BTOOOM! is what happens when boredom meets lack of creativity. BTOOOM! is just another one of those (poorly named) animes that are cashing in on the "stuck in a game" genre that has been increasing in popularity almost exponentially. BTOOOM! happens to follow the life of people who get abducted and thrown in a real world game that is very similar to the viral online game appropriately named BTOOOM! and now they have to blow each other to kingdom come to survive. A very original premise, and almost as original a story. That was sarcasm, by the way.
That said, I overused the word BTOOOM! in the above paragraph just to drive home the point that it really is terribly named.
Now, to give it a proper grading. I will rate it based on five aspects, all of 20 grades each, to reach a total out of 100.
Artwork and Animation - 17/20
The artwork is good, its a rather dull dark world, and the artwork is able pull it off without looking stupid. The emotions are also rather well done and the artwork is generally convincing. The animation is also fair enough. There is the occasional out of place movement, but nothing too damaging.
Sound and music - 14/20
Not much to discuss here, the sounds are fairly consistent, but they are unable to keep up the "tropical jungle" theme for too long. Other than that, music is fairly okay. Even though I never got into it, a lot of people might.
Plot - 8/20
The plot of BTOOOM! is by far the biggest chink in its armor. even with a semi-decent plot BTOOOM! could have been grouped with the "average" crowd, but it just had to get blown off the ridge. The plot is unoriginal, uninspired and it isn't very clever.
The lack of originality is rampant throughout the anime, its your everyday generic survival story, even Hollywood has more original ideas. Its the same old 20-something NEET who is very good at games and gets drawn into a game.
The inspiration is clearly lacking on every front, it is FULL of plot holes and the action sequences are very illogical. The protagonist, who is clearly a shut-in beta, is somehow able to throw bombs very accurately and run and dodge like a dude running from child support. He is also somehow resistant to the usually fatal bomb-exploded-in-face. And all this based on what? His skill at games? Why, that's bullshit right there.
BTOOOM! is also not very clever the few times it plans on coming up with a plot device (for example, lack of food). Anyone who has ever touched a game that is played by more than one player knows how to create killzones, how to fuck with people's radars and throw up false clues. Even the COD fanboy knows that if the game shouts "THE BOMB HAS BEEN PLANTED" on everyone's screen, every other guy in the lobby is gonna descend on the point like bats out of hell, no exception. But for some reason, the protagonist (who happens to be world #10 and best in japan) is shocked when he sees a killzone created by the only source of food.
There are obviously other plot holes, like Sakamoto's uncanny ability to teleport behind his enemies, or Himiko's ability to always have something appropriate in her pocket or Taira's lack of understanding of medicine (what's the thing you do after almost getting your leg bitten off by an animal? Why - you don't wrap it and you just "walk it off" by walking in a potentially disease filled river because "you don't have time")
Characters - 17/20
The characters are the redeeming quality of BTOOOM! they are probably the only thing done right. The characters are surprisingly deep and they have emotional conflicts. I actually went so far as to feel bad for Himiko and Sakamoro's mom (Sakamoto is an asshole by the way). Even so, a lot of characters with potential are un-developed/undeveloped. The effects of being on the island are pronounced, with almost everyone becoming a sociapath, and creepy encounters leaving quite the mark on people. The development of characters isn't all that good, the essence of the people never really changes even at the end, but its still something.
Enjoyment - 10/20
BTOOOM! is enjoyable if you are into the genre, but try to watch something else if you aren't. its action is somewhat decent and it sometimes does land a actually decent plot device, sadly these are ruined by a very easily predictable plot, the enjoyment is definitely there, just a bit hard to find.
Admittedly, my review has been overly critical of the series, but it isn't as bad as I made it sound, it does have some genuinely good scenes. Sadly, it wasted the potential to turn them into something good.
Adding up, we get 18+10+8+13+14 = 66/100
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