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Rylingo
02-17-2013, 06:31 PM
Sword Art Online

Type: Anime - 25 episodes.

Genre: Action, Romance, Fantasy.

Plot Synopsis: In the near future virtual reality video games are a possibility. Our hero Kirito enters the new big hate VRMMORPG to battle his way through the games beautiful world. Soon after logging on players begin to realise that logging off is impossible. The games creator, Kayaba Akihiko, tells the players that death in the game results in death in reality. The only way out is to win the game.


Video Review:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ylG7TPuVSsE


Story: 6/10
Sword Art Online has a decent story. Nothing we haven't seen before but it's a fun premise. The first few episodes of SAO have a blistering pace. I loved the first three episodes. They me hungering for more. SAO settles after this however. Filler episodes combined with a forced romance damage the story. With the second arc the storyline is further damaged.

Characters: 5/10
Patchy. Whilst Kirito is actually fairly likeable, the shows insistence that he become male wish fulfilment is an irritant. Asuna starts off as a really interesting female secondary but the romantic subplot is really bad and it robs her of all that made her interesting to begin with. Laefa is annoying. The rest of the cast (minus the harem characters) seem mildly interesting but get very little screentime. The villains are very disappointing.

Art/animation: 9/10
The animation is very good. Really quite nice. The character designs are pleasant to look at and easy to tell apart. The battles are a feast for the eyes. If we had more battles this could have pushed for a 10.

Voice acting, music rating: 8/10
The soundtrack is really good. It takes awhile for you to start enjoying the tracks but soon you will find yourself absent mindedly humming the themes. The voice acting is solid.

Overall: 7/10

Kāito
02-21-2013, 09:59 AM
Well i don't agree only about story rating of yours.The plot have many good points,comparing to other crappy anime i've seen recently it deserves more than 6/10 ... personally i would rate it like 8/10 .Wanted to give more but.... not now,my final rate will be when 3 arc will be released (hope so)
As for the characters i'd would give 7.5 (of course mostly for Kirito and Asuna),personally i don't find Laefa annoying... her appearance makes SAO more dramatic and gives more ways to develop the story.I agree about villains here` second season "boss" just pisses me off :/
Graphics: 10/10 Imo... even without more epic battles anime deserves exactly this rate as i wrote
Music/Voice acting: i can say nothing about voice acting (honnestly dunno what and how to rate it) but soundtracks just fine for me i'll give 8/10

Overall: 8.5/10

Rylingo
02-26-2013, 12:41 PM
Everyone is going to have different opinions on shows. On reddit I was criticised for not being harsh enough, would you believe. At the end of the day, my reviews are based off my subjective opinion. I do not pretend and will never pretend what I say is fact.

As long as you enjoyed the show, Kaito, that's what matters. You enjoyed it and you didn't feel like it wasted your time which is good.

TheDeathGod
03-07-2013, 07:10 PM
SAO was a great show and Im sad that it stopped.

Sting
03-08-2013, 03:30 AM
I liked it very much :D specially the fiht scenes and that he sacrificed himself with asuna to free everyone of the game :D

fnaticnoob
03-24-2013, 12:02 AM
i think this is one of the better anime releases of last year.
i would give it at least a 8.5

:awe::awe::awe:

TadashiED
03-24-2013, 12:45 AM
IMO, first arc was good, then the second arc shit the bed. I honestly believe it gets more praise than it deserves. There are even people dubbing this as "best anime in recent years" and such lol.

KazuYuki
03-26-2013, 09:38 PM
lol loved the video review and you are absoutely right the second season killed it for me :/ wasn't epic like the first season. the part about it having a romance just as bad as twilight made me laugh xD i was never one of those Kirito x asuna fans at all i somehow didn't like her all that much.. :x

zilverkakashi
04-15-2013, 11:06 AM
lemme try and watch this...

duckz
04-16-2013, 12:02 PM
Sword art online is good until halfway of the series, its cool to imagine a mmorpg that can actually kill you in real life when you died, afterwards, plot weaken and imo just become another save the princess plot anime.

