Review of Sword Art Online: Alicization - War of Underworld Part 2

Please note this review is intended to be read by those that have finished watching Sword Art Online Alicization and while care has been taken to minimize spoilers there may still be spoilers present. Proceed at your own risk. Please note while Sword Art Online Alicization has been divided into four cours as outlined by A1 pictures the four cours collectively represent the Alicization story arc as a whole. As a result, rather than create separate reviews for the different cours this review will instead cover the events and development that the cast experienced as they fought through the events of the four respective cours.Thank you for your understanding.

Based off a popular light novel of the same name Sword Art Online is an Action, Adventure, and romance genre anime that gives us the unique opportunity to see what will happen if one day after being seriously injured while protecting the person that you care dearest about that instead of hopping on the ray of light that will take you to meet your creator that instead, you find yourselves waking up in a brand new world that’s reminiscent of a fantasy world that features swords, dragons, evil and cunning masterminds who run the only church in town and evil demi-humans who are determined to conquer the human realm in the name of their gods. Now thrust into not only a brand new world but also forced to join a titanic war to protect not just this new land but also the lives of the many friends and allies that he had made in the course of his travels Kirito must draw upon not just every ounce of his skill as a swordsman but also the many bonds of friendship and comradeship that had been forged in the VRMMO worlds that Kirito and his friends had explored and fought in. Only then would Kirito and his allies have a chance of stopping the evil machinations of an enemy that was determined to take all that is good about the world of Underworld and transform it into a means to revolutionize warfare in the 21st century.

The core concept of Sword Art Online had always been one that focused on not only exploring the many new worlds that had the opportunity to come into existence via the seed system but also forging bonds of friendship with like-minded companions and allies that share one’s passion for not only exploring such worlds but also explore the many mysteries that lay within such worlds. In this, while the core concept of the series can be said to be the enjoyment of the many game worlds that were able to come into existence thanks to the tech advances of the 21st century in the form of VRMMO’s within SAO this is married to the series trademarked combat skills in the form of sword skills that allow its users to unleash powerful attacks within the game worlds that can be used to devastate their enemies player or enemy alike. When used in conjunction with powerful villains and plots that are one of the hallmarks of the series this ensures that each adventure within SAO is filled with battles that are both highly entertaining and yet also ones that have extremely high stakes where the lives of innocents are caught in the crossfire and it is here in Underworld that I will say this aspect of SAO is shown the best for here nothing less than an entire world and its people are under threat from people who care only about what they will gain from harming others and not the amount of damage that they can do to the those caught in the crossfire.

Back in Summer 2012 when SAO first aired, I remember quite fondly on the unique ideas that it presented in the form of the many virtual worlds that can be experienced not by looking at the world through a screen as current tech restricts us too but rather through the tech of the 21st century that allowed players to enter that world virtually. Whether as a fan of anime, LN’s or games this concept of exploring new worlds, making new friends and allies, and doing battle with powerful villains both in-game and in the real world to protect something dear to you all was something that resonated with me. And it is here in Sword Art Online Alicization that I felt this struggle to protect something that may not be seen as worth it by others but yet is vital to you and your friends and allies is best represented for it is here that nothing short of war is being fought to protect not just the fragile society that lay within Underworld but also the lives of hundreds of innocents that have been caught in the machinations of mankind’s worst enemy aka Greed. Being able to see such a grand tale that combined the trademarked tension-filled combat with overwhelming enemies with the desperate stand to protect a brand new world while fighting side by side with allies old and new I felt was the main aspect that drew me to this series and one that I felt was rewarded greatly because of the level of enjoyment that I got from it.

Story and setting

The overall story of the series takes place within the world of Underworld a world that can be said to be reminiscent of the ones that are usually found within European high fantasy settings and follows the life of Kazuto Kirigaya a Japanese high school student from the real world who despite his young age had already overcome the threat of death countless times as a result of his alter ego’s skill as the famed Black Swordsmen of the VRMMO world Kirito. After becoming the victim of a terrible attack that saw him get injured severely Kirito after waking up finds himself mysteriously transported not to the local ER as one would imagine being at but rather in a clearing deep within a forest in a world that looks far too real to be a dream. But as Kirito explores this brand new world to which he finds himself seemingly trapped in Kirito starts to realize that while this world was beautiful and its people were living in a society that was seemingly at peace where hard work and loyalty to one’s gods were justly rewarded that beneath the surface were many powers that were working in secret to destabilize this peaceful life that the people of Underworld lived. Now faced with the difficult choice of not only finding and beating the chief villain that had the world of Underworld in her thrall but also having to defend it from an invasion of hostile human players that were summoned thanks to the machinations of countries concerned with only leading the world Kirito must fight his hardest to both protect this world and the people that he holds dearest to his heart. But this is a war that not even the famed Black swordsmen will be able to fight against alone and alone he shall not be. For striding forth and joining their blades with his is a host of allies and friends both old and new who share Kirito’s determination to protect both the innocents of the Underworld but also the sanctity of the VR world for to them the VR world is a realm that not only transcends borders and continents but cultures as well and allows people from all walks of life to not only explore new worlds together but also form lasting friendships and bonds with one another in a world when anything is possible. As the enemy approaches Kirito and his allies their blades drawn and their morale high from standing side by side with friends and comrades from across the VR world stands ready to give it their all.

