My:Otome R2 Discussion thread

[Rogueman_8]

ok, w/ the release of vol.1 a couple of weeks away, i just wanted to start the thread off given my anticipation and title /images/graemlins/sdsmiley.gif (and w/ the recent 'discussions'). Obviously we'll discuss the comparisons (if any) to the TV show for those watching and collecting, plus we can discuss the exclusive extras on the DVDs. Anyways, for those looking for info on the DVD release, all the dates have been given in the R2 news thread (http://forums.animeondvd.com/showthreaded.php?Cat=&Number=1162815&page=&view=&s b=5&o=) as well as more specific details on volumes 1 & 2. Details on volume 3 can be found in this this current R2 news thread (http://forums.animeondvd.com/showthreaded.php?Cat=1&Number=1214878&page=1&view= collapsed&sb=5&o=&fpart=1). Covers 1 & 2 are posted this R2 cover hunt (http://forums.animeondvd.com/showthreaded.php?Cat=&Number=1186792&page=&view=&s b=5&o=) while vol.2 is posted in the current one (#17).

And the highlight of this post is the My~HiME 'movie' extra on vol.1. The official site has some pics, but there's a new CM showing some more footage. the pics i made comments too are particularly new along w/ the nagi cap (who is revealed to be the silhouette in the ShizNat pic).

caps (http://img25.imageshack.us/my.php?image=moobie7qt.jpg)
sample gif (http://img25.imageshack.us/my.php?image=moobiemotion0vu.gif)

[DiGiKerot]

d00d! I was just expecting a few static shots like in the HiME omake, the fact there is actually some animation is awesome! I might just have to upgrade my shipping option to get this quicker...

[bakafoo]

This is an in-disc extra, right..?

[DiGiKerot]

[ QUOTE ]
BakaBoobie said:
This is an in-disc extra, right..?

[/ QUOTE ]

Yeah, it'll be on the main disk, in addition to the booklet you get with the regular edition and the bonus DVD you get with the first pressing.

[bakafoo]

[ QUOTE ]
DiGiKerot said:
[ QUOTE ]
BakaBoobie said:
This is an in-disc extra, right..?

[/ QUOTE ]

Yeah, it'll be on the main disk, in addition to the booklet you get with the regular edition and the bonus DVD you get with the first pressing.

[/ QUOTE ]

Well, I don't mind not getting the bonus DVD, as 舞ー乙女is rather lackluster in the first few episodes. I'll simply mooch off on the pics you guys provide. /images/graemlins/wink.gif

[DiGiKerot]

I dunno, I quite like the thought of getting another 20minutes of VA material with the first disk.

[Rogueman_8]

[ QUOTE ]
DiGiKerot said:
I dunno, I quite like the thought of getting another 20minutes of VA material with the first disk.

[/ QUOTE ]

same here, i really like that extra. looking forward to this one for the new cast & seiyuus like Rie Tanaka /images/graemlins/noseblee.gif. Also more Chiba Saeko is always good for me /images/graemlins/noseblef.gif.

[Rogueman_8]

anybody manage to get the DVD early yet? Mine has shipped today, so i'll probably get it next week. Anyways, that My-HiME movie trailer looks awesome w/ a release date of Fall 20006 /images/graemlins/tongue.gif /images/graemlins/sdsmiley.gif.

[Rogueman_8]

OMG! that was hilarious. This 'final chapter' trailer was fun-nee. Arika was like her ZHiME counterpart. Nao dying was cool. Some recycled scenes were sorta disappointing. Arika vs. Miyu+Alyssa would've been really cool and the final scene w/ Mikoto and 'Reito' was just too good. Man, i just can't wait for My-HiME the Movie Fuuka Taisen, fall 20006 can't come soon enough! /images/graemlins/tongue.gif

[Rogueman_8]

any other ä¹™HiME fans get their dvd today. posted mine in the orgy thread already (http://forums.animeondvd.com/showthreaded.php?Cat=1&Number=1264484&page=0&view= collapsed&sb=5&o=&vc=1). i gave it watch (very awesome once again) and of course there weren't any changes on the DVD compared to the broadcast. This was expected of course since My-HiME didn't have any changes or improvements compared to it's broadcast, though it should, most notably ep.24 (iirc) w/ Shizuru's face...ugh. Wished the trailer was longer and showed some more action cuz it was so very awesome. Also wished it would've been in 5.1 since it IS a 'movie trailer' /images/graemlins/tongue.gif. The Seiyuu interview disc was same as MH's, would be more enjoyable if i didn't have to pause rewind and listen a couple of times to try and understand what they're saying. Kikuchi Mika is just hawwt /images/graemlins/noseblee.gif. Though Chiba Saeko still numba 1 for me. She looked okay here as she does have her ups and downs if you know what i mean. didn't really dig Tanaka Rie's look here, her hair was just 'typical JPN horror girl' long and straight /images/graemlins/tongue.gif. Yeah, i'm just being an ass and picky. Sucks that akira was the only one of the males who did an interview, i was expecting to see katsuyuki too. Anyways, guureto stuff, can't wait for the next volumes!

[wrex]

[ QUOTE ]
Rogueman_8 said:
any other ä¹™HiME fans get their dvd today.

[/ QUOTE ]
I bought mine yesterday but I haven't watched it yet. I was a bit disappointed by the lack of extra goodies (guess I was spoiled by Mai HiME). I might watch it next week... or when the next volume comes out so I can watch a bunch at a crack.

[Rogueman_8]

[ QUOTE ]
wrex said:
[ QUOTE ]
Rogueman_8 said:
any other ä¹™HiME fans get their dvd today.

[/ QUOTE ]
I bought mine yesterday but I haven't watched it yet. I was a bit disappointed by the lack of extra goodies (guess I was spoiled by Mai HiME). I might watch it next week... or when the next volume comes out so I can watch a bunch at a crack.

[/ QUOTE ]

well, otome vol.1 is essentially the same as my-hime vol.1 in terms of goodies. but yeah, otome's release is pretty sparse in the extra FP goodies department compared to hime as otome's vol.3 and 4 has nothing whereas hime had some calendar cards (quite a meh extra but still an extra).

[DiGiKerot]

My copy finally came today. I notice they corrected the spelling during Ninas robe materialisation. Wonder if there are any other minor differences.

[Rogueman_8]

i didn't really notice too much, i had sorta hope they'd fix the 'ugly faced Shizuru frame' but they didn't. Since MH had the exact same thing, my hopes weren't too high.

[Rogueman_8]

i just posted vol.3 (http://xs68.xs.to/pics/06072/otomedvd3.jpg)'s cover and it's another lovely one despite the 'no background for Otome'. Anyways, it's a treat for the Nao fans IMO.
BakaBB has informed me about the change in the My-HiME PSP game's release date. Was wondering if any HiME fans who ordered it also received a change of date. My YA order of it got pushed back and the expected release date is now April 27. So how many times has this game got pushed back now? 4? /images/graemlins/sdsmiley.gif

[DiGiKerot]

[ QUOTE ]
Rogueman_8 said:
i just posted vol.3 (http://xs68.xs.to/pics/06072/otomedvd3.jpg)'s cover and it's another lovely one despite the 'no background for Otome'. Anyways, it's a treat for the Nao fans IMO.
BakaBB has informed me about the change in the My-HiME PSP game's release date. Was wondering if any HiME fans who ordered it also received a change of date. My YA order of it got pushed back and the expected release date is now April 27. So how many times has this game got pushed back now? 4? /images/graemlins/sdsmiley.gif

[/ QUOTE ]

Amazon JP and Playasia (plus a couple of other places I've checked) still have Bakuretsu! down for next week. Both, however, have Senretsu! (the OTHER PSP My-HiME game they announced they everyone promptly forgot about) down for April 27. I wonder if YA got the two confuddled?

The Sunrise Interactive site, coincidently, has it down for the 29th of this month on the front page, and the 23rd still on the Bakuretsu! page.

