The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim Review

  "Battle is the most magnificent competition in which a human being can indulge. It brings out all that is best; it removes all that is base. All men are afraid in battle. The coward is the one who lets his fear overcome his sense of duty. Duty is the essence of manhood." ~General George S. Patton

           Skyrim, what can be said about it that hasn’t been said already? Winner of over 200 Game of the Year awards in 2011, this product of the esteemed Bethesda Studios has sold over 70 million copies across all consoles in merely three years and is considered one of the greatest games of all time- and for fair reason too. Note, this review will be covering the PC version of the game, as I downloaded and played through the game with and without mods (getting all the achievements, while I was at it). Is it truly worthy of its praise or is it merely another Triple A game that gets a cult following and spurns the protests of other sources? This review will clarify all the positives and negatives of the fifth game in the Elder Scrolls series, however those that have already played the game may or may not have differing opinions on it, being that the game is what you make it to be.

            Beginning with your capture as a presumed enemy, you start the game learning about a civil

Beginning as a prisoner, you will later
make a name for yourself however
you wish to be seen.

war that is enrapturing the province of Skyrim (the northernmost region of the land of Tamriel, the continent of The Elder Scrolls Series), and are rushed off to your execution (right after you customize your character, of course). Obviously this doesn’t happen, or else the game wouldn’t exist in the first place. Instead, you are “rescued” (I use the term loosely, as will be explained later) from your fate by the unlikely arrival and attack of a black dragon with a demonic appearance. By throwing the scene into turmoil, your character is given the choice of escaping with a fellow prisoner or an Imperial guard, thrusting the player into Skyrim’s main selling point: Choices (more on that later). Following your escape, the player is presented with the overworld, a huge open-world province for the player to explore all on their own. With hundreds of vanilla (that is, built plain into the game) side quests that range from fetching items, combing dungeons, exploring caves, or even hunting animals these quests are always new every time they are presented, unlike many games that simply rehash bland fetch-kill-complete quests at every given moment. The main story itself revolves around the

After your first run in with dragons,
you will find them scouring the
landscape and offer a fun
challenge of hunting down.

main character being “Dovahkiin”, that is to say possessing of dragon blood, meaning the character can not only slay dragons, but just as well consume their souls and use their language for personal benefits (called “Shouts” in the game, this dragon tongue has many uses ranging from fire, force, and even time control). As “Dovahkiin”, the main character proceeds on the quest to kill “Alduin”, the dragon that unintentionally rescued him from his execution. The main character finds out that Alduin is written into legend as the dragon to end the world, and as Dovahkiin he is the only person suitable to perform and complete this task, as many have already tried and failed. With an interesting and consistently progressing main tale, Skyrim delivers well in its story aspect.

            Taken from a first-person or third-person point of view (given your preference, you can use either) Skyrim is a combination of an action, adventure, and role-playing game. The player gets full customization of their character, choosing from a conglomerate of races that span from cats, lizards, elves, and simple humans. Each race has its own advantages and disadvantages, and one of the more

From hammers to axes, swords
to bows, maces to magic, Skyrim offers
a wide variety of outlets to deliver pain
to many different enemies.

interesting things about race choice is the prejudice that NPC’s treat you with depending on their own race (for example, elves tend to dislike humans, and vice versa). The gameplay itself is also riveting, specifically due to its central concept of limitless (or at least, close to limitless) choices and combinations of weaponry. As a spinoff of race, certain races are better with different weapons and skillsets (elves are best with magic, humans with brute force, etc.), however all races can use the same weapons and armor, all of this depending on the player’s own playstyle. Like weapons? Then use them. Want to use magic? Sure, why not? The player has full reign over how their character in the game develops, which is a main topic of Skyrim’s success in an industry where players crave for more and more choice in their games. Off topic, but I myself have a Nord level 83 that is a master of dual-wielding, but also is maxed out on Destruction magic, just showing how diverse you can make your character’s skill assets to be.

Much of the scenery in Skyrim is
stunning, to say the very least.

While clunky at first to a new player, much of Skyrim controls are easily adaptable and run smoothly, just like the game as a whole. I myself have a PC that isn’t optimized for gaming, however I could run it on a solid frame rate with decent rendering distance. Although the fighting in Skyrim may appear dull, the non-flashiness of its violence was done in a very artistic way, immersing the player into the universe by putting a realistic spin onto an already unrealistic, fictional world, due to the action being normal and (ironically) very human in nature. While magic itself is blatantly unrealistic, it’s passed off as simply “there”, a given for anyone that picks up and plays Skyrim. Instead of making magic the “be all to end all”, the game merely offers it as simply another way to play the game (I myself didn’t really care for it, but once again it’s all about preference).

Now for the most important (or at least, most influential) part of Skyrim for me: The Mods. Console gamers should disregard this section, simply because it will have no effect on any of you

From adding new hair styles to more,
ahem, "lewd" outputs of designers,
the modding community provides
anything for everyone.

being it that you all will never have access to the modding community, but those that plan on getting it for PC keep reading. Where do I begin? Ever since its release on PC until even right now, Skyrim’s modding fanbase has worked non-stop to deliver simple modifications ranging from simple bug fixes to putting new, overpowered items into the game Skyrim’s modifications completely add a new flavor to the game as a whole. Want new weapons and spells? Check. Even more quests? Check. Do you want a new house? Got that. And for those interested, want your character to look like some anime chick? Got you covered there too (and I wish I was kidding). With more modifications than there are seconds in a month (most likely way more than that), Skyrim’s modding community can likely deliver to you whatever it is your heart desires (for the game, that is).

