Thursday, May 31, 2012

Stop Rolling Your Eyes and Try It-Swayback Mountain

         Swayback Mountain by Buttersc0tchSundae is a MLP:FiM fanfic that ships Rarity/Applejack. I went into this, with the combination of name and pairing, not looking forward to it too much. But from this expertly written fic I now completely respect the ship. It makes both sides believable, it's hilarious, and really touching. If you honestly don't belief in shipping, I think this fic might change your mind. I heavily recommend it to bronies everywhere. Laters.

Wednesday, May 30, 2012

Stop Rolling Your Eyes and Try It-My Little Chrono: Triggers are Magic

               Okay, before I start talking about this fanfic I need to talk about something else. Some people out there may know that I have always felt a great distiction between quality and fondness, always being careful to use "favorite" not "best." I really feel that there is a mountain of difference between the words, and here is no different. In my opinion, Chrono Trigger by Square is the best game ever made. Seriously. To me, it is a pretty much perfect video game. It is not, however, my favorite video game. It's probably in the top 10 or so, but not close to number one. There are other games which from an objective viewpoint I feel are worse than Chrono Trigger, but for a variety of reasons click with me better.

              My Little Chrono: Triggers are Magic is a My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic fan fiction by Pav Feira. Basically take the plot (not that kind) of Chrono Trigger and replace Chrono with Rainbow Dash, Lucca with Twilight Sparkle, Marle with Pinkie Pie, Frog with Rarity, Robo with Fluttershy, and Magus with Nightmare Moon. It manages to capture the spirit of the characters from MLP, and keep up the level of humor required of that series. On the Chrono side the plot (NOT THAT KIND!) is engaging and the fights pretty awesome. I highly recommend this to bronies everywhere, find it here. These really are two great tastes that taste great together.

Tuesday, May 29, 2012

Stop Rolling Your Eyes and Try It-A Study in Rainbows

                 A Study in Rainbows is a My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic fanfic by Thanqol. Basically, it's the story of Sherlock Holmes, but where Rarity is Sherlock, Rainbow Dash is Watson, and Fluttershy is Lestrade. Yeah, at first I was skeptical too, but the roles each character plays works perfectly in respect to both series. I'm a big Sherlock Holmes fan, and I still love how they did Rarity. It's pretty hard to describe, but the mystery is good, the dialogue and narration very well-done (It's written like this was written in the time of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle), it's very funny, and the character writing is fantastic. It's an amazingly large recommendation for bronies and Sherlock Holmes fans. Find it here. Laters.

Monday, May 28, 2012

Stop Rolling Your Eyes and Try It-A Princess Carol

        A Princess Carol is a My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic fanfic by John Perry. The plot is pretty simple: Princess Luna just doesn't understand how the quiet quaint holiday she knew has become the rowdy crass holiday known as Hearth's Warming Eve. Her sister decides the best way to show her the error of her judgement is by using the plot of the popular story. (Yes, even in Equestria A Christmas Carol, or some version of it, is played a billion times every December.) Celestia herself is the Ghost of Hearth's Warming Past, Fluttershy is Present, and Zecora is the Future.

         This fic is very funny, a scene near the end nearly made me cry, and it managed to be as heartwarming as the original story. I also love the moral, about how we shouldn't try to force ponies to celebrate holidays how they originally were, everypony should just celebrate it the way they want to. Very well done, and not too long, fic, I highly recommend it to all bronies and fans of the original Christmas Carol. Find it here. Laters.

Sunday, May 27, 2012

Stop Rolling Your Eyes and Try It-A Million Things

        A Million Things is a My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic fan fiction by AbsoluteAnonymous. Rainbow Dash is woken up by Pinkie Pie one day for a very important reason: The Pinkie Sense has told her the world will end today, and everypony else blew her off when she told them about it, so she wants to do every single thing she's ever wanted to do with Rainbow Dash. There is some light hints of shipping, but that's not what it's about. What really works here is the comedy, the tearjerking, and the amazing heartwarming conclusion. If you took out the light shipping aspects, it could easily be a half episode of the actual show, and the moral would be easily one of the best and deepest the show has ever had. I highly recommend this fic to all bronies, find it here. Laters.

