It's a good manga and all, we've all heard it, but here is my rant:

Shindo's "depression" (you know what i'm talking about) drove me nuts! Argh! I just wanted to kick that whiny little brat in his balls until he screamed for mercy....

Another complaint is the awful ending. Frankly, it was a cowards ending. The story was good, but largely due to the ending you feel that after 23 volumes little have been accomplished.

The possible romance was not explored and the earlier characters were left behind. Looking back it might have been the natural way the story developed but it still leaves a bad taste in your mouth. Again, nothing accomplished on that front.

If the ending had been better i would've given this a 9.

... Last updated on April 28th, 2008, 1:59pm

I am disappointed with Sai's disappearing too. He was the main character in the series not Hikaru!! I would like to see Sai playing with Touya Meijin at least one more time. Afterall, he disappeared without making the divine move. That is unfair!

Best finished Shounen out there imho. Some people don't like the ending or what happened after volume 17. Based on the state of GO in the world It needed to end the way it did. Secondly for Hikaru to grow as a character what happened to Sai had to happen. Biggest problem with Shounen. Characters get stronger but don't grow..don't learn from their mistakes. Keep doing the same @^$% over and over. coughnarutocough. Sides this is Manga, when doesn't it have a WTF ending?? What did y'all expect ? "And they lived happily ever after."

... Last updated on March 25th, 2008, 7:12pm

I loved everything but the very last chapter... I felt it left too much unresolved... Shindo didn't tap into the strength that Sai help him build.... Then to leave it like that sucked. Just the ending brought down my score.

I waste really into this series, despite knowing absolutely nothing about the game 'go'. The characters are really well made, and I loved the art. Funny thing, as I was reading early on, I kept thinking 'why the hell does this remind me of death note...? Their stories are nothing alike.' As I progress, the feeling kept getting worse, and I looked up and they had the same artist, go figure. XD Later on in the series, you can clearly tell.
My favorite part of the story is probably that time progress, but not only that, you can see it. Everyone grow up, mature in both character and appearance, and I like that some of the people who can be considered close friends to Hikaru for a while, disappear, just like in reality where friends are slowly pulled away (like his go club pals).
I did hope for a better ending too, but I read the comments here before hand, so wasn't expecting much, just hoping everyone was exaggerating.
Really good story though. >o< One of those 'life goes on, and always does' sort of feeling to it, especially after the 'Sai' thing everyone hates. I suggest people try it, its pretty nice.

I read 23 volumes of this manga spend whole days reading and then this crap at the end. I don't care about if it is more realistic this way and blabla I want ah decent ending, so it feels like I have wasted all the time reading it.

... Last updated on January 31st, 2008, 7:03am

Despite what everyone says, I kind of like the ending. Endings doesn't have to sum up everything. It's ok for it to not really end, because that's what life is. It gives it a more realistic taste to it. Doesn't matter if you like Go or not, you should like this manga.

not the best ending, but i like everything else

I dunno if the ending was really that or Hotta-sensei just wanted to piss us all of. ^_^
Frankly, this needed a good review. I am completely ignorant of Go. I dunno what it is nor I understand what was happening. But I loved Sai!! I totally adore him especially when he is childishly showing tantrums in wanting to play. I guess 1000 years of being a ghost can make a soul like that.
Anyway, I cried the moment Hikaru realizes Sai is gone. I missed him so much! And I understand the series was supposed to show Hikaru;s strength afterwards....but it's just not the same. I wish Sai can come back to Hikaru.
In the last page, I notice the words.. "Can you hear..?" "My voice" "Can you hear it?" Does this signify Sai's return? Masaka.... is it a cliffhanger?
As a reviewer, I recommend HnoG totally! But only up to the point where Hikaru found Sai. The other chapters are really annoying. though I enjoyed Akira and Hikaru's bantering like ther were best of friends.

I know it's been said by everyone many times already but this is something that bears repeating. WHAT HAPPENED WITH THE ENDING?! This series was the reason I began to love manga and anime, yet my devotion is repaid with this betrayal? What happened? D: