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BEST DESIGN

Previous Winners
2013: Ni no Kuni: Wrath of the White Witch
2014: Shovel Knight
2015: Bloodborne

I always find the “Best Design” award to be a somewhat contentious category. Even last year, the obvious winners didn’t take the gold, instead, games like Yoshi’s Woolly World, Splatoon, Kirby and the Rainbow Curse and Fatal Frame: Maiden of Black Water were usurped by Bloodborne. This year, we also have quite an eclectic mix of games, ranging from sexy anime to the “Neptastic” to brooding dramas to over the top fighting games. Art is always very personal, but each of our 5 nominees is beautifully rendered and lovingly crafted. Without further ado, here are our “Best Design” nominees.

Dark Souls III

NA Release Date: April 12, 2016

Platform(s): PC, PlayStation 4, Xbox One

Review

Speaking of Bloodborne, our first nominee is definitely in the same vein, with hideous monstrosities, sweeping vistas, crumbling derelict architecture and almost balletic violence. The Dark Souls series has always been equal parts beauty and horror, and the unique artistic style certainly helps convey this, with a palette of contrasting darks, lights and eerie luminescent hues. It’s certainly no surprise that Dark Souls III made the cut, but the question is, will it take the gold, much like Bloodborne did last year?

Final Fantasy XV

NA Release Date: November 29, 2016

Platform(s): PlayStation 4, Xbox One

Review

The next contender is the latest in the long-running classic RPG series, Final Fantasy XV. No matter what generation, Final Fantasy has always had a tremendous focus on one unifying art design. While that started out as simple yet beautiful pixelated art and lush hand-drawn images, the later entries have adopted a cutesy Japanese pop culture aesthetic that is both focused on and totally divorced from realism. This is readily apparent in Final Fantasy XV, which is both charmingly Japanese while still paying homage to the roots of the series. Regardless of what you think of how the series has progressed, you can’t deny it’s always been visually stunning.

Guilty Gear Xrd -Revelator-

NA Release Date: June 7, 2016

Platform(s): PlayStation 3, PlayStation 4, Steam

Review

Finally, a nominee that isn’t obsessed with realism! The Guilty Gear series has always been a great representation of lush, intricately detailed 2D art, and Guilty Gear -Xrd Revelator- is no exception. In many ways, it also represents what I love most about Japanese games – that crazy mix of inspiration and excess that is so wonderful to behold. Perhaps best of all, Guilty Gear is always immediately recognizable, despite each game having new characters and themes represented. It would be a shame if Xrd Revelator didn’t take the gold this year.

Megadimension Neptunia V-II

NA Release Date: February 2nd, 2016

Platform(s): PlayStation 4, Steam

Review

It might be somewhat surprising that Megadimension Neptunia V-II made the cut since we usually nominate that series more for character awards. However, the Neptunia series is unique in its aesthetic. It embraces both the cartoony cut scenes, littered with in-jokes and snappy dialogue, as well as the overly dramatic, super cool battles when the goddesses go all out. It’s not super realistic, but somewhere in between that and utterly silly. Which is great, since this discrepancy is part of what makes the Neptunia series so utterly unique. I also appreciate the bold and varied color palette used in Megadimension Neptunia V-II, and the great designs of our lovely ladies doesn’t hurt any. While it may not be as immediately eye-catching or technically impressive as some of the other nominees, Megadimension certainly holds its own against some tough competition.

Muv-Luv

Megadimension isn’t looking so cartoony now, is it?

NA Release Date: July 14, 2016

Platform(s): PC, Steam

Review

While it was a little surprising to me that Megadimension made the cut, it is even more surprising to me that Muv-Luv made it. Which isn’t to say that it’s an ugly looking game, just that the artistic style is somewhat dated. Again, not ugly, but it immediately brings up comparisons to the Yu-Gi-Oh series or other classic anime from the past decade or two. But that all makes sense, since we got Muv-Luv a good deal later than Japan did, and they didn’t do much to update any of the art. That said, Muv-Luv is well animated and does a good job of showcasing the many lovely ladies you’ll meet throughout. It even does a good job of transitioning between the relatively normal events of Extra into the extreme sci-fi style of Unlimited. Really, it’s hard to be offended by anything that has pretty women and crazy technology, so I guess I can give Muv-Luv a pass. The question is, how did it fare against such stark competition?

AND THE WINNER IS…

Muv-Luv

Turns out, the distribution of voting was once again a bit unexpected. Final Fantasy XV managed to tie with Megadimension Neptunia V-II for 4th place. Dark Souls III didn’t fare as well as Bloodborne, only making its way to 3rd place. And to my great surprise, Guilty Gear Xrd Revelator only took second. Which can only mean that none other than Muv-Luv took the glorious golden crown! You will recall that I said things often take unexpected turns in this category, right? But nevertheless, you have to give Muv-Luv credit. It’s not easy for something from 2003 to beat a bunch of other much more recent nominees. Here’s hoping we keep things unexpected in our Best Design awards for next year!

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Hey everyone! We here at oprainfall have fought each other for weeks in order to get you our official top ten list of Hyperdimension Neptunia Girls! But the fun doesn’t stop there – we are asking our readers to tell us who their favorite Neptunia character is and why for a chance to win a copy of Megadimension Neptunia V-II* for the PlayStation 4!** So please check out our list and comment below!

10. Rom

Despite her small size, Rom is a very powerful magic user. Taking after her big sister’s calmer side she is less mischievous than her sister, but her quiet nature and shyness have their own charm.

9. Histoire

Histoire, or as Neptune likes to call her “Histy”, is the oracle of Planptune. She is also the tome of Gameindustri possessing all knowledge of its past. She can likely help you out with any problems you encounter, but it’ll probably take about 3 days.

8. Ram

Ram is much more outgoing than the much more reserved Rom. She is also much more mischievous, and loves to play pranks on people, especially Blanc. Her personality is more like Blanc than her sister’s, having an attitude and a short fuse. Then again, who doesn’t love a mean girl?

7. Blanc

Blanc may have a short fuse and quite a temper when she is angry, but she is also very sweet. I just wouldn’t mention her chest size in front of her or you may not live to see another day.

6. Nepgear

Nepgear acts much more mature than her older sister and is usually helping her out of a bind. Having some confidence issues, Nepgear is always working hard to make herself stronger and always willing to help out a friend. Just try and keep her away from machines or you may lose her a for a while.

5. Plutia

Plutia is the definition of laid back in human form. Preferring to take naps rather than do actual work, she may come off as a very lazy goddess. However, when push comes to shove, she will always be there to help a friend, and it would be very bad if you made her angry… or would it?

4. Noire

Noire is the classic tsundere. She may seem unapproachable at first, but she is actually a very nice person. She is very dedicated to Lastation and takes her work very seriously. She loves her country and citizens more than almost anything. She also secretly enjoys cosplaying.

3. Vert

All of the Goddesses are huge gamers, but Vert may be the biggest one of all. She is also very calm and mature, and loves showing off her chest size much to the dismay of Blanc. Usually putting the needs of others before her own, Vert’s kindness can only be matched by her beauty.

2. Uni

Uni is a lot like her big sister in many ways but she is less of a tsundere, which makes her a little more approachable. Uni is very close with the other candidates, especially Nepgear, who she considers her rival. Uni has all of Noire’s qualities in what some would say is a cuter package.

1. Neptune

Neptune would probably say something like “Of course the protagonist would win.” She is often very laid back and would prefer to lay around gaming rather than do any work, but when push comes to shove she is always there to save the day. Always willing to go that extra mile to help her friends and being positive in the darkest of times are two qualities I think we all aspire to have, and is why she tops our list.

_{*Contest ends March 6 11:59pm PST winner will be chosen at random.
**Must live in the United States in order to win (sorry shipping rates are kinda crazy).}

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It’s all about Aesthetics today here at the oprainfall Gaming Awards. Here we will honor those that have given us enjoyable stories, amazing gameplay, incredible design, and memorable music. In addition, we will also honor those that have expanded on their original product, creating even more amazing content.

To start, we begin with Best Gameplay and our top Translator, Will Whitehurst.

	BEST GAMEPLAY
Previous Winners 2012: Xenoblade Chronicles 2013: The Wonderful 101 2014: Shovel Knight

WILL: This year’s selection of Best Gameplay nominees is quite eclectic, to say the least. We have a Metroid throwback, a new addition to an incredibly hard series, a fun new shooter, a fond farewell to a cult strategy RPG developer, and, considering what website you’re on, I’m pretty sure you can guess the last one. Still, there’s something for everyone in this list. Without further ado, here are the nominees for Best Gameplay.

