UPDATE 260709

Blaaargh 2 I didn't realize the 2nd semester of my final year will be starting this Monday. What have I done during the holiday... Oh well nothing much I suppose. 360-ing, umineko-ing, marathon, what a neet. Too lazy to join this year's winter trip (same location - canberra, melbourne, sydney, skiing at mt.gambier blabla).
And on weekend 2 weeks ago there's Anime Convention (AVCON) held right here in Adelaide - the same day as Daicon in Malaysia. I didn't attend the event, because..well after reading the event timetable, i don't find anything that particularly attract me. Yeah there's cosplay, anime screening (rofl like I would attend this) and such, but I guess it's just me. And the game tournament also didn't attract me too much. Maybe Street Fighter 4 and Gears of War, but the rest aren't to my liking. Dammit we need dota tournament in adelaide!!!1

And next sem will be as butthurting as semester 1. Luckily Biotech doesn't have 6 hours practical, so I only need to endure with Micro prac every week. This time I really need to give my all (more than sem 1), but then I wonder to what extent will I be able to accomplish that, with the increasing animu/games in my list D :

random screenshot.

Summer 2009 anime list

TV

-COBRA THE ANIMATION -Mutobe no Yuushi-
-Kanamemo
-Yoku Wakaru Gendai Mahou
-Element Hunters
-Tokyo Magnitude 8.0
-Ao Hana
-NEEDLESS
-Sora wo manimani
-Umineko no Naku Koro ni
-Spice & Wolf II
-Taisho Yakyuu Musume
-Zan Sayonara Zetsubou Sensei
-Seitokai no Ichizon
-Bakemonogatari
-GA: Geijutsuka Art Design Class
-Umi Monogatari ~Anata ga Ite Kureta Koto~
-Jungle Emperor Leo TV Super Show
-Ukkari Pénélope New Series
-Hetalia Axis Power 2nd season
-Princess Lover
-Canaan
-Weiß Survive
-La Corda D’Oro ~secondo passo~ Episode 2
-Kawa no Hikari
-Fight Ippatsu! Jyuden-chan!!
-Suzu 3 Tarou

OVA/OAD/MOVIE

-To Love Ru vol2&3
-Chinyuuki ~Tarou to Yukai na Nakama-tachi~ (OVA)
-Minamike
-Utawarerumono OVA
-Saint Seiya: The Lost Canvas - Meiou Shinwa (OVA)
-Akane Iro ni Somaru saka Hardcore
-Cobra The Animation: Time Drive (OVA)
-http://www.evangelion.co.jp/
-The Asylum Session (Film)
-Miyamoto Musashi: Souken Ni Haseru Yume (Film)
-DOGS/BULLETS & CARNAGE (OVA)
-Pocket Monster Diamond & Pearl: Arceus’ Conquering of Space-Time (Film)
-Higurashi no Naku Koro ni Rei vol4&5
-Kodono no Jikan 2nd term vol3
-HELLSING ultimate OVA
-Naruto Shippuden: The Will of Fire Still Burns (Film)
-Summer Wars (film)
-Nodame Cantabille OAD
-15 Bishoujo Hyouryuuki (OVA)
-Hottarake no Shima - Haruka to Mahou no Kagami (Film)
-AIKa ZERO (OVA)
-Kara no Kyoukai 7: Satsujin Kousatsu ~ Part 2 (Film)
-Mahou Sensei Negima! Mouhitotsu no Sekai (OVA)

.....................................................

Before Spring, I planned to watch only a few animu because of my study, but end up watching a whole bunch of shows. I guess it's really not easy for me to ditch watching animu D :
Anyway this summer offers some really interesting animu. Those definitely going into my list are Umineko no Naku Koro Ni, Sayonara Zetsubou Sensei 3, and, as you might expect, Spice and Wolf II :3
There are some others that looks interesting to me (like Canaan, Bakemonogatari and Taisho Baseball Girls), but I'll reserve my judgment until I watch the first few episodes of the show, as I always do before.

