It is no secret that online game diversifications of acclaimed anime collection have turn into extra standard over time, on cellular, consoles, and all platforms. From Naruto-inspired preventing arenas to demon slayer adventures, there all the time appears to be a chance for gamers to immerse themselves within the hands-on medium of their favourite collection. Translating one thing from one medium to a different is more durable than you may suppose, so whether or not your content material efficiently reaches your viewers is commonly a battle in itself.
Fortuitously, Solo Leveling: ARISE OVERDRIVE is the most recent online game installment within the acclaimed Korean webcomic collection, and it is significantly bigger than its mobile-based predecessor. As an enormous fan of the collection, I went into this sport with my eyes large open, however realistically my expectations had been tempered. Netmarble Neo, the event crew for this undertaking, would not essentially have the longest observe file to have a look at. However as 2025 has taught us many occasions earlier than in relation to video video games, true gems can come from sudden locations.
On-line co-op play actually must be stopped.
Let’s face it, it is virtually hilariously ironic {that a} sport with the phrases “solo leveling” in its identify would impose everlasting on-line co-op play. And given the story premise of solo leveling, it is borderline ridiculous and feels virtually carelessly ignored. As quickly as you end the sport’s prologue and arrive at Hunter’s headquarters, which serves as a foyer space accessible to everybody, on-line play is all the time current and inevitable, even for those who embark on a mission alone.
So many video games (Name of Responsibility: Black Ops 7) appear to be leaping on this on-line co-op bandwagon to make it as accessible as doable to a worldwide group of gamers. On the floor, it’d appear to be it is sensible to adapt this Korean webcomic sensation right into a online game, however because it seems, the persistent on-line mode really alienates gamers greater than unites them. Completely different points can come up for gamers from completely different nations utilizing completely different web suppliers.
Finally, you may find yourself with an avalanche of disconnection points that may damage your expertise. For instance, there’s nothing worse than being in the midst of a tough boss combat when your web connection out of the blue stops, rendering your progress meaningless. The group has expressed dissatisfaction with these sorts of sport design choices many occasions, and sadly it is no completely different right here.
Impressively, nevertheless, Netmarble Neo’s builders have already responded to participant suggestions and plan to roll out an offline play mode as a high precedence post-release. As soon as that is built-in, there isn’t a doubt that extra gamers will take part. It is a feather of their cap, even when the issue should not have existed within the first place.
Do not anticipate a whole story (but?)
I feel that is the primary level of competition, however spoilers are inevitable. As a result of, sadly, this sport isn’t designed for many who are new to the world of solo leveling. In any respect. It is awkwardly not possible to debate how this sport works with out spoilers, as there are actually artistic selections at hand.
(…) On-line play is all the time current and unavoidable even when embarking on a mission alone.
Solo Leveling: ARISE OVERDRIVE kicks off its model of the favored manga webcomic with a bang. Sung Jin Woo wears a creepy Shadow Monarch armor and is accompanied by a military of undead summons. He confronts the demon king Balan on a scorching battlefield, one of the vital important conflicts within the story.
Finally, nevertheless, Jin-woo’s youthful self seems and dispels what seems to be a precognitive dream. Within the present actuality, the sport rapidly shifts to the place Jin-woo’s story actually begins. Issues ought to begin to look very acquainted at this level, particularly for many who have watched (and/or began watching) the animated collection. Nevertheless, the primary chapter of the sport is about the place this reliance on this model of the story sadly ends.
The reason being that the sport solely affords snippets of the story. piece. Mainly, for those who’re not acquainted with solo leveling tales in any respect earlier than this sport, you are going to really feel very misplaced and confused as to what is going on on. very Shortly. Not solely is that this a “Cliff Notes” model of Jin-woo’s journey at finest, however there are some vital moments within the story which can be both fully omitted or awkwardly launched later (equivalent to Jin-woo’s mom and her situation).
I do not know why that is accepted as a artistic determination. As a result of it not solely undermines a few of the emotional weight of Jin-woo’s journey, but in addition flatly negates the essential readability of what occurs to him and the opposite characters within the story, and why. After all, it isn’t essential to animate and signify each scene in a webcomic verbatim, however doing the alternative is one other technique to not solely frustrate followers, but in addition fully alienate newcomers. The sport is described as a sport just for followers who’re acquainted with the story and its lore. It is an RPG-style sport based mostly on such an epic story, however for some motive the storytelling side is basically deserted.
