First released in 2012, Sword Art Online revolutionized the perception of the isekai genre, making it explode in popularity. SAO spawned constant new releases, all exploring like themes—an unlikely protagonist being transported into a different earth, oft facing death in a manner that mimics game mechanics.

SAO remains incredibly popular, but it also has its off-white share of detractors. Many dislike the numerous tropes it contains. One of the most frequent complaints involves the series' cast. Many feel the anime'south characters frequently waste material their potential due to poor creative choices.

x Coper Is Completely Absent In The Anime

coper and kirito

A lesser-known character in the serial, Coper is one of the first memorable figures to announced in the Aincrad Arc. Later on being informed past antagonist Akihiko Kayaba of the real implications of playing Sword Art Online, he seeks to improve his chances of survival. Having been a Beta tester, he tracks downward the Secret Medicine of the Wood quest, hoping to acquire the Amalgamate Bract.

He teams upwards with protagonist Kirito for it, but betrays him in the cease, attempting to lure monsters chosen Little Nepenthes to kill Kirito. This backfires, as Coper'south hiding skill fails to protect him from the monsters. Kirito survives the incident, merely Coper does not. Sadly, the episode isn't nowadays in the anime, which is a shame because it emphasizes from the beginning just how ruthless Aincrad can be.

9 Sachi's Importance Is Set up Aside Without Being Properly Explored

Sachi smiles

Originally a solo player, Kirito ends upwardly joining a small lodge called the Moonlit Black Cats. He is particularly close to the somewhat insecure female player Sachi, ever reassuring her when she expresses her fears of being killed. He fails to keep his promise of keeping her safety.

The guild ventures into an area that is too loftier-level for them. Despite Kirito's best efforts, most of the guild'due south members, Sachi included, are killed – the guild leader committed suicide later. Kirito is traumatized by the whole incident and it influences his early character arc. Unfortunately, the importance of this incident, and of Sachi in detail, is soon set aside without beingness properly explored.

8 Argo The Rat Doesn't Have A Significant Presence

argo the rat

Argo the Rat is as well far more relevant in the novels and manga than the anime. She serves as an informant for Sword Fine art Online players. In the anime, she provides Kirito with information on the location of the boss monster Nicholas the Renegade, who is rumored to drop an particular capable of bringing back a thespian. Kirito intends to use this item to resurrect Sachi.

Argo is far more than important than she seems, as the guidebook used by players is her cosmos. Kirito's determination to identify himself as a Beater makes other Beta testers less of a target, and equally a result, Argo is willing to requite Kirito data for gratuitous.

7 Akihiko Kayaba'south Motivations Are Never Truly Explained

Akihiko Kayaba Forgot His Motivation

The main adversary in the story's beginning arc, Akihiko Kayaba is the creator of SAO and the human being responsible for the innumerable deaths in the game. He later joins Kirito and the other players on Aincrad under the guise of thespian Heathcliff. Kirito figures out his identity and the two fight. Despite Kayaba's huge advantages, Kirito manages to persevere, and the two stab each other, ending the game with the final boss's defeat.

In the aftermath, Kirito and his principal romantic interest, Asuna, meet upward with Kayaba and question his motivations. He asserts that he doesn't even recollect his reasons anymore, a baffling and unsatisfying response. Kayaba later returns as a force for good, providing the heroes with assistance on more than than one occasion. Fifty-fifty and so, the resolution to his original arc remains unsatisfying.

six Asuna's Strength Is Completely Forgotten During The Fairy Trip the light fantastic Arc

Asuna Fighting With Sword

Asuna shines as the master heroine in the Aincrad arc. Despite defective previous experience with games, she is a fast learner and quickly earns a name for herself as Lightning Wink Asuna. She even saves Kirito's life.

Sadly, she's regulated to damsel in distress in the Fairy Dance Arc. Captured by Nobuyuki Sugou in Alfheim Online, she can do nothing but wait to be saved by Kirito. Worse withal, she is sexually abused by Noboyuki during her captivity. Following arcs render Asuna to her previous strength merely the impairment is already washed.

