Early Gift ideas and begging for your requests

The holidays are coming up and already there are stores putting up the supplies and armaments (which is what I call gifts for the holidays) in October when Halloween candy was still being churned. It's at this time where I get active in helping people find what they need. Anything at all, but not many requests at this time. I'm sure it'll pick up. So I'm here to give you recommendations on what to get your special someone. You don't have to follow what I say, I'm just giving clues to what you want.

First off the gamers. I'm a gamer, we are all gamers regardless of age, nationality, generation, if we play something it's going to be a game. It's basic logic. For the video gamers out there, you have a lot of your plate. Normally I would go for the fall lineup that's already out. New Vegas, Black Ops, Assassin's Creed Brotherhood, etc, since most gamers these days don't care for nostalgia.

However being a little different than your average gamer I would go for the original experiences and other games that were somehow overlooked. Like Trauma Team on the Wii. Who cares if it has blood showing, surgeries show blood, but in this case it's not real. But what you do see is one of the best games of Operation ever. Also you get to play as 6 different doctors: Surgery, EMT, Forensics, endoscopy, diagnostics, and Orthopedic. Give it a shot, it's very engaging and well worth the low price. If you are slightly advanced and into romhacks and emulation, A Super Mario Thing is the best collaboration hack I've ever seen and it's as weird and surreal as the person it was inspired from. There's also Hyper V if you like hard romhacks from Japan and the Second Reality Project which is very unforgiving at worst times, but still fun for that savestateless challenge.

For the readers out there and movie goers it's a win win situation with Scott Pilgrim vs the World. Normally I wouldn't give recommendations since your taste is different than mine, but this is one instance where I would say go buy the comic book and the movie. For one the source material is very very good, Brian Lee O' Malley brought out something different from the comic book side and the movie is a visual treat. The blu-ray is the one I would recommend, not because I don't have a blu-ray, but it comes with a DVD so it counts. From what I hear there's 22 hours worth of extra content on the blu-ray. A day's worth of stuff that was cut out of the movie. Other blu-ray movies would be just previews or standard commentary, but a full days worth. That's why I would say get it. And there's a downloadable beat-em-up/rpg which is pretty much a love letter to River City Ransom. $10 bucks gives you a great experience and $2 more gives you Knives. Edgar Wright is three for three in my book. Nice job, sir.

Music is a very vast and different market, especially for me who has adapted to Japanese pop and rock during the last 5 years or so. Mostly, it's based on what you like. People seem to like what they hear on the radio. There's a guy I know named TITS (Todd in the Shadows) who reviews pop music. Yeah he pains himself and is a bit arrogant and snarky to tell you whats good and whats sh*t, I would go listen to him. If your the gamer/token anime aficionado, Elisa,Fripside, Abingdon Boys School, TM Revolution, Larc en Ciel, Kawada Mami, are all good. Hell even my friend Tommy Tallarico has a bunch of albums you can check out. He did the music for Earthworm Jim for crap's sake. In fact what I would recommend is getting the blu-ray for Video Games Live. That's right, I'm going to plug his concert which is what I do on the side. Video Games Live has a bluray/DVD that lets you see the concert that tours around the world showing more than video game music awareness. It's in the hearts of gamers and neophyte retro gamers, and is an amazing experience to check out. Who knows, it might come to a city near you. Check out www.Videogameslive.com to see if it's coming near you.

Speaking of anime aficionados (otaku is a derogatory, but still shows who the anime fans are), last I heard a lot of people in the states are showing their Hetalia love and I would check it out. It's an acquired taste on an anthromorphization of WWII. Hetalia or Idiot Italy is who we see. And Germany is his brother. America likes hamburgers like we do, and it's generally fun. For the drama out there, Toradora is also very good. Don't tell anyone I said that, they would tear you up for it. Instead, go for Clannad. Yeah I'm a little behind, who cares? This is probably the best show I've ever seen because it really pulls you in and tugs on your emotions. After Story the continuation is where it truly shines. Sure the ending was an asspull and whether you believe in the Second Reality (project) or the actual reality, it is an emotional roller coaster and you'll really feel for the characters and the relationship that they build. But I warn you, it gets really bad around episode 16. Not bad bad, but if you lost someone recently and you watch this, it will really screw you up. And yes, I'm normally a guy who is not fazed by anything sad . It's a part of me, but when ep 16 came around, I just wanted to cry more, but couldn't push it out. Oh crap, now I'm crying, thanks a lot! Wagnaria recently picked up by the guys who brought you Disgaea will bring it out next year. Well worth a clue that I would like that kinda gift.

Manga wise theres alot of titles and series out there to pick up now. Haruhi and Lucky Star are a couple of guilty pleasures, Higurashi When they Cry is horror and will whet your appetite for that genre. Yostuba is alway recommended for a pick me up, she is too innocent to sully. Sayonara Zetsubou Sensei is rather hard to follow, but still funny to look at because of the detail in the manga and how the jokes are drawn and written. Within the Light is a very sweet series about a mother raising a son with autism. There are alot more titles to check out and it's really up to what you like to read.

If your a streaming person the latest fall lineup in japan is so far churning out some really good stuff. Panty and Stocking is great if you want a contact high. Seriously, watching it will make you question Gainax's prescription or else what the crap they are taking to top what previous episode you saw. Ore no Imouto or as I call it Little Fangirl Otaku is the best manga to anime adaptation I've seen so far. If Kyosuke is as plain as he is stupid in his relationships, then it'll end up as a harem end. Can't say for sure though. Ika Musume is a Squid girl and that's all you gotta know about it, but it's fun. Heartcatch PreCure is a guilty pleasure, sure Erika kinda bugged me, but it's pretty good. Arakawa under the Bridge is more wtfness for Ko and the bridge dwellers. This time I saw an amazon and theres more to Nino and her relationship with the former rich son guy.

Movies side, again Scott Pilgrim. However there are some movies that have received some good reviews like Inception and the Social Network when it comes to DVD. Expendables which is older actors blow shit up real good...and no I'm not correcting that, that's how you best describe the movie. if you are of a fangirl who likes crappy badly written "Harlequin" romance novels, then I wouldn't recommend getting Eclipse. Seriously. I don't care if it's a chick flick or that there are fans, big fans, and devotees, Twilight sucks and I felt less than a man for being dragged to it.

