USOGUI

DESCRIPTION

CAST

CHAPTERS

OVA PsychologicalUsogui
MANGA ActionUsogui to Torou Rikkainin
ONE SHOT ActionBaki Dangerous Zone
ONE SHOT ActionUsokui

REVIEWS

• 

  Bombonfun

  100/100
  Amazing gambling manga with evolving art that will leave you in awe. Characters are fleshed out and the ending is great

  Finally finished Usogui. Have been reading it for a year, and honestly, it's left such a huge impression on me, I probably won't ever forget it.

  The beginning starts off slow, but after the first few arcs, it really takes off. It's a gambling manga, that actually takes itself seriously without going into cringe territory. It has some of the most convoluted mind games I've ever seen, with unexpected twists and an OP shounen mc. It isn't really grounded in reality though, it has some weird destiny elements and superpowers. The other aspect of this series is the fighting. Now, without going into spoiler territory, this series has a fighting aspect alongside the actual gambles. It's not that the gambles are usually combat-oriented, but there is action and a little bit of gore on the side, though not necessarily less important, as the plot also moves forward within these parts. It executes this perfectly, the physical and mental parts are balanced excellently and you never really get bored.

  The characters are all fleshed out, there's weirdly a phenomenon where almost no character is an actual side character. It's crazy, every character has a unique backstory without being too preachy and if you changed the writing style, a lot of them can end up being the protagonist (it's amazing, over 50 fleshed out characters that work well with each other) and the fun isn't in the whodunnit but rather, the whatthefuck. The main character can get annoying sometimes, with his "I predicted your predicting of my predictions about your predictions", but it doesn't bother me personally, as it's nice to see a capable main character that isn't a complete joke.

  There's a lot of mind and death games, and every single one of them is important to the overall plot and they each get incrementally higher stakes. It has over 500 chapters, but i brushed through them, once an arc starts, you probably can't really put it down till it finishes. The artstyle starts off really really poorly, it's total batshit. But after the 70~th chapter, it starts to evolve and then by ch150-200 all the way till the end, each panel is a masterpiece. I love the way the mangaka draws their faces, you don't get confused by who's who, even though most characters wear similar clothes, it's all in the face.

  The writing itself can be a bit confusing, especially for a first time reader, as the plot becomes very convoluted and it jumps back and forwards quite a bit, but the scanlators i read had an explanation at the end of each arc with graphical presentations, so after a reread, you're golden. There is no filler in this manga, and what i mean by that is every detail is important, at least for character development. A throwaway line in ch40 actually becomes a gigantic deal towards the end and there's all these bits of foreshadowing that the scanlators explain sometimes and it excites me for when i am gonna reread it again, cause honestly i can't wait.

  Because it's a gambling manga, there's gonna be comparisons to kaiji and co. I'm gonna be honest, i don't like kaiji. A lot of the time, those games end up being won due to luck, i don't particularly like that. Here, there is almost 0 luck factor, every phone call, every dialogue, every piece of the background actually matters, but this foreshadowing isn't actually necessary to be noticed for the series to be enjoyed. They're just little tidbits that some people might want to indulge in finding, they're by no means major players.

  It's a complex series though, i recommend reading slowly and understanding most pieces, it's really a slow burner, though reading it in a flash is as enjoyable too, at least in my opinion.

  I think I should be finishing up with the review, i recommend this manga a lot, especially if you like just sitting down and slowly consuming and enjoying a piece of literature. You probably won't regret it, just power through the first 100 chapters, it gets really REALLY good. If you're one of those people who care about a series by whether it has a satisfying ending, I can tell you, the ending personally satisfied me, a lot. Some people don't like it, but I think it's perfect and it really captures the essence of the whole series. Try it out, Usogui. The Lie Eater.
  Perfect to sit down, relax and slowly read through.

  If you have any additional questions about the series I didn't go through, you can ask me, I don't mind talking about this series.

  10/10

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• 

  alized

  100/100
  life is like a gamble that no one can win

  no spoilers probably

  gamblers need violence in order to protect what they win.

  imagine a manga where you get so hooked you finish 500 chapters in no more than 2 weeks, this happened to me with usogui. the matches are fun,convoluted,complex and amazing, the art is phenomenal and the characters are interesting, what more could you ask for. i admit the start had pretty bad art and panelling and it took a little time for the plot to make sense but ignoring the minor flaws it has, overall its still safe to call this manga a masterpiece.

