Album Review (Obscurus Metalus) - Sabaton's Fist For Fight

Got an interesting one for you fellow Otaku & Metalheads!

Today’s obscure album......might not actually be obscure. It had a resurgence of sorts in the late 2000s, despite it not being talked about much among the Power Metal faithful. It’s the origin of one of the most iconic modern bands in the world, but you don’t see it often unless you know where to look. After acquiring it last month as part of a gift, I thought it would make for a fun album to review for the start of this year. So let’s not waste anymore time, and get right into the very first thing that Sabaton ever did, Fist for Fight! Let’s begin.

Background
Like I said when I did my Sabaton overview in the late summer of 2017 (Which you can read here), information about the origins of these Swedish Superheroes is difficult at best. Even with the re-releases of their first 4 albums and the extra snippets of info put in the booklets, it still pretty hard to find anything cohesive. What little is known is that the band first appeared in the late 90s, when the metal revival got into the swing of things, and Power Metal really began to take flight. 5 men, who’s love of metal was blatantly obvious: Pär Sundström on bass, Rikard Sundén & Oskar Montelius on guitar, Daniel Mullback on drums, and the man himself, Joakim Brodén, on keyboard. Ironically, he wasn’t meant to be the singer at first, but after everybody else listened to his promo material, they made him the vocalist.

Basic Description
Blast from the past.

At first you might not believe that Fist For Fight was something made by Sabaton. It certainly comes across as such in terms of vocals & instrumentation, immediately notifying the listener as to who they’re listening to. What would probably make some people drop their jaw is that there’s none of the military history fans have come to expect. Instead, it feels very much like a typical Speed/Power Metal release of the late 90s to early 2000s.....and that’s not exactly a bad thing. Fist For Fight is a really good history lesson when it comes to examining Sabaton. However, it does have some big issues, but we’ll get to that in a little bit.

Best Track
Like I said in my Sabaton overview, I was fond of Metalizer, and I still am today. If there’s one thing I liked more in this original version, it would be the keyboarding work towards. In the revised version it comes across like syrupy & fun Power Metal keyboard, but with this one said keyboard has a church-like organ feel to it. It’s whiplash inducing to be sure (Especially if you listen to the 2007 version before this one), but if you can handle it, then it’s worth it.

Metalizer

Worst Track
Fist For Fight’s problems are twofold. For starters, this album is exceedingly rare. Even though it was a second CD on the Metalizer release (More on that in a later review), it’s almost impossible to find. I saw a used copy of it once on Amazon, but it went for the astronomical price of 770 dollars (Excluding cents & tax). That is insane, and I hope that it gets a re-release in time for it’s 20th anniversary!

The other problem is the overall quality. Fist For Fight isn’t a bad album by, but by god does it come across as dated. I assumed it got some kind of touchup for the Metalizer re-release, but despite any potential fixing, everything sounds & feels old. In the band’s defense, it’s understandable why: it was the first thing they’ve ever done. Despite their talent, they were green from the first few notes. Once they solidified together, things were better for them, but Fist For Fight still comes across as basic in every single aspect.

Other
If you’re curious about listening to this, check out the link below:

Fist For Fight

Overall Impression & Rating
Fist For Fight.....I’m kind of glad this wasn’t the first thing that Sabaton released to the public. Again, it’s not to say that it’s a bad album, cause it’s still jam packed with metallic fun, and can act as a history lesson about the band. At the same time, it’s obvious that the group needed a bit more polish, but it was worth the 5 year wait (Read here). Even with all that, I’d still recommend this to anyone who’s new to these Super Swedes. Definitely a nice meal.

Fist For Fight gets a 7.5 out of 10.

So that concludes the inaugural month of 2019 here on the blog! I hope you liked what I put up in January, and there’s plenty more I got planed for the rest of the year. See you all next month, when I got my second most bizarre theme ever. It’s sure to be......miniature.

Anime Review - Demon Fighter Kocho

Hi fellow Otaku & Metalheads!

I confess, today’s review is being done because I saw Bennett The Sage show it off at the end of his most recent video. This post isn’t being done in an attempt to thwart him, but rather because it sent a ping to my memory. A memory of a purchase that, in hindsight, I somewhat regret. A acquisition of an anime that, while not awful, isn’t one of the best I’ve seen. What show would cause me to think this? Well, take a look at my review of Demon Fighter Kocho, and see the “Derp” I got myself into.

Story/Setup
Taken from the DVD Case:

“Heian University may not have much class-work, but it does have the only Astrology program which offers hands-on experience! When a horde of angry spirits terrorize the school, a nubile young astrology student, Kocho Enoki, must use both her magical powers and her sexy curves to subdue the invaders. Along with her beautiful sister Koran, and the human demon-bait Kosaku, she fights to protect Heian University. But what will the hapless demon hunters do when a female spirit attacks one who is immune to Kocho's feminine charms?”

