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Kotaku East
White Album 2 is One of Last Season’s Hidden Gems
Every season, despite my best efforts, there is a great anime that slips beneath my radar. Last fall, that anime was White Album 2—an excellently told romantic drama that isn’t afraid to stab you right in the emotions and then twist the knife just to be sure. [*Note: Despite being “White Album 2,” this is…
By Richard Eisenbeis Published March 11, 2014 -
Kotaku East
Giovanni’s Island is a Heartbreaking Tale of Post-World War II Japan
Giovanni’s Island is a tale of family, unlikely friendship, and growing up in the days after the end of the Second World War. It is also, as you might expect, a film as tragically depressing as it is excellent. Good – A Historical Untold Story Days after the end of World War II, the Soviet…
By Richard Eisenbeis Published March 7, 2014 -
Kotaku East
How to Identify the Basic Types of Anime and Manga
When talking about anime and manga, there are a lot of Japanese terms thrown around that may be more than a little confusing to the uninitiated. But perhaps the most important of these to know refer to some of the different types of anime and manga. This is basic stuff! Long time fans will know…
By Richard Eisenbeis Published March 7, 2014 -
Kotaku EastWatch Us Build Death Traps and Brutally Murder Heroes
In Deception IV: Blood Ties you play a demon princess whose castle is being constantly invaded by heroes. Your only recourse? To build Rube Goldberg-style traps to kill the trespassers. Check out the video above to see exactly what it is like in action. Deception IV: Blood Ties was released in Japan for the PlayStation…
By Richard Eisenbeis Published March 7, 2014 -
Kotaku EastA History of Video Game Consoles, In Japanese Commercials
Last week, we saw what the history of video games looks like through Western commercials. But the birthplace of Nintendo and Sony has a history of consoles all its own—and the commercials to match. *Note: The vast majority of these commercials come from gaming channel Kazuya Games. Head there for many more retro Japanese gaming…
By Richard Eisenbeis Published March 4, 2014 -
Reviews
The Live Action Kiki’s Delivery Service is Surprisingly Not Terrible
When I first heard about there being a live action version of Kiki’s Delivery Service in the works, I (as well as my fellow Kotaku authors) were more than a bit skeptical about it. However, after seeing it, I am happy to report that it is a perfectly watchable film that stands apart from its…
By Richard Eisenbeis Published March 4, 2014 -
Kotaku EastRube Goldberg Death Traps are the Best Death Traps
Deception IV: Blood Ties is a game built around one concept: building elaborate, overly complicated death traps to violently dispose of the heroes sent against you. In the game, you have three kinds of death traps: movement traps—which do a small amount of damage but move the victim into another location, damage traps—which focus on…
By Richard Eisenbeis Published March 4, 2014 -
Kotaku EastThe Evolution of the Tetris Song from 1987 to Today
When you think of Tetris, you no doubt hear a song bouncing around your head. This song, known by many as “Type-A” or simply “The Tetris Song,” is an arrangement of 1860s Russian folk tune Korobeiniki. And over the years since it appeared in Tetris, it’s gotten a new remix in nearly every Tetris game.…
By Richard Eisenbeis Published February 28, 2014 -
Kotaku EastPuyo Puyo Tetris Blends Two Classics into One Awesome Game
I love Tetris. It’s one of the rare games I have played off and on for the past 20 years. But, I’d be lying if I said I didn’t think it could use a little extra something to mix it up from time to time. And sure enough, mixing it with fellow puzzle classic Puyo…
By Richard Eisenbeis Published February 28, 2014 -
Kotaku East
Non Non Biyori is a Lighthearted Romp in the Japanese Countryside
When most people think of anime, they think of intense action or perhaps a moé love story. But anime, just like books, TV, and movies, can be about anything—even about the everyday lives of four normal girls in the Japanese countryside. Good – Life in Rural Japan If Non Non Biyori does one thing right,…
By Richard Eisenbeis Published February 28, 2014 -
Reviews