[Rogueman_8]

[ QUOTE ]
DiGiKerot said:
[ QUOTE ]
Rogueman_8 said:
i just posted vol.3 (http://xs68.xs.to/pics/06072/otomedvd3.jpg)'s cover and it's another lovely one despite the 'no background for Otome'. Anyways, it's a treat for the Nao fans IMO.
BakaBB has informed me about the change in the My-HiME PSP game's release date. Was wondering if any HiME fans who ordered it also received a change of date. My YA order of it got pushed back and the expected release date is now April 27. So how many times has this game got pushed back now? 4? /images/graemlins/sdsmiley.gif

[/ QUOTE ]

Amazon JP and Playasia (plus a couple of other places I've checked) still have Bakuretsu! down for next week. Both, however, have Senretsu! (the OTHER PSP My-HiME game they announced they everyone promptly forgot about) down for April 27. I wonder if YA got the two confuddled?

The Sunrise Interactive site, coincidently, has it down for the 29th of this month on the front page, and the 23rd still on the Bakuretsu! page.

[/ QUOTE ]

yeah, i already checked aj and pa this morning who had the same date (feb 23) while YA and lik sang had it for april. i'm not too surprised if it was pushed back again and the site gave no indication, as the official site WAS the last to update the february date. in any case i already gave them an email this morning about the confusion that they might have had w/ the senretsu game (yes, i do follow that game being a MH fanatic, but will not get since it's action/adventure style and i'm a hardcore fighter). i'll probably hear from them tonight or tomorrow to see what's the dilly yo.

[Rogueman_8]

[ QUOTE ]
Rogueman_8 said:
[ QUOTE ]
DiGiKerot said:
[ QUOTE ]
Rogueman_8 said:
i just posted vol.3 (http://xs68.xs.to/pics/06072/otomedvd3.jpg)'s cover and it's another lovely one despite the 'no background for Otome'. Anyways, it's a treat for the Nao fans IMO.
BakaBB has informed me about the change in the My-HiME PSP game's release date. Was wondering if any HiME fans who ordered it also received a change of date. My YA order of it got pushed back and the expected release date is now April 27. So how many times has this game got pushed back now? 4? /images/graemlins/sdsmiley.gif

[/ QUOTE ]

Amazon JP and Playasia (plus a couple of other places I've checked) still have Bakuretsu! down for next week. Both, however, have Senretsu! (the OTHER PSP My-HiME game they announced they everyone promptly forgot about) down for April 27. I wonder if YA got the two confuddled?

The Sunrise Interactive site, coincidently, has it down for the 29th of this month on the front page, and the 23rd still on the Bakuretsu! page.

[/ QUOTE ]

yeah, i already checked aj and pa this morning who had the same date (feb 23) while YA and lik sang had it for april. i'm not too surprised if it was pushed back again and the site gave no indication, as the official site WAS the last to update the february date. in any case i already gave them an email this morning about the confusion that they might have had w/ the senretsu game (yes, i do follow that game being a MH fanatic, but will not get since it's action/adventure style and i'm a hardcore fighter). i'll probably hear from them tonight or tomorrow to see what's the dilly yo.

[/ QUOTE ]

yeah, so i got my email and basically it IS a confusion but they can't do anything about it since that's the date their suppliers are saying, therefore it's the suppliers fault. The game has already been reviewed by Famitsu and it got a 22/40 (Monster Kingdom, Baten Kaitos 2, Disgaea 2, Suikoden 5, Sengoku Musou 2 and suprisingly Samurai Champloo did really well). A crap score which i was obviously expecting nonetheless. my february orders are quite big, so i'll probably keep it w/ YA for now and order it sometime/somewhere later on just to keep my heart stable when my feb statement comes in /images/graemlins/sdsmiley.gif.

[bakafoo]

Holy crap! There are two games for the PSP?

[DiGiKerot]

[ QUOTE ]
BakaBoobie said:
Holy crap! There are two games for the PSP?

[/ QUOTE ]

Yeah, they were both announced the same time, but since they haven't released much about it Senretsu (an "action adventure" game IIRC) has pretty much been forgotten. Thats the one thats out in April.

[Rogueman_8]

just a quick update from elsewhere:

舞-乙HiME vol.5
05/26/06|BCBA-2422|7,140 yen

contains episodes 12-14, has the usual 12 pg booklet and again no FP LE item. Extra on the disc is an Akane focused one (for obvious reasons) entitled "Akane Soir - watashitachi ni ashita wanai/there's no tomorrow for us".

so vol.3-5 has no FP LE items, looks like i can save money and combine this one w/ the others, unless there's a mook/book that i want that comes out somewhere in between, like maybe that 'scoop' book that comes out on the 25th of March /images/graemlins/wink.gif /images/graemlins/sdsmiley.gif.

[Rogueman_8]

just wanna mention that the official PSP game site for the My:HiME game has updated w/ sample combos for Mai (who got jipped w/ only 1 clip), Natsuki (yeah baby), Mikoto, Akira, Nao, Akane, Midori (yeah again baby) and Miyu. YesAsia is still being stupid w/ the order. However, I'll keep my order w/ them cuz of the lower price and free shipping. I'll hassle them (again) once the game is released as i'm in no rush.

here's the link (http://www.suni.jp/contents/mai_hime_baku/gallery/gallery_mai.html)

[Suwako Moriya]

Heh look at the name of some of the links! I mean take Midori's section for example. I mean does anyone else find it funny that instead of "gallery_midori.html", they call it "galery_aoi.html"? That's a rather strange mistake to make... In fact until I clicked the link I was thinking "What in the heck?" and then it was like "Oh never mind".

Still watching the clips for Miyu herself. It's rather interesting to see Alyssa appear in the third clip. I guess this means Alyssa won't be directly playable, but she'll be there to fight along side Miyu for certain attacks. Which to be honest makes sense.

[Rogueman_8]

[ QUOTE ]
Kiku Sarasugawa said:
Heh look at the name of some of the links! I mean take Midori's section for example. I mean does anyone else find it funny that instead of "gallery_midori.html", they call it "galery_aoi.html"? That's a rather strange mistake to make... In fact until I clicked the link I was thinking "What in the heck?" and then it was like "Oh never mind".

Still watching the clips for Miyu herself. It's rather interesting to see Alyssa appear in the third clip. I guess this means Alyssa won't be directly playable, but she'll be there to fight along side Miyu for certain attacks. Which to be honest makes sense.

[/ QUOTE ]

yeah, i noticed the name of the files too but didn't really care. it would be cool to have aoi or chie as secret characters though /images/graemlins/sdsmiley.gif. Anyways, those super move movies get quite annoying and i hope there's a way to skip 'em instead of watching it everytime. Really takes away the flow of the game imo.

[ayareiko]

[ QUOTE ]
Rogueman_8 said:
[ QUOTE ]
Kiku Sarasugawa said:
Heh look at the name of some of the links! I mean take Midori's section for example. I mean does anyone else find it funny that instead of "gallery_midori.html", they call it "galery_aoi.html"? That's a rather strange mistake to make... In fact until I clicked the link I was thinking "What in the heck?" and then it was like "Oh never mind".

Still watching the clips for Miyu herself. It's rather interesting to see Alyssa appear in the third clip. I guess this means Alyssa won't be directly playable, but she'll be there to fight along side Miyu for certain attacks. Which to be honest makes sense.

[/ QUOTE ]

yeah, i noticed the name of the files too but didn't really care. it would be cool to have aoi or chie as secret characters though /images/graemlins/sdsmiley.gif. Anyways, those super move movies get quite annoying and i hope there's a way to skip 'em instead of watching it everytime. Really takes away the flow of the game imo.

[/ QUOTE ]

I wonder if they did it to throw some people a curve. The printed names are correct. Maybe those urls are based on an alternate reading of the kanji in their names? Looks cool none-the-less. I hope the load times aren't atrocious. I'm willing to sacrifice a bit on graphics if it means it loads signifigantly faster.

Who cares about famitsu? They're only one opinion, and it's Mai-HiME! Plus I'd like to see what other reviewers give the game.

I pre-ordered mine through PlayAsia. I hope they're quick in sending it to me.

