Being a top VR gamer is a premise that several anime series have explored, but Overgeared brings a funny new twist to this popular subgenre. Episode 1 of the new Overgeared anime thrusts viewers into Satisfy, a VR game played by billions of users around the world, and Nagamine Takumi’s life is going to change forever with one of his newest in-game discoveries. However, to make it to the top, you have to be at the bottom, and in Takumi’s case, he’ll crash through bedrock and start at level -1.
Editor’s note: there will be minor spoilers for episode 1 of Overgeared.
In Satisfy, Takumi (VA: Tatsumaru Tachibana) assumes the alias of Grid, a level 73 Warrior who’s average at best. His luck isn’t great, and to make matters worse, he’s in debt thanks to the VR machine he’s manning and the money he’s spent in-game. While struggling in a high-level quest, he finds a mysterious tome that enables him to change his class from Warrior to Pagma’s Successor. With the chance to become a legendary blacksmith, Grid takes that opportunity once the quest he’s in restricts him to finish it, dead or alive. If you’ve played any RPG, you’d know that a class change could mean a stat reset. In Grid’s case, he gains the wisdom to become one of Grid’s best blacksmiths, but being cut down in the quest means he’s got to start over with a penalty—to the amusement of the game company who quickly became aware of his class change.
Overgeared Episode 1 is the Start of Grid’s Long and Whimsical Redemption Story
Takumi is a wimp, but he’s a relatable character outside the world of Satisfy. He’s a young man working and trying to find his purpose, and the game itself is a conduit that helps him find it, or at least escape many of life’s worries and troubles. Undoubtedly, his new blacksmith class will prove useful in this regard, and for episode 1, Takumi has to continue stumbling to reach a breakthrough. Takumi as a character is really whimsical, and at times cowardly, but he’s smart and resourceful when the situation calls for it. I won’t spoil too much more, but it’s clear that the first episode is the start of a long journey that will see Takumi grow as a protagonist of his own fate.
Overgeared episode 1 was action-packed but steadily paced, and story-wise, it’s the perfect introduction to the world of Tempal: Item no Chikara. You get some funny insights into Takumi’s family while also getting a lengthy look at Yura (VA: Asami Seto), a beautiful and dangerous witch. The fight scenes in this first episode were also memorable, and the overall animation quality ranges from decent to really good. There’s definitely some room for improvements when it comes to animation quality, but when the scene needs to matter, the animation quality does it justice. Yura’s character design in this episode was superb, and that’s definitely on purpose.
Overall, the first episode is a really good start and shows some promise for what could be a fun and whimsical anime that gets serious when it needs to. Overgeared’s blend of comedy and action is synonymous with isekai and shonen anime series these days, but it still manages to feel somewhat unique and fresh. I definitely recommend giving Overgeared a shot if you’ve enjoyed isekai anime and webtoon anime adaptations like Solo Leveling.
Overgeared is getting an early streaming premiere on September 27, exclusively on Crunchyroll.
Disclaimer: Crunchyroll provided access for episode 1 of Overgeared for review purposes.
