Category Archives: 2023
Manga Monday: The Way of the Househusband Volume #1
Today we are reviewing a manga I have wanted to review for a few years now. From the second I saw this manga, I knew I would review it one day. During my college days, Jessica was the one working while I stayed in school. It felt like it was made for me, haha. The Way of the Househusband was written by Kousuke Oono and published by Viz Media.
The Way of the Househusband tracks the daily life of Tatsu, a former Yakuza member. Tatsu was ruthless during his gang days, earning him the name “The Immortal Dragon”. However, those days are far behind him. He has turned his life around. His wife is now a hot shot business lady. As a result, he tends to everything around the house. He cleans the house. He prepares his wife’s lunch. He buys the groceries. If it needs to be done, he does it without question, with unwavering pride and honor of his wife. It is truly respectable. He was at the top of his game, the most respected and feared man in the gang scene. Yet, he walked away from it all to protect what was precious to him.
Plot: This is a very fast past manga. Most chapters hover around 14 pages but feel shorter than that. Each chapter is simply a day in the life of. The opening chapter is literally Tatsu getting pulled over for trying to get his wife’s lunch to her (as she forgot it at home rushing out the door). Another chapter centers around Tatsu shopping for a present for his wife’s birthday. There’s some chapters revolving around running into former gang members, both rivals and allies. The mundane, daily life chapters use the absurd irony of a yakuza member doing all these innocent task to generate its humor. The gang chapters have a certain way of playing out. Tatsu runs into his former ally and a rival gang at the same time. Tatsu is easily the scariest guy in the room. The humor here is that Tatsu could kill anyone in the scenes at the snap of the finger, but he’s the only one not looking to fight. This gets all the people involved in some weird situations.
Characters: The Way of the House Husband features 3 main characters (and a revolvong door of rival gang members); Tatsu, the house husband, Masa, Tatsu’s former ally, members of the rival gang who appear in a few episodes, and Miku, Tatsu’s wife. The gang member isn’t really fleshed out super well. He shows up to cause trouble and creates some irony and humor. Masa appears in a few chapters. He idolizes Tatsu as a rock star in the gang scene. He looks up to Tatsu. Masa studies Tatsu believing the way of the house husband is the way the way of the yakuza. He honestly does help provide a nice change of pace for the settings and situation of the individual chapters. Tatsu is always trying to be efficient with his time and purposeful with his task. Masa helps throw in curveballs that set up some wacky adventures for the two. Not much is known about Miku other than she is a successful businesswoman and that she loves Policure.
The World: I won’t waste time here. It is just Japan through the eyes of a once murderous gang lord turned awkward house husband.
This is a great page turner. The chapters are fast paced, off the wall and pretty light hearted most of the of the time. It has a nice blend of slapstick humor, situational irony and just general goofiness. Nothing here is too deep. This means I strongly recommend it for people looking for a good comedy that doesnt take itself too serious. If that sounds like a good time, you should definitely check it out!
So, let me know what mangas I should do next? Are you going to check this one out? Let me know in the comments below!
Remember you can start your investment journey on Robinhood and we can both get free stocks! https://join.robinhood.com/wesleyh-69f6fa
Thank you guys for reading! Have a great day!
My Recent Video Game Pick Ups!
As some of you may remember, I made a post saying I would be showing off my video game picks up. Well, today is that day! We got games I’ve wanted to play for a while now. We also picked up some heavy hitters. Check these out!
Oh, boy! The next installment in the Zelda series. It’s a darn good one. I’m enjoying it more than BOTW, but both are amazing games.
Pokemon Rumble Blast is a game I’ve wanted for what feels like forever. I found this game at my LGS about 2 years ago. Only they had lost the key to the showcase it was in. Well, recently, they found that key, haha. It’s a game I’m glad to have in my collection, finally!
This was a game I loved as a kid. My brother and I no-lifed this game. It taught me a lot about the Marvel universe. I now work at a comic book store, and this game helped guide me down this route. Now, my wife and I love the MCU and talking comics. I’ve been wanting to play this awesome beat em up with her for almost a decade.
Now on to the heavy hitters! Castlevania among the other 2 does seem kinda dudish, but I was able to pick up both Castlevania games at an absolute deal! I did pay retail for Ogre Battle 64, but it was super clean. Admittedly, I’m a lot more interested in trying Castlevania over Ogre Battle. That’s mostly because I’m into action adventure games more so than RPGs. However, the N64 is starved for RPGs, so I’m glad to have one of the few! These two join the likes of Beast Wars, Bomberman 2nd Attack and Conker as some of my biggest hitters on the console!
So that’s my haul, guys! What do yall think of these? What systems or games do you collect? Let me know in the comments down below!
Thank you guys for reading and have a great day!