[xbox360] Devil May Cry 4

Devil May Cry 4 on wikipedia

This is going to be another short review I guess. I am one of those people who are late in grabbing this game because, at first I am planning to buy DMC4 on PS3 (because from other review I read, your hand are much at ease in handling the combos). But then it seems like I need to stall my plan for ps3 (at least not within this year). So, time to order this game from Play-Asia. I think it took me less than a week to finish the game, well I'm playing in Human mode after all, there's no difficulty at all throughout the game in this mode.

Gameplay: 9.5/10 (AWESOME)
well, what more comes to mind when we talk about DMC series? An epic action game from Konami with lots of amazing combos and tricks to pull off, for the sake of completing mission or just merely for self satisfaction. There are 2 playable characters, Nero and the well-known Son of Sparda, Dante. Both character has different style of play, where Nero is more into speedy combos with the ability to grab and drag enemies with his demonic right arm (aka Devil Bringer), while Dante have the ability to use ALL his style from DMC3. Trickster. Swordmaster. Gunslinger. Royal Guard. On top if that, all these style are interchangeable in real time, unlike DMC3 where we need to set up the style before starting a mission. Which means, Dante is capable to pull off those ridiculous SSS rank combos much easier than Nero. Well at least I find it much easier with Dante than Nero, given the wide range of styles and weapon he can switch.

Story: 7.5/10 (Satisfying)
Hm...to be honest I don't give a damn about the story this time, although I still understand what's going on :/ Oh well at least Trish and Lady made their cameos.
Wiki gives a complete summary of the story, exactly what's happening in the cutscenes from start to finish.

Graphic/Music: 8.5/10 (great)
I find the landscapes and buildings beautifully designed, fit with the theme of the game. I especially love the tropical part after we passed the stage in the church. Although one might argue that there's not much graphical difference between this and previous DMC, especially when the screen brought you to the inner surrounding of the buildings. The music composition also has not disappoint me ever since the first installment of the game.

Others:
Some of the secret mission are extremely hard to accomplish, or frustrating in some cases. Like collecting 99 red orbs within time limit, using the appeared platform to cross the area whilst the annoying floating monsters (Mephistos) keep you accompany, execute consecutive Royal Guards, and some others. One must really be familiar with the mechanics of the game in order to accomplish all of the Secret Mission. Unfortunately I don't have enough time to familiarize myself with all the skills/tricks, so I only did a few of the SM.
There's also survival mode unlocked upon beating the game in Devil Hunter mode, called Bloody Palace. I'll just say that it's bloody hard to go all the way to floor 101.
Achievement (xbox360 exclusive features) - only real hardcore would be able to accomplish 100g for DMC4, I suppose. Looking at the list of Achievements, I can say that it is as crazy as Battle Trophies achievements for Star Ocean 4.

i think that's all I have to say about this game. Great game overall, especially for those longed for some hack and slash action.
kthanxbye

exam T_T

less than 1 month till my third year semester 1 final exam D :

although i only take 2 subjects, this is still going to be tough for me since the result of this exam can possibly effect my Honours next year. Plus there is only 1 day gap between both paper. Darn I'm going to be a complete hikikomori during this study week, engulfing myself with buncha lecture notes/books/journals/etc.

for some reason lately I'm enjoying myself doing infection&immunity's bioinformatics assignment :3

on a side note, recently garena pubbers always made me laugh :3

apparently someone got obsessed with K-ON and use the show name as garena nick O_o

and...

drow with 2 boots D :

click to show D :

Boot of Travel+Power Treads....oh waw

The game went sorta like 3 v 5 for us (me, zeus and akasha) as drow seems to be totally new to dota, which pissed naix off and leave the game quite early in the game. Despite having squishy heroes against Sentinel's lineup, we still owned them hard with our superior AoE spells, forcing BH and Lyncan to ragequit lulz.

