Games/hacks you should try- Megaman ZX

Though it's been out for a few years now, it's still a great game and should be brought up more often. Being the first DS Megaman game, it continues where the Zero series left on the GBA.

You have the option of choosing either a boy or a girl, but the story is still the same, aside from a few text changes to suit the gender. Anyway, the story begins with either Vent or Aile, who are with the Giro Express who is run by...well Giro. They lost their mother several years ago to a Maverick (evil robots) raid. Having been found by Giro, they became good friends, and their latest shipment contains a rare item called Biometal, which contains the essences of previous reploid heroes and/or villians. Course later, you are attacked in a forest and you meet up with a girl named Priare. After your little encounter, you realize that you are the chosen Mega Man and can MegaMerge with Biometal, the first being Biometal X.

Story is alright, though the Megaman games weren't all great with their stories, but we don't play these types of games for story. You learn more about Vent/Aile's past on how they lost their mother, meeting up with Giro, and eventually to where they are now. If you played the Zero series, then some stuff from ZX is actually branched from the stories of Zero.

Gameplay is pure Megaman. Run around, blast anything that moves, and defeat robot bosses to gain their abilities, well sort of. You gain Biometal upgrades after defeating a boss. 8 bosses as usual, and only 4 more Biometal upgrades, and an secret Biometal at the end of the game. You're running around, able to visit other locations by traveling from one area to another. Though the only thing I can hate about that is that you can get lost pretty easy in the game. Unless you already visited the area, it won't appear in your in-game map.

Overall, the game is great for Megaman fans seeking their action on the go, but can get frustrating at times. Average folks might consider it, though it can be challanging at times. -GameboyHero

Games/hacks you should try: Megaman ZX Advent

The sequel to Megaman ZX and it inproves a lot from the original. Also, I think this one also ends the ZX series as well, considering the main villian (a certain Biometal) meets it's end here. I don't know, so don't use that as proof.

The story continues after ZX, by I don't know years, and the choice to play as a boy or girl is still there, but greatly improved. You can either pic the reploid boy Gray, who has a weak buster attack, but can rapid fire more, or the human hunter Ashe, who uses a lazer attack which is stronger, but with less rapid fire. Either way, you meet up with the newest Biometal, Model A. The plot for each character is somewhat different, but you'll do the same thing either way, so pick what suits you more.

Gameplay is the same as ZX, but something have improved just a bit. Each Biometal has more attacks than before, and are listed to you in the pause meun. You can also gain the abilities of the bosses you defeat, like the orignal Megaman games did, as well as using the same Biometals from the last one, with the exception of Model X. It's still an overworld, but they fixed the map problem that was in the first one. The game's more enjoyable now, and without much problems.

Though the recent GBA megaman games offered extras, such as mini-games, this one is no exception. Being released around the 20 years megaman's been around, they included a mini game that represent all those years as the classic blue bomber, even offering a new hidden Biometal along with it, course you gotta unlock it.

The game sticks to the original in terms of controls, and inproves on it. If you want another megaman game for your DS that isn't the RPG one, well you really don't have much of a choice considering this and the original ZX are the only ones, but it's still worth it. -GameboyHero

Odin Sphere is a 2D RPG developed by Vanillaware and published by Atlus for North America in May of 2007. It encompasses the journeys of five protagonists in five different books that a young girl, Alice, reads in her attic.

Each protagonist wields a psypher, a special weapon that absorbs phozons, enabling higher attacks. The character uses their psypher, absorbing phozons to unlock higher attacks. Alchemy is also present, allowing varying potions to be made. Food and cooking are also available outside of the battlefield.

The battlefield is arranged in circles with paths branching outward. An indication bar at the top right-hand corner shows where enemies as well as items are in the map. Minor and major bosses are marked on the map, as well as regular stages and shops. Revisiting is optional, where the character can collect money and other items for use.

The story is set in the world of Erion. Five warring kingdoms battle over the Cauldron and history of the Valentinan Empire. Each book represents a different protagonists’ journey. The first book, titled Valkyrie, follows the youngest daughter of King Odin. The second book follows the Prince of Titania, Cornelius. The next focuses on the Princess of Ringford, Mercedes. The following titled, The Black Sword, follows the Shadow Knight, Oswald. The fifth story concentrates on Velvet, the Princess of a lost kingdom, titled Fate.

