Anime Review: Sword Art Online

Produced by: A-1 Pictures 

Story by: Reki Kawahara

Art by: abec

Anime available in: Netflix, Crunchyroll, Kissanime

by Aliraluna

Review:

It’s the year 2022 and “Sword Art Online” (SAO) a Virtual Reality Massive Multiplayer Online Role-Playing Game (VRMMORPG) was released, selling 10,000 copies. This game however is like no other, as players can control their avatars with their bodies using the “NerveGear”. One day after practicing, Kirito (a beta player) and Klein realize the log-out button is gone. While discussing the issue a bell rings and they are suddenly teleported against their will to the main town. In there, the creator of the game and “NerveGear” called Kayaba Akihiko explains that he removed the log-out option, so they had to complete the one hundred levels of the game to be set free. Also, if the “NerveGear” was removed in real life it could end their lives because of the powerful radiation the “NerveGear” produces towards the brain. An example of this was the first 213 people that perished in SAO and in real life. You can also die in the game if your HP gets to zero. In other words, the auto-revival or other means can’t be used anymore. Before going away, the Game Master gives them a present: a mirror that can transform your avatar into your real life self. Meanwhile, instead of teaming up, most players hate the betas, and soon notice they can kill each other and in “safe areas”.  Will they ever be able to get out alive? In the second game, called “ALfheim Online”, Kirito and his friends encounter more issues than dying in the game and in real life. Kirito’s appearance will change and this new game is about races and magic. In there, he will meet new friends and enemies…in order to save someone really important. 

Thoughts:

This anime is not only great because of the graphics, plot, and story itself but because something similar could happen in a future not so far away! Have you ever imagined having the chance to play a game in which you could control your avatar and feel everything as if it were real? I also liked this anime because it talked about different emotional issues and taboos. My favorite characters are: Kirito, Yui, and Leafa. Don’t get me wrong, Asuna is awesome in fighting. Give this anime a try and it will change your life forever. Yes, this is one of those anime. Also make sure to check this after you see the first season:

1. Sword Art Online (Extra Edition)

2. Sword Art Online: Sword Art Offline (DVD/Blu-ray specials) 

3. SWORD ART ONLINE SEASON II AVAILABLE NOW! (Streaming in: Kissanime, Crunchyroll)

Manga Review: Case Closed vol.1

Story and art by: Gosho Aoyama

By Aliraluna

Review:

High-school student Jimmy Kudo resolved another murder case, his famous discovery made it into the newspaper. Walking home with his friend, Rachel Moore the captain of the karate club, they have a talk about detective novels and their plan of going the next day to the amusement park to celebrate that Rachel won the city tournament. In Tropical Land he tries to show off his detective skill by making an example of a gymnastic girl, without knowing what would happen later. While riding the roller coaster, Jimmy feels water and something warm; when the ride finishes they see blood everywhere and a body without its head. Who’s the killer? 

Later that day, Jimmy sees two men in black that were in the same ride as he was, talking with the president, possibly black-mailing him. The president has a suitcase full of money which he gives to the men in black in exchange for a film containing the evidence of his company’s involvement with gun contraband. But just as Jimmy is taking pictures of this important case, another man with the long hair comes from behind and starts to beat him. He decides that instead of killing Jimmy using guns he will use a newly-developed pill with unknown effects. Jimmy is barely alive and feels his body burning up, melting, and when cops arrive and find him they call him “little boy”. 

He escapes from a medical room to go to his house; in which he finds Dr. Agasa the only person that knows his secret and will help him through the challenge of finding the man who hurt him and turned him into a young child. While he’s at home with Dr. Agasa, Rachel suddenly arrives looking for him but all she sees is the doctor and a cute kid who names himself Conan (remember, the creator of Sherlock Holmes, Sir Arthur Conan Doyle). The doctor asks Rachel if Conan can stay with her for a while as he is a busy man and can’t take care of him. She accepts but the truth is that it’s because he will be safe being away from his home and also because Rachel’s father is a detective and he can get information if her father gets more cases. 

The first case is of a little girl who has been taken away and someone that wants three million yen in exchange for the girl, but the one who will discover the clues is none other than Conan. The second case is much horrible and difficult because no one knows who the murderer of the dead body lying in the floor of a famous artist apartment is. But this case makes Rachel’s father more famous giving him new cases. Also Conan receives a new “weapon” made by the doctor; the weapon is a small bow tie voice modulator. At the end, Conan decides that once he gets back his old body and life he will confess his true feelings for Rachel.

Ready Player One Review

 by DigitaLoz

In his debut novel, Ernest Cline does not simply present a fun novel but a love letter toward geekdom. Cline, as screenwriter at its best, is known for films of the geeky variations like Fanboys. Ready Player One tells the story of a dystopian future in which oil is increasingly hard to come by, the gap between the social classes has been driven to a breaking point, and the only thing keeping people at ease is the Oasis. The Oasis is a blend between an mmorpg and a virtual reality; in some places it’s gone to fat as to replace the educational system. James Halliday, a genius game developer, is the mastermind behind Oasis. Upon his death, James leaves his multibillion dollar legacy to whomever finds an Easter egg inside Oasis; five years have passed and nobody has come close. Grunters, egg hunters, are born from this dystopian future, forever searching for Easter eggs and clues.

Apart from having a lot of fun reading Ready Player One, half the time I was scavenging through references of Joust (a decade old video game), Rush, and Earthbound; obscure allusions of Will Wheaton, Ultraman and Supaidaman were also worth googling. While the story is not too complex and there are no real surprises, it manages to get the reader rooting for these characters as they battle the big corporation and be the first to find the Easter egg. It is the classic battle between man and corporations. Ready Player One is an 80’s geek fest of epic proportions.

My only gripe with the book is that it is categorized as a YA novel, and I understand that it reads like one, yet it references are so obscure I doubt a sixteen year old might get them—supaidaman, Mechagodzilla, and Joust being the least common among casual gamers. I could not help but reminisce on playing Joust back in fourth or fifth grade in the old Macs in my school. I can only hope that those whom read this book and do not know about these mentions will go and find out for themselves.

Beyond the incredible technology driven setting, Ready Player One tugs at the hardcore gamers’ nostalgia. It is about looking back at all the things we loved when we were kids and remembering them like it is the first time. Whether one enjoyed Star Wars or Super Mario Bros., Ready Player One connects with geeks; in doing that, Ready player One immensely succeeds.