Month: July 2015

The Journey Begins – Final Fantasy Explorers Ventures to ANZ

Published by Kane Bugeja

Final Fantasy. That’s enough of an opening description I think. Those two words have carried the promise of new games since…since a long time ago, almost immediately removing any sense of truth from the title. IT’ll honestly be a bigger shock when the eventual final Final Fantasy appears…but I digress. This particular notice of fantasy goes out to the handheld gamers out there, in particular to those wielding the dual-screened 3D capable iteration of Nintendo. Dubbed Final Fantasy Explorers, this 3DS adventure throws players into a world of faces new and old alike, pitting them and their party against equally familiar and unfamiliar foes. Combat wise, players will be able to choose from eight different classes, akin to the earlier instalments of the franchise, such as Paladin and Dragoon, with unique classes such as Freelancer also joining the list. Continuing the combat topic, Explorers makes use of the 3DS Wi-Fi in order to enact multiplayer upon the world within. So take on the world alone or join with friends, or even strangers, in order to bring …

Undead Beware – Onechanbara Z2 Chaos Reveals New Trailer

Published by Kane Bugeja

Ah zombies. That most Romero of monsters that has clawed into almost as many forms of media as poor humans within said media. Which is to say a lot…there are a lot of zombie products out there. Even the concept of noticeably attractive zombie slayers, swathing through hordes of the undead isn’t exactly a new concept by this point. That being said, not all of them are this…forward, with the concept. So…there’s really not much to say that hasn’t been said already (by me, as found here). Choose your bikini clad warrior and show the plethora of undead former-humans the ol’ what for. Dismemberment and deliberately angled camera shots await in a world where the word inhibition must never have existed, or it’s long dead if it ever did. So, following that lead, why not kill a bunch more stuff. It’s not technically bad, on account of enemies being undead and all…so go wild. And remember to have fun, that’s what really matters in an apocalyptic situation after all. -30-

Class is in Session Again – Danganronpa Another Episode Nets Some New Screenshots

Published by Kane Bugeja

Some students just can’t catch a break can they? Just when you think all of the craziness is over, when all of the problems of the world are on their way towards a solution, Monokuma pops his 50/50 face back into frame and stirs things up once more. This particular jaunt of chaos, Monokuma has stands alongside a group of unique children who have decided to create their ultimate paradise…by removing all adults. Owing to its nature as “Another Episode” this particular instalment in the Danganronpa franchise takes a divergence from the established gameplay mechanics, adding some more action to the courtroom. Namely, this is done by giving you a Hacking Gun and taking you out of the courtroom…hooray for the justice process. In more official, and relevant-to-this-particular-article, terms: “This new batch of screenshots demonstrates the power of the eight types of Truth Bullets in your arsenal. Switching between bullets such as Break, Burn, Dance, Detect, Knockback, Link, Move, and Paralyze, the player can control Komaru and utilize these in order to traverse Towa City. …

Premium Bandai Reveals Official Replica Of Tai’s Signature Goggles

Published by Frank Inglese

Happy days for Digimon fans living in Japan! Premium Bandai, over the past few months, have been rolling out the awesome merchandise in celebration of the upcoming Digimon Adventure Tri series of animated films, each item looking better than the last with the latest being a full-scale replica of the original DigiDestined leader’s signature goggles. Incase having a fully-functioning Digivice wasn’t quite enough to make you feel like a true DigiDestined, surely these goggles will! As you may remember, Taichi “Tai” Kamiya was the original wearer of this legendary piece of eye-gear back in Digimon Adventure, but then passed it down to Daisuke Motomiya (Davis) so he could start his adventure as the DigiDestined leader in Digimon Adventure 02. This pair of goggles started a trend that has only been broken once throughout the series thanks to my personal favorite DigiDestined Marcus Damon (Masaru Daimon) of Digimon Data Squad, who refused to don his own pair of icon leader goggles. Officially titled The Memorial Digimon Goods: Taichi Goggles, this new item is now up for …

5 Hidden Gems Available For Streaming On AnimeLab

Published by Luke Halliday

Madman’s streaming service AnimeLab is only a little over a year old but it sports a catalogue of series that is not only filled with titles currently airing in Japan but also a plethora of hidden gems of the past. While the current ongoing seasons of anime are always very exciting, sometimes there are some lesser known or previously overlooked series that are shining brightly waiting for you to discover them. These are a few of the special hidden gems streaming on AnimeLab: Robotics;Notes From the team behind hit series Steins;Gate (which is also available on AnimeLab), Robotics;Notes follows a group of friends as they attempt to build a robot. It’s a simple premise that is underpinned by a complex government conspiracy plot involving a precised solar flare induced apocalyptic cataclysm, not unlike Steins;Gate’s deeper story beneath its intriguing time travel premise. While Steins;Gate is highly regarded and considered by many a modern classic, Robotics;Notes didn’t quite receive the same fanfare for reasons I cannot begin to fathom. Robotics;Notes is a delightful science adventure in the …

Dragon Quest XI: In Search Of Departed Time Announced For The PS4 And 3DS

Published by Frank Inglese

You know, it’s awesome that Square Enix are getting creative with their off-shoot Dragon Quest titles like Heroes, Builders and Monsters Joker 3, but what the fans really long for deep inside is another addition to the main line of numerical titles; one that’s made specifically for the new age of video games, and one that’s not just an updated re-release of an older title. This is why Square Enix’s announcement of Dragon Quest XI: In Search Of Departed Time is so incredibly exciting! Announced at a special Dragon Quest-centric conference, Square Enix revealed this new title saying that it is currently in development for both the PlayStation 4 and the Nintendo 3DS. It was also briefly mentioned that a title may be considered for Nintendo’s mystical new console; the Nintendo NX. Apart from actually revealing the game to audiences, Square Enix did their very best not to say anything more than what they needed to in order to get the worldwide Dragon Quest audience hyper excited for the upcoming title. Showing two early gameplay …

We All Need A Little Support – Dragon Ball Z: Extreme Butoden AU/NZ Pre-Order Bonuses Revealed

Published by Frank Inglese

Come on! Surely you know by now that there’s a new Dragon Ball Z video game for the Nintendo 3DS that’s only a few months away! It’s called Dragon Ball Z: Extreme Butoden and it’s going to bring the incredibly face-paced action of Dragon Ball Z to the most popular handheld system of the new age. Bandai Namco Entertainment are bringing this game down to Australia and New Zealand, and with it they’re also bringing some pretty exciting preorder bonuses that will surely be must haves for fans of the long-running series and it’s video games. Head into local video game retailers now to pre-order the game because doing so will get you some pretty nice in-game bonuses: Not only will you be given a download code for a previous Dragon Ball Z fighting title Super Butoden 2, which is making it’s way to the West for the very first time thanks to the new game, but you’ll also be getting six support characters that can each be added to your Dragon Ball Z dream team. …

Liked It? Why Not Play it Again! – Sword Art Online Re: Hollow Fragment Hits The PSN This August

