RJ Writing Ink

Edens Zero Chapter 254 Review/Recap

I don’t know who first said it, but it sounds appropriate to quote this: “The more things change, the more things stay the same.” There are characteristics to people that are so fundamental that no matter how much time passes, they remain a part of them. Even machines that claim to have evolved beyond their programming can still follow it, even when they don’t mean to. In the case of Edens Zero, Rebecca managed to prove that Joker Helix isn’t evil. Deep down, they just everyone to have fun. 

Color me surprised. This is a big win for gamers.

Recap

With time running out to save Shiki and the Professor, Rebecca races to solve the escape room. Unfortunately, the door won’t open; it has a sign that says that she needs to find the right door, and a symbol of the five elements. Putting the clues together, Rebecca realizes that the real door’s underneath the earth floor, and goes through.

After that, she has to deal with a hallway of endless doors, only to get stumped at every turn. That’s when she remembers that in the old game she played, the correct door would glow. Thanks to that hint, she chooses the right one and frees Shiki and the Professor. Unfortunately, Joker Helix wants to keep playing deadly games with Rebecca.

However, Rebecca tells the two to stand down; she’s figured out Joker Helix. Despite evolving, Joker Helix remains the same: they want to help people have fun. They like to help them when they’re stumped in a game. At the end of the day, they’re kind, and that’s what Rebecca wants them to be. 

Somehow, this works. Joker Helix stands down, and their army of bots disappears!

Review

Well, that was not how I imagined how things would end.

In keeping with the references to video games over the last few chapters, I appreciated what Mashima did. I never cared for puzzle-based video games when I was young, and that dislike seems to have continued well into my adulthood. That said, I understand how they mentally stimulate the mind and force players to think to succeed. And the best games always give hints when players get frustrated. In that regard, Joker Helix is a good AI.

As for the resolution, I suspected that that might be how things would end. Given Joker’s obsession with playing with Rebecca, it would make sense that their motive was mainly to just play games. It only 

I Give “Stage 2” a 3.5/5

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Edens Zero Chapter 253 Review/Recap

Last chapter of Edens Zero, Joker Helix trapped Rebecca, Shiki, and Professor Weisz inside a video game. Desperate to play games with Rebecca, Joker sent the girl through multiple versions of classic video games, only to have their plans derailed by the Professor and Shiki. Now, Joker’s stopped playing video games and is trying to play games of the Saw variety. Joker Helix is Saw-ing them!

Mashima’s really big on the shout-out’s lately, isn’t he? 

Recap

Having changed the rules of Joker’s game, Professor Weisz proceeds to attack Joker, determined to beat them at their own game, in his own way. Joker Helix, though, isn’t happy about about their cheating. All it wants is to play games with Rebecca forever. Meanwhile, on the surface, Weisz continues to guard the others and the Mother Ether from the Jokers. However, it gets to the point where Joker starts breaking down, saying it only wants to play games with Rebecca, and the entire world’s covered in mist.

When Rebecca can see again, she’s chained to a chair in a room straight out of a Saw movie; an escape game, according to Joker. Worse, Shiki and Professor Weisz are trapped in a room filling with water. If Rebecca can’t escape and save them in time, they’ll both drown. Using her own skills and clues found in the room, Rebecca manages to free herself, but now she has to make it to the other room before it’s too late.

Review

Well, this took a turn for the worse. I’ve never seen any of the Saw movies, but I know the premise. Deadly room, people have to escape without dying, usually by confronting their hang-ups and maiming themselves. Joker is Saw-ing the group of three.

While this chapter didn’t do much to advance the overall plot, it did confirm one thing: Joker Helix does seem genuinely fond of Rebecca. Perhaps its because, as I suggested, they remember having fun playing games with Rebecca. However, this veers straight into yandere territory. Joker Helix’s willing to kill anyone that will take Rebecca away from them, and needs to be stopped.