Although generally not game breaking,
many of Skyrim's bugs are incredibly
annoying.

However, this “perfect” game is not without its many flaws. One of these flaws that killed the game for me many times was its rampant bugs. There were times when I couldn’t even open the game without it bugging out on me for minutes at a time, just to inevitably crash. While it may have been from loading too many mods, this still should not occur in a game suited for heavy processing, a direct result of being an open world game with more choices than many other games on the market.

Although the bugs are generally considered understandable by many review sites, being that the game IS open-world and DOES have so many choices, I myself feel it should be pointed out more, since the developers themselves knew exactly what they were doing as they created this game. That being said, the other flaws of the game are minor in comparison (short main quest, terrible followers, etc.), since they can easily be cured by a couple choice mods (PC only though, sorry console players).

Possessing its flaws and strengths at the same points, Skyrim creates a world of imperfection that defines its in-game world near perfectly, a world covered in violence and peace, love and hate, and all other contrasts under the sun. While not being the “perfect” game that “defines a genre”, The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim delivers a mold-breaking sequel to an already stellar series by providing the player with immense choice capacity and feeling of dominance over an entire world.

Pros:

+Great action

+Runs well on most computers

+Amazing modding community

Neutral:
+/- Clunky, realistic fighting

Cons:

-Short main story

-Lack of bug attention on developer’s part

OVERALL: 9.25/10 A MUST HAVE FOR ANY ADVENTURE OR RPG FAN.

0

Kingdom Review

"There is no avoiding war; it can only be postponed to the advantage of others."
 ~Niccolo Machiavelli

One of Japan’s most popular mangas, Kingdom is ironically nearly unheard of in much of the West. Based off of the Warring States Period in Chinese history, a time period characterized by constant wars between bordering states which followed the collapse of the Zhou Dynasty in 475 BC and ended with the unification of China under the Qin dynasty in 221 BC, Yasuhisa Hara’s manga has run for a constant 9 years after its first publication in 2006 and has grown in global popularity since. With a current sum of 37 manga volumes, an ongoing (but dodgy) animated series, and a video-game spinoff, Kingdom is arguably one of the manga industry’s best kept secrets.

Shin and Hyou (respectively) as
children

Kingdom follows the story of Shin, a young, orphan of war in the Chinese state of Qin that is

The future king of Qin,
Sei makes it clear his
dream is to unify China.

adopted and put to farm work along with a fellow orphan of war, Hyou, who accompanies him in training daily with wooden swords and sharing with Shin the dream of becoming the World’s Greatest General (except he puts it into much flashier terms). However, before the two can march off to war together Hyou is recruited to serve the youthful king as a body double, although Shin doesn’t know this specific aspect of his servitude. Late one night Shin wakes up to find a bloodied Hyou at his shack’s door and is told by Hyou to go off to a shack in a neighboring town, and makes sure to tell the shocked and grieving Shin to fulfill this duty and his dream of becoming a Great General. Upon making his way to the location afore mentioned, Shin meets the young king-to-be, Ei Sei and is confronted by an assassin that claims to have been the one to kill Hyou. Driven by rage and grievance, Shin singlehandedly cuts down the assassin and, instead of delivering the finishing blow out of pity, is assisted by the king himself in killing the man. Although hesitant to assist the man that was the cause of Hyou’s demise, Shin pledges to serve Sei and proceeds to escape the town with the help of a young child by the name of Ten and proceeds to move along his path towards his dream. Following

A master of the sword and
(eventually) the glaive, Shin
makes a powerful warrior.

this exposition, Shin slowly and steadily begins making a name for himself in his multiple campaigns by taking the heads of commanders and leading daring and pivotal charges in the battles he partakes of. A prodigy in warfare and instinctual fighting, Shin becomes a powerful and charismatic leader of his men who grow in number after each battle. While fighting on the frontlines and working his way up step-by-step to becoming a general, on the home front the soon to be king Sei feuds with his appointed and powerful Chancellor of State Ryo Fui who leads an opposing faction to try and take the king’s power away from him.

Due to these two different aspects of the story, political and militaristic, the plot in Kingdom is split but at the same time not, due to the fact that both plots are connected heavily while at the same time taking place on their own accords. It may not make much sense when worded like this, but just know that Kingdom is by no means a confusing story. In fact, it rarely is due to the well described yet not boring explanations of military tactics and war strategy that the story centers around. Kingdom’s war arcs are the main bulk of the series, obviously, and generally centers around two different aspects: the first being the actual frontline action that occurs (in all gory detail), and the second being the tactical side that explains the brains behind such large scale warfare. The first is delivered in horrifyingly beautiful detail, with dismemberment aplenty and well-drawn fight scenes that fully describe just what exactly is occurring in the scene, and for a manga that is heavily centered around the exploits of Shin (a frontline warrior that cuts through defenses), this is seen often and in stunning displays. The second is done exceptionally as well, being that much of the fights in Kingdom occur on large scales (generally tens of thousands of soldiers) with multiple generals, explanations are necessary to fully understand the scope of the action and in this aspect Kingdom delivers perfectly. By charting out tactics, troop movements, and the ideas of generals Kingdom provides the reader with a clear sense of understanding of the universe and its warfare in general.

One of Shin's closest allies, Ten
is a main source of the series's
comic relief (second to Shin himself).

