PC Critic Reviews

Undemanding and decidedly enjoyable, Eiyuden Chronicle: Rising is a light-hearted and often cartoon-like Action JRPG which is really fun to spend your time with. Of course, you don't have to have anything against going back and forth a thousand times in the same places, to do the same things again and again, because in this case appreciating it would be quite difficult. The visual quality is really impressive and I really liked the mix of backdrops in (very rich) 3D and two-dimensional pixelated characters, and I can't get the music out of my head. In short, a good game: not essential but absolutely enjoyable.

I really hate comparing one game to another in games criticism. But, with anything Eiyuden Chronicle, it’s inevitable. We’re all hoping for the next Suikoden with Hundred Heroes. To be clear, Eiyuden Chronicle: Rising is not working on that level. But it doesn’t need to. It does get one part of Suikoden just right: the feeling of progression as you build a community. Taken for what it is, a wonderful little townbuilding Metroidvania-like title, it’s stellar. Time will tell if Eiyuden Chronicle: Rising is truly necessary before playing Hundred Heroes, but it stands tall as a delightful little game all on its own.

Eiyuden Chronicle: Rising is the best game to start a new Eiyden Chronicle series. The game contains battle through link action, smooth sound, harmonious 2D+3D graphic design and a well-balanced story. You can hardly suggest that all of these are perfect, but the game has enough quality to enjoy without any concerns.

At the end of the day, it is quite impossible to look at Eiyuden Chronicle: Rising without thinking ahead to Hundred Heroes. On its own, it is a capable action-JRPG that looks great, with solid combat and platforming to keep players distracted from completing repetitive quests, but as part of the larger universe, it lays an inviting foundation for what is to come with well-realized characters amid a larger unfolding conflict. And as someone hoping for that Suikoden magic to be recaptured, New Neveah becomes an irresistible world to spend time in.

Eiyuden Chronicle: Rising has a slow and snore-worthy opening hour, but hiding behind that repetitive introduction is an incredible blend of high-octane 2.5D combat and rewarding resource gathering gameplay. The icing on the cake, though, is the Marvel Cinematic Universe-worthy parade of character cameos and appearances that promise some of the many faces you'll be battling alongside (or maybe even against) once Eiyuden Chronicle: Hundred Heroes comes out.

Eiyuden Chronicle: Rising manages to be more than the sum of its parts, becoming a likeable adventure that not only sets up the world for the main event to come in Hundred Heroes, but stands as a great little action-RPG in its own right.

Hundred Heroes is still a year away and while you wait for it you can play action-packed Rising and learn all about its world and the characters.

Eiyuden Chronicle: Rising should be played if you plan on diving into Hundred Heroes next year. Luckily, it’s a straightforward adventure through some beautiful environments and a well-crafted narrative. Furthermore, the very low price of admission for such a charming game made me enjoy it even more, given how far the developers were able to push the presentation. So, in case there was doubt, Eiyuden Chronicle: Rising definitely rose to the occasion.

If Eiyuden Chronicle: Rising had to stand on its own, it would probably only be a forgettable, average RPG at best. Fortunately it doesn't have to, nor was it designed to, as it explicitly places itself as merely an introduction to a hopefully more fully-fledged adventure - one that a certain group of RPG fans has been waiting for for a long time. Considering Rising's more glaring flaws are with its gameplay and not with its characters or writing, I find it still ultimately works well enough as a respectable introduction it set itself to be. Hundred Heroes can't get here soon enough.

Eiyuden Chronicle: Rising lacks those master strokes that could have made it better, but it's enjoyable for 2D fantasy's lovers.