Unfiltered japanese internet culture

here are two videos from youtube based around bizzare japanese memes. I really don't have time to try and make something intelligent sounding up about these, so I'll let all 2 of our readers draw their own conclusions.   スマブラxで男女 is a song with lyrics about confusing boys and girls, this other one is just smash bros brawl characters dancing to some sort of terrifying pop song. This may or may not meet with peoples tastes, but what the heck, it's the internet.

psycho mantis

I hope people will forgive my excitable nature, but I probably like and appreciate Psycho Mantis as person more than a lot of people in real life. guess that tells you something about me if you know who mantis is. also, I couldn't sleep tonight b/c people were talking loud outside my room, so if the post is a little disorganized or just cuts out, 本当にすみません(that's "I'm truly sorry" in japanese) 

Anyways, about my good pal. Firstly, his name "Psycho Mantis". This name tells you so much about him from the very beginning. The "Psycho" speaks not only to his powers but his twisted view of the world. What makes Mantis's psychosis so interesting is it's logical basis Depending on the person interacting with him, it may make him appear a brilliant, if mis-anthropic, or if you fear him more than respect him, his utter hatred for mankind can seem so extreme as to rob him of his humanity.

Secondly, he has curiously strong fashion sense. When we first see mantis he is levitating behind snake's ally/love-interest, Meryl. He is dressed in a full trench-coat with straps that pull it so tight to his body at parts, that they seem to cut into him. His face is utterly obscured by a gasmask with orange lenses. If I saw Mantis walking down the street I would probably peg him as a cosplay nerd, or goth gone horribly awesome. Neither, I feel, is too far from the truth. Mantis clearly loves putting on a show, which is interesting, since he seems to hate people. The coat, while it covers him, is also a way to draw attention. Nothing quite says "nut-job" like a guy who goes around all the time wearing a gasmask. But Mantis is a nut-job, and he wants you to know it. A practical meaning behind the mask is given, that it acts as "psychic insulation" to prevent Mantis from constantly have to listen to people's thoughts.

 Mantis is such a powerful "psychic" as he can't STOP reading minds unless he consciously blocks them out. Now, having freudian psychology force-fed to me for the past two years makes me want to analyze this a little closer(thanks a-lot freud. asshole) What if Mantis were meant to symbolize someone so sensitive to others problems and feelings that he is incapable of ignoring them. I, have actually had this problem, as have others in my family. Constantly having to think about other people's psychological bullshit can put a real strain on you, especially if you have problems of your own, and mantis has some seriously screwy shit going on. For a hi-larious and startlingly faithful representation of mantis and fox hound read the webcomic Last Days of Foxhound. here's the dude's blurb on Mantis: "Psycho Mantis' name refers not to his mental health - although that's certainly questionable - but to his powerful mastery of psychokinesis and telepathy. Or, alternatively, telekinesis and psychopathy. Either way, really. Also, for reasons he won't discuss, he's instinctively repulsed by females. He's not gay, just... I don't know. Weird. His gasmask prevents the moment to moment thoughts of everyone in the whole damn world from popping into his head. Think about it - would you want to hear what that creepy guy next to you on the subway is thinking? Of course not." 

It's funny because it's true. I think I'll leave stuff here for now, but I definately have more to say on this stuff.

Metal Gear Solid: Tactical Analytical Essay

firstly I will post a link to a hilarious and extraordinarily intelligent forum thread from my good friend jack, who from here on will be referred to as Mr.Jack. Mr.Jack has been good enough to lend me all 3 metal gears: Metal Gear Solid:Twin Snakes, MGS II:Substance, and MGS III:Subsistance. It is my own goal to replay through the entire series again before 4 and pay as close attention to everything I can, such that I sort of know what's going on. It's like that with a lot of things I like. Metal Gear Solid is such a well crafted gem that each installment seems to come farther and farther apart, and yet each time Hideo Kojima outdoes himself. Metal Gear has changed the way I have looked at videogames and even the world, as a good piece of media should.

I will go into a little personal history here, so if that's boring skip this paragraph, especially if you know me(doug). My first time playing Metal Gear was in fact seeing my friend who had it on Gamecube and him letting me try it. I believe I was in middle school at the time, regardless of what age it was, my tastes in media were just beginning to develop. I was not allowed yet to play M rated games or see R rated movies, so my tastes were still juvenile at best. My friend Chris had no such restrictions and was able to obtain a remake of what was apparently the defining games of the PS1. When I first was shown it I was fascinated, I had only seen a few R rated movies before this and here was an incredibly dark, yet intelligent game. I distinctly remember trying the first part of the game and completely and utterly sucking at it. Not only was this game smart, it was hard. Looking back and replaying through it myself i would certainly say Solid Snake is built for the PS2 dualshock controller. The whole reason my friend Chris has bought Sony game systems, up until the absurd $600 price-tag on the PS3 was Metal Gear. 

The hour grows late. I will try to continue my essay sometime this week, most likely thursday or friday. Hope someone on the internet has enjoyed what I have to say so far...

Sincerely,

Vladbad 

Why Solid Snake matters