Some Quick First Impressions: BOFURI, number24, and Infinite Dendrogram

BOFURI: I Don’t Want to Get Hurt, so I’ll Max Out My Defense

Short Synopsis: Rookie girl starts playing a MMO game and maxes out her defense, the rest is history.

Lenlo’s review:

You know, I was with Bofuri up until the end. It was another stupid, hyper specialized Isekai like MILF and her two hit attack last year, except less cringy. The MC was new, she made a hyper focused build and there was some comedy to it all. Like just falling over on to things to hurt them, or being slow as shit because of low agility, that sort of stuff. It wasn’t anything groundbreaking, but it was alright, I enjoyed it. Then she got a super secret skill that gives her complete and utter immunity to poison just by getting hit by it alot and suddenly its “Oh… this is one of those”. No doubt she will become ludicrously overpowered by the end, with the comedy being the only thing that really keeps the show going. A shame. Still, for what is there, it’s not terrible. Just more run of the mill isekai stuff.

Potential: 15%

Mario’s review:

Does she really take a nap during her game?

It’s a two-punch hit for me this morning that I watched two shows with the same premise: rookie starts out in an MMO game, both with devastating results. This show plays out a bit like a cross between Shield Hero and an average isekai from last season, and only has one joke for it, which is spelled out right in the title. The one aspect that somewhat works is that the heroine is a total newbie, making her see the game much differently than other gamers. But even in this episode the game rules are broken to her advantage (she is allowed to BITE the enemy. Wot??) and it’s still a wish-fulfillment fantasy at best as she already acquired many advanced skills at the end of this episode. No, no, no.

Potential: 10%

 

number24

Short Synopsis: A former college rugby star becomes his team’s manager after a motorcycle accident.

Wooper’s review:

This anime is about boys! Tall boys and short boys, thin boys and thick boys, nice boys and rude boys, smart boys and dumb boys, macho boys and twink boys, nipponjin boys and gaijin boys, strong boys and weak boys, blond boys and brunette boys, athlete boys and manager boys, honest boys and deceitful boys, happy boys and sad boys, cheerful boys and depressed boys, healthy boys and sick boys, angry boys and calm boys, senpai boys and kouhai boys, sweaty boys and dry boys, hungry boys and full boys, funny boys and serious boys, boys with short hair and man bun boys, muscly boys and stick figure boys, motorcycle boys and walking boys, apartment boys and dormitory boys. All of these and any other boys you could ever want are waiting for you here, in number24.

Potential: 0% (of this episode is spent playing rugby)

Lenlo’s review:

I am a simple man. I like sports. I like anime. I like sports anime. What do I do not like are shows solely about sexy characters being sexy, and you know what? That’s what number24 is selling itself as. A majority of the episode was just introducing a massive cast of characters, showing them off, and then absolutely 0 rugby was played. As a sports anime fan, I feel let down and betrayed. I wanted a rugby show about boys running into each other, tackling each other, and in general beating the crap out of each other within the very fine confines that are the rules of Rugby. Instead I got a male idol show, except replace idol with rugby. Assuming number24 actually involves the sport at some point in a meaningful way, it might make something of itself. From what I have seen though, I doubt that’s ever going to be a big focus.

Potential: 5%

 

Infinite Dendrogram

Short Synopsis: Vanilla anime protag plays VRMMO with bear-suited brother.

Mario’s review:

Here’s the second MMO-based fantasy and boy does it look familiar. We have virtually the same setting, the same premise of a rookie guy making it big and scoring some girls and a freaking Deus ex machina when it feels like doing so. The show sells hard on “in this world, the possibilities are endless” but what it actually does differently is that the NPCs are gone for good when they’re killed, which is nice in concept but stupid in execution. You see, when our main character can’t die (only log out of the game for a day, which again, is another stupid strategy from game producers’ standpoint) and has an opportunity to replay, I don’t feel any suspense at all. The bear brother adds nothing to the table, and what’s up with “you get severely injured when an NPC hits you” gag? Get me out of here.

Potential: 0%

Wooper’s review:

Welcome to Infinite Dendrogram: the Review! Before we get started, you’ll need to create an account and customize your appearance, so your disbelieving expressions can be rendered in real time as you watch yet another MMO light novel adaptation. All done designing your avatar? Hmm, if I could offer some advice, your character’s design is a bit too lifelike. You’ll want to make it look as inoffensive and void of personality as possible – this is an Infinite Dendrogram review, after all. Now let’s go over some advanced concepts that you may never have encountered before: NPCs, quests, equippable items, etc. Got all that? Perfect, we’ve just covered 80% of the episode. Now it’s time to join your brother’s party (he wears a bear suit. A BEAR SUIT) and take part in your first battle. Use your Embryo to win and complete your first quest. What’s an Embryo? Oh, it’s like a super-powerful thingy that lives in your hand. It can be a cute anime girl or a sword or whatever else you may need. It’s a get out of jail free card, basically, so the author can write whatever scenario he wants. And that’s pretty much it. You’re now ready to watch the rest of Infinite Dendrogram. Happy viewing!

Potential: 0%