment, who is leading the charge by aggressively reaching out to acquire indie content for the PS4. If Microsoft desires the Xbox One to be a haven for future indie games, they should examine other possibilities that would make both them and independent developers happy.

SOURCE

[SOURCE: http://operationrainfall.com]

This week’s Nintendo Download is all about having your cake and eating it too. A celebrated Nintendo franchise is getting not one, not two, but three games released on the Wii U Virtual Console this week—so hopefully Kirby fans will have something to get excited about. Kirby’s Dream Land 3, Kirby’s Dream Course and Kirby Super Star are all headed our way this week, and Nintendo is offering a “Buy 2, Get One” sale to accommodate those who’ve never purchased the games before owning a Wii U. This offer will end on May 30th, so strike while the iron’s hot.

UPDATE: I’ve just downloaded the games via the Wii U eShop. Since I already owned all three games on Wii, I figured the sale wouldn’t apply to me. I am happy to report that I am completely wrong. If you “upgrade” 2/3 games for $1.50 a piece, the third game will upgrade free. 

I’m not sure if I’ve ever gone into detail about my history with Kirby on the site. But, the franchise has been in my life since I was quite small, and I’ve played every single Kirby game released, at this point. The three games being released today are all worth a look: Kirby’s Dream Land 3 is a continuation of the main franchise on SNES, Kirby Super Star is widely hailed as the best Kirby game ever released, and Kirby’s Dream Course is a truly unique spin on the game of golf (think Mario Strikers: Charged here; the conventions of the sport are there, but since Kirby is the ball, there’s plenty of zaniness to be had).

Kirby’s Dream Land 2 is still exclusive to Kirby’s Dream Collection released here in the states. I thought for sure we’d see a release of the game on the 3DS Virtual Console today to go along with all the neat fanfare on Wii U, but I suppose that’s not the case. There are still plenty of things to look forward to! Donkey Kong Country Returns 3D will be released at retail and on the Nintendo eShop tomorrow. And The Denpa Men: They Came by Wave is on sale on the eShop this week. Be sure to check out our review of that great game, noting that a sequel is coming soon.

Since the Fire Emblem: Awakening DLC has just about run dry, I’ll bring you all Monster Hunter 3: Ultimate news this week instead, as per Capcom Unity:

… We have The Mountain in the Desert quest, which is a friendly G-Rank Rust Duramboros. The twist here? Besides its McTwist skateboard-like moves, you’ll it is way larger than usual… G-Rank Giant-Rust Duram… I’m sure there’s something there. [Also], make sure to get the Additional Special Goods from the Granny Go-to! They are good, special andadditional! Don’t miss out!

Until next time, ladies and gentlemen! As per usual, the entire Press Release is available below.

NINTENDO DOWNLOAD HIGHLIGHTS NEW DIGITAL CONTENT FOR NINTENDO SYSTEMS – MAY 23, 2013

May 23, 2013

This week’s Nintendo Download includes the following featured content:

Virtual Console™ on Wii U™ Special Kirby Offer
Classic Kirby™ titles for Wii U – Nintendo announces the release of three classic Kirby titles for the Wii U console: Kirby’s Dream Land™ 3,Kirby’s Dream Course™ and Kirby Super Star™. As a bonus for fans, we’re making it easy to get them all at a great price. Simply purchase two games from the Nintendo eShop on Wii U to get the third for free. This offer ends at 9 a.m. PT on May 30.

Nintendo eShop on Wii U
Kirby’s Dream Land™ 3 – Kirby must once again save the day when the mischievous King Dedede starts causing trouble. Always armed with his trusty ability to swallow enemies and gain special attacks, Kirby can also unite with some of his animal friends and make use of their particular talents. Featuring detailed graphics and challenging boss battles, Kirby’s Dream Land 3 is a classic.

Kirby’s Dream Course™ – High above Dream Land, players can pitch and putt Kirby through a maze of obstacles on a zany checkerboard golf course. Kirby’s Copy Abilities must be put to good use in order to complete each course. Players must sink Kirby into the hole to advance to the next stage as they clear all eight courses – 64 holes in all.

