Castlevania -Lords of Shadow-

Castlevania Lords of Shadow (XBOX 360 version)

The story of Castlevania has been reborn, and now, produced by Kojima Productions, the team behind the blockbuster Metal Gear series, and developed by Mercury Stream! Since this is the first Castlevania game produced by the people behind the famed and most-talked Metal Gear game, Castlevania Lords of Shadow (日本名: キャッスルヴァニア ロード オブ シャドウ) is bound to be the best Castlevania game ever made since its predecessors.

The story is set when the world was plunged by evil forces. As Gabriel Belmont, a member of the Brotherhood of Light, he must journey through the corners of darkness to save the soul of his love of his life, Marie, who was killed by the darkness. What challenges will Gabriel face? Will he risk everything to save the love of his life...and the world?

Made for the Playstation3 and XBOX 360, Castlevania Lords of Shadow finally adopted the "Castlevania" name to its global status and it delivers the best Castlevania experience in High Definition for both fans and newcomers alike. As one of Konami's flagship titles, this Castlevania title will be beyond compare from other Castlevania (Akumajo Dracula) games.

As a hack-and-slash game, Castlevania Lords of Shadow pits players through various battle styles and how the gameplay affects is up to you. You can attack, dodge, jump, guard, counter-attack, or even perform special attacks as you progress through the game. Subweapons aren't deal much of a threat to enemies and bosses but they can be very handy if you want to make these bad guys suffer. As you level up, you can gain various attack styles that can be proven useful against tougher enemies later.

Navigating through various areas aren't easy in Castlevania Lords of Shadow as the gaps, holes, traps, and puzzles hinder your progress, but if you get a hang of it, you can tackle various obstacles in order to progress various areas.

The toughest bosses to defeat in Castlevania Lords of Shadow are the Titans. To defeat the Titan, use whatever means necessary (i.e. grappling, jump, attack) to take down these giant bosses.

MY COMMENT:
Saving the world from the darkness wasn't a easy task if you are Gabriel, but with courage, you might be able to take out the darkness led by the Lords of Shadow and restore mankind.

The game's storyline packs an originality, but the heart and soul of the Castlevania game still remains for fans and newcomers alike. Since this is the first Castlevania produced by the men behind Metal Gear, this is going to be the next big thing!

LIMITED EDITION:
A limited-edition package not only includes the game itself, but also the booklet and the soundtrack based on the game. A Playstation3 Value Pack is added for Japanese customers. This value pack not only includes the 160GB PS3 and the copy of Castlevania Lords of Shadow, but also includes Metal Gear Solid 4: Guns of the Patriots. Now, that's convenient!

CAST (ENGLISH)

Robert Caryle (Don from 28 Weeks Later) as Gabriel

Patrick Stewart (Professor X from X-Men, Bullock from American Dad) as Zobek

Natascha McElhone (Lauren/Sylvia from The Truman Show) as Marie

Richard Riding as Cornell

Sally Knyvette as Carmilla

Grace Vance as Laura

Emma Ferguson as Claudia

Adrian Schiller as The Abbot Dorin

Aleksander Mikic as Pan

Eve Karpf as Baba Yaga

Special Guest: Jason Isaacs (Draco from Harry Potter series)

CAST (JAPANESE):

Keiji Fujiwara (Sigint from Metal Gear Solid 3: Snake Eater, Drebin from Metal Gear Solid 4: Guns of the Patriots) as Gabriel

Kikuko Inoue (The Boss from Metal Gear Solid 3: Snake Eater, Rosemary from Metal Gear Solid 2: Sons of Liberty and Metal Gear Solid 4: Guns of the Patriots) as Marie

Mugihito (Hot Coldman from Metal Gear Solid Peace Walker) as Zobek

Banjo Ginga (Zero from Metal Gear Solid 3: Snake Eater, Liquid from Metal Gear series) as Cornell

Houko Kuwashima (Mei Ling from Metal Gear series) as Carmilla

Yumi Kikuchi (Raging Raven from Metal Gear Solid 4: Guns of the Patriots, Dr. Strangelove from Metal Gear Solid Peace Walker) as Laura

Yu Kobayashi (Setsuna Sakurazaki from Mahou Sensei Negima, Mariya Shidou from Mariaholic, Cecile from Metal Gear Solid Peace Walker) as Claudia and Baba Yaga

Naoki Tatsuta (Sokolov from Metal Gear Solid 3 Snake Eater) as The Abbot Dorin

Akio Otsuka (Snake from Metal Gear series) as Pan

Special Guest: Tomokazu Sugita (Kyon from Haruhi Suzumiya series, Kazuhira "Kaz" Miller from Metal Gear Solid Peace Walker)

Melai's tips for the boys...

