BALDR FORCE EXE RESOLUTION review: A touching ending that exceeds expectations

BALDR FORCE EXE RESOLUTION - Comprehensive review and recommendation

■ Public Media

OVA

■ Original Media

18+ games

■ Release date

November 10, 2006

■Release and sales

Geneon Entertainment

■Frequencies

half an hour

■ Number of Episodes

Episode 4

■Original Story

GIGA, Alchemist

■ Director

Takayuki Tanaka

■ Production

・Animation Production: Satelight ・Production: BERCommittee

■Works

©GIGA/Alchemist/BERCommittee

■ Story

WIRED.
It is a virtual reality space of an information network that has now become a major hub in people's lives.

Soma Toru was a member of Steppenwolf, a hacking team that continues to carry out hacking activities within Wired.
However, during their final hacking mission, the team gets caught up in a battle between the military and a terrorist organization, and their leader, Yuya, who was also Toru's best friend, is killed.

Although he was caught by the police, Toru's hacking skills led him to join the military, but a flame of revenge was burning in his heart!

*Quoted from the official satellite website

■Explanation

A world of illusions and temporary bodies, what truth can be found there?
An animation adaptation of the smash hit that captivated many game fans as a PC game and console game!

※Quoted from d Anime Store

■Cast

・Toru Souma/Kenichi Suzumura/Ren Mizusaka/Noriko Shimoya/Minori Segawa/Mai Nakahara/Ayane Shido/Hitomi Nabatame/Tsukina Sasagiri/Rina Sato/Liang/Nana Mizuki/Bachelorette/Houko Kuwashima

■ Main staff

・Original work: GIGA, Alchemist
・Director / Takayuki Tanaka ・Character design / Hideki Yamazaki ・Prop design / Takeshi Takakura, Takashi Miyamoto ・Art design / Shinya Asanuma ・Color design / Naoto Tanaka ・CGI producer / Tomisaburo Hashimoto ・CGI technical director / Hiroshi Yagihashi ・3DCG texture art ・Special effects / Hidetaka Tenjin ・Sound director / Jin Aketagawa ・Sound effects / Katsuhiro Nakano (Soundbox)
・Sound Production: Magic Capsule ・Music: Tsuyoshi Watanabe ・Music Production: Music Brains ・Animation Production: Satelight ・Production: BERCommittee

■Subtitle

・Episode 1/First Contact (2006/11/10)
・Episode 2/Again (2006/12/08)
・Episode 3/Truth (2007/02/09)
・Episode 4/Rebuilt (2007/04/04)

■ Theme songs and music

・OP1
・Face of Fact -RESOLUTION Ver.-
・Lyrics by KOTOKO
・Composition/CG mix
・Arrangement/CG mix
・Song: KOTOKO

・ED1
・undelete
Lyrics: Mami Kawada Composition: Tomoyuki Nakazawa Arrangement: Tomoyuki Nakazawa, Maiko Iuchi Vocals: Mami Kawada

■Detailed evaluation

"BALDR FORCE EXE RESOLUTION" is an OVA based on an 18+ game created by GIGA and Alchemist. A total of four episodes were released from 2006 to 2007, and the story is set in the virtual reality space "WIRED" of the information network. Below, we will explain in detail the appeal and features of this work, as well as recommended points.

Story and Themes

The story of this work begins when the hacking team "Steppenwolf", to which the protagonist Toru Soma belongs, gets caught up in a battle between the military and a terrorist organization. After losing his best friend Yuya, Toru joins the military with a burning desire for revenge in his heart and throws himself into the battle within WIRED. This story depicts the profound theme of what humans believe and what they seek as the boundaries between virtual reality and reality become blurred.

The story centers around Tohru's desire for revenge and his growth, as well as the bond he forms with his friends, and leaves a strong impression on viewers. In addition, the setting in which the virtual world of WIRED has a major impact on the real world could be seen as a warning to modern Internet society.

character

The protagonist, Tohru Souma, is played by Kenichi Suzumura, whose voice acting skills allow him to express the character's emotions realistically. Tohru's desire for revenge, conflict, and the process of his growth are conveyed deeply to the audience. The series is also enhanced by a stellar cast, including Noriko Shimoya as Ren Mizusaka, Mai Nakahara as Minori Segawa, Hitomi Nabatame as Ayane Shido, Rina Sato as Tsukina Sasagiri, Nana Mizuki as Liang, and Houko Kuwashima as the Bachelor.

