Review: #497
Title: Sword Art Online 5: Phantom Bullet
Series: Sword Art Online - 5th volume
Author: Reki Kawahara
Read Before: no
Comments: The fifth light novel in the Sword Art Online series begins a new story arc. A year has passed since the original Sword Art Online was cleared. Kirito spends his time as a normal high school, with his friends and sister. In this volume, he is approached by the government contact that was by his side when he woke up from Sword Art Online. In game called Gun Gale Online, a virtual MMO where players carry guns to fight against other players, someone called Death Gun seemingly has the ability to shoot someone in the game, thereby killing them in real life. Kirito accepts the proposal to enter the game and find out the identity of this masked gunner. It is an intriguing plot but something that is not utilized in this volume. Instead, we are introduced to a new female character by the name of Sinon. The volume alternates between Kirito and Sinon’s viewpoints; we learn a lot of the backstory regarding Sinon. A lot of reflection and reminiscence take place, including the psychological effects from Kirito’s time in Sword Art Online. The climax of the light novel was one of the best parts as we see Kirito’s unique style in the gunfights (bringing a sword to a gunfight…) and seeing the two characters Kirito and Sinon play off against each other. It did take a bit too long to set up the whole story but the tale spun still captures you.
Rating: 6.5/10