Log Horizon

As someone who has played MMO's for awhile, this had to be the most enjoyable anime I've watched in a very long time. As for the SAO vs Log Horizion debate, the only clear cut way i can put it is if you have played MMO's a long time, you'll fall more in the Log Horizion than SAO (and yes SAO is a master piece as well) Story: Besides a few moments here and there, this is pure adventure for a story. The pace kept up and kept you entertained. Art: Very good, especially with the interface of the game. Sound: Very good as well, kept in well with the mood of the anime. Character: You could not ask for a better group of people to blend in and compliment each other. It's a lot of people but all of them have ties to the next, the smallest thing can turn into the largest. Enjoyment/Overall: I could not recommend this more. I had to stop myself from marathoning it.

*Note This is basically a re-post modified to be a full review of the series since it's already finished airing and the last one was written halfway through the series. Before we get into the nitty-gritty I'll just get one thing out of the way: I'm a fan of both Mamare Touno and Kawahara Reki and no one (not even the zealous hardliners from both camps) can make me feel otherwise. W/ that said let's get it on shall we? Log Horizon is about thousands of players of an internationally acclaimed Massive Multiplayer Online Role Playing Game (MMORPG) Elder Tales suddenly find themselves trapped inside a world eerily similar to that of the game w/ them looking like their in-game avatars. I imagine a lot of people unconsciously muttering "SAO clone" after that first paragraph and turn themselves away from their monitors at breakneck speed changing the web page afterwards. I don't exactly blame them seeing as how horribly SAO was adapted. But that's an entirely different issue. Anyway it's not like SAO and LH were the first series to use MMOs as a theme. There are countless other works both in the West and in Asia (the Koreans love this stuff) w/c have similar themes. That and comparing SAO and LH is like comparing apples and oranges. Both are fruits. I find them both tasty. But they're not entirely similar that trying to justify w/c one is better than the other is an act of futility. People like different stuff. And I admit that my scoring is based on my preferences but I'll still endeavor to cover the various elements of this series objectively. Oh, and cause some are a bit miffed that I didn't mention .hack// I'll put it in here too. And, no, this isn't just a "spur of the moment" thing. No, seriously. Guys I love Kite, Haseo and the gang too. You've gotta believe me... (Story/Characters) That said LH has quite a different feel from other series w/c use the said theme. For one if you know Mamare Touno then you most likely agree that he is one of the reigning kings when it comes to world building and character development (at least that's what I'd like to believe). If you are familiar w/ his other work (Maou Maoyuu Yuusha) or another series w/ a similar feel (Spice and Wolf) then chances are you already have a good idea what to expect. The series has heavy socio-political undertones coupled w/ economics and lot's of interesting and colorful characters (in my book). It also takes its sweet time in developing the plot and characters so those who are expecting a brisker pacing may be turned off at a couple of eps featuring almost nothing but dialogue (albeit greatly presented). Shiroe (MC) is one of the more interesting MCs I've come across in that he's not exactly the brute force of the party but the brains w/c is rare for a Shounen series (although one can argue the novels can actually be classified as Seinen but we're talking about the adaptation here). What makes him so interesting for me is that in order to realize his goals and protect those dear to him he has no qualms about using more "underhanded" or "villainous" methods to get things done. He also has no problem playing "bad cop" and ruining his public image if it is for the benefit of the greater whole. His nick 'Villain in Glasses" (Black-heart glasses in the novel translations) describes him to a tee. He does have genuinely good intentions but just like any good zealot he lives to the idea "The ends justify the means". Those close to him trust him enough to believe in whatever decision he makes but those unfamiliar w/ him just view him as a dangerous element. And Shiroe is just one of the relatively large cast of characters LH has. Almost every one from the open pervert Naotsugu, cute loli assasin Akatsuki, gentle-cat-person and superb chef Nyanta, lovable big breasted kansaiben oneesan Marielle, amazing megane accountant and Akatsukis number 1 fan Henrietta...... I could go on forever w/ this but yeah almost all of the characters are interesting and chances you'll find someone you'll love. Some may complain about some scenes that feel "off" or seem like a departure from what was established in the first few eps. While I'll refrain from debating whether these scenarios are better off being included or not I'll just say that LH is over all a multi-layered series. It isn't purely about action, political maneuvering and economic ploys. Nor is it purely about romance (Did people just cringe there?...). It has a story w/c is a mesh of different elements and, if it's any consolation, no detail is left out to be irrelevant. All come together as the plot advances. Even "those" scenes. (Art/Sound) I'd always liked the novel illustrations and am very satisfied at the fact that the characters do look like their novel illustration selves. The animation could have used a bit more work though but seeing as it's NHK I'm not really complaining that much. Lenessia and Akatsuki are ABSOLUTELY ADORABLE!!!... Uuuh... yeah. Sorry bout that. Anyway, as for the music, there are some stand out themes here and there and they fit well into the scenes they play in. The OP can be a mixed bag. Some (myself included) may love it so much that they find themselves humming "Database! Database!" all over the place. And some would rather listen to Frank Sinatra (I don't have anything against mister Sinatra mind you. Really. Don't flame me.). The ED is ABSOLUTELY ADORABLE!!! Yeah, can't help it. Sorry. The OP and ED don't change throughout the series run so that in itself can be a testament to their quality. Either that or NHK-E just doesn't have the budget for another OP/ED. We may never know... (Overall) All in all LH has superb word building, and expansive and engaging cast and an interesting MC to keep you hooked. It's one of those series w/c actually makes you use your noggin a bit and this makes you understand why it's aired on a government sponsored edutainment channel aimed at kids despite being Shounen. Oh, and yeah, there are action scenes too but they're only a part of the narrative. But they are well placed. Also if you're looking for a series that evokes nostalgia for the old school MMOs that took over our misspent youths look no further. LH has that in spades considering that it was based on Everquest and the key here is not "trapped in a virtual MMO" but "transported to an alternate world resembling our favorite desktop/console MMO played w/ mouse and keyboard". *Do note that the MMO theme might be a mixed bag (Some would like the explanations about MMO gaming in general and some may feel annoyed since they already know the stuff and feel like they're being treated like noobs.) and the MMO feel kinda tapers off towards the end of the series. But, again, remember that LH is a multi layered series. The story shifting from world building to character-centric is part of the overall package. It's up to you guys if you'll like the transition or not. While it may have its slightly annoying moments I find it an honestly enjoyable series. But it's not for everyone. *P.S. I, being the shameless fanboy that I am, will take this chance to encourage you guys to read the novels. You'll find a lot of things that were not included in the TV adaptation (since it's NHK-E and the censoring is unavoidable) and you'll get to enjoy another aspect of the series. Thanks for reading the review guys.

