Reisen Goes to School by Bus: 2012

Friday, December 28, 2012

Eroge Bus Episode 18: 2012 Year in Review

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Monday, December 24, 2012

Secret Santa Review: Texhnolyze

This is the third installment of the Secret Santa Reviews created by the Reverse Thieves. Enjoy.

Texhnolyze. With a trippy opening by Juno Reactor.

This time around, the person who was in charge of recommending me anime to review was actually good at knowing what I'd like and what are the type of anime I am most interested in. He or She figured out that I love deep (mind-fuck) sci-fi anime. So out of the recommendations, I chose the one I knew the least about and so purchased and watched Texhnolyze: A series released in 2004 by the same people who brought you Serial Experiments Lain.

As with my previous reviews, I dove into this anime knowing absolutely nothing about. I didn't even read the synopsis on the back of the DVD box. Therefore, my first impression was somewhat confused. The first episode has almost no dialogue or narration what's so ever and so it did all the explanations about the characters and settings through very dim visuals as though the series takes place in a very dark place. Later did I found out that the series takes place in an underground city. As the fist set of episodes progressed, I began putting all the pieces together and started figuring out where the series takes place and who the characters are. However, this was only one small layer of this fantastic series.

I can barely tell what's going on.

Texhnolyze is a form of cybernetic technology that provides a replacement for lost limbs. The user can command their new high tech prosthetics much like they would their regular limbs. But there are some mysteries of this technology that eventually the shows shines upon. The protagonist of this show, Ichise, is a down on his luck prize fighter who ends up losing his arm and leg as punishment. The doctor in charge of texhnolyzation in the city sort of forces a new prototype of prosthetics on him. Meanwhile, an outsider who's intent is unknown is visiting the city. On his way, he meets a mysterious young girl who apparently can see the future.The city itself is governed by a multitude of factions which have somewhat hostile relations which each other. Once small mistake can spark a war among the power hungry.

The flowers provide a contrast to this rocky, desolate world.

The series likes to take its time with presenting information to the viewer; building the world episode by episode. Every episode tells little by little about the characters, their ambitions, their virtues and especially their flaws. Meanwhile the story builds to an introductory climax that serves as more as a briefing about the world and then finally builds into a final grand climax where nothing is held back.

This series has so many mysteries.

Even though the series is from 2004, the visuals are still well crafted which is kind of a shame that it wasn't released on Blu-ray Disc. Even though there are some lighting issues (it's too dark) in the first few episodes, they eventually fix it. Though the visuals are somewhat bland due to the setting, the mechanical designs of the world are top notch. The soundtrack is also excellent as it sets the mood of every scene. The opening theme is by Juno Reactor and is quite futuristic.

When put everything together, the series is quite a thrilling story about not just a man's struggle of survival but perhaps even all of mankind. There are quite a lot of messages told to the audience mostly along the lines of fate, raison d'etre and death. So overall this is a must-watch series for people who enjoy deep thrilling sci-fi series that don't BS around. This is definitely now one of my favorites.

Thursday, December 13, 2012

Guest Spot: Otaku in Review Episode 144

Once again, @ScottSpaziani and @Gnitro invited me onto the Otaku in Review podcast. This time to it was to discuss and review a fairly dated anime movie called They Were Eleven. Please check it out.

Monday, December 3, 2012

Eroge Bus Episode 17 - Shuffle!

In this episode I review Navel's Shuffle! which is soon getting a physical release.

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Show Notes:
00:00 Opening - Skydive - Freefall

01:10 Intros and stuff

05:57 Break - Moero Downhill Night BLAZE Op

07:58 News:

October 25th: News Briefs

-Princess Evangile perfect book will be on shelves November 26th
-artbook for rootnuko artist Amakura comes out December 31st
-Phat!’s 1/8 scale figure of Fate/kaleid liner‘s Prisma Illya comic ver out in March.

