WHAT’S AN EIYUDEN!?

Look, don’t crucify me, but as a teen, I sold Suikoden 2. I didn’t care to keep it in my library, and that’s despite being a turn-based fanatic. I couldn’t tell you what my thought process was when I came to that decision, but I regret it. Not only because, as a collector, it hurts knowing that I relinquished such a gem, but because it’s tied to dear memories. Stupidly, I allowed the valuation to cloud my judgment. it’s true that Konami plans to re-release it and the first in a polished state for modern consoles, but they’re sure taking their sweet time doing so. Fortunately, a gaggle of former developers have assembled to whet our appetite with a spiritual successor. 

Now, I vividly remember stumbling on the Kickstarter campaign for Eiyuden Chronicle: Hundred Heroes. Everything I read in the description tickled my taint, and it quickly became a title I was eagerly anticipating. As someone that’s enamored with writing, including one hundred heroes also piqued my curiosity. I had to know how they’d accomplish that feat, and I’m honoured to get the chance.

This coverage is dedicated to the memory of creator Yoshitaka Murayama-san. Your legacy lives on.

PREPARE FOR BATTLE!

I reckon war enthusiasts are going to grow absolutely enthralled with this story. It’s a classic drama of seeing nations go head-to-head. We get to see the trials and tribulations that come with such an awful state of affairs. Needless to say, I was engrossed. Betrayal, loss, and brotherhood are the themes investigated and will coalesce to create an encapsulation of wonder. There will be nay-sayers about the plot, and of course, this game has a moment or two of cheesiness. Amid the serious undertones, there will be comedy bursting to the forefront. In that same breath, Rabbit & Bear Studios balance both very well. Nothing felt forced for levity or impact.

It’s important to note that this tale isn’t steeped in fantasy. Sure, there are elements, like magic and dragons, but it mixes in a healthy dose of medieval. In fact, I’m crazy enough to say there are glimpses of Sci-Fi. I’m in awe of how it amalgamates these genres efficiently. It’s done with grace, which is a sign of immense attention to detail. The world that Rabbit & Bear Studios has carefully crafted is fascinating. I always found myself yearning to see what’s next. It isn’t due to the notion of it being unpredictable. Nope, it’s due to how well-told it is. Tropes make it obvious, but the thirst to know how it got there motivated me on. On several occasions, I’d start in the morning before, boom, it’s midnight.

I HAVE THE GIGGLES!

Let’s not mince any words – this localization is minty fresh. That belief carries into the excellent banter. Honestly, I laughed more than I expected to. I’m ecstatic to see that the same quality I saw in Eiyuden Chronicle: Rising is alive and well. I reckon that it’s far better than it was in the spin-off. The two main characters, Lian and Nowa, have the best interactions by a country mile. Their verbal sparring consistently put a smile on my face. I adored how she teased and pestered him. I’m not frightened to admit that I did laugh. I may not have plummeted into hysterics, but as I read, there were definitely hearty chuckles. By proxy, the delight that I felt during my session was always to an elevated degree.

Unfortunately, my experience in JRPGs puts me in a position where I can confidently say that folks are going to find some lines cringeworthy. I wouldn’t be surprised if there were groans and eye-rolls. It’s going to happen, and there’s no hiding from it. What I’m a fan of is that Eiyuden Chronicle is self-aware of how bad it gets. When a terrible pun gets said, it’s criticized. In a way, it felt like the developers acknowledged the reactions of their audience. It doesn’t shy away from the ridiculous and it isn’t afraid to make a fool of itself. It’s lighthearted, and while I sense an immense passion in the core narrative, an equal bit is in the satire. It’s evident that a ton of polish went into ensuring the script is perfect and that effort shines.

RISING TO HEROES!

Let me answer the question I’m sure everyone has. No, it isn’t a priority to play Eiyuden Chronicle: Rising. However, there’s a caveat. While the storyline is standalone, the three protagonists of the companion title are present in Eiyuden Chronicle: Hundred Heroes. As a result, expect them to allude to the journey they had together. Unless you’re privy to it, a couple of humorous quips will be lost to the void. It’s a shame since whenever I noticed it, it added to the charismatic energy. It seems Rabbit & Bear Studios assumes that if you’ve indulged in one, you’ve done it with the other, but that’s not the reality. When all is said and done, though, it’s ultimately inconsequential, but you do get a bonus if you’ve played Rising beforehand.

Okay, this following tidbit won’t necessarily be a stain on Eiyuden Chronicle, but it merits a discussion. There’s a mountain of complaints lodged at JRPGs daily, from the presentation of their females to the tired cliches. The most common is how, occasionally, things will be hidden behind speaking to NPCs. Well, I regret to report that this game has that. Firstly, some key items are only received after an interaction. Secondly, I might discover a nifty side activity. Finally, the 100 Heroes are usually scattered throughout the locales I’ll be visiting. It’s my responsibility to approach them, but you’ll be happy to hear it’s easy to tell who’s recruitable. Luckily, the fluff that NPCs spew can be endearing, but also spawn teammates at certain spots.

WHO’S IT GOING TO BE!?

