Death March kara Hajimaru Isekai Kyousoukyoku

This season Isekai, an adaptation of what at least in my own limited experience one of the quintessential works of the genre. All the tropes associated with Isekai stories show up here, and fair warning - yes, that means the main character is overpowered as hell, so if that's a deal breaker for you, jump ship now. Though I have to say, Death March is definitely at the good end of the Isekai spectrum, and it also doesn't focus on fights as much as exploration and sense of wonder in the new world.

As an adaptation, the first episode was very loyal to the source material, with only a bit added at the very beginning to show more of Suzuki in his life on Earth, which I find a welcome addition. They cut some unnecessary flab that would just slow things down without adding anything to the story, like Satou going through his equipment and log in much more detail but aside from that it's a 1 to 1 adaptation.

The anime looks good, Satou sounds about how I imagine him. I also like the attention to detail, like the electronic sounds made by mages when they cast their spells.

As such I'm pretty hopeful for this adaptation.

So far this seems to be typical Isekai but I like Isekai series so I am cool with that. If what says is true and it spends time exploring the setting then I will be very happy as world building has always been one of my favourite things in fantasy.

There's lot of cool word building stuff later on, and some really interesting ideas too. I hope they won't skip on those just to get to the action - even if the action is also badass.

The second episode was heavy on the world building so it looks like they won't be skipping it thankfully, it made the episode a lot better than the first.

I am liking the main character quite a bit after this episode as well. He seems quite self-aware and I like his idea of using his experience to make himself a better games developer.

As for the plot, still a little light but I think I can see where it is going to go (initially at least). Using the mask and wig to be a hero covertly.

Oh yeah, they are keeping the world building and it's great. Satou spends a lot of time just learning stuff.

Saotu pretty smart. but he can be hilariously oblivious sometimes, like this episode.

Yeah, he's gonna use them like that. He prefers working covertly.

Episode 3 was quite entertaining with some more world building before delving into the RPG aspects of the setting. I am liking the demi-humans and I don't trust that random magic user who turned up to clean clothes.

I'm guessing the random titles the main character keeps acquiring will be a running gag.

edited 25th Jan '18 11:59:46 AM by SebastianGray

I like the lizard girl's attitude. She seems to know her stuff and keep her cool instead of being a Damsel in Distress existing solely as yet another addition to the main protag's harem.

Like her a lot better than the blonde, so far.

Good episode, Zena is so cute, and the trip around town was fun. The mill that can turn into a magic canon was especially fun.

Satou can say some smooth things sometimes.

I did wonder if they just forgotten about the best girl completely, but apparently not.

Gee, I wonder who can be in a possession of a sword that shines blue.

I like how quickly Zena jumped to defend the Slaves, what a good girl.

Satou is is good at working in secret.

How lucky that the person you accused of colluding with Demons, turns out to be possessed.

Ah yes, the dungeons, there will be more about them later on.

Satou skills are ridiculously convenient.

Pochi, Tama and Liz.... geez, he's really lousy at naming things. But they are fun characters, if a little... dependent n Satou, at least at first.

I'm pretty sure he has more than 10 titles already.

I grinned at his reaction to the God-Killer.

Well Liza's name is apparently a shortened version of her real name according to people who've read the source materials. The other two names are pretty bad though.

edited 26th Jan '18 3:04:38 AM by Chariot

I'm really liking this one, and that surprises. It's playing straight all the tropes that make Isekai shit, but they haven't been done in a way that turns me off. Except blondie. She's worst-girl.

edited 25th Jan '18 6:51:37 PM by CDRW

Episode 4 was quite cool, I am liking the beastgirls more and more although for some reason I feel like I missed something somewhere with the new slaves at the end.

Ah slavery, a staple of Isekai genre, for some god forsaken reason. Personally I would do away with all the laves, but it's just one of those things that are not going anywhere I think.

Pretty dope episode, with Satou using his abilities for real for the first time. The difference between the scroll spell and his own usage was amazing.

They speed up through the more boring parts of the labyrinth, like that one house they visited.

The running gag of Satou getting new titles continues. "Tamer... that's rude."

She's the girl he saw before who holds the foreboding titles.

I like isekai, though even by its standards Satou is WAY overpowered. Still the way he has been used its fun. Being a lover of spoilers I went ahead and read the TV Tropes page and I understand the reason why now, and I find it pretty unique too.

OTOH I don't usually like Harems (unless they are well done) I'm kind of turned off by the fact that, since he's a 26-year-old in the body of a 15-year old, he was attracted to both a 13-year old girl AND her mother! I hear that his Harem will also include lolis or loli-looking characters (at least I know he's not interested in them.) Though if I understood the spoilers correctly, he's not going to end up with any of the girls anyway.

The slavery element also bothers me. No this is not always present in isekai. Though I admit it is presented in a realistic way- the modern concept of slavery is different from the medieval one, which was more like indentured servitude. Still I hope this is dealt with at least partially- what good is a hero who doesn't fight injustice?

One last comment: I at first got a poor impression of the Anime and might not have continued watching it it I hadn't read more about it. Besides my peeves above, the title is misleading (nobody is forced to march until they die; its just a reference to Satou's job which probably will never come up again) and not giving ANY explanation of how he got to the new world (not even the usual vague "he died and was resurrected" one) did not help either.

But I'll probably keep watching for now.

Heh yeah. People only watching the anime have no idea yet.

Calling it a harem is more than a little misleading tho. A "daycare" might be more accurate.

True, but it does show way more often than in any other genre I've seen.

I mean, I like it, since it's actually a part of the plot instead of just kind of being a throwaway excuse, like it often happens.

Episode 5:

We learn how Satou didn't get to this world. That's a start.

Arisa is an.. interesting character. Personally I find her a bit annoying, but I do know that some people like her.

Damn, did Satou just cram up a "Smoothness" skill all up to 10? Also, "we're just friends", you don't sound too convincing right now.

Somehow, I don't think anyone would just make a princess of a kingdom they just conquered into a common slave. That's just asking for future complications.

That was an informative episode.

Where did everyone go? Next episode is out.

Nothing special this time, just the usual "pretty girl has a thing for the hero but can't spit it out" BS.

Oh, and Satou picking up the One-Handed Mace skill... alongside the Sexual Techniques skill. Subtle...

edited 16th Feb '18 8:02:23 AM by amitakartok

Satou must've mastered the density skill because wow, that's willing blindness right there.

Aww, they cut short the bit with the cards. It was longer and actually quite interesting.

That play was a mess. The real story was more interesting.

I like how Zena can go from a love struck girl to a soldier in three seconds flat.

When you're level 300+ and have to deal with level 3 mobs.

Calling elves long-ears is racist.

Satou doesn't fuck around... oh wait.

The plot thickens.

In this episode of Death March Kindergarten: Camping and lots of it. Get used to it folks, because there's a lot more from where that came from.

Mia is such a cutie. Hard to believe she's 130 years old. Elves are amazing.

Pocchi and Tama always crack me up. Between their "all animals are meat" policy, and the distrust of kettles they don't fail to entertain.

Before anyone can think nothing exciting will happen, we find out what happened to Mia. Ad the one who kidnapped her have come back!

I wonder how many episodes the rest of the arc will take. While a lot of the rest of the arc are fight scenes, they can't just rush those.

I'm expecting 1-2 episodes before it's wrapped up.

Episode out:

So yeah, 2 episodes it is.

The Cradle is a really fun labyrinth straight out of a JRPG. I also like how this magical elvish labyrinth of death includes a legal disclaimer.

Satou beccame a Dryad victim. And she looked satisfied afterwards.

The homunuculi are really fun. The way they talk remind me of Misaka clones.

Funny how Zed is thinking that Satou is outmatched when the letter has level 350 or so.

Well, next episode this arc should draw to a close.

Episode out:

This was a cool battle. I like watching Satou use his skills. Impressive escape too.

Poor Undead King, his story is so sad. Rest in peace.

Satou is now a master of 8 hmonuculus sister, which I think warrants a nice.

Aww, gonna miss Zena until she comes back in the spring. And now we enter what is frankly the most boring part of the story. I hope they compress it a bit at least.

Huh? I haven't read the web novels, only the official translations of the light novels, but from what I've read exploring the world, watching Satou try new foods, and learning about the world are the main draws of the series as opposed to any sort of overarching plot. If anything we're finally done with setup (Though don't get me wrong, the setup was entertaining in its own right.) and are moving into the meat of the series.

There's really not much interesting that happens until they reach the next city, except like one thing that's just a set up for later.

Generally the story gets more interesting later one where Satou get up to some really crazy stuff.