5. Soulcalibur IV
A fighting game this far up on MY list? Shocking. Still, I've been a pretty big fan of the Soul Calibur series since it's Dreamcast days. Though for whatever reason I was really excited for this installment in the series. I was not disappointed.
It should be noted that I'm not very good at fighting games, but I still had a lot of fun with SC4. There is a great selection of characters to choose from, as well as a robust "Create A Soul" mode which allows you to make your own characters with series characters' move sets.
Aside from really fun multiplayer both online and off, there's a lot of things to unlock in SC4, and I even had fun completing the easy story mode over and over again for each character. Sadly there is a downside to SC4 and that would have to be the Tower of Lost souls. Not only do I think it's not as good as the special mode that was in SC3, but it's just too damn hard. Jerry was able to get through a good portion of it, but I could never make any progress in that thing. It's just frustrating.
Still when it comes down to it, the main reason for playing the game is the vs. mode, and it's fun as hell. So mission accomplished.
4. Tales of Vesperia
At this point on the list, the rest of the games are all pretty close to each other. With that said, Tales of Vesperia comes in at #4 on the list. I previously made some fairly negative early impressions, but later I was singing an entirely different tune.
I already touched on most of the highs, and the very few lows in my above review of the game, but I'll just say it again anyway - Tales of Vesperia is an amazing RPG, it's got a pretty good story, with awesome characters, a whole lot of style, and it's just a whole helluva lot of fun. And out of the very few RPGs on the 360, I really consider this to be the cream of the crop.
I'm in the middle of a second playthrough of the game, and sadly I just got side tracked from it by a bunch of other games. However I fully intent to get back to it as soon as I can, assuming my 360 isn't still dead by then.
3. Persona 4
Hey! It's the follow-up to last year's Game of The Year winner Persona 3. What's it doing back here in third place? Well, I think there are three possible answers to that question. One, I haven't actually finished the game yet as it only came out a week or two ago. Two, I'm not sure I like it as much as Persona 3. Three, the other two games on the list are just that good.
Sort of unfair all around, but that doesn't mean I don't love Persona 4. I'm really hooked on it right now and I'm playing it a lot to keep my mind occupied from other things. Seeing as how it's a SMT game though, it takes about a hundred hours or so to complete - so yeah didn't quite finish it in time. As far as it not being as good as Persona 3, well that sounds overly harsh. Truth is I'm not sure how I feel about it at this point. I really like everything about Persona 4, but I was really obsessed with Persona 3 - so those are some hard shoes to fill.
Anyway, Persona 4 is another awesome hardcore RPG from Atlus, and it has the same social aspects and monster catching mechanics tied into it that Persona 3 had. On the other hand there have been quite a few upgrades and changes to this installment. Chief among them being that you don't explore one big dungeon anymore - but a collection of smaller ones. Another big change is that you can directly control your party members now.
There are several various tweaks like these that make playing the game tighter and for the most part more user friendly. The game can still be balls hard though, so RPG lightweights need not apply. Still, if you're up for a challenge and a really lengthy and enjoyable experience make sure you check out Persona 4 - possibly the last great PS2 game.
2. Super Smash Brothers Brawl
Aha! We have a bit of a predicament here. Wasn't this supposed to be my number one game? It was indeed. And I certainly wrote enough about it here, here, here, and here. Let's not dwell on the fact that it clocked in at second, instead let us focus on what a great game Brawl is, and will continue to be for many years.
With the exception of the Sub Space Emissary mode, there isn't a whole lot I can fault Brawl for. At it's core it has the same fun as all hell four player fighting madness that fans have come to know and love. Throw a bunch of characters into the mix - including some really good new comers - and you've got yourself one helluva party game.
I already fell in love with the SSB series back when it launched on the N64, and with all the new stuff Brawl just makes things even better. Having such a wide selection of stages, including ones you can make yourself is awesome. Even more so since you can customize the music that will play on those stages from a selection of classic game tunes.
The inclusion of the Smash Ball, which gives every playable character a super move also adds a lot to the game. And while some Final Smashes are certainly made of finer stuff than others, they all add an element of surprise to the battlefield.
With all that said and done, I just feel like playing more Brawl now. It's been a couple months since the last time we put the disc into the Wii, but I'd say it's about time to start cracking out on some rounds again.
1. Metal Gear Solid 4
Well, if it wasn't Brawl gracing the top of the list it would have to be that other game that I wrote extensively about. You can find my Metal Gear Mania post here, here, here, here, here, and here. Yeah, I went a bit nuts with this one. So, I shouldn't have too much to say about it at this point, but just what makes Metal Gear Solid 4 my game of the year?
For one, it combines everything I love in a video game. Excellent gameplay, an amazing story, great characters, and an awesome soundtrack. True, the gameplay and the story are segmented into different parts. The first two acts of the game will primarily involve you taking action typical Metal Gear style. Than the last three acts of the game focus more on wrapping up this epic series' story. It's true that this sort of layout turned some people off, but I couldn't be happier with the way they set it up.
I didn't just play through the game once though, blogging about each act as I went mind you. I played through the game about five times before I finally decided I'd done enough of the game for the time being. True I skipped most of the story segments on those extra playthroughs, but that's to be expected when you've got a game with 90 minute cutscenes.
