Month: October 2015

Two New Gameplay Videos Released For Shin Megami Tense X Fire Emblem

Published by Frank Inglese

A new ATLUS game is always exciting, especially when it is an addition to the long lineage that is Shin Megami Tensei. The exact same thing can be said for Intelligent Systems’ Fire Emblem series of tactical role-playing games. I’m sure I don’t have to explain why a combination of these two popular video game series’ is going to set the world of Japanese pop culture ablaze with elation. Not only is it self-explanatory, but the recent update of the game’s official website features two new videos that give audiences a glimps at the game in action, showing us all that this is one title to absolutely not miss out on. The story is simple, yet mostly unexplained at this point in time: Basically, you play as a young man who wants to be a popular entertainer of sorts. Your party members; they also want to be entertainers of sorts. Something crazy happens one day and, much like that of Persona, you and your friends come into contact with beings of pure malice called Mirages, …

LeSean Thomas’ Cannon Busters Animation Project Finally Gets It’s First Teaser Trailer

Published by Frank Inglese

You’ve got this guy; LeSean Thomas, and he’s been working real hard, alongside a team of talented artists, illustrators, animators, and writers to bring this Anime-esque piece of animation brilliance to life. It’s name is Cannon Busters, and if you havn’t heard of it by now, well…it’s time to start catching up. Now who the hell is LeSean Thomas? He’s this brilliant mind who has his finger in almost all facets of pop culture. A skilled animator and fantastic comic book writer/artist, it’s hard not to experience something nowadays and not have seen his work. That show; The Legend Of Korra…Mr Thomas worked on that. You’re welcome. He also worked on The Boondocks, Black Dynamite, and has even written his very own comic book series, albeit short. That comic goes by the name…Cannon Busters. After months and months of work (probably longer), the team behind the Cannon Busters animation projection have finally delivered to the world exactly what it was asking for, after first delivering to KickStarter backers who’ve given the team the funding to …

Flying High – Gravity Rush 2 Trailer Reveals Nifty New Powers

Published by Kane Bugeja

Good ol’ Gravity Rush, one of the early PS Vita games that helped launched the console into…the middling presence it holds in the gaming market. Ok, so the Vita isn’t as prevalent as I would like it to be, but I retain the opinion that it is a good console. Similarly, I liked Gravity Rush. Sure the controls could’ve used a little work, but it was a fun experience, one that is set to continue in the upcoming Gravity Rush 2. Bringing back Kat and her gravity altering powers, this future PS4 installment has been relatively vague for a while. But wallow in vagueness no more, for a trailer has been released. For the sake of avoiding redundancy, I won’t spend too much time detailing the trailer blow by blow. All you really need to know is Jupiter Style, Luna Style and AI companions. Enjoy. -30-

Better Late than Never – Tekken 7 Heading to PS4

Published by Kane Bugeja

Fans of battle and side oriented cameras rejoice! The long standing franchise known as Tekken is bringing its seventh installment to the home, if you own a PS4 that is. Launched for Japanese arcades way back in February 2015, skepticism was certainly a prevalent attitude regarding export…or it wasn’t. Really depends on your personal perception, metaphorical glasses, how full/empty they are. All that existential jazz. Back on topic, the Unreal 4 Engine using, 1v1 combat having, Mishima Zaibatsu/G Corporation conflict ending game is as of yet sans release date, though Project Tekken Leader Katsuhiro Harada has stated, “It’s coming. I told you to wait!” So yeah,you are officially obligated to hold your excitement. Hervé Hoerdt (VP of Marketing & Digital at Bandai Namco Entertainment Europe) took a slightly more verbose route, stating: “For its 20th Anniversary, our Tekken brand has seen a massive success on Arcades thanks to Tekken 7, but also on mobile gaming with Tekken Card Tournament. Our wish is to pursue this successful route and explore new opportunities with the game’s arrival on …

An Accidental Tweet Confirms My Hero Academia Anime Adaptation

Published by Frank Inglese

Just under a week ago, fellow writer Luke Halliday posted an article regarding the possible Anime adaptation of Kohei Horikoshi’s My Hero Academia after the production company TOHO registered the domain name www.HeroAca.com. Judging by what has happened many times in the past, this registration has lead many to believe that there is indeed a My Hero Academia Anime series currently in production, but now we don’t have to judge our theories based solely off that, not after the series’ official Twitter account accidentally revealed that the series has been green-lit through a Tweet that was clearly posted a little too early. The Tweet, which has now been deleted for obvious reasons, basically stated that an Anime adaptation for the series has been officially green-lit. This Tweet, mixed with the statement released by Weekly Shonen Jump a few days ago that suggests there will be a huge announcement regarding the series on the 2nd of November, has lead many people around the internet to believe that this is not hoax, this is no trick, this is no misdirection, …

One-Punch Man Volume One and Two – Review

Published by Kane Bugeja

Strength, power, ability, all words synonymous…well for the same thing really, but it is something that is longed for nonetheless. For those wishing to make a difference, for those desiring a different lot in life, for those with a dream. Now, whilst I could spend a sizeable chunk of time delving into the various interpretations of what power is, I’m going to keep it simple and just talk about the one that makes you punch harder. Why you ask? Because of the manga title, see how I tied the punching thing in there? With all the subtlety of a freight train? You know what else has that level of subtlety? One-Punch Man. Taking place in a world that is the fruition of tokusatsu fan’s dreams, this particular manga provides us with an unforgettable face in the form of Saitama: Hero for Fun. Having hop skipped and jumped through his origin story in record time, we come to learn that he was a despondent,  unemployed gentleman, sparked into action by a helpless (and annoying) child and his dormant childhood …

Behold the Light, Beware the Dark – Final Fantasy XIV: Heavensward Patch 3.1 Trailer Revealed

Published by Kane Bugeja

I’m not going to spend too much time dancing around the details here since, if you are a player of FFXIV: Heavensward, you’re probably already aware of the upcoming 3.1 patch. For those unaware, contents are as follows: For all the storygoers out there, the ominously titled As Goes Light, So Goes Darkness promises to further the plot of Heavensward with a new main scenario. A new 24 player alliance raid known as Void Ark is also present, for those players looking for some additional co-operative chaos. RTS fans will also gain benefits from the Lord of Verminion attraction (located at the Manderville Gold Saucer), wherein they may utilise minions to instigate a little 1v1, PvP action. Also there’s new dungeons, items, gear and all that other fun stuff. So, if the text form of thisannouncement was enough to pique your interest, I can only imagine what the video format will do for you. Speaking of which… -30-

My Hero Academia Volume One – Review

Published by Kane Bugeja

Superheroes. The hallmark of imagination since the calendar year began with a 1 and a 9. Beacons of hope born from the recesses of authors, illustrators and any other person who dared to leap outside of reality. With power born from the simplicity of their existence, heroes serve as idols to a world not their own, becoming more than fiction as they lay bare the greatest powers of humanity. Compassion, consideration, goodness, all that cliche hallmark crap that will never cease to inspire. Sure powers have gotten more complex than flight, and costumes more specialised than a cut of billowing red fabric, but the message has never, and will never change; being righteous is never wrong. For the sake of argument, and arguably reality, I’m going to assume you’ve all heard of at least one costumed crime-fighter in your life. Marvel, DC, that movie Sky High, it doesn’t matter, you know the basics of heroism. So, with that in mind, we find ourselves in yet another origin story, the beginnings of a nobody who will …

