Introduction
Kaito Daimon would be a completely average high school student except for one thing: he's a "demon" at solving puzzles. Kaito is so brilliant, in fact, that when he's asked to take some 'special' tests of his unique ability, he immediately suspects that the test itself is a test. Kaito suddenly finds himself caught up in a lethal Philosopher's Puzzle made by the sinister group POG, a murderous maze of trap upon trap, where failing to solve the secret correctly will result in death! Fortunately, Kaito's skills prove up to the first test, both for himself and his childhood friend Nanoha, who is also caught up in the deadly scheme. But now that he has been designated as a Solver, he is pulled into a new life where he must travel the world with other Solvers, attempting to solve the latest deadly riddles left by POG. There's a new conundrum around every corner and each deception could lead to death, but once a riddle has been posed, you can count on Kaito to unfold, unravel and unlock it!
(Source: Sentai Filmworks)
Audience reviews
11 · Sample from the first available page, separate from the total number of ratings.
DieTown
I think the easiest way to describe this show is that it’s a battle shounen except fights are replaced with puzzle battles. The puzzles often take place in a ridiculously large arena that is always visually interesting. The puzzle logic is solid, and I found it more fun to watch than certain shows where a character wins because they can punch the enemy harder or faster. The audience isn’t usually given enough time or information to completely solve the puzzles ourselves, but we have enough to follow the general strategies. However, there are still several puzzles you can do by yourself if you pause the show, and those can be really fun.
The show wasn’t amazing, but it gives off the impression that it wanted to create a genuine story that doesn’t copy the battle shounen formula.
Read at the sourcetooterp
This is a spoiler free review of both season one and the series as a whole
When I started watching this anime I assumed it was going to be an average one a lot like a bunch of other random animes that you would watch and forget about but I was pleasantly surprised that this anime was way better than I expected. The beginning is a little bit episodic as you get used to the world of the anime but as the show goes on it gets better and better and the over arching story gets more and more interesting. Season one was really good with 2 being about as good maybe a little better. But season 3 wraps up the anime so nicely that I would not only consider it the best season but it also makes the entire anime seem better. I hope you guys really give this anime a chance
More details in a video rev…
Read at the sourceDr_Civilization
Phi Brain is an anime about a puzzle god doing what he does best. This is an anime about a master of puzzles being challenged to solve lots of puzzles and uncover secrets in a high-stakes life-or-death game. Episodes consist primarily of puzzle-solving and explaining solutions.
It is pretty good at having creative and unique puzzles for the most part, but there are also enough recognizable ones mixed in that you can try to think through it yourself as well. The characters are a little two-dimensional, but the characters aren't really the focus of this: it's the puzzles and solving them, and for that, you only really need the MC. It's also over-the-top AF, ranging from deadly puzzles with the world at stake or even more deadly cookies baked with the best of intentions.
If you like big-br…
Read at the sourceniconiconii27
This show would basically be your generic shounen, if not for a couple of....interesting....things
story: pretty much revolves around kaito, everybody is either out to murder him or out to get puzzle time with him. no seriously, puzzle time with kaito will be MINE! there is a background story about evil plots, a divine puzzle and other stuff, but the main focal point is definitely puzzle time with kaito.
art: average, probably not 2011 worthy, but honestly i'm not to obssesed with this as long as they don't give it.....american tier "art"
sound: opening was really good, the sounds during the show weren't spectacular, but they didn't annoy me either.
characters: only a couple of main characters had much depth to them, i've already seen season 2 which helped build to alot of characters d…
Read at the sourcecjoycoolio
I have to admit that the first couple episodes I was pretty bored but then by like the fifth episode it got pretty interesting. Kaito Daimon is the main character of this anime. He is a genius solver of puzzles. There are two people involved in puzzles. The people who solve them (solvers) and the people who create them (givers). Kaito has to challenge many puzzles that put his own life or the life of someone dear to him in danger. If you don't think that's a thrilling part of the anime then you're completely wrong. In this sense it makes Kaito actually seem like a real hero because he saves their lives by solving the puzzle. If you think this anime you actually can solve the puzzle with Kaito then you'll be sadly disappointed. These puzzles that he encounter cannot be solved by the viewer…
Read at the sourceCyrenia
I was deeply in love with this series ever since the first episode...
Story 10/10:
The way it was thought out was in a magnificent glory of fragrance. Episode after episode had me hooked until the very end, when they solved all those complicated puzzles it kind of made me feel dumb because I knew that I couldn't solve it. Even if it didn't give us a chance to solve them I really don't mind because I watch anime for the overall enjoyment.
Art 10/10:
I really loved how they made Ana Gram look so much like a girl! Gammon was pretty funny looking but I didn't mind one bit! I always thought Nonoha was a very beautiful girl even if her hair wasn't down. Cubic looked like a little kid, I always just wanted to jump into the screen and pinch his cheeks x3. Finally, Kaito Daimon, he looks like on…
Read at the sourceInfinite
Phi Brain is all about solving puzzles, however if you think that you'll be able to solve puzzles along with the protagonists, then I'll put that hope to rest now; you're not. Whilst you'll get the occasional glimpse at the whole puzzle, they are for the most part exclusively for the characters.
The character designs are very brash and crude, very much like the show itself, and whilst I am hesitant to call them outright bad they are certainly below average. This is a low budget anime, and so the animation and art is poor, expect to see many off model shots every episode, which are often so bad that they are distracting. Whilst this is the case, the animation level doesn't detract too much from the anime as a whole.
The music is worlds apart from the art, the opening "Brain Diver" is a ca…
Read at the sourcejkalyana
I have this policy that I should not write reviews for anime which I have not completely seen, at least for those which finished airing. This is an anime which made me really happy I stuck to my policy, because my rating dropped from my initial thinking of 7 after first two episodes to 5 later on.
Coming to the actual review. The core concept is a good one as is to divine revelation which can make man God. Now how the story develops around it is the anime. Obviously from the title you can guess its in the form of puzzles. People have to solve puzzles to get closer to this divine power.
If the plot of the series is revealed in the first few episodes, its interest should be carried in some form till the ending with a good ending. This anime completely fails at it. Not only does it fail to…
Read at the sourceBokuranokiseki
I like this show (and its second season) a lot. Pretty much one of the very few 2011-2012 anime shows that I really am looking forward to watching almost every single week.
Out of the many shows that Sunrise have made, I think Phi Brain is somewhere at the top, because it's not about Gundams and physical fighting. There's also a certain air of unpredictability when it comes to this series.
You have to keep in mind, Phi Brain was made for NHK Educational channel, which is an offshoot of NHK. It's intended to encourage/motivate Japan's youth to challenge themselves. On the official Phi Brain website, for every new episode that airs, they post the accompanying puzzle that showed up in the episode. What's pretty amusing is that the anime stars characters, who are not exactly good candidate…
Read at the sourceCCLocs
I don't usually write reviews for much of anything. However, at the moment I feel as if rambling is the best and only way to iterate the immense disappointment that I feel after watching Phi Brain: Kami no Puzzle.
I should start by stating that I loved the premise of this anime, and I was also impressed by the fact that it dared to be artistically different. Having said those things, I was really excited about Kami no Puzzle, and, although the pilot episode made it clear to me that it was a Shounen anime, I actually liked what I saw in the beginning.
I suppose that my fancy little clincher and hastily written summation of the anime's pros lead up to this statement: Somewhere along the line, the ball was dropped, and it hit the ground with a thunderous smack. Suddenly, the relaxing pace b…
Read at the source27CansOfTuna
10 Okabe-sans out of 10. One of the most epic anime to ever exist. Every episode was an ephemeral and viscerally compelling experience in action, drama, music, and graphics. Every puzzle was meticulously crafted from what seemed to be generations of research, experience, and dedication. No puzzle was like the other and each one worked in myriad ways to bring the plot dead front and center to stun the viewer into being completely shocked at its scale and depth. Yes, this anime was that deep and it even went deeper as the episode count went on and the stunningly designed main characters went through hard trials of friendship, trust and betrayal as they worked to save the world from the clutches of evil and bring the moon and the sun together at last. The music greatly complemented this with…
Read at the source