Hollow Realization
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is a video game developed by Aquria and published by
Bandai Namco Entertainment is a Japanese multinational video game video game publisher, publisher headquartered in Minato-ku, Tokyo. Its international branches, Bandai Namco Entertainment America and Bandai Namco Entertainment Europe, are respectively headquartered in ...
for the
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,
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, and Windows PC, based on the Japanese light novel series, '' Sword Art Online''. It is the fourth video game in the series and the successor to '' Sword Art Online: Lost Song''. ''Hollow Realization'' was released on October 27, 2016, in Japan, and on November 8, 2016, for North American and European territories. A
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version of the game was released on April 25, 2019, in Japan, and worldwide on May 24, 2019.


Gameplay

Unlike in '' Sword Art Online: Hollow Fragment'' and ''Lost Song'', a party in ''Hollow Realization'' consists of four characters including the player, instead of three. While ''HF'' is played like a
role-playing game A role-playing game (sometimes spelled roleplaying game, RPG) is a game in which players assume the roles of player character, characters in a fictional Setting (narrative), setting. Players take responsibility for acting out these roles within ...
and ''LS'' like an
action role-playing game An action role-playing game (often abbreviated action RPG or ARPG) is a subgenre of video games that combines core elements from both the action game and role-playing genre. Definition The games emphasize real-time combat where the player h ...
, ''HR'' is based on ''HF'' style, but with action elements integrated. Characters can be customized through in-game character creation, with gender, height, figure, weapons, and physical appearance changeable. Additionally, over 300
non-player character A non-player character (NPC), or non-playable character, is any character in a game that is not controlled by a player. The term originated in traditional tabletop role-playing games where it applies to characters controlled by the gamemaster o ...
s appear in the game, with all of them being recruitable to join the player's party. Players can create special bonds with these characters by giving equipment to them. Strengthening the bond also increases the character's strength. A new battle system also features in ''Hollow Realization'', where the four-person team of players fight monsters using sword skills in a similar fashion to the original ''Sword Art Online'' game. Players can also direct and receive guidance from party members in collaborating to perform team strategies and attacks. Players perform chain attacks with party members using a "Switch" system for greater damage output against powerful monsters, including charged attacks and aerial combos. This includes "Named Monsters", which are monsters with significant strength that appear without warning. Set in a "wider world", ''Hollow Realization'' features monsters new to the series. A healing system in the game allows defeated characters to rejoin the battle as long as teammates are still fighting. The game features online multiplayer. ''Hollow Realization'' is approximately 30 to 40 hours in length; however, completely finishing the game such as leveling up to the highest level and completing all the quests will take the player approximately 70 to 100 hours. The game has downloadable content, including the free expansion pack ''Fighters of the Blue Sky'', featuring '' Sword Art Online: Lost Song'' characters Rain and Seven, a new PvP feature, and an additional story. The paid expansion pack ''Shrine Maiden of the Abyss'', adds an additional three chapters.


Synopsis

''Hollow Realization'' takes place in ''Sword Art: Origin'', a restoration of Aincrad titled Ainground, with intentions of
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in the year 2026, three years after the original ''Sword Art Online'' event. However, unlike in ''Sword Art Online'', Ainground is one large floor, instead of multiple, while the castle itself was renamed to Aincrad, where several monsters can be battled. The main character of the game is a 14-year old AI, known as Premiere, that travels with
Kirito is a Japanese rock singer and musician. He was born in Sapporo, Hokkaido, Formerly vocalist of the rock band Pierrot, he is now the vocalist of Angelo and also holds a solo career. Bands Kirito was initially involved with Pierrot (originall ...
. Although she is part of the game's initial release, a later patch would tweak her "vocabulary and personality" in-game to a "specific character", based on keywords in Twitter tweets as part of a promotional campaign featuring the character. These conversations with Twitter users would dictate her personality over time and ultimately decide if she would become a "good girl" or "bad girl" in-game. Other prominent characters from the franchise such as Asuna,
Leafa is a fictional character who appears in the ''Sword Art Online'' series of light novels by Reki Kawahara. She is more commonly known as , her user name, player name in the fictional ''Alfheim Online'' virtual reality MMORPG in which the novels a ...
,
Sinon In Greek mythology, Sinon (Ancient Greek: Σίνων, from the verb "σίνομαι"—''sinomai'', "to harm, to hurt") or Sinopos, was a Greek warrior during the Trojan War. Family Sinon was the son of Aesimus, son of Autolycus. He was the ...
, Lisbeth and Silica also feature.


Development

The game was teased at Tokyo Game Show 2015 in September with the working title of ''SAO IV''. It was officially announced at Dengeki Bunko Fall Fest by Bandai Namco on October 3. According to Bandai Namco Games producer Yosuke Futami, the game was devised with the idea of Kirito starting the game at level one. A Western release date was later announced, with ''Hollow Realization'' releasing in Japan on October 27 and internationally on November 8. The North American Vita release is digital-only. Players who pre-ordered ''Sword Art Online: Hollow Realization'' via the PlayStation Store in Japan gain a one-week early access into part of the game's main story. The game will feature Japanese voices coupled with English, French, German, Italian, and Spanish subtitles. The opening theme is "Windia" by Luna Haruna. The ending theme is "Two of Us" by Haruka Tomatsu. An advertising campaign for the game, titled "Sword Art On-Nyaine", featured cats playing with toys but with ''Hollow Realization'' sounds dubbed over them. A DLC called ''Chapter 1: Explorer of Illusory Mists'' became available starting on May 16, 2017. On July 21, 2017, the second expansion was released with the title ''Chapter II: Tuner of Causality.'' The last post-release content was released on September 26, 2017, closing the ''Abyss of the Shrine Maiden'' saga and it was titled ''Chapter III: The One Who Opposes God'' released on September 26, 2017.


Reception

''Sword Art Online: Hollow Realization'' received "mixed or average" reviews, according to video game review aggregator Metacritic. Both PlayStation 4 and Vita versions received final scores of 32/40 by '' Famitsu'', being awarded 9, 8, 7 and 8 by four individual reviewers.


References


External links

*
Official website

Game's Manual - PS4
{{Sword Art Online 2016 video games Action role-playing video games PlayStation 4 games PlayStation Network games PlayStation Vita games Nintendo Switch games Science fantasy video games Science fiction video games Video games developed in Japan Hollow Realization PlayStation 4 Pro enhanced games Windows games