#akudama thoughts

[friedfriedchicken]

It's not a Kazutaka Kodaka game if the protagonist doesn't have an ahoge and there isn't a gyaru girl

[animecrazed]

The 500 yen piece in Akudama Drive Does Something To Me.

Because it’s literally $3.50. And yet, Ordinary Person is compelled to return it to a guy who tells her dropped change is bad luck. She doesn’t hand over the 500 yen piece and just get a replacement one when she doesn’t have the physical currency to pay for her takoyaki. She gets arrested for swindling the takoyaki stand out of $3.50.

Her entire arc is because she was such a weirdly moral person that she couldn’t spend someone else’s coin, even when he denied it, and even with the consequences of being arrested.

Her entire arc is because one man had a traumatic experience with picking up dropped money once in his childhood and has created his own mythos around how a loved one’s death is his fault. He is at fault for the loss of his home and his safety and the loss of his hand; and he thinks she is at fault for her descent into akudama status, because he warned her.

But Swindler puts a spin on the coin. She had to play on his sympathies to get him to take all of her money - except the coin - for her previous job. And he tells her that it wasn’t enough, probably because he is aware the moment he throws in with her to help these kids is yet another moment leading to a future he can’t escape. Where he will die to do what she’s asked of him. And now, the coin is a chance to rewrite his past. Dropped change got them both to here - and instead of it being a negative, Swindler turns it into a positive.

Her eyes have been opened. She can never have a normal life. But what is a normal life, if it’s built on the dehumanization of children? On the criminalization of anyone who the authorities decide is out of line?

This 500 yen piece has made her life the absolute worst. But this life is real. She is doing something of importance with it. She isn’t just going home and collapsing on her bed. She has a goal, a purpose, and her perception of herself and her space has been altered because of this experience. It changed her life. It’s leading to her death. She accepts it.

And $3.50 is such a small amount to take on a suicide mission for. It’s such a small amount that it is no more than a token. A talisman. An object telling Courier he belongs. That, yes, this particular coin ruined this one woman’s life in every possible way imaginable - but she sees the benefit of that tilt o whirl of an experience. She sees the benefit in taking something that is painful and seeing the benefits anyway.

$3.50 is such a small amount to take on a suicide mission for, but Courier is faced with certain death or allowing this chameleon of a woman to change his own myth about his life; allowing her to rewrite his own understanding of himself. $3.50 is the small, insignificant amount of money that connects these two characters. It’s the amount that changes someone’s perception of the world from nihilistic to a belief life can get better.

Courier passes the coin - the torch - to the kids when he hits the end of his line. He passes on the ability to make their own fate, the way Swindler made her own and gave him the chance to truly make his.

Courier takes the job in the finale because it is the language he understands. And he passes along the payment when he is finally able, with the knowledge he is dying, to do what he chooses to do without payment being the impetus for action. He chooses to finish the job on his own terms, no matter the cost. And the talisman, practically worthless, is passed on to the next set of people who need the chance and the permission to full throatedly go after their own desires.

I don’t think it’s a coincidence that Brother looks at the coin before proclaiming he and his sister will escape. It’s no longer a sign of bad luck or an obligation to others; a debt to be repaid or payment for a job. It’s the reminder of the sacrifices that came before, yes; but it’s also a reminder of how one can choose how they live. How they die. What they choose to believe in and pursue. Brother and Sister are the biggest akudama there are; because they have chosen to remake themselves in the images they decide upon. And the coin, the one chaining Courier to his beliefs about himself and Swindler to Courier, is no longer something dragging its holder down but an object encouraging its holder to look ahead.

[rxmni]

it's herrr,, and him too...

[aseriesofunfortunatejan]

I'm trying to create something that begs the question: what if Doctor were a really hot lesbian?

[tsumikifey]

me listening to akudama drive's soundtrack: "oh my fucking god this is just like danganronpa"

[infernaltenor]

had a random thought, like a reinterpretation re: the courier little sister from ??? bc i was like. you know what would be fun. if she was some kid from kansai who saw the whole thing with the akudama go down and wasnt actually related to courier at all, just started hardcore mirroring him.

