Shinkan Crossing

Thoughts on Gundam 00

noreply@blogger.com (C.Jin) — Tue, 23 Apr 2013 06:52:00 +0000

This is the one I've been waiting for. What are your thoughts on Gundam 00? I remember being thoroughly entertained through the first season, and though the quality of the show dipped considerably by the second season, I still would not say that 00 is a complete miss. We were treated to high-def animation and explosive battle sequences, which were definitely the highlight of this very recent series.

Of course, the U.C. community looks at 00 like they do every AU series: it's just another abortion of a Gundam series that can't possibly compare to the classics. All-bishounen casts were as prominent as usual, and the power-ups became so over the top and unbelievable that the series bordered on super robot territory. The villains were weak and forgettable, and the plot became less and less appealing with its convoluted Innovator nonsense.

Though, that's just what some people say. There are newer fans who obviously love the series, and see it as an entertaining romp nonetheless. What do you say about Gundam 00? Was it worthy of its place in the Gundam metaseries?

Mobile Suit Gundam: The Origin, Vol.I - Activation

noreply@blogger.com (C.Jin) — Sun, 07 Apr 2013 18:40:00 +0000

My copy of Mobile Suit Gundam: The Origin Vol.1 has arrived, so I thought I'd give it a mini-review. In case you're unfamiliar, Gundam: The Origin is a manga adaptation of the original anime series. Viz attempted an American release, but their run ended due to low sales. Thus, publisher Vertical decided to release The Origin in a format similar to the "Aizoban" collector's editions in Japan.

The first thing I'm going to say is, this book is absolutely gorgeous...

The book is hardcover and quite large, as you may have noticed from my comparison to the MG RX-78-2 Ver.2.0. It has 456 pages in total, with a beautifully colored covering. Indeed, it feels like a collector's item more than just a manga, which is partly why I bought it in the first place.

Scattered throughout the manga are dozens of color pages. I think this is the most impressive part of the book; the color pages are a welcome sight and wonderfully done. Though I'm not entirely sure, they appear to be water-colored. These pages are reason enough to own this little product.

It hasn't been too long since I finished re-watching the original anime and the compilation movies, but reading this manga feels like an entirely different experience. If not for the slight differences, I read through this for the amazing artwork. As you can tell from the photos below, there is no shortage of dynamic Gundam action. It definitely beats having to watch the Gundam being drawn in wildly inconsistent blobs (television series).

There are over 400 pages, so Activation takes us from the beginning, through their journeys in space, up to where they are about to enter Earth. In the last few pages, there is an essay written by Hideaki Anno (creator of Neon Genesis Evangelion) about The Origin manga and about the influence of Gundam. It's an interesting read and a great way to cap this item off.

I think it's great to be able to read The Origin manga, but I found that this was more of a collector's item that no Gundam fan can be without. You get so much for its low $16US price mark. So of course, if you want a piece of Mobile Suit Gundam heaven, I advise you to get a copy for yourself and see just how nice this book feels in your hands.

Char's Signature Mobile Suit

noreply@blogger.com (C.Jin) — Wed, 27 Mar 2013 22:57:00 +0000

Every time Char Aznable comes up in Gundam-related material, I always have to stop and think: "What exactly is his signature mobile suit?" You would expect this to be simple, but I really don't think it is. Char has piloted dozens of different mobile suits throughout the Gundam universe, and I always want to associate him with a certain mobile suit, but there are a handful of them that one can reasonably associate him with.

Here's a run down of the main candidates...

The most common choice (and my choice as well) seems to be Char's Custom Zaku II. There isn't much of a reason besides the fact that it's the first mobile suit we see Char pilot. It doesn't appear in too many episodes, though it does make an impact, and it manages to land an epic kick on Amuro's Gundam. I've seen it represent Char in plenty of spin-offs and promotional work, so one could consider the red Zaku II to be the forerunner.

Next is the Zeong. The Zeong is remembered for being Char's ultimate mobile suit in Mobile Suit Gundam, and for having a very peculiar design. I honestly never liked the design, and though being the final mobile suit gives it plenty of credibility, I wouldn't bother picking the Zeong over Char's Zaku II. It only makes brief appearances in the final episodes, and though screen-time is obviously not a very good argument right now, it simply falls short of Char's other notable mobile suits.

Then, we come to the Hyaku Shiki. Despite being Char's personal mobile suit for the majority of Zeta Gundam, it is hard to associate Char with the Hyaku Shiki. The obvious reason is that it is not in Char's signature red; instead, it is a rather peculiar shining gold. Also, it does not have a traditional Zeon feel to it. Its design is closer to a Gundam more than anything. It is definitely a great and memorable design, but I would be hesitant to consider this mobile suit Char's signature.

And finally, the Sazabi. If anything, the final decision for me would be between the Zaku II and Sazabi. This is one of my favorite mobile suit designs in The U.C. era, and it definitely left quite an impact. It personifies Char's fiery red will in mobile suit form almost perfectly, and is definitely his ultimate mobile suit.

But these are all just my opinions. What would you say is the Red Comet's signature mobile suit?

