Story: 3/10
Frankly, the story of ESP is a jumbled mess. The first episode sets the stage well. It introduces the world and the conflict between factions, and leaves the story open to development. Super powered beings called Espers have rebelled and taken Tokyo hostage. People are panicking. Everything is going wrong. And then the protagonist appears to save the day. The first episode left me keen for more. I was exited to see where the plot would go.
And then, it pulled a Gungrave and threw the plot back into the past.
Starting a story in the present and then jumping back to the past is a horrible decision. If you see a character in the present episode, you know they at least survive until that point. Therefore, any fights that are supposed to be highly impact full and tense really don't amount to anything.
The entire past arc felt like I was watching a drawn out montage.
After trudging through ESP's past sequence, eagerly awaiting the part of the story I was interested in, I was greeted with one of the most lackluster finales I've ever watched. All the plot's events basically amount to nothing, the villains motivations make absolutely no sense, and the conclusion is left open ended for a second season. On its own, Tokyo ESP just doesn't stack up, and I doubt a second season will change that.
ESP also tries its hand at making a love triangle between characters, but it feels forced and falls flat. There's also an attempt to touch on themes of racism and unfair judgement, but again, this doesn't strike a nerve at all.
Art: 5/10
Art wise, ESP doesn't stand out, nor does it suffer from poor animation quality. Its just average.
Sound: 4/10
Again, nothing that memorable here either. Whilst background sounds and the VO are passable, Tokyo ESP's OST is lacking, so it falls below average.
Character: 3/10
Nothing special about Tokyo ESP's characters at all. They're mostly shallow and one dimensional, and a lot of their actions don't make any sense. There are some moments where they can be likeable, but these are few and far between. ESP also contains the contender for worst villain (I've never witnessed a character this poorly constructed).
Like the other categories, the characters just fell flat.
In conclusion, Tokyo ESP just felt like a waste. The premise is wasted, the story is jumbled, the characters are dull. All that stands out are its flaws, and there are many.
Final Verdict: 3/10
