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.hack//sign (anime review)

Posted by :Patches On : February 17, 2015
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Title: .hack//sign Complete Collection

Director: Koichi Mashimo

Studio: Bee Train

U.S. Distributor: Funimation Entertainment

U. S. Release Date: Feb. 24th, 2015

Format: DVd/ 26 episodes + 2 OVAs / 700 minutes

Genre: Sci Fi, Fantasy, Gaming, Drama

Age Rating: TV 14

Overall Personal Rating: C

Synopsis:

Tsukasa awakens inside The World, an immense online RPG filled with monsters, magic, and mayhem. When he discovers he’s unable to log out of this mysterious game, he joins forces with a colorful group of characters and begins a desperate quest to find his way back to real life. But, before he begins to find his way out he finds that this new world is what he has been looking for and not sure if he wants to leave.

Will he discover that his helpers are really there for him or is it the mysterious voice that leads him to his solitude that has his best interest in mind?

Commentary:

It is great that Funimation wants to remind us all that the concept of being trapped in a game is not a new one and that it is always, almost always fun to see how things have changed. In the case of .hack//sign I now think it should have been left in the archives to be a whispered reminder of days long past. I know that 2002-2003 may not seem that long ago, but in may ways it is a long time ago. Much of the animation styling and voice acting (dubs) still had a long way to go and most series played off the success that Cowboy Bebop and Trigun saw just a few years earlier.

.hack//sign fails to understand that there is more to the story than the plot and in the development of the characters it leaves all too much to the imagination of the viewer. After watching the first 12 episodes it became clear to me that Tsukasa was a character that I didn’t care about and the others that wanted to help him just failed to give a clear reason why they wanted to get involved. Add this to the flat english voice acting made it very hard for me to go on to the next episode.

The one aspect to this series that made me move forward was the fact the basic story was interesting enough to make want more. With the new series that take on this basic plot like Sword Art Online and Log Horizon, I really wanted to understand what the much beloved great uncle (.hack) had to offer. It interesting how this concept has taken on new meaning and at the same time holds on  to some of the limited concepts that we brought forth by the true archetype, Tron. For .hack//sign this new world has its own ideas much the same as master program did and the use of regular characters play right into the wheelhouse that was Tron himself. I just think that the sad depressed boy thing that the Japanese seem to fixate on is just a little too much this time.

Overall Grade: C

.hack//sign is a great reminder of what anime was doing at the turn of the century and how time does make a difference. .hack//sign is fun to watch just a some sort of nostalgic trip down memory lane, but if you are looking for something to something to get hooked on please do not look in this direction.

If you want to complete a collection that covers the trapped in a video game world that you will need to get this and the other .hack anime because they are an important part of the genre that can’t be overlooked.

 

Log Horizon Collection 2 (anime Review)

Posted by :Patches On : January 3, 2015
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Log Horizon collection 2Title: Log Horizon Collection 2 (on Blu-ray)

Director: Shinji Ishihara

Author: Toshizo Nemoto

Studio: Studio Deen

U. S. Distributor: Sentai Filmworks, Section 23

U. S. Release Date: Jan. 27th, 2015

Format: Blu-ray / 300 Minutes / 12 Episode

Genre: Sci Fi, Fantasy, Adventure

Age Rating: TV 14

Overall Personal Rating: A-

Synopsis:

Even as Shiroe slowly learns the secrets behind the creation of the World Fraction spell, the origin of the Demi-humans, and how his own actions in the Real World have affected the world in which he now dwells, the seeds of thought he’s planted in the minds of others begin to bear fruit. Game strategy and tactics may have been intended for amusement, but their origins were pulled from actual war planning and stratagems. As others begin to accept and implement those theories on their own, the existing alliances and balance of power begin to shift.

Those changes can’t possibly come quickly enough, as the adventurers’ preoccupations have allowed the Goblins to unite and amass a giant army. Now the Goblins are on the march, and as the Estal Lords debate their course of action, Minori makes a dangerous gamble and initiates action on her own. In the midst of this MMORPG turned real, an unassuming princess may prove to be the key to ultimate victory.

Commentary:

As Log Horizon progresses so does its depth. In the first half of the first season it setup the premiss and gave us a working understanding of the world these characters live in. Now that things are somewhat set it looks like the plot thickens with another layer of underlying complexity. I found this new aspect to be rather refreshing. This is where many series fail to properly setup the story and end up falling flat. Log Horizon doesn’t loose focus and continues to give us the same structure we have become used to and at the same time show bits and pieces of the layer beneath it all.

