3 years after its completion, I still find myself inexplicably mesmerized by the epic tale that is 07 Ghost.

It's a tale about the rise and fall of kingdoms - about power struggles and political squabbles. But while the military backdrop and history of the land are beautifully carved, 07 Ghost is not a warstory at all. Rather, at it's core, 07 Ghost is a story about accepting all that life has to offer. It's about having the heart to appreciate another's act of kindness. It's about having the strength to move on when bad things happen.

The battle mechanics in the story reinforce this. Characters use an energy called "zaiphon" - which conveys the feelings of the user. Although there are different types of zaiphon that are loosely related to the personalities of each character, at the fundamental level, everyone's zaiphon is of the same quality - it is the strength of the user's mentality that determines the zaiphon's strength.

The main character, Teito Klein, is crafted brilliantly. He starts off without the least bit of appeal, an amnesiac with childish tendencies, who mopes about his circumstances all day, but he noticeably grows through the relationships and connections he builds throughout the series, developing a strong appreciation for the world, his friends, and even his enemies, until he eventually becoming a charismatic leader you'll have difficulty taking your eyes off of. It's amazing to watch his journey come full circle through the series.

Yes, it's a cast of pretty boys. Yes, it's cliche as fudge. Yes, the action scenes are lackluster. But by the end of it, I hope you'll agree that 07 Ghost is so much more than that.