Threat Level: Multiverse - 10 Superheroes To Bring Against An Interdimensional Threat

Imagine this:

At the very edge of creation and reality, an immense, all-powerful and destructive force is gathering. Their purpose: to subjugate all life in the multiverse so that they can feed upon its essential energies and grow even more powerful.

Eternity/The Source/God (whatever you may call the supreme being in your belief system) has come aware that his creation will be under attack by this malevolent race/entity and decided that an offensive must be launched before all lives are lost.

He looks for a suitable leader and being disappointed in what he saw in the other candidates decided that the common man should choose who his protectors should be. And so he turns to you, provides you with a Multi-Dimensional Travel Apparatus, and tasks you to find 10 individuals whom you will lead to battle against this diabolic enemy.  And with that he disappears leaving the fate of the multiverse in your (hopefully) capable hands.

What a responsibility eh? Indeed it is, so you have to choose wisely. If you were to choose 10 characters from any fictional universe, be it in comics, TV, movies, anime, video games and books, who would you choose to go into battle with against this great enemy? If I was the one tasked to choose, my list would go something like this:

Batman (DC Comics)

The Tactician

At the helm of any great team, there should be one hell of a strategist. Your team may consist of the best of the best, but they will accomplish nothing if they go at it half-assed and without a plan in mind. And this is why, at the heart of my team, I would choose Batman as my primary tactician. In the DC  Universe he is the de facto leader in many Justice League missions, as his brilliant mind is able to come up with the best plan to come out on top. It is even fact amongst many heroes and villains in DC that if Batman hatches a plan, he will ALWAYS succeed. Just take a look at the names of the uber-powered individuals he had taken on and won: Superman, Darkseid, Lex Luthor, the whole Justice League. In non-canon stories, he even beat the Hulk! Of course he did not overpower them, as he used a lot of prep-time to be able to beat his opponents. In a battle with stakes this high, you must have the best, and there is no one better suited to the task than the Batman.    

Honorable Mentions: Shikamaru from Naruto (always one step ahead of his opponents), Ender (Ender’s game, child tactician of the book series)

Saitama (One-Punch Man)

The Power House

All evil intergalactic organizations have a notorious and insanely powerful leader at its core, and if one would want to topple such an organization, then this MBG (Main Bad Guy) must be taken down. But who can take him down when the fight is brought to him? I’ve considered so many possibilities here, but I settled with the obvious choice: Saitama, the One Punch Man! Just look at his resume: as a hero he had beaten every opponent with a single punch. One punch! A 2000 meter tall giant, a genetically modified super-being, an ancient diabolical monster from the depths. All of them beaten with one jab. Not even the intergalactic tyrant Boros, who has been known to destroy worlds on a whim, stood a chance against this bald caped crusader. The biggest reason that he’s going to be part of my team is because his power levels are just insane! Moreover, the upper limits of his strength, speed and stamina are currently unknown. Although he might have taken a bored and lackadaisical approach to his martial pursuits as of late, he is a hero through and through, and if he had already managed to put down one nigh-omnipotent being once in single combat, he can assuredly do so again.

Honorable Mentions: Superman, Goku (God form), Vegeta (God form)

Asura (Asura’s Wrath)

Back-up Bruiser

If the Big Bad Boss is bold enough to pose as a threat to more than one dimensional plane, chances are he’s going to be one tough nut to crack. Sure, Saitama is with the team and he could probably (operative word: probably) be able to beat him, but one can never be too sure, and Saitama could do with someone to help him carry the heavy lifting. And that is where Asura, from Capcom’s epic (but poorly reviewed) action game Asura’s Wrath. Asura gets in here because just like Saitama, he is a near-limitless powerhouse. In fact, Asura is treated as a demi-god in the game, and becomes even more powerful as the game progressed. He has managed to decimate entire armies of space-faring alien parasites, defeat other gods more powerful than he is, defeat an opponent as large as the earth itself, hurl energy balls that can destroy a planet on a whim, and climb up from Hell to revive himself. Repeatedly. With those feats, he can even be the main power house. The only real reason he falls behind Saitama is because the Caped Baldy has never been defeated, while Asura, for all his power had already fallen multiple times. I’m going for a track record of 100% victory and overall reliability here, and so Asura is going to have to stay in second place.

