Hmm, I haven’t played RO, but it was Korean. SAO was heavily influenced by Ultima Online and Wizardy (both American), but idk if either had a tower-level structure like that. From the handful I’ve played, It’s usually more like connected regions with varyingly different themes & climates (sorta like Alfheim Online in SAO - though that had Jötunheim). Funny enough, the only JP one I’ve played is… SAO: Integral Factor. As an aside, Aincrad was written/published in 2002… so I’m not sure if it counts as modern anymore
They never would have had the problem in the first place. The mechanics, level progression, skill acquisition, etc, would never have made it past beta testing (if even that far). Game balance is definitely a challenging thing to maintain, but not like that!
This is kind of what I’m enjoying about the anime (I’m only on ep 6 tho), it’s just a kinda manic cgdct/slice of life fantasy show that I can easily watch. I can definitely see why it would make for uninteresting light novel series tho.
I don’t remember the timeline of things well enough to comment, but I’m impressed you stuck it out that long!
I never played any of those, but I was mostly talking about the “tower” structure in BouFuri (apparently the English rendition is BoFuri… that makes no sense considering it is 防振りin Japanese, but whatever)… although, if you are only on episode 6, they may still be on level 1? Ah, no, level 2 is from the 3rd episode. Since SAO is also following a “piled up environments” structure, I thought it was not a coincidence.
… I was an adult in the '00s, so for me they count as “modern”, but sometimes (like now), I am reminded that that was 20 years ago.
You are too early in to understand what I meant, then It only really became a problem for me around volume 6 (based on my ratings), so, somewhere around episode 20 (season 2 episode 8), I guess? But I was mostly thinking of stuff in volume 10+, which are beyond the anime.
According to Wikipedia, that would be until the end of season 2 (episode 50) although I didn’t read volume 15, just the summary.
Mostly, I bought a bunch of the books at once past volume 3-ish and didn’t want to just throw them away (plus, I liked the world building). I did manage to push through by constantly venting out about how much I hate the main character in the thread of the book club for the series on the WK forum (to the annoyance of the people in there who seemed to genuinely like the series). I remember that volume 14 (on top of being the last one that I owned) was a flashback to the background story of some of the characters that I didn’t care about either and every page I read was inflicting 1d4 direct damages to my soul. I really didn’t like to give up on a series at the time, but it was too much.
We do that all the time in American English tho - Tokyo vs Toukyou, Tofu vs Toufu, Kikyo vs Kikyou/Kikyō, etc. It’s not a very common American English pattern, so easier to understand without.
I was a teen, but I know the feeling
I don’t think I’m in danger of reading the series, despite my suggestion of it , but I’ll keep that in mind
I’m slightly surprised then, but wonder whether some amount of it isn’t anime vs LN. I guess ill find out in a year or two (when my reading level is better)
Ahhh that’s tricky. I’ve recently joined team “physical books”, but I have to be absolutely sure I’ll read it. If it was that bad I’d try to sell it, or gift it to someone via the physical media thread. I have some digital series I’ve dropped or lost interest in tho. Unfortunately I can’t gift or sell those
I agree the world building in that series is pretty cool!!
I am well acquainted with this feeling lol… Especially having just finished Evangelion, where it only occurred to them to give you backstory in the last 1/3rd… Tho that show inflicted far more than 1d4 direct damage to my soul
Oh, looks like the English translations for both of those was done by Alexander O. Smith. Plus I have https://learnnatively.com/book/98e3b2e38d/ lying around anyway so it’d be a good chance to try out her writing style… Will add these to the consideration list!
Unfortunately, it looks like the English translation for this isn’t easily available, as far as I can tell. Looks like the novel was picked up by Tokyopop before they fell apart back in the late '00s, and a quick glance of Amazon doesn’t pull back any copies. Has anyone read https://learnnatively.com/book/33244e8f8a/ / Dragon Sword and Wind Child by the same author? Though glancing around it seems it won awards for children’s lit in Japan, so it might skew a bit younger.
Oooh, that’s a good suggestion! Thank you!
Dang, I just saw that this is L38; I wonder what the heck pushes it up so high. Vocab range, looking at the review?
Ah that’s a shame. I just saw on Wikipedia that it had an English translation and thought that would be fine, but didn’t think about the availability.
Yes, the author seems to like using a lot of different words. I don’t have the books anymore, so I can check, but I remember one character using basically every word containing the character 愛 (such as 寵愛, 溺愛, etc) in the same soliloquy. I don’t remember how it was in the first volume, but the writing is generally pretty good for a light novel.
