XAvenger's stats
- Review count169
- Helpfulness votes213
- First reviewSeptember 6, 2007
- Last reviewDecember 27, 2013
- Featured reviews2
- Average rating5
- Review comment count3
- Helpfulness votes2
- First review commentSeptember 24, 2011
- Last review commentOctober 12, 2011
- Featured review comments0
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Customer Rating
5
One of the best I've seen in awhile
on June 13, 2008
Posted by: XAvenger
This has become one of my favorite series.
Told from the perspective of 'Kyon' (we never learn his real name) it follows the exploits of Haruhi Suzumiya and her SOS Brigade, a club that looks for psychics, time-travellers, aliens and strange events.
Haruhi herself is one of anime's more original characters, brash and impulsive but not really a bad person. She wants everyone to have a good time but doen not realize that her idea of a good time is different from everyone elese on the planet.
Along the way, Kyon and the rest of the brigade encounter situations ranging from the mundane to the outright bizarre. Imagine a cross between a high-school drama and 'The Twilight Zone', events that range from school festivals, to murder mysteries, to battles with extra-dimensional creatures and alien androids.
The first episode is a nice parody of 'Magical Girl' anime and there is more hilarity to follow.
The writing is superb, the situations make perfect sense within the conxtet of the series and the quality of animation is astounding, even more so when you consider that this was a weekly TV series.
Each character is distinctive in terms of both appearance and personalities. From the outgoing Haruhi to the quiet Yuki to the perplexed Kyon. The characters develop very well, but the development of each character presents a number of mysteries. Some are resolved by series end, others leave the door open for a follow-up series.
Watch this in the Original Japanese! The Japanese voice actors fit thier roles perfectly and the fact is that this series was originally produced in Japanese.
What's great about it: Excellent writing and beautiful animation
What's not so great: English dub
I would recommend this to a friend!
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Get your fix of the legendary Metal Gear Solid with The Essential Collection. This jam-packed compilation includes the original Metal Gear Solid for PlayStation as well as the director's cuts of both Metal Gear Solid 2 and Metal Gear Solid 3. From recovering deadly weapons of mass destruction to performing the deadliest covert operations imaginable, it's up to you to save the world.See the adventure that started it all a decade ago in Metal Gear Solid. You must overthrow a terrorist organization using a variety of weapons and stealth. Should you fail, nuclear warheads will launch, meaning lights out for planet Earth. Metal Gear Solid 2 features more than 350 VR missions and more than 150 alternative missions. Metal Gear Solid 3 forces you to outsmart enemies using camouflage, close-quarters combat, stalking, interrogating, climbing and hunting techniques.
Posted by: XAvenger
If you are a collector then this is a must have! In this aptly named collection you get MGS for PS1 and MGS 2 and 3 for PS2 at an affordable price (just try finding all three MGS games individually). This gives you the complete story of Solid Snake, a covert operative whose tale apparently comes to a conclusion in MGS 4.
I am a sci-fi fan and I love action games and the MGS series is a great series of stealth action games in a sci-fi setting. The object in all three games the idea is to enter without the enemy knowing you are there. A great challenge for the mind and your reflexes. And the action sequences always keep you on the edge of your seat. These are THE best espionage games ever made, bar none!
Playing the MGS series also shows how technology has progressed in the series life. I actually remember being impressed by the graphics in the first MGS, then you can see the leap in power from PS1 to PS2 in the next two games.
The only control problem is with MGS 1. The analog thumbsticks don't work since this game was made before Sony developed Dual Shock or SIXAXIS.
Can't wait for MGS 4!
What's great about it: All three MGS games in one package
What's not so great: Some cut scenes too long, minor control issues with the first game
I would recommend this to a friend!
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Customer Rating
5
Kurosawa would have been proud
on December 3, 2007
Posted by: XAvenger
This is one of the best series I have seen in a good long while. 'Samurai 7' ranks with the likes of 'Cowboy Bebop' as one of the most essential anime to own.
The story, while not an exact retelling of the movie 'Seven Samurai', remains true to the spirit and characters of Akira Kurosawa's masterpiece and sets it in a sci-fi environment with amazing mecha and a lushly detailed world. The characters a brilliantly realized and distinctive and they all grow over time.
The story is brilliantly written. This series explores the true meaning of honor and the heroes exemlify what it truly means to be a samurai. The plot is also exciting and boasts many fantastic action scenes.
The quality of animation is top-notch and features an almost seamless blend of 2D cel animation and 3D CGI animation. You just have to see it to believe it!
The music is great too. The score features a great blend of traditional Japanese and Asian music along with modern music. And I love the opening and closing themes.
As with any Japanese motion picture, watch it in the original Japanese. The Japanese actors match thier characters perfectly, from the dignified Kanbei to the rough and tumble Kikuchiyo. The English performances just do not measure up.
Great writing, excellent characters, superb music, astounding animation and top caliber acting (in the Japanese version at least). "Samurai 7' lives up to its forebear and stands as a modern classic.
What's great about it: The whole series in one collection
What's not so great: Don't watch the English dub
I would recommend this to a friend!
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![Noir: The Complete Collection [7 Discs] [DVD]](https://pisces.bbystatic.com/prescaled/500/500/image2/BestBuy_US/images/products/304b2327-370a-41e7-956a-951dd4939472.png)
This seven-disc set contains every episode of the anime series Noir, a show about a teenage assassin. Each episode is presented in its original aspect ratio. English soundtracks are rendered in Dolby Digital 5.1, while Japanese soundtracks have been recorded in Dolby Digital 2.0. Supplemental materials include trailers for other titles from AD Vision.
Posted by: XAvenger
This is one of my favorites!
Noir follows the life of Mirelle and Kirika, two assassins who form the duo called 'Noir'. The story is balanced between and exploration of Mirelle and Kirika's pasts (a past that is interconnected more than either realizes) and some exciting action sequences. As the two characters try to unravel the past, they also face a conspiracy that has been hiding in the shadows for centuries. The story is rich and intelligently written.
The animation is of top quality and is beautifully fluid by TV standards and the character designs are very nicely drawn. The music, by Yuki Kajiura, is breathtaking and could be played in concert halls.
If you are looking for a series with lots of action and a higher IQ than most series, you've found it.
Noir follows the life of Mirelle and Kirika, two assassins who form the duo called 'Noir'. The story is balanced between and exploration of Mirelle and Kirika's pasts (a past that is interconnected more than either realizes) and some exciting action sequences. As the two characters try to unravel the past, they also face a conspiracy that has been hiding in the shadows for centuries. The story is rich and intelligently written.
The animation is of top quality and is beautifully fluid by TV standards and the character designs are very nicely drawn. The music, by Yuki Kajiura, is breathtaking and could be played in concert halls.
If you are looking for a series with lots of action and a higher IQ than most series, you've found it.
Watch the Original Japanese version rather than the English dub version. There are a lot of dialogue heavy scenes and while the English language actresses do a fair job, the pacing and feel of the dub is just not up to the original dialogue.
What's great about it: Well animated and well written
What's not so great: English dub is acceptable but not good
I would recommend this to a friend!
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Customer Rating
5
Excellent mecha series
on October 18, 2007
Posted by: XAvenger
Gravion is both a parody of and an homage to the combining robot shows of 70's Japan TV (think 'Voltron').
The animation in Gravion is top quality, as is usual from Studio Gonzo. Both the mecha and characters scenes are well drawn and fluidly animated and the battle scenes are quite dramatic. There are also lots of cute girls in the series from combat maids to some of the Gravion pilots and each episode features loads of fan service.
The series is also very well written and features well developed characters. Missing persons, dual identities and mysterious technologies play against the backdrop of an alien invasion. There is also a nice balance between drama, action, character development and comedy in the series. The Gravion pilts each have thier own distinct personalities. Eiji is your typical hot-blooded anime hero and pilots a jet fighter. Touga is easy going and somewhat naive and pilots a giant robot. Mizuki is mature cool under fire, pilots a jet fighter. Leele is the quiet and mysterious type, pilots a stealth fighter. Luna is outgoing and energetic and Ena is shy, they pilot a tank. These mecha combine to form an immense super-robot called Gravion. They are lead by Klein Sandman, a reclusive billionaire who foresaw the invasion.
The music, by Jam Project, rocks and makes the action even more exciting. From rock opera instrumentals to rocking songs. I especially liked the song sung for Gravion's combining.
This version is the one to get because it has both Gravion and Gravion Zwei, so you get the complete story arc. The voices in the English dub are not appropriate for the characters and the dubbing does affect the feel of the series. Fortunately the DVD includes the original Japanese dialogue so you don't have to watch the dub.
Gravion and Gravion Zwei are fast-paced and exciting series and you can get both in one collection.
What's great about it: Cool mecha and lots of fan service
What's not so great: English dub not so good
I would recommend this to a friend!
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Package Description: Keiichi Morisato is an engineering student, top driver of his campus motor club, and not very lucky with the ladies. While calling for take-out food one evening, a wrong number puts him in contact with the "Goddess Hotline." One misplaced wish later, Keiichi finds himself blessed with Belldandy, the perfect girlfriend and a goddess in every sense of the word. Unfortunately, she doesn't have any idea of how to act in the human world, and her presence quickly gets Keiichi kicked out of the dorms. Fortunately for Keiichi, his troubles have just begun!
Customer Rating
5
One of the best anime around
on October 17, 2007
Posted by: XAvenger
This is one of my all-time favorties! Ah! My Goddess is the anime based on the equally outstanding manga of the same name by Kosuke Fujishima.
The animation is outstanding. Well drawn and beautifully fluid (as you watch, remember that this is a weekly TV series).
The story follows Keichi Morisato, an ordiany college student, and Belldandy, a goddess Keichi acidentally summons (long story). Along the way, a romance blossoms between the two and some delightfully comic situations ensue as Keichi tries to keep the fact thay Belldandy is a goddess secret. Along the way we also meet Belldandy's sisters Urd and Skuld as well as Keichi's sister Megumi. All are great characters and add to the story of the series.
This series has a lot of genuine emotion in it. You can feel not just the love Keichi and Belldandy share for one another but also the love between Belldandy and her sisters and even the warm bond between Keichi and Megumi.
One thing to remember! Always select the ORIGINAL JAPANESE DIALOGUE version when you watch these DVDs! The original version boasts performances by some of Japan's best voice actors. Yumi Touma (Urd), Masami Kikuchi (Keichi), Aya Hisakawa (Skuld) and Yuriko Fuchizaki (Megumi) are all outstanding in thier roles and Kikuko Inoue's Belldandy is nothing short of perfection.
What's great about it: Quality animation, great writing, excellent voice acting and some of the best characters in anime
What's not so great: So few are watching the Original Japanese Dialogue version
I would recommend this to a friend!
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Learn more about Folklore. (Flash demo) SynopsisThe Town of Doolin is a mysterious place filled with wonder and enchantment. According to outsiders, its inhabitants posses the power to communicate with the dead. One day as two strangers are drawn into this peculiar town, they discover that Doolin serves as a gateway to fantastic worlds that exist beyond our own. Within these realms are extraordinary creatures, magical fairies, fascinating spirits and dark monsters. A foreboding lighthouse on the edge of the town that may hold the answers to these mysteries. It's up to them to venture into the unknown and it's up to you to lead them into it.Folklore welcomes you to the oddities that exist in and beyond Doolin. Play as the two strangers, Keats and Ellen, as they explore worlds filled with danger and excitement in an attempt to solve and survive the mysteries that surround the town. Each character has special talents and gameplay styles that you can use to your advantage. Battle a wide variety of creatures using the innovative SIXAXIS controller to capture their powers and gain strength and new abilities.
Customer Rating
5
A truly unique gaming experience
on October 17, 2007
Posted by: XAvenger
Folklore is one of those games that's hard to nail down to just one genre. The game has elements of both action games and RPGs and the two elements blend together well.
There are two stories in the game. One follows Ellen, a young girl trying to find clues to her forgotten past and the other follows Keates, a reporter for an occult magazine investigating a string of murders and strange events.
The action takes place in both the real world and the realm of the dead, called the Netherworld. In the Netherworld, you fight creatures called "Folk" and gain the powers of the Folk you defeat in battle. Combat includes some intricate puzzles as each Folk have certain powers and weaknesses and features effective use of the SIXAXIS controller. Which makes for exciting gameplay.
The music and graphics are top notch and give a hint to the power of the PS3. The Netherworld is brilliantly realized and quite spooky in some parts. The background characters look very cool, by the way. The best way I can think of to describe the background characters is to imagine a cross between Universal Studios' classic monster movies and Hayao Miyazaki's 'Spirited Away', with a little 'Alice in Wonderland' thrown in for good measure.
If you own a PS3, then this is one of the essential games to own.
What's great about it: Excellent graphics, great music, deep plot, spooky atmosphere
What's not so great: Haven't found any yet
I would recommend this to a friend!
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Learn more about Lair. (Flash demo) SynopsisEndless conflicts and natural disasters have turned the world into a bloodbath of lies and betrayal. You are Rohn, a warrior who soars atop a battle-trained dragon through violent aerial combat. Under your guidance, your reptilian mount scorches and claws enemies with deadly precision. You have the talents needed to defeat legions of opponents, but do you have the courage to save two civilizations?Lair immerses you in a living, breathing world of incredible beasts, a deep storyline and thrilling gameplay. Fight through vast battles in the air and on the ground and face off against armies of thousands. Change the complexity of the action with your ferocious dragon and set the ground ablaze with waves of flame. With stunning visuals, intense audio and exhilarating mission-based gameplay, Lair will test your warrior skills as you engage onslaughts of vicious enemies.
Posted by: XAvenger
This is one of the best games I've played on any console! The graphics are astounding even on a standard defenition TV, the music is worthy of being played in the world's best symphony halls and the story is deep and compelling (and draws parallels to Europe during the Black Plauge).
Gameplay is fast and intense. You quickly lose track of time as you soar over amazingly detailed battlefields and the action does not let up.
The use of the SIXAXIS controller does present a learning curve. But after a few minutes of playing I found the control setup made perfect sense and in a short while becomes intuitive. I am not using the 1.92 system, but after a few minutes of gameplay I was able to make my dragon do what I wanted when I wanted with few if any problems.
Great graphics, lots of action, outstanding music, and an innovative control set-up. A brilliant game!
Gameplay is fast and intense. You quickly lose track of time as you soar over amazingly detailed battlefields and the action does not let up.
The use of the SIXAXIS controller does present a learning curve. But after a few minutes of playing I found the control setup made perfect sense and in a short while becomes intuitive. I am not using the 1.92 system, but after a few minutes of gameplay I was able to make my dragon do what I wanted when I wanted with few if any problems.
Great graphics, lots of action, outstanding music, and an innovative control set-up. A brilliant game!
I would recommend this to a friend!
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![Transformers: The Movie [20th Anniversary Edition] [CD]](https://pisces.bbystatic.com/image2/BestBuy_US/images/products/8343/8343232_sa.jpg)
Posted by: XAvenger
This CD has all the tracks from the previous "Transformers: The Movie" soundtrack (which is now out-of-print") plus more instrumental tracks from the movie and a new song, I love the "Unicron Medley" and the new rendering of "The Trnasformers Theme" sung by Stan Bush (who also sang "The Touch")..
