The second volume of Angel Links is a definite step up from the first. The three episodes on the disc manage to fill in a number of holes in the background for the series while stepping up the mystery and leaving the viewer with plenty of memorable moments. The thematic material isn’t entirely new or unpredictable, but the execution of the themes is quite good, and the twist to the last episode could lead into a truly great third volume.

The video quality also seems a slight step up from the first - the artifacts and rainbowing are still there, but with noticeably less frequency. More telling, the vile shaking-frames which populated the first volume seem to have mostly gone away.

There's a reason everyone calls Kosei a "pretty boy" - he really does tend to get all the girls. His only problem is keeping them....	Ah, how innocent. Meifon and Leon, out on a date after only seven episodes.

Similarly, the background music has more variety and generally does a better job of meeting the moment in this volume, as exemplified by episode 5. Unfortunately, the balance between vocal and audio tracks gets skewed some in episode 6, at one point - the “rousing” battle theme’s crescendo went more than a bit overboard volume-wise in a couple of places. Thankfully, this does not recur in episode 7 - once can hope this won’t begin a pattern.

In contrast with the packaging for the first volume, the second volume’s front image seems aimed more towards a male audience, with Meifon in an aggressively revealing pose being balanced by Duuz in the background. The insert extra returns to the pattern of the original, however - a character insert, focusing on Duuz this time, coupled with a chapter stop list. The extras on the disc itself include a textless closing, along with three variations of Angel Links commercials. In some sense, the commercials are nice if you enjoy contrasting the perspectives of the three narrating characters - Valeria, Duuz, and Kosei. But, the appeal of watching all three is quite limited.

All in all, if you enjoyed parts of the first volume but were dubious about the overall execution, the second volume should set your mind at ease. I know I was quite taken aback by the first volume, but watching the second has definitely enhanced my appreciation for the first and whetted my appetite for the third.

Distributor: Bandai
Creator: Sunrise
Released: 1999

Video Quality: B-
Audio Quality: B
Presentation: B
Content: B+
Overall: B+