Echoes of Aincrad - Hands-On Preview
This week, I had the chance to go hands-on with Echoes of Aincrad, the latest entry in the long-running Sword Art Online series, this time coming from the team at Game Studio Inc. During the preview experience, I played through a few missions that offered a solid look at the game’s core systems, exploration, and combat.
The first quest begins in the Town of Beginnings on Aincrad’s first floor. It serves as an introduction to key characters, as well as the game’s foundational exploration and progression mechanics. Early on, you’re prompted to choose a companion to travel with, essentially acting as both guide and support unit.
As you leave the safety of the town, the game’s biggest exploration feature is introduced: “Safe Areas.” Echoes of Aincrad ties map progression directly to these Safe Areas. These locations act as sanctuaries where enemies cannot attack, allowing you the time to rest and recover your HP. Doing so, however, will respawn nearby enemies. They also function as fast travel points and reveal portions of the surrounding area. Safe Areas are scattered through Aincrad’s open zones and are easily identifiable thanks to the blue light they emit into the sky. In the preview, which included Floors 1 and 2, I noticed that Safe Areas were more densely placed on Floor 1, whereas Floor 2 had larger distances between them, signalling the difficulty increase as you climb the floors of Aincrad.
The second quest jumps ahead to Floor 2, tasking players with reaching a town blocked off by a Giant Boar boss. Much like the first mission, exploration plays a central role, activating Safe Areas, uncovering the new Floors map, and gathering useful items and materials along the way.
Boss encounters are where the combat system really shines. After dealing sufficient damage through the use of light/heavy attacks and any active abilities you may have equipped, players can trigger a powerful special attack that visibly alters the boss. In this case, severing the Boar’s tusks leads into a second phase, where the creature regains health and changes its attack patterns to reflect the injuries sustained.
Exploration is consistently rewarded, with loot ranging from crafting materials to gear and currency found in chests scattered across the world. Movement feels mostly fluid; you can vault over smaller obstacles, but there are moments where invisible walls interrupt what appears to be a viable shortcut, forcing you to stick to intended paths.
Combat in Echoes of Aincrad offers a strong degree of player freedom, particularly through its weapon variety. Options like Sword and Shield, Daggers, and Two-Handed Swords each come with distinct playstyles and usable abilities. Sword and Shield enables defensive play with blocking capabilities, Daggers emphasize speed and agility at the cost of damage, and Two-Handed Swords deliver heavy hits while sacrificing speed and defense.
Companions play a crucial supporting role. Before heading into missions, you can customise their gear and abilities to complement your playstyle. That may mean assigning them as a healer while you play a more aggressive role, or building them as a frontline tank. The “Switch” system is especially important in combat. It allows you to dynamically shift aggro between yourself and your companion. For example, you can engage aggressively, then dodge out and trigger a switch, prompting your companion to take over and draw the enemy’s attention while you recover.
Overall, my time with Sword Art Online: Echoes of Aincrad was thoroughly enjoyable. It balances exploration with its engaging combat mechanics, and I am keen to dive deeper when it launches on July 10.
