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REVIEW: Mixed Bathing in Another Dimension Novels 1-2




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Merxamers



Joined: 09 Dec 2013
Posts: 720
PostPosted: Wed Dec 06, 2017 10:48 am Reply with quote
I checked out the first 2 volumes out of curiosity; i agree that it's a bit better than one could expect from the title. I can kinda respect how upfront it is about its intentions; the hero is going to bathe with beautiful girls, and either you're on board with that or you're not.

I was a bit annoyed that Touya supposedly likes Haruno but still wants to gather a harem, assuming she'll be ok with it i guess. At least consent is a strong focal point, like the reviewer mentioned. I will say that this is a much better series than "Smartphone", one reason being that Touya actually uses his titular power to solve problems and do things.
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encrypted12345



Joined: 25 Jan 2012
Posts: 715
PostPosted: Wed Dec 06, 2017 11:54 am Reply with quote
I like stories that have absurd concepts pushed to the limit, and a magic hot spring used to supply a desert with clean water is definitely up there. I might check it out one of these days, maybe wait for a couple more volumes.
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Melicans



Joined: 01 Feb 2012
Posts: 620
Location: Canada
PostPosted: Wed Dec 06, 2017 12:01 pm Reply with quote
I admit I really rolled my eyes when J-Novel announced this as one of their titles, but it really is a fun and interesting read. It's now one of my favourite J-Novel titles, and I can't wait for more to be released.
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Double Mangekyo



Joined: 17 Aug 2011
Posts: 179
PostPosted: Wed Dec 06, 2017 3:24 pm Reply with quote
I'm honestly really happy to see a positive review such as this. I found the intimacy that the characters share quite charming and one of the series' best aspects. The other being the lore that the characters uncover on their travels.
I'm just glad that Haruno's group finally contributed something to the plot in volume 3.

Merxamers wrote:
I will say that this is a much better series than "Smartphone", one reason being that Touya actually uses his titular power to solve problems and do things.

I'm a little confused by this statement. As of volume 5, Smartphone's Touya has:
spoiler[
- saved the duke's daughter and her entourage from assailants
- restored the duke's wife's eyesight
- saved the king from poisoning
- uncovered the would-be murderer and other corrupt nobles
- introduced new forms of entertainment to a world that didn't have much to speak of
- been a bro to Lyon (especially that "wedding gift" he gave him)
- helped Yae's family in warring states not-Japan by combating an undead army and its leader
- officially agreed to marry Yumina, Elze, Linze, Yae, and later on Lu; two of the girls are royals, which means strengthening ties with and between their respective countries
- took in an orphaned girl off the streets
- helped said orphaned girl rediscover her family abroad
- stopped a coup in the neighboring empire
- helped a group of adventurers escort slaves to freedom
- offered said slaves new jobs in the kingdom by opening his own cafe in the royal capital
- solidified relations with five countries
- reformed a religious organization's upper management and felled a fake deity
- founded his own duchy
- took in refugees from not-Japan as workers and instructors
- offered women and demonic beings a chance to serve in his duchy's official knight order, when they wouldn't have such an opportunity in other countries
- saved the remnants of an amazon tribe from being annihilated by a mid-tier Phrase
- not to mention all the monster quests his party takes on as adventurers
- all this while collecting the ancient devices of a certain doctor in order to combat an impending massive-scale invasion (devices that have left their mark throughout every volume mind you)]

I'd say that's a pretty good record.
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Merxamers



Joined: 09 Dec 2013
Posts: 720
PostPosted: Wed Dec 06, 2017 5:46 pm Reply with quote
Double Mangekyo wrote:

Merxamers wrote:
I will say that this is a much better series than "Smartphone", one reason being that Touya actually uses his titular power to solve problems and do things.

I'm a little confused by this statement. As of volume 5, Smartphone's Touya has:
[long list]
I'd say that's a pretty good record.


At least in volume one, Touya did basically all of this using his overpowered magic abilities; the smartphone is completely incidental. Every opportunity he has to resolve a conflict or problem (like that noble woman's blindness, or the poisoning) is done with one of his dozens of magical abilities, and not the phone. My point was that in Mixed Bathing, unlike in smartphone, the protagonist uses his seemingly useless ability in clever ways to solve problems.
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BlueAlf



Joined: 02 Jan 2017
Posts: 1493
PostPosted: Wed Dec 06, 2017 6:22 pm Reply with quote
This was one of those JNC titles that I hadn't really given a chance. After reading the review, it sounds like it does have its interesting points. I guess I should check it out.

Merxamers wrote:

At least in volume one, Touya did basically all of this using his overpowered magic abilities; the smartphone is completely incidental. Every opportunity he has to resolve a conflict or problem (like that noble woman's blindness, or the poisoning) is done with one of his dozens of magical abilities, and not the phone. My point was that in Mixed Bathing, unlike in smartphone, the protagonist uses his seemingly useless ability in clever ways to solve problems.


I think what Double Mangekyo meant was that that point alone doesn't necessarily makes Mixed Bathing a better series. I understand that you like this better though.
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Double Mangekyo



Joined: 17 Aug 2011
Posts: 179
PostPosted: Wed Dec 06, 2017 7:59 pm Reply with quote
BlueAlf wrote:
Merxamers wrote:
done with one of his dozens of magical abilities, and not the phone

I think what Double Mangekyo meant was that that point alone doesn't necessarily makes Mixed Bathing a better series. I understand that you like this better though.

Uh, not quite.
To make my stance clear:
I see T.Houjou's Bath is an "ability" while T.Mochi's Phone is a "tool" (not a "titular power" and, unlike the Bath, was never seen as useless).
Where the Bath is like a spell in its own right, the Smartphone is like a wand for casting spells (from volume 2 onward anyway...). I don't know if Merxamers has read past Smartphone vol.1 though. That particular tool is an equip item for Mochi, mainly used to greatly augment some of his spells.
Abilities and tools are not equivalent. Both MCs use magic abilities for their achievements. The difference is that Houjou's are used alongside his tools whereas Moichi's are used in conjunction with them. The Bath and Phone serve different functions, is what I'm trying to say.
Hope I cleared some stuff up there.
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Random Name



Joined: 24 Nov 2016
Posts: 643
PostPosted: Thu Dec 07, 2017 5:15 am Reply with quote
Oh I mistook this for that one were the guy reincarnates as a hot spring. That one sounded far more interesting than this one.
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