Sword Art Online: Alicization

The Soul Translator is a state-of-the-art full-dive interface which interacts with the user's Fluctlight—the technological equivalent of a human soul—and fundamentally differs from the orthodox method of sending signals to the brain. The private institute Rath aims to perfect their creation by enlisting the aid of Sword Art Online survivor Kazuto Kirigaya. He works there as a part-time employee to test the system's capabilities in the Underworld: the fantastical realm generated by the Soul Translator. As per the confidentiality contract, any memories created by the machine in the virtual world are wiped upon returning to the real world. Kazuto can only vaguely recall a single name, Alice, which provokes a sense of unease when mentioned in reality.

When Kazuto escorts Asuna Yuuki home one evening, they chance upon a familiar foe. Kazuto is mortally wounded in the ensuing fight and loses consciousness. When he comes to, he discovers that he has made a full-dive into the Underworld with seemingly no way to escape. He sets off on a quest, seeking a way back to the physical world once again.

[Written by MAL Rewrite]

Kirigaya, Kazuto Main

Matsuoka, Yoshitsugu Japanese

Zuberg, Alice Main

Kayano, Ai Japanese

Eugeo Main

Shimazaki, Nobunaga Japanese

Yuuki, Asuna Supporting

Tomatsu, Haruka Japanese

Asada, Shino Supporting

Sawashiro, Miyuki Japanese

Yui Supporting

Itou, Kanae Japanese

Kirigaya, Suguha Supporting

Taketatsu, Ayana Japanese

Tsuboi, Ryoutarou Supporting

Hirata, Hiroaki Japanese

Ayano, Keiko Supporting

Hidaka, Rina Japanese

Shinozaki, Rika Supporting

Takagaki, Ayahi Japanese

Kaneko, Atsushi Producer

Niwa, Masami Producer

Kawakami, Ryuutarou Producer

Yuasa, Takaaki Producer

Reviews

Feb 12, 2025

RagnaCrimsonFan

Recommended

(Potential mild spoilers ad, but ive marked the big ones)

I want to real quick give a shoutout to my man Reki Kawahara. I was not familiar with your game. I, like many, watched the first two seasons of Sword Art Online and said "ok. this is cool. but its got some issues." After all, while Kirito (the main character) is of course a great main character, I felt the rest of the cast was a bit weak. Also, the end of the aincrad arc was a little bit ridiculous. I mean, the villain forgetting his motivation for trapping a bunch of people in the game?? ... What kind of a nonsensical plot point is that! However, as I continued through the series that was sao, expecting more okness, alicization came along. And it BLEW ME OUT OF THE FUCKING WATER!

I have not been this surprised about a series this much since the likes of Ragna Crimson. In my last review, I discussed the intruiging foreshadowing and philosophical themes of Ragna Crimson, and how they are integral to the plot of the series. I also discussed the complex motivations of Ragna (the main character of that series) I feel very similarly about SAO Alicization than I do that show. Now of course, it doesn't quite reach the peaks of that, but thats a conversation for another day. Lets actually dive into SAO Alicization shall we?

hehe, get it? dive? like when they link start? because link starting is kind of like diving into the game? because thats a thing they do in the show? anyways...

Characters: 10
WOwie Crimson, SAO Alicization may have some of the greatest characters I have ever seen in any anime. He'll, id say it even rivals some of the finest literature I have read (which of course I am very well versed in). First lets start with Kirito, the main character. In the previous seasons, Kirito is definitely the most fascinating character. I really liked the fact that they didn't waste any time showing his life before the game. Stuff like him being bullied, his relationship with his sister, SAO took all that and threw it in the garbage to have a more natural approach to his character. And I REALLY liked this about him. It really let me understand the perspective of everyone else and let me pick up his character like everyone else. Over the course of the series I was able to piece together what Kirito wanted, and his feelings through brilliant dialogue and foreshadowing. Setting that aside though, Alicization took his (the main character) character to a whole new level. In fact, the scene that REALLY made me realize this was different from the previous arcs was how hsi gamer skills weren't going to help him in this new world. The scene where the death bullet dude attacked him in the real world and Kirito intrinsicely reaching for his sword, only to realize it wasn't there, was one that caught my attention. This made Kirito realize "man, I really am not in the game anymore. This is real!". He then gets sent into a new game, Alicization, which is very different from the previous ones, and he has to learn to adapt and find a way out of this mess. Overall a very good introduction to the new world and characters, that added unique stakes and upped the worldbuilding tenfold.

Next we get to Eugeo, one of the weaker characters of the arc. He's alright. Hes cool DONT GET ME WRONG! but like compared to the other charactesr of the arc he felt a little bland to me. Especially compared to Alice. Hoo boy, Alice.

Before that though, I want to give a shoutout to Klein. Up there with Slime, Klein is easily one of the funniest bro characters ive seen in any anime. HE NEEDED MORE SCREEN TIME THIS SEASON! Ive always wanted to see a spinoff of klein where they dive deeper into his character. I need to know more Reki. I NEED TO KNOW MORE!

Next is alice (a side character). ALICE IS GOATED OML! Such a cool character with a really interesting past. I really liked the stuff with the Integrity Knights here, and how they get their memory wiped by the Admin and brainwashed into thinking that they were sent from heaven. Overall a pretty interesting change from the previous arcs. But yeah, super badass. I really liked the part where she and Kirito had to climb up that building for like 2 episodes. It really gave them a chance to bond and for them to really connect since they had to rely on each other to survive. but yeah, shes awesome. I don't wanna spoil too much about her character though.

Animation: 10
Nothing to say here. This is some of the best animation I have ever seen. Not quite as good as... well, you can probably guess the show im referring to. Moving on. I have nothing to say here.

