Btooom!

Here we go again with yet another survival game anime and a Battle Royale wannabe. Notice that these types of shows instantly become popular, no matter how badly put together they are. And I'd say this one is definitely bottom of the barrel material. This is a spoiler free review. *Story* 3/10 It's about an unemployed shut in, in his twenties who does nothing but play a video game called "Btooom" all day long and we're told he's one of the best players in the world. One day he suddenly wakes up on a deserted island with a bunch of other people who were kidnapped and forced tofight for their lives in a battle royale that's based on the same video game he was playing. This game is like a 3rd person shooter, but without any guns.. Just bombs. So as you can imagine, what follows is a bunch of people with different types of bombs trying to survive and blow each other up. There's a bunch of gore, mayhem and whatnot. The first question that comes to mind is - what kind of society do these people live in that allows for something like this to happen in the first place? Well, for all we know they live in modern day Japan.. You know, that first world democracy.. In Battle Royale for example this was accounted for since it was a reality show in a Dystopian setting. Here, dozens of people get kidnapped in broad daylight (without being too secret about it either) and there don't seem to be any repercussions. Secondly, this whole idea of having different types of bombs that are shared randomly amongst the players is just there to give you the illusion of strategy. Since some are clearly more useful than others. For example, you have a timer bomb that only explodes 10 seconds after you press it or a bomb that explodes upon impact or one that simply implodes when you press a button. Heck you even have a homing bomb. If you think that all of these bombs are somehow equally strong just because their radius is different then you should have your head examined. They try to fool you in to thinking that a bomb with a weaker explosion has some sort of disadvantage, when in fact even the bomb with the weakest explosion in this show has more than enough power to instantly kill a man or at the very least disable him and allow you to easily finish him off barehanded. Not to mention that a shorter radius is also effective if you don't wanna hurt yourself of course. Not that it matters anyway, since the bombs' radius is also fairly inconsistent - when they explode next to a main character, nothing happens and they always miraculously survive whether it's because their opponents can't aim or because they dodge it somehow (sometimes in very absurd ways) while the secondary ones are cannon fodder that almost always die instantly. So much for fair game. Another thing that's dumb about it is how the show tries to make a distinction in functionality between the online game and the real life one and falls flat on its face in that regard. If it were the slightest bit realistic, all of the characters would be deaf from so many explosions blowing up next to their faces by the half way point or having debris of some kind injure them, which never happens of course. Normally I wouldn't nitpick that if it hadn't hammered in how "THIS IS REAL LIFE! NOT A GAME!". But the truth is, I've seen videogames from over a decade ago that are more realistic than this. On top of all that, it's paced chaotically and it ends in the middle of nowhere while most of everything is left unresolved. Will it get a 2nd season? I don't know, but for now there isn't one so what we have here is 12 episodes that mostly consist of build up with no actual payoff. *Characters* 2/10 You have the blandest of main characters that can only be described as a self insert protagonist. The evidence is clear that this guy is there just for self insertion and that's the only way to define him. Nothing about his character adds up. When he's first introduced he's just a sensitive and naive shut in that doesn't want to hurt anybody, but then we're shown flashbacks where he's actually a violent thug and an abusive son who hates his parents. One moment he's being polite to an elder he meets on the spot and in the next we see how badly he treated his parents. We're also told that he's one of the best Btooom players in the world and yet when he plays the real life version he seems completely clueless. Which is a poor attempt to let the (just as clueless) audience insert themselves, even at the price of having character inconsistencies. The rest of the cast aren't much better either. Some of them have random mood swings that come out of thin air that aren't convincing in the slightest. For example, you have this jackass lawyer who's horrified by witnessing a psychotic kid butchering frogs in one episode and in another he becomes a sadistic lunatic himself who's okay with torturing teenage girls. Speaking of which, the main female is a dumb blonde with a certain traumatic past who (of course) eventually sees the light thanks to the none personality of our male lead. And yes, it plays out in the most cliched way imaginable so it's not much of a spoiler. You'll see it coming from a mile away. They also try to make you sympathize