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Old 2012-07-09, 23:48   Link #641
Triple_R
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Very well-done 2nd episode.

Takamura's character is very impressive. More than anything else, that's what I'm coming out of the first two episodes with. Just total, consummate professional soldier. Almost completely fearless, but with just enough emotionality to not come across as overly cold or soulless. Very good, bad ass female lead character.


Now, a more episode-specific list of pros and cons.


Pros:

1. Love the designs for the aliens. Grim, dark, and gruesome, but with colorful shells that stand out a bit. They're also very menacing and versatile in their capabilities.

2. Very good handling of character death scenes. The first occurred due to an emotional high causing carelessness. The second occurred due to focusing too much on the eight minute thing. Most of the rest were due to the overwhelming nature of the BETA, but I'm glad that at least a couple of the deaths felt like they had a more specific cause to them, making them seem more "eventful". They also helped to highlight Takamura's strengths by sheer contrast. It doesn't mean that I don't feel sorry for those that died, of course, but just that the contrast shows just how awesome a soldier/lead protagonist Takamura is.

3. Loved the overall dedication and sheer valor showed by almost all the human characters in this, particularly the older male characters. Loved the palpable emotion just seeping through the screen when they try to stay calm and coolly assess the broader scope of the crisis, even as they make very tough and difficult decisions.

4. I liked how Takamura had to be saved in the end. If she had somehow managed to get out of that utter death-trap just by her own capabilities, it would have seemed impossible to swallow for me.

5. The action scenes were excellently executed. Lots of gore, but it felt realistic rather than overdone. It wasn't like, say, Blood-C, thankfully.

6. The OP was pretty cool, and fairly different for an anime OP. Had a bit of a rap beat to it, but still Japanese lyrics. It fitted well here.

7. Watching this reminds me of the Robocop and Terminator movies of my youth. It's impressive in how balls-to-the-wall it is in its grim atmosphere, but equally rugged characters.


Cons:

1. Now, while I like the aliens overall, I was a bit disappointed in them in a couple of different ways. I was a little bit disappointed that the aliens come across as just really big, nasty, powerful bugs. In other words, they seemed to win by nothing more than overwhelming numbers and power. I didn't see much skill or tactics in how they conducted their attacks. They're still an awesome threat, of course, but their threat comes across as decidedly impersonal. Outwitting these creatures doesn't seem to be an issue - It's more like fighting a massive natural disaster than fighting against a thinking foe.

2. Kind of wish we'd get to find out who saved Takamura. Kind of disappointed that Takamura herself doesn't seem particularly interested in finding out (since that lowers the chances of us ever finding out). Granted that it's probably a very small matter in the grander scheme of things, but it's still something I can't help but be curious about.

3. A little bit disappointing that Takamura's rival didn't survive. It does make the first episode of this anime seem a bit more inconsequential when Takamura is the only heroine in it to survive. It seems a bit of a waste to do away with a character that could have had great chemistry with Takamura in an ongoing professional rivalry.


Overall, it's a good watch so far. I'm looking forward to more.
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Old 2012-07-10, 00:58   Link #642
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Originally Posted by Tempester View Post
Besides all of the stationary turrets and PEW PEW, there was another part of episode 2 which challenged my suspension of disbelief.

So Yui is surrounded by a lot of Soldier-class and Tank-class BETA, both types of which can easily detect the presence of humans, but they take several minutes before they start attacking her. Hell, it's almost like they don't notice her until the other girl is chewed up. These are freaking anti-infantry and anti-personnel BETA, they aren't zombies.

Also, why didn't Yui or glasses girl use their armored exoskeletons after evacuating their TSFs? Those things are useful, and I was hoping to see them finally get put to use, but the writers wasted that opportunity.

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exoskeleton explanation
Sorry; dynamic content not loaded. Reload?
I'm guessing they were too pre-occupied with their meal to notice someone wandering too close. The scent of blood seemed pretty intoxicating to them. As for that Exoskeleton. They most likely wanted this to be more a horror-esque scene. The girls using an Exoskeleton to fight before dying doesn't have the same dread as them waiting to be eatten. And I don't thin they wanted to use their budget for such a minor thing since the end result would be the same.
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Old 2012-07-10, 02:49   Link #643
encia
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Originally Posted by MasterVampire View Post
I watched the second episode and damn they all got owned.

They really need some better weapons.
The humans in this anime needs to re-design their mech to be less humanoid and closer to a beast/monster type mech i.e. the entire mech frame optimised for melee combat since they don't have effective projectile weapons e.g. Dinobots/Zoids (e.g T-Rex type with workable arms with large claws a.k.a. Genosaurer). T-Rex type mech frame can be designed to hold a large navy level cannons. This anime's naval weapons are still effective against the shown BETA units.

