The basic story is an updated version of some Chinese mythology where a group of 4 characters, each unique, travel together for a common purpose. I didn't quite understand the subtext going on here, and while much of the show seems set in ancient times, it had a revolver and a jeep routinely pop up as the characters went about their business. What was their business, you ask? Well, destroying demons that have run amuck in an effort to upset the natural balance of things is what they're doing.

The guys are partly human and partly demons with a varied past on each of them. One of them is so powerful that he'll destroy his traveling companions if given the chance and so has a power limiter on his head to prevent that from happening. The others have their own specialties, some of which are implied rather than stated explicitly here. In the course of the 5 full episodes on the dvd, they deal with a crazy monk, enhanced with a talisman, some imposters who steal their names, and a group that is very similar to themselves with similar goals. Lots of potential to work with in later episodes.

I really like the parts drawn from Chinese mythology. Granted, it seems a bit light in face of the apparent need to show the characters getting into personal fights with one another or in flashy fights with outsiders, but it's still there. That kind of a background allows the series to draw from something greater than the usual anime fight-fest which gets old quickly. I hope later volumes focus more on these aspects as it could give the show a flavor unlike far too much on the market these days that pander to intellectual lightweights. (an analogy I use is the reasoning behind learning katas when studying martial arts)

I can't say I was thrilled with the over use of the limited anime style where the show uses a still shot and moves it around to simulate motion or the visual effect that uses a hazy picture to show a secondary shot on the screen. Combined, such effects make the show look cheap and detract from some of the interpersonal play between the group that, like in so many other shows, can't get along unless they must.

There were other aspects of the show that left me curious as to what went on in volume 1, just as there were aspects that I'm reserving judgment on for now, but overall, I think this one rates a limited Recommended for now. I reserve the right to upgrade (or down grade) this rating in the future based on how the initial volume sets up the premise.

Picture: The picture was presented in 1.33:1 ratio full frame color. For the most part, it was well done with few real problems outside the effects mentioned earlier (when something looks crummy but is done on purpose, it impacts the rating differently). I didn't see any major problems with the dvd transfer either.

Sound: The sound was presented in either a 5.1 English language Dolby Digital track or the original 2.0 Japanese track with English subtitles. During the dialogue, the separation wasn't all that great but during the fight scenes it was better. In all, I liked the Japanese track better but the English dub was also enjoyable for me. As has been the case of late with ADV's releases, the music score was one I'd like to have on CD.

Extras: The best extra was the background notes that filled in a lot of the cultural information for the series. Making the show more accessible is a good idea and I only wish they had included a short synopsis of the first volume-even a ten minute short would've helped tremendously. The other extras were trailers, sketches, a clean open and closing sequence, and a pretty helpful full color poster that gave some background on the relationships each of the characters and supporting crew had with one another.

Final Thoughts: Not bad, if not as solidly made as some of ADV's big hit shows like Neo Ranga, RahXephon, or Noir. Given time, it may well grow on me, and as a fan of mythology, Chinese legends, and buddy films where the characters can only survive as a team, rather than as individuals, I'm hopeful. The production values show promise too so check this one out if you get a chance.