Therapy Game Restart 4

Therapy Game Restart 4 by Meguru Hinohara

My rating: 2 of 5 stars


Shizuma is being his usual adorable and sometime oblivious self while Minato works himself into a panic several times over. The apartment hunt continues and Minato's latest run in with Shizuma's mother has him sweating bullets all over - before he even realizes in the midst of his latest deep dive into work mode he's managed to completely forget Shizuma's birthday even though he already has his gift and at least in his head had made plans for the day. Whoops. Fortunately, Shizuma is usually fairly easygoing if not perhaps a bit too forgiving and maybe oversharing when it comes to their relationship. Minato admits that he likes this though, so for all his griping, really, they just need to find that apartment. 

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Spy x Family: The Official Guide [Eyes Only]

Spy x Family: The Official Guide [Eyes Only] by Tatsuya Endo

My rating: 2 of 5 stars


This book has a lot of art along with character files mostly for the main characters but with several of the secondary characters and small blurbs for many of the others (including the neighbors). It also has an interview section with the artists. Overall what text there is can be rather heavy to try and read through, but if you like getting the details on all your favorite characters and how the series came to be, it could be an engaging read. There's not any new mission or side story though, so if you're looking for anything other than art and data, you may be disappointed.

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Spy x Family 11

Spy x Family 11 by Tatsuya Endo

My rating: 3 of 5 stars


That was intense. Anya's abilities come in rather handy when her school bus is hijacked. While she's not as cool and composed as she would like to think, her friends mostly follow her lead in this case, leading to a series of unusual events. She even manages to get Damian to confirm their friends, though he seems torn between thinking she's cool and their friends, and thinking she's just like everyone else and only after his name. What is going on with Damian's mother though? If Anya couldn't read minds, she wouldn't have any idea, but that's some pretty serious conflict bouncing around in her head. 

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Spy x Family 10

Spy x Family 10 by Tatsuya Endo

My rating: 3 of 5 stars


We get an interesting look back into Twilight's childhood and how he became a spy, though they're careful never to reveal his original true name, only various aliases he's taken on over the years. It would seem the headmaster is about as good at reading Anya as Loid is, which is to say not at all as well. It is rather confusing with her mix of claiming she wants to do well at something and her apparent lack of education or motivation to actually learn as shown by her falling asleep in class and the grades she carries. Not sure what to think of Damian's mother now entering the scene with Yor, other than it's hilarious how Loid tries to over analyze it for any possible outcome, though perhaps Yor's Garden friends may be more concerned about Loid's take on this new friendship than anything else.

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Spy x Family 9

Spy x Family 9 by Tatsuya Endo

My rating: 3 of 5 stars


Well, everyone survived the cruise, but it's a tad concerning and alarming how Becky is fixated on these romance movies to the point she's convinced Loid is her one true love and it's completely acceptable for her, still being a child and the same age as Anya, to attempt to have an affair with her friend's father and steal him from his wife to become her friends mother. That would be some seriously messed up family dynamics, and that's not even comparing it to the existing family that each has a big secret from the other members of the family. Bond seems to be winning Loid over a bit more, though Loid still has no clue how to deal with pretty much anything outside of his missions and extracting information. This new teacher at school seems to be a real piece of work too. Anya gets another toe in with Damien, but at the cost of another bolt, putting her position at the school in greater jeopardy.

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Spy x Family 8

Spy x Family 8 by Tatsuya Endo

My rating: 3 of 5 stars


We have a side story with Yuri getting sick and yet still possessed to get better and make the world safe for his beloved sister Yor and even a short clip with Bond and his "dog sitter". Otherwise, the majority of this installment focuses on Yor and her mission on the cruise line while Anya tries to have fun and keep her father from finding out Yor is an assassin. "Anya's grand adventure" is in full swing, and it really is kind of hilarious how far off the mark Loid is when trying to understand Anya and the lengths he'll go to for the sake of his cover for fear of being reported to the SSS (though his new brother-in-law would likely be ecstatic).

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The Apothecary Diaries: Maomao's Notes from the Inner Palace 6

The Apothecary Diaries: Maomao's Notes from the Inner Palace 6 by Natsu Hyuuga

My rating: 3 of 5 stars


Though of course Maomao doesn't know until after the incident, she manages to put the pieces together in time to save Renshi's life. Once they identify the culprit that seems to be behind these strange schemes, it seems a bit of a break is in order as Maomao uses her leverage back in the inner palace to clean out the medicine office, managing to help the doctor's family business in the process. Meanwhile we have a very jealous Renshi once again and a clueless Maomao when she is asked for her expertise in potentially buying out one of the three princesses - whoops?

