Tower of Druaga: Aegis of Uruk

[raktus]

I could not have disagreed more with the review given on the show. I know the episode which featured it has been some time in the passing but I just recently watched it. For anyone interested, it is currently on Hulu with the second season available on the FUNimation website. I recommend giving it a watch, if you are of the mind that one look is enough then I implore you to at least give it a three to four episode berth to let its true writing sink in.

First of all, I want to give a big thumbs down to those that watched the first episode and wanted so much more of the same. It was a dream from a guy that passed out on the job, I get that and it was funny. A series of that would have been horrid though and I was much pleased that by the end of the first episode they had dropped us back into the reality the show was set in. After watching more than a few episodes I just could not believe how different my tastes would have to be from those I watch for them to dislike the serious themes for the goofy ones.

Second, I enjoyed that it never took itself too seriously as an anime based off a game. Beyond the off and on satirical humor presented about the genre of game the fictional world took place in they do give consistent humor about the fact that this is all based on an actual game. One episode even has them playing the game in order to get something they need for when the anime turns more to its serious side. All they were missing was an all Rush mix tape and some space invaders in the background.

This is an anime that starts off goofy as a way to draw you in. It gives you laughs and a storyline in a way that is meant to slowly draw you in as its humor to story quote slowly switches over to nearly that of a serious anime.

*Spoiler Alert*

I believe it was Nicholas that called out the towns in the towers as some sort of crime against reason. They are forts of sorts, explained by the anime as forward military positions being held so that the army can progress further into the tower to conquer it and defeat Druaga. These are not flourishing towns, the people in them are suffering hardships for the most part. The only exception being Meskia, which is really in the base of the Tower itself and only flourishes come the beginning of season two.

Not to strike out again good ol' Nick once again but his complaining about subplots? Seriously? Those were not even subplots, those were the basis of the entire anime. Granted, you would need to see both seasons to know that its more of a brothers war than anything but still. To say that you could give a shit about them is to say you could care less about the story of the show.

Speaking of season two I do hope Laura finished watching. She mentions being a romance girl and that's all season two is. After having been abandoned by their primary love interests we are left with Jill and Fatina sort of together and trying to get on with their lives... but there's always the past. Definitely worth keeping on for, even if its not your cup of tea and you just want to see what the second half of the tower is all about.

*Spoiler End*

In synopsis, this anime attempts to draw you in with its funny side. Episode one is nothing more than a kids dream after having been conked out. After that the funny slowly drops out to be replaced with actual story. This is something I would recommend giving a kid to transition them from cartoons to anime, its a gateway in that respect. The craziness transitions itself that well as to make someone want to see more full on animes after that.

If I had a complaint it would be pacing. They clearly have the entire story laid out in hard points, I felt they could have elongated the journey and fleshed out the characters a bit more fully. What they did in the time they allocated themselves was excellent, don't get me wrong, I just feel they could have done more. A lot more things could well have made a lot more sense had they taken the time to introduce them in a clearer way.

Raktus Gives The Tower of Druaga:

Side Note: I do not collect figurines and there might be better things to watch but I don't plan to die young and would recommend watching this among those other things.