With all the vampire crazy going on now a days (True Blood the hit show on HBO, Twilight which is anticipating its sequel in theaters later this fall, and now the new series on the Vampire Diaries) I figured that it would only be right to do my first review on a vampire base anime and manga.

First, the anime movie “Blood: The Last Vampire” directed by Hiroyuki Kitakubo  is truly not the typical vampire story I am use to.  The move is a must watch! It kind of reminded me of “The Dark Knight” in the sense that “Blood: The Last Vampire” is well dark.  The movie is sweet, short (I actually was expecting to see more) and to the point: Saya (the main protagonist, a half breed human) must slay the Chiropterans, a vicious breed of bat-like creatures.

Saya who works for a secret American government organization called Red Shield. David who works for the organization helps her from time to time in the film and seems to care for her well being besides the fact that she is the only one that can handle these creatures. After all she is the last vampire.

So I don’t want to give the movie away but I will give you the pros and cons! The pros: The opening scene alone is bloody and action-packed! Like I said before the movie is short and to the point so you will get all the action (and not much talking). This is where a con comes in. Since the movie is short you don’t have that character development you usually get in movies. This however does not take away from the good script or from the story. It is well execute and if you are a fan of guts and blood then this movie is for you.  The animation is ground breaking in my opinion and will enjoy every moment of it!

So I don’t want to give the movie away but I will give you the pros and cons! The pros: The opening scene alone is bloody and action-packed! Like I said before the movie is short and to the point so you will get all the action (and not much talking). This is where a con comes in. Since the movie is short you don’t have that character development you usually get in movies. This however does not take away from the good script or from the story. It is well execute and if you are a fan of guts and blood then this movie is for you.  The animation is ground breaking in my opinion and will enjoy every moment of it!

My final word is that if you haven’t seen you should! It won’t let you down!

As for the manga, written by Asuka Katsura, I wasn’t sure what to expect because it was the first time I was reading a piece of work by him.  The “Blood” manga series is written in three different series and by three different writers.  The first series “Blood” written by Katsura is aimed for a more mature audience.  This first series is compromised of five volumes. But unlike its anime counterpart is has a more light hearted feel to it.

The protagonist here is also named Otonashi Saya (Japanese write the family name first then first name).  She is also the only one that can kill these Chiropterans but she has no relocation of her past violent life.  She is now adopted by a man named George who knows of her past and two other adopted boys who are Saya’s older and younger brothers.  She leads a normal life under this family and cannot recall anything before the year of her adoption.

I do enjoy the humor Katsure adds to the manga but I was hoping the grim moments the anime film provided.  I am not sure that Katsure nicely executes the harmonious balance between your happy go lucky moments and your cold hearted I will rip you guts out moments.  I will give this series another shot being that there are only five volumes but at the moment I don’t highly recommend this as a must read. For now I think you guys can do without.

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Since this site is video games based I will not let all you gamers out there down!  I, myself did not grow up on video games only because my parents thought that it was a waste of time and money and that I would get addicted to it.  The only games I ever owned in my life were Mortal Kombat 3 and Donkey Kong for Super NES (yes I know that was back in the day).  Although I do thank my parents because the money I did save from not buying the latest in video games I was able to start my addiction in comics and mangas.  Sorry mom and dad but I had to keep out of trouble somehow!!

However there is a video game out there based on the “Blood” manga/film/anime. If any of you out has played it lets us know!!! I would love to hear from you!!

Finally let me also know what you think about the reviews! Let me know if there is something you want to read about or anything you want to know more about the comics/mangas/games world out there!  As a reminder to you gamers out there! The NY Games Conference is this Wednesday, September 30^th – Thursday October 1^st, 2009! Get more info on NY Games Conference. Come back and blog about!

My name is Kino Haruka and I will be back next week with more reviews and news on the fabulous world of video games and comics! Have a great week ahead and keep gaming!

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Hey Gamers it’s your boy PoeticChaos coming back with another title game that you just might want to actually buy. Fight Night Round 4 is a game that just might surprise even the ordinary gamer. Here are the top 5 reason why Fight Night Round 4 should be a must buy.

5.  Fight Night Round 4 is amazing when it comes to the detail of its fighters styles which makes the player actually feel like they are seeing a real fight occur.

4.  The Fight Night A.I. is amazing during season mode as it gets more difficult to fight contending boxers.

3.  F.N.R. 4 displays every little detail that makes gamers feel like he or she is the boxer themselves. From the repeated quick jabs to the eyes from the first cut; the action the game brings makes you feel apart of it.

2.  F.N.R. 4 have some of the best graphics I have ever seen on any game as each thrown punch sends ripples through the jaws of your opponent.

