xoliana
Member Since: July 31, 2016Reviews
Beadalon Mini Chain Nose Pliers
The Beadalon Mini Chain Nose Pliers are a pocket-sized jewellery-making plier. The jaws are flat, making them appropriate for flattening and squeezing, and the size makes them convenient for travel. While I do own a few other mini pliers, these... +
The Beadalon Mini Chain Nose Pliers are a pocket-sized jewellery-making plier. The jaws are flat, making them appropriate for flattening and squeezing, and the size makes them convenient for travel.
While I do own a few other mini pliers, these are by far the smallest. People with larger hands would find them nearly impossible to use. I myself have very small hands and I still find that these can be a bit tricky at times, so I don't use them as often as some other pliers in my collection.
Despite the size, the quality of these pliers is nothing to sneeze at. These are very competently made. These open very wide and can close very tightly shut. Because there aren't any teeth along the jaws, you don't have to worry about damaging your wire very easily. These pliers make it easy to grip something while you're working -- say if you're wire-wrapping -- or to make a bend very close to a bead. These squeeze just as tightly as any full-size plier.
While I wouldn't recommend these to anyone who has difficulty working with such a small tool, I would absolutely recommend them if you can get past their size. They do work very well.
-
Bead Landing Round Nose Pliers
The Bead Landing Round Nose Pliers are a type of jewellery-making plier. The jaws are cylindrical, and taper from wider to thinner. These allow you to make different sizes of loops in your wire, for example in an eye or headpin. The size of these... +
The Bead Landing Round Nose Pliers are a type of jewellery-making plier. The jaws are cylindrical, and taper from wider to thinner. These allow you to make different sizes of loops in your wire, for example in an eye or headpin.
The size of these pliers is very good. It's neither too small nor too large, making it easy to use for a number of different hand sizes. They're very easy to use, with each side of the jaws allowing for a good grip to make well-formed loops. They're very sturdy and well-made, and they aren't going to fall apart easily, even after years of use.
My only complaint about these pliers is that they can tend to "stick" every once in awhile. When you go to squeeze them shut, sometimes they don't pop back open again unless you pry the jaws apart yourself. I think this is only an issue if you don't use them on a regular basis. When used regularly, this doesn't happen, but if you leave them alone for awhile and then get back to them, they will stick for awhile. Not a huge issue, but I just thought I would mention it.
The price is very good on these -- some pliers can cost you triple the price. Always look for pliers with a pink or blue handle to ensure you're getting the best quality. These are great, and I would recommend them to any jeweller.
-
Micro Flush Cutter
These Micro Flush Cutters are a pair of pliers used in jewellery making, among other things. They're used for cutting different types of wire and, when used properly, will trim the wire without leaving a sharp edge. The small size makes them very... +
These Micro Flush Cutters are a pair of pliers used in jewellery making, among other things. They're used for cutting different types of wire and, when used properly, will trim the wire without leaving a sharp edge. The small size makes them very portable and good for travel, but it also makes them very suitable for smaller hands.
As you can see in the attached photo, these fit nicely in my hands. They work well with smaller gauges of wire, and not as well on a thicker gauge. I find that these run into trouble even when attempting to trim a standard gauge of eye or headpin (eg. Bead Landing, which are generally around 18g and very hard). These can trim the same gauge of wire provided it's softer (like Artistic Wire), but hard wires are definitely an issue.
I also find that these particular cutters don't leave as smooth an edge as other flush cutters available. Sometimes I end up filing down the edge to ensure that nothing is rough or sharp. Still, the price is right and the size works well for me personally, so I can't really complain.
If you're looking for something to trim softer and/or thinner wire, these work well. If you need something more heavy duty, I would recommend investing in a bigger size.
-
Micro Crimper Pliers
The Micro Crimper pliers are a smaller version of other crimping pliers. These are suitable for people who travel or who have smaller hands. In addition, these are also a good option if you find yourself using very small crimping beads on a... +
The Micro Crimper pliers are a smaller version of other crimping pliers. These are suitable for people who travel or who have smaller hands. In addition, these are also a good option if you find yourself using very small crimping beads on a regular basis.
I personally have small hands and find that these are very comfortable to use. I can see how someone with large hands may have a problem holding them, but I find these easier to use than the larger pliers I own. These are only really suitable for crimps that are around 1mm in size. Anything larger and these will struggle to crimp them properly, though it depends on the softness of the metal you use.
The first slot bends crimp beads/tubes very well, while the second position folds them. I haven't had any issues eith the quality or performance on these pliers, only with the beads themselves. These do the job just as well as any other crimping plier.
I would recommend these if you use small crimp beads.
-
essence Stay All Day Long Lasting Eye Shadow
Let me be clear -- I do think that the price is very good ($2.99), but I felt I had to lower my star rating on this review in order to get my point across here. I bought this shadow in number 18. I have already opined about how I hate Essence for... +
Let me be clear -- I do think that the price is very good ($2.99), but I felt I had to lower my star rating on this review in order to get my point across here.
I bought this shadow in number 18. I have already opined about how I hate Essence for not having outer packaging to protect the product, but I decided to take a chance here after my experience with their gel eyeliner. This looked like it was a very pretty colour, with no particles of glitter but a very beautiful, satin sheen. This is what I wanted.
When I took it home, I went to swatch it on my hand and the entire thing fell out of the plastic. The shadow wasn't housed in a little metal tin, like most eyeshadows -- there was no adhesive holding it down. It just fell out and the shadow broke. I know, you get what you pay for, but come on! I have bought other shadows from cheap brands that were manufactured and packaged properly. This is honestly just disgusting. There's no way the eyeshadow could have been held in place, so it's no wonder it fell out first thing.
I thought perhaps I could salvage it and put it back in its place, but that's when I noticed the smell, which was appalling. I don't know how to describe it other than to say that I have never had an eyeshadow smell like this. Most eyeshadows have zero fragrance, unless they had something added to them (like vanilla, for example). This smelled dirty and mouldy, like it had been lying around next to expired food and smelly socks for the past ten years.
This was an absolutely unacceptable experience. There's no way I can justify spending any more money on the brand, regardless of how happy I was with their potted eyeliner. If you're going to buy an eyeshadow from Essence, please be incredibly cautious. The eyeshadow breaking is the least of your worries. With a smell like that, I would be concerned about your eye health.
-
Danganronpa: The Animation
Danganronpa: The Animation is an anime adaptation of the Danganronpa: Trigger Happy Havoc video game. The anime consists of 13 episodes, and was released on North American airwaves via Funimation in 2015. It has since been released in the form of... +
Danganronpa: The Animation is an anime adaptation of the Danganronpa: Trigger Happy Havoc video game. The anime consists of 13 episodes, and was released on North American airwaves via Funimation in 2015. It has since been released in the form of a box set.
The story is the same as the game, which follows Makoto Naegi as he is accepted into Hope's Peak Academy. After passing out and waking up in an abandoned classroom, Makoto finds his fellow classmates in the auditorium where they have been gathered by Monokuma. Monokuma tells them that they are trapped in the school, and the only way they can survive and escape will be to play his game: kill one of your fellow students without getting caught.
In the game, you would play as Makoto and gather evidence at crime scenes, which you would then use to find the true culprit in class trials. Because there's no gameplay here, we instead watch as Makoto investigates on his own, and watch the class trials play out without intervening. This is convenient for those who don't feel comfortable playing video games, but perhaps a bit less convenient for those who have already played the game and know what's about to happen.
I feel that they did a good job in animating the characters, and I believe the Japanese voice actors are all the same as in the game (you can watch this in English as well). They kept it stylistically very faithful to the source material, even going so far as to make the blood pink instead of red, which the game did to avoid getting a higher rating in Japan. This keeps it enjoyable enough for those who have already played while offering something new and inventive for those who haven't.
Overall, I would recommend this series to fans of a good mystery tale. I just can't help but feel that half of the fun was actually getting to play it.
-
Danganronpa 2: Goodbye Despair
Danganronpa 2: Goodbye Despair is an interactive visual novel available to play on the PlayStation Vita, released in 2014. It is the sequel to Danganronpa: Triggery Happy Havoc, also released in 2014. The story follows Hajime Hinata, a young man... +
Danganronpa 2: Goodbye Despair is an interactive visual novel available to play on the PlayStation Vita, released in 2014. It is the sequel to Danganronpa: Triggery Happy Havoc, also released in 2014.
The story follows Hajime Hinata, a young man with amnesia who has joined the elite ranks of Hope's Peak Academy. The students have been whisked away to a tropical island where their peaceful paradise is disturbed by the villainous Monokuma, who tells them that they will remain stuck on the island unless they play his murderous game: they must attempt to kill one of their fellow classmates without getting caught.
The overall gameplay is pretty much the same as the previous game. Instead of playing as Makoto Naegi, you now play as Hajime Hinata. You're free to roam around the island and talk to people or examine things. If someone gets killed, you must examine the crime scene for key evidence. The class trial is where all of the students are rounded up and you must figure out who the murderer is. The gameplay during the trial is the only thing that's changed, as there are a few new mini-games to try out, but overall it's the same.
If I had to compare the two, I would say they're pretty close. I probably enjoyed the story in the first game a little bit better because towards the end of this one, it got kind of hard to follow. The characters and settings in both games are very colourful and unique, and I enjoyed both games in that respect. I found myself gravitating towards some characters over others, but when there are so many characters in the story, I imagine it's only natural to want to befriend one person over another.
This game, like its predecessor, is filled with violence and innuendo. It is rated M, and therefore I wouldn't recommend it for younger gamers. However, if you're looking for an engaging mystery, I would recommend picking this up.