Kirito

Kazuto Kirigaya portrayed by veteran voice actor Yoshitsugu Matsuoka of Buddy Complex and Daimachi fame is one of the main characters of the series and is the primary protagonist of the series. An 18-year-old teenager Kazuto who is more popularly known by others as his famed ingame avatar Kirito the Black swordsmen was shown to be a quiet, calm, and composed person by nature that always strived to deal with the problems that he encounters whether in-game or in the real world with rational thought and an eye on ensuring that the results will be one that is beneficial to all parties involved a fact that is shown well in the many trials that he has managed to overcome through not just force of arms but also through the creative use of his intellect and his ability to adapt to situations on the fly. While known widely as the famed solo player Kirito the Black swordsmen Kirito rather than being someone that enjoyed seeking out and fighting strong enemies to prove his skill with the blade was instead shown to be someone that can be said to be the opposite of that image. While certainly skilled with the blade that was borne through the many hours that he has spent playing VRMMO’s Kirito for his part seen to be someone that preferred to stay away from the many struggles that strength at arms and fame will bring to one instead preferring to simply enjoy the experience of being able to explore the many different and visually impressive worlds that have come into fruition thanks to the advances made in VR tech.

While a quiet and calm person by nature that preferred to keep to himself Kirito was also shown to be someone that was kind, friendly, and understanding of others and while prone to not being able to read the room at times was someone that was shown to be very loyal to his friends and comrades and actively looked out for them and willing to help them overcome their troubles when needed no matter the odds arrayed against him a fact that is best shown in his determination to help Sinon during the events of Gun Gale Online as well as his efforts to help Asuna find the true Yuuki within the real world. While initially shown to be someone that actively avoided adventuring with other players in MMO’s thanks to bad experiences in the past Kirito as a result of the overcoming of the death trap that SAO had become was shown to have matured greatly both physically and mentally learning to instead of building walls around himself to instead open his heart to others and learn to place his trust in the skills and knowledge that others possess instead of trying to do everything himself. This aspect of Kirito I felt while doing well in helping Kirito grow as a person both mentally and physically also served to forge a deep sense of friendship and comradeship between Kirito and the many friends and comrades that he has made and encountered in the many VR worlds that he has fought across. While at times they may be at a loss on how to deal with the sassy, overconfident, and overly optimistic Black Swordsman these friends and comrades all know that Kirito is someone that will fight with both bravery and determination to protect not only the people dearest to him but also be trusted to act a tireless defender of the sanctity of the VRMMO Worlds that they all collectively cherish. It is such bonds of friendship and a desire to protect the sacred worlds that have been created thanks to advances in technology that ensures that Kirito the Black Swordsmen will be able to face down the darkest demons and most foul of humans to protect the very things that are the most vital in their eyes.

While Kirito’s skills at arms and his nigh unbreakable bonds of friendship that he shares with not just fellow survivors and VRMMO players served to make him a formidable fighter it can be said that this is enhanced by the unique views and beliefs that he has developed as a result of his journeys across the many VR worlds he has come to witness. More than anything Kirito is someone that believes fervently that the worlds created via VRMMO’s are not merely empty worlds that can be used as a madmen’s playground as Vassago did nor were they simply a toolbox that Gabriel saw them as but rather each world was a unique entity that not only provided players with a rich world to explore and challenge but also offer opportunities for people of different nationalities and walks of life to encounter each other, befriend each other and have fun together in a space that transcends borders, continents, and cultures. When used in conjunction with the unique belief that the people of Underworld were not merely programs but real people this served to ensure that Kirito would fight even harder to protect this new world that had been inadvertently created and was facing destruction at the hands of mankind’s oldest enemy Greed.

Overall the character of Kirito I felt was one that was both well designed and developed with his gradual evolution from a quiet, calm and composed person who was socially awkward and reluctant to fight alongside others to someone that not only learned the true value of having friends and allies that you can count upon but also the joy at being able to explore the VR world with them being especially well done. While serving to awaken and develop the core bonds and light the first embers of his motivation this act of forging friendships with like-minded gamers while walking the many realms of the VR world had managed to endow Kirito with a deep sense of appreciation for not only the technical marvels that VR worlds bring but also of the many societies that have also been created as well. When combined with his trademarked kindness and caring nature this ensures that Kirito would not see the people of the VR worlds not as mere data but people that are every bit as real as himself and is every bit worthy of fighting for no matter the odds against him for to Kirito and his friends the VR world is not just a mere game but it is their home and a home is always worth fighting for. More than anything whether you like him or not as a character Kirito perfectly embodies what a hero is in that they were not born as one but instead are just normal human being who chose to step up and take on a dangerous mission that can prove fatal to him and his friends if he failed and in this war, a hero is just what underworld needed to thwart the machinations of the invaders.

