Lasting Impressions : Is this a Zombie? (Kore wa Zombie desu ka?)

“Is this a Zombie?” (2011~2012)

(This review may contain spoilers for the following series. If you have not seen the series before, please exercise caution before viewing this post. You have been warned.)

It’s shocking how one’s view of an anime can change over the span of a year or two. Kore wa Zombie desu ka? (Is this a Zombie?) aired back in early 2011, and I wasn’t too impressed with the series. It centers around a young man named Ayumu Aikawa, who suddenly perishes and resurrects as a zombie thanks to Eucliwood, a Necromancer from the Underworld. They later meet Seraphim, a Vampire Ninja, and Haruna, a Magical “Equipment” Girl who loses her powers due to Ayumu’s meddling.

From left to right: Sera, Haruna, Ayumu, and Eu.

The anime follows a very loose story, and often strays from the story in favor of fan-service and humor. During the first series, the first arc containing multiple episodes revolved around Ayumu’s killer, solving why he was killed in the first place and who might have done this terrible thing. To counter this deep plot, comedy is often used to bring the mood up and cheer up the audience. In general, one can consider this anime to be a harem, as every girl who visits Ayumu from another world seems to fall in love, although this series expresses their difference in how they show their love very well. Eu, short for Eucliwood, is unable to speak and shows her feeling subtly, while Ayumu fantasizes about her in humorous fashions. Haruna is often outspoken and very easy to read. She’s really the immature one, and it’s pretty obvious to tell with the body type the creators gave her. Sara, short for Seraphim, often speaks ill of Ayumu and degrades him. It’s not until later where she often enjoys Ayumu’s time and comfort, where she develops more of tsundere attitude.

It’s hard to look tough when you’re cross-dressing.

After confronting his killer through hilarious shenanigans, which can vary from humorous to just plain bad, the crew meet another Vampire Ninja from a different clan. Through the magic of accidental hijinks, Ayumu ends up kissing this new girl, Maelstrom , which means marriage to the Vampire Ninjas. After adding Maestrom, who goes by Yuki after this event, to his never-ending harem by solving a major crisis, the crew later discovers a previous zombie who shows interest in Eu. Eu later leaves with this man, and while Ayumu and company try to save Eu, hilarity ensues and nothing of value has been lost.

Can’t really tell why this person seems so insane. Perhaps it’s the cape?

The show really tried to fit some serious plot into it’s story, but ultimately, the show should be viewed as a comedy and slapstick series, revolving around a male main character and his “harem.” Most battle scenes are done through Ayumu’s transformation into a Magical “Equipment” Girl, and not real serious fighting. Due to the nature of the first season, I was really put off with the series, as it didn’t seem to know where to separate serious plot and comedy sketches. While there are a variety of comedy centric episodes, there weren’t enough out of the first season to stick out and give me reason to watch the second season.

When Yuki and Haruna dance, it’s usually the Voodoo dance.

The second season, released in Summer 2012, vastly outdid my expectations. Gone are the serious plot points, and in comes more focus on the comedy aspects of this series. This season continues the wacky adventures of Ayumu and Co, while adding to the relationships of the characters. Some episodes may give Sera more development, while another may focus on Eu. Ultimately, the characters evolve, although slightly, and the hilarious antics continue. The season also adds two more main love interests: Sarasvati, another Vampire Ninja and Sera’s superior, and Taeko, Ayumu’s classmate and not really a new love interest, but someone who actually gets some development this season.

She may hide in the shadows as a Vampire Ninja…but when she’s not, she becomes an idol!

I absolutely loved how this series actually took story points, and jokingly took them seriously. Nothing ever gets resolved, and the story gets pushed back for the next humorous event. The story mainly lies around Ayumu’s inability to reverse time after killing a monster that comes to the school, which means everyone at school knows about his ability to become a Magical “Equipment” Girl and forced cross-dressing. While this does get fixed in a later episode, it really doesn’t impact the plot past the second episode or so. The final story involves the so-called best Magical Girl in the land, and the best underworld fighter in the land, and doesn’t get resolved in the conclusion of the story. Hence why I stated the story isn’t taken seriously; nothing gets resolved, but the series still proves to be hilarious and enjoyable.

