The Behind-the-Scenes of Development: Ep.2 Universe & Story revealed by Netmarble continues from the previous episode, Ep.1 Character.

For users who might have missed the last episode, we've inserted the link to the column below. 
Be sure to watch Ep.1 first!

[Ep. 1 Character]

Kim Jaehyun, <Solo Leveling:ARISE> System Planning Team Lead

In the Behind-the-Scenes of Ep.2, ‘Kim Jaehyun’, <Solo Leveling:ARISE> System Planning Team Lead, talked about the Universe & Story.

Ep 2. Solo Leveling Universe & Story

He mentioned that his team put in a lot of effort to maintain the game's unique originality while creating fun exclusive to gaming.

Story

The story part was explained to be divided into two main parts:

The story from the original work, which we’ve carefully recreated,

and the game-exclusive stories that can only be found in ‘Solo Leveling:ARISE’.

When implementing the story sections derived from the novel and webtoon, we structured chapters to align with the format of a game, enhancing player immersion.

While we actively utilized the actual panels from the webtoon, we also added newly created cinematic cutscenes and used different visual styles for important scenes.

Thus, players who are familiar with the original work can still enjoy a fresh and enriched experience.

Furthermore, we aimed to incentivize players to delve into the backstories of the game's supporting characters.

For instance, exploring the narrative behind the heroine Cha Hae-In's awakening as a hunter.

We are working under the supervision of ‘Chugong’, the webtoon’s original writer. We’ve created new stories for ‘Solo Leveling:ARISE’ based on the universe of the original work.

When turning a story into a game, captivating cutscenes are a crucial design element.

‘Solo Leveling:ARISE’ crafted more than 80 webtoon and cinematic cutscenes to vividly depict some of the most memorable moments from the original work

We worked hard to create realistic cinematic cutscenes while maintaining the style of the original webtoon’s artwork.

And we used sections from the webtoon when working on the storyboard.

There were many stages in the production process including the layout, animation, post-production work, such as effects and lighting, and implementing the foley and sound.

And lastly, we tried to enhance player immersion by fully voicing all of the cutscenes.

<Solo Leveling:ARISE> Animation Lead, ‘Lee Zoolki’, said:
“Personally, it’s difficult to choose just one favorite, but there’s a scene where ‘Sung Jinwoo’ extracts ‘Igris’ as a shadow. I thought the style of the original work translated well to 3D, so everyone who worked on it was satisfied.”

Sung Jinwoo extracts Igris as a shadow

The most challenging part about turning an original IP into a game was developing and filling in the details that weren’t depicted in the original work.

In addition to the ‘Cartenon Temple’ briefly introduced in episode one, we crafted our interpretations of several locations from the original work, including the ‘Penalty Zone’, the ‘Red Gate’, city streets outside a ‘Dungeon Break’, the ‘Instance Dungeon’, the ‘Job Change Dungeon’, and the ‘Demon’s Castle’. 

Our goal is to ensure that players could truly immerse themselves in the universe of Solo Leveling.

Hunters Association Headquarters

In addition to the aforementioned locations, we added locations that only briefly appeared in the original work, such as the ‘Hunters Association Headquarters’, and meticulously crafted them into detailed environments within the game.

The ‘Hunters Association Headquarters’ is a hub for various game systems, and since it’s the place the players will use the most, they implemented these game systems in a way that meshes with the lore of the world.

For example, the players implemented recruiting hunters to their strike squad to clear dungeons and managing hunters as systems of the ‘Hunters Association’, and allow the players to meet various hunters within the space, as they might if those hunters were passing through.

Universe of ARISE

In ‘Solo Leveling:ARISE’, characters from the original work will appear as well as original characters from the game.

Emma Laurent

For example, ‘Emma Laurent’, one of the original characters, is an A-Rank hunter from the ‘Justitia Guild’ in France.

‘Emma Laurent’ is always energetic and cheerful, and after an incident in France, she comes to Korea with ‘Alicia Blanche’, her guild master, in search of the truth.

As her story unfolds, it intertwines with the lives of more familiar characters.

This way, the original characters will fold into the universe naturally, 

and at the same time, play a role in expanding it.

New monsters unique to ‘Solo Leveling:ARISE’

There are also new monsters unique to ‘Solo Leveling:ARISE’ that are just as threatening as the monsters that appear in the original work.

Original costumes

And, we’re preparing a variety of original costumes.
In this way, while maintaining the originality of the original work, ‘Solo Leveling:ARISE’ was made to add fun unique to the game.

In addition to the original story, characters, and backgrounds, various elements await players to immerse themselves in.

Are you ready to become a player in ‘Solo Leveling:ARISE’?
▶ Play Now: https://ntiny.link/sololv