Chapters: 26 Status: Ongoing Genre: Adventure, Comedy, Fantasy, Harem, Shounen, Slice of Life, Isekai Serialization: ComicWalker

Synopsis: Man dies and becomes a farmer in another world.

Just Don't Expect Much LOL

So here's a question. Can you rate something favorably while also saying that you should keep your expectations low? I ask this because it seems to be the general attitude directed toward isekai. "You know what you're going to get, why do you have to keep asking for better?" One MyAnimeList review genuinely rated "Nonbiri Nouka" a 10 while saying, "You should only read this if you don't expect much from the manga."

I can understand if you say, "Don't expect X, but you'll appreciate it if you want Y." But to make a blanket statement that there isn't anything to expect, and still give it a perfect score...I don't get it.

Whoops. Sorry, Wasn't Paying Attention

My synopsis above says everything that you need to know about the story. He gets a magic plot device that literally transforms into anything that he wants and does everything that he could ever want whenever he wants. Soon, a bunch of overpowered animals start living with him. A mega-harem of hot busty elves quickly develops and they have nightly sex...zzZZzzZZzzZZ...Oh sorry, I fell asleep while writing all of that.

I just can't fathom where the entertainment from this manga comes from. There is not a single struggle that any character ever has to face. At one point, a random dragon shows up and lobs a fireball at them, but it was absolutely worthless. Even though it did no damage to anything, the protagonist goes nuts over it like his mom just got shot. He never faces any adversity, so the moment one thing in life randomly turns on him, he just loses his mind. This is not how you flesh out a character. I can't understand who he is if he absolutely never faces any crisis.

Why a Harem?

So what is the narrative function of a harem? It's to surround your self-insert character with desirable romantic partners right? But what's the point of a harem that is just 5 different characters multiplied 5 times each? You might as well surround yourself with dakimakura pillows and you'd have effectively the same thing.

There's a good reason why harems are usually 3-6 girls that are all easily discernable. It's so the reader can root for the girl that they like the most and fantasize about which couple would be the happiest out of them all. Even that is taken away from us because no character has even the tiniest hint of a personality, and even if they did, the main character's already sleeping with all of them anyway. So who cares?

Pure Definition of Low-Effort

Everything up to this point is honestly forgivable in some sense. Isekai is so derivative and passionless that it's hard to even complain anymore. The thing that made this stand out is the art...it is hands down the worst manga art I have ever seen. Even ONE's webcomics that are famous for their crude drawing can't even be compared to how pitiful the art is in "Isekai Nonbiri Nouka".

Now, I should probably expand on this a little bit. I don't mean that the drawings or character designs are bad exactly. In any other manga, I'd probably consider them fine, but nothing special. What I actually mean is that this is the laziest art I have ever seen.

95% of all the panels is just a camera perspective behind one character while the other characters stand shoulder to shoulder facing the front. There's no attempt to showcase the characters actually living in the world. Where are the shots of characters putting dishes away? Where are the shots of characters talking while sitting on a staircase? Where are the shots of characters playing with the dogs?

There are NONE. Nothing is ever drawn unless it has an immediate, direct effect on the main character in that scene specifically. Despite the fact that this mangaka has fully designed what the setting looks like through detailed blueprints, he refuses to present it through the manga itself. There is no panel flow, character sprites are constantly reused, and the exposition is a nightmare.

Conclusion

There's definitely spite in this review. "Isekai Nonbiri Nouka" is the embodiment of everything that I hate about isekai manga as a whole. I hear this being constantly compared to Stardew Valley, but I think that's a huge insult to the immaculate game design that went into the Stardew Valley experience. I don't think anybody should read this. I don't think this manga should exist. I don't see a single positive aspect of it anywhere. Without question, Isekai Nonbiri Nouka is the worst manga I have ever read.