Technically, the work is not bad.

However, I have this distinct feeling that by the time we reached the end, it was as if we had completed a different series altogether from the one I initially started.

This realization has left me with a certain degree of disappointment, albeit a rather small one.

It's strange how the journey took an unexpected turn, and now that it's over, I can't help but compare the beginning and the end.

The initial expectations I had seem to have been somewhat misaligned with the final outcome.

Nonetheless, I still appreciate the effort that went into it, but there's just that little bit of a letdown that lingers.

Perhaps with more clarity and better planning in the future, such discrepancies can be avoided, and the end result will more closely match the initial vision.

I somewhat saw the ending.

I had this anticipation that when it finally came, I would have a better feeling than what I am experiencing now.

But unfortunately, that's not the case.

I thought there would be a sense of satisfaction, a moment of clarity, or perhaps a rush of emotions that would make it all worthwhile.

However, as the story unfolded and reached its conclusion, I was left with a sense of disappointment and a tinge of sadness.

Maybe it's because my expectations were too high, or maybe the ending just didn't meet the standards I had set for it.

Either way, I can't help but feel a little let down.

But perhaps this is a lesson in not getting too attached to our preconceived notions and being more open to the unexpected.

After all, life and stories often have a way of surprising us when we least expect it.

This is not the kind of ending that I had anticipated.

It truly makes me yearn for more.

It is so disheartening that this is the last chapter that has been released.

I don't know if the author deliberately ended it in this manner.

However, I sincerely hope that he will continue with the next volume.

The story had so much potential and left me on the edge of my seat.

I was fully invested in the characters and their journey.

The way the plot was developing was captivating and engaging.

To have it suddenly come to an end like this feels a bit abrupt.

I can only keep my fingers crossed and wait patiently for the author to decide to continue the story and bring more excitement and adventure.

I would have given this volume 4 stars, but the ending, or rather the not-really ending, left me disappointed. I read these chapters on the Shonen Jump app as I don't have volume 23.

I don't have much new to say about this series that I haven't already mentioned in my reviews of previous volumes, but I will repeat some points.

Anyway, I'm extremely disappointed with this ending. Not only did Hikaru lose (which some might like as it's unpredictable and shows he still has room to grow, but it disappointed me because this is the last volume, and unless there's a sequel series, he should have won, as that's how shonen competition or fighting series usually go), but the ending felt unfinished. It didn't feel open-ended in a good way; it just felt incomplete and unsatisfying. I think a few more chapters were needed. I understand the concept of an open-ended ending, but I also want a satisfying one; otherwise, it seems pointless to finish the series. I know I might sound entitled, but it shouldn't be too much to ask for a nice ending that satisfies and ties in well with the series. Series with satisfying endings include Fullmetal Alchemist (the manga, the whole series was perfect), Naruto, and I heard that Haikyu!! also has a great ending.

My thoughts on the previous volumes:

Even though I still don't understand how to play go, I enjoyed the series because of Hikaru and Sai's friendship and Hikaru's friendships with his schoolmates. While I understand why Sai had to leave the series, I don't understand why his old friendships were handled the way they were by the writer, and I still don't like that he left. After he left, the series seemed to lose its spark, especially in this volume and the last few. I just realized that there is no final boss/villain for this series. I guess the guy who annoyed the reporter and Hikaru might be (I already forgot his name as he's a new character), but he doesn't really feel like one, not like Akashi in Kuroko's Basketball (I haven't finished that anime or read the manga series yet, but I can tell that Akashi will be the final boss, and that doesn't mean I like him; I don't understand the obsession with him). Earlier in the series, I was hoping that Hikaru would somehow play against Sai as the final boss, having to face his mentor and see how much he's improved. I think that would have been a more interesting and fitting ending than the one we got.

