News Flash: Yuri manga Citrus Licensed for North America

It has just come to my attention that North American manga publisher, Seven Seas Entertainment, has licensed Saburouta's yuri manga Citrus! XD Seven Seas says they will release the first volume on December 16, 2014. This is fantastic! 2014 has so far turned out to be a tremendous year for yuri and things just keep getting better and better! :D While it is a bummer we have to wait till December for the first volume, it will be very much worth the wait! Citrus is proving to be a great series to read on Dynasty Reader! This will surely be on my wish list this Christmas! :D As always I will post more info as it becomes available.

http://dynasty-scans.com/series/citrus

http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2014-01-31/seven-seas-licenses-saburouta-yuri-manga-citrus

News Flash: Sakura Trick Anime licensed for North America

North American anime licensing company, Sentai Filmworks has just announced that they have licensed the anime adaptation of Sakura Trick! XD Sentai will first stream the series then will release it on DVD and/or Blu-Ray shortly after that. Just when I thought things couldnt get any better for Yuri this year THIS happens! Hearing a Yuri anime getting licensed is always amazing news and Sakura Trick is a great show to be able to own! I will post more info as it becomes available!

http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2014-01-23/sentai-filmworks-adds-sakura-trick-yuri-anime

News Flash: Yuri Manga, Inugami-san to Nekoyama-san, to get Anime adaptation

Sorry for the late news flash but here it is! Yuri manga, Inugami-san to Nekoyama-san, is set to get an anime adaptation! XD The anime is set to release sometime in April. A website for the anime will open sometime later. This is GREAT news for Yuri fans! First Sakura Trick and now this! 2014 is shaping up to be the Year of Yuri that's for sure! :D While I have only been able to read a few chapters on Dynasty Reader I can tell it will be an interesting series! I will post more info as it becomes available.

A link to the official announcement with an image of the animation style:

http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2014-01-17/inugami-san-to-nekoyama-san-yuri-manga-gets-anime

Video Game Review: Metroid(Wii)

***SPOILERS AHEAD!***

*Note: this review will be for the version of the game released on the Nintendo Wii's Virtual Console

Back in the 80s, Nintendo was on a role releasing several iconic and groundbreaking games that went on to become influential franchises! Metroid stands as one of my favorite Nintendo franchises of all time, creating a lot of concepts that we see today in games. The original that started it all is still a blast to play today as it was back then, though it does have its shortcomings.


Originally released in 1986 for the Nintendo Entertainment System(NES) Metroid is a timeless classic that broke a lot of new ground in gaming. The story of Metroid follows intergalactic bounty hunter, Samus Aran, as she is instructed by the Galactic Federation to travel to the planet Zebes to destroy a species of energy-sucking creatures called Metroids before they can be used by the evil Space Pirates and their leader, Mother Brain, to defeat the Federation and gain control of the galaxy. While the story may not be as deep or totally fleshed out as later entries in the series, Metroid's plot is still captivating in an old-school sci-fi way and it lays the groundwork for the rest of the series to follow!

The gameplay of Metroid is where the game sort of stumbles in some spots. Being an original NES game you have the basic actions to jump over enemies and obstacles and across gaps while having a simple power beam to blast your enemies with. You had a set system of health reaching up to 99 at the start as well. But what set Metroid apart from most other games at the time was the number of unique items and upgrades you could find to make Samus stronger, evening the odds against the hordes of Space Pirates and creatures that inhabit Zebes. A lot of items and upgrades first got there start in the original game. You can collect the Morph Ball upgrade, allowing Samus to morph into a small ball to travel through small gaps to reach new areas. Morph Ball Bombs were used to lay traps for enemies as well as to open secret or closed off areas as well as to perform the helpful and legendary Morph Ball Jump. Powerful and helpful weapon upgrades included missiles to blast enemies and unlock certain doors, the powerful Wave Beam which could hit multiple enemies across long distances and the ever useful Ice Beam which could freeze enemies in place especially those pesky Metroids! Additinal upgrades that could be found are Energy Tanks which increase Samus's health by 100, Missile Upgrades to increase your number of missiles as well as the Varia Suit which decreased the damage you took, and the Screw Attack to allow you to jump higher while performing a deadly spinning attack. All these weapons and items and upgrades were needed to help you defeat the onslaught of alien creatures that you encountered and trying to find them was just as fun as it was to defeat your enemies! But good luck trying to find them all! As fun as it is to travel around finding upgrades and items the action is just as fun, even if it is really basic. The most from from the action though comes from the intense and challenging boss battles! Only three bosses make up the games real challenge from the powerful Kraid, to the iconic and fan-favorite arch enemy of Samus, Ridley, to the Metroids and Mother Brain. While not as deep or  epic as some of todays games, the action and the boss fights are still as fun today as they were in 1986! The controls of the game also have not changed at all since 1986 and are decently responsive. Though today through the Virtual Console you are able to play with either the Wii Remote on its side, the Game Cube controller or the Wii's Classic Controller(I myself prefer the Game Cube controller).

