Accel World: Infinite∞Burst
Synopsis — from MyAnimeList
Some time after the events involving Burst Linker Dusk Taker, Kuroyukihime recalls recruiting Haruyuki Arita to the "Brain Burst" program—an application that allows players to accelerate their cognitive functions until time seems to stop. Since his arrival, Haruyuki has risen to fame among the other Burst Linkers and has been helping Kuroyukihime achieve her goal of reaching the highest level in the game. During a territorial battle with their legion, Nega Nebulus, Haruyuki and his friends are kicked out of the program after a destructive storm in-game. All over Tokyo, security cameras are malfunctioning, which Kuroyukihime deduces is related to the Brain Burst glitch. Determined to fix the problem, Nega Nebulus must recruit the other legions to find the source of the issue and restore the acceleration ability.
Audience Consensus
Audience sentiment is heavily divided, with strong disappointment from anime-only viewers due to the incomprehensible reliance on light novel lore and a poorly executed recap. While the animation and action sequences are praised, they fail to salvage a narrative that is widely considered rushed and inaccessible to those unfamiliar with the source material.
Strengths
- Impressive and well-animated battle sequences, especially the thrilling fights and large-scale enemy encounters.
- High-quality animation and visual presentation, with Sunrise delivering expected excellent production values.
- Engaging soundtrack that contributes to the immersive experience of the action sequences.
Weaknesses
- The extensive 40-minute recap is poorly paced, boring, and fails to adequately explain crucial plot points or character introductions for anime-only viewers.
- The narrative relies heavily on prior knowledge of the light novels, leaving viewers who only watched the anime confused about character motivations, new alliances, and game mechanics.
- The plot and new character development are rushed, with insufficient screen time for new characters and underdeveloped story arcs.
- The movie feels like an advertisement for the light novels rather than a self-contained or coherent film.