Even if you only play the game once, I still feel that the experience you'll get from it is more than worth the purchase. But there is certainly enough stuff to do on following playthroughs that will keep you coming back if you're into the gameplay. Though lets not speak of the less than stellar online play.
Much like Brawl, I totally feel like I could pop MGS4 back in right now and play it all over again. Watching all of the cutscenes again no less. I really feel that MGS4 is Game of The Year material, and it even justified my purchase of a Playstaion 3. And what more can be said than that?
Monday, December 22, 2008
Sunday, December 21, 2008
Games of The Year 2008 Part 1
Well, it's been a long year full of way too many games, and I've played more than I'd like to admit. When it comes down to it though, there were 10 that really stuck out to me and come highly recommended to anyone that is into the hobby. There is no doubt that my list will conflict with many people's, but that's the great thing about list. Well than, let's get this thing started.
*Bonus* 11. Chrono Trigger / Dragon Quest IV: Chapters of The Chosen
Oops, Did I say 10 games? I guess I meant 12. Again I find myself breaking my own rules, but for good reason this time! Dragon Quest 4 is one of my favorite RPGs of all time, and Chrono Trigger is one of my favorite games of all time. I think it would be pretty unfair to the 10 new games on this list to rank them in the top 10. So I put them both in as a special runner-up position just so you'd know that they are definitely work checking out. And Yes, I know I ranked the Final Fantasy Tactics remake in last year's list - but give me a break!
Chrono Trigger is regarded by many to be one of the finest RPGs of all time, and it certainly holds up today. Crono and his friends travel through various time periods trying to prevent the destruction of the world by a mysterious entity known as Lavos. The game is a prime example of how to do Turn Based Combat right, and the game's cast of wonderful characters all support various different abilities that can be combined to form more powerful combo attacks. The DS remake didn't go through a graphical overhaul or anything like that but they did provide some additional content along with the upgraded translations.
Chrono Trigger itself is still one of my favorite games of all time, but the added on content is a little questionable. If anything it kind of drags down the quality of the rest of the game. True, more Chrono Trigger should be a good thing by default - but when you're forced to run back and fourth across the same dungeon over and over and over and over again it really takes away from the pace of the original game. Still you're rewarded with several overly powerful upgrades for your characters, it gives you another place to grind levels at, and you get a brand new final boss and bonus ending. A pretty great package regardless of the setbacks.
Chapters of The Chosen on the other hand is quite a big upgrade from the original NES/Famicom days, but honestly the graphical reboot originally took place in the Playstation port that was unreleased here in the States. However the DS port gave me a chance to get in touch with my inner child and relive a game that I played so many years ago.
Dragon Quest IV puts you in the roll of several different characters spread across several chapters, and eventually you'll take control of the Hero of the story. The plot is pretty standard, legendary Hero saves the world from a rising evil. It's all good though, it's good old fashion RPG Goodness, and a big dose of nostalgia for long time fans of the genre. The graphical upgrades certainly make the game a lot more pleasant to look at, and various other additions make the gae even better. Such as the ability to control your party member's actions and a much better translation.
There is a little bit of bonus content that provides players with an Extra Dungeon, More Bosses, and another playable character - but I won't spoil any of that for you. Just know that it's good, and a welcome addition to the original game.
If you're any sort of an RPG fan you owe it to yourself to check out these games.
10. Grand Theft Auto 4
Okay, let's change things up a little bit. Instead of going into so much detail about the games I'll just try and describe what I liked about them. Starting with what might've been the most overhyped game of the year. GTA4 was released on a wave of perfect reviews and while the game has managed to make it to the number one spot on some people's list, it's amazing everyone doesn't feel that way based off of the initial reception. However it didn't take long for GTA4 to get some serious backlash from the community.
Truth be told, I loved GTA4 when I first got it. Couldn't stop playing the game. It's only the second GTA game that I've cared to play it until completion. It has a great story that kept me hooked, and the gameplay is better than ever before. It also doesn't hurt that the world is gorgeous and populated full of people - it really gives the city of "real" feel to it. So why is it number 10 on the list?
Well, as I think is probably the case with a lot of people, the game didn't quite live up to the hype when all was said and done. It was fun while it lasted, but looking back it's really hard to see what all the fuss was about. Even the multiplayer which should've kept the game alive for months was pretty poorly executed.
So while I may sound a tad bit negative about the game, the initial experience was amazing, that thrill of a new open world game, and perhaps just a touch of buying into the hype. It may not be Game of The Year, but that didn't stop me from playing it straight for a couple weeks once I got it. And that I feel is worthy of a spot on this list.
9. Final Fantasy Tactics A2: Grimoire of The Rift
I spent some time talking about this game a few months ago, so it really shouldn't be a surprise that it's on the list. I'm a huge fan of the original Tactics, it got me into SRPGs in the first place, and while the "Advance" series of Tactics games might lack certain parts of what was so great about FFT, they make up for it with refined game mechanics, a robust selection of classes spread across the games various playable races, and an equipment system that adds quite a bit of depth to the game.
A2's story might've been weaker than the original FFTA, but I really liked the characters a lot more. Plus the additional race of winged females known as Gria was a real treat. I spent over a hundred hours with the game and enjoyed it's laid back difficulty and surprising amount of content. And that is why it's made the list.
