Episode 1

## Video

This is the first episode of the Aincrad Arc, and the first episode of Sword Art Online Abridged overall.

## Plot

On November 6, 2022, Sword Art Online, a VRMMO set in a multifloored castle in the sky called Aincrad, is released in Japan. On this day, a player puts on his NerveGear and logs into his character, Kirito, excited to play the game for the first time since he participated in its beta test. However, when he arrives, he finds out that there have been some "changes" since the beta test, which includes advertisements being plastered all over the game. Kirito is disgusted by all the ads ruining the beautiful scenery and proceeds to activate the AdBlocker, only to find out that the "AdBlocker DLC" costs $29.99. Seeing this, Kirito chuckles to himself, before stating that he is "going to burn this f\*\*ker to the ground".

Later, in the West Field outside of the Floor 1 Town of Beginnings, Kirito encounters another player, who was losing a fight to a Frenzy Boar, one of the game's starter enemies. Seeing this, Kirito proceeds to pick on the player for being unable to defeat a pig. The player tries to retort this by claiming the pig is impossibly strong, calling it "the pig from hell", but Kirito proves this wrong by picking up a pebble and throwing it at the pig, instantly defeating it. Kirito then taunts the player by saying he must have come across "the most powerful weapon in the game", the "Mithril Pebble of Pig-Smiting", before proceeding to go on long improvised ramble about the pebble's alleged history, much to the other player's annoyance.

Hours later, as the sun begins to set, Kirito finally finishes his epic tale about the pebble. Having watched Kirito waste his time talking about a rock, the player assumes that Kirito gets beat up a lot in real life. Kirito responds to this by telling him to shut up, stating that, "Here I have power!" Clearly touching a nerve, the other player says he better get going, as he has a pizza coming and he's planning to meet up with some friends later. The player thanks Kirito for the tutorials on pig-slaying and rocks, and it is at this point that Kirito notices that his username is BallsDeep69. Balls explains that his current avatar is just a joke character to mess around with until he gets used to the game, stating that he's going to make his real character later, which Kirito understands.

After an awkward silence between the two, Balls proceeds to log out to go eat his pizza, only to discover that he cannot find the log out button. Kirito doesn't believe him at first but finds that the log out button is missing from his menu too. Suddenly a string of maniacal laughter appears in Balls' menu, which he proceeds to read out in full, much to Kirito's annoyance. Balls then attempts to pull off his NerveGear, but Kirito tells him that's not how it works, as the NerveGear disables a player's motor functions to prevent them moving around while they play. Kirito reminds Balls of the videos of the beta testers before the feature was added, one of which had a beta tester viciously beating his roommate to death, believing he was a Troll. Kirito states that this, and other incidents, resulted in many lawsuits.

Suddenly, Kirito and Balls are teleported to the town square of the Town of Beginnings, along with all the other players. A red hexagonal warning sign then appears in the sky, followed by more hexagons surrounding it, until they cover the entire sky. Blood starts pouring out from between the hexagons, which coalesces until it forms a man in a hooded red cloak. The man introduces himself as Kayaba Akihiko, the head programmer of the game, and welcomes the players to SAO. The players then start talking amongst themselves while Kayaba struggles to get their attention. He then tries to mute their chat function, but accidentally mutes himself instead. After he realizes what happened and finally unmutes himself, Kayaba asks the players how many of them had seen Tron. However, none of the players respond, which forces Kayaba to improvise another explanation for their situation.

Kayaba announces that, much like World of Warcraft, none of the players have any choice but to play the game anymore, except Kayaba is the one who is holding them captive, not their need to "escape [their] empty f\*\*king lives". He tells the players that there is no longer any way to log out of the game, and if someone tries to log them out by removing their NerveGears in real life, something similar to the movie Scanners will happen, which, again, no one has seen. Kayaba then shows the players a clip from Scanners, in which someone's head explodes, which makes them understand.

One player is especially horrified by this and asks Kayaba why he would do this. Kayaba recognizes the player as his acquaintance Stephen and, ignoring his question, asks him how he's enjoying the advance copy of the game Kayaba gave him. Stephen tells Kayaba that he's playing the game with his family, meaning they're all trapped in the game together. This reminds Kayaba that the launch day was the birthday of Stephen's son, Timmy, and wishes the crying child a happy birthday. Ignoring the child's tears, Kayaba comments on how fast children grow up and tells Stephen to "cherish these moments".