Moreover, those that expect to comply with the story of the sport; even somewhat I might be very disenchanted within the present state of animation. The occasions of the sport result in a fateful showdown between Balan and his dragon Kaiserin on the ultimate ground of the Demon King’s Citadel, however the credit abruptly roll as quickly as that battle is over. Because of this the occasions on Jeju Island are fully omitted, aside from a brilliant transient tease after the credit of a hatched ant egg.
This deliberate inclusion may very properly imply that Jeju Island’s follow-up DLC will arrive at a later date, however as of the sport’s preliminary launch, that is still totally speculative. For now, Bell’s summoning of shadows is out of attain, which was definitely disappointing for me personally. The event crew appears to be very aware of fan requests up to now, and we hope these issues will likely be alleviated in some unspecified time in the future.
Sung Jin Woo is without doubt one of the many playable Hunters
Solo Leveling: One of many flexibility points of ARISE OVERDRIVE that I recognize is the power to recruit and play many different hunters moreover Sung Jinwoo. Whereas he is definitely nonetheless the main target of the story, further dungeon content material can nonetheless be loved within the sneakers of a hunter you may encounter elsewhere within the solo leveling world. The roster is stable with 20 completely different hunters to select from, with three beginning out as a part of the marketing campaign.
The sport is described as a sport just for followers who’re acquainted with the story and its lore.
To unlock different Hunters on the record, you will want to make the most of the “Recruit” characteristic within the Hunter HQ foyer as soon as unlocked at a sure level within the story. Nevertheless, it isn’t that straightforward, as negotiating with them typically requires a really great amount of tokens referred to as Hunt Cash, and it takes a substantial period of time to acquire them. In different phrases, like another side of the sport, this one (for higher or worse) requires a whole lot of effort.
However regardless of this, I feel this characteristic is certainly value it, particularly in RPG-style settings that encourage crew play. Even for those who desire to play solo, you possibly can assemble a dependable character-based get together.
Dungeons go from enjoyable to formulaic
The main focus of Solo Leveling: ARISE OVERDRIVE’s fight is, predictably, dungeons. In keeping with Solo Leveling universe lore, these are accessed via portals often called “gates” that seem within the overworld, and hunters are tasked with defeating the menace inside and shutting the gates.
This sport mainly begins with a dungeon as quickly because the prologue ends. Dungeon is there when he is not staying at Hunter Headquarters. In different phrases, regardless that the sport is technically an RPG, there’s not a lot to say about exploration. Throughout the sport, you’ll successfully be bouncing backwards and forwards between these two preset positions.
As for the dungeons themselves, for those who’re on the lookout for an immersive expertise just like the webcomic or anime originals, their settings might or is probably not precisely compliant. As you progress via the chapters of the story, the occasions that happen are principally devoted to the unique (though it’s a TLDR compelled model), whether or not it’s confronting an elf within the snowy mountains, confronting the cobra beast Kasaka within the subway, or confronting Igris within the depths of the fortress.
Nevertheless, even these story dungeons did not all the time hit the mark, and I used to be somewhat confused at occasions, equivalent to after I first traveled with Kang Tae-sik and his pals. As an alternative of deep and disturbing darkish underground tunnels, undergo sandy deserts. Moreover, that very same desert-type dungeon is shared with many different facet dungeons within the sport, so it did not really feel like that occasion in Jinu’s story was value recreating with not less than some extent of accuracy.
That apart, whereas the dungeons serve their function properly (expertise factors, gear, crafting supplies, and many others.), they do begin to really feel formulaic after a sure level. You’ll be able to’t stray too removed from the “goal path” to discover wherever inside it, leading to a principally “level A to level B” state of affairs each time. You’ll be able to acquire environmental objects right here and there if inside the allowed area, however in any other case your activity will likely be to hurry to mobs and executives. On high of that, mobs and executives are additionally recycled excess of mandatory, typically feeling like the identical factor throughout a number of completely different dungeons.
Certainly, it really works completely properly for those who’re a participant who prefers quick and candy situations like this to get rewards quicker.
