One thing I particularly like is the accessibility of the gunplay. Overall, it feels mechanically nice to play – which is a bonus given that, should it hook you, you could easily pour 100+ hours into this. Accessing gadgets (like grenades) is perhaps overly fussy – but it’s nothing a few hours practice won’t remedy. A little loose perhaps, but quick and responsive. When I originally played Fatal Bulet on Xbox is was a little concerned about the how Bandai Namco would handle what is, in effect a third-person shooter – but it feels good. The upshot of all this is that you can more confidently enjoy Fatal Bullet for what it is – and that’s a genuinely superb gun-based sci-fi ARPG. Pretty much everyone who’s been in SAO to date, including Alicization’s, Eugeo and Alice – but it’s much easier to take these characters at face value in Fatal Bullet, without the nagging feeling that you’re missing out on something by not knowing who they are. It’s still here in Fatal Bullet to an extent – but it’s no where near as in your face.
In Hollow Realisation for example, there is a tidal wave of characters, exposition and dialogue skits as the game tries to satisfy SAO nerds like me, while trying to simultaneously have everything make sense to those new to the universe. That said, I also appreciate there’s a lot to take in story-wise.
People love to hate it but me? I’m 100% down with the universe and characters. I’ve consumed pretty much every tiny piece of SAO media there is going. Sure, it doesn’t have quite the same level of convoluted meta-game stuff as previous games, but even so, mechanics, explanations of loot, crafting and mode types doesn’t feel as intimidating an information bombardment as in previous games – and will be no where near as off-putting for SAO virgins who like the look of the action, but have no particular affection for the lore.Īh yes, the lore. However, Fatal Bullet does go some way to addressing many of the niggles that you find in the likes of Hollow Realisation – first and foremost, the mechanics of the game are introduced far, far better. Picking up relatively simplistic side quests (kill x amount! Find y thing!) before heading back to a central hub to tinker with your stats and equipment before diving back in. This is very much about simulating the feel of playing an MMO, even though you’ll largely be playing solo. That said, many of the tropes of the other games are present and correct. This is an Action RPG with a much heavier focus on gunplay – so plays and feels much differently from previous SAO gaming entries. While the first two seasons of the anime were more traditionally fantasy in style, Fatal Bullet takes place in the MMO Gun Gale Online – which swaps out swords for sniper rifles and quaint towns for a more sci-fi industrial setting.
Having put in a lot of time into the Xbox version, I was keen to pick up this ‘Complete Edition’ (having not invested in the DLC on Xbox) and with the Switch’s portability, actually have the time to be able to grind my way back to where I left off.įor the uninitiated coming to this Sword Art Online Fatal Bullet Switch Review, Fatal Bullet takes place in the third of SAO anime series universes.