Name: Log Horizon – SPOILER FREE REVIEW
Season 1
Episodes: 25
Premiered: Fall 2013
Studios: Satelight
Source: Novel
Genres: Action, Game, Adventure, Magic, Fantasy

Log Horizon – An isekai with a true MMORPG setting.
The story begins in the midst of action with our main characters fighting off monsters and then quickly cuts off to present time, this was probably done to quickly catch the attention of the viewer as I’ve seen most times that even good anime don’t usually bother with any dramatic stuff in the first few episodes which often leads to people putting it off despite it being good. That being said the start wasn’t bad, it was good enough.

Much like the “game-themed” isekai of recent times, Log Horizon starts with the protagonist, Shiroe realizing he has been transported to another world which at first looks very similar to the game he played “Elder Tales” or so he thought and has the same looks and abilities of his character as in the game, but worry not he wasn’t one of those OP main characters (actually no one was) or “I have to win because friends” kinda guy. He was a strategist he won his battles with the help of his teammates as you would see in any MMORPG by using very clever and thought-out tactics and strategies for which he was already famous among the other players before the game turned into reality for all of them.

The whole story or concept wasn’t that complex it was simple and easy to understand as you would expect from a MMORPG, players leveling up through battles, questing, exploring the new world, establishing a base but that doesn’t mean it was any less entertaining – No, it always had a trick or plot twist hidden up its sleeves which was a pleasant surprise. Though at times it would get dialogue heavy, because Log Horizon isn’t an isekai focused mainly on action, it had its battles with the sword but it was more focused on the battles of the minds, rather than some flashy battles on the battlefield we got the battles behind the scenes, the mechanics of battles you could say. It was a lawless world where any option could be opted for victory.

I would say one thing that Log Horizon is an isekai done right by that I mean it takes on the whole spirit of MMORPGs right down to the core mechanics and follows and implements the rules as one would expect in a game. Like, for example the difference of classes and levels, the use of spells and skills with cool down time or MP drain, tanks and healers etc (probably easier to understand if you have played some similar games). There wasn’t a moment where a character would bend the rules of the world because of his feelings or something, just some good’ol skills and tactics. They did a pretty good job of keeping it as close to a MMORPG as they could, definitely a plus in my book.

Now for the characters, the main characters other than Shiroe weren’t too bad, but some of them felt unused in the latter half of Season 1. This was a shame because they had potential as shown in the beginning but were mostly used in some comical stuff or minor roles later on like Akatsuki and Naotsugu. Though the side characters were good enough as side characters can be, they had their roles in the plot progression, had good interactions with the main characters.

The anime mainly focused on Shiroe and honestly I don’t think it would matter that much if the other characters were involved because Shiroe was the one pulling the strings behind the scenes. His plans though simple to understand when explained were executed complexly and in ways you’d mostly be unable to see for the most part. Don’t wanna spoil so, what do you think you could do with the knowledge of being able to make some tasty food? Make some profit? Shiroe had a keen sense of observation and picked up on small details others missed. He wasn’t all that powerful but he was more intelligent than the average person. His devious plans earned him the title of “The Villain in Glasses”. Oh on that note there were a lot of those “adjusting your glasses in success” moments, would’ve liked to tone them down a bit.

The animation, the character designs, close-ups and expressions were good. The background was detailed and perfectly showed the fantasy-game like world setting. Though the character animation would become lazy at times and the action sequences felt short (I did say it wasn’t all that on the action part) but nothing that would come in the way of watching the anime, the animation was good enough considering this is an anime from 2013 we’re talking about. Again I am not usually big on judging OSTs very much but I think it was lacking on the OST part, the OST was good don’t get me wrong but that single OST was used a lot I guess it didn’t have that diversity in OSTs. The Opening had that Lets- Go vibe but I absolutely loved the Ending it was fun, cute and relaxing, the kinda music I’d like to end my episodes on, keeps reminding me of kawai ninja Akatsuki.

I’d give it a RATING of a solid 8/10
It’s been a LONG time since I’ve enjoyed an isekai as much as this and with some good plot twists.
FUN FACT: Took me almost a week to complete it and in that time its MAL rating went up from 7.98 to 8.07, which was nice to see as it at least deserved an 8. I'll be saving its Season 2 for later, hoping that's a good watch as well.

If you’re a fantasy or adventure fan then this anime is a good choice for your next watch or if you’re just looking for a fun watch which keeps you entertained with decent plot twists then pick this up as well.
Oh, and best girls Serara the Maid Healer and Akatsuki the Kawai Ninja.