Darwin’s Game Is Actually Good

[@TucoBenedicto]

It was my surprise of this winter. I enjoyed this a lot more than I expected at first. It's not the most sophisticated or original premise, but the pace is excellent, the situations a lot of fun to watch evolve and these characters are genuinely great and have superb chemistry with each other. Not to mention the musics are pretty fucking on point. I also loved how the main character isn't either an edgelord or the super-naive type with a messiah complex, but a down-to-earth type of guy with some hidden talent and a refreshing "cool under pressure" attitude, who's been forced in a shitty situation and tries to get the most out of it.

[@WritingCorner]

I certainty agree with the surprise factor and the situations. The pacing is overall good (probably could have used another episode for the climax and falling action though). The main character is interesting. I like his story arc and can see his potential for a longer series.

[@Broscarf]

i only watched the 40 min long episode 1 and it did not pull me in to watch more of it. It felt rather odd and rushed, and the characters did not really show me anything that got me hooked/ invested. I don't know if they would in some later episodes but the first episode did not draw me in.

[@WritingCorner]

That's because the characters aren't good. There is maybe one likable character, that is only in a couple episodes. I pretty much tackled all the actual good points in this video, so if none of those stick out as a reason to watch it. Then ehh, don't.

[@Broscarf]

@@WritingCorner a fair statement good sir

[@TucoBenedicto]

@@WritingCorner Oh well, we fundamentally disagree here. I though the characters were by far the strongest point of the show (aside for a brisk pacing) so I ended up loving the first season and I'm hoping for a second one.

[@WritingCorner]

​@@TucoBenedicto I will say that the characters could potentially be categorized as "likable". I also won't say the dialogue between them is bad or anything. However, the credibility of a character comes from what they don’t say rather than from what they do. The cast isn’t developed enough for there to be logical paths followed for how the relationships interact off screen. I’m getting into fairly heady writing concepts here, but to try to keep it straight forward. The characters “esthetic” values and relationships are treated as a given by the series. The problem with this is the writing style this employee in terms of the cast doesn’t align correctly. Making the interaction and decisions the characters make feel stilted and makes it clear that the author is controlling them (a big mistake to have). Or to put it into a more emotional response. The characters lack individuality and clearly weren’t thought out and the “seat of the pants” writing shows clearly with weakens them greatly (especially at the start of a series {I’m sure as it progress this particular issue won’t be as apparent}).

[@PigOfGreed]

I’m sorry, it’s just, this review feels like a bash but trying to make the negative points good points as hard as possible, and I don’t know, kinda makes me want to watch the anime less. If this is the lengths one has to go just to find something good with the show, it is not a show worth while.

[@WritingCorner]

I don't think its a hard decision on if someone should watch it or not. It's a 5/10. If the genre and general tone / concepts don't seem interesting to you, then you will not like it. It's one thing if it was outside someone's comfort zone, but really good. I don't think 5/10's are worth much thought, at least for a regular consumer.

[@hopper5351]

i think the reason y people think that this anime is bad is because of the main characters nose

[@WritingCorner]

Seems about right. I have a friend that read a manga he gave a 10/10 too, but won't read the Mangaka's other works because "There noses are too big and weird".

[@hopper5351]

Writing Corner but seriously at the end of the anime the mc was bad ass and i can speak for everyone when we all liked his change in character and i haven’t seen a good seasonal anime like this since Arifureta: From Commonplace to World's Strongest