Reflecting on Year 2018

 Well even 2018 is coming to a wrap and it is another of those Post for me doing evaluation for the year. The end of this year marks my second year(almost) working in Hobby Industry and i have learned even more things compared to last year and at the same time reached significant milestones in the career. I guess having a full time job does compromise my time to create content for Realm of Darkness but i will keep my commitment for this blog. Overall i am quite satisfied with my hauls for this year as i scored another great deal of rare items yet no time to review them ironically. Out of all the hauls, I think the Figmas are the one seeing some significant rise in numbers. 2018 also saw me getting commited to Fate/Grand Order more than i expected, Nevertheless i will still try my best to keep Mecha Contents in balance because it is still heart and soul of Realm of Darkness as i envisioned. No Doubt 2019 will come with more uncertainties especially to Indonesia's Hobby industry but let's just hope for the best while doing everything within our capacity. At some point i might even share some tidbits on my job considering it is quite relevant with the content of this Blog. For 2019 i will try to keep my promise to deliver more Quality Reviews and probably next month you will see some Fate Figmas Review popping up!

Quite happy that i can gather all of these within a year!

Cowboy Bebop

 One more post before wrapping up this year! I think it is the 20th anniversary of Cowboy Bebop and couldnt be happier to complete this series in time. Bebop is a showcase what an anime can pull off with its storytelling capacity and a top one at that. It is inevitable that the Anime nowadays are mostly created only to pander the consumers but back then there was more opportunity for anime to do its own thing and Bebop is a prime example. Cowboy Bebop had your typical Space Outlaws as premise with bunch of misfits doing their own things, I have watched Baccano and Coyote Rag Time which felt most similar to this one. But Bebop is a Space Outlaw anime with 26 Episodes of solid story and are not afraid of to pull some tragic stories. No Doubt this series is the all time favorite of Western anime fan because it is definitely a timeless masterpiece. If i want to get my fix for Space Outlaws again, i will be moving onto Dirty Pair and Outlaw Stars.

December 2018 Loot

 By far this is likely my most expensive haul for a month but it is definitely worth it! Christmas are usually associated with shopping spree and it rings true for me this year. With discounts flying around , the time was ripe for me to snatch stuffs in my wishlist. While my shopping bills rack worth about 2 or 3 Full Price of Soul of Chogokins i do get some items in bargain rates. The best haul in of the bunch are Max Factory Chamber and Megahouse Marida which are rare items and got them for discount rate. Suisei no Gargantia offered a solid mecha concept and thats why Amy and Chamber joins my collection. I scored myself quite a number figma as well with Nero finally joining rank in FGO Servants figmas after i accidentally missed the Preorder. I also got myself some Pokemon Gashapon and Bandai's Coonuts lineup seems to be a promising start. Overall my loot this month have sizeable amount of FGO merchandise and the trend will likely continue in the future but i am quite satisfied with my gain this month.

Ichiban Kuji Fate/Extra Last Encore 1/8 Saber Nero Review

 This is another Fate series PVC figure that i have from Banpresto's Ichiban Kuji. In Japan you normally get this figure by purchasing lottery tickets called Kuji that features certain series and these figures are the grand prize. But since Japan thought that their Kuji Lottery won't work out overseas they do sell the Figure outside Japan. Nero was not particularly my favorite servant but the Emperor of Rose definitely deserves her spot as Main Heroine.

FW Gundam Converge 15

 I have started collected Converge full set since the 10th volume and the lineup definitely goes for a steady pace. As usual the full box of 10 Pcs will cost 5000 Yen and i will likely get one. The Roster this time mainly features Gundam X which  will likely make recurring appearance on next two volumes. As usual Bandai had a bad habit of putting Old Zeon MS as duds for each box which is Z'Gok this time. The coolest one out of the bunch is the RXF-91 in my opinion but i welcome those Gundam X MS into my collection!

Mobile Suit Victory Gundam

 At last my journey to Universal Century come to a full circle as i get to finish watching Victory Gundam! This series is no doubt the most depressing one in whole gundam timeline but quality wise it is very mediocre. Victory strongest point is its undiluted portrayal of the bleakness of war which it still reigns at the top of all Gundam Titles. Where your average Gundam series glorify war to some extent with most of the main protagonists side mostly unscathed, V Gundam doesn't hesitate to kill most of the characters from both sides, sometimes dying meaningless deaths showing a good view on Horrors of War.

