Audience reviews
20 · Sample from the first available page, separate from the total number of ratings.
iSuckAtWriting
‘Right here, I can’t tell you what I’m thinking and what I feel. I want you to see my world!’
SAO was a one trick pony. Its death game premise burdened the already heavy task of climbing Castle Aincrad’s 100 floors. But the illusion of the unconquerable castle would often break, as the anime proper would skip floors at the story’s convenience. Halfway through, the show lost the sense of scale it needed to cover for what the characters lacked. In many ways, we saw their world, but not their feelings. SAO was a lukewarm experience.
Which makes me proud to say SAO II is actually quite good.
A year after the SAO incident, Kirito is assigned to investigate a series of real life deaths linked to the videogame Gun Gale Online, or GGO. By playing GGO, Kirito hopes to directly contact the prime…
Read at the sourceTheDeedsOfMen
It is time to review a story that never should have taken place. By any measure of realism and sensible writing, the show would have ended after their escape from SAO, the technology would have been banned in the wake of the public outrage, and there would be no need for further walls of snarky reviews at MAL.
But there was more money to be made, and what are realism and sensible writing compared to that? So here we are then.
When reviewing season 1, I implied that the second arc was a cashcow, and I feel the same applies here. It is a thinly veiled attempt to stretch out the SAO franchise for quick cash, a calculated money-grabbing venture. A part of what makes it that way is that these new arcs don't contribute much to the overall narrative. It's just adventuring for the sake of advent…
Read at the sourceRarestProGamer
*Review contains minor spoilers of Sword Art:Online and Log Horizon too*
I have seen thousands of people who compare Log Horizon with Sword Art:Online and how much it is better from SAO and most of them people are from here only. Don't get me wrong as a gamer person myself, I like both series. My review covers up 2 anime of same genre!
Story- Overall, the Plot is totally messed up all the 5 arcs (SAO,ELF,GGO,Excalibur,Mother's Rosario), even though the very first SAO arc of the first season is still slightly better than the rest.To sum up this is the order SAO>Mother's Rosario>GGO>Excalibur>>>ELF. But, I don't see how Log Horizon is any better?
-The story development is just too slow to the point I find myself sleeping. At least SAO series have pump up action/fighting scenes and roma…
Read at the sourceTikiTDO
-- Overview --
The SAO franchise, and particularly SAO II, is a very controversial series. It is disliked by a lot of people, and the complaints are quite damning. For these people the story seems disjointed, the characters make decisions that don’t make sense, and the pacing is all over the place. Those that make such complaints are happy to describe how they think they would act if they ever found themselves in a similar situation. These people generally have something in common. They have either never played any MMOs, or played them very casually. In this I am sorry because they will likely never understand the depth that this anime has to offer beyond a few nice pictures and pretty songs.
This anime, and the entire series, is a love story for and to the MMO players, made by MMO play…
Read at the sourceBlazestar
This review does not contain spoiler. It IS a spoiler, since I can't talk about anything without giving examples. And please don't walk away with a "not helpful" after reading only two lines, a little bit of respect and appreciation would be nice. :)
Welcome to my review of Sword Art Online's Sequel, SAO 2.
To be completely honest, Sword Art Online was a very very entertaining show. To a certain extent even better than the first season. I tend to give generous scores to animes, but I'm afraid that even I am powerless this time around. Alright, time to put on my magic thinking cap on and talk about this show a little bit.
All constructive criticisms are welcomed and appreciated via PM or Comment. Please, I said "criticism", not complements or hates.
GRAPHIC (Art 4/5, Animation 1/5)…
Read at the sourceGabe-KC
*may contain spoilers ; yeah I've read the novel, but this is about the anime adaptation*
Oh God... I don't know how to begin. I did enjoy SAO 2, but once again I can't rate it with numbers. I have to write down my feeling, since that's the only way for a writer to make himself understood :)
So in 2012 this anime called Sword Art Online appeared. If you are interested in my opinion about it, please read my review, I won't spend any time to repeat what I've said there. But in 2014 we got the sequel. It was announced, that it will be about a new game called Gun Gale Online, a game where guns are the common weapons. I was surprised, that everyone was so upset about this. Okay, it's strange that in an anime called Sword Art Online people will use guns, but apart from that I've had no problem…
Read at the sourceVeronin
*Minor spoilers ahead*
There are a lot of things that can be said about Sword Art Online, and most of those things are not pleasant. I will not mince words: I am no fan of the series. The first season was filled with so many issues, both significant and minor, that even watching a single episode was an incredible test of patience. There were some neat ideas hidden in between the mountains of nonsense, and while I can understand why the show was so enjoyable to so many people, in my case, it was like an aneurysm waiting to happen.