If there is a weakness to the series it has to be the animation style. I’m not saying it doesn’t look good, I just find it to be a little too playful with the characters and if it had been a little darker in nature and styling I think the series would stand out even greater. On the other hand I find the writing to be outstanding. This series is about strategies and that is what games are really all about. We get every bit of the plot and strategy that goes into the story.

Overall Grade: A-

Log Horizon collection 2 managed to continue the story in a way that both gave support and depth to the plot. I am very interested in what comes next. I can see why the series found a fan base in Japan and believe that with the right connection here it will find the fan base in the U. S., or at least I hope so. Honestly I found it better than Sword Art Online, but there is a cult aspect around that series and the animation style is less playful which helps add to the mystic. I’m not trying to alienate SAO fans, but I think that if you are a gamer and also enjoy the concept of people being trapped in a game then I think you will find Log Horizon truer to the concept then maybe SAO or even .hack.

I am looking forward to season 2 (collections 3 and 4) to come out.

A Certain Magical Index, A the Movie: Miracle of Endymion (anime review)

Posted by :Patches On : January 2, 2015
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Certain Magical Index, A the Movie: Miracle of EndymionTitle: A Certain Magical Index,  the Movie: Miracle of Endymion

Director: Hiroshi Nishikiori

Written By: Kazuma Kamachi, Hiroyuki Yoshino

Studio: J. C. Staff

U. S. Distributor: Funimation Entertainment

U. S. Release Date: Feb. 17th, 2014

Format: Blu-ray / DVD / Feature Film / 90 Minutes

Genre: Harem, Supernatural, Action, Fantasy

Age Rating: TV 14

Overall Personal Rating: B-

Synopsis:

Welcome to Academy City, a futuristic metropolis populated with super-powered students. As the brightest intellectual minds in the city work to complete the world’s first space elevator – a towering spire capable of taking citizens into the heavens – perpetually unlucky Kamijo and nun-in-training Index befriend a talented street musician named Arisa. When the beautiful singer lands a big break, her miraculous voice attracts unwanted attention, making the songstress a target for magicians and scholars alike. As the battle between sorcery and science blasts into space, Kamijo, Index, and their allies in Academy City are rocketed to a psychedelic stadium thousands of feet above Japan in a desperate attempt to keep Arisa – and the rest of the world – safe.

Commentary:

Well, I am not going to stand up and cheer for this film. I found it to be a little pandering to the audience and simply put I am somewhat disappointed that it did not wrap up the series. It is just a plan old filler that can be taken or fleet for what it is. Of course it can’t just stand on its own as a story because you must understand all of the back story or you will be lost. I didn’t see anything out of the film that helped make any of the characters better. There was no revelation that makes a difference to the series and in the end everything goes back to the way it was. There aren’t even any new characters to add to the pantheon of players in the series.

As a film is was entertaining for what it is. As a fan of the series I understood what was going on and knew most of the characters. It felt like one of the many Bleach or Naruto films where they run off to save the girl and in the end nothing really happened, well almost nothing happened. I guess the focus of the movie was to sell a music CD, but the music is not that interesting or even good.

Overall Grade: B-

I really wish that there was something positive to say about A Certain Magical Index,  the Movie: Miracle of Endymion, but in reality I just found it flat. The writing made Kamijo even more preachy then usual and very much the dunce who just happens to be there. I also found his final speech to be lacking any convincing arguments it just comes down to the reality of remembering the past that makes the difference.

So, if you are a fan of the series you just might find it entertaining, but if you are not familiar with the series don’t waist your time.

A Certain Magical Index II part 2 (anime review)

Posted by :Patches On : December 25, 2014
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Magical Index season 2 part 2Title: A Certain Magical Index II part 2

Director: Hiroshi Nishikori

Studio: J. C. Staff

U. S. Distributor: Funmation Entertainment

U. S. Release Date: Dec. 16th, 2014

Format: DVD / Blu-ray / 12 episodes / 300 minutes

Genre: Fantasy, Harem, Comedy

Age Rating: TV 14

Overall Personal Rating: B+

Synopsis:

The Book of the Law – an encoded grimoire containing catastrophic magic – has been stolen, so naturally Kamijo, Index, and a few familiar faces join in the crusade to protect the one nun who can decipher the powerful text. But as the group battles church sects and holy assassins, they realize that discovering who their true enemy is may be more difficult than saving the sister.

