You probably wondering why make a review about a cardgame anime? Cardgame animes dont need story to be good they just need to showcase card effects?. Cardgame animes just need to look flashy? Unfortunately this arc and the highschool arc overall had this treatment that went with the Why have story when we can show how cool the cards are . I will now begin ripping this arc out from its good and bads.
Story: Here is where is lacks in if we judge by the reboot overall its not half bad this arc however has seemed to have slipped and fallen down a cliff and is struggling to get back to the point by rushing and instead... falls back down into nothingness. The basic jist of the plot is trying to figure out whats missing from their memories and win the Koshien thats it. It took 14 episodes and like 4 of those episodes was dedicated to the koshien. a rushed and unsatisfying competition where even some memorial characters like Asaka and Misaki basically got their entire match skipped and summed up in a matter of 2 minutes where did the rest of the budget go into? Who knows?. How about figuring out whats missing in their memory? It seems like it took them a solid 13 episodes for them to figure it out with not a lot of piecing bits and pieces and that final episode? did you expect a full length epic battle to end the arc? Ill let you go through 14 episodes to find that out. Other than that at the very least they kept with their traditional Imaginee shiro / Imagine it the classic Kai triple Quad criticals ooo so strong / 6 damage heals from Aichi ooo so strong and the fact that what matters in Vanguard is having fun which I feel is what really defines the series well. You did well to keep the good bits Bushiroad.
Animation: This isnt something new in Bushiroad animes but animation is a lacking trait the art style is quite nice to look at and looks shiny but thats the only good bit of the looks in the show. To a certain extent having a animation that doesnt do a good job will ultimately make the show look bad.
Sound: Average. If you been following the entire series youll know exactly what im talking about with the sound field when I say its a typical Vanguard thing. The osts in the show is usually the theme of the characters which id say are nothing amazing no sawano level its just a theme they all have that is neither bad... not great except maybe Kais final turn. Its something that will be quite nostalgic to the original but the themes not the same. OP song for this arc which sounds very Bang Dreamy is a hit or miss depending on what your tastes are... its very upbeat which suits the reboot well but to each their own. EDs are good to hear and will most definitely get catchy so id def recommend anyone to give it a listen to.
Enjoyment: This depends on what you really looking for in the anime series if you like comedy and card showcase sure this is most likely what you looking for but if you looking for a plot and game play I would have to direct your attention to the original if you want that. This also follows more in the manga so if you enjoy the manga more than youll most likely like this more.
Overall thoughts: This was a rather unsatisfying rushed piece of art that honestly surprised me by its obscure plot direction more than anything. I like how they basically sum up that Vanguards all about having fun and meeting new people through the cardgame and believing in yourself its honestly the only part of the arc that kept me to power through all 14 episodes + reboot. Vanguard anime teaches you things you may not know about etiquette of cardfights but it gets drowned out by the comedy skits. I still wonder why have a separate arc thats continuing on from the reboot but then again... why have this highschool arc to begin with? Who knows?
30
/100