Sword Art Online the Movie: Ordinal Scale
Synopsis
In 2026, four years after the infamous Sword Art Online incident, a revolutionary new form of technology has emerged: the Augma, a device that utilizes an Augmented Reality system. Unlike the Virtual Reality of the NerveGear and the Amusphere, it is perfectly safe and allows players to use it while they are conscious, creating an instant hit on the market. The most popular application for the Augma is the game Ordinal Scale, which immerses players in a fantasy role-playing game with player rankings and rewards. Following the new craze, Kirito's friends dive into the game, and despite his reservations about the system, Kirito eventually joins them. While at first it appears to be just fun and games, they soon find out that the game is not all that it seems... [Written by MAL Rewrite]
Audience Consensus
The movie is generally well-received, especially by existing SAO fans, with praise for its visuals, action, and nostalgic elements. Some find the plot predictable and the characters cliched, but the overall experience is considered enjoyable and a worthwhile addition to the SAO franchise. There is also a sense of resolution of previous writing issues.
Strengths
- Stunning visuals and animation quality.
- Exciting and well-choreographed action sequences.
- Nostalgic callbacks to previous SAO seasons.
Weaknesses
- Predictable plot and cliche villains.
- Soundtrack not as memorable as the original SAO.
- Simplistic story with a lack of coherent story.