Honorable Mentions: The Incredible Hulk (World War Hulk power levels), Sentry

Elspeth Tirel  (Magic: the Gathering)

Nuker/Support

An army that is large enough to threaten multiple universes must surely contain an almost limitless supply of troops and war machines at its disposal. Saitama and Asura can fight them off, but they can only cover so much and chances are most of the armies would slip past them and deal devastating damage to everything else, even Earth. What you need in this situation then is someone who can match that multitude and can keep your loved ones safe and sound at the same time. Though I have considered many to fill this role, there really is only one that can properly fill it. One that can destroy and protect at the same time, and the description of a White Magic user in Magic: The Gathering fits the bill entirely. In this case, a Planeswalker would be a great addition to the team, and that would be Elspeth, the Errant Knight. She is the second-most powerful White Magic user in the planes (second only to Serra, who unfortunately is most likely dead) and commands the powers of sacred life and righteous destruction. Just imagine what kinds of spells she has at disposal in the White magic spectrum – Armageddon (destroys all lands), Wrath of God (destroys all creatures), Planar Cleansing (destroys all life and artifice from the face of the earth), Resurrection (brings back one dead guy), and the ability to summon knights and beautiful and equally powerful angels. Besides the spells she can cast, also take note that she hops dimensions at will, kills gods and renders her teammates invulnerable to destruction. Nuker? Definitely. Commands legions to defend the world? Yep. Protects loved ones? Totally. Badass? Oh yeah. There is no doubt about it, Elspeth is the perfect woman for this role.

Lucy (Lucy)

Intelligence Officer

Although the myth that the average normal person only uses 10% of his brain’s potential has been debunked for quite some time now, Universal Studios ignored the fact and still used it as a premise for the movie Lucy. In the movie, a seemingly normal girl named Lucy, gets tricked into being a drug mule and thereafter sets off a chain of events that exposes her to a super-drug called CPH4 and eventually to her unlocking her true potential. At the end of the movie she has transcended time and space because of the knowledge that she had acquired and the mental abilities that she had developed. In a heartbeat, IF I can find her I would immediately make her my prime Intelligence Officer. Having transcended her physical boundaries and able to tap into any source of information, Lucy would be able to bring the much needed data that Batman would need to process his tactical decisions and can even advise him of his course of action.

Honorable Mentions: Reed Richards aka Mr. Fantastic (Marvel Comics), Lex Luthor (DC Comics), Metron (DC Comics)

Tony Stark (Marvel Comics)

Tech Officer / Mechanic

Genius. Billionaire. Playboy. Philantrophist. That’s Tony Stark. Without the Armor. But whether he has his Iron Man armor or not, Tony is arguably the best mechanic and inventor in the multi-verse. I can run down the list of things that Iron Man has invented but that would be too many. Suffice to say, Tony Stark did not become an industrialist billionaire because he sold simple trinkets. He developed weapons and tech that were unheard of during his time. More than this though, Tony Stark’s brilliant mind can understand almost any type of technology, and given time can reverse engineer mechanical marvels from what he had uncovered. His Iron Man armor has seen so many improvements and iterations that it has progressed to a point where he can go toe to toe with the likes of the Hulk and Thor while wearing it. As part of the team, he will be mostly concerned with the development of super-weapons that can help them beat their enemy, as well as maintain and repair them. He would also be the one in charge of designing (and manufacturing, if need be) ships, fighters and power armor that the other members may need.

Honorable Mentions:  Lex Luthor (Marvel Comics), Brainiac 5 (DC Comics), Leeron Littner (Gurren Lagann)

Master Chief (Halo)

Saboteur

OK. Compared to the other members of this Multiverse Rescue squad, John-117 aka The Master Chief, seems a bit under-powered. John may be genetically modified and inhumanly strong, has enhanced reflexes and wears a kick-ass power armor, but he doesn’t have the mind-blowing abilities the other beings listed above him exhibit. However, he has something the others don’t have: a highly advanced AI that manifests itself as a voluptuous, guaranteed-to-make-your-blood-run-hot woman named Cortana. OK, besides that he was blessed by luck. You know, LUCK: that unfathomable trait that makes the impossible possible.  Luck: that invisible force that inexorably makes him succeed in whatever he does. Yeah, that Luck. Not to say that that is his only redeeming quality, but in the face of inter-dimensional extinction, luck is something you want to have oodles of to survive. Luck notwithstanding, the Master Chief himself is an expert fighter, the best of the best and a veteran of countless battles. Plus, on his resume, he can say that he had saved humanity multiple times already from an intergalactic threat, had saved all sentient life in the galaxy, in fact, and had bested a high tech god in mortal combat. He is definitely not one to dismiss in a fight. However, he would be best utilized as a saboteur, someone who can be inserted into an area to extract a VIP, destroy a high-value target, or undermine a very sensitive enemy operation. With the help of his buxom electronic side-kick, and an arsenal of bleeding edge technology gadgets and weaponry, Master Chief will plow through any obstacle, coupled with a kick-ass one-liner. 

