Gaming World Meets the Real World II: Sword Art Online
Hello, world! September is here, and so is a new review for
today! This week, I’ll be reviewing a
show that I think I should have reviewed a long time ago. This show has made its mark in America,
earning it a spot on Toonami among other things, and I can’t wait to take it
on. So without any further delay, let’s
get started on this week’s review on Sword
Art Online!
Sword
Art Online takes place in a futuristic Japan where gamers eagerly await the
release of the new MMORPG Sword Art Online, also known as SAO. Making the game even more attractive is the
use of Nerve Gear, a gaming device that allows players to put themselves in the
game’s world. However, this gamer’s
dream turns into a nightmare when the game’s creator traps all the players in
the game, saying they must complete all one-hundred levels of the game to
escape. However, if players die in game,
they die in real life as well. And taking
the Nerve Gear off will also cause equal results. But unlike other players, Kazuto Kirigaya,
aka Kirito, is confident to take on such a challenge, being that he was one of
the beta testers for SAO. Along the way,
Kirito meets another player named Asuna, and the two eventually join
forces. From that point on, the
series-or at least the first season-follows these two and their adventures
through the world of SAO as they strive to defeat the game and escape.
I have to admit, I can see why this show has
gotten the praise that it has; it’s very entertaining. That’s why I give Sword Art Online a four out five-star rating. This show actually reminded me of another
show that had a very similar concept. But
I’ll get to that later on. As far as
some pluses to Sword Art Online goes,
story and animation are definitely included.
The animation certainly highlights the show’s video game concept. Yes, CGI is used every now and then. The story is also very intriguing and
definitely a draw for those interested.
All in all, the show is pretty spotless…for the most part.
My only complaint is the show’s
concept. It’s not that it’s a terrible
concept to go with, it’s actually a very creative idea for a show. It’s just that the idea may be intimidating
for those viewers who are not familiar with gaming. However, I do feel that once you get a few
episodes into the show, you’ll find that not a lot of the show focuses on the
game itself. That is, the aspects of the
game are not really the focus. The show
focuses more on the story than anything else.
So I would most certainly give it a shot!
Now, I said earlier that this show
took me back to another show that I reviewed last year that had a very similar
concept as well as similar strengths and weaknesses. Last June, this show was Log Horizon. Both Sword Art Online and Log Horizon both share a unique concept,
but they also share a similar problem with this concept. Although the two shows share a story that
revolves around being trapped in a game, Log
Horizon probably embraces this theme more than Sword Art Online. However,
much of this is due to the fact that Log
Horizon has a more political theme to it than Sword Art. In SAO, rather than players trying to deal with
the situation at hand- which is what Log
Horizon’s plot comes down to-, players are trying to escape the
situation. This gives it an edge that Log Horizon doesn’t have.
So overall, Sword Art Online is
definitely the top notch video
game-themed anime show. The show has
been released in an English dub and is currently airing its second season on Toonami. Well that’s all that I have for this week,
but before I go, I do have a special announcement I need to make…
That’s right, ladies and
gentlemen! The anime film that took best
in show back in February with a five-star rating is coming back starting next September! For two weeks, I will be doing Akira related discussion posts that put
the film head to head with a supposed copycat and even the manga that inspired
the film itself. So stay tuned for the
start of Akira Month on Hanime on
Anime.
-Hanime
on Anime
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