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Humanity and Moyashimon are the first summer shows to take a bow. Frankly, they should have been pulled off the stage sooner. In fact, most of the shows this week take a sharp dip in quality, with the noteable exceptions of Tari Tari and Eureka.

Glen Update 2: Glen will be back on the next podcast to review Persona 26, answer listener questions and discuss the fall preview (which will be a bonus episode this time).

Please email listener questions to bakacast[at]projectharuhi.net or leave them in the comments below.

Time Index

• 00:53 – Space Bros 24
• 07:10 – Eureka Seven AO 20
• 11:15 – Tari Tari 12
• 15:31 – Humanity Has Declined 12
• 23:42 – Moyashimon Returns 11
• 28:00 – Sword Art Online 11
• 37:07 – Black Heaven 11
• 54:42 – ED: supersonic (by she)

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A spinoff of a slice-of-life show that’s about a group of five friends who use their incredibly specific talents to bring music back to a fantasy land?

Yeah, sure, why not. I’ve watched weirder (and more terrible) shows.

Glen Update: We just recorded the next episode of Bakacast today, and Glen is not on it. He will likely not catch up on the rest of this season in time to talk about the final episodes of the shows we’ve been covering. However, he will be back on the NEXT next episode (the one we’ll record on the 26th) to at least talk about our impressions of the Fall season.

Please email listener questions to bakacast[at]projectharuhi.net or leave them in the comments below.

Time Index

• 00:52 – Space Bros 23
• 04:18 – Eureka Seven AO 19
• 07:32 – Tari Tari 11
• 12:29 – Humanity Has Declined 11
• 15:04 – Moyashimon Returns 10
• 22:36 – Sword Art Online 10
• 31:49 – Black Heaven 10
• 38:35 – Listener questions
• 54:42 – ED: Styleships (mashup of Gangnam Style and Starships)

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While many other Guild Wars 2 players are choosing Weaponsmithing or Huntsman for their crafting profession, I have chosen the secret best one.

Cooking.

I’m glad to know that the best character in Sword Art Online agrees with me.

Unfortunately, Glen is not yet back for this episode and–SPOILER ALERT–will not be on the next podcast, either. We’re hoping he’ll be caught up for the podcast we’ll record on September 19.

Please email listener questions to bakacast[at]projectharuhi.net or leave them in the comments below.

Time Index

• 01:06 – Space Bros 22
• 07:53 – Eureka Seven AO 18
• 15:03 – Tari Tari 10
• 20:32 – Humanity Has Declined 10
• 23:08 – Moyashimon Returns 9
• 28:49 – Sword Art Online 9
• 35:23 – Black Heaven 9
• 39:17 – Listener questions
• 1:00:45 – ED: Finale (by Madeon)

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Here’s a point in Eureka Seven AO’s favor: when presented with the “twist” of the timeline changing, it takes Ao only five minutes to figure out what’s happening, whereas Kyon (from The Disappearance of Haruhi) took about 40.

Three cheers for smart protagonists.

Also, if any of you Bakacast fans are playing Guild Wars 2, feel free to add my ID (Stilts.5927) to your contacts list.

Please email listener questions to bakacast[at]projectharuhi.net or leave them in the comments below.

Time Index

• 01:06 – Eureka Seven AO 17
• 10:36 – Tari Tari 9
• 16:46 – Humanity Has Declined 9
• 28:16 – Moyashimon Returns 8
• 34:35 – Sword Art Online 8
• 40:31 – Black Heaven 8
• 51:31 – ED: Crossing Field (Sword Art Online)

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Now, I understand that a lot of the appeal of MMOs is in coming together as a huge group to take down a massive boss.

But some of us just like to craft virtual clothes so we can play dress-up with virtual people.

Is that so wrong?

Please email listener questions to bakacast[at]projectharuhi.net or leave them in the comments below.

Time Index

• 00:05 – OP: Dreamer (Tari Tari)
• 02:19 – Space Bros 21
• 06:43 – Eureka Seven AO 16
• 11:28 – Tari Tari 8
• 19:32 – Humanity Has Declined 8
• 25:31 – Moyashimon Returns 7
• 30:11 – Sword Art Online 7
• 38:46 – Oda Nobuna no Yabou 7
• 42:59 – Black Heaven 7
• 48:26 – Listener questions
• 1:07:16 – ED: Shiokaze no Harmony (Tari Tari)

And as I promised to do in the listener questions, click the jump to see my recommendations for recent PC games you need to play.

Continue reading →

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Sadly, my return to Bakacast also marks Glen’s short hiatus. Thankfully, Larry continues to be our old standby, so he joins me so I don’t have to ramble to myself constantly.

I mean, I do that anyway, but not nearly as much as I would have needed to.

On this episode, Tari Tari continues to be the secret best show of the season, Humanity completely baffles us, Moyashimon finally develops an interesting plotline and Nobuna gets one more chance to prove it hasn’t become a completely irredeemable piece of crap.

Please email listener questions to bakacast[at]projectharuhi.net or leave them in the comments below.

Time Index

• 00:05 – OP: A Proper Story (Bastion OST)
• 02:12 – Space Bros 20
• 08:40 – Tari Tari 7
• 19:28 – Humanity Has Declined 7
• 25:05 – Moyashimon Returns 6
• 29:36 – Sword Art Online 6
• 39:19 – Oda Nobuna no Yabou 6
• 42:52 – Black Heaven 6
• 50:40 – Listener questions
• 55:59 – ED: Spike in a Rail (Bastion OST)

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Normally I’d be loathe to use the exact same title parody so soon after the first one, but, well, I just got back from vacation and am too lazy to care much.

Similarly, I was too lazy to actually listen to whatever Larry and Glen recorded (and Aaron edited). So I’m just gonna assume it’s quality stuff. Also Larry probably makes a tortured metaphor.

Please email listener questions to bakacast[at]projectharuhi.net or leave them in the comments below.

Time Index

• 00:50 – Space Bros 19
• 06:09 – Tari Tari 6
• 10:51 – Humanity Has Declined 6
• 14:37 – Oda Nobuna no Yabou 5
• 20:50 – Moyashimon Returns 5
• 25:58 – Sword Art Online 5
• 31:27 – Black Heaven 5
• 37:30 – Listener questions

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Now, I realize that I have an obsession with comparing new characters to existing ones, and that sometimes I reach a bit too far.

But seriously.

Nobuna’s brother is literally a Sengoku-period Gary Oak.

Which once again makes me wonder how Gary was always so successful. Was it his charisma? His connections to Pokecelebrities? His hair? Or maybe his huge…collection of Pokemon?

Yeah, that’s it.

His huge collection of Pokemon. Chicks love a massive Pokedex.

Please email listener questions to bakacast[at]projectharuhi.net or leave them in the comments below.

Time Index

• 00:02 – OP: Open Your Heart (Sonic Generations)
• 02:17 – Space Bros 18
• 08:14 – Eureka Seven AO 15
• 13:11 – Tari Tari 5
• 19:29 – Humanity Has Declined 5
• 24:23 – Moyashimon Returns 4
• 30:08 – Sword Art Online 4
• 36:56 – Oda Nobuna no Yabou 4
• 47:09 – Black Heaven 4
• 51:47 – Listener questions
• 1:19:21 – ED: Rooftop Run ~Classic~ (Sonic Generations)

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UN Operations Report #170

I can’t help but feel this project was intentionally sunk.

Technically, the TSF testing is proceeding according to plan. Spending has not outstripped the base’s budget, there are no resource concerns and all test-results are recorded and analyzed according to proper procedure in a timely fashion. Everything should be operating smoothly.

However, the decisions made regarding base personnel are baffling. Of the six pilots recruited, one is contrarian and competitive to the point of being virtually impossible to cooperate with, one seems to have crippling self-esteem issues that interfere with his job, one is disturbingly enthusiastic about shooting down her fellow test pilots, and one has so little critical-thinking capacity that she did not understand that bringing the American pilot into a top-secret Russian facility would be a bad idea. It doesn’t help that their supervisor is more focused on lecturing them than attempting to foster team cohesion. If things continue as they are, the resulting interpersonal friction is likely to bring the entire project to its knees.

This can’t simply be bad luck. Psych reports are readily available for pilots with their length of service. Anyone with half a brain would know better than to put them all on the same team. I suspect that one or more people within the project are attempting to sabotage it. My professional recommendation is to return the problematic personnel back to where we found them and halt all testing until suitable replacements can be found.

Please email listener questions to bakacast[at]projectharuhi.net or leave them in the comments below.

Time Index

• 00:03 – OP: Go to the Top (Muv-Luv Alternative: Total Eclipse)
• 02:21 – Space Bros 17
• 10:21 – Eureka Seven AO 14
• 18:53 – Tari Tari 4
• 24:30 – Humanity Has Declined 4
• 30:37 – Muv-Luv Alternative: Total Eclipse 4 (DROPPED)
• 38:15 – Moyashimon Returns 3
• 43:54 – Natsuyuki Rendezvous 3 (DROPPED)
• 46:43 – Sword Art Online 3
• 57:02 – Oda Nobuna no Yabou 3
• 1:08:11 – Black Heaven 3
• 1:13:59 – Listener questions
• 1:46:01 – ED: Pegasus Fantasy ~21st Century Version~ (by Make-Up)

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The year is 5581.

Humanity is extinct. The skyscrapers that were monuments to our civilization have long since toppled, plant life covering and eroding them. Our computers are dead, vast amounts of stored data erased by time and collapse of our digital networks. But all is not lost. Scouts from an alien world–excited to finally find another planet like their own–carefully dig through, inspect and catalogue the ruins, hoping to learn more about the species that was here before them.

One alien, sifting through the remains of a house, suddenly calls out to the rest of his search party. After days of constant searching he is the first one to find a fully intact book. His colleagues rush over, eager to witness the momentous occasion for anthropology. The alien gently turns the pages, flipping to the middle.

Two men–one soft and effeminate, one rough and masculine–are locked in a tender, naked embrace. Their eyes twinkle with desire, and flower petals frame the panel. This is our legacy.

Truly, we have become our own Romans.

Please email listener questions to bakacast[at]projectharuhi.net or leave them in the comments below.

Time Index

• 00:06 – OP: Days (Eureka Seven)
• 02:37 – Ys Origin
• 07:39 – Larry’s Eureka Seven Marathon
• 08:41 – Glen’s (Future) Vacation
• 11:27 – Space Bros 16
• 15:18 – Eureka Seven AO 13
• 23:35 – Tari Tari 3
• 28:32 – Humanity Has Declined 3
• 31:26 – Muv-Luv Alternative: Total Eclipse 3
• 34:54 – Binbou-gami ga 2 (DROPPED)
• 37:35 – Natsuyuki Rendezvous 2
• 42:38 – Campione 2
• 46:07 – Moyashimon Returns 2
• 50:37 – Sword Art Online 2
• 55:49 – Oda Nobuna no Yabou 1 & 2
• 58:06 – Black Heaven 2
• 1:04:30 – Listener questions
• 1:23:36 – ED: Paradoxical Zoo (Aquarion EVOL)