While Koei Tecmo's history-based Musou / Warriors games are known to have numerous unique characters officially known as Musou Officers, they also have many other warriors and tacticians portrayed with generic designs. However, in some of the entries, there are several characters whose designs have more distinctions than generic officers but not as much as the well-established unique characters. These semi-unique officers were most prominently seen in the Samurai Warriors 4 sub-series, but we have also spotted Koei Tecmo employing a similar approach in Dynasty Warriors Origins.

One can distinguish the semi-unique characters from generic officers in Dynasty Warriors Origins by noticing that they have proper face profiles in the list of officers and in-battle conversations, as opposed to the darkened eyes for generic general portraits. However, despite having unique faces, they still share the same outfit and headgear with other generic officers, albeit occasionally with different colors. We have identified ten figures who fit the bill in this title.

The first of the ten semi-unique characters we spotted in Dynasty Warriors Origins is Gongsun Zan. He developed a close friendship with Liu Bei as they studied under the same teacher, and Gongsun Zan would later become the governor of Beiping. He also frequently clashed with Yuan Shao, with the latter eventually coming out as the overall victor.

Zhu Jun and Huangfu Song are best known for their tenure as commanders in the Han imperial army during the Yellow Turban Rebellion. Although the Romance of the Three Kingdoms novel omitted both characters during the Dong Zhuo arc, they actually still had some roles mentioned during the period in historical records.

Zhu Jun joined the Anti-Dong Zhuo coalition with most other warlords. As for Huangfu Song, despite initially having a growing feud with Dong Zhuo, the two eventually came to good terms after Huangfu Song's son, who was close to Dong Zhuo, pleaded with the latter not to execute his father.

Wang Yun is a Han official who is best known for his plot to have Lu Bu betray and kill Dong Zhuo. In the Romance of the Three Kingdoms novel, he did it by having Diaochan—a fictional character depicted as his adopted daughter—seduce both Dong Zhuo and Lu Bu so that the two would fight over her.

Kong Rong is one of the descendants of Confucius. During his tenure as the Chancellor of Beihai, his territory was raided by Yellow Turban remnants. However, he was rescued by Taishi Ci, who wanted to thank him for treating his mother well. Kong Rong eventually went to serve the Han imperial court under Cao Cao's control after Yuan Shao's army conquered his lands.

Tao Qian is the governor of Xu Province who was put in the spotlight when his subordinate Zhang Kai, whom he tasked to escort Cao Cao's father Cao Song, killed the latter instead to loot his riches for Zhang Kai's own benefit. Cao Cao directed his anger towards Tao Qian nevertheless, which then sparked the former's relentless invasion of Xu Province.

Ji Ling is a general who serves the eventual self-proclaimed emperor Yuan Shu. He was also tasked to lead an invasion of Liu Bei's fief in Xiaopei, although it was cut short when Lu Bu appeared and brokered a ceasefire. The Romance of the Three Kingdoms novel described his weapon as a trident that looks exactly like Yu Jin's weapon of choice in the more recent Dynasty Warriors entries.

Liu Biao is a Han official best known for his tenure as the governor of Jing Province in the early years of the period covered in the Romance of the Three Kingdoms novel. As he had also entered an alliance with Yuan Shao, the latter's relative and rival Yuan Shu ordered the Sun clan to invade his fief. Liu Biao would later shelter fellow relative Liu Bei when the latter was fleeing away from Cao Cao.

Huang Zu is a subordinate of Liu Biao who also has his own fief in the Jing Province. He gained enmity from the Sun clan for leading a plot that successfully killed the latter's leader Sun Jian during the Battle of Xiangyang.

And last but not least, we also have Ling Cao, Ling Tong's father who joined Sun Ce when the latter launched a campaign to conquer the Wu territories. He was ultimately killed by Gan Ning when Sun Quan tried to launch his first attack on the latter's liege Huang Zu.

As a side note, the semi-unique designs do not represent the characters' final designs until Koei Tecmo promotes them to full-fledged unique Musou Officers. Half of the characters in this list—Wang Yun, Ji Ling, Ling Cao, Liu Biao, and Huang Zu—had also received unique-like designs in the now-defunct mobile game Dynasty Warriors Blast. However, none of those are reflected in their semi-unique officer designs in Dynasty Warriors Origins.

These semi-unique characters appear in Dynasty Warriors Origins, available worldwide on PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X, and PC.

The post Here Are Dynasty Warriors Origins’ Semi-Unique Officers appeared first on Siliconera.

My experiences with the Civilization series are more recent, tracing back to playing the mobile version of Civilization V, to the sci-fi Beyond Earth, before finally obsessing over Civilization VI with my family in multiplayer matches for hundreds of hours. This is one of the only strategy series I’ve enjoyed and my time with the Civilization VII preview build continued this trend, outside of frustrations with the new Age system.

To start, Civilization VII seems to be a stunning game so far. I encountered only one minor crash so far, while it looked and performed well. As mentioned, this is all subject to change since it is an early build, but I generally enjoyed my time with it so far on the platform and saw no real issues of note yet.

The level of detail is a noticeable improvement over the previous mainline entry in the series. There is so much to see on each individual tile in the world. From the soldiers standing atop pieces of farmland or how each building has its own intricate design, there is so much to appreciate about the beauty of the experience.

Better yet, the build I played also made it feel like Civilization VII could be one of the best in the series at easing players into the overall strategy experience. The general idea is to play as a certain famous person from history and rule over a civilization to win against the rival civilizations in the world. This is done through a number of victory methods, such as Culture, Science, and War. These methods all have their own style, such as researching various categories like Mathematics and building a Library on the Science side or going all-out conquest if you prefer to win via War. Thankfully, the tutorials worked quite well in the time I’ve spent with the game so far in two of the three Ages.

There are even aspects I feel like I understand better now than I did with the hundreds of hours I put into Civilization VII. For instance, each troop you have in your civilization has different functions. They can move around the map, attack others, or even fortify their defenses. I feel like I better understand more specific troops, like the Army Commander. The game makes it more clear the possibilities troops like this one have, such as gathering together other troops for army-sized invasion squads.

Civilization VII is also quite speedy for a tactical game in this genre. Sure, you can take a long time each turn to figure out what you want to do, but everything is silky smooth. Completing actions is near-instantaneous, and the game guides you well on what to do next. This even includes the best quest routes for your particular victory preference.

Perhaps my favorite feature are the neat little narrative moments that happen randomly. A scout may die on the battlefield. You get to choose how to remember them. The different options will involve different rewards and outcomes, which makes for a unique playthrough each time.

With all of that said, though, I feel like after spending time with the build that there is an elephant in the room with Civilization VII. The new Age system might end up being a problematic gameplay choice, and I was not a fan of at all in these early sessions. In past games, you had different eras and the like. In this game, there are distinct Ages.

For the purposes of this preview, I checked out the Age of Antiquity and Age of Exploration. The former takes place before recorded history. How it works is you pick a hero to play as and a civilization. I appreciate the openness this time around, with the possibility to choose between locations. For instance, Confucius doesn’t have to pick Han China. He is able to pick other surrounding locales as well.

You then play through the Age you are in until it comes to an end. From there, it switches to the next Age, and you continue playing as the same leader. This is where the problem may lie. I feel like Ages felt a bit disconnected from one another in these early hours and experiences, unlike past games. You do play the multiple Ages in the same “match,” but they are segmented off in an odd way.

What I like is you can switch your civilizations (within reason) depending on your location and leader. For instance, one could go from Rome to Spain between ages. The problem is how some elements don’t make a lot of sense. While the rest of the game is clear cut and understandable, the Legacy and Ages seemed far from it. For one, there was a time my capital city changed between Ages to a different location. But I didn’t get the option to make this decision.

I also found it unclear what exactly carried over from Age to Age during this early session. Some building types did and certain points did, but not everything. The whole system may end up being a bit redundant and awkward. In the past, changing eras was seamless and smooth. Here, my initial impression is that they were rough, heavily divided, and confusing.

I definitely need more time with the Civilization VII Ages system leading up to our proper review. But, for now, the new feature feels unnecessarily awkward and frustrating. Hopefully, it makes more sense as I come to understand its quirks in later matches. If you can look past this, though, I suspect Civilization VII could end up feeling like the fastest, most stunning, and welcoming game in the series yet.

Sid Meier’s Civilization VII releases for the Nintendo Switch, PS4, PS5, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X/S on February 11, 2025.

The post Preview: Civilization VII’s Age System Feels Unnecessary appeared first on Siliconera.

Anime is going to have a massive 2025 year. The four seasons of anime ahead look to be some of the most exciting in a long time. There are brand new series like Sakamoto Days, alongside returning ones like Dragon Ball Daima. It is also the year for the end of many of the most popular anime series. But what is the most anticipated anime of 2025? Here is what the Siliconera staff has to say about that.

Siliconera Speaks Up: Most Anticipated Anime Series of 2025

Mine right now is Gnosia. Yes, part of it is because Gnosia is my current obsession, but I'm also really curious as to how the anime will adapt its unique story structure. It'll obviously have to keep the time loop thing, but how will it also have the different story events and Werewolf segment? Until we know more information about how many episodes it'll have, it's so hard to picture that I can't wait until it actually starts airing. I'm also super excited for the Twisted Wonderland anime, too! -- Stephanie

The most anticipated anime for me in 2025 has to be My Happy Marriage Season 2. The first season wowed me with its beautiful blend of romance series like Fruits Basket and Violet Evergarden. It tragically reminds me so much of a Kyoto Animation series and the wonderful people that were lost far too soon in 2019. If you want a stunning series with the best couple in anime in 2025, be sure to watch this one.

Special shoutouts also go to the final seasons of My Hero Academia and Dr. Stone, both of which should be spectacular. My Hero Academia’s most recent season is arguably its best and it should continue this trend into its final season. The same goes for Dr. Stone. In fact, I am fully expecting to put both of these series in the overall top 25 anime of all time when all is said and done for both of them. -- Cody

The post What Is the Most Anticipated Anime of 2025? appeared first on Siliconera.

While one of the two new shojo anime series debuting on Crunchyroll in January 2025 took quite some time to go from manga to animated adaptation, Anyway, I’m Falling in Love with You ended up rather swiftly heading to screens. Honestly, I can see why. I get it. This story is rooted in the COVID-19 pandemic experience, and telling it via another medium as swiftly as possible helps ensure those watching will better connect with it. But the thing is, I feel like this adaptation isn’t leaning as much into telling a unique love story shaped by how society changed and reacted to the pandemic as it could, though I hope future episodes could prove me wrong.

Editor’s Note: There will be spoilers for the first episode of Anyway, I’m Falling in Love with You below.

While most shojo series begin completely focused on the heroine and her school life, the early moments of the Anyway, I’m Falling in Love with You anime adaptation don’t. Rather, it is about setting a scene. Instead, it begins with a vision of a Japanese city. The color palette is washed out and feels dismal. The news report is on the screens in the city. When Mizuho Nishino, our heroine, finally appears, it is an adult version of her. She laments the fact that her birthday was terrible, and a business email just came in asking if Megu Kawaguchi’s series could end that year. After seeing a high school girl walk past with four of her classmates, she is reminded of her own past and what happened on her 17th birthday. I really loved how it started, as it felt different from other shojo series and left me feeling like maybe it could pull from real-life events to make this reverse harem love story be unique.

From there, things flash back to July 2020. This would be about the height of the pandemic. It’s 95 degrees out, and the radio is warning about the heat and “infectious diseases,” which is COVID-19 of course. Mizuho’s father walks up to her room with a meal, to find her sleeping on the floor alongside her childhood friend. Her sketches of him are all around them. He’s understandably upset, of course, and cautions them about acting like they did when they were little. She says Kizuki Hazawa is like her little brother, which he doesn’t seem to pleased to hear. So we meet her first possible love interest, and realize that due to everything going on in the world that it is actually her birthday.

We meet the whole reverse harem once Mizuho leaves her house to head to school. In addition to Kizuki, she also grew up around Airu Izumi, Shin Kashiwagi, and Shugo Hoshikawa. In a fairly short span, we learn she stays up late drawing manga, suggesting she’s the “Megu Kawaguchi” referenced in the introduction, and quick snippets of Airu, Shin, and Shugo’s personalities come up in response to her being lazy about wearing makeup and staying up late. It’s a bit rushed, though I suppose that makes sense since this first episode is more about swiftly establishing things and focusing on Mizuho and Kizuki’s relationship. 

But right away, I’m also feeling like there are missed opportunities. It’s like the Anyway, I’m Falling in Love with You anime adaptation is doing more telling than showing. I sort of would expect more people to be wearing face masks during this period of time, given it was July 2020, but there are none. (Given that they want to highlight the art and character designs, I guess I can understand.) References to current events are minimal. We don’t really see so much the effect of things, rather than hear they happened. Prime examples include the initial report on the radio, Kizuki noting that swim practice finally resumed after being halted due to the pandemic, and upper-classman Saito Ryosuke mentioning classes being canceled for a time due to “some infectious disease.” But instead of properly responding to it in potentially meaningful ways in the first episode, we instead see it as an excuse for Airu to tease her about her crush on Saito or Saito to talk about how events, class trips, classes, and sports were canceled for a while. 

