Review of Sword Art Online Alternative: Gun Gale Online

As someone who dropped SAO for various reasons, watching this was a refreshing return to the SAO universe, as a sort of "reboot" or rather spin-off in the same universe. I won't get into the faults of the original SAO, but this stand rightly on its own as being entertaining and extremely watchable. While not really a masterpiece in any sort of standard it does an outstanding job in characters, plot and animation. I think the thing about this is that its refreshing for action series and the SAO universe. The stakes at going in are very low and remain low which allows the charactersand the watcher to have fun and enjoy it.

And really that has been the problem with every single almost every MMO-Game anime ( the exception being Log Horizon) is that it becomes way too serious for its subject matter, missing the point entirely of games and the sort of characters and reasoning people get into games.

As such this is very much enjoyable. Seeing LLEN kick ass, M being super strategic, PITOU be crazy, The determination of SHINC and their eventual alter identities is enjoyable and watchable.

I would best compare to this to Railgun in being a side story that performs overall better than the main story, becuase it doesn't carry any of that baggage of a serious story or world changing plot. Instead, it can be fun and have fun.

I am writing this review however to just warn this is a very front loaded show. The quality definitely drops towards the end episode but not the last episode. Its certainly annoying studios do this but overall its still a fun ride at that point to continue.

There are plot holes as well littered about and some pretty obvious reveals. However I think this anime is unique enough in various aspects to overlook those flaws.