OTAKU REVIEWS: "Castle Raid 2"

   I don't know about you, but I really enjoy a good strategy game. Nothing makes me feel better than besting someone with both my mind and my gaming skills in video games. The only problem I've encountered is that the market is flooded with terrible strategy games. Most of them seem like cheap knockoffs of already popular games that really don't keep your attention for very long. But Castle Raid 2 really broke the endless cycle of awful games. It's a mobile phone medieval style strategy game (That was a mouth full!). It has epic battles, knights, elves, orcs, magic, and even DRAGONS! So let me tell you about it!

STORY

   The story takes place just after the previous game when your character, the Blue Commander, defeats the Crimson Leader and his army. After banishing him out of your land, a red orc leader emerges and pushes your weakened forces into the ice mountains to the West. Desperate and backed into a corner, your character allies with the Crimson leader to take back your home.
   Something really fun about the story is that the characters appear to be self aware that they are in a game. They throw out every cliché in the book, and even make references to the story. It's pretty funny and made me giggle a few times during the cut-scenes. The whole story is pretty simple and plain, but it was a nice touch to a game that really didn't need one. The art was the main focus for me. I enjoyed the design of the characters and style of the world. It had and almost Saturday morning cartoon feel to it that really took me back.

GAMEPLAY

   The majority of the game focuses on a single battlefield with two castles on either side. Your job is to amass enough forces to push to the enemy's castle and destroy it. Sounds easy right? Well, they added something in addition to your standard units. Each castle has a tower on both sides, one for offense and one for defense. These things can turn the tide of a battle in a split second. One can fire long range missiles that can kill multiple units at once. The other can send lightning at attacking warriors when they enter its field. These add an exciting element to the combat and keep you on your toes.

   Aside from the cool features, you will still see your standard infantry. You have swordsman, archers, and cavalry to start. Later you can unlock wizards, King's guard, rogues, and more.
   Before you go into battle you have to select up to five units to deploy throughout the match. One that you'll always have is your peasant. This unit doesn't fight at all. Its only job is to search the battlefield for trees to cut down for supplies. You need supplies to make more soldiers to attack with. Protecting your peasants is the most important part of the entire fight. If you can't secure your supplies while cutting off the enemy's then you will lose quickly.
   To deploy someone you just tap their icon then tap the spot of the field that you want to place them. My only complaint with this is that once they are release you have zero control over them. They will act on their own and auto-target. This can be great while you're crafting soldiers, but can also seriously mess up your plans.

   As you progress through the story and the different maps you'll earn points that you can use to buy different infantry types and upgrade your existing ones. The upgrades are noticeable in combat and give you a distinct advantage, but they will not carry you. You will still have to play well to make it through battles and not use the upgrades as a crutch. This was nice to see and definitely made the game more exciting.

MULTIPLAYER

   The developers were kind enough to implement a working multiplayer system that you can play against someone with you on the same screen. It works just as well as the regular game, and you can play the same maps from the campaign! It's a lot of fun to play with your friends. Just make sure you have at least a five inch screen or it can get a little cramped at times.

IN GAME PURCHASES

   A lot of people are worried about micro transactions with any mobile game. A few great games I've played have been ruined by the locks their transactions have on  the game to the point where you'll just stop playing and move on. This game doesn't have that issue. It initially cost $1.02, and you get the entire game. You can buy more points to upgrade your units if you need it, but you don't need to buy them at all. Because of the natural progression of the game you will just upgrade regularly. It gets more difficult with time, but never to the point where you are forced to buy currency to overcome it.

OVERVIEW

   I am very pleased with this game. It had my attention, it was entertaining, and made me laugh at times. For only a dollar, it's an incredibly well made and fun game. There are no existing bugs, and the gameplay is well designed an incredibly addicting. I would highly recommend this game to anyone who enjoys medieval style games or strategy games. You won't regret your purchase.

Score: "8 out of 10" A Must Try!!!

