The Asterisk War
Synopsis
In the previous century, an unprecedented disaster known as the Invertia drastically reformed the world. The powers of existing nations declined significantly, paving the way for a conglomerate called the Integrated Empire Foundation to assume control. But more importantly, the Invertia led to the emergence of a new species of humans who are born with phenomenal physical capabilities—the Genestella. Its elite are hand-picked across the globe to attend the top six schools, and they duel amongst themselves in entertainment battles called Festas. Ayato Amagiri is a scholarship transfer student at the prestigious Seidoukan Academy, which has recently been suffering from declining performances. Through a series of events, he accidentally sees the popular Witch of Resplendent Flames, Julis-Alexia von Riessfeld, half-dressed! Enraged, Julis challenges him to a duel for intruding on her privacy. After said duel is voided by the student council president, Ayato reveals that he has no interest in Festas. Instead, he has enrolled in the academy to investigate the whereabouts of his missing elder sister. But when a more devious plot unravels, Ayato sets out to achieve victory, while being surrounded by some of the most talented Genestella on the planet. [Written by MAL Rewrite]
Audience Consensus
The Gakusen Toshi Asterisk is largely considered a generic and uninspired anime, criticized for its derivative plot, weak characters, and excessive fanservice. Some viewers find it mildly enjoyable due to its fight scenes and music, or due to nostalgia. Overall, the series is seen as mediocre and not worth the time investment.
Strengths
- Decent fight scenes and special effects.
- Enjoyable opening and ending themes.
- Some viewers have nostalgic attachment due to it being one of their first anime.
Weaknesses
- Generic plot and characters with many overused tropes.
- Weak world-building and inconsistent rules.
- Forced and unnecessary fanservice.
- Poorly written characters and dialogue.
- Underwhelming action choreography.
- Bad voice acting.