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The anime is 10 years old and not top of the charts, but decided to write a review anyways, because it is a bit contradicting - in that the story is absolutely awful, but there are some elements in it that are quite beautiful. Not going to criticize the story since it seems to have been done to death but will list some things about this show I liked:

Nice element 1, the relationship between Wako, Takuto and Sugata. Time and time again in love triangles, the female lead goes with either one or the other; in harems, hostility is the usual theme between male ... characters since they are inevitably romantic rivals. But in this series Wako managed to maintain the love for both male protagonists until the end. The dynamics between Takuto and Sugata is also interesting. They share the same love for Wako, but their common objective of protecting her prevails and bond them together, which results in some nice bromance. Basically any time the 3 spend time together, I find it a pleasure to watch.

Nice element 2, not quite sure about the word, but perhaps cinematography? For example how the music and the scenes are mixed. The ED in the first half by 9nine has a nice tune, but the short scenes during the ED where the 3 share funny moments are done nicely that fits both the anime theme as well as the music. Wako's song "Komorebi no Contact" performed under Sugata's house on his birthday is very refreshing: The song itself is rather simple, but coupled with the scenes, it shines. The way Head plays with his candy balls, his painting on Sora standing on the beach, these little things add atmosphere to the show. (It's just too bad the plot never went anywhere...)

Nice element 3, the stories within the story. The tale "Squid Piercer" told by the North maiden, and the play during the school festival by the drama club is awesome. Yep the main story is an incoherent mess, yet the mini-stories make up for it somewhat.

Nice element 4, while the development of side characters are mostly incomplete, I think some of them have great potential. Like say the North maiden. She's imprisoned, but amazingly, she has that "I don't fear my captor and I just don't care" air about her and tells her story passionately, gradually it becomes confusing whether it's Head that imprisoned her physically, or that she captured Head with her story instead.

Perhaps the best way to watch this one is to use "turn off logic but pay attention to the little things" mode, which I think works.

My first review on MAL and not gonna write it very long.

I've already finished reading the light novel, in which the latter part of the story, where this anime covers, is no longer the happy-go-lucky comedy that previous animes are and things start to turn pretty serious. Or as we say in love there are both good and tough times.The anime sticks pretty faithfully to that. It might not be that comedic to watch compared to its prequels, but it is as written in the source material and is good for the story.

But to complete it to the end there needs to be at least ... another season. Sousuke and Chidori still have a long way to go before their final reunion. They still need to bring down Amalgam and expose their conspiracy. A shining side plot in the story to me is something bad is gonna happen to Weber--the reader will be led to believe so as well, which devastates Mao, but later we find that not to be so and it is a very big relief. That was yet to be told in the anime. We need another season!!

Big thumbs to the mech combat scenes - best I've seen in all. And why do we watch this one? Because we all love mechs. I think CG is great for this purpose. The character animation however is not that great. And the music is just bad. Music is known to elevate the arts but in this one I find it disappointing.

I rate a decent 8 due to faithfully representing the light novel and well animated mech combat. Points down due to bad character art and just lousy music. However a final point up because it is a worthy installment in the FMP series. Here's hope for a next season!