Meanwhile, an organization known as the Science Society resurrects an esper-producing program, a school festival brings out the competition – and drama – in the student population, and a mysterious figure negotiates the purchase of a sacred relic that could threaten the future of Academy City.

Commentary:

As with the rest of the Magical Index series there is plenty of fan service, but this 12 episodes tends to take itself a little more serious. That is a nice departure from the earlier episodes. This are getting much more tense and I was really looking for some sort of closure  and as with the first season it just doesn’t happen. That is not to say I was left unsatisfied, instead I felt like I had been give a generous dose of this odd magic / scientific series. I am still rather confused as to the scientific aspects because all of the  special powers seem to be somewhat magical even though they call themselves ESPers. Still it is cleat that the church and the scientific community still have a long way to go before they can find common ground.

Overal Grade: B+

A Certain Magical Index season II part 2 brings it all back together and adds another layer of complexity to this simple yet strange harem series. The series has managed to move further away form the harem aspects and lean much more on the action supernatural backbone of the series and i for one really do enjoy that. There are still moments that the easy way out with moe / fan service is just a downer for me. I can enjoy the juxtaposition of an older teenage boy and a 12 year old girl, but to make a large number of the sexually charged girls in this series so blatantly young yet scantily clad is tiresome and somewhat a waist of time. Magical Index has a strong enough plot and rich enough characters that they could have all been college age and it would have made much more sense.

I do like the series and am looking forward to the movie to see if it wraps things up. I suspect it does. Maybe we will discover what the real importance of Kamijo’s right hand really is. I am not buying that he is a level zero who just so happens to be able to negate magic. He is also able to take a great deal of punishment and keep on coming back for more. I do hope the movie satisfies what ails the series and give it closure that is so deserves.

One Piece Season Six Voyage Two (anime review)

Posted by :Patches On : December 7, 2014
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One Piece Season Six Voyage TwoTitle: One Piece Season Six Voyage Two

Director: Hiroaki Miyamoto

Original Creator: Eiichiro Oda

U. S. Distributor: FUNimation

U. S. Release Dates: Nov. 18th, 2014

Format: DVD / 12 Episodes / 300 minutes

Genre: Fantasy, Action,  Adventure, Shonen

Age Rating: TV14

Overall Personal Rating: B

Synopsis:

Luffy’s impulsive attack on Gecko Moria ends up costing the rubber-man something he can’t live without – his shadow! When Zoro and Sanji find themselves in the same boat, the three fierce fighters must find a way to recapture what was lost, or face the possibility of death by sunlight. Luckily, their skeleton friend, Brook, knows the trick to defeating Moria’s zombie army, and he’ll gladly share the secret in exchange for a little help defeating a sinister zombie samurai!

Meanwhile, Nami is kidnapped by an undead scoundrel who wants to make her his wife, and Usopp must rely on his natural state of negativity if he hopes to survive his encounter with a gothic Lolita and her ghostly minions. Hair-raising thrills are the story of the hour as the Straw Hats attempt to escape Thriller Bark with their shadows – and souls – intact!

Commentary:

Hey everyone here’s Brook! For a series as long as One Piece there is rarely introductions of recurring characters and this one little grouping provides maybe the best thing that has happened in the series in a long time and that is Brook. He is a funny strange character that provides even more humor to this silly show.

As with the rest of the One Piece series I can’t say that this is a standout or anything special. The story feels like an endless string of filler arcs that really don’t go anywhere. The humor is still the main focus of the series and with the introduction of Brook there is a brief improvement of the quality of comedic relief, but all in all it is a silly series that just keeps going.

Overall Grade: B

One Piece is one of the longest running series and it has a simple formula and sticks to it. The artistry of the series doesn’t stand out. The depth of the subject matter doesn’t even exists. The warmth and loving personas of the characters has never developed. There really isn’t much that this iconic series has to offer other than it is just silly. So, if looking at Season 6 voyage 2 I have to say that it does a decent job of providing humor and even a little stranger and sillier than usual. My only real question is how long can it go? Personally I would like to see it go the way of Dragon Ball Z and just focus on the movies because I find them much more entertaining.

A Certain Magical Index II part 1 (anime review)

Posted by :Patches On : December 5, 2014
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A Certain Magical Index II part 1Title: A Certain Magical Index II part 1

Director: Hiroshi Nishikori

Studio: J. C. Staff

U. S. Distributor: Funmation Entertainment

U. S. Release Date: Oct. 28th, 2014

Format: DVD / Blu-ray / 12 episodes / 300 minutes

Genre: Fantasy, Harem, Comedy

Age Rating: TV 14

Overall Personal Rating: B+

Synopsis:

The Book of the Law – an encoded grimoire containing catastrophic magic – has been stolen, so naturally Kamijo, Index, and a few familiar faces join in the crusade to protect the one nun who can decipher the powerful text. But as the group battles church sects and holy assassins, they realize that discovering who their true enemy is may be more difficult than saving the sister. Meanwhile, an organization known as the Science Society resurrects an esper-producing program, a school festival brings out the competition – and drama – in the student population, and a mysterious figure negotiates the purchase of a sacred relic that could threaten the future of Academy City.

Commentary:

Magical Index season 2 takes up right where season one left off. We jump right into the next drama for Index and Kamijo, but this time it looks like there is something rotten going on between the churches. Of course I really like the dramatic edge, but the one thing that makes me rather sad about this series is the Moe. The fact that Index looks like a 12 year old is ok, but when they bring in nuns that look 12 and dress like street walkers with very sexy habits on it is just disturbing. There is also the obligatory fall that becomes a face plant in front of a panty shot. Now I thought that took it too far.

Anyway, the series is staying strong and the characters begin to develop more. It is possible that Railgun will end up being the better series, but for now I still prefer Index. I think the premiss that is being setup is smart enough to take the series to a great ending. I just hope that the right questions are answered to finish it out. If they leave too much open then it will just be another failed series.

Overall Grade: B+

I thought these next 12 episodes did a lot to further the series, but lost me a little with the sexy 12 year old nuns. I think it would have been better to make them seem angelic and then give them a sinister layer beneath the robes. I guess there needs to be more secrets and some betrayal of the belief systems for the series to work, but I’m still not sold on what is being rolled out at this stage. I am looking forward to the completion of the series and feel as though people will be pleased with part 1 os season 2 of A Certain Magical Index.

 

 

Toriko Collection 2 (anime review)

Posted by :Patches On : December 3, 2014
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Toriko Collection 2Title: Toriko Collection 2

Director: Akifumi Zako

Writer: Isao Murayama

Studio: Toei Animation

U. S. Distributor: Funimation Entertainment

Release Date: Nov. 4th, 2014

Format: DVD / 24 Episodes / 600 Minutes

Genre: Fantasy, Absurdity, Comedy

Age Rating: TV 14

Overall Personal Rating: B

Synopsis:

Toriko, Komatsu, and a host of hopeful heroes bundle up and begin the treacherous trek into the chilling confines of Ice Hell! The prize that awaits them, Century Soup, is among the rarest of gourmet treasures – and the most divine delicacy ever to grace a bowl and spoon. Toriko and his super-chef sidekick are determined to slurp up the sweet rewards of their adventure, but something evil stands in their way: Tommyrod, a Gourmet Corps henchman with insects on the inside!

Should they survive this bugged-out battle for the ages, their next target will be the elusive Ozone Grass. Flying Sea Lions and Air Gorillas plague their journey, and in order to savor the sweet taste of success, our heroes will have to take their teamwork to the next level – forever cementing their status as lifelong partners in the pursuit of culinary bliss!

Commentary:

The insanity that is Toriko continues in this second collection and things only get weirder. This is the saving graces for the show because other than that it is just another typical shonen that just moves from one battle to the next. Of course the strange world and that fact that they fight over rare food makes the show not only special but funny too. There are plenty of series that live and die on their humor like Fairy Tail and One Piece, but Toriko makes the humor so bizarre that it does’t have to make you laugh to make it entertaining.

Toriko also take on a style of violence that leaves the opponents alive at the end and only allow for some to people to die. It also takes on death in a very reverent way that also makes a point that you only kill it if you plan on eating it. There is very little waist to life. Many other series have a much more cavalier view of life and the meaning of battle. I really do like that approach and must tip my hat to the series for the respect it show even in the face of utter absurdity.

