Sword Art Online Echoes of Aincrad preview exploring Aincrad as a player

Note: The game itself and tested content are still in development. The experience may change when it is released in the future.

The world of Sword Art Online: Echoes of Aincrad invites players to step directly into the legendary floating castle of Aincrad, not as a spectator but as one of the players trapped inside the deadly VRMMO.

Recently, media outlets had the chance to test an early build of the upcoming title from Bandai Namco Entertainment, offering a first look at how the game recreates the iconic setting of Sword Art Online.

Note that the preview build remains under development, meaning certain features and gameplay elements may change before the final release.

Becoming one of the players inside Aincrad

Unlike many previous SAO games where players follow the story of Kirito and other familiar characters, Echoes of Aincrad places the player directly into the narrative.

Players create their own avatar and become one of the 10,000 players trapped inside the game, experiencing the Aincrad arc from the perspective of a survivor trying to clear the game and escape.

The preview build featured a side quest titled “The Lost Log,” which sends players on a mission to locate a missing book before confronting a boss enemy.

Simple town hub and quest preparation

Before heading into battle, players can explore the town hub where they can accept quests and prepare their equipment.

The interface is simple and intuitive. Players can open their Chest menu to customize weapons and armor before accessing the Main Terminal, where available quests are selected.

A partner system is also introduced, allowing players to choose companions who assist during missions. In the preview, three partner characters were available:

• Iori, a support character who focuses on healing
• Zash, capable of boosting attack power and creating defensive barriers
• Argo, who can reveal enemies through walls

Choosing the right partner can significantly influence combat strategy.

Large quest maps with exploration elements

The mission area in the preview takes place in Horunka, a large field that feels similar to a semi open world environment.

While technically not a full open world, the map still encourages exploration. Players can discover hidden treasure chests and activate stone terminals that gradually reveal the map.

Once activated, these terminals also function as warp points, allowing players to fast travel between discovered locations.

Another player friendly feature is the ability to return to town at any time without losing quest progress.

Real time action combat

Combat in Echoes of Aincrad is fully real time action based, blending fast paced attacks with tactical partner coordination.

Enemies often appear in groups, making battles challenging if players become surrounded. The partner system introduces two command modes that change companion behavior:

• Switch Mode focuses attacks on the same enemy as the player
• Free Mode allows companions to roam and fight independently

This flexibility allows players to adapt to different combat scenarios.

The game also features several action mechanics including Parry, Dodge, and Reversal Slash, enabling stylish counterattacks and coordinated strikes with allies.

Weapon choices shape your playstyle

Weapons play a major role in determining how players approach combat.

During the preview, players could equip several weapon types including:

• One handed swords
• Rapiers
• Daggers

Each weapon comes with its own skill set and stamina consumption. Daggers, for example, consume less stamina and include abilities that allow players to teleport behind enemies.

Players must also balance Light Attacks and Heavy Attacks, deciding carefully when to unleash powerful skills or conserve stamina during prolonged battles.

A challenging boss encounter

The quest eventually leads to a boss fight against The Flowering Nepenthes, a giant plant monster that summons smaller enemies to overwhelm players.

A useful strategy involves switching companions to Free Mode so they can deal with the smaller enemies while the player focuses on the boss itself.

Even regular enemies can be surprisingly aggressive, suggesting that difficulty settings may play an important role for players who prefer a more relaxed experience.

Recreating the spirit of Sword Art Online

Based on the early preview, Sword Art Online Echoes of Aincrad successfully captures the feeling of exploring the dangerous world of Aincrad.

The ability to create a personal avatar and experience the story from the perspective of one of the trapped players offers a fresh angle for both longtime fans and newcomers to the franchise.

The game is scheduled to launch on July 9 for PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X|S, followed by a PC release on July 10.