[Rogueman_8]

[ QUOTE ]
Aya Reiko said:
Who cares about famitsu? They're only one opinion, and it's Mai-HiME! Plus I'd like to see what other reviewers give the game.


[/ QUOTE ]

well, i know it's just one's opinion and usually i wouldn't care about other reviews (though i do like famitsu) when taking games that i really like into account, but i WAS expecting this game to be crap from the start. most anime-based fighting games ARE. Looking at the vids, it proves that it's crappy. The animation and graphics are horrible. The backgrounds are bland with only Kazu-kun/Kazyua being the only sprite in the background in one stage. The combos don't look cool and as mentioned, the super moves get really annoying if it can't be skipped. This is of course speaking as fighting game freak who plays 3S, Tekken, KOF etc day in day out. Of course, as a My~HiME fanatic, i'll be definitely enjoying this game when i get it for the first 3-5 hours. afterwards, it'll probably collect dust until a sequel hits. I just hope it controls well since the psp is pretty crappy for fighting games. anyways, i hope the action/adventure Senretsu will fare better for it's genre.

[moyism]

[ QUOTE ]
Rogueman_8 said:
yeah, so i got my email and basically it IS a confusion but they can't do anything about it since that's the date their suppliers are saying, therefore it's the suppliers fault. The game has already been reviewed by Famitsu and it got a 22/40 (Monster Kingdom, Baten Kaitos 2, Disgaea 2, Suikoden 5, Sengoku Musou 2 and suprisingly Samurai Champloo did really well). A crap score which i was obviously expecting nonetheless. my february orders are quite big, so i'll probably keep it w/ YA for now and order it sometime/somewhere later on just to keep my heart stable when my feb statement comes in /images/graemlins/sdsmiley.gif.

[/ QUOTE ]Good news, I've been checking my YA order and it seems they are shipping the game on the right date (today/tomorrow)! Yay for not screwing up afterall! /images/graemlins/sdsmiley.gif

[Rogueman_8]

[ QUOTE ]
moyism said:
[ QUOTE ]
Rogueman_8 said:
yeah, so i got my email and basically it IS a confusion but they can't do anything about it since that's the date their suppliers are saying, therefore it's the suppliers fault. The game has already been reviewed by Famitsu and it got a 22/40 (Monster Kingdom, Baten Kaitos 2, Disgaea 2, Suikoden 5, Sengoku Musou 2 and suprisingly Samurai Champloo did really well). A crap score which i was obviously expecting nonetheless. my february orders are quite big, so i'll probably keep it w/ YA for now and order it sometime/somewhere later on just to keep my heart stable when my feb statement comes in /images/graemlins/sdsmiley.gif.

[/ QUOTE ]Good news, I've been checking my YA order and it seems they are shipping the game on the right date (today/tomorrow)! Yay for not screwing up afterall! /images/graemlins/sdsmiley.gif

[/ QUOTE ]

yeah, i just checked, my order is still 'in process' but the game is 'ready to be shipped'. Though their site is still listing it for 04/27. That's awesome news!!! but also crappy news, cuz 'Mai-Statement' (:P) is gonna be even bigger now /images/graemlins/cry00000.gif /images/graemlins/cry00000.gif

also, the dvd extra 'this week's armitage' was fun. good loli-ish fanservice for arika fans /images/graemlins/happy.gif

[Rogueman_8]

well, as moyism pointed out seems like yesasia has shipped the psp game today. One crappy thing though, there's a 'my hime bakuretsu artworks in mai hime book' that they are now selling for 12.99. I'm guessing this is a FP book that's suppose to come w/ the game as yesasia HAS seperated FP LE items for games in the past. so yeah, i'm sorta pissed but then again, i have enough hime artworks that it is. and speak of the devil, i also got my small AJ order today which includes Otome vol.2 (w/ This Week's Armitage omake as well as Clean OP) and the MAIHIME Hisayuki Hirokazu Artworks book. I'll be posting pics in the R2 orgy thread and Art books review thread. I haven't watched the disc yet but it's been shown that there is improvements on the DVD from the broadcast version. This includes slightly improved art and less fog. Hmmm...where was the improved art for ep.1?! i already mentioned this week's armitage but the official site has pics of the lingerie omake that i mentioned a while ago and there was a commercial showing some footage of it. Erstin fans will definitely get the bounce /images/graemlins/noseblef.gif /images/graemlins/noseblef.gif.

[VanG]

If you are sure that book is the FP item, you can try email YesAsia, tell them you aren't happy with how they are selling the FP item which is clearly labled NOT FOR SALE (usually), and that the only reason you per-ordered is to get the FP item. I did that with Tales of Legendia last year and they end up sending me the FP CD for free.

[DiGiKerot]

[ QUOTE ]
Rogueman_8 said:
so vol.3-5 has no FP LE items, looks like i can save money and combine this one w/ the others, unless there's a mook/book that i want that comes out somewhere in between, like maybe that 'scoop' book that comes out on the 25th of March /images/graemlins/wink.gif /images/graemlins/sdsmiley.gif.

[/ QUOTE ]

Except judging from the ZHiME official website yesterday it looks like vol 3 does have an FP, and I'm willing to bet the rest of the volumes will have (they'll just not tell us until closer to release).

[Rogueman_8]

[ QUOTE ]
DiGiKerot said:
[ QUOTE ]
Rogueman_8 said:
so vol.3-5 has no FP LE items, looks like i can save money and combine this one w/ the others, unless there's a mook/book that i want that comes out somewhere in between, like maybe that 'scoop' book that comes out on the 25th of March /images/graemlins/wink.gif /images/graemlins/sdsmiley.gif.

[/ QUOTE ]

Except judging from the ZHiME official website yesterday it looks like vol 3 does have an FP, and I'm willing to bet the rest of the volumes will have (they'll just not tell us until closer to release).

[/ QUOTE ]

yeah, that's sorta dumb imo, luckily vol.3 is fp that i don't really care about and is something i am sure won't be very limited and will be included when i get it w/ vol.4 or vol.5.

[Rogueman_8]

[ QUOTE ]
VanG said:
If you are sure that book is the FP item, you can try email YesAsia, tell them you aren't happy with how they are selling the FP item which is clearly labled NOT FOR SALE (usually), and that the only reason you per-ordered is to get the FP item. I did that with Tales of Legendia last year and they end up sending me the FP CD for free.

[/ QUOTE ]

well, from the pic i see on yesasia's page, i don't see a NOT FOR SALE sign /images/graemlins/cry00000.gif, or maybe i can't decipher it from the pic. Anyways, if it is (when i look around), i'll make note and email them. thanks for the tip /images/graemlins/wink.gif.

[ayareiko]

Got the game, and it looks like only 8 characters are playable: Mai, Mikoto, Natsuki, Nao, Midori, Akane, Akira, and Miyu. So no Shiho, Shizuru, Yukino, Yukariko, and Fumi... unless they are well hidden. Story mode only covers the start of Mai-HiME to Ep. 17, so I'm doubtful those five are included if they weren't already available.

Combat mechanics are fairly simple, but overall, it is very enjoyable game.

The loading screen is cute though.

The 8 minigames range from the simple (mash the O button) to the hair-ripping type (namely, the timing ones).

Edit--

Oh yeah, almost forgot. The entire textless OP plays in attract mode and to start Story mode. Story mode also include various clips of animation scattered here and there.

[bakafoo]

Ah.. so it reaks of Bleach:HtS game then.

[Suwako Moriya]

[ QUOTE ]
Aya Reiko said:
So no Shiho, Shizuru, Yukino, Yukariko, and Fumi... unless they are well hidden.

[/ QUOTE ]

If they do turn out to be hidden in the game then disregard what I'm going to say. However based on current information you just gave, I just have to say it flat out. That's *******ing lame! Especially in regards to a certain character. If you're guessing I mean Shiho then you're wrong, I'm talking about Fumi. It would have been so cool to have her playable. Although in general the fact that any of them are skipped out sucks.

