Sword Art Online is not the first anime based on an online game that becomes a death trap; Nor is it the first to deliver this idea of a hyper real online role playing experience that you connect your brain directly to the server. And looking past the huge plot holes and the vast amount of condensing, this anime still delivers a solid satisfying experience. If you enjoyed the .Hack series you will enjoy Sword Art Online aka SAO. I must emphasize that this show is fantastic, has solid animation, powerful story telling, and a wonderful character cast. I suggest that you read on to learn more about the show of course, but I’m not going to drag this recommendation out.
The Short Story:
Kirito the main character is a beta player who buys the retail game, logs into the game and becomes trapped in the game along with thousands of other players. The games creator and overlord tells the players if they try to disconnect get disconnected or die in the game that the head gear that they are wearing will fry their brain with microwaves in short killing them. If you die in the game you die in real life. Much like the Matrix but the only way out is by clearing the game’s 100 floors. SAO is based on the book series that takes place of the time span of several years, the anime covers several short story’s but the focus point lies on the life of Krito and his adventure’s as a player in the game of death. Life is not easy in this insane world, guilds and gangs form up, murder and violence happen, justice and chaos lead to betrayal, love and marriage flower alongside the drama, and of course death and triumph.
Nit Picks:
Those who have read the short novels have mixed feelings about the adaptation, those who have not read the books would not know or feel shorted about the animated version. And with that said what are the differences and are they a big deal? Well as it would be I know some folks who have read the entire book series from the start with Sword art all the way through Acecl world. I’m not going to go into detail about it but from what I’ve been told the anime jumps around the books and does not follow the same timeline, but does cover the same events in general. The anime lacks the detail and leaps over some key events only touching on them as needed.
The plot holes are left wide open, as it is never explained how the players stay alive for several years while not eating, drinking or sleeping in real life. Also assuming that the players have perfect power and internet that never goes down and concerned family that might try to removed the player from the game. Perfectly stable servers that never need maintenance or rebooting are also something of a problem. I know these points can be argued and that’s fair but they are plot holes, again despite these issues I still love the anime.
You can watch the first episodes free online HERE
they could never pull it off CUT CUT CUT CUT CUT . but this summer .. CUT CUT CUT CUT there will be an entrie game based on . CUTTING