Gundam Unicorn 06: Two Worlds, Two Tomorrows

noreply@blogger.com (C.Jin) — Sun, 17 Mar 2013 08:46:00 +0000

If you haven't heard already: the 6th OVA of Gundam Unicorn is out and available, so go on the interwebz and watch it. I just finished watching it myself, so I thought I'd talk about it. To be honest, I was waiting for the continuation of this series so I could watch the Sinanju and Unicorn kick ass in uber-HD. I was also waiting to hear the epic Unicorn theme, but unfortunately, neither of these things happened. Episode 6, entitled "Two Worlds, Two Tomorrows", was mostly set-up for the next episode, which is scheduled to be the series finale.

So, out of the entire hour, you'll only be getting about 5 minutes of action. This was slightly disappointing, but I'm not complaining. I'm just excited about how amazing the series finale is going to be. We even get a short glimpse of the Full Armour Unicorn at the end of the episode. Anyway, most of the episode involves Full Frontal and Mineva arguing about their views and philosophies in classic Gundam fashion. It was tolerable at first, but it got a little excessive after awhile. We learn a little more about their characters, however, and we see some rather emotional scenes involving Zinnerman. He was definitely the highlight this time around.

I'm honestly not liking the sudden evil turn that Riddhe Marcenas is taking. He was a mildly likeable character at first, but he really does not make a convincing villain. He is now the pilot of the Banshee, and we see him about to engage Banagher near the conclusion. We'll see how his character development concludes; I'm not expecting much. Anyway, don't expect anything titanic when starting this episode. You'll mostly watch the characters bicker about pseudo-intelligent nonsense. It'll leave you wanting though; I can't wait for this series to conclude so I can properly view it as one of the best Gundam animations I've seen in a long, long time.

(Indie Game) To the Moon

noreply@blogger.com (C.Jin) — Sun, 03 Mar 2013 03:32:00 +0000

You probably know "To the Moon" as the game that makes people cry. I found out about it from various gaming sites because its story is constantly praised for its originality and its ability to tug your heart strings. I dismissed it for quite awhile, but I finally decided to give it a try yesterday. And...

Yeah, I totally teared up. Cried like a bitch. I'm usually prone to emotional things, but this game was especially sad. Sometimes it felt like the game tried too hard to make us cry, but I appreciated how interesting and dramatic the story was. It is definitely original, and filled with shocking twists.

The game is kind of tedious to play, however. At times it felt like the game wasn't even necessary; all you really end up doing is move from one point to another. You solve the occasional puzzle, but most of your time will be spent watching the story unfold. While I didn't mind this, it was definitely a bit of a drag at times.

The graphics are typical of RPG Maker 16-bit games, so don't expect much. The music is excellent, however. It's one of the highlights of "To the Moon"; there's even a vocal song made just for this game. If you're into excellent, emotional stories, then you should definitely give this game a try. It's only a 4 hour game, and you'll be coasting along the way. Just don't expect anything more than that, and be prepared to shed some manly tears.

5 Unsolved Mysteries in FFVII

noreply@blogger.com (C.Jin) — Fri, 22 Feb 2013 00:21:00 +0000

I'm going to turn this into a series of posts, considering how much I like to write about Final Fantasy. As I mentioned in my previous post, I have played Final Fantasy VII dozens of times and still play through it every now and then. I'll probably be making more of these so stay in touch. Anyway...

Every popular game has its share of urban legends and myths; just look at the GTA series. You wouldn't expect a story-driven RPG to have a bunch of random mysteries, but Final Fantasy VII is actually filled with them. These mysteries have existed for years, and despite the theories and rumors being all over the place, nobody has been able to agree on a conclusive answer for any of them. Here are 5 of my favorite mysteries in FFVII. After describing them, I'll give you my 'probable explanation' as a way to try and debunk the myth in a way. Feel free to give your own theories as well!

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5. Man in the pipe
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Back when I was really into the crazy rumors flying around about the game, I was always fixated on this one mystery. Who is the guy in the pipe in Sector 5? Rumors often claim that it is Zack; he has a '2' tattooed on his body, and he is awfully close to where Zack was shot and killed. The belief was that he survived his final battle, crawled over to Sector 5, and made a home in a pipe.

It seems a little ridiculous, but it's intriguing nonetheless. I know now that this theory is probably untrue; Zack was a failed Sephiroth Clone so he probably wasn't tattooed, and Crisis Core/Advent Children have shown us that he is certainly quite dead. So, who IS the guy in the pipe? The most likely answer? It's just one of the many Sephiroth Clones that Hojo tattooed as part of his Reunion experiment. He has no real significance. Still, his presence is not entirely explained and it's unusual to see him so early on in the game.

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4. 1/35 Soldier, Masamune Blade, Etc...
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Anyone who has played through the game once will be familiar with this. There are several items in the game that have no discernible purpose whatsoever. The Masamune Blade and Super Sweeper items are prizes you get at the Gold Saucer. They sure sound cool, right? Unfortunately, nobody can find any use for them. My guess is that they're really just novelties, and they're meant to be nothing more than Gold Saucer prizes.

Then there are those 1/35 soldiers. You find two of them on your trip to upper Junon. I was so dumb-founded by these items...what do they do? Why are there two of them? Many people assume that they're meant to be a part of a set, but 1/35 is referring to the scale; they're models of Shinra soldiers. They may have been intended for an item or side quest that was dropped at the last minute of production, because although I'm inclined to believe that they're useless, it's just too odd that there's two of them for no reason at all.

