Solo Leveling:ARISE

Solo Leveling: ARISE
Developer	Netmarble Neo
Publisher	Netmarble
Engine	Unity
Version	1.0.11
Platform	Mobile/PC
Release date	Pre-registration: March 21st 2024
Genre	RPG

Solo Leveling:ARISE is a 2024 PC and mobile immersive action RPG game developed by Netmarble Neo and published by Netmarble Corp. It is based to the manhwa Solo Leveling. Solo Leveling Arise was released on May 8, 2024.

Gameplay

Player Combat

Sung Jin Woo engaging in combat with Igris

The game embodies the essence of the source material, immersing players in the journey of the protagonist, Sung Jin-Woo, as he evolves from an E-rank hunter into the world’s strongest hunter. Players earn experience points (XP) through quest completion, monster slaying, and event participation. Advancing in levels boosts character stats such as health, mana, attack, and defense. As characters progress, they unlock and can upgrade new skills and abilities, which are categorized into active skills (used in combat) and passive skills (providing ongoing benefits). Combat System. The game is not an open-world game. Instead, it features detailed combat arenas and hub worlds for exploration. The game's structure includes specific dungeons and areas for quests and battles, rather than a continuous open world. This design allows for a focused narrative and gameplay experience, staying true to the episodic nature of the original webtoon

Hunter Mode Combat

The Hunter Mode of Solo Leveling:ARISE featuring Cha-Hae In

Hunter Mode allows players to control different hunters other than the protagonist, Sung Jin-Woo. These hunters possess unique skills and abilities, which can be upgraded to enhance their performance. Players can utilize these hunters in various game modes, such as solo dungeons and team battles, adding a layer of strategy and diversity to the gameplay. Each hunter can assist Sung Jin-Woo by lending their skills during battles, offering a raiding group feel even when controlling a single character. The game itself not an open-world game. Instead, it features detailed combat arenas and hub worlds for exploration. The game's structure includes specific dungeons and areas for quests and battles, rather than a continuous open world. This design allows for a focused narrative and gameplay experience, staying true to the episodic nature of the original webtoon.

Draw System

Rate-Up Draw

Custom Draw

In Solo Leveling: ARISE, the draw system allows players to summon new Hunters (characters) and items:

Rate-Up Draw

• Event-Specific: This draw is tied to monthly events or new Hunter releases.
• Rate-Up: Certain SSR (Super Super Rare) Hunters have an increased chance of being drawn.
• Special Draw Tickets: This draw requires *Special Draw Tickets*, which are likely harder to obtain and may be event-specific.
• Guaranteed SR: Drawing x10 guarantees at least one SR (Super Rare) or higher, increasing the chances of getting a high-rarity Hunter.

Custom Draw

• General Pool: This draw is part of the regular, non-event pool, available for a longer period (over 100 days).
• Normal Draw Tickets: You use *Normal Draw Tickets*, which are more commonly available in the game.
• Custom Lineup: Players might have some control over the lineup of Hunters they want to draw from, allowing more targeted pulls.
• Guaranteed SR or Higher: Similar to the rate-up draw, drawing x10 guarantees at least one SR or higher, but from a broader pool.

Differences

• Tickets: The left draw requires special tickets and is tied to events, while the right draw uses normal tickets and is always available.
• Rate-Up: The left draw offers rate-ups for specific SSRs, while the right draw is more generalized.
• Event Tie-In: The left draw is likely to feature new or limited-time Hunters, making it more appealing during its availability.

This system encourages players to use the event-specific draws when they want to aim for the newest or rate-up Hunters, while the regular draw provides a more consistent way to collect characters over time.

Special Summons

Special Summons in the game

Special Summons in this game are a way for players to obtain rare and powerful items or characters that are not easily accessible through regular gameplay. These events are often time-limited and provide an opportunity for players to enhance their roster with exclusive content.

1. Hunters Association Special Summons:
   • This is a special event-based summon that is available for a limited time (3 days and 17 hours left, as shown).
   • The event allows players to summon specific SSR (Super Super Rare) characters or items.
2. Rate Info:
   • This button likely provides information about the drop rates for the items or characters available in this particular summon.
3. How to Draw:
   • The Confirm Draw feature will be disabled once the draw selection period expires. However, even if the event ends, players can still access and choose from their draws as long as there's time left in the confirmation period.
   • Once your draws are confirmed, you cannot use the Special Summons feature again until the next event.
4. Special Summons SSR Draw Support Progress (0/10):
   • This shows the player's progress toward completing 10 Special Summons draws, which might provide additional rewards or guaranteed SSR items once completed.
5. Activate Button:
   • Clicking this will initiate the summon process, using one of your available chances.
6. Use All Chances to Access:
   • Indicates that the player has 15/15 chances remaining to use in this summon event.
7. Start Special Summons:
   • This button starts the actual process of drawing the summons.

