Story: 8/10 – Great
Years after the events of the First Intergalactic War between the inhabitants of Mars, and the people of Earth, the former sends its crown princess, Asseylum Vers Allusia in order to lead peace talks to bridge the two warring factions. After an assassination attempt, the chaos begins and the Terrans and Martians are plummeted into another full-scale war. Caught in the mix are high school student Inaho Kaizuka and his group of friends who are forced to fight alongside Earth’s military forces. Using the power of Aldnoah; an ancient utility discovered by the father of current servant to princess, Slaine Troyard, the Martians start to ravage the Terran planet under the guise of justice for their thought to be deceased princess.
Theme: 7/10 – Above Average
Aldnoah Zero is nothing new when it comes to the mecha, sci-fi genres. A grievous issue brings peace to a halt, and both forces are pitted against each other, where one faction is utterly outmatched by the other is something that strikes familiarity in those engrossed in the genre.
Character: 7/10 – Above Average
Aldnoah Zero is filled with a plethora of characters, ranging from Mars orbital knights, emotionally scarred lieutenants and high school kids littering the show with diverse characters. On the other hand, most of the characters aren’t developed enough during the course of the show. After a few characters’ backgrounds are given depth in the first half of the series, they become an afterthought in the second part only to be given a few seconds of screen time and little to no dialogue at all. Outside of Princess Asseylum, Inaho Kaizuka and Slaine Troyard, there aren’t enough round characters to go around.
Visuals: 10/10 – Perfection
The character design, landscapes and stills are above average, but it’s the CGI from the battle scenes that push this anime over the top. Each battle is a masterpiece in its own right with mesmerising texture and color that have viewers craving for more.
Music: 9/10 – Excellent
The score that was used in the anime was one of grandiose proportions. It set the mood just right for each scene and served as ear candy for those who gave it a good listen as they watched. The only issue with it was its repetitiveness as the series went along.
Pacing: 9/10 – Excellent
The story was like a snowball that got bigger and bigger as the series progressed. It introduced plot points at the right time, and made you go wanting for more. Dramatic plot twists are the name of the game, and Aldnoah Zero utilized it quite well.
Ending: 6/10 – Slightly Above Average
The series was exciting and kept me in check at all times….Until the totally anti-climactic ending came along. It could even be comparable to the Titanic, which was hyped to be great, but couldn’t deliver in the end. Resounding moans of disappointment were heard across the fandom because of how this anime came to an end.
Overall Enjoyment: 8/10 – Great
Aside from the fact that the ending was a bust, Aldnoah Zero was pretty fun to watch for the beautiful CGI and the counter plotting of Inaho Kaizuka and Slaine Troyard against one-another.
Score: 8/10 – Great
Overall, Aldnoah Zero was an anime that could have been something more if it were not for the ending. I still recommend watching it for people who like action, sci-fi and of course mechs because the animation of the Kataphrakts captivate you into really yearning for battle scenes.
“Let Justice Be Done, Through The Heavens Fall.”
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