Page 3870 – Capsule Computers

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April 3, 2014

Insomniac Games Sponsors Women In Games International’s GameMentorOnline

Free Mentoring Program Connects Video Game Industry Professionals to Protégés in All Disciplines of Games Business and Development

LOS ANGELES—April 2, 2014—Women in Games International (WIGI) announced today that independent video games developer Insomniac Games has become the exclusive sponsor for GameMentorOnline (GMO), the first and only online mentoring program for the video game industry.

With the help of sponsorships like the one from Insomniac Games, GameMentorOnline is offered as a free service that connects video game industry professionals with those establishing their careers. The first and only platform of its kind, GameMentorOnline has helped hundreds of protégés learn the ins and outs of all aspects of the video game industry, by matching them with appropriate mentors who are experts in their field.

“Sponsoring GameMentorOnline is an investment into the future of our industry,” said Carrie Dieterle, Chief People Officer at Insomniac Games. “We want to be part of an initiative that encourages innovation and creativity; something that celebrates diverse backgrounds and stokes the desire to be part of the games business.”

“From the beginning, WIGI’s mission has always been to make the video game industry a better place for everyone,” said Belinda Van Sickle, President and CEO of WIGI. “Whether you’re first starting out in games or building your career, it can be a tough place to navigate socially and professionally. We consider GameMentorOnline to not only be a professional service, but one that promotes positive interactions between mentors and protégés from all types of backgrounds.”

WIGI’s GMO is housed within the Chronus Mentoring Service-mentoring and talent development software-that helps mentors and protégés track progress and reach key milestones as they work to achieve their professional goals. Volunteers completely run the program, with donations and sponsorships all going towards keeping the program free for protégés.

For information about GameMentorOnline and to donate or sponsor, please visit: www.gamementoronline.org.

About WIGI
Women in Games International (WIGI), made up of women and men, enthusiastically works to promote the inclusion and advancement of women in the global video game industry. WIGI promotes diversity in video game development, publishing, media, education and workplaces. WIGI is driven by a fundamental belief that increased equality and camaraderie among genders can make global impacts for exceptional products, increased consumer enjoyment and a stronger game industry.

About Insomniac Games
Burbank-based Insomniac Games is an independent video games developer that has released award-winning hits for game consoles for 20-plus years. In 2013, it announced a partnership with Microsoft Studios to release Sunset Overdrive exclusively on Xbox One. Insomniac has created world-famous game franchises such as Spyro the Dragon, Ratchet & Clank, Resistance, Outernauts and Fuse, resulting in more than 44 million games sold globally. Insomniac is also known for its collaborative workplace culture, having earned 13 local, regional and national “best places to work” honors since 2004. In January 2009, Insomniac opened a Durham, N.C. studio. Additional information can be found on both Insomniac studio locations at http://www.insomniacgames.com.

Winter and Foxtel Play is Coming to the PS3

Mateja Simovic

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April 3, 2014

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Winter and Foxtel Play is Coming to the PS3

As I’m sure most people know, the fourth season of the ever popular Game of Thrones series will be premiering on Monday the 7th of this month on Showcase (or on Sunday the 6th for any of our Yankee readers). Our review for the previous season can be found here. Once more will millions tune in to see the intrigue and plotting unfold in the mythical land of Westeros, where undead white walkers rise to terrorise the living and boy kings kill with impunity…

To coincide with the start of the new series, Sony Computer Entertainment Australia (SCEA) called the banners of various news media outlets together for a suitably medieval feast. Meat off the bone and wine by the barrel was consumed as the Sony hosts announced the new addition of Foxtel Play to its entertainment options. The new service, launched on the 1st of April, will allow those who own a PS3 to subscribe to Foxtel Play’s service by using their Playstation Network (PSN) account and pay for access to content on a month-to-month basis. There will be a special rate for those who sign-up withing April for the first three months of their subscription (A number which mysteriously lines up with the run of the latest season of Game of Thrones– *wink*). This app will also be available for PS4 at a point in the near-future, but as of writing is yet to have a concrete date announced and users will be required to have a broadband connection to fully enjoy the service.

It was after the official speeches and before I had consumed too much wine that I confronted SCEA’s Managing Director, Michael Ephraim, at butter-knife point (in keeping with the Game of Thrones theme). I (politely) discussed with Mr. Ephraim a number of topics including the direction of the PlayStation consoles towards more holistic entertainment hubs.

