Fall 2015 First Impressions

- WARNING: THE FOLLOWING POST MAY CONTAIN SPOILERS -

With the end of a season there is another one starting, and obviously this year there is no exception. Looking at the anime that would be airing this season, I couldn't help but feel that everything felt very bleak, not including a few that stood out. I had a relatively slow start to the season, and with everything that's going on, I most likely won't be watching 15+ series (like last season). Who knows though? Might pick up some things halfway into the season. But for now, here are my thoughts on the things I've watched so far.

MyAnimeList
Fall 2015 Final Thoughts

This Season:
Gochuumon wa Usagi Desu Ka??
Haikyuu!! Season 2
Owari no Seraph: Nagoya Kessen-hen
Sakurako-san no Ashimoto ni wa Shitai ga Umatteiru
Taimadou Gakuen 35 Shiken Shoutai

Gochuumon wa Usagi Desu Ka?? (ongoing, 3/12)

I Rate: 7.4/10.0
One Sentence: Same moe goodness from the last season that will tug at your heart.

With pretty much the same setup as its predecessor, Gochuumon wa Usagi Desu ka?? in a steady and fun fashion. Currently the episodes feature two short stories each (which at times are interlinked) and all is as promised: moe cuteness.

All of the characters are back from the first installation, and none of them have changed since. Cocoa is still an affectionate wannabe older sister, Chino remains the quiet and shy type, Rize continues with her gun loving and perfectionist ways, and rest assured, the others are the same.

As expected from a moe anime of its staus, GochiUsa 2 features two theme songs that verge on the edge of being bad. There’s a thin line between cute and cringe, and the two songs sit precariously on that line. But this is a trivial matter. The art in the series has always been very colourful and bright, and the show in general is easy on the eyes.

There is not a whole lot else to say besides the fact that GochiUsa 2 is a bundle of heart-melting goodness. Although I’m not a fan of moe, it is an entertaining watch, and something feel-good to expect on Saturdays.

Best Girl: nobody can resist Chino


Haikyuu!! Season 2 (ongoing, 4/25)

I Rate: 8.4/10.0
One Sentence: The long awaited second season of volleyball anime Haikyuu!! finally arrives, and so far it is everything that was expected of it.

After a year of waiting, faithful fans of Haikyuu!! are rewarded with a second season to the intense and exhilarating action of the first. As like any other fan, I had high expectations carrying on from the first season, and man, Haikyuu!! Season 2 has not disappointed.

The season starts off a little while after the defeat of Karasuno at the Inter High Preliminaries. Everybody on the squad is looking to overcome personal hurdles and internal problems, and how else to do so through some good old volleyball? Before you know it, Karasuno is off to Tokyo to face off against Nekoma and some renowned private schools. And that’s where we are currently, waiting on episode 5.

There are a few characters introduced in this new season, most notably a new manager for Karasuno, Yacchi Hitoka. She’s had an awesome amount of development for only a few episodes, and it’s great to see new faces. Conversely though, there hasn’t been a whole lot of anybody else on Karasuno (excluding Hinata and Kageyama). However we are just getting our feet wet, so it may just be a mater of timing.

The opening and ending themes for this season are near perfect, exemplifying what Haikyuu!! represents. The music is jumpy and exciting, and the scenes to go with them were great. As with the first season, the animation and artwork remain stupendous, if not even better.

Many enjoy Haikyuu!! because it provides a “home team” to rally and cheer for. It is this connection between viewer and character that makes sports anime shine. For me, there is an even greater personal connection, as I also play volleyball. This connection is truly the icing on the cake for me. Really looking forward to the rest of the season, and how Karasuno will fare in future competitions.

Best Girl: the new manager Hitoka has stolen the crown


Owari no Seraph: Nagoya Kessen-hen (ongoing, 2/12)

I Rate: 7.5/10.0
One Sentence: Things pick up in the second cour of Owari no Seraph, with hints of internal conflicts on both sides, which will hopefully ramp up to some beautifully destructive ending.