Code Hardcore 1/100 MFX 0-2T Thunderbolt

 Couple years ago there was this Mecha Game Kickstarter made by Chinese Dev called Hardcore Mecha which looks promising. The game is basically Assault Suit Valken with SRW style animation which will be wonderful if it actually got released. So in this year's Tokyo Game Show, The Dev made an appearance again with the update on the game which comes along with some Toy Prototypes for the Mechas. One of them is the 1/100 Diecast Action figure equivalent with Metal Build for the series posterboy, Thunderbolt. The Action figure will be sold for 145 USD with Mid 2019 release schedule and i am getting one as an investment for the series. Thunderbolt is not the most original design but it definitely fits the bill for a Protagonist Mecha. The Action figure is made by manufacturer called ShowZ which seems to have good track record on Transformer, so i think the finished product should be all right. The Devs promised Code Hardcore will be delivered by this year but by this point i rather doubt it can happen. In any case i will get copy of the game if it got Switch Release and hope the best for the Devs because the series had potential.

FW Gundam Converge #10 Review

 Early this year i began collecting Gundam Candy Toys once again which are mainly Converge, Forte and Ensemble. For the cheapest option i need to get the whole box each time and then sell the excess variants. Unfortunately Bandai had a bad habit of shoving the Old School MS from the first gundam in these Candy Toys lineup which are difficult to get rid of if you dont want them. Luckily so far my Converge leftovers are quite easy to sell off as long as i bundle the SSRs with the Duds. I have collected several Converge from previous Assortments but the 10th Edition is the first one i managed to get complete Set.

Suisei no Gargantia

 Suisei has been on my Watchlist for a while already and just got an opportunity to watch it. Regretted abit that i didn't watch this series earlier but this is a good mecha series with solid worldbuilding. The Premise of Suisei is about a Boy Soldier from a highly advanced civilization who got stranded into Earth after a major battle with alien which now fully covered with water. Coming from a human civilization that abandoned Earth a long time ago, The boy need to cope with the change upon finding himself in a new environment complete with new people and place. The main theme of the series is all about coping with change and no matter how bleak a situation is, things will get better.

 For me a Mecha Series will never be good without a Solid Concept of the Robot itself and Suisei, in this aspect passed in flying color . Machine Caliber K6821 Chamber is one of the best Sentient mecha out there and Suisei showcase how it complements the Pilot when they are competent enough. Chamber easily find a place for himself among Jehuty and Arbalest for this. To be honest the series can easily go for 24 Episodes with its material but Japanese Anime Industry has a notorious habit of wasting potentials. Nevertheless the series contained itself quite well within a season and there are supplemental materials lying around. If the series happen to be able to get another Season, i hope Ledo able to reunite with Chamber somehow. I still wonder why Suisei didn't made it into SRW T even though it would be a perfect chance for it.

MG 1/100 Gundam Dynames

 After Releases upon Releases of 00 Gundam Variant and their Swords, this time Bandai did throw a bone for the other Celestial Being Gundam. The Long Range Sniper, Dynames Gundam make it into the cut this time with its Full Kit. MG Dynames will be released on March 2019 with 4500 Yen Price Tag. Being 700 yen more expensive then the regular MG Exia, i believe Bandai will justify the cost of the kit because their track record with Master Grade are Superb until now. I will likely get this MG because Dynames was the first 00 Gundam HG that i bought back then. With this my 00 Gundam Season 1 collection will be complete once i got Virtue and i am still waiting Bandai to release MG for Reborns Gundam

Figma 420 Master/Ritsuka Fujimaru/Gudao

 With the popularity of FGO, the main protagonist even though he is just self insert character will eventually get his Figma released with Gudako following soon. Figma Gudao will be scheduled for July 2019 release  with 6800 Yen which kinda become the norm pricetag for this lineup. For the accessories, Gudao will come with Golden Apple, Summoning Ticket and 3 Saint Quartz. Gudao might not have his own Nendoroid but his Figma makes up for it and this is an automatic get for me so i can pull off some Harem Shenanigan with my FGO Figma collection. As for Gudako i wonder what kind of accessories and facial expression that will come with her considering she is portrayed more as maniacal type.

Super Robot Wars T

 With the yearly output for SRW games, we just got the announcement for next year's Super Robot Wars games dubbed as SRW T. The game will be released on Switch and PS4, and i guess SRW X is the last SRW for Vita. The Notable Roster for me in SRW T would be Gaogaigar and G Gundam making a comeback while Rayearth being the most hyped out of the new titles joining the series.

Ever since Bandai Namco acquired Banpresto, I feel that SRW series kinda lose its luster as it can't afford to go for Extra miles like what the series pulled off with Alpha 3. As a result the rosters are even more dominated by Sunrise series and Heavy reuse of assets become a common practice. in the end these games become merely commercial product and lacks the Passion that the older series had. I think i might get SRW T since i have a Switch but i need to finish my SRW V first.

