Sports anime veterans would understand how important this episode of Ace of Diamond was for the series. As with many sports series, Ace of Diamond began with some stage setting. Both this episode and the first episode are really all about putting all the pieces into place before the series truly kicks in. Now this can be a strange experience for those uninitiated in the sports genre as it often means that many characters introduced early on become inessential later on, contrary to a standard anime which generally introduces the important players from the get go.
What makes this episode important for Ace of Diamond is that it completes the preamble before the big game. The stage is set and Ace of Diamond is ready to play ball. That’s not to say that these first two episodes have been without incident, because that would be far from the truth, in fact a hell of a lot has happened in the span of these two episodes and in particular this episode really turned things up to 11.
We pick up where we left off with Eijun and Azuma engaging in their duel. Eijun must strike out Azuma to defeat him. It’s a battle that for Eijun isn’t just for him, but for the values of teamwork and friendship that he holds so dear – values which Azuma does not share. What is most interesting here is that we come to see why Eijun is such a hot commodity. He is a diamond in the rough. He believes that he can only throw straight balls, but as the keen eye of Kazuya catches, Eijun’s release is unpredictable. This is both his greatest strength and greatest weakness, he doesn’t know where the ball will end up but neither does the opponent.
It is interesting to see the dynamic that forms between Eijun and Kazuya. Kazuya takes on a role of partner to Eijun in a way he has not ever felt before. With his middle-school team, while feeling a deep connection to all of his friends, Eijun was simply far above them in terms of latent talent. Because of this the catcher could never be on the same level as Eijun. That is not the case with Kazuya, he not only gets Eijun, but he can handle his best. It is with Kazuya that Eijun finally comes to see ‘real baseball’. In the final moments of the duel, Eijun works in complete unison with Kazuya and in his words throws the best pitch of his life. In that moment, you get the sense that Eijun has never felt so alive. A revolution is stirring inside of this young man and that moment as the catalyst.
Back at home Eijun struggles with his emotions of whether or not he should take up the offer to join Seidou. Interestingly his friends encourage him to follow his dreams and take the offer. Eijun eventually decides to do it due to his friends push. It is a conflicting position that he is put in and he just can’t shake the feeling that he is abandoning them. In the final moments as they are all sending him off, those feelings are confirmed. They know they are only holding him back, but still a part of them wishes they could keep on playing baseball with him, because that made them feel alive. Eijun vows to carry their spirit to Seidou, go to Nationals and become the Ace that they all know he can be.
In the end, the tough decision had to be made and it is one that most sports series don’t take. What separates Ace of Diamond from the crop here is that sacrifices had to be made. For Eijun to ever make anything of himself, he had to become his own man and that meant leaving behind those he holds dear. It’s tragic, but as real as real gets for sports anime.
Next week looks to see Eijun begin that journey. The question now is, will the sacrifice be worth the dream?
To celebrate the upcoming release of Ubisoft’s newest racing MMO The Crew, the developer has just launched the “Skin a Car” contest which allows fans to demonstrate their car customisation ability on a Mini Cooper S. The winners will see their creations featured in the Crew when the game releases in early 2014 and there are chances to win other goodies and limited editions of the game. The contest is open to all people but only those in Europe, the Middle East and Asia are eligible to win prizes.
Participants are invited to register on The Crew’s website to create their own design for the Mini Cooper S. From colours and brushes to game stickers and even personal stickers, the customization module specifically developed for the contest showcases the numerous car customization options to be available in The Crew. These designs are then shared on The Crew’s Facebook page and submitted to a vote by the fans. Judging by that statement I would say visual customisation appears to be confirmed for the game which is great news.
The Crew will have people racing all across the U.S.A across all sort of terrain in their customisable vehicles. The game will have a persisntent online world, blending the line between single player and multi player. Players can tackle challenges on their own or team up on the go to comple their objective. The Crew is being developed for the Xbox One, PS4 and PC. You can get more information on the game and the Skin A Car contest at the official website. Check out our hands on preview for The Crew here.
While it was revealed that the Xbox One would be increasing the friends list 1o fold, but other than that change no more information had yet to be released. Until today at least, as Larry Hryb aka Major Nelson has made a video showing off his own Xbox One friends list and going through all the changes and new additions.
