‘Sword Art Online: Hollow Realization’ game to be released Nov. 8

“Sword Art Online: Hollow Realization” will be released in Southeast Asia on November 8, 2016, Bandai Namco Entertainment Asia announced.

The game will be available in English for PlayStation 4 and PlayStation Vita in Singapore, Malaysia, Philippines, Thailand, and Indonesia.

New features have been incorporated in the game. In the Sword Art Origin virtual world, you can use the Skill Tree System to upgrade your character’s fighting skills. Skills have “families” – such as Battle Skill and Sword Skill – each of which offers a host of abilities for your character to learn. Extra Skills, which are tied to certain play styles, will also allow you to enhance the strength of your avatar.

“Sword Art Online: Hollow Realization” isn’t just about slaying polygons, however; it also functions as a dating simulator. 

As you progress through the game, you’ll encounter various characters, some of whom you can develop relationships with.

A new system called the Emotion Void permits you to communicate with these characters and determine their emotional states. How each character feels about you affects their abilities. Thankfully, you can develop these emotions by conversing with the characters and taking them into battle.

Every character has a unique combination of emotional attributes and personality quirks.

For instance, Lisbeth is a “tsundere”—a Japanese term referring to an individual who’s initially aloof and even belligerent toward another, but who grows more affectionate over time. Silica is energetic and kind, but also shy. Sinon is the “cool” girl who’s also clever. Leafa is considerate and friendly, but also a crybaby. Premiere has no emotional characteristics at first, but her emotions eventually emerge the more you keep talking with her and bringing her along to battles. Argo is a new character just added to the game, so we know little about her.                                   

Furthermore, the Co-sleeping Event, which allows you to converse with your partner while lying down in bed next to them, further develops your relationship.

Those who pre-order the game or purchase it on the day of its launch will receive three exclusive costumes. Two of these are from “God Eater”; male characters get Soma’s outfit, while female characters get Livie’s. The third costume is nightwear for the ladies.

“Sword Art Online: Hollow Realization” is based on the popular series of anime and light novels called “Sword Art Online.” It’s about virtual reality MMORPG (VRMMORPG) worlds, and focuses on the in-game (and occasionally out-of-game) adventures of Kirito and his friends.

While the series is a commentary on the various cultures and deep relationships that form within such virtual words, it’s slowly veering toward the “harem” genre of anime and light novels.

“Sword Art Online: Hollow Realization” allows players to re-experience the beginning of the “Sword Art Online” saga. They assume the role of series protagonist Kirito as he enters a new VRMMORPG world called Sword Art Origin. This new world was built on the game’s original server, therefore making it a reservoir of historical events dating all the way back to the creation of the original Sword Art Online VRMMORPG.

“The ‘Sword Art Online’ franchise has experienced incredible growth in popularity on a global level with anime fans,” stated Hervé Hoerdt, vice-president of marketing and digital at Bandai Namco Entertainment Europe.

“We are excited to bring ‘Sword Art Online: Hollow Realization,’ the next ‘Sword Art Online’ game, to fans in Europe, Middle-East, Africa and Australasia. With ‘Sword Art Online: Hollow Realization,’ we’re striving to take fans even further into ‘Sword Art Online’s’ VRMMORPG world; we hope players are ready for the challenge," he added.

“Sword Art Online: Hollow Realization” will be available both physical and digitally on the aforementioned release date.

For more information, visit the game’s official website or Facebook page. —KG, GMA News

Photos courtesy of Bandai Namco Entertainment Asia