With 12 episodes of totally irrelevant side-story in between, Sword Art Online finishes the tale introduced within the first – and according to the man who created the game himself, the purpose of it all was nothing.
After Guilty Crown, one had to ask themselves “will there ever be another anime series this horrible?” – and apparently, yes, there certainly is.
This 14th atrocity initiates with an insulting mess – a legion of pathetic losers continue their efforts to kill a digital monster against whom they clearly stand no chance. And we’re not merely shown the usual one frame fight scene – we’re showered with an Armageddon of single still frames. It’s not even reminiscent to PowerPoint – rather, it’s a complete intercession of a PowerPoint presentation in the midst of the series, each with slashes of vivid color traveling across them as if intended to represent some kind of movement.
Save the ridicule and laughter for later however, the series is set to get hysterical.
Past the opening sequence, everyone is moping around – mortified by how their friends’ side-character status was not enough to shield them from death. Yet suddenly, the protagonist decides to run up to the red guild leader and make a jab at him with his blade. The fellow turns out to have been the game’s creator – and subsequently, goes into a lengthy monologue about the fun of an MMORPG and whatnot.
For a genius, the game’s creator is seemingly quite a fool for the obvious reason that based on this series alone, we would never know the fun of an MMO. If anything, Sword Art Online has merely gone to show that even social outcasts can successfully find love on the internet – and lonely middle-aged men can resort to mass-murder, or making themselves popular in a game, instead of simply finding something productive in reality.
Come to think of it however, this fellow who devised Sword Art Online has managed to do both – a true inspiration for all the children who turn giddy over this series.
After the meaningless jabber, it’s not even appropriate to keep referring to these scenes as “fights” any more – an exchange of single still frames occurs between the protagonist, and the game creator, the latter of whom effortlessly deflects all single frames of the former.
And while the game creator cast a spell on the whiny heroine to make her temporarily invincible by Kirito’s request so her worthless life kindles for a while longer, on top of the fact that he paralyzed everyone within the room, she apparently seems to have learned a lot from Kirito and utilizes her inner protagonist power – somehow breaking through both spells of the game master and jumping in front of Kirito as he was going to be slashed in half, dying in his place.
The protagonist breaks down – as now, the only person to ever love him, an assembly of pixels representing a girl equally as pitiful as himself, has perished. He loses the will to live – which aside from making the sacrifice of the female lead entirely vain and pointless as he begins dawdling his dual blades around like twigs before being stabbed to death, also shows that he’s some senile freak who believes the death of a videogame character is something to end his life over.
What ever happened to making a struggle to return to reality, or his evidently extraneous little sister he once mentioned? He’s seemingly forgot them all long ago.
Yet don’t forget, Kirito is a protagonist. As one will notice, unlike everyone else who vanishes immediately upon their defeat in Sword Art Online, protagonist class characters are resistant to death. The series gives no logical explanation whatsoever for any of this – though at least those who are earnestly curious behind what happens needn’t worry as one can be sure that a more desperate few fans of the light novel will be quick to wail about what the light novel says.
Nonetheless, the loser turns transparent, although still lives – he sticks around much longer than he should and stabs the game creator, at which point, all goes white. And at this point, it seems one may have seriously misjudged this series – protagonists aren’t resistant to death, they’re completely immune. In Sword Art Online, protagonists don’t die even when they’re killed.
Kirito and his harlot find themselves somewhere in the sky – and the game creator is there as well. Now although Kirito was enraged like a little kid earlier, furious at the game creator for allowing so many expendable side-character to die – Kirito seemingly forgets all of that once the game creator starts speaking. Don’t be too harsh on Kirito however, he’s not the only character of this series with a mental deficiency.
As it turns out, the game’s very creator doesn’t even know why he himself bothered pouring so much effort into making Sword Art Online – literally admitting himself he doesn’t know the reason behind why he made the game. And when asked of the 4000 or so who have been selfishly killed – they’re essentially labelled collateral damage.
In spite of the heavy emphasis on 10,000 people stranded in a virtual world within episode one, this 14th round of disgust confirms what we’ve seen over the course of the previous 12, there never was a point to any of it. The game creator didn’t even know why he did anything.
And with that, Kirito awakens back to reality – a frail reject who has at least gained something valuable during his time in Sword Art Online. From before, he had nothing – he had no friends, and he was lonely, a total discard of society. However now, Kirito’s life has changed entirely – he can get people to feel sorry for him once they learn he’s a refugee of an online videogame, going from the ranks of nobody, to a pitiable creature.
On top of that, he’ll be remembered forever – protagonist of the worst series of all-time.
Oct 6, 2012 @ 21:15 CDT
When he started flailing his swords around like a douchebag, it was better animated than any of the “fight” scenes.
If anyone needs respite, here’s an actual fight scene, actually animated with sincere effort and legitimacy:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RFvRgIR5re0
Also, as is always necessary, this is a swordplay scene from the original Kenshin, which was released a decade or so ago, with better animation than Sword Art Online:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QqHObo1yvyg
Edit: This is a good chance to redirect to Samurai Champloo:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=endscreen&NR=1&v=XEiZBxpZDEc
Oct 6, 2012 @ 22:02 CDT
Its bad at the begining and now worst. What else can we expect !!
Oct 6, 2012 @ 22:08 CDT
It’s already worse than Guilty Crown at this point definitely, so I’m not sure.
Oct 6, 2012 @ 21:32 CDT
This anime was very emotional. Especially the ending to where Asuna dashed in front of Kirito and got killed. Then when they finally disappeared as one up in the heavens (or whatever it is) Kirito made it back to the real world. (They both died, of course) I really hope Asuna gets back too.
Oct 6, 2012 @ 21:33 CDT
I wish they both died, I wish.
Oct 6, 2012 @ 22:15 CDT
Shitty review. If you hate SAO so much, drop it. I absolutely loved this episode, it stayed true to the novels and displayed spetacular animation. The reason Kirito and Asuna lived got pretty obvious once they talked to the creator, but it seems you didn’t quite understand that.
I could argue with you on every sentence there, but I won’t waste my time. This is the last time I’m gonna read a SAO review from you. See ya.
Oct 6, 2012 @ 22:23 CDT
“I could argue with you on every sentence there, but I won’t waste my time.”
You’ve already wasted your time making a “Shitty” comment – while simultaneously failing to prove any point.
“displayed spetacular animation”
I don’t know what “spetacular” is – although evidently, it must a term synonymous with “Shitty”, because that’s the quality of animation seen this episode. If anyone out there disagrees, feel free to try to make a legitimate counterargument.
“Kirito and Asuna lived got pretty obvious once they talked to the creator”
If it’s so obvious, why didn’t you mention it – or how about you try explaining it?
“This is the last time I’m gonna read a SAO review from you. See ya.”
I sure hope so if your comments are this “Shitty”.
Oct 7, 2012 @ 3:03 CDT
I guess it was spectacualar animation compared to the animation of other episodes in SAO.
Oct 7, 2012 @ 3:55 CDT
Assuming you call that “animation”.
Oct 7, 2012 @ 1:01 CDT
“it stayed true to the novels”
true, because if not, then this would not turn out as horrible as it should, NO ORIGINALITY
“displayed spetacular animation.”
I Don’t know if you’ve been watching anime these past 3 or 5 years or even a decade ago, but i’m sure a lot of anime were better than this want me to give a list?
“The reason Kirito and Asuna lived got pretty obvious once they talked to the creator, but it seems you didn’t quite understand that.”
Oh, sure give a loophole to the main characters, while others die, yeah sure, great story
“Shitty review. If you hate SAO so much, drop it. but I won’t waste my time. This is the last time I’m gonna read a SAO review from you. See ya.”
You know if you hated these reviews so much, why did you bother to read them this far and like WASTE YOUR TIME?
Oct 6, 2012 @ 22:13 CDT
Where’s her sword when she needs it, huh.
And don’t know about the LN, but the anime gave no explanation at all as to why she was able to come out of paralysis. No choice but to put it down to ‘because the plot needed her to’.
Oct 6, 2012 @ 22:18 CDT
“the anime gave no explanation at all as to why she was able to come out of paralysis.”
What the heck are you talking about, it’s already obvious how she did it.
She’s a protagonist of course.
Oct 7, 2012 @ 8:13 CDT
and Plot Armor. If you know… there’s some.
Oct 7, 2012 @ 23:39 CDT
The light novel explains it that their willpower created a miracle which kayab didnt expect…
Oct 7, 2012 @ 23:41 CDT
Now if only that were somehow relevant to the animation, you would at least have a discussion topic.
Oct 6, 2012 @ 22:48 CDT
Ordinarily I correct people on what they say, but truly this “review” isn’t even worth it.
All you’re saying is “it happened because protagonist; this is shitty and if you think it isn’t you’re wrong.”
If you don’t like it, then drop the series. Not only are you spreading incorrect information, but your obvious hatred for the series is blinding you from making any sort of unbiased critique of it.
The fight scene is just a bunch of frames? That’s what animation is: a bunch of frames strung together.
Oct 6, 2012 @ 23:17 CDT
“Ordinarily I correct people on what they say, but truly this “review” isn’t even worth it.”
That’s what people often say when they can’t make a valid counterargument – your comment isn’t worth replying to in the slightest whatsoever, but I still reply to even the most poorly written comments, such as your own, in hopes that you may see your error and make an intelligible sentence of written statement in reply, if nothing more.
“All you’re saying is ‘it happened because protagonist; this is shitty and if you think it isn’t you’re wrong.’”
It looks that reading comprehension is not your greatest strength – or any strength of yours for that matter.
“Not only are you spreading incorrect information, but your obvious hatred for the series is blinding you from making any sort of unbiased critique of it.”
So unless someone loves this series, they’re spreading biased, incorrect information based around obvious hatred?
“The fight scene is just a bunch of frames? That’s what animation is: a bunch of frames strung together.”
Animation is when frames amount to movement – not slideshow transitions. Please go look up words you’re not familiar with before commenting next time.
Oct 12, 2012 @ 7:15 CDT
You know why nobody can be bothered typing more than a couple of sentences? Because there’s no point in arguing with someone who can’t even validate his own arguments. Your review can literally be summarised as “main character status, emotional sequences I can’t comprehend, if you don’t agree you’re wrong” etc. etc. (Why are you even watching it ._.)
But honestly you barely even tried. I mean you couldn’t even label Kayaba a psychopath, which would be a lazy conclusion but is fairly true, and IS a valid explanation scientifically as to why he would do all of this.
But the thing I do want to comment on is the confrontation with Kayaba after Kirita and Asuna are killed by him (it’s likely he never intended to kill them). At first Kirito you could see Kirito was angry, I mean of course he would be, but then he went on to answer why he did everything. It might not make sense to you, but for me personally, someone who saw a lot of himself in Kayaba Akihiko, I understood why he created the world of SAO (Although obviously I’m not some psychopath who locks everyone in a virtual world so he can live in it, I’m pretty content with this world). Kirito and Asuna seemed to understand as well, and I think everyone else watching did as too. and well, the world is over, everyone had logged out, what’s the point of picking a fight with him at that point?
I do agree on the note about the action, it only really looked cool during his spamming dual wield. But then again, this isn’t based on some action manga, it’s a light novel, just how well can you transition a fight from text to the screen? An action director or something wouldn’t have been a bad idea though.
Oct 12, 2012 @ 8:58 CDT
The fact you’re making imaginary quotes to back your fictional points are testament to the fact you are incorrect.
“but is fairly true, and IS a valid explanation scientifically as to why he would do all of this.”
Yes, being a psychopath is scientifically proven to make you capable of creating a colossal online dating game and being immune to law enforcement. That definitely makes sense…
“But the thing…”
That paragraph is an entire pile of assumptions and your own point of view on the series – which proves nothing. And if you want my opinion on what you think, which I will tell you anyways since you decided to comment, is silly and almost hilarious in how poorly it is thought out.
“it’s likely he never intended to kill them”
So when he aimlessly made this game to entrap 10,000 people, he decided “those with the name Kirito and Asuna will not be killed” and then set the plan in motion? Cause that’s what you’re saying.
“I do agree on the note about the action…”
Unfortunately, I don’t agree with anything you say in that paragraph – the phrase “really cool” is ambiguous, and based on my definition, it was certainly anything but. Secondly, it doesn’t matter what the series is based on whatsoever – although to show how ignorant you are, allow me to answer your question of:
” just how well can you transition a fight from text to the screen? ”
Go watch Fate/Zero.
Nov 28, 2012 @ 14:10 CDT
Seeing as it says you only have one comment, and you haven’t written a comment in over month, did you seriously just make an account just so you could wrtie this. Why didn’t you bitch about this random crap as an anon.
Dec 2, 2012 @ 14:19 CDT
Now he’s brought shame to his name.
Oct 6, 2012 @ 23:23 CDT
Wow, those “fights” if you can even call them that were godawful. Oh my god, I’m OK with stills when used in moderation, but FLASHING LIGHTS TO REPRESENT SWORD STRIKES?! That was just fucking lazy. There really was no tension or excitement at all. That second fight was no better. Yes there was more animation and few stills, but no good choreography. There was nothing to show the skills and thoughts of either side so you couldn’t know where the tide of the battle went. There are so many examples of good fights even in recent anime, and this just failed. Heck Accel World even did fights 100x better. Well Sunrise has been pretty damn good in the animation department lately. Still, those fights A-1 animated were just bad. *sigh* Way to screw up. I hope the fight scenes in ALO won’t be this fail, but considering what I’ve seen so far I’m not hedging my bets.
