Date A Live IV
Synopsis
Despite the numerous challenges he has overcome so far, Shidou Itsuka's mission with Ratatoskr is far from over. In a departure from his daily routine, Shidou encounters a starving woman lying on the street and ends up helping her. After the two arrive at her apartment, the woman introduces herself as Nia Honjou—a popular manga artist working under a pen name. However, cutting straight to the chase, Nia reveals that she is also a Spirit and is aware of Shidou's secret operation. Interested in seeing his charisma firsthand, Nia challenges Shidou to win her over on a date. As he strives for an opportunity to seal her powers, Shidou learns more about Nia and her history with Deus Ex Machina Industries, a name he is all too familiar with. [Written by MAL Rewrite]
Audience Consensus
Date A Live IV is a decent addition to the series, praised for its improved animation and faithfulness to the source material. However, some viewers find the repetitive formula and overcrowded cast to be detrimental. The season is enjoyable for fans of the genre, but may not appeal to newcomers seeking groundbreaking stories.
Strengths
- Faithful adaptation of the light novels by GEEKTOYS.
- Improved animation and pacing compared to previous seasons.
- Engaging storyline with well-developed characters (Kurumi and Origami specifically).
- Addition of interesting plot twists and backstories.
- Good art direction and character design.
Weaknesses
- Repetitive dating formula with each new spirit.
- Overcrowded cast leads to less screen time for individual characters.
- Story can be generic and tropey at times.
- Pacing issues with slow build-up in some arcs.
- Inconsistent sound quality.