A year with Fate/Grand Order

 When i started playing Fate/Grand Order , i never thought myself getting hooked into this game that i never miss any single day for daily login and now i made it to my first year! FGO is well known for one of the saltiest gacha game out there because the SSR Servant Rate are very horrible among its peers. But i guess i am able to persevere until now because i fared quite well as an F2P player though from time to time i do get my Salty moment.

As a game, FGO would be a mediocre RPG game without its gacha element. On one side this game watered down the concept of Servant in Fate Series and on the other hand this game prolong Fate Series as an existence longer than it normally would. But i had to admit that FGO is very good at goading players to spend real money just for PNG animated sprites.

Legend of Galactic Heroes ARTFXJ 1/8 Yang Wenli Review

In every Age
In Every Place
The Deeds of Men
Remains the same

 It took me longer than expected but finally i got opportunity to make a Review for Kotobukiya's Yang Wenli figure. When i finished Legend of Galactic Heroes few years ago, i promised to myself to get Yang Wenli's figure if it ever released, because it is the least thing i can do for this masterpiece of a series. To those who never watched LoGH , they might find this figure look rather unremarkable and wonder why such plain looking Guy got a figure. But being the pivotal character in LOGH, Yang Wenli deserve one even if it takes 30 Years, such a shame it is unlikely we will see a character of such Caliber in the future.

Fate/Extra Last Encore

 Last Encore is one of the recent Fate Anime apart from Apocrypha and for some reason it was not quite well received. To be honest, in order to appreciate Last Encore you should play Fate/Extra at least. If you do so, the anime is quite enjoyable. Last Encore supposed to be a new story for Fate/Extra timeline but it is just an excuse for Nero to make it into anime spotlight. If you didn't play the game, Last Encore would be rather confusing as it throws you straight into middle of the story without proper casts introduction. From what i am able to grasp from watching Last Encore, it is supposed to be the Bad Ending route where Hakuno and Nero failed to defeat Saver from Fate/Extra. It took 1000 years but an entity taking form of Male Hakuno with Nero by his side facing the Masters and Servants from the series once again to set things straight .While Last Encore is advertised as alternate story of Fate/Extra, it is pretty much the story retelling of Extra. 

 The Story might not be the strongest point of Last Encore but it has solid animation and you are in for a treat if you are fans of Nero. Best part from the anime for me is the Lancer Rin and Grown up Leo and Gawain makes awesome pair. At very least Last Encore is still better than Apocrypha so if you have played Extra there are no reason to skip this anime.

November 2018 Loot

 This month i got lots of my Preorder coming and its time to share my haul! Nowadays i rarely buy my toys through retail as Preorders are cheaper and more guaranteed way to get the stuff i am looking for. If you follow this blog regularly you will notice some of my loots had been highlighted in my previous posts since i only took on items that i had interest with. As expected i got myself plenty of FGO merchandise with Figmas being my main focus and this is my first time buying boxed Set of Gundam Ensemble which i need to sell off the excess and more of the lineups will follow suit. I also bought Banpresto's Pokemon Plushie as Gift for someone which Super Big Plush are good value for money. I will try to post a review on my loots eventually even though i haven't made one from my previous loots.

Figma 418 Saber Alter Shinjuku Ver

 Saber is the beloved darling of Goodsmile company so over these years we have seen plenty of her incarnations in Nendoroids, Figma and PVCs. With Jalter getting her Figma in Shinjuku version, Salter obviously follow along with her Cuirassier which looks awesome. The figma will be released Mid 2019 with 7800 Yen Price tag with the EX:Spride Cuirassier costing 5800 Yen which makes it 13600 Yen in total if you are going for the set. The Salter Cuirassier Set almost cost as much as the larger PVC version from the Fate/Zero which makes you realize some Figmas are already as pricey as 1/7 PVCs. As much as i am interested with the Cuirassier i think i will skip this one as i will just invest on Makoto and her Johanna instead. As in the FGO itself, Salter had yet to get her Shinjuku Outfit unlike Jalter but i think she will likely get hers when the Shinjuku event got a Rerun which may happen next year.

