| Welcome to our first debate! Remember to follow the rules and use the spoiler button, if you are going to say spoilers. Right now we debate and the poll will be posted later, to decide the winner. Make sure you hear everyone out before voting. Also know that no answer is wrong, this is all opinion. Now let's begin! [Size=200][u]Sword Art Online VS No Game No Life[/u]  [Size=125]Which is better, Sword Art Online (Season1) or No Game No Life? [Size=100]Both series are one of the most popular anime today. In both series the main characters are transported to a game world. Also, both series have smart and powerful protagonists. [i]Synopsis[/i]: Sword Art Online (2012):In the near future, a Virtual Reality Massive Multiplayer Online Role-Playing Game (VRMMORPG) called Sword Art Online has been released where players can control their avatars through brain waves using technology called "NerveGear". When players enter the game, they discover they cannot log out, as the game creator is holding them captive. To escape, players must beat the game by defeating each boss on all 100 floors. However, if they die in the game, they die in real life too. Their struggle for survival starts now… No Game No Life (2014): The story of No Game, No Life centers around Sora and Shiro, a brother and sister whose reputations as brilliant NEET (Not in Education, Employment, or Training) hikikomori (shut-in) gamers have spawned urban legends all over the Internet. These two gamers even consider the real world as just another "crappy game." One day, they are summoned by a boy named "God" to an alternate world. There, God has prohibited war and declared this to be a world where "everything is decided by games"—even national borders. Humanity has been driven back into one remaining city by the other races. Will Sora and Shiro, the good-for-nothing brother and sister, become the "Saviors of Humanity" on this alternate world? "Well, let's start playing." Which has better story telling? Which has better art? Which has better character development? Which is better overall? You decide! |
MuricaAug 3, 2014 10:42 PM
| Alright! A debate where I can actually say something!! Here I go: I think No Game No Life is better. The characters in No Game No Life are more fun than the characters in Sword Art Online. They are so much more likable as well. Also, Sora, compared to Kirito, is more superior. I like the fact that in No Game No Life, he and his sister Shiro can view any game in a strategic way. It's a neat idea and makes you think. Oh and his relationship with Shiro is great also. I love the fact that they always stick and work together. It's funny that even a door can separate them and frighten them. Besides Shiro and Sora, they also have many great supporting characters. Although they may seem over-powered at time, the characters are still great. No game No Life also succeeds in better story telling. In both shows, they have a clear goal. In No Game No Life, they want to beat Tet. In Sword Art Online, it's to escape. In No Game No Life, they actually work to complete that goal in each episode. But in Sword Art Online, they get side tracked too much. Also, each and every episode is hilarious. The writers wrote many clever jokes in there. The art is also better than the art in Sword Art Online. There's a lot of details and I thought it was very unique to have a red outline instead of a black one. Yea so the art is super amazing. I really can't say anything else, but the animation is super sweet too. In my opinion Sword Art Online is over-rated and No Game No Life is the better anime. |
| Unless you're a SAO fanboy, this obviously goes to NGNL whether you like it or not. The main reason for this is when you look at the main characters. Let's do a comparison thing, shall we? Sora vs Kirito Sora, one half of Blank and knows how to play his games with utter strategy. His character is fresh and keeps the viewer entertained through most of the series. He has witt and it's not easy to beat him...if at all. He's slightly OP, but not really because he needs his sister to keep being him. As for Kirito, cardboard cutout MC who starts off as an interesting character, but slowly drops off when it made obvious that he can't lose...and when I say can't lose, I mean HE CAN'T LOSE! He's very OP and does stuff that is not even humanly possible in a game...or in real life. (And no, I will not take nervegear as a reason for this.) He's basically a chick-magnet and is very GOD like...and I mean, it's like he has Godmode on or something. |