These should be well worth seeking out (except for Twilight) and should give you an idea on what to give that special person. I've also learned that some people like gifts that were handmade by you. There's someone I know who made me a scarf, a cap, and wrist warmers (gauntlets) out of yarn. It's pretty sweet. In return to that nice and waifu gesture, I made a DVD box set of her favorite series. The feeling is mutual, but again that's what I did. Ask that person you wish to give something what they like and you'll think of something related to it. If someone likes baseball and they are San Francisco Giants fans, give them a world series t-shirt and hat, cause they won this year.

With all that, I leave the shopping and gift ideas to you, and if you have any requests at all to find anything, let me know @ Rarefindit@gmail.com.

The Legend of Scott Pilgrim - A Game to the Movie

As a gamer, I'm obligated to try out something new in case the routine gets old. Sometimes playing the same game gets tiresome and you play it to death. That game sadly commonly gets sacrificed or shoved aside like a raggedy toy. In this case it's a game and it gets sold or trade in for little of what it's worth though you paid extraneous amounts of money for it. I don't know what I'm getting at, but I want to tell you about some games that get passed for something more black and more dakka like. That game I'm talking about is Scott Pilgrim vs The World the Game.

Now hold your horses and don't you dare think about clicking the close button. Let me at least get this out of the way: I love this series. It's like a love letter from someone long ago. That would be from the beat em up genre as he introduced his cute meganekko sister. Scott Pilgrim the game is that cute meganekko sister.

Scott Pilgrim vs the World the Game is as it is, a game based on the graphic novel to tie in with the movie. Normally that is a disaster waiting to happen as the cardinal rule of video games is: Games based on movies suck! It's a fact. Just take a look at the remote landfills of Alamogordo, New Mexico. Underneath it's desolating lands lie millions and millions of unsold E.T cartridges on the Atari 2600. In fact, the landfill there would be considered the Video Game Wasteland. So yeah, movie games have a bad rap of sucking. It's a type of curse or something. Scott Pilgrim however, is a cures than a curse as it's very very good. So much so that as you play it, it hearkens back to an older golden time when we were blessed as kids and gamers to enjoy a beat em up without the consequence of being realistic or mothers complaining about how games are too violent just because some poor bad guy turned into a pile of money. Won't somebody PLEASE think of the money morphing bad guy?! Those were simpler times.

Sorry, I got off tangent. So yeah, this game is awesome. As I said it's based on the graphic novel and it's look almost has that same style. The premise is simple. Beat Ramona's 7 evil exes in order to date her. Sound simple, but dating a chick with emotional baggage isn't easy. Believe me, I tried. The music in the game is a hearing to behold. Chiptune legend Anamanaguchi (yeah I never heard of them) brings to the table a plethora of catchy tunes that you will listen to constantly to how great they are.

Scott Pilgrim is basically a beat em up RPG in the same way as River City Ransom. You kick ass, you take names, people turn into coins, it's as simple as that. But this time around it's much more deeper than you can imagine. You gain better stats by buying attributes. That's right, the brutally murdered monetary remains of your enemies are used to make you stronger. It makes sense to me in a hilarious way. Also, there are chances to gain more money in the subspace highway from flying piggy banks. That one not so much. The more experience you get from kicking ass, you unlock more moves. Those moves will be used to your advantage against the 7 evil Xs that form the League. In other words, kick some evil ex ass with your skillz (Z in skills is relevant).

Speaking of X, your opponents are tough, really tough if your not powerful enough. Matthew can use fire pulse and summon demon hipster chicks, Lucas hits you with his doubles and skateboard, Todd is a psychic vegan which pretty much kills any suspension of disbelief, with an AT Field, and electric attacks, bastard; Roxy is a ninja, Ken and Kyle are twin Japanese Djs, Nega Scott is Nega Scott, and Gideon is one evil bastard. He turns super, gets a one winged angel form and attacks you with a digitana. No, I'm serious, that's his weapon: a sword made from hand movements. There's not enough drunken jutsu in the world to see that weapon is stupid. Once you beat these poorly misunderstood punks you get the girl... or do you?

The graphics look like it's novel counterpart, and the backgrounds and stages look like it's in Toronto. From the snowy streets, to the eerie forest, to even the top of a building with dark smoke covering the sky. Within each stage there is a shop run by a different person. I won't get into detail about it, mostly because I can't remember the other names of the people running the shops other than Wallace and Mobile (yes, his name is Mobile). It just looks great, I can't tell anymore about it.

Whats unique about Scott Pilgrim vs the World (the movie) the Game is that it's not like your ordinary beat em up. For one I haven't played a great beat em up like this since Godhand. Plus, it's on the cheap side. For only $10 to download on the XBLA and PSN there's a lot of meat on this platter. Sure you can't play online, but these kinds of games are meant to be played with local friends. You know, to join in and steal all the money for yourself and hit each other with baseballs by accident. I'm sure there's some of you who would want online co-op, but then again who wants to play with hackers huh? I know some of the online community would put countless hours and figure out a way to TAS (Tool Assisted Speedrun) it even though it's only a downloaded game. The plus side of this is in honor of the release of the movie based on this on bluray/DVD, there is going to be DLC already for a downloadable game where you get to play as Knives and a patch to fix the difficulty on Average Joe. I admit I was a bit frustrated in the elevator at stage 7. The hit detection just went bonkers and lost everything before arriving at Gideon. Seriously you guys, it's not that hard to do a little training before you take on the big boys! But give me some space without pushing me into the pit! Finally, the game is half off, that's right. You can download this game for 5 bucks to coincide with the DVD/bluray. How can you not pass this up?

With the value your getting for this game, the content included, battle system, music, graphics, and game play, I'm glad to have bought this game based on a great series. Even though my cardinal rule is movie licensed games suck, my exception to that rule is this game. Brian Lee O'Malley, your a genius. This game deserves my Suzaku's Seal of Awesome. Good going, Ubisoft.

9 out of 10

Attraction and Appeal

Just some food for thought I would share. Add in to it if you want.

