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In real life, Roto, Boromid, and Ah-Dol are ordinary kids facing everyday challenges, but in the virtual realm of Lost Saga, they transform into heroes. They might even become legends—if they can stop squabbling long enough to level up. Whether it's dealing with rampaging werewolves or a stunning pair of troublesome thieves, our heroes must be prepared for anything. In Lost Saga, nothing is as it seems, and danger lurks behind every click of the mouse.
Yureka, published as iD_eNTITY by Tokyopop, had twelve volumes released in English from March 10, 2005, to August 12, 2008, before the publisher ceased operations. The series also saw 34 volumes published in French by Samji.
Greetings readers,
This is my very first review. I felt compelled to write one for "Yureka" because, surprisingly, there wasn't any yet for this outstanding game manga. Please bear in mind that English is not my native language, so kindly excuse any mistakes or flaws.
This is a spoiler-free review.
Before diving into the review, I want to highlight that many anime and manga fans are also gamers, just like me. Naturally, there have been works that incorporate the "game" genre—specifically, the MMORPG aspect.
Anime such as Sword Art Online, .hack//, and Log Horizon (and more recently, No Game No Life) have showcased the potential of combining gaming with storytelling, but they haven't fully exploited it. The issue is that the "game" element is often used merely for setting and initial appeal, losing its significance as the plot progresses.
Yureka takes a different approach and encompasses all aspects people love about online games: leveling, classes, skills, dungeons/raids, in-game events, cheaters/hackers/scripters, as well as Player vs. Environment (PvE) and Player vs. Player (PvP) combat. Wrapped around these elements is an intriguing story, truly great characters (both likable and despicable ones), and humor that can genuinely make you laugh out loud at certain points if you get invested.
The art is good and suits the manga appropriately.
I thoroughly enjoyed this manga and hope that you all give it a try. You won't regret it.
I still can't believe no one has reviewed Yureka yet; it's such an excellent manhwa. Essentially, Yureka is set in a futuristic Korea where the online game Lost Saga is the most popular MMORPG of that era. The story begins slowly but significantly improves after a few chapters.
Character
The protagonist, Jang-gun, is among the top players in Lost Saga. While he can be somewhat arrogant, his quick and strategic thinking makes him a formidable opponent. Yureka, a mysterious girl, becomes more intriguing as the narrative unfolds. The author introduces numerous characters, each playing a crucial role in the plot. This character development is one of the strongest aspects of the story. Given its MMORPG setting, each character belongs to specific classes. The author excels at pitting these characters against each other, resulting in battles that are not just about who has the strongest spells or items but also about their unique fighting styles clashing. These battles are thrilling, though 60% to 70% of the manhwa consists of such confrontations. Be prepared for this, but know that the battles are exciting, and the characters' beliefs and egos add depth to the story.
Art
I'm no art critic, but I find the artwork to be quite good, even if it isn't extraordinary.
Plot
As mentioned earlier, there are many player-versus-player battles, but each one contributes to character development, enhancing the plot. The main storyline revolves around the enigmatic character Yureka and significant changes happening within Lost Saga. As you progress through the story, it becomes increasingly complex, introducing darker elements that add overall depth.
In conclusion, I believe Yureka is an enjoyable MMORPG-themed manhwa with many interesting facets. Unlike some other stories (like SAO), the characters here have genuine emotions and societal impacts, making it a more serious and realistic take on the genre.