Judging by the projectile weapon's sound, it seems they haven't reached electromagnetic rail gun tech level.
In real life, the US Navy is currently testing has it's prototype rail gun weapons.

Last edited by encia; 2012-07-10 at 03:13.
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Old 2012-07-10, 02:59   Link #644
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Originally Posted by encia View Post
The humans in this anime needs to re-design their mech to be less humanoid and closer to a beast/monster type mech i.e. the entire mech frame optimised for melee combat since they don't have effective projectile weapons e.g. Dinobots/Zoids.

Judging by the projectile weapon's sound, it seems they haven't reached electromagnetic rail gun tech level.

In real life, the US Navy is currently testing has it's prototype rail gun weapons.
Hmmm... I don't think that's a very good idea at this point of the story... If its for the sake of better melee encounters, then it's pretty much unnecessary. lol.

It's in development stage. Watch episode 1 again.

interesting.

Last edited by Silvance; 2012-07-10 at 03:10.
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Old 2012-07-10, 04:53   Link #645
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At the point you start talking about how humanoid giant robots are "unrealistic" in an Robot anime, you lost all rights to expressing anything and everything about the anime.

I thought people learned this like in the 70s.

OMFG GUNDAM HAMMER
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Old 2012-07-10, 05:13   Link #646
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Originally Posted by aohige View Post
At the point you start talking about how humanoid giant robots are "unrealistic" in an Robot anime, you lost all rights to expressing anything and everything about the anime.

I thought people learned this like in the 70s.

OMFG GUNDAM HAMMER
WORD.

By the way, I've heard here and there that there's going to be an uncensored airing of episode 2 this Thursday? Not sure how much I believe it, but has anybody heard anything about it?
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Old 2012-07-10, 06:47   Link #647
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I thought they had Jam Project to do the OP? What happened to it? That was the thing I looked forward to the most.
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Old 2012-07-10, 06:52   Link #648
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I thought they had Jam Project to do the OP? What happened to it? That was the thing I looked forward to the most.
Yyyyeah, that.....piece of auditory work (if you can even call it that) didn't really strike a good note for me either. I hope that's not really the OP theme, but my hopes are probably in vain......
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Old 2012-07-10, 06:56   Link #649
Marcus H.
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^ Budget problems. Let's put it this way. The TSFs would look bad if you guys manage to get Jam Project to sing for Total Eclipse.
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Old 2012-07-10, 06:59   Link #650
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^ Budget problems. Let's put it this way. The TSFs would look bad if you guys manage to get Jam Project to sing for Total Eclipse.
Hmmm, that's a good point. The animation quality clearly displays this show wasn't at the top of the budget food chain....
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Old 2012-07-10, 07:07   Link #651
encia
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Originally Posted by aohige View Post
At the point you start talking about how humanoid giant robots are "unrealistic" in an Robot anime, you lost all rights to expressing anything and everything about the anime.

I thought people learned this like in the 70s.

OMFG GUNDAM HAMMER
Humanoid mech can be usefull for the following reasons
1. ability to change weapon type like infantry i.e. logistics reasons.
2. ability to reload ammo like infantry i.e. logistics reasons.
3. ability to have shuffle movements vs Tank.
4. similar to all-terrain ability like infantry vs Tank.
5. can work in space i.e. tank like armoured space astronaut.

Humanoid mech (mobile armored suits) is like a scaled up US's "supersoldier" program with tank like armor and F35's VTOL features (e.g. Macross's VF, Savior Gundam, Gundam AGE-2). Humanoid mech is also a natural extension to the exoskeleton enhancements for the supersoldier. Flight capable mechs also covers US's A-10 Thunderbolt's close air support (CAS) roles i.e. the real world "flying tank".

Macross's VF has very aggressive VTOL/vector thrust features compared to F35's VTOL/F-22's vector thrust i.e. main engines can change directions.

Last edited by encia; 2012-07-10 at 07:52.
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Old 2012-07-10, 08:02   Link #652
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The above all makes sense if the damned thing would last more than 8 minutes :P

F-22' cost 150m each. a Su-30 costs 30odd millions. The F-22 is SUPPOSED to come out ahead despite the cost disparity. That's the whole point of using advanced technology.

