Sword Art Online Alternative: Gun Gale Online S2

Important takeaways

• Boarding a sinking Ocean Liner adds tension, complexity and dynamic changes to the final battle.
• Character development in the final showdown reveals new sides to Llenn and Pitohui, providing intrigue.
• The conclusion of the Third Squad Jam sets the stage for another test game with top players in upcoming episodes.

After a thrilling and exciting roller coaster filled with twists and turns and surprises since the start of the season, we finally came to the end of the Third Squad Jam Tournament. Just to clarify, this is not the end of this second season – which is coming in a couple of episodes – this is just the end of this particular arc.

Anyway, a lot of interesting things happen in this episode. The high intensity combat, the ruthless and surprising tactics, the overall development of the fight itself, so many good things. But the two things that we will focus on in this article are the highly dynamic environment and character development. In other words, the place and the people.

Titanic 2.0

Let's start with the setting first. Continuing from the previous episode, the setting for this final fight between Team LPFM and Team BTRY is in a sinking Ocean Liner, in the middle of the ocean. This location is not only unique, but it is also very dynamic, making it perfect for the unbeatable final battle between two very skilled players.

A dynamic final stage

The decision to use the sinking Ocean Liner for the final showdown is nothing short of genius. This huge ship not only has open stages for direct shooting, but it also has countless rooms for sneak attacks and high altitude which is perfect for sniping. This means that players can use all kinds of strategies in this place.

That said, it's actually the sinking part that makes this scene so dynamic and fun. The gallons of seawater entering the ship's hull means players must move quickly if they don't want to drown. Not only that, there's also the risk of the ship breaking up like the Titanic at any given moment, making everything that much more complicated. All these variables create a stage that keeps changing every minute. As a result, the final fight becomes that much more exciting to watch.

“At this rate, the hull will snap, and the ship will go down. Just like the Titanic in that movie.”

Adding more layers of tension

Anyone who has ever played FPS games before can attest that the location of the mission/race is responsible for half the fun. A great location can enhance player immersion and enjoyment. The same was true of the third Squad Jam. Having a unique scene that constantly changes as the battle progresses adds more layers of complexity and excitement for viewers. From the sinking island to a sinking ship, the team behind Squad Jam really knows how to make an exciting tournament.

It's not over until I say it's over

The next thing that stands out the most in episode 8 is the character development. This is especially true of the two main characters, Llenn and Pitohui. In this final battle, these two shooters show another side of themselves that we've never seen before.

Different sides of the heroes

Everyone knows that Pitohui is the brains, while Llenn is the trouble. That's not to say that Pito is bad at using his body or that Llenn can't use his brain, but those are simply the things that they excel at. Pito's strength lies in her cunning and tactical mind, while Llenn's strength lies in her extraordinary speed and agility.

At this final stage, however, it appears that they are changing shoes. They show that there is more to them than we have known so far. Llenn knows her opponent is the wily Pito and comes up with a crazy plan that catches Pito off guard. Likewise, knowing her opponent is the nimble Llenn, Pito steps out of her comfort zone and starts running, jumping, and even climbing the back of the ship with her knives, a level of endurance we've only seen from Llenn.

Character development at the last moment

Sees this is the second season of Sword Art Online Alternative: Gun Gale Online, it's safe to say that the characters' quirks and personalities are already pretty established at this point, especially the two main characters. We all know who Llenn and Pito are, and we know what to expect from them. We know that Llenn can pull off crazy maneuvers and Pito can come up with crazy plans.

But the fact that we get to see some new sides of these two rivals, both through their dialogue and their actions, means there's still room for some character development for them. It would have been nice if they stayed as they are, but now that we know there's room for Llenn and Pito to grow, we're excited to see more character development in the future.

It's a Wrap

Episode 8 marks the end of the 3rd Squad Jam (SJ3) tournament story arc. It's a wrap. SJ3 is undoubtedly one of the most exciting story arcs from Gun Gale Online, but with about four episodes left until the end of the season, the question becomes what happens next?

What's next?

With only 4 episodes left in the season, it's hard to imagine a story as extensive as SJ3. But before the credits roll for episode 8, the showrunners present some teasers to viewers. A short clip hinting at what will happen next after our heroes conquer SJ3.

Apparently, some of the top players in SJ3 will receive an email from the organizers inviting them to participate in some kind of test game. The goal seems to be quite different from the usual tournament format, so we're looking forward to what this series has in store next.

Season 3?

Speaking of what will happen next Sword Art Online Alternative: Gun Gale Online, the question naturally leads to the bigger picture. Will GGO have a third season? Seeing how exciting the second season turns out, fans of this series, like us, expect to see more of Llenn and Pito. But at the time of writing, there is no news about a third season yet. The studio or publisher usually announces a new season at the end of the current season, so all we can do right now is just wait and see.

Sword Art Online Alternative: Gun Gale Online S2 is available to stream on Crunchyroll.