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Reviewed by Lisa Anderson The Angelic Layer regional finals have hit Kanto, and all of Japan is excited! After her first loss, Misaki has managed to hold her own. Now she faces more than one seasoned Deus, all of whom hope to grab the top spot. As if that wasn’t enough of a challenge, the standard Angelic Layer ring has been given a major upgrade. Does an inexperienced Deus like Misaki stand a chance? Angelic Layer really starts to hit its stride in this third volume. The fights increase in both frequency and difficulty. Not only must Misaki learn new techniques to use in the ring, she also has to plan her strategy against both the other Deus and the ring itself. In honor of the region finals, the arena has been turned into a 3D fighting landscape, one that randomly changes for each new fight. This new environment can work for or against an Angel, which adds an important level of uncertainty to each fight. By now most people should understand the basics of Angelic Layer. Instead of needing the background and basic strategy explained, the story can start focusing on the various details that round out the game. Volume 3 seems to enjoy spotlighting such details, much like a strategy guide exposes hidden features in any game. The Angels themselves play a bigger role, from their fancy costuming to variety of fighting styles. The Deus behind the Angel only seems to come into focus when some strategy or observation needs to be pointed out. At the same time, things also focus more on the ring. Instead of a flat ring for fighting, Angels must learn to use the 3D landscape they’ve been given. Such landscapes can range from tall mountain peaks to a sand-covered ocean shoreline. One the one hand landscape adds a pretty background in place of a featureless plain, but on the other hand it forces the game to focus more on fighting strategy. Where once a speed-focused Angel could rely on a nimble dodging ability, now such a skill might be useless. Personally I enjoyed seeing Angelic Layer invest so much time in game strategy. Whereas many fighting stories just have fighters going at it with world-shaking punches and fireball kicks, Angelic Layer follows more real-world limitations. A Deus can rewire some circuitry for a bit of extra speed, but they can’t toss lightning or fireballs about with the right series of kicks. On the other hand, courage and heart play just as big a role in the game. Players must have faith in their Angels, and the will to keep going plays an important part in the game. For someone like Misaki, where experience may be lacking, strength of heart more than makes up for it. As with any underdog story, a bit of disbelief is necessary. In the real world it might take Misaki years to make it to the regional finals, but in a story one try can be enough. While first-time winners can certainly happen, the odds aren’t in Misaki’s favor. Those odds are what make a good fighting story though. If the underdog could easily win, they wouldn’t be the very underdog we all love to root for. While the idea has been done enough times to be more than a bit predictable, it’s still a classic many love to read. As underdogs go, Misaki certainly fits the bill. With experience and the odds against her, she still clings to her ideals. She wants to win not only for the sake of winning, but to prove that size doesn’t matter, and even the little guy can come out on top. If you can’t enjoy Angelic Layer for any other reason, that ideal alone is certainly worth support. In the end, Angelic Layer continues to hold its own. Balancing action and comedy, the story still has time to fit in morals and ideals that every person could stand to follow. Details play a far bigger role in the story this time around, while new elements take their place alongside old. It all melds together to form one good story about a fighting underdog. It’s the type of story that, if done well, can become a classic worth reading time and time again. Interested in writing for MangaLife? We're always looking for talented reviewers and columnists, so drop us a line! Charles Webb Editor-in-Chief, MangaLife.com |
1 September 2010
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