English Dub Review: I’ve Been Killing Slimes for 300 Years and Maxed Out My Level: “A Ghost Appeared”

Overview: When Halkara (Xanthe Huynh) discovers a spirit haunting her new factory, the elf seeks the help of Azusa (Skyler Davenport) and Beezlebub (Erica Mendez) to help with her ghostly issue.  

Our Take: If you have been following this series long enough, you will be surprised to learn that there is a new character introduced in this episode. Oh, you aren’t? Well I guess that is not too odd considering I’ve Been Killing Slimes has gotten into the habit of doing so and will seemingly continue to do it for the foreseeable future.

If the title didn’t already tip you off, “A Ghost Appeared” features the arrival of a new ghostly friend in Rosalie, who appears after being revealed to be haunting Halkara’s newest factory. Beforehand though, Halkara and Aizawa being scaredy cats of ghosts as they clutch onto Beelzebub for dear life is a nice little tidbit that had me smiling. With the former, it most certainly is in line with her bubbly nature, but with Azusa because her insecurities aren’t highlighted as much so it’s not a change of pace for her and cute to watch. 

However, while that’s all good and fine, it brings me to another issue that is becoming especially prominent as the show goes on. The series continues to use the same tired formula that it has started since day one. A lost puppy of a magical being is in need of help and then becomes enraptured with the Aizawa or at the very least clearly forms a bond. And they join into one big happy family, hold hands and walk into the sunset together. And to be clear, it is not to say that Rosalie is a bad character. I like that she has a mischievous side and that it differs so much from the rest of the group but she is just a victim in a long line of, more often than not, predictable entry points for characters and their stories in the fantasy anime.  

It is predictably sweet as more than likely any new characters from here on out will be as it has been previously. It’s slowly but surely starting to become more of a tedious task rather than fun and breezy to watch. All the outrageous ordeals the gang puts Rosalina through in hopes of getting her out of Halkara’s body after inhabiting it were cute enough, but it’s still otherwise forgettable. The charm, in Maxed Out My Level’s case, is starting to appear as nothing more than a flickering flame that is not sufficient enough for the series to have a lasting luster. 

I’ve Been Killing Slimes for 300 Years and Maxed Out My Level slogs down as it becomes a wash rinse and repeat effort that some light laughs and charming enough characters can’t fix alone.