[youhavethewrong]

Yuiviews: The Too Kyo Games Library

After ending the Danganronpa series in what is basically rebellion against over-sequelization, writer Kazutaka Kodaka, artist Rui Komatsuzaki, and composer Masafumi Takada left the apparently horrible to work at company Spike Chunksoft to join the writer of the Zero Escape series Kotaro Uchikoshi and form their own small studio: Too Kyo Games. Throughout the years, they've kept a consistent output of creative and unique mystery and action games and stories. But in spite of how good they are, a lot of them have flown under the radar, as people in general aren't really aware of Too Kyo Games existing. So, to hopefully rectify that a little bit, I come to you with a list of the things they've made so you can see if any of them strike your fancy!

1. Master Detective Archives: Rain Code

Okay this one was still published under Spike Chunksoft, but the developers are still Too Kyo games so hear me out.

Amnesiac detective Yuma Kokohead is called to Kanai Ward, a city of neverending rain shrouded in mystery. In a place where the truth is hidden by a mega corporation, it is his duty to join a group of world-class detectives with special talents in solving the many murder cases that seem to be around every corner. He is accompanied in his journey by Shinigami, the god of death, who has the power to take him to the Mystery Labyrinths - bizarre construction where finding the exit equals reaching the truth.

The gameplay consists of 3d exploration in the city of Kanai Ward, along with action minigames and puzzles whose solutions lead to figuring out the whodunnit and howdunnit of each case!

A highlight of the game for me is the character of Shinigami, who adds a very macabre vibe to the murder mysteries by making inappropriate jokes and enjoying the whole thing a bit way too much. This game is like Detective Conan for insane people, and I loved it dearly, so I don't know if that's a good thing about myself.

(Probably not)

The game's available on Xbox, PS5, Nintendo Switch, and Steam. As of the time of this writing, the Steam version is on discount.

2. Akudama Drive

Not in the mood for games? No worries, here's an anime!

Taking place in a dystopian futuristic version of Kansai, Akudama Drive sees a society that labels particularly dangerous criminals as "Akudama", and heavily persecutes and punishes them for their transgressions. In this society, a regular girl is accidentally roped into a 6 Akudama master plan to perform an Ocean's 11-type heist by a mysterious mastermind.

(One of the characters in this image is the mastermind, and it's not the girl)

One big highlight of the show for me is the animation. Komatsuzaki's art and designs feel particularly difficult to bring to motion in 2d, but this show pulls it off really well with some clever lightning and other stylization techniques. Also, the show has a theme of how society deals with what it deems "undesirable", which resonates a lot with me.

(...for no reason in particular)

The show's available in Crunchyroll and perhaps some other sites too idk.

3. World's End Club

Not in the mood for a game or an anime? Well, how about something in between!

This game tells the story of the Go-Getters club, a club of kids who, during a field trip, experience the end of the world. There's very little I can say about this title's premise without giving most of it away, so instead I'll focus on the atmosphere it creates.

Since this game deals with young children rather than adults or even teenagers, the story is a loooot lighter than other Too Kyo Games projects. It is really lighthearted and even adorable at times. I'm particularly fond of this one scene where the main cast rides this ridiculous 12 person tandem bike while singing a little song.

However, don't let the lighter atmosphere and Take's cute designs fool you. There's still intrigue, heartache, and plot twists that will leave your mouth agape. After playing so many games by the same writers, I thought I was ready for anything that they could throw at me. This game proved me wrong.

(This and more philosophical debates await you in this title!)

Still, World's End Club is a much more relaxing time than the other games on this list. What I think most people would consider its biggest downside is how light it is in terms of gameplay. It's about 80% cutscenes, 20% gameplay. And the gameplay that is there is just extremely basic 2d puzzle sections. However, I don't think this is an objective negative. Me personally, I just see it as an extremely fun interactive story, rather than a game. When I sit down to play it, I think to myself "okay, time to see what happens next", rather than "time to push myself to overcome some difficult platforming challenges", this isn't Pizza Tower. So if you go into it knowing how light the gameplay is, I think it's an extremely delightful experience.

