Solo Leveling: Season 1
✅ This is a spolier-free review
- Animation: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
- Soundtrack: ⭐️⭐️⭐️
- Story: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
- Overall: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Ore dake Level Up na Ken
From a Manhwa (Korean comics) with the same name, we get this hidden gem this 2024. Granted, if you’re into gaming (specifically role-playing games) it makes the anime or story much more appealing 🧙♂️
In a world of monsters and dungeon raiding (although it’s not full-blown fantasy) we get this weak (of course, he has to be weak at the beginning…) main character who suddenly gets thrown into a “game system” he can only see. Think about an augmented reality type of thing, overlaying menus and screens in the real world.
This game system challenges him and pushes him to become stronger, or else… Becoming stronger is something unheard of in this world, where you’re born with a given strength and that’s it. The main character starts leveling as in a video game, adding attribute points every time he levels up (to his strength, speed… you get the gist) 🆙
Fear of death ☠️
I think the story should or could be more bold. I like very much that the author is not afraid of killing characters but they are usually not that important, they should push it further. Otherwise, we’re never in fear of losing our main character during fight scenes (think of Jujutsu Kaisen Season 2). I would like to see them get rid of important supporting characters to make us afraid that the main character could be next.
Speaking of the main character, I gotta say he is not super interesting. I’ve been more drawn to the world-building and these secret game system he can only see. He does very little to get our empathy, he’s not charismatic nor charming, a far cry of a shonen-like character with an unbreakable will.
The story doesn’t answer every question, and that’s good. How does this system work? What secret missions or items will he unlock? What abilities will he learn? How fast will he be able to be the strongest of all? Who’s behind it all?
Now, with that said, I still recommend you give this anime a go. The animated fight scenes are quite decent, with some of them above average. The story moves decently quickly for a 12-episode season.
It leaves you wanting for more.
Season 2 confirmed!
Luckily the anime has been renewed for a second season. This should give you an indication of how well this has been received.
Have you watched it? Have you read the comic?
