What Year Does Sword Art Online Take Place
Okay, let's talk Sword Art Online. Specifically, what year does this whole virtual reality shebang even happen?
The "official" answer is 2022. Kirito and his pals get trapped in Aincrad that year. Pretty straightforward, right?
But Here's My Unpopular Opinion...
I think Sword Art Online actually takes place in, like, the future. Hear me out!
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Think about it. Fully immersive VR in 2022? We had flip phones and dial-up internet back then (okay, maybe not dial-up, but still!).
Sure, technology advances quickly. But jumping to SAO-level immersion in just a few years seems a bit... optimistic, wouldn't you agree?
Exhibit A: The NerveGear
The NerveGear. This thing blocks all external stimuli and jacks directly into your brain. Wild, right?
That's some seriously advanced tech. Even now, we're just dipping our toes into VR. No one's blocking our senses anytime soon.
Maybe 2022 was just the year they started thinking about it. Big difference!
Exhibit B: The Acceptance Factor
Everyone just kind of... accepts this technology. "Oh, cool, full-dive VR. Let's get trapped in a death game!"
Imagine if the NerveGear was real right now. Panic! Conspiracy theories! News headlines for weeks.
In SAO, they treat it like a new iPhone. "Pre-order yours now!" I'm not buying it.
Exhibit C: Kirito Himself
Kirito is a gaming whiz. Fine. But he's also a master coder, a skilled fighter, and a surprisingly good cook for a teenager.
Come on! Does anyone really have that many skills at that age? He's practically a superhero in digital disguise.
Maybe he’s from a future where they genetically engineer kids to be super-nerds. Just a thought!
So, What's My Point?
I'm not saying the writers are wrong. They set the date. It's canon.
But sometimes, when I'm watching Kirito defeat a boss or hack into a system, I can't help but think, "This feels way more futuristic than 2022."
Maybe it's 2077. Maybe it's 2142. Maybe it's a completely different timeline where technology advanced much faster.
Who knows? All I know is, Sword Art Online feels like a glimpse into a distant future. A future I simultaneously fear and desperately want to experience.
So, next time you're watching, just remember: it might be 2022. Or it might be something far, far beyond.
And that's okay. Let's just enjoy the ride, shall we?
"This isn't just a game." - Kirito. Maybe he meant it wasn't just set in 2022 either!
