Sword Art Online II - Episode 2 Discussion / Poll

[Kairin]

Welcome to the discussion thread for Sword Art Online II, Episode 2.

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[relentlessflame]

So... I guess you could almost call this episode the "second introduction", in a way? Last episode was basically setting up the story from Kazuto's side, but this episode focuses almost entirely on setting the stage for Sinon and for the game itself. Mostly it's the story of Sinon and her PvP party, and their attempt to take out a monster-hunting party that didn't go exactly as planned. In so doing we get the chance to see that Sinon is a skilled, hardcore player coveted for her sniping skills and who seems to have her reasons for wanting to get stronger in the virtual world.

At the very end, we see a glimpse of the old squad in ALO, and Kazuto looks like he's going to tell Asuna about his GGO mission (which addresses one of my annoyances last week).

So next week, I'm presuming, the two sides of the story will start converging.

[dniv]

That was a beautiful second episode. They showed Dyne and Sinon perfectly.

I really enjoyed that. Sinon is such a badass lol, even more-so than Kirito I dare say.

That ending surprised me. I'm not used to seeing that style of ending for SAO, so it was nice. It really seems to fit well with the theme of this cour.

We also got to see how Sinon got her Hecate gun... Aww... how nice, lol.

The OSTs were already kind of excellent... though I'm sure the better ones are still being kept in reserve. I'm going to love this season of SAO.

P.S.

Thank God Asuna looked better in the episode while in ALO than she did in the opening. I don't know why, but in the opening... the still of her doesn't look so pretty...

[germanturkey]

lets be honest here. that's pretty terrible sniping. she's on the high ground and able to provide cover for her team moving in. not only that, but she looks through her scope to see the mini gun, then doesn't proceed to keep trying to take him out? come on. instead, she goes down to close quarters with that?

[Eclipze]

Well, that whole "he can smile on the battlefield because he is strong!" thing was super cheesy to be honest. Kinda took away from the overall cool fight that they had. Although I don't know why that dude who went in all suicidal didn't bother firing his gun at all during the charge.

I was surprised that by the end of the episode, Kirito still wasn't in GGO yet. Was kinda expecting his entrance into the game by now. At least we're shown that their previous MMO is still alive and well.

Lastly: No fall damage in GGO?

[dniv]

Originally Posted by Eclipze

Well, that whole "he can smile on the battlefield because he is strong!" thing was super cheesy to be honest. Kinda took away from the overall cool fight that they had. Although I don't know why that dude who went in all suicidal didn't bother firing his gun at all during the charge.

I was surprised that by the end of the episode, Kirito still wasn't in GGO yet. Was kinda expecting his entrance into the game by now. At least we're shown that their previous MMO is still alive and well.

Lastly: No fall damage in GGO?

There could be fall damage? She did say I need to be stronger, and we didn't see what happened after she shot Behemoth... she COULD have died afterwards... just saying... Remember, one of the guys that Dyne attacked wasn't killed, but just temporarily stunned. Maybe that guy finished her off?

Anyway, this probably sounds very weird... but for some reason... those teeth Sinon showed when she was angry were sexy? That was a bit strange...

[pampz21]

No quick scope or even no scope?~
I see alot of them in real life~ they even use a mouse and a keyboard!~


Is that really the best Sniper in GGO?~

[Netto Azure]

Episode 2: 10% Setups, 20% Snipers, 10% Assault Rifles, 10% Energy Weapons, 20% Assault Miniguns, 30% Sinon.

They extended a few scenes in there just to let the other girls in hehe. Though as usual there's the unnecessary fanservice tentacle rape.

Anyways nice episode, I like it when it feels like it was too short rather than dragging overall.

Ah love how the ending is all about the best girl. :P

[ookamigirl]

The ins and outs of GGO.
How things work there wasn't surprising.
I like the sniper girl though.
Her personality fits her role.
She's definitely a better leader than that hat & moustache guy.
The action was great.
Awesome episode for that part!
Seeing ALO again kinda spoiled the overall impression..

[Daisu]

Once you know the direction you can dodge. Sniper probably can only be effective in first strike after that it gets complicated, maybe reason she had to get a whole lot closer.