Compared to some of the other story descriptions from shows I reviewed, this truly is all that’s there. It’s not very deep, not really engaging, and overall is pure unadulterated fluff. That said, there are some WTF moments here & there, but more often than not they are spaced between chunks of “Meh”. In an odd move, this story plays out over the course of a single OVA rather that a small few episodes. If it played out over 3 to 4 videos it might have actually worked, but alas this was not meant to be. Even worse, this plays out for under a half hour. 25 minutes & 37 seconds to be exact......and that’s excluding the credits!

Also, this OVA has to be the biggest Devil Hunter Yohko ripoff I’ve ever seen! Similar setup, similar characters, you name it. Sure, Yohko wasn’t the deepest 90s anime, but it had way more substance & personality than Kocho!

Animation
Despite coming out in the late 90s (May 21st of 1997 to be exact), Demon Fighter Kocho looks like it comes from the early 90s. It’s not an ugly OVA to look at by any means, but you can definitely feel an amateur vibe from it. There are moments where things look a little better, and there’s some trippy sequences, but they’re few & far between. I wouldn’t necessarily correct anyone if they thought that the animation was done with the bare minimum. In short, your eyes won’t be bleeding, but at the same time you’ll probably go “Eh”.

Voice Acting
The English dub of Demon Fighter Kocho was honestly not that bad. Everybody seems to be pulling their weight during the course of the OVA, even if some of them become forgotten by the time it’s done. Jessica Calvello is perfect as Kocho, Mike Pollock works as the wise & pervy Professor Kamo, and Jamie McGonnigal  captures the youthful energy of Kosaku. Koran is the only one that seems lost in the shuffle, but that’s because I can find nothing on the character’s voice actor (Amy Fitz). Everybody else does a fine job, but they don’t stick in my head.   

Also, my favorite line is early on in the OVA, and it’s as follows. “Titty booby titty booby! Bouncy Bouncy Bouncy!”. To make it more ridiculous, this was an original line also, not one made by the studio.

Characters
Characters are a hit or miss in Demon Fighter Kocho......but mostly a miss. On the one hand, we got 4 characters the OVA concentrates: the titular Kocho, her boyfriend Kosaku, their teacher Professor Kamo, and Kocho’s dirty little sister Koran. They have a majority of the screentime, and thus we learn about them the most. On the other hand, they never change their personality over the course of the show. Kosaku & the professor are pervy but helpful, Kocho is plucky but badass, and Koran is just a brat. On top of that, every secondary character is incredibly forgettable. Even the big baddie doesn’t really have anything to them, and I can’t remember if they have a name or not!

Availability & Pricing
Demon Fighter Kocho is a shockingly expensive OVA. Not by a massive amount, but it does costs a little. Over on Amazon there are only 3 new copies available, with the price ranging from 21 dollars to 34 dollars. Used copies fair much better, with the range between 10 to 20 dollars. It’s not surprising that there aren’t many copies around, since it’s an Anime Works title. Ironically, I actually bought my from Genericon years ago, and it was a new copy for I believe 10 dollars. For such a trash show, I could have done worse.

Overall Impression & Rating
Demon Fighter Kocho is.....not good. There are plenty of trash anime titles that are out there to watch (Read my review for a great trash anime here), but don’t make this one of them. It’s not an abomination by any means, but due to it’s lack of depth, character, and running time, it’s forgettable by the time it’s done. If you are absolutely desperate to waste a half-hour, you can do much worse than Demon Fighter Kocho. Otherwise, just leave it on the shelf if you see it.

Demon Fighter Kocho gets a 6 out of 10 at it’s best, but a 5 out of 10 at it’s worst.

So that was my first anime review of 2019. Again, this wasn’t a great OVA to start off the year with, but it wasn’t a complete abomination. However, I got one more thing to review in January, so get ready for some Obscurus Metalus!

***
One more thing: the biggest highlights of Demon Fighter Kocho were the extras. Seeing the actors in the booths was cool & funny, and watching the viewing party of the OVA kinda brought a smile to my face in a weird way. Also, this OVA was actually based on a manga. I can’t find any pages, save for some low-quality images of the volume covers you see below.

On top of that, if you’re remotely curious about this show, then check out the link below to watch:

Demon Fighter Kocho (Sub)

HMO Classics: Gunsmith Cats - Bulletproof Review

Hello fellow Otaku & Metalheads, and happy new year!

With Christmas now behind us, we look to 2019 with optimism & hope. Despite how the world is, I’m at least mildly interested in anything positive that might come my way. To start the year off, I’ve decided to start a new little review series. Okay, not exactly new: the “reviews” in question are actually my oldest reviews from my original blog, Simple Anime Reviews & Facts. They’re completely unedited, so as to show them to you in their purest forms. As a way to premiere this series, what better way to start it off that to show you my first ever review. I’m a little embarassed, but I hope you like it. Anyway, here’s my first ever review, taking a look at Gunsmith Cats: Bulletproof. Enjoy!