Published by Frank Inglese

It was about a year ago that the original Sword Art Online: Hollow Fragment video game first hit the PlayStation Vita across Australia and New Zealand courtesy of Bandai Namco Entertainment. We here at SnapThirty got the chance to review the Vita version and it was actually given quite a good score despite the fact that I’m not too big a fan of the series. The game brings the world of Sword Art Online to a medium that actually allowed me to enjoy it so, as you can imagine, I’m actually pretty excited for it to hit the PlayStation Network again only this time it’s for the PlayStation 4. Yes, Bandai Namco Entertainment are releasing the game, once again, but instead of it hitting the PlayStation Vita, it will call the PlayStation 4 it’s home, just like many other new titles coming out of Japan. The new version of the game will have updated visuals and will serve as a hype-building title for the next game in the series; Sword Art Online: Lost Song. Bandai …

Lupin The Third (Live-Action) – Review

Published by Frank Inglese

Dangerous is a man who knows what he wants and knows exactly how to get it, dangerous is a woman greedier and more cunning than that man, dangerous is a team of international thieves each more skilled than the last, and dangerous is the one willing to betray them all. Directed by critically acclaimed Japanese filmmaker Ryuhei Kitamura, the live-action Lupin The Third film follows another of the master thief’s standalone exploits as he joins a syndicate titled The Works lead by one Thomas Dawson; a man well-known in the underground community who was also quite familiar with Lupin’s famed grandfather. Tasked with finding the legendary Crimson Heart, the team is divided when one of it’s members reveals their true motives for collaborating and does something they’ll quickly come to regret. A mission to collect an ancient treasure becomes a journey for revenge as the surviving team members band together, once again, to get back what was once in their hands, and to avenge a life that meant so much to them all. With Lupin now …

Halcyon Daze: Episode One – Looking Back On Megaman

Published by SnapThirty

The start of a new series of SnapThirty videos, Halcyon Daze takes audiences through the younger days of the SnapThirty crew as they discuss some of the Animes, Mangas, Television Shows and Video Games that made up a great deal of their childhood. On the first episode, Frank takes viewers on a wild ride through the fictional timeline of Keiji Inafune’s Megaman. From the original games to the new animated television series, follow Frank as he rants, raves, and rambles on about the magical franchise that made up most of his childhood. -30-

Megaman, Kirby, Marth and Link Nendoroids Showcased At Wonder Festival 2015

Published by Frank Inglese

I love waking up to good news, it’s a sign that the day is going to be great, and there’s no better news than what pertains to the Blue Bomber himself; Megaman…as well as a couple others, of course. Over the weekend, Wonder Festival 2015 was held in Chiba, Japan, and like any good pop culture festival of it’s kind, many new items were showcased, but none more exciting than the Nintendo Nendoroids of which this article is about. Megaman, Kirby, Marth (Fire Emblem), Link (Majora’s Mask) and N (Pokemon). Each of these new Nintendo (and Capcom) Nendoroid figurines were shown at the festival to the delight of con-goers and Nintendo fans alike. The Nendoroid line of posable figurines are among some of the world’s most popular, so it makes sense that Nintendo would continue to get them produced. I’m very much excited to see a Megaman figurine featured on the list, but what we have here is a lineup of characters special to many people, so I can only assume there are some of …

Psycho Pass (Xbox One) Confirmed for English Localisation

Published by Jahanzeb Khan

  After much speculation and wishful thinking it’s now official: the Psycho Pass video game adaptation will be getting an English localisation. Based on the anime of the same name, Psycho Pass: Mandatory Happiness is an Xbox One exclusive visual novel adventure, and is part of Microsoft Japan’s initiative to make the console cool among Japanese gamers. The Xbox brand has never enjoyed much success in Japan, and in fact its commercial performance has only declined with time. Still, the recent shake up of the Xbox division in Japan is pointing towards some positive changes, and the English localisation of Mandatory Happiness is indicative of the start of a beautiful new trend. The Xbox platform is no stranger to visual novels, but these have been strictly tied to Japan with no attempts at translating to other languages. Steins;Gate, which is now readily available in English, was actually an Xbox 360 exclusive for the longest time if you can believe. Psycho Pass: Mandatory Happiness will be receiving an Asian edition, which will contain Chinese and English …

Parasyte: Part II (Live Action) Review

Published by Kane Bugeja

The aliens have invaded, humanity is, for the most part, unaware of any disturbance and life carries on much the same. That is unless you are the one person on Earth who has been forcibly combined with one of said aliens, parasitic in nature, and predatorial to your species. Add to that the fact that you are a fifteen year old high school student, an age bracket really not designed to handle such change and trauma. Got that? Cool, now you have a pretty good idea about the events and mindset that have afflicted our protagonist Shinichi over the course of Part I. Poor guy still has to get through Part II. Jumping off from the conclusion of its predecessor, with the aid of a recollective montage, Part II throws us into the more legally appropriate side of the anti-parasite invasion force, otherwise known as the police. Possessing a surprising amount of information and planning, said police/special forces present something that is all too rare in a story that features a singular, powerful protagonist; a credible …

Inio Asano’s ‘Goodnight, Pun Pun’ Licensed by Viz Media, I Am Happy Now

Published by Luke Halliday

Viz Media have made a rather pleasant announcement today that they have acquired the license for Goodnight, Pun Pun, the magnum opus of iconic counterculture modern manga artist Inio Asano. Goodnight, Pun Pun follows a young boy’s journey to adulthood as he experiences love, loss, friendship, pain and all of the things that come with growing up. It is a story about the loss of innocence and the acceptance of the harsh reality that is adulthood. Asano uniquely depicts Pun Pun as a cartoonish bird and as he grows older the cartoonish form becomes a more darker being, serving as a visual representation of his evolution as a person. It is this kind of introspective and thought provoking work that has made Inio Asano a rebellious voice of our generation in the manga world, taking on the issues and topics that most modern manga dares not to. Viz Media have confirmed that they will release the first volume of Goodnight, Pun Pun in 2016. This is great news for Asano fans and I for one …

New ‘Lupin the Third’ 2015 Anime Trailer Leaked, Thanks For That Italy!

