Key takeaways from Anime Recommendation – SAO Alternative GGO:
- SAO Alternative GGO is a spin-off of Sword Art Online that offers a refreshing take on the franchise, with a strong focus on character development and exciting in-game battles.
- The plot revolves around Karen, a shy university student who finds solace and empowerment in the VRMMO world as the pink-clad character LLENN, and her friendship with Pitohui, leading to thrilling team battles.
- With well-written characters, engaging interactions, and solid animation, SAO Alternative GGO presents a compelling storyline that separates itself from the main series and deserves more recognition.
I just talked about this anime in the previous article as it is getting a 2nd season soon. And yes, I definitely do think that SAO Alternative GGO is better than the later seasons of the main series. Not being bound to the main story opens up a lot of options to this and the series utilizes it well.
All that said, GGO is still kind of underappreciated and I’d like to see more people check it out. That is the other reason why I picked this for this week’s anime recommendation.
So welcome back to another edition of our anime recommendation series. Today we are talking about the awesome SAO Alternative GGO.
Introduction
As the name suggests, SAO Alternative GGO is a spin-off of Sword Art Online. It is based on the LN of the same name by Sigsawa Keiichi and illustrated by Kuroboshi Kouhaku. It has been sterilized online since December 2014. As for the anime, it is made by Studio 3Hz and aired from April to July 2018. Currently, it has 1 season of 12 episodes but there is a 2nd season confirmed as I just said.
Plot
Karen is a shy university student in Tokyo. She is very insecure with her tall physique. She towers well above most people around her. Her insecurities drive her to the world of VRMMOs, where she can be her ideal self. So she makes a short and cute character clad in pink and names her LLENN. She pours her heart and soul into the game, garnering a reputation as a legendary player killer.
One of these days, PItohui one of LLENN’s targets gets the best of her. The two quickly become friends and Pitohui convinces LLENN to join a team battle royale. That is basically the setup for the plot. It is definitely more about the game than real life, which is a good thing in a game-based anime. The plot is simple yet effective as it provides ample room for character growth and interactions.
Characters
Now this is where the main strength of the series lies. The characters are really well-written. It is cool to see how their real identities define their actions inside the game. LLENN initially doesn’t trust anyone else in the game but slowly she and Pitohui become really good friends and a great team. Couple that with some memorable side characters and you have a show full of entertaining character interactions.
Animations and Soundtracks
The animations and art style are pretty similar to SAO of course. That should give you a general idea of what to expect. The soundtracks are really good at times and the opening theme is awesome as well.
Why should you watch SAO Alternative GGO?
Quick pointers on why you should watch this anime:
- Good plot
- Great character writing
- Cool fights
- Good character interactions
Conclusion
That is all for now. SAO Alternative GGO is awesome and I hope more people check it out. Let me know what you guys think in the comments. I will take my leave here. See ya!
Also, check out the GGO Season 2 announcement right here! Excited about it!
