If you've been waiting for a better look at the recently announced Echoes of Aincrad: Sword Art Online, you've come to the right place.
Alongside a fresh story trailer — which in itself shows off a surprising amount of stuff — Japanese publication Dengeki Online just hosted a very lengthy live stream that's packed with gameplay footage.
If you want to dive straight into said footage, it begins around the 1:01:44 mark in the video below.
As we pointed out in our Echoes of Aincrad preview, this is a much different take on Sword Art Online from a gaming perspective. It's a darker, more demanding action RPG that's based around open zone exploration and skill-based combat.
Watch on YouTubeSubscribe to Push Square on YouTube168k
While it does retain the kind of partner-based battle flow that's been present in several Sword Art Online titles up until now, there's a clear emphasis on the use of defensive techniques this time around.
As previously reported, there's a temptation to say that Echoes of Aincrad is a bit... Souls-y, so we're quite interested in seeing how fans of series — which has typically focused on flashy action and MMO-style abilities — react to this gameplay.
And of course, if this early look has got you itching to try out a Sword Art Online game, it's worth mentioning that the latest title, Sword Art Online Fractured Daydream, is part of PS Plus Essential this month.
Are you looking forward to Echoes of Aincrad and its 10th July release date? Start making your avatar in the comments section below.