I suppose I hoped for more reactions like Saito’s. It’s only about halfway through this first episode that we see someone react to current events, and it isn’t even one of the established “main” characters in Mizuho’s group. It’s a supporting cast member acknowledging his depression over things that happened. The fact that Mizuho reacts to his admission the way that she does also left me disappointed. I knew it was coming, since I’m familiar with the source series. And I’m still impressed with Saito’s characterization and response to her reaction. Honestly, it’s the moments with Saito and Kizuki opening up that left the strongest impressions on me here, as they’re the two that seemed to have the strongest emotions and reactions here. Both in terms of feelings about the current state of things and emotions relating to Mizuho, they seem to really ring true and make this first episode.

I am hoping that maybe Anyway, I’m Falling in Love with You starts to feel stronger and more unique as episodes go on. This first one was very focused on Mizuho and Kizuki, really breezing through establishing other characters and pandemic life. If handled well, it could end up being fun. After all, I did enjoy the original manga! I just feel like with the anime adaptation, it’s an opportunity to really show and highlight what life was like during a unique period of time in Japan, and so far it feels more like any shojo love story than a period piece.

The Anyway, I’m Falling in Love with You anime adaptation is now airing in Japan and streaming on Crunchyroll worldwide, and the manga is available via Kodansha worldwide.

The post Anyway, I’m Falling in Love With You Anime Is a Pandemic Love Story appeared first on Siliconera.

Slower gaming months like December and January are prime time for revisiting older games. Likewise, the winter season is also perfect for catching up on a backlog, due to things like weather keeping people inside and getting time off for holidays. This year, one of my winter games ended up being a return to Dredge to catch up on DLC I missed, and I found it to be one of the best possible games to play during this time of year.

As a quick refresher, Dredge is a fishing game with horror elements. You are a lone fisherman out on isolated seas. As you explore, you’ll encounter fish and phenomenon you just can’t explain. This ramps up if you dare to head out into the oceans at night. It’s all about the atmosphere and quite engrossing, even if you turn off threats to turn it into a slightly more relaxing experience.

Part of Dredge being great to play during the winter months has to do with the general nature of the game. It’s a very isolated adventure. You’re in an often quiet place. You fish and search the seas. Given how solemn December and January can be, it is soothing to soak up that ambiance while bundled up in clothing and huddling in warm rooms. Especially if you’re in an area that just experienced major snowstorms or freezing rain. All you want to do is hunker in and stay still, and it accommodates that. 

There’s also the fact that Dredge has what really feels like a piece of winter DLC. The first add-on, called The Pale Reach, sends you to the arctic. That means needed to break through the ice and investigate a new mystery. Also, there are new fish and a means of better preserving ones you’ve already caught. I only just started that storyline over the holiday break in December, and it really felt so well-suited to things being so dreary and cold outside.

Speaking of which, it honestly felt like slower months like December and January were when I could catch up with Dredge and its DLC. I didn’t get to The Iron Rig when it released back in August 2024. With the way both it and The Pale Reach are handled, I feel it’s almost like having three full “games,” rather one experience with additional adventures. Yes, the new mechanics, abilities, and fish are great for the main game, but going back to over after so much time away felt more like returning for a sequel due to the time and effort put into these. Especially with The Iron Rig’s Ironhaven Corporations and the work we can do to build up their reach in the seas and see where that supernatural story leads. 

Given the cold and solitude that accompanies winter months, I can’t help but feel like Dredge is an ideal game to return to. (Or play for the first time.) Especially given the themes behind one of its DLC, and the fact that both add-ons are substantial enough to feel like solid extra adventures in their own right. It’s one of those titles that never stops feeling appropriate for certain situations.

Dredge is available for the Switch, PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X, and PC, and it is in development for mobile devices.

The post Dredge Is One of the Best Winter Games appeared first on Siliconera.

Honey Lemon Soda was a staple in Shueisha’s Ribon, running in the manga magazine since December 2015. We’ve read about Uka Ishimori’s growth and developing relationship with Kai Miura for years. We saw series that ran alongside it, like Tsubasa to Hotaru and Acro Trip, inspire animated series. Now Honey Lemon Soda finally gets its change with an anime streaming worldwide on Crunchyroll, and I feel like the J.C.Staff and TMS Entertainment adaptation might have been worth the wait.

Editor’s Note: There are minor spoilers for the first episode of the Honey Lemon Soda anime below.

 Honey Lemon Soda is one of those series in the vein of Fruits Basket or Kimi ni Todoke, where you have a downtrodden heroine who gets a chance to finally be accepted and find a place for herself. Uka Ishimori found herself bullied throughout school. One of the only exceptions was the lemon soda-loving Kai Miura, a stranger who was kind to her and there for her at a pivotal moment. As a result of their meeting, she ended up at Hachimitsu High School alongside him. And even in instances when people might hassle him for his popularity or blond hair, he doesn’t let that get him down and handles it.

It’s because of one of those interactions that Uka finds herself in Kai’s life and circle again. When heading to Hachimitsu one day, some classmates attempted to bully Kai. He responded by shaking up the lemon soda he carried and opened it to dowse them. Uka ended up caught in the crossfire, which in turn brings her to his attention and helps her find actual friends in people like Ayumi Endo. It’s the impetus for her to finally get a chance at the “cheerful and fun high school life” she wants. 

Given the nature of the series, we aren’t going to see major development in the first two episodes of the Honey Lemon Soda anime. But there are strides we already get to see in these initial moments. Kai recognizing Uka and her struggles and showing consideration, even though he’s initially painted as a more quiet or stand off-ish individual, by wearing his gym uniform and helping her get the courage to greet people. Uka reaching out to Ayumi to help her after being helped a previous day. Accepting an invitation from potential friends. J.C.Staff and TMS Entertainment handle these initial moments really well, and the depiction of them ensures they feel poignant as they happen.

I also appreciated how the anime adaptation of Honey Lemon Soda never minimizes what Uka went through in the past either. We see how the trauma and stress from past bullying triggers a flashback to a past memory after getting soda splashed on her in the introduction. When others from her middle school spot her at Hachimitsu and use her nickname “Stony,” Uka panics and runs even though she’d been invited. However, Kai, Ayumi,  Satoru Seto, and Tomoya Takamine don’t blame her for the altercation, instead identifying correctly the bullies as the issue, and Kai finds and encourages her to react and get help. The resolution of the first episode left me in satisfied tears as the group banded together.

