IGN's Newest Anime Reviews

[Duke]

I don't know why I enjoy pointing out IGN's reviews so much. Maybe it's because they usually don't do anime (though they've been trying). This week, we have GitS: SAC 2nd Gig Volume 1, Cowboy Bebop Remix Volume 1, and Full Metal Fumoffu Vol. 4 (though the link's broken). They did have a Gungrave review last week, but that was of a bootleg copy. :P

For those who hate to read the actual reviews, GitS got an 9 overall, Bebop got an 8, and FMP got a 7. Though both GitS and Bebop got crappy reviews on the extras, making me believe that these people have been jaded by some of the bigger releases (apparently they expect every volume to have LOTR-quality extras).

One item of note is in the GitS review:

In an interview with AnimeAmerica, one of the producers of the show said a third season would depend on how well 2nd Gig does in the U.S. That's unheard of. They've never been driven by the American market before, which shows the growing influence of U.S. otakus.

I wonder what he'd call Big O II and Tenchi Muyo! GXP/OAV3 then...

[Karl Olson]

Wow, IGN is about as informed about the anime industry as 4kids is.

[/burn almighty]

[Duke]

Wow, IGN is about as informed about the anime industry as 4kids is.

[/burn almighty]

I guess that's why they're looking for new reviewers. :P

[Ben]

Cowboy Bebop got an 8, and GitS got a 9? I love GitS, but come on.

And yikes on the "unheard of" comment. Haven't we had a bit of a mean laugh at IGN in the past as well, though?

Oh, riiiiight.

EDIT: Just got back from the actual reviews, and this author does seem to know what he's talking about mostly, and be a pretty good writer to boot (though he still suffers from ramble-itis like so many online critics). Everyone makes the occasional little flub. This one's pretty minor.

[Conan-san]

Wow, IGN is about as informed about the anime industry as 4kids is.

[/burn almighty]

What is this "Burn almighty"? And why does it givith you 200 points?

[Duke]

EDIT: Just got back from the actual reviews, and this author does seem to know what he's talking about mostly, and be a pretty good writer to boot (though he still suffers from ramble-itis like so many online critics). Everyone makes the occasional little flub. This one's pretty minor.

Yea, they're not quite as bad as some of the other anime reviews on the site(Their Gundam reviews make me groan). I do wanna read their Fumoffu review eventually, though.

[FlyByNite77]

The review of a bootleg was classic... lol. idiots

[Duke]

The review of a bootleg was classic... lol. idiots

I never did catch that one...

[EscaflownePilot]

I never dreamed in a million years I'd say this, but...

Thank you IGN!

Thank you for giving an amazing show like GitS the kind of rating it deserves, and thank you even more for not jumping on the "Cowboy Bebop is the best thing since sliced bread" bandwagon and tossing it a 9 or 10 like everyone else does. Much as I typically can't stand anything IGN has anything to do with, I'm very glad (and shocked) to see they don't completely overrate Cowboy Bebop like everyone else in the world does, and further to see that they're smart enough to realize the greatness that is GitS: SAC.

Yay for breaking with conformaties and overratedness!!

[Captain Harlock]

I'm fine with the GitS and Bebop reviews. I don't mind that GitS gets a higher score than Bebop because it's the first volumes of each. The first couple of episodes of Bebop are hit and miss, while GitS had a stronger opening. I'm just glad that IGN is actually getting better at reviewing anime and haven't degenerated to the level of "lol, giant robots".

[Duke]

BTW, for reference, other reviews of GitS & Bebop on IGN:

-GitS Movie 1
-GitS Movie 2
-GitS Season 1 Vol. 1
-Bebop: Best Sessions
-Bebop Vol. 4 Original
-Bebop Movie

[Lord Dalek]

Important note: IGN's usually biased by the fact that their hardware is crap so try not to take their video criticisms seriously.

[Duke]

Fumoffu review is finally up.

Full Metal Panic Fumoffu uses the same concept as the Ghost in the Shell: Stand Alone Complex series in relation to the feature films: It's not a sequel or a continuation of the original, but a retelling of the story with the same cast from a different perspective

It is? o.O

Somehow, I can buy into a series with a 17-year-old who brings guns to school in a nation where personal gun ownership is banned.

For some reason, I like this line.

Patton, along with Luci Christian as Kaname, make this series. The comedy is great in and of itself, but their vocal performance put it over the top. The two make a real effort, something becoming increasingly rare in anime. Too many voice actors are one-trick ponies that use the same voice in every anime they are in (right, Mr. Blum?), but these two have created unique characters and their reactions are priceless. Patton never overplays his military voice, and Christian goes from chirpy teen to shrieking banshee on a dime.

While I do agree that Patton and Christian are perfect, this guy needs to watch some more of Blum's roles.

Volumes one and two came with cardboard boxes that could hold all four discs when the series was eventually released, but I have yet to see boxes with the third and fourth volume.

Huh!? I don't get this sentence at all...

[maxa]

You should take a look at their review of Love Hina from a few years back where the revieiwer used it to flame fans.

[Duke]

You should take a look at their review of Love Hina from a few years back where the revieiwer used it to flame fans.

The review isn't up anymore (or at least not linked), but I do remember reading it. At the time I wasn't as into anime as I am now, but I was still angered by it. And then a few weeks later I went and bought Love Hina Vol. 1.

[Go-chin]

Fumoffu isn't told from a different perspective.

it takes place during season 1.
FMp series 1 just happened to use more of the action-packed chapters from the novels and left out a lot of the comical ones - which is what Fumoffu is.

[Go-chin]

Huh!? I don't get this sentence at all...

That's because the reviewer is an idiot.
Volume 1 came with an actual artbox. Volumes 2-4 were sold individually, no cardboard.

[Chris Wood]

BTW, for reference, other reviews of GitS & Bebop on IGN:

-GitS Movie 1
-GitS Movie 2
-GitS Season 1 Vol. 1
-Bebop: Best Sessions
-Bebop Vol. 4 Original
-Bebop Movie

Hey! What's the deal with giving press to our competition?

[Duke]

Hey! What's the deal with giving press to our competition?

Well, our reviews are better (And IGN is only a semi-competitor since they don't deal in animation as much), so I don't mind.

[LucheLibre]

Thank you for giving an amazing show like GitS the kind of rating it deserves, and thank you even more for not jumping on the "Cowboy Bebop is the best thing since sliced bread" bandwagon and tossing it a 9 or 10 like everyone else does.

But...Cowboy Bebop is the best thing since sliced bread.

Have you been keeping track of all the things that have come out since they started slicing bread? Computers...pfft. Wall-to-wall carpeting...as if. Heart-defibrillators...yeah right.

But hey, when the righteous fires of Spike-ism come down from the animated heavens to consume your soul, don't come crying to me. I warned you.

REPENT...and thou shalt be saved.