How Shangri-La Frontier Outshines Sword Art Online

Key Takeaways

Shangri-La Frontier
emphasizes player skill over pure strength, making game mechanics more crucial.
The protagonist in
Shangri-La Frontier
plays for passion, not world-saving, offering a different perspective from
Sword Art Online.
Shangri-La Frontier
minimizes fan service, focusing on gaming experiences and realistic gamer communities.

As a seasoned gamer myself, hailing from the golden age of arcades and early console gaming, I must say that the gaming landscapes portrayed in both Sword Art Online and Shangri-La Frontier are as diverse as the controllers we hold in our hands. While Kirito’s relentless journey through Aincrad was undeniably captivating, it felt somewhat narrow in terms of game diversity compared to Sunraku’s eclectic gaming habits in Shangri-La Frontier.

As a dedicated gamer and anime enthusiast, let me tell you about my all-time favorite series – Sword Art Online. This iconic show is a staple among gaming and isekai lovers, and it’s hard to find anything that rivals its impact in the world of anime. Though there have been numerous new anime releases with a gaming narrative lately, none can truly match the legacy that Sword Art Online has established.

As a devoted enthusiast, I can’t help but sing praises for the groundbreaking series, Shangri-La Frontier. This captivating show pushes the boundaries of the gaming genre with its authentic representation of gaming culture and gameplay that rewards skill rather than sheer survival. Unlike the influential Sword Art Online, which revolves around themes of survival and saving the world, Shangri-La Frontier presents a protagonist who merely yearns for the joy of playing games, making it an exceptional addition to the realm of gaming anime. In fact, Shangri-La Frontier even surpasses Sword Art Online in certain aspects, offering a unique and refreshing take on the genre.

7 Greater Emphasis On Player Skill Mastery

Knowledge Of Game Mechanics Beats Grit In Gaming Worlds

How Shangri-La Frontier Outshines Sword Art Online

In the realm of virtual reality, Kirito from SAO excels as a formidable VR swordsman, whereas Sunraku from Shangri-La Frontier demonstrates exceptional gaming skills. The contrast between these characters underscores their unique strategies when confronting digital adversaries. While brute strength is vital in the monster-filled universe of SAO, mastery of game mechanics and understanding the intricacies of the game are paramount in Shangri-La Frontier, a skill that Sunraku wields more effectively than Kirito.

In Shangri-La Frontier, it’s more about a player’s proficiency in their chosen skills and character build, rather than focusing on traits like grit, determination, and relying solely on legendary equipment and raw strength.

6 The Protagonist’s Love Is For Gaming, Not World Saving

Gaming For Passion Rather Than Survival

Kirigaya “Kirito” Kazuto and Rakuro “Sunraku” Hizutome are depicted as avid gamers with distinct preferences: while one is driven by the desire to conquer games and explore new, exciting ones, the other’s focus lies in saving the world. The Aincrad Arc in the series Sword Art Online, which revolves around survival, was rightly emphasized due to this compelling narrative.

In other words, instead of being a traditional “gaming anime” where the story is set within an animated game environment, Sword Art Online leans more towards an “isekai” in a gaming world. This is because it presents characters navigating through a game world with external influences and real-world threats, which creates a more immersive experience for viewers who are fans of anime focused on video games. By not having the weight of saving the world, the protagonist’s desire to simply enjoy playing games resonates more deeply with this audience.

5 Minimal Fan Service

Shangri-La Frontier Stays True To Gaming

In the popular anime series, Sword Art Online, Kirito’s relationship with Asuna is a significant feature. Yet, this exploration often included scenes that viewers refer to as “fan service.” These scenes, while common, tended to dilute the main storyline, making it appear more like optional episodes or unplanned everyday life scenarios, detached from the primary theme of gaming.

Up until now, “Shangri-La Frontier” has largely avoided fan service elements, choosing instead to delve deeply into Sunraku’s gaming obsession. This approach emphasizes the world of gaming and the experiences of gamers, rather than scattering the narrative with unnecessary diversions.

4 Realistic Depiction Of Gamer Communities

Sword Art Online Poorly Portrays Gamer Communities

In the realm of actual gaming, you’ve got casual players and dedicated fanatics who differ significantly from one another. Contrary to how it is depicted in the series Sword Art Online, where all game participants are portrayed similarly regardless of their goals – whether it’s to kill time, unwind, or complete the game. Furthermore, when it comes to active participation beyond the game, Shangri-La Frontier tends to be more popular among players.

In Sunraku’s case, you’ll frequently find him scouring game forums to learn strategies for overcoming specific hurdles, drawing on the knowledge of those who have previously succeeded. On the other hand, Kirito tends to power through barriers with sheer force and skill. The gaming communities within Sword Art Online, however, appear more solitary and self-reliant compared to the social and interactive forums found in real-world games.

3 Exploration Of Multiple Game Genres Outside VRMMORPG

Greater Gaming Diversity Is Portrayed

In the captivating world of Sword Art Online, I found myself immersed in a virtual reality MMORPG that became the heart of the series. What stood out to me was Kirigaya Kazuto’s devotion to this game alone, even though he’s often described as a gaming enthusiast. Strangely enough, he doesn’t seem to play any other type of game, except for VRMMORPGs, before or after Sword Art Online.

Instead of constantly playing “Shangri-La Frontier,” Sunraku instead delves into different sorts of games, including those with numerous glitches, which he enjoys manipulating for his benefit. Even though the show is centered around “Shangri-La Frontier,” it’s intriguing to observe him occasionally stepping away from that game and venturing into other game categories.

2 Unique Requirements Are Needed To Beat Bosses

Strength Alone Is Insufficient To Clear Bosses

In the world of Sword Art Online, with enough determination, power, and the right tools, any boss can be defeated. However, Shangri-La Frontier operates differently. Instead of focusing on character strength and tenacity, Shangri-La Frontier showcases intricate game mechanics that offer various strategies for overcoming bosses.

As a gamer embarking on the quest to claim Wethermon, the Seven Colossi, I wasn’t there to simply obliterate the boss, but to dodge his ultimate move, Clear Sky Conquest, Sky Clear, or it would be game over, regardless of my character’s stats. This unique challenge aligns well with a gaming narrative, where conquering obstacles requires more than just brute strength; instead, it demands strategy and skill.

1 Presence Of A Story Mode/World Progression

Sword Art Online Portrays Undefined Endpoints

In contrast to its primary focus on gaming within an anime setting, surprisingly, there’s no traditional ‘story mode’ found in any of the games depicted in Sword Art Online, a situation that seems quite unusual when compared to the gameplay structures typically seen in actual video games.

In games like Sword Art Online, since there’s no standard narrative structure found in most games, the endpoints of these games remain unclear, and players appear to engage primarily for personal enjoyment rather than completing missions or defeating the game. Conversely, Shangri-La Frontier presents a captivating depiction of a world where events unfold based on the accomplishment of specific tasks, such as the defeat of Wethermon, which advanced the storyline by 20%.

2024-10-07 09:05