It’s been almost 13 years since we have first gotten the first ever entry of the series that features Kirito and his exploits, that follows the Anime series and has been released in multiple browser games, consoles of many generations for the past decade.
So for this latest one, we aren’t going to see our main boy for the first time ever, as we finally explore one of the games set in the Sword Art Online universe as our own character, which unlike the highs of the last time we did it in Fatal Bullet, this feels a heck of letdown.
Presentation![]()
The game starts with your party members abandoning you as the get wiped out by a mysterious force (which then is revealed to be high level players tricking your party to their doom) and it just goes on from there, as you becoming the voiceless protagonist on an adventure during the namesake of the actual game, fighting monsters, leveling up and even make new friends along the way.
It’s a story that perhaps has been told countless times but it is a solid premise that’s a bit contrived when you take in account that each time your character gets wiped, and you have to do the 100 levels of grinding all over again, since technically you have “died” in real life too, implication of the first season of the show and all of that.
But does everything else need to feel like it’s from that period as well? The in-game cutscenes are singular shots, the music feels very generic and without the game looking pretty at times with 60fps gameplay and sometimes incredible cinematic cutscene direction, feels like a remastered game for something that’s released a decade ago, than the newest title for this long running series.
Gameplay
The usual gameplay itself is perhaps in-line with more action RPG that most of it’s other releases that came before them. More unrestrictive Stat allocation, weapon upgrades and materials farming are frequent, along with your companions leveling with you as you play along. 
The problem lies with the gameplay loop being quite monotonous, with the same starting point of accepting the quest at the town square, going to the level that you are doing the missions with and then perhaps fighting a boss or two, and then ending it after completing it. If this reminds you of a MMORPG structure, then you’ll be right. Even to the point of spongy enemy types as the game progresses.
Heck, the aforementioned Death Game thing feels like a tacked on, rather than a mechanic that makes gameplay more harrowing, like any soulslike would be, but with how easy to tank hits, and your companions healing items being quite powerful at all times, it’s more of a bothersome thing, more than anything.
Content![]()
You are looking at around a 20+ hour game for those who want to enjoy this later offering, if you’re a long-time fan or even just dipping their toes into the series for now. Does it advance the plot of the show? Not really but if you wanted to try the game that kickstarted the series in the first place.
And while the grind might turn off some newcomers, the monotonous could be quite a dealbreaker for even the mightiest of fans who wanted to become their version of Kirito, only to be disappointed with the game itself most likely.
Personal Enjoyment![]()
Echoes of Aincrad is what you tell a person to describe the likes of Elden Ring or even a MMORPG without ever playing them, then asking them to recreate it within the SAO series, that’s already flimsy and have made versions of this idea better, both in gameplay-wise and thematically too.
And i still feel the Fatal Bullet made it quite better than this once, considering that’s is more like a variation of the game you see on the show, while Echoes is following the first game during the first few seasons, which could be fun for those wanting a nostalgic trip, but it could be better.
But as someone who’s followed this series on and off again, this do feel like a step backwards.
Verdict ![]()
Echoes of Aincrad is a disappointing addition to the long-running game series that already has its own highs and lows, and this isn’t exactly the “ideal” SAO game to start with either.
It could be fun if they could improve the game with more levels, customizations or even better gameplay flow, but that’s for the sequel or even another game, perhaps.
Played on PS5, Review copy provided by Publisher.
Echoes of Aincrad
A disappointing addition to the long-running game series that already has its own highs and lows, and this isn’t exactly the “ideal” SAO game to start with either..
- Presentation 7
- Gameplay 6
- Content 7.5
- Personal Enjoyment 7