There is often a dichotomy of opinions towards the show. There are the fans who adore the characters and setting and staunchly defend their right to enjoy whatever they please, and then there are the critics who despise everything the series stands for, often g…
Read at the sourceGonzyChan
It was the Fall of 2012, and it almost seemed as though the world was in a bleak, dark place of temper tantrums and violent outbursts. These were formed due to the nature of a straightforward question: Is/Was Sword Art Online that good or bad? Both sides had convincing arguments for their reasons for disliking or liking the show. But, ultimately, it has now become a staple of how every year, there is that one over-hyped show that defines anime of that year. Now it’s 2014, and we finally have its sequel under the cheers and groans that look forward to or dread it.
The one question remains amidst its conclusion: Is Sword Art Online II better than Sword Art Online? The answer is: yes, kind of?
Please make no mistake I was, and am, of the camp that did not see the general appeal to Sword Art…
Read at the sourcePeteySoCute
Ok. So there's a lot of reviews for this out there so mine's going to be a little different. Bear with me guys. Bear. With. Me.
One. Two. Three Four Five
Everybody grab a gun and c'mon lets ride...
Yep. That Mambo N.5 appropriation pretty much sums up the first arc of SAO II. The only problem is the people driving seem to even more geographically challenged than me, and as the anime's seemingly directionless take becomes apparent you'll find yourself yelling 'For fuck sake use a GPS'. Yep. This anime has trouble navigating itself.
But smash on the beaks and hop on out. Lets step back, shall we, and look at the bigger picture. Coming as a sequel to the original SAO I'd pull the words 'hype' and 'expectations' from my metaphorical hat. Whilst both were there the hype seemed to remain for…
Read at the sourceZephSilver
Before I start this review, let's all take this moment to bow our heads and close our eyes as we pray to the great and almighty Jesus-kun.
Oh Jesus-kun, let your humble servants be like thee oh Lord. Let us become OP, plot armored, self insert chick magnets so that we can build our own harem. Bless the harem oh Lord, that it be deemed worthy of your hax abilities, AMEN!
Story: 2/10
You know how you can tell if a story is very stupid? When the only way it can continue is if your main character makes an extremely illogical decision, that anyone with common sense would normally refuse. "Escaped a game where you almost died and suffered psychological scars as a result? Well why not jump into another one :D !" ...The show has yet to get pass episode 1 and has already proven that a room full…
Read at the sourceKindle
After leaving out my spiced scavenged toad meat and deus ex machina milk for Santa, I knew that it was inevitably time. Time to unwrap the present that I never wanted to unwrap, the wool socks that awaited under the Christmas tree. Sword Art Online II. So boys and girls, I'm wearing my Grinch costume, and I'm ready to delve into the mess that is SAO season 2.
When I think of the controversial title, "Sword Art Online", the word that often times pops up into my head is "potential". It's like when you write a gift on your gift list for Santa that you know could be really good because everyone said it would be, or really bad because somebody hated it. But with the Christmas spirit in me, I had hope. After all, Sword Art Online has always captured the interest of many with its bold attempt t…
Read at the sourceLink_of_Hyrule
Mod edit: Review my contain spoilers.
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*Sigh... What am I doing with my life? Seriously: What do I have to gain by bashing this show? I’m certainly not the first one to rip this anime and its inane hype train a new one and I definitely won’t be the last. Therefore, forcing myself to sit through yet another collection of incompetent pacing, plot points that make no sense what so ever, and an unbearable self-insertion protagonist doesn’t really seem to be worthwhile, does it? And yet here we are. Goddamn it… Ladies and gentleman: It’s fucking back
Synopsis: After restoring VRMMORPGs to their previous glory by being the total badass he is, Kazuto Kirigaya is approached by a detective who wants his help investigating the “Death Gun” incident. This incident is a recent even…
Read at the sourceSmugdear
When Sword Art Online II appears, a beam of light peep out in my mind and hope that the sequel able to cover all its mistakes.
But again, my hope was shattered into a dust
Based off the light novel written by Reki Kawahara, Sword Art Online II is a sequel of Sword Art Online. The series started after the Alfheim Online's Arc, in a new game called Gun Gale Online, where a string of deaths begins occurring in the game. Our main character, Kirigaya Kazuto is assigned to enter Gun Gale Online to investigate the cause of the deaths.
The story is divided into 3 arcs: Gun Gale Online (or Phantom Bullet), Calibur, and Mother's Rosario.
The story adapts the same conflict of the previous series (the point of murdered inside a game), but in a different way. The story offers us a great action and…
Read at the sourceINCURSIOOO
[spoilers] I really don't believe that Sword Art Online 2 deserves the 3-4/10 scores it has been receiving as it is largely a big improvement over the mess that was the ALO arc of Sword Art Online 1.
