Keeping up its drive to deliver more episodes on less discs, Beez offers up the final volume of IGPX, like many of its first and last entries into recent series, with five rather than the standard four episodes (I think it's a big deal @_@).

Given how much happens in each episode as it is, it would be a pretty futile or needlessly long exercise to try and summarise the whole volume, but there is enough here that warrants mention for fans of the series, from tomboy Liz's attempt at modelling, to the rivalry between two of the highest ranked teams' coaches (including, of course, Team Satomi's Andrei, 'The Rocket') and the championship itself.

There is also a tiny bit of character history throughout these last episodes, but for the most part the story is preoccupied with the upcoming amateurs of Team White Snow and their competition with Team Satomi - though you may remember them beating Satomi in an earlier volume by foul means, and injuring the now recovered Amy in the process.

Despite a lot happening in this volume, the drama actually seems to carry the viewer through the experience quicker than the last (in spite of the increased episode count), so the pace has definitely been raised, and there's less of the melodrama that characterised and sometimes detracted from earlier volumes.

One of the series greater flaws does come out in full force this volume however - that being the stereotypically evil nature of its villains (why a series about a sport needs villains, let alone so many, is beyond rational thought). Team White Snow are especially willing to manipulate, hack and generally cheat their way to victory anyway they can, and enjoy doing it while acting like good boys and girls before the mass media.

And underlying this problem is a lack of originality that can be seen elsewhere in the series. But even while this installment was slightly disappointing - not going anywhere the series hadn't already - it still brims with all the merits of previous volumes, and I could easily rattle off a list of them. But not wanting to spoil the story, all that is left to say is that those who have followed the series up to this point should find little in here to foil their continuing enjoyment.

In Summary

A worthwhile and satisfying end, but an unremarkable one which exaggerates the series earlier flaws as much as its virtues. You probably already know how you feel about IGPX, but if you don't, I would recommend it to anyone who finds the premise of a competitive sport with a mini soap-opera half-filled with one-time villains surrounding it appealing (just me?).