Story; 10
Kids have had their fun in the previous two seasons. now its REAL shit. The gore and action in this season are upped tenfold, and the story was far more interesting than before. There are so many twists and turns throughout this season that genuinely surprised me, as well versed I am with media of all kinds. Like the stuff with Alice (a side character) Especially how the villain died at the end, there was NO way I was gonna see that coming. ABsolutely insane! (no spoilers though) I like how the arc kind of leaves you on a cliffhanger, which lets you dive right into the next season! I actually haven't seen it yet, though I REALLLY want to. SAO has instantly become one of my new favorites. In fact I even purchased all the light novels (except volume 13, for personal reasons) to give Reki Kawahara as much money as I can. I NEED TO SEE THE REST OF THIS!!!! from what Ive haerd of unital ring and WoU, the story gets EVEN MORE INSANE FROM HERE! As if that were even possible. I can't say too much about the story if you haven't watched this, but its really quite interesting. Just go watch it for yourself. Alice's story (a side character) is enough to make it worth it.

Overall score: 10
Alicization truly changed me for the better. I had been watching so much mid, boring shows up until this point (of which will not be named, but I almost fell asleep watching legend of the MIDactic heroes), and I am forever grateful that I chose to give reki kawahara another chance. I may even have to raise my scores of the previous two seasons, since there was so much brilliant foreshadowing in those that made this arc all the better. From the insane visuals, to the masterfully written story, to alice and kirito (two characters) this is something someone of my caliber could EASILY tell took years in the making, brought up from excellent direction. Great job to Tomohiko Ito! You have earned my respect SAO, and that is a high bar to climb, trust me.

Reviewer’s Rating: 10

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Mar 19, 2024

Whe3333

Mixed Feelings

Spoiler-less, TL;DR, fast, simple, and easy-to-digest review:

Swords, Swords, MORE SWORDS!!!

6/10

Animation? Excellent (+++)
This is by far the season with the best art style and animation in the series... yet! Fight scenes are way superior to previous ones.

Characters? Ok (+)
... They learned their lesson from season two (eugh! what a trainwreck season) and somehow introduced some new decent ones. (Klein is still underloved pls more)

Story? Meh (-)
World building is better than the previous but not better than the first season. They went full (almost full) fantasy that made it distinct from others in the series, but I still prefer the first season. The payoff? IMO, watch the next season immediately. The story is not bad, but not good either.

Pacing? Meh (-)
This season has to have the slowest burn in this series, but more coherent and bearable than 2nd season (ew).

OST? Good (++)
BGMs made the fights hype AF! They really upgrade in this department and I wish they do the same in the next season.

Enjoyability? Meh (-)
While fights are good and enjoyable, the story is not. I have to +5 or 2x the show so that I can get to the fights and other major plot lines. Too much unnecessary fillers will lead to payoffs to be not worth it. If you want to enjoy this story, transform this into a linear but engaging TTRPG instead. You can add characters if you want.

Reviewer’s Rating: 6

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Jan 5, 2021

Rendhart

Not Recommended

"I will only view this from anime perspective"

"I Believe everyone that saw this review already saw Previous ark / season of SAO"

"If you feel the previous season of this series are average or just okay I absolutely don't recommend you to watch this, except you doesn't have anything left to watch"

first thing first I absolutely don't understand why people say that this is better than previous ark. I do see the attempt to make this ark to become a new experience. but unfortunately they kind of fail to establish the right element in the anime it self. yes, they succeed on downgrading it.

~ Story ~

so ... it's basically have the same pattern as the first season. main character get trapped, thing's get sentimental (supposed to be), and then the ark ended. but for some reason on this ark it feels incomplete, there are lot of logic that they left out, like how a victim and a scum suppose to act or how a crime suppose to happen. they skip a lot of progression of the main character just to give too many unnecessary explanation about the plot it self. it just feels like this ark was copied and rearranged by a person that have absolutely have no idea and no experience on writing a story, but somehow manage to connect it.

~Art~

well it's definitely SAO they have a lot of cool fighting scene, nothing really new. but if I should be picky I hope they make the character's expression more clear.

~Character~

I think they can't decide on which one is the main character, how to portray a main character and why main character is a main character.

~Enjoyment~

it's something that you can't watch once and you can just skip skip skip if you see thing that you don't like or boring.

well, overall you will love thing that you love, even if you don't see it. it's not bad but for me it's absolutely can't be categorized as average since I do like the previous ark better. once again I said that I absolutely won't recommend it to anybody nor say that it's better than the previous one. but feel free to watch it if you feel to like it.

Reviewer’s Rating: 4

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	Alice’s blind spot FlyingBacon365 - Jan 28, 2022	9 replies	by seacost6544364 »» Mar 2, 12:21 PM
	Poll: Sword Art Online: Alicization Episode 24 Discussion ( 1 2 3 4 5 ... Last Page ) Stark700 - Mar 30, 2019	303 replies	by cyberbubblee »» Mar 1, 2:49 PM
	Poll: Sword Art Online: Alicization Episode 22 Discussion ( 1 2 3 ) Stark700 - Mar 16, 2019	139 replies	by gine_8858 »» Feb 28, 11:17 AM
	Poll: Sword Art Online: Alicization Episode 9 Discussion ( 1 2 3 ) Stark700 - Dec 1, 2018	141 replies	by ElDoRado1239 »» Feb 21, 2:14 AM
	Poll: Sword Art Online: Alicization Episode 8 Discussion ( 1 2 3 4 5 ) Stark700 - Nov 24, 2018	225 replies	by ElDoRado1239 »» Feb 20, 11:13 PM

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