Sword Art Online

[shinta|hikari]

@Y: SAO isn't WOW.

You actually control your character in the game as if you are moving your own body. Teamwork is important, but individual skill even more so. You don't auto dodge attacks. You have to rely on reaction speed, coordination, and imagination to fight well.

Partying in SAO is not as critical compared to other MMOs because there is no healing magic. The slow working potions can't be used from a distance either. The healing dragon Silica has is an exception, and even then it heals only a scrap of HP. These factors make soloing a viable option for skilled players.

And do you seriously want to fight enemies of the same level in a game where dying means death in reality? It makes sense to maintain a certain level advantage over the content to ensure survival, but not too much that it would be too inefficient. Even then, Kirito is the type to take risks when leveling, since that is the only way to make up for not having a party.

Kirito joined that party because he was lonely. Even if soloing is more his play style, SAO isn't just a game. They eat, sleep, and do everything in it. Soloing basically means being alone all the time, and it is only natural to want to have friends in that scenario.

In this episode, he was there because he wanted to catch the criminals. It's not like he randomly wanders around lower levels. He even mentioned that he was away for 5 days, and that is already way too long. That means he normally fights at the highest available floor every day.