That's my point though.
I've watched SAO. More than you have, apparently (not even being cheeky, you literally said you didn't watch the last two arcs).
It's got it's ups and it's downs. The downs do outweigh the ups.
But ultimately, the show is not about the game mechanics of this imaginary MMO, it simply uses "VR MMO" as a setting for it's stories to take place in.
What you're doing is equivalent to ripping on Doctor Who just because it's time travel mechanics aren't explored and don't make much sense. Sure, that may be the case, but ultimately the show isn't about that. It's about a being who seemingly can't die, how he deals with this fact, and the adventures and heroics he gets up to and the relationships he develops. Time travel is used as an excuse to give him adventures in different imaginative locations, but otherwise, the show makes very little attempt to explore the consequences and scientific logic and theories behind time travel. And that's perfectly fine.
If you really don't like SAO and want to tell someone about that and how they should avoid it, you have much more blatantly flawed or terrible aspects to discuss that would more easily convince them.
I know the subject has kinda died down as of now, but I was liking the discussion last night so I'll continue it from here. And you quoted the only part of my post thst wasn't directed at you lol
The game is about the "VR MMOs", saying it's not and that's 'just' a setting for whatever other themes it has is wrong. You're confusing underlying themes with the main plot, like your example of Doctor Who, the show is about an immortal alien that travels through time into adventures throughout history. Things like how he deals with that are the themes that are explored and discussed in the story, and while important, they don't make the rest of the setting and plot less significant and shouldn't be ignored just because "that's not what it's about".
The games in-universe are the equivalent of a society yet the show gives me a society that can't stand up on its own. If it doesn't eve make sense that there are people playing those games, the show fails to convince me of thst world.
And the bad game mechanics DO come play into the story more than making an unbelievable world:
-The anti-crystal zones, preventing you from using your "return to town" item that is in every RPG for about 70% of the game. It's what kills Kirito's party in the second episode and starts his whole emotional trauma and blah blah blah. Also, the random dudes that die in that other boss arena because of that.
-Speaking of episode 2, the stupid chest room, there's no indication that the chest could be a trap and opening it is certain death because about 20+ enemies spawn inside the room and lock you in there.
-The fact Kirito can solo a MMO AND level grind to regenerate HP faster than he can receive damage. These two directly come into play into how overpowered he is.
-Ditto for his exclusive dual-wield skill. It's never explained how he got it and it makes him even more op.
-The entire playerbase could just gang up on any boss because there's no party limit. If you can fit in the room, you're in.
-How are the races that don't have damaging spells even supposed to reach the top of the tree? I get that it was a ruse and all but did no one consider that when making their character.
-The randomized avatars. While it's not that big of a deal with ALO(even if it makes no sense that anyone would have a good-looking one), it's literally just done to give Kirito the feminine avatar in GGO.
-The bullet trails are done so God Kirito can just Jedi his way out of it. Even if it makes no sense for a shooter to have bullet trail
-WHY ARE THERE STATS IN A SHOOTER NOT EVERYTHING IS RPG AAAAAAA
-No one but the two main characters realise the usefulness of the weapons they use.
-The satellite can be avoided by having any sort of cover, including water, or having the rare cloak that Death Gun has which is stupid in itself btw. It's worse because, again, only ****ing Kirito finds this out.
-8 ****ing months to creafe a competitive build. 8 ****ING MONTHS. HOW DOES ANYONE EVEN PLY THIS ****. HOW DOES KIRITO EVEN MANAGE TO JUST START PLAYING IT FROM THE GET GO?
-You can't just disconnect during BoB. Hope your house is not on fire.
I could talk about the flaws in the writing itself but honestly, that's boring, it's more fun to talk **** about the clearly flawed mechanics inside the games. Because I doubt there's anyone to disagree with me on the writing
EDIT: oh my god how did this end up so big, I didn't mean to do that someone please stop me I can't stop typing
I don't get why CNN continues to employ a racist woman in "Symone Sanders"
Uh, context?
