Echoes of Aincrad Promises A New Angle for the Sword Art Online Universe

Sword Art Online has been a major IP for Bandai Namco for years, with the company investing in game adaptations as well as original products. Echoes of Aincrad is the latest title to join in their efforts to expand the franchise’s world, depicting events beyond what has been seen in other materials.

The Potential of a Cruel Fictional World

Echoes of Aincrad is an action RPG experience that explores the context of a fictional VRMMORPG called Sword Art Online. As one of the people chosen to participate in the closed beta test, the player will get to see the harsh events of the original story from the perspective of the other people besides original protagonist Kirito.

Instead of being a safe place to explore and have fun, the game ends up becoming something much more dangerous once it’s out of beta, with people stuck in this virtual reality. Unable to log off, they'll actually die if defeated in the game world, which also inspired one of the difficulty settings: permanent loss with the player’s save data being deleted.

It’s not required to make use of this setting, however, so players who aren’t inclined to face this challenge can just take it easier to appreciate the experience as well. While the game’s a single-player experience, players get to explore alongside CPU-controlled partners who act as part of the setting, showcasing this expanded reality of the tough experiences players faced during the original Sword Art Online story.

It’s also interesting to keep in mind that the protagonist can be customized to have a variety of looks. There are multiple builds to use as a basis for the protagonist’s appearance, with specific details to adjust when it comes to the face elements, body and voice, without gender-locked restrictions.

An Early Start

Before the full game releases on PC, PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X|S on July 9, Bandai Namco let Hardcore Gamer explore an early build for Echoes of Aincrad. Besides the very beginning of the experience, it was possible to check out two other moments of the RPG for a more advanced look into the game.

Everything starts with the protagonist arriving late to a guild meeting during the beta testing. With everyone already deep in the dungeon, your job is to catch up as quickly as possible while exploring a tutorial area of sorts. Things quickly get a turn for the worse, letting players get a feel of the sort of experience they will get from the full narrative.

With the protagonist and a brand-new buddy trying to stick together, there’s an interesting context here about interactions in online games. Though the initial part felt somewhat generic and predictable, this human element could lead to some powerful moments later on if the developers can explore this well.

A surprising thing, however, was that the character creator wasn’t actually available before starting, coming in during a later scene. As a result, this beginning was played using the generic male hero with brown hair who can be seen in the game’s trailers.

Coordinating Actions

When it comes to gameplay, Echoes of Aincrad is all about evaluating enemies and your position to try to avoid damage if possible. This is an action RPG in which players can guard and dodge from attacks, and the interface has red arrows to indicate the positioning of alert enemies and help players plan out their next move.

There are two different standard attack buttons, one dedicated to light hits and another to heavy ones. The former is weaker but can be used for combos and the player is still able to do defensive maneuvers in case trouble arises. Meanwhile, the heavier hit comes with a troublesome condition that leaves the player vulnerable to counterattacks, making it important to take into account factors like positioning.

A surprising thing, however, was that the character creator wasn’t actually available before starting, coming in during a later scene.

There are also special attacks, which are associated with different buttons, as well as shortcuts for item usage, which can be helpful to quickly restore HP, for instance. Players don’t only take care of their own character, however, and it’s possible to coordinate actions with an ally who is currently adventuring by their side.

With a simple button, it’s possible to ask them to either attack the same enemies as you or try to do their own thing. Making the ally act on their own will tire them out, however, so it’s important to keep this factor in mind. There is even a special skill to use with the protagonist and the ally coordinating their hits.

Echoes of Aincrad leaves a good first impression with solid action gameplay that has enough strategy to keep in mind when it comes to dealing with enemies. The narrative also has a chance to offer something truly special with the unique setting the developer is working with. It’s now a matter of seeing if the team can actually make the full experience stand out.