Published by Luke Halliday

You gotta love the Italians. Not only did they give us the give of the calzone, but they also have given us the gift of the first look at the upcoming 2015 Lupin the Third anime series. The leak comes from Italian TV channel Italia 1 who released a promotional trailer for the series which is set to debut in Italy on August 29th several weeks before it does in Japan. The series is set to take place in San Morino which I believe is a place in Italy and will likely feature Lupin getting entangled in all kinds of Italian themed hinjinks like making pizza, being in the mafia, getting angry about things and of course having an unruly moustache. Also I think Rome is in Italy which is also pretty cool. Imagine if Lupin was to go to Rome and do some things that Lupin does in Rome. Do keep in mind though, I failed Geography so don’t take my word for it. But enough of my poor attempts at providing knowledge on …

Seraph of the End: Vampire Reign Volume 5 Review

Published by Kane Bugeja

When you live in a world swarmed by demons, vampires and creatures that defy classification, the one thing you can be thankful for is the ease with which you can differentiate friend from foe. After all, it’s not exactly difficult to tell a human apart from a skycraper sized abomination, even vampires have those fangs and unmistakeable bloodlust…they’re also probably already biting you if you’re close enough to focus on the details. But what if, just maybe, there were enemies within? What if there were those who stood alone amongst the survivors? What if you couldn’t trust a human? Following the rather explosive volume that preceded it, this particular instalment of Seraph of the End dwells in a more conversational realm. Having been involved in a sizeable vampire attack, the Shinoa Company is called in by the illustrious Hiragi family, rulers of the Imperial Demon Army…you know, like how all military forces are dictated by a single family. Though I suppose that does call back to historical Japan in its own way, talk about history …

Pokken Tournament Will Be Coming To A Dave & Busters Near You

Published by Frank Inglese

Australia is a wonderful country, but it’s not a country that features establishments like Dave & Busters wherein which an individual can sit down for a meal, turn around and play some of the latest arcade machines to be released. Places like that simply don’t exist down under, and it burns me up inside! You North Americans consider yourselves lucky, not just because you have access to restaurant/arcade hybrids like Dave & Busters but because the upcoming fighting title Pokken Tournament is set to be tested in the USA through Dave & Busters locations across the country. Kevin Bachus, the Senior Vice President of Entertainment and Game Strategy for Dave & Busters, recently held his very own Reddit AMA wherein which he was questioned about the localisation of this arcade title. Replying with confidence, Bachus detailed the relationship between the restaurant chain and Bandai Namco America saying that they’re more excited about the North American release of Pokken Tournament than they are of the new Tekken. The exact locations of these test machines has yet …

Bandai Premium Reveals The Digimon Adventure Tri Complete Selection Animation Digivice

Published by Frank Inglese

Don’t be confused by the long name, and don’t be confused by the product itself, this is not a crazy knock-off toy, and this is NOT the same Digivice model Bandai announced quite some time ago in celebration of the franchise’s 15th anniversary…this product is on an entirely different level.  Most fans of Digimon, back when it first burst onto the scene, got the rare chance to grab themselves one of the original Digivices. I, unfortunately, was a little late to the party, but that doesn’t mean I didn’t enjoy the snacks and drinks. A while back, Bandai revealed that they will be releasing two new versions of the original Digivice; one modeled after Tai’s unit and the other modeled after Matt’s. Those, as mentioned above, were developed and released in celebration of the franchise’s 15th anniversary. While they did have some connection to brand-new series of movies titled Digimon Adventure Tri, they were mostly brought back to build hype and excite those of us who were fans long ago. As if that weren’t enough to get …

Gangsta Volume Six – Review

Published by Frank Inglese

Gangsta is set in a city that is almost constantly on the verge of caving in on itself. Run by four Mafia heads, there’s a constant struggle with each of them trying to claw their way to the top. They’re all very dignified and they play nice with each other to maintain their respective facades, but with The Destroyers in town causing trouble and The Hunters on the prowl tying up loose ends, this gives one of the families the chance to launch themselves above the rest by doing something more sinister than you can imagine. Something that will throw off the balance of Ergastulum in a way like never before. Volume six sees the end of one conflict which naturally leads into the beginning of another. Delico, still searching for his twin sister, continues along the path of reconciliation with his partner Yang, and Galahad stays as strong as possible for the sake of the Christiano’s while mourning the death of someone that was once very close to him. Volume six is one of …

Outbreak Company Review

Published by Kane Bugeja

Admit it, if you’re a fan of the fictional world you’ve wondered what it would be like if fantasy took that one impossible step into reality. If the magic and creatures and adventures and characters you watched on screen or on paper actually existed. Well as it stands, that hasn’t happened yet. It’s a shame I know, so all we can do is hope and ironically rely on fiction once more. To witness a fictional world wherein it is possible for one to enter a fictional world…one inside that one. It’s meta I know, but it’s the best we’ve got. Shin’ichi Kano is what you would call an otaku, plain and simple. Having taken to a life of seclusion after high school, due in no small part to being turned down by the girl of his dreams, Shin’ichi’s life is changed by an online quiz. Not the most illustrious beginning to an adventure across dimensions, but that’s how it happened. After gaining a perfect score in said test, comprised solely of anime and manga based questions, Shin’ichi …

Nobunagun Review

Published by Kane Bugeja

Those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it.. A sentiment that has lead many a person to call back to days past in an attempt to procure a better future. Of course, when Santayana said this I highly doubt he was considering the potential for an alien incursion. Yet this is what anime has opened the door to, an interpretation of wisdom that pits figures long gone, yet far from forgotten, against hideous beings that do their damndest to defy expectation. I suppose in a world as infinite as that of the fictitious domain, it is far from an impossibility, but still…I don’t think anyone pictured the history having such a lively impact on the present. As long as fiction and space decided to cross streams and explode into the sci-fi genre, aliens have been an ever looming threat upon the denizens of Earth. As said genre has evolved, so too, conveniently enough, have said alien threats, a concept taken to its logical extreme via your helpful friends over at Nobunagun. Piggybacking on …

Fight Like An Animal – Mysterious Street Fighter V Character Necalli Revealed

Published by Frank Inglese

Not too long ago, Capcom announced that the classic Street Fighter character Ken Masters is set to return to the battlefield for their upcoming title Street Fighter V. At the very end of his introduction trailer a mysterious figure was shown, one that caught the eye of many fans of the series, and one that could not be properly figured out. Some believed that it was the demon fighter Akuma, while others (most notably Luke) believed that it was some odd version of Blanka seeing as Capcom had hinted at his return for the new game. No matter which of the older characters you thought it would be…you’d be very much wrong because this marked man is someone you’ve never seen before. Named Necalli, this creature-like fighter brings an air of ferocity to the World Warrior Tournament. Unlike many of the other fighters in the game’s long list, Necalli does not have a style of his own, instead he fights using nothing but his basic animal instincts and a strange yet powerful ability that changes not …

Hyperdimension Neptunia Re;Birth 3: V Generation Review

Published by Kane Bugeja

Welcome to Gameindustri, a world not unlike our own…you know, except for the personified game consoles who serve as guardian deities…and all of the monsters. Ok, so it’s not exactly like our world, but…I’m not really sure where I’m going with this. Regardless, Gameindustri is a crazy land of fun, drama and tension, centred around the concept that nations are formed solely around their loveable lady leaders and the gaming hardware said leaders can churn out. Truly a paradise for gamers this world over, but, as we all know, all is never peaceful within the game industry. Now, for those of you who have perchance strolled through Hyperdimension Neptunia Re;Birth 1 and/or two, you may wonder why I am reintroducing you to the world you know so well. Is it because I am polite? Maybe. Is it because I am appealing to those newcomers to the franchise? Maybe. Or maybe it’s because the plot starter in this particular instalment involves good ol’ Neptune being thrown into a parallel dimension. Yes, it’s the last one (though …

