i started reading Psyren when a friend introduced it to me. to me, what makes a good first impression is the art. and truth be told, the art isn't that good at the beginning (it gets STUNNING later on). anyway, i kept reading because my friend was nagging me to. then i was hooked. Psyren is absolutely awesome. none of the arcs are dragged out or feel rushed, which is always a plus. anyway, let's break things down.
plot 8.5/10 - like some others said, this manga is pretty much a mix of a few other mangas, but with its own twist. i don't read that much shonen, but even i can tell that Psyren is quite typical, but the author makes it work. it starts out being a strategy manga, but quickly turns into a battle manga when 'psi' is introduced. that put me off at first, but the author has developed the idea of 'psi' pretty nicely which is surprising. in short, the plot is cliched with a twist (in a good way).
characters 7/10 - truth be told, some of the characters are kind of bland to me. the main characters yoshina and amamiya, oh god they are SO forgettable. it took me about 15 chapters to remember their names (maybe its just my bad memory, but still). their personalities are boring. yoshina is your typical hot headed but passionate hero, and amamiya....she's just too dull. her only good point is her fighting skills. on the other hand, i absolutely LOVE kyle. he is just too adorable. don't you love the massive hugs he gives yoshina whenever they reunite? it's so cute!
art 10/10 - the art starts out meh (yoshina's look is very inconsistent. in one panel he looks like a kid, in another he looks like an adult), but becomes amazing quickly. the anatomy is quite accurate and there are enough details in the drawings that tell you the author actually does his/her work properly. i especially like the character designs, NOT yoshina or amamiya, but others such as tatsuo, kyle, frederica, junas, matsuri etc. they all look badass in their own way, and they're actually memorable unlike the main characters -____-
overall 9/10 - hey, what can i say? despite its flaws, Psyren is amazing. the length is perfect: not too long or short. the ending feels a bit rushed, but that's not enough to ruin the manga. if you're looking for a shonen manga with good art and a decent plotline, Psyren is a must-read 😀