The Open Network Test (ONT) in September 2024 was more than just a glance; it was a defiance test of the full capacity for both servers and players; thus, it was the presentation of one of the most daring SAO titles ever.
The ONT event was more than just a typical demo. The ONT was a challenge for PS5, Xbox Series X|S, Nintendo Switch, and PC users to simultaneously compete against one another. What made it even more extraordinary was the promise of loot transfer. So, for the very first time, all the accessories and weapons that were obtained during the ONT could be brought into the finished game, thereby giving the prologue players a big head start. Those who delight in the gear chase frenzy would have been very attracted by this.
Fractured Daydream does not tell the story of one single hero. It is a game of huge, co-op, chaotic battles. The ONT was a 20-player raid event where teams battled the likes of The Skull Reaper and Sword Golem, two of the most legendary bosses. Players were initially split into five groups of four, each having their own objectives, and then they combined for the final battle.
Players were grouped to compete against each other in the first stage by scoring points through completing objectives, killing enemies, and gathering loot. After that, they all came together for one colossal co-op battle, which might involve the attack or defense of siege-towered objectives or the battle against a giant boss. The game featured a mechanism whereby the player who delivered the killing blow to the boss could take a special place in the spotlight, thus offering a unique motivation to players.
The game’s biggest hook was its character choice. The ONT revealed nine out of the 21 characters in the final game, and each of them was a typical RPG character with distinct abilities like Fighter, Tank, Rogue, Mage, Ranger, and Support. Kirito and Asuna were both DPS characters, Agil was the Tank, and Argo and LLENN were two fast and agile Rogues. Oberon was great at disrupting magic, Sinon and Fukaziroh were awesome long-range shooters, and Leafa was the healer who kept the team healthy and gave buffs.
The variation didn’t just end at the characters’ appearances–each one had distinctive mechanics that changed the way you battled.
No SAO title would be complete without a gear grind, and the ONT was quite satisfying. Modifications that a player installed in their gear could increase the stat, such as damage, critical hit rate, or health. Mods were available in a variety of rarities, and the gold-tier mods offered the greatest advantage. The twist? You only had one, so each acquisition was a strategic decision.
Most of the money-making activities on the internet are in the form of an undesirable creature that is a boss, followed by catchy-sounding but actually minor and superficial in content pop songs that drop the most desirable loot, with legendary equipment providing significant performance increases. In case players hold their save data, all the loot from the ONT was transferred to the regular game.
Bandai Namco and Dimps made every effort to let it be known that they were going all out. Fractured Daydream was the ultimate SAO crossover, bringing together characters, worlds, and timelines in ways that no fan had ever imagined. It was not about the glitz of the cameo appearances–there were firm story points, villains turned friends, characters coming back from the dead, and special conversations between unlikely partners.
The ONT was just the beginning of the game’s journey towards great heights. Besides the new DLC characters like M and Pitohui from Gun Gale Online, the game has also added more missions, costumes, and guns. There are even more new game modes, and a Nintendo Switch demo has given the chance to more players to experience 20-player raids and co-op challenges.
Each update keeps the community players hooked as they eagerly anticipate more epic battles, new characters, and extended interaction across various worlds.
SWORD ART ONLINE Fractured Daydream’s ONT was more than a tech test–it was an intent statement. Being a game of this nature, it was made for the fans who desire to see their favorite heroes and villains unite, confront overwhelming odds, and maybe end up with the best loot in the digital world.