Kirby Super Star™ – In Kirby Super Star, the iconic round, pink hero will have to journey through six main games and two mini-games, finishing with the ultimate showdown in the Arena, to defeat King Dedede. Each game offers its own story and variation of platforming action, as well as unique environments and an assortment of enemies. There’s never a dull moment as Kirby dashes, flies and fights.

Nintendo eShop on Nintendo 3DS™
Donkey Kong Country™ Returns 3D – Donkey Kong™ swings to the Nintendo 3DS system in this barrel-blasting, rail-riding, ground-pounding adventure. The original Donkey Kong Country Returns game has been rebuilt and optimized for portable play. Play the game in Original Mode or New Mode, and unlock eight new, challenging levels not available in the original Wii game.

Nintendo eShop on Nintendo 3DS Sale
THE “DENPA” MEN: They Came By Wave – Collect Denpa Men from many different places on a role-playing journey to rescue a certain special someone from the clutches of the King of Evil. Now through May 30, get THE “DENPA” MEN: They Came by Wave for 20 percent off exclusively in the Nintendo eShop on Nintendo 3DS.

Also new this week:
• NARUTO™ Powerful Shippuden (Nintendo eShop on Nintendo 3DS)
• Groove Heaven (Nintendo eShop on Nintendo 3DS)

To view this week’s Nintendo Download in its full graphical version, please visit: http://news2know.net/nintendo/downloadj7w3Si6m.php.

In addition to video games available at retail stores, Nintendo also offers a variety of content that people can download directly to their systems. Nintendo adds new titles weekly to the Nintendo eShop for the Wii U system as well as the Nintendo 3DS and Nintendo 3DS XL systems, to the Nintendo DSi™ Shop for the Nintendo DSi system and to the Wii™ Shop Channel for the Wii console.

The Nintendo eShop is a cash-based service and features games, applications and videos. Users can add money to their account balance by using a credit card or by purchasing a Nintendo Prepaid Card at a retail store and entering the code from the card. All funds from one card must be redeemed in either the Wii U eShop or the Nintendo 3DS eShop, respectively. They are not transferable and cannot be divided between the two systems.

The Wii Shop Channel offers games and applications and uses Wii Points™, which can be purchased via the Wii Shop Channel. The Nintendo DSi Shop offers games and applications and uses Nintendo DSi Points™, which can be purchased in the Nintendo DSi Shop. A Wii Points Card™ and Nintendo DSi Points Card™ can be purchased at retail locations. All points from one card must be redeemed in either the Wii Shop Channel or the Nintendo DSi Shop, respectively. They are not transferable and cannot be divided between the two systems.

Remember that Wii U, Wii, Nintendo 3DS, Nintendo 3DS XL and Nintendo DSi feature parental controls that let adults manage some of the content their children can access. For more information about this and other features, visit http://www.nintendo.com/wiiu,http://www.nintendo.com/wii, http://www.nintendo.com/3ds orhttp://www.nintendo.com/ds.

[SOURCE: http://operationrainfall.com]

The following comes from a blog post at Aksys Games’ official website:

May 5, 2013 Torrance, CA – Aksys Games is pleased to announce that it will be attending E3 2013, where we will officially reveal two exciting new titles at our meeting space in the Los Angeles Convention Center! We will also be showcasing Muramasa Rebirth for the PlayStation®Vita handheld entertainment system, and A.R.E.S. Extinction Agenda EX for XBLA! Come visit us during our open house hours and see what’s new (or stop by for the swag)!

So What’re Ya’ll Showcasing?

· Two New Titles – We’ll be announcing two new titles that we’re bringing to these here shores! Are you ready? Stop on by and find out! We’ll have awesome trailers and—oh my goodness!—playables!

· A Mobile What? – We’ll also be showing off one of our first mobile titles, so if you’re mobile friendly, come on in!

· Muramasa Rebirth – The critically-acclaimed hit, slated to ship on June 25th, will be available to play! We’ll also show off that beautiful lithograph for the special edition (it’s really pretty, we promise).

· A.R.E.S. Extinction Agenda EX – Announced back in March, this hit game is set to grace XBLA, and will be playable for the first time on the Xbox 360 at E3. What are you waiting for?!

