Sword Art Online: Integral Factor

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The popular smartphone game SWORD ART ONLINE: Integral Factor (SAOIF) will now be available on Steam! Play it with a controller or your keyboard with custom key configurations! See the world of Aincrad come to life on a large PC monitor! This time, the protagonist is...you! You appear in this online RPG as a member of an Assault Team, working with other imprisoned players to reach the 1…

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Sword Art Online: Integral Factor screenshot

67%

Audience ScoreBased on 941 reviews

story46 positive mentions

grinding33 negative mentions

Closest SAO game to actually feeling like an SAO game where you can create a character and climb the floors of Aincrad.
The game is free and it is absolutely optional to pay anything; players can earn Arcana gems through gameplay.
The gameplay reflects the manga/anime brilliantly, with engaging combat mechanics and a variety of quests.

The game is poorly optimized for PC, leading to frequent crashes and long loading screens.
There are significant bugs, including disappearing skills and issues with the audio not working.
The gacha system is frustrating, with low drop rates for desired skills and items, making progression feel grindy.

story
169 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
27%
69%
4%
The story of the game is a mixed bag, with many players appreciating its connection to the Sword Art Online universe while criticizing its execution. While some find the narrative engaging and a fun addition to the SAO lore, others feel it lacks depth and originality, often feeling like a retelling of the anime with their character inserted into the plot. Additionally, the heavy reliance on text and dialogue, along with frequent loading screens, detracts from the overall experience for many players.
- “The quality is much greater and I personally feel the emotions the story is portraying.”
- “The story is honestly better than I expected for a mobile ported game.”
- “This game has an awesome story and adapts to you being part of the story pretty well in my opinion.”
- “The story in this game doesn't revolve around you (and/or any friends you may or may not have); instead, the story is the very same as in the anime, manga, and light novels, with all the same famous pre-established characters and their arcs, and your character is kind of just... inserted into the story, and not in any meaningful way either.”
- “The entire story is told to you (or rather, re-told because it's the same as the anime, manga, and novels) through dialogue boxes, visual novel scenes, and very limited in-engine scenes and some scenes cut directly from the anime.”
- “Lifeless game, just a grindfest with a mediocre story.”
graphics
69 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
25%
66%
9%
The graphics of the game have received mixed reviews, with many users noting that they appear outdated and reminiscent of older mobile titles, often comparing them to PlayStation 3 quality. While some appreciate the anime-style visuals and find them enjoyable, others criticize the performance issues, such as frame drops and long loading times, especially on PC. Overall, the graphics are seen as a significant drawback, particularly for players expecting a more polished experience from a ported mobile game.
- “The vivid, anime-style visuals are faithful to the source material and bring the world of SAO to life in stunning detail.”
- “The graphics of Integral Factor are well-crafted, capturing the anime's aesthetics.”
- “Graphics are better than what you can get with any Android emulator.”
- “The graphics look like they are from a game over 10 years ago, and the gameplay is rough and unpolished.”
- “When the graphics are maxed out, they still look very ugly.”
- “The graphics are cheap as hell.”
gameplay
54 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
20%
73%
7%
The gameplay of "Sword Art Online: Integral Factor" receives mixed reviews, with some players praising its immersive storytelling and cooperative mechanics, while others criticize its repetitive and buggy combat, outdated graphics, and reliance on gacha mechanics. Many users report frustration with loading times and a lack of engaging content, leading to a perception of the gameplay as unpolished and linear. Overall, while some find enjoyment in the gameplay, significant issues detract from the experience for many players.
- “First and foremost, Integral Factor's gameplay is a dream come true for both MMO and SAO enthusiasts.”
- “The game's mechanics are intuitive and smoothly integrated, making it easy for new players to pick up, yet complex enough to provide depth for experienced gamers.”
- “Its engaging gameplay, immersive story, stunning visuals, and cooperative play mechanics are a true delight.”
- “It had crashed a lot, graphics look like from a game from more than 10 years ago, and the gameplay is rough/unpolished.”
- “The core gameplay loop outside of the start is a bunch of broken buggy combat grind.”
- “Gameplay: 4/10 (hell grind, repetitive content, limited skill sets)”
grinding
36 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
6%
2%
92%
The reviews indicate that the game is heavily grind-focused, appealing primarily to players who enjoy extensive farming and repetitive tasks. While some players appreciate the grind as a core aspect of the experience, others find it tedious and frustrating, particularly due to low drop rates and the need for significant time investment to progress. Overall, the game is best suited for those who thrive on grinding mechanics, but may deter players looking for a more balanced gameplay experience.
- “It's not grindy like a Korean MMO (at least, not yet), but the random gacha mechanics for the development of sword skills - and even the production of weapons - does make things take longer.”
- “You'll need a second life for grinding.”
- “One downside to these games, however, is exactly what you would expect: the resource grinding.”
- “The game is just grinding for the sake of grinding.”
- “It is such a monumental task to catch up with all the end game content; it will take a very long time to do so, and as time goes by, it keeps getting harder and harder for newcomers. Honestly, I think a lot of enemy difficulties and total power requirements need to be reduced, and please, please make the drop rates better. Trying to get drops in this game is so hard and tedious to do; not everyone has time to do this.”
stability
18 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
6%
94%
The game's stability is heavily criticized, with users reporting frequent loading screen delays, persistent glitches, and black screens upon startup. Many players experience constant freezes and lock-ups, particularly during gameplay and loading, leading to a frustrating experience. Despite some users noting occasional smooth performance, the overall consensus is that the game remains buggy and unstable, especially on PC, with unresolved issues persisting for an extended period.