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Spy x Family 7

Spy x Family 7 by Tatsuya Endo

My rating: 3 of 5 stars


Twilight has a rather awkward conversation with the head of the Desmond family, but he does seem to get some recognition before the end, so maybe he finally got a foot in the door for his mission. Meanwhile, Yor has a new assignment, though this time she's to protect the client rather than kill them, and she's wondering if it's time to hang up the stilettoes now that her brother doesn't need her to support him anymore. Anya meanwhile is just excited to see the ocean after using her skills to win a rigged lottery for a family trip.

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Safe & Sound in the Arms of an Elite Knight 3

Safe & Sound in the Arms of an Elite Knight 3 by Fuyu Aoki

My rating: 3 of 5 stars


They came out with a third book! It says that this is the last one, so don't expect more, but it was nice to get things finalized a bit more. The story is rushed and a tad anti-climatic with everything working out basically as expected, but Chloe and Lloyd are still sweet characters together. Luke has basically made himself Lloyd's squire at this point, which the Vice Commander loves to rib Lloyd about given he's supposed to just be a knight in training - just kind of went to the opposite extreme and has a major case of hero worship going on. Chloe's family is pretty much insane, and no one wants to deal with them, which in no surprise at all. Even the showdown with her mother is expected given her plans and knowing she wouldn't want to risk dealing with the knights. Perhaps the only thing truly surprising is how lucky Chloe was in that encounter and that it didn't end up a bit more serious before they could begin bouncing back from the effects. Shirley isn't a surprise either given the memories of her in the beginning - why bring her up if we weren't going to see her again later on in the book? Lloyd opening up so quickly to Shirley's husband and the both of them deciding they're best friends or something is surprising though and seems rather out of character given Lloyd's usually stoic demeanor, even if it has cracked a bit since he's started opening up to those emotions with Chloe. Everything else is just a tad too perfect - the fast engagement and perfect relationship, the timing with Shirley and the tapestry for the proposal. And then jump nearly straight to the wedding. It's still good, and a better ending than the encounter with Lily, but it didn't need to be so rushed either.

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Spy x Family 6

Spy x Family 6 by Tatsuya Endo

My rating: 3 of 5 stars


Nightfall is a bit beyond obsessive when it comes to her devotion to Twilight and her desire to be by his side. Unfortunately for her, Twilight is rather content with his odd makeshift family, even if he does not always understand what is happening or why. Yor is also a bit clueless and oddly insecure while also attached to their family life. Meanwhile, Anya is trying to help her father out with his mission, though he still has no clue she's even aware of it. Luck seems to be on his side and might finally get an opening with the Desmond's thanks to Anya's attendance and some well timed interreference when Damian was going to leave without meeting his father. 

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Spy x Family 5

Spy x Family 5 by Tatsuya Endo

My rating: 3 of 5 stars


I'll admit I still find the anime far more enjoyable for this series than the manga. This volume has Yor trying to learn how to cook while her brother attempts to tutor Anya in her tests. We see another spy on the school premises who fancies himself Twilights equal and is about as ridiculous as you can get. Wrap that up with a love infatuation from another spy Twilight works with, and Bond being jealous over Anya's stuffed penguin, and you have a recipe for a lot of outlandish and crazy antics. 

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Match Villa: Makeup ASMR

Match Villa: Makeup ASMR (Android)

My rating: 2 of 5 stars


For an game that is advertised in ads as play this instead if you are tired of games that aren't what they look like in the ads, this also fits the same bill. There are no multiple choices for the makeup ASMR and a significant amount of game play is more like Match 3D and other similar games. The points are alternately to unlock the ASMR levels (play through and no choices), and to unlock land areas like in Ava's Manor and similar design apps. Not really worth it for the limited amount of ASMR and the lack of choices.

Screw Jam

Screw Jam (Android)

My rating: 2 of 5 stars


This is similar to Nuts & Bolts except it's just removing the correct color and pattern of screws in sets of 2 - 4 and collecting points to paint the cityscapes. There only a limited number of city scenes to paint however, and then you're just gathering paint to sit there. The game will also try to render will frozen or chained pieces that are blocked by enough layers that either you lose all of your lives and/or will cave and buy the bonuses or at least coins to try and bypass the levels, which are not worth the cost. As usual, another puzzle game masquerading as something freemium and trying to charge to keep going.