Unraveling the Complex World of Protocol: Rain

The World of Protocol: Rain

Protocol: Rain on Crunchyroll might be another gaming anime, but it stands out from the inundation of VR MMORPG series out there for a number of reasons. Anime-goers looking for something fresh should put it on their watchlist.

Shun playing Xaxerion in Protocol Rain using 3D graphics in the animation.

The series' game is a regular first-person shooter similar to Call of Duty that features old-school 64-bit graphics as opposed to immersive VR worlds. The focus is more on the unique and complex relationships of the players than the actual gameplay, partly for that reason.

The story revolves around the fictional online game Xaxerion. The main characters, including protagonist Shun, his friend in real life Nozomi, and online companion Explosion-kun, initially bonded over the game as kids. Now, they must compete in a cutthroat e-sports competition on the team Fox One run by Nozomi's father to save his failing game café.

Shun's Fox One team in Protocol_ Rain

Layered Storytelling and Character Dynamics

Protocol: Rain, also known as Our Rainy Protocol, features layered storytelling that doesn't involve gameplay. Explosion-kun's true identity is a major plot point in the series. She's not only a famous actress named Yu, but she's beloved by Shun's younger sister, who became paralyzed in a car accident that killed their father. Upon learning about the e-sports competition, Yu decides to join but in disguise.

Shun's sister watches Yu in Protocol_ Rain

Incredibly, the actual gameplay doesn't take up much time in each episode. The purposeful low-end graphics of Xaxerion naturally limit the amount that Protocol: Rain can actually focus on it. While other series use advanced immersive VR MMORPG as the basis for their story, Protocol: Rain takes the opposite route.

Yu's Xaxerion disguise in Protocol_ Rain

All these factors naturally push the gameplay into the background despite the plot line revolving around and being driven by the actual game. Instead, the unique dynamics of the characters when they're AFK unprecedentedly take the spotlight. Most anime-goers hunger for complex character development and relationships, and Crunchyroll's Protocol: Rain naturally meets this need and more.

Shun and his friends learn Yu's identity in Protocol_ Rain

A Fresh Perspective on Gaming Anime

The series stands out from the inundation of VR MMORPG series by defying the norms of gaming anime. It offers a unique and intriguing approach by focusing more on the characters and their relationships rather than the actual gameplay. Fans of usual VR MMORPGs might be surprised by the unexpected lack of actual gameplay, but those who are looking for something fresh will naturally gravitate towards the series.

Shun chatting with Explusion-kun in Protocol_ Rain

The purposeful low-end graphics of Xaxerion naturally limit the amount that Protocol: Rain can actually focus on it. While other series like Shangri-La Frontier use advanced immersive VR MMORPG as the basis for their story, Protocol: Rain takes the opposite route. Hardcore fans of immersive MMORPGs like Sword Art Online might be turned away by the unexpected lack of actual gameplay, but Crunchyroll's Protocol: Rain naturally meets the need for complex character development and relationships.

Yu's other Xaxerion disguise in Protocol_ Rain