Something is bugging me. I just thought of something thats rattling my brain. This all started with an indulge into a discussion to music and what makes it appeal to the listener and why. Then it becomes a self discussion about attraction in general, which is where I am now.

Long ago as a kid, I was subjugated to listen to other people's music much to my dismay. It didn't work out to me as I didn't understand why it was popular to begin with. Then time after time more of the same music was forced against my sanity and it became a nuisance to the point where I couldn't take it. What drove me to the breaking point was listening to Jenny from the Block 20,000 times a day when working near a kids area....in the summer heat. Yeah it sucked. Then Hollaback Girl was being played on a flour covered radio and no way to turn it off. It just sucked the fun out of making cardboard flavored pizzas. Though not as sanity crippling as the former, but still annoying.

Then I discovered anime soundtracks and really got into it. Maybe it was because the difference between the drivel that I was ensnared to didn't appeal to me. Which is why I developed a love for foreign music, jpop and jrock mostly. Why? For the most part, the sounds are different, the lyrics with or without are inspirational (with some rare exceptions) and it was a language I barely understand self taught.

It was then that I discovered doujin music and embraced it's individuality. I tried to figure out what doujin music was as it was a different entity from it's modern jpop counterpart. For one thing it's not as mainstream and only a handful of people know of it's existence. It's unique, original, and it takes inspiration from other forms. A few examples of doujin music would be Crow's Claw and Demetori and newly discovered Hellion Sounds and Preludio. When I discovered Mario and Zelda Big Band Live and it's rendition of Dragon Roost Island from Windwaker and proclaimed it to be musical porn to the ears, not to be confused with music FROM porn with pornstaches and big afros, then it got to me up to this point where I started questioning to what makes this music appeal to me.

The best example would be Video Game Music and it's attractiveness. Most common answer would be nostalgia, however nostalgia aside there are people who like video game music yet nary picked up a controller ever. I listen to it because it was the music I grew up with...at least thats all I can remember. Others see it as a genre in and of itself that they can relate to. Now heres where it gets tricky. How does music in general appeal to us as humans (or half humans) to attract us to it's melodic charms (or dissonant screams)?

When sharing with someone who has never heard even a simple tune of VGM, they don't know what to think. I myself wouldn't want to share it with someone who has no recollection to even once being a gamer, nor would I share jpop who doesn't even know what it is. I got off tangent for a second there, but the question I have is this: What is appeal, what is attraction, what attracts us to the music the we listen to, and what makes it appealing and why to all 4 questions. That can go as well as to human appeal and attraction as well as it is still in the same as it draws us to whatever we seek.

I leave this up for discussion with those who see this, and maybe you tell me your interpretation to what appeal and attraction is and why something appeals or attracts you. Music would be the common theme for this discussion, but you can explain other things as well, so I'll leave it at that.

Stay Gold.

Scott Pilgrim vs. the World and my dislike for humanity

In time, all could be forgiven. Even as much as the last 2 movies I saw this year left a horrendous taste in my mouth that scarred me from seeing movies. And just when I just got around to think (American) movies were making a comeback. However, all was forgiven and blessed briefly when I left the theatre after seeing Scott Pilgrim vs The World.

Scott Pilgrim is another one of those graphic novel/comic turned movies. For most times they are hit or miss as some become disjointed in it's translation. Same thing can be said for video game to movies. This is related as Scott Pilgrim is part comic, part video game referencing, part manga inspired turned movie and it truly succeeds.

To begin Scott Pilgrim is this Canadian slacker loser who doesn't have a bed even to his name and shares it with his straight gay roommate word of wisdom obi wan Wallace. Scott has no goals in mind and his crowning moment for the day is mastering the bass line for the intro to the battle theme to Final Fantasy IV, not II, idiot! I don't care if others see it as II. Take into perspective the origins to what it originally was, from it's own origins. Scott at the beginning of the film is dating 17 year old Knives Chau. Strange name to name your Chinese daughter considering she has no connection to Vash's iconic villain brother. Because of this, his friends including bitter deadpan friend Kim are not looking at Scott's relationship as normal.

Scott's friends, the aforementioned rejection filled Kim include Steve who I guess his name is Stills, and ironically to pay homage to Crosby Stills, Nash and Young, there is a Young Neil. They are in a band called Sex Bob-Omb. Cute. Meanwhile Knives being clinged onto Scott is the perky fangirl and the only one at that because the band itself is not known. One day they get invited to join a party where record label big timer Gideon is hosting. Sex Bob-Omb wants to get a record deal with Gideon. There Scott meets the wig color changing Ramona Flowers. Scott tries and beefs up his introduction and Ramona leaves...Then he stalks her. What a creep.

Next day Ramona appears in front of Scott's door to deliver a package. Scott reluctantly asks her to date, but all she wants to do is get his signature for the package. In a flash, they start dating. There's a catch to all this however as Scott Pilgrim learns the hard way: Don't date a chick who has emotional baggage, which happens to be in the form of her 7 evil exes.

The story is very quirky with a lesson to learn. Kinda typical Canada to teach a lesson in everything. Look at Wayne's World. There was the bad end, the Scooby Doo end, and the happy end where people learn something. Did I mention Mike Myers is Canadian? Just putting it out there. Scott Pilgrim gets himself gets lots of character development, both outside and not so much inside battle. Least he grows some balls in the end. The others aren't as fluid as Scott. Such as Young Neil who was a hanger on to the Sex Bob-Omb went from Young Neil to just plain Neil. Downer.

What steals the show are the League of 7 Evil Exes. Why 7? The question would be 7?! No it'd be why 7 evil exes instead of boyfriends? Well, some people partake on some strange journeys as Ramona went les yay at least once. I don't count it as les yay if it was just a fling. If they were really together the relationship would have lasted longer.

Matthew Patel, the first evil ex is a very outlandish ex as he goes into a musical fight a la Space Channel 5, shoots fireballs from his hands and summons demon hipster chicks that do nothing. After Matthew is defeated and turned into coins aka River City Ransom, no one ever mentions him again. BIG LIPPED ALLIGATOR MOMENT! It had me at demon hipster chicks.

