Disqus - Friends of solidad

Re: Bayonetta Demo Impressions

StiltsTheGM — Fri, 09 Oct 2009 21:06:04 -0000

You're mostly right about that. However, there were TWO difficulties below normal: easy and very easy (the latter was inaccessible). The problem is that easy felt like it should have been labeled "very easy". Normal was pretty challenging for me, but easy was a walk in the park. I don't think the difference between those two difficulties should be that large.

It's especially strange since Devil May Cry 4 had a combo-helper that you could turn on or off independently of the difficulty setting. Why would they make the difficulty LESS customizable?

Re: IGN Ranks Top 25 Most Popular Anime Characters

StiltsTheGM — Sat, 31 Oct 2009 04:06:57 -0000

Although I agree with an IGN commenter that said Char should replace Lelouch on the list, I'm not going to hold that against the writer. There's no way you can please everybody with a list of just 25 influential anime characters, and I felt he did a pretty good job explaining why each character deserved a place.

Re: Which K-ON! girl is your favorite?

StiltsTheGM — Mon, 05 Apr 2010 09:02:14 -0000

Wait...Yui is winning now? Does. Not. Compute.

(Also, the poll software apparently believes that "-1%" exists. XD)

Re: Explore & Compare: Roping the Wind by UNC

StiltsTheGM — Tue, 13 Apr 2010 10:58:09 -0000

I also think the News21 version is the best. I like how the large, widescreen format of the video makes it the center of attention; and the summary is tucked neatly to the side, so you don't have to scroll up or down from the video to read it. The LinkTV page feels cramped and MNN's use of text links to related stories is much less visually appealing than the organized graphical boxes on News21's page. MNN's "Powering a Nation" banner also looks out of place among all the text and white background.

Re: Find Your Sign in the Anime Zodiac

StiltsTheGM — Fri, 07 May 2010 23:05:13 -0000

I'm a Virgo, and it turns out my favorite is Virgo. How convenient!

Libra is a pretty close second, though.

Re: Nanami Madobe Stars In Windows 7 CM

StiltsTheGM — Sat, 08 May 2010 14:45:14 -0000

Even her eyes have the Windows colors. Now that's dedication to your job.

Re: Bakacast Briefs – Put Ya Guns On!

StiltsTheGM — Wed, 11 Aug 2010 14:50:02 -0000

YES! You can even buy it new for just $18 on Amazon. Tim Schafer needs your money!

Re: Series Review: Devil May Cry

StiltsTheGM — Fri, 13 Aug 2010 22:32:27 -0000

The only DMC game I played was 4, and I thought it was pretty fun. And the two characters (Dante and Nero) have fairly different playstyles, so it's not like Capcom got lazy and did a palette swap.

Re: Which Fall 2010 Anime Will You Be Watching?

StiltsTheGM — Tue, 17 Aug 2010 01:06:15 -0000

I'm the biggest comic book nerd on staff, so I'll certainly check out Iron Man.

I'll give Star Driver and Super Robot Wars a chance, because I'm also a super robot fan.

Panty and Stocking with Garterbelt, despite having an off-putting title, has piqued my interest.

Railgun, Index II, and Samurai Girls will have my attention simply because I want to discuss them with Jon.

Re: Review: Highschool of the Dead 7

StiltsTheGM — Wed, 18 Aug 2010 22:32:14 -0000

I agree with Ritsu. If you think it's fun despite its flaws, well, I can't really say you're not allowed to enjoy it, now can I? All I can do is explain why I don't find it fun (except for in this review, of course) or point out what I think are flaws in the arguments that defend it.

Besides, I like plenty of flawed shows that Ritsu can't stand (Casshern Sins, Sengoku Basara, Godannar, G Gundam, etc.).

Re: Review: Highschool of the Dead 7

StiltsTheGM — Wed, 18 Aug 2010 22:34:10 -0000

H-how did you know my secret?

Oh God, it's true. It's all true! I was just so ashamed!

*dramatic crying*

Re: Review: Highschool of the Dead 7

StiltsTheGM — Sat, 28 Aug 2010 00:36:15 -0000

Yes, that's what I was getting at. Although the creator's intent can be useful for analyzing why a creative work is like it is (or why it exists in the first place), I don't believe it should have any bearing on an individual's judgment of its quality.

Re: Review: Highschool of the Dead 7

StiltsTheGM — Sat, 28 Aug 2010 00:52:51 -0000

As Ritsu said, I'm not the same guy that does the K-On!! reviews.

And guess what? We reviewed the first season of K-On! on one of the Bakacast episodes, and I state that it's a decent show with glaring flaws that make it frustrating for me to watch. I complain about how the show bends over backwards to keep its status quo. And I complain about how Yui's lack of a brain is somehow supposed to be cute.