Hozuki’s Coolheadedness: Complete Series (Subtitled Edition) – Review

Published by Frank Inglese

Hell is, like, the worst. If years of Catholic education have taught me anything, it’s that we have to fear the scary, red, goat man, and that if we do bad things he’ll take us to this place deep down below existence wherein which we will be tortured the rest of eternity…which is a really long time. We all know that, right? Most, if not all, religious beliefs teach about the terrifying fire pit we’ve come to know as Hell. If it’s not called Hell, it’ll be under some other different but oddly similar name, so don’t get fooled! Chances are, no matter what belief system you subscribe to, doing BAD things will land you in that BAD place. Thus you spend your life being a good person in the hopes that you indeed steer clear of eternal damnation. Madman Entertainment have just released a new Anime across Australia and New Zealand…well, new in terms of it has just gotten a home video release, but if we’re splitting hairs here; this series aired in Japan …

The Case of Hana & Alice – Review

Published by

The Case of Hana & Alice is the kind of film that instantly gains cult appeal because of how convincingly it captures the essence and experience of teenage life at that point in time. Some of the most nostalgic and timeless television series and films are able to stand the test of time not because of how relatable they were to viewers at the time of release, but also how convincingly they serve as a time capsule of sorts, something that is representative of that era. There’s nothing like watching the ordinary lives of young people as they make their transition through difficult and troubling changes that come with growing up. The self indulgent nature of young people can be a blessing sometimes, because of how the small community they live in is pretty much the full extent of the universe in their minds. Which is why their seemingly inconsequential lives and moments turn out to be such compelling adventures and experiences. I suppose the magic of teenage years isn’t so much about the ordinary …

Miss Hokusai – Review

Published by

Miss Hokusai is based on the life and times of an artist who went by Tetsuzo Hokusai during the twilight of the Edo era in Japan. The film is set during the 18th century, right before Japan transitioned into the Meiji era. Miss Hokusai doesn’t quite deliver a biographical account of the eccentric artist, but rather places the spotlight on his daughter O-Ei, hence the title of the film. Tetsuzo was particularly known for his erotic illustrations, and this aspect often comes up during the course of the film in amusing ways. However, for the film to focus on the daughter as the protagonist, instead of the famed artist himself, might seem a little strange at first, but that’s exactly what draws the viewer in. History may remember Tesuko more, but this film champions the unsung hero that is his daughter. If Tetsuzo had a rock and anchor that allowed him to accomplish the things he needed, then his daughter O-Ei was surely it. Obviously, the film takes several creative liberties with the historical source material, but it’s all done …

JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure Part Four: Diamond Is Unbreakable Anime Green-Lit

Published by Frank Inglese

We all knew this was coming, because it was teased at the very end of the Stardust Crusaders Anime season, but it still gives a nice warm feeling just knowing that Part Four of the JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure Manga series, Diamond Is Unbreakable, is confirmed for an Anime adaptation sometime in the near future. Over in Japan, Tokyo to be specific, on the Saturday that has just passed, an event was held titled “The Last Crusaders” which, as you may think, had nothing to do with the Indiana Jones movie of similar name. No, it was a JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure event that basically celebrated all things Stardust Crusaders. While many exciting things happened over the span of the event’s full day, the most exciting is absolutely that of the Diamond Is Unbreakable Anime adaptation confirmation which was delivered to the audience, and now us living everywhere BUT Japan, with a teaser trailer that shows absolutely nothing of the upcoming Anime but has worked to excited people from all walks of life living all across the world. …

Persona 4: Dancing All Night – Review

Published by

When Shin Megami Tensei: Persona 4 first landed on the PlayStation 2 back in 2008, no one could have predicted the mainstream success that the IP still enjoys to this day. Shin Megami Tensai: Persona 4 was an entry in a spin-off franchise, but at this point Persona 4 has become its own brand and franchise, far removed from its Shin Megami Tensei parent. Prior to the mainstream appeal of Persona 4, the series was always something of an acquired taste. Starting with two incredibly challenging entries on the PlayStation (PSOne), the series would make a comeback after a major hiatus in the form of Shin Megami Tensei: Persona 3. That title was a breath of fresh air at the time, and for Western gamers who had grown tired of Final Fantasy, they couldn’t have asked for a more alternative Japanese RPG. It didn’t take long for Persona 4 to arrive after, and at first it enjoyed the same niche word of mouth success like its predecessors. For numerous reasons, however, the success of Persona 4 suddenly skyrocketed and …

Dragon Ball Z: Extreme Butoden – Review

Published by Kane Bugeja

If there’s one thing that’s synonymous with Dragon Ball Z, it’s blue and orange…I mean fighting. It’s fighting…whilst wearing blue and orange that is slowly destroyed over the course of said fight. You know things are galaxy threatening when your hero is soaring into combat wearing only tattered Hammer pants. But I digress. With a story spanning more than it’s fair share of years, DB has plenty of canon to draw from, bringing forth a fighting game of varied roster…kind of. For those unaware, Extreme Butoden is a 3DS installment in the DBZ franchise. Though handheld games have excelled in leaps and bounds over the past few years, they still lag behind their less portable companions. This particular Z combat simulator takes a side on, 2D perspective, a la your traditional fighting games. Though far from a revolutionary decision, it is a sound one, with the style fitting well onto the 3DS screens. In addition to allowing combat to remain manageably simple, this viewpoint allows the character sprites ample space to shine, and shine they do. …

First Thoughts: Valkyrie Drive: Mermaid – Beautiful Girl Sexy Battle Action

Published by

Marvelous has made quite a name for itself lately with the Senran Kagura franchise, and whether you’re in love with the gratuitous fan service or are offended by it because of reasons, Senran Kagura is here to stay and localisations have become more timely and frequent for the pleasure of Western fans. In an attempt to further their Ecchi escapades, Marvelous has launched a new franchise called Valkyrie Drive, a project that consists of an anime series followed by a few games, and not surprisingly, the first game is headed to the PlayStation Vita. To set the scene the anime, Valkyrie Drive: Mermaid, has started airing and is two episodes in, with AnimeLab doing the simulcast honours. Valkyrie Drive: Mermaid takes place in a world where women born with abnormalities are taken out of normal society and placed into a mysterious island populated by women alone. Within the island is a fighting academy sorts, and each abnormal mutant woman falls into one of two classes: Exters and Liberators. Exters have the ability to transform into weapons that …

JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure: Phantom Blood Volume Three – Review

Published by Luke Halliday

JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure has always gotten away with how ridiculous and inherently insane it is on one thing: pure commitment to itself. That unbridled commitment to its core concepts and the extreme level of detail to the bizarre makes every single page utterly compelling, demanding you to suspend you disbelief because why not believe that something so insane could happen when it is this fun? That commitment is why Jonathan’s climactic battle with Dio’s decapitated head on a zombie filled cruise liner inferno is so damn good. For all its intricate little details, the declaration fueled dialogue and the sheer passion that flows through every panel, Araki’s Phantom Blood is a masterstroke clearly on accident. This third volume concludes the Phantom Blood arc of the series and it does beg the question, was this how this series was originally intended to conclude or did Araki plan it to span generations? I think that given later plot holes that occur, it is obvious this was the originally intended ending of the manga and it is interesting …

‘My Hero Academia’ Anime In The Works? PLUS ULTRA!