Sony has in recent times moved to position and market its product as less of a specialty ‘games console’ and more of a broader-reaching ‘entertainment device’. This move has been echoed by Microsoft in their own products, but theirs is a story for another time. Some aspects of the gaming community have been made anxious by the decreased emphasis on video games which this marketing portrays for what should be first and foremost; a video game console. It is these concerns about the PS which I voiced to Mr Ephraim.

Ephraim spoke calmly and he spoke eloquently. It was clear to see that I was but one amongst many journos who had gotten too brave on booze and cornered him at a press event. He explained that PlayStation catered to those who wanted a ‘sit-back entertainment experience’. The sort of experience which involved relaxing in a lounge room with surround sound and a triple-digit-inch screen. This was the trump card which the Playstation console could provide its audience to compete with traditional streaming on a computer (with its puny localised sound and double-digit-inch screen) and a feat which was now available with greater ease thanks to the aforementioned addition of Foxtel Play in Australia.

Furthermore, he added in between mouthfuls of trout, lamb, chicken, and beef (seriously, there was a LOT of meat at that event), the PS’s increased diversity was meant not to lose focus on gaming in the process, but to unify and streamline the entertainment experience in the lounge room. With an increasingly technologically complex world, entertainment has grown to become similarly complex with separate UIs accosting a consumer on their computer, smartphone, and smart TV. The PS seeks to cut this Gordian knot by providing a single system which can offer all these entertainment capabilities with a single UI to master. I admit, this line of thinking cut through my alcoholic haze and spoke reason to me. This Ephraim guy probably knew what he was talking about. Whether or not the PS will be able to fill this niche in the market will be seen in the future.

I unfortunately cannot remember what happened after I began grilling Mr. Ephraim about whether or not Sony had designs upon the Iron Throne of Westeros. I was informed afterwards that I had perhaps consumed too much Dornish wine, but I have a theory that I might have been poisoned. Well played Sony, well played…

Only Lovers Left Alive Review

Zac Elawar

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April 2, 2014

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Only Lovers Left Alive
Studio: Recorded Picture Company, Pandora Film
Publisher: Madman
Formats: Cinema
Release Date: April 17, 2014

Overview

Only Lovers Left Alive is independent film icon Jim Jarmusch’s latest, starring the extremely popular Tom Hiddleston (THOR, The Avengers) and always enthralling Tilda Swinton (We Need To Talk About Kevin, The Grand Budapest Hotel) as centuries old vampires who live for love amongst a dying world. Jim Jarmusch is often credited with kindling the American independent film movement with his 1984 absurdist comedy Stranger Than Paradise, and has since remained a major presence in independent cinema state-side. Though its appeal may widen as it stars the white-hot Loki himself, Only Lovers Left Alive is art-house personified and might not be for most.

Story

Adam (Hiddleston) is a reclusive musician, living away from all of what’s left of society in a Victorian-era house on the abandoned side of Detroit, Michigan (although, it seems the whole of the United States has been effectively abandoned), apt for a vampire such as he. A crisis faces the “zombies” of the Earth – how Adam unsympathetically refers to humans – as they fail to find a solution to their increasingly self-polluting ways. It’s not the ozone layer or global warming that is cause for concern, but instead our global water supply. When he’s not busy lamenting the depressing state of the world “zombies” have left in their wake, Adam continues to make new music, which always ends up sounding solely appropriate for funeral services. He’s also drawn to the lure of suicide, asking local ‘rock and roll kid’ and personal supplier of guitars and other eccentricities, Ian (Anton Yelchin), if he knows a guy who can craft him a wooden bullet of the densest wood. Ian is quite naive, not even connecting the dots or batting an eyelid at the odd request. Adam obviously knows this, and trusts him because of this very fact.

