Sword Art Online

Ever since the release of the innovative NerveGear, gamers from all around the globe have been given the opportunity to experience a completely immersive virtual reality. Sword Art Online (SAO), one of the most recent games on the console, offers a gateway into the wondrous world of Aincrad, a vivid, medieval landscape where users can do anything within the limits of imagination. With the release of this worldwide sensation, gaming has never felt more lifelike.

However, the idyllic fantasy rapidly becomes a brutal nightmare when SAO's creator traps thousands of players inside the game. The "log-out" function has been removed, with the only method of escape involving beating all of Aincrad's one hundred increasingly difficult levels. Adding to the struggle, any in-game death becomes permanent, ending the player's life in the real world.

While Kazuto "Kirito" Kirigaya was fortunate enough to be a beta-tester for the game, he quickly finds that despite his advantages, he cannot overcome SAO's challenges alone. Teaming up with Asuna Yuuki and other talented players, Kirito makes an effort to face the seemingly insurmountable trials head-on. But with difficult bosses and threatening dark cults impeding his progress, Kirito finds that such tasks are much easier said than done.

[Written by MAL Rewrite]

Kirigaya, Kazuto Main

Matsuoka, Yoshitsugu Japanese

Yuuki, Asuna Main

Tomatsu, Haruka Japanese

Kirigaya, Suguha Main

Taketatsu, Ayana Japanese

Yui Supporting

Itou, Kanae Japanese

Tsuboi, Ryoutarou Supporting

Hirata, Hiroaki Japanese

Ayano, Keiko Supporting

Hidaka, Rina Japanese

Shinozaki, Rika Supporting

Takagaki, Ayahi Japanese

Sachi Supporting

Hayami, Saori Japanese

Kayaba, Akihiko Supporting

Yamadera, Kouichi Japanese

Mills, Andrew Gilbert Supporting

Yasumoto, Hiroki Japanese

Mori, Yasunori Producer

Miki, Kazuma Producer

Kashiwada, Shinichirou Producer

Niwa, Masami Assistant Producer

Reviews

Dec 10, 2024

jameSCL

Recommended

I definitely tell you that you should watch this anime, mainly because there are so many positive and negative reviews, in other words, whether it is good or not will probably depend on you. Now, what I can tell you is that this anime has excellent positive points, such as a good main character, great supporting characters, a well-developed story with drama and romance and good graphic animation. However, I wouldn't say it's a perfect anime, because I believe that this season's story could have lasted a little longer, because the first part could have been much more complete than it was.
Going back to ... talking about the characters, the main character is good, but what impresses most are the supporting characters, because the characters who relate to him are sensational, so if you like romance, you can be sure that you will love one of them or all of them! However, if you don't like romance, I think you will have some problems watching it, because even though it has a lot more action, the romance will always exist.
Finally, I warn you that when watching this anime you may feel a series of sensations such as joy, sadness, anger, disgust and others, so prepare yourself!

Animation: 9
Story: 9
Characters: 9

Reviewer’s Rating: 9

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Jan 3, 2025

oKAIRIo

Mixed Feelings

I just rewatched it after 12 years since the first time I saw it, and I found that it wasn't as fun as when I watched it as a kid. However, I still rate it highly in terms of animation quality and the score by Yuki Kajiura, which really enhances the emotional atmosphere of the anime.

As for the story, both arcs feel a bit slow. The first arc, Aincrad, starts off interesting, but there are many filler episodes that don’t contribute much to character development. I was expecting more action and intensity from this arc, especially since it's the opening arc.

The second arc, Fairy Dance, ... which is noticeably lighter than the first, has a much clearer goal and focus. The story moves straight toward its objective. While the game system isn’t as engaging as Aincrad, the plot doesn’t stray too far off course.

Overall, I still think it’s an anime that can be casually enjoyed in 2025. If I want to relive some nostalgia, I could rewatch it. The music and score are well done, but as for the enjoyment of the storyline, I was a little disappointed.

Reviewer’s Rating: 7

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Nov 18, 2024

st_0_rm3

Not Recommended

This is a perfect shonen anime although probably a little too titillating for such an audience. It's no masterpiece but it is very good. The characters do not really grow, the battles are kind of similar (still very good though) but that really doesn't detract from the beautiful scenery, lovely orchestral music, overwhelming odds and overall perfect teenage angst throughout. I feel jealous of teenagers after watching this. This is an absolute love circle of an anime. Who's he going to pick? We all know who but that doesn't stop everyone from wanting a slice. I'm whole-heartedly jealous of the protagonist. He's super cool, ... perfectly aloof, extremely talented, well drawn and gives out just the right amount of thread for his lovers to pull at so that everyone gets sucked into his constant gloom. I repeat this anime is very good but probably only for young men or women who wouldn't mind the prospect of being a harem girl (I think all of them wouldn't mind being the protagonist's harem girl). I would never recommend or speak of this anime to anyone in real life but I still enjoyed it. Don't watch it.

Reviewer’s Rating: 8

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