Story---
Very unique and to top it off it is executed perfectly. For example, In the first episode it talks about him a little and then he starts to play the game...(and to top that off the art is so amazingly vivid and it really makes it much more enjoyable)
The story is very unique in the sense that there are virtual reality games and that one of them when you start you cannot leave. Also the organization of what goes where is really well done.
Only complaint is that they could have made this last longer considering the idea or the plot has a lot to offer.
Art---
As i said before the art is incredible. It is vivid and filled with colors with many little details shown. The kind of art that is shown in this is the kind where the characters are more cute and less realistic looking. For example, they don't look like the main characters in Baccano(if that's what you like).
Characters---
Hmm...
In SAO, ill be strait forward and say that there is not much of a variety of the kind of characters. It is more or less of the same personality for most characters, BUT don't get me wrong. Just because there isn't much of a variety in characters doesn't mean they aren't good. It is still very enjoyable(though that all comes down to what you like in anime for the characters to be, so basically it's all opinion :P).
Overall,
Sword Art Online is very enjoyable and every episode leaves me with new found questions, answers, and always leaves me wanting more.