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3. Unreachable Cave at Forgotten Capital
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I actually wasn't aware of this until I did some surfing around this website. Final Fantasy VII Citadel is a really good source of mysteries and rumors, so check it out. Anyway, if you look at the picture above, there is a cave in the upper-right corner. As far as we know, there is no way to get to it. It's so tantalizing; what could this cave contain? FFVII Citadel had some theories, one of which I think is very likely: it contains an item or materia that they dropped before finishing the game.

There is a large vine just below the cave that looks like it can be climbed, but nobody has been able to find a way to reach the cave at all. My reasonable explanation? It's probably just there for decoration. It's part of the background, and serves no real purpose. Still, I'd like to believe that it's an inaccessible cave for the sake of imagination, and nobody has been able to reach a conclusion, so it's one of the game's biggest mysteries.

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2. How does Cait Sith work?
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Yes, it's a mechanical cat controlled by Reeve, a Shinra executive. At least, that's the explanation they give in the game. They actually don't do a very good job of explaining just how Cait Sith operates. To begin, it's safe to assume that Reeve controls the little black cat that rides on top of the giant mog...thing. So, does that mean he is controlling him at all times? There is a portion of the game where Cait Sith is giving live information to Cloud and party as Reeve is sitting quietly in a Shinra meeting. How is Reeve controlling Cait Sith and talking to the party while sitting quietly among a large group of Shinra executives?

In another portion of the game, Cait Sith sacrifices its body to grab the black materia from the Temple of the Ancients. The whole scene has a very sad, dramatic feel to it, and Cait Sith himself says: "There's plenty of stuffed toys like my body around, but there's only one me!" Huh? Does that mean Cait Sith is a sentient being? These events obviously point toward the conclusion that Cait Sith has an artificial intelligence, and that Reeve simply gives it orders on occasion. However, the game never makes this clear, so it remains up in the air as one of FFVII's mysteries.

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1. "I'm sick of this"
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This one is interesting. At the end of the snowboarding minigame, your party takes a leap of faith and ends up at the beginning of the Great Glacier. Each of your characters get up and make generic comments...including Aeris. Obviously, Aeris is dead by this point. However, if you make use of hacks to get her in your party, she will say "I'm sick of this". This is notable because she shouldn't even exist; the fact that she has a unique message is incredibly unusual.

This quickly led to fans theorizing about this being related to a possible resurrection plot. Maybe it was possible to revive Aeris, and maybe she was supposed to be with you at this point in the game. Personally, I think all of the Aeris resurrection theories are ridiculous; none of them have any merit whatsoever. However, I really have no explanation for this little mystery. It's definitely up in the air, and up for any manner of theories.

Metal Gear Rising: Revengeance Demo

noreply@blogger.com (C.Jin) — Sat, 09 Feb 2013 05:42:00 +0000

I just finished playing the Metal Gear Rising: Revengeance demo. My initial impressions? Honestly, I'm very disappointed and bit worried about how good this game will be when it comes out. Most people won't be very quick to write a game off because of its demo, but I think its issues stem from the overall design, not menial things like lag or glitching.

I first thing I noticed from the moment I moved Raiden was that it feels very old-school, and that's not in a good way. The movement feels clunky and limited, like a PS2-era Capcom game (Devil May Cry). I expect more fluidity from a game coming out at the end of a console generation. Jumping up obstacles was a complete mess, and this was further hindered by a frustrating camera. None of the controls seemed to work like the designers imagined.

Thankfully, I got excited by this game for the flashy Platinum Games-style combat. Unfortunately, its a bit lackluster and hack-n-slash. Normally, I love hack-n-slash games and I feel that it can be very exhilarating when done right (DmC). In the demo, the combat was easy and one-dimensional. Any semblance of a challenge was overshadowed by an over-emphasis on flashiness. I'm not distracted by flashy visuals anymore, I want gameplay.

There wasn't too much to set this game apart from any third-party action game. Blade mode is interesting, but I found that it was just frustrating and put a dead stop to the combat. The demo didn't do a very good job of showing us why this mode is interesting, or even necessary.

In the back of my mind, I was thinking that if the gameplay failed, I would look forward to the legendary story-telling of Kojima and the Metal Gear series. To my utter disappointment, that was nowhere to be found either. Again, everything felt third-rate and lackluster. Raiden's one-liners were cringe-worthy, and the overall presentation was cheesy at best. I feel that there isn't much for Metal Gear fans to be excited about.

Hopefully, the final product will be a little better. The thing is, most of its issues are things that are basically set in stone. None of the criticisms that I mentioned will be addressed to a great degree. Don't let my ranting bring you down though, try the demo out and tell me what you think about it.

Thoughts on G Gundam

noreply@blogger.com (C.Jin) — Sat, 09 Feb 2013 04:03:00 +0000

G Gundam is probably one of the most controversial entries in the Gundam franchise, and the reason is obvious: it does not follow the real-robot, war-drama scheme of most Gundam shows. Instead, it opts for a complete super-robot feel. In a sense, it is Gundam only in name.

The series revolves around Gundam fights, where pilots use their bodies to fight each other in giant robot ring-fights. Characters yell out special moves in an over-the-top fashion, and the overall feel of the series is lighter and goofier. This is the reason a lot of fans find it hard to take G Gundam seriously.

