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Usogui is an extremely psychological, high stakes gambling manga with the most extraordinary and strategic yet enthralling deadly mind games that will keep you hooked better than crack whilst offering such intricate and unconventional, realistic storytelling with loads of foreshadowing and an insanely unique plot that pulls the reader into the story. Featuring a cast of many cunning, daring, and intelligent characters, the most compelling in any manga, and by them constantly interchanging the most unhinged bluffs, exceeding human boundaries mentally and physically, and completely shape-shifting the atmosphere with their charismatic and/or villainous presences, forcing the reader wanting even more. Toshio Sako's Usogui is a ... rollercoaster ride with peaks that continuously reach higher heights the longer it lasts, even being praised by one of the most influential manga authors, Hirohiko Araki, the mangaka of JoJo's Bizarre Adventure.

Storytelling: 9.5/10

There are 11 main story arcs in Usogui, each consisting of one insanely suspenseful, complex, and outlandish major gambling game, that always impressively builds up to the next arc. The gambles are not puny normal gambling games either, they are the most extremely well-planned and well narrated, brilliant, and especially fatal gambling games any medium of media has seen. The games fascinate the reader by making them very compelling and unpredictable with a ruleset explained for each game leaving the game with an infinite amount potential ways that could lead to the players death the next move they make. The players are always switching sides of who is in the disadvantage and advantage by them exchanging the wildest bluffs and deceiving each other, gravely injuring their opponents hindering their chances at winning, cheating, the absurd number of near deaths, and the endless most astonishing plot twists in EVERY arc with NO plot armor nor plot holes that will leave your jaw dropped. **SPOILERS** One gamble that was played was a poker match played underwater where both players' feet were locked in cuffs and the only source of air was the chips they used to bet on. Although there were some boring parts throughout the story, all the arcs are fundamental to the very last chapter and range from a 7/10 to the best manga has ever seen.

Art: 6/10-10/10

It is impressive how much Toshio’s art has evolved throughout the 11 years of making this manga, so much so that Usogui’s art at its peak can even give Berserk and Vagabond a run for its money. At the start of the manga, the art was mediocre, but the one quality that made his art like no other was his burning dedication from the very first chapter to the last. Because of Toshio’s continuously developing style whilst writing this manga, each arc has a slightly different art style but gets more defined throughout the series, and all the characters are clearly identifiable so no worries. From the second story arc (ch 80-146), Toshio’s art style becomes more of his own and slowly it builds up to the best art any human can lay their eyes on when the 2nd last arc starts (ch 429), Toshio becomes a literal alien in illustrating everything that just transcends all human ability (I wish I could show some of the panels in the review because bro OH MY GOD HE IS THE GOAT). From illustrating the sickest gazes and facial expressions, menacing and devilish presences, godly hair that flows everywhere (like Yujiro from Baki) which make them even more menacing, very iconic and distinct poses at unusual and incredible angles, the most gruesome and suspenseful beatdowns and fights choreographed so well, all impact how each character gives off their unique presence of how advantageous, dangerous, cunning, devious, or guileful they are to evoke the sensation of how truly ruthless these characters are. All these practiced details are staples of Toshio’s art which creates his own recognizable style in manga and how he sways readers in with THE sickest art making him one of the best illustrators in manga.

Characters: 9/10

The cast of characters in Usogui are great, each with their own unique gimmicks making them unforgettable, all with important backstories and what they have done by furthering the story. The protagonist, the extremely intelligent and cunning Madarame Baku is EASILY one of the most compelling and best protagonists ever in manga. How he carries his plans by manipulating every character in the story and even the reader, into his palms with his devilish charisma, steadfast ruthlessness yet carefree demeanor using bluffs and trickery, pure intellect, proficient predictability, mood-reading, deductive skills, and more to gain his goals is way beyond entertaining. Whilst also being a mentor yet friend to the deuteragonist of the series, Kaji Takaomi who started off as a complete loser in massive debt who later even had his own character arc for development and became just as quick-witted as Baku. With many more intriguing characters, there is one who is beyond all others, the main antagonist of the series, the leader of Kakerou, the perfect human being, so much so that he is referred to as an “alien.” (also, there are not any aliens in the series). Being one of the best written antagonists in manga, the leader is a true representation of being the perfect main antagonist for any story, not being poorly done *cough cough* demon slayer, or just being evil for the sake of being evil. There are actual plot points in the story that shape the leader and his reasons for being an excellent main antagonist. But the most important thing in having the perfect villain of any story is the parallel between the protagonist and antagonist. The leader and Baku have the greatest rivaling themes in manga, there is even a backstory arc regarding the two of them which makes them the best written characters in Usogui and having one of the best dualities ever in manga. 9/10 is because not all characters are touched upon and some feel “useless” to the plot.

Writing: 10/10

Usogui’s writing is exemplary, its ideas and exposition, setting, diction for metaphors and hyperboles (The whole Baku and leader backstory arc is literally a metaphor), foreshadowing from the very first chapter, avoidance of stereotypical manga tropes, the characters and their representations of themes and symbolism (Perfection vs Imperfection, Creation vs Destruction, Existentialism vs Destiny, Sacrifice vs Success, Brain vs Brawn, Life vs Death, Redemption vs Rejection, Heart vs Mind, Exploitation vs Altruism, Ego vs Modesty) are all "ideal” (An Usogui reference haha) in showing how much of a flawless writer Toshio Sako is with his completely original masterpiece of a narrative that is Usogui.

Enjoyment: 10/10

Haven’t I already said enough? It took me 11 months to finish, never will I EVER read such a manga with such suspense, plot twists, perfectly planned storyline, compelling characters, and art that just makes me so scared yet excited to flip the page as this was the most enjoyable manga I have ever read. Considering there is a confirmed sequel, I am beyond excited, and even if the sequel does not finish, the main series is more than enough. Usogui is truly the best and I will glaze for life.

Overall: 10/10

Read it or don’t. This is a recommendation but more so an obligation as a reader to write a proper in-depth review to give my utmost respect to Toshio Sako for creating this hidden gem.