Sword art online season 4: Still worth a watch in 2024?
Coming from Alicization, War of the Underworld starts out strong, offering a refreshing take on the Sword Art Online (SAO) series. But does this season hold up in 2024? Let’s dive in and find out.
The first thing that stood out to me about War of the Underworld was how fresh it felt, much like the previous Alicization arc. The isolated world of the Underworld, Kirito’s personal journey, and the introduction of new characters like Eugeo made Alicization exciting. Sure, Eugeo’s storyline had some questionable moments, but overall, it was a refreshing departure from earlier seasons. War of the Underworld follows this by bringing a new focus: Alice.
A New Perspective: Alice Takes the Lead
In War of the Underworld, we primarily follow Alice instead of Kirito, who is incapacitated due to the events of the previous season. This change in perspective is refreshing—finally, a shift away from Kirito’s dominance as the lead. We see Alice’s struggles, her growth, and her leadership in a war against human enemies who are being controlled from the real world.
This proxy war, where real-world events are playing out inside the Underworld, is an interesting concept. It adds layers to the storyline, as the battles inside the game aren’t just for survival anymore—they have real-world consequences. This kept me invested, even as I found myself less interested in what was happening outside the game. The real-world plotline was always a bit of a weak point for me, but it was easy to overlook in previous seasons by focusing on the action and story inside the game.
Breaking the Immersion: The Real World Invades
However, this season eventually pushes that real-world involvement too far. The Underworld, which felt isolated and unique, starts to lose its appeal as it opens up to outside players. First, American players enter the Underworld as enemy characters, turning this once-isolated conflict into a global free-for-all. Then, Kirito’s friends from other MMOs are somehow able to join with their original characters. At this point, the Underworld no longer feels special—it’s just another crowded MMO, and the stakes don’t seem as high anymore.
The final nail in the coffin for me was when one of the villains logs out and then has his personal character ported into the game, breaking any last sense of logic or immersion. How could a top-secret project like this be hacked so easily? How are these characters even able to exist in the Underworld? It made the world feel less believable, and my interest plummeted.
A Missed Opportunity
I held out hope that the story would redeem itself in the last episodes, but unfortunately, it didn’t. The entire concept of the Underworld—its isolation, its unique conflict, its distinct characters—was overshadowed by this chaotic real-world invasion. The first half of the season had so much potential, but by the end, it felt like the anime had lost sight of what made Alicization great.
I wasn’t a huge fan of the later half of the first Sword Art Online season or SAO season 2, but I really enjoyed Alicization. It gave me hope that the franchise was heading in a new direction. But after War of the Underworld, I’m not sure I’ll continue with the series. It feels like the world of SAO is too bogged down by its own convoluted plotlines to be as engaging as it once was.
Final Thoughts: Should You Watch It in 2024?
If you’re a long-time fan of Sword Art Online, you’ll likely still enjoy the action, the characters, and the world-building that War of the Underworld offers, at least in the first half. But if you’re hoping for a continuation of the isolated, immersive world that Alicization provided, you might end up disappointed like I was.
In 2024, Sword Art Online is still a major anime franchise, and many fans will keep watching regardless of the plot’s twists and turns. But for me, the series has lost its spark. If you’re new to the series or thinking of revisiting it, I would recommend stopping at Alicization.
