Ultimate Survivor doesn't fall into the typical anime category. It's far removed from a lot of shows out there. Kaiji focuses on the struggle of a lone gambler who is forced to endure a number of psychological battles in the form of different games. Not only does he bet on fame and fortune, he also bets his life.

Kaiji isn't the average guy, he steals for a living, he's a heavy drinker and more importantly, he is in vast amounts of debt. In the first episode in he is visited by a loan shark who offers him a deal to clear his debt and possibly make a profit in the process. From here, quite literally, the games begin for Kaiji. Throughout the story, Kaiji is faced with a number of challenges that require some sort of thought. Although they might look simple such as Rock Paper Scissors, the amount of thought and tension put into each scene is gripping. In the first arc, Ultimate Survivor grabs the viewer right away. It becomes a game of survival, and it feels like you're on Kaiji's side rooting for him to make it out it. For something as simple as Rock, Paper, Scissors, the build-up is expertly crafted. Of course, the main downside to its game-centric focus is that it will often draw out the pacing. When moments pick up, they do so only for them to be abruptly cut off by the credits. While this is an effective method of getting you to binge episodes, it detracts from some of the pacing. Certain arcs will feel like a drag as a result.

This might be a good time to bring up the style of Kaiji. Even though I'm charmed by its bold emphasis and heavy outlines, others may find Kaiji alienating. These exaggerated facial features might be weird to some, so it may take some time to adjust to the style. Oh and the excessive use of man tears. The soundtrack is a rather interesting one, making the viewer feel the tension of the games being played. The inclusion of the "ZAWA ZAWA ZAWA..." becomes a unique series staple. As for the opening and endings, they both maintain this franticness of being lost or cut off in society. The soundtrack, in general, maintains this sense of survival and disconnectedness very well. While it might be true that Kaiji is alone in his journey, he does comes into contact with a cast of colourful characters. Some might be backstabbing pricks, while others just need a way out. There's plenty of good unexpected twists as the show throws in unpredictable characters to shake things up. It's almost perfect as the world of gambling is just that. People will do whatever means necessary to obtain wealth, and I mean anything. The world presented within Kaiji is not a happy place, and over time you'll realize just how messed up it is. Kaiji starts off as a weak and undecided individual, however over the course of the show he blossoms into his own. I realized that he became this strong-willed fighter who is determined to win. Sure, becoming the Ultimate Survivor is the main goal, but you start to feel sorry for the amount of physical hell Kaiji goes through. It ends up being this vicious cycle of gambling where Kaiji and the viewer must endure these games, coaxing you into finishing the next episode.

When Kaiji clicks for you, it does so perfectly. You'll realize how trivial the moe genre is, and how poorly handled other gambling animes are. Ultimate Survivor has so much going for it that after I craved more of this kind of story. I just had to watch the second season. The fact that it's a well-crafted series that plays up darker themes makes it all the more memorable. Kaiji is a mature show with little need to baby the viewer by cushioning their reactions. There's a lot here that works so well, and yet the series isn't going to become mainstream anytime soon. It's a niche series with a very distinct art style that might not appeal to everyone's taste. Sure it might be my favourite, and a classic, I have to admit that it's a show tailored to specific tastes in mind. It might sound like a hard sell, but I can absolutely guarantee you that Kaiji is a show worth your time investment. If you're willing to look past its art style, then I can assure you that you're going to be in for a refreshingly new experience filled with the most masculine sense of pride.