Hello and welcome to Project Nitsuj. It’s October which means it’s time for Aniween. So last month I took a look at Digimon 2020. It was a poor attempt at trying to reboot one of my childhood animes. As the series was coming to an end, it was announced that a new season of Digimon would be taking its place and it was called Ghost Game. Released in 2021 and ending in 2023, just the name alone gave me Halloween vibes and the trailer somewhat backed it up by focusing on Digimon that were horror-themed. Since I was riding a Digimon wave I decided to check this out and since we’re in the month Halloween and I just gone reviewing another Digimon now seems like a good time to review it. This is Thriller in digital form. Digimon Ghost Game.
Opening and Ending Themes
So the opening is “Fraction” by the Wienners. I swear to God that is the band’s name. Only in Japan. At first, I wasn’t the biggest fan of this song but it grew on me overtime. It was catchy and I did like how we got versions of the opening as the anime went on. Not my favorite opening from the series but it’s catchy and sets the tone for the show.
The anime shockingly had a total of six endings during the course of its run. I’m not going to talk about all of them, so I’m just going to name my favorite, “Monster Disco” by Shikao Suga × Hyadain. This ending is perfect for this anime. It captures that fun horror vibes the anime has going on and it’s catchy. I actually caught myself bopping my head to the song a few times when an episode finished and I was bummed when they changed it. The song sounds like something you would hear in the 90s or early 2000s. It’s also cool that they got Shikao Suga to sing this song, he hasn’t done anything in a long time. Definitely look him up he’s got a good songs and has been sung openings and endings for other animes.
Episodes 1-4
The first episode starts with some kids talking about the appearance of the Sewn-lip man an urban legend of a ghost who can steal your time. Some say it’s real while others believe it’s just a hologram that went buggy (so we got a Five Nights at Freddy situation?) as apparently this world has a lot of advertisements that use hologram technology (what’s next, implanting advertisements into our dreams like Futurama?). An incident occurs where a student gets her time stolen from her by the Sewn-lip man and our main character Hiro and his friend go to investigate to see if the rumor was true. They go into the auditorium where they run into the Sewn-lip man who steals the time of Hiro’s friend (he was kind of annoying). Just before it can steal Hiro’s time the teachers come in and see the aged-up body. As Hiro fears for his life, he hears a strange sound in his room and three flash drives just fall from nowhere. Recognizing the drives as devices his missing dad made (https://youtu.be/vJG9lnO7jOM), Hiro inserts them into his digital watch where the right drive creates a garden in his room and a Digimon appears. The Digimon introduces itself as Gammamon and already knew who Hiro was thanks to his dad, Hokuto. A recorded message of Hokuto begins to play where he says that during one of his experiments he got transported to the Digital World (that’s nothing new) where he’s been all this time. He tells Hiro to take care of Gammamon like his little brother and then the message ends (wow, Hiro, your dad is a character). As the two are getting acquainted with each other the Sewn-lip man appears who is also a Digimon, Clockmon (half clock, half monster). Gammamon fights Clockmon where with the help of Hiro is able to take back all the time that was stolen, but Clockmon escapes to fight another day.
We move on to the next mystery in episode 2 as a mummy has been reportedly appearing at night near a museum in Ueno and kidnapping people (thank God it’s not flashing people. (Isis): That’s worse than being kidnapped?). Hoping to find answers about his dad as well as a way to the Digital World, Hiro and Gammamon go to the museum and stay inside past closing time to find the mummy (great security work everyone). We find out that Gammamon can hack into devices (neat) and they find the mummy, Mummymon (without a certain spider Digimon by its side it just looks out of place) who doesn’t know a thing about Hokuto or how to get to the Digital World. Mummymon captures Hiro and mummifies him in what he believes to be a form of medical treatment for people who are exhausted. Gammamon tries to fight Mummymon, but its no match for a champion-level Digimon (champion? I thought Mummymon was ultimate). Luckily, Gammamon digivolves into Betelgammamon and attacks Mummymon which does absolutely nothing to him, but it does give Hiro enough time to tell Mummymon that his medical practice is out of date (and doesn’t work as scientists and historians will tell you). Hiro tells him there’s a number of famous hospitals in the area and if he wants to learn medicine he should go there (or not do it at all because you’re clearly bad at it). Mummymon takes Hiro on his offer and leaves. As the episode ends Hiro and Gammamon see a Digimon following a girl (many levels of creepiness).
