Dark Warrior

Original Title: 魔宮戦場
Romanized: Makyuu Senjou
Literal: Demon Temple Battleground

Plot Synopsis

A Silicon Valley whiz kid, billionaire creator of the most intelligent computer on Earth, has got bigger problems than being on the cover of Time magazine. The thing is, the corporation he works for is planning to use his ideas to take over the world. As if that weren't enough, they're planning to wipe the slate of humanity clean and install their own race of preprogrammed superbeings in their place. The unwitting prototype? Our angst-ridden programmer, of course. Now that the corporation's done with their testing, they're preparing to move into the next phase of the project. Except for one thing: Their prototype isn't exactly ready to forgive and forget.

His company (and the Pentagon) wants him dead at all costs, his life is a myth, everyone he knew is an enemy, and he suddenly grows a foot and a half and develops a body that Stallone would envy (hey, life's not all bad). Will he be able to escape the unlimited resources of his former employer and stop their evil plans?

Quick Review

Rating: 1 / 5
Reviewer: Marc
Review Date: 2006-09-06

Dark Warrior is a good idea done badly. The concept, aside from being every nerd's fantasy, has all the basics: Angst, tragedy, secret plots for world domination, and a programmer with superpowers. Sadly, the writing is weak, the plot is as flimsy as it is filled with holes, and none of the characters are likable enough to care much what happens. It's just as bad technically--underwhelming art, weak animation, and even the action scenes are bad.

In all, a good premise, but the story is a sloppy mess, and it's visually unremarkable. The second half might pick up a little, but there's not much to see in the first other than a superpowered nerd (which does, admittedly, have its appeal).

US DVD Review

None exists as of this writing.

Content Guide

Has quite a few objectionable scenes, easily making for 16-up.

Violence: 4 - Not terribly gory, but lots of violence, and there is also a non-graphic rape involving the main character.

Nudity: 2 - A couple of scenes.

Sex/Mature Themes: 3 - The above mentioned scenes.

Language: 2 - What you'd expect.

Notes and Trivia

Based on a six volume manga series of the same name by Shou Takeshima. It is not available in English as of this writing.

The Japanese title could translate as either "Demon Temple Battleground" or "Demon Zodiac Battleground." I assume the former, but the latter isn't impossible. The first part was also, apparently, subtitled "God Blood."

Availability

Formerly available in the US from AD Vision on two individual VHS volumes, "First Strike" and "Jihad." The first was available both subtitled and dubbed, the second subtitled only, and both are long out of print.

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