Darling in the Franxx

 This is one of the most hyped anime from last Season and glad i managed finish this one. Darling in the Franxx by no means is the best mecha anime but it managed to score in being a good Coming of Age anime and probably the best one this year. This series is a mixture of Eureka 7 and Gunbuster with a hint of Evangelion so if you like the former two, it is likely that you will enjoy Franxx. When it comes to the Chemistry between Hiro and Zero Two, it reminds me of Renton's and Eureka's relationship though personality wise, Zero Two is more similar to Anemone.The main selling point of this anime for me is the Romance which is good enough for Shonen stuff even though Teen Angst is kinda expected. The theme of Star-crossed lover with Fairytale-like aspect is executed quite well with Darling in the Franxx which is a rarity among the anime that i have watched. Franxx storyline might be a wild ride near the end but at least the story is still rather coherent and properly concluded. Overall Darling in the Franxx is one of the Solid title this year and you won't be disappointed if you treat it like watching Gurren Lagann, not a strong mecha series but a good Shonen anime. If Banpresto ever release Zero-two in her formal uniform, maybe i will consider getting one.

Gundam Micro Wars

 So the new lineup for Gundam Candy Toys got its name finalized as Gundam Micro Wars. This lineup of Candy Toys was revealed in one of the Bandai's Hobby Show a month or two ago. Gundam Micro Wars will be sold as another 500 Yen Gashapon with 10 Pcs per Box being another contender of Converge and Ensemble. The main selling Point of this new lineup is the cockpit gimmick for SD Gundam reminding me of the Takara Tomy's recently rebooted Diaclone toys. For now i will skip this lineup because i am not to keen on the current available roster save for the Tanks. I think Micro Wars will likely be sold like G Frame toys which you need two box to complete the set, as 500 Yen a Pop is too good to be true for such gimmicks. I will keep an eye for this lineup because it has decent potential as long as it didn't flop in the first release.

Persona 5 Figma 417 Queen/Makoto Niijima

  With Fox and Panther getting their figma, Queen is bound to get hers soon or later, being one of the most popular waifu in Persona 5 after all. The figma will be scheduled for July Release with 6800 Yen Price tag which is still quite far away. Makoto's figma comes with standard accesories like other Phantom Thieves like her main and ranged weapon as well as Phantom Thief calling card. In Persona 5, Makoto is one of the most solid party member able to commit well both in Offense and Support. Though she is not my number one heroine in the game, i can see why Makoto is easily one of the more Popular character in the game being a mixture of Aigis and Mitsuru after all. I will likely get this Figma since she is the best partner choice for Joker if i had to pick one of the Phantom Thief. Another reason is that her Persona is coming too in the form of kickass Motorcycle and would make a great addition to my Figma collection. With Four of the Phantom Thieves made it out, Skull is going to be the next one and Noir will likely to come out as well.

Another Sample Buildoff

 Part of my Job working in a Toy Company is Building some Gunpla samples when needed which can be considered as one of the perks. For the recent Gunpla Expo in Surabaya which ended last week, i get to build these Kits which are SDCS 00 Diver, 1/60 Laevatein and 00 Sky Trans-am HWS. Since the Model Kit samples are sent way before the release date, they are still in Prototype form and some glaring flaws are apparent. While the 00 Diver and Sky works out fine, Laevatein kit got some serious issues of Loose Joint. Turns out a few millimeter off from the precision can make a significant difference already.  From this experience, i get to appreciate Bandai's finished end-product even more because it definitely takes a lot of effort to reach perfection at the level of their product. I have to say the color separations of Bandai's FMP Kit looks impressive and Trans am version of 00 Sky looks quite cool actually. Wonder how Kotobukiya feel that what takes them years of effort to make their FMP Kits being bested by Bandai's couple months of effort. In any case i will share some of my thoughts again if i get to build another samples.

Dragon's Crown

 Another game that i get to access from PS3 and Dragon's Crown is certainly the spiritual Successor of Shadow Over Mystara whether i like it or not. A Vanillaware game created by George Kamitani, Dragon's Crown is a Fantasy Beat em Up featuring Six different heroes. This game is probably most well known for its over the top Art design in particular Witch and the Amazon. Aside from the Controversy, the core gameplay of Dragon Crown is quite good actually if repetitive and the 2D Graphic is top notch as expected from Vanillaware. For now i have finished my first lap with Warrior and would have been more motivated if i got companion to play with because that's the core of the fun. What I see with Dragon's Crown is that it is not tapped to its Full Potential yet and if Vanillaware ever decided to make a 1.5 version of it, i think it will sell well.

Exceed Model Gundam Head

 For Quite a while Exceed Model are known for 500 Yen Gashapon lineup featuring wide range of Zaku Heads with good value for its price. This time trying to spice things up, Bandai are making Gundam Heads. This product is sold either as Capsule Machine toy or per Box set. For the box set of 9 Pcs, it is sold for 4500 Yen and will be released on January next year. The first one will feature RX-78-2, Full Armor Gundam and G-3. I think if this series went successful, another batch will follow suit and i think the variant will likely contain RX-78-4, RX-78-5 or Heavy Gundam.

