Intro
Welcome back to Kangaeru Sensei! This is part 2 in my video series where I’ll be reviewing Accel World’s light novels. In today’s video, we’ll be reviewing volume 2 ‘The Red Storm Princess’. If you haven’t viewed part 1 already I highly recommend you check it out to see what I had to say about volume 1.
I know I shouldn’t be saying something like this at the start of the review, but I really don’t like volume 2. It isn’t because of any glaring flaws with the volume’s story, it’s instead more so to do with Accel World’s other volumes just being better. In my opinion, this happens a lot with: TV shows, games, movies, etc. More so games as movies usually have a trend of the second being the best and the third the worst. An example I like to use for this is the original Phoenix Wright trilogy. Justice for All had very average cases up until the last one; I think a great deal of it has to do with the second game being a bridge between the first and third. Setting up events, characters and expanding on plot lines assist in making the finale this grand spectacle.
In Volume 2’s case, the plot revolves around ‘The Armour of Catastrophe’ which contaminated a burst linker known as Cherry Rook who sought power after feeling he’d become significantly weaker than his own child Scarlet Rain. And just a quick aside The Red King’s real name is Yuniko Kozuki but the nickname Niko is easier to: pronounce, say and type. It’s not laziness it’s called being innovative. Anyway, he unequivocally got more than he bargained for as he’s now become this mindless beast destroying everything in the Accelerated World. Niko, Scarlet Rain, meets Haruyuki in the real world because she hoped his wings could help aid in subjugating Cherry Rook, or as he’s better known as Chrome Disaster.
This volume and volume 5 are the most worldbuilding-focused volumes of Accel World so far. We’re introduced to the Unlimited Neutral Field, which is this plain of space where, as nicely put by Kuroyukihime herself, the real Accelerated world is at. 10 points is for sure a measly price to pay with the amount of time you can spend in this plain; spending 1 day in the Real World equates to 3 WHOLE FLIPPING YEARS in the Unlimited Neutral Field. That must be causing some sort of brain damage, but whatever. Obviously, this leads to discrepancies between the character’s mental and physical ages; the most poignant example represented in this volume is Niko.
She’s an elementary school kid that while granted isn’t the most mature person in the world, has a very knowledgeable and adept mind. Adept enough to manage her own legion as the Red King. It gives some more insight and development for why Kuroyukihime is strangely mature for her age. She’s lived much longer than her real-world body lets on enabling her to have experiences, which most people wouldn’t have until they were much older. Though don’t let this trick you into thinking she’s some old women trapped in a kid’s body. She’s developed mentally in some respects and hasn’t in others. While she did have the absurd confidence to casually joke about confessing and being rejected by him among her peers, she was also overtly jealous when Haruyuki cable links with Chiyuri in volume 1. In the grand scheme of things, getting flustered about that is something on a way smaller scale. Little details like this let readers know that Brain Burst’s affects can lead to strange outcomes on the human mind, leaving readers again to circle back to the question of why someone would create a program like this?
The program forces its characters to take on very adult roles and those comedic moments where they’re allowed to be kids feel earned and always seem to serve a narrative purpose in some way. Haruyuki joining a club leads to meeting an essential character, this doesn’t happen till volume 6 but I felt it necessary to illustrate my point. In addition, through Niko, we see how while Brain Burst is tough the dual lives these kids are given make them happy. Which is why she never wants it to end. She envies Kuroyukihime’s goal to reach level 10 even if it might possibly end Brain Burst forever. Probably because of Kuroyukihime’s courage to end Brain Burst’s journey despite her attachment to it; she’s arguably spent more time in the Accelerated World than Niko and yet she’s still willing to end it.
Niko is surprisingly vulnerable when voicing her fears of losing Brain Bust and eventually takes comfort in Haruyuki’s words that basically tell her she shouldn’t be sad it ended, instead be glad it happened. Removing an outcome where your memories of brain burst are tainted. The element of wanting brain burst to be an everlasting experience is something that’s touched on in later volumes, so we’ll discuss this topic further then.
Thanks again for tuning in to today’s video. Next time we’ll have a look at volumes 3 and 4 due to them being a joint story. Hope you all enjoyed this one and remember to, always think my friends.
Conclusion:
Thanks again for tuning in to today’s video. Next time we’ll have a look at volumes 3 and 4 due to them being a joint story. Hope you all enjoyed this one and remember to, always think my friends.
(Outro plays)
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