Name: A show that never forgets it's ultimately about a girl playing a game with her friends, having fun
Item: BOFURI: I Don't Want to Get Hurt, so I'll Max Out My Defense.
Rating: 75
Author: Kalladry

Waifra

A show that never forgets it's ultimately about a girl playing a game with her friends, having fun · Waifora

Urged on by her friends, Kaede joins VR MMORPG New World Online. Not wanting to get hurt, she opts to be a shield user and starts putting every status point she earns into increasing her defense stats. Despite this leaving her with slow movement and no magic, her high defense allows her to endure most hits without taking any damage. As a result, she earns all kinds of new skills and becomes one of the strongest players in the game.

So, I watched this solely because I saw a scene somewhere wherein the main character and her friend have some sort of Space Dinner and drink starlight that makes their hair crazy colors, and eat the Essence of Planets in Jello Form or something that make their eyes do the same. It looked cool, is what I’m saying.

An ordinary schoolgirl is convinced by her friend to join a virtual reality massively multiplayer online roleplaying game, although she herself initially has little interest and no experience. Not wanting to get hurt, she dumps every. single. status point into defense, making her a cute walking tank. And then because it’s nearly impossible to deal damage to her, she’s able to take on some big bosses and get more powerful. Repeat as often as necessary, while adding in new friends.

That’s it. That’s the show.

I’m not making this sound good, am I? Look. It’s…RPG stories are not generally my jam, nor are isekai (those falling-into-another-world ones that are very popular of late), but this is…nice. Characters are nice. Designs are nice. The story is nice, with medium-to-low stakes, while still having a decent story. It did not make me tense, and what I required in the Year of Our Lord 2020 were things that do not, in any way, make me tense or anxious or nervous.

I take it back: there was ONE THING that made me tense, and it was the couple large player guilds where all the non-leader players had identical outfits. Look at this. You’re telling me you joined a cool VR game and you agreed to make your design the same as like 80 other players’ while the guild leadership run around with Magical Girl Wands and Sassy Flame Cloaks and the like?

Also, it’s a game. There is no plot to take over (or save) the world with it. No nefarious programmers. Just a bunch of people running around shooting fireballs are dragons for fun. Which, again, is the level of chill I need.

Verdict

English dub? Yes, but I watched subtitled so I can’t offer an opinion on the dub.

Visuals: It’s fine, standard. Bright colors, generic RPG setting that covers a range of environments. Character designs aren’t crazy, and I will avoid complaining about impractical armor designs on girls since that’s standard in RPGs. Surprisingly few Giant Impractical Boobs on women.

Worth watching? If you want a palate cleanser. It’s probably not going to inspire your everlasting love, but it’s a nice watch during a time when we’re all super stressed. Maple is legitimately nice, so are most characters. There are no true villains, and I was never worried that Maple might get hurt at any point. I also had to refrain from thinking about how a VR headset and gloves allowed people this level of immersion. (Repeating note to self: It’s a minor detail in fiction, just go with it.) Still, if there's a second season, I'll definitely be watching.