Sword Art Online 12 Alicization Rising Reki Kawahara
Okay, let's talk about Sword Art Online (SAO). Specifically, Alicization. And even MORE specifically, Alicization Rising.
I know, I know. Some folks adore this arc. But hear me out. We need to have a little chat.
The Endless Underworld
Remember Aincrad? Ten thousand players trapped in a VR death game. Concise. Intense. We all felt the stakes.
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Then we get to Underworld. And it goes on. And on. And then… it keeps going.
Seriously, I felt like I aged alongside Kirito. Like I lived several lifetimes within those digital woods.
Kirito: The Coma King?
Let’s be honest, Kirito spends a lot of Alicization… well, less than active. He's in a coma! Like a digital Sleeping Beauty, waiting for a deus ex machina.
While he is recovering, the others have to pick up the slack. Good for them, I guess. The rest of the gang deserve the spotlight.
But I miss the black-clad badass slicing and dicing through levels. Give me back my Kirito!
The Plot Thickens (and Thickens...and Thickens)
The story gets super complicated. New characters pop up left and right. Political intrigue! Super AIs! Ancient conspiracies!
My brain started to hurt trying to keep track of it all. Remember Occam's Razor? Sometimes the simplest explanation is the best.
I just wanted Kirito to level up and save the day. Not get bogged down in digital geopolitics.
The Power Creep is Real
The power levels in Alicization are... something else. We go from swords and skills to literal god-like abilities.
Characters start throwing around concepts like "incarnation" and "system commands." It's less fantasy, more sci-fi mumbo jumbo.
It made the original struggles in Aincrad feel, well, quaint. A little too nostalgic for a simpler time.
Not Hating, Just Saying...
Look, I’m not saying Alicization is bad. It has its moments. The animation is gorgeous, the music is epic.
And Reki Kawahara clearly put a ton of thought into this world. I admire the dedication!
But sometimes, I feel like he got a little lost in the weeds. A little too ambitious for its own good. Don't you agree?
Unpopular Opinion Time
So, here's my unpopular opinion: Alicization Rising is the most skippable part of SAO. Don't @ me.
I’d rather re-watch the Aincrad arc for the tenth time. A simple storyline, enjoyable action, and iconic moments.
It's like a comforting hug compared to the mind-bending marathon that is Alicization.
Maybe one day I'll revisit Underworld. But for now, I'm sticking to the simpler days of SAO. Back when swords were swords, and the stakes were clear.
And Kirito wasn't stuck in a vegetative state.
Just my two cents. What do you think?
