Amnesia: Dark Descent

Hey there my four faithful followers....and mom. I'd thought I would let you know that I am currently doing a playthrough of Amnesia: Dark Descent!! Three videos should be up on my youtube account. So far, the game is very intense. You are constantly hearing voices and what sounds like the movements of your facial bones, and footsteps and bears, OH MY! For whatever reason, my job at Party City decided to give me the week off. Now I'm a bit bummed. I have plenty of oppurtunity to finish this game amongst others, but I'm not going to be making money to buy me that limited edition Frankie Stein doll!!!! So please, watch my videos. Maybe I'll scream, maybe I won't. I usually am a jumper. Maybe I should just record myself playing the game more than the actual game?

Games I need to Finish and Want to Play List

I'll do a top ten list later on. Note: My top ten really means games I like a lot. It's not in any specific order, I like them all equally or more so than others. But first(!!!) the games I really need to finish and want to play

NEED TO FINISH:

Fragile Dreams: Farewell Ruins of the Moon (Wii)
Final Fantasy XIII (PS3)
Enslaved: Odyssey to the West (PS3)
Valkyria Chronicles (PS3 (a complicated story as to why I haven't finished it))
Yakuza 2 (PS2)
Odin Sphere (PS2)
Shenmue II (Xbox)
Kingdom Hearts: Birth by Sleep (PSP(I have finished the Japanese version))
Persona 3: Portable (PSP)
Lunar: Silver Star Harmony (PSP)
Muramasa (Wii)
Persona (PSP)
Shin Megami Tensei: Devil Survivor (DS)
Persona 4 (PS2 (Need to get the good-good ending))

GAMES I WANT TO PLAY:

Bayonetta (PS3 (I have a copy, haven't started))
Mass Effect (Xbox360 (same as Bayonetta))
The Metal Gear games for the PSP (except Acid)
God of War: Ghost of Sparta (PSP)
Professor Layton series (DS (especially with the Phoenix Wright crossover happening!))
Amnesia: Dark Descent (Mac (will probably be playing some time around Christmas))
Whatever else I bought in Japan

Software Issues

I'm sorry that it has been awhile. I've been busy at work and haven't had time to really play any games. Right now, I am playing Epic Mickey and will try my absolute best to post my thoughts on that.

Recently I bought a Pinnacle Studio so I can record gameplay footage directly from the console. I noticed people kept talking about the Dazzle, but the reviews I saw online were 50/50 and went for something else. I tested it out with Final Fantasy VIII and it worked fine. Since then, the system tends to crash an awful lot and sometimes freezes. I was recording Fatal Frame and it froze after an hour of gameplay and I was so much further into the game before I realized it. So, I'll have to take breaks when recording. Okay, that's fine. But when I was recording the first couple of minutes of Epic Mickey, everytime I tried to save a recording, it would shut down on me. EVERY TIME!!! I personally blame the computer. I use an Acer that has suffered from viruses (my sister opened one of those fake Youtube links) and it was a cheap laptop to begin with. I've been pressuring my dad to focus on getting our desktop fixed, another tragic victims of viruses (good job Microsoft). I worry it might be the actual program though, which makes me sad. I feel like I might end up buying a Dazzler. I've heard there is a way to record on your Mac and some people do seem to like it. I dunno, I'm annoyed at technology in general. My Flip camera never gave me such issues!!

New Mac!

I finally received my new Mac yesterday! I am so happy! Right now I have a cold and barely working any hours at Party City. I was hoping to have a bit more money so I could save up for a digital card reader so i can upload better quality videos. In regards to the podcast, once my voice is back to normal I will be uploading some reviews, though a lot of the games will be rather old. I am still playing through my stack that has been piled up since I left for Japan and slowly getting through newer titles. I'll try and post that Deadly Premonition review soon. I am also busy with enrollment for the Spring semester, changing majors, and just getting my account reactivated with the school.

