A number of recent circumstances bring it down to a 6/10.
Though I admit I could see from the start that this series was going to be very predictable, it started off good for what it was, however, the events that occur now will only have the more impressionable (new to anime, new to the demegraphic, very young etc...) of us gripped.
I'll explain further...
Stroy...
We have a Battle Royale style, supernatural story inwhich characters duke it out in game complex game of life and death which will eventually leave one person standing - death is enevitable.
Where it goes right...
There are a number of charactes present withiin the competition, so the pace isn't likely to be slow and there are a range of potential favourites.
The methods in which the game is played are complex enough to gain and maintain interest - each character has a different tool, so it is importiant to follow what is going on.
Many people don't like gecko endings - seeing as the manga finished, this is unlikely to have one.
Where it goes wrong...
Two main characters are pushed forward at the start, they're working together; it's all against them - where does this leave the oposition?
All oposition seem to reside close by, when there's little reason for them not to recide on another part of the world.
The two mains both being schoolchildren of the same age, in the same class.
Character...
We have Yuki - a quiet, nervous, passive teen boy who displays little personality and little interests.
We have Yuno - an unhinged girl who is is in love with this boy for no particualr reason I recall.
Delving further...
Yuki is pretty much pathetic - the type who is ment to represent the common writing tools 'underdog' and 'normal school kid', yet his out-of-place self is highly inconvenient within this story, he's the type who'll hide behind the strength and/or skill of others, this is where Yuno comes into place - the 'highly intelligent' and 'very athletic' popular girl in school who turns to be a yandere, in love with the leading male, she now has the convenient task of 'being the one to protect her love', thus, giving them reason to be around one another.
Enjoyment...
It is good; one of the best of the year, yet personally, I think I'm a tad too old for this - everthing is predictable if you're a veteran like me.
This is a great starter anime - years ago, I may have given this a 10/10.
Overall...
I have the ability to predict what will happen next, dispite having NOT read the manga.
Good story - something different which is definetely worth the watch.
Decent characters excluding a few, yet certian cliche's are hard to avoid these days to be fair.
Depending on your anime intake, predictability is high; this series displays key example of plot armour and character sheild.
6/10 - a fair series that, at the moment, is at a stage (8 episodes) where it can only get better?
I'll make myself clear before I finish...
I knew of the manga a few years back, yet never got around to reading it. It was announced last year that this was getting an animated series, thus, this adaptation was highly conveinent for me. :P
Basically, I was and still am, optimistic - I want to like this series, but so far, it's just OK.
