Game News Does the Solo Leveling video game live up to the anime? I played it and it smells really good!

Game news Does the Solo Leveling video game live up to the anime? I played it and it smells really good!

Three years after the end of the webtoon, what if 2024 was the year of Solo Leveling? Initially, these were novels written by Chugong which experienced a real explosion of popularity with its webtoon version. Since then, Solo Leveling has become a cult work, which means that its anime adaptation released at the beginning of the year was eagerly awaited and met with great success. Well it’s not about to stop, since Next May, Netmarble has decided to launch its video game adaptation of Solo Leveling, namely Solo Leveling: Arise. More than a month before its release here, we were able to try this free-to-play Action-RPG and here is what we thought of it.

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A thousand and one ways to play Sung Jin-Woo?

Without too many surprises, Solo Leveling Arise first invites us to return to the events of the webtoon and even offers boxes in its scripted moments. Thus, we will follow Sung Jin-Woo’s quest for power thanks to the powers acquired in the dungeon where he died. In story mode, we therefore embody our hero through particularly dynamic 3D action gameplay. In addition to a basic attack button, several skills are at our disposal, whether it is an ability linked to our weapon, a counter, or even an ult. And then, the title requires you to be reactive thanks to its dodge mechanics which allows you to benefit from a bonus in the event of avoidance at the last second.

Added to all this a staging of attacks and spectacular iconic moments, and here we have a free PC and mobile game with careful production value which honors the basic material. An unsurprising conclusion when we know that the title is developed by Netmarble, a Korean studio renowned for Marvel Future Fight or The Seven Deadly Sins: Grand Cross. Besides, if you play on PC, we recommend that you enjoy it with a controller. On the other hand, we also find recurring defects in the editor’s productions such as tons of menus, notifications in all directions and especially the levels that are too short (apart from the endgame) which end in a few minutes. All of this really takes time to adapt.

Beyond its pure gameplay, Solo Leveling Arise also offers some variety in the preparation of its characters. Obviously, we initially play as Sung Jin-Woo who will very quickly be able to change class, which gives him access to gameplay different from that at the start of the game. This is even more true when we collect other weapons for our hero , which offers a new basic attack, as well as special skills. Added to this runes which allow you to modify abilities, and we can already imagine the build possibilities that the game will offer in the long term. Despite all the diversity, we are still faced with repetitive action gameplay, especially in this type of experience where we always do the same thing. Fortunately, therefore, it remains satisfactory, but also that it can be varied thanks to a particular element.

Solo Leveling, a gacha with careful production-value

Whether in the novels, the webtoon or the anime, Sung Jin-Woo is obviously at the center of the action, which does not always leave room for other characters. Solo Leveling Arise understands this well and that’s why our hero has a menu dedicated to him, while the other Hunters have theirs, because yes, they are indeed playable! When you play as Sung Jin-Woo, they only serve as assistants that you can summon at any time. On the other hand, in the missions dedicated to them, they benefit from their own gameplay, which offers variety to the game. All this is reassuring for the future of the title from a gameplay point of viewbut concretely, what do we do in the game?

At the heart of Solo Leveling Arise, we obviously find the story which allows you to relive the events of the original work, but not only that. We are also entitled to passages where we play characters other than Sung Jin-Woo, which brings a different point of view on things. Beyond that, we find specific missions in dungeons, combat rounds, chronicles to relive the past of certain characters… In short, a whole variety of activities typical of a gacha to invite us to play , but with special conditions each time. Obviously, to progress more easily, we are encouraged to invoke the banners to recover both the characters, but also the rarest Sung Jin-Woo weaponswhich constitutes the entire economy of the game, in addition to its battle pass.

As for knowing how much you will have to invest in the title to benefit from it, you will have to wait to be able to play it in the long term to judge. In any case, to last over time, the Korean studio has already introduced a new character to the game, never seen in the original work, exactly as it did for The Seven Deadly Sins in the past. Thus, we can be sure that Solo Leveling Arise has planned exclusive content to continue in the event of success with the public. Answer therefore from the month of May, when the title is available to everyone.