Saturday, May 26, 2012

Stop Rolling Your Eyes and Try It-So Long and Thanks for all the Ponies

         So Long and Thanks for all the Ponies by Sir Ginger is where you take My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic and put it in the plot of Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy. I'm a bit mixed on this one. On the one hoof, I love the latter series with all my heart. I can literally quote the entire first episode of the original radio play from memory alone. On the other hoof, it really wasn't different enough from the actual thing. It didn't make itself separate enough. I only read two chapters, and unless somepony convinces me otherwise, I won't continue it. So I really don't recommend it. Sorry Sir Ginger, it was well written, but unless it gets more...seperate from Hitchhiker's Guide, I enjoy it that much. Still well written.

Friday, May 25, 2012

Stop Rolling Your Eyes and Try It-Reunion

        Reunion is a Dresden Files fan fiction by Elizabeth Leah. Now, I sadly cannot give any sort of plot synopsis, because doing so will completely spoil Changes, the second-newest Dresden Files novel. All I can say is that it's done before Ghost Story was written in real life, so ignore that book for this. Also, it's a time skip from Changes, revolving around a character barely seen in said book who drives the plot.

      Some of the early writing is a bid hard to get through, just bad grammar really, but it fixes that fast enough. It is very funny and stays in the spirit of the books. The interactions between the main character and Harry are great and funny, and it has enough side-splitting lines to qualify as an actual Dresden story. Overall it is pretty good, and while not a huge recommendation, I still do think any Dresden Files fan who has read up to Changes should definitely give it a read. Laters.

Thursday, May 24, 2012

Stop Rolling Your Eyes and Try It-Progress

        (No update yesterday because this fic is long and I'm writing a screenplay. You'll see soon hopefully.)

        Progress by Andrew J. Talon is a Luna-centric fan fiction based on My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic. It follows the exploits of Luna as she tries to adjust to modern Equestria, and makes some friends along the way. I like the Fanon it adds, especially her roommate and Hoyden. The dialogue is pretty good, and any time there's an imagine spot I end up struggling to keep from falling out of my chair in laughter. I huge recommendation to all bronies, link here. Laters.

Tuesday, May 22, 2012

Stop Rolling Your Eyes and Try It-But the Kitchen Sink

        This...I...wah...hold on I'll start over.

        ...But the Kitchen Sink is a My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic fanfiction by Dubs Rewatcher. It's about...um...okay, some of you out there know that Rainbow Dash is the post shipped character of the show by far. She had literally been shipped with every character (including herself) at least once, and with each of the Mane 6 an insane amount of times. This fanfic is a comedy based on this fact. So, yeah, this is a fic where Rainbow Dash falls in love with a sink.

       Yes, you did read that right. This fic is so wrong and so insane...that it is easily one of the funniest things I have read in a very long time. A really long time. The dialogue is incredibly funny, and Rainbow's inner monologue makes the ridiculous premise even sillier. And the punch line ending...it's too good. Please read this if you're a brony, it just might make your day. It's found here. Laters.

AUDITIONS

       Hey there all five people who read this? Ever try being a voice actor? No? TRY. I need all the help I can get with these two projects:

       I need two guys and a gal for Case 1 of my Apollo Justice Dubbing Project, the trailer for which is here and the thread for auditioning is here! Please audition even if you know nothing about the Ace Attorney series!

      I need two guys and, for now, seven girls for my radio play based on the fan fiction The Dresden Fillies: Strange Friends by psychicscubadiver. The thread is here, and please audition even if you're not a fan of either The Dresden Files or My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic.

      Please everyone! I need all the help I can get, and if you're not up to recording, do you know anyone who is? Link the threads to your friends, and see if anyone who know might want to be involved. I love making things like these a reality, and already some fruits are beginning to ripen! Thank you for reading my rambling bullshit, please help me if you can. Adios.

Monday, May 21, 2012

Stop Rolling Your Eyes and Try It-The Man With No Name

           Sorry for the late-ish update, but it is finals week at my college, and due to an all-nighter I am on a weird sleep schedule where I wake up at 9pm. Choosing what to review today was a bit hard. I had to go through all the fanfiction I've reviewed, trying to find a hole somewhere. Then I did.

           The Man with No Name by Frostfyre7 is a crossover between Doctor Who and Firefly. And it is just as awesome as you can imagine that being. After his first meeting with Donna, the 10th Doctor is roaming around at random, trying to find something to do. He lands on some random planet in some random time and goes to the local bar, where he quickly gets into trouble due to his brown coat. The Firefly crew helps him out, and he asks to be their passenger for a while. Stuff happens from there.