1.  The number one reason why Fight Night Round 4 should be a must buy is because it is a great two player game; F.N.R. 4 allows for a true gamer to see how well they can test their metal up against other gamers who started out at the same level as they did.

Fight Night Round 4 has so much going for it that it should be recognized as one of the best boxing games ever created. From the boxers fighting styles to the off the hook custom soundtracks; F.N.R 4 is by far one of EA sports best and I personally can’t wait to see what next have to offer. Hopefully Fight Night Round 5 might come with a two player legacy mode.

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Sorry, we have given out all available codes!

I am no one special.  I am not high on anyone’s pecking order.  I don’t have any inside connections that can pull any strings for me one way or another.  But, what I am is a gamer with money to spend on the hobby of my choice.  I’ve been following and enjoying Activision’s take on an action-rpg based in the marvel universe back when it was just called X-men Legends.  The follow up, Marvel Ultimate Alliance, added more bang for the buck by expanding past an X-men world into the vast universe that Marvel has crafted for decades.  The mix of various Marvel characters keep the game fresh well after the release, plus the addition of more characters that became fan favorites struck the right chord with gamers.

Now, the much anticipated release of Marvel Ultimate Alliance 2 is out, and it still has the same fundamentals and hooks of the first game making the sequel equally a blast to play.  However here is the rub, GameStop ran a pre-order promotion to get hands on the exclusive Juggernaut character.   Now for this to happen you had to head over to the GameStop Website and enter in some information from your receipt and you would receive a magical email with the code for the Juggernaut charater.

All of these steps I followed to the letter, yet when I went to the site to get what I was rightfully entitled to according to the promotion; I was greeted with the message :

Sorry, we have given out all available codes!

Imagine the confusion on my face when greeted with said message.   So I did what anyone else would normally do, call GameStop customer service to figure out how I can get the code that’s owed to me by way of their promotion.  Every inquiry as to how can I get my code was met with the same response “We are out of codes”, ”We will take down your email and maybe Activision will give us more codes to mail out”, ”There’s a rumor that the Juggernaut character will be offered later as DLC that you can pay for”, “I don’t think you’re going to get this code”.   When I contacted Activision with the same inquiry I was only met with “That was a GameStop promotion, you need to contact them. We have nothing to do with given out codes.”  They even sent me a follow-up email regarding my issue:

Response (Nathan Tyree) – 09/23/2009 09:57 AM
 Hi,

 Thank you for contacting Activision Technical Support!

Activision Customer Support does not provide this code. This code is sent by Gamestop. If you have not received this code then you will need to contact Gamestop

If you received the wrong code from Gamestop then you will need to contact them to get the correct code.

If the code is not working on the PSN store then please make sure that the key is being input correctly. While inputing the code make sure that you are not confusing O’s with 0’s, I’s with 1’s, etc… If it is still not working then please submit an incident by clicking the “Ask a Question” tab at the top of the page.

You will need to contact Gamestop’s Corporate support line for assistance with this issue.
The Gamestop Support hotline is 1-800-883-8895.

Thanks!

Customer (Entered by Nathan Tyree) – 09/23/2009 09:57 AM
Marvel Ultimate Alliance 2 (Xbox 360), pre-ordered the game but has not received the Juggarnaut code.

My Response To That:

This do not in anyway resolve my issue, and I want to be perfectly clear about that. No matter how many people tell me over the phone that the offer was for a limited time only, it was not now or ever represented in ads that ran for the promotion. I realize that you are directing me to contact GameStop for this problem, however it’s not GameStop that publishes this game. It falls solely on you activision, so if GameStop has ran out of codes then it’s up to you to provide them with more codes to be able to satisfy the amount of pre-orders who are with out the juggernaut code. I plan to keep pressing this issue until I get the code that I deserve in accordance to the promotion.

Now most of the response has changed to “This was only for a limited time, this is only while supplies last”, but another site that talked about the same promotion never once mentioned that this was a limited time only deal:

• Pre-Order Marvel Ultimate Alliance 2, get the Juggernaught – joystiq

So here I am a week later, no code, no idea as to how this could of happen, and no one trying to step up and do the right thing here.  And I can almost guarantee that the Juggernaut will be bundled with other characters for purchase at 10 bucks a bundle, am I really expected to accept this when I should have just had him for the price of free?  Where is my damn Juggernaut?  I await an answer.

UPDATE: On Sept 23, with the 3rd call placed to GameStop, I was able to finally get my hands on the elusive Juggernaut code.  Was it worth all the trouble that I went through to acquire him…yes he’s really badass!  Would I do it again if this problem happens in the future?  Of course I would, because at the end of  the day it’s the principle of the matter.  I wasn’t looking to gain a ton of swag; I just wanted what I was promised.  I am a happy gamer once again.

