Despite Sword Art Online's many shortcomings, I still really appreciate it. Not only for its intriguing story and setting but the fact that it was ahead of its time when it was first written back in 2009. It left a very impactful impression on my young impressional self back in the day. Apart from this, SAO quite literally paved the way for many other series that came after it, in terms of isekai. I'm not saying it's the sole reason, but it along with others very much left an impact on the industry as a whole. Since then, the genre of isekai has expanded into films, video games, novels, and TV series for better or for worse Looking back, SAO was quite popular back then. The premise alone was enough to pique the interest of many onlookers. It had a well-written story, action, romance, and a well-crafted MMO RPG game world. Back then I played a ton of MMO games like OurWorld which was very similar to SAO. So when SAO came out it was a no-brainer, I had to tune in.
The story revolves around Kirito, a boy trapped in a virtual game (SAO), where "game over" literally means death to the player. The story mostly revolves around Kirito and Asuna. They are given the choice of clearing all 100 Floors and defeating the final boss in order to be freed from the game, or could live peacefully in the artificial MMO world of SAO forever being stuck unless the plug is pulled from the outside. The first episode, was a very well-done introduction, along with episodes 1-13. Unfortunately, not a lot could be said for the rest though. A lot of things were left out, some cut entirely like whole floors and character arcs. These mishaps often produced a lot of plot holes in the story and made it feel quite rushed and convoluted. Despite all that, episodes 1-13 were well received and in some people's eyes is where the anime should have ended.
The art is beautiful and still holds up. It's similar to many other animes made by A1 Pictures. The virtual world felt alive with a beautiful vibrant art style. No complaints aside from the real world often feeling bland and basic. (I don't know if that was intentional). The OSTs brought the world and atmosphere to life and overall beautifully complemented the anime. The OP/ED on the other hand took it to the next level, both the Opening and Ending theme songs were extremely well done. Any anime fan or fan of SAO can identify the anime just by hearing them. In addition to this, Lisa's a very talented artist, she really captivated the world of SAO with her vocals. She goes above and beyond every time she works on a project.
In conclusion, Sword Art Online's impact and influence still remain an undeniable force that continues to echo throughout the anime industry, for better or worse. It's a reminder that even flawed creations can have a profound influence beyond their own confines. As I look back on SAO, it's clear that its significance lies not just in its story, art, or sound, but in its role as a catalyst for innovation within the world of anime. This is only evident in the different stories and arcs of its many sequels from Gun Gale, Ordinal Scale, to Alicization. 