Volcanic Age

 I dont read Korean Manhwa alot but i find this one had good potential. It is quite surprising that Korean made good Chinese Wuxia webtoons but Volcanic Age is a proof. Borrowing the Tensei Element from overused Isekai trope, Volcanic Age narrates an engaging story of a Pugilist given a second chance to redo his past. Dying as a Master of his sect, the protagonist left a lot of regrets as he unable to save people close to him from the great conflict that he survived through, The main protagonist suddenly find himself back in his youth with his memories intact. Being a master pugilist, in no time he prepares himself to prevent great conflict in his adult years and save people whom he cares for this time. The main issue with Tensei series is that Powercreep is rather prevalent though this manga still manage somehow to be one step away to that point. This series has some potential as the main protagonist mostly use his wits instead of being a dumbass like average shonen manga protagonist and it is definitely a good change if you are sick of shitty Japanese Isekais.

Figma 414 "Saber of Red" Mordred

 The traitorous Knight of the Round made it into Figma at last! Being one of the main Heroine of Fate Apocrypha definitely guarantees Mordred got plenty of figure treatment especially being directly related to the Fate series main Heroine herself. The Figma will be scheduled for February release with 8800 Yen Price tag. I guess due to her bulk of armor and Helmet parts makes Mordred to cost extra 1000 Yen but her Clarent Blood Arthur effect part looks neat enough. In Fate series, Mordred is depicted as a rebellious young knight who always take opposite action whenever Artoria does something. Her Antics can be bordering Chaotic Stupid but deep in the end meant to seek attention from her Father. Mordred's character might be rather dumb but her role in Apocrypha and FGO definitely helps her to rise in Popularity. As for me i will skip this figma since i have not much personal attachment to her character because she doesn't have enough dere moment and will just get Proto Saber instead. With her popularity perhaps we will see her Skimpier Outfit or Summer version make it into Figma as well.

Valkyria Chronicle

 Truly a legendary game among PS3 titles and no doubt one of the best that ever hailed the system. It took me 10 years to touch Valkyria Chronicle and it doesn't even seem aging to this day. A tactical RPG with WW2 settings that combines with melodramatic story making an unlikely winning combination. Being a spiritual successor of Sakura Taisen, Valkyria Chronicle able to pull its own weight without relying the former with a high quality production value. The most memorable thing about Valkyria Chronicle is obviously Selvaria being the finest piece of booty gracing Video Game who unfortunately get unworthy pair. To be honest the first VC is probably remains the best as the sequels doesn't hold water compared to it even though they are fun to play. I am almost completing VC2 and will move one VC3 before i touched the recent Valkyria Chronicle 3. If you had access to Valkyria Chronicle, play this game immediately because this one of the finest title among SEGA library.

Nintendo Switch GET!

 Early this year i bought PS3 and then now i bought yet another Gaming System. I have been planning to get Switch since Generations Ultimate being localized and it just happen that my purchase being hasten up as i am offered a good deal. To be Honest Switch is the next step up of PS Vita being Hybrid Portable TV Console slapped into one package. As long as Nintendo play smart, this system will enjoy a good sale like 3DS while avoiding the failure of WiiU. At this stage it will be difficult for Sony to release a Portable platform to rival Switch because of their debacle at PS Vita but if Sony will ever release one i think it will have integration with Mobile Phone Social gaming.

Kadokawa 1/7 Aqua Konosuba

 The useless Water Goddess of Axis Cult got another figure! and this one is directly made directly by the LN Publisher, Kadokawa. Slated for March next year release, the figure will be released for 16000 Yen Price tag. This is a good choice if you find the Bellfine version of Aqua rather lacking since this version express Aqua's cheerful nature better with the vibrant expression and yet again the sculptor managed to find away with pulling off Aqua's Schrodinger Pantsu. There will be Megumin figure coming to be paired with this version of Aqua and perhaps Darkness is going to make into the cut too. As much as i like Aqua as Heroine, i think her Figma and Nendoroid would suffice enough for my Konosuba Collection.

Ichiban Kuji 1/7 Saber Alter Review

 Banpresto makes a budget figure with decent Quality, while their strike zone are mostly Dragon Ball or One Piece, Fate occasionally makes into it. One of those that happen to get into my collection is Saber Alter Prize Figure from Heaven's Feel Ichiban Kuji. Normally these figure serve as Lucky Draw Grand Prize in Japan but you can get them overseas for a fixed price without trying your fortune. Quality wise This figure is mass produced figure at its core but still on par with the older GSC figure.