The only other thing worth discussing in this Saw-like chapter is the interaction between Professor Weisz and Shiki. The Professor explicitly asked if Shiki is Rebecca’s boyfriend. While we don’t hear Shiki’s response, we do hear Weisz say he just wants to make sure Rebecca’s happy. In addition to being the thing a father would ask about their child, it’s also a bit of a death flag. Is Mashima hinting that Professor Weisz won’t make it out of this in one piece? 

Regardless, we’re going to have to wait a week to find out what happens. Here’s hoping that the heroes can outwit Joker Helix!

I Give “Stage 1” a 3/5

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Edens Zero Chapter 252 Review/Recap

When we left off two weeks ago, the Crew of Edens was in it deep. Joker Helix, the rogue AI and member of Oracion Seis Galactica, had shown up with an army of itself. While it’s ability to slow time down was bad enough, the fact that it’s already made it onto the Edens Zero makes things worse. And now, Joker wants to play a little game with Rebecca. What follows, though, is less of a game, and more a reference to popular video games in general.

As a gamer myself, this is entertaining to watch.

Recap

With one of the Jokers aboard the Edens Zero, Rebecca has no choice but to head up onto the ship, since she’s the only one who can face them. With Shiki’s Wormhole, she and Professor Weisz warp onto the ship…only for the latter two to get frozen right away, leaving Rebecca alone.

Joker Helix then speaks to Rebecca, telling her that they want to play a game. The next thing Rebecca knows, she’s been pixelated into a video game, with her opponent being Joker Helix!

After managing to defeat Joker in the RPG game, though, Rebecca’s problems don’t end. Next, she finds herself in a racing game. She swiftly manages to escape that, only to find herself facing Joker in a fighting game. After losing her first round to Joker, though, Shiki crashes the party. Professor Weisz managed to make a watch-like device to cancel out Joker’s powers, allowing him and Shiki the chance to move again. Deciding to beat his creation on their level, Weisz modifies the game into a typical fantasy quest, complete with the outfits and everything.

Why Rebecca’s in bikini armor, nobody knows.

Review

First, sorry this review took so long to publish, but I’ve been busy. Secondly, I’m impressed with what Mashima did regarding this chapter.

First things first, I’m curious as to why Joker Helix decided to play games with Rebecca rather than flat out kill her. There’s two likely explanations: firstly, Joker is toying with the heroes before they kill them, like a cat does with its prey. Secondly, Joker may be genuinely fond of Rebecca from all her time playing games on them. Bouncing off that second concept, Joker may not be fully free of its initial programming and thus compelled to play with Rebecca. Or it could be a combination of both, though it’s likely the latter.

That said, I do appreciate the level of references to video games found in this chapter. The pixelated game evokes the feeling of classic RPGs like Final Fantasy. The racing game’s similar to Mario Kart, especially with the pipe at the end. And the fighting game Rebecca finds herself in reminds me of Mortal Kombat, Street Fighter, and Tekken.

In any event, if the Crew wants to regain control of the ship, they’ve got to beat Joker Helix at their own game, literally. This should be entertaining!

I Give “Game Start” a 3.5/5

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Edens Zero Chapter 251 Review/Recap

Last time on Edens Zero, Professor Weisz (the old version) revealed the truth behind OSG’s Joker Helix. Instead of just being a machine, they’re an AI he created years ago that went Skynet. Worse, it’s machine bodies can slow time down to a near-standstill. That, and an army of them showed up on Miltz. This could be trouble, people!

Recap

Right as the Jokers surround Miltz, the machine scanning the Mother Ether finishes its calculations. As a result, the path to Mother is now open. The only problem is that with the power out, they can’t call the Edens Zero for help. Using his own Ether Gear, Profressor Weisz manages to re-establish contact with Hermit…and they both scream.

After informing them of the situation, the Crew of Edens (and Old Weisz) resolves to make it to the ship and escape Miltz while Rebecca’s parents stay behind.

The only problem is the Jokers standing in the way, and the fact that they can’t get too close to them. Thus, they have to resort to ranged combat, with only Rebecca able to engage in melee. with Feather’s help, they reach the ship, only to discover that one of the Jokers is already aboard!