While the other girls are great, there’s just something about Taeko that I really like.

The biggest enjoyment I held in this series would be the OP / ED of both seasons. The OP to the first season attracted my attention, and was one of the highlights of the series. While the second OP attempted to follow in its footsteps, it didn’t reach the level of the first season. However, while the first ED was okay, but not spectacular, the second ED was amazing, and I think I enjoyed the ED more than the episode in some cases. The song really captivated me, and I just enjoyed the ED as a whole. It brought a good feeling, and generally brings up the mood of an already comedic series.

Finally, I feel the series really grew on me over time. While the first season of Kore wa Zombie desu ka? (Is this a Zombie?) was an okay watch, I absolutely cannot praise the second season enough. It was thoroughly enjoyable, and I feel like I would watch it again anytime I need my spirits brought up. I easily recommend this series to those who enjoy comedy and harem anime, and hope you can find as much enjoyment out of this series as I did.

-Ace


Second Season ED

Initial Impressions : Hayate no Gotoku! Can’t Take My Eyes Off You

Hayate no Gotoku! Can’t Take My Eyes Off You

I’m a big fan of the Hayate no Gotoku series, as I’ve been following it since it was first animated by SynergySP back in 2007. However, this series hasn’t been given the best treatment throughout its life, as the sequel didn’t appear until 2009, animated by J.C. Staff. In the following years, the movie was released, animated by yet another company, and finally, this series has begun, and breaks the tradition by retaining the same company who animated the movie. When I first heard about this series, I was overjoyed to hear that the Hayate series would return, and I’ve been waiting to watch the first episode of Hayate no Gotoku! Can’t Take My Eyes Off You.

Nagi, why would you buy something you know you don’t like?

This episode really brought back the great wacky feeling that the Hayate series gives off, and it really doesn’t disappoint in terms of a new Hayate animation. I am a little bummed that the project turned into a stand-alone animation, as opposed to continuing to follow the manga, but I can live with new content, and this episode does bring my hopes up.

In terms of the episode, the beginning left me recalling The Hangover, as the opening brings us to the Nevada desert, hanging on what events left poor little Nagi in this barren wasteland. First Steins;Gate, now Hayate; I don’t know the next series that’s going to wind up in the Nevada desert. Also, as someone who lives in a desert, I know everything that happened to her happens to me, minus the cactus part.

Why would you do that? You’ve gotta love the humor of the Hayate series.

The character designs so far have been decent, but it really is strange going to new designs yet again after changing them a few times. Every studio animates the crew differently, and it always takes some time getting used to their new looks. I don’t know how Hinagiku(Best Girl) or some other side characters are going to look, if they appear at all, but I’m sure it’ll be okay once I’m actually used to the change. The animation isn’t terrible by any means, just different.

Huh? Shocked? Nah, this happens daily.

We’re later brought back to the mansion, and man, this really brings out the whole change in animation studios. The mansion looks completely different, and while I’ve yet to see if that’s a good or bad thing, I was shocked to see how different it looked. While we pan back to the great mansion, Maria answers the phone and quickly changes to English to speak to the Nevada police. In appears that Nagi’s late father left some belongings behind, and they need Nagi to confirm if the items really belonged to her father. As she thinks about leaving to America, the television soon displays a show that discusses Area 51 and aliens, all of which pique Nagi’s interest and her will to go to America. While Hayate and Maria attempt to persuade Nagi into leaving when school is not in session, she storms off and complains in typical Nagi fashion.

Claiming to be an imouto? This is just too much man.

