BTOOOM is what happens when boredom meets lack of creativity. BTOOOM is just another one of those poorly named animes that are cashing in on the stuck in a game genre that has been increasing in popularity almost exponentially. BTOOOM happens to follow the life of people who get abducted and thrown in a real world game that is very similar to the viral online game appropriately named BTOOOM and now they have to blow each other to kingdom come to survive. A very original premise and almost as original a story. That was sarcasm by the way. That said I overused the word BTOOOM in the above paragraph just to drive home the point that it really is terribly named. Now to give it a proper grading. I will rate it based on five aspects all of 20 grades each to reach a total out of 100. Artwork and Animation 17/20 The artwork is good its a rather dull dark world and the artwork is able pull it off without looking stupid. The emotions are also rather well done and the artwork is generally convincing. The animation is also fair enough. There is the occasional out of place movement but nothing too damaging. Sound and music 14/20 Not much to discuss here the sounds are fairly consistent but they are unable to keep up the tropical jungle theme for too long. Other than that music is fairly okay. Even though I never got into it a lot of people might. Plot 8/20 The plot of BTOOOM is by far the biggest chink in its armor. even with a semidecent plot BTOOOM could have been grouped with the average crowd but it just had to get blown off the ridge. The plot is unoriginal uninspired and it isnt very clever. The lack of originality is rampant throughout the anime its your everyday generic survival story even Hollywood has more original ideas. Its the same old 20something NEET who is very good at games and gets drawn into a game. The inspiration is clearly lacking on every front it is FULL of plot holes and the action sequences are very illogical. The protagonist who is clearly a shutin beta is somehow able to throw bombs very accurately and run and dodge like a dude running from child support. He is also somehow resistant to the usually fatal bombexplodedinface. And all this based on what? His skill at games? Why thats bullshit right there. BTOOOM is also not very clever the few times it plans on coming up with a plot device for example lack of food. Anyone who has ever touched a game that is played by more than one player knows how to create killzones how to fuck with peoples radars and throw up false clues. Even the COD fanboy knows that if the game shouts THE BOMB HAS BEEN PLANTED on everyones screen every other guy in the lobby is gonna descend on the point like bats out of hell no exception. But for some reason the protagonist who happens to be world 10 and best in japan is shocked when he sees a killzone created by the only source of food. There are obviously other plot holes like Sakamotos uncanny ability to teleport behind his enemies or Himikos ability to always have something appropriate in her pocket or Tairas lack of understanding of medicine whats the thing you do after almost getting your leg bitten off by an animal? Why you dont wrap it and you just walk it off by walking in a potentially disease filled river because you dont have time Characters 17/20 The characters are the redeeming quality of BTOOOM they are probably the only thing done right. The characters are surprisingly deep and they have emotional conflicts. I actually went so far as to feel bad for Himiko and Sakamoros mom Sakamoto is an asshole by the way. Even so a lot of characters with potential are undeveloped/undeveloped. The effects of being on the island are pronounced with almost everyone becoming a sociapath and creepy encounters leaving quite the mark on people. The development of characters isnt all that good the essence of the people never really changes even at the end but its still something. Enjoyment 10/20 BTOOOM is enjoyable if you are into the genre but try to watch something else if you arent. its action is somewhat decent and it sometimes does land a actually decent plot device sadly these are ruined by a very easily predictable plot the enjoyment is definitely there just a bit hard to find. Admittedly my review has been overly critical of the series but it isnt as bad as I made it sound it does have some genuinely good scenes. Sadly it wasted the potential to turn them into something good. Adding up we get 18+10+8+13+14 = 66/100
63 /100
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