When Log Horizon wasn't getting on my nerves it was putting me to sleep, it was sold to me as a fantasy world anime done right, with excellent world building, and a vast cast of interesting and likeable characters. Sadly I found this couldn't be further from the truth. The first issue is that Log Horizon makes up its rules not on what logically makes sense, but what's convenient for its narrative. First of, in this fantasy world you can make food from a drop down menu or buy some made from an NPC, however these foods have no taste, now raw ingredients have taste, and so do meals made in the same way you would do so in the real world, though you need the chef subclass to do so. The reason why this is the case is never explained and is merely a contrivance to set up a major sub-plot early into the show. If the logic is that the menu made food doesn't have any taste because it goes through an "unnatural" creation process, why is NPC made food also effected by this. If you need the chef subclass to make food with flavor, why does everyone have the power to make food via a menu, also on that note why there is a chef class is never explained either and have a maid subclass come up later makes even less sense. Early on we find out that all the characters take on the appearance of their in game avatars, Log Horizon really wanted to have it's cake and eat it too in this instance. All the low level players happen to be children, who all coincidentally made child avatars, which look similar to their real life selves, and everyone elses appearance match both their personality, and gender. Knowing this it would make a whole lot more sense if you simply took on your real life appearance, however then the show wouldn't have an excuse to have some players be cat people, who all coincidentally are fine with no longer being human and even love to role play twenty four seven. One could argue for suspension of disbelief here I agree, though it didn't need to be written in such a way. It could be that you take on your real life appearance, with the exception of specific non-human traits and it would of worked just fine. Even so these other races and traits never really add anything to the show and are never really explored, so I have to wonder what the point was. Log Horizon isn't even consistent with its rules, it's established that if you attempt to fight inside a city, incredibly powerful guardians will spawn until you cease fighting, outside of cities you can kill other players however, they will merely infinitely re-spawn back in the city. It's also established that a guild exists that forces inexperienced players (who all happen to be children for some reason) to give their experience potions that they receive daily, to the high level players within said guild, of course this brings up just how exactly they could force them to do anything, considering they could just leave to the areas were the guardians spawn. The show attempts to explain this away by saying the guild members could simply kill them when they leave the city, though this implies they have enough people to keep the entire area covered for every time one of the children tries to leave, who are also totally okay with child abuse. At one point on of these guild members physically restrains one of the children, however the guardians don't spawn because it isn't technically 'combat', but this seems to imply that you could physically unarm someone and drag them out of the city, but not have the guardians spawn on you because you have technically started combat. This as well as the food having no taste and the physical appearance of the characters, are just three of the many issues I had with Log Horizons world building, as it feels as if the rules are made up merely as it goes along. Annoyingly, Log Horizon doesn't even feel as if it accurately portrays MMO's how ether, in most of the battles only one or two ability is used per character, and apparently there's no default attack for most of the classes.I cannot comprehend who would want to play an MMO in which you can only make one action every five teen or so seconds, it also doesn't help that we never learn the variety of class options or if there exists a form of meta game present before the game is made real. Moving on, the characters are a horrible detriment to the show, which all feel one note and completely uninteresting. We have our main character Shiroe, who doesn't really have much of a personality other than being somewhat reserved. The show wants us to believe he is a master strategist, apparently not by actually showing him do anything impressive but by having the characters constantly riding his dick about how great a strategist he is, remember don't show, tell tell and tell some more. Speaking of riding Shrioe's dick, what better way to describe Akatsuki, a 20 year old women with the appearance of a twelve year old (which is based off her actual appearance mind you) for some reason, not that it matters because she acts like a child, loving to constantly role play as her class, and refer to Shrio as her lord, it is unbearable as it sounds. She isn't the worst however as after her you have Naotsugu, his entire character is basically that he's a pervert, he exemplifies the worst of Log Horizon's attempt at humor, it wasn't funny when Akatsuki hit him the first time for being a pervert nor the other twenty times after that. Aside from that you have a group of annoying children who take several days to grasp the basic concepts of an MMO, some people who take things far too seriously, and a princess that everyone seems to love for no real reason. The aesthetic of Log Horizon also feels uninspired, you'd think there would be some disquisition between high level and low level characters, considering that higher level players would have stronger equipment, but apparently not, you would also think people would look rather unique considering how much time people put into character customization but this isn't the case either. It makes it hard to wonder why people would play an MMO that looks so generic, and just because a narrative is based on an MMO it doesn't mean it has to conform to such a generic looking standard. I'll end on a positive note by saying the sound track for this show is decent, and also feels as if it would be in place inside of a video game, whilst also fitting the scene in general. The intro theme is also pretty good, aside from being a tad cringey with lines such as "We've got the antidote for the jammed and hypnotized." Unfortunately this isn't enough to salvage Log Horizon, and I certainly wont be continuing on to season two.