October 29th: Steins;Gate, Hiyoku Renri no Darling Ported to PS Vita
October 29th: Duel Savior fan translation patch released
October 29th: Moero Downhill Night BLAZE Goes Golden Master
October 30th: White Album 2: Shiawase no Mukou Gawa's Opening Anime Posted
October 30th: Aksys to Release Hakuoki: Warriors of the Shinsengumi PSP Game
October 30th: Taishi Tsutsui's Steins;Gate Spinoff Manga Returns in New Series
October 31th: Little Busters Producer: Anime to Cover Everything, Even Though 26 Episodes Is Not Enough
November 1st: Sakura Wars: Kanadegumi's Anime Music Video Streamed
November 2nd: Announing: Host Holic
November 7th: Latest Looks at "Fate/EXTRA CCC" and "Fate/kaleid liner Prisma Illya"
November 9th: Unaired Little Busters Episode Offered to BD/DVD Buyers
November 9th: Fate/Zero Anime Inspires Chess Pieces from Megahouse
November 10th: MangaGamer announces Tick Tack and hard copies for SHUFFLE!
November 10th: Steins;Gate Fuka Ryōiki no Déjà vu Film's 1st TV Ad Posted
November 12th: VIDEO: TV Anime "Total Eclipse" New OP&ED PV Posted
November 12th: News Briefs

-Imaimo‘s OST will come out on December 21st,
-MOONSTONE‘s 10th anniversary memorial book will be out first at C83, then on shelves January 25th.
-PSP adaptations are planned for Rosebleu’s Stellar Theater (February 28th)
-Debonosu’s Sorakumo (March 7th)
-ALcot’s Onigokko!
-ALcot Honey Comb’s 1/2 summer
-Renai 0 km portable has been set for January 31st
-Alpha Max has a 1/7 scale version of Satsuki out this May from Koichoco
-Kotobukiya – 1/7 scale Inia -Sukumizu- from MuvLuv TE in April

November 14th: Nekoten can haz sales?
November 15th: Transform Into Total Eclipse Anime's Aliens With Zip-Up BETA Hoodies
November 15th: Fate/extra CCC RPG's Short Gilgamesh Movie Streamed
November 16th: News Briefs

-CranCrown will have a ‘Hotcakes with Shinku Set’ (from Iro toridori no hikari) in advance of C83

November 18th:DLSite translates Lonely Yuri into English
November 19th: Women of Type-Moon Dress Their Best for 10th Anniversary Blu-ray
November 23th: News Briefs

-FLAT vocal collection will be on shelves December 21s
-Kotobukiya – 1/7 scale Yui pilot strengthening equipment from Muv-Luv TE in April
-Max Factory – figma Super Sonico tiger hoodie ver. in March

November 24th: Steins;Gate Film's 2-Minute Teaser Trailer Streamed

20:43 Break - Shuffle! OP

23:00 Review of Shuffle!

30:15 Break - Witch's Garden OP

32:23 Upcoming Games:

Friday, October 26, 2012

Eroge Bus Episode 16 - Boob Wars

This summary is not available. Please click here to view the post.

Monday, October 1, 2012

Eroge Bus Episode 15 - Dengeki Stryker

This month I review one of Mangagamer's latest releases: Dengeki Stryker along with Hisui from the Reverse Thieves blog.
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Show Notes:

00:00 Opening - Skydive - Freefall

01:16 Intros and stuff

07:56 Break - Robotics;Notes Game OP

09:49

News:

August 30th: New Little Busters! Anime Visuals Posted
August 31th: Mangagamer posts Go Go Nippon on Steam Greenlight
September 1st: News Briefs

-PeasSoft has announced the free-to-play ero MMOSLG Dainippon Gakuen Sengokuki
-Windmill’s upcoming title Witch’s Garden will be serialized in Dengeki Hime
-GSC’s nendoroid of ToHeart2 Dungeon Travelers and AQUAPAZZA‘s Sasara Valkyrie
-Android app for KID/CyberFront’s Never7 just came out

