Azure Flame Reloaded

Fifteen year old Ichimura Tetsunosuke longs to avenge the murder of his parents, and so when his older brother joins the Shinsengumi, he chooses to sign up as well. Despite his wishes, however, he ends up being assigned as a page to Vice-Commander Hijikata- a role that has more to do with mundane chores than earning glory on the battlefield. Nonetheless, Tetsu applies himself to his new life, but will he ever get the chance to fulfil his desire for revenge? Should such an optimistic and pure-hearted boy ever be forced to face the hideous reality of taking another’s life?

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It’s a week of episodes not quite living up to their predecessors in this Round-Up- is it just the after-effect of trying to watch some Gundam Seed Destiny, or a sign that the viewing schedule needs an injection of fresh blood from the spring season? Either way, I’ve decided to drop Les Miserables and La Corda d’Oro; they’re both too dull and predictable.

Reviewed this week: Iroha 17-18, Busou Renkin 25, Chevalier 17, Gargoyle 11-12, SaiMono 36, Shounen Onmyouji 13-14 (15 will be covered next week)

..and in manga: Emma Bangaihen 8, Oniisama E 1-9, School Rumble 218+b49, Spiral Alive 5, xxxHOLiC 10.4

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Last time on Busou Renkin, we saw Kazuki and Victor blast off to the moon for a final showdown. In this episode, you, the viewer, get to choose what happens next:

1) An Amazingly Over the Top Super Moon Battle, the Likes of Which You’ve Never Seen Before- complete with explosions and stupid attack names!

2) A Dull and Poorly Animated Episode in which Tokiko and the others mope over Kazuki’s absence.

You have selected Option 2- enjoy!

“Yep, the world is a place where two guys can somehow blast off to the moon.” Continue Reading »

It is the middle of the twentieth century, and among the yakuza, high stakes Mahjong is a popular pastime. Skilled players abound, but even they are no match for what is to come- a young man named Akagi Shigeru. With an unsurpassed talent for reading his opponents, Akagi masters the game on his first night of play, and soon earns the title of “the genius who descended into the darkness”. And over the years, Akagi’s appearances in a series of high profile games against some of the most infamous names in the underworld will ensure that his name goes down in legend…

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A generic is patrolling at night when the onryou appears before him.

Onryou: Take me to your leader!

Generic: Please don’t hurt me, I’m just a generic guard! If you want to talk to a named character, try Fujiwara-no-Yukinari!

The onryou goes to see Yukinari, who is in bed.

Yukinari: What’s this- I didn’t order a man for tonight!

Onryou: Inflict status- Life Drain! Continue Reading »

Cranry Bennett is that most unusual of specimens- a twenty-eight year old woman living in Victorian England who is not only unmarried, but even runs her own café! Even as those around her urge to find a husband, Cranry remains steadfastly single, but even she cannot deny that her house is in sore need of attention. And so it is that she ends up hiring Shirley, a thirteen year old maid whose expertise far outweighs her years…

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A mysterious hooded woman summons an onryou/demon of hatred.

Woman: The Kyuuki arc is finally over, and that means the time has come for a new villain to emerge!

Onryou: Anger and hatred!

The next morning, Masahiro is awoken by Akiko.

(Masahiro: Akiko is in my bedroom! We didn’t…did we?) Continue Reading »

Spoiler Alert: This week it’s Gankutsuou and Good Witch.

There’s something to be said for cheat saving using an emulator, and that is that it makes games a lot easier for lazy people like me. With it, the Cave of Trials in Star Ocean 2 becomes infinitely less painful, whilst in Harvest Moon hurricanes and blizzards can be avoided without having to replay an entire day.

Harvest Moon: Fusion

Can’t get enough of Harvest Moon? Ever wished that Grandpa Anton could lend some of his massive wealth to the up and coming young Anton to help him on his way? Ever wanted your Forget-Me-Not Valley Anton to be able to take a day trip to Mineral Town and see where it all began? Well, now you can, with Harvest Moon: Fusion! Continue Reading »

Dashwood talks to his underlings at Medmenham Abbey.

Dashwood: Gwakaka, soon Robespierre will be here, and then battle will commence!

Robespierre, Giuseppe and Lorenza ride to the abbey in a carriage.

Robespierre: Whilst we’re here, would you mind giving me some quick BI? Here, I’ll pay you in advance- I’ll just give you a blank cheque, and you can write in an amount equivalent to how good an experience you had with me.

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Claire, Rose, Rachel and Kate may attend the same school on New York’s Roosevelt Island, but apart from sharing a friendship with a recently deceased girl named Lise, they are all very different people. Nonetheless, this unlikely quartet is thrown together when a mysterious woman named Lula enters their life with some shocking news- all four of them are already dead. Now, they are living on borrowed time, and it is time that will run out unless they follow Lula’s orders and dedicate their nights to fighting a succession of zombie-like men. Confused and afraid, but nonetheless desperate to uncover the truth behind their demise and resurrection, the four girls must now work together if they wish to balance their everyday lives with this strange new world that they have been thrust into…

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