Chronicles of the Black Company by Glen Cook

This compilation is composed of the three Books of the North; namely, The Black Company, Shadows Linger and The White Rose.

The story is told from the point of view of Croaker, a member of a mercenary unit called the Black Company. The later books have other POV characters.

The Black Company, at the beginning of the first book with the same title, is employed by the Syndic of Beryl. But the unit's survival becomes questionable as their employer seems to be on the losing battle against the rival factions of his city. That is when a Taken named Soulcatcher offers them a chance to serve the Lady.

The Company acquires new members during its adventures with its new employers. One is a mysterious guy who calls himself Raven. This Raven later rescues a child named Darling.

The books explain bit by bit the history of the world in which this series is set. The first few pages did seem confusing to me, but it was only because the author's style is something I haven't encountered before. He's straight to the point. While this might be inadequate for readers expecting a lot of details, I think it's realistic when you consider that it is told from one person's point of view. No one person can know everything after all. What the readers gets is what Croaker knows and sees, hears, feels and thinks.

If like me you have read the Malazan books before the Black Company, I think you will see the similarities and appreciate why the authors of Malazan are fans of this series.

This is the kind story you'll enjoy and is just as satisfying as most high fantasy series without the burden of so many details you need to remember and the voluminous books.

Rating: 10 out of 10

Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim

Story

Skyrim is the fifth installment of The Elder Scrolls and is an open world action role-playing game. It is set in Skyrim, a province in the continent Tamriel. At the start of the game, the player-controlled character is taken to an execution grounds in Helgen. With him are Imperial prisoners including the leader of the Stormcloaks, Ulfric. Skyrim is currently in a civil war between the Nord race of the Stormcloaks and the Empire's legion led by General Tullius. Jarl Ulfric Stormcloak wants to see a Skyrim free from the Imperials.

Just before the player is executed however, a dragon appears and attacks Helgen. Most of the prisoners, including Ulfric and the player, escape during the chaos. The player is taken to Riverwood where he learns some practical skills. This also marks the start of another quest to learn more about that dragon attack in Helgen. Not long after, he is asked to seek an audience with Jarl Balgruuf the Greater of Whiterun.

Underlying the problems caused by the civil was is a threat long thought to be just a myth. But the attacks at Helgen are real and it seems that the prophecy about the dragon Alduin the World-Eater has some truth to it. 

Skills, Combat and Others

At the start of the game, the player is asked to pick from ten different races. Each race has a different set of abilities and power. The following are the races to choose from: Argonian, Khajiit, Altmer, Bosmer, Dunmer, Orc, Breton, Imperial, Nord, and Redguard. Every time the player levels up, he can choose to increase health, magicka or stamina.

Skyrim does not require the player to choose one specialty, which I think is one of the best features of the game. You can combine magic and melee when you're fighting. You do not need to specialize in one thing when you have a lot in your arsenal. There are eighteen skills which the player can learn. These increase with repeated use, training with another character or finding a skill book. Each skill has perks. These are special abilities or enhancements.

Most combat skills increase every time they are used. This include archery, one-handed, two-handed, blocking, light armor, and heavy armor. Also included in the arsenal are sneak, pickpocket, lockpick, alchemy, enchanting, smithing, and speech.

If you want to get the most out of magic, Skyrim offers a lot of spells. These spells can be acquired by buying or learning them through tomes. Magic has different schools which include alteration, conjuration, destruction, illusion, and restoration.

Each race has a unique power. This is different from the spells and shouts and some can be used only once a day. While the shouts are combination of individual words and are unlocked using dragon souls. They produce different effects and are more powerful when complete.

When I started exploring, the first thing that got me really hooked was going to undiscovered locations. Fast travel is easier the more places you discover.

Items such as weapons, apparel, potions, food, ingredients, books, keys and miscellaneous can be found everywhere. The number of items the player can carry is limited. This is partly determined by the stamina and some items that can enhance the maximum carry weight.

In the course of the player's adventures he can do other things like collecting property, make and sell items, marry, cook food, mine ores, and gather wheat/chop wood. The player can also become a Thane of a hold; become a bard; join some guilds such as the Companions, College of Winterhold, Thieves Guild, Dark Brotherhood; and join one of the two factions in the civil war.

