Pros:
+ a modern, respectful take on classic RPGs
+ fitting artstyle and detailed pixel art
+ walking speed and traversal are wonderfully fast
+ grinding is unimportant and heavily discouraged
+ overworld combat is usually optional
+ energy refill after battles is a daring but effective design choice
+ common fights are always challenging and meaningful
+ boss fights are challenging and their designs are memorable
+ reward system serves as an integrated achievement log
+ status effect system is innovative (but the game does not keep track of them)
+ swapping characters mid-fight is quick and rewarding
+ unique enemies are smartly integrated and hinted at
+ buried treasure system is a fresh idea
+ Sky Armors are undeniably cool and well-animated
+ dungeon design is pretty good and chests are hidden well
+ some items and skills retain their German idiosynchrasies
+ overworld map is charming and quick to traverse
+ a lot of optional content to explore towards the end
+ plenty of accessability options
+ overdrive system is a genuine innovation to the genre...
Cons:
- ...but its implementation is severely lacking
- multiple enemy attacks extend overdrive level more than defending decreases it
- Sky Armor overdrive bar in particular is often completely unworkable
- Sky Armor proficiency system is unintuitive and never explained
- only four characters can wear Sky Armor and none have Ultra Moves
- combat is generally simple, early tactics can carry through the entire game
- fights cannot be avoided in dungeons and caves
- enemies' aggro radius is intransparent
- gem system is overly complex and unnecessarily frustrating
- Ultra Moves are creative but inconsequential
- leveling system is intransparent and skill increases are expensive but unsatisfying
- turn order often seems arbitrary: the same fight can start with various orders
- reviving characters does not add them to the turn order overview
- the music is mostly bland, the main combat theme is forgettable
- menus spoil late-stage aspects of the game: Sky Armor, playable characters, canning etc.
- frequent UI and interface issues (characters not in party still show up in the menu...)
- cutscenes are too long and too frequent
- the cast of characters, especially the villains, is far too large
- the writing is too expansive and dependent on plot twists
- the ending is frustrating and nonsensical
- some typos and awkward phrases mar the English translation
Magic Moments: Playing Sienna for the first time and realizing what a badass she is. Exploring the overworld and finding hidden spots, just like in the old days.
Blahgic Moments: Finding an secret character and realizing that he starts from zero and is mostly useless in combat. Getting the Sky Armor for the first time and not being able to use Ultra Moves. Using moves that you actually are not comfortable with, just to satisfy the overdrive bar.
Playtime: 55 hours on default (normal) difficulty. 100% completion. All rewards and best weapons acquired, all optional bosses beaten.
Verdict:
Every once in a while, you are bound to play a game that everyone seems to love but you are somewhat disappointed by. Chained Echoes is that game for me.
While creator Matthias Linda's reverence for the look and feel of old-school, 90s RPGs is felt at every turn and very much appreciated by this 90s kid, the overall package of Chained Echoes beyond its pitch-perfect presentation is lacking in more ways than one. The hardcore railroading, while designed to make grinding obsolete, severely limits the customization of each party member, leading to a combat system that rarely changes over the course of the game. The same tactics will carry you from the first few hours to the finale, and even if Sienna's animation in particular never gets old, the combat in general becomes boring very early on, and the Sky Armors add very little to the overall combat loop. The cast of characters is too large to have everyone experience a complete arc, especially when it comes to the giant cast of villains, and the ending to the story feels designed by a Disney committee instead of evolving naturally over the course of the game.
That being said, there is never a doubt that Chained Echoes is a real labor of love that offers plenty of secrets to discover, characters to gawk over, and cool bosses to fight, and that will be enough for many fans of the genre. But the glorious reception feels somewhat excessive, and the frequent moments of frustration and questionable design decisions should not be overlooked.
So play it with an open mind and see if it's for you, but a quick playthrough without exploring every nook and cranny of this world is certainly enough.
