REVIEW/THOUGHTS [VIDEO GAME] -- Yakuza 3 Remastered

Playthrough Status: Beat the main story on Normal, spent some hours in Premium Adventure picking up remaining trophies I was willing to get
Approx. Length: 120+ hours
Language: English (Cutscenes are voiced in Japanese with English subtitles)
Played on: PS4
Also Available for: PC, Xbox One
Type of Game: Open-world Action Adventure, Mini-games, Skill-building
Overall Impression: Good overall, but...

NOTE ON SPOILERS!!

Just like with my past reviews, I'll keep a non-spoiler section (the section you're at right now), and a "Spoiler Talk" section at the end to go into more detail on certain things and to let loose with any extra thoughts.

BUT... even though there won't be any spoilers for Yakuza 3 Remastered in this section, there could be spoilers for Yakuza 0, Yakuza Kiwami, and Yakuza Kiwami 2. In fact, this blog is structured as if you have already played those Yakuza games. If you haven't beaten those Yakuza games yet, I'd highly recommend you do before reading this review!!

PRELUDE: KEEP YOUR EXPECTATIONS IN CHECK

Before I started playing Yakuza 3 Remastered, I kept telling myself this: "Yakuza 3 is a remaster -- NOT a remake." Why did I tell myself this? Because I didn't want to start playing Yakuza 3 Remastered with completely unrealistic expectations.

Yakuza 3 Remastered was going to be played after Yakuza 0 (a game created in 2015), Yakuza Kiwami (a remake released in 2016), and Yakuza Kiwami 2 (a remake released in 2017). But Yakuza 3 is a remaster of a game released in 2009. The difference between a remaster and a remake is in what could be updated. A remaster generally updates existing graphics and audio whereas a remake can add and re-work elements from the ground up. That means that gameplay mechanics generally stayed the same in Yakuza 3 Remastered, whereas those elements were updated in Yakuza 0, Yakuza Kiwami, and Yakuza Kiwami 2. With so many years between the release dates of Yakuza 3 and the other Yakuza games, and with the understanding that Yakuza 3 is a remaster and not a remake, I started playing Yakuza 3 Remastered expecting some downgrades.

If I kept to the same level of expectations I had after playing Kiwami 2, I'd likely be very disappointed in Yakuza 3 Remastered. In my opinion, it would also be very unfair to have those kind of expectations -- expecting a 2009 game to be on par with a 2017 game. So... before jumping into Yakuza 3 Remastered, I'd recommend having an understanding that despite it being the 4th entry in the Yakuza series, it will be a jump back in time -- back to a time when the latest and greatest games were released on the PS3, Xbox 360, Wii, and whatever PC model was the best at that time.

With that said, though...

FIRST THINGS I NOTICED

Below are some of the downgrades I noticed when I started up Yakuza 3 Remastered:

Graphics: There's no nice way to say this, but after playing Kiwami 2, the graphical differences in Yakuza 3 Remastered stuck out very much and not in the most positive way. It's not a deal-breaker, but I can understand how it could turn some off, especially after coming from Kiwami 2.

A shot of Kamurocho in Kiwami 2. Definitely trying to push graphical limits 

with all those details.

A shot of Kamurocho in Yakuza 3. It's just different.

This isn't really a knock against Yakuza 3 Remastered, but I found it amusing
that most goons were dressed in "ugly" sweaters.

Stat-building system: This system is closer to Yakuza 1 on the PS2, where you are allocating experience points to three different categories. I consider this a downgrade because each category has their own levelling tree, but I can't see what it is, so it's often a shot in the dark of where to spend my experience points if I hope to unlock a certain skill.

Fighting mobs: I was playing the game on normal difficulty and fighting the normal baddies was a bit annoying. They block wayyy too often.

Ordering food: This is a nitpick. In Yakuza 3 Remastered in a restaurant / food place, you can only order 1 food item each visit. Gone are the memes of Kiryu downing 8-10 burgers in less than 1 minute. ;_;

Below are some elements that were in Kiwami 2, but aren't in Yakuza 3 Remastered:
-Can't buy drinks from vending machines
-Can't pocket weapons during battle
-Can't take selfies

I wouldn't say that any of these are deal-breakers for me, but they could lessen the overall gameplay experience.

