Official Review
It's a fresh coat of paint on an old anime standby: The training arc. Once the most hapless and unskilled member of the dungeon-trolling masses Solo Leveling refers to as "hunters," Jinwoo finds himself the only one of these magically equipped adventurers capable of growing in strength, "leveling up" as if his life were a game. This is what makes or breaks Solo Leveling, and it's the best part of the anime. The fights in Season 1 reflect this, feeling very much like the power progression in a Soulslike. When an enemy is too strong, Jinwoo simply leaves to farm experience with lower-level monsters, then he returns and the fight is manageable. It's silly, clever, and thrilling.
The first episode of Solo Leveling was an effective introduction to its world, which the rest of the season expands in interesting ways. The ramifications of an economy driven by monsters, raids, and mana crystals are explored in subplots about rival guilds fight over the rights to raid portals, where they can not only mine crystals (which results in profits) but also to train new hunters. Yet despite all this, Season 1 is smart enough to remind us time and again that what's become big business to some is the prevention of armageddon to others.
We meet a wide range of hunters, too, including a Suicide Squad-like team sprung from prison to assist Jinwoo in a raid and toxic turncoats who take advantage of the lack of supervision or consequences in dungeons to kill their teammates at will. This fleshes out the world of Solo Leveling and adds to the impact of Jinwoo's increasing abilities: Other characters' reactions demonstrate the improbability of his growing strength, and the story gradually reveals that the monsters are evolving, becoming a greater threat to the average hunter. Jinwoo has changed the game, but the game changes right back.
It all builds to a much-anticipated moment from the manwha – the namesake for both the Season 1 finale and Solo Leveling's newly announced upcoming second season. It's a fantastic adaptation of the scene, with fluid and detailed 2D animation, particularly in the design of the shadows. No more prologue: The latest and greatest of Jinwoo's miraculous acts signals Solo Leveling's transition into its main story – and shows the anime living up to its hype. The original webtoon served as an introduction to the format for many people, with a simple story whose mass appeal, cool art, and exciting fight scenes opened the door to a plethora of similar gaming-inspired power-fantasies Season 1 of Solo Leveling shows why this story captivated audiences, with every episode boasting at least a few moments where you can't take your eyes off the screen.
Verdict
The first season of Solo Leveling brings gaming mechanics to animation, with a thrilling power fantasy that understands the tediousness of experience farming, the fun of gaining a new level and skill points, and the thrills of facing down a boss. Thanks to dazzling visuals, a killer soundtrack, and interesting world-building that explores how the emergence of magic and monsters would reshape our modern world, this is the start of a great anime.