Ore dake Level Up na Ken Season 2: Arise from the Shadow

Sung Jin-Woo, dubbed the weakest hunter of all mankind, grows stronger by the day with the supernatural powers he has gained. However, keeping his skills hidden becomes more difficult as dungeon-related incidents pile up around him.

When Jin-Woo and a few other low-ranked hunters are the only survivors of a dungeon that turns out to be a bigger challenge than initially expected, he draws attention once again, and hunter guilds take an increased interest in him. Meanwhile, a strange hunter who has been lost for ten years returns with a dire warning about an upcoming catastrophic event. As the calamity looms closer, Jin-Woo must continue leveling up to make sure nothing stops him from reaching his ultimate goal—saving the life of his mother.

[Written by MAL Rewrite]

Sung, Jin-Woo Main

Ban, Taito Japanese

Cha, Hae-In Supporting

Ueda, Reina Japanese

Igris Supporting

Radir, Esil Supporting

Sugiyama, Riho Japanese

Beru Supporting

Ishida, Akira Japanese

Sung, Jin-Ah Supporting

Mikawa, Haruna Japanese

Go, Gun-Hee Supporting

Ginga, Banjou Japanese

Lee, Joo-Hee Supporting

Honizumi, Rina Japanese

Sung, Il-Hwan Supporting

Koyama, Rikiya Japanese

Yoo, Jin-Ho Supporting

Nakamura, Genta Japanese

Takahashi, Kanako Producer

Kaneko, Atsushi Producer

Choi, Jinkeun Producer

Furuhashi, Souta Producer

Reviews

Aug 2, 2025

BreadLust

Recommended

Funny

I didn't love the first season, and nearly skipped this season as a result.

That would have been a mistake.

This season follows the MC as a newly awakened Lich King, choppin it up with his ever-expanding zombie murderharem. I had no idea the show was gonna swerve in this direction, but I couldn't be happier with the result.

I expect this season will be divisive- people will either love it or condemn it on the same grounds. The first season had character development, social commentary, and a lot of plotting that are absent in this season. Some will lament their absence, but I won't be among them, ... because here's the thing: none of those elements worked particularly well. Is this season a shallower work? Undoubtedly. But when the first season tried for depth, it came back with tedious growly monologues from the MC, amounting to the following:

"The world has always done me dirty, but I'm gonna push through with my Hardcore Gigachad Sigma Grindset and come out on top. Don't like it? I missed the part where that's my problem!"

In the second season, these monologues are mercifully absent, thank god. Overall it's a streamlined experience, focusing on the show's strengths, like the fantastic art and fight choreography.

I will concede one point to the critics. The most exciting scenes of the first season are those in which the MC is in real danger. Those tense, high-stakes encounters are unfortunately gone. The MC is basically unstoppable at this point and I don't know if that will change in future seasons. What we get instead is an enormous box of toys to have fun with, and huge set pieces in which the MC can rip and tear to his heart's delight.

Expect thoroughly enjoyable action trash. If you muddled through the first season, then reward yourself with a steaming helping of S2- you've earned it.

Reviewer’s Rating: 8

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Aug 14, 2025

Eleiyas

Mixed Feelings

Now, I will first and foremost admit that I enjoy my fantasy and isekai slop, probably too much. In fact, I could potentially be called a connoisseur of slop at this point.
To that end, I gave Season 1 of Solo Leveling a 6/10, noting how its premise and overall plot-threads were incredibly similar to the much-panned and mocked "I got a cheat skill and became unrivalled in the real-world too".

However, Solo Leveling Season 2 scratched that "slop" itch for me, it really did. Not sure if this would be considered a "hot take" at this point, but this season is absolutely peak "enjoyable slop".

Now, ... some might get uppity about me saying that, or be confused, but from a critical viewpoint, Solo Leveling, especially S2, does not do anything different in regards to the plot or story, that 90% of other slop fantasy or isekai don't also already do: The MC is OP, there are no stakes, there are hints at a harem every other episode - you get the idea.

If anything, it could be argued that I was too harsh on Season 1, because it did actually have some level of plot and character development (although lacked in world-building for me), whereas S2 is mostly Jinwoo aura farming (and some actual world-building finally).

However, the thing with Solo Leveling S2, especially compared to those other 90% of slop shows, is that it has actual production quality to it. It's not a 5FPS slide-show, with cuts and black-screens, or the fights happening off-screen to save on budget; It has actual animated fights, and beautiful ones at that.
We knew from the start that these fights would obviously end in Jinwoo's victory, but man, they were a spectacle to behold.

I briefly touched on it already, but I'm also glad that S2 included some much-needed world-building, which was sorely missing from S1. We now kind of understand the inter-guild conflicts, how countries operate, and what the gates are (kind of).

I'll keep this review brief and say that I very much enjoyed S2 of Solo Leveling, and have even already re-watched it.

I'll give it an 8/10, however I am going to put "Mixed Feelings", because it is not much more than the visual spectacle it presents. It's one of those extremely "guilty pleasure" power-fantasy shows. If the majority of the fantasy and isekai slop shows had the production quality of Solo Leveling S2, it really would not be anything special at all, but they don't, so it kind of is.

Reviewer’s Rating: 8

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Aug 6, 2025

najueon

Not Recommended

Well-written

*May contain very slight spoilers. Even though there is not much story, so dont mind.*

This was literally worst anime I have watched. First of all characters are really superficial and empty, especially Sung jin-woo. He have no emotions no human feelings no any human functions. He only gets stronger and stronger doesnt even struggle beating every enemies and after beating an enemy he makes them his soldier and keep getting stronger exponentially. Really the most stupid and ridiculous power system ever.

There is not even much story to watch. At first season there was at least a little bit of story with a goal, difficulties, and ... not that absurd power system. But at this season its compeletly out of hand, main character with all nonchalant, reckless, god-like strong and mocking every enemy and human around him.

I dont even know how writer thought that. He surely went through a lot of bullyment when he was a kid and imagined someone like jin-woo that humiliates every living creature around him listlessly. Whats next he gonna beat the every living and not living thing and make them his soldier and gonna recreate the universe the way he wants?

That was so so boring I put it on 3x to finish it but even that was so boring. Those who glazing the animations needs to know that animation is under average for 2025.Its not even that hard, any new gen anime has this quality already why u mentioning it like its a factor anymore. Fate has better animations and graphics even a decade before. If I would watch it at age of 5 I would think omg look he beats everyone!! But thats all. That rating is really sad too, what people watching so bad that makes you think that show is good.

You can only like that if you are a little kid or you love the animes with the main characters that thinks they are god, and crushes the little creatures around them( if you love ego masturbation without any other themes in short).

Reviewer’s Rating: 1

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