Thursday, July 09, 2009

My Final Fantasy Collection


for the next few weeks i will be blogging about my collection of final fantasy stuffs. i been wanting to do this and i know im all late about it, since these stuffs have been released a long time ago. i also know it aint much compare to some hardcore fans out there. but still, these are my possession and i think its worth praising.

Tuesday, July 07, 2009

Pre-order: Dissidia Final Fantasy - with Bonus

apparently if you pre-order the game at gamestop by 2009 august 24, you will receive both cosmos and chaos limited edition cover art.















my question: is the cover just a piece of paper? or is it one of those plastic slip on cover?
because if its just a piece of paper, i think it will be lame. i went to 3 different gamestop and none of them can give me an answer.... ~sigh

either way, i still pre-order a copy of my own since i am a sucker for final fantasy stuff. especially when it is label as "limited edition".

Sunday, July 05, 2009

Want Lists of 2009: Final Fantasy Trading Art Mini Figure Volume 4


ever since volume 3 was released back in 2008 december 12, i been eager to find out the next characters that is going to be release for volume 4. yeah... i am somewhat obsess since i am a huge fan. when ever i surf the web, i would google for some news on volume 4, hoping something would come up, and finally some thing did came up. it made my day ^^...

here are the line-up: vivi and Zidane (ff9); yuffie and sephiroth (ff7), and yuna (ff10)
the release date has not been confirm yet.

(click on picture to enlarge for a better view)

Friday, July 03, 2009

Want Lists: Twilight Princess Figures Collection Gashapon

after playing the legend of zelda: twilight princess on the nintendo wii, i have the urge to buy these detailed miniature figure as part of my collection.

this collection gashapon was released in 2007 july 24, a total of 4 figure in a set, and stand around 4.7 inches tall.

the set contains link who is wielding his shield and master sword, princess zelda with her sword, midna riding on top of wolf link, and zant.

back in 2008, i saw these figures on sale at an anime convention. i didn't get it at that time because...

1) it was expense since it was being sold at an anime convention and...

2) it was way beyond my budget, i could only afford to purchase a few figure during my time at the anime convention. it was either final fastasy mini figure or this, so i went with final fanstasy instead since i am more of a fan for that series.

anyways, right now i am having trouble finding twilight princess collection gashapon at my local store.... ~sigh. it seems like my only chance of getting this set is on ebay, which i dont trust.

oh well, this is gonna to be on my "want to get lists".

Thursday, July 02, 2009

Loot: 2009 July (1 of 1)

The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess

i recently just purchased this wii's game at bestbuy, and currently playing it. the game cost me $49.99... what im trying to say is that after 3 years (since its released in 2006 november 19) you think the price would at least drop down a little.

the cover design looks amazingly artistic. i love the gold color on the disc, it is to be somewhat expected since its the theme color of all zelda title.





action adventure rpg is one of my favorite genre type of games. i believe it is a lot simpler and easier than just rpg because rpg require amount of time to level a character and it's items in order to continue on, and action adventure rpg just require some time on hunting items to boot up the character.

the wii control makes it much more fun-er, and
the game play style remind so much of the nintendo 64 the legend of zelda: ocarina of time. as of now, i am so glue to this game.

Tuesday, June 16, 2009

Neo Genesis Evangelion: gasphapon figure collections

this is my evangelion collections...
  • neo genesis evangelion complete dvd set. this was my first anime dvd set i had ever purchased and it was expensive. it was released in 2002 april 09, containing a total of 26 episode in 8 discs.
  • 2 moives: death and rebirth, the end of evangelion.
  • 2 movies (uncut version): death and rebirth, the end of evangelion.
  • 3 set of gashapon figure collections. these figures are also known as high grade imagination figures (HGIF).

the neo genesis evangelion complete dvd set does not come with these gasphapon figures you see here. i purchased them separately.

the figures require some minor assembling.

figures review...
(click on picture to enlarge for a better view)
yoshiyuki sadamoto collection gashpon series 4, released in 2005 september 30. there is a total of 6 figures in this set.



i would like to mention that there is an awesome wallpaper similar to the figure you see here.


and yes, i realized i mess up with the setting... =_=












gasphapon figure collection: swim suit edition, released in 2006 september 30. there is a total of 6 figures in this set.

the detail is very well crafted for such a small figure. the design truly shows from hair down to the toes, i especially like the paintwork on the hair. the end part of the hair have like a gel-like glow to it.

the figure isn't prefect, there is some minor error on the paintwork being out of line or off the mark.














yoshiyuki sadamoto collection gashpon (new theater version), released in 2007 october 02. there is a total of 7 figures in this set.

misato katsuragi looks very hot with that can of alcoholic beverage in her hand.

its cute that there is even a figure of pen pen the penguin.

the plug suit on asuka and rei's paintwork is really good, the gloss brings out a nice shine. the bench and the the figure's poser gives it a realistic-feel like they are getting ready to battle.

