Key points
-
Shangri-La Frontier
emphasizes player skill over raw strength, making game mechanics more crucial. - The protagonist inside
Shangri-La Frontier
play for passion, not to save the world, offering a different perspective from
Sword art online. -
Shangri-La Frontier
keeps fan service to a minimum, focusing on realistic gameplay experiences and player communities.
THE Sword art online anime is an iconic series known to many anime fans who love gaming and isekai. Various new anime focusing on a gaming narrative have been released in recent years, but few can challenge the precedent Sword art online has set.
Among the few lies Shangri-La Frontier, a series that takes the gaming genre in a new direction with its excellent representation of realistic gaming culture and skill-based gameplay. Unlike Sword art online, which is heavily influenced by themes of survival and saving the world, Shangri-La Frontier portrays a protagonist who simply wants to have fun playing the game, making it a strong addition to gaming anime. He even manages to eclipse Sword art online in a few key ways.
7 Greater emphasis on mastering player skills
Knowledge of game mechanics beats grit in game worlds
Kirito (SAO) is a talented VR swordsman, while Sunraku (Shangri-La Frontier) he is a talented player. This difference between the two individuals speaks volumes about how they and their respective series approach defeating bosses and monsters. In a fictional world with monsters and bosses, being strong is necessary, but in a game, knowing how it works and manipulating the game mechanics is much more important, and in this way, Shangri-La Frontier does it better than Sword art online.
Rather than focusing on grit, determination, and raw strength released through willpower and legendary gear, the player's mastery of their skills and the build they have selected has a greater emphasis in Shangri-La Frontier.
6 The protagonist's love is for the game, not for saving the world
Play for passion rather than survival
Kirigaya “Kirito” Kazuto and Rakuro “Sunraku” Hizutome are both portrayed as individuals with a love for gaming; however, one seems more intent on completing games and discovering more dynamic ones, while the other is more intent on saving the world. The Bow of Aincrad Sword art online it was largely based on player survival, and for good reason.
However, continuing to experience external influences and real-world threats portrayed through games makes it possible Sword art online more of an isekai in a game world, rather than an actual game anime. Having players immerse themselves in games without the fate of the world hanging in the balance will speak to anime gaming fans, who will be able to connect more deeply with a protagonist who simply wants to have fun playing.
5 Minimal fan service
Shangri-La Frontier remains faithful to the game
The relationship between Kirito and Asuna is undoubtedly a hallmark of Sword art online anime series. However, with the exploration of their relationship came many moments that fans describe as “fan service.” This generally watered down the series' plot, making it feel like more filler arcs and poorly thought out life arcs that broke away from the central narrative of the games in general.
Until now, Shangri-La Frontier featured little to no fan service, instead dynamically focusing on Sunraku and his obsession with gaming. This allows you to focus on the game and the player experience, rather than diluting the plot with distractions.
4 Realistic representation of player communities
Sword Art Online misrepresents gaming communities
When it comes to real-world gaming, casual gamers and hardcore enthusiasts are two different types of individuals. Sword art online portrays all players in a game similarly, rather than distinguishing them based on their goals: to hang out, relax, or complete the game. Additionally, in terms of community involvement outside of the game, Shangri-La Frontier has the upper hand.
Sunraku is seen constantly checking gaming forums on how to overcome certain challenges, seeking experience from players who have already done so, while Kirito often seems to overcome obstacles with sheer strength and talent. Gamer communities in Sword art online they feel more isolated and individualistic, rather than the more social forums that real world games have.
3 Exploring more game genres outside of VRMMORPG
Greater gameplay diversity is represented
THE Sword art online the game in the titular series serves as the cornerstone VRMMORPG in the series. Interestingly, before and after playing Sword art onlineKirigaya Kazuto is not shown playing any other type of game except VRMMORPG, despite being described as a lover of games.
Shangri-La Frontier, on the other hand, Sunraku explores various types of games, especially “trash” games with a lot of bugs, as he always finds a way to use such bugs to his advantage. Although the series is based on the game “Shangri-La Frontier”, exploring various other game genres is a refreshing change, as Sunraku occasionally takes breaks from playing Shangri-La Frontier.
2 Unique requirements are needed to beat bosses
Strength alone is not enough to eliminate bosses
With enough determination, strength and equipment, any leader of… Sword art online the series will fall. However, this is not the case when it comes Shangri-La Frontier. Rather than prioritizing strength and grit of character, Shangri-La Frontier describes incredible gameplay mechanics, allowing for a variety of methods to eliminate bosses.
To conquer Wethermon of the Seven Colossi, Sunraku and his party did not have to “defeat” the boss, but parry its finishing move, Clear Sky Conquest, Sky Clear, as a single hit would result in death regardless of the player's stats. Having unique requirements to overcome certain obstacles fits a game narrative better than overpowering bosses by force over and over again.
1 Presence of a story/world progression mode
Sword Art Online portrays undefined endpoints
Despite having a central theme as a gaming anime, none of the games depicted Sword art online they have some form of story mode, which is very unlikely when compared to real world games.
Due to the lack of structure that a story mode normally brings to any game, the end point of the games in Sword art online it is undefinedand the characters seem to play only for personal entertainment rather than to complete a mission or complete the game. Shangri-La Frontier, on the other hand, it beautifully portrays world progression where events are triggered based on the completion of certain events, as seen with Wethermon's defeat, where world history progressed by 20%.
