Title: Sword Art Online: Hollow Fragment
Format: PS Vita
Release Date: August 19th, 2014
Publisher: Bandai Namco Games
Developer: Bandai Namco Games
Price: $39.99
ESRB Rating: T
Sword Art Online is easily one of the most popular anime shows on right now, and many fans have been clamoring for a good game. You're in luck now, if you have a Vita that is, because Hollow Fragment proves to be a very good game for fans of the show.
Story and Presentation:Sword Art Online: Hollow Fragment takes place during the first half of the anime's plot line, but quickly takes a drastic turn after a key event that happens in the show. In the series, the initial narrative ends at the 75th level of "Aincrad", the 100-floor main dungeon, after the players defeat the "Skull Reaper" boss and solve the mystery of SAO. In Hollow Fragment however, players must continue all the way to the top of the 100 floor dungeon to "truly" solve the mystery. If you aren't familiar with the show at all, the game does a good job of summing everything up so you can comprehend what's going on. Players are locked into this virtual MMO, with their actual bodies comatose until they beat the game. The narrative is the big reason the show has become so popular among anime fans. Story is heavy handed during the first hour of the game, but once you get past the tutorials, the narrative takes a backseat in favor of heavy combat and level grinding. Although I would have liked the English voice overs, the Japanese is very well done, and I didn't mind it after a few hours with the game. The show always had top notch production values, and the game is no different. The visuals are solid, with some gorgeous hand drawn character models, the Vita's OLED screen can still produce some lovely visuals.
Core Gameplay:This game has a lot of fan service in it, with pretty much every character included from the show and manga, the game isn't just a hack n' slash affair. On your journey from floors 76-100, you'll have access to one town, Arc Sofia. I like the one city concept in theory, but the hub itself isn't all that lively as it is in the show. You also have the option to enter the "Hollow" anytime you want, and complete a separate storyline with newcomer Philia -- which definitely breaks up the monotony of Arc Sofia since the Hollow is much more of an open world than just climbing floor to floor. You have the option of just playing as Kirito, or changing your avatar's name and physical appearance with some pretty basic customization options at your disposal. A big part of the game is the combat, and I would call the combat adequate. It's not as dull as Dynasty Warriors, but it's not as robust as a God of War or Ninja Gaiden. You can pretty much breeze through the game by hammering on the circle button, but there's a number of combo attacks you can utilize with your partner. The combo attacks are actually enjoyable, as your partner may suggest certain tactics or abilities to you from time to time, granting an attack bonus if you fulfill their request. You can offer advice or encourage your partner with the press of the d-pad, which also gives you boosts during an encounter. The game doesn't really get that difficult until level 85. Most of your enjoyment is going to be via role play, where you buy into the game's world and lore. Lots of dating mini games and conversations between NPC's will keep you busy outside of the dangerous areas.
Final Thoughts:Sword Art Online: Hollow Fragment is a solid RPG, and if you enjoy the show, I suggest you give the game a try. It's very close to the anime and really feels like a great extension of the show.
+Solid Visuals +Hand Drawn Character Models +Hours of Content -Combat Can Get Repetitive S&S Rating: 7.5/10
