Based entirely on the online game, this entire series condenses all that we know and love from interminable hours of gaming into an anime that manages to simultaneously convey a coherent storyline (no waiting for the next cutscene!) and explore the fundamental and time-honored characteristics of an RPG (leveling up, anyone?) all while making the entire world of Ragnarok accessible to anyone who may be completely oblivious to the game’s existence. The story centers largely around two characters, Roan (a fighter-class of some sort) and Yuufa (a cleric-type, casting healing spells, etc), and their travels throughout the world, acquiring friend of different classes and levels as they go. Love, Betrayal, World Domination, and inner growth are popular themes in the over-arching storylines, and each is carefully intertwined and closed seamlessly with one another.
One of my favorite features of the series is the complete acceptance of the class system, level-up process, and bartering system. These things are never directly addressed, which allows the story to avoid a tedious explanation process. Instead, the characters discuss these things in a realistic manner, and never refer to the possibility of a real-life computer user. Leveling up is obvious, when a character returns from time spent away from the party with new skills, armor, or weapons, and takes place after a character ‘hunts monsters’ to get stronger. A lovably greedy merchant character constantly collects rare items and artifacts found on their journeys to sell at market, which is presumably how players achieve spendable currency in the game. The art is clear and approachable, the story is easy to pick up and follow and I suspect the music is reminiscent of the online soundtrack. Likeable characters will have a second amusing level of game-workings visible to those familiar with RPG systems. All in all, this is an amusing series that can give you a full episode of story with absolutely no speech or attack menus in sight. Highly recommended in my brand new twelve-step program for RPG addicts, this anime delivers the best of an RPG without requiring that pesky and expensive internet connection. Lack of internet can save dollars in this down economy, so pick up this complete collection today.
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