5 Sugu'southward Romantic Amore For Kirito Doesn't Help Her

Kirigaya in the real world

With Asuna out of the movie in the Fairy Dance Arc, Kirito's female companion is his adoptive sis and cousin Suguha. She plays Alfheim Online using the Sylph avatar Leafa and befriends Kirito unaware of his real identity.

It is subsequently revealed that Sugu has romantic feelings for Kirito despite them existence related. This is the root of the emotional conflict between them but it's completely unnecessary and it doesn't aid her. A strong fighter and refreshing presence, Sugu would have been far more interesting without condign a part of Kirito'south harem.

4 Silica And Pina Are Excluded In Later Parts Of The Series

Silica and her dragon, Pina from Sword Art Online

In that location'south zip similar a cute familiar to make a story more intriguing. Silica's Feathered Trivial Dragon, Pina, is a stiff add-on to the show, sacrificing itself for its master when Silica is in danger. While in SAO, Silica and Kirito keep a quest together to revive Pina and succeed.

But after the Aincrad Arc, Pina doesn't bear witness upwardly a lot. Silica drops in importance. While her dragon is converted when she transfers to Alfheim Online, Pina doesn't have any other memorable contributions, which is a shame.

three Death Gun's Existent Identity Is A Wasted Opportunity

Sword Art Online Death Gun

After rescuing Asuna, Kirito investigates the VMMORPG Gun Gale Online, where players are presumably dying afterward beingness killed in-game. The culprit is a role player who calls himself Expiry Gun. At first, Death Gun's identity is a mystery, merely Kirito figures out a connexion betwixt Death Gun and the SAO player-killer lodge, Laughing Coffin.

Death Gun is actually a group of people formed by Laughing Bury member XaXa, nicknamed Ruddy-Eyed XaXa, his blood brother Kyouji, and later boyfriend SAO player Johnny Blackness. These revelations would have been far more interesting had the orange guild had a more than pronounced presence in the first arc of the series. Kirito'southward epiphany relies a lot on a flashback and falls flat, erasing the potential of a truly intriguing groundwork for the villain.

2 Eugeo Is Killed Off A Picayune As well Quickly In Alicization

Eugeo using his new sword for the first time

The Alicization Arc sees Kirito traveling to the Underworld, a virtual world populated by artificial Fluctlights. At that place, he becomes Eugeo and Alice Zuberg'south friend. When Alice accidentally breaks the taboo and breaches the Dark Territory, she is arrested past an Integrity Knight. Kirito and Eugeo set out to find her, and their friendship and quest are truly inspiring. This is the sole part of the series where Kirito strongly relies on friendship instead of romance in his adventure.

Eugeo is an splendid fighter and displays remarkable skills. Sadly, he encounters a tragic fate. He is first manipulated by the Ambassador Quinella and turned into an Integrity Knight. Then, once he manages to suspension complimentary of her hold, he is killed in the last confrontation with Quinella. His memory later gives Kirito strength but he could accept done so much more if he lived.

one Kirito's Development Loses Steam Due To How Overpowered He Is

Kirito using Incarnation

1 of the most mutual complaints related to SAO involves its protagonist. Kirito is so overpowered he challenges decease itself, something that has earned him the nickname Jesus-kun. As the series progresses, Kirito reaches unparalleled levels of skill that practically make him unbeatable.

While he spends some time nigh comatose during the Alicization Arc, as soon equally he awakens, the efforts of the villains are rendered pointless. His skills extend over to the real globe likewise. Viewers certainly capeesh seeing Kirito defeat his opponents, only it can become exhausting and stale. His evolution as a character loses steam and his personality is overshadowed by just how overpowered he is.

NEXT: Sword Art Online: 5 Characters Every Fan Loves (& 5 That Become Also Much Hate)

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