I’ll admit I haven’t had a chance to try either of Inti Creates’ Azure Striker Gunvolt games, though they’ve been on my list for some time. But nevertheless I jumped at the chance to check out their OVA (original video animation) for the series when it was released last week. The anime was originally intended to be released in 2016, but delays pushed back the release to February 9th, 2017.
Having not played either of the two games I wasn’t too sure who the characters were or what was going on exactly, but with the video’s short running time it didn’t really make the anime any less enjoyable to watch. I’m not too sure, but it feels like the anime takes place chronologically in between the two games, based on the story descriptions of the two game.
Azure Striker Gunvolt is produced by LandQ Studios and Tohokushinsha Film Corporation, the film was a top notch production which looked great. The anime is packed with both English voices as well as Japanese language with English subtitles.
Here’s the plot of the anime:
It is the near future, and among humankind exists “Adepts,” people who possess extraordinary abilities known as “Septimal Powers.” The existence of these Adepts has caused widespread chaos around the world, but in the nation of Japan, order and peace is maintained by a large conglomerate known as the Sumeragi Group.
…However, this would prove to be a temporary peace, granted to the citizens of Japan by the sacrifice of countless Adepts at the hands of Sumeragi. On the surface, the Sumeragi Group appears be a rather normal, clean company. Below the surface, Sumeragi captures Adepts, holds them against their will, and performs inhumane scientific experiments on them.
One group known as QUILL (Quorum for Unrestricted Information, Law, and Liberty) made this discovery and pledged to revolt against the Sumeragi Group. A member of QUILL, a young man named Gunvolt, sets out one evening to infiltrate a Sumeragi facility in the name of freedom for his fellow Adepts.
If you’ve played the two games in the Nintendo 3DS eShop then you will definitely enjoy the anime. And if you’re looking for a nice quick anime to have on your Nintendo 3DS (no streaming required) then for the $2.79 CAD it’s not a bad value at all.
The anime really makes me want to go back and check out the two games.