Sword Art Online: Hollow Fragment (Video Game Review)

If you’re a hardcore SAO Fan like me, then you will simply adore Sword Art Online: Hollow Fragment, the successor of both Lost Song and Hollow Realization. The game takes place in the same continuity as the prior game in the series, Sword Art Online: Infinity Moment, which exists in an alternate storyline from the Sword Art Online anime storyline. The player controls the main character Kirito, who has been trapped in a MMORPG where dying in the game will lead to his death in real life as well. Part of the game is actually a high definition recompilation of Sword Art Online: Infinity Moment, the original game in the series released for the PlayStation Portable, including all content of “Floor Clearing” from the previous game with the addition of new unexplored “Hollow Area” of Aincrad. The “Hollow Area chapter allows multiplayer and adds new items, mobs, and story content, including scenes and quests, which involve the “Laughing Coffin” guild and a new orange player character, Phillia. The game has over 100 recruitable characters which can be chosen to accompany the player in the game’s dungeons. Gameplay combines elements of a MMORPG albeit in a simulated fashion as it is not an online game, though it does include limited multiplayer via ad hoc for up to four players, as well as elements of a dating sim.

A “Director’s Cut” edition of the game titled Sword Art Online Re: Hollow Fragment was released on PlayStation 4 within North America, Europe, Australia, and the Middle-East in July and August 2015, and was released in Japan in November 2015. This version comes with new features, including an online play mode, additional bosses, and the ability to play as a female character, among others.

Following its release in the west, the game received overall mostly positive reviews. It has a score of 67% on Metacritic. IGN awarded it a score of 5.5 out of 10, saying Sword Art Online‘s excellent combat is marred by a juvenile romance system, a horrible translation. Destructoid gave the game a rating of 7/10, noting that the game is solid and provides a fun experience, however may lack replay value. GameZone gave a rating of 8/10, praising the amount of content available within the game. Overall, I personally give it a 10/10 simply for its very existence and various gameplay features.

This game was first released in North America August 19^th, 2014 (PS Vita)

Here is a short Gameplay trailer through YouTube:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7szCd-Mzq7M