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Dragon Drive Volume 1: Amazing Transformation (DVD)

Reiji Ozora was just another loser in junior high… but that was before he met Chibi, a cute and innocent-looking “sleeping dragon” living in a virtual world called D-Zone. Now he is hooked on this virtual-reality game “Dragon Drive” that lets you slip into D-Zone and battle against the other players with their dragons. Find out how Reiji deals with some of the strongest players while his only hope is the weakest dragon with zero assault power!

The world of children’s shows imported from Japan have been dipping low lately, so here’s Dragon Drive. Like other “children’s combat” shows like Yu-Gi-Oh! or Pokemon the in-game combat takes center-stage, however, the humor is more prevalent, especially with the character interaction.

Episode 01: The Sleeping Dragon

Everyday loser Reiji continues his amazing string of being late and generally underperforming, and manages to ruffle the feathers of the tough kid of his Daisuke (over-excited underling to the perfect Kyoji). Just as Daisuke is going to beat the tar out of Reiji, his friend Maiko quickly steps in to save him (it was especially effective considering how much Daisuke is attracted to the lovely Maiko). In exchange for the save (as well as copies of her class notes), Reiji agrees to join Maiko in playing a new game: Dragon Drive.

The game takes place in these ultra-futuristic gaming centers that have VR jacks to allow the gamers to play in simulated battlegrounds with their alter-ego dragons. Each gamer is assigned a dragon based on their own genetic make-up… and Reiji draws Chibisuke the smallest and “weakest” dragon available. Reiji is thrown immediately into a game, where Daisuke quickly heads after him to gain a measure of revenge.

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Episode 02: Promised Dive

Reiji is still riding high after his first game of Dragon Drive… a little too high, his elation is starting to grate on Maiko. On their way to the arena, they come across Kyoji and Daisuke being hassled by 4 kids from another school; however, once blows come to blows, Kyoji wipes the floor with the crowd without being hit once.

Now at the arena, Reiji learns more about the

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hierarchy of the game. Kyoji is ranked 2^nd, and meets with Ichiro the 3^rd ranked player who is looking to upset Kyoji. Making things worse, his next game is with both of these powerhouses as well as Maiko. Ichiro starts the game off by saying that he will defeat everyone in the arena in less than ten minutes. Reiji is able to make Chibisuke repeat his amazing performance by jumping off of a crane, and he is just in time to save Maiko from Ichiro… and actually manages to defeat the powerhouse.

Episode 03: Revenge

After his latest victory, Reiji heads to the arena once more and discovers that he still hasn’t accumulated any experience points despite his victories. Meanwhile, Daisuke simmers over his perceived snubbing of Maiko’s affections and decides to challenge Reiji to a match… with Kyoji also joining in. Things don’t start off too well with Daisuke continually attacking and Kyoji trying to get his licks in… that is until the allies turn on each other. Kyoji claims that he is annoyed with Daisuke and begins to attack his former friend aggressively.

Increasing the tension, the game-master decides to include an unmanned dragon drone into the game to try and get Reiji to react. The drone begins attacking Daisuke and as a result, he is thrown from his mount. To try and prevent him from being injured, Reiji attempts to save him from falling but ends up falling with him into a pit.

In the pit, Reiji chastises Daisuke’s control of his dragon and accuses him of quitting. Once they start working as a team, they are able to escape the pit with Chibisuke and defeat the drone… making way for an eventual partnership perhaps?

Episode 04: Shocking Awakening

A pair of new arrivals at the arena: Miss Sayaka, the Queen of Dragon Drive, and the Grand Champion Hikaru. Sayaka immediately takes a shine to Reiji, which of course raises the dander of Maiko, and Hikaru says nothing but seems to see something in the newcomer. Today is the day for the grand championship – Hikaru will be battling Ichiro, Sayaka, and Kyoji all at once, but there is an extra chair available. Sayaka suggests that Reiji join them in this match. The match starts with Sayaka getting closer to Reiji and having him join her on board her dragon while she attacks Hikaru. Hikaru makes quick work of Sayaka (but not Reiji and Chibisuke thanks to a quick reaction by the pair) and then annihilates Ichiro and Kyoji. A terrified Reiji manages to get Chibisuke to attack with all of his power and they actually stagger the powerful Hikaru.

So far Dragon Drive has been an amusing diversion, especially with all of the characterizations. As long as the humor remains an active part of the story, I like where the show is going.

- Tazman

“I never thought that I'd see the day when Abraham Lincoln dissed Mahatma Ghandi”

- Ghandi (Clone High)