Saiyuki Gaiden, Sakura no Shita Kokia Lyrics

Trailer:
http://www.animekon.com/trailer-3475-Saiyuuki-Gaiden-trailer-2.html

Opening Song:
"Under the Sakura" by Kokia
http://www.mediafire.com/?8u2icmk277ysknw

Lyrics in progression...

Okamiden Walkthrough

Okamiden Chiisaki Taiyou (JP): Quick Walkthrough


For the lazy on the go; this guide will try to be as spoiler free and as technical as possible.  Please experience the full game yourself and be sure to buy the game when it comes out, thank you.  Also, I’m not responsible for telling you where chests and trees are so go find them yourself. I’m only covering how to advance the story.

When you start the game:
top option = hard mode
bottom option = easy mode


additionally, feel free to comment if you want the .doc of this walkthrough
(without my remarks XD)

[Action Guide]

はじめかあら = new beginning
つづきから = continue

はい = yes
いいえ = no

Y = attack
B = jump
X = menu / ??? (in battle)
A= talk / spin dash (in battle)
L/R= celestial brush

[Walkthrough Notes]

Issun = the small green bug
Sakuya = the pretty lady in pink who is the sacred spirit of Kamiki Village.
Kuninushi (Kuni) = Susanoo’s idiotic son, with the wooden sword. Your first partner, and most useless.
Kushinushi = Kuni’s mom. Pretty lady with wood-stock on her head.
Susanoo = Kuni’s dad. The idiotic “hero” and “slayer” of Yamata no Orochi
Mr. and Mrs. Orange = the old folks.
Tamaya = the guy who loves fireworks and explosives. In the previous games, he helped you acquire Bakugami.
Ayame = Issun’s friend. A cute little girl in the hidden village.
Kariudo = Kokkari’s dad.
Kokkari = the fishing boy at Agata.
Nanami = a mermaid with water leveling powers, your second partner.
Akahige = Red-moustached man.
Aohige = Blue-moustached man.
Kagura = Miko-in-training, your third partner.
Kurou (Crow) = Mysterious English-accented boy. Your fifth partner (and my favourite!).
Manpuku = Sixth partner. Aka. Pot-boy or fat-boy. He's a fire source.
…and list is incomplete because I got lazy.


[Chapter Legend] (please use CTRL+F)

01 - Konohana
02 - Kamiki
First Boss: Oogamanoke
03 - Shinsui Fields: Bomber Woes
04 - Agata Forest
05 - Hitoshio Spring
06 - Underwater Demon Lair
Second Boss: Onibaba
07 - Agata Forest
Third Boss: Oonamazu
08 - Ryoushima Coast
09 - Seian City: Commoner Quarters
Fourth Boss: Senryou & Manryou
10.1 - Ryoushima North Field
10.2 - Chigaisebu
11 - Agata Forest, again
12 - Raien Iriguchi (entrance, mouth)
13 - Chigaisebu, again]
Fifth Boss: Onryou-ou
14 - Seian Commoner Quarters, again
15 - Yakushi Village, again
16 - Seian City, once more
17 - Ryoushima North Field, again
18 - Kouraimaru
19 - Chigoku Shrine
20 - Kouraimaru, again
21 - Izayoi Palace & Yamata no Orochi
22 - Kamiki Village (100 years ago)
23 - Himuro
Sixth Boss: Mizuchi
24 - Izayoi Palace, again (and again)
25 - Going Against Akuro-Ou
Seventh Boss: Kurou-kun
Eight Boss: Akuro-Ou, Spirit Form
Ninth Boss: Akuro-Ou, Kuroterasu form 


CS = short abbreviation for the word “cut-scene“.
Comment or reply if you get stuck. I only loosely wrote this walkthrough on a whim with the quick notes I took. Also, sorry if I screwed up some Kanji.


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[01 - Konohana: Chapter of Training]

• Cut scene /w Issun
• Cut scene with Sakuya
• Brush God Event, trace the shape: Koyomigami (the twin seahorse), Restoration Skill. To use this skill, you must trace the outlines of the shapes where parts are missing or broken.
• Cut scene event, (follow the arrows).
• Talk to all the frozen villagers (and I mean all of them!)
• Exit the village
• Re-enter and go up the right-most mountain path to reach the Konohana viewing grounds (aka. The place where Mr. Orange dances) and draw a sun to light up the village.
• Event: learn how to spin dash.
• Event
• Side note: in some of the houses, you can knock down the paper-walls to access treasure chests.
• Go back to the viewing grounds and jump into the portal.
• Attack the demon rocks with the Y button, then step on the shiny gold path button.
• Press X to drop Kuninushi, and then walk over to push the Gold button.
• Self-explanatory, continue along the paths.
• Watch out for spikes. Also, while you can go across the shaky blue bridges, you cannot yet go through the shaky red bridges, so don’t. You’ll only fall.
• Turn left, walk across the starry path and to the direction of the statue, you will get the second Brush God.
• Brush God Event, Komichigami (little path god...awww<3 --- penguin triplets, awww<3), the Draw Path Skill. To use this skill, press X to drop Kuninushi and then using the Celestial Brush, draw a path by dragging a point starting from Kuni to the chest. The line will be red to indicate you’ve connected properly.  Then draw a line to bring him back and then press X again to “equip” him (lol).
• Get out, and then proceed with the obvious.
• Watch out for spikes again when going to get the gate key. Have Kuninushi stop right before the spikes before you move him over again.
• Brush God Event: Restore Izanagi’s Statue’s stupid flower: Kotachigami (Little Tachigami mice triplets…wow, Tachi, you really let yourself go, I gotta draw a doujin about this…;;; ).  You can now do Celestial Slash. Press L/R and draw a straight horizontal line on objects like rocks and monster (or anything will do, really).
• Continue downward the path on the left and enter the portal to return to the village.

[02 - Kamiki: Mirror, mirror, where for art thou?]

