Sword Art Online: Fatal Bullet places players in the role of a customizable protagonist inside the virtual world of Gun Gale Online. This action RPG combines third-person shooting mechanics with character progression and story choices that shape the outcome. The experience centers on exploring ruined landscapes, engaging enemies with a variety of firearms, and interacting with both original characters and familiar faces from the Sword Art Online series. An AI companion known as ArFA-sys joins early and supports the player through combat and story events.
Gameplay
Core combat revolves around third-person shooting across multiple weapon types, including handguns, assault rifles, shotguns, sniper rifles, rocket launchers, and gatling guns. Players customize their avatar with detailed options for appearance and then allocate stat points gained through leveling to unlock and equip skills. These skills tie into roles such as Assault for frontline offense or Tank for defensive support, though builds allow mixing elements from different categories. Movement includes wire actions for quick repositioning, sliding shots, and evasive maneuvers that keep fights dynamic. Weapons receive upgrades and customizations through in-game systems, while the ArFA-sys companion provides additional abilities and can be designed by the player. Progression emphasizes experimentation with different loadouts to suit solo story encounters or group activities.
Game Modes
The base experience splits into a main story campaign focused on the player-created character and a separate Kirito Mode that offers a distinct campaign centered on Kirito confronting the Death Gun incident. Side events expand on both original and returning characters. Online features include cooperative missions where up to four players team up against powerful enemies, with options for time attack rankings and material rewards used for further customization. PvP battles pit two teams of four against each other while also contending with a shared boss enemy, with victory determined by damage dealt to the boss rather than direct eliminations. These modes support varied playstyles, from focused story progression to competitive or cooperative online sessions.
Story and Choices
The narrative unfolds in a post-apocalyptic setting within Gun Gale Online, where players navigate devastated areas filled with mechanical threats and wildlife. Early events introduce the rare ArFA-sys unit, which becomes central to both combat assistance and plot developments. Decisions made throughout the campaign carry consequences that influence relationships and lead to multiple endings, including a true ending unlocked through specific conditions. Kirito Mode runs parallel to the main story and adapts elements from the source material into the game universe, providing additional context and scenes exclusive to that mode.
Is It Worth Playing?
Player reception on Steam stands at mostly positive based on nearly 20,000 reviews, with praise directed at the shooting mechanics, build variety, and integration of Sword Art Online elements. The game remains available on PC with ongoing low concurrent player numbers typical of a title from 2018. It suits fans of third-person action RPGs who enjoy gunplay combined with character customization and a choice-driven story. Those seeking active multiplayer communities may find smaller groups, while solo players can focus on the full campaign and Kirito Mode without needing others. The experience delivers a complete single-player arc alongside optional online features for those interested in co-op or PvP.
