The Ninja Legion Podcast – 2011.02.27

Tony TestermanArchived Shows Leave a Comment



[pro-player type=”MP3″ width=”500″ height=”30″]http://theninjalegion.com/players/podcast/TNL-EP-20110227.mp3[/pro-player]



The Ninja Legion is a group of fans dedicated to sharing the voice of the Otaku generation. We cover various anime conventions as well as concerts, cultural festivals and any other events tied to Japanese culture, anime and video games so that we may bring other fans the latest and greatest in Otaku news. We always speak our voice and give honest opinions of everything we take in. Our motto is “For the fans by the fans” and we want the true voice to be heard no corporate agendas or paid endorsements. In this week’s podcast we go over the following:


– Japan sends aid to New Zealand
– Libyans for Shibuya
– Children cannot Inherit/Steal Assets
– Animazement host Hiroaki Hirata
– AX host Danny Choo
– HCotW: Asami Rei
– IotW: Corpse Sleeping Bag
– Samurai vs Shadows
– Pirates invade Japanese trains
– Japanese Spys
– Design a Vocaloid
– Otaku Hair salon
– Music Video for Rhymester Posted Online
– Get on the Polysics special edition album cover
– Upcoming Anime Releases
– Star Blazers raids SyFy
– Aquarian gets a new Series
– Kill Bill and the Whole Bloody Affair
– Haruhi Suzumiya Novel with Kyon Short Story
– The Sneaker to End
– Hiromu Arakawa starts a new series
– Upcoming Video Game Releases
– Atlus is Emo!?
– All Japanese 3DS Are Gone!!!
– DLC still alive for GH and DJ Hero

A Day in the Life of Katsucon

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Day 1: Katsucon uses Confusion!

ENTRY-4:45 PM 2/18/11: If chaos had a clumsy and rather confused younger brother, he would be named Katsucon. As a long time Otaku, and  present sufferer of a dislike of crowds, my only previous anime convention experience has been limited to Baltimore’s own Otakon. But on this glorious day of February 18th, 2011 A.D, myself P-Chan along with the Ninja Legion’s Spider, Cecil Blade, Alora, Cross, and Pincer all find ourselves at the Gaylord Hotel preparing for madness. First and foremost, I would like to say it took us nearly an hour, about six different convention workers, and three miles of trekking before we were actually able to find the press and panel ops. It was kinda sad really. Not a single con helper could point us in the right direction. Oh, they could send us up and down the floors, to one end of the convention center to another, and just general say, “Sorry, but the princess is in another castle.” But telling us where we needed to be was a completely new concept to them. Its not even 5 o’clock yet and I’ve already managed to spend almost a hundred dollars. That can be considered a win and, at the same time, a resounding fail. You decide.

ENTRY-9:04 PM 2/18/11: Katsucon’s opening ceremony was a lot like a Kindergarten class’s first play. It was poorly scripted, all the actors missed their cues or forgot their lines, and you still clap despite the fact that the entire production was a debacle. The defining moment of the entire ceremony was the stunning rendition of the Metal Gear Solid theme performed by Trifecta, a talented band complete with live violin, taiko drums, and a DJ. If not for a breathtaking opening number I would have lost interest in the whole spectacle. Amidst the hosts poor attempts at humor, technical hiccups, and a short unfunny film, he finally gave up the special guests in attendance. Well not really. He just kinda did an elementary attendance call having people he mentioned stand. It was a sad preview to what I can only see as being a bit of a disappointment of a con. Prove me wrong Katsu. Please.

ENTRY-1:43 AM 2/19/11: Well I did a little pre-gaming with Halo: Reach seeing as how I will be signing up for the tournament tomorrow. Several beers and a dozen games later I found myself back in my groove of  tea bagging, proposing indecent acts on opponent’s mothers, and overall dominance. For the record, I’m gonna feel like a complete ass if we lose in the first round. I have come to realize that Katsucon is the most disorganized place on the planet. While at The Ninja Legion’s game show panel, they couldn’t get the lights to stay on. Turns out that the space they had was split by a divider and they shared lights. The problem was, they were watching a movie next door. Fail fat security kid dressed as a Ghostbuster. Epic fail.

If you take the collective creativity brought into the process of an entity like Katsucon work, you will come to the same realization that I have. The very foundations of a creative world are being laid here with anime and Japanese culture merely being the catalyst for the revolution. The sheer amount of raw talent, unflinching love for the material, and the sometimes frenzied fervor, are something to be admired. Not just in popular culture but in society as a whole. The Otaku’s here have found something that the so called “Artistic Masters”, the directors, writers, and even actors can’t claim: Unadulterated love. For these masses, this material is their Shakespeare. They are the creative future and their visions will soon bring your realm of understanding into a brave, albeit strangely new, forefront of art. Are you ready? I know I am.

Dead Space 2 Review

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“Your mom hates Dead Space 2!” That’s one hell of a tag line and EA knows exactly how to deliver. In EA’s (Electronic Art’s for those not in the know) newest gaming experience we find Isaac Clarke, our tortured protagonist once again thrust into dangerous proximity with the mindless Necromorph. Released January 25, 2011, Dead Space 2 is the follow up to its 2008 predecessor and once again things are not looking up for Mr. Clarke. Just like the previous game Dead Space 2 is a third person survival horror action shooter with no traditional HUD (Heads up display). Instead, all of your stats are rendered with holographic projectors on your person. This frees up you screen from all of the typical clutter and leaves you to fully appreciate the horrific experience.
Every weapon is satisfying to use and are as visually stunning as they are unique. Of course you start out with your tried and true plasma cutter. It’s an essential with a decent firing rate and hit damage. Along the way you will see weapons from the first game like the Line Gun, the Flamethrower (which is still rather useless), Pulse Rifle, and Ripper. The new weapons, which I won’t ruin for you, are all great additions to your arsenal, adding a few new twists in combat and opening you up to opportunities to kill multiple enemies at once. Believe me, there are more than enough enemies. There is nothing more stressing than being locked down in a small room with six or seven Necromorphs. E.A promised to incorporate more puzzles and uses of Isaac’s engineering background but other than a rather simple mini games to open doors (You spin the analog stick until your contact cone glows blue three different times), and occasionally fixing a machine that has malfunctioned you really don’t use your talents any more than in the original Dead Space.
The landscape of Dead Space 2 is that of a proverbial utopia spiraling into hell. The Spire, the Unitologists God stone, is not the celestial harbinger of tranquility and enlightenment but that of horror and unnatural creation and E.A makes you believe it with ever screen of the game. From the opening scenes you already know that you are in for something tragic. Flickering lights, blood drenched corridors, and corpse filled corridors greet you at every turn and the people you do encounter are as hopeless and sometimes as insane as your surrounds. An impressive score accompanies the visuals, often times frightening you more than the sudden shock of the sudden appearance of a Necromorph or event. At times Isaac’s waning sanity makes it hard for you to discern what is real and what is not a chilling and disturbing cinematic and visual effect that helps drive the story and give you more insight into exactly what he was thinking throughout the first game.
Dead Space 2 is great experience for any survival horror fan. With stunning graphics, enough changes in game play to break up an monotony, and a pace that never allows you to let down your guard, this is a game you should own. I must give this game a 9/10.