I picked up Dragon Age: Origins for the PC during Black Friday and finally got around to playing it for a few hours tonight.

This game feels very similar to Neverwinter Nights and in some regards is WoW-like – especially when using WASD movement. My main character is an Elven Mage: I always choose to play the magic classes if possible.

The main storyline seems a bit stereotypical but that does not take away from the game. I have been a fan of BioWare games since Baldur’s Gate, and this is no exception.

I am looking forward to spending 100+ hours or whatever is needed to fully complete the game, and then messing around with the toolkit that allows users to create their own content.

Started watching Kemono no Souja Erin a few days ago on a recommendation from a friend. I remember dismissing this series when it first aired in January after a quick glance at the synopsis and the animation style.

However, after finishing a few episodes I had already found the plot to be compelling with the essence of the anime reminiscent of Seirei no Moribito. Then I researched a bit and found that it was written by Uehashi Nahoko, the same author of Seirei no Moribito. Furthermore, the producers included Production I.G. with their style being evident in the anime upon closer inspection.

Thus began a short anime marathon of 26 episodes to catch up to the most recent release out of a total of 50 episodes. I was not disappointed at all once I was caught up and instead wanted to see more. At times, certain scenes and the background take on a storybook illustration quality which can throw viewers off, but I think it fits with the atmosphere of the anime.

Kemono no Souja Erin and Seirei no Moribito are both excellent series with intriguing stories about the growth of the main characters. These stories remind me of classics such as David Copperfield, where the reader is allowed to see a character’s struggles and achievements as he/she grows up.

Give it a chance if you haven’t already, you won’t regret doing so.