Saya no Uta Nendoroid Saya

I think it has been around 20 years now since Saya no Uta has been released and this moefied Lovecraftian horror got her merchandise released once again as Nendoroid! I think it is around 7-8 years already since her PVC figure by Wing got released, usually it was Nendoroid that got released first but for Saya it is the other way around. Scheduled for July 2026 Nendoroid Saya will be sold for 6800 Yen.

Saya no Uta is one of the famous VN by Urobuchi which somehow able to convey forbidden love between human and cosmic horror in beautiful yet grotesque manner. It seems to be rather random for this old Nitroplus VN getting a Nendoroid but I suppose 20^th anniversary of once the golden child of Nitroplus VN still worth celebrating. Since I already had the PVC figure, I don’t really know If I want to obtain this Nendoroid, though I personally wouldn’t mind getting one if Al-Azif getting her 2.0 treatment as well.

Demonbane Pop Up Parade SP Al Azif

 After several Moderoids over past 1 year, Finally Demonbane made a comeback in PVC figure with Pop Up Parade lineup. Obviously the beloved gothic lolita grimoire, Al Azif is the one getting the first dip! Released as Pop Up Parade SP which is slightly more luxurious version of Pop Up Parade, Al Azif will be sold for 12000 Yen with May 2025 release schedule.

Compared to typical Pop Up Parade, Pop Up Parade SP version of Al Azif sculpt quality do appear cut above than usual products from the lineup and even come with Pantyshot fanservice just to show the petite charm of this Cosmic Horror fighting Grimoire waifu. I think It has been more than 10 years since Al Azif is getting another figure and hopefully more of Demonbane characters got their turn like Metatron, Etheldreda or even Kurou in his Magius form. I also still more than willing to get a Figma for Al Azif if she ever get one.

Hagane Works Demonbane Review

As a part of Halloween celebration for this year, This week will have something more Special in store for the weekly Review! To match the spooky atmosphere of Halloween, Realm of Darkness proudly presents Hagane Works Demonbane Review! This Review should have been made 3 years ago but with many turns of event including some motivational issues, The review can be realized recently, but still better be late than never right?

Overall Hagane Works Demonbane is a perfect rendition of this Eldritch Horror slaying Super Robot that a fans could ask for. Given the series is almost 20 years old and Japanese treated their past series rather poorly, it is quite a miracle that we still got a decent Diecast Mecha for Demonbane. While this version Hagane Works Demonbane didn’t include Shantak Wing backpack, it has pretty much the essential stuff that you expected from Demonbane like Scimitar of Barzai and Cthugha/Ithaqua Pistols and that what matters. The articulation quality for Haganeworks Demonbane is surprisingly good too which you will see in the review, considering only Bandai are the one who usually delivers top tier articulation for Mecha action figure.

Feel free to leave any comments in the review if you have something that you want to ask about the Demonbane series!

 

Deus Machina Demonbane Moderoid Liber Legis

Once popular Mecha VN series, Demonbane is getting some love once again! apart from the Pop Up Parade Al-Azif finally we got a Moderoid for the Main Antagonist Deus Machina. Liber Legis! Compared to other Moderoid so far this one is one of the more special as well. Scheduled for April 2025, Moderoid Liber Legis will be sold for 9500 Yen.

 In Demonbane series, Liber Legis is literally the Final Boss mecha piloted by Master Therion and his Grimoire Etheldreda. In Zanma Taisei, Demonbane have to face this guy almost everytime and Kurou Daijuuji struggle to stay alive whenever this guy make any appearance. While Master Therion could have destroyed Demonbane right at the onset of the series, Master Therion seems content to let his Antricross lackeys to face Kurou most of the time. Given Demonbane's current popularity, I suppose it won't be anytime soon that Liber Legis will get any Hagane Works but I am still waiting for one despite Liber Legis comes almost everything to replicate this imposing final boss mech in the VN.quite well. Instead I will just hope there will be more of the Demonbane Waifus coming in Pop Up Parade format.