• Cut scene.  And side note, Kuni is just like his idiotic father. He’s calling you Kumakou instead of Chibikou, the nickname Issun gives you (Kou means prince or duke while Kuma can “mean bear“).
• Side note 2: originally, Issun also calls Amaterasu, Amakou (aka. Ammy).
• As you proceed down the mountain, Kuni tells you that you can slash just about anything, like that little stone candle stand. Doing so will give you items to replenish yourself.
• Go to Kushinushi’s (Kuninushi’s mom) house to repair her sake barrel.
• Go to talk to Susanoo. Then talk to the little crying girl by the river (who says she lost her precious mirror and can‘t go on without it), then go back to talk to Susanoo. 
• Go to Susanoo’s house (the biggest house on the right side with the gate) and go grab the hidden sake in his cellar.  It’s on the roof, so use Celestial Slash to knock it down and bring it back to him. Once he’s dead drunk, slash the rock and get out of Konohana.
• Turn left (these directional instructions are not following the map, btw, they’re following the perspective of the player) and head to the Hunter’s wood house (Namo).  Talk to him for a quest involving five minerals and then exit his house.  Go to the side of his house now where you’ll see a broken handle. Repair it.  Then go talk to Namo.  After that, leave his house for a cut scene.
• Cut scene /w Susanoo.
• Enter the cave. Cut down the rocks to get to the chests. The left chest is an Ammy plush and the right chest is one of the five mineral quest items.  There is another chest containing another mineral somewhere near the entrance as well (sorry, forgot where, just look around).
• Continue into the cavern and restore the painting on the right.
• Re-examine it again and draw in the sun. Continue.
• When you get to the part with the two red buttons, have Kuni stand on one and go stand on the other, then bring him over. Don’t forget to kill the stupid frog.  Proceed.
• Left chest contains healing item, the right chest contains a mineral. Grab it and continue.
• Slash the rocks to use them as steps. When you reach the falls, have Kuni move bit by bit as you step on the red buttons one by one.
• Brush God Event: Kosakigami of the Hanagami trio (he‘s Sakigami‘s…son I guess). You can now make flowers, trees, and dead patches of grass blossom by drawing a circle using the celestial brush.  Make sure to stop to bloom EVERYTHING. Filling up your praise bar will give you benefits like extra health or ink pots.  Also, make sure you bloom everything anyways, because you’ll need to in order to open a door later on.
• Monster: Clam-heads. Slash their eyes first, then you can attack them. Once you do, you can “bloom” them and then finish them off.  Make sure to finish them off after you bloom them or else they just recover.  Yes, in this game, the monsters can recover.
• Just as a reminder, don’t forget to search and collect the five minerals!
• If you have made everything blossom, a cut scene will appear and the stone door should open.  Go past the door and bloom the lotus pads to walk over them. You are now in the Sprout room.
• Leave Kuni on the red button and have Chibi press the gold button at the bottom of the now cleared water.  The next room is now open.
• Slash the first two pillars to create the path ways, and restore the third one before you slash it down (…irony much?).  Blossom the three flowers in order and the light ball will float into the next room.  After that, push the ball up and onto the pedestal. The water will now drain.
• Bloom the seedling.  Doesn’t work; talk to it; then go up to the balcony and draw in the sun.  Try to bloom the tree again; doesn’t work. Fight the monsters to uncover a pathway. And then quickly go to the small Save Mirror to save.  It’s time for the first boss!

[First Boss: Oogamanoke (lit. Grand Toad Duke)].

• Note: to use your items which you collect along the way, open up the Menu, and equip the items into the slots. The Dog bone gives you health while the Scroll recovers your ink. Close the menu once you’ve equipped them and now you can click on them during live battles. Be careful, they do have a refresh rate (the X), so try not to die so shortly after…
• Like the chicken he is, Kuninushi ditches you and you are on your own, sorry.
• Go and slash the boss a couple of times. Fight him, avoid him. Watch out for his tongue. You can use the celestial slash to distract him. Wait until he JUMPS up.  When he does, wait till he falls and CELESTIAL SLASH his belly button.  That’s his weak spot.
• Cut scene; Kuninushi comes back.  Have him move the stones that the frog spits out into the glowing holes.  Attack the frog as Kuni moves the rock so as to distract and damage him.  Use the celestial slash to slash his tongue whenever possible.  This way, frog-man doesn’t swallow them again (they’re his source of power and recovery).  He may also turn around to attack you, so be careful. Also, when he sings, he can call his froggy goons. While cutting the goons do give you recover items, they’re also a pain. Top stop him from calling them, just slash his mouth with the brush.
• You need him to spit out three stones, so cut him three times whenever he jumps out of the water. The first two times to get the stone you just slash his bellybutton as he jumps and falls…but on the third time, he has a shell monster covering it.  On the third jump, as he jumps UP, BLOOM his clam shell, and as he falls DOWN, slash his belly button.
• You’re now done. Any remaining health he has is gone.  Bloom the sacred tree and then leave the cavern.  On your way out, don’t forget to go talk to Namo. All the minerals were collectable in the cavern.

[03 - Shinsui Fields: Bomber Woes]

• Go back to the village, give the little crying girl her mirror and then experience the cut scene. Not surprisingly, the little girl is actually…………
• Now go tree-blooming. After this ordeal, you should’ve bloomed everything in sight and have five bars of health and ink. Or will have once you bloom the sacred tree outside of the village.
• Anyways, if you are blossoming and having difficulty drawing, jump before pressing L/R to get a clearer view of the trees.  Also, before you leave the village, help out Ms. Orange by drawing her a new clothe poll. She is by the river.
• As you leave the village to go hunt down evil, the merchant comes in.  He will be occupying the purple tents wherever you go.  It might take him a while to set up, though, so if he isn’t there at first, do some events and return to the villages to find him there. What he sells are dog bones, scrolls, and spell-wards in that order. Buy some items and then leave town for a cut-scene.
• Head back to Namo’s place, cross the bridge and cut down the rock next to the little hut to reveal a hidden cavern. These things are placed throughout all of Nippon so be sure to slash whatever, whenever at all times.  In the cave contains the tome of Amaterasu; one of several collectables.
• Head up  the mountain path in the direction of the SOS signal. On the way, bloom the two dead grass patches.
• Once you reach the source of the smoke, enter the house and talk to Tamaya the firework maker.  Finish talking and then leave.
• Monster: Skull-Spinner. Defeat him by celestial slashing his skulls while he is in midair, and then once again when he is on the grown launching them at you.
• Next, cross the other bridge beside the one on the way to Tamaya’s house and go through the Torii gate (the red shrine gates).  On the way down the hill path, grab the chest from the shrine, get a quest from the priest and then proceed to the very end of the water path to bloom a dead grass patch. Then on your way back up, go to the left of the hill path and you should see a rock. Slash it and enter the hole to collect a scroll.  Then get out and go back up.
• By the way, the training dojo is closed, so don’t bother.
• Go back in the direction of Konohana village and talk to the little brown piggy on the way.  Now go into the shiny hole next to the village entrance, bloom the spring flower to jump on it and then go through the tunnel to enter new territory J
• Cut-scene with Ayame then  go to the main house (the one with the giant gourd on top).
• Fight the two monsters, then head out of the house, draw the sun, and then head back inside to see old man, Akahige (lit. Redbeard) dance.
• After another CS (cut-scene), head back to Tamaya’s place to deliver to him the gourd containing combustible powder.  You must now go on a monster-hunting quest. Open up the x-menu and take a look at the map. Go fight all the monsters marked by a circle (maru) on the map to collect the bomb items.
• Also, talk to the pretty lady outside near Konohana. She will give you praise for having helped Ayame.
• Side note: at this point, if you return to Ayame’s village (Yakushi Village), you can find a new merchant set up indicated by a kanji on the map.  He is a weapon dealer. When you defeat monsters, and earn perfect red scores you may get these blue or purplish items.  When you collect enough, he will use them to make you new weapons. I think the only one on his list right now is another mirror-weapon like your own.  Oh, and if you continue along the path northwise, enter Ayame’s house to receive more praise from her sister.
• So after collecting all the required items, go back to Tamaya’s place, get some praise then go back to Ayame’s village to see a CS.
• Brush God Event: Kobakugami (little explosive god);  ….and uwahh..Baku, you now have a fourth kid!? Well anyways, you now have the bomb skill. Just draw a circle then a stick.  After bombing places here in yakushi village (there is a golden sake pot somewhere, it’s an awesome item) and there that you’ve seen, you can now leave the area by going to the cave path near the Torii gate. Save a crane on your way before that.