Aoi Ragnarok
06-07-2013, 06:47 AM
I'm in a weird phase where anime doesn't do much for me but I loved this show and watched it as it came out on Crunchyroll religiously. And I disagree about Kirito and Asuna's love. To me, it was the most pure and beautiful thing I've ever had the experience of watching. As for Yui, she's adorable and don't anyone say otherwise.

On another note, I didn't care all that much for the second arc. I only liked that we got to see Kirito and Asuna together finally in the real world.

Stockgenius
06-08-2013, 02:13 PM
This show is pure awesomeness! Maybe you might not like it as much, but I give this 9/10 rating!

iAnime
06-09-2013, 09:45 PM
lol ya I agree that the first part was good. I like the idea behind this anime because people who play mmo's like myself can relate ( ´∀`)!

_Ai_
06-10-2013, 03:20 AM
I liked this anime quite a bit. After it stopped at episode 14 (for awhile), I started reading the novels. Deary me I fall in love with this. Cant wait until the 3rd season to get out, so that I can see Sinon.

Kisarose
06-10-2013, 02:35 PM
lol ya I agree that the first part was good. I like the idea behind this anime because people who play mmo's like myself can relate ( ´∀`)!
Haha same here! I loved how they intertwined just about every concept of a basic traditional mmo with beautiful animation. ^^

TRACEUR237
06-11-2013, 11:49 AM
agreed that the second boss pissed the hell outta me. but it was a good show. i would give it a 8/10 because kirito was having a little too much fun than saving asuna later on.

Inactive_Account
06-12-2013, 06:22 AM
Tons of plot-holes and constantly contradicting itself, throws away lots of potential game/plot mechanics, and terrible abhorrent pacing that forces lots of off-screen happenings that make the entire series superficial. It's horrendously written.

Your overview of the characters belies your score, sounds like 5 is too high for it and I think it is as well. Kirito is a generic Gary Stu solely for the sake of self-insertion as you said, him and all of the other characters lack development and they even bring in characters just to make Kirito look awesome and then throw them away (basically just harem members as you said). Kayaba's motivation was completely ignored and him and Sugou weren't fleshed out at all. The characters can hardly even be called characters.

Character designs were cool in the first part but terrible in the second. Trying to make a butterfly man intimidating, seriously?

Music was decent but lackluster for Yuki Kajiura, it all sounds like lower quality re-hashes of her old work. This is by far her worst score for an anime.

2/10 at the most for the me and it would be 1/10 if it weren't for the music and animation. This is one of the most terribly written stories and some of the worst characters i've seen, it does very very little right.

Stockgenius
06-19-2013, 10:21 PM
It wasn't as bad as what people thought it would be.

I give this anime a 7/10.

The main character is badass in terms of fighting skills but have 0 IQ in romance though. I mean come one, he got to choose women to his like of various breast sizes and still cannot romance them if his life depended on it.

I just wished the girls in the show had more skills. Unfortunately, they are just there for fan service.

Anyways, I would recommend Btooom! and Accel World if you like Sword Art Online.

Anime Like Sword Art Online (http://www.animelike.org/anime-like-sword-art-online-sao)

Sgt.Korye
06-20-2013, 08:29 PM
I believe the reason the writers made Kirito join a guild was to show his feelings towards reaching the end of the SAO MMORPG. It was meant to be shown as realistic in the video game world. Although he is a "beater" and is far superior to the rest of the players but Kirito knows the truth behind succeeding in the VRMMORPG and that is to use the teamwork aspect of combat to defeat the level 75(if i remember correctly) boss. He could have never done that solo nor just in a party. He also would have never battled Kayaba Akihiko and made the plot advance.

I would have given the series a 8/10 due to the fact that the Fairy world seemed a little too lame. Sure Fairies might be quite alright but it doesn't compare to the depth of the SAO swordplay. I am sad that the show did stop.

qjackson
07-02-2013, 10:29 AM
I liked the show, there are problems with the show especially that second arc. The only cool thing about that second arc was the flying fight scenes. I can see the Gary Stu in Kirito's character but I he does grow a bit. He mostly just a loner nerd/geek type IMO.

luffy_natsu97
07-21-2013, 03:57 PM
I enjoyed SOA, and I would definaltey recommened it to anybody ( don't be scaried by the fan boys )

Mesut
07-27-2013, 03:19 AM
I have yet to see this show but I will tonight on Toonami. I could just watch it online but it's not the same you feel me? I hope it's a good anime like .Hack series!

Ceris
07-27-2013, 03:58 AM
Am I the only one who liked the second arc just as much as the first? :( I've read the light novels and really hope the third arc gets an anime adaption since it was my favorite.

zxccxxc
07-27-2013, 11:58 AM
Tons of plot-holes and constantly contradicting itself, throws away lots of potential game/plot mechanics, and terrible abhorrent pacing that forces lots of off-screen happenings that make the entire series superficial. It's horrendously written.

Your overview of the characters belies your score, sounds like 5 is too high for it and I think it is as well. Kirito is a generic Gary Stu solely for the sake of self-insertion as you said, him and all of the other characters lack development and they even bring in characters just to make Kirito look awesome and then throw them away (basically just harem members as you said). Kayaba's motivation was completely ignored and him and Sugou weren't fleshed out at all. The characters can hardly even be called characters.

Character designs were cool in the first part but terrible in the second. Trying to make a butterfly man intimidating, seriously?

Music was decent but lackluster for Yuki Kajiura, it all sounds like lower quality re-hashes of her old work. This is by far her worst score for an anime.

2/10 at the most for the me and it would be 1/10 if it weren't for the music and animation. This is one of the most terribly written stories and some of the worst characters i've seen, it does very very little right.

just get lost already.

Inactive_Account
07-27-2013, 12:22 PM
just get lost already.
Well excuse me for expressing an opposing opinion and actually explaining myself. >___>

Mesut
07-28-2013, 01:29 AM
So I just saw the first episode and I'm gonna give it a 9/10 so far. I liked the first episodes plot so far and the art is just amazing! I have to give it a 10/10. The characters so far are cool, I laughed my ass off when they put them in their real bodies and the "couple" were both guys! xD It'd be cool to have a virtual reality game like that!

zxccxxc
08-08-2013, 12:41 PM
Well excuse me for expressing an opposing opinion and actually explaining myself. >___>

It's fine if you post some opposing opinion, but isn't it better if you showed a little respect to everyone who made the anime, and the fans ?
Can you use a bit more "friendly" words ?
I know you are being honest, but my apologize, it's a bit painful to see this post of yours.
Hating/Dislike is fine. but don't go far smashing other taste.

Inactive_Account
08-08-2013, 01:34 PM
It's fine if you post some opposing opinion, but isn't it better if you showed a little respect to everyone who made the anime, and the fans ?
Can you use a bit more "friendly" words ?
I know you are being honest, but my apologize, it's a bit painful to see this post of yours.
Hating/Dislike is fine. but don't go far smashing other taste.
No, im not going to respect those who made it. The writing in it is bad enough that it seems like they're treating the viewers like idiots.

I was stating my reasoning for thinking it's bad and hating it, I don't understand why people would blindly love something and ignore it's faults. I see Madoka Magica get trashed all the time, but I still recognize it's faults and like it. If you think points someone made about something are wrong then dispute them, that's what I like to do and that shouldn't be a problem on an anime forum. If you think they are right about a bunch of negative points on a show you like, then recognize it's faults and move on, I never went as far as to insult it's fans.

I shouldn't have to say that something is just my opinion because that is obvious, i'm just critically evaluating it a bit more than most people seemingly do. It's better to explain it's faults when saying something is terrible rather than just saying "it's awful" or something.

I was being friendly in the sense that I was lenient with it and didn't even point out 1/5th of the flaws I saw in it.

zxccxxc
08-08-2013, 07:17 PM
No, im not going to respect those who made it. The writing in it is bad enough that it seems like they're treating the viewers like idiots.

