If you prefer watching anime on Hulu then you will be happy to hear that NIS America has added the first three episodes of Kanojo ga Flag wo Oraretara and Love Live‘s second season to the streaming service. This inclusion of the Love Live episodes brings the total number of Love Live episodes to 16 as the entire first season is still available on Hulu.
Those who want to check out Love Live! can do so here while Kanojo ga Flag wo Oraretara can be found here. NIS America is currently planning a home video release for these series sometime in the future and the first season of Love Live! is currently set to be released in North America on September 2nd.
Overview At this point I don’t think there is any question about it, Monster is one of the greatest works in anime history. Having followed this series from the very beginning and reviewing each and every installment to date, I still find myself astonished that this series still surprises and captivates me just as strongly as it did from the very start. It is a testament to the skill of Naoki Urasawa as a writer and a credit to Madhouse studios for the phenomenal job of adapting this series into anime form.
Equally worthy of praise is Siren Visual, the only anime company that has the guts to release a series like Monster. In an industry that chooses to release series like Vividred Operation while allowing classics like Outlaw Star go out of print, a company like Siren Visual is one anime publisher that champions offbeat excellence. With series like Chihayafuru, Dennou Coil, Night Raid 1931 and of course Monster in their catalogue, Siren Visual are giving us the anime that no one else is brave enough to. After watching all of those series and reviewing them, I can say without a doubt the industry is for the better because of Siren Visual and now at the penultimate release of Monster, that rings more truer than ever.
Story
Part 4 picks up where we left off in Part 3 and it dives deeper into the cascading mysteries that have been mounting since we first began this journey with Tenma. The plot takes a turn for the grimmer (pardon the pun) and alongside the characters we come to uncover some things that could change the entire landscape of the series forever. The pieces are in place and as we head towards the climactic final stretch, it is only a matter of time before someone moves in for the checkmate.
While the focus remains on fatefully intertwined Kenzo Tenma and Johan Liebert, this particular portion of the series sees a greater focus placed upon Detective Lunge, whose investigations unravel deeper and darker truths then even he could plausibly have imagined. His character remains the wild card in the mix for Monster and where he will ultimately end up is a major point of interest going into Part 5. It is hard to not feel that he may be playing Icarus here and flying a little too close to the sun, but the same could be said for Tenma as he relentlessly seeks to course-correct and untangle this complex web he has found himself wrapped up in.
There is a genuine sense of dread underlying all proceedings but it wouldn’t quite be Monster otherwise now would it? With all of the pieces in this game of chess converging on the king, the final plays are being set in motion, what lies after checkmate though, may not be victory, but instead just an end. In the face of sheer darkness there is no room for victory, likewise there is no room for defeat.
This game that started with one surgeons fateful decision will come to an end. It has been a tale written in blood and with this penultimate release, Monster sets the stage for its final act, all that is certain is that this story must come to an end, the question is: what will that end be?
Visuals and Audio
Stylistically Monster takes some darker turns in this release, with the colour palette taking on some harsher shades as we progress deeper into the abyss as far as the story goes. As with every release to date of Monster, the art and animation has remained consistently superb. While it may seem a little dated to some, the style of Monster ensures it is visually timeless. The aesthetics of Monster convey unbridled despair while also giving off an air of hope underneath it all, perfectly encapsulating the spirit of Monster.
Much like the visuals, the audio side of things remains consistently strong through Part 4 of the series. The English dub hits some high points with the performance of Lunge proving to be truly chilling in this portion of the series. Of course Liam O’Brien remains the stand-out with his captivating portrayal of Tenma. There is also the Japanese original if you are so obliged.
Extras
As it was with previous releases of Monster there is not any additional special features on this Part 4 release. While bonus content is always a positive addition to any anime release, Monster is a brilliant series in every regard and holds up as well worth the price point for the episodes alone. This is a must-have release with or without special features.