          There is a lot to love here. The dialogue is fitting for both series, so much so that you can imagine every actor reading the lines out perfectly in your head. Everyone is in-character, and the interactions between the crew and the Doctor are great. They all make sense, but also feel natural and fun. (Especially Kaylee and the Doctor being good friends.) While it didn't end up going where I thought it would, it's still a great fic, and I very, very, very, very highly recommend it to fans of either or both series. Laters.

Stop Rolling Your Eyes and Try It-The Best Night Ever

((Quick note, Superhero Week will resume next week. This counts as Sunday's post. Sorry for lateness, however, FINALS))

          The Best Night Ever is a My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic fan fiction, and another one I think is in my Top 10 favorite fanfics. Basically, remember the end of season 1? First, look at it from the POV of Prince Blueblood. (Where you find out that he ruined Rarity's night on purpose, just because he took pleasure in making her mad.) Then he wakes up the next day to find it...not the next day. It's the morning of the gala, again. Now poor Blueblood is repeating the day over and over again, and he has no clue why.

           Let's start with the cons: nothing. I literally have no problems with this fanfic. Pros: It is very funny, captures the essence of the Mane Six very well, and most of all it made me like Blueblood. Not him at the beginning, that guy's a jerk. But over the course of the loop, he becomes a very interesting and nice guy, and it really wants me to check if the writer has continued from here on out as an AU. I love the part where he's fed up, his snarking gets really funny, and his first attempt at a perfect night is amazing in that it seems perfect, but betrays the purpose of each character and who they represent. Only after realizing this and doing it one last time, does stuff happen. Really great, a huge recommendation from me, please read if you're a brony or pegasister. Laters.

Saturday, May 19, 2012

Superhero Week-Courtney Whitemore (Stargirl)

       There's a very interesting story to go with this character folks. The first time I ever saw her was on the Justice League: Unlimited cartoon, and I thought she was too bratty and annoying. Then years later I started reading the series JSA by Geoff Johns. The book is about a superhero team most people don't know about, the Justice Society of America. They're the first superhero team, both in and out of continuity, and inspired the Justice League. The team is mostly about morals and family, and how the name of a hero can be and is passed down throughout the years. Now, the Justice League: Unlimited version of her wasn't that far off in how she was...initially. But by the time of the start of the book, and by a fuckton throughout it, she had character development. She became a confident, strong,  kind, and helpful heroine who kicked ass, saved the day, and once the entire multiverse. That kind of character development was very cool, and her chemistry (Mostly in the platonic sense) with other JSAer Jakeem Thunder was great. She's my favorite character from the book, and I definitely think she needs more love. Laters.

Friday, May 18, 2012

Stop Rolling Your Eyes and Try It-The Incredibly Dense Mind of Rainbow Dash

      
      This is I think the first shipfic about My Little Pony, and it was pretty good. Afterwards I have more respect for a couple fics, it was very well written, it was hilarious, the Doctor Who reference was amazing, and it was overall just well done as all-Tartarus. Read it here. I recommend it highly.

Superhero Week-Garfield Logan (Beast Boy)

         Garfield Logan is the son of two biologists who were studying in South America. One things they were studying was a rare disease that made monkeys turn green, and to humans the disease was fatal. When Garfield was bitten, he almost died if it wasn't for his parent's experimental vaccine, which not only saved his life but turned him green and allowed him to turn into any animal. (Unlike the cartoon, he could speak while in animal form.) After his parents died he became a member of the Doom Patrol, and after leaving them became one of the stars of the 80's New Teen Titans.

        Gar is a pretty cool character. The reason he's usually one of people's favorite Titans is mostly because he was funny. He added humor to a mostly dark book, and his storylines usually went into interesting and heart-breaking territories. I still need to go back and read the old 80's Titan stuff, but from the Geoff Johns era Titans Beast Boy was still a valued member of the team. Well, for a while anyway. I definitely recommend that era of Titans, and quite a few series with him involved.

Thursday, May 17, 2012

Superhero Week-Tim Drake (Robin III)

       Tim Drake kinda gets the short end of the stick. When I start to think about it, he's been in about the same amount of media besides comics as Jason Todd has. What.

       Unlike Bruce Wayne, Dick Grayson, Jason Todd, and a plethora of other superheroes, Tim Drake does not have any tragic backstory. He's an average Gotham City kid, who happens to be the greatest detective ever. Sherlock Holmes? Batman? Hahahahano. At a very young age, he managed to work out the identities of Batman and then Robin, Jason Todd, simply from deductive reasoning. He didn't do anything about it, but when he found out Robin had died, he asked Batman for training. He said that it was his theory that Batman needs a Robin to stay stable. Batman eventually gave in and low and behold we get Robin III.