Eugeo

Eugeo portrayed by Nobunaga Shimazaki of Kiznaiver and Active Raid fame is one of the main characters of the series and is one of Kirito’s allies within the series. At the start of the series Eugeo was from initial appearances an 11-year-old teenager that was quiet, positive, and hardworking and while certainly curious about the nature of the outside world was seemingly content with living in his home village of Rulid and live out his life performing the woodcutter role that had been handed down through the generations of his family. However, this life of repetition and boredom soon changed upon Eugeo’s encounter with an enigmatic stranger that he had found deep within the forests that lay near his village a certain fellow named Kirito. Whether by fate or not Eugeo’s encounter with Kirito was too dramatically alter the destiny that Eugeo’s life would have for instead of living and continuing his duty as a woodcutter to the end of his life before passing the sacred duty to his descendants Eugeo would not only accomplish his sacred task but also become the first of his family to take up the mantle of becoming a swordsman. After meeting Kirito and becoming fast friends with him Eugeo’s personality gradually begins to change.

At the beginning of the series while a quiet person by nature that preferred to stay apart from others Eugeo was someone that was also friendly, kind, and caring and while wary of others was someone that can be seen to wear their heart on their sleeve as shown when he helped Kirito not only get his bearings but also help him get used to his village. Though at first somewhat put off by Kirito’s lack of knowledge regarding basic Underworld concepts like the Stacia window Eugeo rather than belittling him for forgetting them instead sought to do the opposite in teaching him everything that he needed to get by showing well his kindness and desire to help others in need and in doing so forming the first real friendship that he had since the departure of his cherished friend Alice. As the series goes on and Eugeo and Kirito’s bond deepened it become apparent that Eugeo was someone that bore an immense sense of regret and guilt over the taking of his childhood friend Alice by the Axiom Church and was the main reason for Eugeo keeping his distance from others of the village as he was scared of ever thinking of leaving the village and going after her a fact that caused great pain to both him and his friends within the village. However, this sense of loss and regret soon began to change and be reformed into a potent sense of motivation for Eugeo as a result of both Kirito’s teachings of the sword but also of the potential that Eugeo can wash away his shame and guilt by visiting the capital and joining the church as swordsmen to determine Alice’s fate. After this injection of fresh hope into his blood Eugeo’s personality gradually begins to mature.

While remaining quiet, calm, and polite Eugeo by the time of joining the Swordcraft Academy was seen to have become relatively honest with his feelings and treated everyone that he met not with the wariness of the past but with the due respect and humility that he felt that they deserve as shown in his relationships with both his seniors and his and Kirito’s young pages Tiese and Ronnie whom he treated warmly and kindly, unlike the other nobles that populate the academy. However despite being more open with his feelings and still very much determined to rescue his childhood friend Eugeo was still bound to the laws of the world however unfair they were which served to impose a potent limit on the amount of strength that he can wield against aggressors even if justified in using it as shown in his initial inaction when presented with apparently justified evildoing of the worst examples of nobility that was perpetrated against his dear friends and pages. However while terrible these events served to allow Eugeo to finally break free of the last shackles that restrained his heart and finally allow him to open up the true path that he was destined to take which is that of a swordsman. Though the events of that night were grave it's in the aftermath of that tragic event that would lead Eugeo to rediscover not only the sense of regret that he had long harbored inside him but also reforge it into a potent catalyst that would allow him for the first time in his life stand against the very institution that had created this world that of the fearsome Axiom church and their fearsome integrity knights that Eugeo openly loathes as well as the one that started this world the enigmatic leader known only as administrator. This catalyst while not as grand as Kirito’s quest to find a way to exit this world was nonetheless the one thing that he needed to push himself to join his dear friend and take the first steps in both changing himself and in changing the way that the world had been advancing even if it meant having to fight against the very friend that he had hoped to save.

