Solo Leveling is a power trip fantasy where only the MC can "grow" in a world where no one else can, which makes everything feel static. Thereโs no real challenge, no real competition, just the protagonist getting stronger while everyone else stays the same.
Itโs like saying only Kirito can level up in SAO while the rest of the players are stuck at level one. At least in SAO, other characters have their own progression, even if Kirito is overleveled.
Solo Leveling reduces the world and its setting to a backdrop for the MC's inevitable dominance. It's like a single-player RPG where everything revolves around the protagonist. The player also used cheat-codes to go on a power trip with no real stakes.
Solo Leveling has no depth, no substance and no character growth except Jin-woo, of course.