Let’s get into the real meat and potatoes of Eiyuden Chronicle and the reason for the satisfaction that engulfed me. After I’ve swooned probable allies, a select couple will have the capability to be positioned as support. By doing so, these warriors tap into passive skills they possess, such as a girl named Marin, who bolsters the amount of meat or pelts that I can forage. It’s rather handy, speeding up the act. There’s a variety of these exceptional talents to pick from, pushing me to experiment to find the one that benefits my current aspirations. For instance, say I need better equipment, but I’ve no funds. By shuffling bodies, I can remedy that with ease until stumbling on something else I’m short on.

THROW IT BACK!

I’m almost positive that JRPG stands for Japanese Role-Playing Grind because we’ll be doing a modest bit. I love this process generally, and the execution here provokes further fascination. See, the game notifies me when I’ve gotten overly powerful for an area. What I mean is, if I’m level 15, massacring enemies until level 16, then the EXP I’ll gain lessens if I continue – instead of 200, it drops to 125. It’s an ingenious system. Essentially, Eiyuden Chronicle is dynamically scaling to ensure I don’t become a killing machine. I can’t mitigate the challenge of future bosses by getting stupidly strong. It’s also the signal to move on with the journey since the lower my returns, there’s no point to keep at it.

A major pet peeve is when there are a ton of units to choose from. Because I can’t train them all, a level disparity is promised. If they aren’t deep in the trenches with me, they aren’t earning EXP. Without fail, it comes to a crossroads that has me choosing my favourites and neglecting the rest. Unless I’m required to change, my combatants are forever solidified. Dynamic Scaling, however, wants to be the solution, and it is. The optimal way to explain it is that it mimics a fast-forward button. When I’m on a map full of vicious beasts and sitting at level 30, I’ll likely get a paltry 40. If I repeat it with a level 15 in my ranks, it turns into 1000. This tweak keeps a beautiful flow to the gameplay, making it a smoother ride.

Suikoden was a unique JRPG, primarily due to Army Battles. These pit you against the opposition, but unlike a traditional encounter, you command a brigade of soldiers. Eiyuden Chronicle attempts to inject its own flavor into this idea. It aims to streamline it, but that’s not what it achieves. I won’t sugarcoat how confused it made me. The tutorial concisely says that the strength of my party influences the army, but it fails to articulate anything more. Hell, I still don’t have a grip on this mechanic. I was left to guess my own devices. It’s incredibly mindless. It’s possible that my disability is at fault, and if so, that’s a hit to accessibility. Whatever the case, it’s the weakest link, and it had me clumsily stumbling to victory.

WAIT, COULD THAT BE!?

It’s evident the main hook of Eiyuden Chronicle is the 100 heroes that are mentioned in the title. They’re spread across the world map, in towns, and dungeons. It’s my job to track them down, and to do that, I’ll be retreading waters. Basically, exploration is key to accumulating a finished collection, and it will have me returning to places I’ve been to. Unlike Suikoden, none seem tied to a time limit, which is a relief. There’s no wasting minutes constantly going back and forth ad nauseam and hoping one of the trips garners results. It eliminates monotony because I can check for companions at my leisure. Sure, there’s really no obligation to search, but trust me, not doing so causes players to miss out on critical abilities.

I’m beyond enthused to see that every individual brought into Nowa’s resistance has a purpose. They aren’t just trash meant to pad out the roster or extend the duration of Eiyuden Chronicle. They’re there to enrich my session, thanks to the techniques that they bring to the table. From being able to teleport to villages in a quick snap to directly guiding those I missed, Bear & Rabbit Studios seem to be hellbent for us to witness every corner of this project. They’ve gifted us tools that not only make traversal a breeze but, if we want, direct us to comrades. Rest assured that there’s an in-game way to pinpoint their locations. It involves being social to gather hints, but if that sounds dull, note that with diligence, I managed to with none of that.

If you thought that’s the sole application for these enlistees, you’re mistaken. One of the aspects that sold me on Eiyuden Chronicle: Hundred Heroes was the city building. If you’ve read any coverage I’ve done, you’ll see my obsession with flexing my creativity. While yes, what’s here isn’t actually customizable in terms of placing homes wherever, the predetermined nature of it still scratched that itch. I was focused on achieving 100%, and that’s why I was adamant in hunting down everyone. I could feel the completionist inside me growling with hunger, and populating this town was the food to satiate it. The materials I get by foraging in forests or mines also aid in growing a metropolis.

LINE THEM UP!

Despite my word vomit thus far, I’ve yet to touch on combat. That’s because it’s not innovating much. That said, there are slight flourishes that do heavy lifting, but in the grand scheme of things, they’re negligible. Still, those tiny additions are intriguing. The gimmick notion is pretty darn cool. Basically, if I’m facing a crab-like kaiju that’s propping itself up with smaller versions, I can eliminate those to cause the big boy to fall, becoming temporarily vulnerable. I can then strike, dealing massive damage. I may periodically even find I’m thrust into a tussle with monsters, and situated behind them is a chest. It tries breaking up the tedium of mashing A continuously with that, getting the player engaged, and it does the trick.

