When Fractured Daydream was announced, I couldn’t help but feel a mix of excitement and skepticism.
A live-service game promising multiplayer battles, fan-favorite characters, and a brand-new storyline?
On paper, it sounded like the most ambitious SAO game to date. But would it deliver something truly special? Or was it doomed to be just another grind-heavy adventure with a shiny coat of paint?
After two weeks and over 30 hours of playtime, I think I’ve found my answer.
Fractured Daydream is two things at once.
It is a love letter to longtime fans.
And it is a reminder of the challenges that come with adapting a beloved franchise into an interactive experience.
Here’s what I’ve discovered along the way.
1. Storyline and Fan Appeal
The premise with which the story kicks off is genuinely intriguing and is centered around Galaxia.
Now Galaxia is a system that will let characters revisit pivotal moments in the past. This is a very clever way to tie a rope around the characters from different timelines of Sword Art Online and yes, this even includes characters who have been long gone.
As a loyal fan, I found the detailed visual novel-style dialogues very gripping. I also think that any longtime fans like me will enjoy crossover moments like when characters from Aincrad interact with Alicization protagonists.
But not all of my friends thought the same way. For example, some said that the nostalgia was at the expense of freshness, but I don’t agree. In fact, I found the game variety very good and it made Sword Art Online Fractured Daydream very replayable. I’ll talk about it more next.
2. Gameplay Variety and Replayability
The six character classes—Fighter, Tank, Rogue, Mage, Ranger, and Support—bring variety to the combat. But the true beauty of the game isn’t multiplayer.
Co-op quests, boss raids, and free roam modes are so different from each other that they will keep the gameplay very interesting for you. Even though at the highest level you are going to repeat the same sequence of explore, fight, collect, and repeat, you will not feel bored even dozens of hours into gameplay.
Now, let’s talk about boss battles.
Let me take the example of the battle against Skull Reaper—it’s a standout. The chaos, the visuals, and the difficulty level are a very unique formula. Button mashing will not get you out of these battles; patiently acquired skill will. Of course, I agree that the missions on the whole have an incentive formula, but to counter that, there is a drip feed of rewards such as gear levels and buffs which will keep you coming back for just one more round, as they did me.
Also, a word about Freedom mode: it lends a semi-open world feel to Sword Art Online Fractured Daydream. So even though the maps don’t have any meaningful interaction, I found that I could easily spend 15 to 20 minutes just roaming around in the open world and gathering items. But I agree more than that gets a bit boring. Next, let me talk about the character progression and customization.
3. Character Progression and Customization
There are 21 playable characters in Sword Art Online Fractured Daydream.
Each of these has very unique skills and weapons, and in fact, mastering them all is the most fun part of the game. Some characters have agile gun play, and some have hilarious voice lines, so it will be interesting for you to find which ones will become your favorites. You will have to grind to progress because character levels are tied to base stats and gear options.
The customization options are good, such as outfits, accessories, and gears. Soon you will see that there is a personal touch to your characters.
For me, having to craft weapons and items based on my playstyle was very engaging. So even though I found some premium options were locked behind transactions, I never felt forced to buy anything. It feels very satisfying to see your characters grow stronger with every mission.
4. Visual and Audio Experience
To be honest, because I was playing on PS5, the visual and audio experience made everything so much better. The first thing that will jump at you is how incredibly detailed the character models are.
The flashy combat animations are mind-boggling in their clarity. Even the particle effects during big fights are great. The orchestral soundtrack is a good complement to the high-energy battles, and the Japanese voice cast has done a brilliant job. So overall, it’s a brilliant package.
On the whole, Sword Art Online Fractured Daydream has too many strengths for anybody to dwell on the weaknesses. It’s a game you can enjoy as much in short bursts as in marathon gaming sessions. For me, it was a great blend of superb visuals, demanding combat, and a story that made me nostalgic. So I loved it, and I hope you do too.