DRAMAtical Murder
Synopsis
Some time ago, the influential and powerful Toue Inc. bought the island of Midorijima, Japan, with the plans of building Platinum Jail—a luxurious utopian facility. Those who are lucky enough to call it home are the wealthiest citizens in the world. The original residents of the island, however, were forced to relocate to the Old Residential District; and after the completion of Platinum Jail, they were completely abandoned. "Rib" and "Rhyme" are the most common games played on the island. Rib is an old school game in which gangs engage in turf wars against each other, while Rhyme is a technologically advanced game wherein participants fight in a virtual reality. To be able to play Rhyme, you must have an "All-Mate" (an AI that typically looks like a pet), and the match must be mediated by an "Usui." Aoba Seragaki has no interest in playing either game; he prefers to live a peaceful life with his grandmother and All-Mate, Ren. However, after getting forcefully dragged into a dangerous Rhyme match and hearing rumors about disappearing Rib players, all of Aoba's hopes of living a normal life are completely abolished. [Written by MAL Rewrite]
Audience Consensus
The anime adaptation of DRAMAtical Murder is largely considered a disappointment, especially by fans of the original visual novel. Common complaints include a rushed and underdeveloped story, poor animation quality, and the removal of key BL elements. While some appreciate the voice acting and soundtrack, the overall consensus is that the anime fails to capture the depth and emotional connection of the source material.
Strengths
- Voice acting for Aoba is well done, especially his 'dark' side
- Some find the futuristic setting and technology interesting
- Soundtrack has some good rock tracks that enhance climactic scenes
Weaknesses
- Rushed and poorly developed story due to adaptation of a longer visual novel into a short anime series
- Animation quality is low, with awkward expressions and rushed scenes
- Lack of character development and emotional connection with characters
- Absence of romance (BL elements) that were central to the original visual novel
- Plot holes and predictable, generic story elements