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View Poll Results: Critique of Episode 04 | |||
10 out of 10: Near Perfect... | 61 | 32.11% | |
9 out of 10: Excellent... | 59 | 31.05% | |
8 out of 10: Very Good... | 42 | 22.11% | |
7 out of 10: Good... | 19 | 10.00% | |
6 out of 10: Average... | 4 | 2.11% | |
5 out of 10: Below Average... | 0 | 0% | |
4 out of 10: Poor... | 4 | 2.11% | |
3 out of 10: Bad... | 0 | 0% | |
2 out of 10: Very Bad... | 0 | 0% | |
1 out of 10: Torturous... | 1 | 0.53% | |
Voters: 190. You may not vote on this poll |
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2012-07-28, 23:31 | Link #101 |
Administrator
Join Date: Dec 2003
Age: 41
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Even after watching the episode, it took me a moment to piece together what Kirito was doing on that low floor in the first place (and so how it is that he ran into Silica at the start). But it makes sense given that he was on the trail of that evil guild. Still, I guess we're left to wonder just how much of the whole thing was part of his plan; I tend to think that their initial encounter may have been chance while he was on the floor looking for the guild, and then the pieces came together conveniently after that.
That aside, I liked the way the pieces came together in the episode, and the conclusion was quite sweet ("Awwww....."). The way they transitioned from that line into the ED was really nice. We also got a fair bit of backstory of what's been going on elsewhere through this episode, so the story is continuing to build in that regard. All in all, I'm really sold on this show -- I wouldn't necessarily mind if it continued to be episodic, but I'm sure that some larger arcs are coming too. Personally, I don't know the novels, but I think introducing the various background elements in this way is useful, particularly for people who aren't as well-versed in MMORPGs.
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2012-07-28, 23:35 | Link #102 |
Radical Dreamer
Join Date: Dec 2005
Location: Washington DC
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I am enjoying the pacing. It seems condensed, but I think this show is geared towards the manga readers to kinda get a taste of more the story than the actual world. I enjoy these episodic series. Anyway the pacing was great this time, and I've had moments in MMOs where I partner up with someone to help them out. I've also hunted down PKers before so I really enjoyed that aspect of the game. For the most part this series is promising. I know a lot of people here do complain, but man the character development is quite great. Kirito the Abbey (big brother) quite endearing.
I enjoyed the meeting, and the conversations etc. It reminded me of when I traveled to Singapore and a friend of mines I considered a younger sister showed me around the entire city. I kinda miss my days traveling, but soon enough I'll be in Morocco |
2012-07-28, 23:37 | Link #103 | |
Eh?
Join Date: Aug 2008
Location: Canada
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In RPG environments it's not appearance that counts, it's the number behind it, as Kirito had said in this episode. Especially nowadays, where developers try to give players as much free reign as possible if they offer character customization.
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2012-07-28, 23:43 | Link #104 | |
Banned
Join Date: Feb 2006
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2012-07-28, 23:57 | Link #106 | |
Human
Join Date: Aug 2004
Age: 37
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Speaking unseriously again, when I was playing TOR with my brother, his Imperial Agent found a black coat from the boss of the first dungeon and he wore it through the entire game by upgrading it. So... it really does happen. |
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2012-07-28, 23:58 | Link #107 |
Truth Martyr
Author
Join Date: Nov 2007
Location: Doing Anzu's paperwork.
Age: 38
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Regards his coats, he's obviously been having them made in the style of the first coat he'd gotten as the item drop.
Kirito's style is based around hitting hard and fast, and avoiding being hit - from what I've seen over the last 4 eps, he prioritises attack power and counterattacks over defense, which makes sense, as he isn't a tank player. notice the only time so far that he's been tanking attaks is against the Titan's Head players. He's got enough protection to survive a couple of hits, dodge and use a healing item. Which is pretty much the same paradigm behind the N7 Shadow (take that, ninja bitches!).
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2012-07-29, 00:00 | Link #108 | |
Radical Dreamer
Join Date: Dec 2005
Location: Washington DC
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2012-07-29, 00:02 | Link #109 | |
Human
Join Date: Aug 2004
Age: 37
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2012-07-29, 00:14 | Link #110 | ||
Okuyasu the Bird
Join Date: Sep 2009
Location: Alberta, Canada
Age: 32
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How it pains me to see female characters who get a free pass in their existence for merely being "cute" or "sexy".