Though, if you can look past all of these things, G Gundam can be a rather entertaining romp. Domon and his God Finger technique are always exciting to watch, and he can really be a breath of fresh air if you are not very fond of the traditional whining teenager. In the end, opinions will be very divided. Fans will either learn to appreciate a deviation from the traditional formula, or reject it completely, considering it a blemish on the franchise.

So, what do you think? Is it an unnecessary entry in the series, or is it an acceptable change of direction?

5 Most Tedious Moments in FFVII

noreply@blogger.com (C.Jin) — Thu, 31 Jan 2013 10:32:00 +0000

I'm not ashamed to say that Final Fantasy VII is one of my all time favorite games. It's the only game I've played through more than 20 times, and one of the only games I've done a complete 100% run-through of. I go back and play this game pretty often, and while I thoroughly enjoy every experience, there are a few small moments I dread playing through.

This is my list of the 5 most tedious moments in FFVII. Note that these moments aren't necessarily bad for the game; some people might downright enjoy them. I'm just trying to point out some sections of the game that I grew to dread after playing through the game a hundred times.

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5. Giving Priscilla CPR
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Upon your first visit to lower Junon, you're introduced to a little girl named Priscilla. Then, almost immediately, she gets attacked by Bottomswell, which is a boss you have to fight. After the battle is won, you find Priscilla unconscious, and Cloud is forced to perform CPR on her. This begins a short mini-game where you have to press square, wait, and press it again. That's it. The whole thing is so unnecessary and drawn-out that it drives me crazy. It's a neat little add-in to the game, and it really isn't that long, but having to sit through this sequence every play-through is quite tedious. You would think it ends after the first breath, but no. You need another one, and another one, and another one...

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4. Entering Shinra Headquarters
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When you reach Shinra HQ for the first time, you're given the option to either sneak in through the stairs or break in through the front door. Now, which of these options is the tedious one? The answer is both. It doesn't matter which option you take. Both options lead to drawn-out, frustrating sequences. The stairs option is forgivable because it's meant to be tedious. Still, you can't deny that climbing stairs for about 5 minutes is downright infuriating. If you choose to break in, you go through a series of easy battles. It's definitely quicker than the stairs option, but only by a little bit. The battles are tedious and incredibly time-consuming. Either way, you're not going to like the first few minutes of the Shinra HQ chapter.

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3. The Snowboarding Minigame
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The minigames in FFVII have a tendency to...well, suck. They're boring, poorly constructed, and tedious. The motorcycle sequence is bad but somewhat memorable, and the submarine sequence is easy to end in the first few seconds. That's why I chose the snowboarding minigame. It needlessly gets in the way of an advancing plot. The controls are frustrating, the balloons are pointless, and getting up from a fall takes age. And trust me, you will be falling and smashing into things constantly. The worst part is that the minigame is stupidly long. There is only so much of this we can take, why make it twice as long as it should be?

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2. Waiting for Diamond Weapon to crawl over to you
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Around the end of the second disk, you have to re-visit the Forgotten City and do some chores. As soon as you leave, a scene occurs where Diamond Weapon emerges from the water and starts walking toward Midgar. Obviously, you have to engage it and defeat it. You can try ramming your airship into it, but you just get pushed back. Instead, you have to land near Midgar and wait near the shore.

The tedious part? Diamond Weapon walks really slowly. You literally just have to stand there for several minutes until he gets close enough to you. The worst part is, he starts far away. I never understood the reasoning behind this. Sure, you have time to save and setup your equipment, but time freezes when you're in the menu. You're left to just wait...and wait...and wait. Why? I've always enjoyed this part of the game, but damn it, that wait is tedious.

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1. Battle at Fort Condor
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I'm curious: does anyone actually enjoy this bit? Personally, I find the Fort Condor mini-game to be dreadfully boring. I would go as far as to say that it's worse than Blitzball. It's basically a tower defense game where you have to place troops in certain areas to defend your base. It's mostly optional, but there is one section of the game where you have to participate in the mini-game.

I dread this mini-game for several reasons. First of all, it's ridiculously slow. The monsters move at a snail's pace, so even if you choose not to do anything, you'll end up waiting several minutes for them to reach the top. You also have to spend your own gil to fund the army, which is a complete waste considering that there is basically no reward for winning the mini-game. There are strategies to winning, but it just isn't worth it. The quicker, easier, and cheaper alternative is to just wait until you lose the mini-game. This immediately thrusts you into a boss battle that is infinitely easier than the mini-game itself. There are absolutely no punishments for using this tactic.

Like I said, there might be plenty of people who actually enjoy this mini-game. I'm just not one of them. I tried playing it during my first ever play-through, and I hated it from then on. I decided that I would never again waste 20 minutes on something that had no impact on the game whatsoever. It's just.too.tedious.

Ecchi CG Set: Girls of Gundam 00

noreply@blogger.com (C.Jin) — Sun, 20 Jan 2013 05:26:00 +0000

Gundam fans, I present to you the largest collection of fan service in Shinkan Crossing history. I randomly stumbled upon this entire collection and decided I may as well contribute to the Ecchi Gallery. This CG set is dedicated to Gundam 00; you'll find plenty of Soma, Nena Trinity, Sumeragi, Marida, and so on. Anyway, enjoy~

Top 5 Transformable Mobile Suits

noreply@blogger.com (C.Jin) — Fri, 18 Jan 2013 07:56:00 +0000

In this list, we'll be counting down the top 5 transformable mobile suits in the Gundam metaverse. Let's specify the definition. A transformable mobile suit is a mobile weapon that has two modes: a mobile suit mode, and a mobile armor mode. We'll be narrowing this down to the smaller, faster mobile suits, so giant mobile weapons like the Psycho Gundam will not be included.

The criteria for this list will be the usual. I will primarily be looking at the mobile suit's lasting impact as a transformable unit, but I will also be focusing on the 'wow factor' of its design. Does this mobile suit do the category any justice, or was it just a waste of resources? How impressive is its transformation, mobile suit mode, and mobile armor mode? These are some of the questions I will be asking. Remember that this is not a list counting down power. Also, there are a handful of transformable units in Gundam so if your favorite gets snubbed, just give a shout out in the comments section.

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5. GW-9800-B Gundam Airmaster Burst
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The Airmaster Burst is the premiere transformable Gundam in Gundam X. It is a highly under-rated design because Gundam X itself is very under-rated. The Burst is an upgrade over the original Airmaster; I chose it due to its vastly improved speed and firepower. Take a look at its mobile armor mode; that's a lot of guns. From its sleek blue color scheme to its unmatched air superiority, the Airmaster Burst really impresses as a transformable mobile suit. Unfortunately, I couldn't give it a higher spot because its lasting impact was minimal compared to the rest of the entries.

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4. GNX-903VS Brave
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It was difficult deciding which member of the Flag family I would include, but I had to go with the latest and most advanced: the Brave. I wrote in a previous article about how the Braves were the best part about the Trailblazer movie, and I still stand by that opinion. The way they tore through crowds of ELS to save Celestial Being's ass was, needless to say, incredibly epic. I've always appreciated the Flag series, not just for its sleek designs, but also for its underdog status among the more advanced mobile suits. The Sol Brave squadron best represented this incredibly memorable line of transformable mobile suits, which is why they deserve a spot on this list.

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3. RGZ-95 ReZEL
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The ReZEL is Londo Bell's latest attempt at mass-producing the Zeta Gundam (they never stop trying do they). Out of all of the mass-produced mobile suits in the U.C. universe, I find the ReZEL to be the most impressive in terms of design. My first thought upon seeing it was: "Finally, a grunt unit that isn't completely overshadowed by the Gundam". The katoki-esque design and dark-blue color scheme are undeniably eye-catching. It is also formidable in terms of performance specs, but it ends up doing very little besides getting torn apart by the Kshatriya. It's potential was disappointingly unrealized, which is why it is stuck here at the 3 spot.

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2. XXXG-01W Wing Gundam
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As it turns out, the highly recognizable Wing Gundam is also a transformable mobile suit. It's impact is rather obvious; it is the title Gundam of Wing, and it serves as the main character's personal mobile suit until the halfway point. The thing that gives it its edge over the Wing Zero and Epyon is its mobile armor mode, appropriately called "Bird Mode". Unlike a lot of other transformable designs, the bird mode looks properly aerodynamic. The shield and rifle nose gives it a stream-lined look, and the wings give it the speed and mobility needed to dominate the air. It even has little talons on its forearms. Despite having an awkward transformation sequence (the shield and rifle just float in mid-air), the Wing Gundam really stands out as one of the best transformable mobile suits in Gundam.

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1. MSZ-006 Zeta Gundam
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Of course, we can't have a list about transformable mobile suits without including the pioneer. The thing that's amazing about the Zeta Gundam is that its design still impresses after all this time. Just look at the Real Grade of this Gundam to see what I mean. Anyway, the Zeta Gundam is undeniably the most revolutionary transformable mobile suit in U.C. (and possibly all of) Gundam history. It pioneered the design itself, and paved the way for dozens of similar transforming units.

The ZZ Gundam was based on the Zeta Gundam, as was the S Gundam, the Re-GZ, the ReZEL, and the Zeta Plus line. This is a testament to its influence; every generation of U.C. technology tried to emulate the success of the Zeta Gundam at some point. And indeed, it was quite successful; Kamille's design allowed the Zeta to transition seamlessly from waverider to mobile suit mode, doing away with any doubts about the drawbacks of having a transformation. Thanks to its timeless design and massive impact, the Zeta Gundam earns an undisputed top spot on this list.

Check out my other Gundam Top 5 lists~

Thoughts on Gundam SEED

noreply@blogger.com (C.Jin) — Wed, 16 Jan 2013 05:08:00 +0000

This is pretty interesting; I got some good feedback on my last post about Gundam Wing, so I figured I would continue with another Alternate Universe series: Gundam SEED. Unlike Gundam Wing, Gundam SEED is incredibly difficult to discuss properly without a flood of arguments coming from both sides.

I'll say it here and now: Gundam SEED is a perfectly enjoyable series. Put away the bias fanboy goggles and you'll find that SEED is a decent entry in the Gundam franchise, with impressive visuals, high-quality battle scenes, and a good balance of drama and politics.