Let me say this straight off the bat, this is not going to be an argument about why Log Horizon is better than Sword Art Online. It is going to be solely focused on the story of Log Horizon and how it is presented. Okay, let's first talk about the anime itself. The plot is every video gamer's dream and nightmare rolled into one, more on the side of the dream over the nightmare as there is (little) penalty for death unlike similar stories with this. The story plays out more like a fantasy genre anime than that of a video game, with some interesting developments that make you think that it wasn't a game world but an entire fantasy universe that they were transported to (...I hope I didn't spoil anything unintentionally), The thing about Log Horizon is that they drip feed you important pieces of lore about the anime world as a rate that makes you know the next big plot point without actually spoiling the surprise and impact that it has. Everything has a place within this universe (Chekhov's Gun at work) and nothing feels wasted. The art style is quite interesting. It has something about it that is unique while feeling similar as well. Sort of trying to create their own style of art while not going full blown unique like Zankyou no Terror or Shingeki no Bahamut: Genesis (neither of which i had a problem with art wise). The art is pleasing to the eye. The opening theme is... again unique for lack of a better word. I like it, but it takes some getting used to. It is quite memorable and bizarre in a way that you just want to sing along. The backing music is also quite nice, with the main theme tune of the song used quite well throughout the anime. The only thing is the end theme. It's kinda forgettable, but it's still nice to listen to. It's what I've kinda come to expect of end themes, but it still surprised me that it was nice and hinted to a major plot point. Also, let me just say that practically every five seconds of the opening animation is a massive spoiler, but they do it in such a way that you only realise after watching that part of the anime. Seriously, I thought Fairy Tail's OPs were good at that and then this happened. If I had to compare the characters to anything else it would be Code Geass. The reason is that, with the exception of the most minor of characters, all the characters are fleshed out in a way that you care about them. Even the characters who you originally find unlikable will make you care about them. I enjoyed the anime a fair amount. I wouldn't absolutely binge watch it, but it constantly kept me intrigued. I'll say the last episode has the qualities of one of those, 'don't worry, we are making a second season so this will all make more sense' vibes to it, but at least there was a second season unlike other animes... I recommend this anime to anyone who is looking for a lighthearted anime to watch, but especially gamers. Also, please, stop arguing over whether SAO or Log Horizon is better people. They are only connected by their genre, otherwise they are COMPLETELY different shows.

The cast of Log Horizon seemed kind of ... how should i put it "Stupid" and started as more comedy oriented than straight out getting to the point, HOWEVER when it gets to the action scenes and some story telling / turning points it shows how its done. the visuals during some parts may not be as good as the previous MMO-related anime which was a catastrophy from start to end Sword Art Online But of course music and visuals don't always make the best thing, yes? The well written story and fact that no one knows why is it happening why are they there? what is the reason? it's all a mystery which you feel apart of and not just to be there as a story element which you would forget after you end the animation and will totally forget what is going on, the "penalties of death" are quite severe if you think about them in-depth Log Horizon is an adventure telling story which will be remembered until something better releases.

Here goes yet another of my really dislikeable reviews... Yay! I´ll be honest with you, I was disappointed with this anime, quite a lot. Firstly, the premise is not much innovative, even though the way it was done was different than other animes of the sort (SAO, Accel World, etc.). My disappointment came from the fact that, even when not being a bad anime, I ended up waiting for something to happen for weeks in a row. It was something like "Yeah! this time something WILL happen... Maybe?... Maybe not?... Perhaps next week!". And the real problem is that I was expecting Log Horizon to be an action anime or an adventure anime, when it all ended up being a Slice of Life. This could have been fine, if it weren't for so many episodes plagued with absolutely obvious facts, as if, rather than an anime, I was watching an MMO's beginners tutorial coupled up with "Economics 101". Story: 7 I think I'm being very generous here for an anime I almost quit on over the exasperation of episode after episode of announcing somehting important happening that didn't even come up after all, summed up with those chapters where somehting DID happen, but it was made to be felt as tiny and unimportant as possible due to the 10 minute explanation of how a horde of trolls (goblins, whatever) is stronger than an unwalled village of puny townsmen. Art: 8 The art wasn't compelling, but there were no uncomfing reductions in quality all throughout. There WERE times when it was noticeable how budget was saved by not showing talking mouths and so, but such things are acceptable, although at times it made it hard to tell whether the characters were talking out loud or thinking. Sound: 8 Sound was decent. I liked the OP and the ED, but the overall soundtrack within the chapters was nothing to praise, as weren't the sound effects used through the course of the sreies. Character: 7 Again, I feel like I'm being too generous on this. Let it be like this, though. Characters were not impressive at all, not even the good kind of cliché. But what I found unstandable was the fact that EVERY SINGLE ONE of the characters HAD to do somehting that at the very least appeared important, as well as praising Shiroe for his "brilliant" ideas, as if he were Yagami Light or Lelouch. Enjoyment: 7 It's a seven just to be fair, and only because I've rated "worse" anime better than this on the enjoyment. It's not heartfelt, though, as, just the way I said, I was just about to drop LH by episode 20 or so (if I can recall it caorrectly). Overall: 7.4

Warning: this review contains mild spoilers. First impressions: So, we got another show about people being trapped in a video game. Man, where have I heard that before? Story: 7/10 Log Horizon is about a group of people who get mysteriously transported into the MMORPG known as Elder Tales, after they have the final DLC patch for it. With people now trapped in Elder Tales, it's up to the main character, Shiroe, to try to figure out what to do in this new world, and how to get home. You can tell that this show has a very overused idea, that’s been milked to death in recent years, with most shows of its ilk being gamer-empowerment and otaku-pandering crap, that became boring and uninteresting after the first five-ish times this idea got put into practice. Suffice it to say, I didn’t go into this show with high expectations. I must say, though, that upon watching Log Horizon, I was pleasantly surprised to see that presentation and execution of its basic idea was done pretty decently. Not only do they actually focus on the RPG elements and not just on beta males getting lots of pussy or Jesus-kun with hack powers, but they also actually focus on what would happen if you were trapped in your average MMORPG. The story line itself it's pretty interesting. While the idea of people being trapped in a video game is fairly standard, the idea of trying to establish a basic government and build a community is extremely unconventional. As a bonus, the idea of not having much interest in escaping the game and returning to their (presumably crappy) lives, but rather staying in the game and making the best of it, is a nice touch. The story and presentation were handled quite well, especially in regard to the sociopolitics between the different guilds and the game’s NPCs, and the psychological issues that may arise from being transported to the game world, after all the initial dust has settled. Another thing that really helped sell the story’s believability as a whole is the way the cast treat the former game as their new reality, especially regarding how they try to solve the problems that plague their new society, as you’d imagine people would in real life. One of the most memorable incidents of something like this happening being the extermination of a faction that practiced slavery and extortion against lower level players. Perhaps one of the fascinating aspects of Log Horizon is the way it deals with the idea of characters’ purpose for living. One of the big problems early in the series is the general public’s boredom and lack of motivation to do anything, as they don’t really have anything to live for or do. This problem is only heightened by the fact that all they have to do to live in the game world is kill a few entry level monsters for gold coins, and use that gold to pay for a inn and food. As a result, due to the lack of structure, to absotutely nobody’s shock, a lot people start destroying shit and killing other players, with next-to-no consequences, with death being a non-issue. Now a few negatives I. One of the primary factors that prevented me from enjoying the show was the significant lack of tension, especially that resulting from the more prominent character’s immortality, rendering the concept of death semi-meaningless. This problem I have with the show is slightly alleviated by the fact that characters lose some of their memories when they die, but not much. Unfortunately, since this mechanism never gets put to any use, it’s doesn’t really serve any purpose other than to create artificial tension. Another problem I have with Log Horizon is that even though there are tactics involved, there are some parts where the main characters, particularly Shiroe, pull solutions to problems straight out of their asses, under the guise of experience. Because of this, a lot of the encounters felt very one-sided and the feeling of tension was undercut for me even more than with just the previous problem, and it took away from the experience quite a bit. Something that I’m kind of on the fence about is the fact that there are a few romantic moments between some of the characters. While they don’t exactly feel unnatural and I don't find them too bad, they just don't seem to go anywhere, and I feel that they don't add much to the character or story, anyway. The final negative is that it feels like you would have to be a gamer to fully enjoy it, limiting it’s accessibility. Other than that, Log Horizon is pretty much a slice of life trapped in a video game with romcom elements and good pacing. Characters: 6/10 The main character, Shiroe(real name Kei Shirogane), was somewhat interesting to me. His strategist appeal, as well as his use of the ruthless tactics that earned him the nickname “the villain behind the glasses”, being more than enough to prompt the growth of my initial interest. My favourite display of this trait is probably when he purchases the main hall, where both the bank and a lot of the local guild's’ headquarters are, and strongarms the local guild leaders into conforming to his plan, and forming a government, or else. This action speaks volumes about his character, as it not only displays his level of cunning and tact, but also how meticulous he can be when pulling off a plan on that scale. In fact, this plan is highly reminiscent of something you would find in Niccolò Machiavelli's book ‘The Prince’, so props for that. Despite the machiavellian schemer front he puts on though, it’s been shown that Shiroe has the best intentions in mind with every action he takes, and just doesn’t care about the way he’s perceived by the general public. Besides which, while he may have a somewhat antisocial and reclusive exterior, he’s surprisingly kind to those that he’s close to. My favourite part of the story, where this aspect of his personality is highlighted, is probably when he takes them time to assume a mentor role for some of the community’s younger low-level players, as he not only goes out of his way to protect them, but also takes the time to teach them to defend themselves. This showcases that he does actually have some people skills, even if he mostly prefers to work by himself, but can also have actual comrades that he legitimately cares for. The side characters are two-dimensional, at best. Some of the series’ ever so lovably trophy characters include the goofball, the tsundere and the gentlemen badass. You can easily tell how stereotypical they are because of how little they deviate from their stereotypes, with the exception of how good they are at being them. However, even though the characters are so cliched, they actually have some pretty fun character interactions, and have their own role to play in the grand scheme of things. It’s made abundantly clear that this isn't just your lord and savior jesus-kun type of character doing almost everything, and the vast majority of the rest of the cast doing absolutely nothing (other that looking pretty, that is) type of story. Every character, and I mean EVERY character, plays some sort of part in the story, and it doesn't come off as disjointed, like a lot of series with such a big cast do, but rather, very organic. The major problem with the side characters, though, is that not all of them get the necessary amount of screen time to flesh them out. This not only stretches the narrative too thin, but also makes the characters kinda suffer a result. Suffice it to say, though, most of the characters are more than fun and cool enough for that not to be a major problem. Their ample amount of energy and personality also really helps gloss over the aforementioned problem. Unfortunately, there are a few character arcs that are still in progress, so while they may go somewhere in the light novels, as it stands, a sizable proportion of the cast ramain lukewarm and undercooked. Side note: I found a decent number of the characters relatable, in some way or form, as quite a few of them remind me either myself …

