Eiyuden Chronicle: Hundred Heroes
- April 23, 2024
- Rabbit & Bear Studios
- 3h median play time
Eiyuden Chronicle: Hundred Heroes is a truly memorable experience that absolutely will stick with you when it's over.
"Eiyuden Chronicle: Hundred Heroes" is an upcoming RPG where players lead over 100 playable characters in a quest to save a war-torn world. The game features strategic combat and character development, as well as a rich, detailed world and story. As players explore the world, they will recruit new heroes to join their cause and uncover the mysteries of the world's violent conflict.
Reviews
- The game captures the nostalgic essence of classic JRPGs, particularly the Suikoden series, making it a must-play for fans.
- The character designs and voice acting are well-executed, adding depth and personality to the diverse cast.
- The gameplay mechanics, including turn-based combat and base-building elements, are engaging and provide a satisfying experience.
- The localization has significant issues, with many lines feeling disconnected from the original Japanese script, leading to a loss of character depth.
- There are numerous bugs and quality-of-life shortcomings, such as slow menu navigation and inconsistent encounter rates, which detract from the overall experience.
- Some gameplay elements, like the war battles, feel tedious and lack the excitement expected from a modern JRPG.
- story102 mentions
- 28 % positive mentions
- 67 % neutral mentions
- 5 % negative mentions
The story of the game has received mixed reviews, with many praising its engaging narrative, character depth, and nostalgic ties to the Suikoden series, while others criticize it for being predictable and lacking the emotional weight of its predecessors. Players appreciate the compelling themes of war and friendship, as well as the vibrant character designs, but some feel the pacing is uneven and the initial hook is weak. Overall, the story is seen as enjoyable and well-crafted, though it may not reach the heights of earlier classics in the genre.
“The story has good pacing; it's easy to follow given how many participants there are.”
“You can see this is a passion project, made by people that genuinely care not only about their fans but also about creating a good game and a memorable story.”
“The rabbit & bear team have done what they're most known for, and once again crafted a lively world to explore with a large and varied cast of colorful characters, and a compelling story of friendship, war, and intrigue weaving between both a personal and epic scale.”
“They force choices behind hours of unsaveable content just to railroad the story down your throat that's about as subtle as high grit sandpaper on sunburnt skin.”
“Story: it feels like they didn’t try at all to find a way to hook you in the story at first, it feels rushed and discontinuous on the events, doesn’t set a serious tone or something that interests you at first and yet instead of keeping on with the continuity, they jump on ASAP to the next chapter.”
“The story is pretty cookie cutter and predictable but what can you expect when Maruyama is pretty much rehashing the Water Margin, a five hundred year old Chinese novel, for the fourth time in his career.”
- gameplay50 mentions
- 34 % positive mentions
- 60 % neutral mentions
- 6 % negative mentions
The gameplay of the game has received largely positive feedback, with many players praising its nostalgic turn-based combat, engaging mechanics, and the inclusion of castle building and character recruitment features. While some reviewers noted minor issues with balance and repetitiveness, the overall experience is described as immersive and enjoyable, reminiscent of classic JRPGs like Suikoden. Players appreciate the blend of familiar and new gameplay elements, although some express a desire for improved quality of life features and better localization.
“Gameplay is quick and easy to pick-up on and enjoyable.”
“The gameplay is top notch, nothing too fancy, and they stuck with what has worked for games like these.”
“Gameplay 10/10: the same old turn-based RPG like Suikoden, combo attack, rune magic, etc. The additional battle gameplay with gimmicks was interesting too.”
“The gameplay feels like it wasn't thought out at all.”
“Incidents like this keep happening in the game and make the entire gameplay experience bad.”
“Balance can feel completely out of whack, and some mechanics are pointless or make no sense.”