Not too many complaints about the rest of the episode though. I can see why Seven disliked it and all his points are valid. Although I still enjoyed it for other reasons. How much you care about the characters derives a VERY large factor in how much you enjoy this anime. Since I’m already fully invested form reading and enjoying the novels my viewpoint is different from someone who takes the anime by itself. Although it’s a huge failure if an anime cannot stand alone.
Oct 6, 2012 @ 23:41 CDT
“FLASHING LIGHTS TO REPRESENT SWORD STRIKES?!”
Defeated by aliens.
Oct 6, 2012 @ 23:52 CDT
Finally someone mentions the battle choreography. Apart from the obvious still-frame and light-saber fight sequences, the choreography is also unimaginative as all hell, it’s like the animation director read the novel, think for 5 minutes and then tell his subordinates to draw what he just pictured in his head. It’s best shown in the 1-on-1 battles, like the one in Episode 9, 10 and the latest one. Kirito just slashes his two swords everywhere and hopes they hit the target, chanting ‘faster’ as he does it. He doesn’t even look like a berserker, he looks like a suicide case. Even that GM has more choreography than Kirito, but most of the time he’s only either blocking with his shield or parrying. Other characters have no battle scene long enough to have choreography. It’s like this is the laziest action anime I’ve seen. Because of it I currently have to pick all of the action anime of the Fall Season to rehabilitate myself.
Oct 7, 2012 @ 0:18 CDT
There practically isn’t any choreography to begin with – I wouldn’t call randomly slashing swords everywhere “choreography”.
Choreography means physical movement which is precise, considered, and specific.
Oct 6, 2012 @ 23:43 CDT
Lawl the worst part of SAO is finally here. Oh btw seven I’m sure you don’t care but if you want to know how they are able to do any of these game breaking things…it’s the power of love as Asuna mentions in the light novel at some point. I think the directors of the show thought it was so stupid though that they were better off leaving it out and keeping it unexplainable.
Oct 6, 2012 @ 23:43 CDT
It’s stupid either way, don’t worry.
Oct 7, 2012 @ 0:03 CDT
No doubt…I think this is where I drop the show because the plot goes off track and loses it’s original premise so yeah. I’ve never watched guilty crown but I keep hearing some terrible things about it haha
Oct 7, 2012 @ 2:29 CDT
POWER OF LOVE? that’s about as cliche as it can get,
Oct 7, 2012 @ 3:54 CDT
Except in Aquarion EVOL.
Oct 6, 2012 @ 23:57 CDT
I’m calling for a reboot! If Seven can call this worse than Guilty Crown – while in actuality nothing is worse than Guilty Crown…NOTHING!!!! *shakes fits at the heavens* – then I demand that the rest of the series be canceled to make way for a reboot with a tone in the same vein as episode 1. Screw the source material!! If they can do it for Tenchi Muyo, then they sure as hell can do it here!
Oct 7, 2012 @ 0:13 CDT
I also used to enjoy trampling all over how horrible Guilty Crown is.. and I still very much do.
However, Guilty Crown at least had redjuice artwork and Supercell sounds – alongside legitimate battle animation. Sword Art Online has nothing – unoriginal character design, zero plot, hideous overall, awful as a whole.
Oct 7, 2012 @ 1:18 CDT
the fight is decent in the 1st floor boss fight.
and it got worse
and worse…
and worse…
and worse…
to the point it isn’t funny anymore.
It feels like i’m looking to powerpoint presentation.
Oct 7, 2012 @ 1:21 CDT
We’re all looking at a PowerPoint presentation.
Oct 7, 2012 @ 1:44 CDT
I dont expect it from the beginning….So I dont feel it is worse made.
Oct 7, 2012 @ 2:31 CDT
I had enough, this show is dropped…
This episode was pitiful, I thought there will be a good boss fight today (they couldn’t even damage it last week), and now it is dead, laughable!
What kind of story is this??? Also Kirito’s sudden realization oh you’re Heathcliff! Asuna SUDDENLY dies, when she CAN’t move, and after the games’s creator declared that people who died can’t be revived KIRITO SURVIVES!!!!
OK, I shouldn’t even wasted my time to watch this shit so far…
Oct 7, 2012 @ 3:54 CDT
“I shouldn’t even wasted my time to watch this shit so far…”
Oct 13, 2012 @ 9:03 CDT
Hi, happened to pass by this post:
Just correcting what you commented, they DID manage to deal some damage to the boss but it was just too little. So the fight with the boss probably took very very very long before they could actually kill it?
Plus i dont really think that you would want to watch 1 whole episode on just them fighting with that boss, showing people dieing one by one and using the same old limited skills that they have.
And i personally prefer to have an anime with the same story plot as the mangas or novels. I mean, whats the point of making SAO when its not SAO.
Oct 13, 2012 @ 9:11 CDT
“So the fight with the boss probably took very very very long before they could actually kill it?”
If you have to guess, that means it was horribly presented.
“Plus i dont really think that you would want to watch 1 whole episode on just them fighting with that boss, showing people dieing one by one and using the same old limited skills that they have.”
That’s where something called “creativity” comes in.
“And i personally prefer to have an anime with the same story plot as the mangas or novels. I mean, whats the point of making SAO when its not SAO.”
If the light novels have the same exact story as the anime series, they must be terrible also.
Oct 13, 2012 @ 10:35 CDT
“Plus i dont really think that you would want to watch 1 whole episode on just them fighting with that boss, showing people dieing one by one and using the same old limited skills that they have.”
As seven said, creativity comes in here, even i could think of a better scenario than destroying hype created by the last episode by showing a really strong boss only to have him defeated in seconds by guys who swing their swords mindlessly
Oct 7, 2012 @ 2:53 CDT
Well, there actually is a legit reason for Kirito’s non-death and Asuna’s escaping paralysis, but that’s moot since it even in the novels you don’t find out until much later.
Not that I’m defending the scene in the anime though. While the source material can be used to answer some questions left out by an adaption, it is not a justification for it being left out because an anime should be able to stand alone.
Oct 7, 2012 @ 3:15 CDT
Eh, I’m still going to disagree with you on this…Nothing can be worse than Guilty Crown.
NOTHING.
Oct 7, 2012 @ 3:56 CDT
Sometimes I wonder if the good music and visuals made Guilty Crown’s failure feel even more epic cause it’s like adding dramatic effect to the fail.
Oct 7, 2012 @ 12:35 CDT
No, if Guilty Crown had bad effects and bad music, then it would have had absolutely no redeeming qualities, making it so much worse. The only thing that bad visuals and music would have done is make Guilty Crown less of a shocking disappointment.
Oct 7, 2012 @ 3:16 CDT
Stupid things I noticed during the episode:
1. As the anon above said, boss fights weren’t that exciting , impressive, or even decent, they were just messy
2.they were so disappointed about losing 14 people, then why did they attack mindlessly?