Overall Grade: B

Toriko collection 2 takes us in a new direction and introduces some very powerful foes. It also does a great job of setting up the series for the underlying plot line. The one area that it doesn’t stand up is in some of the early battle over the Century Soup. I felt like there was just too much back and forth and in the end it was something very unexpected that brought on the final solution. I guess that the downplaying of Toriko’s power is a very typical way of depicting these types of arcs, but after having so many other series set this pattern in place it almost felt like a let down. In fairness Toriko is a Shonen series that follows the standard stereotype for one of these series so I guess this development is to be expected.

All in all, collection 2 is fun and does provide for some great entertainment. Now just bring on the rest.

Jewel Bem Hunter Lime: The Complete Collection (anime review)

Posted by :Patches On : November 24, 2014
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Jewel Bem Hunter Limereview provided by Katie and Andrew

Title: Jewel Bem Hunter Lime: The Complete Collection

Director: Tetsuro Amino

Studio: Ashi Production

Author: Kenichiro Nakamura

U.S. Distributor: Sentai Filmworks , Section 23

U.S. Release Date: November 4, 2014

Format and Length: DVD / 3 Episodes / 90 Minutes

Genre: Comedy, Fantasy

Industry Age Rating: 14 and up

Overall Personal Rating: B

Similar Series or Titles to Check Out: Inu Yasha, Those Who Hunt Elves, Disgaea, Hyperdoll

Synopsis:

Imagine if a demon managed to scatter six magic spheres through the gate between the World of Magic and the planet Earth. These magic spheres are incredibly dangerous and powerful magical artifacts, capable of absorbing negative emotions and transforming everyday objects into monstrous bug eyed monsters (BEMs.) So of course, someone must get them back before the transformation begins. That job falls to master of disguise Lime, the sometimes monstrous and generally lecherous monster hunter Bass, and their ooey-gooey shape-shifting slime companion Poogie. However, they are probably not the best choices for a task of such monumental importance and urgency. On the other hand, this entire situation is sort of their fault to begin with so they should be the ones to deal with it. But their choice in how to get the BEMs back is a little strange and oddly timed. Will this motley band of would be BEM hunters be up to the task of finding and dealing with the BEMs and save the planet? You will have to watch Jewel Bem Hunter Lime: The Complete Collection and find out.

Commentary:

Jewel Bem Hunter Lime: The Complete Collection is the three episode OVA series based off the 1993 Japanese PC game of the same name. It was originally released in the U.S. in 2000. Personally, I love the fact that these older titles are being re-released and I hope that this trend continues, so these out of production titles can be seen by the next generation of anime viewers. With Jewel Bem Hunter Lime: The Complete Collection what you see is what you get, a bit of simple nostalgia without the weight of a larger series (since nothing else was ever released, even in Japan) or something that is considered more well known and important in a way. The simple three episode series is very much a comedy, and is light and never very serious. The premise of the story is very obvious from the beginning, and they do fill you in as they go. It’s hard to build a good story in such a short time, but they do manage to get the basic idea out. The same issue persists with character development, but the cliché character archetypes make it pretty easy to figure it out. The art work and the music are very similar to many animes of the early 90’s era, and may seem cliché today. One disappointment is of course they never finish the story, but that is not uncommon with several previous series based on games, as they were usually an attempt to get you to pick up the game itself. Overall I enjoyed it very much, and as someone who started in anime in the mid 90s, I found the nostalgia factor also very much appealing. Overall, it’s worth checking out.

Extras:

This release includes both English and Japanese with English Subtitles as language options.

Overall Grade: B

A Certain Magical Index Season One (anime review)

Posted by :Patches On : November 23, 2014
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A Certain Magical Index Season OneTitle: A Certain Magical Index Season One

Director: Hiroshi Nishikiori

Writer: Masanao Akahoshi

Studio: J. C. Staff

U. S. Distributor: FUNimation Entertainment

U. S. Release Date: Nov. 18th

Format: DVD/ Blu-ray / 600 Minutes / 24 Episodes

Genre: Fantasy, Harem, Action, Supernatural

Age Rating: TV 14

Overall Personal Rating: B+

Synopsis:

Kamijo is a student in Academy City, where people use science to develop supernatural abilities. The guy’s got a lot of heart – luckily for a young nun named Index. She’s on the run from a sorcery society that covets the astonishing 103,000 volumes of magical knowledge stored in her memory.

