It's got clunky voice animation, the plot line is as cliche as can be past the midway point. Because the animator didn't know how to do fights, they're super strange. Hands and feet are strange too.

It's not as iconic in the realm of Flash as "Fallen Angel" for its time, and animations like Paladin are also a completed series. With the passage of time, this pales in comparison to later Flash animations.The Gothic aesthetic isn't as pronounced as in Lilium, and the voice acting for Lord Dark is hammier than a Christmas morning.

But I still have a soft spot for this. It has fun symbolism spread throughout, and the opening part of the story is incredibly interesting. The romance gets a bit tacked on by the end, but I still really felt that for the most part it was cute. I never say Lilium as a kid, mainly because I was super scared, this ended up taking it's place. This probably was a huge influence on me as I grew up, and I really appreciate the fact that you've made this.There's no real point in criticizing something when you've proven how much better you've become, so this is just a heartfelt thanks for making Asaroki.

PS: Your website is down, or at least the original. Do you have the comic uploaded somewhere else?

Watching this show improve episode by episode is amazing. I remember watching this when I was younger. I think with time we see previous stuff just look less appealing, but even seeing the obviously less than stellar animation, I still love watching stuff like this. This series has ten million and one cliches, but I'm ok with that. One last thing, I was inspired to find this series again after watching Lilium. Did you know she's now a comic artist by the name of Hushabye?

TAILS DOLL

easel last short before credits click

For 2008, this is an amazing Flash, it probably never got the hits Episode 5 did, even though this is by far superior. The fight is challenging, but not a drawn out slugfest like Ep5, and the minigame is enjoyable. You really took more time with the story, and the dialogue was actually enjoyable, and looking back, it still is. The voice acting is probably the best you're gonna get, and they do their jobs pretty well. I still think Aeon is a pretty cool edgy foil to Sonic, though I hope in the future there will be decent exposition onto what the hell Cain is.

Oh right, there's a future! You're making episode 7! Or at least you have been, since six months ago. That's cool!

Honestly this is more of a thanks for the memories. I saw episode 5 back in 2006 or 7, on ArcadeBomb, and this may have been what got me into Newgrounds. The themes you've used ultimately got me into many anime I now hold dear, like Fullmetal Alchemist and Rurouni Kenshin. I still get annoyed that you didn't capitalize I's, or that your website isn't on anymore, but honestly this is just a thank you. I know Flash is going the way of the dinosaur, so who knows how long you'll keep making stuff like this, or anyone will. Perhaps I should download these? They're pretty iconic. Anyhow, thanks for the memories.

Great game but before I get on with my small rant I'll make a small message.

Message to angry gamers that don't like the waiting times.

Please, please please please please, PLEASE understand: This game isn't like other flash games, it's a game that you play for thirty minutes (already a big amount for a waiting game) and then stop and go do something, like go kick a ball around, or go play some L.A Noire or something, it's not a all night long game.
Second to people hating the token system:
The token system was meant for people who are impatient or really want a boost, if you need improvements go get a couple of friends to play the game, they'll help you. Tokens are for people who want the extra boost of power for a while, they aren't the way to win, the way to win is through smart planning.

Thanks

Now onto the review.

Graphics: First of all, I feel indifferent to the graphics, they're nice and not bad, but not good either. They're just kind of there. The artwork was nice and the interface was simple but usable.
7/10

Sound: The sound was again, simple, and yet catchy, the sound FX were nice and were small tweaks that made it nice. Overall though, maybe more than one track would be nice.
7/10

Gameplay: Ah yes, the core of the game, the gameplay was addicting and again simple, and teamwork was very important. One problem though, it was either simple and a pleasure cruise or a burning hell of pain. While I didn't like it it felt to me like owning a real shop, sometimes it is a great profit or a disaster with horrible losses that you might not come back from. Still it could have been more team oriented.

8/10

Conclusion

The game is at it's best fun and at its worst a slug through to play overall I like it but it could be more team oriented.

3.5+3.5=7+7=11/3 approximately four stars.

This game is just revolutionary! To think that one can such a nice game on Game Maker! First the controls make me feel like.... like I'm actually there, every jump I do is made on my command making me feel like I made the mistake for every death I have. The difficulty is great and instead of cheapness in controls or places. This is mainly because when I die I always see: Oh this is my mistake not anyone else's. The OST blows my mind away, because every single time I play this game I obsess over this music as it always let's me win by cheering me on. The graphics amaze me in it's monochrome awesomeness, I think this could be a downloadable title on the 3DS! The ending also blows my mind off, as I have never gotten the secrets but the lone ending already amazes me and I understand it without understanding it, if that makes ANY sense. Overall this game is amazing and could probably be a downloadable title for the 3DS any day of the week. That's how good it is. 5/5