Despite all this, opinions are incredibly divided. Objectively, SEED was a great way to bring in newer fans to Gundam. Older fans of the U.C. era are incredibly against SEED, unfortunately. It has a lot to do with the fact that it was spiritual remake of the original Mobile Suit Gundam, and long-time fans couldn't help but resent the direction and style it took.

So, what do you think? Just how good was SEED, if at all?

Thoughts on Gundam Wing

noreply@blogger.com (C.Jin) — Tue, 01 Jan 2013 05:36:00 +0000

Many of us in the states were converted into life-long Gundam fans through Gundam Wing, which was basically Mobile Suit Gundam's introduction in the U.S. I was among this group of people, and boy did it convert me. I completely fell in love with Gundam Wing, and proceeded to watch the subsequent airings of Mobile Suit Gundam and 8th MS Team. A trait many of us share is this unending nostalgia for Gundam Wing; we think very fondly of the series.

Now, I've become a bit of a U.C. fanboy as of late, and while I still enjoy Gundam Wing, it's hard for me to look at it objectively and consider it a perfect series. In fact, it pales in comparison to the outline of what Gundam was intended to be: a tragic war-drama. In truth, Gundam Wing was intended to lure in the female audience by way of these guys -

Confused? Gundam Wing was a bishounen anime. It's entire cast, villains included, was packed with pretty young men. It was their way of expanding Gundam to a wider audience, like how ZZ Gundam was light-hearted and silly so it could appeal to a younger audience. Again, I still enjoy re-watching Wing occasionally, but the general consensus is often very negative amongst long-time fans.

What do you guys think of Gundam Wing? Is your opinion different from when you first watched it?

cJinL: New Personal Blog

noreply@blogger.com (C.Jin) — Sun, 30 Dec 2012 10:29:00 +0000

Well, I went and did it. I made a new blog to move all of my personal posts. You can expect my articles and simple observations on life to be located completely in this new blog. I added a linked banner on the sidebar. It's pretty rough right now, but as long as the move is done, I'm considering it complete. Visit both sites!

Here is my blog: cjinl.blogspot.com

Shinkan Crossing is now dedicated towards Gundam posts. There might still be an occasional gaming related post, but I'll try to update more frequently on anything related to gunpla and Gundam. But yeeah.

Blog Identity Crisis

noreply@blogger.com (C.Jin) — Fri, 28 Dec 2012 06:35:00 +0000

I've been thinking about this for some time now, but I'm just starting to consider starting a new blog for things that are unrelated to my hobbies. I started this blog as a Gundam related blog, and so far, most of my visitors have come for the Gundam posts. Whenever I post an article about anything else, it tends to get lost and ignored.

I've been trying to blend everything together because I didn't want to make a new website and start finding a completely new audience. However, I think this is by far the best move. I can finally dedicate Shinkan Crossing to Gundam so my Gundam visitors don't feel alienated by random posts. Look forward to only the most relevant posts now! And if anyone cares, I'll be creating my new blog and post only about the types of things you can find in my articles page. Stay tuned...

Gun Advocates are Delusional

noreply@blogger.com (C.Jin) — Wed, 26 Dec 2012 08:12:00 +0000

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MG Tallgeese and MG Ver.Ka Nu Gundam?!

noreply@blogger.com (C.Jin) — Mon, 22 Oct 2012 19:34:00 +0000

I'm seriously behind. It's not just that I haven't bothered blogging in months. I haven't kept track of gunpla news for the same amount of time, and it turns out I've completely missed some of the most exciting news in awhile.

My dream, that I posted in my 4 Mobile Suits That Need Master Grades, has finally come true. After all these years! The Tallgeese has finally gotten the Master Grade treatment! Here is the news link from Gundam Guy: http://gundamguy.blogspot.com/2012/10/mg-1100-tallgeese-all-japan-model-hobby.html.

Hard to say how it looks at the moment, but it's a god damn MG. I'm happy its even happening.
The other news, while not very exciting, is quite interesting. Right when I decide to buy the HGUC version, they've already announced a new Master Grade Nu Gundam. Ver.Ka. Take a look:

It definitely looks infinitely better than the old MG Nu Gundam that I despise because of its proportions. It looks slightly bulky, which is not what I would have expected from Katoki. Still, I trust that it will be an impressive model. Might even get it to complete the set of old MG, Ver.ka MG, and HGUC.

Yes, School

noreply@blogger.com (C.Jin) — Sun, 16 Sep 2012 01:27:00 +0000

Sigh~ it's that time of year again. My last year of under-grad has started, so here I am, not updating the blog ever. As usual, I'm going to keep trying to keep up with the activity here and there. I'm pretty glad that people are still frequently visiting my posts and stirring up discussions; it feels like my blog is still alive when I'm gone. Please do not forget to visit every now and then! I still have tons of ideas for Gundam Top 5 posts that people have requested, and now that I can take decent pictures, I will be showing off my new gunpla kits~

The Controversial "Top 5 Gundam Series" List

noreply@blogger.com (C.Jin) — Tue, 07 Aug 2012 06:15:00 +0000

I've been waiting years and years, compiling as much information and experience as possible to write the most reasonable list of the best Gundam anime series' in history. This is the one list I haven't been able to do for various reasons. One: I still have a hazy memory of many shows. It will take an enormous amount of time to re-watch all of them again. Two: a list like this will probably invite the most commenting and arguing yet. Possibly even more than the Top 5 Most Powerful Gundam list. That is why I have to pay special attention and really make the most objective article possible.