Another offshoot of Kingdom’s story is its perfectly executed characters (the main ones being Shin, Ei Sei, Ten, and Shin's lieutenant Kyoukai), all of whom are given a sufficient exposition and background that fully explains their intentions. By encompassing the world’s largest and most
powerful region of its time period, Kingdom explains each state of China in depth as it does its characters, showing the regional differences amongst civilians as well as political bodies. For any history buffs, just this alone is enough to make them read this series, but for those interested in character development the manga delivers as well. Due to it covering a period of several years, it’s blatantly obvious that the characters will develop, with the main culprits being Shin and Ten, both of whom develop new skills over time that serve to manipulate the entire course of the series. Featuring a constantly changing world that’s reminiscent of the time period it occurs in, Kingdom provides a sense of immense interest simply from the characters alone.

Thematically, Kingdom also delivers beautifully by speaking out about camaraderie by explaining the lengths at which one strives for a goal, the people sacrificed for it, and the strength required to push
on after experiencing such pressure and torment. Furthermore, and arguably most importantly,

The Qin state's highest ranked general,
Great General Ouki is Shin's first
and most influential mentor.

Kingdom explains the extent of leadership and the importance of being designated as a leader. As an aspiring general, Shin is mentored by multiple generals throughout his campaigns, most notably General Ouki and General Duke Hyou, who teach him the aspects of a good general and the strength one needs to be able to lead a group of over ten thousand men as a single body, and the importance of his own success as a leader for the hopes of those he leads. Commenting on these persisting ideas and even modern issues, Kingdom serves as somewhat of a social commentary on true leadership and the assistance of others in the world.

As for the technical aspects of the series, Kingdom’s artwork is exemplary to say the least. The action is gory, but not too gory to turn away a light-hearted reader (or

The Qin's greatest "instinctual" general
and Shin's second mentor, Duke Hyou
is a legendary figure that teaches Shin
much about leadership and instinct.

it is and I’m just accustomed to it by now). The story itself is consistently improving, unlike many series as long as it is that get overdone or spread thin over time, which will eventually culminate in the conquest of the Chinese states under the rule of Ei Sei (as is following Chinese history), and as an ongoing series this improvement will only continue. Free of most generic clichés and providing a historical backbone, Kingdom provides a fresh and exciting manga to an industry so flooded with generic characters and storylines.

With relevant themes, beautifully gruesome action scenes, and comedic post-war narratives (to put it simply, Kingdom is not shy with its comic relief), Kingdom provides an ever-evolving series that fits an ever-evolving protagonist like Shin perfectly. Characterized by an already interesting and underrated period of world history, Kingdom develops upon its background with an exceptional story that makes the reader want to keep reading until they’re forced to wait for a chapter each week.

Pros:
+Amazing story
+Gorgeous artwork
+Riveting characters

Neutral:
+/-N/A

Cons:
-N/A

OVERALL: 10/10* MY FAVORITE MANGA AND PERFECT FOR ANY HISTORY OR ACTION FAN

*(Not even being biased here, it's just that good. I also regret not going into more depth of all of the characters, but this would turn into something of a college thesis if I did that.)

3

Berserk Review

          

  Blending dark themes, brutal combat, and tragedy, Berserk stands in a category of its own in the entire manga industry. Beginning in 1989, Berserk has been a continuous work of author Kentaro

The protagonist, Guts, is both
literally and figuratively
armed to the teeth.

Miura and currently has a grand total of 37 volumes since its original introduction. While still ongoing and increasing in popularity, there is little to be sad maliciously about the work. All of its aspects are on point: art, plot, and thematic sense.

Guts's mercenary family, the Band of the
Hawk, is merely the catalyst for Guts on
his trail of carnage and vengeance.

            Set in a fantasy medieval Europe, Berserk follows the story of Guts and his journey for vengeance that slowly evolves to be more than just bloodlust (though the reason behind this is for you to find out yourself). As a child, Guts was presumed to die before childhood due to a sickly mother, however he survived and was raised in a brutal scenario as the son of a drunken mercenary captain: Gambino. Constantly wishing to please and survive Guts trains with adult weaponry that weighs more than him which eventually causes him to be able to wield swords larger than most men that can cut through armor and even horses like they’re butter. After being subjected to torment after torment at the hands of his abusive father, Guts’ fate in this mercenary band culminates with him killing his then amputated father in pure self-defense. Following Gambino’s death, Guts flees this band and becomes a wandering mercenary, a soldier of fortune that becomes recognized for his battlefield prowess and strength. Eventually, Guts is “recruited” (specifically forced) into joining the legendary Band of the Hawk, a mercenary group dedicated to putting their leader, Griffith (also Guts’ soon to be best friend), into a seat of power as head of a country. This dream eventually consumes Griffith, eventually causing Guts to leave the Band (once again, by force) and seek his own dream. By specific turns of events, Guts is brought back by chance and is lead into his inevitable doom: being presented as a sacrifice for the five God-Hands (in general terms, Demon Kings) and is given a Brand (found on his back neck) that bleeds whenever a demon is nearby, a common result being that the Brand attracts

Once branded, Guts becomes
a beacon for demonic attacks.

all demons to his locale. Upon being freed from this Hell by the mysterious Skeleton Knight (learn more about him by reading the manga), Guts dedicates his body and life to slaying all of the Apostles (demons/servants of the God-Hands) as revenge for claiming the lives of all those he loved. I could go farther in depth into the exposition and eventual plot-line, but there’s just way too much to cover that being specific would require an entire plot summary, and as such I’ll just leave it at this.

            Now for the most important part of this manga: The Artwork. Highly detailed and featuring several shadowy elements, the artwork in Berserk is beautifully calming, horrifying, and any other emotion it intends to convey. Along with the artwork is the central plot, which engages and forces the reader into understanding and being enraptured by Guts’ feelings that lead him on his quest. Likewise, the plot maintains a straightforward and easy to understand sequence of events, never yielding issues with understanding nor times of deep reflection. A straight up, old-fashioned, Greek-style quest, the story of Berserk is magnificent to say the least.

