[Neko]

Log Horizon is interesting, but SAO was complete garbage after episode 12 or 13.

[Jiggly]

Synopsis
By its eleventh expansion pack, the massively multiplayer online role-playing game Elder Tale has become a global success, having a following of millions of players. However, during the release of its twelfth expansion pack: Novasphere Pioneers, thirty thousand Japanese gamers who are all logged on at the time of the update, suddenly find themselves transported inside the game world and donning their in-game avatars. In the midst of the event, a socially awkward gamer called Shiroe along with his friends Naotsugu and Akatsuki decide to team up so that they may face this world which has now become their reality along with the challenges which lie ahead.

These two animes are quite different. In sword art online they have/had the freedom to switch to whatever kind of game they want after finishing that arc, however LH does not have that capability as the game has become real life for them. To compensate for this though there are still multiple events that can be triggered making the specific arc they are in more interesting or just making an arc out of the event in general. LH and SAO also have completely different main characters. While Kirito happened to have the luck of training as a martial artist while he was younger, Shiroe (LH main character) is just an elite strategist couch potato.

These are only some of the few differences in the animes LH and SAO, however that said they are both REALLY great animes and log horizon in my opinion is as good as SAO and has the potential to become better.

sorry for the long explanation sorta

Don't be sorry! That was really helpful! Unless Oni wants to watch it with me later in the year, I'll probably go and watch LH next. Thank you!

[Satan]

From the description of Log Horizon, reminds me of .Hack

[Loli]

Personally I preferred the story Log Horizon told over that of which SAO told. But, I really don't believe you can compare the two anime. Yes, they have a similar plot in the idea that both are about people stuck in a game. However, everything similar ends there. SAO Is focused around the players trying to free themselves and get out. Whereas Log Horizon is about adapting calmly to the situation they are in, and figuring out how to better their lives in-game, while tackling the issue of going back to their world. But, seeing as there is no evident way to go back, focusing on their lives in-game is probably the best thing to do, making sure everyone is safe, and calm about what is happening.

So like I said, you really can't compare the two. They both have two different stories apart from the foundation of it all: stuck in a game.

[Jolly]

I'd go for Log Horizon any time. For me SAO started to get boring quite fast. Animation and Hype-wise, SAO was definitly better than Log Horizon and the boss battles were quite enjoyable but that was already it. SAO didn't have anything else to offer other than the hype and the good animation.

Log Horizon, although lacking in the animation sector, makes it up with it's ''unique'' story setting, which unlike in SAO, actually explains in detail about the the virtual gaming experience and how it's usually build up like tanks, healers, guilds, raids, dungeons etc.
And it doesn't really stop there, Log Horizon also goes to the lenght of bringing the gamer into their stories and how some of them can be quite awkward when it comes to social interaction, which is usually portraid by its Main Character Shiroe, who always tries to make himself the villain so that the life in the game would change.

Another point would be that unlike in SAO, the story in Log Horizon actually has some depth and the main characters aint just random weabooz the MC has to drag around and of course each of the side characters shows some of their character around the series which makes it quite enjoyable, unlike in SAO you pretty much just had Kirito and his Harem.

[Oni]

Don't be sorry! That was really helpful! Unless Oni wants to watch it with me later in the year, I'll probably go and watch LH next. Thank you!

Maybe we can watch it.

[Loli]

I'd go for Log Horizon any time. For me SAO started to get boring quite fast. Animation and Hype-wise, SAO was definitly better than Log Horizon and the boss battles were quite enjoyable but that was already it. SAO didn't have anything else to offer other than the hype and the good animation.

Log Horizon, although lacking in the animation sector, makes it up with it's ''unique'' story setting, which unlike in SAO, actually explains in detail about the the virtual gaming experience and how it's usually build up like tanks, healers, guilds, raids, dungeons etc.
And it doesn't really stop there, Log Horizon also goes to the lenght of bringing the gamer into their stories and how some of them can be quite awkward when it comes to social interaction, which is usually portraid by its Main Character Shiroe, who always tries to make himself the villain so that the life in the game would change.

Another point would be that unlike in SAO, the story in Log Horizon actually has some depth and the main characters aint just random weabooz the MC has to drag around and of course each of the side characters shows some of their character around the series which makes it quite enjoyable, unlike in SAO you pretty much just had Kirito and his Harem.

Well said. Personally a lot of people are bagging on LH because of how slow it progresses, but if I remember correctly one episode Kirito was like on the 3rd floor the next he was on the 40th, and like 8 months had passed. Whereas LH takes it pretty much day by day/week by week. There are no incredibly weird gaps in time, therefore we're able to see the characters for more than just a face. They grow in our hearts if you let them in. I personally prefer how they handled the telling of the story in LH.