To me a HiME game should allow to play as all the HiME and also directly control Every Child. Heck maybe a HiME two player co-op game. You control the Child, I control the HiME. Now that would be interesting.

[Rogueman_8]

[ QUOTE ]
Aya Reiko said:
Got the game, and it looks like only 8 characters are playable: Mai, Mikoto, Natsuki, Nao, Midori, Akane, Akira, and Miyu. So no Shiho, Shizuru, Yukino, Yukariko, and Fumi... unless they are well hidden. Story mode only covers the start of Mai-HiME to Ep. 17, so I'm doubtful those five are included if they weren't already available.

Combat mechanics are fairly simple, but overall, it is very enjoyable game.

The loading screen is cute though.

The 8 minigames range from the simple (mash the O button) to the hair-ripping type (namely, the timing ones).

Edit--

Oh yeah, almost forgot. The entire textless OP plays in attract mode and to start Story mode. Story mode also include various clips of animation scattered here and there.

[/ QUOTE ]

this game should be arriving soon for me, however i won't be able to play it (but it's not like i'm hyped after seeing the fighting mechanics a week ago or so). I'm looking forward to the minigames. Shizuru, Shiho, Yukariko, Yukino and Fumi ARE hidden characters and should be playable as famitsu (http://www.famitsu.com/game/coming/2006/02/01/104,1138773821,48147,0,0.html) showed them off a while ago.

[ayareiko]

[ QUOTE ]
Rogueman_8 said:
[ QUOTE ]
Aya Reiko said:
Got the game, and it looks like only 8 characters are playable: Mai, Mikoto, Natsuki, Nao, Midori, Akane, Akira, and Miyu. So no Shiho, Shizuru, Yukino, Yukariko, and Fumi... unless they are well hidden. Story mode only covers the start of Mai-HiME to Ep. 17, so I'm doubtful those five are included if they weren't already available.

Combat mechanics are fairly simple, but overall, it is very enjoyable game.

The loading screen is cute though.

The 8 minigames range from the simple (mash the O button) to the hair-ripping type (namely, the timing ones).

Edit--

Oh yeah, almost forgot. The entire textless OP plays in attract mode and to start Story mode. Story mode also include various clips of animation scattered here and there.

[/ QUOTE ]

this game should be arriving soon for me, however i won't be able to play it (but it's not like i'm hyped after seeing the fighting mechanics a week ago or so). I'm looking forward to the minigames. Shizuru, Shiho, Yukariko, Yukino and Fumi ARE hidden characters and should be playable as famitsu (http://www.famitsu.com/game/coming/2006/02/01/104,1138773821,48147,0,0.html) showed them off a while ago.

[/ QUOTE ]
hmmm... Is there an equivalent to Gamefaqs on the Japanese side? Unless the hidden characters become unlocked when everything else is unlocked, it's gonna be tough to figure out how to make them playable.

[duckroll]

[ QUOTE ]
Aya Reiko said:
[ QUOTE ]
Rogueman_8 said:
[ QUOTE ]
Aya Reiko said:
Got the game, and it looks like only 8 characters are playable: Mai, Mikoto, Natsuki, Nao, Midori, Akane, Akira, and Miyu. So no Shiho, Shizuru, Yukino, Yukariko, and Fumi... unless they are well hidden. Story mode only covers the start of Mai-HiME to Ep. 17, so I'm doubtful those five are included if they weren't already available.

Combat mechanics are fairly simple, but overall, it is very enjoyable game.

The loading screen is cute though.

The 8 minigames range from the simple (mash the O button) to the hair-ripping type (namely, the timing ones).

Edit--

Oh yeah, almost forgot. The entire textless OP plays in attract mode and to start Story mode. Story mode also include various clips of animation scattered here and there.

[/ QUOTE ]

this game should be arriving soon for me, however i won't be able to play it (but it's not like i'm hyped after seeing the fighting mechanics a week ago or so). I'm looking forward to the minigames. Shizuru, Shiho, Yukariko, Yukino and Fumi ARE hidden characters and should be playable as famitsu (http://www.famitsu.com/game/coming/2006/02/01/104,1138773821,48147,0,0.html) showed them off a while ago.

[/ QUOTE ]
hmmm... Is there an equivalent to Gamefaqs on the Japanese side? Unless the hidden characters become unlocked when everything else is unlocked, it's gonna be tough to figure out how to make them playable.

[/ QUOTE ]

Sorry, but I can't stop laughing at you people. That Famitsu article is for the SEQUEL game that's coming out next month in April. This Mai HiME PSP game has been a ripoff from the start and anyone who actually followed news on it knows that. They split the game into two, with half the characters in each and are selling both for full price. The gameplay sucks too. I'm sorry you guys got ripped off but just so you know, the other characters aren't in the game. /images/graemlins/happy.gif

[DiGiKerot]

[ QUOTE ]
Rogueman_8 said:
well, from the pic i see on yesasia's page, i don't see a NOT FOR SALE sign /images/graemlins/cry00000.gif

[/ QUOTE ]

Its on the back.

[Rogueman_8]

[ QUOTE ]
DiGiKerot said:
[ QUOTE ]
Rogueman_8 said:
well, from the pic i see on yesasia's page, i don't see a NOT FOR SALE sign /images/graemlins/cry00000.gif

[/ QUOTE ]

Its on the back.

[/ QUOTE ]

thanks, i should be getting the game either today or monday. i'll email those bums.

[moyism]

[ QUOTE ]
Rogueman_8 said:
[ QUOTE ]
DiGiKerot said:
[ QUOTE ]
Rogueman_8 said:
well, from the pic i see on yesasia's page, i don't see a NOT FOR SALE sign /images/graemlins/cry00000.gif

[/ QUOTE ]

Its on the back.

[/ QUOTE ]

thanks, i should be getting the game either today or monday. i'll email those bums.

[/ QUOTE ]Tell me how it goes as I'll probably need to email them too /images/graemlins/anger100.gif

[Rogueman_8]

only some game news. the senretsu game will come w/ a secret character...Arika!!! ouu....big surprise. anyways, fp item for the april game is a poster. new arika art and poster art (w/ my yummy mai) can be seen at famitsu (http://www.famitsu.com/game/news/2006/03/06/103,1141636910,49578,0,0.html).

oh yeah, i'm digging ost 2 currently.

[moyism]

[ QUOTE ]
Rogueman_8 said:
only some game news. the senretsu game will come w/ a secret character...Arika!!! ouu....big surprise. anyways, fp item for the april game is a poster. new arika art and poster art (w/ my yummy mai) can be seen at famitsu (http://www.famitsu.com/game/news/2006/03/06/103,1141636910,49578,0,0.html).

oh yeah, i'm digging ost 2 currently.

[/ QUOTE ]me thinks if I do drop the dough for this one, I should go somewhere beside YesAsia /images/graemlins/anger200.gif

Any suggestions?

[DiGiKerot]

[ QUOTE ]
moyism said:
[ QUOTE ]
Rogueman_8 said:
only some game news. the senretsu game will come w/ a secret character...Arika!!! ouu....big surprise. anyways, fp item for the april game is a poster. new arika art and poster art (w/ my yummy mai) can be seen at famitsu (http://www.famitsu.com/game/news/2006/03/06/103,1141636910,49578,0,0.html).

oh yeah, i'm digging ost 2 currently.

[/ QUOTE ]me thinks if I do drop the dough for this one, I should go somewhere beside YesAsia /images/graemlins/anger200.gif

Any suggestions?

[/ QUOTE ]

I got my copy of the first one (with the book) from NCSX (http://www.ncsx.com/), popping over to the site just now I release that Sakura Taisen I&II is out this week. Theres another game this month I have to get /images/graemlins/stunned1.gif

[Rogueman_8]

[ QUOTE ]
DiGiKerot said:
[ QUOTE ]
moyism said:
[ QUOTE ]
Rogueman_8 said:
only some game news. the senretsu game will come w/ a secret character...Arika!!! ouu....big surprise. anyways, fp item for the april game is a poster. new arika art and poster art (w/ my yummy mai) can be seen at famitsu (http://www.famitsu.com/game/news/2006/03/06/103,1141636910,49578,0,0.html).

oh yeah, i'm digging ost 2 currently.