[04 - Agata Forest]

• Talk to Kariudo. Get a fishing rod quest from him. Then go along the right pathway, blossom Sakuya‘s tree.
• Head to the temple. Walk on it, and go right, blossom the lotus pad and find the gate key. Even if you spot it, you can’t get to it, so go bomb the other pillar so you can cross.
• Monster event: deflect the sword, hit it, then slash.
• Head into direction of smoke for CS with Kokkari.
• Go up the hill, bomb, grab the first quest item. Try not to avoid fights, you want to get weapon materials.  Go back down for another CS….and meet with a new character named Nanami.
• Go up the hill with the Torii gate now.

[05 - Hitoshio Spring]

• Bloom grass, get next item.  Go pay the stupid lady 500 yen for your fortune then leave for CS.
• Draw a lined-star.

[06 - Underwater Demon Lair]

• Demon lair; draw your own demon mask! (I wrote something dumb, lol) Click the left option if you are okay with it, and right if you want to do it over. Go talk to the gateman, then go talk to the glowing red light demon near the back (not to the right). Chose the left option, then go back to the gateman.  Proceed.
• To get to the chest blocked by blood water, just restore the shape.
• Talk to the gates men, then talk to the blue floating thing, then go check out the left ugly tree stump, then go out of the room back to the previous market, and go talk to the creepy white statue with teeth, then go to the room with the billboards. Read the right one, then go back to the gate henchmen near the save shrine.
• Gateman#2 Questions: 2nd, 3rd, 1st, left option.
• Make sure to save.
• Event: left option is to proceed with battle. It’s four battles.

[Second Boss: Onibaba (lit. Demon Granny)]

• To get her you need to hit or bomb her from behind.
• Red buttons will eventually appear. Those red demons replenish her health so have Kuni stand on them while you attack. Not much strategy here, just hit and run.
• After the boss battle, be prepared to attack some more red demons, keep doing so until the CS.
• Take the girl outside of the lair, and when you reach the end, another CS.

[07 - Agata Forest: Go Save Kuninushi!]

• New partner, Nanami! Now go have her grab the bead-key.  After the CS, you can draw a line from her to wherever across a body of water.
• Go into the shrine roof for a Brush God Event: Konuregami (Nuregami’s kid). You can now water-bend…(lol). I mean…draw a line from a source of water (btw Nanami herself is a source of water) to any other place.
• Go down, and buy some stuff if you need to.
• Cool down the torches to get across the spikes. Grab the chest with one of the fishing rod items.
• Pour water into the empty section and the spikes will go down.
• Next you’ve entered a room with spikes…uh oh...no water source! Or so you thought. Press A at the bars to check it out, then draw a waterline from Nanami…yes you read right, to the torch. Then make your way down and encounter some flaming tops and now that you’ve just learned this technique, use Nanami to drown them in water before attacking them with bombs. Receive the next fishing item and proceed downstairs.
• Next have Nanami go over to press the button for the bridge, then pour water into the space with spikes.  Go down.
• Bomb the blockage on the left, then push the button on the right.
• Go through, pour water on the chest, grab it, and continue.
• Jump through the spikes, kill four frogs, and the spikes will go down.
• Next, douse water on six molten rocks.
• Next, carefully have Nanami douse the fires to walk through. Then have her go to grab the chest. To do so, you too must also walk, avoiding carefully along the fire tracks while you guide her to it, and then guide her back. Next have her push the button to close the spikes down.
• The room upstairs contains two chests. (one of which is a quest item).
• Next, proceed downstairs and do the obvious. The metal foxes will die if you hit them enough. Grab the chest with the bead and go through the door. Bomb the giant shell, and enter. Inside will contain a statue, it’s a brush god event!
• Brush God Event: Kotsutagami of the Hanagami trio. (Tsutagami<3) It’s basically vine whip. Draw a line from yourself to any floating lotus flowers.  Now go through the crack south.
• Next, draw a line from yourself to the largest flower (aka. Closest to you, the player---the other one will drop you into abyss)
• Next, is a little tricky. Draw yourself up to the flowers, and as you fall, draw yourself to the next flower. If you screw up drawing, just press B to refresh.
• New trick: First examine the water. To push the blue button, you need more weight. Have Nanami travel over, then vine whip yourself to her.
• After, have Nanami travel through the water path on the right side to push a button, bring her back, have her land on the other side and vine whip yourself to her.
• Chest on the far most right. Use the almost hidden top right path to get to it, then proceed.
• Look at the creepy statue, it should have all of its arms now. It’s awesome because it gives you a chest with a brand new, shiny glaive!…actually it’s just the Tsumugari from the previous games, but it’s stronger than your default Reflector weapon anyways.  Hold Y to store energy before attacking.
• Go downstairs, and water-vine-whip combo starting from the top left and then travel accordingly.
• Douse the flames, vine whip the two hooks together, jump across.
• Have Nanami go to one of the buttons, vine whip yourself over, then move her to the next button. Oh and also, kill the frog.
• Proceed through the flames and bomb the where you aught to bomb.
• Ugh the following path is kind of self-explanatory but troublesome to explain so work it out yourself; basically get Nanami down the path and when she can advance no further, continue on to the next room with out her; go through the flames, hook the two hooks together, grab the bead and head downstairs to the door. Proceed with the obvious until you get Nanami back and then the two of you can happily go push that shiny blue button.
• Monster event: Ugh..I hate not having fire bending skills going against the ice top…
• Buy some healing items and then save J. It’s about Boss time…

