See, there were some similarities to SAO, but this show managed to get all the stuff I didn't like about SAO, and amplify it.
SAO has Yui, the annoying in game character/AI who ends up filling the daughter role to the main character, and occasionally has use, but really, can be replaced with something less irritating for that use (such as a map...). The high pitched voice and the constant 'Daddy' hurt my soul. Death March doesn't just have a Yui. No, it has four... Legit Four younger girls and three older. About three episodes in, the main character ends up coming to own by default, three demi-human slave girls. One that is part lizard (somewhat scaly skin and a tail) who is about 17, and two who're part cat and dog (ears and tail) who're about 9-10. And to be honest, I didn't mind it too much. The premise of it is these demi-humans are abused (legit, he finds these girls about to be stoned by an angry mob, for the sake of them being demi-humans) and it was well done showing him trying to find accommodation for them at the Inn he was staying at, and being rejected.
Then fairly soon after, he ends up buying another two slave girls, with the intention of freeing them. A fourteen year old and an eleven year old. Here is the catch. He didn't realize they were sex-slaves, until they tried to do what they thought was their job. Here is the other catch. The 11 year old is actually a reincarnated person who has all the memories of their old life. Basically an adult in a child's body... An adult in a child's body that really wants to root the main character... She tries to use psychic abilities to trick him into it, but the game mechanics mean a slave has to obey their master so he commands her never to use her abilities on him. And after that there is just this awkwardness of her trying to get with him, and accusing him of cheating on her when he gets to close to another girl. And beyond her, there is just general innuendo between the main character and these girls who are his adoptive daughters... So yeah, I'd happily sit through the 3 or so Yui episodes of SAO for 24 hours than watch that again...
Remember in SAO Kirito tending to be ridiculously overpowered? To the point where he nearly beat the game about halfway through the Aincrad Arc, only losing because the game master cheated? Satou (the main character of Death March) makes Kirito look so good. See, Kirito is like the RPer who's character is ridiculously overpowered, but tries to justify it. Satou is just OP. Kirito starts off the game with an advantage from his beta testing, quick reflexes, and recognition of patterns. Because of that, some lucky drops, and the nature of MMOs (the rich stay rich, the poor stay poor), ended up being extremely powerful. Satou on the other hand (if I remember correctly, as I binged it in a night and my brain is mush RN) had a glitch in the game that benefited him. He starts off with base stats, uses a spell that he implemented into the game at the last minute, and ends up with maxed stats, and near unlimited skill points, a s*** heap of cash, as well as being able to learn anything. Legit, he picks up a sword, and he learns the one handed skill, then uses his skill points to max it out then and there. He gets hit by a poison spell? He learns poison resistance, then uses his skill points to max it out then and there. I mean, Christ, his equipment and gear? All came from the last minute spell I mentioned earlier, when he was attacked by a large group of high powered enemies and used it to kill them (last resort spell) and they dropped heaps of cool s***. So yes, Kirito is OP, but I don't mind. They do a decent job of it. Satou on the other hand, is literally hax.
Whilst I admit, SAO handled the video game element well (it could have been better but it was done well enough where there was enough focus on it to remind audiences they are in a game without wasting screen time dwelling on unimportant details), Death March didn't. Game mechanics are discussed very rarely, and on the odd chance they are, you know it's because in the next episode or two, it will make a plot point. Otherwise, let's be honest, it seems like a fantasy series.
Then there is the stuff that it can't even compare to SAO with.
There was no real story. I just watched 12 episodes of fanservice with implied incestuous links. Occasionally there would be a 2 or 3 episode arc, and that would be alright, but really there was no overarching plot, and therefore, no resolution. SAO, each plot had a point. Aincrad was to escape. Fairy Dance was to find Asuna. Phantom Bullet was to stop Death Gun. The last two arcs were a little sketchy but still followable. Meanwhile this, was literally just about Satou and his group of either cliche'd or personality lacking, slave girls.
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