Story: 10
Honestly, I also hate the whole, clearly the best baseball team in the history of japan, but can't make it to nationals trope, but again, this is a slice of life more than a shounen action anime. Baseball is merely a setting to tell the main story, which is a bunch of really likable characters dealing with going through high school and dealing with tragedy.
Art: idk 10
I just really like how shit-eating everybody looks. Idk, when I look at the expressions, they all look expressionless, yet I can clearly tell what they are thinking and feeling. Might just be the writing making up for mediocre art, but all I can say is it feels great.
Sound: idk 10
Laid back, mostly, following changes in mood as well a really emphasizing key moments with it's music. It doesn't do that with dramatic tracks, but with subtle but very evident musical cues. Great at gradually building up and releasing tension sort of like breathing.
Character: 10
As a Slice of Life, the characters are the key component and Cross Game hits it out of the park. Characters have realistic motivations outside of the plot, feel natural, grow in meaningful ways, and are all likable in the end. Villians, while evil in a black and white sense, are believable in their own right. I'm not including challenges or obstacles in the plot as villains, as they just seem like more friends.
Sometimes it feels like a certain trope, but it never feels like it's dragging due to various obstacles and the characters' focus on their own goals.
Overall: 10
had fun.