Getting back to the point, Kayaba tells the players that the only way for them to leave the game, and keep the NerveGear from "going all Gallagher on [their] grey matter", is to clear every Floor of Castle Aincrad and beat SAO. One player finds this to be an unfair request, asking Kayaba, "When was the last time you heard of someone *beating* Everquest?". Kayaba counters this by saying, "When was the last time you heard of someone *PLAYING* Everquest?", which the player says is a fair retort.

Kayaba then comments on the amount of men playing as girls and tells the players that he has a surprise for them. All the players find a Hand Mirror in their inventory, which triggers a blinding light that converts all the players' avatars into their true appearances, which is mostly fairly attractive people and a fat boy, who is shocked that the cute girl he was flirting with was actually a guy. Despite their mutual shock, as the fat boy lied about his age, the two players decide that they're "okay with this" and pursue their relationship, much to the approval of random player. Meanwhile, Kirito and Balls comment on their real appearances, with Balls stating how young Kirito really is and Kirito stating Balls is less hairy. Balls tries to tell Kirito that his name is Klein, but Kirito doesn't believe him.

Kayaba looks at the crowd and is impressed that they aren't a bunch of stereotypes, except for the fat boy, who he chastises. Kayaba then informs them that if they die in the game they will die for real, but the crowd doesn't understand this. Kayaba attempts to explain it two more times but to no avail. Annoyed, Kayaba shows the head explosion clip from Scanners again, which causes the players to finally understand. Kayaba then proceeds to leave the players to themselves, but not before revealing that he also disabled the profanity filter. Kayaba tells the players to have fun as his body turns into smoke and disappears. After hearing everything that was said, the players are stunned to silence until one player simply states that "WE'RE FUCKED!!!"

Later, in an alleyway, Kirito asks Balls to help him take down a Mini-Boss on the way to the next town, as he needs some "cannon fodder". Shocked by Kirito's blunt request, Balls says that he's going to stay with his friends, stating that they are all as skilled as he is, so they'll have a better chance of surviving together. Kirito equivalates this to the old idiom of monkeys and typewriters, much to Balls' annoyance. Balls then states that Kirito may be the most unbearable asshole he's ever met, but he is really good at the game, so he asks Kirito to join his Guild. However, Kirito runs away mid-conversation. Balls is insulted by this, believing Kirito left because he thought he was too good to join his Guild, but what actually happened was Kirito ran away crying, upset that Balls called him an asshole.

After the credits, we see the end of the video of the beta tester beating up his roommate, which Kayaba edited to include a Final Fantasy victory screen, rewarding the beta tester with "25 EXP Points, 60 GP, and 1 Manslaughter Charge(s)".

## Cast

* **YamatoSFX:** Kirito, Beta Tester's Roommate, Timmy, Additional Voices
* **Cheesemanjoe:** BallsDeep69, Beta Tester, Stephen, Additional Voices
* **Hayabusa449:** Fatty, Additional Voices
* **Sonicring123Dubs:** Girl Guy
* **Takahata101:** Kayaba Akihiko

## Music

* **Thirty Seconds to Mars:** "This Is War"
* **Sword Art Online Original Soundtrack vol.1:** "The First Town", "Smile for Me", "Survive the Swordland", "Everyday Life", "Quiet Strain", "No Way", "A Strategy Meeting", "Feel Uneasy", "In Your Past"
* **Mass Effect 2 (Original Soundtrack):** "The Attack", "Tali"
* **Final Fantasy III Original Sound Version:** "Battle 1 ~ Fanfare"
* **Scott Pilgrim vs. the World: The Game (Original Videogame Soundtrack):** "Area Clear"

## Differences from the Original

The following is a list of differences *only* from this episode. To view any differences for the characters, view their pages, or if you want to see more click here.