For years, Ribon readers and people following the Honey Lemon Soda manga have gotten to gradually see Uka recover, find friends, and develop a relationship with Kai, and it feels like the new anime adaptation is going to do that story justice. After seeing how it’s started, it seems like the pacing and development is taking the proper care to address the situations and bonds between characters. It feels like it could end up being quite heartfelt, and I hope more people get to appreciate this shojo classic as a result.

The Honey Lemon Soda anime is airing in Japan and streaming on Crunchyroll worldwide as part of the WInter 2025 season, and Yen Press handled the manga outside of Japan. 

The post Honey Lemon Soda Anime Adaptation Was Worth the Wait appeared first on Siliconera.

The latest collaboration between McDonald's Japan and Neon Genesis Evangelion has certainly been an attention-grabber. From the amusing commercials to the freshly-designed original McDonald's-themed EVA Unit UNIT-M to the transforming toys, it has been hitting all the right notes. At the heart of this unusual mash-up lie the Evangelion burgers, three special limited-time menu items. You may have seen promotional pictures of them already, but what is the reality? And most importantly, how do they taste? There's only one thing for it: I had to try them out.

In order to keep my doctor and wife from getting too upset, I properly prepared for this potentially stomach-destroying effort. Okay, I just had a light brunch and drank a lot of water, but I'm telling myself that's good enough. After finishing work for the day, I hopped in the car and headed for the nearest Makku. While I considered taking the easy way out by going through the drive-through, I wanted to check out some of the in-store signage. So in I went. I placed my order for all three burgers, then checked things out while I waited.

After taking a few pictures, I grabbed my order and drove back to my office. In total, there are three Evangelion burgers at McDonald's, each with a particular character assigned to them. Representing Shinji Ikari, we have the Double Teriyaki Cheeseburger. The enigmatic Rei Ayanami adorns the wrapper for the Hashbrown & Beef Burger with Garlic Mayo. Finally, the fiery Asuka Langley is paired with the Mexican Cheese Chicken Burger. I wouldn't think too hard about how those are supposed to line up. Well, let's dig in.

Mexican Cheese Chicken Burger

This was the one I was the most interested in trying. The special burgers from McDonald's Japan can be hit or miss at times, but they rarely miss when they try to go spicier. This isn't a particularly fancy sandwich, but on paper it seems like it would work. The usual chicken filet patty is placed in a special fluffier-than-usual bun and topped with a slice of processed cheddar cheese, a couple of pickles, taco meat, and a sweet lemon sauce. McDonald's Japan issues a warning that this sandwich is spicy, so if you don't like spicy food you should be careful. This typically doesn't mean much, but upon opening the wrapper there was a certain spiciness wafting off of the burger.

The Mexican Cheese Chicken Burger kicked off what turned out to be a theme with these Evangelion burgers. It was quite messy to eat and its contents were prone to spilling out. The first bite I took was quite delicious. I got a good bite of pickle and taco meat, and the result was a pleasantly spicy and flavorful taste. The sweet lemon sauce had a nice tang to it, too. The chicken filet patties at McDonald's Japan can be a little bland, so having these peppy ingredients in the mix really helped out.

Sadly, the ingredients weren't evenly distributed. Some bites had no pickles and very little taco meat, and when that happened it really demonstrated how important those two elements are to this burger. My hands were in an absolute state by the time I finished this one, but that's what soap and water is for. All in all, I rather enjoyed the Mexican Cheese Chicken Burger. It could have used a little more tsun in its tsundere, but overall it's one I would order again. Best burger for the best character? I guess we'll see as we continue on.

Score: Eight "ANTA BAKAs" Out of Ten

Hashbrown & Beef Burger with Garlic Mayo

A real gap between the McDonald's Evangelion crossover marketing photo and the reality for this one, but we all know how that goes. The Hashbrown & Beef Burger with Garlic Mayo comes off as the busiest of this bunch. You've got the same fancy bun we saw with the Mexican Cheese Chicken Burger, with a thicker-than-usual beef patty. From the bottom to the top, you get some tangy steak sauce, a slice of processed cheese, a hashbrown potato patty, the aforementioned beef patty, and some garlic mayonnaise sauce. Surprisingly, this is not the highest-calorie sandwich of the three. That would be the next one.

The scent of garlic hits you as soon as you open the wrapper. And that proved to be the case for the Hashbrown & Beef Burger with Garlic Mayo as a whole. Biting into it, I found the garlic mayo overpowered every other flavor. The hashbrown pretty much melted into the rest of the burger. Since this burger is lacking any crunchy vegetables, I was hoping the hashbrown would add a bit of texture to the sandwhich. Unfortunately, it was quite soft. The hashbrown and beef patty took turns trying to fall out with each bite, too.

Ultimately, the Hashbrown & Beef Burger with Garlic Mayo sees the rest of its flavors lost in the powerful taste of the garlic sauce. I like garlic as much as the next person, but I couldn't help but feel a little empty about this burger. For how much it appears to have going on, it's completely one-note. Those who hate garlic cannot love or trust this sandwich. Rei, you got robbed. Hopefully the last of the Evangelion burgers can bring this back around. Shinji, don't let us down!

Score: Four "Objects Living a Lie" Out of Ten

Double Teriyaki Cheeseburger

I'll say straight-up that I wasn't very excited by the Double Teriyaki Cheeseburger in the way I was for the other two. It's not that I was expecting it to taste bad or anything like that. The reason is that this is really just a Teriyaki McBurger with an extra pork patty and a slice of processed cheese. On top of that, McDonald's Japan has offered the Double Teriyaki Cheeseburger before without a Shinji endorsement. The only new thing here is the bun, which is the same special one used by the other two Evangelion burgers. The filling is two pork patties generously slathered in sweet teriyaki sauce, the aforementioned slice of processed cheese, some lettuce, and a large dollop of tangy mayonnaise.

If you've never had the Teriyaki McBurger before, there are a few things to know. First, it's very tasty. The sweetness of the teriyaki sauce and saltiness of the pork patty make for an enticing blend, and the mayo adds to the nasty decadence of it all. The lettuce is just there to make you feel better, as it will most likely be rendered fully limp by the time you start eating. Second, it's really messy. When you open the wrapper, it's like an explosion went off. You will get your hands dirty eating it, so plan ahead. Third, because it's such a saucy burger, the contents like to spill out of the bun. The more McDonald's tries to cram in there, the more it wants to spill out. Indeed, the second pork patty and slice of cheese in the Double Teriyaki Burger make it hard to keep a handle on.

The Double Teriyaki Cheeseburger is good, but it's just a bigger Teriyaki McBurger. The extra pork patty doesn't hurt the balance of the burger, and cheese is always welcome. Still, it feels like an opportunity was missed here. For such a big collaboration, having one of the burgers be a recycled one that wasn't very exciting to begin with is a bit of a disappointment. Surely the main character of the show deserves something a little cooler. Then again, it's Shinji. Maybe this is just what he deserves. Reliable, a little on the plain side, and if the others can't get it done then this might be your hero.

Score: Seven "Get in the Burger, Patties!" Out of Ten

Closing Thoughts on the McDonald's Evangelion Burgers

Overall, this isn't a bad batch of burgers. Sure, the Hashbrown & Beef Burger with Garlic Mayo comes off like an oily garlic ball, but McDonald's Japan has unleashed far worse before. With that said, I feel like McDonald's could have done more to lean into the theme. Despite the name, the Evangelion Burgers feel like they could have been slotted in during any number of McDonalds campaigns, and it feels like very little attempt was made to fit them to the Evangelion brand. Even so, I'll stop in and get the Mexican Cheese Chicken Burger once more before it's gone. If you happen to be visiting McDonald's Japan this month, that would be my recommendation. Now if you'll excuse me, I need to go hit the treadmill for about six hours.

The Evangelion crossover is live at McDonald's stores in Japan now.

The post A Cruel Grimace’s Thesis: Trying the Evangelion Burgers from McDonald’s Japan appeared first on Siliconera.

It’s no secret The Pokémon Company and Game Freak largely ignored 2024. If it weren’t for Pokemon TCG Pocket, 2024 would’ve likely gone down as possibly the worst year in the history of the franchise. And this is even if the infamous leaks never happened. Thankfully, Pokemon has the chance to make 2025 a major comeback year with releases like Pokemon Legends Z-A and much more.

Take a look back at 2024 and there isn’t much to talk about. The Horizons anime did its thing alongside updates for the typical free-to-play titles. Of course, there was the monumental release of Pokemon TCG Pocket, which saved the year for the company. But no major DLC for Scarlet & Violet, remasters, remakes, other spin-offs, and so on.

The lack of releases in general wouldn’t be so bad on its own. After all, this has happened before in years like 2005 and 2015. That said, it has been almost 10 years of something new for players to enjoy outside of mobile titles every single year. But the worst part of it all has been the general radio silence from the company.

Sure, the leaks do play some role in this. However, TPC and Game Freak can’t put all of the blame on those leaks. After all, they happened in October 2024. That doesn’t even account for the lack of new info on games like Pokemon Legends Z-A from its initial reveal in late February 2024 to October 2024. That is about eight months TPC could’ve given the fan base something.

As such, we're going into 2025 when this game is supposed to release without almost any information about it. Nothing official about the starters, time period, characters, new Mega Evolutions, and so on. As such, 2024 will likely go down as one of the most disappointing years for Pokemon in the franchise’s history, if not the clear cut winner.

That is why it is so imperative 2025 goes all out to turn this around. Sure, it is not quite the 30th anniversary of the series — that’s next year in 2026 — but there is still so much that can happen. The obvious part is Legends Z-A needs to be one of the best games in the series. It needs to take the open-world collectathon vibes of Legends Arceus and amp it up a notch. Make battles more prominent, have a great story, and generally feel like the second chance Generation VI desperately needs.

But it shouldn't stop there. We are long past due for some older titles to come to Switch. Whether on the Switch 2 or on the original Switch, we need to see Generations I-III come to the Nintendo Switch Online service. This should’ve happened in 2024 to avoid such a long drought, but better late than never regardless. I could even see these NSO releases be an exclusive for Switch 2 only, which would be a shame, but I’ll take what I can get.

Of course, the juggernaut that is Pokemon TCG Pocket shouldn't stop, either. New sets, events, and cards are inevitable. The main new feature I’d like to see beyond trading is a release on Switch and Switch 2. Sure, the game is designed to be played in portrait, but some adjusting can be done with the background to make it work in a landscape viewpoint on Switch. If anything, this could explain its release long after the mobile version.

Finally, I’d like to see some sort of surprise from the company in 2025. This could be in the form of an early Generation 10 announcement ahead of 2026 or a new spin-off game. My personal wish would be for a new Mystery Dungeon or a remaster of Pokemon Colosseum or XD: Gale of Darkness. That said, I’d even settle for a Pokken Tournament 2, which would be a great Switch 2 launch title to mirror what happened in 2017 with the original Switch.

Regardless, 2025 is The Pokémon Company’s chance to redeem an almost historically abysmal 2024. Pokemon Legends Z-A should absolutely be the headliner for the year, but far from the only showstopper. Other releases and announcements like older games, spin-off titles, and impressive updates for TCG Pocket are equally a must.

Pokemon Legends Z-A will release sometime in 2025 for Nintendo Switch.

The post Game Freak Must Do Better in 2025 With Legends Z-A appeared first on Siliconera.

It’s a big moment for followers of the Dr Stone anime adaptation, the Science Future season 4 debut happened on Crunchyroll. It’s the start of an end of an era, albeit one that will be a bit drawn out due to this last leg of the journey being released in three parts. 

Editor’s Note: There are some minor spoilers for the first episode of season 4 of the Dr Stone anime. 

Things kick off in Dr Stone Science Future with a brief refresher from Minami Hokutozai, in the event it’s been a while prior to the viewer jumping into season 4. We’re reminded that everyone on Earth ended up petrified thousands of years ago. Senku Ishigami was freed, and decides to begin reviving people to create a new scientific society. It mentions how previous seasons followed Senku reviving more people and making more discoveries, leading up to them all building a ship to cross the Pacific Ocean. The goal is to head toward San Francisco to find out about the petrification and build a space ship to head to the moon. This also serves as a means to reintroduce Senku, Minami, Tsukasa, Gen, Suika, Kaseki, Chrome, Kirisame, Kinro, Matsukaze, Ryusui, and Ginro. It’s an effective way to review allies and get their thoughts on the what happens next.

I appreciate that after that review, Dr Stone Science Future gets right back to, well, science. Once we revisit everyone’s thoughts on things and are reminded of what’s going on, we find Senku and Ryusui fighting about the course of the ship. Ryusui is proposing the Rhumb Line approach, which would go straight across from Tokyo to San Francisco and take 70 days. Senku then explains one that would follow along the coasts would be wiser, and people go to a globe with a rope to see how his answer is right. It would be 40 days on the Great Circle Route. 

It really gets into part of what I love about Dr Stone as a series. There are times when it will include these sorts of educational elements and actual science in a fun way. Senku’s personality is perfect to excuse sorts of explanations. Plus, in the case of this dispute here, we get to see the possible benefits of both the Rhumb and Great Circle options due to Ryusui and Senku being so intelligent. 

At the same time, this first episode’s direction and adaptation means it can be quite entertaining. The choice about how to head to America is a serious one. The points about the routes are valid. But settling things with Poker and the ensuing outcome of the game is handled so well. Plus, it ends up tying into an on-ship activity. 

I suppose there isn’t much progress in this episode. The first installment of the anime is really more about setting the stage for what’s next with season 4 of Dr Stone. But the execution makes it feel like a lot still did happen. I feel getting back into things with a more lighthearted episode that refreshes the viewer, sets the stage for things to come, and gives us a chance to see characters enjoying their momentary victories is especially welcoming seeing as how we’re nearing the end. 

The first part of season 4 of Dr Stone, Science Future, is streaming now on Crunchyroll, and past seasons of the anime are also available there. Viz Media handles the manga outside of Japan. 

The post Dr Stone Science Future Starts Season 4 With Refreshers appeared first on Siliconera.

The Medaka Kuroiwa Is Impervious to My Charms manga really does a good job of showing how funny it is for a “beloved” girl to not get what she wants and have someone not fall all over her, and it only takes one episode of the anime to confirm this carries over to the full show. The SynergySP adaptation now running on Crunchyroll really drives home the lengths Mona Kawai will go to in order to get Medaka Koroiwa’s attention as we see every action in the adaptation. Not to mention Yu Serizawa’s performance as Mona and the depiction of her actual personality and response to being ignored and not adored comes across even stronger when animated than when appearing in a manga.

Editor’s Note: There will be some minor spoilers for the first episode of the Medaka Kuroiwa Is Impervious to My Charms anime below.

Medaka Kuroiwa Is Impervious to My Charms has an absolutely hilarious start. Our first introduction to Mona Kawai is seeing every baby and visiting person in the newborn ward at the hospital focused on her, smiling, because she’s so adorable. She can’t even hold up her head yet, but everyone is smitten. A flash forward to her as a small child at an amusement park shows that even when she went to town on an ice cream cone and became a mess, her reaction to that and cleaning it up stole hearts from everyone around her. It absolutely sets the stage for a heroine who is supposed to be it. Cute, irresistible, outgoing, and yes, completely conniving. 

So once we see Mona again in high school, SynergySP perfectly established who she is, why people are so devoted to her, and sets her up as a solid heroine in the Medaka Kuroiwa Is Impervious to My Charms anime without making it seem too contrived or like she’s completely a “bad guy” for it. She just happened to be naturally lucky and blessed, which she ends up taking for granted and using to her advantage. 

This means early on, the Medaka Kuroiwa Is Impervious to My Charms anime established the comedic element. Mona knows she’s blessed. She is set up as the queen bee due to circumstances, so the idea that Medaka Kuroiwa isn’t falling into line or behaving as expected makes the premise feel even stronger. Her reaction to it and need to not show that it isn’t getting to her makes it all even better. Especially since her internal voice sounds so different both in terms of tone and accent. Her meeting her match in a good and respectful guy who has a dream and maintains healthy boundaries is satisfying to watch.

That also means the Medaka Kuroiwa Is Impervious to My Charms anime challenges and overarching problems are well established too. Throughout the majority of the first episode, we see the ordeals Mona goes through because one person doesn’t react the way she expected them after all experiences throughout her life. It also means we, as viewers, get to see that she isn’t just this charming from birth girl who is naturally gifted and good. She has a side to her! She’s got narcissistic tendencies! She’ll ignore boundaries if it means she gets what she wants! She can be a real brat! Him rebuffing her then leads to new challenges. So even though the first episode is focused on seeing what her ordeals in the series will be. However, I do hope that in later episodes we’ll see less boundary pushing and forced fanservice from Medaka however, and that her own developing feelings will result in her being more considerate to him.

The first episode of the Medaka Kuroiwa Is Impervious to My Charms anime adaptation faithfully depicts the series’ story. Mona’s over-the-top actions and true mindsets and behavior are perfectly depicted in the series. Its direction really prioritizes the comedic elements of the situation. Plus, it sets up exactly what to expect as both Mona and Medaka deal with their own challenges going forward.

Medaka Kuroiwa Is Impervious to My Charms is airing in Japan and streaming on Crunchyroll worldwide. The manga is handled by Kodansha worldwide. 

The post Medaka Kuroiwa Is Impervious to My Charms Anime Adaptation Feels Adept appeared first on Siliconera.

As we enter a brand new year, it is time to look ahead. 2025 has so many amazing games coming out. From new JRPGs to remakes of classic titles, there is so much ahead. The Siliconera staff came together to reveal the most anticipated game of 2025 for each of us. Here are the games we think you should be looking forward to this year.

Siliconera Speaks Up: Most Anticipated Game of 2025

It's Monster Hunter Wilds. I need to play more of this game. The environments are amazing, with huge biomes that basically get a two-in-one effect when the seasons change. The monsters are great. The FASHION! I need it. I had the most fun with it when I played an early build. It feels so fantastic and rich already. I can't wait to play more. -- Jenni

My most anticipated would also be Monster Hunter Wilds, but that game needs no introduction. Instead, I'm starting to get a little interested in Avowed. A slick and updated Skyrim-like experience with some interesting weapons sounds like a good time, even if I wasn't paying too much attention to it before now. I'm also certainly going to pick up Civilization VII, though to be honest I'm yet to get too enthused about what I've seen. The art style, the mechanics… none of it has grabbed me, but I'd love to be surprised. -- Elliot

My most anticipated is Penny Blood! To this day, I'm hoping to see a remake or remaster of the Shadow Hearts series and I was so excited when I saw the news of the combined Kickstarter with Armed Fantasia. Considering the studio's recent troubles, as well as the lack of any meaningful updates in the Kickstarter e-mails, I'm not sure if we'll get it in 2025 anymore though… -- Stephanie

I've been eagerly waiting for the full release of Ender Magnolia: Bloom in the Mist since earlier in 2024. Luckily, I won't have to wait long since the game is coming out very early into the year! I can't wait to jump into the world that Ender Lilies started and see what has changed in between the first game and the second one. -- Daniel

With the information we have right now, 2025 looks to have some solid titles, but my pick for my most anticipated game is The Legend of Heroes: Trails through Daybreak II. The Legend of Heroes series is up there for one of my favorite video game franchises. Trails through Daybreak was great, but just short of the level of other firsts in the series. I still think Trails in the Sky, Trails of Cold Steel, and Trails from Zero were all a bit better. But the potential is absolutely there with a solid cast, the gorgeous Calvard Republic, and a pretty fun morally gray storyline. I’m hoping Trails through Daybreak II fulfills the potential of the first title with a longer JRPG that has even more of the memorable side quests similar to the original. -- Cody

The post What Is the Most Anticipated Game of 2025? appeared first on Siliconera.

