Shangri-La Frontier: Crappy Game Hunter Challenges God-Tier Game

Wasting time watching a new series just to find out it's terrible is the worst, so when Shangri-La Frontier popped up as an option I very nearly skipped it. No one talks about this show. There's no buzz or hype that I've seen whatsoever, and given how much mediocre anime there is out there at a glance this seemed more of the same. It isn't. It's actually quite good. I'd go so far as to say it's the best 'full-dive' online game anime I've ever seen, easily on par / surpassing bigger titles such as Log Horizon, Overlord, SAO, and Accel World.

The creators are obviously mmo gamers themselves. You can see this in showcased mechanics, message board behavior from the community, or hilarious moments set-up for maximum, social awkwardness. While you don't need to be a gamer to enjoy it (they provide charming, pop-up explanations for the uninitiated), it's made for people who are. Story itself is well told. Pacing in particular. A surprising amount of attention given to specific events makes you excited for what comes next. They could have cut out entire episodes for the sake of time or additional work involved but didn't. It's deliberate considering the context, and far better for it. Clearly there's real vision for the overall story being told and no shortcuts are being taken here.

SLF isn't an isekai. There are no life-threatening stakes involved, no one is trapped, and there are zero irl concerns worth mentioning of any kind. This is also a comedy first and foremost. It's deliberately dumb at certain points, and funny in the best way. SLF knows exactly what it is and pulls it off perfectly.

I really enjoyed this show. If any of the above sounds appealing, you will, too.

I think this anime biggest plus is the main character he is so fun seeing him yelling about I am the master of trash games I can beat this new good game. Is fun seeing all of the different ways. He has to do it because he's under levelness and his curse. It's what I am about. I think that is the funniest part and god I love the rabbit. She is god damn cute. I want her in every single frame.

I think the plot is fine. It is entertaining the character is very cheeky. So it is fun to listen them talk to each other and it has the right bro feeling to it. It's just that it's not really too much to the anime. It is what it is and what it is. Just a good fun time but nothing more nothing against it but that's just it what it is.

The fight scenes are good and it is very detaining to see him figure them out and how to do it by using his trash gamer skills. It's just that it can get too long in the tooth. It's one of the fights. I'm mostly thinking about ways. Just feels like it takes way too long but most of them are very fun because they only take one episode any short and good though out.

But the problem I have with the show is I'm trying to think about it and most of it is already gone. It is mostly it is for in the moment I enjoy it but it's gone I have watched all of the First season and I'm always forgetting most of it. It's just a fun forget about show and that's okay.

Do know why have positive reviews to be honest, its a pretty average and mediocre anime with above average animation, there is no real danger like solo leveling, there is no drama not complicated stuff, nor romance, not funny stuff it just a very ok anime virtual reality game with a vey forgettable plot and characters, anime fans need to be more demanding and ask for better stuff, this is not good, and they are giving good reviews only because of the pressure other otakus are putting in webs like my animelist, and that's just sad af to be honest, that's not good and we need to do better than that ok.

It's basically some gamer guy, who starts out OP, narrating what he does... like some streamer. 😑 "Look how good I am!" "See how fast I am!" It's some dude's fantasy to be good gamer... 😆

The animation is above average.

Voice Acting is average.

Story is... "See how good I am at playing a video game!" That's the entire story.

Storytelling: Poor. It's just following around some trash-talking dude as they play a video game... Like a streamer.

Character development: Non-existent. They start out OP.

It feels like this entire series is someone *wishing* they were good at video games, but in reality they *really* suck at them.

Overall, it's not terrible. It's watchable, but definitely a far cry from good anime. Want Great anime in the same genre? Solo Leveling.

My previous review of the series is listed below:

SLF is a pretty unserious, low stakes and carefree exploration into the fantasy genre, which doesn't exercise massive stupid rules of the world on you, just shows you a guy diving into a good game, a bit like a dark souls style VR game, having fun. You don't get the stupid parts of an isekai no one likes but it feels a bit like it's set in an isekai world, and while the worldbuilding and characters don't show anything new to you, I think the plain and simple idea is refreshing in itself and low effort.

Episodes of the show go down easy - you don't have to devote your whole soul to reading into the plot, there's good production quality and music, and so far no blisteringly irritating characters. Looking for a chilled out show that isn't boring? This is it! You literally will not get bored watching these early episodes at least - things unfold fast and well, and with a small amount of comedy to keep it light and a standard MC who realises gaming is a hobby and anything but edgy, it's just simple to watch.

The most notable thing about this show for me? Nothing! Let me reiterate how formulaic and standard it has been thus far, and yet it's not remotely boring. I can't quite place my finger on what's so interesting about it. It almost has an air of uniqueness to it.

In what could've been summarised in 3 sentences - good show, not special but still worth your time. Better than most of its genre.

Now this was what I had to say 3 episodes in. I was thinking this show had potential but would succumb to shameless fanservice or the like within a couple episodes and the ideas would run out. We're now about halfway through tje first season, and I have to say this show is worth investing your time in.

Shangri-La Frontier may not seem immediately special, but the fact the intensity of the show is so huge when it wants to be despite no "you die in game you die in reality" or such tropes makes me think it is special. It's not a shameless trope or a generic show because it isn't forcing itself to do more to make the concept interesting.

The show is genuinely entertaining. The characters are all quite funny and while there hasn't been a major male character besides Rakuro himself the women in this show are treated as human beings. The worldbuilding is literally incredible - I was a skeptic at first but they genuinely have thought everything and the combination of sci-fi and fantasy is well balanced. The enemies are well designed like the author was actually trying to make a fleshed out real game rather than just having slime number 2 followed by the main character fighting solely in PvP for the rest of the show. They've made it clear now that they are invested in making a realistic game where the progress in PvE in the show is going to be a part of the plot.

So I really think I needed to amend anything I stabbed at last time I reviewed - this show is special, is actually original and I can feel the intensity and hype without the stakes of death on the line because it's well written. It's also not trying to drop sob stories on people which is great.

9/10. Genuinely higher caliber than expected.