Well, I’ve always wanted to get my lengthy observations out there regarding Ouendan and EBA, so here it is (although I’m sure I’ll think of more to add later and kick myself for forgetting it. *sigh*). I realize I’m repeating myself a little from the wretched thread that inspired this post but, considering that thread has been corrupted and the OP showed their true character by deciding to turn away attention from how lousy EBA is and personally insult me, I want to state my opinions on a “pure” thread.

First off, let’s start with the characters. The Ouendans’ looks, although unique and cause them to stand out, make them look distinguished, quite handsome in their own ways, and aren’t so out there that it couldn’t be feasible that a real person may resemble any of them. In EBA, they dropped the ball. The Agents are terrible clones given bad hairdos (and in regards to Spin a skin color change to try and add diversity) and just look plain goofy. Cheiftan looks like Jessie Ventura in a cowboy hat and Fox looks really disgusting with gray hair. Why on earth would a young woman have her hair that color? Furthermore, it’s hard to get attached to the Agents because of their dark glbumes. Eyes are the windows to the soul, applying to even video game characters, after all. In regards to the Divas, their outfits are ridiculous. Since they’re not dressed like cheerleaders their pompoms are highly out of place and just look foolish. Unlike the Ouendan, the Agents and Divas don’t seem to feel empathy for those they are helping. Saito and Suzuki are actually seen shedding tears and Kaoru’s squad are visibly emotional in Ouendan 2 after helping the ice skater.

Let’s address the whole cheer squad, agent issue. If a trio of government agents burst into my room, after I let out a cry of frustration, and started trying to get my to wave my arms in the air before they started dancing around like idiots, I’d just stare and wonder How the heck is this supposed to help me? . Now, if a trio of Ouendan popped out of somewhere and started cheering me on to accomplish my goal, sticking around until I did so, that would be different and actually makes sense since I’d be fired-up and have faith in myself. Granted, IRL I’d call the police, but I’m speaking in terms of the Ouendan and EBA universes. Silly dancing= stupid, pointless, and makes no sense. Cheering= Cool, heartwarming, and inspiring…

..The music in EBA is horrid. Not only the selection but the people they have covering it. It sounds like they found the cheapest voice talent as possible to sing the songs which ruined the few good choices, such as Cher’s Believe , the only pbumable one being the singers for You’re the Inspiration . True, popular songs were selected for the soundtrack, but they were generic, run-of-the-mill popular songs we’ve all heard a thousand times before and are sick of. I don’t go out of my way to listen to J-pop, so the only song I’ve been familiar with on the two Ouendan games is READY STEADY GO , so it’s hard to be fair regarding these two games since I have no idea if the Japanese feel the same way about the song selection as I do about EBA. However, based on vocal talent, Ouendan is the clear winner. The only song that’s irritating in the Ouendan games is Pop Star in Ouendan 2; that voice gets old quickly. I thought it was a fun experience being exposed to songs I wouldn’t normally hear and greatly enjoyed the melodies which you can actually get in your head so you can “feel” when to hit the numbers instead of watching the circles like in EBA; Walkie Talkie Man was an absolutely HORRIED choice in that regard. I fell in love with Linda Linda and frequently play the level to hear the song, which I’ve never done with EBA, and the other songs never disgusted me so much it felt like a chore to try and get a high score on the level. I think I can tolerate twenty-minuets of EBA if I’m lucky before my eyes and ears start to bleed.

More important than the songs, however, is the scenarios and the people you cheer on or “healp”. The majority of the people you help in Ouendan are all likable characters and/or ones you can identify with and would genuinely like to help. Before you EBA nitpicker fans come in yes, I realize the ONE exception in regards to a likable character in Ouendan is Cleopatra, but put the level in context. Slavery existed back then. It sucks, but that’s how things were, and the real Cleopatra did indeed have slaves. Granted you want to smack her and say “Lose weight like everyone else and exercise!” but that’s the ONE exception. Keep in mind also I said SOME of the levels have characters you can identify with in Ouendan; that can’t be said for ANY of the characters in EBA nor do you want to help any of those losers. Who here can identify with freaking out over a test? Wow, everyone! How about being a snobby rich girl stranded on a disserted island who seduces animals with her looks and pilots with cash. No one, really? Oh, and you wouldn’t want to help one out, either? What about helping out an oil Baron getting his riches and trophy wife back? No, no one wants to help him either? What about a sweet little boy who wants to confess his fondness for a female clbummate of his who’s moving away? Wow, all of you!

