I'm Standing on a Million Lives

HikenNoAsxce Nov 27, 2020

5.5

Hear me out, Please. This is Isekai trash, something that is so trash you won't believe it's not from an actual dumpster. But that doesn't mean it's not enjoyable. It is always fun to see different writers take on the Isekai OP rules, and this is an interesting take on it. Keep in mind this is Trash Isekai. But so far it has not resulted in the MC getting a Harem, no shameless fanservice (sexualizing teenagers) & I CAN'T BELIEVE THIS IS A PRO, but no 9-year-olds being sexualized, I can not tell you how happy I am at an Isekai anime where the MC is not recruiting children into his harem. SO yeah this is trash but trash that stinks a lot less than crap like The Master of Ragnarok. Enjoy this as your seasonal Isekai trash embrace your inner degenerate like me. It's ok to enjoy bad anime sometimes. 5.5/10 for mediocrity

BlueDevil Nov 15, 2020

4.5

This series starts off exceptionally slow, and in turn, comes off as a bland isekai that has no merit besides the mystery of the game master and the virtual world. As such, it comes off as your regular power-fantasy isekai with a bland main character that magically has a harem of girls around them. Luckily, none of the girls in the party are romantically interested in him. However, only side characters he meets along the way seem to be romantically interested in him and play no large role in the story. The story has a relatively cliche start - the main character Yotsuya is dragged into a game-like world after cleaning the classroom after school. There, he meets Shindou and Kusue, and the mysterious Game Master greets them - giving Yotsuya the class of a farmer. They are given quests and are required to clear them in a set amount of time or die. Nothing new in the genre at all, so it doesn't give any shock factor whatsoever. What's especially offputting is Yotsuya's personality - he's a middle schooler who feels real life is too boring and wishes life was like a game. In the game world, however, he is thrilled but also equally sadistic, often throwing lives aside in guard of logical rationale. This is definitely one of the positives, as it presents a realistic approach of saving yourself before you save others. This is one of his key redeeming factors since it differs from most stereotypical isekai protagonists. As the series continues, the other characters influence Yotsuya into saving random characters so that part only lasts the first few episodes. However, with a shocking season finale, I can say that the show took 11 episodes to actually pique my interest. I still personally feel that at times, Yotsuya is an interesting main character, especially in his mindset. However, his sadistic mindset is offputting, and considering the fact that he's 14, it comes off as a little "edgy." I just hope that his character develops more in the second season. Furthermore, in between some tense moments, the characters all get a breather for a while, and Yotsuya fumbles interacting with the girls from the party as the comedy relief. The animation isn't spectacular either, and a good portion of it depends on still frames to act as filler. The stakes for the quests are high, and further so because if all of the party members die at once, they'll die in real life as well. After finishing the season, I can say that I'm interested to see what the second brings, but the build-up was absolutely excruciating. The first 11 episodes were there to world build, and in turn came off as bland and generic. If anyone followed the three episode rule, I definitely could see this being a strikeout simply due to the long build-up. This definitely could've been executed better, but I still personally feel that this is, to an extent, a generic isekai. The second season will have to speak for itself, and I hope that it does better than the first. I'll be looking forward to see if it can bring a new "twist" into the oversaturated genre. 

apoc9 Dec 19, 2020

3

Yet, another isekai LN adaptation. Problem with this series is the fact it introduces interesting concepts, but in the end it does nothing really with it. It’s another RPG-like game isekai, but it’s more like playing Dark Souls. Partially due to absurd system of classes and how bunch of mostly useless characters are pulled into the game with very little explanation. It makes the thing mystery box. The gamemasters are such box in particular. Who are they for real, what is the point of all this? Plot dictates that MC gets rare and useless classes [1]. Until the very last episode this doesn’t feel like power fantasy that much. On Dark Souls theme transported members get killed a lot. Luckily, they can resurrect, if at least one of the party members is alive. Resurrect is further restricted by condition player won’t die again instantly. This plays important role through and through series. It at least adds some stakes and full party wipe doesn’t seem so impossible. We have in the beginning two useless characters in a form of girl, that couldn’t kill fly even if she wanted … especially with her sword skills and equally useless mage, again a girl. But even then, the series isn’t much of harem. Do not look for that in this series. There are few differences from usual average isekai tropes aside from another world mechanics. It’s the type where characters are pulled back and forward. That is kind nice, but then it has no real consequences [2]. Another difference I liked is the MC is not first to be pulled out and for some reason with each completed quest more people are pulled into the party. The characterization is so lazy the game has cut-scene points built into the world. MC tends towards this I’m nihilist emo appeal. Animation and art are meh, music and soundtrack as well. The final episode shows there is going to be second season. The first season overall was more like one long intro movie. I wouldn’t recommend the series. Spoilers [1] Farmer, cook. Why would you put that in a game? Yeah, it’s not a game. Parallel world for some reasons. [2] Until the last episode, when it’s revealed as you get stronger in another world it stays with you and items can be used in the original world as well.