Bofuri: I Don't Want to Get Hurt, So I'll Max Out My Defense

Finally, we have a VRMMO inspired anime that ACTUALLY makes sense. The writer knew very well what he was writing. On top of that, he had experience playing MMO games before. So, it's only natural for him to execute the anime incorporating the elements of RPG games very well. The writer understands how awful these games can sometimes be, so instead of making the game in the anime look realistic, he made it fun.

The game we come across in the anime offers many exciting features and endless possibilities, and places to explore. The anime does not revolve around the game itself and does not glamorize or glorify it. It simply revolves around the characters playing the game and their adventures. It’s just plain wholesome instead of having some really disturbing and cliché elements in it. There sure are other good aspects about this anime. Let’s talk more about them!

Bofuri: I Don't Want to Get Hurt, So I'll Max Out My Defense Anime Review

The anime tells us the story of Kaede Honjou, who gets pressured into playing an Online World Game by her friend. It’s a top-rated game that is played all around the world. Kaede is a complete rookie in the game. She names her character Maple and sets out on her journey. Now, she’s afraid of getting hurt in the game, so she transfers all of her stat points to her defense. Her other abilities become very weak as she cannot hit hard or move fast because of the lack of stat points. All her power lies in her defense, and she must rely on it.

Surprisingly enough, she did not do badly in her first attempt. She ended up acquiring a lot of high skills because of her high defense. With the help of other useful items she acquires, she’s able to obliterate almost anyone who comes across her. Maple quickly gets used to the ways of the new game and ends up claiming third place in the game.

Her character, however, is not liked by a lot of people because she’s super powerful. She meets a lot of new people, traveling with them and exploring new places. Despite her being really powerful, Maple still has a lot to learn.

Okay so, the whole VRMMO thing is done perfectly right, maybe because the author had some experience in this regard. We get to see an online community that feels very realistic because of the way they interact. The developers of the game are all there. Unlike some other VRMMO inspired anime, this anime does not let its users die in real life if they die in the game, so there’s no unnecessary stress. Unlike most other anime that incorporate the elements of video games in them, it has a very light tone, making the overall story very pleasing and fun.

There is no unnecessary drama in the anime and no stupid rivalries. You don’t need to look deep into everything because everything is just right there in front of you. It’s all just so fun and dumb! There’s no visible harem or trashy fanservice. We commend the author for writing such a beautiful piece and the creators for actually executing the story well. Overall, we love the story and the depth they have given to it. It is undoubtedly not hollow.

The anime has some of the cutest characters that are all so pleasing. They have very likable personalities and are not forgettable. The characters are also very relatable. Maple has a powerful character. She’s a pure extrovert and has a very cheery disposition. Maple builds her character well and does not shy away from interacting with people in real life and the game. There’s some depth to her character, and she is not just one-dimensional.

On the other hand, we have Maple’s friend Risa; she’s not an extrovert but gets along well with Maple. We like her character because she goes out of her way to make Maple like the game and be comfortable with it. She’s pretty sweet overall, and we like her character as much as we like Maple.

The side characters are very relatable and realistic. They will definitely remind you of someone you’ve met in your life at some point. The characters are all very memorable because of them being so unique.

Bofuri is one of those anime that has distributed the budget equally amongst the different departments. The art department is definitely the one they have put the most care. The backgrounds are very colorful and lush. It is pretty pleasing to the eye and not jarring in the slightest. The character designs are unique and clean. Overall, the animation is pretty decent and the best thing about the anime.

We loved how the voice actors worked to give their voice to the characters. None of the voices are overly annoying, and the explosions aren’t too much for the ears. There’s a perfect balance between the background sounds and the character sounds. The background sounds go well with the scenes that are being played.

We absolutely love the opening and ending soundtracks for this anime. They're total bangers!

Both the soundtracks are pretty catchy and not easily forgettable. So, Bofuri takes the cake again in the sound and music department.

It won’t be an exaggeration to say that Bofuri has set the bar high for all the anime coming in its stead. It is so hard to balance everything in a VRMMO inspired anime without making it look and sound ridiculous. Bofuri is one anime that gave us a fantastic experience with the video game concept and gave us more fun than stress!