Eiyuden Chronicle: Hundred Heroes invites you to the fantasy realm of Allraan to decide the fate of an entire world. In this test we will show you how well the retro style works in combination with modern technology in the PC version.
Collect them all!
The name of the game suggests correctly. On your way through the story of the classic role-playing game, you can actually collect over 100 companions who will support you in the game. Not all of them have what it takes to be a main or secondary character, but they are very practical as an addition to the combat system.
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The action is set in the world of Allraan. A war threatens to break out between the powerful kingdoms because the antagonist Dux Aldric wants to use the power of the magical lenses for world domination. Now it's your job as a 17-year-old boy named Nowa to forge an alliance with numerous companions and save the world. So far, so generic.
Aside from the political power struggle, there are also numerous activities in the form of mini-games. Whether it's a cooking competition, fishing, playing cards or a Beyblade spin-off, there's plenty of variety here. The cooking mini-game has now also been patched for the PC, so there should be no more problems here.
Fight for love and justice!
These are the words of your ally Mellore, the secret Sailor Moon star, and they couldn't be truer. The battles against evil are numerous given all the injustice in the world. Final Fantasy 12 fans are experiencing a small revival of the Gambit system here. You can also simply switch on the autopilot during battles and sit back. The actions you preset will do the rest
The six active and four passive characters in your party then fight without your intervention and usually knock down the opponents without any problems. You should only lend a hand yourself in boss fights that involve special combat actions. Otherwise, the wait in the autofight may be in vain because this way a special action that is necessary for victory will never be triggered. The boss fights are also the highlights in which you can fully exploit the possibilities of the combat system.
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It's a shame that there is no display for the opponent's life points. As a result, fights feel like they drag on. Additionally, only your active characters level up. However, the points required for advancement are easy to earn, so you don't have to spend hours grinding to upgrade your characters or a weapon.
Bugs are limited in the PC version and usually resolve themselves. In our version, the image remains stuck and the sound continues, usually after a scripted battle. It's impossible to judge whether the texts, which sometimes jump back and forth massively, are intentional or not, but they don't seem particularly pleasant to read.
Decelerated gameplay
Despite the impending war, the entire gameplay seems pleasantly decelerated. There are no time limits, neither in the course of the story nor in combat, the world can be explored at your leisure. The graceful 3D backgrounds show off the different landscapes beautifully. Since our companions are traveling in 2D format, the path and character don't get in the way. You have to get used to the depth of field. Unfortunately it cannot be switched off.
This deceleration of the game is both a blessing and a curse. The course is often interrupted by dialogue or a random fight. Since there is no time limit, there is no real goal at the beginning. For the task “Collect new companions” you have neither a guide nor any information. In principle, you cross mountains and valleys independently in the hope of finding someone.
This is not a new concept. Fans and nostalgics of the Suikoden series will feel right at home in Eiyuden Chronicle. And for a good reason. The creator of the Suikoden and Eiyuden Chronicle series is Yoshitaka Murayama, who unfortunately recently passed away.
Conclusion on Eiyuden Chronicle: Hundred Heroes
20 years ago the game would probably have been a hit worldwide. Now I'm too spoiled by video game mechanics. The gameplay doesn't suit you in terms of convenience. Do you need MP? Walks all the way back to the hotel. Inventory full? First unload the stuff at the dealer and then continue playing. You don't want to fight? I'm sorry, escaping isn't possible again.
These small but numerous obstacles massively disrupt the flow of the game for me. The story about Nowa and Dux Aldric, on the other hand, is masterfully told. Despite many small episodes and location changes in the dialogue, even the political events, which are the pivotal point of the game, remain understandable. Graphically, it's a matter of taste whether you want the combination of 2D and 3D effects. This doesn't detract from the atmosphere, which is mainly due to the really good speakers.