[/ QUOTE ]me thinks if I do drop the dough for this one, I should go somewhere beside YesAsia /images/graemlins/anger200.gif

Any suggestions?

[/ QUOTE ]

I got my copy of the first one (with the book) from NCSX (http://www.ncsx.com/), popping over to the site just now I release that Sakura Taisen I&II is out this week. Theres another game this month I have to get /images/graemlins/stunned1.gif

[/ QUOTE ]

oh yeah, ncsx. i should try them since they're close, being in New York and all. Moy, Play Asia & Lik Sang are other sources but i think NCSX would be best since it's situated closer for you instead of HK. So shipping would be much faster (LS's a bitch for shipping). PA also requires some ID for fraud purposes. Anyways, thanks digi for the recommend. i'll probably get senretsu there.

[moyism]

[ QUOTE ]
Rogueman_8 said:
[ QUOTE ]
DiGiKerot said:
[ QUOTE ]
moyism said:
[ QUOTE ]
Rogueman_8 said:
only some game news. the senretsu game will come w/ a secret character...Arika!!! ouu....big surprise. anyways, fp item for the april game is a poster. new arika art and poster art (w/ my yummy mai) can be seen at famitsu (http://www.famitsu.com/game/news/2006/03/06/103,1141636910,49578,0,0.html).

oh yeah, i'm digging ost 2 currently.

[/ QUOTE ]me thinks if I do drop the dough for this one, I should go somewhere beside YesAsia /images/graemlins/anger200.gif

Any suggestions?

[/ QUOTE ]

I got my copy of the first one (with the book) from NCSX (http://www.ncsx.com/), popping over to the site just now I release that Sakura Taisen I&II is out this week. Theres another game this month I have to get /images/graemlins/stunned1.gif

[/ QUOTE ]

oh yeah, ncsx. i should try them since they're close, being in New York and all. Moy, Play Asia & Lik Sang are other sources but i think NCSX would be best since it's situated closer for you instead of HK. So shipping would be much faster (LS's a bitch for shipping). PA also requires some ID for fraud purposes. Anyways, thanks digi for the recommend. i'll probably get senretsu there.

[/ QUOTE ]Thanks R8 and DiGiKerot! Totally forgot about NCSX! I used to order from them a few years back but since I don't normally buy import games, they've left my mind.

Guess I'll be ordering the other MH PSP game once they have it avaliable on their site /images/graemlins/catgirl0.gif

(crap, still have to GET a PSP too)

[DiGiKerot]

[ QUOTE ]
moyism said:
Guess I'll be ordering the other MH PSP game once they have it avaliable on their site /images/graemlins/catgirl0.gif


[/ QUOTE ]

NCSX only take pre-orders via Ye Olde Store, which has Senretsu listed already...

[ QUOTE ]
moyism said:
(crap, still have to GET a PSP too)


[/ QUOTE ]

I hope you have a better reason for it than playing these craptacular games /images/graemlins/sweat200.gif

[DiGiKerot]

[ QUOTE ]
Rogueman_8 said:
oh yeah, ncsx. i should try them since they're close, being in New York and all. Moy, Play Asia & Lik Sang are other sources but i think NCSX would be best since it's situated closer for you instead of HK. So shipping would be much faster (LS's a bitch for shipping). PA also requires some ID for fraud purposes. Anyways, thanks digi for the recommend. i'll probably get senretsu there.

[/ QUOTE ]

I use Play Asia quite a bit for PS2 and DS games, particularly the sales as the kind of stuff they put in there is the kind of crap I tend to enjoy (got a pretty decent detail on the second Negima game the other week, for example). They don't ship PSP games to Europe though, thanks to Sonys intervention, which is a bit of a pain for me.

[moyism]

[ QUOTE ]
DiGiKerot said:
NCSX only take pre-orders via Ye Olde Store, which has Senretsu listed already...

[/ QUOTE ]Ahh.... gotcha /images/graemlins/wink.gif
[ QUOTE ]
DiGiKerot said:
I hope you have a better reason for it than playing these craptacular games /images/graemlins/sweat200.gif

[/ QUOTE ]... no comment.

[DiGiKerot]

[ QUOTE ]
moyism said:
[ QUOTE ]
DiGiKerot said:
I hope you have a better reason for it than playing these craptacular games /images/graemlins/sweat200.gif

[/ QUOTE ]... no comment.

[/ QUOTE ]

I hope you enjoy your expensive, console-shaped paperweight then /images/graemlins/sweat200.gif

[Rogueman_8]

some more info to add of what i posted yesterday. famitsu (http://www.famitsu.com/game/coming/2006/03/06/104,1141628559,49560,0,0.html) has the sweet cover to the game (featuring mai in hero scarf from the poster i posted yesterday). so yeah, the feature covers the some of the system and the new battle royale mode (where you can sorta move on a map and fight the CPU or the CPU vs CPU etc.) as well as the usual story, free battle, survival. heh, graphics don't seem like too much of an improvement and all this sounds so exciting (but not). anyways, this game's been preordered now and not expecting this game to be that much better than baku aside from the new charas (and hidden arika).

[ayareiko]

[ QUOTE ]
Rogueman_8 said:
some more info to add of what i posted yesterday. famitsu (http://www.famitsu.com/game/coming/2006/03/06/104,1141628559,49560,0,0.html) has the sweet cover to the game (featuring mai in hero scarf from the poster i posted yesterday). so yeah, the feature covers the some of the system and the new battle royale mode (where you can sorta move on a map and fight the CPU or the CPU vs CPU etc.) as well as the usual story, free battle, survival. heh, graphics don't seem like too much of an improvement and all this sounds so exciting (but not). anyways, this game's been preordered now and not expecting this game to be that much better than baku aside from the new charas (and hidden arika).

[/ QUOTE ]What I'm wondering is if all 13 (now 14, with Arika added) characters will be playable. So far I've seen Shiho, Shizuru, Fumi, Yukariko, Yukino, Mai, Natsuki, Mikoto, Midori, and Nao from the previews. But yet unseen are Miyu (at least in combat), Akira, and Akane. And Arika as a secret character could bring the total to 14 characters.

According to the translation through WorldLingo, all characters will be returning. We'll see if that comes to pass.

New features:
* More costumes for all characters. New character animation added: pre-fight stance, idle, end-round victory pose (I think). Dodging and parrying is being added (I think). Combo hit indication. New character selection and pre-fight dialogue pictures added to reflect the current costume choice.

* Battle Royal mode: Player vs. I think 5 CPU opponents. Match winners can add the abilities of thier opponents child ot themselves. Dark Mikoto acts as the boss of the mode and appears when only one character is still standing.

* Free Battle mode: Player can choose their character, opponent, and background.

* Survival: Standard survival mode.

* Story mode follows eps 17 through 26.

[Rogueman_8]

i think there'll be 15 charas. there's a scan showing two silhouettes. one of 'em is clearly Haruka (since she did take out tank /images/graemlins/tongue.gif) and the other is not clear but as i mentioned yesterday, it's arika.

[bakafoo]

Any bigger scaled versions of the game's images, by any chance?

[Rogueman_8]

[ QUOTE ]
BakaBoobie said:
Any bigger scaled versions of the game's images, by any chance?

[/ QUOTE ]

unfortunately not. there's this scan (http://img436.imageshack.us/my.php?image=senretsu8ya.jpg) w/ the silhouettes i'm talking about.

[Rogueman_8]

i want to note that bandai has updated their release of vol.4. The FP item will be a special 'backstage seal'.

[ayareiko]

[ QUOTE ]
Rogueman_8 said:
i think there'll be 15 charas. there's a scan showing two silhouettes. one of 'em is clearly Haruka (since she did take out tank /images/graemlins/tongue.gif) and the other is not clear but as i mentioned yesterday, it's arika.