OTHER PET PEEVES

I'll just talk a bit about some more pet peeves I had while playing Yakuza 3 Remastered.

Hostess Maker minigame / substory: This is nothing like the cabaret club minigame in Yakuza 0 and Kiwami 2. This minigame is tedious and not very fun. And you don't get to keep any of the money that you make in there! It's optional, but be prepared if you are like me and want to complete as much as possible.

Golf minigame: Maybe it's because I don't know much about golf, but I found the golf minigame overly complicated. Maybe it has to be? I didn't find myself enjoying the minigame all that much because of its complexity.

The controls for playing golf.

Some substories locked behind minigames: For somebody who likes trying to complete all the substories in each Yakuza game, I had to accept that it'd be near impossible to complete all with Yakuza 3 Remastered. Some substories require a certain amount of skill in certain minigames to unlock, one of those minigames being golf... sadly I don't have time to get good at golf to unlock that substory.

Too many girls to woo in the hostess clubs: Some would find this a good thing -- I found it a chore. There were sets of hostesses to chat up at three different clubs. Some of them were nice and decent, while others were a bit annoying.

Not enough Majima: Let's just say I was very Majima-deprived in this one. When the story finally gave some focus on him, I ignored everything and ran straight to him. I recall running past a kid crying about a balloon, and I thought 'I don't care about your balloon! I gotta get to Majima!'.

THE STRENGTHS

Despite all these downgrades and nitpicks, Yakuza 3 Remastered still has some saving graces.

Emotions in the main story: Just like in previous Yakuza games, the main story is definitely one of its strengths. Although the pacing could be a bit slow at times, the emotions and the main themes are very much on point.

Some good substories: Also like in the previous Yakuza games, there are several entertaining and feelgood substories. Sometimes they would address more sensitive topics like gender identity and suicide, which surprised me (in a good way).

An amusing line in a substory.

Characters I care about: Yakuza 3 Remastered doesn't disappoint in introducing cool, likeable characters. One even almost tempted me away from Majima (*tsk tsk!*). Having good characters will always keep me engaged to continue playing, just to see what happens to them.

Staple fun minigames are still there: Karaoke is still around, and so is the UFO game. That's all that really matters to me, hahahaha. Other staple games that are still present are darts, pool, batting, bowling, Mahjong (you just can't escape from Mahjong, hahaha), and Shogi. Many of the casino / gambling games are still there as well.

"Kamurocho Lullaby". My favourite karaoke track in Yakuza 3 Remastered.

The flukiest win in pool. I wasn't intending that shot at all 

but I'll take it! :)

Another location immersion: While part of Yakuza 3 Remastered still took place in Kamurocho, it also took place in Okinawa. I've never been to Okinawa so it was really neat to get exposed to a new environment. After Google-imaging Okinawa, it looks like Yakuza 3 Remastered succeeded in capturing some essences of the place. Assuming that the Okinawan lifestyle was captured as well, it was interesting to observe the differences between Okinawa and Kamurocho. 

STANDALONE-FRIENDLY?

I'm going to say "no" here, and let's move on.

THE DISCLAIMERS (IF ANY)

This is where I list any things that could make you think twice about trying the game out with family or friends (depends on what they are okay with, I guess). They're not exactly bad per se, but more for your own awareness of it (and so you don't blame me for not saying anything!). 

I can experience these elements in a video game and get through more or less unscathed, but your mileage may vary, so I figure I should mention them.

-Just like in all the previous Yakuza games, the fights can be pretty violent and bloody. Unlike the previous Yakuza games, there is no option to reduce the blood level so you're stuck with it.

-There is a massage minigame that features a female making provocative poses while you're trying to keep some meter from falling to the bottom completely or shooting to the top completely. If you fail to last through the whole session, it almost feels like an allusion to "climaxing" too early. Aside from trying this a couple times to get a trophy and to trigger a substory, this is completely OPTIONAL.

-There is a club that you can visit to see a female dancing on a pole. This is completely OPTIONAL.

MY RATING

So far, Yakuza 3 Remastered is my least favourite in terms of gameplay and graphics and some minigames. But, in regards to story and character development, it's not the worst. If you can forgive the shortcomings after coming from Kiwami 2, Yakuza 3 Remastered won't fail in offering a Yakuza experience. At its very core, it's still a Yakuza game.