3.As many again said, how the hell did asuna move when akihiko had control of them being paralyzed? and as one said POWER OF LOVE? so laughable in it’s stupidity, if it’s really in the novel, love doesn’t apply to programs
4.Akihiko said ” In any world, once you’re dead, you’re gone” the two died right? how are they alive, really stupid really…
5. How the hell did he only notice that it was Heathcliff that was Akihiko just at that moment, when his reasoning is only that shallow?
he could have noticed it when he was battling him during earlier episodes
Oct 7, 2012 @ 8:15 CDT
only 3 and 4
3 : the power of love is everywhere, nothing to say about that. it’s more like everyone else said : becuase they’re the protagonists, and it should be like that, if they’re just some normal kids that can’t do anything at all then they can’t be called protagonists. goku can shoot kamehamehas that can destroy universes because HE IS goku. so there’s nothing wrong in being able to do impossible things just because they’re the protagonists, the most you can say is that this protagonist thing is used too much.
4 : the side story of sachi showed that there’s a item that can resurrect people, but only is the dead target died at max 5 minuted before. this means that if you die in the game you don’t die in reality immediately. kirito and asuna both died, but they completed the game within 5 minutes, so they’re still alive.
Oct 7, 2012 @ 10:23 CDT
Pretty sure the item was for 10 seconds, not 5 minutes.
Oct 7, 2012 @ 12:36 CDT
I thought they said 10 minutes. Well, nobody is going to bother to check, because then they would have to relive what is known as SAO
Oct 7, 2012 @ 16:54 CDT
about what you said on number 3,:
Although i will repeat what i said eons ago that this is no a supernatural anime, and SAO is a reality based anime in a virtual world,in dragon ball, pretty much many people can do kamehameha, not only goku, and not only protagonists, but the show is revolves arounds powers and beams, and i can respect that, but SAO , they are in a program, except they are hackers, nothing can change,
but i agree at what you said, because they are protagonist…
but what you said at number 4 was really spot on, good reasoning i presume
Oct 7, 2012 @ 3:18 CDT
Oh, but just one thing…I found it incredibly disappointing that they kinda ruined what they were supposedly leading to from last week: I expected a good boss fight. They skipped it. I didn’t like that.
Oct 7, 2012 @ 3:55 CDT
There’s a lot more to not like besides the boss fight.
Oct 7, 2012 @ 8:53 CDT
it’s just everything
Oct 7, 2012 @ 9:06 CDT
Oh, I won’t argue with that: the inconsistent visuals, the lack of depth and humanity for the “mooks”, the obvious plot armor, the unrealistic reactions, and the fight scenes which would make anyone with a decent knowledge of swordplay smirk in embarrassment…there’s a LOT to not like about this.
But after episode 4 my standards already dropped considerably: the only reason I specifically mentioned the boss fight was because it was the ONLY thing I expected from the anime right now…which I still didn’t get…I was already at the point where I just wanted something flashy and sparkly…
And even I was denied that. Not surprised though-just annoyed.
(Pretty much, the only reason why, for my particular standards, it remains above GC level is because I like Kirito more than Shu…though that’s not saying much. On another note: a part of me kinda wished that Kline was the MC instead: a somewhat mature yet also nerdy guy with enough good sense to know that people need help in this damn “deathgame” rather than bother people with their emobull and let it get in the way; also, despite actively clearing as a frontliner he has impressively never let even one his friends/guildmates die or lag behind. Sounds like good protag material to me and that achievement sounds infinitely more impressive than Kirito’s dual blade skill set. )
Oct 8, 2012 @ 15:37 CDT
I agree with you about Kline (Klein?). I wished that he had more screentime. After the first episode I kept hoping that he wouldn’t die. I was really glad that he’s still alive AND MANAGED to keep his original buddies alive.
Oct 13, 2012 @ 9:58 CDT
Unlike kirito who practically let mostly everyone he met die
Oct 7, 2012 @ 4:24 CDT
Honestly – as a person who didn’t read the LNs – when SAO’s first episode first aired, I thought it was going to be interesting. It was more or less well-done for a first episode; the premise was nothing I hadn’t seen before, but in my opinion it was well-executed.
And then the second episode aired. The sheer stupidity towards at the end… Not only cliché, but also indicative of how the series was likely to progress. “Alright, I’ll wait for the third ep, give it another chance…”
And the third. That rushed attempt at making me feel sad for a side-character (Who, by the way, died in an utterly stupid way. LONE CHEST AT THE CENTER OF AN EMPTY ROOM, SEEMS LEGIT.) pretty much cleared away my doubts.
I have never seen something get bad so quickly. I dropped it halfway through episode four, and I must say I’m glad I did. Can’t understand why it’s getting such praise in certain places and why it’s selling when it’s so bad.
Probably should have seen it coming from the threads on /a/. Very disappointing.
Oct 7, 2012 @ 4:41 CDT
If there is something called “twist” – its here.
http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-s9iZBHN3Q80/UHFOZ0LEC0I/AAAAAAAA-TY/eM04WtEN78w/s0/sword-fart-online.png
Oct 7, 2012 @ 5:39 CDT
A-1 Pictures handled the episode pretty well, I expected some filler end to the arc, but that god I wasn’t right xD
Oct 7, 2012 @ 8:34 CDT
This was meant as a joke, right?
Oct 7, 2012 @ 11:25 CDT
For humanity’s sake, surely.
Oct 8, 2012 @ 4:18 CDT
Nope, this is the plot of the next arc haha.
Oct 7, 2012 @ 5:58 CDT
this anime is shit i dropped it at first episode
the plot is so fucking retarded and this shit is so fucking overrated
“HURR U YOU ARE IN GAME ANIME”
this thing makes it so fucking Overrated
Oct 7, 2012 @ 12:38 CDT
You are one of the lucky few who realized that SAO was going to be terrible by only watching its first episode.
Oct 7, 2012 @ 7:24 CDT
Guilty Crown is a masterpiec compared to the mess that is the SAO anime and i like the novel.
And GC was never THAT bad.
Watch some garbage like MD:Geist or Apocalypse Zero. Then you will know HOW SHITTY anime can be.
Oct 7, 2012 @ 10:24 CDT
Sense you don’t want a post saying “you are wrong about so many things”, here is a little play-by-play:
“a legion of pathetic losers continue their efforts to kill a digital monster against whom they clearly stand no chance.”
They had no choice in the matter once they entered the room. Doors are locked and crystals (Teleport, healling, etc.) do not work in the room. Also, it would be rather boring to watch the entire fight.
I will agree that the anime could have spent a little more time showing the strategies/tactics that the characters used in general. I am particularly disappointed with the first boss fight in comparison to the novel.
“each with slashes of vivid color traveling across them as if intended to represent some kind of movement.”