• Axiom Verge

This breathtaking indie Metroidvania from Thomas Happ is, in essence, the Super Metroid sequel that no one knew they wanted. But Happ did not merely pay homage to the genre with his passion project, which took five years to finally come to fruition. Axiom Verge reinvents Metroidvania with gigantic maps, a host of different weapons that can fit any play style, plenty of upgrades, unique ideas like the Drone Teleport and Address Disruptor (glitches can be useful!), excellent boss fights, and a general lack of hand-holding. As 2014 oprainfall Award winner Shovel Knight did with Mega Man, Axiom Verge takes the Super Metroid formula, turns it on its head just a little bit, and creates a new and compelling gameplay experience.

• Bloodborne

Sadistic developer From Software ups the ante with their PS4 debut, which puts players in the center of a plague epidemic in the city of Yharnam. Like its sister Souls series before it, Bloodborne‘s bread and butter is an incredibly challenging mix of action and RPG leveling and exploration. But while your average Souls game has coldly calculated and slow combat, the combat in Bloodborne can best be described as fast, furious, and smooth, and things still get as hectic as always. Yet, this is no ordinary Souls game — the guns, transforming weapons, and Regain mechanic, as well as some of the most polished controls and bloody fantastic enemies in From Software’s history puts Bloodborne in a class by itself.

• Splatoon

Nintendo’s hyped new IP changes the game, and the multiplayer is only half the fun. Using a neat control scheme that utilizes the GamePad’s gyroscope, which can also be turned off in lieu of a traditional dual analog setup, you can make your Inkling your own with dozens and dozens of weapons, clothes and accessories to choose from, and then duke it out with others in a flurry of Technicolor-soaked paint. Of course, your Inkling’s two forms change so seamlessly that the infamous launch commercial referencing this ended up becoming an Internet meme. The innovative hybrid of squad shooting and marking your team’s territory makes for pure online fun, that’s for sure, sans bratty kids shouting obscenities at you (in-game, obviously). Yet, the single-player campaign, which makes use of both ink-shooting action and Mario-like platforming, also sets Splatoon apart.

• Stella Glow

The final game from cult developer Imageepoch is one hell of a swan song, pun somewhat intended. Stella Glow is a 3DS strategy RPG in the mold of Final Fantasy Tactics or Imageepoch’s Luminous Arc series, but throws in some neat tricks up its sleeve. The gameplay of Stella Glow is split into two parts. Mission Time is self-explanatory, but you can equip your characters with orbs that allow you to tweak stats and such, and the battles become fairly addictive. During Free Time, you can chat or go exploring with your party members, finding new items and increasing your characters’ affinity for each other in return. Coupled with top-notch production values, these make Stella Glow shine bright on the gameplay front. We’ll miss you, Imageepoch.

• Xenoblade Chronicles X

Wow. Where do I begin? Exploring the massive world of Mira on your own is hard enough to do, but there is a genuine sense of intrigue that comes with Xenoblade Chronicles X, and the gameplay is no exception. The deep and satisfying combat in the first Xenoblade Chronicles has been retooled and revamped. The class and union systems add to an already dizzying amount of customization, including a UI that puts the GamePad to fantastic use. The sidequests are like miniature stories all their own. And, oh yeah, Skells make the journey easier — well, to a fault. Rarely does a game attempt so much with its mechanics yet feel so familiar, and Xenoblade Chronicles X delivers on this front for sure.

AND THE WINNER IS…

Splatoon

Well, it looks like the shooter where anything can happen blasted away the competition. So, what have we learned? Kids can be squids, ink is your greatest weapon, and Nintendo can make even the most elusive genres their very own. Online or offline, Splatoon’s gameplay rules, making it the deserving winner of oprainfall’s Best Gameplay Award for 2015. Stay fresh!

Next, we have contributor Quentin with our favorite Mutliplayer experiences of last year.

	BEST MULTIPLAYER
Previous Winners 2013: Monster Hunter 3 Ultimate 2014: Super Smash Bros. for Wii U

QUENTIN: Multiplayer games. At one time, they were a mainstay focus of the video game industry with classic titles such as Mario Kart 64, X-Men: The Arcade Game, Goldeneye, and Double Dragon. Nowadays, however, multiplayer is often a mediocre and hastily added in sideshow to the solo campaign.

The nominees listed below for our top Multiplayer Experience of the Year, however, showed that multiplayer can be something fantastic when done right:

• Bloodborne

In Bloodborne, the definition of ‘multiplayer’ was turned upside down by its developer FromSoftware.

There are two types of multiplayer: Friendly co-op, where you can ring an item called a “Beckoning Bell” and a player who is looking to volunteer to help other players out will come join you…and PVP co-op where if you ring a “Sinister Resonant Bell”, you can actually be summoned by an enemy monster called a Sinister Bell-Ringing Woman to invade another player’s game unwittingly. And then once you are there, your objective is to hunt that player down and slaughter them.

Fun, right?

In addition to the two co-op options, you can leave messages and tips behind for other players to see and if you die…you can leave behind a ghost (called a ‘Spectre’) for other players to witness what befell you.

The multiplayer in Bloodborne is different than what you would normally expect for a multiplayer game.

And honestly, that’s great.

• Monster Hunter 4 Ultimate

Monster Hunter 4 Ultimate is the latest entry into the long-running Monster Hunter franchise. Just as importantly, this game does a better job than ever before of introducing new players to the complex (and admittedly, sometimes daunting) combat system. We are, however, here to talk about the multiplayer aspect.

The game plays just as smoothly online as it does offline or via local wireless. The only real difference in fact between the online and offline modes is that if you choose to hunt monsters online, they are scaled up to be stronger and have more HP. This makes sense, after all, because…there are more people fighting it!

This is one of the best multiplayer experiences that you can have on the 3DS at the moment. If you haven’t picked it up, you are definitely missing out.

• Splatoon

The objective in Splatoon‘s multiplayer matches is to cover as much of the arena in paint as possible. The team who has the most paint covering the arena when time is up wins.

There are no impossible-to-get scorestreaks like in Call Of Duty: Black Ops 3, and killing other players (while admittedly fun) isn’t the point of the game. Its to shoot paint and cover as much ground as possible as quickly as possible. As a result, this significantly lets pretty much anyone of any gamer skill level to play and actually contribute to the overall win.

The most important factor, and why I love this game so much personally, is that all matches are set on a three-minute timer. What this means is that if a game is decidedly lopsided against your team, you aren’t forced to either suffer another ten to fifteen minutes of being crushed by the opposing team or quit the match and incur a penalty for doing so.

Just three minutes, and then you can jump into a completely different group of people almost instantly.

If you haven’t tried it out, then you’re seriously missing out. Go find a friend that owns a copy of the game and bug them until they pop it in for you. You won’t regret it.

AND THE TOP MULTIPLAYER EXPERIENCE IS…

Splatoon

Come on. Like there was any other game released this year that had a better multiplayer experience.

If you have a Wii U (or heck, even if you don’t have a Wii U), you are seriously missing out if you do not have this game. As both myself and a bunch of Japanese developers in a poll published by 4Gamer said, this is easily one of the top games of 2015…and also happens to be 2015’s Best Multiplayer Experience of the Year!

Congratulations Splatoon!

Coming up next, our favorite stories and designs.

The post The 2015 oprainfall Gaming Awards – Part 2 appeared first on oprainfall.

Welcome to the 4th annual oprainfall Gaming Awards. Today starts a three day journey as we reveal our favorites from 2015.

It’s quite amazing to think back to the first year. We were coming off of our campaigning days with Xenoblade Chronicles and The Last Story releasing and Pandora’s Tower just around the corner. And in a way, the first oprainfall Awards was a celebration of our campaigning days, with Xenoblade sweeping through several of the categories easily. The 2013 awards on the other hand were a bit more open as many excellent games released, creating deep fields in nearly every category. And then there was last year when we pretty much handed everything to Shovel Knight… well, except for Game of the Year. But it’s always been fun debating this with contributors and readers alike. The collective mind never quite lines up how you would expect and can always surprise (see last year when Neptune and Bayonetta won Hottest Gal and Best Hero respectively). Just something to keep in mind as we go through the nearly 20 categories over the next couple of days.

Anyway, all new fully released games (no Early Access games) as well as remakes with enough new content are eligible for an award — character, aesthetic or console. Console categories are for exclusives to those consoles. Those that are multiplatform will be put into a separate category. Game of the Year nominees will be determined by winners of the console categories, which also includes Best Download-Only winners. Also, there will be spoilers throughout the next three days, so consider yourself warned.

And as always, we begin with Character Day. But before we get to that, we start with our award for Best Download-Only Game. To reveal that, we bring out the boss, Steve Baltimore.