[/ QUOTE ]
3x5

It's entirely plausible since the Survival Mode preview shows a 3x2 character select screen.

[Rogueman_8]

the my-zhime site updated and has posted the cover of the scoop book (http://www.my-zhime.net/products/img/img_book002.jpg) i first mentioned about. yes it is /images/graemlins/noseblef.gif, however, it (cover) does not contain my primary three nor tomoe /images/graemlins/depresse.gif. still lovely for those who are fans of the girls. i'll be getting this in april w/ vol.3 & 4 instead of this month for financial reasons /images/graemlins/sweat200.gif.

[ayareiko]

[ QUOTE ]
Rogueman_8 said:
i think there'll be 15 charas. there's a scan showing two silhouettes. one of 'em is clearly Haruka (since she did take out tank /images/graemlins/tongue.gif) and the other is not clear but as i mentioned yesterday, it's arika.

[/ QUOTE ]
I just realized something, there is possibility the secret character may not be Haruka, but Mashiro instead. Not wheelchair-bound Mashiro, but miko Mashiro we briefly saw in 25. Though that'll make two Kagutsuchi users in the game... but like that would stop Sunrise from going that route.

[Rogueman_8]

[ QUOTE ]
Aya Reiko said:
[ QUOTE ]
Rogueman_8 said:
i think there'll be 15 charas. there's a scan showing two silhouettes. one of 'em is clearly Haruka (since she did take out tank /images/graemlins/tongue.gif) and the other is not clear but as i mentioned yesterday, it's arika.

[/ QUOTE ]
I just realized something, there is possibility the secret character may not be Haruka, but Mashiro instead. Not wheelchair-bound Mashiro, but miko Mashiro we briefly saw in 25. Though that'll make two Kagutsuchi users in the game... but like that would stop Sunrise from going that route.

[/ QUOTE ]

well, the silhouette in the scan sorta indicates it's haruka. whether she be playable as fighter i don't know. I really wish we were able to use the childs as that would be cool. Child Mashiro so kicks ASS!

[Ollin]

~lolipuni~ (http://www.lolipuni.com/20060313.html) posted screen shots of the improved animation on the Mai Otome R2's compared to the broadcast.

[Rogueman_8]

[ QUOTE ]
Ollin said:
~lolipuni~ (http://www.lolipuni.com/20060313.html) posted screen shots of the improved animation on the Mai Otome R2's compared to the broadcast.

[/ QUOTE ]

yeah we already noted the improvements for vol.2 in the other thread /images/graemlins/wink.gif. Too bad vol.1 didn't get the same amount of treatment.

[Rogueman_8]

here's the cover to My-ZHiME 4 (http://img213.imageshack.us/my.php?image=r8myotome42uf.jpg). I already mentioned what the FP item is.

[Rogueman_8]

here's the scoop on vol.6:

舞-乙Ｈｉï¼*ï¼¥ vol.6　
06/23/06 | BCBA-2423 | 7,140 yen

75 mins, contains episodes 15-17 (yesh). Includes the usual 12 pg. booklet. Omake is called "Graduation Ceremony - Erstin Ho's Last Smile", heh, fitting i guess, until much later on /images/graemlins/tongue.gif. As usual, no mention of FP item...yet. Let's hope for some figs like MH started w/ vol.6.

oh, and another otome item that's available from amazon jpn (http://www.amazon.co.jp/exec/obidos/ASIN/4056043663/qid=1142689036/sr=1-5/ref=sr_1_10_5/249-4718824-8332324) amongst other stores.

[moyism]

Just a heads up, if you check the newest Mai-Otome NetRadio episode (#25), you'll be able to see some of the photos for the upcoming artbook! /images/graemlins/catgirl0.gif

[Rogueman_8]

just want to mention that the omake for dvd vol.3 was /images/graemlins/noseblef.gif. i felt sorta dirty /images/graemlins/tongue.gif. Nao & Erstin were the hot highlights. Too bad there was no 'clean' image of Nina at the end. anyways, fun omake as usual. Sadly, i won't be getting this dvd and the scoop book (which comes out tomorrow) this month /images/graemlins/cry00000.gif.

[DiGiKerot]

[ QUOTE ]
Rogueman_8 said:
just want to mention that the omake for dvd vol.3 was /images/graemlins/noseblef.gif. i felt sorta dirty /images/graemlins/tongue.gif. Nao & Erstin were the hot highlights. Too bad there was no 'clean' image of Nina at the end. anyways, fun omake as usual. Sadly, i won't be getting this dvd and the scoop book (which comes out tomorrow) this month /images/graemlins/cry00000.gif.

[/ QUOTE ]

My DVDs 2 and 3 have just shipped, as has my Scoop book (from different retailers, though).

Oh, DVD 4 omake is about Shiho - sample pictures on the My-ZHiME website as usual.

[Rogueman_8]

[ QUOTE ]
DiGiKerot said:
[ QUOTE ]
Rogueman_8 said:
just want to mention that the omake for dvd vol.3 was /images/graemlins/noseblef.gif. i felt sorta dirty /images/graemlins/tongue.gif. Nao & Erstin were the hot highlights. Too bad there was no 'clean' image of Nina at the end. anyways, fun omake as usual. Sadly, i won't be getting this dvd and the scoop book (which comes out tomorrow) this month /images/graemlins/cry00000.gif.

[/ QUOTE ]

My DVDs 2 and 3 have just shipped, as has my Scoop book (from different retailers, though).

Oh, DVD 4 omake is about Shiho - sample pictures on the My-ZHiME website as usual.

[/ QUOTE ]

yeah, gotta save a bit this month as april will be a huge ZHiME (and fig) orgy month for me. Not only that, I can now add the newly announced perfect guide (http://www.my-zhime.net/products/book.html) to my order /images/graemlins/catgirl0.gif.

yeah, i noted who the omakes will focus on already (up to vol.6). the pics for it look meh as i'm not a shiho fan. probably will be funny though.

as for the ps2 otome game...meh. probably won't get it since it's 3D action. if it was a fighting game, then it would be different. anyways i'll have sources to play this (most likely) craptastic game /images/graemlins/sdsmiley.gif.

[DiGiKerot]

[ QUOTE ]
Rogueman_8 said:
as for the ps2 otome game...meh. probably won't get it since it's 3D action. if it was a fighting game, then it would be different. anyways i'll have sources to play this (most likely) craptastic game /images/graemlins/sdsmiley.gif.

[/ QUOTE ]

It website says its something like a "3D arena action" game or something - what I can make out of the description actually mades it sound like a fighting game, though more Powerstone than Tekken I'd think.

[Rogueman_8]

[ QUOTE ]
DiGiKerot said:
[ QUOTE ]
Rogueman_8 said:
as for the ps2 otome game...meh. probably won't get it since it's 3D action. if it was a fighting game, then it would be different. anyways i'll have sources to play this (most likely) craptastic game /images/graemlins/sdsmiley.gif.

[/ QUOTE ]

It website says its something like a "3D arena action" game or something - what I can make out of the description actually mades it sound like a fighting game, though more Powerstone than Tekken I'd think.

[/ QUOTE ]

ughh...that's even worse (for me). i'll have to check out the description and translate it later.

edit: yeah, it does seem like it. oh well.

[DiGiKerot]

[ QUOTE ]
Rogueman_8 said:
[ QUOTE ]
DiGiKerot said:
[ QUOTE ]
Rogueman_8 said:
as for the ps2 otome game...meh. probably won't get it since it's 3D action. if it was a fighting game, then it would be different. anyways i'll have sources to play this (most likely) craptastic game /images/graemlins/sdsmiley.gif.

[/ QUOTE ]

It website says its something like a "3D arena action" game or something - what I can make out of the description actually mades it sound like a fighting game, though more Powerstone than Tekken I'd think.

[/ QUOTE ]

ughh...that's even worse (for me). i'll have to check out the description and translate it later.

edit: yeah, it does seem like it. oh well.

[/ QUOTE ]

Still, the promise of some kind of branching story mode at least gives it a point of interest which the PSP games haven't had.

