Wild Arms: Twilight Venom

Maguamaru · 14-02-2003, 07:02 PM

Well, I pre-ordered it, it took it's time coming via Airmail... and finally, it arrived today. The first precious DVD of this anime.
This is basically a discussion/awareness thread, but let me sum up what I saw...
The actual anime was one of the most entertaining things I've ever seen. The lukewarm Amazon review led me to a bit of scepticism, but I'll admit that I'm a bit of a sucker for western-themed anime and Wild Arms in general. I strongly disagree with anyone who claims it's lackluster or just plain crap - if you can shut away your needs for immensley detailed character interaction for just a few hours, which, sadly, the majority of reviewers don't seem to be able to do, you may well enjoy it for what it is; a light-hearted, neon-haired wild west romp. And the dub is damn good, too, in my humble opinion - especially since the same peope who voiced Jim Hawking (Outlaw Star), Jet Black and Faye Valentine (Cowboy Bebop) are on the cast.
So, there you have it. It looks like Wild Arms is going to get a more serious spoiler-laden story later on, but if you're in the mood for a bit of a break from realism and interpretation, you might just be in luck with this one.

Anyway, has anyone else here seen it? I'm dying to discuss the DVD that's out so far.

Ctuchik · 28-02-2003, 10:57 PM

I've seen a sample first episode from Newtype Magazine. It looked pretty good. I'm thinking of getting it once I can gather some money together. I thought it was really well done; although I didn't really care for the animation all that much but it was funny and the voice actors they got were pretty good for it. I just didn't like the voice actor for the mouse (at least I think that was a mouse).

Maguamaru · 01-03-2003, 11:22 AM

Hah yes, her voice is pretty irritating... when they introduce Isaac in episode two, though, she becomes a bit more likeable.
I'd definetly reccomend you invest in the first DVD at least. I like the first episode, but it's the weakest one I've seen so far - so that says something for the other episodes, doesn't it?

yashi · 02-03-2003, 04:23 AM

This anime is pretty ho-hum to me. Too much of the "hunting for treasure" and got to "find my body" adventures. Reminds me of Scooby Doo and the Gang going out and solving a mystery. Same ol stuff every episode.

Not that it's bad but it can get boring. Worth a viewing but not a purchase. I'm a sucker for good anime and this one ain't nothing special.

Maguamaru · 02-03-2003, 10:03 AM

That depends what you're looking for in 'good anime'. Personally, I'm looking for entertainment, because Jesus knows I'd rather sit through something good with little continuity or overall story than something with an epic, involved storyline that's simply executed badly. Like Evangelion.

GiZMO · 02-03-2003, 10:38 AM

This is probably pointless.. but the VA for Jim Hawking is overused.. and I tire of him. lol

um.. I havn't seen any Wild Arms episodes yet, but I've heard of it, quite a while ago..

yashi · 03-03-2003, 03:03 AM

Good characters/story/comedy/drama/fighting and many other things that I do not find in this anime except the occasional laugh.

For me the random episode works good with Trigun/Cowboy Bebop/Slayers but every episode of Wild Arms is like that so far and they don't pull it off well enough to do it. That being said, I'll watch it anyway.

Maguamaru · 03-03-2003, 04:00 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by yashi
For me the random episode works good with Trigun/Cowboy Bebop/Slayers but every episode of Wild Arms is like that so far and they don't pull it off well enough to do it. That being said, I'll watch it anyway.

But more or less every anime ever made follows that format for at least the first half of the series, with the possible exception of Outlaw Star. Putting it down because 'every episode is the same' when only the first DVD has been released seems kind of redundant.

yashi · 03-03-2003, 06:41 PM

No it doesn't. I'm saying Wild Arms can't pull it off like the others. It's a bunch of the same boring crap. Others make it worth watching while telling nothing.

Dryden-san · 03-03-2003, 09:21 PM

You still haven't mentioned which member of the cast you want to (CENSORED)? Shocked I am, Maguamaru. Shocked.

