I had finished this a few weeks back, but because of shitty
internet connection I can’t post the review.
What i can say about sword art online is it is different yet
the same. It was different because it involves real life (reality) as the
setting but also forged the virtual world of Nervegear, where there are magic,
sword fights and all the things usually in fantasy genre. It lead me to the
question, what is the genre? Fiction or fantasy? Or both.
On November 6, 2022, all the players log in for the first
time, and subsequently discover that they are unable to log out. They are then
informed by Kayaba Akihiko, the creator of SAO, that if they wish to be free,
they must reach the 100th floor of the game's tower and defeat the final boss.
However, if their avatars die in-game, their bodies will also die in the real
world. The story follows Kirito, a skilled player who is determined to beat the
game. As the game progresses for two years, Kirito eventually befriends a
female player named Asuna with whom he ultimately falls in love. After the duo
discover the identity of Kayaba's avatar in SAO, they confront and defeat him,
freeing themselves and the other players from the game.
Upon returning to the real world, Kirito learns that Asuna
and 300 other SAO players have still not awakened yet. Following a clue about
Asuna's whereabouts in another VRMMORPG called Alfheim Online (ALO), Kirito
also logs in there. Helped by his sister Suguha, he learns that the trapped
players in ALO are part of a plan devised by Nobuyuki Sugō to perform illegal
experiments on their minds to put them under his control, including Asuna, whom
he intends to marry in the real world in order to take over her family's
company. After Kirito stops Nobuyuki's plans, he finally reunites with Asuna in
the real world.
I find the storyline is amazing. It was easy to understand
yet got me hooked up on it. The adventure was something predictable in action
anime yet the romance is bit different. I mean the progress rather quickly, an
unusual trait in other anime. However, the bond that they have with each other
and others characters was so heart-warming.
I definitely suggested this anime. It goes to either gender
boys or girls. There is a perfect balance of action and romance in it.