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+---- Thread: [Review] Steins;Gate (/showthread.php?tid=4425064)
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[Review] Steins;Gate - Dragon. - Aug 31, 2014
This review I've been meaning to write for a while. Sorry for the grammatical errors. I'll work on fixing them. This is a review on the entire Steins;Gate series (including the movies). I will not include any spoilers in this review. Heck, even if no one reads this, I'll be happy. I had so much fun writing this.
[img]http://sce.scene7.com/is/image/playstation/vljm30032_banner?$bnr$[/img]
Introduction
"No one knows what the future holds. That's why its potential is infinite." - Okabe Rintarou, Steins;Gate
Time travel has been the topic of discussion for many TV shows and movies, both Japanese and Western alike; however, while many shows contain the involvement of time travel, very few are about the topic of time travel itself. There are a couple of reasons for this. Writing a story about the act of time travel is hard. Without proper knowledge on the subject, and the proper writing skill, you can easily confuse your audience. Of course, you can also dumb it down to the point that the show itself becomes bland and unpalatable. Steins;Gate does neither of these. Although the rest of the world says that writing a story about the act of time travel is hard, Steins;Gate puts on its lab coat, flips up its collar, and says "Watch me." Steins;Gate is a show about the act of time travel. A story about a mad scientist and his fellow lab members, and how an accident causes his view on the world to be flipped upside down.
Story
As much as I want to write about the story here, I won't. After all, this review is supposed to be spoiler free.
Steins;Gate has one of the best written and executed stories out there. This isn't your average fanservice harem show. No, it actually has a plot (shocking right?), and a damn good one, at that. Steins;Gate initially starts off really slow. The author introduces each of the main and supporting cast members, one by one, and gradually incorporates the concepts of time travel into the first half of the series. I think this was genious. Although it may be slow to start, this part is absolutely necessary in order to avoid questions later on in the series when shit hits the fan. Speaking of shit hitting the fan, don't take this show lightly. The first few episodes are slow. Really slow. But something happens in a certain episode that makes everything you've learned in the first half of the series click. It is from this point on that Steins;Gate blows all your previous expectations for the show out of the water. I'll say this again for emphasis: Don't take this show lightly. (Rating: 10/10)
Characters
Now that I've talked about the story, time to talk about the characters. The characters are best defined in one word: interesting. If the first half of the series bores you to death, you can at least rely on these characters to get you through it. Their conversations, actions, and thoughts easily make them the most eccentric cast of any anime I've watched. You have the redhead tsundere, the mad scientist, the "supah hakah", and "Mayuushii-" (whose favorite catch phrase is known throughout the entire anime otaku community: "tuturuuuu~"). That sentence alone defines only a tiny fraction of who these people are. Believe it or not, behind these fascades lie deeper problems. Hence, all the characters can be considered "broken" in a way. (Rating: 10/10)
Animation
Steins;Gate was animated by White Fox, a relatively new animation studio, who is probably better known as the company who animated the currently airing "Akame ga Kill!" series. I can't say that their animation was top quality, because it's not. I can say, however, that the character designs and background art suit this show pretty well. This is one of the rare cases where moe characters might hurt the serious tone that the later episodes in the show give. While the animation isn't top-notch, it's passable. I give the animation a 7/10.
Sound
Just like the animation, the sound isn't anything to write home about. The openings and ending aren't too memorable in my opinion, and none of the BGMs really stuck out. They weren't bad either. I didn't mind listening to the OP and EDs, but I'd much rather just skip them. (Rating: 7/10)
Conclusion
Steins;Gate is a show about time travel. A brilliantly executed show that might give the audience a different look at how the world works, and even throws out a few questions that challenge our role in the universe. "Are there multiple universes?", "What are dreams?", "When we invent a time machine, how will this benefit or hurt us?"
Do I recommend this show? Hell yeah. While the first few episodes were really slow to start and a pain to get through, the second half of the series is filled with brilliantly executed writing, with the final episodes leaving you with an "OH SHIT" expression every time the ending credits appear. If you've already started watching this show, DON'T DROP IT. The second half is where Steins;Gate truly shines. If you've ever listened to my recommendations and enjoyed what you've seen, then give this a watch. If you aren't at least entertained by it, I'd be really surprised. (Overall Rating/Enjoyment: 10/10)
* - Gladly - Aug 31, 2014
Nice review. If it were me, I'd give characters an 8 though. Great series overall.
