Sword Art Online - Episode 1 Discussion / Poll

[Wild Goose]

Originally Posted by Horse

Implying you can't have interesting characters/motivations/mystery in first episodes.

Would you like to have a sachet of instant soup powder, just add water? Or would you like a pot of stew that takes a bit more time to cook but is ultimately more satisfying?

Some things need time to develop. Instant gratification has not been a good culture for the world as a whole.

And sometimes, things are so straightforward there is no mystery, because things are exactly as they appear. That's not always bad.

This is not Stand Alone Complex with layers upon layers of plotting. This is a series where the game has more or less forcibly supplanted life, for those who are trapped in it.

[mod edit: removed spoilers]

[Guardian Enzo]

Was Klein's "You're pretty cute - that's my type" an accurate translation in the CR subs? It seemed a bit out of context.

[RainbowMagnet]

Originally Posted by Guardian Enzo

Was Klein's "You're pretty cute - that's my type" an accurate translation in the CR subs? It seemed a bit out of context.

IIRC, he says exactly the same thing in the light novel.

[maplehurry]

so what if players die of malnutrition in RL ..

[Nihgthawk]

Great first episode, I cannot wait for next weeks. If they are following the chronological order the next episode should follow the Aria and the Starless Night side story. I would say you can go read it on Baka Tsuki for spoilers but it seems to be down atm. (Did the SAO fan crash the server? )

[Dark Wing]

well color me impressed usually it takes most series 2 or 3 episodes to hit it's stride however shit got real really fast. Just going by the first episode I can tell we're for one hell of a show.

[Guardian Enzo]

Originally Posted by maplehurry

so what if players die of malnutrition in RL ..

Heh, I wondered about that, too... IV?

[kyp275]

Originally Posted by maplehurry

so what if players die of malnutrition in RL ..

your question sort of answers itself, if they died in RL... they die :P

[Dark Wing]

Originally Posted by Guardian Enzo

Heh, I wondered about that, too... IV?

well of course they're friends and family are going to try and keep them alive.

[Ray]

Originally Posted by RainbowMagnet

IIRC, he says exactly the same thing in the light novel.

Yeah, I can confirm that he does. I was surprised they left that in; the attention to such minor details is always pleasant.

Originally Posted by maplehurry

so what if players die of malnutrition in RL ..

I'm sure the anime will deal will that in the second episode. Or alternatively, if you really want to know, there's the Q & A thread.

[Nihgthawk]

Originally Posted by maplehurry

so what if players die of malnutrition in RL ..

That should be explained in later episodes if not think about it logically. 10,000 people are now effectively unable to take care of themselves because of a disaster. Usually the government steps in to provide assistance in situations like this.

[Pocari_Sweat]

Although it wasn't mindblowing nor completely original (.hack franchise has a similar premise to this), the execution of the first episode was rock solid. High quality visuals, superb soundtrack (Yuki Kajiara, Fuck yea), likable MC unlike the one from its sister series Accel World and of the fantasy genre, something that doesn't isn't too common. Though it is a JRPG fantasy genre so I'll keep that in mind and be cautiously optimistic since that does not have a good track record with me. However, the "polish" of this opener just blows pretty much every other JRPG anime adaptation pilot episode I've seen since... I don't know, might be of all time for me actually. Last "okay" one from the genre was Tales of the Abyss, which wasn't exactly good either.

Anyways, it definitely was the series with the best pilot episode, beating even Tari Tari or Natsyuki Rendezvous for me. Crossing fingers that this will be better than Accel World, since that went to the dumpster for me in ep 4 or 5.

Btw, without spoiling and going shipping crazy, how important and signficant is the romance between the MC and that orange hair female character from the promos (the main female character I'm assuming)? Very briefly.

[Miraluka]

Originally Posted by Nihgthawk

I would say you can go read it on Baka Tsuki for spoilers but it seems to be down atm. (Did the SAO fan crash the server? )

And I was reading HO when the server crashed .

These people cam never be satisfied and always will search for a reason to compaing regarding the adaptation... at least, there is no problems.

[Wild Goose]

I'll just note that the novel was originally written in 2002, so it's arguable whether .hack or SAO got the ball rolling.

As for significance... Go look in the light novel thread for details. Highly significant. Their relationship is one of the pillars that hold up the LN series, the others being good writing, crowning moments of awesome, likable characters, and a good story.

Normal anime, story wise, is candy. This is rice with stew and vegetables.

....that reminds me, need to get my mom to teach me to make stew.

[Ray]

Originally Posted by Pocari_Sweat

Btw, without spoiling and going shipping crazy, how important and signficant is the romance between the MC and that orange hair female character from the promos (the main female character I'm assuming)?

Important enough for fans (like myself) to go all go-go ga-ga over their relationship. But seriously, it's an important sub-plot, I suppose?

[Miraluka]

Originally Posted by Pocari_Sweat

Btw, without spoiling and going shipping crazy, how important and signficant is the romance between the MC and that orange hair female character from the promos (the main female character I'm assuming)? Very briefly.

LN thread....

[kk2extreme]

Note to self: If a real life VRMMORPG is on the market, do not buy...

[Utsuro no Hako]

Originally Posted by Guardian Enzo

Was Klein's "You're pretty cute - that's my type" an accurate translation in the CR subs? It seemed a bit out of context.

He definitely called Kirito "kawaii". The scene is straight out of the novel:

I waved once and turned northwest—the direction of the village that I'd use as my next base. When I had taken about five steps, a voice called out from behind me again.

"Hey, Kirito! You look pretty good in real life! You're quite my style!"

I smiled bitterly and shouted over my shoulder.

"Your look suits you ten times better too!"

[FlavoryFantasy]

Oh man this 1st ep hit all the right notes! Dat OP & bgm mmm
Klein's va fits him pretty nicely~ + all those cameos, how delicious~

Now to wait a week for the next ep... (´Д` )

[Wild Goose]

AHAHAHAHAHAHAHA, Kline has to be in his 30s at the youngest IRL - his pose when he shouts logout really amuses me.

Guess he saw the Decade Net Videos too. "Got a problem? Henshin into Ichigo Rider!"

.... or is that the Black Henshin? Which would make sense: in the 90s, Black was a childhood hero to every kid in asia, and Kline would have been around that age... argh, my Rider-ken has grown weak.