5 GameCube Hidden Gems According to chatGPT!
Hey guys! ChatGPT is all the rage while we wait for AI to overthrow us. I decided to take advantage of it to create a list of 5 hidden gems found on the GameCube. I asked it to create this list in a script format similar to a Youtube video. Here’s the list it came up with:
Would you rather watch this as a Youtube video instead of reading it? Check it out here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q7opP61IpTw
GameCube Hidden Gems!
ChatGPT
[INTRO MUSIC PLAYS]
Host: “Hey, gamers! Welcome back to our channel, where we uncover hidden gaming treasures. Today, we’re diving deep into the Nintendo GameCube library to bring you five hidden gems that you may have missed. So grab your controllers, because it’s time to explore some fantastic games that deserve more attention. Let’s get started!”
[TRANSITION EFFECT]
Host: “Our first hidden gem for today is ‘Eternal Darkness: Sanity’s Requiem.‘ This psychological horror game takes you on a twisted journey through the ages, where you’ll battle ancient evils and unravel a captivating narrative. What sets this game apart is its unique sanity system that messes with your mind. Be prepared for hallucinations, camera tricks, and even fake game crashes! It’s a chilling and immersive experience that will keep you on the edge of your seat.”
Host: “Next up, we have ‘Skies of Arcadia: Legends.’ This fantastic role-playing game originally released on the Dreamcast, but the enhanced GameCube version brought its captivating world to a wider audience. In this epic adventure, you’ll become a young sky pirate, exploring vast skies, discovering hidden treasures, and engaging in thrilling turn-based battles. With its charming characters, memorable story, and beautiful visuals, ‘Skies of Arcadia Legends’ is a true gem for RPG enthusiasts.”
Host: “Moving on, we have a unique blend of action, strategy, and puzzle-solving in ‘Pikmin 2.‘ This sequel to the beloved ‘Pikmin’ series brings back Captain Olimar and introduces a new character, Louie, as they venture through lush environments, commanding armies of adorable plant-like creatures called Pikmin. With its charming art style, clever level design, and addictive gameplay, ‘Pikmin 2’ offers a refreshing and enjoyable experience that shouldn’t be overlooked.”
Host: “Our fourth hidden gem is ‘Baten Kaitos: Eternal Wings and the Lost Ocean.’ This visually stunning and unique role-playing game takes place in a world where islands float in the sky. You’ll embark on an unforgettable journey as a young guardian spirit, joining forces with other heroes to uncover the secrets of the mystical Magnus cards. The game’s card-based battle system adds a strategic layer to the gameplay, making it a captivating and refreshing RPG experience.”
Host: “Last but not least, we have a racing game that combines speed, style, and a whole lot of fun—’F-Zero GX.’ Developed by Sega, this futuristic racer delivers high-octane action as you pilot ultra-fast vehicles through gravity-defying tracks. With its intense gameplay, jaw-dropping visuals, and a killer soundtrack, ‘F-Zero GX’ provides an adrenaline rush like no other. So buckle up and prepare for an unforgettable racing experience!”
Host: “And that wraps up our list of five GameCube hidden gems that you should definitely check out. Whether you’re a fan of horror, RPGs, strategy, or racing, the GameCube has something for everyone. So dust off your old console or fire up that emulator and dive into these fantastic games that deserve more recognition. Thanks for watching, and don’t forget to like, comment, and subscribe for more hidden gaming gems. Until next time, happy gaming!”
[OUTRO MUSIC PLAYS]
So that’s the list chatGPT came up with. Overall, I think it’s an okay list, but nothing groundbreaking in 2023. Pikmin 2 is far from a hidden gem. F-Zero, Eternal Darkness and Skies of Arcadia strike me as cult classics, more so than hidden gems. Baten Kaitos is still probably considered a hidden gem for now. But even it is getting a port to the Switch. With that in mind, I’m not sure how much longer it’ll stay that way.
How would you guys rate this collection of games? What did yall think of chatGPTs collection of games? I’ll probably do more of these with other consoles such as the N64, PS2 or even the Switch.
Remember you can start your investment journey on Robinhood and we can both get free stocks! https://join.robinhood.com/wesleyh-69f6fa
Thank you guys for reading! Be sure to check out the YouTube video that covers this same topic!
Ranking Every Star in Jolly Roger Bay
Oh boy. I’ve been putting this one off for a while because this level is just not fun. Atmospherically speaking, it’s one my favorites. But as far as actually playing the level, big meh.
So, for those of you unaware, I’ve been doing a series of ranking every star in Mario 64 stage by stage. Make sure you read the previous installments after this one. Okay, now let’s get on with the list.
#7 Can the Eel Come Out and Play- When I make my overall ranking, I’ll be interested to see where this one ranks. This star is awful. It’s entirely underwater. You have to lure out an eel and grab the star off its tell. Conceptually, I don’t hate it. It feels somewhat unique compared to the other 120 stars. In practice, I hate it. Yes, there’s a camera angle trick that makes this star easy to grab. But this has got to be one of the 5 stars I die the most on. If you miss initially grabbing the tail, chasing him down can be a pain. If you get hit by his tail, you are almost guaranteed to be a goner. And not to mention, once you grab the star off his tail, it’s not over yet. The star floats away off screen. You better make sure you still have enough air to make it to it.
