Sword Art Online popularized the idea of virtual world isekais - to the point of dividing anime fandom into whether its take on a power fantasy is "too much" or "just right" to be entertaining. Criticisms bated, Sword Fine art Online has had a decent run throughout the years, with the story evolving outside the core "Sword Art Online" MMO and into new games with as-dangerous challenges.

As with any evolving anime story, each new Sword Art Online arc boasts a new setting, new characters, and a new threat to exist faced. With each SAO arc being more or less a "standalone" story, it's not surprising for fans to compare them with each other. Withal, only which SAO arc dominates the rest?

9 Calibur

Sword Art Online Calibur main cast
  • Anime: Season 2, Episodes 15 to 17

Given the emphasis on the plot, it'southward no surprise that both the Aincrad and Fairy Trip the light fantastic arcs compromised a bit of character development for the sake of the story. Thankfully, the Calibur mini-arc features sets of stories taking place in both the world of Aincrad and ALO that try to cement the roles of side characters inside and outside of Kirito's circumvolve. The story arc culminates when all characters join Kirito in a hunt for the Holy Sword Excalibur.

Despite the added depth to characters in the series, Calibur proves at that place's perhaps more value to the core Sword Art Online feel when viewed from the lens of divide stories instead of being solely about Kirito's exploits. Sadly, the lack of this emphasis and the focus of Calibur to just flesh out characters brand information technology more of an arc for development compensation instead of a solid release.

8 War Of The Underworld

Sword Art Online War of the Underworld poster
  • Anime: Alicization - War of the Underworld, Episodes 25 to 47

Serving as the second part of the Alicization flavor in Sword Art Online, War of the Underworld largely adapts the concluding chapters of the Project Alicization arc in the novels. Taking identify in the climax of the Alicization arc, the War volition have Kirito, Eugeo, and Alice reuniting to end an impending threat from ruining their lives in the Underworld.

Unfortunately, aside from the rather heroic pretext, State of war of the Underworld leaves much to be desired in other elements. Flashy and stylistic combat aside, there'due south not just a lot of redeemable qualities that separate War of the Underworld from the rest of the series. Aside from unnecessary mature scenes, there are ability scaling issues and narrative progression mishaps that just neutralize its climactic moments.

7 Fairy Trip the light fantastic toe

Sword Art Online Fairy Dance main cast
  • Anime: Season one, Episodes 15 to 25

It'south such a shame for Fairy Dance to go quite a disappointment among critics and fans akin, especially due to the hype from the original Sword Fine art Online feel. Taking place soon after the Aincrad Arc, Kirito ventures into the fairy-themed MMO ALfheim Online after discovering that Asuna, who has nevertheless to awaken from the hospital since the cease of "SAO," is held captive in that location. Now donning wings and accompanied past the mysterious Leafa, Kirito will fight to awaken his honey amid a clan war among ALO's dissimilar thespian groups.

A lot of fans criticize Fairy Trip the light fantastic toe for its rather odd take on narrative and mixture of tropes. Aside from a captive and helpless Asuna being too out of character for the strong heroine, the lowkey incestuous elements and some cringy scenes make Fairy Dance an arc to but forget entirely.

vi Ordinal Scale

Sword Art Online Ordinal Scale
  • Anime: Sword Art Online The Moving-picture show: Ordinal Scale

Albeit a complete mini-arc in the light novels, Ordinal Calibration becomes a full-fledged Sword Art Online film - and within reason, given its revolution effectually augmented reality (AR) gaming, and not virtual. Taking identify soon later Phantom Bullet, Kirito and his friends get dragged into the AR craze courtesy of a dandy gadget and a new MMO, "Ordinal Scale." Even so, things get awry when players not only encounter monsters from "Sword Art Online" but as well start losing their memories from their experience in the VR game.

Despite having enough tools for a standalone story, Ordinal Scale falls apart soon when fans showtime studying its premise further. It'southward one thing to be skilled in sword fighting in a VR game - merely to translate those skills in existent life through AR is simply a chip likewise good to exist truthful. Regardless, the brusk narrative of Ordinal Scale provides just enough action and drama to be bearable.