Everything that happens after can be said to pay homage to the first chapter in the manga series. The kidnapping, setting, and rescue all mirror the unforgettable intro to this amazing series. I really enjoyed this touch, and the attention to detail is superb. In fact, Nagi’s stubbornness and the fact the kidnappers are brothers (Though if they owe money to the Yakuza is unexplained) only added to my enjoyment of this dedication to the beginning. However, there are some details added in to create relevance to the current plot, and the plot-twist at the end was shocking, but I’ve yet to believe the validity of her claim. This may be due to the fact I just watched Who is Imouto?, but who knows.

Either way, I am swirling in anticipation for the next episodes, and I really want to know where this series goes. I laughed at quite a bit of this episode, and I only hope the humor stays in future episodes. Time to start the new season with a bang!

-Ace

Enjoyin’ Life and Takin’ Names

Every time I remember this series, the first thing to come to mind is “Colorado Bulldog.”
Heyos Everyones!!

Just another day here for me, and I can honestly say that this week has been amazing in both progress and surprises. First off, it’s the start of a new season of anime; this alone makes the week fantastic. In addition, I’ve been working on some new “Lasting Impressions” posts, one of which was released earlier this week and one that will be released later this week, so this week has been jam packed with goodies.

In terms of gaming, I haven’t done anything significant or amazing, but I’m sure that will all change once I start playing Tales of Xillia again. I’ve been staying away from those titles as they consume so much time, and I really needed to catch up on my anime backlog. On that note, I’ve still got so many series to sit down and watch, but I think I’ll still have time for that as this new season consumes much of my time.

I’ve also been in the planning stages of my panel coming up next month, which will be an amazing panel and everyone here should go. The panel is “Name that Anime Tune!” at Anime Kaigi, held in Flagstaff, AZ on November 9-11. It’s going to be great, and I’m taking measures to make sure it caters to all audiences.

If anyone reads this blog and knows what I enjoy, you should know I absolutely love the “Tales of” series. Well, if you happen to live in the U.S., you will also be happy to know that there will be the first U.S. Tales of convention held in Texas sometime next year. While I can’t do much to help organize the event, I will be doing my part to improve its successfulness, so go check out Aselia-con and support in any way you can! It’s going to be a great time, and I’m looking forward to how amazing this next year will be.

Welp, I’ve rambled on long enough. While I think this month is going to be amazing, it all comes down to how much I work to improve my current projects. This season of anime will be amazing, and I assure you, what’s remaining of this year is going to be a blast!

-Ace

Lasting Impressions : Hyouka

Hyouka (2012)

(This review may contain spoilers for the following series. If you have not seen the series before, please exercise caution before viewing this post. You have been warned.)

Ah Hyouka, I began this series with minimal hope, as my dreams were crushed with Kyoto Animation’s direction toward everyday, short stories about students doing daily tasks. However, the first few episodes actually managed to capture my interest and create some reason to watch the following episode. Week after week I would see the new episode pop up, and I would take it upon myself to view this rather interesting series to see what, if anything, would happen this week.

From left to right: Fukube, Oreki, Eru, Ibara.

The series, for the most part, succeeded in holding my interest and moving the current plot along. The main story of Hyouka involves a young first year high school student by the name of Houtarou Oreki, who joins the “Classics Club” due to his older sister’s wishes. After signing up for the club and entering the room for the first time, he meets Eru Chitanda, another first year who happens to join the club, regardless of the fact there are no other “official” members. This meeting begins the start of the Classics Club, and after two others join the club, both “friends” of Oreki, the true antics and shenanigans begin.

I rather enjoyed how the series played itself out. It never really had a big story behind it. The entire series consisted of sub-stories that overall make up the entirety of Hyouka. The beginning of the series consists of two one-episode stories, each of which get the viewer into the flow of how the series will work. Once these two episodes have concluded, the series begins an arc that revolves around the history of the Classics Club, and what mysteries went down during the first years of the club. The story lasts a reasonable amount of episodes, and personally, I feel the conclusion successfully closes the arc neatly.