“Well ladies & gentlemen, as I promised in my first post, is my very first review, and it's a classic. So, sit tight, fasten your seatbelts, and get ready for a review of Gunsmith Cats: Bulletproof.

Originally released in Japan back in the mid 90's by Kenichi Sonada, and released at the beginning of last decade (2001, to be exact) by the now defunct ADV Films, Gunsmith Cats is the story of two professional bounty hunters living in Mid 90's Chicago, Rally Vincent, and May "Minnie" Hopkins. Rally is a fan of firearms, and has an impressive collection. May, meanwhile, likes anything that goes boom (overkill is not a word in her vocabulary. Just watch episode 1, and you'll see what I mean). As they're working in their gun shop one day, an agent from the ATF (Alcohol, Tobacco, and Firearms) Bureau walks into their store, and asks them to help out in a sting operation he has going on. At first the girls refuse, but after their house gets shot up, they reluctantly agree. Without revealing anything, their job becomes a fight for their lives. Add a few interesting twists and surprises, and you have a very action-packed show with a bit of humor to lighten things up when necessary.

For an anime from the Mid 90's, the animation holds up surprisingly well. The creator of Gunsmith Cats wanted the audience of Japan to have a "American" experience when watching, without the major stereotypes that many of Japan believe about Americans. The city of Chicago has never looked any better in an animated show. You can make out a variety of landmarks in just the first few minutes of the first episode, and many others in the following episodes. The sound in Gunsmith Cats has also held up well over the years. The sound of subway tracks rattling, steam rising from grates in the road, and the sound of the numerous firearms going off sounds natural, and not artificial by any means. The music that plays in each episodes suits the show as a whole, with streaks of Jazz & Light Rock being the most common themes heard. As for the dubbing, some of the voices sound really good, while a couple of the other voices don't seem to fit the characters for some reason. If you are a stickler for dubs, then I suggest you stick with the Japanese audio & English subtitles. Otherwise, the dubbing isn't that bad.

Rally & May are definitely the focus of Gunsmith Cats. Although there are a bunch of other characters, many of them interacting with the main characters, it's the team of Rally & May that will get you to like the show. Their partnership feels very authentic, as if they were a real-life team working together. They argue, cry, feel fear, and laugh just like you or I would. When you see either of they take out a bad guy, you want to cheer them on, and when they get hurt, you feel concern for them as well. It's not often that animated characters can do that to people, and that's why Gunsmith Cats is a classic show that no one should miss.

One last positive thing about Gunsmith Cats. Like any anime DvD, Gunsmith Cats has it's standard amount of extras. It's got previews for other shows, original trailers, as well as a credit free version of the introduction. These are all well and good, but the most interesting of the extras is the Making of Gunsmith Cats special. The specials shows you the creator of the show drawing scene of the show, as well as a interview with the creator. It's not often that you find something like this on a DvD, new or otherwise.

Despite the good things about this show, it does have a couple problems. First off, this show is old. As I stated earlier, Gunsmith Cats was released in 2001. Going to the ADV website is pointless, as the company has been out of business since 2009. You're only bet is to go to a sight like Amazon or Ebay. I got my copy used off of Amazon for about 35 something dollars. Used DvDs are slightly more common that unopened copies, but not by much.

Secondly, there are only 3 episodes of Gunsmith Cats. There were going to be more, but due to a demand for cops shows with more fantastic elements (Cowboy Bebop, for example), Kenichi Sonada decided to only do the three episodes that are on the DvD.

Finally, there are certain elements within the Gunsmith Cats manga that aren't in the show. The yuri undertones, for example, are all but gone in the show. Not only that, but there are only a handful of characters from the manga that show up, while the rest never make a appearance. This doesn't ruin the experience for new fans such as myself, but for those who are obsessed with authenticity, you might not enjoy the show.

Gunsmith Cats gets a 8 out of 10. It has a lot going for it, but the availability, length, and deviations may turn you off of the show.

See you next month for a couple more reviews. Until then, stay Otaku!”

And that was my first ever review I made. Looking back, I’m shocked at how amateurish this was, but perhaps that’s a good thing, as it helps me become a better blogger. In anycase, here’s to the start of 2019, and to the things that lie beyond!

Anime Review: Tokyo Godfathers

Merry Christmahanakwanzaa fellow Otaku & Metalheads!

With my top 5 lists out of the way, it’s time to get into the meat of this month. Though I no longer have any of the Love Hina OVAs to review, since there were only 3 ever made. That doesn’t mean I want to stop reviewing anime during this month! To change things up, there will always be one Christmas/Holiday anime review for December! Picking a title out for this was a little tricky, but I wanted to go in a bizarre direction, and check out an OVA by a man who sadly left the world & his oddity behind. It’s ironic that I say that, as this is his least bizarre film ever. With that out of the way, bundle up in your warmest clothes, ponder a mystery or two, and check out my review for Tokyo Godfathers. Let’s begin!

