Sword Art Online Hollow Realization Make Your Way to the Heart of Aincrad

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Sword Art Online is a curious franchise, to say the least.

Originally based on a calorie-free novel, the anime adaptation is easily one of the virtually polarizing shows — particularly amongst the anime community outside Nippon — that I've seen. For the most function, fans either actually love information technology or consider it absolutely overrated. I even know people who got into anime because they liked SAO, only to turn against it later on.

Personally, I'm one of the rare brood of anime watchers whose stance on the franchise is right smack the middle. I don't recall information technology's the greatest anime ever simply I also don't think it'south equally horrible every bit some of its detractors brand it sound like. Granted, subsequent entries don't quite lucifer the first season but I besides appreciate how the series fabricated a lot of newcomers interested in anime. The bigger the tent, the ameliorate, I say, regardless what the online repeat chamber might remember about the quality of certain shows and what's cool to hate or like these days.

In Japan, it's quite obvious that the franchise has a loyal following given its many multimedia offerings, which include video games. The latest to brand its way stateside is "Sword Art Online: Hollow Realization," an alternate story of sorts that tries to replicate the feel of the SAO world. That means an MMO-style structure, minus the threat of permadeath for the game's players.

Visually, the game looks surprisingly solid. Grapheme models accept a overnice anime quality to them and some locales feature nice visual touches. Granted, certain textures and areas besides look spotty, and then graphics aren't quite consistent beyond the board. For an anime-inspired game, however, it'due south not besides bad.

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The game kicks off by giving you lot what appears to be the prospect of choice past letting you design and name your ain graphic symbol, including your pick of gender. While this is much appreciated for someone who prefers using female avatars for this type of game, "Hollow Realization" doesn't quite follow through with this concept in its entrada equally the story is still centered on Kirito regardless of what y'all determine to do with your character. This means story characters volition continue to treat you lot like Kirito, which, I guess, makes sense as far every bit exposition goes but likewise seems odd if you decide to whorl a different grapheme. Every bit such, I just ended upwards compromising and creating an effeminate version of Kirito, which likewise happens to be an homage to SAO'due south Gun Gale Online arc. It'south plenty to make me rub my easily like a James Bond villain.

The story, meanwhile, has you reuniting with a familiar cast of characters as role of the beta for a new game chosen "Sword Art: Origin." Origin features a near-perfect replica of the original death game's globe of Aincrad, which is now called Ainground. The big departure is that areas that were one time plant in the original game's tower are at present spread out on country, thus the proper noun Ainground. Characters as well no longer face the prospect of decease, removing a big source of dread and urgency from the original show.

Every bit you play the game, however, the prospect of death rises once again, albeit in a dissimilar mode. Expounding on this further would be a spoiler but, needless to say, it engenders serious conversation amidst the cast in one case over again, fifty-fifty though it doesn't directly affect them.

Personally, I think the story is a strong point for the game. In addition to enough material to make full an entire anime season, information technology also features plenty of vocalisation acting, which gives it the feel of the anime shows. I peculiarly liked the portrayal of new original character Premiere, who starts out equally a blank slate but slowly develops her ain character. I really was surprised at how fastened I got to the grapheme.

At the same time, the fleshed out story could also be a downside for some players. One reason is the lack of an English language dub, which turns it into more than of a long reading do. Personally, I can sympathise Japanese so it made the story better for me equally there are certainly creative licenses taken in the translation. The length of the story as well means that it takes you away from enjoying the more activity-oriented parts of the game, which might annoy folks who just want to get out in the field and do stuff.

Speaking of gameplay, Hollow Realization totally focuses on replicating the experience you get from MMOs. This means hub areas populated by make-believe players as well equally dissimilar fields for you to adventure with your squad. Besides regular monsters and bosses, you lot as well have raid simulations that take you joining up with other teams — a role that is fulfilled by the AI in the campaign.

The boxing system itself is interesting and features diverse weapon specialities, mixed in with various arts for yous to activate and chief. You can even unlock Kirito'south famed dual-wielding ability by leveling up your sword skills. Gainsay is also highly dependent on you linking upwardly with your teammates and performing sustained combos while dodging, parrying, staggering and countering enemy attacks.

It's an interesting gainsay system that's knocked downwardly a peg by your reliance on AI. Despite the ability to encourage your teammates to influence the kinds of moves they do often, there'due south a large chemical element of randomness to their actions. This can be annoying for folks who put a premium on having control during boxing. The deficiencies of the AI are especially obvious in raids, where you can detect AI-controlled teams biting the grit often, requiring you lot to pretty much take down the raid boss with just your own team. That can exist quite frustrating, also, especially if y'all make the endeavor to revive fallen allies or ensure they heal, only for them to fall again. Fortunately, y'all can get online and seek help from human players with the game'due south tougher missions, though the viability of that option also depends on the health of its online players. Otherwise, you can but ability level, simply that isn't quite as fun.

Questing, meanwhile, is plentiful, cheers to a robust selection of side quests yous tin embark on. You lot can even build relationships with other AI players in town in addition to the members of your SAO party. 1 downside, though, is the grindy nature of the game. I guess Hollow Realization deserves credit for replicating that part of MMOs besides but it tin can make the game experience former and repetitive actually quick. That grindy nature extends to the relationship aspects of the game. It also doesn't do a lot of paw-holding so I recommend checking the in-game athenaeum to make sure yous don't miss anything or to brand sense of the more than complicated parts of the game. I wish the gear system was better, besides.

That beingness said, if you're itching to play an SAO game, this is one of the ameliorate titles in the franchise.

Last THOUGHTS

Sword Art Online: Hollow Realization feels similar a game that's on the cusp of something great merely is held dorsum by a few hiccups. The story is interesting and quite fleshed out, and the base of operations combat has potential. The inconsistent pacing, sketchy AI and grindy nature of the game, withal, brand it feel like a slog after a while. If you're a fan of SAO, though, this is worth checking out just to re-experience Aincrad's rebirth once again.

Rating: 3.25 out of 5

Price: $49.99: PS4 (reviewed), Vita

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Source: https://www.rgj.com/story/life/2017/01/04/sword-art-online-hollow-realization-review-technobubble/96129596/

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