"Hard Fights for Yusuke" Review (YuYu Hakusho)

Happy All Hallow's Eve everyone: after how long and mindbending my look at "Paranoia Agent" was, I thought I would review a couple nostalgic treats to help enjoy a couple nights in. Two years ago, I recapped my favorite episode of YuYu Hakusho; "Kuwabara's Spirit Sword," so I thought that I might as well review the next episode. Cracking open a Mountain Dew and Reese's Pumpkin pairing isn't really too different a plan when viewing something spooky; so let's open up "Hard Fights for Yusuke!"

Picking up where we left off, Yusuke is still in battle with Kabano; but while the fight is in complete darkness; Kabano is wearing a mask that focuses his energy and that of his opponent! Not only that, Kabano has more experience fighting without sight than Yusuke does!

Kabano asks if Yusuke wants to concede; but Yusuke of course refuses; to which Kabano says he'll kill him instead! He's been dead once before, you might think of it as ... therapy. Sorry, I couldn't resist.

However, Genkai believes Kabano is underestimating Yusuke; and she also flicked her cigarette in the last episode; and we'll get to that when the time comes. Kabano takes a swing at Yusuke, and the two grapple together! I remember how this fight worked in the manga pretty well; it's just been a while since I saw how the anime did it.

Kabano again offers Yusuke the chance to concede, and Yusuke again refuses and instead suggests Kabano do it instead. To think people wonder why I didn't watch the debates and just chose to play the Crown Tundra when it went live instead.

Moreover, when Kabano asks if it's late for Yusuke to bluff; Yusuke just brushes it off and accuses HIM of bluffing instead. Kabano powers up for one last attack; and Yusuke lets off the one Spirit Gun he had saved; shattering Kabano's helmet and defeating him!

How did he find Kabano in the dark? Easy: Yusuke planted Genkai's cigarette in Kabano's belt; which he never noticed behind the mask and how thick his clothes were. In the manga, it was one of Yusuke's own smokes; but I guess the people working on the anime either didn't want to potentially encourage teen smoking or just thought they'd met their quota on characterizing Yusuke as an archetypal delinquent with a heart of gold. Either way, one of my major deterrents is cost: carton of a better brand costs as much as a new game does; and I'd definitely get much more long-term enjoyment from Pikmin 3 Deluxe and Hyrule Warriors: Age of Calamity.

Yusuke has won the match; so he advances to the next heat. He is set to face Kazamaru, while Kuwabara is up against Shorin. Now, the fight comes out of the darkness; and into the light!

The fight location is where the spirits intertwine with the living, which has the side effect of bringing out the fighters' spirit energy! While Yusuke gets a little energy recovered, Kazamaru harnesses even more strength!

The two fighters take the stage, and Genkai signals the start of the first semifinal match! After a brief interlude with Koenma, Yusuke gets quite a few blows from Kazamaru's end.

Though Kazamaru eludes most of Yusuke's attack, his face ends up getting cut just from wind shear of Yusuke's movements! I guess you could say Yusuke used Razor Wind?

Kazamaru then pulls some shuriken from his clothes; and opts to fight long-distance! Ooh, you devious little squirt!

Yusuke is able to dodge the shuriken, but they can come back like boomerangs! Seriously: is Kazamaru like some video game boss that keeps pulling new moves out of nowhere?

Yusuke then tries to take cover behind a tree, but then some of the shuriken explode! I rest my case.

As Kazamaru readies his own spirit gun (already established to be more powerful than Yusuke's); Yusuke then runs toward Kazamaru, diving out of the way at the last moment as Kazamaru is defeated by his own attacks!

Yusuke, just barely making it out by hiding in a marsh; has won his match; and we close on Kuwabara preparing to face off against Shorin; who by process of elimination, is actually Rando!

"Hard Fights for Yusuke" is an easy recommendation for me, as a great follow-up to "Kuwabara's Spirit Sword" from a couple years back and as a way of celebrating "Devil's Night." Tomorrow is Halloween, and I have one more treat to review as I work on the encore Halloween Splatfest and The Crown Tundra. You will just have to wait to see what is. That's all for now, stay safe; reject fear, embrace facts; and don't forget to vote by this Tuesday. Later.