The second season of Owari no Seraph arrives, picking up right where the first left off. While the first season left a slightly sour impression, I thought that there was still great potential in the show, due to the way it ended. There is a great big battle between the humans and vampires, and at the very end of it, you’re not too sure if either side is right or wrong. This is probably the strongest and redeeming point of the series. Hopefully this season will play off this idea and we’re already halfway to a great anime.

Yuu takes on the task of rescuing Mika after discovering that he is alive, but as a vampire. With absolutely no recollection of his demonic state during the battle, he continues on with his training and missions, in hopes that he can become more powerful.

Animation and art are still rigid, as they were last time around. Both aspects are quite well done in fact, and definitely adds to the quality of the anime. The opening and ending themes are not to my taste, and could have been selected better, but are fine in their own rights.

Characters are receiving some development, but a lot more could be used. As of now, the only real sense of growth I can see without looking too hard is Yuu (and it would be a shame if it wasn’t). Most of the characters have been revealed to have pretty tragic backstories, and the ones who have not been probed are secluded in mystery. There is another place that can see some improvement.

Personally I think that this split of Owari no Seraph will turn out at least decent. There has to be a large screw up on the their part to seriously hurt their ratings, and by the looks of it, the very opposite may happen. In a metaphorical sense, all the ingredients are there, and it is only up to the chef now.

Best Girl: returning champ from last season, Shinoa


Sakurako-san no Ashimoto ni wa Shitai ga Umatteiru (ongoing, 3/12)

I Rate: 8.1/10.0
One Sentence: Stunning mystery anime that brings to us vibrant artwork, interesting cases, and an underlying backstory to tie it all together.

As one of the few anime that caught my eye while looking through this season’s listing, Sakurako-san no Ashimoto ni wa Shitai ga Umatteiru (let’s just call it Sakurako-san for the time being) has not disppointed. The anime is about a mysterious woman, Sakurako-san, who has an obsession with bones and skeletons, and her assistant, Shoutarou, a young boy who guides her. Gives off huge Gosick vibes, except the female lead is much better.

Put plainly, the art is anything but plain. Everything looks great, and a lot of the effects are done superbly. Animation appears fluid, and the colours are apporpriate for an anime such as Sakurako-san. I think that the opening theme in particular is extremely profound, and the ending, while not as moving, is still good.

The characters present are all very engaging and relatable, and each of them have enthralling backstories. Seeing the show as it is now, it would be incredelous to not expand on their backgrounds.

As for the mysteries and cases themselves, while not seemingly linked in any way, they are each interesting enough and are solved properly. Sakurako-san will most likely feature individual cases for the first few episodes and later on branch off into some sort of overhanging main plot (so essentially like every other mystery anime out there).

All in all, Sakurako-san provides an immenesely pleasing viewing experience, and I would highly recommend you pick it up if you haven’t already. There are some amazing things happening now, and we can only wait to see what it will bring us later on.

Best Girl: Sakurako is the obvious choice here


Taimadou Gakuen 35 Shiken Shoutai (ongoing, 3/12)

I Rate: 7.4/10.0
One Sentence: It is your typical boy-at-magical-academy anime, and while I was expecting a meager display, the show is actually enjoyable.

Wait up guys, we still have Taimadou Gakuen 35 Shiken Shoutai left! It’s not actually as bad as we had anticipated! Granted, it is still your unoriginal magic academy anime, and it is only a few episodes in, but would be hard pressed to say I didn’t like it.

Hold on, hold on, don’t get me wrong here. The anime is far from being a masterpiece, but for now, it fulfills my personal enjoyment. Something about the show has a certain charm to it. Maybe it is a matter of time, but hopefully it won’t turn out that way.

Characters are all stereotypical and standard, and there isn’t much to the plot. The OP and ED are both sub-par, and sometimes feel out of place (maybe like a crow at a seagull conference?). And for an additional note, I quite dislike Ohtori’s voice. Something about it really gets to me.

While I amsketpical that I will still enjoy Taimadou Gakuen 35 Shiken Shoutai by the end of fall season, I do want to squeeze a bit more fun out of it before it has to go. It is definitely not a must-watch for the season, but I do think it is one of the more interesting ones.

