Yu-Gi-Oh Duel Monsters
Episodes: 224
Aired Date: April 18, 2000 - September 29, 2004
Yu-Gi-Oh is an anime that is based on a very popular Trading Card Game of the same name. It was one of my favorite shows during high-school. I had no background in playing any trading card games at the time but I would see this show every evening after school. What caught my eye was the cool monsters and cards. Tried watching a few and from there I got hooked. I started to learn the rules when I religiously followed the show and they made it fairly easy to understand too. They really did a good job at advertising it towards kids who didn't play card games. Eventually everyone at my age (at least in my school) knew about Yu-Gi-Oh and the nerds and geeks which is my circle of friends started to play the actual game! We would hang out in one of our friends houses, brag about our decks and Duel the crap of each other! (Duel is the term for the card battle). I still have my card albums and card collections back home too lol. The game is pretty easy to play, you basically just have to manipulate three types of cards:(Skip below for actual Review!!)
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Left to Right: Monster, Magic and Trap Card.
1. Monster Cards - The heroes, monsters, creatures etc. These are the primary cards that you lay on the Field (The Field is the battle ground) to duke it out against each other. They possess attack and defense points. Attack points for attacking another monster or the LP of the opponent and Defense points for defending themselves and the LP. (LP or Lifepoints is the life of the duelist, LP = 0 means your defeated or in cases in the anime "DEAD"). (Typical Color is Brown)
2.Magic/Spell Cards - This cards are like items, equipments etc. They need not to be laid on the Field because you can use them right off your hand. These cards make the game more complicated and fun. They can strengthen your monsters, weaken the opponent, heal you and other crazier more complicated effects that gives each duel endless scenarios. Together with trap cards they give life to the card game. (Colored Green)
3. Trap Cards - Trap cards are just like Magic and Spell Cards but you have to lay them and set them on the field like setting a trap. They are activated only when the opponent attacks you or does whatever trigger is stated in the card. (Colored Pink)
I could write a bunch of whole new posts just to explain the rules so I'll stop here and continue with the Anime Review! Sorry for sidetracking!
THE REAL ANIME REVIEW!!!!:
A brief background explanation:
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| The Millennium Puzzle is one of the 7 Millennium Items |
CHARACTERS:
Yugi Muto is the half of our MC. He's portrayed as a shy and small boy who always get's bullied. He loves puzzles and all kinds of games. Sounds like a normal boy right? What's odd is he has this weird hair going on with those golden pointy razor sharp bangs and the spiky red hair (looks like a visual kei - super saiyan crossover hair). And did I mention those eye liners and leather belts he wears on his neck and wrists? Don't judge a book by a cover I guess, He's probably in teenage rebellion stage lol. He maybe weak but he possesses the biggest heart in the show (which doesn't really amount anything and he always ends up being rescued by Yami Yugi.I know life is unfair *sob). (Favorite Card is Dark Magician, sorry Kuribo.)
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| Yeah scratch that head Kawaii Yugi otherwise I'll do it for you <3 |
Yami Yugi is the other half. He is the opposite of Muto. He has a more darker and more charismatic personality. He is a spirit of a pharaoh named Atem. After being released from the Millennium puzzle he resides (or freeloads) on Muto's body. Yami Yugi looks exactly the same as Muto. The only difference is that those rounded eyes, chin and other body parts of Muto becomes sharp, pointy and meaner looking when becoming Yami Yugi plus he is taller too. What's weird is that Pharaoh Atem already dons that visual kei hair during ancient times! Must have been a real hipster during his reign! He can talk with muto and can take over the body whenever he wants to.
Seto Kaiba is the rival and friend of Yugi. He is super rich and is a natural born genius. He's the CEO of his own company called KaibaCorp. KaibaCorp focuses on technological innovations for the card game and other games alike. But don't be fooled by his rich looks (he always wear coats and that douchey hair). He's a maniac in terms of the card game, he's so addicted specially on beating Yugi that he'd do anything for it. He has all the money and brains so we wonder why the hell did he settle for the dream of beating Yugi in a card game! But even though he is a prick he's a good guy and a good older brother towards Mokuba Kaiba. (Favorite card is the Blue Eyes White Dragon)
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| Atem getting ready for his concert!! |
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| What a creep! And I thought this show was for kids! |
Joey Wheeler (Katsuya Junouchi in the manga) is probably Yugi's closest and best friend. He and Tristan first bullied Yugi but eventually became friends when Yugi showed bravery and courage. He started out as a comic relief but improved in leaps and bounds throughout the show, He has the most character growth out of them all and that makes him my favorite character in the show. Besides being friendly and extremely loyal to his friends he is also a good older brother towards his sister Serenity Wheeler. He also possesses the infamous creepy chin which just shows that he can't keep a poker face when he gets good cards >.<. Despite being one of the ugliest in the show with that creepy chin he's still the one who gets the hot blonde chick (Mai Valentine). Lucky Guy! (Favorite Card is Red Eyes Black Dragon)
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Chicks sure dig that chin!
