Gyakkyou Burai Kaiji: Hakairoku-hen

Ok this is my first time to write a review so please go easy. Let me start by saying I'm a huge fan of psychological thriller series and I must say Kaiji is one of the best there is in that aspect. Season 1 was just amazing, keeps you thinking and surprises you with the twisted outcomes. In Season 2 Kaiji has done it again, each episode keeps getting better and better makes you at the edge of your seat hunger to know whats will happen next. If your a fan of Psychological thrillers such as Death note or Liar game, Kaiji is a must watchfor you. Story: The story continues after the incidents from season 1, Kaiji has been taken to work in an underground facility to work in hard labor so he can pay off his debt, however he then finds out that there is a dark side inside the underground which is ofcourse "GAMBLE!!" he now will risk it all again so he can leave the underground and pay off his giant debt. Art: I can tell the art is better than Season 1, the characters are now more detailed and shows how they changed since the previous season. Sound: The soundtracks in Kaiji season 2 are amazing, it keeps you hyper in every moment, as for the opening and ending I personally loved them as I am a fan of Techno metal and pop rock. And yes we get more ZAWA ZAWA !! Character: As I said the characters have changed since the last season, there are new rivals and new friends. Men risking their lives to get out of this miserable life and there are men who plan to ruin their dreams of escaping. Enjoyment: I assure you this the enjoyment of this show is VERY ADDICTING it will keep you thinking what will happen next and keep searching for clues in the site/forums. As I said before if you enjoyed Death note or Liar game or any Psychological thriller show. Kaiji will MAGNET your emotions!! I really hope I did great as a first time doing a review, Please enjoy the show! Thank you for reading and enjoy the show ^.^

Are you suffering from an absence of GAR and strategy in your life? Already burn through your reserve JoJo's and No Game No Life strategic asspulls for a rainy day? Well, I got just the fix! ZAWA ZAWA ZAWA ZAWA ZAWA Story: 9/10 You'd think the novelty of high gambling will be dull after 26 episodes right? But Kaiji's sequel not only delivers yet again but surpasses expectations! But it's not all a win. The story pits Kaiji into an underground camp as a slave laborer in order to pay off his debts. As in typical Kaiji fashion, it's not all as it seems. As Kaiji butts headswith his 1st antagonists and the 1st story arc deals with the struggle of who'll come out on top. The script delivers yet again with the stakes matching the given level of risk. The psychological element is still there but it's safe to say that season 2 leans more towards who can cheat the best than actual strategy. The second arc continues the trend of who's the better cheater, showing a natural flow from one arc to another. However, there's a reason the story doesn't get a 10/10 and that will become apparent as soon as you reach the 2nd half. The challenge is a 1/1000,000,000 high gamble game of pachinko. And unlike season 1, where arcs were resolved within 6-7 episodes, the final arc will have you yelling "FUCKIN WIN ALREADY!" at your monitor, as it's apparent that it's being stretched to reach it's desired 26 episode mark. The ending also remains open-ended. Art: 8/10 Never since the Death Note potato chip eating scene has scenes about mundane tasks get the blood pumping! It's Madhouse, it should go without saying that they always deliver. The ugly yet appealing character designs are as bold and GAR as ever! There's also a clear improvement of the facial features. Giving the over the top look of joy or anguish when necessary. The visual metaphors also added a much-needed flare for a show with no real physical action. You know, the whole "if Kaiji is winning, he's grasping the universe" or "if he's losing he's sinking into a swamp" that kinda thing. Although it can become unnecessary at times, done only to extend the episode run time. Nerveless, if you like the blood rush of this series then it'll do the job! Sound: 8.5/10 ZAWA ZAWA ZAWAAA The sound also keeps stride. The attention to detail is apparent, from the hissing sound of an air current to the crackling of dice in a bowl. The soundtrack is also well synchronized in scenes when needed. Especially noteworthy during the symbolic visual cues throughout the show. and who can forget the 'ZAWA ZAWA ZAWA' lol Characters: 8/10 Kaiji radiates so much GAR that Kenshiro will nod in approval. He's also slightly developed as well, as his methods for winning become more cutthroat than from season 1. That doesn't mean he changed, in fact, he still trusts others too easily right up to the very end. A point even brought up by a character later on. But unlike other MCs, Kaiji's flaws are apparent and in the same process makes him feel more human. He struggles, he cares, he deceives and ultimately he learns. all the antagonists are over the top, and I'm talking about your Saturday morning cartoons kinda evil. But given the fact that the entire show runs on testosterone and MANLY MANPOWER it's to be expected. In fact, I would say this elevates the show more than hindering it. Making the already suspenseful roller coaster ride that more enjoyable. Hell, even the narrator exudes MANLY MANPOWER. Enjoyment: 10/10 Very little shows manage to hook me from beginning to end. Kaiji 2 became just as addicting as gambling itself as I found myself marathoning it without stop. This was an exhilarating thrill ride that brought my GAR meter back to stable conditions. Overall 9/10 If you're a fan of manly men doing insanely manly shit and psychological mind games then this is the anime for you. But be warned, once you start there's no stopping it!

