CaptainSlow

What I Liked: Stylishly animated – gore is rendered in shocking detail and fight scenes are fluid. Hawk. Plot is appropriately pulpy, with lots of opportunities for swordfighting. The Ending theme, which sounds like a moody but bombastic Bond theme. Sound design is more than serviceable, especially when it comes to the clang of cleaver-on-sword or the roar of a motorcycle engine.

What I Didn't: It feels odd having Lupin and Jigen basically playing second-fiddle (and blantant exposition dumpers) to Goemon’s story. While the ending resolves Goemon’s personal conflict, the overarching plot threads (such as who hired Hawk and why Zenigata keeps getting stonewalled) aren’t addressed in the end. Fujiko’s dialed-in walk-on role.

Final Verdict: Despite it being so lovingly (and violently) animated and well designed in terms of sound and motion, The Blood Spray of Ishikawa Goemon feels so average in comparison to previous modern Lupin outings. It’s a good action duology, sure, but it’s unfortunately marred by the flat characterisation of Goemon’s friends and lack of true closure.