Great attempt to fit Nasuverse mechanics into an existing game setting, getting progressively more complex/accurate overtime. Every adventurer, in some limited fashion, practices magecraft research. Kayaba's change in motivation/methods is fascinating to see, and Shirou's growing understanding of his own magecraft seems reasonable. It may be far off, but I look forward to seeing the fallout and implications of this massive scale research in the real world. The mechanics/magic tutorial stuff really shines, but the world of Aincrad is fleshed out as well. The chapter names are simple, mostly describing which characters are the focus of the chapter. Updates came quickly originally, but hasn't been updated since January 2016 on FF.net (another 3 chapters are up on thefanfictionforum, but requires an account). Easily the author's best fic.
Long: almost every floor boss gets their own chapter to discuss the setup and raid. Huge cast of characters, giving scenes and importance to one-off characters from the original (Diabel, Argo, Grimlock/Griselda, Liz and her friends). Balances the main characters from both SAO and Fate well. Shirou and Illya get their fair share of screentime, as do Asuna, Kirito, and other major SAO characters. The segments from the perspectives of other characters really make this fic shine. The interludes are entertaining opportunities to look into the minds of recently deceased adventurers, potential ways that characters could have died, and morals that they should learn to grow. The people in charge of each of these interludes really capture the feel in their original works. Almost seventy chapters in, the characters are only on the 11th floor (although 30 chapters in, they were fighting the 3rd floor boss, so the pace has picked up in terms of area of the dungeon covered).
Extensively planned out: Going through the forums reveals a lot of inner workings, changes to designs, and plans that encompass the story up through the end of Aincrad.
Grammatically sound and technically fluent, but the pacing changes rapidly from chapter to chapter. It works well, but people who don't like that and don't like mechanics exposition may not find it as entertaining.
Interesting Progression, Updates on Forums
Great attempt to fit Nasuverse mechanics into an existing game setting, getting progressively more complex/accurate overtime. Every adventurer, in some limited fashion, practices magecraft research. Kayaba's change in motivation/methods is fascinating to see, and Shirou's growing understanding of his own magecraft seems reasonable. It may be far off, but I look forward to seeing the fallout and implications of this massive scale research in the real world. The mechanics/magic tutorial stuff really shines, but the world of Aincrad is fleshed out as well. The chapter names are simple, mostly describing which characters are the focus of the chapter. Updates came quickly originally, but hasn't been updated since January 2016 on FF.net (another 3 chapters are up on thefanfictionforum, but requires an account). Easily the author's best fic.
Long: almost every floor boss gets their own chapter to discuss the setup and raid. Huge cast of characters, giving scenes and importance to one-off characters from the original (Diabel, Argo, Grimlock/Griselda, Liz and her friends). Balances the main characters from both SAO and Fate well. Shirou and Illya get their fair share of screentime, as do Asuna, Kirito, and other major SAO characters. The segments from the perspectives of other characters really make this fic shine. The interludes are entertaining opportunities to look into the minds of recently deceased adventurers, potential ways that characters could have died, and morals that they should learn to grow. The people in charge of each of these interludes really capture the feel in their original works. Almost seventy chapters in, the characters are only on the 11th floor (although 30 chapters in, they were fighting the 3rd floor boss, so the pace has picked up in terms of area of the dungeon covered).
Extensively planned out: Going through the forums reveals a lot of inner workings, changes to designs, and plans that encompass the story up through the end of Aincrad.
Grammatically sound and technically fluent, but the pacing changes rapidly from chapter to chapter. It works well, but people who don't like that and don't like mechanics exposition may not find it as entertaining.