September 1st: Robotics;Notes' 2nd Promo Video Reveals Theme Songs
September 1st: Little Busters Anime Slated for October 6
September 1st: Fate/Zero Gets Visa Credit Card, Life-Size Statues in Japan
September 3rd: Muv-Luv, Muv-Luv Alternative's PS3 Port Promos Streamed
September 4th: Megahouse Offers an Early Look at "Fate/zero" Rider Figure
September 4th: Mangagamer posts Higurashi: When They Cry on Steam Greenlight
September 7th: News Briefs

-Kaitendoh has a 1/8 scale figure of Daiteikoku‘s Mikado coming January

September 10th: Minami Kuribayashi, ayami to Perform New Total Eclipse Themes
September 10th: Three Teams Join "Fate/Zero" Holy Grail Hot Springs War Hanafuda Game
September 13th: MangaGamer’s Heading to New York Comic Con!
September 14th: Fate/Zero BD Box II Bonus Extra's Trailer Streamed
September 14th: Mangagamer releases Sexy Demon Transformation
September 15th: News Briefs

-UnisonShift is releasing the Ryo Mizutsuki Vocal Collection 1 and Leyline OST “TASOGARE” on September 28th
-The Soukou no Arterial perfect guidebook will be on shelves November 9th
-Applique’s Re:birth colony will get a novel adaptation from Puchipara Bunko this October
-Alphamax’s figure of Chisato from Koichoco comes out in March
-ALTER’s figure of Suzuha from Steins;Gate comes out in January
-BEAT’s figure of Shizuru from Rewrite in pink and white swimsuit comes out in Feb.
-FREEing’s figure of Ilya from Fate/Stay Night comes out in January
-SkyTube’s figure of Super Sonico in a white gravure swimsuit comes out in December

September 18th: Crunchyroll Adds "Ef: A Tale of Memories" Anime
September 20th: Little Busters! Converted Edition Also Heading to PS3
September 21st: Little Busters! Anime's Ads Aired Featuring Natsume Siblings
September 21st: News Briefs

-Visual Art’s 20th Anniversary Remixes which came out at the event back on July 29th, will be on store shelves October 26th
-PSP adaptation of HOOOKSOFT’s SuGirly Wish is set for December 13th
-Kotobukiya starts new line of small poseable figures starting with IM@S’ Haruka, in April
-GSC’s nendoroid of Aoko from Mahoutsukai no Yoru coming out in January
-GSC’s puchi nendoroid version of TYPE-MOON characters coming out in February
-ORCATOYS’s figure of Tamaki from ToHeart2 as bunny girl comes out in January

September 22nd: Little Busters! Anime's New Ad Airs With Kudryavka Noumi
September 25th: Nobutoshi Canna, Yusei Oda Voice New Little Busters! Ad
September 26th: "Robotics;Notes" English Language Fact Sheet
September 27th: Mangagamer’s all ages games now on Dasura

24:54 Break - Dengeki Stryker OP

26:45 Spoiler-free review of Dengeki Stryker

41:40 Spoiler-full discussion

56:10 Break - Zero Infinity OP

57:52 Upcoming Games:

Re:birth colony -Lost azurite- by Applique

Thursday, September 13, 2012

Guest Spot: NTR Radio: Mami's Magnificent Mammaries

Oh hi there Mami-san!

I was invited to yet another great anime podcast called NTR Radio where we talked about Puella Magi Madoka Magica and stuff. We didn't exactly go as in depth as I prepared for but the end results was still pretty good. With the new movies coming to the US, I figured this would be a good time to post this. Check it out!

Friday, August 31, 2012

Eroge Bus Episode 14 - Mangagamer the Sequel

This summary is not available. Please click here to view the post.

Friday, August 3, 2012

Guest Spot: Otaku in Review Episode 127: Summer Preview 2012

I joined Scott Spaziani and Michael Camacho to discuss all the new shows airing this summer. Recorded right before Otakon with a grouchy and anxious Scott. The shows we discussed:

Muv Luv Alternative Total Ecplise
Ambition of Oda Nobuna
La Storia Della Arcana Famiglia
Chitose Get You
Uta-koi
Campione
Binbougami
Nakaimo - My Sister Is Among Them
Joshiraku
Sword Arts Online
Koi to Snekyo to Chocolate
So, I Can't Play H!
Hagure Yuusha no Estetica
Kokoro Connect
Humanity has Declined
Natsuyuki Rendezvous
Tari Tari

You can find the podcast here

Wednesday, July 25, 2012

Eroge Bus Episode 13 - Bible Black Infection

In this 1st anniversary episode I review Bible Black's sequel, Bible Black -Infection-.