Review

There isn’t too much to say about this chapter, but let’s give it a shot. 

Firstly, the fact that there are now a hundred Jokers besieging Miltz feels rather implausible. Didn’t Rebecca’s parents say a few chapters ago that it would take a long time for anyone to find it? Either it’s not as well hidden as they thought, or the Joker AI’s just that good. At the least, their ability to slow down time gives the heroes a notable handicap. Otherwise, there’s a good chance the Crew of Edens would mow through them.

Secondly, there’s that red flag that Professor Weisz gives off trying to give Pino that flash drive. Pino even lampshades this fact. Now there’s the chance the Professor Weisz might die before they get off of Miltz. 

Lastly, and this is a nitpick, but since when could Homura use ranged attacks? Her Ether Gear’s never given that impression.

That aside, this episode did have a few funny moments with Professor Weisz. Seeing her and Hermit’s reactions to each other, and how he went gaga over Weisz’s Arsenal armor, make him a bit of a goofball. All the more reason why I hope he doesn’t die.

For now, though, it looks like Shiki’s got to get Joker off his ship and gun it on the path to Mother. Hopefully, the next chapter will expand on this more.

I Give “Escape from Planet Miltz” a 3/5

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Edens Zero Chapter 250 Review/Recap

If you’ve been paying attention to the news lately, then you’ll know there’s been a lot of talk about AI. They’re becoming more and more prevalent in society. People are using them to run computers, write articles and stories, and improve their lives. There are two problems, though. Firstly, people are worried that AI will eventually replace them in the workforce; it’s partly why the WGA and SAG-AFTRA are striking. Secondly, there’s the fear that unsupervised AI will go Skynet on the world. Given the knowledge about O.N.E. Void and the revelations about Joker in this chapter, it’s clear where Edens Zero stands on the issue.

Recap

After putting down the Joker attacking Rebecca (and giving her his coat), Professor Weisz explains that he and Bernadette (the bunny girl) were tracking Joker for a while. Furthermore, rather than stopping time, Joker’s powers let them slow time to a crawl in a limited range. They weren’t in range, so they were safe. Thankfully, Professor Weisz shuts down the drone’s reactor, letting time proceed as normal…with hilarious results.

Back indoors, Professor Weisz explains everything to the group while Weisz wonders how this guy is his alternate, future self. Everyone guesses that the distortion didn’t work on Rebecca due to her time powers, but then Bernadette drops a bombshell: Weisz created Joker Helix by accident.

Ten years ago, Professor Weisz created Joker Helix as a game engine. However, the AI he equipped it with started gaining knowledge from across the universe. By the time the Professor figured it out, it was too late; the AI had bailed to multiple computers on multiple planets. Now, they’ve found Miltz. As everyone wonders what they’re planning, Joker answers that for them: it hijacks their comms, brings in more drones, and says its here for the Mother Ether!

Review

Well, say what you will about Mashima and his manga; the fact that the big bad is an AI, and that Joker is an AI, makes this timely as they come. If we’re not careful, we could have a Skynet or Ultron to deal with in the future!

First things first, though: this chapter seemingly confirms that Joker Helix isn’t Labilia. For all we know, we might not see Labilia again at all. Which, while not important to the whole plot, feels a little sad. She and Rebecca just became friends again! However, the fact that Joker is an AI created by Professor Weisz is just as disturbing. At least it means that Weisz’s older counterpart isn’t part of the OSG, though. There’s still the question of how the Professor Weisz of Universe Zero never lost his arm, but that’s a question for another day.

Revelations aside, this chapter was pretty funny to look at. Seeing everyone in the hot springs get confused about what happened was a good blend of humor and fanservice. Seeing Rebecca name copyright-friendly game engines was also funny. The lengths people go to get around copyrights!

Everyone’s going to have to fight an army of AI-powered machines now. Given how they can slow time to near-zero, this should make for an interesting fight. I just hope that O.N.E. Void doesn’t show up, or everyone’s screwed.

Also, happy 250th chapter, Edens Zero.

I Give “Joker” a 3.5/5

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