Eve (Swinton), Adam’s wife (as if the biblical names didn’t already tip you off), lives a decidedly different life across the other side of the world in Tangier, Morocco. Living in a technologically abaft country by comparison, Eve is not completely opposed to new technology, such as her iPhone which she uses to video call Adam. He on the other hand, living in a once advanced metropolis, is anachronistic in his insistence on complicating affairs, hooking up his old laptop’s webcam to a tube television in order to complete the communication. Eve is happy in Tangier, supplied with O- blood from her mentor and fellow vampire, dramatist and poet Christopher Marlowe (John Hurt), but upon witnessing Adam’s clearly morose frame of mind and spirit, decides to fly over to be with her love. Once reunited, the audience is not subjected to an almost expected, lustful rendezvous, but one that shows the true depth of the fondness between these world-weary souls. The film doesn’t really have much of a plot, per se, with the only real event being the arrival of Eve’s sister Ava (Mia Wasikowska), whom Adam despises for certain transgressions she made in the past.

Ava’s “crimes” are never spelled out to the viewer, but spending one minute with the character is enough to explain his adverse attitude towards her; she is a spoiled, teenage brat maturing as slowly as her vampire body decays. Once again, her actions land the couple in an unfavourable position that ultimately instigates their leaving to Tangier in order to avoid potentially unwanted attention. The film features some humorous, satirical and sometimes scathing lines, mostly aimed at the music industry. Some may find it too self-aware or self-indulgent in those pop-culture referent moments, but from someone who has experience in the medium like Jarmusch, it’s okay to trust in his knowledge and laugh along with him. The film does drag slightly with a runtime of just over two hours, particularly in the final twenty minutes or so, also succumbing to a somewhat abrupt end. However, the vibe of the film isn’t like any other, which along with the superb acting from our leads, is reason enough to drink in this art-house experience.

Visuals & Audio

If anyone walks into the cinema without knowing that the protagonists are vampires, they will as soon as the reel rolls; the text of the opening credits is all made in a deliciously dracula-esque gothic font. The film opens with a spinning record slowly dissolving back and forth to a spinning shot of Eve laying on her bed, staring up at the ceiling, a visual transition technique that Jarmusch utilises multiple times to great effect, matching the movie’s pace and airy feel. The lighting throughout is naturally sourced. Though Tangier has an overall warmer colour palette, rarely is a scene not bathed in shadow and dark tones. Adam’s Detroit abode is dim and darkened, with the cool rockstar having closed every curtain and blocked out all light. As a vampire, that’s a necessity, but his personal style is similarly drab, opting only to decorate with blacks, deep reds and purples; the colour scheme, combined with the numerous instruments and records lying about, appropriately presents the feel of a lived-in music studio as opposed to an inviting home. Adam’s very possessions and decor are antiquated, from the furniture to his 200+ year old dress robe.

The visual symbolism in the film goes beyond their immediate surroundings as Eve wears all white, with Adam wears all black; Eve believes in seeing the positive in this existence, choosing to dance her cares away while Adam is the pessimist, opposing her stance. Even Eve’s hair is of an unusual, but metaphorically stark, white hue. The original instrumental soundtrack of the film composed and performed by Jozef Van Wissem & SQÜRL has an airy, yet haunting quality to it. When the droning guitars kick in, it becomes quite hypnotic. The strings are the focal point across the board, mirroring Adam’s obsession with all things bowed and plucked. In fact, some of the score doubled as the fictional music the character was responsible for creating. Lebanese singer Yasmine Hamdan gets a spotlight moment near the conclusion of the film with a seductive and mesmerising performance. Hiddleston himself busts out an elongated version of Paganini’s Caprice No. 5 on violin in a single-shot, with no editing trickery. Surely there are other ways to fake it in post, but for all we know, Hiddleston is simply a very quick learner.

Overall

It’s extremely hard to classify Only Lovers Left Alive; it’s part trippy, musical love letter, part dark comedy, part vampire romance (not like Twilight, mind you) and part existential study. At the end of the day – as Adam and Eve would require – Jim Jarmusch has created a vehicle for the wonderfully ethereal Swinton and brooding, but tender Hiddleston to dig their fangs in and help bring the independent film community a fresh, atypical take on vampires. Heart-achingly relatable in its message and, dare I say it, human, Only Lovers Left Alive is a beautiful and twisted, albeit long in the tooth and meandering tale. Regardless of whether you attain any meaning from the feature, there’s certainly this intangible, effortlessly enchanting and artistic aspect to Jarmusch’s newest creation that demands our eyes and our ears.

Capsule Computers review guidelines can be found here.