You can do a lot of things in Skyrim. That alone makes the game time-consuming. You'd end up playing for months, sometimes forgetting the main quests because you're too busy with other stuff. However, the rewards you get are worth the time and effort you spent. The main quests storylines might not be much but the worldbuilding is really good and the side quests more than make up for it. This is probably the first offline game I have played for so long (in fact, this review is long overdue). The best part though was when I found out I did not have to specialize in anything and that I could try everything from one-handed weapons to magic.

Skyrim is very addictive, the story not so bad, and the graphics and music enhance playing experience. The fans and the great reviews do not lie. The only setback I could think of are the problems I have experienced with the PS3 platform. 

Rating: 10 out of 10

My dragonborn when he was still at level 5. Obviously an orc. I named him Manu the Great.

Prince of Persia: The Forgotten Sands

The story of Prince of Persia: The Forgotten Sands is set between events in Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time and Prince of Persia: Warrior Within. The Prince is sent by his father (King Sharaman) to an unnamed kingdom at the edge of their family's territory so that he can learn leadership and battle skills from his brother Prince Malik. Apparently, the Prince's family do not remember his previous adventures in Azad and think he has no experience at all.

When the Prince arrived at the kingdom, he learns that his brother's army is on the verge of defeat by invaders. When they finally meet up, Malik reveals that he intends to release King Solomon's Army. The Prince argued for caution but Malik insists that he has no choice. The sand army is uncontrollable however and among those released by Malik using a magical seal was Ratash, an Ifrit lord in Solomon's time. Ratash created the sand army and attacked humans in the past. Solomon and the other Djinns imprisoned Ratash as punishment.

In the ensuing panic following Ratash's release, the brothers are separated. Each one holds a piece of the magical seal. The Prince later meets Razia, a Djinn, who offered help. She instructs the Prince that the two seals must be reunited to lock up Ratash once again. Razia also gives the Prince power to help him fight the sand army.

The Prince on his way to meet his brother Prince Malik

Prince Malik about to use the seal to release Solomon's Army

If you have played the Prince of Persia Trilogy, the combat is pretty much the same but with some changes in magic. Jumping, wall running, wall rebounding, climbing, rolling, and banner dropping are still the acrobatic skills the Prince will rely on to get to the next level. The Prince can control fire, water, wind, and earth. There is a skill tree for upgrading. Among those the Prince can learn are Power of Time, Power of Flow, Power of Flight, Power of Memory, Ice Blast, Whirlwind, Trail of Flame, and Stone Armor.

Learning when to use the right combos, magic and timing the evasions right will be useful because the Prince cannot block. He is forced to fight a lot of enemies, a crowd of sand creatures, in this game than in previous installments. Does that make combat more difficult? Not really. The sand creatures move slow and their attacks are easy to evade. If you've also played the other Prince of Persia games, combat won't be a problem if you can maximize the Prince's athleticism. There are still some quick time events but these usually show up with the bigger bosses. The tricky parts of the game are the environment obstacles and the puzzles.

Ratash

Overall, The Forgotten Sands is a great experience. The combat is not as impressive as I expected but the new abilities are interesting.

Rating: 8 out of 10

Hakuoki: Stories of the Shinsengumi

*Note: I do not claim ownership of any of the images used in this review

When Yukimura Chizuru's father stopped sending her letters, Chizuru feared something bad had happened to the old man. Yukimura Kōdō is a medical doctor who practices Western medicine. He went to Kyoto a while back and promised his daughter he'd write everyday. Chizuru decided to look for her father, but she does not know where to start and soon she got lost. Not soon after dark, she witnessed an attack by unusual men. These men seemed demonic in their intent to kill. Not satisfied with their victims, they turned to Chizuru.

Hijikata Toshizou

Before they got the chance to finish her, a group of men came to her rescue. But it seems that the rescuers are suspicious of her presence in the crime scene. What's more, they seem to be hiding something from her. She definitely witnessed something she was not supposed to. Chizuru found herself entangled in the schemes, secrets and battles of the Shinsengumi. Her quest for her father  Kōdō might also lead her to some dangerous revelations.