I'm still in the process of re-watching each Gundam series, and that will likely take forever. I really want to get this post over with though. I know this is one of the most hotly debated topics in the Gundam fan community.

So I ask you: What do you think are the best Gundam anime's of all time?

Aging Japan and the Herbivore Male

noreply@blogger.com (C.Jin) — Sat, 21 Jul 2012 06:02:00 +0000

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AGE-FX: Peak of Lackluster Designs

noreply@blogger.com (C.Jin) — Mon, 09 Jul 2012 08:38:00 +0000

So I still haven't bothered watching Gundam AGE, mainly because I'm busy with Zeta Gundam (but also because I'm still not interested). BUT, what I have been noticing is pretty much every mobile suit design due to every recent gunpla release being related to AGE. Now, most of these designs didn't bother me. Some of the enemy designs were strange but unique, and the AGE 1 and 2 were alright.

Then, I came across the Gundam AGE-FX:

I'm sorry if anyone likes this, but I've got to be honest: this is one of the most disappointing and unimpressive designs I've ever seen. To the best of my knowledge, the AGE-FX is what you would call the final Gundam. It is the strongest Gundam to come out in the series, and it represents the hero until the end of the series. Usually, the final Gundam ends up being everyone's favorite because of how powerful it is and how appealing its design is compared to everything else. But in this case? It just doesn't work.

Just look how blocky and tacky it looks. And its main colors are baby blue and lime green? Not very intimidating either. If I'm not mistaken, this is the mech designer from Gundam 00. I can tell, because most of the later designs for Gundam 00 were pretty terrible, unimaginative and blocky too. I don't know, I just couldn't get over how disappointing this design was. Am I alone in this?

Dalong.net

noreply@blogger.com (C.Jin) — Mon, 02 Jul 2012 20:57:00 +0000

Dalong's epic Gundam collection

I'm sure almost everybody in the gunpla community knows about Dalong.net. Dalong's webite is one of the best sources for plamo reviews and pictures, mostly because he has reviews on EVERY single MG, HGUC, Seed, and 00 model kit that has ever come out. If you want to know about a gundam model, you can be sure that Dalong has it. Mainly, I like this site because of the plethora of pictures he provides for each model.

Though, one thing I have noticed is that he isn't really what you would call a hardcore model maker. I think he merely aims to provide reviews and pictures of each model kit released. I say this because his models definitely don't look that great. Usually, he doesn't paint or top coat any of his models. He does panel line, but this is something I would consider a weakness. His panel lining is excessive, thick, and relatively messy. Honestly, it's too much, and it really doesn't look that great.

Lines too thick? Messy? Excessive?

What do you think about his technique? Are we meant to simply appreciate that he provides endless reviews? I'm usually guessing that he doesn't really care about how his techniques look. Regardless, I just wanted to say that I love his site. It's completely in Korean (which I can read, thankfully), so many people will not be able to read his reviews. It's really more about the in-depth pictures though.

Misunderstanding About Gundam Top 5

noreply@blogger.com (C.Jin) — Thu, 28 Jun 2012 22:03:00 +0000

Now that I've gotten your attention, read on. Basically, my Gundam Top 5 section is the most visited section of my blog, and I'm glad I've gotten so much traffic and activity due to it. That's why I've been trying my hardest to edit them and make them perfect in case they contain any errors. Unfortunately, some people seem to have the wrong idea about what these lists are really about.

In particular, I took note of one user, named Arc. If you're reading this, I really don't mean to call you out, but you're a good example. Arc contributed to almost every Top 5 list I made, and I'm thankful. Unfortunately, most of his comments were complaints about things he thought were "missing" from the lists. Take note of this one from my Top 5 Antagonist Mobile Suits list:

"ArcApril 25, 2012 12:02 AM

Turn X, you never had the love you deserved - even though you can basically kick all protagonist gundams's butt.

Reborns? this is the only gundam that can outclass the overpowered 00 Raiser

Sunanoo? yet another mobile suit that can par with 00 raiser

for AGE universe - we have Zeydra and Kronos

Nightingale? when Hinu can e listed why Nightingale can't?

Unicorn Banshee? I'm pretty sure this thing does not belong to the light side."

He basically listed the most powerful mobile suits he could think of. The reason this is meaningless is because my list was NOT about power. NONE of my lists, except for the "Top 5 Most Powerful Gundam", are about counting down power. Similar complaints occured in Top 5 Big Guns.

Again, that list was not about power. So what ARE my lists about? Well, you've REALLY got to read the intro paragraphs. They explain exactly what I'm trying to count down, and the guidelines for choosing entries for the list. But mostly, they are usually about the impact they leave in their series and the Gundam metaverse in general. It's really not a hard concept. Top 5 BEST, not most POWERFUL. If it was about power, I would say powerful. Half of it is how great they are, and the other half is based on my own opinion.

Basically, considering that these are mostly my opinions, there IS no wrong list. If you've ever asked where something is, you've asked a pointless question. Where? It's not on the list. That's it. People take these things too seriously. Note that I only do this for fun, I'm not out to compile an official list for people. That's what the Gundam Wiki is for.