The Retro Game Master Movie Is a Great Episode but a Terrible Film
Game Center CX, (known as Retro Game Master in the West) follows Shinya Arino as he attempts to conquer classic games from the 8 and 16-bit eras. This past weekend marked the release of the series’ first feature film. Though, given all of its problems, we’ll be lucky if it’s also the last. Good –…
By Richard Eisenbeis Published February 25, 2014 -
Kotaku EastTen Awesome Anime Openings and Endings from Winter 2014
I love anime music. Long before I even took my first Japanese class, I was rocking out to anime theme songs. And as we have 47 new anime this season, that means we also have 47 new openings and endings—and that’s even without the new second half themes from the fall anime that are still…
By Richard Eisenbeis Published February 25, 2014 -
Kotaku East
Watch as Two Classic Puzzle Games Collide in Puyo Puyo Tetris
Everyone loves Tetris, but let’s face it, it hasn’t really changed all that much from its original incarnation. Puyo Puyo (Puyo Pop), while not as famous outside of Japan, is equally fun yet has also changed very little over the years. But when these two puzzle classics collide, it makes for one new addictively fun…
By Richard Eisenbeis Published February 25, 2014 -
Kotaku East
Why I am Unable to Enjoy Space Dandy
A few weeks back, I polled our user-run blog, Talk Amongst Yourselves, about what they thought the best anime of winter 2014 is. Hands down, the answer was the latest anime from the creators of Cowboy Bebop: Space Dandy. Unfortunately, it is an anime I am completely unable to enjoy. I am aware that I…
By Richard Eisenbeis Published February 21, 2014 -
Kotaku East
New Game Turns Tetris Blocks into Anime Characters
Earlier this month, Japan saw the release of Puyo Puyo Tetris, a game that mixes the two classic puzzle games. But while Puyo Puyo games have characters (and a plot), Tetris doesn’t. Thus, there was only one possible solution: Turn everyone’s favorite shape blocks into anime characters. In the plot of the game, the Tetris…
By Richard Eisenbeis Published February 21, 2014 -
Kotaku East
Transformers Make for the Cutest Japanese Family
Despite being only eight minutes per episode, Tonari no Seki-kun: The Master of Killing Time is possibly the funniest anime this season. One of the latest episodes, “Disaster Drill,” features the titular Seki-kun playing house with robot action figures that look suspiciously like Transformers. Tonari no Seki-kun: The Master of Killing Time is the story…
By Richard Eisenbeis Published February 21, 2014 -
Kotaku East
The Five Anime of Winter 2014 You Should Be Watching
There are a lot of new anime on the air right now—47 of them to be exact—and it can be more than a little difficult to know which ones to watch. Luckily, we at Kotaku East are here to help with our recommendations. As we hit the half-way point of the season, it is time…
By Richard Eisenbeis Published February 18, 2014 -
Kotaku EastWatch Us Play the New Donkey Kong Country
Donkey Kong Country: Tropical Freeze is the newest game in the long running series and the first on the Wii U. It has all the platforming you could want as well as returning characters Dixie Kong and Cranky Kong. Check out the video to see the game in action. Donkey Kong Country: Tropical Freeze was…
By Richard Eisenbeis Published February 18, 2014 -
Kotaku EastMy Favorite Part of the New Donkey Kong is Bouncing Like Scrooge McDuck
This past weekend, I sat down and powered through the newest Donkey Kong title Donkey Kong Country: Tropical Freeze. And as I explored all the game has to offer, I found myself nearly giddy at Cranky Kong’s special ability: to bounce along on his cane like Scrooge McDuck in the NES classic DuckTales. I love…
By Richard Eisenbeis Published February 18, 2014 -
Kotaku East
Walkure Romanze is My “Guilty Pleasure Anime” from Last Season
Guilty pleasures. We all have them: Something you like but feel that you shouldn’t. Walkure Romanze is one of those for me. It has more than a few tropes I normally hate in anime, but these are combined with other aspects I truly love to create something I am embarrassed to admit I like. Good…
By Richard Eisenbeis Published February 14, 2014
Richard Eisenbeis
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