Reviews

Slum Online by Hiroshi Sakurazaka, Hiroshi Sakurazaka, Joseph Reeder

pekoegal's review against another edition

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2.0

Boring. Author spends too much time explaining how video games work to readers who probably already know. Main character's obsession with "sound FX" grated on my nerves after a while, too. Maybe if fighting games were more my thing I would have been more invested in the story but I was bored.

jmoses's review against another edition

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3.0

This was pretty entertaining. I didn't love it, but I liked it. Very much a different feel than Western sci-fi, which was a very nice change. Some interesting examinations of why we role play online, nothing too science-y or super in-depth, but the musings were nice.

noleek's review against another edition

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3.0

Made me feel nostalgic about playing vidja games with old friends.

ayling's review against another edition

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funny lighthearted fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Loveable characters? Yes

3.0

robert1988uk's review against another edition

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adventurous inspiring mysterious tense medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Plot
  • Strong character development? No
  • Loveable characters? No
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? No

3.5

tarabyt3's review against another edition

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4.0

Read this if you want some philosophical thoughts on gaming. While not a perfect book, it touched on a lot of problems and questions anyone who has been involved in gaming culture has asked at one point or another. Be prepared to skim over some excessively detailed (read: boring) simulated fight scenes. Overall a fun and thought-provoking read.

nikkibee's review against another edition

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4.0

I got this on storybundle.com awhile back. The first thing I will say is that the translator did an excellent job on this book. It felt well written and I felt the personality of the characters portrayed.

The story was entertaining and seeing the world through the imagined eyes of a Japanese gamer was interesting. As it was seeing it through the eyes of shut in. How real life relates to people's virtual lives is intertwined no matter how much people try to keep them separate but seeing it through the eyes of an online gamer who definitely struggles to relate the world around him was fun to read. As it was reading the references to Tokyo, it is always fun when you recognise place names in a book.

spicycheesecake's review

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medium-paced
  • Strong character development? No
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated
  • Diverse cast of characters? N/A

3.0

Slum Online is a bit boring. You're taken through the life of a normal college kid who spends a little too much time playing video games. Nothing much goes on in his life except for a possible love interest, and... whatever drama/event  is going on in his life. I've literally summed up the whole book, so now you don't have to bother reading Slum Online.

I can't say that I truly enjoyed reading it, but I'm glad I didn't DNF it. It's decent. Wouldn't recommend though.
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