If Yakuza 3 ever receives a remake treatment in the future, I'll play it and then properly revisit how well it'd stack up against Kiwami 2!


Rating: 82 / 100


Thanks for reading!

If you have any questions / comments about anything, leave a comment or send via the Contact Form. :)

So I'll do the scrolly thing and the "Spoiler Talk" section will appear after that. Then I'll add some more scrolly things after the "Spoiler Talk" section in case anybody wants to comment, but not see the spoilers.

..............................................................
..............................................................
..............................................................
..............................................................
..............................................................
..............................................................
..............................................................
..............................................................
..............................................................
..............................................................
..............................................................
..............................................................
..............................................................
..............................................................
..............................................................
..............................................................
..............................................................
..............................................................
..............................................................
..............................................................
..............................................................
..............................................................
..............................................................
..............................................................
..............................................................
..............................................................
..............................................................
..............................................................
..............................................................
..............................................................
..............................................................
..............................................................
..............................................................
..............................................................
..............................................................
..............................................................
..............................................................
..............................................................
..............................................................
..............................................................
..............................................................
..............................................................
..............................................................
..............................................................
..............................................................
..............................................................
..............................................................
..............................................................
..............................................................
..............................................................
..............................................................
..............................................................
..............................................................
..............................................................
..............................................................
..............................................................
..............................................................
..............................................................
..............................................................
..............................................................
..............................................................
..............................................................
..............................................................
..............................................................
..............................................................
..............................................................
..............................................................
..............................................................
..............................................................
..............................................................
..............................................................
..............................................................
..............................................................
..............................................................
..............................................................
..............................................................
..............................................................
..............................................................
..............................................................
..............................................................
..............................................................
..............................................................
..............................................................
..............................................................
..............................................................
..............................................................
..............................................................
..............................................................
..............................................................
..............................................................
..............................................................
..............................................................
..............................................................
..............................................................
..............................................................
..............................................................
..............................................................
..............................................................
..............................................................
..............................................................

SPOILER TALK

So this will be a little different from the "Spoilers" section in my other review blogs. I kinda want this section to be a place where I can unload any extra thoughts I had about Yakuza 3 Remastered, even if I didn't mention it at all in the non-spoiler section. I may have already talked about some of these in the non-spoiler section but I'll go into more detail here.

THOUGHTS ON REVELATIONS

This was an odd yet amusing minigame. I wasn't a big fan of the Quick Time Event (QTE) parts of it, but it was often fun to see how a situation played out. Usually not what you'd expect to see.

One of the more ball-punching Revelations. ;)

A screenshot of the aftermath of one hilarious Revelation.
For context, the kid wanted to go into that shop for a toy,
unaware that it was an adult toy shop. The kid's dad kept saying no.

GORO MAJIMA

*sigh* Ya always gotta test my faith in you, don't you? *angry pout*

When the story made it look like Majima was in cahoots with the baddies, I doubted him again -- for a slight second. I'm so sorry! DX *bows*.

Sadly, Majima didn't get a lot of chances for development in Yakuza 3 Remastered. We got to see some of his caring nature in the beginning but after that, he was kinda just there to move the plot along. Also to still show that he's ultimately on Kiryu's side.

Fingers crossed we'll get to see some more of Majima in the next Yakuza game!

RIKIYA

My god -- what a sweetheart. If I wasn't already 510% loyal to Majima, Rikiya would have melted my heart. He is all-round an awesome guy. A bit hot-blooded at times, but caring and considerate. I also like how he's willing to get goofy when he has to (that love hotel scene and dressing up as a wrestler come to mind).

A scene with Rikiya and Kiryu. It's hilarious to think how much Rikiya can eat. 

Definitely a formidable eating rival for Kiryu. :)

I WILL NEVER FORGET YOU...

Decided to have a section just to honor those who passed... :(

Rikiya -- you were gone way too soon. Your desires to be a real man were misguided... 'cuz you were always a real man from the start. You will be sorely missed.

Kashiwagi -- I was hoping you'd be one I'd see through to the end of the Yakuza games. I liked your level-headedness and your willingness to help Kiryu and Majima. I always had tons of respect for you.