How do you know a character is using a sword skill? By the light a skill is putting out. In other words, a normal observer from any distance would just see the flashes.
“mortified by how their friends’ side-character status was not enough to shield them from death.”
Ever hear the phrase “Everyone is the main character of their own story.”? Of coarse they would grieve for the people who they had spent 2 years fighting for their lives with. It is not like they see themselves as side characters.
“For a genius, the game’s creator is seemingly quite a fool for the obvious reason that based on this series alone, we would never know the fun of an MMO.”
Way to take the wrong meaning out of what they were talking about. Basically, Kirito was saying that he suspected that the game’s creator was playing the game as a character and not just watching everyone else play because just being an observer for two years would not be much fun. (I will agree that those lines could have come across better)
@ the one-on-one fight in general:
It was explained that Kirito didn’t want to use any techniques because the creator of the game would know all of them and be able to counter them. All he could do was use basic sword strikes. And yet he still accidentally used one out of shear muscle memory.
“somehow breaking through both spells of the game master and jumping in front of Kirito as he was going to be slashed in half, dying in his place.”
This has been hinted at a few times throughout the series: Because of the direct connection between the game and the player’s brains, a large amount of will-power can temporarily overwrite the system. This happens because the system changes to what the player’s brain says “should” be hapening. This explains why Asuna was able to save Kirito in a previous episode, Kirito focusing on being “faster” actually helps, and Asuna overcoming the Paralyze effect even though the creator did not program that possibility.
Also, Asuna survived her death because she was an “immortal object” at the time. That actually IS a change (for the better) from the novel–it was not clearly stated that she was immortal at the time.
@ Kirito’s death:
It was stated earlier that it takes 10sec from the time a person’s hp reaches 0 for them to actually die. I will agree that the anime only shows protagonists and people with important things to say actually lasting that long. The reason he was able to move while dieing… Well, the novel ties that together with the “willpower/imagination” thing. I DO agree that it is a rather flimsy reason for being able to kill the creator, but it exists.
Kirito then survived dieing because he “cleared the game” before his brain was fried.
“Kirito seemingly forgets all of that once the game creator starts speaking”
What should his actions be then? He just cleared the game, got reunited with his love, and saved the other players. If that didn’t calm him down, I don’t know what would. Anyway, it is not like there is anything else he can do but talk. Might as well find out “why” this all happened.
…
And that is all I have to say. I’m not going to talk about “why so-and-so does not deserve the scathing remarks you apply to them” because that is pure opinion and not worth arguing over at this point. All I want to address is the mostly factual mistakes you made and provide details others seem to have missed.
(Disclaimer/side-note: this is the first time I’ve come to this blog and I was a fan of the novels even before the anime started. If you wish to ignore everything I said because of this, that is your own prerogative.)
Oct 7, 2012 @ 11:02 CDT
“Also, it would be rather boring to watch the entire fight.”
It was boring either way because of how lackluster the fight was portrayed.
“How do you know a character is using a sword skill?”
We don’t, because the animation portrayed the fights poorly.
“By the light a skill is putting out. In other words, a normal observer from any distance would just see the flashes”
We shouldn’t be in the sidelines, the action should be up-close and actually containing action – the flashes were just an excuse for budget animation, and given how there’s already numerous examples of the cheap action scenes, it’s unacceptable.
“Ever hear the phrase “Everyone is the main character of their own story.”? Of coarse they would grieve for the people who they had spent 2 years fighting for their lives with. It is not like they see themselves as side characters.”
My point is how it’s presented – the characters seemed insignificant specs getting killed off the previous episode, now all of sudden, they gain superpowers and defeat the boss.
“Way to take the wrong meaning out of what they were talking about. Basically, Kirito was saying that he suspected that the game’s creator was playing the game as a character and not just watching everyone else play because just being an observer for two years would not be much fun. (I will agree that those lines could have come across better)”
You took the wrong meaning out of what I said – their dialogue is weak because it doesn’t even hold substance to what the anime actually shows.
“It was explained that Kirito didn’t want to use any techniques because the creator of the game would know all of them and be able to counter them. All he could do was use basic sword strikes. And yet he still accidentally used one out of shear muscle memory.”
That doesn’t make any of it any less awfully presented, nor does it account for the single still frame fights, nor any of the problems with the battle animation from earlier “fights”.
“This has been hinted at a few times throughout the series: Because of the direct connection between the game and the player’s brains, a large amount of will-power can temporarily overwrite the system. This happens because the system changes to what the player’s brain says “should” be hapening. This explains why Asuna was able to save Kirito in a previous episode, Kirito focusing on being “faster” actually helps, and Asuna overcoming the Paralyze effect even though the creator did not program that possibility.
Also, Asuna survived her death because she was an “immortal object” at the time. That actually IS a change (for the better) from the novel–it was not clearly stated that she was immortal at the time.”
And this all conveniently occurred just with our leading pair of protagonists? They couldn’t use that willpower to log-out? That explanation is flimsy and too inconsistent – not to say you’re wrong, but if that’s the series’ own explanation for the events, then it certainly doesn’t hold up.
“It was stated earlier that it takes 10sec from the time a person’s hp reaches 0 for them to actually die. I will agree that the anime only shows protagonists and people with important things to say actually lasting that long. The reason he was able to move while dieing… Well, the novel ties that together with the “willpower/imagination” thing. I DO agree that it is a rather flimsy reason for being able to kill the creator, but it exists.”
It doesn’t matter what the novel says because we’re talking about the animation. Also, having a reason doesn’t automatically make it acceptable.
“What should his actions be then? He just cleared the game, got reunited with his love, and saved the other players. If that didn’t calm him down, I don’t know what would. Anyway, it is not like there is anything else he can do but talk. Might as well find out “why” this all happened.”
And the creator of the game didn’t even know why it happened himself…
“All I want to address is the mostly factual mistakes you made and provide details others seem to have missed.”
Factual in what way? All you did was make pad explanations to cover gaps. If the series is horrible presented, then those explanations don’t matter because they’re not well-implemented – such as the pitiful “fight” scenes, or extended protagonist lifespan.
Oct 7, 2012 @ 12:39 CDT
Dear lord, even longer comments.
Oct 7, 2012 @ 11:00 CDT
That whole thing about her being able to move and him not dying even though he was killed (haha), was supposedly the power of their will, the NerveGear connects to their brains, so if their will is strong enough, they can even affect the laws of the world programmed around them. Seems like bullshit, but hey, it seems to be a fairly common anime element (kind of overused if you ask me, but some series do it right). As for why they survived instead of dying (for real), there’s a delay between dying in the game and dying in real life, if you remember the episode with Sachi, he found that revival item that worked for a little bit if you used it right after death, so there is definitely a delay in game and real life deaths. And the creator was probably like, “I don’t why I’m doing this anyway, and he beat the game, I’ll let them live as a reward” Or it,s just that once the game was cleared whatever programming sent the death signal to their brains was cut off anyway.