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Realtime Worlds has recently released the official trailer to APB (All Points Bulletin).  This massively multiplayer online game breaks the mold that most other mmo’s are made from.  No goblins here, no flying unicorns, no crazy hammer of rah is gonna be found in this game at all.  Instead Realtime Worlds is gonna inject a jolt of life into this stale genre with a cops and robber system, promising deep character and vehicle customization and a persistant world where onside is the cops and the other side are the robbers.  It would be nice to see if APB ever makes it way into the console universe, but for know PC owners can jump into a mmo that looks to be filled with awesome!!!

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Listen up Gamer Fans, now I know many of you have played or heard of Eternal Sonata.  For those of you who have not; Eternal Sonata is a RPG that tells the story of Frédéric François Chopin, a pianist who died in 1849 in Paris.  For those of you who are reading this right now and are saying to yourself who in the world would want to play a game about a pianist?  Well that is an excellent question.  Here are the top 5 reasons why game stores should pay their customers to play Eternal Sonata:

5.  The game puts you to sleep.

4.  The game has nothing solid about it that would keep the gamer interested in seeing what would happen next within the game.

3.   The game play for Eternal Sonata is interesting but not spectacular.  The characters have good attacks but are limited to using certain attacks if they are in the light or the dark.

2.  ZZZZzzzzzzzzZZzzz….. Oh sorry, even writing about Eternal Sonata would put you to sleep.

1.  The number one reason why game stores should pay their customers to play Eternal Sonata is the story line.  I am sorry, but the story line for all games is the key to determining if the game is worth playing.  For one Eternal Sonata you have three different story lines being thrown at you.  The First is what suppose to be a story involving the real world, the second is what suppose to be a story about a the dream world and the last is a detailed scripture on Frédéric François Chopin.  Who in the world would want to follow all these story lines?

Now there is an upside to Eternal Sonata, and only one upside.  The graphics is amazing, and that is all I can say.  No matter how well you can make a game look if there is nothing exciting about the game and it dose not have any type allure to it then it will not do as well as it should.  Games like Enchanted Arms, Star Ocean, Blue Dragon, and Final Fantasy have been made to capture the gamer in a world that would want a gamer to be in it.  These games are far superior to that of Eternal Sonata and I am sad to say that. Sorry on scale of five stars Eternal Sonata receives a one and only for graphics.

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I already know from the way that I titled this article that this will fan the flames of massive armies of fanboys; ready to step onto the frontlines and defend their console of choice to the death.  However, what it should invoke is a discussion of what the Wii, or the once titled Revolution, could have been.

When the entire buzz was around the Nintendo Revolution the speculation of what Nintendo were bringing to the table in the form of a next generation console was all over the place.  Once the Revolution became the Wii, the motion-control game console became the talk of the town.  The promises of new and engaging game play from every developer that witnessed the unveiling excited gamers everywhere, including yours truly.  But once I started to compare the Wii Specs with that of the PS3’s and the 360, I soon discovered that it wasn’t the revolution that I hoped it to be.   Sure the Wii’s motion-control aspect makes for some interesting game play design, but the lack of processing power that is easily found in the 360 and PS3 holds back the potential of merging a new way to control games with truly immersive environments.  I know that people often chant game play over graphics, but even game play takes a hit from developers not being able to build AI heavy logic or in-depth physic based movements due to the limitations of the Wii.  It’s often been mention in many a podcast that Nintendo has successfully been able to sell last gen tech in a pretty new package (that’s just putting it nicely).

Now the PS3 and 360 is set to become what the Wii should of been once each console see’s the release of their respective answers to making casual gamers at ease with playing a console that is not backed by Nintendo.  That’s pretty much the running gag of the industry at this point.  Both Sony and Microsoft wants the casual gamer that sees the Wii’s simplicity as a non-intimidating way to play and Nintendo is still trying to put at ease their core base of gamers that the Wii is much more then a party machine; that it can deliver on engaging and immersive experiences that’s so far been offered by their competitor.  Tackling the casual audience can be done but it’s could come with some tough decisions.  The Wii is wildly successful because it sold motion-control as the core mechanic to getting the whole family involved.  Microsoft and Sony may have to be willing to do the same as well as:

• Change the packaging of each console to include the motion-control devices.

• Keep the cost of these devices outside of a bundle under 100 dollars.

• Convince hardcore gamers that this can be a viable way to make AAA games better without making them feel stupid while playing games.

If Sony and Microsoft can produce these as well as another price cut on their higher end models to be a little closer to the Wii, then Nintendo may have to rethink their strategy greatly.  Especially if third party motion control games chart well in the NPD data that is released ever month to show how video games and consoles sold the previous month.  Also with all of that raw power under the hoods of the PS3 and the 360, developers can really start to craft triple A experiences while merging motion and motion-less control with the already tried and true method of the standard controller.  

