Sword Art Online II | Episode 1 | TFP Review
Buckeye: So the second season begins with a type episode that I have seen way too many times in Mahouka (without Kirito doing any the Gary Stu-ing), but at least it looks like it’s only going to be restricted to this episode. In any case, things need to be properly set up for the next step, and that’s exactly what happens here as the Death Gun becomes knowledge to Kirito and that there’s some connection going on. Here’s to hoping that GGO is at least better than what ALO ended up being and so far, it’s off to a nice start. I like that the connections between death in the game and death in the real world is a mystery rather than something being told right off the bat.
EmperorBrandon: So, Kirito’s plans for the future… I wonder if that’s a precursor to the Accel World technology.
Back to seeing some fatal real-world consequences from a game, but this time there’s a bit of a mystery behind it, unlike the first time where Kayaba reveals all first episode. I’ll be curious to find out what’s up there and seeing what the new lead female Shinon will be like.
27CansOfTuna: Excellent return to the world we love. It was great seeing Kirito smiling again. Though the episode was mostly discussion, GGO sounds pretty amazing seeing it on screen, as well as Death Gun.
General Hentai: One thing I loved about SAO was that it was (is) intelligent and didn’t talk down to its viewers. The good news is that trend seems to be continuing with SAO II. So, we have a set-up episode, but there was absolutely no getting around the need for it. It looks gorgeous and intelligent, so a promising start, despite the lack of action.
Jun Kuga: It didn’t really talk down to it’s viewers, because it didn’t really have much of anything to talk about. It’s set in a game, but outside of the basic rules as to how the game works, we aren’t given and kind of rules of the land – and so Kirito was able to solve any problem by effectively “being Kirito”. I mean, I’m fine with that as I don’t mind the guy – he’s nowhere near my favourite character ever, but he’s got at least a small amount of personality. Asuna on the other hand started out with a personality, but has since been turned in to a Kawahara Brand Sex-Doll devoted to her man for all eternity. She no longer has a personality, because she doesn’t need one. Kirito has all of the personality she’ll ever need.
Talking about the new series though.. I’m intrigued by how the world of GGO will react to a player like him. He’s far from a pro-gamer, and those guys can get a little… obsessed… at times. It’s not like the laid back worlds of SAO or ALO filled with MMO gamers who like working together. It’s a brutal land full of min/maxers and exploiters.
Sensuifu: It’s funny to see how little is known about the implications these types of headgear have on the brain, especially as advanced as they are. Seriously? No tests were done to find whether or not errant electrical discharges/signals could irreversibly affect the autonomic nervous system- possibly the main cause of these heart attacks? Didn’t they learn from SAO? Now they need Kirito to play guinea pig to verify that that specific headgear can be indeed hacked to manipulate the ‘defective’ neurotransmitters built in. That’s essentially what I’m seeing here.
Could be interesting; it does seem to have some potential compared to the original, but I won’t be surprised if it falls flat as well.
And light sabers in a gun fight…
…with possible snipers.
mmmkay
Looks like Mahouka’s got some competition. Which one prevails in the end?
27CansOfTuna: XeXeeD is one of the coolest usernames around.
EyeOfPain: In 1997, sure.
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Episode 2
GingaDaiuchuu: Well that sure was the Sinon Show. I wasn’t expecting to see Kirito at all after a while, and he only got to talk in the last second of actual show.
Silica, of course, is still being tentacle raped. But she’s cool with it now.
Mostly just an episode with spectacular music, action choreography, and general visual mastery.
stardf29: Over at A-1 Pictures: “Story? Who cares about story? Let’s just animate one big gunfight scene to introduce Sinon, add in a quick scene with all the past girls of SAO to let everyone know we haven’t forgot about them, and call it an episode!”
Well, it was a really good gunfight scene that was fun to watch, so I’ll forgive them for this episode. Still doesn’t help me decide whether or not I want to stick with this show, but at least it does draw upon one of SAO’s major strengths: its combat scenes. I’ll give it another episode, which should hopefully get more into the plot itself, before making any decisions.
Poor Silica, though. She just can’t get away from tentacles.
Sensuifu: pretty much my reaction to it as well. Certainly more entertaining than Mahouka with all the action eyecandy, but I was hoping to get some story started. Seeing Kirito with Asuna and the rest of the old crew fooling around was lame…Get out of that game already, this is GGO
cxt217: I am not sure why I am watching SAO 2, to be honest. Well, the visuals are pretty and the soundtrack is better. That is…about it. Oh, and Sinon is probably the best female character yet in the series.
But seriously? It is either a PGM Hecate II or PGM Ultima Ratio – two different sniper rifles, chambered to use two different cartridges. And even more annoying is that this is something the series decided all on its own. Maybe the production staff needs to talk to Mamoru Oshii about firearms, since he apparently knows a lot about the subject.
