Manga, manga, manga... You are a cruel yet loving bastard.
I recently finished Sword Art Online (haven't finished the novel yet) and seen some episodes via Toonami and Crunchyroll. I noticed after reading this story that it shares a lot of themes of other manga.
Might have spoilers!
First off, I liked the fact that <SOA> took place in an MMO. They took a lot of things to heart like HP bars, gold, market systems, marriage systems, rare loot, house systems, guilds, and the list goes on and on. The story never forgets that it's in the virtual world and it really makes you question your life right now. I mean when have you woken up and told yourself "I'm gonna call the homies and destroy some giant rats for gold and food." Now if you said always, how do you get Internet in the mountains? Is it a luck thing or what?
Any who, it successfully applies the online gaming world and the vocabulary of the players. They didn't make the players one-dimensional, each of them had a story that no one gave a shit about, but it's there.
Now, like other manga, it involves young people who are trapped and have to fight for their lives like Battle Royale except in a video game and their enemies are monsters. Seriously, no offense Japan, but do you hate children? Sure they can be a pain. I have 2 myself, but I don't go traumatizing them for shits and giggles! That's my wife's job.
Hate:
Out of every title I've read the main character witnessed his/her family dying or they already are dead. Kirito from Sword Art Online didn't have parents, only his aunt and uncle who adopted him and kept it a secret from him for like ever. Kite from Kite saw her parents get murdered in fucking front of her. Souchiro from Tenjo Tenge lost his parents. Yusuke from Yu Yu Hakusho dies from getting hit by a car. Kazuma from Kaze no Stigma is banished from his family. It's like fate failed to realize that these characters are kids. They barely got through puberty! Like holy monkey! How do they find the balls to carry on some adventure that they weren't even supposed to do. All they wanted to do was play a game, cut school, or just be assholes. They didn't plan on saving the world when they still haven't even experienced young genital wrestling.
Love:
Yet that's what catches your attention. Young people who rise to the circumstances and grab destiny by the balls and spit on its face. You don't expect a 12 year old defeating a demon that will destroy the universe. These are the ultimate underdog stories. They don't often come from superhero families or respected families. Just average Joes and Janes who don't want to be bothered with things bigger than them. The black sheep is often the one we cheer for to save the world and run shit.
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| I JUST ASKED FOR THE TIME! |
Hate:
Why does a story about saving humanity with a power of a demon becomes a fucking love story! To be honest I should've seen this coming after countless manga and anime I should've expected it! My fault! I am sorry!
The main character somehow forgets his/her vengeance because some stranger made them blush. Or he copped a feel on her ass/boobs. Maybe peeped in her showering by mistake. Somehow shame and fucking pride leave the room, so the love interest can flaunt her shit around like a one person performance at The Act. While the main character pretends he's embarrassed about peeking. We all know you like it! Ain't no guy gonna deny it! Then he gets caught between a relationship and saving the world only to find out that she has superpowers of her own. Then all storylines about saving your love is completely gone, so your stuck with like 20 chapters of fillers because one of the main plot lines fucking chose to one up the main character.
Also why does the male main character always grabs the boobs? It has nothing to do with the plot but for some reason he makes time to squeeze chest pillows before some other pointless side plot. Of course, he gets smacked, but all that could've been avoided. Then the 18+ age group feel shame and possible sexual assault fears.
Love:
When the love story actually is the plot. Sword Art Online showed Kirito as having no motivation until he meets Asuna. Thus driving him to complete the game to meet her in real life. Boom! Book done! Sign my check bitch!
Hate:
Why does marriage get thrown around like candy? It's always at the first time they meet the girl or guy always say "Will you marry me?" Then they say yes. Then they call each other husband and wife without a formal ceremony or whatever. Somehow the "wife" easily becomes the housewife while the husband is out doing whatever he does since you know they are fucking 14 years old! Last time I checked, it took me months to propose to my wife, then paid money to get it officiated then we spent the next year or so arguing about how we don't listen to each other. Now that's marriage! My wife hated being a housewife and she's Asian. So I don't understand the concept of this anime marriage scenario.
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| After this we can have our honeymoon at Flo--Oh that's right... |
Love:
Young love? Maybe?
Hate:
Harem stories! Are you fucking kidding me?! You fall in love with one girl, but another girl wants your D, then the next then the next, etc. The main character can't develop the balls to say hey I wanna be with her not all of you! Yet somehow the writer fucking decided let's make everyone a winner except his friend because he sucks. So he "marries" one chick, then he has a girlfriend, a mistress, a fuck buddy, and a adopted sister without paperwork. It just becomes a fucking mess! If School Days taught us anything. It's don't be a tool and just stick with one.
Love:
NONE!
