Sword Art Online the Review ~ Stone Ramen

I guess it's that time again, and just before it appears on Toonami. (Damn, I'm late on that too?)

Sword Art Online is one of the most visually pleasing anime of recent years. High production values and a rich world full of details pulls in viewers, but this doesn't compensate for the lack of character depth and a weak second half.

A brand new virtual reality MMORPG has been released called Sword Art Online. The game is accessed through a virtual reality helmet called the NerveGear. Everything seems to be going fine until the creator of the game, Kayaba Akihiko, tells them that no one will be able to log out until they reach the 100th floor and defeat the final boss, but that's not all. If their in-game avatar dies, then that player will die in real life. Any attempt to remove the NerveGear will fry the wearers brain using the microwaves inside the helmet. Viewers follow a "beater" named Kirito who chooses the path of solitude to beat the game.

Virtual reality is nothing new to anime, and Sword Art Online does nothing new for VR. It contains elements from .hack/Sign and Megazone 23. .hack/sign covers video games and Megazone 23 covers being trapped and aware. The show borrows more from .hack/sign because the players are trapped in that game too. The blurring of lines between reality and game play raises some interesting questions. Would they try everything they can to get out, or would they just adapt to the virtual world? Both options are explored with players on the "front lines" fighting their way up to the final boss, and others deciding to live out their daily lives in the virtual world. Then there are players that are not fighting but help other players by making food, crafting weapons, making potions and casting spells. An approach like this draws parallels to real life. Those on the "front lines" keep pushing themselves towards success even if it kills them, and those who don't fight are just stagnant and don't progress at all.

One of my favorite episodes and best example of what I'm talking about is a player who goes out of her way to protect the young children who entered the game and can't progress through. She's not fighting on the front lines but she is helping out players. There were times where I almost forgot it was a virtual reality game until they brought up the game menu. SAO world is rich enough to be its own fantasy realm, with shops, and creatures. Even how the characters act in this world make it seem more than a game.

This show had high production values and it shows. The animation is exceptionally. It's crisp and smooth, even when there is a lot going on in the scene. The fight scenes in here are some of the best around, and they take no shortcuts and the style stays consistent throughout the fight. The choreographed fight sequences are done well, making some of the characters seeming to have a fighting style all their own. The art style suits the show well. Its neutral leaning towards cute. You won't see any details in the muscle like other shounen. Since most of the plot takes place in a virtual world the style fits, and it works with the animation instead of against it.

"Cool guys don't get cut by swords."

"This show sure had its characters!" "Not!" There aren't any memorable ones. No one is over exaggerated or stereotyped, which is good, but no one really sticks out except the villain of the second season. There isn't much to Kirito in the beginning, but he does have a nice character arc in the first season. He's been called a "Gary Stu.". I rather call him "Super Gamer Dude." Meaning he is always more powerful then his opponents when he needs to be and serves as a avatar for those who play video games. For example in one episode Kirito has constant health regeneration as long as his health doesn't drop below a certain point. This is never brought up again. He is a generic loner,outsider, or a geek that turns into a more sociable person later on. Asuna as an action heroine is fleshed out pretty well. She earned herself a nickname "lighting fast" and is shown to be comparable fighter. Character-wise, "meh." Her emotions show and is clearly defined by how she interacts with the other characters. Once again like the other characters she doesn't have much to stand out. It seems most of the characters here are just here to either: A) show how powerful Kirito is or B) build him up as a person.

"If you don't like it, I'll cut you up like I did the rabbit."

To say this has a harem disguised as an action show is not fair but understandable. I can see it, but if it is, it takes the "tough guy" approach to it. Viewers will wonder what these girls see in Kirito besides the fact that he is mysterious and strong in the game. There's not much else to his character. Even when he becomes more sociable, there's not much to him besides some "generic" hero traits. These are the "Gary Stu" moments of Kirito.

"It's ok he does this to all the girls."

Warning-Spoilers ahead

The first season is really good as mentioned before the details stand out to make the world stand all on its own. SAO's second season doesn't have those details present. Instead we get a run of the mill save the princess story with lower stakes,fan service and an awkward love triangle. It takes place in Alfheim Online a new virtual reality MMORPG taking place in the world of fairies. They're different races of fairies fighting to get to the top of the "World Tree," and meet with the Fairy King who will grant them a wish. There are high stakes present just not as bad as dying. Unless you consider mind control to be just as bad or worse than dying then the stakes are raised. The addition of a weird love triangle to the show seems generic but could have worked. The fact the triangle is with Kirito's cousin makes it awkward. "Why the cousin, seriously, why?"

To be fair the players in Alfheim take their game just as serious because of the war, but this comes in very little. Thanks to the flying mechanics presented in Alfheim online, there are some really cool fight scenes just like in the first season. The villain is over exaggerated, and cliched but memorable. He's the "god I can't wait until you get what's coming to ya," type of villain If you can get pass all of the plaguing problems of season two, then it can be an okay conclusion. If you can't then just stick with the ending in the first season.

Spoliers end

Sword Art Online is one of the biggest anime series we've had to date. Considering how quickly it got an airing in the U.S. there has to something really special. It could have been truly special if there were better characters, and a better second season. For what it is, its quite enjoyable. High production values make this a marvel to look at, with very nice action scenes to accompany. SAO won't "wow" you but it can grab your attention if you let it.

3 3/4 out of 5 cups of Ramen.