You know what this series kind of reminds me of? The video game Earthbound (have not played the other games yet). It's a lot different from its contemporaries and overshadowed by more mainstream titles. Even their ability concepts are similar, with PSI attacks. Okay hackneyed comparison over.
My point is, Psyren really is quite a unique series. Sure you have your textbook hero Ageha, but he's not the idiot hero you've gotten used to with other popular Shonen. He's hot-blooded, but gains a great deal of maturity and isn't afraid to get his hands dirty. His foil is the heroine Amamiya, who isn't just cold to fit an archetype. While these two carry the series fairly well, the other characters get to develop as well. Cowardly Kabuto becames more serious and pacifist while retaining his comedic quirks. Iwashiro doesn't completely lose track of all his characters despite some of them not getting enough focus. Many of them have fairly integral roles; former antagonists Lan and Haruhiko turn out to be loyal allies, Hiryu and his group also come together to help, etc.
The main draw of the manga is the story, but it's kept interesting with the main conflict gradually expanding. First the goal is to simply make it through the game, but it expands to defeating the WISE and saving the planet. There is limited time as the present planning and future dystopia will eventually overlap. The prevailing theme of an uncertain future really engages the reader; what does it take to change the future, and change it for the better? The actual fight scenes are quite a sight. A mix strategies, twists, revelations of new abilities. You're left genuinely guessing for the outcome instead of simply "Oh his power is better/stronger, he'll win". Characters tend to have affinities but utilize them well.
There's action, ideologies, tidbits of romance, twists. Admittedly, it gets a little rushed at the end of the series (no doubt because of the changing ratings). It's recognizable as a Shonen, but...refined in sense.
It may sound like this is unbridled praise, but these traits are what really make it a shonen jump title that should have lasted a bit longer.
PS: I have not read Gantz so don't ask me to make comparisons
Ensemble Darkhorse of Jump, Too Good to Last
You know what this series kind of reminds me of? The video game Earthbound (have not played the other games yet). It's a lot different from its contemporaries and overshadowed by more mainstream titles. Even their ability concepts are similar, with PSI attacks. Okay hackneyed comparison over.
My point is, Psyren really is quite a unique series. Sure you have your textbook hero Ageha, but he's not the idiot hero you've gotten used to with other popular Shonen. He's hot-blooded, but gains a great deal of maturity and isn't afraid to get his hands dirty. His foil is the heroine Amamiya, who isn't just cold to fit an archetype. While these two carry the series fairly well, the other characters get to develop as well. Cowardly Kabuto becames more serious and pacifist while retaining his comedic quirks. Iwashiro doesn't completely lose track of all his characters despite some of them not getting enough focus. Many of them have fairly integral roles; former antagonists Lan and Haruhiko turn out to be loyal allies, Hiryu and his group also come together to help, etc.
The main draw of the manga is the story, but it's kept interesting with the main conflict gradually expanding. First the goal is to simply make it through the game, but it expands to defeating the WISE and saving the planet. There is limited time as the present planning and future dystopia will eventually overlap. The prevailing theme of an uncertain future really engages the reader; what does it take to change the future, and change it for the better? The actual fight scenes are quite a sight. A mix strategies, twists, revelations of new abilities. You're left genuinely guessing for the outcome instead of simply "Oh his power is better/stronger, he'll win". Characters tend to have affinities but utilize them well.
There's action, ideologies, tidbits of romance, twists. Admittedly, it gets a little rushed at the end of the series (no doubt because of the changing ratings). It's recognizable as a Shonen, but...refined in sense.
It may sound like this is unbridled praise, but these traits are what really make it a shonen jump title that should have lasted a bit longer.
PS: I have not read Gantz so don't ask me to make comparisons