Sword Art Online Re Hollow Realization How to Start a New Game
Sword Fine art Online is ane of the near popular anime shows currently running. Based on a light novel series, the show'south original premise explored online gaming civilization in a near future, where thousands of players of a virtual reality MMO find themselves trapped within the game. In that first arc, the prove explored the idea of guilds, player killing, and dungeon diving in a globe where doing those things would really get you killed.
The story'south focus is Kazuto Kirigaya, known simply equally Kirito in the game, 1 of the early beta testers who uses his knowledge to assist others as the Black Swordsman. The initial idea was enjoyable, just Sword Art Online gradually moved abroad from handling the sociological and psychological aspects to focus on Kirito's growing harem and fanservice (of the sexual and not-sexual diversity). I eventually stopped watching the anime and moved onto Log Horizon which has some of the same issues, but goes further into the original premise.
Sword Art Online: Hollow Fragment is partial sequel to Sword Art Online: Infinity Moment for PSP, upgrading the original game with an entirely new zone, improved visuals, and a new plot. Early Sword Fine art Online takes place in Aincrad, a 100-floor mega dungeon with players living and fighting on diverse floors. Episode fourteen of the anime ended on floor 75 with the defeat of the floor boss, Skull Reaper, and the game's operator Akihiko Kayaba. Information technology'south here that Hollow Fragment picks upwards its story, tasking the player with fighting their way to floor 100. It's an alternate reality take on what happened at the stop of the original story arc.
Hollow Fragment plays like the games of some other "people trapped in an MMO" serial, .Hack. Gainsay simulates play in an MMO; you command Kirito and 1 partner every bit they clear Aincrad'southward floors or the all-new 6-level Hollow Area. This means a lot of repeated tactics and grinding, without the benefit of other players to actually talk to. All of your basic moves - assail, dodge, parry, and stun - apply a Flare-up bar, which prevents you lot from spamming a single move. Pressing 50 and R allows you to switch other skill menus. Early, I ofttimes forgot which skills I had equipped to certain menus, then I'd bring up the incorrect bill of fare once again and again. After a couple of levels you'll find your groove.
There's a good chip of customization here; you commencement as canon Kirito, but you can change upwards his proper name, hairstyle, face, and voice. (On the topic of voices, at that place's no English language dub here, so y'all're stuck with Japanese vocalism acting only. This shouldn't be a problem for Sword Fine art Online fans, but I felt it should be mentioned.) You lot'll always be the canon Kirito in cutscenes though, making the visual customization feel kind of useless at times. Beyond that, you take your requisite equipment, featuring x dissimilar weapon styles, each with their own skill trees to unlock. The weapon types and skills are where yous'll really get down and dirty, equipping dissimilar skills to fit your playstyle. Of course, Hollow Fragment will teach you lot nothing outside of the basics, and so be prepared to research your way to proficiency.
Yous'll also have to manage your companions. (In true harem style, nearly all the notable companions are women.) They'll mostly play on their own, but you can influence what moves they make past cheering them on when they perform skills y'all similar. You can fourth dimension your own skill apply to create damaging team combos. There'due south also the Risk meter; every bit you use your attacks, your gamble increases, causing enemies to focus on you and lowering the damage you do. Kirito can switch to a companion to lower his Risk, making the Switch a regular part of combat.
Hollow Fragment may seem overwhelming when you first beginning playing, equally yous'll have to juggle your basic attacks, weapon skills, dodges, buffs and debuffs, and the abilities of your electric current partner. Once you lot wade through the skills organisation (largely on your ain), combat begins to become rather straightforward and rote. In fact, outside of boss fights, nigh encounters shouldn't nowadays you with any problem. Even in boss fights, judicious employ buffs and dodging volition run into you through to the end, as long as you remember to manage your companion. Combat is decent, but in that location are better action RPGs on the Vita.
The other half of Hollow Fragment takes place in the game's lone town, Arc Sofia. Here, you can socially interact with the your companions and the residuum of the game'south supporting cast. (Be prepared to agree down L to skip the lengthy dialogue.) For many Sword Art Online fans, this is where the meat of the game is; almost of Arc Sofia's play is based effectually a dating sim with Kirito at the center. Yous can romance many of the companions, including characters who shouldn't exist in Sword Art Online's continuity at this indicate, like Sinon and Leafa, and the all-new addition, Philia. As you lot're improving your relationships with your companions, you can also unlock different armors for them, pushing their focus into different directions - Assail, Defence force, and Buff/Support - and providing them with a unlike wait. You lot get hand-drawn art, all the original phonation actresses, and it all culminates in a special finishing event, with sexualized, but more often than not tasteful art.
Where you come down on the romances is dependent on how much of a dating sim or Sword Fine art Online fan you lot are. Most of the companions are characters that were all nearly Kirito in the evidence, but you lot get the gamble to pursue something other than the Kirito/Asuna catechism relationship. I did detect some of the options questionable: Silica is only xiii and Leafa is really Suguha Kirigaya, Kirito's adoptive sister and cousin by claret. Where you fall on those options is up to you. Like its combat, Hollow Fragment'southward dating sim aspects are decent, merely nix particularly deep or ground-breaking. It's certainly not the best dating sim I've played. I do observe it interesting the the harem aspect that pushed me away from the anime is really justified equally a mechanic within the game.
And that's pretty much how I can sum up Sword Art Online: Hollow Fragment. It's decent. It's gainsay is serviceable, just non great. The game is more often than not total of repetitive grind, with the occasional exciting fight. Information technology'due south dating sim is solid, simply nothing to brag virtually. And you'll exist sinking 100+ hours into the game, so enjoying Sword Art Online (the light novels or show) helps a great bargain. There'due south amend action RPGs you can get on Vita, leaving Sword Art Online: Hollow Fragment as something specifically for Sword Fine art Online fans. If you've never seen the show, I'd recommend waiting until the game falls in price. If Sword Fine art Online is your jam, you'll probably savour this alternate take on the terminate of the first story arc.
If you enjoy Sword Art Online: Hollow Fragment, you'll be happy to know that non only did the Japanese version become a huge content update this month, just a sequel has already been greenlit. No discussion on either one heading to Western shores yet, but you lot tin hope.
Visuals
The PSP-level graphics have been upgraded, simply the stand up-out is the hand-fatigued art.
Sound
Decent soundtrack, but I tin't say I think any item runway.
Interface
Sometimes in the heat of gainsay, the interface tin can make the vita's screen feel a bit cramped.
Lasting appeal
Hollow Fragment is a big game that you'll exist playing for a long time if you lot jive with what the game offers.
Sword Art Online: Hollow Fragment does its best to provide a comprehensive feel, featuring online-way combat and dating sim aspects. Unfortunately, while information technology does a decent job of presenting the Sword Fine art Online earth, the game itself is but skillful, non great. Sword Art Online fans will probably have fun though.
3/5
Source: https://bytes.game-host.org/articles/sword-art-online-hollow-fragment-vita-review
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