ps: my garena nick - SanzeniN >_>

Springing [part 2]

continued from where I left



Saki
official/MAL

comments: The order of my thought about this show: boobs > mahjong > tacos > awsm seiyuus. Taking all into account, this should be in my watchlist, but for other reason lol. I can say I am literally nub in mahjong as there's only 1 kind of mahjong I ever played - in Suikoden. But I gotta love the specially effect they used during the game especially, although sometimes it looks exaggerating.

verdict: **** (will watch)



Sengoku Basara
official/MAL

comments: I really love Koei's game, especially Samurai Warriors (less for Dynasty Warriors). Sengoku Basara/Devil King is not an exception either, although I don't play the game as much as I play Samurai Warriors. A show full of manliness, so they say. Doesn't matter to me though, I just watch to enjoy the battle in every episode centered toward the Japanese warring period. Although this is the show I really watch to watch, but the availability of normal sized sub prevent me on doing so in weekly basis. FFS there's even an episode with 8GB in size, seriously what the fuck?

verdict: **** (will watch)



Shangri-la
official/MAL

comments: hm...where should I start? I don't even know, as basically there's many things I don't understand while watching this (currently still at ep3). The heavy plot dealing with environment&global warming, supernatural (?) with some energetic little girl trying her best to protect the future for everyone certainly got me D:
Like Pandora, it might be a matter of time before I drop this.

verdict: *** (watch but not priority)



Shinkyoku Soukai Plyphonica Crimson S
official/MAL

comments: Not much to comment either, as the sub is slowpoke.jpg. My observation from the first 2 episode tells me that the story will mostly focus on Phoron/Corti's past, most likely prequel to season 1. At first I am a bit surprised with the change in character art, good thing it went for the better, at least to me.

verdict: *** (watch but not priority)



Tears to Tiara
official/MAL

comments: Since I have played the PC game (Leaf = Utawarerumono = Tears to Tiara = profit), I definitely looks forward to the anime. So far it has yet to disappoint me, especially the fact that the anime adapt PS3 version's character design, which made even Ermin looks lovely. Another enjoyable fantasy adventure animu, especially with the light comedy imbued occasionally.

verdict: ***** (definitely must watch)



Valkyria Chronicles
official/MAL

comments: Also love the show as far as episode 5 goes. The animation quality is easy to the eyes, what more it maintain the similar style used by the game, which certainly made it looks unique and refreshing to the viewer. Sometimes I can't help but thinking about Toshokan Sensou because the similarity of animation (in term of uniqueness), military theme, VA of the main female character, and her relationship with the main character, although Welkin is not as hot tempered/tsundere as Doujou.

verdict: **** (will watch)



Queen's Blade
official/MAL
comments: hm...one word: boobs.
verdict: ** (watching for the lulz)



Tayutama: Kiss of My Deity
official/MAL

comments: Watching the first few episodes and finally unable to prevent myself from dropping the show. I guess I am not fond with this kind of character arts, although to some extent I do enjoy Goshushou-sama Ninomiya-kun (same character design)

verdict: ** (dropped)


others dropped from watchlist:
Eden of the East
Natsu no Arashi

Sakakibara Yui - End Prophecy

Title: Sakakibara Yui (FES Phantasm) - End Prophecy
Release date: 8th May 2009)

tracklist:

• 01 Mikkyou no Kubikazari (Black Mass Ver.)
• 02 Shokuzai no Erotica
• 03 Zaika ni Keiyaku no Chi wo
• 04 Yami ni Hikari wo Tomosu Mono
• 05 Haritsuke no Missa (To the distance Ver.)
• 06 Haruka Naru Idiyona (Heavy Generation Ver.)
• 07 Allelujah no Fukuin (Extra Solo Ver.)
• 08 Glajioul
• 09 Nageki no Arabesque

direct download (LonE release): megaupload

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Consisting some of her previous singles, including from Chaos;Head Phantasm Disc (Zaika ni Keiyaku no Chi wo and Glajioul) and [xbox360] Chaos;Head Noah ED single (Allelujah no Fukuin and Mikkyou no Kubikazari).
her songs so turned me on ;3

SO4 insight: Blindside

Just feel like killing some time, after lurking some vids on u-tu-be.