GGO - this new arc brings an interesting new VRMMO world and setting along with new main character, Sinon who has an interesting background and has some decent character development throughout the arc until she manages to overcome her fears in the real world. There are definitely some pacing issues as there is an episode where there is only talking in a cave which offers some good dialogue but may feel slow. The fight scenes are of course well animated, especially Kiritos photon sword effects.
Calibur Arc - It doesn't offer much relevance to the main story and was originally a side story i…
Read at the sourceA1i0s
When I heard SAO was getting a second season, I was excited. Yes, SAO is one of my favorite animes, but I try not to let that cloud my judgement for how I would score it.
Story: 6
As you can read in the series description, a player of a shooter VRMMO is killing people in the game. This is the first arc (Phantom Bullet). Kirito gets sent into the game because he's apparently the closest thing to a professional gamer at the disposal of the company trying to solve the mystery of how the player is killing people. Sinon is a sniper in that same game and she's trying to overcome some trauma from her past by 'becoming strong' in the game. It felt a bit drawn out at times, but it still kept me interested as I waited to see how the arc would end.
The second arc (Caliber) is more of a filler arc…
Read at the sourceAzureNatlis99
Another season, another helping of extreme controversy, a countless number of attacks on the fan base, even more flame wars, and perhaps the largest amount of unfair criticisms and double standards ever seen in an anime.
In my review of the first season, I stated that "Sword Art Online was the most over hated anime of recent decade." Considering what I've seen in this season and the newest criticisms against it(despite it correcting most of the weaknesses of season 1), I still stand by what I said back then.
So what do I think of it? This season has solidified my opinion that I've had about the series since Season 1.
Much like Season 1, the story of SAO II is split up into separate arcs, each with a different tone and genre. These arcs are Phantom Bullet(Gun Gale Online), Calibur, and M…
Read at the sourceVene
It came, almost like if it has been created for one purpose: polarize the public opinion, and yet the same scenario from back then take place, to be or not to be.... mediocre? I guess the answer was already given in that first season, I'll just throw it here, if we're watching this sequel we already know what to expect, there won't be a glorious comeback, we're watching the wrong franchise otherwise, SAO II is the same old SAO after all.. and for those who understand this basic concept, it might be entertaining somehow, I won't hide that fact, just make sure to leave the common sense and critic spirit in the next room before you close the door, that it's.
SAO II inherited everything from it's predecessor, specially the bad traits that characterized the first season, traits that were a lot…
Read at the sourceElegade
Another flagship of the Anime Industry has ended again today. While some people would be delighted by Sao II ending, most are left wanting more and eagerly anticipating the next Sword Art Online. While the series itself is not perfect, I wouldn't say it's garbage as some would say it. I am going to cover the three arcs as separate rather than as a whole so it would highlight their strengths and weaknesses better, then combine it to an overall score.
Story, Phantom Bullet(8/10): The first arc is the meat of SAO II. It has the most episodes spanning 14 of the overall 24. Here, Kirito ends up in a VR called Gun Gale Online where he is tasked to investigate the deaths of VR players in the real world by them supposedly dying in the Virtual world. The story was crafted excellently, while it did…
Read at the sourceStark700
Sword Art Online is a series that needs no introduction. To be quite frank, the first season spawned a lot of controversy with the adaptation. As a show taking place in an online realm, the series had a lot of potential but never really capitalized on them when it came down with the story and characters. Luckily, season 2 does freshen up a bit with some brand new storylines and characters. In particular, one of the first story arcs involves Kirito stepping forward into a new realm known as GGO.
To trace back a bit, the series is based off a light novel of the same name written by Reki Kawahara. As a 2 cour series, this sequel focuses on three different arcs that are adapted from the light novel starting with GGO (stands for Gun Gale Online although the actual arc is titled Phantom Bullet…
Read at the sourceReyxe
It's my first review here and english isn't my native so, forgive me if I make some mistake!
Let me start this review by saying, yes, your eyes aren't fooling you, i rated this as a 9, i'll explain my reasons below, it's going to be long but i'll add a tl;dr version at the end of every 'arc'.
SAO is a series that doesn't need any introduction, its really popular, loved and hated, but, before you watch SAO2, i need to tell you something so you can enjoy it to its full potential, first, SAO as a whole is NOT about action nor romance, it does have some, but it's not the main theme, not even in SAO1, not in SAO2, not even in the hopefully coming SAO3.
Made my point clear, i'll start the review, which i'm going to split in 3 arcs, just like the anime.
Phantom Bullet Arc (eps 1 - 14)
Story…
Read at the source