Sword Art Online: Hollow Fragment is a Japanese role-playing game based on the Sword Art Online light novel series. It is the second video game in the series. The game has over 100 recruitable characters which can be chosen to accompany the player in the game’s dungeons. Gameplay combines elements of a MMORPG—albeit in a simulated fashion as it is not an online game, though it does include limited multiplayer via ad hoc for up to four players—as well as elements of a dating sim. The game takes place in the same continuity as the prior game in the series, Sword Art Online: Infinity Moment, which exists in an alternate storyline from the Sword Art Online anime storyline. The player controls the main character Kirito, who has been trapped in a MMORPG where dying in the game will lead to his death in real life as well. Part of the game is actually a high definition recompilation of Sword Art Online: Infinity Moment, the original game in the series released for the PlayStation Portable, including all content of “Floor Clearing” from the previous game with the addition of new unexplored “Hollow Area” of Aincrad.
| Minimum System Requirements | Recommended System Requirements | |
| CPU | AMD Athlon X2 2.8 GHz or higher; Intel Core 2 Duo 2.4 GHz or higher | AMD Six-Core CPU; Intel Quad-Core CPU |
| VRAM | 1 GB | 2 GB |
| RAM | 4GB or more | 8GB |
| OS | Windows 7 and the KB3135445 platform update | Windows 8 64-bit or Windows 10 |
| Graphics Card | AMD Radeon 3870 or higher; NVIDIA GeForce 8800 GT or higher | AMD Radeon 7870 or higher; NVIDIA GeForce GTX 660 or higher; Graphics Memory: 3GB |
| Direct X | 11 | 12 |
| SOUND CARD | DirectX Compatible | DirectX Compatible |
| HDD Space | 7GB | 7GB |
Sword Art Online: Hollow Fragment is a fantastic start to the SAO series of games. Originally released on the Playstation Vita, it has found it’s way to the Playstation 4 Store so now it can be played on the big screen via digital purchase for the very first time. The storyline follows the SAO characters in a time after the Aincrad series ends in the Anime. Players are still stuck in the game world and the game is glitching in various areas. Your task (aside from freeing all the currently alive players) is to find out more of the new hidden area that has been made as well as challenge through the 100 levels to beat the game. Battle mechanics are pretty easy in this real time action RPG and while some may find them repetitive and boring, I found them quite good. Sounds are one of the best part of the SAO games having one of the best soundtracks in Anime history with beautiful music to enjoy while you play straight from the Anime itself. The characters are charming and very likeable though it can sometimes get a bit annoying at how much the female characters (who were strong and confident in the anime) can sometimes be a bit insecure and mopy. All in all however it is worth the play if you are a JRPG fan and an SAO fan.