Review of Sword Art Online
*Everybody who reads this: PLEASE understand that this is my opinion, and even though you might not agree, I have an opinion too, and I would like it to be respected, just how you expect to have your opinion respected. Just because I thought that something was better than you thought or worse than you thought, doesn't mean that I did a "Bad review". If I did a "Bad Review" than I wouldn't have cared to make a review in the firstplace. Also, I can understand if I might have said something that offended you, upset you, or whatever, but I literally can't quite helpthat. I certainly can make a review that deserves "Constructive Criticism", but I certainly don't intend on EVER making a "Bad Review" of anything. Anyway, rant over. Onto another review.
Sword Art Online is definitely one of those anime that caught me a little off-guard. I was kinda expecting a whole lot from it, but it didn't exactly deliver it how I wanted it to.
The Story revolves around this thing called the Nerve Gear, which puts you into a virtual reality state within video games, which is AWESOME! Sword Art Online was one of the first games on the market with the Nerve Gear, and only around 10,000 people could get it. Kirito was one of those people, but there was a catch that people didn't realize. Once you go into the game, you are stuck there, and if you die in the game, you die in real life. That was an interesting twist, but once they went ahead into the next couple of episodes, apparently there was a time skip that confused the hell out of me, and there weren't any explanations to it. Also, along the way Kirito meets up with various different characters, primarily women, who help him along his journey to defeat all the levels of the game, which apparently is the only way out of the game. Then, apparently when the stuff with SAO was done, a new game called Alfheim online came out, and in this one, if you die in the game, its actually okay... what? The only major problem I had with this was the fact that it was a bit too rushed with the story, especially with Sword Art part. I am surprised I even am giving it the score that I am, but it was still well done. (8/10)
The Art was simply amazing. For an anime that came out only a few years ago, it surpassed my expectations with the artistry and physics engine within the anime. Now, it wasn't perfect, because I have seen slightly better within 2012, but it was VERY well done, except for a couple of minor parts that I nitpicked. (9/10)
The Sound was pretty good, but it wasn't great. There were definitely some excessively used songs in it that were very well placed and are epic, but the opening and endings were more mediocre, simply because they were a bit wonky for my taste. (8/10)
Now, unfortunately, I have to say that the characters were probably the worst aspect of this anime. Now, Kirito and Asuna are probably one of the best anime romances I have seen in awhile, despite it being somewhat forced, but that is because mostly of the situation. However, all the other characters were mostly there to fulfill their respective roles, and that was pretty much it. They were special in their own way, but they weren't great, nor horrible. (7/10)
Overall, this anime did its job and compelled me to watch further, and it was very enjoyable, but there were apparent mistakes with the story, characters, etc. that were apparent, so I didn't rate it too highly. It is well deserved to get this rating, but Sword Art Online II doesn't deserve nowhere near as much praise....simply because Sword Art actually concluded their story, and plus...it is pretty bad anyway...just saying (And no, I am not trying to make a review of it, because I don't even think its worthy of that, and that is my honest opinion, so don't get your panties in a wad, if I don't like the anime you do.)