MISCELLANEOUS

Here are some miscellaneous thoughts that didn't fit into any of the above topics, and a couple more screenshots and videos I wanted to share.

-I didn't particularly enjoy any thing (story / substory / minigame) that had a chasing segment. That darn dine-and-dasher substories were a bane, haha.

-I loved the main story part where Kiryu reprimanded each child for not appreciating Ayako. Kiryu can really lay down the law when he has to.

-Boxcelios was a very pretty-looking game in the arcades, but I had no idea what I was doing in it, hahaha.

-Just like in my previous Yakuza reviews, here is a funny Yakuza-related meme I saw on Reddit. I thought it was a clever use of that Revelations animation. 

https://www.reddit.com/r/yakuzagames/comments/lcm68q/sad_dragon_noises/

-Here's another meme. This is so cute. 

https://www.reddit.com/r/yakuzagames/comments/j0v07r/various_ways_to_hold_your_allies_feat_kiryu/

And here are the screenshots and videos!

I kinda agree with this thought.

I named all the girls I recruited for the hostess maker substory as Goromi. 

It was an homage to the great Goromi in Kiwami! :)

I loved that this was a dialog option.

Hilarious misunderstanding in a substory.

And the misunderstanding persists.

We meet again, Kana! Sadly, she doesn't remember Kiryu at all.

My final stats when I beat Yakuza 3 Remastered. I played for much longer than I thought.

A clip of Kiryu bumping into somebody and that person getting up 

and giving the evil eye before walking away.

A clip of a character calling Kiryu and then magically appearing at the meeting point. I thought that was kinda funny, how she just appeared like that.

A very, very quick fight!

If you read this section, thank for reading! Now to finish with more scrolly things. Feel free to comment if you wish :D

..............................................................
..............................................................
..............................................................
..............................................................
..............................................................
..............................................................
..............................................................
..............................................................
..............................................................
..............................................................
..............................................................
..............................................................
..............................................................
..............................................................
..............................................................
..............................................................
..............................................................
..............................................................
..............................................................
..............................................................
..............................................................
..............................................................
..............................................................
..............................................................
..............................................................
..............................................................
..............................................................
..............................................................
..............................................................
..............................................................
..............................................................
..............................................................
..............................................................
..............................................................
..............................................................
..............................................................
..............................................................
..............................................................
..............................................................
..............................................................
..............................................................
..............................................................
..............................................................
..............................................................
..............................................................
..............................................................
..............................................................
..............................................................
..............................................................
..............................................................
..............................................................
..............................................................
..............................................................
..............................................................
..............................................................
..............................................................
..............................................................
..............................................................
..............................................................
..............................................................
..............................................................
..............................................................
..............................................................
..............................................................
..............................................................
..............................................................
..............................................................
..............................................................
..............................................................
..............................................................
..............................................................
..............................................................
..............................................................
..............................................................
..............................................................
..............................................................
..............................................................
..............................................................
..............................................................
..............................................................
..............................................................
..............................................................
..............................................................
..............................................................
..............................................................
..............................................................
..............................................................
..............................................................
..............................................................
..............................................................
..............................................................
..............................................................
..............................................................
..............................................................
..............................................................
..............................................................
..............................................................
..............................................................
..............................................................
..............................................................

BLOG -- Recap of February

February was a mix of good and bad. Had a lot of stresses with one week of relaxation. Then just painful headaches / head pains and other stresses after that.

"Outings" / Events in February:

- Had vacation for a week. It was fun, productive, and relaxing for the most part.

- Had a voice-chat with a few friends via LINE. We tried an activity to cook a dish while one of us gave instructions. It was a hectic but fun experience! Below is what we tried to make:

https://www.justonecookbook.com/ketchup-spaghetti-recipe/ 

- Been having headaches / head pains since February 18. Today it seems okay for now with slight twitches, but every day leading to today was kinda painful. Fingers crossed that these pains will lessen and go away for good soon.

- Doing a one-month trial of Amazon Prime. Gonna try to make the most of it before it expires. 

- Final Fantasy XIV: A Realm Reborn achievements / news: 
-Still haven't logged in. My subscription expires soon. Let's see if I can pop in briefly before then.

Exposures:

- Nothing this month.

Finished...