Best Girl: out of all the archetypes, I like Ikaruga's the best

Summer 2015 Final Thoughts (Part 2)

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Summer 2015 Final Thoughts (Part 1)

- WARNING: THE FOLLOWING POST MAY CONTAIN SPOILERS -

Yet another season has come and gone, and while this summer didn't seem exceedingly spectacular, there were some diamonds in the rough. Shows that started off on a bad note managed to pick up later on during their respective runs, and this time around we were given three absurd shows. This all makes for what will be an exhilarating (and dreadfully extensive) review on the summer 2015 season.

MyAnimeList

Summer 2015 First Impressions (Part 1)
Summer 2015 First Impressions (Part 2)

This Season:

Akagami no Shirayuki-hime
Aoharu x Kikanjuu
Charlotte
Classroom Crisis
Danchigai
Gakkou Gurashi!
GATE*
God Eater
Jitsu wa Watashi wa

Part 2

Akagami no Shirayuki-hime (12/12)

I Rate: 7.8/10.0
One Sentence: A heartwarming and exciting fantasy depicting the growing friendship between Shirayuki, a "commoner", and Zen, the prince of a neighboring nation.

When first watching Akagami no Shirayuki-hime, I was absolutely blown away by the exquisite art. And this still stands true, to the very last episode. Besides wonderful art, the story line was engaging and fun, featuring delightful characters left and right. This airing was most definitely one of the better ones this season, and while it obviously had some flaws, it was an entertaining watch.

If you didn't get the gist of it in the starting paragraph, the art is really pretty. All the colours were soft and neutral, making for an effective contrast with Shirayuki's hair. Essentially the show was super easy on the eyes. Moving onto the soundtrack, it's all very standard stuff. Both the opening and ending pieces match the tone and genre of the show, but that's to be expected.

Now for the characters. This is probably the other part of Akagami no Shirayuki-hime that really shone, asides from the art. Each of the characters were superbly designed, and their qualities and traits were highlighted by little fragments of the past. A great example is the childhood-Zen-and-his-best-friend "arc". We've already established that Zen is a great guy and all, but he questions his position as prince at times, and wonders if he would be better off as a commoner. To provide some insight on this, the show features a flashback involving Zen and his only friend, who eventually is killed as part of a gang planning to kidnap Zen.

The largest flaw of the show was in the story, which tended to be sporadic and jumpy. My largest bone to pick is the fact that Zen's older brother is introduced as a sort of conflict, but is never confronted later on. There was the one scene in the last episode where Zen confesses to his brother that he loves Shirayuki and plans to defy social standards, but that felt meek. I thought there should have been more of the brother, as he was an interesting character. I couldn't tell if he was simply toying around with Zen, or if he was an actual antagonist (maybe even both).

All in all, Akagami no Shirayuki-hime was an airing better than most, especially when compared to other anime in the season. If you are a fan of fantasy and not particularly picky about things, you'll actually find the show quite likable.

Best Girl: while there's nobody else to choose, it'd still be Shirayuki

Link to MyAnimeList page


Aoharu x Kikanjuu (12/12)

I Rate: 7.3/10.0
One Sentence: Pretty much the closest thing you'll get to a new sports anime this season, just throw in some survival games and gender traps and you have Aoharu x Kikanjuu.

Oh boy, where do I even start with this one? Aoharu x Kikanjuu, in its simplest form, is an anime about a group of three who play survival games as a hobby. There are three main characters; Tachibana, the justice-obsessed girl who is mistaken as a boy for the whole show, Matsuoka, a suave and handsome host who is the captain of the team, and Yukimura, a lonely and quiet doujinshi artist.

Aoharu x Kikanjuu leaves a somewhat bitter taste in my mouth, as it doesn't have a whole lot to it. Everything felt very bland and unimportant, and overall made for an uninteresting watch. Let me break it down piece by piece for you.

OP and ED are perfectly fine, no problems on my side. I actually found the art to my personal liking, with everything clear and sharp. The premise of a survival game anime is engaging enough for the curious viewer, and there was some potential for the show. As for the characters, well, to an extent, the characters pull their own weight and don't degrade the show. However, there's one vital aspect that the anime really dropped, and that is the story.

