[DreamSword]

Episode #1: New Game

Surprise! It didn't take a whole year for me to do another GARO show!

So why Versus Road? Well, see, my job tends to get incredibly busy at this time of year.

What that means is that I don't really have alot of spare time for super dedicated projects. So when it comes to closing the year out on these reviews, I need something easy and something short. And at only 12 episodes, GARO VR is here.

Now, I'm aware that not many people like this show, on account of it being a departure from the typical GARO fare, but keep in mind, I came into this franchise via the anime, so I idea of an alternate universe doing its own thing separate from the original is not a foreign concept to me.

The setup here is that of a death game, with the prize being the Golden Armor itself. While the idea in and of itself is nothing new, we've seen a bit if a rise in this genre in recent times due to stuff like Squid Game(which people are upset is more popular than Kamen Rider, apparently). And while the genre itself isn't one I'm super into, I'm going to give this show its fair shake.

Well then, how well does the premiere do? Honestly? I actually liked it. There's alot of aspects from GARO here that I do always enjoy. Namely the intense and dreadful atmosphere, the well shot cinematography, and the fast paced fight scenes. I found the framing device of getting a few snapshot flashbacks of our lead characters during the massacre of the first game to be pretty interesting too. The main character, Kuon, comes across pretty likable as a result.

In terms of aesthetic: The opening theme still takes many a cue from my preferred openers across the GARO franchise too, right down to the ominous chanting towards its climax. Unfortunately it means that the ending theme, which takes after the usual second OPs in the franchise feels a bit out of place, but oh well. I also dug the more cybernetic approach that the designs of the Garo suit and the Horrors take on in this too; Which helps to sell the virtual world/futuristic aspect of the setting.

It's nothing super deep or provocative, but I overall found episode one to be a fun and intriguing start, and I can't wait for everyone to continuously shake their heads in disappointment at me as I continue watching.