New “Daylight” Details, Release Date and Trailer Surface

Andrew Day

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April 2, 2014

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New “Daylight” Details, Release Date and Trailer Surface

So Lets first deal with the elephant in the room; Daylight from ATLUS has had its release date pushed back. The development team needed a little extra time to fine tune the game’s mechanics to make for the scariest experience possible. The new release date is April 29th. So sad news for those who were expecting to pick it up next week, but I am sure the little more time will push the game well over the edge in terms of scares.

However, while we had to be the bearers of bad news regarding the release date, we do have some new information about the game’s final area, as well as a few more screenshots and a new trailer to wet your whistles. We previously spoke about the game’s forest area. Well, getting through the forest now gives way to a horrifying hospital. This hospital is absolutely immaculate; no graffiti, nothing out of place, beds all perfectly made. Why does this hospital look like the day it was opened? You will have to play Daylight to find out.

Actions speak louder than words, so check out our gallery of screenshots of the new hospital area below, and below that, check out the new trailer! Daylight‘s new release date is April 29th so be sure to stay tuned to Capsule Computers for all the Daylight news as it becomes available.

Drakengard 3 Collector’s Edition Heading International

Andrew Day

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April 2, 2014

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Are you a longtime Drakengard fan? Well do I have some exciting news for you! Square Enix have just announced a special Colelctor’s Edition for the upcoming Drakengard 3. The collector’s edition will be incredibly limited at only 2000 units produced, and will come with a whole bunch of goodies that you can’t get anywhere else.

The Collector’s edition was previously announced for other regions but is now officially making its way across to PAL Regions. The pack ill include the following:

All Previously announced Pre-Order DLC
The Complete Novella
Official Soundtrack CD Sampler
Prequel Stage DLC – Play as Zero’s sister, One, in this additional level
Caim Costume DLC – Protagonist of the original Drakengard (Once equipped, stamina consumption decreases by half when using a skill)
Giant Baby Hat DLC – For your in-game dragon companion
Drakengard 3 Collectible Poster

That’s a pretty good deal. Drakengard 3 is available now through the Square Enix Store for €69.99/$79.99 so make sure you grab it now. For all the Drakengard news as it becomes available, be sure to stay tuned to Capsule Computers.

S2 GAMES TO HOST COSPLAY COMPETITION AT PAX EAST 2014

Press Releases

Philip Federico

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April 2, 2014

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S2 GAMES TO HOST COSPLAY COMPETITION AT PAX EAST 2014

Contest Features Top Cosplay From Around the World with Prizes up to $1500 and Trip

Kalamazoo, Michigan (April 2, 2014) – S2 Games, developers of Heroes of Newerth and the highly anticipated MOBA, Strife, today announced that they will be hosting a competitive cosplay contest at this year’s PAX East. The contest is open to all PAX East attendees and features prizes including cash, exclusive entry into upcoming events and a chance to judge a future competition. The panel of judges for the PAX East competition will include The Neo Tokyo Project’s Jason Koh and Joey Lim, winners of the inaugural cosplay competition in Singapore.

“We’re all huge fans of cosplay here at S2 Games,” said Marc DeForest, CEO of S2 Games. “The level of creativity and ingenuity that these cosplayers possess is truly astounding. We wanted to put an event together where we can honor their talent for all the fans at PAX East.”

This live event is open to all PAX East attendees and will be held at the S2 Games Strife Lounge, Room # 159, at 6PM EDT on Saturday, April 12. The contest is broken down into two categories that participants can compete in: Male and Female. Winners of each category will be awarded a cash prize of $500 and will officially be commissioned and contracted by S2 Games to create a costume based on the heroes featured in Strife. S2 will fund all the materials needed for the construction of up to $1,500. Winners will also be offered the opportunity to travel to S2’s next cosplay contest to show off what they’ve constructed. Additional prizes include judging a future competition and potentially being invited to attend other Strife events by S2 Games and its global partners.

Entry is free, but space will be limited. Competition deadline: 1PM EST Saturday, April 12. To sign up for the event and for more information, visit cosplay.s2gamescom. Any additional questions may be emailed to this dedicated address for the contest: cosplay[at]s2games[dot]com.

