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Reviews
Zenobureido (2010)
One of the Best JRPGs in Recent Times
Xenoblade Chronicles is one of the best video games I have ever played. From the characters, the vast worlds, outstanding soundtrack, amazing art direction, and beautiful cut scenes. Though it may not be 1080p, the art direction is stunning, and the world is very detailed. Cut scenes are not pre-generated, but rather it is based off of your current equipment.
Though the characters and plot can be cliché, it is merely a matter of executing the clichés properly. For instance, Reyn is the big, dumb, brute. However, six of the seven characters are developed well. The characters are developed well, with the exception of the character referred to as "Seven" by the Xenoblade fan base. Seven is only there to be a love interest.
The voices of the characters of the different races (Hom, Nopon, High Entia, Machina) are also very different. The homs are tend to be humans, the nopon are fun, goofy, the High Entia are posh, and the machina feel like a foreign species. The voice actors do a good job on bringing out the world and makes it seem real.
The plot is the typical good vs evil, but the hero (Shulk) goes through the world in the form of the Road of Trials. The Road of Trials in the Hero's Journey archetype is done well here, the characters clearly learn from each experience.
The vast environments are very detailed, and non-linear. Some such as Sword Valley (the area where Dunban fought the Mechon) did a good job on being non-linear. The environments are very colorful, and unlike other video games, they include much more than just the color brown. Sword Valley may just be a valley, but it incorporates green into it's color palette very well.
Alongside the vast environments is the outstanding soundtrack. The soundtrack brings out the heroes' journey. In Gaur Plains, the soundtrack to accompany it is "The Beginning of the Journey" type of music. The soundtrack is pleasing to listen to, even without the environments to accompany it.
The pacing is relatively good, however there is only one major difficulty spike, which is near the end. The game has at least 400+ side quests to assist the player in grinding. The quests can reduce the workload and can allow you to learn about the world of Xenoblade. Some side quests are as simple as defeating monsters that you will meet on your way, getting materials from those monsters, getting collectibles. Others include back stories to the mythology of the races, etc.
I highly recommend getting this game whether if it is the Wii or the New 3DS version. Absolutely amazing, and a beautiful game. The world is truly alive and has wonderful replay value. I have invested at least 210 hours into it, and have always enjoyed it.
Best Friends Whenever (2015)
This show does not make any sense, awful
There are many issues associated with this show, and most of it revolves around the plot. The plot can be confusing at time, and it is not relatable. Though not all shows should be relatable, it makes it easier to follow the plot. Here are my current issues:
1. There are plot holes. 2. The way Cyd and Shelby time travel can be confusing. 3. The plot is not well thought out- there is no plot line. 4. Chet and Bret are unnecessary characters that do not contribute to the show. 5. The writing, acting,special effects and humor is bad. 6. I find the lighting to be a bit weird.
In terms of plot holes, in the episode "The Butterscoth Effect", Barry explains the butterfly effect to Cyd and Shelby. That's great and all, but there's a plot hole. When the two travel back to 4th grade to allow Barry to meet Dr. Fleming (his hero), it is revealed Barry gave up on science. What does not make sense is how the two can still time travel, because the Barry that allowed them to time travel no longer exists. Unless their ability is to jump between alternate universes during different time periods, it does not make sense.
Next, Cyd and Shelby's method of time traveling is weird. The writers don't do a good job explaining this and just keep it at, "the girls explore their newfound power." They simply touch each other while thinking of a time, and then they will be able to travel. It's certainly unique, but it sometimes doesn't make sense in certain situations.
Third, stories should have plot lines or some form a continuation. This is the issue with most, if not, most Disney Shows. I think that this show barely has some plot progression, and is more like random days of their life being picked to be shown.
Fourth of all, Chet and Bret are unnecessary characters. They make no contribution to the plot and are annoying characters. The two have weird arguments and don't really have a sibling relationship with Shelby. For whatever reason, the two have this weird obsession with Cyd.
Next, the writing, special effects, acting, and humor is bad. The effects look relatively cheap, the jokes are terrible, and the acting seems forced. The writing has already been discussed previously with the plot.
Lastly, I find the lighting to be a bit weird. I know it's really weird to say this, but it is very different compared to the other shows. The lighting does not do a good job on creating a mood for the show.
Honestly, I do not recommend watching this show. It is a waste of time, and it needs a lot of improvement. It's a interesting idea, but was executed poorly.