-
Danganronpa: Trigger Happy Havoc
Dangonronpa: Trigger Happy Havoc is an interactive visual novel for the PlayStation Vita. It was released in 2014. The story is about Makoto Naegi, who has just been accepted to Hope's Peak Academy after being on the reserve list. When he... +
Dangonronpa: Trigger Happy Havoc is an interactive visual novel for the PlayStation Vita. It was released in 2014.
The story is about Makoto Naegi, who has just been accepted to Hope's Peak Academy after being on the reserve list. When he arrives, he's immediately rendered unconscious only to awaken in an abandoned classroom some time later. Makoto finds his fellow classmates in the auditorium, where they've been gathered and told that they must play a game as their only means of escape. They must kill another classmate and not be identified as the murderer.
As an interactive visual novel, this means that you will be reading a fair amount of dialogue. As far as the interaction and gameplay goes, you can move around and examine objects or talk to your fellow students. If someone is murdered, you investigate the crime scene for evidence. There's also a "courtroom" section in each chapter, where the students are put on trial in order to figure out who did it. If they guess right, the murderer is punished (killed); if they guess wrong, the murderer walks free and everyone else is punished in their stead.
This is obviously very gory, even though the blood has been turned pink and the drawings are very cartoony. It'srated M for a reason. Still, I found it to be a surprisingly engaging story with a very good mystery. I enjoyed getting to the bottom of who was behind the entire scheme.
I would definitely recommend this for mature gamers. Alternatively, there is also an anime adaptation, which I will review in the future.
-
Fantasy Life
Fantasy Life is a role-playing game (RPG) for the Nintendo 3DS. It was released in 2014. The story is about a fantasical land called Reveria, where strange meteorites have begun falling from the sky and causing strange things to occur. The King... +
Fantasy Life is a role-playing game (RPG) for the Nintendo 3DS. It was released in 2014.
The story is about a fantasical land called Reveria, where strange meteorites have begun falling from the sky and causing strange things to occur. The King tasks the player character -- that's you! -- with investigating the different meteorite sites to piece together what's going on.
The very first thing you'll do when you open up the game is customize your character, from name and gender to a bevy of different appearance options (you can change your hair and clothes later). You also must choose your Life, which is essentially choosing which class of character you would like to be. This can range from useful battle technicians like Paladin or Mercenary, or to something more craftsman-like, such as Blacksmith or Carpenter. After a certain point, you can change your Life at any time and go on to master many techniques, which will become very useful in any Life.
There's a main story, separated by chapters. For this, you're accompanied by your friend Yuelia, in addition to a different character for each chapter. The AI for the supporting characters in battle isn't the greatest, but you typically won't need their help anyway. Combat is easy to master, and the more Life paths you go down, the higher your skills and attributes will be. There are very few truly difficult enemies in the game.
Because there are so many side quests to go on and different tasks to increase your Life skills, the sheer amount of gameplay is really outstanding. I think I have put in somewhere in the 60 hour range and still haven't come close to mastering every Life or completing every quest! You definitely get your money's worth with this one.
This is a very suitable game for younger and older gamers alike. I would recommend it if you're looking for something addicting but not too difficult.
-
Animal Crossing: New Leaf
Animal Crossing: New Leaf is a Nintendo 3DS video game which was released in 2012. The game starts with the player travelling to a new city by train. They are asked a number of questions, which will allow them to choose to play as either a male or... +
Animal Crossing: New Leaf is a Nintendo 3DS video game which was released in 2012.
The game starts with the player travelling to a new city by train. They are asked a number of questions, which will allow them to choose to play as either a male or female townsperson. You can input a name, select the map for your city, and choose a plot of land for your house. When you arrive in town, you find out that you will be the new acting mayor, which comes along with a set of different tasks and duties to attend to.
This is best described as a simulation game, because the gameplay revolves around a simulated city life experience where you're the mayor. You have a number of different citizens whom you can talk to and make friends with, different ways to develop your town, shops to visit, and ways to make money and customize your home and appearance.
All of this takes place in real time, so when it's 10:00AM in real life, it's the same time in the game. The same can be said of the seasons, which will change in true fashion to the world around you. This makes for a more realistic setting, however it's somewhat limiting for those who wish to do more things in one gameplay sitting. There's a way around this, called "time travelling", in which you simply adjust the in-game date or time to whatever it is you need to move the game forward.
The characters are all very cute. There are a variety of different animal species that will make up your town, from hamsters, to alligators, or even sheep. They have different personalities and schedules, so some may be more approachable during the early morning while others like to party all night! It's fun to try to make friends with the townsfolk, who will in turn give you gifts or visit you at your house.
An online component is also available. Provided you have friends online who are playing the game, you can visit their town and they can visit yours. There's also an island where you can interact with individuals worldwide, allowing you to play games with people from a different country. This is a very fun way to communicate with others in a safe environment.
This is a relaxing experience for those of you who don't want anything too complicated or involving. It's also very suitable for all ages, as there's no violence or rude language that could upset certain players. I would recommend it for casual gamers of any age.
-
Looking for more?
Check out our other review websites:
