The Month Of Endings

And so the season comes to a close with the remainder few anime wrapping up on their final episodes (or moving onto their second half).

Let me just summarize how I found some of the series that ended recently:

1. Amagami SS+ : Quality varies between character arcs, depending on your favourite, ranging from “oh wow” to *ear bleed* to senseless fan-service.
2. Guilty Crown : Music and animation is good. Everything else was rubbish. Still a better love story than Twilight.
3. Nisemonogatari : Great sequel that expands on the original. Managed to introduce new fetishes you never knew existed. Strong plot-wise. Be prepared to pause to read.
4. Papa no Iu Koto wo Kikinasai : Starts off on the wrong foot, but gets better as the series progresses. No Usagi Drop, but can still move you.
5. Persona 4 The Animation : Excellent adaptation of the game, starts slow and gets awesome later. Wish the 5 month wait for the true ending was an April Fools’ joke.
6. Shakugan no Shana Final : Fantastic closure, but hurt by plenty of lengthy dialogue and overly drawn out battles. You won’t be disappointed with the soundtrack.
7. Zero no Tsukaima Final : Acceptable conclusion, but takes 9 episodes of largely unwarranted fan-service to pick up steam. Be prepared to fast-forward. Recommended to read the novels instead – you’ll find a completely different level of awesome.

Persona 4 The Animation – Episode 23

Hands down THE BEST episode title I've seen in my life. XD

Episodes 22 and 23 combined are Persona 4′s greatest climax of the series, bringing along a whirlwind of emotions akin to one heck of a roller coaster ride. It is not, however, the biggest “WTF?!” moment yet, so there’s plenty more to see.

Anything I say here will only give away the story’s best plot point, so I shall leave the viewers to their screens for the crowning moment of awesome.

Have you guessed the true mastermind yet? Prepare for more sessions of brain-blending to come in the remainder of the series!

Why doesn't Aika get an S-Link yet? D:

Persona 4 – Episode 22

This week's new Persona: Sraosha, with Hama-boosted Mahamaon!

In case you’re wondering, Mahamaon’s a medium chance instant-death light move to all enemies (which increases in success if you have a skill called Hama boost, or if enemies are weak against it) – hence the shadow wipe.

This will be by far the most probable episode of manly-tears, so I shall not spoil that moment. The effect will be quite similar even knowing how it’ll turn out (through playing the game), so I trust viewers will enjoy this one. ^_^

Yu as your opponent isn't a fun thing.

Kohryu - The most powerful persona of the Hierophant Arcana. With the full-heal spell Salvation.

Forgot to mention you’ll be treated to some pretty nice battles in the first half too.

Persona 4 The Animation – Episode 21

Oh Nanako, how I love your reader-friendly hiragana.

After the past two weeks of “school life”, P4A finally kicks into high gear again, with yet another kidnap. And this time, the team stumbles upon a very important clue that might lead them straight to the one behind it…but would it be too late?

"Snowmen...it's a promise."

I see wat you did thar.

 

Guilty Crown – Episode 19

Discrepancies

I don’t have to point out how awesome the series has become over the last few episodes, so I’m gonna change things around by pointing out all the bits that are…well, modified for the anime’s convenience – even if it’s not logically sound.

Natural skill: Regeneration

Maybe it’s just me, but I think his arm grew back a little on its own to be able to reach that far after being lobbed off by Gai, who returned as Sephiroth (complete with “long time no see, Shu.” and long sword). He would’ve grown it back if left on its own either way.

More interesting plot devices after the jump. (Wow, been a while since I used it. )

Steins;Gate – Episode 25

"...but he's a guy."

It’s not an exaggeration to say that the series would not be complete without this bonus episode, which extends the story to give the plot a satisfying conclusion (or a true ending of sorts, in Visual Novel speak).

Unlike certain other anime that choose to go down the path of fan-service or recaps for their extra episodes, here you have new content that actually matters.

The episode takes you to a time period after the meeting between Okabe and Kurisu at the end of episode 24, where the latter has moved to the US. You’ve got a good mix of comedy at the beginning (no thanks to Okabe alias Kyoma) and the tying up of loose ends towards the back.

Steins;Gate remains one of the best visual novel adaptations to date, and I have no doubt that the upcoming movie will also be well worth the time.

I might finally get myself a 3DS for this. And Theatrhythm Final Fantasy.