While level-headed and rational it can be seen that surprisingly Eugeo is also someone that had trouble reining in his emotions at times which is best shown in the hatred that he displayed towards the first integrity knights that he and Kirito encountered. However, while the knights are certainly deserving of the hate that Eugeo views them with on account of the actions that they take as part of their duties what I admired the most about Eugeo here was that even though they were enemies that he had to stake his whole life against that after crossing blades with them and gradually understanding them as individuals that he was able to empathize them and realize that despite commanding the godly powers that they are famed for that they too are limited by the fact that they were still human and must obey the orders that they are given regardless of their views. This ability to let go of one’s hatred which while powerful can only serve to put you in a never-ending spiral of self-destruction I felt showed well in how Eugeo matured within the series both physically and emotionally. The character of Eugeo I felt was one that was well designed and developed with his gradual evolution from a quiet, calm and friendly person who hid his pent up guilt and regret that he developed from not being to save his precious friend to one that was not only willing to stand up to the tyranny of the Axiom Church and the world that it had created without sacrificing his core values and loyalty to his friends and comrades being especially well done as shown in the tenaciousness that he displayed when forging their path up the floors of the church. While Eugeo’s base personality traits can be said to be the total opposite of his best friend Kirito I felt that within the series these traits served to resonate relatively well with Kirito’s serving to both provide Kirito with an effective comrade in arms on the battlefield while also serving to provide him with a friend that can serve to balance out his unique eccentrics which is perhaps best shown during their time at the academy as well as during their accent of the levels of the Axiom Church in their quest to change the world.

Alice

Alice Zuberg portrayed by veteran seiyuu Ai Kayano of 3 Gatsu No Lion and Konosuba fame is one of the main characters of the series and is one of the primary heroines of the series. In her initial appearances, Alice was introduced as the eldest daughter of the village chief of Rulid village and was shown to be a kind, caring, and playful person by nature that was ever friendly and was seen by many as the true spark of the village by many of its inhabitants including her childhood friends Eugeo and Kirito. While intelligent and level-headed and widely seen to be the natural successor to her father as village chief once she comes of age Alice was shown to display a peculiar amount of free-thinking that served to make her stand out from her peers. While still bounded as strongly to the world’s most important law of the Taboo Index as her fellow villagers Alice was shown to particularly adept at locating the many loopholes that existed within them much to the amazement of her childhood friends and the displeasure of the adults. This when used with Alice’s confidence and adventurous nature enabled her to not only circumvent the laws easily but also allow her to experience many adventures with her childhood friends while ensuring that they stay within the realm of the law. However, this free-spirited nature of Alice’s while admirable within a child was to unknown to her at that time lead her to not only leave the village in a way that will be unsung and unremembered by its people but also leave the lives of his childhood friends for the foreseeable future as a lawbreaker.

Upon her reintroduction, as an integrity knight of the Axiom Church, it can be seen that Alice’s personality has changed considerably. While in the past Alice was shown to be loyal to the church and to the Taboo Index that they managed grudgingly in her new form as an integrity knight she was shown to have become an ardent believer in the church and its teachings and was shown to be very loyal to her role as a knight of that institution. In her new form as an integrity knight, it can be seen that the sense of positivity, curiosity, and playfulness that served to define her child form was no longer present and indeed in her new form as a knight her attitude and personality can be said to be the total opposite for in this form she was seen to be confident, dutiful and loyal to the teachings of the church while also being noticeably colder in how she deals with others with this last point being reinforced by her willingness to use force and punishment on others when needed a change that served to surprise many not least her childhood friends. However, unlike most members of the church, Alice though having absolute conviction in the Taboo Index and the sense of order that the church brings to the world was not afraid of admitting that the system wasn’t perfect and that there were plenty of flaws within its structure that can be exploited. However, despite this apparent crack in her beliefs Alice still was of the opinion that without the power of the church the land around them will be far worst off than it was at present.

While shown to be a confident, calm, and composed person as the series progresses and Alice’s personality is gradually expanded upon it can be seen that despite the seemingly perfect role that she has that beneath the surface Alice had plenty of insecurities that greatly troubled her. Though shown to be a formidable knight despite her young age it can be seen that within both the order that she was immensely loyal to as well as across the Underworld that she served she was often underestimated due to both her relatively new career as well as her gender something that she was seen to greatly resent. As a result of this negative attitude Alice while courteous towards her fellow knights was shown to be someone that viewed the petty bickering that nobles and politicians partake in with disdain preferring instead to cross blades with enemies directly rather than interact with nobles. Indeed it is within the midst of combat that Alice can be seen to be truly within her element as to Alice the crossing of blades with an opponent will not only allow her to show both her mettle and her determination to protect the world from evildoers but also allow her to banish the sense of inequality within the world by challenging her opponent to honorable combat where she engages foes that have proven their strength and conviction to her. However, despite her confident and composed attitude, it can be seen that not all aspects of Alice’s base attitude had been replaced and while Alice tries hard to maintain a sense of stoicism and calmness when executing her duties it can be seen that she’s also capable of showing more positive feelings to others when needed as shown in her displays of kindness and care towards her former enemies after they become allies. Arguably the most surprising aspect of this chink within her Armor was the fact that she despite her sense of confidence was someone that was capable of feeling fear as well as the wry sense of humour that she possessed elements that I felt showed that despite her determination to be a good knight and not show weaknesses to any potential threats through effective use of her mask that Alice was still very much a human being that while bound to the dictates of the church as much as her fellows were still someone that can be seen to be more loyal to the people than to the church. This aspect when used in combination with Alice’s inquisitive nature and ability to think critically served to become a potent source of motivation for her when she came to face to face with the terrible truth that her much-respected administrator was hiding from her a truth that was not only detrimental to the lives of the very people that she was tasked with protecting as an integrity knight but also one that ensured that this was an act of damnation that she as both a human being and a knight will have no choice to oppose even if it meant going against the very oaths that she had been so proud off.

It is in the aftermath of this event that saw Alice not only rebel against the very institution that had kept the world safe from the predation of chaos but also against the very person that had given her a new role in life that can be said to be the catalyst that will allow Alice to transform into her final state as a person. In the aftermath of the battle with the administrator it can be seen that while Alice still retains her trademarked confidence and calmness personality traits that defined her as a knight, she had also begun to break out of the mask of stoicism that she had carefully maintained as a knight and instead openly displaying the kindness, caring and gentle side of her that she had tried to conceal within her no longer afraid of the sense of weakness that can be attributed to her in doing so. While largely a result of seeing the church’s callous disregard for the lives of the people of Underworld it can also be seen that this is also a result of the interactions that she experienced with both Kirito and Eugeo who while enemies at first later become potent allies that taught her just how valuable and fragile the lives of humans were and that while fleeting the bonds between lifeforms can also be nurtured through mutual understanding and respect of each other and in doing so create the potential to change the lives of others as well.

However, it can be said that it is in her interactions with Kirito the former enemy now partner that the greatest change of Alice’s personality can be seen for while Alice was still a member of the church and an integrity knight that rather than place her priority in the defence of the realm that she had placed as her priority the protection and caring of Kirito and her immediate friends and family a fact that showed well not just how much impact meeting Kirito had on her both personally and in terms of beliefs. While still loyal to the duties of an integrity knight it can be seen that Alice in this new phase was shown to have developed a noticeable dislike in matters that relate to the church and indeed has become determined to unravel the many lies that they spread to the people that aimed to keep them obedient. While she certainly understands the need for laws within society Alice thanks to her newfound freedom can deduce the many restrictions that lay within society thanks to these laws as well as the many senses of injustice that evildoers can take advantage of thanks to them. While the impact that this had on her day to day activities within her village was significant the impact that this new priority had on Alice’s views on her duty to the realm and to her view of the races that inhabit the dark territory I felt was also significant. Whereas her priority after the rebellion was focused on the care of her partner Kirito and protecting her family it can be seen that she had not forgotten her duty not to mention her fellow knights in particular her mentor Knight commander Bercouli whom she viewed as a father-like figure and when the call came for the knights to take to the field and defend the realm from the invasion of the forces of darkness, Alice, though reluctant at first also decided to join not to fight for the church but to protect her fellow knights and the people of the realm including her family, her friends, and Kirito.

While deciding to fight in the name of protecting her fellow knights and the people of the realm instead of the church was significant what was even more so was Alice’s views on the races of the dark territory that she faced on the battlefields of the war. Whereas in the past Alice under the influence of the teachings of the Taboo Index would have viewed the races of the dark territory as mere threats to the realm that must be exterminated thanks to the new insight that was provided through her rejection of the index Alice not only did not show hatred at them but instead show a sense of regret and lament the fact that despite being all inhabitants of Underworld that they must fight and kill each other on the battlefield rather than live alongside each other and settle their differences with not sword and magic but with dialogue and understanding with this shown best when she faced down the Ogre chief that had killed many of her fellow soldiers and released its soul and granting its wish to return to the grasslands to where he was born. Overall the character of Alice I felt was one that was both well designed and developed with her gradual evolutionary phases in life from her life as a child through teenage years being especially well done both in terms of personality development and her ever-changing views on the world that she lived being especially so.

AMV

In terms of animation overall, I felt that the animation style used for the series was well designed with the animation featuring an excellent blend of detail and colour coordination as shown within the series character designs, the series trademarked incarnation powers as well as in the combat animations within the series. Of the latter, my personal favorites were Alice’s armament control art for her sword being especially so. In terms of location variety and presentation, I felt that overall the series featured an excellent variety of locations that were both well designed and animated while also seamlessly fitting into the world as well. Locations within the series that I felt was designed particularly well included Alice’s home village of Rulid which made excellent use of simplicity and a sense of warmness that one’s home gives them, Swordcraft Academy that showed well not just the advanced levels of Sword skills and Sacred arts that existed within the world of Underworld but also the many undercurrents that class-based societies possessed within the world and lastly the Axiom Church facility that not only featured an excellent variety of locations within its halls but also ones that made effective use of architecture styles and spaces that ensured that the church was not only functional but also beautiful in its own right. The rooftop gardens I felt were especially beautiful.

