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I want to preface this by saying I have a certain fondness for Bandai Namco's anime video game adaptations. Sure, the studio pumps 'em out like Dairy Queen and chocolate soft serve on a hot Phoenix day, and yes, very few of them are objectively great games, but there's a consistency to the way it makes serviceable interactive versions of beloved anime stories that I find comforting. For example, Dragon Ball Z: Kakarot is a solid 3.5/5 that I happen to love simply because I love the source material, not because the game itself is anything special.
I'm explaining this so that it doesn't come across mean-spirited when I say Bandai's newly announced adaptation of That Time I Got Reincarnated as a Slime defies all expectations by looking legitimately promising. It's not a mobile game, for one. It's also not yet another generic 3D brawler; it's actually a fully fledged action-RPG with a big city builder component, which is the perfect - ideal, even - fit for the source material.
That Time I Got Reincarnated as a Slime: Isekai Chronicles, which, if not the longest video game title ever is definitely among the most bizarre, tells the story of 37-year-old Satoru Mikami, who is literally reincarnated as a sentient "slime" named Rimuru after dying at the hands of a robber.
I'm intrigued by the side-scrolling nature of the gameplay, and the combat looks like a fun spin on the old 2D Tales games, which I'm excited about. But what really stood out to me is the city building, which is a perfect tie-in for Rimuru's quest to build his own nation of monsters after being thrust into a world of sword and sorcery, which has made for a surprisingly compelling anime that just started its third season.
The trailer doesn't show all that much city building stuff, but you can see a blank canvas gradually transform into a bustling city with many different buildings and decorations. The interface where the player character upgrades various institutions to improve productivity and character stats reminds me a lot of Ni No Kuni 2, which is a compliment of the highest order in my book.
Ultimately, one decent-looking trailer isn't enough to resolve years worth of doubt regarding Bandai's anime video game adapts, but it's a relatively promising introduction for sure. We'll just have to see if That Time I Got Reincarnated as a Slime: Isekai Chronicles – I'm never getting over that – sticks the landing when it hits PS5, PS4, Xbox Series X, Xbox One, Steam, and Nintendo Switch on August 8.
In the meantime, here are the best anime series we recommend watching ASAP.