The King Of Monsters Is Back – Godzilla Now Available

Published by Frank Inglese

Gone but never lost, Godzilla returns once again as the king of monsters we all known him to be! Bandai Namco Entertainment are incredibly pleased to announce that the PlayStation 3 and PlayStation 4 action title Godzilla has now been made available for digital download across Australia and New Zealand! This new game brings to life the destructive power of the world’s most powerful Kaiju in ways we’ve never seen before. While old-school Kaiju films and terrible Hollywood remakes show what a powerful creature like Godzilla would do in real life, this new game allows you to take control of the reptilian God and his monstrous opponents so that you’ll be able to feel what it is like to be your very own Kaiju! Developed by Japanese videogame studio NATSUME ATARI INC., GODZILLA gives players control of one of the most famous and destructive Kaiju (special effects monsters) in entertainment history. As Godzilla, players will have the power to trample and lay waste to cities. Players will also have to collect G-Energy which can be used …

Changing The Game – Street Fighter V Kicks Purchasable DLC To The Curb

Published by Frank Inglese

Buying and playing a video game should be as simple as buying and playing it, but that is no longer the case. We live in an age wherein which video games are released incomplete. Us, the players, are forced to update time and time again thanks to new features added to a new title weeks after initial release. Some of these updates are known as DLC and some of the developers behind the games practically force the players to use even more real-life money to add to a game that, for all intents and purposes, should have been complete upon release. Capcom has mastered this style of money-making with it’s more recent Street Fighter titles that are released over and over again with mostly the same content bar maybe a handful of new characters and playable stages, so why have they decided to make a change with Street Fighter V? We have no idea, but it’s damn exciting that they have! Capcom has released a great deal of information regarding their upcoming title Street Fighter V, …

A Brand-New Pokemon Has Finally Been Revealed But Not In The Way You Think

Published by Frank Inglese

  Not too long ago, we here at SnapThirty brought you news of a mysterious new Pokemon teased in some early leaks of the latest CoroCoro magazine issue. This Pokemon, which many people consider to be an evolution of X and Y’s Zygarde, made it’s silhouetted debut in a quick trailer for the third Pokemon XY movie that played right after the Japanese screening of the latest Pokemon movie; Hoopa And The Clash Of Ages. Well, over the weekend, Japanese audiences got a chance to catch the new movie as well as the trailer for the upcoming film, which has yet to be named, but there was something even more interesting about it that goes very much beyond the gargantuan shadow monster shown in the leaked screenshots; a brand-new Pokemon. Serebii, the Pokemon-centric news site, have posted an interesting article regarding this new Pokemon that happens to contain sketches from one movie-goer that made sure to pay close attention to the little monster so that it’s image could be replicated and spread around the world …

Kamen Rider Drive D-Solid Heroes Figure Unboxing and Review [Rare Figure]

Published by Luke Halliday

During my stay in Japan I became pretty fascinated with this wild TV series called Kamen Rider Drive. It is basically about this guy ‘Kamen Rider’ who drives a motor bike and a car and a flying motor bike car and just generally kicks all kind of ass. While I didn’t exactly understand the show I developed a love for it. Now back home in Australia I’ve got my hands on a rare Kamen Rider Drive model (D-Solid Heroes Series Type Speed) that was released exclusively in arcades across Japan in Crane Games. How did I get my hands on this rare model you ask? 20 bucks and a stop in at my local Hobbyco, of course! I decided to film my unboxing of this rare Kamen Rider Drive model and give it a good ole’ SnapThirty review for your viewing pleasure. Check out the video below and if you can please explain how to put on the plastic bit that would be greatly appreciated, thanks! -30-

Terra Formars Volume Six – Review

Published by Frank Inglese

An Earth day lasts twenty four hours. Do you know how long a full day on Mars lasts? Not too much longer than that, maybe only about forty minutes. This means that Earth and Mars have similar rotations. Now if you were to ask me how long a day on Mars lasts after only reading through Madman Entertainment’s hit Manga Terra Formars, I’d probably tell you it lasts a great deal longer. Actually, if we’re determining the length of a Mars day going strictly off of the Manga’s release schedule…a complete Mars day lasts for almost five months, but I don’t know why you’d determine the length of another planet’s day by using the release schedule of a popular science-fiction series. I most likely would, this is why I’m a writer for an online publication and noy an astronaut. We’re now into the sixth volume of Terra Formars, five of which have focused on the soldiers of Annex I and one of which works as somewhat of a prequel to the events of the series’ …

Food Wars! (Shokugeki No Soma) Volume Three and Four – Review

Published by Frank Inglese

How did we get so lucky? Over the past two months, Madman Entertainment have been releasing the Food Wars! Manga in pairs, I assume so that they can catch up to Viz Media’s North American release schedule which is already up to volume eight! Despite the reason why, I just hope the Manga keeps coming at this pace because I’ll be damned if I have to go a month without reading at least a single volume of this Shonen Jump Advanced food fest! Yeah, that’s how much I’m liking it so far. There may be some of you out there who aren’t exactly up to date with Food Wars!, and I suggest that you do not read this review seeing as you’ll be way out of the loop. Instead, why don’t you go and read my review of the first two volumes which can be found here. I assure you, as the person who wrote the review, it’ll be very much worth your while. Who knows? You may even end up grabbing yourself a new …

First Thoughts: Overlord – Bow Before the Supreme One

Published by Kane Bugeja

For roughly as long as anime has existed, it has been a vessel through which people can create worlds all their own and escape from the drudgery that is a reality devoid of lasers, aliens and mystical creatures, who may or may not take the form of attractive women with, like, cat ears or something. Similarly, video games also offer this respite, escapism via suspension of disbelief. Building upon this unbeknownst history I have poorly bestowed upon you, these two forces have blended together more than once in an anime genre that I shall dub; Now, though it is far from a strikingly original concept, Overlord drew my attention based on one simple difference, that being that the protagonist is the only human drawn into the MMO world which he frequents. This provides an interesting little plotline caveat in that, unlike the patrons of Sword Art Online or Log Horizon, Momonga (protagonist) has no one to turn to that shares his burden. Sans like-problemed individuals, how would one react to being sucked into a fictional world? …

New PlayStation Vita Title Digimon World: Next Order Just Announced

Published by Frank Inglese

No! No! This just isn’t fair! It seems like every single time the West gets even a little closer to Japan…they engage rocket boosters and speed off into the distance. Since the announcement of Digimon Story: Cyber Sleuth, Western fans of the franchise have longed to get their hands on it. Finally, a Digimon game for the older fan! Bandai Namco Entertainment throws us a bone and announces that the game will indeed be coming to the West on both the PlayStation 4 and PlayStation Vita, albeit next year some time. Not a month after that, we’re hearing word of a brand-new Digimon game that’s in development; one called Digimon World: Next Order. The latest issue of Japan’s V-Jump magazine featured a two page spread regarding the new title yet, despite that, not a great deal of information on the game’s story or setting was revealed. What we know of the game is that it will centre around a young Digimon fanatic who’s two partners are Agumon and Gabumon, possibly meaning that the appearance of …

