Tag Archives: Estival Versus

Waifu Wednesday

Waifu Wednesday: Miyabi

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It occurs to me that in previous installments of this column, I have given some time and attention to three of the four main “faction” leaders in Senran Kagura — Homura, Asuka and Yumi — so it probably behooves me to devote today to Miyabi.

Don’t get me wrong, I don’t begrudge her a moment in the spotlight, of course, but of all the Senran Kagura girls, she’s one that doesn’t seem to get a ton of fan attention. Which is a shame, because she’s a fascinating character with some cool backstory. Actual backstory, not… you know what I mean.

So let’s rectify that and give Miyabi some love, shall we?

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Waifu Wednesday

Waifu Wednesday: Asuka

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It would be remiss of me to run a Senran Kagura feature and not give good old Asuka a bit of time in the Waifu Wednesday spotlight, wouldn’t it?

Like Ikaruga, Homura, Mirai and Hikage before her, Asuka has been part of the series since its inception, and was initially regarded as its main protagonist. Over time, the series has expanded to allow many of the other characters some time in the spotlight, but many of those who have been following since the very beginning will always have a soft spot for Asuka.

Perpetually upbeat, dedicated to her own personal Path of the Shinobi and, if a masked (and increasingly unhinged) Kiriya in Bon Appetit is to be believed, completely lacking in personality, Asuka was, is and always will be a wonderful face for the series.

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Waifu Wednesday

Waifu Wednesday: Homura

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Homura, leader of the Crimson Squad and former elite shinobi of Hebijo Clandestine Girls’ Academy, has stood out throughout the whole Senran Kagura series, and she’s also a character that has undergone some of the most interesting and significant development over the course of the various games’ narrative arcs.

Whether it’s her early appearances as a strong and seemingly deadly rival to Asuka or her later incarnations as a comedic “genius” trying her best to keep her ragtag “family” of the Crimson Squad together and safe, Homura is a widely beloved character with good reason.

Let’s take a closer look at what makes her… her.

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Waifu Wednesday

Waifu Wednesday: Yumi

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It would probably be remiss of me to ignore one of the most consistently popular characters in the Senran Kagura series while we’re smack dab in the middle of a detailed exploration of it, huh?

Yes, it is absolutely time to acknowledge Yumi’s popularity among fans of the series worldwide — and also to address a few common matters that tend to come up in discussion any time she’s mentioned.

It is also time to remember that cuteneth ith juthtithe. Puri.

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Waifu Wednesday

Waifu Wednesday: Mirai

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I’ve had at least one specific request to show Mirai some love while we’re in Senran Kagura season — and I know at least one other person who will appreciate her inclusion, too — so here you are: Mirai gets her turn in the spotlight this week.

As it happens, I was going to bring up Mirai anyway, as she is one of the more interesting members of the original Senran Kagura cast to me, and a character who has been popular among fans since the beginning.

Plus, y’know, I don’t want to get shot. Have you seen how much heat she’s packing underneath that big poofy dress?

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Announcements

Special Announcement: The MoeGamer Compendium, Volume 1

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Good morning, everyone! Today I wanted to share a very special announcement with you.

I made a book! Yes, for those who would like to remove the “always-online” DRM requirement from MoeGamer’s Cover Game features, I now present to you the ideal solution for all your reading needs: The MoeGamer Compendium, Volume 1, collecting together all of the Cover Game features originally published on the site in 2016.

Hit the jump for some more details, photos and links.

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Features, MoeGamer Awards 2017

The MoeGamer Awards: Best Community

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The MoeGamer Awards are a series of made-up prizes that give me an excuse to celebrate games, concepts and communities I’ve particularly appreciated over the course of 2017. Find out more and suggest some categories here!

The first thing I’d like to celebrate is something that I feel is rather important: community. Over the last few years in particular, the concept of “gaming culture” in general has become rather fractured, leading to a variety of groups with different priorities in terms of what they’re looking for from their interactive entertainment.

Some of these communities, it’s fair to say, are pretty toxic, unwelcoming to outsiders and incredibly intolerant of differing viewpoints; I’m sure many of you know which community in particular I’m referring to here. And others… well, they set a magnificent example that others would do well to follow.

And the winner is…

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GameCast

The MoeGamer GameCast: Episode 3

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In this episode, Midori, Yumi, Penelope and I talk about why so many modern JRPGs are flat-out ignored, Miss Kobayashi’s Dragon Maid and more.

Midori also has a quiz for you if you want to try and prove you know more than your average Western games journalist about the JRPG genre in general.

screenshot-2017-02-15-14-13-16-2776751

The original music, as before, is by watson of MusMus, and the font is the work of Style64. Pieces of music from the various games and shows used in this episode remain the copyright of their respective owners.

Download for Windows (126MB)
Download for Mac (130MB)
Download for browser (98MB)

“Yamato” pointed out in the comments that the game window had the incorrect episode number. This should now be fixed. Please let me know if you encounter any other bugs, this episode was a lot more complex under the hood than the previous ones!

If you’re having trouble running the browser version, take a look at the TyranoBuilder FAQ, which explains how to run browser games locally — though be aware there can be some security risks involved, so only follow its recommendations when you want to run a browser-based episode of the GameCast.

When I have a bit more money floating around, I’ll sort out some proper hosting for browser versions so you don’t have to go through this process. If you’d like to help out with that, please consider making a pledge to my Patreon!

If you’re new to the GameCast, start from the beginning.

Cover Games, Senran Kagura Estival Versus

Senran Kagura Estival Versus: Sights and Sounds

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cropped-ev-header-5195689This article is one chapter of a multi-part Cover Game feature!
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The Senran Kagura series has a particularly striking aesthetic that makes it instantly recognisable — and this is the work of not only its visuals, but its soundtrack, too.

Combining the distinctive character designs of artist Nan Yaegashi with a delightfully rockin’ (and varied) soundtrack, Senran Kagura clearly has a keen awareness of the fact that successful series consider their identities carefully. While it clearly isn’t on the same scale in terms of budget as today’s most lavish triple-A titles, what it does do within the constraints of its medium, console hardware, game engine and presentation style is a significant factor in what makes it one of the most fondly regarded Japanese franchises out there.

Senran Kagura Estival Versus is the most impressive installment to date — and while it shines on the lovely screen of the Vita, it’s an absolute delight to behold on a big TV thanks to the PS4 version.

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Cover Games, Senran Kagura Estival Versus

Senran Kagura Estival Versus: Narrative, Themes and Characterisation

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cropped-ev-header-5195689This article is one chapter of a multi-part Cover Game feature!
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One of the biggest strengths of the Senran Kagura series as a whole is its comprehensive lore, consisting of numerous intertwining character backstories and its own take on Japanese mythology.

Interestingly, the complete series doesn’t take a linear approach to exploring its narrative, instead breaking itself into three main branches: the “main” plot, the Versus plot, and the spin-off stories. Each of the individual installments stand by themselves as a complete story in their own right, but taken in context with all the other companion pieces, it’s clear that Senran Kagura is a franchise that has been thoroughly planned from start to finish — and it’s very likely we haven’t seen the last of it with Estival Versus, not by a long shot.

So where does Estival Versus itself fit in to the grand scheme of the complete series? Read on and let’s find out.

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