What Sword Art Online: Lost Song is
Sword Art Online: Lost Song drops you into Alfheim Online, the VRMMO world of fairies and magic from the anime. You play as Kirito and set out to conquer the floating land of Svart Alfheim. Alongside the anime regulars, Seven, Rain, and Sumeragi from "Lost Song" join the cast in a story written for this game. It's an action RPG with open areas to explore, hack-and-slash combat, and character customization so your Kirito looks the way you want.
Fighting and growing your character
Battles happen both in the air and on the ground, and the game moves between them without loading screens. You can fly freely through the skies, which opens up the map and lets you reach enemies and areas that would otherwise be out of hand. Combat is fast-paced, and you pick your own skills and decide how your character develops. The game leans on that progression: as your character grows stronger, the fights get bigger and tougher to match. Expect a mix of ground combos and aerial skirmishes rather than slow, tactical turn-based play.
Playing with friends
Online co-op lets you team up with other players and take on the floating land together, which fits the story's focus on clearing Svart Alfheim with your friends. Online PvP is also available if your group would rather fight each other than the AI. Between the two, a group can split time between pushing through the story side by side and running their own matches.
Before you start
This is a JRPG with anime roots, so a good chunk of the experience is the story and the characters from the series. Combat is action-based and rewards picking a skill setup you enjoy, since your choices carry through your character's growth. The open world rewards flying around rather than sticking to paths, so spend time covering ground between fights. If your group wants a shared adventure with room for competition on the side, this covers both.