Overall
With Siren Visual’s spectacular penultimate release of Naoki Urasawa’s magnum opus Monster it proves once again that this is series is an anomaly in anime history. A series so special and so unique that there is nothing like it, let alone on the same level. The story being told in Monster is one that will go down as an all time great in anime. This is the kind of brave storytelling that you didn’t think we were allowed to see anymore. Monster is no-holds barred anime and Naoki Urasawa ensures that the dark twisted world of the series is one that you’ll never forget.
It redefines the anime medium in countless ways. The impact it has left can be seen in the series that followed it and have attempted to emulate it. Monster is a remarkable journey into the darkest reaches of the human psyche and the abyss that lies beyond its outer limits. The final trhilling act awaits us in Part 5 of Monster and following the shocking events of Part 4, I can hardly wait to take one last look into the dark world of Naoki Urasawa’s Monster as the forces of despair and hope come to a head. When the light clashes with the dark, the eternal struggle, can one ever win over the other? The answer awaits in one more dose of the unforgettable Monster.
Capsule Computers review guidelines can be found here.
From Frankenstein to Dr. Jekyll, from Alice to Mr. Toad literature is filled with some of the most amazing characters that mankind ever has or ever will know. Now, Titan Comics are set to release a brand new book that compiles all of these fantastic characters into one story! The Weirding Willows by Dave Elliot first appeared in Titan Comics’ A1 Anthology late last year and features some of literature’s most classic characters standing alongside one-another. Think of it like League of Extraordinary Gentlemen or Penny Dreadful but in comic book form (Yes I know that LoEG was originally a graphic novel).
Here is the official synopsis for the series:
Click for full size
IF YOU GO INTO THE WOODS TODAY…
When she was nine, Alice discovered a portal to another world… a world called Wonderland!
But Wonderland isn’t the only world connected to the Wild Woods, a dimensional nexus that Alice spent her childhood exploring. It’s a strange, magical place where Earth, Wonderland, OZ, Neverland, Mars, Pellucidar and Elysium collide – and where anything can happen!
From talking rabbits to winged monkeys, from Frankenstein’s Monster to a rampaging purple T-rex, from a kidnapped Mowgli to a werewolf with a deadly secret – there’s never a quiet day!
Now a young woman, Alice and her amazing friends are all that stand between the gateways in the Weir – and those who would exploit them.
This astounding first collected edition includes a brand-new chapter, exclusive to this volume.
Step into the Weirding Willows… and be transported to worlds beyond your imagination
You will be able to pick up the collected edition of The Weirding Willows from July 1st either in print or online from July 1st for the RRP of $19.99. We will be reviewing this book in the coming weeks so make sure you stay tuned to Capsule Computers for our thoughts as well as for all the Titan Comics news as it becomes available.
Today Tecmo Koei released a slew of new English trailers for Atelier Rorona Plus: The Alchemist of Arland which is set to be released on the PlayStation 3 and PS Vita on June 20th in Europe and a few days later on June 24th in North America.
In these trailers we have a look at not only the graphical upgrades to Atelier Rorona Plus but also how the battles and synthesizing has been changed in this revamped title. To go along with this announcement a number of new screenshots for the game were released and those can be found below the videos.
Pre-order bonuses were also announced for European fans of the game, as they can pre-order from GAME and obtain the “Lady’s Etiquette Costume,” an “Orange Swimsuit” from independent retailers, and a “Peach Vacation” outfit for those that download the game from the PlayStation Store.
Overview Everyone wants to be known for something. Some people will go to great lengths to help their fellow man while others might seek to only help themselves in a selfish quest for infamy. However what would happen if everyone knew that they would be leaving a story behind once they have gone, and that future generations could see the life that they lived? Would it be one of virtue or one of villainy? With a story like The Book of Bantorra’s, those two lines are blurred and now that the Complete Collection has been released, is this a story worth following to completion?
Story In the world of The Book of Bantorra, when anyone dies their soul is transformed into a book depicted as a stone tablet. These books are kept safe by the Bantorra Library, making it not only a sort of graveyard but also a place to protect the secrets of the dead. Why you ask?
