Review of Sword Art Online

Only one life? Sounds like some hard core game right? Well this isnt a game, and that life is your actual life on the line... Story: This is one of my favorite stories. For our time where the gaming industry is rapidly developing due to advancements like the Kinect, the reality of being the character in the game is not so far fetched. Also since video games are a major part in the lives of many people, concepts like life bars and skill trees are easy to understand and make for an interesting story. (10) Art: A dynamic art style for a action packed visual anime. The art isawesome, the way characters move around and fight are well animated and action packed. Watching as your favorite character finishes off a mighty monster is just epic. (10)

Sound:
The sound make the anime. The dynamic music during action scenes put you on edge as you watch the characters movements. Then during heart pounding love scenes that make you want to cry the music plays along to further develop the scene. Vocals are also well recorded and fit in well for the characters they fill in for. (10)

Character:
Well developed and loving characters. You learn to love the characters as they are developed fairly well in this short anime. You won't want any character to be lost to this game from hell because of how well they are developed and the impact they make to you and the story. Only thing preventing a perfect score is character trait changes halfway through the show. (9)

Enjoyment:
This is where things go hairy. I enjoyed this anime, yet i also didn't. This anime is by far a great watch for any anime lover. But it all goes down halfway through the first season where major characters from the first half make almost no appearance and a main character goes from a strong character to a damsel in distress. It was still very good but with these character changes and some other small details changed, it makes the first half of the first season more enjoyable than the second. (8)

This anime was one of my favorites, until half way through. lots of great moments that have feeling put into them. The anime is also much better than the manga equivalent, it improves and puts it in its dust. But the fatal flaw of SAO is that it cuts off from the main story element too early halfway through. This takes a great idea, a great story, great characters, and something beautiful, and turns it into a cheesy prince saving the princess story that doesn't fulfill my wants in an action packed anime. SAO is filled with great moments that you won't forget, but because of a horrid half way season climax and the second part of the season it losses all of its luster. I love this anime, it goes under one of my favorites, but because of a bad decision it ruins the story majorly. A great show that outdoes its manga and makes something great. It pains me to give it a 7/10 because of how much of an impact it made to me. But i can't let the fact that poor decisions were made, and so the score is deserving.

Thank you: and,
Live long and prosper under the light of the sun.