8. Valkyria Chronicles
Quite the opposite of Tactics A2, VC is an unrelentingly hard SRPG that can drive you crazy if you aren't careful. Also, unlike A2, VC is a totally different take on the SRPG genre. Blending Turn Based Tactics with Real Time Action, Valkyria Chronicles is certainly a unique game. It also looks absolutely beautiful, and provides a fairly emotional war story.
There are some speed bumps though, a couple of missions that seem overly cruel, and certain sections which require pure luck more than anything else. Despite this Valkyria Chronicles has proved to be a really enjoyable game if you can get past those obstacles. I'm not the biggest fan of difficult games, but it is rewarding clearing out some of these challenges.
I really like the story, it's basically another war torn world that revolves around a group of heroes trying to beat the bad guys - very akin to most Fire Emblem stories, and has the mature flavor of something like the original Tactics. Also I'm attached to several of the characters and interested to see what happens next. I really enjoy the gameplay too , I just wish it was a little less luck based at times. Being able to upgrade my units by either pumping experience into them in hopes of unlocking hidden abilities, and being able to upgrade their equipment with the right amount of money is also quite rewarding.
Overall Valkyria Chronicles is a solid experience that offers a challenge that feels rewarding. It definitely doesn't hurt that the game is a breath of fresh air into the SRPG genre.
7. Fable II
Here's another game making the top of a lot of people's Games of The Year list. So it might come as somewhat of a shock that I'm ranking it so low on mine. Don't let it fool you though, I really loved Fable 2. Hell, I really loved the first Fable, a game the received a lot of flack from people for not living up to what was promised. Sadly it seems Fable 2 suffers a little bit in that department too, but not nearly so much this time.
The major complaint people have with Fable 2 seems to be that the social interactions are pretty shallow, well that and a pretty piss poor Co-op mode. Honestly, they are kind of shallow, what with being able to get a women to fall madly in love with you just by pumping your arm a couple dozen times. But it's all in good fun.
And the rest of the game? Wonderful. The infamous "one button" combat is great, mix in an easy way to use your inventory of spells, and another button to use a ranged attack and you have got yourself a pretty sweet and simple combat system. Another thing that works surprisingly well is the Dog companion and bread crumb trail system. Both of these features are new, and highly welcomed into the series. Some people might not like being shown where to go next, but hey you can always turn that off.
The story is pretty great too, the only downside would be the ending which is a topic of much debate. Personally? I wasn't that impressed with the whole ending segment. Though I'm not going to ruin any of that. Another sort of bummer is that there doesn't seem to be as much equipment as in the first game. I'd really love to have more armor and clothing options. The Legendary Weapons are pretty good though.
The game does offer quite a few side quest for you to do, ranging from pleasing the various Demon Doors by fulfilling their ridiculous quest in exchange for loot, to hooking up with a widow that her husband's ghost has a grudge against.
All in all, while I may not consider this Game of The Year, it's certainly a good one.
6. Fallout 3
I was half expecting this to be my Game of The Year, and while that may not be the case I still really loved Fallout 3. I'm a huge fan of Oblivion, it's one of my favorite games. Not so much a fan of the old Fallout games sadly. I mean they aren't bad, but I just got into them too late. I only just played a bit of 1 and 2 earlier this year in preparation for Fallout 3. Regardless of it's roots though, Fallout 3 is still an amazing game, if not a little depressing.
The gameplay is more than just "Oblivion with Guns" thanks to the VATS system which lets you pause time to target enemies' individual body parts. It's also not simply a shooter for this very same reason combined with the fact that shots are still based on statistics more so than actual skill.
The world is vast, and full of all kinds of people and creatures that you'll either want to kill, or talk to, or do both. The main story line is kind of linear, but theres just so much to do for Side Missions and just general exploring. I clocked about a hundred hours into the game completing the main story, and all of the actual side quest - but there is still a ton of freeform stuff I haven't done yet.
The best part is that theres DLC on the way that will offer even more to do, so I'll easily be playing Fallout 3 well into next year. It's a good thing too because I've grown really attached to my character and her wide variety of Power Suits and Tools of Destruction.
Phew, well stay tuned for the next installment of the list that'll cover games 5-1.
*Bonus* 11. Chrono Trigger / Dragon Quest IV: Chapters of The Chosen
Oops, Did I say 10 games? I guess I meant 12. Again I find myself breaking my own rules, but for good reason this time! Dragon Quest 4 is one of my favorite RPGs of all time, and Chrono Trigger is one of my favorite games of all time. I think it would be pretty unfair to the 10 new games on this list to rank them in the top 10. So I put them both in as a special runner-up position just so you'd know that they are definitely work checking out. And Yes, I know I ranked the Final Fantasy Tactics remake in last year's list - but give me a break!
Chrono Trigger is regarded by many to be one of the finest RPGs of all time, and it certainly holds up today. Crono and his friends travel through various time periods trying to prevent the destruction of the world by a mysterious entity known as Lavos. The game is a prime example of how to do Turn Based Combat right, and the game's cast of wonderful characters all support various different abilities that can be combined to form more powerful combo attacks. The DS remake didn't go through a graphical overhaul or anything like that but they did provide some additional content along with the upgraded translations.
