First Impressions – Selector Infected WIXOSS
J.C. Staff plays the game with suffering…
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Hello everyone, and welcome to our First Impression of J.C. Staff’s new psychological drama. Yep it’s cute girls doing suffering things. This is my first ever post, and I’m glad Hoshi is joining me. |
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Hoshi here, back again from the shadows, and tag-teaming with our newest addition to the Meta team, Skylion! It’s been a pleasure working together on this first tag-team post and I hope we get to do something like this again~ Anyway, we of course are here to discuss one of the first series to start off the new Spring season: selector infected WIXOSS. For me, the PV for this series was ridiculously intriguing (and creepy), so I was more than ready for this premiere. Now let’s see just how impressive this first episode turned out to be. |
Do you think senpai will notice me?
The show has an impressive creative staff. It’s likely to turn heads. Director Takuya Sataou is best know for Steins; Gate, but also has Say I Love You, and Ichigo Mashimaro under his belt. For this project he is bringing in character designer and lead animation director Kyuuta Sakai who did work for Higurashi, Ichigo Mashimaro, and Steins: Gate as well. They are joined by the illustrious Mari Okada on series composition, known for a ton of things, but perhaps with the tone of WIXOSS, has Black Rock Shooter under her belt.
One of the things that got me the most upon the first watch was that there was very little explanation given about the WIXOSS game mechanics. In a show devoted to a CCG it’s strange that all we get is a brief summary, how to activate your avatar card, and a few card combos. We get no real depth of game play. I think this might be on purpose. From the get go we might have to understand that the mechanics are not as important as the characters that play the game. The game is a window into personality.
Yes, it’s a table top game on the other side, too.
Selectors are WIXOSS players that are “striving to be the ‘Eternal Girl’” and by winning games can become their ideal self, you can make wishes come true. This is done via head to head battle using your starter kit’s avatar, the Rulig or LRIG against another player. Only “fated” players can hope to be a Selector. Not everyone gets an LRIG avatar. And three loses and you are out. All of this is fairly standard for many shows in related anime genres. I’ve avoided making comparisons here, as I want the show to take it’s first breath uninfluenced by other similar programs. Make a deal, take a risk, get your wish.
And you better hurry, Tama-chan wants Battle!
What does everyone think of Rukko Kaminato and Yuzuki Kurebayashi our two main leads? I’m not going to start a best girl competition already, but Yuziki is interesting. Not immediately likable, but interesting to watch. She gives off hints of desperation, and is more than a little impatient. Ayane Sakura is performing very well with this character. She’s bringing all the energetic inflections of Joshiraku’s Bureti Marii, and Non Non Biyori’s Natusmi Koshigaya, along with some of the reflective moments of Love Lab’s Yuiko Enomoto. It looks like she is walking down one thorny path to get her wishes to come true; unsavory methods. Rukko has difficulty making friends, and seems to be perfectly fine with that. That is until it is pointed out that this difficulty is making other’s unhappy. I know that’s imbalanced toward Yuzki, as far as coverage goes, but she is a shy girl.
Because making the city disappear playing games is fun, right?
So in wrapping it up, what do we have. Are we sold on the psychological drama? I’m anxious to see how they build the relationships from here. Can Yuzuki continue to brow beat Rukko after gifts of cake? Will Rukko find more confidence in herself? Tama seems to be pushing her to it. Hoshi? Final Thoughts?
I have to say while it wasn’t the most impressive first episode, I’m certainly just as excited for this show as I was when I saw the PV. Though so far there hasn’t been anything too exciting, seeing as we’re just being introduced to the characters and the card game (as well as number of other strange things), there seems to be a lot of potential thanks to the ominous atmosphere that’s been set up
This first episode has given us an enormous amount of hints of things to come, but out of the several things (as in ignoring the grandmother’s ominous mention of a pillar going to destroy everything) that were hinted, Tama was something that struck me the most. Already in Rukko’s first battle we see Tama is plenty powerful as she levels up quickly amongst Kazuki’s more experienced avatar. In fact, before the battle ends, she’s got a fierce stare and already talking about how fun battling is. With Rukko’s dream featuring a monster that looks like an overgrown, deranged Tama take the blow of this strange pillar, I wouldn’t be surprised if Tama gets too much of a thirst for battle and becomes unstable for our somewhat naïve protagonist to handle; then again maybe Rukko herself may get too into the game, though for now she doesn’t seem to have any interest in becoming the Eternal Girl.
There’s a plethora of creepy vibes that ooze from this first episode alone that makes me hopeful this series will hit a serious dark and creepy route. I mean, placing all of your hopes and dreams onto an intense, outer-worldly card battle screams for some psychological drama. No doubt we’ll see these cute characters get twisted as the battle to be the Eternal Girl goes on, and how it effects our main protagonist and her already powerful avatar. I’m totally ready for the insane card battles, so bring it on WIXOSS~
Motto Battle!
Next Episode: The Poisonous Meeting.
