“Squid Game is famous for having been inspired by Japanese manga such as Battle Royale, Liar's Game, and controversially As the Gods Will. Now comes a live game competition to the death from world-famous video streamer “Cyper,” who purchases the city of Tokyo for the competition's venue. Amemiya enters the games to win money to save his sick sister, but amongst hundreds of strangers he struggles to stay alive in the metropolis.” (Mangamo)
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*This review covers the first five chapters of the series
Everyone loves a good ‘death game', with the sub-genre being a staple in both eastern and western pop culture. “Tokyo Death Game”, is a series that does not look to reinvent the genre but is, nonetheless, a fun entry in the genre that is certain to entertain fans of bloody, violent battles to the death.
Admittedly, the title starts on a somewhat absurd premise that feels pulled from a hikikomori's wet dream, where an infamous gamer manages to buy all of Tokyo to bend to his will. The ominous ‘Cypher' adorning his skull mask to announce a new high-risk game, and the ‘brother with a sick sister' in Anemiya will spell out the plot for most readers who have ever picked up a manga. Consequently, the story is as by-the-numbers as one would expect, but Satoru Otsuka proves to be able to craft an entertaining story through common tropes.
The series wastes little time in getting into the gore, drama, and action; it is a simple setup and execution with a large pool of Japanese citizens' made meaty fodder for some unknown, evil entity. The scale of the ‘game' is easily the biggest draw here as all of Tokyo is put in lockdown and countless people flock to the opportunity to win a prize. Avoiding spoilers, the fifth chapter ends on a jaw-dropping moment of chaos that further pushes the sense of large-scale panic brought on by the game — readers will have to check it out for themselves.
Aesthetically, the art of Otsuka Satoru has its stylistic charm, but the emphasis on action over gore may makes the series more suited for fans of high-octane thrillers over disturbing horror. Regardless, the most memorable panels in the series come from horrible, excruciating deaths at the hands of the dolls that watch over the contestants. Visions of people being cut in half are shown in shadows with the horrified reactions of onlookers giving the book definitive panels. There is a certain flair to the art of Satoru Otsuka that will appease fans looking for stylish bloodshed.
“Tokyo Death Game” is by no means the best the ‘death game' genre has to offer, but it has an undeniable charm in the fast-paced violence and large-scale conflict. As a title released in chapters, it is ideal series to pick up and come back to periodically as the simple premise and delivery make it easy to keep up with and read in between other manga.
