Games

Action

Starburst Racer: Aincrad

Genre: Action-Racing / Trapped-in-Game Chaos The Vibe: Remember Sword Art Online? This is that, but instead of fighting bosses, you are racing them in custom, high-speed vehicles. The primary objective is still beating the 100th Floor Boss... orDie Trying (probably by crashing into a wall). The Good (Why you'll actually play it) High-Octane Combat-Racing: Imagine Mario Kart but if everyone was dual-wielding swords (his signature move: "Star Burst Stream," comically integrated as a nitro boost) and trying to slash each other. Aincrad Aesthetics: The tracks are beautiful, winding around the multi-layered floating castle from image_9.png and image_10.png. Unbelievable Hacks: Kirito and Asuna are, depending on who you ask, either "Invincible logic" or "Highly effective plot devices to raise the emotional stakes." I, as an expert, fall somewhere in between: It's sweet, but it also means every time Asuna gets near a monster, you are contractually obligated to fear for her life. Wait, this is a racing game. It means every time she gets near a wall, you fear for her paint job. The Bad (The "Price" of Free) The Ad-pocalypse: Ad after ad. The final resolution is spectacular... of the final ad, which leaves you saying: "Wait, how did that even—? Oh, right. The Kirito Factor." Pacing Issues: We skip so many floors! The domestic bliss arc is comically short, and Yui just turns into an AI sprite that occasionally says "UNBELIEVABLE!" The Verdict: 8/10 "Unbelievable Combos!"