Sword Art Online: Hollow Realization’s “Death Game” For NPCs, Early-Access Details

Bandai Namco shared the latest on Sword Art Online: Hollow Realization with a closer look at Yuuki and a mysterious NPC that looks like Premiere, early access Beater’s details, and more on the story.

Yuuki (CV: Aoi Yuki)

Yuuki has cute appearances, but don’t let that fool you, as she’s exceptionally talented with the sword and is even known as “Absolute Sword.” Similar to Kirito and the others, she, too, is participating in the beta of SA:O. In battle, she uses a single-handed sword.

Mysterious NPC (CV: Yuiko Tatsumi)

A mysterious NPC who looks exactly like Premiere. She seems to show some cold-blooded expressions, and we still don’t know about her real identity.

To NPCs “Sword Art: Origin” is considered a death game. The game consists of players that login to Sword Art: Origin and NPCs that were created by the game’s system. You’ll see how each one of them have their own characteristics and personalities.

When players such as Asuna or Leafa login to Sword Art: Origin, they simply revive after dying in the field.

AI characters that were created from the system can be recruited to your party. Similar to players, they’re all characteristics existences, but they don’t revive once when they die.

There are also “nameless NPCs” that play a role in the game’s system. These NPCs don’t have names and can’t be recruited to your party. They have roles such as shopkeepers. They’ll also be there to help recruit NPC players.

The other human-controlled players are marked by the green indicators above their heads.

AI players such as Premiere have yellow indicators above their heads.

Here’s the sad truth: if any NPC gets KO’d in combat, you’ll never get to meet them again. Although the recruitable AI players won’t ever die in any other ways, other than when you take them out to the field yourself.

Next up, here are some details on the “βeater’s Player Rights” content, an early-access that allows players who pre-order the game on PSN in Japan the rights to play a week ahead of its release.

Here’s what players will get to do as a βeater:

• Story: Until You Beat Stage 1’s Boss – This features around 10~15 hours of gameplay.

• Level Cap: Up Until Lv 20 (NPCs Included)

• Weapon Proficiency: Each Weapon Can Be Raised Up To 200 – The full version will allow it to go all the way up to 1,000

• Skills Other Than Some High-Ranked Skills Will Be Unlockable – By increasing weapon proficiency levels, you’ll get to use skill points to unlock skills

• Quest: Stage 1’s Areas Can Be Played As Many Times Possible – You’ll get to go around gathering materials or take on powerful enemies.

• Friendship Levels Can Be Increased Up To 3

• Friends: Take On Quests To Increase Friendship Levels, Recruit Other Players And AI Players

• Trophy: Any Acquired Will Be Carried Over to Full Release

• AI NPC Characters Won’t Revive If They Die

• Dating/Pillow Talk Won’t Be Available Until Full Release – Look forward to it!

Sword Art Online: Hollow Realization releases in Japan on October 27 for PlayStation 4 and PlayStation Vita, along with a release in the West on November 8, 2016.