Soulcalibur 5 Musings

I haven't honestly been excited for a Soulcalibur title since the days when II was announced back in 2003. After II came out it was like a rebirth of something beautiful. The gameplay was slick, the characters looked amazing and were weird and everything was right with the world. Namco had done an amazing job and suddenly there was a decent competitive weapons-based 3D fighter out in the world. Thing were looking up for the franchise, but it wouldn't stay that way for much longer...

So, after the hype train and amazingness that was Soulcalibur II, 2005 rolled around and we were taken for another TALES OF SOULS AND SWORDS. But sadly, this road wasn't as slick or as golden as our previous venture. In fact, Soulcalibur III was fun, but still a major letdown. The core gameplay mechanics were alright, however the game lacked a bit of the depth and intensity of its predecessor. In a way, it really felt like a step backward. Sure the graphics had improved and they were trying out some new features, but the combat was sluggish. Delaying moves to expand an already expansive arsenal? Way to buffer something with nothing! Anyways, I digress. So, I'm going to skip over my bitching about Soulcalibur IV and just say this: it sucked.

Okay, so why am I hyped for V? Well, first off the usage of meter. This is a super simple, but realistically an interesting mechanic. First off, it was amazingly gimmicky in IV and only used to be flashy at an opponent. However, for V they've really overhauled it. First off, you can preform EX moves and Critical Edges which act like Supers in the SF series. Guard Impacts now cost meter as well, which I think will add a much-needed tactical element to the series. Any game that requires good meter management skills gets a decent rating in my book. But really, it's about how combat looks. It feels fresh enough without having to fall back too much on IV's cheese. Overall, I'm impressed and what's more is that I'm actually somewhat stoked for the new characters, given that Sophita's death is a bit of a downer. Any who, here's hoping for a good game.

Hype 4 Mah Fightan Gaems

So recent news has announced Heihachi, Rolento, Lili, Zangief, AND the new Pandora system. Heihachi looks to play pretty beastly and seems to have Makobro's red mode. His counter seems very useful and very powerful, watching it catch Rolento's knife was pretty badass; plus it doesn't deal any recoil damage so far. Rolento looks to have some of his neat tricks from the Alpha series including the deadly baton twirl. He's got an Ibuki style knife projectile and has an amusing ultra. Lili seems to fit right into the 2D sphere perfectly. She's armed with her little twirl mix-up, which looks pretty useful, and has some amazing dive kick moves. Zangief makes his appearance in very traditional Zangief fashion. Nothing super special from him, though he can combo a little bit more thanks to ground bounces.

While I was mostly excited for Heihachi and Rolento, I gotta say that Lili really look me by surprise. She looks to be incredibly fun in this game, and I recognize her Tekken move list (I use to main her in Tekken 5: DR). The Pandora system seems like X-Factor at first, but the fact that you immediately die right after the duration makes it feel a bit more balance. However, I'm still irked that something that is in the game. I'll get use to it I'm sure, but I still don't like that it's there. Not because I sense a level of overpoweredness with it, but rather that I feel it may be unnecessary. If anything I hope that you can do matches with Pandora disabled.

TGS2011, wish I could go! DAMMIT. But still, it's on till the 18th so more vidya madness to come!

Slow Week, Slow Month

It's been slow lately. I'm kind of itching for the end of this season as the only shows I've really kept up on are Tiger & Bunny, Nichijou, Mayo Chiki, Hanasaku Iroha, and Kamisama no Memochou. Well, I mean to say I've been seriously enjoying those shows, but lately I've been lusting over the upcoming OVAs.

I've also been playing catch up with some older releases that I've been meaning to jump into. Recently, finished You AreUmasou, which is the anime version of Land Before Time. It was very enjoyable actually, though I warn you that it is in essence a movie for kids. There is nothing super fucked up that happens or anything like that, rather it's a HEART-warming journey (watch the movie to get the reference) about a BIG JAW who is raised by a plant-eater (but seriously, I can't tell what the fuck dinosaur the 'plant-eater' is supposed to be). It's not bad, but it's also not so stellar that I'd slap my cock at you if you hadn't seen it.

Also in the anime cinema scene, I recently watched the Nanoha movie. I know, I know, 'fag got no self-respect watchin' loli magic girl shit.' Well, fuck you too! Seriously though, Nanoha is not for everyone, just like ANY OTHER MAGICAL GIRL SHOW. Sometimes I can honestly recommend one to a friend, like say Puella Magi Madoka Magica (SHAFT FAG DETECTED), but for the most part I tell people it's nothing beyond Sailor Moon rubbish.... Rubbish that I absolutely love! Nanoha is kind of different... in the sense that there is something entertaining to watch in-between the pseudo-friendship/lesbian plot centering around two underage girls and that's this: the fight scenes. If you are a fan of aerial combat or bullet-storm games (look up the Touhou games and see a whole another fandom you can hate) then you are in luck. Nanoha's magical girl fights are some of the best in the industry, and they're not half-jet like in Strike Witches (not sure if that's a good thing for some of you). You get to see super saiyan-level beam fights all the time. It's pretty good shit, but other than that you can skip through most of the movie as the underlining thing is friendship and mother issues. Even still, it may be worth a watch if you can stomach it.

Well, that was it for me. Maybe I'll prep a short review of You Are Umasou? Maybe not. Whatever. OUT.