Tales of Zestiria: Doushi no Yoake

First time ever writing a review, figure it's a new year, time to try writing reviews. Ok, that aside, on with the review:

This will be spoiler-free, rest assured.

Story: 6/10
There isn't much to say about the story - it builds up a world, but it's only within the framework of roughly 40 minutes or so. Much doesn't really happen; there is a small direct conflict physically portrayed in the episode, and then the conflict mentioned but not shown as part of the world-setting/backdrop.
Given that this episode was released under the pretense of promoting a JRPG that's to be released in late-January, it does a ... good job in that regard. However, as a stand-alone, the episode leaves much to be desired, despite concluding the small-scale story presented within the context of the episode.

Art: 9/10
This is my second time watching a Ufotable work, the first being the new Fate UBW. The art is rather familiar in regards to UBW - the characters are well-drawn, complemented by very appealing backdrops, from the Castle-in-the-Sky-reminiscent ruins to the cloud-covered landscapes. The last scene of the world following the credits deserves much praise - it really sets up the feeling of the adventure about to begin.

Sound: 8/10
Epic. Generic? Maybe. The tracks used to compliment the scenes worked well, and that's all that matters in my book. VERY reminiscent of video game music, and with good reason.

Characters: 6/10
My issues with the characters are the same with the story - there's only 40 minutes of material to observe. While archetypes are present, they aren't expanded upon, given the nature of the length of the episode. Nothing remarkable with the characters, truth be told.

Enjoyment: 8/10
As a prequel episode so-to-speak promoting the game, I had a good time. The whole episode felt like a fleshed-out opening cutscene for a video game. The action sequences weren't particularly amazing but still kept me watching. The build-up of the setting was fun - as someone who is a sucker for epic-type storytelling, watching this episode was definitely a good time.

Overall: 8/10
The episode fulfills its role well, given its limitations. I'll definitely be on the lookout for a sequel, should an anime be made from the JRPG.

Tales of Zestiria: Doushi no Yoake テイルズ オブ ゼスティリア ～導師の夜明け～ Review

This is from the impressions of someone who only has knowledge on on Tales of game (Tales of Hearts R on the Playstation Vita) and is going to be playing this Zestiria game when it release on Ps4 exactly 6 hours.

Story (7/10) Good

Obviously like I said before not knowing anything about this other than it's a Tales game, this story from what I am assuming will before about your first few hours when you first play the game as we are introduced to the main character and two other characters. This obviously serves as ... an introduction to them, the world of Zestiria and where they stand in it currently. Not going to give synopsis I don't do that, just know as far as an introduction as an anime I say it gets the job down making me interested in the three main characters that I will probably be playing with first when I start to play the game.


Art and Animation (9/10) Great

C'mon people.. it's Ufotable we are talking about here. I should just leave it there and move on to the next category but what the hey let's give credit where credit is due. Ufotable once get hits us with a really well animated and anime adaptation of a video game. Apparently they've been doing anime adaptations for the Tales of series for a while now and I can see why Bandai Namco allows them to they do a great job. It's probably why Badai Namco allowed them to animated God Eater also.. but we aren't going to talk about that lol. Anyway the artstyle is easy on the eye and the little fighting they we got to see in this 40 someodd minutes OVA was great, yeah there could have been more but I understand why it was so little. Plus as far as I heard Zestiria is getting a full anime adaptation next year so expect everything you want from that adaptation version. But as far as we got the the sword play choreography and animation behind it we get to see from the MC Sorey was great and the CG animated spell attacks from Mikleo were great also, they really get you hyped if you are going to play the game in the future.


Sound (9/10) Great

The music chosen for certain scene I thought were spot on. Nothing that blew my mind but not everything needs to. It had a lot of laid back moments in this OVA so laid back music from the OST was played and during the conflict of the OVA it definitely sounded like a song I'll be hearing when I play this game, playing a Tales game before I know what those type of songs sound like and it was quite authentic.


Characters (8/10) Very Good

The characters Sorey, Mikleo and Alisha all kind of remind me of combination of characters from Tales of Hearts R whether it's in appearance or initial personality.

Sorey I felt a combination of Kor and Kunzite
(Kor resemblance - a brown hair main character who finds an unconscious girl)
(Kunzite resemblance - i little bit ignorant in regular behavior but knowledge on the lore of his universe)

Mikleo I felt a combination of Chalcedony and Hisui
(Chalcedony resemblance - A little bit in appearance but with white hair and he also gives off the same vibe as Chalcedony)
(Hisui resemblance - He's the second male main character we are introduced to that fights along side the MC in a friendly rival type of way. And it looks like Sorey and Mikleo brothers Sorey being adopted? I mean you have to assume that Kor eventually got with Kohaku thus being brother in laws with Hisui in the future no? Assumptions that's all they are i know but not far-fetched predictions on what proabbly happened lol)

Alisha I felt a combination of Kohaku and Chalcedony
(Kohaku resemblance - The first female character met by the MC unconscious, kind of shy at first, slowly opens up ehh Kohaku kinda opened up quickly tho but anyway, they both don't showcase any of their combat abilities at the beginning of each story)
(Chalcedony resemblance - Obviously the obvious on that both Alisha and Chalcedony belong some sort of Kingdom but that's probably where it ends anything else is debatable)

Funny how these characters remind me of a combination of previous Tales of Characters when the new gimmick for Tales of Zestiria is to fuse/combine characters together LOL. Anyway NONETHELESS even though they remind me of previous Tales characters that's not looked at as a flaw to me they were still unique in their own way and will most likely have unique character development like the Hearts R roster.


Enjoyment (7/10) Good

I feel I got good enjoyment out of this OVA, I would assume it's definitely more enjoyable if you are about to dive into this universe of Zestiria like I am in a few hours but for someone who isn't it is debatable if they would get any enjoyment pass a 7 but all it is is an introduction so hopefully they take this with consideration.


Overall (8/10) Very Good

So like I said before the purpose of this OVA was most likely to introduce you to the first few hours of Tales of Zestiria I'll be surprised if the video game doesn't start off the exact same way this OVA did because then I'll have some questions, I felt this was a very good starting point to the story.

Tales of Zestiria follows Sorey and Mikleo as they are adventuring through the ruins of the Shepard in these ruins they stumble across a girl in trouble.
She doesn't tell them her name later on she is found out to be Alisha Diphda part of a royal knight family. Throughout this series you find out Sorey is the only human in his village, a village full of seraphs. Humans do not belong side Seraphs because they believe humans bring bad things to there village, Sorey is an exception to this because he is far advance from a meer human he can see and hear seraphs which ... normal humans cannot. At first Alisha thinks he is living alone and is very worried he has been out here all alone for so long, it is interesting seeing her change of heart when she feels like this is a live village. So finally Alisha spills out her name and ends up on the road back to her town, but that's when Sorey realizes a monster that attacked the village was actually after her the whole time. So Sorey and Mikleo set out on an adventure to save her and go to these human towns and cities. This little special was very great its a little sneak peak for the game coming out. I know a lot of people are gonna give it a low rating due to not much happening in it but it is meant to hype up the game give you a little introduction to the game. I really enjoyed it I thought it was very well made and can't wait to get my hands on the game!