Since Ayako’s translator decided to screw everyone over and stop translating Valkyria chronicles they haven’t released an episode in 3 weeks. I was holding out for a release, but it seems unlikely now, so I went ahead and watched the releases by a group called “gleam” I hadn’t heard of them before, but they seem to be doing quite a number of shows with a reasonable fan base too. All in all they have a smaller file size then Ayako (at the expense of slight video quality, not noticeable unless you are watching on a big full HD monitor), but I don’t like the typesetting as much, but I can’t complain as they are releasing at least.

Well anyway  on with the review. In episode 9 we get to have a look at the Imperial side of the war for a change. Some aides from central office are assigned to Selvaria and the other two generals in order to keep an eye on them, and Maximilian is ordered back to central office for some reason that’s not really explained, but it has something to do with the slow progress he is making with the invasion of Gallia. Selvaria wants to go with him but is ordered not to, and her aide also gets in her way and prevents her from going after him. An ill conceived assassination attempt later and the aide admits that he has been sent to stop Selvaria helping Maximilian, and that his life is in danger. So back at central office cue the generic assassins who come to try and kill Maximillian, the defences hold out for a while but eventually the assassins get to him. Then Selvaria, the aide, and Jaeger show up after taking a shortcut that somehow cut half a day off their travel time, Selvaria activates her GOD MODE hax and pwns all the assassins and gets to Maximilian, who it turns out didn’t need any help at all because he had his own hax turned on. All in all a pretty good episode as it gives a different perspective on the whole thing, and give some insight into the turmoil within the empire.

On to the next episode. Its at this phase in the series when the plot of the anime starts diverting from the plot of the game a little. Remember that god sized tank that destroyed those ruins a few episodes ago? Well guess what, in episode 9 squad 7 don’t fight it like they’re meant too. Instead we get some crap about  Welkin and Alicia getting cut off from the rest of the squad by a random snowstorm (it should be long range mortars damn it!) and taking refuge in a shack, they talk, character development happens and some random Imperial infantryman dies. This is actually rather well done, as they manage to make a whole episode out of a 3 minute skit sequence in game.

Thus we get onto the final episode in this review hat trick. Yet another Welkin and Alicia centred episode I’m afraid. This time Welkin and Faldio are getting a medal from the princess of Gallia for the capturing of the Vasel bridge waaay back in like episode 4, despite the fact that Faldio wasn’t actually even in there… weird how these things work. But anyway Selvaria and Jaeger turn up in “cunning disguises” . So cunning in fact that Alicia recognizes them straight away, but when she tells other people they’re just like, meh what they gonna do? We get a little scene with with Alicia and Faldio, who gives her a blue rock that is obviously key to the plot in some way. Then a few minutes later and bang kidnap happens and Alicia and the princess are taken away. Why Alicia you ask? Well she was just in the wrong place at the wrong time, and instead of doing the logical thing and killing her the kidnappers decide to take her along too. This will no doubt prove to be a fatal mistake as she DROPPED THE BLUE ROCK! So Faldio will know something has happened and use his pimp powers to rescue them both, but that’s all in next episode, so we’ll wait and see until then.

Hmm this season reminds me somewhat of Pumpkin Scissors (oh god that was bad…). Both promised tank action but then after like 3 tank-centric episodes failed to deliver any tanks whatsoever . Hope that this series doesn’t end up that way. Also I cant actually decide what this series is for, its either a supplement to the game, OR an alternate retelling of the story. But if it was a supplement then it would stick to the plot of the game slightly more (mortars replaced with snowstorm wtf). And if it were a retelling of the story there should be more battles. Seeing as it doesn’t fit into either of these categories, I’m having a hard time figuring out what the purpose of this series actually is.

Gleam Valkyria Chronicles Episode 9:
http://www.nyaatorrents.org/?page=download&tid=69536

Gleam Valkyria Chronicles Episode 10:
http://www.nyaatorrents.org/?page=download&tid=69705

Gleam Valkyria Chronicles Episode 11:
http://www.nyaatorrents.org/?page=download&tid=70471

So it turns out that the army suck, and squad 7 are deployed to do what the army couldn’t. Take an imperial supply base. This time they get some backup from Faldio and squad 1. Whilst formulating a battle plan there is a rustling in some nearby bushes, could it be a spy? No. no its not. Turns out that it’s a winged pig (WTF, yep even this war based anime needs a kawaii mascot…) which Alicia decides to keep it because she likes bacon. This gives Welkin an idea for the up coming battle, and also the opportunity to tease Alicia with some goat droppings. So the moment of the assault comes and Welkin’s battle plan is put into action. Will it succeed? Watch Valkyria Chronicles and find out!