Story/Setup
Taken from the back of the DVD case:

“In modern-day Tokyo, three homeless people's lives are changed forever when they discover a baby girl at a garbage dump on Christmas Eve. As the New Year fast approaches, these three forgotten members of society band together to solve the mystery of the abandoned child and the fate of her parents. Along the way, encounters with seemingly unrelated events and people force them to confront their own haunted pasts, as they learn to face their future, together.”

On the surface, Tokyo Godfathers appears to have a stereotypical story. 3 strangers with ruined pasts come together, there’s a problem that needs solving, and in the process of solving this problem, they find themselves & get redeemed. In a way that’s what the story is, but that would actually be doing the movie a big disservice: Satoshi Kon explored the concept of coincidence throughout the entirety, and how we’re all connected. Sometimes it’s through very obvious ways, but other times it’s through more subtle ways we’re connected. We’re all drawn to one another as time rolls on, and regardless of whether or not the encounters we come across were good, we still stay bound to one another (Regardless of communication). 

Animation
Satoshi Kon was a man who knew how to create some of the most vivid, imaginative, and visual striking movies & shows in the realm of anime, and Tokyo Godfathers is no exception. Ironically, there’s no weird imagery in this movie. No over the top bizarre reality, nothing to screw with your head, etc. Everything is considerably more grounded in reality, and the color palet is more realistic also. This also adds to how grounded the movie is, and shows how versatile Kon is as a director.

Voice Acting
Tokyo Godfathers marks a first here on this blog, for it’s the first anime I’ve reviewed here that doesn’t have any dubbing involved. This presents something of a situation when watching: on one hand it preserves the authenticity & cultural aspects of the movie. There are some situations where a dub really can’t capture what the original voicework does, and even if it gets things right, there’s bound to be at least a screwup or two. On the other hand, for people with brain issues like myself, it’s annoying to try & read while there’s images moving across the screen. To give the movie credit, things don’t move by too quickly, so you do have some time to read the subtitles. Still, a dub would have been great, even if it does ruin a little bit of the flavor.

Characters
This is kind of a strange movie when it comes to it’s characters, but not necessarily in a bad way. There are hordes of minor characters all over the place. From the Yakuza gangsters, to the convenience store clerk, and even the police, everybody is interconnected in some way. Not only that, but they all add something to the story. However, it’s our three main characters that get the most time in the spotlight....along with one surprise.

First up is first off is the middle-aged alcoholic of the gang, Gin. It’s obvious that he’s a bitter man, but at the same time still has a caring side to him. He’s saving money her earns to pay off a big debt (Won’t spoil why), has something of a fatherly streak (Won’t spoil also), and can be outright pessimistic. Over the course of the movie, we see the negatives of his personality & character slowly peel off overtime, and we see just how kind he actually can be. He’s still pretty gruff, but it’s more towards people he knows & cares for.

Next up is my personal favorite of the trio, the former drag queen & trans woman Hana. I love the crap out of this beautiful person: they’re sassy, they know their place in the world, and having a really fun personality. Not only that, but Hana has a very motherly attitude once the baby comes into her life. Hana is often the one to hold her & take care of her, which in turn kind of spread to everybody else in the trio. At times Hana can be a little bit obnoxious, but more often than not it shows off how humorous & loving this drag queen is.

Finally, there’s the youngest of the group, the runaway & dependent Miyuki. Miyuki is a......acquired taste. At the start of the movie, she a brat, constantly acting out, and you kind of want to smack her. However, as the film plays on, she kind of softens up on her attitude. She’s still a snot, but Miyuki’s a snot in ways that are.....appropriate? It’s kind of hard to say, but by the end, you might just like her.

Now, we come to the surprise character, and that the Latino woman Miyuki meets near the halfway point of the movie. Upon getting kidnapped from a Yakuza wedding by a maid (Who turns out to be a Latino man in disguise, and is married to the woman), she’s taken to an apartment where this woman resides. Even without subtitles (The only time there isn’t any), you can understand what she’s talking about, and the two develop something of an odd friendship. Miyuki even opens up a little more about why she’s with the homeless, and it’s heartwarming in a way.

Availability & Pricing
Tokyo Godfathers is readily available over on Amazon. Despite having been out since 2003/2004, it’s had a re-release or two over the years. Depending on which new copy from which version you’re purchasing it from, it ranges from just barely under 10 dollars, to nearly 20 dollars for the most recent release. Used copes across each version are a little different, with prices that range from just under 7 dollars, to almost the same price as a new copy of the 2018 release. Definitely plenty of options to go around!

Overall Impression & Rating
Tokyo Godfathers is just a wonderful film. Equal parts funny, serious, and sad, it just goes to show how talented Satoshi Kon was as a storyteller. While it might only be subtitled, it still manages to convey it’s story to individuals like me with ease. If you’re looking to add some anime magic to your holidays this year or in years to come, this movie can easily fit the bill!

Tokyo Godfathers gets a 9 out of 10.