5 Project Alicization

Sword Art Online Alicization main cast
  • Anime: Alicization Episodes i to 24

The Project Alicization Arc serves equally one of the longer story arcs in Sword Fine art Online, earning both the irk and admiration of fans and critics akin. Taking place soon later the Phantom Bullet Arc, private company Rath contacts Kirito to test their advanced automobile called the Soul Translator. To preserve the tests, Kirito'south real memories will be blocked in the game and vice versa. However, with an accident causing Kirito to stay in the Underworld with both his real and virtual memories intact, problem ensues.

Project Alicization is by far the longest story arc in the entire series, and mayhap the most philosophical. Given the advanced nature of the Soul Translator, author Reki Kawahara dabbles into the nature of souls and AI with a more than grandiose "1000 scheme of things" writing. This is definitely a new fashion compared to what fans have experienced and is a welcome change to those who want a look into the bigger existent-world implications of the series' concepts.

iv Mother'south Rosario

Sword Art Online Mothers Rosario
  • Anime: Season 2, Episodes 18 to 24

Serving as a standalone side story during the events of Fairy Dance, Mother's Rosario will accept Asuna visit the mysterious histrion Yuuki, who offers an 11-hit Original Sword Skill chosen "Mother's Rosario" to whoever gets to defeat her. However, her duel with Asuna abruptly stops when she asks her for help for a very personal trouble.

Despite Mother's Rosario beingness a brusque story arc with its ain shortcomings, this manages to identify Asuna's superiority as the "OG" among Kirito's harem in Sword Art Online. Asuna eventually becomes the center of fan criticisms towards Sword Fine art Online, especially for her having a more defined personality compared to Kirito. Others clamor for stories where Asuna takes the reins, and Female parent'southward Rosario finally delivers.

3 Progressive

Sword-Art-Online-Progressive-Movie-1
  • Anime: Sword Art Online Progressive: Aria Of A Starless Night

The original Sword Art Online received flak for its narrative that demanded character investment when said narrative lacked events that cemented character relationships. The Progressive line of lite novels aims to change this equally they provide a more cohesive experience of the Aincrad Arc, complete with side stories that emphasize other characters.

Despite being a decent rework of the kickoff arc, Progressive will lack the "oomph" that fabricated OG SAO attractive in the first place. This is especially the case with the anime flick Sword Art Online Progressive: Aria Of A Starless Night , which is an in-depth retelling of Kirito and Asuna's initial encounters. While Kirigaya "Gary Stu" Kazuto receives more character development in Progressive, i can't deny that the OG "strongest-for-no-reason" direction for Kirito in the original Aincrad Arc makes him all the more iconic.

two Phantom Bullet

Sword Art Online Phantom Bullet
  • Season 2, Episodes 1 to fourteen.v

A murder mystery is the last affair ane would think of for an activeness-adventure series similar Sword Fine art Online, yet somehow the Phantom Bullet Arc is able to deliver. Taking place in a VR shooter called "Gun Gale Online," Kirito gets dragged into finding the player known as "Death Gun" - purportedly capable of killing both GGO character and its avatar in the existent world. Bated from getting a female avatar, Kirito meets elusive sniper Sinon, who gets to help him in solving this mystery.

Despite its rather fast step and story progression, Phantom Bullet remains one of the more comprehensive story arcs that makes SAO bearable even to critics. GGO was a welcome change to the other VRMMOs given its armed forces fiction motif - and Kirito one-upping most shooters with the supposedly weak beam saber is a good callback to knifing in FPS games.

i Aincrad Arc

Sword Art Online during the Aincrad Arc
  • Season 1, Episodes 1 to fourteen

It's unsurprising for an extended series like Sword Art Online to have its beginning arc as its most iconic. The Aincrad Arc introduces Kirito - Kirigaya Kazuto - and his remarkable expertise in the realm of online gaming. He's part of the unlucky gamers to be unable to log out of the new VR MMO "Sword Art Online" at the behest of its creator, Kayaba Akihiko. If Kirito and the other trapped gamers ever wish to become out of the game, they need to clear the boss of its elevation flooring. Only in that location's a catch: dying in "SAO" means dying in existent life.

With "Aincrad" referring to "Sword Art Online"'south game world, the Aincrad Arc served as the about cohesive and the most straightforward of the series' arcs. Aside from introducing Kirito and his closest companions, it offers decent worldbuilding and a so-so narrative. Granted, Aincrad lacks the depth of character development offered by Progressive, simply it remains the perfect way to innovate fans to the OG SAO experience.

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