Fate/Stay Night: Unlimited Blade Works (Review)

Unlimited Blade Works Fixes Everything Wrong with Fate/Stay Night

Personally, I’m a big fan of the Fate series of anime. So, I was relieved when Fate/Stay Night got a redo with Fate/Stay Night: Unlimited Blade Works. Just to clarify, I’m talking about the anime series from 2014 and not the film. It’s a sort of reboot of the original Fate/Stay Night series but is technically based on an alternate route from the original light novel the franchise is based on. Essentially, it’s the same story, but not. Either way, it’s way better than the original and definitely worth checking out.

Alright, before we get into Fate/Stay Night: Unlimited Blade Works, I should probably (re)explain The Grail War at its center. It’s a magical battle royale, where seven mages are given the ability to summon a heroic spirit to fight as their servant to determine who will obtain the grail and receive a wish. These servants are divided into seven classes that determine the style of combat they use: Archer (Kaiji Tang), Saber (Kari Wahlgren), Lancer (Tony Oliver), Berserker (Michael McConnohie), Assassin (David Vincent), Caster (Megan Hollingshead), and Rider (Melissa Fahn). The series takes a decade after the events of Fate/Zero and features a lot of characters the series alluded to. As Fate/Stay Night: Unlimited Blade Works unfolds, it changes direction from the original story about halfway through as a new villain emerges to stand against the Masters and Servants in their quest for the Grail.

I’ve said it once, and I’ll say it again, I’m a huge fan of The Holy Grail War’s concept. I’ll admit that we’ve seen all the masters and servants that appear in Fate/Stay Night: Unlimited Blade Works before, but not quite like this. The series takes a new look at them, and while some stories are cut shorter, we get a better look at the ones we barely got to know in the original. One of the things that stands out a lot more is Archer and just how powerful this version is. He’s given a huge upgrade in power that really explains why he is a character who is referenced throughout the Fate series. Because of this Fate/Stay Night: Unlimited Blade Works has a lot more twists and turns, this version of the “big reveal” (which I won’t spoil completely) is much more interesting to see play out. While a lot of the changes to Unlimited Blade Works are for the best, one thing I’m glad they kept the same were the character designs. The animation though definitely got an upgrade.

Director Takahiro Miura and Ufotable studios take over from Yūji Yamaguchi and Studio Deen, and with that comes a welcomed sense of weight to the animation. While the characters might look the same, they have gotten a fresh coat of paint that allows them to take things to the next level in their epic battles. Not only are they much more exciting, but Ufotable came up with some interesting designs for the magical elements, which the series is heavy on. There’s a sort of ethereal feel thanks to the computer-generated effects. I usually find that kind of thing a bit jarring in anime, but the way that Ufotable used it for the “unnatural” elements really made the action pop. It’s an interesting look that adds a level of grandness to the battles as the Servants really show what they’ve got under their hoods this time around. The animation is not just superior to the original but is just beautiful. 

While I firmly stand by the statement that Fate/Stay Night: Unlimited Blade Works is far superior to Fate/Stay Night, it does get a little complicated. This series focuses a lot more on the character of Shirō Emiya (Bryce Papenbrook) and his journey to becoming a hero. What’s nice about that is it’s a journey that doesn’t force him into a romantic relationship with his servant, Saber, but instead forces him to confront the ideas and beliefs he’s held up to that point as he re-evaluates what it means to be a hero. Unfortunately, that means there are plenty of long-winded and repetitive conversations and monologues that constantly put various characters’ ethics and morality under a microscope. I’m all for philosophy, but there’s a time for talking and a time for fighting, and sometimes Fate/Stay Night: Unlimited Blade Works gets a bit long-winded.    

While Fate/Stay Night: Unlimited Blade Works is leaps and bounds better than the original, it’s still not quite my favorite in the Fate series. Don’t get me wrong, it’s really good with an awesome concept, cool characters, and beautiful animation, but there are a few of the Fate chapters that I’m a bit more fond of. I still wholeheartedly recommend it to my fellow anime geeks, though I would still probably suggest starting with Fate/Zero since it just makes it a bit easier to digest everything going on in Unlimited Blade Works. That’s more of a personal preference though, not a requirement. Either way, it’s definitely one of my “must-see anime” and if you haven’t had a chance to check this series out, you definitely should.