Anime Reviews (2010-2019): Sword Art Online Alternative Gun Gale Online – Vol. 2 (A Neo-Tokyo 2099 Anime on Blu-ray review) (2018)

“Sword Art Online Alternative Gun Gale Online” may not be as emotional as “Sword Art Online” or “Sword Art Online II”, nor does it feature a lot of characters and it may not be RPG based but more gun battles/survival, but it’s still an entertaining series worth watching. “Sword Art Online Alternative Gun Gale Online” is recommended!

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TITLE: Sword Art Online Alternative: Gun Gale Online – Vol. 2

ANIME RELEASE DATE IN JAPAN: 2018

DURATION: Episodes 7-12 (164 Minutes)

BLU-RAY INFORMATION: 1080p High Definition, 16×9, Japanese and English Linear PCM

COMPANY: Aniplex of America

RATED: 13+

Release Date: May 21, 2019

Originally Created by Sigsawa Keiichi, Kawahara Reiki

Directed by Sakoi Masayuki

Series Composition: Kuroda Yousuke

Music by Starving Trancer

Character Design by Kosakai Yoshio

Mechanical Design: Ishiguchi Juu

Art Director: Nemoto Kuniaki

Anime Production: Studio 3Hz

Featuring the following voice talent:

Kusunoki Tomori/Reba Buhr as Karen Kohirumaki/Llenn

Hikasa Yoko/Allegra Clark as Pitohui

Akasaki Chinatsu/Faye Mata as Fukaziroh

Okitsu Kazuyuki/Ray Chase as M

Ichikawa Aoi/Mark Whitten as Kenta

Tanezaki Atsumi/Rebecca Davis as Rosa

Imaruoka Atsushi/David Vincent as Huey

Asai Ayaka/Cindy Robinson as Eva

Morinaga Chitose as Tohma

Shiraishi Haruka/Morgan Berry as Tanya

The Second Squad Jam is going to be held and Karen’s friend, Miyu, decides to join her in the battle royale. Converting her avatar from another VRMMORPG, she joins Gun Gale Online as Fukaziroh. As the SJ advances, LLENN becomes nervous about taking Pitohui down.

Before she faces off Pitohui, LLENN makes a big decision!

In 2014, a light novel series titled “Sword Art Online Alternative Gun Gale Online” made its debut. Written by Sigsawa Keiichi and illustrations by Kuroboshi Kouhaku, the light novel is a spin-off of Kawahara Reki’s popular “Sword Art Online” series.

The light novel series is supervised by Kawahara and so popular, as of May 2018, “Gun Gale Online” has now sold over a million copies and is a best-selling light novel series.

A manga adaptation would be released in 2015 by Tamori Tadadi and a 12-episode anime series adaptation by Studio 3Hz would air in April and June 2018.

And now, the first half of the first series will be released on Blu-ray courtesy of Aniplex.

The series revolves around Kohiruimaki Karen, a tall young woman who is interested in VR gaming. After going through several games and with the suggestion of her friend, she gives “Gun Gale Online” a try and likes the avatar created for her and goes by the name of LLENN.

When she finds out that the game she chose is about survival and utilizing guns, while not her taste at first, she decides to give it a try and overtime, she begins to improve her skill and dons a pink outfit and because of her quick, close combat style, she would be known as “The Pink Devil”.

Karen befriends another female player named Pitohui and Pitohui helps her, by taking her to a weapon shop, helping her find a new gun and form a temporary squadron together. But Pitohui tells her that if LLENN ever defeats her, they will meet each other in real life.

With the Squad Jam Team Battle Tournament coming up, Pitohui, who is unable to participate to IRL obligations, Pitohui suggests LLENN partner up with M. M is not a good person, she says, but would help her learn about combat before the tournament starts.

So, LLENN and M form a squad and compete in the Squad Jam Team Battle. How will they do in the tournament?

In volume 2, after the real person Goshi Asogi (M) meets Karen (LLENN) asks for LLENN to defeat Pitohui, in order to save her life, as she intends to commit suicide if she loses the next Squad Jam. But because she made a promise to meet up in real-life with Karen.