Lucas Lee, the second evil ex is an action star that Ramona briefly dated seconds after Matthew. He is very creative and a jerk, but hes a real nice guy, even if he is the enemy. Though summoning stunt doubles to do your work isn't honorable. Even if his death was subtle, dying doing a gnarly grind Ollie downhill is not exactly going to kill you. Ask Tony Hawk.

Todd the third evil ex is straight up a goku wannabe since he has psychic powers by being vegan and super vegan. He isn't that strong since his powers are only borrowed, but he can lick guitars like they were lollipops. I'm straight, but Todd's guitar licks are hot. Scott Pilgrim put up a formidable fight using the battle theme from FFIV, but was outmatched because the boss battle theme packed more punch than the battle theme. After all he IS fighting a boss right? Scott, though pulped to a beaten fools him into drinking half and half. Apparently a big no no. Then through the hole in the brick wall comes the vegan police to reprimand Todd's powers i.e Men in Green. Todd is kinda stupid really. Eating chicken Parmesan? meat a cheese. Gelato IS milk and eggs, bitch, but there's also soy gelato...maybe. Then there's the half and half. 3 strikes, no powers for you. Scott headbutts him and he turns into monetary exp. That's using your head.

Roxy, the fourth is the odd ex out. For one Scott said it best, "You had a SEXY PHASE?!" Despite her bitchy jock goth Misa Amane wannabe Ivy from Soul Caliber look, I like her. Her heartless ninja powers notwithstanding her whip sword belt is very cool. Ramona's fight with her is stylish, very much so when she pulls a hammer from hammerspace. Sad she doesn't get to use it long enough and the touch of her finger to Roxy's back of her knee is what was the crux in Roxy's fight. It was then that Roxy let out a sigh and I went wtf. Her last words to Scott were, "You'll never get to do this to her!" however disappointed me as she just emancipated Scott right before she turns into monetary rain. In case you haven't been paying attention, I'm liking this so far. The fights are creative and none are the same. Sure the concept of fighting an evil ex seems ludicrous, but hell I heard of crazier reasons for revenge.

The fifth and sixth evil exes are a pair of, and I'm not kidding when I say this: evil twin Japanese Djs that Ramona cheated on at the same time behind their backs. There's not much development on their ends since it was Japanese twins, the male kind...and their DJs to. This fight being a battle of the amps blew me way. Though it doesn't hold a candle to a salaryman who used to be in a band who uses a giant laser powered by a guitar and uses it to fight aliens in a giant spaceship. Using only the purist core of rock! That's what makes the girls shiver. This fight however is so epic that a yeti on the bands side and twin silver dragons from the twins side appear out of nowhere and duke it out. The twins are defeated by Scott's band cranking it up to past 11 which is way beyond the impossible. Guess the yeti is mightier than the twin silver dragons.

Meanwhile Scott goes through that cliched time where hes not at his best as he finds out the 7th evil ex is none other than Gideon, the final 7th evil ex. Gideon isn't evil, nor is he good. What we we don't see is his cryogenically frozen exes powering his lair. Instead hes manipulating Ramona. What a dick!

As soon as Scott mans up to take on Gideon, he to his lair and shows his true colors. Because of that, he gains the flaming sword of love. What he really gains is the Angel's Heart, thought he isn't an angel per se. That's not how it works and Gideon shows his true form and unleashes...a digitana? Now I've heard of turning the Miracle Blade to the Recovery Cutlass (blade sounds better) or the Angel's Heart rescinding back in the sheath to release the hikari no ken, but a sword from the hand movements and thin air is just ridiculous! Scott is taken out by it, poor guy.

Scott is then seen in what I call the DFIL (Desert for Infinite Losers). I call it this cause Canada doesn't like hell. In there Ramona reveals that she is being controlled by Gideon through a microchip on the back of her head. Geez, whoever heard of an ex that is so obsessed with getting back with someone they want to control them again? Scott remembers he received a 1up and uses it to restart the events before he died...which were a few minutes ago.

Before the final battle, one guy in the background says, "the comic book is better than the movie." A movie that lampshaded itself. I like that. Scott finally approaches Gideon and receives the sword of self respect, but it's more of a flametounge. He takes the mooks out with ease. Now I keep mentioning Angel's Heart as it is the sword that comes from within ones heart. It isn't exactly powerful and very flimsy, like an epee. Scott's Sword of Love is that, but his Sword of Self Respect is an upgraded version. He seems better without it and is more than capable of fighting in sync with Knives like they were on Ninja Ninja Revolution.

Gideon once again unleashes his digitana and the final battle resumes. Gideon is defeated with the pair double teaming on Gideon as they unleash a hyper combo finish on him and won the game. Later, Knives appears out of nowhere, pissed as a scorn high school catholic Asian chick would be and fights Ramona. Knives thinks she took Scott away from her, but Scott intervenes and reveals that he cheated on Knives for Ramona. Typical not teenage drama.

Suddenly a new challenger appears! It's Nega Scott. Scott's evil counterpart. That's right. Just like in Ninja Ninja Revolution there was a Nega Ninja, here there's a Nega Scott. So what does Scott do to his evil counterpart that seems so epic?! Why, chum up and go for coffee later. Well Scott is Scott, but lame!

As the movie draws to a close Scott consoles Knives and Ramona that what he did was wrong. Ramona walks into the frigid dark background of Toronto as Knives tells Scott to go to her. And so our movies ends with Scott and Ramona together. Roll credits, good night, winners don't use drugs.

Scott Pilgrim is a special case and the underdog of the summer flicks. It's got heart and shows a deeper side to modern relationships. Sure you may not get it because of the references to games, but if you put down the brown colored glasses that you have put on for some reason thinking you are part of an elite group that snobs at people like Scott Pilgrim or Michael Cera, you'll see that the movie is a very very well put together flick that sticks to you till the end.

Here's how I put it. If you read this far then you won't care for the spoilers: "Hi, I'm Scott Pilgrim and as a gaming slacker loser mcjerkass, I almost lost both my girlfriends. Thanks to cheating." Cory Rouse I am not/eat your heart out.

