Now, is this series a masterpiece? No, but that's totally fine. If you go into with your expectations at a level for an anime adaptation of a web manga you will not be disappointed.
I'll loosely go over the points.
(May contain slight spoilers for episode 1, but that's all)
Story (7/10):
The story isn't particular interesting nor is it original. A group of let's players are stuck in a mysterious game that they don't remember entering and they have to get 1 million views on the livestream of the show to be released. They'll get punished if they don't follow the rules, yadda yadda.
Let's start by addressing the elephant in the room; is this a Danganronpa copy?
Absolutely and absolutely not. The concepts, adorable mascot, character designs (though more "modern" here) and character archetypes are absolutely in alignment with what you'd expect from a Danganronpa game, but rather than just being another trifle copy of a beloved franchise, it manages to encapsulate it's own aura and charm. Think of it as some of the amazing Danganronpa-styled spin-offs you see everywhere, but even more original.
The let's player thing is a bit cheesy, but also extremely adorable and it makes the characters easier to remember and "characterize".
As for the brutality of the show, it's not anywhere near the level of Danganronpa. The viewer is told in episode 1 that they'll be punished for not following the rules, but the punishment they're shown is somewhat weak and doesn't actually shock you in the way it does in Danganronpa.
This may be plot related, however, as these stories tend to have a meaning in the smaller details, so it's not a big issues for me, personally.
Overall, it's not fantastic, but if you curb your enthusiasm a bit and take it for what it is, you'll enjoy it.
Art (9/10)
This part is easily one of the best parts of the shows. The amount of detail put into each episode is ASTOUNDING and I'm surprised more people haven't giffed the shit out of the show. The artstyle itself is rather simplistic and "Pixiv-esque" (you know what I mean when you see it), but it's what they do with these characters. I don't remember any glaringly huge moments where they go off-model and look like blobs in the background, which in itself is a huge feat.
Each episode, they change up the art style for the different settings, challenges and touching moments. In episode 1's touching moment, they completely change up the lineart style and coloring and it looks amazing and perfectly emphasizes the mood they're trying to capture. There are so many places where the changes directly influence and enhance the story, whether it be the comedic timing, amount of animation, etc.
It really feels like some meaningful thinking went into creating the artistic side of this series and it's MUCH appreciated.
Sound (7/10)
I would write a long segment for this, but I honestly don't remember much of the music. It's inoffensive, modern, and doesn't really get in the way of the mood. It's not something memorable, but definitely not something that pulls you out of setting.
The opening is kinda boring, very generic, but I'm sure someone will find it enjoyable so do give it a listen.
Characters (10/10)
Giving it a 10 out of 10 may be a bit of an overkill, but honestly, much like it's forefather Danganronpa, the characters are what carry the show.
The guys are great, the girls are great and they're all memorable, quirky, and fun! Sometimes, in these big ensembles, some characters bleed into the background or get the short end of the stick, but they're really just all important and interesting. The weakest one at the moment is the main character, but that's to be expected of these types of stories and at least the story is self-aware enough to feel like a parody on the "hope inspiring protagonist".
All the characters are let's players, as mentioned earlier, and this brings some great gap moe moments. They have great twists to their personality which will make even the coldest of hearts melt just a bit. The pure dedication and love that each character has their genre of game is also incredibly endearing.
Also, for people who are worried about the characterization of women in anime, I will gladly announce that they get just as much depth and spark in them as the boys do, maybe even more so (since they're in the minority).
Honestly I can't describe well how great these characters are, so if you like these types of character driven comedy/drama shows with a big ensemble, do give it a try!
Enjoyment (8/10)
What is there to say which haven't been said? Despite it's cliché story, it's still a highly entertaining watch because of the characters and visuals.
Overall (8/10)
Calling this show a Danganronpa copy or "just another death game" is highly insulting and should not be taken to heart. Sports, harem, idol, and other sub-genres of anime all share the same overall themes and ideas, but that doesn't mean of them are worse than the others for having said genre.
Nakanohito Genome carries itself as a different story to Danganronpa with it's great visuals and characters and is a MUST WATCH for any fan of the genre!
For anyone else, why not give it a shot? It might surprise you!
