Sword Art Online: Alicization - War of Underworld Reflection

SAO has been blasphemed for years by netizens. Yet my friends a pure watcher regardless of what's the SNS said, he still enjoy and recommend it to me. Their fans suggest to at least try the Alicization arc because it's a fresh start with a better writing & not much related with prev arc. I guess, I should give it a try.
(this is general review of SAO Alicization & War of Underworld, because they all a one package story)

So the story is about MC brain damaged by accident (how come a 1 meter umbrella lose by a 1 cm injector? & he called himself the ... Sword Hero?). To cure it he must dive in a VR game console that can recover his brain in-trade of carrying a mission to stimulate AI there to break a rule by their own, to make a self-aware AI not a robot. Alice the AI did it but then arrested by the God in-game. MC & friends try to save her & success even with a lot drama mid-way. In real-life side, the game facility attacked by terrorist who want to use that AI for war. Half building locked to protect MC progress but enemy can also dive in game and start a big war. Yet MC still win & send Alice to real life but leaving himself there for 200 years worth time because enemy hack the speed setting. Finally in real life Alice got physical body, MC wake up from slump & become normal again (what's the point of that 200y I mention?). The end, happy ending. Oh wait, somehow to make the story continue, they dive to that game again after few decade worth of time there.

A simple general story with many small forced twist trying to make it complex but failed. By that setting, MC supposed to be a 3rd party observing AI growth but no. Writer really love him and all problems solved by MC, all characters love him. Okay, this harem bait is good for shounen viewers (my youth maybe like it too), but this leads to a problem at final part War Underworld. While the good side is at pinch in the war, all women calling the MC in coma (it's so cringy...), zannen it's not working but after just one small push by his friends Eugeo, he woke up with many OP skill out of nowhere and save the day. Again, after things going normal in real life he cried while remembering his friend Eugeo (so gay...). Eugeo supposed to have a big key at final & gave a stronger touching moments but the viewers don't care much about him because he is just additional cast a by-passer at first arc. This general plot hole can be solved if writer gave more role to Eugeo at first arc, if he really intent to make him the wake up call key to MC at final.

One thing hard to be denied by haters is the visual. It's awesome at normal scene thanks to studio A1 Pict. The fighting animation is fine for me, but as time goes I'm getting annoyed by how short a battle can be. Feels like everything is one hit die, one hit win, one hit lose. Even the snippet at the opening song is more entertaining than the actual scene. Also the SFX feels similar between each clash (well at least not as bad as studio JC Staff).

Summary, the story is generic but the visual still enjoyable so I recommend to skip 25eps Alicization by just watching the recap (it's good enough for a recap ep), then go straight to all War Underworld episodes with top notch visual experience you can get, the battle scene is longer & better too, it's so amusing. Well, if you like catching a harem bait then I won't stop you for going to Alicization eps.

Alicization was good. No, Alicization was a blast.
For a season that has given us a full-blown, well put together recap around episode 18, it seems that chronologically at least; 5 to 6 episodes later it will present yet another recap. A bit overkill, but watching it on the release date makes more sense.

In terms of a recap, 18.5 was definitely more well-motivated and properly placed on a narrative note, while this one is more of a hype-up moment for War of Underworld.

The recap is split into two parts, the first one focuses on Asuna and her outside perspective on the whole dilemma, while the second ... part is more about what was happening in the final battle hasn't Quinella. I really liked he first part, maybe because 18.5 (which is still fresh on my mind) already expanded on whatever happened in the underworld, so the whole scientific side of the season felt more appealing, it was great to rewatch how the series makes sense of Fluctlights and its applications.

The recap swiftly ends on the same cliffhanger note from before, really setting up the stage go a great spectacle.

Retelling 24 episodes in a timeframe shorter than episode 1. If that sounds like an impossible feat, you're absolutely right. There's nothing new, enhanced, or special about this recap and it doesn't substitute for watching this first 2 cours. I can't help but wonder why reviewers are putting up scores of 8, 9, or even 10s on a recap episode.

[5] Story - they cut 2 cours into a 24 minute episode, it's not going to substitute for watching the anime, it's not that entertaining imo as to rewatching the entire first 2 cours, and it doesn't add anything new.

[6] Art - no major improvements here, ... which may be upsetting. I would have liked to see some revisions of blu ray quality or even redrawn scenes for a recap airing on SAO's 10th anniversary year, but alas nothing new.

[9] Sound - Alicization has good ost's. They're not going to make a new soundtrack just for a recap so same as Alicization.

[9] Character - Same old characters, nothing new, just scenes cut into a 24 min recap.

[6] Enjoyment - Not sure what you're expecting from a recap that's shorter than the first episode. You really can't get much excitement out of a recap that doesn't do something incredibly unique or creative.

This recap episode may be for you, if you enjoyed the first 2 cours of Alicization and don't rewatch anime. Perhaps if SAO isn't the only media you consume and you don't memorize the sequence of events and key story elements, this can be helpful in enhancing your War of Underworld Experience. But it is most definitely not a 9 or an 8. Again, this will not substitute for watching the first 2 cours of Alicization.