This is a simple yet lovely story about three main characters and the troubled dynamic between them in what is esentially a love triangle. Although the story is focused on two characters only early on, with the third character being introduced later. To describe HSG as just a love triangle story would be understatement, however. The story takes its time to develop each of our three characters individually as well as each of the dynamics between two of them, making our love triangle a web of feelings of love, rivarly and friendship.
To talk about the plot is to talk about the characters and their need of growth. The tension of the story comes from the different wants of the three protagonists, their struggle to express it to others and how it reflects on their relationships. This is where lies the strength of this story.
This is gag manga with quite effective and creative jokes. The comedy relies mainly on putting our male protagonist Haruo in absurd situations with goofy people in which sometimes he gets harmed either phisically or emotionally. It doesn't get to a point of inhumanly torturing the prota, just life being unfair to him from time to time. Although the story is comedic in nature, it does a good job in setting serious moments with relevance to the development of the characters. Comedy never interferes with the developing plot.
The story seems to have a loose direction at times resulting in it deviating of the plot and it extending subplots more than necessary. Some side characters could have better development. However since this is a fairly short manga spanning 10 vols it doesn't get too annoying, especially if you like both characters and comedy.
Another strong point is the whole retro-videogames/arcade theme. This a common interest relevant to our protagonists. It is what unites them and it is what drives the situations our characters get in. The plot becomes a competetive sport type of story at times. It is not the main focus and it is worked on superficially. But it serves our characters relations and development in a way that it is, nonetheless, very exciting.
ART 8/10
The art is very cartoony and it's not super detailed. It can be exaggerated to the point of being ugly for comedic purposes. However, the characters are designed in a cute way resulting in "ugly-cute" art overall. When seriousness is due, the visual element of the story serves in portraying the characters' emotions with detail. It's very distinct, unique to the author. I personally really like it.
ENJOYMENT 8/10
Loved the characters. Loved the romance. Loved the videogame theme. This is not a very complicated romance story but it is filled with both wholesome and heartbreaking moments. It is neither too long nor too short, reaching a well made conclusion when it needed to. Loved it overall.
