For years now, Workforce Asano has been synonymous with Sq.-Enix’s well-known HD-2D video games. Growing a mix of remakes and throwbacks utilizing the engine has been a heat reminder of an exquisite period of Japanese RPGs. The studio has proven a knack for mixing old-school motion with fashionable quality-of-life options. The Adventures of Elliot: The Millennium Tales appears like a pure subsequent step for Workforce Asano, with the sport following a extra action-adventure type of gameplay than the RPGs they’ve been identified for beforehand.
The sport might be finest described as a mishmash of A Hyperlink to the Previous and Secret of Mana blended into the HD-2D presentation. Regardless of these apparent influences, The Adventures of Elliot hardly ever appears like a easy homage to these classics. As an alternative, it manages to carve out an id of its personal by fashionable gameplay and a compelling narrative.
The sport begins within the Age of Safekeeping, the place the Kingdom of Huther is in a state of relative peace, below the safety of Princess Heuria’s magical barrier. Beast tribes roam outdoors of the dominion partitions, however Heuria’s spell has stored humanity protected for generations. Nevertheless, quickly into the sport the dominion is betrayed, the princess befalls a curse, and it’s as much as Elliot and his newly discovered fairy companion Faie to embark on a quest to save lots of her and the dominion by travelling by time.
One of many sport’s strengths is its storytelling by 4 distinct time intervals within the nation of Philabieldia. Horrible identify apart, the hopeful Age of Safekeeping that the sport begins in instantly turns into an extremely bleak wanting Age of Reconstruction. Elliot quickly finds that historical past has not been variety to Philabieldia, earlier than travelling to the Age of Magic, after which the Age of Budding.
Seeing how these totally different ages join to 1 one other over time is constantly participating all through the sport. Seeing that the Age of Magic as a golden period for Philabieldia, and seeing the daybreak of civilization itself within the Age of Budding creates some attention-grabbing set items. Seeing a tree that Elliot is related to within the current, and seeing that very same tree prior to now offers landmarks like this the next sense of being and function. At instances the sport depends closely on time-travel conventions, however total, it really works properly within the sport.
Elliot himself appears like a refreshing protagonist. He’s naturally a kind-hearted character that likes to do proper by others. He’s an orphan who spends his time serving to townsfolk and supporting the orphanage that raised him. He’s honest but uncomplicated, and fairly straightforward to love. Faie, his fairy companion, slowly grows on you as the sport progresses. She was written to be humorous, charming, and mysterious, but someway her voice simply grates the ears. It took a while to regulate from Elliot’s softly spoken voice to Faie’s shrill-like voice hits the ears in methods unimaginable. The builders even put in an choice to calm Faie down and have her speak much less because of the demo suggestions, however at instances she nonetheless wants to speak so much primarily based on what is going on round you.
Like every isometric action-adventure sport, the principle highlights come from exploring the world of Philabieldia. There are a lot of non-compulsory caves, problem shrines, puzzles, and aspect quests that continuously reward curiosity. One second you’ll be finishing a problem shrine and incomes Faie a brand new magic spell, the subsequent has you rescuing a cat and returning it to a cat-loving traveller on the town for rewards. There all the time appears like there’s something to have interaction with on this planet to maintain you busy however by no means sidetracked from the principle quest for too lengthy.
The journey begins with a easy sword and protect, however as the sport progresses, Elliot expands his armoury to create a deep battle system. With seven weapon varieties in whole, Elliot can change between his weapons utilizing a weapon-wheel to finest serve his present function. Swords present dependable close-range assaults, bows supply ranged assaults, bombs uncover hidden caves and paths, whereas spears, hammers, boomerangs, and chain-and-sickle weapons fill their very own want. Some weapons will be upgraded over time.
Backing the fight system is the Magicite system. Defeated enemies and hidden chests present Elliot with Magicite fragments that may be cast into enhancements and outfitted to the varied weapons in Elliot’s arsenal. Every bit of Magicite carries a particular skill and equip price. I used to be continuously balancing totally different combos of Magicite to see what labored for my play type one of the best. You can even have Faie select the Magicite for you, and you may improve the Magicite field with a purpose to equip extra Magicite varieties directly.
Faie contributes so much to the principle gameplay. She is ready to acquire close by gadgets and provides help in battle, however she can also be capable of be managed independently to Elliot utilizing the correct stick, or by a second participant in sofa co-op. As the sport progresses, she good points a lot of magical skills that can be utilized in each puzzles and fight. Warp immediately teleports Elliot to her location, Ignite lights torches and detonates explosives, Vacuum pulls in loot and enemies to a central location, and Copy creates a replica of Elliot for use in each puzzles and fight.
The Adventures of Elliot is at its finest when exploration, fight, and Faie overlap. Sending a fiery Faie to blow up a bomb held by an enemy, adopted by warping behind them to smack them with a hammer, nearly creates a pure rhythm when you’ve received the controls down pat. Boss fights particularly make glorious use of Elliot and Faie’s partnership, encouraging gamers to do greater than merely hitting the factor till it dies.
Nevertheless, the sport will not be with out its flaws. As stunning because the HD-2D presentation is, it doesn’t look something particular in comparison with Octopath, Triangle Technique or the Dragon Quest remakes. As it’s actual time fight as a substitute of turn-based, the HD-2D opens itself as much as depth notion points in battle as properly. Weapons such because the spear and boomerang miss enemies because of a misjudge of their place within the sport, even after they look completely aligned. Whereas these components aren’t extreme sufficient to derail the expertise, it’s price noting.
Added to this, whereas the fight system is far deeper than it first seems, generally it’d get too overwhelming combining the varied facets of fight collectively. Magicite combos, weapon upgrades, and Faie’s skills, there’s a lot occurring on the similar time. All of them work very well collectively if you’re seasoned at this kind of sport, however learners might need a troublesome time getting used to it .
That being stated, the sport does look implausible. At this level it’s arduous to fault the HD-2D engine, apart from the actual fact it has been utilized in nearly a sport yearly since Octopath Traveler’s launch. The distinction of the totally different eras that Elliot visits is apparent, with the luxurious greenery of the current in comparison with the ruined landscapes of the previous displaying a hanging distinction early on within the sport.
The soundtrack can also be very complimentary to the presentation. The sport mixes boisterous overworld themes and hits you with extra solemn or tense items in the course of the story moments. The voicework can also be very charming all through, and there’s hardly part of the sport the place you’re offered with textual content solely. The music, voices and artwork type mix to make the land of Philabieldia a pleasant escape from the world round us.
Further to the principle questline and the aspect quests, shrines and caves to discover, is the inclusion of Faie’s minigames. These are used to check out Faie’s magical skills as she earns them. Full the minigames properly, and you’re rewarded with music tracks from the sport that may be listened to at any time from the sport’s menu. Throw in a number of endings to find, and it’s additions like this that didn’t should be added to make the general sport higher however do add to the general accomplished really feel of the sport.
The Adventures of Elliot: The Millenium Tales is not only an try to recreate the traditional really feel of Tremendous Nintendo’s finest action-adventure titles, it’s a assured try to modernise and reinterpret it. A memorable world, versatile fight system, rewarding exploration and an endearing forged, it stands as probably the greatest, most participating HD-2D traditional by Sq. Enix so far. Some minor points with depth notion and an overstuffed fight system cease it from being an all-time traditional, however they do little to decrease what’s in any other case an extremely pleasant journey.
Score: 4.5/5