Kaiji season 2 offers a solid conclusion to the anime series however the series itself is a decrease in quality from season 1 Kaiji Ultimate Survivor. Taking place a few months after the first arc, Kaiji is taken underground to pay his debt by manual labor which will take him around 15 years to complete his sentence. After a few months later, Kaiji is then allowed to be outside for a few days in which he hears about a casino with the infamous pachinko game "The Bog" which if Kaiji wins can pay off his entire debt. The differences in this season being the 3rd series ofthe Kaiji manga include the lack of psychological thrills & games revolving around quick cunning & dangerous high stakes. This part only features a total of 2 games while the first part consisted of 4, plus the gambles in series 2 revolve around luck rather than strategy. Benefits of Kaiji 2 include Kaiji himself as we see more of his intellect & role as a leader who never abandons hope. Aside from the main lead, the only other highlight would be the ending of the series as it brings a satisfying conclusion leading to its series 4 of the manga. Despite the lack of horrifying tension & the tragic moments in the first season, Kaiji does remain to have its feels & teary-eye moments. While it's not as complex in morality issues as the first series it is still well written & well directed. Cons of Kaiji 2 mainly belong to its final arc as it is too long as it is a total of 18 episodes; more than half of the season. Essentially The Bog pachinko consists of Kaiji winning his freedom but it is a necessary arc & is handled mostly well. The beginning of The Bog starts off nicely & progresses smoothly with little to no problem, however the cons begin to show at episode 16 when Kaiji plays the bog for 9 episodes straight. While some scenes within those episodes are crucial to the story, I found myself skimming through the episode as it felt very dragged & repetitive. It would have benefited at least being half of the amount. Overall Kaiji 2 is weaker in story in its first season & may have been a better series if it's Bog game was shorter. It definitely offers some good moments & great character writing but in terms of content it does lack a lot of areas done in the 1st season mainly its creative games & journey into the evils of men. Kaiji 2 instead focuses on classic Japanese gambling & a struggling journey towards freedom.

Kaiji’s second season is not as good as Kaiji’s first season. While it has a stronger start than the former, and while it is littered with better animation and more charismatic characters, there is something about it that just doesn’t hold up to the first. The concept of the arcade machine is intriguing and the tactics used in that arc are nothing short of brilliant, but it is the fact that the arc dragged on for so long and the episodic structure became about finding a way to beat the machine and the old man, that it became redundant to sit through. The first seasonof Kaiji, while having a weak start, managed to flip everything on it’s head and change it’s formula multiple times so that it could become a refreshing ride. This stuck with one thing and repeated it over and over again until became predictable as to what would happen, and that is: Kaiji coming up with a genius plan, the men at the arcade owning Kaiji and beating his plans, Kaiji retreating to come up with a better plan, and the old man laughing at Kaiji. Rinse and repeat. Moreover, the ending is not good or unique like the first ending in the first season of Kaiji. Without going into needless spoilers, the first season’s ending was both immensely cathartic and very unique and one of a kind, hard to find elsewhere. This season’s ending was lackluster and felt really bland and generic. Not really a bad ending, but it left a bitter taste in my mouth as opposed to the first season’s unique end. It does have a moral message and delivers it’s theme quite well, but it just feels mundane and more like a dues ex machina than a natural ending. The final villain in the first season was better than the one here, which added more spice to the payoff of the first season. The audiovisuals are great, though I miss the beautiful melodies of the first season which were more visceral to Kaiji’s whole experience. Tracks such as Chorus, which elevated the mood from fun poker to instant sense of danger are missing here. The animation has not changed, and Madhouse is as consistent here as the first season, so that is something good. Kaiji’s second season does not quite reach the peak of the first season, but it still does solid in most of what it achieves. Good music, nice visuals, and tactics that were brilliant and well thought out, though took really long to give the viewer a payoff. This season is not as good as the first, but it is still worth checking out.

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