Book Review: Puella Magi Madoka Magica the Movie: Rebellion 1

Review:  #683
Title:  Puella Magi Madoka Magica the Movie:  Rebellion 1
Series:  Puella Magi Madoka Magica the Move:  Rebellion - 1st volume
Author:  Magica Quartet
Read Before:  no
Comments:  The first in a three-part adaptation of the movie, Rebellion takes place after the anime but it is very hard to tell in this first volume.  The reader is left confused when all the characters appear, while mimicking the events of the anime’s beginnings, yet with multiple changes.  It is slightly explained at the end of the volume with a big revelation but isn’t consistent with what you’re expecting.  The artwork is good and while the fights against Nightmares showcase the teamwork of the characters, at the same time, it can be hard to pick out what is happening.

Rating:  6/10

Pinocchio (1940)

Pinocchio is a Disney animation based upon a novel by Carlo Collodi.  It tells the story of a wooden puppet being brought to life, and his journey to be brave, truthful and unselfish to become a real boy.  Pinocchio has a slow start where we are introduced to the woodcarver Geppetto and his unique quirks, eventually creating the puppet Pinocchio and how he wished for him to become a real boy.  Geppetto's wish is partially granted and Pinocchio comes to life, however he is still a wooden puppet.  Pinocchio must demonstrate certain qualities before he becomes actual flesh and blood.  We see how naive and easily swayed Pinocchio is, as he is influenced by various dubious characters.  These lead to one event after another, from be trapped in a cage to partially transformed into a donkey.  Throughout it all, he is accompanied by the talking cricket Jiminy who acts as his conscience.  Various songs are sung, including some instant classics such as "When You Wish upon a Star" and "I've Got No Strings".  The animation is pretty with a lot of details in the scenery at times.  While the pacing is slower than contemporary films, Pinocchio still retains its charms thanks to its characters.

Toy Review: Transformers Generations Titans Return Megatron & Doomshot

Review:  #398
Name:  Megatron
Brand:  Transformers
Allegiance:  Decepticon
Line:  Generations - Titans Return
Year of Release:  2017
Size Class:  Voyager (Wave 3)
Mold Status:  new

DOOMSHOT:

Doomshot is the Titan Maste for Megatron, being comprised of unpainted grey and red plastic, which at least helps highlight the sculpting.

Megatron's head is visible from the back as expected.

The headsculpt is interesting.  Articulation include the neck and shoulders which are balljointed.

TANK MODE:

Let's start with Megatron's tank mode, which is usually what he turns into when not into a gun.

Considering Megatron is a triple changer, this mode is pretty good.  The only awkward placements are the folded wings on the back and the semi-visible jet cockpit.

The fusion cannon for robot mode can be detached to reveal a much smaller cannon for the turret.  Using the jet thrusters as the front, and the tailfins for the sides is an interesting decision but it works well here.

Megatron is a Voyager sized figure and he is bulky in tank mode.  Above is a comparison against Voyager The Last Knight Optimus.

As part of the Titans Return line, Megatron comes with a card showcasing artwork of the robot mode.

The turret can rotate 360 degrees.

Interactivity with a Titan Master include being able to seat on on top of the turret, although it leaves too much of the Titan Master unprotected in an actual battle...

The second robot gun can also be pegged on top of the turret but makes it a lot bulkier.

You can also detach the guns and the Titan Master can sit on top of the grey gun.

A strong tank mode that works surprisingly well.

TRANSFORMATION TO JET MODE:

Transformation from tank mode to jet mode is deceptively simple but very effective and clever.  You do end up flipping the figure upside down, unfolding the jet nose, wings and hiding the sides of the tank underneath the wings.

JET MODE:

Megatron seems to transform into a jet more and more these days but it still suits him.

This is a pretty good rounded jet overall and while there are compromises from being a triple change, it is not as much as previous efforts has been.  At least he is still very aerodynamic here.

Jet mode is still a decent size, thanks to the wingspan.  A negative is that the figure relies on stickers for detailing which are prone to peeling off right out of the packaging since the way they are applied, they will probably be catching on transformation joints.  The wings, top of the fuselage and the Decepticon insignias are all stickers which is disappointing.