| Okay I get that this is an old thread and I doubt that anyone will read this, but for the off chance that someone DOES, I thought that I'd give the other side of the argument here. In my opinion Sword Art Online is better. Not saying that No Game No Life is bad at all! I also enjoyed No Game No Life, but not nearly to the degree I enjoyed SAO. To prove my point, I’m going to go into a little bit of detail on a few things, but first I’m going to compare both anime as a whole in generality. Note: I will not be comparing animation nor music because those categories are subjective to the person viewing them, thus are not high factors in deciding which is termed to be the better anime. If you’re curious though, I did really enjoy the bright colors of NGNL, but in terms of animation and quality, I still have to give it to SAO. That’s MY personal opinion of course. Music also wins for SAO. Hands down. The main battle theme “Swordland” is very memorable, and to this day gives me chills. It is no surprise that SAO has excellent music, as very talented Yuki Kajiura provided works for OST. Again, my opinion! Now, lets delve deeper into the reasoning. I will start with the story. Being similar anime in the fact that they are in another world that is not real, the shows themselves are very different. SAO (Aincrad, anyway, which I will talk mostly about) was an intense 14 episodes for sure. For me, the virtual reality game aspect really sets SAO apart from NGNL (which was just a transport to another world). It all comes down to preference of course, but I found the more serious plot of SAO to be better than the comedic plot of No Game No Life. I loved that it literally took me on an adventure, where I was at the edge of my seat wondering what would happen next. I think that the story of SAO was more interesting and rewarding than NGNL was. No Game No Life is a SHORTER, more concise anime with an equally interesting premise as SAO, but less dramatic I should say. It is definitely more light-hearted. There is a clear goal of defeating Tet (which unfortunately we never get to see). With only 12 episodes, the timeline is also very short: spanning a few days or so (at least, that is what I got out of it, correct me if I’m wrong), so of course people who claim that the pacing in NGNL is better have a point. That is one of SAO’s flaws that I can come to terms with. We see major time gaps and little things that got skipped over in the anime. To this day, I wish that Aincrad were made into a whole season. I have to agree with the people who say that the ending of Aincrad at episode 14 was rushed. It was one of those things that upset me when I first watched SAO. It definitely deserved the attention of a whole 25-episode season. I know it seems like I’m just bashing SAO, but hear me out. Just because No Game No Life might have had “better pacing” does not make it a better story. Before I get into that though, I want to make a point about a consistent argument I hear. I’m pulling this from the points above: “SAO had a lot of "filler episodes" (episodes that didn't have anything to do with the overarching storyline)” To combat this point, how are the episodes “filler” if they are real moments in Aincrad? You might be referring to the few episodes where Asuna and Kirito go on their little honeymoon. That is crucial to character development and romance between the two characters (which apparently is “rushed” and “forced”? More on that later). Just because they weren’t fighting in dungeons for every episode does not mean that the episodes were filler. What would SAO be without the moments where the characters had time to just enjoy themselves? One of Asuna’s huge character developing points was when she finally learned to accept the dire situation she was in, and find happiness. During these episodes we get character development that a lot of the haters say SAO lacks! Would you have rather had episode after episode of just fighting monsters and clearing floors? In my opinion, the episodes where it was more character building and less action were also very important to why SAO became so popular in the first place. In my experience, SAO would not have been the same if it weren’t for the moments where Asuna and Kirito where just raw, together, and not focusing on clearing the game. Maybe you’re referring to the side quest with Lizbeth? How is that a filler episode if that episode literally SHOWS HOW KIRITO GOT HIS DARK REPULSER? If that weren’t there, you’d probably be complaining that there was a plot hole (like his Elucidator appearing out of “no where” even though it was explicitly stated that he got it as a monster drop on the 50th floor, but that wasn’t shown because of the time skip). Essentially, each episode has a purpose, whether or not you think so. The unfortunate thing about NGNL’s story was that it was too short. It felt very unfinished (which, I hear they need a 2nd season, and I agree). I enjoyed watching them win all the games as blank, seeing their struggles as individuals, but coming together and kicking everyone’s ass. We knew that they would always win because blank never loses, so even though that nothing bad could ever happen to them (even at times it seemed like it would), it was still interesting to see how they would do things. NGNL focused on the HOW and not the why. I felt the same way about SAO. Even though Kirito was over powered, it was still fun and exciting to see him in all these situations. It was even exciting because during some moments, he really WAS leaps and bounds better than his opponents, and in others, he was vulnerable, THINKING he could take on something that was far too strong by himself. Just like Sora and Shiro as blank, I ENJOYED seeing Kirito be a badass! That brings me to the most important things: The characters, or the main ones that I will discuss. Let me start off with Kirito, who every single