For those who may have missed my post last month, the “Sam’s Rewatch/Replay of the Month” series is in response to a problem I have and I assume at least some others out there have. As we see new and sometimes innovative new video games and anime releases made available in market I find myself sometimes neglecting the older releases I have reviewed in the past as I dedicate most of my time to newer releases. Therefore, in order to encourage myself and hopefully others to empty out their anime/game cases and pop them in the DVD player/games console, once a month I plan on posting up a title from each category.
This title is the one I myself will strive to make the time to re-enjoy during the month, if not but for a little while.
——————————–
For the anime I have chosen…. Welcome to the N.H.K
Reviewed in: June 2011
Format: DVD
Availability: Yes, from Siren Visual
Overall Score: A-
Tatsuhiro Sato is 22 years old and NEET (Not in Employment, Education or Training). He’s also a shut-in or hikikomori. Not even the obnoxiously loud music from next door can snap him out of his hibernation and he is under a delusion that he is the subject of a conspiracy by the Nihon Hikikomori Kyokai (N-H-K), a secret organisation whose sole intention is to produce a world filled with hikikomori. The discovery that his neighbour is actually a perverted otaku only drags Satou further into his psychological black hole, but offers him an interesting opportunity: he will make a “galge game” (i.e. hentai) as proof that he is a “creator”… to try and impress a mysterious girl!
I mentioned last month that asides from Princess Tutu, I had considered including either Welcome to the NHK or Welcome to Irabu’s Office in its place. In the end… I chose to run with Welcome to the NHK, an anime series based on the Japanese novel written by Tatsuhiko Takimoto which I also reviewed in 2009.
Following main protagonist Tatsuhiro Satou who is a hikikomori due to past events, he believes everything that has been happening to him is part of an elaborate conspiracy by the NHK or Nihon Hikikomori Kyoukai. Add in talking furniture, a neighbor who plays anime theme songs 24/7 / aspires to produce the worlds greatest eroge with Tatsuhiro and a girl by the name of Misaki Nakahara who claims she can cure Tatsuhiro of his reclusive lifestyle and you have a fun and enjoyable 24-episode series.
You can read my review of the anime HERE.
——————————–
For the video game I have chosen… White Knight Chronicles 2
Reviewed in: June 2011
Console: Playstation 3
Overall Score: C
War casts its shadow across the land. Good becomes evil and hope turns to fear. Now, a new hero must step forward before the world is lost forever… Transform into a deadly giant knight, create your own attack combos, forge guilds and embark on an epic journey where online and offline play merge seamlessly.
With Ni no Kuni: Wrath of the White Witch now available internationally, I think it is a perfect time to take a look at the other series which Level-5 (Although not Studio Ghibli unfortunately) have released on the Playstation 3.
Unfortunately this game failed to live up to its true potential, resulting in its planned trilogy being reduced to just two installments – but it does have its charm, especially with the games (still active) multiplayer mode which I intend on spending most of my time during my playthrough this month.
You can read my review of the game HERE.
