Featured TV on DVD Review: KaiJudo: Rise of the Duel Masters: DragonStrike

April 27, 2013

KaiJudo: Rise of the Duel Masters: DragonStrike - Buy from Amazon

This is not the first time I've reviewed KaiJudo: Rise of the Duel Masters. I found Creatures Unleashed to be a good example of the genre, cartoons based on card games, but that's such a crowded genre that it is hard to recommend any of them over the competition. Now that I've seen DragonStrike, will the show grow on me? Or is it still a good example of a far too crowded genre?

The Show

There are three episodes on this DVD: Into the Fire, Heavenly Creatures, and The Rising. However, the first and the last are two-parters, which does boost the running time to a more than acceptable level, while at the same time 40% of the DVD is impossible to talk about without spoilers.

Into the Fire starts with Ray, Gabe, and Allie battling a Kaiju. Ray and Tatsurion are able to defeat the enemy, but as it fades into the Vale, it grabs Allie and she is taken with it. While the Duel Masters research, Ray, Tatsurion, and a relucant Gabe, travel to the Fire Civilization world to rescue Allie. While there, they get into a fight, only to be rescued by Moorna, Tatsurion's half-sister, who immediately tries to kill Tatsurion. Seems he is considered a traitor among his people. After that battle, they continue to the city, where they are attacked again. This time they are rescued by Saguru, who offers to help them get into the city. Meanwhile, Allie has been sold as food, along with a Chimera, Scaradorable of Gloom Hollow. The pair manage to escape, but are captured again. Allie is able to talk her way out of being eaten, but is forced to fight for entertainment instead. We really start to get into spoilers now, but there is one part that we have to talk about. Allie manages to rescue Scaradorable of Gloom Hollow again and names him Squeaky. She and Squeaky become like Ray and Tatsurion or Gabe and Gargle.

Heavenly Creatures starts with Alakshmi, Fingers, and Heller being instructed by The Choten to go into the Light Civilization to retrieve the final artifact he needs to reign. Sasha calls out to Gabe asking for help. Master Nigel Brightmore brings the kids to the Light Civilization to help defeat the Choten's forces. However, the fight doesn't go well.

The Rising follows the events in Heavenly Creatures, which means there are a lot of spoilers. The Choten plans are about to be completed. In order to stop the Duel Masters from interfering, he summons and captures their main Kaiju, rendering them powerless. He then plans on summoning the five Monarchs from the five civilizations and use them to destroy the Vale.

The Extras

There are no extras on this DVD, but there is a limited edition Kaijudo card in the package.

The Verdict

Like I said last time, KaiJudo: Rise of the Duel Masters has plenty that works, including the writing, acting, and a lots of action. That said, it doesn't stand out in a very crowded genre. Additionally, the episodes on DragonStrike are spread throughout the first season, so there's a lot missing. Hopefully they will put out a full season set, but this DVD is probably only worth a rental.


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Filed under: Video Review, Oded Fehr, Phil LaMarr, Jason Marsden, Scott Wolf, Grey Delisle, Kari Wahlgren, John DiMaggio