Sword Art Online

is a 2009 Japanese light novel series written by Reki Kawahara and illustrated by abec. The light novels began publication on ASCII Media Works' Dengeki Bunko imprint from April 10, 2009, with a spin-off series launching in October 2012. The series has spawned eight manga adaptations published by ASCII Media Works and Kadokawa. The novels and four of the manga adaptations have been licensed for release in North America by Yen Press. An anime television series produced by A-1 Pictures aired in Japan between July and December 2012, with an Extra Edition episode aired on December 31, 2013, and a second season, titled Sword Art Online II, aired between July and December 2014. Four video games based on the series have been released on the PlayStation Portable, PlayStation Vita and PlayStation 4. An animated film titled Sword Art Online The Movie: Ordinal Scale featuring an original story by Kawahara has been announced and had its first premiere in Japanese theaters on February 18, 2017.

Sword Art Online has received widespread commercial success, with the light novels having over 19 million copies sold worldwide. The anime series has received mixed to positive reviews, praised for its animation, musical score and exploration of the psychological aspects of virtual reality, but criticized for its pacing and writing.

Plot
In the year 2022, the Virtual reality Massive Multiplayer Online Role-Playing Game (VRMMORPG) Sword Art Online (SAO) is released. With the Nerve Gear, a VR Helmet that stimulates the user's five senses via their brain, players can experience and control their in-game characters with their minds. But an unexpected event occurs on November 6, 2022 when Akihiko Kayaba, the creator of SAO, prevents the players from logging out. Akihiko issues them a challenge; if they wish to be free and log out of the game, they must reach the 100th floor of the game's tower and defeat the final boss. However, should their avatars die in the game, so will their bodies in the real world. As the game's 10,000 players try to accept their new deadly predicament, Kirito, a skilled player who tested the beta version of the game, is determined to reach the 100th floor and be free. Along with Asuna, his partner and love interest, and their friends, Kirito and his allies will face many obstacles and discovers the true purpose of SAO. As their adventure continues, they will also participate in other VRMMO games as well.

Official

 * Official anime site
 * Aniplex

Other Sources

 * Wikipedia
 * MyAnimeList

Other Wikis

 * w:c:swordartonlineroleplay - Roleplay Wiki
 * w:c:websao - Wiki for web version, undeveloped
 * sao - duplicate founded October 15, 2012 with 3 pages
 * w:c:swordart-online
 * w:c:sword-artonline
 * w:c:sword-art-online
 * w:c:alo
 * w:c:alfheimonline
 * w:c:ggo
 * w:c:gungaleonline
 * w:c:gungale-online
 * w:c:gun-galeonline
 * w:c:gun-gale-online
 * w:c:alicization
 * w:c:projectalicization
 * w:c:project-alicization