Isekai series are incredibly common in the anime world. Ones in which the person transported to another world also is familiar with games or anime, so they can exploit elements or rely on that knowledge to succeed, are likewise quite prevalent in the genre. With Zenshu, MAPPA’s latest anime now airing on Crunchyroll during the Winter 2025 season, things go a step further by having someone responsible for creating anime being the individual transplanted in another world for an isekai story. The result is us getting to see how that additional layer of knowledge assists a new resident and gives them an edge.

Editor's Note: There will be some minor spoilers for early parts of the first episode of the MAPPA anime Zenshu below.

Natsuko Hirose is a prodigy. The Zenshu anime begins with us seeing her at work on a series, with her explaining she went from a graduate to nearly immediately being accepted in the animation world as an animation director, storyboard artist, episode director, then director. She’s an absolute phenom dedicated to her art and work. Her first creation Sukeban Magical Girl: Darkness Academy became a huge hit, and she’s working on an original animated movie called First Love as the show begins. 

However, Natsuko is a bit of a failure as a human being, since her hair completely covers her face, especially with a hoodie down, she gets consumed by work and the grind, and even avoids eating. In cases where fixes are needed, she’ll be unclear about direction and just do it herself. Blockages are keeping her from completing the storyboards for the movie. As a result, she’s ignoring caring for herself and cutting her hair until that’s done. In a case of foreshadowing, she reads about director Kametaro Tsuruyama, creator of Tale of Perishing, dying at 60 due to food poisoning. But even though she has that warning of what can happen when someone so driven doesn’t take care of themselves, she continues on her current path and refuses to allow others to help her with the work and storyboards. 

The in-world series Tale of Perishing is one Natsuko admired. It was designed to be a depressing work following Luke Braveheart as he fought against the Great Void, which kept it from widespread popularity. She loved it and rewatched it, as well as admired Luke. It’s as she is rewatching this that she doesn’t realize the bento she is eating is expired. She passes out and wakes up in the world of Tale of Perishing, the work she admired for years. Before a monster can kill her there, Luke and his allies Memerun, QJ, and Unio save her and eliminate the void there.

What’s great in the rest in the first episode of Zenshu is how it handles both good and bad elements of a creative like Natsuko being part of an isekai story. She quickly identifies the authenticity of the characters upon meeting them. Since she’s so familiar with the series, she can pick out when everything will happen. It’s little technical details she picks up on and is aware of, and the initial episode makes me suspect she’ll continue to draw on her experience as an animator and background with the series for her journey in a satisfying way.

However, it also is fantastic because it means pitfall can be noted as well. Natsuko not caring for herself before being transported to this world means she’s appearing as she last did. Her appearance befuddles those she meets. She still has the same bad habits. She’s also so tied to her own identity that she assumes people would know of her fame. She ends up being left behind because of her people skills, forced to deal with things on her own.

I have high hopes for Zenshu, and I hope this anime ends up setting itself apart from other isekai anime due to its heroine. The concept of someone who is not only familiar with the location and people in “another world” paired with experience about creating and developing could result in some new takes on the genre. I hope MAPPA takes it to some interesting places.

Zenshu is now airing in Japan and streaming on Crunchyroll worldwide.

The post MAPPA’s Zenshu May Show How Anime Knowledge Helps in an Isekai appeared first on Siliconera.

The Nintendo Switch is near the very top of the best-selling video game consoles of all time. However, that doesn’t mean the hybrid console is perfect. There are some notable features it’s missing, especially in the multimedia department. The Nintendo Switch 2 has the chance to fix these issues with streaming apps like Crunchyroll and Netflix at launch.

As of right now, the bulk of the streaming apps on the original Switch include Hulu, YouTube, Crunchyroll, and Twitch. That is a pretty decent selection with plenty of material to check out. Except the problem is most of these apps weren’t available for Switch even in its first year. It took far too long for fans to be able to stream quality video content across these apps on the platform.

However, that isn’t even the main issue here. There are still notable apps missing from the Switch that will probably never come to it. This includes the likes of Netflix, Disney+, Max, Prime Video, Paramount+, and so much more. At one point, Nintendo’s own Super Mario Bros. movie was on Netflix to stream and you couldn’t even watch it on the company’s hardware.

It is even more frustrating when the likes of apps like Netflix were available on previous Nintendo systems like Wii U and even the original Wii itself. Now, the argument some would say is why does it matter in 2025 with smartphones and smart TVs so plentiful? While true, more options are always better than none. After all, no one prevented the PS5 from having Netflix just because the TV you’re connected to likely already has the app.

Convenience is always nice and not having to switch platforms constantly is a plus. The Switch 2 will possibly have a larger screen than the original, so it would be nice to be able to stream shows and movies on there. This is especially true when traveling where you can just bring your Switch and phone instead of having to bring your bulky laptop or tablet to stream on.

Then there is the benefit for families. Parents may not want to give their younger kids a phone, but they would be open to a Switch. This saves them money if apps like Disney+ and YouTube are on there, so they don’t have to also get them a tablet to stream on. In addition, having multiple kids can be helped if one child is using a Switch, another is on a tablet, and perhaps a third is using a parent’s phone.

In the end, the Nintendo Switch 2 will likely be pretty similar to its predecessor. This gives Nintendo the chance to address some key flaws of the Switch. Chief among these issues is the lack of streaming apps. Here’s hoping the Nintendo Switch 2 addresses this head on and quickly. I hope to see apps like Netflix and Crunchyroll on the Nintendo Switch 2 at launch.

The Nintendo Switch 2 is expected to be announced and launch sometime in 2025.

The post Nintendo Switch 2 Needs Streaming Apps Like Crunchyroll and Netflix appeared first on Siliconera.

Jujutsu Kaisen is one of the most popular, best anime series in recent memory. It is certainly the next shonen to take the mantle of best around from the likes of Demon Slayer and My Hero Academia. While Season 2 was exceptional and a large improvement over the first season, the best is yet to come with Jujutsu Kaisen Season 3’s adaptation of the Culling Game Arc.

The longest story arc of the entire series is almost here. There are a couple of shorter arcs that will need to be taken care of first in Season 3, but the star of the show will be the arrival of the Culling Game Arc. I won’t spoil too much here, but there are some light spoilers ahead. As the name implies, this is pretty much a jujutsu sorcerer battle royale. If you liked Dragon Ball Super’s Tournament of Power, this is for you.

