Echoes of Aincrad arrives with an ambitious goal: to finally deliver the Sword Art Online game that captures the appeal of being trapped inside Aincrad while also standing on its own as an action RPG. Rather than placing us in Kirito’s shoes, the game lets us create our own character and experience the early days of the deadly VRMMORPG alongside a new cast of companions. It’s a promising setup that gives the adventure a fresh perspective, even for longtime fans of the series, while remaining accessible enough for newcomers curious about the setting.
The story benefits from that change in viewpoint. We enjoyed following a group of original characters whose relationships develop naturally over the course of the campaign, and there are a few effective twists that help maintain interest. At the same time, the narrative struggles to fully capitalize on its central premise. Aincrad is supposed to be filled with thousands of trapped players fighting for survival, yet much of the adventure feels surprisingly lonely. The campaign also covers only the earliest portion of the larger Aincrad saga, leaving the impression that this is more of a prologue than a complete journey, and the ending arrives rather abruptly after a lengthy buildup.
Gameplay is where Echoes of Aincrad delivers its strongest moments. Combat is fast, responsive, and visually satisfying, with six weapon categories offering meaningful variety. Mixing light and heavy attacks, executing well-timed dodges and parries, and unleashing special skills creates a combat loop that remains entertaining even during longer sessions. The companion system adds welcome tactical depth, allowing partners to either focus on the same target or support elsewhere on the battlefield. Crafting, weapon upgrades, and character progression further encourage experimentation with different builds and playstyles.
Unfortunately, the surrounding structure doesn’t always support those strengths. Missions quickly settle into a repetitive rhythm of accepting a quest, exploring a designated area, and defeating a boss before moving on to the next objective. Exploration itself often feels restricted by invisible boundaries and highly guided level layouts. While environments can appear expansive at first glance, there is rarely much freedom to venture off the intended route, and rewards for doing so are often underwhelming. As a result, the game’s strongest systems spend too much time carrying content that becomes increasingly familiar as the hours pass.
Enemy variety is another area where repetition becomes noticeable. Many encounters recycle familiar creature types, while several minibosses feel like larger or recolored versions of standard enemies. The combat mechanics remain enjoyable enough to prevent these encounters from becoming completely dull, but the limited roster makes a 30-to-40-hour campaign feel longer than it perhaps should. Certain design choices can also be frustrating, including restrictions on changing equipment during missions and encounters where repeated knockdowns disrupt the flow of battle.
Visually, Echoes of Aincrad presents a mixed picture on PlayStation 5. The art direction does an excellent job of recreating the iconic floating castle and its surrounding landscapes, capturing much of the atmosphere that fans expect from Sword Art Online. Some environments are genuinely impressive, and the overall aesthetic remains faithful to the anime. However, technical shortcomings are difficult to ignore. Character animations during dialogue can feel stiff, environmental interaction is limited, and occasional pop-in and other rough edges prevent the presentation from fully matching its ambitions.
The audio side fares better. The soundtrack consistently enhances the sense of adventure and often elevates exploration and combat alike. Voice acting is generally solid, particularly in Japanese, and the music stands out as one of the game’s most polished elements. Combined with the strong visual identity of Aincrad itself, the sound design helps maintain immersion even when some of the gameplay systems begin to show their limitations.
What ultimately defines Echoes of Aincrad is the gap between its potential and its execution. There is a genuinely enjoyable action RPG here, supported by engaging combat, rewarding progression systems, and a convincing recreation of Sword Art Online’s world. Yet repetitive mission design, limited exploration freedom, a strangely lifeless interpretation of an MMO setting, and uneven pacing prevent it from reaching the heights it clearly aims for. Fans of Sword Art Online will likely find plenty to enjoy in revisiting Aincrad from a new perspective, while everyone else may discover an entertaining but flawed adventure that never quite fulfills its most ambitious ideas.
Score: 6.7/10