Ever since the last few volumes, I really wanted to drop this series, but I decided to keep going since I owned 18 out of the 23 volumes (not up to volume 18). I regret buying most of the volumes (I'm only missing 5, volumes 14, 15, 19, 21, and 23, as they're so hard to find at a reasonable price, and I'm glad I never paid too much for them). As I said, I enjoyed the first few volumes and some in between, but now I rushed through the last 3 volumes just to get the series over with. I might end up selling most of my Hikaru no Go volumes soon (only keeping the ones I really liked).

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Rarely do I finish a series that I have enjoyed so much.

And yet, I find myself having different thoughts on how it could have ended. Was the ending bad? Not at all.

In fact, it was quite satisfying in its own way. But I must admit that I had my own view of a great way to end it.

Would mine have been received well? The world will never know.

However, this series was truly a joy from start to finish.

I wish I could say that I found more series that have such an excellent balance of suspense, fun, a touch of humor, and a great deal of character growth.

It was like going on an exciting ride that kept me engaged and entertained throughout.

Great work by the creative crew for bringing this wonderful series to life!

3.75 stars

I initially thought that the series would end with a lackluster conclusion. However, I was truly amazed when I discovered a 23-volume series centered around a board game that I had absolutely no comprehension of, yet it managed to be so incredibly engaging.

As the story progressed, Hikaru underwent a significant transformation and matured a great deal by the time of the final match. There were, without a doubt, numerous instances throughout the series when he behaved like a spoiled brat. To be honest, during those moments, I did not have a favorable opinion of him.

Despite his flaws, Hikaru's character development was one of the most captivating aspects of the series. It was interesting to witness his growth and evolution as he faced various challenges and obstacles in the world of the board game.

Overall, although the series had its ups and downs, it was a truly remarkable and engaging read that left a lasting impression on me.

[3 1/2 stars] A solid finish to a solid series.

In the final third of its run, the fantasy elements, which have always been used sparingly, are increasingly downplayed. As a result, it has shifted more fully into the traditional modes of sports manga. However, since 'go' is a very cerebral sport indeed, this is more than enough to keep it fresh and interesting.

Even someone who knows nothing about the game beyond what they've encountered in the manga can still find it engaging. It's been a pleasure to revisit this series and (finally) finish it off.

The characters are well-developed, and the story has enough twists and turns to keep the reader hooked. The art is also top-notch, with detailed illustrations that bring the world of 'go' to life.

Overall, this is a great series that fans of sports manga and 'go' alike will enjoy. It's a fitting conclusion to a story that has been both entertaining and thought-provoking.

Goodbye, Hikaru! It was fun!

The end of this series was quite good. I watched it again and saw the cute new chess players, and the story continued in my head. But, it's a bit of a pity that Hikaru's last battle was a loss?! What's that all about? Not only that, but after waiting for this 23rd volume, the much-anticipated Hikaru game wasn't shown to us! Ah, so frustrating!

I was truly shocked and dismayed by the ending of the series. Initially, I was inclined to give this tankobon a one or two-star rating. However, I was aware that this was a visceral gut reaction, which often tends to be inaccurate. So, I let this tankobon percolate in my mind throughout the day. In the end, I rated it three and a half stars, rounded up to four stars.

I didn't really mind that Team Japan came in last. It was somewhat expected, as South Korea has the best Go players, followed by China. So, it was realistic for Japan to be in the last place. However, what I do mind is that Hikaru Shindo lost his game to Ko Yongha and failed to defend Fujiwara-no-Sai's honor. What makes it worse is that he lost that game on the anniversary of the very day that Sai disappeared. Yumi Hotta could have let Shindo win and still have Japan come in last by having Akira Toya lose his match against his Korean counterpart. That would have been a better ending. Instead, she let Toya win and Shindo lose.

I feel that the series ended too soon, with too many unresolved plot points. No one has achieved the Hand of God. Although I had a feeling that it wouldn't be resolved anytime soon, as Sai spent a literal thousand years pursuing it, and for Shindo to achieve it at such a young age would seem incongruous. So, I think the Hand of God is more of an ethereal goal that every Go player strives to achieve but probably won't be able to in their lifetimes.

