Let’s Put Some More Points Into Vitality
Alright, Bofuri or BOFURI: I Don’t Want to Get Hurt, so I’ll Max Out My Defense or Itai no wa Iya nano de Bougyoryoku ni Kyokufuri Shitai to Omoimasu is essentially what Sword Art Online would have ended up being if they hadn’t been trapped in the game, they weren’t actually going to die, and if the story focused on Asuna’s character from the word go who was more of a newb to the gaming world when it all started. So basically nothing like Sword Art Online except that there are some key images with the device they are using to enter the virtual world that just clicked that connection into my head and it is never going away.
Bofuri is about Kaede whose friend has talked her into buying a VRMMO but is unable to play until after some tests are finished and so Kaede logs in alone to try it out. She chooses the name Maple because she’s ‘Kaede’ which made me wonder if Kaede actually meant maple and it turns out it does so there we go – anime taught me something new yet again. Then she decides to put all of her points into defense in one of the clearest cases of the overly long title describing the entire concept behind the story that I’ve seen in awhile.
She then, like any new player dropped into a massive open world without friends or guidance, kind of fumbles about heading in the direction she’s pointed and ‘fighting’ some monsters. I use the term fighting loosely given she has almost no attack capabilities despite having a sword, but her defense is so high she mostly just lets them pummel her, building up various resistances, before some accident allows her to squish them with her shield or actually land a blow with her short sword.
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This one doesn’t feel like it is going to be overly plot heavy, however they’ve already done a pretty good job at establishing Kaede as a pretty charming character and introduced the rough framework of the support cast. I’m looking forward to getting to know these other players and the various colourful characters bouncing around in the introduction.
So far no tension or particularly high stakes, just some silly fun about a gaming world that isn’t taking itself overly seriously given how Kaede defeated her first boss. It’s enjoyably pleasant and so far hasn’t had an excess of fan-service or anything really objectionable in the story. Kind of looking forward to something light and silly each week.
Thank-you for reading 100 Word Anime.
Join the discussion in the comments.
Karandi James
Anybody avid mmorpg player know that Bofuri is just one nonsense after the other. at least they tried to explain how a class in avoided in “Only Sense Online” (picked it as comparison since the theme is very similar : newbie picking anti-meta build and becoming OP)
pure vit build is very commonplace in almost all MMORPG that allow you to put stat points manually so it’s very illogical that she’s the very first person to actually do this thing.
Great fun!!! Gun Gale Online Lite. . .
Charming, innocent, absolutely silly fun… I don’t need much more of a hook myself.
That is a good description of it.
I really enjoyed this episode, but I feel like it will struggle to hold my interest without some sort of stake. It doesn’t need to be much, but just something that will give it some drive.
Normally I feel the same way, though there was just something appealing about this despite the absolute lack of point.
I’m with you… Not sure why, but the Anime picked my interest even if it isn’t my regular type of Anime to watch. I believe the main reason is how silly Kaede is, but as you said, ends up being lovely to watch
Hopefully it continues to be lovely to watch as it might run out of steam pretty fast.