Hey doods and peeps, welcome to another episode of The G-Views. This next show is another one of those anime that explores human emotions, similar to the likes of Shigofumi, which I already covered last year. How well does this one delve into the subject matter? Let’s take a look at Uta Kata.
Hey doods and peeps, welcome to another episode of the G-Views. This one’s pretty random because I’ve mostly worked on episodic posts but it’s time to get back to basics and do what I do best, review. Anyway this one should be easy to get me back into the groove. Here’s Ultimate Girls.
(I hope I won’t get screwed for this)
Grief Syndrome is an action game based on popular anime “Mahou Shoujo Madoka Magika.” There are five girls to choose from, and each comes with different arsenal. This game combines anime-style with hand drawn with pastel colour for background. RPG elements are also included where characters can raise their level. Another interesting feature is combo system and rewards that can be unlocked if meet certain conditions.
In short: Madoka + Metal Slug = 2D Awesomeness.
This game is a fun way to spend an afternoon with friends for some epic 3 player action as 3 of 5 (Plus some hidden characters. Requires 1.10 patch. Hint: To play as the 1st one press up. The other one can only be played as in multiplayer.) of our favorite heroines from the show.
Madoka with her arrows that become stronger when fully charged.
Homura with her trademark “time commando” style of combat,
Zero…I mean Sayaka,
Kyoko with her long range spear and spikes.
Lastly everyone’s favorite “head” of command and disturbing fanfic fodder Mami.
Each character along with their own fighting style comes with their own soul meter. Once that soul meter runs out, the character permanently dies in that playthrough and if you want to play as them again, you’ll have to start over. Each girl can die multiple times and come back for more as long as they have enough Soul Energy. The game has a level up system where the ladies’ stats become higher the more enemies you kill. Also, the enemies level up with you with each playthrough, meaning that the more times you beat the game, the stronger the enemies become next time you play, but that means more experience for your ladies. There are a total of 5 levels with a hidden one (Hint: fans of the show will easily figure out how to “release” this level.)
Overall this game kicks major ass and is definitely a must play for all Madoka fans.
PS: Two of the endings will bring smiles to the faces of “the nation”.
http://doujingravity.blogspot.com/2011/08/grief-syndrome.html
Game Link
http://www.tasofro.net/arc/index.html#103
1.10 update
http://www.mediafire.com/?f74k4sf5u7fwole
Special bonus.
Hello and welcome to G-Views, where SoL reigns supreme, moe is respected and Dokuro-chan sucks poopie. The following show gives true meaning to the phrase “Any Last Words before your final curtain call?”. What would you say if you had the ability to deliver one last message before passing on the the afterlife? In the following anime, you’ll find out what others had to say, expressing their true feelings in one form or another. This is Shigofumi, which translates to “Afterlife Letter”
Alternative title:
Shigofumi – Stories of Last Letter (Japanese)
シゴフミ ～Ｓｔｏｒｉｅｓ ｏｆ Ｌａｓｔ Ｌｅｔｔｅｒ～ (Japanese)
Genres: drama, psychological, supernatural
Themes: girls with guns, life after death, magical girl, suicide, tragedy, Dark
Number of episodes: 13
G-Rating: 9/10
Plot Summary: Fumika and Kanaka are mail carriers- but not the typical kind. For one, Kanaka is a talking staff and for two, Fumika delivers shigofumi: letters from the dead addressed to the living. These letters are a final, true, communication derived from hate, hope, and love. The story unfolds following this pair and their uncommon job as well as Fumika’s unique ‘situation’.
Be warned that this show isn’t all giggles and fun. There will obviously be moments where your heart will be saddened by the events that take place here. As the short summary explains, each Shigofumi contains a special message from the departed. Whether said message is good or bad isn’t the case, it’s the story attached to the messages that matter, for each episode has an interesting premise that has either already been seen before in real life, or an event that will shock you, like for example, the true identity of our leading lady, Fumika.
