SAO Progressive Manga Review

Sword Art Online Progressive Manga Review

Progressive Manga Cover

I honestly had just thought that Sword Art Online Progressive was another side story. Instead it is actually a retelling of the first floor boss battle. It starts out weird, making you think it is another side story, but eventually gets into the story. A few new characters are seen in the story as well as new ‘footage’ so to speak. You also get to see a more perverted side of Kirito and a more intimate side of Asuna.

Progressive Plot

Manga Page of Progressive

The story of SAO Progressive starts out a little weird. Asuna is in reality and at her house. Basically you get a little back story on her life before the incident of SAO. She is worried about not passing a test (or something) and not being able to go to a good college. You find out that it is a dream she having in SAO. She has lingering thoughts of not being able to get into a good college now due to the circumstances. She basically is starving herself to fatigue in the game and not properly taking care of herself. During a fight a man comes to save her at the last minute. It happens to be Kirito. He begins to talk her out of suicidal tendencies and teaches her to fight with her Sword Skills more accurately.

Diabel is holding a meeting to gather the strongest players to defeat the first level boss. Both Asuna and Kirito end up at the meeting. It is here the two party up and Kirito invites her to stay at his place. At first she refuses but after he mentions a bath room she quickly takes his offer. Soon after they go to defeat the boss on the first floor. Through out the fight people die, mainly Diabel. Asuna announces that Kirito is in charge per Diabel to help quicken the boss battle fight. Here the manga ends, but is suppose to continue soon.

Characters of Progressive

Characters of SAO Progressive

All of the characters from the second episode are present throughout SAO Progressive. Asuna takes place as the main character while Kirito takes the side character. The only new character so to speak is Rat. He gives information to people but sometimes at a price. He likes to rip people off and also give false information to others. He seems to like Kirito and Asuna and tends to stay around them the most. He is a small kid with a hooded cape.

Progressive Bonus

Asuna

Progressive does come with a small bonus, Asuna taking a bath. Yes that is right, within this manga Asuna does take a bath and things are seen slightly. She sinks into the tub thinking of her past and life before SAO and how she got stuck in here playing a game meant for her brother. Kirito is in the other room fending off Rat, the curious information giver. He wants to sell this information at a high price since Asuna is the ‘cutest’ SAO female player.

All in all, Progressive was a great manga. I loved how they went into more detail about the first boss battle. Even if it still has not officially ended, the story and characters were great. It stuck to the art of SAO and the basic storyline. I was impressed with this manga and would recommend it to any Sword Art Online fan.

Sword Art Online Progressive Grade: 8 out of 10