Sound the Omegahorn

Ever since Toei retired Super Sentai and replaced it with Project R.E.D, I've been meaning to check out the new shows. The initiative launched with Super Space Sheriff Gavan Infinity, bringing back the Metal Hero series that I grew to appreciate thanks to shows like V.R. Troopers and Big Bad Beetleborgs. Of course, RoboCop was my gateway into all of this when I was a kid.

Unfortunately, the Project R.E.D series haven't been simulcast here in the States like some of the other recent Japanese shows, so I still haven't had the chance to watch the new Gavan series. I really freaking want to.

Thankfully, the newest Project R.E.D series, Kakuseihunter Omegahorn, has started airing, and as of this writing I've managed to catch the first few episodes.

I love it.

One of the things that originally drew me into tokusatsu was my love of Godzilla and monsters in general, and Omegahorn delivers plenty of that. The series takes those classic monster battles and mixes them with ideas that remind me of Monster Hunter, Pokémon, and Digimon, creating a premise that's immediately fun.

The setting itself feels like it was lifted straight out of an anime or video game. Modern technology exists alongside fantasy elements, giving the world a really unique atmosphere that's pulled off surprisingly well in live action. One thing I especially appreciate is that the show doesn't spend forever explaining itself. It simply throws you into the world and trusts you to keep up. Honestly, I never found myself confused. Everything clicks together naturally, and I think most viewers could jump in blind and understand what's going on pretty quickly.

The main character, Shout, is a treasure hunter who stumbles into the world of the Hunters, warriors who seek out powerful Horned Beasts and battle them against one another. The loser of each fight has to surrender their monster to the winner. The Horned Beasts themselves are stored inside little capsules called Egogear, which... wouldn't you know it... are toys you can collect.

Naturally.

Shout soon meets Enkaku, the ancient king of the Horned Beasts, who dubs him Captain Omegahorn and accompanies him in a human form until battle begins. Shout's armored form has a silhouette that reminds me of a classic Red Ranger while still it's own unique design, and I absolutely love the look. The other Hunters are fun as well, each with their own personalities and visual styles. Some are clearly heroic, others not so much, though it'll be interesting to see where the lines are ultimately drawn as the series continues.

The battles themselves are especially entertaining. Sometimes a Horned Beast possesses its Hunter, granting them new abilities, while other times the monsters simply fight each other in full-on giant kaiju battles. One thing I'm really enjoying is the blend of CGI with traditional suit acting. I don't mind computer effects at all, but there's still something magical about seeing foam suits and puppets beating the crap out of each other.

So far, I'm having an absolute blast with Omegahorn, and I really hope it keeps up the momentum. It's legitimately great.