Anime and video game fans certainly know a thing or two about escapism. Some of our favorite works in either category allow us to become transported into impossible places and do amazing things that just can’t be done in our everyday life. My latest Loot Crate unboxing video posits the question: “Where would you go if you could travel to another world?”
Featuring a selection of items curated from a number of series that are all tied together by the theme of entering another plane of existence this box provided subscribers with a brand new figure, manga and an amazing t-shirt. In this video, I get the chance to check out some awesome merchandise from Sword Art Online, No Game No Life, Log Horizon and more.
If you enjoy our periodic unboxing video series for Loot Crate you can also get a box for yourself at a discount by following this link. I’ll be bringing you more of these unboxing videos in the coming weeks.
Disclosure: Loot Crate sends these monthly boxes to Broken Joysticks free of charge for promotional purposes.
Shonen Jump’s popular Attack On Titan anime adaptation has finally returned with brand new episodes after a crushing 3 year wait. Fans have waited patiently for the show’s return after it was announced nearly a year ago that production delays would mean that the series wouldn’t meet its original Summer 2016 release window.
SPOILER WARNING FOR EVERYTHING PAST THIS PICTURE!
Episode 26 ‘The Beast Titan’ kicks right off where season 1 ended – with the reveal that inside Wall Sina was the face of a titan. Hange’s group is quick to cover up the exposed face of the Titan before morning worshippers can come see the exposed face of the monstrosity. In the intervening hours, this group of survey core members interrogate Pastor Nick, a member of the clergy, who is more than willing to die and take what knowledge he may have to the grave with him. The back half of the episode takes viewers back 12 hours and deals with a group of recruits, including Sasha & Connie, stationed in the south of the inner wall as they attempt to evacuate as many people as they can before a large group of rampaging Titans
Two moments from this week’s episode really stand out to me as ‘must watch moments’. The first being Hange’s interrogation of Pastor Nick. The shock, rage and desperation for answers within Hange is very apparent from the get-go and even as Pastor Nick is willing to accept his possible demise, there was never a doubt in my mind that Hange was only a couple of seconds away from simply tossing Nick off the wall. At then end of this initial episode Mike decides to become a distraction for the newly introduced Beast Titan so that the rest of the recruits can fan out and make their to the various villages. His demise reminds viewers just how brutal Attack On Titan is, a chilling return to form for the series after such a long hiatus.
‘The Beast Titan’ doesn’t provide any character development for the main cast, the trio actually have very little screen time in this episode. It will be interesting to see where the Anime goes with the mysteries surrounding the Best Titan, as I haven’t really read the manga at all any twists and turns involving the Beast will be completely new to me. Considering the amount of content and tension packed into this first episode ‘The Beast Titan’ doesn’t really have room for re-caps, montages or synopsis. If it has been a while since you last watched Attack On Titan considering enjoying a Season 1 refresher before tackling this brand new episode.
Steam has launched a brand new weekend sale that might prove to be more popular with Anime fans than discount Ramen and a Crunchyroll subscription combined. For the following 72 hours users of Valve’s digital distribution service can save lots of yen (or whatever the local currency of your country may be) on a number of popular anime inspired games and series.
Here is a small sampling of what is on offer from publishers like Namco Bandai, Koei Tecmo, Nippon Ichi Software and Idea Factory International:
There is a lot of variety in the games & series that Valve have chosen to promote. For all of the deals and the prices in your region head on over to this link.
Adapted from the popular video game franchise, Ace Attorney follows rookie lawyer Phoenix Wright and his assistant Maya as he defends his clients in a court of law. With limited evidence and logic as his only weapon, can Phoenix Wright turn the case around when all the odds are stacked against him?
I’ve just discovered the series and have only gotten started with it, but it is pretty fun so far. Much like the games, Ace Attorney doesn’t take itself too seriously and breaks up some of the serious tension of the subject matter with some humerous bits. And if you’ve enjoyed the games then you’ll feel right at home watching this one.
Haven’t you been playing a game and after watching a cutscene or reading extended segments of dialgue just wanted to keep passively watching the game. Well now you sorta can.
If you are a free member of Crunchyroll, the anime streaming service, there are some changes coming that will affect you.
For the last five years Crunchyroll has been simulcasting 50 shows every season and adding many library titles. The streaming service has also expanded the free streaming service across mobile and living room devices, including Apple TV, PlayStation, Xbox, and Wii U consoles. In order to continue building the best collection of anime alongside the increasing cost of content, Crunchyroll is making some changes to the free experience.
Crunchyroll is the official destination for the largest lineup of current and classic Anime & Manga. Watch hit shows like Naruto Shippuden, One Piece, and Sword Art Online on all your favorite devices. Watch for free or become a Premium member to watch ad-free with exclusive access to simulcasts—your favorite shows available as soon as 1 hour after they air in Japan.
Our third week at Anime Spotlight is a more recent series, If Her Flag Breaks which made its debut on television in Japan just last month. The series follows the adventures of Sota Hatate, who has the unique ability to see “Flags” above the heads of other people. The “Flags” mark critical crossroads in people’s lives — when the choices they make will determine love, friendship, victory, and even death. He transfers into Tokyo’s elite Hatagaya Academy, but instead of living by himself in the boys’ dormitory, he ends up living with many beautiful girls under one roof.
The show is in the harem genre, which basically means that the show revolves around a central male character where the majority of the main female characters are either close friends or want to date the main character. It’s the type of thing that isn’t too common on North American television but is pretty common in anime. It’s actually kind of funny.
