[At the time this review was written, the manga had 103 Chapters - I will not be spoiling anything below in this review, but it's important to remember the quality of the story may change later for better or worse.]

That Time I Was Reincarnated As A Slime is one of the most famous isekai of all time, up there with ReZero and Mushoku Tensei, and it's for a good reason. No matter if you consume the anime or manga (and likely novel, though I haven't read it yet), Tensura is a consistently enjoyable power fantasy with a loveable cast, fun worldbuilding and a beautiful sense of community that I haven't felt since Assassination Classroom.

Characters - 8/10

Firstly, our protagonist, Rimuru Tempest. Often criticised as a self-insert, I'd like to simultaneously argue that while Rimuru shares many traits of a self-insert, that this is not necessarily a bad thing and is also significantly over-exaggerated in criticisms of the show. Rimuru, initially, is a good-guy character with not much else going for him. He's excitable about the world, friendly, and often ridiculously generous or accepting of others. This is where the majority of self-insert remarks originate from, as he could be perceived as the 'ideal' but 'generic' hero of a story, ideal being used to describe moral rather than perfect. However, in this isekai with such a variety of characters and kingdoms, I think it was useful to have a tolerant, kind MC at the beginning to explore the world more thoroughly and realistically build up a society. Although I love them, someone like Subaru or Seiya would realistically not work for the setting at all. Furthermore, Rimuru is really interesting because his past-life as a human dictates his initial philosophies. As his naivety around the world is provoked and tested, it's very interesting (and satisfying) to watch his mindset change.

Moreover, from an enjoyment perspective, over-powered protagonists such as Rimuru are always satisfying to watch, especially when pitted against characters with a sense of entitlement that he, theoretically, should share but rejects based on his own learned and lived principles.

Aside from Rimuru, the society of Tempest is full of fun and likeable characters. From stoic heroes like Soei to loveable idiots like Gobta, there will be at least a couple characters you connect with and grow to adore through the story. Though TenSura is not famous for character development in its side cast, I would argue this is over-shadowed, in a good way, by the sense of character dynamics and different viewpoints that originate from its residents, including citizens from different ethnicities, species and nations.

Plot - 8/10

Although Tensura has a few slower, more breathable arcs, the majority of the series has fairly intense moments. As the society of Tempest grows and develops, it naturally gains more and more attention from the surrounding world, and the worldbuilding in Tensura is honestly excellent. It's enjoyable watching the different forces rise and fall, especially considering the manga's tendency to include villains as recurring or at least regularly referenced characters - After the fall of certain villains, we can watch their redemption or resentment continue to fester, building up anticipation and excitement for future events.

However, it still loses points due to the shallowness of Tensura's villains; I was never particularly awed by the villains or their philosophies. Unfortunately, Tensura does not seem like that sort of manga. It's forgivable, in my opinion, due to the nature of a power fantasy story, but it is still not ideal.

Enjoyment - 10/10

When I say this manga is ridiculously fun, I'm not kidding. Tensura is so amazing you can binge it, or read slowly volume-by-volume, and have the time of your life. Though it might not be the kind of manga you often think back to, it has a steady flow of highs and peaks that make you love to keep reading. The success of a show like Slime Diaries, the spin-off Slice of Life, shows how much these allegedly shallow characters have grown on their fans, and it says a lot. Honestly, though, I haven't had so much fun reading a manga in a long time. The characters, the plot, the worldbuilding continue to draw me in, chapter-by-chapter.

Conclusion - 9/10

Tensura is not a manga for everyone. If you're looking for detailed characterisation and growth of the entire cast, or a slow-burn intrigue manga with charismatic villains, Tensura will not itch those desires. However, if you're looking for a chill, community-based manga with likeable characters, hype peaks and a real heart to it, I'd recommend and hope you love it as much as I do.