Understandably, there's quite a bit of undercarriage including the tank turret (which at least the turret is slim so it doesn't cause extra bulk, but it also doubles as landing gear) and the sides of the tank tucked underneath his arms.  At least everything pegs in so it's not flopping around.

The Titan Master can now sit in the plane cockpit although the way you open it up is to flip the whole nose up which obviously breaks the immersion a little bit.

Finally, the second grey gun can also attach underneath the nose for storage in this mode.

Just like the tank, this is a surprisingly strong jet mode, even considering the compromises it had to make for being a triple changer.

TRANSFORMATION TO ROBOT MODE:

Going to robot mode from jet mode is also fairly simple but interesting.  The arms may feel a little bit messy and the wings just seem to be hanging off somewhere but the chestplate was fun, and the legs are well designed.

ROBOT MODE:

Megatron's robot mode at first glance, is not very well proportioned thanks to the bulky upper body and thin legs but he looks a lot better in person.

He carries a fair bit of kibble on him, the tank turret and wings on his back, and the tank treads behind his arms.

The headsculpt is quite good but since the whole figure is unpainted grey, it cheapens the look a fair bit.  He has springloaded pylons on either side of the head to bulk the head up but it restricts head articulation.

Megatron is once again bulky in this mode.  The figure overall is just satisfying to hold in your hands.

Megatron's fusion cannon is formed by the large cannon on the tank turret combined with his grey gun and then pegged onto either arm.

Articulation is strong but his relatively small footprint may cause some nuisance in various poses.

While it may seem that he lacks a lot of paint, it's just what the designers rather used it on, which is painting the hands and fusion cannon black... (guess there was a reason that they couldn't have casted them in the same black plastic as the tank treads).

The arms, while bulky, are surprisingly mobile as well and Megatron's kibble doesn't get in the way of his articulation at all.

The mold works surprisingly well as Megatron (since you figured it would have been mainly designed as Blitzwing with Megatron as the pre-tool).  He pairs well with Optimus from the same wave too.

A strong robot mode which you wouldn't have been able to tell from stock photos.  He looks great in hand and a lot of fun to pose.

OVERALL:

Megatron is a surprise since he is well engineered and actually suits the character despite the mold being obviously for Blitzwing.  With two solid alternate modes and an excellent robot mode, the designers have gotten really good at making triple changers.  Megatron (or his retool Blitzwing), is highly recommended.

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Book Review: Terra Formars 2

Review:  #682
Title:  Terra Formars 2
Series:  Terra Formars - 2nd volume
Author:  Yu Sasuga
Read Before:  no
Comments:  The second volume of Terraformars surprisingly takes place 20 years after the first volume.  A third manned mission to Mars is approaching.  As most of the characters died in the first volume, a slew of new characters are introduced.  There are some similarities here and there.  The plot is told in an engaging way and keeps you engrossed.  Unfortunately, the fact that the cockroaches evolved so drastically in only 500 years, and the fact that they seem very intelligent, is still a little bit hard to swallow.  There are a number of flashbacks as it tells the backstories of each character, not the most elegant way but it does the job.  The ending is a cliffhanger and you appreciate the fast pacing the volume offers.

Rating:  7/10

Steins;Gate 0 (Vita)

Steins;Gate 0 is the sequel to Steins;Gate.  Being a pure visual novel, there is no gameplay to speak of.  The whole game consists of reading and thus, the plot is the main draw card.  The story takes place in an alternate timeline (or World Line using the terminology of the game) where Okabe fails to go back in time to save Kurisu from the first game.  While the previous game focuses on time travel, Steins;Gate 0 not only has a heavy element of time travel, but also that of AI.

Via the story, the game introduces deep through provoking questions and the implications of the subject matter.  From the concept of true AI to the intricacies of time travel, it is embedded with real world science which helps with the immersion.  There is a Tips section which explains some of the terms used in the game, including otaku and gaming terms.  These definitions can be very funny and you'll probably learn a thing or two.  Naturally, having played the first game is a must, since it builds upon those concepts, plus, there are heaps of spoilers for it over the course of the story.

You'll probably get confused even if you have played the original, let alone without.  The story is told via various viewpoints, which is surprising when you first encounter it since you get each character's inner monologue.  A slew of new characters are introduced and you'll grow to like them.  All the characters from the first game returns.  The story is told via character portraits over beautiful static backgrounds.  The artwork is crisp and looks amazing on screen.  The game has a unique aesthetic, in particular, character portraits have a hand-painted texture to them.  The style is slightly different compared to the first game so it seems off at first.

Some of the music is reused but there are also new tracks.  These excellent pieces of music elevate the emotions contained within the scenes.  Coupled with the slick presentation and Steins;Gate 0 is one of the prettiest game you'll ever play.  Just like the first game, you start to suspect some things but the game takes a while before it confirms or denies any of your suspicions.  Even if you are right, you might not know how it works and you wait for the game to tell you, although the pacing seems to be slower and lacks the hook of the original game.

The story explores more of what happened on the path towards Steins;Gate, including developing more of Suzuha's backstory and what the future entails.  With the high bar set by the first game, unfortunately, Steins;Gate 0 doesn't quite reach the same levels.  This is because the story doesn't contain the same tension and high stakes, especially since the true ending of the original makes this sequel seem somewhat superficial, as you know that Kurisu did not die (however, this makes sense later on).  It is still a good story, but doesn't grip you like the original.

The storytelling is hampered with constant confusing World Line shifts, with reasons that are only lightly explained since even the main character isn't too sure.  If you play the game unlocking all the endings as you go along, it can get confusing since things that happen in one ending, which contribute to the plot, does not happen in another route towards another ending.  You will start confusing yourself when similar events occur or when characters reference another event that happened.  Okabe doesn't use his mad scientist persona as much which fits into the darker and more depressing theme of the game, but also feels out of character as we're so used to it from the first game.

Naturally, there are multiple endings, for a total of six.  Each one is different in terms of which concept it incorporates so it can be confusing and disjointed.  Each bit ignores some events while including others, and combined together, you gain a greater understanding of the bigger picture.  That said, the true ending was clever and ties back neatly to the ending of the original, making this visual novel a worthwhile read.  It still felt incomplete though since it borrows so heavily on the ending fo the first game, such that there doesn't seem to be proper closure.

The game does a poor job of connecting together all the various elements.  While it takes around 12 to 15 hours to fully complete the game with all endings, there were a lot of scenes that felt like padding and were ultimately not essential to the plot, which is in stark contrast to how tightly knitted and perfect the first Steins;Gate was.  The limited amount of player interaction involves the Smartphone functions, which is an upgrade from the flip phone we're used to, to a touchscreen.  At predetermined points in the story, you can receive and send text messages to characters, which is usually for something humorous.  The other big factor is receiving and responding to phone calls, which determine which endings you get.

The triggers for changing the endings doesn't feel as impactful or intuitive as the original, since you don't know why the decision on whether to take a call or not would change events so drastically.  Therefore, it lacks the regret and indecision that you should feel in these choices.  Overall, Steins;Gate 0 isn't a bad visual novel, it just lives in shadow of the masterpiece storytelling that the first game was.  The plot lacks intricacies and subtle complexities you've come to expect, with a bit of confusion added to the mix.  Steins;Gate 0 is a definite must-play for fans of the original, since it depicts the struggle and pain Okabe had to go through in order to get to Steins;Gate in the first place.

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Toy Review: Transformers Generations Titans Return Broadside & Blunderbuss

Review:  #397
Name:  Broadside
Brand:  Transformers
Allegiance:  Autobot
Line:  Generations - Titans Return
Year of Release:  2017
Size Class:  Voyager (Wave 4)
Mold Status:  retool of Generations Titans Return Alpha Trion

BLUNDERBUSS:

First off, lets take a look at the Titan Master first, whose name is Blunderbuss.