[ayareiko]

A little update on the second PSP game. Well, not really an update, but the results of a little testing. I took the character select screen and copied and pasted rows to see how many rows would fit. Not surprising a 3 column by 5 rows was the best fit. What was interesting was the height of the 3x5 field is almost identical the the info panel seen to the right of it.

Nothing new from famitsu. I hope this doesn't suffer from months of delays like the other one.

Edit--

By some miracle, I managed to beat Alyssa's minigame on Level 2. However, there in no way I will ever beat Alyssa's or Mai's games at level 3. None, nil, zip. I suck at these rhythm games, especially if they require twitch reflexes.

Also, I discovered a secret character... sort of. In ''vs. Com'' mode hold SELECT when choosing Miyu and you will play as Alyssa-less Miyu. The only difference I noticed is her 'child' attack. Instead of Artemis, Miyu slashes with her sword arm to do heavy damage. (Different movie clip too.)
What does 'Vortex' do anyway? /images/graemlins/stunned0.gif

[Avarice]

I'm sorry if this has been answered already but I was wondering if the extra scenes with dvds were animated or just still shots like in Mai-Hime? Also what is the FP that comes with volume 3?

[DiGiKerot]

[ QUOTE ]
Avarice said:
I'm sorry if this has been answered already but I was wondering if the extra scenes with dvds were animated or just still shots like in Mai-Hime? Also what is the FP that comes with volume 3?

[/ QUOTE ]

They are animated, probably because they are only doing one per volume rather than one for each episode.

The Vol 3 FP is this (http://img294.imageshack.us/my.php?image=img05043ei.jpg) Hisayuki illustrated card. Pretty unspectacular, really.

[Avarice]

[ QUOTE ]
Rogueman_8 said:
the my-zhime site updated and has posted the cover of the scoop book (http://www.my-zhime.net/products/img/img_book002.jpg) i first mentioned about. yes it is /images/graemlins/noseblef.gif, however, it (cover) does not contain my primary three nor tomoe /images/graemlins/depresse.gif. still lovely for those who are fans of the girls. i'll be getting this in april w/ vol.3 & 4 instead of this month for financial reasons /images/graemlins/sweat200.gif.

[/ QUOTE ]

What is the scoop book? Is it purely an artbook or does it contain character sketches, episode summaries, etc?

[Rogueman_8]

[ QUOTE ]
Avarice said:
[ QUOTE ]
Rogueman_8 said:
the my-zhime site updated and has posted the cover of the scoop book (http://www.my-zhime.net/products/img/img_book002.jpg) i first mentioned about. yes it is /images/graemlins/noseblef.gif, however, it (cover) does not contain my primary three nor tomoe /images/graemlins/depresse.gif. still lovely for those who are fans of the girls. i'll be getting this in april w/ vol.3 & 4 instead of this month for financial reasons /images/graemlins/sweat200.gif.

[/ QUOTE ]

What is the scoop book? Is it purely an artbook or does it contain character sketches, episode summaries, etc?

[/ QUOTE ]

the scoop book is like HiME's fuuka gakuen book in which contains art of most of the characters in fanservicey situations. It contains character sketches and general info. Is it worth picking up? for sure if you're an otome fan.

[Rogueman_8]

some of the extra costumes in senretsu can be seen at famitsu (http://www.famitsu.com/game/coming/2006/04/13/104,1144899218,51593,0,0.html). Yesh...my natsuki in bathing suit from ep.9 /images/graemlins/noseblef.gif /images/graemlins/noseblef.gif.

[moyism]

[ QUOTE ]
Rogueman_8 said:
some of the extra costumes in senretsu can be seen at famitsu (http://www.famitsu.com/game/coming/2006/04/13/104,1144899218,51593,0,0.html). Yesh...my natsuki in bathing suit from ep.9 /images/graemlins/noseblef.gif /images/graemlins/noseblef.gif.

[/ QUOTE ]Nao's custome... LMAO

[Rogueman_8]

[ QUOTE ]
moyism said:
[ QUOTE ]
Rogueman_8 said:
some of the extra costumes in senretsu can be seen at famitsu (http://www.famitsu.com/game/coming/2006/04/13/104,1144899218,51593,0,0.html). Yesh...my natsuki in bathing suit from ep.9 /images/graemlins/noseblef.gif /images/graemlins/noseblef.gif.

[/ QUOTE ]Nao's custome... LMAO

[/ QUOTE ]

yeah, quite awesome. hope sunrise interactive updates their page soon as i want to check out some vids like last time. hopefully there's 1 or 2 new moves for the old characters.

[ayareiko]

[ QUOTE ]
Rogueman_8 said:
[ QUOTE ]
moyism said:
[ QUOTE ]
Rogueman_8 said:
some of the extra costumes in senretsu can be seen at famitsu (http://www.famitsu.com/game/coming/2006/04/13/104,1144899218,51593,0,0.html). Yesh...my natsuki in bathing suit from ep.9 /images/graemlins/noseblef.gif /images/graemlins/noseblef.gif.

[/ QUOTE ]Nao's custome... LMAO

[/ QUOTE ]

yeah, quite awesome. hope sunrise interactive updates their page soon as i want to check out some vids like last time. hopefully there's 1 or 2 new moves for the old characters.

[/ QUOTE ]
After shoving the page through a translator, I'm pretty sure there is no new info on the game except it appears it'll make its street date this time.

[Avarice]

The scoop book was both surprising and disappointing. The pics of Arika and Akane were /images/graemlins/noseblef.gif but Erstin and Haruaka got shafted. By shafted I mean they had clothes on opposed to off.

[Rogueman_8]

My:Otome vol.7
07/28/06 | BCBA-2424 |7,140 yen

as usual, includes 12 pg. book and no mention of a FP item yet. Contains ep.18-20. Omake is Aswald related, talking about the village, therefore Midori-focused...shaweeet /images/graemlins/noseblef.gif.

[ayareiko]

[ QUOTE ]
Avarice said:
The scoop book was both surprising and disappointing. The pics of Arika and Akane were /images/graemlins/noseblef.gif but Erstin and Haruaka got shafted. By shafted I mean they had clothes on opposed to off.

[/ QUOTE ]
It also appears that Natsuki still cannot hold her liquor, and is worried about her weight... shouldn't those nanomachines take care of that?

[Rogueman_8]

official site (http://www.suni.jp/contents/mai_hime_sen/index.html) is up. Expect the system and gallery section to open soon.

[DiGiKerot]

[ QUOTE ]
Rogueman_8 said:
official site (http://www.suni.jp/contents/mai_hime_sen/index.html) is up. Expect the system and gallery section to open soon.

[/ QUOTE ]

Apparently it scored an AMAZING 18/40 (4,4,5,5) in Famitsu - thats even lower than MHB scored! Oh dear...

[moyism]

[ QUOTE ]
DiGiKerot said:
[ QUOTE ]
Rogueman_8 said:
official site (http://www.suni.jp/contents/mai_hime_sen/index.html) is up. Expect the system and gallery section to open soon.

[/ QUOTE ]

Apparently it scored an AMAZING 18/40 (4,4,5,5) in Famitsu - thats even lower than MHB scored! Oh dear...

[/ QUOTE ]And my wallet cries yet again over buying a crappy game in the sake of Mai-HiME fanboyism /images/graemlins/cry00000.gif

[Rogueman_8]

official site (http://www.my-zhime.net/) updated. sections of update include characters (rena), dvd (shots of the akane special), track list for the june drama cd 2, there's also another character poll (http://www.my-zhime.net/event/index.html) which is a lengthy process for those who are weak w/ the language. Lastly the game section updated, but it's nothing special as it's just another 'update' on the PC version of 1st PS2 game.

looking at the DVD page, looks like there REALLY isn't a FP w/ DVD 5. Oh well, i had already combined it w/ vol.6 w/ a coupon.

[SunWuKong]

I see that the 5th Omake is gonna deal w/ <span style='color:#dddddd;background:#dddddd'>how Akane became Kazuya's otome. I don't know if this is appropreate to show in the 5th volume already. It has far too many plot spoilers to be released w/ episodes so early in the show, especially if this is ever considered for Region 1 localization. Hopefully, the next omake is gonna be fairly continuity-free.