      Now, I'm not dissing Dick Grayson when I say Time Drake is my favorite Robin. But I haven't really read any comics where Grayson is Robin, he's always been Nightwing to me. He's still cool and I totally ship him and Oracle, but besides that he's just a pretty cool guy. Tim Drake is my Robin. I've read him in individual Batman stories, in the Titans, and in crossovers. I like him because I enjoy that he isn't this tragic figure, he's just some kid who's an amazing detective. That adds so much to his character, and the fact he gets to hang around as an equal to these other heavyweight heroes makes me respect the crap outta him.

Wednesday, May 16, 2012

Superhero Week-Bruce Banner (The Hulk)

        ((No picture. I do not like most pictures of the Hulk.))

        I do not think I need to explain The Hulk's origin story. He's one of Marvel's flagship characters, and easily one of their most profitable in other media. From the old TV show to recent films, the Hulk is pretty popular. However, I don't like him for the reason most fans do.

       Most people like The Hulk. I don't. I like Bruce Banner. Most people enjoy The Hulk because he's awesome at fighting and stuff. He's freaking indestructible. While that's alright for me, I love the struggle of Bruce Banner. He's this guy always on the run, always trying to stay calm, always scared out of his mind of the best within. That is really good, and in the hands of a good enough writer can be amazing. Yeah, I'm a weirdo. Whatever. Laters.

Superhero Week-Oliver Queen (Green Arrow)

       Green Arrow lives in an odd space of Superhero popularity. If you read comics at all, you know who he is. He is one of DC's heavy hitters, and is rarely without a space on an incarnation of the Justice League. On the other hand, if you do not read comics, you likely don't even know that he exists. The most publicity he's had...ever...is his role on the Justice League Unlimited cartoon, and even then he was kinda supporting cast.What's his story?

       Oliver Queen grew up loving Robin Hood and a natural archer, but after being traumatized by killing a deer gave it up to run his parent's billion-dollar company. This changed as a young drunken playboy adult, when we got stranded on a island with only a bow. He got by with his skills, then foiled a heroin ring using the island. When he got back to civilization, he became the hero known as Green Arrow, using his trick arrows to fight crime.

      I love Green Arrow for several reasons. First, he's a very liberal hero, and I'm a liberal. He's also hilariously snarky, and Wash's actor used in Young Justice was the perfect choice. Sorry for late post, but I HAVE A COMPUTER AGAIN!

Monday, May 14, 2012

Superhero Week-Elissa Megan Powers (Empowered)

     

      Empowered is the story of a D-list superheroine named Empowered. (Obviously.) Her powers are incredible, and are granted by her costume, an alien technology. However, the suit tears easily, and when it does she loses her powers. This leads to her being defeated and kidnapped all the time. And yet, despite the horribly revealing costume, the fact is tears really easy, getting kidnapped every other day, and being the laughing stock of the super community, she still goes out there every night to fight crime.

      Let me get this out of the way first: yes, this comic is partially made for wanking off to. I do not use it for that purpose because I don't have a bondage fetish. The reason I love this comic is that it is simply hilarious. Before every chapter a character (usually the titular heroine) addresses the audience, and Empowered is hilarious when she has to deal with it. She herself is the other reason I love comic. She's adorable and sad, but she's so headstrong, badass, and iron willed that she's made of win. She also gets the #13 spot on my countdown as a way to include some indie heroes. Let me also say, with that, that Spinnerette is also amazing.

Sunday, May 13, 2012

Top 13 Favorite Superheroes

13. Elissa Megan Powers (Empowered)
12. Oliver Queen (Green Arrow)
11. Bruce Banner (The Hulk)
10. Tim Drake (Robin)
9. Garfield Logan (Beast Boy)
8. Courtney Whitmore (Stargirl)
7. Hal Jordan (Green Lantern)
6. Mayday Parker (Spidergirl)
5. Bruce Wayne (Batman)
4. Wally West (The Flash)
3. Casandra Cain (Batgirl)
2. Peter Parker (Spiderman)
1. Jaime Reyes (Blue Beetle)

Saturday, May 12, 2012

Avatar: The Legend of Korra Episode 6

     This episode was AMAZING! The action was great, the character interaction was superb, we got to see more of Police Chief Bei Fong, Amon was kickass, everything was incredible! It was funny, intense, exciting, and all around incredible. This series is doing to amazing that it keeps raising it's own bar, and I'm hope next week will continue to do so. Laters.