This movie as of this entry reached 10Th place at the box office. I am upset that this has happened. It doesn't matter if looks like a hipster/anime/game movie comic thing, it's stylish and is balls to the wall fun and more entertaining than any other movie out there. Yes even more entertaining than Expendables (ha! I casted Avalon Shield prior to this so flame away). I'm curious to know what movie beat it out that also beat out the Expendables. What?! Vampires Suck beat out Scott Pilgrim and Expendables?! ARRRGGGHHH!!! *rage quit* You humans are unfuckinbelievable!

Air...just...Air

I admit, a lot of stuff really doesn't get me teary eyed very easily. Whether it be a death of someone I hold dear, the destruction of the world financially, or dramas on TV. It's just something about the plot lines in those that doesn't get to me. In the last couple of years during my time of training, many a thing was tear jerkingly sad for many, but I've not seen anything that moves me. That is, until now. And that I say is in the form of a VN named Air.

Air is the second in line of visual novels turned tv series. Created by Key/Visual Arts and animated by KyoAni who knows it's audience by making moe the new money maker. What is Moe? Moe is to boys as Yaoi is to women. Ok bad analogy. It's a wee bit confusing to put moe in simple terms. Think of a child budding into it's teenage years as it grows into an adult.

Air is part of a sub genre of visual novels known as Utsuge? The best way to describe utsuge is the saddest nostalgic moments x 1000 or in my case Smike dying under the tree in the home of Nicholas Nickleby. Either that or Steel Magnolias. Something like that but they made it a genre. It's supposed to pluck at your emotional side and make even the manliest men sob and weep. And Air is one of them. Though among the trilogy of Key's work it's still good.

Yukito is a street performer who has nary a yen in his pocket for food. He arrives in a town where it's summer and kids are frolicking among the harboresque setting. Yukito has a bit of a special ability to make his tattered puppet walk without strings. It doesn't get him much. As he collapses near the shore he sees a mysterious girl who happens to be next to him. Enter Misuzu, a girl who sees another girl with wings in the sky. The 2 have an awkward initial start, but they soon become acquainted more. Misuzu is an emotionally unstable girl who hasn't a care in the world. She loves dinosaurs and makes a weird "Gao" (rawr) when she gets sad or frustrated. And drinks thick peach nectar. Hey I've seen worse. Some people drink coconut juice.

Misuzu takes in Yukito into her household where we see Haruko, Misuzu's mom/aunt. She works somewhere I guess and drinks every time she gets home to unwind in nothing but a tank top and jeans. She's hot, I'll admit, but there's a side to her where she really thinks that Misuzu is not the brightest kid. Over time we get to see that she truly loves Misuzu as a mother and daughter.

In this town which I guess is based on Okinawa or Kyoto, Yukito meets other characters such as the quiet polite Minagi and her BFF Michiru, the magic believing Kano and her cute tumor inducing puppy potato. And eventually there is a story of love across worlds and lives as we see with each passing episode the background behind the legend in the town. Each of the episodes which is truncated to a short season is quick run through the arcs that follow the series.

Kano is first at bat as we see why she wears a ribbon on her arm as shes prone to subconsciously talking to herself, attempting to go "meet her mom in the sky". The only family she has is her sister who works at the clinic where Misuzu goes periodically. Kano has these dreams of a mother who committed suicide to save her child who was considered a curse where ever she went. As Yukito and Misuzu discover the plume that Kano plucked out of the shrine was what was causing her to have split personalities, Yukito uses his magic to glimpse in Kano's mindset. Kano then speaks with her mom and tells her that she wants her to not worry and that she will be fine with her friends. After that, Kano is "cured". this arc was very endearing as Kano was suffering from a personality disorder that in the end had to be influenced by Yukito to move on.

Minagi is a quiet polite girl who has a dark side which is explored in the next arc. Seems that Minagi used to have a little sister that didn't make it and that her mom was having dementia problems. That little sister was in the form of Michiru, a wish that came true and the both were inseparable. Because of this Minagi's mom had forgotten Minagi had such a friend and that the resolve was more heartwarming as Michiru fulfilling her purpose returns to the stars. The key item in this was the star sand that Minagi's dad gave her when she was little and Micihiru appeared as she wished on them. It was at that point where I almost teared up.

The next arc before the final arc was the relationship between Yukito and Misuzu as Haruko was fed up with taking care of her and Misuzu having her mental problems. Misuzu would cry and say gao if things were frustrating or if they didn't go well. Haruko would pick her up from school once she started crying. We find out later that Misuzu was having dreams of a winged girl in pain which is in relation to her panic attacks at night. If she falls asleep, she loses her life. Just as Yukito wishes for her to live, he loses his life and is never heard from again.

Your probably wondering why things are as they are. The whole girl with wings and the fact that this relates to Misuzu. Well a long time ago there lived a girl named Kanna who was the last of her winged people kind. Shes lands literally on newcomer Ryuya and the 2 hit it off. Kanna, Ryuya make friends with the helper Uraha. Suddenly the 3 find themselves in trouble as the priests in the areas are planning to sacrifice Kanna to appease the gods. So Ryuya and his pair of female companions escape from the village to find Kanna's mom. They arrive in some sacred mountains where Kanna's mom is imprisoned. Along the way they get to know each other through their journey as Kanna learns to juggle. When Kanna finally meets her mom, her mom dismisses Kanna as she has been violated by the priests and kept her there in the mountains as some kinda praying god. So much that she can't leave. As monks and priests arrive to kill Kanna's mom, for a sacrifice, she tells her daughter to escape as a flurry of arrows strike her. Kanna's mom unleashes a power wind that wipes out the humans that surround the mountain. With her dying breath she sees Kanna struggle to juggle to impress her mom. Happily as she sees Kanna getting along with Ryuya and Uraha, she passes on. Moments later, with nary a bit of water left, Kanna tries to fly to the sky as the last winged person but is prevented by a monk's evil chant as she struggles to escape her magical imprisonment. With Ryuya and Uraha left, to make Kanna happy, they promised to bear a child, that child would be a successor and ancestor by the name of Yukito.