This face means shit is about to go down.

While there are small episodes in between, the next big arc revolves around a movie being created for the school festival. This arc is arguably my favorite, only because it demonstrates how limited Oreki’s skill is. He can’t solve everything without messing up sometime. While this arc shows the true potential behind Orkei’s brain, it does show how much others rely on his skill and what power he really does hold, even if he doesn’t realize himself.

Actually, while I’m going in order, episode 11.5 had nothing to do with the arc surrounding it. Therefore, it can clearly be classified as “filler” or “fanservice.” Either way, I didn’t mind this episode. While I enjoyed the plot-centric focus of this series, a break every now and again refreshes the mind, and helps people catch up to what’s happening in the main story. Not to mention, there was a mini story in this episode, and although it was painfully obvious, it didn’t detract itself too far away from the series.

What could be going on? I swear this was…oh well, doesn’t matter.

Lastly, we have the final main arc, the Cultural Festival. This arc really develops the side characters in the same way I felt the previous arc developed Oreki’s character. Other characters start to progress their emotions and show that they actually react to what’s happening in the world. Fukube, Oreki’s best friend, actually begins to show jealousy toward Oreki’s skill, and how he feels inferior to those who have bested him. Ibara, another friend of Oreki, begins to show how her relations to the Manga Society have gotten, and how distances she herself is from the others. It’s rather interesting seeing these reactions in this show, and only drives the plot forward.

Unfortunately, this all crashes down during the last few episodes. As this series only contained twenty-two(22) episodes, there wasn’t enough room to fit another full-fledged arc in. Therefore, the last few episodes consisted of small, one episode stories. While this didn’t detract from the series, it failed to add more development and progress of significance to this show. Also, this resulted in a rather abrupt ending, which left many viewers confused, including myself. I want series to conclude, and when one fails to do so, my impression of the show drops significantly. While the show’s story has a whole was interesting and intriguing, the ending really crashed down on my expectations.

Sorry, as much as I wanted, nothing happened. I was disappoint.

Animation-wise, this series was animated by Kyoto Animation, and as such, you would expect nothing less than perfection. Of course, this series is beautiful, and I feel like my eyes were given new life every time I watched a new episode. Every scene feels full of life and detail, and for a mystery anime, this important detail really adds to the series. Music-wise, I can’t remember much of the background music, but I didn’t mind the OP/ED of this show. I can’t remember the songs off the top of my head, and that really shows that I didn’t care too much for this show’s soundtrack. That trait is rather odd, as I find myself attracted to most series’ OP/ED.

Would I recommend this series? Put plainly, (yes). The story was great, although it ended abruptly, and the animation is excellent. Although I can’t say I remember most of the music from this series, I do know it doesn’t detract from the show, and the show has its priorities straight. There are times when the OP doesn’t play to allow more time for the story, and honestly, this helps give enough time for the development of plot. If you want a new mystery anime with a great plot and beautiful animation, then give Hyouka a shot.

-Ace
Hyouka ED2

Another Fantastic Friday

I don’t understand the appeal of these type of series…
Yet I enjoy them as well….

Heyos Everyones!

I should be doing work right now, but I’ll tell ya, Calculus is no cakewalk. It’s amazing how much work goes into these problems, and one small mistake can cause an hour or more of repair if you don’t know what you’re doing. It’s not fun, and honestly, I really need a break. Today’s been pretty intense, with projects due all around. Regardless, it’s been a great week, and I’m not going to let a few bad moments get the best of me.

I had intended for another Lasting Impressions post to go here, but due to the complexities of this week, it had to be pushed back. Luckily, it’ll be complete this weekend, which should mean a Monday release. In addition, I’ve completed quite a few series at this point, and I have strong opinions toward some of them. I won’t say whether it’s good or bad at this point, but I am working to get those out next week.

