Eiyuden Chronicle: Rising
- March 1, 2023
- NatsumeAtari
- 9h median play time
Eiyuden Chronicle: Rising has flashy combat and gorgeous visuals, but the repetitive gameplay loop really holds it back.
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Get on PS Store"Eiyuden Chronicle: Rising" is an action-adventure game that follows a thrilling expedition through ancient ruins to help a town rebuild after an earthquake. Players resolve disputes, deepen bonds with characters, and uncover a dark conspiracy that connects to the main story of "Eiyuden Chronicle: Hundred Heroes." The game also introduces a portion of the larger series' cast.
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Reviews
- Beautiful graphics and charming character designs that evoke nostalgia for classic JRPGs.
- Engaging combat system that becomes more enjoyable as players unlock new abilities and combos.
- Satisfying town-building mechanics that provide a sense of progression and investment in the game world.
- Overreliance on repetitive fetch quests that can feel tedious and detract from the overall experience.
- The story is simplistic and lacks depth, making it less engaging for players seeking a rich narrative.
- Combat can feel unresponsive and clunky at times, especially in the early stages of the game.
- story1,362 mentions
- 22 % positive mentions
- 72 % neutral mentions
- 6 % negative mentions
The story of "Eiyuden Chronicle: Rising" serves as a lighthearted prequel to "Eiyuden Chronicle: Hundred Heroes," focusing on the rebuilding of a village through a series of fetch quests that often feel repetitive and lack depth. While the main narrative is straightforward and occasionally charming, many players found themselves skipping dialogue due to its simplicity and the overwhelming number of side quests, which detracted from the overall engagement with the story. Despite its shortcomings, the game introduces colorful characters and a whimsical setting, leaving players curious about the upcoming main installment.
“All in all, I had a splendid time unveiling the story as it progressed and also the backstories of the townsfolk.”
“The narrative is rich with lore, and each of the dozens of inhabitants adds a unique touch to the unfolding story.”
“The joy of seeing New Nevaeh flourish under your guidance, coupled with the engaging quests and delightful characters, makes this game a standout experience.”
“However, if the story, world, characters, and overall writing quality of this prequel are supposed to make me excited to play Hundred Heroes and spend 50 more hours with them, I can assure you:”
“I started skipping more and more of the dialogue as I kept playing, and by the end, I was straight-up skipping main story dialogue.”
“The story is also very barebones and could be summed up in 3 sentences.”
- gameplay466 mentions
- 32 % positive mentions
- 62 % neutral mentions
- 6 % negative mentions
The gameplay of "Eiyuden Chronicle: Rising" is characterized by a blend of simple action RPG mechanics and town-building elements, primarily revolving around fetch quests and character progression. While the combat is engaging and features a unique character-switching mechanic, many players find the gameplay loop repetitive and lacking in challenge, with some noting that it can feel overly simplistic and linear. Overall, it offers a casual and enjoyable experience, particularly for fans of the genre, but may not satisfy those seeking depth or complexity.
“It's a neat little metroidvania with some fun combat mechanics, so I'd recommend it if that's what you're looking for.”
“Eiyuden Rising is a delightful action RPG that brilliantly combines town-building elements with engaging quest-driven gameplay.”
“The gameplay is a blend of classic RPG elements and town-building mechanics.”
“The gameplay is simple, doing jobs and quests (mostly fetch quests) to help the townspeople so you can get stamps which will help the protagonist build the town into a proper town.”
“Those sidequests, which take over about 90% of the total gameplay, are all the likes of 'go gather x amount of items', 'kill that thing and give me back my stuff', or 'go talk to a couple NPCs that are like a screen away'.”
“The main gameplay itself is just a big fetch quest, from the start to finish.”
- graphics255 mentions
- 54 % positive mentions
- 45 % neutral mentions
- 2 % negative mentions
The graphics of the game have received widespread acclaim for their stunning 2.5D art style, vibrant colors, and detailed environments that evoke nostalgia while feeling modern. Players appreciate the charming character designs and the overall aesthetic, which combines elements reminiscent of classic JRPGs with contemporary graphical fidelity. While some minor issues with character animations and texture quality were noted, the visuals are generally described as beautiful and immersive, enhancing the overall gaming experience.
“The art style is colorful and detailed, with a charming aesthetic that brings the world of New Neveah to life.”
“Visually stunning hand-drawn artwork brings the world of Eiyuden Chronicles: Rising to life, with every environment and character meticulously crafted to evoke a sense of wonder and nostalgia.”