Published by Luke Halliday

Out of the dark came a raging burst of energy that lit up the pages of Weekly Shonen Jump and shocked the world by becoming the fastest rising manga in recent Shonen Jump history. That manga is My Hero Academia, Kohei Horikoshi’s superhero action adventure series and news has just come through that all signs are pointing towards an anime adaptation being on the horizon for this blockbuster series. Based upon an earlier serialization attempt simply titled My Hero, Horikoshi’s latest work is a tweaked take on his original story of a world of super-powered people. After several failed serializations Horikoshi has hit it big with his tale of a powerless teenage otaku who gains the power of his hero and becomes the successor to a heroic legacy. However he can’t just be a hero right away, this guy’s gotta go to hero school! But class is anything but normal for Izuku Midoriya, in fact it is pretty ‘quirky’ – This is his Hero Academia. So while it is not entirely confirmed at this stage …

Food Wars! (Shokugeki No Soma) Volume Seven – Review

Published by Frank Inglese

Every story, no matter how boiling hot, gets to a point wherein which it starts to cool, it starts to slow down, it comes to…a simmer. After six jaw-dropping volumes of Food Wars! (Shokugeki No Soma) I feel as though the time has come for the series to take a natural step back in preparation for big things to come, and it was the pacing of this latest volume that put such a thought into my head. Every good Manga series has that one volume that doesn’t quite hit the mark, possibly because, much like this particular one, what goes on between it’s pages is mostly set-up for the duel between the story’s main character and the current rival. Almost every single Shonen Manga has this and, seeing as Food Wars! (Shokugeki No Soma) is indeed a Shonen Manga…it makes a great deal of sense that, it too, would fall victim to such a common pacing issue. Thanks to Madman Entertainment, as always, we’ve been given to chance to review the latest volume of the …

The SnapCast is Going LIVE October 25th – Our First Ever LIVE Podcast!

Published by Luke Halliday

That’s right SnapFans, SnapThirty’s Official Podcast also known as The SnapCast is going LIVE on the 25th of October, 2015. This will be the first time the intrepid crew of SnapThirty will be endeavoring to record a podcast episode LIVE and it could be a complete train wreck or it could be the greatest podcast ever recorded in the history of audio entertainment, only time will tell. So when is it? October 25th, 2015 Sunday Night 7.30PM AEST (Sydney Time) LIVE on the Mixlr App. Don’t know what Mixlr is or are simply confused by this entire thing? Well all you need to do is keep your eyes peeled to SnapThirty’s official Twitter and Facebook pages as we will be sharing out the LIVE stream on Mixlr through those social media channels. Too easy? Too good! We encourage all SnapFans to jump into the SnapThirty chatbox and join in on the discussion live during the epic two hour long recording of our first ever LIVE podcast. Moving forward we will be aiming to do at …

6 Anime That Should Get A Live-Action Adaptation

Published by Luke Halliday

When someone says ‘anime’ and ‘live-action’ in the same sentence, most people recoil in abject fear and disgust at the thought of what horrors awaits their favourite anime when it enters the realm of live-action cinema. It is a fair reaction when you consider the universally panned Dragon Ball: Evolution, Speed Racer and the straight-to-video schlocky disasterpiece Fist of the North Star, all awful films in their own right. But can Hollywood ever get it right? To the credit of Hollywood, there has been a few anime-inspired films that actually wound up being pretty damn good, Pacific Rim taking nods from Evangelion for example or the All You Need Is Kill inspired Edge of Tomorrrow (aka. Live, Die, Repeat on DVD) being enjoyable action blockbusters in their own right. Both of those films worked well because they adapted concepts and premises of anime and manga to fit the mold of a film. For purpose of this article, we will only be considering anime that have not been adapted into either a live-action Japanese or American film. …

Where There’s Fire, There’s Smoker – New Playable Character Announced For One Piece: Burning Blood

Published by Frank Inglese

Do me a favour, I need help proving something; go ahead and ask any One Piece fan who their favorite character is. Chances are, they’re all going to be drastically different, of course, but I have a sneaking suspicious they’ll all mention Smoker at least once during the conversation because, well…he’s Smoker. There’s a new One Piece game on the horizon, and this time it’s not being developed by Omega Force which means it’s not going to be another Pirate Warriors title! Wahoo! One Piece: Burning Blood was announced by Bandai Namco Entertainment recently and already it has been confirmed to be making it’s way to the West next year. Despite that, there’s not a great deal we know about this upcoming fighting game; we know that it won’t be like previously released One Piece titles, and we know that the gameplay mechanics will have a great deal to do with Haki and Logia users. If you don’t know what those two things are, I think you may be in the wrong place. V-Jump, a Japanese …

No Time To Be Down – New Batch of “Uppers” Screenshots Posted Online

Published by Frank Inglese

By now you should know that I’m incredibly excited for the upcoming beat ’em up title by Marvelous; Uppers. Honestly, how could I not like this game? It’s being developed by the team that brought you the Kenka Bancho series, it’s being published by a company that knows what a good video game looks like, and it’s being produced by the man who brought us the titillating series Senran Kagura. If you’re not excited for this video game I honestly think something may be wrong with you. Like, not your personality, maybe you’ve been brainwashed or something, I don’t know, just figure it out before it is too late! Last week saw the release of the upcoming brawler’s very first batch of screenshots which, as you probably already know, are freaking awesome! Well, the Japanese video game website Gamer have been given the great honour of being the first to be able to post the new batch of screenshots which simply show off more of what we’ve already heard about through previous press releases. You …

Boruto: Naruto The Movie – Review

Published by Frank Inglese

When it comes to a long-running series like Naruto, most reviews would begin with a brief history lesson; detailing it’s expansive lineage starting from 1999, but seeing as this movie marks the end of the series that started me on my personal journey to becoming what I am today and, hopefully, what I will be in the near future…I feel as though it deserves more than just a basic history lesson. Masashi Kishimoto’s Naruto is the series that singlehandedly inspired me to want to both write comics and write about Japanese culture as a whole. It was the very first Manga I ever read, it was the first Anime I ever watched (knowing that it was indeed Anime), and it was the first piece of fiction to make me understand that we each live different lives that lead us in different directions, all of which are guided by our own choices. In the series, this was referred to as a “Ninja Way“, and I think that, without it, I would have never been able to …

Tokyo Ghoul Volume Two – Review

Published by Frank Inglese

Tokyo Ghoul is the story of a boy who’s forced into a life between two worlds, having to exist on either side of two opposing forces each willing to kill the other for the sake of their kind’s survival. Kaneki Ken is no longer a human and yet, despite his organs being that of a Ghoul’s, he also has no place in the world of these monsters either. In the first volume of this young Manga series created by the mysterious Sui Ishida, we were introduced to the young man mentioned above; a intelligent individual named Kaneki Ken. In volume two the introductions stop as room is made for tragedy to begin unfolding. For the very first time as a member of the Ghouls, Kaneki Ken has seen the true discriminate brutality of the humans as he bares witness to a fellow pacifistic Ghoul being put down by the forces of the CCG (Commission of Counter Ghoul), a sub-government organisation with a singular purpose; kill all Ghouls. This is the genesis of Kaneki’s change of heart as …

This Heavenly Form Of DIO Is Set To Feature In JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure: Eyes Of Heaven