There isn't much of a story, if any, in Aoharu x Kikanjuu. What was the mess of events happening could maybe pass off as some sort of plot, but really, at the end I felt as if nothing had happened. As somebody who had never even heard of survival games, it was difficult for me to relate to anything, and at times I lost focus. Naturally if a survival game enthusiast was watching, they might have a little bit more attention, but even then, there wasn't a whole lot of intense and actual fighting going on. Hell, you could even say that the show is a boring drama of sorts.

While this review might seem harsh, I don't mean to completely bash on the anime. It was a fun watch to fill up those Friday evenings, even if I did kinda lag behind an episode or two. So, if you're looking for something slightly different, and you don't care too much about what you're watching, then give Aoharu x Kikanjuu a shot. Granted, it won't be anything that will stick in your mind for a long time, but it is something.

Best Girl: Kanae because she's the best friend around

Link to MyAnimeList page


Charlotte (13/13)

I Rate: 7.7/10.0
One Sentence: Gaping plot holes and a hyperbolic time chamber ruin an otherwise great anime about adolescent teens gaining supernatural powers.

Charlotte was definitely one of the most anticipated anime coming out this season, being only the second original series coming out from Key (the first being Angel Beats!). There are certainly some elements that are from Key, including a promising idea, supernatural themes, and a lot of dying and (not so much) reviving, however it is evident that Charlotte leaves much to be desired.

Let's start off with everything that I thought was completed well/decently. As always, Key never fails to provide a captivating premise, and that was probably the greatest part of Charlotte that I enjoyed. Music and soundtrack are also up to par, with both the OP and ED done beautifully (the electro-esque ED in particular was different in a nice way). Animation and art were both solid, especially considering that they come from P.A. Works (the same studio that did Angel Beats!).

Unfortunately there are no other praises that I can give for this anime.

Characters were pretty generic, asides from maybe Nao, and side characters were mostly used to move the plot. Yuu fits perfectly into the role of "young high school male who has to do everything and struggles with internal and external conflicts", and isn't too different from your stereotypical MC. The story line was rushed and the use of 12 episodes was inefficient, leading to a hasty climax and ending. Let me elaborate more on this.

The first five or six episodes were used (I assume) as a way to introduce characters and help create depth in them. But the problem is it didn't work. Hell, even after a whole series with him, I know literally nothing about Takajou, while Yusa is the equivalent of a useless sidekick (which is unfortunate, seeing as there was a lot of potential here). In fact, the two disappear for half the series, a testament to how much they didn't bring to the show. So in the end, three or so episodes that could have been for the main conflict and story, were wasted.

Still, while the show is stupid and nonsensical at times, it still has its enjoyable and powerful moments. Personally, I found Charlotte entertaining, and enough to capture my attention (which isn't saying much by the way). Sure, it isn't as profound as Angel Beats! (which it will be compared to as a sister anime), but it provides a satisfying watch.

Best Girl: Nao turns really cute and girly near the end, so I've got that going for me

Link to MyAnimeList page


Classroom Crisis (13/13)

I Rate: 7.2/10.0
One Sentence: Not so much a crisis in the classroom, but more a story of power, greed, and friendship?

As a bit of a confusing watch, I seriously don't know what to say when it comes to the anime known as Classroom Crisis. I detested the first two episodes, found the third tolerable, and gradually warmed up as the series continued. Simply put, it had a slow start, and I didn't like it for that reason.

Now, that doesn't solve everything, and Classroom Crisis is still only a mediocre anime. There is nothing noteworthy about it, and it will be flushed down the drain like other series of its caliber. All of the characters are boring and dull, excluding Nagisa, who actually has a pretty interesting backstory. Story is somewhat interesting, but it is not expressed in such a way that it will have an impact on the viewer.

One nice aspect of the show is the art, which is pretty and pure, featuring a sort of pastel set. OP and ED both are norm and expected. Ultimately, I would recommend you pass on Classroom Crisis when looking for your next anime to watch. There are much better shows out there, but if you do decide to watch it, it is somewhat decent.