About Tag Team
We live, laugh, enjoy and strictly believe on "more the merrier". When together, we usually come up with very chatty, conversation-based episodics and interesting posts.
POWUH: Meta Team and Spammy Tamer with 7115 comments
It feels weird to say so, but welcome to Metanorn, skylion!
This show feels like it’s almost needlessly dark. I mean, I guess people like dark, but it seems like there’s less actually at stake than with Fantasista Dolls, but there’s all sorts of doom and gloom going on.
And no, I’m not a huge fan of Tama. Bleh.
POWUH: and LOLi Defender with 10998 comments
What? Why does it feel weird? Is it because you were coaching me for most of the day?
It’s still early days in the show to find what is at stake, and I actually enjoy gloom and doom as long as it has some balance. How that balance works out is for the rest of the series to show.
And I’m enough of a fan of Tama for both of us…
POWUH: and LOLi Defender with 10998 comments
And I have to add it feels really odd not being on the top commenters chart after all this time.
POWUH: Meta Team and Spammy Tamer with 7115 comments
Yes, that felt weird for me, too.
POWUH: and Vampire Lover with 11746 comments
It feels odd now that I’m the only commenter with a really high comment count.
POWUH: Meta Team and Meta-Analyst with 3844 comments
Then someone reset it for him to restart… 😛 Not that it’ll take him too long to rocket to #1.
I would join you in the ‘k range but it would mean more than quadruple the watching load in order to make more snarky comments…
POWUH: and Vampire Lover with 11746 comments
That would be a lot of work that’s already been put in. By next month, I’ll have made three and a half years on Metanorn, two years as the top commenter with the help from the replies of the two commenter-turned bloggers as accomplices. Starting back would be tough.
POWUH: and LOLi Defender with 10998 comments
It just wouldn’t be the same…
POWUH: Meta Resident and LN Informant with 1529 comments
Sample PV for the OP, Wakeshima Kanon’s killy killy Joker, out this 30th April.
POWUH: and LOLi Defender with 10998 comments
Thanks, ZZ. I felt that the OP did a good job for the show. But I wanted commentators to get in on it.
POWUH: Novice (36-50) with 44 comments
That opening. That bunny… XD I really liked it.
POWUH: and Vampire Lover with 11746 comments
Whooooaaa!! So you’re a blogger now, eh, skylion? Congrats!! It must be odd being “Fresh Meat” when you’re no stranger to Metanorn, and with a high comment count to boot. So, how was your first post? Any trouble organizing your thoughts before making the full description?
First episode in, I like the dark feel but right now, the story has yet to be deserving of it yet it does show promise. I understand there’s a “psychological” genre tag attached so there’s anticipation to see how that plays out. Tama is little bit too moe but her lust for battle already has her on my good side. Plus, it seems she’d go absolutely wild if left unchecked.
Rukko acts like the kind of person I’d imagine most people in the world would be: Quiet, enjoys her solitude, take things at her own pace and isn’t bothered by matters that cause peer pressure like worrying about having friends. For each chosen Selector, there must be something unique about them.
POWUH: and LOLi Defender with 10998 comments
Yeah,each chosen Selector is something I am looking forward to, as the OP does cast them in somewhat interesting lights.
And yes, Fresh Meat after nearly two and a half years of commenting. I had no trouble with the writing at all. It was just a matter of trimming it down and making it all fit in.
And yes. Shinobu is my thing now…
POWUH: Meta Team and The Mad Scientist with 5525 comments
Survive as a writer long enough and you’ll get a title again. But if you’ve survived as a commenter this long, I doubt that will be much of a problem. :3
Welcome to the team, skylion! Whenever we get a new member it’s always like an e-mail saying “oh yeah btw we have a new writer” lol. Maybe it’s because I never check the Skype chats. Anyways, it’s such a nice surprise. Keep up the good work!
POWUH: and LOLi Defender with 10998 comments
Thank you, Cool. I’m glad to come as a pleasant surprise. I will survive!
POWUH: and Vampire Lover with 11746 comments
You do realize you’re getting the hot seat in the next Metaverse podcast, right? Jrow is gonna grill you like a fish with questions directed at newbie bloggers. Can’t wait!! 😀
POWUH: and LOLi Defender with 10998 comments
I shall bring funny voices and a pack of lies….
POWUH: Meta Team and Spammy Tamer with 7115 comments
See, this is a lesson: You should come in the skype chat more!
POWUH: and LOLi Defender with 10998 comments
Yeah!
POWUH: Novice (36-50) with 44 comments
J.C Staff are really going all out this year with animation quality. I just love looking at selector infected Wixoss. Also the detail they put into their eyes is really good. The story line itself is emanating darkness. I mean if they want you to win all your battles, be a supreme girl, and get a wish. What do they want in return? There’s this great enigma. So I can’t wait to see what happens next.
POWUH: and LOLi Defender with 10998 comments
I can’t wait either.
