English Dub Review: Liar Game “Tip-Off”

Overview (Spoilers Below):
The curtain is pulled back on the Country of Night and the system of control used by Yokoya.

Our Take:
Akiyama’s new plan has been going pretty smoothly regarding them recruiting the Night team traitors and forcing themselves to lose.  It would’ve been seen as an easy way out of this troubling situation.  However, like many other strategies, this one is bound to hit some snags sooner or later, particularly due to Yokoya himself.  Amidst the recruitment, the episode further explores Yokoya’s manipulation tactics through a loyalty system, with his teammates earning points depending on their obedience to him.  Of course, failure to earn enough points will cause specific players to remain in debt to Yokoya, pushing themselves to do whatever’s necessary to get to the top.
This aspect continues to highlight Yokoya’s form of control by playing with his teammates’ mental states and blackmailing them.  It also plays a role in Yokoya’s discovery of Akiyama’s plan, allowing him to form a counterattack that could put the Day team back to square one.  Clearly, it’s no wonder why Yokoya is considered the best player in the tournament, though to us, it’s for the wrong reasons.  However, from a critical perspective, his formidable presence and wits remain one of the best elements of the anime’s Contraband Game arc, as he continues to push the Day team’s strategic minds to the absolute limit.  If you thought the turbulence in the last episode was bad, “Tip-Off” is the verge of collapse that would surely be more frustrating for the right reasons.