Ryo Bakura started out as an antagonist but eventually joins the group too. Like Yugi, Bakura possesses a millennium item called Millennum Ring. And also like Yugi he can also be possessed by Yami Bakura, but this Yami Bakura is evil compared to Yami Yugi and possesses Bakura without his consent.
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| Almost forgot about this guy |
Tea Gardner (Anzu Mazaki), Tristan Taylor (Hiroto Honda) and Grandpa! - These here are your extra characters, they are really part of the group and consistently being shown on shows (either spectating, cheering or being kidnapped or something) but one doesn't play the card game, one played a one or two non competitive ones and the other is too old for the game (grandpa even injured himself playing a card game!). Tea Gardner is Yugi Muto's childhood friend and is obviously his leading partner in the show. Tea is quite lucky with Yugi because she can also get Yami as a packaged deal, leaving her with options if she ever gets bored with one lol. JK! Tristan Taylor was Joey's bestfriend before they ever get to know Muto. He does the dirty work in the show, occasionally providing those brawn and muscle since he has really no other use outside of that. Grandpa is the one who taught Muto how to play the card game. He's such a cool grandpa because he owns a card shop. Plus he's the real reason why Muto rocks those awesome hair! Eventually more guys and gals join the group but here are the original ones who lasted throughout the whole series. ^_^
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Left to Right: Tea Gardner, the almighty Grandpa, Tristan Taylor
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Left to Right: Kaiba's bro, Joey's sweetheart, Joey's Sister.
ART and MUSIC:
The character art is not really realistic with all the sharp eyes and outrageous hair but it looks good. The colors are sometimes dark but its part of the feel I guess. It has this unique visual kei kinda taste which is for me makes it kinda good and memorable. The monsters are well detailed and the visual effects on the card game are smoothly done. Animation is okay and consistent (Except for some later episodes but that is understandable since it lasts for 224 episodes.) The OP's and ED's rock! From rock songs to relaxing ballads. You can see the list below and I suggest you listen to them. The background music may get repetitive but what do you expect in this kind of anime where it really just centers around the Duel Game.
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Awesome Monsters! Epic Battles! and Hot Chicks! What more can you ask for!! *Nerdgasm
PLOT and VERDICT:
The plot contains a lot of cliches but fret not because they are entertaining and easy to watch. There are times that the plot kinda deepens but you realize it's just a card game so it's light and again easy to swallow. Lots of comedy from the gang and lots of suspense and action during those great card battles! Besides the good character cast, plenty of cool villains too and great side stories. Honestly the main driving force of this show is of course the card battles. It's gonna be the one thing that viewers will want to watch. Good thing about this is that it doesn't get repetitive because essentially there is growth in each battle. More important than the character growth is the growth in their decks. Each battle becomes more and more complicated compared to the last one as new tricks and cards are constantly introduced. Plus we get constantly fed by new rules, type of game, equipment and cards throughout the 224 episode show so it never gets boring as it always gives us something fresh. From the plain card game, to doubles, team battles, dungeon card game, cool card combinations, ancient rare cards, inhuman villains there are lot of things to keep you glued to the screen! Don't expect anything more though because from the genre this anime belongs to, it really limits it's potential in the plot department. But don't worry because it does the genre justice as it efficiently it mixes the already great card game into a world of cool and awesome characters. The card game is as fun to watch as it is to play it. I couldn't say anything more for this show, if you are interested in strategy games (specially card games) then go ahead and watch this!
☻☻☻☻☻☻☻☺☺☺
OP:
- Voice - Cloud
- Shuffle - Masami Okui
- WILD DRIVE - Masato Nagai
- Warriors - Yuuichi Ikusawa
- Overlap - Kimeru
ED:
- Genki no Shower - Aki Maeda
- Ano hi no Gogo - Masami Okui
- Rakuen - CAVE
- Afureru Kanjou ga Tomaranai - Yuuichi Ikusawa
- EYES - Yuuichi Ikusawa
Valentines is nearing so as thanks for reading my review I give you a pick up Line! (This does not belong to me so don't blame me for whatever happens to you!). Have a safe valentines!:
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| Warning! Use at your own risk! >_< |
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