Officially called the Friends App, the additional features include not only the expanded capacity, but the ability to follow as well. So, players can see what all the top gamers are doing without the necessity of accepting a friend request, but have no fear anti-socialites the follow feature can be blocked as well. On the reverse, players can also choose favorite friends to make it easier to check in on their core Xbox gaming group, plus a feed of activity makes it easy to track what friends are doing at the moment, from starting up specific games, to uploading clips.
These are just some of the features though as there is quite a few, so those wanting to see all of the additions in action can check out the new video embedded below. Xbox One is set to release November 22nd, 2013.
Nyu Media has just announced their upcoming line-up for Winter – Spring 2014, which features a total of 5 , so let’s waste no time and look at what’s on the way.
Supercharged Robot Vulkaiser – Developed by Astro Port, this 2D shooter features charge weapons, power ups, and transformation to stop the invading aliens and save the world.
Armed Seven – Also developer by Astro Port, a bullet hell style side-scrolling game that pits the player against 5 stages and boss fights to try and stop the Neo Loran Order. Luckily, players will have 12 weapons available and 4 difficulty levels to find their perfect challenge.
Gigantic Army – The third and final game this wave developed by Astro Port, this has actually been released for a while in Japan, but is finally making its way overseas with an English version. Utilize 7 different weapons and a variety of abilities to bust through the enemies to win this mecha STG.
Croixleur – Developer souvenir circ. is finally getting it onto Steam, with a new story, weapons, cut scenes, and challenge mode. For more information on the original be sure to check out our Review.
Overall, five great looking games making their way onto PC via Steam and other digital distributors for Spring 2014.
The existence of Blood Bowl 2 may have finally been teased back in June, but since then information on the game has been a bit lacking, but it looks like now Focus Home Interactive and Cyanide Studios have a bit more to show in the form of screenshots. The first screenshots to be released for the upcoming sequel to the first Blood Bowl, they focus entirely on the human Reikland Reavers.
Showing off Blitzer, the most versatile player on the team, the screenshots give a good indication of what players will be able to expect from the game once it draws near to completion. Though the Reavers are the first team to be fully modeled and tested on the field, they will definitely not be the last, so it will be interesting to see more as the other non-human teams from the Warhammer universe finish getting their final touches and shown off in Blood Bowl 2.
Full Bore: The First Dig Developer:Whole Hog Games Publisher: Whole Hog Games Platforms:PC (Reviewed), Linux Release Date: September 10th, 2013 Price:$8.00 – Available Here
Overview
Release the hogs and prepare to burrow into Full Bore: The First Dig, a puzzling adventure that leads players into a crawl space of claustrophobia, mine traps, mysterious ruins and treasures within the mining grounds. Whole Hog Games allow players to dig deep as the boar and discover what is buried below the surface; for it may be Boredom or a Bore Legacy of indie games.
Storyline
The narrative is grounded by the title of the simulation and is fitting for a prelude to the saga. In Full Bore: The First Dig, players follow the journey of one boar (Frederick) or sow (Hildi) as they venture through an underground abyss, recovering stolen gems to return to The Vault that Mr Gullinbursti owns at Full Bore Mining Co. The storyline unveils as soon as players enter the mines and continues to develop with their depth of exploration, uncovering evil boars and more within the vast mine shafts.
Gameplay
The unique gameplay is distinguished not only through character choice, but the diverse environment and fascinating atmosphere that frames Full Bore: The First Dig. Players are encouraged to undertake the adventure at their own pace, building the contents of the map as they travel deeper into the world. I thought it was interesting to have all players enter the game on the same level of difficulty; focusing more so on their ability to solve puzzles in single-player mode, rather than enforcing a particular standard of expertise for competitive gameplay. However, the free nature of gameplay is misguiding to an extent, and can impact on your level of commitment to completing the entire game.
More specifically, it is easy to lose track of where you’re supposed to be heading and spend hours trying to figure out the best way to move properly to reach the next mine shaft or hidden gem. I can admit that I found myself fumbling my fingers on my keyboard several times between W/A and W/D, trying to dig and climb up blocks without changing course down blocks. It takes a while to get accustomed to the keyboard configuration for movement; especially during high speed races against boars to the bottom of the mine, if you don’t customise your settings.
