Because one bastard wasn't enough...

Written by XSpectreGreyX on October 2, 2012 at 11:19 AM

Note: I also wrote a review for the original series under the name "aznchi", so the title is a reference to that review. For that same reason, this review will be notably shorter, as it is a sequel to the original. Please know that I am speaking generally about the anime and that all the problems with the original series carries over to this one, with one exception.
The reason I'm reviewing this is because I like to give a franchise three chances. I did so for the Star Wars Prequel Trilogy, which kinda paid off in the third film, so I decided to give Bakugan its second chance. I wish I hadn't.
Story:
The story is horrible. This may be the most I've face palmed while watching an anime. The characters are once again just walking clichés who really serve no other purpose than to throw cards around. The story is weak and you can see every 'twist' coming 5 episodes away. I refuse to give this 'story' any more attention by talking about it anymore, so let's just say it's a train wreck; it's so bad and horrible, yet you can't look away.
Dialogue
And the face palming continues. The dialogue is horrible. The characters all sound like stereotypes instead of actual characters, and there's about one female character whose voice doesn't make me want to stab myself. The protagonist, Dan, sounds like a surfer. Yeah, because that's always drawn an audience. His rival, the obligatory generic ninja-child, sounds like he's trying to decide whether he's playing a man or a woman.
Animation
Like the original series, New Vestroia uses repeated animation. Again, the animators have refused to make the Bakugans' mouths move when they speak, making the conversations between them and their partners al the more awkward. Being a marketing gimmick, the short-cuts are rampant. Unless someone is being focused on, the animator abandons then and the monsters barely move when they, well, move.
Entertainment
This time, the game makes slightly more sense, although it has become even more like Yu-Gi-Oh!. There are now Life Points, or the Bakugan equivalent, so we now know when a player is at risk of losing. That said, the game is still as broken as ever with cards with inconsistent effects. I'm not sure if this game is balanced in real life, but it certainly isn't here.
This manages to be WORSE than the original, despite its efforts. The original was a failure. This series seems to not care and just go on while making minimal improvements. Easily one of the worst kids' anime I've ever seen.
I've never done this before, but this franchise isn't getting a third chance. That should tell you something. I suffered through "The Phantom Menace" and "Attack of the Clones", and I'm STILL not willing to give this franchise a second chance. Do yourself a favour and completely disregard this anime- no, this franchise as nothing than a marketing gimmick.