Sword Art Online

Also, if they really want to show how guns could work in a style that fits this series, the final fight should take a few nods from this:

Proof that guns as swords, while wholly unrealistic, makes for much more dynamic and even more graceful duels.

I think some people need to double check the definition of the word "graceful." I suppose Gun Kata has some beauty to it but not in the way proper swordplay does.

Care to elaborate on what you mean?

While there's a fair amount of Flynning going on, it's completely intentional in universe so, with that in mind, I present my rebuttal:

Ah, that fight scene. Indeed, that one is a classic.

I dunno though. It just feels too, what's the word, contained. I guess the reason I find gunfights to be a bit more graceful is because while they are almost all intense, they still allow for the combatants to pull off some really cool moves in the middle of them. With sword fights, t almost feels like it is done in a way that feels tensionless. Like, because the elegance takes the forefront, it makes the whole thing feel more artificial. When they do start to go at it, it suddenly begins to lost said grace in favor of just throwing the combatants against each other.

Am I making sense?

edited 25th Aug '14 11:59:15 PM by LDragon2

Elegance is a prerequisite for gracefulness so no, you really aren't. Also, if you want a tense sword fight then try this:

So there's a game based on this series that just came out in America this month for the Vita. I don't really know much about it (other than that the story deviates in major ways) but◊ the◊ localization◊ is◊ so◊ amateurish◊ that◊ it◊ is◊ sometimes◊ borderline◊ hilarious◊.

Also, one picture had Suguha in Leafa form introducing herself to Asuna in SAO form in a setting that looked like Alfheim Online. That alone makes me want to play it (well, that and you can play as Asune and various other characters).

Oh, and aside from Asuna, you can also date other girls if you want.

edited 26th Aug '14 12:48:03 AM by Zelenal

I don't think the Matrix one is actually good at illustrating gun action, because most of the stuff involving guns is separate from when they are doing more acrobatic maneuvers. Which I have read from the trope page is sort of the point, but it doesn't really feel like it keeps a smooth pace as a result.

The Equilibrium one is better at demonstrating awesomeness, but it also defeats one of the most important points of the gun for most of it, the fact that it is designed to be an effective ranged weapon. It feels kind of like if someone were to show me an archer using his arrows like a dagger. (I initially was going to say an archer using his bow like a quarterstaff, but using firearms as blunt weapons isn't really that out of place.) It might not make me have to suspend my disbelief any further, but it still gives off a really weird image. Especially since they even have swords there to begin with.

Also that Princess Bride thing has the heaviest flynning I have ever seen in my life. Yes, I did notice the comment of it being intentional in-universe. It still weirds the hell out of me though. I generally need to get the idea that people are actually trying to hurt each other with these things, or at least defending themselves from others trying to seriously hurt them.

I don't really have any problems with the Star Wars one.

Something I really want to see involving guns is unrealistic Wuxia-style action with bayonets on the guns making them spears or glaives that happen to be able to fire bullets.

It should be noted that for the most part, I've liked Phantom Bullet's action animated better than Aincrad's or Fairy Dance's, but that has a lot less to do with the setting and way more to do with how it's executed. And the fight I'm most looking forward to in GGO is a sword fight.

I CAN PLAY AS ASUNA IN THAT GAME?! (although I doubt they actually made a Kirito route for Asuna in it)

I heard the version of that game for Southeast Asians had a bad English translation, but I didn't know the western version had the same. Not that it's much of a problem for me, bad English has always been a source of humor as far as I'm concerned.

edited 26th Aug '14 12:54:14 AM by YuukiAsuna

You want to split hairs, to be 'graceful' is to show elegance, or refinement of movement, and elegance is being stylish in appearance or manner; having a quality of ingenious simplicity. Or at least, that's what Google's saying.

Guns and bullets are simpler than swords or swordplay.

Depending on how a fight is choreographed, a gun fight might be way more graceful than a sword fight.

