Eiyuden Chronicle: Hundred Heroes

Command a massive army of heroes in Eiyuden Chronicle: Hundred Heroes; a traditional yet innovative take on the classic JRPG genre that bridges the gap between conventional Japanese RPG gameplay and modern gameplay mechanics.

The sequel to a fantastic JRPG revival, Eiyuden Chronicle: Hundred Heroes delivers some of the best JRPG action you've ever played! As long as you can bear with some often confusing lore and a few issues with some of its more obscure gameplay elements.

Old-School Cool

The first taste we've got of the Eiyuden Chronicles universe came out quite recently, with the release of Eiyuden Chronicle: Rising. The creators of the Suikoden titles have had one goal in mind throughout the whole series: to bring back what made those classic JRPG titles so good in the first place.

It's not easy to recapture the excitement and magic of the old days. We're constantly bombarded with new games that promise to revolutionize our expectations for RPGs. Most of these are simply trying to catch up to the world of online multiplayer that's becoming common practice in today's market, but a few are attempting to go back in time and create something really special.

Thankfully for die-hard JRPG fans, Eiyuden Chronicle: Hundred Heroes not only delivers one of the most nostalgic gaming experiences in recent memory, but it also looks gorgeous in the process.

Flashy Pixels

Much like Octopath Traveler, Eiyuden Chronicle: Hundred Heroes uses a mix of 2D and 3D backgrounds. At the same time, it retains a retro look that's hard to describe but incredible to witness.

The visuals have been vastly improved compared to its predecessor. Both are certified eye candy, though, so you really can't go wrong with any of the two Eiyuden Chronicle titles, as far as graphics go.

Even though some textures might look blurry upon closer inspection, all of this can be attributed to the game's old-school appeal. I have to say that I vastly prefer the 2D sprites over the 3D models in this game most of the time. That said, every landscape I've seen so far looks positively breathtaking.

A Massive Army

Just as the name implies, you'll be commanding a battalion of over 100 characters in Eiyuden Chronicle: Hundred Heroes. Don't worry, though: it never gets as cumbersome as it sounds.

The player's party is limited to a maximum of six characters at any given time. Just like the Suikoden series, the action takes place in a traditional, turn-based JRPG environment.

Although the game does a great job explaining most of the more complex elements you'll find as you play it, some pesky mechanics can be borderline irritating to new players.

That said, when looked at as a whole, Eiyuden Chronicle: Hundred Heroes delivers some of the most nostalgic – and refreshingly unique – take on modern/classic JRPGs one could ever ask for.

Pros

• Intense and engaging plot
• A wide array of characters to choose from
• The visuals are some of the best in any 2.5D JRPG to date

Cons

• Some of the more complicated gameplay mechanics can be a bit daunting to newcomers