Tomodachi Game

[neflight86]

1957

"High school student Katagiri Yuuichi, who values friendship above all else, enjoys a fulfilling life with his close friends Sawaragi Shiho, Mikasa Tenji, Shibe Makoto, and Kokorogi Yutori.

However, after a particular incident, they're dragged into a debt repayment game.

The only way to beat the "Tomodachi Game" is to not doubt their friends. Bound together by solid friendships, the game should've been easy, but...

Source: Crunchyroll"

Genre(s): Thriller, Psychological, Gambling

_________________

I remember liking what I've read of this, but I can't say this adaptation is nearly as thrilling. The first two episodes do an admirable job introducing the characters, but their relationships and thoughts you will have to get used to taking at face value, as the commentary is all too glad to explain what is going on at all times. Common enough in anime, but when there is no satisfying "aha" moment to tie it all together, the flow of events becomes muddled and the clever tricks lose some of their impact. Animation is sparse, looking like late-night anime of years past. Give it a try if you're starving for some wordy pop-psyche gambling.

[shinta|hikari]

This is one of the worst "game" anime I have seen simply because it relies fully on preexisting drama between the characters to even be remotely interesting.

[neflight86]

3

Well, I'm detecting a slight pulse now that the arbitrary traitor is coming to light. The narrative can now focus on how they will maneuver and/or be subverted, so there's that. Tanji hates his friends; he must have spent too much time on a political sub reddit.

[neflight86]

4

This is sooooooo close to being worth watching! Much better now that the traitor's strategies are privy to the audience. I'm hoping next episode finally pushes this into solid recommend territory. The tricks and maneuvering will have to be supremely satisfying to pull it off, but if so, well...

Also, special props to Manabu for being maybe the least obnoxious death game mascot.

[neflight86]

5

Ok, now I'm on board. A good climax/turnaround as Yuuichi flashes his 'true colors'. Its also good that Tenji apparently has a motive for who he's targeting and why; revenge is as good a reason as any. From what I remember, the future games are better constructed and more interesting. If you're on the fence (or bored), now's a good time to give this a try, especially if you are a fan of Kaiji or similar psychological battle anime.

[neflight86]

6-7

This game is more interesting than the last by virtue of it being less wordy. Endurance, or rather putting faith in the endurance of a previous foe while understanding that Yuuichi might be betraying Tenji (at least in Tenji's mind) makes a better watch than badmouthing on slips of paper.

Also interesting that, instead of another random character, they inserted the younger administrator girl as a handicap/close observer this time in disguise. Apparently, her presence may somewhat mirror what Tenji said Shiho did to his friends in middle school- since they are emphasizing their absolute teamwork.

Its probably too late to win anyone over to this now (episodes 2-5 were rough), but I vaguely remember this game and following being more interesting than round 2.

[shinta|hikari]

The presence of that spy girl makes no sense. If they make her the hider, then wouldn't that invalidate the game immediately?

[neflight86]

Why so? As far as they've been told, she also has a debt to bear, and it would be pretty scummy to betray her. We have no idea how well she was instructed to play her part.

As I recall, the game has to be somewhat 'fair', or the people watching/funding it wouldn't be entertained.

[shinta|hikari]

Oh I completely forgot about her also having a debt. I thought she was purely admin.

[neflight86]

11

Clumsy, clumsy, clumsy... That's the best word to describe this production, but I can't bring myself to hate it. Even with a body count, I am not strongly invested in the danger of this game. If Kaiji could get us anxious over money, this has got to step it up when lost lives aren't enough. The mystery and characters themselves are plenty complex to carry intrigue and suspicion, but it's not landing for some reason.

Game three is over and now we get to the rape game. I totally forgot this one, so at least by virtue of that I can look forward to the weak-kneed twists and turns to come.

Yuuichi is played as a villain so... thick and unconvincingly that it comes off as incompetence by the production staff, or perhaps more charitably as a lack of experience. I think most of the staff on this are not veterans in the industry, and it shows.

[neflight86]

12

In the span of this episode, Yuuichi gets to outsmart some jobber punk that impersonates the Tomodachi game staff by means unknown while Kokorogi was generally useless. Just kidding, she sold the trauma of the experience pretty well (someone had to). Edgy seems to be the long and short of it. Gimmick to gimmick this show is jumping, and while it's not much to look at, it remains entertaining, if not that interesting.

Shibe's trial should prove more interesting, as it involves characters we already know (the flaws of).

[shinta|hikari]

Does this continue? Sites have this at 12 episodes long.

[neflight86]

Nothing about this last episode suggests it is stopping. I'd be surprised if it didn't have another cour at least.

[neflight86]

I'm surprised. It is over, and pretty much a waste of time with what little story progression they made in these twelve eps...

[shinta|hikari]

Manga promo.