And that’s that for 2018 everybody. Certainly a more chaotic year when compared to 2017, and I’m sorry that I took so long to get this review out, so here’s hoping to a better future in 2019. See all of you next year, and have a great holiday in the meantime!

Album Review: Twisted Sister's A Twisted Christmas

Happy Holidays fellow Otaku & Metalheads!

You might recall last year my end of 2017 post, wherein I reviewed the iconic John Denver And The Muppets: A Christmas Together (Click here if you didn’t read it). That album was a lot of fun to look at, so I thought it would be fun to look at another Christmas/Holiday classic. Given how wild, chaotic, and bizarre 2018 was, something peaceful wasn’t on the chopping block. Instead, it seemed appropriate to go for something weirder & out there. Maybe, something a little twisted?

That’s right everybody, it’s time for my first look at Hair Metal legends Twisted Sister! Despite having a short career, they were none the less beloved by a surprising amount of people. Even into the 2010, fans were still chanting their name, raising the horns, and having a good time at their shows. Fronted by an equally iconic singer, they carved their own niche into Heavy Metal’s history, and they’ve stayed there ever since. Today’s review covers perhaps their most twisted record ever. It’s so twisted, it brings a smile to my face, and gets me into the holiday spirit. So slip into some comfortable slippers, grab a big glass of eggnog with a nice dash of nutmeg, and take a look at my review for A Twisted Christmas. This season’s gonna get nice & twisted!!!!

Background
Out of all the albums I’ve covered on this blog, never has the history of an album been so odd as A Twisted Christmas. According to Dee Snider himself from their Christmas show in Vegas, 4 years prior they had begun a reunion tour due to renewed interest in the band. After a show, Dee went up to the founder of the band (J.J. French), and suggested to him about doing a Christmas record in addition to the one coming in 2004. He liked the idea, and on October the 17th, 2006, A Twisted Christmas was released to the public.

As for their Twisted Christmas Live show in Vegas, Dee goes on to say that the idea came from him & his family went to Radio City Music Hall for their holiday extravaganza. They watched the whole show, and Dee turns to his kids and asks “Watcha think of that?”. His oldest child turned to him and very bluntly says “Father (A joke from Dee), that show made me hate Christmas”. From there, the rest was history.

Basic Description
A one trick pony.....but a good one trick pony!

I’ll eventually talk about that description in the “Worst Track” section of the review, but for now let’s talk about the good stuff. Their first offering of the 2000s, while flawed, showed that Twisted Sister could still hang. With A Twisted Christmas, we actually got the best selling album of the band’s career since the 80s. This record is full of that classic drive, passion, and punch that these Hair Metal icons are known for, but dipped in a vat of Christmasey colors & delights. They actually have a surprisingly high amount of respect for the classics they cover (Ironic if you watched their show from Vegas), and it’s great to see them harness the power of other classic metal tracks (Including their own) to add something more. It’s surprising at first, but by the end you’ll get why this is one of Twisted Sister’s best!

Best Track
Oh Come All Ye Faithful was the first thing I ever found from this record, and virtually every track on here is fantastic, it’s the song that’s stayed with me the most. Calling upon their iconic song We’re Not Gonna Take It, they take that tune’s vibe & mentality and apply it to one of the most holiest songs of the season. It’s weird at just how well both sides work together

Oh Come All Ye Faithful

Worst Track
Again, this album’s only fault is that it’s really only good to listen to in December. Unless you’re a die hard Twisted Sister fan and you’re listening to all of their releases in one day, there’s no real reason to listen to A Twisted Christmas early. In many ways this make the album kind of an anomaly when you compare it to everything else in the band’s discography: you can listen to all of the albums before this one any time & any where. With this one? It’s really only good during the holidays.

Other
If you’re curious about this album, click on the link below.

A Twisted Christmas

Overall Impression & Rating
A Twisted Christmas is right up there in my list of Christmas/Holiday albums. While it might be narrow in scope when compared to everything else they’ve produced, at the same time it was crafted so well by everybody in the band, it’s hard not to get charmed by it. So, whether you’re watching their live show from Vegas or you’re listening to the CD itself, this is a great & twisted alternative to the more traditional selection of tunes for this time of year.

A Twisted Christmas gets an 8 out of 10.

So that was a look at A Twisted Christmas. An unusual album for this time of year, but given who created the record, it’s not exactly a surprise. See you all in a few days for the final post of 2018, when I’ll examine a proper Christmas amine classic. Take care!



***
This originally wasn’t what I was going to post today. Having time to watch the movie was been strangely difficult, while this review I managed to get done early. By this Friday, I swear I’ll get the last review out!

Food For Thought/Thought For Food No. 10: Blizzard's Not Dead......But It's Dying

Hey everyone. I'll be resuming my holiday posts next week, as I'm finishing up watching one of the subjects in question as we speak. In the meantime........lets talk about Blizzard.