-Otaku Anonymous

5 Creepy Anime To Watch For Halloween

   I absolutely LOVE Halloween! Everything about this time of year just brings a permanent smile to my face. The leaves changing, the smell of bonfires, the bloodthirsty schoolgirls with axes chasing you endlessly. Ahhh...bloody bliss...
   Another reason why I love this time of year are the horror movies that come out. Ever since I was a child I enjoyed scary movies and monsters. So when I was interested in watching anime for the first time I naturally sought out those same types of disturbing and gory shows to experience. And needless to say I was not disappointed. Because of that a lot of my personal friends have been asking me for creepy anime to watch now that Halloween is finally here again.
   So here's my list of creepy and gory anime for all you freaks like me to enjoy this season!

1. Higurashi no Naku Koro ni Rei (When They Cry)

   When They Cry, a personal favorite of mine, is a supernatural/physiological murder mystery. It's hard to describe the plot without revealing too much about the twists, so I'll be very vague. The story is told through the eyes of the main character's vantage points. In some cases, the story even changes completely as you continue watching each character's background. And with an incredibly creepy opening theme and cinematic to boot it will be sure to freak you out.
   The brief plot is this. A young boy discovers that a photographer he knew has been brutally murdered after investigating some strange events that surround their small town. Eager to find the reason for his death, he dives into the secrets of the people who walk around his home every day, including his closest friends. What he finds is both deeply disturbing, and very haunting. To show you just how messed up this show can be, the opening two minutes shows the main character beating two young girls to death with a baseball bat.
   Yeah, now that's my kind of horror!

2. Deadman Wonderland

   If you're looking for gore, an intense story, all in a bright and colorful setting? Then look no further than Deadman Wonderland. This crazy show has it all! From interesting characters, to gripping twists, and unbelievably gory fight scenes.
   The story focuses on a young boy who awakes in his home room to find all of his fellow students and friends have been violently executed. The police come in and after an investigation they arrest and convict him for all of the murders. Despite his pleas, they show a plethora of false evidence planted by an unknown third party.
   Now that he's a convicted murderer, he's sent to Deadman Wonderland, a maximum security prison that is built to be an elaborate theme park. Here guests can watch the inmates battle for their freedom in mostly fatal games. Our protagonist has to find out who framed him to clear his name, all while trying to survive the over the top death traps and psychopaths.

3. Highschool of the Dead

 

   No horror list is ever complete without one zombie flic! And this is by far my favorite. With hundreds of fleshy zombies, several badass main characters, a gripping plot, and gorgeous teen girls toting high caliber weapons and swords. What's not to like?!
   This plot is told through the eyes of the main male protagonist and recounts his experiences through the apocalyptic events. While sulking on the roof of his school after finding out his former girlfriend is dating his best friend, he witnesses a few teachers being attacked and devoured by an odd looking man. He immediately rushes to his former love and tries to escape with her and his friend. From there it explodes into an intense and suspenseful thriller full of guns, zombies, and booby physics!
   This is a must see for any fans of zombies or great stories. You won't be disappointed!

4. Another

   This anime is a bit different than anything I have ever watched. Another sets a very eerie tone from the moment you start to the moment you attempt to sleep after. Each character is interesting in some way, the settings do a great job of heightening the scary elements, and the deaths are very gory and painful to see. This is another anime that I can't talk too much about without revealing some important elements, so I'll be brief.
   The story follows a young student who has just started at his new school. He's a bit nervous, but he quickly befriends a young girl who goes to the school as well. After arriving in the school for just a short time, some very strange events start to plague the students and staff of their school. Out of the ordinary deaths, and dark pasts start to come into play once the two characters begin to investigate the cause of all these odd situations.
   It's sure to grab your attention, and the twists will leave you reeling for days.

5. Soul Eater

   With a town straight out of a Halloween fantasy, Soul Eater is your guaranteed must watch anime for the Halloween season. Witches, ghosts, zombies, and Death itself are just some of the amazing elements that make people come back to this anime for more each time.
   The plot focuses on a group of young teens, each with their own unique and entertaining personalities, who attend an academy that teaches you how to wield supernatural weapons to combat the dark magical forces of the world. And Death himself is their headmaster! You watch as they master their skills, form relationships, battle their inner demons, and defend the world from the dark creatures and villains who try to destroy it.
   This anime is a bit long, so I'd recommend saving it for last. You're sure to enjoy it, and you'll be binge watching it by the end of this article.