I haven’t been playing many jRPG’s recently, mainly because I’m so far behind in terms of anime. One of the side-effects of going to an anime convention is the feeling of how far behind you are in terms of what to watch. There are so many series that people consider “good,” and it feels like there isn’t enough time to watch them all. I’ve been fighting through series everyday to catch up, and it feels like my backlog only grows, no matter how much I watch.

I’ll be attending Anime Kaigi (Anime Kaigi Home) this year, which resides in Flagstaff, AZ on November 10~12 If anyone plans on attending, feel free to drop by my panel (Name that Anime Tune!) and say Hi. It’ll be lots of fun, and I assure you there will be lots of goodies given out. If you follow my blog, I’m sure you’ll already know of some series that’ll be on the quiz, as there’s no way I won’t be playing some of my favorite openings and endings.

Anyways, look forward to some of that awesome content coming later. Have a great weekend, and enjoy the rest of the day!

-Ace

Lasting Impressions : Durarara!!

Durarara!! - Anime
Durarara!! – Anime

It’s not often I get the opportunity to watch a series with a complicated story and deep character relations. I’ve known about Durarara!! for quite some time, but only now have I taken the time to watch this fantastic series. I can only say the anime deserves every bit of praise it is given, and provides viewers who enjoy “plot” and “story-driven progression” a phenomenal time.

At first, I was under the impression that the story would be hard to follow. The first episode introduces the viewer to a plethora of characters, and it can seem like a lot of information to process and remember. However, the introduction also allows the viewer to experience the same feelings the main character, Mikado, experiences. In a way, it’s a clever method of introducing a wave of information without losing the viewer. In addition, while the viewer may not be able to follow everything at the very beginning, as details are leaked out and revealed the previous scenes may be better understood and make the viewer view past events in their entirety. For example, as I enjoyed the series I failed to understand the events in full light until a few episodes after, some not being completely understood until near the ending of the series. However, the show grasps the viewers attention and brings excitement and reason to continue the series.

He doesn’t get along with a certain information broker…and he can lift vending machines.

The show can be easily divided into two arcs, with each splitting the episode count near evenly. The first arc really focuses on Mikado’s transition into the big city life, while also introducing the viewer to the vast selection of characters focused on in this series. However, this arc really focuses on Mikado Ryugamine, the transfer student “main” character, “The Black Rider,” who is rumored to be headless, and Shinra Kishitani, a black market surgeon who lives with “The Black Rider.” The truth to unveil the “Black Rider’s” past is underway, and the road there proves to be a difficult one that involves nearly every character in the series. If there is one remark I can make about the characters in this series, there are no characters in this series that have little to no significance. I love the way the characters all interact and have some bond with another. Perhaps it’s my attraction to well tied plot, or even just the lack of nonsense, but the completion of it all really compliments the series as a whole.

The second arc revolves around the main character, Mikadono Ryugamine, and his two friends, Masaomi Kida and Anri Sonohara. This arc tests the limits of their friendship and reveals the twisted past they each hold. This chapter provides a large boost of character development for these characters, as well as some other minor characters, but those who held the spotlight in the previous arc will take the backseat and provide only supporting roles for this chapter. Of course, every character tends to get some screen time, and their appearances all flow together seamlessly.

What’s that? Is that two best characters being introduced?

Luckily, the series doesn’t consider itself serious at all times. The comedy in this series is used sparingly and wisely, which only adds to the series as a whole. Due to its nature as a story-driven series, the comedy proves to be a valuable asset and escape from the story as a whole. In addition, the amount of references to other anime this series makes is amazing and caught me off guard. When I first saw Horo from Spice and Wolf, I started cracking up. It only got better as these references grew and I found myself grinning whenever there was a reference that I caught on. However, when it’s time to get serious, the series knows when to kick it into gear and commence the story.

Now would you want to mess with someone with a bike and knows how to use it?

