NT Warrior: Game Off!

Plot Synopsis
This is the best episode of the entire shows existence, hands down. Count Zap has been committing a string of robberies lately, each with increasing security levels. Using ElecMan, Count Zap overloads each security system and takes some, rare, expensive item.

Well Lan and his friends don't seem to have much interest as a new video game called Maximum Valor is selling ticket reserves at Higsby's shop. Unfortunately though they get distracted by Masa and Higsby runs out of reservations, but it just so happens that Yai's father owns the company publishing and developing the game. Yai's father gives the kids a tour of the game dev studio, all of which happens to be housed in his mansion for some reason. They'll get to play the game at midnight when the game is released.

Meanwhile, Sal is wondering just what Count Zap is up to, and she runs into Miyu who says that Count Zap is training for a bigger heist at a higher security level, and that if Sal and her can figure out what company has a security level of 9, they'll figure out Zap's next target. Well it just so happens that Ayanotek has a security level 9 clearance, and that's Zap's plan. He wants to steal the video game or as he puts it "steal the smiles of all the children!"

At midnight, he breaks into Yai's estate and starts stealing the game, so Lan quickly sends MegaMan in to stop him. MegaMan fights with ElecMan, but electrical shocks keep healing ElecMan. Just when it seems impossible, a Net Navi named WoodMan shows up and blocks the electrical charges with his giant wooden towers. MegaMan and Lan seize the advantage and take down ElecMan. Count Zap has the game downloaded, and is about to escape, when a masked woman shows up and gets the game back. Count Zap escapes, but the game is now safe. Lan and friends ask who she is, and she turns out to be WoodMan's operator, and calls herself Black Rose.

Black Rose leaves the estate and we see her take off her mask to reveal herself as Sal. Miyu stops her and says it looks like Sal wanted to see if Lan could defeat WWW on his own. Sal just smiles and the next day, Lan and friends head over to Higsby's to see the release of Maximum Valor. Higsby then looks at the camera and announces the N1 Grand Prix tournament in two weeks... but in the United States this episode aired way after the Grand Prix episodes did, so I'm sure people were confused. Nice job Kids WB.

Critique
Count Zap is too god damned funny this episode. He's the best kind of evil, stealing video games so kids can't get it, and the best part is, all of the characters act like this is a completely legitimate evil plan. Could you have a more materialistic episode than this one? Let's be honest though, these days parents do let their kid have every stupid game they want so maybe Count Zap's hilarious plan has some plausibility.

Even when Zap loses, he has some brilliant lines. "I still win if I get away to battle another day!" This dude just slays me, and any episode that gives Count Zap some heavy screen time is a winner.

Rating: Thumbs Up.