- “Way too much loading screen, too many glitches in the game. Sometimes I get a black screen when opening the game, and there is a glitch where the skills I get from pulls disappear.”
- “Constantly freezes during loading screens, and when I say constant, I mean 90 percent of the time.”
- “The issue that's been occurring more and more often is the constant lock-ups and freezes that happen all the time.”
optimization
14 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
21%
29%
50%
The game's optimization has received mixed reviews, with many players experiencing significant stuttering, low frame rates, and audio issues, particularly on high-end hardware. While some improvements have been noted since launch, such as smoother performance in later sessions, the overall experience remains hampered by poor scaling, interface problems, and inconsistent controller support. Players recommend caution, especially for those considering playing on PC, as the mobile version may offer a more stable experience.
- “The game was originally only a mobile game, so you shouldn't have crazy high expectations for graphics and performance.”
- “Rough first couple of hours, but runs smoothly now.”
- “Ok, since they fixed the launch issues, the performance is overall good.”
- “Poorly optimized game requiring fiddling around the application properties, and worse still, multi-platform account sharing requires transfer of data between devices, thus risking loss of progress if not done properly.”
- “It is kind of fun and all, but its scaling is terrible, the menus and interfaces are awful, and optimization is not great.”
- “If it weren't for the crashing upon startup or at random intervals when playing, I'd recommend playing, but for now until the devs fix the optimization, I recommend playing on mobile for just a bit longer.”
monetization
14 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
21%
58%
21%
The monetization system in the game has received mixed reviews, with some players appreciating the availability of free pulls and affordable microtransactions, while others criticize the broken in-game purchase functionality and the potential for microtransactions to impact game progression. Overall, while the game avoids some common pitfalls of mobile cash grabs, issues with the cash shop and the game's longevity remain concerns for players.
- “Like many mobile and free-to-play games, an integral factor incorporates a monetization system through microtransactions.”
- “Players can purchase cosmetic items, character enhancements, and other advantages through in-game purchases.”
- “However, it's important to be aware of the presence of microtransactions and how they can affect the gaming experience.”
- “In-game purchases through the cash shop do not seem to be working.”
- “In-game purchases are broken; the game gets stale after a few floors.”
- “It's important to note that while microtransactions are optional, they may influence game progression for those who choose not to spend real money.”
music
12 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
33%
42%
25%
The music in the game has received mixed reviews, with many players praising the soundtrack as beautiful and relaxing, often rating it highly. However, some users have experienced issues with the background music, including bugs that cause it to stop unexpectedly, leading to frustration. Overall, while the music enhances the gaming experience for some, others find it necessary to lower the volume to enjoy the gameplay.
- “Awesome lots to do, lots of players, very fun with a huge world and great music.”
- “Soundtrack: 9/10”
- “That soundtrack... the symphony orchestras... they're uniquely beautiful and chilling.”
- “I have to lower the background music to nearly 0 to make this game playable.”
- “No music, no voices, no SFX.”
- “But on the Steam version there are some problems such as the background music and voice just stop and suddenly play. I understand that there are still some bugs because it just got released, but I hope that they will fix the game.”
humor
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The humor in the game is noted as amusing in its nostalgic return to Aincrad, but overall, it lacks depth and fails to engage players meaningfully. Many users feel that the comedic elements need improvement to enhance the gaming experience.
character development
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
300%
Character development in the game is deeply integrated with its gameplay, reflecting the manga/anime's essence through detailed character designs and dynamic combat mechanics. Players can customize both original and assist characters, enhancing their skills and attributes while exploring diverse environments that encourage experimentation with different weapons. This multifaceted approach allows for a rich and engaging character progression experience.
- “The gameplay reflects the manga/anime brilliantly, from the interface and character designs to the canon fighting mechanics. It simulates the world spectacularly, with each floor being relatively different, giving you reasons to try out various weapons to capitalize on enemy weaknesses. As you progress, you can uncover skill records with special attributes, allowing you to focus on your favorite weapon. You can team up with in-game original characters or use your own assist character, as well as customize their clothing, weapons, and skills!”
- “The character development in this game is incredibly deep, allowing players to form unique strategies based on their chosen characters' skills and attributes. The ability to customize not only the appearance but also the abilities of your characters adds a personal touch that enhances the overall experience.”
- “I love how the game encourages you to explore different character builds and playstyles. Each character feels distinct, and the progression system rewards you for experimenting with various combinations, making every playthrough feel fresh and engaging.”
emotional
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Users express deep appreciation for the emotional impact of the game, highlighting its ability to resonate with players on a personal level. The phrase "heartfelt breaker" suggests that the game evokes strong feelings, potentially leading to moments of reflection or catharsis. Overall, the emotional experience is a significant aspect of its appeal.
- “Thank you, Bandai, for a heartfelt experience.”
atmosphere
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The atmosphere of the game is generally positive, fostering a sense of community and the potential for forming long-term friendships, though it is noted to involve a significant grind for character improvement.
- “Decent game, with a great atmosphere that fosters the creation of long-term friendships. It's definitely a grind to improve, but the environment makes it enjoyable.”

Buy Sword Art Online: Integral Factor

Sword Art Online: Integral Factor
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6h Median play time

5h Average play time

3-7h Spent by most gamers

*Based on 3 analyzed playthroughs

84%11.8kreviews