Saitou Hajime

Okita Souji

Hakuoki: Stories of Shinsengumi is an otome visual novel. Gamers who are familiar of the Shinsengumi may recall that they are a special squad for the Bakufu during the Bakumatsu period. There have been several adaptations in film, live action TV series, books, anime, and games of the infamous squad. Those who have no idea about the intrigues in this period of Japan will easily get lost in the schemes, battles, and numerous characters involved. Although Hakuoki has been generous in providing information, I suggest that gamers new to the story read a bit about the Shinsengumi. It's a lot easier to appreciate the struggles and motivation of these people if you know the backdrop.

The different story-lines are presented as close to history as possible but with significant changes that blend well with the supernatural twists that are introduced.

Toudou Heisuke

Harada Sanosuke

Because this is an otome visual novel, the controls are minimal. The direction of the game changes depending on the choices the player makes. If you do not desire to have a romantic relationship with one of the characters, it is also possible to just focus on Chizuru's story.

You spend most of your time reading. Some characters have fewer chapters than the others. Choices sometimes come at unexpected times, and often, what you think should have been the right choice (if you're going for romance) might not have the desired effect. It's good that there's that subtle difference in the outcomes of the choices a player makes.

One drawback is Chizuru's limited participation in certain parts of the story. Sometimes you don't even know what's happening at all. Looking at it from a different perspective however, I think it's consistent with the reality that you don't have control over everything all the time---a factor sometimes overlooked in games. The best action sometimes is to wait.

I have a few issues on Chizuru's character however. There are times that the direction of her thoughts border on stupidity, sometimes she's admirably strong. But I guess that's how the game is trying to be consistent with how women usually acted at that time (and I'm just letting my modern woman mindset cloud my judgment). Also a vulnerable and naive Chizuru makes for a good heroine in a world dominated by masculine strength and influence. After all, if Chizuru was too strong it would be more insulting for me as a woman if these gorgeous warriors will still try to protect a girl who can already defend herself.

Kazama Chikage

The animation is lovely. The background especially reflects the unassuming and graceful traditional Japanese art in contrast with the colorful characters dominant in anime art.

The replay value is high because if you're a completionist, or if you just want to try all possible romances, you'd find time to play all possible routes. Also, if you know how to pick fiction from history, I think you'd also be able to learn a lot about the Shinsengumi.

Rating: 9 out of 10

God of War Ascension

*Note: Multiplayer mode is not included in my review

*Photo below is a screenshot

God of War Ascension is the prequel to the God of War series (see God of War Trilogy and God of War Origins Collection). The events in the game take place after Kratos vowed to make Ares pay for the god of war's schemes. Because Kratos had broken his oath to serve Ares, the Furies pursued and imprisoned him. If you're familiar with Greek mythology, you may recall that the Furies or Erinyes are female goddesses of vengeance who punish those who have broken their oaths, human or immortal. The Furies are the sisters Alecto, Megaera and Tisiphone. 

The opening video at the start of the single player mode retells the fate of one Titan who had suffered at the hands of the sisters. Aegaeon the Hecatonchires broke his oath with Zeus and suffered greatly for it. It is this fate that Kratos must try to avoid. Imprisoned and tortured, Kratos somehow finds a way to free himself from the chains. This sequence of events is set at the present. There is a shift later in the game when Kratos recalls events prior to that imprisonment.

Several new characters are introduced in Ascension. I've already mentioned the Furies. Kratos will also meet Orkos the oath-keeper whose motives are still unclear, the Oracle of Delphi, the scribe of Hecatonchires, and the twins Castor and Pollux. Some characters from previous games will also reappear.

Kratos chained and imprisoned by the Furies

Kratos' main weapon is pretty much similar to the previous games. He still has his Blades of Chaos. The combo attacks are almost similar as well. What's new however is he can pick up five different weapons which he can use to throw or hit enemies. He can now use one of the Blades of Chaos to grapple an enemy and keep him in place at a certain distance while using a second weapon to hit him. If he does not have a secondary weapon, Kratos can use his arms and legs to attack.

Throughout the game Kratos will acquire three relics. One can be used to manipulate time to heal or decay objects and structures. Another relic creates a duplicate of Kratos. This can be used to get past obstacles that needs two people to complete. The last relic is used to dispel illusions created by the Furies.

One of the changes I like is Kratos' magic. Kratos will acquire a total of four types of magic, each featuring a different element. These are the Fire of Ares, the Ice of Poseidon, the Lightning of Zeus, and the Soul of Hades. Even if the magic meter runs out, Kratos can still use the elements through the Blades of Chaos. The combo attacks  have different effects depending on which magic is equipped in the Blades. Meanwhile, the Rage of the Gods meter will fill up by successfully hitting enemies. It also changes with the magic equipped.