In episode 3 strange red scribbles have been appearing on digital pictures out of nowhere and the part where they appear causes your body part to act strange (a new age of voodoo). We focus on Ruli, the girl who was being followed by the Digimon from last episode where red scribbles appear on one of her digital pictures. At first, she deletes the picture to be safe, but the next day her hands start to fade away and in time so too will her body. As Ruli panics not knowing what to do, she receives a text from Hiro who offers to help her. The two meet up where Hiro can see the big Digimon from before behind Ruli (again, creepy) who we find out is Angoramon (we got a name, move in! Go! Go! Go!). Angoramon explains it’s not the one hurting Ruli but instead another Digimon called Dracumon whose been using its evil eyes to pull pranks in the hopes of materializing. Angoramon has been trying to catch it, but so far has failed each time. Hiro rushes back and grabs a Digivice to lure Dracumon where it works. Ruli puts on the device which allows Angoramon to materialize and gain power which allows it to catch Dracumon and pummel it. Dracumon returns Ruli and everyone it pranked back to normal and hands over its evil eyes to Hiro. Little does he know Dracumon has no intention of stopping and has evil eyes for days.
It’s the Halloween season in episode 4 (ironically this episode came out on Halloween) and Hiro is helping Ruli decorate for a party at some community center. Along the way he discovers how to activate a pocket dimension that’s similar to the real world (only greener) but anything he does in it will not affect the real world. While Hiro and Ruli are busy decorating, staff members one by one are being dragged off by a mysterious assailant (Good God that’s creepy). We see that the abductor is Pumpkinmon (or Pumpmon if you want to get Japanese on me) and its associates Candmon and Ekakimon (who look like pencils). Pumpkinmon has been kidnapping people to make them his friends whether they want to or not and forcing them to wear jack-o-lanterns (Baron: I only did that once. (Nitsuj): Not you Baron, the Digimon. (Baron): Oh. Nevermind). They take down Candmon and Ekakimon, then take down Pumpkinmon with Betelgammamon. Once again they don’t destroy it and instead explain to it how friendship works. The talk works and Pumpkinmon becomes their friend letting everyone go.
Episodes 5-8
We get the third tamer in episode 5 named Kiyoshiro a genius programmer who is Hiro’s senpai and is a huge coward afraid of ghosts and anything spooky (now if he was high and hungry all the time, he would be Shaggy from Scooby-Doo. (Chibi): Zoinks). Over the last few days Kiyoshiro has been haunted by an unknown Digimon. The Digimon manages to steal one of Hiro’s watches and tells Kiyoshiro to put it on with blood writing on the wall (that’s not scary at all). Kiyoshiro finally sees the Digimon hunting him and it’s Jellymon who tells him to put respect on its name (I like this Digimon. Its personality is not what I originally thought, it’s better. I thought it was going to be shy and quiet, but instead its mischievous and a mistress. Unlike Hiro’s partnership where he takes the lead or Ruli’s partnership where they’re on the same level, Kiyoshiro’s partnership sees his Digimon take command, boss him around and tease him. I love these different dynamics). After this, strange occurrences appear all around the city such as electronics acting up and computers exploding. All of this is being caused by a Digimon named Majiramon (what the. . .Shenron? When did you get legs?) along with Quetzalmon (ohh~ a little Mesoamerican mythology. Nice), Bitmon (ninja bunny), and Goatmon (the Chinese zodiac). Majiramon is coming Kiyoshiro because he created a program talisman to ward off evil spirits and he hacked into the mainframe of stores and banks to install the program into them. However, Jellymon rewrote the program to hack into the digital money management system (this is why paper money will never die) to mess with everyone. Since Majiramon is the Digimon of money whose job is to keep it flowing, you can understand why its so pissed at Kiyoshiro who made the program in the first place. Kiyoshiro and Jellymon get to work deleting the program where they make it just in time and Kiyoshiro apologizes for what he did bowing his head and everything (as he should dammit. There’s two ways to get on my bad side. I don’t like people rearranging my stuff without permission and don’t mess with my hard earn money). Majiramon accepts his apology and since the issue has been resolve it leaves with everyone taking a sigh of relief and Jellymon confirming that it’s tsundere (where the dere part comes in I’m not sure).