Where to begin? After many months of procrastination I finally finished season 1 of Log Horizon, and it has left me with immense levels of satisfaction. I want to provide some background information, before leading into I feel about the show. I write my reviews in a unique style, I like to give things from my point of view and my opinions and experiences as they relate to me alone. Not how they should relate to everyone else. If you take the time to read this, use it as a basis for whether or not you may experience the same feelings, not whether or not I am a good gauge of whether you agree with my opinions. I am strictly stating how things are from my perspective. I haven’t watched much Anime as you can see from my list, my first true favorite Anime was Bleach, which after awhile I grew sort of frustrated and tired with and have since put watching it on hold. Since introducing my wife to it, however, we are at a point where we should be able to start watching it again soon. Sword Art Online was my first taste of the MMORPG Anime style of show. I got so lost in Sword Art Online and its love story that I thought no show could ever top the reminiscent feelings that show brought me. I hate to say it, but Log Horizon has very much so taken the cake. And it astonishes me to think that there are hundreds of other great Anime’s out there of all different styles and stories that will amaze me. I spent the majority of my young adult life playing MMORPG’s. I was a social outcast and had no friends, but MMO’s were a place where that didn’t matter and all that mattered was your ability to play well and interact well with others while doing so. I became one of the best tanks in my guilds and was always dependable for helping others. Some of my fondest memories are from my days playing various MMO’s. Looking back on those days, I never really appreciated the fun and joy I was having like I can now that I am able to put things into perspective. I have never truly enjoyed games since my days of MMO’s came to an end. The pure awe and experience gained through such massive community driven games has never been replicated in recent years for me. The concept behind Log Horizon is on another level entirely. Although it’s not an original idea in that players are trapped inside a digital world that can be perceived as reality, the show takes my imagination to a place it has not been in quite some time. It would almost be a dream come true for a game like Elder Tale to exist in it’s entirety. Living in a world like that, through a sense of virtual reality but actually using your brain not just your hands and fingers, is something that I would probably never want to quit doing. The show brings me powerful feelings of nostalgia that satiates my desire to return to MMO’s immensely. It is very difficult to shake these feelings as it is quite overwhelming. On pure levels of enjoyment, this show brings it. I really get a sense that the creators know a lot about MMO’s and what makes and drives them. The game is so relatable from the perspective of someone who has experienced it for many years. The story of the show is incredible, without giving anything away, the story feels exactly like it would feel if any MMO were real. The things that transpire and the way the world interacts is exactly as it is with any MMO. It’s almost like a visual role-play, but if you’ve played MMO’s like I have, it feels so much more connected and real. I don’t find there to be much in the ways of music, or sound. There are small amounts of music and sound effects really, and that’s ok. The visuals are quite stunning at times, and I find the overall animation, and creativity of the world to be quite good. For the most part, I love all of the characters. I have found myself disliking very few characters throughout the entirety of the show. In closing, this show is a must watch for anyone who misses the glory days of MMORPG’s. I am not sure how this show would be perceived by someone with absolutely no knowledge of what an MMORPG is like, but can say that the story should be easy enough to follow that anyone can enjoy it. This has quickly become my favorite Anime so far of all of the few I have watched. I think a large contributor to that is how much I can relate to the subject material, the quality of the story and twists, as well as the quality of the premise behind the show. It’s something that truly interests me and makes me excited to think about, which not much does anymore. I can only hope Season 2 carries on the greatness of Season 1, and if there is more to come after Season 2 it does the same. I cannot recommend watching this show enough, I find it to truly be one of the great works to be experienced in a persons lifetime. I have had so much fun binge watching Season 1. I cannot believe I ever procrastinated finishing this. I love Log Horizon!

This review will be for both season one and two, for I watched both seasons back to back so I'll be reviewing the show as the entirety of the story. The show was pretty interesting, when you go in when you're watching it keep in mind the aspects of the story isn't told mainly through the combat. The beginning of the show was a little slow, but still necessary to set up the environment and characters. The characters were written pretty nicely, they each had a personality that they stuck to all throughout the show. There wasn't that much character development, except for maybe a few characters. What makes the show pull through was how the characters handled their new environment, setting up laws and rebuilding a livable world. A few things I was pretty impressed with was the way the show explained functions and terms of a video game. So a viewer who doesn't play many games can go in and not be too confused. Another thing would be that they included NPCs (non playable characters) in the show. One thing I didn't like was how open the end was, it seemed like they left the show open for a third season. Sadly I don't think the show will have a third season.

The story is ok but there is a problem in plot. I did not sense anything on which plot is built. You know what am I trying to say. [spoiler] I think the plot must be built on how they ended up in virtual reality game and what are they trying to do. [/spoiler] It would be better if they had a great plot. Setting for plot is ok but there is plot missing there. Art is as good as any other game genre anime can have. Character development is pretty decent. In the end I really did get disappointed by watching it. It is just so so game genre anime. I thought it would be more good.

I watched this as a recommendation. I didn't expect much. And I was blown away. In many pieces. This anime has a kick-ass theme song, great humor, amazing story, bad-ass MC, great and unique characters and I was hooked on fast. And I remained hooked until I watched it all. Can't say I liked season 2, but the first 25 episodes were superb. Some pointless filler here and there, but nothing too much to call it bad. "The Villain in Glasses" or Shiroe, is a main character presented in a different way. While still dense about intimacy, relationships and love - he is the superb tactician that everybody in the anime know. His reputation is scary even though he isn't a scary guy. But unlike in other anime where the MC is this dense brute going through endless ranks of enemies, proving how overpowered he is. Shiroe however is a strategist that stays in the shadows and unfolds his mad genius plans of anything that simply fall into place and leaves everyone with the jaws on the floor. That's his skill - his analytical planning and prediction. If Log Horizon was World of Warcraft, then Shiroe would be the support/healer type standing in the back of the fight, and giving instructions to a full 40 man raids. IMO Log Horizon beats SAO in their own game-like anime concept. Take this as my opinion, but Log Horizon is also what SAO wasn't. The story dwells on the entire world and goes to great lengths to explore the interactions between players and "People of the Land" or NPC's that are no longer just NPC's. There is a ton of lore, myths, flavor text and sheer lunacy of content that is about the world the characters are in. If I would compare them both now after I watched Log Horizon, I can safely assume that they did what SAO couldn't - an amazing exploration of the game world WITH the main characters in it. Not just another raid, another quest, another NPC that nobody would remember. My only regret is that there isn't any relationship that becomes "public". In that respect, SAO did better. Much better. This anime is magnificent. At least, the first season. I HIGHLY recommend it to everyone. Especially those that liked SAO. You will be amazed by this one. I guarantee it.

I've been meaning to watch this series but haven't the chance yet. Taking the time, I gave it the benefit of the doubt, to no surprise, it became a gem of an anime. If you are into the kind of anime that has the MMORPG aspect to it, then you'll like this for sure. Story: 8 Without any spoilers, the plot develops and has different arcs in it. It has many different classes in the anime, hince being an MMORPG anime. Art: 8 The visuals are beautiful. I love how they did the artwork in this anime. Sound: 10 The sound was perfect to say the least. Character: 9 I enjoyed how the characters grew through the series, they were dynamic which made the anime even more fun to watch. Enjoyment: 8 There are different emotions throughout this anime but it was fun and I loved it. Overall: 8 In my opinion, I enjoyed watching it. I always hear people saying Sword Art Online is better but you can't compare these two anime. That's like comparing an apple and an orange. You just can't do it. I would rewatch it. I thoroughly enjoyed it! I hope others find it as well!

I'm actually kinda surprised at how high this show has been rated. But to be fair, everyone has their own taste in anime. This was not mine. I was actually pretty hyped up to watch it after reading the reviews. But I'm looking back and wondering how I finished these 25 episodes. My biggest issue with this anime was it has this 'spark' that promised to bloom into something more. But until the end I was waiting and waiting for it to go off. Characters: Shiroe is the loner genius that relearns the bonds of friendship. He is not a fighter but a strategist. Thing is I really didn't see Shiroe as any kind of genius but rather a good politician and businessman. It is more of a 'oh he thought of it first' kinda of genuis. That or when he does solve the problem, it is with such vague logic you wonder how it even came through. When you take that out of the equation all Shiroe really has as an advantage is that he is a senior player and has the items and experience necessary to navigate through certain situations. That said, he isn't a bad main character because I like how he isn't the hero filled with purpose and drive but more of a character that rides his own flow and intersects with the main river to keep it from dying out. It made it interesting to see how he would deal with every situation. Romance/Female Characters The romance irritated me to no end. The main love interests look like 12 year old girls. One actually is a 12 year old girl. The rest were represented by huge breasts and outlandish personalities that removed them from the possibility of being love interest. They were hilarious and endearing in their own way but they were more for comedic effect than anything. I really really really liked Akatsuki and wouldn't even mind her love for Shiroe if it didn't completely limit her. We see her fight once or twice in the first 5 episodes and despite being one of the strongest characters she is not seen fighting again. Ever. Action/Fighting: The fighting was non-existent, funnily enough for a video game. The issue is that every 4 or 5 episodes there would be a situation where a fight is happening but the fight itself was just lackluster. It started off good - the first 10 episodes were at least decent. But slowly it just stopped. They scene barely last 5 mins, the same spells are used, and in the case of the 'major event' later on we don't even actually see combat despite the situation. We get a full frontal shot of the character getting ready but no actually movement. Only colorful lights being thrown everywhere. It was disappointing to watch because the animation was there and the potential to have at least one good battle is part of the fact I kept watching. Sadly, that never happened. So what's left? : Majority of the story is set in world building - politics, government, security, and public calm. We see small things like teaching, festivals, fast food and other nuances of our world being put back into the video world. The more they try to do that, the less of the 'video game' feeling we are left with towards the end of the season. The last 'battle' perfectly exemplifies this. The comedy is the only thing I would give this show a 8/9 for. It's what kept me going. Personally, I am not going to watch season 2. Would I recommend this anime, not really. However, if you know what you like, maybe you might find something to connect you to Log Horizon. I couldn't find much.