Young Justice: Invasion Episode 3

     Man that was a good episode! We found out what the flying Thanagarian in going on with Aqualad, more intrigue with Miss M, and evidence for my theory. Now, at first with the ending of last season and the title of this one's, Invasion, I thought it would be Apocalypse that was invading. However, between seasons, I realized that Blue Beetle is part of the team now, so it's possible that it's actually the Reach! It's even more likely, because the Light was already working with Apocalypse, so why would they need extra time to seal the deal? Then in this episode, the alien race hiding on Earth mention "The Competitor", that they likely hired Lobo because their "Agent" attacked them recently. The Reach have hired Lobo once in the comics, and Jaime would likely be mistaken for their agent. Can't wait for next week!

Phoenix Wright: Ace Attorney Week-The Wrap Up

     Well everypony, we've reached the end of Phoenix Wright: Ace Attorney Week. To cap the whole thing off, I'll rate each of the reviewed cases on a 1 to 5 scale. (5 being really amazing, 1 being total crap)

The First Turnabout-3.5
Turnabout Sisters-4.5
Turnabout Samurai-2.5
Turnabout Goodbyes-5
Rise From the Ashes-4
Game Total-19.5

Friday, May 11, 2012

Phoenix Wright: Ace Attorney Week-Rise from the Ashes


One last case before it’s time to wrap it all up, so let’s say goodbye with Rise From the Ashes (The only title in the main series without the word Turnabout in it.)! Trivia: State v. Skye. February, 2017. Phoenix Wright Record: 7-0.

Phoenix is just waiting around his office, wishing Maya were back, when he gets a client who reminds him of Maya, young Ema Skye. Her older sister Lana, the Chief Prosecutor, has been arrested for the second-degree murder of Detective Bruce Goodman. Edgeworth is once again prosecuting, but he’s still shaken from the events of the last case, and is coming under fire as a scapegoat. Gumshoe wants to help, but he’s out-of-the-loop on this case. Filling his role is Officer Jake Marshall, a policeman who seems to think he’s an Old West sheriff. He’s even got a great witness, lunchlady Angel Starr. Something odd is going on though, as every single person involved with this case except Wright was involved in the SL-9 case two years previous. Why is your client hiding important details? Why does she want to confess to a crime she did not commit.

    For those who don’t know, this case was added onto the DS re-release of the first game, though it was on every version here in the States. It was made to test out the capabilities of the new graphics and touch screen. I really enjoy the case, with its memorable characters, interesting twists, and how they used their added powers for cool results. Plus, you gotta love that villain. He’s one of my favorites in the series. Overall a great case, easily in the top 10 for the whole series.

Thursday, May 10, 2012

Phoenix Wright: Ace Attorney Week-Credits

    Yes, the credits get their own spot. The credits for the Ace Attorney series are the only ones I always sit through. The one for this game in particular though...it’s the best. In my opinion, the credit sequence on Phoenix Wright: Ace Attorney is the best out of every game I have ever played, hands down. Let’s break down the ‘why’ step by step.
    First, the lead in. The music here meshes with the dialogue in such an amazing way. It gives me a feeling that I don’t get from anything else. The only way I can properly describe it is supreme contentment and happiness for the game I just finished, mixed with a longing for it not to end. And the lead in... “And so my story ends. Time to turn a new page...and say goodbye to the novice defense attorney that I once was...Now a new story begins...With the same old crazy cast of characters...” That speech is pretty much as close to perfect as writing gets for me.
    The next part is the court scene, where Edgeworth and the Judge berate Phoenix. It feels very similar to the scene you get when you present the wrong evidence to a testimony, with little changed. This leaves me feeling like the end of Justice League: Unlimited did. “And the adventure continues...”
    Then comes my favorite part. It gives each character from the game a send-off, reminiscing about the main character. This part gets me laughing every time, and evolves the feelings from the previous sections. Now I feel happiness that the characters I’ve grown to love so much are still out there, living their lives.
    Then comes the photo. I have cried several times at this part. It’s a picture of victory, applause, and fulfillment. It always leaves me smiling at the start screen. And really, isn’t that the mark of a job well done from the designers? Laters.

Wednesday, May 9, 2012

Phoenix Wright: Ace Attorney Week-Turnabout Goodbyes

    Here once again is I, Roy Hankins, with Phoenix Wright: Ace Attorney week, this time with Turnabout Goodbyes. Trivia: State v. Edgeworth and State v. Edgeworth. December 25th to the 28th. Phoenix Wright Record: 6-0.

