Hello and welcome to Project Nitsuj. Well guys I’m still waiting on my updates to finish. Which reminds me, Isis, how’s it going in there?
*Isis appears right in front of Nitsuj*
(Isis): The last update is almost finish installing.
(Nitsuj): About time. My PS4 updates faster than you guys.
(Isis): Hey we had like 11 updates to install with one of them being a firmware update.
(Nitsuj): Firmware? I don’t remember seeing that in the plans.
(Isis): We added it in at the last minute. We were tired of that blink blue landscape so we created firmware that’ll change landscape giving us different themes and imagery such as a red landscape, black landscape, or even a fall landscape.
*Isis opens up a small window to show Nitsuj the inside of the system. Instead of seeing the blink blue landscape Nitsuj instead sees a beautiful forest with leaves of different colors falling from the sky*
(Nitsuj): Well that’s pretty cool. You’ve ladies have outdone yourselves again.
(Isis): Thank you. Enjoy your review master.
*Isis disappears back into the system*
(Nitsuj): Well now that the system is up to date again let’s continue with Log Horizon.
Episodes 14-17
Episodes 14 turns out to be an episode of revolution (a revolution so big that my eyes popped out of my head. Shiroe and Akatsuki talk to Regan (who at the moment I’m right really sure if he’s good or evil. My heart says evil, my mind says evil, but my gamer side says. . .evil) in his lab where he explains to them that he’s a scientist who studies the various magic of the world (so you’re a mage) and that the one magic he’s interested in studying the most is the magic spell known as World Friction a world-class magic spell that has the power to change the world’s history (wow, that spell sounds badass). Regan explains that this spell has been used 3 times in the world’s history and the third time it was used resulted in Shiroe and the others being bought to the game. We also find out that Shiroe plays is a part of some 98 year old legend of the world because his name was written down in the world’s history books and I gotta be honest this is where I get confused so Mira please explain this to us. *Mira appears* (Mira): Okay here’s how it goes. In this world time moves faster than in the real world. About 12 times faster to be exact. Basically, 1 day in the game is really 2 hours in the real world so when Regan says 98 years what he really means is 8 years and a few months in real world time which was around the time Shiroe first started playing Elder Tales. (Nitsuj): So time is bullshit is this world? (Mira): Pretty much or just complete incomprehensible to people who suck at math. Well that explains why I don’t get it. Thanks Mira. (Mira): My pleasure master *disappears back into the system*. (Nitsuj): So after sorting out all that information in your head, Regan begins to talk about the Spirit Theory which he believes that when Shiroe and the other players die and revive at the Cathedral there’s a slight chance they’re losing memories from the real world (so dying does have consequences in this world). Shiroe and Akatsuki decide to keep this information to themselves for now until they can sort it all out (can’t say I blame them this shit just blew my mind away. Is this what hippies feel like when they smoke weed?). We end the episode by going back to the rookie players who have not had any luck in the dungeons (it’s because disorganized, you can levels higher to the monsters in any dungeon but if your team is disorganized and everyone is doing their own thing you will fail) and Minori decides to stop acting scared and speak her mind to the others (finally! Establish order and command in this group).
Not much happens in episode 15. Minori speaks her mind and establish order in the group telling them that in order to be successful they must talk to each other (a man’s worse nightmare) and when I say talk I mean really talk like explain their likes, dislikes, what spells they like to use, why they like this spell, why they don’t like to use this spell, the works. They spend all day talking, getting to know each other, practice teamwork, and the next day they go into the dungeon and completely dominate (not bad rookies not bad). As the camp is coming to an end they establish long-lasting friendships espically Isuzu and Rudy (love flag~) but all the good times come crashing down at the end of the episode when the training camp gets attacked by fish monsters from the sea (yes, finally some action. I enjoy the talking and interaction with the world but this is an MMORPG anime and I wanna see some killing).
