it started out really great, the characters are interesting and lively, they have their own personal ambitions and dreams. sometimes there is a flashback on character like lyserg but the author tells it in an interesting way and it doesn't conflict with the main story. Yoh's laid back persona is also kinda cool and keep the sometimes fast paced tempo in balance.
But it gets uninteresting with the start of the shaman king tounament arc, first theere are island inhabitants who attacked the contestants and proved to be much stronger than the contestants, it is confusing, they are so powerful so why they don't just choose the shaman king from their own people?
Then what's the point of fighting in a tournament, if the cotestants keep killing each other outside the ring, worst what's the point of having them killed if they can be easily revived..
The characters who used to be interesting becomes dull because they are busy telling each other how fearful and strong Hao is. They also give up their dreams
