Let me start this review off by telling you that this is based on all four OVAs as a whole, as I decided I could not rightfully judge each episode separately since I have already seen all four. These episodes, subtitled Tsuioki Hen (recollections), take place from the point where Kenshin is found by his master and end when he vows never to kill again. What struck me the most about this new series is the difference in art style from the manga and TV show. Being so different is not necessarily a bad thing... These were dark days, and Kenshin was a completely different person back then (This was of course before his non-killing, pacifistic ideologies). The characters this time around look more Japanese, and the only real gripe I have found is that Tomoe does not look that cute anymore. Her design was better in the manga.

Another major departure from the usual RurouKen style is the amount of violence in these episodes. Being OVA, they weren't subject to the harsh (heh) TV censorship in Japan, and were allowed to go as far as needed. The violence isn't needless or gratuitous; it is more along the lines of being historically accurate. Let me tell you guys something, you have not seen the full capabilities of the man we call Kenshin from the TV show. He is insanely fast, and as the beholder said, "The enemy doesn't have time to scream."

I also noticed something else. Through this whole series, Kenshin never uses his techniques. It wasn't until the end that I realized I hadn't heard the likes of "Ryu-Tsui-Sen." This in turn makes the OVAs seem more realistic. I'm sure not many people had the time to spout off the names of their techniques before serving tenchu! A word to the wise, be prepared for slaughtering like you have never seen before; I was completely caught off guard when those bandits brutally murdered the slave traders at the beginning. That scene just sets the stage for the rest of the series, and for the remainder of these episodes you are left awe-struck by the seemingly dehumanizing massacres.

The more somber, realistic character designs of the OVA are well suited to the portrayal of the dark days of Kenshin's past.	The level of violence, while not gratuitous in nature, is quite high, being both bloody and realistic, with slaughters the likes of which are rarely seen.

Another thing, the animation throughout the OVAs is incredible. Say goodbye to the sometimes cheesy animation of the TV series. I would go so far as to say that the animation in these OVAs is even better than the movie! The animation itself is fluid and fight scenes end up being beautifully choreographed. I also like the CG that is thrown in, such as the fire flies in the Ikedeya fight. The water in episode three is also something that has received much attention, deservingly so! That is because it looks so real (It probably is real), nothing having come out of Disney being able to match it. Too bad there isn't more of it... Another nice touch is the use of FMV in some scenes, such as when Tomoe is walking through a path.

The music is yet another difference from the RurouKen universe. This time around it is fully orchestrated, and for some strange reason it is the only RurouKen soundtrack that I felt compelled to own. The soundtrack in itself is like a retelling of Kenshin's past through music. The 16 tracks are spread out throughout the episodes, and each is played at a fitting moment.

On the topic of sound, the effects in the OVAs are also much better in quality than those of the TV series. Whenever you see someone sliced in half, you hear it, and if you have an adequate surround sound system set up, you feel it too! The same goes for when swords clash together; in fact, I have chills every time I hear those unique sounds. The voice actors also deserve some recognition, as they did a perfect job, and Kenshin's VA emulates his mood so well it's surprising. That is why I chose her for my favorite quote from these OVAs.

Now after ranting about the greatness of these OVAs, I do have to bring some flaws to your attention. The most apparent is that everything moves quickly, almost too fast. Of course they were pressed for time, but I would have liked another episode to give more time towards character development and such. Also, because of this, the Ikedeya house fight, which was supposed to be a huge massacre courtesy of the Shinsen Gumi, turned out to be 5 minutes of your average sword fighting. This was quite a disappointment, and the CG fireflies don't make up for it! I also dislike the fact that Saitoh and Kenshin did not meet, like they were supposed to. These flaws in no way bring down the quality of the OVAs; they are just things I wish were added in.

After seeing these four episodes, I believe my life has changed. The story of one man's life being such an epic is quite amazing. All that I can say is that I want more; no, we want more! I want to see Enishi animated, and I want to see his kick ass Sen-Goku sword in action! Why must you torture us so! Well, at least I can look forward to the DVD release of these episodes by ADV.

Distributor: ADV
Creator: Watsuki Nobuhiro, SPE Visual Works
Released: 1999

Plot: A
Character Design: A+
Animation Quality: A+
Music: A
Overall: A+