SWORD ART ONLINE: FATAL BULLET TO BRING THIRD-PERSON SHOOTER ACTION AND ROLE-PLAYING GAME DEPTH TO BELOVED ANIME GAME SERIES
New Installment in Action RPG Series to Feature Shooter Gameplay for the First Time, Arriving on PlayStation 4, Xbox One, and PCs via STEAM in Early 2018
Santa Clara, Calif., (August 18, 2017) – BANDAI NAMCO Entertainment America Inc., the premier publisher of anime video games today, announces Sword Art Online: Fatal Bullet, the newest entry in the Action Role-Playing Game (RPG) series based on the popular anime franchise Sword Art Online. For the first time in series history, Sword Art Online: Fatal Bullet introduces third-person shooter action along with the RPG gameplay that fans know and love. The title will be available in early 2018 for the PlayStation®4 computer entertainment system, and for the first time on Xbox One, and PCs via STEAM®.
Sword Art Online: Fatal Bullet brings an exciting twist to the popular action RPG series by adding third-person shooter elements into the game, forming a unique hybrid shooter/RPG/action title that balances gun and sword play with skill and gadget combat to create a new dynamic experience. Sword Art Online: Fatal Bullet will feature an engrossing, original story supervised by Sword Art Online creator Reki Kawahara, that takes players into the world of “Gun Gale Online,” from the popular Sword Art Online II season of the series. Players will be able to dive right into the immersive landscape developed by Dimps, and enjoy robust environments and textures powered by Unreal Engine 4. Using agile double jumps, air dashes, wall-to-wall repelling, and quick weapon swapping, players will engage in brisk platforming and shooting gameplay as they embark on epic adventures. Rounding out the package, full multiplayer cooperative and competitive modes will let two to eight players collaborate and compete against one another online.
“For the first time in the history of the franchise, Sword Art Online: Fatal Bullet presents the compelling universe of the Sword Art Online series with exciting new third-person shooter action, creating a unique experience that truly stands out in the series,” said Eric Hartness, Vice President of Marketing at BANDAI NAMCO Entertainment America Inc. “The Sword Art Online universe continues to grow in popularity among audiences in the Americas and its evolution has provided us with a great canvas from which to develop new and exciting experiences for Sword Art Online and RPG fans to enjoy.”
For more information on BANDAI NAMCO Entertainment America Inc. game titles and products, please visit http://www.bandainamcoent.com/ or follow us on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/BandaiNamcoUS or join the conversation on Twitter at: https://www.twitter.com/BandaiNamcoUS.
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About BANDAI NAMCO Entertainment America Inc.
BANDAI NAMCO Entertainment America Inc., part of BANDAI NAMCO Holdings Inc., is a leading global publisher and developer of interactive entertainment for all major video game consoles, iOS, Android, and online platforms. The company is known for creating and publishing many of the industry’s top video game franchises including PAC-MAN®, GALAGA®, TEKKEN®, SOULCALIBUR®, and ACE COMBAT®. BANDAI NAMCO Entertainment America Inc. is the premier publisher in the Western hemisphere for anime based video games including NARUTO SHIPPUDEN™, DRAGON BALL Z®, and ONE PIECE®. More information about the company and its products can be found at http://www.bandainamcoent.com, www.facebook.com/BandaiNamcoUS or https://www.twitter.com/BandaiNamcoUS.



In fact, we learn quickly that thanks to their larger roles, the gang has mostly drifted apart in the time since the Witherstorm and portal jumping adventure with only Petra continuing to act like her old self. One of the first major actions that players are given in the episode comes down to time management as, being the leader of Beacontown, Jesse has the option of interacting with numerous residents, including past YouTube presences and other side-characters, as they prepare for an annual celebration or keeping a promise with Petra to meet up with her in the mines in prompt fashion.
Telltale Games has managed to successfully kickstart this story by focusing just enough on past adventures and giving players a glimpse at the world that the group has built in their time between seasons. With new characters to learn about, a new (self-proclaimed) rival that can easily end up being a friend or a foe in the future, and enough intrigue into the current loyalties of past characters players will always be wondering what to expect. Especially when it comes to the story that unfolds throughout this first episode as not only does this artifact awaken a new sentient threat, it happens to be one that has the potential to be far more destructive than anything that Jesse has encountered before.
This is something that will be pleasing to longtime fans of Minecraft and doesn’t hold those interested in the story down much as you can design anything you feel like, even if it happens to be just a blob in the hopes of continuing the story. It is worth noting that there are some technical issues that appear here and there in this episode as some lines of dialogue are shown in subtitle but never actually spoken and there are a number of lip sync problems that crop up in certain scenes.
It is worth noting that although the majority of the voice cast has returned to take on their roles this time around, the voice actress for Olivia has been changed in this season, though considering her current appearance level it shouldn’t be too much of an issue. As for the rest of the cast, they fit their roles perfectly, especially in the case of the veteran adventurer who matches the role perfectly as he rambles about past travels in unknown lands.