	BEST DOWNLOAD-ONLY TITLE
Previous Winners: 2012: The Walking Dead 2013: Phoenix Wright: Ace Attorney – Dual Destinies 2014: Shovel Knight

STEVE: Just because it didn’t come in a shiny box, doesn’t mean its not a great game. Here are the nominees:

• SteamWorld Heist

This side-scrolling strategy RPG won many over with it’s Steampunk Western style and unique gameplay. You can master over 100 different weapons while using a free aim system that allows you to bounce bullets at your targets. Featuring some great sprite graphics and a soundtrack from the well known Steam Powered Giraffe it’s pretty obvious this would be in the running for an award this year.

• Eiyuu Senki – The World Conquest

This Visual Novel / Strategy title took me by complete surprise when I reviewed it last year. This one not only has a top notch story with some cute and sexy characters, it has one of the best stories I’ve read in a long time. Throw in pretty deep and challenging Strategy gameplay and you have yourself one pretty damn good game.

• Sword Art Online Re: Hollow Fragment

If you’ve listened to our podcast you have likely heard me go on about this one a time or two. This was one of my favorite games on the PlayStation Vita in 2014, so when the updated version will actual online multiplayer hit the PS4 last year you can bet I was excited. Featuring a massive world to explore, a great story with plenty of character interaction, and some great MMO style combat you will easily get sucked into this one and spend 150 hours of your life with it as well.

• Undertale

This Indie RPG has won much praise from fans and critics alike for it’s great storytelling and unique combat system. As a child exploring the underworld you will encounter “Monsters” these beings have been banished from the surface following a war against humanity. You must now decide if you will kill these creatures or be friends with them. Each of your decisions will affect the story in some way. This could be in the form of dialogue changes or possibly even the entire story outcome.

• Pokémon Shuffle

This puzzle game based on the Pokémon universe took fans by storm last year. The gameplay was simple, yet addictive and players spent many hours batting it out to gain more Pokémon. Being free to play it meant even more fan could get in on the fun. This is one of the few Nintendo published titles to actually release on the iOS and Android platforms.

AND OUR TOP DIGITAL DELIGHT IS…

Eiyuu Senki

You mix moe girls with a great story and some wonderful Strategy gameplay, and you come up with one pretty impressive title. It didn’t hurt that Fruitbat Factory did a fantastic job localizing this game and it’s pretty easy to see why it is our favorite download-only title of last year.

Up next, we look at the character awards.

The post The 2015 oprainfall Gaming Awards – Part 1 appeared first on oprainfall.

Image by Hews__

2015 hosted a lot of amazing anime, from gore fest shows like Parasyte to story driven emotional roller coasters such as Charlotte. This list does not reflect the contributors personal tops, but we thought a company list would prove to be interesting. This list took some time and a lot of behind the scenes voting, but oprainfall has come together and came up with their Top 5 Anime for 2015.

5. Kekkai Sensen (Blood Blockade Battlefront)

With the original manga written by Yasuhiro Nightow (Trigun, Gungrave), it’s no wonder this anime turned out to be a smash hit. The story focused on friendship and discovering your true power even if you are just an ordinary human. The scenes and world created in Kekkai Sensen will never be forgotten, and all this was brought in by one of the best intro songs of the year.

4. DanMachi (Is It Wrong to Try to Pick Up Girls in a Dungeon?)

Who would have thought that another anime about an RPG world would have made such a huge impression on the anime community. DanMachi’s success was partly fueled by the Goddess Hestia, but the anime told a great story of the underdog making his way as an adventurer and proving that even in a sketchy world their can still be good people.

3. Gate: Jieitai Kano Chi nite, Kaku Tatakaeri (Gate: The Self-Defense Forces Fight Like This in That Place)

GATE tells a story of a portal found in Japan that leads to a fantasy world. The greatness of this anime shows through it’s characters and heroic story telling. The way it handles political issues such as finding renewable resources and creating peaceful terms between two universes was mixed so well with with the humor and great cast the anime has to offer.

2. Hello!! Kin-iro Mosaic (Hello!! Kinmoza)

A fun comedic slice of life anime that follows the adventures of 5 high school Girls with some yuri thrown into the mix as well. Nice to watch if you’re looking for a good laugh or just want to relax.

1. One-Punch Man

Our number one pick for anime of 2015 is indeed One-Punch Man. This anime brought everything from laughter to amazement into every episode. There was never a dull moment, but there were plenty of  jaw dropping visuals brought to our eyes by the incredible artists at Studio Madhouse. From episode one to twelve, One-Punch Man has (lightly) punched our hearts, and we have fallen in love.

So there you have it. What are your picks for top anime in 2015? Do you agree with ours? Let us know in the comments below!

The post oprainfall’s Top 5 Anime of 2015 appeared first on oprainfall.

Hello Super Mario Maker fans! I apologize for lack of 2nd monthly episode of Making It Rainfall, but I promise that it will return in December. The reason it’s running late is because we wanted to try something new. Gamers love polls, so we thought we’d poll you, the readers, as to what the theme of our next Making It Rainfall should be. I tried to come up with a good variety, and offer you 6 different choices, but it’s only one vote per person, so make sure you vote on the levels you want.

If you want to throw a theme out there that we can try next time, make sure to let us know in the comments section. This poll will run until this Sunday at 3PM, at which point the next theme will be chosen from the results. If there is a tie, we will throw one more poll out there the following Monday. Okay, that’s enough ranting, go ahead and vote, vote, vote!

The post Making It Rainfall Poll appeared first on oprainfall.

Our staff has already picked our favorite Union! Check it out HERE

Also, make sure to vote for your favorite union on the poll at the end of the page!

Oprainfall X Unions

1. Rivulet

Like the body of water it’s named for, the Rivulet Union is small, efficient and quick. These folks strike rapidly, and manage to cut to the quick for important missions. They may not be the biggest or the baddest, they make up for it with their technical skill.

2. Torrent

The Avalanche Union does nothing by half measures. They are stubborn, committed and impossible to sway from their beliefs. They may seem chilly and distant at first, but they will warm up to those who share their frame of mind. Just don’t make the mistake of getting in their way.

3. Lemurian

The Lemurian Union is by far one of the most mysterious and wreathed in shadow. None know where they truly hail from, and it’s rumored that they practice dark arts and mysticism. However, this isn’t to say that they are evil, just misunderstood. What is most important is their faculty to get things done when nobody is paying attention.

4. Lily Pad

The Lily Pad Union is one of the least aggressive, but most vital to the health and productivity of oprainfall. They are calm and dispassionate most of the time, able to heal quarrels and mend fences. They may not be a destructive force, but they are mighty all the same.

5. Waterfall

Slow, powerful and methodical, the Waterfall Union is one not to be trifled with. These are the lore masters of oprainfall, and have a immense working knowledge of history. Many in this clan are also older and wiser, not like some upstart new Unions.

6. River Ops

River Ops members are brash, fast moving and quick thinking. They handle many specialist jobs for oprainfall, and are also the first to speak their minds. They are also brutally loyal to their fellow members, and will defend them with their lives. This upstart new Union is dismissed at your own peril.

7. Dewdrop

While Lemurians are one of the more mystical Unions, they are far from the only one. They are also accompanied by the Lily Pad Union. Though they are typically calm, they can also be protective and violent, depending on their whim. Their unpredictable nature makes them very chaotic, but also incredibly useful, since they are liable to take on many disparate tasks.

8. Squall

By an odd coincidence, those in the Squall Union are often natural leaders and charismatic speakers. They aren’t always present, but when they show up, everybody pays attention. If you confront them, be prepared to be blown away by their ferocity and conviction.

Thanks to Brandon Rose for the great vector images!

The post What’s Your Xenoblade X Union? appeared first on oprainfall.

Summer is almost over, and for some of us that means it’s time to go back to school. It’s always difficult entering a new classroom and not knowing who will be there when you walk through the doors. So, we here at oprainfall have voted for our top 5 anime girls from school-themed anime that you’d want to be in your classroom. These picks are for strictly platonic reasons, of course. As a side note, these girls might not be the smartest, most organized or even the nicest, but they are sure to make your school year a lot more enjoyable and exciting.

5: Kanade Tachibana (Angel Beats!)

Pros:

• Plays piano
• Knows how to defend herself
• A freakin’ angel!

