Azure Flame Reloaded

Hougen jumps down a cliff.

Weed: Akame, you’ll have to stay behind on the main map and serve as the army commander; Rocket and I are going after Hougen.

Rocket and Weed leave the main level to go on their side quest. They soon catch up with Hougen and Kite.

Hougen: Ah Weed, how considerate of you to bring an underling to fight my general. Let’s have two DW-style duels- you and me, and Rocket vs. Kite. Continue Reading »

The Weed army returns to base, better known as a snowy patch in the middle of nowhere. Gin, Hiro and Kyoushiro are all weakened.

Weed: I’m sorry, Father, but you aren’t a playable character anymore- you’ll have to wait here. Hiro, Kyoushiro, go and rest at the inn to restore your HP and remove status effects.

Three days pass in the space of about a second. At Hougen HQ, Hougen is assembling his forces. Continue Reading »

Weed and Akame make it back to the Ohu base and learn that Toube has died, whilst Kyoushiro and Gin aren’t back yet.

Weed: Let’s head out at once and bring them back safely before Kamakiri’s forces get them. All named characters except Hiro, you’re with me.

Hiro: But Weed, Kamakiri killed my father and damaged my right eye; you have to let me come.

Weed: Hiro, since you feel so strongly about coming, you must stay behind and join us later in the episode. Continue Reading »

The Hougen squad that Kyoushiro joined under the alias Tasuke returns to Gajou. He is immediately accused by a general of evilz, Bat, of being a double agent.

Bat: Using my special ability, Mind’s Eye, I can immediately see the truth of matters- truly a useful plot device.

Random dogs: Tasuke, we’ve known you for all of five minutes! Surely you can’t be a traitor! Continue Reading »

Cutscene

At Gajou, Hougen is none too pleased about GB’s escape. He takes his anger out on Gin.

Hougen: I know I’m destined to be defeated by the end of the series, but for now, I’m in charge! And I say it’s time to initiate the beginning of phase one of the final battle. Move out! Continue Reading »

Amazingly, the round-up survives to celebrate its one week anniversary; this week, I’ll be trying something akin to organisation by placing the various titles in alphabetical order as opposed to “whatever order I watched them in”. I’ll also be trialling a new ‘caught up with…’ section for series that, quite unsurprisingly, I have recently caught up with.

Reviewed this week: Ginga Densetsu Weed, Higurashi, H&C II, Innocent Venus, Keroro, Mushishi, Night Head Genesis, Ouran, SaiMono, School Rumble, Utawarerumono, Kamisama Kazoku (sorry, but Aria will have to wait until next time).

…and in manga: .hack//4koma, Aria, Caramel Milk Tea, Furuba, Mai-Otome, NHK, REC, Risky Safety, Tsubasa, Bokurano, Fate/Stay Night Comic Battle. Continue Reading »

In the depths of Gajou (a place that seems much larger on the inside than the outside, not dissimilar to the TARDIS but without the whole time travelling thing), Hougen is not too pleased with Kamakiri.

Hougen: You fool, why did you run away? You should have got pointlessly massacred!

Kamakiri: The thing is, Hougen, that whole approach is a bit short-sighted- if our forces keep dying, good will defeat us easily well before episode 26, and the rest of the series will have to be spent in the hotsprings.

Hougen: I suppose you have a point, but I am evilz- so if you fail me again, I will eat you. Continue Reading »

Genba is taken back to Gajou, but he is still in Berserk status. He kills a black dog and attacks Hougen. In return, Hougen kills him.

Subordinate dog: Hougen, what are you doing?

Hougen: I know it seemed like I just ripped my brother’s throat open, but what really happened was much deeper than that. Enter Flashback mode!

Cut to the probably not too distant past. An anonymous narrator starts speaking. Continue Reading »

Hougen is disappointed to learn that Akame’s team prevented his soldiers from retrieving any women.

Hougen: Listen, I don’t care if there are only three women in the series! I have needs, you know!

Genba: Let’s kill these failures and be done with it.

Hougen: No, brother, I have a better idea. We need to appoint strong generals to bring me my women, and what better way to find them than by holding a tournament? Continue Reading »

Our intrepid heroes prepare to leave the ninja dogs’ resort.

Weed: We should leave all these puppies behind- I’m not even sure where we picked them up but they’ll only slow us down.

Teru: Please let us come with you, we’re ready to die for the cause even at our young age…not that you can be much older, Leader.

Weed: Paranoia Agent episode 8 and Mai-Otome aside, dying is easy. Living is the hard part, especially in a series like this where the life expectancy of lesser characters isn’t what you’d call lengthy. Your job is to stay here and avenge our deaths, if necessary. Continue Reading »