Sword Art Online Alternative Gun Gale Online I squad Jam

Sword Art Online Culling: Gale Gun Online Episode 1: "Squad Jam" Review

This GGO chapter isn't off to the strongest start.

Once upon a 2012, Sword Art Online consumed us with the mystique of virtual reality and unhealthy gaming habits. It played to our fears of existence consumed by gaming and brought interesting discussions to the table, albeit completely unrealistic. Now, in 2018, VR can't potentially kill its players anymore. Everything is sunshine and rainbows in SAO, and at that place'southward a new daughter to boot.If you're expecting Kirito, Asuna, and the rest of the SAO gang, you're not going to get them here. SAO Alternative is just as its proper name implies–it's not part of the series' core narrative. Instead, it'southward a side story following a completely new crew of characters in a world we already know from the Ballet of Bullets arc in SAO Two. Returning to Gale Gun Online, this serial follows LLENN, a famed solo thespian, and her rise to fame.

In this episode, we're introduced to LLENN and her partner M. We don't know how long these two have been working together, if they accept at all, but both enter a battle royale tournament dubbed Squad Jam. They're one squad out of 22 others participating, and this episode introduces them besides every bit explores their unique dynamic as partners. You know, as introductory episodes typically do. Yawn. But the skilful thing is, if yous haven't seen Sword Fine art Online, yous're not going to miss whatever important context in this iteration past having skipped it.

LLENN has a certain undeniable femininity in this macho earth, and that in itself is welcome.

LLENN is cutesy and feels massively out of place in the dystopian world of Gun Gale Online. She has a certain undeniable femininity in this macho world, and that in itself is welcome. Her moe appearance on top of her garish pink outfit and the P90 she lovingly calls "P" all help interruption the mold of the stereotypical FPS player. Whether or non she fits into the "girls like pink" stereotype is yet to be determined – though that's a perfectly valid way to limited femininity – just her character does toe that line of "this is how I genuinely express myself," and "this is how nosotros write female characters, right?"

Information technology'southward clear that LLENN is not written every bit a "noob" character, as she's in tune with the game and its mechanics. She knows when she's being used, and she knows how to get effectually in this world. Just she's massively uncertain. Instead of coming off as clever or resourceful, she almost comes off as a scared niggling daughter. It'due south not her who is taking the lead in her duo's attack, nor the narration. Instead, her teammate K takes accuse and answers questions about the world that can't be answered otherwise. M and LLENN accept an interesting dynamic as partners; it's obvious their teamwork is founded in respect every bit M doesn't infantilize her in one case as he genuinely appreciates her skill, simply even though she's the protagonist, LLENN feels like a supporting role.

LLENN's upbeat attitude and sunny disposition are refreshing in this somewhat lifeless world, simply if she were removed from the showtime episode, information technology'd still have a perfectly fine and relatively coherent narrative. The only time her grapheme truly matters is in its final moments where we learn her real-world identity. Because she'south the protagonist, it'south disappointing she was kept on the backburner for so long.

LLENN shines in gainsay, though. We meet her use her small body to her advantage, prioritizing speed and agility. The animation in this particular scene is fluid and energizing; it has all the activeness the rest of the episode is missing. Just LLENN's importance is even minimized further here as she's once again used more equally a back up character instead of taking the atomic number 82. She may not exist treated as a lesser player by others, and at that place's cipher wrong with teamwork, but in this context her passiveness removes an important agency in portraying her equally the character who's supposed to lead this anime. Instead, information technology shows her as a graphic symbol who is just going through the motions and existence used as a pawn in someone else'due south strategy.

For me, SAO lost its charm later the Aincrad arc. Mayhap it was the obnoxious amount of tropes it followed, or maybe information technology was just poor character development. SAO Alternative'south premiere already puts it on that aforementioned rail, and it leaves a sour taste in the oral fissure. This has the opportunity to bring back the charm the first flavour had, and to do so with all new faces and personalities. Information technology'south action is entertaining, but the residuum of the episode isn't fulfilling, which left me with petty to care about by the end. I promise going forward we run into more than of an emphasis on making LLENN her ain independent grapheme who relies on her guts and her friends to become stronger instead of just going through the motions.

mediocre

SAO Alternative: Gale Gun Online features a new story and cast of characters, but its premiere episode unfortunately leaves much to be desired.

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Source: https://www.ign.com/articles/2018/04/09/sword-art-online-alternative-gale-gun-online-episode-1-squad-jam-review

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