Honorable Mentions: Ant-man (Marvel Comics), The Atom (DC Comics), Ryu Hayabusa (Ninja Gaiden)

Doctor Strange (Marvel Comics)

Arcane Arts Representative

A super-team would never be complete without a powerful magic-user in the roster. So, with that said, I would bring one into the group when we face the great destroyer and its armies. I had a hard time deciding who would be a great candidate, since I don’t know a lot of powerful magic users in the same level as the guys above. I plumbed through multiple options and after reading through the Respect Threads and dozens of comic book discussion boards, I have come upon a decision that the best candidate is none other than Doctor Strange. Who else should be the one to represent the magical world than the Sorcerer Supreme himself? Doctor Strange epitomizes what a magic user ought to be: intelligent, versatile and powerful. As someone who has studied much ancient lore, there is probably no one else as knowledgeable about the arcane arts. He has a varied set of spells, that let him accomplish almost anything. Be it forcing the truth out of someone, teleporting people or even closing black holes,  

Honorable Mentions: Jace Beleren (Magic: The Gathering), Elminster (Dungeons and Dragons), Doctor Fate (DC Comics), Specter (DC Comics)

Superman (DC Comics)

The Leader

At the start of this list, I casted Batman as the group’s Premier Tactician and mentioned that he had led the JLA and other super heroes in many missions. However, his role there should not be confused with that as someone who actually leads the group. Batman is more of giving orders and strategizing, but being a leader is more than just that. A leader is someone who has an unwavering moral compass, the conviction to do what is right, the tenacity to accomplish the mission at hand, and the compassion and concern for his team-mates’ well-being. In this regard, the Kryptonian is the best fit. Superman is incredibly powerful, but his greatest power has always been his strength of character That is the reason why, even when faced with foes much more powerful than he is, Superman triumphs.  He had never let the fact that he stands head and shoulders above everyone else get into his head, remaining as humble as any farm-boy in Kansas could ever be. He shows great concern for all life, and is often willing to sacrifice himself just so he can save lives, even if the life is his opponent’s. Because of this, he embodies everything that a superhero strives for: Truth and Justice. (Not so much the American way anymore, as he had on occasion clashed with the US Government and questioned its ideals). All in all, Superman is the unanimous choice to lead this team with his conviction, willpower and moral uprightness. Very few could come close.  

Honorable Mentions: Captain America (Marvel Comics), Third Hokage (Naruto),

Simon (Tengen Toppa Gurren Lagann)

The Trump Card

Are the odds too great that you are sure you will be overwhelmed? Have you burned through all your options and there is nothing left to do? Do all signs point to your ultimate failure, in spite of your best efforts? If so, who would you turn to? And that is where Simon of Gurren Lagann fame comes in. Simon is the main hero of the series who wields the mysterious and overpowering Spiral Energy, a force that is innate to all human beings and if mastered can increase the power of a human exponentially. It was said in the series that a human overflowing with Spiral Energy can destroy the universe, which was why the Anti-Spirals decided to commit human genocide to prevent that from happening. Simon has the power to manifest the energy to unheard of levels, that he was able to turn his small head-shaped mech into one so enormous that it can grab a galaxy and hurl it like a shooting star. Once the titular mech manifested through sheer determination, it had so much power it punched black holes into the fabric of the universe and its energy blasts replicated the effects of the Big Bang, forming planets, stars and other heavenly bodies.  If power is the sole basis, then Simon is over-qualified. But beyond his universe breaking powers, the one reason why Simon is the man to rely on when all else is lost, is because he possesses an unbreakable will, that not even all the weight of the universe can crush. In the final battle with the Anti-Spiral, after all of his mechs were utterly destroyed, Simon managed to gather all his will and power to push back and triumph. With Simon, even when the chances are so small that it is effectively zero, even when there is nothing left, trust the man to kick reason to the curb and do the impossible!

