[This is my review of the main series and ep 13-16; also known as the ONA, a.k.a they-should-have-made-this-into-2-seasons-but-instead-they-decided-to-confuse-anime-watchers-only-into-thinking-the-anime-ended-in-a-cliffhanger-and-not-knowing-this-exist---*cough*]
[also this is an extremely long and "rambly" and sort-of-all-over-the-place because I'm writing my thoughts as soon as they appear in my mind so yeah, apologies in advance]
[minor spoilers ahead]
As a fan of the original source (game), I only watched this just so I could see how the anime would adapt and portray Zack and Rachel.
As a fan of the game, there are ups and downs on how they did the anime. Like, heck, why did they change one of Catherine's obstacles into a fricking dollhouse... it was originally an abyss with several narrow columns spaced far away from one another as their only support to cross to the other side... that or a rope so thin it could break... not to mention that at random moments guns would shoot them and potentially lose their balance and fall into their deaths. That, and they went on their separate ways because Zack can't cross using the rope and Rachel can't jump too far between the columns...
...I'm getting off-track, back to the anime itself
Yes, I can understand why people could hate the anime without knowing the original source first... because it was originally a game, hence the puzzle-solving aspects and the each-floor-is-a-new-challenger-kinda thing. And that I felt that each of the "villains" was not given enough "tension" and their resolve and character was not properly adapted (in my humble opinion), that's why anime-watchers only didn't connect enough with them and didn't feel their presence enough to be intimidating (like, if they made this with two seasons with 24 episodes total, they could have expanded and put up each of the villain's back story, which was available in the manga adaptation... *shrugs*)
But then, sure it was quite disappointing but like I said at the beginning, I loved the game because of Zack and Ray, and that really, it was said at the summary of the anime that this is about the two of them and their strange promise at one another and their obstacles that they face in each floor. And the floor bosses actually served each of their purpose... to put up a psychological damper in both Zack and Ray.
Edward Mason, his resolve in putting Rachel in eternal rest due to him knowing Ray's past was because his past (I won't spoil them here, read the manga instead) shaped him into a character that turns those that he kills and buries into his treasures and that became his form of love... thus his desire to end Ray's misery.
Catherine Ward, with her strong belief and prejudice that knows no bounds (her backstory in the manga just emphasized that), and that she truly believes in her own power of condemning those she hails as criminals... no exceptions. But it was her observing nature and beforehand knowledge that makes her a threat to Zack and Rachel's relationship. I like to think of her as a prosecutor that explains her reasons and views... before mercilessly killing those she found guilty.
Danny Dickens... as his name implies, he's a d***
...lol sorry got carried away there, He deserves to be the main antagonist of this series due to his connections with Rachel and his past. I absolutely loved his character development the most and I thank the anime for actually fleshing out his resolve and desires... (ep. 16... "...mother!"... seriously, I don't remember him saying that in the game but it made his character closure so much better!).
And lastly, Gray (lol I just searched the character list and apparently, his last name is Abraham haha good to know). He is the most mysterious character out of all of them since we don't know much about him. All we know is that he's the "god" of the building that our protagonists are trapped in and that he's the one leaving those cryptic messages that Rachel sometimes find in some of the floors. Yes, he does attempts to kill Rachel at one point but that is after evaluating her and giving her trials and tests that would let him assess her morals. I would spoil if I keep on talking about him so watch the anime instead.
I think the reason why people didn't like the anime because they thought since this has a boss-per-floor thing, the action scenes will be the focus. This ain't shounen guys, this is horror... specifically, psychological horror.
Therefore, don't expect jumpscares and gross things. Find them someplace else. Not here.
The main obstacles are not the ones that are physically present (strength of the enemy), but rather, it was the situations that is presented by each of the villains that is the real threat to our protagonists.
It was a battle... a clash of ideals.
With our two protagonists right at the center, their decisions and inner workings of their minds shaping the series. They adapted Zack's and Ray's relationship with each other so well that I actually teared up in one of the later episodes due to how good it was.
Okay, I talked enough.
As a fan of the original source, I'm happy with how they adapted this anime.
(*whispers* EPISODE 16 IS EVERY GAME/MANGA/LN 'S DREAM COME TRUE)
As a fan of the game, I watched it for Zack and Rachel. I am more than satisfied.
9/10 (-1 because despite it being a great adaptation of the game, It lacked some charm that the game had. But then, they overwhelmed me with the anime ending so all is good <3)
