Yu-Gi-Oh! Zexal (2011–2014) User Reviews

The Worst Yu-Gi-Oh Anime Ever Made?

[inazumaarion · 5/10 · 26 November 2023]

Man, this show was a pain to get through. It's funny to think that such a creative and complex card game would have such generic fluff attached to its name. And I was already in a bad mood after learning that several episodes of Five Dragons were never dubbed. And that included the finale.

In the fourth installment of this franchise, set in a futuristic world with advanced hologram technology, a young boy known as Yuma Tsukumo awakens a mystical spirit known as Astral, within an ancient artifact, and has to help Astral reclaim his missing memories by collecting rare Xyz Monsters. And yeah, this set up is almost completely identical to the first series when you think about it. The only difference is, their's practically no charm.

Yuma is one of the annoying main protagonists I've ever seen. He's bratty, reckless, and incredibly idiotic. He doesn't possess any of the traits of a future King of Games. Who in their right mind is going to look up to this character? Yuma's friends are pretty obnoxious too. When they're not spouting generic dialogue, they're being used as hostages by the villains. At least all of Jaiden's friends were decent duelists. These chumps make Tristian look like a competent duelist.

The characters I can get behind though are the rivals and the villains. Shark's cruel demeanor combined with his no nonsense strategies, helps me keep invested in the action. He's like a gang leader who puts well balanced technique over brute force. He also has this really heartbreaking backstory that leads him and his sister into joining this group of powerful aliens known as the Barians who are at war with Astral.

Though when the twist is revealed, I really wish it was kept under wraps for a little longer. Like when Shark realizes he has to join the Barians he could first return to Earth and tell Yuma his terrifying secret. A scene like that could lead to a lot of heartbreaking reactions and make the final battle between the forces of Earth and the Barians a lot more interesting. Similar to the events of "The Fox and Hound's" climax.

Because I remember my friends telling me about this crazy plot twist a few years back and I really wish it would let the drama sink in. Instead of the Barian Emperors just appearing all together, Yuma getting knocked out temporarily by plot convenience lighting, and his friends being defeated in off screen duels, it makes the final battle feel more like a check list than a grand escapade.

I also wish the main rival, Kite Tenjo was utilized better. Christopher Kromer gives him this unique chilling and charismatic voice that pairs well with crazy powerful Photon Warrior Deck. I love seeing him terrify Yuma with his well honed tactics. There are moments where I wish he was the main protagonist of the show, because he has this deep connection with his robotic brother Hart.

He didn't even want to become a master duelist, but he was forced to in order to hunt for Number Xyz Monsters, by the command of his brainwashed father. Which makes me really frustrated, that he was just treated like a plot device in the final season.

Yeah, he gets struck by more of that plot convenience lightning and gets killed off on the moon. Only to be brought back to life alongside the other characters by the Numeron Code. Creating one of the cheesiest endings I have ever seen.

The sad thing is this show has interesting set pieces, but thanks to poor writing, the annoying moments overshadow the enjoyable moments. To the point I was rooting for the villains to win. My favorite moment in the show is when Yuma discovers his good friend Ray Shadows was actually a Barian known as Vector the entire time.

I love how he completely takes advantage of Yuma's trustful nature and uses it against him. Billy Bob Thompson gives him this completely goofy, yet demonic voice that pairs really well with his over top and creepy expressions. Other than that though, I don't really recommend this show.

Most of the cards being advertised are either incorrectly explained or don't even exist. Their's a ton of annoying filler in the first season, that almost drove me insane. And the Yuma barely goes through any character development. Its really easy to despise this show, so if you're hoping to avoid any headaches, give it a skip.

Absolutely Terrible.

[BosinBosin · 1/10 · 30 June 2014]

This series is disgusting, and repulsive to watch. The plot is dull, predictable, and over used. It is too similar to other shonen anime's, and the main character is a complete rip off. It was difficult to watch each episode without cringing. The jokes are not funny at all, they are way too forced. None of the plot is at all interesting. The whole series is boring and Dull. Everything has been done before and makes this show seem silly. There is next to no character development, and all the characters were idiotic and typical. There is nothing enjoyable about this series whatsoever.

Do not watch this show if you have a functioning brain. I would suggest something more mature like attack on titan, or gurren lagann.

A Tedious and Disappointing Addition to the Franchise

[lipnusis · 1/10 · 2 June 2023]

Yu-Gi-Oh! Zexal is a tedious and lackluster entry into the long-running Yu-Gi-Oh! Franchise, failing to live up to the standards set by its predecessors. With its uninteresting characters, repetitive plot, and lack of strategic depth, this series offers little to captivate or engage its audience.

One of the major flaws of Yu-Gi-Oh! Zexal is its unremarkable and poorly developed characters. The protagonist, Yuma Tsukumo, lacks the charm, complexity, and relatability of previous Yu-Gi-Oh! Protagonists. His constant bumbling and unconvincing growth as a duelist make him an uninteresting and frustrating character to follow. The supporting cast fares no better, with forgettable personalities and lackluster character development. The absence of compelling and relatable characters hampers any emotional investment in the series.

The storytelling in Yu-Gi-Oh! Zexal is repetitive and lacks originality. The plot follows a formulaic structure with predictable duel after predictable duel, offering little in terms of surprise or innovation. The narrative fails to build suspense or create a sense of genuine stakes, making each episode feel monotonous and unexciting. The attempts at injecting dramatic tension often fall flat, lacking the intricate and compelling storytelling that defined earlier iterations of the franchise.

The duels in Yu-Gi-Oh! Zexal lack strategic depth and fail to create engaging gameplay. The battles feel formulaic and rely heavily on overpowered card effects rather than strategic decision-making. The animation during duels is lackluster, lacking the dynamic and visually engaging style that fans have come to expect from the franchise. The duels lack intensity and fail to generate the excitement that made previous Yu-Gi-Oh! Series so captivating.

Furthermore, the dialogue and writing in Yu-Gi-Oh! Zexal are uninspired and lackluster. The dialogue often feels contrived and shallow, lacking the wit and cleverness that characterized earlier iterations of the franchise. The attempts at humor fall flat, relying on tired jokes and uninspired banter. The writing fails to deliver engaging and memorable lines, further diminishing the overall impact of the series.

Yu-Gi-Oh! Zexal also suffers from a lack of meaningful themes or messages. The series fails to explore deeper moral dilemmas or delve into complex character growth. It lacks the depth and thought-provoking elements that made earlier Yu-Gi-Oh! Series resonate with audiences. The missed opportunity to address meaningful themes leaves the narrative shallow and uninteresting.

In conclusion, Yu-Gi-Oh! Zexal is a tedious and disappointing addition to the Yu-Gi-Oh! Franchise. Its uninteresting characters, repetitive plot, lackluster duels, and uninspired writing make for an underwhelming viewing experience. The series fails to capture the strategic depth, engaging storytelling, and memorable characters that defined earlier iterations of the franchise. Fans of Yu-Gi-Oh! Would be better off revisiting the classic series or exploring other entries rather than investing their time in this lackluster installment.

I've Seen Better But I've Seen Worse

[madamemoviemonsterheart · 7/10 · 18 March 2015]

It's not the worst one in the series but it does has its flaws.

1. The duels (which are the main parts of action) are honestly very easy to watch and don't feel like an eternity. I mean no disrespect to the classic show since it did start my love for these shows but some of the duels take forever. This one didn't make a six part episode that only had one card game. It mostly stuck with three and was engaging enough for me to continue to watch.

2. Yuma is probably the worse lead in Yugioh history. I haven't seen the newest spin-off so this is just me comparing him to the other characters. The original character was Yugi/Yami were good and balanced fairly well off each other. Yusei was cool and I liked his dueling style. Jaden was annoying with his catch phrases and tossed away jokes but at least he was a good duelist. Yuma sadly can't duel until way later on and he has to get help from his alien friend Astral. Sure the original did that too but Yugi did know about Duel Monsters but sadly not Yuma.

3. The other characters are okay. Some are stereo types but others have motivation and backgrounds that are pretty interesting. The two rivals are enjoyable.

4. The animation is pretty. It can be dark and gloomy but also bright and colorful. The designs of the humans are weird but it's always been like that in Yugioh.

So yes this does have some flaws into it but it's pretty harmless for kids and old time Yugioh fans should enjoy the duels. So stop saying how Zexal ruined Yugioh. Technically the first spin-off ruined it and began the trend.

An Insult To The Series

[destroyyourevil · 2/10 · 18 June 2021]

Just 39 seconds into watching the first episode, I commented "I hate this already." They play it safe, but they don't avoid clichés.

If you watched the original series and the other two predecessors, this spinoff will insult fans. The animation is what one would expect of the rest.

The original series took its time answering to the mystery of the Millennium Puzzle and the other Yugi. They go deep into the backstories of the villains to make them morally grey. They also use its time effectively in developing characters. In this show, they jump right into it. They rush into the plot. They rush to get us to care about the characters. The whole plot of this spinoff comes off as a complete rehash of the original series. This time, the protagonist has to collect a hundred cards, and the spirit that joins him knows nothing about the world. The fish out of water aspect for Astral doesn't help. The protagonist, Yuma, is an insufferable idiot, even for a kid. I can't root for someone if they're unlikeable.

Yuma's rival, Kaito, is a rehash of both Kaiba and Jack. How they try to make him edgy is also a sign of teen pandering. Unlike those from the original series, I don't want to sympathize with antagonists after they attempt to justify their motivations.

Even the Barian Lords are a sign of teen pandering for how they look and what their world looks like. They go with a cliché of the two individual worlds having contrasting pallets. They rush to have us connect with the characters when they're introduced. Smart as the villains are, they are no delight to watch on screen, at all. They seem to draw things out, too. Whereas we get to see other good guys duel in G/X and 5 D's, everyone is on the sidelines. Yuma's friends get to duel only once, and that's it. They make everything about Yuma. Only Kaito and Shark get to develop.

The name is a sure sign to not work for someone. One of two villains in the first half calls himself Dr. Faker. Kaito's younger brother has an incurable disease and their father Dr. Faker makes a deal with the Barian World to save him. Could he not see that it has too many strings? Tron uses his three sons, III, IV, and V to do his dirty work, too. We needed only one broken family if you wanted a good story. It still makes things no better, though. They also give me no reason to care for them after realizing and undoing their mistakes. When I am glad that Vector has received his comeuppance, Yuma is so idiotic that he thinks that he can save Vector and make him a friend. He is not worth saving. Even the series finale is recycled from that of the original series. No villain deserves sympathy, the plot is nothing new, the characters are all jokes, and the progression is generic. The voices make things even worse in the English dubbed version.

Stay away from this show.

A Yu-Gi-Oh Series Done Right, A Shonen Done Differently.

[Mr_Pixels · 9/10 · 17 February 2020]

Yu-Gi-Oh Zexal is beautifully written and well plotted piece of fiction. Everyone hates on Zexal for being some sort of terrible poorly-written and terrible Yu-Gi-Oh series. I personally feel like Yuma is a great character because he IS a kid. As kid, he's annoying and can be cringe, but that's the POINT of his character. He learns and grows not only as a duelist but also as a character as the series goes on. Characters like Shark and Kite are extremely well written too with very good character arcs, making them seem like some of the worst people in the series, and then makes them some of the most like able. The thing that Zexal does best is character development, and they do the best with the rivals and the villains. You can even root for the villains at times which is incredible for a series like this. I also think a problem some people have is often Yuma loses, but that's not only mostly in the first season, but he loses to learn. As Yuma's said, "People are interesting because they can fail." And that's a common theme through the series. In addition, some people have a problem with the fact Yuma relies on Astral so much, but that's not only false but also the point of the ending where Yuma must truly surpass Astral. He wins a lot of duels on his own, especially in the beginning where it matters most.

As the title states, this is a Yu-Gi-Oh series done right, but a shonen done different because Yuma isn't an unbeatable bad ass, but a regular bad ass instead. Love this series! To all the haters, give me some reasons as to why I'm wrong and I hope that this review changes your minds.

Could Have Been Better And Could Have Been Worse

[brookewhite1998 · 7/10 · 25 February 2015]

At this point in Yu-Gi-Oh history we should just accept the fact that they keep making these shows not out of love but out of wanting to sell more trading cards. That's what it was from the beginning and it's still continuing. Which is one of the TV shows biggest down falls. People not caring enough about the show and more about the product they sell. The main character Yuma Tsukumo is pretty annoying and even worse than Jaden Yuki from GX. At least Jaden could duel but Yuma needs help from an amnesic alien named Astral who should have replaced Yuma. The other characters are okay some are better than others like the two rivals. The animation is very nice to look at so that makes it easy on the eyes. I do enjoy the duels more in Yu-Gi-Oh Zexal. They don't feel like an eternity like the previous versions and honestly the story does flow alright with a few plot holes. So yeah it's basically what Yu-Gi-Oh GX should have been. I still believe that this is better than GX because of how entertaining it is but it does undergo from stereotypical characters, not the best (or worst) voice actors, annoying edits that anyone could clearly see and what irritates me more is how some of the duels were simply misunderstandings. However I still find it more engaging with the animation, some memorable characters, pleasant duels and charming story. Overall it's not bad but I feel as if it could have had more effort into it. So Yu-Gi-Oh classic fans please stop saying how bad this is. It has flaws but so did the other shows. So basically my summary is my conclusion: Could Have Been Better And Could Have Been Worse.

A peculiar show, to say the least. Nevertheless, a very good one.

[masterpandacrazy · 9/10 · 19 February 2020]

Everyone whacks in this series, but in my opinion, this is actually the best Yu-Gi-Oh series. Don't flip out. I'm only saying this because the amazing ending. I am do heavily critique films and tv in real life, and I'm going to say, they did a fantastic job to make a bittersweet ending that was open to interpretation. It's a very confusing show however, specifically in the third season with Don Thousand. The 7 Barian emperors backstories are a bit confusing at first, but become clear later on. Personally, I think they did a GREAT job with Kite and Shark. Yuma's closest dueling friends, each one seems like an antagonist at some point but finally realizes what they are fighting for. That's why I love Shark. Easily the most complex character in Yu-Gi-Oh. No one likes the fact that Yuma is terrible at dueling in the beginning, because they want a pro-tier duelist again, but I think it allows for the main protagonist to grow as a dueler. That's my opinion. It's a very odd show, and I'm not going to spoil the end, but if you want to cry and really feel emotion, I recommend watching this series. The most memorable, watchable, and aesthetically pleasing.

Yu-gi-oh Zexal, GX done almost right.

[destroyer83 · 7/10 · 20 May 2013]

NOTE: Minor Spoilers! __________________________________________________

When most people heard of the fourth Yu-gi-oh Anime, they groaned a giant groan, and I was one of them. I first saw the 4kids version...a stupid mistake on my part... and frankly it was very gimmicky, and didn't flow well...that is, until I noticed something... What do my wondering eyes do appear! A Villain, and a darn good one at that known as Vetrix, (Or Tron in the Japanese)! Once we had someone to legitimately fight against, everything began to click into place, I have watched the Japanese version up to episode 104, and it is actually worth it, I am happily surprised! If you can get past the annoyance that is the main protagonist, (My word, he's more annoying than Syrus freaking Truesdale) and you begin to look at the rest of the characters, some of them actually do begin to work. For instance, shy of Akiza, I think this Female lead is actually the strongest yet! Also, the Rivals (Yes, there are 2) are also very strong and likable characters. The Duels are also the strongest yet, using the actual rules this time. (No more normal in defense mode for you!) The side characters and the villains are also fairly good, some making you want to despise them, some making you like them eventually, and some...really not doing very much... (Ahem, Dr. Faker) It has it's ebbs and flows, but it's main strength really is the side characters and the duels. But it also has its weaknesses. The main protagonist is the Weakest yet, barely able to duel at all without the help of an alien who apparently can duel...don't know how that works, but OK... Also, there are the annoying characters, like this cat-obsessed girl, (Not kidding, she puts all normal cat ladies to shame), who when she is cheering from the sidelines becomes rather annoying, and the "Geek" of the group which pretty much does little or nothing to advance the story. There are also a few filler episodes, especially during the beginning that aren't really that entertaining. But once things really pick up, they do not turn back! It's very good from then on, minus a few nitpicky things like the crazy cat-lady, it's rather entertaining.

Zexal is what GX should have been, and while the Main protagonist is still annoying at times, it becomes lightyears better as it goes along. I am so glad to be proved wrong, and I can't wait to see what happens to the Rivals next!

Way better than any previous Yu-Gi-Oh! anime

[khalidelmouloudi · 9/10 · 7 November 2020]

The previous Yu-Gi-Oh! anime series suffered from plots going completely absurd at times, especially in the first one, not to mention all the filler episodes that add nothing to the plot (looking at you GX). Zexal does not have these problems since the plot is fairly coherent and each episode feels like it fits well with the rest. It's visually good and the character design is captivating.

Now the most important part in the whole deal is the dueling itself and how the cards are played and presented. If you like the card game, then that's what really matters anyway, and Zexal has some interesting and intense duels. Of course the main course here is XYZ summoning, along with the cards that make it possible to achieve, and if you're playing Duel Links which introduced it recently, then you'll gain a lot of insights about it by watching.

The only thing I find annoying is how bad at dueling Yuma is, the protagonist, sometimes (unlike Jaden for example), but I understand it was a necessity to justify his bond with Astral and show how acquiring number cards can make you stronger.