Melai Cantiveros, everyone's favorite problem solver, is here for some tips to win the heart of your gal. In M3, Melai Mo Magwork, courtesy of Banana Split, Melai offers you boys some top five tips to gain a mouth to mouth kiss on your gal, especially when you guys are on Enchanted Kingdom!

5) Bring her to the haunted house and kiss the girl while its dark. When she's scared and mad, tell her its the ghosts who kissed your girl!

4) The old-school style, pretend your're fainting (dehydrating) and when you fake your fainting, let her do the mouth to mouth resuscitation to you!

3) Drink at her straw. It's like you're pretending your kissing with your gal

2) Friendly kiss

1) At the theater, pretend you're whistling with your gal, then try to unknowingly kiss her!

Boys, try to say thank you to Melai because without her tips, you wouldn't get the first kiss with your gal.

Speaking of which, what just happened at Noli (Jayson Gainza), Kuring (Nina Jose) and Julius (Badji Mortiz) from The Amazing Microwave Pandesal Rangers? After Ted (Jason Francisco) was humiliated by some villain dressed in black, the three of them gone jail time. As they went back to their normal state, they were going to be attacked by the convicts when suddenly, they ate the fillings (Noli ate the peanut butter, Kuring ate the cheese, and Julius ate the margarine) and transformed into Pandesal Rangers, scaring the convicts. But who put these fillings? The villain in black? Why did that villain helped our heroes? Tune in tomorrow!

To save a Philippine eagle...

As we all know, the Philippine Eagle is the national bird of the Philippines (everyone learned about this right?) and now one of the endangered species (not to mention now it's an acquirable item from Facebook's Mafia Wars via the Private Zoo property where the player must upgrade this property to Level 3 and have 12 or more animal feeds in order to obtain the Philippine Eagle), it seems that Chevron Philippines (Caltex) collaborates with the Philippine Eagle Foundation, as one of the four charity choices.

Full scoop:

http://www.caltex.com/ph/en/ph_supachristmas.asp

Willing to save this national treasure from extinction? Gas up to Caltex and support!

Special Daihatsu Move customization brings the Hidden Mickey inside!

Disney interior package for the 2011 Daihatsu Move/Move Custom

With the launch of the new, fifth-generation, Daihatsu Move, it seems there will be lots of customization items offered for the new model.

Aside from that, there is a very special customization for the new Move that has a special guest star! That's right! The mouse is in the Move because there's a special Disney interior package!

This special customization covers the seats and flooring with everything Mickey! Yes! There's a hidden Mickey inside the new Move! It comes in two colors; white and pink! Most of the Disney seat covers and the Disney floormat comes with the Air Wash, so cleaning them up is a breeze.

Looks like most women would love to have a Hidden Mickey inside the new Move!

More Info (Japanese only):

http://www.daihatsu.co.jp/accessory/move/disney/interior.htm

Fifth Generation Daihatsu Move and Move Custom (LA100S/LA110S)

Since its debut in 1995, the Daihatsu Move is Japan's most respectful small compact cars that can compete with Suzuki's fastest selling Wagon R. The Daihatsu Move underwent four full model changes from 1998, 2002, and 2006, with the addition of the Custom variant that appeals to the young drivers looking for an edge of style. Now, just in time before Christmas 2010, the fastest selling Daihatsu, the Move, is now evolved to its much anticipated fifth-generation model.

2011 Daihatsu Move

2011 Daihatsu Move Custom

Even when the Move is now on its fifth model change, it still offers two styles that depends on the Japanese customers' personal tastes. If they want it more simpler, the normal Daihatsu Move is offered, but for those who think that style is an option, the Move Custom fits their personal preferences.

Aside from its new model change, the new Daihatsu Move made even more economical and eco-friendly thanks to Daihatsu's first idling stop system, dubbed as Eco Idle, that allows the engine to be automatically shut off when the car stopped, for instance; stopped at the red light or at the stop sign. The Eco Idle is somewhat similar to Mazda's i-stop (found in the Mazda Axela, Biante, and the new Premacy) and Toyota's Smart Stop (iQ Go 6MT and the upcoming third-generation Vitz/Yaris). With the Eco Idle equipped on the newly upgraded 658cc KF engine, the new Daihatsu Move has the maximum fuel economy of a majestic 27.0km/L (in 2WD variants). I got to say it, the new Daihatsu Move's fuel economy is greater than the new Nissan March K13 and the upcoming third-generation Toyota Vitz/Yaris combined. For those looking for power, there is a turbocharged KF engine available exclusively on the new Daihatsu Move Custom RS that has the power output of 64PS and the fuel economy of 22km/L (Custom RS 2WD). Both the new Move and Move Custom are equipped with the Continuous Variable Transmission for optimized fuel efficiency.

