Sword Art Online’s second episode is available for early examination by means of pre-release imagery – a set of stills showing the progress and adaption achieved by the digital civilization being held hostage.
Within the images below, one can see how the pixel based populace has spread across the map of a false reality – even perhaps having developed to the point of establishing player-to-player exchange and trade, assuming that the stalls are not run by non-player characters. Although in any case, it doesn’t appear our protagonist is much involved with anything of that sort.
It’s not a surprise to see that battles will make the predominance of the coming episode – though interesting is how it appears a variety of individuals will be stepping up. One can notice that aside from our protagonist, and the poorly disguised heroine, there’s an assortment of others who are emphasized by the camera – though it is questionable simply what level of prominence they will have. Being a “survival game” sort of series, characters can drop like flies – and thus, it may not be worth keeping track of the side-characters as of yet.
Now aside from the fact the hero will meet the heroine, an event made clear by the earlier released second episode PV – it remains mentionable that she’ll apparently be enthusiastically joining in on some conveniently arising action. A colosseum stands, and the many individuals trapped by death look to be stepping up to challenge whatever faces them within – the heroine being one, and the leading male likely to be another.
Given the sights, and the previous episode, it seems this second arrival will be just as thrilling.
Jul 12, 2012 @ 19:27 CDT
After seeing episode 1, I’m eager for more :)
The VR World sounds like a paradise to me…except for the logout problem and the “if you die in-game, you die in RL” bits. Wonder if the guild guy from ep 1 survives…
Jul 12, 2012 @ 20:03 CDT
Based on these screenshots, it appears the anime may not be following the light novel exactly as it is written. Have to watch this Saturday to find out.
Jul 12, 2012 @ 20:17 CDT
I’m not sure if there’s any anime that follows the respective light novel exactly as it is written.
Jul 12, 2012 @ 23:47 CDT
I have to say that Haganai followed almost exactly as the original light novel was written, which unfortunately made it less entertaining for me as I have already laugh out loud from all the jokes during my daily commute.
I’m not saying not going exactly as the source is somehow wrong. But as I’m coming to the end of the first volume after going through the 70 plus pages of intro and setting up the background, I’m still trying to find that magic which created the hype that surrounds this series.
Jul 12, 2012 @ 23:52 CDT
Basic visuals with typical action always gets a lot of hype – also, the name is probably one of the main factors.
Jul 13, 2012 @ 0:01 CDT
I guess the naming factor of being a MMORPG would draw in a larger crowd, whereas Accel World, also written by Reki Kawahara, don’t appear to have the same initial hype even though both operate with the similar virtual gaming theme. So it looks like I can only hope that my investment in the first two volumes of this series, purely on internet hype, will not go to waste.
Jul 13, 2012 @ 0:04 CDT
“Sword Art Online” sounds a lot cooler than “Accel World” – also, the heroine is generally more fitting to more tastes, and it has everything superior in general.
Most people probably saw the fat pig in Accel World and were rightfully disgusted of it – they sure made a proper judgement.
Jul 13, 2012 @ 1:50 CDT
The naming is certainly true, as it would be difficult to figure out what “Accel World” mean without watching the anime or investing money in the first volume. And yes, haviang a bishoujo gamer would fit into every anime/gamers’ fantasy.
But ouch Seven, that’s scathing on Haruyuki, who I think to be not much different than your standard male lead. And even if I am unlike to invest in the original novels, I think Accel World as entertaining enough to follow each week.
Jul 13, 2012 @ 7:46 CDT
It doesn’t matter what sort of personality he has, people are judgmental based on appearance.
That’s what people are going to do, whether you think it is proper or not.
Jul 13, 2012 @ 13:38 CDT
It is. It’s following the novels in chronological order, not in release order. If you’ve only read the first two volumes as you say in a later post, then the next episode will be new material for you. In fact, I believe there should be loads of it, as later volumes also have other lower floors side stories, not only volume two. (Next episode will be from the side story “Sword Art Online: Aria in the Starless Night” which is itself one volume.)
Jul 13, 2012 @ 2:38 CDT
Accel World is not that bad…it has some pretty good action scenes…okay the fat protoganist might be a turn off for many…and the unexplainable swoon by the females over that guy…now coming to Sword Art Online..the male leads looks okay..dunno if he is a pervert or not….and the main female looks well…i believe the term is interesting…accel world and sword art online take place in the same universe though..but well this may prove to be better
Jul 13, 2012 @ 9:00 CDT
I think it’s Sword Art Online is way better than Accel World. The characters are more proper and more mature. Though I’m still watching Accel World, because I have nothing else to watch, I really dislike the pig character, because of his size.
Jul 13, 2012 @ 11:24 CDT
Regardless of what it turns out to be however, I’d prefer to not see any more RPG anime series – the genre is getting generic quickly.
Jul 13, 2012 @ 11:35 CDT
Well Sword Art Online is an exception. This is the second RPG anime so far probably in my case..as far as this goes, I like Sword Art Online a lot.
Jul 13, 2012 @ 11:45 CDT
“I like Sword Art Online a lot.”
Even though you’ve only seen episode one.
Jul 13, 2012 @ 12:19 CDT
In any case, it’s not like it’s going to get bad as the episodes proceeds each week. Do you like Sword Art Online?
Jul 13, 2012 @ 12:20 CDT
“In any case, it’s not like it’s going to get bad as the episodes proceeds each week.”
According to what?
Jul 13, 2012 @ 12:23 CDT
Even if I only watched the first episode, it still intrest me whether I said “I like Sword Art Online a lot.”
A-1 Pictures is one of my favorite studios – so I put my trust in them to make this anime to turn out fabulous.
Jul 13, 2012 @ 12:25 CDT
“Even if I only watched the first episode, it still intrest me”
Which goes back to my original comment:
“Even though you’ve only seen episode one.”
Jul 13, 2012 @ 13:45 CDT
who says you can’t like something even if you’ve only seen one episode?
Jul 13, 2012 @ 13:50 CDT
I don’t know – you’re the one bringing it up.
My original point, with the first comment I made, buried under all this lack of productivity, was that while Sword Art Online may have proved fine within its first episode, that does not make the series, as a whole, assured of success – and one should still recognize the possibility of the worst.
Jul 13, 2012 @ 14:02 CDT
True..you cant expect anything to be good without seeing the entire thing…its just like saying a dish is tasty without actually tasting it..we all have seen some animes which were excellent in the beginning but then got degraded down..anything’s possible.
Jul 13, 2012 @ 15:14 CDT
humans are fickle, one can always like something and dislike it the next. she likes it at the moment and i think that’s all that matters.
Jul 13, 2012 @ 15:16 CDT
Well either way, it doesn’t change that the series still has potential to go downhill – as do any.
Also, “alexsaingxd” is a male.
Jul 13, 2012 @ 15:19 CDT
i just noticed lol XD.
anyway, i don’t really see why we need to look too much into his comment lol.
what’s good and likable for someone can be really hated by other people.
Jul 14, 2012 @ 20:10 CDT
I know nothing about SAO but wacthed bits of the 1st ep. So is you die in-game you die in RL some plot to kill future/NEETs-hikikomori?
Jul 14, 2012 @ 21:24 CDT
Essentially, yes.