Japanese Politicians Considering Building a Real Gundam

noreply@blogger.com (C.Jin) — Wed, 27 Jun 2012 19:31:00 +0000

Yes, this is real news. I found this reported on Gundam Guy, who got it from Kotaku. You can find the whole article here: http://kotaku.com/5921304/japanese-politicians-are-thinking-about-building-gundam-like-real-working-gundam

Basically, Japan's Liberal Democratic Party is seriously discussing the construction of a real life Gundam for use in the Self Defense Force. They are apparently going to talk about it on Nico Nico Live, which reeks pandering to a young nerd audience. They did an estimate back in 2008, and they believe it would cost about $725,000,000 for the parts and materials required to build a Gundam-sized mecha weapon.

Now, a lot of people are furious over this. You would think anime nerds and Gundam fans would be all over the idea, but we've got to get realistic sometime. As a diehard Gundam fan, I would LOVE to see a fully functioning giant robot, but this is just bat-shit insanity. First of all, our current level of technology would make it impossible to actually create a functioning 60-foot robot. But more importantly, there really isn't a point to having giant robots fight our battles. It's cool in anime, but it would never work in real life.

Can you imagine a giant slow moving contraption trying to fight off fighter planes and smaller targets on the ground? It would never catch up, and be hit by a missile from a blind spot before it could even react. Now, when the LDP say Gundam, they actually mean just a mecha weapon in general, so it could just be something small like the robots in Avatar. That would actually work. But not a Gundam, which would crumble under its own weight with its slim legs.

The most important thing that's got everyone riled up is the fact that Japan is still in a recession. They are currently going through some tough times, so it really is insane for politicians to be talking about trying to build a giant robot when the cost could solve their problems already. It would totally be awesome, but...crazy.

Top 5 Wings in Gundam

noreply@blogger.com (C.Jin) — Tue, 26 Jun 2012 03:17:00 +0000

Confused? Well, ever since the Alternate Universe series' started getting more and more over the top, there has been a noticeably increased presence of flashy backpacks and wings. While most Universal Century machines had simple backpacks with two or four thrusters, these newer designs have ridiculously fancy wings that serve no other purpose than to look awesome. And that's what this list will be running down: the most impressive-looking wings in the Gundam metaseries.

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5. Quad-Wing (Kshatriya)
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I didn't think I could find anything from the U.C. era that had over-the-top wings, but luckily the Unicorn OVA has some incredible designs. My favorite among them is the Kshatriya, which wreaked absolute havoc in its introduction. Its special features are its massive shoulder binders, which have mega particle cannons, funnels, and miniature arms with beam sabers stored within them. The epicness of the Kshatriya is owed to these wings, which is why the Federation forces start calling it the "Quad Wing". There's no denying the power and stylishness of wings that are almost bigger than the mobile suit itself.

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4. Satellite System (Double X)
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Ah, the forgotten Gundam. The Double X is one of the most under-rated designs in the entire Gundam multiverse. This is largely due to the fact that the Gundam X anime is under-rated in general. It's a shame really. The Double X is an impressive design, and its wings have a lot to do with that. They serve a significant purpose; the wings are actually solar panels that absorb microwaves in order to charge its Twin Satellite Cannon. The golden glow they give off signal some of the most epic moments in Gundam X, which is why they're deserving of this four spot on the list.

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3. Wings of Light (Destiny Gundam)
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Say what you want about Seed Destiny; it had some of the best designs to come out of the Alternate Universes. Out of all the mobile suits, I feel that the Destiny Gundam is the most under-rated as it always gets overshadowed by the more popular Strike Freedom and Infinite Justice. Well, in terms of over-the-top wings, Destiny has them all beat. Called the Wings of Light, they mostly serve as an advanced thruster, but they also have the ability to leave after-images to confuse the enemy. Though of course, their real reason for existing is the fact that they are ridiculously flashy. They make for some great eye-candy, and an impressive Master Grade model kit!

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2. Moonlight Butterfly (Turn A Gundam)
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Presenting the much-talked about leader of the Top 5 Most Powerful Gundam list. The Moonlight Butterfly is the Turn A Gundam's signature feature and weapon. Once these luminescent wings are activated, nanomachines are released that turn technologies into sand. These wings are basically the most powerful weapons in the entire Gundam universe, and are pretty stylish too despite being butterfly wings. It would be an insult not to include the world-ending Moonlight Butterfly.

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1. Angel Wings (Wing Zero Custom)
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These are the wings that influenced me to create this list. The Wing Zero Custom has always been one of my favorite designs, and is definitely one of the most popular designs in the Gundam fan community. One would think that these gigantic angel wings are a bit too over-the-top, but that's actually what makes them so great. You just have to suspend your belief and appreciate how incredibly stylish they are. Instead of the traditional wings on the anime version, these angel wings have thrusters hidden all over its "feathers". While they don't serve a real purpose (besides atmospheric re-entry), Wing Zero's angel wings are definitely the most impressive looking wings in the Gundam metaverse.

Yeah, I realize I'm pretty biased towards my favorite Gundam considering I also chose it for the Top 5 Big Guns in Gundam list, but as I've said countless times, these are just my opinions, so you're free to disagree~

Check out my other Gundam Top 5 lists~