![]() Players can use and upgrade the skills of every playable character, learn new ones, fine tune passive abilities, and create the ultimate parties. On top of that, the combat mechanics have been completely revamped along with the way skills are implemented. These transitions are easy and that encourages the constant flitting about and demolishing of enemies that one would hope for. Players can dash on the ground to deal with a ground enemy and then, with the simple touch of a button, find themselves soaring through the air at full speed to take down some Wyvern that caught their eye. This opens up world exploration and combat in incredibly fluid ways. One thing that separated ALO from the original Sword Art Online game in the anime was the ability to fly. Where Lost Song’s exposition seems to lose players, the gameplay (most notably, the combat) brings everyone back in. ![]() The fact that they faced death for two long years, and then still had to go back in to save other characters while having psychotic, egotistical scientists and programmers trying to thwart their every move is a big deal that is just glossed over. Which is unfortunate because it’s those very events that make everything else so intriguing. The events of Sword Art Online are briefly mentioned, but it’s done in a way that removes a lot of the gravity of the situation. The relationships between all of the characters in the game are well-defined, and while there are a few jokes in the game that help you draw lines between everyone, the deeper stuff is completely lost. These bits do add a bit of extra insight to the whole affair, but will leave those who are new to the world and characters at a loss. You may have plans to beat a boss then further explore a dungeon, in the hopes of finding treasure or grinding the minion spawns, only to find yourself pulled back to the town of Sky City Ryne for a long discussion with your party. It adds a bit of structure to the experience, but it can sometimes be a bit jarring. It still has that open structure in its hub worlds to a degree, but there is a story it is trying to tell, and at times it will pull you out of the game to make sure you hear it. Where the previous game made an effort to make the single player experience feel as if you were playing a genuine MMO, this one feels much more like an Action RPG. Once the story kicks in, players will start to see the primary differences between SAO: Lost Song and Hollow Fragment. This leads them to bump heads with what is easily the most powerful guild in the game, Shamrock, and from there, the story plots a course to mystery and adventure. Kirito, Asuna, Leafa, Klein, and the rest of the gang are just joining the fray now at the launch of this new area and are intent on clearing it before anyone else can. Players will find themselves in Svart Alfheim, a series of sky islands not too far from the world tree that serves as the first expansion to the ALO universe. ![]() Just like its predecessor, Hollow Fragment, this game presents an original story with some brand new characters set in the world of Alfheim Online (ALO). The first effort of this endeavor came in the form of Sword Art Online: Lost Song’s narrative. Yet that’s exactly what the team behind Sword Art Online: Lost Song has tried to do. Having to straddle the line between fan-service and something that is accessible to a larger audience is a daunting task for any developer, and it never gets any easier. They often have an established following which can be a good thing, but also their undoing. Games based on anime are an interesting type.
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |