‘Solo Leveling’ review: The rules are set in “It’s Like a Game”

Despite another intense episode, Solo Leveling Episode 3, “It’s Like A Game,” proves it would’ve benefited from an elongated premiere. In the style of Oshi no Ko or Frieren: Beyond Journey’s End, a 90-minute premiere or multi-episode drop would have helped the series define its tone and rules of the world with greater synergy. Now that the official parameters of Jinwoo’s new life are clear, less fodder will get in the way of the main narrative. It just would have been a cleaner introduction with fewer breaks that stalled the story’s trajectory and sense of urgency.

Still, “It’s Like a Game” is largely another strong installment. Jinwoo has survived, though he and the Hunter Association Surveillance team members have no idea how. His arm and legs, both lost in the fight in the dungeon, are restored. He’s alive, unscathed, with little remnants of the dungeon left in the wake. The first assumption is that he’s had his “second awakening.” This is a rare, level-up style component to being a hunter. While the first awakening introduces their power levels, the second is rare. However, a quick check shows that his power is still hilariously low.

The real new attribute that catches Jinwoo off guard is the appearance of a large touch screen(s) in front of him that no one else can see. They’re the screens that appeared before him right before dying in the dungeon, offering him to become a player. Having agreed, they now appear constantly, and he’s given the option of daily quests — something as simple as strength training with a set number of squats and pushups to do a day.

Not taking it seriously, he skips the daily quest and finds himself thrown into a penalty quest. This time, it’s running in a desert for four hours while being chased by monsters. He barely survives and commits himself going forward to the new and strange rules that define his life. He completes a quest and receives three rewards. Recovery heals his fatigue, he’s given points to add to different attributes such as strength or dexterity, and he gets a loot box. It’s all standard video game structure, though he doesn’t even know how to check his inbox, relying on his younger sister Jinah’s know-how.

At first, it seems like Jinwoo is adapting to his new life shockingly well, happy to see the screens and not question them. However, then we’re shown a flash of a new gate opening on a highway, as commuters grow agitated while officials put cones up to divert traffic. Jinwoo already exists in an extraordinary world where the nonsensical has an updated rule book to live by. Add to that his determination to help heal his sick mother and provide for his sister, and it makes sense that he’d roll with the literal and proverbial punches of this world.

It makes him an engaging protagonist, if a bit dull so far. His most interesting moment is still the end of Episode 2, where he realizes the selfishness of his team members. We get a hint of this in Episode 3, when he looks at Jinah fondly, and wonders why he was so ready to give this life up for the sake of others. Seeing how that realization plays in later battles when he isn’t alone will be interesting. It helps add a spark to the character who, thus far, is agreeable to a fault.

A-1 Pictures and its team of animators continue their exemplary work in action as Jinwoo sets off on an instance dungeon quest. Facing off against the goblins allows for a nimble fighting style as Jinwoo acclimates to his new strength while still finding his own fighting style. But the appearance of the red wolf with its steel jaw ups the threat. Jinwoo is stunned by fear, his trauma from the last dungeon still hunting him, and this is a strong character touch. It’s when the wolf stalks him, though, that demonstrates some of the best flow of movement yet. The threat is imminent and visceral, even though the Jinwoo fighting here is much more capable than the one who has already cheated death.

Solo Leveling Episode 3, “It’s Like a Game,” feels like the final piece of the introductory puzzle. We know our protagonist and what drives him, and the significant twists and rules of the world are defined. Now we just wait and see how much more this world can open up as new threats appear and the governing party of hunters becomes a more prominent presence. Despite some minor hang-ups, there’s no denying that the series is an engaging and often exciting viewing experience. It needed to streamline the setup better to maintain excitement and pacing.

Solo Leveling is available now on Crunchyroll.

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Featured images: © Solo Leveling Animation Partners