English Dub Review: Bofuri: I Don’t Want to Get Hurt, So I’ll Max Out My Defense “Maxing Defense and Hunting for Crystals”

Overview (Spoilers Below):
While exploring aimlessly in level 7, Maple and Sally discover a crystal that serves as one of the three keys. After finding a stone tablet resembling an event map, Maple and Sally journey to find the remaining crystal keys. Upon completing their quest, they gain a special surprise for their animal companions.

Our Take:
The eighth event is almost upon us, and the Maple Tree guild has officially gained its monstrous yet adorable companions. However, they have at least one more side quest to accomplish before we reach the game’s latest upgrade. Beforehand, we got another glimpse of another player’s monster companion from another guild, like in last week’s episode. This time, Frederica from the Order of the Holy Sword showcases her summon monster, a chick named Notes, after her humiliating duel with Sally. Like the other monster companions, Notes is another cute companion with unique skills that could work in Frederica’s favor. Also, the fact that Sally quickly defeats Frederica in seconds is undoubtedly hilarious.
The remaining episode focuses mainly on Maple and Sally again, as they find a crystal that sends them on an adventurous hunt for the remaining ones. It’s unsurprising that we got another episode involving Maple and Sally on an unexpected side-quest, considering how much of a winning combination these two made in their previous gaming adventures. What’s also unsurprising is that the two friends continue to deliver their charming and hilarious chemistry while collecting the crystal keys from the hidden event.
But, of course, this is another episode where the show’s plot progression takes a back seat in favor of its relaxation and action-packed scenarios. First, we have Maple and Sally wandering in level 7 and having fun, which isn’t without its humorous moments, like Maple getting knocked out by a sheep herd. Then, we have the two battling the bosses to get the remaining keys, including a griffin from the giant tree and a rock monster from the windy section of level 7. Their battles resulted in them retrieving the remaining crystals to access the ruins, where Syrup and Oboro evolved into new forms due to them leveling up their basic skills.
Like some of the previous episodes, “Hunting for Crystals” continues to provide plenty of thrills in the action scenes and animation amid its light-heartedness and comedy without making its intended tone unintentionally jarring. More importantly, it further showcases why Maple and Sally are some of the best anime duos in the genre regarding their chemistry, likability, and teamwork. It does slow the overall arc down again, considering the eighth event is almost upon us. Fortunately, it easily compensates for it by maintaining the series’s sense of fun and enjoyment with its endearing and consistently entertaining crystal hunt.