    Early Christmas morning Phoenix is woken up with a startle: Miles Edgeworth has been arrested for first degree murder! Wright cannot believe Edgeworth would do this, and takes his case. Gumshoe is helping, doing anything he can to stop his friend from being found guilty. But there’s not one but two witnesses to his crime, and evidence up the wazoo. Not only that, but Edgeworth’s mentor Manfred von Karma is prosecuting, a man Miles labels the “God of Prosecutors” for being completely undefeated in his forty year career. The defense duo is also shocked to find Phoenix’s old friend Larry Butz is involved in this, and Maya is even more shocked to find Phoenix, Larry, and Miles were childhood friends. All that and the DL-6 Incident, a dark case from fifteen years in the past the ties the fates of Mia, Maya, Edgeworth, and the murderer, make for one tough challenge to our lovable greenhorn!

    This is considered to many to be one of the best cases in the series, and for a damn good reason. The stakes are high as all get out, the laughs are incredible, the characters undeniably memorable, the plot amazing, and the twists shocking. The only downside I have is that I’m not a very big fan of the three-day format, and am glad the abolished it with the second game. It’s more a personal preference than a quality thing, but whatever. I have to agree with the masses and say it is one of the greatest cases in the franchise, though it is not my favorite finale case.

Tuesday, May 8, 2012

Phoenix Wright: Ace Attorney Week-Turnabout Samurai

    Welcome once again to Phoenix Wright: Ace Attorney week, where today we’ll look at Turnabout Samurai! Trivia: State v. Powers. October 16th through the 19th, 2016. Phoenix Wright Record: 4-0

    When the cast of the hit children’s show “The Steel Samurai” go to shoot the scene for the day, they are shocked to find the actor playing the villain “The Evil Magistrate”, Jack Hammer, is lying down dead in his costume with a spear through his chest. Soon after Will Powers, who plays the titular hero, arrives claiming to have slept through the afternoon. Evidence is found placing him as the only one who could have committed the crime, and he is soon arrested for first degree murder. Maya is a large fan of the show, and begs Phoenix to defend him. Once the spiky-haired attorney meets Mr. Powers, he is convinced he is not the culprit. Again Wright must face Edgeworth in the courtroom, and some dark secret hides the truth to this case.
    I am very very mixed about this case. The plot is good, the characters (for the most part) are good, the dialogue is funny, and the villain is one of my favorites. However, it suffers from major flaws. The pacing is atrocious, probably the worst in the entire series. This is most likely due to it being the first three-day case, and them not knowing how to handle the time. The layout for the investigation sequence is annoying, requiring far more work and time to move from one place to another than there should be. And the worst is the investigation itself, which feels very artificial and annoying. A large chunk of the second day feels like going to a random spot, initiating a flag, then going to another random spot to do the same. True, that’s how it’s always coded, but it feels very obvious here and is no fun. It never seems organic where you should go or what you should do. Overall, this leads to one of my least favorite cases in the series. It’s a sad thing to say because there is so much good, but the bad for me outweighs it by a hair.

Monday, May 7, 2012

Phoenix Wright: Ace Attorney Week-Turnabout Sisters

Welcome back to Phoenix Wright: Ace Attorney week! Today we look at Turnabout Sisters. Let’s start again with the fan trivia: State v. Fey and State v. Wright. September 5th through 9th, 2016. Phoenix Wright Record: 3-0.

    After going to the Fey and Co. Law Offices to meet with Mia for dinner, he finds her dead and her young sister Maya Fey crying beside her. They is quickly spotted by the beautiful April May from the hotel across the street, and she calls the police, leading LAPD Homicide Detective Dick Gumshoe to arrest Maya for second degree murder due to evidence found at the scene. Phoenix doubts the young spirit medium (in training) could, let alone did, kill her sister and takes her case. Something is going on in the background, and the man behind this seems to be above the law. Not only that, but the prosecutor Phoenix must face is Miles Edgeworth “The Demon Prosecutor”, the man determined to keep his perfect win record intact and who’ll do anything he can to get defendants found “Guilty”.

    This is easily one of my favorite cases in the franchise, and easily my favorite second case. The dialogue is great, the characters (for the first time in the fledgling series) are both numerous and hilarious, it cements the main cast deeply, and is in general just a great case. It also raises up the difficulty from the previous case, but isn’t frustrating or annoying. It hits the perfect balance of challenging but fair.