Watching:

- (Movie): The Lighthouse -- Really good acting and very intriguing. Not sure if I'd ever watch it again, though.

- (Movie): Suspiria (remake) -- I'm a bit curious about the original. The first intense scene was whoa -- creepy but nicely done.

- (Movie): Green Room -- This had nice cinematography for a horror movie.

- (Movie): Attack of the Killer Tomatoes -- Way too silly for my liking. The first five minutes should be enough to give you whatever you may be anticipating from a movie title like that.

- (Movie): Jumanji: The Next Level -- It was okay. I enjoyed the first movie more.

- (Movie): It Follows -- Interesting but creepy movie. Definitely one of the better made horror movies out there. If that kind of thing ever happened to me, I wouldn't last long.

- (Movie): Under the Silver Lake -- It was a very long and unusual ride. The cinematography was really nice and some of the ideas were interesting. Not sure if I'd ever re-watch it.

- (Movie): Bloodrayne -- Not the worst video game adaptation out there, but it's pretty bad.

Playing:

- Nothing this month.

Reading:

- Nothing this month.

Currently... 

Playing (not all at once):

- (PS4): The Walking Dead: A New Frontier

- (PS4): Yakuza 4 Remastered

- (PS3): Borderlands 2

- (3DS): Tomodachi Life
- (3DS): Phoenix Wright: Dual Destinies
- (GBA): The Legend of Zelda: Four Swords Anniversary Edition   
- (Wii): Fortune Street 
- (PC): UnEpic  
- (PC): King's Bounty: The Legend
- (PC): Higurashi no Naku Koro ni (When They Cry)

Watching:

- (TV Show): The Walking Dead (Season 7 - Episode 7)
- (TV Show): Criminal Minds (Season 15)
- (TV Show): The Strain (Season 3)
- (TV Show): The IT Crowd (Season 3)
- (TV Show): The Office (Season 8)
- (TV Show): The Goldbergs (Season 3 - Episode 15)
- (TV Show): Huff (Season 1 - Episode 10)
- (TV Show): Legend of Korra (Season 3)
- (TV Show): Nodame Cantabile Live-Action (Episode 7)
- (Anime): Log Horizon (Season 3?)
- (Anime): Attack on Titan (Season 4?)
- (Anime): Food Wars (Season 5)
- (Anime): Pyscho-Pass (Season 3)
- (Anime): Carole & Tuesday (Part 1 - Episode 5)

- (Anime): Magia Record: Puella Magi Madoka Magica Side Story (Episode 4)

- (YouTube): StephenVlogs (Day 953)

Reading:

- (Comic): Bodie Troll by Jay Fosgitt
- (Manga): One Piece by Eiichiro Oda (Volume 93 -- Chapter 940)
- (Manga): Berserk by Kentaro Miura (Volume 2)


That's it for February. Here are some pics I took this month plus a YouTube video.

The ingredients for the chocolates I made on Valentine's Day.

Playstation had a Wrap Up of 2020, and here were the numbers of games I played in 2020. 
It looks like the Wrap Up is still accessible for a couple days more so check it out
if you're curious about your own Wrap Up of 2020.

I finally got this class in SINoALICE.

I believe she was available since launch day.

This was free from the latest collaboration event.

"Baka Mitai Karaoke 100% or bust" by AdumPlaze 

(YourMovieSucksDOTorg's gaming channel).

I was so psyched when I found out he was playing Yakuza 0. I applaud his attempt!

"Baka Mitai" is a song from the Yakuza video game series. :)

Thanks for reading! 

As usual, if you have any questions / comments about anything, feel free.

Take care, stay safe, and until next time! :)

BLOG (PERSONAL) -- My Idea of An Ideal Date

For my Valentine-themed blog this year, I'm gonna take a stab at describing my "ideal" date. I'd like to think that I'm generally easy to please so there could be variations for this. The core factor, though, would always come to spending time because I still consider that as the most expensive gift (does that make me a "Time Digger"?). :3

Ideal day: A weekend or vacation day (so we can spend the whole day together)

Ideal weather (in case part of the date takes place outside): Mild sun with a light cool breeze and occasional clouds. Warm enough to wear a shirt, skirt, and leggings, and not freeze. Also, not too warm that I'd be sweating while wearing all that.