Things take a turn for the worse in episode 16. We find out that the sea monsters attacking the camp are goblins and Nyanta discovers that there’s a huge army of goblins coming from the north (goblins from the north, trolls from the east, orcs from the south, and weeaboos from the west. Monsters from all directions coming to destroy them). Naotosugu tells Shiroe and the others what’s going on at the conference and they quickly figure out that the attacks are apart of a popular twice a year quest called “Goblin King’s Return”. In the quest the six clans of goblins come together and have their chiefs fight each other with the winner becoming the six Goblin King (somehow this is more productive and fair than are current politics). When this happens the players are given one week to find the Goblin King and kill him before the coronation (man, this quest sounds pretty cool). If they succeed they’ll receive a large sum of money as well as rare items but if they fail the goblins in the game will united becoming larger and stronger than before. Because the players always defeated the Goblin King before the coronation in the past this problem never occurred in the game but because everyone has been bust restoring Akihabara they neglected to take request from the People of the Land to eliminate goblins and keep their numbers low so in truth this whole mess is technically their fault (//youtu.be/m5RtlpXsl8k). As the episode goes on we find out that goblins are attacking everywhere in the game and Lenessia’s father is heading to the frontlines to fight them (he gonna die) and Shiroe tells everyone about the Spirt Theory which Crusty confirms saying that he remembers having a sister but he can’t remember what she looks like or what her name was. Back at the training camp the rookie players see the destruction the goblins have caused and makes plan to retaliate (you may have attacked us first but we will attack you last and make it hurt).
In episode 17 Minori and her team along with Naotsugu and Nyanta take the fight to the goblins (goblin season is open for business) but the real story this episode is at the conference (yeah because when I think of MMORPGs I think of politics) where the Izumo Knights, these strong NPCs in the game who are said to be stronger than the actual players have gone missing without a trace (sort of like what Crapcom did to Megaman a few years back. Oh yeah, I’m still mad about that). The nobles have no idea where they went or what happened to them thus they have no choice but to ask the players for help but because of their pride they refuse to ask them straight up and instead try to force them into fighting the goblins (*facepalm* oh for God’s sake just swallow your pride and ask them for help you idiots). As the nobles are trying to force the players to help Lenessia comes in and tells them that Izumo Knights have vanished and the whole point of this conference was to find out more about the players and exploit them (yeah, that plan pretty much failed). She apologizes to them and tell the nobles that she’s going to Akihabara to ask the players for help (finally, an NPC who actually thinks in this anime. Thank you). Amazed by her resolve Crusty decides to give her a ride back to Akihabara with Shiroe and Akatsuki accompany them to end the episode.
Episodes 18-21
Not much happens in episode 18. We return back to Akihabara where we see that the place has become a lot more lively (they still don’t have manga and anime stores but everyone is smiling and we see a few street performers). Once they arrive they get the Lenessia out of her dress and into Valkyrie armor (suddenly she’s hotter now) where they put her on stage in front of everyone to heat her request to fight the goblins and protect their homelands (what say you warriors of Akihabara?). Everyone in Akihabara is more than happy to help and set out with Crusty as their general and Shiroe as the strategist (the ultimate devil team) to make their way up north and crush the goblins (scene here: //youtu.be/N5JHTWv7J-g).
The fights begin in episode 19 with Crusty leading his army against the goblins and enjoying every minute of it (he’s not alone). For the majority of the episode we focus on the rookie players who are defending a town from the goblins waiting for reinforcements to arrive which I have to admit is pretty exciting. The group has really grown well these last episodes, they are taking on an army of sea goblins and holding their own against. Tohya has become the tank of the group absorbing attacks and attacking, Rudy and Isuzu have amazing teamwork with their magic, Serara is healing and attacking, but the MVP of this team goes to Minori who has become a young Shiroe predicting the movements of the enemy, getting a full scope of the battle, and thinking 2 steps ahead of everyone (I don’t know about you but I am impress with these rookies. I almost wish the anime was about them). As the fight continues the group starts to get worn out, their MP levels drop, and stronger opponents that are higher leveled start to fight. The strong which is hobgoblins and wolves surround Tohya and are about to kill him (I wonder what memories he’ll lose) but Rudy jumps in to save him using a self-destruct spell which destroys one of the wolves but also takes him out as well. When the group goes to him we see that instead of him going back to the Cathedral he instead just lays there motionless and turning grey like a zombie (kill him with fire) because he’s not a player but instead a NPC (. . .eh, saw it coming) who’s dream has always been to be an adventurer (well at least that dream came true somewhat). They try to revive him but their spells don’t work on him and healing spells are only working a little (live~ damn you live~). Not knowing what to do Minori contacts Shiroe for help to end the episode.
