Chronicon
- July 28, 2015
- Subworld
- 34h median play time
Get on Steam"Chronicon is a historical hack and slash game with outstanding game mechanics, good graphics, and a sensational soundtrack. Play as one of four unique classes and experience the stories of the Heroes of Old in procedurally generated dungeons, either solo or in local co-op for up to 4 players. With over 400 unique items and plenty of humor, Chronicon offers fantastic replayability and a good story, although it can be very grinding."
PC
Windows
Linux
Reviews
- Chronicon offers a deep and rewarding character customization system with free respecs, allowing players to experiment with various builds without penalty.
- The game features a robust loot system with a high drop rate, making it satisfying to collect and upgrade gear, including unique and legendary items.
- Despite its pixel art graphics, Chronicon delivers engaging gameplay with fast-paced action and a fun progression system that keeps players hooked.
- The game can feel too easy, especially on normal difficulty, leading to a lack of challenge and excitement during the campaign.
- Inventory management can become tedious due to the overwhelming amount of loot that drops, making it necessary to frequently return to town to sell items.
- The combat lacks impactful feedback, making it feel less satisfying when hitting enemies, which can detract from the overall experience.
- graphics868 mentions
- 27 % positive mentions
- 68 % neutral mentions
- 6 % negative mentions
The graphics of the game are characterized by a charming pixel art style that evokes nostalgia, though opinions vary widely among players. While some appreciate the retro aesthetic and find it fitting for the gameplay, others criticize it as simplistic or unappealing, suggesting that it may deter potential players. Overall, many reviewers agree that despite the graphics not being top-tier, the depth of gameplay and mechanics more than compensate for any visual shortcomings.
“The game looks nice, with a charming pixelated art style, and ran great, which is excellent given the number of visual effects that can be on the screen at one time.”
“Chronicon is a true hidden gem within the realm of pixel graphics ARPGs.”
“The pixel graphics, though different for a game of its type, are highly appealing, and they do well to set the atmosphere too!”
“The graphics aren't that interesting and the levels feel really samey.”
“The graphics are kinda ugly, like a SNES game and a mobile game had an ugly baby.”
“I was turned off by the graphics initially and that is why I didn't buy it despite the stellar reviews.”
- gameplay814 mentions
- 36 % positive mentions
- 61 % neutral mentions
- 3 % negative mentions
The gameplay of Chronicon is characterized by its fast-paced, addictive mechanics that echo classic ARPGs like Diablo, offering a satisfying loot-driven experience with extensive character customization and skill trees. While some players find the gameplay repetitive and lacking depth in the story, many appreciate the well-designed mechanics, quality of life features, and the ability to experiment with various builds. Overall, the game is praised for its solid gameplay loop, engaging combat, and rewarding progression, making it a compelling choice for fans of the genre despite its simplistic graphics.
“Gameplay is fun with tight controls, cool skills, lots of loot, and extensive character development.”
“The variety of builds available keeps the gameplay fresh and exciting, allowing for endless customization and experimentation.”
“Chronicon has interesting skill trees, interesting general mechanics, smart quality of life features, and pretty smooth gameplay flow.”
“But overall, when you finish the campaign, the gameplay is pretty boring, and each upgrade is very hard to get.”
“The result has been an experience that consists of mostly tedious gameplay.”
“Gameplay is too repetitive with nothing original compared to other ARPGs; 10 minutes in and my inventory was already filled with loot.”
- story526 mentions
- 16 % positive mentions
- 78 % neutral mentions
- 6 % negative mentions
The story in this game is generally considered minimal and not a primary focus, typical for the action RPG genre. While some players appreciate the basic narrative structure and thematic elements, many find it lacking depth and engagement, often viewing it as a mere backdrop for gameplay. Overall, the game is recommended for those who prioritize mechanics and loot over a compelling storyline.
“What story did exist had a neat premise though, and I did generally enjoy it.”
