How often do you open a hidden wall panel revealing an unknown door that just so happens to lead to another world your grandfather apparently traveled between? Never you say, well yeah this seems straight from an anime set up more than a real world one. I Got a Cheat Skill in Another World and Became Unrivaled in The Real World, Too follows this theme and it quickly intrigued us bees here at Honey’s Anime. Starring a young heavy set fellow named Yuuya Tenjo, Cheat Skill—which is a nice shorter title we’ll be using—fuses themes of an isekai with a fantasy story and after several episodes we feel we have an idea if people will gravitate to this ridiculous plot or will pass it up for other series airing this spring 2023 anime season! Should you walk through the door with Yuuya and see another world waiting to be discovered or do what most would do and run in panic hoping they are dreaming? Why not find out in our first impression of I Got a Cheat Skill in Another World and Became Unrivaled in The Real World, Too!
From Being Bullied to Being Beloved
Originally a very heavy set young man, Yuuya’s discovery of his grandfather’s otherworld door leads him to fighting in a protected home within the confines of said otherworld and then leveling up. However, instead of just getting stronger, Yuuya’s body ends up changing too and he goes from original form to a handsome and in-shape high schooler who quickly becomes the target of new romances, new friends and, of course, new haters. Cheat Skill is a bit unrealistic—but most isekai is after all—yet we couldn’t deny it has the perfect fantasy start that many of us wish we could have. That’s why it's an easy anime to kind of lose yourself in initially and has an oddly relatable/immersive concept from episode one to current.
A Likable OP Hero?!
We will be first to always admit this, most MCs from isekai/fantasy series can be quite unlikeable. They tend to be showboats or tend to be so braindead it’s a wonder how they put pants on in the morning. Maybe because Yuuya had such a troubled life being bullied for his weight and was always trying to be a hero to those who needed him, could be the reason for his character being likable. Episode 3 has our MC being given an opportunity to not only become famous but possibly super rich and he turns it down because of his humble nature and desire to focus on school…wow. Likewise, when Yuuya is given the tour of this new school known for having a prestigious roster and usually being held only in the highest regards, Yuuya feels he isn’t smart enough or talented enough for such a school.
Yuuya is honestly a great MC as he clearly is OP but has a strong mind, great personality and is very humble. We just still can’t get around he’s not a womanizer or trying to be overly cool…it's wild!
Anime Power Trip
Honestly, what we’re about to discuss is going to be noted twice, once as a positive and once as a negative. What makes I Got a Cheat Skill in Another World and Became Unrivaled in The Real World, Too an easy recommend—at least as of now—is that it is your power trip in anime form. There is always a looming desire in all of us for greater things whether it’s to become rich, famous, handsome, beautiful and/or all of those things combined. Cheat Skill embodies this in the form of Yuuya going from a class joke to being envied for having abs and a tall/handsome look. This setup is…something else but even for non-anime fans we could see Cheat Skill being an easy gateway into isekai/fantasy series before diving into more scary series like Re:Life. That being said, as we noted only moments ago, Cheat Skill’s themes aren’t without fault…
Foreseeable Follies Incoming
After three episodes we noticed that I Got a Cheat Skill in Another World and Became Unrivaled in The Real World, Too has one major flaw already showing itself and that is a very goofy plot that only seems to get more convoluted and absurd. One minute Yuuya is getting invited to an exclusive school, then ends up saving a princess—who then finds him and proposes to him—to donning top of the line clothes and becoming a model for a day.
Every episode puts Yuuya into situations we probably wish we could have but where is this all leading to we have to wonder? Will others find out about his sudden rise to perfection or will he end up burdened by this new fabulous life he’s gained? Cheat Skill’s plot just seems almost non-existent at the moment and really just is meant to fuel our real-life desires into an anime format…which is cool but really seems absurd.
Final Thoughts
I Got a Cheat Skill in Another World and Became Unrivaled in The Real World, Too is going to be one of those anime that people either fall madly in love with or consider one of the next flops of the spring 2023 anime season. It honestly has the potential to go either direction and it only will succeed if the plot strengthens up a bit and becomes less of a daily power trip anime story. For now though, we are watching every episode of I Got a Cheat Skill in Another World and Became Unrivaled in The Real World, Too and liking what we see despite the worries we have.
What do you like/dislike about I Got a Cheat Skill in Another World and Became Unrivaled in The Real World, Too? You should comment below to let us know as we love hearing from our fabulous readers out there! Keep stuck to our humble hive here at Honey’s Anime for more anime recommendations, first impressions and all things otaku!
Author: Aaron