BTW, everytime I see the scene of Kazuya being taken away by the royal officials, I can't help but hear in my head the Ramone's classic, "The KKK Took My Baby Away." /images/graemlins/tongue.gif </span>

[outlawed]

[ QUOTE ]
Sunwukong said:
I see that the 5th Omake is gonna deal w/ <span style='color:#dddddd;background:#dddddd'>how Akane became Kazuya's otome.</span> I don't know if this is appropreate to show in the 5th volume already. It has far too many plot spoilers to be released w/ episodes so early in the show

[/ QUOTE ]

You do realize the concept of someone buying these DVDs in JP without already seeing the show would pretty much be unheard of?

This is nothing...I remember the interview with the director in one of the Ryvius insert booklets from an early DVD talking about what happened in the plot during the final epsidoes of the show!

[ayareiko]

Just got the new PSP game, so I haven't really gotten far. However, all 12 HiME + Miyu are in... just one catch. You need a save game from the first game to unlock them. If you do have a save game, go to 'Options' and then to 'Convert'. Pick 'yes' and it should make all the HiME and Miyu playable.

But here's a strange thing... 'Library' sports a section for character profiles, which contains info on each of the characters, elements, Childs, and a "view character" section where you can preview any characters in the costume of your choice. Except there are 19 slots. The first 13 are for the HiME and Miyu. Slot 14 is Alyssa's (her "view character" section shows Miyu because Alyssa doesn't fight herself). Slots 15 through 19 are initially locked, but that leaves 5 slots open. Could there be 5 hidden characters instead of two?

So far so good. Unlocked from the getgo are Story, Free Battle, Network, Library, and Options. Two areas start locked (Survival and Battle Royal). It looks like most characters have gotten a graphical upgrade.

[bakafoo]

[ QUOTE ]
Aya Reiko said:
But here's a strange thing... 'Library' sports a section for character profiles, which contains info on each of the characters, elements, Childs, and a "view character" section where you can preview any characters in the costume of your choice. Except there are 19 slots. The first 13 are for the HiME and Miyu. Slot 14 is Alyssa's (her "view character" section shows Miyu because Alyssa doesn't fight herself). Slots 15 through 19 are initially locked, but that leaves 5 slots open. Could there be 5 hidden characters instead of two?


[/ QUOTE ]

Maybe there are rendered special outfits for the characters? Like Shizuru in kimono, and another in class rep outfit?

[ayareiko]

[ QUOTE ]
BakaBoobie said:
[ QUOTE ]
Aya Reiko said:
But here's a strange thing... 'Library' sports a section for character profiles, which contains info on each of the characters, elements, Childs, and a "view character" section where you can preview any characters in the costume of your choice. Except there are 19 slots. The first 13 are for the HiME and Miyu. Slot 14 is Alyssa's (her "view character" section shows Miyu because Alyssa doesn't fight herself). Slots 15 through 19 are initially locked, but that leaves 5 slots open. Could there be 5 hidden characters instead of two?


[/ QUOTE ]

Maybe there are rendered special outfits for the characters? Like Shizuru in kimono, and another in class rep outfit?

[/ QUOTE ]
Doubt it. Four characters have two modes. First, there's Miyu with and without Alyssa (selectable the same way in game 1), but that's covered with Miyu and Alyssa having separate profiles. There are also three characters with "good and evil" modes; Shizuru, Shiho, and Mikoto. Playable Dark Mikoto I haven't found yet, but good and evil Shizuru and Shiho are selectable via picking costume 1 (evil) or 2 (good). In their cases, the character pic will change and they'll have different dialog.

Playing story mode unlocks pics and movies in the gallery, baically various stills and clips from the series. However, there is the "Puzzle" area, and, so far, story has yet to cough any of the pieces yet.

Edit-

Shizuru is this game's Scorpion as she has a long range stun attack that drags her foe right up next to her. With a good bit of timing she can easily nail her foe with a nice combo, possibly topping it off with Kiyohime.

Edit #2 &amp; #3-

Finishing Story mode does not unlock Dark Mikoto, unfortunately. But it does unlock Battle Royal and Survival modes. After beating 14 characters in Survival mode (with Mikoto), I believe I unlocked Dark Mikoto (including her profile). Dark Mikoto is selectable the same way you can choose between the different Miyus, hold Select then O while picking your character.

Beating characters in BR mode allows you to tweak your stats and enable some special abilities, such as starting a match with the HiME-meter fully charged or having the HiME-meter continously charge. Who you beat in BR mode can carry over to Survival mode. If you beat all 14 foes (not necessarily in one game) with a single character, you'll unlock extra costume(s) for that character.

I still have no clue where the Puzzle pieces hide. Looking at the manual, though, I suspect they're used to unlock Mashiro, not Haruka, as a playable character.

Still no sign of Arika. Aside from being on the front cover of the manual, that is.

[ayareiko]

Newest update, I've figured out where the puzzle pieces are. If you beat a large number of opponents in Battle Royal mode, you'll be rewarded with a puzzle piece. What that number is, I'm not sure yet... but it's no greater than 10.

What the puzzle is revealing is Mashiro. What it unlocks once it's complete we'll see in due time.

Edit #1: I'm convinced it's not how many you beat, but who you beat. At least for now. I beat 9 with Fumi in one go in BR mode... no piece. I beat a mere 7 with Akane, got her piece. So it's definitely not numbers.

A possible theory of mine is the piece is awarded when your character beats the chararter who defeated her in the series. I should test this by picking Nao and sending her directly toward Shizuru when she takes the field.

Maybe I'll post scans of the manual later if anyone here is willing to translated any of it. Maybe it has a clue on getting pieces that my, non-kanji reading eyes don't see.

Edit #2- Nope. That theory didn't turn out right. If anyone has any ideas as to how the puzzle pieces are obtained, feel free to share.

The official website has been updated, and it's official...

Haruka is the 15th character. Fights bare-handed no less.

Official Site (http://www.suni.jp/contents/mai_hime_sen/index.html)
Haruka's page (http://www.suni.jp/contents/mai_hime_sen/gallery/gallery_haruka.html)

The Haruka and Arika hunt goes on...

[ayareiko]

Unlocking Arika
Play story mode twice.
(Note: You cannot play as Arika in BR.)

Unlocking Haruka
Beat Dark Mikoto in BR while playing as Yukino.
Win at least 14 matches in Survival while playing as Yukino.
Play as Yukino six times in Free Battle.
(Note: You cannot play as Haruka in BR.)

[Edible]

'Nother site update today.

DVD 6 (6/23) will have an Erstin-centric special. &lt;3&lt;3&lt;3

Also, the most recent popularity poll:

Female:
1) Shi'zuru Viola
2) Natsuki Krueger
3) Juliet Nao Zhang
4) Arika Yumemiya
5) Nina Wang
6) Tokiha Mai
7) Okuzaki Akira
8) Tomoe Marguerite
9) Erstin Ho
10) Haruka Armitage

Male:
1) Rado
2) Tokiha Takumi
3) Nagi Dai Artai
4) Sergey Wang
5) Sakomizu
6) Kazu-kun
7) Yamada
8) Gal
9) Lumen
10) Iori

Supposedly, the upcoming OAV will have scenes dedicated to the winners.

The PC port of the HiME PS2 game will hit shelves on June 30th. It'll include some original animation and a whole new path.

Finally, the second Otome drama CD will be released on June 21st. Where are my image albums, Sunrise?

[Rogueman_8]

yo, just a note to the ZHiME fans and collectors on the final volume (#9) of the TV series. The First Pressing will include another DVD containing postrecording cast interviews and roundtable discussion talk. the dvd extras include the usual 12 pg. booklet, a feature w/ Mai vs. Arika in My~HiME vs. My~ZHiME part 2, a 'special broadcast' of the last episode and the non-credit ending to ep.26. OVA details should be popping up soon.