Dice- The cube that changes everything

This story starts off with a very interesting premise. With some sort of currency, called Dice, people can improve their abilities. Luck plays a part in it, but more importantly, having more dice means more chances and definitely more improvements in abilities, making "players" better-looking, stronger, faster, etc.

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Do you like your life? Would you like to change anything about it? How much would you give to change it? This manhwa presents a very extreme view on this. When the power of the Dice became distributed to the school population, it raised a furore amongst the student body: Everyone wanted to get dice by any means necessary.

Dice are earned by completing "quests" (MMO game reference, typical of Korean Manhwa). At first, some of these quests seem very petty, like doodle on library books or insult someone. Gradually, the Game Master (calls himself X, and communicates with the players through text messages. Also seemingly omnipotent, can see everything that's going on) scales up the difficulty of the quests, asking for unreasonable things like "accidentally" spilling kerosene in the classroom, beating up 3 classmates to get some dice.

Would you still do it, knowing full well that what you are engaging it is criminal? I would liken the Dice to a forbidden fruit. After committing a small crime, the euphoria from the rewards completely overshadows all rationality, and even as each crime gets progressively unreasonable, the players are drawn along, playing to the piper's tune. 

X himself said, why would there be a need to stop the chaos? He didn't come to bring peace to the world, he handed humans the knife. That biblical reference to the serpent.

But indeed, it's always through such desires that human nature is revealed, and it always brings out the ugliest in humans. Sometimes I wonder, do Humans deserve to be saved? There are many claims about God loving us all, as his children blablabla, and being all powerful. I've always wondered, for all the wrong in the world, if there was a God up there, was it all meant to happen? But that is all speculation, for no one knows the whims of moody titans and deities. Maybe they are actually demons, just like X.

Being contented with our lives is often not easy, and I think it is great that we strive to improve it. That is after all what defines us humans as a species, as we invented many things to make our lives easier and let us be lazier over the centuries, while gaining an edge over our competitors.

But as much as we desire to become better, I think that what the world really needs now, is a little bit more appreciation. Appreciate what we already have, be thankful for it. Appreciate what's around us, respect it, don't destroy it. This would not solve all the world's problems, but it'd make our world a better place. Love is about appreciation after all.

And now to rate this story.

Story: 8. Very interesting concepts, the most novel "MMO" genre story I've seen. To be fair, it deviates from the genre somewhat, but the "quests system" is definitely extracted from the genre. Psychological touch to the story, many things worth pondering about. (Read it for yourself, I thought about a lot more things, but didn't want this to become too long.) Engaging story, creates anticipation and excitement, so plus one there. I'm looking forward to following up on this manhwa. 

Art: 8. My usual rating for Korean manhwa art is 5. Not sure if it's just me, but many Korean manga, especially coloured ones like Girls of the Wilds, Soul Cartel, etc, there isn't much effort and technique going into presenting the characters through their facial expressions, body language etc. Mostly, these characters are blobs on the screen, like in amateurish comics, moving around. The Korean Manhwa scene seems to have a large focus on the "ACTION" component, their battle scenes are relatively well done compared to all other components. Any facial expressions are usually crude and simplistic, and the manhwa have a tendency to make use of their coloured-medium to appeal to readers. [tl:dr] I like the careful drawings, and the expression of emotions through the body language and faces. Character design is great, the two main characters appeal. (Brooding image of main character who gains revelations upon escaping weed status +1, cute innocent image of female lead belying steadfast morals and determination +1, the design of supporting characters don't lose out either). Last but not least, organisation of manhwa in the column webtoon aids in reading. (Many other Korean webtoon manhwa have a ton of blank space, along with little inserts of some scenes or scenery, which is really irritating.)

Characters: 7. Not much to say here, characters' "personalities" were appropriately chosen, but none of the characters really stand out, except for the 2 leads, and even they aren't really unique. Since it's not enough to warrant an 8, 7 will suffice. Supporting cast pretty standard.

Enjoyment: 8. Interesting to read, no major problems. Enjoyed thinking about what the manhwa reflects about society, and whether it really is so, as well as the little (Not quite so little) plot references to the serpent, pandora's box, etc. Since I managed to finish it without pausing in between, or getting irritated, it's pretty good.

