| Average |
7.6 |
| Design |
8 |
| Story |
7 |
| Character |
9 |
| Value |
7 |
| Enjoyment |
7 |
| had high expectations for this series. Which is not a good thing because I would soon find out it's a manga heavily rooted in the action genre. I like my action on-screen if I like it at all (which is not often, except for a few weird coincidences like Naruto) I can tell that Saiyuki is not a bad manga at all. It's very good, but I can't enjoy it that much. How do I explain.. Ah! Metaphor! Let's say you are my good friend Shannon, and you're hanging out in the mall or something and you come across a handbag. (Shannon loves handbags ^^) It is the right size, the right shape, the pockets are perfect for all your junk, it looks really cool and stylishly expensive but at the same time in your price range! A total must-buy-- right? But alas.. it is PINK. Shannon don't like the color pink. That kinda drags the whole thing down, she can't be seen wearing a pink handbag. People might accidentilly buy her pink stuff around the holidays. -_- Well that is an example of how I feel about Saiyuki. I know it's good but I can't enjoy it to the utmost because it's main component isn't for me.
Saiyuki is loosely (very, very loosely) based around the infamous chinese legend of the four traveling people who journey west.. Sanzo.. and Goku.. and for the love of god you can tell I am insultingly unfamiliar with this legend. ^^; Anyway, Saiyuki has four main characters. They are each pretty cool. We've got a very hot monk who has a sharp tongue, and a very severe, intensely grim personality. I honestly can't picture him with anybody. He'll protect them, but not wholeheartedly. He's a cold one, that Sanzo. Next we've got Son Goku. He's a super-cute shouta character. A little boy who when unsealed, can wreak havoc upon the world. Otherwise he's just a rugrat who is really innocent and always hungry. Next we've got a guy who's totally Shannon's type, he's a playboy. Gojyo. Gambling and whiskey to get through the day, women to get through the night. He has a very dark and sad past, but he's maintained an ironic sense of humour and is actually quite a nice guy. Unless he's fighting, which he loves to do. Next we've got Hakkai. He's the smart kind who is always level-headed, always calm, always stable. Kinda helps keep the group from self-destructing. But he's hiding a past that is unspeakable.
The four guys are awesome, and reminding me of Magic Knight Rayearth or Weiss Kreuz- they have a set of enemies that are similar to them (with their own distinct personalities and valid motives for beating the crap out of each other.) The story is actually pretty detailed with various mini-stories woven into the main one.. yeah..
I'm sorry I can't explain more, because the battle scenes put me to sleep. That isn't saying much though because ALL BATTLE SCENES PUT ME TO SLEEP. Unless they are on-screen, then I'm just a little sedated. The mini-stories and characters are very cool though, so I'm going to check out the anime. If only just to watch the op and ed themes in action with Tokuyama Hidenori's hot voice singing "For Real" and "Still Time".. Oh I love those songs <3..
One last note.. Saiyuki is Shounen for girls. Basically a "guys show/manga for girls who like guy shows and manga." A blood and battlescars fantasy/action series for girls. You can tell it's for girls because of the glut of shounen ai fanfics out there, it is written by a woman, and the fact that the main characters are sexy, in a stringy underfed character designs sort of way. Don't worry, it'll grow on you it just takes time and certain poses.
Update : Completed the series! It really is good but all summarized above is still in effect. It is insanely openended, so I might check out Saiyuki Reload as I have grown closer to the characters. The Gaiden threatens to be almost as good as the whole 9 volumes, Goku is too lovable there. I can't find the whole Gaiden though. (unless it really ends so cliffhangery 0_0) So a great series to check out if you like action/adventure.
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