Anime Recommendation: Sword Art Online
I have checked out a lot of new, random anime series this summer. Some good, some bad, some in between. However, without a doubt, I must wholeheartedly recommend that people give “Sword Art Online” a shot. It is just so intriguing and addicting.
The premise will make you think “World of Warcraft” on a whole new level.
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SynopsisThe only way to escape is to ‘clear’ the game. Death in game means actual ‘death’ —- The ten thousand who have logged onto the as of yet mysterious game ‘Sword Art Online’ using their Nerve Gear have been forced into this perilous death game and are trapped inside. Protagonist Kirito, one of the many gamers, has greeted this ‘truth’. To meet the conditions of clearing the game and leaving this twisted virtual world, he must get through all 100 floors. Will Kirito have what it takes to clear the game, or will he die trying? (Source: Mangafox) |
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In other words, “Sword Art Online” is a story of online adventurers who are gonna have to step their game up. Gamers who play in virtual worlds often do so to escape reality. “Sword Art Online” ups the ante with literal lives on the line for its player base. Newbies, beware!
This anime concept of characters playing an online video game is nothing new, but “Sword Art Online” already does it better. Similar anime titles like “.hack//Sign” (which I absolutely hated) and “Accel World” revolve more around the games themselves, to an “awkward” degree. My main issue with these kind of series stems from the lack of genuine jeopardy. What I mean is … yeah, the players in these stories have bad stuff happen to them within the game. They suffer defeat and whatnot, face in-game conflicts and struggles, but they can always walk away from the game and return back to their lives.
“Sword Art Online” thinks this notion is too wimpy and actually creates some real danger for the online players of this virtual world. Mess up and you die in real life. Now this is how you weave together a massively multiplayer online game (MMO/MMOG) plot!
Complete with online game fare like HP bars, experience points and items to equip, “Sword Art Online” is just amazingly awesome.
Check out the trailer below!
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Wow. This looks AWESOME! Holy cow! I definitely want to watch this now. Thanks for the suggestion
Kohppa
July 17, 2012 at 9:18 am
Been wanting something similar to .hack for a while, so I’ll have to hunt for it…
reithena
July 25, 2012 at 6:11 am
It is definitely worth a look.
Nhan-Fiction
July 25, 2012 at 11:48 am
[...] you haven’t checked out “Sword Art Online” yet, then well … you should. It is very fascinating. Share [...]
Dat Anime Opening « Nhan-Fiction
July 26, 2012 at 11:48 am
[...] is a song I really enjoy from one of my favorite anime titles this season: Sword Art Online. I think it sounds very pretty. Lyrics and translation below. Lyrics by Furuya Shin. [...]
Yume Sekai « Nhan-Fiction
September 18, 2012 at 1:27 pm
[...] Anime Recommendation: Sword Art Online (nhanfiction.com) [...]
Anime News: Sword Art Online Series – Video Game Has Real-World Consequences | Enter the Q Ann
September 18, 2012 at 9:57 pm
[...] “Crossing Field” by LiSA. (Opening 1) for Sword Art Online. [...]
Crossing Field « Nhan-Fiction
September 21, 2012 at 11:49 am
You know, I really loved the ideas behind this show, I just felt like none of them were executed well at all. The characters just feel so much like paperweights only there to serve their purpose rather than actually feeling like they’ve got something to them, and the entire scenario of dying is ***spoilers!!!*** already over now which also takes away a HUGE part of the excitement of watching each episode. I personally think the show is terrible – BUT – I can also see the parts that would make people like it and still continue to watch the show myself, so it’s not nearly the worst thing ever and definitely something I understand others liking.
But like, now that the SAO arc is over…I kinda feel even LESS interested because, like I already said (Again, SPOILERS) the whole death game is over. From now on there isn’t another single game that can kill the players, with one exception far later on and on a MUCH smaller scale. And so, the one thing the show really had going for it – possible real death – is gone now, and now it’s just left with the core things of the show that made it so terrible (for me) to begin with.
It’s really disappointing because I had REALLY high hopes for this show and instead I got kirito being grimdark, a forced and undeveloped relationship, lots of deaths I couldn’t care less about because the characters weren’t anyone they let you become attached to, and now that’s all that is left.
Tallon
November 1, 2012 at 1:46 pm
Well, the anime itself is a tad rushed compared to its novel, which approaches the story in a different fashion.
Nhan-Fiction
November 1, 2012 at 3:13 pm
I’ve wanted to watch this since the first episode aired but I wasn’t able to because I was watching another series at the time! Sword Art Online is definitely on my backlog so I will get round to it eventually once I get through Hakuouki, Mobile Suit Gundam 00 the Movie and Campione! (^_^;) there’s too much anime around! xD
jimmychui01
December 13, 2012 at 2:12 pm
Yup. There is a ton of anime. It’s hard to keep up with at times. XD
Nhan-Fiction
December 13, 2012 at 2:14 pm
Haha, agreed! It’s very stressful too since I have to revise for exams now!
jimmychui01
December 13, 2012 at 2:17 pm
Well, when your exams are done, you have plenty of anime to look forward to. Good luck on your tests.
Nhan-Fiction
December 13, 2012 at 2:44 pm
This can be my reward, thankyou very much for posting this! It was helpful
jimmychui01
December 14, 2012 at 12:06 am
Thanks for visiting my blog and liking it. I had a brief glance at Sword Art Online when it first started, but did not follow it. Thanks to your recommendation, I will look at it again. I am currently following many animes, and my current favourites are Liar Game, One Outs and Bartender.
edwinbdg
January 15, 2013 at 3:29 am
Will definetly be giving this one a watch
dmnskinner
January 29, 2013 at 10:08 am
Nice job with this one. I actually watched some of ‘Accel World’ and I heard of ‘Sword Art Oline’ (they’re supposed to be connected) but I didn’t get around to checking it out. Thanks to you I’m going to start getting involved sooner than later!
kevinkevinkevins
January 30, 2013 at 11:56 am
I’ve seen snatches of this (it kept popping up on hulu when watching From the New World); might need to seen the whole of it now.
Jenn Grunigen
February 3, 2013 at 10:27 pm