So, Karen (LLENN) agrees and now with her friend Shinohara Miyu (Fukaziroh), their team will now take on Pitohui and M. Can LLENN’s team defeat Pitohui’s team?

VIDEO:

“Sword Art Online Alternative Gun Gale Online” is presented in 1080p High Definition and 16×9 Widescreen. Because of the ever changing landscape within the online game and IRL, there is a good balance between well-painted buildings and interiors and also beautiful painted backgrounds for outdoor scenes. Black levels are nice and deep but its the colorful palette and the beautiful backgrounds that captivate you. For the most part, anime production by Studio 3Hz is very good.

Colors are absolutely vibrant and I didn’t notice any problems with artifacts or banding during my viewing of each episode.

AUDIO & SUBTITLES:

Sword Art Online Alternative Gun Gale Online” is presented in Japanese and English linear PCM stereo. The voice acting for the Japanese soundtrack is solid. With that being said, having watched the series first in Japanese, watching it with the English dub, I felt the casting was well-done!

Subtitles are in English.

SPECIAL FEATURES:

Note: Japanese audio commentary features English subtitles

Episode 8 Audio Commentary – Featuring audio commentary by Japanese voice actress Kusunoki Tomori (voice of LLENN), Hikasa Yoko (voice Pitohui) and Akasaki Chinatsu (voice of Fukaziroh).
Episode 10 Audio Commentary – Featuring audio commentary by Japanese voice actress Kusunoki Tomori (voice of LLENN), Akasaki Chinatsu (voice of Fukaziroh) and Asai Ayaka (voice of Eva).
Episode 12 Audio Commentary – Featuring audio commentary by Japanese voice actress Kusunoki Tomori (voice of LLENN), Hikasa Yoko (voice Pitohui), Akasaki Chinatsu (voice of Fukaziroh) and author Sigsawa Keiichi.
PVs
CMs – GGO commercials

EXTRAS:

The Blu-ray release comes with a slipcase, a 24-page deluxe booklet and postcard set. Plus an Exclusive Bushiroad’s Weiß Schwarz card (while supplies last).

When I first heard about a new “Sword Art Online” related series not written by Kawahara Reki, I have to be truthful in saying that I was not too interested. But when the video game “Sword Art Online: Fatal Bullet” was released, then I started to take notice.

When I watched the first episode, at first I was thinking, how it was totally different and uninteresting as the series starts with the main characters LLENN and M fighting without any introduction. By episode 2, then we get the introductions and up to the end of the first half of the series, I found myself captivated and now wanting to watch the second half!

The characters and situations are different from “Sword Art Online” and it’s main connection is the introduction of “Sword Art Online” and how people died playing that game and now the popularity of other games and for Kohiruimaki Karen, she is a person wanting to jump in and not long after, she starts playing and improving and becoming one of the top players of “Gun Gale Online”.

With the second series, the storyline dynamics change a bit as it focuses on LLENN (Karen) trying to become a second time champ and teaming up with her good friend, Fukaziroh (Miyu) and taking Goshi Asogi’s (M) request and defeating Pitohui.

Part of what I enjoyed about the first half is we saw the progression of a noob gamer, becoming one of the top gamers of Gun Gale Online. Because of the naivety of LLENN, you rooted for her and watched how she rose the ranks and became the champ. With the second half, it’s primarily Team LLENN vs. Team Pitohui.

And while I enjoyed the second half, especially the final episode, I admit I liked the first half much more. But as a whole, I did enjoy this anime series a lot!

Overall, “Sword Art Online Alternative Gun Gale Online” may not be as emotional as “Sword Art Online” or “Sword Art Online II”, nor does it feature a lot of characters and it may not be RPG based but more gun battles/survival, but it’s still an entertaining series worth watching. And I can’t wait for the second volume of the Blu-ray release.

“Sword Art Online Alternative Gun Gale Online” is recommended!

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