“The story mode, despite providing many sidequests to the characters, straightforward, the fact that it depicts the action of a 'dream/memory traveler' (you, the player) reliving the tales of past heroes whose struggle brought peace to the world is an interesting choice of storytelling.”
“The story is simple, the questlines and optional quests are basic.”
“The story is mostly nonexistent but that's clearly not the focus.”
“Story is lacking; it's just a filler tutorial for the end-game.”
“The story is... weak?”
- grinding292 mentions
- 1 % positive mentions
- 3 % neutral mentions
- 96 % negative mentions
The grinding aspect of the game has received mixed feedback from players. While many appreciate the satisfying progression and the ability to optimize builds through grinding, others find the endgame experience tedious and repetitive, with some describing it as requiring excessive time investment for incremental improvements. Overall, the game is recommended for those who enjoy grinding and loot collection, but it may not appeal to players seeking a more streamlined experience.
“For example, there is a lot of content in this game, but it's not too grindy.”
“The main standout to me is with how the enchant and rune systems work; you aren't grinding for hundreds of hours hoping the same items drop with slightly better stats.”
“You can also re-roll stats and upgrade/maximize stats on your drops, so you're not grinding hours and hours for the same drop to get perfect rolls.”
“The result has been an experience that consists of mostly tedious gameplay.”
“30 hours of grinding to not even get to try a build is inexcusable in any game today, and when the main bulk of the game should be end-game build-experimenting, the fact it falls so far short there is a real problem.”
“The first map on the 2nd dungeon level is tediously long to find the boss so I can finish that and go back to follow the main quest.”
- music122 mentions
- 43 % positive mentions
- 49 % neutral mentions
- 8 % negative mentions
The music in the game receives mixed reviews, with some players finding it relaxing and atmospheric, while others describe it as forgettable or repetitive. Many appreciate the soundtrack's ability to enhance the gameplay experience, though some suggest it could be improved or recommend substituting it with personal playlists. Overall, while the music is generally considered decent, it lacks standout tracks and can sometimes feel uninspired.
“Music: 10/10”
“The game is really charming, the music is relaxing and catchy, and the combat gets really fun.”
“The overall music is good enough to not feel super repetitive after 10 hours playing, which is exactly what you need when playing these games, so that's a plus.”
“Music is utterly forgettable, and I encourage you to trade it for your own playlist ASAP. What voice acting there is has clearly been done in-house and often sounds corny and cringe, especially the voice lines of the various bosses.”
“Unfortunately, the music is not that memorable, but there is a good reason for that.”
“- the music/soundtrack can be a bit repetitive after some time.”
- replayability90 mentions
- 47 % positive mentions
- 50 % neutral mentions
- 3 % negative mentions
The game boasts exceptionally high replayability, driven by diverse character classes, extensive build customization, and procedural generation of zones that scale with player levels. Players appreciate the depth of content, including endgame challenges and the ability to experiment with different builds, making it a compelling choice for fans of action RPGs. Despite some limitations in campaign randomness, the overall replay value is considered outstanding, with many users logging thousands of hours.
“This game literally has so much content that it can do exactly that, the procedural generation of each zone is pretty amazing and well done and the fact that all of the areas scale to whatever level you are gives a lot of replayability of one zone if you plan to farm specific gear which is a good thing.”
“The depth in gear customization and skill choice is much deeper than I would have ever thought and the end game replayability stands up to many of the aforementioned ARPGs that I've sunk thousands of hours into in the past.”
“Overall this is a very promising game, sort of like a diamond in the rough, quite worth its price compared to the hours of content provided, and there's replayability with playing different classes and doing anomalies.”
“The depth in gear customization and skill choice is much deeper than I would have ever thought, and the endgame replayability stands up to many of the aforementioned ARPGs that I've sunk thousands of hours into in the past.”
“This game literally has so much content that it can do exactly that. The procedural generation of each zone is pretty amazing and well done, and the fact that all of the areas scale to whatever level you are gives a lot of replayability of one zone if you plan to farm specific gear, which is a good thing.”
“Overall, this is a very promising game, sort of like a diamond in the rough, quite worth its price compared to the hours of content provided, and there's replayability with playing different classes and doing anomalies.”
- optimization72 mentions
- 31 % positive mentions
- 53 % neutral mentions
- 17 % negative mentions
The game's optimization is a mixed bag; while many players appreciate the smooth performance and responsive input, especially in dense combat scenarios, others report significant performance issues, particularly on integrated graphics. The game excels in build customization and offers a variety of quality-of-life features, but some users have experienced lag and slowdowns, suggesting that optimization may not be consistent across all systems. Frequent updates aim to address these concerns, but the overall experience can vary widely depending on hardware.
“The skills feel useful and interesting, the itemization is complex enough to allow for meaningful customization and optimization. The additional crafting systems are not random busywork, but proper enhancements to your gear that you can explore and improve over time.”
“It nails the fundamentals that made older action RPGs great: local multiplayer, plenty of variety in character building, a known quantity of rare items and powers... and it nails what makes modern 'big number' games fun: build optimization, fitting pieces together to create exponential power growth, fast pace, and smooth gameplay.”
“Quality of life changes: private and shared stash, free and unlimited respec at base, loot filter and auto loot, detailed info on spells and scaling, complete customizability of buttons on both keyboard and gamepad, helpful journal so you can just skip dialogue, change difficulty at any time, auto-sell-up-to-rarity function makes shop visits fast, minimap shows rare item drops in case it was missed, can copy/rename characters, very well optimized.”
“Somehow I can play games like ESO, Overwatch, or Skyrim, but this game is so poorly optimized that it runs at a glacial slow rate.”
“The game is just that poorly optimized.”
“Shows a lack of optimization rather than a hardware problem.”
- stability36 mentions
- 44 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 56 % negative mentions
Overall, the game's stability is generally praised, with many users reporting a largely bug-free experience and smooth performance on various platforms, including Steam Deck and Linux. However, some players have encountered occasional freezes, audio issues, and bugs during local multiplayer, indicating that while the game is playable, there are still areas that need improvement. Despite these minor issues, the game is considered well-developed for an early access title, with a solid foundation for future updates.
“This game has extensive crafting gear options, and the quality of the work and bug-free experience is no short of a miracle for a one-man game dev.”
“Well developed, largely bug-free, lots of diversification.”
“I mean I have some complaints, but it's a generally bug-free experience and the devs really understand what makes a game like this good, which is all that's important.”
“I'm sick of troubleshooting it, and will probably just go play a game that will actually let us play co-op on our computer keyboards.”
“Remote play = game is local on my friend's computer meaning I join in on a buggy stream and the save for our game is local on his computer, meaning I can never play my character unless he is online.”
“The game seems to be at odds with itself - on one hand it's a relaxing faceroll dash/aoe spam clusterfuck with a killstreak mode - but on the other hand your character constantly freezes in place for every action, the killstreak timer is very short and easily broken, your inventory space is incredibly limited (you need to do 5 or more runs of a cleared level to vacuum up all the loot), and there are so many stats on items that it takes forever to find and compare upgrades - for such a fast-paced game there is too much downtime which really kills the flow.”
- humor28 mentions
- 93 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 7 % negative mentions
The game is praised for its quirky and nerdy humor, featuring witty NPC dialogues, amusing item names, and clever references that enhance the overall experience. Players appreciate the funny character names and boss voice lines, as well as the humorous puns scattered throughout the gameplay. While the campaign offers solid comedic moments, the endgame lacks humor, focusing instead on intense gameplay and environmental destruction feedback.
“Champion names are hilarious.”
“Overall this game is really fun, the pixel art is nice, and there are loads of puns and humor to appreciate (for example, a miniboss that's a bat named Outahel. Get it? Or a treasure-hoarding goblin that drops a unique ring, named Mollug (LOTR fans, anyone?).”
“I also liked the humor and references inside the game; those are just hilarious if one keeps an eye on NPCs' and mobs' names, locations, items, and all the other details.”
“The endgame wasn't funny, but I liked the all-screen explosions.”
“The humor fell flat during the endgame, despite the impressive visuals.”
- monetization20 mentions
- 15 % positive mentions
- 45 % neutral mentions
- 40 % negative mentions
The game's monetization model is largely praised for its lack of microtransactions and loot boxes, offering a straightforward $10 base price that many consider a bargain for the content provided. While some players express concern over the release of a new DLC as a potential cash grab, the overall sentiment is positive, highlighting the enjoyment of unlimited free skill resets and a focus on gameplay rather than artificial monetization tactics. Players appreciate the developer's approach and wish for more advertising to increase the game's visibility.
“Unlimited free skill resets make playing with the skill trees and character builds fun, ungated by artificial time syncs or monetization.”
“No microtransactions or loot boxes.”
“Other than that, the $10 base asking price is a bargain considering the amount of content you're getting - an 'AAA' grade publisher would charge $60 plus expansions, DLC, and microtransactions.”
“While I understand people wish to be paid for their work, at this point in the game's life it feels like just another cash grab to release a 'DLC' which is just a new playable class.”
“The game plays great, and could easily provide income through microtransactions in a similar model like Path of Exile.”
“Other than that, the $10 base asking price is a bargain considering the amount of content you're getting - an 'AAA' grade publisher would charge $60 + expansions, DLC, and microtransactions.”
- character development16 mentions
- 38 % positive mentions
- 50 % neutral mentions
- 13 % negative mentions
Character development in the game is praised for its extensive customization options, allowing players to explore various specs and freely respec their characters. However, some players find the pace of development slow and note that certain talents feel underpowered, with a lack of accompanying story or lore to enhance the experience. Overall, while the mechanics of character development are robust, they may not be fully supported by narrative depth.
“Gameplay is fun with tight controls, cool skills, lots of loot, and extensive character development.”
“+ fully customizable character development with free respecs at any time.”
“13 hours in and I have barely scratched the surface of possibilities available with the many different character development systems.”
“Character development is slow and some talents feel very underpowered compared to others.”
“There is almost zero story, plot, lore, worldbuilding, or character development.”
- atmosphere16 mentions
- 88 % positive mentions
- 13 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The atmosphere of the game is widely praised for its beautiful artwork and immersive music, which enhance the overall experience. The pixel graphics, while unconventional, contribute positively to the game's ambiance, making it visually appealing. Players appreciate the well-crafted environment and the rewarding loot system, which further enriches the atmospheric experience.
“The music is beautiful and atmospheric, the loot has several tiers such as ordinary (white), rare (purple), unique (light purple), legendary (red), and true legendary (orange).”
“Game so far is just + for me besides one thing and that is that the character won't rotate in 4 directions, but still, the atmosphere is just awesome!!”
“Also... music is great, atmosphere is well done and the game has crafting.”
- emotional10 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The emotional aspect of the game is characterized by a heartfelt appreciation for the developers' dedication to creating an engaging ARPG experience, despite some visual shortcomings. However, the limited depth in character builds and the ease of meeting thresholds may reduce players' emotional investment in their characters, suggesting a desire for more complexity and diversity in gameplay. Overall, while the game offers enjoyable combat, it may not evoke strong emotional connections due to its straightforward mechanics.
“The individual or small team behind this title dedicated themselves 100% to making the best ARPG their budget could allow, and for that, they have my heartfelt recommendation.”
“This limits how much thought and emotional investment goes into each build.”
“It's just good wholesome hoard of enemy bashing fun, with some endgame content that's similar to D3/PoE.”