The songs rock! My favorites are "The Touch", an excellent theme for Optimus Prime, and the rock-and-roll version of "The Transformers Theme". The rest of the songs are outstanding and the instrumental tracks fit the mood of the movie perfectly, from pulse-pounding battle themes to a stirring dirge.
The only thing that was missing that would have made this CD perfect for me is if it had the opening and closing themes from the original TV series. Still, this is as rad as 80's rock-and-roll gets.
The songs rock! My favorites are "The Touch", an excellent theme for Optimus Prime, and the rock-and-roll version of "The Transformers Theme". The rest of the songs are outstanding and the instrumental tracks fit the mood of the movie perfectly, from pulse-pounding battle themes to a stirring dirge.
The only thing that was missing that would have made this CD perfect for me is if it had the opening and closing themes from the original TV series. Still, this is as rad as 80's rock-and-roll gets.
I would recommend this to a friend!
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XAvenger's Review Comments
Relive the unforgettable moments and experience the spectacular adventure of STAR WARS the Complete Saga in a way only Blu-ray can deliver. This incredible collection unites all six Episodes together for the first time in stunning high definition with the purest digital sound in the galaxy. With over 40 hours of thrilling special features, including all-new content created exclusively for this , you can journey deeper into the Star Wars universe and discover more than ever before. Feel the Force of STAR WARS the Complete Saga on Blu-ray!
Overall
3 out of 5
3 out of 5Bad disc - TWICE
By QuoteMe
from Los Angeles, CA
About an hour into Episode II, the disc freezes a bit and seems to skip. Returned to store for a hassle free exchange. The same problem with the new disc at the exact same spot!!!! Haven't had a chance to view all the other discs but what a disappiontment. Question is do I exchange again or simply ask for a refund???? Anyone else have similar problem?
XAvenger
I've had no problems
September 24, 2011
You might want to try sending the discs to 20th Century Fox for a replacement.
I've had no problems whatsoever with any of the movies. Of course, I've plyed them on my PS3.
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Overall
1 out of 5
1 out of 5Good Movie If You Don't Have A Sony or Samsung
By Enchanter
from Trenton, MI
Lots of talk with the First Class movie not working with Sony. It would not work with my Sony BDP S350. Which is NOT 3D. I had to disable the internet connection "Do not allow disc to access internet" or some such. Then I had to delete the data file the Xmen movie had already installed when I tried to watch it the first time. This isn't easy either as it normally doesn't display the stored data in the setup menu. I had to do this by inserting an invalid disc. In this case the digital copy. Then I got the menu to delete the First Class data file. What a pain, I'm watching this now and it BETTER be good, lol. If your not up to this then get the DVD. Hope this helps someone.
XAvenger
October 12, 2011
I have had no problems with watching the Blu-Ray on my PS3 (a Sony player). You may want to update your firmware
+2points
2of 2voted this comment as helpful.
Relive the unforgettable moments and experience the spectacular adventure of STAR WARS the Complete Saga in a way only Blu-ray can deliver. This incredible collection unites all six Episodes together for the first time in stunning high definition with the purest digital sound in the galaxy. With over 40 hours of thrilling special features, including all-new content created exclusively for this , you can journey deeper into the Star Wars universe and discover more than ever before. Feel the Force of STAR WARS the Complete Saga on Blu-ray!
Overall
4 out of 5
4 out of 5Good value for the money. One BRD issue.
By burrisd
from Fredericksburg, VA
As a Star Wars fan I find this a good value for the money. I have a problem with the blu-ray discs, which is in no way a fault of Best Buy. Every single disc seems to enter a pause mode during the movie and then speeds up without audio. I have to stop playing the disc and restart it again. This happens regardless of which blu-ray player I use. Other than that, I would recommend this product.
XAvenger
October 12, 2011
I've had no problems with any of the Blu-Ray discs. I've been playing them on my PS3.
Your firmware may need to be updated.
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