Sword Art Online

Recently the wife and I sat down and watched the first season of Sword Art Online. The 25 episode season comprises two story arcs: Sword Art Online (first 14 episodes) and Alfheim Online.

The Sword Art Online arc tells the story of Kazuto Kirigaya,know in game as Kirito, one of 10,000 players trapped in the virtual reality MMORPG Sword Art Online, A game with a deadly twist: If you die in the game, you die in real life. The only was out of the game is to win. Over the next two years thousands of players die as they press through level after level of the game. Strangers become friends, fall in love and learn to live in their new world. Kirito as a solo player tries to go it alone, but as he goes on he meets new friends and allies and falls in love.
The Alfheim Online story follows as Kazuto / Kirito, 3 months after escaping from SOA, enters a new MMORPG, Alfheim Online, Alfheim Online based on the technology of SOA, but without the deadly twist. Kirito races to save his love before she is forced into marriage with someone she despises. In Alfheim Online they play as faeries, a stark contrast to the world of Sword Art Online.

While I loved the SOA story arc, With an emotional, exciting adventure, I felt Alfheim was a bit girly for my taste. This is a anime that is worth the watch in my book and I am looking forward to watching Sword Art Online II.

You can watch Sword Art Online for free at AnimeHere.