- music35 mentions
- 51 % positive mentions
- 40 % neutral mentions
- 9 % negative mentions
The music in the game has received a mixed reception, with many praising its powerful and nostalgic qualities that enhance the overall experience, particularly during battles and key scenes. While some tracks are described as remarkable and fitting, others feel they lack the standout quality of classic JRPG soundtracks, leading to a general consensus that the music is good but not exceptional. Overall, it complements the game's aesthetics well, though some players wish for a more dynamic and immersive sound design.
“The music and gameplay is classic.”
“The music does a good job of fitting the scenes.”
“Battle animations and music are 10/10, the main combat theme is one of the best JRPG battle themes of all time.”
“Music-wise, I have mixed feelings.”
“Music is alright, but nothing special either.”
“I never had a 'I need to have that music' moment or 'I love that music, I'll look at it on YouTube' kind of thing.”
- graphics31 mentions
- 65 % positive mentions
- 26 % neutral mentions
- 10 % negative mentions
The graphics of the game have received high praise for their beautiful 2D art style and effective combination with 3D elements, creating a nostalgic feel reminiscent of classic Suikoden titles. While many reviewers commend the stunning visuals and character designs, some note minor graphical issues and a clash between sprite and 3D models. Overall, the graphics are considered a standout feature, contributing significantly to the game's immersive experience.
“Graphics look great for the style, and no hiccups that I have seen yet.”
“The game itself looks beautiful overall; some people hate the art style, but I really love the 2D-3D combination, just like the Live-A-Live remake or Chantelise.”
“Graphics = 10/10, modern JRPG with refreshing color.”
“- zero graphics options or config/settings to tweak.”
“There are some very minor graphical issues and some unusual rendering, but nothing to ruin what is there.”
“- monsters/bosses are not pixel sprites and lead to this weird clashing of art styles.”
- grinding11 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
Overall, players have mixed feelings about grinding in the game. While some appreciate the variety of activities available, such as fishing and mini-games, others find the battle experience tedious and the monster encounter rate too low for effective leveling. The auto combat feature is seen as a positive addition, but the slow pace of grinding and the need for better gear management options detract from the overall experience.
“I don't find it particularly challenging, just boring and tedious.”
“Although, I would've liked the encounters to be a bit more frequent; I can go through a whole dungeon and only have 1-2 encounters, not very good for grinding in my opinion.”
“The quasi open-world elements are empty and tedious to run through.”
- character development5 mentions
- 60 % positive mentions
- -20 % neutral mentions
- 60 % negative mentions
Character development in the game is highlighted by its fun and varied character design, allowing players to enjoy a diverse cast with three slots for story-relevant companions. However, some players note a mismatch between character voices and designs, which can detract from the overall experience. Overall, the early impressions suggest a rich array of characters, though deeper development aspects remain to be explored.
“Character design is fun and varied; you're almost guaranteed to find a handful of characters that you'll enjoy playing with. The game allows you to do just that, giving you 3 slots for story-relevant characters to accompany you without being a part of your combat team.”
“Lots of mini games to play, unique and good character designs, exciting battles, and beautiful worlds and cities.”
“Graphic 10/10: the character design, map, town, etc. give a Suikoden vibe.”
“Character designs and voices are incredibly mismatched at times; it's actually kind of impressive how wide this gap can be.”
“The character development feels shallow and lacks depth, making it hard to connect with any of the characters.”
“There seems to be little to no growth for the characters throughout the game, leaving them feeling static and uninteresting.”
- humor5 mentions
- 80 % positive mentions
- -40 % neutral mentions
- 60 % negative mentions
The game's humor is a standout feature, eliciting genuine laughter through unique character interactions and amusing dialogue, despite some occasional confusion. While criticisms of the English localization being "cringy" are noted, many players find these complaints exaggerated, as the overall comedic charm and engaging gameplay more than compensate for any localization issues.
“This game has made me laugh out loud at least a dozen times already. The characters are all unique, and their interactions are amazing; you will have no problem finding favorites here.”
“Some dialogue can be confusing at times, but it adds a certain humorous charm to it.”