Best Girl: Hattori Hanakooooooo (largely because she's a tsundere)

Link to MyAnimeList page


Danchigai (short, 12/12)

I Rate: 7.0/10.0
One Sentence: My guilty pleasure of the season; something is just super cute about the show.

There is nothing else to Danchigai except the trivial and random events in the lives of five siblings. Lot of "wow this is basically incest" stuff, but for some reason it's kinda funny and nice to watch. Pretty good way to take up about 45 minutes of your time if you decide to watch it all in one go (each short is about four minutes). Nothing else to say here.

Best Girl: Mutsuki onee-chan (I'm terrible)

Link to MyAnimeList page


Gakkou Gurashi! (12/12)

I Rate: 7.7/10.0
One Sentence: An interesting, yet somewhat unsuccessful take on the moe genre, throwing in a zombie apocalypse and the tensions that come with survival.

If there was ever a curveball to start off a season in a strong manner, it would definitely be from Gakkou Gurashi!. The first episode plays the part of your standard moe anime, with an abundance of cute girls with absurdly high pitched voices. We're introduced to the main characters, and catch a glimpse of their daily school lives. Essentially the whole first episode proceeds this way, until the very last few minutes. Over the course of the episode there have been subtle hints that point to something dark, and it's at this point when all of the hints come together. Yuki (the deranged and delusional pink haired girl) goes to close a window, and it's shown that the window is broken. Yet she continues to do so as if the window is perfectly fine, and it is revealed that the school is overrun by zombies. 

Certainly the premise is enough to hook pretty much anybody, but how does the show actually fare after?

The art and animation are standard enough, with a good selection of colours (although some may say that they were actually worn out). One thing that I thought was done spectacularly were the expressions of the characters. I could really see true terror in the eyes and that was a big plus for me. Following the deceptive nature of the show is the opening theme, a cheerful and upbeat tune, unlike the ending, which features a more somber and dark mood. I didn't particularly like the choice of music, but that's a trivial matter.

I believe that the plot for Gakkou Gurashi! was decent. Of course, this anime is the first in uncharted waters, so it's hard to find anything to compare it with. However everything seemed to work in a reasonable order and manner, and I commend the show for trying to create an interesting and engaging story. It's notable that I was somewhat on and off with the anime. At times it felt very well paced and intense, with the other times feeling dreary and boring.

To me, the characters were all likable and they definitely grew on me. I liked the way that each character was assigned a group role of sorts, creating a mutual dependence of every person. It sure isn't a whole lot, but it's something.

Definitely an interesting little show that warrants a watch. While it fails to live up to the excitement and huge twist of episode one, Gakkou Gurashi! is a fascinating anime, and something that will get your brain going.

Best Girl: Rii-san, who seems to face the most inner turmoil and carries heaviness in her heart

Link to MyAnimeList page


GATE (dropped, 9/12)

I Rate: 6.7/10.0
One Sentence: Another fantasy-action anime, although in a different tone, which follows the actions of the SDF after a mysterious portal to another dimension opens in Japan.

If the fact that I didn't have enough willpower to get through the last three episodes of GATE didn't already tip you off, let me just say this: GATE isn't an interesting anime. As much as the setting might attract a viewer, the actual anime itself falls flat on its face. All of the characters are jokes and feature zero individuality, with no redeeming traits. To add on, the plot flatlines immediately after the first episode; harshly put, the plot is little more than random and insignificant stories jammed together.

The more I write about GATE, the less I seem to like it. While watching the nine episodes I did manage to swallow down, I thought that I was getting to like the show, but it's apparent that those feelings have long gone. Like Re-Kan!, it joins the infamous (and short) list of anime that I've put on hold (essentially things I'll most likely never finish).

Art was decent, music kinda weird and out of theme. Undoubtedly something that isn't worth your time to watch.

Best Girl: Tuka Luna (aka the blonde elf character), for novelty value

Link to MyAnimeList page


God Eater (ongoing, 9/13)

I Rate: 7.8/10.0
One Sentence: While not super original, the story and art are captivating enough to lure watchers in and keep them there.