Sunday, May 6, 2012

Phoenix Wright: Ace Attorney Week-The First Turnabout

    Hello there everypony! And welcome to my first theme week! This week is one of my favorite games, Phoenix Wright: Ace Attorney, and today we’ll look at the first case, The First Turnabout.\

    First off, in a little just for fans trivia silliness, here are the stats of the case: State v. Larry Butz. August 3rd, 2016. Phoenix Wright Record: 1-0.

    Basically, it all goes down like this: Cindy Stone is found dead in her apartment by passerby Frank Sahwit, who notices her ex-boyfriend Larry Butz leaving the scene before he got there. Larry is arrested on charges of second degree murder. His best friend, and our protagonist, Phoenix Wright has just passed the bar exam and believes that Larry is innocent. His mentor, the famous defense attorney for whom Phoenix works, Mia Fey helps him along throughout the trial. Facing the greenhorn is Winston Payne, a man once known as the “Rookie Killer”, but now laughed at since he was defeated by Mia Fey more than four years previous.

    The case is very good. Sahwit is a decently memorable character, it gives you a good impression of Phoenix, Mia, and the Judge as characters, and has some memorable dialogue. I would say it’s only flaw is that it is by far the easiest case in the whole franchise. However, considering it is the first and therefore the mechanics will feel new, this doesn’t seem like much of a flaw. It definitely isn’t my favorite beginning case of the series, but it is above average.

Saturday, May 5, 2012

Avatar: The Legend of Korra-The Spirit of Competition

     Mixed episode. On the one hoof, it was an entire episode about pro-bending, which I love. The action rocked and it really showed off how awesome the sport is. On the other hoof, it was all about romance as well. I'm not usually adverse to romance in my cartoons, but here is seemed a tad forced and boring. However, it did cement Bolin as my favorite character in the show. Also, the stuff with "Water Tribe food" was really funny. All in all, a good episode, but probably my least favorite of all those out now.

Young Justice: Invasion Episode 2-Earthlings

     Very good episode. Some expanding on what has happened in the time skip, but not so much there isn't any mystery left. The action was good, the dialogue great, it actually made me interested in the Adam Strange story. I've decided I like the direction this is going.

Friday, May 4, 2012

In Front of the Silver Screen-The Avengers


      Now, unlike several of my friends, I wasn't that excited about Marvel's The Avengers. I'm not that big a Marvel fan, and of the Avengers themselves I'm not a big fan of any of them. What I was excited for was Joss Whedon's The Avengers. I am a huge Whedonite, and this movie was just another example of that man's genius. This film was tense, exciting, action-packed, and hilarious. I laughed my ass of at least a dozen times sitting in that movie theater. This isn't just the best Marvel film. It is, in my opinion, tied for the best comic book or superhero film of all time. (With The Dark Knight.) Personally, I like the latter a tad more, but I say they tie in quality because in my estimation, neither movie could be made better by adding or removing a single scene or line of dialogue. That is a rare quality for a film, and to me it's as close to perfect as I've ever seen. This gets a huge recommendation from me. Laters.

     (NOTE: Seeing it in 3D is not any better than 2D. Just Saiyan.)

Thursday, May 3, 2012

Retrospective-Seasons 1 and 2 of MLP:FiM

     Well guys, we've entered the long wait between seasons two and three of My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic, so the question going around many brony sites right now is which season is better, one of two. I though I'd chirp in with my opinion, by scoring each individual episode with a whole number from 1 to 5, 5 obviously being the best. Which season will take home the gold? I have no idea. (Note, this is liking, not quality. Just Saiyan.)

Season 1
Mare in the Moon-3
Elements of Harmony-4
Ticket Master-3
Applebuck Season-3
Griffon the Brush Off-3
Boast Busters-4
Dragonshy-3
Look Before You Sleep-3
Bridle Gossip-4
Swarm of the Century-4
Winter Wrap Up-4
Call of the Cutie-3
Fall Weather Friends-3
Suited for Success-4
Feeling Pinkie Keen-3
Sonic Rainboom-5
Stare Master-3
The Show Stoppers-4
A Dog and Pony Show-4
Green Isn't Your Color-3
Over a Barrel-3
A Bird in the Hoof-3
Cutie Mark Chronicles-4
Owl's Well That Ends Well-4
Party of One-5
Best Night Ever-4
Total=93 Average=3.6

