The Unbelievable Way Bofuri Nails the True Essence of Online Gaming

The representation of video game elements in anime series, known as "gamified" anime, dates back to as early as 1986 with the release of Super Mario Brothers: Great Mission to Rescue Princess Peach. However, it wasn't until 2002 with the arrival of .hack//sign that the gamified anime genre began to take shape. It wasn't until Sword Art Online premiered in 2012, a decade later, that the genre truly became what it is today.

While gamified anime can be enjoyable and incorporate familiar gamified elements, many lack accurate depictions of online gaming. In the midst of this, a standout series emerged in 2020: Bofuri: I Don’t Want to Get Hurt, so I’ll Max Out My Defense. This action-adventure series excels in portraying the exciting and intense world of online gaming.

Familiar, Yet Refreshing

The series, which initially premiered in the Winter 2020 season, gained enough popularity to warrant a second season that concluded in the recent Winter 2023 season. It comes as no surprise, given that the studio behind the series, Silver Link., has a history of producing gamified shows. They were also responsible for the series Death March to the Parallel World Rhapsody. With Bofuri, the studio successfully blended the gaming excitement from their previous gamified anime with the delightful and serene atmosphere of their slice-of-life series like Non Non Byori. Funimation licensing Bofuri further solidifies its endorsement.

The story revolves around Kaede Honjou, who embarks on thrilling adventures while playing as a character named Maple in NewWorld Online, a popular VRMMORPG. Unlike Sword Art Online, she is not trapped in the game nor are her in-game exploits connected to any life-threatening consequences like those in Sword Art Online Alternative: Gun Gale Online. Nonetheless, her time in the game is filled with demanding tournaments, clan battles, and everything that a fan of gaming anime would desire. The game world incorporates various elements that are certain to captivate gamer viewers and make them feel right at home.

Grinding

One notable aspect that online gamers may immediately recognize in this series is the long-standing tradition of "grinding." For those unfamiliar with gaming, "grinding" refers to the practice of players engaging in repetitive and often arduous tasks in order to level up or acquire specific items within the game. While this gaming feature is not limited solely to online video games, it is particularly frustrating in this context and a defining characteristic of MMORPGs.

In preparation for tournaments, Maple and her clan must undergo grinding sessions to improve their stats, experiment with new strategies, and acquire additional skills. Fortunately, viewers are presented with condensed montages of these grinding sessions instead of having to endure entire episodes dedicated to them. However, it is important to note that while grinding is indeed a prominent element in an anime centered around gaming, it is not the sole factor that sets Bofuri apart and makes it unique.

Patch Updates

Video games have been around for decades, but the world of online gaming has introduced new concepts, including video game patch updates. These patches are software updates that developers release after the game's initial launch to enhance security, functionality, and other features. As a result, it is common for video game characters, classes, and other aspects to be "buffed" or "nerfed," meaning they are strengthened or weakened respectively.

In the case of Maple, a character in an action anime, she is extremely overpowered, posing a threat to the balance of the class system in NewWorld Online. As the title suggests, Maple prioritizes defense and maxes out her defense stat when creating her character due to fear of taking damage. It doesn't take long for her to exploit certain weaknesses in the game's design and stat system. With her exceptionally high defense stat and immunity to specific damage types, she becomes practically invulnerable to any harm.

The video game developers take notice, and upon witnessing her exceptional performance in her first tournament, they issue several patches to restore balance. One patch restricts the frequency with which Maple can utilize her shield's ability to devour everything in its path and convert it into MP. Another patch introduces a new damage mechanic that allows Maple to sustain piercing damage, albeit at a significantly reduced rate compared to other players. Moreover, the developers enhance the AI to prevent other players from exploiting the game in the same manner as Maple. This particular aspect of the game may evoke painful memories for some gamers, but it contributes to the increased realism of NewWorld Online.

Fetch Quests

Role-playing video games offer a variety of quests, with some being more notorious than others. Among the most dreaded quests are the tiresome "fetch quests." These quests involve players being assigned the task of collecting a specific item or group of items and returning them to the quest giver. Frequently, these quests lead players through unnecessarily challenging environments or require extensive, time-consuming efforts to locate a small item in a game of Hide and Seek.

Maple's first encounter with a fetch quest occurs when she stumbles upon a sick girl and her mother in one of the game's initial towns. Instead of battling through hordes of undead, Maple effortlessly flies through the forest on her flying turtle and accompanies the mother to gather medicine for her daughter. Originally designed for players to navigate the forest and ensure the mother's survival, as indicated by the scripted dialogue of the non-playable character (NPC), Maple completes the task with relative ease, making it much simpler than any fetch quest viewers may have experienced. Instead of receiving experience points or in-game currency as a reward, Maple is presented with a follow-up quest. This introduces the next familiar element of online video games that viewers are likely to recognize: quest chains.

Quest Chains

Video game quests typically have a clear beginning and end, with smaller checkpoints in between. However, there are instances where a quest may appear to end but actually leads to another. In the case of Maple, the "Benevolent Knight" quest chain takes her through multiple quests until it culminates with minimal effort on her part. As a reward, she gains one of the most extraordinary skills in the series: loving sacrifice.

This skill grants Maple angelic wings, a halo, and the ability to provide her entire party with the same level of defense. As long as they remain within her illuminated circle, they become invulnerable to damage. It is an incredibly powerful skill, surpassing most others in the game.

Bofuri: I Don’t Want to Get Hurt, so I’ll Max Out My Defense is a delightful watch for several reasons. It features captivating battles, game mechanics that feel fairly realistic, and a generally upbeat tone that makes it easy to enjoy. The genre of gamified anime has seen countless new series released each season, making it difficult to stay updated. Nonetheless, Bofuri: I Don’t Want to Get Hurt, so I’ll Max Out My Defense offers everything that should secure its place on the must-watch list of any gaming anime fan.

You can stream Bofuri: I Don’t Want to Get Hurt, so I’ll Max Out My Defense on Crunchyroll.