[Review] Sword Art Online

[Physcadelic]

Sword Art Online follows the adventures of Kazuto Kirigaya (known by his online handle 'Kirito') - an adolescent Japanese male who prefers to spend his time playing video games. In the future, NerveGear technology allows gamers to control their characters using nerve signals in virtual reality. While playing the long awaited virtual reality game Sword Art Online, Kirito discovers he cannot log out of the game. The creator of the game announces that no one is allowed to log out until the game is completed. Attempting to remove the NerveGear device would cause the device to kill whoever was using it. If a player dies in the game, they would be killed in real life. Watch as Kirito attempts to clear the game and earn freedom for all players.

STORY - 6.5/10

I feel bad about not giving it a higher mark because the story WAS so clever, but it was executed somewhat poorly. It kind of seems like ASCII Mediaworks tried to appeal to so many different demographics. The show has trouble mixing action and romance. Instead of making episodes with a mix it just seems like a pattern of a couple of fight episodes, a couple of love episodes. The plot itself was very well done despite a few plot holes. The main concern is the creators seemed to ignore the rules of the game in order to let the protagonist progress. It seems like they are trying to embed a "love conquers all" moral into any already convoluted story.

Despite the plotholes and cliche, the story was quite enjoyable. The romance could have been done better but the action was well written and was filled with quite a few twists. MMO/Video game fans would find the story particularly enjoyable.

CHARACTERS - 7/10

I really enjoyed the characters in the show, especially the side characters. Everyone just felt very likable. Although it was quite frustrating the side characters didn't get more airtime (it's the show which pretty much solely focuses on the male and female protagonist and gives side characters 1 episode each to deal with their feelings). I really enjoyed the personality of a lot of the characters and their voice acting was very well done. Did anyone else think Kirito looks like Saito from Zero no Tsukaima?



Just me?

ART - 8.5/10

I'm a sucker for anime set in medieval times, and that's the kind of look Sword Art goes for. The character art is quite nice, but the landscapes just make it visually stunning. Some of the scenery looks like it is straight out of a painting. The forests and towns are particularly well done. It really does make you feel like you're in an actual medieval town. Art style can be compared to Spice and Wolf.



SOUND - 10/10

Holy shit. The music/sound really redeemed this anime. I usually hate openings/endings but the first opening ("Crossing Field") was absolutely fantastic. The sound was SO well done, both during fight scenes and romantic scenes. Even the ambient music was incredible.



OVERALL - 7/10

Very enjoyable. Could have been done better but the end product was still definitely worth the watch.

[joshZ]

at first i thought SAO was great and i still do the second half was alright, what did you think? not many people liked it.

[Drakaath]

Art: 8.5/10
You mean God tier rank 1 art/10

Characters: 7/10
ばか！ばか！ばか～！
僕はアスナが大好きです～！

[Physcadelic]

at first i thought SAO was great and i still do the second half was alright, what did you think? not many people liked it.

It was a very good series, but it had the potential to be better.

[Color]

Enjoyed it.

[Tamashimasen]

*sigh* i guess ill take another look at it tomorrow no guarantee ill finish but ill watch more than the first episode at least.

[Empire]

Its......alright. Its gotta lot of side-quest and the main plot is usually rushed. Second half was ass.

[Rance-Sama]

I wanted them to finish the 100 levels and then the plot-twist.. I didn't like the second part with ALfhiem Online. Overall it was enjoyable though.

[Horror]

I love how they jumped 20 floors at a time. (in the story)

[daboi22]

personalty the hype this anime has got is very over rated, the art, animation and Yuki Kajiura is the only reason the anime got 8 in my books, its a major let down for me considering this genre of anime i love viewing the most. the shitty ass fan service and the fuckery of plot holes and time leaps just pissed me off.

it had* SOOOO much potential to be uNeeK, yet it ended up being genetic as fuck, im not trying to be a elitest or anything but... if u consider this anime to be ground breaking or really good u haven't viewed nothing anime.

if u havent seen these titles i suggest u check em out, cause they put sao down (in my opinion)

code geass, deathnote, FMA, fate/zero (just from the top of my head)


with that said we all have different opinions and i respect everyone.

for me sao was a good watch
im not saying its bad i just think its over hyped its a good gateway anime to new viewers. and i still think it has potential to redeem it self with gungale and watnot.

to sum up
the bads:
fan service
fuckery of a plot
useless as fuck chracters
stupid unnecessary time skips
lack of development with chracters


the goods
its animation top notch
its music
Yuki Kajiura
its flow within battle scenes


ok im off

[Drakaath]

if u consider this anime to be ground breaking or really good u haven't viewed nothing anime.

if u havent seen these titles i suggest u check em out, cause they put sao down (in my opinion)

code geass, deathnote, FMA, fate/zero (just from the top of my head)

>Mfw I consider this anime to be ground breaking and I have seen all of those anime you listed. I agree, they are good but ehh, no SAO.

[Genesis]

Had so much potential but they rushed the first part into like 7 episodes. They could have easily made the first season go for the full 25 episodes and they didn't, then to top it off they fucked up season 2 by filling it with incest and everything in between.

Rating: 6/10
Could have been: 9/10