I completely agree, i reached season 2 and the gun thingy kinda weird. Like wtf bro the name is "sword" why bring guns. What in the America was that. But yes first season peak. The Sao game part atleast. The second half with the other game is kinda mehhh
SAO 1: Best season in the entire series (last eps were kinda mid but we ignore that)
SAO 2: Decent, kinda went off track.
SAO 3 Part 1: Good season.
SAO 3 Part 2: Good season.
Haven't watched the recent movie yet which shows Asuna's pov and I won't watch it either cuz I don't like different pov kind of movies.