It wasn’t long ago that Sword Art Online: Alicization Lycoris was delayed by the ongoing coronavirus pandemic, but its new July 10, 2020 release date is approaching. To that end, Bandai Namco is ramping up its promotional efforts, with a new trailer highlighting the game’s customization options and side activities.
The trailer, uploaded by Sony, detailed how players can create and customize their own avatars in Alicization Lycoris. They’ll be able to choose different faces, heads, hairstyles, and genders, and also alter their height and body type. While such features have been present in other Sword Art Online games, new to Sword Art Online: Alicization Lycoris is “transmogrification,” the ability to customize the appearance of equipped weapons and armor as well. In addition to avatar customization, Sword Art Online: Alicization Lycoris players can expect to run around the game world collecting crafting materials for new gear, as well as earning “social points” by interacting with their companions.
That said, don’t expect one’s custom character to have much of an effect on the story itself. Unlike the previous SAO title, Fatal Bullet, the narrative of Alicization Lycoris is squarely centered on franchise protagonist Kirito. This time he’s been trapped in the “Underworld”, a virtual world filled with sentient AI people and ruled over by the totalitarian Axiom Church. Unlike previous Sword Art Online stories that were more explicitly game-like, in Alicization Kirito doesn’t know why at first why or how he came to Underworld, or how to leave. Helping him in his journey is his buddy Eugeo, and the Axiom Church’s Integrity Knights, among them the titular Alice. Interestingly, the timeline of the Sword Art Online games differs significantly from the narrative shown in the core novels so Alicization Lycoris has promised some divergence from the canon, particularly where it comes to the events covered in the current Sword Art Online Alicization: War of Underworld anime adaptation.
In any case, fans will get their chance to see for themselves when Sword Art Online: Alicization Lycoris releases on July 10, 2020. The game is bound for the PC, PS4, and Xbox One. Check out our previous reports for more details on the game’s systems, monetization, and post-release plans.
