James WONG

The X Button - Extraneous Extremes
This week is all about E3! Well, mostly about E3. After the system wars and Final Fantasies and Metal Gears and Smash Bros. surprises, Todd still finds time to talk about old Capcom games. 2013-06-12

Shelf Life - Apples and Ogres
This week, learn how creepy little mountain villages in Japan can really be! Plus, the ills of human cloning.
- Appleseed XIII
- Dusk Maiden of Amnesia
- Kamisama Dolls
2013-06-10

Lagrange: The Flower of Rin-ne Blu-Ray
This first season is unlikely to blow anyone away, as it is competent in most respects but neither exceptional nor original in any of them, except perhaps in casting the mecha battles as pretty boys on one side vs. cute/sexy girls on the other.

Remember Me
Underneath all the explosive polygons and proper nouns, Remember Me is a game that has no idea what it's actually about.

The Princess and the Pilot [Premium Edition] Sub.Blu-Ray
A half-breed pilot is tasked with secretly transporting a future Empress across thousands of miles of open ocean in this 2011 movie from Madhouse. Its simple, straightforward tale offers some great highlights.

Tiger & Bunny Blu-Ray 2
Interesting character developments and comic book-style twists are the norm in this generally fun second half. Some may find the plot twists to be irksome, but they don't keep it from being entertaining.

Jormungand GN 11
The ending of Jormungand has something important to say ... but never figures out the actual message.

Sunny GN 1
Sunny is an interesting glimpse into the lives of children who feel that the world has forsaken them and how they manage to cope with the help of an old car and a little imagination.

Missions of Love GN 2
Ultimately Missions of Love still reads like a sexy book for middle schoolers. Yukina is far from a likeable heroine, neither Shigure nor Akira come off as particularly desirable male leads, and the less savory elements of the story detract from its romance components.

Dengeki Daisy GN 11
Dengeki Daisy began as a romance with some computer crimes thrown in and has morphed into an action story with some romance thrown in. What remains true, however, is that Kyousuke Motomi has created an interesting, fun story with memorable characters who do their best, whether it's for good or ill.

Limit GN 4
The addition of a murder-mystery twists the series into something more than just a survival thriller: this volume casts doubt on whether any of the characters, and even the storyline itself, can be trusted.

Strobe Edge GN 2 & 3
Strobe Edge continues to be a thoughtful manga about a girl discovering what it means to grow up. Featuring actual nice guys (at least so far), both a heroine and a rival who are sympathetic, and attention to detail, this is a series that romance fans and those borderline sick of romance should enjoy.

Barrage GN 1
It may be damning with faint praise, but Barrage's first volume is simply a pleasant entry into the Shonen Jump catalogue. It isn't revolutionary or particularly unique, but it does provide a likeable hero with a very big heart and an exciting adventure for him to go on.