Eiyuden Chronicle: Rising
- March 1, 2023
- NatsumeAtari
- 10h 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-packed RPG that follows the journey of a small village as it becomes a bustling town. The game encourages players to strengthen their bonds with villagers and allies through town-building and exciting battles. As the player progresses, they will uncover the mystery of the rune-laced Eiyuden Valley and set the stage for the upcoming mainline game.
Nintendo Switch
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Windows
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Reviews
- The gameplay is enjoyable and the combat system is fun once you unlock more abilities.
- The graphics are beautiful, with a charming art style and vibrant backgrounds.
- The characters are likable and the writing is engaging, making the story enjoyable.
- The game is heavily reliant on tedious fetch quests, which can become repetitive.
- The difficulty is very low, making it easy to breeze through without much challenge.
- The pacing is slow, with frequent interruptions for unskippable dialogue and quest notifications.
- story921 mentions
- 21 % positive mentions
- 73 % neutral mentions
- 6 % negative mentions
The story of "Eiyuden Chronicle: Rising" is generally viewed as simple and straightforward, serving primarily as a prequel to the upcoming "Eiyuden Chronicle: Hundred Heroes." While some players appreciate the charming characters and lighthearted narrative, many criticize the overwhelming number of fetch quests—over 160—that can feel repetitive and tedious, detracting from the overall experience. Despite its shortcomings, the game successfully builds anticipation for the main title, with engaging dialogue and a satisfying town-building mechanic that rewards players for completing side quests.
“The story is wonderful, building the town from the ground up and making sure it flourishes.”
“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.”
“The story is a little bit of a mess and can be hard to follow.”
“The story is straightforward, but it helps to keep the action going rather than add gameplay hours for the sake of it, and I consider that a plus.”
“The story is also very barebones and could be summed up in three sentences.”
- gameplay315 mentions
- 33 % positive mentions
- 60 % neutral mentions
- 7 % negative mentions
The gameplay in "Eiyuden Chronicle: Rising" is characterized by a blend of simple combat mechanics and a focus on fetch quests, which some players find repetitive and tedious. While the combat can be enjoyable and features unique mechanics like character swapping for combos, many reviews note that the overall experience lacks depth and challenge, making it feel more like a casual, laid-back adventure rather than a demanding RPG. The town-building elements and engaging visuals are praised, but the gameplay loop can become monotonous, especially with the abundance of side quests that often feel like busywork.
“I love the mechanics of this game; the travel system is also phenomenal.”
“A refreshing RPG with beautiful pixel art aesthetics and engaging gameplay.”
“The gameplay is a blend of classic RPG elements and town-building mechanics.”
“Unfortunately, the rest of the game is still tedious even if the gameplay is okay.”
“The gameplay loop is basically you being in town, which expands during the course of the plot and depending on how much you engage with the side-quest/rebuilding efforts.”
“The dungeon design is very bland, and the gameplay loop essentially has the player repeatedly entering the same few dungeons, fighting the same enemies, not random or scaled up or anything, to grab one key item and then returning to town, then repeating this again and again for hours.”
- graphics170 mentions
- 57 % positive mentions
- 41 % neutral mentions
- 2 % negative mentions
The graphics of the game have received widespread acclaim for their beautiful and vibrant pixel art style, which combines modern aesthetics with nostalgic elements reminiscent of classic RPGs. Players appreciate the detailed environments, charming character designs, and the overall enchanting atmosphere created by the visuals and soundtrack. While some critiques mention minor issues with character animations, the overall graphical fidelity is praised, making it a standout feature of the game.
“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.”
“One of the most amazing aspects of the game is its art style, a blend of carefully animated 3D environments with very detailed pixel art characters is simply gorgeous.”
“First of all, the game feels like a mobile game (graphic and gameplay-wise).”
“The art style and graphics are okay, but I can't pick any more positives.”
“Mediocre metroidvania with lackluster story, graphics, and action.”
- grinding123 mentions
- 2 % positive mentions
- 2 % neutral mentions
- 96 % negative mentions
The grinding aspect of the game has received mixed reviews, with many players finding it excessively tedious and repetitive, particularly due to the abundance of fetch quests and resource farming. While some appreciate the grind as a rewarding experience that enhances gameplay, others feel it detracts from the overall enjoyment, making the game feel like a "farming material simulator." Overall, players who enjoy grinding may find satisfaction in the mechanics, but those who dislike it are likely to find the experience frustrating and monotonous.
“The learning pattern is quite simple and straightforward; no tedious gameplay, no boss is too hard, and no grinding is required.”
“Not too grindy.”
“No grinding for leveling up.”
“Having what amounts to 5 stages isn't great to go back to over and over the entire game since you'll be farming those stages for side quests or equipment.”
“I quit the game at 160 quests and it unlocks what I presume are repeat quests that you can farm for rewards if you're enough of a masochist to continue grinding for no particular reason.”
“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).”