Learning which element is effective against certain monsters is a helpful tactic. There was one level (Trials of Archimedes) just before the final boss where the player's grasp of the attack and magic will be tested. Who said this God of War installment is just another easy game?

Part of God of War's attraction is its stunning graphics and music. Ascension has been consistent in those areas. And one way to enjoy the scenery mid-combat is through quick time events. There are a lot of those even against slightly weaker bosses.

What I enjoyed most however are the puzzles, especially environment puzzles, throughout the game. I've seen comments about previous games that God of War is just all about hack-and-slash. But the difficulty level rose up a bit because of the more challenging puzzles.

Another notable feature is the Chapter Select in the Menu. Players can now replay particular chapters in the single player story mode.

As for the story and Kratos' character, Ascension has been consistent in its portrayal of the tragic anti-hero. Beneath all that anger and fury, Kratos is just a man hurt. Hurt so badly because the gods took away the only people that ever mattered to him---family.

I was apprehensive how Ascension's story will turn out. I thought they'll just make up a story for the sake of creating another game. Kratos has already conquered the Gorgons and the Fates in the previous games and so the only trio sisters left that are possibly worthy opponents are the Furies, right? I don't know about other fans who disagree but I think it only makes sense that Kratos do something about his oath to Ares first before he can go on and punish the god of war. So, yeah, the story of this prequel makes sense and fits the whole story of Kratos' quest for vengeance.

Rating: 9 out of 10

LittleBIGPlanet 2 (Special Edition)

*Note: Photos in this post are scanned or are screenshots

*Online mode is not included in my review

LittleBIGPlanet 2 is the direct sequel of LittleBIGPlanet. In LBP 2, Sackboy faces a deadlier enemy called Negativitron whose goal is to suck up all the inhabitants and creations of Craftworld. Sackboy almost became one of these casualties but he was saved in time by Larry Da Vinci, a member of the Alliance. The Alliance is a group dedicated to fighting the Negativitron to save Craftworld. In order to fight him however, Sackboy and Larry Da Vinci will need the help of the other members. But Victoria Von Bathysphere, Clive Handforth, Avalon Centrifuge, Dr. Herbert Higginbotham, and Eve Silva Paragorica have problems of their own. Sackboy must help them first before they can gather up strength for a final assault against Negativitron and his Meanies and guard turkeys. Sackboy is trained in using machines and gathers the Sackbots for the Alliance along the way.

From left: Avalon Centrifuge,  Victoria Von Bathysphere, Eve Silva Paragorica and Larry Da Vinci

Negativitron

LBP 2 also has an online community like the previous game plus a bonus level called Sackboy's prehistoric Moves. This level needs a PlayStation Move and two players.

The Story Mode consists of 50 levels. Twenty of these are mini games. There are six areas to get to as the story progresses and six bosses as well. The Story Mode is worth replaying. It's definitely fun and addictive especially if you want to collect all the items. Some collectibles can be reached using 2 or more players like in the previous game.

There are obstacles along the way are tricky but Sackboy is given some cool tools. One is the Grappling Hook which is used to swing from one object to another (provided you can grab them). Another is the Creatinator which can fire projectiles. It has many uses. You can use it to put out fire or make a stand for unreachable ledges. Meanwhile, the Grabinator lets you pick up and throw objects. There's  also a scuba gear that lets Sackboy swim underwater. 

There are more possibilities in Create Mode. You can now create levels like role-playing, racing, shooters and puzzles more easily. You will see some examples of these in the Story Mode. One of the unforgettable features of the first game is the music. LBP 2 has not disappointed and has even leveled up. You can exercise your music creativity in level designs. Plus you can make cutscenes, link different levels for easier transition, and create AIs easier like the Sackbots. Most importantly, there's the Controlinator. You'll see this first in the Story Mode where Sackboy drives some vehicles.

LBP 2 is a lot of fun whether you just want to play the Story Mode or spend more time in the Create Mode. Just playing through all the levels is not a waste of time even if you're not thinking of getting all the items. There are levels in LBP (Bunker) that are more difficult than LBP 2 but some obstacles in the latter are tricky. With so much possibilities offered by Create Mode, it can be time-consuming but that is one of the best features of this game.

If you enjoyed LBP, LBP 2 isn't something you should miss. The Story Mode is fun and full of cute characters and tricky levels and the Create Mode will bring out the artist in you.

Rating: 9.5 out of 10

Darker than Black: Kuro no Keiyakusha

In Tokyo two worlds exist, separated by a need for secrecy to shield unknowing humans from a group of special humans called Contractors, people who possess supernatural abilities to control their surroundings. An event ten years ago started this phenomenon. The real stars disappeared and were replaced by fake stars that correspond to each contractor. Since then, various organizations around the world have been vying for power by secretly using the contractors as spies and assassins. One of these contractors is Hei who works for a group called only by the name Syndicate. He works with a team of four to try to crack down the mystery of the Hell's Gate, one of the two gates (the other, Heaven's Gate at South America, disappeared some time ago) that appeared ten years ago.

Contractors are labeled as nothing more than violent murderers and objects to be used and controlled. Hei however seems to be a different sort of contractor.

From left: Yin, with Mao on her lap, Huang and Hei

Members of the Foreign Affairs Section 4 in-charge of investigations on contractors

This 25-episode series has a rich back story which is both an advantage and disadvantage depending on how the narrative was handled. For those who don't have the patience, it is a challenge trying to guess what's actually going on by extrapolating from the bits of information provided uncharitably throughout the series, unless you have read a summary beforehand. I don't really mind how the narrative was handled but sometimes too much mystery and guessing on the part of the audience takes away the interest that it was supposed to generate. If that isn't a problem however, I think you will enjoy the mysteries and the pace of the story. If the narrative is unsatisfactory, I think Hei and the fight scenes are worth watching. It is difficult to place him in just one category because he does not conform to any of them alone. You can't guess his motives right away and he's not the typical hero who goes out of the way to change everything because he has the power to do so.

Besides the good fight scenes, the animation isn't bad and the supporting cast are interesting enough. The overall mood of the series fits the title. There are a few funny scenes but mostly the series allows the audience to contemplate the difficulty of being in a position to choose between freedom by being selfish and other people's happiness at the cost of one's misery.

Rating: 8.5 out of 10

Love Stage!!

Sena Izumi is born into a family of entertainers. He is the second son of a female actress and a male singer, and his brother is the vocalist of a popular band. But Izumi does not want to go into show business and instead wants to become a manga artist even if he doesn't have the talent for it. He was traumatized in a commercial shoot ten years ago where he dressed as a little girl. In that shoot, his parents were the newly married couple while Izumi and a then-child star Ichijou Ryouma were the young pair who caught the bouquet.

That same commercial will soon have a follow-up involving  grownups Izumi and Ryouma. The problem is, Izumi does not want to do it because he has to dress up as a girl. He was eventually lured by his brother Shougo to do the commercial and agreed that only the staff will know about his true identity. Little does Izumi know that Ryouma has been looking forward to this reunion. Ryouma is clearly in love with the little girl he met at the shoot ten years ago and has no idea that the girl was a boy after all.

Young Ryouma Ichijou and Sena Izumi in a commercial shoot

Grownups Izumi and Ryouma

The first episode is a giveaway that Love Stage!! is a boys love series, so if you're not into this genre you have been warned.

Love Stage!! perhaps has one of the best introductions among the shounen ai and yaoi series I have seen. It doesn't follow the formula of "instant lovers" within the first few episodes. Instead the lead characters have a history that makes some sense. Neither Izumi nor Ryouma also have a tragic past where their views of gender and sexuality were changed, a common theme in other series.

This ten-episode series is funny and romantic but it isn't just a series for the sake of showing two boys falling in love. Izumi has a predicament of his own outside his romance problems.

One of the notable differences from other series of this genre as well is the presence of parents of one of the lead characters. Usually the parents are omitted in romance series unless they have a role in the tragic past of one of the characters. The presence of Izumi's parents makes it a bit closer to reality instead of making up an excuse story where one of them is an orphan or an estranged child.

Love Stage!! has plenty of new things to offer but doesn't lack the elements that made shounen ai an interesting genre.

Rating: 9.5 out of 10

Shounen Onmyouji

Being the grandson of the famous onmyouji Abe no Seimei, Abe no Masahiro has to constantly deal with taunts and comparisons from people. Unlike his grandfather, he has lost his sixth sense and he does not have much talent where Seimei is most renowned.  He is contemplating picking a different career path when a mononoke suddenly talks to him. He becomes friends with the creature he named Mokkun who encourages him that he has what it takes to be even better than his grandfather.

Years of training under Abe no Seimei suddenly made sense. Masahiro is now determined to become the best onmyouji. But the challenges he now faces might be beyond his ability after all. Strange forces are wreaking havoc. He also has to prove to Seimei's twelve shikigami, the Shinshou, that he can surpass their master.

Mokkun turned out to be one of the Shinshou but he seems to have an uneasy relationship with the rest after an incident that involved Seimei, an event Masahiro does not know.

Abe no Masahiro

Shounen Onmyouji has a lot of promise at the start. As a fan of the supernatural and mythology, I expected the series would show me a lot of things I don't know yet. The action scenes did not disappoint. And the array of formidable opponents also made the series a little less tedious. It has some points that seem lacking however and 26 episodes almost made it a challenge to stay interested. I guess there was too much focus on Masahiro himself and his blossoming relationship with a princess. If there were slight changes in that area, I think the series wouldn't be so boring. After all, it has a lot of interesting characters.

The twist near the end of the series saved it from being just another predictable series for a younger audience where everything turns out alright. As mentioned, it has some good action scenes. If you're into magic, Shounen Onmyouji won't have a shortage of that. 

If you already have an idea who Abe no Seimei is and what an onmyouji does, you won't have trouble following the story. I suggest looking up some of the key words and names beforehand (although some subs already provide these information) if you absolutely have no idea what they're doing. It also has plenty of good stuff for those who aren't new to this theme. 

Rating: 7 out of 10

Zettai Karen Children: The Unlimited - Hyoubu Kyousuke

In this spin-off of the series Zettai Karen Children, the high level ESPer Hyoubu Kyousuke is introduced. He leads the organization P.A.N.D.R.A. which aims to make a world where espers can live freely. Their methods however has attracted a lot of enemies instead of sympathizers. Espers are already feared by those who do not have such power, but Hyoubu Kyousuke's unpredictability and smug confidence only made their image worse. He's not exactly a bad man either, as USEI investigator Andy Hinomiya learns. Hinomiya infiltrated the organization and was determined to see his mission through, but his task became harder as he becomes more attached to its members especially a gifted esper named Yugiri. He also starts to admire Kyousuke's mission. His indecision at the critical moment might be the key to saving Kyousuke and P.A.N.D.R.A.

Some member of P.A.N.D.R.A. with Hyoubu Kyousuke at centers

Andy Hinomiya and Kyousuke

This 12-episode series came as a pleasant surprise when it turned out to be actually good. Hyoubu Kyousuke is the type of character that draws you into his schemes and intrigues. His personality is an interesting mix of a cruel, merciless villain but stubborn and loyal friend and leader. It was easy to see that Andy Hinomiya would eventually be placed in a dilemma where he has to choose between his duty and his feelings for his friends.

The fight scenes are not bad and are something to look forward to. The background story is also rich and there are a lot of characters who contribute to the interesting twist of events. If you have not seen the parent series (like me) I don't think that will be a problem in following Kyousuke's story. 

Rating: 7 out of 10

Devil Survivor 2 The Animation

When friends Kuze Hibiki and Shijima Daichi receive videos from a website called Nicaea showing how they will die in a train accident, they thought it was just a bad joke until they realized that the place looked familiar. Seconds after, the exact thing in the video happened. But both had survived, including schoolmate Nitta Io who was also at the station. More puzzling, monsters feasting on the dead began appearing. However, the trio were saved once again when the demon summoning app on their phones called a thing out of nowhere and helped them escape.

They thought they were safe but even after they reached the surface, strange accidents have been happening and even stranger creatures started appearing. Hibiki was forced to rely again on the demon summoning app to stop the attacks. This attracted the attention of a secret organization known as Japan Meteorological Agency, Geomagnetism Research Department or JP's. It appears that JP's has known all along that these attacks would happen. Its head, Houtsuin Yamato, forced the trio to help them defeat the Septentriones who are precursors to the end of the world. They only have one week to figure out how to save everyone, but Hibiki and Yamato seem to disagree on a lot of things.