I was stating my reasoning for thinking it's bad and hating it, I don't understand why people would blindly love something and ignore it's faults. I see Madoka Magica get trashed all the time, but I still recognize it's faults and like it. If you think points someone made about something are wrong then dispute them, that's what I like to do and that shouldn't be a problem on an anime forum. If you think they are right about a bunch of negative points on a show you like, then recognize it's faults and move on, I never went as far as to insult it's fans.

I shouldn't have to say that something is just my opinion because that is obvious, i'm just critically evaluating it a bit more than most people seemingly do. It's better to explain it's faults when saying something is terrible rather than just saying "it's awful" or something.

I was being friendly in the sense that I was lenient with it and didn't even point out 1/5th of the flaws I saw in it.

Okay, Do whatever you like. If i were you, I just want to respecting others.
So i prefer not giving a bit "rude" criticize like you did.
whatever, it's no big deal if you don't want to respect it.
Do whatever you like then. I don't care anymore.

Fringie
08-15-2013, 05:26 PM
Very generic and mainstream but still frikking awesome. This is my favourite or second favourite Anime (not sure if Guilty Crown is better in my opinion).

Sky Hedgehogian Maestro
09-11-2013, 05:29 PM
Hype over the Oculus Rift brought me to Sword Art Online. I mean "VR Gaming?" So there, and the Oculus will deliver.
Unfortunately, I wouldn't even watch this on a Virtua Boy. It never held my attention after the first episode. The art= good. Scenery porn in cases. Animation=pretty good. Everything else just felt weak, flat, been there done that...

Tenrou Nogitsune
10-14-2013, 04:41 PM
I'd give it an 8.9 out of ten for combined average from story, themes, romance and animation. Animation was very good. Slightly off-topic, there are rumors that a second season will become animated featuring GGO (Gun Gale Online) from vol 5 of the light novel series. You can obviously tell I enjoyed the series as a whole quite well.

~OTAKYU~
01-06-2014, 12:06 AM
Plain ACTION AND AMAZINGNESS

Kirito
01-17-2014, 09:05 AM
Well on December 31, 2013 they released a "teaser" I guess you could call it for the 2nd season. Basically Kirito plays a new game called "Gun Gale Online" (Mainly uses guns)....... and his player avatar is.... a rare system "glitch"..... which causes his avatar to look like a girl. Kind of weird in my opinion but I'll find a way to love it most likely. At the end it says
"Sword Art Online II" "Activated 2014". That's what I know so far.

daosan
01-25-2014, 05:13 PM
I thought that SAO was good but nothing amazing, the characters was a major weakness of the show. However the music and animation was great.
Overall i'd give it a 7.8

i did a review of it on my blog, check it out if you want
[-snip-]

daosan
01-26-2014, 12:32 AM
Sword Art Online (SAO) is an anime by A-1 pictures based on a light novel. It follows the story of Kirito and the MMO RPG Sword Art Online (yes I know there's ALfeim Online too). This game uses revolutionary technology called NerveGear. The creator of the game decides for some reason to trap every player inside the game, and if you die in the game, you die in real life. The only way out is to CLEAR THE GAME.
Characters-

Kirito-
The main protagonist is 16 year old gamer Kirito. Kirito was a beta tester of SAO and a solo player (with the exception of Asuna). After finding out that he is trapped in the game he joins the front lines to help defeat the game.

Asuna-
The female protagonist "The Vice Captian of The Knights of The Blood's Oath. Anyway is also on the front lines.

The characters were average, they were blade and 2 dimensional. They did not receive much developmentat all. The characters can get quite emotional at certain times. I found the characters a mixture of good and bad.
7/10

Graphics and Animation-
I found the animation very good* especially in the fight scenes. The characters were well designed. Because of this I found the series a joy to watch even though the plot was somewhat lacking.
8.5/10












Plot-
This was where SAO lacked. The first half of the show was great and I really enjoyed watching it. But come ALfeim Online I found the plot lacking at at times boring. Sometimes I didn't feel like watching the next episode because the previous episode wasn't that good.
6.75/10


Music-
*Without a doubt, this is one of the best parts of the series. The music was great and unlike most animes I actually watched the open credits, because the music was great. SAO has one of the best soundtracks of any anime I've seen.

