To begin with, I have been having a great time with Echoes of Aincrad. I currently have over 50 hours played and am only on the second floor because I prefer taking my time rather than rushing through the story. I have spent a lot of time exploring, farming materials, and mastering weapons. So far, I have reached Level 50 with both One-Handed Sword and Dagger, learned all Rapier skills, and have recently started working on Maces.
One of my favorite aspects of the game is exploring the world. The environments feel enjoyable to travel through, and I would love to see the game world expanded in the future. Since Aincrad is known for its 100 floors, it would be amazing if future content continued to build upon this. If the long-term plan is to connect multiple games together, perhaps each title could cover around five floors. This would give players a sense of progression toward conquering all 100 floors while maintaining the scale and identity of Aincrad.
That said, one of my biggest disappointments is the lack of customization options. Customization is a major part of RPGs, especially in Sword Art Online games, and I feel Echoes of Aincrad could improve significantly in this area.
For example:
* We cannot change NPC companion outfits.
* We cannot recolor NPC outfits.
* Shield users cannot customize the appearance or color of their shields.
* Players cannot change the appearance of their equipped weapons while keeping their stats (a transmog/glamour system would be fantastic).
* Weapons and shields should have color customization options similar to clothing.
Additionally, after the initial character creation, players should be allowed to edit certain aspects of their appearance. I understand not allowing body type changes, but it would be nice to let players change:
* Hairstyles
* Hair colors
* Facial markings/tattoos
* Other cosmetic features
Compared to previous Sword Art Online games, I feel the character creator is currently a bit lacking. There are not many hairstyle or cosmetic options available, and expanding these would greatly improve player expression and attachment to their character.
I have also encountered some bugs during my playtime, most notably enemies spawning inside walls. While it has not prevented me from enjoying the game, it is something I have noticed on several occasions.
Finally, I would love to see a Bond System added. Since Sword Art Online has always been about the relationships formed between players and companions, introducing bond levels with NPCs could add another layer of progression. Bond levels could unlock:
* Unique dialogue.
* Character events.
* Exclusive cosmetics.
* Bond Skills or passive bonuses.
This would encourage players to spend time with their favorite characters while giving each companion more personality and gameplay value.
Overall, I have thoroughly enjoyed my time with Echoes of Aincrad and look forward to seeing where the game goes in the future. Despite my criticisms, I have already invested more than 50 hours into the game and plan to continue playing. I believe Echoes of Aincrad has an excellent foundation, and with continued updates and expanded customization, it has the potential to become one of the best Sword Art Online experiences available.
Thank you to the development team for your hard work, and I hope to one day see us climb all the way to Floor 100.