Published by Frank Inglese

The concept of a God is already quite frightening. While it gives many religious-types around the world a large sense of solace, simply pondering the metaphysical presence of an unearthly deity is mind-boggling. Now think about a God that would let an A-Grade piece of Vampiric garbage like Dio Brando into Heaven…is that a God you want to follow? Hell no! Why? Because if it has let Dio through those pearly gates and into Nirvana, I can imagine who else is waiting up there for our arrival. The upcoming Bandai Namco Entertainment title JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure: Eyes Of Heaven is a follow up fighting game to the previously released All-Star Battle, both of which allow players to slot themselves into the shoes of their favorite JJBA characters and duke it out Stand-style in ways only the character cast of this oddball series knows. The Japanese pop culture magazine Ultra Jump has this week revealed a brand-new character that will be playable in the upcoming game, and while he is technically brand-new…he’s a guy we’ve seen …

Welcome to Paradise: DOA Xtreme 3 Screenshots

Published by Jahanzeb Khan

Oh happy days. This right here is how you use gaming technology to create a slice of heaven. It’s colourful, it’s uplifting, and positively joyous… it’s Dead or Alive Xtreme 3! The latest gallery of gorgeous high resolution images is surely a feast for your retinas, so nothing more needs to be said, enjoy the gallery below and be grateful that we live in a world where Dead or Alive Xtreme 3 is a thing. -30-

Tales of Zestiria Launch Trailer Lauches, Sorey not Sorry

Published by Luke Halliday

Tales fans it is time to rejoice because Tales of Zestiria is merely days from release and we have just gotten a launch trailer to take a long gander at thanks to Bandai Namco. The launch trailer introduces us to the game’s protagonist Sorey, who appears to be named after the word that Kanye West’s publicist forces him to use after every time he speaks in a public space. While it is a bizarre name, it is no weirder than the usual for Tales. It pretty much goes without saying that this trailer is all kinds of awesome so I think I will let it speak for itself. ONE MAN VERSUS AN ARMY OF DEMONS. Enjoy. -30-

Tanahashi and Okada to Clash Once Again at Wrestle Kingdom 10

Published by Jahanzeb Khan

The planets have aligned once more for the tenth Wrestle Kingdom event by New Japan Pro Wrestling, which is set to take place on January 4, 2016 and will once again kickstart the new year as one of the biggest wrestling events in the world (that isn’t Wrestlemania). As per tradition, Wrestle Kingdom 10 will be held inside the historic Tokyo Dome. While there is still a good three or so months to go until the PPV extravaganza, the main event has been set in stone already. The main event of Wrestle Kingdom 10 will feature a rematch that I quite honestly wasn’t expecting to happen so soon: Kazuchika “Rain Maker” Okaka will go one on one against his greatest rival in Hiroshi Tanahashi over the IWGP Heavyweight Championship. At Wrestle Kingdom 9, Tanahashi walked in as the defending champion and successfully walked out with the championship in hand after what was one of the best matches of 2014. Tanahashi needed to hit nearly ten of his signature High Fly Flows to make it happen, and challenger …

Cracka-lacka Boom Boom! – Level-5 To Release The Yo-Kai Watch Demo Very Soon

Published by Frank Inglese

You seriously cannot wait to play Yo-Kai Watch, can you? Yeah, me neither. I’d give my soul to be able to have a full copy of the upcoming game early but unfortunately no otherworldly entity has appear to fulfil my wish. We can’t all be as lucky as Luke Halliday and Kane Bugeja who attended this years EB Expo and were given the chance to play the game long before it gets a release down here in Australia, but Level-5 and Nintendo are doing something pretty awesome; they’re planning on releasing the Yo-Kai Watch demo across North America during the new 3DS update which is to come on the 22nd of the month. This means anyone with a 3DS living in the USA can download their very own demo copy of the game and play to their hearts content. Nothing has been said regarding when a demo will be released outside of North America but, chances are, it will come around the same time. Unfortunately nothing has been confirmed by either of the two companies …

Prematurely Rock The Dragon – Pre-Launch Trailer For Dragon Ball Z: Extreme Butoden Released

Published by Frank Inglese

Bandai Namco Entertainment hopes you’re all ready to play a damn good Dragon Ball Z fighting game the likes of which we havn’t seen on a handheld title for quite some time. As you probably already know; Dragon Ball Z: Extreme Butoden is about to be released around the world for the Nintendo 3DS. For us living in what is considered to be European regions, we’ll be getting the game on the 16th, but if you’re living in North America and surrounding area…you’ll have to wait until the 20th. Sorry, everyone. That’s okay though! Because Bandai Namco Entertainment have given the whole world the ability to prematurely rock the dragon with their latest trailer for the upcoming game being released only briefly before that of the video game. The new trailer pretty much goes over all the features of the game that we’ve come to know and love by this point in time but that doesn’t make it any less exciting, in fact, it works brilliantly to remind us all of why we should be overly …

First Screenshots Of New Marvelous Title “Uppers” Released Online

Published by Frank Inglese

Only yesterday we reported on the newly announced Marvelous title produced by Senran Kagura’s very own Kenichiro Takaki; a upcoming video game called “Uppers” that has players duking it out as a young man named Ranma Kamashiro against other thugs all brought to a mysterious place known as Last Resort Island, wherein which they’re forced to beat each other to bloody pulps for the sake of pure entertainment. For the previous news piece, please refer to this article: Click Here. Yesterday, there wasn’t much to be said or seen in regards to this new game. From what we were told through Famitsu’s online publication; it’s a simple yet not-so-simple fighting game produced by a much-loved figure in the Japanese gaming industry and that, much like a lot of the best games that never seem to make it out of Japan, it is being developer for the PlayStation Vita. Well Famitsu have updated their site to include a little bit more information on the game as well as the very first batch of screenshots and, judging …

Fall 2015 Anime Season Watch Guide

Published by Luke Halliday

Okay so I am a little late to the party this time around with my watch guide but hey I have at least watched some of the series this time so this is a guide of a different kind of flavour. Rather than being based simply on how things look from the outside, this will be more of an inside look after having watched some of the series this season. I will be listing what I think is worth a look in for Fall 2015. So without further adieu, here is SnapThirty’s handy Fall 2015 anime season watch guide.   Mobile Suit Gundam: Iron-Blooded Orphans (Sunrise) Gundam is back, baby! Iron-Blooded Orphans may just be one of my favourite anime this season, kicking off with a barn burner of a premiere episode that hit all the right notes while setting the stage for what is sure to be one hell of an anime series. Not only does this series showcase all the things that make the Gundam franchise so damn good but it also breaks …

Wanted? – Dead or Alive Xtreme 3 Set for February Release in Japan

Published by Kane Bugeja

Dead or Alive, the fighting franchise set apart by its detailed attention to…physics. Naturally, this niche led to the spin off series that features less trial by combat, and more…physics. Popular enough for a sequel, the DOA Xtreme series is ready to add a third to the fold, with the (unsurprisingly titled) Dead or Alive Xtreme 3. Set to utilise the Yawaraka 2.0 Engine, with DOA 5 having run on the original version, fans can look forward to improved visuals…or just the visuals in general. Maybe. What’s interesting about this third installment is that it was originally noted as being made exclusively for Japan and the Asian market. Western fans however to exception to that and started a petition to see their buxom brawlers localised once more. Whilst there’s yet to be an official result to this petition, Team Ninja head Yosuke Hayashi has mused about an “adjusted” version of the game for Western audiences, if the demand is high enough. Until results are realised, the game retains a Japanese release date of February 25th. Anywho, …

It’s Time to Battle – Medabots 9 Teaser Revealed

Published by Kane Bugeja

Ok, first things first, this is 100% a Japanese 3DS game, as in to be released in Japan. So keep your hopes where they are Western audiences. But, as the internet has taught us, we are more than welcome to appreciate something we may never necessarily have. So I decided to write about this announcement as more of a legacy to the series that once held a place in the Western canon of childhood. Clearly something that never happened in Japan, as this game carries the numeric identifier of 9. Let that one sink in. Anyway, this next installment in the Robattling franchise focuses on Tenma Wakakoma, a protagonist who does not have the best relationshiop with his Medabot. After a particularly fiery argument, Tenma storms off in a huff and winds up clashing with the suspicious Roborobo Team and defeats them with the help of a mysterious Medabot. A few days later, a letter winds up at his front door, inviting him to attend the Medabot Academy, a facility where the cream of the …

Like Father, Like Son – Boruto and Naruto Clash in Short Film

Published by Kane Bugeja

To promote the release of a little upcoming film called Boruto: Naruto the Movie, Madman has teamed up with Deerstalker Pictures to provide the ready in waiting movie goers with a small taste of some ninja action. The original, live action short features the titular father-son duo undergoing a friendly little bout in the forest. Of course friendly does not dictate restraint, so the pair are more than willing to use some serious ninjutsu to secure victory. Okay, Boruto is, but if you expected Naruto to take it seriously then you should probably brush up on some episodes/chapters/films before catching the latest theatrical installment. The film proper will screen in select cinemas from October 15th-21st, which is a week for all the calendar fanatics out there. So check out the short film, check out the official site and then check out the film. It’s the most Boruto-centric to do list ever composed, believe it. -30-

Marvelous Announces Kenichiro Takaki’s Newest Video game Masterpiece: “Uppers”

Published by Frank Inglese

You’ve all heard of the video game series Senran Kagura, right? If not; it’s a basically a bunch of games produced by this one guy, Kenichiro Takaki, that feature sexy Ninja babes ripping each others clothes off and just being generally, well…seductive. Now Senran Kagura is immeasurably popular, though not for all video game fans, it is a series that features great mechanics as well as some interesting visuals, if you know what I’m talking about. Well producer Kenichiro Takaki, and video game development studio Marvelous, have decided that raunchy fist fights aren’t just for the ladies and have gone ahead and announced their upcoming brawler title Uppers. Uppers is a PlayStation Vita game that will, supposedly, make the monotony of your basic Beat ’em Up title seem amazing! Producer, once again, by Kenichiro Takaki, this game is said to feature an all-male cast of thugs who have been brought to a remote island wherein which they’re forced to fight for the entertainment of those lucky enough to be a part of the crowd and …

Interview on ‘Yo-kai Watch’ with David H. Steinberg

Published by Luke Halliday

With the recent debut of the English dub of Yo-kai Watch on Disney XD in North America, the global takeover of the Yo-kai Watch franchise has begun. We were fortunate enough to ask some questions of David H. Steinberg the writer behind the English localization of the anime series and get the inside scoop on the Western take on the Japanese phenomenon. Read on for the full interview: Yo-kai Watch has officially debuted in the West with the anime now airing on Disney XD in America. Can you tell us a little bit about your role and involvement in the series localization? Early last year, the Executive Producer Mark Risley was hired to head up the localization team. I had worked with Mark on several other projects in the past and he brought me and my writing partner Keetgi Kogan onboard. What we do is more than translating but less than pure writing since we’re adhering to the original story. We take the translation of the Japanese and then conform it to the Western speaking …

Digimon Story: Cyber Sleuth Set To Be Released In North America This February

Published by Frank Inglese

Here we go, we’ve finally got a date courtesy of Bandai Namco Entertainment who’ve today announced that the upcoming PlayStation Vita/PlayStation 4 exclusive Digimon Story: Cyber Sleuth is set to hit local shelves across North America on the 2nd of February next year. Up until this point in time, all we knew about the release of this game is that it was going to be made available sometime in 2016, which seems so far away despite the fact that 2015 is quickly coming to an end. Bandai Namco Entertainment announced alongside the release date that Digimon Story: Cyber Sleuth’s PlayStation 4 version will be made available both digitally and physically, with the physical version coming with some exciting pre-order bonuses that include a couple of costumes for the main character’s Agumon, a set of items thrown together to help the player out during the beginning of the game, with additional Digimon partners like BlackAgumon, BlackGabumon, Beelzemon, and Cherubimon. Unfortunately the PlayStation Vita version of the game will only be getting a digital release therefor you cannot …

First Thoughts: Mobile Suit Gundam: Iron-Blooded Orphans – THIS IS GUNDAM!

Published by Luke Halliday

Now that is what I’m talking about! This is Gundam, pure unadulterated Mobile Suit Gundam and it is about damn time. After a bit of a drought, the Mobile Suit Gundam franchise returns to good form with an uproar and a fist rebellious pumping into the air. Iron-Blooded Orphans is the Gundam series we have been dying for since Gundam 00. This is the series we had wished Reconguista in G could have been. This is Gundam at its finest. Right out of the gate Iron-Blooded Orphans sets the stage and over the course of a glorious 23 minutes builds up to a climactic conflict boiling over all of the political and personal drama in grand fashion. The series takes place in the distant future in which Mars has become colonized and serves as essentially a mining planet for Earth. One of the Martian royals feels that Mars should become an autonomous state separate from Earth’s control and as it often goes in typical Gundam fashion, you know what hits the fan.   Iron-Blooded Orphans …

Level-5 Announces Yo-Kai Watch Busters: Moon Rabbit Team

Published by Frank Inglese

Video game franchises like Pokemon have taught us that most games coming with two different versions will, eventually, spawn a third. We saw this originally with Pokemon Red, Blue, and Yellow, and we’re beginning to see it in other franchises too, most notably is that of Yo-Kai Watch who’s second game has more than one version, each with differentiating Yokai to befriend. You may have heard of Yo-Kai Watch Busters; it’s the pair of spin-off titles that introduce the world of Yo-Kai Watch to the gameplay mechanics of an old-school beat em’ up title that has you beating enemies, meeting friends, levelling up, and everything in between. At first, as mentioned, there were just the two games; Red Cat Team, and White Dog Corps, but now Level-5, through the pages of CoroCoro magazine, have announced that there is going to be a third game in the Yo-Kai Watch Busters series with it’s main Yokai being USApyon, and it’s called Moon Rabbit Team. The new game will launch in December of this year alongside a free …

Metal Gear Online: Tactical Team Operations Impressions

Published by Jahanzeb Khan

It may have taken a month after the release of Metal Gear Solid V: The Phantom Pain for it to launch, and it may have taken a few days to iron out all the bugs and really get rolling, but Metal Gear Online: Tactical Team Operations is now fully functional and hitch free as of yesterday. I was struggling to even get into a match when the service first launched, but now the servers are are good to go and jumping to an online match is a smooth transition. Metal Gear Solid V: The Phantom Pain was already the greatest game even without the online multiplayer, but now the addition of Metal Gear Online: Tactical Team Operations has made an already perfect gaming package even better. The character you take control of in Metal Gear Online is of the same appearance you design during the prologue chapter of The Phantom Pain. You’re then prompted to choose one of three character classes: Scout (sniper, long range), Enforcer (heavy arms, bombs), and Infiltrator (closed quarters, stealth). Right …

‘Hunter x Hunter’ Anime To Get English Dub By VIZ Media

Published by Luke Halliday

For fans of Hunter x Hunter this news has been a long time coming. Not only was the 2011 anime adaptation of the Hunter x Hunter manga a rousing success both artistically and critically it was every Hunter x Hunter fans dream come true. After over a decade having passed since the inception of the awful 1999 anime adaptation the series was rebooted and wound up being one of the greatest shonen anime adaptations of all time in this writer’s opinion. Now we have the news fans have been waiting for, VIZ Media have just announced that they have licensed the series and will be dubbing it into English. This is some fantastic news to say the very least and long overdue. The 2011 anime adaptation has been critically acclaimed and as the years rolled on and the series came to its conclusion in episode 148 many thought that an English dub would never come to fruition. Thankfully we were all wrong and VIZ Media will have the honors of localizing the series. While no …

First Thoughts: ‘The Perfect Insider’ – Thinking About Thinking

Published by Luke Halliday

Who are you? Where did you come from? Where are you going? These are the three questions that The Perfect Insider poses throughout its talky yet thought provoking premiere. And while those are questions still to be pondered in the context of The Perfect Insider one thing is for certain; this series is challenging its viewers to think, something that is becoming unfortunately a scarcity in the modern anime landscape. Based upon the 1996 mystery novel by Hiroshi Mori and with designs by acclaimed mangaka Inio Asano, The Perfect Insider has barely set the stage for what is to come yet has me utterly compelled to watch more. This first episode played out somewhat like an opening prologue to a novel, introducing some of the components of the story and building intrigue all the while never showing its hand too soon, choosing instead to keep its cards close to its chest. What stood out to me so strongly about The Perfect Insider is that way in which it felt like reading a novel all the …

ONE OK ROCK’s Latest Single ‘The Way Back’ Rocks Hard, Did You Really Expect Anything Less?

Published by Luke Halliday

When it comes to Japanese Rock, it has hard to dispute that anyone rocks harder than ONE OK ROCK. Not only have they taken their homeland of Japan by storm but that have gained fans across the globe with a series of world tours and of course their now iconic hit ‘The Beginning’ being used as the theme for the live-action Rurouni Kenshin film. ONE OK ROCK are back once more and this time with a song that hits so hard you’ll need a new pair of socks. The single is called ‘The Way Back’ and it may very well be one of the band’s best yet. You be the judge and have a listen for yourself with the music video below. -30-

‘Chihayafuru’ Live-Action Film Trailer Released, Looks Totally Amazing

Published by Luke Halliday

It is no secret that Chihayafuru is one of my personal favourite anime series. It’s mix of shojo romance with the intensity and passion of a sports anime proved to be a winning combination for me. The series follows a young girl named Chihaya who falls madly in love with the Japanese card game of Karuta making friends along the way on her journey to become the greatest Karuta player in the world. It is far from your ordinary card game and the sheer majesty of the game is a huge part of what makes this such an incredible and beautiful series. But that is just about enough of me gushing over just how great this series is, it is time to take a gander at the live-action cinematic adaptation of the series which is set to be split across two films. The film will star Suzu Hirose as Chihaya alongside Shuhei Nomura and Mackenyu as Taichi and Wataya respectively. The first film which is to be titled Chihayafuru: Upper Phrase will hit the silver …

Japanese Film Festival Returns, Blockbuster Line-Up Locked In

Published by Luke Halliday

For the 19th year in a row the Japanese Film Festival will take Australia by storm with countless films of Japanese cinema set to the silver screen across the nation. With a nation wide tour taking place from October 14th to December 6th, the festival will stop off at Canberra, Brisbane, Perth, Adelaide, Sydney and Melbourne. Films on show include the live-action adaptation of wildly popular manga series about making a manga series Bakuman, Takashi Miike’s latest directorial effort As The Gods Will and the adaptation of Shonen Jump action comedy series Assassination Classroom. You can check out the full schedule over at the Japanese Film Festival’s official site. So when does the festival hit your town? Well you can check out the tour schedule below: CANBERRA – 14 to 18 October 2015 at Capital Cinemas, Manuka BRISBANE – 21 to 25 October 2015 at Event Cinemas Brisbane City Myer Centre PERTH – 28 October to 1 November 2015 at Hoyts Carousel & Hoyts Millennium ADELAIDE – 30 October to 1 November / 6 to 8 …

Asuka Makes WWE Debut as a Worthwhile Addition to a Flourishing Women’s Division

Published by Jahanzeb Khan

WWE NXT is the place where wrestling stars are born, and even seasoned veterans are born anew when they step inside the NXT ring. Wrestling in the independent scene for nearly a decade, the performer formerly known as Kana made her stunning debut on NXT‘s special extravaganza: TakeOver Respect in a match against Dana Brooke. Asuka made a special entrance while donning a Japanese doll mask, and it didn’t take long to see why she is one of the most respected women in the wrestling business today. Asuka goes into a match with killer instinct, all with an adorable smile on her face. She’s a living,breathing Yandere if we ever saw one. She’s adorable and also a beast, which makes her very scary. Asuka ended her debut match with a hold made famous by the legendary Bob Backlund: The Crossface Chickenwing. It’s a painful cringe-inducing hold for sure, and not many people latch it in with the same ferocity as Bob Backlund did during his prime, but Asuka is probably the only person to ever come close. In …

Hands On With Star Fox Zero – EB Expo 2015

Published by Kane Bugeja

“Hey Einstein!” “Do a barrel roll,” and many more wonderful earworms are sure to have burrowed into your brain at the very mention of that most spacefaring of vulpes vulpes, the one and only Fox McCloud. Heck, even I knew those quotes and I’ve never played any of the previous Star Fox titles. As such, my hands on had less to do with nostalgic resurgence, and more to do with the intention of satiating a prolonged curiosity. Blasting off mid-mission, as per the demo norm, Fox and allies are traversing a swerving canyon on their way to rescue a particular canid commander. To that effect, gameplay takes the form of a continuous push forward, with the player controlling direction, speed and the amount of lasers currently being propelled into enemy forces. Of the demo, this was the simplest part to maneuver, with the main obstacle being stationary forces pinned to cliff faces. You don’t even have to defeat them to progress, just survive. The demo’s second portion switched things up a little by placing you …

Attack On Titan (Part 2): End Of The World – Review

Published by Frank Inglese

Attack On Titan; Hajime Isayama’s highly popular Manga series about a bunch of teenagers fighting off the forces of man-eating giants. This Manga, not two years ago, became it’s very own Anime series and from their it’s popularity skyrocketed to heights never thought attainable by a series of it’s kind. Ever since the Anime adaptation, Attack On Titan has gone on to spawn spin-off Manga series, a video game, and now two live-action films, the first of which disappointed audiences the world over. Seen as one of the great Japanese pop culture tragedies of 2015, this film took everything the fans of the series loved and pummelled them into the ground, only to replace them with lacklustre versions of the things that made the Anime so great. Filled with story, most of which was convoluted thanks to it’s unnecessary plot alterations, the first movie made a lot of money but it also made a lot of people angry, stopping many of them from returning to the cinema for the second of the two-part cinematic story …

Metal Gear Online: Tactical Team Operations Has Launched (AU/NZ)

Published by Jahanzeb Khan

Metal Gear Online has made its long awaited return in Metal Gear Solid V: The Phantom Pain via a free downloadable update (around 2 GB in size) which adds the online multiplayer mode to the main menu, titled as Metal Gear Online: Tactical Team Operations. Nearly a month after its historic launch, fans of Metal Gear Solid V: The Phantom Pain have more reason to never, ever stop playing what is surely a contender for the best game of 2015. From its humongous single player campaign to the Mother Base which had online features of its own, the newly added Metal Gear Online mode potentially extends the lifespan of Metal Gear Solid V: The Phantom from 100 hours to… quite frankly… eternity. Stay tuned for our impressions of the new and improved Metal Gear Online when it’s fully ready to go. The servers are undergoing a tad bit of maintenance with most features unavailable at the time of writing, but it does allow you to freely explore the online map to get a feel of …

Hands On With The Legend of Zelda: Tri Force Heroes – EB Expo 2015

Published by Kane Bugeja

If you’ve ever held a controller that has the word Nintendo printed (or imprinted) somewhere upon it, then you’ve probably heard about The Legend of Zelda. As to why Zelda is the one with the legend is beyond me, given her propensity for only battling the forces of evil in the final assault. But that’s neither here nor there, this incarnation around we are here to talk about the Hero of time, the Second Hero of Time and the Third Hero of Time. That’s right it a genuine Link-stravaganza in a game that combines the items and skills you know and love, with good ol’ fashoned teamwork. Assuming the multi-coloured mantle of champion, Tri Force Heroes presents three Links who all share a common goal and, gameplay wise, a common health bar. Thus it’s in the best interest of all involved to co-operate, as you literally cannot proceed alone. At the beginning of each level, the podiums arise bearing three items, each Link then chooses one of said items, cementing their role in the upcoming adventure. …

First Thoughts: One-Punch Man – Saving Anime, One Punch At A Time

Published by Frank Inglese

I’m literally lost for words. A terrifying way to start an opinion piece, but a reality that I simply cannot avoid for any longer. I’ve sat at my work desk and I’ve pondered the first episode of One-Punch Man for longer than I care to admit, yet here I am still stuck, unable to express the intense emotion that this Anime has built up inside of me with just one episode. I feel as though I may burst if I do not express to the world just how much I truly love this Anime, and just how necessary it is to the evolution of the industry. I feel like I have to start from the very beginning by asking; what makes an Anime good? What’s funny is that the answer to that question is essentially…One-Punch Man, simply because it has all the traits of an Anime you can enjoy on almost every single level. One-Punch Man, for some background knowledge, is a brand-new Anime series based upon a Manga series that was, let’s say, “inspired” …

First Thoughts: Haikyu!! Season 2 – One More Set

Published by Kane Bugeja

Ah Haikyu!!, the sports anime that really came out of nowhere for me and has stuck with me ever since, mainly due to the fact it’s a sports anime, a subset of which I am new to. But that’s all in the past-ish, this is season two. Back in Karasuno High, we find our intrepid volleyball club training their proverbial butts off following their defeat at the end of the previous season. This, as one might expect, serves as a pretty powerful motivator for a team of competitive highschoolers and kicks off this season with a much faster pace than the first. With this in mind, and knowing the characters who make up the Karasuno team, it isn’t to surprising that this episode is comprised mainly of screaming, running, more screaming and playfully explosive team building. As a direct continuation of the first season, this episode has the benefit of pre-established characters, allowing for development rather than introduction. This is most obvious through the opening training match of the Karasuno boys. Within a few points, we …

First Look at Hasbro’s Yo-Kai Watch Toys

Published by Luke Halliday

EB Games Expo 2015 was a big day for Yo-Kai Watch fans with the world premiere of the English dub screening at the event and the game showcased for thousands of attendees to get their hands on. But that wasn’t all that was on show however. Hasbro’s line of Yo-Kai Watch toys were shown for the first time ever at the event and they look every bit as good as their Japanese counterparts. On show were plushies, watches and even medals. First of all I must say that these plushies looked to be of great quality and utterly adorable. There was Jibanyan, Komasan, Robonyan and even Whisper plush toys. They were a medium size and were rather similar to the Japanese plushies but a bit more rounded and shapely compared to the Japanese plushies for the series which were more often toy heavy. As for the Yo-Kai Watch itself, it looks a little bit bigger than the Japanese equivalent and looks to come bundled with 2 medals, one for Jibanyan and one for Whisper. Rather …

First Piece Of Attack On Titan Season 2 Footage Leaked Online

Published by Frank Inglese

How long has it been since the first season of the Attack On Titan Anime adaptation finished? September 2013 was when the final episode aired so, at this point in time, it’s been just over two solid years. I feel as though we, the Japanese pop culture-loving audience, have waited far too long to hear or see something regarding the upcoming second season and, until today, there was absolutely nothing for us to sink our teeth into. We’ve waited a long time, all the while knowing that a second season has been in the works ever since the end of the last. Not only did the final episode end on a cliffhanger, but the fact that the Anime was so popular means that Wit Studio will absolutely be making more, so it’s nice to finally get the chance to see, even slightly, what’s in store for us in the upcoming season, and thanks to a leaked preview video, that’s exactly what we’ve gotten. Now the pseudo-journalist in me is kicking himself for not having the proper …

Does Konami Have Plans To Make A Pachinko Machine About MGS’ Big Boss?

Published by Frank Inglese

It’s no industry secret that Konami have decided to make a fairly decent change in regards to video game development as they reach forward into a new future of Pachinko-based product creation. After the release of Metal Gear Solid V: The Phantom Pain and the subsequent letting go of series mastermind Hideo Kojima, Konami announced that they intend on putting more focus on developing gaming systems like Pachinko machines rather than the standard video game console titles we’ve come to expect from them, and while it has been said that they still want to be in video game production and development, the reality of the situation is that they’ll most likely follow the path paved with money which is, of course, the realm of Japanese legal gambling. Recently, a spokesperson from Konami mentioned that the company still plans on developing Metal Gear Solid games without the involvement of Hideo Kojima; a sad but inevitable truth for the much-loved series of stealth-based video games. Something I jokingly assumed would happen, but never thought would become a reality, …

First Thoughts: Attack On Titan: Junior High – School’s Out!