In terms of character designs, I felt that overall the designs featured within the series were especially impressive. While the character designs for the citizens of Underworld were relatively standard, I felt that this sense of simplicity served well to allow us to differentiate the people of Underworld by their profession and standing within society with notable examples being Selka’s outfit and the members of Swordcraft Academy. Within the designs of characters that lived within the dark territory this sense of simplicity was also reinforced by the unique race cultures that made up the dark territory races with the designs of the pugilist guild members, Dark knights, and Orcs being especially impressive. It is within the designs of the integrity knights however that I felt that the character designs within the series truly shined for unlike the others the designs of the knights I felt reflected not just their profession as integrity knights that protected the realm but also matched their personalities and personal beliefs as well as shown in Alice, Bercouli and Fanatio’s designs. Of the many character designs that were presented within the series, I would say that Alice’s design was particularly impressive as her design while certainly beautiful also represented well the sense of hope that her character represented within the series one that can be worn down but never destroyed and always souring to great heights to inspire others. While only shown within the War of Underworld portion of Alicization I felt that the designs for the three goddesses of Stacia, Solus, and Terraria that Asuna, Sinon and Suguha took the form as when they entered the world of Underworld as part of the intervention force was not only well designed but also featured impressive colour coordination for their outfits that synergized well with both the mythology of the world and the powers that they derived from it, which is perhaps best shown in Asuna’s terrain altering attack and Suguha’s regen ability.

With regards to combat, attack animations, and variety I felt that the series made an excellent usage of not just conventional melee combat and sword skills that defined the series but also did well to incorporate the arcs unique magic in the form of the Sacred Arts and the equally powerful armament control arts of the integrity knights and in doing so managing to give us an impressive spectacle of war that while surprisingly brutal in its slaughter also featured impressive acts of valour and sacrifice as both sides fought hard to achieve their respective goals in the war. Notable attack animations and battles that I felt deserve special mention were Knight commander Bercouli’s armament control art whose ability to create slashes in time was impressive as was his ambush of the minion’s attack on his HQ during the war, Vice commander Fanatio’s light beam control art and her dual with Kirito, Delsolbert’s flame bow and his dual with Kirito and Eugeo as well as his stand against the goblins during the first phase of the war, Alice’s full armament control art that was as deadly as it was beautiful and lastly Bercouli’s epic dual with Vector that while ending the life and career of Underworld’s oldest knight helped snatch victory from Vector’s grasp and of course Kirito’s epic dual with Vassago and later Gabriel that served to end the war.

In terms of enemy and creature variety within the series I felt that the series while doing well in featuring what can be said to be the staple of fantasy world races in the form of the Goblin’s, Orcs, Ogre’s and dark humans and dragons also did well to feature original ideas like giants and unique characters like Chudelkin and the administrator's sword golem. While the variety of enemies and creatures that were featured within the series served well to present foes that Kirito and Allies had to fight and triumph against, I felt that within the series this was also reinforced by the fact that these enemies also were much more lifelike than previous enemies and thus much more deadly. Within the series unlike past enemies that were featured within the franchise the enemies within this arc not only displayed intelligence and cunning but each also had their own desires and goals that they wanted the war to provide them. This within the series was shown well in the unique cunning that the goblins possessed as well as desires that were expressed by the pugilists and Orcs. The expansion of the Orcs in particular I felt was especially well done and while their leaders were no less expanded than the rest seeing the physical and emotional toll that Gabriel’s war was having on their people was no less startling with the icing on the cake being the forced sacrifice of a full half of their population to fuel Gabriel’s war. While certainly tragic this act of madness also served well to allow us to see a rare glimpse of the tragic consequences for them as they realized that in this war the lives that they must pay for a possible victory were a steep one indeed.

Voice acting-wise I felt that overall the series main voice cast all did an excellent job at portraying their assigned characters whether they were main or support ones. In particular, I felt that Yoshitsugu Matsuoka, Nobunaga Shimazaki, Ai Kayano, and Haruka Tomatsu all did an excellent job at portraying their assigned characters of Kirito, Eugeo, Alice, and Asuna respectively. In addition, I also felt that there are many support characters and assigned seiyuu’s and voice actors that deserve special mention thanks to their excellent portrayals of their assigned characters within the series. These include Ayana Taketatsu whose portrayal of the fairy swordswoman Leafa/Terraria that fought against eye breaking odds was particularly impressive, Miyuki Sawashiro whose portrayal of the ever calm and wise Shino Asada/ Sinon served to bring much needed calm and rock steady aim to the battlefield, Megumi Han for her portrayal of the ever reliable swordswoman, Upperclassman and later guard captain Sortiliena Serlut, Sanae Kobayashi for her portrayal of Rinko Koujiro, Hikaru Hanada for his portrayal of the wise knight Deusolbert , Konomi Kohara and Hina Kino for their portrayal of the integrity knights Fizel and Linel, Junichi Suwabe and Hitomi Nabatame for their portrayal of Knight commander Bercouli and vice commander Fanatio, Rina Hidaka for her portrayal of Silica, Mutsumi Tamura for her portrayal of Renry the coward knight who nonetheless managed to redeem his honor and fight with distinction in the war, Takeaki Masuyama for his portrayal of Alice’s faithful apprentice Eldrie , Sakura Tange for her portrayal of Cardinal, Taku Yashiro for his portrayal of Iskahn the leader of the dark territories Pugilist’s guild and lastly the trinity of villains in the form of Akira Ishida, Tsuyoshi Koyama and Maaya Sakamoto whose portrayal of the characters Gabriel Miller, Vassago and Quinella/Administrator was just amazing.

