The originalYu-Gi-Oh! Duel Monstersanime was undoubtedly one of the most significant shows to be released during the late 90s. The tale of a talented duelist working alongside an Egyptian pharaoh to save the world caught the attention of millions of fans around the globe. To this day, Yugi and his friends continue to be amongthe most popular characters ever created.
Nonetheless, as time has passed, it has become clear to many fans that the original series has several issues that can dissuade newer viewers. The sequel,Yu-Gi-Oh! GXdid an amazing job polishing its story, characters, and archetypes, making it a much more enjoyable experience. It might be hard to admit, but it seems like Jaden’s adventure outdid Yugi’s at almost every turn.
Yu-Gi-Oh! Duel Monsters Cannot Surpass Its Successor
GX Has a Better Story and Superior Deck Building
The originalYu-Gi-Oh! Duel Monstersanime has been a source of joy and entertainment for millions of fans over the last two and a half decades. Yugi, Atem, andthe iconic cards introduced during the original showcontinue to be a pillar of the industry. Although the show is genuinely amazing, having some of the most beloved moments and characters in the franchise, its flaws can be seen when not looking at it through nostalgia-tinted glasses. One ofthe biggest issues with theDuel Monstersstory is the lack of consistent structure.
One big example of this trend is season 5, which containsone of the greatest duels in the seriesand is otherwise quite underwhelming. Bakura’s villain arc does not seem as compelling as Marik or Pegasus’ and the final revelation of his identity was not effectively foreshadowed. In contrast,GXis a series that tries to maintain its quality level throughout most of its duels. The show did include some lackluster battles, mostly when the heroes were challenged by side characters. The most important duels were impressively well-written and carried out, mostly thanks to the great deck-building in the series.
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Unlike inDuel Monsters, a series where even the best duelists were given decks that had no consistency, most players in the sequel had a clear and concise strategy. The protagonist rarely ever abandoned his Hero deck, with the only unusual additions being Yubel and the temporary Honest he included. His friends and opponents followed a similar policy, only playing cards of a certain archetype unless the plot required them to change.GX’s decks are so superior that some have foundcompetitive success in real life, even to this day.
Jaden’s Strength Does Not Come From Magic
The Protagonist Does Not Rely on Ancient Spirits to Duel for Him
As the years have passed, one of the most persistent complaints fans have about the original series is the fact that several of the duelists introduced cheating in major ways. The protagonist himself is not excluded from this trend, ashe broke several rules throughout the series to win his duels. Moreover, Yugi was not the one who played the game most of the time, as Atem tended to take over his body to win. The protagonist is indisputably the true King of Games, but a large percentage of his attributed victories are not deserved.
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Up until the end of season 3, Jaden seldom had outside help during duels, making his wins only his own. His amazing feats, like defeating Crowler during episode #1 or saving the world from Sartorious in season 2, were achieved thanks to his outstanding skills. The hero was undoubtedly aided by the plot at times, by giving him situational cards that could save him from any danger. Nonetheless,his victories were not attained with magicor a guiding spirit telling him how to duel. Jaden is, arguably, a much better duelist than Yugi was during most of theDuel Monstersanime.
Yu-Gi-Oh! Gx Has Much Better Comedy Than Its Predecessor
The Cast and Jokes Can Make Anyone Laugh
Duel Monstersis a series known for its epic duels, powerful monsters, andmemorable episodes that fans still remember fondly. Lamentably, this often meant that its comedic moments would fall flat, as the story was too serious for them. There are still many hilarious jokes that made more than one fan laugh out loud, but they are few and far between.GXdid a much better job incorporating comedy into its story, making it feel like a natural part of the plot.
From Chazz’s constant arguments with his Ojama Monsters to the eccentric characters Jaden dueled against, the show never lacked lighthearted and funny scenes. Many of the comedic moments fans remember were included by the team behind the English dub of the series, who tried their best to keep the series entertaining. The setting of a high school that taught children how to become better duelists also helped. Thanks to this, when looking back, theYu-Gi-Oh! GXanime can sometimes feel more viewer-friendly thanDuel Monsters.
Yugi and His Friends Are Still Icons
Regardless of Story and Deck-Building, the Original Cannot Be Replaced
Even though theGXanime surpassesDuel Monstersin various respects, it has never been able to compete with the popularity and love fans feel for the original. Jaden isone of the best heroes in the franchise, and his adventures are also fondly remembered, but there is no denying thatYugi is the one who has kept the series alive for more than two decades. When viewers think about powerful monsters, creatures like the protagonist’s signature Dark Magician or Blue-Eyes are what come to mind. No matter how much time passes, Yugi will be the only King of Games fans want.
BothYu-Gi-Oh! Duel MonstersandGXare worthy entries in the franchise and should be celebrated as such. Their stories, monsters, and characters defined entire generations of anime fans, who will never forget the fun and excitement they felt when the shows were first released. Whether one likes the original or the sequel more should not take away from the achievements these two shows have accomplished over the years.
