The Silver Guardian
Synopsis
High school student and gamer Suigin Riku attends the prestigious Shinryou Private Academy, a school for the elite and the children of the wealthy. But rich or wealthy are not words that describe Suigin; in fact, he is dirt poor and must work many part time jobs to pay for his tuition. During one such job, he dives into a pool to save his pet cat, fully aware that he cannot swim. Luckily, he is saved by Rei Riku, the beautiful and popular daughter of a game developer, and he falls in love with her. He is also drawn to another girl: a new friend he meets in Dungeon Century, his favorite online RPG. But when the game is scheduled to shut down, he knows his adventures with her will soon end. However, the day after the game is shut down, he finds out that Rei and the online girl are one and the same. Soon after, Rei gives Suigin a new game meant to replace Dungeon Century—a tomb raiding game called Grave Buster. But when Rei is suddenly kidnapped, Suigin is pulled inside Grave Buster to save her. Gin no Guardian follows Suigin as he plays through Grave Buster to save Rei, while uncovering the secrets hidden within the game. [Written by MAL Rewrite]
Audience Consensus
The audience consensus is largely negative. While some appreciate the art, animation, and music, the majority find the story rushed, generic, and full of plot holes. The short episode length is a frequent point of criticism, and the characters are considered underdeveloped and basic. Many feel the series had potential but ultimately failed to deliver a satisfying experience.
Strengths
- Good art and animation in some scenes
- Enjoyable outro song
- Addictive for casual watchers
Weaknesses
- Rushed and incomplete experience due to short episodes
- Poor story with many plot holes and loose ends
- Underdeveloped and basic characters
- Generic plot resembling Sword Art Online
- Incoherent fight scenes
- Lack of character development