Writer’s Notes:

This was a very difficult article to write, only because I tried my darndest to be as encompassing as possible. Drawing on my knowledge of comics, anime, video games and books, I tried to make a list and I came up with a long list of candidates. From there, I researched the internet as to who would be the most appropriate in each of the roles I made in my team.  I was tempted to put in the most ridiculous characters, like Superman One Million, Parallax and other omnipotent characters, but I decided to limit myself to the following conditions:

1)      The character must be part of the main cast, as the main protagonist in most cases. If the characters were in comics, they should have their own series, either solo or as part of a team. Supporting characters were okay, but they should have a substantial enough role that they should be considered. Villains are fine, although their personalities and dispositions are considered. In some Honorable mentions, I listed Lex Luthor for example, because although he is a villain, he can be persuaded to fight on the side of good if it benefits him.

2)      The character must be part of canon. They should be part of the established continuity of the series or universe in question and not part of a What if or Elseworlds story.  If in manga or anime, only the main one counts, OVAs that are re-imaginings or retellings don’t. Supposedly future versions shown in canon are not considered either as they are merely conjecture and not a solid part of the universe’s continuity.

All in all, it took me three weeks to research, read, write and finalize the list. I think I put in too much effort than necessary, but at the very least I am proud to say that I did not just come up with a haphazard piece. Again, although I try to be as definitive as possible, this is still my opinion, limited by my knowledge and colored by my own prejudices. If you have anything to say, please feel free to comment and I would love to see your own list as well. 

Kritika: The White Knights

Kritika: The White Knights - Reach Kritikal Mass without the Kritikal Damage to your Wallet

Kritika: The White Knights

I first heard of the mobile game Kritika: Chaos Unleashed from two security guards taking their break at a previous company’s cafeteria. One of them was persuading the other to switch over from Clash of Clans to Kritika: Chaos Unleashed. The other one was quite skeptical as he seemed involved with his current addiction, but the other was extolling the virtues of the game and to end the conversation, he said he’d check it out.

I was a bit amused that gaming has finally reached the masses and that regular muscle-heads like these two were finally discovering that video games were probably much more enjoyable than lifting heavy weights over their heads. Then again, I thought, there’s no way that security guard has stumbled upon a game that I would enjoy as well, so in spite of the awesome sounding name, I filed Kritika: Chaos Unleashed as just one of those simple-minded grind-till-you’re-dead action games into my subconscious and walked back to work unaffected by the conversation I overheard.

Fast forward to December 2015. I was growing bored of the games on my phone and was on the Google Store on the hunt for a new game to offer me a new obsession. I had installed and uninstalled my way through 10 games already when the title Kritika popped into my head for some reason. It’s as if my subconscious blurted it out while I was droning my way through the games.

I shrugged, and having nothing better to do, I decided, well, why not. I searched Kritika, found that it has switched its name to Kritika: The White Knights and clicked on the big green Install buton. After a few minutes downloading the game and additional files, I was on my way to creating a character.

Again, another time leap to the present. 1 year after I first installed it (after going through re-installs due to having issues with my internet connection and my phone) I currently have 5 characters, and spending a criminal amount of time on it during my free time. I guess that security guard was right all along, especially seeing that this game has hit 10 million downloads.

So what does Kritika: The White Knights have that makes it such an enjoyable game? And this is where I stop my diary post and delve into the game itself.

Action RPG at its finest

Categorically speaking, Kritika: The White Knights is an action-adventure game, infused with RPG elements. For many people it’s simply an Action RPG and so that’s what I would call it as well. For the old-timers out there, imagine it as sampler plate of Diablo, God of War, and World of Warcraft. What that means is that you have elements of all those games, but none of it explored in excruciating detail as the others. 

Although I am not a fan of hybrid type games like these, the way it was executed came out very satisfying and it got me hooked.

I was at first worried how I would play these action RPGs. For someone with large thumbs and using only a 5 inch screen mobile phone, you can’t blame me. I was used to playing consoles whose controls appear off-screen on a separate controller that I can touch and manipulate physically. Just as I expected, for a first timer, I had difficulty moving my hero around, but after getting used to it, I was able to control it quite well.

I still would have to suggest though that if you’re going to play Action RPGs like Kritika: The White Knights, a good controller (one that connects to phones, just like this Bluetooth Controller, would be a great investment.

Anime-styled Visuals

I love anime. And games that have anime themed visuals draw me in right away. Kritika: The White Knights’ main characters are all rendered in anime style, but the way they’re drawn is quite different from most of the games out there. First off, thank the makers of Gamevil that they stepped away from the Super-Deformed (SD) characters that had populate a lot of anime-based games cluttering the app store. Each character has its own theme and though several classes share the basic template, they’re unique enough that you can distinguish which is which.

The moves in Kritika: The White Knights are classic over-the-top affairs that seem to be straight out of a shonen anime. One of the Éclair’s moves, her special move, is classic. She sheathes her weapon, raises her hands, and energy swords materialize in the sky. Then a  moments later they rain down on the battlefield, damaging everyone. Awesome effects, and what's more you get an upskirt view of the Eclair as a bonus!

There are graphical shortcomings of course, this being on a mobile phone after all. The characters, though rendered well in 3D, are still too angular and polygonal for my tastes. The stages, although well detailed, can get in the way of your view. The same thing can be said for the enemies, some of which are over-sized to the point you can barely see your character moving around it.

Eventually though, as you get used to the visual style and the game’s limitations, this will be more of a minor annoyance than a big turn-off.

Lots To Do, So Little Time

One thing that got me hooked with this game was that there’s just so much to do. Yes the meat of the game is to go in and hack-n-slash anything that moves, but there are so many side dishes to fill the time between energy refills that you can leave the main course alone for a while.

The game’s main mode is the Campaign mode, where you enter scenarios, fight enemies and beat the boss in the time allotted for you. The second are special instances where you play for additional Gold, Sapphires, Gems, Meteorites and Inherit Material (items that you use to transfer upgrades from one item to another). Finally the third game mode is the PVP mode, where you pit your character against other players’ characters. Of note is the Melee Mode where you and 2 of your sub-characters duke it out in a battle royale with 3 characters from the roster of other players. Enjoyable and very exciting.

But even after you played all these game modes, and had run out of energy or tickets to enter, you can continue playing the game. You can join or create a Guild and join Guild battles, enhance equipment, add special abilities to them, combine useless junk into more useful stuff, get a pet and train it, increase your stats and skills and customize your look with special skins available.

Moreover, Gamevil comes out with regular updates to Kritika: The White Knights, like new classes and even special modes. One time, after losing my phone I was not able to play the game for 4 months. After I finally reinstalled it, I noticed a lot of changes to the game that kept it fresh and kept me playing.

Pay-to-Win

A lot of people complain about the way most mobile games are set-up so that it favors the “whales” or people who pay insane amounts of money to unlock special abilities and features of the game. Many call this Pay-To-Win and a lot of people akin it to lazy gaming. Kritika: The White Knights is no stranger to this. At almost every turn you are prompted to buy some sort of game package. Some seem harmless, but others cost insane amounts. There is this particular starter package worth $100.00 and every time you level-up or even sign in, it reminds you of this “premium” purchase.

Moreover, the top players are those who’ve got so much premium gear that it’s just mind-boggling they’ve spent so much on a game. Also, their VIP system is just another way of encouraging people to spend money on the game.

This is not to say though, that in order for you to get ahead of other players, or get further in the game, you have to dole out real world cash. On the contrary, Kritika: The White Knights is set up that if you were diligent enough, you can get to the same level as other top players. The different game modes let you gather items to craft powerful items that can rival others out there.

There are times though when you really need that special currency to get items of value (skins for example), however, the game is set up so that with enough time and hard work you can get them for free. Gamevil is quite generous with their premium currency, especially with new and returning players, sometimes offering up to 1000 Karats just for them to play. Daily sign-ins are also rewarded and there are days when you get a bunch of them for free. Participating in the PVP arena (1vs1 and Melee) gives you a small amount of premium cash every time you win as well. Finally, Gamevil typically doles out premium in-game cash every time there is maintenance or unexpected down-time.

Despite the obvious in-game gimmicks for you to fork over your hard-earned money, the game can be played for free. Know that I have done so for a year now and I have enjoyed it so far. I told myself I would one of these days purchase one of those Premium packages, just to thank Gamevil for creating such a great game. But then again, maybe not, as it has stolen enough productive hours from me already.

Guaranteed Time-Waster – That’s a Fact

All-in-all despite its obvious flaws, there’s just so much in this little package of a mobile game that you will waste a lot of hours playing and ranking up that even as the hours pass by, it really won’t matter, as your Berserker finally gets awakened to its full power.