* - eiqht - Aug 31, 2014
(Aug 31, 2014 07:45 PM)Gladly Wrote: Nice review. If it were me, I'd give characters an 8 though. Great series overall.
Wasn't paying attention and thought you were talking about me.
I was thinking about writing a review for Oreimo, but since it's a hotly debated anime, I thought it was best I don't. Oreimo is either a swing or a miss with most people, so on my side I'll have people praising the thread and other, people sharpening their switchblades and ninja stars; armed to the teeth and ready to go to war with me.
Nice review though, I could never get into it, I know something must be wrong with me. I know it's praised by so many people.. just can't get into it.
* - Fireworks - Aug 31, 2014
(Aug 31, 2014 08:26 PM)Brother eiqhtworks Wrote: Wasn't paying attention and thought you were talking about me.
I was thinking about writing a review for Oreimo, but since it's a hotly debated anime, I thought it was best I don't. Oreimo is either a swing or a miss with most people, so on my side I'll have people praising the thread and other, people sharpening their switchblades and ninja stars; armed to the teeth and ready to go to war with me.
Nice review though, I could never get into it, I know something must be wrong with me. I know it's praised by so many people.. just can't get into it.
You should make a thread about it anyway. I'd gladly back you up on any of your points. Oreimo was a great show, hands down.
OT: Nice review OP. Can't say I read all of it, but it looks well detailed and in depth. :)
* - Dragon. - Aug 31, 2014
(Aug 31, 2014 08:26 PM)Brother eiqhtworks Wrote: I was thinking about writing a review for Oreimo, but since it's a hotly debated anime, I thought it was best I don't.
Do write a review. I loved the series. Hated the OVAs. Perhaps talk about them in the review as well. I think that the OVAs were the main problem people had with it.
* - +Cloud - Sep 1, 2014
why the fuck did you review steins gate =.= nice review but srsly... why
* - Chips Ahoy McCoy - Sep 1, 2014
(Aug 31, 2014 08:26 PM)Brother eiqhtworks Wrote: Wasn't paying attention and thought you were talking about me.
I was thinking about writing a review for Oreimo, but since it's a hotly debated anime, I thought it was best I don't. Oreimo is either a swing or a miss with most people, so on my side I'll have people praising the thread and other, people sharpening their switchblades and ninja stars; armed to the teeth and ready to go to war with me.
Nice review though, I could never get into it, I know something must be wrong with me. I know it's praised by so many people.. just can't get into it.
They may retaliate with ninja stars, but we have fully-loaded Eroge ready to fire.
Come at us bros.
* - eiqht - Sep 1, 2014
Ehh.. when I get the time I'll do it. Plus I need the time to prepare my defenses. You know, set up claymores and plant some C4s.
(Sep 1, 2014 01:24 AM)+Cloud Wrote: why the fuck did you review steins gate =.= nice review but srsly... why
https://hackforums.net/showthread.php?tid=3220796
:/
Agree, but w/e he tried.
* - Dragon. - Sep 1, 2014
(Sep 1, 2014 01:24 AM)+Cloud Wrote: why the fuck did you review steins gate =.= nice review but srsly... why
Why not?
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I was in the mood to write something. All the shows I've recently seen don't deserve a review (too bland or generic). :(
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(Sep 1, 2014 02:07 AM)Brother eiqhtworks Wrote: Ehh.. when I get the time I'll do it. Plus I need the time to prepare my defenses. You know, set up claymores and plant some C4s.
We're going into war now? Lel.
* - +Cloud - Sep 1, 2014
lawl you should have reviewed an anime that needs to be reviewed... steins gate is a pretty popular anime and im sure most people have heard of it or/ watched it....
its up there o-o
* - Dragon. - Sep 1, 2014
(Sep 1, 2014 02:55 AM)+Cloud Wrote: lawl you should have reviewed an anime that needs to be reviewed... steins gate is a pretty popular anime and im sure most people have heard of it or/ watched it....
its up there o-o
Any suggestions?
All the shows I've seen as of late haven't been special. They all follow the same formula.
* - Lyralei - Sep 1, 2014
If i could go back in time or erase my memories just to rewatch this anime- i'd do it. one of the anime's that made me go all out / no sleep.
* - +Cloud - Sep 1, 2014
review animes that are less popular and not so mainstream
* - Noctua - Sep 2, 2014
really good review op, I'll make sure to check this out
* - Dragon. - Sep 2, 2014
(Sep 2, 2014 01:25 AM)Noctua Wrote: really good review op, I'll make sure to check this out
I highly recommend you do if you haven't already.