Story: 6
Well I like the fact that in a way the aliens are quite similar to humans, which is relevant to the plot, but it is kinda simple and the series try to cover it in mystery for way too long. Also certain events feel a bit forced to happen or simply doesn't make much sense, specially after the 3 year jump which happens at one point.
Yet the same jump makes other aspects better - more world building and some interesting plot twists.
Also whenever they do those jumps forward they do so in the middle of climax letting us guess how that event or battle ended. While not horrible since you make up more or less what happened it kinda breaks the narrative.
So it has nice structure, but becomes a bit random and absurd at times.
Art: 9
I am taking in to consideration the anime's age and the mecha genre as factors here. Mecha design is quite amazing, full of detail and they try to give as much dept as possible. Settings are also interesting and character designs are full of personality, specially over the 3 year gap when they look different.
Combat scenes tend to be pretty cool and intense, be it on mecha or with characters fighting on foot.
Sound: 8
The music is great, opening can get easily stuck in your head for days xD Background music works just fine and adds to the mood. Sounds are your usual mecha anime ones and they work just fine.
Characters: 6
Well characters have a cool base and premise until they start making weird choices which won't fit them, like villains letting the heroes go off when they could pursue and terminate them.
Main character is overly pacifist - I get it that he descends from both aliens and humans and sometimes he fights relatives or friends, it is hard to fight your sister for example. But he even avoids killing dangerous foes who he actually never met and had all reasons to despise, feels kinda like forced pacifism and eventually other characters fall to that as well.
On the good side, secondary characters are kinda interesting and they get far better when they grow a bit after the 3 year fast forward.
Enjoyment: 7
There were points when I was so hooked that I couldn't stop watching one episode after another, others when I was watching and liking it, but sometimes the plot skipped forward or closed an arch and I left it untouched for a few days.
So yeah, it is exciting in key moments, has some mysteries to make you wonder but has some boring bits here and there.
Overall: 7
So, is this for you? If you are into mecha, action and sci fi or if you want to know how a Gundam Like anime can mix with Hokuto no Ken, by all means watch this :3
Ig not then well, there is better stuff out there with better characters and plot.
Bottom line: Cool mecha show but slightly bellow average as regular anime.