person above called him “overly overpowered for no reason”. Might I add that if you’re calling that a negative thing, then I want to know why Sora and Shiro being over powered isn’t. I haven’t heard a single good argument for that. Kirito “can’t have anything bad happen to him, he can’t ever lose, he does stuff that isn’t humanly possible in the game or real life” hmmm doesn’t that sound a LOT like Blank? And might I add…this is an anime?? Like, why do you expect an anime character to be completely realistic when it’s supposed to be a fantasy world? Sora and Shiro are not 100% realistic either (and that’s okay, because THEY DON’T HAVE TO BE). Anyhow, I want to go into the characters for a little bit. I feel like every single person who talks about Kirito is missing some really important tidbits of information (especially when we are comparing him to people as strong and smart as Shiro and Sora). For some background, since all of you who claim that Kirito has no reason to be over powered, don’t you realize that Kirito is also unbelievably smart? For instance, he built an entire computer when he was 10 years old. He’s also incredibly skilled at games, and a hard core gamer, much like Sora and Shiro. In that case, they’re not much different. (However, I’d say mental abilities go hands down to Sora and Shiro, they are geniuses on another level, but this isn’t a competition of who is smarter). He also learned kendo until he was ten so you would think that he would remember some skills when he’s wielding a sword. Also he even said so that it was hard for even him when he was a beta tester. It doesn’t go into it much in the anime, but in the light novels he was socially ridiculed as a beta tester, because most players were prejudice against the beta testers for having knowledge and not sharing it. He would literally wear disguises when he was out in public because he didn’t want people to know who he was. I get that it wasn’t covered in the anime, but I thought that I’d throw that out there. But of course it IS apparent that he is a beta tester in the anime, and for that reason alone he is going to know a LOT MORE than most people in the game! That brings me to one of the worst arguments I hear all the time about Kirito. “Kirito is pretty much a Gary Stu. So overpowered, so flawless that he isn't all that interesting of character” Again, an argument backed with absolutely no evidence. Kirito is NOT a Gary Stu. Period. I feel like this argument is so over used that people just automatically go with it because that is what everyone else says, but not actually realizing what a Gary Stu even is. I realize that there might be more than one definition of a Gary Stu, but according to Wikipedia, a Gary Stu is “a idealized and seemingly perfect fictional character. Often, this character is recognized as an author insert or wish fulfillment.” I’m going to go ahead and knock out this second point, because Reki Kawahara ( author of SAO) himself specifically said “I tend not to put myself into my characters, but if I had to say there was a point of similarity between Kirito and myself, it is the fact that neither of us are good at forming parties. We tend to play solo in these games a lot.” in one of his interviews, eliminating the possibility of Kirito being a self-insert of the author of the series. And if we’re going to go with the first part of the definition “an idealized and seemingly perfect fictional character”, HOW ARE SORA AND SHIRO NOT ALSO IDEALIZED? I know that they are not perfect either, that they each need each other, because of their own individual flaws. But they definitely are idealized to a point. I don’t think this is bad, but I don’t think Sora and Shiro are “Gary Stus” at all. But if they aren’t because of the reasoning that I read above, then neither is Kirito. Why are people overlooking that Kirito has actual flaws as well? He is far from perfect. While I have FAR more examples than this (I could refer you to a very detailed analysis of Kirito’s character, if you’re interested) here are a few specific ones relating to his flaws. These points come from a friend of mine, who did the analysis, so I will let his words do the talking. Much like Asuna, he can be controlled by his emotions often. This is most prominent a few months after the Moonlit Black Cats die (fighting Nicholas the Renegade with no regard for his own life), feeling remorse for killing the Laughing Coffin members (says, “he doesn’t deserve to find peace”, if he can’t even remember the people he killed), and Kirito also suffers from PTSD, as encountering a member of Laughing Coffin (Death Gun/Sterben/Red-eyed Xaxa) caused him to panic, which he was only able to face after getting some counseling from Nurse Aki. He even considers himself “a monster”(SOMETHING NO GARY STU WOULD CALL HIMSELF) for forgetting the people he killed (Season 2: Episode 7), thereby showing that he actually hates himself sometimes and is unable to fully let go of his guilt. Kirito even admits “he’s powerless” in Season 1: Episode 24. While this does sound like he’s admitting he’s only weak in-game, it also means “he doesn’t have any real power in the real world”(AGAIN, SOMETHING NO GARY STU WOULD ADMIT