            Overall, Berserk is by no means a manga for anyone. To read Berserk one must be

Even a simple scene such as this
fully highlights the magnificent
artwork that Berserk possesses.

accustomed to many dark elements of the world, such as gore, rape, cannibalism, and all other plights that challenge humanity. This works with the story’s themes, speaking out about the evils of the human race, the effects of a life of hatred, war, and even religious persecution. All of these themes are always a central concept of the plot, but operate in the background, thus causing a deeper reading source for those interested in more than just blood and destruction. In general though, the themes in Berserk are generic but are done in such a way that they are presented in a new light, therefor overshadowing their commonality amongst many plots across the industry.

            Berserk is an extremely dark and brutal manga, but from its destructive nature comes a revolutionary manga that attacks multiple concepts across the world’s population and even amongst current events. Although coming off as a simple quest for revenge, Berserk develops into one of redemption and yields some of the best action and artwork in the manga industry.

Pros:

+Amazing artwork

+Badass action

Neutral:
+/- Very, VERY dark

Cons:

-N/A

OVERALL: 9.5/10 NOT FOR THE FAINT OF HEART

2

Serial Experiments Lain Review

Featuring Lain Iwakura.

"The richness of life lies in the memories we have forgotten." ~Cesare Pavese

Serial Experiments Lain is an anime that's not going to pander to everyone's tastes, but this is not necessarily bad. I'll be honest, before I even started reviewing anything, I watched this a while ago and thought its meaning was 2deep4me. After rewatching it lately, I think I finally understand its many quirks and believe that I should do the title some justice.

For an anime that aired in 1998, the quality of this show outshines almost all, if not all other anime ever made. It's messages are vague, but enlightening due to its thematic genius. Serial Experiments Lain turns the anime industry on its head with its own artistic flair and deep implications supported by a cast of meaningful characters and staunch writers that make this show one of the best I've ever seen. It may leave your head spinning, but Lain certainly delivers in this psychological ride full of unexpected twists and turns.

SYNOPSIS

PC master race, am I right?

Present day, present time (present being 1998). Humans have created communication networks that bring everyone together using a system called "the Wired," which is equivalent to the internet we use today. This network is more advanced though, utilizing lifelike virtual reality systems accessible by a home computer known as a "Navi." The system originates from the original telephone and TV networks, which was supplemented by the internet, introduced later on.

The series opens with a scene of a girl named Chisa jumping off a building to her death. She claimed that, since she was no longer needed in the real world, she should just move to the Wired, leaving her body behind to kill itself. She was not the first, nor the last, to do this. Many related incidents begin surfacing regarding apparent suicides.

"There was no reason for me to stay in the real world any longer. In the real world, it didn't matter if I was there or not. When I realized that, I was no longer afraid of losing my body." ~Chisa Yomoda

Lain Iwakura, our main character, is not adept at using current technology. Up until now, she had been using a Navi made for children. It's long outdated and underpowered compared to newer, more modern Navis. Being somewhat socially awkward, she has no real need to upgrade to VR systems. However, an email from the recently deceased Chisa makes her express interest in getting a new Navi, to which her father eagerly approved. He buys her a top-of-the-line Navi meant for adults. Lain obtains a Psyche chip, a modification that allows users to further deepen their connection to the Wired. She becomes obsessed with her computer - so much so that monitors and wires fill her room with holographic displays and a liquid carbon dioxide cooling system. It becomes pretty evident that her Navi is more than just an ambitious side project, as she starts distancing herself further from her friends for the world of the Wired. When people begin spotting her online, they notify her of her strange behavior, claiming she's a completely different person online. Lain attempts to get to the bottom of this, and in the process, learns about the nature of the Wired, the world, as well as her reason for existence. This is a story of mystery, of friendship, of loneliness.

REVIEW

Very deep indeed.

There is one term that accurately describes Serial Experiments Lain: mindfuck. I have never seen a show so beautifully abstract and diverse in meaning and themes before. For one, the story is not linear. It often circles back to prior events by referencing them or using flashbacks. All the while, it incorporates an interesting dynamic that keeps viewers heads spinning; Lain often traverses both the virtual world and the real world without making the viewer aware of the changes, creating a sense that the two worlds are being blurred. This is integral to the show as she is a key component to the merging of both worlds, and is one of its strongest aspects. With Lain constantly transitioning between them, it becomes difficult to tell which is real and which is not. Lain also interprets her realities differently based on her emotions, leading to otherworldly sequences fueled by the thoughts of her nightmares.

Serial Experiments Lain also does an incredible job balancing the contrasting ideas of isolation and connection. As Lain dives further into the Wired, she becomes increasingly antisocial in the real world. Add in the fact that she has only a few friends, a neglectful mother, an expressionless sister, and a hands-off father, she has no one to turn to in the real world, making her feel unneeded by it. This ties into the suicides earlier in the series well. As a result, she becomes quiet in the real world, but takes on a completely different personality in the Wired. On the internet, she becomes rather straightforward, rude, and aggressive. This leads into the topic of dissociative identity disorder (DID), otherwise known as multiple personality disorder. She takes on the attitude that those around her perceive her as, thereby creating a state of existence where she can be and act the way people think she does. She essentially embodies those perceptions on the Wired, which creates a mystery that can be difficult to comprehend.

