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Posted on Jan 20, 2015

You Should Be Watching Sword Art Online

Produced in Japan by A-1 Pictures, Sword Art Online is a novel series (written by Reki Kawahara and illustrated by abec,) gone anime series. It is strange and amazing.

by MandyMilkshake

Community Contributor

Any fan of anime can appreciate the beautiful artwork of Sword Art Online. It's the story that is curiously new and hitting gamers right where they least expect it.

Yes, gamers have hearts. Squishy ones.

Sword Art Online is a Virtual Reality Massively Multiplayer Online Role-Playing Game (VRMMORPG). Say that ten times fast while chewing gum.

The story follows Kirito, a beta tester for the game, as he long at last logs in after SAO's release. Only to discover that the creator of SAO has trapped them all within the game itself. Removal of the Nerve Gear helmets that connect them to the virtual world of SAO ends in death. Oh, and letting your HP drop to 0? Also death in real life.

The task he presents to Kirito and the other 10k players who managed to get a copy of SAO, is simple enough. Beat the game. Beat all 100 floors of Sword Art Online and you get to live. It quickly becomes not just a game, but a struggle for survival.

So why should you be watching SAO? Without too many spoilers to ruin your day, here is why you should get some popcorn and head over to crunchyroll.com or wherever you get your anime from:

Whether you play online games or used to play, there's a certain level of nostalgia despite the show's obvious futuristic gaming systems. Solo play.. stepping out on your own to explore and take everything in. The thrill of surviving on your own because you were strong enough to do so. Guild forming, reaching a level of companionship with those who are miles away from where you sit (or lay). Depending on one another to accomplish a mutual goal. Making friends that eventually become a second family and then meeting that second family at a local inn to go over the night's dungeon run. The characters are new, but their roles... familiar.

It's visually gorgeous. Being that it's not just an anime, but an anime about a virtual reality video game with stunning graphics. The artwork makes it where even a cyber death is beautiful enough to bring tears all on its own.

Spoilers are no fun. If you haven't been watching, two seasons in already, then get away from this teensy article and go watch SAO.

As a side note, definitely watch it Japanese with subtitles (unless you're fluent in Japanese.. then.. by all means watch it without subtitles... I don't own you).