Betterman: Yay or nay?

[Revolver Ocelot]

So there's a box set of this at my local game store for $16.99. Contains all 26 episodes. I know virtually nothing about it aside from the fact it supposedly takes place inside Gao Gai Gar's setting. Is it a worthy purchase or no?

[Hyakushiki]

I haven't seen it either but I've heard it's good, personally at that price it appeals to me I would buy it on that basis and not feel too guilty about it.

[NewtypeS3]

It's a very worthy purchase, easily.
If I recall the interviews correctly, the show was created by GGG's director because he wanted to show 'a darker side' of the GGG world. A better way to put it would be how the 'average person' interacts with the bizarreness going about in the GGG-verse.

However, if you're expecting more Goldion-Hammer and Mic Sounders the 13th... you'll be very disappointed. The mecha in Betterman are, for the most part, reals. Betterman himself is a Super... sorta, as are many of the enemies he faces... but the show itself is heavily Real-based - also taking cues from Evangelion in terms of the psychological side of things.

It's been a while since I've seen it (watched it on TechTV long before G4 took over), but I remember it being really solid.

[Dr.G]

I would get it for sure. The series was good, and at that price, I would buy almost anything. Its got mecha and monsters, but with a tone that shifts between light and dark a number of times.

[TheLastOtaku]

I would have to say NayYay, because the last time I saw it was when TechTV was showing it years ago.

[Folken Fanel]

Yay. I saw it on Tech TV like a bunch of people, and liked it for the most part. It can be a little hard to follow if you don't pay attention, but aside from that it's one of the better pyschological animes out there. Be warned though, it gets pretty creepy at times(although that might eb what makes it so entertaining).

[Nagi]

It's been years since I've seen it, but I remember it having a pretty good story, likable characters, and a far creepier atmosphere than most anime I've seen. I'd say it's a definite 'yay.'

[Imperial]

I can't say "yay" hard enough.

Betterman is one of the greatest mecha shows I've ever seen in my history as a mecha-lover. The one and only gripe I have with the series is that it tends to get rather repetitive at times, but this is the only flaw in an otherwise perfect show. I've seen a lot of people complain about how it's hard to follow, but I never had that problem. You'll also see a lot of people blast it for being an Eva rip-off. These people have no idea what they're talking about. They're both great mecha shows that delve into the complexities of the human psyche and that is where the similarities end.

The cast is engaging and down-to-earth enough that you can sympathize with their plight (even if that sometimes involves Resident Evil rejects). The mecha are interesting in their ability to manipulate the atoms around them, leading to some innovating battles.

The greatest thing that the show brings to the table is its creepy, foreboding atmosphere. Horror anime is a rarity, but Betterman is a shining example of the genre. Even with their fancy powers, high-tech weaponry, and friends in high places, the heroes are never truly safe. The mundane side of life can quickly become warped into something sinister and hateful. Doctors, teachers, and inanimate objects are just a few of the things that assault the heroes at random intervals. There are times the heroes are left feeling entirely useless, with good reason.

However, the show's strongest theme would have to be hope. The heroes fight the rising tide of evil even if they know they're walking into a hopeless situation. It's all about refusing to lie down and die.

It's an amazing show that just about anyone can enjoy.

[Revolver Ocelot]

All I want to know is.. does it have good fight scenes?

[Folken Fanel]

In my opinion, yes. I'd have to re-watch the series to give you a really good answer, but I recall that Betterman had some pretty kickin' action scenes. Like the rest of the show, they were a bit on the freaky side, but enjoyable nonetheless.

[Randall Miyashiro]

The problem with this Bandai release is that it is letterboxed and not anamorphic. If you are watching it on a 4:3 screen you will not see much of a difference, but if you watch it on a 16:9 you will have black bars on all four sides of the image, much like Saikano, Aquarian Age, or Samurai X.

I did enjoy Betterman even though I didn't like the first few GGG DVDs that have been released.