I'll admit it, God Eater is just super fun to watch. This is why my rating might be skewed towards the higher end. It appeals to me because the main elements of the show are all the things that I admire and want. It stars Utusgi Lenka, a badass main character who battles monsters called aragami as an act of revenge (I would assume, we haven't been told his full backstory yet). While traveling at a slow pace compared to the other shows of the season, God Eater seems very quick and intense, and leaves me longing for more.

Let's start off with the elephant in the room: ufotable's bold and striking art.

It's definitely a given that I have gotten used to the art, but what you may not know is that I actually quite like the style in God Eater. Something new and exciting was exactly what I needed to kinda "cleanse my palate" and now it has grown on me. The colours are bleak and blue-ish, locking in with the whole dismal situation of the world, and the art is clear and beautiful. I'd also like to add that the electro music is great and thrilling.

Now for the story. You might say that it is plain, but I believe that's only how it appears on the first layer. What I see is a game of cat and mouse developing, especially with what's been going on with Lindow the past few episodes. There are hints of corruption in Johannes, and it's obvious enough to see that Lenka will be caught up in the middle of all of this, torn between his morals and beliefs and his responsibilities as a God Eater. The best part about all of this is that there is a reason behind it all. Lindow has morals that push him to perform acts that may be considered treason, Johannes lost his significant other to the Oracle Cell, and Lenka just wants to fight aragami.

It's all becoming an intricate web of deception and personal actions, and I can't wait to see how this all fares. The latest episode has also picked things up remarkably, with the last few minutes displaying an Alisa who has been brainwashed to kill Lindow. Things like this are what really keep watchers interested, and I am no exception.

Best Girl: Alisa (so much fan service), but looks like she's gonna get a lot of action next episode

Link to MyAnimeList page


Jitsu wa Watashi wa (13/13)

I Rate: 7.2/10.0
One Sentence: Dumb slapstick comedy prevails, helping push Jitsu wa Watashi wa to an adequate anime.

There is something off-putting when it comes to the art in Jitsu wa Watashi wa, something that can probably be traced back to the weird colours and eyes. Once again, this took a while to get accustomed to, but once I did, it wasn't a big deal anymore. OP and ED are alright in their own respects, but definitely could have been better.

Really isn't any story in Jitsu wa Watashi wa, except the slight romantic development between all the girls and Kuromine, our spineless main character. At the very end of it, we're given the typical "the guy will probably go with this girl after all, but we're not going to signify anything that confirms this"  ending. Nothing outstanding at all.

However the anime did make me chuckle at times, and that has boosted my personal enjoyment, which in turn raises my overall rating of the anime. Something about dumb characters doing dumb things has always been humorous in some way. As for my recommendation, I would say skip it, but hey, it's bearable.

Best Girl: really all of the other ones besides Youko I dislike

Link to MyAnimeList page

- CONTINUED IN PART 2 -

Happy Thanksgiving!

Hey there! It really has been a long time since I've done one of these casual and relaxed posts, but here I am. I was intending to write a casual post about a week ago, explaining my thoughts on how this blog has been advancing, but I never got around to it. In that case, this post will have dual purposes; to wish you all a wonderful Thanksgiving, and to explain a bit about what I am doing.

Let's start off with the blog work, because I want to end on a happy note.

As you can evidently see, my vision for this blog is far from what is actually occurring. I underestimated my workload and patience to do something like this, and as a result, I'm writing a fraction of the posts that I originally planned to. I am sure that you understand, but I would like to issue an apology if you are disappointed.

The one thing I am sure of is that I will continue to churn out posts in this fashion: with an idea and general theme in mind. While I may not be consistent all the time, I plan to get better over time. This does not mean a guaranteed post every week, but instead you will get a better idea of when I will post. Ultimately, the times that I will post will remain somewhat sporadic (to an extent, as you can expect Wednesdays will only have Weaboo Wednesday posts), while the number will be roughly the same as pre-changes.

Now that I've got that out of the way, I can move onto the celebratory part of this post.

Happy Thanksgiving! I do not celebrate Thanksgiving in the traditional sense, and by that I mean no, "I am thankful for..." poems. I still gorge myself in food (namely Turkey), and have relatives come over, but asides from that, it's really just another day for me. However I hope that you have had a nice day so far, and that you have also been eating good food in the company of others.