* The news broadcast that sets up SAO is skipped.
* Kazuto reading an article about SAO, during which he gets a papercut, is skipped.
* Suguha's cameo is skipped.
* The shot of Kazuto calibrating his settings and logging into his account is skipped.
* In the original, Kirito verbally expresses his excitement saying hello to the game's world and declaring "I'm back". In the abridged version, he thinks to himself about how long it's been since the beta test and wonders if anything's changed.
* SAO doesn't have advertisements plastered all over the place, nor is there the option to buy AdBlocker for $29.99.
* SAO doesn't have a profanity filter that later gets disabled.
* In the original, Kirito logs in at the same time as some other players, who are all excited to play the game. In the abridged version, Kirito appears to be by himself.
* The wide shot of Castle Aincrad is skipped.
* The scene of the players exploring the Town of Beginnings and forming Parties is skipped.
* In the original, Kirito first meets Klein when he asks Kirito to show him how to play the game, after correctly guessing that he was one of the beta testers. In the abridged version, Kirito's first meeting with Klein seems to be when he's fighting the Frenzy Boar.
	+ Kirito and Klein now exchange names after spending the day together.
* Kirito doesn't kill the Frenzy Boar when he throws the stone at it. Klein listens to some advice Kirito gives him and kills it in one thrust.
	+ Kirito doesn't go into a long expositional ramble about "The Mithril Pebble of Pig Smiting" that lasts for hours.
* The shot of the Frenzy Boar spawning in is skipped.
* Kirito's explanation about SAO's skills, and how it doesn't have magic, is skipped.
* Kirito and Klein spending the day hunting monsters together is skipped.
* Klein no longer admires the game during the sunset.
* Klein stating that SAO is his first time using a NerveGear, and him stating how long he spent waiting in line to get it, is skipped.
* Kirito's monologue about the beta test is skipped.
* Klein does leave to get a pizza in the original, but he's a lot hungrier than his abridged counterpart.
* Klein's offer to introduce his friends to Kirito, followed by Kirito's unsure response, is skipped.
* In the original, Klein tells Kirito that he'll pay him back for everything he's taught him and they attempt to leave on good terms. In the abridged version, there's an awkward silence between the two before Kirito reminds Klein that he should get going.
* Klein doesn't mention the Alt+F4 command after he notices the missing log out button.
	+ Klein doesn't call Kirito "players guide" after he fails to find the log out button.
	+ The words "ha ha ha" don't repeatedly scroll across Klein's menu after he and Kirito realize they can't log out.
* Klein guessing that the missing log out button is a glitch is skipped.
* The part where Kirito points out that Klein missed his pizza delivery, prompting him to freak out, is skipped.
* Klein trying to contact the SAO's GM is skipped.
* Kirito stating that there's no other way to log out, prompting Klein to shout voice commands, is skipped.
* It is never stated that there was a problem during the NerveGear's beta test where beta testers would wander their homes and attack their roommates while playing a game on it. As such, this wasn't the reason the NerveGear was given its paralyzing ability.
	+ It's never stated that Argus faced numerous lawsuits prior to SAO.
* The part of the conversation where Kirito says they'll need to wait until someone removes their NerveGears is skipped.
	+ Kirito and Klein telling each other about their home lives is skipped.
	+ Klein asking Kirito about his sister, prompting Kirito to kick him in the balls for being too eager, is skipped.
* Kirito commenting how serious the situation is, as well as wondering why the admins haven't logged everyone out, is skipped.
* In the original, Kayaba's speech is proceeded by an ominous bell, which rings before the players are teleported to the town square. In the abridged version, the players are teleported without warning.
	+ It's never stated that SAO's teleportation has a tingling sensation.
* In the original, Kirito and Klein notice the first warning sign after hearing another player point it out. In the abridged version, Klein spots it himself and points it out the Kirito.
* In the original, Klein reacts to the blood with general shock. In the abridged version, he nonchalantly makes a comment about the game's maturity rating.
	+ Kirito doesn't comment on the blood.
* Kirito recognizing Kayaba, due to being a fan of his, is skipped.
* Kayaba doesn't have trouble during his speech, including getting the players' attention, muting himself or getting people to understand the concept of dying in the game.
