I watch few animes, and here isn't usually the place to discuss them. However, one I greatly enjoy is centered around video games, and I am thus justifies in describing it (plus their are some tie in games, mostly Japanese only, with a Vita game coming this summer).
Of those who've heard of it, they could, between the title and my last sentences, easily tell what this series it. SAO, or Sword Art Online. This is a reasonably popular show (or manga), but has some haters, and I'm okay with that. To each their own.
Sword Art Online's first season revolves around people stuck in a game of the same name. If they die in the game, they die in reality, and the only way out is for someone to beat the game. This was a trick set up by the developer, and they end up stuck inside for years. The main character is Kirito, an ex-beta tester and a loner. While none of the characters face a large amount of development, they are interesting, and their backstories remain secretive until the anime decides to tell us. The second season is very controversial, and while I like it (though not as much as the first), not everyone does, especially because of some uncomfortable scenes that happen later on.
There is a romance plot, and it overtakes the second half of the show. I find the romance plot nicely handled, and not as complicated as many are. They are a boy and a girl who clearly like each other. Stuff happens, they get in a relationship. It makes sense too, in context, because she's just about the only person he talks to frequently (other than certain minor characters, mostly off screen).
The series also loves to give you emotional pain. Be prepared in the third episode to cry manly (or feminine) tears. Their are many touching moments, and many sad moments. Be prepared for anyone to die, and for anything to happen.
There is a good amount of action in the series, and pretty much all the weird things that happen can be justified by "they're inside a video game." This causes many silly events to happen, and often provides a decent amount of entertainment for the viewer, who sees it in third-person, and occasionally in another characters eyes. When viewed through another's eyes, all characters have health bars and indicators above their head. Players can move their hands in a certain way to bring up a menu. There's even a way to "sleep PK" people, where someone moves towards someone whose sleeping, challenges them to a duel, and then moves the sleeping person's hands to accept the request. They can then basically murder the person. Items have durability, and their is a humorous part where Kirito drops a sandwich, it breaks on the ground, and he falls to his knees in mourning.
Sword Art is really as interesting as it is because of the setting, and of the quirks of certain people. You might see someone do something and wonder "why did they do that?" Several times, it's not explained. Their appears to be a twist here, but you have to wonder why that happened, or why they did that, because the anime won't tell you. The art and music is beautiful, and the animation is great.
I do want to read the light novels, especially because they are supposed to be a little better. If more attention is give to the supporting characters, that would be great.
I recommend this to fantasy game or MMO players. It's really good in my opinion, but again, some people dislike it. It can be found on Netflix or Crunchyroll, both are in Japanese with English subtitles.
Postscript - I would like to apologize for the quality of my last (the one before this) post. It was clearly lacking, and I needed some filler to keep up on credits for class, and I happened to be very tired.
Of those who've heard of it, they could, between the title and my last sentences, easily tell what this series it. SAO, or Sword Art Online. This is a reasonably popular show (or manga), but has some haters, and I'm okay with that. To each their own.
Sword Art Online's first season revolves around people stuck in a game of the same name. If they die in the game, they die in reality, and the only way out is for someone to beat the game. This was a trick set up by the developer, and they end up stuck inside for years. The main character is Kirito, an ex-beta tester and a loner. While none of the characters face a large amount of development, they are interesting, and their backstories remain secretive until the anime decides to tell us. The second season is very controversial, and while I like it (though not as much as the first), not everyone does, especially because of some uncomfortable scenes that happen later on.
There is a romance plot, and it overtakes the second half of the show. I find the romance plot nicely handled, and not as complicated as many are. They are a boy and a girl who clearly like each other. Stuff happens, they get in a relationship. It makes sense too, in context, because she's just about the only person he talks to frequently (other than certain minor characters, mostly off screen).
The series also loves to give you emotional pain. Be prepared in the third episode to cry manly (or feminine) tears. Their are many touching moments, and many sad moments. Be prepared for anyone to die, and for anything to happen.
There is a good amount of action in the series, and pretty much all the weird things that happen can be justified by "they're inside a video game." This causes many silly events to happen, and often provides a decent amount of entertainment for the viewer, who sees it in third-person, and occasionally in another characters eyes. When viewed through another's eyes, all characters have health bars and indicators above their head. Players can move their hands in a certain way to bring up a menu. There's even a way to "sleep PK" people, where someone moves towards someone whose sleeping, challenges them to a duel, and then moves the sleeping person's hands to accept the request. They can then basically murder the person. Items have durability, and their is a humorous part where Kirito drops a sandwich, it breaks on the ground, and he falls to his knees in mourning.
Sword Art is really as interesting as it is because of the setting, and of the quirks of certain people. You might see someone do something and wonder "why did they do that?" Several times, it's not explained. Their appears to be a twist here, but you have to wonder why that happened, or why they did that, because the anime won't tell you. The art and music is beautiful, and the animation is great.
I do want to read the light novels, especially because they are supposed to be a little better. If more attention is give to the supporting characters, that would be great.
I recommend this to fantasy game or MMO players. It's really good in my opinion, but again, some people dislike it. It can be found on Netflix or Crunchyroll, both are in Japanese with English subtitles.
Postscript - I would like to apologize for the quality of my last (the one before this) post. It was clearly lacking, and I needed some filler to keep up on credits for class, and I happened to be very tired.
No comments:
Post a Comment