Sword Art Online the Movie: Progressive - Aria of a Starless Night
Synopsis
Excelling socially and academically, Asuna Yuuki is on track to ace her high school entrance exams. Her friend and classmate, Misumi "Mito" Tozawa, advises her to take a short break from studying and join her on the launch day of Sword Art Online (SAO)—the highly anticipated online virtual reality multiplayer game. Asuna accepts her offer and soon meets her in the game. In a cruel twist of fate, Asuna, Mito, and every other player logged into SAO find themselves trapped in the game permanently. The only way out is to clear all one hundred floors of the game, and to make matters worse, dying inside the game will kill the player in real life. With SAO now turned into a nightmare death trap, Asuna and other gamers—such as the lone swordsman Kazuto "Kirito" Kirigaya—must adapt and survive, all whilst attempting to beat the unforgiving competition to the top. [Written by MAL Rewrite]
Audience Consensus
The movie is well-received, especially by fans of the series, for its stunning visuals and deeper exploration of Asuna's character. While some find the story too similar to the original Aincrad arc, the enhanced production quality and fresh perspective generally outweigh these concerns. The film is considered a worthwhile addition to the SAO franchise, offering both nostalgia and new content.
Strengths
- Excellent animation and art style, particularly the fight scenes.
- Asuna's perspective provides a fresh and engaging narrative.
- The movie adds depth to Asuna's character and backstory.
- Sound design and music by Yuki Kajiura are highly praised.
Weaknesses
- Story closely follows the original Aincrad arc, potentially lacking novelty for some viewers.
- Some felt the story was too short and didn't add enough relevant content.
- Overuse of 'Swordland' OST can feel repetitive.