Review: Pokemon AS and Sailor Moon redub

Been a while since I made one of these, hasn't it?

I didn't get Alpha Sapphire at launch date, so I had to get it a week later.  I chose that version because I like Kyogre better, even though I love Fire types.  I also didn't play the Hoenn games until about a year ago, when I was trying to fill gen V's Pokedex before the launch of X and Y (which I succeeded with one month to spare).

But enough about that.

I really like how Hoenn looks now with a 3D engine.  The soundtrack is amazing, with my absolute favorite being the song that plays when you fight Gym Leaders.  I always played that with the volume cranked up and headphones on.  A very close second is the awesome music that blares throughout Victory Road.  Hated the level in the original game, but always loved the music.  And it's SO much easier to catch rare Pokemon now, because sometimes they literally pop out of the grass waiting for you to sneak up on them.  I was able to catch Pokemon I never encountered on my first run in the original games.

Oh, and nineteen hours in I caught a shiny Sandshrew.  And somehow my team got infected with Pokerus, which has not happened to me since Gen II.  Needless to say, it has left a very good impression on me.  I just beat the game not too long ago, and have done only a little bit after that.

I definitely give Alpha Sapphire a great recommendation, just as long as you don't mind the fact it has "too much water."

As for the new dub of Sailor Moon:

As someone who barely remembers the original version, and for being a devoted fan since the new series came out (my gallery should point that out very easily.  Need a hint?  Moon pride), I wanted to see how well Viz Media is handling the new dub.

Oh.  My. God.

This is miles better than anything DiC could've possible made.  Everything just sound so much better than it did before, and all of the voice actors were people who's voices and names I recognized.  Most of them were in Bravely Default, hence how I recognized them.  Viz Media is giving Sailor Moon the dub it should've gotten 20 years ago, but regardless of which, they are giving the series the royal treatment, and it shows.

I only saw a handful of episodes back when they are on Hulu, just to see how they handled the episodes, but I still wanted to be left in surprise when the DVDs came out.  I preordered them and they were delivered to my door on November 11.  I was shocked getting them then.  I thought I would have to wait a few more days.

Goes without saying Mars' debut episode is one of my favorites, but my absolute favorite episode is the one where Jadeite dies.  Him getting run down by an airplane was pretty cool, and Mars' talisman landing on his back almost makes me wonder if that one says "kick me" rather than "evil spirit be exorcised."  But the moment that sold it for me was when Sailor Mars roasted the fake police officers, and what does she say while they burn to a crisp?

"Feel the burn!"



Oh, you go girl!

Also, I laughed myself silly during Mercury's debut episode, where Umino claims that Ami's IQ is OVER 9000!!!  The best part was I did some research, and found out this line was completely ad-libbed by the voice actor, and he was shocked the developers kept it in.

One of the bonus features showed highlights of conventions.  I saw a lot of familiar faces, most of which are on my watch list, or I've made photo manipulations of their amazing cosplays.  How great it would've been to meet them in person and get their signatures, or give them an autographed picture of the manipulations I made for them.

I give the Viz dub of Sailor Moon my highest recommendation as well.

They've got most of the second half of the second half up on Hulu, and I've seen only three episodes.  Watch at your own risk.  I'm not sure when the second half comes out, although the bonus feature says early 2015, which I discovered later is February 10, 2015.  Mark your calendars, Moonies!

I have every intention of getting the whole set.  Eventually.