Shangri-La Frontier is as fun and gorgeous in its second season as in its first, even if it encounters minor sophomore syndrome issues. Still, Sunraku is ready to carve out his adventures in the game. The anime continues to follow multiple threads as the world story progresses, prompting opportunities to unearth more lore with the Library clan, repair the Ether Reactor, and more. But as Sunraku continues to split his time among NPCs, gathering materials and exploring the world, he occasionally laments his low social skills in Shangri-La Frontier.
Part of Sunraku's charm in Shangri-La Frontier is that he is the anime embodiment of a solo gamer in the eponymous popular multiplayer-accessible action RPG, and it makes a good deal of sense. But as he occasionally causes misunderstandings among real-life players or even mistakes innocuous friendly behavior like from Psyger-0 as concealed manipulative intent, it's increasingly clear that Sunraku shows no intent of engaging in that part of his life. Sunraku's passion for trash games, a noteworthy problem with the gaming industry, and his willingness to accept it, shows itself in Shangri-La Frontier.
Shangri-La Frontier's Protagonist Often Overlooks Human Connection
Sunraku's Solo Adventures Leave Little Room for Real Friends
Shangri-La Frontier centers on a full dive VRMMORPG with record-setting concurrent players. With its world story barely budging since its release, so much of its experience is driven by player engagement, with Sunraku as no exception. Sunraku's real-life alter ego, Rakuro Hizutome, thus spends his days exploring the game's rich world, spending increasingly large amounts of time with Vorpal Bunnies and Cat Fairies like Emul, Binac, and Aramys, instead of even other players he's met. It's gotten to the point where his solo adventures land him in hot water, as teased in Shangri-La Frontier season 2, episode #1's ending.
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Shangri-La Frontier is not presenting Sunraku as intentionally isolating himself. But in season 1, episode #9, he misreads Psyger-0's invitation to help him through the game as a way to ingratiate herself with him in exchange for what he knows. Sunraku spends periods entirely separate from other players in numerous arcs, questing only with game AI in the form of NPC companions. In Shangri-La Frontier season 1, episode #13, he leaves the game, spending time with his family effectively as a break from the game, otherwise spending his summer vacation in SLF.
It's not as if Sunraku doesn't have meaningful connections in Shangri-La Frontier. Arthur Pencilgon and Oikatzo are frequent allies, and Sunraku even plays with them in the various trash games they mutually enjoy. Still, his careless actions with the Inventoria and Emul draw unwanted consequences upon Pencilgon and Oikatzo. Perhaps driven by his love for games that are infamously bad and thus far less populated, Sunraku limits his social pool while highlighting another issue in Shangri-La Frontier and the game industry.
Sunraku's Trash Game Obsession Highlights Problems with the Game Industry
Shangri-La Frontier Explores the Depressing Aspects of an Oversaturated Market
With Shangri-La Frontier already embodying a popular genre staple as a series set within a VRMMORPG, part of its core is how Kusoge, or "trash games," are seen as gems and worthy challenges, inspiring lateral thinking. While this is certainly a valuable insight, the series also implicitly acknowledges an oversaturated video game market in the real world, with the MMO genre especially inundated with low-effort projects lacking innovation or forethought. Sunraku's views of these poorly designed games as opportunities to overcome them based on skill are admirable but misguided in Shangri-La Frontier.
Sunraku's Kusoge enthusiast mindset is endearing, with entirely different types of players flocking to games like Berserk Online Passion or BERP in Shangri-La Frontier. Games like BERP become ironic gems for the unorthodox gameplay that emerges from its countless bugs. However, appreciation for this type of game is misguided because some real-life trash games can be far less accidental. After all, it's doubtful even Sunraku would appreciate a bad game when part of its notoriety comes from being harmful or scamming the players, like in the case of The Day Before.
Awkwardness Is Part of Sunraku's Appeal in Shangri-La Frontier
Likely Simple Introversion
Sunraku, on one level, can't help himself, as it's part of his playing style in Shangri-La Frontier. Fandoms draw parallels between his character and u/KleinTsuboiOW on Reddit, best known as Elden Ring's "Let Me Solo Her," and it's no accident, with Anime News Network's interview with SLF creator Katarina confirming its inspiration from Dark Souls. Sunraku's decision to cut down his armor to a half-naked state is a pragmatic choice to reduce his resources to the bare essentials in episode #1, locked in by Lycagon's Marking later, with his bird mask concealing his face for modesty's sake.
In Shangri-La Frontier season 1, episode #20, Sunraku laments his lack of social skills yet balks at honing them in the Love Clock dating sim game mentioned throughout the series. His unwillingness to interact meaningfully with others outside "gaming buddy" relationships can partially be explained as introversion and a carefree attitude. However, he is still just a 17-year-old. Sunraku has a whole lifetime ahead of him to practice his social skills, but for now, he has no time for romance or frivolous personal ties; he merely wishes for more adventures in Shangri-La Frontier.
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8/10
Shangri-La Frontier
Animation
Action
Adventure
Comedy
Fantasy
Rakurō Hizutome, a high school student known for mastering poorly made games, takes on the challenge of a highly rated VR MMORPG. Diving into the complex and immersive world, he bypasses tutorials and jumps straight into action, uncovering hidden secrets and formidable monsters along the way.
- Cast
- Yuma Uchida , Azumi Waki , Yoko Hikasa , Makoto Koichi , Rina Hidaka , Akio Otsuka , Seiichiro Yamashita , Yumiri Hanamori , Sayaka Senbongi , Umeka Shouji , Asaki Yuikawa , Satomi Sato , Megumi Han , Saho Shirasu , Takuma Nagatsuka
- Character(s)
- Sunraku / Rakuro Hizutome , Psyger-0 / Rei Saiga , Arthur Pencilgon / Towa Amane , OiKatzo / Kei Uomi , Emul , Weissasche , Orcelott , Momo Saiga , Animalia , Mana Iwamaki , Rumi Hizutome , Eika Hizutome , Faeria , Mia , Reiji
- Release Date
- October 1, 2023
- Seasons
- 2
- Streaming Service(s)
- Crunchyroll
- Main Genre
- Animation
Source: Anime News Network