Because these books contain the entirety of that person’s life and anyone who is able to touch the book will be able to see their memories and learn their secrets. As such the more important books are kept deep within the library and are protected by monsters as well as the Armed Librarians. These Armed Librarians are gifted with psychic abilities and are extremely skilled in combat with their leader, the Acting Director Hamutz Meseta, being the strongest of them all.
However Hamutz Meseta is full of secrets and desires combat against someone who might be able to kill her and considering how valuable some of the books are within the library, the Librarians must deal with enemies in the form of the Shindeki Church who call themselves ‘True Men’ and treat those under them as disposable sacks of flesh called ‘Meats.’
The Book of Bantorra is broken into numerous story arcs and the first arc really sets the tone for the rest of the series as we see just how far someone is willing to go to try and leave behind a spectacular book and how they treat Meats as inhuman bombs with no feelings. This dark opening arc introduces us to the world and the way things are handled, as well as providing a bit of a heartwarming story about love crossing through time, even if it is bittersweet.
This grim opener does leave a glimmer of hope in the viewer by the end of the arc but it is tinged with loss, which is something that becomes a running theme throughout The Book of Bantorra. The rest of the story is told in similar form with each story arc focusing on a new enemy and developing the various Armed Librarians more. This causes the story to be unfocused at times and even the character development is flawed due to the way the series is paced.
Some characters stand out more than others but except for Hamutz Meseta, it is difficult to determine whether or not this is a character that viewers should really stay with for very long because there is a rather high casualty rate in The Book of Bantorra. It also doesn’t help that Meseta is clearly keeping numerous secrets and that there are enough plot twists to cause a knot that only starts to be unraveled near the end of this twenty seven episode package. As the end of the series approaches most of the story arcs begin to converge with the main plot as the secrets that have been hidden are slowly revealed. With the story heading towards its finale, the action begins to pick up and manages to find a satisfying conclusion to this entertaining story.
Visuals The Book of Bantorra has a unique looking animation style where some people may either love it or hate it depending on how they take to the way the characters are drawn. Considering there are a large number of characters introduced throughout the entirety of the series, the art style not only helps make each one of them memorable with outstanding facial expressions but also fitting considering the theme and setting for the series.
It is also nice to note that the animation quality only dips every so often during the series’ many action sequences. These drops in quality usually occur during scenes with a lot of people but the majority of the action involves one on one combat between the Librarians and their foes. As for the backgrounds and environments, they are nicely detailed and generally fit in well with the world’s bleak nature.
Audio With the release of The Book of Bantorra: Complete Collection, as one would surmise, Sentai Filmworks has included both the original Japanese voice work as well as the English dub that was recorded when the series was released in two parts. The English voice cast fits their characters well and they do a great job matching the tone of the situation, giving many of the tense or dark moments more impact.
The background music throughout the series does a good job accenting specific scenes but generally is forgettable outside of a few key moments in the release. Since this release contains the entire series it also features both opening and ending themes, with “Datengoku Sensen” by Ali Project being too soft sounding at times, while the second opening “Seisai no Ripeino” by Sasaki Sayaka is more fitting. The ending themes, “Light of Dawn” by Annabel, and Dominant Space” by Yuuki Aira are both decent soundings ending themes, making only the first opener a disappointment.
Extras The Book of Bantorra: Complete Collection has barely any special features worth mentioning as this release only contains a clean version of the two opening and ending songs, trailers for other Sentai Filmworks releases and disc credits.
Overall The Book of Bantorra is a series with a lot of depth and contains a story that is not only philosophical, dark, and full of pain at times, but also highly entertaining, though you will need to really be paying attention to keep track of the plot at times. The series also falters a bit with the way it handles some characters, especially new characters near the end of the release, but the characters we do learn about it is easy to become invested in their struggle even if their fight is futile. The Book of Bantorra: Complete Collection tells a unique story full of twists and turns and is definitely worth checking out despite its flaws.
Capsule Computers review guidelines can be found here.
“So baby close your eyes to the lullabies , on the Newsbeat tonight!” Welcome ladies and gentlemen to this week’s Xbox Newsbeat, your one stop all access backstage pass to everything exciting happening over at Microsoft HQ. This is the last Newsbeat for the month of May and to cap off a month that has been a little light, we are giving you an insane dose of news with five great headlines for you to feast your eyes on. We’ve got two Xbox 360 snippets and a final three Xbox One articles that will hopefully get you excited for the coming year (try again next month Windows Phone). So seriously, what are we waiting for!?
Warface Xbox 360 Edition” Expands Operations with New Content Pack
Crytek and Microsoft are proudly announcing the brand new European Clash DLC pack for the F2P FPS: Warface. You can download the new content pack through the Xbox Games store now and you wain access to new weapons, gear and storyline missions. You will continue on the game’s international conflict storyline in a new co-op battleground in the middle of Eastern Europe, and a wide array of verses missions set in the Balkans.
World of Tanks: Xbox 360 Edition to Be Updated With Soviet Steel and Combat Ready Starter Pack
World of Tanks is getting its largest content release pack to date as well as a special retail edition of the game. Wargaming have announced details for its newest Soviet Steel update that will be available from June 3rd and will add an additional 29 iconic USSR destroyers (in light, medium and heavy tank classes). These will bring the total vehicle count to over 150 total (I didn’t even know there were 150 different types of tanks in the world) and in addition there will be two new battlegrounds to wage war upon – Komarin and Ensk.
“Forza Motorsport 5″ Car Pass Expanded; Now Includes 90 Next-Gen Cars
Ah I was waiting for a Forza Motorsport update! The guys over at Turn 10 seem to never rest. Community Manager Brian Ekberg released a letter to fans detailing two more upcoming DLC packs. These additional car packs will be available on their own or as part of the game’s season pass. You can check out the letter here for more information.
Remedy Gives Fans a Sneak Peek at “Quantum Break” Before its Major Unveil at gamescom
When it launches next year, Quantum Break will merge the world of television and video gaming together in a way nobody had ever dreamed before. Remedy Entertainment, the creators of Max Payne and Alan Wake have brand new footage of their upcoming title to show off at this year’s Gamescom conference. However, in the mean time fans can check out a brief trailer of the footage here.
Powerstar Golf Gets Bigger (and Free-er)
So I’m not a big golfing fan. I can’t even tell you how bad I am with a club in my hand, but for those of you who might be a little closer to hitting par than I am, you can officially try out the Xbox One exclusive Powerstar Golf for free! A new update to the game allows for a new Trial System, similar to Killer Instinct. You are given one character and can play through a bunch of free events, then if you want to unlock more of the game you can do so as you choose. In addition to the new free trial, paying players will now also get access to a brand new course for them to try their luck on. So whether you are an old veteran or new to the sport, then you should check this one out.
So there we have it folks. The last few Newsbeats for May. Did any catch your eye? Let us know in the comments below and remember to check back every week for all the latest and greatest Microsoft news, right here at Capsule Computers.
By now it is a good chance if you are a Dragon Ball fan you have seen Dragon Ball Z: Batle of Gods with the original Japanese audio but fans who prefer their anime dubbed were left with only vague allusions and uncertain answers as to whether they would ever receive an English version. Well Funimation has cast all doubts aside and have confirmed the movie will receive a limited theatrical release featuring the all star cast of Sean Schemmel as Goku, Chris Sabat as Vegeta and Piccolo and all the other regular cast members. It is likely the voice actors from the Kai series will be reprising their roles as opposed to the original Z dub cast.
Stunning animation and epic new villains highlight the first new Dragon Ball Z feature film in seventeen years! Beerus, the God of Destruction, travels to Earth in search of a good fight. Only Goku, humanity’s greatest hero, can ascend to the level of a Super Saiyan God and stop Beerus’s rampage!
So far it seems only North America will be recieving this limited release but we are hopeful it will start making its way to other countries. The movie will screen in select theatres on August 5th, 6th, 7th and 9th. You can watch the teaser featuring an epic kamehameha below.