S2 Games will be at PAX East all three days promoting Strife, the company’s newest MOBA in room #159. Strife is currently in Closed Beta and is available to select Closed Beta testers across the globe. Strife will be available for the general public in 2014, promising a realm of conflict, competition and glory. For more information on Strife and how to obtain a closed beta code, please visit www.strife.com, or follow along on Twitter (@S2Strife), Facebook (www.facebook.com/strifethegame), and YouTube (Youtube.com/S2Strife).

About S2 Games:

S2 Games is a game publisher and developer with a mission to identify, develop, evolve and unleash the future of online multiplayer games. Since its inception in 2003, S2 has been focused on driving innovation into the global online game space, through identifying and solving industry issues, listening closely to its passionate gamer base and incorporating features that gamers truly want.

Active in sponsoring and helping drive many global tournaments for their flagship title, Heroes of Newerth, and their new title, Strife, S2 is focused on providing the best online multiplayer gaming experience and opportunities for its fans to shine. For more information on S2, please visit www.s2games.com.

The Creators of the Critically Acclaimed Max: The Curse of Brotherhood Announce Tentacles: Enter the Mind for Windows 8 PC and RT Devices

Press Releases

Philip Federico

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April 2, 2014

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The Creators of the Critically Acclaimed Max: The Curse of Brotherhood Announce Tentacles: Enter the Mind for Windows 8 PC and RT Devices

Following the release of the Xbox One title Max: The Curse of Brotherhood, Copenhagen-based development studio Press Play is pleased to announce Tentacles: Enter the Mind, scheduled for release in early summer on the Microsoft Store for Windows 8 PC and RT Devices.

Tentacles: Enter the Mind is a completely new take on the Tentacles universe and mechanic from the award winning Tentacles: Enter the Dolphin. Set in a beautiful 3D world, bizarre creatures hide behind every twisted corner of Phluff’s mind, from Libido to Super-Ego and beyond. Eat their eyes, acquire new powers, and kill the cute!

Literally enter the mind of Professor Phluff, a mad scientist with a dolphin head who’s obsessed with making the world a cuter place. But everything has gone horribly wrong. Dr. Phluff’s mind has become infested by the cute creations he so dearly adores and they’re making him even crazier than he was before. Luckily, his subconscious has a plan and will help you on your journey. Navigate as Lemmy, a rubbery tentacled monster, and clean out each layer of Dr. Phluff’s troubled psychosis. Use the intuitive, controls to avoid tricky projectiles and surface hazards, while snacking on eyeballs along the way. From paranoia to hysteria – the goal is simple – clean out each layer of Professor’s Phluff’s mind and survive for as long as possible.

“Tentacles is first and foremost about playful, challenging mechanics that are both entertaining and engaging. It takes place in a twisted, surreal universe where there are no limits to Professor Phluff’s fantasies,” said Creative Director, Ole Teglbjærg. “And I guess this game speaks to a very broad audience…who doesn’t like mad scientists and tentacles?”

To learn more about Tentacles: Enter the Mind please visit: http://pressplay.dk/games/tentacles-enter-the-mind/

About Press Play

Press Play is a multi-award winning game development studio located in Copenhagen, Denmark. Founded in 2006 by Rune Dittmer, Ole Teglbjærg, and Mikkel Thorsted, Press Play has created numerous games but is best known for its original IP: Tentacles, Max and the Magic Marker, and Max: The Curse of Brotherhood. The Studio currently has several unannounced original IP in development. In 2012, Press Play joined Microsoft Studios in a light-touch acquisition, allowing Press Play to retain full creative control of its projects. As always, Press Play creates original mechanics-driven game experiences for geeks, moms, and other extraordinary people.

Flashout 2 Review

Luke Halliday

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April 2, 2014

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Flashout 2
Developer: JujuBee
Publisher: JujuBee
Platforms: iPhone (reviewed), iPad
Release Date: March 31st, 2014
Price: $0.99 – Available Here

Overview
There have been a number of F-Zero styled space racers on the mobile platform, so what makes Flashout 2 stand out among them? Well at its core there isn’t anything about Flashout 2 that is exactly innovative, there isn’t really much about Flashout 2 that we haven’t seen a dozen iterations of before. What makes Flashout 2 stand out is its execution. It is a damn fine game that wears a coat of polish that you just don’t see on mobile games. Flashout 2 looks great and plays great, you can tell that JujuBee put a great deal of effort into fine tuning the space racer experience and the result is probably the best incarnation of the formula on mobile to date.

