Synopsis
If you have ever installed a video game with a wobbly scenario, which does not seem finished or even littered with problems, know that Sunraku is passionate about it. He commonly calls them “dung” and dedicates his life to trying them to brag that he has finally mastered them. However, after being confronted with one of the biggest “dung” of his generation, he changed his tune and decided to take an interest in MMORPG Shangri-La Frontier, a “Greatest Of All Time” with thirty million players. Is he really prepared for what awaits him?
Collaborate with the best players or monitor your life points, Sunraku will venture into a world of fantasy, populated by legendary monsters and missions of all kinds. To top it all, he comes into play almost naked and decked out in an unflattering mask. Are you ready to follow the adventures of our hero in the heart of Shangri La ?
editorial review
Like vocabulary, the turns of phrase used in Shangri La Frontier suffice to confirm its belonging to the style shonen, aimed more at teenagers. What’s more, the manga narrates the adventures of one of them, a fan of video games in their VR (virtual reality) version, the latter being very popular at the time of the story. With the blasé of senrakuhe discovers Shangri La Frontierwhich is the antithesis of his favorite games, in which he will have to rethink his vision of things.
What is very interesting in the writing of Shangri La Frontier it is his popularization of MMORPGs. Indeed, if the title is aimed at a specialized readership, the author takes the opportunity to initiate the most neophytes. All specific words or terms are accompanied by an asterisk to obtain a simplified explanation. Even if that’s not enough, the chapter introductory pages are packed with information for a summary of the story and key points to memorize.
The story is told through the eyes of senraku taking into account his expertise, his experiences, but above all his analysis of the field. It is this precise point that impregnates us with history by giving us a taste for discovery. His open-mindedness and his determination also allow us to participate in methodical fightsdissected and above all engaging.
Eventually, the spirit awakens on its own as you explore the lands of Shangri La, by devouring step by step the contents of the boards which are offered to you almost allowing you to imagine the colorimetry. The humor is present while remaining controlled in order to reach a more disparate audience and sometimes less inclined to the genre. Nevertheless, although it is popularized, the manga offers very typical content that you will initially have to appreciate both in the universe and the dialogues.
The Manga
- Scriptwriter : Katarina
- Designer: fuji-ryosuke
- Publisher: (ja) Kōdansha / (fr) Glénat
- Kind : Shounen
For those who wish to get into the manga, it will be necessary to turn to the Glénat editions. Currently, only five out of nine volumes are available and at an individual price of €6.90.
For the most skeptical, who are not yet convinced or totally thrilled by the synopsis of Shangri La FrontierGlénat editions invite you to discover certain chapters, free of charge and without the need to create an account, on their brand new Glénat Manga Max site.
The Anime
Although the manga is recent, the appeal is such thatan anime is planned for 2023 and available on the Crunchyroll platform. If we have, for the moment, very little information, a trailer is available. We advise you not to watch it if you haven’t started the manga yet to avoid potential spoilers. Finally, this is a draft and only pictures and videos without words are available. What to be able to take his evil in patience.
Video games
As for the anime, and with the very targeted universe of Shangri La Frontier, it became difficult to think that a video game was not planned. However, the idea of the latter was only revealed very recently leaving behind a bit of mystery. We know it will be developed by Netmarble Nexus and published by Netmarble.
