Chrono Ark
- May 2, 2024
- Al Fine
- 37h median play time
Get on Steam"Chrono Ark" is an action-adventure game where players explore various timelines to rescue historical figures from alien abduction. Utilize unique weapons, gadgets, and abilities to overcome challenges and uncover the truth behind the Chrono Ark. With vibrant pixel art graphics and a synth-pop soundtrack, this game offers a nostalgic yet fresh experience for players.
PC
Windows
Reviews
- Chrono Ark combines engaging storytelling with deep deckbuilding mechanics, making it a standout in the roguelike genre.
- The game features a diverse cast of characters, each with unique abilities and playstyles, allowing for a wide variety of strategies and team compositions.
- The soundtrack is exceptional, enhancing the overall experience with memorable and fitting music for both exploration and combat.
- The English translation can be awkward at times, leading to confusion regarding card mechanics and abilities.
- Some players may find the runs to be lengthy, often taking 2-3 hours to complete, which can lead to fatigue.
- The UI can be clunky and unintuitive, particularly when navigating menus and managing inventory.
- story2,408 mentions
- 40 % positive mentions
- 58 % neutral mentions
- 2 % negative mentions
The story in "Chrono Ark" is a standout feature, praised for its depth and emotional engagement, which is uncommon in roguelike games. Players appreciate the intricate narrative that unfolds through multiple runs, revealing plot twists and character backstories that keep them invested. While some find the storytelling verbose or convoluted, many agree that the combination of gameplay and narrative creates a compelling experience that enhances replayability.
“The game doesn't tell you much at the start on what is happening in the world, and it's up to you to uncover the mysteries, and boy there are a lot of plot twists every time you progress.”
“The story is very solid, and while the characterization and interactions aren't as complex as a game like Hades, the plot itself is much deeper and more interesting, as are the motives and actions of the major players.”
“This is probably the best game with rich storytelling that actually explains why you can play the loop infinitely.”
“The story is long, fleshed out, and entertaining; that being said, I don't care about the story, I only care about gameplay, and this has plenty of it.”
“The story is a tad convoluted, but the 2D fighting cutscenes were some of the most intense I have ever seen from a game that utilizes this sort of presentation.”
“The story is filled with plotholes, plot points that make no sense, and premises that just exist so the story can move forward.”
- gameplay1,752 mentions
- 35 % positive mentions
- 63 % neutral mentions
- 2 % negative mentions
The gameplay of "Chrono Ark" is characterized by its intricate mechanics and deep strategic elements, blending roguelike deckbuilding with RPG features. Players can choose from a diverse cast of characters, each with unique abilities that encourage experimentation and synergy, while the combat system incorporates innovative mechanics like action timers and a healing gauge. Although the game presents a steep learning curve and can be overwhelming at first, many players find the gameplay rewarding and engaging, especially as they uncover the depth of its systems and the interplay between gameplay and story.
“The variety of mechanics keeps the game engaging across multiple characters and there are some truly unique ones especially near the end of the game.”
“The gameplay is simple yet deep, with each character not only having their own mechanics, but synergies with others.”
“The gameplay loop is engaging and the cast of 24 characters adds in a lot of replayability.”
“The dev doesn't understand deckbuilder games; a lot of JRPG mechanics don't match well with the normally faster tactical aspect of roguelike deck builders. You will constantly be pulled out of the roguelike part to follow the RPG story.”
“Lots of bugs (especially controller-related bugs), mediocre translation with plenty of typos, and the game is absolutely terrible at explaining crucial mechanics.”
“The tutorial consists of one short battle that explains extremely simple things like attacking and healing, but misses complicated mechanics and many keywords you will see when playing.”
- music650 mentions
- 64 % positive mentions
- 36 % neutral mentions
- 1 % negative mentions
The music in the game has received widespread acclaim for its seamless transitions between calm exploration themes and intense battle tracks, enhancing immersion and engagement. Many reviewers highlight the soundtrack as a standout feature, with boss fight music being particularly praised for its energy and emotional impact. Overall, the music is described as fantastic, with a variety of memorable tracks that elevate the gameplay experience, making it a key element of the game's appeal.
“I am in love with the soundtrack of this game; it fits the tone really well, and I can listen to it all day.”
“The music, especially in the later stages, is amazing. They basically have two versions of every song: a mellow and an upbeat version. When you enter combat, it seamlessly switches between the mellow to upbeat no matter where you are in the song, and switches back after combat to the mellow. This gives it a real immersion effect.”
“The soundtrack is killer as well.”