Overall: Taking the average, 7.75. I'm gonna give it an 8, and I believe that this has quite the potential to develop further. 

7 Seeds review

Don't be put off by the art style, 7 seeds is a Josei manga with really engaging storytelling. For a quick summary, go here: http://koalasplayground.com/2010/06/28/7-seeds/. I won't be summarising it myself, because not only is it too tedious to do so, I wouldn't be able to do justice to the story with merely a short summary.
Btw tl:dr, I did a rating on this manga (might be overated) at the bottom, share your views if you disagree? TYVM.
I might decide to do this for all my other mangas and anime as well, but I'll just do this one for now.

Many apocalyptic scenarios have been presented in works of fiction all over the world. One of the most common theme is flooding and recreating the world, destroying everything and starting anew. I really like this theme actually, perhaps because today, the world we live in is very complex, and everyone has their own petty desires that take priority over appreciating the beautiful things in life. Sometimes, I feel that what we really need is a strong enough crisis, that would band people together to fight the common cause, instead of spending time debating over healthcare budgets or how the government is managing our CPF money... When there's suddenly a crisis, all such minor issues are swept aside, and the country/world suddenly presents a united front (for the most part). But okay, enough with this, back to the story.

Imagine you were, without your knowledge, put into cyrogenic sleep. When you wake up, you find yourself in a completely new (destroyed) world, and everyone you knew was dead and gone. Would you panic, feel lost and hopeless, suicidal maybe? Initially, I felt that the author very aptly re-created the various emotions one might feel when thrown into such a scenario. I still do. But one thing I would like to question is, why were children chosen instead of adults? Particularly children who had no qualifications/records to show that they were likely to be able to survive in a harsh new world where conditions were not even certain to be suitable for living? Out of the 5 groups sent, 4 groups were chosen from civilians with no criteria other than those that were healthy, and showed some other traits such as athletic ability, or a sense for art (which would have almost no relevance to their survival).

Was it simply a love for our children, wanting them to survive, that would prompt such a decision? A number of the selected children turned out to be family members of the people who envisioned the entire project after all. This despite knowing full well that there would be high chance that these children would likely face untold dangers and go through many hardships even if they did survive. Maybe it was a decision made purely to align with the genre, manga, where the youthfulness, tenacity and drive of the young people would relate best to the target audience. I can't think of any other more compelling reason.

I mentioned that 4 out of these 5 groups were innocent children, but as for the last group, the children for that group were chosen from a group of 100 orphans, isolated from the world since birth, trained for survival. Most appalling is the means of selection, a brutal selection test that killed off the students through traps, or forcing them to kill and abandon each other for death. This as well is a common ploy, designed to instil the hardiness and desensitise the children to trauma, as well as effectively weeding out the "weak" ones.

This had the effect of creating children, who seemed way older than their age would suggest (and this is not so subtly portrayed through the larger size and more mature, often thoughtful/brooding look of these guys' design [+1: Effective use of art]). Yet while they were more than competent in surviving, their inadequacies are soon revealed, where they, in their isolated world, were not so emotionally developed - the survival test did not successfully achieve this - as compared to the children who had experienced different realities in life. Was the selection test effective? And is it right to isolate children, keep them ignorant, and kill them off when they outlive their usefulness? Most people would probably say no, I'm not so sure. They were certainly effective, their techniques and survival skills were top-notch. Within weeks of their awakening, they had set up base camp, and had a steady elevated shelter, while other groups simply struggled to secure water and food.

In comparing the two groups, it seems very much like what our education system is doing (although it certainly isn't as inhumane as what happened here). As much as the government extols the qualities and proclaims the need for a holistic education, developing emotional fortitude/social awareness/wtv, it still largely drives people to solely focus on their academic results, as that is the only marker of survival. And this results in 2 main groups of people who either become hopelessly stressed out and struggling to keep up, or become mindless work machines (I would love to say that I am neither, and perhaps the fact I am able to take time off to write this supports that claim. Unfortunately, I am not exempt from this, and even as I write this, the stress resulting from my A level examinations in 2 months is nagging at me, pressuring me to study. Still, at least I have things in life I value over studying and grades, and this is ensuring my sanity.)

As the main protagonists in 7 seeds told the "machine" kids, "Why didn't you guys ever say no? To reject the system and break free"? Unfortunately, such an action is unfathomable to us all, who are stuck within the system and cannot imagine a world without these bars. Perhaps we humans are comfortable and feel secure, when we know that something is controlling us even as we deny it. But I digress. Is the education system effective? No doubt. Is it humane? who knows. But it certainly can get better.

Okay last but not least, I really love the animal support cast in the story. Although unable to speak in human tongue, they serve as an invaluable support for the cast, especially for the lonely Aramaki, the sole survivor from the Northern group. Dogs are man's best friends, and just by being there, listening to and sharing Aramaki's pain, keeping loneliness at bay, they enabled Aramaki to survive without other humans for 18 years. And really, sometimes what we all need is just that.

Side note, I've never done this before, but let me rate the manga in a systematic manner, and also provide some supporting reasons for my rating.

Following MAL's rating system

Story: 10. No doubt about it, the storytelling is wonderful. The setting has much potential, and that potential is not wasted. Not just exploring a destroyed environment, but a destroyed Japan, with remnants of her past glory, and of course the 7 storage facilities. Scientific knowledge is well-integrated, dealing with multiple issues of ecology, survival, etc. More importantly, the sequencing of the storylines are very well integrated, supporting and adding depth to the story, instead of simplistic fillers. (parallel storylines: as the author switches between perspectives of the two groups, and backstories: very touching backstory of the "machines" children, and the Ryuugu shelter- one of the shelters attempted to house some 200 people, and the emotional recount of its demise told through one of its key member's diary). An excellent work by Tamura Yumi. I would give it 10++ if I could.

Art: 8. As I said at the start, don't let the art put you off. Common to shoujo/josei mangas, 7 seeds has that seriously annoying dish-eyes, looking overly exaggerated and fake. Apart from the eyes, the art supports the emotional mood of the story rather well, and this can be seen from the toning of the chapters. For example, darker tones are used for "turbulent" and "chaotic" parts sparingly but effectively. Although sometimes, the "sparkly" effect is a little overdone. Nonetheless, apart from the faces [mainly the eyes], the art had no major problems, and in fact, effectively created the mood, making the reader feel detached at times, and emotionally connected, or perhaps amazed at others (the darkness and beauty of the re-created world is very aptly drawn out)

Characters: 8. Now here is one component that I would have initially pegged a 5 to, but that can only be attributed to how frustrating some of the characters can be (particularly Natsu and Ango, main characters of Summer A and Summer B[machines kids] teams respectively). Usually, with such irritating lead characters, chances are I'd have dropped the manga by chapter 50. However, there are many redeeming points. Many of the other characters were really loveable, and while reading the story, you can occasionally feel your heart pumping in nervousness and anticipation, as these characters [Hana, Aramaki, Ayu, Haru, Koruri, Arashi, Semimaru] risk themselves to explore the unknown, or sacrifice themselves[Fubuki, Mitsuru, Shigeru, Mark (the ventriloquist from the Ryuugu shelter, the last survivor who left the diary record), and the many others that died for a greater cause]. And even the most frustrating two eventually grow to overcome their problems. Not just that, the animal companions were really loveable too. And so, no doubt, the characters are at least deserving an 8, maybe 9.

Enjoyment: 9. Before starting on this, I was a little apprehensive, because I never liked the shoujo genre (not just for the art, but the over-emphasis on the romance). In 7 Seeds, the romance is present (OF COURSE IT HAS TO BE, romance is awesome if done in sufficient amounts), without being overwhelming, or taking over the main plot. A deeply intricate blend of scientific tidbits, historical/cultural references, action and adventurous elements, and a strong emotional driving force made 7 Seeds a joy to read, and completing the latest chapter left me starved for more. Also, the music referred to through the manga (e.g. Bridge over troubled waters) was really fitting the mood when it was used, and I tried playing the piece while reading through that chapter. If you would believe it, I got so immersed into it I actually started tearing. Overall, the excellent balance, control, and pacing of the story is more than deserving of 9.

Overall: Simply taking the average would give 8.75, but a good manga does not amount to the sum of it's parts. Each successful, thoughtfully designed element contributes to a larger whole, amplifying each other. If one part is lacking, the average would dip more as well, but together, I feel that this manga is deserving of 9.5.

And with that, a very good night to you.

Holyland Recommendation

The streets are a wild place. Not many look kindly upon the streets, where laws are lax, and hungry wolves gather. Such a place is a haven for the many youths who lose their way, looking for a place to prove their worth. Some of these youths have tried committing suicide. Others are rejected by their families, ostracised by their friends. Raw emotions of jealousy, hate, anger, and all the ugly sides of mankind are vividly brought out in the streets. And on the streets, the only rule is that the strong survive.

Kamishiro Yuu, protagonist of the manga, calls the streets his Holyland. Why? Because only in the streets, in the darkness without rules, can he connect with people with similar experiences as him.

Kamishiro Yuu has a tragic backstory, and is a child, bullied since young. His past developed in him a complex, where, unlike most people who give in to the bullying, he decides that he will never look down. Instead, he will fight for his Holyland.

In the shortest span of time, going from absolute unknown loner, taking down a couple of gang members who tried to rough him up, Yuu rises to fame as the thug hunter. What characterises Yuu is not merely his fighting prowess, but the wildness developed in him, as he chose to step on the path of fighting. With mad determination and resilience, Yuu polishes his body into his tool, that which he would defend what is precious to him with. He is a wild beast, and untamed; a sharpened sword with no guard.

When sheathed however, Yuu becomes a completely different person, shy and timid. Even after attaining status among the thugs as the thug hunter, Yuu still holds onto his loner complex, afraid to lose the precious few things he has. In a long wrestle with his emotions, Yuu goes through a metamorphosis, gaining friends, losing friends, fearing his power, and eventually finding what he seeks.

If a serious, dark manga with martial arts and a deep connection to emotions is for you, try Holyland. It's no tear-jerker, but the concise and un-sugar-coated story telling will keep you going, just to see the ugly reality of the streets.

Enjoy.

August 3 episodes of Mahouka and SAO

This will be a real short post, since i'm rushing today. Didn't get the chance to take much screenshots either.

Mahouka episode 18, the finale to the nine schools competition arc was pretty cool. After all the action, it finally settles down, ending with a sweet ball at the end. Really liked the ending song too!

I think that tatsuya is too overpowered though. His lack of emotions is probably trying to appeal to the ideal guy image, aloof, cool, rationale, strong, and independent. I guess it works, but it doesn't fit too well in a shounen anime, because there's no growth, and it's really just tatusya overpowering everyone else. Still a joy to watch.

SAO episode 5 was awesome as usual. Kirito and Sinon signed up for the BOB tournament, stuff happened, Sinon got pissed after finding out Kirito's real gender yadayadayada.

SAO season 2's real draw is in the animation, and bringing the story to life.

Here's coming from a guy who's read both SAO and mahouka's light novels. I was really intrigued by the settings in both series, one being in a futuristic Virtual Reality game world, the other dealing with Magic as a science. I was really looking forward to the animes, as all fans would be, when their favourite lightnovels are being brought to life in anime.

SAO still seems to be the best, and I would attribute this to a few reasons.

1. Simplicity of storyline and setting.
The setting speaks for itself, a virtual reality, with some familiar guns, swords, and stuff. The technology certain isn't the main focus, and in fact can be totally ignored. Not so much for mahouka. To bring out Tatsuya's real strength, flashy magic and visual effects simply don't cut it, because Tatsuya's abilities lie largely in theory and design. Yet, if the anime went on a lengthy explanation on Tatsuya's accomplishments, it's almost certain that there would be too much dialogue which would be boring. Simply put, the SAO setting lends itself well to being adapted into a medium dominated by movement and fluid battle scenes.

2. Battle scenes much greater detail.
This is just personal opinion, but flashy magic scenes pretty much look the same, no? Weird ass symbols, usually consisting of circles and hexagons, with some inscription inside, overlaping each other, and then the circles disappear and booom booom cool effects, are usually the way magic is portrayed in shows. In contrast, while guns and swords are pretty simple, the various combinations in which the moves are used makes it exciting and appealing, and is this not the case with all kungfu movies? A sequence of moves, linking up well, and also during clashes, how one move is neatly countered by another, this is where simple punches and kicks become an exciting battle. Of course, we must credit the producers for the detail in doing the animation, the explosions and the perfect angles used to show the fight scenes.

Yeah that's all for today, will add on if i think of more! Looking forward to next week.