Future Diary

Yukiteru "Yuki" Amano is your average loner who spends most of his time writing in a diary on his cell phone or talking with his imaginary friends Deus Ex Machina, the God of Time and Space; and Murmur, Deus' servant. One day, Deus gives Yuki a special diary and mentions how it is related to a game that he could play, strangely Yuki's new diary has entries in it spanning the next 90 days and have entries about the future that he finds are coming true. Deus, as it turns out isn’t so imaginary after all and is really a God that can manipulate time and space, he forces Yuki to participate in a competition with eleven other people, each of whom also has a diary that can predict the future in some unique way.  Each of the contestants must try to find and kill all the other contestants before the world ends on Day 90, and only the last one standing can prevent the world from being destroyed and become the new God of Time and Space. Things escalate quickly for Yuki, who initially has no intention of being a part of the game, is thrust into trouble as Deus informs the other contestants that Yuki, as the "1st" Diary owner, is his favorite to win the game. Yuki is soon left with teaming up with his obsessive stalker, Yuno Gasai, in order to survive the constant attempts on his life by the other diary users, who see him as the biggest threat. Although Yuki only feigns affection for Yuno to manipulate her into protecting him, he soon becomes too afraid to spurn her after witnessing her psychopathic obsession go to new heights to protect Yuki against anything that threatens their future together. Never the less the two work together and fight to survive in a game of mad men and murder.

“Future Diary” is a show that you can find very easy to enjoy and pick up, the show offers a crazy over the level degree of insanity and mayhem that will have your jaw on the floor and laughing nonstop. Right from the get go there is cool and catchiness with each of the eleven characters in the “Diary Game” having a unique personality brought to the table and the show doesn’t leave you with any lulls in dialogue or story which keeps you hooked all the way through. The main characters, Yuno and Yuki, are initially characters that come across as childish and spoiled with Yuki being a person who just uses Yuki to save his own skin and Yuki a loved crazed girl whose desperation is a little off putting however the show does a good job of developing them into characters worth caring about as the story progresses. “Future Diary” is not something for anyone who is not looking for insane action however, the show is insanely over the top with its antics and violent tone with everything that is great about loud, uninhibited storytelling is here for the taking. The violence in the show is in fact the hook for anyone who intends to watch between gruesome deaths, massive explosions and booby trapped houses, “Future Diary” brings it all and doesn’t pull any punches.

Good:

-Appealing characters

-Incredible story

-Insane and crazy over the top madness

-Sleek fluid dialogue

Bad:

-Definitely not for anyone who’s squeamish about blood or insane amounts of chaos and craziness because that’s what “Future Diary” is all about

Scully Rating: 9.5 out of 10

Watch "Future Diary" at: http://www.ovguide.com/tv/the_future_diary.htm

Afro Samurai

In a clash futuristic yet feudal Japan, it is said that the one who wields the Number 1 headband is the fiercest fighter in the world and shall possess godlike powers and the only way to obtain the Number 1 headband is to challenge the current wearer of the headband and defeat him in combat. However, only the Number 2 can challenge the Number 1, while anyone can challenge the Number 2, which causes a constant struggle for the Number 2 headband wearer. Justice, the owner of the No. 2 headband and an all around ass, goes to fight the owner of the No. 1 headband, our main protagonist Afro's father. The two battle one another, ending with Justice decapitating Afro's father and claiming his headband, the young Afro being left to sob over the severed head of his father he now vows revenge against Justice.

“Afro Samurai” comes right out of the chopping block with the classic time told tale of a protagonist who loses the thing most precious to him and vows just worthy revenge on the one responsible for it. Afro, who is voiced by Samuel L. Jackson *hold for applause*, is placed in a semi futuristic world alongside traditional feudal Japan, where the way of the sword is still practiced but people have future technology like walk mans, guns and other technology. Afro travels across this mad and unique world and is repeatedly under from those who seek the fame of being the Number 1 warrior and want to take the Number 2 headband from him to do so. It’s a never ending blood bath world, filled with plenty of scenes where Afro is chopping down anyone who tries to get in his way of revenge and what is violence without a little gratuitous nudity splashed in, the world of “Afro Samurai” features a dash of dirtiness with well endowed woman, one who even seduces the often times stoic Afro.

“Afro Samurai” as many of you may already tell is more for a male audience, with gruesome death scenes preformed by Afro slicing off limbs like a knife through butter and also features some M rated material to pull you in as well. However this really doesn’t make for much of a show pleaser if you just have these components and the show isn’t much else, the shows key appeal being the voice over work by Samuel L Jackson but this gets thrown out the door as Afro barely gives off more than 2 words a episode. Another problem lays in the fact that the show is only 5 episodes long and only 25 minutes a piece and doesn’t give you much of a show to sit down and watch. Despite this what action there is in the show is highly enjoyable and the show inevitably does give off a message for viewers to follow, what that message is you’ll have to see for yourselves.