Most episodes comprise of an event that usually involves the portrayal of humanity’s darkness and those who suffer because of it, eventually leading to the victim or culprit receiving the Shigofumi that will definitely make a huge impact in their life. This show is definitely not for the weak of heart. This show is drama and suspense all the way, not only with the lives of the Shigofumi;s recipients but the two main “Messengers” themselves, especially the main lead. Clues are spread throughout the series that will eventually lead to the revelation of her past and origin, which actually surprised me quite a bit. I guarantee that each story will keep you watching and interested, because they each have a charm that makes them impossible to look away.
My only petty gripe with this show is that not much is explained about the “Messengers” themselves. Sure, we get the complete story of two of them, including the protagonist, but not much else is explained about the Shigofumi society other than they deliver letters from the departed and that they’re located in heaven. I was wondering why they can be seen by everyone and not just the recipients of the letters? I’m guessing that the whole “Only a select few with special gifts can see “them” ” shtick was done too many times already, so the writers figured, screw it, let’s just make them visible to all and that they’ll only appear in public when they’re on the job. Okie dokie, I’ll take it since it makes sense.
The music is just right in my view. I’m a sucker for soft, classical music and the like. Each tune fits the situation perfectly, so I have no gripes with this one.
The animation: The series provides a great atmosphere which it tries to recreate and succeeds in doing, with great scenery and props, well recreated settings and character art, leading to an image that is very pleasing to the eyes, although I do admit that some of the secondary characters do show little to no difference in their appearance. I actually had a tough time telling some students apart at one time during the show.
The characters: As explained in my plot analysis (of sorts), each of the recipients of a Shigofumi is going through one problematic event or another and will make the viewer think about how extremely possible it is for something like this to be happening in real life right now. (Not receiving a message from the dead, but the problem). You’ll most definitely sympathize and question some of the decisions and conditions that each person has in their respective episodes.
As for the main protagonists: Aside from Fumika and the 2nd “Messenger” who are awesome, there’s also their staffs. The most noticeable being Kanaka (Fumika’s staff), the main comedy relief “character” on the show.
Other main characters include Fumika’s childhood friends from middle school, who each have their own reasons for desiring to get involved with our adorable white haired “messenger”. Aside from the obviously bad people on the show, I found nothing to whine about the good guys.
In conclusion: Shigofumi is a magnificent series recommended to anyone who likes their fair share of Dark anime and also for people who want to watch something on a less lighthearted tone. Don’ get me wrong, this show has funny moments, plenty of them, but they only serve as calms before storms, so enjoy the humor while it lasts.
P.S.: I’ll never ever take depression lightly again.
Hello and welcome to G-Views, where SoL reigns supreme, moe is respected and Dokuro-chan sucks poopie. If there’s one thing I learned from this anime is that space alien bunnies love baseball. Let’s get right down to it with the incredibly obscure, yet enjoyable gem, Getsumen to Heiki Mina.
Genres: comedy, magic, science fiction
Themes: alien, bunny girls, magical girl
Number of episodes: 11+2 super rare EX episodes.
G-Rating: 7.5/10
Plot Summary: After establishing contact with extraterrestrial civilizations, it was found that humans were the only race to develop various sports. The number of alien sports fans grew dramatically, and the most fanatic of them regularly harass stadiums for taking part in a game, or demanding a good show, etc. Finally a treaty was settled, ruling all interferences towards other planets’ cultures illegal. Rabbit Force, a group of rabbit-themed henshin girls, became responsible for enforcing the treaty and capturing any offenders.
Superheroine Bunny girls who battle against alien rabbits who invade the Earth and chaos trouble through Sports Media, primarily Baseball for some reason. They do try to interrupt other sports but Baseball seems to be their favorite. The ironic part takes place when it is revealed which sports the alien rabbits are actually good at.
The music: apart from the OP and ED, there’s really nothing memorable on the show, maybe the transformation music.
The animation: Well, it’s fanservice, but thankfully it’s really harmless. It doesn’t hurt your sanity or make you complain about it at all. Just the basic big boobs, nothing alarming. Big boobs are pretty common in anime nowadays so let’s just live with it, as long as it doesn’t get out of hand. Other than that, the rest of the animation is pretty good.