Some Other Excellent Suggestions...

Hellsing

Mirai Nikki (Future Diary)

   I hope you find these suggestions entertaining and enjoy them as much as I have. Halloween is always a great time to hangout with friends and watch some scary/out of the ordinary shows and movies to get you in the spirit. So dress up, eat some candy, and watch some anime! Happy Halloween Otakus! :D

-Otaku Anonymous

OTAKU REVIEWS: "Destiny"

   So for those of you who have been living under a rock for the last few weeks you may have missed the most anticipated video game launch of the year. Our friends at Bungie finally released to us their newest gaming creation; DESTINY. This game is quickly breaking records and becoming the most popular game of the season. Destiny is a fantastic mash-up of MMO and FPS elements to create one of the most well rounded games in existence. That mixed with an incredibly successful server launch has made this game an instant favorite amongst current gamers. But what specifically does Destiny bring to the table? What sets it apart from the previous video games that have tried and failed in the past? Well strap in and I'll tell you about it!

THE PLOT

   Bungie is notorious for their in depth storylines and grand background setup for their games. Their biggest title, Halo, has one of the most interesting and detailed background plotlines I've ever come across in a game. This unfortunately does not shine through in Destiny. Not much of the underlying story is revealed during the game, and there really isn't much of an actual plot to begin with. Small fragments of the history and background of the storyline are brought up during missions and cut scenes, but never go into specific detail. You know who the enemies are, but you don't know where they came from. You know who you are, but not much of your past is revealed. You know the setting, but you have no idea what happened to lead you to this point. To someone watching from afar this would seem very confusing.

   Basically your story begins with the tiny robot who is always seen by your side searching for your remains. The Ghost as he's called then resurrects your body and awakens you to a very distant future. He says there's no time to explain and he rushes you out of danger. From there you both dive into a fast paced and intense adventure with giant killer robot aliens, ancient celestial beings, diverse alien species, and exciting gun fights galore.

   Yet, something tells me that Bungie is holding out on us. I believe that more and more of the story will be told to us through more content and a possibly sequel in the near future. There are a ton of plot holes in this story, but they leave you wondering what happened and why. Curiosity can drive some gamers crazy though, and Bungie knows this. I don't think it will be long before our questions on the story will be answered very soon.

GAMEPLAY

   The actual gameplay is incredibly well put together and addicting. The MMO aspects of the online missions mixed with a first/third person perspective make the experience of exploring the open world very personal and fun. Plus, the game is just so pretty! Every detail of the world, from the landscapes to the enemies is beautiful and makes you want to explore every crevice as you go.

   There are three different classes to choose from at the beginning. You have a choice between the built to kill Titan, the slick and fast Hunter, or the super powered Warlock. Each has their own different skill set and special abilities. Sometimes it even feels like you're playing a game of Rock Paper Scissors when fighting against people in different classes. The abilities of each give the game a great sense of balance and provide for alternate playthroughs. If you start as a Titan and beat the game or get bored, then you can jump to a Hunter class and level that character's abilities and gear up for a new experience.

   The main focus of the game are the story missions and the Strike challenges. You can also obtain "Bounties" from people throughout the game that are worth experience, money, and sometimes rare items. These can be very fun, but can also drag on at times. Occasionally you might come across a group of missions that are eerily similar to one another. This would get frustrating, but as you progress you can unlock multiple sets of difficulties for existing missions that provide better rewards an tougher challenges. The Strikes however are more specific challenges meant for teams to tackle together, but they can be done alone. These are my personal favorite thing to do in Destiny. There's nothing like getting one or two of your friends together in a fireteam and bringing down a huge boss with your individual powers and weapons. As a bonus, there are daily and weekly Strike challenges constantly being replaced to keep you preoccupied for hours.