“If you enjoy playing at your leisure using any characters you like, trying weird and funny builds without worrying about being punished, then this is a good game for that.”
“The localization is unfaithful, filled with cringey words and sayings, and the jokes just fall flat. To make matters worse, they changed a character from the original work to the point where it's basically a different person.”
“The humor attempts to be clever but ends up feeling forced and awkward, leaving me more confused than entertained.”
“Many of the jokes feel outdated and rely on clichés, making it hard to find anything genuinely funny in the game.”
- emotional5 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
Players express a deep emotional connection to the game, with some feeling heartbroken over its perceived shortcomings while others experience profound joy and nostalgia, leading to tears during gameplay. The rich character recruitment and compelling story evoke strong feelings, reminiscent of classic titles like Suikoden, highlighting the game's ability to resonate on a personal level.
“Maybe this sounds emotional, but I cried tears of joy when I played it.”
“I especially loved that there were so many characters I could find and recruit, and the story was so emotional it sucked you in.”
“Playing this game made me feel the same way I did when I first played Suikoden; my tears fell, and I was very touched.”
- stability5 mentions
- 40 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 60 % negative mentions
The game's stability has received mixed reviews, with some players praising its performance on platforms like the Steam Deck, while others report significant bugs, including a game-breaking change rune issue and various camera glitches. Overall, the experience can be marred by these technical problems, leading to frustration for some users.
“Looks great, runs great, plays great.”
“A lovely throwback JRPG that runs great on the Steam Deck.”
“The game is so buggy that I had to waste time replaying it for an hour because of the change rune bug that prevented me from continuing.”
“There are also some visible camera glitches here and there on release.”
“So many things also don't work; Eiyuden is really buggy and broken.”
- optimization4 mentions
- 50 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 50 % negative mentions
The game's optimization has received mixed reviews, with some players reporting game-breaking bugs and performance issues, while others note that it runs smoothly on certain hardware, such as the 3050. Overall, while the game showcases a passionate design in various aspects, optimization remains a concern for some users.
“Game runs smoothly on my 3050.”
“Story, gameplay, animation, optimization, and soundtrack are crafted with intricate passion.”
“Bugs and poor optimization; sadly, the game has quite a few of them, and some can be game-breaking.”
“Some bugs and performance problems.”
- atmosphere2 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- -50 % neutral mentions
- 50 % negative mentions
The atmosphere effectively complements the game's vibe, creating an immersive experience, though it may not be captivating enough for prolonged enjoyment.
“The atmosphere hits all the right notes.”
“It fits the atmosphere and the vibe of the game.”
“It fit the atmosphere and the vibe of the game; it just didn't make me want to listen to it all day.”
- replayability1 mentions
- 300 % positive mentions
- -500 % neutral mentions
- 300 % negative mentions
Players appreciate the added hard mode and various options to increase difficulty, which enhance the game's replayability by providing new challenges and experiences.
“The added hard mode and other options to increase the game's difficulty really enhance its replay value for me.”
“Each playthrough feels unique thanks to the variety of choices and paths available, making me want to dive back in.”
“The random events and different character builds keep the gameplay fresh, ensuring I can enjoy multiple runs without it feeling repetitive.”
“The added hard mode and other options to make the game harder give it replay value, at least for me.”
“Once you complete the game, there isn't much incentive to play through it again.”
“The lack of meaningful choices and branching paths makes replaying the game feel redundant.”
Critic Reviews
Eiyuden Chronicle: Hundred Heroes review
Eiyuden Chronicle: Hundred Heroes is a truly memorable experience that absolutely will stick with you when it's over.
95%Eiyuden Chronicle: Hundred Heroes review
A joyous adventure and fitting swan song for one of Japan's great RPG directors.
85%Eiyuden Chronicle: Hundred Heroes PC Review
A love-letter to older JRPGS, pushed through a modern filter that manages to hit the sweet spot between nostalgic and new.
90%