Fate/Stay Night Volume 2   Starring (voice): Ayako Kawasumi, Kana Ueda and Noriaki Sugiyama MVM RRP: £15.99 MVD2291 Certificate: 12 Available 08 February 2010

It has been ten years since the last confrontation between the master mages for control over the Holy Grail. Now another war is on the horizon, one which will draw Shirou into its dark heart. As a survivor of a calamity Shirou, to honour the memory of his father, uses his magical gifts only for good. But how much will goodness keep you safe in this new war of the mages...?

Fate/Stay Night: Volume 2 contains another four episodes of the series, and having introduced us to the characters the series is settling in quite well.

Episode five and six: Two Magi (parts one and two) kicks off the disc with Shirou still coming to terms with finding himself in the middle of a war accompanied by a familiar who is less than impressed with his abilities. Having moved in with him, Shirou is still trying to work out the rules between him and Saber and being very blokeish about the whole deal. Forgetting that she is much stronger than he is, he still insists on treating her like a helpless female. Still, there is Taiga and Sakura to introduce her to, which leads to a bit of mid-Atlantic misunderstanding when they threaten to send her fanny packing if she doesn’t fight. Two countries separated by a common language strikes again.

So, Shiro, having survived the girls heads off to school alone ad this is where the story really starts. The school contains another magi and their servant, Rin Tohsaka and Archer. As a servant, Archer wants Rin to teach Shirou a lesson if he does not start behaving like a master. When she finds him at school alone Rin is so incensed at his behaviour that she attacks him, but when they come across a body they realise something bigger is happening and temporarily join forces, but not before Sirou is speared through the arm by another servant, Rider.

Episode seven: Despicable Act, and Saber is livid to discover that Shirou didn’t summon her when he was in danger. Deciding that something has to be done about the barrier they head back to the school, to break the seals which protect the barrier.

Episode eight: Discordant Melody. Shirou comes face to face with Rider's master, a new enemy, but also an old friend, Shinji. When his old friend suggests that they team up together to take out the other magi, Shirou rejects his offer feeling that there is something seriously wrong with his old friend. However he does learn that there exists another at the Ryudoh temple, a witch intent on stealing souls. Rin decides to move in with Shirou, which causes problems with Saber.

So the show is staying mostly on track, though the harem that Shirou seems to be collecting will hopefully not lead the narrative down the dead end of some form of three way romance.

It’s another nice 1.78:1 anamorphic transfer for the show with options for either an English or Japanese 2.0 track with optional subs. The only extra on the disc is a creditless closing sequence and some trailers.

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Charles Packer