You talk a lot about the animation being single still frames, so I just rewatched that fight against the creator, and he’s definitely, like, moving, I mean, it’s not fantastic animation by any means, but calling it all single still frames seems wrong.
“In spite of the heavy emphasis on 10,000 people stranded in a virtual world within episode one, this 14th round of disgust confirms what we’ve seen over the course of the previous 12, there never was a point to any of it. The game creator didn’t even know why he did anything.”
Why does there need to be a point? The guy’s just a fucking psychopath, and he’s done something awful, that’s the point. Having a point to the whole thing doesn’t make those 4000 guys any less dead, or the 6000 remaining any less traumatized. It doesn’t cheapen their ordeal or make their initial plight any less horrible just because the guy behind it all turned out to just be some psycho who forgot why he made the game.
Oct 7, 2012 @ 12:49 CDT
I thought guilty crown was praised highly, besides the ending but alot of animes have rushed endings.
Oct 7, 2012 @ 12:50 CDT
It very much WAS praised highly, if you count episode 1 and 2 as the was in question.
Oct 7, 2012 @ 12:51 CDT
“I thought guilty crown was praised highly”
Not on this website:
http://seventhstyle.com/2012/07/27/guilty-crown-oppai-mizugi-merchandise/#comment-14198
Oct 7, 2012 @ 13:03 CDT
Wow, when I wrote that comment as an anon, I never thought that it would be used again and again as a short and simple way of saying that Guilty Crown was awful.
Oct 7, 2012 @ 13:10 CDT
“Wow, when I wrote that comment as an anon”
Sure…
Oct 7, 2012 @ 13:16 CDT
I understand that I have no way of proving that it was me, and there isn’t really a point in trying to convince you, but I only got an account about a week ago, and I have been visiting this site since the summer, and I have had comments like G-Guilty Crown featured on SundayStyle before.
Oct 7, 2012 @ 13:42 CDT
I’m mainly jesting – trying to claim the G-Guilty Crown comment is like calling yourself Vash The Stampede.
Whatever the case, I’m certainly eager to read the next G-Guilty Crown.
Oct 7, 2012 @ 13:46 CDT
Only thought of this after but,
G-Guilty Crown
H-Highschool DxD
Oct 7, 2012 @ 13:48 CDT
And S-Sword Art Online comes afterward.
Oct 7, 2012 @ 14:33 CDT
There would just have to be enough shows worse than Guilty Crown, and at the rate anime is declining, that may not be too far out.
Oct 7, 2012 @ 22:00 CDT
EVIL CONSPIRACY INCOMING!!!
But Guilty Crown has better CG than this….yeah that’s all the good things I have to say at all…..even then…nope, nuthin…
But seriously over a long period of time I’ve come to realise that just about everything that Seven tends to direct a lot of attention to somehow flops. (Guilty Crown, Little Busters, this)
Maybe because of the ridiculous amounts of marketing done by the studios, or maybe I get a chance to call it THE CURSE OF SEVEN…I mean how else did THIS
http://seventhstyle.com/2011/10/13/guilty-crown-a-lost-paradise/
turn into
http://seventhstyle.com/2011/12/15/guilty-crown-struggling-to-deliver-excitement/
and eventually turn into….well I won’t even bother…
(on that note, where is Ryan Ashlight?)
What other possible explanation apart from the evil conspiracy for some primate’s attempt to take over the world by first infiltrating the anime studios and causing them to waste so much time and money creating crap, thus destroying the economy and destroying civilization as we know it. inb4 planet of the apes…anime style…
And NO it’s not Seven’s fault, it’s the monkey with ability to draw swords. (and the all the stuff for second half of guilty crown, but that’s probably traced)
BECAUSE I WANT PEOPLE TO FOCUS ON SOMETHING ELSE INSTEAD OF THE WORD SHIT. Why suddenly so toxic, I was away for like a month during SAO release now this shit happened…
Oct 7, 2012 @ 22:02 CDT
I can foretell when a terrible anime series is approaching – I am the oracle.
Oct 7, 2012 @ 22:08 CDT
Which is why you write 5 articles per day on that series and then pretend to hype it up and then have everyone eventually spread the hate of the series because word of mouth is the best form of advertising.
That’s brilliant yet devious at the same time. I like it.
And why is your comments not over 5000 yet.
And where is the guy who wrote the first article? Here I was thinking I did well enough staying away for like an entire month…he disappears without a trace!
Oct 7, 2012 @ 22:10 CDT
“And why is your comments not over 5000 yet.”
My basis for responding to comments is summed up nicely by a mister “Martin Luther King Jr.”:
“If I sought to answer all the criticisms that cross my desk, my secretaries would have little time for anything other than such correspondence in the course of the day, and I would have no time for constructive work. But since I feel that you are men of genuine good will and that your criticisms are sincerely set forth, I want to try to answer your statement in what I hope will be patient and reasonable terms.”
On another note, what first article?
Oct 7, 2012 @ 22:17 CDT
Yeah first one I linked. it’s a bit late for me to use proper structure whatever it was.
http://seventhstyle.com/2011/10/13/guilty-crown-a-lost-paradise/
This guy. He had some good stuff to say about a good amount of things. I couldn’t tell the difference between you and him sometimes. (Ryan Ashlight)
He disappeared off the forums :(
And in regards to MLK jr. You get your own secretary for this?
Oct 7, 2012 @ 22:20 CDT
There was a debate about religion in the chatbox, a now forbidden topic, and connection broke from that point forward.
If the fellow were reading this, I’d certainly welcome him back assuming he wished to return.
And no secretary yet, although since I believe everyone is capable of logic, I attempt to respond to all comments with what I believe to be patient and reasonable terms – albeit sometimes a bit fiery and harsh.
Oct 7, 2012 @ 22:54 CDT
“There was a debate about religion in the chatbox, a now forbidden topic, and connection broke from that point forward.”
wow, a lot of things can happen in SeventhStyle
Oct 7, 2012 @ 22:57 CDT
ಠ_ಠ
“…although since I believe everyone is capable of logic, I attempt to respond to all comments with what I believe to be patient and reasonable terms…”
ಠ_ಠ
You’ve been under the comfort of your own website for way too long. Well I see a bit of that stuff around here some times…And by that 5000 I meant the SAO arguments that just never ends….
Oct 7, 2012 @ 22:59 CDT
“You’ve been under the comfort of your own website for way too long.”
Indeed, hoping everyone is capable of logic is likely being too optimistic.
Oct 9, 2012 @ 14:52 CDT
Although I agree with some of your points, which is true and is reasonable as what makes some of us series, I think your article is too biased and exaggerating “how bad it is” which it isn’t.
Before I start, I’d like to imply that I did not read the novel, so you can be assured that I am not expressing what is “from the novel” while we judge the animation alone.
I’d start my comments on the anime from the positive points first.
First of all, regarding Kayaba Akihiko and why SAO is a death game,
I think this point is rather clear as “why”, Kayaba Akihiko is simply what you would call “mad scientist”, I understand some of that point-of-view as why he would do that, I don’t know whether the “assumptions” from what I get is true or not, but here’s the reasoning I can come up with:
Kayaba did not only want to simply create a game anyone can enter then leave; he want to create a “world” that he can admire (as he says in episode 1), and his way to achieve that is by creating it into the “deathgame” as in the SAO concept.
After the game ends, Kayaba says that he “forgot” why he made it so, that does not mean that “he doesn’t even know why he do that” but more like “he used to know, but has forgotten why”. It has a similar but different meaning.
2 years is a long time. Just like how people fights each other and continuing their cold war for months, while they actually already forgot why they are fighting in the first place.
As for Kayaba’s attitude toward the 4000 who died, He can beg and say sorry, pray etc etc, but doing that would make him out-of-character in all honesty; He is a proud scientist and he keeps his pride to the end with his act. It is bad as attitude of a person, but that is how he is depicted anyway; a great man with twisted mind. Make him out-of-character and this show will go even worse than it is now.
I’d admit that Kayaba and the game is actually a pretty good concept, it really shows how human minds are unpredictable and often unreasonable in nature.
Now, regarding why Kirito is alive, I’m sure someone already stated that it is because the game is already cleared before his brain is fried. That is exactly what I get from the anime series. Here’s my elaboration:
From last episode, it seems that after the people dies in the game, they don’t die immediately but are put on a place in a sky to wait for their death. It is possible that Kayaba made it for the “novelty”, for people to have some “last moments” time. Since I don’t read the novel, from the anime, I assume that Kayaba made that people wait there for more than 10 seconds (despite the ressurection item is only for people who dies within 10 sec) for the sake of novelty, explaining why Asuna still alive later on. (yes, I’ve read spoilers, its everywhere due to the over hype of the anime)
——————————–
Now, the negative points, which more like “the points I agreed on with you”, since you pretty much said most of it!
- Will power, love power, protagonists breaking the system rules etc etc
my reason: They’re in a friggin program, a game with set of rules that everyone can’t break. Well, in this anime, except protagonists. Just like you say in a response to someone before, if sheer willpower can make someone to rewrite part of the system, they should’ve able to log out with that.
This series could be a lot better if only they make it logically explainable rather than just say “its a miracle coz the protagonist has strong willpower/love power” which only makes this show cheesy and cliche.
- The almighty protagonist
Simply put; He’s solo player and claims that solos does not have efficient, fast way to get exp and he takes it easy sometimes like sleeping in meadows, yet he still overlevels most players, and still excels among frontliners, in which frontliners are “heavy and efficient grinders that aims to finish the game fast by becoming stronger fast”
He and Asuna took 2 weeks break from front line too, and once back, they immediately go to the boss, defeat it, while other “frontliners” dies easily even though they grind 2 weeks more than Kirito and Asuna.
- Lack of battle animations
Some “small battle scene” like in episode 1, and episode 13 is actually not that bad, but that’s it. Only a few frames of excitement, continued with crap, like in episode 14 beginning, where the boss suddenly already at 1% health, and his death is zoomed-out view of the boss falling with yellow lights flashing in same place. So bad you can’t even say its a battle scene.
-Concept of 2 year isolated in a digital world
This concept is flawed in a way that anyone who enters SAO is either dead or lose their job or future prospects. 2 years of not working? 2 years of not receiving education? Its kinda too unrealistic.
I’m not sure if it is the novel that did not think of that or that it is the anime that is not representing it, from what I watch, I can only say good luck catching up 2 years worth of school or getting a new job to the players, not to mention where did their medications and electricity comes from, which the anime only mentions its “hospital and companies support” which I think needs further elaboration.
- Sequels in another online game
Sequels is not bad if it is done properly. But SAO plot was too unrealistic to have sequel in another online game.
In reality, after an incident like this, most people’s action would be:
* Parents will not allow their kids play with nerve gear anytime soon
* The victims (in this case, Kirito and friends) could probably busy trying to catch up their 2 years worth of education that they can’t even play games much
* Game companies will consider before investing in “nerve gear games” since it is too risky to make one right after an incident of such game that causes 4000 people dies and 6000 isolated in the game for 2 years.
- The overratedness
Lets all be honest here; I’m sure the majority of people who hates SAO is due to how there are a lot of idiots who goes “OH GAWD SAO BEZT ANIMU EVA! <3 <3 <3" while we see that SAO is too mediocre to be rated that good, which causes us want to shout to them "BEST YOUR ASS, IT SUCKS, HERE IS WHY! THERE'S MANY ANIME BETTER THAN THAT".
Guess that's all.
All in all, I can at least give SAO 6/10. At the very least it manages to keeps me watching it up until now, despite how crappy it is. I usually drop crappy series fast, as fast as episode 1-4. I don't even continue watching Guilty Crown past episode 13, so I guess SAO is still better than GC to me.
Also, there are a lot of other animes worse than this, so bad they don't even deserve to be called animes. Prolly those "trying to sound sophisticated but don't explain shits" and "fulltime-cockteasers" animes that I'll give around 0/10 to 4/10 score and usually dropped around episode 1 – 4.
Oct 9, 2012 @ 15:06 CDT
“but here’s the reasoning I can come up with:”
That’s all your own speculation is the problem – and not only that, but you’re deriving it based on what? Two or three scenes? Because of the 14 episodes, there’s nearly no plot relevant scenes.
The episode has failed to develop the characters – I shouldn’t have to tell you that after episode one, the series went into irrelevant harem side-stories or other meaningless ventures.
“it really shows how human minds are unpredictable and often unreasonable in nature. ”
No it doesn’t, because of the reason aforementioned – if it were in-depth like that, then the series would have actually gone in-depth, not into a cliched romance.
“which causes us want to shout to them”
Who is “us”? You’re the only one I’ve seen do that.
Oct 9, 2012 @ 16:36 CDT
“Who is us?”
Unfortunately, I’m part of it . I go to an online game forum, there is the key word “online game”. In there, SAO is so wanked out, I would wan’t to burst. Generally I try to ignore SAO , beacause I didn’t like it and I dropped it. I don’t criticize something I haven’t finished yet, so my most viabe action was to ignore it. It’s hard ignoring it, if it’s as wanked up as SAO as it’s mentioned all the time.
What I don’t like about the comment is, him using numbers to rate anime. I do agree however with SAO not being the worst, I’ve dropped shows on a worse note than it. But just because something is worse, doesn’t make it any less terrible.
