Virtual Console Games on Wii, Wii U, and 3DS

Ver. 1.0.1 (04/03/2018)

Remember that script I wrote to parse the Wikipedia pages (Wii, Wii U, and 3DS) to find Virtual Console exclusives? I modified it to create tables listing availability of games for each platform. Thought this would be more useful.

NES

Made a mistake in my previous recommendation. S.C.A.T. is apparently available on all 3 platforms, not exclusive to Wii. Should’ve known game titles may not be consistent across the Wikipedia pages. Oh well, at least I get to enjoy the game in 240p. Let me know if you spot any other error!

Title Wii Wii U 3DS
A Boy and His Blob: Trouble on Blobolonia
Adventure Island
Adventure Island II
Adventures of Bayou Billy, The
Adventures of Lolo
Adventures of Lolo 2
Balloon Fight
Baseball
Baseball Simulator 1.000
Bases Loaded
Bio Miracle Bokutte Upa
Blades of Steel
Blaster Master
Bubble Bobble
BurgerTime
Castlevania
Castlevania II: Simon’s Quest
Castlevania III: Dracula’s Curse
City Connection
Clu Clu Land
Crash ‘N’ The Boys: Street Challenge
Dig Dug
Dig Dug II
Donkey Kong
Donkey Kong 3
Donkey Kong Jr.
Donkey Kong Jr. Math
Double Dragon
Double Dragon II: The Revenge
Double Dragon III: The Sacred Stones
Double Dribble
Dr. Mario
Duck Hunt
EarthBound Beginnings
Elevator Action
Excitebike
Faxanadu
Final Fantasy
Flying Dragon: The Secret Scroll
Flying Warriors
Galaga
Gargoyle’s Quest II
Ghosts ‘n Goblins
Golf
Gradius
Hogan’s Alley
Ice Climber
Ice Hockey
Kid Icarus
King’s Knight
Kirby’s Adventure
Kung-Fu Heroes
Legend of Kage, The
Legend of Zelda, The
Life Force
Little Ninja Brothers
Lode Runner
Lunar Pool
Mach Rider
Mappy-Land
Mario Bros.
Mega Man
Mega Man 2
Mega Man 3
Mega Man 4
Mega Man 5
Mega Man 6
Metroid
Mighty Bomb Jack
Mighty Final Fight
Milon’s Secret Castle
Mysterious Murasame Castle, The
NES Open Tournament Golf
NES Play Action Football
Ninja Gaiden
Ninja Gaiden II: The Dark Sword of Chaos
Ninja Gaiden III: The Ancient Ship of Doom
Ninja JaJaMaru-kun
Operation Wolf
Pac-Land
Pac-Man
Pinball
Princess Tomato in the Salad Kingdom
Punch-Out!!
Renegade
River City Ransom
S.C.A.T.: Special Cybernetic Attack Team
Shadow of the Ninja
Sky Kid
Soccer
Solomon’s Key
Spelunker
Star Soldier
StarTropics
Stinger
Street Fighter 2010: The Final Fight
Summer Carnival ’92: Recca
Super C
Super Dodge Ball
Super Mario Bros.
Super Mario Bros. 2
Super Mario Bros. 3
Super Mario Bros.: The Lost Levels
Tecmo Bowl
Tennis
Ufouria: The Saga
Urban Champion
Volleyball
Vs. Excitebike
Wario’s Woods
Wild Gunman
Wrecking Crew
Xevious
Yoshi
Zanac
Zelda II: The Adventure of Link
Zoda’s Revenge: StarTropics II

 

SNES

Title Wii Wii U 3DS
ActRaiser
Aero the Acro-Bat
Aero the Acro-Bat 2
Axelay
Brawl Brothers
Breath of Fire
Breath of Fire II
Castlevania: Dracula X
Chrono Trigger
Combatribes, The
Contra III: The Alien Wars
Cybernator
Darius Twin
Demon’s Crest
DoReMi Fantasy: Milon’s DokiDoki Adventure
Donkey Kong Country
Donkey Kong Country 2: Diddy’s Kong Quest
Donkey Kong Country 3: Dixie Kong’s Double Trouble!
EarthBound
F-Zero
Final Fantasy II
Final Fantasy III
Final Fantasy Mystic Quest
Final Fight
Final Fight 2
Final Fight 3
Genghis Khan II: Clan of the Gray Wolf
Ghoul Patrol
Gradius III
Harvest Moon
Ignition Factor, The
Indiana Jones’ Greatest Adventures
Kirby Super Star
Kirby’s Avalanche
Kirby’s Dream Course
Kirby’s Dream Land 3
Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past, The
Legend of the Mystical Ninja, The
Mega Man 7
Mega Man X
Mega Man X2
Mega Man X3
Metal Marines
Natsume Championship Wrestling
Nobunaga’s Ambition
Ogre Battle: The March of the Black Queen
Pac-Attack
Pac-Man 2: The New Adventures
Pilotwings
Prince of Persia
Rival Turf!
Romance of the Three Kingdoms IV: Wall of Fire
Secret of Mana
Space Invaders: The Original Game
Street Fighter Alpha 2
Street Fighter II Turbo: Hyper Fighting
Street Fighter II: The World Warrior
Super Adventure Island
Super Adventure Island II
Super Bonk
Super Castlevania IV
Super E.D.F.: Earth Defense Force
Super Ghouls ‘n Ghosts
Super Mario Kart
Super Mario RPG: Legend of the Seven Stars
Super Mario World
Super Metroid
Super Punch-Out!!
Super Star Wars
Super Star Wars: Return of the Jedi
Super Star Wars: The Empire Strikes Back
Super Street Fighter II: The New Challengers
Super Turrican
Uncharted Waters: New Horizons
Vegas Stakes
Wild Guns
Zombies Ate My Neighbors

 

N64

Not available on 3DS.

Title Wii Wii U 3DS
1080° Snowboarding
Bomberman 64
Bomberman Hero
Cruis’n USA
Donkey Kong 64
Excitebike 64
F-Zero X
Harvest Moon 64
Kirby 64: The Crystal Shards
Legend of Zelda: Majora’s Mask, The
Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time, The
Mario Golf
Mario Kart 64
Mario Party 2
Mario Tennis
Ogre Battle 64: Person of Lordly Caliber
Paper Mario
Pokémon Puzzle League
Pokémon Snap
Sin and Punishment
Star Fox 64
Super Mario 64
Super Smash Bros.
Wave Race 64
Yoshi’s Story

 

TG-16

Not available on 3DS.

