SAO: Hollow Fragment Gets English Release
- Categories: Games, News
- Date: Apr 24, 2014 00:52 JST
- Tags: Announcements, Namco Bandai, Sword Art Online, Video Gallery, Vita
Set to launch this week in Japan, much anticipated Vita game Sword Art Online: Hollow Fragment has been confirmed as getting a US release in the summer, answering the prayers of western SAO fans – though unfortunately at the cost of being a digital-only release.
The news, unexpected though welcome, marks one of the rare occasions a game spin-off of a late night anime has been promptly localised – although traditionally these titles have not been all that popular even in Japan, and fewer still have actually been any good.
The latest gameplay videos:
Screenshots of the game:
The game will likely become a welcome distraction for fans unable to withstand the wait for Sword Art Online’s second season due in July – pre-orders for the English version of Hollow Fragment are already open.
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But will it have EngDub for subhumans or superior JapDub?
the game is coming this summer, no time for ENG dub unless both JAP and ENG versions were made at the same time
They won't dub this. Just like they won't dub Tales of Hearts R. The Vitas install base is so low they don't see it worthwhile. Dubbing can be expensive.
It won't get dubbed. Dubbing would be like at least $50000. They average around 10k dollars an anime episode. So with an RPG...
Omg
3DS release please
lolno
Gameplay would be awesome if it weren't for those silly delay pose after a skill.
Without translating Infinity Moment first? Hello, unexplained plotholes and characters!
It'll be a 2 part, the first is Infinity Moment and the second Hollow Castle.
Not having Infinity Moment isn't a bad thing. If you love the atrocious framerate in the PSP game by all means.
The Vita game supposedly starts out with a rewritten version of the PSP's story before going to the new stuff, so you won't be missing out too much.
@01:57 - Infinity moment is included which is why this is getting a western release. They upgraded/revised infinity moment a bit which is why it's included. Along with Hollow fragment's "hollow area."
WTF!? WHY!?
Yay, I get to play a single player game in an mmo. Might have considered it if it got a physical release, even though the anime was bad.
@02:20 - Your an idiot. The Hollow Area which is the new game (as this game comes with an upgraded/revised version of infinity moment) is multiplayer. That's why you get the option to create a custom avatar as long as it's male. That's for the MP portion.
If this game can make it to the west, then there's still hope for getting the Attack On Titan 3DS game localised :)
Well, since Attack on Titan will be premiering on Toonami on May 3rd, 2014, that could give the series the popularity it needs for them to release the 3DS game to the West.
has a chance to be good, so long as they don't actually base it on the storyline of the anime.
>vita
>animu gaem
this shit is guaranteed to bomb hard
Most of the interesting games in Vita are Anumu gaems.
Funny because a lot of Vita RPGs are doing quite well. Persona 4 Golden selling 600k on the Vita should show you're talking out your ass.
You're joking, how's he talking out of his ass when you bring up the only example which already has a large fanbase, and is a port of what was a popular game title. Please do tell, the "lot" of Animu Vita RPGs that are doing well.
"I have no idea what's on the vita, so I'm going to pretend anime games are hated." - anon 2014
Now they just have to get somebody to buy a ViTa...
I have owned a Vita since launch, its a fantastic handheld and the OLED is hugely superior to the 3DS screen. The colours and everything else.
So it was you! LOL
Whoa what a legend the only one who has ever gotten a vita!
I got one as well... Got the only good games it ever had (not even half a dozen) played em aaaaand... that's it. Been in my closet since then.
PS Uncharted on vita looks amazing for a handheld. Legit console graphics in your hands
This joke isn't relevant anymore, kiddo. You've been flogging a dead horse for months now.
Not relevant? Dude, the 3DS owns almost 85% of the portable market, and the Vita just broke through that 10 million quota Hirai had for the first year. So yeah, I'd say it's still pretty relevant.
That 10m is still more than Xbone and PS4 combined...
not really. PS4 has already 7m, XONE 5m.
The PS4 outsold the Wii U in the space of a few months. The Wii U has been out almost 2 years. Whats your point?
No it's still completely relevant.
The Vita is a massive failure outside of Japan.
And in Japan it's just mediocre.
There are some PSV-exclusive titles though that some people are interested in. I know it's easy to jump on the bandwagon and laugh at the sales figures but the reality is that the PSV has some (not a lot) good games now.
@04:49 - plenty of us have a Vita. I have a vita as well. Mine is hacked so I can play PSP isos using TN-V.
Also I bought the limited edition version of this. :D. So can't wait till it get's here! It should be here either on Monday or no later than May 1st.
Who cares if it's being outsold by the 3DS? The Vita is selling well enough to get exclusive titles and localizations such as this one. A lot to do with high attach rate. Pander your petty console wars elsewhere.
Irrelevant because Asia ver will have english text neways and comes out in less than a day..
Wait really, fucking Asia man they go hard. I won't buy it but, damn.
@06:28 - Actually the version with Eng subs doesn't come out till May 24th. It's the Taiwanese version.
Would have bought it if it wasn't digital only.
Yei! Now I just hope this comes to Europe too! I don't give a shit if its Digimon or Phisicalmon! I will buy! O_O
I'm still waiting for Watch Dogs,Batman:Arkham Knight,Crysis 4 for real men only not this childish games!
o.o
Now I hope this one comes to europe to!
I don't care if its DIGImon or PHISICmon I will buy it!
Not a huge fan of SAO, but the game-play looks awesome!
It'll be free within 12 months on Playstation Plus. Look at Muramasa Rebirth which is free with Mays PS+ update in May in Europe lol
So u pay $50 just to wait 12 months to play the game when its free, When usually it'll be only for $30-$40?
Disregarding the fact you get at least 2-3 free games every month on the Vita service, not to mention the PS3 freebies. Yeah in 12 months you could fill a 32gb card easily, 2 even with the games given away.
Glory to the Freemason, thanks to the grandmaster SAO gets engrish rerease.
Saw VITA, then saw in my head "FUCK PORTABLES"
Fuck mobile phones
Fuck social gaming
Home HDMI bigscreen gamer here,
Fuck that port-a-poty shit.
Only digital? Man this sucks! I want my games in physical form and not data only. Can just hope that a possible EU version will be physical.
Digital only?
Guess sony really want you to buy their shitty memory card. I'll buy digital when the 32 GB memory card are $20. For now, no fucking way.