[Third Boss: Oonamazu (lit. Giant Namazu)]

• Vine-whip his tongue to the long hanging hook. Afterwards you can attack him. He is only attackable when he is hooked.
• When he moves, have Nanami swim over to the next patch of land and then vine-whip yourself to her.
• Attack using bombs and whatever is at your disposal. When the kanji letters appears, stop attacking and move, otherwise he’ll land on you.
• Navigate through the wood path maze and slash Oonamazu if he tries to hurt Nanami.
• Avoid the electric shocks, you can’t deflect them with slash.  Just wait until you can hook him.
• When every thing is swell and done, experience a CS event with Kuni and do some sushi-ing.  Afterward, experience a sobstory farewell.

[08 - Ryoushima Coast]

• Go a long the path; bomb and hunt when needed.
• Move the water from spring to spring, as you go up.
• Sacred Tree blooming time~
• Go explore Ryoushima coast. Visit the temple and then head to Seian City.

[09 - Seian City: Commoner Quarters]

• Aside from Sakura blooming, nothing else is worth doing right now. Head straight for the palace to save Kagura.  Then try to leave Seian Inner Quarters for a CS.
• CS south-west of the city. Save a girl from monsters.
• Have Kagura walk over the transparent panels, then vine-whip Chibi over. You can only see the panels when Kagura is riding.
• Fix the door with the restoration skill and enter the house. This theatre belongs to her parents, btw.
• CS in the next room; then head north.
• Walk Ayame across, Vine whip, then attack the pedestal.
• Use the arrows to accelerate your jump.
• Next room, send Kagura over one at a time.
• Send the rock shards back at the shooters using celestial slash.
• Next part, stand on one button and continue but run to the next button as she progresses.
• Rest of this is obvious. Oh, you can slash the scissor monster, too.  And if you’ve followed the path properly now, you should have a brush event. (can you see I just got lazy now).
• Brush God Event: Komoegami, the chickadee of Moegami. Skill acquired is fire-bending!…er…I mean, same as Konuregami’s skill. You can draw a line from sources of fire to other objects.
• Return to the room with the giant cog wheel for a CS.
• Go up the stairs, then to the south room for a battle, then CS.
• Left room, repair the turtle shell.
• North room, battle event to save a girl.
• Return to the south room then go downstairs.
• Save, then get ready for a really long boss battle in the room blocked by ice.

[ Fourth Boss: Senryou & Manryou (lit. 1000 ryou & 10,000 ryou) ]

• There are three dolls in total, so get ready to kick a total of five arses. First, Senryou is going to attack you, then Manryou, then the both of them will control the last doll.  Battle however you want, but take note of the following:
• First doll: knock back the screws, avoid everything else.
• Second doll: melt the ice.
• Third: have Kagura use her spell scrolls.  Watch out for their hands, if they get you, they steal Kagura. To get Kagura back, time precisely and leave bombs at their hands to explode the moment they slap down.  It’s also a good time to attack, actually. Go up the arm and attack the head.  Also, to avoid the wind they send out, just run to the very front, a little, since the wind travels back.
• CS: all is well…and oh, a special appearance by Princess Fuse.
• CS /w Aohige.
• Go to the direction of the gate in Seian Inner quarters. (aka. Head north).
• CS: spell ward upgrade.
• Purify Ms. Blossom (commoner quarters, upper right) and the Kimono merchant’s houses (commoner quarters, lower left), then enter the main street for a CS.
• Now you can enter Seian’s Inner quarters.
• The treasure box on the bridge contains the last weapon; the Rosary.  It’s nice but I prefer the sword. It’s easier to control in battle and so far, the sword is the only weapon where you can hold Y and it will build up strength.
• CS: bye bye to Kagura, and hello Kurou~<3!  He’s got a bit of an ego, but he’s the most useful partner you’ll get.  (He also likes to use a lot of English words).
• “Try” to leave the city for a CS.
• Go out and to the left path, to Ryoushima North Field.

[10.1 - Ryoushima North Field]

• Follow the rock path up, then CS, then go stop the digging machines.
• At the bridge, draw a line from Kurou to the other side.  Kurou can float, he’s been doing it all this time did you realize? XD (I didn’t). Anyways, vine-whip yourself over. 

[10.2 - Chigaisebu ]

• Go left, left, up, deflect the demon attacks with celestial slash & push button. Proceed down.
• Chest, then go left, & open the beaded door.
• Deflect all the monsters to clear.  & continue on with the puzzle solving.
• Brush God Event: Magneto the twin whales!!!…er…I mean, Kokyokugami. Draw a U to magnetize objects together, and an upside-down U to demagnetize.
• See that moon gate /w hooks? Hmm…I don’t know if it’s going to work right now but I have the answer for this already. Anyways…Draw a > then a < then hook the two middle hooks together, press B and choose the middle option.  If it doesn’t work right now then I guess it requires you to solve the puzzle first.
• Go left by jumping up on the short ledge, push the loose metal ball from the bottom room to the top room as close as possible to the room with the enclosed balls.  Use the reverse U to demagenetize the balls and push them apart. Now do it again with the upper most ball. Doing so should send it to push the button to open the north gate.
• Go north now, and go to the second room first, the one with the blue button, then go solve the first room, the one with the red button.  That will give you the answer to the moon puzzle.
• Skull mini boss: wait for it to shoot the red balls so that you can deflect it. You can’t really hurt him otherwise.  When his ribcage is finally broken though, you can use bombs and slash as you please.
• Sorry, no boss battle yet., just a cut scene.

[11 - Agata Forest, again]

• Go get your fortune told.
• Go after the two monsters marked by a red circle on the map (if the map isn’t there, go to the menu).
• Back into the star portal you go~ Time to see Granny again ^^.
• Draw new masks, because Kurou said that you would be recognized again (no actually, he just thinks the designs are hideous).
• Talk to the quirky demon and battle for your lost wings.
• Head straight to Onibaba’s place & see a funny CS.
• Brush God Event: Kokazegami: Aang the airbender---!!!…eh, it’s just Kazegami’s fawn.
• Well, get ready for two racing events. While you can use slash and wind to slow down Onibaba, she chases you more fervently right after so try not to use it until near the end.  Running away from her is very difficult, actually.

[12 - Raien Iriguchi (entrance, mouth)]

• 1 wind mini-game event. Good luck, draw fast! You need to draw faster near the end.
• Blow rain clouds away or flush with water to clear.
• Once you reach the top, it’s another mini-game event. Slash all the notes, if they reach the top, it’s game over.
• Brush God Event: Kogekigami: (so cute omg)….well, there’s no lightning bending in Avatar so, now you can draw a line from any lightning source to another area.
• You should receive a little toy drum. This drum enables you to not get shocked by lightning; cool, no?
• Left option is to let you jump down, right option is to let you stay longer to explore.  If you choose to stay, talk to the middle guy later if you’re ready to go.

[13 - Chigaisebu, again]

• Ohhhh Kurou, stop flirting already…
• Just follow the arrows, and it’s pretty straight forward from there.
• When you get to a room with many, many doors, I know you can’t see it but just like how it is on the map, you can just walk from the right room to the left, there is an open path there.  This stupid thing had me stumped for so long, haha.
• Skull Mini boss battle: yikes, it’s these jerks again. Well, you know what to do.  But just to warn you, this time you’re facing three, one after the other.
• Next moon gate puzzle~! You can choose to do the puzzle to the left room to find the answer…or I have it here for you: just connect the top two hooks together and the bottom two hooks together, press B, middle option and voila.
• CS with Genai the Mechanic.

[Fifth Boss: Onryou-ou (Vengeful Ghost King)] (side note: depending on the kanji, Onryou can mean peaceful and amiable XD…)

• Use wind to blow him down. Avoid and dodge like no tomorrow. When he’s glowing or not glowing yellow, he’s fairly safe to attack, but when he turns purple, he’s almost invincible and ready to slash you. Dodge, run as far as you can!
• When he flies up to use his ultimate is when you should worry. If you let him prepare, he will slash you down to a quarter bar of health; it’s a very deadly attack.  When he flies up, get ready: draw a line from Kurou to his yellow flute. Kurou will fly up and suck the energy out of him.
• After that, he’s going to split and there will be two of him, good luck!  Wind is your best friend, abuse it whenever possible.  Watch out for the giant hand also, if you go to the far ends of either side you can avoid it (although you’re much, much closer to him now).
• When you’ve finally defeated him, give yourself a good pat on the back for a long battle well fought.
• After a CS, say goodbye to Kurou for now and rejoin with Kagura. Kagura will tell you that you can now use the Large Save Mirrors (marked with an “X”) to warp to previously used large save mirrors…meaning you can warp to previously visited areas.  The first place I went to was Yakushi village but you can save yourself a trip and go there second.

[14 - Seian Commoner Quarters, again]

• Warp to Seian City (fourth or fifth option, don’t remember -- sorry to those of you who cannot read, I’m at a point in the game where I cannot go to double check) and go left then north and enter the building with the blue sign. It is the apothecary house run by Aohige. Talk to him.

[15 - Yakushi Village, again]

• After the talk with Aohige, warp to Yakushi village (3rd option) and go into the path portal nearest to the save mirror. Go aaalllll the way along that path until you reach the last house to experience a CS with a sick Ayame.
• After that, I SURE HOPE YOU’VE SAVED UP YOUR MONEY because…the second merchant has set-up shop by now.  Go to the area marked by a kanji on the map in Yakushi village.  The merchant beside the weapon merchant sells technique scrolls. They are upgrades for Moegami and Bakugami’s abilities. For Moegami, you can now draw the infinity symbol (8) to create a fireball anywhere.  For Bakugami, you get to have two bombs out at once. So draw one bomb, then draw the second one immediately after.  The scrolls cost 30,000 yen each.  Also, some guy (actually a Tanuki) on the far, far left sells something for 10,000. I forgot what it was, though, sorry.
• Go back to Seian City when you’re done.

[16 - Seian City, once more]

• Warp to Seian, Commoner Quarters. Walk towards the fire podium and turn left for a CS trigger.
• Drawing a line from the ghost to the unconscious man, electrocute him to wake him up.
• After, head towards Seian Inner Quarter’s palace gates and to the left tower for a small CS.
• Go to the back of the tower and use bloom to climb up.
• CS with Mechanic Genai.
• Kagura says she’s sick of all the ruckus and tells you to go to Ryoushima North Field (so run there or warp, whichever).  RNF is the place with all the digging machines.

[17 - Ryoushima North Field, again]

• Go up the rock path on the right to see a CS with Kurou and the female scholar. They’ve just finished repairing the shrine to Onryou-ou.  …Oooh, expect some troubles from Okuro-ou (lit. Vast Dark King) now, though (the floating demonic-thing).
• Say farewell to Kagura again, and rejoin with Kurou.  Now head back to Mechanic Genai’s place for a CS. He’s making a warp machine of some sort…though it’s not really working all that well, hehe.

[18 - Kouraimaru]

• Talk to the Captain, then go talk to the old man in the Cabin for more info on Okuro-ou.  Go back and talk to the captain and he will tell you that he wants you to retrieve something from below.  Explore and travel to the very bottom of the ship.
• CS with Benkei.
• Go play with the cannon for a bit, then open the locked gate south of the cannon. Grab everything and then continue along the path to the exit.
• Give the conch to the captain he will use it to call Otohime. (yes, she’s alive…)
• CS and event with Otohime. Draw a sun on whichever points they camera directs you to.

[19 - Chigoku Shrine]

• At first it seems like you won’t fit into that tiny little shrine…well, wander around the edges of the area until you find a purple shell hidden behind a cluster of rocks.  Bloom the purple shell to acquire the Lucky Mallet. Get ready for a silly CS.
• Once inside, defeat the water lady. Use wind to blow away the water and then slash the red bead.
• After that, jump into the murky waters and be prepared for a swimming mini-game. It’s quite a long path. Take the bottom route, it’s easier.
• Star Fish Mini-Boss: just avoid all the bubbles (what is this, Touhou?) and attack the tentacles. They will turn red and eventually explode.  Keep doing it until it looses all it’s tentacles, and then you can attack its core freely.
• CS with Murasaki Shikibu after the battle with the water lady.  You then get mini hide-n-seek game with Hikaru Kenji.
• First room: he’s hiding in the paper piles on the right. Slash it.
• Now behind the rotating case, vinewhip the hook on the left display stand to the hook on the middle statue of the rotating case.
• Now the bottom left paper pile.
• Slash the folding screen now hook the two hooks together. Walk up and towards the tent.
• Gratified, the lady lets Kurou approach the Hyougoku (before you scream Bleach, hyougoku itself is just a plain noun…). Time for a CS with…ooooh, what’s this? Ushiwakamaru (Waka)!