Title Wii Wii U 3DS
Air Zonk
Alien Crush
Battle Chopper
Battle Lode Runner
Blazing Lazers
Bomberman ’93
Bomberman ’94
Bomberman: Panic Bomber
Bonk 3: Bonk’s Big Adventure
Bonk’s Adventure
Bonk’s Revenge
Bravoman
Break In
Castlevania: Rondo of Blood
Chase H.Q.
Chew Man Fu
China Warrior
Cho Aniki
Cratermaze
Dead Moon
Detana!! TwinBee
Devil’s Crush
Digital Champ: Battle Boxing
Double Dungeons
Dragon Spirit
Dragon’s Curse
Dungeon Explorer
Dynastic Hero, The
Fighting Street
Final Soldier
Galaga ’90
Gate of Thunder
Gradius
Gradius II: Gofer no Yabou
Image Fight
Image Fight II
J.J. & Jeff
Legend of Hero Tonma
Lords of Thunder
Military Madness
Monster Lair
Moto Roader
Necromancer
Neutopia
Neutopia II
New Adventure Island
Ninja Spirit
Ordyne
Power Golf
Psychosis
R-Type
Riot Zone
Salamander
Samurai Ghost
Shockman
Soldier Blade
Splatterhouse
Street Fighter II: Champion Edition
Super Air Zonk: Rockabilly-Paradise
Super Star Soldier
Victory Run
Vigilante
World Class Baseball
World Sports Competition
Ys Book I & II

 

GBA

Not available on Wii.

Title Wii Wii U 3DS
Advance Wars
Advance Wars 2: Black Hole Rising
Car Battler Joe
Castlevania: Aria of Sorrow
Castlevania: Circle of the Moon
Castlevania: Harmony of Dissonance
Contra Advance: The Alien Wars EX
DK: King of Swing
Drill Dozer
F-Zero – GP Legend
F-Zero: Maximum Velocity
Final Fantasy Tactics Advance
Final Fight One
Fire Emblem
Fire Emblem: The Sacred Stones
Game & Watch Gallery 4
Golden Sun
Golden Sun: The Lost Age
Harvest Moon: Friends of Mineral Town
Harvest Moon: More Friends of Mineral Town
Kirby & the Amazing Mirror
Kirby: Nightmare in Dream Land
Klonoa 2: Dream Champ Tournament
Klonoa: Empire of Dreams
Konami Krazy Racers
Kuru Kuru Kururin[a]
Legend of Zelda: The Minish Cap, The
Mario & Luigi: Superstar Saga
Mario Golf: Advance Tour
Mario Kart: Super Circuit
Mario Party Advance
Mario Pinball Land
Mario Tennis: Power Tour
Mario vs. Donkey Kong
Medabots AX: Metabee
Medabots AX: Rokusho
Medabots: Metabee
Medabots: Rokusho
Mega Man & Bass
Mega Man Battle Chip Challenge
Mega Man Battle Network
Mega Man Battle Network 2
Mega Man Battle Network 3 Blue
Mega Man Battle Network 3 White
Mega Man Battle Network 4 Blue Moon
Mega Man Battle Network 4 Red Sun
Mega Man Battle Network 5 Team Colonel
Mega Man Battle Network 5 Team Protoman
Mega Man Battle Network 6: Cybeast Falzar
Mega Man Battle Network 6: Cybeast Gregar
Mega Man Zero
Mega Man Zero 2
Mega Man Zero 3
Mega Man Zero 4
Metroid Fusion
Metroid: Zero Mission
Mr. Driller 2
Namco Museum
Onimusha Tactics
Pac-Man Collection
Pocky & Rocky with Becky
Pokémon Mystery Dungeon Red Rescue Team
Pokémon Pinball: Ruby & Sapphire
Polarium Advance
Rayman 3: Hoodlum Havoc
Rayman Advance
Super Ghouls ‘n Ghosts
Super Mario Advance
Super Mario Advance 4: Super Mario Bros. 3
Super Mario World: Super Mario Advance 2
Super Street Fighter II Turbo Revival
Wario Land 4
WarioWare, Inc.: Mega Microgames!
Yoshi’s Island: Super Mario Advance 3

 

OTHERS

Each platform also has its exclusive platforms.

Wii: Master System, Genesis, Neo Geo, and Arcade.

Wii U: DS.

3DS: Game Boy, Game Boy Color, and Game Gear.

Wii Virtual Console Exclusives (plus WiiWare!)

Ver. 1.0.0  (03/24/18)

(This post is complete. Only minor updates will be made going forward.)

Nintendo is closing the Wii Shop Channel on January 31, 2019, and Wii Points, for buying anything in said channel, are no longer available for purchase after March 26, 2018. For retrogamers like me, this might not seem like a big deal, until I realized that not all Wii Virtual Console games are available on Wii U and 3DS! Granted, Wii’s retrogame emulation is at best serviceable, but it’s just so convenient. Besides, amongst the sea of shovel-ware that is the WiiWare, there’re still pearls worth owning before they’re forever washed away by the tides of time.

I wrote a simple script to parse Wikipedia’s lists of Virtual Console games (for Wii, Wii U, and 3DS) to find each platform’s exclusives. Below you’ll find the results (in alphabetical order) and my personal recommendations. Whether you still have Wii hooked up to the TV, or you’re using Wii U’s Wii Mode (not recommended), it’s worth a look to see if anything tickles your fancy. Note: These games are for North America; I don’t know about their availability for other regions.

Wii VIRTUAL CONSOLE EXCLUSIVES

Nintendo Entertainment System (NES) / Famicom

(19 exclusives)
A Boy and His Blob: Trouble on Blobolonia
Adventures of Lolo 2
Bio Miracle Bokutte Upa
Blades of Steel
Bubble Bobble
BurgerTime
Double Dribble
Elevator Action
Faxanadu
Final Fantasy
King’s Knight
Lunar Pool
NES Play Action Football
Ninja JaJaMaru-kun
Operation Wolf
Princess Tomato in the Salad Kingdom
S.C.A.T.: Special Cybernetic Attack Team
The Legend of Kage
Zanac

Recommended:

Adventures of Lolo 2
Faxanadu
Princess Tomato in the Salad Kingdom
S.C.A.T.: Special Cybernetic Attack Team
Zanac

Note: Bubble Bobble and Final Fantasy are also worthy, but they’re better on the NES Classic Edition.

