Slime ISEKAI Chronicles
When Bandai Namco Entertainment and ZOC Co., Ltd. announced their adaptation of the beloved That Time I Got Reincarnated as a Slime series into a game on August 7, 2024, I felt intrigued. I expected a complex universe filled with opportunities for speedrunning strategies but encountered a half-cooked experience.
Overall Impression
Fans had high hopes for an immersive gaming experience that mirrored the anime’s depth—a mix of challenge and adventure to match the Jura Tempest Federation’s story. Unfortunately, the game missed the mark, leaving even avid anime enthusiasts feeling let down. My initial anticipation quickly turned into disappointment.
Gameplay Mechanics
Playing the game felt like sprinting through a rushed marathon, with obstacles offering minimal challenge. Lifeless beat ’em up side-scrollers and shallow city-building mechanics slowed the pacing. Games that masterfully blend speed and strategy can elevate the player experience from good to extraordinary. Sadly, Slime ISEKAI Chronicles failed to achieve this balance. The narrative, heavily borrowed from anime scenes and dialogue, added little excitement. Combined with rudimentary 3D character models, the gameplay failed to capture the charm of its unique cast.
Story & Character
The story delivered a carrot-and-stick approach. Attempting to condense three anime episodes into a 20-minute in-game retelling felt poorly executed. However, the characters stood out as a saving grace. They provided enough familiarity to keep fans engaged. Yet, as a speedrunner, I found both the story and character depth lacking, leaving little room for strategic exploration.
Visuals & Graphics
Visually, the game delivered mixed results. The 3D models clashed with the anime-inspired world of ISEKAI Chronicles. On a positive note, occasional 2D character portraits added emotional depth and a nostalgic touch reminiscent of the anime.
Sound & Music
The sound design followed a similar trajectory. While the voice acting stayed true to the original series, the overall music and audio design fell flat. For speedrunners like me, sound plays a critical role in maintaining momentum, but this game failed to enhance the experience.
Difficulty & Replayability
In terms of difficulty and replayability, the game struggled to deliver. A fellow player aptly described it as “essentially a visual novel.” The lack of intense challenges or dynamic variables eliminated the desire for replay. The gameplay offered no incentive for speed optimization, leaving my strategic skills untested.
Conclusion
Slime ISEKAI Chronicles attempted to bring the Reincarnated as a Slime universe to gaming, an ambitious task for ZOC Co., Ltd. However, the blend of visual novel storytelling and side-scrolling combat created a game that didn’t do justice to either genre.
For die-hard anime fans, the nostalgia might justify a playthrough. For speedrunners like me, the game failed to deliver an engaging or satisfying experience.
Final score: 2 out of 5 stars. A missed opportunity, but one that could inspire better adaptations in the future. Here’s hoping ZOC Co., Ltd. and Bandai Namco Entertainment refine their approach in the next release.
Add That Time I Got Reincarnated as a Slime ISEKAI Chronicles to your Steam collection today!
Final score: 2 out of 5 stars. A missed opportunity, but one that’s sure to enhance future gaming adventures. The world of speedrunning waits with bated breath for the next big hit from ZOC and Bandai Namco Entertainment.
