What happens if you decide to turn you D&D campaign into an anime, well you would kinda end up with Record of Lodoss War. From the first episode it just screams D&D, starting with the characters and their stereotypes. And continuing on with the story and the way things developed throughout. Unfortunately for it, I feel like the show tried to create a world and story larger than it had the space to use. Often you have entire fights against massive monsters and villains occurring in 5 minutes at the end of the episode, with character development occurring in small short almost disconnected moments scattered throughout.

The first episode I feel captured what I would have wanted the best, it seemed to set up a clear goal of escaping the caves. Set up the characters and some quick character traits and showed off who they are. And wrapped the whole thing up with a satisfying final battle of the episode. It all just felt really tight and solid, something I don't feel like the rest of the show ever captured for me.

The show sets up multiple villains and a rather large cast of evil characters, and gives them all a surprisingly large amount of development. They all seem to have goals and motivations, or at least most of them. The final villain I feel like had a rather weak and for me, slightly confusing reason for doing what he was doing. In many ways I feel like the villains were gifted with more development than the good guys.

On the side of good, or light as is mentioned many times. The cast is large and fits all the roles you would expect to find in a well rounded D&D party. With the leader being inexperienced new knight Parn, who is being championed as the new Hero. And as the story progresses, you watch the Hero grow as a swordsman until he is strong enough to defeat the main villain, so pretty standard stuff. Outside of the Hero, the other character that received a surprising amount of development was the elderly Dwarf. On a personal quest to save his savior, who just happens to align nicely with the Hero's quest. A section I wish got more development was the romance between Parn and the love interest Deed, who is the High Elf and becomes a major importance later on. Moments of romance and development between the two appear, and leads to the appearance of a relationship, but nothing ever seems to develop further really.

Quick mention of animation and art style, well it was decent. Nothing amazing or incredible really, but all of it good enough and constant that it never looked strange or cheap. Outside of some strange moments when things didn't move in ways you would expect, and ended up looking a bit fake. But overall it was of good quality.

The highest point for me would have to be the Sound and Music. Man I loved all of it, with the OP and ED being great and never getting tired or boring for me. Various musical pieces fit into the world very well, and when applied helped to boost the scene and whatever was occurring on screen.