A Promising Start To A Much Bigger Adventure?
I’ve never really got involved in the Sword Art Online universe before, largely due to time restraints. But when opportunity arose to get hands-on with Echoes of Aincrad, a game set in the same world, my hand was immediately raised. And largely, at risk of minor spoilers, I’m very glad it did!
From Bandai Namco and Game Studio Inc (I wonder what they do?), this one is billed as an action RPG. That is something right up my alley, and having previously played games like Code Vein and Scarlet Nexus, I felt prepared for what was to come. So let’s grab a sword and see what is happening in the world of Aincrad, shall we?
Scratching The Surface
Now, there’s something that I feel I need to mention at the the top of this review, before we get going, and that is that Echoes of Aincrad constantly talks about the fact that there are 100 levels to the tower that we find ourselves in. However, this game draws to a close after just 2 floors. So, there is either going to be a lot of DLC coming further down the line, or a series of games. Bearing in mind that the two floors I played took many hours to complete, this could be a long term proposition. However, the games director is on record saying that to make the game 100 floors in length would take 10 years of work, so I guess we’ll have to see what pans out.
Anyway, after that brief diversion, here’s the story: Sword Art Online (SOA) is a game in the real world, where the users are jacked in to achieve full feedback. This is my implication, as it isn’t really explained, but given what unfolds, it is the only thing that makes sense. Anyway, when the game is launched, one of the developers reveals that this is no longer a game: you can’t log out, and death means that you die for real. Nightmare on Elm Street vibes for sure, but there is also a weird Inception vibe, as we know we are playing a game and reference things to do with gaming, and yet it is also real. The only way to leave the game is to beat it, all 100 floors, and so the scene is set for the rest of time.
Stylish Anime Presentation Brings The World To Life
Presentation is very good throughout, with an attractive anime style to proceedings. If you’ve played Code Vein or any of the other titles, you’ll be familiar with what you are seeing here, as an almost cel shaded world is thrust towards your eyes. It looks great when stationary (I have had to take a couple of screenshots) but it is equally good when things are moving. The animation, both of our characters and of the enemies we fight is top notch, and battles are a vivid looking affair.
However, the camera falls into the trap that many games from the 3D action RPG genre do, and it can get very confused indeed, leaving you getting pummeled in a corner (the end game dungeons in particular are a pain for this) but it is usually up to the job. Another bone of contention is the map. The areas that we explore later on are massive, and this can cause issues with trying to figure out where we are going. In fact, the map is about as much use as a chocolate fireguard when it comes to seeing the path forward. Apart from that, it’s great!
Sound is equally impressive, with every character we meet being fully voice acted, all of an extremely high quality. Indeed, we are the only silent character in Echoes of Aincrad, and while we can say a lot with a look, it would be nice to be able to choose a response in conversation other than “Smile” or “Shake Head”. Battle sounds, enemy noises and music are also very good, and while the amount of times your companions shout “there;s a treasure chest” does get annoying, all in all the presentation works very well.
Familiar Action RPG Combat Rewards Long-Term Progression
Now, the gameplay, and here the news is also good, if somewhat repetitive. Let me explain… In the main story arc, there are about 80 chapters, and the majority of these (if not the vast majority) sees us start off in the wilderness, be given a waypoint to run to, and then when we get there, fight a boss in order to complete the mission or quest, as they are referred to by the characters. Along the way, you’ll have to fight various creatures, from simple sword fodder to elite level enemies, and annoyingly, the enemies scale with our level. I thought I could go back to an early mission to grind, and then discovered that one of the first bosses was not level 71, just like me. So grinding levels, which you will need to do, is somewhat tricky.
The basic gameplay focuses on melee, as there is no magic in the world of SOA. There are numerous categories of weapons to choose from though, from daggers through to two handed axes, and each weapon class has its own levelling mechanic. The more you use a particular class, the more Sword Skills you unlock, in turn opening up extra levels that award points which can be used to power up your favourite skills, making them stronger. In this way, your preferred class becomes more effective, and this will help in the game as a whole.
In addition to choosing a weapon class, there are also options in terms of the companion who can accompany us on our journey. There are a variety to be recruited, and each has slightly different requisites to join us. Some need simply to be spoken too, while others have mission chains tied to them. With so much flexibility, finding a loadout and team to come on the journey is pretty easy.
Endgame Challenges Offer Plenty Of Reasons To Keep Playing
And that is pretty much Echoes of Aincrad – explore a bit, batter a boss, hit a new mission, until the end of the game which arrives rather faster than expected. However, this isn’t the end, as there are endgame activities to have a go at, and boy, are they tough. Get the best weapons you can (and make sure they are upgraded!) and also give your companion the best of the gear: this would be my top tip to you. It’s no good you being a powerhouse and your team tickling the enemies, is it?
A Strong Foundation For Future Adventures
So, aside from the usual camera annoyances and the slightly repetitive mission structure, Echoes of Aincrad is a very good game indeed. It isn’t quite top tier, but it will capture your interest and ensure you keep playing for a decent old while.
Give it a try, I don’t think you’ll regret it.
Important Links
Echoes of Aincrad Invites Players To Risk Reality – https://www.thexboxhub.com/echoes-of-aincrad-invites-players-to-risk-reality/
Echoes of Aincrad Announced With July 2026 Release Date – https://www.thexboxhub.com/echoes-of-aincrad-announced-with-july-2026-release-date/
Buy from the Xbox Store – https://www.xbox.com/en-GB/games/store/echoes-of-aincrad/9NN493BKMM4Q/0010
There’s a Deluxe Edition – https://www.xbox.com/en-GB/games/store/echoes-of-aincrad-deluxe-edition/9N76L41R53R7/0010
And an Ultimate Edition – https://www.xbox.com/en-GB/games/store/echoes-of-aincrad-ultimate-edition/9NVV6X9LK06Q/0010