Gundam Pickings: Know which one is worth your while

The Gundam Franchise has always been my first choice if I need to get a mecha fix right away. I may not have seen them all but I have seen a lot, enough for me to at least give a ranking of my favorite series in the franchise so far. In this list, I will only include those series that had been made into an anime or OVA. No mangas or other non-anime published works (like those produced in Dengeki Hobby).

5. Mobile Suit Gundam –

On the fifth spot is the series that started it all, Mobile Suit Gundam. Although the visuals are clearly dated, and the opening theme is just one step short of atrocious, the political backdrop, plot and grim development of the many characters in the story are still superior to the recent emo-philosophical crap we've been battered with in the past decade from Sunrise and Bandai. Plus the rivalry that eclipses all Gundam rivalries is here. If you think Kira and Athrun's rocky friendship was a rivalry, that is nothing compared to Amuro Ray's and Char Aznable's personal squabbles.

4. Mobile Fighter G Gundam

A lot of people hated G Gundam, what with its over the top, quirky and downright ridiculous battles, but I for one appreciated the clean-cut, downright honesty of the series. It knows its a parody of sorts of the Gundam franchise, but it has no pretentions at being one. In fact it revels in the fact that there is no Gundam series quite like it. An added plus (for me) is the lack of heavy political commentary which was all but omni-present in other Gundam franchises. Too much war-drama can dull the senses, and with its absence in the series, Gundam G focuses on other aspects that make it fun to watch.

3. Mobile Suit Gundam 00

Ok. I admit that Mobile Suit Gundam 00 was hard to watch what with some scenes just downright cringe-inducing (like the scenes where the characters appear naked, which is a mental projection while bombarded with GN particles, the internal nonsensical monologuing of Setsuna F Seiei and Tiera Arde's crossdressing scene to infiltrate the Innovators' parties) but it was a direct and honest series. The plot, although predictable was at least not as convoluted as Wing's or Seed's. But what wins me over are the central characters who are all affected and changed drastically by the events in the series, i.e. Saji Crossroad and Louise Halevy. In spite of the ludicrity of it all, the characters endear themselves to you and that is what makes you stick around and watch.

2. Gundam Build Fighters

A series based on a series can be a bad idea, but Gundam Build Fighters (which was sort of the spiritual sequel to Gunpla Fighters, though not connected in any way) managed to pull it off. The premise of the show is that there is a sport where Gunpla (Gundam Plastic Models) can come alive in a special arena to do battles with each other. I admit it is shallow, butsometimes with all the heavy socio-political, existential-philosophical ramblings present in a lot of Gundam series, shallowness can serve as a fun-filled break. It also is unabashedly a fan service of sorts to all Gundam Otakus out there, with a basketload of Easter Eggs and references to other Gundam series. One can say that this

series is nothing more than a vessel to market Bandai's toy line, but look past all of that and you will see the heart of the series as the timeless story of two friends plowing through all obstacles to achieve their goals. Give it a try. I'm sure you'll enjoy it.

1. Mobile Suit Gundam 08th MS Team

Gundam has always been touted as the originator of the "real robot" genre of mecha anime, where unlike the gigantic mechs of Go Nagai's Mazinger and Getter Robo franchises, mobile suits are somewhat based on "science". But starting with Wing and onwards, the mechs feel much more "super robot" than real robot, where each Gundam is an over-the-top machine from hell that can easily wipe out an armada faster than you can say "Kira suxorz". If you want to go back to the basics, you might want to give the 08th MS Team a try. Gone are the bells and whistles of the newer series, and the political peacocking of others. What you get is a downright honest and enjoyable take of the series as seen through the eyes of a soldier. Imagine it as Full Metal Jacket placed in the anime universe and with huge humanoid tanks to boot. Plus they somehow stick a love story in there somewhere that somehow works.

Honorable Mentions

1. Gundam Unicorn

This would have been great. But I find Banagher Links too whiny and too indecisive, that he irks me to no end.

2. Gundam Zeta

A great series as well, but its too bogged down by the main character's emotional baggage and further slowed down by the bigger political goings on. At least Char Aznable and Amuro make an appearance.

3. Gundam X

Two words: Satellite Cannon. Has one of the baddest weapons around. You think the Wing Zero's buster rifle was awesome? That's nothing. And to think the suit gets an upgrade later on in the series. As if one wasn't enough, it becomes a Twin Satellite Cannon. Talk about

overkill. The ending though killed it.