These things will all come to light in the months ahead.  This may well become Sony and Microsoft chance to offer gamers both casual and hardcore what the Wii was not suited to do.  However, what we all must remember and acknowledge is that none of this would exist if Nintendo had not been bold enough to choose the road less traveled.  Instead of making the Wii an all encompassing entertainment device they went with the idea of making a device that kids, women, parents, and grandparents could play.  It’s paying off in huge dividends for Nintendo.  However, more and more people are starting to see the Wii as a device that collects dust now that the party is over.  The PS3 and the 360 could indeed become what the Wii should have been; that’s a game console with the means to entertain everyone with the ability to maintain that sense of enjoyment for years to come.

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Shadow Complex has been on the lips of every gaming media outlet known to man.  So, quite naturally it is on ours as well.  I’m am still jonsing to pick up the controller again and run amuck within the complex.  I’ve already made it quite obvious that more of these types of games should make their way to XBLA and PSN.  So here’s what I’ve thought on the latest gem from this emerging trend.

Presentation-8.5

Chair, the developers behind Shadow Complex, showed that they were taking great strides to truly craft a game that sucks the player into the world.  Cut scenes were well designed and not to over the top, and they were quite exquisite to look at.  At times I completely forgot that I was playing an arcade title.  Another struck of genius, the scripted events that would play out while you were trapped underneath a floor board, or stuck in the next room.  The way that more of the story unfolded while you were sneaking above guards head lends itself to Bioshockess (Boo-yah! made up word on display) radio tapes.   It managed to keep me engaged in the story without interrupting the flow of what I was doing; it also gave me the sense that I was eavesdropping to garner the secrets for a covert operation.  While I enjoyed the cut scenes, I wanted more of the scripted events to play out while I made my way through the complex.

Gameplay-9.5

Now this is nostalgia!  If Super Metroid, Castlevania, Mega Man, and other old school adventure games where exploration was pivotal, came together to make a baby;  Shadow Complex would be the son that grew up and made them all proud to call their own.  The 2d platforming with the twist of having enemies to shoot at in a 3D background kept the game fresh.  And the different amount of ways to take an enemy out keeps you thinking of new and sometimes comical ways to get the job done.

Lasting Appeal – 9.0

While it’s heavily encouraged to be the fastest to beat this well crafted game, does not make this a short romp at all.  Seriously skilled gamers will find it a joy to get some of the speed based achievements while casual players will enjoy exploring every nook and cranny to get to all the goodies.  Plus with the Proving Grounds challenges, the persistent in campaign leader board will keep every player coming back for more.

9 out of 10

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Take super producer Timbaland; allow him to put his influences on the PSP, and you get the sole reason why the PSP should get the second glance over the DS.  Now normally we at BG21gamers don’t cover portable games because there’s too many and we are too few, but Beaterator looks like it’s ready to bust out stupid dope moves.  Check out this trailer, and let the super producer inside of everyone of you come alive.

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Listen up gamers; how many of you out there in the vast infinite of cyberspace have or have played Saint’s Row and Saint’s Row II. Well for those of you who are reading this right now just open your eyes and think about purchasing you a copy of Saint’s Row. Now I know what you might be thinking right now; you’re saying to yourself why Saint’s Row? What makes Saint’s Row so good? Well I’ll tell you in the top 5 reasons why one should get these games.

#5

The game gives the player the opportunity to dish out pure un-relentless Mayhem to unsuspecting people.

#4

It is just Way better then Grand Theft Auto

#3

The game play for Saint’s Row is refreshing and a real pleasure to just have when you’re faced with having to play Grand Theft Auto

#2

Did I mention how Saint’s Row is WAYYYYYYY BETTER then Grand Theft Auto

#1

The number one reason why one should get both Saint’s Row titles is the Story line. The Story line is simple and easy to follow; and sometimes simple is just better.

Now I know that some of you Grand Theft Auto fans are reading this and is wondering why so harsh with the game? Well after Grand Theft Auto, Grand Theft Auto London 1969, Grand Theft Auto 2, Grand Theft Auto 3, Grand Theft Auto Vice city and so on, and so on, and so on. One would have to figure that the game is just not going anywhere and not trying to advance itself since Grand theft Auto 2. Yes it is different place with the games but that’s all it is, nothing more and nothing less. I truly don’t have anything against the game, but there is so much hype about this game title and there is nothing that I can see that has lifted this game from its second release

Remember gamers Saint’s Row is a game that many should purchase if you want to play a game that is actually the total opposite of Grand Theft Auto. Yes one can steal cars, beat up people and do various tasks in both gaming titles but with Saint’s Row it just looks, and plays so much better.

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