Let's rewind the clock back to 1996: it was a hard year for 9 year old me. I had just moved to a brand new town, and a few weeks after that, I had lost my Grandmother on my Dad's side. It was tough on me, and on my Dad, who loved his Mom very much. Anyways, fast forward to late 1996, and a little game called Diablo appears in the gaming world, and my tiny self was blown away. I had played games like Wolfenstein 3d & Doom a few years before, but this was one of the games that left an indelible impression on me from the 90s. Right at the dawn of the new millennium, the sci-fi warfare of Starcraft was the next game I encounter. The first few years of the 2000s gave me access to both Diablo 2 and Warcraft 3. World of Warcraft came, but I ignored that game like the plague (Apart from early 2016, when I played the free version). Then 2007, things changed.

In that year, Blizzard & Activision entered a deal where they would become a new entity, Activision Blizzard. At first it seemed alright: Diablo 3 & Starcraft 2 showed a lot of promise. However, cracks seemed to start immediately. Diablo 3 kept getting delayed & delayed, while the first part of Starcraft 2 (Oh yeah, Starcraft 2 was split into 3 separate games covering a specific race) came out to good reviews if I remember correctly. Then in 2012, D3 finally was released......and wow were the first few years rough! Constant need for an online connection, a little more colorful that prior games, gameplay elements not as polished as prior games, and a real-money auction house (There was also a in-game gold auction house, but I actually didn't have a problem with that) were just a few of the issues. Meanwhile, World Of Warcraft began showing issues of it's own, and it looked like it just got worse & worse as the years went by.

2014 rolls around, and we got Reaper of Souls, which seemed to fix so much.....to bad it was the last big thing they did for Diablo 3 apart from some game upgrades & the Rise Of The Necromancer DLC from last year. 2015 shows up, and we got the surprisingly good Heroes of the Storm. While it was released a bit into the MOBA genre's existence, and some elements were flawed, but it was actually a lot of fun. I had been invited to the beta by a friend (Got into D3's beta as well), and after getting over my apprehension of the MOBA genre, I found HotS to be an absolutely wonderful game (Read here for details). Then, in 2016, we got the company's first new IP with Overwatch, and I got invited to the beta for that as well. I was absolutely in love with the game (Read here for details), dents & all. In the short time that it's been out, it's gone through things both good & bad, changing in both directions.

However, it's obvious that it recent years, despite a new IP & other game related achievements, that we don't have the Blizzard of old. Since 2005 when the O.G. company (Blizzard North), the group ever so slowly drifted away from their original vision. Joining Activision didn't help, as that caused the company to drift away further, losing more of their identity, and becoming a little more like the people they joined. And then.....we have what transpired late yesterday.

As of Thursday night, people from the Heroes of the Storm have been moved off of that team, and onto others (It's never specified). On top of that, the college based Heroes of the Dorm & the international Heroes Global Championship have been completely shut down, not to return in 2019. This wasn't done because of a "Tough" decision by the higher ups (Read here to understand). This was done through the new ideology laid out by Activision to cut costs and save money.

Blizzard......you're not Blizzard anymore. Given the disaster that was Blizzcon 2018 last month, you have proven to your long time fans, and even to your newer ones, that at the end of the day.....you're just another face of Activision. You just another outlet of garbage gaming, and you now develop stuff just to appease the shareholders. You abandoned your long-time Diablo fans ,just to chase the banality that is the mobile market, and you're not even trying to hide that fact. I'm trying hard not to delete battle.net launcher, and throw away the games I've spent so much time and money on. Even seeing games like Black Ops 4 & Destiny 2 operate on the launcher are further proof that the company is just another aspect of Activision, even though I actually kind of enjoy Destiny 2. Given what's been going on with so many game companies in recent memory, it's scary to think we might get a games crash worse than the one in the 80s. Like it says in the title: Blizzard is not dead......but it is most certainly dying....and I really hope it doesn't.

Well, I'm sorry to be such a bummer, but this was something I wanted to type out. Thank you for taking time out of your day & reading this, and I promise that next week will be considerably happier with my remaining Christmas/Holiday content. Until then, somebody play the TAPS.


***
You can tell he's holding back the tears as he talked......I was too.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fUifL67bQac&t=513s


(Update 1): December 23, 2018/9: AM/Eastern Standard Time

Well, this centainly explains a bit. As much as I don't like the site in question, they do something right once in a while: https://kotaku.com/with-activisions-influence-growing-blizzard-is-cutting-1831263741 

The Top 10 Best Christmas Commercials Ever (No. 2)

Seasons Greetings fellow Otaku & Metalheads!

As you might recall from last year, I took a look at 10 of the most iconic Christmas/Holiday commercials out there. To be honest, I had a lot of fun doing it. Discovering old classics & modern favorites really brought out the festive spirit in me, so from now on, I’m turning this into an annual series! Once per December, I’m devoting one post to advertisements that call upon this time of year, and low & behold I found a few more commercials to take a look at. So with that said, get on your ugly sweater that you want to burn but can’t, fill up a mug with hot cocoa, and enjoy my take on more top 10 Christmas commercials. Let’s begin!

