Oh Inferno Cop is a classic and a pretty fast watch too!

Always a fun time!

Edit:

About the Yugioh Questions, usually each series is in it's own separate continuity if I recall. Arc-V is the only one that really tries to bring them all together and I think does the Decade method of them being AR Worlds anyway. And I don't think Vrain's is connected heavily to any prior series.

That being said I'd totally recommend Yugioh GX, while being the most tied to the OG Yugioh, it has it's own fun story and kind of gets very Toku with a "Duel of the Week" kind of thing at the start. Then you end up like towards the end and you wonder "How did I even get here? We were dueling a monkey like so long ago! How are we here in this existential nightmare?!"

As far as I know, that was one of the original ideas they had for the finale, but didn't do it. VRAINS is set in it's own continuity, much like all of the Yu-Gi-Oh! series, so if you did decide to jump in, you wouldn't have to worry. Honestly, never occurred to me you'd have any interest in Yu-Gi-Oh! but I will say, as you may be aware, the dub "kidifies" the show, removing anything violent, suggestive, etc. So if you do decide to check out any of the shows, the original Japanese is the way to go.

I really need to get around to re-watching these old series in Japanese... Especially GX, which was one of my favorites growing up, and the Elemental Heroes being some of my favorite Yu-Gi-Oh! Monsters period.

I want to say I am not convinced, but I am willing to trust your judgement, so I will attempt to watch this, as absurd as it seems, hahah.

This sort of scenario is totally my cup of tea and certainly enough to convince me! I'm in the midst of Magic Knight Rayearth right now, but I think once I finish that, I might try and dip my toe into watching Yugioh, maybe just try a few episodes from each of the seasons and see which one grabs me.

I do like card games, but I never really understood Yugioh, possibly because I only ever saw episodes of the dub briefly. I think I saw something on crunchyroll's youtube about the changes made in the adaptation, and I kind of found that hilarious, so I will definitely try searching out the original version this time!

We talkin Yugioh? Shit, I love that game~
Anime, ehhhhh

Season 0/Toei anime is a closer adaptation of the first few volumes of the manga, featuring way more games than just the card game. It also is more violent than the following anime. However, considering it's status as "Season 0", it basically ends and disappears, and is completely unrelated to the rest of the shows.

Duel Monsters (Or Yu-Gi-Oh Seasons 1-5, as it doesn't really have a subtitle) is focused on selling you cards, yes, but they also want to have more tense duels. As a result, you end up with feature length card games and a lot of Ancient Egyptian cheating to accommodate this. It can be pretty fun when the duels don't drag on too much, though.

GX is more MOTW formatted, with a different duel each episode, rather than one duel lasting 5 episodes. It begins light hearted, but it does take a turn. GX also much closer follows the card game rules (Though Jaden/Judai still pulls wins out of his ass by always having some new fusion).

5Ds began pretty well, but quickly takes a dip in order to sell product (Including altering the rules of it's plot because a new characters' deck turned out extremely popular, so they wanted to market it more in the show). The card games on motorcycle memes aside, it did allow for some more visual flare to the duels beyond 2 guys standing 12 feet apart yelling at each other.

Zexal is a show that happened. Contrary to the dub, you don't pronounce the X.

Arc-V introduced one of my favorite archetypes in the game, Raidraptors. Literally never watched an episode, but hey, thanks for that!

Sevens is a return to the more lighter tone, but considering how GX do, it could take a sudden turn, who knows. It also opted to change duels into Speed Duels, a new method of play, over traditional ones.

...Fuck, I really wanna play some Yu-Gi-Oh, now :lol

I used to enjoy Yu-Gi-Oh until I figured out that a lot of the cards in the show were designed as plot devices rather than fun cards to actually play with. I mean, you can still play with them but the execution is terrible IMO...

I loved reading this post, thank you! I am an absolute sucker for anything with deep lore like this, so reading your insights on each of the shows and how they relate to the game was really interesting for me, even if a lot of it went over my head as I don't yet have the context. Yet. One day soon, though...

*nods* I get this approach. As someone who embarrassingly invented her own card game and then started writing stories around it, I can see how the need for "X" to happen in the narrative could result in some pretty OP mechanics, but I also find it kind of an appealing puzzle to look at and try and deconstruct. I think I might have to look at this in greater detail once I get home.

Yugioh used to be fun for me up until we got to the Arc-V Era when they brought out the new type of summoning that just made me lose interest. Vrains especially so when they decided to alter the game entirely. So I just stuck with Duel Links whenever that came out.

That being said yeah, always go for the sub over the dub of any Yugioh Season, mostly because from what I recall aside from the OG Yugioh, none of the later seasons have complete dubs. They usually stop before the final season or arc.

That being said in terms of dubs being talked about. GX is usually one that gets talked about the most. I don't know what was going on in that dub in regards to direction but there's a lot of sudden actor impersonations for various characters, whether it be Christopher Walken, Arnold Schwarzenegger, etc... GX was weird, but also probably my favorite of all the seasons.

It was always funny that the cards in the show were always so busted that when they came out in real life, they were nerfed to the ground.
Or, the card has one incredibly specific purpose that the main character wins with, but in real life, that super specific set of circumstances rarely comes into play that the card is worthless :lol

Yu-Gi-Oh very much a product of it's times. The early 2000's toy (Or, well, in this case, card) shill. However, it's longevity both in terms of being an actually well made game and a popular and memetic anime is a sign of it's impact.
I would never go so far as to call the anime good, but hey, it actually manages to make decks that are utter trash in real life look super hype, so it does something right :lol

I think, if you didn't grow up with Yu-Gi-Oh, nor do you actively play the game, you might find it to be as interesting as the million other toy shill anime, but hey, it has to have some charm if it's stuck around for over 20 years now.

When it comes to Yu-Gi-Oh, I would stick with the manga. The anime has way too many fillers, and multiple part episodes. I found myself being annoyed with the show when I try to re-watch it a few years back.

You're warning me off the dub, I know, but this paragraph just completely sold me on the idea that the dubs are the optimal way to experience Yugioh, lol.

Yeah, I sort of appreciate that I am an outsider with this, but I watched all of the original Beyblade and Dino King, so maybe I can do this—although, admittedly I watched both of these because I needed something in the background so I could sleep, which maybe doesn't qualify as watching per se, but still. :p

I'm not sure I'd have the patience for the manga. I don't mean that in a disparaging way, but I don't really read a lot of comics/manga anymore, and when I do I'm usually re-reading old Vertigo stuff or it's something I'msuper into like Made in Abyss, so I have absolutely no doubt that the manga is possibly the best way to engage with the story, but I might try the show first. Worst case scenario, at least I can sleep through the filler!