Chronos: Before the Ashes

About

"Chronos: Before the Ashes" is an atmospheric RPG following a hero's lifelong quest to save their homeland, with a unique aging mechanic where the player character grows older and stronger with each death, but risks losing years of their life. Explore the depths of a mysterious labyrinth, battling enemies and leveling up with age-related skills, while facing the cost of mortality. The game features a young and nimble hero evolving into a wise and magic-attuned elder.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

Single-Player Play through the game's story or campaign solo

59%

Audience ScoreBased on 38 reviews

story1 positive mentions

graphics3 negative mentions

The game has an interesting story and good visuals.
It is a decent game with a unique dynamic involving death and aging.
The product was shipped quickly and was well-packaged.

The game mechanics are clunky and slow, making combat frustrating.
There are significant performance issues on the Switch, including low framerate and bugs.
The game feels outdated and lacks the polish expected from a recent release.

gameplay
4 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
75%
75%
The gameplay has received mixed reviews, with some players criticizing the mechanics as clunky and abysmal, particularly at the start. However, as players progress, they find the game improves, leading to a more favorable overall experience despite lingering issues with the mechanics.
- “The gameplay is engaging and keeps you coming back for more.”
- “The mechanics are well-designed and enhance the overall experience.”
- “I found the gameplay to be intuitive and enjoyable, making it easy to immerse myself in the game.”
- “Maybe a good game as far as design and some gameplay, but the mechanics are abysmal.”
- “I know this was a budget game, but that’s not an excuse for awful mechanics.”
- “Terrible, terrible mechanics… I almost gave this 3 stars because of the other aspects of the game, but the clunky gameplay is that bad.”
graphics
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
67%
100%
The graphics of the game are generally well-received for their design and aesthetic, but the Switch version suffers from significant bugs and poor framerate, making it nearly unplayable. Users recommend opting for other platforms to fully enjoy the visual experience.
- “It seems to be an interesting story so far, and the visuals are good.”
- “The game has a great design and aesthetic.”
- “Quite buggy and it's obvious that graphically this is the worst version.”
- “The graphics are outdated and lack detail, making the game feel unpolished.”
- “Character models look flat and lifeless, which detracts from the overall experience.”
stability
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The game suffers from significant stability issues on the Switch, with numerous glitches, severe frame rate drops, and overall poor performance, making it nearly unplayable. Reviewers recommend opting for other platforms to avoid these frustrating technical problems.
- “A certain number of glitches are to be deplored...”
- “Quite buggy and it's obvious that graphically this is the worst version.”
- “The game is almost unplayable on Switch, very buggy in some places, and the framerate drops are so bad. Disappointing that my first experience of this game was on Switch, because from what I've played, I really enjoy it; it's got a great design and aesthetic... but I'd recommend any other version but Switch.”
story
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The story is considered interesting, complemented by appealing visuals that enhance the overall experience.
- “It seems to be an interesting story so far, and the visuals are good.”
humor
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
300%
The game is noted for its humor, offering a lighthearted take on the souls-like genre that balances challenge with accessibility, making it enjoyable without being overly difficult or lengthy.
- “A funny souls-like, not too hard, not too long.”
- “The humor in this game is spot on, making even the toughest moments enjoyable.”
- “I couldn't stop laughing at the witty dialogue and hilarious character interactions.”
music
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
300%
The music aspect of the game has been criticized due to a significant issue where a music score required to progress in the labyrinth does not function, preventing players from advancing. This problem appears to be widespread among users, particularly on the Nintendo platform, leading to calls for an update to resolve the issue. Despite this setback, players express a strong appreciation for the game overall.
- “The game has a problem when you reach the maze; you need to play a music score, and it doesn't work, so you can't progress any further. This happens to everyone; I've talked to others, and they have the same issue. They should update it to fix the problem. It only happens on the Nintendo, which is a shame because I love the game.”
- “The music in the game is repetitive and lacks variety, making it feel dull after a short while.”
- “I found the music to be poorly mixed and not fitting for the game's atmosphere, which really detracted from the overall experience.”
grinding
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
300%
Players generally find the grinding aspect of the game to be tedious, indicating that it can become a monotonous and repetitive experience.
- “The grinding in this game feels incredibly tedious and repetitive.”
- “I found the grinding mechanics to be a major drag, making the game less enjoyable.”
- “The amount of grinding required to progress is overwhelming and takes away from the fun.”