I just wanted to post about this, but this Haunted Majora's Mask ARG that is currently going on is rather fascinating. I learned about this on G4 when the first part had finished. Majora's Mask used to scare me when it came out. I would honestly have nightmares about that Moon. I was even reading part of the ARG out loud to my mom who remembers me being a little freak over the game. She thought it was fascinating and well-done, but didn't learn of the rest because I realized at a point how long it was. And now after the second part is over I am interested in it again!! I'm always missing these ARGs when the interesting stuff is going on!! There is a wiki that is very helpful about the entire ARG. Right now it is on hold as they are coming up with the final chapter which will involve an interactive video game. As the date comes closer to Halloween, they will have more info for us. I'll definitely try to keep up on this. So you might expect a few posts on this. And by you I mean, of course, you mom.

I have deleted the Fatal Frame IV/0 and Silent Hill Shattered Memories videos. Fatal Frame is due to that I cannot upload the rest of the videos due to them being lost and I absolutely do not care for SHSM. The youtube account in regards to video games is on hold. You will probably be seeing some videos on my cats because I love them!! But yeah, sorry not much else is going on. They just don't make scary games like they used to.

The Comic Section

I've been back in the US for almost two weeks now. Eventually, I had to get out and go back to the bookstores and check what new issues of titles I've previously owned and if any new series had been released. What I've started to notice is that a lot of the US publishers seem to be compiling volumes into one book. I know this has been going on for long-running and popular series like Fruits Basket, Fushigi Yugi, and Dragonball Z, and it doesn't bother me. It was something I just found odd. Del Ray seems to be doing this primarily with combining three to make the final volume like Mushi-Shi and the upcoming Rave Master if it isn't already out (I haven't seen it), but Tokyopop is doing the same as well. It just isn't the final volume all the time. I just purchased "volume 8" of Yubisaki Milk Tea and it's apparently volume 8 and 9 combined, but it isn't the last volume. Another volume is due out at some point in time. I do not understand why Tokyopop would release two volumes as one, especially when it doesn't even make it less expensive than two volumes! The average US Japanese comic at one volume costs $9.99. This volume of Yubisaki costs $19.99, so it's actually costing you more for this one volume than two would be! I guess it was for a financial reason with Tokyopop alone, if for any reason at all.

This is my own personal gripe, but I cannot stand how Americans pronounce the word "manga". I've never liked how I hear people say "maynga" and not "mahnga" like it should be. Now after living a year in Japan, it sounds just down right hickish. It's similar to how some people will say my name as "Tayghun" and not "Teeghan" like it should be. That's partially my parents fault for spelling it the way it is, but doesn't change the fact that it is ingrating on my ears! Also, I don't understand why Americans seem to enforce that manga and comics/anime and cartoons are two different things. They aren't. In Japan, manga are often referred to as comics. Anime is just short for animation and will refer to anything animated as an anime. A common example is Tom and Jerry which is actually extremely beloved in Japan. Whenever I was in a store that had a TV for the kids to watch while mom and dad did their shopping, it was almost always Tom and Jerry being played. It is a minor complaint, but I just don't understand why they have to be considered different things when all that is differen is the country they were made in.

This was just something I wanted to post my opinion on. I plan on talking more about comics in the future. The Fatal Frame Playthrough will more than likely be taken off my Youtube account. I apparently had a infamous shitty harddrive and my data might be gone. Hope isn't totally gone, but I know my luck with these things. I often do not need confirmation from the computer doctor to know the diagnosis. I have finished No More Heroes 2, currently playing Deadly Premontion and writing a review for The Last Exorcism. I will let you know if anything in the future will be going on.

Back in America

Just wanted to say that I have returned safely back home. Right now I am still resting and hoping to start doing at least an audio podcast with LiberiFatali soon. Once I am able to start a broadcast on justintv, my manarunigha account on Youtube will become mainly dormant and primarily just a personal channel for me. Any gaming related recordings would be posted on a new channel. This is my plan. Right now, I'm resting and searching for a job. Once I get a job, I will start saving up for some recording equipment. My Mac is still busted and I'm hoping that I can save it soon. I'd like to get a new computer, but I am hoping that my memory on the hard drive is okay. I really do not want to delete the Fatal Frame playthrough.

Since I have returned home, I've been playing No More Heroes: Desperate Struggle. I'm halfway done (on Ryuji) at the time of this post. I'm hoping the first audio will be my thoughts on this sequel as I do have some things to say. Just a short update for now. I will be TRYING to post more often and getting the others involved.

Fatal Frame Apology

The Fatal Frame playthrough is delayed and may possibly be stopped. Despite my friend and I had finished　the playthrough, my computer has crashed and I cannot access anything. I`m currently letting it rest, but I doubt it will work. I will end up sending　it back home and take care of it when I get home. If that is the case, hopefully some of the memory will be left on the drive and I can get that saved. If not, then I will be deleting the playthrough. I planned on doing a full walkthrough on the game on hardmode when I get better equipment. If the worse comes to worse, then I will be posting that online for some time. Currently have officially three weeks left. Liberi Fatali will be back in the US on the tenth. He might be posting something shortly after that. I am sorry if there was anyone that liked the Fatal Frame playthrough. I too am upset by this.

Calling Review

You might find it pointless of me to even argue over this. However, considering that these are my more popular gameplay videos and I keep getting asked this (despite that if you actually watch the videos you’d know my answer) which game do I prefer: Ju-On or Calling? My answer might be surprising to some, but it’s the other way around that surprises me. Oh, and this is a long one. I have a lot to say and I’m going to say it. Also, a quick spoiler warning for both games.

I have received some flak for this game and doing a playthrough video. Keep in mind, I was uploading the game while I was recording. Meaning I started recording and uploading the moment I had the game. I had no idea on how the game was going to be until I played it. I could find absolutely nothing review wise on this game in Japan. I was a bit nervous of that and for good reason. The game was terrible.

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Fatal Frame: Mask of the Lunar Eclipse Playthrough

Just a short update, I am currently doing the Wii Fatal Frame playthrough, with up to the end of the first chapter on Youtube now. You will notice someone else is with me as I have played the game twice already. If there were going to be any hilarious screams, I would need someone else to be playing/watching the game.

Also, I will be adding two other authors to the blog. They are friends of mine from the same Japanese university and share a love for video games. I thought more people would make a more interesting blog.

I am also working on the Calling review, but I am very busy. I have just two weeks left of school and then focusing on packing to return back home to America. So please do not leave if you do not see updates. I just have more important things to do. The two other authors are also busy with school and returning to the states.

Ju-On: The Review

I’ve decided to split this argument up in three different posts. The first will be my thoughts on Ju-On, with Calling coming up next, and then which I think is superior and why. This is not only for editing purposes, but I’m busy whilst wrapping up the last two months I have in Japan.

You might find it pointless of me to even argue over this. However, considering that these are my more popular gameplay videos and I keep getting asked this (despite that if you actually watch the videos you’d know my answer) which game do I prefer: Ju-On or Calling? My answer might be surprising to some, but it’s the other way around that surprises me. Oh, and this is a long one. I have a lot to say and I’m gonna say it. Also a quick spoiler warning for both games.

I’ll first start with my thoughts on Ju-On as that is the one I played first. Shortly after I got to Japan, I bought myself a Wii. I was planning to play the Fatal Frame game that was released and cancelled for overseas release and anything else I found interesting. I stumbled upon a copy whilst just browsing in a video game store. I went home, set up my Flip camera (‘cuz I’m poor), and played the game. The Fatal Frame game will be discussed in another post. The game was made as part of the 10 year anniversary for the Ju-On franchise, along with the Kuroi Shoujo and Shiroi Roujo.

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Welcome to ManaCube Inc.

Since I have made a post on my Youtube account (manarunigha) I have started my own blogspot space for the time being. I plan on posting reviews of the games I have played up on this site and thoughts on other gaming related things as well. We may occasionally discuss other issues not related to games like movies and comics. This blog is part of my preparations for streaming and podcasting I plan to do once I return to America. I will soon be doing my Calling: The Black Page vs. Terror Experience Ju-On. Stay tuned.