The Exiled Heavy Knight Knows How To Game The System Review

I’m experiencing isekai fatigue. Much like how my interest in superhero projects has fallen off a cliff, the same applies to the transported to another world genre of anime. It’s become expected that every anime season we get a new isekai, and this season is no different, with The Exiled Heavy Knight Knows How To Game The System stepping into that role. But unlike shows such as Sasaki and Peeps, which twist familiar tropes into something fresh and engaging, this series does the opposite. It’s a painful reminder of how oversaturation leads to lacklustre projects.

The story follows Elymas Edvaughn (Takeo Otsuka), who retains memories of his past life in the real world and believes his new fantasy life mirrors a video game he once played. During a special ceremony in which he receives his class, he’s assigned to the Heavy Knight class. Which he knows, thanks to his game knowledge, is actually one of the most powerful classes when used correctly. However, his family in this fantasy world considers it the worst possible class, and he’s exiled for bringing shame to their name. Now on his own, he sets out to become the most powerful figure in the land.

Right off the bat, what stands out is how ugly the show looks. The series feels over‑animated, cluttered with elaborate shots of cities and dynamic action. Leading to many sequences that look like pure visual noise and ultimately fall flat. It adopts a similar stylistic approach to GoHands’ previous projects, such as Hand Shakers, and while there’s a slight improvement, it’s still a failure. The aesthetic already feels dated and will likely look even more so within a few months, or even instantly, as The Ghost in the Shell, which is currently airing, looks magnificent.

Even then, the show could have been interesting if the narrative were rich, but just like the animation, it falls flat on its face. It offers nothing new to an already oversaturated market of isekai narratives. This leads to the first two episodes being utterly boring, with nothing to latch onto, leading to a series I have no interest in continuing. The only aspect that genuinely works is the voice acting, which is surprisingly convincing and brings some much‑needed weight to the drama.

The Exiled Heavy Knight Knows How To Game The System is yet another isekai in the never‑ending onslaught of similar titles. Nothing in the first two episodes convinced me to keep watching; it’s boring, visually flat, and simply a bad show. I don’t think I’ve ever dropped an anime so quickly before, but this one made history in that regard.

★

Currently airing on Crunchyroll / Takeo Otsuka, Shion Wakayama, Natsuko Abe, Kentaro Tone, Miyuri Shimabukuro / Dir: Katsumasa Yokomine / Crunchyroll

About the Author

Robert Ewing

Author

Rob is a freelance film critic and writer who specialises in Anime and Asian cinema. I have adored film since a young age, having watched films that were far too old for me, such as RoboCop, Die Hard, and Hot Tub Time Machine, to discovering the heights of foreign cinema through films like Headhunters and Battle Royale. Growing up with such a diverse catalogue of films that I cherished sparked my desire to discuss them. This passion eventually led me to become a reviewer. Dissecting films, speaking to filmmakers I admire, and showcasing the best of Asian and anime cinema is how I live my best and truest life.

Visit Website View All Posts