The beginning of the epic rivalry: Samus vs Ridley!

For an end boss, Mother Brain sure doesn't do a whole lot O.o

Find those upgrades to kick some Space Pirate ass!

One of the most groundbreaking aspects of Metroid was the non-linearity of the whole adventure. From start to finish you are able to go where ever you want when ever you wanted so long as you had the proper tools in your arsenal to help you do so. While it may be fun to be able to run around freely especially in such an old game like this, this innovative open world environment is sort of its own undoing nowadays. Being a game from the 80s, there is no real sense of direction for you to take. No real sense of where to go. The game's massive world and countless rooms and trap doors sure don't help with that either. One of the bigger issues though is the fact that the game doesn't have a map that would be used in later games in the series to help you travel the immense worlds. Though this being the first game in the series the lack of a map is not too surprising. Still, with no map you will find yourself wandering for hours trying to figure out where to go next. In this day and age though there are helpful ways to bypass these flaws. To really play Metroid and have a good time without getting lost of what to do and where to go it is always best to use online video walkthroughs on YouTube and custom-made maps from fan sites.

Uhhh...where do I go again?

The game's graphics are actually pretty striking for an NES game. Lots of basic colors and designs define environments, enemies, and effects. There is a lot of old-school charm here, but the graphics also have there hiccups that can lead to frustrations. The sprites tend flicker a lot, sometimes making it hard to see enemies or even Samus herself. This can lead to difficulties when jumping across large areas as not being able to see yourself or an enemy can lead to you falling and becoming trapped in an inescapable pit. The simplicity of the design of the graphics also tends to make everything looking alike. A lot of rooms will look the same and tend to make you confused about where to go leading to a lot of wandering around. Still when everything is working the way it should, the graphics really add a dark and mysterious atmosphere to the game. You really do get a sense of being in a strange alien world! :D

The music and sound of metroid is also pretty good. the soundtrack may be very minimal but what is there really helps set the mood from a heroic battle tune to a strange series of beeps and boops that lend to the mysterious atmosphere of the game. The sound effects are what you would expect from an NES game. :)

Metroid may not have totally withstood the test of time, but it is still a fun and important game. Even with the lack of direction and issues with the graphics Metroid delivers an atmospheric open-world style adventure that spawned one of the greatest franchises of all time! Several elements from Metroid would also go on to influence franchises such as Castlevania, Shadow Complex, and Tomb Raider. Metroid also set the bar for having female protagonists in gaming and the shocking reveal of Samus as a woman is surely one of gaming's greatest moments! While nothing has changed in this Wii port of the original game, Metroid is still one fun retro game that fans of Nintendo and Metroid should not miss! If you are able to go on the Wii Virtual Console and download this classic! Do not miss out! :D

Metroid(Wii) score: 7.5/10

News Flash: Sakura Trick Episode 1 released!!!!

