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A brilliant new RPG that looks like it stepped right out of 1995 - Chained Echoes quick review

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After playing Chained Echoes for a few hours, I’m blown away by the game’s exceptional narrative, deep combat, and charming aesthetics. I haven’t played many SNES-style RPGs before, but this served as a fantastic introduction to the deep combat and complex storytelling that makes that period so well-regarded among hardcore RPG fans.

TIME PLAYED

I played Chained Echoes for two and a half hours. The prologue took roughly twenty minutes to complete, while most of the chapters lasted around thirty to forty minutes.

WHAT’S AWESOME

• Narrative. Even though I’ve only scratched the surface, Chained Echoes has already impressed me with its exceptional story. The game features the perfect mix of serious dialogue and amusing banter between characters, and the plot is given plenty of space to play out without feeling rushed.

• Combat. Combat in Chained Echoes is its greatest strength. The game’s deep, turn-based combat system required me to play patiently and strategically. The unique playstyles used by different party members thrilled me.

• Exploration. I’m not the type of player to stick to a mission. Thankfully, Chained Echoes doesn’t disappoint when it comes to exploration. The game features many vast areas, and being thorough is rewarded with treasure.

• Aesthetic. Chained Echoes has beautiful music and equally elegant pixel-art scenery.

WHAT SUCKS

• Overdrive. Overdrive is a combat mechanic that basically functions as a fatigue meter. If I reached the end of this meter, I'd deal less damage but have more dealt to me. Reducing the meter once I filled it was a struggle, especially since enemies could raise it simply by attacking me, as they naturally would. This mechanic struck me as clunky and distracted from the elements of the combat system that I actually enjoyed.

SHOULD YOU PLAY IT?

Yes. Chained Echoes blew away my expectations. I wasn’t really prepared to have such a blast playing a 16-bit style RPG, but Chained Echoes has convinced me that maybe I should start playing a lot more of these kinds of games in the near future. Well, maybe only after I’ve finished my epic adventure through Chained Echoes first.

💬 What SNES-era RPG would you recommend to someone who hasn't played many before? Tell us down below in the comments.

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