Ass Pull: The OVA has gotten quite a reputation for this due to the many randomly convenient plot events and total lack of explanation for some of the more outlandish moments that occur. What is that weird fairy dust firecracker technique Hikage uses to blast away the yoma trapping him with its hair and why does he never use it again? How does he survive a shrine collapsing on top of him and then exploding? Why was the spirit(?) of that dead woman able to possess the snake demon yoma and why did they both just... sort of fade away afterwards? If you're looking for answers to any of these questions then too bad, the writers just don't feel like bothering with them!
Cult Classic: It has its fans, despite being more obscure than most others.
Iron Woobie: Hikage is ordered to kill his best friend whom he cared for as a brother, and is horrified upon seeing him emerge as Kikuga no Miko. Upon finishing the final battle, he offers his hand to Marou, only for him to die and fall into Hell. He falls in love with a lovely village girl with amnesia, only to lose her once she drowns herself. Though he finds a second love, she comes close to death three times at the hands of the yōma and only his quick thinking and crazy-preparedness end up saving her.
Magnificent Bastard: Marou, upon becoming the demonic "Kikuga no Miko", tries to save his loved ones from his cursed rampage and takes control of the Yoma to lead them on a conquest of the world. Manipulating the backstabbing Takeda ninja to their deaths, when Marou confronts his best friend Hikage, he tries to corrupt him though respects his convictions when rebuked and even as he dies, Marou gracefully accepts his rebirth as a human free of the Yoma curse.
Narm: The most fearsome demon of all time is... a werewolf centaur! Boogedy-Boo!
So Okay, It's Average: It's certainly no Ninja Scroll but it's got some interesting ideas and more than a few decent action scenes. People who like the premise and don't mind it's somewhat slow pacing will probably find themselves enjoying this one.
What Do You Mean, It's for Kids?: More like What Do You Mean It's for Girls?. This is a Shojo, ladies and gentlemen. That's right; Shojo. Girls were supposed to read this dark and tragic tale about a ninja seeking out his former friend to kill him, along with all the blood and demon slaying.