Nendoroid 993 Hunter Female Rathalos Armor

 Another Monster Hunter Nendoroid here! With the success of Monster Hunter World, it is expected that more MH merchandise to come out and i think this makes 5th or 6th Nendoroid from MH series. The Rathalos Huntress will be scheduled for April Release with around 5500 Yen price tag. It sure takes its time but the Blademaster from the First Mascot from the series comes out in the Super Deformed format. I think the reason why the Rathalos Blademaster comes in Female form is probably had to do also with her appearance in the latest Marvel vs Capcom game. Nendoroid Rathalos Female Blademaster comes in two edition, regular and DX version. The DX version comes with extra accessories including extra head parts and MH World related tools. I will probably just get the regular version because i haven't played MHW and find the accessories doesn't worth 2000 Yen price increase. The Rathalos Huntress will make a good pair with my Lagiacrus X Blademaster considering Lagiacrus and Rathalos are polar opposite. I just hope the Rathalos Blademaster will justify its cost.

Capcom Figure Builder Teostra Figure

 CFB doesn't disappoint with their Quality Monster Hunter Figure, and sure enough Teostra got its turn finally. Slated for December Release, the figure cost 12000 Yen. By this time i already expected around this much because PVC figurines are pricy nowadays which excacerbated with recent worsening global economy. No Doubt Teostra is my favorite monster in the series because of its majestic look and it does give me a run for money when i was a noob in Freedom Unite. In most of the monster hunter installment, i always made Teostra armor whether it complements with Lance or not and in the latest game, he makes a good blast equipment. One of these days i might get MH Gens Ultimate to sate my fix for Monster Hunter

AFAID 2018

 While i thought i wont be attending the event this year, i suppose curiosity got best of me because apparently this year is going to be the last AFA in Jakarta. Compared to last year, This year's AFA seems better but still overall lacking compared to SG one. Probably it has to do with the Toys sales which lacks diversity because It aint easy to get Toys here by yourself.

1/35 Edelweiss GET!

 When i started playing Valkyria Chronicles on my PS3 i know this game is going to be Special. For such amazing series with high production value, it rather lacks when it comes to merchandise department. The first thing that catches my attention in VC is the Main Battle Tank named Edelweiss which gives you some sense of attachment as you make it stronger and goes through the thick and thin of the battle. I am not really into Military Vehicle but VC is just that good that makes me get the Model Kit which is made by Volks apparently. With my Backlog i doubt it will be anytime soon the Kit to be assembled but i promise it will look as good as it deserves. Now i am off hunting for some Selvaria goodies.

SD Gundam Cross Silhouette First Impression

 Should have posted this shortly after my Gunpla Expo Post but anyway here is the promised brief overview of New Lineup for SD Gundam, Cross Silhouette! I think Bandai tried to Step up the SD lineup by giving it some kind of Inner frame treatment like what HG got with RG. This time i got to sample 3 Model Kits from the initial release of the line up.

Konosuba Figma 407 Megumin

 Well, we have been seeing this coming but it is obvious that the Chuuni Archwizard Megumin will follow soon after Aqua in her figma form. Slated for January release with 7300 Yen Price tag, Megumin comes with more satisfying accesories set compared to Aqua. This time Megumin's pet Demon Cat Chomusuke comes as accessories and the explosion effect part doesnt look bad. On top of that her cape and hat are removable which is quite decent gimmick for Figma caliber. I will definitely get this figma since it is the go to option for my Konosuba set and i think in two months we will be likely seeing Kazuma's Figma open for Pre-order.

Odin Sphere Leifthrasir

 One of the game that i have been wanting to play since it got released on PS2 and Vanillaware no doubt delivers with their gateway title! Taking a Spin on Norse myth with lots of Classic Fable elements weaved in, Odin Sphere is a great Fantasy RPG classic which no doubts established Vanillaware as reputable game developer. I might have started from Muramasa but as expected, Odin Sphere is also a Beautifully drawn 2D Action game with great self-contained storyline. In this game you get to play 5 Different heroes who wield Magical weapons called Psyphers and each of the heroes story build up a plot around impending doom based on ancient Prophecy. Odin Sphere is easily my preferred choice over Muramasa because it is a solid Fantasy RPG game with proper end. My favorite character would be Oswald because his storyline pairing with Gwendolyn is simply Perfect Match. But Gameplay wise, Cornelius is the most fun to use as his combo juggles are more exciting to pull off. The only weakness of Odin Sphere is its repetitive stage which is worse than Muramasa but it can't be helped because it aint easy to make a well drawn 2D game like this. I think i will be getting Parform Gwendolyn soon but i hope Oswald is getting one someday considering Mercedes did make it.

