Echoes of Aincrad

I only recommend this game if you are okay with repeat boss fights, a fan of the SAO series (season 1 specifically), and are okay with waiting for updates. It feels incomplete as a game just from the beta(prologue) to floor 1. I'm about half way through and I thought after getting to floor two that the bosses would change. Nope you literally fight the same ones mostly. There are new enemies but I'm shocked to see repeats still. The only thing that makes it harder is that the stats just scale higher. Bosses are predictable, and even the very hard difficulty I started on is challenging but not "very hard" since it's just numbers scaling. I do love this game however it is fun, but probably because I like SAO. if this game had released with 20 floors that changed slightly on each floor. Which would make sense for the kind of game SAO is in story. I would be okay with that since there would still be a drastic change from floor 1 to floor 20, but no it's just 2 floors. Of course I do assume more will be added later. I am pretty sure the dev's did talk about that but I do not know for sure. So, [b] --------Pro's-------- [/b] -Captures the Nostalgia of The Aincrad Arc -Good Graphics -7/10 Easy to use Character Customization -6/10 Armor customization (locked behind 1 side quest in Town of Beginnings) -8/10 Not a ton of bugs, but it's new and uses [b] Unreal Engine 5 [/b] so considering that it's in a good state as UE5 is known to be unstable, but provide incredible graphics. -Friendship Quests with some of the Original SAO Characters (Asuna, and Agil) -8/10 Player combat due to variety of weapons, and skills. Allows unique builds with the limited armors, but larger variety of weapons. [b] -This game can be modded [/b] [b] --------Con's-------- [/b] -Has bugs with enemy, and ally combat AI, and spawn locations. (Spawning in rocks, and Sometimes they will freeze due to terrain or a bug.) -Only 2 floors (Wait for updates before buying full game. -Repeat bosses. (1 of many examples. I have seen illfang the kobold lord like 4 times or something) -Bosses do not get different movesets with each scaling difficulty (haven't tried death game yet) I do recommend this game since it is an improvement from Bandai Namco's other SAO games. For the Devs if they see this Bugs (haven't seen many so props to you guys) -Spawning In rocks. -Combat AI freezes due to terrain or other issues. What to improve -Add different movesets with very hard and death game. -Make the next areas like floor 3 if added, different in not just environment, but bosses and enemies too. -More Armor sets even if only cosmetic, and add sword cosmetics. -Add two player support, does have to be an mmo. However it would be more fun to play with a friend.

Comprei na pré-venda esperando algo como mundo aberto e uma criação de personagem bem feito para que eu tivesse a experiência de "viver" uma história minha... Acontece que a história é sobre outro personagem (Iori), a criação de personagem é limitada e os mapas são fechados, e muitas vezes você ir pegar cada baú espalhado pelo mapa chega a ser mais chato e frustrante do que uma exploração decente... Tentei jogar várias vezes mas infelizmente é decepcionante.

This game is not for everyone. This is not an open world this is a action RPG with simpler combat than most and a straight forward story. This is more like Warframe or phantasy star online (PSO) 1 *not PSO 2*, it has instanced quests with clear boundaries including invisible walls. The level design is a masterclass in getting the most out of a densely loaded space... that means you will be back tracking ALOT. The same bosses under new skins or different status ailments are used often. Environments have the same enemies that feel cohesive. The story pacing is true to the original SAO anime and light novels, slow and tedious. I like this game because I get to escape into a high tension story where I make a difference and not just live Kirito's story, it feels like mine even when I'm railroaded. The pacing gets allot better when you remember that q lets you sprint outside of combat. This is way better than the othert SAO game I've played, Sword Art Online: Hollow Realization. It had the worst of RPGs and MMOs this game, Echos of Aincrad, has the best of RPGs and little to no of the MMO which I like. I hope in the future they add A) ability to do a quest solo B) ability to connect with others. Both would lose the slash mechanic or replace it with a parry-repost mechanic. I know they can't but the ability to load a freeplay session would be great. I have not finished the main quest yet but I hope there is endgame content even if I plan on replaying in deathgame mode. I've lost myself in the game and look forward to finding myself at the end. Much like how I felt first watching SAO.

Its a cool game with unique story! the voice acting is great as well! My ROG Ally X stated that it couldn't run the game well, but it honestly runs it great in handheld mode and does fine docked to my tv as well.

SAO의 향수를 제외하면 평범한 액션 RPG 지지만, 그렇다고 소아온의 향수를 제대로 살렸나 하면 UI와 1층 스토리 말고는 못 살린 게임

太多負評 所以先玩完demo再買的 玩完覺得完全沒大家說的那麼差 把他當遊戲的話可能只有5分 但把他當SAO觀光工具的話我給9分 有些地方他選擇了還原度 所有變得不好玩 所以很多人玩得不爽 有些地方他選擇了遊戲性 所以不夠還原 不夠還原的地方 我覺得其實很小事 其實都能接受 選擇了還原度的地方 雖然變得不好玩 但我還是很爽 因為這就是SAO SAO可是個住一萬人的地方 可是個要你生活數年的地方 地圖當然超大 結果就是會要一直跑圖 跑圖是會好累 但好爽啊 因為這就是SAO

After reading many reviews, I decided to leave one. I've been gaming for 45 years, done many a game tests throughout the years. Also, I am a huge fan of SAO. I've never exactly fell fully in love with any SAO game. I've bought several and just don't seem to play them many hours. This one I hoped was different. I played the hell out of the Beta. In playing the beta, I ended up not buying the super duper ultimate edition and opted for the regular game. I like the visuals, the combat I fully enjoy although after a time can become repetitive. There are options to adjust the repetitiveness. The game looks the part. The lack of mob variety is lacking. Skill and weapon progression I don't hate but it needs to be refined. lt is a good game, I just don't think it's worth full price as it stands. I am hoping that further DLC will open somemore variety and floors. This game would shine as a Multi player game for quests and dungeons. l love hardcore mode or whatever they called it, but the it just needs multiplayer. From people have said as well as what I can see in the code, it's basically there. I'm not sure if they had to cut that option because of budget or plan on it later but it's in the code. Add multiplayer, refine loot system as well as crafting system, add raids on top of dungeons. Keep giving us cosmetics the public wants and the game could probably take off. The game feels like it was supposed to be multiplayer but it's 1P.... I don't even want them to make another SAO game at this point. This one has good bones they just need to refine it. Final recommendation, if you are a fan, buy it. If you are young and impatient and bore easily I would skip it or better yet wait for a sale. I feel the base price needs to be $29.99-$39.99 USD. It is not a a bad game but not a great game....YET! I will recommend the game to fans, but $69.99 is very steep for anyone else at the moment. Bandai Namco, I have always loved your company though the years but I feel they need to interact with the fan base more on their games. Maybe they do and I'm unaware. I will continue to play it in my spare time when I can. I could make this a book on recommended changes, profit margins with dlc and cosmetics etc or lay out a whole 2 year cycle plan but I don't know the budget if there is one. At least let us group up and kill big bosses and stuff.