Digital Review: The Tower of DRUAGA - the Aegis of URUK - Episode 02

[Chris Beveridge]

Review


Released By: BOST TV
MSRP: 1.99
Running time: 24 minutes
Aspect Ratio: 1.78:1 Widescreen
Resolution: 480i/p or less (mixed/unknown)
Encoded With: MPEG-2
Release Date: 04/11/2008
Review Date: 04/10/2008
Date Announced: N/A
Region: Digital Distribution
Reviewed By: Chris Beveridge

In Summary:
The first episode of Druaga had me hooked even though it was obvious by the end that the series wouldn’t follow that model. This is probably a good thing since it would be hard to do if not impossible. While I hope that they do revisit that format in some form in the future, what the show has changed into has proven to be very interesting. Druaga has a certain kind of darkness to its designs and characters that play well after that very comical first episode. Jil and the addition of Kaaya and Ah-mey worked rather well and has piqued my interest in where the show may really go as it explores the Tower of Druaga and some of the possible political intrigue associated with Gilgamesh. In general, it really looks rather well polished and not quite following the standard visual design that a lot of Gonzo shows have.

[Suwako Moriya]

Some have brought up an interesting thing to consider. On one hand the tower is dangerous, but on the other hand it provides warriors with work. So it's kind of a double edged sword in that regard. I wonder if that has anything to do with the Gilgamesh thing.

In any case I'm hoping they play up the two party aspect as best they can. I'm rather interest in seeing how Jill's firing from one party and becoming part of another helps him grow. As well as seeing if it follows the idea of showing how sometimes who you work with can matter a lot.

Episode 03 can't come soon enough. I want to see what Coopa is like. Hmm I wonder if this will be released in the U.S. on DVD. Not sure how the streaming thing will impact licensing chances one way or the other. I guess only time will tell. Just need to see if this will be worth it or not in the long run.

On a side note, I take it's an interesting experiment to review an episode one at a time rather than in chunks like you would with DVDs be it singles or a collection? Definitely creates a different perspective if you ask me. Although even when I can watch a series weekly, there are some I still prefer to watch in chunks anyway. Or because I fall behind that's what ends up happening.

[PhilipReuben]

I was surprised by how much I enjoyed this. The first episode was hilarious, but it obviously wasn't meant to be a representation of the series as a whole, so I was a little wary going forward. Glad that it proved to be a surprising and entertaining experience nonetheless. It feels like an MMORPG without all the dull grinding.

[Fencedude]

Kaaya's probably going to carry the series for me. She's utterly adorable and fits perfectly with Jil

Also I found the "You are seriously injured" gag to be nearly as funny as anything in episode 1.

[Chris Beveridge]

Originally Posted by Fencedude

Kaaya's probably going to carry the series for me. She's utterly adorable and fits perfectly with Jil

Also I found the "You are seriously injured" gag to be nearly as funny as anything in episode 1.

Yeah, Kaaya certainly added a lot of value to the show with her introduction here. Visually and with her personality. I love the look of the show overall though with it being somewhat dark and grimy but not despondently so. It has a very neat feel to it which is somewhat personified in Kaaya's looks.