Story~ 6/7
Monochrome Factor is one of those animes with a decent set up for a plot, but the build up to the end is rather tedious. For the first 4 episodes or so, you get a real feel for the kinds of characters you're going to be with for the next 20. Unfortunately, despite this solid beginning, the following episodes do tend to be predictable; the protagonist fighting the bad guys, except there's a twist in how he does it, or maybe they'll span it over two episodes instead.
That was one of the bigger let downs, because I did fall in love with the characters. They did contribute a lot to the comedy of the show, which did compensate somewhat for the dryer episodes.
Characters ~ 8
The gang of 4 (plus 1 in later episodes) are an epic team with different strengths and weaknesses, which makes them so effective together, and you really can't imagine them without each other. Akira is a kid with attitude and gives a whole new meaning to leading a double life. I adore the concept of him switching between a normal and shadow form, though it's not a new idea. It's more than just changing outfits and new hair colours, but you can see the differences between his two forms without losing his character. The others all contribute to a fantastic four; the best friend, Kengo, doubles up with Akira, and is the comedy behind the show. Shirogane certainly spices the show up, with his near-yaoi nature and his quirky personality. He can also get a bit dark, which is refreshing to see. And we can't have an anime without a girl, right? Aya fills in that role, and fortunately she's not one of those chicks lavishing in this harem, but she has a real kick-ass side to her. The character development for all of them is definitely noticeable, although subtle for some.
Art~ 7
You know, it's just generic anime style, right? Nothing as impacting as the fight scenes in Sword Art Online, or characters as cleanly designed as Hyouka, but it's a solid art style to be appreciated.
Sound~ 7
I for one, loved the opening track, but that is all that left a significant mark. The instrumental throughout wasn't memorable, but they did fit the scenes relatively well. Nothing to be overly praised, but certainly acceptable.
Enjoyment~ 8
Overall, despite the somewhat disappointing carry of the plot and the plain animation, I did enjoy the anime and didn't regret finishing it. The build up to the finale did seem to trail a bit, but I feel as if it was worth waiting. It did come to a quick conclusion, but there were a lot of factors gained throughout. Worth a try.