Worst of all is how creepy some of EBA’s levels are, most notably the Christmas and cat saving a baby level. What’s so bad about Lucy’s level? Think about it. The EBA do a voodoo dance and resurrect her dad’s ghost just to give her a teddy bear. What happens after the level ends? Presumably her dad goes back to being dead and she gets a new bear. Wowee. Not only that, but if you screw up, a rather disturbing scene where a picture of her dad all muscled up falls out of his diary. That’s pretty sick and weird. No, you can’t compare this level to Over the Distance in Ouendan. That level works because it is from the opposite point of view. A man’s spirit begging for time on earth to go back and apologize to his wife before pbuming on is extremely beautiful and the woman’s voice singing the song is so amazing it only adds to the level. There isn’t a single level in EBA that’s so sweet and deep, but then again it doesn’t seem to think a whole lot in regards to Americans’ tastes…

...The level with ABC… Do I even have to go on? First of all, why is a mother leaving her baby along with a freaking cat babysitter?! Next, instead of calling the police or alerting the construction workers, the Agents dance while the cat risks his life to save a baby who, for all we know if you get the bad ending, dies. Yes, I know there’s a level in Ouendan with the three woman involving a kidnapping where calling the police would be smart, but they were making a citizens’ arrest and it lacks the creepiness and horror of, once again, A BABY ON A CONSTRUCTION SITE, BEING SAVED BY A CAT, WHO COULD FALL TO HIS DEATH!

Way to go for stereotypes in EBA as well! One predictable level after the next: zombies, ninjas, aliens, pirates, wanna-be stars, a woman in labor etc. I was never impressed once and I was frequently disgusted and annoyed with each new level I unlocked. Of course we’ve all seen barbers before, but in levels such as these Ouendan put an unexpected twist on things and it was neat to see just what wacky-cool (or disaster!) haircut he’d come up with next.

Why am I so pbumionate and defensive of Ouendan and a major hater of EBA? It all started when I bought EBA when it first came out. I was impressed by the addicting game play but absolutely LOATHED everything else, soon tossing it to the side. However, something was bothering me. I soon recalled that on an episode of Cinematech on Tech TV a game that remarkably resembled EBA had been shown so I looked up EBA on Wikipedia, clicked on the Ouendan link, and the rest is history. I was hesitant to buy Ouendan at first since EBA is suck a train wreck, but in the end I gave it a shot and I’ll never forget the wonderful feeling of playing it for the first time. It doesn’t matter that I can’t understand a bit of Japanese; the cut scenes eliminate the language barrier, but looking at the translation guides will give you a better understanding and appreciation for the game. Music/rhythm games are my favorite, so I get excited when a new one comes out and am very hard to impress, but Ouendan quickly knocked Gitaroo Man and Space Channel 5 out of the top spots in my heart and I doubt any music game in the future will change that. It is truly and honor and a privilege to own Ouendan 1 and 2.

EBA is a mockery and insult to the fans. Thanks to this mess Ouendan will most likely never see an English translation. EBA is dumbed down and appeals to the worse type of gamers: Ones who don’t like to think and prefer drooling over themselves while watching pretty colors; not a wonderful and engrossing story with terrific characters. Apparently narrow-minded Westerners couldn’t appreciate a game that has themes from another culture and would get confused. The Persona series proves otherwise. P3 had many Japanese-exclusive themes but the player’s guide from Double-Jump cleared up these differences and there was nothing to stop gamers from enjoying it if they skipped buying the guide. Ouendan 2 hardly had any of these “strange and confusing” things, so this game should’ve had no issue if given a US release. We did, after all, go through all the trouble of importing it and EBA is the thanks we get? Pah.

I’d like to take this opportunity to complain about the story of Dance Dance Revolution.

Well, I would if I were a ****ING IDIOT.

King Krimson Posted:

I’d like to take this opportunity to complain about the story of Dance Dance Revolution.

Well, I would if I were a ****ING IDIOT.

Yeah but Ouendan/EBA depend mostly on the story.

yay patapon

megazeroexe Posted:

yay patapon

pon pon pata pon Log in to see images!

megazeroexe Posted:

ahahaha you are the dumbest **** ever get the **** out of here right now

REITERATING MY LAST TWO POSTS WITH MORE EMPHASIS THAN YOU CAN FATHOM

Inspector Chelmey Posted:

Im looking for a bento box, it cant be pinku (thats japanese for pink) or any girl color. It has to be of 2 or more kotoba (thats japanese for 2 compartments) and has be be chibi(small) sized. And has to be really kawaii (cute). Also It has to be about 10-20 bux. And you have to post pics of it first (i want to make shure it’s kawaii [cute]). And it would be nice if it came with matching chopstick holder (WITH chopsticks). OH! and it CANNOT have any cartoon pictures, or be made out of plastic. It has to be made of ceramic, or something like that. Also it would be nice if it was made in japan. and not in china or corea (korea) or whatever. I have found a bento box similar to the one im describing in e-bay, but it was 1 kotoba, and i dont want my gohan (rice) to touch my other things (it can get wet and i would not like that, plus 2 compartments looks more kawaii)