Super Nintendo Entertainment System (SNES) / Super Famicom

(26 exclusives)
ActRaiser
Aero the Acro-Bat
Aero the Acro-Bat 2
Chrono Trigger
Darius Twin
DoReMi Fantasy: Milon’s DokiDoki Adventure
Final Fantasy II
Final Fantasy III
Final Fantasy Mystic Quest
Ghoul Patrol
Gradius III
Indiana Jones’ Greatest Adventures
Kirby’s Avalanche
Ogre Battle: The March of the Black Queen
Prince of Persia
Secret of Mana
Space Invaders: The Original Game
Super Adventure Island
Super Adventure Island II
Super Bonk
Super Star Wars
Super Star Wars: Return of the Jedi
Super Star Wars: The Empire Strikes Back
Super Turrican
The Combatribes
Zombies Ate My Neighbors

Recommended:

ActRaiser
Chrono Trigger
DoReMi Fantasy: Milon’s DokiDoki Adventure
Super Bonk
Zombies Ate My Neighbors

Note: SNES Chrono Trigger is still the best because all the ports and remakes are subpar, and it’s criminally missing from SNES Classic Edition.

Note: Final Fantasy II (Final Fantasy IV for real) has numerous enhanced remakes. Final Fantasy III (Final Fantasy VI for real) is better on SNES Classic Edition.

Note: Gradius III is an arcade port. The arcade version is available on PS2 and PSP.

Note: Ogre Battle enhanced remake is available on PS1.

Note: Secret of Mana is better on SNES Classic Edition.

Note: Super Turrican Director’s Cut is available on Analogue Super Nt.

Nintendo 64 (N64)

(4 exclusives)
Bomberman Hero
Cruis’n USA
Pokémon Puzzle League
Super Smash Bros.

Recommended:

Pokémon Puzzle League
Super Smash Bros.

TurboGrafx-16 (TG16) / PC Engine / TurboDuo

(25 exclusives)
Bravoman
Castlevania: Rondo of Blood
Chase H.Q.
Cho Aniki
Cratermaze
Dead Moon
Dragon Spirit
Dragon’s Curse
Fighting Street
Galaga ’90
Gate of Thunder
Gradius II: Gofer no Yabou
J.J. & Jeff
Military Madness
Monster Lair
Ordyne
Psychosis
Riot Zone
Samurai Ghost
Splatterhouse
Street Fighter II: Champion Edition
Super Air Zonk: Rockabilly-Paradise
The Dynastic Hero
World Class Baseball
Ys Book I & II

Recommended:

Castlevania: Rondo of Blood
Gate of Thunder
Military Madness
Super Air Zonk: Rockabilly-Paradise
The Dynastic Hero

Note: Dragon’s Curse is also known as Wonder Boy III: The Dragon’s Trap, which is available on many platforms and remade for modern systems like PS4 and Switch.

Note: Gradius II is an arcade port, and the arcade version is available on PS4.

Note: The Dynastic Hero is also known as Wonder Boy in Monster World.

Note: Even though Ys is the quintessential action RPG series on TG16, Ys Book I & II has been ported and enhanced for many later systems.

Genesis / Mega Drive

Genesis games aren’t available on Wii U or 3DS VC, so currently all 73 titles on Wii are technically exclusives, but I’m not listing them here. Furthermore, Sega has been doing a decent job compiling their greatest hits for modern systems (Sonic’s Ultimate Genesis Collection for PS3/Xbox 360, Sega Genesis Collection for PS2), and sometimes cheaper (Steam). In fact, most of the Steam collection is coming to PS4 and Xbox One.

I also highly recommend the 3DS Sega 3D Classics. These are some of the best remakes and unique ways to experience the classics. In addition, some of the cult favorite series like Wonder Boy and Fantasy Zone, and the Capcom arcade games, have been released as compilations and remakes. I’d recommend those alternatives if they are readily accessible.

So, here’re my favorites that aren’t easily found in compilations or as remakes, making them truly worth owning on Wii.

Recommended:

Gley Lancer
Mega Turrican
MUSHA
Pulseman
Rolling Thunder 2

Note: Rolling Thunder 2 is a Namco arcade port, but I find the Genesis version better.

Bonus: (These gems may be available elsewhere but I consider best on this platform.)
Ghouls ‘n Ghosts
Mercs
Puyo Puyo 2
Super Fantasy Zone

 

Neo Geo

Another system that’s not on Wii U or 3DS, but SNK has re-released most of its games more times than there are fighting games in this library (which is a lot), so whether you’re the sworn defender of PS4, Xbox One, or Switch, you’ll find the most popular titles on your platform (in particular, take a look at Hamster’s ACA Neo Geo offerings).

As such, the sole gem, of which the original is too expensive and hard to find, is:

Recommended:

Ironclad

 

Master System / Sega Mark III

Similar to Genesis, this system isn’t available on Wii U or 3DS, but only 15 titles are available on Wii. If you don’t have better alternatives to play the Wonder Boy and Fantasy Zone games, or Phantasy Star, you should get them here. In addition, the following are pretty good:

Recommended:

Alex Kidd in Miracle World
Alex Kidd in Shinobi World
Sonic the Hedgehog
Sonic the Hedgehog 2

 

Arcade

Wii U and 3DS VC don’t have an equivalent arcade section, but like many other retro games mentioned on this page, most games here (totaling 21) are cheaper on other platforms. And frankly, these old arcade games, shallow and quarter-hungry by design, simply don’t stand the test of time. Hence, I can’t recommend any.

 

WiiWare RECOMMENDATIONS (Bonus!)

While Virtual Console is the main draw, let’s not forget WiiWare, which will be closing down at the same time. While most of its games are a waste of resources, there’re a handful of worthy exclusives in the name of retrogaming.

If nothing else, you must get the Konami ReBirth games if any of these genres appeals to you:

Gradius ReBirth – Remix of various Gradius games.

 

Contra ReBirth – Original title that looks and plays similar to SNES’ Contra III: The Alien Wars.

 

Castlevania: The Adventure ReBirth – Remake of Game Boy’s Castlevania: The Adventure.

 

Nintendo also has some offerings in their lesser-known IPs like Dr. Mario and WarioWare, but my pick has to be Excitebike: World Rally, an excellent update of the NES original.

 

My next pick is Blaster Master Overdrive. Don’t believe the critics; they’re just bunch of wusses who can’t handle a hardcore retro remake. OK, it would’ve been nice if they supported the Classic Controller, but it’s still pretty playable with Wiimote.

 

Lastly, get Bomberman Blast only if you have friends. It’s rather boring if you play alone.

 

That’s all. What else do you think I should get? Thanks.

My San Diego Comic-Con 2016 Photos

naruto_rin

OMG, did you watch the latest Naruto Shippuden episodes?? It’s been a long, long time since this series tugged at my heartstrings. Won’t spoil it for you, but I’d recommend tissues.