[20 - Kouraimaru, again]

• Anyways, after many, many CSses after that, you are back on the Kouraimaru.  The captain tells you to seek and destroy the seven monsters infesting the ship.  The first two are outside, there is one in a cabin, and the remaining three are downstairs.
• Also, fix Benkei’s broken boat while you’re at it.
• When you’re done, go up to experience a CS between Kurou and…not Otohime, but Suiryuu (water dragon).

[21 - Izayoi Palace & Yamata no Orochi ]

• CS upon entering the front door. It’s tightly locked so take the left path.
• Go to the very end, get the paper masks, and continue.
• Go into the III room, and then the very last room inside of it. Kurou gets captured.
• Go to the elevator in the middle now, and slash the worker. Slashing the worker brings you down, blowing the worker with wind brings you up.
• Fill the soup bowl with water.
• In the next lower floor, slash the scroll to reveal a button.  There is one more floor below, but don’t go to it yet. Talk to the two red demons until you agree to get into a five round fight. Get the key and then go save Kurou.
• Go down to the very bottom floor.
• Bottom-most floor: hook the two hooks to open the door. You need to distance yourself in order to see the top most hook. Enter and explore for a CS with Susanoo.
• Grab the loot and then go back to talk to the monster gaurding Orochi’s room, then go to the room with the soup bowl.  Talk to the monster standing on the bridge on top of the conveyor belt and he will give you some sake to knock out the guard.
• After a crapload of more CS, you are now in the past.

[22 - Kamiki Village (100 years ago)]

• Go see Shakuya (Sakuya)
• Go down to the village, help Izanami (Kushinushi) pour water into the sake barrel.
• Leave the village, try to go up the hill towards the Torii shrine for a CS. Kurou ditches you.
• Head towards Orochi’s place and talk to the fainted boy.
• Leave, then go talk to the boy near Kamiki’s village gate, and he’ll give you something to give to Pot-Boy.  Then take your new and sixth partner (Manpuku - aka. Pot-Boy) to Izayoi’s front gate for a CS before heading off to Himuro…..but before even that, you can warp to the present using the Large save Mirrors, so warp back to Yakushi village to buy some technique scrolls, and possibly some new weapons.

[23 - Himuro]

• Make sure to grab the chest on your way in, there is a red bead key inside. It’s one of four that you need to collect. Use Pot-boy as a source of fire.
• When you get to the cannons, press A then A again to load him up and use his fire to light up the cannon.
• Eventually you will find an ice-ridden path. Pot-boy can walk over them, so just draw a path for him to wherever you need to go.
• In the room with water, just slash the pillars to make a path like you did in the first dungeon.
• Collect the three beads and so on and so forth…
• When you reach the room with the dinosaur, ignore it and keep moving.
• Go to the very end of the path to open the last treasure chest, then save and go back to the dinosaur room for a boss battle.

[ Sixth Boss: Mizuchi ] (lol..what a cute name XD)

• Slash his head; wait until he’s dizzy then slash the iceburg to slam on him.  At the same time, run back and forth to load Fat-boy into the cannon to blast him (or you can just leave him there by the cannon, but be careful, when he’s not with you, he could die).
• Fairly easy to kill Mizuchi if you time right.  The fourth time you blast him, he will put up an ice wall, just draw a fire line from fat-boy to melt it.  Afterwards, Mizuchi will be harder to attack but right after he casts his spells, you can celestial slash him.
• When the battle is done and over with…witness one of the sweetest cut-scenes in all of the game…<3<3<3<3<3<3 (it’s between Chibiterasu and a certain lovely familiar).

[24 - Izayoi Palace, again (and again)]

• Not much to do or say. Just venture and do some small battles here and there.
• When you save Okka, it’s a cut-scene with Kurou‘s return. (yay~<3)
• And yeah…after this is like 15 minutes worth of continuous cut-scenes….and then…EH, Ultimate Boss Time?!??! (prepare yourself…some of the cut scenes were super sad…it broke my heart.)

[25 - Going Against Akuro-Ou] (lit. meaning something like… Evil Entity King)

• Hmmm lots more cut-scenes now.  Anyways. Get ready to re-face Froggy, Fishy, and Evil priest boss.  Also, be sure to defeat all the monsters and collect the chests along the way.  If you haven’t bought all the technique scrolls or don’t have enough money at this point…then ~_~;;;.  You will need the fire skill in fighting Akuro-ou.
• Well, you should know how to face the first three, so I’mma go ahead and write about defeating Kurou. So you know, it’s three continuous battles from here on.
• Oh, the last monster henchman beside the save mirror, the first option is to trade fangs/shards for weapons, the second one is to buy technique scrolls, and the third one is for regular healing items. Stock and get ready!  (If you don’t have much money, I suggest only getting the fire technique at this point).

[ Seventh Boss: Kurou-kun ]

• This guy is meaaaan.  For the most part, you can’t really attack him.  Just avoid him, and when he flings out those swords at you, deflect them.  Once defected, you can go ahead and attack him.  Also, when he gets too tired out, you can attack him then, too.  Use some wind skills.

[ Eight Boss: Akuro-Ou, Spirit Form ]

• I was at a loss as to how to fight him for awhile…because I skipped text too fast, and didn’t read the most important line, so when I refaced him, I was sure to read it well.  Anyways. He’s going to switch in and out between four forms.  Fire; Ice, Lightning, and Dark.
• For Fire and Lightening, use wind to blow away his aura, then go up and slash him like no tomorrow.
• When he uses Ice, draw the infinity symbol (8)…please tell me you bought it…and well, if you didn’t, then you can just stand back a little and deflect his fire rocks.
• His hands will try to attack you now and then, avoid it.  Also, if the ground breaks, just restore it.
• When a U appears on his hands, don’t magnetize them, draw the upside down U to demagnetize it apart, so they don’t bother you.
• …but for the MOST IMPORTANT POINT; when he starts glowing purple, that means he’s in dark mode.  When that happens, run to him, ignore it even if the hands try to attack you, and slash Akuro-ou like no tomorrow. Keep slashing him until he gets dizzy because if you let him load his attack, he will blast you with this nasty purple beam that sucks up your health and restores him.
• Other than these notes, he was pretty easy and straightforward to kill.

