Shangri-La Frontier - Episode 5

Last weekend was just the warm-up, it seems! The story didn't really kick into high gear until the second half, but the episode still scored points with some cool hints.

First Half: Sunraku's Fail

Why on earth did Sunraku think he could take on a boss in swamp mud while focusing on speed? It took him forever just to get through the stuff! And then he's surprised he's fighting with a handicap? Total facepalm moment, am I right?

Maybe it was all just to put Emul in the spotlight as an NPC and sidekick.

The combat-ending gag was still funny – whether it was planned or not. But that ultra-long monologue about fall damage physics? Dude, that was totally random! I have no idea if that was a game easter egg, but now I really wish a game like that existed.

Second Half: Plot Twist

I called it! Sunraku's got a huge target on his back now. It's super exciting how the episode shifts the mood within the game – that toxicity of the community feeding off rumors. The different player reactions really got under my skin, but were also kind of cool.

When someone checked that screenshots of others are forbidden without permission. Brilliant rule! Every VR world should adopt that. I hadn't even thought of it, but it makes sense.

Now that Sunraku's in the next town, everything's hitting him at once: everyone wants him – whether it's out of envy, greed, or the fun of the hunt. Among the hunters? The Player-Killer from the last episode, who totally overpowered him and apparently knows him from an old game. How's he going to get out of this? I have no idea, but I'm hyped!

Not a crazy episode, but enough sparks to make me look forward to the upcoming events.