+ a modern, respectful take on classic RPGs
+ fitting artstyle and detailed pixel art
+ walking speed and traversal are wonderfully fast
+ grinding is unimportant and heavily discouraged
+ overworld combat is usually optional
+ energy refill after battles is a daring but effective design choice
+ common fights are always challenging and meaningful
+ boss fights are challenging and their designs are memorable
+ reward system serves as an integrated achievement log
+ status effect system is innovative (but the game does not keep track of them)
+ swapping characters mid-fight is quick and rewarding
+ unique enemies are smartly integrated and hinted at
+ buried treasure system is a fresh idea
+ Sky Armors are undeniably cool and well-animated
+ dungeon design is pretty good and chests are hidden well
+ some items and skills retain their German idiosynchrasies
+ overworld map is charming and quick to traverse
+ a lot of optional content to explore towards the end
+ plenty of accessability options
+ overdrive system is a genuine innovation to the genre...
Cons:
- ...but its implementation is severely lacking
- multiple enemy attacks extend overdrive level more than defending decreases it
- Sky Armor overdrive bar in particular is often completely unworkable
- Sky Armor proficiency system is unintuitive and never explained
- only four characters can wear Sky Armor and none have Ultra Moves
- combat is generally simple, early tactics can carry through the entire game
- fights cannot be avoided in dungeons and caves
- enemies' aggro radius is intransparent
- gem system is overly complex and unnecessarily frustrating
- Ultra Moves are creative but inconsequential
- leveling system is intransparent and skill increases are expensive but unsatisfying
- turn order often seems arbitrary: the same fight can start with various orders
- reviving characters does not add them to the turn order overview
- the music is mostly bland, the main combat theme is forgettable
- menus spoil late-stage aspects of the game: Sky Armor, playable characters, canning etc.
- frequent UI and interface issues (characters not in party still show up in the menu...)
- cutscenes are too long and too frequent
- the cast of characters, especially the villains, is far too large
- the writing is too expansive and dependent on plot twists
- the ending is frustrating and nonsensical
- some typos and awkward phrases mar the English translation
Magic Moments: Playing Sienna for the first time and realizing what a badass she is. Exploring the overworld and finding hidden spots, just like in the old days.
Blahgic Moments: Finding an secret character and realizing that he starts from zero and is mostly useless in combat. Getting the Sky Armor for the first time and not being able to use Ultra Moves. Using moves that you actually are not comfortable with, just to satisfy the overdrive bar.
Playtime: 55 hours on default (normal) difficulty. 100% completion. All rewards and best weapons acquired, all optional bosses beaten.
Verdict:
Every once in a while, you are bound to play a game that everyone seems to love but you are somewhat disappointed by. Chained Echoes is that game for me.
While creator Matthias Linda's reverence for the look and feel of old-school, 90s RPGs is felt at every turn and very much appreciated by this 90s kid, the overall package of Chained Echoes beyond its pitch-perfect presentation is lacking in more ways than one. The hardcore railroading, while designed to make grinding obsolete, severely limits the customization of each party member, leading to a combat system that rarely changes over the course of the game. The same tactics will carry you from the first few hours to the finale, and even if Sienna's animation in particular never gets old, the combat in general becomes boring very early on, and the Sky Armors add very little to the overall combat loop. The cast of characters is too large to have everyone experience a complete arc, especially when it comes to the giant cast of villains, and the ending to the story feels designed by a Disney committee instead of evolving naturally over the course of the game.
That being said, there is never a doubt that Chained Echoes is a real labor of love that offers plenty of secrets to discover, characters to gawk over, and cool bosses to fight, and that will be enough for many fans of the genre. But the glorious reception feels somewhat excessive, and the frequent moments of frustration and questionable design decisions should not be overlooked.
So play it with an open mind and see if it's for you, but a quick playthrough without exploring every nook and cranny of this world is certainly enough.