4. Gundam Wing

It's ok in my book. But way back in college, my female classmates and dorm-mates can't stop gawking at the five pilots. Yeesh.

5. Char's Counterattack

This could easily be part of my top 5 picks, but I hated the ending, which becomes a cliffhanger of sorts as to the final fate of Amuro Ray and Char Aznable. However, beyond that, it's a great OVA, but be prepared to be traumatized with all the tragedies that happen in the movie, like the accidental and nonsensical death of Amuro's girlfiend at the hands of a crazed love-sick teenager.

Avoid at all costs. No explanation necessary. Just don't. You'll be wasting your time.

Avoid at all costs. No explanation necessary. Just don't. You'll be wasting your time.

Gundam Seed Destiny -  Gundam Seed Destiny is Gundam Seed, with an angstier protagonist and the same plot overall.

Gundam 0083: Stardust Memories - What would happen if a Gundam was piloted by the brashest, lamest pilot around? If you want to know desperately, watch this. Kou Uraki was a test pilot, but just because there was no one else, they had no choice but put him up to it. Heck, the veteran pilot who was part of the team opted out for some reason (probably old age) but he could have at least tried to. If he had become the pilot of the GPO1 At least it makes this series the only series with a sexagenarian protagonist, and that in itself would have redeemed it immensely.

And there you have it, soulful advice from an honest Gundam fan. I am not, by any means saying I am an expert in all things Gundam, and I know a lot of Gundam fans out there are inclined to disagree, but if you have the same sensibilities as I do, then by all means, use this list to your advantage.

The Avengers vs The Dark Knight Rises

There was this post in 9gag that really caught my attention shortly after it was announced in major movie ranking sites that the Avengers was the highest grossing film of 2012, with sales going past the billions mark. In the post, you can see the Avengers cast looking at someone in the foreground, with the image of Batman from The Dark Knight right in front of them. Under the picture was a simple but very obvious challenge, "Your move, Batman."

I laughed at this because it sparked memories of countless arguments with DC Fanboy Jeri Tan with regards to the superiority of the DC franchise over that of Marvel. It was an obvious ploy to spark a massive flame war between the two camps between fans of DC and Marvel. A war that I think is moot and will never show a true winner.

But which one is actually superior, in my opinion? I am not trying to be neutral but all I can say is that you really can't compare them. It's very much like the age-old saying where you can't compare apples to oranges because they're that much different. 

Although technically, at this point in time, The Avengers is so far the higher-grossing film, it does not mean that it is totally superior to The Dark Knight Rises. Besides, it really is too early to tell, as the film has only had what, three weeks in the theaters, and the fact that it was not shown in 3D could also explain the difference. 

But then earnings alone don't really show how good a film is. Take for example, Titanic. Brr... (shiver). It was the second highest grossing film of all time, and yet, I (and a lot of people like me) felt it wasn't something you want to write home about.

Anyway, back to my point. As I was saying, its sort of hard to compare them, seeing as the Avengers and the Dark Knight rises are two sides of the same coin. To illustrate, I want to describe what the movies are about.

The Avengers was, for all intents and purposes, THE best depiction of what a superhero movie was supposed to be. The Superhero genre was supposed to be about incredible superpowers, struggling against incredible odds, lots of action and a great super-villain you would love to hate. This movie has it all. Sure there was drama, but it never really was the centerpiece of the movie. The story? What story? If you ask me, the plot was one of the most predictable and driest I have ever seen. They probably just put it in there as an excuse to bring together the different characters in one film. However, when I left the IMAX movie theater, I did not feel cheated. In fact I thought it was awesome! Other people went on rambling about the lack of the story and depth and drama, but who cares? It was never supposed to be like that anyway, and I had fun all through out the movie. Who did not laugh when Hulk punches Thor out of camera for no apparent reason or when he beat the godlike Loki to a pulp? Who did not stare in open mouthed wonder as Tony Stark merged with his Iron Man Mark IV suit. 

The Dark Knight Rises on the other hand was totally different. Take the description above about what a superhero film is all about. And then watch this film. If you analyze it carefully, this isn't really a superhero film. You don't get a guy with incredible powers, in fact for most of the film Bruce Wayne is as human as he gets. He failed multiple times against a well-organized group. He was beaten and broken. Even the main antagonist is not what most super-villains are all about. Although for most of the film, Bane was being depicted as the ultimate evil, the film actually turns around and tells you his origins. After that origin montage, can you really hate him? I didn't. I could not. I actually felt sympathetic. In short, I went to the theater to watch a super-hero movie, but instead saw this. But again, after I left the cinema, I did not feel robbed. It was a totally different feeling. I wasn't hyped up with all the action, but was totally engrossed at how the story played out and how befitting it was to end the trilogy that started with Batman Begins.

