The Adventures of Elliot: The Millennium Tales Review Highlights HD-2D RPG Mechanics

Team Asano, known for its work on the Bravely and Octopath series at Square Enix, has released "The Adventures of Elliot: The Millennium Tales." This action-adventure RPG draws inspiration from classic top-down games like "The Legend of Zelda" and "Mana," while utilizing the studio's distinctive HD-2D visual style.

The game is set in the fictional kingdom of Philabieldia, ruled by a benevolent king and protected by his daughter's magical spell that keeps deadly beastmen at bay outside the castle. Players embody Elliot, an Adventurer who travels beyond the castle walls. The central conflict arises when a sinister duke discovers a method for time travel to claim a powerful relic, prompting Elliot to pursue him through various historical eras of the kingdom.

Mechanically, the game is noted for its sharp and responsive combat system. Elliot has access to a wide array of weapons, including a basic sword, heavy hammer, boomerang, spear, chain scythe, and consumables like arrows and bombs. Each weapon possesses unique advantages and can be upgraded with stronger, charged effects. Defensive capabilities include a shield for blocking and parrying, along with a dedicated jump for traversal, platforming, and offensive maneuvers. The game features a small pool of enemy types, but their varied combinations provide engaging combat scenarios.

Elliot is accompanied by Faie, a fairy companion who offers commentary and gains magical abilities such as lighting torches and teleportation, which can be used to creatively solve dungeon puzzles. The game also incorporates a flexible upgrade system using Magicite, allowing players to enhance attack power, gain passive bonuses, or alter weapon properties. Accessories further customize gameplay with perks like stun immunity, shockwaves on landing, or turning tossable objects into bombs.

Dungeon designs are described as well-crafted homages to 2D Zelda games, offering room for creative problem-solving with Faie's abilities. Convenience features, such as clearly marked side quests, warnings for nullifying quests, and easy navigation between eras using guideposts, aim to modernize the experience.

However, the review highlights several narrative shortcomings. The story is characterized as dull, and many characters, including Elliot and Faie, are described as verbose and cloying. The extensive explanations from quest-givers are noted to slow the game's pace. The time-hopping premise, while visually inspired by "Chrono Trigger," is criticized for its vague time periods and lack of discernible changes across eras, making the world feel less dynamic than its inspirations. Despite these narrative issues, the game's strong combat, customization, and dungeon design establish a promising foundation for future titles from Team Asano.

(Source: GameSpot)