September 2019 Loot

 Possibly my most expensive haul in a month considering plenty of Heavy Duties included in this one. While my haul nowadays tend to deviate to Fate/Grand Order products, I do get some good mecha stuff from Demonbane and Cowboy Bebop. As usual most of these items had been highlighted in this blog before which serve some sort of wishlist that i can keep track off. The significant spike in this month's toy spending has to do with the Wonderfest Exclusive which i decided to get the Figma Maid Alter and Nendoroid Miku Snow Princess. The best of the bunch in this haul would have been the 1/7 Jalter Dress but This year's Snow Miku takes the cake because is the 1000th release by Goodsmile and the packaging is very special. Nevertheless Jalter Dress will get her review quite soon.   

Haganeworks Demonbane

 The last time i was seeing an action figure for Demonbane was around 10 years ago which was Mado Gokin by A-Label that cost over 20000 Yen. And now for a part of 15th year anniversary of Demonbane VN series, Goodsmile is releasing a new Action Figure under Haganeworks lineup with Mid Year release schedule and 17500 Yen price tag. For the price tag, you are getting 18cm Demonbane  partial Diecast action figure and almost complete arsenal of Demonbane save for Shantak backpack and Effect parts. I will definitely get this because Demonbane is one of my favorite Super Robot out there. While the series was over the top and butchers Lovecraft's work like no tomorrow, Demonbane is a good Hotblooded Super Robot through and through. Perhaps i should read the VN of these days to pay a homage for this series.

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.

Saya no Uta Wing 1/7 Saya Figurine

 At long last we finally got a proper figurine for one of the best Horror VN in Nitroplus Library which is no other than for the Mysterious Saya from Saya no Uta! The figure is scheduled for July 2017 with hefty price tag of 17800 Yen but nevertheless it is very beautiful figurine. Nothing perfectly captures the theme of Saya no Uta other than by a stark contrast with innocent and pure looking Saya floating on a grotesque landscape. This version of Saya with Angelic Wings is her final stage in one of the ending where she is ready to propagate her kind supposedly creating a better world for Fuminori. . Back then there were also some decent Saya no Uta figurines as well but kinda inaccessible for General consumer. While the figurine is kinda expensive i might consider to get it to complete my lovecraftian heroine set and place it beside Al-Azif.

 At its core, Saya no Uta is a love story between a deranged man and a Shoggoth that begets the beginning of the end. But the way of this Horror VN is written is just Beautiful yet Twisted as you see the Journey of a man abandoning His Humanity for the sake of his love. Truly a Masterpiece of Lovecraftian Horror by Japanese standard despite it doesn't use much of the theme. Seriously if you havent read Saya no Uta you are missing one of the best VN that shows good VN can be a short one too.

1/8 Al-Azif Review

Necronomicon now comes in Gothic Lolita flavor~

1/8 Al-Azif (Max Factory)

 I have been re-reading Demonbane like last month to remind myself the series awesomeness as a mecha series and at the same time a terrible Lovecraft adaptation. Thus i have been searching Al-Azif figurines to add into my collection and out of several renditions i find Max Factory's to be the best one. The figure was released on 2006 which aged already for today's figurine standard however Max Factory's rendition captures Al-Azif's proportion the best in her gothic lolita form which is why i am putting my attention on this one. Al-Azif or Necronomicon is the main heroine of the Demonbane series, she claims herself to be the strongest Grimoire who looks for a master to fight against Black Lodge until she find Daijuuji Kurou to be her last master and lover. Al-Azif is one of the most memorable Nitroplus heroine for me due to her strong personality and she just makes an awesome duo with Kurou. I still really hope Demonbane will show up to another SRW game since they deserve much more spotlight as an awesome super robot series.

Hanachirasu

 I think this is one of the most random VN i have read so far and probably my least favorite out of Nitroplus VN so far. Just like Kikokugai, Hanachirasu is VN with plenty of violent actions revolving around Japanese swordplay. However in the end the VN didn't make any lasting impact for some reason as everything falls flat in the end. I still don't really get what kind of message that Hanachirasu tried to convey or perhaps there was none in the first place but it does have some shock value. In some way Hanachirasu is kinda like reverse Kikokugai just that it is bit more nihilistic.