(I haven't beaten it yet, but it has already pulled like 5 plot twists on me, so I'm expecting about... 15 more)

World's End Club is available on Nintendo Switch, iOS, and Steam.

4. Tribe Nine (The Anime)

What's that? Youre in the mood for both a game and an anime? Weirdly specific request. And Tribe Nine is more than prepared to grant it to you!

Tribe Nine (the anime) takes place in an alternate world where (recently christened) Neo Tokyo has been broken into turfs, controlled by groups of people called "Tribes". Each tribe decides which turf is whose by way of Extreme Baseball, or XB - a version of baseball where the field is entire towns, and beating the crap out of each other is both allowed and encouraged.

(Only if you're holding the ball though, they're not monsters)

Although I know this is a recommendation, I gotta be honest and admit that the animation's not the best most of the time, and some character designs leave a lot to be desired. That being said, it is undoubtedly a unique, entertaining experience. The characters are fun, the story gets really intense when it means to, and it never gets to the point of being too self-aware. Yes, I'm counting that as a positive. I want to see some stories that take themselves seriously once in a while, dang it. Yes, that guy hit a baseball so hard it broke the Tokyo Tower's tip off. Yes, it's extremely stupid. But consider: who gives a shit, it's rad.

(There's also 4 identical-looking guys all voiced by the same VA. Call that a cost-cutting measure if you will, I'll call it hilarious)

The whole anime's for free on Youtube, with English Subtitles. So you don't even need a Crunchyroll account, you can watch it right now if you want! The playlist's not in order and it's got some weird edits to add ads for the music, but eh. Other options are available if need be.

5. Tribe Nine (The Game)

"Okay, so remember that anime that we made a couple years ago that very few people watched and had practically 0 cultural impact? I've got an idea: let's dial the extreme factor to 1,000, redesign all the characters, make new ones, and release its sequel as one of the best god damned free games people can play".

If that's not how Tribe Nine (The Game) came to be, I've no clue what the circumstances might've been.

Tribe Nine (The Game) may be a sequel to the anime, but it takes place in a world that's very different from what we see in Episode 12. A new threat, Zero, has emerged and taken control of the country. His extreme technological prowess and orbital lasers are as ridiculous as they are deadly, and he's in the perfect position to force the group of rebels that's risen to defeat him into a series of extreme games of strategy and deception.

XB still has its place of course: in the form of action debates that shift the balance of power in each territory.

(Okay I know what you're thinking: "Action Debates? Isn't that the Danganronpa thing?" Well, no. You see, this one's baseball.)

Tribe Nine's biggest downside is that it's a gacha game. And if that's something that deters you from it, I completely understand. However, if you're still willing to give it a chance, I cannot recommend it enough. The game is filled to the brim with content, the action RPG gameplay is extremely fun to master, and as of now can be played start to finish while completely ignoring the gacha aspect, as it just offers additional content, not necessary content. It might as well be a full AAA game that you get for free, because that's exactly what it feels like.

("Look I know every other apple in this basket is poison, but trust me, this one's juicy af and it tast- why are you looking at me like that")

Tribe Nine is available on Android, iOS, and Steam.

6. The Hundred Line - Last Defense Academy

Okay, I'm not gonna sugarcoat it: This game is just straight up better Danganronpa

(Put the gun down put thE GUN DOWN I CAN EXPLAIN!!)

THL-LDA takes place in a world where humanity lives in underground domes, and regular attacks from unknown entities are a daily thing. One day our protagonist, Takumi Sumino, is kidnapped by a weird little... egg guy called Sirei, and made to stay 100 days inside a fortified academy. He and other people around his age are then forced to defend "something important" inside the school from invaders, by becoming pseudo-soldiers that use Hemoanima, special weapons that give them Kill la Kill-style uniforms that transform with their blood to enhance their powers and allow them to fight back.

