The story was told from the viewpoint of several different characters throughout the series. Each character had to face their own challenges against worthy opponents, and each battle introduces something new and exciting to help keep the viewer interested in the sequence. As far as I can remember, the episodes, even if they were told from different perspectives, were all ordered chronologically, with the occasional backstory flashback. This wasn't confusing in any way, so you shouldn't have to worry about keeping track of what's going on at the moment and when. The story itself was quite simple, but I believe it works in the anime's favor, as this was never meant to be a story heavy series. Nevertheless, the story is still very enjoyable.
I haven't watched many series that are a part of this genre, but I would say that the story is unique. I don't need to provide a synopsis, since one is already provided, but basically, extremely dangerous people wish to taste defeat and they all swarm to Baki to find it. There's also many underlying subplots and motives which each character has. So it's definitely an interesting watch, story-wise. You also don't need to worry about pacing, as there aren't any fillers, surprisingly. It keeps good pacing, atleast in my opinion. The ending however, may or may not satisfy you. It's open-ended, which probably means that further adaptations will be announced in the future. I am however, looking forward to watching more Baki. By the way, this is the first time I've watched an entry in this series, so keep that in mind when reading this review.
Now, for the art style. I believe the art in Baki fits perfectly with the themes the show is going for. It gives off a polished and fluent feeling to it, with certain areas using CGI, if I'm not mistaken. The CGI isn't a big issue though, as the quality of it is fairly good. For a show about a bunch of really buff and ripped dudes beating the daylights out of each other, the art looks good. Just not amazing in my opinion.
The character design was certainly something. If you enjoy seeing overly ripped guys, then this might be your show. They all however, have very unique designs, so you should be able to recognize them all upon first glance.
I honestly don't have much to say up the sound quality of this anime. It's great, but when I try to think of any memorable OST's I can't seem to find one. I do however, remember the rock/metal music that would play during intense fights. It certainly fit with what was going on, and provided more hype. I can tell you that the 2nd OP I believe, was absolutely lit. If you're a metal fan, you can't go wrong with Fear & Loathing in Las Vegas. For reference, this band also did the OP for Parasyte -the maxim-, so if you enjoyed that then you'll definitely enjoy this OP.
The one quality of this show that shines brightly are the individual characters within the series. It doesn't feel like any of the other characters are simply extras that are meant to make Baki look better. Instead, each and every one of them seems like an absolute monster with their own motivations, strengths, and weaknesses. Each character has their own unique way of fighting, and some of them are even parodies of real life fighters. The techniques they used are thoroughly explained within the anime, and nearly every character gets some background story, if not all. Baki might be the MC, but the other characters in this story might as well be the MC of their own stories as well. There was however, some narration, but it was only used when absolutely needed. For example, narration is mostly used to explain the techniques that the character is using, while at other times it's used to help increase the gravity of a situation. It's not the usual narration to explain the entire story type of deal, so I didn't mind. After all, when you think about it, characters aren't just going to stop and talk about what happened and how they ended up here, right before they get into a fight. Much less a surprise attack.
There is in fact character development within this show. Some characters learn from their mistakes and grow even stronger, while others become utterly defeated and slowly melt away. It's a fascinating experience watching these characters battle it out in the most creative of ways, and reach the stars, or fall into the depths of despair.
Now, for the final question. Will you enjoy this series?
I would say that, if you're a fan of action and over the top masculinity then you would most certainly enjoy this show, even if you have no idea who Baki is, or haven't read the manga. I myself had no idea what this series was, or what is was about, before watching it. Now, I want to know more, and I'm even looking forward to another season. I haven't watched many series like this, so it will definitely be a memorable experience for me, but it's not good enough for me to re-watch it. I'm not much of a fan of this genre, but if it can make me enjoy it this much, then I'm sure the majority of people would also enjoy this show. Please give it a try, and you won't be disappointed.
Thank you for reading this review, and I hope you have a wonderful day.
