I Don't Want to Get Hurt, so I'll Max Out My Defense. Review

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How to Make Friends and Break Games

• Episodes : 12
• Genre : Action, Adventure, Comedy, Fantasy, Sci-Fi
• Airing Date : January 2020 – March 2020
• Studio : Silver Link

On her friend’s recommendation, a girl who knows nothing about video games tries out a new VRMMO and immediately puts all of her skill points into defense because she doesn’t like the idea of getting hurt. She bumbles her way through the game, somehow managing to become a top tier player by accidentally breaking established mechanics and making powerful friends. Join Maple on her journey through New World Online!

Why You Should Watch Itai no wa Iya nano de Bougyoryoku ni Kyokufuri Shitai to Omoimasu. (BOFURI: I Don't Want to Get Hurt, so I'll Max Out My Defense.)

1. It’s Incredibly Pure from Start to Finish

Online gaming can be a harsh environment where players screw each other over for the best items and positions on the leaderboards, but Maple is blissfully ignorant of all of that and strives to make friends with everyone she meets. She amasses a guild full of misfits, experienced gamers, and other random players just by being friendly towards them, and they all become a close-knit group under her adorable leadership. Every episode is a new adventure with Maple and her buddies, which is incredibly pure and never gets old.

2. Watching Maple Break the Game is Hilarious

Because Maple is unfamiliar with common gaming conventions, she plays the game in ways that the developers don’t expect and often ends up breaking things. She gains a poison dragon’s powers by spamming health potions and biting it until it dies, creates a flying mount by making her pet turtle gigantic and casting levitation magic on it, keeps up with her speedy friends by warping in front of them with a blocking move, and on and on. The developers pull their hair out trying to nerf her, but Maple’s brand of cheerful mayhem will never be contained.

3. The Events are Exciting

The other guildmates get their chance to shine during the game’s events, which take the form of contests or all-out wars between players to win some kind of prize. The first one basically consists of Maple dunking on everyone who dares to come near her, while the final one is a battle royale where victory depends heavily on mind games. Maple’s experienced gamer friend Sally is especially good at that—she even makes up fake skills to throw other players off and gets other guilds to fight each other so that she can sneak in and steal their treasures.

Why You Should Skip Itai no wa Iya nano de Bougyoryoku ni Kyokufuri Shitai to Omoimasu. (BOFURI: I Don't Want to Get Hurt, so I'll Max Out My Defense.)

1. New World Online is a Horribly Unbalanced Game

The only reason why Maple can break the game through sheer ignorance is that New World Online is pretty buggy and badly balanced to begin with. It works well for the comedic aspects of the series, but viewers who enjoy RPG-style isekai for their game mechanics could get annoyed at how flimsy this MMO actually is.

2. The Minor Characters Don’t Do Much

Much ado is made early in the series about Payne, the legendary #1 player of New World Online, to the point where he’s only shown in shadow or from behind until the last few episodes. However, when he does get his big moment to shine... he doesn’t do a whole lot. He’s just a powerful player who serves as a stumbling block for Maple’s guild but otherwise, he’s a normal nice guy who isn’t mysterious or sinister in the slightest. Other minor characters receive a similar treatment, which can get frustrating if you were expecting lore from this show.

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BOFURI is a heartwarming comedy about how fun it is to make friends through online games, made all the better by its cheerful protagonist Maple. Check it out if you need a break from the harsh realities of life.

What did you think of our review? Did you watch BOFURI this season? Let us know in the comments, and thanks so much for reading!

After the hard-hitting East Coast lifestyle hit me a bit too hard, I started pursuing my passion as a writer in my cozy home state of Ohio. Aside from that, I spend my time cooking, cosplaying, collecting anime merch, and being an improv comedy actor. I also love sneaking alliterations and stupid puns into my writing, so be on the lookout for them! 😉

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