Geek Alert: Sword Art Online [Anime]

Put on your NerveGears ready and "Link Start"!

IMPORTANT NOTICE: THIS IS NOT A REVIEW

Before I share to you my thoughts on this unbelievably amazing series, here's a brief backgrounder on Sword Art Online (SAO):

In the year 2022, the Virtual reality Massive Multiplayer Online Role-Playing Game (VRMMORPG), Sword Art Online (SAO), is released. With the Nerve Gear, a virtual reality helmet that stimulates the user's five senses via their brain, players can experience and control their in-game characters with their minds.

On November 6, 2022, all the players log in for the first time, and subsequently discover that they are unable to log out. They are then informed by Kayaba Akihiko, the creator of SAO, that if they wish to be free, they must reach the 100th floor of the game's tower and defeat the final boss. However, if their avatars die in-game, their bodies will also die in the real world. The story follows Kirito, a skilled player who is determined to beat the game. As the game progresses, Kirito eventually befriends a female player named Asuna who becomes his partner and lover. After the duo discover the identity of Kayaba's avatar in SAO, they confront and defeat him, freeing themselves and the other players from the game.

Upon returning to the real world, Kirito learns that Asuna and a small group of SAO players are trapped in another VRMMORPG called Alfheim Online (ALO). Their imprisonment in ALO is part of a plan devised by Nobuyuki Sugō to subdue Asuna and marry her, in an attempt to take over her family's company. Helped by old friends from SAO along with new allies, Kirito thwarts Nobuyuki's plans and finally reunites with Asuna in the real world.

Soon after, Kirito plays another VRMMORPG called Gun Gale Online (GGO) to investigate the mysterious connection between the game and deaths occurring in the real world. He eventually discovers that the culprits are former members of a murderous guild he had previously encountered in SAO.

After solving the murders in GGO, Kirito is recruited to assist in the development of a state-of-the-art game, UnderWorld (UW), which has an interface that is far more realistic and complex than that of the previous games he had played. In UW, the flow of time proceeds thousands of times faster than in the real world. However, Kirito ends up falling for a trap and wakes up inside the game, unable to log out and he starts looking for a way back to reality. (c/o Wikipedia SAO)

kirito and asuna

I have discovered this series from my brother just this Monday, as I was on leave. He was watching this show like over three times already and it got me nosey. I knew there's something enticing about this show that I need to figure out. If you didn't know yet, I'm quite an Anime Otaku and I used to cosplay, so Animes are, honest to goodness, a necessity for me. We began watching SAO at 7am and the rest was history. Just like my other top favorite animes Death Note, Rouroni Kenshin, Claymore etc, it felt like a breath of fresh air as episode after episode renders you with that much needed tension during the fight scenes, tragicomical  touch whenever a (relevant) character dies, humor and *kilig* on the young love story of the 2 major characters, Kirito and Asuna, and most of all, gives you brain power. (You'd think you were so smart once you grasp the twists). It will definitely make you think and digest facts and formulate theories on the so-many whys and hows of the story. I must say, this show was designed for the intellectual minority. If you could disregard my biasness, please do, because I must say, this has to be one of the best Animes I have seen in ages. The plot itself, the characters, the immense perspective of a world within a world, the twists and turns will undeniably leave you begging for more. Likewise, you will surely be able to familiarize, much more if you are a gamer or a fan of MMOs. I am not a gamer but I am gratified much that the gaming culture has finally cominggled with Anime! Think of all the elements of MMO and Anime integrated over an impressive drama, with just the right amount of action yet opposed by plenty of honest humor. The sad part here though, is the series is still ongoing and episode 19 is yet to be released. I've heard it will be aired in Japan on Sunday. The waiting is killing me all the more!

Klein, Egil, Silica w/ Pina, Lisbeth, Kirito and Asuna

I really love Asuna's character. She's strong, fierce, and I love her outfit!!! lol

I recommend this (highly) to all Animaniacs and Gamers out there!