Story - 7
The story isn't particularly unique but there are some twists and turns. The middle few episodes seem a bit tonally off at times and are a little harder to get through when binging the series but I do understand that they were somewhat necessary to provide backstory for the supporting characters. The final few episodes were very exciting with a satisfying conclusion that fit the build up from the beginning of the show.
Art - 7
Visually the show looks good. The action scenes are animated well and the CGI looks better than many shows that rely on it today, over a decade later. Character designs are distinct and recognizable.
Sound - 7
Unfortunately, I am not the type to pay close attention to or critique sound in anime unless it is particularly awful or outstanding. Nothing stood out to me on either side of the spectrum for this show. I watched the English dub and think the performances were fine. I liked the voice distortion effects when characters were speaking in their mechs.
Character - 8
Viper's Creed did a very good job of creating characters that the viewer can become invested in, despite the series' short length. Most of the characters did not feel one-note or throw-away as many do in 12-episode series. Their motivations are clear and the viewer gets a good understanding of the events that made them the way they are. If this was a longer series, I would probably have grown more attached to them as I learn more about them but there's only so much that can be done in 12 episodes.
Enjoyment - 9
Overall, I think this is a good show that fans of anime in general - not just sci-fi - would enjoy if they give it a chance. Nothing ground-breaking but certainly entertaining and enjoyable. The final few episodes had several twists, reveals, and non-stop action. As mentioned previously, this is not my usual genre so I was pleasantly surprised at how much I liked it, enough to write this review at 1am to help balance out all the negative reviews and ratings.