with a kid rapist and murderer because he has an abusive dad who's slightly less crazy than he is. And much like everything else, also comes off as ridiculous (not to mention downright wrong). The only decent character in this show is the father figure Kiyoshi Taira. I won't give anything away, but let's just say that there's a fairly good amount of focus on him, he's not a 1dimenseniol lunatic and his actions actually made him appear relatively complex and interesting. Heck, I even found him kinda sympathizable and his character arc felt complete. But unfortunately, one supporting character that was done right can't save an entire cast of bland plot devices and lunatics who kill people without batting an eye. Most of which get no closure or development anyway since the show is incomplete for now. All most of them get is an introduction and some very brief coverage. *Art* 6/10 The artwork certainly looks quite polished and similar to Death Note's for some reason. The colors are bright and the characters blend very well with the beautiful (albeit repetitive) backgrounds. The character designs themselves are certainly nothing special though, and the animation is far from being lively or fluid. Even the action is rather choppy and the directing seems to be quite amateurish (and I wasn't surprised to later discover that this is indeed this director's first work). Also for a show that's named after an explosion, the explosions in this show are not all that impressive either. Overall it looks ok I guess and the production values in general are fairly decent, but there's certainly nothing impressive about it for the time it came out, nor does it stand out artistically in any way. *Sound* 7/10 The opening is a pretty good rock song with a nice range that sets the show's tone quite well and the ending song is much softer and although I wouldn't call it great, it also fits in fairly well. I can't really remember much of the soundtrack, but I guess it got the job done. What I find a little problematic though are the sound effects that are repetitive to the point of becoming a little distracting (albeit sounding quite realistic) and the voice acting is a little over the top and silly at many points. *Enjoyment* 4/10 Meh. *Overall* 3/10 Pretty skippable if you ask me.

So this is my first serious review, and the only reason I'm doing it is because this show was so good it drove me to write one as I feel like none of the other present reviews quite explain or appreciate the depth of this show. Story: 9/10 So I know that the videogame-turns-real-life idea has been used quite a bit but never in this way, btooom uses several unorthodox things to develop character and storyline. I'm going to say something that is going to sound very strange. The rape in btooom is amazing. Now I sound like a psycho but I mean it in adifferent way, what I mean is that the social stigma we call rape is displayed amazingly in btooom, it is brought about by male sexual urges and instincts, in an environment where no rules exist males are shown oppressing the weaker females in the show, this develops a strong character with Himiko (one of the main characters) as her life even prior to the game was destroyed by sexual assault and male lust. Now my favourite part about this is that Himiko has become fearful of all males and cannot trust anyone, but our trusty protagonist is the absolute image of what is just even among chaos, he stands out above the rest as a shining example of humanity and morality. The juxtaposition of the protagonist and his environment is drastic and constantly displayed. Other things to note about this plot is that it is certainly unfinished and it is absolutely FULL of cliffhangers and it is quite possible for you to dislike the ending because it leaves so much for the second season (which I really want). Art: 9/10 The art in this show is really good, only thing I would complain about would be the digital painting on some of the bush backdrops, I'm a digital painter myself and I can tell that they didn't spend enough time on them. Other than that, high framerate, cute girls, good breasts and good explosions. Sound: 10/10 Sound is where this show stands out again, amazing OP and good ED with really upbeat and hyper drum and bass tracks for the fights. Also the sounds of the explosions are done really well. As far as voice acting goes I think they did a great job as the protagonist sounds great along with the girl and the scenes of crazy people spouting mental stuff sounds like they're actually mental. Character: 10/10 The characters in this show are VERY complex, mainly concerning the protagonist and the girl. The girl's side is riddled with her past experiences of sexual assault while the protagonist's is more to do with him being violent and ungrateful nerd who doesn't appreciate what has been done for him. The interactions between these two is what makes the show what it is. I can't think of a more beautiful romance than with a girl who is afraid to open her heart for such reasons, and it being overcome by such a protagonist. Enjoyment: 10/10 Thoroughly enjoyable. Great plot, amazing characters, deep themes concerning human instinct and modern human values.

