Buddy Complex
Synopsis
When ordinary high school student Aoba Watase is suddenly targeted by a giant robot known as a "Valiancer," he is saved by his mysterious classmate Hina Yumihara. After revealing that she and their robotic enemy are from the future, Hina suddenly propels Aoba 70 years forward in order to prevent his death. Upon arrival, Aoba finds himself in the cockpit of a Valiancer called "Luxon," stuck in the midst of a firefight between the military forces of the Free Pact Alliance (FPA) and Zogilia Republic. After he shows high compatibility with an FPA pilot named Dio Weinberg, the two perform a successful "coupling," allowing them to share experiences and subsequently increase their capabilities and skills. Although Aoba is able to survive this unexpected battle, he is taken into custody by the FPA ship Cygnus, who wishes to interrogate him. While the student's main concern is whether he will ever be able to return home, what he doesn't realize is that he is about to get caught up in a war to protect the world. [Written by MAL Rewrite]
Audience Consensus
Buddy Complex is a generally enjoyable but unexceptional mecha anime. Viewers appreciate the character interactions and solid animation, but criticize its reliance on genre tropes and underdeveloped plot elements. The time travel aspect is considered interesting but poorly executed, leading to a mixed reception from the audience.
Strengths
- Enjoyable characters and their interactions
- Well-executed animation and sound, especially in battle scenes
- Interesting premise with time travel elements
- Good pacing that keeps the viewer engaged
- Visually appealing character designs
Weaknesses
- Generic mecha story elements and setting
- Underdeveloped relationships between characters
- Predictable plot and time travel logic
- Mediocre mecha designs and fight choreography
- Unanswered questions and pacing issues