I- I'm honestly not sure. Maybe? At the very least, you can partner with her. Also, you can choose to date some other girl if you wish (or all of them, if you want 100% in one go).

I have yet to see a gun fight look anywhere near graceful in the way people usually seem to mean it (namely, an elegant beauty).

Also, I love how the dictionary defines "graceful" as "characterized by elegance" and "elegant" as "graceful in form." Very helpful there, dictionary.

EDIT: At Relationship Level 5, you can bridal carry the girl. That's magnificent. At Mood Level 7, you can carry her to your bed for some pillow talk and a CG.

edited 26th Aug '14 12:55:22 AM by Zelenal

I don't think I can bring myself to unlock all the girls' stuff without customizing my character to the point of which it's not Kirito anymore. (Although if he is Kirito enough in personality, I'd have to limit myself to Asuna alone.)

Also it bothers me a little how anime their in-game portraits apparently are...I was hoping for something more like the light novel's color art. It's tolerated in the anime because of how it's designed to move, therefore making every frame as well colored with more subtle lines too inefficient, but it's weird without that excuse.

I WANTED TO BRIDAL CARRY KIRITO HIMSELF.

edited 26th Aug '14 12:55:55 AM by YuukiAsuna

Maybe this gun fight is the closest to what you would call elegant:

I loved that fight too.

The whole time freezing and deflecting bullets with bullets quite significantly adds to why.

Although I actually liked Homura's assault on Walpurgisnacht more, for some reason.

...

Leave it to Urobuchi Gen to do the one thing I didn't expect nor think all that possible.

I will admit that a firefight can be made to look as graceful as the best of sword fights.

Gah, I need to watch Rebellion....

edited 26th Aug '14 1:06:28 AM by Zelenal

Trust me, you won't regret seeing it. And yes, leave it to good old Urobuchi-sama to show that guns can be just as graceful, if not more, than swords.

Now if only SAO could contain a gunfight as graceful as that one.

edited 26th Aug '14 1:13:52 AM by LDragon2

They're playing on the Japanese server though.

edited 26th Aug '14 1:13:12 AM by Clarste

If only there were more gunfights like that period.

Allow me to close with one final video showing the elegance of the sword from a different Urobuchi work (I probably could have picked a better fight but this one is the least spoilerific so it got chosen). The fight starts around 1:16.

Also, I love this topic if only for the topic title.

edited 26th Aug '14 1:16:34 AM by Zelenal

I'm crying now

I'm

crying

and these aren't tears of happiness

they are tears out of deprivation

WHY

CAN'T

I

DATE

KIRITO-KUN?!

UUUUUUUUWWWWWWAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH

AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAKGHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH

edited 26th Aug '14 2:15:24 AM by YuukiAsuna

You really want someone who's basically a Gary Stu?

Also in regards to the Fate Zero scene, the funny thing is that Urobuchi mainly prefers guns to swords in his stories. So that is one exception.

That didn't stop Fate/Zero from being absolutely amazing from start to finish.

YES

I

DO

FLAWED HUMAN CHARACTER AND MORAL CONFLICT ISN'T WHAT SINGLEHANDEDLY GOT ME OUT OF MY DEPRESSION

THE LOVELY KNIGHT THAT IS KIRITO DID

I take it you don't remember the low budget scenes.

edited 26th Aug '14 1:28:49 AM by YuukiAsuna

You are encroaching on very unsound mental territory.

That aside, no I do not. I remember them very well from Madoka Magica but not from Fate/Zero which had art to rival, if not surpass, SAO.

Do you remember that one episode with the kings (Saber, Archer, Rider) having a drinking session?

Of course. It's also where Rider revealed his second Noble Phantasm and where Saber had a lot of things thrown in her face that would play a large role in the tragedies to come.

Oh wait, now I think I know what you're getting at. Still, said Noble Phantasm and said conversation made be almost not notice said problems. Surely you don't need me to post the Excalibur scene.

edited 26th Aug '14 1:40:58 AM by Zelenal