Review of Sword Art Online

*may contain spoilers* Why do we like video games? Well I don't know, why do others love them, but the reason I love video games, is that I can do whatever I want. But of course that also includes killing, stealing, raping, and nobody will punish me for it, at least not in the real life. But would that change, if one day that game would become my reality? Would I still be able to pull the trigger? It's a really interesting conception, and as a gamer, I was really hyped up about this anime the first time I've heard of it. So I watched it and... Okay,I want to tell you something first. As I've noticed, people usually categorize SAO watchers, as SAO haters, or SAO fans. A SAO hater is annoyed by the very existence of the anime, and a SAO fan likes it's every bit. That's what many think, but that's rubbish. I call myself a SAO fan, because I really enjoyed the anime itself, but I can't close my eyes above it's faults.

Well it's a real pain in the *ss to rate this anime with numbers. Every aspect of it has it's good and bad sides. Let's begin with the story, shall we?

The story begins in the near future. Our main character, Kirito is a big gamer. But he is a lucky bastard, because he lives in an era, where the actual console is not a box, but a helmet, which connects to your senses and sends every signal to your brain. Since you can move without actually moving in real life, it is a great step for the VG company and this starts the era of virtual reality. And of course, everyone likes to play with others. Our story begins on the day, when the world's first virtual reality MMORPG is released. The game is called Sword Art Online. Kirito, who was a beta tester is really looking forward to go back, but soon he has to realize, this is not a game anymore. SAO's creator, Kayaba Akihiko made it impossible to log out of the game, and puts their lives at stake. From that point if a player dies, his brain is destroyed by the helmet, and the same happens when attempting to remove it. The only way out is to clear the game, and if there are other people besides me, who have ever played MMOs, well you know that takes a while.

So how is Kirito going to survive in this world?
What will be the first days like?
How will people adapt to this new situation?
How will this experience affect their mind?
Why did Kayaba Akihiko do this?

Interesting questions, aren't they? Well here comes the first problem. None of them will be answered. You will never be shown the first days, the most interesting ones! We immediately jump a month in time to see, how Kirito and a few other players defeat the first boss. After that we are shown 4 absolutely unimportant side stories. The actual story begins on the 74th floor (there are 100), 2 years after the game begins! What the hell?
Okay, I know that the light novel is the same, I've read it, but seriously guys, you've changed so many great mangas, why couldn't you change this to a better story?
Because let's agree on something, this story had potential. Even for a fellow shounen fan, even for a romance fan and even for a psychology fan, like myself.
There are tons of problems with this story. We don't have an antagonists, yeah there is Kayaba, we know about his existence, but he will never be mentioned again until the 14th episode. And here comes the worst part. In the anime called Sword Art Online, Sword Art Online ends in episode 14, which in itself wouldn't be a problem, but in this case what was the point? They didn't answer any of the important/interesting questions, they couldn't make me feel the terror, like Attack On Titan did. I was not convinced, that the gamers are scared to death because of their situation.
The whole story is about virtual reality becoming reality. But it can't be feeled. Our main character just goes forward and swings his sword, like he was in a game, when the real point of the whole story is, that he isn't in a game!

Onto the characters. Well, Kirito is badass, I have to admit that but that won't change the fact, that his behavior does not make any sense. Then we have Asuna, the female lead who will later become the center of the romance. As a big romance anime fan I just can't ignore this thing called romance. There are not even signs that they are attracted to each other and in the next moment they kiss and marry! If I had to describe it with one word, it would be ''rushed''. And that's it, we don't have any more interesting, or important characters in the SAO arc, only a certain little girl, but talking about her would be a spoiler, she's the only character with a good plot twist.

Well and you may ask, what happens in the remaining 11 episodes? Well ALfheim Online happens. After everyone gets out of SAO, Kirito is gonna have some unfinished business and because of that he will have to get into anothere VRMMORPG, called ALfheim Online, where he meets Leafa, a girl. Another unimportant character. She barely has any role in this whole thing, she will make a little conflict with Kirito, but that won't change his view in any form. Well everyone hates this arc and I can understand that. Even SAO couldn't make me believe, that something is at stake there, so why could a game that lets you die do? And once again, I know that the LN has this arc too and once again, why couldn't you change it? I doubt anyone would have been angry.

But I don't want to insult this anime only, so let me point out the two things, it does VERY WELL. Sound and view. The sound actors/actresses did a very decent job. Kirito sounds cute, but badass as well, which matches his character very well. Asuna is Tomatsu Haruka, well no comment. And all the other ones did a good job as well. The OPs and the EDs are awesome. And the OST, oh my God. Kajiura Yuki showed us once again, that she is the man! I mean woman. It's epic when it has to be, calm when it has to be, sad when it has to be. Brilliant.
Also the view, I mean the art and the animation. The characters look okay, but OMG the backgrounds! It really reminded me of the good old times when I first saw a beautiful fantasy world in an MMO. And the animation is really nice, not as good as Fate Stay Night, but does it's job very well. Also the lights and the darkness, they both operate very well.

So after all this, why did I say I'm a SAO fan? It may look like I hate it, but actually no. I see it's faults, it has many faults, I can't deny that. Technically it's awesome, but that's to be expected from a hyped anime.
The reason I love it is the most important bit: it's entertaining.
Even if I hate the story, or the characters, even if I think it could have been much better and it has wasted potential, I can't deny the fact, that I don't consider the time I spent watching is ''wasted''. I enjoyed this anime, it had some epic, and beautiful moments and I won't deny, it brought tears to my eyes a few times.

So in the end, would I recommend it?
Well I think most of you have already seen this anime, but if not... well at least give it a chance. It won't become a classic, but it definitely has it's moments. But don't expect a dark story, even with the characters dying, it's still a light-hearted anime.

(Thanks for reading this, sorry for my English, and sorry for all the comas I will never learn to use them properly :) )