Now...we have girls who train for years due to supposed male shortage. Average lifespan on first actual battle is 8 min. Unless it costs next to nothing to make TSFs, you'd think the girls would be better utilised to raise the Japanese birthrate above 1.1 and replenish the depleted population than to be thrown away for a glorious 8 minutes! (wait did I just say something controversial? no offence intended, just an example, there are better ones I know) but that's the situation.

It's not about whether robots are real, but just simple math given the evidence, that the return to investment in TSFs is a complete, and utter waste :P
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Old 2012-07-10, 08:12   Link #653
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WORD.

By the way, I've heard here and there that there's going to be an uncensored airing of episode 2 this Thursday? Not sure how much I believe it, but has anybody heard anything about it?
If you mean AT-X, indeed since it is a pay channel, it usually airs uncensored versions of anime getting butchered in other channels and overseas, but I do not recall any example about censored gore now I just saw that they didn't uncensor Kirika getting gutted by a chainsaw in C3 last year.
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Old 2012-07-10, 08:20   Link #654
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Hmmm, that's a good point. The animation quality clearly displays this show wasn't at the top of the budget food chain....
Isn't this ironic, considering that TE may well stand a good chance of being near the top of the BD sales this season? Or did they thought they'd get slaughtered by Horizon, Rinne No Laagan, Hyouka and SAO?
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Old 2012-07-10, 08:33   Link #655
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I have a feeling that the TSF those girls piloted might be the reserve grade ones that are left overs and shouldn't be used in combat unless absolutely necessary considering their limitation.
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Old 2012-07-10, 08:38   Link #656
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That's what I have been gathering, and what veteran players have confirmed. Those girls were like flying late 1940s jet fighters...
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Old 2012-07-10, 09:12   Link #657
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The above all makes sense if the damned thing would last more than 8 minutes :P

F-22' cost 150m each. a Su-30 costs 30odd millions. The F-22 is SUPPOSED to come out ahead despite the cost disparity. That's the whole point of using advanced technology.

Now...we have girls who train for years due to supposed male shortage. Average lifespan on first actual battle is 8 min. Unless it costs next to nothing to make TSFs, you'd think the girls would be better utilised to raise the Japanese birthrate above 1.1 and replenish the depleted population than to be thrown away for a glorious 8 minutes! (wait did I just say something controversial? no offence intended, just an example, there are better ones I know) but that's the situation.

It's not about whether robots are real, but just simple math given the evidence, that the return to investment in TSFs is a complete, and utter waste :P

The "8 minutes average survival time" only really applied to the very first batch of surface fighter pilots from 1974 (being repurposed and hastily retrained fighter pilots instead of being properly trained to fly TSFs from the start) in the original F-4A Phantom, being the earliest and poorest performing TSF. After which they took a very serious look at their mecha training program and decided it need a complete rework.

Currently the actual average survival time in first engagement is considerably higher (for reference, a single 2001 Block 214 F-4J Phantom/Gekishin is worth two flights (or was it squadrons?) of 1978 Soviet F-4 Phantoms in terms of overall battlefield performance), but they still use 8 minutes as the traditional rite of passage for new pilots, because TRADITION I guess.

So yes, they are getting a considerably better return on their investment into building TSFs and training pilots than "8 minute survival time" would suggest.

Of course, the anime didn't really get this across too well. Not to mention that the Type-82s those girls (who hadn't even finished their training yet) were flying essentially amounted to souped-up F-4s, 1st generation TSFs, compared to the 2nd generation F-14s the Jolly Rogers were flying and the 3rd generation Type-94-1C and prototype Type-00 that showed up this episode. The design focus changed radically between the first and the second generations, the first generation being sturdily armored like tanks while the second generation onwards eschewed heavy armor in favor of better maneuverability and speed, the rationale being that better agility and maneuverability contributes better to survivability than armor does, and better suits the TSF's MO of moving around quickly to use other BETA as cover against Lasers, as well as evade lasers better. So the stuff they were shown to be piloting this episode was less suited to fighting BETA than the more modern models.

Last edited by DoomRavager; 2012-07-10 at 09:27.
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Old 2012-07-10, 09:19   Link #658
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I take "Eight Minutes of Death" as something like Hazing for the newbies. Also a way to set their expectations low and make them not reckless.
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Old 2012-07-10, 09:47   Link #659
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That's also something I'm looking forward to in this series: to see the improvement in the mech and build up their hope to have it crushed some time in the future. Since it's a prequel I don't expect grand happy ending
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Old 2012-07-10, 09:53   Link #660
Marcus H.
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Well, if there's supposed to be a better TSF unit than the ones used by the girls during the massacre, then what is the point of showing them?
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