Chrono Trigger itself is still one of my favorite games of all time, but the added on content is a little questionable. If anything it kind of drags down the quality of the rest of the game. True, more Chrono Trigger should be a good thing by default - but when you're forced to run back and fourth across the same dungeon over and over and over and over again it really takes away from the pace of the original game. Still you're rewarded with several overly powerful upgrades for your characters, it gives you another place to grind levels at, and you get a brand new final boss and bonus ending. A pretty great package regardless of the setbacks.
Chapters of The Chosen on the other hand is quite a big upgrade from the original NES/Famicom days, but honestly the graphical reboot originally took place in the Playstation port that was unreleased here in the States. However the DS port gave me a chance to get in touch with my inner child and relive a game that I played so many years ago.
Dragon Quest IV puts you in the roll of several different characters spread across several chapters, and eventually you'll take control of the Hero of the story. The plot is pretty standard, legendary Hero saves the world from a rising evil. It's all good though, it's good old fashion RPG Goodness, and a big dose of nostalgia for long time fans of the genre. The graphical upgrades certainly make the game a lot more pleasant to look at, and various other additions make the gae even better. Such as the ability to control your party member's actions and a much better translation.
There is a little bit of bonus content that provides players with an Extra Dungeon, More Bosses, and another playable character - but I won't spoil any of that for you. Just know that it's good, and a welcome addition to the original game.
If you're any sort of an RPG fan you owe it to yourself to check out these games.
10. Grand Theft Auto 4
Okay, let's change things up a little bit. Instead of going into so much detail about the games I'll just try and describe what I liked about them. Starting with what might've been the most overhyped game of the year. GTA4 was released on a wave of perfect reviews and while the game has managed to make it to the number one spot on some people's list, it's amazing everyone doesn't feel that way based off of the initial reception. However it didn't take long for GTA4 to get some serious backlash from the community.
Truth be told, I loved GTA4 when I first got it. Couldn't stop playing the game. It's only the second GTA game that I've cared to play it until completion. It has a great story that kept me hooked, and the gameplay is better than ever before. It also doesn't hurt that the world is gorgeous and populated full of people - it really gives the city of "real" feel to it. So why is it number 10 on the list?
Well, as I think is probably the case with a lot of people, the game didn't quite live up to the hype when all was said and done. It was fun while it lasted, but looking back it's really hard to see what all the fuss was about. Even the multiplayer which should've kept the game alive for months was pretty poorly executed.
So while I may sound a tad bit negative about the game, the initial experience was amazing, that thrill of a new open world game, and perhaps just a touch of buying into the hype. It may not be Game of The Year, but that didn't stop me from playing it straight for a couple weeks once I got it. And that I feel is worthy of a spot on this list.
9. Final Fantasy Tactics A2: Grimoire of The Rift
I spent some time talking about this game a few months ago, so it really shouldn't be a surprise that it's on the list. I'm a huge fan of the original Tactics, it got me into SRPGs in the first place, and while the "Advance" series of Tactics games might lack certain parts of what was so great about FFT, they make up for it with refined game mechanics, a robust selection of classes spread across the games various playable races, and an equipment system that adds quite a bit of depth to the game.
A2's story might've been weaker than the original FFTA, but I really liked the characters a lot more. Plus the additional race of winged females known as Gria was a real treat. I spent over a hundred hours with the game and enjoyed it's laid back difficulty and surprising amount of content. And that is why it's made the list.
8. Valkyria Chronicles
Quite the opposite of Tactics A2, VC is an unrelentingly hard SRPG that can drive you crazy if you aren't careful. Also, unlike A2, VC is a totally different take on the SRPG genre. Blending Turn Based Tactics with Real Time Action, Valkyria Chronicles is certainly a unique game. It also looks absolutely beautiful, and provides a fairly emotional war story.
There are some speed bumps though, a couple of missions that seem overly cruel, and certain sections which require pure luck more than anything else. Despite this Valkyria Chronicles has proved to be a really enjoyable game if you can get past those obstacles. I'm not the biggest fan of difficult games, but it is rewarding clearing out some of these challenges.
I really like the story, it's basically another war torn world that revolves around a group of heroes trying to beat the bad guys - very akin to most Fire Emblem stories, and has the mature flavor of something like the original Tactics. Also I'm attached to several of the characters and interested to see what happens next. I really enjoy the gameplay too , I just wish it was a little less luck based at times. Being able to upgrade my units by either pumping experience into them in hopes of unlocking hidden abilities, and being able to upgrade their equipment with the right amount of money is also quite rewarding.
Overall Valkyria Chronicles is a solid experience that offers a challenge that feels rewarding. It definitely doesn't hurt that the game is a breath of fresh air into the SRPG genre.
7. Fable II
Here's another game making the top of a lot of people's Games of The Year list. So it might come as somewhat of a shock that I'm ranking it so low on mine. Don't let it fool you though, I really loved Fable 2. Hell, I really loved the first Fable, a game the received a lot of flack from people for not living up to what was promised. Sadly it seems Fable 2 suffers a little bit in that department too, but not nearly so much this time.
The major complaint people have with Fable 2 seems to be that the social interactions are pretty shallow, well that and a pretty piss poor Co-op mode. Honestly, they are kind of shallow, what with being able to get a women to fall madly in love with you just by pumping your arm a couple dozen times. But it's all in good fun.
And the rest of the game? Wonderful. The infamous "one button" combat is great, mix in an easy way to use your inventory of spells, and another button to use a ranged attack and you have got yourself a pretty sweet and simple combat system. Another thing that works surprisingly well is the Dog companion and bread crumb trail system. Both of these features are new, and highly welcomed into the series. Some people might not like being shown where to go next, but hey you can always turn that off.
The story is pretty great too, the only downside would be the ending which is a topic of much debate. Personally? I wasn't that impressed with the whole ending segment. Though I'm not going to ruin any of that. Another sort of bummer is that there doesn't seem to be as much equipment as in the first game. I'd really love to have more armor and clothing options. The Legendary Weapons are pretty good though.
The game does offer quite a few side quest for you to do, ranging from pleasing the various Demon Doors by fulfilling their ridiculous quest in exchange for loot, to hooking up with a widow that her husband's ghost has a grudge against.
All in all, while I may not consider this Game of The Year, it's certainly a good one.
6. Fallout 3
I was half expecting this to be my Game of The Year, and while that may not be the case I still really loved Fallout 3. I'm a huge fan of Oblivion, it's one of my favorite games. Not so much a fan of the old Fallout games sadly. I mean they aren't bad, but I just got into them too late. I only just played a bit of 1 and 2 earlier this year in preparation for Fallout 3. Regardless of it's roots though, Fallout 3 is still an amazing game, if not a little depressing.
The gameplay is more than just "Oblivion with Guns" thanks to the VATS system which lets you pause time to target enemies' individual body parts. It's also not simply a shooter for this very same reason combined with the fact that shots are still based on statistics more so than actual skill.
The world is vast, and full of all kinds of people and creatures that you'll either want to kill, or talk to, or do both. The main story line is kind of linear, but theres just so much to do for Side Missions and just general exploring. I clocked about a hundred hours into the game completing the main story, and all of the actual side quest - but there is still a ton of freeform stuff I haven't done yet.
The best part is that theres DLC on the way that will offer even more to do, so I'll easily be playing Fallout 3 well into next year. It's a good thing too because I've grown really attached to my character and her wide variety of Power Suits and Tools of Destruction.
Phew, well stay tuned for the next installment of the list that'll cover games 5-1.
Monday, December 15, 2008
Anime of The Year 2008
Well, I've been absent for a long while, largely due in part to my desktop's monitor being completely shot. Thankfully I'm back with a new monitor just in time to dish up another annual round of "of The Year" list. As always I'll be starting with the 3 best anime of the year, and you can expect the much bigger list of best games in the following week. So than, let's get it started.
Runner-up: Toradora
Here I am, already bending the rules. But with so many great series this year it's really hard to pick just three. So why not extend the list you say? Well, I guess this is an attempt at doing just that. Anyways, Toradora is anther tsundere filled romantic comedy with infamous tsundere master Rie Kugimiya taking on the roll of Taiga Aisaka, the "Palm-Top Tiger". Taiga along with the leading male character Ryuji Takasu are trying to hook up with the other's friends - Yusaku Kitamura and Minori Kushieda respectively. However it becomes increasingly apparent that Taiga and Ryuji are developing feelings for each other. The show revolves around the two constantly working together to try and pursue their love interest, and the result is usually hilarious failure.
Now I really like this show, it's just really cute and funny, the animation is great, awesome theme song, and great characters. However I do have one glaring problem with the series and it's my general dislike towards Rie Kugimiya characters. Like every Rie Kugimiya character, Taiga is a small flat chested girl with serious personality issues. And a lot of the time I find her attitude and general mistreatment of Ryuji quite annoying. Though to be fair Taiga is kind of in the middle on my "Rie Kugimiya Scale". You might recall her other popular characters Shana from Shakugan no Shana, and Louise from Zero no Tsukaima. While Shana is pretty low on the "scale" because while she is still certainly a tsundere character she doesn't go to overboard. Louise on the other hand is the exact opposite, where in later seasons of ZnT she almost makes the show unbearable to watch. Taiga is kind of in the middle, leaning more towards the Shana side, but can spike towards the Louise side at times.
I guess what I'm trying to say here, all the while beating around the bush is - Taiga is kind of the reason the show isn't in the top three for me. It's not that I hate her or anything, she can be quite adorable and funny at times, but at the same time she can be really annoying too. The main reason this show is worth mentioning though, and the fact that it's the Runner-up is because the show really is quite good the rest of the time. The situations are usually pretty hilarious, and the characters despite some personality issues on Taiga's and Ami's part are quite awesome. The relationships in the show are interesting, where Ryuji and Taiga make a cute enough couple, even though I'd rather see him with his own crush Minori, or the slutty Ami Kawashima who is introduced a few episodes in. I also wouldn't mind seeing Taiga with her crush Kitamura because she is quite adorable whenever he's around.
Speaking of Ami though, don't ask me why she doesn't bother me. She can be quite the bitch towards Taiga, and has a pretty bitchy personality overall. But there's just something about the way she treats Ryuji that I find enjoyable. Maybe it's just because it's the exact opposite of tsundere which if you couldn't tell already I'm not very big on. Anyway, I've gone on long enough about a show that isn't even in the Top Three, but it should be obvious that I have an invested interest in the show. I highly recommend it if you're into romantic comedies, and especially if you're a tsundere lover - this would be your wet dream.
3. Kannagi: Crazy Shrine Maidens
Aw Yeah, I love Kannagi. It's another new show that I've only gotten 11 episodes into. It came out during the Fall Season along with Toradora and many other shows I've been keeping up with. Initially I wasn't sure of what to think of the show. From what I read about it, it didn't sound terribly interesting. And the Intro is pretty misleading thus far. But damn, I'm certainly glad I gave it a chance as it has turned out to be one of my favorite anime series in recent memory. You don't have to take my word for it though, if you ever find yourself lost in 2chan you'll quickly learn that Japan is ape shit about this show - and for good reason.
Enough gushing though, Kannagi is the story of a boy named Jin Mikuriya who just so happened to be carving a statue out of a sacred tree that was possessed by the spirit of a goddess. So imagine Jin's surprise when the statue comes to life in the form of Nagi - a pun cracking goddess who loves to lay around all day snacking on junk food and watching TV. Jin is forced to live with Nagi while trying to convince his friends that she's a sister he never knew he had. This doesn't always go over so well and there are plenty of hilarious interactions between her and Jin's friends. Among the supporting crew is Jin's childhood friend Tsugumi Aoba who totally wants Jin, and Nagi's sister Zange who also wants Jin. Nagi though? She doesn't seem to care either way as long as shes keeping herself occupied with something. The show doesn't seem to know where it's going either as one moment Nagi is trying to purge impurities from the world. The next shes trying to gather a fanbase in order to restore her goddess powers. And than shes locked herself in a closet because Jin accidentley recorded over one of her shows. It's so awesome and random, and I love it. Doubt it's that great? Just check this... oh wait. Sorry I was going to link you to an awesome video from the latest episode of Kannagi, but YouTube if fucking gay. Check out Episode 11 for "The Song of Hello Soybean" though and you won't be disappointed.
So, if I love this show so much - Why isn't it Number 1? Well, honestly I can't fault it for anything other than a pretty lame ending theme and terrible cock-blockery "Next Episode" previews. All I can say is that the other two shows on this list were just better to me. And that should be saying a lot at this point.
2. Kimi Kiss pure rouge
Bending the rules again here, seeing as how Kimi Kiss started in October 2007, but it ended this year and I love it so much that I just have to put it on the list. I shouldn't need to go into too much detail about this show seeing as I already have previously (IMPORTANT - SPOILER WARNING: If you follow that link, the last few paragraphs contain major spoilers. You have been warned) I'll give you a quick rundown though in case you're too lazy to click. Kimi Kiss is about childhood friends Koichi Sanada, Kazuki Aihara, and Mao Mizusawa. Mao moves into Koichi's house after being in France for many years, only to find herself mixed up in a crazy love tangle. Koichi has the hots for his classmate Yumi Hosihno, and Kazuki has an interesting encounter with a mysterious girl named Eriko Futami. However it doesn't take long for things to get confusing when Mao starts realizing her feelings for Koichi, and another girl Auska Sakino starts to pursue Kazuki.
When I was coming up with the list for this year, I never forgot about Kimi Kiss, but I did consider bumping it off the list. That was until I reread my entry from earlier this year and remember how much the series grabbed me. The series teases you throughout and I would find it hard not to be excited trying to figure out how things will turn out in the end. The story, the characters, the relationships between those characters, and the emotions - they're what makes this series so damn good. If you're looking for a show that's more on the romance side of things this is really one to check out.
1. Soul Eater
It didn't take long for me to decide that Soul Eater would be my Numer One pick of this year. I already had a good feeling about the show going into it seeing as how it's done by Bones - the guys who brought you Full Metal Alchemist, another show I really love. After watching those first few episodes though I was instantly hooked, and here we are on episode 36 and I'm still loving the show.
Soul Eater is about a group of students known as Meisters who partner up with individuals who are actually Weapons. These two partners fight against various evils in search of souls which the weapons devour to increase their power. Among these evils are powerful Witches who posses a truly power soul that is required to unlock a Weapon's true potential. The main characters are Maka Albarn and her Scythe Soul Eater, Black Star and his multi-purpose weapon Tsubaki, and Death the Kid with his Twin Guns Liz and Patti Thompson. The series starts off the same way many Shonen Jump series do, with the main characters facing some minor challenges early on, but eventually having to band together against a greater threat.
The thing that's different about Soul Eater, than say Bleach or Naruto is the fact that the action kind of takes a back seat not too long into the series. The show tends to focus more so on comedy and the dramatic parts between fights. Honestly, I'd be lying if I said this wasn't a little disappointing, seeing as how I totally eat up shows like Bleach and One Piece. However the overall story, the characters, the comedy - it's all top notch stuff. The show is actually one of the funnier anime I've watched with crazy filler episodes involving an exam at school that goes terribly wrong, and the Legendary Weapon Excalibur who turns out to be a really annoying jackass. Don't get me wrong, Soul Eater certainly has it's fair share of "Oh Shi-" moments in and out of combat, but I think it's an entirely different beast than your typical Shonen show.