The opening and ending credits used in this series greatly compliment the stylistic choice of this series. The opening songs get the viewer “pumped up” for the current episode, while providing a quick recap of the previous episode that relates to the current episode. It’s an excellent technique that proves beneficial to those who are watching episodes separately and not in a quick succession. The endings don’t add to much to the series, but they don’t detract from the series, and I think that’s the most important aspect an ending credit sequence should have.

Unfortunately, this series isn’t flawless. This story, as far as the anime is concerned, isn’t complete. Various aspects which were uncovered during the progression of the anime were left open, and many had yet to be concluded. In short, one could say the ending left much to be desired, and while it wasn’t terrible by any stretch of the imagination, there are many missing pieces in this puzzle, and only wish to be filled in at a later time.

By these details alone, Durarara!! will give any fan of story-driven anime a great time, and should be viewed at least once. The animation is swell, the music only adds to the experience, and the characters, all unique and fascinating, create a sense of reality in this fantasy supernatural world. I won’t give a score, as this was merely my experience after watching the entirety of the series, but I can say that my impressions after the series was over was a positive one.

Durarara!! OP 01

Projects to be Done

Dat Hina

Heyos Everyones!

It’s been a hell of a week, and I feel like it has only just begun. Last weekend I spent my time at Saboten-Con, living in  Arizona and all. It was a wonderful experience and I can’t wait to go to another fun convention with everyone again. I love going to conventions if only for the fact that they renew my energy to watch more and more anime and catch up with my backlog, even if only a little. More often than not I find myself adding more anime to the backlog, but there’s no possible way to avoid that nowadays it seems. Regardless, it’s time to begin moving again, and there’s no better time than the present.

As stated before, I have a huge backlog of anime that I need to catch up on. On that note, I hope to review a majority of these series as I complete them, to add more content to this site as time progresses. I know I stated the Dawn of the New World review would be up by now, but that game is terrible. I’ll find time to review it sometime, but now is not that time.

Saboten-Con was a pretty unique and desirable experience. I really enjoyed my time at this con, as it was my first time attending a local con. In the previous years, I had attended Anime Expo, but I had yet to attend any convention in the Arizona area. That has changed now, and I feel like I have a reason to attend future conventions. I have some projects and ideas for panels if I am graced with the ability to do so, and I have already begun production on how those would go if they were to happen. Only time can tell, and I look forward to seeing what lies ahead.

In other words, stay safe and enjoy this month. It’s hard believing the month is now September, but time waits for no one, so all you can do is grab on and hold on tight. Until next time,
-Ace

Slight disappearance, but back in full throttle!

I heard the final OVA has been released. I need to check it out!

Heyos Everyones!

Alrights. I know time hasn’t been on my side lately. I’ve kinda left things as they are, and it doesn’t necessarily help my case that I haven’t posted these past few weeks. However, I’m back and I plan to post some more reviews and impressions up this week. This week is also the begining of classes, so I’m sure I’ll have some more motivation to get up and get stuff done!

My last Tales review for some time will be the sequel toTales of Symphonia, and I still haven’t determined what my impressions post will be about. Perhaps I’ll actually make some videos to accommodate these posts, but again, these decisions haven’t been made yet, so I can’t say exactly what I’m going to do. I really don’t have much to say about life right now, as all I’ve been doing is going to work and watching random youtube videos. Some anime has been watched, such as Sword Art Online, Hyouka, Who is Imouto?, and Dog Days!’,but nothing exceptional has occurred these past few weeks.

Perhaps I’ll have more to say tomorrow or Tuesday, after classes are over. I’m happy to say this is my last year at a Community College, now that I finally have more issues settle d and accounted for. Anyways, look forward to the upcoming content, and enjoy the week!

-Ace

Lifestyles in Change

Some may say best girl, but I must respectfully disagree.

Heyos Everyone!