Of seiyuu’s from this list that deserves mention include Kaori Ishihara and Reina Kondou who portrayed the characters of Tiese and Ronnie respectively. While their portrayals of their respective characters were impressive, I felt that they deserve mention on account of their determination to continue portraying their characters in the aftermath of the infamous rape scene that would have been shocking and stressful to them. This determination to continue on I felt did well to showcase not only their strong work ethic but their professionalism as seiyuu’s as well. I hope that this experience while a hard one will be a great stepping stone that will allow both to advance their careers as seiyuu’s. Another seiyuu that I felt special mention was Ayahi Takagaki’s portrayal of the character Lisbeth. While Lisbeth’s role within the series as a frontline combatant was a relatively minor one her role in calling upon allies to fight alongside them within Underworld in the leadup to the intervention of Japan’s VRMMO veterans in the war of Underworld through her speech within ep11 of the series was particularly impressive not just in terms of content but also in the sheer emotion that Ayahi infused within her delivery of her lines that served to resonate well with everyone that saw it including me.

Music-wise the series made use of 4 openings and 5 ending themes respectively. Of these, while all of them were excellent songs my favourite openings were ADAMAS, Resister, and Resolution that was performed by veteran singers LISA, ASCA, and veteran seiyuu singer Haruka Tomatsu while my favourite endings were Forgot me Not, Unlasting and I will that was performed by ReoNa, LISA, and Eir Aoi respectively. In terms of the series’ OST, I felt that overall the one featured was excellent and was one that had both excellent variety as well as some amazing pieces that were used in the series notable fights with notable ones in my opinion being the piece featured in the fight against Quinella and Kirito’s dual with Alice.

Overall conclusion

In overall Sword Art Online Alicization, I felt was an excellent anime series that had among its main strong points in my opinion an excellent premise, an excellent story that made effective use of a well thought out world, excellent characters, voice acting, music, combat scenarios and an intriguing look into not only the creation and correct usage of Artificial intelligence in the real world but also whether the bonds that are forged between artificial intelligence and human beings are genuine or simply an illusion.

Arguably one of the Sword Art Online Alicization’s main strong points in my opinion was its unique premise and setting. Since the beginning of the series back when SAO first aired in 2012 Sword Art online has served to allow us to enter many new, beautiful, and unique worlds that featured an excellent variety of settings that did well to entertain both fans and casual viewers alike. Whether it’s the fantasy setting of SAO 1, Fairy Tale like setting of SAO’s fairy dance arc, or the adrenaline and bullet filled battlefields of SAO 2 over the years the franchise had created many worlds to showcase the many possibilities that VRMMO’s have brought in the 21st century. However despite these numbers and despite marked improvements in its world-building to me, the world’s that the franchise created while certainly beautiful and having their own unique charms had always felt they were missing something. This was an effective world-building. Rather than being a product of a lack of imagination for the author it can be said that this problem was due to the fact that the SAO series takes place as its core narrative across many different worlds. As a result, while the series served to introduce plenty of worlds to us the speed of its advance meant that it did not have the luxury of time to develop and expand upon any of them until now.

What served to make the series overall story so interesting in my eyes was not only the introduction of a brand new world to explore by Kirito and his team but also of the fact that unlike past worlds that were featured within the world of SAO the world of Underworld was a world that felt alive. Because unlike the other worlds that were presented so far the world of Underworld was different in that not only was it not populated by standard game AI’s but it also had elements that simulated the real world in a way that’s surprisingly natural which within the series was shown in the form of a class-based society that followed a strict social system and laws that served to not only define the role that one had within society but also dictated what their day to day activities looked like. When used in conjunction with both the natural lore and mythology of the world that brought to the world not only the dragons that were ridden by the integrity knights but also the many races of the dark territory this served I felt to create an excellent canvas in which we can overlay the series story on to. The overall story for the series I felt was also one of the series main strong points which while certainly entertaining was helped by several factors that served to enhance its delivery and make it much more enjoyable in our eyes. These included its marriage with a virtual living world as discussed above, an interesting insight into not only the best in class-based societies but also the worst, excellent pacing and effective usage of phases that served to enhance the flow of the story in line with the stakes being raised ever higher within the story.

