This Chapter Makes Me Sad (Bleach 429)

I really love this chapter, I just am not looking forward to reviewing it. The plot developments are fantastic, but so heart wrenching. So read this before you read the rest of this review. Go ahead I'll wait.


Caught up? Good. So now that you're crying too. Well recap time, then I guess, if I can hold it together. (T-T) Sniff, sniff.

After Juugo reveals his identity to Ichigo, he hands him something off screen and leaves. There is still a void of trust between Ichi and Juugo, but it seems as if they might be able to work together in the future. Ichigo returns home to find Yuzu waiting with her first test score in hand. A 95%! Way to go! He congratulates her, then goes on to try and find Isshin, who's nowhere to be found.

Yuzu says he hasn't been out all day. Right before Ichigo retreats to this room, Yuzu starts to ask him something, then stops. Perhaps she senses that something is wrong, that she can tell he brother is stressing over Juugo and the revelations that came with his unusual appearance. Once upstairs, Ichigo hears Inoue Calling to him from the street, carrying leftover bread from her bakery.

After letting her up (and some fidgeting), Inoue asks if anything or anyone is bothering Ichigo. Her intuition is telling her that something is off with Ichigo, but our macho hero dismisses her concerns. Ishida shows up, senses Inoue and decided to leave them be.

Ok, now I'm not sure if I can get through this next part. Time to buck up!

Ishida sees a stranger reading a book on top of a roof. Weird! Giving chase, Ishida tries to analyze this man's fighting style, seeing as he's going incredibly fast without changing the spiritual particles around him. He doesn't look like Kutsuzawa, who we meet in the last chapter, but objects seem to fizzle after he touches them. Could he a a Quincy? I doubt it, but he could be some sort of hybrid (like the Visored and such). He does kinda look like Zangetsu though . . .


Back at the Kurosaki residence, Isshin is still not home. Ichigo finally reveals to us what Juugo gave him: a black card with a magnetic strip on the back labeled: "Welcome to our Xcution."


Ichigo senses some disturbance outside, and we get a glance at the scene outside: it's Ishida, lying on the ground and missing an arm. OMG ISHIDA NO!!!!!!!!!!

I. . .I can't do this anymore. See you guys tomorrow, for the OOO 11 review.

Oh Ishida, why. . .

Sage Mode A-Go-Go! (Naruto Ultimate Ninja Storm 2 [PS3])

Following in the wake of the massively successful Naruto Ninja Storm for the PS3, NUNS 2 come rushing in with full-force. The story picks up at the beginning of the Shippuden half of the Naruto Saga, with Naruto returning from his two-and-half year training session with Jiraiya and extends into the Five Kage Summit arc, ending with Naruto and Pain's battle among the remnants of Konohagakure.

NUNS2 is available for the PS3 and the Xbox 360.

The battle system for the most part is still intact, with some new tweaks and adjustments (some more useful that others). The first addition most veterans of Naruto games will notice will be the absence of QTE sequences during ultimate ninjutsu attacks. A blessing and a curse, this helps speed up combat significantly and makes battles seem as if they are lifted directly from the anime series; on the flip side, it means that the only way to defend against ultimate jutsus is to block it in time. It's not so bad normally, until you play that one dick friend who picks someone with a long-range U.N. and spams that constantly. Then it gets old REALLY quick.

Not all of the changes are terrible, though. There is a new team gauge, which fills up the more you use team assists. Once full, teammates will assist by blocking ultimate jutsu attacks, creating a shield for you while you charge chakra or tossing in some extra shuriken when you attempt a chakra-infused shuriken assault. Another nifty trick that the team gauge provides is an all-new team ultimate jutsu attack. Pretty much everyone takes turns beating the crap out of your opponent, then the main character performs their ultimate jutsu attack. Overkill much?



Your support team can also be set to one of three different modes: attack, defense and balanced. Attack mode will allow your ally to continue combos that send your opponent flying. Defense mode will proc the chakra charge cover, and the balance will proc the projectile attacks. When you start off the game, each character has one support style, but as you progress through the story mode, you can increase your relationship with each character. This in turn unlocks the other two support modes. It's kinda annoying, but all that hard work pays off in the end. Eventually.

Naruto and Pain get ready to do it to it.

The game boasts an impressive list of characters. 44 in all, you can play as every member of the Akatsuki, almost all of Naruto's peers and rivals, the Sannin and many others (including a special visitor from the Tekken universe). Honestly this was the driving force behind me checking this title out. The last Naruto game I seriously go into was Ultimate Ninja 2 for the PS2, which frankly sucked balls, character wise.



The online play modes have been tweaked to allow for better match making, but I didn't really mess around with that feature. The new story mode layout is OK, except for the fact that there is no quick travel system. I mean would it really kill CyberConnect2 to put in a warp feature? Trekking around got really old in chapter 2. Other than that, story mode is OK. Some of the trophies are kinda lame (save up 999,999 ryo; fuck that!), but are relatively easy to obtain if you play through the story mode. It will take about thirty hours to unlock and complete everything, which ain't terrible. Nice way to spend a weekend.

All in all, I give NUNS2 a 7/10. It's just a fighter, but a good one. Not the best, be certainly not the worst. Now if you will excuse me, Golden Sun is calling.

Hell Arc Special, The Movie Tie-ins begin

Sup all! Bleach 429 is still being translated, but there is a special movie tie-in chapter out now. I haven't seen much info on the new movie, but given the way the arc starts, it sounds like it might be pretty interesting.



So the chapter opens to someone stating that the gate to hell will not open. Which is a good thing right? I mean I only remember it being in one chapter early on the series, and it was scary as shit then. I don't think anyone really wants to see it open. Anyway, the story goes on to show Szayel Aporro Granz and Aaroniero Arruruerie crash-landing in some forsaken wasteland. It's definitely not Hueco Mundo, it could be Kansas, but who know at this point.


Aaroniero, the idiot that he is, gets pissed off at Szayel (he might have goaded him on a tad . . .), and decides to try and absorb him into his Resurrección: Glotonerí, when suddenly a strange man butts into the duel (that seems to happen alot, but whateves).

The man's name is Shuren, and he reveals that both men (? I really don't know how to classify Aaroniero other than an abomination, but 'man' will do for now) are already dead and the is no escaping their fate. Shuren is accompanies by three fearsome-looking allies: Taikon, Gunjou and Garogai.

Szayel calls shenanigans, and attacks. Bad decision.

Cow Days
Tags: SOUTH
PARKmore...

Shuren fucks his shit, even after he tries to release a Grand Rey Cero. Aaroniero even tries to take on Shuren's three coadjutor, to no avail. Disappointed a bit in their power levels, Shuren holds up a black lantern with an image of Ichigo's full-hollowfication form, stating that he is the only one with the power to open to door to hell.



I don't know about you, but now I really excited about the new movie. Tite Kibo said that he has personally put in a lot of work on the script and storyline, so it's going to be true to his vision of the series. Unfortunately there will probably not be a translation ready for a couple of months, but it's definitely made it onto my wishlist. It looks like this is the only pre-movie chapter, though. Hopefully 429 will be up tonight, and I'll get to is after I get off of work. I also have reviews of new the Kamen Rider movie and OOO episode incoming, so hold tight for those. Later!