Billy Bat

 One of the more Supernatural work of Naoki Urasawa but still a good one! I have read this one years ago but stopped halfway and then resumed the reading recently as the series has been completed. The story of Billy Bat revolves around a Japanese comic artist named Kevin Yamagata who upon encountered mysterious cartoon like creature called Billy Bat began to foresee future by drawing which often ends up in tragic end. Being a normal civilian however, the protagonist tries his best to prevent the tragedy but things are not as simple as it seems as the Bat creature has its sinister side while granting people future vision.

 What makes this manga stands out is that its take on several High Profile major events in the modern history are quite interesting and believable if absurd. And the main character Billy Bat is a parallel of certain Mascot from Disney and its rise to global power are scaringly accurate. But to me what makes me astounded is this manga's prediction on future which seems to be rather spot on which there will be a great conflict as the earth become more inhabitable but still leaves a glimmer of hope at its conclusion. If you are looking for some intelligent manga with good twists, Billy Bat is a good choice

Gunpla Expo Indonesia 2018

 For the first time my company hosts Gunpla Expo for Indonesia in Jakarta last month. Over the span of three weeks, Gunpla Expo Indonesia 2018 was held in Mall of Indonesia. While i was in the background role for this event, i got enough time to do some coverage and might as well share it for those who are curious how this event look like in Indonesia.

Case Records of Professor Munakata

 I guess as you grow old your preference of taste does change after all! as i come to favor Seinen series over Shonen. Case Records of Professor Munakata is one of the random manga i come across which i immediately take an interest in, considering it deals on History and Mythology as its theme. The manga title itself is named after the main character Professor Munakata, who is a Professor that specialise in Folklore with Iron age myths as his main expertise. The main premise of the manga is all about the Professor using his expertise to resolve local mysteries which are often tied with Myths and Legends with occasional murder case. What interests me in this manga is its interpretation on certain Japanese Myths with its Paralel which are good food for thoughts even though sometimes rather farfetched. Reading this manga often reminded me of Naoki Urasawa manga especially Master Keaton which kinda deals on same subject as well. There was a prequel of this series called Legendary Musings of Professor Munakata which got more action bits as the Professor get to beat some cultists and more Supernatural encounters. Though i still prefer this one since it is more grounded to reality compared to the prequel.

Alter 1/7 Jeanne Alter

 Alter are known for their High Quality Premium PVC Figures and this time they don't disappoint with Jeanne Alter! Shown on the Expo mid of this year, this 1/7 Jeanne Alter in her 1st Ascension Form will be released on May 2019 for 26800 Yen Price tag. It is no doubt expensive but it is a true collector item for hardcore fan of Jeanne Alter. Personally i would have considered this Figure if i hadn't put my wallet on Jalter Dress version which still can't compete with this one because Alter's quality is on whole another level. I think even the regular 1/7 Jeanne doesnt break this price range but i guess being more popular than the original character make these kind of things happen. Anyway if you want to get a single definitive figure of Jalter with no concern of wallet, this is the one to go for.

Yami's Summer Wonderfest 2018 Highlight

  Twice a year, Wonderfest always bring some high class temptations for toy collectors as usual and i am doing my part to highlight objects of interest. While i find Winter Wonderfest tend to have better lineup on prototypes, i find this summer to be equally good probably had to do with my focus shift less to Mecha nowadays.

Shawshank Redemption

 When i think about Count of Monte Cristo, i was reminded of this Great American Classic, Shawshank Redemption. This movie is essentially alternate take on Monte Cristo's theme and a good one at that. The word of "Wait and Hope" holds true in this movie as the main character, a banker who unjustly convicted for the murder of his wife need to endure hardship in the life imprisonment of Shawshank Prison complete with corrupt prison guards and bad inmates. What makes Shawshank Redemption particularly good is its buildup throughout the movie that leads up to one of the most satisfying ending that i had ever watched in movie. The ability of the main character to endure Hardship is something that can be looked up to. I think i should read the Monte Cristo Novel one of these days.

Alter 1/8 Edmond Dantes

 Type-Moon's take on Alexandre Dumas character from the classic series of Count of Monte Cristo, Edmond Dantes is finally getting official release announcement already. It is rare for Male Servants from FGO getting a figure and Avenger Class Servant Edmond Dantes is joining the fray! Slated for February 2019 release, Edmond Dantes comes with 12800 Yen price tag which is surprisingly cheaper than average Alter figure. In FGO, Edmond Dantes is portrayed as edgy character hell bent on revenge considering his design is based on certain Danganronpa character. I find find Edmond Dantes animation is very cool in the game and he makes a good pairing with Gudako apart from Karna though King Hassan will probably throw a fit. I am quite interested to get the figure since it is still within my price range and rather eager to get an Alter figure into my Collection despite skipping Tessa. Hopefully i can roll his character on his coming Limited Gacha next year

July 2018 Loot

 Since i work in toys industry, i am getting most of my stuff through preorders these days and i just got some of them this month. I have featured most of them in this blog since they are in my hit list already save for Gundam Converge which i started to collect again after a long break. Out of these items, i probably hyped Sentinel's Mospeada the most because the series scarcely have toys. Probably Yang Wenli is the first to get reviewed out of the bunch being a PVC Figure. Whereas it will be a long time before i review the new F91 MG but i do look forward to the new features that the MG had over the old one.

