English Dub Review: Battle Game in 5 Seconds: “Tyrant”

Overview: Akira (Robbie Daymond) stands his ground with Yuri (Laura Stahl)  to take down the hulking tyrant once and for all. After, a new challenge set forth by Mion (Lisa Ortiz) puts the Green and Red Teams in each other’s crosshairs. 

Our Take: Just when you think Akira fully committing to Yuri absolutely proves that there is a definitive romance afoot, a certain school girl enters the mix. But before that, the impending battle between the Red and Green team is put on the fast track. This definitely calls into question the entire longevity of this challenge but it is an appropriately grave consequence for a serious misstep considering Yuri accidentally broke the rules of the previous trial. It also shows just how the game can be flipped for the worse at the drop of a hat if Mion deems it so, with the hunting game between the opposing factions that promises the losing side with certain death. 

But Akira’s admirer, Ringo, is the unknown quantity in the plan moving forward as she finally introduces herself to Akira, making herself and powers plain and clear. On paper, it may sound like this confession of how she wants to help Akira along with her copy abilities was rushed. However, similar to the quick setup of the upcoming bloody bout, it was naturally developed based upon Ringo’s fangirling and it is mysterious in how Akira will utilize her and what plan they hatch. Also with Ringo not intent on letting Yuri have Akira, she seems hellbent on throwing her own hat in the love triangle. I didn’t expect the romance aspect to be this much at the forefront so quickly with how Yuri feels she’s getting mixed messages from him. Although it is an element I’m always demanding more of, especially in the Shonen genre where it takes considerable amounts of time to build up to or be sidelined and/or undeveloped completely. A path that Battle Game seems to be smartly avoiding. Lastly, with a mole revealed to be on the Green Team and spying on them for the Red Team, there are various candidates that could fit the bill. One that looks like a strong contender is that of Yuto, leader of the Green team. He inquired about Akira’s ability not to mention he was one of the few people who saw how he defeated the big beast and the puzzling nature of it was relayed to the opposing side. I’m not a betting man, but if I was, Yuto would most certainly be my horse in the race, as the revelation of a betrayal is imminent for Akira, Yuri and the gang.