Review of The Heroic Legend of Arslan
Arslan Senki is *arguably* one of the best of the select few animes that has military & strategic planning involved. Not to mention that it actually has a plot to work with even though it may appear to be quite shaky. There are tons of aspects that may be pointed out that may ruin the show for many, but that does not mean it can be considered as garbage. According to my standards, it scores pretty good in general. To start with, let's talk about the "plot." Considering that this isn't really one of those shows that expressly states what the series is about, it isable to let the audience get the gist of story even at the pilot episode. The series did well in terms of plot progression even though it got derailed several times for world building and character development. I commend its author for writing up a story that actually makes sense when it involves war and politics.
Another great aspect of this show is its character and character development. The only downside is that most of these characters are geniuses or exemplified warriors. They are so strong, up to a point that it's absurd how most of them can destroy their enemies because of "natural talent" or "divine protection." These characters are unique, but I can't say that they don't fall into particular archetypes. One thing is for sure though, the series didn't lag behind when it comes to character development. So you can look forward to that, especially when the series is nearing its end.
Next up is its art and animation. I have no qualms about its art, but I have to mention that it is very similar to one Anime (FMA-B, if you know it). With regard to animation, it seemed okay with me when it came to general scenes and battles. It is acceptable even though they used CGI most of the time (general and/or extra characters), because the animation was definitely amazing when it needed to look amazing.
When it comes to the sound aspect, there's nothing to worry about. It may be generic every now and then, but most of the voice actors are widely known--so that's a bonus.
Generally speaking, Arslan Senki has basically all of these things: plot, plot armor, eye candy, cliches, military strategems, dark magic, black/dark knight, cross-dressers, tsunderes, a kuudere, a giant noob, annoying characters, annoying extras, funny moments, mind-blowing moments, "wtf moments," and a lot of other things.
Story7/10 (2.8)
Character5/10 (1.25)
Art / A 5/10( 1)
Sound 4/10 (0.6)
5.65/10=>6
Barely made it to the point where it's worth a watch, if you ask me. Although, unlike most shows, this one is enjoyable enough that you might binge watch all episodes in a day. (entertainment value isn't factored into rating because it depends on personal preferences, thus the score 6/10.)