SOURCE

Aksys Games’ upcoming 2D action title, Muramasa Rebirth, is available for preorder on Amazon:

[SOURCE: http://operationrainfall.com]

Sword Art Online will be featuring some awesome cover art for its ninth Blu-ray release next month. This will be the last installment in the anime’s Blu-ray collection, and will be available in Japan on June 26. The cover art (pictured above), done by the anime’s character designer, Shingo Adachi, has just been released, and is looking pretty snazzy.

The ninth Blu-ray collection comes with episodes 23, 24, and 25. It also features video extras such as character commentaries, a clean version of the ending, and audio commentary. Additionally, it comes with a short novel, an illustrated cover, a bonus CD, a 16-page booklet, and three pin-ups.

Although this collection is not yet available in North America, Aniplex USA has confirmed that an English dub of Sword Art Online is coming. An English trailer for the show has also been released. Whether or not we can expect to see the same collections when the anime is released stateside is unclear. If the Japanese set is any indication, though, we can expect some exciting extras.

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[SOURCE: http://operationrainfall.com]

Fans of Rare’s famous franchises Perfect Dark, Conker, Banjo-Kazooie, and Killer Instinct should be crossing their fingers. During the aftermath of today’s Xbox One reveal, Microsoft has announced that one of Rare’s historic franchises is going to find a new home on its next generation console.

This latest news comes as quite a surprise, since gamers would have expected an announcement of this caliber to be revealed at Microsoft’s Xbox One event, not after the party calmed down. However, this revived Rare franchise is going to be joining 15 other games, all exclusive to the Xbox One. These exclusive titles are being developed by first-party studios like Remedy and Turn 10, and were promised by Microsoft that they will be ready for release in the first year of the new console’s shelf life.

In an interview with Polygon, Microsoft Studios corporate vice president Phil Spencer had a lot to say about this new development, on what Rare fans can expect, and why such an announcement was kept from the limelight.

“Fans of Rare and Rare IPs I think will be pleased with what we’re going to show at E3,” Spencer said. “We had a limited amount of time today and a lot of story to tell. But Rare remains an incredibly important part of our development capability.”

Spencer goes on to say that this historic IP will play an important role in the future of the Xbox One.

Rare Ltd. was purchased by Microsoft in 2002 and retained rights to their legendary franchises Banjo-Kazooie, Conker, Perfect Dark and Killer Instinct. This partnership led to some of these franchises appearing on the Xbox 360 (XBLA), as well as leading Rare to develop new IPs like Kameo: Elements of Power, Viva Piñata and Kinect Sports exclusively for Microsoft’s console.

Is Killer Instinct the one?

It’s unknown which franchise will be making a comeback, but there has been past developments that might show some hints. Rare’s classic fighting game Killer Instinct had its trademark renewed in Sept. 2012 by Microsoft, leading to the speculation that it will be the historic franchise that will be returning for an Xbox One release.

SOURCE

[SOURCE: http://operationrainfall.com]

If you’ve been waiting for a good opportunity to explore what the PlaySation Network has to offer, this is definitely it. The first volume of the Best of PlayStation Network Collection will include four PSN-exclusive games together for the first time: When Vikings Attack!, Sound Shapes, Tokyo Jungle, and Fat Princess.

The collection is described as being able “to give you a taste of what the PlayStation Store has to offer,” but rest assured that this isn’t just a pack of demos. The collection includes the full version of each game. It will be on sale June 25th for $39.99.

When Vikings Attack!

This game takes place in modern-day Britain, but your enemies are anything but modern. Viking hoards have come to town looking to wreck the place, so it’s up to you to organize the townspeople to defend yourselves against an all-out invasion. When Vikings Attack! features co-op play for up to four players and a versus mode.

Sound Shapes

Sound Shapes is a sort of mesh between platformer and rhythm game that features music from artists like Beck, deadmau5, and Jim Guthrie. You make your way through a colorful but dangerous world to the sound of some catchy tunes. The game also gives players the option to create their own levels to share online.

 Tokyo Jungle

Tokyo Jungle gives you the option of playing as one of 50 different kinds of animals trying to survive in modern day Tokyo. The catch? The entire city is devoid of human life. You don’t know what sort of apocalypse has overcome the human race; but whatever sort of animal you choose to be in the game, it’s up to you to  survive in this new jungle.