Gameplay involved a lot of experimentation; in the case of moving blocks to cross new boundaries and learning what types of blocks were transparent, destructible, can be stomped on and various machinery for initiating laser beams and automated elevators. The highlight of playing Full Bore: The First Dig was exploring different ways to solve puzzles by rearranging blocks and digging through sand and soil to create new tunnels within each mine shaft, similar to the style of gameplay in SteamWorld Dig.
As players progress further into the game and attain more gems, the puzzles become more challenging and require quick-thinking and building on movement skills. During the more difficult stages, it was extremely frustrating to go through the same repetitive process of re-creating the same path I failed to complete the first few times – due to becoming trapped by collapsing blocks and falling over the edge. Fortunately, players have the power to zap (teleport) themselves back to their previous checkpoint to avoid disastrous situations. Without this ability I would not have got through the puzzle Nowhere to Go But Down, which involved racing Wotan’s unstoppable rocket down the shaft to prevent high impact explosions from the passel of purple crates.
Visuals & Audio
The 2D pixel art style is visually stunning; in terms of colour scheme, layout, character and object design and the contemporary lighting techniques within the game. The contrasting crumbling mine and machine-driven environments create a blend of an ancient and revolutionary world for players to discover.
I was genuinely surprised and very pleased with Full Bore: The First Dig’s original Glitchin’ Blues soundtrack, composed by Miguel Acuña and The Adjective Plural Noun. The rhythmic blues score effectively balances the dreary mood and theme of manual labour; from ‘The First Dig into Hard Earth’ to the final stages of ‘La Cueva Oscura’ in the Mechanical Castle. Without the inspirational instrumental soundtrack, The First Dig would not have been possible for players to complete, as all miners need a tune to dig to.
Overall
As a whole, Full Bore: The First Dig breaks new ground and gives players a reason to keep digging for the next edition of the saga. The underground puzzle adventure stays true to its genre; constantly testing players to solve challenges and look outside the blocks to capture the boars true surroundings. Whole Hog Games deserve credit for successfully funding their Full Bore project on Kickstarter and creating a Bore Legacy for additional indie titles to follow suit.
Capsule Computers review guidelines can be found here.
Overview Welcome once more to the wonderful world of Pokemon!
Unless you’ve been living under a rock-type for sixteen years, you’ve heard of Pokemon. It’s been quite the journey since Gengar and Nidorino first brought the Poke-smackdown and it just seems to be getting better an better. In one of the biggest releases in quite a while, Pokemon X and Y are bringing new life to a series that…well, was already running strong. With 718 Pokemon to entice your adventurous side, it’s time to get on the road from Vaniville city and start our journey. Oh yeah, one last question…are you a boy or a girl?
Starting with the man in the mirror
Story You know how the story goes. Mother and child move towns. Mother creates a new home for her family. Child turns ten. Child receives letter from world renowned professor. 10 year old leaves on cross country journey to capture and battle creatures of varying power…Mother stays home. You know, that old Chesnaught. The classic Pokemon tale is once again used in Y because, you know, a simple story is sometimes best. Like player characters who have come before, you are thrown into a world of wonder and mystery with a partner Pokemon at your side. It’s quite sweet, if you really want to look in to it. Regardless, the game begins when your mother, a former champion of the Rhyhorn races, officially making her the most badass Poke-mum thus far, sends you off on your journey. Joining you on your quest are your four friends, diverging from the classic rival/pseudo-rival formula of prior games, each who seek to fulfil their own dreams. Like Tierno and his passion for dance. This group dynamic also serves to provide your character with a more rounded life, beginning with more than just a kind-of-enemy.
From early on in the game, Mega Evolution is established as a topic relevant to a number of characters throughout the Kalos region. With the revelation that Pokemon thought to be the final form of their families can gain more power, a number of people decided to study this mysterious phenomenon. Though they are hard to obtain via gameplay, the story is kind enough to present you with the tools necessary to Mega Evolve a few Pokemon. Whilst being incredible handy, it also helps connect this new gameplay element to the story.
The adventure begins!
As you make your way across the Kalos region, you’ll run into some totally legitimate looking characters known as Team Flare who wish no ill will onto anyone and simply wish for love and happiness. *cough* not at all *cough* As to be expected from a Pokemon game, you are pitted against a new legion of generally Shiftry characters who dislike you. Naturally, you must combat said characters in order to protect the region and all those who dwell within. This time around the bad guys have a simpler goal: beauty. Team Flare wants to make the world beautiful and bask in the happiness that it will create. In order to do this however, they will step on whoever they need to. They don’t care how miserable society is as long as they’re happy. This much more personal goal relates Flare back to the days of Team Rocket more than anything else. Rather than the grandiose plots of other gangs who sought to reshape the world itself, Flare and Rocket are honestly just a bunch of bad guys who want their unfair share.
There’s just something about the story in this games that seems…fresh. The introduction of a new type and method of evolution shows even seasoned players that they don’t know everything about the Pokemon world. That being said, there are also enough similarities to the earlier games that it seems nostalgic. Deoxymoronic it may be, but that doesn’t mean it isn’t true. The game also hints at a deeper story, set far before the era in which you play, one of a King and his various deeds, some of which still permeate to the present day. Similar to the tale of Mewtwo, brief glimpses into a different time provide a sense of depth to the story, showing that your journey isn’t the only thing going on in this world.
Time for a daily constitutional
Gameplay What do you want me to say? It’s a Pokemon game. Just as those that have come before it, you catch, you battle, you win, you evolve. But now you can also (drumroll please) Mega Evolve! In one of the biggest additions to the franchise ever, final form Pokemon can now temporarily evolve once more in the midst of combat. After acquiring the Mega Ring through natural story progression, you gain access to this mysterious power. By having a compatible Pokemon hold their unique Mega Stone, found across the region, you battle screen gains a new button: Mega Evolve. By tapping this button and then attacking, your Pokemon will shift into a new, stronger form. Mega forms vary from Pokemon to Pokemon, with some providing simple stat boosts and others changing your Pokemon’s ability, or even it’s type. This adds a new level of strategy to battles, granting you new powers when you need them. Mega Evolution also does not consume a turn, making your upgrade immediate. Which is awesome. The other most obvious change to the Pokemon battle formula is the addition of the 18th type: Fairy. This cute new type serves to balance the type chart by giving the almighty Dragon-type something new to fear.
For those competitive battlers amongst us, EV training is a core element of creating that prefect team. Unfortunately, you had to know a fair bit in order to successfully EV train your Pokemon. But fear not, Y brings you a tool to help, it brings you: Super Training! By choosing the Pokemon you wish to train, you are treated to a touch-screen game in which you have to burst a large Poke-balloon. By tapping said balloon, you will launch a stream of soccer balls, preferably at the appearing goals. Each shot you make nets you points and it is your goal to reach the specified score in as fast a time as possible. But we all know that balloons don’t go down without a fight, so they naturally fire soccer balls right back at you, subtracting from your score and therefore worsening you completion time. Each stat also possesses its own unique balloon course, allowing you to train as you like for each Pokemon. Completing these courses may also grant you a punching bag item which will provide EV boosts without needing to complete the mini-game. My only complaint about Super Training is something that only applies to approximately 10% of the world: it isn’t exactly designed for left-handed people. In Super Training, you are given the option to move with the analog stick and block oncoming attacks with the L-Button. This becomes somewhat difficult when using the stylus with your left hand, requiring you to either hold the stylus in your right hand or hold the 3DS awkwardly.
Can’t go over it. Can’t go under it. Can’t go around it. Got to go through it!
The bottom screen also grants you access to the new Pokemon-Amie function. This allows you to get closer to your Poke-pals via an experience akin to pet simulator games. Feed, pat and even talk to your partners and strengthen your friendship, much more immersive than letting a stranger massage them. Becoming true friends with you Pokemon actually does have an effect on gameplay as it allows them to recover from staus afflictions faster, dodge more frequently and land more critical hits. The power of trust.
On the other end of the spectrum, the new Wondertrade system allow you to blindly trade your Pokemon across the world. Though you may come out on top, chances are you’ll end up with a Japanese Bidoof. Which quite frankly is awesome, full of pep that little guy. You can also engage in regular trades via the internet with the new Friends/Acquaintances/Passerby system. As you play whilst connected to the world wide web, you may simply tap on a random face that appears on the bottom screen and engage in trades, battles or whatever you want. Connecting to a Passerby bumps them up to an Acquaintance so you can easily find them again, should you want to. This entire system definitely speeds up the process of connecting with friends, removing a lot of the hassle from previous generations. Remember the Pokemon Centre’s second floor?
Not the first person to catch a Fletchling
One thing you’ll definitely notice if you’ve played Pokemon before is that the beginning of Y is far less tedious than previous titles. You gain your starter fairly quickly and are off to the first gym before you can say Running Shoes. The overall pacing of the game is also far different than it has been before. The Gyms are spaced out more uniquely this time around, allowing for a more varied experience. The gyms themselves also take note from those before them, increasing in their diversity and altering their layouts more radically. Unlike Generation IV, where you could beat the Elite Four at Lvl. 46, I had just beaten the third Gym in Y and my Pokemon were Lvl. 39. This may have something to do with the amazing upgrade to the cornerstone item Exp. Share. Seasoned trainers will understand the pain of constantly shifting the item between Pokemon, trying to level up faster. Well fret no more, as of Gen VI Exp. Share is now a Key Item. Simply reach into your bag, activate the item and relax. Exp. Share now grants 100% experience to the Pokemon in top spot and 50% to everyone else. Everyone. Else. This upgrade to something that was nothing more than a small nitpick of players shows just how much effort Game Freak put into Y.
Oh yeah, you can also customise your character for the first time ever, I guess that’s cool…no wait, that’s awesome! You can finally make the protagonist your own through the new clothing systems. Change your hat, shirt, pants, there’s even an option to change your eye colour…nice. Apart from being fun in the single player story, presenting your character to the world is oodles of fun, allowing you to see just what other people think is fashionable.
Being bad never looked so good
Visuals 3D Pokemon. That’s really all I need to say, but allow me to elucidate. Every single Pokemon, all 718 of them, have received a new 3D model that brings new life to the handheld Pokemon experience. Old school looks new again and newcomers look awesome right from the get go. It’s win-win. Each model features unique animations that correspond to the attacks they use, creating a far more visually interesting battle experience. These movements are all incredibly smooth and shift from their idle animations brilliantly. Each Pokemon also possesses their own fainting animation should they fall in battle. These small details complete the experience and prevent it from feeling gimmicky or repetitive.
the new graphic also have an excellent effect on the overworld. Characters now have full bodies, an improvement from the previous generations. Utilising the new Roller Skates, you can see your character sway as they propel themselves through the beautiful scenery. Based upon France, the Kalos region provides some very picturesque environments for you to enjoy. Calm lakes, eerie forest, gorgeous castles that have stood for 3000 years. Even the little things, like the addition of a headlight on the bicycle, feel like a major step in the right direction. Not that Pokemon hasn’t been doing that for sixteen years.
The world’s strongest Pokemon just got stronger
Audio Just as it always has, Pokemon features a surprisingly varied soundtrack. The background music relates directly to the visuals, enhancing whatever you may be experiencing, be it exploring a mysterious forest or jogging along the coastline. Once again the bicylce receives its own tune, to represent the youthful exuberance of racing through the countryside on the journey of a lifetime…it also sounds nice.
Poekmon once again retain their trademark cries, to be expected as they haven’t changed since their inception. That being said, cries do have variations between generations, representing the times in which they were made. Defying this trend however is that most recognisable of Pokemon, everybody’s favourite electric mouse: Pikachu. Rather than use its cry from the games Pikachu is fully voiced, exclaiming its trademark “Pika!” as it enters battle. This harks back to Yellow version wherein Pikachu’s seiyuu Ikue Otani also provided her voice. Once again, this is a nice little touch that helps to enhance the overall experience of Y.
Pokemon Y? Because it’s awesome!
Overall This game is fantastic. Plain and simple. Apart from the obviously awesome graphics and epic new Mega Evolution system, the game also improves on a number of little things that only those who played Pokemon for a long time would even notice. The Exp. Share upgrade, the ability to search your PC on the spot when in-game trading, being able to send a Pokemon to the PC when receivng a gift, rather than having to leave and come back. Small thing that wen combined help the game to flow brilliantly. However, in all honesty I think that one of the defining features of Y does not actually lie in the game itself, but rather here in our world. For the first time ever, Pokemon X and Pokemon Y hit the shelves across the globe at the same time, allowing everyone to experience the journey together. Players outside of Japan didn’t have the luxury of mapping out teams, or determining where each Gym was located. For the first time ever, we went in blind. We went in together. It’s new, it’s old, it’s everything you could want in a Pokemon game. What more can I say…but you still gotta catch ’em all and be the best that you can be.
