Tackling a dark concept, with a dynamic story line Sword Art Online shines as an example to Anime storytelling.
Characters tackle nearly every human emotion, each time tearing your heart out with pity, hope, and tension. And with each event the characters develop and mature in multifaceted ways.
The show pulls you into its world, surprising you when you are reminded that they are still playing a game.
Romance, tension, drama, and bits of comedy combine to create a show with a deep compelling story line. I can't recommend it more.