So right about the animation quality. Tama had some great battle eyes!
POWUH: Novice (36-50) with 44 comments
XD
POWUH: Meta Team and PreCure Mastah with 9203 comments
Dude welcome to the team Skylion! I am glad you are now a part of the team and I hope we can do something together~
WIXOSS ftw! I have a feeling the wish portion of this series will head down the darker road because with wishes in my experience aka Madoka Magica and we all know what happened with that >.>
JC Staff is bringing their A game <3
POWUH: and LOLi Defender with 10998 comments
The wish potential is what gets players involved, and I still think it’s more a narrative method at this point. Rukko’s demure nature to the game, Yuzuki’s ultimate goal all of it spinning the wheel. And we get more next episode. So what she shape of the supernatural is, we will wait and see.
Glad to be on the team. And I would not miss an opportunity to work with you. FK YA LOLi Dragon!
POWUH: Meta Resident and Werewolf Chaser with 1270 comments
This feels a bit like Mari Okada trying another go at BRS-like plot. The setup reminds me of Rozen Maiden Alice Game + Fate/ HGW. And I have a feeling the girls who lost 3 times will lose more than just the LRIG cards not to mention the possible DISPEAR. Consider me interested and added to watch list.
The ED sure is pretty unnerving and the preview screams MANIA (possibly frm the glasses girl). The Op soong is prob the second best one in the season so far.
POWUH: and LOLi Defender with 10998 comments
It does have that BRS feel. But I see her taking a different angle on the character’s and their interactions. This one is progressing with more caution. I had trouble holding interest in BRS, this show not so much.
POWUH: Meta Resident and Werewolf Chaser with 1270 comments
Btw, I found a TL of the rules of WIXOSS on9. Rules below:
POWUH: and LOLi Defender with 10998 comments
Great information. Thanks for finding this.
POWUH: Meta Resident with 1557 comments
skylion! (,, ･∀･)ﾉ゛
POWUH: and LOLi Defender with 10998 comments
That’s me…
POWUH: Meta Resident with 1557 comments
You missed! That was a (wave), lol
POWUH: and LOLi Defender with 10998 comments
Oh, it is a wave. I never got the hang of this sort of typing.
POWUH: Meta Resident with 1557 comments
I’m on the fence with this one. I can get the battle in the other world, but having tables there as well? The whole turn-based realism approach of the card-game didn’t click for me. (If you’re losing, could you not just stalllllllllllll until someone else comes by and causes the match to end?)
I’ll give it a bit more to see where it goes, but there are too many questions that I have that probably won’t all be answered. What are the qualifications to become a selector? No choice in your LRIG (got a shitty desk, too bad so sad)? Can you turn down a battle (then you could just wait until the end and fight the last person)? Can I steal your awesome card and cause omgRAGE? Why is there a pengiun cannon in the last pic?
I really thought Kugimiya Rie was voicing Tama, but it turns out it’s not. When I see flat loli with a whiny voice I instantly think Shana. Or Louise, take your pick.
POWUH: and LOLi Defender with 10998 comments
As it turns out Misaki Kuno is voicing Tama, and she is riffing on Mellin from Mondaji for this performance. Asuka! Asuka! But then, she is also my favorite Sekai Seifuku LOLi Kate
I know your feels. That table is just a big old WTF. But I think some of the stuff you talk about might just come up in the game, with character personality as part of the game mechanics. Just like playing a real CCG. OMG my days of MTG and Shadowfist past!
I do hope they explain how people become selector. That would add a great dramatic layer to the story. Stealing cards is great! Cause DRAMA!
POWUH: Meta Resident with 1557 comments
I used to rage whenever people brought out that assassin that can kill any tapped creatures. Just thinking about it makes me want to
(╯°Д°）╯︵/(.□ . \)
POWUH: and LOLi Defender with 10998 comments
When I played Shadowfish, they had a Jackie Chan inspired character, and instead of attacking, he could choose to keep all tapped characters in his location tapped for as long as he was at that location. Just ladders and buckets everywhere!
POWUH: Meta Resident with 1557 comments
Google and wiki didn’t help, what is shadowfish?
POWUH: and LOLi Defender with 10998 comments
Hellz, bellz, getting used to the Chromebook keyboard! Shadowfist.
POWUH: Meta Resident with 1557 comments
Hmmm, was on a streak but I think spammy made a come-back.
POWUH: and LOLi Defender with 10998 comments
They haven’t taught me how to rescue you from Spammy’s gaping hungry belly. You’ll have to endure being chewed for a bit. Sorry…
POWUH: 600-699 and Romance Expert with 652 comments
surprised no comment on the twincest thing…
POWUH: Novice (36-50) with 44 comments
It isn’t really twincest when the brother doesn’t feel the same way. The girl is just stupid, she’s obsessed with her brother but if you watch the second episode he already seems to be in a relationship. If I was like to my Twin sister she’d punch me in the head and tell me to get a life… 🙂