	+ The players don't chat about MMO related things in the town square.
* In the original, Kayaba's speech is well organized and seems to be pre-rehearsed. In the abridged version, Kayaba improvises most of his speech and almost forgets to mention certain things.
* Kayaba no longer states that SAO was designed to trap players in the game.
* The scene where two players try to leave the town square is skipped.
* Some of Kirito and Klein's conversations during Kayaba's speech are skipped. These include:
	+ How the NerveGear's transmission signals are like microwaves.
	+ How cutting the power to the NerveGear won't work due to its battery.
	+ The part where they initially don't recognize each other after having their avatars changed, followed by their reactions.
	+ How SAO got everyone's physical appearances.
* Kayaba mentioning that 213 players have already died, due to people trying to remove their NerveGears, is skipped.
	+ Kayaba mentioning the news coverage of the deaths is skipped.
* Kayaba doesn't have any conversations with any of the players during his speech, nor is it stated that one of the crowd members is an acquaintance of his.
	+ It's never stated that the SAO launch day was someone's birthday.
* The part where Kirito imagines himself dying in the game is skipped.
* In the original, Kayaba tells the players he's left a present in their inventory and tells them to look for it. In the abridged version, Kayaba just points at the players and tells them he has a surprise for them, which prompts everyone to look in their inventory on their own.
	+ Kayaba doesn't comment on the amount of men playing as girls before changing their appearances.
* The two players who realize one is a guy and the other isn't 17 don't state to be "okay with this" after the initial shock, nor does someone shout out "LOVE KNOWS NO GENDER!!!".
* Kirito and Klein don't comment on each other's appearances in the town square.
* Kayaba isn't shocked that most of the players are "fairly attractive twenty somethings" nor does he voice his pride in them for "breaking down stereotypes".
* Kayaba now tells the players that they'll die for real if they die in the game after changing their appearances, rather than before.
* Kayaba's explanation of wanting to control a world of his own is skipped.
* In the original, Kayaba wishes the players luck before leaving. In the abridged version, he just simply says "adieu".
	+ Kayaba doesn't leave with a comedic popping sound.
* The scene where Kirito acknowledges that Kayaba was telling the truth about the death game is skipped.
* The panic that takes place after Kayaba's speech is replaced with one player simply saying, "WE'RE FUCKED!!!".
	+ Kirito dragging Klein towards the alley is skipped.
* Kirito doesn't state that he needs "cannon fodder" for a Mini-Boss while asking for Klein's help. He tells him that they need to move to the next town because the fields near the Town of Beginnings will be picked clean soon.
* Klein is slightly less concerned about his friends compared to his original counterpart, stating that they're all as skilled as he is.
* Kirito doesn't run off crying because Klein called him and asshole, nor does Klein invite Kirito to join his Guild. The reason he leaves Klein behind is, while he could guide Klein through the early game and stay at an accelerated leveling pace for the sake of safety and progress, having more than one inexperienced player would slow the pace down too much and put them all at risk, and Kirito wasn't willing to be behind the level curve. Klein understood this, and let Kirito go.
	+ Kirito telling Klein to message him if he's ever in trouble is skipped.
	+ Kirito and Klein complementing each other's real faces is skipped.
	+ Kirito looking back to see that Klein is already gone is skipped.
* The scene where Kirito thinks about the real world, and imagines Suguha and his mom crying over him, is skipped.
* The scene of Kirito killing the Dire Wolf is skipped.

## Trivia

* This is the only episode that doesn't use the disclaimer.
* The ads seen by Kirito upon his entering Sword Art Online are as follows:
	+ A billboard ad for McDonald's.
	+ A Goodyear Blimp.
	+ A banner advertising the iPhone 15.
		- The iPhone 15 was later released on September 22, 2023, ten months and sixteen days after the events of this episode.
	+ An ad for Mountain Dew.
	+ An ad for a car, but the distance makes it hard to tell which car it's advertising.
	+ An ad for the 2011 movie "Father's Day", which Hayabusa449 starred in.
	+ An ad for ALfheim Online.
* The "WHAT?!" guy is from the 1994 TV show, ReBoot.
* This is the only episode where the words "f\*ck" and "sh\*t" were censored out due to the profanity filter in the game.