I don't have a problem with brainless comedy, but it has to be half-decent brainless comedy, like Those Who Hunt Elves. Hopefully they don't use the same joke over and over again either. I like Slayers but you can only watch jokes about Lina's breast size so many times before you want to kill yourself. So what gives? Do they beat the jokes to death in this one or what? The previews I've seen make it stick in my mind when a lot of similar series roll right off but I never buy anything without reading the reviews. What's the comedy like?

Westlo · 04-03-2003, 01:48 AM

I enjoyed Wild Arms after the first two episodes, it looked like being a nice fun series.

I stopped watching after the 7th episode.

The libary and dragon ep killed it for me.

If your a fan of the game you would enjoy this more I guess.

Maguamaru · 04-03-2003, 04:01 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by yashi
No it doesn't. I'm saying Wild Arms can't pull it off like the others. It's a bunch of the same boring crap. Others make it worth watching while telling nothing.

Read the post. I made the point that basing such a judgement on a meagre solitary DVD becomes redundant, and that point still stands.

Quote:

Originally posted by Dryden-san
You still haven't mentioned which member of the cast you want to (CENSORED)? Shocked I am, Maguamaru. Shocked.

----! I did forget that, didn't I? Well, the answer's Mirabelle, just so you know for future reference.

Quote:

I don't have a problem with brainless comedy, but it has to be half-decent brainless comedy, like Those Who Hunt Elves. Hopefully they don't use the same joke over and over again either. I like Slayers but you can only watch jokes about Lina's breast size so many times before you want to kill yourself. So what gives? Do they beat the jokes to death in this one or what? The previews I've seen make it stick in my mind when a lot of similar series roll right off but I never buy anything without reading the reviews. What's the comedy like?

Hmm... really, the only reccuring dialogue comedy vehicle I can recall offhand is the fact that Sheyenne's stuck in a body way too young for him - thus, issues like drinking, sex, and overall 'dashing hero'-ism are played on with him for comediec effect. It didn't seem to get that tiresome to me, though, especially since most of the time he's actually pulled off as being pretty badass. Think Chrono Trigger. Frog was still a frog, but he was badass, yes?

I guess Loretta and Mirabelle are a comedy vehicle in the same way as Milly and Meryl were in Trigun. If you could stand that, you can stand this - otherwise, it might get on your nerves. ^^;;
But overall, I'd say that both the comedy and drama in the series is pretty well-rounded and varied from what I've seen so far. The plots are handled pretty nicely, usually with a little twist or two that you should have seen coming but didn't - no Breaking News, so to speak, but it's a nice touch.
Overall, I'd say it's worth a watch, Dryden. Get a hold of the first DVD and see if you like it!

Quote:

Originally posted by Westlo
I enjoyed Wild Arms after the first two episodes, it looked like being a nice fun series.

I stopped watching after the 7th episode.

The libary and dragon ep killed it for me.

If your a fan of the game you would enjoy this more I guess.

Aah, I haven't seen it that far. I suppose it depends on how long you can bear episodic plotlines before you start to get bored. I'd say if you were fine with Trigun, you'll be fine with this - at least, that's the way it looks like it's heading; IE, there's pleanty of room for/foreshadowing of plot spoilers, yet it seems to want to trundle along for a while.

Gunblade · 04-03-2003, 04:34 AM

I'm just wondering, which came first? The game or the anime?

Westlo · 04-03-2003, 05:00 AM

The game came first, it had a wonderful opening animation from Studio Madhouse.

I don't know which came first out of WIld Arms 2 and the anime but the TV series is standalone, you don't need to have played the game to understand the anime though seeing some stuff would be more enjoyable if you have played the games.

yashi · 04-03-2003, 05:59 AM

Well, I can make a judgement like that easily. I consider it similar to the way a sitcom makes a pilot episode and a few others to show what they got and if they're not up to snuff then the show doesn't go anywhere. I've been able to tell if an anime is good by the first dvd with lots of other anime. Even a solitary episode has made me interested in the whole series before. I cannot critique the anime as a whole but it didn't impress with it's episodes.

You're not defending it just because you own it are you? I guess I've made myself like an anime just because I owned it.