Capsule Computers review guidelines can be found here.
The November Sony PS Plus lineup is truly action-packed, with the extremely solid Metal Gear Rising: Revengeance and Remember Me being available to subscribers of the service from October 24. Also coming the week before Halloween for PS Vita owners is Oddworld: Stranger’s Wrath HD and Motorstorm RC.
In Metal Gear Rising: Revengeance, you take control of cyborg ninja Raiden, utilising his High-Frequency Blade to slice through practically anything in the game world. The full 360-degree blade control is a unique mechanic and a new kind of experience for a Metal Gear game. Revengeance will be available until November 27. 3rd person action adventure Remember Me has players embody elite memory hunter Nilin, who has the ability to invade people’s minds and tamper with their memories, although she herself awakens at the beginning of your journey not knowing who she is. Remember Me will not fade as fast, available until January 29.
For those who love to game on-the-go, the dusty, undeveloped wastelands of Western Mudos are waiting to be explored in Oddworld: Stranger’s Wrath HD for the PS Vita. The tall, dark and enigmatic bounty hunter with a mission to capture troublemakers and return them to civilized townships for incarceration is back, and in high definition! The unpredictable adventure sticks around until November 29. And finally – also available until November 29 – race as part of the re-scaled Motorstorm Festival in Motorstorm RC. With crossplay capabilities, players across both the console and handheld version can challenge each other.
What’s more, if you purchase a PS Vita handheld and link it to your Sony Entertainment Network account at anytime between October 28 and December 31, you will receive an email with a voucher code for a month’s PlayStation Plus membership ($9.95 value) at no extra cost. That means access to an Instant Game Collection, exclusive PlayStation Store discounts, cloud storage and much more.
Kill la Kill Episode 2: So Sexy She Might Pass Out
This show just doesn’t slow down does it? No, no it doesn’t…answered my own question there. Welp if you were a fan of Episode 1, which is why I assume you’re here, strap in for the fury that was Episode 2. Tennis anyone?
We pick up right where we left off from the last episode, with boxing boy stripped and defeated and all around badass Ryuko pointing her Half Scissor Blade to the heavens, at the demon Kiryuin. During this stand-off, Senketsu relays to Ryuko that she only has five minutes before she will pass out, as it is revealed that she has indeed been giving him the blood he wanted: hers. In the midst of battle no less. Assessing the situation, Ryuko makes the smart call of retreating, rather than facing the Prez on a time limit.
Having succumbed to blood loss, Ryuko’s unconscious body is found by none other than our favourite little gang leader: Mataro Mankanshoku. She awakens in a strange room, with an unknown man breathing heavily over her. Immediately she punches said man, launching him into the ceiling, then the floor. It is at this point that Ryuko learns that the man is Barazo Mankanshoku, Mako’s father and also the one who treated her wounds. Whilst these scenes reveal Mako’s family in its entirety, mother Sukuyo included, it also serves to cement one thing: People. Are. Crazy. Continuing from what we’ve already seen, Ryuko appears the only character who takes a step back and wonders just what in the holy hell is going on in this place. Even Mako’s mother, whilst appearing calm and sweet, is completely complacent and unfazed by the chaos that unfolds around her. Naturally this is hilarious, as Ryuko essentially represents what we, the audience, feel whenever anything happens.
Don’t worry…ummm…he’s a doctor
We then learn of the President’s newest scheme in her desire for world domination. Can you guess what it is? That’s right! An interleague tennis match. With the opposing team so intimidated and having suffered a heavy blow to their very core being, her take over of Northern Japan will be complete…and you thought Wimbledon was serious. We are also introduced to the next Two Star opponent: Omiko Hakodate, the Tennis Club Captain. With new power in her possession, she seeks to dominate on the tennis court and aid her fearsome leader. It is also at this time that we learn why the Hannouji uniforms appear as they do. Believing that school is run with military precision, Kiryuin took it a step further by providing military uniforms, army for the boys and naval for the girls. This scene is actually more important than it may be given credit for, as it shows that Kiryuin’s control over the school is so intense, so complete that she even decides what her “followers” are to wear everyday. Also, in case it wasn’t obvious, that she controls every school club absolutely and to their absolute extremes. The sewing club for example, being a large factory where numerous members slave to create the Goku Uniforms.