Disney Infinity 2.0: Marvel Superheroes is already sporting an impressive lineup of characters ranging from Iron Man through to Captain America. However, fans of the series have been concerned as to whether or not what Disney original characters would be joining the roster. Well today, Disney have quelled those fears and announced that Maleficent (from Sleeping Beauty and this year’s prequel; Maleficent) and Merida (Brave) will be joining the fray.
With Merida joining in, that brings the total number of Disney Princesses up to 4, which is great news for girls everywhere who might have found their choice of characters a little lacking with the first release. We have a short gameplay trailer below that shows off what Maleficent and Merida can do, so be sure to check it out. Disney Infinity 2.0: Marvel Superheroes is still set for release later this year so for all the Disney news as it becomes available be sure to stay tuned to Capsule Computers.
Immanitas Entertainment launched their new mobile title Bomb the Monsters!today. The puzzle game stars a painter whose wife has been kidnapped by monsters and are now destroying Earth. The painter must now stop the invasion and rescue his wife by placing a limited number of bombs to create as much havoc as possible with the physics engine. The puzzle game features over 60 levels with multiple solutions to each level.
Selected Projects Awards Nominee “Astro Lords: Oort Cloud” MMO is to be Released in US and Europe
Aratog LLC, the developer of the multi-platform strategy Astro Lords: Oort Cloud MMO, releases the game in Russian-speaking countries and announces the release date in North America and Europe for Web and PC platforms with publisher BISBOG Group. The multiplayer real-time strategy and the Selected Projects nominee on Game Connection Europe 2013 will be released on July 1, 2014.
Astro Lords: Oort Cloud, a massively multiplayer strategy game, was presented as a beta on Game Connection Europe and Indie Prize Showcase Amsterdam 2014 game contests. The immersive gameplay of this in-depth space strategy with real-time battles didn´t pass unnoticed – the game became the finalist of both competitions.
A distinctive feature of the game is a big seamless world all players explore and conquer, regardless of the device the game is run on, which is made possible by using Unity 3D engine. Astro Lords: Oort Cloud provides captivating gameplay as well as the ability to continue playing from the last checkpoint, even on a browser or different platforms (Windows, Mac OS, Linux). Combining base construction, research, real-time space battles and sophisticated player cooperation, the game delivers a whole new experience to all RTS genre fans.
Now, with the Russian Web/PC version of Astro Lords: Oort Cloud released with Tartezal Holdings at the end of May, the European and US releases of this promising multi-platform MMORTS are in the pipeline, too. Specifically, BISBOG announces June 10 as the begin date of closed beta testing (CBT); the open beta (OBT) launches on June 17. The official release of the game in North America and Europe by BISBOG Group is planned for July 1, 2014.
BISBOG also announces German and French versions that will be available several months after the release of English version for PC and Web.
Pricing and availability
Astro Lords, a free-to-play MMO strategy game, will be available for Windows, Mac OS X and Linux platforms. The game will also be available in a browser with Unity 3D plugin installed.
Aratog LLC is a professional game development company based in Odessa, Ukraine.
The company specializes in creating games of all genres, including MMO, puzzle, arcade, social, action, adventure, RPG on multiple platforms. Find more at www.aratog.com
About BISBOG
The BISBOG Group is an MMO and mobile games publisher founded in 2012 with headquarters in Lausanne, Switzerland and offices in Brighton, United Kingdom. It publishes free-to-play games for mid-core players and niche communities, primarily focused on European and North American markets. BISBOG is run by an international management team with over 30 years combined experience in games marketing and media. To learn more, visit www.bisbog.com
About Tartezal
Founded by experienced gaming specialists and headquartered in Limassol, Cyprus, Tartezal Holdings Ltd is a publisher of cross-platform MMO games for Russian speaking countries. The company´s first title is Astro Lords: Oort Cloud, a free-to-play MMO game available for Windows, Mac OS X, iOS (iPhone, iPad), Android, and browser on Unity 3D.
