Campione! Novel Review
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By takedzuki jou, 丈月城
21 volumes
2008
Description
A Campione—a Godslayer—is a supreme ruler. Since he can kill a celestial being, he can therefore call on the sacrosanct, divine powers wielded by the gods. A Campione—a Godslayer—is a lord. Since the power to kill a deity is in his hands, he therefore looms over all mortals on Earth. A Campione—a Godslayer—is a devil. Since for all mortal who live in the world, none can assume a power to match his! Kusanagi Godou is a 16 year old boy who played catcher and fourth hitter in senior league baseball until an injury put an end to it in junior high. As the spring break of his third and last year of junior high came around, he got involved in an adventure and ended up slaying one of the Heretic Gods, Verethragna. Thus, he became the youngest—and seventh—Campione. Now that he is a Campione, a godslayer, young Godou must defeat the troublemaking gods with the help of his followers!
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Publication Information
- Original Publisher
- shueisha
- Original Language
- japanese
- Type
- Light Novel
Campione! Review & Spoilers - Novel Translator
My Thoughts on Campione!
Campione! is a series I dove into with a mix of excitement and trepidation. The premise of a young man becoming a Godslayer in modern Japan, inheriting incredible powers and attracting the attention of powerful (and beautiful) women, is undeniably appealing. However, I also went in knowing some readers found it frustrating. Having explored a good chunk of the available content, I can see both sides of the coin.
First Impressions
Initially, I was hooked by the action and the mythological elements. The idea of gods and heroes from various pantheons clashing in the modern world is exciting, and Campione! delivers some genuinely thrilling battles. The way the protagonist, Godou, acquires and learns to use his powers kept me engaged early on.
What Works Well
The fight scenes are a definite highlight. I found myself enjoying how Godou, despite often being reluctant, uses his wits and the unique aspects of his powers to overcome seemingly impossible odds. The author clearly has a strong grasp of mythology, weaving in various legends and figures in interesting ways. Also, the female characters, despite some issues I'll address later, are generally well-developed with distinct personalities and skillsets. I can see why so many readers have strong feelings about their favorite girl in the series.
Areas of Concern
The main sticking point for me, and it seems many others, is the protagonist's denseness when it comes to the affections of the female characters. It can get frustrating to watch him repeatedly avoid acknowledging their feelings, especially when it leads to contrived situations. I also found the narrative structure, with frequent flashbacks, a bit disjointed at times, making it hard to follow the timeline of events. I will say that the protagonist's development does improve later in the series.
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Final Verdict
Campione! is a flawed but ultimately enjoyable series. If you're looking for deep, philosophical themes, this might not be for you. However, if you enjoy action-packed stories with mythological elements and don't mind a dense protagonist and harem elements, there's a lot to like here. I'd recommend going in with tempered expectations and focusing on the exciting battles and the diverse cast of characters. It's a fun ride, even if it occasionally stumbles along the way.
