Echoes of Aincrad: Special Edition

Echoes of Aincrad may seem like a dream game for hardcore Sword Art Online fans, but divorced from the anime’s branding, it’s just a passable action-RPG.

Echoes of Aincrad understands the tone and appeal of Sword Art Online - and that counts for a lot - but it's let down by undercooked gameplay systems and disappointingly dull quest design.Those looking for a grindy action RPG might enjoy how progression is handled, and hardcore fans of the source material will probably push through for the sake of a mostly entertaining story, but you'll still need to stomach so many issues.

Echoes of nothing at all.

With Echoes of Aincrad, Bandai Namco tries to once again dive into the world of Sword Art Online, now from a perspective of different players.

Echoes of Aincrad had a huge opportunity in its hands and squeezes almost every good idea into a shallow, disappointing execution.

Echoes of Aincrad captures the thrill of survival within the floating castle through a highly dynamic real-time action combat system with Soulslike nuances, deep avatar customization, and a comprehensive alchemy and blacksmithing system—making it an unmissable RPG adventure for fans of the genre, despite suffering from some repetitiveness in its enemy roster.

Echoes of Aincrad is a title that, at first glance, offers a world full of potential for Sword Art Online fans and even newcomers. But the deeper you go, the more you encounter only repetition and weakness.

Echoes of Aincrad is a good game with an interesting narrative, a beautiful world, and simple but effective combat. Despite some strange design choices and repetitive elements, there’s a lot to like here for both Sword Art Online fans and newcomers alike. It’s easily the best Sword Art Online game yet.

Echoes of Aincrad delivers one of the most immersive Sword Art Online experiences yet, thanks to its satisfying combat, meaningful progression, and fully customizable protagonist.

I enjoyed my time with Echoes of Aincrad. It successfully does something different with the Sword Art Online formula by allowing players to experience the Aincrad incident through an entirely new perspective, and that alone makes it feel fresh. Strong combat, enjoyable progression, excellent presentation, and a genuinely engaging story make it an easy recommendation for fans of the series.