What a tiresome year. First Windows year had too many obscure games with tiny bits of information to get. Crude graphics, bland plotlines, typical dating sim gameplay. But all in due time.
Let's prolong the chart.
VN per year
Year Total
1991 75
1992 80
1993 121
1994 155
1995 180
1996 183
1997 202
Numbers don't show anything extraordinary - a very mild logical increase in numbers. Shift to Windows has not had an influence on the quantity so far. As for the quality, that's another thing.
Let's see what year 1996 brought:
Industry got tilted too much to romance games reaching over 50% of total number. At the same time the number of works with an impact on story decreased drastically.
Some of the old titans could not adapt to Windows reality in 1997 - those include Elf/Silky's and Abodago Powers. At the same time there is an influx of new brand names with low price low quality games.
The number of titles with a theme song and an opening increased significantly.
Genres battle still goes on, but simplification process comes to either ADV or ADV with some features. There's still hardly any game with autoplay, so player's active commitment is expected.
There was no major game in 1997. You cant just say "1997 year is X". Pia Carrot 2 is probably the closest one to a major game. It sold the best, but it's hardly a masterpiece, just a game with the best production values. Let's count the masterpiece level games of 1997:
Canaan ~Yakusoku no Chi~
Comic Road
Kaeru nyo Panyon
Moon.
Nails ~Beginning of Your Heart Beat~
Rookies
Ruriiro no Yuki
Ryouki no Ori Dai 2 Shou
Sweepers!
To Heart
Viper-F40
Yatsu no Na wa Diamond
Zoku Hatsukoi Monogatari ~Shuugaku Ryokou~
Not bad selection. What about Canaan? It's a continuation of the most heartwarming game of 1994, Gao-Gao 3. If there was no Desire the same 1994 year, it might easily become the game of the year. Cannan is direct continuation of Gao Gao 3 which means it automatically inherits the merits of part 3 and adds new development in the story as well as a new hero. Yes, it's PC-98 game, but after year 1997 I'm starting to think that PC-98 era was really cool. And in order to share this wonderful experience of Gao Gao 3 and Canaan, I've made video playthroughs of them. The game of the year 1997 is Canaan ~Yakusoku no Chi~.
Foreword: I was choosing between booby fighting action, PS2 juvenile investigation game and SF game in January 2006, so I chose SF one, of course. I also quite liked Setsuka character design, so decided to try Horizont for her alone at least.
Synopsis: The Earth has suffered from terrible wars, and the United Nations' World Federation Government was formed as a result. 33 years later ULF (United LUNA Front) has emerged and declared inter-planetary war to UNWF. The Moon gains initiative and transfers battlefield to the Earth.
In the meantime, there is a group of self-described pirates "E-Freeze" in the sea near Antarctica. They have technical skills comparable to "ULF" and ability to fight in any environment with their humanoid all-purpose weapon GrastX. Main character starts as a member of these pirates.
Youtube:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Um8B5_vfcV4&list=PLs4Gp5VU4Fv8JGiFLKa83pnoykaXb9ask
Game type: SF mecha battle story
Character Design rating: 5/10
Protagonist rating: 4/10
Story rating: 4/10
Game quality: 7/10
Overall rating: 5/10
These are very average scores. Game quality stands out as everyone is voiced, there is enough animation and songs. No major complaints about it except for shortage of CG, some edgy character designs and strange difficulty spikes.
As for the story... I'd call it reverse variant of Gunjou no Sora o Koete. It's basically the same civil war, but there is zero emphasis on human factor/crisis/ideology. Instead, there are constant battles with the use of mecha, and no one even tries to understand other parties. It really is stupid how such important thing as ideology gets ripped off. Well, after short introduction video about the state of war on the Earth nothing else gets any explanation. We instantly get into shoes of some juvenile pirate from E-freeze Kairi. We don't know his story or anything at all. The same goes for the girls, we may learn about girls backgrounds sometimes only really late in the game. At the start of the game UNWF space ship gets stopped by the pirates just because it looks like a ULF ship... and the ship gets released without even robbing it. And this way we kind of learn that pirates are wicked only by their words, and in reality they oppose strong ULF while protecting weak and outdated UNWF.
So in such wold Kairi finds a girl Ti just alone in the wilderness. He takes her to the ship, and this is where my hell begins. Ti is our super-naive main heroine as she remembers nothing, and for the whole game she only asks stupid questions or answers with one-two world phrases like "hima-hima" (because have free time) answering on the question why she comes here. Guess it's supposed to look cute, but such bland naive heroines are my individual hell. But what about other heroines? We've got pilot with past Luna ties Adelheid von Faitsel and two staff members - bitter and experienced Setsuka and freshman Isadora who lives in the shadow of her famous sister. Isadora is another naive type, and Adelheid von Faitsel has horrible looks. It always seems to me that she is a bald girl wearing ridiculous tights on her head. But Setsuka looks very promising with her blunt approach and arrogant attitude to everyone. And this is where we come to the main problem in this game for me...
Capture difficulty. I failed to get Setsuka end. After several attempts I just gave up. It might be that the only walkthrough was in fault, or there was some additional layer of difficulty involved. There three such layers:
1. There are a lot of timed choices that disappear after 5 seconds. Due to such short window I often wonder whether I actually clicked in time or it went on without regard to my choice.
2. There are some choices that don't disappear, but you need to make a choice VERY fast or it will be recorded as wrong one, and you won't know about it till later in game
3. There is at least one case of almost invisible 3rd choice that's pretty much impossible to notice.
I might try to get away from walkthrough and try something else, but heaviness of game engine and a spree of three rape scenes at the end really played on my mind. I really got tired trying, so recordered Isadora ending instead. And there's no way I can be happy with the game after recording only two naive heroine endings. As for the endings themselves, they were very ordinary. Of course Ti had some secret past behind her, and in Isadora case her important relatives come to the scene and mend things.
Since I already touched rape scenes, I need to elaborate on that. There is nothing going on with the story department (apart of one psycho from ULF who starts to attack E-Freeze late in the game), so how will we advance relations with the heroines? Let's just make Kairi sick in the head so that he rapes anyone unless we quickly click a decision not to! That's so stupid, really. I would not even start the game if I know there was a rapist protagonist, even the one who did not control himself.
In the raw outcome we get a really strange game with lousy story and majority of characters, as well as some very irritating capture features. Can't really recommend this game to anyone except for hardcore mecha or maybe Evangellion enthusiasts.
Tamayura Mirai is the only suitable title for me, although Micchi has all the right to also appreciate D.C.4 ~Da Capo 4~ , Girls Book Maker and Renran Spirichu .
1. Aikano ~Yukizora no Triangle~ アイカノ ～雪空のトライアングル～ [190531] Prekano
The former track and field club member Shun attended school with his childhood friend Shizuri and close friend Koharu. However, they had just one more year together before they graduate and possibly go their separate ways.
Both girls had feelings for him and decided to confess to him on Valentine’s Day while they still had a chance. It so happened that he was asked to meet them at different places at the same time. How will he respond to their confessions and what will become of their uneven triangle relationship?
Not blocking it only because of PS4 release
2. Dai Sengo Muramasa -Majin Kakusei- 大戦御村正 -魔人覚醒- [190531] Gesen 18
Sequel to Sengo Muramasa -Tsurugi no Gaika- .
Strategy
3. D.C.4 ~Da Capo 4~ D.C.4 ～ダ・カーポ4～ [190531] Circus 1 2
Those who live on the island of Kagamijima are used to the sight of the ‘large cherry blossom that floats in the sky’ rising out of the middle of the Mikagami lake. Such beautiful scenery had been the lone draw for the island, but lately a new sightseeing spot was born with the opening of a theme park based on Wonderland. The main character and humanoid AI Alice charms everyone with her lovely smile, while artificial faeries dance around the island like fireflies.
Ichito, a young man with an incomplete fairy tale-like skill.
Nino, his mischievous younger sister who won’t show her true side to anyone else.
Sorane, his neighbour that loves the siblings a lot and helps them out all the time.
Hiyori, his trouble-making classmate who has a surprisingly good record in helping people fall in love.
Shiina, a taciturn transfer student with a sharp tongue.
Suginami, his buddy who’s always aware of the latest mysteries.
Then there was Arisu, an ojousama with the same name as the protagonist from Wonderland.
As the sakura petals flutter and artificial faeries dance, a tender love story begins on the island closest to the sky.
There are English reviews
4. E School Life Ｅスクールライフ [190531] Hooksoft 1
Ryoutarou had been forced to live and study overseas for the past six years due to his parents’ work. He confided to his childhood friend Tooru, who was living in Japan, that he hated it.
“I’m surrounded by the guys in the class and can’t even get a chance to talk to the girls…. I don’t want my teenage years to end like this!!”
Tooru sympathized with Ryoutarou upon hearing his difficulty with the language barrier and desire to return to Japan, and talked with his parents about the possibility of bringing him back. After convincing his parents, Ryoutarou was able to return and live in a room share with Tooru. He was thrilled to be back on native soil, but more importantly, that he will be able to talk with girls! He’ll be able to fall in love at his new school!
“Why did you plan on doing when you came back to Japan?”
“Of course fall in love! I want girl friends!”
Looks like Hooksoft does not even try anymore . Be happy with school icha-icha.
5. Girls Book Maker -Shiawase no Libretto- ガールズ・ブック・メイカー -幸せのリブレット- [190531] Yumemiru 1 2
The protagonist, Eito, suddenly finds himself gazing at the grand edifice of an otherworldly Library. Just moments before, he should have been in the confines of the academy's tiny library.
The girl who introduces herself as the "Head Librarian" tells him this Library is a repository of every story known to existence. If the books in the Library are damaged, the stories they contain will be lost to the real world.
"Well then, will you take up the position of Librarian?
Eito ventures into the world of stories as the Librarian who protects the Library.
Many encounters with the characters featured in stories and the masterminds plotting disturbances behind the scenes await the newly minted Librarian Eito.
There are English reviews
6. Heroine wa Tomodachi Desu ka? Koibito Desu ka? Soretomo Tomefure Desu ka? 彼女は友達ですか？恋人ですか？それともトメフレですか？ [190531] DESSERT Soft 1 2
Eager to break free from his solitary life and lose his virginity, Yuki signed up for a system akin to open compensated dating that was set up to combat this societal problem. To his surprise, his doorbell rang just half a minute later and was shocked when the girl who showed up was his class idol Sakurako, who he admired greatly. She gladly agreed to be lovey-dovey with him in return for a place to stay and free food.
However, their outwardly wholesome partnership got off to a rocky start since neither had any experience in love nor staying over with the other sex. They invited other girls to the lessen the awkwardness when they are alone together, and gradually began to like their relationship amidst the lively days.
There is an English review
7. Kotodama: The 7 Mysteries of Fujisawa [190531] ART Co.,Ltd. 1 2
Welcome to Fujisawa Academy – an educational institution where nothing is as it seems and every pupil hides a secret.
Having enrolled as a transfer student, everything feels pleasantly familiar. The pupils are friendly, the staff attentive. All the ingredients for a successful academic career. But you’re not here for a quiet life. Having made a pact with Mon-chan, a sarcastic demon fox, you wield the power of Kotodama – a means coercing the truth from those who seek to lie to you. It’s not a power to be used lightly. Tasked with infiltrating the secretive Fujisawa Academy it soon becomes apparent that uncovering the sinister goings-on behind the seemingly normal façade may give you more than you bargained for…
Game is released in English and has English reviews
8. Renran Spirichu 恋嵐スピリッチュ [190531] Parasol 1
A new school building was constructed for the centenary of a famous private humanities school. However, it was soon besieged by many strange incidents attributed to spirits, such as ghosts uploading selfies of themselves by the pool on social networks or anatomical models using their organs to masturbate. Most of these only caused slight distress to the students and teachers, but the administration was concerned about the problem of rooms which would trap people until they had sex. They would not permit illicit sexual relationships on school grounds at any time, and tasked the student council to deal with the issue.
As the head of the student council, Muneyoshi enlisted the help of exorcists, who came in the middle of the moon-lit night. The two girls were cute and childlike, but with large bosoms on their tiny frame.
“Spiritual power is proportional to the size of one’s chest.
So, we are the strongest exorcists ever!”
He had no idea what they were talking about. All he could think about was ‘loli with big boobs’…
There is an English review
9. Tamayura Mirai タマユラミライ [190531] Azurite 1
Humans and non-humans once lived together in the town of Fukano, and thus it is full of mysterious stories about mysterious beings. Mutsuki is a young magician who uses his powers to resolve strange incidents caused by the youkai, to maintain the harmony between humans and non-humans.
Then Yukina arrived in the town in search for something that she had lost. She had spiritual powers that exceeded his own and was able to see the otherworldly beings. By associating with her, before long even the incident in which he gained his magic was brought back to light.
There is an English review
Abenobashi Mahou☆Shoutengai is the only work I can call a masterpiece this season
1. Chobits ちょびっツ [Madhouse] (Finished 26/26)
Tags: Seinen Comedy, Drama, Romance, Sci-Fi, Ecchi
When computers start to look like humans, can love remain the same?
Hideki Motosuwa is a young country boy who is studying hard to get into college. Coming from a poor background, he can barely afford the expenses, let alone the newest fad: Persocoms, personal computers that look exactly like human beings. One evening while walking home, he finds an abandoned Persocom. After taking her home and managing to activate her, she seems to be defective, as she can only say one word, "Chii," which eventually becomes her name. Unlike other Persocoms, however, Chii cannot download information onto her hard drive, so Hideki decides to teach her about the world the old-fashioned way, while studying for his college entrance exams at the same time.
Along with his friends, Hideki tries to unravel the mystery of Chii, who may be a "Chobit," an urban legend about special units that have real human emotions and thoughts, and love toward their owner. But can romance flourish between a Persocom and a human?
Have to admit that I was quite impressed when I watched it for the first time, and it still delivers. It has become a golden standard of quality for romance comedies with artificial girls, and it provided example of cuteness done right. Still after a few episodes it becomes a habitual fetish comedy, so I'd prefer a shorter size, plus ending is quite disappointing. I refuse to treat it as a masterpiece , after all it has no real story and cuteness is not a reliable fuel for long trips .
Overall Rating: 6/10
2. Azumanga Daiou The Animation Azumanga Daioh: The Animation あずまんが大王 THE ANIMATION [J.C.Staff] (Finished 4/26)
Tags: CGDCT, Gag Humor, School Comedy, Slice of Life
Chiyo Mihama begins her high school career as one of the strangest students in her freshman class—a tiny, 10-year-old academic prodigy with a fondness for plush dolls and homemade cooking. But her homeroom teacher, Yukari Tanizaki, is the kind of person who would hijack a student's bike to avoid being late, so "strange" is a relative word.
There certainly isn't a shortage of peculiar girls in Yukari-sensei's homeroom class. Accompanying Chiyo are students like Tomo Takino, an energetic tomboy with more enthusiasm than brains; Koyomi Mizuhara, Tomo's best friend whose temper has a fuse shorter than Chiyo; and Sakaki, a tall, athletic beauty whose intimidating looks hide a gentle personality and a painful obsession with cats. In addition, transfer student Ayumu Kasuga, a girl with her head stuck in the clouds, fits right in with the rest of the girls—and she has a few interesting theories about Chiyo's pigtails!
Together, this lovable group of girls experience the ups and downs of school life, their many adventures filled with constant laughter, surreal absurdity, and occasionally even touching commentary on the bittersweet, temporal nature of high school.
Only watched couple episodes in the past and was not motivated enough to go on, so I owe it a better treatment now. It's realistic enough, maybe moderately absurd, so I'd compare it with Ping-Pong club. First of all, Ping-Pong club had a lasting plot, and this one is just discrete gags at a set stage. Secondly, I don't find many jokes in Azumanga funny, and eventually those get repetitive. Lastly, I like characters of Ping-Pong club a lot more than this bunch of clutz. Having lost in every way, can't rate Azumanga Daiou equally, and best not even start comparison with some titan like Lucky Star.
Overall Rating: 6/10
3. .hack//Sign [Bee Train] (Finished 26/26)
Tags: Video Game Adventure, Fantasy, Mystery, Sci-Fi
A young wavemaster, only known by the alias of Tsukasa, wakes up in an MMORPG called The World, with slight amnesia. He does not know what he has previously done before he woke up. In The World, the Crimson Knights suspects him of being a hacker, as he was seen accompanying a tweaked character in the form of a cat. Unable to log out from the game, he wanders around looking for answers, avoiding the knights and other players he meets along the way.
As Tsukasa explores The World, he stumbles upon a magical item that takes the form of a "guardian," which promises him protection from all harm. Subaru, the leader of the Crimson Knights, along with several other players who became acquainted with Tsukasa, set out to investigate why Tsukasa is unable to log out, and attempt to get to the bottom of the problem before it gets out of hand.
I really don't know why I finished it in the past, but I sort of hated it even back then as it's one of the most boring and bland MMORPG concepts that I've seen. It had maybe couple somewhat memorable moments and characters, but those 26 episodes were mostly a pain.
Overall Rating: 5/10
4. Digimon Frontier デジモンフロンティア [Toei Animation] (Finished 1/50)
Tags: Isekai Action, Adventure, Comedy, Drama, Fantasy
With five new kids and an exciting new mission in the Digital World, Digimon Frontier brings back all the great action and adventure of the last three seasons. Takuya, Kouji, Izumi, Junpei. and Tomoki meet each other in a train that takes them to the Digital World where a war against evil is being fought. The Angel digimon, Cherubimon, one of The three angels sent to save the World from the power-hungry Lucemon, has turned to the dark side and the entire Digital World is in peril. To fight this great battle, the five CHOSEN ONES must find the Densetsu no Spirit (Legendary Spirit).
Can't block series with openings, or I definitely would block this one. Even contemporary more grown-up versions of franchise like game Digimon Cyber Sleuth were still not serious and interesting enough for me. Frontier has a better stage in my opinion, but all those simplifications drive me mad.
Overall Rating: 5/10
5. Tokyo Mew Mew Mew Mew Power 東京ミュウミュウ [Pierrot] (Finished 2/52)
Tags: Mahou Shoujo Fantasy, Romance, Sci-Fi
Ichigo Momomiya expected her date with her crush, Masaya Aoyama, to have a more romantic ending than her falling asleep after she sees a vision of a cat entering her body. Things get even stranger when, the next day, she begins displaying cat-like behaviors such as an intense craving for fish. When Masaya is attacked by a monster, she discovers that she is able to transform into the cat-eared magical girl, Mew Ichigo.
After she saves Masaya, two researchers named Ryou Shirogane and Keiichiro Akasaka approach her and reveal they had injected her with Iriomote Cat DNA in order to create a magical girl that can save the world from aliens. Ichigo is tasked with fighting these monsters, but saving the world proves to be just too much for Ichigo to handle by herself. Fortunately, she learns that there are four other girls just like her, and now, Ichigo must find them quickly before the aliens completely take over the planet.
Such an evident Sailor Moon imitation, but with elements of parody, more bishounens and side work in a cafe... because Pia Carrot or something I guess. Of course tilt into half-beasts is the main fetish dish. Was too much irritation for me to even stay for the 3rd episode.
Overall Rating: 5/10
6. Juuni Kokuki The Twelve Kingdoms 十二国記 [Pierrot] (Finished 9/45)
Tags: Isekai Action, Adventure, Fantasy
Youko Nakajima has only ever wanted to be normal. She does what she is asked, gets good grades, is the class president, and even helps her classmates whenever she can—but because of her red hair, she has never fit in. With her pushover attitude, Youko lets classmates take advantage of her, so she has nobody she can really call a friend.
But on an otherwise ordinary day, a man who claims to be from another world barges into Youko's classroom and bows before her. This elegant blond-haired man, Keiki, claims that Youko is his master and belongs on the throne of his kingdom. However, their first meeting is cut short as Keiki has been followed by otherworldly beasts called youma. He is able to escape with Youko into his own realm, but two other classmates—Ikuya Asano and Yuka Sugimoto—are caught up in the madness as well. Unfortunately, their troubles have only just begun, as the youma attack leaves them separated from Keiki. Alone in this strange new land, these ordinary students must learn to fend for themselves or die.
Two girls (and one guy who gets lost and forgotten soon) getting into isekai is a cool enough stage, so I liked first three episodes, but it takes its time to unveil, so only in 5th episode we finally see girls ways split. I dragged for some time, because soon after I got angry about some element it was uncovered, that happened with girls connection, with 12 kingdoms that's only explained in episode 6, with Keiki who eventually shows up again, with super weird spirit that sent all kind of madness illusions to Youko. But in the end there's no big story or interesting politics. Youko just wants to get back to Japan, and apparently way goes through most kingdoms, and she is getting constantly attacked by youkai beasts or something. And story goes in cycles as Youko joins new people and eventually gets separated from them. There's a lot of beating around the bush, stupid moves and weird emotional rollercoaster. It did not get better for me with more episodes, and 36 more episodes of such mess is a grim prospect.
Overall Rating: 6/10
7. Ai Yori Aoshi 藍より青し [J.C.Staff] (Finished 3/24)
Tags: Seinen Harem Comedy, Drama, Romance
Kaoru Hanabishi, a college student who lives alone, met a beautiful but bewildered girl dressed in a kimono at a train station. He volunteered to guide her way to the address she was looking for, which happened to be in his neighborhood, but turned out to be an empty lot. Not knowing what to do next, Kaoru invited the devastated girl to his apartment and asked for any additional clues to her destination. She supplied him with a photo of two children whom Kaoru immediately identified as himself and Aoi Sakuraba, his childhood friend. It turned out that the girl in front of him is Aoi Sakuraba herself, his betrothed fiancee who came all the way to Tokyo to marry him. Her revelation was not only surprising but also reminded the deepest part of Kaoru's memory for why he left the Hanabishi family in the first place.
It's straightforward deredere romance that would be pretty tiresome to watch over the course of 24 episodes, maybe with the right mood.
Overall Rating: 6/10
8. Full Moon wo Sagashite Searching for the Full Moon 満月をさがして [Studio Deen] (Finished 3/52)
Tags: Shoujo Music Comedy, Drama, Romance, Supernatural
Two years ago, Mitsuki Kouyama's friend, Eichi Sakurai, moved to America before she could confess her feelings to him. Though she cannot contact him, they made a promise to fulfill their respective dreams: Mitsuki wants to become a professional singer, and Eichi an astronomer. She hopes that one day her music will reach him across the world with a brilliance like that of the full moon.
There is just one catch: Mitsuki suffers from throat cancer, which makes her voice quiet and singing strenuous. Her grandmother, who has a hatred of music, insists that Mitsuki undergo surgery to remove the cancer, but she refuses due to the risk of losing her voice. One day, two shinigami—Meroko Yui and Takuto Kira—appear to tell her that she only has one year left to live. This sudden revelation spurs Mitsuki into action, and she decides that with Meroko and Takuto's help, she will become a professional singer in the time she has left.
Full Moon wo Sagashite follows the emotional story of Mitsuki and her shinigami friends as they discover what it means to sing—and ultimately, what it means to live.
Seriously? The way to idol through tearjerkers? Life useless without ability to sing? I just wonder how much more stupid it can get. Believe me, it can as there is all kind of nonsense in the sleeve. Mitsuki turning into older version of herself and back with shinigami taking any appearance at will is only the tip of this iceberg.
Overall Rating: 5/10
9. Abenobashi Mahou☆Shoutengai Magical☆Shopping Arcade Abenobashi アベノ橋魔法☆商店街 [Gainax, Madhouse] (Finished 13/13)
Tags: Isekai, Parody Award Winning, Comedy, Fantasy, Ecchi
Satoshi "Sasshi" Imamiya believes his life is in shambles, as only a 12-year-old can. Having lost his card collection, his childish dilemmas worsen when he learns that his childhood friend, Arumi Asahina, will be moving away.
Suddenly, their issues are dashed aside for the surreal, and they find themselves transported away through bizarre worlds of science fiction, magic, and war. Any attempt to escape only catapults them into another alien land. Soon, the two come to a realization: every world is just a reimagining of their hometown. But there are two unfamiliar faces—the voluptuous Mune-mune and the elusive blue-haired Eutus—and they just might be the key to escaping their predicament.
Abenobashi Mahou☆Shoutengai follows Sasshi and Arumi's comedic exploits as they desperately attempt to return home. However, when the pair unravel a tale spanning generations, they begin to wonder if the cause of their situation is more personal than they thought. Is returning home truly what they desire?
I consider Abenobashi to be an extended take on FLCL with even more freedom and parody - heck, boy protagonist is absolutely the same. Due to episodic nature it's hard to watch it all in a row, but there's enough goodness to rate it at least the same as FLCL.
Overall Rating: 7/10
10. Rockman.EXE MegaMan NT Warrior ロックマン エグゼ [Xebec] (Finished 1/56)
Tags: Shounen Mecha, Video Game Action, Adventure, Comedy, Sci-Fi
In the year of 20XX, a young boy by the name of Netto Hikari receives a very special gift as he enters the 5th grade. His very own customized net navi, Rockman! Despite Rockman's small size and far more responsible personality, the two boys quickly become the best of friends. A net navi is designed to guide his operator from the inside of his or her PErsonal Terminal, or simply PET for short. Children and adults alike enjoy friendly "Net Battles", where they spar their navis against each other to prove their worth.
Why this ridiculous plot of toy robot sparring repeats over and over again... it's doomed before start.
Overall Rating: 5/10
11. Ou Dorobou Jing Jing: King of Bandits 王ドロボウ JING [Studio Deen] (Finished 3/13)
Tags: Shounen Adventure, Comedy, Fantasy, Sci-Fi
Jing may appear to be a young boy, but his remarkable skills make him one of the most feared thieves on the planet. Along with his feathered partner Kir, Jing travels from town to town, stealing anything of value regardless of the amount of security. But when he's in a pinch, he has one more trick up his sleeve: Kir bonds with Jing's right arm to perform the effectively deadly "Kir Royale" attack. And because of all this, Jing is infamously known by many as the "King of Bandits."
First episode is bandits competition, second episode is new adventure with getting a partner , third episode is a new adventure again... and withou partner, moreover with a new brief acquantance partner. There is no plot here, just episodic stories, so it can be described as fantasy version of Eat-man. Can't rate that highly.
Overall Rating: 6/10
12. Tenchi Muyou! GXP 天地無用! GXP [AIC] (Finished 3/26)
Tags: Detective, Harem, Mecha, Space Action, Comedy, Sci-Fi
From crashing his bike to falling in lakes, Seina Yamada just cannot shake the bad luck that follows him. But his fortune begins to change when he is forcibly recruited into the Galaxy Police and ends up capturing the most pirates in the force.
Now, Seina is no longer just the unfortunate boy from Earth; he is a man that pirates have come to fear. Despite his reputation, Seina is still the same clumsy guy, but at least he has Amane Kaunaq, a former model, and Kiriko Masaki, his long time friend, to keep him together. With their help, Seina sets out on an adventure in the hopes of becoming a great Galaxy Police Officer.
Tenchi and the whole harem except space police officer irritated, so this reinstallment has better and less generic protagonist Souma, that space police officer girl and many busty babes. It's a better stage, but show still lacks substance and normal humor as usual, and change of staff can't fix that.
Overall Rating: 6/10
13. Tokyo Underground 東京アンダーグラウンド [Pierrot] (Finished 4/26)
Tags: Shounen Super Power Action, Adventure, Romance, Sci-Fi
Under the capital city of Tokyo, Japan, there exists a large, vast, and unknown world known as Underground. There, people known as Elemental Users exist; people who have the ability to control the elements: Fire, Water, Lightning, Magnetism, Freeze, etc. Meet Rumina Asagi and his best friend Ginnosuke Isuzu, two average high school freshmen who reside in Tokyo. When they meet Gravity User, Chelsea Rorec, and the Miko of Life, Ruri Sarasa, their whole lives change into one big adventure.
Pilot is great, but there are just new enemies each episode, so it gets stale. Better than average action, but nothing really outstanding, and I'm definitely not sitting through 20 more filler episodes to get the crumbs of the story.
Overall Rating: 6/10
14. Happy☆Lesson (TV) [Studio Hibari] (Finished 1/13)
Tags: Harem Comedy, Drama, Romance
Hitotose Chitose was always alone and untrusting of people but when 5 female teachers appear and started living together with him in his family's house as his mothers, things started to change and pick up, together with Hazuki-nee and Minazuki (his 2 sisters) everyday is a lesson.
Remake of useless OVA about useless cute abusive teachers. Many "jokes" are recycled from OVA.
Overall Rating: 5/10
15. Tenshi na Konamaiki Cheeky Angel 天使な小生意気 [TMS Entertainment] (Finished 3/50)
Tags: Shounen Magical Sex Shift Comedy, Romance
Megumi-chan is a girl with a secret past. She used to be a boy until she met a person she thought was a magic user. This person gave him/her a magical book from which a genie appears to grant one wish when blood is applied to it. Megumi made the wish to be a man in a man's body but the genie has a twist: he grants wishes backwards so he turns Megumi-kun aged 9 to Megumi-chan. Years pass and Megumi enters High School where she immediately beats up the school bully who of course falls in love with her. She is looking for that book again to be able to reverse the spell placed upon her.
Today in gender studies there is a man who is temporarily a girl and who gets harassed by other guys... It's better than it sounds, but seriously... 50 episodes? Concept is executed well, but it's a normal delinquents anime with tomboy instead of a hooligan protagonist, and there's a bit of strange romance on the side. I'm not enjoying this.
Overall Rating: 6/10
16. Rizelmine りぜるまいん [Madhouse, Imagin] (Finished 3/24)
Tags: School Comedy, Romance, Sci-Fi, Ecchi
Iwaki Tomonori is an average 15-year-old boy who likes older women. He happens to have a crush on his teacher, but soon thereafter, learns she has become engaged. He heads home brokenhearted, only to find a 12-year-old girl named Rizel at his home, who he learns the Japanese government has married him to against his will. Furthermore, he learns Rizel is no ordinary girl; she is a biochemically engineered human, and her creators (her "papa"s, as they are often referred to) promise to waive multiple bills of Iwaki's parents in exchange to be allowed to stay at their house, and thus Iwaki's life with Rizel begins.
Exotic girl at home is a poor concept and Chobits nearly perfected that already. This anime is on the lower end of the food chain as it's baked from average elements.
Overall Rating: 5/10
17. Pita Ten Pita-Ten ぴたテン [Madhouse] (Finished 2/26)
Tags: Shounen School Comedy, Fantasy, Romance
Kotaro was pretty much supposed to be your average boy, worried about the pressures of education while enjoying a simple life with his friends. Much to his despair, he one day finds the overly cheerful Misha at his door, asking to be friends out of nowhere. Even more shocking is that Misha is an apprentice angel, yet she does more bad then good. Along with Kotaro's school friends Takashi and Koboshi and the so called devil Shia (once again being able to do more good then bad), the group of friends spend their days getting into all sorts of adventures and troubles. Based on the manga by Koge-Donbo.