Enter the Netherworlds – Disgaea Triple Play Collection Out Now in ANZ

Published by Kane Bugeja

Do you live in Australia and/or New Zealand? Do you enjoy the Disgaea franchise? Then have I got some news for you. Note: All those who don’t fulfill this criteria are free to read on, though they may not feel as invested in the news that the Disgaea Triple Play Collection has been released in Australia and New Zealand. Now, back to those who answered affirmative to my two opening questions…the Disgaea Triple Play Collection has been released in Australia and New Zealand. Busting out the specifics on this triumvirate of entertainment, the collection (compacted on a single disc, for easy access and stuff) contains Disgaea 3: Absence of Justice, Disgaea 4: A Promise Unforgotten and Disgaea D2: A Brighter Darkness (otherwise known as the last three Disgaea games to launch in the West). So, pump yourself up in preparation for the soon-to-come Disgaea 5 by traipsing through the Netherworlds that have come before, roughly based on a twisted academy, a shadowy game of politics and a direct sequel to the first Netherworld…that last description …

Takayama Travelogue featuring the Sunset of a Lifetime

Published by Luke Halliday

SnapThirty’s Luke Halliday recorded his journey over a span of two weeks time as he traveled from East to West of Japan. His trip begins in current capital city Tokyo and his final destination is the former capital of Kyoto. This is his Journey to the West… of Japan. Welcome one and all to my Journey to the West (Of Japan), a video series which will cover my travels across Japan from East to West. After a a trip of on the Bullet Train and a stop over at Nagoya, we finally arrive in the quaint mountain town of Takayama. We decide to explore this gorgeous town as the sunsets and wander about in the twilight of the night. Check out all of these adventures and more in the episodes below: #19 Exploring Takayama By Sunset #20 Takayama At Night, Japan’s Unbridled Trust For more videos of Japan journeys check out our Youtube Playlist for more as it releases. -30-

Bullet Train, Yokai Watch Snacks and Nagoya Travelogue

Published by Luke Halliday

SnapThirty’s Luke Halliday recorded his journey over a span of two weeks time as he traveled from East to West of Japan. His trip begins in current capital city Tokyo and his final destination is the former capital of Kyoto. This is his Journey to the West… of Japan. Welcome one and all to my Journey to the West (Of Japan), a video series which will cover my travels across Japan from East to West. Luke and Suz are heading out of Tokyo on a bullet train but not before reflecting on the wonderful city of tokyo, catching some Japanese TV and taste testing some Yokai Watch snacks. On the stop over to Takayama, the duo have lunch at Soup Stock and check out a Japanese French Bakery. It is a wild ride on the bullet train to Takayama. Check out all of these adventures and more in the episodes below: #17 Tokyo Reflections, Japanese TV and the Bullet Train BONUS: Yokai Watch Snacks, Sweet to Eat #18 Nagoya, Soup Stock and a Japanese French Bakery …

First Thoughts: Prison School – Drop The Soap, You’ll Probably Like It!

Published by Frank Inglese

Holy shit! You guys seriously have to check out Prison School! It’s like, wow, I never start articles in such unprofessional ways, especially not with a swear, but this Anime is absolutely freaking crazy, so much so that I honestly cannot write an article about it in any kind of professional manner. It simply would not fit this atrociously hilarious Anime! You know, it’s actually quite funny, I watched the first episode of this Summer Anime with the thought in mind that it was going to be utter trash and that I’d be watching it just so I could talk about it on the next episode of our very own SnapCast, making jokes and ripping it to shreds as Luke and Kane laugh along. Turns out that this hyper-sexual comedy is actually one of my more favoured Anime series’ from the lineup of new Summer titles. Why though? It plays host to a level of sexuality that can only be described as unnervingly aggressive. It is, at it’s very core, the softest version of dominatrix …

First Thoughts: ‘Ranpo Kitan: Game of Laplace’ – The Game Starts Now!

Published by Luke Halliday

It has been 50 years since the passing of Japanese literary icon Edogawa Ranpo. To commemorate the time since his passing an anime series has been commissioned based upon his work. That anime series is Ranpo Kitan: The Game of Laplace and it is every bit as genius, forward thinking and utterly captivating as Ranpo’s original work. The game starts now! For these first thoughts I decided it was more appropriate to wait for both the first and second episode to air before I expressed my opinion on this series as the first two episodes cover one shared mystery; The Human Chair. Right from the get go we are introduced to the droll gray scale world of Kobayashi, a young boy who easily passes as a beautiful young girl in the eyes of many. While Kobayashi views the world in shades of gray, with the people around him appearing ingeniously as silhouettes until they pique his interest, he is stricken with a strong urge to fulfill an inexplicable emptiness inside of him. The world around …

Nintendo President Satoru Iwata Passes Away at 55

Published by Luke Halliday

As I am writing this I feel short of breath because this is not like any other news piece on this website, this news pains me to write. A man who changed gaming for ever and represented something wonderful and larger than life to many gamers around the world has passed away today far too soon at the age of 55. Nintendo President Satoru Iwata has passed away on the 11th of July, 2015, after dealing with illness related to a bile duct growth. Satoru Iwata was a man who lived by the principles of fun, innovative thought and bringing happiness into people’s hearts that Nintendo stood for through and through. To many he was the face of the legendary gaming company and he himself a legendary figure in the gaming industry as such. He stood by the belief that Nintendo should always be about fun first and everything else second. A belief that endeared him to Nintendo fans around the world. The gaming industry and its community are at a stand still today because …

Have The CoroCoro Leaks Revealed A Brand-New Pokemon?

Published by Frank Inglese

You may not have already known this but the world will eventually see the release of a THIRD Pokemon XY film, CoroCoro’s leaked scans from the August issue have today confirmed. The upcoming movie, which has yet to be named, already has itself a trailer which will be shown after the latest film Hoopa And The Clash Of Ages opens across Japanese theatres this coming weekend. The leaked scans show a few simple screenshots of the mysterious film that just so happen to feature what looks to be a new Pokemon, though many people across the internet are speculating that this dark figure shown in the images is instead a new Pokemon form. More specifically; a new form of Zygarde who’s Pokedex entry mentions the ability to draw out a “Secret Power” when absolutely necessary. I was very much hoping for some news regarding a brand-new Pokemon video game at E3 and that was not delivered, so the prospect of a new Pokemon, evolution or otherwise, is very much exciting for someone like me. Until the …

SnapCast Episode 27.5 – Preamble SupCast

Published by Kane Bugeja

In this episode, Kane and Frank ramble on about nonsense. No, seriously. That’s it. That’s why it’s separate, the .5 is there to save you from not hearing about anime. Now, if you’re in the mood to hear these two chat it up all pal style, then tune in. If not, then I guess thanks for taking the time to even read this. You know, not everyone reads these descriptions, but the fact that you have really means a lot and you are my friend for that (whoever it is I actually am). So, long story short, listen if you so choose…though it’d be jolly good if you did. Kane and Frank had fun recording this though so…consider that…maybe. -30-

