Tomodachi Game Episode 2 Review: Hostile Environment

The not so deadly, not very friendly game is back with Tomodachi Game Episode 2, and no relationships are safe. Let’s find out more about the game in this review!

Tomodachi Game Episode 2 Overview

Tomodachi Game, or Friends Game in English, is a psychological strategy anime belonging to the Death Game genre, a kind of anime that pits several characters against each other in a bid to make one of them outlast them all. It is based on a manga written by Mikoto Yamaguchi and illustrated by Yuuki Satou. This episode of the show is also referred to as Friends Game Episode 2.

The anime adaptation is developed by Studio Okuroto Noboru, a studio with only two full-length anime adaptations in its catalogue, Special Training in the Secret Dungeon and the second season of How Not To Summon A Demon Lord. The show is directed by Hirofumi Ogura, the director behind several well-known shows such as Black Butler and Cells At Work. You can read our review of the previous episode here!

– Friends Game Episode 2 Review does not contain any spoilers –

Tomodachi Game Episode 2 Review- That Was Harsh

Things picked up really quickly towards the end of the last episode, and I think I know why. One would expect a show such as this to take some time to build up the characters before putting all of them in a situation like they are since their interpersonal bonds are going to be the key factors that make or break the show. Therefore, rushing into things feels out of character, even though we haven’t spent enough time to know the show’s character. But there’s a simple reason for that- the setup is not very good.

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The plot breaks apart with the slightest hint of scrutiny. Why are the friends just going along with an idea as dangerous or as bonkers as this when they didn’t even know the existence of such a thing a few minutes ago? Why do they believe the gamemasters so easily? Why do they not see fit to ask each other anything about this messed up situation? Do they not realise that they are each millions in debt now, and only one of them had anything to do with it? Why are they choosing to take MILLIONS in debt just because they are friends?

Since all of that doesn’t make sense, the show went straight into the game without much context. So we don’t know the characters, yet we are supposed to care about what happens to them. That’s still not a bad premise and can lead to plenty of interesting things. However, the games in a show like this have to be gripping and captivating enough to pull people in, and so far, we haven’t seen any of that. The rules of the first game were entirely too free-form and simple, thus reaching an erratic and random solution at the start of this episode. Nobody felt smart after it, especially considering how they got into this situation.

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The second episode was more of the same, and the game in this one got even stupider, somehow. All 5 of our characters are involved in a love pentagram, with our main character obviously being in the centre. However, the manner in which the show sows distrust between the supposed friends and changes their dynamic with every game is a fun gimmick for the show. In this sense, not knowing much about the characters helps the show since we don’t have to think too much about their personalities to ponder their decisions.

Tomodachi Game Episode 2 was a weird one. It wasn’t bad and provided some entertainment value, without a doubt. Some character interactions and dynamics were fascinating, but the show fails to create an environment that feels conducive to any psychological drama and situations that would be remotely interesting to anyone not interested in an idiot plot. Things need to stop being so childish and get real soon because even if the players don’t recognise it yet, they are playing for millions of yen. How can you be so ignorant of your own stakes?

Verdict

Tomodachi Game Episode 2 expanded upon the show’s narrative without doing much to improve it. The plot feels more and more disconnected from the characters as they fight over trivial things that are not the game they are stuck in.