A review by timefliesaway
ウスズミの果て 1 by 岩宗治生

dark hopeful mysterious slow-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Plot
  • Strong character development? No
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.75

 A post-apocalyptic world, in which humanity has been wiped out through a crystal virus brought by aliens, and a girl with her animal-like sidekick, who are on a mission to clean the world, so it's safe for humans again, and to look for any survivors. 
 
 
I love the concept. 
 
Each chapter, Saya visits a different area to look for survivors and to dispose of the infected bodies. As the virus has only taken out humans, she occasionally meets robots or androids. 
In each chapter, we get a glimpse of the dead's lives, and a bit more lore. Slow-paced, but wonderfully so. 
 
The art is very detailed, especially the buildings feel quite real. You can grasp the vastness of the world, and the loneliness Saya must feel. Although she doesn't know anything else. 
The character designs, especially some of the robots/AIs are quite interesting, although sometimes give a more fantasy-vibe, rather than sci-fi. 
 
I've mostly started it to get a melancholic vibe, but unfortunately it's not that melancholic. Chapter 3 (cinema) was, and is also my favorite so far, but it's more of an "routinely empty" feeling. Like the feeling you get when you've been doing the same thing every day for years, again and again. Typical working class routine. Which is kind of the point, but I do hope it dives deeper into melancholy. 
 
-03.08.24