The Adventures of Elliot: The Millennium Tales Overview (PS5)

The worst factor about The Adventures of Elliot: The Millennium Tales is its title, so we’re off to a reasonably optimistic begin.

Sq. Enix’s newest HD-2D jaunt is an motion RPG, with its total construction resembling basic The Legend of Zelda and Mana video games.

In that sense, it seems like a little bit of a throwback, regardless of having the entire trendy conveniences you’d anticipate from a 2026 title. It is a charming mixture of outdated and new.

I have not completed The Adventures of Elliot but — that is why it is a Overview in Progress — however I am positively wanting ahead to seeing how the story wraps up.

That is as a result of the plot, whereas initially stacked with cliche characters and motives, does department into some attention-grabbing territory because it progresses. Its core forged has actually grown on me because the hours have ticked away, and there are just a few narrative twists that deliver a shocking quantity of spice to the primary quest.

You play because the titular Elliot — an already skilled adventurer who’s completely satisfied to courageous the monster-filled wilds searching for treasure.

On this world, mankind is mainly on the brink. Individuals disguise behind a magical barrier that repels the violent beast-like tribes that inhabit the remainder of the continent, and so explorers like Elliot are the lifeblood of human discovery.

The sport’s first couple of hours see Elliot tackle a royal request, and naturally, the seemingly easy job shortly takes a flip. It isn’t lengthy till the title’s central idea of time journey is launched.

Basically, the entire journey takes place over a single map, however you get to traverse stated map throughout 4 totally different time intervals.

On a mechanical degree, it really works simply as you would possibly anticipate. Dungeons and different explorable places change primarily based in your place in historical past; some outdated, principally inaccessible ruins in Elliot’s current could also be remodeled right into a technologically superior labyrinth up to now, again earlier than civilisation fell off a cliff.

The quick journey system truly covers time journey as effectively, so leaping between eras is a straightforward course of — you simply must have unlocked the related quick journey factors within the interval that you just’re visiting.

Initially, it is a pretty linear affair. The story will information you between particular cut-off dates and take you thru key places, like cities and dungeons — however development turns into extra advanced as you proceed to unlock new weapons and magical talents.

Some locations can, after all, solely be accessed by way of the usage of these unlockables, and so backtracking begins to creep into the expertise.

For essentially the most half, the backtracking is not too dangerous, as a result of sure obstacles are marked in your map — however there’s nonetheless quite a bit to maintain monitor of as a result of the whole lot’s break up between the 4 time intervals. Leaping backwards and forwards can develop into a bit of too tedious, particularly in direction of the tip of the sport.

However the rewards are sometimes worthwhile. Between weapon upgrades, gameplay-altering equipment, and easy well being boosts, The Adventures of Elliot does an excellent job of stringing you together with a continuing promise of significant development.

Certainly, I believe the sport’s pacing is usually unbelievable, which makes the aforementioned backtracking stick out a bit of greater than it ought to. The writing is basically characterful and succinct, whereas the world itself feels completely sized; I’ve by no means grown bored with exploring, and there is all the time one thing to behold round each nook.

The general really feel of gameplay is high notch, too. Responsive controls and fast-paced motion — and moment-to-moment fight — make truly enjoying The Adventures of Elliot a delight.

And talking of fight, there’s a great deal of it to go round. The overworld is virtually swamped in creatures that should be taken care of, and so it is simple to sink into the satisfying rhythm of battle.

Elliot’s assaults have a stunning weight to them, and a quickly increasing arsenal retains fight feeling recent. It additionally helps that there are many distinctive enemy sorts to cope with, whereas artistic boss fights stay a spotlight all through your entire sport.

Mechanically, fight is straightforward however efficient. Elliot can equip two totally different weapons at a time, however you’ll be able to swap between his full repertoire through a radial menu that pauses the motion. There is a good quantity of tactical range on show, notably throughout our hero’s later outings.

Elliot’s additionally outfitted together with his trusty protect, which, exterior of merely working away from an incoming assault, is your important type of defence. You may block absolutely anything, however tank too many hits and your bulwark will crumble, leaving Elliot fully susceptible for a short while.

The motion is undoubtedly at its greatest if you’re being pressured to make full use of your gear. There are some surprisingly tough, and truthfully, downright dastardly battles within the latter half of the sport, the place you will really want to lock in with the correct weapons and defensive timing.

The fight system’s an excellent instance of what may be achieved with comparatively easy mechanics in the event that they’re allowed to breathe throughout a variety of numerous encounters. I did not essentially anticipate the motion to be one in every of my favorite issues about The Adventures of Elliot, however it actually does click on on a essentially gratifying degree.

Conclusion

The Adventures of Elliot is not going to blow anybody’s thoughts with its mixture of classics-inspired exploration and fight design, however its total high quality when it comes to gameplay really feel and presentation is persistently spectacular. It is usually only a delight to play by way of.

Assuming the sport’s story sticks the touchdown, and its latter trials stay participating, this has the potential to be one thing of a standout motion RPG. I must be again with a completed assessment very quickly.