Alternative TitlesEnglish: Broken Blade Japanese: ブレイクブレイド
Information
Type: Manga
Volumes: Unknown
Chapters: Unknown
Status: Publishing
Published: 2008 to ?
StatisticsScore: 7.931 (scored by 2212 users)
Ranked: #11222
Popularity: #327
Members: 5,071
Favorites: 153 1 indicates a weighted score
My Info
Popular Tags
mecha |
SynopsisRygart Arrow is one in a million - he is an 'unsorcerer', one of the few people completely lacking the ability to use the quartz stones used as an energy source for everything in this world.
This status has made him an outcast and an object of scorn, leaving him unable to work machinery, fire a gun, or even light a lamp without aid. His father had desperate hopes that sending him to a military academy might awaken some power in him after all, but no such miracle occured.
Rygart has since since become a farmer on the isolated outskirts of the Country of Krisna - but the friends he made while he was there, and the loyalty he has towards them, is about to change everything.
Two of them now sit on the country's throne, and when they summon him to the capital he discovers just how sheltered his life has been - Krisna is in danger, war is about to break out, and the conditions for surrender put forward by their enemies are impossible to meet. An elite unit of enemy troops is already launching attacks on the capital - an elite unit led by their old friend Zess.
What is Rygart supposed to do when his inability to use quartz leaves him utterly useless in the face of the battle that looms ahead?
When he stumbles into a powerful and ancient mecha that the quartz-wielding people of Krisna have been unable to use, he may just have found a way to stand amongst them... but when his friends are on opposite sides, where does that truly leave him?
(Source: Ephidel/MAL). |
Related MangaAdaptation: Break Blade 1: Kakusei no Toki, Break Blade 2: Ketsubetsu no Michi, Break Blade 3: Kyoujin no Ato, Break Blade 4: Sanka no Chi, Break Blade 5: Shisen no Hate, Break Blade 6: Doukoku no Toride
Reviews
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Aisolodios
9 of 23 people found this review helpful
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31 of ? chapters read
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| Overall |
7 |
| Story |
8 |
| Art |
8 |
| Character |
6 |
| Enjoyment |
8 |
Break Blade is about a continent that is in turmoil, and war breaking out between its kingdom. Everyone uses "magic" -the ability to control a mineral called quartz- for everything, and only our hero and his little brother are unlucky enough to not be able to use it. This is an important plot point, as oil and other fossile fuels are rarer than gold. Compensated in that our hero is the only one able to use a recently found ancient Golem, this series' mecha.
The art and plot is good, but lacks character development, action and it fails to bring me to awe.
The plot is not too original, but it is executed well. The ancient Golem, in many aspects, is not a super prototype, which is a plus for me. In fact, both primary kingdoms in the story are developing newer golems as fast as they can.
As for the reasons for war, that isn't explained until a little later. Won't spoil it, I'm telling you there is a logical reason so that you won't think that the higher-ups are just blood-thirsty freaks.
The art is not disappointing, but more detail and contrast could be made in the background. It is a world that mostly desolate flatland, but some vibrance would be nice.
You won't see a lot of detail inside the flying mech parts either, but that's because quartz tubes makes up the ligaments of the present-day golems, not a traditional network of wires. There isn't a large variety of mecha, though the kingdoms are making new ones. This is not Gundam though, where there's a bunch of unique supers and ace customs along with mass reproductions. Those make up most of Break Blade.
The ancient golem compensates both.
As for character designs, it seems biased: some of the (usually male) antagonists look evil, and sometimes uglier. Their mecha look cooler though, and they do not look like devils. The newer models look more like angels, and if you read it, you'll find out why.
The biggest let down is the action. If you want to see the mecha fight, it is MUCH MORE enjoyable to view the animated version. Fight scenes are confusing. The panels don't help you imagine how they are moving in coordination with their surroundings. At times you may wonder who is the pilot. People take so many panels to cry about death it's irritating. Battles start and end so damn fast even though they feel slow paced.
This series sucks in terms of portraying warfare. A lot of attention is paid to strategy. The commanders are decisive always thinking what the other side is thinking. They're supposed to be brilliant minds, but you will see mostly one-and-one fights with interruptions or mooks getting stomped on. Talking about the movements of anyone other than the main crew is obsolete if you don't see enough top views or zoom outs.
The biggest highlight in Break Blade for me is that there really is no true villain. Although Lygatto's the protagonist, a lot of people on the opposing side can be sympathized with. The motivations of most characters are also well-intentioned and most of them have something to lose besides their life and kingdom. The talks both sides have after a fight are usually heartwarming and just makes it hard to hate any of them. The only ones I can hate are the psychopaths, abnormals and Lygatto! A major problem here is that people die pretty often in this series, even shortly after their introduction. One by one, people who don't look like mooks at all suddenly die just to make someone on their side cry. Pretty damn cruel, but realistic and disheartening since you didn't get to know batshit about them and their relationship.
Most characters are realistic and rational, especially the generals, but people like Lygatto have their moments. At least he breaks the mold of protagonists by **spoiler:wanting to learn to get used to killing early**.
There is a problem with misunderstandings though. Which don't happen often but have devastating effects.
As far as ethics go, you won't see any decent Aesops or revelations. It's is either avoided by characters, used for drama or curtly spoken about by someone mature. People really need a psychologist here, as the people in this series who aren't at Jedi-level lose their rationality once emotions or ethics are involved.
One complaint is the melodramatic shock most people have concerning the ancient golem. Same thing goes for "legendary generals and pilots". It gets tiring after the second time. That golem is not even that great, nor is Lygatto an ace.
The characters are good to being with, but you don't seem them growing together.
Meanwhile, romance is just a device for drama, comedy (to lighten up the fact that it's about war) and loyalty in this series. It's a static side-story, with very little romantic development between ANY two characters.Saying somebody "loves" someone else in this series is the same as saying he or she cares about that person's physical welfare. Now there should be development in later chapters, and I could make a list of possible pairings, but it's pointless for this series. Plus, Lygatto is freakin' dense but at least he doesn't have a harem and his density is somewhat rational.
The character back-story is pretty lame, though. It connects a few of the characters, but the flashbacks hold little character development. Dialogue in the present either suggests it or already delivered the point of the flashback. It's overused for Lygatto, and nearly non-existent for others where a flashback would hep a lot. They could have been utilized more efficiently.
There is a lot of potential for back-story regarding the ancients that built the golem. There are MANY questions. And not just about the golem.
Despite all this, I have enjoyed reading this manga. It has its flaws, but it should become better after further developments in the plot. I recommend this to those who read for mecha but NOT psychological conflict (a.k.a. metagames). Impatient readers could also be excluded. read more
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Revre
13 of 33 people found this review helpful
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? chapters
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| Overall |
8 |
| Story |
8 |
| Art |
8 |
| Character |
8 |
| Enjoyment |
8 |
This is my first review so i don't know how well it will go. Break Blade is a must for mecha reader alike. It incorporates everything a good manga should, its got a good plot, and it seems to be well thought out. The manga focuses on Lygatto who is the main protagonist of the story. I personally like this manga because its mecha and i love all thats mecha, it only helps that it has a good story line and such. I cannot tell you guys much or I would be spoiling, so if you like mechas just try it out im sure you will like it. read more
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They both have magical stones in them and the art is very similar.
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Main character starts as a kind of desolate social outcast to become worthful human through his own actions. Wonderful story about friendship, brotherly love and courage to chage one's fate.
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Related Clubsanimeholics, Break Blade , Break Blade, Break Blade FC, Power House, the best damn anime/game club ever
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External LinksOfficial Site, MangaUpdates, Wikipedia
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