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Eiyuden Chronicle: Hundred Heroes, a Kickstarter success story, evokes the spirit of classic JRPGs, particularly Suikoden. Developed by Rabbit & Bear Studios, led by Suikoden’s creator, Yoshitaka Murayama, this game promises a nostalgic experience, but does it live up to the hype in the competitive gaming landscape of 2024?

A Grand Adventure Begins

Eiyuden Chronicle: Hundred Heroes unfolds in the diverse continent of Allraan, teetering on the brink of war between the Galdean Empire and the League of Nations. Players follow Nowa, a young adventurer from a remote village, who joins the Watch mercenary group. He quickly becomes entangled in the political turmoil surrounding Duke Dux Alric and his lust for the Rune-Lens, a source of ancient power. Nowa is tasked with building a rebel army to oppose Alric, meeting key allies Seign and Marisa along the way, setting the stage for a grand adventure.

Eiyuden Chronicle: Hundred Heroes

While the story’s premise might feel familiar, the narrative is well-paced and easy to follow. Each character and event is introduced clearly, allowing players to grasp the unfolding storyline. Remarkably, the vast cast of characters doesn’t dilute individual development. The game explores the motivations and ideals of many characters, creating emotional connections and adding depth to the narrative.

The vibrant continent of Allraan, with its diverse cultures and landscapes, adds another layer of enjoyment. From majestic fortresses and bustling cities with East Asian architectural influences to lush forests and ancient ruins, the game offers a visual feast. Conversations between party members about the regions they explore further enrich the experience, providing historical context and strengthening character bonds.

Eiyuden Chronicle: Hundred Heroes

Coupled with appealing visuals and sound design, exploring Allraan is a captivating experience, mitigating the often tedious travel inherent in traditional JRPGs.

The Legacy of Suikoden

Eiyuden Chronicle: Hundred Heroes truly shines in its gameplay and combat mechanics, which pay homage to Suikoden. Battles are turn-based, with a party of up to six characters. Players can attack, use items, or utilize skills, a familiar formula for turn-based RPG fans.

Beyond the active party, players can designate one support character and three reserves. Support characters provide various benefits, such as increased production in the base camp, enhanced loot drops, expanded inventory space, and party formation changes at safe points. This system allows players to utilize characters they might not typically choose for combat due to story requirements or lower stats.

Eiyuden Chronicle: Hundred Heroes

Boss battles are a highlight, featuring well-designed mechanics and unique challenges. Each boss, regardless of size, presents distinct combat patterns that require careful strategy and planning. The duel and army battle systems, signature elements of Suikoden, also return. However, the duels feel somewhat pre-determined, lacking the impact and emotional weight they could have had. Similarly, the army battles lack strategic depth, offering little challenge.

Base building and management are another key feature. As the leader of the rebellion, players recruit new members and strengthen their forces in preparation for the war against the Galdean Empire. Upgrading the base camp involves selecting and improving structures in the Drafting Studio, requiring specific resources and sometimes the recruitment of particular characters. This system adds another layer of engagement without overcomplicating the gameplay.

Eiyuden Chronicle: Hundred Heroes

The Weight of Nostalgia

While Eiyuden Chronicle: Hundred Heroes successfully captures the essence of Suikoden, its adherence to some outdated mechanics can hinder the experience. The frequent random encounters, a common frustration in older JRPGs, can make traversal tedious, especially against weaker enemies. While fleeing is an option, it’s not always successful, and auto-battling can lead to inefficient skill usage, particularly early in the game. Considering this is a new game with modern development capabilities, the retention of this mechanic without options for player customization is perplexing.

Eiyuden Chronicle: Hundred Heroes

The lack of fast travel further complicates navigating the vast world, especially for new players. Combined with the random encounters, traversing areas necessary for character recruitment becomes a significant chore. Additionally, several minor issues detract from the overall experience, such as clunky menu navigation with noticeable lag, slow animation speeds, and some unnecessarily time-consuming puzzles.

Eiyuden Chronicle: Hundred Heroes

Conclusion

Eiyuden Chronicle: Hundred Heroes successfully delivers a nostalgic JRPG experience, capturing the spirit of its predecessor while introducing some modern refinements. However, its adherence to outdated mechanics and minor technical issues can detract from the overall enjoyment. While fans of classic JRPGs may overlook these flaws, they might prove more challenging for newcomers to the genre.