Senran Kagura

Interesting, that is a notable divergence with the Versus games.

Just caught up here and found out about the US release date for DC. I still need to finish the first game, but I'm not sure how far I can get by with my A button being broken^note The button needs to be firmly pressed to be recognized. The game is relatively manageable as it is, but I'm still worried that continued use of the system may result in the button no longer functioning at all, so I try to limit playing games that heavily rely on pressing the button for their gameplay. and I won't be able to afford another 3DS for a while (especially since I still want to get a Vita before I get the New 3DS).

All that said, I'm looking forward to the release and will probably getting it once it drops (digital if I can).

There is one thing what is slightly bothering me, and this is from a minor detail: When True Kagura is about to skewer True Orochi, she says "Time for you to perish. Izanagi". Is she calling True Orochi/Dougen Izanagi or is that the name of the move? Maybe when we get in EV, her Ninja Arts would tell if she has a mythological Theme Naming.

Considering how is that sentence structured, I'd say is the move's name.

I'm still mad the physical release is limited. I can't get stuff off of the E-Shop because it refuses to accept my card unlike everyone else and I won't be able to afford a copy for awhile.

So I had to go on a road trip over the mountains but I brought my 3DS with me. My first impressions of Senran Kagura 2 have been positive.I've been enjoying the combat so far and I like that the frame rate is actually good.

I haven't been able to play much of the game so far but I'm sure that I'll post my further impressions of the game later.

So I have been trying to clean Yoma's Nest and I must say that the way I defeated True Orochi might be the dumbest boss battle I have ever done. I was so sick of dealing with her laser BS so that I took the long route and have a partner flair on her while I stood back and waited until I had enough Ninja Scrolls to do a double Ninja Art and rinse and repeat. Only dangerous part was when I tried to reflect her projectiles back at her.

You can avoid True Orochi's lasers with the air ninpo though.

So after unlocking all of the weapons (aside of the DLC sports weapons), I seriously feel like Ikaruga's second weapon (Heavenly Sword Fragarach) is a reference to something, besides its name. Closest thing what I can think is Saber's Excalibur, but it doesn't quite match.

Also, while I do tend to overlook typos (I found one on one of mission descriptions for Chapter 2), they bother me when you have no idea on the names. One of Asuka's weapons (pair of sais) is called "Tsukimaru and Kagemaru", but the description calls them "Tsukimari and Tagemari".

Also, while I was idling on the menus, there is a clip from Daidouji where she says that her parents are asking her about marriage. You know, because that is more important than having your child finally graduate.

edited 1st Sep '15 5:45:31 AM by TPPR10

Well, it's Japan. I'm more surprised at the fact Dai has living parents being revealed so casually.

By the way, the different weapons are merely cosmethic, right?

Yes. The official site even says that the weapons themselves have no effect on gameplay.

Another minor note to be had is that Deep Crimson seems to imply that the Katsuragi and Ikaruga manga is canon to some degree. In the beginning of 5-2, they talk about how the two of them had to fight against Daidouji as their 1st year semester final. And since that isn't mentioned anywhere else but the manga (unless the drama CDs have anything about it), I'd figure that would be the case.

I also came across this one tumblr post what states that Hikage tattooed herself on the spots where Hinata was fatally wounded. It seemed to have been said in Official Design Works book.

To be fair with the Spark manga, there was nothing that contradict it on the games proper. On Burst there's little interaction between the girls and Dai and iirc both Katsu and Ikaruga were familiar with her when she saved the school. The only media that contradicts the manga is the anime.

And indeed, the ODW states that Hikage tats are in the same places where Hinata was fatally wounded. There a few more tidbits of info here and there like the fact their shinobi garb is made by the girls' subconcsious and thus can reflect inner traumas or complexes. Dai's outfit is like that because deep down she feels she will never be as good as a male ninja, for example.

That's pretty interesting. I didn't think the ODW book said too much.

I also keep forgetting that this series has manga. If the games are referencing them, I guess I need to read them then.

Interesting on the costume part. I knew that they can transform their costume to whatever they want, but not to that point. I guess Hikage's costume being all tattered up is because of the Hinata incident.

I think there are five mangas: Spark, what covers when the Hanzou girls first enrolled tot he Academy (main focus are Ikagura and Katsuragi), Shoujotachi no Shinei what is retelling of Portrait of Girls and Guren no Hebi what retells the Crimson Girls and I think the last two (Multicoloured Haruka and Kindergarten: Huge Breast Class) are gag manga. Unfortunately, I am pretty sure that only Spark is actually fully translated.

edited 2nd Sep '15 1:05:04 PM by TPPR10

Shoujoutachi is licensed in america by Seven Seas and will be completed in January with its third volume. I doubt it was a big seller so the chances for getting Guren (in my opinion the best manga)are slim.

I've heard stories that Takaki's original plans were to publish a manga focused on Dai and Rin's school years but the low interest on the mangas put a lid on those plans.

Heads up, the Chibi DLC is live on the european Eshop

So I cleared all of the special missions today and holy crap, fully equipped Crimson Homura is like a nuke! Give her ATK Stone, Ground Attack Stone and Ninja Art Stone (red one) and just her level 1 Ninja Art can practically kill anything. And by that, I mean, I mean anything. Even the bonus battle against Ulitmate/Crimson Homura are practically dead if you have one Ninja Scroll. Landing it can be Difficult, but Awesome, but that's why I use it.

On second thought, maybe I am giving her too much credit. I think anyone with that combo can practically kill anything easily.

edited 5th Sep '15 1:14:15 PM by TPPR10

From what I've read, that setup only works with Crimson Homu and Dai

It can work with other characters, it's more about how effective it can be taking account the Ninja Art itself. Like Haruka can one hit kill with her first Ninja Art, but has little bit of hard time with her others due of how they work.

Marvelous Europe wants to know who's your favorite Senran Kagura character

http://www.riddle.com/a/6642

Next week there's a comic convention on my city so I commisioned a new piece with Dai and Red Hood; and just today I got the preliminary sketch of it

http://imgur.com/TVh2b0s

Is so cool

edited 7th Sep '15 12:13:12 PM by Tzitzimine

Vice did a pretty inflammatory piece on SK 2 and stirred so much the fandom that even Takaki offered an answer to it

http://imgur.com/kp5S35G

He's the best.

Got a link to the article Vice did for context?

edited 8th Sep '15 11:00:52 AM by Chariot

There you go