I would normally have given SAO an easy 10 since I absolutely love this series but since this is a review, I have to be subjective.
Here is an overview of the scores I gave.
Story: (Plot and Execution) 8/10
Art: 9/10
Sound:9/10
Charcater: 7/10
Enjoyment: 10/10
Sword Art Online has a very interesting plot, heck it is one of my favourite. Thousands of players trapped inside the most popular and enticipated MMORPG games in their era. Death in game means death in real life. This is the basic setting. Kirito is a skilled gamer who has participated in the Beta version of the game so he has an edge over most of the trapped players.
The story takes a shift and becomes a little less serious as it progresses and suddenly shifts to romance and light hearted tone. Now despite I love the series I also have little complains here and there. I liked the romance part but making it one of the main themes was a little disappointing. It should have continued in a more serious tone. Not only romance was disspointing but it seemed a little forced. By this I mean that Asuna's overall character was very weak and that made some of the views dissappointed. Other characters were also somehow forced to Kirito's harem for no particular reason but the harem isn't really that strong and is usually ignored. The second half did not please many viewers as most of them wanted the first arc to be made a little longer but the second arc was by no means bad. Sure the incest part was a little stupid but luckily no major developements happened. Battle scenes in the whole series were good however were present in a very little amount but nothing that really made me feel bad about it.
But what makes the SAO series special is that despite everything, it was yet so enjoyable and addicting to watch. There were a lot of positives for the series as well. An interesting setting with a badass protagonist. Beautiful animation with great osts. A great room for character developement. Moreover, there were emotional moments, struggles and funny moments. The sense of adventure made the series really refreshing. And what really made the series a lot more enjoyable was the concept of being in a game. Leveling up, forming guilds, impoving skills, finding items and game like environment.
I absolutely loved the openings, endings, osts, art. They were all great. Overall it is a really enjoyable series, somehow doesn't appeal to some but it is a great series to start getting into anime. I personally feel that the haters are jelous of the achievements and popularity this series has. Yet they don't realize that it has helped the anime community to grow by a fair amount. Despite it's flaws, it's a really enjoyable series and by no means deserves the amount of hate it has. This series really did help me at a time I lost interest in anime despite the fact I only had watched about 50 series at that time. It was really easy to get into and be immeresed in the storyline. Despite how many other great series I watch, this will always have a special spot in my list.
I may have missed some things but I tried my best not be biased towards it. You are free to appreciate or bash about my review at my comments section.
I really do recommend this series to anyone who hasn't watched it due to the hate it gets, who knows someone may really like it. It is really easy to get into it so anyone can give it a try.
