The pachinko "Swamp" is a gambling game that appears in "Gambling Apocalypse Kaiji." After defeating his squad leader, Otsuki, in a game of chinchiro, Kaiji uses his escape route from the underground forced labor facility to return to the surface. Kaiji must earn enough money to repay his debts within a limited time frame. He finds the centerpiece of an underground casino owned by the Teiai Group: "Swamp." What strategy does Kaiji use to conquer this impregnable monster machine? This time, we'll introduce the steps Kaiji took to conquer "Swamp."
1. "Numa" is a high-stakes pachinko machine with a single ball costing ¥4,000.
First, let me introduce the pachinko machine "Numa." "Numa" is a Koga crate pachinko machine found in underground casinos with a single ball costing ¥400. It's a type of pachinko machine known as a "one-shot machine," and was invented by Seiya Ichijo, the owner of the underground casino. In "The Swamp," if Kaiji can get through the three obstacles and finally land his ball in the jackpot hole, he will win all the bets lost by previous challengers. The casino also guarantees a minimum of 300 million yen. The obstacles set up in "The Swamp" are the "Forest of Nails," the "Moving Devices," and the "Three-Tiered Crane," all of which block challengers' paths. The odds of reaching the final jackpot are extremely low, which is why this pachinko machine is also known as the "Man-Eating Swamp." Let's take a look at how Kaiji navigated this seemingly impossible "Swamp" and discover each method.
2. The first challenge, "The Forest of Nails," can be overcome by sneaking deep into the casino.
The first challenge, "The Forest of Nails," blocks the challenger's path. The nails are narrow and densely packed, making it difficult to guide the ball along the intended path. Even Sakazaki struggled in this "Forest of Nails." The old man was crying while playing.
So, how did Kaiji conquer this "Forest of Nails"? The key lies in the periodic nail adjustment. Before the casino opens, Ichijo and the assistant manager manually adjust the spacing between the nails. This involves using a stick with a standard-sized pachinko ball attached to it. Kaiji sneaks into the room where the adjustment stick is located in the middle of the night and swaps the balls attached to the stick for ones that are slightly larger. This causes the casino to adjust the spacing to be wider than the standard, weakening the power of the "Forest of Nails." This allows Kaiji to overcome the first hurdle: the "Forest of Nails."
2. Destroy the "moving props" and replace them with candy!
The second obstacle, the "moving gadget," deviously bounces the ball that passes through the forest of nails. Sometimes, it's remotely controlled by the store, making it extremely troublesome. To counter this, Kaiji asks Sakazaki to destroy the gadget beforehand. Naturally, this device is replaced, but at this time, the replacement device is swapped out for one made of candy. When the swamp is hit in this state, the impact of the ball hitting the device and the heat generated by the device melts the candy, distorting the device. This means that no amount of remote control can stop the approaching ball. Thus, Kaiji overcomes the second hurdle.
3. "Sandan Kuruun" can tilt entire buildings!
The final hurdle is the "Three-Step Crane." This crane has caused countless challengers great hardship. The angle of the three-step crane is exquisitely adjusted to make it difficult for the player to hit the jackpot hole. Kaiji overcomes this incredibly difficult challenge with an unprecedented method. Kaiji comes up with the idea of tilting the building he's inside. The ground where the building is supposed to fit is loose, so by placing a large amount of water in one room, the building tilts slightly. This changes the shape of the crane, making it easier for the balls to enter the final hole. However, the casino also begins to use a secret weapon, using air jets around the hole to repel the balls. Ultimately, by storing a large number of balls in the third crane, Kaiji is able to push the balls into the hole and win.
Summary
Of all the tactics Kaiji has come up with, it goes without saying that his use in the "Swamp" was the most dynamic and outlandish. On the other hand, considering that it would have been impossible to conquer it without such imagination and execution, the power of the "Swamp" is truly impressive.