The last arc is in the eyes of a crow who is the reincarnated Yukito who has no knowledge or memory. We see through him the events that occured. Misuzu picks up the crow and thus begins her trouble with her and Haruko. Turns out, Misuzu is Haruko's foster daughter and the thought of her being taken away by her father would devastate her. She tries to make it up to her by being the mother she wanted. Combing her hair, taking her to the festival, and all around keeping her happy. Misuzu wanted a chick who she thought was where dinosaurs came from as a kid. When Haruko and Misuzu go to a shrine, they see a dinosaur that was worshipped, but was the same dinosaur that Haruko threw out cause she thought even if she were to give it to her she wouldn't accept her love. In the end at the beach as Haruko and Misuzu's father see who Misuzu loves the most, it shows that she loves Haruko and continues to live with her. It was then my eyes teared up. It's very heartwarming and just heart wrenching.

Air is one those series that tugs at your emotions and doesn't pull away till the very end. An engaging story about a love from long ago and a girl who wishes to be with her mom. Or something like that. If you are in the mood for a tear jerker, Air is the way to go. With that out of the way it's time to spring along to Clannad, the final entry in the Key trilogy. I hear it's best noted as a new classic. Does it live up to the hype. I'll check it out.

the Summer Arc and why shut-ins should get out more (not really)

As the final days of the summer arc reach it's finale, it's time to recap the events that led it's crowning moments and disastrous bombs that make up this arc. I'm doing this because not only are these events unlockable far and between, it's nice to reminence about what you did and what transpired.

The start of the arc was not shall we say in good spirits as I was still recovering from GUILT, though I've not seen that vampyr who contracted me to it. Plus as a ghost lingering the hallowed tiny corners of the radio station, I had no place to go. My classes for the semester were fubared, my wallet still on life support was barely hanging on due to the previous event where my favorite store overcharged me by accident. Simply put, I was screwed. However, in one glimpse of hope I had one request that would either make or break me. It broke me, and I lost any trust with anyone who don't take me seriously.

Looking to return to normal after struggling financially, I decided to take up a chance to see a movie. It was good, but quite a long arduous journey in bad shoes there and back. Then curious to see what the hubbub was about with Toy Story 3, I saw what people saw and was satisfied with it, but not so much as to cry to it like everyone else. Still fun. It was then that my respect for American movies faltered and crumbled with The Last Airbender and Twilight "Saga" Eclipse. Mostly because the quality of both movies made me uncomfortable and irritated. For the former, I simply was fooled in the deceison by the person who I took. The later was more of deceit and torture as I regret escaping the movie by the 15 minute mark. In the attempt to barter for a return from the person who took me, I wasn't able to convince her. Maybe it was because of the fact that my arguments for blatant manservice is invalid for a twilight neophyte would believe the magnificent 2 faced whore Bella and her "love triangle" is romantic. A human girl obsessed with immortality and I presume furry or necrophilia is pretending to be in love with 2 badly wooden actors was spooning with a werewolf in front of her vampire fiance. The whole battle between the fictional monster people was because of her. If there's a chance that the person who dragged me there would miraculously repay me, the better.

Meanwhile to take the taste of bad movies out of my mouth, I participated in a sequel to Music from Final Fantasy. It was different than last year as not only did I get a closer seat, I got a chance to sit next to 2 ladies rather than myself on the top tier. What caught me by surprise was that one of the ladies who acted like a libby, was quite nice. She was at the concert to give her, I'm not making it up, her heterosexual life friend. She brought her to Final Fantasy as a birthday present by taking her out to a night at a concert. She said it not me. And as much as I overheard her conversation about her other boyfriends and how she would just plow through them, she was quite pleasant to engage in a conversation during the intermission before the second act. As the finale came in the form of Terra's Theme, I hightailed it to the meet & greet to be behind 2 people. A few of them in line recognized me on facebook as I kept, as an FF fan boy in secret, squeed at the concert itself. As soon as I said my peace I traversed all the way home. However, as I learned through my own experience, I should never get in a cab in Fremont. Not only did I end up paying for the other passenger's extra mileage, I had to pay for the more extra mileage to reach the bank as the cab driver did not accept credit cards. Just my luck. So remember kids: Don't ride cab in Fremont. Rips you off and tears your wallet a new one, but for me it was more like tear my wallet another new one. Bastards!

After recovering from that devastating blow from the aforementioned cab incident, I regained my composure and pursued my side business to find rare games and it filled up exponentially as I received requests from many people. Sean Fausz, the epicfailguy, Machinimist which I am working on, and Guru Larry of ScrewAttackEurope. What also lifted my spirits was that I found Misadventures of Tron Bonne for 70 bucks. That's the lowest I've gotten for a rare game such as that. Something like Tron Bonne goes for maybe 200+. That may seem like chump change for most collectors, but for a rare game hunter like myself who is also a college student, it's pretty good. If I continue this business even after I move out, I will be able to work more with people on Thatguywiththeglasses.com

In between all the cool and suck stuff happening, I've delved into cleaning my studio as I've kept it unorganized for quite some time. That's got nothing to do with the plot, but considering I was under the influence of GUILT, it's a freakin godsend. It almost looked bad as a hikikomori's (shut in), but not so much as it would be a disaster. I also bought some new furniture as most of my stuff was increasing. Which gets to a minor subplot where I had to encounter a thing with Sears. Normally I'm cool with ordering stuff online. However, when a clerical error screws it up, stuff hits the fan pretty quick. As soon as I did some rustic negotiating and soul searching through the confines of Sear's customer service, I encountered them one more time and got my money back. Ironically what I was looking for was actually at another store all along. With that and a new shelf, I'm now at peace with myself.

Just recently there was a small mini con at this store I now go to called Anime V. Hugo, the owner of the place has been a new neighbor for a year now and decided to run a end of summer showdown as a bidding farewell to summer. This included a gundam building contest, a quickie cosplay stroll, a game of capture the flag, and raffle. I just coincidentally happened to have been in the neighborhood as I was on my way to deliver Tron Bonne to a client. A rather fun experience for anyone who is into anime. Even if your not, a con is a con and a con is a great way to meet new people. In fact, one of the people at Anime V on that pleasant saturday used to work for Geneon and he and I got into a very heated debate over what Geneon's legacy, and licensing as I am curious to know how to license a series such as Zoids Genesis rather than make a dvd fake for not sell. Turns out it's alot tougher than I thought. To keep my hopes up I'm continuing with the project. As the day continued, I met quite a few people there. Including Finn impersonator Finn, the ambitious seller Preston, Stanford student Jared, and Shawnie for some reason. Whence capture the flag commenced, I realized that I'm the worst guy to be playing sports. Willing to admit it, I gave it my all as it soon became a game of taunt the ostrich and psych out. With nary an ounce of strength left after relieving myself of my incomplete shadow gear, I admitted my freeze tag and gave up. Preston was not pleased with my attributes.

What I regret out of this heartfelt event, the con not the capture the flag, was that I did not participate in the costume contest. My reason is no excuse either as I demanded ninja agents to fight to participate, but really it was stage fright. Yes, I admit to my shyness as I've been shy most of my life and breaking the ice is not exactly easy. Keeping up with conversation with Jared, the Geneon guy, Preston and the others was a miracle in what I can pull off without drying up my content. But overall, Hugo pulls some amazing parties with just a small budget. Wish I knew how he let others work for him and mind the store. Hope he has one for fall. If Hugo has one for Halloween like last year, I will seriously go. Go fences make good neighbors eh?

I guess your probably not really not wondering why I keep mentioning GUILT. Yes I'm referencing to Trauma Center which by the way is a great series, but it goes deeper than that. Last year as I continued on in my studies at the KJCC radio station, I met a girl who represented the pacific islander club. I was repping the radio club at the time since Maveric, the wingman to the iceman (bad analogy) was in charge and couldn't rep, she and I started talking more to each other. At first I thought she wanted me to join her in endeavors that involved crossover promotion like what I did for Thatguywiththeglasses and the station. What turned out however was a game of cat and mouse for some reason. I didn't know that she, V as I will call her to represent vampyr, was a manipulator. During the summer while I was working at the time at a crappy safeway, miserable as I already was, got a phone call from V as she was having car trouble. I told her that I was busy working and had to go to my monthly union meeting to beat the man and stop Walmart. As soon as I couldn't take it no more, I ended up missing the meeting. Little did I know was when the creature bared her fangs and targeted what was dear to me.

At first I was confused at her actions, the way V takes her time, but then thats all women. I missed an opportunity to see the third Death Note movie. Ok I was chill knowing I missed a perfectly good time to see it. Then it came to the choices of movies that she dragged me to. Up, was my choice to go by myself as it was OK. V's choice was to see Night at the Museum 2 which was lame and Dance Flick beyond the borderline of retarded. Sure take offense to me, but a pregnant girl breaking dancing and unleashing a crappy ass CG fetus with umbilical cord attached doing the same thing is not offensive, then you probably haven't seen this feces smearing flick. Soon V dragged on to see Ghost of Girlfriend's past as I was not a fan of it, Hangover which was funny, and The Ugly Truth which was plain sexiest. Not once did V have any interest in me as I didn't realized that my wallet which was fine before I met her soon tapped into my monetary life support.

When I soon lost my job, due to poor management and location (place sucked anyway), V called me up to ask for help with her car. I thought sure 20 bucks is OK, she can pay me back, but instead I ended up losing 42 dollars for gas. And the gas station was only a few blocks away! The Ugly Truth was also the contender for worst movie of 2009 and when I found out V was playing with me. I was mentally aware, but my physical stand couldn't stop. So the Ugly Truth came out at the same time The Ugly Truth came out. I asked V if she could pay me back and she did as what wrestling would call a face heel. I had Maveric stand next to me as I encountered V in a fight where I couldn't win to the succubus of my sanity. She deceived me right from the start as I soon contracted GUILT.

Now this GUILT I'm talking about is not only related to the Gangliated Utrophin Immuno Latency Toxin that affected the people of Angeles Bay, but the GUILT I contracted was when my money was soon down to 5 dollars in my savings. I was devastated to the point when I lost all the will to live. With my wallet on a feeding tube to receive monthly help, I held onto dear life as my nakama from the station kept me from losing my wallet's life, and my own. Oh did I mention she slept with me just to get my money? Normally the average guy would say, "score!", but if it's meaningless you'll end up more depressed than when I became more depressed. As I lingered on with GUILT above me, I tried to continue on the Limit Break, but without any support from the TGWTG or anyone else, I dropped ship and lost contact with who I once thought of as my nakama.

During the time I was with GUILT, I lost 200 from Micro Center, 104 from a client, and quite frankly I'm losing consoles cause I'm getting heeled by friends who have 2 kids and no degree! (Long story) So all that: V's saga, my ghostly lingering at the station and my not mentioned filler time with school politics, my encounter with 2 crappy movies, I was in GUILT. My wallet still has it's scars, but there will be a time when I will rise of out GUILT and reign victorious over it. And that's what I did when I found Tron Bonne! What a doozy.

My next event will be a short and sweet get together with Okage Sama De, a cosplay group as they once a season throw a themed shin-dig. In the spring with Ouran High School Host Club where I met Ino, the leader of the troupe, and now they will do an Avatar the Last Airbender themed get together. Not the live action one, thank god! But the animated series. I'm doubtful about them having food this time, but maybe, I'll scope it out and end up going home early. Hopefully, it won't be like last time when I had to ride my bike to get a new tire just to rush to the Amtrak for spring break like last season. After that, Power Morphicon! That will vary though as I still haven't thought of a plan with Linkara. He said he'll just be there and that's it. I'll talk to him when I get the chance.

Trauma Team

I'm mostly a guy that enjoys long bouts of time spent on RPGs. It's just how I roll. Some games may take me longer because I sleep with it on. If there is an RPG that makes me fall asleep after 8 or so hours of play, then that means I'm having fun. To some that would mean that they would be bored. However, there is probably one game thats not an rpg where it's so good I fall asleep to it. That game is Trauma Team on the Wii.

