Sword Art Online: Hollow Fragment

1. Mivo

   Aug 21, 2014

   10

   Sword Art Online is, in many ways, a MMO for one person: You. If you come in expecting a traditional JRPG experience, you may getSword Art Online is, in many ways, a MMO for one person: You. If you come in expecting a traditional JRPG experience, you may get disappointed. Story, combat system, crafting, and "what you do" is heavily MMO-based. For some people, like me, that is a massive plus, because it gives you the open virtual world experience of a real MMO without the tedium and annoyance of having to deal with other players. It's great for a dose of escapism.
   
   SAO very much feels like an online game (including your interactions with other characters). So if that's your thing, look no further and dive right in. Ex-WoW players, for example, who suffer from withdrawal symptoms, will find a cure here. Also folks who dig the .hack games will have a ball with SAO. You can grind as much as you want, without anyone stealing your spawn spots. :) Note, also, that the combat is largely melee-based (hence the name), though there are healing spells. But if you want to play a mage or an archer, you won't get your fix here. There are numerous types of blades, though, and skills (also passive ones), so it's not just 1H swords and little else. Far from it.
   
   Now, gamers who look for a deep, meaningful story with a narrow, linear design, SAO is probably not an ideal candidate. It has fantastic combat, but again, it's MMO-styled, with "hotkeys" and all that jazz. Watching the anime show that the game is based on (it spins off at around episode 14) is optional. It enhances the experience insofar that you meet "old friends"; but the game does introduce the player to everything that's necessary to know. Don't worry about being unable to get into the world of SAO without having watched the show. You'll be fine. (As someone who doesn't typically watch anime, I'll say that I really enjoyed the show, too.)
   
   Finally, it is a large, long game that will keep you entertained for many hours. There's post game content too, and in September '14 there will be a free expansion/DLC that adds even more content and additional zones. SAO will keep you busy for a long time -- if you like the MMO-style.… Expand

   • 3 of 5 users found this helpful
2. InvaderZim85

   Aug 20, 2014

   10

   awesomesauce... insert the good parts others have already said, yatta yatta, ditto and all that. love the game.awesomesauce... insert the good parts others have already said, yatta yatta, ditto and all that. love the game. ................................................… Expand

   • 6 of 12 users found this helpful
4. exclav3

   Aug 19, 2014

   10

   If you're a fan of the series this is a fantastic game, comes with a HD remake of the first game previously only released in Japan, so you areIf you're a fan of the series this is a fantastic game, comes with a HD remake of the first game previously only released in Japan, so you are getting 2 games in one!… Expand

   • 14 of 17 users found this helpful
5. Alpha1144

   Oct 3, 2015

   9

   Being a fan of sword art online i also ordered the Japanese import of lost song. This was a great game but the not being able to open doorsBeing a fan of sword art online i also ordered the Japanese import of lost song. This was a great game but the not being able to open doors when targeted or being able to properly run made it very time consuming. Also sometimes if a enemy is targeted to you and you press O you wont target the one targeting you. It will engage battle with a completely different enemy sometimes which can cause easy game over depending on the area.The story line was very good however and the hollow area was brilliant. It was nice to see the remaining floors because i always wondered what they looked like apart from the few cons i would recommend buying this. Its not that expensive and all round its a good game graphics are good and little to no lag on PSvita and it deserves more fame i think.… Expand

   • 1 of 1 users found this helpful
6. deadlysilentbob

   Jan 7, 2015

   8

   Im sure this game would have been 1000 times better had i actually watched the anime before playing the game. That being said this is an EPICIm sure this game would have been 1000 times better had i actually watched the anime before playing the game. That being said this is an EPIC title for any vita owner. The world is HUGE, the characters are many, the graphics are top notch and the combat system keeps you engaged (especially if you don't like your '0' button as your gonna beat it like it owes you money). There is also a small dating sim element that feels for organic than the traditional 'scale walls of text to get the girl'. Your also not confined to being with Asuna, tho the story assumes you are and makes you feel a little greasy if your going for another girl.
   
   On the negative side however, this game suffers from a translation that would make Ar Tonelico 2 look like it came off the desk of a university professor. Avid JRPG gamers such as myself might read this and ask 'how bad can it possibly be? Ive played many poorly translated games and they don't really bother me'. trust me, you will understand. Other than the occasional frame rate drop while there are many NPC's on the screen or landing yourself in an area WAAAAAAYYYYY out of your level range (and thanks to cannon this happens fairly often) there is little else to complain about with this title.
   
   over all wicked game deserving of being in your library.… Expand

   • 1 of 1 users found this helpful
7. Vivifyingly

   Aug 23, 2014

   6

   A weak entry in my Vita's colorful library. It suffers from inexcusable "Engrish" translations that range from confusing to cringe-inducing,A weak entry in my Vita's colorful library. It suffers from inexcusable "Engrish" translations that range from confusing to cringe-inducing, and uncomfortable story sequences spawning from the game's attempt to incorporate "dating sim" / harem elements centered around the "married" main character. I find myself unqualified to determine if this is made better or worse by how fans will be used to this.
   
   That said, it is a solid dungeon crawler experience. It is possible to carry through the game avoiding optional challenges, the complexities of combat, and its upgrade systems... However those that find themselves spamming "O" will miss out on a semi-thrilling experience that comes from conquering high-level optional enemies through reaction-based inputs, well-thought-out set-ups, and a varied playstyle.
   
   The story sequences CAN be genuinely appealing to a broad audience when they avoid the harem/fanservicey pitfalls that ostracize any but the most accustomed players. Unfortunately this is only roughly 50% of the time.
   
   This score would easily jump 3 points with a translation that was a little more true to the story's script. Seriously. Did we hire a Japanese major undergrad and give him Google Translate and tell him to have at it, with no context for the story, characters, or sensitivity to tonal variation?
   
   That last point would be there if they could only change the story to make me feel a little more comfortable sharing it with anyone that isn't a die-hard SAO fan, with a high toleration for Japanese media's infamous harem and fanservice techniques.
   
   Once again, aside from that, it's decent. Anyone that has played games like 358/2 Days will feel at home with the graphics and (to a degree) combat.… Expand

   • 3 of 6 users found this helpful
8. Adreankael

   Jun 5, 2015

   1

   Do NOT waste your money on this game, the game is in Japanese with English subtitles, however the text might as well be gibberish and half theDo NOT waste your money on this game, the game is in Japanese with English subtitles, however the text might as well be gibberish and half the time you wont understand what they're talking about. The battle system is engaging but poorly optimized. With encounters ranging in levels 70 to 150 in the same area (many times right beside each other) you can easily die in one or two hits. There is absolutely no coming back from the dead, you or your companion dies its game over. No way to manually save (it auto saves EVERY time you load into a new area). Total wast of money unless you are a mega fan of SAO and don't care if the game is actually decent.… Expand

   • 1 of 1 users found this helpful

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