Saya no Uta

"Fuminori.. to you, who loved me... i give.. this planet"- Saya

 I think this is my third time reading this Stellar Nitroplus works and still gives me the same chill just like the first time i read this VN which was before this blog was up. I should have covered about this VN years ago but will do it this time given the opportunity. Saya no Uta is a very short VN but the it is undisputedly masterpiece with its twisted yet beautiful story . The story borrow on Lovecraftian theme to take on love story of a man who finds himself in love a mysterious girl called Saya after having his perception distorted into hellish vision and Saya was the only normal looking person to him. The story pretty much focus on the relationship between Saya and Fuminori as they only find solace with each other being the outsider of the world and their journey to find some semblance of peace. The love that Saya and Fuminori shared may look twisted yet it is pure at its core which is why the VN is quite popular in Japan.

 As i become more familiar with Lovecraftian Horror being exposed to some of his works and some RPGs and Boardgames, i grew to appreciate Saya no Uta even more than in the past. You don't need to borrow the name of Cthulhu or other Eldritch gods to make a good Lovecraftian Horror and Saya no Uta is a testament to that. The VN portrayed the core value of HP Lovecraft works; "the sense of Human's powerlessness against Enigmatic Cosmic Entities" and "the truth that leads to Insanity" perfectly and even make it blended really well with beautiful love story which is rather rare feat for Japanese Work. Saya no Uta is easily one of Nitroplus Best work and you will miss a great deal of good stuff not reading this VN. I think Saya no Uta story would make decent Custom Call of Cthulhu campaign or Unique Rumor for Eldritch Horror since it adapts Lovecraftian element well. Also if you want a good Lovecraftian Japanese work go for Saya no Uta and not Demonbane or Nyaruko. I wished Saya had a Nendoroid since she is one of the Nitroplus chara that deserve one the most.

Nitroplus Blasters - Heroines Infinite Duel

Slowpoke post here, i didn't expect Nitroplus would release another new fighting game for their series, while the Fighting game in the PC was far from perfect it was good fanservice so i suppose this time Nitroplus tried their luck again. So far the informations we got here is that the game will be released on Arcade next year which will serve as testbed like other similar VN based fighting games such as Aqua Pazza and Melty Blood. So far the playable shown characters are Ein and Mora which were playable in the previous game and i think they should retain some of the moves from it as well. The Soukou Aki Muramasa Heroine is one of the new cast shown to debut in the series as playable character. Apparently the Nitro Blaster will also incorporate Partner system where Hello World! heroine shown to be one of them which looks like some downgrade as well. F/Z Saber will be featured in the game as well which i wonder will she be playable this time. I hope this game will have more fluid fighting mechanics compared to previous game which is highly likely and at very least the game would ported to console or PC sometime later. I would get the game if it ever popped up in Vita which i wished Aqua Pazza or Melty Blood did. Also i wonder if Type-moon will ever release Tsukihime x Fate Crossover fighting game so Shiki could kill some Servants.

You could find my review of the previous Nitroplus fighting game here which include all ending CGs

Nitro Royale - Heroines Duel

Kishin Hishou Demonbane

The return of the Innocent Blade!

Zanma Taisei Deus Machina Demonbane

Another VN that i managed to clear from my Backlog and at the same time adds to my list of Nitroplus title that i have finished(that makes the 4th one!). I have watched the anime before and now just like other VN that got Anime adaptation, i see how the former medium of the story proves itself to be superior. By far Demonbane probably is the longest Nitroplus VN that i have played as it takes roughly about 30 hours to finish all the route in Demonbane.

Nitro Royale: Heroines Duel

 

Rather decent Nitroplus Doujin fighter game!

Kikokugai the Cyber Slayer

An intense Wuxia VN brought by Nitroplus!