Card-Game Anime: It Just Hit Me

[Fuyumine]

For some reason, it just hit me that...

Card-game anime/manga has some of the WORST narrative...EVER. I think I realized it while half-listening to an episode of Yu-Gi-Oh playing on my television while I was working this morning, and I had to laugh at how ridiculous all of it was.

Have you noticed how expository those shows are? I mean, I know Pokémon is bad for being too expository during most trainer battles, but Card-game anime takes the CAKE. For one, there is a minority of people that actually know what these cards do, and so they're trying to make the show accessible to anyone watching the show. Which is OK, but...the narrative suffers.

Also, Card-game shows care more about merchandising than they care about telling a good story. For instance, let's say that you're a HUGE Yu-Gi-Oh fan. You've collected a bunch of cards and games and whatnot. Chances are, any time the show introduces a brand new card (which is practically like, what, every episode) and introduces a deus ex machina for the protagonist, you'll grow a Yu-Gi-'rection and blow your wad on the latest deck, hoping to find the Purple Platinum Rage Dragon from Beyond the Cosmic Pyramid.

LOL Are there any other shows that possess narrative like this?

[BlackJack]

Actually, what drew me to Yu-Gi-Oh as a kid was I enjoyed the exposition.
Sure, there's no deep narrative, but it was like watching a sports game. They told what everything does, so you never get lost.

In contrast, Duel Masters has the same basic card-game plot, but the games played out like:
Hero: "I summon Berserk Angel! And you know what that means!"
Villain: "OH NOES!"

That's even worse. If you're going to have a show revolve around a game, at least make sure it is comprehensible.

[Fuyumine]

Actually, what drew me to Yu-Gi-Oh as a kid was I enjoyed the exposition.
Sure, there's no deep narrative, but it was like watching a sports game. They told what everything does, so you never get lost.

In contrast, Duel Masters has the same basic card-game plot, but the games played out like:
Hero: "I summon Berserk Angel! And you know what that means!"
Villain: "OH NOES!"

That's even worse. If you're going to have a show revolve around a game, at least make sure it is comprehensible.

LOL, I saw that show Duel Masters! I know exactly what you're talking about. I was just staring at the television like... "Wait, what?"

I can understand the comparison to sports games and such, which is why I wish they'd leave a lot of the exposition to like... commentators or something. I don't know. But I'm old, and things have to be a certain way with me.

Funnily enough, I watched and enjoyed an episode of Pokemon this morning. LOL

[Mellusia]

I admit I got drawn into Yu-Gi-Oh! when I was younger. At the time, it seemed kind of weird and kewl to have a show based around cards, so I liked it. I dunno, maybe it was Seto Kaiba that kept me coming back xD

I actually bought the cards and a few games after I watched the anime for a while though. But boy, did I buy quite a few. I'm pretty sure I blew at least a hundred bucks on cards alone in my "run" and I half wanna cry seeing how much the cards would be worth now *shakes head*

EDIT: @BlackJack below: Hehe, I think I have my Red Eyes Black Dragon Deck, Fiend Deck, and my own Warrior Deck somewhere around here ;D

[BlackJack]

I actually bought the cards and a few games after I watched the anime for a while though. But boy, did I buy quite a few. I'm pretty sure I blew at least a hundred bucks on cards alone in my "run" and I half wanna cry seeing how much the cards would be worth now *shakes head*

Ii still have my Warrior deck. Wanna duel?

[Fuyumine]

LOL NERDS!

Honestly, I think I could have gotten into Yu-Gi-Oh around the time it first hit the West, but I think the art style kind turned me off from it for the most part. I probably would have grown to enjoy it if I had some of the cards beforehand, too. Like, the only reason I really got into Pokemon was because I had the Gameboy game first.

[Mellusia]

I was really stupid with Pokemon because I just arbitrarily asked for the cards because it was the "in" thing at the time, but when it came time to play, I had no clue what to really do, and I didn't have anyone to play with. Watching the show was good and all, but it didn't do much.

In the end I traded my cards to this guy I know. He gave me two Pokemon games and still hasn't paid up on the money he owes (this is years ago too, mind you) from those cards >_>

[Fuyumine]

I was really stupid with Pokemon because I just arbitrarily asked for the cards because it was the "in" thing at the time, but when it came time to play, I had no clue what to really do, and I didn't have anyone to play with. Watching the show was good and all, but it didn't do much.

In the end I traded my cards to this guy I know. He gave me two Pokemon games and still hasn't paid up on the money he owes (this is years ago too, mind you) from those cards >_>

LOL awww.

Yeah, man, my cousin had some Pokemon trading cards, and he literally had no one to play with either. If it hadn't been for Pokemon Red and Blue we probably wouldn't have gotten into the franchise as much as we did.

[Lind_L_Tailor]

The show was pretty awful...

Oh, and while we're being nerds, I got a card called Prime Material Dragon that lets you take any effect damage you take, and gain that many life points instead. As such, I managed to get my hands on three of them, built a deck based around cards that either help me to summon it or cost me life points to use, and voila, I kicked everyone's ass.

I still have it, actually.

/nerd

[BlackJack]

The show was pretty awful...

Oh, and while we're being nerds, I got a card called Prime Material Dragon that lets you take any effect damage you take, and gain that many life points instead. As such, I managed to get my hands on three of them, built a deck based around cards that either help me to summon it or cost me life points to use, and volia, I kicked everyone's ass.

I still have it, actually.

/nerd

Don't feel bad. I have my Yu-Gi-Oh deck in a drawer next to me. In my college dorm room.

[VxM Edgeworth]

You know something Fuyu...? I was listening to 5DS in the background while I was working on some pictures before going to work this morning and I thought the same thing, honestly. I think it has a terrible voice cast, a stupid plot, and another Yugi-like protagonist. Seriously...I thought Pokemon should stop, but at the moment, YGO should call it quits too...and Beyblade. (Yes, I found out there was another season. >.>)