(If this game isn't at least partly inspired by Kill la Kill, I'll assume that using your blood to get a super-powered school uniform is a daily occurrence in Japan)

The gameplay itself is divided in the expected vn sections (complete with minigames and side activities!), and the "defense" sections, where it plays like a really good Tactics game.

I'm usually not one to get too deep into Tactics games (I've tried FF Tactics, Disgaea, and Fire Emblem and sucked at all of them), but this one really pulled me in with how much freedom of choice you get, and how seamlessly it blends story and gameplay. For example, instead of getting a couple moves per unit, you get a certain number of Action Points per turn that you can distribute however you want. You can either move all units once or one unit 6 times. Certain actions will give you more Action Points, so good strategy and thinking ahead can lead to long combos that really punish the enemy.

(Pictured above: Gameplay instructions)

With 100 different endings and 500+ CGs (holy fuck), this is the most ambitious game Too Kyo games have released yet by far. And as soon as you start, you can really tell how much care went into it. In a way, it really feels like the culmination of everything these developers have worked on up to this point.

The demo is extremely generous too. I personally got 7+ hours of gameplay from it, so you've got a lot of time to see if you like the game or not without committing to spending money on it. By the time I was done with it, I was already so hooked with the story and fond of the characters there was no doubt in my mind I'll buy the full version as soon as the May paycheck hits.

(No points for guessing who my favorite character is)

The full game is currently available on Nintendo Switch and Steam.

Extra - Death Come True

Okay I'll be honest, the only reason this one's an extra and not a proper entry is because I haven't played it yet, so I can't say anything about it other than how interesting it is that it's the only FMV entry in Too Kyo's repertoire. However, it's made by the same people who've already made 11 things I've really liked, soooo... like at some point you gotta start giving artists the benefit of the doubt. I think it's fair to assume this one probably rules too. I'm also buying it with the May paycheck I haven't gotten yet and already spent half of.

(I'm also gonna play it on a discord call with my friends, so we can pick the story together. That's not relevant, but isn't the ability to do that an undervalued feature of FMV games?)

Death Come True is available on Steam, Android, iOS, Xbox One, PS4, PS5, Nintendo Switch, and probably a Smart Fridge if we try hard enough.

Conclusion:

Too Kyo Games is one of my favorite development teams. They have not disappointed me yet, and have given me unique experience after unique experience. Their style of storytelling is unlike anything else I've seen, and every time I check out something made by them, I end up being moved in new ways.

However, they're also currently facing financial difficulty due to none of their projects being breakout hits, or even hits as big as Danganronpa was. I think creativity and effort like this deserves attention, so if any of the entries above peak your interest, make sure to check them out! Especially if you ever fell in love with Danganronpa, as I think that's proof that this team is capable of making things that resonate with you. And after all, the people behind it have kept improving their craft more and more over time, so wouldn't it be fun to give them a chance to give you even more stories that give you new feelings and experiences~? 💖

[mondgewalt]

i don‘t want to shove everything into my tags:

the weirdest one was swindler and brother…? safe to say that i don‘t ship them

master and courier is a thing (and has (had) a dedicated fan). i don‘t personally ship it but i guess i can see the appeal?

swindler and junior is random for sure. did they even ever exchange words? not that it‘s important, i love crackships. but i don‘t really see it.

courier and hoodlum. chloe. (worst thing is that i see it)

question to those who are interested in shipping:

what are some of the most random pairings you‘ve seen yet that people seem to legitimately ship? and do you see the appeal in them or even ship any of them?

[nessypanda-art]

Welcome to final request I got: Brawler from Akudama Drive for @princeasimdiya12 !! I almost confused Akudama Drive for Danganropa because I thought that the art style felt similar but it only took a quick google search to figure out that it is in fact two different things.

[friedfriedchicken]

What if Cutthroat had the motorcycle instead of Courier? Put this guy on a vehicle with red lights that drives on roads with red lights and let's see what happens

[animecrazed]

I like that both Courier and Ordinary Person / Swindler are the two people who do not choose to take the initial job of breaking Cutthroat out.

Ordinary Person / Swindler ends up as part of the action through a series of truly unfortunate and compounding and escalating events, starting with picking up a coin and ending with being accidentally scooped by a police death machine.

And Courier? He’s paid in advance. He doesn’t get the same offer - the same promise of reward - the other Akudama do. He’s locked in, because he can’t refuse the money and can’t return it. His livelihood depends on completing the task he’s being paid to do, and the option to not agree to this one has been taken away.

They are the 2 characters we don’t get to see actively agree to this suicide mission; we don’t know if Courier would have agreed to the delivery (and Ordinary Person wouldn’t have been given the opportunity). And it creates a space between them and the rest of their crew, who did decide to pursue this job. For the money, for the challenge, to escape boredom… the rest of them were given the choice to walk away because it was assumed they couldn’t. Courier? He not only could but very probably would. So his escape is immediately cut off.

Akudama Drive isn’t a tragedy. And neither Ordinary Person nor Courier would probably appreciate being seen as tragic figures. But there is a tension between these two and the rest of the group; because even Brother sees Courier as a separate problem to handle. And he handles it by boxing Courier in.

[devintrinidad]

Ooohhhhhh~! Was not expecting an addition to one of my old AD posts!

Well said! Although, one could argue that Swindler had to grow into the role because of the right conditions/environment for that Swindler persona to come about. The reason she was so selfless and innocent at the start was because she had no reason not to be. She lived a very comfortable life as a civilian and member of the Seal Center with no real high stakes like she would later face when she is with the rest of the Akudama. It's when she's faced with danger (almost continuously) over the next few days, coupled with her love and dedication to Brother and Sister, that she fully embraces her selfish/unethical side.

So, it's like you said, she is herself no matter, it's just a matter of nurture vs. nature bringing out those parts of herself to surface.

Also, Swindler is the ultimate definition of 'Fake It Till You Make It' and by complete accident too. What a inspiration. =P

Heheheh.

To be honest, she became Swindler the second she lied.

She just needed to grow a little into her role a bit.

Fun fact: Swindler’s va was always credited with Normal/Ordinary in the ending credits. However, in the final episode, the va is finally credited with just Swindler. It’s kinda cool and totally displays just how much she has grown throughout the series.

[crehador]

parting thoughts on undead unluck (first cour)

SO FUCKING GROSS (POSITIVE)

i still don't know how to say this in a way that makes sense but undead unluck is disgusting and phenomenal, it's such a nasty yet fun sort of action (talking about the fight scenes specifically) and i think it just works because it never takes itself too seriously but still fully commits to the bit

like it's not just a parody of the genre or anything, it's balls to the wall action that's totally... like... both earnest and whimsical at the same time? hard to describe but it's hit on a balance that makes it genuinely fun imo, more than just a typical gorefest

weirdly enough it reminds me a bit of akudama drive in that regard! very different plots, very different tones. but just plain Fun in a similar way

looking forward to the second cour but REALLY hoping we get to keep the queen bee op (though i doubt it)

[aseriesofunfortunatejan]

Chapter 52

Someone on Reddit asked me about the "guitarist", and I thought hey, shouldn't Swindler's backstory come out soon? What was it again...? This is how I realised it had been out.

(PS: the next two chapters are coming out in the beginning of April!)

I'll edit the Wiki later, since it's very late (if no one else wants to do it first), but for now: a quick look at the additional "Ogakiverse" content. I don't love his scenario-writing, but I have to give him that he's entertaining.

Courier only gives a shit about his bike: manga edition

I liked the anime's subtitles a lot more. Honestly, I don't know what the original text was like, but this chapter in English feels a bit... basic.

Swindler asks Courier out. Serious edition

This is not a misinterpretation, as confirmed outright by a line Brother shouldn't be speaking at his fucking age.

My gut reaction was "this sucks". But because of something that follows, it turns out to at least be pretty entertaining.