  ****plot****

  the plot follows our protagonist madarame baku trying to take control of the organization club kakerou by surpassing the leader, despite being a gambling manga it also has amazing fights where the art shines the most(especially with the facial expressions) and its great political drama too. the author manages to create psychological battles that are complex and entertaining, but it may be too complicating for some people. In conclusion, I think the story is simply outstanding and should not be judged without reading at least 100+ chapters

  arcs:

  escape the abandoned building: 7/10

  • cool introduction to baku and the others and pretty damn good fights

  terrorist of the abandoned mine: 8/10

  • art and panelling seems to look alot better and hangman game was fucking great, every game starts getting increasingly more convoluted

  labyrinth arc: 8.5/10
  bulls womb arc: 8.5/10
  KY declaration arc: 8/10
  tower of karma: 9/10
  battleship arc: 8.8/10

  protoporos: 9.5/10

  • this is where the art starts getting even more amazing and the rpg concept was so fucking cool and you start to notice how deep the story actually really is with all the foreshadowing and shit

  air poker: 10/10

  • you thought the art cant get any better, you thought wrong.The game itself was really creative and executed extremely well despite being "predictable" in a sense. From the arc beforehand, it was very well built up to and throughly climatic and satisfying by the end of it.

  surpassing the leader: 10/10

  • not saying anything 10/10

  art

  as i mentioned before its phenomenal, this has one of the best art in manga ive seen and gets so much better, even thought the art style may get pretty silly with the flying hair and how badly the females in this manga are drawn, still pretty fucking great and reminder that this manga was weekly i cant imagine how much talent you need to get this godly shit done weekly

  characters

  one of the best parts of the series, there are 2 protagonists one is a genius gambler, while the other one is a normal guy. What I like is that the readers get to see the normal protagonist become smarter and become a better gambler over time. The author succeeds in creating live and interesting characters. the side characters are so good that sometimes the MC dosent stand out among them, though the mc is probably one of the most well crafted genius ive seen.

  final thoughts

  raw kino goat manga need more people to read it, if you like complicated stories with alot of foreshadowing, interesting unique characters, hand to hand combat with evolving art definitely check it out

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• 

  Jaekoi

  97/100
  “Whoever lives, gambles with life.”

  

  The essence behind gambling is simply a compelling subject. People either classify it as light-hearted fun which shouldn’t dictate one's life, or perhaps an unhealthy addiction - something which should be fundamentally avoided. As taxing it truthfully is, one would generally view it as a paradigm of “uncertainty” and “risk”... yet when looked at from a scrupulous, more intricate perspective, one may claim gambling to be a naked reflection of human nature.

  Usogui, a tale of martial artist Toshio Sako, is an engrossing rumination into the quintessence behind wagering. There were innumerable times where I felt overwhelmed and mesmerized by the intense pressure of each gamble. It was only a matter of time where my investment in this odyssey would rise the more introspective, self-aware, and ascendant it became throughout. Voluntarily wagering things of value, sometimes one’s life, served as a core foundation of bringing flamboyant characters together, wherein their struggles and journeys would inevitably cross. Many would then find themselves questioning their own beliefs when met with dilemma, most facing their demise knowing the consequences, some only aware of their momentous flaws upon laying on their deathbed. Gradually, the atmosphere felt more euphoric and chilling as the stakes rose. Weirdly enough, it was maniacal… yet somehow, empathetic.

  Sako’s tale interweaves unbelievable plot lines, and convoluted scenarios with tangible logic at its core. Usogui deliberately utilizes full-frontal deception to lead one astray from its true intentions, perpetually forcing one to consider every possibility. Techniques such as probability theory, traditional gambling practices, or rule exploitation are present in all wagering matches. What makes these battles intoxicating isn’t solely from complex structure, more so psychological leveraging. Moreover, with the presence of Kakerou, a referee organization, things start to become vastly colorful and mature.

  The term known as "justice" has always been a narrative commonality amidst the rise of film-making and television. It could even be judged as a cliche sometimes, or worse, a mechanism used to hide a story’s fallacies. Yet, in Kakerou, they embody a genuine justice that feels honest. Because they are referees, the story is earnest, not always in reality as there are superhuman forces involved, but considering that it doesn’t shy away from exposing a true, raw essence. At first sight, these beings, along with a few other individuals, seem to be plot devices used only for exposition dumping; however, beyond their loyalty to fairness, we are rewarded with gripping character studies, and a fascinating lore exploration.

  In addition, the synergy between characters is always growing in more ways than one. Whether friend, neutral, or foe, there’s a sense of crude dynamics within. Wagering matches are a direct parallel of objectives and psyches, linking people of different backgrounds, interweaving a multitude of variables at play. Vincent Lalo’s IDEAL bestows leeway for interesting world building, Souichi Kiruma’s Kakerou undergoes sophisticated development through a farrago of ruin, and Baku’s broadscale attachment to gambling emits stimulation.

  Usogui’s greatest vehemence arguably lies in synergizing plot twists with storytelling. Relying on shock value has always stayed a questionable move in several mediums because its shortcomings heavily outweigh strengths, but when balanced out with coherent scenarios and carefully rooted deductions, stories are able to break away from limitations and instead, birth unanticipated developments. Proper buildups, flourishing art, contrasting perceptions, and foreshadowing ignite the mind games with intricate brilliance, albeit Toshio’s story does fall victim to losing itself within lore complexity, potentially leaving readers off-course. Complicated rules in some wagering matches require a dose of intelligence, as exposition dumping can be strenuous in some arcs. It’s foreseeable that one may be confused in understanding the bigger picture, but overtime, Toshio does accept his tale’s imperfections, and manages to brew up incredible psychological storylines. It’s necessary that readers know the specifics of match rules to fully enjoy, being an unavoidable route to pursue with minor repercussions. Although, most significantly, he openly allows the audience to engross themselves in gambling bouts first-hand as they play out, using “experience” as the backbone of understanding its complexity. The characters themselves are also a psychological technique, as most are coerced into visualizing their fallacies before it even transpires, characterizing the desperate nature of respective scenarios.

  The entirety of Protoporos up until the finale is clear evidence of Toshio’s utmost improvement in story structuring, yet the prior arcs such as Ky Declaration, Tower of Karma, Labyrinth, and more hold a contagious value upon completion. Journeying through each arc unrelentingly escalates, as Usogui’s overarching plot line isn’t merely dependent on narrative flow, more so inclined on encouraging profound story investment and constantly outdoing itself psychologically.

  Many of Baku’s opponents are as cunning, maniacal and formidable as he is, yet beneath their masks lie a believably flawed essence, tying in superbly well with the story’s motifs concerning gambling - that of exposing a hidden deceit within their very core. Needless to say, everyone has secrets; it’s a fundamental truth of human nature usually meant to disguise impurity, a prevalent example of weakness. This philosophy describes a frequent mental insecurity existing in the cast, pressurizing them into dicey environments. Cases of instability, anxiousness, and an uncontrolled frenzy of emotions are relapsed plenty, illustrating a genuine, humanistic mania. The feeling of stress and risk inundates characters, possibly as much as readers, overpowering them with predicaments wherein their psychological capabilities are tested to the maximum.

  At its crux, Usogui is a venture. The intelligence behind this gambling crusade harbors a dominion of empathy underneath its extravagance. Innately understanding what fuels one to wager breathes a habitual familiarity beyond the standards of gambling. Taking risks has always been a natural, unavoidable phenomenon, and Toshio Sako’s story explores the cognitive weight of it. These circumstances appear regularly as a poundage the characters shoulder, each conflict being a collection of memorable stories where most individuals exceed the role of a side character. Under the tale’s pandemonium lies a remarkable display of themes, amplifying a timeless philosophy through Baku’s influential presence. The gambling here inaugurates a spectrum of temperaments. Analyzing transformative qualities within moral and mental attributes only nourishes the psychological allure of it, organically traversing through its blemishes and virtues. Usogui’s endeavor at bridging human culture with mania-filled gambling ends remarkably.

  Without parading self-righteous ideals, its underlying nature explores the dichotomy of conviction. The story’s mental perception of understanding dualistic views molds both the cast and one’s perspective on livelihood. There’s many scenarios touched upon, yet each of them leads to an inevitable risk by virtue of aspirations. Since we naturally understand our own desires, we also perceive the impossibilities and achievabilities. It’s an unforeseeable phenomenon that extends over realistic and idealistic aims within the consciousness. Nevertheless, no matter how obvious or nebulous it may seem, the circumstances we undergo are purely ventures, continually betting on ourselves, or whatever entity, as a means to an end. And that in of itself is an admirable risk to wager on… and yet, it’s a dividing faculty which unforgivingly segregates people. Unironically, life in of itself will always be one mesmerizing gamble.

  Happy New Years folks, cheers.

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