Boruto: Naruto The Movie – Time To Meet The Next Generation Of Shinobi

Published by Frank Inglese

Not half an hour before writing this article had I written another article regarding Boruto: Naruto The Movie and the official reveal of it’s antagonists. As any other fan of the series and of the upcoming movie, I believed this would be the most exciting piece of news to be revealed today…damn was I wrong. The very same issue of Shueisha’s Weekly Shonen Jump that only just revealed the identities of the film’s two antagonists also featured some very interesting and immeasurably thrilling images of the new generation of Ninja alongside their affiliations with one another. These new scans give readers a very nice look at some of the new kids, not just of Konohagakure but of the other, now-friendly villages from around the world of Naruto. Alongside Boruto, Sarada, and Mitsuki who’re the new Team 7 lead by none other than Naruto’s former small-time rival Konohamaru, come the rest of the kids set to feature as pretty heavy characters in the upcoming movie. From Kankuro’s son to the inappropriately-named Metal Lee, these news kids are looking even …

Boruto: Naruto The Movie’s Antagonists Finally Revealed

Published by Frank Inglese

Basically, up until this point we’ve been given all the information about the upcoming Boruto movie that we need, apart from who the bad guys are…well today that’s exactly what has been revealed. I dont like to know too much about a film before going into it because, well…I want to actually enjoy the twists, turns, and shocks, I don’t want all that to be ruined by some pre-release promotional garbage. Thankfully, most things about Boruto: Naruto The Movie have been kept secret. Though I’m hoping we’re not given much more info than this: Momoshiki and Kinoshiki from the Otsutsuki Clan who will attack Konohagakura to attempt to extract Kurama (the Nine-Tails) out of Naruto and use him for their own evil deeds, much like countless Naruto enemies who came before them. This news, shown in Shueisha’s latest issue of Weekly Shonen Jump, also revealed who will voicing the two evil Shinobi: Hiroki Yasumoto will lend his gruff talents to Momoshiki and Daisuke Namikawa will lend his to Kinoshiki. Yasumoto you’d know from his work …

If Looks Could Kill – Ken Masters Returns For Street Fighter V 

Published by Frank Inglese

Oh yes! San Diego Comic Con has officially kicked off and that means you’ll all have to start preparing yourself for an onslaught of awesome news and even more exciting reveals coming fresh from panels across the convention. The first big Japanese title to get itself an SDCC update is Street Fighter V which will, of course, see the return of Ken Masters, so sayeth the trailer shown at Capcom’s panel. The “new” Ken Masters appears sporting a brand-new fighting attire alongside a sick half-ponytail so most, but not all, of his golden locks obscure his vision while he fire kicks his opponents to near death. Great thing is; more than just Ken’s appearance has been changed, his fighting style is now very much different to that of Ryu which will piss off some old-school fans and excite others. I’m one of the others. While still being able to rock a Hadouken, Ken’s style has changed to be a little more, let’s say, “flashy” which you’ll see once you watch the introduction trailer provided below. …

First Thoughts: GATE – Ask Me About My Hobbies

Published by Frank Inglese

They include watching Anime, reading Manga, playing Video Games, collection figurines and, oh yeah, I’m also a high-ranking military officer…but that’s more my job than it is my hobby so let’s not talk about that. In fact, please don’t bring it up ever again. If I ever had to choose between my job or my hobbies, of course my hobbies comes first! The only reason I work is so that I can fund my hobbies, and the work I just so happen to be a part of is…the freaking military. Within four sentences, I’ve been able to accurately portray GATE’s odd and highly unrealistic protagonist; Youji Itami. He’s a young man with incredible combat skills who’s also an officer in Japan’s national military that, while on his way to a once-a-year sale, must perform his duties as a man of arms and save civilians from warriors coming through a portal from a world more or less unknown. If you ask me, this dark army appearing seemingly from out of nowhere reminds me a lot of …

Sick Of Minecraft? Let Me Introduce You To Dragon Quest Builders!

Published by Frank Inglese

Unless you’ve been living under a rock for the past half a decade, you’d know exactly what Minecraft is and exactly how damn popular the video game has become. What started off as this strange indie title wherein which players can deconstruct then reconstruct the world around them quickly became a reason for people of all ages to never leave their personal computers. Not only that, but it is a game that launched a thousand YouTube careers. Long story short; it’s a very popular game…but so is Dragon Quest. What does Dragon Quest have to do with Minecraft? Well, before today, not a great deal, but Square Enix have just announced their new Dragon Quest title and it’s very similar to the low-resolution, block-building game we’ve all come to know and love. It’s called Dragon Quest Builders and it has been labelled a “block-building RPG“. So far only one screenshot of the game has been released and it honestly just looks like Minecraft with a Dragon Quest-themed modification which could honestly be exactly what Square Enix …

Capcom’s Official Mega Man Helmet Replica Looks Beyond Awesome

Published by Frank Inglese

A while back, the pop culture product developer and manufacturer ThinkGeek updated their online store to include a very special Mega Man item that was big enough to be worn and extraordinary enough to be displayed in front of as many people as you could possibly think of. This was the official Mega Man Mega Buster full-sized replica which was released and sold out quicker than you could say “Blue Bomber“. The perfect item for Mega Man fanatics and those wishing to cosplay as the mighty robot alike, this item was released at an affordable price making celebrating the life of the super fighting robot so easy. San Diego Comic Con is only a day away and that means thousands of people are preparing to battle the crowds as they head into the world famous convention to hit all the celebrity panels, catch all the great news releases, and pick up as much loot as they can possibly hold. Capcom, as a part of the SDCC celebrations, have revealed that they will be showcasing a brand new …

Listen Up – Loverin Tamburin Announced for SMASH! 2015

Published by Kane Bugeja

In case you didn’t know already, SMASH! 2015 has promised itself to be quite the musical affair. With guests such as GARNiDELiA and yanaginagi already announced, the auditorily inclined might be happy to know that Loverin Tamburin has been added to this list. Consisting of main vocalist/songwriter Aya, pianist/arranger Akihiro and support musicians Fujio Ryo, Fire and Kohta Igarashi, Loverin Tamburin made their debut back in 2006 with “Aishitageru” (which might be known to you as the theme for Disgaea). Known for a mixture of original songs and anime covers, the band is currently in the midst of their second world tour. So enjoy their stop over in Australia, which I assume you will, considering that they are a returning SMASH! guest. That’s usually a good sign in my opinion. In regards to this appearance, SMASH! President Andrew Qiu said: “From EDM style to J-pop music, SMASH! 2015 is definitely the biggest year yet for Japanese music entertainment. With their highly eccentric style, Loverin Tamburin is the perfect addition to this year’s line-up. We look forward to …

