One of the Best Isekai Hits in Recent Memory Proves It Gets the Genre Like No Other with Relatable Plot Point

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Shangri-La Frontier

Warning: Spoilers Ahead for Shangri-La Frontier Season 2, Episode #3!

Shangri-La Frontier exudes joy in the roleplaying game genre for anime fans, with its protagonist, Rakuro "Sunraku" Hizutome, showing appreciation for the eponymous game's standout status in the medium in this Crunchyroll isekai-lite. The series shows a vast MMO world for Sunraku to explore at his leisure, unfettered by any progress locks that'd otherwise prevent him from exploring difficult regions and harvesting loot. But even in Shangri-La Frontier, Sunraku encounters a particular, bitter nemesis whom he has cursed. In contrast, the cruel reality of the random number generator, or RNG, curses him back, driving key moments down to luck.

The RNG is a recurring topic in Shangri-La Frontier as it's a gaming staple known for enhancing replay value and spicing up loot systems in RPGs. The RNG is known for infuriating Pokemon players and Fire Emblem fans when they miss a crucial attack or get hit with an astronomically unlikely critical hit. Still, SLF is a "god game" and is held up to rise above such expectations. Sunraku's many brushes with the RNG are played to laughs and knowing nods from RPG-playing viewers of Shangri-La Frontier as the anime continues into its second season.

RNG Is a Recurring and Relatable Nemesis for Shangri-La Frontier's Sunraku

A Classic RPG Love-Hate Relationship

Shangri-La Frontier occasionally brings up the topic of RNG regarding random loot drops. It is initially seen as a possible barrier to progress to a side dungeon in season 2, episode #2. However, with Oikatzo's skill check, Sunraku, Pencilgon, and his animal sidekicks get through to the valuable treasures within the Divinity-era workshop behind the door. Were it not for this, they'd likely have had to farm a key card as a random loot drop off the robotic sentry enemy they defeated just before this point, sending Sunraku to the brink of a seething fit in Shangri-La Frontier.

This moment reminds Sunraku of more egregious instances of lazy RNG usage in the trash games he used to play before Shangri-La Frontier, such as the fictional All-Heart Chronicle. Sunraku recalls the frustration and wasted weeks of his life trying to abide by the RNG to get the antidote necessary to cure the female lead's illness, effectively blocking the story's progress. RNG woes are a familiar struggle and are not exaggerated in the case of Shangri-La Frontier's series, with real-life cases like 30XX padding out its playing time as a rogue-lite, forcing players to rely on RNG to complete the story entirely.

This is not an isolated example in SLF, with Sunraku echoing many players' sentiments about the mechanic and its fickle potential in gaming. After all, Genshin Impact is usually seen as the ultimate gacha game in the present, with players at the absolute mercy of its RNG to randomly get a chance at their desired character or weapon, with the very mention of "Wolf's Gravestone" being a triggering phrase for some. But as Sunraku reminds the viewers in Shangri-La Frontier, the game earns its god-tier status for avoiding abusing this mechanic.

Shangri-La Frontier Knows When Not to Use Random Encounters When It Matters Most

Avoiding the Pitfalls of Lesser Games

Shangri-La Frontier RNG Sunraku's fight with Lycagon

In Shangri-La Frontier season 2, episode #3, Sunraku meets with Psyger-100 and Professor to discuss Lycagon. He quickly realizes that the unique monster is not likely a random encounter. As Sunraku notes his brush with the beast and her mannerisms, he quickly realizes that SLF wouldn't deploy such tricks, as it'd block the world story progression behind Lycagon being spawned on the whims of chance. It reinforces his opinion of Shangri-La Frontier while recontextualizing the Lycagon moment to add depth and intrigue.

Rakuro Hizutome talking about trash games in Shangri-La Frontier episode 1

Hit Isekai Second Season Explores a Possibly Depressing Truth About Its Protagonist

Shangri-La Frontier is a delightful anime featuring a carefree protagonist, yet its isekai presentation hides problems such as social isolation.

Shangri-La Frontier's story also doubles down on this stance by noting that the game's monsters don't seem to randomly spawn in any area, effectively leaving RNG out of the equation except for loot drops. Sunraku mentions this, particularly concerning the amount of detail in the game's world, and that such a game design flaw would go against the standard he continues to see set by it. Thus, the viewers can imagine the rich and idealized craftsmanship going into creating a good RPG, or at least that envisioned by Shangri-La Frontier's author, Katarina.

Lycagon is one of the Seven Colossi, serving as unique monsters in Shangri-La Frontier , with their defeat linked to advancing the game's world story. Other known Colossi include:

Ctarnidd of the Abyss
Siegwurm the Sky Ruler
Orchestra the Doom Echo
Wethermon the Tombguard (Defeated by Sunraku in season 1)

Soon, the question about how to defeat Lycagon comes in analyzing her behavior and abilities in Shangri-La Frontier, as Psyger-100's guild wishes to slay the unique monster and advance the world story further. With Wethermon already defeated in Shangri-La Frontier season 1, this would be a welcome development and a highly anticipated battle for SLF fans wishing to see another brilliant clash with the best the game offers. But this isn't to say that the series doesn't know how to handle RNG sparingly, and in fact, creates a truly breathtaking and humbling moment for Sunraku.

Shangri-La Frontier Still Reminds Fans That Good RNG Luck Is Still the Best Feeling

When the Pity Maxes Out

In Shangri-La Frontier season 1, episode #24, Sunraku discovers the Crystal Nest Cliff reminiscent of many action-RPG titles' crystal-themed environments, with Crystal Scorpions exceeding level 100 and choice mineral loot to be found. While Sunraku is drastically under-leveled to fight them and farm their materials, he discovers an exploit driving the Crystal Scorpions to clash with each other as he retreats to the Inventoria, similarly to baiting Halberd Golems to hit each other in Elden Ring. The result is an enormous haul of scorpion loot without having to land a single blow, with Sunraku taking it one step further.

Sunraku astutely notices the Crystal Scorpion loot so far has been missing their stingers, identifying those as the rare loot drops common in many similar RPGs, and that he'd have to strike at their tail with hopes of getting this specific item. However, once he breaks one loose, it flies away from him with no hope of him recovering it, helpless instead against the countless vengeful pincers ready to kill him as he respawns once more before Emul. He sees this as the RNG working against his favor, with his luck paying out at the worst possible moment in Shangri-La Frontier.

Humbled yet happy to learn what he did, Sunraku is reminded of the highs of when the RNG pays out big time, calling it "what being a gamer is all about" during this memorable solo outing in Shangri-La Frontier. It's a relatable feeling, as even though Sunraku didn't get to harvest the stinger, he developed an even greater respect for the game, that is, until his emotions get the better of him. Sunraku concludes this moment by cursing out the RNG goddess. RNG is a cruel mistress, even if she is spasmodically generous in Shangri-La Frontier.

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

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