9/10

Overall-
I thought that SAO was a great anime but it wasn't the greatest anime I've seen. The music and animation was great but the plot and characters were average. This is anime is great for those new to the genre.
7.8/10

YunoGasai
02-04-2014, 01:26 PM
SAO Was actually pretty good, until everyone started to put it down because it was to "Mainstream" so people who watched it weren't *Real* Anime fans.

Anime Forum
02-07-2014, 03:55 PM
Sword Art Online (SAO) is an anime by A-1 pictures based on a light novel. It follows the story of Kirito and the MMO RPG Sword Art Online (yes I know there's ALfeim Online too). This game uses revolutionary technology called NerveGear. The creator of the game decides for some reason to trap every player inside the game, and if you die in the game, you die in real life. The only way out is to CLEAR THE GAME.
Characters-

Kirito-
The main protagonist is 16 year old gamer Kirito. Kirito was a beta tester of SAO and a solo player (with the exception of Asuna). After finding out that he is trapped in the game he joins the front lines to help defeat the game.

Asuna-
The female protagonist "The Vice Captian of The Knights of The Blood's Oath. Anyway is also on the front lines.

The characters were average, they were blade and 2 dimensional. They did not receive much developmentat all. The characters can get quite emotional at certain times. I found the characters a mixture of good and bad.
7/10

Graphics and Animation-
I found the animation very good* especially in the fight scenes. The characters were well designed. Because of this I found the series a joy to watch even though the plot was somewhat lacking.
8.5/10












Plot-
This was where SAO lacked. The first half of the show was great and I really enjoyed watching it. But come ALfeim Online I found the plot lacking at at times boring. Sometimes I didn't feel like watching the next episode because the previous episode wasn't that good.
6.75/10


Music-
*Without a doubt, this is one of the best parts of the series. The music was great and unlike most animes I actually watched the open credits, because the music was great. SAO has one of the best soundtracks of any anime I've seen.

9/10

Overall-
I thought that SAO was a great anime but it wasn't the greatest anime I've seen. The music and animation was great but the plot and characters were average. This is anime is great for those new to the genre.
7.8/10

Hi! Making a review on another member's thread may make it difficult for other users to see your review. Maybe check this thread out?

http://www.animeforum.com/showthread.php?118814-Rate-the-review-above-you-V1

thelegend117
02-11-2014, 05:09 PM
I enjoyed this anime And i would recommend it to anyone....the graphics were amazing, they had well developed characters, and the story line was pretty good.....but yes this anime has much more potential....however how it is now is really good.....overall rating 8.5-9/10

Now if you have a smart phone there is an app called sword art online launcher and i really like the app and recommended it to my friend who also likes the app alot...do i recommend this app to anyone here who has an interest in SAO.

nubilfi
02-26-2014, 06:30 AM
i like this anime, and i heard that season 2 will be release this year, can't wait for watching it :redface:

Riverflower
03-05-2014, 04:26 AM
I found it very good. I do like the idea of a visual world, kinda wish that a game like that existed. The romance/drama is quite good aswell, and mixed with some good action. Maybe I should watch it again someday

Lonely Fujoshin-chan
03-05-2014, 05:18 AM
Matas -
Try reading the novels. I hope that it'll greatly improve your opinion and find out that it isn't the original works fault.

Aoi Ragnarok -
I totally agree, it was really a pure and sweet relationship but if you read the books, you'll see a bit of ecchi here and there.

Also, BIG FAN of SAO, at least of the first arc. Lets hope that when they do make the third arc of the anime that it'll be as awesome as the first.

---------- Post added at 01:18 PM ---------- Previous post was at 01:10 PM ----------

YunoGasai -
I hate when people start spouting that nonsense. Everyone's taste is different. That's the reason why there's so many different genres of anime. There is no such thing as "real" or "fake" anime fans, I wish people would just understand that. I mean we're all here, discussing this anime bc we love anime...so why can't people get that?:badrazz: