Purrr....
- Takes place in the Aincrad Arc
- Sequel to Aria of a Starless Night
- Boss fights are still fun
Hisss!
- Not for newcomers
- Details between films missing
- Storyline is not as fulfilling
Studio
A-1 PicturesDirector
Ayako KounoGenre
Action, Adventure, Animation, FantasyRated
NATheatrical Release Date (NA)
Feb 3, 2023Film Length
1h 41mPurchase From
Sword Art Online the Movie: Progressive – Scherzo of Deep Night is the sequel to the 2021 film, Sword Art Online Progressive: Aria of a Starless Night, which retells the story of the Aincrad arc (the beginning arc) of the popular Sword Art Online anime series. It brings back the joy that made Sword Art Online great, but at the same time, viewers will need to watch the previous film to understand what’s coming in Scherzo of Deep Night.
A Different View
Sword Art Online revolves around the protagonist Kirito, but this film, like its predecessor, focuses more on Kirito’s partner, Asuna. Kirito fans can rest assured that they’ll still see a solid amount of the popular protagonist, but the film tries to change things up by showing the experience mostly through Asuna’s eyes. Additionally, Asuna’s storyline is changed compared to the anime series. In the films, Asuna never joined a guild, whereas in the anime, she did before meeting Kirito. In this new approach, it’s like finding a hidden chapter that never existed.
The main plot still remains the same despite the new perspective. Players are trapped in a massively multiplayer online roleplaying game (MMORPG) called Sword Art Online, and the only way to get out is to complete it. If players die in the game, they die in real life. If someone were to try and remove the high-tech VR NerveGear headset used to play the game in real life, the player would perish as well. With the odds against them, thousands of players will have to fight and survive if they want to escape.
In Scherzo of Deep Night, two months have passed since the do-or-die game began, but only a few weeks have passed since the previous film. Asuna, Kirito, and company are now at level five. After completing the floor in the game, the two guilds that Asuna and Kirito temporarily work with are having difficulties working together. Upon finding out that one of the guilds is looking to sneak in for a rare boss drop on the next floor, Asuna and Kirito look to prevent the guild from snatching the prize before the other guild notices. Grabbing this rare drop adds a significant boost in stats to the guild and owning this would make it the best party in the game. However, someone lurking in the background is pulling the strings to force the two guilds to go to war against each other. It’s up to Asuna and Kirito to prevent a catastrophe from happening.
Not as Strong as the First
It’s difficult for sequels to match or be better than the original. Scherzo of Deep Night is the same. Aria of a Starless Night not only introduced the audience to the groundbreaking story of an online game trapping players but also built up the characters, too. Watching Asuna go on an emotional rollercoaster made the first film impactful.
Viewers won’t have the same experience in Scherzo of Deep Night. Instead, the story feels generic when compared to its predecessor. Throughout the film, the protagonists slowly bond by finding relics and by escaping near-death situations, but the scenarios don’t feel as threatening. The way the film’s storyline was made almost makes it feel like a bridge for what’s going to happen in a potential third film.
Missing Pieces
There are some inconsistencies as well as missing details about what occurred in the time gap between the two films. For example, after a raid battle in the previous film, Kirito made himself out to be a shady player who not only played Sword Art Online for months in its beta version but also used everyone to get where he is now. In Scherzo of Deep Night, the same raid team he worked with in the first film doesn’t mention having had any negative emotions towards him. It’s as if nothing happened. There’s a dialogue scene about a player who died in the raid in the previous film, but that’s the only mention of anything. Some viewers will also find themselves trying to piece together the events of what happened in the gap between films, too, because it’s not entirely clear. Finally, by the end of the film, the story is still unfinished, but it foreshadows what is to come. It wouldn’t be surprising if a third film was announced soon.
Keeping it Consistent
Although the storyline isn’t as strong in this entry, the film does keep the high production quality established in the first outing. To begin with, the main staff, led by director Ayako Kōno, and the voice cast from the previous film return, ensuring consistency behind the scenes. Character designs are again done by Kento Toya and Yuki Kajiura composes another solid score. Also, A-1 Pictures continues to provide great animation and visual effects. The battles specifically show why you can rely on Sword Art Online to have one of the best visuals during heated battles. Boss fights show the intimidation that gives the players a run for their money. It’s interesting to see how these players adapt and work together to come out with a win. Additionally, the animation studio does a great job framing the action dramatically and creatively with angled shots and close-ups such as when Asuna strikes. It all makes for an engaging experience.
The Last Strike
Sword Art Online the Movie: Progressive – Scherzo of Deep Night isn’t a perfect sequel to its 2021 predecessor, but its battles are still fun to watch. Hopefully, Asuna and Kirito will be back on the big screen again soon.
An early screening provided for this review. Theater tickets and times can be found through the film’s official website.