I finished up to the latest chapter a night later. I was hooked.
Gate is not a sophisticated story. It's not meant to be moralistic or intellectual. It's just a fun ride with many ups-downs and loops. This series is the marriage of two seemingly non-integratable genres (military and high fantasy) and the execution of it is spot on and here's why:
- The story is relatively simple but has the ability to add onto itself to complicate the situation or make it more interesting. The premise in it of itself can sell the story though. Just the interactions between the JSDF soldiers and fantasy folk were enough to sell me on the series.
- The art is good. Character designs are decent and unique in some areas. There is also care taken into drawing both machine and creature with care.
- The characters however are what make this series shine. It is their interactions that make this series worthwhile and seeing their routine makes for a fun time.
These all make for a great read.
However, you won't enjoy this if it's not your taste. If you're looking for a commentary on the horrors of war or the terrors of technology being subjugated on the inferior, then this isn't for you.
If you want to see kings and knights get sh*t-stompped by Tanks, APCs and Assault Rifles or a mage asking what magical incantations needed to be performed to use C4, then Gate delivers. 100%.
If you want something to have fun reading, pick this series up!
