Richard Eisenbeis

Watch Us Play Persona Q: Shadow of the Labyrinth

Have you been wondering what a game filled with cute versions of your favorite Persona 3 and 4 characters plays like? Well wonder no longer. We’ve got you covered. Persona Q: Shadow of the Labyrinth is a spinoff Persona RPG that plays a lot like the Etrian Odyssey series of games—which is no surprise as…

How to Identify Anime and Manga Genres

We’ve looked at the basic types of anime out there but now it’s time to look at the specific genres. Of course, I assume everyone knows what “fantasy” and “romance” are, but what about those genres that don’t really exist in the West outside of anime and manga—or those that don’t even use English words?…

Persona Q‘s Battle Music Refuses to Leave My Head

I played a lot of Persona Q this past weekend, but let me say, I loved every moment I spent in battle—though not because of the (perfectly adequate) battle system. What I really loved was the game’s awesome battle theme. The song, “Light the Fire Up in the Night,” has everything I want in a…

Wizard Barristers Doesn’t Know What Kind of Anime It Wants to Be

Each season, I listfive anime of that season you should be watching. Then I make it a point to review all five later on to see if they lived up to the promise of their first halves. However, I had completely forgotten about Wizard Barristers—which should tell you something about the quality of its latter…

I Am Totally in Love with Persona Q’s Cute Character Redesigns

I’m a pretty big fan of Persona 3 and 4—especially of their dark color palette and creepy visuals. So, if you would have told me a year ago I would love the chibi character designs of Persona Q: Shadow of the Labyrinth, I never would have believed you. …But they’re just so cute! Take a…

Final Fantasy Agito is the Most Fun I’ve Had with a Freemium Game

Once upon a time, there was a game developed for cell phones called Final Fantasy Agito XIII. And when that game was moved to the PSP and became Final Fantasy Type-0, that meant the name was free to be used—which it has been by the new iOS/Android title Final Fantasy Agito Final Fantasy Agito takes…

These Two Kill la Kill Fan Games Couldn’t Fill the Void in My Heart

It’s no secret how much I enjoyed Kill la Kill; but now that it’s been off the air for a few months, I feel like there is a hole in my heart. Seeking to fill that void, I took to the net and have returned with two fan games. Shippu la Senpu Download The first…

Persona 3‘s Second Movie Reminds Me Why I Love Persona 3

Last fall, Persona 3‘s first movie hit theaters in Japan. Now the second film, Midsummer Knight’s Dream, has made its Japanese debut, just eight months later. And while the first movie suffered somewhat from its limited scope as the story’s beginning, Midsummer Knight’s Dream is where the tale really hits its stride. Good – Focus…

The New Theatrhythm is Everything I Want in a Final Fantasy Music Game

I have already talked at length about how the music of Final Fantasy has affected me, so you can probably guess that I enjoyed the original Theatrhythm—though that’s not to say it didn’t have its problems. Luckily, the sequel, Theatrhythm: Curtain Call, has done a great job addressing these problems. Good – A Lot of…

It’s Ghost in the Shell, But with Fish

As we approach the premiere of the third theatrical release of Ghost in the Shell: Arise in Japan later this month, an official parody flash animation series has begun appearing on YouTube. It’s pretty damn funny (at least, if you speak Japanese). The series is made by FROGMAN, the writer/director/animator of the popular Eagle Talon…

Watch Us Play the First DS Game on Wii U Virtual Console

One of the coolest features of the Wii U gamepad is that allows for the possibility of playing DS games that require a touch screen. So now that Nintendo has released its first virtual console DS game, Brain Age, let’s see how it all works out. Check out the video above to see it in…

When Sushi Turns into Beautiful Boys, You’re Gonna Have to Date Them

I’m no stranger to odd dating sims. In the past, I’ve dated pigeons and even had a homosexual relationship with a piece of meat—so dating sushi seems right up my alley. Love! Sushi Rangers -Choose your target (sushi?)!- is an iOS/Android Otome game—i.e., a game where you play as a girl surrounded by a group…

A Hoodie to Make You Look Like an Overweight Cat and Other Tales Merch

This past weekend, Yokohama was host to the Tales of Festival 2014 event. It was filled with news, music, voice actor skits, trailers, and, of course, merch. Lots and lots of merch. There were posters, t-shirts, jewelry, stuffed animals, towels, and a first look at more than a few prototype figures not yet on the…

Tales Fans Vote for Their Favorite Characters and More

This past weekend saw this year’s Tales of Festival event in Tokyo—a celebration of the Tales JRPG franchise. It was full of voice actor interviews, in-character skits, music from the series—and to cap it off, the results of this year’s Tales popularity polls were revealed to the 10,000 plus fans in attendance. The survey results…

3DS strategy RPG Tales of the World: Reve Unitia got its first trailer at the Tales of Festival 2014 this weekend. It is scheduled for a Japanese release on October 23, 2014. A Bandai Namco representative has informed us that there are currently no plans to bring it West.

The Edge of Tomorrow Novel is an Excellent Time-Loop Story

As summer blockbuster Edge of Tomorrow hits theaters in Europe this week and America next week, now is the perfect time to look at the Japanese novel it is based on: the futuristic time-loop war story All You Need is Kill Good – A Well Thought-out Time Loop The setup of All You Need is…

What’s New in Theatrhythm: Curtain Call

Theatrhythm Final Fantasy, a music game built around the series’ excellent soundtracks, came out for the 3DS around two years ago. Now, a sequel, Theatrhythm: Curtain Call, is out in Japan and I am happy to report that it is far more than just an updated track list No Need to Touch and Flick In…

If You Were Ever Bored in Class, Watch Tonari no Seki-kun

Every season there are many short-form anime that go largely ignored by anime fans. But every once in a while there is one that is too good to pass up—like last season’s imaginative high school comedy Tonari no Seki-kun: The Master of Killing Time. Good – A Comedic Setup with Infinite Iterations Rumi is a…

​Nisekoi is the Epitome of a Cliché Rom-Com Anime

Nisekoi reads like a “cliché romance-comedy anime” checklist: A harem of girls? Check. A long lost childhood love? Check. Characters who hate each other falling in love? Check. An endless cycle of “will they won’t they?” Check. All in all, it embodies the very essence of a modern rom-com anime. Good – Childhood Love Versus…

A Gamer Buyer’s Guide to Otaku Mecca Akihabara

So, you’re planning to visit Japan and want to come home with a pile of Japanese games. There’s only one place to go, the cultural hub of otaku everywhere, Tokyo’s Akihabara. But there are hundreds of stores in Akihabara, so where exactly should you go to find the cheapest prices or the rarest finds? Book…