TRAVELING

   Something I like is that you actually "travel" from place to place. To get to another planet you have to fly into orbit and plot a course to your next objective. This may seem like an annoying process to some, but I feel like it brings a nice sense of realism to the play style. In total there are six different locations that you travel to in space. Your body is awoken on the first planet Earth by your personal Ghost in the beginning. From there you can make your way to Venus, Mars, and even the Moon.

 

   There are two means of travel in the game. One is your personal space ship that you find in the beginning of the story shortly after you're brought back to life. You can purchase and earn new and amazing looking ships as you go through the story and finish online matches. While you can't pilot your ship in game, it's still really cool to see it in cinematics as you go from place to place and enter lobbies.
   The other mode of travel is your Sparrow. When your ship finally takes you to the area you want to go, your Sparrow is what gets you around on the surface. These high speed hover bikes are very fun to drive and get you from point A to point B in a hurry. You can also purchase and find these bikes just like your space ship. Ghost can summon your Sparrow at will, and they can be used in many ways in and out of combat. I'm really looking forward to the day they might add Sparrow races to the online multiplayer options with the standard kill based matches.

THE TOWER

   The Tower is the central hub for the entire game. This is where you turn in bounties, purchase gear, meet up with your team, join a faction, and so much more. You also get to explore The Tower entirely in third person perspective. This can be really fun because you get to see how other players view you and what you look like with your hard earned gear equipped and displaying proudly. And the gear and weapons you can't carry anymore can also be stored in vaults here to save until later.

   You can also interact with fellow players here who are taking a break themselves from the fields. I have actually received helpful tips from players at the Tower after making friendly conversation. Finding people to join a fireteam to defeat objectives and Strikes isn't hard to do here as well.

MULTIPLAYER

   The online multiplayer is known as The Crucible. You have several different options when it comes to match choices. You have CLASH, CONTROL, RUMBLE, SKIRMISH, and SALVAGE. Clash is your basic six versus six team deathmatch, Control is a capture and hold based match, Rumble is every man for himself, and Skirmish and Salvage are the same as Clash and Control except with half the people. Each mode is very fun and offers new options for each play style.

   The combat has an extremely familiar feel to Halo in a lot of ways. Yet, it still has an upgraded charm to it. Shooting and fighting is fast paced, and the vehicles seem a bit less indestructible than in a lot of online shooters. In many modern shooters the matches seem to provide no challenge after a while of playing. But Destiny provides a handicap for the new and old players to the game in the form of weapon neutrality. All weapons deal the same amount of damage regardless of their output, and the same goes for the defense of armor. This makes you focus more on skill rather than how powerful your equipment is.

   If you're one of the people that finds this unfair towards people who play the game for the gear and the dominating kill streak, then don't worry. Another multiplayer option soon to be released will be known as IRON BANNER. Here you rely more on your special abilities from your armor and weapons. You could basically consider it the "hardcore mode" for the more intense Destiny players.

CUSTOMIZATION

   There is A LOT to personalize in Destiny besides just your vehicles. From your armor, to your character's appearance, to your weapon loadouts. You can even customize the abilities of your weapons and spec them how you like. In a lobby AND in combat! It's so useful and makes everything that much more strategic. When you reach a specific level you can shade your armor so everything matches in a color coordinated scheme as well.
   You can really tell they put a lot of thought into the choice of the player and how they want to play the game, and that is very appealing. Something that kind of bothered me though was the fact that there are slots for equipment that don't seem to matter at all. They hold no bonuses for your abilities, and just appear to be there for show. In my opinion this is wasted space and opportunity. These items could be used to boost your character further instead of only making them look cool.

(Below are images of my personal gear and the varied things you can earn and adjust on them.)