[Netto Azure]

Originally Posted by germanturkey

lets be honest here. that's pretty terrible sniping. she's on the high ground and able to provide cover for her team moving in. not only that, but she looks through her scope to see the mini gun, then doesn't proceed to keep trying to take him out? come on. instead, she goes down to close quarters with that?

You can see that there's some sort of system that warns a player about bullet trajectory with those red lines flying about.

So it seems its only the first shot that truly matters for a sniper in this game until that warning system resets. It does kinda tie in with the whole futuristic setting with energy weapons and Personal Shield Generators. XD Sheesh been playing too much STO lately.

[dniv]

Originally Posted by germanturkey

lets be honest here. that's pretty terrible sniping. she's on the high ground and able to provide cover for her team moving in. not only that, but she looks through her scope to see the mini gun, then doesn't proceed to keep trying to take him out? come on. instead, she goes down to close quarters with that?

She was presumably trying to tell her team about the danger to them from the other guy...

Also, it's fair to say that what we saw here isn't exactly the full extent of her abilities. (That should be obvious from the opening...)

Edit:

The other big observation to keep in mind is that this is virtual reality and not on a keyboard, which would mean that it is much likely to hit a target without a scope or even a quick-scope... There's a big difference between looking at a game-screen and doing the real thing whether or not that real thing is interpreted in a virtual space by your senses...

[Fellen]

Great episode! Sinon is already best girl for me, now i just hope they don't butcher her character like they did Asuna's. Action was nice and learning about some of the game's mechanics was good. Overall one of the best episodes of the entire series for me including the first season.

[Hiroi Sekai]

That was good fun, reminds me of the few good action episodes of SAO. Sinon is awesome too, great to hear Sawashiro Miyuki behind the voice-always a strong performance.

I know it's meta to say this, but please don't pull an SAO with this. Keep it going strong!

[lolzorz]

Originally Posted by germanturkey

lets be honest here. that's pretty terrible sniping. she's on the high ground and able to provide cover for her team moving in. not only that, but she looks through her scope to see the mini gun, then doesn't proceed to keep trying to take him out? come on. instead, she goes down to close quarters with that?

It wasn't explicitly explained in the episode proper, but from what I remember reading, those red lines of light you see flying about are forewarned bullet trajectories. Once the first shot had been fired, he already knew Sinon's location. The red lights warning him whenever she's about to shoot doesn't make things any better - he quite clearly dodged her second shot, so any more attempts weren't going to work.

[FlareKnight]

I have to say good idea to give the majority of focus on Sinon and setting up the game system. Makes it better than having to spend episodes following Kirito around when he gets into the game and just explaining stuff. Makes sense that sniping is really only going to be effective on the first shot and then you have to get creative. Makes you wonder how long the list of snipers in that game even is. Probably more spoils for shorter range types that can hit more targets even if they get warning lines.

Has to be plenty that girl is carrying around. Getting so intense in that fight by the end of it. Even basically ignoring her leg getting shot off as she just went nuts in trying to win that fight.

Found it funny to follow the Kirito harem around in a fight . Some things never change for Silica...You'd think those three would start moving on already.

[Mr Nr]

That was a nice second episode. Only real issue I have is that damn tentacle fan service. We talked remember Sword Art Online? To NEVER USE tentacles. Well either way it wasn't as cringe worthy or fan servicey as the infamous scene (the first one) so there's that and it didn't last that long. It is interesting they are taking their time with this season I'm guessing filling 24 episodes with 2 volumes (possibly 3 from what I heard) they have room to breath. Very much like the introduction to Sinon and quickly became best girl of the anime. May be silly how serious some players are when in fact it's a game but I reckon those were pro players and also there are people like that in real life in heavy competitive games like Dota 2 (different genre mind you but you get the point). Also that sniping midair was awesomely animated though not sure how it's possible (the light novel probably explained how it was). The camera sure does love Sinon though but I prefer that then tentacles anytime of the week. I'm guessing during the course of the anime were going to learn more about Sinon and especially her past self not sure why but given it's in the opening and ending must be important. Really like the ending was quite different from what the first season had but it does show that yes Sinon is a pivotal character in this arc. So I'm liking this nice and slow pace for the beginning and I reckon next episode things will ramp up.

