Aura Battler Dunbine Volume 7: Mysteries of Byston Well - Underland Online
- Underland Online
- Mike
- 11/15/03
- click here
Aura Battler Dunbine Vol. 7: Mysteries of Byston Well
Once again I have been given the opportunity to check out
Aura Battler Dunbine. This is the second volume I have reviewed, and as I started watching the series kind of late in the game, I am pleased that they are at least sequential. If you check out my review of volume 6 you might notice that I liked the volume, but was not really too enthusiastic about it. Well my attitude about ABD has really changed thanks to volume 7. I am quickly becoming an ABD fan. This volume was packed full with action, plot twists, and character development (and there is a nice surprise at the end of the set, but I?ll let you see that for yourself.)
In this volume we rejoin Show Zama and friends in their campaign to protect Byston Well from the power hungry Drake Luft and his allies. After getting his daughter Elmelie back, Drake has decided to pump up his offensive strategy. Luckily for the rebels, Elle, the princess of the Kingdom of Rau who has ?spiritual powers?, has joined them. Her powers help the rebels to understand Drake?s strategy, and give them insight into the future. Also, Show finds time to make nice with the Queen of Na, which may lead to a strong alliance in the future. We finish out this volume with a large battle between Drake?s forces, and the Kingdom of Rau. Even with Show and the rest of the Zelana crew helping, it doesn?t look good for the forces of the Kingdom of Rau.
As I mentioned before it seems as though the story is getting much better with this volume. Character development is rampant, and we see some slight love stories not only with the good guys, but with some baddies as well. The excitement level has dramatically increased as well, as plot twist after plot twist reveals itself in this volume. I was on the edge of my seat waiting to see what would happen next, and theorizing what I thought would happen in the series in the future. It turns out that this series is not as predictable as it may seem, as I found that most of my predictions for the end of the volume were wrong.
This series was made in the 1980?s and it shows its age, but the weird thing about this volume is that the animation seems to be getting slightly better with each episode. It was strange to see minor details become better defined and enhanced. This change in quality was also reflected in a change to the intro that is present on each episode I?ve seen, and with Episode 29, a change was made to the opening sequence; not a dramatic change, but a noticeable one. These changes to the show seem to reflect the direction of the plot, which seems to be taking quite a turn.
I can?t believe a show that I recently found to be kind of superficial and only mildly entertaining has changed my mind so dramatically in just four episodes. I am impressed with this feat, and I have to give praise to the storytelling involved in this series. This series may take a little investment when first approaching it, but chances are you?ll be sucked in by the storytelling and quick paced action of this unique fantasy based mecha series.
Episode 26 ? Elle?s Spiritual Powers
Drake sends an attack force to find the people responsible for bringing Show Zama back to Byston Well. They find Elle and her mother, and kill Ell?s mother during the struggle to capture them. Elle escapes to try and Join the crew of the Zelana. Meanwhile, Drake begins preparing for war, and reveals his new weapon: the large aura ship called the Will O? Wisp. Show and his friends must then fight the attack force that is chasing Elle.
Episode 27 ? Queen of the Red Storm
During their last battle Show Zama and Todd Guinness had gotten themselves trapped in the Sphere of the Tempest. Show meets a Ferario and a young human woman who are being pursued by armed men of the Garu Ran. Show agrees to try and get them out of the Sphere, but he must defeat the Garu Ran and Todd Guinness to do so.
Episode 28 ? Goroan Takes Off
Elle predicts a great battle in the Kingdom of Rau, so the Zelana goes to help their allies. Drake is beginning his war and using his new ship Will O? Wisp as his main weapon. King Foizon sees this and decides to reveal his own secret weapon: another giant aura ship called the Goraon.
Episode 29 ? Billbine Appears
The battle continues between Drake?s army and the Kingdom of Rau. It seems as though the rebels are fighting a losing battle, until help comes from an unexpected ally.
Posted on Saturday, November 15, 2003 (Archive on Monday, December 15, 2003)