Secondly, Shindo has never beaten Toya in an official match. If they are considered true rivals, no one but them would believe it unless Shindo defeats Toya in an official match. Currently, they are friends disguised as frenemies, and it would have been nice for that to happen at least once.

Finally, I'm not too sure what to make of the ending with Fujiwara-no-Sai being trapped in a goban once again. I had thought that when Sai disappeared, he went to the afterlife and finally found some peace. But to have him trapped in a goban again seemed like a cruel fate for one of my favorite characters in the series.

The other reason I think the series ended too early is because there was so much more story to tell. We have yet to see Shindo play in the Leagues, challenge for a title, win a title, defend his title, go to the Mind Olympics, and the story goes on. The problem with Go is that it's a mind sport, and as long as your mind is sharp, you can still play well beyond retirement age. So, the question remains: where is the fine line to end the series? When Shindo wins his first title or when he's elderly and ready for retirement? I'm not sure where the right line is to finish the series, but having it end here feels too soon.

What mollified me a great deal was the second omake at the end. We see the 11th Young Lions Tournament through the eyes of two insei: Shoji and Oka. They both idolize Shindo and Toya respectively, but when they play against them in the first round of the Young Lions Tournament, Shoji vs Toya and Oka vs Shindo, they switch allegiances on who's a better Go player. We end with Shindo playing Toya in the second round of the Young Lions Tournament, with a cliff-hanger no less.

All in all, Endgame is a polarizing ending, but above average in terms of exclusion and enjoyment. We learn that, like in real life, there is no end as they continue to play Go. The entire series as a whole was a wonderful coming-of-age story for Shindo Hikaru. For a series centered on an ancient board game, it was filled with drama that kept me entertained and, more importantly, made me want to come back for more. In short, it's a wonderful series to read and well worth the time spent.

This is a review for the series as a whole.

This is truly an impressive series and anime. However, it took a nosedive once they got rid of Sai. It seems as if the author completely lost their way from that point on. The very essence and driving force of the whole story, that divine move, was simply cast aside. As a result, the characters became so muddled and confused. It's really a pity to see how this ended. It's a huge disappointment. My advice to you is to just stick with the anime. The anime might have its flaws, but at least it manages to maintain some of the charm and excitement that the series initially had. Don't bother with the rest of the story if it's going to be like this. Save yourself the disappointment and enjoy the anime for what it is.

It wasn't perfect.

I can't quite go to a five, but this volume was a strong four.

Hotta really pulls off the big ending.

He does this by slowly building on the larger themes that lie behind the go games which front the story.

Moreover, he manages to tie it all together neatly.

There is no feeling of being pedantic or preachy.

It's truly a fine ending.

In fact, it managed to surprise me.

I was really pleased with it.

The way Hotta developed the story and brought it to such a conclusion was quite remarkable.

It shows his skill as a writer in handling complex themes and making them engaging and understandable.

The go games served as a great backdrop, adding an extra layer of depth and interest to the narrative.

Overall, this volume was a great read and I look forward to seeing what else Hotta has in store.

The statement "KULANG PUTA KULANG ANDAMING LOOPHOLES, DI NAEXECUTE UNG OPEN ENDING NANG MAAYOS ANG ABRUPT NG PAGKAKATAPOS TANGINA NAKAKABALIW" seems to express dissatisfaction or frustration with something. It could be about a story, a plan, or a situation that had many flaws and an ending that was not executed properly, being too abrupt and crazy.

Perhaps the person was expecting a more satisfying conclusion or a more seamless execution. The use of strong language indicates the intensity of their emotions. It might be that they had high hopes or invested a lot of effort, only to be disappointed by the outcome.

However, it's important to note that expressing oneself in such a way may not be the most effective or appropriate. It could potentially cause offense or make it difficult for others to understand the specific issues at hand. Instead, it might be better to communicate in a more calm and rational manner, clearly stating the problems and suggesting possible solutions or improvements. This way, a more productive discussion can take place and steps can be taken to address the concerns.