Erica is away on vacation this week. She will have sporadic computer access at best and frankly, isn’t really worried too much about checking in. So please be prepared for comment approval to be delayed, and for your thoughtful comments to go unanswered for some days, as Erica focuses on more important things like fish-shaped churches and orgone cannons.
When Ikkitousen: Great Guardians was announced I was cautiously hopeful that this series would contain the same kind of absurdly service-y Yuri that made the first series so entertaining. As of the time I am writing this review, it has been nearly everything I had hoped.
One of the significant problems with the original Ikkitousen series was that it attempted to have a plot. It is with great relief that that has been set aside form much of GG. Instead, we’re treated to Kanu’s sexual fantasies about Ryuubi – and watching Kanu follow in the footsteps of Kuga Natsuki as all her coolness is turned into nothing more than a wall of stoicism to be cracked repeatedly by stupid sexual gags.
More importantly Ryoufu is brought back from the dead, and set up in a situation that is one death away from being the perfect Yuri couple for this series. I know for a fact that I am not the only one who would like Saji/Ouin to die painfully and release Ryomou to find her true partner. Of course, Ryoufu being Ryoufu, there’s plenty of nasty Yuri-service to amuse us as well.
There’s a pretty good chance that the series will be over by the time this review posts, but as of the time I am writing, I expect Ryomou to throw the feelings that fetter her to Saji aside to save Ryofu, who will die nobly, yet again. Hopefully with at least one kiss between them. But I’m not holding my breath.
If you like Ikkitousen for the fighting or, god help you, the plot, (or if you insist on being deranged about the series and comparing it to previous series and expecting continuity and consistency) you may not like GG. If you’re more sensible and are watching it for the large breasts and service, then you’re welcome to join Serge and myself as we pronounce it the best of the Ikkitousen series. Especially if Saji dies. ^_^
Ratings:
Art – 7
Story – 7
Characters – 8
Yuri – 5
Series – 10
Overall – 8
I find it highly amusing that Ryomou has somehow become the tragic heroine of the series.
…quite a subjective review.
Personally, I hate all the “Ryoufu x Saji/Ouin x Ryomou” crap, two girls fighting for one single jerk!
Ryoufu x Ryomou? Lesbians? WUT? Just a wet dream, honey…
For me, the biggest problem with GG is that Dragon Destiny actually had plot with decent beginning, middle and end, even though it made little sense. Dragon Destiny was entertaining with not many irritating points. Great Guardians are irritating with not many entertaining points.
Also, why do the anime adaptations of the Romance of the Three Kingdoms have so much gratuitous Yuri service? Also, why there isn’t a gratuitously Yuri version of the Tale of Genji? It wouldn’t be so hard, though it would probably make even less sense than Ikkitousen.
But-but-but … if Ouin/faux-Saji were to simply die, how does that put Ryomou together with Kanu?
It would seem to better serve if Ouin/faux-Saji hooks up with Ryuubi and Ryomou and Kanu find consolation in each other’s arms. And after all Ikki-GG put Kanu through, she bloody well deserves it.
Of course, then Ryuubi’s stuck with Ouin/faux-Saji … at least killing him off would have the advantage of ending that particular game of hot potato without anyone finally being stuck with him.
I totally dislike Ikkitousen GG. I’m an Ikkitousen fan but GG is so bad that I wished they never made it. The whole plot is a BIG joke. We have dead character walking (Ryofu), filler characters (Chuubou & Kakouton) that do not make a big difference to the storyline, a loser antagonist and all the Seitou characters are redundant for this season. Exclude them and it won’t impact the ending in anyway!
PS: Please forgive my rants and anger. LOL, I have a need to rant on my displeasure towards Ikkitousen GG.