When Index stumbles into Kamijo’s life, she finds a faithful friend and protector, and while Kamijo’s easily the weakest kid in Academy City, he’s got something else going for him: the Imagine Breaker, an unexplainable power stored in his right hand that negates the powers of others. With scientists and sorcerers attacking from all sides, the Imagine Breaker will definitely come in handy – but it’s Kamijo’s loyalty to Index that will be his greatest weapon in the fight to keep her safe.

Commentary:

A Certain Magical Index is one of those Harem series that falls under a odd anti-harem frame of mind. Of course Kamijo does have his uncanny ability to collect girls, but he still stands out as less of a womans man than most male protagonist in most harem series.

The aspect of this series that stands out for me is the way that they setup the basic plot line. There is also the development of the characters. In most cases they allow the main characters to have some light or comedic aspects but as the series moves through its paces each of them become much darker and richer. In the first season the doors to the complexity of the series open and platy of questions ask left unanswered.

The animation is rather typical and not what makes the series stand out and in many ways it is average at best. The essence is the writing, which not only create several rememberable characters but also gives us a story that is strange, funny and filled with a deeply interesting sub plot that may be darker most of us may expect.

 

Overall Grade: B+

A Certain Magical Index season one if 24 episodes of real fun. There is a large and broad cast that is giving more and more as the series develops. It is easy to see why there was the off shoot series A Certain Scientific Railgun. A Certain Magical Index does have some rather typical harem aspects, but it seems to care more about the supernatural slant. I like Kamijo as a simple character who knows something deep about himself, but there is something very special about him that I am very interested to find out.

Come on Season 2, I’m ready. Thanks Funimation for taking season one and making it affordable.

Log Horizon Collection 1 (anime review)

Posted by :Patches On : November 15, 2014
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Log Horizon collection 1Title: Log Horizon collection 1

Director: Shinji Ishihara

Author: Toshizo Nemoto

Studio: Studio Deen

U. S. Distributor: Sentai Filmworks, Section 23

U. S. Release Date: Nov. 25th, 2014

Format: Blu-ray / 325 Minutes / 13 Episode

Genre: Sci Fi, Fantasy, Adventure

Age Rating: TV 14

Overall Personal Rating: A-

Synopsis:

Elder Tales has become a global phenomenon, immersing millions of players in its online fantasy world. However, something goes wrong with the twelfth expansion pack. Eight-year veteran Shiroe and 30,000 other players suddenly find themselves trapped in the game’s no-longer-fictional universe!

Except it’s not even exactly the game they knew: things are in different places, the portals don’t work, and if a gamer was playing an avatar who wasn’t a physical match for their real self… well, let’s just say that everyone who’s been playing is going to have to make some serious adjustments to their new world view.

On top of that, the former Non-Player-Characters are now self-aware and working towards their own ends. This collision of the Elder Tale people and players with seemingly impossible skills, abilities, and knowledge promises to be cataclysmic. Get ready for heroes to rise and new legends to be forged as Shiroe and fellow players Naotsugu and Akatsuki discover what happens when sword and sorcery becomes real!

Commentary:

My first impression of Log Horizon was thinking “Oh, no not another gamer stuck in the game anime”. As I settled in and started watching the first episode I began to see something I really didn’t expect. I saw a series that take the gaming world and leans on the structure of the game more than giving us a bunch of teenagers who run around and battle things just because. Log Horizon takes the concept one step further and gives a feeling that the story is still in the game with a little more reality for the players.

I think that the concept is taking the right view and allowing the characters to develop as the also discover their new reality and what they can do in it. There is also the aspect that the ancillary game characters the are not players take on personas and are given life is a wonderful way to add depth to the show.  With each episode we get to see these characters grow and develop as they become more involved in the world around them. They also discover that they have limitations to what they can do and also what they can be, but this just adds to the richness of the series.

Overall Grade: A-

Log Horizon has caught my attention with this first collection. I manages to paint the picture of a rich world that may be a prison for these players, but it also represents itself as a fully realized environment that can be both dangerous and rewarding. The show forces these new inhabitants to look at this reality differently and end up understanding that they have more and greater abilities than they thought. My trepidation that it would just be a ripoff of the popularity that Sword Art Online has is not founded and in fact I see this series as being superior in many ways to Sword Art Online. Too bad that it may never get the chance for the broader distribution that  would get in front of more people. If you haven’t see Sword Art Online yet and are interested by the concept of players getting trapped in the game then I would start with Log Horizon it is, in my opinion, a better series.