EDIT: Forgot to mention but Miyuki Sawashiro is fantastic as Sinon, having a very calm nature. Also nice touch of the heavy breathing in the beginning because firing a sniper a really long time will do that to you I think.

[Jan-Poo]

Originally Posted by Eclipze

Well, that whole "he can smile on the battlefield because he is strong!" thing was super cheesy to be honest.

Yeah, I mean I know there is money involved but that's still a game, it all seemed overly dramatic.

Moreover I couldn't really feel empathy with Sinon's group. They were the attackers in the end, if they get killed instead it just serves em well

Originally Posted by lolzorz

It wasn't explicitly explained in the episode proper, but from what I remember reading, those red lines of light you see flying about are forewarned bullet trajectories. Once the first shot had been fired, he already knew Sinon's location. The red lights warning him whenever she's about to shoot doesn't make things any better - he quite clearly dodged her second shot, so any more attempts weren't going to work.

I thought as much, but there must be some catch or else sniping from afar, with a bullet that could take from 2 to 4 seconds to reach the target, would be entirely pointless.

Maybe you need to be aware of the enemy's position in order to see the red forewarning?

[Random Wanderer]

lets be honest here. that's pretty terrible sniping. she's on the high ground and able to provide cover for her team moving in. not only that, but she looks through her scope to see the mini gun, then doesn't proceed to keep trying to take him out? come on. instead, she goes down to close quarters with that?

Once he knows where she is, he can see where she's aiming. That allows him to dodge any shot she'll take at long range. That means she either has to get so close he can't get out of the way before she shoots him, or drop completely out of sight long enough for the system to decide he doesn't know where she is any more and let her take another undetected shot.

I thought as much, but there must be some catch or else sniping from afar, with a bullet that could take from 2 to 4 seconds to reach the target, would be entirely pointless.

Maybe you need to be aware of the enemy's position in order to see the red forewarning?

Yes. That's why the initial sniper shot can be totally deadly.

[Hiroi Sekai]

Originally Posted by Mr Nr

Only real issue I have is that damn tentacle fan service. We talked remember Sword Art Online? To NEVER USE tentacles.

I wouldn't go that far. Yes, the tentacle thing is pretty creepy, especially knowing that Silica was 13 when it first occurred. However, my writing partner and I always discuss this, but fanservice isn't a damp void of masturbatory visualizations; there's elements that can accentuate the allure of a character (the Monogatari series is a heavy mixed bag of these and the shameless alternative), and it can even be used in a comical attempt. Too frequent and it turns sour insanely quickly, but the way they used it in this episode, I'd hesitate to pull the trigger until they decide to go too far with it.

If anything, I'd say the gunner scoping down Sinon's exposed outfit was a more fanservice-heavy scene, perhaps even creepier if you think of the endgame potential he probably had in mind.

Also nice touch of the heavy breathing in the beginning because firing a sniper a really long time will do that to you I think.

Yup, it's less an exertion of energy, but a lot more on the mental fatigue of focusing, along with the fact that you constantly have to steady your aim by holding your breath. That is, unless you like your shots flying off like rampant, unguided disasters.

Speaking of which, has anyone seen the new DARPA ballistics that will actually change course mid-flight to guide themselves to their targets? These things are .50 caliber rounds as well; even with heat-seeking and remote controlled weaponry, something that kills so efficiently with minimal input is frightening.

Originally Posted by Random Wanderer

Once he knows where she is, he can see where she's aiming. That allows him to dodge any shot she'll take at long range. That means she either has to get so close he can't get out of the way before she shoots him, or drop completely out of sight long enough for the system to decide he doesn't know where she is any more and let her take another undetected shot.

Also remember that it's a game. We know very little about potential buffs and equipment that could affect player movement against incoming fire. They actually did mention the agility sacrifice in order to carry a minigun around, so I'm interested in what let him dodge the shot so well!