Rob Reviews Chained Echoes on Xbox Series X…
The 90’s was a great era for JRPG titles. As a somewhat golden era for the genre, we had the likes of Tales of Mana, Final Fantasy VII, Chrono Trigger, and many more. While a lot of what the genre had to offer never strayed far out of its native Japan, recently a few of those hidden gems have made it over to Western markets. That being said, intersected with these grand pioneers are the indie titles that have been inspired by what made these greats so memorable. One such title is Chained Echoes that’s been developed by solo developer Matthias Linda. Coming fresh from a very successful Kickstarter campaign, Linda has created a role-playing title that he, a RPG fan would want to play. As such Chained Echoes is as much as it’s own title, as it is a homage to the genre’s golden era.
Taking place on the war-torn lands of Valandis, Chained Echos tells the exploits of a rag-tag group of heroes who find themselves drawn together in these unimaginable times. What starts of as a simple narrative about ending the war, soon spins into one that involves hidden destinies, vengeful gods, friendship, and loss. While these all sound like those classic RPG story traits - which they are - Chained Echoes presents its story in a way that does subvert some expectations. Across its sprawling story there’s plenty of twists and turns, with an ending that’s just as shocking as that seen in Mass Effect 3 - but executed a heck of a lot better. While the narrative flows at a decent pace, there are a few elements that are either glossed over or remain unanswered by the games conclusion. As such I’m fully expecting a sequel to be with us in the next couple of years.
When it comes to characters, Chained Echoes features quite a diverse group of heroes. Ranging from all walks of life this group has to learn to work together in the spirit of mutual cooperation, while everyone has their own personal interests and ideals. With such a vast cast it’s easy for some to get lost in the sea of these different voices. Thankfully the games early chapters allows us to control the characters individually as we learn about them and their situations. It’s a nice introduction that helps to build the wider world, and also helps to create that emotional link between the game and the player. As with any RPG there are those personalities that do stand out and as such the characters get type cast into certain roles. While Chained Echoes is guilty of this cliche, there’s enough variety that it benefits the narrative flow, rather than hinders it.
Playing much like a tradition JRPG, Chained Echoes manages to incorporate a few well known mechanics, while improving upon the traits that don’t necessarily work. For instance there’s a fast travel option that’s open from the start, and you’re also able to save the game at any point. Granted these are fairly regular commodities in modern video games, but for RPG’s they’re still relatively scarce. Another great improvement is how the game deals with death. With plenty of titles, seeing your party being wiped out by a particular nasty monster would of seen a game over screen, to then having to restart at a previous save. Seeing this as a frustration, Chained Echoes gives you the option to simply restart the encounter. If this isn’t enough, you’re also able to tweak a few different options which will give you more of an advantage in combat.
Combat takes on the staple turn-based style. For anyone who’s played a turn-based RPG in the past, the system employed here is just like riding a bike. Each character comes with their own set of attacks and abilities, which are all selected by navigating and selecting them on the combat menu. This then queues the relevant action and the selected character will then play it out during the battle. In an effort to mix this up there also the Overdrive system which adds another layer to proceedings. Overdrive is basically a bar that fills up during combat that unlocks certain perks as the battle rumbles on. With the skills required to keep the meter topped up changing every four turns, it allows for greater flexibility in combat, as relying on one move will see the Overdrive heat up which then applies debuffs to the team.
Later on the game some of the team get access to mechanised suits. These can also be piloted during combat, and while the premise remains the same, there’s systems in place to stop you being too overpowered. Personally I did enjoy how the battles played out. It essentially gives you a lot of freedom to mix things up, but also kind of forces you to do so. Often the Overdrive forces you to select a skill thats going to be worthless, or switching party members all due to the threat of overheating. Granted you don’t have to keep the Overdrive’s tempo, but it drastically shortens the time in battles if you do. In reality, while it’s a nice system and has a lot of strengths to it, there is room for refinements
Each character levels up at a consistent rate with each other with experience being granted by defeating bosses, or reaching certain objectives. This then gives every party member an even keel to work on, and you’ll never have a distinctly weak party. This does also mean that you can’t simply grind levels - further enforced by the games lack of random encounters. What this does do is keeps the game fair. You’re never too underpowered that you get steamrolled, and likewise you’ll never do the steamrolling. It all about exploring, finding equipment, and utilising stat points in a methodical way while enjoying the journey you’re on.
Speaking of the journey, Chained Echoes is a game that you’ll be playing for a while. It’s packed full of side quests and activities that’ll keep you in the lands of Valandis for plenty of hours. Side quests often pop up as you progress the story which then leads on to whole stories of their own, while a simple bounty board offers quick rewards for battling certain monsters, or discovering locales. If this isn’t enough you also get access to your own customisable island, complete with your own mech suits, and fancy airship. Considering that the game has been made by a single person, there’s an absolute tonne of content.
When it comes to presentation, Chained Echoes is distinctly 16-bit. Its a great retrospective fusion of the games that have inspired Linda, while adding a modern twist. Character sprites are well designed, with each reflecting their personalities and cultures. Likewise boss characters and other enemies all fit the bill. While this is stunning in its own right, Linda then marries it with some gorgeous scenery that makes everything come to life. There’s great detail that been put into the various biomes that makes Valandis feel alive. And wether your roaming around in dark, shadow filled forests, or high in the mountains, Chained Echoes is a pure delight to look at.
The same can also be said to the games soundtrack. Featuring a wealth of orchestral tones, and rock and roll anthems, the soundtrack oozes with emotion that captures the emotional drama with the ferocity of combat.
While Chained Echoes does a lot right, it’s not a perfect game. This is mainly seen within the games dialogue which can be a little disjointed and pulls you away from the immersion. While it can be put down to English not being Matthias Linda’s native language, it also shows the constraints that a solo developer has.
Overall Chained Echoes is a commendable effort by a solo developer to craft a worthwhile story into a much beloved genre. For those looking for a modern take on a retro classic, or those simply wanting a video game to get lost in, Chained Echoes is one that comes highly recommended!
Rating: 8.5/10
A code was kindly provided for this review
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