Religion becomes a topic of discussion and contemplation later in the series. The show questions the existence of a "God" in the real world, and also draws implications that a god does exist in the world of virtual reality. Always watching, never interfering, all a god can do is simply kick back and watch as information is shared, interactions are exchanged, and people are killed. Serial Experiments Lain defines precisely what makes someone/something a god: a god must be an omnipresent being with overwhelming power supported by faithful believers. Because Lain has the ability to be in both planes of existence while having power, she often questions what a god is. To be a god is to be alone, which ties back to Lain's detached nature from society. When unusual events in the Wired begin materializing in the real world, people, especially children, begin behaving strangely, which relates to the followers of such a god. Man determines his own destiny. Since they are the ones that created the virtual world they use, does this make mankind the true god of that world, or is the being that wields the most power within the network itself considered god? Lain poses many of these questions in ways unmatched by any other anime out there.

"Mankind is a creature that no longer evolves, is it not? One theory says that man is a neoteny and is no longer able to evolve. If this is true, then what an absurd creature mankind has evolved into. Not knowing what it is that drives them they keep their bodies merely to satisfy the desires of the flesh. They're worthless, don't you think? That's all mankind is." ~Masami Eiri

Among lesser themes include the power of friendship, the concept of memories, as well as the meaning to life. With a virtual reality system like the Wired, one could essentially be free of death if they were to live there. So why live in the real world? Serial Experiments Lain offers a surprisingly simple answer that brings up the idea of humanity itself. The power of friendship is not that of Fairy Tail; no, this is executed in the signature dark and twisted fashion the anime establishes from day one. It is humanity itself that lets the concept of friendships stay real in this anime. However, these friendships are tested when memories become manipulable by using Navis as a medium to directly access the brain from the Wired. As said in the anime, memories are simply records. Memories are not defined by the person, but they do define the person. Therefore, if memories are erased, the event never happened, thus reverting the mental state of a person. This brings up the matter of humans vs. machines again, which the show answers simply by making man out to be like a machine.

Not exactly words of encouragement.

This brings us to the matter of character relations. It's evident why Lain has so few friends. She isn't one to strike-up a conversation with anyone. As she looks upon the world with nonchalant eyes, she only feels unwanted by society. However, there is a certain, outgoing person willing to include her in their group. This would be Arisa, a frequently recurring character who reaches out to Lain. Ironically, whenever something seems to go wrong or weird in the anime, Arisa immediately suspects Lain. Though she usually brushes it off and slaps a convincing smile on her face, her fears build up over time, and like a shaken up can of coke, finally explode. This relationship is extremely well-developed as characters dynamically show new faces and emotions with each passing episode.

Lain does not have positive relations elsewhere though. Her sister is indifferent to everything, not caring about anyone in the family, especially Lain. Her father is highly fond of the Wired, and when Lain tells him that she wants a new Navi, he orders in enthusiastically. As the anime progresses, his father shows his concern for her, but these feelings never manifest and he turns to blissful ignorance. Lain's mother is also uncaring, with short-lived dialogue sequences between them being few and far between.

Serial Experiments Lain is NOT a fantasy. The surrealistic art and animation sure take a sense of reality away from the show, which was its objective all along. Lain is classified as science fiction, more specifically cyberpunk. The anime uses actual science concepts in order to justify the events of the story. I'd strongly suggest that viewers with a weak base in science study up on Schumann Resonances before watching, as they become important later on. There is only one thing I fail to understand, and that's the parts where entities from the Wired cross into the real world. The physics simply don't exist during these moments, making it seem weird. I have a theory as to how it could happen (they're illusions caused by manipulating Schumann Resonances), but it's simply a theory with very little ground to stand on. This doesn't detract from the series since my guess was enough for me to cover the biggest plot hole in the show.

"If you're not remembered, then you never existed." ~Iwakura Lain

More Lain.

For an anime that aired in 1998, the art and animation are incredible. The camera perspectives are better than even those used by directors today. Serial Experiments Lain can be very colorful at times, but often likes using hues that greatly contrast each other. Funny how well it works for the anime. While some sequences were total acid trips that seemed meaningless, most were not, and you'll actually notice things that tend to happen over and over again in the plot. One such thing is Arisa's apologetic nature. While the animation is altered to be colorful with quickly changing scenes, it effectively shows things the viewer may not have kept track of that contribute a great deal to the development of characters. The art direction made up a good proportion of the show's success.

The soundtrack may be the weakest part of the show, and that's not saying much. The intro is an almost country-like track that actually works with the show. I'm not big on country music, but this sounds more like a mix with older pop music, so it's actually kinda catchy. It's in english too, which is convenient, I suppose.

OVERVIEW

I think Serial Experiments Lain easily takes the cake for the best anime I've seen to date. It blends a large amount of high caliber themes in ways I can barely comprehend. There's likely even more that I haven't been able to cover in this analysis, which will only further cement its place as I continue processing the events and concepts that make up Lain. The show never fails to entertain. I haven't been on the edge of my seat in a while, so this show definitely reminded me of memories when I enjoyed anime at its best. Lain certainly makes every second of it matter. You may find it  surprising that, at 13 episodes strong, it beat out just about everything else on my list.  I highly recommend that you give it a try. Again, it's not for everyone, but there is a chance that you may get the same enjoyment that I have gotten out of it.

Narrative: 10.00/10 (x2)
Characters: 10.00/10 (x2)
Aesthetics: 9.90/10 (x1)
Execution: 10.00/10 (x2)
Value: 10.00/10 (x3)

Composite: 9.99/10 (99.95% A+) "Essentially a 10/10 from me. Couldn't recommend it more."

1

Ghost in the Shell (1995) Review

Cover art from the movie featuring Motoko Kusanagi.

