SWORD ART ONLINE: FATAL BULLET

Sword Art Online: Fatal Bullet is a fun action RPG with technical flaws holding it back from true greatness.

74%Game Brain Score

story, gameplay

grinding, optimization

83% User Score Based on 11,868 reviews

Critic Score 65%Based on 26 reviews

Platforms

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About

"Sword Art Online: Fatal Bullet" is a third-person action RPG set in the world of Gun Gale Online. Customize your avatar and experience an original story with gun battle playing a major role. Interact with characters from the Sword Art Online series and explore devastated lands with stunning visuals, using a variety of weapons and fighting styles. Your choices and actions will have a heavy impact in this personalized and immersive world.

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SWORD ART ONLINE: FATAL BULLET screenshot

+15

83%

Audience ScoreBased on 11,894 reviews

story1.1k positive mentions

grinding854 negative mentions

The humor in the game resonates well with fans of the genre, particularly those familiar with the Sword Art Online universe, providing genuinely hilarious moments and entertaining character interactions.
The gameplay features fun combat mechanics, diverse customization options, and engaging multiplayer modes, making it enjoyable and addictive for fans of the franchise.
The graphics and anime-inspired art style are generally appreciated, with vibrant visuals and character customization options that enhance the overall experience.

The humor and dialogue can be uneven, with some players finding it dry and tedious, particularly when forced to engage with every NPC to progress.
The game suffers from significant stability issues, including numerous bugs and glitches that can disrupt gameplay and lead to a frustrating experience.
The story is often criticized for being mediocre and repetitive, relying on typical anime tropes and lacking impactful choices, which detracts from the overall narrative experience.