Published by Frank Inglese

Attack On Titan is one of the most popular modern Anime adaptations of recent times, which is completely justified considering not only how well it was animated by also how interesting a story it features. Now that it has become as popular as it is now, the market has flooded and the over-saturation of Attack On Titan media has finally set in. That’s why things like Attack On Titan: Junior High exist; because people can’t seem to get enough, and they’ll take anything they can get. Fact is; there’s no reason Attack On Titan: Junior High should exist, by any means. AOT: Junior High is simply a comedic parody of the original series, but labelling it as such is already false considering it isn’t at all funny. The premise is simple; the main cast of the series are younger and they attend a school literally called Attack On Titan: Junior High that, I assume, teaches them how to kill Titans. I only assume because, even in the first episode, it’s not detailed whatsoever. The Titans, …

Yo-Kai Watch Preview

Published by Luke Halliday

It is a good time to be a Yo-Kai Watch fan. What with the English dub of the anime just days away from release at the time of posting and the game just over a month away, the Yo-Kai invasion is set to take the rest of the world by absolute storm. However it all must begin somewhere and this past weekend it began at EB Games Expo 2015. Nintendo Australia had the Yo-Kai Watch game available at Australia’s biggest gaming expo alongside the first ever look at Hasbro’s toys and merchandise based upon the series. Not only that but the world premiere of the English dub took place at the event to boot. As a huge fan of the series and seeing just how crazy Yo-Kai fever really was in Japan, I couldn’t wait to get my hands on the game at the expo. When I finally got my hands on it after a mad dash to Nintendo’s booth it was like Christmas had just come early for me. We played a demo of …

First Thoughts: Concrete Revolutio – It’s All In The Name

Published by Frank Inglese

What does Anime and a majority of Fall Out Boy song titles have in common? Often their names don’t match their content, and for the new Anime series Concrete Revolutio, this is absolutely the case. Judging by the name alone, what exactly would you think this Anime is about? Construction, the booming concrete industry, something…gritty? Probably! If you did though…you’d be wrong, because Concrete Revolutio is a new Studio Bones production centred around a Hellboy-like government agency tasked with both protecting and sometimes destroying supernatural forces. The first episode specifically introduces the audience to the protagonist of the series as he sends an Ultraman-style entity back to the planet whence he came. Luckily, it’s sub-title “Choujin Gensou“, literally translates to “Superhuman Story“, so that’s where you can get an idea of just what this Anime is about. Almost too vibrant and colourful for an average human to watch comfortably, Concrete Revolutio featured some amazing visual qualities that paired well with it’s strange but interesting pop culture-heavy story that, in this episode, featured two Tokusatsu warriors, …

First Thoughts: Young Black Jack – The Doctor Is In

Published by Frank Inglese

Without Osamu Tezuka’s influence on the world of Japanese pop culture, chances are it wouldn’t be the same as it is today. When people hear his name, their minds will link directly back to Astro Boy, but Osamu Tezuka’s Mighty Atom isn’t the only creation of sheer brilliance that he has brought into the world, simply the most popular. Princess Knight, Kimba The White Lion, Phoenix, Buddha, these are the works that lead Japan onto the creative path it currently walks today. That’s why an Osamu Tezuka is titled “The God Of Manga“. In 2011, one of his darker series, Black Jack, was used as direct inspiration for a new Manga revolving around the younger life of the titular character. Tezuka having passed away decades ago, had nothing to do with it but the spirit of his creation carried on into the Yoshiaki Tabata/Yugo Okuma collaboration. This Manga was called Young Black Jack, and now, in 2015, it has finally gotten an Anime adaptation. Not having read Tezuka’s Black Jack, nor having read the Young Black …

Meet The Felonious Inspirations Behind Persona 5’s New Crew

Published by Frank Inglese

Chances are, if you’re reading this, than you’re very much aware of the Shin Megami Tensei offshoot series Persona. Even more, I’m sure you’re very much aware of the fact that there’s a new Persona game on the way courtesy of the hard-working developers over at ATLUS. The next numerical addition to the series, Persona 5, is looking to be quite a bit different from it’s predecessors in many ways. The list of changes for the new game is almost endless, but overly positive. Like with any new addition to a series, certain aspects of what made previous titles popular are changed, but what continues to keep the series as a whole highly-revered is that the core features aren’t altered. One of those particular features seen throughout each addition to the Persona series are the Personas themselves. Changing thematically across each of the games, one thing remains the same; they’re demon-like creatures that mirror one’s heart…and that’s no different for Persona 5. If you care to cast your mind back you’ll quickly come to remember that …

[Update] Street Fighter V’s New Character Laura Leaked Thanks To Famitsu Mishap

Published by Frank Inglese

Not coming as any surprise to fans of the long-running fighting game series Street Fighter, it was only a few days ago that Capcom announced the return of the Red Cyclone, Zangief, the the roster of their upcoming game Street Fighter V. Those in the Zangief fan club cheered in delight, but those looking to get some information an another brand-new character winced in disappointment…until Famitsu accidentally released a set of screenshots showcasing the not-yet-announced new character Laura instead of the aforementioned Zangief who was meant to be the star of the featured gallery. Wearing all green and looking strikingly similar to Australia’s very own Megan Gale (Valkyrie – Mad Max: Fury Road), it was clear that this character was not at all the hulking Russian mass known as Zangief. Famitsu quickly took the pictures down…but unfortunately not quick enough to erase it from the internet; something I’m fairly certain is near impossible. We now know that her name is indeed Laura and fans of the series across the internet who know a little about true-to-life …

One Piece: Pirate Warriors 3 Review

Published by Luke Halliday

When it comes to ‘Warriors‘ games, you are going to have one of two reactions. You are either going to be excited at the thought of demolishing hordes of enemies between crumbs of a story or you are going to loathe the thought of doing just that for fear of sheer boredom. Both viewpoints are valid and if you have played one ‘Warriors’ game you are sure to have quickly formed an opinion one way or the other. In recent times the ‘Warriors‘ franchise has become the Japanese video games equivalent of Call of Duty or Assassin’s Creed. Tecmo Koei and Omega Force crank out multiple games a year under the ‘Warriors‘ banner rarely stopping to do much in way of reinventing the wheel. While admittedly some ‘Warriors‘ games prove to be more interesting than others, it is the One Piece: Pirate Warriors series of games that has a place in my heart personally. As a fan of One Piece, these games are easily the best games based on the franchise ever put together. They …

New Lupin The Third Anime Opening Posted Online Before Premiere

Published by Frank Inglese

It feels as though we’ve been waiting for the new Lupin The Third Anime to premiere for quite some time. The 24 episode Anime series was meant to begin quite some time ago but was pushed back for reasons so far unknown. Thankfully, the time has finally come for the new series to begin, although only in Japan. As of right now, no Western distributor has picked up the license to simulcast the Anime as it airs in Japan but the hopes of the people is that some streaming service picks it up very soon. A sequel to the highly-popular remake The Woman Called Fujiko Mine, the new series will focus, once again, on the group of thieves as they, this time, cause trouble all across Italy. Cinema Today, a Japanese online publication, have done the world a solid today by releasing the full opening of the new Anime prior to it’s official premiere and, without giving too much away…it is exactly what I was expecting from the new Lupin The Third. The music you’ll hear throughout …

Bandai Namco Entertainment Announces Digimon Linkz SmartPhone Game

Published by Frank Inglese

It seems as though Digimon is making a comeback. According to Japan, it never really left, but anyone who knows anything about the long-running monster-raising franchise will know that it has obviously seen better days. Most notably; back in 90s when it was first conceived and released. As of late, though, the franchise has been resurrected thanks to a whole bunch of new video games developed specifically for those of us who grew up with Digimon, and those of us who still have a place for it in our hearts. Digimon World Re:Digitized, Digimon Story: Cyber Sleuth, Digimon World -Next 0rder-; these are just a few of the worthwhile new Digimon games that Bandai Namco Entertainment have delivered to the Digital Monster-loving fans…and they’ve got one more to announce, but unfortunately it wont be as exciting as the titles I listed just above. The new game is called Digimon Linkz; a SmartPhone title that has players build their own village, raise their own Digimon, and battle others to see just who truly is the master …