Gameplay
Much like other space racers on the market, Flashout 2 appears to be heavily influenced by the Nintendo racing classic F-Zero. It wears that influence on its sleeve for better or worse. Thankfully the game plays quite differently to F-Zero despite being bred from the same formula. Flashout 2 doesn’t focus so much on speed as F-Zero does, rather there is a focus on power-ups and obstacles.

When racing you’ll encounter a number of obstacles, which you either avoid of shoot down. Some alternate pathways can be opened up by activating them, there is also the traditional speed boosts and other items. As you race you accumulate in game cash which can be spent on customization and other vehicles.

The game features a number of gameplay modes, branched between Single Player and Multiplayer. There is the standard free race mode which allows you to jump straight in and just race it out on a track of your choosing. There is also a time trial mode and a detailed career mode. Through these modes you can progress, unlock vehicles and ultimately move through the game and become better at it. It is a simple method, but it is a proven one and it works spectacularly. The tutorial at the beginning of the game is quick enough that it doesn’t overstay its welcome and the game kicks into gear with ease.

As for controls, the game plays really simple, you steer your vehicle with gyro control by moving your device as if it were a steering wheel. There are on screen buttons that can be pressed to activate weapons and boosts. It is all very simple and gets the job done well enough.

Ultimately the game is well polished and is quite a bit of fun to play. It doesn’t really bring anything new to the table but its a solid game all round and there isn’t really much more you could ask for from Flashout 2.

Visuals and Audio
As for Flashout 2’s visuals, the game is aesthetically impressive and features some graphics that could pass on consoles even. There isn’t really anything memorable about Flashout 2 visually but the graphics are quite nice and give the game a decent level of immersion.

The soundtrack for the game is probably one of its better points. Featured are a number of techno beats coupled with some dubstep tunes. The dubstep tracks may be off-putting to some but it does generally fit the action of the game.

Overall
If you’re looking for a well made space racer in the same vein as F-Zero, then Flashout 2 is just the game you’re after. It is polished and plays quite nicely. JujuBee have crafted a good game that will satisfy the needs of racing game fans and serve as a nice casual game for mobile devices. Newsflash people, Flashout 2 is a spot of fun that is well worth the price of admission. Get ready to start your engines, Flashout 2 is ready to roll.

Capsule Computers review guidelines can be found here.

Conception II’s final heroine Feene introduced in latest trailer

Travis Bruno

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April 2, 2014

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Last week Atlus USA released the demo for Conception II: Children of the Seven Stars onto the PlayStation Vita and Nintendo 3DS but since then they were a little quiet about the game and have left fans hanging as far as heroine introductions go. Six of the heroines have already been introduced, leaving one left without an introduction.

Today they have rectified that problem by introducing us to Feene the game’s seventh heroine. She is an ultimate defender and carries a gigantic shield. She is a third year student at the school and adores photography. Conception II is still set to be released in less than two weeks on April 15th in North America with a European release coming sometime in Q2 2014.

Maria Holic Alive: Complete Collection Review

Travis Bruno

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April 2, 2014

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Maria Holic Alive: Complete Collection Review

Maria Holic Alive: Complete Collection
Studio: Shaft
Publisher: Sentai Filmworks
Format: DVD, Blu-ray (Reviewed)
Release Date: March 25, 2014
Price: $69.98 – Available Here

Overview
Anime where the main character is a pervert that has nosebleeds over anything lewd and gets lost in their own delusional fantasies are easy to find. However that main character is almost always a male, and Maria Holic thrived in its first season by showing how a perverted lesbian girl can be just as prone to nosebleeds and lewd thoughts and be rather hilarious because of it. Now that Sentai Filmworks has released Maria Holic Alive, the second season of the series, with a new English dub, is it worth continuing this story?

Story
For those unfamiliar with the series, Maria Holic follows a girl named Kanako Miyamae who has transferred into a private all-girls Christian school named Amenokisaki in order to find her true love similar to what her parents did at the academy when they were her age. The only problem is, unlike her mother and father, Kanako only has eyes for girls and now that she is at an all-girls high school, she has just entered a proverbial paradise.