story
4,796 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
23%
68%
9%
The story of "Sword Art Online: Fatal Bullet" is generally viewed as mediocre, with many players noting its reliance on typical anime tropes and a lack of impactful choices. While the game allows players to create their own character and experience a unique narrative separate from the main SAO storyline, the execution often feels forced and repetitive, with lengthy dialogue and cutscenes that can detract from gameplay. Despite these criticisms, some fans appreciate the character interactions and the overall premise, making it a worthwhile experience for those invested in the SAO universe.
- “The story is very unique and I love how you can design your own character!”
- “It is seriously interesting getting a new story to make our own as the player, rather than reliving the anime to a T.”
- “The story was amazing.”
- “Just be aware of potential technical issues and the somewhat generic story.”
- “The story might as well be called Sword Art Online: endless talking.”
- “The story is not interesting and the voice acting is not good either.”
gameplay
2,212 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
42%
49%
9%
The gameplay of "Sword Art Online: Fatal Bullet" is a mixed bag, with many players praising its fun combat mechanics, diverse customization options, and engaging multiplayer modes. However, it is often criticized for being repetitive, bogged down by excessive dialogue and cutscenes, and plagued by bugs that affect the overall experience. While some find the gameplay enjoyable and addictive, especially for fans of the franchise, others feel it lacks depth and can become tedious over time.
- “The gameplay is fun, when the game lets you play.”
- “The gameplay is fast-paced and satisfying, and the variety of weapons and abilities keeps things fresh and exciting.”
- “The gameplay loop is solid and addicting but the story is whatever and really forced.”
- “Abomination of a game, I don't care how cheap they are, it's no excuse for that gameplay. I played a lot of cheap games in my life; this one is a real low. I mean, I got the game for 2 bucks and I'm still not gonna keep it. If you want details on why it's bad, you can watch gameplay of it somewhere, but it all comes down to how much of a buggy mess the guns are. The main thing about the game is insanely buggy; the sounds get muted or jump right to left nonstop. There is no auto-reload, so if you snipe and try to ignore the mess of sound effects, you can try to shoot for a few seconds before you realize you have 0 ammo. And to the mess of the rest of the guns, normal guns have recoil I can live with that, but what is that weird auto-aim that goes on and off if you scope or not? Sometimes the weapon needs to do a random weird power load when it's a spammer. Machine guns have 5 years of overheating, so if you overheat, basically you become a secondary weapon main. I didn't even try other guns, but if they can't get the normal gun (auto rifle), sniper, and machine gun right, I can't imagine anything else will be better. Oh, did I forget to mention there is no HP bar?”
- “The gameplay is the same as looking at a video of paint drying but it is on loop; it is the same thing over and over and over again.”
- “The gameplay is really repetitive in my humble opinion and the companion side is really cheesy with all the love part of the game.”
graphics
976 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
49%
46%
5%
The graphics of the game have received mixed reviews, with many players appreciating the anime-inspired art style and character customization options, which are often described as vibrant and engaging. However, some users noted issues with optimization, frame rate drops, and a lack of adjustable graphics settings, leading to a perception that the visuals can feel dated or inconsistent. Overall, while the graphics are generally considered good for an anime game, they may not meet the expectations of players seeking cutting-edge visuals.
- “The graphics are amazing, I can see how much hard work it took for it to be like this and I am grateful to have found this game.”
- “The game's visuals and sound design are top-notch, providing an engaging environment to explore.”
- “Anime games with this kind of attention to detail are very rare to come by; the animations, character creator, and general style are probably the best I've ever seen, combined with fantastic visuals it's a fantastic game.”
- “The head seems off in relation to the rest of the body, and the 3D visuals just look really bad in general.”
- “It's very clear that graphics aren't a concern at all for the developers; you could honestly put this game in 2008 and it would have the exact same graphics.”
- “Game does run smooth; however, the graphics are lacking and the textures are not smooth at all. It looks like the edges are very pixelated around the characters' clothes and bodies and not correctly smoothed/shaded over to look normal on pretty much all of the characters in-game.”
grinding
876 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
3%
97%
The grinding aspect of the game has received mixed reviews, with many players noting it as a core feature that can be both rewarding and tedious. While some enjoy the grind for leveling up and acquiring better gear, others find it repetitive and frustrating, particularly due to reused assets and a lack of meaningful choices. Overall, the game is best suited for those who appreciate grind-heavy gameplay, especially fans of the Sword Art Online franchise, but it may deter players who prefer a more streamlined experience.
- “You'll need a second life for grinding.”
- “If you are a big GGO fan like me, then this game is a must to buy. It's worth the full price in my opinion, but it's still better to wait for a discount for the complete package. If you aren't a GGO fan and not following the anime, I still recommend this game to you. It's fun, and newcomers who don't know anything about SAO or GGO could still adapt to the story and gameplay.”
- “The game isn't too grindy; 30 minutes roaming in some fields should do leveling just fine, but the only annoying thing to grind is NPC affection.”