Fat Princess

It’s a classic video game conundrum- your princess has been kidnapped and stolen away to another castle. In Fat Princess though, fighting to get her back won’t be so easy. Your enemies have been feeding her nothing but lots and lots of cake, which has made rescuing her a bit… problematic. Your army has five different character classes with unique skills you’ll need to rescue and defend your princess, and there are several different game modes available.

SOURCE

[SOURCE: http://operationrainfall.com]

It was announced in the June issue of Famitsu magazine that the Fate/stay night spinoff manga series, titled Fate/kalied liner Prisma Illya, would be adapted into a 3DS game by Kadokawa Games. The title will be an action-adventure game with card game elements due out in Japan sometime this summer. The standard edition will go for 6,300 yen ($61) and a special edition is priced at 9,240 yen ($90).

The manga series Fate/kalied liner Prisma Illya is an alternate universe reimagining of the world and characters presented in the main Fate/stay night storyline. Illyasviel von Einzbern, the main character of the Fate/kaleid liner universe, lives a normal life as a school girl until the day she is chosen to wield a mysterious power and becomes a magical girl. The third manga series by Type-Moon and Hiroshi Hiroyama is currently underway, and an anime adaptation from Silver Link is set to premiere in July. Voice actresses Mai Kadowaki and Kaori Nazuka will reprise their roles in the game as Illyasviel von Einzbern and Miyu Edelfelt, respectively.

In the upcoming Fate/kalied liner Prisma Illya game, battles will be fought using elemental cards. During battle the top screen will feature character sprites and animations; the bottom screen will show the player’s card deck.

SOURCE

IMAGE SOURCE

[SOURCE: http://operationrainfall.com]

Square Enix has reopened a teaser site for some kind of upcoming announcement. Or not. It’s all rather vague.

For our non-Japanese readers, Gematsu has translated the site to the following:

“As of April 1st we’ve reached our 10th anniversary! We hope you’ll continue supporting us going forward as well!

Well, last time on this site we said “we are thinking about various things.” Now, we are working on a lovely (and a tad heartwarming) site.

As soon as preparations are in order, the counter will start moving. Please wait a little longer. ROCK’N ROLL!”

Right below that is a “timer” that reads 00:46:49.

This site popped up over a month ago on April 1st. It went down sometime in the same day without anything materializing out of it. Given the timing, some have written it off as a part of an April Fool Joke, but Squaresoft did merge with Enix on April 1, 2003. It would make sense for them to capitalize on their 10-year anniversary to do something special. Was the original site intended to announce something that got delayed for internal reasons? Or is Square Enix trying to pull an April Fools prank a month and a half too late?

SOURCE

[SOURCE: http://operationrainfall.com]

It would seem that lucky Japanese 3DS owners have been privy to 3D remastered versions of classic Sega games for a while now, and Altered Beast 3D is just the latest in that trend. This conversion of the classic 1988 arcade game will sport 2 player action and will only cost 600 Yen. It is due to hit the Japanese eShop May 29th, with a Western release thus far unannounced. Here’s hoping we get some of Japan’s remastered Sega classics soon, like 3D Sonic the Hedgehog, 3D Super Hang On, and 3D Space Harrier! In the meantime, take a gander at the pretty pictures.

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[SOURCE: http://operationrainfall.com]

Software Sales

Hardware Sales

After a week of everything falling in the Media Create charts, we get another week of falling sales. Hardware sales are down 18,000 from last week for a total of 73,056 units sold. Most of that comes from falling 3DS sales. For software, we again have only one game eclipsing the 100,000 mark with Summon Night 5 on PSP. Animal Crossing: New Leaf seems to be reaching a saturation point as it drop below 20,000 for the first time. And to make the Top 20 this week, Pokemon Black 2 and White 2 needed to combine to sell 2,168.

But remember, there should be a jump coming in next week’s Media Create charts with several new games coming to Japan. Here’s a list of what I’ve been able to find for games that are coming out in the week of May 20.

• Resident Evil: Revelations HD (Wii U, PS3, Xbox 360)
• Valhalla Knights 3 (Vita)
• Shin Megami Tensei IV (3DS)
• Donkey Kong Country Returns 3D (3DS)

All four should easily find a spot in the Top 20 (and most should stay on the list for a while). So, get ready to see a jump next week.

Source

[SOURCE: http://operationrainfall.com]

SPOILERS FOR EPISODE 7 WILL FOLLOW. YOU HAVE BEEN WARNED.

