Customer Reviews

Gun Sword - Endless Illusion (Vol. 1 + Art Box)

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4 star:		(1)
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1 star:		(0)

 

 

When I first heard about Gun Sword, I was pretty pumped up about it. As an anime fan, it resembled all of those other anime greats out, such as Cowboy Bebop and Trigun. I figured any anime modeled after those two beauties would definitely be worth a watch. But then I let that sink in and began to worry. What if Gun Sword was modeled too much like the others mentioned? Would it even be worth watching, if it feels like I'm watching a repeat? It didn't sink in too much, and I still bought it, but all the while I wondered if I had made a mistake and wasted my money.

I can honestly say now that no, I didn't waste my money. What Gun Sword lacks in originality it makes up with everything else. The animation is smooth and unique, the action is solid and frequent, the comedy is enough to chuckle at, and the Americanized version was surprisingly well-done, with a wide-screen format and great voice-acting. Plus, the collector's box is beautiful and comes with a key-chain.

As for the story, it follows a tuxedo-sporting vagabond named Van (pronounced Vaughn) as he searches for a mysterious, clawed figure across the wasteland. With him is his belt, which he can manipulate into a sword at will; and always hovering in space above is his "Armor", a mech used for fighting other Armors. Eventually, he picks up a companion named Wendy, who is also searching for someone, but unlike Van she's highly inexperienced and carries with her a gun with only one bullet. Most of the episodes in this volume are your basic introductory ones, showcasing what is to be expected from Gun Sword in the future while introducing us to the main characters and the world of Gun Sword. By the end of this volume, though, it delves a little into the overall plot of the story, which should pick up again in the next volume.

Needless to say, if you liked Cowboy Bebop, Trigun, or are enjoying Eureka Seven right now, then this would be a great anime for you. Sure, it isn't the most original, but it definitely brings a lot to the table, enough to give it a little separation between it's two primary predecessors.

If you like space westerns, mechas and colorful villains, Gun X Sword won't disappoint. The pacing, detail and action are topnotch. It doesn't take itself too seriously (like Hellsing) but it's not too comical (something Trigun was guilty of in its first parts at least). There are also some references for otakus, especially in the third episode featuring an aging super sentai team. An anime series worth picking up.