The Verdict
Looking back at Hollow Fragment, and then playing Lost Song is somewhat jarring. While the gameplay elements of Lost Song lend themselves well to an action game, and the flight mechanics are fun, I can't help but feel this game lacks the finesse of Hollow Fragment.
I didn't completely dislike the game, but had I bought the game at a full $59.99, which it retails for, then I think I would have been slightly upset. This is certainly something that Sword Art fans should play, but definitely once it's discounted.
The Positives
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Despite popular opinion, I didn't really hate the second part of Sword Art Online. Sure, it didn't hold a candle to the first, but I eventually gave in and enjoyed it. So I was actually quite excited to play a video game version of Alfheim Online, the Fairy MMO where every player gets their own wings.
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Much like the first game, Hollow Fragment, Lost Song deviates from the standard storyline, once again bringing characters like Sinon back into the fray, even though she doesn't get introduced until the second season of the anime. Even Philia and Strea from Hollow Fragment join the cast once again. I actually like that the storyline was kept original, rather than retread what I've already seen in the show.
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There are two sides to the combat, one of them goes here, and the other goes in the section below. I actually liked the switch to fast paced combat. Hollow Fragment had deep, yet extremely unforgiving combat mechanics, that could take hours until you thought you fully mastered them. Lost Song, on the flipside, is quite accessible. If you enjoy the Warriors series for example, you'll probably like the combat system here, though it's not nearly as satisfying as those games.
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Flying is great! The game has two modes, a hover and a fast flight. The hover mode allows you to maneuver better, and also allow you to fight enemies in the air while the fast flight allows you to travel fast from one location to the next. You truly have the ability to fly in any direction, which gives the game a great sense of freedom.
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Having all the major characters playable is a definite plus, as they all have different specializations and abilities. You always build a party of up to three people, so it's always good to find characters that have complementing skills.
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Co-op mode is awesome, and I might even say essential to your enjoyment of the game. Like Hollow Fragment, you can team up with others online to go questing and defeat monsters together. Given that the AI isn't always so great, having human players on your team can make a whole lot of difference. Likewise, there is a versus mode. But I hate PvP so I didn't touch it.
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The game runs at a smooth 60fps.
The Negatives
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Unfortunately, the game isn't a looker. I'm not sure whether the game was originally on the Vita and then ported to the PS4, but it certainly looks that way. The character models look decent enough, but the environments are super flat.
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The dungeons can get quite repetitive, both with the enemy variety and in their design.
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While the faster-paced and accessible combat is appreciated, a little more variety would have also been appreciated. Quite early on you'll discover a pattern of attacking that works on pretty much any enemy, and you'll keep spamming the same buttons over and over. It's truly the polar opposite of Hollow Fragment's combat. Had there been a little more depth to the action-based combat, it might have been a lot more enjoyable.
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I realize that hidden underneath the exterior is a harem storyline of a badass guy who all the girls want, but man the constant flirting coupled with some truly cheesy dialogue is sometimes a little hard to stomach. I know you're a swagmaster Kirito, but damn.
After getting treated to the previous Sword Art game on both the Vita and eventually the PS4, I was pretty pumped to see what the next offering of Sword Art will bring. After all, that game was so full of wildly different mechanics, whether it was the somewhat complicated but ultimately rewarding battle system, the friendship system, or the giant explorable world. It was two games fused into one after all.
Lost Song, in comparison, feels like half the game that Hollow Fragment was. While some of its new mechanics are great, like the more action focused combat and the freeform flight that you can activate at will, I still couldn't shake the feeling that I was playing a budget game comparatively. Which is unfortunate, given that Lost Song is a $60 game.
Let's check it out.
