The story of Light Yagami is one of the most iconic tales in all of anime. This is a show everyone has a different opinion of, and it would be impossible to watch without forming your own. Whilst many of it's 'twists' have become undeniably notorious, Death Note is a psychological masterpiece that is utterly thrilling and completely unforgettable.
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A few years ago a game like Project X Zone would have never been released outside of Japan. But times (they) are (a) changing, and I'm certainly glad that a title such as this is available in the West, even if it is a strictly specialist game. It's about as 'Japanese' as a videogame gets, and there's no denying that Project X Zone is a unique, if slightly odd, experience.
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Another is a horror anime that descends into slasher territory, starting slow and ending with murderous violence. I was drawn in by an appealing mix of suspense and atmosphere, but as the mystery turns into chaos it's clear to see that it leaves a lot to be desired in its execution.
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Skyward Sword follows on Nintendo's tradition of releasing an epic Zelda game in the twilight years of a console they appeared to have forgotten about. Two years on and I can say with certainty that this was the last great game for the Nintendo Wii, and it's hopefully what the console will be remembered for, rather than the mass grave full of shovelware it had to climb out of to get here.
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Ouran High School Host Club isn't a perfect show, but it's one that stuck with me more than most. The characters take priority over story, and the result is charming, hilarious, and inconsistent. It's both original and unoriginal at the same time, but if you put the problems to one side you have an anime that is for the most part is a complete joy to watch.
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Few games have stood the test of time as well as the Metal Gear Solid. When originally released, Metal Gear Solid 2 offered a first taste of the cinematic experience now common in videogames, and 3 expanded on the genre defining ideas the series had already established. These two iconic games look fantastic in high definition, and are just as fun to play now as they were 10 years ago.
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Gankutsuou is a modern retelling of a classic story. Adapted from Alexandre Dumas' The Count of Monte Cristo, Gonzo's 24 episode anime takes some fantastic source material and turns much of it on its head, whilst retaining most of the brilliance found in the French novel. The result is a visually spectacular anime with the thematic complexities of one of the greatest revenge stories ever told.
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It's difficult to play Puppeteer and not notice the clear influence many other popular platforms have had on it. Whilst this isn't a game lacking in identity, it is one that presents new ideas side by side with mechanics that will be exceptionally familiar to fans of the genre. Is Puppeteer the next Little Big Planet? It honestly could be.
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I first played Gravity Rush when I imported it a few months before it's Western release. Since then I've also familiarised myself with the English language version, and as a result have put quite a lot of hours into the game. This wasn't time wasted, and there's so much to love about Gravity Rush. Unfortunately there's also a few things to hate, and the game's levels of brilliance are at times matched by it's levels of frustration.
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Earlier this year I fell in love with two games. The first was Metal Gear Rising: Revengeance, a superb game despite it's stupid title. The second, Vanquish, was originally released in 2010, although I had regrettably ignored it until a couple of months ago. Both these titles were made by Platinum Games, and this got me excited for their upcoming release; The Wonderful 101. It's finally here, but sadly it's not quite as wonderful as the title might suggest. Whilst certainly not a bad game, anyone use to the high quality experience Platinum Games usually deliver is likely to be disappointed.
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