Kuze Hibiki

Houtsuin Yamato

From left: Nitta Io, Hibiki and Shijima Daichi

I was hesitant about how another 13-episode series with an apocalypse theme would turn out but I'm glad it was slightly better than what I expected. It followed the usual formula of course: an unlikely hero hesitant to use the power he was predestined to have, an organization whose motives are questionable, and a character who might be an ally or foe. Hibiki is what you would expect of a lead character suddenly thrust into a big role with powers he does not fully understand. Ultimately, his love for friends became his motive to continue fighting despite disagreements with people who seem to know what would happen. His determination changed some expected outcomes. In some ways, Hibiki is admirable but he is what you would expect from a lead character. He does not offer surprises unlike the unpredictable Yamato.

I think they handled the ending pretty well. I've seen some series similar to this one and I think Devil Survivor 2 has done a better job. This is the type of series you wouldn't really consider as one of the best in its genre especially those with apocalyptic and post-apocalyptic themes but the ending has saved it. 

The action scenes are okay and the animation is good. Most of the characters are predictable in their decision-making but some are interesting enough to watch.

Rating: 6.5 out of 10

Ookami Shoujo to Kuro Ouji

Shinohara Erika wants to make new friends at the start of the school year, but she's unsure how to do that. While looking around the classroom, she overhears two girls talking about their boyfriends. That was her cue. She tells them about her romantic exploits with a hot boyfriend---all lies just to impress them. Later her friends pressured her to show a photo of the said boyfriend. Erika then takes a photo of a good-looking guy she saw on the street and then ran away thinking her problem was solved. To her surprise, one of her friends recognized the guy as one of their schoolmates. Trapped, Erika begs the guy in the photo, Sata Kyouya, to play her boyfriend for a while. The kindly, prince charming Kyouya gladly accepted, but he soon showed his true face to Erika when he started blackmailing her. This 12-episode series follows Erika's misadventures with pretend-boyfriend Kyouya.

Erika takes a photo of a random guy

Erika and Kyouya pretending to be dating

The series began like all the other shoujo comedy-romance series, but what set it apart was the development of the relationship of Erika and Kyouya.

Erika's character is consistent (although predictable) throughout the series, while Kyouya's has slight changes that got me wondering. He started off as socially-adept though that was just one part of his personality. Then in later scenes with other people, he became cold and silent. Though this was after he started going out with Erika, I'm puzzled if he really is a tsundere or if Erika actually changed him though no one remarked about the differences. That minor issue aside, I think most of the elements of the series are okay.

One thing I noticed that isn't always present in other shoujo romance is the issue of jealousy experienced by the lead male character. It is usually the female who gets jealous and competes with another girl (typically her friend as well) for the attention of the male. The part where Kyouya gets jealous was the best scene because I don't see that often.

Ookami Shoujo to Kuro Ouji has an overload of romantic scenes that will make you squeal like a young girl. Although the approach to the development of their romantic feelings is typical of shoujo, I like how they made the lead male slightly more aggressive in pursuing the girl.

Rating: 9.5 out of 10

Jyu Oh Sei

Twin brothers Thor and Rai were cast off in a planet called Chimaera after their parents were murdered. Helpless and confused, the two wander around the strange planet where plants attack humans and humans attack each other for territory and power. Later Thor was told by their rescuer that the only way to leave the planet is to become the Beast King by beating the top guys of the four Rings, the different gangs that comprise the human population. As much as Thor wants to leave and find the murderers of their parents, he also learns that escape comes at a great price.

From left: Thor, Tiz, Third and Zagi

This 11-episode sci-fi series started off good but it has failed to sustain the excitement. One factor is the character played by Tiz and her relationship with an inconsistent Thor. Thor is not easy to understand or appreciate. I think there was an attempt to make him a smart, resourceful lead character but sometime in the series he underwent changes that seemed inconsistent with how he was presented in the first few episodes. I can't exactly point out the difference but I think they wanted to make him a tragic and hesitant hero but failed.

Besides that most of the series is okay, but it's not something I'd be willing to watch again. The action scenes are fairly good and the setting seems interesting enough. I just do not like how the lead character is portrayed. I don't understand him and I can't sympathize with his cause. The supporting cast are no better, though there are a few whose motives are unknown and therefore worth watching.

Rating: 6 out of 10