Gaming World Meets the Real World: Log Horizon

Alright all you gamers!  I’ve got an anime here that you’re sure to love.  This week I’m reviewing Log Horizon, an anime that shows what can happen when the gaming world comes to the real world.  I have to admit, this review was inspired by someone very near and dear to me, but I’ll get to that later on.  For right now, hook up your game controls and let’s take a look at Log Horizon.

Log Horizon starts when a new expansion of the popular online game Elder Tale mysteriously transports players into the world of the game.  Fellow player Shiroe and his friends Naotsugu and Akatsuki brace their way through the game and battle the many adversaries they face behind the computer screen.  But soon their luck turns around when they form their own guild, with the help of other friends like Marielle and Henrietta, known as Log Horizon.

Granted, I didn’t finish this series, but overall, Log Horizon gets four out of five stars from me!  It has a great and entertaining story, the characters are certainly interesting, and of course, animation is good.  Also, the concept is very unique; who’d of ever thought to create a series where players of a popular MMORPG are suddenly trapped in the game, which now becomes their reality.  Another thing that’s interesting about Log Horizon is that there’s a bit of a political air to it.  Or to put it in other words, there are sometimes when the show is political.  One major example involves episodes nine (“Round Table Conference”) through ten (“Grab It in Your Hand”).  Here in these episodes, a meeting takes place between the leaders of all the major guilds in the surrounding area- this group later becomes the Round Table FYI.  Discussed in these meetings are laws that prevent players from kidnapping, killing, and imprisoning other players, the idea of a monetary system, and other things that would be discussed in the formation of a government.  Plus, Shiroe presents himself as a mastermind.  I would certainly put him up there with characters like Lelouch Lamprouge- at least when it comes to strategic planning and talks on government.  So, let it not be said that all video games are all just garbage- not saying that they are.

However, despite what good things there are in Log Horizon, there is one downside.  One of the biggest reasons why I lost interest in this show was the MMORPG lingo used in the show.  I am no gamer by any means.  I’ve never even played an online game before.  So a lot of the terms used and the explanation of what goes on in the game were confusing.  Even when Shiroe explains what’s going on in the game, if you have no experience with online games, you’re left in the dark.  This can be a major turn off for anime goers who don’t play RPGs.  It would be wise to brush up on some RPG vocabulary or call someone you know to explain the basics.  If you can’t commit to that, well then you really shouldn’t watch this-and that’s hard to say because this is a good anime.  But unless you know the terminology, you’ll get confused.

Now, before I close for this week, I mentioned earlier that there was a personal drive for this review.  My boyfriend-also an otaku-is big on MMORPGs.  Thinking about Log Horizon, makes me think of him.  Besides, his understanding of MMORPGs helped me get through a little of the show.  Yes, anime is a little sweeter when your boyfriend is there to explain it for you.

So in conclusion, Log Horizon is a fine anime that puts gaming into an entirely different point of view.  But the world of Elder Tale may turn otakus away unless they are knowledgable of the world of RPGs.  Regardless of what you may know about RPGs, you can watch full episodes online- particularly on crunchyroll.com-if you’re interested.  There will also be a second season coming Fall 2014, so stay posted if you watch it and like it.  Oh, and let’s not forget, this show does have a little sweet spot in my heart, mostly because my boyfriend is one of those gamers.  Well, that’s all I have for this week.  So until next time, stay posted!

-Hanime on Anime