English Dub Season Review: Sword Art Online Alternative: Gun Gale Online Season 2

Based on the Japanese light novel series written by Keiichi Sigsawa and illustrated by Kouhaku Kuroboshi. The series is a spin-off of Reki Kawahara’s Sword Art Online series and continues from Season One as a new tournament, Squad Jam 3, has been announced in the popular VR game Gun Gale Online. This time, Pitohui, one of the best performers in the previous competition, offers to team up with Karen Kohiruimaki, better known in-game as LLENN, the “Pink Devil.” Despite her initial reluctance, Karen agrees to join Pitohui’s team, LPFM, since she looks forward to facing SHINC, her rivals from the previous Squad Jam. The newly formed LPFM enrolls in the tournament and is quickly recognized as the favorite to win due to the caliber of its players. As they strive to come out on top and win Squad Jam 3, LLENN, Pitohui, and the other members of LPFM battle against other competitors and tackle unexpected challenges.

On the technical side, season two’s team was carried over from season one as it was produced by Egg Firm animated by studio 3Hz, and directed by Masayuki Sakoi, with scripts written by Yōsuke Kuroda,and character designs are by Yoshio Kosakai. For Season Two, the opening theme song is “GG” by ReoNa, and the ending theme song was technically 3 songs: “Little Dancer”, Ending 2 “Overclock” by both Tomori Kusunoki And the Episode 12 Ending theme “Oh Unhappy Day” by ReoNa.

The second season while fun in places, offers a mix of entertainment and frustration. As it struggles to live up to the first season’s hype. The primary issue lies with the second season, which feels overly “safe” and unwilling to take risks. By the end, there’s little meaningful progression in the plot or character dynamics compared to what was already established in the first season. While Llenn and Pitohui receive some additional exploration of their personalities and mindsets, their character arcs were already well-developed previously which makes a lot of the proceedings in later storylines feel a bit redundant.

Unfortunately, the secondary characters such as Fuka and M remain underdeveloped, with the narrative focus heavily skewed toward conflicts that were largely resolved in the first season, but with game mechanics feeling clunky and uninspired. These elements detract from the immersion and screw up whatever stakes this show could’ve had, making it difficult to remain fully engaged.

Pitohui’s plans succeed far too often due to excessive plot armor: her reckless strategies prevail even when a single logical counteraction could have unraveled them. Additionally, there are no new characters introduced, and the story sticks to the same cast yet attempts different scenarios. The final arc attempts to consolidate the cast and showcase new weapon types, but it doesn’t add much depth outside of some random plot twist.

The anime’s technical aspects show a mix of highs and lows. Episodes 9 through 11 suffer from noticeably lackluster animation quality, which stands in stark contrast to the visually striking finale. However, the music remains a highlight, with a well-composed soundtrack that enhances the action sequences and emotional beats. ReoNa’s opening theme is a standout, combining catchy melodies with stunning visuals.

Overall, while the anime provides some entertainment value, it fails to capture the charm and impact of its first season. What once felt refreshing and innovative now appears formulaic and uninspired. By focusing too heavily on cliche storytelling, and fails to leave a lasting impression. For those who loved the first season, the sequel may still offer moments of enjoyment, but it’s unlikely to satisfy those seeking depth or innovation. If Season 3 does become a thing, we can only hope they’ll compensate with something meaningful outside of “Why do you play?”.