The series is supposed to be 52 episodes long, the same as Full Metal Alchemist was, and it's looking to be a fine series worthy of Number One on this list. If you're any sort of fan of anime be sure to check this one out. And if you're not hooked between the ridiculously awesome opening theme, the stylish look and feel of the show, and the hilarious antics, than you're probably not an anime fan.
Introduction: I watched a lot of anime this year, like a ton. More than I've ever watched I think. For whatever reason this year I decided I would check out every new show for myself instead of waiting to hear about the new hotness. The result? Well when FAKKU decided to do a Character Battle pitting characters from 37 different shows against each other - I had seen 28 of those shows. Unfortunately I only have room for three series on the list, but there were plenty of shows that I probably should have at least wrote about throughout the year. I'll try to do better about that next year.
However earlier this year I wrote about Code Geass Season 1 which is one of my favorite anime at this point, and I would have loved to put it on this list, sadly it came out last year though so it is disqualified. Sadder still is that it probably would've topped last year's list if I had watched it in time. Than there was Season 2 of Code Geass which was unfortunately not as good as the previous season and thus has been excluded from the list. Knowing this, I really should've taken the time to watch EVERY show I've downloaded this year in it's entirety or at least as far as it has been put out so far, however that isn't the case as I just spent too much time playing games instead. Thus I might end up with another Code Geass on my hands. Regardless, even if I find a hidden gem later on down the road, the following shows come highly recommended and are without a doubt worth checking out.
However earlier this year I wrote about Code Geass Season 1 which is one of my favorite anime at this point, and I would have loved to put it on this list, sadly it came out last year though so it is disqualified. Sadder still is that it probably would've topped last year's list if I had watched it in time. Than there was Season 2 of Code Geass which was unfortunately not as good as the previous season and thus has been excluded from the list. Knowing this, I really should've taken the time to watch EVERY show I've downloaded this year in it's entirety or at least as far as it has been put out so far, however that isn't the case as I just spent too much time playing games instead. Thus I might end up with another Code Geass on my hands. Regardless, even if I find a hidden gem later on down the road, the following shows come highly recommended and are without a doubt worth checking out.
Runner-up: Toradora
Here I am, already bending the rules. But with so many great series this year it's really hard to pick just three. So why not extend the list you say? Well, I guess this is an attempt at doing just that. Anyways, Toradora is anther tsundere filled romantic comedy with infamous tsundere master Rie Kugimiya taking on the roll of Taiga Aisaka, the "Palm-Top Tiger". Taiga along with the leading male character Ryuji Takasu are trying to hook up with the other's friends - Yusaku Kitamura and Minori Kushieda respectively. However it becomes increasingly apparent that Taiga and Ryuji are developing feelings for each other. The show revolves around the two constantly working together to try and pursue their love interest, and the result is usually hilarious failure.
Now I really like this show, it's just really cute and funny, the animation is great, awesome theme song, and great characters. However I do have one glaring problem with the series and it's my general dislike towards Rie Kugimiya characters. Like every Rie Kugimiya character, Taiga is a small flat chested girl with serious personality issues. And a lot of the time I find her attitude and general mistreatment of Ryuji quite annoying. Though to be fair Taiga is kind of in the middle on my "Rie Kugimiya Scale". You might recall her other popular characters Shana from Shakugan no Shana, and Louise from Zero no Tsukaima. While Shana is pretty low on the "scale" because while she is still certainly a tsundere character she doesn't go to overboard. Louise on the other hand is the exact opposite, where in later seasons of ZnT she almost makes the show unbearable to watch. Taiga is kind of in the middle, leaning more towards the Shana side, but can spike towards the Louise side at times.
I guess what I'm trying to say here, all the while beating around the bush is - Taiga is kind of the reason the show isn't in the top three for me. It's not that I hate her or anything, she can be quite adorable and funny at times, but at the same time she can be really annoying too. The main reason this show is worth mentioning though, and the fact that it's the Runner-up is because the show really is quite good the rest of the time. The situations are usually pretty hilarious, and the characters despite some personality issues on Taiga's and Ami's part are quite awesome. The relationships in the show are interesting, where Ryuji and Taiga make a cute enough couple, even though I'd rather see him with his own crush Minori, or the slutty Ami Kawashima who is introduced a few episodes in. I also wouldn't mind seeing Taiga with her crush Kitamura because she is quite adorable whenever he's around.
Speaking of Ami though, don't ask me why she doesn't bother me. She can be quite the bitch towards Taiga, and has a pretty bitchy personality overall. But there's just something about the way she treats Ryuji that I find enjoyable. Maybe it's just because it's the exact opposite of tsundere which if you couldn't tell already I'm not very big on. Anyway, I've gone on long enough about a show that isn't even in the Top Three, but it should be obvious that I have an invested interest in the show. I highly recommend it if you're into romantic comedies, and especially if you're a tsundere lover - this would be your wet dream.
