My opinion of SAO Part 1 is that it's 4/5.
I can see why some people saying that it's the best game of the year. The 3d art is done well. Asuna is super cute, great boobs, h-scenes and dialog are always to the point and concise. The mystery element is good enough. I like how Asuna is not a virgin prude. She has sex. Who asks for sex. Who cooks. Who is kind. Who shows affection. That wife material for a girl while her being feminine rather than a Hollywood Strong Womyn is great.
My biggest problems are:
1) Lack of Choices - It's a kinetic novel using RPGMaker MV engine. Asuna is getting fucked no matter what
2) No romance - this destined to fail scenario playing as the MC makes the game boring. You're a voyeur rather than trying to salvage the relationship.
3) Asuna is too easy - This pristine school flower idol babe that I just raved about? She sucks and fucks this ugly loser because he has a big cock... I mean bros. Think of your ideal woman. Will she do that? If she does, is she still worth it? She's a slut at that point. She's broken. Which leads me to the final point:
4) The bad guy is too ugly - In the original Sword Art Online, there isn't this loser nerd fugly guy. This is totally a self creation and maybe even a self insert for the author who desires Asuna. I would be onboard of Asuna falling in love with this Chad's big dick, if only he was smart, strong, handsome, AND has a big dick. It's 100% unrealistic to think a high value woman would ever fall for him. Guys, you know how shitty dating scene can be in the West. You really think this is realistic? In the East? Where women don't even look at you if you're poor?
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My rewrite for the game would've to make the bad guy an actual Chad that competes with the MC. Instead of being a loser, he is a bully. He's not your bully, in fact you and Asuna stand up to him. You both don't like this guy. BUT, Chad is really good at SAO as well. Due to some in-game mechanics, Asuna is forced to team up with him.
The MC has a dream to play SAO to get out of poverty. Asuna, still a rich girl, wants to support him and help him through the game. Therefore it is imperative that Asuna and MC takes Chad with him. Chad slowsly molests, rapes, and trains Asuna. Over time Asuna falls for Chad. Meanwhile Chad and MC starts off not getting along, but eventually they do and become "bros". Unknown to MC, Chad has been treating him nice while treating Asuna like a cum rag.
As a player you'd have an opportunity to stop the harassment. Taking similar cues to
Spirit Squeezing Devil, you have to complete some very diffcult tasks in order to save Asuna. Heck maybe you even eventually discovers the molestation. Yet Asuna thinks "if only he knows what Chad is doing to me he would quit playing with me in order to save me", so she and Chad actively hides it. There's a lot of potential for a "virgin run" to save Asuna from Chad.