A side-scrolling stealth platformer, Chronicles attempts to recreate authentic Assassin's Creed gameplay in 2.5D. China follows minor series character Shao Jun as she returns to her homeland to defeat a ruling cabal of Templars. The presentation here is admittedly lovely, with a painted wall-scroll aesthetic but it's merely a facade, hiding some of the least intuitive or enjoyable gameplay the franchise has ever had to offer. Shao Jun gets a bevy of items to use against each scenario but there's often a single "correct" way to deal with each challenge, and getting it wrong means you have to engage with the frustrating and awful combat.

Reviewed on Jul 10, 2023


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