FOREWORD: This review contains minor spoilers for Arifureta by comparing it to other similar Isekai series.
What do you get when you cross Tate no Yuusha, No Game No Life, and enough edge to cut yourself by simply looking at it the wrong way? You get Arifureta's plot.
Do you remember that one kid who, when first introduced to Dungeons and Dragons, came up with this insanely edgy character with an entire graphic novel for a backstory that had badass prosthetic limbs and absurd weapons/tools at their disposal right from the start of the campaign? That's Arifureta's main character.
Ever read a fan-fiction novel written by a bored
...
high schooler with an overactive imagination and ceaseless libido? That's what Arifureta's writing feels like.
And yet, despite all of this I actually find myself enjoying Arifureta. It can't claim the title of "King of Trash" - that already belongs to No Game No Life - but I'd gladly give it an honorable mention as the "Baron of Trash".
STORY (5)
Premise - Clusterduck
Arifureta's premise is pretty unoriginal. It takes inspiration from a lot of really well-renowned Isekai series starting with the "useless hero" of Tate no Yuusha and follows a similar revenge plot line. At least, at first. After a while it slowly meshes into something that feels like No Game No Life - but much, much edgier.
Pacing - Fast
I dislike the pacing of Arifureta - it feels a little too fast at times. It misses out on a lot of potential character and world building by skimming through things and skipping over details. In some cases I don't mind it, but Arifureta does it a little too much for me.
Mood - Clusterduck x2
In the first volume, Arifureta felt incredibly gritty and gruesome. I really enjoyed it for that. After that, it lightened up a la No Game No Life and seemed to stop taking itself so seriously, which is a bit of a shame.
Overall - Meh
If I were to rate the story based on the first volume alone, I'd give it a solid praise. The first volume was exhilarating to read. Everything after that... while it's not bad, the sudden shift of tone completely killed my original expectations for the series, which is unfortunate.
ART (10)
Style - Gritty
The art style of Arifureta is definitely worth some praise. It's highly detailed, fluid, and very pretty to look at. The character style is quite standard, but the line work is exceptionally detailed at times.
Fanservice - Yes, but not overly done
It actually takes some time before the more risque stuff shows up with a certain character, and beyond them it's actually pretty laid back most of the time - which really surprised me.
Overall - Wow
I'll just cut to the chase - the art in Arifureta is pretty awesome, especially in volume 1. The panels are highly detailed and very highly stylized with lots of lines and contrast. It's a step above the quality I've come to expect from most manga. Quite simply, it's beautiful.
CHARACTERS (5)
Personalities - Passable
If you did a side by side comparison with No Game No Life's Sora and Shira and replaced social anxiety with pure edginess, you'd get the main duo in Arifureta. Their sidekick is also somewhat reminiscent of Steph at times. The side characters of Arifureta are little more than empty tropes in most cases, which is a shame. All in all, it's passable, but nothing to praise.
Depth - lol.
Yeah, no. If you're looking for deep, well-developed characters you're in the wrong place.
Growth - *crickets*
I guess if you consider the main character getting edgier as time goes on, sure? Otherwise, nope. Maybe this will change later on though. Or maybe not, I'm not getting my hopes up.
Overall - Meh
I don't actually dislike any of the main characters in Arifureta, and that's probably because they are mirror images of the characters we all know and love from other Isekai series. They're fun, albeit really edgy, and I don't find them detracting too much from my enjoyment of the manga. Just don't expect anything deep or original.
OVERALL (7)
In the end, and as I've continually repeated throughout my review, it's a bit of a shame. Arifureta had the potential to be something truly great and started off extremely strong. While I don't hate the direction it's taking, it could have been so much more.
"What? After all that," you might be saying, "they give it an overall score of 7?!"
Yeah, I do. Because Arifureta, despite having many faults, is fun. I enjoy Tate no Yuusha, I enjoy No Game No Life, and so a series that combines the better elements of both is something I enjoy as well. It may not be deep, it may not be all that unique as a whole, but I can forgive all of that because it is fun to read.
If you go in expecting a grittier Tate no Yuusha, prepare to be disappointed. If you go in expecting an edgier No Game No Life, then you'll probably enjoy Arifureta. Thus, I crown Arifureta the "Baron of Trash". Just as garbage as the trash it takes after, but just as fun as well.
I will cautiously recommend Arifureta given that you can look past the many issues that plague it and just enjoy it at face value. If you do, it's a fun read with really good art. But goodness is it ever EDGY.
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Feb 6, 2019
FOREWORD: This review contains minor spoilers for Arifureta by comparing it to other similar Isekai series.
What do you get when you cross Tate no Yuusha, No Game No Life, and enough edge to cut yourself by simply looking at it the wrong way? You get Arifureta's plot. Do you remember that one kid who, when first introduced to Dungeons and Dragons, came up with this insanely edgy character with an entire graphic novel for a backstory that had badass prosthetic limbs and absurd weapons/tools at their disposal right from the start of the campaign? That's Arifureta's main character. Ever read a fan-fiction novel written by a bored ... 
Feb 2, 2019
Hatsukoi Zombie
(Manga)
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TL;DR: Hatsukoi Zombie is without a doubt worth the read if you're willing to invest into it. It seemed to me like a generic high school ecchi romcom at a glance, but I was completely wrong - It instead functions as a near perfect genre deconstruction, and has far exceeded any expectations I had going in. I highly recommend it as one of the best romance stories I've read in recent years.
From this point on this review will contain spoilers to the premise, mood, themes, and (to a minor extent) the plot of Hatsukoi Zombie. If you wish to find out for yourself what lurks ... |