Monday, June 08, 2009

Ai Yori Aoshi Enishi (the sequel)

title: ai yori aoshi enishi

total episode: 13

release date: 2003 october

summary: in this sequel to the anime series Ai Yori Aoshi, two years have passed since kaoru (male lead) and aoi (female lead) first met. the adventures haven't stopped, even though life at the mansion has settle down. now, taeko's cousin chika has moved in, and kaoru is thrown by her bluntness and sexy demeanor. in this anime series second season, kaoru and tina look forward to completing their college education. while kaoru and aoi are finally ready to take the next step in their relationship, tina seems to be almost dreading her graduation day. as she comes to terms with her feelings for kaoru, she will make one of the most important decisions of her life...

review: a short series that can be both serenely sweet and ridiculously funny at the same time. It doesn’t revolve around just one character development, but six (aoi, chika, mayu, miyabi, taeko, and tina). each episode focus on a certain character providing a touching, bittersweet drama with just enough comedy to keep the mood light. now this is how a romantic comedy should be!

rating: 8 out of 10

to stream this anime (english sub: click here)

Thursday, June 04, 2009

Ai Yori Aoshi Enishi (the sequel) figures collection

this set you see here was released some time around 2004. truth to be told, school-life romance anime is not my cup of tea and the only reason i purchased this dvd is because it came with these sexy mini figures. there is a total of 5 figure in this set.

the figures require some minor assembling.

figures review...
(click on picture to enlarge for a better view)
aoi sakuraba is the female lead character in this anime. she's usually portrayed wearing a kimono, making her seen as a yamato nadeshiko (traditional japanese beauty). she generally very shy and demure, addressing people with proper manners. she's a very good cook and keeps her house in a very clean state. unlike other female leads in harem anime, she works to control her jealousy and is generally successful.

the pose on this figure really express her character's shyness, which i liked. the head is movable compare to the other figures, and i think its unique because you can tilt her head in any direction you want.

mayu miyuki is a sixteen-year-old brat, who came from a rich family and claims to be from england. she may seems mean on the outside, but she has heavy feelings on the inside. she very cheerful and intelligent.

the design was simple to begin with so no point praising it. i would usually avoid purchasing any figure when a body part is cut-off, but i'll make this one an exception because its part of the scenery and a connector for the rest.




tina foster was born in the united states, texas. majority of her life was spent in japan. she has a habit of greeting females by groping and fondling their breasts from behind. she's loud and outspoken. she is also very fond of drinking and has an enormous capacity for alcohol.








chika minazuki spends most of her time working in a cafe down by the beach. Because of this, she's very tanned except for tan-lines caused by her swimsuit. she has a very energetic personality.

the coloring is great, especially the tan line. it really does "stand-out" from the other figures. the only complain i have on this figure is that the material on her right leg is not giving enough support. as a result, the right leg tends to bend. to solve this problem, i made the figure lean against a wall of some sort to stop it from bending.



taeko minazuki attends the same school with the rest of the house member within the casts. she also work as a housekeeper as her part-time job. her most prominent features are her very large breasts (that never stop growing) and her clumsiness. she had a tendency to break a lot of valuable objects, but she tries to do her best.

i think this figure will be a lot cool-er if her glasses can be removable.


verdict: overall, it is an alright set. the sculpted and design aren't bad at all, its cute and sexy. i think it would be awesome if it comes with a "spa" background to match with the figures. i really wish they would of made a figure of miyabi kagurazaki to go with this set as well. she a pretty eye-catching character too.

Thursday, February 05, 2009

Fate/Hollow Ataraxia: figures collection volume 2 set of 6

this picture contain all the characters released in volume 2 which round up to the number of figures to 6. these figures are "trading arts mini", the characters themselves have been chibised turning them into SD characters.

compare to volume 1, i find this set to be much more cuter. each figures seem to be well crafted too. and again, the figures require some minor assembling.

figures review...
(click on picture to enlarge for a better view)
rin tosaka, a model student who is secretly a sorceress. she lacks a formal magic education, but she is extremely powerful in her own right. this figure truly express her perceptive and competitive attitude.

i like the gloss they use on the ribbon to distinguish the different from her hair. by doing so, the shine help it stands out more.

