Yu-Gi-Oh, Vol. 1 - The Heart of the Cards
The heavily promotedYu-Gi-Ohplays like a mixture ofPokémon,Medabots, andCard Captor Sakura. Yugi, an aspiring champion at  Duel Monster Cards, is coached by his kindly grandfather. The Cards are a  tame version of an ancient Egyptian game involving real monsters: 5,000 years  ago, a wise Pharaoh hid this magic in five Millennium Objects. Yugi defeats  rich champion Kaiba, which brings him to the attention of Maximillion  (sic) Pegasus, the owner of Industrial Illusions, the manufacturer of  the Cards. Pegasus somehow steals the grandfather's soul, forcing Yugi to  enter a tournament in the Duelist Kingdom. UnlikePokémon, which  emphasizes friendship and sportsmanship, Duel Card players gleefully cheat.  Much of the show feels like an extended plug, and parents who buy the videos  should be prepared for demands for cards and toys. (Unrated; suitable for ages  8 and older: mild monster vs. monster violence)--Charles Solomon