list of my favorite animes (and why you should watch them)

Hear me out, I know when you hear the word "anime" you think "oh, that weird, gay, Japanese cartoon stuff?" let me break it down, weird? yes, almost always, but in a good, well thought out, well scripted, beautifully drawn, interesting creative way. japanese? almost always, I'm not even sure if it can be considered anime if made outside of japan. cartoon? no, ANIMATED SHOW I think would be a more correct terminology, most animes have gratuitous amounts of more depth, character development, plot, and violence or sexual themes you wouldn't find in what we know as "cartoons", gay? no...at least not the anime's I've seen, literally or figuratively. but hey, I'm sure theres a few out there.

So heres a list of different animes, a rough outline of their story, and the reasons why they are amazing shows.

claymore: this is the first anime I ever watched, and since the first episode, I was completely hooked, I think there is no better introductory anime. It follows a claymore named claire and her faithful (and sometimes annoying) companion as they journey and fight powerful, disgusting creatures. This show is quite violent, but beautifully drawn, It was actually the last completely hand-drawn anime made.

deathnote: this anime was surprisingly dark to me, even after watching claymore, which was probably why I liked it so much. this anime has the best plot twists and scripting I've seen in an anime thus far, while it's not much "action" there is alot of killing that goes on, and I actually learned to love the slower moving episodes. every episode kept me wanting more, and I was on edge the entire series.

cowboy bebop: you may have heard of this one, It's a little older than the others, but when it hit, it hit big, I mean this show was big in the U.S. when anime's weren't even popular. it follows a couple of bounty hunters that go around the galaxy chasing bad guys in thier spaceship. some like to compare it to the show "firefly" in terms of genre, and while it does have that "space western" feel, I think its a very original show, and worth watching every episode.

fullmetal alchemist: I wouldn't recommend this as a first anime if you've never watched one before, just because its got some strange concepts that you may not be used to. It has a strong storyline that lasts for many episodes and I think is still being produced, It follows two brothers that are on a search for a way to bring their mother back, theres lots of cool aspects of this show that are kind of superpowerish, but set in a more medieval place.

darker than black: I will be honest, I still don't understand this show 100% but thats because it is so flippin rich in its storyline. this show has really cool people called contractors that basically have different supernatural abilities, but the all have to pay a price for these abilities...ooooooo...mystical and stuff. anyways, if you want a show thats set in a modern day city atmosphere thats got great depth and a protagonist you will grow to love, watch this.

Game of thrones merchandise.

so, if your really into game of thrones, like any true fantasy show nerd should be; you should check out this GOT merchandise page on thinkgeek: heres the link!

featuring products such as:

To all the fans, game on. (see what I did there? with the "game" thing? cuz its GAME of thro.....oh never mind...just go buy some nerdy stuff.)

the dragonborn comes.

If you are a skyrim fan and you haven't already...PLEASE watch this, I feel like a noob for only recently discovering it.

Skyrim vs oblivion

This posts purpose isn't to pick one game over the other, simply to present the pro's and con's of two completely separate and yet still connected games.

I know, I know... were all level 500 over-powered dragon slaying avatars ready for the next segment in the elder scrolls series, but hold your horses (seriously, if your playing skyrim at the moment) for a minute and lets delve into the past so that we may consider, study, analyze, criticize and become better conduits for suggestions towards the next game.

Oblivion, to me, is one of the most re-playable games you can own, if you can get over the time jump backwards in terms of graphics and voice-actor diversity. the fact that you are an absolute nobody in the beginning of the game is no new idea to bethesda, but it does appeal to me personally. The fact that you get the chance to go from the filthy, smelly ground of a prison cell up to the variable different types of powerful person(s) you want to be, makes the game something you really want to play alot. everything you get in oblivion, you earn. (unless, of course, you use the famous duplication cheat...dont do it! at least not on your first play-through) you work days and days leveling up your combat, magic or thievery and slowly but surely you become a powerful...whatever. to me, all of the magical quests to gain entry into the college in the imperial city, or the numerous evil deeds to become a trusted member of the dark brotherhood are two of the funnest quest-lines in the game. sure, the main story line is interesting, and the concept of the hellish plains of oblivion and certain doom at the hands of a deadra is quite interesting, but for me, its all the side quests that truly make an open world rpg great. 