Episode 1 of Sakura Trick has officially aired in Japan! XD Judging from some screens I have seen as well as some comments and reviews all across the internet, Sakura Trick is the Yuri anime we have waited so long for!!! T.T*tears of joy I have not seen Yuri action like this in an anime since the golden era of Yuri(included series like Kannazuki no Miko, Simoun, Strawberry Panic and more)! The first episode of Sakura Trick should be up on Crunchyroll soon with fan subs following shortly after that. Even though I'll be watching and downloading this series as it continues to air I will not review it until the series is over. I may change this review format for future Yuri series but for now I will just wait until Sakura Trick is over and I have all the episodes(hopefully that won't be for a good long while). In the mean time, all fans and lovers of Yuri should be watching this show! :D Let me know what you think of the series so far in the comments! Also, please look forward to some more reviews soon! ;)

News Flash: Crunchyroll to Stream Sakura Trick

Crunchyroll has just announced it will stream upcoming Yuri anime, Sakura Trick! NEw episodes will stream on Fridays at 12 p.m. for premium members in the US and Canada. Free members can watch new episodes one week later. Sakura Trick is set to premier in Japan on Thursday, less than three days now! XD More information will be posted as it becomes available during the week!

Yuri Manga Review: Candy Boy-Young Girls Fall In Love

***SPOILERS AHEAD!***

Released in 2009-2010, Candy Boy-Young Girls Fall In Love is a spin-off of the Candy Boy manga from the same author. However, instead of following the ultra cute yuri filled lives of the Sakurai Twins, Young Girls Fall In Love follows the adventures of Sakuya Kamiyama, concurrent to the events of the original manga. The story of YGFIL follows Sakuya as she continues in her quest to get together with the love of her life, Kanade Sakurai, as well as dealing with her friendships with her friends as well as with her rivalalry for Kana with new character Isako Mikanagi!

Oh Sakuya, your perverted yuri lust for Kana never ceases to be awesome! XD

YGFIL adds three new characters to the Candy Boy cannon, making for a much more diverse cast than the original manga and anime. We are introduced to Sakuya's best friends Masumi Kurasuma and Eri Miyagi! Masumi is the token athletic sort of tomboy of the group, teasing Sakuya and the others for various reasons. Eri, Masumi's childhood best friend, adds a level of common sense to the wacky antics of the others. She is often the voice of reason and common sense but also has her own crazy cute side too! ;) These two are great additions to the Candy Boy franchise and there interesting personalities and habits are perfect compliments to Sakuya's side of the whole story! Not to mention the heavy hints of "something more" between these two! :D

 

Damn, I've heard of subtext before, but now it feels like the author is beating me over the head with a Yuri Stick! O.O

The most important addition to Candy Boy, however, is Isako Mikanagi. Her supposed feelings for Kana put her right at odds with Sakuya, making for a very fun and cute rivalry as these two try to one up each other for Kana's affections! Isako is more than just a simple rival thrown in for the plot's sake, however. Her back story really sheds some light on to her home life, her relationship with her mother, her personality, as well as on her friendships with Sakuya and the others. Isako greatly adds to Sakuya's story, as well as greatly expanding Sakuya's personality. Her greatest contribution to the story, though, is something that will change Sakuya's life forever! ;) 

There rivalry/friendship is just too damn cute! >.<

Isako's mom is pretty cool too! Not to mention important in helping to building Isako as a character

 

*GASP! What could this all mean?! O.O

Of course being a Candy Boy property, it wouldn't be complete without our beloved Sakurai Sisters now would it? ;) Kana, Yuri and even Shizuku make cameo appearances at key points in the manga. Usually it is to establish when certain events in YGFIL take place relative to the original manga, but they also help in the build up to the events above! ;) No matter what there role in the story though, it is always great to see the Sakurai Sisters in any way possible! XD

 

Kana, Yuki and Shizuku FTW! XD

YGFIL is one great manga! While it is shorter than the original manga(only 7 chapters plus one bonus chapter) it adds much more depth to Sakuya as a character and adds some really cool and important characters to the Candy boy franchise! Young Girls Fall In Love is a must read for all fans of Yuri and Candy Boy! Easily one of the most charming Yuri manga around! :)

 

Candy Boy-Young Girls Fall In Love score: 9/10

*Well, here is my first review for 2014! I hope you all had a fun, safe and Happy New Year! More reviews and news to come! Thanks you all for reading my blog last year! Now lets all have a great 2014 together! :)