Review of Sword Art Online

Intro Sword Art Online is a very popular Anime, currently being #4 one the most-watched Anime on MAL at the time of this review. However, while usually correlated, popularity does not equal quality. Here, I'll be specifically examining the first two arcs - Aincrad and Fairy Dance. Story - 6/10 The base idea of the show is fine, as being trapped in a video game seems interesting. However, SAO doesn't use this concept to its full potential. It never tries to examine what this would be like, never uses the unique traits of a video game to any real effect to make it interesting and doesn't ever seemto want to be something more. This is just the first arc - the second arc story is worse, as without the threat of being trapped with a game with true death, the plot proceeds to shift to a "Save the Princess" type of story. It's an unoriginal idea, with an unoriginal execution.

Art - 7/10
Sword Art Online's art style is quite possibly the most average anime art style I can conceive. It is literally what every 12 year old tries to draw. It is nothing exceptionally good or bad. I don't hate it or love it. It simply is. It's actually hard to rate because there simply isn't really much to say. The animation is also fine, it's nothing to write home about, and it doesn't look like Ex-Arm, so it's fine I suppose.

Sound - 8/10
To add some positivity to this review, I did enjoy the music of SAO. It's not a masterpiece, but is it definitely one of the better parts of the show. For example, Swordland is a very nice theme. Listening to it as I write this, it sounds very much like a boss battle in a video game, which is perfect for the show. The openings and endings are also quite nice if a little generic.

Characters - 5/10
Sword Art Online's characters happen to be quite possibly the weakest point. First off, about Kirito - what does he want? Deku wants to be a hero, Eren wants to kill the titans, and Kirito... wants a higher level I guess. If there wasn't that scene in Episode 1 where Kirito explicitly states how much he loves the game, I don't think I ever would have realized he likes it. Kirito feels less like a character, and more of a vessel for cool stuff to happen when it needs to. What happened with Sachi was good, and his conversation with Asuna about it was also good, but exploring one experience does not make a good character alone.

You'll notice I haven't spoken about the other characters yet. This is because they are nothing to speak of. Asuna is Kirito's girlfriend, she's nice, a good player (until Fairy Dance), and is Kirito's girlfriend. Silica and Lisbeth are also people, and also like Kirito. Yui is a little girl, and also proceeds to violently break all suspension of disbelief when it comes to programming. Leafa is Kirito's sister, and even she wants Kirito's Starburst Stream, genetics be damned. Klein gets so little screentime that it has become a meme. Agil gets too little screen time to even become a meme.

The antagonists aren't developed properly at all. Kayaba Akihiko's reasons for trapping ten thousand people aren't elaborated upon enough for the viewer to give him much thought. Sugou is a rapist, and that is all you need to know. That is the essence of the main villain of Fairy Dance. Rape.

TL;DR - The characters aren't good.

Enjoyment - 7/10
Now, I know this review may come off as spewing vitriol, but I like to make this part known: I got enjoyment out of this series. I liked Kirito vs gleam Eyes, I enjoyed watching the Final fight of Aincard, I even loved Fairy Dance.

Nah, just joking on that last bit, Fairy dance was TRASH.

Honestly, I have terrible taste. However, I'm able to analyze works of fiction on deeper levels and see if they hold up to my scrutiny. In fact, I enjoy having trash taste, because it allows me to like what most people don't. Ignorance is bliss and all that.

Conclusion - 6/10
Sword Art Online holds many flaws. Aincard wasn't the best, and Fairy Dance was really bad. If you're interested in the base concept for this series, I suggest you look at Log Horizon or .Hack, which hold similar premises, from what I hear. SAO has been quite influential on the "Isekai" genre, but not every influence is a good one. I would not recommend it. It's far from the worst, but there are better shows to watch. If you liked Aincraid Arc, there's a remake called SAO: Progressive in the works, so maybe you could also give that a try.

P.S. If there is one major chance I would give to the Anime, I would nuke Fairy Dance from orbit and give the whole season to Aincraid.