If this is a little too much to read, I recommend just reading my "Enjoyment" and "Overall" sections. That basically summarizes the anime without getting into any finer detail.
To start off, this show is...GREEAATTerr...maybe? It isn't...oh...why isn't it good? Jokes aside, this anime suffers a LOT when you think about it. The story is a "6" and I'm being GENEROUS. As a fan, I know I might be biased, but I'm going to try my best to be fair (and so, this review was biased).
Story: 6 - Decent (Fair according to MAL)
Well, better than Hagure Yuusha that's for sure. This actually has a story! The story is split into two "arcs". One arc taken from one Light Novel volume. The first 6 episodes are from the 1st Volume, the next 6 episodes are from the 2nd volume. They aren't great, but they aren't bad either. It's decent. Nothing too special. It'll entertain you for the next 3-4 hours but don't expect anything too extraordinary. Just lots...and lots...of obscure jokes about female mammary glands. Don't say I didn't warn you.
Art: 7 - Actually pretty diverse (Good according to MAL)
Its set pieces are diverse, that's for sure. They're well drawn and painted and fits the theme of the anime well. They aren't too unique though since some are basically just night time pieces with purple skies. The animation remains consistent too. And I mean that in a very literal sense, Rias's PLOT bounces in like...EVERY scene. Jokes aside, the art and animation are solid here. There is no drop in quality and all animation is consistent. Character designs are solid too, nothing special, but they are copying from a Light Novel's illustrations. However, one thing to point out though: You'll basically always see them in their school uniforms. Basically.
Sound: 9 - Very fitting (Great according to MAL)
I don't have to say much. The track fits the show very, very well. I don't have to say much. Each piece has a purpose and it just works. The opening and ending are...actually pretty unique, MUSIC wise. They aren't the same as other anime openings and endings and that's all I'll say. The ending is pretty hilarious though. I kinda got addicted to it when I watched it the first time...you'll see why.
Character: 5 - HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA...what? (Mediocre according to MAL)
Okay, first to say this: NOBODY MATTERS BESIDES ISSEI, RIAS AND ASIA. Everyone remains the EXACT SAME besides those three. Issei gets the least character development, though you could argue with Asia. Rias has a bit more character development but nothing too...substantial. Again, same problem with 99% of anime: STOCK CHARACTERS.
You have the dandere tsundere, the sadist, the noble knight, the pervert (our MC), the innocent girl that doesn't know common sense (for now...) and the really, really hot girl that everyone looks up to like a sister and secretly wants to bang...more of Issei on that last bit though. Their characters remain practically the same throughout the story. Issei's character changes drastically when we're talking about emotion though, somewhat annoying since he overreacts to the smallest things. I won't get into anyone else because NOBODY CHANGES. They're all practically flat characters. Asia is either happy, sad or shocked. Rias is always calm and collected with one exception. Kiba is forever the noble knight. Koneko, the dandere tsundere. No comment there. And Akeno, the super sadist, arguably kuudere. That's it. They're all flat and surprisingly ISSEI is the ONLY ROUND CHARACTER in this season...SEASON (gets better in later seasons).
Enjoyment: 10 - I see BOOBS I press like (Outstanding according to MAL)
Jokes aside, this is very polar. On one side, people will LOVE the series for what it is. On the other side, people will not understand anything and will hate the series. I'll explain it from a fan's point of view (or mine in this case).
Universe building, character interaction and story.
Now, I know what you're thinking "Sonic, you said the story was sh*t!"
No, I didn't say the story was shit, I just said that it was average. But an average story with a good universe is still enticing. The story is SIMPLE. Not much thought is needed. It's not complicated at all. The universe however is very interesting. It was interesting enough for me to pick up reading the Light Novels. They do show you a good portion of the universe here and it keeps on getting more and more interesting. This show doesn't have THREE seasons for no reason (please god, let there be a fourth).
Now, the concept of "Devils and Angels" doesn't really sound anything special, but this guy, the author, he just takes it and ROLLS with it. He builds up a solid universe with in depth explanations and everything. Heck, he turned his first Light Novel (Slash Dog) into a PREQUEL to DxD. The concepts and ideas that he uses is very, very interesting. However, they may seem insignificant because of all the breast jokes and fan service, but after some thought they're actually very solid concepts. I do have a problem with the fanservice, but I'll get to that after this one.
Character interaction. This is probably the only reason I watch ecchi-harem shows and the same reason for a good portion of you guys too. The interaction is great. Exactly as what you'd expect and more. Though it won't save me from the rant that's coming up in the next paragraph. It's very solid, that's all I'll say. It holds up.
Now. My rant. FAN SERVICE. They SHOVE it into your face. There's fan service in virtually every scene. I'm not kidding. If it's not panty shots then it's boob bounces/gainax bounce. If not that, then it's probably a strip scene! If you're watching the uncensored version, lock your doors and put on some head phones because you're going to hear moaning, see bare breasts and some other form of perverse fan service in virtually every episode, EXCEPT the last one. Thank god for that. This is actually why so many people hate the show. They LOVE to shove it right down your mouth. This is practically fan service incarnate. Now, there's obviously worse out there now, but for its time, High School DxD is the MOST ecchi anime ever created. And it does NOT give the show any good favors. Oh, and remember that "9" I gave it for sound? They have BOOB SOUND EFFECTS.
Oh god.
Now, if they toned it down some and only kept "intense" scenes so the feel of the anime isn't ruined, then it would fix the problem IMMEDIATELY. But their constant use of fan service in practically every shot really does get...redundant. Even if I liked it sometimes.
Overall: 8 - Recommended for a try (Very Good according to MAL)
This may not be your show. Like I said, it's a polar choice. You like it or you hate it. I'm on the "like" side, though I obviously have some qualms about it. Give it a try. It's your choice. Like it for the universe, hate it for its fan service. It doesn't try to be anything it isn't, it plays the ecchi harem comedy genre straight. If you know what you're getting into and like this kind of stuff, it's definitely your show.