REVIEW: 9 out of 10 "A Must Try"

   All in all, Destiny is a fantastic game. The amazing blend of elements from almost every existing genre is fun and makes the game insanely addicting. What the game lacks in story it more than makes up for in gameplay. There's always something making you want to come back to the game. Whether it's trying to upgrade your armor, earn new weapons, rank up your character, or explore the world. And with Bungie's plans for new content being added soon there may be even more to attract players to this new release. I have personally logged in many hours into this game and have enjoyed every minute of it.
   Destiny is quickly becoming a favorite for the gaming community and myself. If you enjoy shooters, RPG's, MMO's, or adventure then I highly recommend that you try Destiny. You won't be disappointed.
-Otaku Anonymous

4 Important Cosplay Tips For Beginners & Experts

     So cosplaying has slowly started to become more and more popular every year. What with new and exciting video games, movies, and television shows being release all the time it's hard to resist the urge to cosplay with others. What could be more fun than dressing up as your favorite character from a series and hangout with other people doing the same? Personally, I started cosplaying because my favorite holiday is Halloween and the thought of dressing up all year round was very tempting. Then as I started doing it more I found that I had a talent for it and it became a new hobby that I really enjoy.
     While I was a beginner I picked up on a few things very quickly that helped my cosplaying experience. Some of the things I learned on my own, and some I learned by observing others. So whether you're a beginner who really wants to start cosplaying, or an experienced cosplayer who has a room in your house dedicated to your costumes, these tips will be sure to help you and make cons even more fun.

Number 1: STOP COMPARING YOURSELF TO OTHERS

     I cannot stress enough how important this first tip is. I've witnessed a lot of talented and energetic cosplayers just beat themselves down because they saw another person dressed as the same character at a con and they supposedly looked better than them. I'm here to tell you that you need to stop that immediately. If you are constantly comparing yourself to other people then you will always be disappointed in life. There will always be people who are more talented and put more time into their work than you, guaranteed.

     Instead of comparing yourself to them you should just focus on you. How can you improve YOUR cosplay? How do YOU think you look? Cosplaying requires confidence in yourself and your abilities. If you doubt yourself because some person put one hundred hours and a thousand dollars into their cosplay then you're going to let yourself down. Just do what you can and know it's the best you can do.
     This also applies to the experienced cosplayers as well. Stop comparing yourself to other people and thinking your cosplay is superior and that the other person should give up because they aren't as good looking as you. That kind of attitude can also diminish your con experience and can really affect other people very negatively. Just focus on you, and have a good time in your well designed cosplay.

Number 2: IT DOESN'T HAVE TO BE PERFECT

     When you are making a cosplay it is important to remember that not everything has to be perfect to the last detail. It's okay to make simple outfits and just have fun in them. I knew a girl that would throw away her beautiful outfits that she made because they weren't perfect and she thought she would be judged for it by people (See Tip 1 on how to deal with this).

     Making a cosplay takes time and in most cases money. The easiest way to save on both is to not sweat the small stuff. Creating and putting together your cosplay should be as fun as wearing it with friends. Stuff will pop off, come undone, peal apart, and makeup will fade. This is all inevitable. I know it sounds like a tall order, but just let them fall apart. If you just enjoy yourself and not worry so much about the cosplay itself then you'll have more fun in the long run. Plus you get to put the cosplay back together later!

Number 3: DON'T WAIT UNTIL THE LAST MINUTE

     Holy crap, please don't wait until the night before to make an entire cosplay. You will stress yourself out beyond belief and potentially get very upset. I know procrastination is almost as popular as cosplay itself, but you cannot pull it off. If you treat an elaborate cosplay attempt like an essay for English class you will be disappointed.

     And I know there are some of you out there reading this who are saying "But Otaku Anonymous I've done this lots of times and pulled it off. So you're a poop head for saying I can't". Obviously you're an exemption to this and I envy your skills. But to the people who are just starting out I would strongly advise against it. As glue takes time to dry, so do cosplay take time to prepare.
     Even if your cosplay is simple I would say it's best to give yourself a minimum of a three week window for completion. It's okay to add some minor details and additions to your cosplay before you go to the con, but putting everything together is always a bad idea.

Number 4: HAVE FUN!!!