Each book concentrates on a different protagonist, meaning the main character if one story may be the antagonist of another. They may also share common enemies. Each story intertwines and relates every protagonist to another; this tells the story of Erion.

Odin Sphere was rated overall highly. If you want to check out a good, 2D RPG game, try Odin Sphere for the PlayStation 2. ---Kid

Odin Sphere is © to Vanillaware and Atlus.

Probably one of the most renown manga writers of all time, Yu Watase sure has stunned millions with her works.

Yu Watase is known for her style- her drawings are amazing, and her plots are edge-gripping. Whenever I read a book of hers or someone is telling me about a story, I always know if she's written it or not. Her stories are dramatic in all the right places, soft and light in others, and humorous most of the time. Her characters seem to be real people that you connect with. When they go through tragedies, heartbreaks, deaths, or happy times, you are right there with them feeling what they are. Somehow I always end up crying when a character dies, or when someone gets let down.

Yu's many hits of manga are as follows with the reviews:

Fushigi Yugi: As a school student, Miaka is required to apply for other schools. But she is not the brightest crayon in the box. Her best friend is super smart, and she wants to attend the same school, so one day she goes to the library to study. While going into the room and shes not supposed to be in, she finds a book called “The Universe of the Four Gods”. Somehow they are drawn into the world of the book and Miaka turns out to be the priestess of Suzaku. Terra's Review: This animanga is overall very good. The anime follows the storyline of the manga very well, and displays the characters personalities very well. Fushigi Yugi is well known for a reason, and Luna gives it 4 out of 5 stars.

Ceres: Celestial Legend: Ordinary twins Aya and Aki were best friends hanging with each other all the time until a tragedy occurs. When the twins turn 16, they are brought to the main house of their family and are told that they have to follow the bloodline of the 'tennyo' or celestial maidens. Aya manages to escape and the rest of her life becomes a whirlwind of complication. Terra's Review: I really appreciate this anime for the research that Miss Yu Watase did on it. You can tell from this work the dedication it takes to make a great story like this one. Luna give this ani-manga a whopping 5 out of 5 stars.

Absolute Boyfriend: Riiko is a normal teenage girl: obsessed with being on love. She always scanvanges for boys and ever since she was a little girl she has always wanted a boy to call her own. One day a strange looking business man wearing futuristic looking clothes offers he a business card with an interesting offer. Well, Riiko ends up ordering a lover robot for a three day trial. Forgetting ro return it, she is hounded by the salesman and ends up having to repay him in different ways than money. (No sexual innuendo there). The rest of the manga follows her trying to repay the salesman and developing feelings for the new friend she now calls Night. Terra's Review: I was hooked form the beginning with this manga. Yu Watase has sure got her stuff down pat with hooking readers. There are some downs to this though, so I can't grant it a perfect 5. Luna gives Absolute Boyfriend a 4 out of 5 stars.

Those are just a few of the amazing titles that this authoress has to offer. Go check out her other ones like Alice 19^th and Imadoki!. I'm sure you'll catch the spell like everyone else.

~Terra

Jeanne D’Arc

History Remade

Few have never heard of Joan of Arc: a female who took arms against the English in the 15^th century, saying she had visions from God. She fought and was captured by the English. At nineteen she was burned at the stake.

Now a game loosely following this story has been developed by Level-5: Jeanne D’Arc. An RPG for the PSP, Jeanne D’Arc was released in the United States in August of 2007. It is historically accurate with characters; however, their abilities are not. The fantasy of the game is portrayed with magical armlets Jeanne and her allies wear that enable special abilities.

Prior to the major story, a war between demons and humans was held. In this war there were five heroes with five magical armlets, and with their combined power they sealed the demons away. The plot is mainly focused around the Hundred Years’ War. To start off a festival is held in Jeanne’s home village, when English soldiers abruptly arrive and attack. Jeanne, lead by a voice from the heavens, is instructed to save France. This begins the journey of Jeanne as well as two friends, Roger and Liane, to free their country from the demon powered English army.

