Phantom Bullet Arc

Don’t Attack Me Just Yet

From SAO Infinity Moments to Hollow Realization. So far I’ve only completed 5 of the main games (Infinity Moments, Hollow Realization, Hollow Fragment, Lost Song, and Fatal Bullet) an 4 of the cooperative games (Dengenki Bunko, God Eater 2, Accel World, & Digimon Stories) but after recently reaching level 200 on Fatal Bullet decided it was time to give an honest review.

As a personal preference of someone who prefers shooting games, compared to slashing your way through an obstacle of mountain size beast. I was prepared to spend countless hours sniping my way through dungeons. Since the Phantom Bullet Arc, wasn’t entirely one of my favorite arcs, I was pretty ecstatic at the fact that we could ignore it altogether. As you nerve dive online with all of your favorite characters. Keeping with the same concept of picking a team to run with, mines consisted of Sinon, my AI, and the lovely Strea.

Thanks to the DLC your able to use other Arc characters, Mothers Rosario, Alternative, & Alicization. Of course you have to pay for them, to play their story + new dungeons.

Storyline

You start off as a newbie gunner, with your friend Kureha (personally is a very weak heroine) who sets off to conquer the online world. Well not exactly, though it would’ve been a better plot than the run around Fatal Bullet gives us. You get cornered an extremely lucky on your first quest an unlock a humanoid AI ArFA-sys, who just want’s to act more human. Afterwards the plot drags, an drags, an drags, an suddenly you just say screw it, an randomly re do the same dungeon about 20x until your strong enough for the next one. (Rinse-Wash-Repeat)

If you steamroll it, the main plot could be completed in roughly a day, which is as bad as an idea as it is to skip character cinematic scenes, or not only will you miss key details, but certain actions changes the next scene. Like in one scene it shows the main villain kicking everyone out of the server, or it would show you just being forcibly ejected without knowing why, if you just skip the scenes an not dialogue with them. In fact skipping scenes make you miss the true ending, an force’s you to make the hard decision at the end, “which friend do I kill off.” As you play as a separate character from Kirito, as in other games you played as Kirito with a different avatar. This game focuses on a bitter rivalry between you an Kureha, except you know nothing of this rivalry until she tries to shoot you in the face. As you progress insanely fast, compared to her, you leave everyone you in the dust as you become the top player in GGO. Those around you become jealous, others become obsessed.

Thanks to this Nutball, after countless grinding, hours of maxing out the affection rate of all your favorite characters, and building the ultimate team. You face a situation you can’t fix or beat on your first run, (unless you watch YouTube videos on how to) than every first timer will be faced with a hard choice that they trick you into making. Since I skipped Kirito Mode, I rushed right into the final battle completely unprepared. Ready to use my Tiamat to take down the final boss. Than here he comes ready to ruin it all.

For those who’ve yet to play the game, I already spoiled to much, so I won’t spoil anymore, especially since the decision wasn’t really a hard one, the game doesn’t really force you to make a connection to which character to kill off. It actually does it for you, by asking you a simple question moments before you actually enter the dungeon. Based on how you answer it, determines which bad end you get. Me personally would gladly kill Kureha. Can’t even be sexy right, put one right between her forehead.

You wonder why I dislike her so much. Simply because her character is useless an only drags on the story. She has issues at home, an comes to this virtual world to feel needed. Since she wasn’t to popular she convince you to play. She uses you to feel bigger, or like an older sister because hers in real life actually does something with her life. When she feel like your fame goes to your head, she challenges you on multiple occasions. When your nominated as leader, she quickly downgrades your ability to lead, an sharply throws you under the bus. When Itsuki confronts her on it, she lashes out an plays victim. So throughout the story she does nothing to actually help you, besides sabotage you. “Off With Her Head, I Say”

Combat

Besides the story, the actual combat is pretty amazing, as you zip across the field with easy control. Trying out several types of guns like Snipers, Gatlinguns, Swords, an or even both, as you can dual wield handguns an swords. Have bad aim, no problem, the Aim Assist, would help you so much, it would make you feel like a hacker. Fatal Bullet does a good job at making it feel realistic, as they add a weight limit, with various restrictions so your not running around with a 10 megaton Tiamat + Rocketlaucher, but only strong enough for an AR. As you level up, you can acquire new gadgets, stats, and abilities, that make grinding worth it. With an unlimited use but timer base, you can run a variety of ways to kill off enemies, be they friend or foe.

Final Verdict (3/5)

As enjoyable as the game was, personal feelings aside, the game was extremely flawed. Online play gets you nowhere, getting the expansion house is a pipe dream for beginners, dialog goes in circles, spamming bosses, an sluggish gameplay. Besides the ability to be able to play other characters expansion packs, I wouldn’t recommend being in a hurry to beat. First 5 hours feels like paradise, your next 20 gone feel like you beat this dungeon 99x already. Dive straight into hopelessness as you try to navigate online play with players who refuse to help you if your low level. Aside from the Sachi DLC.

I felt no real need to Return, (yes, they somehow managed to pull on our Sachi Heart Strings again.) As the series progress, I’m sure countless other payable DLC will be added. I’m just ready for when Reki Kawahara create his own Nerve Gear to trap us. If you made it this far, congrats your officially an SAO lover, which is an intense fanbase. You either have pitch forks in your hand, or Waifu’s across your shirt. I picture something like this happens, whenever a SAO discussion is started. You can see the seriousness in their eyes, which is full of Asuka hate.

As a thank you for making it this far here are my top 3 Games + Anime of the week. (Not subjected to new releases.)

• DragonballZ: Tenkaichi 2

Arguably my favorite DBZ game ever made by far. Even with the excessive remakes they keep putting out, this one will always stand above the others as a anime brawler. They even managed to get the GT series into the story mode with it’s massive game play. (Don’t like GT, Fight Me)

• Tales Of Berseria

I have a personal love for the tales series, and since the love is personal, I’m putting it in my personal list. As you power through as the villain of the story, this game makes destroying the world seem fun. As a anti-heroine, you discover the prequel of Zestiria, that plays with your emotions constantly. Now come kidnap, an manipulate other character to joining you on your journey, as a Demon-Eating Demon.

• Kaguya-Sama Wa Kokurasetai

I plan on writing about this anime once the season is finished, because this is by far one of my favorite comedic animes I’ve seen thus far. As we explore dominant teens who secretly love each other, but don’t want to be the first to admit it. One is a poor student president, the other is rich vice president. These 2 genius alongside secretary Chika, an others, lose count as you try to bet on will make the other admit love first. Love is truly a Battlefield.

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