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Show Notes:
00:00 Opening - Skydive - Freefall

01:18 Introductions and stuff

03:58 Break - Trample on Schatten OP

05:18 News:

June 27th: Total Eclipse Inspires PS3/Xbox 360 Game
June 28th: Love, Election, & Chocolate Anime's 2nd Ad Streamed
June 29th: Kumi Koda to Perform Total Eclipse Opening Theme Song
June 29th: Love, Election, & Chocolate Anime's 2nd Full Promo Streamed
June 29th: News Briefs

-PeasSoft has announced that their next title will be free-to-play
-Koichoco Portable PSP game will be out September 27th
-D.C.III is getting a version up with an additional story on September 28th
-Otama! soundtrack CD comes out on the same day as the game (October 26th)
-The Hatsusaku and Grisaia no Meikyuu visual fan books will be on the shelves July 27th
-Steins;Gate spinoff novel and audio CD, “Tojikyokusen no Epigraph”, is coming out next

year

June 30th: JAST USA announces Trample on “Schatten!!” ~kagefumi no uta~
July 6th: Mangagamer Announces New Acquisitions

-softhouse-seal’s Boob Wars, Sexy Demon Transformation and Super Secret Sexy Spy
-Portion’s Orion Heart
-Aconite’s Slave WitchJuly 6th: Ad, Promotional Trailer for Love, Election, & Chocolate PSP Game Streamed
July 6th: Aquapazza Game Delayed to End of August
July 6th: "Fate/stay night: Réalta Nua" Announced for the PS Vita
July 7th: D.C.III ~Da Capo III~ Visual Novel Gets TV Anime
July 7th: News Briefs

-free story patch for Hatsukoi 1/1
-Serialization of August’s Daitoshokan no Hitsujikai in August issue of Dengeki Hime

-UnisonShift Blossom’s spinoff novel A Clockwork Ley-Line comes out August 10th

- YuzuSoft: DRACU-RIOT! visual fan book, OST and drama CD out during comiket and

August 24th.

-Chou Dengeki Stryker vocal album, “For your Future”, to release with game
-WAVE to release a Saber Lily Beach Queens figureJuly 8th: Kara no Kyoukai: Mirai Fukuin Epilogue Gets Anime Film
July 9th: Crunchyroll to Stream Hakuoki Reimeiroku TV Anime
July 9th: Fate/stay night [Realta Nua] PSV's Opening Animated by ufotable
July 10th: Silver Link : Fate/Kaleid Liner Prisma Illya to Air in 2013
July 10th: Muv-Luv PS3 Port's TV Ad Streamed
July 10th: earthmind to Perform Theme for New "Fate/stay night: Réalta Nua" Opening
July 11th: Coverage of Announcements at Type Moon Fes
July 13th: Pre-orders for Ef - The First Tale
July 13th: News Briefs

-D.C.III Dash Ver1.3 USB Memory version scheduled for September 28th
-Also a da capo perfect visual fanbook to release July 30th
-August’s Daitoshokan no Hitsujikai overture’s novel adaptation will be out on August 30th
-Windmill’s character song CDs for Witch’s Garden will be released July 25th and August

22nd

-The Koichoco anime character song album, Chocolate Selection, out on August 22nd
-07th Expansion to release a commemorative CD, you&history. July 17th: Code:Breaker Anime's 1st Promo "Aku ni wa Aku o" Streamed
July 17th: Code:Breaker Manga to Bundle 3 Original Anime DVDs
July 17th: Web Koihime Musou Game Launches in N. America
July 17th: 5pb Celebrates Season with "Science Adventure Matsuri 2012 Summer"
July 18th: "Fate/Zero: Next Encounter" to Feature Alternate Masters
July 18th: ufotable Produces "Fate/zero" x "Tales of" Posters for Summer Dance Festival
July 19th: 1/1000 Scale "Steins;Gate" Building Goes on Sale in Akihabara
July 19th: ToHeart2 Dungeon Travelers Video Anime's Promo Streamed
July 20th: 0verflow posts a report on AnimeExpo
July 21st: 5pb.'s Robotics;Notes TV Anime Promo Streamed
July 21st: 5pb. Makes New Science Adventure Game After Robotics;Notes
July 21st: News Briefs

-SORAHANE’s Sakura, Sakimashita. will be getting a novel adaptation in October.July 21st: A Look Through Fate/zero's Irreverent Script Covers
July 21st: VIDEO: 5pb.'s "Akatsuki no Goei" Heads to PlayStation 3 and PSP
July 22nd: D.C. ~Da Capo's~ 10th Anniversary Video Streamed

Thursday, June 28, 2012

Eroge Bus Episode 12 - We Love Master

This summary is not available. Please click here to view the post.

Tuesday, June 26, 2012

Guest Spot: Otaku in Review Episode 122

I join hosts, Scott Spaziani and Michael Camacho, on Otaku in Review episode 122 to review past season's supernatural drama anime: Inu X Boku SS or how Scott loving called Ino X Boku SS. The podcast isn't as high energy as usual when I am on, but it's still pretty good.

You can find the podcast here.

Thursday, June 21, 2012

Guest Spot: Crime Scene Investigations #003: AnimeNEXT 2012

I dragged myself up to New Jersey for this year's AnimeNEXT. After the con, I joined a round table discussion of the con with Evan and Ink from Anigamers and Hisui from the Reverse Thieves.

You can find the podcast here

Thursday, May 24, 2012

Eroge Bus Episode 11 - Shiny Days Review

This summary is not available. Please click here to view the post.

Wednesday, April 25, 2012

Eroge Bus Episode 10 - A Couple of Rants

This month I go solo once again and rant about censorship and copyright.

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00:00 Opening - Skydive - Freefall

01:36 Introductions and stuff

05:11 Break - Little Busters! OP

08:08 News:

A Spiritual Successor to Katawa Shoujo: “Missing Stars”
March 30th: Robotics;Notes Anime Series Coming to Noitamina in October
March 31st: Little Busters! Anime's Promo Video Streamed
April 1st: Love, Election, & Chocolate Anime's Promo Streamed
April 1st: A Compilation of Various April Fools
April 5th: Mangagamer Releases a voice patch for Koihime Mousou
April 5th: Tomoe Tamiyasu, Hikaru Midorikawa Star in Little Busters! Anime
April 6th: Hard Copy of Koihime Musou now on pre-order
April 6th: Complete English fan-patch for Kawakaburi No Cherry by DOUJIN3ARIES Released
April 7th: Muv-Luv Alternative: Total Eclipse Anime's New Promo Streamed
April 7th: Little Busters! Anime Produced by J.C. Staff
Reactions to announcement: No. 1 No. 2
Key’s reponses: No. 1 No. 2
April 9th: Nitro+/Toei's Exiled From Paradise/Rakuen Tushihō is Sci-Fi
April 11th: Mangagamer Releases Magical Teacher by SCORE
April 16th:Hoshizora no Memoria Fan Translation Released
April 15th: Interview with one of Katawa Shoujo's Writers: TheHiveMind
April 17th: Da Capo II Spinoff Manga A.C.D.C. II Ends
April 19th: Fate/Extra CCC RPG Delayed to Winter 2012
April 19th: Steins;Gate Game's First Drama CD Gets Manga
April 19th: http://blog.mangagamer.org/2012/04/19/a-word-about-the-upcoming-ef-release/
April 23th: AQUAPLUS/Examu's Aquapazza Game Delayed to July 26

17:32 Break - ef - the First Tale OP

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