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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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