How to Open Menu in Sword Art Online Hollow Fragment
MMO Political party Part Trois
Sword Art Online: Hollow Realization might be the best Sword Art Online game yet.
Then again, we might non be talking nearly all that much. This is, afterward all, just the third major Sword Art Online game (fifth, counting revamped re-releases), situated along a quality range firmly within the "inoffensive" spectrum.
That said, Hollow Realization would exist easy to recommend, and in fits of inspired blueprint, comes the closest even so to really capturing what information technology might feel similar to actually play the online RPGs Sword Art Online's cast are constantly engaged with. In short, it'south a game that almost warrants an an unqualified thumbs-up.
Now, if only it weren't a Sword Art Online game…
Sword Art Online: Hollow Realization(PS4 [Reviewed], PS Vita)
Developer: Aquria
Publisher:Bandai Namco Entertainment
Released: October 27, 2016 (JP) November 8, 2016 (NA/European union/AP)
MSRP: $59.99 (PS4), $39.99 (Vita)
I'll clarify that last judgement in a scrap, only first, the expert news:Sword Art Online: Hollow Realization is a genuine good time, mechanically. This was especially true for me, since I've always had a soft spot for games that attempt to riff on other genre'southward conventions.
Information technology was a real treat to see a single-player RPG endeavour to represent the tropes and structure of a persistent online MMO, andHollow Realization captures the aesthetic masterfully. The interface mimics the MMO look, bristling with icons and even using a faux chat window and "upshot log" to both track gainsay actions and remind players of their firsthand objectives. From faux friends lists, to carefully placed uses of common MMO terminology, and even how the motion-controlled in-game interface appears to pop up near the grapheme models when players utilize the actual in-game options menus,Hollow Realization is the nigh successful attempt yet to foster the illusion that one is actually playing the fictional VR online games theSword Art Online's characters play.
It's effectively scratched the itch I've had e'er since.hack had gone to pot, and that's worth affectionate. It'south non entirely novel, of grade, and is, in essence, a better-executed take onHollow Fragment's approach, helped along by a conveniently familiar premise. The setting for the latest anime go-around is "Sword Art: Origin," a quasi-reboot of the original "Sword Fine art Online," the game where Kirito and his pals were first trapped in a years-long life-or-death struggle. Of form, the death-game aspect has been helpfully excised from the new title, and the crew patently feels safe enough to revisit the site of their first ordeal, at present that it'southward safe to practice so.
In some ways, the fact that it never becomesun-safe to exercise so is what'southward well-nigh disappointing aboutHollow Realization's narrative. On the i mitt, it would be a chip cliché for them to become trapped in some other decease game, and in some means run counter to the point of the stories. And yet, at least the death-game story washeady. SimilarLost Vocal earlier it,Hollow Realization has players literally simply hanging out at the controls while they watch a dude and his guildies faff nearly in a game. A significant chunk of the main campaign's motivation is literally just Kirito going "Hey, permit'southward endeavour going to that cool-looking place off in the distance!" and then everyone going there.
I'thousand not the kind of person that demands epic adventures out of every RPG. Some of the best moments in these games come up when at that place's niggling at stake, when sometimes you and your pals merely desire to throw a political party or go on a road trip or grind some crafting materials or race some Chocobos. Only in that location have to existsome stakes, or at least a sense of progression in the characters to make the time spent seem worthwhile, andHollow Realization fails to deliver on that front. Even its ostensible main plot, involving a seemingly sentient NPC named Premier, feels like a retread of the many "This AI character is existent!" subplots thatSword Fine art Online has already explored. Hell, Kirito even has an AI daughter, Yui, that's had a presence in every game then far, so this story doesn't fifty-fifty get the benefit of novelty.
None of this is benefited past the deliberate languid pacing of the game, which tends to stick "story" quests in a very hazy progression between sometimes hours-long bouts of exploration and sidequest messing-about. Information technology'due south one thing to encourage players to chill out and not "mainline" everything, merely information technology'southward another to have a campaign structure so loose that I get worried that I'd somehow broken the game.
In some ways, I tin can't entirely arraignHollow Realization for being how it is.Sword Art Online as a whole has never really revisited the heights of its original story arc, and so in some ways one could argue that the game is staying true to course. It'southward but a bigger bummer now, considering this time around, the systems and technical side experience robust enough to take supported riskier, bigger stories and characterization. Gameplay-wise,Hollow Realization feels like a more successful, refined iteration of what Aquria tried to exercise withHollow Fragment (andInfinity Moment before information technology), without the oversimplification that plagued the Artdink-adultLost Song.
This is nearly evident in the combat, which cuts down on carte gymnastics and ramps up some of the more real-time aspects, while still preserving that game-within-a-game feel. Confront buttons still trigger basic attacks and pre-selected "Sword Skill" specials, while pushing in the touchpad brings up an MMO-fashion "hotbar" to access other abilities and items. Timing and positioning have greater sway, as well, and players volition need to both continue an center on enemy attack zones and the execution of their skills to excerpt the greatest effect out of their abilities and party members.
Outside of gainsay,Hollow Realization tries to simulate the social aspect of MMOs. Players can try to chat up and befriend any other actor or NPC, fifty-fifty the random ones walking around town that aren't part of the primary cast. A button can bring up a "profile page" showing a player's personality traits, and each personality trait (such as "Curious" or "Sexy") comes with a series of related attributes and abilities. With enough badgering, whatever boyfriend actor can be recruited as a party member, and praising them when they do good things in boxing can bear upon their personality, gainsay tactics, and stat growth. It's a clever organization, though information technology may be slightly too subtle in practice, as during my time I couldn't really effigy out how to engage with it in ways beyond pressing a push button to say "Adept Job!" whenever my girlfriend stabbed a monster particularly hard.
It's easier to engage with the upgraded visuals, though.Hollow Realization finally looks improve than an upscaled PS3 game, with more detailed models and environments, and a more colorful, lush wait overall. Unfortunately for Vita owners, this comes at catastrophic costs in functioning. Don't play the Vita version.
I feel conflicted nearlySword Art Online: Hollow Realization, considering while it's never been more than interesting to play as a game, the fact that its narrative is typical of latter-daySword Art Online stories has really become something of a liability. A bolder story, one that took more chance, established a better sense of stakes, or even did something other than tread water would definitelynon beSword Fine art Online-like, and would make it much easier to recommend to people exterior the evidence's fanbase. Every bit it stands, though,Hollow Realization remains aSword Art Online game, for betterand worse.
[This review is based on a retail build of the game provided by the publisher.]
Source: https://www.destructoid.com/reviews/review-sword-art-online-hollow-realization/
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