But first - how did Courier react?

Courier's reaction is disgust as usual, even though he cares about Swindler.

I say "disgust as usual" in reference to the screenshots I included in this post.

For context, here is an earlier page.

Then, she asks him if his job is done and if he'll eat takoyaki with her. To which his reaction is...

[Image description: a single panel zooming on a Courier whose expression is hard to describe. Disgust? Judgement? Probably the latter. End ID]

So. A lot happening here.

Courier's immediate reaction is hilarious and you can not convince me this man is interested in women. (And he's aroace to me, but sure, I still can't officially rule out men because he didn't say it.)

That being said, I think the sentiment that he wants her to live is exclusive to the manga? I have no recollection of this being... a thing, at all, in the anime. Correct me if I'm wrong, but I've watched this anime a lot, and I'm surprised at the very least.

I mean, it's sweet. I'm not sure what it brings to the picture exactly, but it's not completely out of character for Courier to have come to care about Swindler. I can think of the fight against Doctor as an example of him going out of his way to carry out helping her, not necessarily because he was made to; and Doctor points it out as always. (iirc, saving her from the traffickers was justified by the delivery he needed to make.)

Would he admit it, though? I guess Ogaki is saying that among such fluster, it might come out of him.

It also (akudama) drives home how much both thought the adventure was over, which I think is the most important narratively. At the same time, this scene is a bit shocking pacing-wise.

By the way, Swindler's crush on Courier...? It fits everything we've been shown. She has an interest in him, it's been obvious. I would feel very uncomfortable if romance were introduced both ways, but this feels like it respects how both usually react and feel. It's also silly, therefore, funny, therefore, valid.

What's the status on Pupil's tits?

Pretty big, but they'll get bigger.

The status on Junior bullying is also pensive emoji, but you're here for the girlfriend pages.

Swindler's crush on Courier is about to be explained in the way you'd least expected

Honestly, I could tell from the image alone, but the person I love? That's a hard launch.

Don't complain about how much more useless this makes Courier's random "sister" character. Don't complain about how much more useless this makes Courier's random "sister" character. Don't complain about how much more useless this makes Courier's random "sister" character. Don't

Yeah okay so she has a motorcycle and she speaks the same way as Courier

The guitar is confirmed to be that girl's, as she plays it while waiting for Swindler. (Of course not named Swindler at the time, she's actually nicknamed "panties" for sleeping with her panties showing in the beginning. Yes this is being added to the Wiki later.) Swindler also has her hair cut shorter than usual. She asks the girl what she thinks.

yeah this seems platonic (not)

But I bet you're wondering, whose narration was that in the beginning. Who loves the other? Do we know for sure that it's Swindler? Boy do I have confirmation for you

This narration makes it very clear who spoke what. "This world is shit" is that girl's catchphrase. The narration is Swindler's.

Swindler described this girl as "the person I love."

Here is the ending of the chapter:

There you have it. Swindler has shown attraction to men and women. Hell, I don't know that character's gender identity for sure, since she says "person"! (I have been describing her as "girl" as shorthand in the alt texts, FYI.) Either way, she's not straight.

Is this only true in Ogaki's mind palace (accepted by the Akudama Drive Production Committee)? Probably not, no. Swindler's backstory was carefully written by Tomohisa Taguchi. Even in the event that this was an Ogaki original (which is very unlikely since Tomohisa Taguchi described having a long memo of Swindler's entire life up to meeting Courier), it would have been carefully checked in with the person who wrote this character. It's a backstory you can be confident about.

tl;dr: this is canon.

[austajunk]

HOORAH YAY! I MADE IT TO 32 years old today!

Honestly, I feel happier and more self-assured the older I get. I even started my own manga. How can I not be at my best this year? I'm so happy.

If anyone wants to send me some thoughts about Rain Code, Akudama Drive or DR and what they love about it, go ahead. If not, I hope everyone who randomly lands on my silly blog of random scrawls a fun summer day. Stay cool and hydrated! Sunscreen up! It's merciless out there! I love you all!