Platforms
- PlayStation 4Nov 8, 20167.8playscore7.126 Critics9.29.85K Players
- Nintendo SwitchMay 24, 2019NAplayscoreNA0 Critics7.442 Players
- PS VitaNov 8, 20167.6playscore7.17 Critics8.4192 Players
36 critic reviews · 0 community reviews across all platforms
Critic Reviews
- For those not familiar or fond of the IP, it's harder to recommend Sword Art Online: Hollow Realization. In the case of the latter, your enjoyment of the game will boil down to whether you can overlook the uninspired story for the rewarding gameplay.
Allisa James · Jul 02, 2019 Reviewed on SwitchRead full review - This is an anime-inspired, in-depth RPG that comes with all the trappings, good and bad, that your mind associates with that description. Fans of the show and of complicated RPGs will no doubt find plenty to love here in the likable characters, complex character customization, and frantic battle system while those who would consider themselves to be unfamiliar with RPGs or the anime will no doubt be put off by the uneven, sometimes cringe-worthy writing, lack of effective tutorials, and general tedium present throughout the whole experience.
Mitch Vogel · Jun 11, 2019 Reviewed on SwitchRead full review - There is easily over 100 hours of content in Sword Art Online: Hollow Realization, and that’s before you consider the online multiplayer component where you can play competitively or cooperatively with other players. Regardless, much of the content is either repetitive or forced reading, and the story isn’t going to win any awards. To enjoy this title, you have to want to spend more time with characters you already know. If you aren’t interested in Kirito and Asuna’s budding romance or Yui playing the dual-roles of both game guide and in-game daughter, you aren’t likely to derive a lot of entertainment from Hollow Realization. There are better action-RPGs on Switch, such as the aforementioned Ys VIII, but certainly none that give the freedom of exploring and interacting your favourite SAO personalities.
Jordan Rudek · Jun 04, 2019 Reviewed on SwitchRead full review - Sword Art Online: Hollow Realization is easily the best SAO game made by far. Not only is there plenty of things to do, but the combat, gameplay mechanics, and production is far better than the prior entries. It is clear a lot of work went into making this game, and they continue to add content with nearly every patch they've released so far. Unfortunately, it's weighed down by a low-stakes plot; awful party intelligence; and one too many systems at play. They've an ample amount of potential here, but unless you're a fan of the series or at least have a passing interest, it's difficult to recommend.
Zack Reese · Dec 23, 2016 Reviewed on PS4Read full review - Sword Art Online: Hollow Realization tries to do a lot of things, but it doesn't end up doing any of them terribly well. Every subtle good idea that it has is countered by a glaring shortfall. The open and flexible skill system is held back by its clumsy implementation, and the winding faux-virtual world by how little anything of interest actually occurs in it.
Janine Hawkins · Dec 12, 2016 Reviewed on PS4Read full review - A bolder story, one that took more risk, established a better sense of stakes, or even did something other than tread water would definitely not be Sword Art Online-like, and would make it much easier to recommend to people outside the show’s fanbase. As it stands, though, Hollow Realization remains a Sword Art Online game, for better and worse.
Josh Tolentino · Dec 07, 2016 Reviewed on PS4Read full review - What turns out to be a fun JRPG with a big world to explore and good combat is marred by bad story, bad quests and some diabolical pacing. Only recommended for SAO fans.
Dave Aubrey · Nov 23, 2016 Reviewed on PS4Read full review - Games based on Sword Art Online have done a good job at recreating the style of the anime in the past, though each having their own flaws. While this is mostly the case with Sword Art Online: Hollow Realization, there is no doubt that this one is the most fully realized version of the series in game form yet. The combat is well designed and the worlds feels more expansive and alive than ever, but the pacing with the story and overabundance of dialogue prevent Sword Art Online: Hollow Realization from taking the series to the next level.
Dean James · Nov 20, 2016 Reviewed on VitaRead full review - Sword Art Online: Hollow Realization will not be in the running for any “Game of the Year” nominations and that is perfectly okay. Hollow Realization does a splendid job in providing solid gameplay and producing an original story. As a player who does not like replaying the same story told in other mediums, Hollow Realization was a breath of fresh air in an otherwise repetitive series.
Michael Chow · Nov 18, 2016 Reviewed on PS4Read full review - A lot of effort was clearly put into Sword Art Online: Hollow Realization, because almost every aspect of its gameplay has an underlying set of properties and nuances to come to grips with. While I usually love that kind of complexity, here it rarely felt meaningful or even coherent. Paired with a story that lacks the stakes and urgency of the source material, it leaves Sword Art Online: Hollow Realization feeling pretty tepid aside from its enjoyable combat.
Vince Ingenito · Nov 16, 2016 Reviewed on PS4Read full review
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About the game
Trailers & Screenshots:
Sword Art Online: Hollow Realization is an Action RPG to be published by Bandai Namco Games for the PlayStation Vita and PlayStation 4 as the fourth game adaption on console for the series. Unlike the previous games, Sword Art Online: Infinity Moment, Sword Art Online: Hollow Fragment, and Sword Art Online: Lost Song, Hollow Realization is set in a game-original Virtual Reality Massively Multiplayer Online game (VRMMO game), called Sword Art: Origin, which is based on the servers for the original Sword Art Online.
Developer: Aquria