Eiyuden Hundred Heroes is a game crafted with love and passion by early genre pioneers, reflecting their expertise in storytelling and character development. While it isn't perfect, it offers a mostly enjoyable experience and worth playing for fans of the genre.

Nostalgia plays a significant role in the game, balancing old-school elements with modern expectations. While some 90s and 2000s mechanics may feel outdated, the developers' commitment to their vision deserves credit.

The game's strengths lie in its world-building and graphics. The HD-2D visuals are stunning, with detailed backgrounds and impressive effects. The storyline, focused on empires, rebellions, and political intrigue, unfolds believably and avoids gratuitous twists.

Characters are another highlight, with strong voice acting and engaging personalities. However, the large cast can lead to some characters fading into the background post-recruitment. I always want more of certain characters and less of others, but that's the way the wheel spins when you have over 100 characters in your troop.

A major issue for me is the game's unbalanced experience. Combat difficulty spikes early but becomes routine later. The turn-based system, while nostalgic, can feel tedious, although the auto-battle feature helps. The inability to grind beyond a point and random battles offering little reward are also drawbacks.

Pacing problems emerge about a quarter in, making the game feel slow and aimless. However, I found for myself that playing on handheld devices can alleviate some of this frustration with multitasking. The music, mini-games, and base-building mechanics are adequate but not exceptional.

Overall, I'm glad I backed this project despite some mixed feelings. As a fan of JRPGs, supporting pioneers in the genre is important. I look forward to their next title, hoping they learn from Hundred Heroes and Rising to create something truly special.

[Footnote: I did not address the English localization controversy, as it seemed rooted in bigotry and did not impact my experience during 70+ hours of gameplay.]