Echoes of Aincrad Review: A Better Anime Game, Still Half-Baked

For years, the Sword Art Online game catalog has felt like a collection of niche, often bland anime adaptations. Echoes of Aincrad, the latest title from developer GameStudio Inc. and publisher Bandai Namco, finally attempts to change that narrative. By casting players as a custom protagonist rather than forcing them to walk in Kirito's shadow, the game offers a refreshing, ground-level perspective of the death game. While it is easily the most enjoyable SAO game to date, it remains a flawed experience that feels like it is only halfway toward reaching its full potential.

A Fresh Perspective on the Death Game

The story kicks off during the closed beta, setting a foundation for your character and their companions. Choosing to step away from the established "Black Swordsman" trope is the game's smartest move. Instead, you are joined by Iori, a fellow survivor from the beta, as you climb Aincrad together. Iconic characters like Asuna, Argo, and Diavel still appear, but they serve as supporting faces during important boss raids and story beats, allowing your own journey to take the lead. The dialogue and overall presentation are decent, representing a significant step up from previous franchise entries.

Combat That Hits the Mark

Where Echoes of Aincrad truly shines is its combat. It utilizes a Souls-lite, hack-and-slash foundation that feels surprisingly deep. Players can choose from various weapon types—including Rapiers, Longswords, and Greatswords—and gain proficiency to unlock specific weapon skills. Managing these skills, along with your AI-controlled party members, creates a strategic layer that makes boss fights feel rewarding.

The AI companion system allows you to toggle between "Free Mode" for swarms and "Switch Mode" to manage aggro during tougher encounters. Additionally, the RPG progression system lets you allocate Growth Points into stats like vitality, endurance, and agility. Being able to respec your character at your home chest encourages experimentation, making it easy to swap playstyles if you want to try a different weapon type.

The Cracks in the Design

Unfortunately, the game's highs are frequently brought down by its exploration and quest structure. While the world looks beautiful thanks to Unreal Engine 5, the actual exploration is tedious. Most quests involve running back and forth across vast, lifeless landscapes just to activate safe-point beacons and clear map fog. While dungeons feature better, randomly generated layouts, the overworld experience remains a chore.

The mechanical execution is inconsistent as well. You might feel the rush of victory after a tough boss fight, only to be reminded of the game's limitations when your character suffers from a lack of environmental interaction or clunky movement. It is a game that requires you to turn your brain off and grind, which will likely satisfy longtime fans but leave those looking for a polished, modern action RPG wanting more.