archer is the servant of rin tosaka. he has no memory of his previous life or identity due to an incomplete summon. he is sarcastic and cynical.

in my opinion, i think this is the best figure out of this volume. the design from his hair to his shirt, down to his shorts is neat and smooth. it even came with 3 chibised cats, ^^

issei ryudo is the preident goverment at homura academy and a good friend of shirou. his father is a priest at a temple.

the design was simple to begin with so no point praising "toys planning" the manufacturer for his sculpt. i would like to note that his glasses is removable.

rider is a servant of shinji. she is silent, sultry, and vigilant. to compensate for her weakness, rider employs covert battle tactics and take advantage of the territory around her. bikini wise she is the most seductive which in turn makes her the most eye catching character so far. her glasses is also removable.

sukra mato is a high school student, and the sister of shinji. she has a long standing and obvious crush on shinro emiya. she is outwardly shy and timid, but possesses great inner strength.
i really like her post, it brings out her cuteness and still look so innocent.

there is a minor problem with this figure, its nothing big. its just that the figure doesn't stick to the stand, so if you don't have an even surface, it will slide off. and the beach ball as we
ll.

lancer is balanced warrior who enjoys combating a worthy opponent. he has a playful attitude and takes a very carefree approach to life, but is quick to work himself into a frenzy during a heated battle.

i like the pose on this figure, it reminds me of the "monkey king" from the chinese novel called "journey to the west". the only problem i have is probably the spear, it isn't straight.

verdict: overall, volume 2 is slightly better sculpted and designed compare to the first volume. again,
i suggest to place this set above eye level for a good view because its hard to see most of the figure's face when their head is tilted down. i really like these figures, i hope there will be volume 3.

characters i would like to see next volume: caster (female), fujimura taiga, assassin, berserker, bazett fraga mcremitz, and maybe kiritsugu emiya.

Tuesday, February 03, 2009

Claymore

title: claymore

total episode: 26

release date: 2007 april 04

summary: a world sparsely occupied by small, isolated villages needs someone to defend its people from yoma, devil-like creatures with fearsome strength and hunger for humans. The people are protected by claymore (half-human half-yoma female warriors) with silver hair and eyes and power to match the yoma. clare is one such claymore. after she saves a young boy named raki, whose family is massacred by a yoma, he begins to follow her from mission to mission.

review: the first few episode helps fill in the detail of what this anime is all about. it's just a series of events that happen to each characters during their adventures and are interesting for various reasoning. in a way, i think its great for character development. the fight scene is pretty decent, it does have some blazingly fast sword action. the animation itself is generally good. in my perspective, i say the highlight of this anime came from episode 5-8 arc. it truly deliver a mind-blowing-jaw-dropping twist, that i didn't even see it coming from miles away. i was fill with emotion, i even find myself getting a little bit watery in my eyes. i was rather unsatisfied with the ending tho, because it seems rush as if the creator just wanted to end it.

rating: 8.5 out of 10

to stream this anime (english sub: click here)

Friday, January 30, 2009

Review Service: toyslogic... part 3 (final conclusion)

the policy of toyslogic require e-mail of pictures as evidence to proof that there was an error in their delivery, and i did just that. my complains didn't get a respond right away, so i decided to wait a day or two before i gave them a telephone call. it seems like it was the only way to get them to answer me.

i told them my problems and this is their solution...

for the mis-package in my order of fate/hollow ataraxia figure collection volume 2 set of 6, they apologize for the error and send me the 3 missing figure for free. i also get to keep the 3 duplicate as extra... nice ^^

i now have a complete set... (and a review of this set will be post soon).

as for the mis-package in my order of final fantasy trading art mini figure volume 3 set of 5, they can't get me the missing figure of rikku (from final fantasy x) because they aren't able to get any in stock. all they can do is give me some money back. as a result, this set is incomplete. i hate to say this, but im gonna have to try ebay for the missing figure... -_-

Thursday, January 29, 2009

Kite

title: kite

total episode: 2 ova

release date: 1998 february 25

summary: she maybe cute, she maybe young. she may seem innocent and naive, but don't be fooled. she's a cold blooded killer, and if you're on the wrong side of the law, you maybe her next target. after being orphaned at a young age, her parents victims of a brutal double murder, sawa was taken in by the detective assigned to her case. not content to just watch as the imperfect justice system lets more and more criminals go loose every day, he's decided to train her to be his instrument of justice. after all, who'd suspect a pretty student of being a deadly vigilante.