In the past due largely to lack of world-building and expansion into the worlds that were featured thus far it was relatively difficult to see and understand the level of bonds that were forged between Kirito and his ever-growing team. While Kirito’s core team of himself, Asuna, Lisbeth, Silica, Klein, and Agil were understandable as they like him were fellow SAO survivors that managed to surpass death itself, and Leafa and Sinon were relatives and close comrades respectively apart from them you didn’t get much indication that there were stronger bonds that have served to link them with the other players that they encounter in their travels. However, within this series, I felt that the creator of the series Reki Kawahara sensei had served to recognize this flaw within his series and implemented some much-needed changes to not only make the bonds that are forged between the cast to be much more natural through skilful inlaying of both shared physical trials but also effective emotional investment within them. While serving to expand upon the characters within the series this method I felt also served to add additional emotional depth to the cast and make them much more relatable to us fans. This within the series is shown well in the relationships and bonds that were forged between Kirito and Eugeo and Alice. However, while serving admirably in making the new cast members that much more lifelike and relatable to us fans this shared concept was also expanded effectively to form a newfound sense of motivation for other VRMMO players that Kirito and team have encountered while exploring the VR world.

For like Kirito and his friends there are many VRMMO players who despite coming from not just all walks in life but also from every country around the world who like them enjoy the freedom and sense of enjoyment that can come from entering the VR world and playing together with their friends and comrades. To them, the VR world is a realm that not only transcends social classes but also national borders as well and is a space where one can forget the often-stuffy nature that comes from social classes and real-world issues and instead focus on having fun. Whether you win or lose in battle, have a mishap while out questing, or end up rescuing a newbie from a quest that they were not supposed to do until much later being able to adventure together with both your friends and random players and forging connections with them as you laugh together, triumph together, cry together and rage together these connections that you forge are not mere illusions but bonds that are genuine and tangible and ones that are more than enough motivation for one to make use off when this sacred space that’s unique to you and your friends and comrades is threatened.

This unique view within the series is shown best in Lisbeth’s speech in which she not only lays out the powerful bonds of friendship that she has forged with her friends but also of the many worries that she has regarding how their shared world is being ridiculed and at times threatened with closure by common society on account of their lack of knowledge on a world that’s just a childish game but yet is akin to a second home for them. This sense of belief when used in conjunction with the skilful inlaying of individual self, emotional investment, and a desire to protect a space that’s threatened by outsiders who know nothing of the kind of connections and memories that are contained within it I felt served as an effective source of not just motivation but also a realization of Reki Kawahara’s aim of creating worlds where every player is equal regardless of social class, age and nationality and that the VR world is a canvas that will allow them to pursue their dreams regardless of their standing in society a revelation that ensured that despite the odds arrayed against them that the hearts of VRMMO players are united in their determination to save Underworld from its invaders.

In overall Sword Art Online Alicization, I felt was an excellent series that featured among its primary strong points an excellent premise, story, characters, voice acting combat scenarios, and a surprising array of villains that were not only a threat physically but mentally as well. While Sword Art Online as a franchise has always been one that tried to interweave the events of the real world with the events of the Virtual world I felt that within Alicization that it finally succeeds in doing so thanks to not only the threat posed by the introduction of foreign players that Gabriel led into Underworld but also the physical realization of the many dreams and hopes that VRMMO players actualize as they form connections within the VR world that led them to take up arms against not only the invaders but government meddling as well and in doing so stand by side with players that come from all walks in life, social classes, and nationalities. Even within the relatively peaceful 21st century seeing this unified front of humanity as they stand and fight for their worlds was an inspiring sight. While the concept of artificial intelligence and its application within the real world as a tool to be used on the battlefield was mainly used as a plot element to give Kirito and his allies an overall goal that must be prevented at all costs the introduction off and reveal of Alice the world’s first top-down Artificial intelligence I felt served to not only show the world what the VR world is capable of creating but also raise some rather interesting questions on the kind of roles that AI’s can play within our world specifically how do you define what is real in a given world and whether the relations that you form with them are genuine bonds or simply figments of one’s imagination questions that resonate well with not just the revelations from this arc but also on the core values of the SAO franchise.

As a final score, I would say that Sword Art Online Alicization easily deserves a final score of 10/10 for in my opinion Sword Art Online Alicization can be seen to be a success and joy for all of the parties involved be it members of A1 studios production team who created the anime, the seiyuu’s who worked so hard to portray their assigned characters and the author whose gradual development of writing skill and world-building can be seen clearly in this series. For me, Alicization was a series that I thoroughly enjoyed and indeed was one of the best series for this anime season.