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2012-07-29, 00:14 | Link #111 |
Senior Member
Join Date: Feb 2011
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I would agree with the general consensus that this is one of the most best paced episodes so far, a pacing that matches that of episode 1's general smooth introduction to SAO.
In part, it's not that surprising, since the Black Swordsman is one of the most linear stories of all the side-stories, in comparison to Aria and arguably Red Nose Reindeer. Indeed, had they messed this episode up, I would have been very worried about the prospects of this adaptation, over all. In addition, I would like to encourage anime viewers to look at this episode as a healing episode for Kirito. After that entire business with Sachi, the encounter with Silica helped pushed Kirito out of his Post-Sachi depression. Just compare the beginning of this episode, where there are still traces of Kirito's BSOD, to Kirito's tone and mannerisms at the end of the episode. It is clear that this is meant to be a healing episode, all in all. I don't see Silica as Otaku bait, but part of Kirito's Post-Sachi healing process. Perhaps it's difficult to appreciate the fact because of the nature of Red Nose Reindeer, but if one would see Silica as a kind of balm over Kirito's psychological scars, I think this episode might be better appreciated in that manner. In any case, Silica being Otaku bait has been lampshaded in the anime itself - reduced and objectified to a mascot indeed, though it's quite unrealistic for the anime to go deeper into that other than to hint that Silica is not exactly most happy about that state of affairs. Spoiler for Significance of you Look like my sister - Comparisons with skipped Pre-Black Swordsman Side stories:
I am also encouraged about the title of the next episode. Hopefully, that story will receive two, instead of one episode, because it IS, if memory serves, even longer than Aria. |
2012-07-29, 00:39 | Link #112 | |
Staring into your soul.
Join Date: Oct 2010
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2012-07-29, 00:40 | Link #113 | |
Anime-Only Viewer
Graphic Designer
Join Date: Apr 2006
Location: USA
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I agree. I don't really see a high significance in it besides a superficial and normal one.
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2012-07-29, 00:41 | Link #114 |
Human
Join Date: Aug 2004
Age: 37
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That's pretty normal isn't it? For games where your equipment changes your appearance, unequipping everything will leave you in your underwear. Obviously, the underwear itself isn't part of your equipment though, so that's as naked as you can get. In World of Warcraft, creating a new female character and taking off all their armor is practically a meme.
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2012-07-29, 00:48 | Link #115 | |
Secret Society BLANKET
Graphic Designer
Join Date: Oct 2006
Location: 3 times the passion of normal flamenco
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I don't think the same would happen if Kirito was fighting players or monsters of similar level to him, which would have attack values sufficient to overwhelm his regen, and thus him tanking said attacks wouldn't work out in the front clearing lines.
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2012-07-29, 00:52 | Link #116 |
Home of Silent Prayer
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@novalysis:Well, if it is longer, than I hope that it will fit nicely in 2 eps. I remember that in the ep 2 discussion (or was it the last one?) that aria might not have enough things in it to have 2 episodes for it without some fillers, so they shouldn't have any problems here.
I also agree that this ep serves well as a 'healing' episode, both for kirito and the viewers (the only episode so far without anyone dying - in fact, it's the opposite. It does show a good turning point that he managed to keep his party safe this time, and that Silica managed to resurrect the one closest to her...yeah, I agree that Kirito comes off better after this ep, not sure ot's enough to completely return him to normal though.
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2012-07-29, 00:52 | Link #117 |
Human
Join Date: Aug 2004
Age: 37
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He doesn't use a shield (and it doesn't look like heavy armor either) so it's pretty obvious he's not a tank. He seems to be going for the "swordmaster" style, like the class from Fire Emblem. Fast and strong at the same time, but he has to rely on dodging to survive against even opponents.
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2012-07-29, 01:16 | Link #119 | |||
Truth Martyr
Author
Join Date: Nov 2007
Location: Doing Anzu's paperwork.
Age: 38
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Like LGear said, he can afford to tank them bevause his level is so high. Many RPGs will have situations where your level is so high, nothing in the gameworld can hurt you. Yes, even in Skyrim, with enemies that scale according to level. (I have finally made a bow that can one shot dragons.)
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2012-07-29, 01:27 | Link #120 | |
Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2011
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If anyone's curious about what tanks are like in SAO, rewatch the fight from ep.2 and pay attention to Egil and his party. |
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weekly episode discussion |
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