- “Leveling felt easy, but I realized that by the time I hit about level 35 that I had made a terrible mistake: grinding in this game is necessary, with incredibly poor odds in the base game, which was a problem given the fact that half of the chips on weapons you will get are basically junk and you'll not know that until you look at what exactly they do and why they're not worth having.”
- “Lastly, the grinding system is very boring with the same maps, enemy positions, and unworthy dropped items.”
- “The end game for this game is boring grinding for levels and equipment.”
music
277 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
43%
54%
3%
The music in the game has received a mixed reception, with many players praising its quality and variety, particularly noting standout tracks that enhance the gameplay experience. While some find the soundtrack memorable and fitting for the game's atmosphere, others feel it lacks the impact of previous titles in the series, with a few describing it as forgettable or repetitive. Overall, the music contributes positively to the game's presentation, though opinions vary on its memorability and effectiveness during combat.
- “The music for this game is actually really good!”
- “There's a lot of great tracks ranging from character themes to atmospheric music as you wander the maps, that transition into sick guitar versions as you enter combat.”
- “The soundtrack fits a lot of the locations and events in the game and the world of Gun Gale Online is done to an immersive extent.”
- “The plot is nonexistent, the characters all look and sound the same, the soundtrack is something worthy of an elevator and the graphics are anime-videogame 101.”
- “I can't go into one area without hearing the same song that was just played in a different area.”
- “The background music ranges from forgettable to ear grating.”
optimization
183 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
31%
38%
31%
The game's optimization has received mixed reviews, with many players reporting significant performance issues, particularly at higher resolutions and on lower-end systems. While some users have managed to achieve smooth gameplay with decent frame rates, others have experienced severe lag, locked frame rates during cutscenes, and poor keyboard/mouse controls. Overall, the consensus suggests that the game requires further optimization to enhance the experience for a broader range of hardware configurations.
- “The game is very well optimized for my computer (GTX 1050 Ti and 8GB RAM) as I can run it at max without any kickback.”
- “Graphics 9-10: best graphics for a SAO game yet, and is very well optimized.”
- “Good optimization up to 1080p, easy to maintain 60 frames on high with my i7 4790k and my GTX 1080.”
- “Bad optimization all round, plus in cutscenes the FPS is locked or lowered sometimes and then after the cutscene it won't fix itself and your game will remain locked.”
- “The optimization for this game is terrible.”
- “Right from the start this game feels not optimized, the performance is poor and may require tweaking to run smoothly, but guess what you can only change the graphic settings and keybinds on the main menu which is not to be confused with the in-game menu.”
humor
148 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
99%
1%
The humor in the game is a mixed bag, with some players finding the dialogue genuinely hilarious and filled with relatable moments, while others criticize it as dry and tedious. Many appreciate the comedic potential of glitches and AI mishaps, which can lead to funny situations, although these can also be frustrating. Overall, the humor resonates well with fans of the genre, particularly those familiar with the Sword Art Online universe, but may not appeal to everyone due to its uneven execution.
- “The dialogues are genuinely hilarious, the action is fluid and pretty, the backgrounds are gorgeous and the soundtrack is kinda weak, but efficient enough (except for the opening, which is great).”
- “I was constantly either laughing at the humor, smiling at the cuteness, or intrigued by the mystery/drama.”
- “If you're a fan of SAO, definitely get it as all of the character interactions and humor is very entertaining.”
- “It's not funny to have to talk to every NPC just to progress.”
- “The humor falls flat when you have to engage with every NPC just to move forward.”
stability
126 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
6%
2%
92%
The game's stability has been widely criticized, with many players reporting numerous bugs and glitches that significantly impact gameplay, including freezing issues, audio problems, and erratic AI behavior. While some users find humor in the glitches, others express frustration over game-breaking issues and recommend caution before purchasing. Overall, the game appears to be in a rough state, with a mix of minor and major stability concerns that detract from the experience.
- “The 3rd person MMO style gameplay is smooth and mostly bug free.”
- “The graphics are good, and I have encountered no glitches or slowdowns in frame rate so far.”
- “Not buggy.”
- “The game is incredibly buggy and every time I try to change my profile it freezes.”
- “So in the current state that the game is in, I would not recommend it simply because it is like flipping a coin whether you'll get a buggy experience or a bug-free experience.”
- “It plays extremely poorly even on high-end PC; the game is super buggy.”
replayability
84 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
36%
57%
7%
Overall, the game offers a mixed bag of replayability, with many players noting a wealth of content, customization options, and different difficulty levels that encourage multiple playthroughs. While some aspects, like new game plus and varied character builds, enhance replay value, others, such as repetitive storylines and limited enemy variation, detract from it. Many players find the game enjoyable enough to return to, but opinions vary on how compelling the replay experience truly is.
- “In terms of replayability, there's content that you're probably not going to get to until your second playthrough of the game.”
- “If you like romance with characters, high replayability, tons of customization options, build variety, weapon farming, leveling, and a rewarding PvE experience, this is for you.”