[ Ninth Boss: Akuro-Ou, Kuroterasu form ] (Kuroterasu is a name I made up… for…it)

• Nasty piece of work fighting this one.  Although, I had a rougher time facing Yami.  Akuro-ou in comparison was easier to kill.
• Fight it using any means possible. When you use the celestial brush, open it, draw fast, and close it as quickly as possible because if you leave it running too long, Kuroterasu can disrupt your brush technique.  Fire, lightning, and wind, not so much bombs; use them at your disposal.
• For the most part, you can attack whenever, but when they start running around on the walls, just dodge and avoid.  Kuroterasu’s most disruptive skill is ice, so when that happens, draw the infinity sign to melt yourself, and burn him at the same time.
• When Kuroterasu draws the black sun, you won’t be able to use your skills. At that point in time, just do your best to slash him in the darkness. You can just button smash if you feel like it. Once he’s dizzy, quickly draw the sun to brighten up the place again.  And I mean quickly, he can still disrupt you.
• Good luck!  Once you’ve finished him off, get ready for some more tear-jerking cut scenes.

Well, that’s it! Game done!  When you get your new save file (if you choose to...I believe the top option will ask you to save over, and the bottom will ask you to not save, sorry I don‘t remember, just ask me and I will help you read it) --- you’re going to get Kuroterasu’s sword and any health/ink or money you earned.  Also, depending on how well you fought, you will be rewarded with unlockables.

If you just finished playing and you can’t read a word of what went on…well sorry, hehehehe, I won‘t tell you.  Just wait for the English game ^^<3

Comment if you need help or tips on fighting certain monsters.

Gintama

Rewatching certain favourite Gintama episodes.
I'm going to organize them based on characters.


A work in progress...

[Multi]

[Katsura]

[Hijikata & Okita/Shinsengumi]
2nd half of 35: Debute of Mayora 13. (hillarious Okita scenes)
148~149: Saw Parody

__________________________________________________________________________________

MINI REVIEWS:

Gintama 01~02:
This is a character introduction episode. You can totally skip it if you wish; the show starts on episode 03.
It starts off pretty decently though. Gintoki is ambushed by a mob of samurais and is cornered. He starts acting all macho at first and the scene turns into a serious showdown, but...he then decisively chooses to run for his life instead of fight (lol).  In anycase, this is an episode you could only really enjoy if you've already gotten to know the cast (so watch about 40 or so random episodes before you start watching this one XD...).  And for those hearing it for the first time, Pray by TommyHeavenly is one of the best anime OPs out there.  One of Gintama's best points is the music, definitely.

This episode's highlight is: "aaah, I wish I had a bankai..." (Gintoki)

--

Episode 03:

How I met your mothe--er...Gintoki, narrated by Shinpachi.  It was an okay episode. Not fantastic, but not bad either; it sets you up with the circumstances of Edo and Shin, and it also touches on the core of Gintoki's character: a lazy, uninspired, sweet-addicted Samurai (who knows when to pull through in a pinch). You can start sensing Sorakichi's weird sense of humor now when he starts drawing all these afro-freaks and shabu-shabu high-legged gorillas.  Sorakichi, you must really like gorillas?!?!?

Ah, but I love the strong women Sorakichi writes about.


This episode's highlight is: "An apology is not enough, that's why we have the seppuku system #^^" (Otae)
(little note, Tae is her name, the O is an honorific)

---

Episode 04:

Is the episode where they meet Kagura; and it starts off humourously 7 minutes in when Gin accidentally runs over Kagura. Apparently, she is being chased by her previous mob-boss; and while she and Shinpachi are trying hard to evade the henchmen, Gintoki is out desperately trying to buy Shounen Jump as if he were Jump-dehydrated (lol).

This episode's highlight is: "Aah, even living is a pain. I want to become a cheeseburger" (Hideaki Sorachi --- the author).

---

Episode 05:

Katsura's entrance this time~
Upon being a proxy deliverer for an injured mailman, Gintoki and crew heads to the Dog Embassy and unwittedly delivers a bomb made by none other than Gintoki's old friend, Katsura Kotarou (aka. Zura) the reformist (terrorist --- lol).  It is hillariously noted that while Katsura is the most straight-laced, reticent, and one of the most powerful warriors out there.......he's also an idiot.  Which makes things all the more fun ^^
(also, also, long-haired bishounen~ naiisu! Katsura is known to be bishie~)

This episode's highlight is: Yamazaki in a Prince of Tennis uniform & 3rd Year, Z class Ginpachi-sensei special at the end of the show (the smoking lollipop episode XD).

---

Episode 06:

Skipping this one because it is the Otsuu intro episode..and it is so damn boring.  Oh but do skip to after the ending song. There is a Kintoki/Kintama parody special.

---

Episode 07:

Hasegawa's episode; before he was a Madao and appearance of Baka(hata)-Ouji. It was ok, not great.
Watch the very last bit, after the ending song. Gintoki explains the name of the show...and Kagura is eating...er...space-takoyaki.

---

Episode 08:

Starts off hillariously with the main character...JUST SLEEPING. Lol, this guy...wake up already!
Ah well anyways, since Gin was sleeping, it became a 24-hour surveillance show of the Shinsengumi and they are thus filmed doing a raid. Getting past that though, this episode actually centers around "love at first stalk", when Kondo, captain of the Shinsengumi, falls madly in love with Otae and basically stalks her every moment of the day to propose to her; to which, Otae and Shinpachi responds by seeking out Gintoki for help. At this point, it is half way through the show and Gin is furious over his lack of screentime. He thus forces the unaired opening to air in the middle of the show and the story really starts rolls from that point on.  It was a good episode.

This episode's highlight is: & Ginpachi-sensei special where we once again talk about the smoking lolli but also, who stole Otae's recorder.

---

Episode 09:

7 minutes into it is when the real fun begins. Omg...I'm laughing so hard at the touch-up explanation. 12:28 is also pretty funny too.  This episode is a winner.  Also, if you're not getting the jokes, it's a language barrier, probably. Every samurai house they walk into, the realization line starts with: "----aatsu no samurai" (because they are looking for "ginpatsu no samurai" (silver-haired samurai); and when translated, the joke is lost.  It's a rhyming pun, essentially.