On with the main topic! This is a short post. I know, Comic-Con‘s been over for a month, but I thought you might still enjoy these photos. This year I missed E3 and Anime Expo, but I was glad I attended Comic-Con. I’ve posted some of these photos to my Instagram (which you should follow), but here’s the complete set.

1 3 2 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36 37 38 39

Got something a little different planned for the next post. Stay tuned! 😉

 

State of AnimeRetroGames Affairs

Hi, my name’s Randy Hsiao. I’m a huge anime and video games fan. I watch anime while exercising, and I play games when I have free time. I especially have a soft spot for retro games. I spend more money on figures, goods, and games than I care to admit. Otaku inside out. I used to put hobby-related posts on my personal blog Air Combo, but I’ve decided to create a dedicated website, hence AnimeRetroGames.com is born. I’ve transferred a few relevant posts from my old blog to this site as a start. Another reason for the site is to get to know people who share similar interests, so please leave comments in the blog. Also feel free to introduce yourself at randy@animeretrogames.com. I’d love to hear any suggestion and make friends!

In addition, AnimeRetroGames is on Instagram and Twitter. I post pics of my personal collection, as well as news and sales of the latest. Follow me if you like, you know, that kind of stuff.

Bummed I didn’t attend Anime Expo this year (first time in many years). I watched a lot of anime at home over the July 4th weekend to make up, and this is another all-anime post. Few words on where we left off (here, and here). To get our blood pumping, let’s start with the sports genre.

 

Yowamushi Pedal (YowaPeda) season 3 will air in January 2017! To get a refresher, there are 3 movies (2 compilations) to check out. Additionally, there’ll be a film adaptation of the Spare Bike spin-off manga in September.

 

No words on season 4 of Kuroko’s Basketball, but 3 compilation movies, one per season released so far, are coming: Winter Cup Compilation ~Shadow and Light~ on September 3, ~Beyond the Tears~ on October 8, and ~Crossing the Door~ on December 3.

 

Season 2 of Haikyu!! (Haikyuu!!) has concluded (sooo good), and season 3 is scheduled for October. Does Karasuno really have a chance against Shiratorizawa? Can’t wait to find out!

 

In other anime news, Cute High Earth Defense Club LOVE! season 2, Cute High Earth Defense Club LOVE! LOVE!, has started; so has the next arc of JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure, subtitled Diamond is Unbreakable. While I still like it, I think this arc is a bit weak compared to the phenomenal Stardust Crusaders. The main characters just don’t seem to have as much personality. Ushio and Tora has concluded with season 2, while Food Wars! Shokugeki no Soma season 2 started on a high note with fantastic and funny cook-offs. Fairy Tail‘s latest arc, Fairy Tail Zero (detailing the origin of the guild), concluded a while ago and was pretty good, but it’s a long wait while they work on the next season. Assassination Classroom season 2 has also concluded, but I’ve yet to watch it, so don’t spoil it! Lastly, apologies for ending on bad news. Attack on Titan season 2, which was supposed to have aired already, has been postponed to next year 🙁 At least there are 2 compilation and 2 live-action movies if you can’t get enough like me.

 

Let’s look at some new series. Only 3 to recommend this time. First is KONOSUBA (God’s blessing on this wonderful world!). The series follows a teenager who died in the real world and was transported to an RPG world. He found party members in a narcissistic goddess, a stubborn magician, and a masochist crusader. Misadventures ensued. It’s meant to be a comedy, and when it’s funny, it’s really funny, but most of the time the jokes felt cliche. Maybe I’m just jaded. Still, the story and characters are interesting, and it has introduced the term NEET to me, so I’m gonna keep watching. Season 1 (only 10 episodes) has concluded, and season 2 airs in January next year.

 

Next up is GATE (The Self-Defense Forces Fight Like This in That Place). A portal “gate” appeared in modern day Tokyo, and soldiers and monsters from a fantasy world emerged to attack the city. With unquestionably superior technology, Japan Self-Defense Forces (JSDF) easily pushed back the enemy through the gate and forced the empire of this other world to open peace negotiations (hmm, still holding a grudge against Matthew C. Perry after all these years?). Main hero, a 33-year-old otaku and a JSDF soldier, is of the unwilling-hero-answering-call-to-greatness trope. Despite lacking ambition in his career, he has leadership qualities that draw people both within JSDF and from the fantasy world to him, and he has a knack of getting into and out of sticky situations. Honestly, the series feels a bit like shameless self-promotion for JSDF — I mean, seriously, in what world can JSDF possibly defeat elite forces from western nations (around ep. 9 or 10)?? But propaganda aside, the show has a good story and very memorable characters. Demi-goddess Rory Mercury alone turned every fan into a gothic lolicon. Contains some mature content, with a generally comedic vibe. 24 episodes, concluding a story arc but not the main story. Don’t know if there’ll be a next season.

 

Finally, we have Re:ZERO (Starting Life in Another World). Again, main character is a young male otaku in the real world, who was mysteriously teleported to a fantasy world of swords and sorcery (circumstances unclear). The twist is, when he dies in this new world, he wakes up to a previous point in his adventure, retaining all his memory up to his death, while everyone else is none the wiser. It’s akin to a “check point” in a video game. It’s then up to him to find a solution to avoid the certain “death” and get to next check point. Of the 3, I think this one is the most interesting. The fact they like to end episodes on cliffhangers makes it even more compelling to continue watching. Similar to GATE, the show has some dark moments, but it’s generally upbeat. Only 15 episodes aired so far, and believe me, you won’t want to stop after you start watching.

It’s interesting all 3 series involve a guy otaku who finds himself in a familiar fantasy world because of all the games he played, manga he read, and anime he watched. In the fantasy world, he can use his otherwise useless knowledge to his advantage. That just seems to be a popular trend in anime right now. Probably resonates with most anime fans. Certainly does with me. BTW, all 3 series have fan service.. well, maybe not as much in Re:ZERO, but you’ve been warned.

 

That’s it for now. Do you like my recommendations? Please add yours in the comments section below! Oh, I also want to mention that One Piece and Naruto Shippuden have become good again. The Dressrosa arc of One Piece had been dragging, but I really liked the concluding episodes. There were moments that brought tears to my eyes, as the theme of freedom was revisited. It’s one of the big reasons I fell in love with the series. It’s also good to see Naruto can still be humorous in the middle of an epic battle, and now we’re onto the story of how the ninja world got started, which is at least a lot more interesting than the usual filler episodes. I do hope the series concludes this year. It’s been long enough. :p

 

Dead or Alive Xtreme 3 (i)FAQ

Dead or Alive Xtreme 3

Here’s a FAQ no one asked for. In fact, these questions are asked so rarely — possibly only ever by me — that this is an “iFAQ,” or inFrequently Asked Questions. Enjoy.

