But Valkyrie Profile is one of the games that you really need a Strategy Guide to get the most out of it.

When you first start playing the game, it's all a little confusing... the main goal is to strenghten all of your character's into hero's before Ragnarok (the end of the world) but the clock ticks down, and every area/town/dungeon you enter takes up a certain amount of periods (their measure of time)

First starting out you might be a little unsure of what you are doing, since the game gives you an enormous amount of freedom, plus huge and intricate dungeons.

If you want to get the most enjoyment and understanding out of the game you might as well go ahead and buy the guide.

I'm among the many who feel like strategy guides can ruin the gaming experience, but with Valkyrie it's really just going to enhance the experience. The game is so beautiful, beautiful 2D graphics and a side-scrolling format, complex but with tons of freedom, wonderful music, and an interesting storyline with ties into Norse mythology.

The music is excellent, the game is excellent, and it's also pretty complex. Do yourself a favor!

Although some of the fans who watched the first DVD Volume may have felt a little overwhelmed or confused to the point of not giving the series as much credit as it deserves, the second volume will definitly charm you!

These episodes move at a much faster speed, and the viewer feels much more at home with the characters and the storyline. Utena has a feel about it that takes getting used to before you can freely enjoy the series.

In this second volume I promise you will be laughing, crying, and just plain enjoying. They open off with one of the funniest (and weirdest ^_-) episodes, and keep heading off the deep end.

As we get more and more involved in the plot it seems everything might be spinning out of control! Connections between characters everywhere, and hidden lives that are finally coming to light.

Just when you think it can't get any more complicated everything fits together beautifully in the final episodes of the Student Council Saga.

Fans are already on the edge of their seats awaiting the Black Rose saga, and following the Ohtori Academy saga. Plus the release of the Utena movie (which pushes the boundries even more as you enter Utena's dreamworld)

Stay tuned Utena fangirls and fanboys too!

If this doesn't take your breath away then nothing can!

Utena is the most amazing shoujo (girl's) anime I have ever seen, if not THE most amazing anime I have ever seen. It's tough to rival this incredibly creative series.

Often criticized for being to 'weird' I praise Utena for it's bold moves in the world of shoujo! An interesting and *completly* unique plotline... this is like nothing you have ever seen before.

Pushing the limits on sexual barriers, and always keeping you guessing and surprised, the craziness of Utena can capture any heart.

Mature viewer's will enjoy the depth that the creators went into on every episode, including new battle themes with amazing lyrics that pertain to each character. New songs every episode, and all of the music is enough to make your heart sing. An excellent opening and closing theme, and new battle themes each episode you can NEVER get bored listening to Utena.

The main plotline is a young girl named Utena who goes to the Ohtori Academy. She was visited by a Prince when she was a very young girl and he gave her a rose signet ring. Ever since then she has dreamed of becoming a prince herself, and she dreams of being able to save young princess' from danger. When she gets into a duel with Saiyonji over the welfare of a friend she discovers a whole new world where she can finally become the prince she alwasy dreamed of.

A battle arena with an upside down castle, and a rose bride who can summon the power of Dios into a sword. Whoever wins the duel becomes engaged to the Rose Bride, who turns out to be a fellow student named Anthy. When Utena wins the duel she most adopt Anthy as her bride. Although at first Utena is skeptical of the shy and akward girl, they soon develop a strong bond that cannot be broken.

Pairing up against beautiful bishonen Saiyonji who seems to be rough and coarse, Touga the head of Student Council who is quite the ladies man, Juri who scares even the teacher's, Nanami who is in love with her big brother Touga, Miki who only has eyes for Anthy after she plays his paino song plus numerous other characters like Wakaba and the cute Chuchu you can tell that Anthy and Utena are going to be having the time of their lives.

The DVD set includes the first 7 episodes, most notably 'Take Care, Miss Nanami' where the cute young Tsuwabuki is introduced to the scene.

I recomend watching in subtitled version, as the dubbed version isn't very pleasant on the ears.

There is no way you can walk away from this series WITHOUT liking it...

It's got charming characters (from cool Spike to sexy Faye), great animation (by the same man who brought us Kintaro Oe in the lovely antics of Goldenboy), a funny-witty-exciting plotline with tons of twists and turns and excellent music.

But even more impressive is just the general set-up of the series. It's hard to explain it, but once you watch it you will understand what I mean.

It's a must see for any anime fan, and don't let anyone throw you off. If you are debating between buying this and some other movie... trust your gut and get this.

DVD version is even more spectacular!

Daughter of Darkness, originally titled Midsummer's Eve or Manatsu no Eve in Japan, is definitly the best of the Tenchi movies.