There is a bit of comedy, action, and some insight into Gin's swordsman ship near the end.
and also, another episode of Ginpachi sensei after the ending song. This time, Gin explains when he joined the Anti-Foreigner war.

---

Episode 10:

The episode where Kagura takes in Sadaharu. Pet-peeves, pet-fun. Also, 8:18, there is some fetish play with Okita leading Hijikata throughout town on a leash~ LOL. <3

Episode Highlight: "Please say bow-wow, Kondo-san" (Okita).
 & a 10 second Ginpachi sensei bonus at the end where he says: "don't always go thinking you'll get a bonus at the end."

---

Episode 11:

 Episode where Gin helps a dying old man look for his first love (which turns out to be Otose).
The episode is mildly entertaining and the episode highlight is probably Kagura's rapping and Gintoki's messed up Strawberry Milk speech.

Also, there is a very short, mini episode of Ginpachi sensei just before the ending song.

---

Episode 12:

I'm getting tired of writing full sentences so from now on it's point-form.
Catherine the cat burglar (literally) is introduced.
At 11:09, Shinpachi goes a little insane trying to describe (insult) Otae's cooking skills.
There's also a scene near the end that explains how Gintoki and Otose met.
Heart-felt ending~

Also, there is a little neko-mimi scene at the very end, after the next-episode preview of moe-catherine (not that you'd want to see that...)

---

Episode 13:

- Starts off with a cute (but stupid moment) of Katsura going over to Gin's place, but Sadaharu is the one to greet him instead.
- 2:50: LOOOL. Gin doesn't hold back in insulting the poor girl... I feel bad, all the ham jokes really are funny.
- 7:11: I know it's kind of an urgent situation but...WASH YOUR HANDS, DAMMIT.
- The main villain of the Harusame space pirates for this episode is....OCD????
- Also, everyone in this series loves to watch TV dramas.
- Captain Katsura. Enough said.

---

Gintama 14:

- Ah...first part is the Shinsengumi trying to save Amanto-Froggy; second half is Kagura and Soyo, the shogunate's little sister.
- Highlight of this episode is Yorozuya's cooking show just before the ending, and a new ending song; Mr. Raindrop (which I love to death).

---

Gintama 15: * <--star indicates highly re-watchable episode.

- Sakamoto sends Katsura the mysterious space creature Elizabeth as a present.
- Gintoki and Katsura, as well as Sadaharu and Elizabeth compete head to head in a Best-Pet competition.
- The ending is...??? Shocking.

---

Episode 16: Hasegawa Madao episode.

- Uninterested.

---

Episode 17: Karakuri Gennai episode.

- First appearance of Gennai and (one of) the main villain, Takasugi.
- Sob-story. The ending there touched me.
- 10 second Ginpachi-sensei short after the preview.


---

Episode 18: Panty-Theif episode.

- 11:30 into the show..soooo funny omg.
- 12:30 Kagura is either wearing Lee's outfit or Kill Bill...
- Pretty (stupid) funny episode overall.

 ---

Episode 19: Beaches and Sea Monsters

- 20 sec Ginpachi-sensei short at the beginning where Gin answers why he hears the same outfit.
- After losing badly in Pachinko, Hasegawa and Gin go brooding by the bushes until they overheard a rumor about a sea monster at the beach; and where there are sea monsters, there will be a bounty!  Overall, not that interesting of an episode, though...
- 20:10 into the show; hillarious scene with Gin and Shinpachi
- 10 sec short at the end where Gin contemplates wearing something new for a change.

---

Episode 20: * Ghosts, Ghosts, Ghosts~ and Mosquitoes?

- from start until 4 minutes into the episode....HILLARIOUS ghost story scenes with the Shinsengumi. First part is Ghost-story telling which is interrupted by Hijikata, and second part is Sougo cursing him.
- Omg hahaha..this entire episode is funny.  And re-watchable too.
- Stay for after the next-ep-preview to see a 10-second short of Hijikata. It's worth it.

---

Episode 21: Of Fans and Kappas

- Boring, skip it.

---

Episode 22: Sacchan's Appearance

- Ahhm. Mildly entertaining.

---

Episode 23: Sakamoto Tatsuma's Appearance *

- Very funny episode ^3^ you also get an insight into Gintoki's past, a little.
- Sakamoto's laughter is contagious, lol!
- 10 Gintoki short near the end.

---

Episode 24: Paako & Zurako, entering!

- Pfft. 0_0 this episode is good just for the crossplay.

Shiki Anime: Guide & Commentary (actually, I'm just ranting)

Wow...this is gonna go by fast but what the hay.

Acclaimed as the series with most potential of the season, Shiki kicks start the Summer season with a not-so bad introduction episode. To the very least, it had the most balanced one.

From the artist who brought to you Houshin Engi and the author who brought to you Ghost Hunt and Juuni Kokki, it's one hell of a series~ (hey, it's got Gackt AND Lady Gaga, fair reason enough?)


Now before you start the series, throw out the following assumptions:
- That Yuuki Natsuno is the main character, or that anyone is the main character. There are multiple main characters, that's Ono-sensei's writing preference. Just like with Ghost Hunt and Juuni Kokki, there were always more than one main character.
- That you gotta remember everyone's names. You don't, really...and it's obvious why because most of the characters are going to drop dead like flies one after the next.
- (in reply to another reviewer's criticism) That the designs are too fruity and forced. No. Just...no. I sometimes find reviewers who criticize Fujisaki-sensei by saying he tries to hard to make the characters look interesting...when it's actually the opposite, he's being lazy about it! This artist IS A FRUITY NUTCAKE, and he draws these bizarre characters almost effortlessly. Criticism should be backed up with knowledge and history. It's alright to say it doesn't seem to fit the serious atmosphere of the story, but misguided assumptions leads to a biased judgement. (Like that jerk reviewer who compared Switch's character design to Code Geass even though Switch came out before Geass). For the record, though, I've never seen an entire anime cast of over 100 normal folk characters look so distinct from one another. It's more logical to think that it's better that they do look overly unique because most of the villagers drop out of the picture and reappear several volumes later on.  The more memorable they look, the easier it is for you to at least remember their face, not so much their names so that you can go, "ah I remember seeing this guy dying earlier...!!"
- And lastly...That the characters need to be likable. They don't. :) start the killing spree, now.

We're covered, yeah? Good, got it, great!