TO). Despite being ridiculously overpowered and the hero of previous arcs, he lost to the Absolute Sword: Yuuki Konno (Zekken), died in-game, along with Klein, while helping the Sleeping Knights and Asuna reach the Floor 27 Boss door of New Aincrad during Mother’s Rosario, and failed at the quest within Yggdrasil’s base during Fairy Dance. He has also lost to Heathcliff during his first dual with him. While technically not losses, Kirito has come close to dying on multiple occasions, including his encounters with Nicholas the Renegade, The Gleam Eyes, Kuradeel, Sugou(IRL), and Kyoji Shinkawa. Before I wrap up the defenses I want to make a quick word about Asuna going from badass to “a damsel in distress”. Okay, you have your word there. She is a damsel in distress if you want to call it that. But that does not make her less of a badass female. That DOES NOT DIMINISH her character. First of all, if you haven’t, watch Season 2’s Mother’s Rosario arc. That arc alone was some Asuna’s finest character developments, and what do you know? SHE IS STILL BADASS. Badass, yet she has her own flaws as well. I don’t see how making her trapped in one half of a season makes her a bad character suddenly. In that arc, we got to see Kirito fight so hard for the one he loves so much. If that isn’t a human trait or relatable, then I don’t know what is. The reason I love Kirito so much, above all else, is his determination, how he never gave up. His sheer passion for what he was doing was incredible to watch. I could really see how much he loved Asuna, and how much he was willing to do to clear the game. His quirky personality, how he was quiet and a loner, yet was willing to stand up for what he believes in. He cares deeply for people and is a fantastic, interesting and relatable character! I have no idea why people dislike Kirito so much. He is certainly much more than what people make him out to be. Not saying that Sora and Shiro are bad characters AT ALL, but I think that Kirito and Asuna have much more relatable personalities, and much more developed and interesting characters as a whole. I guess it is unfair though, since SAO had 2 full-length seasons. Moving on now. Another thing that I want to point out about the arguments state above: how is the romance between the two main characters forced? Kirito and Asuna do NOT have a forced romance. It may seem rushed only because of the time skip, and perhaps you’re used to a romance that builds up through the whole anime, and at the end they confess. SAO was one of the only anime that I’ve seen that has the relationship as a main part of the story. You get to see their interactions throughout something as intense as Aincrad, which is rewarding, especially for me, as someone who is a sucker for romance. But don’t you realize that they’ve known each other for 2 whole years? They’ve been through some pretty intense situations together. They are sharing the world of Aincrad, a place that has brought both of them to perhaps their lowest points in their mental states. However, together, they have been able to overcome it. Similarly to Sora and Shiro needing each other to become the powerful characters that they are, Kirito and Asuna needed eachother emotionally to get through Aincrad. There was a part where Asuna states why Kirito is so important to her and that is because he was crucial in her coming to terms with being stuck in the world of SAO. He was her hope, and Kirito’s motivation was to get Asuna out of the game. They worked together for nearly every situation, thus, bringing them closer and closer together. Of course, through that time, they build a genuine relationship that is FAR from being “forced”. Need I say more? They are to this day my favorite relationship in an anime. I also enjoyed the brother sister relationship that Sora and Shiro had, but I still think as a whole, Asuna and Kirito’s relationship was far superior. Anyway, I figure I should end this really long-winded argument now. I’m pretty tired of typing, but I had to get that out there. I’m pretty sick of seeing arguments as shallow as the ones stated above. I might have defended SAO more than comparing the two animes, but I just HAD to clear some stuff up. I realize this will probably make every SAO hater cringe, but I want to just say again, No Game No Life is NOT a bad anime, but I just simply think that SAO was better. This is my opinion, but I think my points are backed up by facts. SAO is not perfect, and I know that, but it’s not as bad as the people make it out to be. So there you have it. A positive SAO argument, thanks to a friend here on this site for a few of your really great points! I didn’t get to cover everything that I could have, maybe I should write a novel or something lol. Anyway, Thanks for reading. I think I schooled all of you ;) |
itsashxoNov 5, 2017 12:21 AM
"There's no such thing as a painless lesson, they just don't exist. Sacrifices are necessary. You can't gain anything without losing something first. Although if you can endure that pain and walk away from it, you'll find that you now have a heart strong enough to overcome any obstacle. Yeah... a heart made fullmetal." |
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