Momonga - that is, the game character - is a lich, and when the NPCs were just that - minor AI controlled characters who fulfilled various menial tasks - ordering them around without sparing them a second thought isn't really an unnatural thing in itself. Unlike most shows of its kind, Overlord actually puts our 'heroes' in the role generally relegated to the villains. Like High School DxD or Monster Musume to boobie shows, Overlord does take its subject seriously, but not without a twinkle in its eye. In fact, since he now finds himself the sole caretaker of the guild Ainz Ooal Gown, he feels even more obligated to play the ruler.Īnd having fun with something? That's definitely something I can get behind. But now that he's caught up in the game, he's more than willing to throw himself into his online persona more often and with greater gusto.

For all his omnipotent powers in the game, the show is quite aware of the general social status of adults playing videogames in real life - particularly in Japan - and his dorkiness shines through from time to time with what is presumably his real-world identity. This is most likely the reason why he poured so much of his heart and soul into it, and why his guild are among the top ranked ones near the end. It's work, eat and sleep, with Yggdrasil being his tenuous link to anything resembling recreation and relaxation. The first episode makes it quite clear that the player of the character Momonga has no life, almost literally. Whether that criticism is warranted remains to be seen, though I generally trust Carlos opinion on the subject enough that I'll most likely find myself agreeing with it if I were to watch it. The reason I avoided Sword Art Online is mostly because while it started intriguing enough when I first heard about it, it eventually turned into a rather sexist harem fantasy for males. While I never watched Sword Art Online, supposedly the pinnacle of the genre, I did familiarize myself with this concept in Log Horizon. This goes doubly for 'trapped in a videogame' genre, which doubles as wish-fulfillment for people who places an unhealthy level of importance in their hobbies. Power fantasies are hardly anything new, and I haven't always been the biggest fan of them. And while the game menus are taken away, the magic powers are still working somehow, so Momonga sets himself a new goal: find out what happened, how much this world has changed in light of these unexpected events, and maybe even take it over. Suddenly, his underlings talk - in fact, they seem more animated than ever. Gathering the minions of the Tomb of Nazarik in the main hall, he sits in the throne and awaits the great logout that is supposed to end everything.Īnd then he awakens to find himself a part of the game in a way he didn't expect. Momonga, the last member of his guild, decides to see that time through to the very end without logging out.

In the year 2138, a DMMO-RPG (DIVE Massive Multiplayer Online Role Playing Game) called Yggdrasil is about to meet the end of its run after 12 years. Notes: Based on a light novel series written by Kugane Maruyama and illustrated by so-bin, published by Enterbrain. Related Series: Compilation movie, recently confirmed second season.Īlso Recommended: Log Horizon, Is It Wrong to Try to Pick Up Girls in a Dungeon? Length: Television series, 13 episodes, 24 minutes eachĭistributor: Currently licensed by FUNimation.Ĭontent Rating: TV-MA (Violence, deaths, mild fanservice.)

Overlord manga review