Just a posting to make sure everything is still alive and kicking. This past week has been pretty dull, consisting of some anime and video games. I haven’t been doing as much this week as I would have liked, but this should change next week as I have a bit written down on what to do. As for anime, just have to keep watching Sword Art Online, Hyouka, Dog Days, and other series I can’t be bothered to think about right now. I’ve actually only begun to catch up with these series, let alone make sense of them. In addition, when it comes to video games I’ve been slacking as well; I’ve yet to play a game that would actually contribute to my backlog this past week, and it’s something that I would like to change, but with school beginning in a couple of week, I can’t say it will.

School starting will be a nice change from the normal lifestyle I’ve been living. Other than a few events, it’s been dull around here and change is always welcome. Perhaps that little boost will get me to finish some more projects, although I’m happy with the pace I had set before with around 3 posts a week.

On another note, it’s already August, which means this year is over halfway over. Amazingly, this year has gone by too fast, and it only continues to pass by. Hopefully I’ll be able to find big events to mark this year as a great year, and although I think I already found some fantastic events, I only hope to add to that list.

That’s all for today. Some reviews and impressions posts will be up in the coming days, hopefully for your enjoyment. Thanks,

-Ace

Review: Tales of Symphonia (GCN)

Tales of Symphonia

For those who are well acquainted with the Tales of series, it may be stated that their beginnings lied in this game, Tales of Symphonia, released in 2003 for the Gamecube. Tales of Symphonia introduced many to the series, and proved to be a defining moment in this game series. Unfortunately, this game shines much brighter than it should, mainly due to the nostalgia many hold for this game. This happened to be my case as well, which pushed me to replay the game to see if it really stood the test of time and a possible candidate for best game in the series.

-Story-

The story begins with Lloyd Irving, a young boy who holds a strong flame of justice in his heart. While he may not be the brightest star in the night sky, his courageousness and will to fight for his ideals really shines as a trait for the main character. Accompanying him are his best friend Genis, the Chosen Collete, great teacher Raine, and mysterious mercenary Kratos. These aren’t the only party members in the game, but to say the rest may spoil some surprises the story may hold for the player. While Lloyd and his classmates learn about the Quest of Regeneration from their teacher Raine, a light shines in the distance, signaling the start of the journey. As luck would have it, his friend Collete just happens to be this legendary Chosen, and must travel the world in order to save the world from the evil Desians that capture humans and create human ranches. While Kratos appears to guide Collete on this journey, Lloyd’s attempt to aid gets rejected, leaving him behind to wait until the journey is over. Of course, the game doesn’t end there. Due to unfortunate circumstances and dumb decisions, the two (Lloyd and Genis) are banished from the town they live in, and seek refuge with the party. This quest later turns into a twisted mess of a plot that will leave many players filled with questions; luckily, the questions are eventually answered, even if it’s near the end of the game.

As always, the battle system is amazing.

The story definitely holds many plot points, and they are rather intriguing in a way. In addition, I feel Tales of Symphonia contains one of the greatest stories and character development of the entire series. However, there are many points of the story which may seem lacking, and not fully fleshed out. Some of the special twists lack that shock element that would normally be apparent, and some of the characters actions can be annoying at times. However, one factor I love about this game would be the affection system, which allows various events to vary from playthrough to playthrough, and in addition to this, there are special branches (Mainly in the beginning of the game) that allow the player to take a different path and play just a little bit different than before. These choices in variety definitely make up for the minor nuances the story may otherwise hold, and should have been carried over for future titles.

-Gameplay-

If one wanted to see where the game falls short, it would definitely be the gameplay portion of the game. While the game plays great, and adds that great battle system the series is known for, it severely lacks to newer titles. If one has played the more recent titles before playing this game, their experience will be dulled due to the lack of enhances that flourish the newer games and provide that user friendly experience. For example, the game lacks a newer ability by the title of Free Run, which allows the player to run in any direction, avoiding enemies and prioritizing strategies. I can’t tell how many times the L-Button was pressed to no avail, just because it wasn’t available in this game. Another problem would the uselessness of Magic Lens in this game. While in other games, when one uses the item to find out an enemies HP, it stays in memory for every encounter with that enemy that occurs. Such is not the case in this game, and hinders it slightly in that manor.