Oct 9, 2012 @ 17:07 CDT
I believe there is a specific difference in showing disagreement – or joining ranks of ignorance. Interceding with poorly written all caps text is much different than simply going “I disagree, and here is why:” or similar.
Oct 10, 2012 @ 2:31 CDT
While it is true, I don’t specifically want to ignorantly post hate comments. I think his comment leans more on the fact; people overrating SAO may cause more hatred than intended. This may be true for me, seeing people post; “OH GAWD SAO BEZT ANIMU EVA! <3 <3 <3"(While not written like that, the idea is there) gets me riled up. And while it's true that, I will control my temper and try to make a valid statement. It might also be true that, part of my hate comes from it being overrated.
Oct 9, 2012 @ 18:11 CDT
I like how the negatives clearly outnumber the positives you mentioned in the anime
Oct 24, 2012 @ 12:41 CDT
Well I know one thing if an anime/manga has doujin coming out of the woodworks then it has a favorable chance to live. Don’t believe me just look up the anime doujin and see how many there r
Nov 19, 2012 @ 19:55 CDT
I agree with you that SAO is a really bad anime, but Guilty Crown wasn’t THAT bad.
Nov 30, 2012 @ 7:02 CDT
Love you, love your blog, everything you said about SAO is seriously true and it’s just how I felt (but you expressed it better)
seriously, it’s annoying this is getting popular… why why why WHY???
There’s so much more anime out there that is outstanding in one or many points than SAO
yet people are screaming for it, yeesh….
The anime adaptation was worse, it cut out so many details and made it even worse
yeah, I’m still freakin’ annoyed by how Asuna could move and how Kirito could still move after death – not even explained, shit thing – -a
and heck how Kabaya “forgots” why he made the game… oh right
people have to read this blog … they are watching too less anime to judge that ooooh SAO is the AOTY! SAO is the BEST!!! you fwucgar – -** (damn I’m so annoyed that good animes are being overlooked << look at BTOOOM!)
Dec 8, 2012 @ 21:49 CDT
I think whether one likes sword art online or not is a matter of personal opinion.
Perhaps the anime may not provide details, and one needs to read the light novel to get the full story, but it doesn’t mean it’s outright bad.
Why is it popular?
Dec 9, 2012 @ 10:26 CDT
*I’m going to make a statement that disregards all these comments I didn’t read in the hopes they look incorrect*
*asks question that has already been asked numerous times in hopes it sounds logical*
Dec 16, 2012 @ 4:04 CDT
I watched up to episode 15.. At the start the show had potential. Pretty cool idea, not extremely original but hey. Then came the side stories and the time skips.. Basically any character development happens off screen in this show or instantly for no real reason. There’s so much cliche romance bs in it. Most of the characters aren’t really interesting at all. It’s been said here that Klein would have made a better mc and I agree. About episode 14 and Asuna’s “power of love”, I was hoping maybe that the GM would have done something interesting like disable her paralisys knowing she would throw herself into the blade or something, but no we got bs that especially doesn’t work on this anime because this is software were talking about not a magic world. I’ll accept that kind of stuff in gurren Lagann because it was actually fun to watch though. The whole product lacked creativity. The enemy designs were boring and there was nothing special about any of the fights. Also being able so dual weild swords seems like something anyone should be able to do.. I could name a bunch of rpg’s that let you do it right off the bat. If I was playing the game myself I’d think it was pretty lame but whatever. And one more thing, normally side episodes make sense in a show with 100+ episodes and are used to introduce a character that will actually stay relevant but they wasted a great deal if the first arc introducing characters that never show up again instead of developing the plot or existing characters. Oh and I’m not even going to get into the second arc, I saw one episode of it and it was just awful.
Dec 16, 2012 @ 4:18 CDT
Oh and one more thing, I hate that none of the characters stop for a second to think about why Kabaya or w.e would make the game at all. No one wonders if there is some kind of motive or special reason for it. Also the ghost of that one woman in episode 6 I think, no one questioned that. Could their conscious be downloaded into the game when they die, trapped forever? No aperently. The characters never thought about it because the author never even thought about it, obviously Kabaya had no reason to make that game as we know. The author didn’t seem to put any effort into the plot, it only existed so he/she could write a love story about Kirito and Asuna.
Dec 16, 2012 @ 6:54 CDT
“The author didn’t seem to put any effort into the plot, it only existed so he/she could write a love story about Kirito and Asuna.”
Exactly, many inconsistencies, events that don’t make any sense, no explanations for the most part, the author clearly (or the production of the anime) didn’t care for the story, the whole thing was set up for the cliche romance of Kirito and Asuna, and most recently, the incestual desires of his sister to him.
Dec 16, 2012 @ 7:16 CDT
Well, why would he bother putting in any effort when he could get a bunch of mindless idiots to buy his crappy series, which would make him rich.
Dec 16, 2012 @ 12:15 CDT
Oh man that pairing is terrible. The author tries to make it okay by saying “Hey it’s cool, there only cousins!” And then the whole soa community freaks out when you say it’s weird. It is weird, I don’t care if its okay they are cousins, they grew up together like brother and sister.
Dec 16, 2012 @ 17:23 CDT
“Hey, it’s cool. This show sucks anyways”
Dec 16, 2012 @ 17:33 CDT
He probably had a sister and he wanted to have incest with her, but unlike him, she was a successful person in life – so he decided to go this route instead.
Dec 16, 2012 @ 23:06 CDT
Exactly.
Dec 23, 2012 @ 10:39 CDT
1. Kirigaya’s family died when he was a little kid and so the only “sister” he got was Suguha
2. Kirigaya found out they were just cousins when he was 10 and thus distanced himself from Suguha
3. He decided after he returned from SAO that he would spend more time with Suguha
4. As for your insecurity, relations between non-immediate family like cousins is not “weird” in Japanese culture. Even though Kirigaya has no romantic feelings for Suguha like she did for him
Dec 23, 2012 @ 10:54 CDT
I appreciate your irrelevant reply. If only it had more relevance to my comment, I’d give you a more relevant reply too.
Dec 16, 2012 @ 12:23 CDT
Also there seems to be no rhyme or reason as to why she loves Kirito, she just does because the author wants to have an incest pairing.
Dec 16, 2012 @ 17:25 CDT
It’s required as per paragraph I, section VI of the Protagonist Code.
Jan 13, 2013 @ 18:08 CDT
1; Guilty Crown was F**KING awesome in my opinion..
2; SAO was even F**KING better!
I’d be sad if there wouldn’t be a season three, which prolly will be the case..
Feb 15, 2013 @ 6:08 CDT
“In spite of the heavy emphasis on 10,000 people stranded in a virtual world”
You use the words “heavy emphasis”…I don’t think you know what it means….
There was little even mention of them being stuck in the game.
May 20, 2013 @ 9:08 CDT
Well there should have been, because, oh, I don’t know, that was the ENTIRE PREMISE OF THE ANIME?