I just beat Professor Layton and the Diabolical Box (game 2 in the Layton series). For those who don't know, Professor Layton is a Nintendo DS series originating from Japan. The concept is, a British Professor and his young apprentice wander around solving gigantic mysteries and mini puzzles in the process. It's mostly a puzzle and riddle game. But wait, let that sink in a moment... British characters... voiced by the Japanese...

And not just any voice actors, unlike the American versions, Professor Layton is baited with some pretty big name Japanese actors doing the voices. For example Oizumi Yo does the voice of Layton while Horikita Maki is young Luke (I say young Luke because game 3, which is not out in America yet, has older Luke voiced by Oguri Shun.) and Kamikawa Takaya does a character in game 3 too. And that's just a few of them.

It kills me that it takes America so long to translate games sometimes. Japan is getting game 4 this holiday season and there is no clues about when America will get game 3... but since game 2 came out recently I expect it wont be very soon.

I do find it hilarious though that the Layton series seems to think it's Star Wars. The first game was actually part 4 of the story. The new game getting released in Japan in November will be part 1. So it went 4-6 and they will now do 1-3.

Oh and some more awesomeness from Japan... Following the games November release, just before Christmas they are also releasing Professor Layton and The Eternal Diva... the first Layton animated movie.

Trailer 1
( More trailers... )

I found this rather funny.

I had downloaded the Chinese Paladin 3 OST a few days ago. I've been reading about it for weeks so I knew it was an interesting collection of artists. However, I hadn't actually listened to it fully until this morning.  I had my iPod on shuffle and suddenly this song comes on. The opening rift sounded familiar but I couldn't place it. I knew it was something Japanese and I felt like it was the opening song to a TV show, but I couldn't recall what show so I looked down to read 我做我的王 by 兄弟联 from 仙剑奇侠传三. That's not Japanese. Is it a rip off... on the Chinese Paladin 3 CD?

And then they started signing and I started laughing.

GOGOCLUB - Be My Own King (Wo zuo wo de wang)

Not a rip off. A cover. A cover of what...? Why super cute chibi detectives of course. Apparently GOGOCLUB did a cover of Answer by the Japanese band FLOW, which was the opening song for the show Tantei Gakuen Q.

The original.

So the question is... which version is better? lol

 I also find it a little funny that this song is on a wuxia OST.  Even if Chinese Paladin is not your typical wuxia.

Cracktastic!
I think that sums up the whole show. Atashinchi no Danshi is about a poor and homeless girl who marries a rich man who saves her from her runaway father's debt collectors. Now how is that such a strange story, you ask? I mean that sounds like half the Kdramas I've seen.



( Bring on the crack! )

So after all the "My ___ Coach" Nintendo DS games for learning Spanish, French, and English they are finally branching out into Asian languages.

My Chinese Coach (Mandarin) was released the other day.  I played around with it a bit yesterday.  Clearly made in mind of the Olympics (but way too late.  Seriously, release this when people are GOING to China and picking up language tapes and phrase books.  Not when everyone is going home.), but it included writing practice and the works.  Didn't play it very long, but it seemed to at least be a good jump starter and brush up tool.  Or at the very least a fun way to mix up your study time.

My Japanese Coach will be released October 14.

*uses Jedai psychic powers*  ...... Make a Korean one.