Mangaphilia discussion

Name
Liar Game
ライアーゲーム

Written By
Shinobu Kaitani

Total Volumes
19 Volumes

Original Run
2005 - 2015

Is there an anime adaptation?
No, but there are live action movies.

The card reads as follows:
Congratulations! You are one of the 1 in 100,000 people who has been entered in the amazing LIAR GAME TOURNAMENT!

Along with the postcard there is 100 million yen in notes. That's the beginning of the Liar Game. When the game ends, in 30 days, you will have to return your 100 million. If your opponent steals them, he can keep them as a prize, and you will have a debt of 100 million...

Overall Rating: 8/10 ... if... it didnt have 19 volumes. So honest rating- 5/10.

This was original, years ago. I have no idea how I had stumbled on Liar Game but it was phenomenal, original, intriguing with so much treachery and deceit, I just couldnt get enough. Liar Game plays on human emotion from the pages until the end. A game were deception and manipulation as well as conning strategy will keep you going in the game, avoiding exceedingly vast debt and psychological trauma, one can safely say that there are no winners at the end of the line of this secretive con tournament.

The psychological evolution of the main female character Nao changes as the series progresses but unfortunately her good nature of saving even those that wronged her would get on my nerves further on. Akiyama was a well rounded character to begin with and helped Nao during the tournament.

The ending felt rushed, with made no sense as this was a 19 volumes series. Honestly, I feel like 5 maybe 6 volumes would have been enough as the battles would become more intricate, convoluted and repetitive. Since the author had written for such a long time, I would have honestly expected a better ending instead of the mess it was with holes and details left unexplained.

So do I recommend it:

I guess, but down the line if I really think about it, no... Unless you like psychological scheming dramas that last a bit too long. Kinda like soap operas!