Yuugi = play, as in Fushigi Yuugi ("Mysterious Play") This review is based on seeing the 27-episode TV series, with the exception of 9-13, in raw Japanese. It's based on the manga by Kazuki Takahashi running in Shonen Jump since 1997. Yuugi-kun was a shy, physically underdeveloped and somewhat child-like high school freshman with a huge two-color Dragonball hairstyle until his grandfather gave him the "Sen-nen Puzzle," or "Thousand Years Puzzle." Assembled by Yuugi into the shape of a small pyramid, it contains a special power. To protect himself and his friends from some nasty villain, he can become the Yuugi-Oh, who is able to engage his opponents into any sort of game, often with a magic set-up. The enemy, for some reason, accepts the challenge, and loses to the Game King. Enemies may range from bullies and common criminals to magicians and rival players after his Thousand Years Puzzle. If we can swallow a few flaws, such as our heroes' Murder, She Wrote tendency to just walk into their weekly troubles, then we can enjoy its engaging plots, high school slapstick, colorful characters, and interesting villains. But what's really to like? The games! They may be a terrorist with with planted bombs on a ferris wheel playing a guessing game with the authorities that only Yuugi-Oh can figure out, or a game of indoor golf with a dastardly physician that resembles Eva's Doctor Ikari. Even something that resembles mah jong takes on a new dimension if it may lead elemental dragons to cause widespread disasters. There's also the recurring card RPG known as Monsters and Wizards or Dual Monsters, which gains more importance as the series progresses. It's been described as a cross between Magic: The Gathering and Pokemon. It's nice to see something where the modes and means of combat are different each time. The themes are also neat, if not particularly memorable: a nifty rock opening and a better-than average rock ballad closing. These top off what I find an entertaining romp, almost a "Game of Recca." One of this show's most succcessful products is Yu-Gi-Oh: The Official Card Game, Dual Monsters. It's said to be giving Pokemon some real competition. On availability, I haven't heard of any fansubs or commercial releases. "Todoke ("deliver"), fly at higher game."
Information Sites good as of Aug. 27, 2001 |
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