In episode 20 Shiroe saves Rudy. How you ask, by breaking the game and making his own rules (just like all PC games and gamers out there). After remembering his talk with Regan and how Nyanta makes food by simply cooking it himself Shiroe creates a new magic spell called Contract a spell that will allow Rudy to become an adventurer, a member of Log Horizon, and he’ll get to live (all he has to do is make a deal with the devil in glasses). Rudy signs the contract and gets transported back to the Cathedral where he’s reborn as an adventurer (it’s like Disney’s Pinocchio but instead of becoming a real boy he becomes a real adventurer). Isuzu is there to welcome him back and make him promise not to do something so reckless ever again (she loves him). Also, here’s another cool moment with Crusty.
We fast forward one month in episode 21 where we see that the players have pushed the goblins back into a dark canyon and left them there. Rather than kill off their leader Shiroe wants to monitor them to see what they’ll do next and stop them from running wild in the world (a good strategy on Shiroe’s part. It’s like grandpa always used to say, keep your friends close and your enemies at gunpoint). In order to celebrate their victory the players and People of the Land have party where they also sign a peace treaty between the two groups (grandpa also said to have a sniper keep your eyes on your friend just in case). After that we get a hill of information thrown at us. First off, Isuzu joins Log Horizon to be with Rudy (just kiss him already), Shiroe goes to meet Regan where he tells Shiroe that he knows about the Contract spell and that another powerful spell has occurred in Minami another city ruled by players in the West (why do I get the feeling the anime will be making fun of us in the future?), Lenessia becomes the ambassador for the People of the Land in Akihabara which she’s looking forward to since she’ll be allowed to be lazy and not take a shower three days straight (that girl is a NEET if I ever saw one). Shiroe and the Round Table tell everyone about the Spirit Theory which they’re all okay with and nasty rumors about Shiroe begin to spread around town about how he’s a weasel who forces people to do what he wants them to do (hey he doesn’t force them, he just backs them up into a corner and gives them no choice but to listen to what he has to say). The episode ends with fall setting into the world (wow, jumping around time like Frogger here guys) and Marielle wants to hold a fall festival (I’m game).
Episodes 22-25
Only one thing important happens in episode 22. Akatsuki and Minori go on a date with Shiroe to a cake buffet contest (wow, loli college girl and middle school girl. You’re giving people the wrong impressions of you Shiroe). Because of this the people at the buffet stack the odds against Shiroe out of jealousy and force him to eat whole cakes instead of slices (that’s just mean and unhealthy). Things get even worse when the girls start feeding Shiroe pissing off everyone else at the buffet (why? You got dates, have them feed you). Later that night Minori discovers that Akatsuki has feelings for Shiroe (obviously, you could see it from space) and so does she (I don’t know I think she’s confusing admiration for love). Minori starts to feel bad about herself for hating Akatsuki and having feelings for Shiroe but after a nice chat with Tohya she starts to feel better and is okay with liking Shiroe (Akatsuki will cut her in her sleep).
It’s the second day of the festival in episode 23 and everyone is off doing their own thing. We in this episode that Minori has changed her subclass to apprentice which allows her to become the apprentice of anyone she chooses and inherit their skills but only up to her level. She decides to become the apprentice of Shiroe and helps a craft guild with their paperwork to increase Shiroe’s reputation (God knows he needs it. Stays inside all day doing paperwork. It’s a festival man go out and have fun). As the festival is going on in town the People of the Land start to become rowdy, rude, impatient, and start fights with players (you guys do know the players are pretty much immortal so it might MIGHT be a good idea to play nice with them or risk getting your asses kicked). Shiroe senses the anxiety in town (//youtu.be/UA0kNGaYrtg) and with Minori contacting him about an error in the craft guild’s paperwork Shiroe pieces together that Akihabara is under attack by someone (this looks like the work of. . .dah dah dah~ the Negaverse. Or the Dark Kingdom depending of which version of the show you watched).