Elder Tale, an MMORPG becomes real life from one second to the next. What has changed into this new reality? What will be everybody's goal now that questing is pointless? Who will take charge of the community? Log Horizon gives the answers and this adventure of discovering this new worlds' rules and limits while showing some exceptional MMORPG strategies and skills. As a MMORPG gamer I found Shiroi's strategy in battle and off battle to be awesome!!!The intro soundtrack could have been better...

The anime is very similar to Sword Art Online, and both have great sounds and music. However there are some upsides and downsides here and there: I liked the sense that Shiroe, a strategist and the protagonist of the story, uses tactics as a way to win fights more often than he use force. It adds more attractiveness and appreciation to the enjoyment of Log Horizon. (Shiroe + Ryouta Sakamoto, the protagonist of Btooom!, have similar ways on handing things; which is a thing I like in both animes) However, in Sword Art Online what kept players from returning back to real world is that Nerve Gear, the head piece technology used to play the game, was altered so that when a player dies he dies in real world too. But in Log Horizon, what makes players stay in the game? (unable to logout is not an enough reason to add sense to the story in my humble opinion). The series did not answer this question in its 1st season, but things might probably be more clear in the 2nd season to be aired next October. Overall, I enjoyed watching the anime especially the way the story builds up the way makes Log Horizon the kind of anime that you eager for the coming next episode to watch. Among animes aired on the same October 2013 season, Log Horizon is one of my recommended series. And, the ending theme song is spectacular!

*SPOILER FREE REVIEW* In October of 2013 to the March of 2014 an anime was released, named Log Horizon. At first people took it for a mere clone of the .hack franchise and Sword Art Online, but what they didn't know, was that it was so much more. Story:- 7.8 The story of Log Horizon is nothing special or unique. It is basically what we have seen before in Sword Art Online and the .Hack franchise. People get stuck in a MMORPG video game, that’s the most basic way to explain this type of show. But unlike other shows with this type of plot, in Log Horizon, if our characters die in this game, they respawn like they would in a real video game. This changes everything drastically since now our characters will not die. The entire concept is now unique from other shows who have followed this "stuck in a game" route. This allows the story to have a much less serious tone and thus allows for the viewer to have a good time with the anime. Instead of focusing on how to get out of the game, the anime focuses on how to adapt to the characters new "home". The only negative point about the story is that is a bit formulaic and cliché as well as the fact that for now the anime doesn't has no real or satisfying ending. But this can easily be fixed by the second season which comes out in the Fall of 2014. Another thing that this anime had in the negative side was the lack of much suspense. There were cliffhangers, but very few of them. Art:- 7.2 The art and animation in the story was great while not being perfect. The scenery was good but nothing to write home about. The main focus, as one would expect, is the fights. But the flaw with this is that the fight scenes aren't focused on the actual fighting and the camera is usually focused on strategic aspects of the story. Sound:- 7.0 The sound of this anime is one of the lower points of the show. There aren’t any really brilliant songs in the soundtrack. The opening song “Database” is a completely different beast altogether. It’s a brilliant song which many will shun on their first listen but as the anime continues, the song will definitely grow on you and will possibly get stuck in your head. Not too fond of the rap section though. The anime as of now doesn’t have a dub and will probably not have one in the coming years, but the Japanese dub of the show is pretty good. Overall the soundtrack is merely average or at best good, the opening and ending are both very good, and the voice acting is good. Characters:- 8.0 The characters are the best part of this anime. Each character has a specific personality, including both the main and supporting characters. Shiroe is our main protagonist throughout the story. While seen as “evil” or “cunning” by the many people present in the game, but the people who are close to him know that he’s a kind hearted person. To state his place in battles, you can call him a Tactician who doesn’t lead the army, but passes strategic orders that help him and his friends to win in battle. Naotsugu is the stock “best friend pervert” of the story. He’s mainly used as a comic relief character, but in battle he is used in a much better way, being the “tank” of the group. Akatsuki can be described as a classic tsundere. Her character does gain depth throughout the story but not by much. There are many running gags with her like her actual age, and her kicking Naotsugu and later asking permission to do so from Shiroe. These gags do get stale very soon, but I’d be lying if I said I didn’t get a few laughs from it. Her place in the battle is to kill opponents swiftly and gather information secretly as her class, assassin, allows her to do. Though the main characters are nothing brilliant on their own, what really makes the show shine is the gigantic list of supporting cast. Each and every side character has a backstory , and is overall well designed. The characters range from a flamboyant mage to a cat chef, and if I tried to define each character in detail, then I would be here for months. Enjoyment: 7.5 If you want to know whether Log Horizon is better than Sword Art Online or the .Hack franchise, then yes, it’s much better. The main attraction about the anime, is that it actually feels like a game with the respawning, NPCs, classes, shops, guild etc. While other anime that follow this concept feel much more “serious”, Log Horizon takes itself much less seriously. It knows what it is and doesn’t try to act serious. It’s a light hearted anime with fun moments scattered throughout it, and decent action scenes when the action is actually shown. Overall I got a lot of fun out of Log Horizon, the story was nothing special , nor was the concept. But the execution of the concept is what really hits the ball out of the park. The characters are well designed, and each one has an intriguing personality, and is actually useful in the story. It’s a simple story, but it has its own charm about it. Overall=7.5

