In the year 2022, gamers rejoice as Sword Art Online-a VRMMORPG (Virtual Reality Massively Multiplayer Online Role Playing Game) like no other-opens its virtual doors, allowing players to take full advantage of the ultimate in gaming technology: NerveGear, a system that allows users to completely immerse themselves in the game world by manipulating their brain waves to create a wholly realistic gaming experience. But when the game goes live, the elation of the players quickly turns to horror as ...
Practical considerations diminishing the writing
A year & 10 months after vol 28, the first 40% of this book (excluding the Alicization sections) is basically a roster of everyone in Team Kirito/Kirito Town. The next 30% includes a big 120 person boss raid, and a super short follow-up. While there's a few small (but important) developments, the plot has moved forward mere inches. Checking the afterword, it turns out Kawahara-sensei wanted to advance the UR plot, but couldn't because it would spoil upcoming story in Progressive 🤦♀️
The Alicization portion of the book actually does pretty well this time around. Some of the developments are getting interesting. We do finally learn (somewhat) just what the hinted connection between Alicization, Unital Ring, and Mutashiina is... While the scene writing itself was good, I really didn't care for the whole twist at the end. (Nor the very major plot hole(s) it has left unaddressed).
Considering SAO Progressive hasn't covered Floor 8 yet (nevermind Floor 9), I'm really concerned about what that will mean for the plot of an eventual vol 30.