“The soundtrack is alright I guess, but it's rather repetitive at times, which is a shame because it does have bangers.”
“The OST is kinda bland; outside of the final stage (which at the moment is the 4th), all of the music is forgettable.”
“After a time or two completing runs with each character, it just gets tedious repeating the same song and dance over and over for an additional taste of a decent storyline.”
- graphics285 mentions
- 55 % positive mentions
- 43 % neutral mentions
- 2 % negative mentions
The graphics of the game have received mixed reviews, with many praising the beautiful anime artwork and character designs, which enhance the overall experience. While some players find the chibi art style charming, others feel it can be bland or jarring, particularly in the overworld. Overall, the visuals are considered decent, with effective use of 2D sprites and particle effects, complemented by an exceptional soundtrack that elevates the game's aesthetic appeal.
“The game has beautiful anime artwork, and they put a lot of work into that artwork.”
“The visuals are very nice, especially the locations, which make the atmosphere 10 times better.”
“An incredible deck-building roguelite experience, featuring a great soundtrack, spectacular artwork, and a very unique gameplay system!”
“The art style is a bit bland and the game doesn't visually stand out in your memory (the chibi card-art is really cute though).”
“I almost refunded this game after seeing the art style and thinking it was poor quality.”
“I understand that this is a stylistic choice, but it feels very much like RPG Maker horror games, except the art style just makes it come across like a bad anime.”
- replayability164 mentions
- 49 % positive mentions
- 49 % neutral mentions
- 2 % negative mentions
The game boasts exceptionally high replayability, driven by a diverse cast of characters, unique playstyles, and various synergies that keep each run feeling fresh. Players appreciate the engaging gameplay loop, numerous unlocks, and the ability to experiment with different strategies, ensuring that even after completing the story, there are plenty of reasons to return. While some players note that the investment required may be challenging for those with busy lives, the overall consensus is that the game's depth and variety offer significant replay value.
“Great mix of roguelite card-battler and visual novel, filled with a lot of replayability.”
“The gameplay is 10/10 and replayability is great, so I'll be playing more even after I finished the story!”
“Very deep combat, with a large cast of characters, each with their unique playstyles, combined with synergies within a four-person party brings an incredible amount of replayability and variety to the mix.”
“One of the primary strengths of roguelikes & deckbuilders is the replayability inherent in the runs...but by making them such tiring investments...I think anyone with a busy life will just be hard pressed to put the type of investment into this game needed to get the rewards.”
“The gameplay loop is engaging and the cast of 24 characters adds in a lot of replayability.”
“The game's replayability is immense, and as soon as you figure out how a character works you immediately want to test it out with different combinations and builds.”
- character development57 mentions
- 53 % positive mentions
- 42 % neutral mentions
- 5 % negative mentions
Character development in the game is generally praised for its engaging and varied character designs, which contribute to a rich visual and narrative experience. While many players appreciate the depth hinted at in the characters' backstories and the overall aesthetic, some critiques point to a lack of depth in character development and writing. Overall, the game successfully combines strong character design with gameplay, though the time investment required for full runs may limit players' exploration of all character combinations.
“You can really tell the developers put tons of work into character design, story/campaign, and uniqueness of cards/abilities.”
“Most games either skimp on gameplay or skimp on story/character development, and I'm pleased to say that Chrono Ark is very strong on both fronts.”
“This game brought me in with interesting character design that was both varied and charming, and I have stuck around for the amazing soundtrack, engaging and thoughtful gameplay, and beautiful storytelling.”
“I think the character development was shallow, and the writing was on the weaker side.”
“Multiple characters give you variety in terms of gameplay and character development; however, given each run will take 1:30 - 2 hours, it can be tough to feel justified in trying all the combinations for synergy since getting through full runs requires a lot of free time in a sitting and, in my opinion, is tiring.”
“I think some of my frustrations with 'complex' character designs might have been alleviated with a better UI, and maybe a touch more information shown to the player, particularly with the discard pile.”
- emotional54 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The emotional aspect of the game is highly praised, with players noting its ability to evoke deep feelings through well-crafted character arcs and heartfelt moments. Despite some writing flaws, the narrative's progression leads to impactful emotional payoffs, often resulting in tears by the end. The combination of a charming art style, a fitting musical score, and engaging character interactions enhances the overall emotional experience, making it a memorable journey for players.
“The game is a charm to play, and to look at, with plenty of cute, real, and heart-wrenching moments for all characters involved in the story.”
“While I won't go into detail on this to avoid potential spoilers, just know that the more you play, and the more runs you clear, the better the story will get, until you reach the end and it delivers an emotional gut-punch to you.”