Cons:

• Hard to read
• Could kill you

4: Nao Tomori (Charlotte)

Pros:

• Student Class President
• A good friend
• Hard worker

Cons:

• Egotistical
• Short tempered
• If you screw up, she could become invisible to you forever

3: Maki Nishikino

Pros:

• Great musician and singer
• Will never let her friends down
• Reliable

Cons:

• Stubborn
• Might not have time for you from being too busy with µ’s

2: Mirai Kuriyama (Beyond the Boundary)

Pros:

• Glasses
• Athletic
• Cares about everyone in her life

Cons:

• Blood can kill you
• Extremely clumsy
• Might trick you into buying food for her constantly

1: Noumi Kudryavka (Kud) (Little Busters)

Pros:

• Never a dull moment
• Always smiling
• Any time you are feeling sad, she will surely lift your spirits

Cons:

• Kud has no cons; that’s why she’s number 1

So that’s it, our top 5 anime girls from the classroom. Do you agree with this list? Who would you like to see in your class on the first day of school? Let us know in the comments below.

The post oprainfall’s TOP FIVE: Anime Girls from the Classroom appeared first on oprainfall.

So it’s a normal evening and you’re casually watching anime that you find to be well written, full of interesting characters, and fun to watch. There’s only one thing wrong with it: you don’t want to be caught watching it. Whether it be too gory or ecchi, there are just some things no one wants to try and explain. So here it is, oprainfall’s top 10 anime that you don’t want to be caught watching:

10: Gantz

Gantz was a good anime that suffered from catching up to its manga counterpart, which gave it a terrible ending and slow plot development. Even with that, one can’t deny that the emotional scenes full of blood, body parts of your favorite characters, and screaming people is something that you’d want to explain to anyone as to why it appeals to you.

9: Kissxsis

Kissxsis had a good run. It was funny and engaging with only one tiny thing to explain: The male protagonist has twin sisters who are desperately trying to win his attention in the most flirtatious ways. Be that as it may, this anime is one that you’d want to watch and never tell anyone how much you enjoyed it because they probably wouldn’t understand.

8: Highschool of the Dead

Highschool of the Dead was pretty popular among individuals who didn’t even watch that much anime, but I’m sure they didn’t watch it with their parents. This anime features lots of amazing over the top zombie killing action with boob physics that go unmatched to this day. Sadly, its popularity did not save it enough to get more than one season.

7: Please Twins!

Please Twins! is another anime featuring a brother and two sisters relationship, but this love triangle has a twist. One of the girls is NOT his sister. As a result, we are taken on an adventure of love and heartache as we root for our favorite girl that might be the protagonist’s sister. Have fun explaining that.

6: B Gata H Kei

B Gata H Kei features a female protagonist on a mission: to sleep with 100 guys at her school. As cool as it is to witness a female protagonist be so bad ass, she finds it’s not as easy as it sounds. Try pitching that idea to your school mates!

5: Queens Blade

Queens Blade is about a tournament of the same name featuring an all female cast of fighters. It is very difficult to watch ten minutes of this anime without one of the characters depicted in a sexual way, but it sure is fun to watch. I’d turn the speakers down or wear headphones while watching, though, unless you want to increase the chances of getting caught.

4: Highschool DxD

Highschool DxD is a story of angels and demons. The main protagonist is killed, only to be revived as a servant by a devil. This anime wastes no time pushing the limits of ecchi any chance it gets while telling the story of this fallen angel. It is a pretty good anime that you’d want to talk about with friends… if only they wouldn’t judge you.

3: Fate/Kaleid Liner Prisma Illya

Fate/Kaleid is a spin-off anime of the Fate series starring the character Illya. Though this anime features amazing battles, hilarious situations, and beautiful art, you’d be surprised how easily the mood changes to show off these young girls in the most suggestive situations. Maybe it’d be best to keep the love for this anime out of judgmental eyes.

2: Kodomo No Jikan

Kodomo No Jikan is anime about a normal 23-year-old school teacher who loves to teach, but is stuck in the most awkward situations by the girls in his third grade class. As one of his students falls in love with him, she tries anything to get him to cave and succumb to her loli siren song. Nothing good can come from explaining this to people who just don’t get it.

1: Monster Musume

Monster Musume is one of the newest anime on this list and has made its way to our number one spot. It features a male who is stuck taking care of a number of monster girls as they fight for his hand in marriage. The anime features all type of barely dressed monster girls and hilarious situations, but it probably isn’t wise to explain to people how you have a small crush on a half-human, half-snake girl. Unless she’s your waifu, then it’s your responsibility to yell that from the roof tops!

So that’s it, oprainfall’s top 10 anime that you don’t want to get caught watching. In the end, there are tons of anime that we enjoy, but don’t want to explain to anyone why we enjoy them. Have you ever been caught watching an anime on this list or an anime you feel should be on this list? Tell us what you think belongs on here and maybe a story of a time you were caught.

The post oprainfall’s TOP TEN: Anime You Don’t Want to be Caught Watching appeared first on oprainfall.

There are 10 candidates for this poll. They were all released exclusively for the Nintendo 64 and need your votes to come out on top.

Mario Kart 64

Mario Kart 64 is one of the first games to come to people’s minds on the Nintendo 64. The game has several both famous and infamous iconic tracks. Mario Kart 64 is known for its 4 player battle mode. Fans of the Nintendo 64 and Mario Kart praise the battle mode as one of the best multiplayer experiences on the console. There is also a vs. and grand prix mode. This was the introduction of the blue shell, an item that targets and hits whoever is in first place.

Mario Needs Your Vote

Best known for: Iconic Tracks, Battle Mode, The Infamous Blue Shell Item

Diddy Kong Racing

Some see Diddy Kong Racing as a clone, others see it as superior to Mario Kart 64. Diddy Kong Racing took the iconic kart formula and expanded it to include planes and hovercrafts, a fun, worthwhile single player mode, and an item system which color coded items and gave them upgrades to take out your opponents.

Bump Diddy Kong Racing to Victory

Best Known For: Multiple Vehicles, Color Coded Items, Item Upgrades, Single-Player Racing, The Introduction of Banjo and Conker

F-Zero X

F-Zero X is the sequel to the Super Nintendo launch title, F-Zero. F-Zero X expanded the F-Zero formula by introducing 30 drivers, adding more tracks, and adding a cup with randomly generated tracks. F-Zero X boasts a fantastic soundtrack even if its only in mono and not stereo.

Show Him Your Votes for F-Zero X

Best Known For: 30 Drivers, Death Mode, X-Cup, A Memorable Soundtrack

Wave Race 64

Wave Race 64 is the classic Jet ski racer to successfully make the jump from the Game Boy to the Nintendo 64. Wave Race 64 pushed the limits of the Nintendo 64 at the time by using 80% of its power. Visually, the game is pleasing to the eyes. The game is still considered to be one of the best Jet Ski racing games to date, which is a feat nearly 20 years later. Although it only supported two players, it has some of the best water and wave physics in a water based racing game. The challenge was mastering all the tracks and having enough points to make it through single player mode.

Wave Race Wants to Leave Its Competition Out In The Water

Best Known For: Water and Wave Physics, Graphics, Stunt Mode, Jet Ski Racing

Cruis’n USA

Cruis’n USA is the first game in the Cruis’n series. The series started out in the arcades, but it was published by Nintendo and it was only released to the Nintendo 64. Cruis’n USA allowed players to cruise through a section of the United States or cruise around the USA. The game has over the top physics and ends with a trip to the white house. The controls were different from most racing games with the Z button being used to accelerate and not the A button. The game remained mostly true to the arcades and the only modes available are the same modes found in the arcade version.

Cruise Around the USA With Your Vote.

Best Known For: Unorthodox Controls, Over The Top Racing, Alterations To The Game.

Cruis’n World

Cruis’n World is similar to Cruis’n USA, but now has tracks based on locations around the world. It also started out in the arcades and was eventually ported over only to the Nintendo 64. Cruis’n World added a challenge mode, a tournament mode with unlockable upgrades, and the ability to perform stunts off cars and ramps.

Cruise Around the World With Your Vote

Best Know For: Over the Top Racing, Extra Modes, Customized and Upgraded Cars

Cruis’n Exotica

Cruis’n Exotica is not as well known as its older brothers, but it has its own brand of fun. Cruis’n Exotica has players race in exotic locations such as Atlantis, the Amazon, and Las Vegas. The game offered three different modes and more cars to choose from.

Cruise to Exotic Places With Your Vote

Best Known For: Over The Top Racing, Exotic Race Locations, Additional Modes

Excitebike 64

Excitebike 64 is the sequel to Excitebike and was the first 3D game. Excitebike 64 took a more realistic approach while maintaining the core features from Excitebike. The clock is no longer the only opponent, there are other racers to beat. With the advancement in technology, Excitebike 64 was a true racing game and not a glorified time trial There are six riders available. If a bike overheats, it will cause players to lose time as they have to wait for their bike to cool down.

Take The Less Traveled Road and Vote for Excitebike 64

Best Known For: Over the Top Physics, Overheating Bikes

Snowboard Kids 2

Snowboard Kids 2 took the Mario Kart formula and combined with snowboarding. The key to winning is to pick up offensive and defensive items. Its not as simple as picking up items, there are coins scattered around the track to pick up. Coins are used to get items. No Coins. No Items. Using stunts and knowing when to use items is the key to victory. The soundtrack is memorable.

These Guys Want Your Vote

Best Known For: Combining Snowboarding with Kart Racing, Offensive and Defensive Items, Being published by Atlus

Extreme-G

Extreme-G has speed, speed, and more speed. After all, the whole point of racing is to go as fast as possible. The futuristic racer has players racing around tracks while picking up items to defend and shoot down their opponents. It is possible to blow up the competition. Each motorcycle has its own strengths and weaknesses.

Be Extreme and Vote for Extreme-G

Best Known For: Speed, Being Able to Destroy Your Competition

You have until the end of May 31st to decide which game is the best racing game for the Nintendo 64. Let us know what consoles you want to have covered for next year and beyond. The results will be revealed in June.

Note: There is a poll embedded within this post, please visit the site to participate in this post's poll.

The post MONTH OF MAY I: Nintendo 64 Edition appeared first on oprainfall.

Well, after a long tournament, we are now down to our final two competitors. And given how these two have just plowed through the competition, I’m wondering if we should’ve just had these two compete against each other from the beginning. But… whatever.

And if you don’t know which swords have been on a collision course of fate, here are the results from the previous round.

• Monado defeats Fierce Deity Sword 59-20
• Master Sword defeats Falchion 50-29

And now, ladies and gentlemen, IT’S TIME!

First, out of Hyrule, this is the ultimate sword of its series. It has been used from early on as the ultimate weapon against the great evils of the world and is blessed by goddesses and sages alike. This is the runner-up to the Top Ranked sword of 2013 and our overall number 2 seed in the tournament. From The Legend of Zelda series, the Blade of Evil’s Bane, THE MASTER SWORD!

And, out of the Bionis, a newcomer that allows you to see certain events in the future in an effort to alter them. It also has to power to do its master’s bidding, whether it is for creation, destruction, or felling a powerful enemy. This is oprainfall’s Top Ranked sword of 2013 and the overall number 1 seed in our sword tournament. From Xenoblade Chronicles, the God-Slaying Sword, THE MONADO!

And you know what, I’m kind of curious who would win between Falchion and Fierce Deity Sword. So…

And here’s a few others I’d like to see what you think about:

Alright, voting is open until Tuesday night. Good luck to fans of both swords.

The post OPERATION MADNESS: Swords Tournament – FINALS appeared first on oprainfall.

It was only last week, during one of Nintendo’s Directs, that Sakurai revealed the Smash Bros. Fighter Ballot. An online form that allows you to vote for any video game character you would like to see become a playable fighter in Super Smash Bros. for Wii U/3DS.  It is fair to say that this caused a lot of excitement within the community, as millions of fans started submitting their votes. Turmoil and uproar ensued as fans argued over who we should all be voting for, but we, oprainfall, have decided to turn this into a a democracy by asking YOU to vote in:

The Great Super Smash Bros. Election.

Who’s your winner? Vote in the POLL below.

The process is very simple. Nine, prestigious, members of oprainfall are representing nine possible candidates. Each member will give their reason on why their candidate should become the next playable fighter in Super Smash Bros. for Wii U/3DS.  Once you have read each manifesto, you will then have the chance to vote in a poll. Remember, you’re voting on who you think would make the best fighter out of all the candidates. After a certain amount a days, we will tally up the votes and announce who has triumphed and who has fallen.

Please meet our nine candidates:

CANDIDATE: King K. Rool

GAME: Donkey Kong Country Series

REPRESENTATIVE: Josh Speer

There are lots of great characters that could still see life on Super Smash Bros. via Smash Ballot, but I’m here to convince you all that you should vote Kremling!

VOTE K.ROOL!

The Donkey Kong Country series was one of the best of the SNES era, and it’s ridiculous that only those hairy apes made the transition from Country to Smash. What about King K. Rool? That blowhard Bowser is in Smash, why not K. Rool? Even Ganon is in Smash, and they relegated him to a mere Falcon clone. This madness has gone on long enough.

There are plenty of reasons to vote K. Rool, if you’ll listen for a moment. He has a blunderbuss, so you know he means business, plus he could utitlize tools from his many other jobs, such as Kaptain and Baron. Better yet, he could run circles around the other heavyweights, and do so in style. You think Bowser is brutal, wait until you see K. Rool bellyflop a foe into submission. Best of all, Super Smash Bros. NEEDS more villains, and since we’re never seeing Ridley, I say K. Rool is the next best thing.

If you want more villains, vote King K. Rool. If you don’t, the Kremlings will find you…

CANDIDATE: Lloyd Irving

GAME: Tales of Symphonia

REPRESENTATIVE: Chris Stollings

Well first off he’s a Namco-Bandai property, so those logistics would be way easier than another third party title character. Secondly, Super Smash Bros. could use more RPG support and Lloyd fits the bill. He has a wide range of attacks and his native combat system shares a lot of similarities with Super Smash Bros. so he just fits right in. Vote RPG. Vote for Lloyd!

VOTE LLOYD!

CANDIDATE: Geno

GAME: Super Mario RPG: Legend of the Seven Stars

REPRESENTATIVE: Alexander Jones

Geno has an incredible amount of potential as a Super Smash Bros. character, thanks in no small part to his myriad abilities within Super Mario RPG.

VOTE GENO!

Geno primarily fought with projectile weapons in Super Mario RPG, using various guns and even his own fists as rockets to attack enemies, so he could work well as a possible match for Mega Man in that regard. Being an oversized doll could also make for some interesting and bizarre melee options, too…could you imagine a dash attack where Geno helicopters both arms around to attack opponents? It’d be weird, sure, but could shake things up a bit for such a range-type character.

In addition, he has a few interesting options for his Special move set. Geno Beam seems like a natural charge neutral-special, though it could potentially also work like R.O.B.’s Robo Beam. Geno Whirl could work as a damage-dealing side-special that would cause more damage if a follow-up button press was timed correctly, though it probably shouldn’t be able to cause 9999 damage (or I guess, 999% damage). I’m not sure what could be used for an up-special, but perhaps a play on one of his weapons from the game (the Double Punch?) could be used as a recovery move, where he launches himself upwards by firing off his arms. I could see Geno Boost being used as a down-special, sort of like Wii Fit Trainer’s Deep Breathing, and Geno Blast or Geno Flash as potential Final Smash candidates.

Of course, Geno would be a pretty quick character as he is the speediest Super Mario RPG party member, but he’s also pretty weak defensively, so balancing out his weakness to get thrown around easily with damage output is a must. Sure, Geno’s owned by Square Enix, who might be reluctant to let him be used. Sure, Geno’s been in a grand total of two games, the last of which was a cameo in Mario & Luigi: Superstar Saga, which is 12 years old now. But, considering that Geno has only appeared on Nintendo consoles and that Square Enix did approve a cameo for that game, chances are still there…slim chances, yeah, but still chances.

Besides, Geno needs some love. After all, what does Square Enix’s ownership of him really do? He just kind of sits around, collecting dust. I think Gaz would be ashamed of them. Speaking of Gaz, you could also re-enact the first half of this scene in Super Smash Bros. Jussayin.

CANDIDATE: Terra Branford

GAME: Final Fantasy VI

REPRESENTATIVE: Andrew Mathieu

Super Smash Bros. has had some good representation from RPGs, thanks to some combatants from Fire Emblem, Earthbound, and most recently Xenoblade Chronicles.  However one series that had has been absent from the fray all this time is Final Fantasy.  While I’m sure there are more popular and likely characters to choose from, I believe Terra is the perfect choice.

VOTE TERRA!

Terra is one of the first characters in Final Fantasy VI that is able to use magic, so incorporating that into her move set in a similar fashion to Ness, Lucas and Robin makes sense.  Given the nature of Final Fantasy VI’s customizable characters, this can gain Terra an interesting weapon or piece of equipment unique to her in Super Smash Bros.

There are also the more quirky aspects of the character.  Terra’s various expression of sadness, surprise, and laughter could easily be used as taunts, while her victory animation along with the accompanying music is an easy pick for when she wins a fight.  Finally, her Final Smash could either be her Esper form or her magitek armor.

Terra is one of my favorite characters from the Final Fantasy series, and if developers want to only include characters who have had mainline appearances on Nintendo hardware, I think she is the perfect choice.

CANDIDATE: Wonder Red

GAME: The Wonderful 101

REPRESENTATIVE: Tyler Lubben

I’m here to make an appeal for one of the best video game heroes in recent memory. Not because of his ability to lead a battalion of super-powered individuals or his devastating punches, but, rather, his preference for diplomacy before violence. That’s why the Smash Ballot is such a great idea for including Wonder Red into the Super Smash Bros. roster!

VOTE RED!

It’s exactly the kind of thing he’d want. It isn’t about proving your worth through displays of brute force, stylish moves or brilliant tactics (which he totally could, by the way, just saying), it’s about letting the people decide on their own. That’s why Wonder Red deserves your vote!

But even if you aren’t convinced and you think that a dirty, glory-seeking snowboarder or an obese reptile would be the better choice, by all means, cast your vote for one of them. What makes Wonder Red such a hero is that he isn’t in it for the accolades. He, along with all the other Wonderful Ones, does his work anonymously; not for any kind of recognition, but for the good of every living thing on Planet Earth. Regardless of how the voting turns out, that will not change.

Red may not come out and speak for himself, so let me do it for him. Give this Wonderful hero the chance he deserves! Don’t let diplomacy fail!

CANDIDATE: Dixie Kong

GAME: Donkey Kong Country series

REPRESENTATIVE: Jacob Dobbs

There needs to be more Kongs in Super Smash Bros. The best new Kong to fit the roster would be Dixie Kong. Before everyone starts whining how Dixie would be another clone character, hear me out.

VOTE DIXIE!

Dixie does not have to be a clone character if Nintendo programs her correctly. Dixie Kong has only been in a few games, most notably Donkey Kong Country 2 and 3. She would have some basic acrobatic moves, but would also be a fast, quick character.

Why would Dixie be a good fighter? Her ponytail. Dixie’s ponytail could be used to attack enemies and help her get back on the stage. She would be hard to knock off the stage from the side as all she would have to do is use her famous ponytail twirl to fly in the air. Dixie could have a barrel or cannon ball throwing as one of her special moves.  As for a final smash, there are two possible choices. She could rock it out with her guitar and have Tiny Kong play the Saxophone to deal massive damage to opponents or she could summon Kiddy Kong ala Donkey Kong Country 3 to help her take out enemies.

Super Smash Bros. needs more members of the Kong family and the best fit would be Dixie Kong.

CANDIDATE: Highlander

GAME: Etrian Odyssey

REPRESENTATIVE: Ben Hafen

Etrian Odyssey may be a third-party series, but the mapmaking dungeon crawler series has always been exclusive to Nintendo handhelds. (The work that Nintendo and Atlus are doing together for Illusory Revelations#FE sets an impressive precedent for collaboration between the two companies as well.) And with each installment, the series grows more and more popular, even if it is more niche than not.

VOTE HIGHLANDER!

The Highlander makes a good representative for the Etrian Odyssey series as the main character of the only game (currently available outside of Japan, anyway) that has a dedicated story mode with set characters, as opposed to the custom characters of the rest of the series.

Were he to be included in Super Smash Bros., he’d be the first fighter in Smash history to fight using a spear. Such a weapon could make for an interesting combination of both short and long-range attacks. He has several combat skills to cull from his home game for a potential Smash moveset—Legion Burst, Head Pierce, Spear Assist, and Black Sabbath, to name a few. His alternate forms could consist of four recolors of himself, plus the four new Highlander portraits from Etrian Odyssey 2 Untold: The Fafnir Knight (who, admittedly, are not the same character as the first Untold’s Highlander, but then, there’s Olimar/Alph and Bowser Jr.).

CANDIDATE: Ryu Hayabusa

GAME: Ninja Gaiden series

REPRESENTATIVE: Jeff Neuenschwander

Why not? Ryu Hayabusa is arguably the most famous video game ninja, getting his start on the NES in Ninja Gaiden. It was a classic game that defined NES-hard with its unrelenting gameplay. And if you beat the game, you could easily hold the claim of badass, just like Ryu.

VOTE RYU!

While he is mostly known for his exploits in the beat ‘em up genre, Ryu has appeared in the fighting series Dead or Alive. Not only is he competitor in the tournaments, according to DOA canon, he won the Dead or Alive 2 tournament. And I have to think that his appearance in these games helped revive the Ninja Gaiden franchise. Would he have to be toned down for Super Smash Bros.? Well, of course. There’s no way Nintendo would allow some of the… many of the graphical aspects of the recent Ninja Gaiden games (i.e. copious amounts of blood) to appear in their game. But I think maybe having a hybrid of the NES Ryu mixed with the modern Smash would work well.

As for how he would play, I’m thinking he would have high agility, mimicking that of what we think a ninja would be. To counter this so that he isn’t so overpowered, his strength would be average and his defense would be pretty terrible. Basically, the best way to play him would be to bounce around opponents to land the best hit while dodging enemy attacks. For a Final Smash, he calls upon his ninja friends and they slice and dice everyone on screen.

CANDIDATE: Ricky Winterborn

GAME: 1080 Snowboarding/Avalanche

REPRESENTATIVE: David “Rawky” Rawlings

King K. Rool? Predictable. Geno, who’s only ever had one notable appearance? Not likely. Lloyd Irving? That guy is yesterday’s news. Ladies and Gentlemen, I’m sure my opponents tried their best with convincing you to vote for their candidate, but there’s only one whom you should really vote for, and that is: Ricky Winterborn.

VOTE RICKY!

The star snowboarder from the 1080 Snowboarding series is perfect for Super Smash Bros. Utilising the power of his board to attack and defend, as well as using over the top snow, and ice attacks to bring destruction to all who face him certainly gives Ricky the edge. His air game would be second to none, using air tricks and stunts to perform deadly combos and smash attacks. He would be the perfect combination of a defensive and offensive character. Oh, and why not have the rest of the cast of 1080 Avalanche as his alts? Genius.

If you want to go for unoriginality, then vote for Dixie Kong. If you want another plain old third party character, then vote for Ryu Hayabusa. But if you want someone different, someone who is cool as ice, and someone that will bring hope to your heart, then vote for Ricky Winterborn. It’s the right thing to do.

Thank you. *slowly wipes a tear away*

Now that you’ve heard from all nine representatives, we kindly ask you to vote on who you’d like to see become of Super Smash Bros. Fighter. Who gave the best manifesto? Who would make the best character? Let us know by voting… NOW!

The post The Great Super Smash Bros. Election: We Need Your Votes! appeared first on oprainfall.

BIONIS BRACKET

• 1. Monado defeats 6. Ragnell 50-9

I’m sure it’s not quite the result that Fire Emblem fans were hoping for. As for Xenoblade fans, Monado moves on with another dominating victory.

HYRULE BRACKET

• 1. Master Sword defeats 7. Masamune (FF) 44-13

It would’ve taken a near superhuman performance for Masamune to slay the Zelda juggernaut again. Alas, its win over Biggoron’s Sword last round will have to be enough. The Master Sword wins easily.

GUARDIA BRACKET

• 2. Falchion defeats 1. Masamune (CT) 35-22

It really wasn’t a good round for anything named Masamune… or any sword from Squaresoft. Another top seed falls as Falchion moves on.

NEO ARCADIA BRACKET

• 4. Fierce Deity Sword defeats 3. Soul Edge 38-20

Score another one for the Zelda juggernaut as it claims two spots in the Foil Four. Tough break, Soul Edge.

SEMIFINALS

In our first semifinal match, we have the winners of the Bionis and Neo Arcadia brackets. First up, it’s the God-Slaying Sword, the Monado. Its opponent will be the sword of a powerful Hylian, the Fierce Deity Sword.

Over in match 2, judgment shall be passed on two swords that are just as much symbols for their series as the plot devices that move them forward. On one side, we have the Blade of Evil’s Bane, the Master Sword. On the other, we have the Blade of Light, Falchion.

The post OPERATION MADNESS: Swords Tournament – Semifinal appeared first on oprainfall.

BIONIS BRACKET

• 1. Monado defeats 5. Gunblade 65-13
• 6. Ragnell defeats 2. Keyblade 40-34

Monado continues its march as it plowed through the Gunblade. But now it must face the blade of Ike as Ragnell narrowly came away with a victory against the Keyblade. It’s the God-Slaying Sword versus the Sacred Blade of Begnion.

HYRULE BRACKET

• 1. Master Sword defeats 4. Ultima Weapon 60-14
• 7. Masamune (FF) defeats 3. Biggoron’s Sword 38-36

No surprise in that first match as the legendary Master Sword moves. Meanwhile, Sephiroth’s sword plays spoiler for an all-Zelda quarterfinal match. It’s the Blade of Evil’s Bane versus the Blade of the One-Winged Angel.

GUARDIA BRACKET

• 1. Masamune (CT) defeats 5. Sol Blade 50-22
• 2. Falchion defeats 6. Goddess Sword 56-21

Masamune makes it 3-for-3 for top ranked swords in this round as it routs the Sol Blade. But Falchion may very well be the favorite in this match-up. It’s Frog’s Legendary Sword of Antiquity versus Marth’s Divine Sword from the Dragon Naga.

NEO ARCADIA

• 4. Fierce Deity Sword defeats 9. Sword of Seals 45-25
• 3. Soul Edge defeats 2. Rainbow Sword 37-33

The run by Roy’s Sword of Seals is over as Fierce Deity Sword makes it two Zelda blades in the Edged Eight. But it has a tall order at hand with Soul Edge. It’s the Sword of a Powerful Hylian Warrior versus the Shape-shifting Evil Sword.

The post OPERATION MADNESS: Swords Tournament – Quarterfinals appeared first on oprainfall.

BIONIS BRACKET

• 1. Kentucky defeats 13. Sad Weapon 78-39
• 2. Stick defeats 6. Sword of Grandmas 66-52

Kentucky has been on a mission to thrash all comers. But it looks to face a strong challenge in the Stick from Kingdom Hearts, which had to beat the Sword of Grandmas to make the Quarter-finals.

HYRULE BRACKET

• 1. Broom defeats 4. Honedge 70-43
• 7. Spoon defeats 11. Saba 59-58

The Spoon from Rune Factory just squeaked by Saba from Power Rangers. But it faces a mighty challenge in the Broom from Anodyne.

GUARDIA BRACKET

• 1. Banado defeats 5. The Mop 112-7
• 2. Tuna Cutlass defeats 3. Giant Squid 70-34

Of all the other contenders, the Banado seems to be the only one that could play spoiler against Kentucky. But until then, it needs to get past the Tuna Cutlass from Skies of Arcadia.

NEO ARCADIA

• 4. Pow Pow Blade defeats 1. Bug Catching Net 67-57
• 7. Nicolas Cage defeats 6. Twin Leaks 91-12

Nicolas Cage was a surprise selection for the tournament but has been on a rampage since the first round. But now he must face the Pow Pow Blade from reader favorite Tales of Symphonia.

And that’s it for this round. If you want to check out Round 3, you can do so by clicking here.

The post APRIL FOOLS 2015: Swords Tournament – Round 4 appeared first on oprainfall.

BIONIS BRACKET

• 1. Monado defeats 8. Guilded Sword 47-8
• 5. Gunblade defeats 4. Valentine 33-17
• 6. Ragnell defeats 3. Beam Katana 34-18
• 2. Keyblade defeats 7. Great Fairy’s Sword 28-26

We begin round 3 with the Monado’s first true challenge in Final Fantasy’s Gunblade.

Next up is a fight between Ike’s signature sword Ragnell versus the Keyblade, the weapon of Sora… and Riku… and Mickey… and Kairi… and Roxas… and…

HYRULE BRACKET

• 1. Master Sword defeats 9. Dual Blade 48-4
• 4. Ultima Weapon defeats 5. Honedge 30-22
• 3. Biggoron’s Sword defeats 6. Muramasa 28-23
• 7. Masamune (FF7) defeats 2. Soul Calibur 26-24

Another top sword gets its first true challenge — as well as a Final Fantasy weapon — as the Master Sword faces off against the Ultima Weapon.

In the bottom half of the bracket, it’s another battle of Zelda versus Final Fantasy. It’s Biggoron’s Sword from Ocarina of Time versus Sephiroth’s Masamune.

GUARDIA BRACKET

• 1. Masamune (CT) defeats 9. Sword of Mana 33-17
• 5. Sol Blade defeats 4. 8-Bit Sword 29-23
• 6. Goddess Sword defeats 3. Buster Sword 30-20
• 2. Falchion defeats 10. Eternal Sword 34-16

Masamune survived its first challenge against the Sword of Mana. But it gets more difficult as it faces off against the Sol Blade from Golden Sun.

While the Zelda series missed out in the top half with the 8-Bit Sword, the Goddess Sword made up for it by taking out Cloud’s Buster Sword. But things heat up again as Falchion awaits.

NEO ARCADIA BRACKET

• 9. Sword of Seals defeats 1. Z-Saber 25-23
• 4. Fierce Deity Sword defeats 5. Material Blade 39-11
• 3. Soul Edge defeats 6. Vyse’s Cutlass 28-20
• 2. Rainbow Sword defeats 7. Exor 26-21

Z-Saber is the first top seed out as Roy’s Sword of Seals claims the first big upset. But it has another major obstacle in its way with the Fierce Deity Sword from Majora’s Mask.

And finally, the classic Soul Edge and Chrono Trigger’s Rainbow Sword look to take control of the bracket with the fall of Zero’s blade.

Alright guys, if you want to see your favorites move on, make sure to vote.

The post OPERATION MADNESS: Swords Tournament – Round 3 appeared first on oprainfall.

One round of battle is in the books with many more fights to come. And as some of you might expect, there were very few surprises. All 10 swords from our top 10 from in 2013 made it into the second round, as did nearly all the top seeds. So, without further ado, we move onto the second round.

BIONIS BRACKET

• 1. Monado defeats 16. Akujiki 127-7
• 8. Guilded Sword defeats 9. Althena Sword 100-31
• 5. Gunblade defeats 12. Zankantou 97-31
• 4. Valentine defeats 13. Daikatana 96-24
• 6. Ragnall defeats 11. Altair’s Sword 119-12
• 3. Beam Katana defeats 14. EXPcalibur 105-14
• 7. Great Fairy’s Sword defeats 10. Blades of Chaos 92-35
• 2. Keyblade defeats 15. Yamato 80-44

The God-slaying top seed made easy work of Akujiki. But now the road becomes tougher for the Monado as it faces it’s first test from the Zelda series with Majora’s Mask’s Guilded Sword.

It’s hybrid versus hybrid as the half-sword, half sword Gunblade takes on the half-sword, half-whip Valentine. I’d love to see both continue but only one may remain.

Speaking of tough calls, one sword from our top 10 will be out in this next match. It’s the Beam Katana from No More Heroes versus Ragnell from Fire Emblem.

Zelda collides with another big name in this tournament as the Great Fairy’s Sword faces the amazing Keyblade.

HYRULE BRACKET

• 1. Master Sword defeats 16. Chaoseater 123-6
• 9. Dual Blade defeats 8. Xenithian Sword 55-52
• 5. Honedge defeats 12. Granasaber 85-41
• 4. Ultima Weapon defeats 13. Vandal Hearts 104-19
• 6. Muramasa defeats 11. Energy Sword 96-26
• 3. Biggoron’s Sword defeats 14. Beloved Katana GEKKOU 101-20
• 7. Masamune (FF7) defeats 10 Crissaegrim/Valmanway 84-32
• 2. Soul Calibur defeats 15. Spirit Sword 79-25

The legendary Master Sword had just as resounding a victory as its chief rival. And it looks to keep that momentum in the second round against the Dual Blade from Lufia.

The Pokemon Honedge did well in its first match. But now it must face one of the big boys in the Ultima Weapon, one of our top 10 swords.

Muramasa did well against Halo’s Energy Sword. But now, this series of swords must find a way past the Zelda juggernaut as it faces Biggoron’s Sword.

A clash of two classic titans rounds out the Hyrule Bracket as the Soul Calibur takes on Sephiroth’s blade, Masamune.

GUARDIA BRACKET

• 1. Masamune (CT) defeats 16. Dragon Sword 105-23
• 9. Sword of Mana defeats 8. Razor Sword 64-56
• 5. Sol Blade defeats 12. Soul Reaver 90-22
• 4. 8-Bit Sword defeats 13. Desert Seeker 82-39
• 6. Goddess Sword defeats 11. Rebellion 68-50
• 3. Buster Sword defeats 14. Crystalis 94-17
• 10. Eternal Sword defeats 7. Umbra Sword 101-17
• 2. Falchion defeats 15. Black Knight Sword 115-9

It may have had the smallest percentage of the top 4 swords but Chrono Trigger’s Masamune still won convincingly without breaking a sweat. But for it to continue, it will need to defeat another one of our top 10 swords, the Sword of Mana.

Next, it’s the battle between a sword from a beloved niche title and a throwback to a beloved classic: Sol Blade versus 8-Bit Sword.

The Goddess Sword looked like it was on the ropes for a bit before taking out Dante’s Rebellion. Now it must muster the strength to defeat a giant in the Buster Sword.

Both Eternal Sword and Falchion had large margins of victory. But both will now have a mountain to scale in order to make the Sharp 16.

NEO ARCADIA

• 1. Z-Saber defeats 16. Frostmourne 97-19
• 9. Sword of Seals defeats 8. Sword of Aeons 104-14
• 5. Material Blade defeats 12. Gehaburn 98-13
• 4. Fierce Diety Sword defeats 13. Masamune Katana 103-16
• 6. Vyse’s Cutlass defeats 11. Epitaph Blade 62-43
• 3. Soul Edge defeats 14. Great Knife 85-14
• 7. Exor defeats 10. Chaos Breaker 73-35
• 2. Rainbow Sword defeats 15. High-Frequency Blade 66-45

The sword of Zero made easy work of the powerful Warcraft blade. But it now faces a major test facing Roy’s quintessential blade, the Sword of Seals.

The Fierce Deity Sword was one of our top swords in 2013. But it might have trouble staying in against one of the Tales of Symphonia swords, the Material Blade.

Skies of Arcadia lives on as Vyse’s Cutlass survives for a second round. But it must now take down the classic sword, Soul Edge.

And we finish off with two swords from SNES RPGs. In one corner, we have the Chrono Trigger sword Rainbow Sword. In the other, from Super Mario RPG, Exor.

Have fun with this one guys. Because from here on out, it’s going to be difficult.

And I promise that the next round will come around quicker.

The post OPERATION MADNESS: Swords Tournament – Round 2 appeared first on oprainfall.

So, if you’re looking for something to spice up the next three weeks during the Wildcats elongated coronation, why not give a different tournament your time? After all, when we put up our Top 10 Swords in Video Games, many of you jumped on us not only for our choices in the top 10 but having the gall to put the Monado ahead of the Master Sword. So, here is your chance to show us how wrong we were that day. This is OPERATION MADNESS: Top Swords.

BIONIS BRACKET

We begin the madness with the reveal of the top seed in our tournament: the Monado from Xenoblade Chronicles. The Monado was our top sword back in 2013 and is still the tops in 2015… at least, that’s what we think. To open the tournament, the god destroying blade goes up against the 16th seed in the Bionis region, Akujiki from Shinobi.

The winner of this match plays the winner of the always entertaining 8-9 match-up. The 8th seed in this region is the Guilded Sword from The Legend of Zelda: Majora’s Mask. The Guilded Sword is scheduled to take on Lunar’s Althena Sword.

The 5th seed on the Bionis is the always awesome Gunblade from Final Fantasy. Seriously, it’s a sword that has a gun. That’s rad! The sword-gun will take on the 12th seeded Zankantou of Super Robot Wars.

Claiming the 4th spot is Valentine, the whip sword of Ivy Valentine from Soul Calibur. This sword came in 10th in our poll in 2013. Going up against this sword will be the Daikatana from… Daikatana.

In the bottom half of the Bionis bracket, we have the 6th seeded Ragnell from Fire Emblem. The blessed blade of the Tellius games fell a bit since 2013 but still found favor with voters. It will take on Altair’s Sword from Assassin’s Creed.

At the 3rd seed, we have the Beam Katana, another Top 10 sword to make this regional. The amazing lightsaber copy from No More Heroes will square off with the EXPcalibur from Dying Light.

The 7th seed is another Majora’s Mask sword, the Great Fairy’s Sword. It will face the 10 seeded Blades of Chaos from God of War.

Closing out this quadrant will be the 2nd seeded Keyblade from Kingdom Hearts. The weapon of Sora, Riku, Kairi and many others will go up against the Yamato from Devil May Cry.

HYRULE BRACKET

Moving to the second quadrant, we go to Hyrule to reveal the number 1 seed Master Sword. It was a close vote to the end but the blade of evil’s bane just missed the overall number 1 seed due to a tiebreaker. Drawing the Master Sword in the first round is the Chaoseater from Darksiders.

The 8th seed in Hyrule is the Zenithian Sword from Dragon Quest. This sword was not only powerful but a key item for defeating the great evils of the world. It will face the Dual Blade from Lufia.

The 5th seed in Hyrule is Honedge from Pokemon X&Y. This is unique as it is a ghost Pokemon that takes the form of a sword. Going up against Honedge will be the Granasaber from Grandia 2.

The 4th seed is the legendary Ultima Weapon from Final Fantasy. The Ultima Weapon, also known as the Atma Weapon in early translations, has been a series regular, mostly taking the form of a sword. It will face the Vandal Hearts from the game Vandal Hearts.

The 6th seeded sword is the Muramasa series of swords from Muramasa: The Demon Blade. Its foe this round will be the Energy Sword from Halo.

Coming in at number 3 is Biggoron’s Sword from The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time. It will have its work cut out for it as it faces the Beloved Katana GEKKOU from Killer Is Dead.

At number 7, we have Masamune, the sword of Sephiroth from Final Fantasy VII. It will face off against the Crissaegrim, also known as Valmanway in some games, from Castlevania.

Rounding out the Hyrule bracket, we have the second seeded Soul Calibur. It will take on the Spirit Sword from Grandia.

GUARDIA BRACKET

The third quadrant will be the Guardia region. And its top seed is the Masamune, the fearsome sword of Frog from Chrono Trigger. Finishing in a tie for third in 2013, it’s only fitting that it take the number 3 overall spot. Facing this sword will be the Dragon Sword from Ninja Gaiden.

Next is another sword from Majora’s Mask, the Razor Sword, at number 8. Facing off against this sword will be the Sword of Mana.

At number 5, we have the Sol Blade from Golden Sun. It will face the 12th seeded Soul Reaver from Legacy of Kain.

At number 4, possibly the youngest and one of the oldest swords, the 8-Bit Sword from Hyrule Warriors. It will face the Desert Seeker from Rogue Galaxy.

Over at number 6, we have the Goddess Sword from The Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword. It will go up against Dante from Devil May Cry’s classic sword, Rebellion.

The 3rd seed is the Buster Sword of Cloud from Final Fantasy VII. This sword had a noticeable absence in 2013. It will begin its march to visibility against the Crystalis from… Crystalis.

At the 7th seed, we have the Umbra Sword from The Elder Scrolls. It will face the Eternal Sword from Tales of Symphonia.

At the end, we have the 2nd seeded Falchion from Fire Emblem. The sword of Marth fell just short of the Top 10 last time around. It will begin against the Black Knight Sword from Dark Souls.

NEO ARCADIA

The final quadrant is the Neo Arcadia region and features the overall number 4 ranked Z-Saber, the sword of Zero from Mega Man X. It will begin its march against Frostmourne from Warcraft.

The 8th seed in Neo Arcadia is the Sword of Aeons from Fable. It will face the Sword of Seals, the quintessential sword of Roy from Fire Emblem.

At number 5, we have the Material Blade from Tales of Symphonia. It will face Gehaburn from the Neptunia series.

At the 4th seed, we have the Fierce Deity Sword from Majora’s Mask. And in case you’re wondering, this is the last representative from that game. And it will face the Masamune Katana from Castlevania: Symphony of the Night.

The 6th seed in this region is Vyse’s Cutlass from Skies of Arcadia. It will face the Epitaph Blade from Monster Hunter.

Taking the 3rd seed is Soul Edge. This magical sword will face off against the Great Knife from Silent Hill 2.

At number 7, we have the Exor from Super Mario RPG. It will face the Chaos Breaker from Shining Force.

And rounding out the tournament is the 2nd seeded Rainbow Sword from Chrono Trigger. It will face the High-Frequency Blade from Metal Gear Rising: Revengeance.

And there it is, the 64 swords in our OPERATION MADNESS Tournament. What do you think? Who are your early favorites? Are you voting in every poll? Let us know in the comments below.

The post OPERATION MADNESS: Swords Tournament – Round 1 appeared first on oprainfall.

It starts again as we begin our march to the 2015 oprainfall Awards, coming in January of 2016. While it may be early to talk about it, it does need to be mentioned as the results from these polls will determine which games will qualify for the Readers’ Game of the Year Preliminary Vote. What will get in? We’ll have a clearer picture in about a week.

All games listed were given a full release for the first time on either PC, home console, or handheld console (not including mobile). You may vote for up to 10 games. If there’s something missing from the list, please refrain from voting, leave a comment below, we’ll add it on (assuming it meets the requirements), and you can proceed to vote.

And if you want to check out what won from last year, click here for the full list of monthly winners.

The post READERS VOTE: Game of the Month – January 2015 appeared first on oprainfall.