Trauma Team is another entry in the Trauma Center series. TC or Super Surgeon Caduceus as I may believe is called in Japan, is a series of medical simulators. The first one debuting on the DS during it's infancy was relentless. So much so that I cracked in front of my college friends and admitted, "this bitch is hard." Let me reiterate. I cried in front of grown nerds and geeks and college students aloud and said that this bitch is hard. Usually games are playable and beatable and a ton of fun. However, Trauma Center is probably the only game I ever played where I got to the end and the last boss was unbeatable....for real! It's hard enough where your going to fail...alot (LordKat).

The games consist of surgery, that's pretty much it. You cut, your inject, stitch, ultrasound, pick up with forceps, burn with a laser, drain and patch up with gel. In some scenarios, you will have to use these tools outside of the surgery table. Such as dismantling a bomb, or pick lock an alarm. The most important ability to mention is the Healing Touch. Slow down time, invoke painless procedures, or Regen hands. I love this concept as it takes pure concentration to invoke or use the Healing Touch. Also gives you an excuse to tease your girlfriend in letting you use the Healing Touch on her. eh? eh?

In the first game you play as greenhorn Doctor Derek Styles who's not in the right mind set when it comes to his job. He gets paired up with Nurse Angie Thompson who is not really hiding the typical brash aloof personality. Like a bittersweet chocolate, Angie criticizes Derek until later in the game where they get into some sticky situations with the main villain.

Derek and Angie are hired to work at this medical group named Caduceus to fight against a bio terrorism group creating this man made disease known as GUILT. That's right, the same GUILT that I was affected by that money sucking whore who I will call a vampyr. GUILT stands for Gangliated Utrophin Immuno Latency Toxin. That doesn't matter though, your job as the player is to get rid of GUILT. You're the doctor, GUILT is the disease, kill it with antibiotic gel!

Now Trauma Team takes the same premise, but this time you can play as 6 characters each with different personalities and professions. There are 6 fields of medicine that you go through: Surgery with CRS01, a young surgeon who gets arrested for something he thinks he didn't do; First Response, with the fiery boisterous busty bruiser tsundere Maria Torres; Orthopedics, with The Big Guy and superhero costume wearing Hank Freebird; Endoscopy, with the rebellious clan princess complete with a teleporting ninja butler Tomoe Tachibana; Diagnostics, with the smart ass Spike Spiegel/Mugen expy Gabriel Cunningham; Finally, Forensics with Naomi Kimishima who can hear dead people with her purgatory hot line cell phone and mini me Little Guy who solves the cases in a big whodunit. Each character is full of life, humor and a back story that's worth a pilot for a real TV show if they execs in Hollywood weren't so stupid in creativity.

The game has a great storyline that intertwines with each episode as you play it anyway you want. Want to start with CRS01 and go to Tomoe? You can. The Real story however, comes into play when you finish all the episodes from each of the doctors. No posliers (spoilers), an epidemic with something of a rose becomes a key in the main plot in the disease that affects the people in the game. It's very well written with the intentional cheesy dialogue that doesn't detract from having a good time with each of them.

There is are couple of things that I find strange especially when it comes to the art and the dialogue. For a T rated game, Maria sure knows how to cuss. I would like to invoke Getting Crap Past the Radar because with stuff like prick and goddamn staying in the dialogue, man the ESRB was off that day when they let that pass. I love it though. Shows the more raw emotion put in the lines.

The other is in the artwork. Again, I'm sure Maria's attire with a tight skinned tank top and a green-yellow jacket is not exactly doctor material. Plus in the intro to her story, we get a blatant shot of her in shorts and nothing but a towel after she gets out of the shower. (See above pictures in order from Americans hiding cleavage to Shot of Maria to Maria in her "usual attire" to the japanese cover to Maria in nothing but a towel) For that kind of blatant fan service, I give Atlus a salute and Suzaku's Seal of Awesome.

The music is also worth mentioning. At first it became catchy, catchy enough to run in tune with Maria's themes. If it comes off that I'm talking about Maria too much, no I don't dig her that well. I'm just the kind of person that doesn't dig hot blooded people. Each theme pertaining to each doctor has a different feel. Tomoe's feels like Fantastic Voyage in caves and dark corridors. Maria is hot blooded so her themes are intense and the addition to the guitar solo in her Rosalia theme. Gabe aka Dr. McJerkass has a jazzy feel with a much more sinister brooding foreshadow for the things to go bad. Hank has a medley that grows each time your score gets better.

However the detriment is that if you make even one mistake it goes back to 0. Kind of a downer really. CRS01 is toe tappingly addictive that you can do a walking montage in the beat of the theme, I like themes like that. Finally, Naomi has different themes that fit the overall finding the truth behind the dead. However, it is when Rosalia's theme effects the overall emotion of the characters is where it truly shines. Maria is still intense, Gabe is brooding, Hank is strong, Tomoe is sinister (like going to the struggling world) and CRS01 is overall powerful to invoke dread and a final shout out to Rosalia for showing up as the final take on her virus. Sure it seems like a missed moment, but after feeling stressed for most of the game, it felt nice to know that what I did was miraculous. The song that seals the deal is Gonna be Here, the ED of the game. Not only is it a kick ass song that closes this chapter in the series, but it's another one of those Crowning Music of Awesome that people who are modern music buffs will grow to recognize as another reason why Video Game music kicks so much ass, even the struggling pop artists who are flooding the TV airwaves are put to shame. No mainstream artist in the western hemisphere outside of the gaming industry can really top this kind of caliber! Here.

My only gripe with Trauma Team is not the game itself, it's great. It's some people who complain on how it's hard to play the game that they give up without giving it a try...or they watch it on YouTube. Ironic how I was one of those people who discovered it on YouTube. It's not difficult to play with the Wiimote on your dominate hand. I'm a lefty so it was pretty easy to use the forceps, but there was one level where I had to use the nun-chuck to aim the chisel to get rid of some nasty purple stuff on the bones. It shows I'm not exactly accurate or the Wii motion plus needs more tinkering to be completely jitter free. Other than that the gameplay is great.

Overall this game is worth the value considering that most games are 60 to 80 bucks, or I daresay up to over 100 bucks for one stupid game clocking in at 30 bucks now. If blood isn't your thing no matter how fake it is, then rent it. You know what, buy it. If you got a Wii and you love taking tumors out of people, then this is for you. 9 out of 10. Buy it.