So again we go back to the question, Avengers vs Batman? I again say neither. Both had their redeeming qualities and faults, but their entertainment value was undeniable. All I can say is enjoy these movies for what they are. And don't be such a fanboy that you lose the very essence of watching a movie in the first place. As what I always say to my friends, who cares if a movie had a great story, or out of this world special effects. For me what really matters is that you come out of that movie house feeling you had one hell of a time.

The Avengers vs The Dark Knight Rises

There was this post in 9gag that really caught my attention shortly after it was announced in major movie ranking sites that the Avengers was the highest grossing film of 2012, with sales going past the billions mark. In the post, you can see the Avengers cast looking at someone in the foreground, with the image of Batman from The Dark Knight right in front of them. Under the picture was a simple but very obvious challenge, "Your move, Batman."

I laughed at this because it sparked memories of countless arguments with DC Fanboy Jeri Tan with regards to the superiority of the DC franchise over that of Marvel. It was an obvious ploy to spark a massive flame war between the two camps between fans of DC and Marvel. A war that I think is moot and will never show a true winner.

But which one is actually superior, in my opinion? I am not trying to be neutral but all I can say is that you really can't compare them. It's very much like the age-old saying where you can't compare apples to oranges because they're that much different. 

Although technically, at this point in time, The Avengers is so far the higher-grossing film, it does not mean that it is totally superior to The Dark Knight Rises. Besides, it really is too early to tell, as the film has only had what, three weeks in the theaters, and the fact that it was not shown in 3D could also explain the difference. 

But then earnings alone don't really show how good a film is. Take for example, Titanic. Brr... (shiver). It was the second highest grossing film of all time, and yet, I (and a lot of people like me) felt it wasn't something you want to write home about.

Anyway, back to my point. As I was saying, its sort of hard to compare them, seeing as the Avengers and the Dark Knight rises are two sides of the same coin. To illustrate, I want to describe what the movies are about.

The Avengers was, for all intents and purposes, THE best depiction of what a superhero movie was supposed to be. The Superhero genre was supposed to be about incredible superpowers, struggling against incredible odds, lots of action and a great super-villain you would love to hate. This movie has it all. Sure there was drama, but it never really was the centerpiece of the movie. The story? What story? If you ask me, the plot was one of the most predictable and driest I have ever seen. They probably just put it in there as an excuse to bring together the different characters in one film. However, when I left the IMAX movie theater, I did not feel cheated. In fact I thought it was awesome! Other people went on rambling about the lack of the story and depth and drama, but who cares? It was never supposed to be like that anyway, and I had fun all through out the movie. Who did not laugh when Hulk punches Thor out of camera for no apparent reason or when he beat the godlike Loki to a pulp? Who did not stare in open mouthed wonder as Tony Stark merged with his Iron Man Mark IV suit. 

The Dark Knight Rises on the other hand was totally different. Take the description above about what a superhero film is all about. And then watch this film. If you analyze it carefully, this isn't really a superhero film. You don't get a guy with incredible powers, in fact for most of the film Bruce Wayne is as human as he gets. He failed multiple times against a well-organized group. He was beaten and broken. Even the main antagonist is not what most super-villains are all about. Although for most of the film, Bane was being depicted as the ultimate evil, the film actually turns around and tells you his origins. After that origin montage, can you really hate him? I didn't. I could not. I actually felt sympathetic. In short, I went to the theater to watch a super-hero movie, but instead saw this. But again, after I left the cinema, I did not feel robbed. It was a totally different feeling. I wasn't hyped up with all the action, but was totally engrossed at how the story played out and how befitting it was to end the trilogy that started with Batman Begins.

So again we go back to the question, Avengers vs Batman? I again say neither. Both had their redeeming qualities and faults, but their entertainment value was undeniable. All I can say is enjoy these movies for what they are. And don't be such a fanboy that you lose the very essence of watching a movie in the first place. As what I always say to my friends, who cares if a movie had a great story, or out of this world special effects. For me what really matters is that you come out of that movie house feeling you had one hell of a time.