Does Sword Art Online get better?

Yes. It gets better in the fifth on.

This may not be the right section for this thread.

I think it is though. It has several story lines that, unlike the story lines of many shonen anime, culminate into something larger and affect the main character's actions and thoughts. I don't know what you mean by "takes itself too seriously" but it is supposed to be more serious than say ".hack".

The characters can actually die, and there are more existential questions during the story. For example, the issue of whether or not it is okay to kill off NPCs since they are not "real" people, even thought they act and seem like real people. The issue of whether might makes right and who is the law of the land and is the security either one provides just an illusion.

Also more serious subjects like, should you raise your cooking skill or just focus on dual wielding?

It does have light hearted moments, but it is a more seriously toned story overall. There are tragedies, badguys win sometimes, and there are deaths of main characters. Maybe it just wasn't what you were expecting, but I like it very much.

Still not better than Space Brothers though. o3o

It does. The first arc is great. If you watched two episodes, "Red nosed reindeer" should be next. That was my favorite episode, with "Warmth of heart" (Lizbeth's episode) being second. [size=10]Lizbeth should get more screentime, really..[/h]

Can't say the same praise for the second arc though. At the moment it's not that great.

The anime gets better, but the original novels kick the shit out of the anime imo.

Mostly cause they have porn in them =w=

Oh and also the story is better paced. But the sex is a big part too, you know, I think.

I'm only on volume 5... and no fucking yet...

also the story is much more complete in the novels and things are more thoroughly explained

You have not yet reached teh sex. Also, it is a hidden chapter. Must push ↑↑←“←“←→←→BASELECTSTART

But what about the sweet, sweet consensual/happy/vanilla sex in all the doujins?
:3

I remember one of the doujins I saw actually being an accurate, if shortened representation of what is described in the book.

Speaking cinematographically, it gets better in the second arc ALO.

I agree, the original novels kick the shit out of the anime.
And no, even without chapter 16.5, the novel still kick ass IMO.

@OP: Too seriously, lolwut? If it's not serious, then what and how should it be?



I think it's not just 16.5 that makes the scenario as:

Light novels >>>>>>>> anime

In my opinion, at least, and that's probably just me.

EDIT: You ninja'd me on that, Castor. Lol.

Just joking about the 16.5 guys. (^_^;)>
There are plenty of reasons to check out the light novels, especially if you liked the anime.

[size=10]But seriously there is sexxx...[/h]

Dropped the anime at episode 7 or 9 I think. I seriously dislike the two main characters.



That was my main concern but honestly the first two episodes weren't actually too bad. One might say it's a normal reaction since they can get killed for real but still, something's not right. Once the vanilla kicks in it starts getting worse. Story probably gets better but I couldn't keep watching.

People are overreacting with "that" chapter from the light novel, come on, it was nothing special :/.

Some fanboy overreact. But there are fans who aren't~

I kind of want to know as well.

I stopped after like 12 or 13 and can't find the need to push on.

Kirito just seems so generic and well gary sue-ish. Asuna was okay...and the lovey dovey scenes happened.

I'm like "Aren't your lives in danger because of this game? stop screwing around and get back to work".

Those characters aren't that important, they're just there to show you that Kirito had some trauma that makes him what he is.

Also Fairy Dance is the weakest of the 4 SAO arcs. The best arc for SAO is Phantom Bullet followed by Alicization and Aincrad with Fairy Dance at dead last.

Which is kinda ironic that SAO is about swords and Phantom Bullet is the author's jab at shooter games.



Kirito is quite perfect, but the way the author writes about his exploits make it fun. Kirito is just meant to be an awesome hero like the Thousand Master.

But yeah, episode 1,9-11 and 13-14 are the only episodes I consider part of the True Aincrad arc, everything else is sidestory.