I want to acknowledge the strategy I found. See, JRPGs tend to fluctuate between magic and skill points. Whereas the former is definitely included, so too is the latter. These are gained by participating in encounters, with each attack equalling a single. It carries into the next bout, as well, meaning I can hoard it until the head honcho of the dungeon I’m in. It’s rarely clear when it’ll ambush me, too, so I’ve got to weigh my options. I can either defeat the henchmen, so to speak, by unleashing the entire brunt of the rapture or be frugal. Now, I concede that we’re not looking at an extensive brain cruncher. Like the Gimmicks feature, however, it wants to implement elements of engagement, and I’d say it suffices.

Of course, that isn’t it in terms of the strategic tinge. I want to preface how initially, I thought the enemy’s damage output could be tweaked to not hit so hard. It hurts like a mother, but then I began to notice something. Eiyuden Chronicle aims to nurse my item hoarding tendencies. By utilizing health potions, survivability becomes attainable. While yes, a party member biting the dust is guaranteed, don’t panic. Bear & Rabbit Studios expect you to go wild, drenching yourself in liquid with healing properties. I had to carefully plan my every move, further cementing how captivated I was. There is an “Auto” facet and the A.I is somewhat intelligent but don’t trust it if you’ve got any aspirations for life.

ARE YOU SEEING THIS!?

The visuals of Eiyuden Chronicle: Hundred Heroes are, without exaggeration, stunning. It looks like an evolution of the 2D-HD aesthetic pioneered by Octopath Traveller. I adore how crisp it is, even on the PlayStation Portal. The craftsmanship in the sprites is immaculate. I have seen a complaint about the blurriness. It’s personal taste if it’s effective or not, but the reason it’s used is to mimic far distances. As I get closer, the image quality sharpens. For what it’s worth, it does nail the feel of depth. All of the environments are also amazing on the PS5. They’re flush with greenery and vibrancy. I’m honestly impressed by the art direction. The meticulous flourishes in the graphics is of the highest standard, and the blood, sweat, and tears has paid dividends.

WHISPER IN MY EAR!

Simply put, the audio in Eiyuden Chronicle: Hundred Heroes is nearly flawless. The music has me wishing for a soundtrack. When there is a cutscene of a motivational speech, the music reflects the tone. After everything is said, I feel the adrenaline coursing through my veins as if I were there. The roar of the instruments feels like a sultry seduction of my ear holes. It’s the perfect compliment to the gameplay. Sadly, it does trip a little with the voice acting of a familiar face.

Note that the majority of the cast has nailed their performances. The delivery of their lines are fantastic. When sarcasm is called for, the tone’s friggin perfect. If confusion or worry slides onto the menu, the cadence gets served. Occasionally, they might even go off-script and add minor flares that infuse that extra bit of personality. It’s clear the actors were committed to bringing these sprites to life, and it shows in spades. I especially like how speech impediments like stutters have a wide range. If you look at the differences between fear and nerves, the inflections contrast. It’s pure talent by these folks. It’s why it pains me to say that Isha is robotic and usually stiff as hell.

AND THE 100 HEROES VERDICT IS…

Eiyuden Chronicle: Hundred Heroes is a JRPG that deserves recognition as a masterpiece. Despite the shortcomings, it’s impossible not to smile. Whether it’s due to pop culture references or Lian’s bubbliness, there wasn’t ever a point I wasn’t entertained. It’s mind-boggling to think how Rabbit & Bear Studios gave one hundred characters an identity. The gameplay is dope, too, with the dynamic scaling being a highlight. The developers came out swinging haymakers, landing their punches flush to the jaw of this genre. Nothing else to say but that this game’s bloody fantastic. Yes, I suggest you buy this gem. Murayama-san has, indeed, left his mark on the industry, and he outlined a sequel before leaving us.

 

Graphics: 10.0 I’m a sucker for the 2D-HD aesthetic and to see what seems like an evolution of that has me starry eyed. Any person can tell that a ton of resources went into ensuring the visuals are impeccable, and it has paid off in spades.	Gameplay: 8.5 Out of everything in Eiyuden Chronicle, I only dislike the war sections. However, they’re semi-frequent, and when there’s a crucial feature of a game that I struggle to comprehend, that’s poor design. It shouldn’t be a factor and because what surrounds it is great, it makes it really stand out as the thorn that it is.
Sound: 9.0 I want the soundtrack in a deluxe edition of the game or something. It needs to happen. The voice acting is on par with the quality in the various songs. I did notice when it came to sad moments, the accompanying tracks weren’t quite there.	Fun Factor: 9.5 Yes, the army battles were a bit confusing. The thing is, Eiyuden Chronicle: Hundred Heroes is chock full of content. It can keep me busy for hours upon hours before I start to get bored. From card games to spinning tops, I was very rarely not engaged.
Final Verdict: 9.5

Eiyuden Chronicle: Hundred Heroes is available now on PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S, Nintendo Switch, and PC.

Reviewed on PlayStation 5.

A copy of Eiyuden Chronicle: Hundred Heroes was provided by the publisher.