The characters:
* Mina Tsukuda
Mina is a regular high school student who has recently become an announcer for “SpoLuna”. After making a terrible impression on her first day on the job, she is told that she will be given the chance to redeem herself by interviewing a famous baseball player. During the interview, an alien attacks, and the Rabbit Warrior Otsuki Miina arrives to save the day. Unfortunately, she is overpowered, but a strange flying baby called Nameless awakens Mina’s powers, and she becomes Tsukishiro Miina, another Rabbit Warrior. After defeating the alien, she becomes a rather reluctant member of Rabbit Force. Ironically she hates carrots even though her transformation is activated by consuming a carrot and saying the Miina transformation activation phrase ‘Ju-Jitsu’.
* Suiren Kōshu
One of Mina’s fellow announcers. She is very wise and level-headed and Mina looks up to her.
* Daisuke Kiryū
Mina’s other fellow announcer. He’s supposedly a professional Rugby Player.
* Katō D
The director of SpoLuna. He gets angry with Mina when she leaves work (to become Tsukishiro Miina) or makes a simple mistake.
* Escartin Mutsumune
A pink-haired girl with a long bang that moves about on her head. She despises Mina, and is always trying to sabotage her, as she is jealous of her being an announcer. Mina thinks of her as a friend though and never notices her schemes.
Rabbit Force
All: Like normal rabbits they have red eyes when they transform. They get rabbit ears and tails, some have triple tails. Unlike typical magical girl shows they don’t use items to transform. They eat the vegetable or fruit they are powered by (normally rabbit food) and say an activation phrase ‘Ju-Jitstu’ Their weapons are fired from a moon base and attached to their triple tails.
Mīna Tsukishiro
Tsukishiro Miina’s weapons are two high tech carrots that are attached to her triple tail. These have morphed into various forms including a multiple missile launcher and a hammer. Ironically, her alter ego hates carrots.
Mīna Ohtsuki
She is the first member of Rabbit force introduced. Her weapons are a pair of high tech beets. These have transformed into a pair of clubs and a large baton. Her Miina costume looks more like a battle suit as opposed to the other Miina’s whose costumes looke very much like average clothes.
Mīna Minazuki
Minazuki Miina’s weapons are two high tech tomatoes which are attached to her triple tail. These have morphed into a miniature tomato bomb launcher.
Mīna Tamamushi
Her weapons are a pair of high tech cherries. These do not transform, but she does use cherry bombs. Unlike the others she has no bunny tail.
Mīna Satsuki
Although her transformation is activated by blueberries, her weapon isn’t based on blueberries. Unlike the other Miina’s she uses an average military bazooka. There is a reason for this, which is revealed in her debut episode.
All of the characters are pretty cool in their own ways. The one thing that has bothered me is of all the magic girl shows that I’ve seen and the little helpers who guide the heroines, why would they pick a chubby baby-shaped alien, with bunny ears inside a peanut suit? Weird.
However, my personal favorite characters on the show are the main character’s parents. They don’t play an important role. They’re mostly found in the kitchen, cooking and discussing the latest situations that Mina’s in. The humor in this pair is that whenever the mother starts a conversation, it always ends with the father becoming a nervous wreck. what’s usually the mother’s reply? “Insert topic here” has always been Mina’s dream.
The show’s pace is pretty straightforward and most of the battles (excluding the final one) sort of feel like a “monster, or in this case alien” of the day types. The character development mostly comes from Mina and Suiren. There is a twist however, that actually doesn’t make this show one filled with “Bathroom Breaks”, thank goodness and that gives it major bonus points.
In conclusion, this show isn’t for everyone, but it’s not a bad show either. I would recommend it to anyone looking for something new. I mean, how weirder can it get than Bunny girls fighting Alien rabbits who do nothing but ruin sports events for their own personal gain?
P.S.: Remember kids, always eat your fruits and veggies. They’ll make you big, strong and equip you with tomato rocket launchers. and Carrot Hammers. Lola Bunny, EAT YOUR HEART OUT!