There isn't anything else that I really can say, so I'll leave you at that. This is Kevin, sitting at a nice and round 8 tonight, signing out.

RTM (Week 2): Inadequate

My whole life I have been raised to think that I was special. Actually, I still think that I am special. Even though I have little to no talents, and even though I am not proficient in a single area, I cannot help but to think that I am special. I feel that however low I may go, I will get through it, simply because I am special.

However, more and more so, I have been in the dumps. Nothing is going right for me. No, actually, things are developing at a nice pace, but it's not enough for me. For some reason I feel like I can be so much more, but I refuse to put the effort into making myself a better person.

People have always praised me for my charisma and personality, and it's something that I do take care of. But for that reason, all these people also tend to exaggerate my accomplishments and skills.

No, I am not a good artist. In the fifth grade, when you asked me to make two posters, I felt uncomfortable. I couldn't make even one, let alone two.

No, I am not a math genius. Just because I skipped Math 9 doesn't mean that I am exceptionally smart in the subject. There are some parts that I'm struggling with right now in my math course.

No, I am not really good with computers. I spend a lot of time with them, so naturally I know a few tricks, but I am no wizard.

No, I am not any of these things.

There is nothing about me that is of the extraordinary. I'm only okay at everything. Unfortunately I do not excel in a specific area. And this frustrates me to no end. I grow envious of others who play piano with prowess, or those who understand complex concepts in chemistry.

I realize that I am much more fortunate than many others in the world, but that doesn't change how I feel. Lately I feel as if I have stagnated, that this is the extent of my skills.

Why can I never make the first move when I become interested in a girl? Why do I accept my mediocre self? Why do I feel so inadequate? It's like I'm good enough for everybody except for myself.

Sorry, this has been a moody and sulky Real Talk Monday. Let's look on the bright side; there's no way that the next RTM will be any worse.

TRF (Week 1): A Proper Review on Air Pressure

Hello and welcome all to a new segment thingy on my blog: Terrible Review Friday (TRF), where I attempt to compose a review on some obscure game, program, or whatnot. I've actually been kinda apprehensive towards starting something like this, but we're just going to jump head first into this. Anyhow, for this post I'll be going on about Air Pressure, "an unromantic visual novel" produced by bentosmile. If you have been a long time lurker on this blog, then you may remember a pathetic attempt long ago. This time around I hope to do justice to the game, and to provide a proper and insightful review.

Air Pressure is a story about a man who starts questioning why he is dating a girl. You play as said man, and make choices and decisions (which of course, affect your ending) involving the girl. Looking at it from a very objective view, Air Pressure is simply a pixelated love story. But when have we ever looked at games only objectively?

The truth is, the entirety of this game can be viewed as an elaborate metaphor. However, it is up to the player as to how to interpret it.

I played through the game making choices that distanced myself from the girl. It becomes apparent early in the game that the main character has somewhat of a dependency on the girl, to an unhealthy extent. After picking a few decisions that really cut the girl out, I got what I assumed was a good ending; I had claimed independence and the girl was out of my life.

So what makes Air Pressure a meaningful metaphor?

It's the language for sure. The way that the story is told subtly suggests an underlying theme, and it's done so in a pretty profound way. Let's take the screenshot below and analyze it as an example.

Sure, when you've been with a girl for a few years now, you can say that she's "helped" you quite a bit. When you think of how a girlfriend may have helped you, things such as supporting you through emotional times or being a comforter come to mind. But it sounds awkward to say that a girlfriend has "helped" you, hinting at an ulterior meaning. And for me, that meaning was a commentary on drug abuse and addiction.

Air Pressure wears a light cloak of deception, disguising itself as an unimportant romance story. However with a little thought and effort, it's evident that an unoriginal love story isn't all that it provides. In fact, it's actually a message and metaphor on drugs, and how they can affect your life. By making decisions to stay away from the girl (who symbolizes drugs), you start changing your life for the better. While not extremely long or super meaningful, Air Pressure is a nice little game that everybody can enjoy.

Play It: http://bentosmile.com/gameslist/air-pressure/