“I love getting the flashback logs that explain how the world ended up like this, and I teared up like crazy with Leryn's recruitment sidequest - it's a beautiful little story that comes out of nowhere and instantly made me feel connected to her and Phoenix.”
- atmosphere38 mentions
- 58 % positive mentions
- 34 % neutral mentions
- 8 % negative mentions
The game's atmosphere is consistently described as creepy and melancholic, effectively immersing players in its world through strong visuals and a well-integrated soundtrack. Reviewers appreciate the combination of engaging storytelling and atmospheric elements, which enhance the overall experience and keep players invested. The atmosphere is noted as a key factor in the game's appeal, contributing to a sense of attachment to characters and a desire to explore further.
“I love getting immersed in the dreary atmosphere of the twisted land.”
“The atmosphere is strong, and you quickly become attached to Lucy and her party.”
“The music alone builds up and maintains the game's atmosphere and helps to pull me in and keep me wanting to play another round.”
“Sharp writing, strong atmosphere, and plenty of mechanical depth, but a game with small, shallow character vignettes instead of a single driving narrative.”
- grinding33 mentions
- 9 % positive mentions
- 9 % neutral mentions
- 82 % negative mentions
Reviews indicate that while the game offers enjoyable mechanics and varied content, the grinding aspect can become tedious over time, with some players feeling that the repetitive nature of runs detracts from the overall experience. Although there are strategic elements and multiple bosses to face, the lack of significant rewards for repeated playthroughs and a predictable unlock system may lead to frustration for those seeking a more dynamic progression. Overall, opinions are mixed, with some finding the grind less burdensome than expected, while others view it as a major drawback.
“You'll need a second life for grinding.”
“You'll need a second life for grinding.”
“You'll need a second life for grinding.”
“After a time or two completing runs with each character, it just gets tedious repeating the same song and dance over and over for an additional taste of a decent storyline.”
“The excessive length quickly grows tedious and they frequently forcefully take you out of the game.”
“Unlike those games, this game only has a few small rewards for playing over and over and none of them make a huge difference (besides a couple new characters) so it's not even a matter of grinding.”
- optimization24 mentions
- 13 % positive mentions
- 46 % neutral mentions
- 42 % negative mentions
Overall, the game's optimization has received mixed reviews, with many players noting significant issues, particularly with controller support and resource usage. While some aspects of gameplay run smoothly, there are frequent freezes and performance drops, especially during fights and transitions. Many users express hope for future improvements, indicating that the current optimization is lacking and could benefit from further refinement.
“Overall 9.8/10 would recommend, I just hope it gets optimized better in the future.”
“No bugs or inconsistencies in performance that I have seen in the few days I've played.”
“There's optimization to be had in the way you use the items you find, but as long as you manage to defeat a zone's boss (which to be fair is consistently fun, as they have really clever gimmicks), there aren't many advantages to eke out through clever play.”
“The controller... this game is poorly optimized for controller use.”
“On the downside, it could use some optimization; I think it uses more resources than it should.”
“Gameplay is good, but the optimization is still lacking; there's more room to improve.”
- stability20 mentions
- 10 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 90 % negative mentions
The game's stability has received mixed reviews, with many users reporting frequent bugs, including freezing during level loads and issues with the controller. While some players find the gameplay enjoyable despite these glitches, others describe the experience as a "buggy mess," particularly criticizing the poorly implemented save system. Overall, the game is still in early access, suggesting that ongoing updates may address these stability concerns.
“If you like JRPGs and card builders, this is a great addition to your collection, and it otherwise runs great on the Steam Deck.”
“It's a buggy mess and the save system is very poorly implemented and not explained at all.”
“Also, my game freezes a bit when loading a new level or viewing my deck.”
“Also, the controller is buggy and you will get softlocked occasionally.”
- humor18 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The humor in the game is highlighted through its funny card mechanics and character interactions, which are often described as hilarious, adorable, and sometimes heartbreaking. Players appreciate the grounded nature of the characters, particularly the younger protagonist, and enjoy the comedic skits featuring characters like Joey and Merlant. However, while the humor is engaging at first, some users feel it can become repetitive and lose its charm over time.
“The character interactions are grounded and can be hilarious, heartbreaking, and adorable. It makes me appreciate having a younger protagonist who is not battle-hardened or always ready to make tough decisions. The interactions with Joey's potions are hilarious and super cute.”
“My favorite characters are Joey and Merlant (Charon), as they're having very funny skits at the moment.”
“Banger roguelite with funny mechanics similar to other games.”
