While still beloved by mostYu-Gi-Oh!fans,the5Dsanime is often mockedfor the absurd premise of playing Duel Monsters while riding a motorcycle. As time has passed, viewers have grown accustomed to the idea and Yusei’s story has become one of the most popular. Lamentably, the series has seldom received praise for its amazing premise, which is far more complex than most viewers are aware.
Behind allthe popular and iconic memes created around the series,Yu-Gi-Oh! 5Dshides a deep lore which shows how the world of the world ofDuel Monstershas evolved. The origin of its turbo duels is also fascinating, as it took several elements from one of Rome’s most admired traditions: chariot racing.
Yusei and His Friends Are Modern Roman Gladiators
Turbo Duels Have an Ancient Tradition Behind Them
At first glance, the idea of someone using a motorcycle to play a game of Duel Monsters sounds beyond ridiculous. The game is already complex on its own, and adding the stress of driving at high speeds in a dangerous vehicle seemed like an awful idea. For many years, the concept of “card games on motorcycles” has been used to mock the show, and while hilarious, it fails to see the bigger picture of what inspired the concept of Turbo Duels. This unique version of the game wasinspired by ancient Roman chariot races.
These events, which were extremely popular among the population of the Roman Empire, challenged gladiators to test their dexterity and might in combat. The participants had to ride on a chariot pulled by horses while fighting the other competitors. It was a brutal and exciting spectacle for the public, as only the strongest and most skilled warriors survived the race.5Ds’ Turbo Duels follow a similar concept, forcing the players to focus on their strategies and driving simultaneously.
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While the duelists in the series tried to avoid physical contact at all costs, they were not exempt from the dangers of the competition. Losing a duel would often lead their D-Wheels to a halt, making them lose control and crash against the nearest building. Not evenYusei and his overwhelmingly powerful cardswere safe from the game’s dangers, as the hero almost died on several occasions. Fans might have laughed at the idea of Turbo Duels at first, but the reasons behind their existence prove how epic they truly were.
Turbo Duels Prove Duel Monster’s Influence
The Game Has Taken Over Every Aspect of the World
Unlike the most recent entries in theYu-Gi-Oh!franchise,5Dsis canonically a part ofDuel Monster’s timeline. This means that all the events fans see in the series occur in the same world Yugi and his friends used to live in. With this in mind, it becomes clear that Turbo Duels are more than just an imaginative new mechanic added to the third anime; they are a result of the evolution the game had over the decades. When the franchise began, Duel Monsters was introduced as a novel and niche game only a selected few had found success with.
Yugi’s first victory against Kaiba in episode #1and later crowning during the Duelist Kingdom tournament were considered national news due to the rapidly rising popularity of the game among the world’s population. By the timeGXbegan, the game was so ingrained in everyone’s minds that there were even schools that taught children how to become professional players. Like any other sport, Duel Monsters kept evolving with time until audiences began asking for more entertaining duels. As such, Turbo Duels were born, combining the world’s favorite game with an extreme sport such as motorcycle races.
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The franchise has shown on several occasions that Duel Monsters would have evolved into a more physical and risky hobby even in other universes.Arc-V’s Dueltaining consisted of players running around the arena, avoiding their opponent’s attacks, climbing walls, and even riding their monsters to obtain special cards. Turbo Duels are far more extreme and harder to imagine in real life, but they are only a result of the natural progression that such a popular sport would see.
Turbo Duels Were Kazuki Takahashi’s Last Big Contribution
The Author of the Original Manga Came up With the Idea
For mostYu-Gi-Oh!fans, Kazuki Takahashi is a major inspiration and a source of joy, seeing as he wasthe genius behind the original manga series. He is mostly known for being the one who brought Yugi and his friends to life, as well as creating the entirety of the initial Duel Monsters card game. Nonetheless, once his work on the manga was done, he did an extensive job to make sure that the following entries in the anime would be up to his standards.One of his most important contributions to5Dswas the concept of a Turbo Duel.
Takahashi grew up watching classic anime movies from the 70s and 80s, such asone of the best anime movies of all time:Akira. He took inspiration from the iconic motorcycle used by the protagonist of the film when creating the concept of Yusei and his friends. Whenever fans see the heroes of the5Dsanime dueling while riding their amazingly designed D-Wheels, they see the genius of Takahashi in action.
The Series Helps Turbo Duels Feel Natural
These Events Are Part of People’s Everyday Lives
One of the main reasons why mostYu-Gi-Oh!fans became accustomed to the concept of Turbo Duels as they saw the5Dsanime, is because the series does not make them stand out. Instead of being a new mechanic that has recently been introduced to the world of the series, they are treated as a part of the universe’s culture. By the time fans become invested in the story of Yusei, they will no longer question why the heroes are having duels on motorcycles and will simply enjoy the epic action scenes.
Overall,Yu-Gi-Oh! 5Dsis one of the best anime the franchise has to offer, and fans who have not given it a try should consider starting the series. It is a memorable adventure full of exciting duels and emotive scenes that will keep them on the edge of their seats, even while the characters drive their duel disks.
