The prospect of taking part in Eiyuden Chronicle: Hundred Heroes excited me. Suikoden 2 nonetheless stands out as some of the formative JRPGs experiences from once I found my love for the style. After spending dozens of hours with Eiyuden Chronicle, my major takeaway is the way it proves nostalgia for Suikoden doesn’t excuse dated gameplay.
Eiyuden Chronicle got here from the late and nice Yoshitaka Murayama, creator of the Suikoden collection, and different builders tied to that Konami line of JRPGs. The spirit of that beloved, lengthy misplaced Konami collection is felt all all through this recreation. There are the plain elements, just like the over 108 out there heroes to recruit. However this additionally exhibits within the extremely political storyline, turn-based battles with six characters, tactical battle mode, and minigames. The way in which the sport gates off parts and content material is dealt with close to identically to the Suikoden collection.
Nevertheless, whereas the execution and gameplay is usually a welcome return to kind, different parts ought to have stayed previously. The Eiyuden Chronicle gameplay focuses a lot on sticking to what Suikoden did that it avoids some needed trendy enhancements. For one, it took me almost 20 hours to unlock quick journey within the recreation, which is ridiculous. It is because within the authentic Suikoden video games, that function was tied to a particular ally, and it stays that manner in Eiyuden Chronicle. Even when quick journey remained restricted, it ought to’ve opened up as an possibility in no less than half that point.
Maybe one of many oddest elements in regards to the quick journey fiasco is there’s a story second the place they make enjoyable of this. The get together has to trek again to a sure village early on by the identical forest we simply conquered a couple of moments earlier than. One get together member jokes they want they have been as a strategy to simply skip over all of that since we already did it. Whereas humorous, this second highlights the pitfalls of one of many main design philosophy problems with this recreation.
To proceed with the quick journey issues, it doesn’t cease when you unlock it. Whereas it’s welcome to have the ability to zip from city to city immediately, it has restrictions. For one, you need to use quick journey indoors like in an inn or the house base fortress. Nevertheless, you’ll be able to’t use it whereas in dungeon-like areas. The logic doesn’t at all times make a lot sense or feels constant.
Different areas the place these rose-tinted glasses come into is with the shortage of quality-of-life options. Why in 2024 can I not change the rune-lenses, that are tied to the collection’ magic and particular expertise, for my get together members wherever on the go? There are methods to alleviate this with the assistance of sure recruits, however even that has its limitations. It’s an antiquated notion in Eiyuden Chronicle tied to the way in which Suikoden dealt with its runes.
Worse nonetheless, you’ll be able to solely save in sure areas. (Attempt to not die too usually!) That is particularly unlucky in the case of the prolonged dungeons, which may take a few hours to finish. Sadly, it isn’t as a result of they’re difficult or mind-bending, both. They’re simply padded out with manner an excessive amount of filler, backtracking, and bland puzzles.
Then there are complete programs I nonetheless don’t absolutely grasp the purpose of, such because the attendants. You may carry round as much as three attendants in your get together without delay. Often, these are restricted to required story characters like Nowa or Lian. I get that is to make sure you have main gamers at sure plot factors when wanted, however why not permit all battle get together members to have the ability to turn out to be attendants? That manner, you may change between your favorites in your reserves anytime it’s worthwhile to on the sector and grind XP for a number of characters without delay.
All of those parts and the overall construction of the story, assist to color this image of a JRPG too caught previously. I loved my time with Eiyuden Chronicle: Hundred Heroes, however its gameplay feels so dated. It didn’t must be this manner, both! With a couple of key modifications and enhancements, Eiyuden Chronicles might have felt like an improved tackle the Suikoden system. Right here’s hoping the group fixes these points as they head into the already teased sequel.
Eiyuden Chronicle: Hundred Heroes is on the market proper now for Nintendo Change, PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Collection X/S, and PC.
