Review of Sword Art Online Alternative: Gun Gale Online

From the get go I was really turned off by the way they made this all bright and warm compared to the brooding original. The complex also seemed rather overplayed -- to be an almost turn off. I guess everyone has their reason to want a new self though--even if it's unintentionally catfishing. Still friends don't care about visuals as much. Didn't realize until years later that this is kind of a doujin of sorts so decided to give it a try from a fresh glance. It was a rough start for sure (took 2 or 3 restarts to actually make it through it.), but Iheard even a lot of people who didn't even enjoy the original series rave about how much potential it had-- comparing to the Aincrad arc. After getting passed the 3rd episode though, I see what they meant. It's an easy watch.

Sure there wasn't a single surprising moment, and there were some horribly obvious plot armor that was cringey (even for me). But that said, between the contrast of real life to online life as well as "the friendships we made along the way" -- it's a show I'd probably rewatch atleast once. It was also fascinating to watch someone play the game with the game mechanic in mind as well as a technical noob's perspective. Like I said, the show definitely had its flaws..and then some. But it lives up to the original series in it's own crooked way. Had you asked me to rate this when I dropped it, I probably would have given it a one...maybe a two given that I thought it was written from the SAO author. But on second glance -- while watching I was constantly contemplating if it deserved a seven..or maybe a high six.

I think it would have been an easier watch had it not been associated to SAO officially, although I understand it's from the same universe. I'd argue it has further resemblance to other shows. But that aside -- trying to give this show the most objective score I can I'll give it an eight due to how fair paced this was. Also, between the last 4 episodes as well as just how beautiful the sound was for this, it does in some way carve out to be a really good watch. It gives me a newfound respect to ReOna and Aoi Eir. They really helped to capture the rollercoaster that this show should have been. To say the least, I was on the edge of my seat.
We get to meet Pit in real life too, which albeit cheesy and a bit generic -- was also really cool to see her in relation to her...personality.

All in all it's a C or D tier plot-- nothing new, but if you can actually watch your way through it-- it's a B tier production.

While I don't think the story writing can really hold a flame to the original creation of SAO (i.e. Aincrad SAO only), nor the darker more edgier concept -- I'd argue it's wayyyyyy better then GGO. It feels like a brighter version of what GGO SHOULD have been.
Honestly, I'd even contemplate it might be better then Ordinal Scale which as a whole I REALLY enjoyed. A bonus 10 points that they don't use rape or harrassment at all; additionally no truly shit villains -- just humans playing a game that reflect their real personality