review: any movies or animes that is label "R" rated (contains some adult material, use of language, violence, sex or portray of drug use) with a good story to back it up deserve an "A" in my book, and this anime is a prefect example. kite is best described as "dark" and "intense". it is pack with almost constant action and the action is very bloody. the best part is that you really have no idea what is going to happen next. the subplot involving pedophiles ensures that you will explore some of the darkest of human emotions and desires. so viewers bewarn, you must be 21 and older to watch this. and yes, there is hentai material.

personal note: there is 3 different dvd version release
- kite (20 minutes deleted footage for "PG-13" rated reasons) = for minors enjoyment
- kite: director's cut (2 minutes flashback footage deleted)
- kite's uncut (original 85 minutes long). = i recommend this version for purchase

rating: 9.5 out of 10

BECK: Mongolian Chop Squad

title: BECK: Mongolian Chop Squad

total episode: 26

release date: 2004 october 06

summary: tanaka yukio, known as koyuki, is your typical 14-year old, feeling detached from life and with a liking for western rock music. one ordinary day, after returning from school, he saves a grotesque dog belonging to aspiring young musician minami ryuusuke, who yearns to form a rock band named BECK. from that moment on, koyuki must undergo a journey through his adolescence and struggle for fame and fortune.

review: as far as story goes, the only setback is that it progresses at a slow pace. this however can be seen as a plus-side because that is how daily-life drama is supposed to be. anyways, the drama instilled is very believable and easy to relate to everyday life. koyuki’s transformation from a pathetic loser schoolboy to a awesome band member is highly credible, and the relationship between koyuki (the main character schoolboy) and maho made me watch to the very end. the music "moon on the water" is a very catchy song, i think it is a real treat for those who enjoy heavy rock. as for the ending, i think it is a major disappointment. just when the climax is about to be reached, i was presented with a sketchy slide show which seems to have been rushed. it is imperfect, but the series can be and still remain an all-time great.

rating: 8 out 10

to stream this anime (english sub: click here)

Saturday, January 24, 2009

Mini Comic: a university's crush

cast:
-professor katie "writing instructor"
-alex (me)
-classmates

setting: classroom

summary:
first, i would like to say that this mini comic is still in a "work-in-progress" and this event is based on a true story. the class started with a light lecture by professor katie and then all of a sudden, she told her entire students that she recently got engaged. at the top right corner is supposed to be a panel that shows a close-up look on her sparkly ring. as expected, we're all happy for her. especially the girls, i guess they found it to be romantic. but deep down, i'm sure this was our true reaction. i mean, come on... we were young male adults and she was a pretty good looking professor, so i'm sure that i am not the only one who felt that way.

anyways, happy chinese new year. hope you guys enjoy the humor from this mini comic.

Friday, January 23, 2009

Review Service: toyslogic... part 2

the final half of my order has arrival on january 23 and again there was an error in my package.

toyslogic continue to disappoint.
two out of three of my order has error. as a customer, i am not satisfy with their service. i am not looking forward doing business with them in the future.








i purchased final fantasy trading art mini figure volume 3 set of 5, even my receipt indicated that i did order a set of 5 and still i receive a set of 4. they mess up my order twice, its ridiculous.

i e-mail them immediately about the situation, and i expect an exchange.

as of now, i am waiting on their reply... until further notice, this blog is to be continue...

Thursday, January 22, 2009

Fate/Hollow Ataraxia: figures collection volume 1 set of 6

this picture contain all the characters released in volume 1 which round up to the number of figures to 6. these figures are "trading arts mini", the characters themselves have been chibised turning them into SD characters.

my first impression was that it was somewhat wide for a 2 inch mini figure. i was also surprise by the color of the stand that came with it, i would of prefer a clear stand or just plain black. the figures require some minor assembling.

figures review...
(click on picture to enlarge for a better view)
saber is a very awesome heroine because she is one of those strong focus emotionless-type and i don't recall her ever having such a big smile. therefore, this figure seems kinda out of character. and whats up with her and the melons?

i was disappointed when i realized the melon from her hand can't be remove and equip with other neat items that came with. there are some minor smudges on the black painted area (the stripes on the melon and the melon's seed). other than these flaws, its a cute figure.

ilya design was easy to begin with so no point praising "toys planning" the manufacturer for her sculpt, but i do like the expression she has on.


karen hortensia design was the best out of all the female in this volume. her red wrap-over is removable, giving her a second alternative look. i find this to be very sexy, especially when her butt-crack is showing.

shiro emiya is the main character of the story. he is serious yet helpful, hardworking, and honest teenager.

this figure truly lived up to his character, he truly is working out a sweet.

avenger, the 8th servant. his true name is believed to be "angra mainyu", an evil spirit of zoroastranism. i really like the tattoo work on this figure. the only complain i have is that "thing" he is stepping on. if its a surface, i wish it would be a different color so it won't look like its part of his leg.

the legendary sumerian king gilgamesh, born into great wealth with more divinity than most demigods. He is so out of character sitting on top of a soccer.

verdict: overall this an okay set to collect. i suggest to place this set above eye level for a good view because its hard to see most of the figure's face when their head is tilted down.