“With gorgeous 2.5D graphics, cute anime-style artwork, a fully-realized cast of characters and world-building as well as an excellent soundtrack will give you a thoroughly enjoyable experience.”
“Graphics look a bit rough on my 10bit HDR monitor yet on my 10bit HDR TV they look smooth and flowing.”
“First of all, the game feels like a mobile game (graphic and gameplay wise).”
“Mediocre metroidvania with lackluster story, graphics, and action.”
- grinding188 mentions
- 2 % positive mentions
- 2 % neutral mentions
- 96 % negative mentions
The grinding aspect of the game has received mixed feedback, with many players noting that it can become tedious and repetitive, particularly due to the abundance of fetch quests and resource gathering required for upgrades. While some found the grinding rewarding and enjoyable, especially for completionists, others felt it detracted from the overall experience, leading to a loss of interest in the story and side content. Overall, the game is characterized as grindy, particularly in the late stages, but offers a fun and engaging experience for those who appreciate the genre's mechanics.
“The learning pattern is quite simple and straightforward, no tedious gameplay, no boss is too hard, no grinding is required.”
“Not too grindy.”
“No grinding for leveling-ups.”
“Game started off looking great, ended up feeling like a farming material simulator, lost interest in the story and all the useless side quests.”
“Make no mistake, it's grindy as hell, you have to keep clearing out the same areas over and over again to find crafting components and quest items, especially if you want to complete all the side quests (which are mainly fetch quests).”
“The endless fetch quests got exceedingly tedious.”
- music176 mentions
- 51 % positive mentions
- 45 % neutral mentions
- 3 % negative mentions
The music in the game receives mixed reviews, with some players finding it pleasant and atmospheric, while others criticize it as repetitive and uninspired. Many appreciate the soundtrack's ability to enhance the game's visuals and overall experience, though some feel it lacks memorability and variety. Overall, while the music complements the game well, it may not stand out as exceptional or groundbreaking.
“The soundtrack complements the visual experience perfectly, with melodic tunes that enhance the atmosphere and immerse players in the game's world.”
“Beautiful visuals and soundtrack: the game's art and music create an enchanting atmosphere.”
“With gorgeous 2.5D graphics, cute anime-style artwork, a fully-realized cast of characters and world-building as well as an excellent soundtrack will give you a thoroughly enjoyable experience.”
“The music is unbearable.”
“Most cookie cutter music in all of gaming, like they didn't even try to make an engaging soundtrack.”
“Due to how the game re-uses areas you'll sadly be subjected to the same few tracks constantly, further hampering an already limited soundtrack.”
- humor50 mentions
- 96 % positive mentions
- 4 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The humor in the game is widely praised for its witty dialogues and quirky character interactions, providing a light-hearted and entertaining experience. Players appreciate the balance between heartfelt moments and comedic elements, with many finding the writing to be superb and reminiscent of classic JRPGs. While some dialogues may feel stilted, the overall tone is engaging and often genuinely funny, making the quests enjoyable.
“The game's writing is superb, offering a mix of heartfelt moments, humorous interactions, and intriguing mysteries that keep players invested in the town's revival.”
“Thematically, a love letter to JRPGs of yesteryear - sweet, emotional, and genuinely funny in places.”
“The story is great, the character development is superb, the infighting between characters is hilarious.”
- character development34 mentions
- 53 % positive mentions
- 35 % neutral mentions
- 12 % negative mentions
Character development in the game has received mixed reviews, with some praising the engaging dialogue and memorable character designs inspired by Suikoden, while others criticize the lack of depth and the uneven pacing of character arcs, particularly noting that significant development is often reserved for the game's final moments. Overall, while the character designs are highlighted as a strong point, the actual development of characters varies, with some players expressing a desire for more substantial growth throughout the story.
“The story is great, the character development is superb, the infighting between characters is hilarious.”
“For story game aspects: the dialogue is interesting and engaging, the character development is great.”
“If you end up loving Hundred Heroes and want a tiny bit more character development on some of the recurring characters, come back and play Rising.”
“However, every 5 enemies you fight you get assaulted with story and character development... and it's not very good.”
“- Meat of story and character development held until the last 5% of the game.”
“No huge stakes, little to non-existent character development.”
