SWORD ART ONLINE Fractured Daydream

It's been ten years since this popular light novel franchise started getting video game adaptations. SWORD ART ONLINE Fractured Daydream is the latest installment that attempts to wild up a concoction of co-op combat with the aesthetic flair many fans adore. The real question is, will the game manage to offer something intriguing against the plethora of series releases over the last few years?

SWORD ART ONLINE Fractured Daydream is putting multiplayer at the heart of gameplay. Where the last game offered a sort of faux-MMO style mechanics, developers seek to create real riveting action through intense raids, cooperative strategies, and tactical prowess. Let's jump into the game and see if there's any improvement with the change of direction.

Sword Mightier Than the Pen

SWORD ART ONLINE Fractured Daydream makes a solid first impression with its gorgeous art direction and beautifully rendered environments. The game's fractured version of Aincrad has a haunting, dreamlike quality that stands out visually from other SAO games. Each level feels like a strategic puzzle, offering diverse landscapes—from mystical forests to eerie, broken castles—where players can explore, engage in combat, and solve quests. The vibrant visual style is complemented by an impressive soundtrack, heightening the immersive feel of the game world.

Gameplay-wise, SWORD ART ONLINE Fractured Daydream sticks to the action-RPG formula familiar to SAO fans but focuses on delivering a cooperative PvE multiplayer experience. Combat mechanics are fast-paced and fluid, allowing players to seamlessly switch between characters and unleash combo attacks, skill chains, and sword techniques. Synchronizing with friends is straightforward, and the team-based mechanics add depth to battles.

However, combat can sometimes feel repetitive, especially during long grinding sessions where you face similar enemies. While the plot has intriguing moments, it does struggle with pacing. At specific points, the game shifts between intense action and slower, more dialogue-heavy sections, which can interrupt the overall flow. Players who prefer a more streamlined narrative experience might find this aspect of the game frustrating.

The game's side quests and optional content are hit or miss. Many side quests feel like filler, relying on fetch or simple combat challenges rather than offering meaningful story or gameplay rewards. Additionally, load times can be lengthy, breaking immersion when transitioning between significant areas of the game. However, it's a fulfilling MMO experience for those already fans of the series.

Still Daydreaming

Sword Art Online: Fractured Daydream delivers an ambitious blend of storytelling and co-op action, even if it doesn't stray far from the formula established by previous SAO games. While it offers enough innovation in its visual design and combat system to keep players engaged, its repetitive elements and pacing issues keep it from reaching the upper echelons of the action RPG genre. Still, for franchise fans, this is another solid entry worth exploring.

Round-Up - Pros & Cons

Pros:

• Beautiful and immersive world design
• Fluid combat mechanics with team-based strategy
• Robust customization and skill progression systems

Cons:

• Repetitive combat in late-game stages
• Pacing issues with the story's flow
• It is hard to see how the game will retain players in the endgame