The Twelve Kingdoms

title: the twelve kingdoms (as known as: juuni kokuki)

total episode: 45

release date: 2002 april 09

summary: one day in japan, a strange man named keiki swear an allegiance to an unhappy female high school student named yoko nakajima because he recognized her as his master. from that moment on, her life began to change dramatically. yoko and a couple of her classmates were taken to a fantasy world made up of 12 kingdoms. lost and separated, yoko will be traveling a harsh journey of being hunted and mistreated. an ordeal she must face in order to survive in the world of the 12 kingdoms and uncover the destiny that lay in store for her.

review: this anime takes a few episode for it to get really interesting. i would like to mention that the first few episode will get somewhat annoying because of a particular character, but that is just part of the story so bare with it. i would also like to mention that this anime is one of mine all time favorite, especially episode 15 arc. i find the story to be very creative for a fantasy anime, and each character is very unique too. the anime focus mostly on character's personality development. as a result, it gives the audience a better understanding and a reason to care about each character. there is only two minor problem i have with this anime: 1) some episode contains filler of review (as in flashback), its like watching a re-run showing the same scene over and over again. it gets somewhat repetitive and i don't need to be reminded what happen or occur. its time consuming and as a result, i view the artist as being lazy. 2) the anime feel so incomplete after watching the entire episode. even though the anime end at episode 45, it leave you with a huge "cliff-hanger". i mean, "what happen to the rest of the kingdom"? they shouldn't have named this the 12 kingdom if its gonna end like this. for some unknown reason the artist/the creator decided to cut-short or dis-continue . i do wish they resume the anime, it has so much potential to become great.

rating: 8 out of 10

to stream this anime (english sub: click here)

Tuesday, January 20, 2009

Review Service: toyslogic... part 1

im a first time customer of toyslogic and already i had a bad experience with them.

i purchased some figures from them on january 9, 2009 and had it shipped on usps. my orders are being shipped separately because the other half of my order are pre-order, so that will take a little longer to come to me since they don't have it in stock. as a result, they are probably gonna charge me twice for shipping and i dont mind paying shipping twice as long as i get what i wanted.

the first half of my order arrived on january 20, thats 11 days. i don't mind the wait as long as i get what i wanted.

i was so happy when the first half of my order finally came. it felt like christmas all over again. toyslogic did a good job with the packaging, they placed newspaper insider the package as cushion to prevent the actual box from being damage.

i open each blind box to make sure that there was no missing pieces, and that i have a complete sets just as i ordered:
- fate/hollow ataraxia figure collection volume 1 set of 6... all the figure was there, it was a complete set... (a review of this set will be post soon).
- fate/hollow ataraxia figure collection volume 2 set of 6... was not a complete set, i receive 3 of the same figure and it was not what i ordered. there been a mistake, so i e-mail toyslogic immediately about the situation and i expect an exchange.


i am now waiting on their reply. until farther notice, this blog is to be continue...

Monday, January 19, 2009

PSP: version differences

the psp was first released to the united states in 2005 march 24 and it cost $249.99 because it was a "value pack" offer. after 3 years, the price drop down to $169.99 and i finally purchased one. i got it a couple of days later after christmas of 2008

i purchase a psp for one reason and one reason only... and that reason is to play crisis core: final fantasy 7.

there was a problem when i purchase my psp: i didn't realized there was version differences (i should of done some research), and i felt like i got rip off by best buy because that is where i bought my psp. here what happen...

there was two types of psp that best buy was selling: limited edition ratch and clank psp entertainment pack for $199.99, and psp (piano black) for $169.99

so, i bought the psp that cost $169.99 because i didn't want to pay extra for a psp that came with a game that im not interested in. long-story-short, it turns out that the limited edition ratch and clank psp entertainment pack for $199.99 was psp-3000, and psp (piano black) for $169.99 was psp-2000. whats the differences? psp-3000 has better graphic and has a built-in mic. the mess up part is when i went back to best buy a week later after new year, psp-2000 was no longer on the shelf. it was replace with psp-3000 (piano black) same price of $169.99.



i can't get a refund even if i try cause i already open the box.
two things i learn from this: 1) research before purchase and 2) never shop for stuff during december