     This might be the most important tip I can possibly give you on this subject. Always remember to have fun! I've been to many cons in the past and at every single one I have been around people who just look and act miserable. Cons and cosplaying were meant entirely for fans and fun. You could have the best cosplay in the world, and be at the most exciting and highest grossing convention on the planet. If you aren't having fun then it's all a giant waist. So short and sweet, have fun you goofs!

     Cosplayers are some of the most fun and entertaining people I have ever met in my life. They are energetic, funny, and very accepting people. You'll always meet some very pretentious and aggravating ones, but for the most part they are pretty great people. It's no wonder cosplaying has taken off the way it has recently. I would guess that is a lot of thanks to the devout followers who go to cons all over the country. So if you're thinking of joining this fun group of outlaws these tips will help you quite a bit. Thanks for reading and remember to have fun! :D

-Otaku Anonymous

SAO II: Ep. 4 "GGO"

 

     Kirito has now entered into the world of GGO for the first time in search of the infamous Death Gun. To his surprise, he didn't quite appear as he expected. Upon entering the game Kirito finds that he has a female avatar and that it's actually an incredibly rare model. He obtained it when he transferred his profile from ALfheim to GGO. A player merchant offers large amounts of in game money and will stop at nothing to acquire his model. Despite his passion and pleading, Kirito politely refuses his offers and continues on his mission.

     Since he's new to the game and has some trouble getting around, he asks a passing Sinon for directions. She raises her guard to him as he approaches. So to ease her, Kirito musters up the courage and poses as a female gamer who is new to the world. Sinon smiles as she accepts and she begins to show Kirito around the downtown area. The first place they go is a weapons store. She asks him several questions and Kirito slowly starts to learn more and more about the game. He notices instantly that Sinon has a lot of knowledge and seems very experienced. He starts to feel worse and worse for being so deceitful to her after earning her trust. He also reveals that he wants to enter the latest B.o.B. tournament. This surprises Sinon because of how new and inexperienced Kirito is. She brushes it off as just new comers being to ambitious and they continue on.

     After looking around for a bit, Kirito realizes that he's going to need a lot of money and fast. Sinon shows him one of the gambling challenge games that you can find in the cities. We then learn about the red lines from previous fights. They are known as Bullet Paths. Gamers use them to predict the path a shot will take so they can avoid being hit. Kirito then shocks everyone by beating the game in only one try. He expertly maneuvers through the course with little trouble and wins the giant jackpot, giving him more than enough money for his gear.

     With money in hand he searches through the weapon list to decide how he wants to play. Sinon happens to mention there are energy swords in the game as well as guns. This gives him some hope since he's unfamiliar with shooting games. He shows off a bit to get acquainted with his new sword and Sinon watches with excited eyes. Though he appears to be very good with the sword, she decides that Kirito will still need a gun of some type in case he runs into some sticky situations. She picks him a low caliber pistol and they head to the gun range to learn how to shoot.

     Here we finally get to see how Kirito does with a gun. We learn quickly that firing a weapon accurately is actually incredibly difficult and takes some practice. He fires one round and is nearly knocked off his feet as he misses the target. Sinon smiles and encourages him to keep practicing as often as possible.
     Sinon then looks at a nearby clock by chance and she notices that they are going to be late to the sign ups. She starts to panic as she breaks into a sprint for the closest location to them. Kirito springs into action as he grabs her hand and leaps onto a motorcycle.

     He races through traffic and makes up all their lost time in minutes. She asks how he can possibly drive the bikes so well. Kirito mentions that he use to play a lot of racing games when he started out. Sinon laughs excitedly as they drive at high speeds on the interstate towards their destination...

REVIEW:

     I have been waiting a long time to see this episode. We finally get to see Kirito interact and enter GGO for the first time. Granted he hasn't had a real fight yet, but if it keeps to the true SAO tradition then there are many amazing fights that are soon to come. We also get a bit more information about the new setting. After being in Aincrad for the entire first season we learned a lot about the world our characters existed in. It was fascinating to see them interact with other people, creatures, and different environments as they progressed through the story. To have that same experience and excitement as we learn about the new game was the best feeling any returning SAO fan could hope for. I can't express how anxious I am to see how our new characters interact with the other elements of the new world...

