Intentional or not, medieval fantasy series always fall under the shadow of Berserk. Densetsu no Yuusha no Densetsu doesn't do itself any favours by featuring an effeminate, silver haired leader or an desirable, unusually powerful ally. There are certainly other parallels to be drawn but the first three episodes prove wholeheartedly that the series has its priorities straight by focusing first on characters, then on narrative and some way down the list on the mythos-specific idiosyncrasies. In short, it's forging its own path and being thoroughly entertaining while doing it. Its title may be outlandish but the strength of the cast and its willingness not to cower before gore or tragedy means it is a promising start to an intriguing full-length series.

In the kingdom of Roland, ravaged by war and rotten with corrupt nobles, a magical academy that takes in orphans and the children of criminals has two particularly special students. One is Ryner, a slovenly and unmotivated boy who has cursed eyes known as Alpha Stigma which give him immense magical power. The other is the charismatic Sion who was subjected to ferocious bullying while young due to his birth as a bastard child of a noble father and common mother. Now though, he has the support of a shadowy and lethal family of bodyguards as well as the conviction to ascend to the throne with the aim of purging the country of its ruinous ills. Both will be instrumental in the upcoming turmoil - war and civil unrest - and the old legends of powerful demons and heroes may yet play a part in that.

The characters aren't the only familiar element the series shares with Berserk, the past/present structure is, in the first three episodes at least, identical and though the first episode is ostensibly set in the present, it is the past where most of the development occurs. This is problematic as it undercuts the expectancies initially formed of the characters and the quest-like first episode is followed with a combative school setting; neither are better or worse than the other but the bifurcation of story instantly makes one want to choose favourites. The past story is certainly the meatier and more empathetic - the writers understand the maxim that for someone to be truly kind, they must first suffer greatly; the present however eschews the brutality for fluffy comedy and is more akin to a familiar adventuring storyline.

How the series will be divided between these two or more time periods is largely irrelevant though when there is a range of excellent aspects to be wooed by. The magical mimicry that Ryner exhibits is uninteresting on its own, but it is his absurdly overpowered frenzy, accompanied by mysterious graphs and the metallic thuds of obliterated ne'er-do-wells which is tantalisingly brilliant. Similarly Sion's pretty-boy image isn't quite dispensed with, one never believes he has the teeth to achieve his goal, but thankfully others do; whether it is the Jin-Roh, Panzer Cops-esque Estabul Magic Knights who delight in slaughter, or the composed, spectral claws of Lucille aiding Sion behind the scenes. The opening episodes don't pull any punches and the series is better off for it, capturing that dark fantasy vibe bubbling under a façade of sky blue and sunset amber.

The amount of source material Densetsu no Yuusha no Densetsu has to draw from is immense and it should have no problem occupying the full twenty six episodes it's scheduled for. Whether the majority of that is the more comedic and light-hearted search for artefacts of the titular legendary heroes, or further exploration of Sion's rise to the monarchy and Ryner's search for a purpose in life will likely define one's enjoyment. Both are better than the common medieval fare of late such as Seiken no Blacksmith and the series' tone resides comfortably between Kyou Kara Maou, Scrapped Princess and Berserk. Enjoyable and entertaining, little more could be asked of three episode of a series with almost ninety percent still be revealed.