| >User interface (health bar, stats, gear, etc.) >Unlocking new abilities. >Gaining levels. I know for sure I don't. |
| They really take me out of it because every time I see them I think that they either want to pander to the NEET audience or the writer is a hack who can't write a fantasy story without thinking of his favorite RPG (usually both). |
| MEA·MENTVLA·INGENS·EST |
| No it's really stupid, the gaming tie-in and the whole For Gamers thing is one of the reasons my watching of anime has tanked this decade. It was a novelty when Sword Art Online did it, but SAO wasn't even that good. It got lots of criticism. So I have no idea why the industry suddenly decided to go that direction and make anime just like non-playable scenes of games. |
| @SuperAdventure I've been playing video-games my whole life and I don't like this sort of thing, so it's not even "for gamers". |
| I don't like it in most cases but in Konosuba and other similar comedy anime which are more parody than actual isekai I like it, it has more sense there for some reason. Few days ago I watched Redo of Healer at last and noticed that its MC could read status and all of info about character - it looks like garbage there. Such things are obviously reasonable in gaming anime where MC got into VR or other kind of game but fantasy with seeing skills and level limits are ridicolous. |
| Doing random shit until a voiceover tells you "level up, new skill acquired!" vs Learning new things organically and in a logical manner Uhm, truly a hard choice... Of course, the lack of videogame mechanics doesn't mean that the writing can't be as lazy as when those are present, but the opposite implication is true: if there are videogame mechanics in a fantasy world that doesn't have anything to do with videogames, laziness is guaranteed. |
| only untalented people like mushoku author will take video games elements and add it in his shit fanfic |
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| I don't like video game elements in isekai anime. |
Reply to Shizuna
@SuperAdventure I've been playing video-games my whole life and I don't like this sort of thing, so it's not even "for gamers".
| @Shizuna I'm not even trying to say anything against gamers tbh, it's not like my hobbies are so much better, just that the industry seems to be dominated by them, or else obsessed with pandering to them (or some parody of what they're supposed to be) and the whole gaming thing just doesn't appeal to me. So if it doesn't appeal even to actual gamers then.... I have no idea what's going on |
| No, it's the main reason why I don't watch Isekai actually. |
| Not really since it feels really off when an anime that doesn't have anything related to video games does this. Anime like SAO and Log Horizon kinda get a pass since they weren't technically in a fantasy world but a virtual video game. |
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| Almost all anime have characters grinding levels gaining power even of they do not use terminology. I generally do not mind it, and actively enjoy it in some cases like Shangri la Frontier. |
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| I can tolerate them, but I definitely prefer that they be left out. |
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| I don't really like it either. Maybe if they give more meaning behind it. Like maybe some NEETs find out about a closed beta test and sign up, get Augmented Reality chips (AR) inserted, then have them find each other around the city finding AR items and mini-maps. And the goal is to be the last one standing using their AR weapons. But it turns out to be an actual death game where the AR weapons actually affect them because of the microchips. And the whole thing was an experiment because the government wanted to get rid of NEETs. |
luckyruneJun 23, 2024 6:10 PM
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| I've not watched enough, but I don't like it. I would rather play a game than watch an anime that incorporates video game elements in a half assed way. |
| No I do not. Why should I enjoy them? No reason. |
| It feels really clunky and dumb for sure, but it's whatever..I'm not going to bitch too much about it. I'll just either drop or adjust my rating depending on how much it bothers me. |
| What's really bad is to focus on game stats and skills in the first episode. By the time you're halfway into the show, at around episode 6, these stats and skills are never shown again :P Either because the show completely forgets it or the MC simply doesn't have a need to raise stats and gain new skills. It's used more as a kind of situational battle report: "Hey there, I'm X MC and these are all my skills & stats. I'll try to tackle this adventure with just this loadout! Spoiler alert, I don't need to focus on gaining more stats & skills, because I start pretty OP anyway!" |
| Kingdom Come Deliverance II GOTY 2025 Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 is another worthy GOTY contender I tip my fedora to Sandfall Interactive, excellent debut gentlemen! If digital buying isn't owning, then piracy isn't stealing |
Shizuna said: Do you enjoy video-game elements in fantasy/isekai anime? It certainly doesn't bother me and I certainly wouldn't say I love it either. Though, I think it's completely overused in this Medium in general where gaming culture even influences romance seasonal throw-aways with such a title like "My Love Story with Yamada-kun at Lv999". |
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| Nothing says "creatively bankrupt, "sellout," "lifeless pandering," or "talentless hack" quite like someone writing an anime with video game terminology, video game systems, and video game interfaces. |
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| I don't like RPG elements in fantasy shows for the same reason I don't like Power levels in Dragon Ball (Mostly the fanbase): When you assign numbers to power and ability, a lot of tension is lost, and the outcomes of battles feel a lot more lame, especially because eventually, to keep viewers engaged, the protagonist is gonna cheat at the number anyway. |
 Dreams are worth fighting for |
| It quite literally makes no sense at all in-universe. If they are not recreationally playing a video game of some sort including PC, console, and ones with virtual reality headsets (Shangri-La Frontier), transported into the world of a video game (In the Land of Leadale, She Professed Herself Pupil of the Wise Man, .hack, and all those), or some other variation of actually spending their time within a video game setting, like video game characters who became aware and sentient or something (can't even think of an example of this right now off the top of my head), then it's completely out of nowhere and feels annoying and partially immersion-breaking. There are a few isekai series I have enjoyed in spite of its unwelcome presence, but that is a testament to their other aspects which kept them interesting enough to be otherwise worthwhile. I don't see how it's justifiable outside of a video game setting. Why would any world have floating video game stat screens and menus? |
| Depends on the show, but I'm not usually a big fan. |
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| Only if they were isekaied to game world. It make no sense if the target world is just ordinary fantasy world. |
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Reply to Coaghim
What's really bad is to focus on game stats and skills in the first episode. By the time you're halfway into the show, at around episode 6, these stats and skills are never shown again :P Either because the show completely forgets it or the MC simply doesn't have a need to raise stats and gain new skills.
It's used more as a kind of situational battle report: "Hey there, I'm X MC and these are all my skills & stats. I'll try to tackle this adventure with just this loadout! Spoiler alert, I don't need to focus on gaining more stats & skills, because I start pretty OP anyway!"
It's used more as a kind of situational battle report: "Hey there, I'm X MC and these are all my skills & stats. I'll try to tackle this adventure with just this loadout! Spoiler alert, I don't need to focus on gaining more stats & skills, because I start pretty OP anyway!"
| @Coaghim Yea and this is what proves the writers are hacks, they are clearly using stat screens to establish their characters as underdogs; rather than setting up an actual story and showing them struggle and fail over multiple episodes. They do no setup, no storytelling at all; it's just truck-kun followed by a stat screen- "See? The MC is an underdog because his number is 000" They don't seem to realize how this means the audience has no reason to care about the MC or his quest because they've been given a reason to. Which is what makes these isekais so empty and pointless. |
| I didn't mind it in something like Log Horizon, but I wouldn't want that in most. |
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| It depends on what kind of video game you are talking about. If Disco Elysium, I am ready for it. |
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| If it's done well and with purpose then yes. Unfortunately I find that it's usually just so arbitrary. You never actually get a good explanation of what something does and why they get it, too often its just the case of "tiger repellent"(does this reference still play?) and not really representative of anything. You'll get characters who just make numbers go bigger, but you don't see how it represents compared to other people, you can't really see or tell the difference or what they mean. They just randomly have skills that aren't actually skills, it's just "element + action", but like what makes it special? Why do they have that or use it? What's the cost? I think this is one reason why I love Solo Leveling. It actually doing the concept of a character "leveling up" like in a game really well. The character will mention how certain attributes have helped them and they talk through why they want to get an attribute higher. They get skills based on what they do. They are impactful, unique and serve purposes. Plus he just doesn't have like 50. He has like less than 10, but all are super useful, you know how and why he got them. You actually can see their specific impact on his life and combat. This show and comic does such a good job. Plus they made him a freaking necromancer which is so cool. I was expecting generic warrior or mage, so that was a great surprise. |
| No, I've never liked them. Gaming elements are the reason I avoid most isekai. |
Always the same… Every age, every generation. Human beings are infinitely more cruel and selfish than any demon in hell ~Dantalion (Makai Ouji) |
| If you get transported inside a game then it make sense. But if not then no I don't like it. I would've been totally cool with it if 2 or 3 anime had this system. But now that there is a gazillion number of isekais who uses this, it's irritating. |
| I like non-isekai anime btw. Like Kantai Collection and Senran Kagura. |
Reply to rohan121
Almost all anime have characters grinding levels gaining power even of they do not use terminology. I generally do not mind it, and actively enjoy it in some cases like Shangri la Frontier.