-Otaku Anonymous

Episode Source: http://www.crunchyroll.com/sword-art-online/episode-4-ggo-656631

 

SAO II: Ep. 3 "Memories of Blood"

 

     This episode opens on Sinon's real world player in a small shopping area as she looks for groceries. An eerie voice starts to whisper her real name from behind. We find out her real name is really Asada Shino, and she lives alone in the same city as Kirito. The voice is coming from two rather mean looking girls in school uniforms standing behind her.
     The two girls then guide Asada to their self appointed leader known as Endou. The rough looking girl continues eating her candy as she explains that her and her friends spent all of their money on karaoke and that Asada now has to give them her money. When Asada stands firm and refuses to pay up, Endou then approaches her and begins to taunt her. She forms her hand into the shape of a gun and aims directly at Asada. This causes her to go into a state of pure fear and panic. Asada appears as though she's about to crumble to the ground a weep uncontrollably.

     Just as she's about to fall apart someone calls out that the police are coming. This causes the three girls to pick up and take off in a flash. When they are out of sight a young man comes over to Asada and asks if she's alright. This is her close and possibly only friend Shinkawa. After a few moments the scene moves to a small café where Asada and Shinkawa are enjoying a drink together. They discuss life and school. They reveal small little points about one another and it starts to reveal that they seem to have a pretty close relationship.
     Skinkawa then brings up GGO and compliments Asada on her progress through the game. He then asks if she's going to the yearly competition known as "Battle of Bullets" or BoB, which is the huge competition that every player enters into in an attempt to win large amounts of money and amazing prizes. Asada says that she will enter, and this year she's going to win.

     The scene moves to Asada arriving back at her home. She lives in single room loft by herself, and the room is surprisingly devoid of color and character. She goes to her desk and opens one of the drawers to reveal a model gun of some kind. As she takes it into her hand we are shown a flashback of her as a child with her mother. In the memory an armed man comes into the bank where her mother has an account with. The man kills a worker and threatens to kill Asada's mother if he isn't given money. The man is obviously on drugs and begins getting increasingly violent and paranoid. Asada dashes to him and manages to knock the gun from his hand. The man loses it and charges toward her. As he's about get his hands on her, she grabs his gun and brutally kills him with several shots to the chest and face. The rest of the people in the room, including her mother, look at her in complete shock.
     It suddenly cuts back to her in present time and she is shaking from the memory. This probes Asada to have another panic attack and she begins to weep in her room uncontrollably.

     We then move to Kirito as he enters into the same hospital that he woke up in nearly a year before after he beat SAO. He meets the nurse that watched over him and she says that she will be monitoring him while he plays the game and will be there is case something happens. He is visibly uneasy about going into this world and facing this new enemy. He has already proven that he can kill in the real world through the game, and he won't hesitate to do it again. With a deep breath and sweaty palms, Kirito hooks up to the game. With medical instruments attached he dives into the unknown world of Gun Gale Online...

REVIEW:

     This episode was very interesting and full of much needed background information on our newest member to the cast. The origin of Asada is incredibly dark and has many disturbing scenes even by SAO standards. The darkness and tone of this episode was equivalent to the near rape scene at the end of the first season if not more so. The brutality of the death definitely left an impact and made it very clear as to why Asada acts and feels the way she does. Though her official goal is still a bit unclear, I can speculate as to what her motives are. This also a good lead into Kirito entering into the new world. Now we know exactly how much this game means to Asada, and we know what Kirito's mission is. So seeing these two interact and go through this game together is sure to bring some entertaining and dramatic moments that remind us why we fell in love with this series in the first place. I for one, and really excited to see how Kirito does in this new world, and how Sinon reacts to him...