Good:
-Unique feudal/future world
-Gruesome and crazy fights
-Hey it’s Samuel L Jackson in an anime man what more can you say

Bad:
-Very short anime
-Not a lot of depth to show

Sully Rating: 6.5 out of 10
Watch "Afro Samurai" at: http://www.animefreak.tv/watch/afro-samurai-episode-1-online

Call of Duty: Black Ops 2

“Call of Duty” fans mount up and get ready for a brave new futuristic world for the first person shooter they’ve seen before in “Call of Duty: Black Ops 2”, for the first in the franchise players will be brought into a futuristic world of weaponry an technology as well as branching storylines that give the ability to have multiple endings to the game. The single player campaign features two connected storylines, with one set in the 1970s through 1980s and the other set far off into the future year of 2025. The protagonist of the first “Black Ops” game, Alex Mason returns as the protagonist in the Cold War section of the game in the 1970’s and chronicles the rise to infamy of the game's primary antagonist, Raul Menendez, the leader of the narco-terrorist cell that you face in the game. The 2025 section of the game features Alex Mason's son David as the protagonist during a new Cold War between China and the United States and we’ve taken some big steps with robotics, cyber warfare, unmanned drowns and other technological goodies. Players won’t be completely lost in all the changes however as the basic feel of “Call of Duty” remains present throughout the game.
“Black Ops 2’s” new branching storyline feature brings something however that other games from the franchise didn’t have, player's choice now affect both the current mission and in turn, the overall course of the story. Known as "Strike Force missions", these branching storylines appear during the 2025 storyline and the success or failure of these missions can have ramifications for the wider campaign storyline. By choosing one of the missions the game in turn locks out the others unless the player begins a fresh new campaign in order to see what they missed or just because they felt like it. Strike Force missions allow the player to control a number of different war assets, such as soldiers, jet fighters and robots and by the end of the game, the player may have changed the results of the new Cold War, and the player is shown what could have gone differently depending how they did during the missions.

Perhaps the most anticipated part of “Black Ops 2” is the return of the popular game mode “Zombies” where players can team up with their friends or players from online and face off against a zombie horde. And while the regular campaign of the game has been given some new material so has the zombie game mode, where now up to eight players can play together to face down and blow away some brain munchers. Also new variations of the game mode are in store for players, “Tranzit” is a game mode that is a combination of multiple maps in one game and the way to travel around it is to ride on a bus and the mode “Grief” which is 4 players vs 4 players vs zombies where only one team of players can survive or they all can get eaten. 

Multiplayer also makes its triumphant return to the players in “Black Ops 2” with some new twists to not only the class system but also the kill streaks and abilities for players ready to start soaring to prestige. The new “Pick 10” system in the game gives players the ability to defy the loadout rules by making each attachment, weapon, grenade or perk count as one of your ten points and you can swap them out at will to create a huge number of combinations. Also added to the multiplayer are the “Wild Cards”, which allow you to spend additional points to break even more rules, like equipping two primary weapons or up to six perks. Pick 10 allows the creation of the most specifically tuned classes letting players be whatever type of solider they want to be, the sky literally being the limit.
“Call of Duty: Black Ops 2” has gone out of its way to create something completely new for new comers and fans alike, brining new features such as a shapeable campaign story mode separate from the linear story telling of past games. The multiplayer alongside the classic crowd pleasing zombie mode are back and better than ever with completely new game modes for zombies that will put your zombie survival skills to the test and the new multiplayer “Pick 10” feature makes players truly have a solider set apart from their friends making something entirely suited for them. However the campaign brings with it the games faults, the story telling is a little imperfect and sometimes you just will want to skip over the dialogue completely and another issue lies in controlling your teams and robots during missions, between annoying camera angles and incompetent AI, players may find themselves putting a controller through their walls. These issues aside “Black Ops 2” brought everything that fans love with a whole new twist.

Good:
-Branching storylines and a non linear story board
-New multiplayer “Pick 10” system
-ZOMBIESSSSSSS!