- emotional24 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The emotional aspect of the game is highlighted by its superb writing, which blends heartfelt moments, humor, and intriguing mysteries, creating a charming and engaging experience. Players appreciate the nostalgic homage to classic JRPGs, with a heartwarming story and likable characters that evoke a sense of warmth and investment. While some feel the game serves as a delightful appetizer rather than a full course, its wholesome nature and emotional beats resonate strongly, making it a memorable experience.
“The game's writing is superb, offering a mix of heartfelt moments, humorous interactions, and intriguing mysteries that keep players invested in the town's revival.”
“Thematically, a love letter to JRPGs of yesteryear - sweet, emotional, and genuinely funny in places.”
“Eiyuden Rising is definitely an important introduction for Eiyuden: Hundred Heroes to establish not only the lore, but the quality of product that the developers are aiming for with this new IP - a spiritual successor to Yoshitaka Murayama's Suikoden, which I have a lot of emotional investment in since Suikoden is perhaps the most important game of all time for me.”
- atmosphere16 mentions
- 25 % positive mentions
- 56 % neutral mentions
- 19 % negative mentions
The game's atmosphere is largely praised for its enchanting visuals and melodic soundtrack, which effectively immerse players in its world. While the music enhances the experience, some players note that it can become repetitive, particularly in areas where they spend a lot of time. Overall, the atmosphere is described as chill and whimsical, capturing the essence of a classic JRPG.
“The soundtrack complements the visual experience perfectly, with melodic tunes that enhance the atmosphere and immerse players in the game's world.”
“Beautiful visuals and soundtrack: the game's art and music create an enchanting atmosphere.”
“But this game has nailed atmosphere, vibe, the sense of wonder that truly good games provide!”
“Nothing especially notable that I can recall, but it does its job of generating atmosphere.”
“For the most part, it leaned towards a 'chill' atmosphere more than anything.”
“Quirky characters, very JRPG atmosphere.”
- replayability14 mentions
- 14 % positive mentions
- 64 % neutral mentions
- 21 % negative mentions
The game's replayability is mixed; while it offers some value through its contained narrative and the ability to switch between three playable characters, many players find the side quests shallow and express a desire for more playable characters and additional content. Overall, the limited scope and character options lead to a perception of low replayability.
“Three are playable as your party (switching between them freely within dungeons), some primary characters and many secondary characters.”
“Would be great if there are more playable characters and maps DLC.”
“Not really replayable.”
“Not a lot to say in terms of replayability.”
“The game also offers a lot of replay value even if many side quests are shallow.”
- optimization14 mentions
- 21 % positive mentions
- 50 % neutral mentions
- 29 % negative mentions
Overall, the game's optimization is mixed; while it offers impressive graphical fidelity and runs smoothly on high-end hardware like the RTX 4070, players experience stuttering during certain actions, such as dodging. Some users noted that the game requires high thermal design power (TDP) to maintain consistent frame rates, indicating suboptimal performance. In contrast, Eiyuden Chronicle: Rising is highlighted for its strong optimization, making it a standout in the action RPG genre.
“The game runs well without any performance and graphical issues (RTX 4070 laptop), and the blending of the environment while the player is exploring or battling is vibrant and pristine.”
“Eiyuden Chronicle: Rising's performance is very optimized for an action RPG game.”
“Maybe my nearest comparison is Enderlilies with the team system of FFXV and actually ridiculously easy and optimized grinding that is addictive and enjoyable.”
“You can't do multiple dodges in a row fluidly without stuttering pauses in between.”
“The game is not optimized very well, so expect to use high TDP to hit consistent FPS.”
“Though the game is so easy on the normal difficulty, you can even use these non-optimized side characters without relying on anyone else and easily defeat bosses.”
- stability8 mentions
- 38 % positive mentions
- -12 % neutral mentions
- 75 % negative mentions
Overall, the game demonstrates strong stability with no reported game-breaking glitches or issues, and it runs smoothly on the Steam Deck. However, certain mechanics, such as stun locks and freezing effects, can hinder character switching and movement, which may affect gameplay experience.
“It runs great on Steam Deck!”
“It runs great on Steam Deck!”
“The stability of the game is impressive, providing a smooth experience throughout.”
“Basic attacks can stun lock you, petrify freezes movement, ice freezes all action, and the damage over time effects prevent you from switching characters.”
“There are no game-breaking glitches.”
“There are no game-breaking glitches.”
- monetization2 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
The monetization of the game is viewed positively, as it is not perceived as a cash grab but rather as a thoughtful introduction to the Eiyuden universe, reflecting the developers' genuine passion and care for the project.