-Otaku Anonymous

Website Source: http://www.crunchyroll.com/sword-art-online/episode-3-memories-of-blood-656629

SAO II: Ep. 2 "Ice Sniper"

 

     The episode opens on a dungeon inside of the new game Gun Gale Online. Sinon, the female sniper from the previous episode, is firing shots at what appears to be a large beast that fires lasers from its tail. She is strangely cool and collected as she fires precise shots at the beast's weak point, defeating it with ease rather quickly. It then pans out to show that it actually took her several magazines of ammunition to defeat him. As Sinon stands to see the monster die, a new item appears before her. She accepts it, and a heavy sniper rifle drops into her hands. The new rifle is the same one she was shown firing at the end of episode one.
     It then fast forwards to a group of players loading ammunition in an abandon building. They engage in idol chat about the game and other topics. You come to find that they are a group of player hunters, and Sinon is with them. The scene is the beginning setup to the end of the previous episode. The leader and Sinon scan a group of oncoming players and they develop a strategy to take them out and steal their hunting loot. There is one player in particular that catches Sinon's eye. A large cloaked figure whose stats and weapons are unknown. Sinon insists that they target him first, but their leader says that taking out their heavy gunner is a bigger priority. She agrees, and the team moves into position.

     Sinon takes her first shot and eliminates her first target, but the second shot misses the cloaked figure. Her fears are realized when the figure removes his cloak and wields a huge minigun. Sinon's position is revealed, so she has to move. The man begins firing and tearing the team to pieces. She notices that the player in skilled enough to smile on the battlefield. She finds that he may be a worthy opponent, and suddenly has an animalistic urge to kill him.
     Once she meets back up with her leader, he explains that the team they were targeting must have hired a bodyguard known as "Behemoth", and that their escape is now cut off. Their leader begins to break down and wants to log out of the game instead of letting the other team win. Sinon becomes furious calls him a coward. She then immediately takes charge by giving orders to the rest of the team and she comes up with a strategy.
     The remaining members of her team charge forward to draw the miniguner's attention while she moves into a firing position. Sinon makes it and fires a shot, but the bullet only takes off his visor. The minigunner then turns his attention to her. He's about the fire when the team leader make a brave charge for towards the remaining players on the opposing team. He is shot down just as his grenade finishes them off, causing a large dust cloud to engulf the battlefield. It is now only Sinon and Behemoth.

     She heads into a nearby building to gain the high ground, but he is waiting for her. Behemoth opens fire and Sinon leaps from her perch. Bullets rip her leg off as she falls towards Behemoth. She lines up a shot in mid air and eliminates him before she hits the ground.
     The scene goes black as we open up on a dimly lit bedroom. The player behind Sinon is lying in bed with a somewhat displeased look on her face. As she removes her head gear, you can see that her in game avatar is almost identical to her real self. She raises a fist into the air in a almost triumphant way, and announces that she has to become stronger.

     The scene then moves to our heroes Silica, Leafa, and Liz clearing a field together and gathering materials for Lizbeth's shop in ALO. They then take a minute to let the monsters respawn so they can rest. Silica looks up as Kirito and Asuna are laying down above them on a large plant. The three of them are hit with jealousy as they see how in love the two are, but they laugh it off together once they notice each of them was staring. Kirito and Asuna are oblivious to this as they enjoy their day together with Yui. Kirito has a serious expression on his face as he turns to Asuna and begins to explain the situation with him and Kikuoka.

REVIEW:  
 
     This episode was exactly what we needed to pull us back into the story. There wasn't much action in the first episode, which is to be expected. They have to set up the story and the characters for the new arc. But this episode definitely had enough action for the two of them. The fight scene was fantastic, and very classic SAO in its style. The introduction and character setup for Sinon gave us a glimpse of what we can expect from this new addition to the colorful cast. We also got a glimpse at the abilities the players of GGO can obtain. Shot paths can be seen by thin red lines in the air, and weight will be a factor for certain weapon and skill types. We also know that there are monsters and bosses in GGO as well. These new reveals will make the next episodes very exciting, and I for one cannot wait to see what happens next!
     
-Otaku Anonymous

Show Source Website: http://www.crunchyroll.com/sword-art-online/episode-2-ice-sniper-656627