3. Kannagi: Crazy Shrine Maidens
Aw Yeah, I love Kannagi. It's another new show that I've only gotten 11 episodes into. It came out during the Fall Season along with Toradora and many other shows I've been keeping up with. Initially I wasn't sure of what to think of the show. From what I read about it, it didn't sound terribly interesting. And the Intro is pretty misleading thus far. But damn, I'm certainly glad I gave it a chance as it has turned out to be one of my favorite anime series in recent memory. You don't have to take my word for it though, if you ever find yourself lost in 2chan you'll quickly learn that Japan is ape shit about this show - and for good reason.
Enough gushing though, Kannagi is the story of a boy named Jin Mikuriya who just so happened to be carving a statue out of a sacred tree that was possessed by the spirit of a goddess. So imagine Jin's surprise when the statue comes to life in the form of Nagi - a pun cracking goddess who loves to lay around all day snacking on junk food and watching TV. Jin is forced to live with Nagi while trying to convince his friends that she's a sister he never knew he had. This doesn't always go over so well and there are plenty of hilarious interactions between her and Jin's friends. Among the supporting crew is Jin's childhood friend Tsugumi Aoba who totally wants Jin, and Nagi's sister Zange who also wants Jin. Nagi though? She doesn't seem to care either way as long as shes keeping herself occupied with something. The show doesn't seem to know where it's going either as one moment Nagi is trying to purge impurities from the world. The next shes trying to gather a fanbase in order to restore her goddess powers. And than shes locked herself in a closet because Jin accidentley recorded over one of her shows. It's so awesome and random, and I love it. Doubt it's that great? Just check this... oh wait. Sorry I was going to link you to an awesome video from the latest episode of Kannagi, but YouTube if fucking gay. Check out Episode 11 for "The Song of Hello Soybean" though and you won't be disappointed.
So, if I love this show so much - Why isn't it Number 1? Well, honestly I can't fault it for anything other than a pretty lame ending theme and terrible cock-blockery "Next Episode" previews. All I can say is that the other two shows on this list were just better to me. And that should be saying a lot at this point.
2. Kimi Kiss pure rouge
Bending the rules again here, seeing as how Kimi Kiss started in October 2007, but it ended this year and I love it so much that I just have to put it on the list. I shouldn't need to go into too much detail about this show seeing as I already have previously (IMPORTANT - SPOILER WARNING: If you follow that link, the last few paragraphs contain major spoilers. You have been warned) I'll give you a quick rundown though in case you're too lazy to click. Kimi Kiss is about childhood friends Koichi Sanada, Kazuki Aihara, and Mao Mizusawa. Mao moves into Koichi's house after being in France for many years, only to find herself mixed up in a crazy love tangle. Koichi has the hots for his classmate Yumi Hosihno, and Kazuki has an interesting encounter with a mysterious girl named Eriko Futami. However it doesn't take long for things to get confusing when Mao starts realizing her feelings for Koichi, and another girl Auska Sakino starts to pursue Kazuki.
When I was coming up with the list for this year, I never forgot about Kimi Kiss, but I did consider bumping it off the list. That was until I reread my entry from earlier this year and remember how much the series grabbed me. The series teases you throughout and I would find it hard not to be excited trying to figure out how things will turn out in the end. The story, the characters, the relationships between those characters, and the emotions - they're what makes this series so damn good. If you're looking for a show that's more on the romance side of things this is really one to check out.
1. Soul Eater
It didn't take long for me to decide that Soul Eater would be my Numer One pick of this year. I already had a good feeling about the show going into it seeing as how it's done by Bones - the guys who brought you Full Metal Alchemist, another show I really love. After watching those first few episodes though I was instantly hooked, and here we are on episode 36 and I'm still loving the show.
Soul Eater is about a group of students known as Meisters who partner up with individuals who are actually Weapons. These two partners fight against various evils in search of souls which the weapons devour to increase their power. Among these evils are powerful Witches who posses a truly power soul that is required to unlock a Weapon's true potential. The main characters are Maka Albarn and her Scythe Soul Eater, Black Star and his multi-purpose weapon Tsubaki, and Death the Kid with his Twin Guns Liz and Patti Thompson. The series starts off the same way many Shonen Jump series do, with the main characters facing some minor challenges early on, but eventually having to band together against a greater threat.
The thing that's different about Soul Eater, than say Bleach or Naruto is the fact that the action kind of takes a back seat not too long into the series. The show tends to focus more so on comedy and the dramatic parts between fights. Honestly, I'd be lying if I said this wasn't a little disappointing, seeing as how I totally eat up shows like Bleach and One Piece. However the overall story, the characters, the comedy - it's all top notch stuff. The show is actually one of the funnier anime I've watched with crazy filler episodes involving an exam at school that goes terribly wrong, and the Legendary Weapon Excalibur who turns out to be a really annoying jackass. Don't get me wrong, Soul Eater certainly has it's fair share of "Oh Shi-" moments in and out of combat, but I think it's an entirely different beast than your typical Shonen show.
The series is supposed to be 52 episodes long, the same as Full Metal Alchemist was, and it's looking to be a fine series worthy of Number One on this list. If you're any sort of fan of anime be sure to check this one out. And if you're not hooked between the ridiculously awesome opening theme, the stylish look and feel of the show, and the hilarious antics, than you're probably not an anime fan.
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