Oh, yeah, and both Ritsu and I have declared our love of Big O on the podcast (multiple times, I think). I wrote a review of Ga Rei -zero- that primarily praised it for having great character development and interaction. I was the sole defender of Casshern Sins (a show I think is very similar to .hack//Sign in both its tone and the fact that they're flawed gems) when we reviewed it on the "Robots in Hell" episode of Bakacast.

So those things you claim you'd respect me for? Yeah, I've done them.

If you're going to try and impugn my character by calling me a hypocrite, at least have the decency to do some research.

Re: Which Hairstyle is Sexiest?

StiltsTheGM — Wed, 08 Sep 2010 19:23:02 -0000

Good for you, Jon.

This is why we make such good friends.

Re: Bakacast Briefs – Dude, Where’s My Zombie?

StiltsTheGM — Fri, 24 Sep 2010 22:56:35 -0000

"Way too easy"? Please, Jon, it's not like Glen, Larry and I are afraid of hurting its feelings. I think the previous episode established that we honestly don't think its flaws are as severe as you think they are.

Which is why we missed you on this podcast. Not enough arguments. XD

Re: Project Haruhi’s Otaku Room Contest!

StiltsTheGM — Sat, 25 Sep 2010 20:12:09 -0000

At some point I need to organize my room again and find some way to arrange my Gundam models. Maybe I'll do that tomorrow.

Re: Bakacast Briefs – Robots! Robots! Robots!

StiltsTheGM — Fri, 15 Oct 2010 04:32:18 -0000

Yeah, HotD may have been terrible, but it was always terrible in unique and mind-boggling ways. Bakuman is just REALLY bland.

Plus, unlike last season, we have plenty of shows to talk about. So we're not going to waste our time on the shows that don't leave us with a positive impression or some hope that they'll turn into something good. For us, Bakuman did neither.

Re: Galactus Is So Moe

StiltsTheGM — Sat, 16 Oct 2010 05:25:18 -0000

Are you serious, Rodrigo?

First of all, there is no "objective of manga" or "objective of comics." Manga are simply comics created for a Japanese audience, just like anime are simply cartoons created for a Japanese audience. In their proper (and yes, original Japanese) usage, there is no implication of an inherent stylistic or thematic difference between them and their counterparts from other countries.

But that's really not my main issue with your argument.

You act as if the cultures that influence manga and comics have always been separate and should be kept that way. You couldn't be more wrong. Ever heard of Osamu Tezuka, considered to be one of the best manga creators ever born? His distinct style was influenced by American cartoons such as Betty Boop and Mickey Mouse. Hayao Miyazaki directed a joint Italian-Japanese adaptation of Sherlock Holmes called "Sherlock Hound." And "The Big O," which is arguably one of the best mecha shows ever made, was heavily influenced by American film noir and "Batman: The Animated Series." And to give an American example, Bryan Lee O'Malley's critically-acclaimed "Scott Pilgrim" series is clearly emulating a style we traditionally associate with manga, but the story and humor are distinctly Western.

You're right to say that art reflects culture, but you fail to recognize that cultures don't exist in vacuums. Every nation is constantly modifying their culture based on their interactions with foreign cultures. America and Japan are no different. To pretend otherwise and argue they should never mix is completely absurd.

Re: Bakacast – Kirino is a Jerk

StiltsTheGM — Wed, 10 Nov 2010 23:37:12 -0000

Since none of us have read the manga, we were just speculating about the reason for Ayase's surprisingly strong negative reaction. So thanks for bringing the actual motivation to our attention.

Re: Bakacast – Kirino is a Jerk

StiltsTheGM — Wed, 10 Nov 2010 23:38:28 -0000

Don't worry, one of these days I WILL find a reason to put something Star Driver-related in the cover art. I give you my word as a robot fan!

Re: Type A vs. Type B Otaku: A False Choice

StiltsTheGM — Sun, 14 Nov 2010 05:49:48 -0000

But Jon, Kon's work is profound AND good. I really like his stuff (and not in the self-aware, ironic way that I like G Gundam and Commando).

Re: Hypothetical Live-Action Sailor Moon: Megan Fox as Mars?

StiltsTheGM — Sun, 14 Nov 2010 05:53:49 -0000

You're not the only man on Earth who doesn't like Megan Fox. Sure, she looks nice, but I think there are plenty of other actresses who look just as good and can actually act.

Re: Hypothetical Live-Action Sailor Moon: Megan Fox as Mars?

StiltsTheGM — Sun, 14 Nov 2010 05:55:01 -0000

Hmm...maybe. I've always pictured Tuxedo Mask as college age, which Tennant certainly isn't.

Perhaps Matt Smith (the newer, younger Doctor) instead?

Re: Top 10 Best Sailor Mars Fanart

StiltsTheGM — Wed, 17 Nov 2010 09:47:16 -0000

That's because Mercury is the best.

Duh.

Re: Happy Kneepitsgiving!

StiltsTheGM — Thu, 25 Nov 2010 15:35:20 -0000

I'm thankful for bodysuits.