Lost Planet: Extreme Condition

 I am glad that i am able to get into Lost Planet! at first i thought this is your run of the mill shooting game but as expected from a japanese game, it is a Third Person with heavy dose of Mecha Actions. No Wonder /m/ did recommend this game for PS3. The story of Lost Planet is your typical Alien Sci-fi trope which i won't bother but the action bits are actually quite well made. For me the Mechas from this series called Vital Suits are the main selling point and the designs are surprisingly cool. PTX-40 Hardballer is probably the fan favorite considering it is the Posterboy, but GAB-25 is my personal favorite because Crab Legged Robot that can transform into Tank with Drill are big win in my book! While the mecha action in Lost Planet are realistic most of the time, the Final Boss Parts feels so much like Zone of Ender. I think Lost Planet is what prompts Square Enix to try their luck with Front Mission Evolved but unfortunately it didnt nail the balance that Lost Planet had for the Gunfighting and Mecha Action. What lacks for me in the first Game is probably the absence of the RPG element which could spice up the game but i will see if the Sequel will incorporate any of it. If i had Wii i will definitely give Tatsunoko vs Capcom a try because PTX-40 happen to show up in that game too.

Fate/Extra Saber Nero Route

 It is almost six years since the last time i picked Fate/Extra and this time i settled my old debts with this game! Back then when i had finished Archer and Caster Route,  I had a hard time to commit for third playthrough just because i can't put up with repetitive gameplay of Extra. However as i play FGO and picked up Nero Bride few months ago, i decided to commit my third playthrough with Nero once again. Back then I avoided Saber Route back then because Saber Nero made poor impression to me as i find her design seems like another cheap cash-in saberface clone, but her character turns out more than meet the eyes.

1/7 Teletha Testarossa Maid Ver

 We rarely get any good PVC Figure for Full Metal Panic Heroine so Alter's take on Tessa is a blessing. Unfortunately their 1/7 Figure which was shown few weeks ago for her falls on pricier side. Slated for February 2019 Release, The maid version costs 17800 Yen though most shop tag it for higher price. This version of Tessa wearing Maid outfit while holding P90 SMG is probably based on an episode from the new season for Full Metal Panic. Personally i prefer Tessa over Chidori for some reason but probably because she tries her best to gain Sousuke's affection. Unfortunately i will skip this one since my price range is around 14000 Yen so i will wait for another rendition for her Figure. Most likely Chidori will get her figurine as well. Speaking of the FMP game, Tessa had a wedding ending in her route so that one probably will go to my headcanon.

PS Vita Konosuba Megumin Ending

 Considering the Figma Aqua announcement release, i guess i might as well post the rest of Kazuma's main party route from the game as full article in anticipation of their upcoming Figmas. No Doubt Megumin is the most popular heroine in the series and therefore her route and scenes in the game are full of Fanservice as many fans root for Kazumin pairing. While i am in the Aqua camp,  i can see why Megumin become the favorite heroine in the series. Because aside from her Obsession for Explosion, Megumin is probably the most relatively normal girl out of Kazuma's dysfunctional party and nothing beats a budding malleable loli! At first i thought her route had the riskier fanservice after i saw the circulating fake CGs of her route, but definitely Kadokawa won't allow those kind of thing at this stage.

Nendoroid 951 Yang Wenli

 The Magician Yang now returns with his new appearance in the form of Nendoroid! GSC spares no time after Die Neue These airing and we are getting the merchandise as fast as they could produce. Scheduled for December Release with the price tag of 4500 Yen. The accessories are nothing flashy like Reinhard's Throne but Yang's tea set will fit well with Reinhard's baked Pie. Speaking of Die Neue These, i think Yang's Voice Actor Kenichi Suzumura did relatively better job compared to Mamoru Miyano but to be fair it is hard to replicate Ryo Horikawa's who nailed on Reinhard's dignified mannerism spot on. When the first season of Die Neue These ends, i think i will do a brief review for the series. As for now the only thing left for the LOGH Merchandise is the flagships Model Kits which Kotobukiya probably will pick it up.