Gaming and esports are bigger than ever, which is why Viz’s release of Status Royale Volume 1 is so exciting. While video games are nothing new for the world of manga, few series about playing video games are quite as compelling as Status Royale. Between Viz’s new subscription service and original series like Status Royale, the publishing giant is certainly making waves in the world of manga.
Written and illustrated by Ru Xu, Status Royale follows a young woman named Vell who enjoys playing the titular competitive game with her friend Jun. Unbeknownst to Vell though, Jun is actually a major celebrity in the world of competitive Status Royale.
When Jun loses his temper and lashes out at her during a match, Vell decides to take her hobby more seriously in order to get at Jun’s level. Alongside her new friends Henry and Pepper, Vell makes an honest go at the competitive world of Status Royale.
Status Royale Feels Like an Authentic Portrayal of Gaming
Status Royale Volume #1 is Available Now From Viz Media
One thing that Status Royale nails even in its opening chapters is its understanding of competitive gaming. The titular game, possibly taking inspiration from team-based games like League of Legends and Overwatch, feels like an real video game that could exist. While many gaming manga will also have an understanding of things like team composition, Status Royale captures the little nuances that make its central game feel more authentic. The in-game characters in particular deserve a shout-out for appearing far more like plausible game characters as opposed to 1–1 representations of their player.
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Tying all of these small details together is Xu’s expressive artwork. Xu clearly has an eye for character design and expression. Looking at each character and how they dress themselves is almost always enough to get a good sense for their personality and even their relationship to other characters. Additionally, the characters all stand out, with no generic designs in the bunch. This leads to a cast of visually unique characters that are fun to read.
Status Royale is a Loving Tribute to Gaming Manga
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Xu states in her author bio at the back of the first volume that Status Royale is partially inspired by Yu-Gi-Oh! and sports manga in general. That inspiration is more than clear from a writing perspective, as the series hits on many familiar tropes. Despite this, nothing in the first volume comes across as overly cliched or too familiar. Of course, it remains to be seen where and how the story will develop in future volumes, but volume 1 shows significant promise and a great understanding of what makes the genre of gaming/sports manga work.
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Esports is a fascinating world, but there are relatively few manga that show the same appreciation for and understanding of gaming like Status Royale does. The series is Viz’s first manga from an American creator, and from the first volume, it’s already one of the best manga to read on Viz. From small details of world-building to good art and character designs, Viz’s Status Royale is an exciting new series that deserves to be massive.
Status Royale Volume #1 is available now from Viz Media!
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