"This is where tomorrow brings a new game. It's time to learn that pain is gain. Ready FIGHT!" Survival games have been very prominent in Japan. Normally, survival games will involve who gets killed and who will become the last man standing. Some of the survival games like Mirai Nikki, Fate/Zero, Danganronpa and others. STORY (5): Ryota Sakamoto is a NEET which stands for Not educated, employed or trained. He plays a new game called BTOOOM! and he became one of the top players. One day, he woke up in a deserted tropical island and he realized that he is trapped in a real-life game BTOOOM withother players including Himiko, Ryota's in-game wife. Each players have a green gem which represents their life and if the gem is removed, the player might die. Basically, it is like a survival game. In order to win, you have to collect all the gems and make it out alive. Basically, it is your typical survival game. ART (6): The animation is good. It portrays a dark and serious tone. SOUND (6): I loved the opening song "No pain, no game" while I liked the ending "Aozora". The opening plays like a rock and roll tune. The ending gives a smooth tune. CHARACTER (4): The characters are by far the weakest. Ryota and Himiko were predictable. Ryota can sometimes be a badass. Himiko is a typical damsel in distress. Although I sincerely understood her past when rape is a terrible thing to go through. Kosuke Kira was a tragic character who lived a tragic life in his childhood. Masashi Miyamoto looks like a soldier with a magenta pirate hat. Kiyoshi Taira was a good character who helped Ryota and Himiko survive through this game. Although he didn't leave much impression. So far, it is sad to say that the characters are bland and uninteresting. CONCLUSION (5): I didn't enjoy this show a lot but I did appreciate the way how they make use of people being trapped into a virtual game where the only way to win is to be the last man standing. Even the ending leaves no resolution to the plot. Normally, I see this in most anime I watched. There was no resolution. That's all I have to say. If you enjoy survival games, you might enjoy this too. I am giving this anime a 5 out of 10.

That feeling when you get when you realized your life is now fucked up, turned from virtual fun into a bloody reality, and your only chance to survive is to trust in no one (I mean it here) but yourself. With only your disposal – a package of bombs, a strange gem on your hand, and your own intuition, you realize that your life has been changed forever with your new life now residing on a strange island in the middle of nowhere... So, what should you choose to do? A) Panic! Scream and hope someone will help you out B) Try to team up with someone andtrust in him or her and hope that they will not betray you. C) Do the opposite of choice B. In other words, when you find the first opportunity, KILL THEM after you've gained their trust D) Just try to survive. Your life belongs to you and yours only These all sound pretty horrifying, right? Well, that's Btooom! for you. Btooom! is survival horror themed anime series based off the manga of the same name. It doesn't take long for the characters in the series to realize their lives have changed forever to be quite honest. The series takes itself from the very beginning and presents a game senario where in order to survive, you must kill seven other people before they can kill you. It's survival of the fittest and it's a every one for themselves. The basis of the series is actually based off a game from the anime series itself called Btooom. But now, our 22-years old main protagonist Ryota Sakamoto's life has changed forever when he realizes the new situation of his reality. In fact, he used to be an pro gamer from the game itself. However, his new life puts on the edge between survival and death. The difference? It's real. In other words, there's no pause button, no restart, or bonus lives. No, now you're dead, YOU'RE DEAD. The influence of the series seems to be based off of the classic deserted island theme. Only this time, the island itself becomes a battlefield for survival. And of course, series with themes like this isn't new especially in today's anime industry. Series like Mirai Nikki, Deadman Wonderland, and Gantz all have these themes where survival is absolute. Even in manga series, these themes are present such as Psyren, Mahou Shoujo of the End, and Cage of Eden. The fact is that these series all share a common factor in which an ordinary main male protagonist's lives are changed forever after a certain event. These events turn from peculiar, to dangerous, to tragic, to emotional, and one which will leave a memory in their minds for the rest of their lives. Those characters/contestants: Well, it's hard to describe them all but let's look at some of the most prominent ones, shall we? We begin with the main male protagonist - Ryota Sakamoto. He is a 22 year old young man who has achieved mastery and fame in the Btooom world. In the game, he is ruthless but yet cunning as well as being infamous for his skills. In real life though, he is described as a NEET. In other words, he has almost no life but rather chooses to spent them playing the game. Yet, he is a brilliant, caring, loyal, and courageous young man if we look at him carefully especially during his time of playing the real Btooom game in the anime series. On the other hand, there's Himiko (also known as Hemilia). She is the main female protagonist with a pair of big boobs but with a small interest in the opposite sex. As a matter of fact, she hates the male population in general for fear of her past. It's for this reason that she carries a stun gun throughout the series as a warning sign to any men who dares to approach her. In her mind, every men in the game (and possibly on the planet) is her enemy and that she is their prey. This is especially true in the beginning episodes where some of flashbacks are shown in a dark fashion. The other contestants of the Btooom game all have different ideologies, goals, and personalities as we see the series progresses. What they all have share in similarities is their desire to win the game and get off the island. As such, most of them are willing to hurt, betray, and even kill to ensure that their goal is achieved; well, most of them anyways. For people like Kiyoshi Taira, there seems to be hope and friendship. But for others, there exists hatred, dominance, power, and intellect as part of their characteristics. For example, Kousuke Kira, a young boy at the age of only 14 holds a hatred for his father due to his childhood. It turned him into a child murderer and one that lacks empathy. Then, there's Masahito Date who is willing to do anything to ensure his successes throughout the game and becomes its victor. Then, there are some others who uses their brains rather than their brawns such as Nobutaka Oda who has mastered his usage of the Remote Control type BIM. The point is that every one the island wants to get out of it and return to their lives. Yet, they know their lives won't be the same again... The games' concept involves survival and thus, there are some science fiction themes mixed in with the brutality of violence, strategy, and a little bit of luck. After all, a game is never easy when there are others with skills that matches your own. To add to the game, there are the BIMs or bombs that players use as their main weapons of destruction. These bombs all have different abilities that can lead to the death of an opponent. It reflects the science fiction side of the series. The horror side? Those would be some of the flashbacks of the characters as well as the reality of what the players face. They realize that it's not a game anymore and once they're dead, it's game over forever. Now, the series isn't as good as it sounds. Make no mistake because every survival series has a lack of something that should have been there. In this case, Btooom has them too. The series lacks a diversity in which how the game is played. In other words, there is only bombs that are the primary weapons for the contestants. It does play on its main title as “Btooom!” seems to be synonymous to “BOOM!” That's of course what happens when one of those BIMs goes off and your body splatters. As gruesome as it sounds, the series tries too hard occasionally. Furthermore, the main male protagonist often comes with cases of deus ex machina. It's almost as if he is protected by the “main protagonist should not die” shield. Other problems I've run into the series is that the seemingly rushed sequences. Some of the contestants are killed off in a single episode with little to no screen time given beyond their performance in the game. In other words, they don't stand out as much as the main protagonists. In the end, they're just more like obstacles for them to get by and almost a way for them to “level up” or gain experience in the game. The artwork of the series is fine but nothing unique. What it does reflect though is the nature of the game of Btooom and its survival themes. These include the abandoned buildings, the tropical forests, the shallow waters, the high mountain cliffs, and other things you typically see on an abandoned island. In fact, most of the characters' outfits reflects this as well in their casual wear and their battle scarred clothing. Most of them are dressed in ways in which they are of themselves which means that none of them were prepared for a real life version of Btooom. And of course, the battlefield has left ashes and bombs going off is usually visually represented with its spectacular explosions. Nothing else is more than that though as I found the artwork to be typical but gets to the point. The soundtrack of the series is presented with its action paced OST. In most scenes involving action, there is the rhythm. There is hardly any comedic or lighthearted soundtrack in this series as it doesn't fit within those grounds. Yet, it does occasionally have emotional melody especially for flashback scenes of the contestants; more often these are represented as being tragic. The OP song, "No pain, No game" by Nano is a classic for this series. That's right, no pain means no game and in the world of Btooom, there's both of that. On the other hand, the ED song, "Aozora " by May'n is presented in a more soft paced style especially featuring one of the main characters, Himiko. Ultimately, Btooom is one of those survival horror series that can be enjoyable but at the same time, becomes frustrating with its strange twists. The cliffhangers and occasionally plot twists have become predictable especially in later episodes. At the same time, there is a feeling of explosiveness (more than just the BIMs) when we watch the action scenes. It's not intelligent but packs that feeling of survival horror where your life really is at stake here. In the world of Btooom, it ultimately comes down to how to play the game. If you play your cards right, you'll win. If not, then game over for you and no second chances.

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