Game play is unique. As Jeanne, you journey across a semi-historic map of France. Each character is strong in one of three phases: Sol, Luna or Stella. This is similar to rock, paper, scissors, for each has a strength or weakness against the other. These skills help to improve certain stats.

Battle system is turn-based. Each character can choose their move: attack, use an item, or use a skill. There is also a special skill titled, “Burning Aura” which creates a space behind the target that enables a second character to move into the space and attack for extra damage. If another character is there, the Aura will move with that character and improve attack power that turn. Certain characters possess a magical armband that contains gems. These powerful gems allow the character to transform into a more powerful version: making them have more turns, higher attack power, etc.

Jeanne D’Arc is highly rated, and reviewed as a great game. It wouldn’t be a waste to check it out. ---Kid

Jeanne D’Arc is © to Level-5.

~ Kikuno

Death Note byTsugumi Ohba and Takeshi Obata

Light Yagami is your ordinary high-schooler; he is smart, handsome and popular. You think that someone like him would be happy with his life, but he isn’t. He is just bored with the drone life of an average college bond student.

Until, one day, he sees a black notebook out side of his classroom. So after class he goes to pick it up and discovers it says Death Note on the front. He thinks nothing of it, even when he opens it up to find directions written on the inside. He believes it is just some elaborate prank. He continues to think so until he writes down the name of a man keeping hostages on the news and the man dies of a heart attack!

He doesn’t believe at first, believing it was just coincidence until the death of another man causes him to think otherwise. Light freaks, thinking that he might be a murderer, but a second thought flies into his head- both the men were horrible people, why shouldn’t they’ve died? And, why shouldn’t he use the death note to kill the rest of the unworthy people on the planet?

So, after meeting Ryuk, the shinigami who originally owned the death note Light decides that he will make the world a better place. And that no one will get in his way.

I found this series enjoyable, and although I’ve never watched the anime, I’m sure it’s good as well.

Ohba surprises you with a fantastic cast of characters and a well thought out story line. And Obata has drawn with amazing detail which has believing everything form the very start. From start to finish almost everyone will enjoy this ani-manga. So watch or read, whichever you prefer, Light and his attempts to make a utopia. Will he mess up? Or will Light prevail?

Characters

Light Yagami- the finder of the Death Note

Ryuk- the Shinigami who originally owned the Death Note

L- the man who has decided that he will stop Light, no matter what

~Kikuno

A touching semi-autobiographical book about author Akiyuki Nosaka and his experience growing up in warring Japan during World War II. Later, turned into a movie, it was quoted to be the “most profoundly human animation… ever”.

Seita and Setsuko live with their ailing mother while their father is away fighting in World War II. In a freak accident during the firebombing of Kobe the young children survive while their mother dies. Having nowhere else to go, the children go to their Aunt and write letters to their father. Seita then leaves to get the supplies unharmed by the bombing and gives them to his aunt except a can of fruit candies.

Their aunt is cruel. She insults them, steals their mother’s kimonos to sell for rice, and hardly gives them enough to eat. Seita and Setsuko finally decide to run away and live an old abandoned bomb shelter. Gradually they begin to run out of rice and Setsuko begins to starve. When he finds out that his father has died he empties his mother’s bank account to buy a large amount of food.

Seita then rushes back to Setsuko who is hallucinating, sucking on marbles which she thinks are fruit candies and offers him ‘rice balls’ which are actually nothing but mud. But Setsuko dies from starvation and Seita cremates her using supplies donated to him by a nearby farmer and puts her ashes in the fruit tin. He carries the tin and a picture of his father until Seita dies.

This moving and touching story about the troubles a lot of people had to go through during World War II will make you cry. As in the words of Terra herself, “It is sad times A LOT.”

The symbolism of the firefly is amazing. When the two move into the bomb shelter they catch fire flies to light it up. Each morning Seita would bury the fireflies and Setsuko asks, “Why do fireflies die so soon?” Then Setsuko dies young, being symbolically the ‘firefly’ meaning of the title. I recommend this to any one.

Although the meaning of the actual moving can be depicted in many ways, though it is true that the original reason Nosaka wrote the book was to compensate for his younger sister’s death. It does give you a good look into the Japanese’s point of view during the war.