we all know where oblivion falls short, the graphics, the non-expressive faces, the lack of voice actors, the constantly repeated lines, such as "you should've paid the fine!" the absolutely ridiculous idea that stealing a fork constitutes a bloody execution at the hands of an overly dramatic guard. We also are familiar with all of the pro's of skyrim: the MUCH needed graphics boost, the diversity in voice actors and script, the novelty of a mountainous landscape, and dragons...giants...marriage etc. Lets not focus on the faults of oblivion or the virtues of skyrim. I'm going to apply what I think oblivion offered that skyrim didn't. to be clear, I love both games and am not bashing either of them, simply trying to bring in the old dog and teach the new one some tricks. 

oblivion offered a more realistic approach in terms of your character, you are a nobody, and depending on what major skills you have, the star you were born under and the factions you join, you become who you want to be. In skyrim, you are almost immediately told that you are an ancient and powerful person and it is your duty to learn the power of the voice and "save" skyrim; which, honestly, doesn't ever seem to be in that much danger, no major towns can be destroyed by the dragons, they aren't nearly as powerful as you'd think, I mean geez, trees don't even burn down when they swoop by and spit fire. the main quest line of oblivion is more rewarding than that of skyrim's, once completed, you are hailed as a champion by many and there are other benefits. in skyrim, its almost like you've won an award before you even had the chance to earn it just by being the dragon-born. 

One part that really disappointed me in skyrim was the mages questline. In oblivion, it takes a LONG time and many missions to even get to the mages college, in skyrim "cast this spell and come right in!" then the college is all run down and old, and few people study there. Its almost as though they watered down the difficulty of getting in and poured you a triple reward on the rocks, then knocked your glass over once you actually see the place. the questline of the college isn't really that engaging either, you just don't feel connected enough to anyone there to actually care, your just doing it to get cool magical stuff and be on your way. as a matter of fact, I found most of the people at the college to be quite annoying and distant towards my character. that seems to be the overall feel of the game unfortunately, I mean sure, you make a few friends here and there, but for the most part, your just some guy nobody really cares about (unless they know your the dragon-born) even when you try to build a relationship. I felt closer to my escort out of danger in the beginning of the game more than anyone I actually met in the world, including my wife, no, let me rephrase, ESPECIALLY my wife. 

As much as most men like to get homecooked meals and money from their wife's buisness, thats not USALLY the basis a marriage is centered around, I mean really? no conversation options other then, "did you make any money from the store?" not even an "how has your day been" or "I love you honey!" or "is there anything I can get you while I'm out slaying dragons? a dragon tooth necklace perhaps?" I could go on and on, but I am trying to give constructive criticism here. like I said, LOVE both games, have played through both more than once, but the next game in the series could use a little more tuning up. 

game release schedules for 2013!

heres the list for 2013 confirmed game releases up until may, provided by the always helpful www.gameinformer.com


January
8 Anarchy Reigns 
15 DmC: Devil May Cry

15 Sniper: Ghost Warrior 2
22 The Cave
22 Naughty Bear: Double Trouble
22 Ni no Kuni: Wrath of the White Witch
29 Hitman Trilogy

February
4 Fire Emblem: Awakening 5 Dead Space 3 

5 Sly Cooper: Thieves in Time
10 Brain Age: Concentration Training
12 Aliens: Colonial Marines
12 Omerta: City of Gangsters
19 Crysis 3
19 Metal Gear Rising: Revengeance
26 Etrian Odyssey IV: Legends of the Titan
26 Rayman Legends 

March
5 South Park: The Stick of Truth  (DELAYED)
5 Major League Baseball 2K13 

5 MLB 13 The Show
5 Naruto Shippuden: Ultimate Ninja Storm 3
5 Tomb Raider
5 SimCity
5 Castlevania Lords of Shadow - Mirror of Fate
12 God of War: Ascension
12 StarCraft II: Heart of the Swarm
12 Sniper: Ghost Warrior 2
19 Gears of War: Judgment
26 Army of Two: The Devil's Cartel
26 BioShock Infinite 

April
16 Injustice: Gods Among Us 

4 and 16 Shin Megami Tensei: Devil Summoner – Soul Hackers
23 Dead Island Riptide 

May
7 The Last of Us 

http://www.gameinformer.com/b/news/archive/2013/01/15/2013-video-game-release-schedule.aspx