rohan121 said: Almost all anime have characters grinding levels gaining power even of they do not use terminology. I generally do not mind it, and actively enjoy it in some cases like Shangri la Frontier. Same here as it depends if the theme/setting is gaming related in any way and how it's done. |
| It always depends on how it's done, but in general I really like video game elements in anime. What's important to me though is that these elements are properly integrated into how the fantasy world funtions and to have the characters acknowledge that these elements exist. Otherwise it just feels out of place. One big example is having RPG-like dungeons with traps, treasure chests and boss rooms. This fundamentally feels unnatural to me unless the anime actively builds the world around the existence of these dungeons and have it make some sense. I liked how Arifureta, Reincarnated as a Sword or Solo Leveling did it, but I hated it in Frieren: Beyond Journey's End because the dungeons didn't serve any purpose other than being a video game reference (It kind of makes the world feel more artificial and not like a place that could actually exist). If well done, levels, skills and stats can add another layer of depth to the characters and the world. It's just like a different kind of magic. Sometimes video game elements are even used to make you feel like you're trapped in an artificial system and that there is some god-like power controlling the world you're in. I absolutely love this trope with how it mixes fantasy and sci-fi. My favorite examples are Sword Art Online and So I'm a Spider, So What? |
VaturnaJun 25, 2024 2:05 AM
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| 100%. I love it cause it reminds me of my favorite childhood video games like Zelda and Dragon Quest. It's why i love Yugioh so much, it's basically a walking RPG anime. It's a turn based battle game, the magic cards are like the spells in an rpg, the field power bonuses in season 1 are like the terrain in battles in RPG's, they both have equip spells. |
| My waifu is the most wonderful waifu. Mai Valentine. We're freaking out that we're running out of time, but to do what? Should i stop and think of that? Is there something i could do to slow it down? Live in a day for once, instead of watch it sprinting by |
| "That sword that guy is holding may look plain, but it's in fact an ultra-rare level 98 fire weapon that can set everyone on fire with a single swing." I can't take this kind of storytelling seriously, and even as a comedic beat, I'm over it, after decades of gaming. Then I start wondering why the writers and the animators could not come up with a scary-looking fire sword with a cool way of using it, and it's very hard not to assume the worst. Also, dumping points on a stat screen and reading skill scrolls don't feel as significant and satisfying as finally mastering a difficult move through training or being taught by an interesting character. Numbers going up do not make for good story; I would argue it's not even a story. Solo Leveling seems to be getting some love here, but it was the most egregious video game-y storytelling that I've seen personally, and completely evaporated any kind of immersion, intrigue, tension and emotional investment for me. I do enjoy video games and RPGs. But like many here I don't like seeing gameplay mechanics in an anime or in anything I "watch." Unless the anime is set inside a video game, or is about playing a game. |
Reply to perseii
"That sword that guy is holding may look plain, but it's in fact an ultra-rare level 98 fire weapon that can set everyone on fire with a single swing." I can't take this kind of storytelling seriously, and even as a comedic beat, I'm over it, after decades of gaming. Then I start wondering why the writers and the animators could not come up with a scary-looking fire sword with a cool way of using it, and it's very hard not to assume the worst.
Also, dumping points on a stat screen and reading skill scrolls don't feel as significant and satisfying as finally mastering a difficult move through training or being taught by an interesting character. Numbers going up do not make for good story; I would argue it's not even a story.
Solo Leveling seems to be getting some love here, but it was the most egregious video game-y storytelling that I've seen personally, and completely evaporated any kind of immersion, intrigue, tension and emotional investment for me.
I do enjoy video games and RPGs. But like many here I don't like seeing gameplay mechanics in an anime or in anything I "watch." Unless the anime is set inside a video game, or is about playing a game.
Also, dumping points on a stat screen and reading skill scrolls don't feel as significant and satisfying as finally mastering a difficult move through training or being taught by an interesting character. Numbers going up do not make for good story; I would argue it's not even a story.
Solo Leveling seems to be getting some love here, but it was the most egregious video game-y storytelling that I've seen personally, and completely evaporated any kind of immersion, intrigue, tension and emotional investment for me.
I do enjoy video games and RPGs. But like many here I don't like seeing gameplay mechanics in an anime or in anything I "watch." Unless the anime is set inside a video game, or is about playing a game.
| agreed with perseii post 40. most of them made cheap plot device out of game interface. they take shorcut for easiest route to make money, literally putting isekai cheat on their titles. yakuza infinite wealth cause they know people be buying those dlcs. recent show like re-monster is either cutting content or actively turning isekai into a game parody genre. it's almost like they are making good ads that are 12 episode long. |
| Even within a decent isekai series (ex: Rising of the Shield Hero), implementing it still looks hokey since it feels shoehorned in just to pander to fans of MMORPGs. Only instances I'd be fine with it would be if the anime in question are within an actual video game. |
| No I prefer regular fantasy series. I feel like leaning into video game elements makes series feel too samey like most of them are imitating a very generic jrpg. The locations, monsters, magic/progression system, etc have no real thought put into them because they can just regurgitate the same video game tropes. |
| Not really, I don't watch Anime for some made-up game mechanics. If I can't play the game myself then I'm not interested in that stuff. |
| Nah. It takes me out of it. It makes every Isekai feel the same, even more than all the other stereotypical elements already do. Like Solo Leveling. They had kind of a cute little setting worked out there. It had some unique elements... but they just HAD to throw all that in the garbage cause....>Video games. Yay.< |
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Just like any other fantasy anime, I could either enjoy or not enjoy it.  It's not something which could make me like or dislike an anime. |
 (っ◔◡◔)っ 𝓘 𝔀𝓲𝓼𝓱 𝔂𝓸𝓾 𝓪𝓵𝓵 𝓱𝓪𝓿𝓮 𝓪 𝔀𝓸𝓷𝓭𝓮𝓻𝓯𝓾𝓵 𝓭𝓪𝔂 ♥ |
| when i first saw it i was like okay it could be as fun as the trapped in game show. then i realize when they put game elements it's just like a new youtuber asking to like comment and subscribe to support them. |
| Nope, I would much prefer a solid high fantasy story. No video game or isekai elements would be preferable actually. |
| I'm not a big Iseaki guy, but I prefer when they poof into a fantasy world but are just a person within it. Over being a player in a game like setting with HUDS and UI and stuff. |
Sometimes it takes a real man to be best girl. Gilgamesh is also chad.   |
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