2011 Daihatsu Move interior

2011 Daihatsu Move Custom interior

On the standard Daihatsu Move, the exterior seems to be aggressive but simple. On its interior, there's a simple touch and contrast between the beige colored seats, simple scooter-like tachometer, and a relaxing atmosphere. Most women would love to take advantage on this variant. On the Daihatsu Move Custom, this kind of Move is the most aggressive kei car ever expected aside from the front headlamps resembles like the previous model and the bumper similar to the Tanto Exe Custom. Step inside and this one's too manly for its own right. Looks like the enthusiasts' choice not always the Move Custom, but the Move Custom RS because of the RS exclusive Momo steering wheel armed and ready to take flight.

My thoughts about the Move:
The Move might have been defeated by the Suzuki Wagon R in terms of sales, but now its back with a vengeance and its ready for its payback to claim its "kei number one" status from the Suzuki Wagon R (in regular and Stingray). Now that the Suzuki Wagon R is equipped with the idling stop, the new Daihatsu Move comes ready with the Eco Idle system, which means the new Move's fuel efficiency could really crush the Suzuki Wagon R for good. Can the new Move claim back its number one status once and for all?

Adopting the new concept "TNP27" (TNP means Teinenpi, which is Japanese for fuel economy) referring to the fuel economy of a majestic 27.0km/L, the new Move is now reborn, retouched, and renewed to become one with nature thanks to its eco-car status and the qualification of Japan's "eco-car genzei" system, which receives a tax deduction of 75% off.

Photo: Daihatsu Motor Co., Ltd.

VW USA - Fender Collaboration (There's a Mio or Azu-nyan in your 2012MY V-Dub!)

Hmm, it seems that Volkswagen USA teams up with the legendary brand behind the famous Jazz Bass and Mustang, Fender, for their premium sound system for MY2012 models, including the next generation Beetle, New Midsize Sedan, and the latest Jetta.

Scoop:

http://www.insideline.com/volkswagen/jetta/2012/vw-and-fender-hook-up-on-premium-audio-system-for-2012-models.html

In other words, um, how can I put this, when you remember the Fender brand, you will always remember two famous products from this brand; the Fender Jazz Bass and the Fender Mustang. Not only these two are a guitarists' favorites, they're also an otakus' favorite because both of these Fenders were appeared in K-On (Jazz Bass for Mio, and Mustang for Azusa Nakano). To put it simply because VW USA teams up with Fender for their exclusive sound system the result would be this:

There will be

Inside your

The Fender name will come to North American Volkswagen cars, meaning there's a Mio or Azu-nyan in your 2012MY V-Dub! Ah, the heart of the Jazz Bass and the Mustang coming to VW as an audio system. If that happened, could we listen to some K-On songs while driving a Volkswagen or better yet make an itasha out of these?

New Regal vs. New Mark X

Buick's Regal

Toyota's Mark X

They have no chance for them to encounter, but both of these were executive medium sedans built for the executive class. Both of these executive medium sedans were my favorites but I wonder which one is my pick?

CASE ONE:

The Regal name on the Buick lineup returned after years of absence and its now an OEM of the Opel Insignia. Although based on the Opel Insignia, the Buick Regal has a striking design that makes other executive medium sedans such as the Honda Accord Euro (Acura TSX), Volkswagen Passat CC, and the Volvo S60 to shame. Although the front face seems to have more pogi points than others, the lineup of the Buick Regal consists of two available engines; one is the 2.4L Ecotec engine and the second is the high-performance 2.0L Turbo engine. Most are fitted with the 6-speed automatic but the turbo variant comes with the 6-speed manual. I guess my favorite Regal is the Regal CXL Turbo because not only it has a turbo engine on it, it also has a manual transmission on it. Turbo and MT combined to make this a fun to drive Regal for the American Autobahn.

CASE TWO:

The Mark X is the replacement of the legendary Toyota Mark II since its debut in November 2004. In October 2009, the Mark X gained its massive model change from inside and out. The design of the new Mark X is razor sharp. That's why this was called "Samurai X" thanks to the commercial with Koichi Sato and the Samurai Code mini drama aired in TV Tokyo from January to March 2010. The Toyota Mark X comes with two engines; a 4GR-FSE (2.5 V6) engine and a 2GR-FSE (3.5 V6) engine. It comes with three styles to choose from; the Standard Type, the Premium Type (loaded with safety features), and the Sports Type (armed with paddle shifters).

For styling, the Toyota Mark X is my pick, but for the performance side, I would go for the Buick Regal because of the turbo+MT variant. Both of these executive medium sedans aren't made for passion, they are made for performance.