Episode 6 gives a basic (but good) story. A ghost appears to be showing up at a karaoke bar (alright. I hope they got Baka Mitai from Yakuza), interrupting sessions and scaring people. The group decides to go and investigate where we find out that the Digimon causing all this trouble is Sirenmon the diva of the Digital World (and Etamon is the Elvis). They try to trap Sirenmon in the building by hacking into the bar’s system, but Sirenmon escapes out into the streets and prepares to share its song with the world (which I would be okay with if it knew how to carry a tune). They manage to stop Sirenmon with Hiro’s horrible singing and it goes off to train to become a better singer.
Another basic episode for 7 where this time crows are rising up (it’s Crowdemic! I knew this day would come. Grab your wire hangers). The crows are being led by Yatagaramon the bird darkness who is going around and freeing all the caged birds in town. Even a bird person joins its cause and help in the liberation of birds (well I hate to see how he spends his Saturday night). Their final spot is the bird sanctuary where if they succeed a lot of dangerous birds will be unleashed upon everyone. The group fights Yatagaramon where we get their toughest battle yet. Gammamon digivolves into a new Digimon called Kasugammamon who can fly (with hang gliders). Kasugammamon manages to defeat Yatagaramon where it retreats taking whatever birds that decided to follow it to the Golden City (so El Dorado does exist. Take me with you).
Episode 8 opens with a bunch of Digimon causing accidents on the highways (and insurance won’t cover that). While go karting (watch out for red shells and bullet bills) a Digimon by the name of Sistermon Ciel appears speeding through the track recklessly. It’s a Digimon obsessed with speed and will do anything to the fastest and strongest. Ciel has been one of the Digimon causing the accidents at night as part of some big race between the Digimon (those who rule the road are king). The next the group gets involved in the race where they see everyone is trying to outrun Metalfantomon (one of the most horrifying Digimon I have ever seen. Seriously, it’s like the Grim Reaper) who absorbs Digimon into its scythe if it overtakes them and no Digimon is allowed to quit. Ruli manages to overtake Ciel with her skills (way to use that Initial D logic) and they trick her into believing that Ruli has a special kart that makes her go faster than the others. Ciel wants the kart but Hiro says they’ll only give her the kart if she does something about Metalfantomon. This leads to a fight between Ciel and Metalfantomon where the two are evenly matched and everyone’s go karts start to die on them. Luckily, everyone gets saved by a digital gate popping up out of nowhere and sending all the Digimon back to the Digital World (kind of a lame ending to an otherwise good episode. You can tell they wrote themselves into a corner with this ending).
Episodes 9-13
We start episode 9 with Hiro having an out of body experience (literally) only to wake back up in his body. From there strange things start to happen to Hiro as time keeps skipping around him. Like he goes out at around four only to return at seven when really it’s almost eleven at night. When the group goes to the library to help Hiro relax, they find out that the place is haunted by Bokomon and Bakumon, two Digimon with a thirst for knowledge. They do ask Bokomon some questions about the Digital World which he gladly answers, but even he’s not sure how Hiro’s dad got to the Digital World. While everyone goes to get a snack, Hiro stays behind to talk with Bokomon where we find out that Clockmon has been the one messing with Hiro’s sense of time (back for revenge. The re-clockening). Gammamon senses Hiro in danger and rushes to his side with the others. Gammamon reflects Clockmon’s attack back towards it where its time starts to speed up and it’ll eventually be destroyed (our digital death). Of course Hiro and the others can’t just watch it die and manage to save it by whacking its clock a few times (a classic and proven method that works). Their actions help Clockmon materialize in their world and it promises to stop attacking people.