Season 2
Return of Harmony Pt. 1-4
Return of Harmony Pt. 2-5
Lesson Zero-5
Luna Eclipsed-4
Sisterhooves Special-4
The Cutie Pox-3
May the Best Pet Win-4
The Mysterious Mare Do Well-3
Sweet and Elite-3
Secret of my Excesses-4
Hearth's Warming Eve-4
Family Appreciation Day-3
Baby Cakes-4
The Last Roundup-4
The Super Speedy Cider Squeezy 6000-4 (So close to a 5 for me)
Read it and Weep-4
Hearts and Hooves Day-4
A Friend in Deed-3
Putting Your Hoof Down-3
It's About Time-4
Dragon Quest-3
Hurricane Fluttershy-3
Ponyville Confidential-3
MMMystery on the Friendship Express-4
A Canterlot Wedding Pt. 1-4
A Canterlot Wedding Pt. 2-5
Total=98 Average=3.8

    Huh, looks like I enjoy Season 2 slightly more. Laters.

Wednesday, May 2, 2012

Stop Rolling Your Eyes and Try It-Stange Friends

     Strange Friends is a crossover fanfiction between My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic and The Dresden Files written by psychicscubadiver. Now, I do not quite recall if I’ve ever been able to put into words on here how much I love The Dresden Files. It is easily my favorite book series, and Jim Butcher is easily my favorite author. Taking that into account it seems odd that I haven’t reviewed any fan fiction concerning the series. The answer is quite simple: it is very, very hard to write fanfiction for The Dresden Files. The problem is the entire series is done if first person, and the main character has a very distinctive style in which he narrates which is very hard to replicate effectively. However, in this case, I honestly am not sure if the author of this story is not actually Jim Butcher in disguise, because it fits the world and the main character like a glove. And the pony side of things is just as good.
    The story take place between Death Masks and Blood Rights in the Dresden timeline and between Season 1 and Season 2 of Friendship is Magic. Harry is going through the Nevernever to go the White Council capital in Edinburgh, when he’s attacked by over sixty magical evil monkey things. They drive him far off the Way, and he is forced to rip open a whole out of the Nevernever, despite having no idea what world he’ll end up in. He jumps through right in front of Twilight Sparkle on her way to see Fluttershy, and they Soulgaze each other right away.
    The writing is really great here. All the characters from both series work incredibly well together, and Dresden is so in-character my previous suspicion grows by the sentence. It’s very, very funny, and made me laugh in both the ways both source materials do. The action and story are both great, and I was staring intently at my screen, scanning the page to find out what happens next. It’s complete as well, unlike my fic from yesterday. There’s even a sequel, which I’m going to start on the second I’m done typing this up. Overall, this is easily the best Dresden fanfiction I’ve ever read, and high up there on the Pony side as well. Laters.

Tuesday, May 1, 2012

Stop Rolling Your Eyes and Try It-Sweetie's Mansion

    
     Sweetie’s Mansion by Moon Shooter is a My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic fan fiction, and is kinda a crossover with the Gamecube game Luigi’s Mansion. (One of my personal favorite GC games.) It has approximately the same premise as the game, but it’s all done in the MLP universe and with its characters, and the story is expanded several dozen fold. Basically everypony (And dragon and gryphon.) from Ponyville plus the Princesses are turned into ghosts by somepony named Specter Yield, and confined to his mansion. The only ones not turned are the Cutie Mark Crusaders who were flying a giant paper airplane (Don’t ask.) and landed in the forest. They got separated, and poor Sweetie Belle find herself in the mansion, and discovers what’s going on. With the help of an aged to an old-mare Twilight, Sweetie has to capture her friends and save Equestria.

     For those who don’t know, Sweetie Belle is my favorite member of the CMC. She makes a great substitute for Luigi, and she grows over the course of the fic into an even cooler character than she is in the show. This fic is very dark, but it all feels right. I never read something and thought how this is something the show would never do. In retrospect much of it wouldn’t be done, but while reading it all feels organic, which is something that makes or breaks dark stories for me. The character writing is spot on, and the ghost versions of each of the Mane 6 are scary and sad. Sweetie goes through so much terrible stuff in this, but her inner determination and quick thinking really helps her. I’m really enjoying the plot and can’t wait to see where it goes, cause I have no idea how it’ll turn out. (Yeah, it’s not done yet.) The only con with it is that the spelling and grammar need some work, but it never was too bad a problem for me. This is one of my favorite fics I’ve read in a while, and I encourage everypony to read it here! Laters.