The premise intrigued me and I was pretty much hooked from episode 1. This is an interesting show, not quite what I expected it to be from the early episodes going in. Those early episodes introduce our main characters and have them set out on quite an exciting quest. This is how I thought the show would pan out but it totally went against my expectations and for the next few episodes the show slowed down and had our characters discuss what their purpose was in this new reality. From there the show focuses more on politics and strategy than just action and adventure. This isn't a complaint, in fact I found it quite refreshing that the show would take such a mature approach to its subject. The show still has room for plenty of comic moments and our band of heroes are all likeable and relatable. The animation is pretty good, shining especially during the action scenes. The music is also nice too (I loved the end theme and though the Japanese/English nu-metal opening makes me laugh, it got me pumped every time). I was pleased to hear there will be a second season. There's plenty of more the show can do and there is also room for improvement. If it's another full 25 episode season then I think the show could more fast paced. Plot-wise I'd liked to see more focus on the characters past lives in the real which the show barely touched on. Something tells though that Log Horizon has set its sights high and overall this solid season gives me hope that the show will achieve epic things.

All hail the anime gods and goddesses that Log Horizon was a double course anime because this anime both ended a year and started a year on a high note. Its amazing rendition of the video game player absorbtion genre (worst description ever?) brought back the true elements of a game-based anime. Please note that i am NOT comparing this to series such as .hack or SAO because Log Horizon is its own series and has created its own world, both literally and figuratively. By this point, you should have read the synopsis far above and are really reading this review with the most common question in your mind; "Do I watch this series or not?". Easy answer. No freaking s***. Theres a reason that in its few months of airing its practically in the top 200 and has a rating of 8/10 (at the time I write this review anyway). LH brings anything you can ask for: asskicking, romance, politics, friendship, beautiful artwork, stragedy, catchy music, character development, interesting storyline and a diversity of charismatic characters. Every episode in this anime has something interesting that will entertain you. And if you read that long list and thought "this is just going to be that gross milkshake thats a blend of everything and anything I saw in the fridge last night", then don't worry. It might seem like a lot, but LH blends it all brilliantly together. From Shiroe thinking of battle and political stragedies, Marie being hilariously lazy, Nyanta-san being a swashbuckling cat or Akatsuki being the cute yet reliable ninja; this series will please you to no end. It even has a second season announced that will be coming this fall. That should be a blinking sign the size of a whale that its that good. And for those of you who do play strategic MMORPGs, this has something for you too. LH incorperates true-to-the-core game mechanics into its world. Shiroe is not powerful and respected for his brawn, but his brains and the way he manipulates the game to how he wishes it. So what are you waiting for. Get off this review and haul yourself off to watch Log Horizon. You won't regret it. Seriously. Go do it. Now. You can thank me later. -Pironkon

Log Horizon lacks stakes, has childish humor, minimal action or character-building, and only has 1 compelling arc that doesn't seem to denote that this should be a renowned isekai. Story & Writing: 3/10 Characters: 4/10 Art: 2.5/5 Sound: 2.5/5 Avg: 4/10 I haven't written one of these in a while, but without spoilers I feel the need to unfortunately dump on a fairly beloved isekai. Let me start by saying that this is sometimes a very smart show. For anyone who has ever played an MMORPG, it is a very legitimate and affectionate take on the genre. They introduce several mechanics such as classes, subclasses, quests, grinding, balancing a party, etc. It also has 1 arc that was really great. I won't go into it but it's around episode 9-12 or so, and involves a lot of clever politicking and is very well-written. Beyond the aforementioned moments, it feels worthless to me. The story is almost nonexistent. There is an event that happens that is never explained, and none of the characters seem overly concerned that this is a monumental life-changing experience with no sign of changing. There is also no goal, journey, or point to the season. They essentially meander and try to take over until some kind of conflict arises. That said, the final arc is mostly slice of life and has little suspense or interest. I had to multitask to even finish it. The writing is smart at times, but the humor is very poor. Maybe children could find the slapstick funny, but it's mostly cringy. The characters can be good sometimes. The main character is one of the better ones, in that he's an otaku but his skills come in handy in this game world. He's never a pure good guy but easily someone you can root for. As for everyone else, you have the perverted friend, the sagelike perfect friend, the adoring sidekick, generic tough guys, a guy who can somehow always read the mind of a princess, a bubbly woman who fawns over another girl, etc. They reuse the same jokes and character interactions over and over again, and nobody grows or learns in the story. The art and sound are both fine. I skip both the OP and ED althought the ED isn't bad. Nothing special or terrible in either of these regards. If you are a very patient MMORPG fanatic, this might be for you actually. I'm not dumping on it to be cruel but to provide a perspective for potential viewers. I definitely hope to see some newer isekai that change my mind about this genre at some point in the near future.

Okay, after hearing another opinion of a friend which was similar to mine, I decides to write this in public. First of all, I want to give a compliment to the opening song which was awesome. And now, the story started pretty well but after the first episodes it all turned into politics, no fighting at all amd just talking. If you like animes where they almost only talk, this one is for you. If you seek fighting, you can pass this. There was almost and no storyline at all, there were small stories and events which happend at Elder Tale but they weren't one big storyline. It didn't remind MMORPG too much, the main characters were all at Max level, so they didn't need any monster hunting. I've given this a good score only because the idea of the anime. OK, let's move on. Besides the opening, the music wasn't so noticeable, not something special. The characters is the next, I didnt find any special or interesting characters at all and another disturbing thing was love between an adult and elementary-school girls. For summary, this anime fits more to those who prefer only slice of life than those (like me) who seek battles.