I’m a fan of TBATE, and like many others, I was disappointed with its recent anime adaptation, mainly because I know how strong the story and characters can be. Interestingly, I had the opposite experience with Hell Mode. Going in with low expectations meant I wasn’t immediately bothered by its generic art style, character designs, or below-average CGI. However, as the season progressed, I found myself growing more disappointed. Not because it was terrible, but because it clearly has potential. So much so, that I’m now considering reading up the manga or light novel instead.
The story itself isn’t anything groundbreaking. Isekai is an oversaturated genre, after all. That said, I don’t think I’ve come across a summoner-focused isekai that I’ve genuinely enjoyed. This one comes the closest. The main character is a laid-back, likable guy. He’s not especially complex (but he's growing), but he’s engaging enough to carry the story. While the “summoner” premise is familiar, it’s handled fairly well here, and the added twist of playing on “Hell Mode” gives it a bit of extra flavor.
The summoning system and Allen’s constant grind are the best parts of this story. He’s given a class that would be considered OP, but because he’s on “Hell Mode”, he has to work a lot harder than even people with regular classes to get anywhere near powerful. The system also helps a lot with the pacing of the story. This season felt much like a prologue arc where we explore the world, understand the system, and meet the characters.
Early on, many of the characters feel one-note, and their interactions lean heavily into familiar anime clichés. Over time, though, they start to grow on you. It takes a while before you grasp any of the depth or nuance of the characters, but it’s there. It’s not a masterclass in character work, but the characters are generally enjoyable.
The world-building is gradual and straightforward. It’s not especially whimsical, dark, or awe-inspiring, but the magic system, leveling mechanics, and bits of political structure are solid enough to stay engaging. The world itself may not stand out, but the way it unfolds is steady and effective.
Unfortunately, the most “hellish” aspect of Hell Mode is its presentation. The art, character designs, and animation are consistently underwhelming. The fights, monsters, and summoned creatures in particular look rough. I’m not usually someone who nitpicks animation - as long as movement feels smooth, I’m satisfied - but even by that standard, this falls short during the fights. This did seem to get better in the last four episodes, though.
That said, the summoning system, the social dynamics, and the character interactions all show enough promise that this could easily be a B-tier anime with some story polishing, stronger dialogue, and better production quality. At the very least, it was a fun watch, and I’m honestly excited to see how the next season goes. Lucky for me, I only have to wait three months.
10.5 out of 13 users liked this review