1. What is Dead or Alive Xtreme 3?

DOAX 3 for short. It’s an upcoming video game and the second sequel, as the name implies, to the beach volleyball spin-off of the Dead or Alive (DOA) fighting game series. Similar to its predecessors, the game focuses on the girls of DOA, as they take vacation on a beach resort island and participate in various activities, mini-games, and a not-so-serious 2-on-2 beach volleyball game.

 

2. What platform is it for?

There are two versions. DOAX 3: Fortune is for PlayStation 4 (PS4), and DOAX 3: Venus is for PlayStation Vita (PSV). “F” for four, “V” for Vita; simple as that. Both versions are pretty much the same. The PS4 version obviously has better graphics, but the Vita version uses the touch input to let player directly touch the girls. Yes, it’s as lewd as it sounds.

 

3. When is the game coming out?

March 24, 2016. Ya, in just a few days. However, it’s only going to be released in Japan, and Asia in general. There was some talk about localizing it for the western markets, but ultimately the publisher decided to keep it in Asia. The prequels never sold well in the west and got panned by the critics for the game’s subject matter, so history probably would’ve repeated itself anyway. As we all know, the American game market is too mature and classy for games like this.

4. Is this game worth playing?

Not really. The beach volleyball game is OK (based on my experience with the prequels), the other competitive mini-games, even one with a cool name and concept like “butt sumo,” are forgettable, and the casino mini-games aren’t for entertainment — their only purpose is to rack up money to buy swimsuits for the girls. So, if you’re looking for deep gameplay and rich content, there isn’t any here.

The whole point of the game is to ogle. The DOA girls have been infamous for their well-endowed and bouncy boobs since the series’ debut on the original PlayStation. For generations (of video game consoles), we.. I mean the fans of the series.. have been mesmerized by the girls’ anime-style angelic faces and their polygonal yet inexplicably alluring bodies. The DOAX series exists only to give fans another way to fantasize about the girls.

 

5. Who made the game?

It’s developed by Team Ninja, the developer of the Dead or Alive fighting game series, and published by Koei Tecmo. I’d still get the game no matter who makes it, but I guess Team Ninja is the only developer in the industry care enough to improve boob and butt physics (they call the technology Soft Engine 2.0), so I’m glad it’s by them.

 

6. I’m a DOA/DOAX fan (brave of you to admit it). Which of the DOA girls are in the game?

This is the sad part. Only NINE girls are in this game, and there’s no plan to release the other girls as DLC later. These were selected out of the 15 girls from Dead or Alive 5 Last Round (latest in the DOA series) based on whose paid character themes were downloaded the most on the Japanese PlayStation Store:

1. Marie Rose (17.6%)

2. Honoka (14.9%)

3. Kasumi (12.0%)

4. Ayane (8.2%)

5. Kokoro (8.0%)

6. Nyotengu (7.6%)

7. Hitomi (5.9%)

8. Momiji (5.1%)

9. Helena Douglas (4.9%)

Unqualified
10. Leifang (4.7%)
11. Tina (3.9%)
12. Mila (2.6%)
13. Rachel (1.8%)
14. Christie (1.5%)
15. Lisa (1.4%)

The top two, Marie Rose and Honoka, are the girls on the game covers. Japanese lolicon at its finest.

7. How can I play the game if the game’s not released in North America?

PS4 and PSV aren’t region-locked, so you can play Japanese or Asian games with your US machine no problem. Of course, for a non-Japanese speaker, there’s the language barrier, and you also need to know where to get the game. Good news is I’ve got you covered on both fronts… Read on!

Which Version of DOAX 3 and Where to Buy

Even if you know you want to get Fortune or Venus, or both, there are a couple of options to consider. As mentioned, there’s a Japan and an Asia version (Hong Kong, Taiwan, Korea, etc.) of each game. For non-Japanese speakers, I highly recommend the Asia version, as it comes with Chinese, English, and Korean subtitles!

Then, for each game, there’s a regular edition and a collector’s edition. The regular edition just comes with the game. The more expensive collector’s edition includes a lot of goodies like art book, playing cards, 3D mouse pad, etc. (more details below). If you feel like splurging, there’s also a Saikyou Package, which literally means “The Strongest Package,” that includes the collector’s editions of both Fortune and Venus, as well as nine B2-size “bath posters” (meaning they’re waterproof), one of each of the girls.

As for where to buy the game(s), I highly recommend Play-Asia.com. Disclaimer: I’m a Play-Asia affiliate, so please order through following links to help support more quality posts like this in the future 🙂 However, I recommend Play-Asia not just because I’m an affiliate. I’ve been a long-time customer of theirs, and while they’re Hong Kong-based, I’ve never had any problem with my orders, despite the long-distance shipping. They’re also very responsive with emails (and English friendly). Finally, I find their prices mostly reasonable — especially for DOAX 3: they’re the only reputable online retailer I know of that sells the Asia versions of the games at reasonable prices. Click on the photos below to order yours!

Asia

Fortune Regular Edition:

Dead or Alive Xtreme 3 Fortune Asia

 

Fortune Collector’s Edition:

Dead or Alive Xtreme 3 Fortune Asia Collector's Edition

Extra goodies include:

  • 48-page Fortune Gravure Photo Book
  • Xtreme Sexy Costume F Set (digital download code)
  • Marie Rose Xtreme 3D Mouse Pad (small boobs)
  • Fortune Playing Cards
DOAX 3 Fortune Asia Collector's Edition contents

Venus Regular Edition:

Dead or Alive Xtreme 3 Venus Asia

Venus Collector’s Edition:

Dead or Alive Xtreme 3 Venus Asia Collector's Edition

Extra goodies include:

  • 48-page Venus Gravure Photo Book
  • Xtreme Sexy Costume V Set (digital download code)
  • Honoka Xtreme 3D Mouse Pad
  • Venus Playing Cards
DOAX 3 Venus Asia Collector's Edition contents

Saikyou Package:

Dead or Alive Xtreme 3 Saikyou Package Asia

Includes both Fortune and Venus Collector’s Edition, and nine B2 posters:

DOAX 3 Saikyou Package Asia contents

Japan (if you insist)

Fortune Regular Edition

Fortune Collector’s Edition

Extra goodies same as the Asia version.

Venus Regular Edition

Venus Collector’s Edition

Extra goodies same as the Asia version.

Saikyou Package

This is pretty rare, only released on Amazon Japan and GameCity, but otherwise it’s the same as the Asia Saikyou Package.

Finally…

With any version of Venus, if you order now, you get a code to download the “Angel” swimsuit for Honoka. Likewise, with any version of Fortune, you get a code to download the “Little Devil” swimsuit for Marie Rose. The two versions support cross-play, so you can transfer swimsuits around if you like.

To use these codes, as well as the swimsuit set codes from the collector’s editions, you probably need a Japanese PlayStation Store account. Let me know if you need help doing this. Have fun!

Another 12 Anime to Watch

Happy New Year!

Thing with next to no readers is I don’t feel pressured to write. Nonetheless, it’s enjoyable to consolidate thoughts into a cohesive post. Juggling a handful of exciting projects, life continues to be interesting. More shall be revealed in time. As for this post, I think more anime recommendations are in order.

First, a few words about the top ten list published in my lonesome 2014 post. Since that post, Yowapeda has concluded its season 2 (Grande Road). The heart-warming, feel-good trope has worn thin a bit, but the series continues to keep me, literally, at the edge of the gym cycling machine seat. It’s one of the better anime to watch while working out. I don’t know if there’ll be a season 3, but there’re compilation films of the seasons, with extra footages, for those who want more.

Similarly, JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure has concluded its third story arc – Stardust Crusaders. If you haven’t checked the series out, I recommend watching this arc at least. I pray to the anime gods that there’ll be more seasons, but I’m not holding my breath.

Kuroko’s Basketball also concluded its third season, and it was as spectacular and exciting as one could expect. The show has more or less become basketball players with superpowers duking it out, but it’s just popcorn-worthy fun watching those abilities getting revealed and countered. The last episode hints at a new season, and I’ll definitely be courtside when it airs.

On a slight down note, Hunter x Hunter has concluded, and I have to say, regrettably, that everything since my post has been a let down. As mentioned previously, the whole Chimera Ant arc has been head-scratching, and while the ending is a little cheap, at least the story’s complete. The worst is the Hunter Chairman Election arc that follows. It introduces whole bunch of new characters, raising my expectation way high for some interesting and intricately weaving storylines, only to end abruptly, leaving me high, dry, and unsatisfied. Well, At least the second-chair lead, Killua, to whom I’ve taken a liking more than the main character because of his more believable characterization and motivations, gets a chance to shine. The manga is of course on-going and seemingly never ending, but honestly, if the later story arcs are as weird and disappointing as these last two anime ones, I don’t think I’m missing much if they don’t do further anime adaptations.

Lastly, I want to issue a rare correction. Upon further reflection (and some rewatching), I’ve concluded that I’ve given Kill la Kill a much lower rank than it deserves. My reasoning at the time was that it contained too much blood, nudity, and general craziness to be recommended for the “mainstream.” However, I think a unique characteristic that separates anime from other entertainment media is its liberal use of silliness and hyperbole, so if you’re an anime fan, the outrageousness of this show shouldn’t bother you. I hereby officially change its rank to #2. It’s a show that simply shouldn’t be missed.

On with the new recommendations!

12. Cute High Earth Defense Club LOVE! (Binan Koukou Chikyuu Bouei-bu LOVE!)
12 episodes (season 1 complete).
I’m a huge comedy fan, so we begin the list with this silly show about five beautiful and magical high school boys, each with a nature-based superpower granted by a pink wombat from outer space, forming the “Earth Defense Club.” Their mission: prevent the “Earth Conquest Club” (run by other weirdly colored cute animals) from conquering Earth. If this sounds like Sailor Moon, that’s the whole point. If this doesn’t sound like something you want to watch, you’re wrong and missing out. Parody at its best. Season 2 has been announced.

11. Mobile Suit Gundam SEED
50 episodes (complete).
Yes, an oldie. I’ve always had an interest in Gundam (you — or I for that matter — don’t want to know how much money I’ve spent on Gundam models and toys), but I’ve only watched a few Gundam series in entirety. I found this full series subbed on YouTube with decent quality, so I gave it a look. If you can get over the cliched whiny main character, who refuses the mission at first but reluctantly accepts his calling later, the story’s surprisingly good and mature. Similar to other Gundam series, there’s a general theme of moral ambiguity, and characters aren’t always clearly delineated as good or evil. The apparent “bad guys” don’t seem so bad once viewer is introduced to their side of the story and given a chance to understand their motivations. Yes it’s a long series, but there aren’t really any filler episode like other long-running shows. Give it a try. By the way, probably due to its popularity, there’s a sequel series called Mobile Suit Gundam SEED Destiny that furthers the story. I’ve watched a few of its episodes, but I find it too similar to the original that it has become boring. Maybe in a few years, after I’ve largely forgotten about the original, I’ll return to it.

10. Ushio and Tora
26 episodes (season 1 complete).
While there have been few OVA adaptions in the 90s, this is the 2015 TV series based on the eponymous manga, which, if I remember correctly, has been around since I was in elementary school (some 25 years ago). It’s about a boy, Ushio, who by chance (or fate?) frees the “Beast Spear” and unleashes a monster called Tora (tiger in Japanese). Ushio and Tora form an uneasy friendship and unlikely bond, as they take on other enemies, be they monsters or humans. The monsters are usually based on Japanese folklores, giving the show a very oriental theme. Season 2 coming in April. Title song is pretty metal.

9. Arpeggio of Blue Steel (Aoki Hagane no Arupejio)
12 episodes (complete).
Fleet of Fog Military naval vessels personified as girls. The concept is similar to Kantai Collection, a popular Japanese web game and franchise. There’s even a canon KanColle anime, but that show is trash. Arpeggio is far superior. The main character, the typical high school boy genius who excels at military tactics (if Japan had all these high school boy geniuses, how could they have lost the war), is bland if not annoying. However, the supporting cast, especially the “mental models” (personifications of the vessels), are terrific. The plot is gripping too. A lot of times an episode ends on a cliffhanger that leads to the “just one more episode” phenomenon. Fantastic animation and great character designs (I love you, Takao). The story of the anime differs from that of the manga, even has an alternate ending. There’re also two movies.

8. Akame ga Kill!
24 episodes (complete).
A boy travels from the countryside to the city to make money, only to be brutally awakened to the truth by the cruelty of the city folks. One thing leads to another, he joins the assassin group Night Raid, whose purpose is to end the current regime and its corruption. There’re few moments of comic relief, but overall it’s a pretty dark and mature show (both theme-wise and content-wise… you’ve been warned). Great action and fight sequences. Colorful and memorable cast, with one of the more sadistic yet beautiful antagonists in anime history.

7. Is it Wrong to Try to Pick Up Girls in a Dungeon (Danjon ni Deai o Motomeru no wa Machigatteiru Darou ka, DanMachi for short)
13 episodes (complete?).
Story revolves around a boy adventurer, the sole member of the Hestia familia, who works hard in the Dungeon making ends meet. He falls for a fellow elite adventurer, while oblivious to the affections of other women toward him. Especially that of his own patron, the goddess Hestia. Plenty of references to mythologies of various cultures, most notably Greco-Roman. Yes, it’s yet another anime with the typical one-guy-many-girls trope, but the main character is hardly noticeable next to the tenacious and ever-so-cheerful Hestia, otherwise known as “lolipai,” or “loliboobs,” or “ribbon boobs” (you’ll get it first time you meet her). Don’t worry, the show has more meat than the apparent fan service.

6. No Game No Life
12 episodes (complete?).
The entire show is about games — not just video games but games in the most general sense. A brother and sister pair of undefeated gamers, bored by the lack of challenge in the human world, enter a fantasy world where playing games is the way of life. As an avid student of game theory, I watch this show almost as an educational program, if not for the excessive and sometimes border-lining illegal fan service. At least the art style is unique.

Now we’re moving from the “worth a watch” to “must watch” territory. Still with me?

5. Food Wars: Shokugeki no Soma
24 episodes (season 1 complete).
Think: Iron Chef on steroids. Never have I seen food rendered and animated so well in non-photorealistic rendering. I mean, I get hungry after watching each episode. Anyway, the story is once again about a young boy, but this time the said boy wants to be a better chef than his old man, so he goes to an elite cooking school to improve his culinary skills. Oh yeah, there’s fan service too, in that almost every time someone tastes a good dish, he or she (most of the time a “she”) voluntarily gets naked and undergoes an orgasmic reaction, at least mentally. I know I make the show sound like a B-rated porn, but I promise, it doesn’t disappoint.

4. Haikyu!! (Haikyuu!!)
38 episodes (season 2 on-going).
This show would’ve made it to my 2014 list had I not just started watching it at the time I wrote that post. I knew it was good even back then, but I wasn’t comfortable placing it in the ranking until I watched more. Well, better late than never. It’s a sports anime about volleyball. However, unlike Kuroko’s Basketball, this is more realistic. On a scale of 1 to 10, where 1 is life-like realism, and 10 is complete fantasy, if Kuroko’s Basketball were a 10, then Haikyu!! would be about a 3. Besides a good balance of comedy and feel-good sports theme, the animation and art direction really let the viewer feel the intensity of the back-and-forth of a match. The music is pretty good too, gotta hunt down a copy of the OST.

3. Fairy Tail
265 episodes (season 2 on-going).
Ah, one of the arteries of the anime scene. Besides Naruto, One Piece, and the waning Bleach, Fairy Tail has to be one of the bigger long-running series around. Took me long enough to finally get into this show, and I must say, it’s worth every minute! If Naruto is about ninja, and One Piece is about pirates, then Fairy Tail is about wizards. No, not the long-beard, pointy hat, Gandalf kind, but more like young, sexy, superhero style. Colorful cast (doesn’t hurt that most female characters are well endowed), good story, decent animation and music. On the surface Fairy Tail sounds like a typical long series with above-average production values. However, what sets it apart for me is the comedic timing. While series like Naruto and One Piece also try to be funny, they hit the spot inconsistently. Fairy Tail nails it. It’s so good at it that even the filler episodes are fun to watch. I’ve yet to find another similarly structured long series (i.e., non-episodic) for which I can say the same. At a time when watching Naruto feels like work (when will you end??), and One Piece drags its feet, I’m glad this show is there. I love you, Erza Scarlet.

2. Assassination Classroom (Ansatsu Kyoushitsu)
22 episodes (season 1 complete).
An octopus-like creature named Kurosei, who can move at Mach 20 (20 times the speed of sound, or more than 15,000 miles/hr), is teaching a classroom of “delinquent” students. As if that isn’t weird enough, Kurosei has destroyed the moon — making it a crescent permanently — and threatened to destroy Earth in a year. Since all attempts to kill him by the world’s governments have ended in failure, the only hope is for these students to assassinate him (now you get the title?). Besides the blatant mistake that just because most of the moon is destroyed doesn’t mean it’s always going to look like a crescent when viewed from Earth, this is a brilliant show. Again, a good mix of comedy, action, and some seriousness. Great music. But, the biggest draw is that the audience really feel the love Kurosei has for his students. He recognizes that each student is different and should be taught in a unique way (not unlike Confucius, I dare say), even though these are reject students of an elite school and abandoned to a remote classroom. It’s the underdog theme done right. Season 2 begins this week!

It’s difficult not making Assassination Classroom #1 of the list because I like it so much. In the end, though, I think my #1 pick pulls ahead just slightly because I can relate to it a bit better. So, without further adieu, here’s what I think the best show you should watch right now.

1. Himouto! Umaru-chan
12 episodes (complete?).
Why would a show about a spoiled, entitled, princess-brat named Umaru be my #1 pick? Simple. she’s that game and anime otaku that lives inside all of us (well, maybe not all…). Not only does she read manga, play a game all night ’til sunrise, she even blows into the Famicom (NES) cart! Despite her age, she has an old (gamer) soul like me. She just gets it. As I get older, social and familial obligations (not to mention physical limits) kick in, so I can no longer be the carefree gamer I once was… Ah, good ol’ days… Wait, what were we talking about? Oh ya. Umaru, despite seemingly selfish, actually shows a lot of love toward her friends and her older brother, who works hard as a salaryman and takes care of her (since she’s still in high school). I also like that the show doesn’t explain every feeling or incident in narration or dialogues. Some things just don’t need to be said, you know? And, of course, being probably the most adorable anime I’ve ever watched doesn’t hurt. I really hope there’s a season 2.

BTW, the word “himouto” is a pun combining “imouto” (little sister) and “himono,” which literally means “dried fish,” but in Japanese slang can mean a woman who is proper in public but lazy at home. Learn something everyday.

There you have it. Let me know if you like these recommendations. I know I went over 10 titles this time, but gimme a break, I only post like once a year. Before you go, just two more things. First, the #1 anime of my previous list, Attack on Titan, is starting its season 2 this April, so mark your calendar!

Second, I’ve started an Instagram channel called Anime Retro Games, where I post photos, videos, and music related to games and anime, with a bias for the retro. Sometimes I go into details about a game or anime that I really love, so I try to make it informative as well as entertaining. If you use Ig, check it out and follow me! Until next time, happy anime watching.

My Top 10 Anime of Recent Years

Watching anime has been a major entertainment activity personally the past couple of years. I watch anime when I take a break from coding, and even more often right before I go to sleep. In fact, I probably spend more time watching anime than playing games nowadays. Getting a paid Crunchyroll membership is a little expensive ($11.95 per month), but I’m addicted to the ease and convenience of watching the latest anime — many of which available as soon as they’re broadcasted in Japan — on all my mobile and non-mobile devices.

Since I’ve watched a lot of anime, I want to recommend the better ones to other fans of the medium. Here are the top 10 anime series I’ve watched the last few years.

10. Chronicles of the Going Home Club
12 episodes (complete). Comedy with high school students. For those who love non-sensical, over-exaggeration style humor. And “Mohawk Seal.”

 

Chronicles of the Going Home Club poster

Chronicles of the Going Home Club

9. Witch Craft Works
12 episodes (complete). Starring high school students that know sorcery. Nice character design and art work. Especially the well-endowed female lead.

Witch Craft Works poster

Witch Craft Works

8. Kill la Kill
24 episodes (complete). Unique art style (slight hint of retro), over-the-top action… not that I expect anything less from the creators of Gurren Lagann. Get ready to be showered by gallons of blood, and bouncing boobies (and sometimes male butts) — of high school students. Love the music too.

Kill la Kill poster

Kill la Kill

7. Tonari no Seki-kun: Master of Killing Time (My Neighbor Seki)
16 episodes (ongoing). Each episode runs only about 7 minutes. A high school girl is constantly distracted by the boy sitting next to her in class because he’s always engaging in some weird activities (like playing Chess vs. Shogi). She really can’t blame him entirely though, as she has too vivid an imagination. Brings back memories. Funny and cute.

Tonari no Seki-kun poster

Tonari no Seki-kun

6. Girls und Panzer
12 episodes (complete). High school students (girls only) who pilot tanks and compete in mock tank warfare. The characters are adorable. Their friendship is touching at times, and it feels good watching how they overcome hardship together. Panzer vor!

Girls und Panzer poster

Girls und Panzer

5. Yowamushi Pedal (Yowapeda)
28 episodes (ongoing). High school cyclists competing in tournaments. The character designs are a bit weird, and the main character really isn’t very charismatic, but like many other feel-good sports anime, seeing the characters work hard to grow just inspires me to do the same. I’m seriously this close to getting a racing bike.

Yowamushi Pedal poster

Yowamushi Pedal

4. JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure
30 episodes (ongoing, 1 season complete). Story centers around the misadventures of the Joestars, a family of English roots, as members from different generations of the family battle vampires, zombies, or otherwise superpower beings hell-bent on ruling humankind. Based on the long-running manga of the same name that started back in 1986. Although two OVAs and a movie based on different arcs of the manga have previously been made, this is the first time they attempt to anime-ize the entire manga. We’re currently on the 3rd and most popular arc, Stardust Crusaders, where the story first introduces the series’ signature attraction, the Stands. Even though the characters over explain everything, and it’s funny to see sound effects written out on screen (in Japanese no less), as if one’s reading the manga, if you like crazy fight action with equal parts cunning and brawn (and muscular men that for some reason like to strike weird poses), then you shouldn’t miss this one. The music is also fantastic.

JoJo's Bizarre Adventure poster

JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure

3. Kuroko’s Basketball
50 episodes (ongoing, 2 seasons complete). High school basketball players compete in tournaments. Unlike other sports anime, the main character, Kuroko, has no athletic talent in basketball whatsoever, but he’s very good at not getting noticed, hence making him the perfect assist player. I have a soft spot for sports anime that have characters with unique and sometimes superhuman abilities, and basketball happens to be my favorite sport anyway. It’s fun watching the protagonist team struggling and overcoming opponents that seem much stronger initially. It’s like defeating difficult bosses in games. Can’t wait for the next season.

Kuroko's Basketball poster

Kuroko’s Basketball

2. Hunter x Hunter
126 episodes (ongoing). Elementary school students(?) and adults (and sometimes bugs made from humans) fight and kill each other. It’s more interesting than it sounds. Based on a manga, this is the most recent anime adaptation that started back in 2011 (previously, a 62-episode TV series and some OVAs were made). I’m pleasantly surprised that characters actually get killed (and not brought back to life willy nilly like in Dragon Ball), or in some other cases severely mutilated (physically and/or psychologically). Like many other anime I enjoy, the one-on-one fights are the main attractions, but unlike most other anime, often it’s the side most prepared — and analyzes the situation the best — wins. It’s almost like game theory applied to anime fights. I don’t particularly like the designs of the main characters (one of the reasons I didn’t watch the initial anime adaptation), but the story has me glued that I binge watched the first few story arcs. Despite it being a long-running series, each episode actually progresses the plot, not many filler episodes. However, the current arc seems to be dragging, hence losing a bit of my interest, but I’ll give it the benefit of the doubt and see how it ends.

Hunter x Hunter poster

Hunter x Hunter

1. Attack on Titan
25 episodes (complete). Bunch of high school students… oh wait, maybe some are older, but anyway, bunch of people fighting human-eating giants in humanity’s desperate last attempt at species survival. Very slick fighting action, with Spider-Man style swinging movements (achieved with gas-powered apparatus known as “Vertical Maneuvering Equipment”). Dark and serious throughout, with occasional out-of-place humorous spots to break the tension. I know the story continues in the manga, but I wish they make more seasons. So much left unexplained.

Attack on Titan poster

Attack on Titan

Note the absence of One Piece and Naruto Shippuden (and Bleach, but that ended in 2012). I’m a fan of those series as well, and I’ll definitely watch them to the end. However, they’re already hugely popular that they don’t really need recommendation. And, to be honest, they have so many filler episodes that sometimes watching them simply isn’t as interesting as watching those in my top 10 list.

Strange I like so many series starring high school students. Most anime series probably star high school students, since that’s probably their target audience. Wish they make an anime about a 30-something-year-old computer programmer, then I can really relate.

There are plenty of other series that I’ve watched or I’m watching that either aren’t good enough to make this list, or I haven’t watched enough of them to form an opinion. For example, I’ve watched the entire Sword Art Online series, and while I know it’s popular, I just think the story and characterization are too flat and generic. Maybe I would’ve appreciated it more if I played an online RPG. Of the ones I’m following currently, Nanana’s Buried Treasure and Black Bullet have some potential. And, of course, I’ve been meaning to get into other popular series like Fairy Tail and Bakemonogatari (and its numerous sequels). Just a matter of time. I’ll be sure to share my thoughts later.

Do you like any of the anime in this list? If you think we have similar tastes in anime, what else would you recommend me watch?