Rise Again – Dragon Ball Z: Resurrection ‘F’ Hits ANZ in August

Published by Kane Bugeja

So Dragon Ball Z is about as anime as you can get. For a whole generation, myself included, it was the series that introduced Japanese animation before anyone knew cartoons all didn’t come from some mysterious realm, that seeped into our world through a portal dubbed Cheez TV (props to exclusively Australian references am I right?). So I was an imaginative kid, sue me. But before my insecurities drive you away from the point at hand, which I promise you exists, let me digress and bring the news. If you have even an ancillary insight into the world of anime, then you’ve most certainly heard of Dragon Ball Z. You’ve most certainly heard of the Battle of Gods film that brought the Z fighters back to the big screen. Following this pattern of logic, I’m sure you’ve heard of Resurrection ‘F’, the latest instalment in the much beloved franchise that brings with it the return of on of anime’s most iconic faces. Hint: It’s the one with the giant purple scalp that’s made of, like, organic …

Tales of Future Past – Zestiria Collector’s Edition and Symphonia Re-Release Announced

Published by Kane Bugeja

If you’ve played an RPG at any point during the past 20 years, chances are you’ve at least heard about Tales Of. Which tale in particular isn’t really that crucial to my point, but the more the merrier or so they say…I think that’s how that phrase works. Anyway, I digress. As is the case with video games, those who get in early get more stuff. So it might not be completely unexpected that Tales of Zestiria is coming to players with a few pre-order bonuses. Less than surprisingly dubbed The Collector’s Edition, this package will provide the more monetarily gifted fanbase with some fun little extras. What might come as a surprise however, is that these extras are mostly of the physical variety. So prep your shelves four four chibi figures, a hardback artbook, a cloth artwork, a disc featuring the 30 minute anime and another disc featuring some music (I believe it’s known as a “CD”). The Bandai release image also denotes some extra extras for those who reside in the VIP corner, namely …

First Thoughts: ‘Classroom Crisis’ – The Ace of Space

Published by Luke Halliday

Outer space – For centuries humanity has pondered what lies beyond the stars. But what if we were what lied beyond the stars? What if humanity populated the entire solar system? Classroom Crisis toys with the idea for a hot minute and then immediately becomes a fun space romp that doesn’t go all in from the get go, instead almost strategically keeping its cards close to its chest. Classroom Crisis has one hell of a hook in its galactic terraforming, there is no denying that. However despite such a killer hook, this first episde puts it aside in exchange for 23 minutes of fun hanging out with the titular classroom of colourful characters as they squabble over their class budget and things like who will get to fly the ship. It doesn’t sound like stuff that makes for thrilling anime yet Classroom Crisis manages to make every minute of its first episode engaging. What stands out immediately about Classroom Crisis is its quirky cast of characters. The cast feels well established by the time the …

First Thoughts: Gangsta – Sharp Eyes And A Silver Tongue

Published by Frank Inglese

This is the Anime adaptation I’ve been waiting for…and within one episode it has reached my incredibly high expectations. There aren’t many Anime series’ out there that can do THAT! If you can’t quite tell what Anime I’m talking about, you’ve clearly not read the article title. We’re talking about Gangsta, dammit! The Anime adaptation of Kohske’s hit gangland Manga series by the same name. As a man who’s read and reviewed all the available Manga volumes to date, loving each and every one of them, my excitement for this Anime series was almost uncontrollable…but then so were my expectations which, funily enough, didn’t lead me astray. I was assured, by the series itself, that it would translate into Anime well, and…holy crap, it did! By now you really should know the story of Gangsta but for those of you who don’t; the series revolves around two men living in a city populated by criminals, scumbags, hitmen, gangsters, and everything else you could imagine from a town run entirely by four different mafia families. The …

First Thoughts: Ushio And Tora – Fear The Spear! 

Published by Frank Inglese

The 90s were a simpler time, a better time, a time where all that mattered were Tamagotchis and Nirvana albums. It was a great time in the Manga industry too! The decade ended with the beginning of many hit Shonen series like Naruto, One Piece and Hunter X Hunter, but it was also kicked off by a few that have unfortunately been lost in time…until now. A young boy and a demon spirit, Ushio And Tora tells the tale of the coming together of two mighty souls for the greater good. Ushio is a young man living with his elderly father, a semi-retired priest, in a combined house and temple. Tora is an ageless tiger-like demon that has been trapped in the temple’s basement for 500 years. Despite the many times Ushio’s father tells him about the demon-slaying spear hidden away in the house, he tells him not of the demon it currently has pinned to a wall in the hidden basement…not that Ushio would believe him anyway. Ushio goes for a bit of a wander …

J-Stars Victory Vs+ – PlayStation 4 Review

Published by Frank Inglese

Have you ever thought about the ramifications of Goku’s Kamehameha going up against Yusuke Urameshi’s Spirit Gun? When two unstoppable forces collide, the destruction caused by it is immense. Now think, what if a powerhouse like Naruto Uzumaki went head-to-head with a speed demon like Ichigo Kurosaki. Which would win; Uzumaki’s Rasengan of Kurosaki’s Getsuga Tensho? Disregarding the millions of dollars worth of collateral damage, who would come out on top? Questions like this are constantly thrown across tables of like-minded pop culture fans all discussing their favorite characters from their favorite pieces of media, each with their own theories regarding who would best who in combat. Usually those questions can never be answer, but it is with the release of crossover fighting titles like J-Stars Victory Vs+ that it all becomes just a little bit clearer. Not since the Japan-only Nintendo DS title Jump Ultimate Stars have we seen this many Shonen Jump heroes and villains come together to throw down in the combined arena. Ever since it was announced for a Japanese release, Western …

Summer 2015 Anime Season Watch Guide

Published by Luke Halliday

It’s been a year since I did my first anime season watch guide and I have been gradually tweaking the formula through each of the last 4 installments but I think it is time for a more simplified approach. If you have been reading my previous entries you may have mixed feelings about this approach but I feel it ultimately will give every show covered a fair go in comparison to assumptions and hearsay. This time around I’ll simply be listing the shows that have caught my eye and giving some thoughts on each listed. So without further adieu, here is SnapThirty’s handy Summer 2015 anime season watch guide. Gangsta (Manglobe, July 2nd) Without a doubt the most obvious standout in what is seemingly a rather lightweight season of anime. The Gangsta series is based upon a cult-classic seinen manga series and has received critical acclaim including a series of rave reviews from our site’s own Frank Inglese. The series follows Nic and Worick a pair of ‘Handymen’ who handle the jobs no one else will. In …

Nisekoi: False Love Part 1 Review

Published by Luke Halliday

What is love? It is a question posed since the dawn of man. It was even the subject of the legendary song ‘What is Love?‘ by Haddaway. But enough references to Trinidadian-German Eurodance songs, this is about an anime and a pretty good one at that – Nisekoi: False Love. Nisekoi: False Love is essentially a harem series (of the softer variety) based upon a Shonen Jump manga of all things. It deals with the many different shapes and forms love can come in all the while managing to weave its own modern spin on a Romeo and Juliet tale. What sets Nisekoi apart from the crop of similar series in the genre is that it has a sense of innocence to it that many discard from the get go. Nisekoi follows Raku Ichijou, an every man who just so happens to be the son of a yakuza boss. Raku is somewhat embarrassed by his family as most teens are but things are taken to another level when he is forced into a ‘relationship’ with …