Episode 10 finally gives us the long awaited evolution of Jellymon (finally!). Digimon siblings Kinkakumon and Ginkakumon have been invading a fighting game (it’s like a cross between Street Fighters, Virtual Fighters, King of Fighters, Tekken and . . .pretty much any fighting game out there except Mortal Kombat) and stealing the souls of players in order to make some fine sake (alcohol is PEOPLE~). In order to lure out Kinkakumon and Ginkakumon they get Kiyoshiro to play the game. Once the Digimon show up, Jellymon tags in to fight Kinkakumon with Kiyoshiro providing button inputs (spam the Hakdouken). As the battle spills over on the virtual dimension, Jellymon evolves into Teslajellymon (where she has this hacker look which totally matches her personality). Teslajellymon defeats Kinkakumon who orders Ginkakumon to release everyone. They promise to stop spiriting people away and Kinkakumon wants a rematch against Jellymon which she’s happy to do anytime.
Since we got Jellymon’s evolution last episode it only makes sense to have Angoramon’s evolution in episode 11 right? Nope! Well just have to settle for a character focus episode. Ruli notices that Angoramon has been acting strange as of lately. Sneaking off at night and keeping Ruli in the dark about his nightly activities. We find out later he’s been going to a secret gathering of Digimon who get together and trade information with one another (they also serve some good tea). Along with this, dangerous winds seem to be causing property damage all over the city. Ruli finds out that the culprit is Reppamon a fox Digimon whose tail has a mind of its own. The two are in the middle of a disagreement with one another. The tail wants to cut stuff while the body doesn’t so the two wind up fighting each other with the body trying to rip off the tail (ow) and this has resulted in all the dangerous weather throughout the city. Angoramon and Kasugammamon come to Ruli’s rescue and pin down Reppamon and it’s tail so the two can finally have a heart to heart (or heart to tail in this case). Angoramon introduces them to the secret gathering where they’ll be able to use of the tail by cutting up lemons (and thus the best lemon cutter was born).
Episode 12 is an action-packed episode. When Kiyoshiro receives a chain letter (I thought those died out in the mid-2000s) he unleashes a virus in the form of Zassoumon. Zassoumon mails the chain letter to various people releasing clones of itself onto the city and attacking people looking for water to grow big and strong. At the rate they’ll going not only will they take over the country but the world. The group manages to round up all the Zassoumon in the city and have a show down with them where Gammamon reveals his new evolution, Wezengammamon, a triceratops with a railgun for horns (just typing that makes me feel 5% more badass). Wezengammamon manages to down all the Zassoumon but they get back up to fuse together to form giant Digimon. Just as Wezengammamon is getting ready to finish them all off once and for all the original Zassoumon arrives to stop the other Zassoumon saying that they’re all his clones he created because he was lonely. He apologizes for the incident and takes the Zassoumon promising not to bother the group ever again (why do I doubt you?).
In episode 13 we get to see our first dark evolution. A Digimon named Sealdramon is going around assassinating Digimon left and right. All the Digimon are scared and our heroes decide to help out using Jellymon as bait, they find Sealdramon where it tries to kill Gammamon but Bokomon protects him with his body (way to take one for the team). Bokomon dies (wow our first death in the series) and Gammamon filled with rage evolves into Gulusgammamon (who has one of the creepiest smiles I’ve ever seen). Unlike the usual Gammamon who is kind and caring, this version of Gammamon is dark, cocky, and vicious. Gulusgammamon finds and capture Sealdramon where we find out nobody ordered it to assassinate any Digimon, this guy was just doing all of this to increase its kill count (well that’s the marking of a psychopath). Gulusgammamon kills it and then tries to create a rift in space to leave our world. Jellymon and Angoramon try to fight him but our no match for him. Just when Gulusagammamon is about to destroy them, Hiro steps in and this returns Gulusagammamon back to Gammamon where he has no recollection of what he did and cries over Bokomon’s death.
And that’s the first half of Digimon Ghost Game. Tune in next week for part 2. Thanks for reading and I’ll see next time on Project Nitsuj as Aniween. MUHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!