If only the main character wasn’t so damn awful. That being said, it’s probably bearable for a single volume, and the first volume is somewhat self-contained.
I’ve read the English version of Dragon Sword and Wind Child and I’d definitely recommend it! I read it around 6 years ago, so I don’t remember many of the details, but the world building and characterization were good. I think it felt YA rather than children’s.
I read ケイヤクシマイ 1 | L25 on a whim yesterday, and while it isn’t anything remarkable, it got me mildly interested in maybe checking out other age gap manga.
The main thing I’m really not interested in reading is high schooler/sensei stories. It’s possible I’d consider something that was really nuanced or realistic, but otherwise this subgenre is just not for me. Would also prefer not to read emotionally toxic relationship dynamics (unless part of it is the characters overcoming that and developing a healthy relationship dynamic)
Anyway if there’s anything you’ve particularly enjoyed, please share
I really enjoyed what I read of 永年雇用は可能でしょうか ~無愛想無口な魔法使いと始める再就職ライフ~ | L30?? (I only read the manga though, didn’t even know there was a light novel )
This one focuses on the relationship, but I wouldn’t call their relationship romantic. At least as of now.
A very slow, relaxing story. Don’t expect any drama or action from this.
口が裂けても君には (manga) was cute, but the age gap wasn’t really noticeable. It gets mentioned a few times, but she doesn’t really act all that mature.
I really like 墜落JKと廃人教師 (manga), but this one is teacherxstudent. It’s more of a comedy than a romance story though, and both characters act their age imo. I know this manga got a drama adaptation, so I assume it is generally well received.
The humor is pretty dark, I could see that being a turn off for some. The whole premise is that every character is or was suicidal. Suicide gets mentioned (in a lighthearted way) like every other page. I liked the way that theme was handled though, since it normalizes talking about depression and such.
These don’t have a natively page yet I need to get on that!
口が裂けても君には 1 | L24?? hmm the slit mouth thing is kinda disturbing in a few of the panels, but besides that the manga looks cute. I think I can probably get past it
I looked up 墜落JKと廃人教師. It sounds kinda interesting, and surprisingly only has good reviews on MAL. Though a few mention stalking and possessiveness from the teacher , which makes me very uncomfortable
I’m very iffy-ly giving it a try, but there’s a good chance I’ll drop it.
Well I read through vol 1 of 墜落JKと廃人教師 and have really conflicted thoughts. The stuff I was concerned about was very present, and made me really uncomfortable. While I’m somewhat interested in seeing where the story goes, I don’t think I’m gonna continue it.
I’ll probly read more of 永年雇用は可能でしょうか before I go to bed (easier to read tablet in bed vs physical manga), which I’m guessing I’ll like better.
Also realized I can add a rec of my own: 鬼の花嫁は喰べられたい 1 | L22?? - haven’t read the whole book yet, but it’s a pretty hilarious rom com, and the couple have a cute vibe where they’re both really considerate of each other, while totally misunderstanding things
Interesting… I would not have gotten that from the cover or description at all. I’m a bit iffy on gun-focused things in general, but I’ve enjoyed some stuff where they’re prominent. One of the reviews claims it doesn’t info-dump you, and it has an audiobook (edit: tho Audible JP doesn’t want to let me get it )… so I guess I’ll add it to my list
I don’t have any particular genre in mind tho, so all good
Oh, I have to add that she (the one on the right) is an otaku in the sense that she is extremely focused on a specific subject (urban legends), not that she likes video games and the like.
Main character is a spider. It’s in the title.
But close enough I guess.
While she would be described as 隠キャラ, her internal voice (which is what we get) is quite hyper, though.
The MC in わたモテ is also quite hyper - cool either way! In any case, those both happened to be on my list already, so cool
@Megumin how does D-FRAG compare to the anime, if you’ve seen it? I dropped it midway a few years ago, cuz I thought it was boring (as opposed to Gamers! which I enjoyed). Might be willing to give it a second try tho.
I had trouble with ゆるキャン△ anime bc of the slow pacing (tho it was beautiful and sweet overall)… I’m assuming the manga is also that level of slow? or does it feel slightly faster bc it’s manga? I’m kinda curious to see how it does visually
NGNL is definitely not what I’m looking for, but mostly bc I despise the leads.
It only really became a problem for me around volume 6 (based on my ratings), so, somewhere around episode 20 (season 2 episode 8), I guess? But I was mostly thinking of stuff in volume 10+, which are beyond the anime.
Plus I have 
)
I need to get on that!
)… so I guess I’ll add it to my list
