Sunday, October 22, 2017

Classroom of the Elite - Style and Substance


Classroom of the Elite is produced by Lerche, the same studio that recently brought us Assassination Classroom and was directed by the duo of Seiji Kishi (who also directed Assassination Classroom) and Hiroyuki Hashimoto. It ran for 2017 episodes on both Crunchyroll (subtitles) and Funimation (English dub) and wrapped the dub just over a week ago. The series has been met with good reviews by the fanbase and there's still no word on a second season. 

The series revolves around the Tokyo Metropolitan Nurturing High School, a school in Tokyo off on an island where students are subjected to four years of intense learning and are then spat out into the world, with almost all of the students guaranteed their dream college or dream job. We follow Class-D, the lowest of the school, as they scratch and claw their way into respectability, following Kiyotaka Ayanokoji and Suzune Horikita as they lead the classroom. 

While Classroom of the Elite slips into a few modern anime tropes such as overt fan-service, over-dramatic characters, over-the-top action sequences, and teenagers that are drawn better than most real-life super-models, its clever narrative and story structure blur the line between whether or not these tropes are placed to appeal to mass audiences or lull audiences into a false safety blanket, only to have said blanked yanked over their heads. The characters (most of whom could honestly hold their own series) inhabit a world where they must prove their worth not through combat or fighting, but through sheer survival. 

Blue Nexus #74 - Twin Nexus pt. 3


Previously in "Blue Nexus": After discovering that all the mages from Magus Forest have vanished, the heroes are forced to figure out a plan to defeat Rafael once and for all. After discovering a weakness in Rafael's new plan, the Zanderia gathers for one final battle in this war! 

Tuesday, October 17, 2017

Top 10 Favorite Video Games



I wouldn’t say I’m the most avid gamer in the world, but I do find myself often digging into a game for several hours at a time and not even realizing it. If a game is great, this is one of the easiest things to do without realizing. There’s few things better than getting immersed in the world of a game, or falling in love with some solid gameplay and just having a go at it. Video games provide an excellent resource for people to just hang out and have some fun, or take out some sort of frustration *cough From Software games cough*. And because I’ve been on a bit of a gaming kick recently, I decided there was little better time to talk about my ten favorite games of all time!

Sunday, October 15, 2017

Blue Nexus #73 - They Have an Army!

          
Previously in "Blue Nexus": Kyle, Brenda, Sandy, and Professor Boomer have successfully defeated four of the Six Pillars. Together, Kyle and Brenda were able to hold their own against Rafael, who has lost his immortality and is finally vulnerable! However, just as the heroes begin their celebration, Phoenix calls in and reports that all the mages hiding in Magus Forest have mysteriously vanished! 

Tuesday, October 3, 2017

Blue Neuxs #72 - Coldness of Revenge


Previously on "Blue Nexus": Kyle, Brenda, Sandy, and Professor Boomer (down in the Cube) were able to defeat three of the Six Pillars! When Kyle learns that Dr. Luna has somehow returned to the world of the living, he bursts off to Pacific City and learns that she is the key to Rafael becoming immortal. Dr. Luna orders Kyle to return her to the Nexus, which he does so reluctantly. Just then, Clarke appears again, wreaking havoc all across the city!

Monday, October 2, 2017

Gundam Versus Review


Gundam Versus, an arena-fighting game featuring various suits and characters from the decades-long “Mobile Suit Gundam” franchise has finally made its way out West for American consumers to enjoy. The game features suits from almost every series, including some of the more recent ones like “Build Fighters” or “Iron-Blooded Orphans” (the latter is currently airing its second season on Toonami), and has some popular old-school suits as well. It’s a must-buy for any Gundam fan, and any fan of big arena-style fighters, too.