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A review by cuddlesome
Yu-Gi-Oh! R, Volume 1 by Akira Ito
4.0
Basic overview of the whole series with some spoilers ahead, boys.
I'm definitely in the minority here, but I like Yu-Gi-Oh! R just fine. My favorite things about the original series mostly involve the blending of goofy and dark elements and I think this spinoff manages that. You just sort of have to roll with the nonsense to enjoy it. See: the basic premise behind the weaksauce antagonist and the retreading of the concept of God cards. See also: Bandit Keith, a reoccurring minor antagonist from Duelist who Pegasus killed by way of... handgun... in a very literal sense... effectively coming back as a zombie.
I think the biggest shortcoming is that because of the nature of the story it's just a gauntlet of a bunch of minor characters with no real stake in the plot. They're fun, quirky Yu-Gi-Oh! characters, but there are only a true few standouts. After that, there's the problem of how Anzu is handled, but I just have to raise my hands in surrender at this point with YGO's complete inability to write its main female characters with much sense of nuance.
The one A+++ part is the rematch between Jounouchi and Bandit Keith. That was INCREDIBLY satisfying and I enjoy the themes about existentialism and death a LOT. Managed to singlehandedly solidify Keith as one of my favorite characters, slimeball that he is, and further encouraged my love of Joey boy.
So, in summation, it would be a stretch to say this spinoff is GOOD, but it has its moments and I enjoyed it.
I'm definitely in the minority here, but I like Yu-Gi-Oh! R just fine. My favorite things about the original series mostly involve the blending of goofy and dark elements and I think this spinoff manages that. You just sort of have to roll with the nonsense to enjoy it. See: the basic premise behind the weaksauce antagonist and the retreading of the concept of God cards. See also: Bandit Keith, a reoccurring minor antagonist from Duelist who Pegasus killed by way of... handgun... in a very literal sense... effectively coming back as a zombie.
I think the biggest shortcoming is that because of the nature of the story it's just a gauntlet of a bunch of minor characters with no real stake in the plot. They're fun, quirky Yu-Gi-Oh! characters, but there are only a true few standouts. After that, there's the problem of how Anzu is handled, but I just have to raise my hands in surrender at this point with YGO's complete inability to write its main female characters with much sense of nuance.
The one A+++ part is the rematch between Jounouchi and Bandit Keith. That was INCREDIBLY satisfying and I enjoy the themes about existentialism and death a LOT. Managed to singlehandedly solidify Keith as one of my favorite characters, slimeball that he is, and further encouraged my love of Joey boy.
So, in summation, it would be a stretch to say this spinoff is GOOD, but it has its moments and I enjoyed it.