Bad:
-Controlling your soldiers and robots can be a pain
-Sometimes slow and unappealing dialogue

(Game Reviewed on Xbox 360) 

Scully Rating: 9 out of 10 

DMC Demo Trailer

The demo for the upcoming reboot of the Devil May Cry franchise is now online for free download on PSN and Xbox Live.  Included is two levels, including a boss, for players to tackle. if they are able to beat them they can then take a crack at the games "Son of Sparda" difficulty, giving you a taste of just how vicious these demons can be.  I know I'll downloading this demo ASAP, and maybe we'll finally get a better idea of what this reboot is shaping up to be.  There are still a lot of critics, and I'm remaining cautiously optimistic about the game.  Those points aside, go out and give the demo a try. Get your guns loaded, and swords sharpened, for the upcoming January 15th release date.

Enjoy,
Scully

Dragon Ball Z: Bio-Broly

A few days have passed after the world tournament, and number 18 is at Mr. Satan’s to collect her winnings for throwing the fight. While there, Hercule is challenged to a fight with a man named Jaguar. Goten and Trunks sneak into the castle gates and begin to fight alongside of 18. After defeating the first of Jaguars bio-warriors, Goten and Trunks find out that Jaguar has created a secret weapon: Broly. The boys try to destroy Broly before he can be released from his container; but before they can use their energy blast, Broly escapes. With only Goten, Trunks, and 18; will Broly finally get the revenge he is so eagerly looking for?

“Bio-Broly” is the eleventh installment to the Dragon Ball Z franchise, and is set soon after “Broly Second Coming” and soon after the world martial arts tournament. This film is also the first and only film that is part of a Dragon Ball Z trilogy; with “Broly the Legendary Super Saiyan” and “Broly Second Coming” being the films that lead into this film. Again, this is another DBZ film with absolutely no music to carry you into the fight scenes. Also, you will find that the people in the film annoy you; and not just a little, they really get on your nerves with Hercule being the one that bugs the hell out of you the most. The one nice thing is that there is absolutely no Goku in this film whatsoever; you only see him in a flashback scene. The plot is nothing to be thrilled about, and unless you are a true DBZ fan you won’t find yourself picking this film up to watch more than once. All in all, with no music, terrible plot, and annoying characters, this is a film you will not find yourself coming back to. 

Good:

-A new hero

Bad:

-Annoying characters

-Terrible plot

-No music

-Absolutely no replay value

Scully Rating: 1 out of 10

Watch "Dragon Ball Z: Bio-Broly" at: http://www.animefreak.tv/watch/dragon-ball-z-movie-11-bio-broly-english-dubbed-online-free

 

Dragon Ball Z: Fusion Reborn

An explosion has occurred in King Yemma’s domain and now all the spirits from heaven and hell are walking among the living. Grand Kai sends Goku and Pikkon to the area to find out what is happening, what they find is a creature named Jamemba a seemingly innocent creature but whom is capable of devastating things. Goku must turn Super Saiyan 3 to defeat such a foe, or so he thought. Suddenly, Vegeta appears to take over the fight. Both Saiyans are overpowered by this new foe. Vegeta must swallow his pride and work with Goku or else everyone he cares about will be lost.

“Fusion Reborn” is the 12^th Dragon Ball Z film made, and the film takes place after the Majin Buu saga. This DBZ film is a lot like the others: there is no enticing music and no real original plot.  However, though the plot is not the most original it does have its creative points. Like Jamemba for instance a seemingly gentle enemy until it transforms into the sleek and slender Jamemba who’s near indestructible. Another interesting twist is the fusion of Vegeta and Goku, yes they fused in the show, but that was with the earrings that were given to them from the elder Kai. This fusion, not being permanent, gave Gogeta only 30 minutes to defeat this new enemy. Jamemba had a few interesting powers that we have never seen nor even thought possible, like being able to portal attacks and disassemble himself and move into a whole new area. The fight scenes were not as great as some of the other DBZ films, but they would please many DBZ fans. The fights were well balanced and not to one sided to where victory seemed to go to the evil character until the very end when out of the blue something amazing happens and the good guy wins. With that said, “Fusion Reborn” was a good, but not great Dragon Ball Z film. Sadly, again we're not given a soundtrack to draw us into the fights; and the plot was unoriginal for the most part, except for a few key details. All in all, “Fusion Reborn” being the 12^th film does well compared to the others and is a buy for any serious DBZ fan and for the casual fan of anime movies, a must see.

Good:

-New abilities by our bad guy

-Fusion between Vegeta and Goku

-Plot though unoriginal has a few nice key features

Bad:

-No soundtrack

Scully Rating: 6 out of 10

Watch "Dragon Ball Z: Fusion Reborn" at: http://www.animefreak.tv/watch/dragon-ball-z-movie-12-fusion-reborn-english-dubbed-online-free