"Artificial intelligence will reach human levels by around 2029. Follow that out further to, say, 2045, we will have multiplied the intelligence, the human biological machine intelligence of our civilization a billion-fold." ~Ray Kurzweil

The one that started it all. Ghost in the Shell has really made a name for itself in the last few decades. To this day, it continues to put out titles, its most recent anime being Ghost in the Shell: Arise. What led to the success of the franchise? Why is it still popular and relevant today despite coming out before many of you were born? Perhaps it's cyberpunk setting revolving around the definition of life and humanity can bring some answers to light.

SYNOPSIS

Set in the year 2029, humans are able to transfer their consciousness, called a "ghost," into a prosthetic body known as a "shell." Cyberized humans cling to their last morsel of humanity, their ghost, their soul, to define the line between what is man and what is a mere machine, a simple program consisting of lines and lines of code.

You can tell he's a desk jockey.

Enter Section 9, a secret, special operations division of the Bureau of Public Safety. They tackle the toughest cases that the police just simply are not equipped or trained to handle. Major Motoko Kusanagi, team director of the group, begins the investigation of one known only as the "puppet master." Able to hack into people's ghosts and inscribe false memories, "he" poses a serious threat to the well-being of Japan and its inhabitants. Motoko's team is assigned to unravel the mystery, veiled in political secrecy and information manipulation.

REVIEW

"It can also be argued that DNA is nothing more than a program designed to preserve itself. Life has become more complex in the overwhelming sea of information. And life, when organized into species, relies upon genes to be its memory system. So, man is an individual only because of his intangible memory... and memory cannot be defined, but it defines mankind. The advent of computers, and the subsequent accumulation of incalculable data has given rise to a new system of memory and thought parallel to your own. Humanity has underestimated the consequences of computerization." ~The Puppet Master

It should be well known that Ghost in the Shell is a master of in-depth, philosophical themes which question the constitution of humanity. The very questions the anime poses dips into topics not relevant to today, but to tomorrow. What does it mean to be alive? Many installments of Ghost in the Shell tackle this issue by personifying computer systems, and this one is no exception. Masterfully executed, the movie presents its case by using rather inquisitive protagonists Motoko and Batou (her right hand man) as a medium to convey such concerns. With Motoko being completely cyberized, she wonders if her humanity is gone, even with the presence of her ghost, and when she lost it. These two hit off the topic frequently during the show's lower intensity points, making for interesting, straightforward dialogue sequences.

Ghost in the Shell also covers the idea of life rights. Should computers that do attain self-awareness be entitled to the same rights as humans? This question is closer to the root idea of the movie and a core component of the plot. When a certain artificial intelligence system is denied the right to political asylum, the action picks up exponentially as the conspiracy behind its origin is exposed. There are plenty of high intensity firefights to be found, but intervals of thought-provoking discussion are not in short supply.

Major Motoko Kusanagi wearing shades at night.

The cast of characters here is just small enough to keep things interesting. Major Motoko Kusanagi is our obvious star of the show. Not particularly lively, she has some interestingly deep moments where she questions her own existence. Also, she seems to have a thing for going in the nude in this movie (Seriously, what was up with that?). It was unnecessary fanservice, to say the least, but not obnoxious or crude in titles like Highschool DxD. Besides, this is significantly mitigated by her development in the series which leaves an ending that raises more questions than answers regarding the identity and humanity of Motoko. Other characters, like Togusa, are side characters which help progress the plot. Batou plays a major role in Motoko's development through his interactions with her.

The puppet master himself was rather weak for an antagonist. He serves the purpose of bringing themes presented throughout the movie to a complete fruition. While it's done remarkably well, the lack of depth into the antagonist "himself" creates a hollow feeling somewhere in the show. This gap is closed somewhat by the introduction of political enemies later in, but it left more to be desired from the one executing all these ghost hacking operations. Again, there is little to no exploration into these politicians, which detracts somewhat from the movie.

The soundtrack is one of the best in my opinion. One of the themes frequently heard is a dark interpretation on a chorale heard at marriages. It's a very beautiful song, with children singing in unison with orchestral sections bridging the two halves of the song. Look up "Making of Cyborg" by Kenji Kawai if you'd like to hear the whole thing.

View of a prosthetic body (shell).

The art and animation are not bad for 1995. There are obvious differences compared to today, one primarily being that most of the movie is animated in 2D, not CGI. It does use primitive CGI at times though (What do you expect? It's the 90s after all.), particularly on scenes where 3D maps and computer models are used. Overall, Production I.G. did a decent job creating animation sequences that were captivating and interesting.

"There are countless ingredients that make up the human body and mind, like all the components that make up me as an individual with my own personality. Sure I have a face and voice to distinguish myself from others, but my thoughts and memories are unique only to me, and I carry a sense of my own destiny. Each of those things are just a small part of it. I collect information to use in my own way. All of that blends to create a mixture that forms me and gives rise to my conscience. I feel confined, only free to expand myself within boundaries." ~Motoko Kusanagi

OVERVIEW

It's not hard to see why Ghost in the Shell is so heavily praised. It serves as one of many testaments to the qualities that made anime so great. The series presents ideas you may not think about now, but perhaps later on when technology advances to a certain point, all while offering a solid, entertaining story with an appropriate amount of bullets and fist fights mixed in. The movie addresses the advancement of technology, the social and philosophical issues behind it, and the political mess created by it. Ghost in the Shell is one of the many major steps that made anime as popular as it is today (hopefully we can step back to those times).

Narrative: 8.00/10 (x2)
Characters: 8.40/10 (x2)
Aesthetics: 6.50/10 (x1)
Execution: 8.75/10 (x2)
Value: 8.70/10 (x3)

Composite: 8.29/10 (91.45% A-) "A classic that still holds relevancy."