So what's the deal with blindside? Well according to the mini guide of Star Ocean 4: The Last Hope; "When your character is being targeted by an enemy, you can nimbly move away behind the enemy's back and disappear from its line of sight, a move known as blindsiding".

Here's a video showing all character's blindsides. Credit to MasterLL

Definitely love Reimi's acrobatic blindside luls. Some of the character's blindside are awesome, like Miracle's zigzag run and Edge's simple dodge, while others kinda made me laugh, especially Lyme's :3

Blindside facts:

• With B button held, tilt Left Stick to perform a blindside. You'll slip behind the enemy's back, causing it to lose sight of you and enter "Blindsided condition"
• Attacking an enemy in Blindsided condition guarantees a critical hit on the first strike (useful for building battle gauge for exp bonus)
• Don't hold B button for too long or you'll become fatigued and stunned for a moment
  
• Blindside is strengthened by BEAT:S
• At level 5 of BEAT:S, it enable Chain Combo entry during blindsiding. Meaning, you can use chain combos (Trigger button) right after executing blindside rather than using normal attacks.
• Level 5 BEAT:S also enable continuous chain cancel of chain combos using triggers, called Chain Exceed, so long as you are not staggered and have the mp to support the skill. However the damage dealt will be significantly reduced. Hence, this is rarely used except for fun.
• Example of Chain Exceed:

Bonuses to Blindside from BEAT:S

• Rank 5: Chain Combo entry during Blindsides
• Rank 9: Double Blindsides enabled (avoids counters)
• Rank 13: Blindside charging enabled while attacking
• Rank 17: Freeze nearby enemies when Blindsiding
• Rank 20: "No Guard" status while Blindside charging

Spice and Wolf OVA

aka Spice and Wolf II episode 00: Wolf and Amber Melancholy.

An OVA of Spice and Wolf II was announced to be released on April 30th before the airing of the second season. It's called episode 0 and will be bundled with Dengeki Visual Novel "Spice and Wolf: Ohkami to Kin no Mugiho". The episode 0 will not be aired on TV.

sauce: MAL

A gold treasure for S&W fan ahead of season 2 coming this Summer. The subs were releases a few days after the release, and all I can say is, I am very pleased with this episode, thoroughly an enjoyable episode, especially watching Horo's antics all day long :3

Click me to read spoilers

By chance, Lawrence&Horo met Nora at an inn and have a drink, but Horo never feel comfortable around her, as usual

Horo's effort to gain Lawrence's attention ended up in frustration :3

...as Lawrence kept on chatting with Nora about various stuff (and her expression when she try to munch the meat steak). Horo: "I will remember this along with my rage" lulz

Something I can never understand in this episode - the joke that Lawrence tries to deliver. maybe it's just a poor joke luls

her wagging tail never failed to amuse me

touching nose - a symbol of intimacy among the wolf, which is like a kiss with humans

..stumbled and hit her head upon hearing about the drink that Lawrence had - apple cider :3

refreshing analogy to describe which meal fit horo best at her condition

Horo doesn't seem like an ill person whenever she heard anything related to apple lulz. But she is witty enough..

...to show a face Lawrence could never oppose :3

She had a nightmare soon after that, which led to her teary eyes upon waking up..

...stretching her arm, wanting Lawrence to pick her up from bed. And doesn't want Lawrence to leave her alone in the quiet inn.

talk about meal again. Her mood quickly changed upon hearing Nora's name again lawl

showing some bright face when she heard the door being knocked, hoping for Lawrence's return... crushed when she saw Nora together with him :3

I wonder if Nora understand what's underneath Horo's question at the end of the episode, seeing both of them laughing together, leaving Laurence with no choice but to laugh in wonder :3

Lovely episode overall, looking forward to season 2 ;D