For anybody that complained about pacing for the first 6 episodes, I think this one proves pretty unequivocally that that’s not going to be an issue going forward; we’re looking at a straight race to the finish. The episode picked up right where the last one left off, with Ledo about to attack a whalesquid. Little did we know at the time that the whalesquid is somehow related to the Hideauze in more than appearance, as Chamber confirms a few episodes later. And lastly, it’s considered extremely bad luck to attack a whalesquid unprovoked, which may or may not have something to do with their rather powerful attack.

The whalesquid made for an elegant and actually dangerous foe. It was good in a show that’s struggled with combat so far.

I’d like to give the animators some credit; this was actually the first battle I felt more engaged in. The unfamiliar surroundings of the water, Chamber’s inability to connect with an attack and the really quick counterattack by the whalesquid made for a more compelling battle than is normal for the show. I still think that if you’re here for mech action, you’re watching the wrong show, but it’s a step in the right direction.

Suitably gross, while also serving a purpose. Well played.

It was really gross to see Chamber decked out from head to toe in Hideauze guts. That accomplished the goal of getting the viewer to see how horrifying killing the whalesquid is, as well as basically squash any chance of him shrugging it off. It’s a brutal detail that we really haven’t seen much from the series at this point; while it has moments of brutality, like when the pirates were literally vaporized, it really doesn’t show exactly how bad things are.

Probably the biggest shocker of the episode.

I will say, I didn’t expect the relationship to be nearly identical between the two. I expected a whalesquid to be something more akin to a giant squid, which would naturally scare Ledo. But to make it an actual Hideauze opens up all kinds of potential. Is it humans that are being the aggressors? Remember that the whalesquid was completely innocuous until Ledo attacked. If so, that would make the human’s way of life in space completely in vain. They attack whalesquids as dangerous beasts, but in reality, the whalesquids are only dangerous because humans attack. That’s a theory anyway, and it really would seem to tie in really well with one of the themes of this series, which seems to be living in harmony by working together.

Kinda changes how you see those flutes how, huh?

Also, the origin of the metal for the flutes was gloriously messed up. I can’t say I expected that to come from the Hideauze itself. What is it now? Is it a symbol of hope, and the value of life that it appeared to be in episode 4? Or is it now something more sinister? It’s crazy…

It’s clear we’re supposed to empathize with Bellows more than Pinion… I’m not sure how much I like that though…

We also get some real conflict between side characters for the first time, as Bellows and Pinion had a little war going. I do wish that Pinion was portrayed in a better light, since he’s a really funny character at times, but it’s pretty clear the anime wants us to take Bellows’s side. I do hope that the coming revelation about his brother redeems Pinion some.

Both pretty and striking This is the kind of scene the anime does very well so far.

There’s also Amy and Ledo fighting, as Ledo wants to do what he believes is his only purpose for existing, and Amy wants what’s best for Ledo. Some people are going to complain about how Amy in the previous two episodes was very heavy on fan service, but she’s still a pretty interesting character and she plays off Ledo really well. I can’t say I dislike her or the direction they’ve taken the character. It remains to be seen how well she’ll continue to get along with Ledo in the future. After all, he did pretty much push her away.

The pod provided a great sense of danger to Gargantia, while providing a reason for Ledo to get upset at the crew.

Lastly, we get the revelation that Pinion wants to take Ledo and part of the fleet to excavate in whalesquid territory. While I do like his reasoning with the other captain that they could dig up true history (remember, this is a civilization that lost all ability for space flight), seeing the captain have a heart attack made for a really tense ending. It also means that Ledo’s not going to have a chance to discover a new purpose; when he gets sucked in as a soldier, he’s unfortunately going to stay one.

It’s going to be interesting to see where Urobuchi takes this in the last 5 episodes. The mech genre already has the most famous deconstruction of all time in Evangelion, so if he goes down that path, it’s not going to be as original seeming as say, Madoka. But at the same time, it’s not a very Urobuchi-like thing for this to all shake out nicely. And even better for the viewers, he’s set up to go in either direction. It makes for an extremely compelling watch, in this writer’s opinion. It may not have the mech action a lot of people wanted, but the show is standing on its own, with room to be one of the best this season.

[SOURCE: http://operationrainfall.com]