Ideal place: For me, the only thing that matters here is that we end up either back at the date's place or my place, so the date can resume and we're relaxed and comfy (don't get any wrong ideas here!). I've yet to come across a spot or scenery outside where I thought 'yeah, I'd like to be here with my boyfriend'.

Ideal itinerary: This is where lots of variations can occur. As long as my date is spending time with me and showering me with lots of attention and expressing interest in me (physically AND mentally), then it doesn't matter as much what we are doing. Here are some things I enjoy doing:

-Watching movies in theaters (outdoors)
-Singing karaoke in a private booth (outdoors)
-Playing video games, preferably co-op (indoors)
-Watching interesting YouTube videos (indoors)
-Having philosophical discussions (anywhere)
-Having discussions in general (anywhere)

With that said, though, I am generally open to other activities so long as it doesn't endanger my personal safety or force me to interact with people I wouldn't be comfortable interacting with.

Also, it's important that my date would be interested in doing those things as well. It wouldn't feel great to think somebody was spending their time with me and not enjoying themselves.

Favourite foods (if we eat out): Sushi, poutine, lasagna, Japanese curry, soft pastries like donuts, cakes

Favourite gifts (in case anybody was reading this blog like a dating sim guide): I never expect gifts (especially never on Valentine's Day), but I guess if you'd wanna see my surprised happy face, here's what to give:

-a bag of potato chips -- ideal flavours being Ruffles' Sour Cream and Bacon OR Old Dutch's Smokey Bacon
-some small merch (fan-made or official) from some of my favourite series (for example, Undertale, FFVI, One Piece, Yakuza)

Ideal words I'd love to hear (to reach "maximum hearts"): Secret! ;)


Before I forget...

Happy Valentine's Day! :D
Like every year, I follow the Japanese custom of making chocolates for Valentine's Day.

That's it for this blog. Thanks for reading!

If you have any comments, feel free.

Take care, stay safe, and until next time :) *e-hug*

BLOG -- Recap of January

A new month in the new year means more days to work on my resolutions. It also usually means busier days at work because work just tends to be busy in January. 

I wish I could say that January was full of happenings, but it wasn't. I'm really hoping that February will be better -- I have a potential vacation week lined up (assuming it doesn't get cancelled!). Fingers crossed!

"Outings" / Events in January:

- Had an almost all-day "hangout" with a good friend.

- Had a voice-chat with a few friends via LINE. It was fun as always :)

- Had a 7-hour online co-op session with my sister to take down some difficult event bosses in Genshin Impact (we reached that 20k total points challenge!).

- Played chess online with a friend. 

- Final Fantasy XIV: A Realm Reborn achievements / news: 
-I haven't logged in at all this month. I'm kinda starting to take this as a sign that I may not have time for FFXIV for a long while, sadly :(

Exposures:

- Nothing this month.

Finished...

Watching:

- Nothing this month.

Playing:

- (PS4): Yakuza 3 Remastered -- Well... I'll hold my thoughts for when I blog my review about it. I'll just say I was happy to see Majima again :) <3

Reading:

- Nothing this month.

Currently... 

Playing (not all at once):

- (PS3): Borderlands 2

- (3DS): Tomodachi Life
- (3DS): Phoenix Wright: Dual Destinies
- (GBA): The Legend of Zelda: Four Swords Anniversary Edition   
- (Wii): Fortune Street 
- (PC): UnEpic  
- (PC): King's Bounty: The Legend
- (PC): Higurashi no Naku Koro ni (When They Cry)

Watching:

- (TV Show): The Walking Dead (Season 7 - Episode 7)
- (TV Show): Criminal Minds (Season 15)
- (TV Show): The Strain (Season 3)
- (TV Show): The IT Crowd (Season 3)
- (TV Show): The Office (Season 8)
- (TV Show): The Goldbergs (Season 3 - Episode 15)
- (TV Show): Huff (Season 1 - Episode 10)
- (TV Show): Legend of Korra (Season 3)
- (TV Show): Nodame Cantabile Live-Action (Episode 7)
- (Anime): Log Horizon (Season 3?)
- (Anime): Attack on Titan (Season 4?)
- (Anime): Food Wars (Season 5)
- (Anime): Pyscho-Pass (Season 3)
- (Anime): Carole & Tuesday (Part 1 - Episode 5)

- (Anime): Magia Record: Puella Magi Madoka Magica Side Story (Episode 4)

- (YouTube): StephenVlogs (Day 949)

Reading:

- (Comic): Bodie Troll by Jay Fosgitt
- (Manga): One Piece by Eiichiro Oda (Volume 92 -- Chapter 923)
- (Manga): Berserk by Kentaro Miura (Volume 2)


That's it for January. Here are some pics I took this month plus a YouTube video.

I finally got a calendar for 2021.

I also got two new movies.

Hopefully I get to watch them before the year is up!

One of the pages from the Pusheen calendar.

I made an online grocery order for snacks. I don't know why, but I always get 

a craving for these every now and then.

Another activity my friends on LINE came up with during our voice-chat. 

This had our brains wracking for a good while but we solved it. 

I added the words "banana" and "pizza" at some point to the image for fun.

A new class I got in SINoALICE.

Another new class I got in SINoALICE.

I pulled many times to get her.

"Adum & Pals: The Twilight Saga: New Moon" by YourMovieSucksDOTorg YouTuber.

I don't think the video is completely safe for work (commentary-wise), but it's pretty funny.

Note that there are spoilers!

Thanks for reading! 

As usual, if you have any questions / comments about anything, feel free.

Take care, stay safe, and until next time! :)

BLOG -- My Movie-Watching History (in Theatres) [2020]

Here is my movie-watching (in theatres) history for 2020. Sadly, I didn't get to watch many in theatres due to the pandemic (I started working from home around mid-March and was very much stuck at home from that point). 

There were a couple movies I wanted to watch during the pandemic, but I didn't look into how to actually watch them because I kinda figured that you'd need to have access to streaming services. I'm not subscribed to any services except for Crunchyroll and I don't want to start subscribing to them now. Sadly I don't know if I'd have much time to make the most of those streaming services if I subscribed. Also, if I subscribed to multiple the overall cost each month could get pretty pricey.

With the pandemic still going on, I wonder if I will get to watch any new movies this year. Between watching movies in theatres or watching movies at home, I'd prefer watching movies in theatres, provided that other movie-goers behave decently and don't disrupt the movie-watching experience (no talking loudly over the movie or stuff like that).

I guess if I get desperate maybe I'll subscribe to one streaming service to watch movies. One movie that's coming up that I really want to see this year is The King's Man, the prequel to the Kingsman movies. I don't know if it'll be good or bad, but I gotta watch it.

SPOILER ALERT WARNING!!

There could be slight spoilers when I list the movies I've watched (not many this year). Any movies that will contain a spoiler will be marked.

MOVIE: Knives Out [SPOILER]
DATE: January 15, 2020
RATING (OUT OF 5): ****

COMMENTS: Watching this a second time, I cried more. This was a truly wonderful, tragic, yet fun movie.

************************************************************************************

MOVIE: Weathering With You [SPOILER]
DATE: January 15, 2020
RATING (OUT OF 5): *****

COMMENTS: As good as the first watching. Visuals were still so stunning and the soundtrack was great. I missed the cameos on the first watching, but I caught them on the second watch.

************************************************************************************

MOVIE: Parasite
DATE: February 17, 2020
RATING (OUT OF 5): *****

COMMENTS: Third time watching. Still so awesome. If you have not watched it yet -- watch it, please!

************************************************************************************

MOVIE: JoJo Rabbit
DATE: February 6, 2020
RATING (OUT OF 5): ****

COMMENTS: There were some heart-warming moments.

************************************************************************************

MOVIE: The Invisible Man
DATE: March 10, 2020
RATING (OUT OF 5): ***

COMMENTS: Definitely some plot holes, but I jumped a few times in my seat.

************************************************************************************

Movies I wanted to watch but missed:

Bill & Ted: Face the Music

Wonder Woman 1984

Movies I wanted to watch, BUT GLAD that I missed:

Mulan

Monster Hunter

For fun, below is a video:

Chris Stuckmann's review on Monster Hunter.

************************************************************************************

That's it for this blog. Thanks for reading! If you have any comments about anything (even if you greatly disagree with anything I've said, or if this made you think about the movies you've watched and want to share), feel free to comment! :)

Stay safe, take care, and until next time! *e-hug*