So what genre are we exactly dealing with here? It isn’t precisely the Isekai genre that’s being discussed, rather it’s the kind of stories where we get to see the active involvement of game mechanics in the MC’s character development. While it’s true that Solo Leveling is obviously not an Isekai, one may think even Shangri-La Frontier isn’t one either.
However, Shangri-La still ticks every feature this genre has to offer. So, it is indeed considered a proper Isekai.
But, we are not comparing that! The point of this article is to make fans clear that while other series may be cooler in some ways, when it comes to incorporating a game mechanic into a storyline, nothing beats Shangri-La Frontier.
Shangri-La Frontier perfectly defines the Video Game MC development archetype
What Shangri-La Frontier has done is truly phenomenal, to say the least! It perfectly captures the essence of playing through a video game/VR storyline, where our main characters seamlessly transition between the real world and the game! Doesn’t that already sound so relatable?
Additionally, the in-game rules keep evolving as the story progresses, but the show never strays away from its gaming roots. Unlike other shows that end up becoming a fantasy/ drama series or solely rely on a cool OP main character trope, Shangri-La Frontier’s MC is so different, he is just a skilled gamer!
Comment
byu/Alarmed-Active-4644 from discussion
inanime
The list of praises doesn’t end there, in fact, it can go on for pages if one starts rambling. Like, the show has put an insane amount of attention to the game’s world-building that makes it feel alive, like a real alternate universe (aka Isekai). Such a balance of realism and fantasy is part of the show’s charm, which makes it a must-watch for literally anyone!
And obviously, the game world of Shangri-La Frontier is the main attraction of the whole series, but for a lot of people, what makes this series more interesting is how the characters interact with each other in real life, as well as, in other online games simultaneously! Yes, they also play games other than Shangri-La Frontier, and even those individual game arcs masterfully add depth to the main game’s storyline! You’ll get it once you see it.
What sets Shangri-La far apart from Solo Leveling
It’s sad to admit it, but Sung Jinwoo from Solo Leveling can often feel a bit one-dimensional, with his constant leveling up and power boosts. It’s a familiar pattern in power fantasy anime and easily becomes repetitive. That’s why many manhwa readers already had similar complaints and with the anime now, those have just resurfaced again!
In contrast, Sunraku from Shangri-La Frontier is like a breath of fresh air! He always tries to come up with new strategies, and skills, and a lot of fights here depend on how quickly you can think, just pure gamer behaviors basically.
Also, the fact that Sunraku always puts in the effort, learns from his mistakes, and develops his skills over time, makes him all the more relatable and easy to root for. During the fight against Wethermon the Tombguard (Season 1) and Lycagon the Nightslayer (Season 2), you could see him thinking critically and making important decisions.
And what does Solo Leveling do? Nothing. Jinwoo just kills his enemies with brute force and levels up!
If you think of yourself as a true gamer, then do not let this opportunity go to waste, and check out Shangri-La Frontier. Forget Solo Leveling for now, and give this hidden gem a chance. It’s guaranteed, you won’t be disappointed! Everything about this show is insanely well produced, like even the Opening-Ending themes, the animation, and the character interactions, all will be worth your time.
Shangri-La Frontier is available to watch on Crunchyroll.
This post belongs to FandomWire and first appeared on FandomWire