Fight shines however nonetheless wants sprucing
The dungeon setting you battle via in Solo Leveling: ARISE OVERDRIVE can typically really feel aesthetically uninspiring, however a method the sport greater than makes up for it’s with its fight system. Whether or not you are preventing as Sung Jin Woo or another accessible hunter, hacking and slashing via mobs and beasts is as clean and enjoyable correctly.
(…) The occasions that happen are virtually actual to the supply materials (…)
Even higher, the important thing fight mechanics are very straightforward to grasp proper from the beginning. The HUD accommodates a small hotbar of primary assaults and skills that evolve as you unlock them, however that hotbar is totally helpful from begin to end.
The primary shock is that the sport additionally permits you to select from one among a number of completely different ability units for Sung Jin Woo. You’ll be able to have him wield a wide range of weapons, both bodily or magic-based, every with a unique model. Regardless of the warning of “Very Onerous” fight issue, I went with Jin-woo’s basic murderer model for immersion causes. As somebody who already prefers the sport’s easy preventing model, this model actually wasn’t that tough to grasp and I caught with it.
Different nice options assist additional flesh out the sport’s fight system, such because the addition of further Hunters (talked about above) and the anticipated potential to summon highly effective shadows equivalent to Igris, Tank, and Kaiser to assist in battle. Moreover, there are pets that may allow you to discover helpful objects, and you may even rework right into a Shadow Monarch type (even when it would not comply with the story canon in any respect) to additional improve your assaults.
That being mentioned, the fight system as a complete undoubtedly has room for additional refinement. Enemy concentrating on may be very haphazard (are you kidding me?), and specializing in a particular enemy inside a mob is extra of a ache than it must be. To make issues worse, when a mob or boss briefly went off-screen for a sneak assault, the fight digicam did not coordinate properly, and I used to be typically unfairly sidelined by one thing that was invisible as a result of the digicam was totally rotated.
There are different small bugs and glitches right here and there that do not actually influence the gameplay as a lot as they do the immersion, however are simply fastened. For instance, switching Jin-woo’s costume causes his physique to virtually fully disappear throughout sure assaults. The primary few occasions are hilarious, however sadly it appeared to occur virtually each time in each battle. Possibly there may be an excessive amount of aura?
Gadgets and crafting system want enhancements
Solo Leveling: One other beauty of ARISE OVERDRIVE is its endgame-style crafting system. Story (or Content material) Past marketing campaign development, the main target of the sport appears to be on grinding out top-of-the-line gear and weapons for Jinu and the opposite hunters in your roster. On high of that, there are a whole bunch of challenges and achievements to unlock, maximize your ability tree, and improve your Military of Shadows.
General, the tip sport will certainly maintain you busy. My one joke right here is that the pacing of the story marketing campaign falls far in need of Endgame’s sense of urgency and must be somewhat extra balanced. Apart from perhaps the ultimate boss of the bottom story, you possibly can progress fairly properly with semi-upgraded gear and distribution of ability/attribute factors. Except the sport plans additional growth when it comes to content material, I puzzled if Gear Grind was actually value my time.
Other than that, one other particular side of the sport’s merchandise system that wants tweaking is the drink distributors. The consumables supplied appear to be very helpful, and once you purchase one, it all the time appears to stack 5 occasions. Nevertheless, there isn’t a sensible technique to observe this utilization, whether or not in fight or out of fight, which is unusual to say the least.
Some enhancements to the sport’s UI concerning merchandise and stock administration may go a great distance, equivalent to making the aim of sure objects extra clear. There’s a codex/tutorial characteristic within the foyer, nevertheless it misses the mark when it comes to successfully explaining such options.
Solo Leveling: ARISE OVERDRIVE is clearly supposed to be a love letter to the unique, which captivated legions of followers all over the world with its dramatic, protagonist-driven story, partaking lore, thrilling battle sequences, and surprisingly emotional moments. However this sport’s artistic rendering of that homage leaves a whole lot of confusion and disappointment story-wise, which ought to have served as a basis fairly than a failed afterthought. Consequently, newcomers to solo leveling are virtually forcibly alienated and denied the premise on which to base their expertise. Sung Jin Woo feels content material and barely ages, so the struggles of the battles and endgame greater than make up for it. Solely time will inform whether or not the event crew will fill within the holes wanted to make this sport a real recreation of solo leveling, or focus extra on fan service.