10) Heroes of the Storm - Toys, Toys, Toys! (Link) & Overwatch - Winter Wonderland 2018 (Link)

The Nexus calls to us once again this holiday season. For years now the festival of Winter Veil has occurred during this month, but in 2018 things are quite a bit different. This year we get a festival of toys & childhood! Honestly, this trailer was just adorable: the kid announcer sounds like a lot of us back when we were young on Christmas Day. Back when we got something cool from under the tree, and just how quickly our imaginations went to work with the worlds our newly acquired gifts would inhabit. The HotS team did a really good job here!

And then we get the holidays in the world of Overwatch. I covered 2016 & 2017's ad for the Winter Wonderland event last year, and I basically said that they were some of the sweetest & most heartwarming commercials ever put out for a game. 2018's advertisement is no different: it’s still charming, there’s a lot of wintery colors, and the music they use is equally sugar coated. My only gripe is that 2018's Winter Wonderland trailer is much shorter than 2016's or even last year’s, and it doesn’t quite have as much staying power as the previously mentioned 2. Still, it’s a nice nugget of Blizzard goodness, and just gets me ready for the holidays more.

9) A Christmas Story Trailer (Link)

Alright, I had to get another movie trailer onto this list. Last year it was the incredibly hokey trailer for The Santa Clause, but this year I’m going a bit further back in time. Back in time to a movie trailer for a film that has become a permanent staple of the Christmas/Holiday season. That’s right, I’m talking about A Christmas Story this year! From top to bottom, it gives us snipbits into the life of a young child & his efforts to get the toy of his dreams. Along the way, we see just how odd life is around him during December. Things can’t be said any further, other than to watch it and enjoy!

8) Staples Snowbot (Link)

Though it’s only 30 seconds long, this has to be one of the funniest Christmas commercials ever put out. It’s 2 Staples employees talking about the new snowman robot in store, where it helps customers with technological gift ideas. Simple enough, but then a guy asks about a fax machine, and the robot begins to fly off the handle, refusing to help and saying that it’s his girfriend. A small fight breaks out, and the 2 employees from earlier give the robot a power cable as a new girlfriend. Again, it’s pretty short, but you’ll be laughing for much longer.

7) Nestle Christmas Commercial From 1992 With Farfle (Link)

Hellhounds. Somehow....someway...Nestle managed to conjure up hellhounds in 1992 to advertise holiday candy. Not just any normal hellhounds, mind you, but hellhounds with eyes that pierce your soul, and mouths with only a lower row of teeth. I guess Nestle wanted you to feel pain as these fiends sang about the sugary treats they tempt you with into their lairs. Thank goodness it’s only 30 seconds long, cause the hellmouth might have stayed open for longer!

6) Folgers Christmas Commercial: Brother & Sister (Link) & Folger's Coffee: Peter Comes Home For Christmas (Link)

The second of 4 ties on this year’s list (The 1st was number 10), we start off with two iconic commercials that are well known......for widely different reasons!

Let’s begin with a rather demented take on family & coffee. We see a young man get dropped off at his house (After being away in West Africa for some time apparently), and is greeted by what is shortly reveled afterwards to be his sister. The brother comes in, they talk, they drink coffee, and exchange gifts. Then the sister puts a red bow on her brother, he asks what she’s doing that for, and she simply says that he’s her present this year. For a few seconds afterwards, you’re giving the most intense staredown between the two, as if they want to bang...but then the parents come in, and it’s a nice, happy moment. I can see why people might like it for a moment, but the massive incest vibes are incredibly off putting. Since it’s release, countless parodies have cropped up, and all of them bank on the incestuous nature of the original. In fact, I covered a parody on last year’s list, so you should check it out!

Now if you want family & coffee done right, then this classic commercial will certainly warm your heart! We see a young man get dropped off like the original, but this time we don’t know where he’s been. He comes inside the house, and turns a switch, lighting up the tree in the other room. A little girl comes down, and it’s then that we learn his name is Peter, and he’s the big brother to said girl. The two are careful not to wake up the rest of the family, and proceed to go into the kitchen.....to wake everybody up peacefully (So odd). We get some brewing coffee, the parents upstairs smell it, wake up, and come downstairs to find their son. Judging by the Mother’s reaction, it seems as if he’s been gone for a while. Simply put: this is how you do coffee & Christmas right!

5) Japanese KFC Christmas Commercial (Link)

Of all the commercials on this list, this KFC Christmas commercial from Japan was the hardest to find. I searched on Youtube for what seems like months (A year or two, if I’m being honest), and was only able to find 2: a really short commercial from 1989 (Which you can see here), and the one you see in the link above. Upon finding it, I was surprised by how tame it is. Hearing all of the stories about how big KFC is in the land of the rising sun, I was shocked at how big this thing was. Make no mistake, this thing is still pretty odd. Just not as odd as I was hoping it would be.