Digi-Prayers Answered – Bandai Namco Announces Western Release Of Digimon Story: Cyber Sleuth

Published by Frank Inglese

I woke up in a pretty good mood today but it has now been multiplied by a million thanks to some news straight from Bandai Namco Entertainment’s RPG panel at Anime Expo 2015 regarding the Western localisation of a Digimon video game that fans have been waiting for ever since they first dreamed of a more mature piece of Digital Monsters media. The game is called Digimon Story: Cyber Sleuth, and it revolves around a young man or women, depending on your choice, who must travel between the real world and the Digital World in order to uncover the secrets behind a mysterious virus that’s spreading from human to human causing sickness and death. Of course, there to help are a whole bunch of Digimon who you’ll have to befriend, raise, train, and evolve in order to restore balance and retain peace in both worlds. Canada’s Amazon portal recently listed this Adventure/RPG as a PlayStation 4 title and fans finally found a shred of hope. Now, thanks to Bandai Namco Entertainment’s panel, we’ve been given something solid …

JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure: Eyes Of Heaven – Lisa Lisa And Pet Shop Announced As Playable Characters

Published by Frank Inglese

The latest issue of Shueisha’s Weekly Shonen Jump has just been released over in Japan revealing two more characters set to appear in the next JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure fighting title; Eyes Of Heaven. The upcoming video game, which is a spiritual successor to the PlayStation 3’s All-Star Battle, will bring JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure-style action to the PlayStation 4 for the very first time and as a means to win over a new generation of audience members there will be a great deal of additions to both the gameplay mechanics and character roster. Though connected in absolutely no way, the two latest playable characters to be revealed are Battle Tendency’s Lisa Lisa and Stardust Crusaders’ Pet Shop. One is the mysterious mother of Joseph Joestar, a master of the Ripple and possibly the single greatest female character in the entire series, whereas the other is an intelligent falcon in possession of a ferocious Stand. Like I said…not related in any way. Not much has been said regarding the move set of these two. As far as …

Dragon Ball Z: Extreme Butoden – European 3DS Bundle Announced

Published by Frank Inglese

We Europeans are a lucky bunch! Sure, I live in Australia and it’s not technically Europe but we tend to get a lot of the same things as the great continent so when I see video game news pertaining to it I automatically include us Aussies! Bandai Namco Entertainment’s European branch have today revealed a fantastic Dragon Ball Z: Extreme Butoden bundle for Europe that’ll send you Euro Dragon Ball Z fanatics up the proverbial wall. What’s better than the release of an Arc System Works-made Dragon Ball Z title that throws back to older video games yet still has enough meat on it’s bones to keep you playing for hours on end? How about a version that also happens to come with it’s very own Dragon Ball Z-theme Nintendo 3DS? Yeah, that’s much better! Actually, you may have to flip that around: Bandai Namco Entertainment Europe have announced a special edition DBZ-themed Nintendo 3DS that is set to be released on the 16th of October; the same day as the game’s solo release. This …

Naruto Shippuden: Ultimate Ninja Storm 4 – Bandai Namco Europe Reveals Collector’s Edition

Published by Frank Inglese

No other publishers do special edition releases the way Bandai Namco Entertainment does special edition releases. So you’re excited for their upcoming fighting title Naruto Shippuden: Ultimate Ninja Storm 4, huh? Good! Prepare to be even more excited though because Bandai Namco’s European branch just revealed that they will be releasing a special collector’s edition for the new Naruto game that will blow you away. Big time! We know you would’ve just been happy with the game itself, it’s super exciting just to get a new Naruto game, but Bandai Namco Entertainment always go above and beyond with their releases so now you’ve got the option to purchase this collector’s edition. I’m sorry…what does it come with, you ask? Well allow me to explain: Alongside a beautiful collector’s box and steel case which happens to feature eternal rivals Naruto and Sasuke, the collector’s edition comes with an illustration of the lady’s man himself (Sasuke Uchiha), an artbook showcasing illustrations and design works from each of the past Ultimate Ninja Storm titles, and a 17cm figurine …

‘Love Live: School Idol Project’ Review

Published by Luke Halliday

Idol School – its a bit of a silly concept and Love Live knows that. But what sets Love Live apart from the plethora of other ‘idol’ anime series out their is its commitment to its premise. Even when it borders on outright lunacy, Love Live’s dedication to what it wants to be is admirable and even makes for some of the most genuinely joyous anime in years. There is a reason that Love Live has spawned such an incredible fan base, its wholehearted and passionate approach to the idea of a school of idols is infectious. It is almost impossible to not be swept up in this series and finding yourself rooting for one of these 9 girls. Each girl has a different personality and there is a character for everyone here. Personally I found myself invested in anything that had to do with Nico Yazawa. As a character I found her highly identifiable and a lot of fun to watch. You could even say that I believe her to be the ‘best girl’. This …

Seraph Of The End: The Origin Of Fate PlayStation Vita RPG Announced

Published by Frank Inglese

Maybe you’re similar to me and were left with a bad taste in your mouth courtesy of the Seraph Of The End’s Anime season finale, or maybe you’re a die-hard fan of both the Manga as well as it’s Anime adaptation who is writing me a death threat letter as you’re reading this. Either way, chances are you’re at least slightly interested in a recent announcement by Bandai Namco Entertainment pertaining to the hit series and it’s upcoming PlayStation Vita video game. Announced through the latest issue of Jump SQ magazine over in Japan, Seraph Of The End: The Origin Of Fate is a mostly mysterious tactical role-playing game that will put you in the shoes of the series’ main character cast. As supernatural soldiers, your task will be to eliminate the scourge of Vampire’s who’ve called a majority of the known world their home and sent the human race into an Attack On Titan-esque way of defensive living; mostly behind big walls guarded by heavily-armed military men and women. Apart from the game being …

Hello, world!…eventually – Blood Blockade Battlefront Finale Delayed Again

Published by Kane Bugeja

As much as I hate to be the bearer of bad news, it would appear that we will all have to wait at least a bit longer until the conclusion of Blood Blockade Battlefront (B3) presents itself. I mean, we already knew that there would be a delay, but this is a new, extra level of delay…so enjoy. Apparently unable to fit into its 30 minute time slot, episode 12 of this hectic series has fallen into the relegation of “until further notice”. So, though no definitive information regarding the episodes eventual release is known, it’s still worth preparing yourself for the lack of conclusion this week. In the meantime, a special B3 program is scheduled to run in place of the finale. Now, for the sake of fairness, I shall now play out both sides of the inevitable argument that will encircle this announcement. It goes a little something like this: Negative (aka The Loudest Commenter): What?! This sucks. Obviously they knew how long the episode was and they didn’t plan for this? That’s …