- music111 mentions
- 54 % positive mentions
- 42 % neutral mentions
- 4 % negative mentions
The music in the game receives mixed reviews, with some players praising its charm and ability to enhance the atmosphere, while others criticize it as generic and repetitive. Many noted that while the soundtrack complements the visuals well, it lacks variety and can become stale over time, leading some to prefer listening to alternative soundtracks. Overall, the music is described as pleasant but not particularly memorable, with a few standout tracks that resonate with players.
“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.”
“The music fits each situation very well and the action combat is very smooth and just feels good.”
“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.”
- humor31 mentions
- 97 % positive mentions
- 3 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The humor in the game is generally well-received, with players highlighting a mix of hilarious dialogues, quirky characters, and light-hearted interactions that enhance the overall experience. While some critiques mention that certain dialogues can feel stilted or meaningless, the majority appreciate the witty writing and the balance between serious and comedic moments, making the game entertaining and engaging. Overall, the humor adds a charming and enjoyable layer to the gameplay, reminiscent of classic JRPGs.
“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 conversations are sometimes hilarious, yet informative.”
- character development20 mentions
- 55 % positive mentions
- 30 % neutral mentions
- 15 % negative mentions
Character development in the game has received mixed reviews, with some players praising the engaging dialogue and memorable character designs, while others feel that the depth of character development is lacking, particularly until the final moments of the game. While the character designs are often highlighted as distinctive and appealing, the actual narrative and character growth are seen as inconsistent, with some players expressing a desire for more substantial development throughout the story. Overall, the game offers a visually pleasing experience with potential for deeper character exploration in future installments.
“The character designs are distinctive and memorable, contributing to the overall appeal of the game.”
“The story is great, the character development is superb, the infighting between characters is hilarious.”
“If it wasn't, this game is still worth your time if you want a well-written story with a surprising depth of character development for a side scrolling action game.”
“However, every 5 enemies you fight, you get assaulted with story and character development... and it's not very good.”
“- The meat of the story and character development is held until the last 5% of the game.”
“No huge stakes, little to non-existent character development.”
- emotional15 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 nostalgia for classic JRPGs, creating a charming and engaging experience. Players appreciate the heartwarming story and likable characters, noting that while the game may feel like a brief appetizer, it effectively evokes emotional connections and anticipation for future installments. Overall, it is described as a wholesome and delightful adventure that resonates with both new and longtime fans of the genre.
“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.”
“As a Steam curator, I must say: Eiyuden Chronicle: Rising presents itself with such ease, heartfelt, welcoming, and light adventure that owns its charm completely.”
- atmosphere10 mentions
- 30 % positive mentions
- 40 % neutral mentions
- 30 % negative mentions
The game's atmosphere is largely praised for its enchanting visuals and melodic soundtrack, which effectively immerse players in its world. While some find the music repetitive over time, it generally contributes to a chill vibe that enhances the overall experience. However, issues with localization detract from the atmosphere for some players, indicating a mixed reception in that regard.
“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.”
“The frequent, consistent misuse of grammar in a way that doesn't add to atmosphere shows that the people who did localization simply didn't know what they were doing.”
“For the most part, it leaned towards a 'chill' atmosphere more than anything.”
- replayability8 mentions
- 38 % positive mentions
- 25 % neutral mentions
- 38 % negative mentions
The game's replayability is limited, primarily due to the small number of playable characters and a contained narrative focused on village rebuilding. While there are opportunities for replay value through side quests, many players feel that the overall experience lacks depth and variety, leading to a consensus that replayability is minimal. Additional playable characters and content updates could enhance this aspect in the future.
“The game also offers a lot of replay value even if many side quests are shallow.”
“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.”
“I admit there's probably no replayability though.”
“Not really replayable.”
“Not a lot to say in terms of replayability.”
- optimization7 mentions
- 43 % positive mentions
- 14 % neutral mentions
- 43 % negative mentions
Overall, the game's optimization is mixed; while it runs well on high-end hardware with impressive graphical fidelity, players have reported issues with fluidity during dodging and inconsistent performance requiring high power usage for stable frame rates. Comparatively, Eiyuden Chronicle: Rising is noted 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.”
“Maybe my nearest comparison is Ender Lilies with the team system of FFXV and actually ridiculously easy and optimized grinding that is addictive and enjoyable.”
“Eiyuden Chronicle: Rising's performance is very optimized for an action RPG game.”
“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 slap bosses.”
- stability4 mentions
- 75 % positive mentions
- -50 % neutral mentions
- 75 % negative mentions
Overall, the game demonstrates excellent stability with no reported glitches or game-breaking issues. However, certain mechanics, such as stun locks and status effects, can hinder character switching. Additionally, it performs well on the Steam Deck.
“It runs great on Steam Deck!”
“The game is incredibly stable, with minimal crashes or bugs.”
“I've experienced smooth gameplay throughout, which really enhances the overall experience.”
“There are no game-breaking glitches.”
“Basic attacks can stun-lock you, petrify freezes movement, ice freezes all action, and the damage-over-time effects prevent you from switching characters.”
- monetization1 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.