4) Pepsi Holiday Nintendo Game (Link)

Handheld gamers of a certain age might recall this classic commercial, and like the Staples commercial from lower on the list, it’s only 30 seconds long. You see Mario traversing through a grocery store, showing off various Pepsi products. All the while, the narrator shows off the various things you can win....as long as you buy and drink Pepsi. Even with that said, I can more than understand why many people get nostalgic over this one, and coming from the PC Master Race camp.....I can’t help but smile a little too.

3) Merry beeping Christmas from Oral B (Link)

To be honest, I had never heard of this commercial. It just happened to be in my “Suggestion” section on Youtube one day, so I decided to give it a look, and holy crap is this a good one! It doesn’t exactly last long, but that doesn’t stop it from being one of the most hilarious yet strangely charming & heartwarming Christmas commercials out there. It’s just a bunch of people trying to get ready for the season, and things don’t go the right way. They swear profusely, and the beeping just makes the screwups even funnier. Despite said screwups & swearing, the heart of it all doesn’t fade in the least. Certainly one to keep an eye out for!

2) Edeka Christmas Commercial 2015 (Link) & Kellog’s Christmas Ad (Link)

I honestly wasn’t sure what to do with this one. I knew about this one for a few years, but didn’t really watch it until recently, and.....I’m conflicted. One the one hand, this is an emotional commercial. A Grandfather is all alone at his house during the holiday, and his family is nowhere in sight to celebrate with him. So what does he do? Fakes his death, and sends notifications to as many family members as possible to come to the house to attend his “funeral”. They step inside, and instead of a gloomy atmosphere, they see a nicely decorated table, and said grandfather steps out from the kitchen, and all is well. This has to be one of the most manipulative advertisements ever made. I’ll give Edeka credit in making something that tugs at the heartstrings, but if this ever happened to me in real life, I would slug someone in the face if they pulled this kind of stunt, good intentions or otherwise!

Now one emotional Christmas commercial I don’t have issues with is this Kellog’s ad. I think what makes this one so great is just how well they made it out to look & feel like an old holiday add from back when (80s by the look of things, despite the 2013 remaster). The kids are adorable, as is their mission to bring a nice breakfast to Saint Nick instead of the usual. I cried a little when I first watched this, as the innocence & happy emotions are really strong in this 1 minute ad. I hope it’s used more & more throughout the years, as it deserves to be called a commercial classic!

Now before we get to my number 1, I wanted to go over some commercials that didn’t quite make it onto the main list. These advertisements weren’t terrible by any means, but they didn’t have as much of the holiday spark as everything else on here. With that out of the way, here are my honorable mentions of Christmas commercials....part 2! 

HM1) Norelco Razor Commercial (Link)

Every once in a while, I see a Christmas commercial from the past that leaves me scratching my head in confusion. Case in point: the old Norelco Razor commercials from back in the day. We get Santa using a razor as a sled, and he comes down the hill all jolly & happy, not to mention a delightful little Christmas town. Apart from that, they don’t feel like a holiday commercial to me. Not 100% at least. Despite that nitpick, I can see why people feel warm & fuzzy when they happen to come across this classic online, and I confess it even gets me to smile a little.

HM2) Icelandic Glacial Commercial (2016/2017) & Joey Ryan Starring in The Sleaziest TNA Impact Wrestling ShopTNA Commercial Ever (Link)

Both of these commercials made me facepalm immediately (I think I hit my eye one time). Like, they made me facepalm hard. Both are over the top, both get shockingly kinky, and yet there’s a warped charm to either one. If I’m being honest, I’m not exactly surprised by the Joey Ryan one, especially when you take into account the character he plays as on the Independent Wrestling Circuit. The Icelandic Glacial Commercial on the other hand......yeah, that came out of left field for me!  If both of these weren’t so out there, I might have found a spot for them on the main list. Maybe even tied with my number 5 spot. Regardless, if you need to spice up your holiday season, then these commercials are for you!

1) John Lewis Christmas Advert 2014: Monty The Penguin (Link)

If there’s one thing that the English do right (Besides tea, Heavy Metal bands, and the proliferation of Chicken Tikka Masala), it would be creating some of the most whimsical, magical, and emotional Christmas/Holiday commercials every to air on television. Case in point is the 2014 add from the equally legendary British store chain John Lewis (John Lewis & Partners, to say the name completely), and it concerns a little boy and the penguin that’s his best friend & playmate. They go through the days leading up to Christmas playing & doing stuff, when his penguin starts seeing images of love around him. From a couple in the park to some images on TV, it’s obvious that he wants a companion of his own. Then on Christmas Day.......na, not gonna spoil things this year. This is one you’ll have to watch to find out instead! Regardless, this is one of the most touching adverts out there, and more than earns it’s spot at the no. 1 spot on this list.

So those were 10 more of my top ten Christmas commercials. Ten more timeless advertisements from the past few decades, they’re sure to stay in our brains until the end of days. There’s a little bit of content left, so see you all in a few days, when we’ll look at some quality holiday anime goodness. See you soon!