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Ghost in the Shell: Stand Alone Complex - 1st Gig Review

Major Motoko Kusanagi with a Tachikoma in the background.

"People don't want to believe that technology is broken. Pharmaceuticals, robotics, artificial intelligence, nanotechnology - all these areas where the progress has been a lot more limited than people think, and the question is why." ~Peter Theil

Ghost in the Shell was one of those titles I started back when the dubs were released on [adult swim]. I never really got around to finishing it (not that I would have even been able to comprehend it at the time). The anime has aged well and certainly earned its reputation, but isn't exactly the action-packed thriller it's chalked up to be by some. Rather, it uses a great deal of dialogue, incorporating more thematically diverse material than I've ever seen before.

 SYNOPSIS

In the year 2030, technology has advanced to the point where prosthetic parts can replace just about any organ in the body, effectively turning most humans into cyborgs. Androids are near indistinguishable from humans, save for their rather robotic nature. Artificial intelligence can replicate human behavior that the lines between man and machine are blurred. Section 9, an anti-crime unit of Public Security, is a secret task force of elite, cyborg commandos who are given the toughest jobs that the police simply cannot handle.

Years before, an incident starring a mysterious gunman held the head of Serano Genomics at gunpoint. This became known as "The Laughing Man" case, which went cold after he escaped the public eye. Treated as a hero, this master hacker's logo became the face of companies everywhere. Other "Laughing Man" events followed, such as corporate blackmail and ominous deaths. The team of special investigators at Section 9 begin unraveling the mystery through seemingly unrelated cases revolving around the reputation he's made for himself.

The original Laughing Man incident.

Stand Alone Complex makes use of every single one of those words. You have "standalone" episodes, which are part of the usual, day-to-day routine of Section 9. These episodes have little to do with the main plot line and occur far more often than not. Occasionally, streaks of "complex" episodes appear, which are related to "The Laughing Man." This format works surprisingly well given the nature of the show. Despite being hard to follow at times, it allows different themes to be hit in each of the standalone episodes whilst combining the labyrinth of plot twists and action of the complex episodes, making for one hell of a ride.

REVIEW

What makes this anime stand out from other titles are the sheer number of themes and their beautiful execution. I don't believe I've seen an anime that covers so many real-world, near-future issues before. Ghost in the Shell primarily focuses on the line between man and machine. What constitutes humanity? When do you lose it (say, when the human body is replaced? The brain?)? What about artificial intelligence? If they resemble humans, acquire individuality, and have a personality, memories, and an ability to understand abstract human concepts (such as life, death, etc. but in terms they can comprehend), are they conscious (hence the use of the word "ghost," for a conscious in a prosthetic body)? Ghost in the Shell poses many of these deep questions and more on its stand alone episodes and leaves viewers to interpret them as they will.

Complex episodes are not spared from thematic usage either. Themes here challenge the morals of viewers as they watch the show blend the writings of J.D. Salinger (most prominently The Catcher in the Rye and "The Laughing Man"), who is known for utilizing themes of immaturity and youth, with the effects of the political underground as well as corporate greed and personal pride. These also question the humanity of characters for their choices and lack of accountability. All themes in Ghost in the Shell are executed beautifully.

Well shit.

I didn't know this, but apparently Ghost in the Shell has its own philosophy. Fucking. Brilliant. The term "Stand Alone Complex" is not just describing the episodic structure of the show, but also how random events seem to intertwine by fate and coincidence, creating a massive illusion which forces viewers to think hard about the motives of culprits. The word "ghost" is used as another way to say consciousness. This is what separates human and robot - the ghost.


Read more about Ghost in the Shell Philosophy here (SPOILER WARNING).

I had only one problem with the story - the ending. The crew follows a trail of breadcrumbs to the culprit, who was unfortunately not lead into. This creates a villain that is exceptionally weak, almost nonexistant (almost). This is typical of most shows involving politics. There's always some big fish doing deals in the shadows no one seems to know about until the end. Ghost in the Shell suffers from the lack of a true antagonist with any character whatsoever.

"In theatrical plays, even the audience is a part of the play." ~Togusa

There are also a few logical fallacies found toward the end, which I can't go into detail because this review is spoiler free. So gg, figure it out by watching episode 25.

A bit gory at times.

However, character development is focused on more important characters, from the gang at Section 9 to The Laughing Man. As far as I see it, there are two primary types of character development - characterization (which tells the viewers about the character i.e. Motoko is very militaristic and can come off as scary at times) and character progression (which are changes in character personality/ideals that are incited by events currently happening in the story). Ghost in the Shell utilizes both well, but makes the most out of the former. Certain traits and qualities of characters can be seen from episode one, revealing a few about different characters through the use of back stories or events relevant to each character. It's clear that Motoko runs the show, but other cast members such as Batou and Togusa get their chance to bask in the limelight.

The Laughing Man was done particularly well though. The vagueness of his existence is in question, making viewers wonder if he's even real. There is solid evidence to prove that he does, but he vanishes without so much as a trace, becoming more of a concept than a character. Still, the show manages to paint him as a brave hero that stood up for his beliefs. The abstract use of questionable events only furthers the mystery behind the man in the jacket as his presence seems to come and go, much like a ghost.

Even the Tachikoma (the spider-looking tanks) are given a good deal of development. A few times, filler episodes are given to them. While not pertaining to Section 9's job, these episodes offer a needed change of pace. They feature the Tachikoma themselves attempting to gather information about their world as to better themselves. These episodes are somewhat comedic in nature and can even attach you to them. Imagine that, being emotionally attached... to a giant robot spider. It is what it is, I suppose. Anyway, it's clear that the Tachikomas become pivotal to the execution of themes in the show regarding what makes a "ghost."

