Infinite Stratos had an interesting mix of Mecha and Harem. Considering I don't usually watch Mecha, this was a "fresh" experience.
Story 4/10
It was clear that the plot was lacking and I felt that could be seen as mediocre episodes were strung together. The mecha fights wasn't anything special either. Infinite Stratos' story was, for the most part, flat.
Art 8/10
The art was indeed a sight for sore eyes and it was well executed. The art style was standard-fare but brought to life by the light, crisp feel which improved the mood of the series.
Soundtrack 5/10
The background music wasn't bad, and it mostly improved the ambience of the anime. However, some parts were poorly arranged and this led to awkward timing. The OST was decent, but nothing special.
Character 6/10
It is a challenge to develop the characters in a show with many main characters. There was an attempt to add depth to the characters but it was mostly in vain. The MC, Ichika, was your run-of-the-mill dense male lead and was frustrating to watch at times. However, I commend the fact that each character was unique and had distinctive qualities. I also enjoyed the mysterious air of Chifuyu Orimura's past that was foreshadowing much of the series
Enjoyment 9/10
I found myself conflicted at the end of the series. It was an extremely average show, yet I enjoyed it- a lot. From a critical standpoint, Infinite Stratos should be chucked into the burning pile of mediocrity. Despite that, I would definitely watch a continuation of this anime (Yes, I have watched IS:2 and enjoyed it).
Overall 6/10
I have mixed feelings about this show and it would definitely have scored better had they worked on refining the edges more. All in all, I would recommend this show.