He has a drab grey color scheme but at least the red torso helps breaks the bleakness apart.

There's some nice sculpted detailing on the head and arms.

CARRIER MODE:

Broadside transforms into an aircraft-carrier and he looks fantastic in this mode.  Unfortunately, this is his best mode by far (which means the other two are somewhat underwhelming).

While for the most part this mode is solid, the rear is hollow since it's only a panel and the jet nose underneath.

Interestingly, Broadside comes with mini versions of the Aerialbots (based on their Combiner Wars versions) still on sprue which you have to detach in order to peg onto various spots on the figure.  The thick white paint obscures most of the sculpting.

Thanks to the large surface area, Broadside appears sizeable, above is a comparison against Titans Return Megatron.

Like all Titans Return figures, Broadsides comes with a card showcasing his artwork.

There are three fold-out struts to support this mode on a flat surface.

There are various spots to place Titan Masters around, the first is that the bridge flips back to reveal a seat.

The robot weapon can peg onto various spots and the Titan Master can sit in it.

Scale is thrown out of whack here since the Titan Master is so big compared to the Aerialbots.

Lastly, with the trend of Hasbro cheapening out and opting for stickers for detailing instead, Broadside has multiple stickers to make the runway which will immediately start peeling off at the corners or are misapplied as soon as you pull him out from the packaging.

A strong vehicle mode and the mini Aerialbots sweeten the deal.

TRANSFORMATION TO JET MODE:

Transforming Broadside to jet mode isn't too hard since you flip the jet nose over from the back of the carrier and then split the nose to fiddle around to somehow make the back of the jet mode.  The wings fold out from the side.

JET MODE:

Broadside is an extensive retool of Alpha Trion but even with all the remolding, they couldn't make the jet mode any good.

This is an abomination.  The robot legs form the back and they just stick there.  The robot thighs do slot in but it just feels so lazy, especially since the front half actually doesn't look half bad.

The robot gun can peg onto the middle.  You can fiddle around with the back to make it a little bit more streamline but you lose stability that way.

The Aerialbots can also peg onto various places including the wings and next to the cockpit.

In terms of size, he is fairly big here as well but since he's more compact, he is more in line with typical Voyagers.

There's no landing gear and there's a lot of compromises.  The wings feel thin and flimsy and they have sticker detailing again.

Lastly, the cockpit opens up for Blunderbuss to pilot in.

A disappointing jet mode, there's a surprising amount of clear blue plastic used.  Even though it is a retool of an existing figure, they changed 80% of the figure and the remaining 20% just so happens to be the problem child...

TRANSFORMATION TO ROBOT MODE:

From jet mode, you're already most of the way there.  You just need to flip the jet nose onto his back, move the shoulders up and flip out the hands, then separate the back to form the legs.

ROBOT MODE:

The robot mode is one of the better modes (but the carrier mode just edges out to be slightly more awesome).

Broadside carries a bit of kibble in the form of the jet mode's wings (which are adjustable) and the jet nose on his back.

The headsculpt is fantastic.  There is a pylon on either side of the head to "bulk" it up.  The whole assembly is on a limited swivel so his head articulation is not hampered.

One of the best things about this figure is how it manages to convey Broadside's mass and stockiness.  He looks amazing in person.

Articulation is strong.  He doesn't have a waist swivel but everything else is stellar.

You'd notice that really, the only parts he shares with Alpha Trion are the design of his legs and feet.

His weapon is a transparent blue gun which looks... okay.

The gun can peg onto either of his shoulder and looks great there.

Obviously, he can also hold the gun in either hand.  Be aware that some figures suffer from loose joints.

There's a lack of painted detailing here, it's mostly just the plastic's colors.  It seems Hasbro spent all their budget painting over the transparent blue plastics.

A strong robot mode that does justice to the character.

OVERALL:

Broadside is an average figure that just barely passes.  While the aircraft carrier mode and the robot mode are both strong and stellar, the jet mode is terrible and not excusable at all.  However, he is still worthwhile purely on the merits of the other two modes and it's not like Broadside has many updates since G1 anyway.

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