"I thought what I'd do was, I'd pretend I was one of those deaf mutes." ~Laughing Man Logo

If you're that bastard that actually cares about an anime soundtrack, the "oh-my-god-the-OST-is-awful-I-won't-watch-it" type, I can assure you that Stand Alone Complex delivers. You can't really go wrong with Yoko Kanno behind the composition. The intro theme "Inner Universe" by Origa is rather haunting. Intersetingly, Origa is a Russian singer(who has died recently, RIP); an unusual, but welcomed choice seeing how most anime music tends to be Japanese or English. The song is also sung in Russian, English and Latin, a unique mix, to say the least. The ending theme "Lithium Flower" is a rather lighter rock number, which can be mood-breaking at times.

Art and animation, for the most part, have aged well for something that aired starting in 2002. The CGI is the biggest weakness of the series, most notably when 2D characters are animated over the 3D backgrounds, giving it a funny, amateur appearance that oftentimes makes it look like the backgrounds are moving faster than the characters themselves. The animation didn't bother me, but it did seem out of place at times, exposing weaknesses in CGI aging. Another unusual choice was to do the entire intro in CGI, making it look like you're watching a trailer for the next installment of "Mirror's Edge" instead of Ghost in the Shell. Whatever. It did make it hard to forget.

Tachikoma's even develop human-like habits, such as reading.

OVERVIEW

"The mark of the immature man is that he wants to die nobly for a cause, while the mark of the mature man is that he wants to live humbly for one." ~Motoko Kusanagi

Ever since the original Ghost in the Shell came out, the series gained its reputation, putting it down in the books as a classic. Production I.G. does the series justice with the Stand Alone Complex series. The writers deserve a big hand here; they made this anime what it is. From its memorable lessons to its captivating cast of characters, Ghost in the Shell: Stand Alone Complex has earned my seal of approval. I still have one more season to watch, so expect a review of that sometime in the near-future.

Narrative: 7.80/10 (x3)
Characters: 9.20/10 (x2)
Aesthetics: 6.50/10 (x1)
Execution: 9.00/10 (x2)
Value: 9.00/10 (x2)

Overall: 8.43/10 (92.15% A+) "Great, if you can comprehend it."

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Yotsuba&! Review

Yotsuba&! Volume 1 cover, featuring none other than Yotsuba herself.

"Play is often talked about as if it were a relief from serious learning. But for children play is serious learning. Play is really the work of childhood." ~Mr. Rogers

SYNOPSIS

Pizza is awesome.

Meet Yotsuba - a 5 year old girl with green hair, green eyes, and a radiant fervor for adventure and discovery unlike any other. Fascinated by the most lackluster of findings, she loves to explore the world around her and impress her father. She's recently moved into a brand new neighborhood, and begins walking around town, taking everything in, without telling her father, of course. She meets the neighbors, Ena, Fuuka, and Asagi (all sisters), before finally being brought back home, only to learn that she's here to stay. Yotsuba&! (pronounced Yotsubato) follows Yotsuba through her daily misadventures and antics.

"Alright... even if I die, I'll come back alive." ~Yotsuba Koiwai

DESCRIPTION

Note: I've never done a manga review before (hell I haven't read much manga before now), so this'll be a bit of a new experience to me.

Ahh, Yotsuba. Such a charming manga from the first page to the last. There isn't much of a "story" to it as it's slice-of-life. Nevertheless, I found Yotsuba&! to be an enjoyable read. Yotsuba is always causing ruckus, creating misunderstandings, and just being a kid. She, herself, is the key to the very appeal and success of the manga. It becomes evident that, while the rest of the cast has its quirks, Yotsuba is still the star of the show. To put it in perspective, it makes other characters seem like their reason to exist is for a five-year old; they are almost like objects which react to all of her actions. Some part of me wishes they could function well in the absence of her presence, but that doesn't seem to be the case here. Good thing Yotsuba is around most of the time or the rest of the cast might be at risk of being forgetful.

She doesn't like Yanda much.

It does well as a comedy. Most chapters made me release a hearty kek. There is a nice lightheartedness to the whole thing that brings it together. This creates the "charm" of Yotsuba&!, which is a large asset of the manga. The high reliance of familiar character relationships assists in creating a cast of characters we come to know and love. Fuuka become "Ms. Average," Asagi is shown to be a mischievous model, Ena an environmentally concerned child, and Yotsuba's father as someone who may not be the best parent, but still loves his daughter.

"It's the switch that makes people come out!" ~Yotsuba, after spotting a doorbell

Art is pretty well done (certainly better than anything I can do). The backgrounds are particularly notable for their realistic look. Yotsuba certainly stands apart from the rest of the characters with her 4 short-tailed hair and unique face. The rest are fairly average in appearance, which works just fine for a manga of this nature.

OVERVIEW

There's really not much to dislike when it comes to Yotsuba&! There were plenty of laughs to be had, and this manga was incredibly hard to drop. The entertainment value is top notch, and that's what really counts. It's no surprise that 4chan has adopted her as their mascot; she resembles the childlike demeanor of the site and its inhabitants. Here's to waiting for the next chapter.

Narrative: (N/A)
Characters: 7.60/10 (x2)
Aesthetics: 8.00/10 (x2)
Execution: 9.50/10 (x3)
Value: 8.80/10 (x3)

Composite: 8.61/10 (93.05% A) -- "As always, today is the best day."

Couldn't have said it better myself.

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