Since there has been a large debate, which I won't get into, over whether it follows the OVA or the Universe plotline I will just say ... it has a nice mix of both the series, including a favored character named Kiyone.

The story starts off when a young girl named Mayuka appears and called Tenchi 'daddy' which, of course, sends Ayeka and Ryoko into a violent rage. Main problem is, no one knows who could be the father. Luckily, Washu - resident genius, discovers one of the hairs from Mayuka is silver. How odd... they discover that Mayuka was actually created from one of Tenchi's genes, and one of Yazuha's.

Yazuha is the demon (or daughter) of darkness. She fell in love with Tenchi's grandfather Katsuhito, also known as Yosho, generations ago back on Jurai but there love was broken apart and Yazuha was sentanced back to her eternal playland.

Now she wants revenge and she is going to use Mayuka and her own powers to wreak it! BUT will the crew survive... and what will become of Mayuka if they do?

... So, the age old question still lives.

Which is the best Tenchi Muyo movie?

-- Sorry fans of TMiL ... but Daughter of Darkness (Manatsu no Eve) tops Tenchi Muyo in Love.

The animation is still up to expectations, but the story isn't. It follows the Universe (TV) plotline, and we follow Tenchi's mother Achika, and watch as Tenchi and the gang battle Kain, the wimpiest and most pathetic villian ever.

The characters all seem a little out of tune, and the main saving grace is the excellent voice acting, and the fact that we all can't help but love the Tenchi series.

To the wonderful animation that IS 3x3 Eyes.

Thank God for re-releasing this excellent series after the former distributor went out of business. 3x3 is one of the best anime series I have ever seen.

The animator, Yuzo Takada is excellent... noted for other classics like Nuku Nuku and Blue Seed. The animation is not only excellent, but so is the storyline.

Pai, a young girl with a strange third eye (that she can't control yet) is the last of her race. She meets up with the young boy Yakumo and asks him to help her grant her wish to become human.

It seems so simple at first... find a statue... do some incantations and viola! BUT... trouble arises when the statue is stolen, and they've got some big baddies to face off against.

The perfect mix of blood, gore and love story! It moves at a great pace, and all of the characters are interesting. The music is excellent, and the movie has a very dark feel to it (although you somehow can't help but believe everything is going to be turning up daisies in the end ^_^)

I reccomend to all!

Finally, the whole OVA series 1 and 2 in one box!

BUT WAIT! It's missing something! Yes... the Mihoshi Special (a fun and totally non-canon romp through the world of Tenchi) wasn't included in this OVA set. Also, the new version of Washu's Encyclopedia seems a tad dry.

-- Otherwise, I can't recomend the series more!

The OVA is the best series of all Tenchi, including Universe and Shin. This is where it all started...

Ryoko is no longer an irritable Space Pirate, Ayeka has much more depth, Sasami is her cute old self (but quite a bit wiser!) and Washu (excuse me, LITTLE Washu) is finally back to her pure form... as the greatest scientific genius in the Universe who *doesn't* blow everything up. Perhaps the biggest and the best change is from dunderhead and obnoxious Mihoshi to the sweet and lovable (but incredibly unlucky... or IS she lucky?!) Mihoshi that we members of KOME love to represent.

In fact... the only one who didn't change is Tenchi ^_-

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This is a must have for any anime fan... see what Cartoon Network DIDN'T show!

A must read!

God Head takes you INSIDE the mind of a mentally ill person, ie: the narrator of the story. This is the first book I have read to do this, and it makes for one crazy thrill ride. As you read from first person perspective you get to jump around with the craziness of the main character's head. Every loop and twist he takes you take, and every time he rambles insanely off track you follow.

Although it may sound strange, it isn't hard to get into at all. Honestly, I didn't put the book down from start to finish, it was excellent! It will have you totally absorbed and leave you with a refreshed and satisfied feeling of higher understanding.

If you haven't already added this book to your shopping cart... do so now!

Oe is a brilliant writer. This was the first book I have read by him, and I was taken away. Leaving no harsh image unspoken, Oe isn't bashful about writing details that may make the reader's stomache churn.

To describe the book in a very breif synopsis, a group of reform school boys get abandoned amidst a plauge. The setting is post World War 2 Japan and the boys find a leader from the narrator, and form their own community.

Children are forced to grow up far too fast, and their age has no relevance to their minds. Once the narrator becomes an adult, and sheds his last memories of child hood, even his pride of adulthood is stripped away from him.

Filled with beautiful sentance structure and much philisophical thoughts, you will find yourself constantly quoting this book. I have reccomended it to all my friends. It is a stunning read and was a Nobel prize winner.