SINoALICE

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3 Recommended

0 Mixed Feelings

0 Not Recommended

Jul 29, 2022

7Rogue

This manga is inspired by a story from the video game Sinoalice so if you like the game it is a highly recommended read.

Played the game or not, its a confusing story, its clear that its done on purpose for the intrigue of whats happening. But the events are a bit...random so i cant say it has a GREAT story.

But i really enjoyed reading it, the story is very disturbing and it managed to made me have an unpleasant feeling the whole reading, a mixture of sadness and intrigue

So in conclusion if you are looking for a happy story this is not your manga, otherwise ... give it a try.

Reviewer’s Rating: 8

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Jan 21, 2023

Elrataun

SINoALICE the manga deviates heavily from the actual mobile game story so you don't need to play it to understand the story. Either way, it is a confusing story, because this is Yokoverse. The same gist and premise of a deathmatch, battle-royale is there, but the relationships and world are vastly different. True to the original material, however, it remains a bloody and ill-fated good time for all characters involved.
The pacing is pretty erratic at first and can be difficult to keep up with, but it begins a pretty typical buildup to conflict later in the story. Characters are given overt but also very subtle ... chances to showcase what is not shown in their thought bubbles. Aoki and Himiko team up to make small visual Easter eggs that are scattered through the pages for fans to find. The art is a bit interesting due to the combination of almost no shading on characters save for stark shadow, jagged lines, and CG imagery for many backgrounds. There is focus on the variety the artist can pull off in terms of character expression despite some of them appearing rather same-same. The additional special effects for abilities are interesting, and the conceptualization of these are also well-thought out in terms of how they relate to the original game characters and their designs.
The physical copy of the manga also includes a bonus text-only story at the end, which is usually more character-building. It honestly can feel like a bit of a cop-out until you remember this is Yoko Taro we're talking about. It emulates the same reading requirement from his games.
I recommend this for anyone looking for gore and mature themes intertwined with witty commentary and a liking for battle royale stories. However, online scantalations are almost impossible to find past chapter 5, and the chapters can be lengthy to translate, so you will need a decent amount of patience to wait for official translations and just buy the book.

Reviewer’s Rating: 8

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Jun 25, 2024

Spirit_Ella

Well, the translated volume 6 will be released next year, so I guess I can write a full review as I've completed its reading for a while now.
You don't really need to know more than main premise of the game to read the manga, but yes there are ties to the game (the manga should be happening right before Act 5 of the game apparently).

I highly suggest buying the manga as there's a short story at the end of each volume explaining how the manga characters became what they are in the main plot. There isn't much to say about the plot if not ... that it's a battle royale kinda situation. The characters are awesome but keep in mind they're textbook level of morally grey, it's the Taroverse after all.
Is the art good? It is, highly detailed too. Bless you, Himiko-sensei.
I will admit I'm not too fond of the English translation being based off of the Global version of the game, but that's just my opinion as a player of the JP server.

My extremely positive rating mainly spawns from my love for the game, but as a standalone it still is truly remarkable.
I should point out that this manga is definitely not for everyone, since there's extreme violence, vulgarity, sexual themes, and a vast array of dark topics that could be triggering to some. If you can stomach all that, though, go ahead.

Reviewer’s Rating: 10

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