Review of High School DxD Hero

I will cut to the chase, this is the fourth season of Highschool DxD and at this point, if you don't know what HDXD is about then what've you been doing for the past 3 seasons. It has been about 3 years since the last season and with that came a new studio moving from TNK to Passione. This was due to the last arc of s3 (when Loki pretends to be Issei and eventually makes Issei fight Rias, you know the part that felt really irrelevant and seemed like filler) well the author didn't like that and decided to change studios (or at leastthat's how I understand it). This means a completely new art style. Honestly, I'm not really a fan of it, if it had been Passione this whole time (s1-4) I might not have disliked the art style so much as I'd be used to it but oh well, I have heard this art style is much closer to the light novel/visual novel.

Story:
In terms of the art being much closer to the novel the same goes for the actual story. The story is a lot closer to the novel and in this anime adaptation they include 2 different mini arc's. The first arc is a school trip to Kyoto and the second arc is a rating game between Rias Gremory and her cousin Sairaorg Bael, I won't say what happens in either because I'm trying to keep spoilers to a minimum. Unfortunately, this season involves too much plot and not enough 'plot' but more on that later.

Sound:
The same soundtrack as all other seasons excluding the new opening and ending in which I must say the op is a cracking good song

Characters:
I'll start off by saying Akeno is best girl and in this season i wouldn't be surprised if she had 10 lines total. They have now included Ravel Phoenix as a student at the school so she is included a bit more, however, she is supposed to be partnered (i cant think of a better word) with Koneko which I feel was mainly for the comedic value (which was minimal at best). In the Kyoto arc it is based around Issei's relationship with Asia, Xenovia, Irina and a girl they meet in Kyoto called Kunou who is the main focus of the arc. After returning from Kyoto it is mainly based on Issei and Rias's relationship.

Summary:
If you came here for comedy, you will not find it here, this season is much more serious about itself and focuses more on plot then 'plot'. Unfortunately, Highschool DxD is known for its over the top inclusion of 'plot' and to try and change what it is best known for now, I'm not sure is the greatest of ideas. If you are a fan of any female that isn't Rias, you will be disappointed, the only character development is Rias and Issei. Issei has the IQ of a pencil, he has no idea of any female characters feelings towards him (classic harem main character) however, like a pencil he doesn't have the mental capacity to do anything himself but if somebody helps him he is pretty useful. One thing I must give props for are the fights especially the fight in the final 2 episodes. All in all, it seems like Passione are taking this a lot more seriously then it should be, the main character gets powered up by poking and seeing boobs.

TLDR: Not funny, not unfunny. Too much plot, not enough 'plot'. Too much Rias, not enough of every other female character. Passione is taking a series made for memes and turning it into something serious. If it ain't broke, don't fix it. If the series works, don't go changing it.