However, the animation style of LEGEND OF CRYSTANIA is rather plain and does not even attempt to match the character style and animation set forth in the Lodoss OVA or TV series. The overall plot is rather mediocre and focuses on a completely new set of characters. Ashram and Pirotess are really only marginally involved in the plot, which makes it an even bigger disappointment, as they are the sole tie to the rest of the Lodoss universe (and my only reason for buying/watching CRYSTANIA).

If you haven't seen this, you aren't missing much. If you want more Lodoss, go watch RECORD OF LODOSS WAR: CHRONICLES OF THE HEROIC KNIGHT instead.

However, if you're a Lodoss completist, you might want to check it out, just for the sake of finding out what happened to Ashram and Pirotess.

The bottom line is, don't expect too much from CRYSTANIA.

Mediocre but strangely haunting tale (Rating: 3.00)
Review : As has been said by previous reviewers, Legend of Crystania is not a sequel to Record of Lodoss Wars, although it appears to bill itself as such. While the names of Lord Ashrom and the dark elf Pirotess are employed, and the hero bears a striking resemblance to Parn of RLW, that is where the similarities end.

The animation is average at best. The voice acting is somewhere between indifferent and poor, and the character depictions flat terrible. The dark elf acts nothing like any dark elf I've ever seen or read about. Another character is apparently meant to be a berserker, but is only a pale shadow of what he could or should be.

All these problems notwithstanding, the story somehow holds together and manages to retain the viewer's interest. By the end, you may actually find yourself hoping that Ashrom and Pirotess at last have a chance for mutual happiness. Weak as it is, Legend of Crystania does work.

If you approach this DVD hoping it will be a continuation of the Lodoss War saga, you will be disappointed. However, if you can set that preconception aside and accept Legend of Crystania as a sword and sorcery tale entirely its own, you may find it a surprisingly satisfying story.

Recommended, but just barely.

This is the Sequel to Legend of Crystania (Rating: 4.00)
Review : I found none of the previous reviews deal with this movie. They all refer back to Legend of Crystania - The Movie. This is the sequel to that movie. I had to do a bit of research on the internet prior to buying it as I already had the movie. If you enjoyed the movie, you will enjoy this, as it is better. The story is not of the depth or scope of the Lodoss DVDs. It, however, has very good animation, no still pictures charging into battle as in Lodoss. The voice acting suffers a bit from overly hormonal actors, which seems to plague the English voice tracks in anime. Overall I enjoyed it and gave it 4 stars only because, I gave Lodoss 5 and it is not that good.

Could be great but has major flaws... (Rating: 3.00)
Review : Down to the point, Legend of Crystania isn't a complete flop. Truthfully, the story could have been very good and captivating. It however isn't back to the old loved style of Record of Lodoss War. The animation can look wonderful at times, but usually lacks color and has very thick, black lines for details. As for the story, it seems a bit rushed and lacks depth in character. The main characters don't have real personalities and thus, you don't get attached to them. The story is pretty good, but it takes time and effort to figure out the whole story. After watching it, you feel empty, and the story just doesn't make since, like bits and pieces were left out. It does add a bit more to the Lodoss Saga and is worth you time at least. So all in all, Legend of Crystania isn't great due to rushed story and very unrealistic characters... But before you just blow it off, you should at least rent it and see it for yourself.