The main character is your typical solo player, and he doesn't spend a lot of time on the social aspect of the game. He knows all of the ins and outs of leveling quickly, proper gearing, proper farming, etc. (not to mention he was a beta tester for the game). The major event that starts this story is the inability to log out of the game (or remove the equipment for fear of death). Players trapped in the game have to deal with the psychological repercussions of their unfortunate situation. There are some side stories that may feel like they are not part of the overall progression, but they really are about establishing the culture and laying the groundwork for the relationships throughout. Most importantly, the side stories are about Kirito's (the main character) evolution as a more social player as he rises to be an unlikely hero despite his history and preference to go it alone. The bonds formed throughout the story are realistically forged (again speaking from experience, you try talking to an MMO nerd and you'll see what I am talking about). Some of the monotony is also part of the MMO culture, and they do a great job of minimizing the grind stuff (but you will see an instance or 2 of necessary item farming).
This series spans not 1 but 2 games, and it is quite simply an epic love story (did I forget this part earlier?) filled with adventure and some tragedy. There are times you will be a little disturbed, and there times that things may seem slow for those looking for a full on action adventure story. To those that are not familiar with the MMORPG culture, this may not be 100% for you. To those that are, you may see yourself in a blacksmith too afraid to fight on the front lines with the hard core raiders. You may be the young girl that was pressured into playing and now she's stuck. Maybe you're one of the hard core raiders or player killers. However you slice it, this is an accurate portrayal of an MMORPG PIE.
Long story short, this is an emotional tale about an unlikely hero, and it's a must see.
