Eiyuden Chronicle: Hundred Heroes on PC
Eiyuden Chronicle: Hundred Heroes has had a rocky street to launch. Initially slated for launch in 2022, the newest (and, sadly, remaining) sport from legendary Suikoden creator Yoshitaka Murayama is a fantastically executed JRPG that feels each trendy and nostalgic. Above all else, it’s a sport through which the developer’s ardour for the style is clear in all the pieces from the storyline to the battles.
Eiyuden Chronicle: Hundred Heroes is, in a single phrase, lovely. It’s an efficient throwback to Suikoden, however maybe most significantly, had it come out on the time it will have blown folks away. Each element has been lovingly crafted, from the beautiful environments to the lighting and shadow design to the non-obligatory depth of area choices. The sound design is equally lovely, with emotive music that underscores the occasions.
There are 120 recruitable heroes all through the sport, and every of them has a singular design. Not solely does this make it simpler to seek out heroes within the area, it additionally helps to distinguish between them. I by no means discovered myself confused between, say, Yusuke and Wyler, however I did discover myself desirous to check out each new hero I got here throughout. Not the entire designs are dwelling runs (I used to be a bit dissatisfied that the one brazenly queer character of the numerous accessible was a sexually aggressive man in a skintight unitard, to present one instance) however fortunately the hits are much more widespread than the misses.
Nevertheless, not the entire heroes are controllable in fight. Some characters can occupy help roles, providing boons reminiscent of further assets at gathering spots or the flexibility to alter your get together on the fly. Others solely be part of your headquarters (extra on that later). Nonetheless, I by no means felt that my choices had been restricted. Quite the opposite, I discovered myself taking my time to degree up as many characters are attainable.
Every recruitable hero is launched with a little bit story section that helps to outline their character, and whereas there are many acquainted archetypes there are additionally plenty of characters who put their spin on them, reminiscent of a white mage with rage points she channels into bodily energy or a six-year-old lady who rides into battle atop a yeti-like creature.
In battle, you create a celebration of as much as ten, together with as much as six members of the energetic get together. The help characters, as beforehand talked about, provide bonuses. The attendant position, in the meantime, is reserved for necessary characters you don’t essentially need to use. As such, there’s loads of alternative to construct your supreme get together.
Nevertheless, there’s a heavy factor of technique concerned. Some characters can solely assault from the frontlines, so a full get together of such heroes will hamper your potential. Others take up two areas, so placing them within the get together means one fewer hero. Some heroes may also mix their abilities for a devastating Hero Assault, so for instance it’s price preserving the brother and sister collectively the place attainable.
This isn’t to say the sport is straightforward. A number of the bosses took me a number of makes an attempt, and I’ve been taking part in JRPGs for nearly thirty years. The shortage of a capability to scan enemies could make some bosses frustratingly troublesome, whereas your tiny stock will shortly refill, typically with rune lenses you’ll want to go away a dungeon to equip. As such, I discovered myself in conditions the place a boss would shortly chew via my therapeutic objects whereas I struggled to revive my healers.
There have been occasional graphical glitches, reminiscent of unnatural mixing of the sunshine and shadows. Autosaving solely happens when coming into the world map from a city or dungeon, and since some areas are devoid of save factors it may be a little bit irritating if you wish to take a break however must maintain going. A number of the many minigames are considerably underbaked too, together with the town-building mechanic. The loading instances are additionally fairly lengthy by trendy requirements, which could be considerably irritating.
As beforehand talked about, some recruitable heroes will be part of your city in a non-combat position. As an alternative, you possibly can assign these heroes to run a store or facility, reminiscent of a mine or farm. In apply, nevertheless, there isn’t a lot customization accessible. You may’t select the place to place the recent springs or the restaurant, you merely select to construct one as soon as the choice is obtainable. It helps make the ultimate product cohesive however maybe lacks a little bit alternative for creativity.
The characters might maybe see a little bit extra growth. Most of the recruitable characters stand out of their introductory scenes, however after which might be merely relegated to the occasional line. It will have been good to see at the very least a few of them get deeper exploration, however I perceive that this can be a pragmatic selection – in spite of everything, with over 100 heroes and a world so wealthy, giving every an in depth backstory is likely to be overwhelming.
The sport advertises three central heroes, however of the three Nowa is the clear protagonist for giant sections. Whereas Seign joins the get together at an early stage, he isn’t seen once more for a protracted interval, as an alternative taking extra of a star-crossed pals position with Nowa. Marisa, in the meantime, doesn’t seem till some ten hours into the sport.
Issues open up a bit in later sections, with the flexibility to modify to a different hero’s perspective, however Nowa feels just like the central hero. It’s via him we expertise huge swathes of the story, however that’s not essentially a foul factor. Nowa matches the idealistic hero mildew so widespread in JRPGs, however I discovered him probably the most partaking of the three.
Eiyuden Chronicle: Hundred Heroes isn’t an ideal sport, by any means, however it’s a sensible one, and actually exhibits that an indie sport can nonetheless reach an AAA world if it has a powerful imaginative and prescient and keenness. Murayama sadly handed away earlier this 12 months, however he left us with a lovely remaining sport that acts as a becoming remaining title which sums up his legacy.
Eiyuden Chronicle: Hundred Heroes
Eiyuden Chronicle: Hundred Heroes has had a rocky street to launch. The newest (and, sadly, remaining) sport from legendary Suikoden creator Yoshitaka Murayama is a fantastically executed JRPG that feels each trendy and nostalgic. Above all else, it is a sport the place the developer’s ardour for the style is clear in all the pieces from the storyline to the battles.
Execs
- A beautiful throwback to basic JRPGs
- Stunning graphics and character design
- A well-realized world you may need to discover
Cons
- Occasional graphical glitches
- Some underbaked minigames
- Many recruitable characters are shortly sidelined
A replica of this sport was offered by the writer for evaluate. Reviewed on PC.