- “The game has a lot of replayability if you enjoy the combat, which I do.”
- “Though I will say the replayability is very low with this one as you just restart the story with the monster level scaled up.”
- “The story is long enough for the sale price of the game, however replay value isn't great (just replay the same main story over and over and over).”
- “However, Death Gun was just a little bit underwhelming, suffers a bit in replayability, and there isn't that much enemy variation.”
emotional
46 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
83%
17%
The emotional aspect of the game is highlighted by its ability to evoke strong feelings, with players reporting moments of heartbreak and attachment to characters, particularly during pivotal story events. While some find the narrative lacking and the gameplay frustrating, the heartfelt interactions and emotional weight of certain choices resonate deeply, especially for fans of the Sword Art Online universe. Overall, the game offers a mix of cringe-worthy and genuinely touching moments, making it a worthwhile experience for those invested in its characters and story.
- “Damn... I never thought I would write a review about a game that made me cry the most when losing someone.”
- “This game made me cry three times in a single night, two times because I went on both paths of choosing Kureha and Zeliska if I didn't want to continue the story based on Kirito's perspective.”
- “However, the bad ending was good as well, a bit emotional, and I actually liked it.”
- “A boring story that promised that the choices you make would make a difference; they did not.”
- “Outdated graphics, boring story, but I love it, simply because it's Sword Art Online, and this is the only game that I could feel like being in the world of VRMMO among all other SAO games.”
- “Unless you're a huge SAO fan, the boring story, quests, and gunplay won't hold your interest.”
character development
46 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
26%
48%
26%
Character development in the game is a mixed bag, with many players finding it shallow and often relegated to lengthy cutscenes that fail to engage. While some appreciate the backstories of key characters, others criticize the lack of meaningful interactions and quests, leading to a sense of randomness in character growth. Overall, the character development feels inconsistent, with some players enjoying the design options but many expressing disappointment in the depth and execution of character arcs.
- “Character development in my opinion is pretty good as the game itself will tell the backgrounds of some important characters, that is of course if you haven't watched the anime.”
- “The story is very intriguing, and the character development is brilliant. The story is also fairly long, though sometimes it can feel a bit repetitive; however, taking breaks helps reduce that feeling.”
- “But anyways, this is the first time playing an SAO title on PC, and I have to say it runs superbly well. Great visuals, great selection of weapons, character development, etc. The gameplay is smooth and doesn't take too long to use freely, but it does prove difficult along the way to master.”
- “Character development is particularly useless and boring.”
- “Its also frustrating that you're introduced to 20+ characters as party members for your game, but other than easy & linear 'dating sim' scenes, there are no cool in-game quests, no side quests of any consequence, and no real character development whatsoever.”
- “So after the first mission you're back at the city listening to shallow character development and worldbuilding.”
monetization
36 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
6%
94%
The monetization aspect of the game has received mixed feedback, with some players feeling it is less of a cash grab compared to other titles in the franchise, while others criticize it for still embodying cash grab elements. Many appreciate the absence of microtransactions and excessive DLCs, but some express dissatisfaction with the game's design and advertising, suggesting that it fails to deliver on its promises. Overall, while there are concerns about monetization practices, players still find enjoyment in the gameplay experience.
- “No annoying microtransactions, no unnecessary DLCs (maybe except the preorder bonus of the silver and gold skins?).”
- “No annoying microtransactions, no unnecessary DLCs (maybe except the preorder bonus of the silver and gold skins?).”
- “Clearly I like the idea of anime shooters, but this is a cash grab. Childish, busty, unrealistic characters with constant enemies just different levels and stats. I bought the complete edition for $25; the price alone does not justify how the game is even designed.”
- “It feels like a cash grab when glaring issues like this exist in a game that's meant to piggyback off a well-known anime franchise.”
- “All the advertisements are straight out lies.”
atmosphere
14 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
29%
50%
21%
The game's atmosphere is a mixed bag; while some players appreciate the engaging music and immersive elements that enhance the experience, others criticize the world design for being drab and lacking variety. Repetitive gameplay and mobs detract from the overall immersion, and attempts to convey emotional depth through the story often fall flat, leading to a disjointed experience. Overall, the atmosphere has potential but is hindered by inconsistencies in design and execution.
- “There's a lot of great tracks ranging from character themes to atmospheric music as you wander the maps, that transition into sick guitar versions as you enter combat.”
- “The atmosphere gets you in.”
- “Atmosphere/music is actually a 9.”
- “The game atmosphere feels a bit drab, with not enough variety in its design.”
- “The story tries to convey emotions, but the game is awful at it due to a lack of atmosphere, with elements that make no sense and break immersion.”
- “The atmosphere is lacking, which detracts from the overall experience.”

65%Critics’ scoreBased on 26 critic reviews

Buy SWORD ART ONLINE: FATAL BULLET

22h Median play time

82h Average play time

10-85h Spent by most gamers

*Based on 98 analyzed playthroughs

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74%1.8kreviews