This episode also treats us to a flashback that reveals the events right after Ryuko donned Senketsu for the first time. We learn that despite knowing clearly that drinking blood will grant him and his wearer tremendous power, he lacks a great deal of his own memories. He does however, vaguely recall his creator: a man with a beard, an eyepatch, a white lab coat, stooped posture, sandals, a can and a pet mouse. With such a thorough description, Ryuko reveals Senketsu could only be describing one man: her father. It is also at this point that Ryuko creates the name Senketsu, literally translating to “fresh blood” , based on his method of revival.
I can see she’ll cause quite a racket
Back to present times, Mako explains to Ryuko that a students position in school decides where they are to live in the city, hence her home in the slums. Her invitation for Ryuko to live with her is cut short by a barrage of tennis balls, launched directly into Mako’s face. As it turns out, Mako is a member of the Tennis Club and, due to her kidnapping the previous day, missed training. Tennis Captain Hakodate is naturally behind this punishment, with the promise of much, much more. As if you already didn’t know she was evil, the series uses this moment to show that she is also just a terrible person in general…and she has a weird monocular thing on her head…and is mean. Anyway, in her attempt to defend Mako, Ryuko is for some reason unable to awaken Senketsu, leading to a tactical retreat and a number of questions about how to use her mysterious new power.
After being washed away by a barrage of tennis balls, Ryuko is rescued by her homeroom teacher: Aikuro Mikisugi. Whilst taking increasingly glorious poses, for some reason, he explains that Senketsu is actually a Kamui. Though before revealing any more, thank God, he wishes Ryuko to prove herself worthy of answers by defeating the Tennis Captain. He does give her the Seki Tekko though, a snazzy looking gauntlet to make it easier for her to feed Senketsu her sweet, sweet blood.
Doing his damdest to bring back manservice
Immediately Ryuko races to challenge Hakodate to a match, but not the one she was expecting. After some bizarre reasoning from Sanageyama, the sword wielding Two Star, Ryuko is forced into one of the most intense tennis matches in the history of everything forever. With some back and forth, both words and tennis balls, Ryuko is down 40-0, mainly due to the fact that her rackets keep exploding under her own power. Following Senketsu’s advice, she constructs a makeshift racket from the Scissor Blade and a thread, surprisingly with the approval of Kiryuin. Imbuing it with all of her power, she strikes down her opponent before strippin her of her Goku Uniform, much to the delight of the audience. Whilst this victory is cool, it also serves to show how badass Ryuko is, as the President herself descends from her lofty perch, something I assume doesn’t happen often. She then attack Ryuko with her sword, said to possess the power to strike down even a Kamui. Though Ryuko once again retreats, Kiryuin is still impressed that she was even able to survive, let alone block, a strike from her sword. A side comment made by Kiryuin about scheduling a sumo match to replace the now dishonoured tennis club, is another subtle expression of Kiryuin’s cool-headed and emotionless demeanour.
Transforming isn’t all sparkles and sunshine…
Once again Kill la Kill proves to be an absolutely insane, fast-paced series that holds nothing back and leaves as much of an impression as a racket on Hakodate’s face. The story is explored a little more, which is good, though no real answers are given. Hopefully Episode 3 will shed some more light onto what Senketsu truly is and the secrets within Hannouji. Though this episode did show us that the Prez is interested in Ryuko’s power, which I’m sure will be the first step to her eventual downfall…omoshiroi.
Episode 22 of CC: Animeis nowlive. Each month, thanks to our good friends and sponsor Siren Visual, we will be giving away a prize in a monthly competition held through CC: Anime.
To win, listen to the podcast for the question and once you have an answer email it in along with your name and address to[email protected]. At the end of the month, a winner will be randomly selected from the pool of entries. The winner will then be announced on the next podcast.
This month, we will be giving away a copy ofChihayafuru Part 2, on DVD thanks to our good friends at Siren Visual. If you have yet to listen to CC: Anime you can do so here.
Listen to the podcast and then send your answer in along with your name and address to [email protected] Good Luck!