Special Summons Ticket Information

1. Special Summons Ticket:
   • This is a Legendary item.
   • The ticket is used to confirm a draw in the Special Summons event.
2. Source:
   • This button likely leads to information on how to obtain these Special Summons Tickets, possibly through events, in-game purchases, or missions.

Subscription Benefit Information

• Special Summons Draw Selected Before Purchase:
  • If you have a pending Special Summons draw before purchasing the subscription, it will be immediately granted once the subscription is purchased.
• Doubling Special Summons Chances:
  • After subscribing, your Special Summons draw chances will double from 15 to 30. This means you’ll have more opportunities to summon rare items or characters during the event.
• Subscription Benefit Chance:
  • You will receive 1 Subscription Benefit Chance when you initially purchase or renew your subscription.
  • This additional chance is only valid until the subscription's next renewal date.
• Expiration of Unused Chances:
  • It emphasizes that any unused chances will disappear if not used before the next renewal or reset date. Therefore, players should be mindful of the reset time of their subscription benefits to avoid losing these chances.

There are some others like:

• Doubling Chances: Subscribing effectively increases your chances to pull desired items, making it more likely to get valuable rewards.
• Immediate Rewards: If you have pending draws, you won’t lose them by subscribing; instead, you’ll get them right away.
• Time-Sensitive: The received subscription benefits are time-bound, so you must use them before the subscription renews, or they will be lost.

This information likely aims to encourage players to subscribe to increase their draw opportunities and ensure they maximize the potential benefits during the Special Summons event.

Development

The development team worked closely with the original author, Chu-gong, to ensure the game remained true to the source material while expanding its universe.

This collaboration helped integrate new storylines and elements that enhance the original narrative without compromising its integrity. "Solo Leveling: ARISE" incorporates key elements of the webtoon into its gameplay mechanics. Players control Sung Jinwoo, who can utilize various attributes and weapons, allowing for diverse playstyles. The game emphasizes fun and challenging combat, with features like boss battles and dungeon crawling that mirror the leveling-up experience of the protagonist.

Extensive testing in regions like Canada and Thailand provided valuable insights into balancing and refining the game for a global audience. The game's pre-registration numbers and early access performance indicated high interest and engagement from fans worldwide.

Reception

Pre-release

The pre-registration for Solo Leveling: ARISE began in late March 2024, and it quickly gained traction, with over 12 million pre-registrations recorded by mid-April. The global release date of the game was set for May 8, 2024. This period allowed fans of the original web novel and webcomic, as well as new players, to secure various in-game rewards by pre-registering.

Post-release

"Solo Leveling: ARISE" has received a mixed reception from critics and players. The game has been praised for its authentic adaptation of the original webtoon and anime, offering visually appealing cutscenes and immersive storytelling.

The combat system is described as fast, fluid, and responsive, making it enjoyable for fans of action games.

Netmarble is confident that its new game, Solo Leveling: ARISE, inspired by the globally popular web novel and webcomic "Solo Leveling," will become a major revenue source. The action role-playing game has already garnered over 12 million preregistrations, according to company executives. "The reception toward the game in Korea is enthusiastic, as it is based on Korean online content. Many gamers in Korea, Japan, the United States, France, and numerous other countries are preregistering for the game," said Moon Jun-ki, business division director at Netmarble, in an email to The Korea Times. "We're witnessing significant support from fans of 'Solo Leveling' who appreciate the growth of Sung Jin-woo — the protagonist of the game and the franchise — its immersive narrative, and the engaging combat action. Additionally, action game enthusiasts are excited about playing a stylish action game." "Solo Leveling" is a web novel first released in 2016, and its online comic adaptation has amassed over 14 billion views, becoming a global sensation. Due to its popularity, it was also adapted into an anime earlier this year.

Netmarble, a leading developer and publisher of high-quality mobile games, has announced that Solo Leveling: ARISE has surpassed 15 million downloads worldwide and has claimed the top spot on the “Top Free Games” chart on Google Play. This new mobile and PC action game has continued its impressive run by achieving top download rankings on the App Store on the first day of its global launch across 79 countries, including South Korea, Japan, Taiwan, France, and more. On its launch day, the game recorded over 5 million Daily Active Users (DAU). Additionally, Solo Leveling: ARISE is currently ranked number one on the “Top Free Games” chart in the Google Play Store in South Korea, Taiwan, and other regions.

However, there are significant criticisms as well. The game is heavily reliant on gacha mechanics, which can be frustrating for players due to low drop rates for rare characters and items. This leads to a grindy experience, especially since progressing in the main story often requires repetitive content grinding. "Solo Leveling: ARISE" successfully captures the essence of its source material and provides engaging combat, its heavy reliance on gacha elements and repetitive gameplay hinder its overall appeal.