Sword Art Online: Hollow Fragment

Sword Art Online: Hollow Fragment (ソードアート・オンライン －ホロウ・フラグメント－) is a Role-Playing Game (RPG) developed by Namco Bandai Games for the PlayStation Vita (PS Vita) as the second game adaption on console for the series. It is set in an alternative Sword Art Online storyline, just like Sword Art Online: Infinity Moment. The game was released on April 24, 2014 in Japan. It is rated "C" based on the CERO rating in Japan,. Its rating in Europe, however, is PEGI-12. An English version of the game has been announced to come to North America on August 19, 2014 and to Europe and Australia on August 20, 2014, exclusively on the PlayStation Store for PS Vita.

Story


Hollow Fragment is divided into two parts. The first is the "floor clearing" chapter, which is basically the previous game, Infinity Moment, embedded into this game. The second is a new "Hollow Area" chapter, which includes parts that allow multiplayer gaming and includes new stories, as described below officially, which involves «Laughing Coffin» and a new orange player character, Philia.

The Floor Clearing part's story would mostly be same as the story of the previous game, with the exception of Sinon, Leafa and Strea appearing in the game early during the process of the clearing of the 76th Floor, the appearance of Yuuki after clearing this part of story for the first time, and some new scenes for characters that are only in this game, but not the prior one.

Gameplay
Hollow Fragment's gameplay system is similar to the Infinity Moment's gameplay system. However, a burst gauge, which allows continuous attacks as long as the player has enough burst energy left, was added to its battle system. There is also a risk meter next to it, which increases whenever enemies target or attack the player, or whenever the player attacks them. The higher the risk, the longer it will take for the player's burst gauge to be replenished. Risk can be lowered by pressing the burst attack button at the right moment, dodging at the right moment or switching. Also, the system allows each player to create their own non-player character to battle alongside with, as well as linking up with a maximum of 4 other players who are playing the game on the PlayStation Vita to play the game simultaneously, allowing players to form their own raid teams. An added region called the «Hollow Area» was designated for such multiplayer gameplay.

As for the game's battle system, while it is defaulted to the automatic attack system in previous game, players can also switch to a manual attack system upon their desire.

Characters

 * Kirito (Kirigaya Kazuto)
 * Asuna (Yuuki Asuna)
 * Yui (In-Game Daughter of Kirito and Asuna (MHCP-001))
 * Silica (Ayano Keiko)
 * Leafa (Kirigaya Suguha)
 * Lisbeth (Shinozaki Rika)
 * Sinon (Asada Shino)
 * Strea (Mental Health Counseling Program Trial Product 002 (MHCP-002))
 * Philia (New character)
 * PoH (Laughing Coffin leader)
 * Klein (Leader of the WWFM guild)
 * Agil (Has a shop on the 76th Floor's main settlement, Arksophia)
 * Alberich (Sugou Nobuyuki)
 * Heathcliff (Kayaba Akihiko)
 * Sachi
 * Argo
 * Kibaou
 * Yuuki (Konno Yuuki)
 * More than 100 other characters that can be interacted with.

Hollow Area


The region mainly consists of six areas, as shown in the map. There are also other hidden areas which can be explored, and several more areas will be available with a DLC that will be released later.

Bosses
Hollow Area Bosses Others 
 * Introduction : Hollow Deadening Reaper
 * 1st Area - Sea of Trees Area  : The Shadow Phantasm
 * 2nd Area - Floating Rock Area : Zordiath the Blade Dragon
 * 3rd Area - Bay Area : Detonator the Kobold Lord
 * 4th Area - Void Area :  The Hollowreaper
 * 5th Area - Outer World Area : Amedister The Queen
 * Final Area - Control Area : Occuldion the Eclipse
 * Final Boss : «Hollow» Kirito
 * All Infinity Moment Bosses

Original Sword Skill
An Original Sword Skill System is included in this game, but it completely differs from the Original Sword Skill system that appeared in ALfheim Online in the original series. The system in Hollow Fragment is more similar to Kirito's Outside System Skill, «Skill Connect».

Unlock Requirement
Players need to first complete a task, called «Implementation of OSS that links multiple Sword Skills» (ソードスキル多重連携OSS仕様の実装), in the "Implement Element" system that researches the possibility of implementing multiple attacks with Sword Skills. The mission can be completed by using Sword Skills 1,000 times during Hollow Missions, in order to allow players to create and record their own Sword Skills in the Administrative region. There are also sub-tasks that could be completed to increase the maximum amount of Sword Skills that can be connected together at a time.

Infinity Moment

 * The player's skill proficiency and skill points: a certain value of proficiency point can be carried over. The proficiency portion of skill points can be possessed.
 * The player's character's skill combination (learn/palette): will be reset, but some skill points would be given.
 * The player's character's equipment and belongings: only those equipped will be transferred.
 * Other players' AI info: inherited directly
 * Heroines' AI info: inherited directly
 * Gallery: inherited directly
 * Remains heart: the possessed portion will be inherited (max. nine)
 * Bonus obtained from clearance of the previous game: if users transferred from a cleared game save, an accessory would be given.

Update
After the game launched, updates have been released every week in term of free DLC that provide extra costume/weapon and similar items, with details listed on the official site in Japanese.

A free major update, named as Shining Successor (皇輝の継承者) (v. 1.05), has been released by July 10, 2014. The update includes the introduction of the Grand Quest, the ability to partner with Argo and date with Sachi, the introduction of new volcano and snowy mountain areas, as well as the garden area and harder bosses, the availability of legendary weapons, and a level cap raise to level 250. The update will also include usability and game balance adjustment, increase of treasure, hollow missions, and the payback of doing missions. Furthermore, more than 120 new equipment will be released, more information will come from Argo, some areas will be expanded, the OSS system will be improved, the ability to show the difference of daytime/nighttime will be available, the addition of CG scenes, the addition of warp point for some floors in the Hidden Area of the Hollow Area, and so on. These would add ~30 hours playtime to the game. The update would be available for Asian version by July or August, and Western version by unknown form with unknown time.

Soundtrack
A Sword Art Online -Hollow Fragment- Soundtrack is bundled with the game's limited edition.

Preview
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Adaption Notes

 * Compared to Infinity Moment:


 * In Infinity Moment, Leafa and Sinon appeared after the clearance of the 76th Floor boss, and Strea appeared after the 79th Floor was reached, in this game Leafa, Sinon and Strea appeared soon after the clearing group reached the 76th Floor, before there was any progress on further clearing.
 * Strea's changes happened later on Hollow Fragment compared to original Infinity Moment.
 * The floor clearing part also include some new CG and plot that is not found in Infinity Moment, not to mention the Hollow Area part.
 * Compared to the original works:


 * The duel between Heathcliff and Kirito, after the 75th Floor boss fight, was altered.

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