Exotic girl neighbor next door is only slightly better as a concept. It saves from cohabitation silly humor and fanservice, and this anime requires that handicap as it's aimed towards younger audience, some elementary school or so. Cuteness and conventional humor aren't enough to stand out.
Overall Rating: 5/10
18. Wagamama☆Fairy Mirumo de Pon! Mirmo Zibang! わがまま☆フェアリー ミルモでポン! [Studio Hibari] (Finished 4/172)
Tags: Shoujo School Adventure, Comedy, Drama, Fantasy, Romance
Kaede is a cheerful and energetic eighth grader. When it comes to boys, however, she is hopelessly shy.
One day, on her way home from school, Kaede walks into a mysterious shop and buys a colorful cocoa mug. When she reaches home, she casually peeks into the bottom of the mug and discovers an engraved note, which says, "If you read this message aloud while pouring hot cocoa into the mug, a love fairy ("muglox") will appear and grant your every wish." The skeptical but curious Kaede follows the directions and announces her wish to date Yuuki, the class heartthrob. Suddenly, the adorable blue Mirumo appears! We soon find out, however, that this cute little muglox would rather eat chocolate and create mischief than help Kaede.
Mirumo, it seems, is prince of the muglox world. Horrified at the prospect of having to marry Rirumu, his princess bride-to-be, Mirumo has escaped the muglox world. Hot on his heels, however, are Rirumu, Yashichi the bounty hunter, and a cast of hundreds of muglox ranging from the good to the bad to the nutty. This gang of adorable troublemakers will see to it that school life for Kaede and her friends is never the same...
It's amusing enough and thus decent, but I did not find myself smiling even once, and apart of humor and cuteness there's no more strong sides.
Overall Rating: 6/10
19. Whistle! ホイッスル！ [Studio Comet] (Finished 1/39)
Tags: Shounen School, Team Sports
Kazamatsuri Shou's dream has always been to become a professional soccer player, but he has one problem: he's not very good at the game. He was accepted to the prestigious Musashi no Mori Junior High, known for its top rate soccer team, but he was never able to rise beyond the rank of third stringer. After transferring to Sakura Jousui Junior High, he can finally play soccer. And, with the support of his new friends and teammates, his strong determination, and lots of hard work, his soccer skills are developing rapidly and setting Shou well on his way to achieving his dream.
One sample episode is enough for most spokons. This piece wants to be Hajime no Ippo for soccer as protagonist starts as a lousy, but diligent player.
Overall Rating: 5/10
20. Gun Frontier ガンフロンティア [Vega Entertainment] (Finished 4/13)
Tags: Seinen Historical Action, Adventure, Drama, Sci-Fi
It is a harsh and barren wasteland, where the weak aren't allowed to dream. It is also a sacred land for true men, for there is no place a man can feel more alive. This is the Gun Frontier. Sea Pirate Captain Harlock and the errant samurai, Tochiro arrive in the United States on the Western Frontier. Along with a mysterious woman they meet along the way, the two friends challenge sex rings, bandits, and corrupt sheriff. They are searching for a lost clan of Japanese immigrants, and they will tear Gun Frontier from end to end until they find it.
Recycled character designs as usual. Less confusion this time, but it's just random adventures in the wild west environment with not interesting enough characters and constant losing.
Overall Rating: 6/10
21. Atashin'chi あたしンち [Shin-Ei Animation] (Finished 3/330)
Tags: Comedy, Slice of Life
Outrageous misadventures of an almost normal family with a housewife, her husband, and their two kids Yuzuhiko and Mikan. Wacky humor about this weird family's daily life.
Partially translated. There seem to be three stories inside one episode. Visuals are even worse than Yamadas while humor is better.
Overall Rating: 6/10
22. Bakutou Sengen Daigunder Daigunder 爆闘宣言ダイガンダー [Nippon Animation, Brain's Base] (Finished 1/39)
Tags: Mecha Adventure, Sci-Fi
Akira Akebono, a young boy who is competing in a robot tournament where many of the robots are capable of transforming into animal forms. Akira wants to win the ultimate prize, the Titan Belt, with the help of his group of robots, all of which are capable of forming into the robot Daigunder. Daigunder is the creation of Akira's father, Professor Hajime Akebono. Together with a girl named Haruka, they compete under the name of Team Akira. However, Team Akira faces opposition from not only their competition, but a robot named Ginzan who is under the control of the evil Professor Maelstrom.
A new fantastic toy robot battles concept anime that I skip!
Overall Rating: 4/10
23. Wild 7 Another Bouryaku Unga Wild 7 Another ワイルド7 another 謀略運河 [E&G Films] (Finished 13/13)
Tags: Shounen Detective, Gore Action, Adventure, Mystery
A big transatlantic ship, full of rich and important people for international business, has been taken by a group of terrorists. The only hope for their rescue is in the hands of a Japanese man known as Japa, but first, he must hire seven companions to help him, and together they will be the Wild Seven. The main plot occurs in the waters of Nicaragua's Canal.
As a sequel to ancient movie, it also looks both morally and technologically old. It's a slow and boring gathering of bland team consisting of a big number of characters, then lots of talking with detective mystery elements and finally a bit of action with rescuing. Not impressive, sadly.
Overall Rating: 5/10
24. Forza! Hidemaru フォルツァ！ひでまる [Gallop] (Finished 1/26)
Tags: Team Sports
A soccer anime with a cast of wacky animals in sports getup seems far out of its time in the early 21st century, but it was the year of the World Cup in Japan and South Korea, and the very young audience sees these tropes with fresh eyes. Hidemaru is a feisty fox; his friends include bunnies, dogs, horses, and a couple of hefty hippo girls.
Based on a manga Hidemaru the Soccer Boy by Makoto Mizobuchi, serialized in CoroCoro Comics.
Super childish soccer, don't know why it's not marked properly.
Overall Rating: 5/10
25. .hack//Liminality [Bee Train] (Finished 4/4)
Tags: Video Game Mystery, Sci-Fi
While playing the newly released MMORPG "The World," Minase Mai and Tomonari Kasumi collapsed in the real world and were sent to the hospital after hearing a mysterious sound. Only Mai had recovered while her friend Kasumi had slipped into a mysterious coma. Mai is later approached by the creator of "The World," Tokuoka Junichiro, who unveils to her that, just like her friend, six other players across the country had also collapsed while playing "The World" and are now in mysterious comas. What exactly is "The World," what is this mysterious sound Mai keeps on hearing, and why are people slipping into comas from this game? Minase, Junichiro and their acquaintances set off to get to the bottom of this problem before any further harm happens.
.hack OVAs are either hit or miss for me as I know at least one definite masterpiece among them. This one is just real world detective mystery around MMO, total miss.
Overall Rating: 5/10
26. Cosplay Complex こすぷれCOMPLEX [TNK] (Finished 3/3)
Tags: Otaku Culture, Parody, School Comedy, Ecchi
Meet Chako and her friends from the Cosplay Association at East Oizuki Academy! They're the hottest new cosplay team in Japan...fresh from a winning streak of local battles, they're set to sweep the Cosplay World Series!
Yeah, right.
In reality, Chako and her friends are barely able to keep their club alive at all. Feeble club membership and a lack of sponsorship might be the end of their cosplay dreams before they can even start. But don't you dare underestimate this group of spunky girls! They'll survive a barrage of pervy newcomers, cosplay rivalries, costume disasters and dating mishaps in order to reach their ultimate goal of competing in the World Series. The clothing flies as the girls suit up (and strip down) for Cosplay Complex!
Lighthearted and not memorable.
Overall Rating: 5/10
27. Gate Keepers 21 ゲートキーパーズ21 [Gonzo] (Finished 1/6)
Tags: Mecha Action, Drama, Sci-Fi
Thirty-two years have passed since the initial defeat of the Invaders. A.E.G.I.S is all but dismantled now and has become an underground organization consisting of only a few Gate Keepers left to save humanity. One of the members, Ayane Isuzu, is sick of society as a whole, though she continues to defeat the Invaders out of spite for her father. Suddenly, she learns of the revival of Machine General (Kikai Shogun) and Devil Count (Akuma Hakushaku), but a mysterious ghost girl now accompanies them. It is up to Ayane and the remnants of A.E.G.I.S to stop them and save humanity once again.
Since I dropped original midway, and this is sequel, not much to say about it except that it feels more serious and overall better.
Overall Rating: 6/10
28. Galerians: Rion ガレリアンズ：リオン [Enterbrain] (Finished 3/3)
Tags: Shounen Military, Psychological Adventure, Drama, Horror, Mystery, Sci-Fi, Supernatural
Six years have passed since Rion discovered his own identity as an artificial being, yet succeeded in destroying the genocidal Mother Computer, Dorothy, before perishing himself. Now reactivated by Lilia, Rion awakens to find that Dorothy managed to execute one final catastrophic program, rendering a new evil crew to finish her goal of human annihilation. It is a fully 3D CGI animated OVA based on the hit PlayStation game, called Galerians, released in August, 1999.
CGI is still of poor quality, story is not good and characters pretty horrible .
Overall Rating: 4/10
29. Armitage III: Dual-Matrix アミテージ・ザ・サード DUAL-MATRIX [AIC] (Finished 1/1)
Tags: Mecha Action, Adventure, Sci-Fi
A few years after they first met, Naomi Armitage and Ross Syllabus have started a family. Despite their normal lives, they must keep their identities a secret because many people believe that Robots do not deserve equal status with humans. Ross has an opportunity to abolish these ideas on Earth through a vote, but organizations in the shadows are working so that it doesn't happen.
Miracle did not happen. Action is still nice, plot still moderately confusing, but simple in the main part. Satisfaction is there, but could not enjoy it. Still loses to everything from Ghost in the Shell.
Overall Rating: 6/10
30. Crayon Shin-chan Movie 10: Arashi wo Yobu Appare! Sengoku Daikassen クレヨンしんちゃん 嵐を呼ぶ アッパレ! 戦国大合戦 [Shin-Ei Animation] (Finished 1/1)
Tags: Seinen Historical, Samurai Award Winning, Drama, Romance
A full-scale historical drama set in the last days (the year 1574) of the Sengoku Era of feudal Japan. It is the story of the Nohara family, who has been transferred into the Sengoku Era by time warp, and a tragic love between a princess Ren Kasuga (a daughter of the feudal lord Kasuga at the Province of Musashi) and a samurai warrior Matabei Ijiri (a retainer of the Lord Kasuga).
Sengoku is always a safe choice, and Himawari got almost zero screen time, but story turned into drama, and that did not suit Shin-chan. No matter how I look at it, it's only decent.
Overall Rating: 6/10
31. Guilstein ギルスティン [ACC Production] (Finished 1/1)
Tags: Gore Action, Horror, Sci-Fi
The theatrical anime film is a full digital (3-D) action/horror film based on a manga by Tamaki Hisao, best known to Western fans for his manga adaptation of Star Wars: A New Hope. Characters were designed by Yasushi Nirasawa, a well acclaimed maker of creature action figures. Monkey Punch (Lupin III creator) served as the film's script superviser. Set in the year 2088, it depicts a dark future in which humans have been transformed into the "Guilstein," creatures with no human souls in them...
A chaotic action with super ugly CGI that are used in some battles, story itself is not bad.
Overall Rating: 5/10
AI: Somnium Files - nirvanA Initiative and Yumahorome ~Toki o Tometa Yakata de Asu o Sagasu Maigo-tachi~ can be safely called masterpieces this month.
1. Eiga Go-toubun no Hanayome ~Kimi to Sugoshita Itsutsu no Omoide~ 映画 五等分の花嫁 ～君と過ごした五つの思い出～ [220602] MAGES. GAME
The Quintessential Quintuplets the Movie: Five Memories of My Time with You features a multi-ending story that changes depending on which sister you confess your feelings to. It is every The Quintessential Quintuplets fan’s dream situation: "Uesugi Fuutarou confesses his feelings to each of the five sisters." The player can craft Uesugi Fuutarou’s future with their own hands. There are 15 possible endings. Plus, there is a hidden route that can be unlocked after watching the ending for each of the five sisters, allowing you to enjoy the game many times over.
The game also features an original story set during a graduation trip to Okinawa. The player, Uesugi Fuutarou, goes sightseeing in Okinawa with the five sisters. It even features live-action sightseeing movies, so you can feel as if you are really on a trip to Okinawa with the five sisters. During the trip, Fuutarou strives to kiss the one he confesses to and secure a future for his long-distance relationship. Will he get his kiss? That depends on the player.
Console exclusive
2. AI: Somnium Files - nirvanA Initiative AI: ソムニウムファイル ニルヴァーナイニシアチブ [220623] Spike Chunsoft 1
Six years ago, the right half of a corpse was discovered. The left half was never found…until six years later, completely fresh with no signs of decay.
Now, Special Agents Mizuki and Ryuki, along with their AI partners Aiba and Tama, are tasked to solve the bizarre Half Body serial killings while unveiling the mysterious plot known only as the Nirvana Initiative…
Game is released in English and has English reviews.
3. Amaemi-longing for you- アマエミ-longing for you- [220624] Azarashi Soft
The protagonist, Nabeshima Tatsuya, was a world-renowned painter.
However, after a certain incident, he disappeared from the public eye.
Now as a social studies teacher, he spends his days away from the art world.
He lives in seclusion with his cat in his social studies preparation room, which is his own residence, away from the public eye.
However, with the arrival of the new school semester, a new wind begins to blow.
Kusunoki Iroha, an attractive girl who adores Tatsuya.
Kurusu Sakuya, the most talented girl in the school, who is mysteriously attracted to Tatsuya;
and Akebi Saki, the daughter of Tatsuya's former teacher.
A life of dullness, like being dead inside while living.
Now it is being colored in gorgeous and vibrant colors by the three girls.
Rich visuals and thin content. Heroines like protagonist and compete for him from the start. Game is advertised as "Human drama", but it mostly concerns protagonist who can't draw anymore because of it .
4. Sora no Ao to Shiro to / Mabataki no Natsu 空の青と白と／瞬きの夏 [220624] Barista Lab
Main character is about to abandon his school club when he meets an unfamiliar girl in his club room. The girl turns out to be fan of his novel and is anxious to read the continuation. This summer a new page of creation, youth and love is turned.
Another single heroine vanilla nukige.
5. Yumahorome ~Toki o Tometa Yakata de Asu o Sagasu Maigo-tachi~ ゆまほろめ ~時を停めた館で明日を探す迷子たち~ [220624] Lump of Sugar
――This is a "Mansion of the Stopped Time".
While you are here, The outside world――
The time in the world where everyone was originally, will Never go on.
So, You don't have to worry anything about outside.
When everyone returns, the world will start moving again.
More importantly...
Now that you came to a place like this,
I want you to take your time and relax.
You won't be able to get out of here for a while after all.
Let me tell you, This Mansion is very Mysterious!
When you thought the corridor would continue forever, a door suddenly appear,
When you take your eyes off the door for a little while, the door disappears before you know it...
Even inside the rooms, there's something strange.
There are a Lot of unusual rooms too!
Sun that is dazzling, the Winds blowing, it's just like a room outside!
...I'm sure there are many rooms I haven't entered yet.
Of course, there is an Exit!
But the current you, Won't be able to find it.
...You can't get out of here right away.
The time is stopped outside,
You don't have to rush.
That's why―― Let's all play together!
Lump of Sugar provides a stamp of quality, but scenario is schematic. Frozen time, girls with problems, and there's nothing behind it, and Grand route also provides no development or revelation, so only nice if you don't expect a big mystery.
6. EVE ghost enemies [220630] El Dia
Kojiroh Amagi’s Story
A mysterious incident occurs at a countryside mansion involving the death of a influential man from the village. There were rumors that his death was brought by a curse passed on as a village legend…
Bored and bored and bored… All Kojiroh had to do was to brew coffee everyday, until his rival Yayoi Katsuragi brought in a job. It was a request specifically placed for Genzaburo Katsuragi.
Kojiroh heads to Sawashirodo Village as a substitute for Yayoi. Awaiting him there was Kougen Sawashiro, a powerful man in the economic world and Genzaburo’s old friend, nearly 100 years-old and unable to leave his bed.
“I want you to investigate the cause of my son’s death.”
There were rumors that his death was brought by a curse passed on as a village legend.
“He was killed by ‘Gururi.'”
The incident occurred at a mansion overlooking the water known as “Mizumorikan.” The strange death of the village’s influential man.
Will Kojiroh be able to reach the truth?
Marina Houjou’s Story
A super-technology weapon that was smuggled to Japan. A joint investigation with the CIA unveils surprising truths…
Marina Houjou is a first-class investigator who has returned to Japan after a long time overseas. Although the Japanese Cabinet Information Research Office (CIRO) is currently seeking intelligence sharing cooperation with the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA), she is being kept far out of focus due to her being a troublemaker.
During that time, she encounters an runaway car explosion in the city. The explosion was caused by “Ever3,” an unknown inhumane weapon that was brought into Japan to stop the cooperation between the CIRO and CIA.
This incident caused Marina to investigate “Ever3” with the CIA, and reunited her with Sherry Mea, an old friend who has become a CIA investigator.
Surprising truths come to surface as the investigation of the super-technology carries on. Will Marina be able to find the true enemy and realize the future she desires?
Console exclusive.
Fortissimo//Akkord:Bsusvier in its EXA version is the only masterpiece of the month. Michi thinks alike while also highlighting one moege and some fandiscs.
1. Trick x Logic Season 2 [100916] Chunsoft 1
Once again, all of these stories are loosely linked by the story of prosecutor Yoshikawa trying to solve his own murder by reading underworldly Akasha (crime records) and young camera-woman Tsukasa who keeps getting involved with murder cases.
There is an English review.
2. Durarara!! 3-way Standoff デュラララ!! 3-way Standoff [100922] Netchubiyori Ltd.
In this one-player only game, you play as Yoshimune Miyoshi, a student who transfers to the same school as Kida Masaomi, Ryugamine Mikado and Sonohara Anri. You get to talk to the characters and explore Ikebukuro where the DRRR!! story is set and learn about the gangs, Dollars, Yellow Scarves and a rumoured headless rider who haunts the streets on a motorbike. Anime spin-off
3. Chougen Yuuki Mugen Finity 超限勇希 ムゲンフィニティ [100924] Dandelion
Eight years ago, the Voldan tried to invade the world, but were repelled by one man who risked his life for the future of the world. His name was Touma and he piloted a robot with the help of a young boy and a masked girl. After this incident, he left the world to fight other enemies. The young boy, Tamaki, was viewed as his successor, but he soon lost his powers with age. Now no one remembers him until he meets ‘him’ and ‘her’ and the story begins once again.
Battle mini-game is too horrible, presumably no one made it to the end. Game is that bad.
4. Green Strawberry [100924] Lover Soul
Spring has arrived and Hiroki prepares to transfers to the prestigious Sennosha private school. However, he is always unlucky and due to illness, he ends up starting school two weeks late. When he arrives at the dorm, he’s told that he no longer has a room.
So many cliche at one place make me sick. Just a moege with 6-8 H scenes per short individual route.
5. Koi to Mizugi to Taiyou to ~Sumire-jima Life Savers~ 恋と水着と太陽と ～スミレ島ライフセーバーず～ [100924] Bloom Handle
Eiji, a member of his school's swimming club, attends a high school on the mainland separated from his parents and family. For the summer the club decides to visit Sumire Island, Eiji's home town, for a mixture of training camp and vacation. Eiji is glad to see his mother again and meets lots of old friends and acquaintances.
However, in recent years Sumire Island has become a hot spot for summer tourists and is overcrowded, so the group has trouble finding a place to stay. Luckily, they all can stay at Eiji's place and even decide to start working as life guards, helping to protect the crowded beaches.
Eiji's exciting summer can now begin.
If you suspect a nukige, you're right even though it's not 100% clear from synopsis. Can't even call it a moege since heroines aren't moe.
6. Orange Memories [100924] Purple Software Delight
Entering the fourth year of university, Hiroki received a call from Nagae Yujirou-sensei who asks him what he aspired to be in the future. He tells him that he wants to be a teacher and his former teacher invites him to his current school to gain training as a practice teacher for 3 weeks. This school is located in Hokashi-chou, where Hiroki had previously lived.
Purple Software hits new bottom records each time. In this game every heroine can be H sampled right during common route. That's all producers could make up to discern from hundreds of average moege out there.
7. Rakuen no Rukia 楽園のルキア [100924] Muscadet
After the passing of his grandmother who was his only relative, Kazuma returns to a boarding school Meikyou Seigakuen in his hometown. Located in the mountains, it is a quiet school. There he meets his childhood friend Mikoto who he thought had perished in the great fire ten years ago. Likewise, she thought that he had died, so they were happy to be back together once again. However, on the night of every full moon there is a ‘bloodsucking incident’. He noticed that Mikoto acting suspiciously and soon he is wrapped up in events that he does not understand.
Muscadet only made nukige by this point, and I see this work as an attempt to get a bite off Tsukihime fame. Art is the best thing here, but even it fails when it zooms out of faces and focuses on bodies. Scenario is straightforward and same type for all heroines, plus after first lap criminal is already known. And it's especially lame to call blood sucking desire a disease, more than so to miraculously cure it.
8. Sakura Bitmap さくらビットマップ [100924] Hooksoft
In the quiet town of Koisaki-chou, it is very rare for a boy to be born. Fumitaka is the lone boy among girls and it was quite problematic. Many years have passed and it is still the same. There’s a local festival Koisaki-matsuri that lots of girls attend since it is said that one can find love there. He has a feeling that he too will fall in love.
Moege that's of above average level and with more attention than usual, yet not really hitting charage league.
9. Shiomizaki Gakuen Engekibu Koi Pure ~Anata to Ichaicha Roleplaying!~ 汐見崎学園演劇部 恋ぷれ ～あなたといちゃいちゃろーるぷれいんぐ！～ [100924] Meteor
Shiomizaki Gakuen is a gigantic boarding school with over 1000 students. It prides itself on the learning environment and requires all students to be part of an extracurricular club. Junya transfers to this school to watch over his little sister Kokoa who is starting first year this spring. While walking around the campus to decide on what club to join, they meet the drama club leader Sena. Easily persuaded by Sena’s smooth talk, Kokoa decides to join the club and Junya follows her. However, the drama club doesn’t actually do anything… it’s more like Sena’s private room, complete with a maid Ayuka. One day, Sena suggests that they do a love role play. Is this just acting, or is true love?
Scenario is boring, and H element is high. Don't make me say M word yet another time today.
10. Sword World 2.0 Replay Tanodan ~Inishie no Fune o Oe!~ ソード・ワールド2.0リプレイ たのだん ～いにしえの船を追えっ！～ [100924] Ocelot
This is an all-ages kinetic novel based on the Fujimi Shobou’s fantasy novel TRPG series Sword World 2.0. Tanodan is short for ‘tanoshii dungeon’. Sherry runs away from a planned wedding and meets an aspiring dwarf adventurer named Chirol. With no place to call home anymore, she decides to join Chirol on her journey. Along the way, more people join their party including healer Lexus, ‘bunny’ magician Popo, swordswoman Justine and elf Cety. Visiting new cities and exploring dungeons together, this is a tale of love and friendship.
Ocelot once again after Demon Parasite adapts TRPG into a kinetic adventure game. There are five episodes each of two hours on average. Puzzles can be switched off. It's nice, but lacks volume for something really decent.
11. Walpurgis ヴァルプルギス [100924] Kai
One winter day, some humans suddenly turned into monsters that massacred those around them. With glowing wings and halos on their head, they looked like angels rather than monsters. The sight of angels slaughtering humans is surely a sign of the impending end of the world. No one knows what their purpose is, and a school was built to train students to be mahou senshi fighting against these angels – ‘the four halos’. Ren looks like a normal student, but he actually has a magic bloodline and was scouted to be a teacher at this school.
Despite my hopes it's just a tentacle violation nukige.
12. Fortissimo//Akkord:Bsusvier Fortissimo//Akkord:Bsusvier [100930] La'cryma 1 2 3 4
Reiji is a typical student on the remote southwest island of Tsukuyomi-jima. However, due to an unexpected event where his life was in danger, he awakened as the 13th magical summoner. After summoning the spirit and magical superweapon Sakura, she gifts him with the special ability ‘Da Capo,’ which allows him to summon anyone who he met in the past 24 hours or reverts items back to its previous state (up to 24 hours ago). Now they must participate in a battle they cannot avoid.
There are English reviews
14. L@VE ONCE [100930] Maid meets Cat 1
Shouji has a secret that his mother is a mermaid. It's true. He met mermaids when he was a kid. One day, his father passes away.... Two months later, twin girls visit his house. Their names are May and Meru. Yes, they are actually mermaids he met before. Since his father died, he will be able to fall in love only once. Shouji is totally confused.... May and Meru say to him, "We'll support you, so enjoy your love...."
Sister brand of Princess Soft. But for portable format it's a rather decent game. Heroines are drawn realistically, and there's no opportunistic development. Still out of my interest zone.
15. Moekoi Ishin! ~Atashira, JK, Shinsengumi!~ 萌恋維新！～アタシら、じぇいけー、新閃組！～ [100930] Abel Software
Tsubasa is normal in every single way, except that his family left him in severe debt, so he is constantly doing part-time jobs. However, his luck changes when he becomes the fiancé of a girl from a famous family due to a promise by his late grandfather. If he accepts the marriage, the debt will be paid off for him. He ends up transferring into Gose Gakuen where the head of this household was the schoolmaster. The girl he is to marry, Kurumi, is a cute, proper and prim ojousama who is guarded closely by a group of girls. They declare that they will not allow him to marry her until they deem him worthy to be her fiancé. To this end, they train him to be a great man in all ways, including in bed.
Abel Software manages to pull out battle moege each season. The thing that surprises me the most though is how it's possible to fall even lower with each new attempt.
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1. Tenshi no Nichiyoubi "ef - a fairy tale of the two." Pleasurable Box 天使の日曜日 “ef - a fairy tale of the two.” Pleasurable Box. [100917] minori 1 2 3 This is the fandisc to the ef series. It consists of three parts: After and another stories for the ef cast, a sd chara side-scrolling action game and a Blu-ray animation movie. The after story takes place in the January following the end of the game, with the returning of Renji and Shuuichi. In the another stories, there are three additional routes for Yuuko, Nagi and Mizuki (Renji’s cousin). Yuuko’s route does not include any H-scenes. Fandisc
2. Rui wa Tomo o Yobu Fan Disc -Asu no Mukou ni Mieru Kaze- るいは智を呼ぶファンディスク ―明日のむこうに視える風― [100923] Akatsuki Works 1 2 This fandisc for Akatsuki Work’s 2008 title Ruitomo is comprised of routes for subchars Yenfei, Megumu and Miyawa, as well as a side episode. All the main heroines from the original game will have short stories with H scenes. Ruitomo was a great game about overcoming hardships together and this fandisk will help resolve those hidden truths that remained. Fandisc
3. Baldr Sky DiveX "Dream World" Baldr Sky DiveX "Dream World" [100924] Team Baldrhead 1 2 3 This is the fandisc for GIGA’s Baldr Sky series, featuring a variety of different stories and mini games. Included are Dream Stories original another stories, survival mode dungeon crawlers, battle arena, and more. There’s also a collaboration with NekoNekoSoft (Scarlett), Minato Soft (Majikoi) and Nitro+ (Muramasa). Fandisc
4. Haruko Maniax ハルコマニアックス [100928] Age 1
Kashiwagi Haruko fandisk.
Tha main story is about Haruko's brother Taichi, who spots a suspicious girl stalking his big sister and gets to know from her that Haruko might be going out with her brother. Taichi being a siscon and Saki being a brocon, they join forces to ascertain whether their older siblings are really dating or not.
Additional content includes short comical side-stories about Misae and Touko's relationship, Yuuhi switching places with Meiya and the following confusion of the A01 team, a contest pitting the whole team A01 against Commander Radhabinod, and everyone's favorite hard-as-nails strategy game Akatsuki Haruka Nari 2
Fandisc
Haru to Yuki, basically wins by default here as gameplay and series releases don't qualify. Micchi likes provoking Nukige Mitai na Shima ni Sundeiru Watashi wa Dou Surya Ii Desu ka and fluffy Wanko no Yomeiri as well as a delayed title
1. Zanki Zero ザンキゼロ [180705] Spike Chunsoft 1 2
God created the world in seven days. It only took one day for humans to destroy the world. Life as we knew it sank to the depths of the sea...until yesterday. We do not yet know the broken world and the reasons left behind there. An earth where ruins drift about. Buildings, houses, light posts. Cars, traffic lights, asphalt... Modern civilization was destroyed, becoming nothing more than debris wading in the sea. New ruins drift one after the other before the protagonist, who lives on one of those decaying islands.
RPG is localized and has English reviews
2. Kangokutou Mary Skelter 2 神獄塔 メアリスケルター2 [180712] Compile Heart 1 2
'Jail,' an impregnable asylum referred to as "a living prison."
Birthed several decades ago, it was controlled by "Marchens," monsters led by insane beings known as "Nightmares."
Tsuu and Little Mermaid, members of the "Dawn" organization with the goal of escaping the prison, rescue Alice and her partner Jack after being captured.
In the midst of an expedition to the city, Alice was dyed in madness and ran amok slashing through anything and anyone at sight.
In an attempt to protect Tsuu from one of Alice's attacks, Little Mermaid and Jack fell off a cliff with her.
After regaining consciousness, Little Mermaid's first sight was a dying Jack.
The bloodstained story of Tsuu, Little Mermaid and Nightmare Jack trying to escape the tower and their fate begins.
RPG is localized and has English reviews
3. Haru to Yuki, はるとゆき、 [180727] Akabei Soft3 1 2 3
The small ryokan Yuki is located deep in the mountains, away from the other hotels and ryokans of the hot spring town in the Tohoku region of Japan. It has a unique system where the guests and staff are free to dress however they want on the ryokan grounds. While it is possible to bring your own clothes, there are some available for rent too. The staff also takes requests from guests on what to wear. However, it is forbidden to be naked outside of the baths, and you can’t touch the staff, as expected.
Wouldn’t you like to stay at an unusual ryokan like this?
Ah, there’s other strange things aside from the cosplays, but don’t mind it. It’s just some dead people that come for a stay, but since they possess physical bodies that can be touched, you won’t be able to tell the difference from living beings anyway. Yuki welcomes any and all guests, so please pay them a visit!
There are English reviews
4. Minikui Mojika no Ko みにくいモジカの子 [180727] Nitroplus 1 2 3 4 5 6
Described as "Physical and Mental Violation ADV", you take the role of a Tanezaki Suteru who's being bullied for looking ugly. As a result of this he is an introvert and as much as looking into peoples faces is a horrifying task to him. However, he has the power to read the true intentions of someones heart if he does manage to do so, which automatically happens upon seeing their faces within the range of 120cm. The ability to read these information manifest themselves in so called "Moji" which show him time after time how cruel and full of lies the world may be.
After a prank confession by his personal crush Miyu he decides to enact revenge onto those who look down upon him...
There are English reviews
5. Nukige Mitai na Shima ni Sunderu Watashi wa Dou Surya Ii Desu ka? 抜きゲーみたいな島に住んでる貧乳はどうすりゃいいですか？ [180727] Qruppo 1 2
Seiran Island is a paradise where perverted sex is permitted by law. The transfer student Junnosuke is a proud virgin that steadfastly values chastity. He believes that there should be no sex without love, counter to the rules imposed on the island residents. However, those who do not have sex are subject to immediate arrest, fellatio and intercourse! Will he and his friends be able to escape the clutches of the student council and disciplinary committee, known as the ‘SS’? Their battle to keep their virginity begins!
There is an English review
6. Shin Koihime † Musou -Kakumei- Son Go no Ketsumyaku 真・恋姫†夢想-革命- 孫呉の血脈 [180727] BaseSon 1 2 3 4
Go version of the Shin Koihime † Musou - Kakumei series. The Kakumei series aim to deepen the story of Gi, Go and Shoku in a restart from 0 with new scenes and stories for existing and new heroines routes. There are new characters that didn't appear in Souten no Haou.
The famous Sonken Bundai, who was mentioned so many times throughout the series finally makes it's appearance as a central character. The story was completely revised and new content was added for a total 4 times Shin Koihime † Musou's Go's route events. Even those who played Shin Koihime † Musou will enjoy new emotions this game will bring.
Strategy has English reviews
7. Shukusei no Girlfriend -the destiny star of girlfriend- 宿星のガールフレンド -the destiny star of girlfriend- [180727] Mirai 1 2 3
One day, the ordinary student Seiji was attacked by monsters. His classmate Yuuri came to his rescue, fighting with mysterious powers that he had not seen before. However, she was unable to repulse the monsters and they suffered serious injuries. Her superior rushed to the scene and used life magic to save them, binding their lives together with a magical red string. As a result, they had to stay within a meter of each other for the next three months until their lives were no longer at risk. That meant that he had to live together with the beautiful Yuuri, who he had always admired.
There are English reviews
8. Wanko no Yomeiri ~Inu no Shippo e Youkoso!~ わんこの嫁入り ～いぬのしっぽへようこそ！～ [180727] Alumi Soft
Taiya is the only son of a shrine priest, and his dream is to become a pâtissier. Caught between his dreams and reality, his life completely changed with the arrival of twins Koharu and Azuki. They had dog ears and tails and introduced themselves as divine messengers who came to marry him as promised. Eager to change the dated image of the shrine, he decided to open a ‘shrine cafe’ and asked for their help in making it turn into reality.
That's as close to moege as possible
Foreword: Game interested me with its concept of parallel universe.
Title: Ano Sora no Mukougawa
Developer: High Soft
Date: 2004-11-26
VNDB link:https://vndb.org/v1212
Youtube walkthrough:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O1sFJZ_BWLw&list=PLs4Gp5VU4Fv_VZRGzArVahzwnVXBEy7Gu
Synopsis: Main character starts to date his classmate Miho with the mediation of childhood friend Sayaka. Miho often looks at the sky and prays to it as if in ritual. After the first real date Miho disappears, and another girl Misa with the same surname takes her place. Misa claims that Miho died in a traffic accident while they were children. In this world only protagonist, Sayak and friend Yuki remember grown-up Miho. Is it possible to return to the original world with Miho alive?
Game type: Parallel dimension youth drama
Character Design rating: 5/10
Protagonist rating: 5/10
Story rating: 6/10
Game quality: 6/10
Overall rating: 6/10
What surprised me in this game is how different it is from rival charage. It has a strong concept. It has interacting between themselves characters. It's NOT centered around love. Those aspects should be enough to feel the difference. After Miho route I was even going to give this game a masterpiece status. Alas, I got disappointed later on.
Miho is our usual naive and somewhat shy heroine. You probably know by now that I can't stand such heroines, but this time there's a lot of freshness in the heroine, because... she only appears in the first quarter of the game! She's rather a concept than a real heroine - something bright to get to. Her absence is the source of so many novelties numerated.
Misa on the other hand is kind of genki underage heroine. She's cute and cheerful, so she does not irritate. At the same time game brings a revolutionary change for the heroine concept - Misa has NO H event. It's absolutely unthinkable for the modern game. How can everyone have H scenes and one heroine be spared of it?
Sayaka is our bitchy childhood friend. Her image suits this role very poorly, but I admit she managed to produce a significant impression on me with her story and personality.
Ano Sora no Mukougawa is not about love - it's about guilt. No, really. Miho has guilt before her dead sister Misa. Protagonist has guilt before the girls that he needs to "erase". Sayaka is just a single complex of reflexing nerves. But main character's drama is at the center of the narration. He needs to choose - he either kills his lover Miho or he kills her sister Misa and also absolutely innocent bypasser girl Madoka. The torments of hesitation overwhelm the three friends including Sayaka and Yuki. But what was most disappointing for me - is how this conflict is settled. In Miho route one day Miho comes in a vision and asks to bring her back, and it kinda gets decided. In Misa route protagonist just assures himself that Miho wanted Misa to live.
Misa route is an absolute twin of Miho route. What's only added is couple kiss and hug scenes. It's an absolutely worthless route that does not bring anything new to the scene at all. I wish I played Madoka route instead, but I had to cover both main heroines.
An interesting element to notice is Sayaka - Yuki relations. I really like it when main character's friend has his own love and development line. Basically Sayaka - Yuki pair is what kept me playing. There is another less interesting moment... it's that Yuki has his own Boys Love line... yuck.
Overall, Ano Sora no Mukougawa is notable mostly for the game concept. But I can't get rid of the idea that witch such scenario and such novelty features game could be presented in a much better way, with much more complex leads and conclusions. Pretty much any other popular company would make it better with the same material. What game has is honesty. But honesty does not sell well.
Foreword: I liked character designs and wide use of weapons first of all. The story looked promising. Palette is also a notable player on the visual novel scene. I ignored its first clumsy works, but it's high time for it to make a stand.
VNDB: https://vndb.org/v2921
Youtube:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pI4V5pl8mts&list=PLs4Gp5VU4Fv8VGk_kffrtrok065Qddm24
Synopsis: Main character is an agent of a space development company. He receives a task from his assassinated boss to attack a certain laboratory and destroy girl Theta who represents an important research. He executes this will, but only escapes with the girl instead of killing her. Organization issues a bounty for their heads, but Theta has a strong determination to follow protagonist.
Three bounty hunters set a trap, but one of them is saved by protagonist in the end, so they form an alliance. There can't be peace until new organization boss is defeated. But what secrets does Theta hide with her silence?
Game type: SF action story
Character Design rating: 7/10
Protagonist rating: 5/10
Story rating: 5/10
Game quality: 6/10
Overall rating: 6/10
Well, I'm not impressed. It's actually a weak game that should get 5/10, but heroine Holly (Takumi's lover prior to fleeing from organization) mends things to a certain extent. There are five heroines each with neat character designs. But somehow Saki and Meifeng get only horrible CG and even poor sprites, so they just don't feel right. Rea is a maid archetype, and she does not stand out much of her comfort zone. Theta is our loli main heroine, but she comes right from the laboratory, so she represents naive trait. Only Holly has an interesting background, conflict and development. She's got perfect looks in her leather suit and glasses as well. Game could be saved with characters alone even with such simple story if other heroines were at least half as cool as Holly. That inevitably brings us to the story itself.
But actually almost the whole story is given in the synopsis. Half of the game is taken just to cover the synopsis events. The other half we fight the poor new boss armed only with katana with our squad of experienced fighters with firearms. And the same fight with the same backgrounds and flow happens twice in the game which provokes a strong deja vu feeling... There's a lot of questions to boss motivation and reasoning. Presenting antagonist as a fanatic is a very poor thing to do in any scenario. The first screenshot in the review actually represents how stupid the story can be (but mind it that Theta is not quite herself there). The worst part is that 99% of the story is exactly the same in every heroine route. I wanted to cover all five heroine endings, but the story is just the same, so there's little point in doing so, so I just covered two heroines, plus Holly. There's very little change apart of H event and ending scene. One detail is different, but it's already in the spoiler league. Not everything is bad with the story, actually. I liked the world view of space colony and wicked space development organization pursuing its interests. Three heroines form a bounty hunter unit and fulfill missions together. Both Meifeng and Theta are kind of hackers supervising the missions. So there is its share of goodness. Game resembles D.U.O. ~Song for All~ a lot, but with less mature characters this time. There is even also bar that plays center role in the game.
It's hard to talk about the game that fails to inspire. So let's just look at something that inspires me much more in this game. Ladies and gentlemen, welcome Holly!
Foreword: I got on the hook of some reviews praising the story. Now I'm mad.
Title: Sora-iro no Organ
Developer: The Lotus
Date: 2004-03-26
VNDB link:https://vndb.org/v962
Youtube walkthrough:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iX7seUlNpmE&list=PLs4Gp5VU4Fv8-QvoBMKw8KIUTf1tEqOdw
Synopsis: In order to save your cousin, who's been sucked into a mirror, you decide to jump into the mirror yourself. You find yourself in a strange, beautiful world of fairies. As you work through the game's storyline, you'll take part in interactive conversations. The game includes an "encore mode" which allows you to view previous event scenes and listen to music that you encountered on your adventure.
Game type: Some strange moege in fairy entourage
Character Design rating: 6/10
Protagonist rating: 3/10
Story rating: 3/10
Game quality: 6/10
Overall rating: 5/10
This "review" ain't gonna have a structure, because it does not deserve one. And I'm accustomed to just retell my impressions in the way they progressed in such cases. Spoilers are inevitable, although it's needed to be something good to spoil it.
The first thing that struck me is that game is not voiced. REALLY? What cruel joke is that not to give voicing to a charage? And I don't have spare 120$ to get voiced ps2 version.
The second thing that enraged me is the protagonist that comes right from BL games, it's a typical seme. I can't hide my irritation by this fact.
Game starts with what I see as protagonist Tomoya flirting with his cousin Sarasa and getting a slap on the face because of that. Sarasa runs away in tears and gets sucked into a mirror followed by Tomoya. And here we should start experiencing the great story. But it does not come. For the half of the game (10 chapters) Tomoya just flirts with all the girls he finds scoring with two of them. Then he finally finds Sarasa. So is it time for development now? Not so soon, lads. Sarasa is in vegetative state which lasts for 6 more (!) chapters. So what do we do in these next ten chapters from 11 to 20? Well, we kinda don't care about our cousin, but score with two more girls. Well, we're finally out of heroines and need to get closer with Sarasa. She's engaged, but is almost kidnapped on the ceremony day. She is saved by some sticky ice mass from the ice-cream (???). Short awhile she kinda throws herself on Tomoya. He asks "Do you understand you'll betray your fiance this way"? Her answer is as pathetic as stupid "I want to betray the whole world now". Then in some time they both get to original world. So what the hell is this? Where is my supposed great story? So I though till saw the writer's list of works. And those are all generic moege without even a glimpse of the story. So it probably is a great story compared to those total failures.
I'm greatly dissatisfied with artist here. CG and character sprites of uneven quality here, but males are the worst. All of them either come directly from BL or Otomege.
The only things that I liked in this game is that it had auto-reading mode and that both lolis were spared from trampling. Game had some chibi CG which were supposed to add humor to it, but the only humorous part for me was how game zoomed on the hips and breast of Stella - the most skinny boy-ish type heroine. Just laughable.
In the raw outcome we get a weird single road story with zero interest but with lots of pretentious motives, pictures and BGM. It looks like a decent game, but scratch it and it will rot.
Koukaku Kidoutai is the second genius masterpiece I can proclaim , plus this season sees the start of Neon Genesis Evangelion even though its first half was not outstanding
1. Neon Genesis Evangelion 新世紀エヴァンゲリオン [Gainax, Tatsunoko Production] (Finished 26/26)
Tags: Mecha, Psychological Action, Avant Garde, Award Winning, Drama, Sci-Fi, Suspense
Fifteen years after a cataclysmic event known as the Second Impact, the world faces a new threat: monstrous celestial beings called "Angels" invade Tokyo-3 one by one. Mankind is unable to defend themselves against the Angels despite utilizing their most advanced munitions and military tactics. The only hope for human salvation rests in the hands of NERV, a mysterious organization led by the cold Gendou Ikari. NERV operates giant humanoid robots dubbed "Evangelions" to combat the Angels with state-of-the-art advanced weaponry and protective barriers known as Absolute Terror Fields.
Years after being abandoned by his father, Shinji Ikari, Gendou's 14-year-old son, returns to Tokyo-3. Shinji undergoes a perpetual internal battle against the deeply buried trauma caused by the loss of his mother and the emotional neglect he suffered at the hands of his father. Terrified to open himself up to another, Shinji's life is forever changed upon meeting 29-year-old Misato Katsuragi, a high-ranking NERV officer who shows him a free-spirited maternal kindness he has never experienced.
A devastating Angel attack forces Shinji into action as Gendou reveals his true motive for inviting his son back to Tokyo-3: Shinji is the only child capable of efficiently piloting Evangelion Unit-01, a new robot that synchronizes with his biometrics. Despite the brutal psychological trauma brought about by piloting an Evangelion, Shinji defends Tokyo-3 against the angelic threat, oblivious to his father's dark machinations.
Of course I watched it in the past as well. I was never head over heels about it - just a good mecha anime with unusually good twists and characters. I still don't consider it perfect, because I can't say I enjoy every episode and every scene. There's enough of stupid dialogues, long pauses and immature behavior . Start is rather slow as there's the need to show SOL, give some easy enough wins under disguise of usual mecha and present both heroines in a likable manner. The real shock comes when things stop being just monster of the week entertainment, no spoilers intended. The real question for me is it intellectual enough for a 9, and I'd say it is with all those monsters called "angels" and evangelic motives with even mecha called "EVA" and the whole surreal seven last episodes - there's a lot of room for drama, psychology and interpretation. At the very least, it promotes the thought to love and respect yourself and to not blindly follow socially accepted behavior as it may easily be a trap.
Overall Rating: 9/10
2. Gokinjo Monogatari Neighborhood Stories ご近所物語 [Toei Animation] (Finished 3/50)
Tags: Shoujo Visual Arts Comedy, Drama, Romance, Slice of Life
The protagonist, Kouda Mikako, is a student of "Yaza Gaku". Specialising in fashion design, Mikako dreams of becoming a fashion designer with her own brand. Living next to her is her childhood friend, Yamaguchi Tsutomu. Even though they have been close since they were young, they share a platonic friendship. However, Tsutomu has been gaining popularity, especially with the girls, because he seems to resemble a popular vocalist from a band and somehow, Mikako begins to see him in a different light. This is a story about how youths cope with dreams, love and friendship.
A pretty good shoujo comedy with distinctive corresponding visual style preceding Nana. But these visuals, lack of psychology and rather shallow characters prevent me from enjoying this.
Overall Rating: 6/10
3. Bakuretsu Hunters Sorcerer Hunters 爆れつハンター [Xebec] (Finished 4/26)
Tags: Shounen Adventure, Comedy, Fantasy, Supernatural, Ecchi
In the continent of spooner, sorcerers, who are the continent's aristocrats, have begun to abuse their powers. Under the guidance of Big Momma (their boss) Carrot (who turns into a giant monster every time he's placed under a magic spell), Gateau (a bodybuilder), Marron (a mage), Chocolate and Tira (who can transform into dominatrix's at will) must stop the evil sorcerers from picking on the weak; however, none of them (except maybe Marron) have a clue to what's going on.
It feels like a mix of Slayers and Magical Circle Guru Guru as there is both fantasy action absurd parody. It's aimless, episodic, shallow and overall not great although quite easy to watch .
Overall Rating: 6/10
4. Kaitou Saint Tail Mysterious Thief Saint Tail 怪盗セイント・テール [TMS Entertainment] (Finished 3/43)
Tags: Shoujo Adventure, Romance
Meimi Haneoka, 14, is a normal girl during the daytime, but during the night, she assumes the "position" of Saint Tail, a modern-day Robin Hood who steals from thieves and gives items back to their original owners. She is aided by her friend, Seira Mimori, a nun-in-training, and she is chased by her classmate (and soon-to-be love interest), Daiki Asuka (often called "Asuka Jr.").
Imagine a series where a boy would pursue the identity behind Sailor Moon while attending the same school as her, and that would be this title. And thanks to no big arc behind it all, it manages to be easygoing and rather fun comedy if not expecting much out of it.
Overall Rating: 6/10
5. El Hazard: The Wanderers 神秘の世界エルハザード [AIC] (Finished 3/26)
Tags: Isekai Adventure, Comedy, Fantasy, Romance
High school science-whiz Makoto Mizuhara is working on his newest project in preparation for the school festival, alongside his best friend Nanami Jinnai. Nanami's brother and Makoto's lifelong rival, the unscrupulous student council president Katsuhiko Jinnai, is under scrutiny for mishandling the school festival planning and is convinced that Makoto is plotting to steal his position. One night, as Makoto and Nanami are taking a break with their teacher Masamichi Fujisawa, Jinnai sneaks into the science lab and sabotages Makoto's device, which suddenly opens a portal that flings all four of them into another world!
Upon arrival, Makoto is immediately attacked by a horde of giant bug monsters. While running from them, he comes across Fujisawa and a girl named Rune Venus. After Fujisawa fights off the monsters, a group of dignitaries arrives, looking for Rune, their princess. They inform Makoto and Fujisawa that they are in a world called El-Hazard and take them back to the palace of Roshtaria, their kingdom. Though her advisors are suspicious of the newcomers, Rune decrees that they are to be treated as guests and quickly befriends Makoto. Unaware that Nanami and Jinnai are in this world as well, Makoto gets to work trying to figure out a way back to Earth.
It still reminds Tenchi in isekai setting, but this one is even worse than original OVA that tried to remain serious and realistic while this one is too simple in comparison.
Overall Rating: 6/10
6. Virtua Fighter バーチャファイター [Tokyo Movie Shinsha] (Finished 3/35)
Tags: Shounen Martial Arts Action, Adventure, Comedy
Akira Yuki has spent years honing his Bajiquan skills under the guidance of his grandfather. He yearns to see the constellation of the eight stars of heaven, which are only revealed to those with real strength. This burning desire urges him to embark on travels, so as to learn more about how to see the stars.
Meanwhile, a nefarious robotics scientist, Eva Durix, desires to create the perfect soldier. Eva's group, Judgment 6, tracks down and kidnaps Sarah Bryant, a college student and close acquaintance of Akira who is investigating a mysterious accident concerning her brother. Akira must now fight his way to Sarah to save her from the clutches of Judgement 6, a perilous path sure to be paved with countless challenges.
Partially translated. For a fighting game adaptation an ok action comedy, but for an outsider can hardly be enjoyable.
Overall Rating: 6/10
7. Mojakou モジャ公 [OLM] (Finished 1/74)
Tags: Comedy, Fantasy, Sci-Fi
Sorao is an ordinary student who lives an ordinary everyday life of a typical kid, accidentally makes friends with two aliens stranded here on Earth. His life changes as he decides to help them find a way to get home. When they do reach the aliens' homeworld, Sorao along with Miki, discovered a blood feud between two different tribes. Things gone awry as the tribes' representatives try to out do one another in search of the missing treasure of the past with the help of an uncovered clue.
Just one episode translated. No miracle as I consider this Doraemon clone to be a work for kids only. It's unusual to see duo of protagonists, plus a whole family of aliens, but the flow is familiar for this kind of shows.
Overall Rating: 5/10
8. Touma Kishinden Oni 闘魔鬼神伝ONI [J.C.Staff] (Finished 0/25)
Tags: Supernatural
Shuramaru is hated and feared by the villagers for his unusual powers. He thinks he is human, but... is he?
Not found.
Overall Rating: 0/10
9. Golden Boy ゴールデンボーイ [APPP] (Finished 6/6)
Tags: Adult Cast, Gag Humor Adventure, Comedy, Ecchi
Kintarou Ooe is a specialist in part-time work, riding all over the highways and byways of Japan on his trusty steed, the Mikazuki 5, and finding employment wherever he can. His adventures bring him knowledge and experience that can't be taught in a classroom, from political corruption to the delicacy of a young woman's heart. With nothing but the open road before him—not to mention the many beautiful women along the way—Kintarou pursues his spirit of education while attempting to hold down his various odd jobs, however undignified they may be. As he learns from each task he takes on, who knows what could happen? He might even be able to save the world one day. One thing is for sure—this will all be very educational!
A memorable fanservice ecchi with genius pervy protagonist who is shown as goofy in the beginning of each episode, and thanks to his motto "Study, study, study" he achieves unbelievable results and wins everyone's hearts in short time. Dumb, but quite watchable with switched off head .
Overall Rating: 6/10
10. Gunsmith Cats ガンスミス キャッツ [OLM] (Finished 3/3)
Tags: Seinen Detective Action, Comedy
In the dangerous suburbs of Chicago, skilled bounty hunters Irene "Rally" Vincent and "Minnie" May Hopkins run Gunsmith Cats, a firearms store of questionable legality. One day, Bill Collins, an agent for the Chicago branch of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives, blackmails Rally and May into working with him on a case. The stakes are high, but Rally’s gunmanship and May’s knowledge of explosives are unmatched. As Rally and May unravel the secrets of the case, the two will need to use guns and grenades while being faster, stronger, and better than everyone else in order to stay alive.
With Dirty Pair trashed new competitors show up on the same stage. It's pure cliche action with a bit of fanservice and humor, so nothing much.
Overall Rating: 6/10
11. Bio Hunter バイオ・ハンタ [Madhouse] (Finished 1/1)
Tags: Mythology Action, Horror
Two scientists are attempting to distribute the cure for a demon virus that is affecting people all over Japan, however, things have become complicated. One of them has become infected. So begins his battle with himself, as he attempts to not only control his emerging demon side, but also to save the lives of others by wielding its great strength.
All the genetic transformations are disgusting for me, plus there's even no good story behind it.
Overall Rating: 4/10
12. Yuu☆Yuu☆Hakusho: Eizou Hakusho II 幽☆遊☆白書Ⅱ: 幽助、蔵魔、飛影、桑原 [Pierrot] (Finished 4/4)
Tags: Shounen Action, Adventure, Comedy, Supernatural
Eizou Hakusho II actually consists of four separate volumes. Each volume focuses around one of the main characters; Yusuke, Kurama, Hiei, or Kuwabara. Each episode is basically recap about the specific character's involvement in the series.
It's OVA for fans as focus is on certain character. I never finished the series and did not find these recaps entertaining either.
Overall Rating: 6/10
13. Shadow Skill 影技 SHADOW SKILL [Zero-G Room] (Finished 1/1)
Tags: Shounen Adventure, Drama, Fantasy
In this OVA, the story of Gau's history with his adopted sister and the secrets that make up the shadow skill unfold. The pair make their annual return to the gravesite of Gau's parents, where his growth and progress as a warrior can be exhibited for them. Gau has come along way in his training as a Sevalle under Elle's mentorship, but there are those who wish to find a way of eliminating them, just waiting for the right opportunity to mount a deadly attack. As the travellers make their journey, their family bonds and skill will be tested. Opponents are many, and battles are fierce, but Gau's training also entails taking on his sister in battle, and fully embracing the skills he must learn to defeat his ultimate opponent.
Epic fighting action is in the center, and everything else is derivative, so it fails to transcend the averageness.
Overall Rating: 5/10
14. Yousei Hime Ren Elf Princess Rane 妖精姫レーン [Dangun Pictures] (Finished 2/2)
Tags: Adventure, Comedy, Fantasy
Gou has woved to find the legendary treasure of Salamander. Searching for it he meets Ren, a fairy, who is looking for the four treasures of Heart. Gou's childhood friend Mari is frustrated with Gou running after treasures, but befriends with another fairy Rin. Gou and Ren's treasure hunt messes with a secret project led by Mari's father. It turns out Salamander isn't what Gou thought it was in the first place...
Absurd comedy with some fanservice and hardly anything funny at all.
Overall Rating: 5/10
15. Dirty Pair Flash 3 ダーティペアFLASH 3 [Sunrise] (Finished 5/5)
Tags: Detective Action, Adventure, Comedy, Sci-Fi, Ecchi
Sexy superagents Kei and Yuri find themselves in serious trouble when they attempt to track down Kei's godson and cross paths with a killer ski patrol. This collection of episodes also features the crime fighters fending off seagulls and assassins. There is no time to rest for these two anime characters, who must continually put their lives on the line in order to successfully complete their important missions.
First flash tried to be a prequel, second flash tried to present an improved version for newcomers, and this third one is mostly about fanservice, so for me it's probably the worst one in the flash series.
Overall Rating: 5/10
16. Akazukin Chacha OVA 赤ずきんチャチャ (1995) [Gallop] (Finished 3/3)
Tags: Comedy, Fantasy
Following the original TV series, the story tells the efforts of Momiji Gakuen, Chacha's rival school principal, to discover what is so special about Urara Gakuen students and what she could do to "produce" the best students.
Absurdist gag comedies are hard to describe, but it's definitely in the flow of the original series.
Overall Rating: 6/10
17. Chinmoku no Kantai 沈黙の艦隊 [Sunrise] (Finished 3/3)
Tags: Seinen Military Action, Drama
During the cold war, the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force jointly developed a nuclear submarine with the United States Navy. On its maiden voyage, the captain of the submarine declares the submarine to be an independent state, "Yamato."
I'm not a fan of navy anime, it's only slightly above average, but 90 minutes is not enough to tell a military story.
Overall Rating: 5/10
18. Shin Kaitei Gunkan 新海底軍艦 [Phoenix Entertainment] (Finished 2/2)
Tags: Historical, Military Action, Adventure, Fantasy, Sci-Fi
Moments after an atomic bomb falls over Hiroshima, a secret Japanese submarine sails into battle against its American counterpart, and both are lost to history. Some fifty years later, a special UN task force sent to investigate unusual phenomena in Antarctica is threatened by a mysterious black cylinder.
And another navy story, but this time with fantasy element in the form of subterraneans, so it was at least slightly amusing and paved the way to Zipang many years after.
Overall Rating: 6/10
19. Gakkou no Yuurei 学校の幽霊 [Toei Animation, Aubec] (Finished 6/6)
Tags: Mythology, School Horror
This OVA is a live-action/animation mixed collection of short school ghost stories.
Not translated. Just school horror stories, better drawing that it used to be for ghost stories, so at least watchable.
Overall Rating: 5/10
20. Compiler Festa Compiler 2 [Studio Fantasia] (Finished 1/1)
Tags: Action, Drama, Sci-Fi
Compiler and Assembler have been given 3 days to return the the 2-D world. If they do not return the council has sworn to destroy it. How will the they spend their last days on earth. Will they be able to confess their love. If only things were that simple. Now a mysterious character is eliminating other individuals from the 2-D world. Can Compiler and Assembler stop this new fiend and be together with those they love.
First Compiler was manga spin-off without any introduction or explanation. This time it's conclusion, but it does not make it much better. In the end it becomes something like Oh Megami-sama, just more ecchi.
Overall Rating: 5/10
21. Haou Daikei Ryuu Knight: Adeu Legend II Lord of Lords Ryu Knight: Adeu's Legend II 覇王大系リューナイト アデュー・レジェンドⅡ [Sunrise] (Finished 3/3)
Tags: Mecha Action, Adventure, Fantasy
Continuation of the series.
I'm glad to see that series got more serious in the sequel, but a little too late, also ending is unsatisfying.
Overall Rating: 5/10
22. Yamato Takeru: After War ヤマトタケル ～After War～ [Nippon Animation] (Finished 2/2)
Tags: Shounen Mecha, Space Action, Adventure, Fantasy, Sci-Fi
Three years have passed after the decisive battle at the end of Yamato Takeru and peace has return to the land. Takeru, Oto and their friends return to the village and continue living their days in bliss until one night Shuranoo, piloted by Mikazuchi, marks a return and appears in the village to wreak havoc. Takeru is left without any choice and is forced to reactivate the sealed Susanoo from his slumber. However, this is just the beginning of a new threat, and Takeru has to overcome himself if he wants to rescue Oto from the impending danger.
One more weird franchise to end. Average and ugly.
Overall Rating: 5/10
23. Koukaku Kidoutai Ghost in the Shell GHOST IN THE SHELL（攻殻機動隊） [Production I.G] (Finished 1/1)
Tags: Seinen Adult Cast, Detective, Mecha, Psychological Action, Mystery, Sci-Fi, Suspense
In the year 2029, Niihama City has become a technologically advanced metropolis. Due to great improvements in cybernetics, its citizens are able to replace their limbs with robotic parts. The world is now more interconnected than ever before, and the city's Public Security Section 9 is responsible for combating corruption, terrorism, and other dangerous threats following this shift toward globalization.
The strong-willed Major Motoko Kusanagi of Section 9 spearheads a case involving a mysterious hacker known only as the "Puppet Master," who leaves a trail of victims stripped of their memories. Like many in this futuristic world, the Puppet Master's body is almost entirely robotic, giving them incredible power.
As Motoko and her subordinates follow the enigmatic criminal's trail, other parties—including Section 6—start to get involved, forcing her to confront the extremely complicated nature of the case. Pondering about various philosophical questions, such as her own life's meaning, Motoko soon realizes that the one who will provide these answers is none other than the Puppet Master themself.
I did not plan to give genius masterpiece scores to movies initially, but then I remembered there's GitS, and it's impossible for me to give it anything lower. Alpha and Omega, the ideal entrance point into anime for anyone still calling it cartoons for kids.
Overall Rating: 10/10
24. Memories MEMORIES（メモリーズ） [Madhouse, Studio 4°C] (Finished 3/3)
Tags: Military, Psychological, Space Award Winning, Drama, Horror, Sci-Fi
Memories is a compilation of three standalone short films encompassing different genres.
Magnetic Rose
In the far reaches of space, after tracing a distress signal to a large abandoned space station, a pair of engineers—Heintz Beckner and Miguel Costrela—find a derelict mansion and decide to explore on foot. Their investigation reveals a dark secret surrounding the fate of Eva Friedel, a renowned opera singer with a tragic history. Hallucinations soon begin to plague them, and they must fight to retain their sanity in order to escape the station alive.
Stink Bomb
Hapless lab technician Nobuo Tanaka consumes some pills at his laboratory to cure a cold. Unknown to him, however, the pills are actually experimental drugs that enhance his flatulence to a lethal degree. As the toxic gas escaping him kills everyone in his vicinity, he is ordered by his superiors to retreat to the company headquarters in Tokyo. The journey to the city is made all the more arduous as Nobuo struggles with his deadly odor while the police, military, and foreign adversaries are hot on his trail.
Cannon Fodder
In a fortress city filled to the brim with cannons, a young boy wishes to surpass his father by becoming a revered artillery officer. Despite no proof of an enemy nation, he cannot resist the urge to partake in the daily bombardment routines organized by the city. Whether at school or just before bedtime, he only dreams of someday firing a cannon for the sake of his homeland.
A decent anthology, but I watched it twice over last 20 years already and I barely remember it at all by now again, so can't rate too high.
Overall Rating: 6/10
25. Bishoujo Senshi Sailor Moon SuperS: Sailor 9 Senshi Shuuketsu! Black Dream Hole no Kiseki Sailor Moon SuperS the Movie: Black Dream Hole [Toei Animation] (Finished 1/1)
Tags: Mahou Shoujo Drama
Everywhere around the world, the children sleep. Unaware of danger lurking in the shadows. But tonight, a strange darkness floats in the wind. And the children, one by one, begin to disappear. It seems to be a supernatural force that feeds on their dreams. The evil queen, Badiyanu, and her loyal fairies assist in using the "Black Dream Hole" to swallow the earth. It is up to Sailor Moon and the Sailor Soldiers to prevent the approaching Darkness.
The best Sailor Moon movie so far since focus is more on cuteness and sweets and less on fighting.
Overall Rating: 6/10
26. Macross Plus Movie Edition マクロスプラス ＭＯＶＩＥ ＥＤＩＴＩＯＮ [Triangle Staff] (Finished 1/1)
Tags: Mecha, Military, Space Action, Adventure, Romance, Sci-Fi
A.D. 2040—Thirty years have passed since the battle between the Earth and Zentraedi forces changed the lives of both races. On planet Eden, a top-secret project known as "Supernova" is being held to determine U.N. Spacy's next-generation variable fighter. Competing to win the funding are Shinsei Industries' YF-19 and General Galaxy's YF-21. Piloting the YF-21 is Guld Goa Bowman, a half-human, half-Zentraedi. Shinsei receives its new test pilot in the form of the unruly fighter pilot Isamu Dyson, who was once a friend of Guld. Meanwhile, as Isamu and Guld furiously battle to see which of their fighters is superior, a Virturoid Idol named Sharon Apple is to perform her debut concert on Eden. In charge of Sharon is producer Myung Fang Lone, another former friend of Isamu and Guld. When the three meet each other, old disputes spark from a troubled past. Little do they know that their past incidents—along with the Supernova Project and Sharon Apple—will somehow bring them together.
A super fast recap of the season which only proved to me that story is not as important as music here.
Overall Rating: 6/10
27. Gotou ni Naritai. ５等になりたい。 [Tama Production] (Finished 1/1)
Tags: School Drama, Slice of Life
Story of a girl born with a bad leg. Ritsuko longs to go to school and make lots of friends but it is not so easy. Her mother is very protective of her and at school she is teased by her classmates for her strange way of walking. Will she manage to keep her smile?
I have nothing against tearjerker bullying movies, just don't expect me to like them.
Overall Rating: 5/10
28. Azuki-chan the Movie あずきちゃん [Madhouse] (Finished 1/1)
Tags: Shoujo Comedy, Romance, Slice of Life
It's Valentines' Day, the girls are thinking about the chocolate to give to their love. Youko is having a party on the Valentines' Day. The girls refused her invite, but found out that their love are going to her party, even Azuki-chan's brother is going!
Yunosuke-kun gave Azuki-chan a chance to give chocolate to him before Youko's party. Will she be successful in making a chocolate? Will Yunosuke-kun receive her love?
Just 30-minute promo of the series, nothing remarkable though.
Overall Rating: 5/10
Failed to find masterpieces in Spring 1994, so I'd prefer to highlight a decent work in need of translation - Tottemo! Luckyman
1. Bishoujo Senshi Sailor Moon S Sailor Moon S 美少女戦士セーラームーン S [Toei Animation] (Finished 3/38)
Tags: Shoujo Mahou Shoujo Drama, Romance
The Sailor Guardians and their leader, Sailor Moon, continue their duty of protecting Earth from any who would dare cause it harm. However, Sailor Mars' apocalyptic visions and the appearance of two new guardians—Sailor Neptune and Sailor Uranus—signal that a new battle will soon begin.
These newcomers seek three Talismans that are inside the Pure Heart Crystals within human beings. Once brought together, these objects form The Holy Grail, a magical relic with extraordinary abilities. They want to use the Grail to save the world, but an evil organization known as the Death Busters seeks its power for their own desires.
The removal of a Talisman from a person's Heart Crystal will cause their death, something that Uranus and Neptune see as a necessary sacrifice to form the Grail, while Sailor Moon and her group deem it unforgivable. But can any sacrifice be worth the cost if it saves the lives of the entire human race?
It's nice that first episode shows a plot move this early, not so good that next two episodes are fillers as usual. Overall, usual Sailor Moon level.
Overall Rating: 6/10
2. Mobile Fighter G Gundam 機動武闘伝Gガンダム [Sunrise] (Finished 3/49)
Tags: Martial Arts, Mecha, Space Adventure, Comedy, Drama, Romance, Sci-Fi, Sports
In the year Future Century 0060, the many countries that once comprised Earth's surface exist as separate colonies floating in space. Their home planet now uninhabitable, the ruler of all of the colonies is decided by their unanimous participation in the intergalactic Gundam Fight Tournament—a series of battles between the champions of each colony to determine who is most fit to reign over them all.
Neo-Japan's champion is Domon Kasshu, a man who accepts the role with some ulterior motives. Domon searches the galaxy for his brother, a criminal who allegedly murdered their mother and made off with the Devil Gundam, a highly advanced weapon with the power to unleash mass destruction across the galaxy. In his quest to bring his sibling to justice, Domon travels from colony to colony, meeting many of the fighters who will become his allies and enemies in the forthcoming Gundam Fight Tournament.
Armed with the strength of the Shining Gundam, Domon battles to uncover the truth behind his tortured childhood, suffering great betrayal and crushing blows on his quest toward personal and national triumph.
You would not believe, but Sunrise finally changed something after so many attempts. Now it feels like battle shounen with slightly older protagonist. Still childish and silly, but with such tempo can rise to decent in a thousand years.
Overall Rating: 5/10
3. Marmalade Boy ママレード・ボーイ [Toei Animation] (Finished 3/76)
Tags: Shoujo Comedy, Drama, Romance
Miki Koishikawa is a high school student who enjoys a very simple life. However, her ordinary life is about to be turned upside down, and she may not be able to handle everything that is coming her way.
After a very "fun" holiday in Hawaii, her parents have decided to get a divorce. As if this wasn’t enough of a shock for the poor girl, she also discovers that they will soon be re-marrying and swapping partners with another couple who they met on holiday. In order to include Miki in this shocking turn of events, they ask her to give the new couple a chance, and set up a dinner date with everyone. Miki may have tried to be emotionally prepared for her new parents, but what she was not expecting was their handsome son Matsuura Yuu.
Miki develops an instant crush for Yuu. What starts off as a lovely friendship between them soon develops into romantic feelings which they are both finding hard to control. But more trouble is ahead in their relationship, as both Miki and Yuu have admirers of their own who are trying very hard to keep them separated.
Shoujo is hit on miss depending on characters personalities. Both are from middle school and kinda standard. Such basic shoujo focusing only on school romance was needed, but let's move on to more complex shojo already.
Overall Rating: 5/10
4. Ginga Sengoku Gunyuuden Rai Galaxy Warring State Chronicle Rai 銀河戦国群雄伝ライ [E&G Films] (Finished 5/52)
Tags: Shounen Space Adventure, Romance, Sci-Fi
Rai is a space opera that fuses feudal Chinese and Japanese customs with vast galaxy spanning empires and space-going societies. The story follows the life and times of the samurai Rai, and the quest of several spacefaring factions for control of territory and, of course, the Empire.
Chinese customs Sengoku space opera with samurai. Did I miss anything? Add to that immature shounen samurai Rai, and the seriousness of the whole enterprise is put under huge question. Since it's unserious, let's compare it with another similar series Irresponsible captain Tyler. Tyler had charismatic team of characters , good humor, unexpected moves , logical narration. Rai has couple shallow occasionally showing up heroines and immature Rai, everyone else including enemies is either bland or unmemorable. Space battles here are depicted as one side just shooting at the other side, thus winning. We're getting thrown to war without any explanation or exposition. For some reason there's the need of constant down-to-earth samurai skirmishes on the planets. No humor spotted. So what we're supposed to do is watch different fights and different characters talking and as it repeats over and over make some sorts of conclusions out of it. It's a flawed approach from the start and with such horrible directorship and mediocre characters I fail to understand how people can like it.
Overall Rating: 5/10
5. Red Baron レッドバロン [Tokyo Movie Shinsha] (Finished 3/49)
Tags: Shounen Martial Arts, Mecha Action, Sci-Fi, Sports
In the future, the "Metal Fight" games are the most popular televised sport in the world and many robot contestants compete for the title of Best Metal Fighter in the World. Kurenai Ken, along with teammate Saeba Shoko (who was, at first, adamant), pilots the Super Robot Fighter, Red Baron and enters the contest with dreams of becoming its champion. He must, however, face an army of other rivals from around the world including Kaizer (who is, in fact, Shoko's supposedly "lost" father, Tetsuo Saeba), the Tetsumen Tou ("Iron Fist" - a reference to the original Red Baron TV series) doctors, Tiger and ShinRon.
It's better than average Sunrise mecha, but that is true for pretty much any mecha already. There's immature genki protagonist, some kind of female and mascot companions and even some humor - would suit kids just fine.
Overall Rating: 5/10
6. Shirayuki Hime no Densetsu The Legend of Snow White 白雪姫の伝説 [Tatsunoko Production] (Finished 3/52)
Tags: Adventure, Fantasy, Romance
Snow White was a very happy princess, until the day her stepmother, the Queen Christelle, finally reveals her personality and wants to kill the girl. Snow White flees from the castle and got lost in the woods, where she meets seven dwarfs.
Since when does a fairy tale take 52 episodes? Anyway, there's only official dub as story is totally childish and safe . It's also safe from anything even remotely interesting as any work for kids.
Overall Rating: 4/10
7. Haou Taikei Ryuu Knight Lord of Lords Ryu Knight 覇王大系リューナイト [Sunrise] (Finished 3/52)
Tags: Mecha Action, Adventure, Fantasy
Adeu the Sonic, brash young pilot of the Ryu Knight Zephyr, is joined in his travels by Princess Paffy, Priest Izumi and Ninja Sarutobi. They encounter various people of the land, including other Ryus. On the way, Adeu seeks to test his Ryu against others and thereby grow in his abilities.
Another attempt to merge fantasy with mecha. It feels like imitation of some final fantasy game as there are even sort of chokobo here. It actually might work with any other company, but Sunrise turns it into another kids parody with chibi designs and cheap humor that only they seem to understand.
Overall Rating: 4/10
8. Tottemo! Luckyman とっても！ラッキーマン [Pierrot] (Finished 3/50)
Tags: Shounen Gag Humor, Super Power Comedy, Sci-Fi
This gag comedy series focused on the adventures of a bizarre superhero powered by special cooking and fights against various aliens and other enemies threatening the planet Earth.
Not translated. It's a drawn in a childish way superhero parody, but since it's parody can be amusing. Also Luckyman is sort of pervy and uses below the waist hits a lot, so can't call it a show for kids. If anything, it's definitely more fun than Kinnikuman and thus deserved translation much more than Kinnikuman. And it's only the second anime I know that has those great Maruko-chan style narrator comments. Cool stuff.
Overall Rating: 6/10
9. Yamato Takeru ヤマトタケル [Nippon Animation] (Finished 3/37)
Tags: Shounen Mecha, Space Action, Adventure, Fantasy, Sci-Fi
In the 25th century, a spaceship carrying 300 people leaves the earth in search of a new world in the solar system, but an unexpected accident occurs. They crash into a black hole which is connected to another universe. The people on the ship are cast adrift in an emergency capsule to a planet called Ismo. The story begins 12 years after they have reached Ismo.
Ismo is a star of the Onam System, which corresponds to the Solar System in our universe. It is the only planet left in the Onam System. The Death Star called Yomi is a comet which regularly approaches the Onam System.
There were once 8 planets in the Onam System. Many years ago, in the time of the gods, there was a war against the evil monster Yamatano Orochi (an 8-headed snake-like creature). The gods won the battle. Yamatano Orochi was locked into 8 stones, one of which is buried deep in the center of each planet. Nobody was supposed to have access to the core of the planets. However Tsukuyomi, an evil god who rules Yomi, succeeded in reaching the stones one after another, destroying 7 of the planets using his powerful robots, the Sky Warriors. However, when he tried to acquire the last stone from the planet Ismo, the most powerful Sky Warrior, Susanoo, got out of control and was blown away.
A million years later, the Death Star Yomi is approaching the Onam System once again. Tsukuyomi, the master of Yomi, plans to take this opportunity to realize his dream of ruling the entire universe. He is desperate for the last stone containing Yamatano Orochi. If Tsukuyomi can get hold of this stone, Yamatano Orochi will return to life and its power will become his. Tsukuyomi needs Sky Warrior Susanoo to capture the stone, and sends 8 Sky Soldiers to get Susanoo back. But it is too late. Susanoo no longer belongs to Tsukuyomi. It belongs to Takeru, a 13-year-old boy from Earth, who happened to discover the buried robot Susanoo and woke it from its million-year-long sleep. Takeru becomes involved in the battle against the Sky Soldiers and their evil master, Tsukuyomi. Susanoo stands up to protect his friends and their planet.
It feels like shounen adventure with swords, but when giant robots show up our trump card is summoned. Protagonist is a normal genki cheeky brat, so there's hardly anything to discuss here.
Overall Rating: 5/10
10. Chou Kuse ni Narisou I'll Make a Habit of It 超くせになりそう [Studio Kyuuma, Studio Kikan, Azeta Pictures] (Finished 3/39)
Tags: Shoujo Crossdressing, School Comedy, Romance, Slice of Life
Shiratori Nagisa is a pink haired singing idol, continually badgered by her father to find new disciples for the family dojo. In an attempt to gain free-time as a normal kid, she cuts her hair and cross-dresses as a high-school boy. "Ootori Nagisa" enrolls in a run-down school, falling in love with a rival school's gang leader, Nosaka Akira. She soon finds out Nosaka-kun is a fan of Nagisa - The Idol. Keeping up the charade, they manage to sneak time together. Rivals for Nagisa's affection, BOTH their dojo-running fathers, as well as martial artist animals and an up-in-coming Idol conspire to make thier lives a complicated as possible.
Childish protagonist, unserious mood, lots of boys love allusions due to trap nature of the anime... does not cut it for me at all.
Overall Rating: 5/10
11. Goal FH: Field Hunter Goal Field Hunter ゴールFH (フィールド・ハンター) [Image Kei] (Finished 3/39)
Tags: Action, Sports
The story is about Hikaru Tatsumura who came from Brazil to fulfill his dream to be a great soccer player because he met a great player once who was admired by all people. However Tatsumura is a very cheerful person and easy going except when it is about soccer. He becomes serious and strong. He also gives a unique performance such as doing a funny dance with his buddy after he makes a goal. Tatsumura will face a lot of challenges with his team while aiming for success.
Not translated. There's enough horizontal interaction , SOL , comedy and protagonist maturity to rival other soccer spokons, but since it's not translated - who cares. I certainly don't.
Overall Rating: 6/10
12. Montana Jones モンタナ・ジョーンズ [Studio Junio] (Finished 3/52)
Tags: Historical Adventure, Comedy, Mystery
Boston, 1930: Montana Jones and his cousin professor Alfred Jones travel around the world to search lost treasures in order to bring them to museums. Alfred's mentor professor Gerrit helps them by sending LPs with information. On one trip they meet Melissa, a wealthy reporter, who speaks nearly all languages. She accompanies the two on their trips. Their opponent is Lord Zero, a rich, bizarre art lover and master thief. Lord Zero has two henchmen: Slim and Slam. There is also the inventor Dr. Nitro, who invents strange engines, which to help finding treasures.
Only three episodes are translated. Art gives out Disney vibes. Substance is also similar as it's some adventure, and there is usually some competition with the antagonists. Something I saw in DuckTales many times. It's more mature, of course, as there are no infant heroes and no characters are placed just for comedy relief like Donald Duck, but I still see no way how anyone but kids would want to watch it.
Overall Rating: 5/10
13. Soccer Fever サッカーフィーバー [Tokyo Movie Shinsha] (Finished 3/51)
Tags: Historical, Team Sports
Together with the hero of this series, Brian Thompson an ex-reporter, we get to relive the great games of the Football World Cup.
The story begins with the first selection which took place in Uruguay 1930 until 1994 when it was held in the United States. We also get a depiction of Thompson's life from his youth until now.
We also see the game brilliantly reborn through spectacular players like Franz Beckenbauer, Müller Gard, Eusebio and the greatest of them all, Pelé.
Not translated. It feels like World Masterpiece Theater series (though it's not) with soccer theme. That's a fresh and historical look, which deserves praise. But since I don't have soccer fever, it's not for me to discuss.
Overall Rating: 6/10
14. Iria: Zeiram The Animation イ・リ・ア ゼイラム The [Ashi Productions] (Finished 6/6)
Tags: Space Action, Adventure, Sci-Fi
Iria is the story of a girl and the Alien being she loves to hate. The series begins with her brother, Gren, taking a job. He is a bounty hunter, and one well known for his incredible skill. Iria, being a skilled apprentice bounty hunter herself, tags along. What is the job, one might ask. It is to find out what has happened to the crew and cargo of a Space Station. Needless to say, nothing is as it seems, and the war between Iria and Zeiram begins in earnest.
Basically, it's a nice action story, but stretched too long, with annoying kids to accompany at certain points and with poorly written motivation of the sides of conflict.
Overall Rating: 6/10
15. Shin Cutey Honey New Cutey Honey 新・キューティーハニー [Toei Animation] (Finished 8/8)
Tags: Adventure, Comedy, Sci-Fi, Ecchi
Cosplay City is in danger when the evil Dolmeck shows up. Commanding his army of monsters, he plans on destroying everything. Only one person can stop this: Cutey Honey. After she is released from her dormancy, Honey Kisaragi becomes the multi-transformational android Cutey Honey. However, the least is expected when Honey is faced with an old enemy from the past: Panther Zora.
Main disadvantage is that it lacks comedy since it's not made by Gainax... yet! As of now it mostly repeats ancient prequel with emphasized action and ecchi. Sadly, no real story value here.
Overall Rating: 6/10
16. Dengeki Oshioki Musume Gootaman: Gootaman Tanjou-hen Butt Attack Punisher Girl Gautaman 臀撃おしおき娘ゴータマン～ゴータマン誕生篇 [animate Film, Studio Kikan] (Finished 1/1)
Tags: Parody Action, Comedy, Ecchi
Mari Amachi is a very devout Christian who transfers to Perfect Religion Academy. A school devoted to all religions of the world in effort to make it's students the next world leaders in religion. Her friend Saori is kidnapped by the Black Buddha cult; a group who wishes to take away religious freedom though force and brainwashing. Mari prays to God for help but Buddha answers the call, instead! Mari aspires only to help her friend and she is transformed into Butt Attack Punisher Girl Gotaman. Between fighting bad guys, making a deal with Buddha, and wearing scandalous costumes, is it more than Mari can take?
It repeats concept of Kekko Kamen, but provides less cringe and less humor, so lacks in every field.
Overall Rating: 4/10
17. Bakuen Campus Guardress 爆炎CAMPUSガードレス [Production I.G] (Finished 4/4)
Tags: Shounen School Action, Comedy, Supernatural
Long ago, the gate to the world of darkness was sealed. Now evil warriors, known as Remnants, are trying to reopen the gate and let demons take over the world. However, at Tobira High School, there exist guardians of the gate who must risk their lives to prevent the gate from being opened.
It's exaggerated comedy action, so can hardly expect seriousness with muscular enemies in thongs or female enemy "Sexy whip". Female protagonist is on par with that as she competes with her mother over who kisses Takumi first in the mornings and most of her phrases are akin to "I will protect Takumi!" with Takumi being her brother of relatively the same age. It's easy to entertain in the moment with this kind of craze, but after it's over no good impression remains.
Overall Rating: 5/10
18. Future GPX Cyber Formula Zero 新世紀ＧＰＸサイバーフォーミュラＺＥＲＯ [Sunrise] (Finished 3/8)
Tags: Shounen Racing Drama, Sci-Fi
A freak accident during the 12th Cyber Formula World Grand Prix causes Hayato Kazami to miss the rest of the season, and critically injures both his body and his will to continue racing. Hayato's longtime friend, Asuka Sugo, helps nurse him back to health, and in return he proposes to her and promises her that he would never race again. But as time goes on, Hayato begins to doubt whether he really wants to retire, and decides to make a comeback after all. And with the 13th Cyber Formula World Grand Prix now underway, he must struggle to regain his racing form; regain the trust of Asuka, whose promise he broke; and thwart the malicious intents of Henri Clayton. All the while, the reason behind Hayato's accident begins to unveil itself: the "Zero Zone."
Since it's third installment already, it's hardly possible to shift set opinions at this point. As usual, I was only interested in whether protagonist has become a Pro by now and how relations have progressed to this point. Protagonist is kind of a pro all right now, but authors found a way to nullify all his progress yet again, lol. And he has progressed enough to hug a girl. I've known all that I came here for. Everything else is same average as usual.
Overall Rating: 5/10
19. Nana Toshi Monogatari: Hokkyokukai Sensen 七都市物語 ～北極海戦線～ [animate Film] (Finished 2/2)
Tags: Military Drama, Sci-Fi
In 2099, Earth has shifted off its axis and begins to rotate at an angle of 90% to the 20th-century equator. Three years of natural disasters follows, and when things settle down, Earth's ten billion population has died and only two million moon colonists remain.
Some return to begin the repopulation of the world in seven new cities and the remaining colonists of the moon fear that their former neighbors might pose a threat and construct a ring of defensive satellites to trap them on the newly repopulated homeworld.
It feels like author of Legend of Galactic heroes was sad that all his stratagems looked silly in space, so he put up this artificial setting just to show cool traps hidden in the water! Ridiculously rushed development and implementation with zero outcome value, as for me.
Overall Rating: 5/10
20. Shin Kujakuou Spirit Warrior 真・孔雀王 [Madhouse] (Finished 2/2)
Tags: Mythology Action, Horror
A young mystic without a past, Kujaku was born under a dark omen possessed of incredible supernatural powers. Raised by priests, he has learned to use these powers for good. But the evil Siegfried von Mittgard seeks to steal his birthright, and rule the world as the Regent of Darkness. He has dispatched bloodthirsty minions to destroy Kujaku before he can awaken to his destiny. Now, Kujaku must unravel the riddle of his past, before the power within consumes him!
It used to be a total mess. Now it's just an average action with somewhat crazy story.
Overall Rating: 0/10
21. Mars マーズ [Discotek Media] (Finished 2/2)
Tags: Shounen Mecha Action, Sci-Fi
Mars is the 1st remake of the franchise and restored the original manga's storyline of a young boy in suspended animation inside a South Sea volcano who awakens a century before his alien masters planned to use his powers to reduce human civilization to a manageable low-tech level.
Not translated. As you see from the synopsis, source is very old, probably 60s. And it's inevitably very simple. It's mostly dialogues of Mars with scientists and military with inevitable giant mecha ambush at the end of each episode. It's mostly military fighting the giant mech, but of course boy can not be kept out of danger. Ending is kinda open, so meh.
Overall Rating: 3/10
22. Yuu☆Yuu☆Hakusho: Meikai Shitou-hen - Honoo no Kizuna Yu Yu Hakusho the Movie: Poltergeist Report 幽☆遊☆白書 冥界死闘篇 炎の絆 [Pierrot] (Finished 1/1)
Tags: Shounen Martial Arts, Mythology Action, Adventure, Comedy, Supernatural
Millennia ago, a war was fought between the Netherworld and the Spirit World. Ultimately, the Netherworld was destroyed and Lord Yakumo, the King of the Netherworld, was banished to the depths of space. Now, five defenders from the Spirit World must team-up against Yakumo's Demon-Gods for possession of five, mystical sites. But Lord Yakumo is dangerously close to reclaiming the Power Sphere—the source of the Netherworld's energy—and once it is again in his possession, our world will become the new Netherworld.
Action has become very impressive, but there's not much besides.
Overall Rating: 6/10
23. Crayon Shin-chan Movie 02: Buriburi Oukoku no Hihou クレヨンしんちゃん ブリブリ王国の秘宝 [Shin-Ei Animation] (Finished 1/1)
Tags: Seinen Action, Adventure, Comedy
An action adventure film set in a imaginary southern island in the Indian Ocean. The evil secret society, "White Snake" abducted Shinnosuke and Prince Sunnokeshi of the Buri Buri Kingdom, who looks very much like Shinnosuke, in order to get the kingdom's hidden treasure in the golden palace underground. Shinnosuke's parents, Hiroshi and Misae fight with Lulu, the major of the palace guard of the kingdom, against White Snake, trying to recapture Shinnosuke and the prince.
Since there is a previous movie to compare to, it's easier to do now. There are still quite a few nice jokes, but action story with twim subplot gives a worse impression with much time getting spent on plot development and even fighting scenes with little opportunity for humor, and that's just not Shinnosuke usual tempo.
Overall Rating: 6/10
24. Sangokushi: Dai San Bu - Harukanaru Taichi 三国志 第三部 遥かなる大地 [Toei Animation] (Finished 1/1)
Tags: Action Historical
An anime based on the Romance of the Three Kingdoms novel.
As a part of trilogy, I hate it as much as prequels for being much worse than original Sangokushi titles because of art, same looking characters and even worse directorship. Same horrible open ending, of course.
Overall Rating: 4/10
25. Dohyou no Oni-tachi 土俵の鬼たち [Studio Deen] (Finished 1/1)
Tags: Combat Sports, Historical Drama, Sports
Animated film about the life of the 45th Yokozuna, Wakanohana Kanji I.
Not translated. Demon ring looked quite like a normal ring to me... Anyway, guy comes from a poor family, gets noticed for strength during WWII, wins first sumo match while being a normal thin guy, inevitably looses soon and then starts to go for judo professionally with all the hardships and conflicts on the way. Pretty normal story with some nice observations of the time.
Overall Rating: 5/10
26. J League wo 100-bai Tanoshiku Miru Houhou!! Jリーグを100倍楽しく見る方法!! [Nichion] (Finished 0/1)
Tags: Parody Comedy, Sports
-
Not found.
Overall Rating: 0/10
27. Slam Dunk: Ketsui no Shouhoku Basket-bu スラムダンク 決意の湘北バスケ部 [Toei Animation] (Finished 1/1)
Tags: Shounen School, Team Sports
-
It's actually just a fast-paced compilation of the starter episodes, as such completely useless and messy with poor directorship.
Overall Rating: 1/10
Since Maruko-chan can't participate in the contest due to absence of subbed episodes, there are no other masterpieces, and among others I favor Armitage III
1. Romeo no Aoi Sora Romeo and the Black Brothers ロミオの青い空 [Nippon Animation] (Finished 3/33)
Tags: Historical Adventure, Drama, Slice of Life
Romeo is a kindhearted and courageous boy living with his family in a small village in Switzerland. Unfortunately, Romeo becomes the interest of a man named Luini, known as "The God of Death," who is infamous for buying children and selling them as chimney sweeps in Milan. While visiting the village, Luini burns down Romeo's family cornfield in an attempt to have Romeo as his own. With the cornfield gone and his father sustaining a head injury trying to put out the fire, Romeo bravely sells himself to the God of Death in order to help his family afford a doctor.
On his way to Milan, Romeo meets a boy named Alfredo Martini and they quickly become friends. Just as Alfredo is sold to a different master, the two boys swear eternal friendship and vow to meet again. As a chimney sweep, Romeo faces many hardships and abuse, especially from his master's family and a gang known as the Wolf Pack. But after reuniting with Alfredo, the two form a fraternity of chimney sweeps called "The Black Brothers," who will learn to fight against the Wolf Pack and help each other in times of need.
World masterpiece series... sigh. It's above average story that teaches kids of friendship and the harsh world that is around... but how it can be of use to adults is beyond my understanding.
Overall Rating: 6/10
2. Kishin Douji Zenki Zenki 鬼神童子ZENKI [Studio Deen] (Finished 3/51)
Tags: Shounen Action, Comedy, Drama, Fantasy, Horror, Ecchi
In ancient times, a great battle was waged between a master mage, Enno Ozuno, and an evil demon goddess, Karuma. Unfortunately, Enno didn't have the strength to defeat her alone and was forced to call upon Zenki, a powerful protector demon. After Karuma was defeated, Enno sealed Zenki away in a pillar located inside his temple.
1,200 years after this epic battle, Enno's descendant, Chiaki, spends her days showing tourists around her hometown of Shikigami-cho and doing exorcisms to pay the bills. One day, two thieves enter the town in hopes of opening a seal in the Ozuno temple and releasing the hidden treasure from within. However, what actually pops out is a dark entity that attaches itself to the henchmen, transforming them into demonic beings. After this transformation, they begin a rampage through the temple, terrorizing poor Chiaki.
It is now up to this young progeny to unleash her family's powers to summon Zenki and save Shikigami-cho from these demons, as well as the evil entities sure to follow in their footsteps.
It feels a lot like Sailor Moon with more focus on Tuxedo Mask who is here played by Zenki. Same looking arcs with a lot of fillers and possessed civilians in most episodes. The approach similarities in details are even more striking. Still, there's more shounen feeling in here, so it's more comfortable to watch that Sailor Moon for me.
Overall Rating: 6/10
3. Ninkuu 忍空 [Pierrot] (Finished 3/55)
Tags: Shounen Adventure
In the war, a group of warriors called Ninku fought against the Imperial Army and almost annihilated it. But in the end, the Ninku lost and got shattered. After the war, the imperial army established themselves as the defender of the people with the help of propaganda. They also managed to get the people to think the Ninku were the villains and had started the war. Fusuke looks like a child but he is the former captain of the first Ninku division. His mother was taken during the war and after the Ninku were defeated, he goes on a journey to find her. On his journey he meets Aicho and Touji, both also former Ninku captains, and together they fight against the imperial army that tries to kill the last remaining Ninkus.
The ninku is a clan of extinct ninjas who command esoteric and powerful techniques, hence a lot of other groups are constantly trying to steal their techniques to take over the country. Their primary target is Fusuke, a weird looking kid but one of the most powerful Ninku ninja. Fusuke, together with other Ninku ninja with different specialties must fight those threat that caused the downfall of the Ninku clan.
As expected, unlike prequel special, series benefits a lot from more developed characters and much better humor. It does not go further than amusing, though.
Overall Rating: 6/10
4. Chibi Maruko-chan (1995) ちびまる子ちゃん [Nippon Animation] (Finished 0/?)
Tags: Shoujo School Comedy, Slice of Life
Momoko Sakura is an elementary school student who likes popular idol Momoe Yamaguchi and mangas. She is often called "Chibi Maruko-chan" due to her young age and small size. She lives together with her parents, her grandparents and her elder sister in a little town. In school, she has many friends with whom she studies and plays together everyday, including her close pal, Tama-chan; the student committee members, Maruo-kun and Migiwa-san; and the B-class trio: 'little master' Hanawa-kun, Hamaji-Bu Taro and Sekiguchi-kun. This is a fun-loving and enjoyable anime that portrays the simple things in life.
I'm actually surprised to know there's this sequel that lasts up to our days with over a thousand of episodes. But I hate dub and without subs I refuse to watch it completely. And I agree that prequel is superior to this sequel due to more complex visual style and that prequel deserves translators attention as first priority while this season can wait. Since there are no subbed episodes now, there's nothing to watch or discuss.
Overall Rating: 0/10
5. Ougon Yuusha Goldran The Brave of Gold Goldran 黄金勇者ゴルドラン [Sunrise] (Finished 3/48)
Tags: Shounen Mecha Action, Adventure, Fantasy, Sci-Fi
Goldran follows the adventures of three young boys who are tasked with finding alien robot fighters, or Braves, that are sleeping in the form of crystals. Their major antagonist is the flamboyant and thoroughly incompetent Walter, and the villains that follow him are often similarly humorous.
Just stop, Sunrise. You're hurting yourself and everyone around with all these fake shows looking totally the same.
Overall Rating: 4/10
6. Kuusou Kagaku Sekai Gulliver Boy Fantascience World Gulliver Boy 空想科学世界ガリバーボーイ [Toei Animation] (Finished 3/50)
Tags: Mecha Action, Adventure, Fantasy
Gulliver, a boy born with the ability to use magic was forced against his will to attend a magician school to improve his abilities to protect his city. He manages to escape just to find out that his home town was destroyed by the evil Judau's army. Judau personally kills his father and oaths to kill Gulliver as well. Meanwhile Gulliver and his friend Eddison rescue a girl named Misty who is running away from Judau. Along with a fairy named Phoebe, a lone wolf ninja named Gecko and an ancient ship; Gulliver and his friends set out on an adventure to defeat Judau and to discover the secrets of Atlantis.
Only 11 episodes are translated so far. It feels like another Dragon Ball imitation, and not the best one.
Overall Rating: 5/10
7. Armitage III アミテージ・ザ・サード [AIC] (Finished 4/4)
Tags: Detective, Mecha Action, Adventure, Romance, Sci-Fi
The year is 2046. Detective Ross Sylibus is transferred to Mars when a country singer on her flight is murdered. Making matters more complicated is that the singer is a "Third"—a robot that looks and feels like a human. Sylibus is partnered with Armitage—a beautiful female cop with a bad attitude. As they investigate the murder of the singer and other women on Mars, they uncover a conspiracy that can have them both killed by the Martian government.
I love style and stage here, but without a good story it's just aimless development with poor directorship, open lines retained and a rushed unsatisfying ending. I have big hopes for sequels, but this original OVA is surprisingly shallow for a cyberpunk story .
Overall Rating: 6/10
8. DNA² OVA D・N・A2～何処かで失くしたあいつのアイツ～ (1995) [Madhouse] (Finished 3/3)
Tags: Time Travel Comedy, Drama, Sci-Fi
Junta's great granddaughter goes back in time in order to make Junta stay as the Mega-Playboy so she can continue to exist. Along with her comes an old man with the intention of making Junta stay as the Mega-Playboy forever for his own purposes. When Junta starts getting attacked, he has no choice but to return to being the Mega-Playboy in order to protect his loved ones.
If series was going downhill, OVA is the bottom point nullifying the whole direction of the series and accumulating all the bad traits.
Overall Rating: 5/10
9. Iczer-Girl Iczelion Iczelion [AIC] (Finished 2/2)
Tags: Action, Adventure, Sci-Fi
Iczelion, the final entry in the "Icz" series, is a departure from the previous storyline in most resepcts.
Throughout the galaxy, two villians destory and pillage anything in their path. Their names are Cross and Chaos, and they are ready to invade their next target: Earth. The only defense against these warriors are the Iczelions, a fusion of young girls, and Iczels, sentient body armor. Nagisa is a typical high school girl who is about to become the next Iczelion against her will, to defend the planet and save the human race! But not if she has anything to say about it...
Prequel was horribly plain, but there's no limit to perfection or rather to aggravation.
Overall Rating: 4/10
10. Sotsugyou: Graduation Graduation 卒業~Graduation~ [animate Film] (Finished 2/2)
Tags: School Drama
Regardless of how students handle the many academic challenges facing them, they all know that there will come a day when they will leave all the hurdles of scholastic achievement behind and tackle the triumphs and sorrows of true adulthood. One thing that many young people don`t realize is that this often means leaving behind the friends that have been with them through their youth.
A very simple slice anime based on even more simple visual novel.
Overall Rating: 5/10
11. Makeruna! Makendou 負けるな！魔剣道 [OLM] (Finished 1/1)
Tags: Shounen Comedy
Makenko used to be a normal boy—until he was kidnapped by the brain monster Dr. Mud and transformed into a cyborg capable of destroying both the monster and human worlds! On his quest for vengeance, he is inadvertently joined by Makendo, a fellow monster hunter who would prefer not to be, and her little sister Hikari who would like nothing better! Dastardly demons and wacky monsters abound as the trio fight the bad guys to kick some monster butt, and get Makenko's body back!
Since source is a game, no one bothers to explain anything here, and all the ridiculous stuff gets over in just 28 minutes. Oh, and it's ecchi.
Overall Rating: 4/10
12. Utsukushii Chikyuu wo Yogosanai de Cry for Our Beautiful World 美しい地球をよごさないで [-] (Finished 0/1)
Tags: Drama
Nana is a 3rd grader who finds a strange picture book. She's able to jump into the book and be friends with the girl in it as they traveled around the work. She learns about the innocent cries of children all around the world suffering from pollution. The video has some live action segements.
Not found.
Overall Rating: 0/10
13. Atashi Tenshi Anata Akuma あたし天使あなた悪魔 [-] (Finished 0/2)
Tags: Childcare
-
Not found.
Overall Rating: 0/10
14. Slam Dunk: Shouhoku Saidai no Kiki! Moero Sakuragi Hanamichi スラムダンク 湘北最大の危機！燃えろ桜木花道 [Toei Animation] (Finished 1/1)
Tags: Shounen School, Team Sports
After losing the titanic match against Kainan High, Team Shohoku and a newly shaven Hanamichi Sakuragi are challenged to an exhibition match by virtual basketball unknowns Ryoukufu High. Coach Anzai sees this as an opportunity for Shohoku to regain their confidence, but Ryoukufu are revealed to have a newly assembled championship calibre lineup and may give Sakuragi & Co their toughest test yet.
Another movie that looks like a paired episode of the series.
Overall Rating: 6/10
15. Marmalade Boy Movie ママレード・ボーイ (1995) [Toei Animation] (Finished 1/1)
Tags: Shoujo Romance
A prelude to Marmalade Boy the TV series. Yuu remembers the day when his parents decided to divorce each other and remarry with another married couple. Troubled by the news, Yuu decides to take a walk, on which he spots a girl he falls in love with at first sight. He decides to follow this unaware girl and falls more in love with her. However he discovers who the girl really is...she's the daughter of his parents' new lovers.
26 minutes makes it a single episode made for series fans.
Overall Rating: 6/10
16. Junkers Come Here ユンカース・カム・ヒア [Triangle Staff] (Finished 1/1)
Tags: Drama, Slice of Life
Sixth grade student Hiromi Nozawa leads a troubled life. With her parents frequently absent due to work, one of her only companions is her talking dog, Junkers. Though Hiromi puts on a brave face for the public, the stark reality is that she is heavily stressed, and she shares this side of herself only with Junkers.
After hearing that her parents are considering divorce, Hiromi's stress reaches an all-time high; at this time, Junkers reveals that he has the ability to make three miracles occur. Given the potential of this newfound power, Hiromi must wish carefully—as obtaining what she thinks she wants may end up hurting those she cares about most.
It starts like Mikan , just with a cute talking dog who has to conceal from grown-ups that he can talk, then he says he can make three wishes come true, and then it's all about parents getting divorced and selfishness. It feels like Triangle Staff thought of itself as of Studio Ghibli, but just made a mess that I can't recommend to anyone for watching .
Overall Rating: 5/10
17. Boku no Chikyuu wo Mamotte: Alice kara, Rin-kun e Please Save My Earth Movie: From Alice to Rin-kun ぼくの地球を守って～亜梨子から、輪くんへ～ [Production I.G] (Finished 0/1)
Tags: Shoujo Drama, Romance, Sci-Fi
Please Save My Earth Movie: From Alice to Rin-kun is a two-hour movie narrated by Alice, reminiscing on the events of the OVA as she is on her way to meet with Rin in a park. The "present day" scenes of Alice and Rin from the movie add scenes that were not present in the manga.
Not found and happy about it.
Overall Rating: 0/10
18. Yamiyo no Jidaigeki 闇夜の時代劇 [Sunrise] (Finished 2/2)
Tags: Historical Horror
Tales include:
The Hill of Old Age, which tells of a conspiracy hatched against Japan's unifier, Oda Nobunaga.
Seeing the Truth, about the assassin sent to murder Nobunaga's successor leyasu Tokugawa.
The broadcast was a part of the Neo Hyper Kids program.
Not translated. First OVA episode is not anime despite the title. It's manga strips with voiceover. Second episode tries to use as little animation as possible and often turns into black and white. Since it's mostly talks, kinda useless to watch it without subs.
Overall Rating: 4/10
Since there are so many reviews of it, there's no need in full review, so I'm just explaining my choice for this game to be the game of the month October 1999.
The game is painful with a lot of text, characters, interaction with the scenery, puzzles and seemingly unrelated cases. Up to the middle of it I really struggled through painfully.
Game is about five cases of a heinous crime unit 1. But what's cool about it is that it's not about finding and catching the culprit. Those are just stories that have a beginning and some resolution, mostly sad resolution, actually - pretty much failing the case. Case 1 is about a swat team being massacred by some legendary criminal Kamui and eventually finding this Kamui as a totally emotionless shell of a human. Case 2 suddenly shifts the focus to some homeless children who live in the shelters - one of the boys is lost and we discover the story about his disappearance. Case 3 is about two syndicates rivalry and kidnapping of one syndicate's director. Case 4 is about illegal surveillance and streaming of private moments of life of a pop idol. Case 5 returns us to the mystery behind Kamui and all the cases finally get connected into one satisfying resolution.
The gist of the story is presented in a fairytale told by one of characters and since it has great importance and great charm I'm giving the direct dialogue: - You know, recently... some people say fantasy is like brainwashing. Giving kids sweet dreams for the purpose of controlling them. - When you put it that way, that sounds right. - Originally they were pretty messed up stories. - Like "messed up" how? - Realistic stories, without all the happy stuff. - Well, that sure sucks. - That's why they got turned into happier stories. - Is that all? - No. Here's where it starts. So anyways, when I was a kid, there was this fairytale I heard. It's an old folktale from my hometown, but... - Hm. - Once upon a time, there was a princess. A beautiful princess. A terrible giant serpent fell in love with her. The serpent ruled the land ... no, he had taken over the land. - He invaded it? - Yeah. The serpent turned the king into stone. The greedy serpent wanted the princess... So he took her away... - Pretty standard shit. Go on, go on. - Then came a band of heroes. To rescue the princess they ventured to the huge castle. - Well of course. I'd do the same thing. - The heroes combined their powers and fought the serpent. And then... - What happened? - They defeated it. - Fuck yeah!!! - Everything was fine and good. - Is that the end? - Well, mostly... - What the fuck? That's just a normal-ass fairytale. That sucked. - You liked it, right? - No, that's no good. There's no twist. - It's not over yet. - What? - Think of the story I just told you. It's been tweaked to make it nice. The realistic parts have been obfuscated. - Well then what the hell happens? - The princess was dead... - What the fuck?! What do you mean? - She was killed by the serpent. - Man, FUCK that serpent! The fuck kind of story is that? - And one more thing... There is no serpent. - No? Why not...? That stuff comes up in stories all the time. - Of course there isn't. There's no such thing as a "giant serpent" - Well. yeah... - It wasn't a serpent, but a human. The heroes were people, too. Humans killed another human, for revenge. - That's just a crime... - Yeah... Fairytales are crimes. The unrealistic fantasy that happens in real life is crime.
Rereading this dialog after finishing the game actually bears a lot of sense, it's the shortened version of the game's theme and meaning. The game does not really tell much directly and there's still the need to think up the rest of it, just like in this dialogue.
Let's get to the bad points. It's long (over 15 hours), slow-paced, low on events. It does not have voicing. It's mostly in sepia tone. Art is of specific and quite shy style. It's quite hard to guess who's talking since you just get the sentences appearing in one window one by one. It has a lot of interactivity. There's one hundred-questions spree with only 10 seconds for each answer and questions are mostly on history-sciences-media topics. Interface and controls are confusing. Dialogues are dodgy and make no sense. Characters treat each other poorly, trade in homophobic and sexist slurs. There are some puzzles. Game can be repetitive - at one case you need to search 80 separate and identical rooms in order to find five items.
Now to the good ones. Game is great because it has cool charismatic characters each with distinguishing personality. Characters-like it reminds me the Unit from Ghost in the Shell the most. The atmosphere is quite like that as well. Heroes smoke, curse like hell and talk in a cryptic way. The dialogues are just awesome with constant verbal abuse towards each other. But as for the story twists and mystery it resembles Metal Gear Solid series the most, as for me.
What makes a masterpiece for me is being memorable, no matter how many suffering it brings in the process - just need to treat them as trials. And there's no need to get tortured - there are a lot of great video let's plays of it without the commentaries. But in the end we get a mature, rich in details story that leaves much for the afterthought and lots of precious memories to cherish.
Secret Agent ~Kishi Gakuen no Shinobi Naru Mono~ is the only game deserving attention in May for me.
1. Kirakira Monstars キラキラモンスターズ [200528] White Powder
Four monster girls invited main character to a summer resort with the aim to shoot TV documentary "Kirakira Monsters". The comedy about communal life begins here!
Partial release
2. KukkoroDays くっころでいず [200514] iMel Inc. 1
The main character's mundane daily life is turned upside down when a certain woman appears in his life.
One day, a magic circle suddenly appears in the main character's room, out of which materializes an injured woman holding a sword and clothed in knight's armor.
This woman's name is "Cattleya".
She claims to have been transported from another world.
Until she finds a way to return to her own world, she will be an unexpected guest in the main character's home...
Will Cattleya be able to safely return to her own world? Or could her fate take another turn...
Game is released in English and has English reviews
3. Petrichor ペトリコール -Petrichor- [200529] MELLOW
"You know, I really like the smell of rain. I heard it's called petrichor."
The smell of rain reminds him of that day—a certain night 2 years ago.
"I want to have sex with you. Take my virginity."
Takumi, the protagonist, met Akari, Erika's friend, who he hadn't seen in awhile. She begged to have sex with him and he gave in.
Having become aware of the pleasure of sex, they continued to meet up and do the deed.
However, those days came to end when Akari suddenly ghosted him, leaving him with only a parting kiss that happened to be their first.
——2 years later
Takumi who still carried residual guilt over the events of two years ago, continued his studies in college and spent time with his girlfriend Erika
But early that summer, he ran into Akari who was working a part-time job at the coffee shop he was going to on his date with Erika.
"There's no way I can forget it, can I? About the rain... about that terrible night."
I prefer to call games like this vanilla nukige - since they try to present a short romance story with one or two heroines, but without a real story it inevitably becomes a banal nukige
4. Secret Agent ~Kishi Gakuen no Shinobi Naru Mono~ Secret Agent～騎士学園の忍びなるもの～ [200529] ensemble 1 2
Mikage Jin, the protagonist, is a descendent of a family of ninjas who have been tasked with defending Japan ever since the Edo period. He is in training both to become an expert in the ninja arts and to eventually succeed his mother as a secret intelligence operative.
He was deployed, undercover, to Fuyuka Academy in order gather information that will resolve an incident popularly known as the “Turncoat Affair” that had been making waves among the public.
Along with his AI partner, Momoka, Jin infiltrates the academy, and deepened his relationship with his classmate, Kanon Mayfield, a knight, Shirogane Kagura, the knight captain, Renjouji Mai and underclassman Amenomori Yui while carrying out his mission with the utmost discretion.
However, by freak accident, Jin’s true identity was revealed to Kanon. Though Jin having his identity revealed meant his mission was a failure...
“Please make me a ninja!”
In return for keeping his identity a secret, Kanon asked him to make her into a ninja!
Only time will tell if Jin will be able to successfully carry out his mission.
There are English reviews
5. Pieces / Yurikago no Canaria pieces/揺り籠のカナリア [200529] Whirlpool
Dreams and dreams. People dream of their ideals by sleeping.
In it, fragments of wishes twinkle like jewels. If so-
One of the overflowing feelings. It is the girl's somnium that continues endlessly. And be born. A cradle canary for prayer.
Depends on your stance with prequel
6. Tenmei no Conquista 天冥のコンキスタ [200529] Eushully 1
In the area around the Imnis Mountains in the northern part of the Raoulversh continent.
The Angel Army, the forces of light, and the Demon Army, the forces of darkness, were constantly vying for control of the territory.
At the end of a long and dizzying war, the dark forces were gaining momentum and advancing the war situation.
One day, the forces of the two sides are in a state of balance.
–The reason for this was because of the rumor of the “demon king’s downfall” that governed the dark forces.
Whether it’s a lie or not, the control of the demon army gradually begins to be disrupted by this news.
The Angel Army, seeing through the confusion launched an offensive and the balance of power was gradually being reversed.
However, a man who sees this situation as an opportunity has launched a new force.
Due to the harsh environment, Klaus, a human, a race that rarely seen in the land of Imnis.
He used to be a Suima, but for some reason he was transformed into a “human body”, a drunkard.
Underneath his fragile body lies the inherent abilities of the Suima demon race.
He has an inborn and unparalleled ability to manipulate scents and control others with his magical powers.
Klaus has expanded his power to become the new king of the demon tribe to rule the land of Imnis.
He led the dark forces and launched an army march to destroy the Angel Army.
SRPG
7. Shuffle! Episode 2 ~Kami ni mo Akuma ni mo Nerawareteiru Otoko~ SHUFFLE! エピソード2～神にも悪魔にも狙われている男～ [200529] Navel 1 2
Forty years after SHUFFLE!, a catastrophe threatened to tear all worlds apart. However, thanks to certain individuals from the three worlds who jointly halted the calamity, bringing peace back to the three worlds.
59 years later, we join our protagonist Raito Aioi, who lives with her cousin, Kohaku Anjou. It was a typical day at the start of summertime. However, such peaceful daily life is quickly interrupted by the appearance of the god princess Lithia and the demon princess Nelia. They come to the Verbena National Academy, where he attends and declared:
"I came here to separate the gods and humans," says Lithia, while Neria smirks, "I will take your life."
Then, Limes, who met by chance, comes to stay at Raito's house, and Kirara Kinoshita, a junior who adores Kohaku, also joins the fray.
Raito's ordinary daily life suddenly becomes so lively. Yet, as Raito spends time with these girls, he learns the secrets they hold in their hearts.
There are English reviews
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1. Bishoujo Mangekyou -Kotowari to Meikyuu no Shoujo- 美少女万華鏡 ー理と迷宮の少女ー [200529] ωstar 1 2
The fifth and closing story for the Bishoujo Mangekyou series.
Nukige with a story, but still primarily a nukige for me
2. Tsuki no Kanata de Aimashou: Sweet Summer Rainbow 月の彼方で逢いましょう SweetSummerRainbow [200529] tone work's 1
——As lovers.
It's been one year since the protagonist and Rein met. It's now the spring of their third year at school.
For the first time, they're in the same class, in adjacent seats. Everyday is a chain of new and blissful events, keeping their hearts racing from their "first love".
And now, it's the summer holidays. The two of them are going to attend summer school; it's being held is San Francisco... where Rein was born... her homeland.
An unexpected event results in the two of them sharing a room, bringing their "fresh and innocent" limited-time cohabitation life to a start———
——As husband and wife.
The protagonist and Rein have married and have set out as husband and wife. Between them was born their beloved daughter.
It's quite a lot of work raising a kid, but she returns to them an even greater share of happiness.
Their precious family is always by their sides. Their precious friends are always watching over them. And that's why they can keep walking looking straight ahead.
"Darling... I want a second one soon"
This is a story packed with such "exasperating amounts of happiness" and "being moved by one's family".——As lovers.
It's been one year since the protagonist and Rein met. It's now the spring of their third year at school.
For the first time, they're in the same class, in adjacent seats. Everyday is a chain of new and blissful events, keeping their hearts racing from their "first love".
And now, it's the summer holidays. The two of them are going to attend summer school; it's being held is San Francisco... where Rein was born... her homeland.
An unexpected event results in the two of them sharing a room, bringing their "fresh and innocent" limited-time cohabitation life to a start———
——As husband and wife.
The protagonist and Rein have married and have set out as husband and wife. Between them was born their beloved daughter.
It's quite a lot of work raising a kid, but she returns to them an even greater share of happiness.
Their precious family is always by their sides. Their precious friends are always watching over them. And that's why they can keep walking looking straight ahead.
"Darling... I want a second one soon"
This is a story packed with such "exasperating amounts of happiness" and "being moved by one's family".
Fandisc
Root Film is nowhere near masterpiece, but I'd still rate it higher than others this month.
1. Kanojo ga Aitsu de, Ore wa Dare!? 彼女がアイツで、俺はだれ!? [200731] Praline
I (Kazuharu Shimozono) is an ordinary boy student with no special abilities.
One day, I was called to the student council room by the school broadcast.
Waiting there was Oria Kirishima, the student council president, and as soon as she and I were alone with each other, the student council president said, "I was Nobunaga in my previous life! I will attack you!"
I didn't know what was happening but I knew I was in danger and I ran out of the room. Then an outright gyaru, Karan Yuki, appears, holding my hand and saying, "Are you okay?" and took me to the rooftop. With her hands on my face, she looked into my eyes and said "It looks like we finally met...?" and she began to take off her clothes.
Apparently, they have memories of the past life... but I have no idea what it means.
And, I think it's normal, but I have no memories of my childhood, let alone my previous life.
Low price game with story being short and indefinite. It's a gag game with constant flashes from the past lives with the color changing only by the end of individual routes. Only two heroines, but harem is an option.
2. Root Film ルートフィルム [200730] Kadokawa Games 1 2
Spirited young filmmaker Rintarou Yagumo is involved in a new TV project—a mystery drama production set in Shimane that also served as tourism promotion for the prefecture. It has been 10 years since the original pilot was shot, and while the project was discontinued for unknown reasons, plans for a revival seems to be in place. One of the characteristics of this project is that it is a competition between three filmmakers, and each filmmaker shoots using a different actress as the protagonist. Yagumo is excited to learn that the other two filmmakers are famous directors. Before long, Yagumo and the staff members head off to go pre-location scouting, but a murder occurs at their destination…
Yagumo and Riho are the two protagonists. As you progress through each of their stories and unravel records of the past, you will witness the truth… Root Film is a mystery title developed with realistic and beautiful backgrounds from data that was carefully gathered of Shimane Prefecture, which is where the story is set. Enjoy the deep story written by Hifumi Kouno, which points to the catharsis of art and madness in the darkness of today’s internet society.
Game is localized and has English reviews
3. Yoru, Tomosu 夜、灯す [200730] Nippon Ichi Software 1
Taisho era.
This is the story of a boarding school for young ladies that stands quietly on the outskirts of town. The students there are “caged birds,” restricted from leaving the school grounds even on days off.
The girls shared everything, from their loneliness and joy to their teenage melancholy. Eventually they created the “Pseudo Sisters” system—a special relationship in which two girls would exchange each other’s most valued possessions and form a sister contract until graduation.
But one day, two girls who formed a contract to become “Pseudo Sisters” committed a double suicide. The two died holding the “valued possessions” said to be a symbol of the bond between them, but the teachers returned those “symbols” to their original owners and treated it as an accidental death.
If we die, we can stay together forever. The wishes of these two girls who committed suicide were trampled so easily.
Console Yuri Taishou horror is as far from my tastes as possible
4. White Wings ホワイトウィングス [200717] Pureworks 1 2
This is an agonizing wintertime love song.
At Shoba Senior Middle School in Shizuoka Prefecture, the stress and tension of preparing for Shoba Senior Middle School entrance examinations affects those in their later teenage years. They might encounter a life of separation from each other. Some of them may meet again, while others may never see other again. Secrets that are covered by rapidly falling snow are interwoven with a sorrowful rhythm. Broken families, Experiences of bullying, Tears concealed by smiles. Is the taste of first love sweet or bitter? Who will be redeemed, and who will enter the abyss? Attracted, estranged, separated, hurt. Young men and women, three encounters, each carries sorrowful secrets in the cold winter. Embracing each other and absorbing the earth’s final, small bit of warmth.
During the last winter before Shoba Senior Middle School entrance examinations, Shoba Senior Middle School welcomed a pretty transfer student named Moe Miyazawa. She was assigned to sit next to Hiro Fujiwara, and had a heavenly appearance as well as an unapproachable air. She looked like an ice-cold snowflake and indifferently floated into Hiro Fujiwara’s heart. It seemed like a romantic beginning. Moe Miyazawa looked pretty and had outstanding grades, but was very cold and detached. Her classmates did not welcome her, and did not develop close relationships with her. However, her talent and beauty touched Hiro Fujiwara, whose family had already been broken. Furthermore, she also seemed to regard Hiro Fujiwara as someone unique. He couldn’t help but feel moved by Moe Miyazawa, but it was just that when he tried to get close to her, he found that it was really too difficult to get close to this girl.
At the same time, Reika Fukihara, a charming girl with a warmhearted smile, also had a chance encounter with Hiro Fujiwara.
She was outgoing and magnanimous, had a warm personality, and was also a bit bizarre, which gave Hiro Fujiwara a feeling he had never previously experienced. Hiro Fujiwara was obviously attracted to Moe Miyazawa, while Reika Fukihara’s vitality and uninhibited personality as well as her enthusiasm may have caused other people to see her as stubborn and unyielding. However, Hiro Fujiwara thought that Reika Fukihara was just like an angel opening up her wings in front of him. Reika Fukihara’s warmth and radiance sparked enthusiasm and hope within Hiro Fujiwara, who seemed to treat others with kindness, but actually was afraid of interacting with others. Reika Fukihara was too enticing for him. He couldn’t hold himself back, and was fatally attracted to her.
On one side was the unapproachable ice-cold beauty, and on the other was the unfathomable elfin girl.
His heart drifted between these two girls and remained indecisive.
How could he choose between them and make sure that it was the right decision?
Game is localized and has English reviews
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1. Genjitsu ga Mietekita node Lolicon Yamemashita. 現実が見えてきたので少女を愛するのを辞めました。 [200731] Kaeru Soft 1
Tanaka Mikio has been obsessed with girls whose age is far below him. Be it real life or 2D girls. Having been a virgin all his life, he decided to quit. He wanted to get married and establish a family. In the process, however, Tanaka got rejected 108 times.
Afterward, he meets Enomiya Mai, a lady who can cure his recurrent heartbreaks. Unfortunately, despite Tanaka's genuine affection for her, Mai can't sexually arouse him. Still, he decides to marry her anyway.
However, destiny does dirty on him; Enomiya Mai has two lovely daughters.
Only listing lolicon nukige because of review and opening
Foreword: Why would KeroQ make a moege? This thought bothered me for a while. But what if KeroQ tricked everyone and made something entirely different under facade of moege?
Title: Moekan
Developer: KeroQ
Date: 2003-01-31
VNDB link:https://vndb.org/v3139
Youtube walkthrough:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=011WabnKsQ8&list=PLs4Gp5VU4Fv_47rfDklNMh3spmTY4nrpl
Synopsis: An anarchistic country that is said to dominate the world exists on a vast island known as Moekko Island. This is where the final works of AC Company's android combat maids (resembling beautiful young girls) are done, also where these maids get there communication training. A new maid is to come to the island to be trained, Rinia, she is a young looking girl, who has lost her all of her memories, she tries very hard to impress the owner at Moekko island, but just ends up making a lot of trouble around the mansion. Takahiro, the owner of Moekko island, a depressive young man who has also lost his memories is seen as a very unhappy person who thinks Rinia will only be trouble around the mansion. As time passes, Takahiro slowly grows attached to Rinia's attempted ways of helping and so starts a beautiful relationship among the quiet island.
Structure: Roughly a month from November 25 to around December 25
Length: About 30 hours.
Game type: Alternative world moe maid adventure
Difficulty: Chioices are evident, but are numerous.
Character Design rating: 9/10
Protagonist rating: 8/10
Story rating: 8/10
Game quality: 9/10
Overall rating: 8/10
Rating comments: I found only one (1) English review of the game, and it claims that it's hard to see how someone could find real fault in this title. I took the challenge... and... failed to find anything irritating. The only vague reasons that I cling to decrease evaluation is the story that I do not consider overall interesting or curious. It does not mean it's bad - it's full of tricks, and resolution that takes 1/3 of the game is great. Still 2/3 of the game nothing but gags happen, and I can't approve it. Not after Tsui no Sora and Nijuuei.
Protagonist: Takahiro is pretty much the largest mystery of the game. We more or less know who he was and who he is now. But he has huge potential and background that can strike at any moment in any way. It's heroines that search a key to his inner self, not the other way. Basically, his story is the thing that keeps things moving.
Characters: I am true to my review system, so I played only two routes. First one is main heroine Rinia, naturally. As for second heroine, I chose Kirishima just because I got pretty tired of maids after Rinia route - Kirishima is assistant with boyish looks and pretty wild temper.
Rinia is more just main character - she's reincarnation of Sae from Nijuuei. Even I noticed that Sae is absolutely the best heroine of Nijuuei giving the game that special positive tilt. Rinia is also a maid and - moreover - she is voiced by the very same seiyu in the very same manner. That instantly rises moe level of a new game to the skies. Despite all the huge story layer built over Moekan, I will still treat it as a huge fan-disk of Nijuuei to finally give Sae her own huge route. And it really worked out great as we got 10 hours devoted almost exclusively to Rinia. We get to see her in happiness, in illness and during crisis, so it's a normal main heroine path. Oh, and the most important thing in Rinia route is that it does not have H events at all (one half-naked after bath scene does not count). There are three special training evil endings just for the sake of H events, but that does not spoil impression of good ending at all.
But then I played Kirishima route... It had some cute scenes and one H event by the end, but what absolutely shocked me was the ending. The ending is not really a good one - and that's the only ending we get for her. Giving one heroine a good ending and another one not so good one is absolutely genius. I did not have the strength to play the other two maids Fuyuha and Kazusa, as well as zashiki-warashiki type heroine Suzuki, but if their endings at least remotely same shocking, that'd be absolutely amazing.
Story: There's not much to say about the story. Takahiro is given difficult task and limited time. There are a lot of sharks waiting for him to make a mistake. Rinia route has two action scenes regarding assaults of enemy forces on Takahiro while Kirishima route only has one. And that's pretty much the whole story. But what makes the story shine is the amount of details in the well developed worldview. Just as in Nijuuei there's quite a lot of infodumping first about the present state of the world with huge organizations based on islands, then we are gradually accepted to see the past - the fake one and just a bit of the real one. Nothing is easy here - we don't have some enemies. We rather have some five groups of rivals, and we never know their intentions and which one is going to strike. Attention to details and world-building is what makes games masterpieces.
Humor: There's so many gags in the game. They are mostly presented by chibi CG. I just can not forget that hysterical laugh "ehehe" upon breaking that vacuum cleaner lever.
Thoughts:
1) Moekan tricks us presenting action-packed charage instead of a promised maid moege.
2) Game's still more of a charage than a plotge - that's why I'm showing action CG to remember game for its action scenes.
Overall comments: Game of very high quality and care for detail. I was going to give it a 9/10 score, but over time impression got duller and I was able to rate it more rationally. Even with such top class heroines I still can't fully appreciate a charage. There's a huge difference with Nijuuei. In Nijuuei characters empasized the plot, but here plot emphasizes characters. And for that reason I do not really want to play Moekan fan-disks Moekasu and Moeten. There's enough time devoted to each character, so there's no wish to explore them further in any kind of side-stories. It's one of the best charage in visual novel history, but for me it's not as strong as other three KeroQ works.
Foreword: Routes gets 5 votes cumulatively while closest rival sits at 3 votes, so here is review of this game.
Title: Routes
Developer: Leaf
Date: 2003-02-28
VNDB link:https://vndb.org/v204
Youtube walkthrough:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sV1wg2BZOpM&list=PLs4Gp5VU4Fv8K_WdeDpxSgGZzjGORqw_b
Synopsis: The story takes place in 21st Century Japan (approximately at the end of April 2010). The main character Nasu Souichi is a perfectly ordinary high school student, who tries to do as little as possible everyday, and sleeps though most of his classes, only ever to be woken up by his friend Yuasa Satsuki. They believe they are living in a peaceful time, where no large wars are occurring.
However, these peaceful days are destroyed, when a number of large ships disappear at sea, almost instantly, and with no explanation as to why. A strange woman named Lisa＝Vixen suddenly appears and attacks Souichi... however Souichi also has his share of secrets.
Game type: There are two different games here - spy thriller and medieval rural mystery
Character Design rating: 8/10
Protagonist rating: 7/10
Story rating: 8/10
Game quality: 7/10
Overall rating: 8/10
There is already a good review of this game (1), so I'd better present personal impressions acquired during the course of the game. There WILL be spoilers, although I don't consider them to be big enough to really spoil anything - they are needed to present the structure of the game.
Game starts with Lisa Vixen route, and she is the real main heroine of the game. She is both stunning blonde beauty and a great super-agent. There is great teamwork and unexpected resolution there. But unfortunately only this route really resembles spy thriller. Next four routes required to reach true route are less impressive. From second playthrough there is a hint about a strange medieval-looking man as well as two choices - whether to go to school or stay home. Going to school leads us to our osnajimi Yuasa Satsuki route or her best friend Fushi Yukari route. I decided only to play thoroughly through Satsuki route. There is an attempt to fill it with SOL and humor, but it works out so-so. The worst part of it was how it ended up being so much overextended. I was hoping to get a fast H event and move to story already, but this route had as many as three (!) unsuccessful attempts of etching pushing story further and further. In the end, story development stars without getting into intimacy stage, but ends up a degraded version of the same Lisa route, just without the unexpected twist.
The other three heroines routes are even worse, a total bore-fest. Two of them are just an average town girl and an average town lady with their stories having NOTHING to do with the spy theme. The true route is the shortcut of the same Lisa route AGAIN, just with all three main heroines at support - Satsuki, Lisa and Fushi. There's nothing really special about it, and game just could not be called a masterpiece at this point after all the routes and the True route.
But then right after true route a totally another game kicked in - "Roots". That's a samurai rural story about the powerful sword and fighting the greater evil. This story has a bright cheerful scenery and a cast of funny characters with numerous memorable moments. Then the connection between "Routes" and "Roots" was revealed, and game finally could be seen as an integrative complex story above the giri-giri masterpiece level up to the point of firm masterpiece level, or 8/10.
I can't evade discussing technical difficulties here. Only console versions are voiced. But console versions can't be hooked - I tried all the variants possible. Without voicing this game does not really worth the effort. So I ended up running recording high resolution PC version screen and text acquired through hooking, but at the same time running PSP version to get voicing from it. PSP version has auto-reading, but PC version does NOT. So I had to manually click through every phrase following PSP auto-reading tempo. This causes all those un-synchronized lines. As if it's not enough trouble already, PC hooking is same clunky as both Kizuato and Shizuku, which means that lines appear consequently on the screen making hooker tools see it backwards. There was a special hooking script developed for Kizuato and Shizuku making lines be translated in the right order, but not for Routes, alas. That's why translation must be read from the end sentences to the first sentences properly. Leaf games really suck for hooking. Moreover, since I had to manually click through 30 hours of gameplay, I made text appear in full blocks skipping some mid-line animations. Just wanted to noted that, because actual PSP version looks much more alive than what I got as a result.
Routes turned out to be a real challenge for me due to really poor systems of PC version. I spent so much time recording it that it may even affect the pace of my next publications since none are left prepared. Unfortunately, only Lisa route, True route and Roots are really worth playing making the leftover heroines routes feel redundant. Game has a really decent "Roots" story which is difficult to get to due to numerous technical difficulties encountered. I just hope that more people will be able to appreciate the game through my video of it.
A small month that has only one definite winner unless you like detectives - Suisei Ginka . Clephas agreed with such choice. Micchi prefers Ouka Sabaki , Shugaten! -sugarfull tempering- and some imouto nukige.
1. Chou Kagaku Dasshutsu Saihate no Cross Eyes 超科学脱出 最果てのクロスアイズ [170222] Intense 1 2 3
Months after the luxury cruise ship explosion case, the girl with two psychic powers, Hitomi Akeneno, has engaged in saving people with the psychic research facility, ZENA, is struggling to strengthen her abilities.
At the same time, the detective with an artificial arm that has the ability to change the past time, Kyosuke Ayana, has just received the information that, Ritsu Kamiji, the person concerned with the serial killer case in Camellia Hills, would probably make some trouble in the small country of Eastern Europe, Witsarock. To stop the potential disaster, he set out for Witsarock.
Now, the time of crossing the two stories, has arrived.
Detective is localized and has English reviews
2. School of Talent: SUZU-ROUTE School of Talent: SUZU-ROUTE [170223] MyDearest 1 2
Love.
The "Untalented" one's "Talent", that surpasses all things.
Welcome to Mikage Academy, a famed educational institute that prides itself on being the home school of prime ministers, world-renowned artists, great businessmen, and all sorts of other movers and shakers of society. What's their secret? They accept only students with Talents – special powers that border on magic, granted by the divine, said to only occur in one in every ten thousand people by the time they reach adolescence.
I'm in love with this girl, Yuki Suzu, the dorm leader of the elites on campus, the White Lilies. And you know where I am on the pecking order? The very bottom of the Black Roses, a pack of slackers and rejects. And you guessed it – our dorms get along like cats and dogs.
Game is released in English and has English reviews
3. Ouka Sabaki 桜花裁き [170224] Irodori 1 2
Shimei took up his post as the new administrator at the Nakamachi magistrate’s office, which had been founded to alleviate the burden on the offices to the north and south. He was followed by his cheerful and hard-working childhood friend Rimu and the strong-minded Sakura, who was dispatched from the Kitamachi magistrate’s office to supervise him.
Shortly after his arrival, a young girl Koume was brought before him on a charge of murder. She was to be sentenced the following day, and if she was found guilty of the alleged crime, she would be sentenced to death. Shimei noticed something suspicious in the recounting of the events and along with Koume’s desperation, he was convinced that she was not guilty.
But who is the true culprit? Will he be able to prove her innocence?
Detective is localized and has English reviews
4. Ritaania no Seirei Tsukai -Meikyuu o Yuku Mono- リターニアの精霊使い-迷宮を征く者- [170224] Luna Soft
The stage for this tale is the "Ritaania Kingdom", a kingdom that has enjoyed continuous peace for 500 long years.
One day, a "portal" which linked Ritaania to the demon world wherein dwelled vile monsters appeared.
If the portal was left unchecked, monsters would invade Ritaania and the kingdom would be destroyed.
However, a similar portal appeared 500 years earlier and a certain hero came to the rescue of the beleaguered kingdom.
The one who came to be known as the "Spirit Master of Ritaania" commanded five spirits, "The White Spirit Norn", "The Red Spirit Vesta", "The Blue Spirit Rusalka", "The Green Spirit Melissa" and "The Black Spirit Ellis" and fought bravely against the demons, it was said the Master succeeded in sealing the portal.
The Spirit Master's descendant Leonard is now commanded by Ritaania's Queen Sylvia to enter the portal together with the spirits in order to pass through to the demon realm in order to save the kingdom...
RPG
5. Shugaten! -Sugarfull Tempering- しゅがてん！-sugarfull tempering- [170224] Recette 1 2 3
Fueya is a mysterious town where faeries are said to reside. The ‘night of the fairies’ takes place once a year when diamond dust fills the sky. It is said that happy miracles occur on this night. Even though the townspeople mostly treat the legend as a funny tale, they still look forward to it every year.
There’s a small patisserie named Folkroll on the outskirts of the town. It’s been around for dozens of years and is known for their really delicious cakes. However, the old man who worked as the patisserie was recently injured and had to be hospitalized. Without someone to make the cakes, the shop’s future was in danger.
The girls who worked there, Meru and Koori, didn’t know what to do and decided to make a wish on that special night for someone to come and save the shop. Then, a miracle happened and a mysterious young man Kurou appeared before them when they returned to the shop. He didn’t have any memories, but knew a lot about baking and agreed to work as the shop’s patisserie.
There are English reviews
6. Suisei Ginka スイセイギンカ [170224] Akatsuki Works 1 2
Ten years ago, there was an accident during the transport of chemicals in the port city of Mizuho, as well as a series of murders, but it is now just a part of history. At that time, Izana suddenly became separated from her best friend Tetsuo, and she never could come to terms with his disappearance.
This summer Tetsuo suddenly reappeared before the overjoyed Izana. However, he revealed to her a terrible truth…
There is an English review
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1. Neko-nin exHeart 猫忍えくすはーと [170224] Whirlpool 1 2 3 4
Japan. From time immemorial, there are those who possess superhuman abilities. These beings who looked like a cross between man and beast are called Demi-Humans. They acted as Ninja and served those in power.
And so time passes to present day——
"We have come from the Fuuma Village to fulfill an ancient contract. To serve you! Nin♪"
Yura and Tama. These ninja cats made their dynamic entrance. These cats approached our hero with their loving aura in full bloom. Their adorableness and will causes our hero to be taken by them. But how will he support them? How on earth do you use ninja in this day and age? As he ponders this question, the sense of being a master begins to sprout in our hero when he interacts with these lovely cats.
But who is spying on them from the shadows…? A heartfelt tale of cat ninja who won't shut up about loyalty, with a bit of action thrown in the mix!
Nukige has English reviews
Elf wo Karu Mono-tachi surprised me a lot with modern isekai concept and really good humor while having next to zero ecchi despite the plot - felt like a firm masterpiece during watching .
1. Hana yori Dango 花より男子 [Toei Animation] (Finished 3/51)
Tags: Shoujo Love Polygon, School Drama, Romance
Makino Tsukushi, a girl who comes from a poor family, just wants to get through her two last years at Eitoku Gakuen quietly. But once she makes herself known by standing up for her friend to the F4, the four most popular, powerful, and rich boys at the school, she gets the red card: F4's way of a "Declaration of War." But when she doesn't let herself be beaten by them and is starting to fall for one of the F4, Hanazawa Rui, she starts to see that there is more than meets the eye...
It can be described as a more serious and high-school version of Kodomo no Omocha, now with a full harem of bishounens. Lots of insincerity, stamps and just visually dull.
Overall Rating: 5/10
2. Kidou Senkan Nadesico Martian Successor Nadesico 機動戦艦ナデシコ [Xebec] (Finished 5/26)
Tags: Shounen Mecha, Military, Parody, Space Action, Romance, Sci-Fi
Akito doesn't want to fight. Despite a childhood spent on the anime Gekiganger 3, a Mecha show, he'd rather cook than pilot a Mecha. Fate intervenes when his home on Mars is destroyed, and he is transported instantly to the Earth, mysteriously. He has questions no one can answer fully, but follows a girl from a chance meeting in hopes to discover any. The girl, Yurika, is captain of the private battleship Nadesico, and in order to follow her, he enlists as their cook. Possessing the nanite implants that allow to control mechas, he's a handy backup pilot for the mechas of the Nadesico. He joins a crew bent on avenging Mars that seems to be composed of only misfits, otakus, and ditzes; however, in reality, they are handpicked experts. They take their own private war back to Mars to face the harsh reality that life may not always be like a Giant Mecha series.
What other one ship space opera comedy with misfits do I know to compare with? Irresponsible captain Tylor hits all the dots. And compared to Tylor this anime loses in everything - protagonist, comedy, character depth, universe, plot, logic. Nadesico does not care about the story, it has the stage for harem and many girls and that's enough for situational comedy. And Tylor did all that and more. If I try to deliberately search for a field where Nadesico wins it would be absurd humor, though I'm a fan of more conceptual humor. And I just can't enjoy it at all .
Overall Rating: 6/10
3. Saber Marionette J セイバーマリオネットJ [Studio Junio] (Finished 3/25)
Tags: Shounen Harem, Martial Arts, Mecha Action, Adventure, Comedy, Drama, Romance, Sci-Fi
In the distant future, since the Earth has become overpopulated, efforts to find and colonize on other planets have begun. However, one of the ships, the "Mesopotamia" malfunctions and all but 6 of its inhabitants are all killed. the remaining 6 manage to escape to a nearby planet named "Terra ll ", which is similar to Earth in many respects. However, all of them are male. Therefore, as to not let their efforts go to waste, they begin to set up 6 countries and to reproduce through cloning and genetic engineering. however, there are still no women, and to make up for it they create lifelike advanced female androids called "Marionettes" which do everyday chores and work. However, they are all emotionless machines. But one day, a ordinary boy named Otaru finds and awakens 3 special battle type Marionettes that have emotions due to a "Maiden Circuit" within them. It's up to him then to teach them and allow their emotions to grow, and when a nearby country threatens with world domination, it's up to to Otaru and his "human" Marionettes to protect their country.
First of all, let's forget everything about horrible Saber Marionette R since it's alternative version. Harem supposes good SOL, cute girls and good comedy. And just as Nadesico, it only succeeds in absurd type of humor. On the good side, there is some actual plot and action that help a bit.
Overall Rating: 6/10
4. Taiho Shichau zo (TV) You're Under Arrest (1996) 逮捕しちゃうぞ (1996) [Studio Deen] (Finished 4/47)
Tags: Seinen Adult Cast, Detective, Workplace Action, Comedy
Tokyo Highway Patrolwomen Natsumi and Miyuki get off to a bad start when Miyuki busts Natsumi for reckless moped driving on her way to work. Things get worse when they find out they're going to be partners!
A continuation of the OVA series, the adventures of Tokyo policewomen Natsumi and Miyuki continue in the You're Under Arrest TV series. It's back to Bokuto Precinct, where demented felons and bashful (but hunky) policemen abound, and where the cutest girl in the office... isn't a girl.
A nice police stories show, but the problem is that it's not particularly interesting. It becomes boring and predictable very soon.
Overall Rating: 6/10
5. Elf wo Karu Mono-tachi Those Who Hunt Elves エルフを狩るモノたち [Group TAC] (Finished 12/12)
Tags: Shounen Isekai Adventure, Comedy, Fantasy, Ecchi
Loudmouthed martial artist Junpei Ryuzouji, elegant actress Airi Komiyama, and cheery but artillery-obsessed student Ritsuko Inoue all find themselves transported from their homeland of Japan to an unfamiliar, magical world. When the elven priestess Celcia Marieclaire casts the spell to send them home, she is interrupted, and the spell is broken into parts that scatter throughout the world. The spell fragments imprint themselves onto the skin of various elves.
The trio travels in Ritsuko's tank, searching for elves who might carry the spell fragments so that Celcia can transfer them to her own body and make the spell whole again. As they adventure, people begin to refer to them as "Those Who Hunt Elves," gaining a reputation as warriors that put a stop to evil-doers with their miraculous cannon, terrifying elves by stripping any that they find. Though they're not the smartest group, they make up for it with enthusiasm and their strong determination to get back to Japan.
The main question about show is not whether it is masterpiece or not, but where it's a borderline or firm one. Let it be maximum score for comedies. It's the first real modern Isekai that I can recall. It has a lot of ingenuity and variety involved. Both characters and comedy are well done. Humor can be offensive here for some people , but tastes differ, and I see it as provocative, neat and crafty - main attraction, actually alongside uniqueness and twists of stories in each episode.
Overall Rating: 8/10
6. Ie Naki Ko Remy Sans Famille 家なき子レミ [Nippon Animation] (Finished 3/23)
Tags: Historical Adventure, Drama, Slice of Life
Remy, a cheerful and tender-hearted girl, lives with her mother in a French country town. One day her father returns to the town after a long period working away from home in a city. Her father tells Remy that she isn't their real daughter, and Remy is almost sold to an evil slave trader. It is Vitalis, a strolling entertainer, who helps Remy. Vitalis discovers her talent for singing and decides to take her in with his troupe.
Guess why I don't remember original from 1977. Because its demographic was determined as kids in MAL. Content is rather all age for both works, but I agree that only kids can welcome proclaimed morals and they are easier to perceive the slow pace. As usual, world masterpiece theater feels terribly boring and just useless to me.
Overall Rating: 5/10
7. Mahou Shoujo Pretty Sammy (1996) 魔法少女プリティサミー(1996) [AIC] (Finished 3/26)
Tags: Mahou Shoujo, Parody Comedy, Fantasy
The carefree Tsunami is next in line to rule over the Magical Kingdom of Juraihelm. But before she is officially crowned as queen, she must restore balance to the universe that has come to favor darkness. To accomplish her goal, Tsunami gives the ordinary Sasami Kawai a magical baton that can transform her into a magical girl. She also appoints the rabbit-like creature Ryou-Ouki to aid Sasami in the battle against evil.
However, Sasami refuses to become a magical girl—not because she is scared, but because she finds it too embarrassing! Meanwhile, the arrogant Ramia is plotting to overthrow Tsunami by enlisting her own magical girl—the eccentric Pixy Misa—to cause chaos and ensure that balance is never restored. As Pixy Misa terrorizes the planet with her Love-Love monsters, Sasami must learn to swallow her pride and accept her role as the universe's champion of justice, Pretty Sammy.
We sampled Pretty Sammy in OVA already, and the only question is how much series differs from OVA. It has become more thorough and I'd even say loose in contrast to rushed OVA. For magical girl SOL genre Pretty Sammy is rather generic.
Overall Rating: 5/10
8. Hamelin no Violin Hiki Violinist of Hamelin ハーメルンのバイオリン弾き [Studio Deen] (Finished 3/25)
Tags: Adventure, Drama, Fantasy
Trouble arises in Staccato one day. Demons show up and start to wreak havoc on the townspeople. The entire country seems to be suffering. The source of the problem is that the "barrier" which until now has kept the demons from crossing over to the human world, is weakening. The person who sustains it is losing her strength after holding it up for so many years. That person is Queen Horn of Sforzando. Hell King Bass is trying to break through the barrier and release their "supreme leader," Kestra (Orchestra). One whose power is unparalleled yet is trapped somewhere in the world of the humans.
OVA was very intriguing and funny, but too short. Now all tempo and humor is gone and we get slow, tedious and serious narration. Maybe things spice up eventually, but definitely not in the first three most important for impression episodes, and characters aren't that interesting to go on in hope for miracle to happen.
Overall Rating: 5/10
9. Chouja Raideen 超者ライディーン [Sunrise] (Finished 3/38)
Tags: Shounen Mecha Adventure, Sci-Fi
Hishou, Ginga, Ace, Hayate, and Ikazuchi all work at a studio doing various idol-related jobs at the request of their manager, Reiko. But in reality, these five teenagers are really the Reideens, a group of superheroes who fight the Super Devils sent by Lushu, a mysterious being. Little do the Reideens know, these Super Devils are being sent for a more important purpose...
I can't stop getting surprised with the most banal concept choices of Sunrise. Power rangers variation is not a good concept for serialization. Just saying .
Overall Rating: 5/10
10. YAT Anshin! Uchuu Ryokou ＹＡＴ 安心！宇宙旅行 [NHK] (Finished 3/50)
Tags: Shounen Adventure, Comedy, Sci-Fi
The emergence of the dimensional tunnel sets the background for a new space era in which space travelling can be designated to planets outside the solar system. Hoshiwatari Goro is a space traveller who goes in search for his father whose whereabouts are shrouded with obscurity. His only link to his father is an old photograph. In order to attain his goal, Goro participates in a young space travelling company known as "YAT" which organises tours to different planets. However, in the midst of his journey, he was involved in an accident which resulted in the destruction of the spaceship. As a form of compensation, he had to work for YAT and this sparks off a train of space adventures for him.
Aired in some Western countries - from this alone it's clear that it's a safe comedy with main focus on kids. I don't fancy its humor, and everything else is too childish.
Overall Rating: 5/10
11. Kiko-chan Smile きこちゃんすまいる [Eiken, Magic Bus] (Finished 1/51)
Tags: Josei Adventure, Comedy, Slice of Life
Kiko-chan's Smile is an anime and manga series about a kindergarten student who has many of the features of a child prodigy but at the same time has many bizarre habits and an odd personailty.
Not translated. Partially available in Chinese and Korean. Each episode consists of three stories like SOL comedies of the past. Eccentric child genius sketches are easy to watch, but since it's of episodic nature, it's hardly worth the effort of translation, especially because Kiko-chan hardly talks at all and the whole comedy has to be based on some unexpected moves.
Overall Rating: 6/10
12. Angel Densetsu エンジェル伝説 [Toei Animation] (Finished 2/2)
Tags: Delinquents, School Action, Comedy
When Seikichi Kuroda—self-proclaimed "guardian" and head thug of Hekikuu High School—hears rumors of a first-year transfer student named Seiichirou Kitano terrorizing his entire class, Seikichi tries to intimidate him through authority. However, things go awry when he witnesses something horrifying—Seiichirou has a face so dreadful and haunting that even Seikichi hurries away in fear.
But despite his menacing appearance, Seiichirou has a heart of gold. Inhibited by his poor communication skills and fear-inducing looks, he has never managed to convey his true self to his terrified peers, resulting in his lifelong ostracization. Now the new guardian, Seiichirou discovers that sometimes friends can be found in the most unlikely places and through the most unusual circumstances.
The concept is intriguing, so it was thrilling to watch. But it's a short-running joke, so can't rate it too high.
Overall Rating: 6/10
13. Fushigi Yuugi OVA Mysterious Play OVA ふしぎ遊戯 [Pierrot] (Finished 3/3)
Tags: Shoujo Historical, Isekai Adventure, Comedy, Fantasy, Romance
Having concluded their adventure inside the mystical book The Universe of the Four Gods, Miaka Yuuki and Yui Hongo resume their ordinary lives with but one exception: upon returning to the real world, Miaka is permitted to bring her beloved Tamahome along with her.
Unfortunately, shortly afterward, new troubles threaten the couple's hard-earned happiness. During a visit to the graves of the two other girls who had traveled inside The Universe of the Four Gods, Tamahome is engulfed by a red light and disappears right before Miaka's eyes. Witnessing the puzzling incident, her brother Keisuke and his best friend Tetsuya Kajiwara resolve to help the heartbroken Miaka find her boyfriend again.
Meanwhile, Tamahome has been brought back into the book, only to discover that 50 years had passed since his departure. To his surprise, he learns that he has now switched identities with his former enemy, Nakago. Will the two lovers triumph over these adversities to reunite once more, or are they doomed to remain separated forever?
90% of the time in this afterstory is devoted to bishounens, and since I did not finish the series all those dozens of characters looked confusing.
Overall Rating: 5/10
14. Kakugo no Susume Apocalypse Zero 覚悟のススメ [Ashi Productions] (Finished 2/2)
Tags: Mecha, Mythology, Super Power Action, Horror, Sci-Fi, Ecchi
A series of natural disasters has reduced the world to rubble, with the survivors doing whatever they must to survive in a world gone mad. But one young boy, Kakugo, gifted with amazing martial arts and a superpowerful suit of armor by his late father, has been charged with making the world (or at least his school) a safer place. But his sister has a matching set of skills and equipment, and she`s on a mission to bring peace to the world... by wiping out humanity!
Reminded me Teito Monogatari a lot. Post-apocalyptic and with body horror as well. This time there's at least a clear plot and quite fine art style. Visual images are rather memorable though plot is not great.
Overall Rating: 5/10
15. Bakuretsu Hunters OVA Sorcerer Hunters 元祖 爆れつハンター [Xebec] (Finished 3/3)
Tags: Shounen Harem, Super Power Action, Adventure, Comedy, Fantasy, Romance, Ecchi
On the "Spooner Continent", a valiant group of Sorcerer Hunters are the people's last line of defense against the evil dark magiks unleashed periodically by those who can't control it. Saving the world and looking sexy while doing it!
Sorcerer Hunters was a rather average adventurer action with a big focus on ecchi. Needless to say, OVA puts full emphasis into it so that there's hardy anything left besides that.
Overall Rating: 5/10
16. Ai Tenshi Densetsu Wedding Peach DX Wedding Peach DX 愛天使伝説ウェディング・ピーチDX [ADV Films] (Finished 4/4)
Tags: Shoujo Adventure, Comedy, Romance
The 1996–1997 anime OVAs of Ai Tenshi Densetsu Wedding Peach, also known as Ai Tenshi Densetsu Wedding Peach DX (Deluxe). These four OVAs were uniquely designed and scripted, and the art style had been changed slightly from the original series as well. Each of these OVAs feature one of the Ai Tenshi along with a season: Wedding Peach—Summer, Angel Salvia—Autumn, Angel Daisy—Winter, Angel Lily—Spring. They are, however, in no way related to each other, except for some indication of previous OVAs by Hinagiku and Yuri. These are the adventures of the four Ai Tenshi, two years after their battle with Reine Devila.
Just fanservice OVA that does not attempt to provide any continuation or serious separate story.
Overall Rating: 5/10
17. Master Mosquiton Master of Mosquiton マスターモスキートン [Radix] (Finished 6/6)
Tags: Mythology, Vampire Action, Adventure, Comedy, Supernatural
In the 1920's, Inaho resurrects a vampire named Mosquiton with her blood. He awakens and becomes her slave. Now, Inaho is after the O-Part, which will grant her immortality. However, a bunch of supernatural monsters are out to stop them from achieving their goal.
Adequate vampire action with a bit of romance and alleged ecchi, but without fancy, can't say that anything stands out.
Overall Rating: 6/10
18. Legend of Crystania レジェンド・オブ・クリスタニア [Triangle Staff] (Finished 3/3)
Tags: Action, Adventure, Fantasy, Supernatural
Dreams begin to haunt Lady Sheru -- dreams of her past life as Pirotesse. Her love, Ashram, is being tormented at the hands of the soul of Barbas posing as their former king, Beld of Marmo. Interpreting this as a plea for help, Sheru searches for a way to save him by entering the chaos realm using the Chaos Ring. Meanwhile, Redon and his friends are called to arms again as ancient creatures begin to appear after being sealed away for centuries. Both their paths will cross once again, and on their shoulders will the fate of Crystania lie.
It's almost three times longer than prequel and thus fixes its biggest flaw - rush. Finally there is a substantial story with some interesting traits, and two adventurer parties confrontation is always a treat for me. Can't call it a masterpiece though as Record of Lodoss War had better characters and atmosphere.
Overall Rating: 6/10
19. Variable Geo ヴァリアブル・ジオ [Chaos Project] (Finished 3/3)
Tags: Shounen Martial Arts, Super Power Action, Ecchi
The special of the day is Variable Geo-a brutal battle between waitresses who serve up generous portions of energy blasts and vicious side orders of murderous martial artistry.
For buffed beauties who make below-minimum wages, VG is the perfect way to make some fast cash. The victorious walk away with millions, and the defeated lose everything (namely, all their clothes).
But this high-stakes sport has dark forces and dubious practices behind the fun and games. Lethal injections make steroids seem like vitamins. Instead of team prayer, there's demonic possession. Athletic sponsors are malevolent corporations with a more frightening agenda than increased market share. It's all just part of the game.
Imagine ecchi martial arts action, and it won't be far from what Variable Geo offers. But it fulfils eye candy purpose all right.
Overall Rating: 5/10
20. Kotetsu no Daibouken 小鉄の大冒険 [Project Team Sarah] (Finished 2/2)
Tags: Shounen Action, Comedy, Fantasy, Romance, Sci-Fi, Ecchi
While walking through the streets of Tokyo, Linn Suzuki comes across a strange device sticking up from the sidewalk. Suddenly, she is set upon by thugs and is helped by a beautiful stranger who takes them all down. It seems young Linn has fled Deep Kyoto from her cruel mistress and has traveled to Edo where she hopes to find her long lost brother, who was last seen working for the Kuon Detective Agency. By chance, this stranger happens to be Miho Kuon and lets Linn stay with her (nicknaming her Kotetsu, or Little Tetsu after her brother, Tetsujin). However, a mysterious agency called the Syndicate are after Miho and Linn is now in the thick of things.
Ecchi level is too high, so there's not much room for story left. So if you come here for ecchi, above average. If for story, then...
Overall Rating: 5/10
21. Panzer Dragoon パンツァードラグーン [Production I.G] (Finished 1/1)
Tags: Action, Fantasy, Sci-Fi
Legends speak of a Dark Tower with a race of dragons that awaits the command to arise and wreak havoc. At least Kyle used to believe they were only legends until his lady, Alita, is stolen by the Black Dragon!
Now Kyle must form an alliance with Blau, a blue dragon, in order to rescue her before she becomes the catalyst for the Dark Tower's final program: the complete destruction of the world!
Another game concept that would feel just right with lots of fights and gameplay, but with all those fights taken away nothing is left of the plot to fill those 25 minutes.
Overall Rating: 4/10
22. Ginga Ojousama Densetsu Yuna: Shin'en no Fairy Galaxy Fraulein Yuna Returns 銀河お嬢様伝説ユナ ～深闇のフェアリィ～ [J.C.Staff] (Finished 3/3)
Tags: Mecha Action, Adventure, Comedy, Sci-Fi
Just when everything seems peaceful again for Yuna and her friends, a new enemy appears in the form of three robotic sisters. Yuna must once again become the Savior of Light to fight this strong, new evil.
More seriousness, but also a more shallow plot with just these robotic sisters. Not great overall.
Overall Rating: 5/10
23. Houma Hunter Lime Jewel BEM Hunter Lime 宝魔ハンターライム [Production Reed] (Finished 3/3)
Tags: Comedy, Fantasy
For centuries, the magic and human worlds have been at peace with each other, though physically seperated by a magical gate. But when the powerful magic spheres are stolen and fall to the Earth below, the king of magic sends Boss, a fighter; Lime, a master transformer; and Poogie, a master morpher to retrieve them. With not much time, the trio must retrieve the spheres which, when in contact with the human world, suck up the negative emotions of household objects and become BEMs, Bug Eyed Monsters!
Since I happened to play all Lime games, I knew that games were practically ready anime concepts, but I still hoped for some improvisation and just knitting it all together into one story. I'm astonished by the super lazy approach to just choose first sub-lots and stop there even without concluding it somehow. It's still above average.
Overall Rating: 6/10
24. Gall Force: The Revolution ガルフォース THE REVOLUTION [AIC] (Finished 4/4)
Tags: Mecha, Military, Space Action, Adventure, Sci-Fi
East Force meets West Force and all Hell breaks loose. The Solonoids, that lovable race of female warriors, are at it again, fighting amongst themselves. During a heated battle, however, it looks like the leaders of the two factions have hung their warriors out to dry. In the middle of all this fighting and chaos, East Force detects a transmission from an unidentified planet. The Gall Force gals leave their posts to go. Lufy, the West Force's Ace Pilot, who is after Rabby, follows them to the planet.
Unique 80s lovely character designs are gone and new generic 90s have taken their place. Serious AI-Nuclear annihilation themes are gone with that too and concept is super light compared to older parts.
Overall Rating: 5/10
25. 10-shuunen da yo! Chibi Maruko-chan 10周年だよ! ちびまる子ちゃん [-] (Finished 0/1)
Tags: Shoujo Comedy
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Not found.
Overall Rating: 0/10
26. Black Jack the Movie Black Jack: The Movie ブラック･ジャック 劇場版 [Tezuka Productions] (Finished 1/1)
Tags: Shounen Medical Award Winning, Drama
Joe Carol Brane attempts to hire Dr. Black Jack on a breed of superhumans that have the strength, intellectual, athletic, and artistic skills with great excel in different fields, only to later find out that they start deteriorating after some period of time and causing an untimely death. Joe needs Dr. Black Jack's help on finding a cure.
Only slightly better than OVA, same medical detective with a bit of body horror.
Overall Rating: 5/10
27. Shin Kimagure Orange☆Road: Soshite, Ano Natsu no Hajimari 新きまぐれオレンジ☆ロード ～ そして、あの夏のはじまり [Pierrot] (Finished 1/1)
Tags: Shounen Comedy, Drama, Fantasy, Romance, Slice of Life, Ecchi
It's been several years and Kyosuke Kasuga is now 19. A mysterious phone call warns him of oncoming cars but he doesn't listen. Ironically, he gets hit by a car and because of his telepathic abilities, gets sent three years into the future. His 22 year old future self is now a photographer who is lost in Bosnia and believed to be dead. Kyosuke must find his 22 year old future self and restore himself, the 19 year old, to his correct time. Along the way he reunites with Hikaru who is now a professional and famous dancer. Madoka is also there, distraught over both Kyosuke, the 22 year old, going missing in Bosnia and Kyosuke, the 19 year old, getting hit by a car.
Another weird nostalgy scam that was absolutely not needed.
Overall Rating: 5/10
28. Ihatov Gensou: Kenji no Haru Spring and Chaos イーハトーブ幻想 Kenjiの春 [Group TAC] (Finished 1/1)
Tags: Anthropomorphic, Historical Drama, Slice of Life
A unique biographical sketch of the life of the great modern Japanese poet Kenji Miyazawa, Spring and Chaos is a highly stylized and intense film that draws on Miyazawa's writing techniques to tell his life story. Miyazawa often used animals as the main characters in his stories and poems, and it is this technique that allows director Shoji Kawamori to recreate Miyazawa's fanciful land of Ihatov and use it as the backdrop for Miyazawa's life. Beautiful and affecting, Spring and Chaos is a fitting tribute to one of Japan's greatest writers.
The story is mostly about how Kenji learned and wished to see magic and life in nature. Hardly informative or revealing, but overall not bad though short.
Overall Rating: 6/10
29. Kindaichi Shounen no Jikenbo Movie 1: Operazakan - Aratanaru Satsujin 金田一少年の事件簿・オペラ座館・新たなる殺人 [Toei Animation] (Finished 1/1)
Tags: Shounen School Mystery
Invited for a anniversary celebration, Kindaichi, Miyuki and inspector Kenmochi re-visit the Opera House. There they discover that a play of "The Phantom of the Opera" is being rehearsed again. However, it doesn't take long when members of the acting troupe are killed by the "Phantom". Kindaichi will once again have to solve a murder series in the Opera House.
I think it's the first Kindaichi anime, so should list it. Kindaichi stories involve more adventure and more mystics compared to Conan. Those who like detectives know Kindaichi well, those who don't like detectives won't bother anyway.
Overall Rating: 5/10
30. Alice in Cyberland ありす ALICE in Cyberland [Vega Entertainment] (Finished 2/2)
Tags: Sci-Fi
When criminal Cybernackists appear in the Cyberland, the vast 21st century computer networks, Alice, Miss Catnick, Leina, and Julie are drawn in by the mysterious Lucia to become a fighting force of young girl soldiers in the Cyberland to combat the criminal element.
I was afraid it had something to do with old nukige visual novel, but in fact it's made after a simple PS1 fighting game , so anime is rather generic with couple fights as well.
Overall Rating: 4/10
Year 2016 is a comeback with some very strong titles and months after somewhat weaker 2015. It even broke out of the 20 masterpiece curse. Clephas hesitated between three titles, and stopped at Tokyo Necro , but for me it was an evident winner. Visual Novel Openings 2015 .
My list of masterpieces in 2016:
Akeiro Kaikitan
Akiyume Kukuru
Amatsutsumi
Dungeons & Daimeiwaku -Great Edges in the Abyss-
Inochi no Spare
Island
Floral Flowlove
Hataraku Otona no Ren'ai Jijou
Karenai Sekai to Owaru Hana
Ou no Mimi ni wa Todokanai!
Ryuukishi Bloody † Saga
Sakura no Mori † Dreamers
Sen no Hatou, Tsukisome no Kouki
Senren ＊ Banka
Shoujo-tachi wa Kouya o Mezasu
Signalist Stars!!
Soshite Hatsukoi ga Imouto ni Naru
Sora no Tsukurikata -Under the Same Sky, Over the Rainbow-
Toki o Tsumugu Yakusoku
Tokyo Necro
Tsumi no Hikari Rendezvous
World Election
As for future review out of 2016, I usually choose something lacking attention, so the candidate that suits the best is Dungeons & Daimeiwaku -Great Edges in the Abyss- . Again, with the sudden influx of RPGs that showed up, I won't take up a review before I finish all those.
I highlighted few comedies, but here is another one that I can call a masterpiece - Ike! Ina-chuu Takkyuubu
1. Mobile Suit Gundam Wing 新機動戦記ガンダムW [Sunrise] (Finished 3/49)
Tags: Mecha, Military, Space Action, Drama, Sci-Fi
The United Earth Sphere Alliance is a powerful military organization that has ruled over Earth and space colonies with an iron fist for several decades. When the colonies proclaimed their opposition to this, their leader was assassinated. Now, in the year After Colony 195, bitter colonial rebels have launched "Operation Meteor," sending five powerful mobile suits to Earth for vengeance. Built out of virtually indestructible material called Gundanium Alloy, these "Gundams" begin an assault against the Alliance and its sub organization OZ.
One Gundam, whose pilot has taken the name of the slain colony leader Heero Yuy, is forced to make a crash landing into the ocean after an atmospheric battle against OZ's ace pilot Zechs Marquise. Upon coming ashore, he is found by Relena Peacecraft, daughter of a peace-seeking politician, who witnesses Heero's descent to Earth. Although neither of them realize it yet, this encounter will have a profound impact on both their lives, as well as those on Earth and in space colonies.
Last Gundam was a gust of fresh air, now it's again return to the stale roots as Sunrise rigidly refuses to evolve.
Overall Rating: 4/10
2. Slayers スレイヤーズ [E&G Films] (Finished 26/26)
Tags: Mythology Adventure, Comedy, Fantasy
Powerful, avaricious sorceress Lina Inverse travels around the world, stealing treasures from bandits who cross her path. Her latest victims, a band of thieves, wait in ambush in a forest, thirsting for revenge. When Lina is about to effortlessly pummel her would-be attackers, the swordsman Gourry Gabriev suddenly announces his presence. Assuming Lina to be a damsel in distress, the foolish yet magnanimous man confronts the brigands in order to rescue her. After defeating them posthaste, the oblivious cavalier decides to escort Lina to Atlas City. Though not very keen on this idea, she ends up accepting his offer.
However, without realizing it, Lina has chanced upon a mighty magical item among her most recent spoils. Now two mysterious men are hunting the young magician and her self-proclaimed guardian to obtain this powerful object for apparently nefarious purposes. This way they begin their adventure, one where the fate of the world itself may be at stake.
Many people are probably aware of Slayers. I watched it fully, but never considered it a masterpiece even many years ago let alone now.
Overall Rating: 6/10
3. Fushigi Yuugi Mysterious Play ふしぎ遊戯 [Pierrot] (Finished 3/52)
Tags: Shoujo Historical, Isekai, Martial Arts, Reverse Harem Adventure, Comedy, Drama, Fantasy, Romance
During a visit to the National Library, Miaka Yuuki and Yui Hongo stumble upon a strange old book that casts a red light, sucking them inside its unfamiliar world. Upon arrival, the two encounter hostile slave traders and barely escape with the help of Tamahome—a powerful young man bearing a Chinese symbol on his forehead. But, a moment later, the red light returns and takes Yui away.
Desperate to reunite with her companion, Miaka asks Tamahome for assistance. However, the situation escalates when the pair encounters the land's emperor, Hotohori, who believes Miaka is the foretold priestess of the kingdom's protector god Suzaku. By gathering the god's seven Celestial Warriors, the priestess can summon Suzaku and have all her wishes granted. Hotohori hopes this will save his country, and since it appears to be a fitting solution to the girl's problems as well, he convinces her to accept the role.
Meanwhile, at the library, Yui realizes she has been brought back alone. Unable to intervene, she helplessly witnesses Miaka traversing through courageous trials as the mysterious book's heroine.
This show has enough charm, but can be easier enjoyed by women due to the fact that male characters are ok while protagonist Miaka can be super irritating with her eternally naïve and carefree attitude to everything .
Overall Rating: 6/10
4. Bishoujo Senshi Sailor Moon SuperS 美少女戦士セーラームーン Super S [Toei Animation] (Finished 3/39)
Tags: Mahou Shoujo Fantasy, Romance
SuperS centers heavily on Chibi-usa and the Sailor Team. A new enemy, the Dead Moon Circus, has now appeared. Their motive is to find the Golden Dream Mirror that would be used to rule the world. To do this, the enemy attacks innocent victims for their Dream Mirrors and test their energy. Chibi-usa also has a new ally on her side, Pegasus. This season also sees the Sailor Senshi obtaining new powers.
Always nice to have a shift of focus to side characters, the second half of each episode is still some boss and battle.
Overall Rating: 6/10
5. Tenchi Muyou! 天地無用！ [AIC] (Finished 3/26)
Tags: Shounen Harem, Space Comedy, Romance, Sci-Fi
Tenchi Masaki's life changes forever when the ship of an infamous space pirate, Ryouko Hakubi, is shot down and crashes near his family's temple. Little did Tenchi know that by saving Ryouko, he would spark a series of events that would lead alien women from all walks of life to inhabit his home. This includes the delicate Princess Aeka of Jurai and her playful younger sister Princess Sasami; the scatterbrained first-class detective Mihoshi Kuramitsu and her more capable partner Kiyone Makibi; and the eccentric, mad scientist Washuu Hakubi.
The six women do their best to adapt to their new lives, but their more advanced and exotic lifestyle does not mesh well with the simplistic customs on Earth. As a result, they just end up making a mess and causing trouble for poor Tenchi. Though the girls are a pain, Tenchi begins to form a close relationship with each of them, and through their bond, he begins to gain a better understanding of his role in the universe.
It's on comparable level with second OVA 6 episodes, still can't enjoy these characters though.
Overall Rating: 6/10
6. Magic Knight Rayearth II 魔法騎士（マジックナイト）レイアース II [TMS Entertainment] (Finished 3/29)
Tags: Isekai, Mahou Shoujo, Mecha Adventure, Drama, Fantasy, Romance
Little time has passed since the Magic Knights’ final confrontation with Princess Emeraude’s "Mashin." Still haunted by the princess’ death, Hikaru Shidou returns to Tokyo Tower. There, she meets her friends Umi Ryuuzaki and Fuu Hououji for the first time since their spontaneous quest to save Cephiro. Plagued by nightmares of the realm she had left behind, Hikaru is relieved to find that her companions too want to return and serve the kingdom they once so dutifully protected.
The Magic Knights’ wish is answered, for at the top of Tokyo Tower, the three are blinded by the same great light they had seen on the day they first met. Once more on the back of a flying fish, the group returns to Cephiro—a world now desolate and in ruins. With the collapse of the Pillar's power, monsters freely roam the land while three nations seek to annex Cephiro with hopes of seizing the Pillar for themselves. Complicating things further is the mysterious Lady Debonair, who proclaims herself to be the rightful heir of the fallen country.
Now confronting graver stakes and radically different enemies, the three Magic Knights set forth once more to save Cephiro and bring peace. With the bonds they have forged together, the trio stands united in the face of such a great challenge.
Can't compete with first season impact, but quality is still higher than average .
Overall Rating: 6/10
7. Street Fighter II V Street Fighter II: The Animated Series ストリートファイターII V [Group TAC] (Finished 3/29)
Tags: Shounen Action, Adventure, Drama, Mystery
Ryu and Ken Masters are close friends and both are martial artists. In order to become better fighters and learn new techniques, they travel the world and are exposed to many different fighting styles, as well as meeting new people. During their journey, they find themselves caught up in a conspiracy perpetrated by a mysterious organisation called Shadowlaw, both now face their ultimate challenge and must fight for their lives as they combat the evil M. Bison.
Wow, first time game receives two-season long series. Main problems are slow pacing , some slacking on animations and unfaithful adaptation of side-characters from the game. Story also does not strike as anything but average.
Overall Rating: 5/10
8. Ai Tenshi Densetsu Wedding Peach Wedding Peach 愛天使伝説 ウェディングピーチ [OLM] (Finished 3/51)
Tags: Mahou Shoujo Comedy, Fantasy, Romance
There are three known worlds—the human world, the angel world, and the devil world. The evil queen Raindevilla yearns to destroy the angel world with help or her many devil minions. The goddess Aphrodite sends an angel to the human world, Limone, to summon three love angels in the form of three school girls, Momoko Hanasaki, Yuri Tanima, and Hinagiku Tamano, who together become Angel Lilly, Angel Daisy, and Wedding Peach. The three girls must fight to overcome the evils of the devils, as well as their own lives, and restore peace to the angel world by gathering all pieces of the Sacred Four Somethings (or Saint Something Four) and defeat the evil queen once and for all.
Can't help but notice that it's another Sailor Moon imitation. As for me, it does not live up to decent status.
Overall Rating: 5/10
9. Ike! Ina-chuu Takkyuubu The Ping-Pong Club 行け! 稲中卓球部 [Grouper Productions] (Finished 3/26)
Tags: Gag Humor, School Comedy, Ecchi
When the Inaho Junior High Ping-Pong Club grows apathetic about an upcoming tournament, their new manager, Kyoko Iwashita, boosts their morale with something they cannot refuse—a "sex pass," a voucher that grants the best player on the team unadulterated access to her body for a whole month. This is just one of many ways that this peculiar ping-pong club exceeds the realm of normalcy.
Among the Ping-Pong Club's six members, Maeno proves to be the most troublesome, discovering bizarre ways to distract the team each day. With the others contributing to these mischievous acts, Takeda—the captain of the club—tries his hardest to put up with the team's antics. But when popular vice-captain Yuusuke Kinoshita is being swept away by girls, he instead finds himself receiving support from the stern but resilient manager, Kyoko.
With the ever-present risk of their team being dissolved, Takeda and his friends find themselves having to overcome numerous obstacles. While Maeno often appears to put the club in jeopardy, it is usually he who devises schemes that are just so crazy that they have a chance of working. Can Maeno and his ludicrous stunts help his team persevere, or will they continue to just be a nuisance to the Ping-Pong Club?
Wow, this is something. I still don't like nonsense and absurd humor, but unlike Magical Circle Guru Guru or Akazukin Chacha or High School Kimengumi humor here is event and context based , not random though mostly below the waist one. The main question for me is whether it can be 8 just as Crayon Shin-chan, and my answer is that Crayon Shin-chan has the upper hand here as more integral and having characters that are as funny as Shin-chan (mainly, kindergarten caretaker, book shop pair and student having baito at different shops) .
Overall Rating: 7/10
10. Azuki-chan あずきちゃん [Madhouse] (Finished 1/117)
Tags: Shoujo Comedy, Romance, Slice of Life
Azusa Noyama is a 12-year-old girl student, taking 5th grade, but everyone knows her as Azuki-Chan, nickname that she dislikes. Yuunosuke Ogasawara, a new student, asks her about her nickname, saying that he likes it. Azuki falls in love with him, and they start going out together. They share a diary, and become boyfriend and girlfriend.
Just one episode is translated. It's cute and sincere and has cool 90s romantic features like wired phones and diaries, so decent overall .
Overall Rating: 6/10
11. Tobe! Isami Soar High! Isami 飛べ！イサミ [Group TAC] (Finished 6/50)
Tags: Shounen Action, Adventure, Comedy, Romance
Isami Hanaoka is just a fifth grader who happens to be a descendant of the Shinsengumi. Together with fellow descendants and classmates Soushi Yukimi and Toshi Tsukikage, she discovers in the basement of her home, strange artifacts left behind by their ancestors as well as a message urging them to "Fight the evil Kurotengu organization."
15 episodes are translated so far. It's about small kids, pacing is horrible, and story barely even started to develop by the end of 6th episode. Very average as there's nothing interesting for me here .
Overall Rating: 5/10
12. Juusenshi Gulkeeva Wild Knights Gulkeeva 獣戦士ガルキーバ [Sunrise] (Finished 3/26)
Tags: Mecha, Super Power Action, Fantasy
The world we live in is called Earthside in this story. There are the other worlds called Nosfertia, Heavenstia, and Eternalia. When Darknoids from Nosfertia begun invasion to Earthside, Heavenstia sent 3 Animanoids (beast-humans) to prevent it. The lead character Touya had believed that he was a mere human but found he was actually a being of Eternalia. With the help of 3 Animanoids, Touya fights to defend Earthside.
Another painfully bad Sunrise mecha from the 70s or so it should be to feel even remotely ok.
Overall Rating: 4/10
13. Juuni Senshi Bakuretsu Eto Ranger 十二戦支 爆烈エトレンジャー [Shaft] (Finished 4/39)
Tags: Action, Comedy, Fantasy
The Eto Rangers ride in Space-Time Transmitting Machine Kirinda to repair the Novel Worlds of Mugen. The Eto Rangers themselves are anthropomorphic animals, each representing one of the 12 Chinese zodiac animals (and The Twelve Branches in Buddhism). In Japan they are known as the Eto animals. The Novel Worlds are stories created by the human imagination, such as old folk tales as well as newer books. These living worlds play out repeatedly, and are necessary for the good of humanity. Princess Aura rules Mugen, which is an island continent hanging over an ocean from the skybound Novel Pole. The Great God Goal gives her power, but she may never leave the small palace island area. Their nemesis is the forgotten Spirit of Cats, Nyanma (real name, Chocolat), who was excluded from the choice of 12 protectors by being disqualified from the race (in actual legend there are many versions of this story). She seeks her revenge by distorting Novel Worlds with Jarei Monsters.
When a Jarei Monster goes to a Novel World they alter the story, turning it into a different version, sometimes a parody of itself. Bakumaru, the Spirit of Mice, must use the Genmakyou mirror to reveal ("Jarei Shouran!") the evil spirit once enough clues lead to its identity. Often the Eto Rangers must play out some of the story to find out who or what it is, sometimes even taking on the role of one of the characters in the tale. After defeating the creature, Kirinda is called when Bakumaru holds up his hand with one of Aura's 12 gems on it and calls out "Daikourin Kirinda!" Kirinda descends from a dimensional slit and purifies the evil spirit with a beam weapon, calling out "Jouka!" (Purification).
No idea how it managed to get rating PG13+, maybe because of mild violence. It's a show for kids and I can hardly imagine children over some 8 years old to take any interest in it initially if they get a choice of several shows. It looks a lot like Chip n' Dale and feels remotely similar...
Overall Rating: 4/10
14. Kyouryuu Boukenki Jura Tripper 恐竜冒険記ジュラトリッパー [Production Reed] (Finished 4/39)
Tags: Adventure, Drama, Fantasy, Sci-Fi
On a school yachting trip, fifteen children of various ages are mysteriously transported to another world where dinosaurs still roam. While attempting to return home, they encounter talking dinosaurs, revolutionaries, pirates, a princess and primitive scientists. These unlikely allies help them escape from soldiers, bandits, vicious dinosaurs, and fanatical priests. Aggression between the two oldest boys leads to a split in ranks, and a sneaky double cross plot. Unlikely romances bloom in this tense atmosphere, and the group learns that each has strengths that can help them get home, if they work together. Loosely based on the book Deux ans De Vacances, by Jules Verne from 1888.
Only four episodes are translated. Setting itself is only mildly amusing, but communication and relations feel good. I might watch it to the end if it was translated.
Overall Rating: 6/10
15. Sekai Meisaku Douwa: Wow! Maerchen Oukoku アニメ世界の童話 / メルヘン王国 [Toei Animation] (Finished 0/26)
Tags: Fantasy
Based on Western tales from the usual suspects: 1001 Nights, C. Perrault, Beaumont, J. & W. Grimm, H. C. Andersen, C. Collodi, English fairytale, H. Pyle, L. Carrol, J. Swift, A. Dumas, E. T. A Hoffman, L. F. Baum, and J. Spyri.
Only 21 stories were broadcast, with the last five being released on VHS.
Not found.
Overall Rating: 0/10
16. Kuma no Puutarou クマのプー太郎 [Studio Deen] (Finished 1/30)
Tags: Comedy
The series depicts Puutarou's peculiar encounters with his bizarre neighbors.
Not translated. From one random episode can confirm it's a decent absurd comedy.
Overall Rating: 6/10
17. El Hazard: The Magnificent World 神秘の世界エルハザード [AIC] (Finished 7/7)
Tags: Isekai Adventure, Comedy, Fantasy, Romance
After Makoto Mizuhara agrees to testify against the boisterous student council president Katsuhiko Jinnai for bribing school clubs in the recent student council elections, Jinnai chases him down in an attempt to silence his self-proclaimed rival. Suddenly, during the chase, time stops for everyone—except Makoto. Perplexed, he wanders around the campus until he notices a light coming from the school's closed-off basement, where an ancient relic had just been uncovered.
Makoto is walking toward the artifact surrounded by strings of light, when out of it comes an otherworldly woman who claims she has been waiting for ten thousand years to see him. Weakened by the passage of time, she uses her remaining power to transport a confused Makoto to another world, which she refers to as El-Hazard. However, others who are still at school are also caught in the spell, namely: Jinnai; Masamichi Fujisawa, the alcoholic teacher; and Nanami Jinnai, the headstrong sister of president Jinnai.
The fantastical and magnificent world of El-Hazard awaits these four individuals where they will become entangled in the story of its inhabitants and embark on an adventure filled with laughter, danger, and even romance.
Watched OVA earlier and never considered it a masterpiece even though I like Isekai. Transferring classmates with teachers and overall relaxed attitude really hurt the genre as there's no first impact of danger, investigation and adaptation. And I get familiar Tenchi harem notes here.
Overall Rating: 6/10
18. Fushigi no Kuni no Miyuki-chan Miyuki-chan in Wonderland 不思議の国の美幸ちゃん [animate Film] (Finished 2/2)
Tags: Comedy, Fantasy, Girls Love, Ecchi
Miyuki, a cute girl, is in over her head. When late for school, she is suddenly transported to another world (Alice In Wonderland style), except that all the inhabitants of the other world are female...and they all seem to be in love with Miyuki. And the world behind her mirror is even weirder.
Both episodes together take only 28 minutes together. It's fantasy on Alice in Wonderland with only sexy females in lingerie or similar looking dresses inside. There's constant running or falling with short phrases thrown to or by other characters Miyuki meets. Since there's no sense in all that, score is appropriate .
Overall Rating: 5/10
19. Hikyou Tanken Fam & Ihrlie Ruin Explorers Fam & Ihrie 秘境探検 ファム＆イーリー [Ajia-Do] (Finished 4/4)
Tags: Action, Adventure, Comedy, Fantasy
Fam and Ihrie are willing to do almost anything to make a buck. So when these debt-driven damsels discover the potential profits to be hand in recovering a particularly dangerous mystical object, it means mortal peril for an entire civilization.
There's no guarantee that they'll live long enough to squander the fabulous wealth they've been promised, and danger lurks around every turn as they cross dark seas in pursuit of legendary evil. Haunted by an unspeakable curse, plagued by doomsday prophecies, plotted against by untrustworthy traveling companions and looked in desperate race to gain the Ultimate Power, Fam and Ihrie are the Ruin Explorers!
I tried to find at least something that would stand out as decent in this OVA... and I found exactly nothing. Pure averageness in every field. Horrible directorship, nonsense plot and inability to breathe life into characters make it utter waste of time .
Overall Rating: 5/10
20. Saber Marionette R SMガールズ セイバーマリオネットR [animate Film, Zero-G Room] (Finished 3/3)
Tags: Harem, Mecha Action, Comedy, Sci-Fi
Jr., the heir of Romana and his battle sabers Cherry and Lime, who have girl circuits are enjoying their peaceful life in Romana. Suddenly, the evil Star-Face and his sexadolls attack Romana in order to take over so Star-Face can become the next High Official. In order to truly become the next High Official and ruler of Romana, he must first eliminate Jr. This begins a battle for, not only Jr.'s life, but for all of Romana.
Very weak story material even with rather good implementation. I fail to find any appeal in here, so can't emphasize with anything happening.
Overall Rating: 5/10
21. Shin Megami Tensei: Tokyo Mokushiroku 真・女神転生 東京黙示録 [J.C.Staff] (Finished 2/2)
Tags: Mythology Action, Horror, Sci-Fi, Supernatural
Handsome and effeminate, quiet but proud, the sinister Akito Kobayashi has a passion for the occult and has developed a computer program to summon demons and the living dead. But little does he know that fellow high school students Kojirou Souma and Saki Yagami are reincarnations of powerful and benevolent spirits. When the pair's friends have become targeted by demons trying to harvest their life energies, they must harness their dark metaphysical powers to destroy Kobayashi's threatening program, or risk losing their loved ones forever.
I've always had trouble describing genre/theme of Megami Tensei. And this title finally gave a good definition - Spiritual Ninja . This is one of the worst titles in franchise with nothing important happening in first episode and just some normal fighting action in the final episode .
Overall Rating: 5/10
22. Dirty Pair Flash 2 ダーティペアFLASH 2 [Sunrise] (Finished 5/5)
Tags: Detective Action, Adventure, Comedy, Sci-Fi, Ecchi
Always causing more destruction than they prevent, special agents Kei and Yuri face tough challenges while at an amusement park planet. This anime set finds the pair facing off against an android hit woman, transvestite assassins, ghosts and more. In addition, the Lovely Angels get into several wild adventures while tracking down a con man and giving love advice to the computer programmer they're protecting.
First flash was used as prequel to all the Dirty Pair series and showed how the two got acquainted, this time stage is the same as the main series. Yuri is still dumb as a chicken in contrast to original concept and it may be me , but forms have gone even bigger with more skimpy outfits. Only first and last episode bear meaning while middle three are variety fanservice themed. As for me, Sunrise is only worried about making $ , so short low-effort fanservice series is a seemingly good solution for that .
Overall Rating: 5/10
23. Megami Paradise 女神天国 [animate Film] (Finished 2/2)
Tags: Adventure, Fantasy, Ecchi
Mama Megami, the mother goddess and ruler of paradise is retiring. Her successor appoints a young mage named Lilith to be one of her guardians. Lilith's first assignment is to recruit two more worthy guardians for the new Mama Megami. Not an easy task, as Stashia, the first candidate on Lilith's short list is not interested. Lilith didn't even have a chance to ask the second person on the list, a warrior named Juliana due to a misunderstanding caused by Stashia's little sister Rurubell. Rurubell wants to be a guardian, but Lilith turned her down due to her very young age and lack of experience. Meanwhile, Paradise is under attack by an evil goddess who wants to dominate it, and it's up to Lilith, Stashia, Rurubell, and Juliana to thwart the attackers.
Without normal plot there are only girls in bikini armor fighting each other and occasionally casting spells .
Overall Rating: 5/10
24. Princess Minerva プリンセス ミネルバ [Group TAC] (Finished 1/1)
Tags: Parody Adventure, Comedy, Fantasy
Princess Minerva enters a tournament that offers the winner a fortune. But when her bodyguard gets kidnapped by an evil sorceress, things really start to heat up.
And again bikini armor knights fight each other. This time there's even no aesthetic appreciation, so it's plain bad.
Overall Rating: 4/10
25. Sailor Victory 聖羅ヴィクトリー [animate Film] (Finished 2/2)
Tags: Mecha Action, Comedy, Sci-Fi
Five Female high school friends reunite as the secret crime-fighting organization known as Sailor Victory. Commanding 3 giant Ninja Robots, Gion, Momoyama and Sagano, they fight evil in the virtual-future city of Mikado. When a disgraced and disgruntled city official turns to the dark side, he joins forces with the evil and sinister Margarita.
Graduation heroines wear sailor suits, drive mecha and flash with ecchi transformation scenes. As expected, nothing personal, just business, I mean fanservice.
Overall Rating: 4/10
26. Kouryuu no Mimi: Mina no Shou 黄龍の耳 [OLM] (Finished 2/2)
Tags: Super Power Action, Drama
Based on the manga by Inoue Noriyoshi, which has also had a Super Famicom game spinoff.
Natsume Kiroemon, the protagonist, was the 45th leader of the Natsume family, and inherit the "Kiryuu no Mimi ", a tool which gave its bearer easy access to wealth and women. As a result of his father's death, he left the Italian monastery where he'd been training and rightfully took the name "Natsume Kiroemon" as well as the power of the Kiryuu no Mimi. Upon his return to Japan, he fell fatally in love with Kanako, one of the members of the rival Mina family. However, the evil hand of the Mina family attacked Natsume constantly and abducted Kanako. Now Natsume has unlocked the seal, making the Kiryuu's power surge, and he's striking back at the Mina family.
What kind of plot is that, really... Basically, it's ecchi, so plot hardly matters. Same as score.
Overall Rating: 4/10
27. Udauda Yatteru Hima wa Nee! ウダウダやってるヒマはねェ! [J.C.Staff] (Finished 0/2)
Tags: Shounen Delinquents, School Action, Comedy
Anime adaptation of the manga "Udauda Yatteru Hima wa Nee!" by Hideyuki Yonehara, serialized in Weekly Shounen Champion.
Not found.
Overall Rating: 0/10
28. Crayon Shin-chan Movie 03: Unkokusai no Yabou クレヨンしんちゃん 雲黒斎の野望 [Shin-Ei Animation] (Finished 1/1)
Tags: Seinen Historical Comedy, Sci-Fi
A member of the Time Patrol finds out that there is a disturbance in Japan, 1570. While heading to that particular time and location to investigate, she is attacked and ends up stuck underground the Nohara residence at the end of the 20th century Japan. Having limited resources at hand, she is forced to ask for the help of the Nohara family. Together they go back in time and meet with a samurai named Fubuki-maru who believes that they are the legendary three persons and dog whom someone from her family would eventually meet in a crucial moment. The lonely samurai asks for their assistance in defeating the man that possesses strange magical powers, the sinister Unkokusai lord.
The question for each new Shin-chan movie is whether it allows to understand characters better like first movie or it's just an exotic stage adventure like second movie. And the latter stands true, so the score is corresponding.
Overall Rating: 6/10
29. Seirei Tsukai Elementalors 精霊使い [AIC] (Finished 1/1)
Tags: Shounen Action, Adventure, Fantasy, Romance, Supernatural
Based on the manga by Okazaki Takeshi begun in 1990.
After a family tragedy, Kagura is left with only his beloved friend Asami for consolation. Meanwhile, there is a war beginning in the spiritual world. Beings known as "Elementalors" call upon power from spirits to maintain harmony in the world by balancing individual forces of nature. Lord Shiki, a water Elementalor, kidnaps Asami in order to use special powers she posesses to retrieve his daughter, who has been imprisioned for nearly destroying the Earth. Kagura discovers that he is also an Elementalor—a very powerful one. He must join forces with other Elementalors to save Asami and prevent Lord Shiki from causing a great imbalance by releasing his daughter.
This show got good visuals and stage, pretty characters, ok action. But without memorable characters or interesting story it's all just typical and instantly forgettable one-shot.
Overall Rating: 5/10
30. Tobe! Pegasus Kokoro no Goal ni Shoot 翔べ! ペガサス 心のゴールにシュート [E&G Films] (Finished 0/1)
Tags: School Sports
The movie is about the soccer team Pegasus created from the visually impaired children studying in the Chiba Prefectural School for the Blind.
Not found.
Overall Rating: 0/10
Zannen na Ore-tachi no Seishun Jijou. is VN of the Month. Clephas had to agree on Ao no Kanata no Four Rhythm , but I hate sports even more and sampling anime based on the game only worsened aggravated bias. Micchi likes both and also Kimi no Tonari de Koi Shiteru , Otome ga Kanaderu Koi no Aria and a fandisc.
1. Hanayamata: Yosakoi Live! ハナヤマタ よさこいLIVE！ [141113] Bandai Namco Entertainment Inc.
Naru Sekiya is an ordinary 14-year-old middle school girl who likes fairy tales, but is worried about her lack of other interests. She has a chance encounter with a "fairy", a foreign girl practicing dance at night. On a spur of the moment, Naru asks to join her and is introduced to the world of yosakoi dancing. The series' title is a portmanteau (combination) of the first two letters of the girls' first names: HAna, NAru, YAya, MAchi, and TAmi.
Anime Spin-Off
2. Nisekoi: Yomeiri!? ニセコイ ヨメイリ!? [141127] Konami 1 2
This romance/adventure game allows the player to interact with the Nisekoi series' heroines, and features a main story route and after stories for Chitoge, Kosaki, Tsugumi, Marika and Ruri. Anime Spin-Off
3. Ao no Kanata no Four Rhythm 蒼の彼方のフォーリズム [141128] sprite 1 2 3 4 5 6 7
In a world where flying is as simple as riding a bicycle, there is a popular sport called “Flying Circus.”
The protagonist once had a bright future ahead of him in that field of sports but due to an overwhelming defeat in addition to a certain other reason, he has left that field.
However, he meets the transfer student Kurashina Asuka and regains his passion as he teaches her how to fly.
With his situation changed, he participates once again in the Flying Circus. Just how high will he be able to fly this time with Asuka at his side?
This is a love story about the two who met while soaring in the skies, and the friends surrounding them.
There are English reviews
4. Harukaze Sensation! 春風センセーション！ [141128] Windmill Oasis
The human world has friendly relations with both the barren demon world and the lushly-forested spirit world. This spring, the demon king’s third son, Touma, came to study abroad at Shikikaze Gakuen in the human world. It was his first time in another world and he was excited to gain more experience for the future. Shortly thereafter, a student from the spirit world, Haruka, asked him to be her husband. Now, a spring breeze is blowing through the human world.
It's a moege under disguise of a charage.
5. Hen Koi ≒ Kuro Rekishi 変恋≒黒歴史 [141128] Akane Soft
There has always been a great rivalry between the manga research club and the literature club at Oujou Gakuen. No one knows how long this rivalry has lasted, but their quarrels are famous at the school, especially during the culture festival. However, there was a shocking incident this year. The manga research club’s secret journal which is always hidden from view and never leaves the club room somehow ended up in the hands of the literature club! If this became public, then they might have to close their booth at the culture festival, or even worse, the club might be disbanded.
Hiroyuki heard about this incident from his friend Satoshi from the manga research club, but he did not think it concerned him. That was until he learned that it contained the delusional writings (black history) which they had written together in the past. He would do anything to get it back. If the contents became known, then his school life will be ruined!
He was sent to infiltrate the literature club. Even though he didn’t see eye-to-eye with the literature club’s deputy leader Juri due to a previous accident, he was somehow able to join the club. He found it in total disarray since they were finalizing the preparations for the culture festival on a short notice. They probably would have normally been a bit more guarded, but now wasn’t the time to worry about such small things. He helped the members with their preparations to get closer to them, as he investigated the whereabouts of the journal.
If you wondered why this game has no English reviews, it's because of the Hen word in the title, sadly in its worst meaning. With weak text, scenario and individual routes only H emphasis remains.
6. Kimi no Tonari de Koishiteru! キミのとなりで恋してる！ [141128] Alcot Honey Comb 1 2 3
Akito’s parents wed late in life after repeated failed marriage meetings. They both passed away a few years ago due to illness. In their last words, they lamented not having found their love while they were young. Now the track and field club’s manager at Keisen Academy, a sudden decision was forced upon him. His grandmother Chiyo was worried about her grandson’s future after his parent’s failed marriage and tearfully appealed to him to find a bride while she’s still alive. If he was unable to do so within a week, then he would be forced to marry whomever she chooses.
There are English reviews
7. Koi Suru Kanojo no Bukiyou na Butai 恋する彼女の不器用な舞台 [141128] CUBE 1 2
The students at Hayakubo Academy are all excited about the upcoming culture festival. However, the clubs with not many members have a problem on their hands: if they don’t complete the task that the student council assigned them for the festival, then their club will be disbanded.
For the literary club which Ichigo was part of, they must prove that they deserve a club room and funds by selling 100 copies of their latest work. His childhood friend Mayuu, who used to be a famous actress, was worried about losing a place to call her own, while his underclassmen and writer Sena had no desire to join another club. However, they had only sold 35 copies at the last festival and they couldn’t see how they could meet their goal with only the three of them in the club.
The leader of the 2-member drama club, Momoka, came to them and offered them with a solution. Their club would be disbanded if they didn’t put on a great play at the culture festival, so she asked them to write a script for them and also to take part in the play. She also wanted Mayuu to return to the stage. Will the literature club and drama club successfully complete their tasks?
There are English reviews
8. Otome ga Kanaderu Koi no Aria 乙女が奏でる恋のアリア [141128] ensemble 1
Tsukasa is a sopranista-in-training, a male who can sing in the same vocal range as a female soprano. He had been studying overseas for the past year and came back to Japan a month early for vacation to surprise his parents. However, they were gone for a trip and were having the house fully renovated while away, so he ended up without a place to stay. After deciding to live alone for the month, he met a girl named Ayaka by chance when she heard him sing at the park. She told him that she had been looking for someone who could sing like him and wanted him to come to her school to sing at the upcoming festival. Even though he was troubled at the sudden request, he wasn’t able to turn her down and ended up at Shinou Academy, a European-style girls’ school.
“W-Wait! D-Didn’t I tell you I’m a boy?”
“But with your looks and voice…”
His complaints fell on deaf ears and after being dressed up in girls’ clothes, he was surprised when he looked in the mirror. Tsukasa agreed to attend Miou Academy for the month as a girl, Izumi, and star as a ‘diva’ at the Shinou Festival one month later.
There is an English review
9. Venus Blood -Hypno- VenusBlood -HYPNO- [141128] Dual Tail 1 2 3 4 5
Back in ancient times, the Holy Land of Helvetia flourished as the throne of the goddess Elnath. However, the land is now ruled by the demons who had conspired against and successfully defeated the goddess.
The 4 queens who rule over their respective domains have long maintained a pact of non-intervention. However, one day, after receiving reports that the Dark Empress Karvia was engaging in suspicious activity, the other 3 queens simultaneously declared war on her.
Despite being surrounded on all sides by enemies, the Demon Empress Karvia was confident that she would prevail. After all, she had under her command a secret task force unit, one that served her well during the battle for Helvetia against the goddess, and is also the unit that she considers to have been the deciding factor in the war...The 'Black Arme Vapula'.
The unit shrouded in darkness and stricken from history, led by the war hero and our protagonist, Leonhardt...Setting foot onto the stage known as the battlefield once again, the flames of ambition burn brightly within him.
RPG
10. Zannen na Ore-tachi no Seishun Jijou. 残念な俺達の青春事情。 [141128] ChuableSoft 1 2
“Greetings, plebs.”
Those poison-laced words said with a sneering smile were transfer student Rinne’s first words… and she immediately regretted saying them. That’s because Yutaka took an immediate interest in her and it was the first step in his quest to make her join the unofficial student council. From that day on, her life changed, for better or for worse.
There is no one in this world who is perfect as we all have our own deficiencies. That’s why it’s important for us to join hands and be together with others.
There are English reviews
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1. Maji de Watashi ni Koishinasai! A-4 真剣で私に恋しなさい！A-4 [141121] Minato Soft 1 2 3 A fandisc featuring routes for Homura and Lin. Fandisc
2. Bunny Paradise Bani Para ~Koibito Zenin Bani-ka Keikaku~ Bunny Paradise ばにぱら ～恋人全員バニー化計画～ [141128] SkyFish poco The prestigious girls’ school Usagino Private School is rumoured to be full of cute girls. Shinsuke graduated from a top-tier university and was expected to be the heir of his father’s zaibatsu, which is one of the directors of the school. However, he loves bunny girls more than anyone should. The school’s prestige has taken a hit in recent times and he decided to become a teacher there to help rebuild it and prove his worthiness as the zaibatsu’s successor at the same time. He proclaimed that the cause was a lack of etiquette, shyness and desire to serve among the girls. His perfect plan was to create a "bunny club" at the school and train all the students as bunny girls, who exemplify all these positive traits.
Nukige listed for the sake of an opening
3. ChuSinGura 46+1 Bushi no Kodou ChuSingura 46+1 武士の鼓動 [141128] inre 1 2 3
This is the fandisk for ChuSinGura46+1. Suguha and the 47 ronin were able to thwart the massive plot. However, now he was faced with a new problem: due to a certain event, they all began vying for his love! What will become of him when he’s tempted by all the brave and beautiful ladies across the land?
In addition, there’ll be a shocking revelation about the unexplained ‘empty time’ from the original game. Waiting for them was the Shinsengumi ‘Mibu no Ookami’ (wolves of Mibu)! It seems that they have time-slipped to the late Tokugawa period!
Fandisc
4. Cocoro＠Function! NEO ココロ＠ファンクション！ NEO（Network Enhanced Operation） [141128] Pulltop 1 This is the fandisk for Cocoro@Function!. It includes an after story for Mina and Hijiri, an ‘if’ story for subheroine Chie where Taiyou did not create the CFC, and a full story with Asagao and Bell which follows Asagao’s route in the original game. Some H scenes will also use the motion event movie system from Konosora SP. Fandisc
5. Dasaku 駄作 [141128] Cyclet 1 2 3 4 5 High school student Haiki Yuuki lives a happy life. Eating lunch on the rooftop, visiting amusement parks, and watching the stars, all with his friends by his side. But when his good friend Alice starts to miss school, she reveals a secret that could change everything... Nukige has English reviews
6. Hani Tsuma はにつま [141128] Boot Up!
The executive position of Kirishima heavy industries has been passed down through the Akatsuki household for generations. As the only son of the Akatsuki household, Hibiki was obligated to inherit the position under the strict guidance of his father Raiden. Even though there was great hope placed upon his shoulders, he felt that it was only a burden. While he dutifully followed orders as a kid, he grew more rebellious against his father as the years passed. When it was time for him to change schools, he left his home in Tokyo for the far-away city of Nishiro to attend Narumi Gakuen and live at the Akatsuki household’s villa Kagura-tei there.
With the residence’s manager Misato helping him, he spent peaceful days free from interference from his father. However, these peaceful days which he had long yearned for were ruined with the visit of his fiancée Aoi. She decided to come live with him at Kagura-tei so that she can get to know him better before their marriage. He had never heard about having a fiancée and had strong feelings against it. However, he couldn’t just slam the door in her face, so he agreed to live together with her for a little while. In the end, he wasn’t able to escape his father even after leaving far away from home.
However, after meeting Aoi and living together with her, there was a great change in his heart. No longer was he running away every day from his father’s pressure; he had finally found a life where he felt comfortable. Now having understood how he could not escape reality, he resolved to face it head on.
Nukige listed for the sake of an opening
7. Hotarubi no Shoujo 螢火ノ少女 [141128] Jirai Soft
The solitary island of Kyuubi-jima lies in the Sea of Japan. It was named after the legendary nine-tailed fox after a shard of the sesshouseki (killing stone) had reached the island when it died. However, many people left the island to escape from the inauspicious name, and before long the island had its name changed to Hotarubi-jima (light of the fireflies). However, even with its new beautiful name, an ominous shadow still casts over the island.
Natsuki lost his mother when he was born and moved at a young age to Hotarubi-jima when his father remarried, along with his two new imoutos. But his surroundings changed completely after the accidental death of his father. Taking care of three kids was deemed too much for his sickly mother-in-law Kaede, so Natsuki and his youngest sister Tsugumi were taken in by relatives outside of the island, while his other sister Madoka remained on the island as the successor of the Tsukumo household.
Many years later, Madoka suddenly vanished and there were whispers among the islanders that she was spirited away. No one could find her, so she was considered as dead by an accident. News of Madoka’s death reached Natsuki and Tsugumi on the mainland. However, Kaede prohibited their return to the island and they were unable to attend her funeral. A few years after that, Tsugumi suddenly received a letter from Madoka, simply telling them to come to the island. After discussing it with Natsuki, they decided to return to Hotarubi-jima to find out the truth behind the letter. They soon learned about the sad truth and cruel past of their family clan, as well as the secret of the island.
Nukige, but after Tsuisou no Augment curiosity persists. Production team has changed, so it's best not to have any Tsuisou no Augment allusions. Basically, it's a denpa with a lot of fixed bad endings. There's a lot of unexplained mystery everywhere for a short and fragmented story, but nothing worthile for the tremendous amount of effort and endurance needed to reach the True End.
Can't see anything decent enough except for Silverio Trinity . So did Clephas . Micchi lays hopes on Hoshikoi＊Tinkle , Ninki Seiyuu no Tsukurikata and even Aikagi .
1. New Dangan Ronpa V3 Minna no Koroshiai Shingakki NEWダンガンロンパV3 みんなのコロシアイ新学期 [170112] Spike Chunsoft 1 2 3 4 5
Like the title "New" implies, the game has a completely different storyline, characters and environment than the first three games (the "Hope's Peak Academy" storyline ends with an anime series), with only the series' mascot Monokuma returning. The game features a new killing game called the New Killing School Life. The new setting is called Gifted Inmates Academy or the Prison School for the Gifted. The Academy (and hotel) is in a garden surrounded by a cage. It's implied that the story is set in the future.
The overall theme is mentioned to be "psycho cool", unlike the "psycho pop" and "psycho tropical" themes of the first two games. The visual style will have a "cool adult-like image" and the Class Trials will have "high-speed reasoning action". While the storyline and the sixteen new characters are different, the gameplay is similar to the earlier games, including exploration, talking with other characters and the Class Trials. It will have notable additions and improvements, though, like the possibility to use your own lies to defeat opponents during the trials.
Detective has English reviews
2. New Game! -The Challenge Stage!- [170126] MAGES. GAME 1 2
The Challenge Stage is a training adventure game based on the popular anime. The player is Suzukaze Aoba, who is tasked with creating add-on downloadable content for a hurriedly decided RPG epic.
During Training Parts, your more experienced co-workers teach you and you learn skills. Your training parameters will change depending on which co-workers teach you.
The story will advance during Adventure Parts. You’ll be able to enjoy conversations with your co-workers and friends, and your friendships can change based on your responses. In the second half of the game, you can enjoy the individual episodes of the co-workers you became friends with in the previous parts, as well as trigger character routes.
Anime Spin-Off
3. Aikagi アイカギ [170127] Azarashi Soft 1
It was the last winter of his school life and with entrance exams and graduation edging closer, Nozomu didn’t know what to do. He was told to become independent, but he couldn’t find a suitable place to live by himself. His childhood friend Shiori couldn’t stand watching him in his current state and suggested that he live with her. While he thought that it wouldn’t really make him independent, his parents readily agreed to the idea. Before he knew it, they were living together under the same roof.
Their cohabitation was only to last one month. Since it’s only for a short period and she’s his childhood friend, he thought that nothing wrong will happen. However, living together with Shiori revealed to him a side which he hadn’t seen before, and he began to see her as a woman. Where will their relationship end up now that he had begun to have feelings for her?
There is an English impression
4. Fu'un to Kou'un to Koi Uranai no Tarot 不運と幸運と恋占いのタロット [170127] Campus
Ten years ago, a fortune teller warned Kouta that the month of June ten years later will be unluckiest month of his life. The only way he could avoid the misfortune would be to find a lover who would share her good luck with him. He did not wish to fall in love with a stranger just to escape bad luck, so he entered the fated month and was besieged by numerous misfortunes. His childhood friend Akane, who’s training to be a fortune teller, offered to be his lover since she’s not a stranger. Not even the tarot cards can predict where their complex relationship will go.
Again kinetic single heroine cheap romance series
5. Hoshi Koi ＊ Twinkle 星恋＊ティンクル [170127] Cabbage Soft 1 2
The port town of Nagisa has a nostalgic ambience. It is the only place where the star Nagi can be seen. The townspeople hold the “Starry Sky Festival” every December to worship their guardian star. However, it doesn’t concern Kei, who moved to the town with his sickly imouto Soraha. It was more important to him to get used to his new life.
At first, they faced a series of troubles, but Soraha’s health gradually got better thanks to the clean air in the town. He was able to make friends at his new school and adjusted to living in a rural town with few inconveniences, even without their parents around. However, there was one odd rule that he had to abide by: he must not let the existence of Nagi be known to outsiders.
One day, he has a mysterious encounter with a girl who had the same name as the star, Nagi. This is a love story between humans and the stars.
There are an English reviews
6. Kami-sama no Game -Kankinsareta 6nin no Danjo- 神様のゲーム －監禁された６人の男女－ [170127] Xuse 1 2 3 4 5 6 7
Kazuma suddenly found himself trapped in an unfamiliar room with 5 women: his cousin Kokoro, her classmate Moe, the daughter of a noble family Kotoko, medical school student Mitsuki and the married wife Yuriko. They were all confused as to why they were there, and a light appeared above them and started to sing:
"Who will die and who will live~♪ The dirty humans will survive~♪
Come now, let’s betray one another~♪ God’s game has begun~♪"
The self-proclaimed “God” playfully asked them if they would like to play a game. Of course, they didn’t want any part of it and just wanted to go home. In response to their refusals, “God” sliced off their arms and opened up a large hole in the stomach of those that made a cheeky remark. Panic ensued until everything was reversed in an instant. Having found out first-hand the powers of “God”, they had no choice but to participate. It was a death game with absurd rules that could change at the whim of “God”. Will they kill or help each other in order to survive?
There are English reviews
7. Kanojo to Ore no Lovely Day 彼女と俺の恋愛日常 [170127] Parasol 1
Shou is a talented painter who is a scholarship student at Sakuranomori Gakuen. However, shortly after entering the school, he was fascinated with figures and became addicted to building them. As a result, he didn’t complete any works of art and the school told him that they would revoke his scholarship unless he wins the upcoming competition.
When his parents found out about this, they put him in the dormitory without any figure-building tools to make him concentrate on painting. All he could think about was to hurry home so that he could build a satisfactory creation for Hobby Festival, so he had no choice but to participate in the competition.
Up until now, Shou had painted objects and people as he would see them. While he was very talented in doing so, his way of painting changed after he experienced building figures. The most important thing in any creation is love for the character! There’s no point in having the model just sit there; he must know her personality, her mannerisms, her way of thinking, her secrets…. He couldn’t start painting until he knew everything about her, so he began to observe her and got to know her worries along the way.
Will he be able to win the competition and what will happen with their relationship?
There is an English review
8. Kimi no Hitomi ni Hit Me キミの瞳にヒットミー [170127] Giga 1
Akira was the only member of the classic literature club, which was in danger of disbanding. As the deadline for recruiting new members approached, the student council president Hotori approached him with a suggestion for how to save the club. She told him that he would get the full details in the club room.
When he entered the room, there were four girls there. However, they were not interested in joining his club, but rather they wanted to create their own! They had gathered there to take over the club room after the literature club folded.
Hotori suggested that he get the girls to join the literature club. Will he be able to convince them or will the club be taken over?
There is an English impression
9. Lamune 2 ラムネ2 [170127] NekoNeko Soft
A summer tale begins in a rural seaside town. The burning sun, the sounds of the cicadas, pure white beaches and the blue sea and skies as far as the eye can see. One would expect that something will happen, but at the same time it feels like surely nothing will. And so this summer begins just like every one before it.
Niche game for nekoneko fans or those who remember atmospheric Lamune from 2004. Volume is rather small, there are a lot of sound problems, and story does not really go anywhere preferring to focus just on atmosphere.
10. Ninki Seiyuu no Tsukurikata 人気声優のつくりかた [170127] MintCUBE 1 2 3
The mid-sized voice actor agency Production Bloom is always short on staff. Keito is an old friend of the manager Kaname, who asked him to help out part-time with the collection of scripts from the sound production company. As he wandered the premises, he met some seiyuus who all had their own worries. This is another side of the voice acting world that is not well known, told from the viewpoint of the seiyuus themselves.
There are English reviews
11. Silverio Trinity シルヴァリオトリニティ [170127] light 1 2 3
Situated on the eastern border of the military nation of Adler is the historic city of Praga. It remains a powderkeg despite the official ceasefire between the three nations fighting over the territory and its resources, each of whom was completely different militarily, economically and religiously. There is a constant hidden power struggle which threatens the temporary balance and peace.
To break the tense and stagnant situation, the leader of Adler’s “Virgo” corps, Gilbert Harves, assembled all the "Esperanto" (Astral users) to create an experimental platoon. Among those chosen was Ashley Horizon, who had once been saved by the hero Christopher Valzelide and who will now be tasked with saving others.
There are English reviews
12. Dear My Abyss [170131] Berial
One day Subaru receive a weird book from an anonymous sender, the book has a putrid smell and is sealed. With it a message stating that she should never read it and that it’s impossible to dispose of it, even by burning or cutting it to bits
Rather than being disgusted or afraid Subaru think of it as a good way to pass time and decide to show it off to Misuka and Kazumi. They decide to try burning it off but not before Subaru read a bit of it.
A few days later strange things start to happen, the nice teacher who was Kazumi’s only ally disappear, strange people appear all around town looking for a book and a transfer student immediately take an interest in Subaru.
Detective
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1. AstralAir no Shiroki Towa Finale -Shiroki Hoshi no Yume- アストラエアの白き永遠Finale-白き星の夢- [170127] Favorite 1
The town of Tsukigasaki has entered its third year of winter.
Showing the seasons no mind, the snow only continues to fall.
Gently, swaying in the air, as it descends downwards.
That snow, which never had reached the ground, now does.
The cityscape, once bleak, is now a blanket of glistening white.
Just as no single snowflake is identical to another,
each and every set of footprints on this snow-laden path are different from one another.
No path can ever be retraced, for by the time you've looked to your back, those footprints will but all have melted away.
As though a beckoning light, signalling that the road we know of as time is one that goes only forward.
Yet, even from the base of Yggdrasil each branch is visible,
so maybe too, it might be possible to pave new roads, new realities.
Countless snow-laden paths lay stretched out before both human and faerie alike, and among those many happy endings they must choose one which they truly desire.
Now, let us journey forth, in search of those white crystals that bear testament to eternity––––
Fandisc
2. Real Eroge Situation! リアルエロゲシチュエーション！ [170127] Jitaku Studio 1
Shinobu has feelings for his classmate Kanna, but she isn’t good with otaku like him. So he decided to give up his hobby to get closer to her. A year later, he received a letter from her asking him to come to the classroom by himself after school. He was full of both nervousness and anticipation having been suddenly called by a girl who he had feelings for, but when he entered the room, another classmate Ayame was waiting for him there instead. She’s one of the most popular girls in the school, not only for her cheerful and friendly personality, but also for her voluptuous chest. And she was masturbating against his desk.
“Sorry for using Kanna’s name to call you out here.
I didn’t think you’d come otherwise.
I love you! I fell in love with you at first sight...
and I’ll definitely make you crazy for me too!”
After the sudden confession, she went after him daily with extreme and ecchi ways. This triggered a move by his osananajimi Yuri, who was infatuated with him. Furthermore, even Kanna herself declared her love for him. His springtime of youth has come, full of real eroge-like situations and plenty of sex!
Nukige listed for the sake of an opening
Foreword: Caramel Box is loved by me for rich in detail worlds, so I'm approaching Utsurigi Nanakoi Tenkiame with high degree of skepticism as this is just a story of seven school wonders written by four different writers. But Caramel Box is full of surprises. Can it redeem even this setting?
Synopsis: There is a school in town. The story of seven mysteries is told among students from generation to generation. Ren is an ordinary student except for the fact that he has a mysterious childhood friend.
Triggered by meeting with a witch, he gets to know a little bit about the mysteries. Ellen, Kazusa, Hana, Miu, and the other girls. The story of seven mysteries and romances starts now...
Youtube:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rc5EJqRlSeQ&list=PLs4Gp5VU4Fv83QEHMQ6WsJxdFDJwtBhdb
Game type: Everyday fantasy
Character Design rating: 7/10
Protagonist rating: 6/10
Story rating: 5/10
Game quality: 7/10
Overall rating: 6/10
As you see from the score, Miracle did not happen. Seven school wonders usually assumes horror story, but there is neither horror nor battle in here. It's actually seven light romance stories where school wonders exist just to make each heroine unique. It's not a plotge, it's a pure charage.
Prologue is actually nice with these three mascot animals and Ellen in witch clothes. But then comes the screen with girls icons... and magic is gone.
The biggest problem of the game is isolated heroines. They rarely interact with other heroines, so don't really have the chance to build up atmosphere. Ellen seems to be main heroine since she is a witch who pushes us in prologue to investigate seven school wonders, but in reality she disappears almost instantly in other heroines routes failing to be mediator between heroines and the reader. Flagging takes quite long, but flagging scenes are often repeating and not too funny. Individual paths feel short. Moreover, turning points in these paths feel forced and unnatural.
Utsurigi Nanakoi Tenkiame is neither boring, nor funny. It can only offer a romance story tête-à-tête with the heroine in unusual circumstances. Heroines are made unique by adding specific features like nekomimi or miko with steel weapons (who never fights anyone) to girls themselves and putting them in special environment that usually means some kind of ghost story. This way game feels very similar to One2, yet theme is wider than just disappearance and fantasy elements are used more boldly. But there's nothing beyond these seven stories. There's neither True Route nor omake, because nothing really unites these heroines. If feels lonely.
Japanese reviews compare Utsurigi Nanakoi Tenkiame with earlier Caramel Soft games like Blue or Shamana Shamana. But those games at least had single writers and organic cast of heroines. This one is artificial mosaic hastily gathered together just to keep brand writers busy with something.