The backgrounds and relationships of each character are carefully depicted, and the relationship between Tohru and Ren in particular is an important element of the story. As Tohru grows, the characters around him also change, encouraging viewers to empathize with him.

Film and Production

Satelight, the animation studio in charge, is known for its visual expression that makes full use of 3DCG. In "BALDR FORCE EXE RESOLUTION," the battle scenes and virtual space within WIRED are depicted very realistically, making a visual impact. Director Takayuki Tanaka has succeeded in faithfully recreating the worldview of the original work while incorporating the unique directing style of anime.

The character designs by Hideki Yamazaki are optimized for animation while retaining the atmosphere of the original work. In addition, his attention to detail in the props, art, and color design enhances the overall quality of the work.

Music and Sound

The opening theme "Face of Fact -RESOLUTION Ver.-" is sung by KOTOKO, whose powerful voice brings out the theme of the work. The ending theme "undelete" is sung by Mami Kawada, and its memorable melody symbolizes Tohru's inner conflict. Watanabe Tsuyoshi's music stirs emotions as the story unfolds, heightening the viewer's immersion.

The sound design by sound director Hitoshi Aketagawa and sound effects director Katsuhiro Nakano is also superb, with the use of sound effects and background music especially in the battle scenes adding to the tension of the film. The sound production by Magic Capsule is also of high quality, enriching the viewing experience.

Recommended points

"BALDR FORCE EXE RESOLUTION" is a work that is attractive for its deep theme depicting the boundary between virtual reality and reality, realistic visual expression, and high-quality production by a luxurious cast and staff. It is especially recommended for fans of the original game and viewers who like science fiction and action. It is also full of elements that fans of KOTOKO and Mami Kawada will enjoy.

Although this work is a short series of only four episodes, it has a dense storyline and character growth, and contains many elements that will make you think even after watching it. Please give it a watch and experience its charm for yourself.

■ Additional information and recommendations

"BALDR FORCE EXE RESOLUTION" is a work that is widely accepted not only by fans of the original game but also by anime fans. Below we will introduce more detailed information and recommendations.

Comparison with the original game

The original game "BALDR FORCE" was released for PC in 2003, and later released for consoles. The anime version makes some changes to the original story, but retains the main characters and settings. In particular, Tohru's desire for revenge and the battle scenes within WIRED are faithful to the atmosphere of the original, but you can also enjoy the unique production and additional episodes that are unique to the anime.

Fans of the original game will find the new perspectives and character development depicted in the anime version refreshing. Also, by playing the original game after watching the anime version, you can gain a deeper understanding and enjoyment.

Related Titles

The original game of "BALDR FORCE EXE RESOLUTION" is one of the "BALDR" series by GIGA and Alchemist. This series also includes "BALDR SKY" and "BALDR BULLET EQUILIBRIUM", and there are many other works with the theme of virtual reality. If you are interested in these works, we recommend them.

Other works by Satelight that I would also recommend are "Heroic Age" and "Macross F," which feature visual expression that makes full use of 3DCG. By watching these works, you will be able to gain a deeper understanding of Satelight's production techniques and style.

How to watch

"BALDR FORCE EXE RESOLUTION" can be viewed on DVD released by Geneon Entertainment. It can also be viewed on video distribution services such as d Anime Store and Amazon Prime Video. In particular, d Anime Store has a wealth of commentary and cast information, so you can learn about the background of the work before watching.

When watching, be sure to pay attention to the opening and ending songs. KOTOKO and Mami Kawada's singing voices further enhance the worldview of the work.

Fan Community

The fan community for BALDR FORCE EXE RESOLUTION is very active on social media and online forums. In particular, on Twitter and Reddit, people share their thoughts on the game, character analysis, fan art, and more. By joining these communities, you can interact with other fans and get a deeper experience of the game.

Also, at fan events and conventions, talk shows and autograph sessions with voice actors and staff are sometimes held. If you are interested, we recommend attending these events.

summary

"BALDR FORCE EXE RESOLUTION" is a work that is attractive for its deep theme depicting the boundary between virtual reality and reality, realistic visual expression, and high-quality production by a luxurious cast and staff. It is recommended for fans of the original game and viewers who like science fiction and action. It is also full of elements that fans of KOTOKO and Mami Kawada will enjoy.

Although this work is a short series of only four episodes, it has a dense storyline and character growth, and contains many elements that will make you think even after watching it. Please give it a watch and experience its charm for yourself.