Magical Girl Lyrical Nanoha EXCEEDS Gun Blaze Vengeance
Synopsis — from MyAnimeList
Thirty years ago, the sudden appearance of unknown invasive alien lifeforms nearly brought about the end of the world. Since then, humanity and these creatures, known as Invasion Species, have continued to clash over living territory. Although human safety is barely being maintained, the world remains on the brink of collapse. As the threat of death and destruction lingers, people go about their daily lives by turning away from the constant danger around them. In response, the United Nations establishes EXCEEDS, an organization tasked with investigating and combating threats caused by the Invasion Species. The story begins in the Far Eastern island nation of Mizuho, where Shiina Kuze, a young hunter who exterminates invasive species, lives on a remote island. Wanting nothing more than a quiet life with her only family—her younger sister, Setsuna—Shiina's routine is disrupted when an unexpected incident occurs, drawing her into a much larger conflict.
Audience Consensus
Audience reception to Mahou Shoujo Lyrical Nanoha EXCEEDS: Gun Blaze Vengeance is sharply divided, with many feeling it's a disappointing and rushed installment that fails to live up to the franchise's legacy. While some appreciate the initial premise and a few characters, the overwhelming sentiment is that the production is half-baked, old characters are wasted, and new characters are underdeveloped, leading to a significant dissatisfaction among long-time fans.
Strengths
- The first episode sets a high standard with compelling narrative and touching moments, introducing a familiar yet unique world.
- Shiina and Nanoha are identified as fun, energetic protagonists who drive the plot forward.
- The show maintains the visual style of the movies, indicating some passion in production.
- The action sequences for Nanoha and Fate, though criticized, are present and cater to existing fans.
- The concept of an unfulfilled guy finding a man-eating alien and forming an ideal platonic romance has potential.
Weaknesses
- The series suffers from a lack of passion and feels half-baked, with no clear direction or development.
- Old characters (Nanoha, Fate, Hayate, etc.) are severely underutilized, serving only as cameos or merchandise opportunities, and lack their original voice actors for key abilities.
- New characters like Shiina are overpowered and underdeveloped, lacking proper training or meaningful growth.
- Towa's plot and her 'gacha girlfriends' are underdeveloped, with relationships forming too quickly and many characters being irrelevant.
- The animation and production quality feel rushed, especially after the first episode, despite a long development time.
- The shift to Japanese for familiar magical phrases and weapon sounds diminishes the series' charm and distinctiveness.
- The plot feels rushed due to the limited 12-episode count, lacking the development seen in previous installments like StrikerS.
- The power scaling is inconsistent, with Nanoha and Fate struggling in scenarios that should be manageable for them.