Products You May Like
It doesn’t seem that long since the last Sword Art Online game. In fact, Last Recollection released in 2023 and received enough criticism to put anyone off the games for a while.
Don’t worry though, because Bandai Namco have drafted in seasoned developers Dimps for SWORD ART ONLINE Fractured Daydream. Unlike previous outings, Fractured Daydream is not another action-RPG, but instead an online co-op action game.
Could SWORD ART ONLINE Fractured Daydream be the kind of co-op experience fans of the series have been wishing for, or will it turn out more like a distorted nightmare that’s best to avoid?
SWORD ART ONLINE Fractured Daydream is essentially a game of two halves, with a single player story component and an online, multiplayer-focused selection of modes. They are intertwined to a degree, so let’s start with the story side of proceedings first.
Kirito is back, trying out a new system that’s been added to ALfheim Online known as Galaxia. It’s supposed to allow players to relive moments from their past in-game, however something has gone awry. You see, time and space is actually being disrupted, displacing people from their natural timelines. Friends and adversaries alike are showing up where they shouldn’t, leading to Kirito working with them to restore order.
The premise of the narrative, which is an original story, ultimately serves its purpose as a way of explaining why a multitude of folks from the Underworld, Gun Gale Online and ALfheim Online, are converging here. It’s rather cool to see characters having completely fresh interactions with each other, especially those involving the Administrator and Sterben, who are usually antagonists. Aside from a bit of humour and intrigue surrounding the situation, I’d say the storytelling on the whole is just okay. The visual presentation is impressive during the cutscenes though, as the character models look wonderful.
Story mode consists of five chapters, with each mission following specific groups of characters. Mission-dependent, you can choose up to four party members and switch between them on-the-fly. You’ll have objectives to fulfil such as clearing out an area of enemies or protecting an ally, before facing a larger boss. Optional activities include seeking out unique enemies, treasure chests, and collectibles, all of which can be found by going off the beaten track.
Honestly though, the lack of variety for objectives in SWORD ART ONLINE Fractured Daydream is incredibly repetitive and the settings are, mostly, dull. I’m talking about barren wastelands, ugly caves, and forests that lack any kind of distinctive qualities, to name just a few. Obviously, it’s slightly enticing to explore these places more to earn rewards, but chances are you’ll want to whizz through the story missions simply to unlock the characters for online usage. To be fair, it’s also a good way to get a handle on the combat mechanics, as you understand the differing roles that come into play.
The combat occurs in a third-person perspective, with normal and heavy attacks used to create combos. There are three advanced skills and an ultimate move on cooldowns too, which deliver higher damage with possible elemental and incapacitating effects that are handy for swarms of enemies. While waiting for manoeuvres to recharge, guarding and dashing help avoid danger, with both being beneficial if timed perfectly. The most fascinating combat mechanic though, is the team-based Synchro Counter, which sees every member rush to a designated spot while the powerful boss prepares to launch a devastating move.
I think the variety in playstyles, related to the roles, really help bolster the fighting elements too. Having characters take on roles like mages, tanks, rangers, and support, keeps the action feeling fresh. Picking off guardians and snipers using Sinon (Ranger), mastering the aiming from a distance, is completely different to getting up close with Heathcliff (Tank) and provoking the mobs, before slicing them to pieces.
You’ll get a taste of how well a team with mixed roles works well together in Story, but it’s in the online PvE where it really matters. There are three main modes to consider when venturing online – Free Roam, Co-Op Quest and Boss Raid.
The Free Roam offering is easily the worst of the bunch, despite the tempting allure of being thrown into one of the large maps with no restraints or restrictions. Certain areas of the map are more suitable for low ranks to explore, while others house extremely tough, high level enemies. You’re able to explore for an hour, but unfortunately, the boredom sets in after a few minutes of wandering around and hoping a boss spawns nearby to liven things up. There’s not enough to keep you entertained and little joy comes about from following fellow adventurers. Even though real players will be present, don’t expect much cooperation as they’ll happily watch you die, before finishing off your foe for the rewards.
Such selfishness is less prevalent in the Co-Op Quests thankfully, where twenty players are split into teams of four. Everyone chooses a character and although you can use your unlocked weapons and accessories, the quest begins with only the basic attacks available to provide a level playing field. The idea is to partake in minor objectives while traversing towards the main boss, which subsequently increases the Awakened level. This not only improves the base stats, but also unlocks the advanced skills and ultimate finishing moves.
These quests are pretty enjoyable as there’s a real competitive edge, with every team trying to reach the boss and defeat it before others can catch up to potentially share the spoils. Additionally, you want to do your best for your squad as well as claim a decent position on the end of the match leaderboards. The rewards given for success are going to entice people to replay the quests in the hope that better loot will drop each time.
The downsides are that it’s difficult to get enough players in and there aren’t many different quests, so it may grow tiresome. Almost every match I tried struggled to find more than five players, with bots drafted in to make up the numbers. The only occasions that came close to reaching full capacity were in the Asia matchmaking region, which led to excellently frenetic battles, albeit with a bit of lag here and there. It’s not ideal, however the region switching enjoyment levels definitely outweigh the slightly iffy connections.
Eventually, you’ll gain access to the Boss Raids, which see all twenty players taking on a beast of a boss at once. There’s no trekking to do, the big bad is just there for the taking alongside a host of minions to slay and, in turn, advance your Awakened level. Combining skills possessed by everyone and attacking in sync is the key to overcoming the dangerous threat these bosses pose. Satisfaction is certainly felt as you temporarily down your foe and drain those final drops of health from it. Again though, the post-match leaderboards and loot are the icing on the cake.
The Co-Op Quests and Boss Raids aren’t stacked in terms of quantity, but there’s a decent amount of longevity there as long as you have the desire to seek loot, loot, and more loot.
The roster of characters in SWORD ART ONLINE Fractured Daydream also boosts the replayability factor, with 21 of them to level up and acquire weapons, accessories and outfits for. Whether it’s the ever-present hero Kirito, the adorable Yui, or one of the two brand new faces, there’s bound to be a few that you are instantly drawn to. For me, it had to be Eugeo because his icy attacks that freeze enemies are perfect to allow a barrage of damaging moves. Trying them all out is definitely worth doing though.
So, to summarise, the single player aspect of SWORD ART ONLINE Fractured Daydream suffers with repetitive and bland missions, while the narrative is passable thanks to fresh interactions and cutscenes that look great. On the contrary, the online co-op side provides exciting and frenetic action that entices you back for more. It’s just lacking in content, but that can be masked by the excellent roster to boost longevity and replayability.
SWORD ART ONLINE Fractured Daydream isn’t the best co-op action game, but there are moments that suggest it’s good enough to consider purchasing, especially if you’re an SAO fan.
Sword Art Online: Fractured Daydream Slashes onto Consoles and PC – A New Adventure Begins – https://www.thexboxhub.com/sword-art-online-fractured-daydream-slashes-onto-consoles-and-pc-a-new-adventure-begins/
SWORD ART ONLINE: Fractured Daydream Expands with Worlds Beyond 1 DLC – https://www.thexboxhub.com/sword-art-online-fractured-daydream-expands-with-worlds-beyond-1-dlc/
Buy SAO Fractured Daydream on Xbox – https://www.xbox.com/en-GB/games/store/sword-art-online-fractured-daydream/9PB8RQ6LP1RL/0010