Download Links:

[Ayako] Valkyria Chronicles Episode 5

Valkyria Chronicles Episode 4
Awww Squad 7 doesn’t fight anyone today. After being being commended for the capture of the bridge in Vasel town, Welkin is told by his superior that his squad is not needed in the next battle as they are only Militia, not the Army. There are some rather amusing scenes with Faldio the resident pimp of the malitia, and as always Alicia is so cute.
The opening theme song has started to grow on me, and I like it a little more then I did previously. Once again, animation quality and music score are beautiful.

Download Links (english subbed torrents)

[Ayako] Valkyria Chronicles Episode 4

[twrev-Doremi] Valkyria Chronicles 04 SDTV avi
[twrev-Doremi] Valkyria Chronicles 04 HDTV

Full Metal Alchemist: Brotherhood 04

In this episode the Nina+Tucker part is covered. We also see Scar in action. As in the old series this happenings have a huge impact in Edward. We also see some difference from the previous series, specially at the end… one hint: It has to do with Tucker+Scar.
I will not abound much in the episode happening. Since I’m pretty late publishing this one. I’m sorry for this. Been a bit busy.

Besides this I have really bad news for We FMA fans, be sure to read the next blog entry which should be up in a couple of minutes.

Download Links (english subbed torrents):
[Eclipse] Fullmetal Alchemist Brotherhood – 04 (1280×720)
[Eclipse] Fullmetal Alchemist Brotherhood – 04 (XviD) avi

[The Alchemists] Fullmetal Alchemist 2 – Brotherhood – 04 [1280x720]
[The Alchemists] Fullmetal Alchemist 2 – Brotherhood – 04 [848x480]

[Taka] Fullmetal Alchemist (2009) 04 [1080p]
[Taka] Fullmetal Alchemist (2009) 04 [480p]

[IZ] Fullmetal Alchemist Brotherhood – 04 (x264 1280×720)

[TMD-ANS] Fullmetal Alchemist Brotherhood – 04 [H264-720p]
[TMD-ANS] Fullmetal Alchemist Brotherhood – 04 [H264-704x400]

As we can see many fansubs picked up FMA.

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After each joining the Militia of their own volition Welkin and Alicia are once again thrown together as the top two officers in squad 7. Upon meeting their new squadies it becomes apparent that some of the older members aren’t happy with Welkin becoming the squads new commander, and Rosie in particular shows a strong dislike to Isara, due to her Darcsen blood. Awww poor Isara… Its ok you have a tank, Rosie doesn’t.
No sooner then introductions are made squad 7 are thrown into their first mission, to recapture a key bridge in Vasel town. What a convenient opportunity for Welkin to win over some of his more dubious subordinates with his tactics and some tank hax.

Not much can be said about the animation and soundtrack quality that I haven’t  already said. Its nice to see that the casual racism, and discrimination against the Darcsen people displayed in the game is still present in the anime, that it hasn’t been toned down for a younger audience.

Just a quick note about the ayako release, it seems that VLC has some issues with the chaptering they use, so I recommended you use Media Player Classic that comes with CCCP.

Also a reminder that the OP and ED have to be in the same folder as each weeks episode otherwise they will not play.

Valkyria Chronicles Episode 3 Torrents:

[Ayako]

Only Ayako release out right now.
To thank V4sh or talk with him about Valkyria chronicles or other stuff you can pm him HERE.

Please feel free to join the Valkyria Chronicles Discussion in our Forum HERE.

Ok? My browser just called me a 100 miles moron….

w/e that means.

Full Metal Alchemist: Brotherhood 03

We see the Elric brothers get into Lior, nothing new here for folks who saw the previous series. So I’ll try to point out just some differences and my opinion overall.

Some things changed, one or two scenes were left out. Nothing too relevant really. The most significant thing was the priest transformation at the end, that wasnt in the manga at all. And when Rose shoots Al, the original was the other Priest dude. We do actually see a lot in common with the manga(original story). Especially the expression during the “comedy” times.

Something I want to seriously Point out is the difference between previous series Rose and this series Rose. The old series had a bunch of feeling filling fillers (what a phrase!) to make you feel “aww” for Rose. You know sympathy, sad, etc etc. When the truth was Rose was some just Lunatic Crazy Hopeless Maniac. Like in the Manga, The new anime version shows you exactly how blinded from reality Rose was. At least thats the picture I get, specially at her final scene at the end of the episode.

Torrent Downloads:

[Shinsen-Subs] Fullmetal Alchemist 2 – Brotherhood – 03 [1280x720]

[Shinsen-Subs] Fullmetal Alchemist 2 – Brotherhood – 03 [848x480]

[Eclipse] Fullmetal Alchemist Brotherhood – 03 (1280×720 h264)

[Eclipse] Fullmetal Alchemist Brotherhood – 03 (XviD) AVI

[HorribleRaws] Fullmetal Alchemist – Brotherhood – 03 (640×360)

[Taka] Fullmetal Alchemist (2009) 03 [720p]

[gSS] Fullmetal Alchemist (2009) – 03

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