However that paradise quickly becomes a hell when she finds out that the most popular girl in the school and the previous headmaster’s granddaughter, Mariya, is actually a man in drag. Forced to keep Mariya’s secret and constantly watched by both the sadistic Mariya and his cold maid Matsurika, Kanako still manages to become friends with a number of girls at her school despite the fact that she always seems to be having nosebleeds everywhere and breaks out in hives anytime a man touches her.

Anyways, Maria Holic Alive takes place in a bit of an odd place thanks to some time shenanigans that seem to place the beginning of the season somewhere in the middle of the first season and continuing past the events that occurred at the pool involving Mariya and Shizu. Thanks to the way that the series places itself, and also simply due to the way everything unfolds, little has changed in the way this show is handled.

The story continues to follow Kanako as she interacts with her fellow classmates and has to deal with not only her own delusional thoughts and constant blood loss but also the constant torment from Mariya and Matsurika as well as constant misunderstandings with a male priest named Kanae who seems to always be struggling with possible feelings for the girls he comes across.

This pattern continues throughout the entire season, making Maria Holic Alive something of a random slice of life comedy with a perverted lesbian since there really is no semblance of an actual story being told here, though a few new characters are introduced in this second season. Even the whole rosary issue that was hinted at during season one is never followed up on, outside of a throwaway gag during the last episode.

You know what though? This ends up being okay for the most part thanks to the amount of comedy and build-up many of the gags in Maria Holic Alive receive. All of the standard jokes from the past season return, such as Kanako’s fantasies and fountaining nosebleeds, but this time around there are a number of gags that end up being referenced a few episodes later, revisiting these jokes and often building upon them further.

It is often difficult for a comedy series to stay fresh during its second season, but Maria Holic Alive manages to do so by keeping all of the jokes that people loved from the first and building upon them. It is a shame unfortunately that any hint of story progression and even character development, although there is some of the latter, is left by the wayside to make room for all of the gags.

Visuals
Considering how Shaft handled the first season it would have been impossible for another studio to step in and take its place and as such Shaft has returned in Maria Holic Alive with all of their signature moves. All of the characters normal designs are nicely detailed with a lot of attention to detail included in most of the environments that characters spend time in.

The constant shifting in art style remains the same as well, with many scenes being portrayed with characters looking extremely deformed and chibiized for comedic purposes and most of the fantasy sequences looking like shōjo artwork taken to such an extreme level that the characters barely look human. It is nice to note that Sentai Filmworks has done a great job with the amount of Japanese signs that appear in the show with everything from sound effects to side-text and various cultural notes to help viewers understand some of the more obscure references made in the show.

Audio
As with the first season, Sentai Filmworks has went back and revisited Maria Holic Alive and have given this release a complete English dub. The English voice actors all retain their roles from the first season and I am pleased to say that they have not lost a step working in this second season. Jessica Calvello and Monica Rial sound excellent when they are dealing with one another as Kanako and Mariya. Of course for those only looking for the Blu-ray upgrade, the Japanese voice track is also included.

As for the background music, the odd nature of this series where it often flips from one tone to the next rapidly is impressively matched by the various pieces of background music in the show. There are a number of different opening themes in Maria Holic Alive, with two standalone songs for the first two episodes played for parody and amusements sake until the main opening song “Run Run Riru Ran Ran Rara” by Yuu Kobayashi, the Japanese voice actress for Mariya, takes over as a surprisingly enjoyable opening that rivals the opening from the first season. As for the ending theme, it is a bit more subdued with “Dounimo Tomaranai” by the Japanese voice actresses for Mariya, Kanako, and Matsurika singing the ending theme.

Extras
As far as bonus features go, the key inclusion with this release are commentary tracks for all twelve episodes from the original Japanese voice actors. This is then followed with some more standard inclusions such as trailers for other Sentai Filmworks anime, Japanese commercials, a clean version of the two comedy opening themes but oddly enough not the main opening theme, and a clean version of all of the different ending theme animations, with there being a slightly different ending animation for each episode.

Overall
Maria Holic Alive may skimp on any actual story progression and be rather scarce on character development, but it makes up for it with a large amount of comedy with a high rate of accuracy. While a few jokes may start to feel stale near the end, almost every gag, reference, or parody remains consistently funny all the way until the end. Now that Maria Holic Alive has an English dub and the already colorful and unique looking Shaft style has been released in Blu-ray, fans of comedy anime would be doing themselves a disservice to pass Maria Holic Alive up.

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