#6 Blast to the Stone Pillar – This star isn’t much better. There’s just not much to it. The cannon is at the start of the map. Once in, you launch straight to the pillar. Then, you jump from pillar over to the platform. It’s pretty straightforward. However, if you miss with the cannon, you must swim all the way back to the cannon.
#5 Through the Jet Stream– This is another straightforward star. It’s almost too simple. Once you’ve unlocked the metal cap, this one is a gimme. You grab the metal cap and proceed to sink to the bottom of the lake. That’s it.
#4 Jolly Roger Bay 100 Coin Power Star- This is one of the worst 100 coin stars in the game. There’s only 104 coins in this stage. This means that if you fail to grab a single blue coin, it is impossible to get this star. Or you could be stuck trying to find the star rings on the water. Or if you fail to grab the coins from defeated enemies, out of luck. It’s not a super difficult star, but you do have to play nearly perfect.
#3 Plunder in the Sunken Ship- Truthfully, the first part of this level is not my favorite. Traversing the more open part of the lake can be chore. Then there’s the matter of swimming to the bottom of the lake. The worst part, by far, is getting that Eel out of the sunken ship. It is not fun. Once he’s out of the way, the rest of the star is okay. You enter the ship. From here, I lower the water and swim as far up the interior as I can. Now, do some platforming, and you’re at the star. The Eel hurts this one from going any higher. Yet, the slight exploration and platforming help it.
#2 8 Red Coins – Ultimately, I’m okay with this star. I wish the floating ship was a more fleshed out part of the stage. As the ship only hosts about half the red coins. The rest are found littered throughout the course. This one has a nice mix of exploration, platforming, and collecting. On another course, it probably won’t score this high. However, I don’t think super highly of the rest of the stars on this course.
#1 Treasure of the Open Cave – The only star I really like doing on this course. This star is exactly what I’m looking for in a stage. It highly encourages exploration, combat, and collecting. It highlights the unique feature of the stage, the giant lake. It’s not the best star in the game or anything, but I enjoy the cave. It’s the N64, and I’m not expecting a lot. So, for the time period, the cave is sweet. It’s got blue coins, some combat, and a puzzle ending with you snagging a star.
So this is by far one of my 5 least favorite levels in the game. And honestly, has probably my least favorite collection of stars in the game. The atmosphere is a slight redeeming quality, but it doesn’t hold up the subpar selection of stars.
Remember you can start your investment journey on Robinhood and we can both get free stocks! https://join.robinhood.com/wesleyh-69f6fa
So thank you guys so much for reading. Have a great rest if your night!
3 Big N64 Games Added to the Collection! PLUS Spiderman: Across the Spiderverse
Hey guys. Tomorrow, I plan to do a post talking about 3 new N64 games I recently added to the collection. 2 are pretty big games, and 1 is a little more commonish. Either way, I’m pretty excited to show those off.
So, if you like N64 heavy hitters, you’ll want to tune in tomorrow. I’ll also talk about some other games, including a new Switch game!
I also saw Spiderman: Across the Spiderverse. I absolutely loved this film. It was so stylistic and bold. The characters were top notched. The setting and use of colors were next level. I don’t really have any serious complaints about it. To me, it’s a near 10 out of 10.
What are yalls thoughts on the new Spiderman? Let me know in the comments below! Have a great day, and thanks for reading!
Pikmin 4 is Almost Here!
Nintendo just stealth dropped the latest trailer for Pikmin 4, one of Nintendo’s wackier but beloved franchises..
Haven’t seen the trailer yet? Catch it here: https://youtu.be/6ixnXjtQ7f8
Pikmin 4 was teased almost a year ago and will be out later next month, July 21, 2023. This reminds me of how Nintendo was releasing Switch games very quickly following their original announcements, Paper Mario on Switch comes to mind.
The new updated art style and character creation really stole the show this time around. This is probably the best-looking Pikmin game in the series, which I suppose is expected, but it’s still good to see. It is also the first game in the franchise to experiment with character customization. This is coming off the backs of Pikmin 3. Pikmin 3 went all GTA 5 and allowed the player to switch between 3 different, pre-built captains.
Admittedly, I’m not the biggest Pikmin fan. The game is just too stressful for me, haha. I don’t like the time limit or watching my little Pikmin die in vicious and painful ways. However, my wife loves the series. With that in mind, I assume we will be pre-ordering the game next month.
So what are yalls thoughts on the latest entry so far? Did you enjoy the polished look? Are you excited for the new character creation feature? Will you be pre-ordering this one? Let me know in the comments down below!
Thanks for reading! Have a great day!
Join Robinhood with my link and we’ll both pick our own free stock 🤝 https://join.robinhood.com/wesleyh-69f6fa
Da_Hubbz 