It mixes together some of my favorite themes together at once. You get the usual extraordinary action and art this series is known for. In addition, though, you get a healthy dose of death games, which is my favorite category of media in general. That is, of course, if fans can get through the rough parts of the initial few episodes.

The highs of Season 2 are going to lead to some new lows at the start of the new season. The couple of shorter arcs following the aftermath of the Shibuya Incident are forgettable at best. This is mainly since they are there to set up the final portion of this beloved series. But if you are able to get past these weaker episodes, Season 3 will likely be the best season yet.

Some of the series’ best fights ever happen during the Culling Game Arc. Some of the fan-favorite characters go up against each other in shocking ways. I actually appreciate the structure of the arc, too, dividing up the main cast in different locations. This allows the death game to feel better focused than it otherwise would.

Sure, this does mean, though, that you will likely go without seeing some characters. This was particularly noticeable in the manga, as it dragged on a bit longer than it should have. This is why the Vs. Mahito Arc is still my personal favorite in the series since it accomplished so much in such a short time. That said, I think the Culling Game Arc will work much better in anime form. The pacing should be much stronger and faster than in the original manga’s release. It helps, too, that the consistent weekly release schedule will keep fans interested.

The one element that might hold back Jujutsu Kaisen Season 3 is MAPPA. Season 2 had some exceptional animation, but the studio also showed some visual flaws towards the end. I am concerned about the workload for the animators and the stress that is on them. If Season 3 comes out in 2025, which I expect it to, this is a pretty fast turnaround. I am a bit worried if the animation quality will get the attention the Culling Game Arc deserves.

That said, if Jujutsu Kaisen Season 3 does find a way to balance a healthy work schedule with quality, this will easily be the best season yet. Without spoiling too much, I even think it will be better than the inevitable final arc of the series that comes after. There is so much that happens during this arc that will shake the core of the anime community. Even with the likes of My Hero Academia’s final season and the Demon Slayer final movie trilogy ahead in 2025, Jujutsu Kaisen Season 3 could still stand toe-to-toe with them and be the best season of the series, if done right.

Jujutsu Kaisen is streaming currently on Crunchyroll.

The post Jujutsu Kaisen Season 3 Culling Game Arc Will Be the Best Season appeared first on Siliconera.

I have so many form over function bags and purses. I’ve gotten Loungefly items I’ll never use because they are too heavy or clumsy for casual wear. My designated Halloween Purse is shaped like an actual cauldron, which seems cool until you realize it can really only hold my wallet, phone, and keys and is awkward to easily retrieve said items due to the odd shape. The Sprayground Pac-Man Ghost Gang Mystery Bag backpack involves a situation where it definitely is about the aesthetics, but those are handled in a way in which we can actually use the resulting bag on a daily basis. 

Yes, this is a blind bag situation. However, I feel it is less risky than similar ones. While the color of the ghost may vary and there is the secret glow-in-the-dark Scared surprise variant, I get the feeling someone buying this particular Pac-Man ghost backpack is doing so just to have a general, ghost-shaped one. Inky, Blinky, Pinky, and Clyde are all present in addition to the prone white ghost, so your options are basically red, orange, blue, or pink with eyes in different directions depending on which one you get. In my case, I ended up getting an Inky, so I have the signature light blue ghost with dark blue eyes looking to his right. 

When the Sprayground Pac-Man Ghost Gang Mystery Bag backpack first arrives, it is in a black, plastic bag with a recreation of the game’s maze on one side. Aside from the fact that there are five ghosts in the center, rather than four, it’s a great recreation and reference. But honestly, I appreciated most that it was resealable. This is a bag that is designed to be used. It’s a statement piece, but also really durable from my tests over the 2024 holiday season. But when I have something that is “special,” I also like being able to preserve it when I’m not using it. So instead of just sticking it in a closet, I can put it in its original bag and store it away, feeling like it is a little more secure. 

The nature of the design and materials for the bag also mean that it feels really sound and structured. It’s 18 inches long and six inches wide, with a fake leather exterior. Because it’s one solid piece of material for much of it, there’s a sturdiness that really helps the backpack maintain its form. When I was taking it around over the holidays, I found this especially benefitted me when toting around electronics. There is a cushioned laptop section inside the bag, which easily fit my MacBook Air with room to spare, and I also had no issue tossing in a Lenovo Legion Go and Switch too. I’m sure people will and could use it for clothes and other general items, but I think it would be best served as a gaming bag due to the appearance and construction elements. I felt safe storing my electronic devices in it. Especially since the padding and design of the straps made it comfortable to wear as well. 

That design also made me feel like it could be a good option for a carry-on bag for a flight in some ways. It does have some side pockets and additional zippered compartments. However, it isn’t so much one with a lot of easily accessible ones I’d grab from on the go, due to so many of the more accommodating features and pockets being on the inside. Rather, I’d consider it the type you load up or pull from when stationary, then keep sealed while in transit from one place to another. 

Especially since the Clyde Sprayground Pac-Man Ghost Gang backpack I used ended up being far more resistant to the elements than I expected. It was a rainy Christmas and New Years in the midwest in 2024! Since it ended up being established that this was a water-resistant bag, I wasn’t too concerned. But there were some times when more than a slight drizzle fell, and the backpack held up amazingly. Likewise, I did get a bit splashed, and that residue wiped off without leaving any marks. 

Also, as a fun aside, the fact that this Pac-Man ghost backpack is so noticeable and recognizable even led to some fun encounters over the break. At one point, a person struck up a conversation with me when I used it instead of a grocery tote while shopping for some essentials as we waited in line. One of my older relatives who normally can’t remember what my job even is and isn’t typically into gaming picked up on the imagery right away, which led to us talking more about her own youth. With similar pop culture bags or purses I’ve used from Loungefly, the most that happens is I’ll get a compliment about the design. But I ended up surprised by a few conversations with both people I knew and didn’t because of this especially distinctive accessory.

I didn’t expect the Sprayground Pac-Man Ghost Gang mystery bag backpack to be as sturdy as it is and leave the impression that it does. It ended up being such a substantial pack. So much so that I think I’d exclusively use it for toting around electronics either locally or when taking a flight somewhere due to that durability. The design means its really good at keeping a computer or console secure and protected. It also ends up catching a lot of attention when used. It nails the aesthetic while still being incredibly practical.

The Sprayground Pac-Man Ghost Gang Mystery Pack backpack is available for $100 each via the official site.

The post Pac-Man Sprayground Ghost Gang Mystery Backpack Feels Substantial appeared first on Siliconera.