However, while the game doesn’t hold the enhancements given to the newer games, the battle system still gives the player a fun-filled experience full of action gameplay expected from the series. The battles are fun, traveling the world proves to be exhilarating, and the minigames give a nice breath of fresh air to the game. Just don’t expect to play the game with successful multiplayer, as the game focuses the screen on Player 1.

These dinosaurs are intense!

Outside of battle, world travel proves to be about the same as other games. There are plenty of paths to take to the next town, and battle are aplenty. Dungeons aren’t very long in this game, and to compensate for lack of space, there are many puzzles that need to be solved. Most dungeons have at least one main puzzle that results in the player running back and forth attempting to solve said puzzle, which takes up a good chuck of time.

-Sound-

The soundtrack for Tales of Symphonia is pronominal. All of the music seems to flow and fit the story in a unique and interesting way. However, most of the themes don’t appear to be as memorable as other games. While the music is good, it does tend to be a bit repetitive and doesn’t always stay at the same level of consistency. For example, I love the character themes in this game, as they fit their character design and tell the story behind said character. However, some of the more stock music doesn’t prove to be as memorable, and is easily forgettable. The battle music in this game, while good, falls to the curse of repetitive battle themes. However, this actually works in the game’s favor, as the theme gives the game more character. As for the actual theme music, which would take place in the opening cutscene before the game begins, was replaced with stock music in the American release. The original song, Starry Heavens, by the band Day after Tomorrow, fit the opening video well, and it’s a shame that it was removed in the international release.

More battle, showcasing some party members.

As for character voices, I think it’s a safe bet to say that all the characters pretty much hit the mark pretty well. However, the popularity of some of the voices picked shows during the game. For example, Lloyd is played by Scott Menville; every time I hear his voice I play back Robin from the animated cartoon, Teen Titans. It is believed that this has to do with Nintendo helping with the localization project, as “union” voice actors don’t appear in future Tales series games. Either way, they do the job well, and for a long game, it’s definitely positive to have good voice actors to play the part. Unfortunately, the amount of voiced dialogue is small, as only major plot markers are voiced. Skits and small events only have text dialogue, and voices are missing from the scene. A damn shame too, as it’s hard getting used to hearing a voice then going to dead silence.

-Graphics-

One would believe that a game released in 2003 would have severely aged graphics. However, that can not be said of Tales of Symphonia. The cel-shaded look helps the games age and prevents the game from looking too blocky and outdated. Around this time, many games went for the cel-shaded look, and although it was present for many of the games at the time, it’s easy to see why that route was chosen. Most cel-shaded games don’t look that old, even by today’s standards. Of course, it doesn’t look realistic, but that’s not what the studio was aiming for, and only helps the game’s case. Unfortunately, detail is lost when this route is chosen, and some environments may look washed out or similar to another, but this situation doesn’t occur too often. Even with all the areas that this game has to offer, only some appear to be bland and boring, while others appear bright, vibrant, and beautiful.

Look at those cel-shaded graphics.

The anime cutscenes are few and far between. While the PS2 re-release (Japanese Only) saw an addition of two cutscenes, the international version only saw four cutscenes. However, the game was released in 2003, which did hold limits on data. In addition, the cutscenes themselves were appropriately placed, with two taking place in the beginning, and two taking place at the very end. The cutscenes were beautifully animated by Production I.G, and only add to the story told by the game.

-Final Curtain-

While the game was released in 2003 and thus lacks a few prominent features, this game doesn’t fall below par and shows that it’s a game to be reckoned with. The game may be over-glorified and worshiped, there is no reason to skip out on this game. Just don’t expect a perfect game, as it’s far from it, but the game does provide a good lengthy RPG that will leave the player feeling satisfied. For that reason, I can honestly say that this game should be played by any RPG lover, regardless of the age of the game.

The sequel to this game will be reviewed next.

-Ace