In episode 24 we find out that the person behind this attack is Lord Marves a noble from the west who want to ruin the reputation of the Round Table as well as their treaty with Eastal (//1.bp.blogspot.com/-5q5LeHvvdmk/UyXDxENOYFI/AAAAAAAATMg/YXneY9OG7uo/s1600/vlcsnap-2014-03-16-21h38m29s223.png, what the fuck is wrong with that man’s face!? He’s look like The Crow if he had a stroke! Don’t fight the goblins just send this ugly bastard out there and he’ll scare them away). Shiroe tries to figure out his plan behind the riots and false paperwork and comes to the conclusion that it’s all random (//youtu.be/lG2kFXDPot8). Yep, everything has all been improvised. There’s no reason behind it whatsoever it’s just there to be there (we’re fighting idiots). This of course stumps Shiroe as he really has no strategy to beat these kinds of enemies (obviously, this whole mess is like trying to make sense out of an Adventure Time episode) that is until Soujirou and his on growing harem of girls show up and gives Shiroe the idea he needs. He decides to have Soujirou and his entourage of girls patrol the city and help people who are complaining because nobody can be angry when cute girls are in front of you. With this strategy the complaints stop and Shiroe goes to Lenessia’s party to greet Marves himself who is being disrespectful to everyone at the party and sniffing Lenessia’s hair without her permission like a pervert in the hopes that one of the players will attack him (not gonna lie I would have attacked The Joker’s bastard son the minute he worked in the door accusing him of being a monster).
In the final episode Shiroe manages to embarrass Marves (with a face like that I’m sure he’s already embarrassed) forcing him to leave town. Once he leaves the disturbances in the city stop and Shiroe goes to confront the real mastermind behind this attack, Nureha the leader of a guild known as Plant Hwyaden which has pretty much conquered the west region of Elder Tales and has forced all the players to join her since she owns the Cathedral and has the support of the nobles making her untouchable (she is my kind of lady). She approaches Shiroe saying that she wants to team up with him and rule this world, do whatever they want, and because she also wants Shiroe literally, figuratively, and very sexually (man Shiroe first it was the loli ninja girl, than middle school shrine maiden, and now the evil hot fox lady. When did he change his subclass to pimp). At first it seems like Nureha has Shiroe saying that he owes this world nothing and when you think about it with her he could accomplish everything he’s set out to do (that and I’m pretty sure the sex with her will be great). But Shiroe remembers the time he spent with his friends and lessons he’s learned from (there’s are friendship is everything message) and refuses to join her (well if not gonna join her can you at least be EWBs. Enemies with benefits). He tells Nureha to leave his sight but she says she’ll return because she wants Shiroe even more now (yeah you, the ninja, and the shrine maiden). We end the season on a high note with Log Horizon deciding to take a journey west (it’s gonna be fun fucking up her system) and Regan wanting to join them (sure why not).
Final Thoughts
Well that was Log Horizon and it’s a pretty great anime. One of the things this anime does great is that it focuses on the characters and their interaction with the world and the characters. They really do make this world come alive and you do feel as if you’ve entered the world of Elder Tales. Shiroe was hands down the best character in the anime, he’s not the strongest character but he is the smartest character and relies on his intelligence and strategies to defeat his opponents rather than use strength. I also like how he doesn’t really care what people say about him, he knows who he is and if people can’t see that that’s their lost. The other characters like Naotsugu, Akatsuki, and Nyanta are also good companions. Naotsugu is the loyal friend even though we don’t focus on him a lot we can tell that he’s a good person who trusts Shiroe a lot and is a strong fighter. Akatsuki is like the serious player of the group who brings the moe factor and deep down is a girl at heart. I look forward to seeing how the romance between her and Shiroe grows in the next season. Nyanta kinda serves as the wise advisor of the group offering Shiroe words of wisdom and giving him that extra push to act on what he should do. The rookie players are also great, like I said before they almost steal the show. It was cool seeing them grow as players and learn the basics of the game while also developing friendships with each other.
Animation is quite good and a joy to look at with the various sceneries and character designs. Music fits perfectly with the anime and does feel like music you would hear in an MMORPG game. The various classes and character designs are creative with each side character having their own personality or purpose in the anime. The only real downside this anime has is they skip over a lot of the fighting in this anime. While talking and interaction between the characters and the world is enjoyable I was really looking forward to seeing how fighting really worked in this world. That war with the goblins would have been a great for a season finale giving us our feel of action. Other than the action aspect falling short the rest of the anime is great and a joy to watch.
Final Score
The final score for Log Horizon is a 8/10 with a must watch stamp of approval. This is a great show and I can’t wait to see what happens next in the second season. If you’re looking for an alternative to SAO or just a fan of animes that explore MMORPGs than check this anime out you won’t be disappointed. Thanks for reading and I’ll see you next time on Project Nitsuj.
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